#283: Pierre Novellie - Finding your Clown

Explicit content warning

04/07/25 • 80 min

Pierre Novellie is a stand-up comedian, writer, radio host and podcaster. He is co-host of The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio, and recent TV appearances include World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave), The Mash Report (BBC2), and Stand Up Central (Comedy Central). On the radio, Pierre has performed on The Now Show (Radio 4), hosts the BBC Sounds podcast series Obsessed With... SAS: Rogue Heroes and co-hosts the hit podcast Budpod with Phil Wang. As a writer, Pierre was one of the regular writers on the rebooted Spitting Image (ITV/Britbox) and has also written on shows including Mock the Week (BBC2), The News Quiz (Radio 4) and The Mash Report (BBC2).

One of the UK’s most acclaimed live acts, Pierre‘s previous show Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? saw a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and was his third show to have been placed in the top 20 best-reviewed comedy shows across the entire festival. His first special, Quiet Ones, was distributed by US comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Records and has amassed over 250,000 views online.

Pierre will debut his show Must We? on Australian shores. Off the back of a sold-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe run, his new show is about life, fairness and expectations. He simply must! Pierre has established himself as a comedian's comedian who doesn't sacrifice accessibility for intelligence. His book Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things? A Comedian's Guide to Autism was inspired by an unexpected diagnosis from a heckler – and this show delivers the same incisive commentary and clever observations that have earned him critical acclaim across the UK comedy scene.

Performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from 27 March - 18 April at The Westin, Three

We chat about autism, his brand new shows in Melbourne (currently out now), The Cambridge Footlights, The English class system, life changing heckles, his many identities, his new book, embracing your clown + plenty more!

Check Pierre out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pierrenovellie Melbourne Comedy tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/pierre-novellie/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pierrenovellie Book (Why Can't I Just Enjoy Thinhs? A Comedian's guide to Autism): https://geni.us/pierrenovelliepb Comedy special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiM8PwMzENg Website: https://www.pierrenovellie.com/ -------------------------------------------

Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook https://www.instagram.com/funnyinfailure/ https://www.facebook.com/funnyinfailure/

and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info. https://www.instagram.com/michael_kahan/ https://twitter.com/Michael_Kahan

Performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival from 27 March - 18 April at The Westin, Three

Check Pierre out on:

Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook https://www.instagram.com/funnyinfailure/ https://www.facebook.com/funnyinfailure/

and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info. https://www.instagram.com/michael_kahan/ https://twitter.com/Michael_Kahan

Previous Episode

#282: Ivan Aristeguieta - You’re Doing What Most Can’t

Ivan Aristeguieta is an award-winning stand-up comedian, writer and performer.

Originally from Venezuela, Ivan moved to Australia after he was carjacked at gunpoint (true story!). He has performed all over the world, from South America to the US, Canada, Japan, NZ and the UK, featuring on and headlining some of the biggest comedy festivals and rooms.

You may have seen him on the telly or online, performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala (2016-2022), as well as the Just For Laughs Montreal Comedy Festival, or as guest panellist on shows including Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Project, The Weekly, Hughesy, We Have A Problem and The Living Room. In 2016, his Australian immigration experience was fictionalised in a short form series, Lost in Pronunciation (ABC iView), which he co-created, co-wrote and performed in.

In 2021, his live show, Pinata, was nominated for the biggest award in Australian comedy – Most Outstanding Comedy, at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Ivan has released three full length comedy specials to date, Chorizo Sizzle (ABC iView), The Fourth Floor and Happy Papi, which was recently released on Paramount+.

He is also a trained cook, food technologist and brewer. During the pandemic he created and hosted the online sensation, About This Much – Live, a ‘follow-along’ cooking party where Ivan brought his kitchen to yours, via Zoom.

He is the winner of Best Comedy Weekly Award 2017, 2022 & 2023 Adelaide Fringe and a nominee in 2021 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Award for Most Outstanding Show.

He is currently touring around Australia his new show, All Bangers, No Mash! Now at Melbourne. Check it out before they sell out!

We chat about leaving Venezuela and starting again in Australia, performing in his second language, what keeps me up at night, death and rebirth, premise, the hero’s journey, not having a home address for 4 years, bull fighting, identity and divorce plus so much more!

Check Ivan out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ivancomedy/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IvanComedy/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/IvanAristeguieta Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ivan_comedy

Website: https://ivancomedy.com.au/

Comedy tickets: https://linktr.ee/Ivancomedy.com.au

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and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info. https://www.instagram.com/michael_kahan/ https://twitter.com/Michael_Kahan

Next Episode

#284: Beth Broderick - Be the Solution

Beth Broderick is a thirty -plus year veteran of stage and screen as well as a writer, model and chef. She is widely known for her portrayal of Aunt Zelda in the long running hit TV series “Sabrina the teenage Witch”.

Beth has appeared in over forty seven feature and made for television films including the “The Merry Gentlemen” which recently debuted at No. 1 on NETFLIX and “Holiday Mismatch” a new Hallmark hit. Others include: “Bonfire of the Vanities”, “Stealing Home”, “Psycho Beach Party”, “Christmas Town”, “When I Think of Christmas”, “Revenge of the Bridesmaids” and many others as well the soon to be released Hulu feature, “The Nana Project”. She recently completed filming on “The Prince”.

She has also starred in numerous series such as “Heart’s Afire”, “Glory Days”, The Five Mrs. Buchanans” and has been a featured recurring character on “Lost” “Under the Dome” “Love and Death” and many others.

Beth has an extensive background in fundraising and community outreach. She has was the co-founder of MOMENTUM a program for persons with AIDS in 1985 and has been working with the Good Shepherd Home for women in Los Angeles for over 34 years. She is a major advocate for Los Angeles Metro and was recently featured as keynote speaker for the “On the Move” convention. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of “The Realm Company”.

Beth also writes a column on SUBSTACK which boasts over 5 thousand subscribers. “Wit and Wisdom for the Ages from the Aged”. She is a dedicated home cook who also loves to travel and experience new cultures and cuisines.

We chat about her love of cooking, recently becoming a model, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The profound experiences from working as an AIDS activist, grief, ego, rejection & moving forward, Substack articles, ageism (thriving with age), graduating early (basically being a genius) + plenty more!

Check Beth out on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethabroderick/ Substack: https://substack.com/@bethbroderick Twitter / X: https://x.com/BethBroderick -------------------------------------------

Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook https://www.instagram.com/funnyinfailure/ https://www.facebook.com/funnyinfailure/

and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info. https://www.instagram.com/michael_kahan/ https://twitter.com/Michael_Kahan