Funny In Failure
A podcast that interviews funny and interesting people to discuss their careers and some of the challenges they have faced. I hope to use this platform to normalise and encourage the discussion of failure, particularly through the lens of the entertainment industry, to show that it can be a stepping stone towards the road of success. Nothing is better than humour to normalise a situation, so having deep and meaningful conversations, interspersed with comedy and laughter, helps us celebrate and appreciate life’s frustrating moments.
info_outline
#288: Garrett Millerick - 'Worth Doing'
05/12/2025
#288: Garrett Millerick - 'Worth Doing'
Garrett Millerick is an acclaimed stand-up comedian, writer, and director whose unique and versatile style has made him a favourite on the UK and international comedy circuits. A frequent Critics’ Choice, he has appeared on Conan, SiriusXM, and more. His breakout live show Sunflower became one of the most talked-about performances of 2018. Garrett recently wrote and starred in Do Gooders a workplace sitcom for BBC Radio 4 that takes audiences behind the curtain of the charity industry alongside a cast that includes Frank Skinner, Fay Ripley, Lisa McGrillis, Ahir Shah and Ania Magliano. Critically acclaimed comedian Garrett Millerick’s 2022 smash hit show, Just Trying to Help, is making its eagerly awaited debut as a streamable comedy special on the prestigious 800 Pound Gorilla platform. Following a celebrated run at the Edinburgh Fringe and sell-out performances at the Soho Theatre, Garrett’s intensely funny take on modern life is more relevant now – three years after it debuted - than ever before. Garrett will also be performing in Edinburgh, check out his shows before they sell out (links below). We chat about his brand-new comedy special, Edinburgh, sobriety, Do Gooders, inspiring teachers, transitioning to comedy, gratitude lists, losing weight, perseverance and determination + plenty more! Check Garrett out on: Instagram: Website: Comedy Special: Do Gooders: Tickets: Linktree: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/36516180
info_outline
#287: Kirsten Vangsness - “You’re not a fit”
05/05/2025
#287: Kirsten Vangsness - “You’re not a fit”
Kirsten Vangsness is an actor, YouTuber, podcaster, graphic novelist & playwright. She is most known for playing Penelope Garcia on the long running CBS crime drama Criminal Minds, for which she co-wrote 5 episodes, including the series finale. In 2020, Kirsten launched her YouTube series KIRSTEN'S AGENDA as a way to promote mental health, wellness and civic duty. Her first season featured such guests as Aisha Tyler, Pauley Perrette and Karen David. She enjoyed the interviews so much she decided to spin them off into the KIRSTEN'S AGENDA Podcast, available wherever podcasts live. Kirsten has long been deeply involved in the L.A. theatre scene, scoring two Ovation Best Actress nominations (for "FAT PIG" at the Geffen and "Everything You Touch" at Boston Court), LA Weekly Best Playwright of the Year nomination (For her Theatre of NOTE production of "Potential Space") and winning the Los Angeles Drama Circle Best Comedic Actress. She is a long-time member of Hollywood’s Theatre of NOTE where she serves on the Art Board. In the summer of 2019, Kirsten took her one-woman show "Mess" (which Neil Gaiman has called his "favorite one person show") and her space romp, time travel, women in history, musical "Cleo, Theo and Wu" to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was greeted with 5 star reviews and sold out shows. She is the star and executive producer of the film noir spoof “Kill Me, Deadly” which can be found on many streaming platforms, she can currently be heard on season two of the comedy podcast “Voyage to the Stars” as well as a sometimes host of PRI's "Selected Shorts". In 2020, her animated short "Curtains" based on a short story she penned, was accepted in film festivals around the globe and she created a "Cleo, Theo and Wu" graphic novel with illustrator Kaitlin Bruder. She is the recipient of the HRC Visibility Award, the Open Fist Excellence in Arts Award and has been honored for her work with many charities including The Wildlife Learning Center, The Jacaranda Foundation, and The Unusual Suspects. In her spare time Kirsten can be found washing dishes at the Blinking Owl Distillery, which she co-owns in Santa Ana, California. We chat about Criminal Minds, embracing success, love of acting, zone of incompetence and excellence, imposter syndrome, interventions, dyslexia, creativity, ideas and nurturing them, writing plus plenty more. For the Criminal Minds fans out there, I’ve also been fortunate to chat with AJ Cook, Paget Brewster and Joe Mantegna who are all incredible in their own right. Check Kirsten out on: Instagram: Facebook: Website: Youtube: Bluesky: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/36424035
info_outline
#286: Cam Knight - Workarounds
04/28/2025
#286: Cam Knight - Workarounds
Cam Knight is a standup comedian, actor and presenter. He was the co-host of the Channel 9 show called Unreal Estate alongside Kate Langbroek in 2016. He has regularly appeared on the Today show, co-hosted Studio 10 on Channel 10 and could be heard as a weekly co-host on Triple M’s Merrickville and The Weekenders with Dan Ginane in Sydney. As well as performing sell out shows across the country, performing around London and receiving 5 star reviews and award nominations, Cam featured on the televised Montreal Just for Laughs Festival Stand Up Series at the Sydney Opera House in 2015, 2019 and 2023 as well as hosting the televised Sydney Comedy Festival Gala on the Comedy Channel. He has guest starred on ABC’s Tonightly, Skit Box, Soul Mates, Comedy Up Late & How Not To Behave, the second series of The Other Guy on Stan and also the upcoming series of Drunk History on Network 10. In 2024 he landed the key role of Funny Steve Farley in the Last King of the Cross S2. He also hosted a variety of shows on Foxtel for 5 years in the mid 2000’s. Most notably Stand Up Australia on The Comedy Channel. Cam is performing his new shows in Sydney (7th May -10th May) and at the Newcastle Comedy Festival (in July) - check them out before they sell out (ticket links below) We chat about his time with Foxtel, acting, comedy, his new comedy shows coming out very soon (tickets in episoe notes), 1.5-star misprints in the paper, performing new material every day, sobriety and learnings, hate mail, imposter syndrome, burn out, breath work, the last King of the Cross + plenty more! Check Cam out on: Instagram: Sydney comedy tickets 7-10th May Sydney: Newcastle Comedy Festival: Facebook: TikTok: Website: www.camknight.com.au ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/36333550
info_outline
#285: Genevieve Hegney - More than an Actor
04/21/2025
#285: Genevieve Hegney - More than an Actor
Genevieve Hegney is an actor, writer and performer. She has performed extensively in theatre, film and television. You probably recognise her from her role as Chiara in the groundbreaking and award-winning comedy ‘Colin From Accounts’. Her other television credits include All Her Fault (Peacock), Sunny Nights (Stan), In Our Blood (ABC), Pieces of Her (Netflix), Young Rock (CBS) Diary of an Uber Driver (ABC), Tim Minchin’s Upright (Foxtel) Kinne Tonight (Ten), The Commons (STAN), Doctor Doctor (Series 2-3), Janet King (Series 2), The Kettering Incident, Here Come the Habibs! (Series 1-2), The Moodys (ABC), Camp (NBC), Bedhead, Devil’s Dust, Rake, Spirited, All Saints, Home and Away, The Alice, and Out There (Series 1 & 2). Her film roles include Rip Tide, The Little Death, Burning Man, Preservation, and Happy Feet. Short films include Red Ink, Outbreak Generation, and Desirable for which she won Best Actress at the Kaleidoscope Film Festival. Genevieve’s theatre credits include credits include; Tot Mum (dir by Steven Soderbergh) and Influence, Parramatta Girls for Belvoir, Twelfth Night, Antony & Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Much Ado About Nothing for the Bell Shakespeare Company, Some Explicit Polaroids for Darlinghurst Theatre and Love for Downstairs Belvoir, both nominated for ‘Best Independent Production’ at the Sydney Theatre Awards. She is currently in the Troy Kinne show, ‘Full House’, which is available on Youtube. As a writer Genevieve and co-writer Catherine Moore wrote the plays, Unqualified and Still Unqualified for the Ensemble Theatre. They have recently received funding from Screen West and Screen Australia to adapt Unqualified for television. Genevieve also co-wrote, produced and acted in the short film The Amber Amulet. This adaptation of the Craig Silvey novella won numerous awards worldwide, including the 2013 Crystal Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival & won her an AWGIE for ‘Best Screenplay in a Short Film’. We chat about Colin from Accounts, the industry (tell all), her brand-new show (tickets in episode notes), being still, her latest comedy nomination, Unqualified, drama vs comedies, getting into NIDA and competitiveness, accidentally manifesting, pilot season + so much more! Gen also has some shows coming out in October called ‘Fly Girl’ (tickets below). Check Genevieve out on: Instagram: Fly Girl (tickets): ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/36228120
info_outline
#284: Beth Broderick - Be the Solution
04/14/2025
#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: Substack: Twitter / X: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/36112515
info_outline
#283: Pierre Novellie - Finding your Clown
04/07/2025
#283: Pierre Novellie - Finding your Clown
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, , 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: Melbourne Comedy tickets: Tiktok: Book (Why Can't I Just Enjoy Thinhs? A Comedian's guide to Autism): Comedy special: Website: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/36031410
info_outline
#282: Ivan Aristeguieta - You’re Doing What Most Can’t
03/31/2025
#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: Facebook: Youtube: Tiktok: Website: Comedy tickets: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35931090
info_outline
#281: Ray O'Leary - Powering Through
03/24/2025
#281: Ray O'Leary - Powering Through
Ray O’Leary is a comedian and writer. The Kiwi comic known for his deadpan delivery and iconic grey suit, Ray has been nominated two years running for Best Male Comedian by the New Zealand Comedy Guild, and in 2022 he picked up a win for Best Joke and Best TV Comedy Performance, after being nominated for Best TV Comedy Performance the previous three years. Additionally, he has been twice nominated for New Zealand Comedy Festival’s prestigious Billy T James Award. His razor-sharp wit has seen him perform across both sides of the Tasman and tour sold-out runs in Christchurch, and Auckland & Wellington as part of the New Zealand Comedy Festival. He has also performed alongside top comedic talent including Flight of the Conchords and Rhys Darby. Ray is a staple on Australasian television screens and can be seen on Ten’s Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You’re Here, Cheap Seats, and SBS’ Patriot Brains, hosted by the UK’s Bill Bailey and Sue Perkins. He is a regular writer for Cheap Seats, Have You Been Paying Attention? and in NZ, Ray regularly appears and writes for 7 Days, Have You Been Paying Attention and much more. Ray can be heard on the philosophy podcast Socrates Walks Into A Bar, which won Best Comedy Podcast at the NZ Podcast Awards in 2022. He was also a regular on The Spinoff’s hit Dungeons and Dragons podcast Waterdeep Mountain High. In 2023, Ray made his Australian debut to sold out audiences with his new show, Everything Funny All The Time Always and was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Ray continued a string of sold out shows throughout New Zealand and added to his TV credits as a contestant on season 4 of Taskmaster NZ. In 2024, Ray returned to the live stage, touring the UK with Melanie Bracewell and followed up with his new show, Your Laughter Is Just Making Me Stronger, throughout Australia, New Zealand and Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He is currently touring his new show throughout the UK, Australia and New Zealand. ‘Laughter? I Hardly Know Her’ is sure to be another smash hit for the comedy legend in the two-piece suit and then, he can get back to passing on the message he promised to keep. We chat about being a part of the new wave of NZ comedy, Thank God You’re Here, his magical suit, moving to Australia, jealousy and insecurity, success, working in prison correction policy, Wil Anderon’s kindness, nerves & anxiety, his comedy voice and his master’s in philosophy. Check Ray out on: Instagram: Tiktok: X/ Twitter: Comedy tickets: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35832865
info_outline
#280: Akmal Saleh - Goodbye Peter
03/19/2025
#280: Akmal Saleh - Goodbye Peter
Akmal Saleh is a stand-up comedian, actor, voice over artist, author and writer. He’s done it all - appeared in movies, sketch, TV appearances, radio, talk show host and is a published author. Akmal is one of Australia’s most respected, successful and accomplished comics. Lightning quick and a master of unscripted comedy gold, Akmal has an incredible ability to deal with hot topics in an hilarious and slightly offensive way. Don’t miss this avalanche of laughs that’s going to hit the Comedy Festival. He is currently touring in Australia, so check out his shows, links in episode notes. As Seen on Thank God You’re Here, Have You Been Paying Attention?, Just For Laughs, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Rove, Spicks and Specks, Good News Week and was even a script consultant for Superwog. We chat about his love of comedy, opening for $tripper$, his doco, bad gigs, regrets and radio, cab driver to stand up, perspective, dodgy tax accountants, learnings from I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, almost being sued, Marty Sheargold, comedy safety nets plenty more! Check Akmal out on: Instagram: Website: Facebook: Youtube: Egyptian Doco: Comedy tickets: Book: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35742825
info_outline
#279: Cameron James - Chasing Fun
03/17/2025
#279: Cameron James - Chasing Fun
Cameron James is an award-winning stand-up comedian, musician and storyteller across stages, screens, boomboxes and podcasts. As seen on the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, Spicks & Specks, Guy Mont-Spelling Bee, Bump and more. He’s won countless rave reviews for his completely unique “rockstar without a band” comedy style; blending songs as catchy as they are funny, painfully true stories and sharp improvisation. In 2024, Cam partnered up with Aussie music legend Ben Lee’s indie record label to release his own comedy music, with his single “Medium D*ck” racking up tens of thousands of Spotify streams and over 9 million views on Instagram and YouTube. His most recent one-hour solo shows, Electric Dreams and Mixtape have sold out around the country, earning him the Director’s Choice Award at Sydney Comedy Festival and a nomination for the highly coveted Most Outstanding Show Award at Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He’s won multiple awards including the Raw Comedy National Runner Up in 2012, multiple AWGIE Awards for Best Comedy Writing, and an APA Award for Best Entertainment Podcast. Cam has appeared on TV screens in Bump, Utopia, WTFAQ, Question Everything, At Home Alone Together, and his own comedy special on ABC’s Comedy Next Gen in 2018. As a sought-after comedy writer, Cam has served multiple seasons on Gruen, Take 5, We Interrupt This Broadcast, At Home Alone Together, Win The Week and Channel Seven’s Celebrity Roasts. As head comedy writer on The Feed he’s won multiple AWG awards. Whilst all of this is impressive, Cameron’s passion is creating his own comedy projects, from his beloved cult sketch series with Becky Lucas, The Becky & Cam Show, to the hit YouTube/Screen Australia series Finding Yeezus and the podcasts Finding Drago and Finding Desperado. The Finding series has amassed an audience of over 1.5 million around the globe, and has been described by The Australian as “tremendously bonkers” and by The AV Club as “brilliantly silly”. He is currently touring his new show “Broken Records” across Australia. Cameron James has been in just about every kind of band you can imagine from reggae to punk to rock and more making Broken Records the perfect show for the comic to bust his rock n roll and comedy chops on. Get ready to dig into Cam’s record crate of his life, pinballing from hilariously true stories to cutting cultural commentary to full-blown pop songs. Following a sell-out 2024 season, Melbourne International Comedy Festival Most Outstanding Show nominee, Sydney Comedy Festival Director’s Choice winner and Bad Boy of Musical Comedy* (*self-proclaimed), Cameron James is back with his biggest rock ‘n’ roll show yet. Cam will tour Broken Records across Australia with songs and stories sure to crack audiences up. We chat about his love of Mike Myers, being stabbed and giving up being in a band, full circle moment with music, embracing his voice and authenticity, new shows coming up, collaborating buddies and thriving together, working with Ben Lee, getting a pilot made, rejection, trying new things plus plenty more! Check Cam out on: Instagram: Tiktok: Youtube: Spotify: Comedy tickets: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35718795
info_outline
#278: Chris Parker - Creating Together
03/10/2025
#278: Chris Parker - Creating Together
Chris Parker is an award winning comedian, actor, writer, show-runner and podcaster. This past year Chris hosted the New Zealand Comedy Festival Gala, and toured his latest show, Give Me One Good Reason Why I Shouldn’t Throw My Phone Off This Bridge, to full houses throughout Australia and New Zealand. He also made his prime-time Australian TV debut on Thank God You’re Here (where he won the episode) and released the highly anticipated second season of Double Parked. Chris Parker is most commonly known for his funny Instagram and TikTok videos which built him a huge social media audience over the last few years. His legendary win on the hit New Zealand TV show Celebrity Treasure Island made history! His 2018 New Zealand International Comedy Festival show Camp Binch, was awarded the prestigious Fred Award for Best Show in the Festival and went on to play to 5-star reviews and sell-out crowds at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Fun fact, the felt hat he made during the 2020 nationwide lockdown was acquired by and is on display at The Auckland Museum and Te Papa the National Museum of New Zealand. Kinda dramatic – don’t you agree? Chris is a theatre graduate from the renowned drama school Toi Whakaari O Aotearoa and he has appeared in and written multiple theatre shows across New Zealand, most notably Hudson and Halls Live! Where Chris played one-half of the famous gay cooking duo, David Halls and won best actor at the 2017 Wellington Theatre Awards. Chris has appeared in feature films such as Baby Done, The Breaker Upperers and Nude Tuesday and has two feature films of his own currently in development. As a comedian and writer Chris is a regular face on New Zealand television appearing on 7 Days, Have You Been Paying Attention NZ, Jono and Ben, Funny Girls, Season 3 of Taskmaster New Zealand and the sitcom Golden Boy. Chris also co-hosts the podcast The Male Gays with fellow comedian Eli Matthewson, which has an upcoming digital video series in production. Chris was listed as The Herald’s top 5 Entertainment Heroes of 2020 and in 2021, was nominated for Television Personality of the Year. In 2022, Chris was the recipient of the inaugural Topp Prize awarded by the New Zealand Comedy Trust for Aotearoa’s most generous and gifted comedian. That same year released the comedy/documentary special Chris Parker: Back To School, about all boy schools in Christchurch. Chris embarked on an Australian and New Zealand national tour of his show Gentle Man to sold-out crowds and 5-star reviews and his debut novel Here for a Good Time was released through Allen & Unwin. In 2023, Chris toured his new show, Lots of Love, Chris Parker, to sold-out audiences in Australia and New Zealand. Chris’s new comedy series, Double Parked, premiered in June and was created and written with Alice Snedden. He was the show runner and writer for the narrative comedy series Double Parked and is currently touring his live stand up (Stop Being So Dramatic) shows across New Zealand and Australia. Stop Being So Dramatic are four words the self-proclaimed People’s Princess of Aotearoa Chris Parker has heard his whole life. Now those words also happen to be the name of his show touring Australia and New Zealand in 2025. At the culturally relevant age of 34, Chris is ready to address the drama queen allegations head-on. Stop Being So Dramatic promises to be an hour of high-intensity, feverishly paced and dizzyingly expressive comedy, it’s a one-man variety spectacle, chill, stand-up hour of laughs. That doesn’t sound dramatic at all – does it? Chris admits, there is some merit to the accusations, such as crying in every speech he’s ever delivered publicly, and there may have been a situation this year where he slept on his neck weirdly resulting in a neck brace. Still, Chris is sure he’s just a chilled guy, down to Earth and he’s ready to prove it to you in Stop Being So Dramatic. We chat about his evolving voice, performing on a broken foot (multiple times), being an improv king and his 10 hour improv day, being the felting guy, his upcoming tour, being a show runner and leadership, thriving on celebrity treasure island plus plenty more! Check Chris out on: Instagram: Tiktok: Facebook: Website: Melbourne comedy tickets: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35600860
info_outline
#277: Amy Gledhill - Just Crack On
03/05/2025
#277: Amy Gledhill - Just Crack On
Amy Gledhill is an award winning stand up comedian, actor, writer and podcaster. She is the winner of Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024 Best Show for Make Me Look Fit On The Poster which is touring in Melbourne for the International comedy festival. She’s also one half of the award-winning double act called the ‘The Delightful Sausage’. After taking the UK by storm, Amy is nothing short of a comedy powerhouse. Known for her unique blend of insightful observations and confessional anecdotes, she brims with natural warmth and charm. As a multi-award-winning comedian, actor, and writer, Amy is the only artist ever to be nominated for the prestigious Edinburgh Comedy Award twice in the same year. Her show ‘The Girl Before The Girl You Marry’ was nominated for Best Live Show- National Comedy Awards 2023 and Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Fringe. She’s been on The Jonathan Ross Show, The One Show, Pointless Celebrities, The Stand Up Sketch Show, Alma’s Not Normal, Would I lie to You? Sex Education, Hypothetical, Guessable, Alan Davies As Yet Untitled, The Emily Atack Show plus plenty more. In 2024 she was commissioned by Channel 4 to write a brand new comedy Blap 'Toads', in which she starred as Amber, a bride-to-be who gets cold feet on the morning of her wedding. Amy is a triple nominated writer, gaining a nomination for three consecutive shows. Beyond writing for live work she was the lead writer on the multi-award nominated Emily Atack Show, The BAFTA winning Class Dismissed and wrote on (and starred in) CBBC’s hit show Big Fat Like demonstrating she is a sharp joke writer whilst also excelling at long form and character work. In her double act The Delightful Sausage they have written to a brief and performed on shows such as Late Night Mash and Stand Up To Cancer which went out live on Channel 4. As well as writing a Radio 2 special The Delightful Sausage; On Staycations and a six part Radio 4 series where they interview children and write sketches around their questions called Big Little Questions. Amy co-hosts the hit podcast Northern News featured in The Guardian’s Best Podcasts of 2023 so far… Amy has been a guest on James Acaster and Ed Gamble’s Off Menu and Richard Herring’s RHLSTP as well as many more. Amy will also be in the upcoming TV mini-series Run Away sometime next year. Amy will be in Melbourne for the Melbourne International comedy Festival, so check them out (links below) We chat about her love of crisps and ballroom dancing, winning awards, The Delightful Sausage and collaboration, her new detective role coming out, balance, toxic positivity, analysing dreams, her upcoming tour in Melbourne + plenty more Check Amy out on: Instagram: Melbourne shows: Website: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35508310
info_outline
#276: Nick White - Golden Ticket
03/03/2025
#276: Nick White - Golden Ticket
Nick White is one of the fastest-rising faces in Australian comedy. With well over half a million followers across social media, Nick is well-known for his impressions, characters and sketch comedy, which have earned him over 45 million likes on TikTok. The Brisbane-born comedian spent a few years in New York City where he performed at Greenwich Village Comedy Club, The Comic Strip and Broadway Comedy Club, where he earned a residency. After leaving his career in architecture to pursue full-time comedy in 2022, Nick’s first solo stand-up show had a sold-out run across Australia’s east coast the following year. Nick’s comedy has also made an impact abroad, and in 2023 he performed a sold-out run of shows in London. His work has been featured on HuffPost, The Independent, Junkee and you have probably heard his lovely baritone voice on the triple j airwaves. Nick brings his new live show, “I'm Scared, Babe”, to Australian audiences in 2025, so check them out, tour dates in the episode notes. His special is now out on YouTube, which is exciting. We chat about his upcoming Australia tour, impersonators, being shy and coming out of his shell, his time in New York, leaving architecture, Sims obsession, following his intuition, gut and funny, collaborating plus plenty more! Check Nick out on: Instagram: Tour dates / Australian shows: Tiktok: Youtube: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35497760
info_outline
#275: Joel Creasey - Authentically Me
02/24/2025
#275: Joel Creasey - Authentically Me
Joel Creasey is one of Australia’s most-popular, acclaimed, and charmingly controversial stand-up comedians, television and radio presenters as well as an actor and writer. Embarking on his stand-up career at just 15-years-old, Joel harnessed his outrageous wit, sass and unrivalled storytelling abilities to cement himself as Australia’s undisputed ‘Crown Prince of Comedy’ and one of the most sought-after and hottest comedians in the world. Every year Joel’s live show audiences grow, as punters in-the-know flock for an hour of no-holds-barred belly laughs. Joel has cemented his reputation for slicing, dicing and smashing through pop culture – and himself – with unflinching candour and brutal home truths. He cuts through celebrity spin to tell you how it is with charm, irreverence and the ultimate payoff of epic laughs. Stand-up Joel embarked on his first solo tour aged 19, earning himself a Best Newcomer nomination at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. He has since sold out tours of Australia, the UK, Asia and the USA. In 2013 Joel was hand-picked to support Joan Rivers on her US tour, the legendary rivers Joan going on to say: “He is a f*cking star!”. Recent tours include Poser (2017), Blonde Bombshell (2018), Drink, Slay, Repeat (2019) and Messy Bitch (2020-22). He is currently touring his new show around Australia ‘THANKS FOR BEING HERE’. A hilariously unfiltered hour of unflinching candour and brutal home truths. Tickets on sale now! (links below). Streaming Joel’s Netflix’s Comedians of the World stand-up special ‘Thirsty’ was launched globally to rave reviews, and a second broadcast stand-up special, ‘Fame Whore,’ filmed at the iconic Sydney Opera House, airs on Amazon Prime worldwide. Joel joined some of Australia’s top comedians on Amazon’s Prime, outrageous social experiment hosted by Rebel Wilson, ‘LOL: Last One Laughing’ Radio Joel made the huge leap into radio in 2020, joining Australia’s number one national drive show on Nova. ‘Kate, Tim & Joel’ airs weekdays across the country from 3.00pm-6.00pm. TV Joel’s list of TV credits is vast and varied, from his coveted role as co-host of SBS’s ‘Eurovision Song Contest’ alongside Myf Warhurst, to the raw and highly acclaimed comedy ABC documentary, Gaycrashers, via dating show Take Me Out, and hosting roles on SBS’ coverage of Sydney Mardi Gras and the Royal Wedding in 2018. He is a familiar face on The Project, The Great Debate, Comedy Up Late, 20 to 1, Have You Been Paying Attention, Talkin’ About Your Generation, Spicks and Specks, The Big Music Quiz, Studio Ten, A League of Their Own, Dirty Laundry, How Not to Behave and It’s a Date, and many more. Acting In 2017, Joel made his acting debut in Channel 10’s new Comedy Drama ‘Sisters’ alongside a stellar cast including Magda Szubanski, Lucy Durack and Catherine McClements, and in 2018 he made his soap debut on Neighbours. Joel entered the world of theatre in 2020, performing the role of George in ‘The Boy, George,’ a hilarious one-man play he co-wrote and co-produced with Richard Carroll. Writing Joel penned his first memoir, Simon & Schuster-published ‘THIRSTY: Confessions of a Fame Whore’, which he dedicated to the late Joan Rivers. Like Joel, Thirsty is acerbically funny, and full of his most personal, hilarious, joyous, heartbreaking, outrageous, ridiculous and scandalous stories. Awards A self-described shameless ‘fame whore’, Joel is an Australian entertainment staple, Joel won GQ Comedian of the Year in 2016, Best Presenter at the 2017 LGBTI Awards, and was selected as one of Cosmopolitan’s top 50 influential LGBTQI voices in their inaugural Rainbow List. Good stuff Joel won a legion of fans when he appeared in the first Australian season of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of here, raising funds for his charity Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in 2015. In 2017, Joel was selected as ambassador for Skyy Vodka’s #CheerstoEquality campaign. We chat about his love of aviation, ‘my weird obsession’, anxiety, new shows across Australia, ambition, drive & saying yes, authenticity and being yourself, fame, moving to radio, comparing + plenty more! Check Joel out on: Instagram: Tour dates / Australian shows: Facebook: Tiktok: Twitter / X : ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35325165
info_outline
#274: Charlene Kaye - Being Cool
02/17/2025
#274: Charlene Kaye - Being Cool
Charlene Kaye is a singer- song writer, musician, comedian and actor who releases music under the moniker KAYE. She has carved out a unique path in the entertainment industry, beginning with her time performing with , the viral internet sensation founded by her University of Michigan classmate, Emmy award-winning actor Darren Criss. Since then, she has released multiple albums and opened for Arctic Monkeys, alt-J, St. Vincent, and Metallica. Rolling Stone Magazine gave Kaye’s 2019 single “” 5/5 stars and hailed her as “.” Charlene’s short-form comedy on Instagram Reels and TikTok is a phenomenon in and of itself. This spring, she skyrocketed to viral fame with “,” a genius musical breakdown with 16 million views on Instagram, which incited BBC 1 to interview her on UK national radio. She has since followed it up with and ,” which Chappell herself commented, “EXACTLYYYY YOU GET IT” with copious heart emojis. Charlene’s recent expansion into acting and comedy has attracted a larger following. She made a cameo as herself at Kendall Roy’s birthday party on HBO's hit series "Succession" and played synthesizers for Coldplay on Saturday Night Live while dressed as an alien. Her upcoming role as punk rocker Jade Power in the movie opposite comedy legend Margaret Cho further solidifies her ascent in the acting world. Also exciting news, Charlene will be in Melbourne for the comedy festival with her show ‘Tiger Daughter, Or: How I Brought My Immigrant Mother Ultimate Shame’, so if you’re around check them out (links below)! We chat about transitioning to comedy, performing and love of guitar, her upcoming Melbourne shows, trolls, viral videos, courage, the magical formula to Taylor Swifts songs, her new lease on life, listening to your gut, the reason guitar sales increase, solo vs being in a band + plenty more! Check Charlene out on: Instagram: Tour dates / Melbourne shows: Website: Youtube: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35187855
info_outline
#273: Derek Wilson - Embrace our fear
02/10/2025
#273: Derek Wilson - Embrace our fear
Derek Wilson is an actor who can currently be seen recurring on both GEN V and THE BOYS as fan favorite “Tek Knight.” He starred opposite Josh Hutcherson and Eliza Coupe for 3 seasons of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s Hulu comedy, FUTURE MAN. Other television credits include a series regular on AMC’s PREACHER, recurring roles on BILLIONS, THE GOOD WIFE, and RECTIFY, and guest stars on PERSON OF INTEREST and AQUARIUS. Features include THE LAST GIRL and the upcoming OXALIS. Derek holds a MFA from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. He started his career on stage appearing in such productions as ANNA CHRISTIE as well as 22 of Shakespeare's plays including Henry IV, Richard III and the Broadway revival of MACBETH. We chat about doing over 20 Shakespeare plays, Future Man, going to acting school at 29, previously being a ‘serious actor’ guy, human messiness, perfection, anxiety, David Koechner, his life changing call after Preacher, his soul dog, plus plenty more! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Derek out on: Instagram: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35172830
info_outline
#272: Dawn Del Russo - Just be you
02/03/2025
#272: Dawn Del Russo - Just be you
Dawn Del Russo is an on air fashion expert, author, lifestylist, consultant, spokesperson and CEO. For 18 years, Dawn has navigated the dynamic world of fashion, gracing screens on hit shows like , Access Hollywood Live, Meredith Vieira, Extra TV, E News!, Fox NY, and New York Live as an on-air fashion & beauty expert. She represents brands Rebecca Minkoff, and Marc Fisher on QVC currently. Her expertise extends beyond TV, with features in , InStyle, Cosmo, Real Simple, Life & Style, and US Weekly. But her journey doesn't stop there. Dawn is also, an entrepreneur at heart, leading 3 thriving brands: · : Her popular fashion blog, inspires readers with style tips and industry insights. · : A fashion boutique transformed into a successful brand consulting company, empowering others to build their dreams. · : Her latest venture, offering luxurious fine gemstone beauty products. Dawn is a testament to the power of following your passion and building something meaningful. Her journey has been filled with exciting opportunities, challenges overcome, and valuable lessons learned. She is passionate about sharing these insights and inspiring others to embrace their unique talents and chase their dreams. We chat about the worst product ever received, integrity and longevity, saying no, starting out in brick and mortar, hustle, letting go, TV segments that don’t go ahead, branding and authenticity, asking the deep internal questions, handling rejection and moving forward + plenty more! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Dawn out on: Instagram: Website: Tiktok: Youtube: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35122185
info_outline
#271: David Correos - Following Fun
01/27/2025
#271: David Correos - Following Fun
David Correos is an award-winning stand-up comedian as well as an actor. He is the winner of the Billy T Award in 2016 and best newcomer at the Sydney comedy festival in 2024 as well as being nominated for the prestigious Best Show Fred Award at the 2021 New Zealand International Comedy Festival. He continues to establish himself as one of New Zealand’s best. David’s appearances on Taskmaster NZ and Guy Mont-Spelling Bee (ABC TV) have seen his popularity soar in recent years. He is well known for putting his body and mind on the line for entertainment, David continually pushes the boundaries of comedy and presents some of the most absurd performances ever seen. He has a number of shows across Australia so check them out! (links below/ in episode notes). Here’s the blurb: The New Zealand comic is taking the world by storm, David Correos, is back with his new show, Noise Zealand, combining the powers of comedy and rave into one hour of chaotic fun. We chat about his 51 hour stream, ‘shock’ comedy, making profound shifts, taskmaster, his new upcoming comedy shows, collaborating, magic, Olympic weightlifting plus plenty more! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check David out on: Instagram: Tickets to upcoming shows: Tiktok: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/35021955
info_outline
#270: David Hobson - Generosity of Spirit
12/16/2024
#270: David Hobson - Generosity of Spirit
David Hobson is an Australian tenor, composer and performer. He is Australian Royalty in the music space and is one of Australia’s best known operatic and recording artists. He has sung many roles for Opera Australia and in both state and international opera companies, including his award-winning performances of Rodolfo (La Boheme) and the title role in Orphee. Other roles include Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Ferrando (Cosi fan Tutte), Count Almaviva (The Barber of Saville), Nadir (Pearl Fishers), Lindoro (L’Italiana in Algeri), Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance), The Architect in the world premiere of The Eighth Wonder, Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), the title role in Candide, Danilo (The Merry Widow) and Aristaeus/Pluto (Orpheus in the Underworld). In the world of music theatre, David has played the role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Buddy in Sondheim’s Follies and Nicky Arnstein in Funny Girl. Special engagements include appearing with the San Francisco Opera in the world premiere of Dangerous Liaison, a performance in the Great Hall, Canberra for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Schubert’s Winterreise for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and singing the national anthem at the AFL Grand Final. He has performed his own show at the Sydney Opera House and at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and toured nationally with Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Yvonne Kenney and Teddy Tahu Rhodes. He is also well known from his appearances on Carols in the Domain, Carols by Candlelight, Spicks and Specks, It Takes Two, Dancing with the Stars and as a presenter on the Foxtel arts channel, STUDIO. He has recorded numerous albums with many reaching No 1 chart status. David has also won awards including Operatic Performer of the Year, the Sydney Critics Circle Award, The Age Performing Arts Award for Best Performer in Opera and an Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Award. In 2023, David performed around Australia in a 60 city concert tour of The 2 of Us, with Marina Prior. David recently toured around Australia with comedian Colin Lane in their show, In Tails. We chat about saying no, collaboration, falling into his work, physicality behind opera, doing comedy with Colin Lane, his voice and looking after it, gratitude, rejection, generosity of spirit, fork in the road moments plus plenty more. The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check David out on: Instagram: Website: Facebook: Youtube: In Tails with David Hobson and Colin Lane: Spotify: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/34462455
info_outline
#269: Des Bishop - Rising Above
12/09/2024
#269: Des Bishop - Rising Above
Des Bishop is a stand up comedian, podcaster, writer and author. His new comedy special, ‘Of All People’ Is now out on 800 Pound Gorilla Media (links below) . Of All People is an hour of original stand-up and a culmination of years of experience on stage all over including in Queens, Ireland, and China. Bishop crafts high-energy stories and jokes, bringing the audience on a wildly entertaining ride through tales of his international travels and the gap between his looks and attitude. The openness and honesty of his presenting style combined with his restless imagination and perceptive observations make Des Bishop a must-see for fans of unique, insightful and provocative comedy. Now a massive star in Ireland, native New Yorker, Des moved from Queens to Ireland in his mid-teens in 1990. He first came to prominence with his extraordinary TV series The Des Bishop Work Experience (2004), where he lived on minimum wage in a series of different jobs in Ireland. Mixing this documentary footage with stand-up, the series became one of the most talked-about of the year, and propelled Des into national stardom. In 2006, he embarked on his second critically acclaimed TV series, Joy In The Hood, where he taught stand-up comedy in disadvantaged areas in four major Irish cities. Another hugely successful live tour followed including invitations to the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal and the Melbourne Comedy Festival in Australia. In 2007/8 Des embarked on his most ambitious and challenging TV programme to date: he decided to learn Irish from scratch and perform a 60 minute stand-up comedy routine in the Irish language. Over the course of 12 months, he lived with a family in the West Of Ireland honing his craft and in March 2008, the first episode of In The Name Of The Fada was broadcast. In The Name Of The Fada has prompted a radical re-think about how to teach Irish in schools and it unsurprisingly won the Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA) for Best Television Series later that year. In 2010, Des put together his most personal show to date called My Dad Was Nearly James Bond. Inspired by his father, Mike who was diagnosed with terminal cancer; Des documented the remarkable life of an actor and model who gave up the glamour for a steady job in a department store when his three sons were born. Des also wrote a memoir by the same name, which was short-listed for an Irish Book Of The Year Award. The My Dad Was Nearly James Bond live show previewed in Melbourne, before opening at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to widespread acclaim and five star reviews including Brian Logan of The Guardian who called it “a coup de théâtre…compelling…like diamonds, this show is forever”. The show toured extensively both nationally and internationally in 2010/11 including The Barrow Street Theatre in New York. In 2013 Des travelled to Beijing, China to learn Mandarin and he has been living there for the past 18 months. He is now fluent and the show, Breaking China was another major hit for broadcaster RTE in 2014 and he also made a half hour radio documentary about the rise of Stand Up in China for the BBC World Service called “Stand up for China”. His live show again opened at the Edinburgh Festival where he played to over 5,000 people and included an invitation to perform at the Soho Theatre in London and a return to Barrow Street in New York. Des has appeared on many live stand up shows including Edinburgh Comedy Festival Live (BBC), Live at the Comedy Store (Comedy Central) and Australian music themed quiz show Spicks and Specks (ABC). He was also the star of HBO’s “A Comic’s Climb” about his debut at the Aspen Comedy festival in 2005. In total, Des has released five bestselling stand-up DVDs: Des Bishop Live at Vicar Street (2004); Des Bishop Live (2005); Des Bishop – Fitting In (2006); Des Bishop – Tongues (2007); and Desfunctional (2009). His special, “Made in China” was released by Universal Pictures in November 2015. His special One Day You’ll Understand was released in November 2018 on the RTE Player. The openness and honesty of his presenting style combined with his restless imagination and perceptive comic observations make Des Bishop a must-see for fans of unique, insightful and provocative comedy. We chat about his new comedy special, moving in his teens to boarding school in Ireland, grief and loss of his father, ‘crazy’ reviews, imposter syndrome, becoming the parent to your parents, rehab, addiction in his teens, finding his voice, plus plenty more. The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Des out on: Instagram: Website / tour dates: Facebook: Youtube: TikTok: Comedy special (newer one): ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/34341225
info_outline
#268: Sahana Srinivasan - Hurry Up And Wait
12/02/2024
#268: Sahana Srinivasan - Hurry Up And Wait
Sahana Srinivasan is an actor and comedian. They are currently appearing in Amazon’s new family comedy, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh. Following the newly emigrated Pradeep family as they retell (often through conflicting versions!) the story of their first few humorous months adjusting from Indian to American culture from an interrogation room. Sahana stars as the oldest and most rebellious child, daughter ‘Bahnu’, who has found herself instantly drawn to her neighbor next door – one of the many ways her family finds themselves personally and professionally intertwined with the polar opposite family across the street. Naveen Andrews, Sindhu Vee, Ashwin Sakthivel, Arjun Sriram, Megan Hilty, Ethan Suplee, Pete Holmes and Nicholas Hamilton also star. Directed and EP’d by Michael Showalter and inspired by the personal experiences of Emmy-nominated creator Vijal Patel. Sahana is best known for hosting the science focused Netflix docuseries, BRAINCHILD, produced by Pharrell Williams in 2018, Sahana has since recurred on HBO’s INSECURE, Apple TV+’s FOR ALL MANKIND and on Freeform’s GROWN-ISH. On the comedy side, Sahana is known for their characters and one-liners about their cultural identity and life experiences, having been picked as one of Just For Laughs’ New Faces of Comedy in 2023. We chat about their new show The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, comedy & Just For Laughs, expectations and hope, nickelodeon pilots that don’t go ahead, taking a break from stand up, weight lifting plus plenty more. The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Sahana out on: Instagram: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/34132616
info_outline
#267: Taylor Cole - Choose Happy
11/25/2024
#267: Taylor Cole - Choose Happy
Taylor Cole is an actor who is perhaps best known for her recurring roles in THE ORIGINALS on the CW in addition to TV Land’s IMPASTOR, the CW’s SUPERNATURAL, and A&E’s THE GLADES. Taylor was a series regular on the NBC hit series THE EVENT. Taylor has since appeared in numerous shows, including SECOND CHANCE, BALLERS, CASTLE, TWO AND A HALF MEN, and NCIS, to name a few. Taylor is currently starring in A REASON FOR THE SEASON and recently starred in the movies ALOHA HEART, LONG LOST CHRISTMAS, and PUMPKIN EVERYTHING for Hallmark and prior to that starred in ALL IS BRIGHT and SOUTH BEACH LOVE. Other feature credits include ONE WINTER WEDDING and UNLOCKING CHRISTMAS for Hallmark and BAD for Lifetime. Taylor can also be seen in the films THE VIOLENT KIND, which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, THE SURROGATES, TWELVE ROUNDS, as well as MTV’s ALL YOU’VE GOT. Taylor first debuted in the WB TV series SUMMERLAND as a series regular. We chat about passion and purpose, being clear on what you want, being an ’accidental actor’ modelling and volleyball, her new Hallmark film A REASON FOR THE SEASON, no sorry rule, life lessons from her dad, choosing happiness, growth, wanting to get better and dogs! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Taylor out on: Instagram: Twitter / X: The Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/33967712
info_outline
#266: David Rose - Welcoming Failure
11/18/2024
#266: David Rose - Welcoming Failure
David Rose is stand up comedian, writer, performer, live event producer and radio broadcaster. In just a short few years, David Rose has accumulated an impressive variety of skills. Based in Melbourne, he has toured his work across five countries in English and German and has opened for some of the nation's top headliners, including Dilruk Jayasinha, Akmal Saleh, Dave O'Neil, and Fiona O'Loughlin. His quick wit and neurotic humour has thrilled audiences across Australia, and has resulted in appearances at many of Australia's best comedy clubs, such as the Comedy Store (SYD), The Comic's Lounge (MEL), The Sit Down Comedy Club (BRIS) and Joker's Comedy Club (TAS). David's work has also gained him a growing online following, with over 5 million views in 2022 alone. He has written and presented two feature-length documentaries for ABC Radio National, numerous segments for TV's The Leak and Tonightly, and has performed at six consecutive Melbourne International Comedy Festivals. David is a skilled MC and excels at hosting and performing at corporate events, fundraisers, and private functions. We chat about getting success too quickly and longevity, hawk tuah success, competition, why Luke Kidgell is a gun, control and social media, persistence, panic attacks, meeting people where they are at, lessons from a monk, busking plus plenty more. The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check David out on: Instagram: Website/ tour dates: Facebook: Tiktok: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/33957937
info_outline
#265: Andrew Hamilton - Letting Go Of Hate
11/11/2024
#265: Andrew Hamilton - Letting Go Of Hate
Andrew Hamilton is a stand up comedian, author and podcast host. In 2021, Andrew spent four months in two of Sydney’s maximum-security prisons for the commercial supply of psychedelic drugs. While incarcerated, Andrew began noticing the transportive power of laughter. After all, if a joke can make you forget you’re in prison, what else can it do? Upon his release, Andrew took up stand-up comedy, initially under strict bail conditions where his parents had to come with him to shows, and he had to be home in time for curfew. Since then, Andrew has become a regular in Sydney comedy clubs, recently completing sold out shows at Sydney Comedy Festival, and Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Andrew’s critically acclaimed debut solo show, “Jokes About the Time I Went to Prison”, earned him a nomination for Best Newcomer in Melbourne. He is also a co-host of the popular podcast ‘Flog Cabin’ and author of ‘The Profound benefits of a stint in prison’. His new comedy channel, the OG crew is now out. The Profound Benefits of a Stint in Prison is a sometimes confronting, more often hilarious insider's view to life inside. Andrew left prison a changed man, determined to turn his life around. This is the story of what happens when max denial collides with the reality of max security. We chat about being a drug kingpin, change, lessons from prison and making profound change, his many new comedy ventures and love for comedy, moving forward and resilience, how comedy was the answer, Yeah nah, his passion for pizzas and his new book. The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Andrew out on: Instagram: Tiktok: Youtube: New book: OG crew (Youtube channel): ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/33873457
info_outline
#264: Paul Roos - Showing Up
11/04/2024
#264: Paul Roos - Showing Up
Paul Roos needs no introduction for the millions of Australians who follow AFL - a legendary career saw Paul achieve success as both a player and coach. He is an ex AFL player, ex AFL premiership winning coach, and captain, 7 x All-Australian, MVP winner and founder & director at Performance by Design as well as an author and media personality. Paul Roos has achieved it all in the football world, he was inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame in 2011 and elevated to Bloods Champion in 2024. He played 269 games for Fitzroy and 87 for Sydney. He was a two-time All-Australian captain and has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame. He is also the author of, ‘Here it Is’. Paul’s love for high performance dialogue was instrumental to his coaching career at the Sydney Swans. His revolutionary approach to player feedback and recognition was pivotal in building the much-revered ‘Bloods Culture’. After finishing as a player, Paul went on to become a successful coach at Sydney, guiding the Swans to the 2005 premiership, their first in 72 seasons. Paul is also the founder and director at, ‘Performance by Design’. This is their tag: At Performance by Design we build high performing cultures by helping role model leaders bring team behaviors to life. We engineer performance by connecting and empowering teams. Using a tailored system structured to address unique business pain-points and personalities, cultural transformation is assured. This is Performance by Design. We chat about his playing career and being a professional sportsman, coaching, starting out semi professionally, his passion of leadership, his new ventures, drive & passion, conflicts, attacks from the media and CEO, showing up, meditation and mindfulness, living in Hawaii plus plenty more! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Paul out on: Instagram: LinkedIn: Performance by Design: Prince to King: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/33768947
info_outline
#263: Bryan Callen - The Hero's Journey
10/28/2024
#263: Bryan Callen - The Hero's Journey
Bryan Callen is an actor, comedian, podcaster and writer. He is most well-known for the beloved-role of “Coach Mellor” on The Goldbergs and ABC’s Schooled. He has appeared on such shows as Oz, NewsRadio, Kingdom, 2 Broke Girls, Sex and the City, MADTv, Frasier, Reba, NYPD Blue, The West Wing, Las Vegas, Fat Actress, The King Of Queens, How I Met Your Mother, CSI: Miami, Death Valley, In Plain Sight, CSI, Sullivan & Son, Entourage, Californication—and many more! Bryan has also appeared in such films as Joker, The Hangover, The Hangover Part II, Think Like A Dog, Ride Along, Flock Of Dudes, Dirty Lies, Old School, Bad Santa, Scary Movie 4, The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Warrior, About Last Night, Walk Of Shame, My Man Is A Loser, Planes: Fire & Rescue—and many more. As a veteran headliner, Bryan is known for his work in theaters and comedy clubs around the world—but most people know him as one of Los Angeles’s favorite comics. He has 4 comedy specials with the latest Man Tears and has a new comedy special coming out soon, so keep your eyes open. In addition to co-hosting The Fighter & The Kid podcast, Bryan is known for being a regular guest on other popular podcasts like the Joe Rogan Experience and Fight Companion. Bryan also hosts the podcast, Off Limits. We chat about his thirst for knowledge and desire to grow, being the hero in your own story, masculinity, comedy, rejection, asking the tough internal questions and lying to yourself, The Goldbergs, his upcoming comedy special, being harsh on himself plus plenty more! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Bryan out on: Instagram: Twitter / X: Youtube: Website + comedy shows: Off Limits podcast on all the podcast apps or video here: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/33635567
info_outline
#262: Michelle Hurd - Run Your Own Race
10/21/2024
#262: Michelle Hurd - Run Your Own Race
Michelle Hurd is an actor who recently starred as ‘Raffi’ opposite Patrick Stewart for three seasons on the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard. Receiving universal acclaim from critics and fans alike. On the feature side, Michelle starred alongside Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell in the global smash Anyone But You. On television, Michelle recently completed production on the fifth and final season of You for Netflix. Other television credits include “Shepherd" on NBC’s hit drama Blindspot, Lethal Weapon, Ash Vs. Evil Dead, the Marvel Universe series Daredevil and Jessica Jones (“DA Samantha Reyes”), and the A&E summer series, The Glades ("Colleen Manus”). Other television credits include: Walking Dead: Dead City, Pose, Hawaii Five-0, Devious Maids, 90210, Witches of East End, How To Get Away With Murder, Bosch, Mysteries of Laura, Pretty Little Liars, Raising Hope, The Good Wife, Law & Order: SVU ("Det. Jeffries"), Gossip Girl, ER, Bones, According To Jim, Law & Order, Smith, Skin, Leap Years, Charmed, The O.C., Kevin Hill, The Practice and Another World. Whew! Film credits include the upcoming The Designer, 25 Miles To Normal, Where The Wind Blows, The Plus One opposite Cedric The Entertainer, Kemba, Somewhere In Montana, Inheritance, Bad Hair, Being Frank opposite Jim Gaffigan, Be Afraid, We Don't Belong Here (alongside Catherine Keener and Maya Rudolph), Search Engines, Within The Dark, Girl Most Likely (with Kristen Wiig), Random Hearts, Personals, Double Parked, Wolf and King of New York. Theater credits include: The Dog in the Manger (Shakespeare Theatre Company), AMI (MCC), Getting Away with Murder (Broadway), The Violet Hour (Off-Broadway), Looking for the Pony (Off-Broadway), and 900 Oneonta (Off-Broadway). Michelle recently stepped down from SAG-AFTRA’s National Vice President of Los Angeles and is currently the Chair of the SAG-AFTRA Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee. For her commitment to union work, Michelle received the SAG-AFTRA President’s Award for Union Service in 2021. We chat about having dyslexia, being immersed in the Star Trek world, working in the business for 30+ years, SAG- AFTRA, martial arts, joy of K-pop, being your own champion, rejection, authenticity and uniqueness, plus plenty more! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Michelle out on: Instagram: Twitter / X: Facebook: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/33541872
info_outline
#261: Nick Hoff - Growing Pains
09/02/2024
#261: Nick Hoff - Growing Pains
Nick Hoff is a nationally touring stand-up comedian as well as an actor and writer who has been on MTV, co-hosts a weekly show on SiriusXM, and was a featured act in Netflix’s Comedy Festival. His debut album “Baby Daddy” hit #1 on the iTunes comedy charts, and his BRAND NEW comedy special “America The Final Season” is now out! (links in episode notes below). When he’s not on stage, Nick can often be seen in commercials for Miller Lite, Pepsi and Amazon. Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy hand-picked Nick to open for them on their critically acclaimed “We’ve Been Thinking” Tour. He has headlined the “Pink Ribbon Comedy Tour” which made stops in 40 cities doing 65 shows all raising money for breast cancer research. He was also part of the “Walk of Shame” national comedy tour, which was not quite so noble a cause. He also hosts the podcast “Hoffcast” where he trades stories with comedians, friends, and one astronaut (so far). We chat about his brand new comedy special, self-belief, thriving in your own way, bombing, fear, his magical joke book, 10 years in the making to start stand up, taking risks, sharing ideas with the right people, plus plenty more The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Nick out on: Instagram: Twitter / X: Website: Facebook: Comedy Special: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/32858902
info_outline
#260: Terrence Martin - Creative Control
08/26/2024
#260: Terrence Martin - Creative Control
Terrence Martin is a writer and independent filmmaker. An acting, writing, and directing collaboration with his wife and Academy Award-nominated screen icon, Ed Harris, his latest, GET AWAY IF YOU CAN, premiered in US theaters and is now available on Amazon & Apple as it rolls out internationally. The film was also honored by ReelTalker, who said it features the most memorable cinema scene of the year, a testament to its impact on audiences. Along with directing the depiction of the 1846 American wagon train tragedy, THE DONNER PARTY, Terrence loves writing novels and surfing. He lives in Patagonia with his wife, Maui, the dog, and Puma, the cat. We chat about losing creative control and creative regrets, life in Patagonia, surfing, making a living playing poker, pitching and working with Ed Harris, writing the revenant before the revenant, being a studio tester and his love for film, seeking the right advice, egos, no bullying policy, creative jealousy and comparison + plenty more! The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Terrence out on: Instagram: Twitter / X: Watch Get Away If You Can: ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/32728647
info_outline
#259: Jordan L. Jones - Start Somewhere
08/19/2024
#259: Jordan L. Jones - Start Somewhere
Jordan L Jones is an actor who stars as ‘Jazz’, aka (DJ Jazzy Jeff), on the drama series “Bel-Air,” currently streaming on Peacock. The series holds the title of highest rating on Peacock and was named one of Entertainment Weekly’s Biggest Entertainment film/TV project of 2022. Jordan has had the unique opportunity to portray more than one role based on a real person. Jordan was a series regular on the Fox TV comedy “REL,” based on the life of comedian Lil Rel Howery. His other credits include FX’s award-winning series “Snowfall,” CBS’s “All Rise,” and the Netflix/Chuck Lorre comedy “Disjointed.” We chat about being the snapchat king, being a PA, wisdom from his mum, cancelled shows and regrets, rejection, Bel Air, moving forward plus plenty more. The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Check Jordan out on: Instagram: Twitter / X: Threads: Twitch: JordanLJones ------------------------------------------- Follow @Funny in Failure on Instagram and Facebook and @Michael_Kahan on Insta & Twitter to keep up to date with the latest info.
/episode/index/show/funnyinfailure/id/32632527