Comedy with an Accent

Alice Frick is a comedian, writer, producer originally from Vienna, Austria, who is also the show runner of "Laughing Labia", an all-female line up comedy show and one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ comedy show in London with a loyal following. Alice talks about the articulation lessons she has been having and how her English went from American-sounding to more obviously German when she decided to switch to British pronunciation. We also learn why Alice is happy to go with the Alpine Milk Maid stereotype and why certain stereotypes about Austria seem to be based on an element of truth. This episodes concludes on The Anti Self Help Book written and published by Alice, a body of work that mocks the self help book genre (as pointed out by Alice, there's no regulation in publishing a self-help book) while gathers Alice's otherworldly thoughts, jokes and anecdotes. --------------------------------- Alice's Anti Self Help book can be found on Amazon (Kindle version/Paperback) Follow Alice on Instagram and Youtube Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 00:45 Intro and some German grammar chat 02:27 A comedy show in German in London 04:43 An Austrian having a dig at Germans 07:42 Two immigrants complain about the English greeting “How are you?” 11:45 Alice’s Articulation lesson 17:56 Some tongue twisters 18:26 Accents and actor casting 24:17 Laughing Labia - an all Female line up comedy show 29:06 Unsolicited feedback from fellow Male comedian 33:57 A stronger accent on stage 40:34 Alice's more subtle humour outside the "milk maid" character - The Anti Self Help Book -------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Comedy powerhouse Arielle Souma is the very first French guest on this podcast after more than thirty episodes (FINALLY!). Unapologetic, unfiltered and oozing “I don’t give a f**k” energy, Arielle is known for her commanding stage presence and her punchy, intense and impactful comedy delivery. Arielle talks about keeping her English simple and accessible, thus easier to understand for non-native English speakers in the audience. Also, some of those long words are just too pompous for her liking. Arielle also talks about how English works better for her rhythms as a language than her native French. The cheeky French comic claims it makes sense to pronounce various words à la française, since that’s the origin of those English words. Unless it’s words like paedophilia that requires a bit of phonetic precision. As a mixed-race black woman raised by a white French family, Arielle talks about her hilarious over-compensating “trying to be more black than black” phase in the past. Surprisingly, the UK black comedy circuit does not particularly welcome her with open arms, just because her blackness does not fit in the several archetypes. She may be too confusing to tick a box for the industry and too saucy for the mainstream media, but if you are a London comedy club regulars, chances are you will get blown away when Arielle rocks up at the show. --------------------------------- Follow Arielle on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 01:08 Pre-recording chat (trashing Ivorians and Nigerians) 03:07 Intro 04:43 Unfiltered and blunt 05:54 A French accent and using it 09:49 Arielle prefers her name pronounced in English 10:30 Opening a comedy set by addressing the French accent 11:29 An African identity in addition to the French identity 12:45 A black girl raised by a white family 16:11 How Arielle raised her son to be proud of the colour of his skin 17:03 Pros and cons of a French speaker learning English 18:26 What kind of English pronunciation does a non-native speaker pursue? 20:12 An example where Arielle had to correct her pronunciation to ensure the audience understand her 22:09 Keeping the words used simple 25:04 A boxing-like comedy rhythm 27:13 On swearing 31:21 Racism in France v.s. in the UK 39:06 Being othered on the black comedy circuit in the UK 42:36 Too spicy for mainstream media? 46:14 Running a French comedy show in London 48:58 Arielle’s social media -------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Gino Christofaro is the podcast’s first guest whose home city is not indicated in the episode title. He simply cannot name one. Being an embassy kid, Gino never had a childhood home like many of us do. Gino has been featured on Comedy Central Germany’s Roast Battle and is a now TV writer in both English and German for Comedy Central, ZDF, Paramount+ and Amazon. Born in São Paolo, Brazil, Gino was brought “back” to Bonn, Germany then moved with his parents to Saudi Arabia, Argentina…. just to name a few. Not in once place has Gino stayed for more than three years. He had one year to make good friends, another year to enjoy the friendships only to lose those friends later. Now Berlin-based, Gino identifies more with New York that dominated his childhood TV and where he started performing (but he is not even an American to call NYC home). A running gag in this interview is how Gino pays so much attention to his hairs, which your host mocks as a “First World Problem”. But the hair issue runs deep and reflects the childhood anxiety of a constant outsider always trying to fit in a new environment. The “embassy kid” journey forged Gino’s unique cadence in his mother tongue and influenced his approach to stand up comedy and to the audience. --------------------------------- Gino is going on tour in April! Check out Gino’s shows here Follow Gino on Instagram Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 00:42 Intro 02:16 What is his name “Gino” short for? 03:11 A German Brazilian (of Italian descent) 05:54 A New York English accent and a “weird” German accent 08:13 Gino’s hair issues (one key theme throughout the interview) 10:18 On Gino’s Jersey/New York accent again 10:52 A little rant on Little Italy, Italian New Yorkers, Albanians 14:25 Why Gino was constantly during his childhood 16:15 On Gino’s hair issues again 18:57 Where does Gino consider to be home? Berlin or New York? 20:17 An identity-less guy, a German perceived to be faking American 22:31 Identity-less or little traits of all different places? 26:06 How much does Gino have to explain his identity at the start of his comedy set? 28:26 Gino’s German-ness questioned 29:27 A comedian’s attire and audience’s expectation 32:03 From anxious comic to not caring about what people think 39:20 Sadness and depression and how it’s reflected in his comedy (and social media) 45:23 The German (language) comedy scene 47:21 What Gino represents as an English comedy performer 52:27 Does liberal Berlin give Gino a false sense of comfort? 54:20 Gino’s social media -------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

This is a special episode recorded in Mandarin with our Chinese guest Jamie Wang from last week. For the non-Mandarin-speaking guests, our regular episode in English will be updated next Tuesday April 9th at 7am. （It's the normally bi-weekly schedule so this bonus episode does not come at the expense of regular English episodes！） 延續上一集，本節目特別用中文額外錄製一段主持人 Kuan-wen 與來自上海的表演人 Jamie Wang 訪談內容。Jamie 回顧自己如何站上舞台開始表演單口喜劇，又為何偏好透過英文表演。Jamie 也談到語言特性以及就喜劇的節奏和喜感，台灣所用中文與中國所用中文間的區別。 另外本集也未通篇針對喜劇討論，Jamie 在聊的過程中分享在台身為陸生/中國學生一點心得、台灣人基於媒體塑造形象對中國人可能偏扁平化的認知。 --------------------------------- 在 IG 上訂閱追蹤本集來賓 Jamie 在 IG 上訂閱追蹤主持人 Kuan-wen 在 IG 上訂閱追蹤本節目 Comedy with an Accent -------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

How do you perform stand up comedy when half of the audience sees you as the enemy at worst, or not knowing what to think of you at best, in a language that is neither your or the majority audience’s mother tongue? Given the complex relationship between China and Taiwan, how does one position herself when they are known as “The Chinese comedian” in Taiwan? Jamie Wang is a student from Shanghai, China, who came to Taiwan for her master degree but became the rising star of the relatively small English stand up comedy scene on the predominantly Mandarin- and Taiwanese-speaking island. She opened for Atsuko Okatsuka when the latter paid Taiwan a surprising visit in May 2023. Jamie talks about audience lowering their expectation on the performer’s language fluency in a non English-speaking country. She also shares why she is determined to give voices to two otherwise two-dimensional groups - Chinese people in the eyes of Taiwanese (even though she does not want to be pigeon-holed as the comedian who bangs on about politics between China and Taiwan); Asian women in the eyes of caucasian male expats. If those white expats can be so demeaning to Asian women when they tell English jokes in Asian countries, why can't Asian women return the favour? *For Mandarin speakers, there will be an additional episode recorded in Mandarin to be released on Tuesday 2 April --------------------------------- Follow Jamie on Instagram Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 00:41 Intro 01:59 How Jamie learned English through an (French langugage) exchange programme in Belgium 03:34 How different types of audiences perceive Jamie’s English and her accent 06:45 Whether Jamie reveals her Chinese identity at an English stand up comedy show in Taiwan 08:57 Taiwanese audience’s mixed attitude/hostility towards Jamie as a Chinese performer 11:00 Jamie’s stage persona and the real-life Jamie 16:24 “You are the ONLY Chinese person I like!” 17:21 Jamie joking about the white male expats in Asia 19:44 “Is my **** bigger than the Asian ****s?” 22:02 Taiwanese people’s ability to laugh at themselves 25:39 One trick pony - if a comedian is only known for a “thing” 27:31 Where does Jamie go from performing English stand up comedy in Taiwan? 29:09 The comfort of performing in a second language; free from judgment 30:56 Jamie v.s. her social media -------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Could you ever imagine no longer having a fixed place you call home, not even having a storage space to keep your belongings, that you are just constantly on the road, crossing borders at times, moving from one city to another? Such is the life style of Victor Patrascan, a truly nomadic comedian who has been on the road since 2020, all for his love for performing stand up comedy. In 2022 alone, he has traveled to 27 countries across 2 continents and performed in 70 cities. In the first episode of this podcast’s long due second season, your host was reunited with this old friend of his when Victor came to the UK for a few shows. Well respected by his peers, Victor’s line was quoted by three other guests from foreign backgrounds, all of who were previously featured on this podcast: “Before I came to the UK, I was just a guy. Now I am a Romanian.” Victor used to be a London-based act, until despairs caused by Covid lockdowns energised him to sell his belongings and start travelling and performing in continental European countries. He now performs to a mixture of local and expat crowds, although the majority of them are not native English speakers. In this episode, Victor talks about the differences between his old days of gigging in the UK and now on the road. There is a significant amount of disagreement between your host and Victor in this episode, as they have varying views on the boundaries of stand up comedy. But what they have in common was to agree to disagree agreeably. --------------------------------- Follow Victor on Instagram Victor is touring, find him when he comes to your town Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 00:43 Prelude - explaining why the episode is released late 01:33 Intro - chitchat 03:19 Victor’s home town; Romanian immigrants in Europe 05:51 Where’s the line when you mock and criticise another country? 07:40 Agree to disagree agreeably 09:51 A comedian who is constantly touring 12:25 Is there a trade off being constantly on the road? 14:54 Proud of his own accent, “This is who I am” 18:55 Having to explain his accent and he’s Romanian facing the UK audience in the past 21:31 Fair game to mock someone’s accent at a comedy show? 30:43 Racism faced in continental Europe for being Romanian; some credit to the UK 34:05 Ever feeling lonely on the road? 36:14 Now performing to other foreigners 38:55 Difference of use of English between continental European and UK audiences 42:53 Crowd work (audience interactions) - social media clips 49:01 Ultimately it’s about being funny 50:42 Victor’s social media 51:04 Both people on the left and right sees Victor as if he had horns 52:31 Being funny and/or being philosophical --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Comedy with an Accent is back! Sorry for the prolonged break but we are back with another fun season, First episode will be out at 7am (GMT) on Tuesday 12 March. See you then!

One of the fastest rising stars selling out venues across European cities, Sri Lankan born Vidura spent his childhood, his teenage years and his young adulthood in small chunks of time in different countries, Vidura is a globe-trotter. To him, Berlin sometime feels more like home than Colombo. In the final episode of the first season of this podcast, Vidura is our perfect guest to illustrate how conventional definitions of "homeland", "mother tongue" no longer make senses to the globally mobile young population. An accent that cannot be easily located. Having lived in the United States and reading mostly in English, at times Vidura feels like English is more like his most fluent language, similar to lots of young immigrants who move to big cities for a brighter future, better career and a fun life, Unsurprisingly, these are also the bulk of Vidura's dedicated audience. A thinker and a prolific reader, Vidura sheds light on his cultural commentary approach to comedy and why he only write jokes that he has emotional attachments to or from ideas he has been mulling over in his head. --------------------------------- Follow Vidura on Instagram and his website Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 00:54 Intro 02:45 The infamous Rajapaksa family in Sri Lanka (no relations to Vidura) 04:02 Vidura’s weird mixed/ Netflix accent 05:37 Sinhala and other languages in Sri Lanka 06:59 Moving between USA and Sri Lanka and Vidura’s first language 10:46 Do British people ask Vidura about his accent? 12:31 Vidura’s audience’s profile 13:49 Vidura’s unique perspective because of his life journey 15:16 Too foreign to be a Sri Lankan 17:40 Wanting to leave Sri Lanka 19:54 More on Vidura’s connection with Sri Lanka and Colombo 22:47 Berlin feels like home 23:57 Not tailoring material too much 26:18 View on South Asian comedians doing the “accents” 29:24 Cult leader look and chilled energy 31:02 Only talk about things he actually cares about 34:38 A habit of reading 35:17 British people trying to seem smart 36:30 Vidura’s way wit words 39:51 Telling jokes as minority/an immigrant 43:26 Vidura’s high-quality video clips on Instagram 46:38 Vidura’s website and social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Hi all! Thanks so much for your support in the last year. Season One of Comedy with an Accent Podcast is coming to an end at episode 31 - there's one more episode to be released this month. The podcast will go on! It's just that it will take a summer break in August and return in autumn. Your host Kuan-wen explains why the summer break is needed. Please don't unfollow because we will be back very soon (also, you have one more episode to look forward to!)

When your host messaged Dan about the interview at the start of this year, he replied that he was still on the move after leaving Russia. He could not be sure where he will have a legal paper to stay. It's a weirder-than-ever time to be a Russian comedian, especially one who dared to joke about Putin's height in his comedy special. Dan followed his instinct to become a 'travelling comedian'. Travelling or exiling, depending on how you see it. In deciding to leave Moscow, Dan ditched a successful career as a stand up comedian back home. Even though it was still possible to continue to perform in his mother tongue for the overseas Russians, Dan decided to convert himself to an English stand up performer. He did have to start over again but in his own words, it is a chance to re-invent himself from Денис Чужой (Denis Chuzhoy) to Dan The Stranger. Dan talks about this extraordinary journey and his comedy choices - why he'd shy away from hack Russian stereotypes and how Mike Birbiglia inspired him with comedy story-telling. --------------------------------- Follow Dan on Instagram His stand up special (in Russian) released in September 2021 that was mentioned in this episode Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 00:48 Intro 02:47 From a (domestic) Russian comedian to an exiled/travelling Russian comedian performing in English 07:30 Declaring his view on the war is a must 09:21 Infrequent English performances prior to the exile 10:53 Conversion to a new language to make a living 14:04 A chance to re-invent yourself 16:00 Continue to learn English from an App 18:20 The journey out of Russia 20:49 How have Dan’s audience changed after he left Russia? 21:48 Russian overseas do not stick together 24:22 Hack jokes based on Russian stereotypes 30:51 90% thinking in Russian and 10% thinking in English 32:13 Dan’s special in Russian released in 2021 33:29 “Russian comedy”? 37:01 Police knocks of the door for his jokes 40:25 Dan’s atypical comedy choice as a Russian comedian 42:33 Writing jokes inside a story --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Schalk Bezuidenhout was tour support for Trevor Noah and won South African Comics' Choice Awards' Newcomer and Break Through Act of the Year. This episode was recorded in May when the South African star brought his show to Soho Theatre in London for a 5-day run, filling the room with South African expats and local Brits alike. Schalk explains the stereotypes attached to Afrikaans and talks about how Afrikaans speakers are often on the receiving end of jokes in South Africa, how the Afrikaans accent can be made fun of, Nevertheless, comedy serves as the unifying factor for the multi-racial post-Apartheid South Africa by creating a shared experience When gigging abroad, the white South African label used to lead the audience to automatically assume the comic has got to be racist, so much so that a disclaimer is required. Schalk explains how things are changing and why he would always identify himself as an Afrikaans South African rather than just a South African. *Apologies from your host in this episode as he mispronounced Afrikaans by omitting the "S" at the end on a few occasions. --------------------------------- Follow Schalk on Instagram and his website Schalk will be in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival this August! See Schalk in EdFringe Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter Your host Kuan-wen will be in Edinburgh in August, too! --------------------------------- 00:50 Intro 02:28 Afrikaans as a language (vs. Modern Dutch) 05:54 Schalk prefers performing in English 08:05 Languages in South Africa 09:28 South Africans’ less privileged passports 12:30 Schalk’s accent / comedy being one of the unifying factors in South Africa 16:11 Schalk performing in front of other ethnicities in South Africa 18:07 How Schalk was “forced” into learning English 19:29 Picking on English South Africans 19:59 Needing to warm up to switch to English 22:04 A party for South Africans (other guests welcome) 23:50 Changing words and slangs in the comedy set 25:39 Different approaches for gigging in different cities 28:36 A Public school is a Private school in the UK 29:34 People tend to ask “where’s your accent from?” 32:45 Afrikaans as oppressed (Anglo-Boer war) or oppressor (Apartheid)? 33:24 Comedy audience automatically assumed white South African comedians to be racist 36:30 The Afrikaans South African performer rather than just South African 38:41 South Africans in the UK more homesick than those in Australia 41:21 How many South Africans there are in the UK ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Having only started performing comedy in the UK in 2021, Joshua was crowned winner of So You Think You Are Funny in 2022 and bagged another win at London Comedy Store gong show. He was finalist at BBC New Comedy Award 2022 and nominated as Best Newcomer by Chortle. The Southern India's native came to the UK for a corporate job and he only took up a comedy course to get better at communication doing his corporate job, These achievements and credits were unintended. Equally unintended is his understated, still and measured stage delivery. Joshua claims he is just trying to remember his lines! This episode inevitably covers a few big topics as our chilled and composed guest is incredibly intelligent and eloquent. Joshua explains the opening line about his accent he dislikes and how he has had to go the extra mile to convince others that some Indian boys really are called Joshua. --------------------------------- Follow Joshua on Instagram and Youtube Joshua's work=in=progress show at Top Secret Comedy Club in London on 17 July 2023 - tickets Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 00:38 Intro 02:43 Why is Joshua named Joshua? Anglo Indians or Indians who converted to Christianity? 07:49 Joking about his Indian accent he didn’t think he has;========= a school that focuses on English education 11:02 To “perfect” one’s accent? 12:09 The “Bank support accent” joke 15:00 “Sorry my name is not brown enough for you” 18:47 Joshua’s languages 20:14 Languages in South India 20:52 North v South in India 21:59 Colourism; racism without the race 24:44 Joshua on colonialism 30:11 A subdued, still style of comedy delivery (that is unintended) 34:25 Not staging a fake Indian accent 35:56 Joshua’s upcoming shows and social media ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Our very first Portuguese guest is comedian Jomi Cruz who radiates tons of youthful energy and resembles a junior Eurovision contestant. Jomi shares how he acquired a quasi American accent that is not good enough to fool Americans but just enough to trick some Brits. Jomi chats about the few stereotypes associated with Portugal for British audience but the one bad joke about Madeline McCann* that is sure to put punters off but 1 out of every 5 new open mic comics tempts to do. Sounding not typically Portuguese but more certainly camp, the fashion-forward and even androgynous-dressing Jomi explains how he learned to embrace his accent, his campiness through therapy. The episode was recorded back in January but the overlap of its release date with the renewed reservoir search for Maddie REALLY IS CONINCIDENTAL. --------------------------------- Follow Jomi on Instagram and his London comedy night - Comedy Freaks Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com --------------------------------- 00:50 Intro 02:22 Madonna’s time in Lisbon 03:03 Where is the name “Jomi” from 03:57 What does Portuguese sound like? 04:27 Jomi’s fake-ish American accent 09:22 Not an obvious Portuguese accent vs hack immigrant comedy 12:08 Junior Eurovision vibe 13:08 Starting his comedy set stating he is Portuguese 14:42 Hating the way he spoke pre-therapy 16:28 Embracing his campness 22:00 Therapy and change of attitude towards his way of speaking 23:26 Rejected by toxic masculine male punters due to his dampness? 26:08 Jokes about Madeleine McCann 30:28 Portuguese typically good at foreign languages? 32:52 Being nice and The changing Portuguese mentality 34:55 Jomi’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Evaldas could have stayed in his native Lithuania and earned much more from doing comedy. After all, he started performing at a critical time in Lithuania when anyone who decided to perform was almost automatically a professional comedian. Instead, the hopeless romantic fan of stand up comedy came to the UK and started again from bottom of the barrel - doing open mic gigs all over the place to work his way up. All these because he saw a visiting pro and concluded he had to leave to get good. Your host Kuan-wen reunited with his victor - they both participated in a new act competition in Manchester in 2019. Your host came second; this episode's guest was the rightful winner. Evaldas talks about how he worked on his English to soften the accent and how he gets annoyed when the audience make notes of his accent rather than focusing on his jokes. He talks about the "East European" label as seen by audience in the UK, as most Brits know very little about his home country. You will also hear Evaldas' nuanced view on comedy sketches on social media, including his own ones, and the use of social media for comedians in general. Apart from comedy, the discussion also includes his take on the legacy of Russian/Soviet occupation in Lithuania --------------------------------- Follow Evaldas on Instagram and Youtube Evaldas also produced a very interesting documentary on his experience of participating in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a new-ish comedian. See the documentary here. Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 00:53 Intro 02:11 Evaldas’ seemingly American accent 04:58 Lithuania and Taiwan’s “Small Country Syndrome” 06:38 Evaldas would rather people focus on his jokes than on his accent (even if it is a praise) 09:01 Private English lessons in the past and continue to work on his English pronunciation 11:16 Being half Russian but not embracing the Russian side of heritage 13:52 Comedy audiences from Eastern Europe 15:36 Russian or English as foreign language in Lithuania 17:34 Why Evaldas moved to the UK (Manchester first, then London) 19:22 Lithuania’s fast-growing comedy scene 23:31 The regional “East European” identity 26:30 Not yet addressing a harsh and poor East European childhood on stage 27:26 A preference over American style comedy 30:43 Evaldas’ committed approach to comedy sketches on social media 32:17 Social media as a comedian’s necessary evil in this day and age ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Described by some as the "mother hen" of Singapore's burgeoning stand up comedy scene, Sam has just performed his solo show "Government Approved Sex" to critical acclaim at this year's Melbourne Comedy Festival. This episode was recorded at the start of 2023 when Sam returned to the UK after a mini-tour in continental Europe (preceded by a full Edinburgh fringe run last summer). Sam shares why his mother tongue Mandarin isn't his most proficient language - something that is not uncommon for Singaporeans. He explains how Singapore's language policy means he no longer speaks the languages of his grandparents, which his parents use to openly hide secrets from him. Sam also provides his insightful take on the differences between audiences in Singapore, continental Europe and the UK. Due to your host's friendship with Sam, there have been a lot of banters and swear words so apologies for the numerous beeps this episode! --------------------------------- Follow Sam on Instagram, Twitter and his website Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- 00:52 Intro (Bickering between the guest Sam and your host Kuan-wen) 05:24 Not fluent in his mother tongue - Mandarin 07:14 Singapore’s official language and de facto lingua franca 09:52 Why doesn’t Sam speak any southern Chinese languages? 13:12 International school v Chinese school students 15:23 Sam’s not-quite-Singlish English accent 17:50 Choosing to focus on stand up comedy in English instead of Mandarin 19:35 Sam’s role in Singapore’s stand up comedy scene/ opening for Jim Jeffery 21:40 Scottish comedians slowing down when performing in Singapore 22:43 Singapore’s complex relationship with its neighbour Malaysia 24:38 On Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew 27:43 Differences between comedy audiences in Singapore, continental Europe and the UK 29:19 Sam’s "Introductory Set" 31:41 Kuan-wen’s example of how comedy savvy the UK audience can be 32:42 Sam’s “Introductory Set” when performing abroad 36:20 Does Sam always mention he is gay on stage abroad? 38:29 Sam’s military service experience 41:04 Sam’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Actor and comedian Anne Klein is the first Oscar nominee (In the short film The Red Suitcase) and the first Luxembourgish guest on this podcast. Fluent in English, French, German and her native Luxembourgish, Anne has this amazing ability to switch between languages and disguises her accent(s) to fool inattentive listeners. Anne talked about being the oddball that is too weird for her small country and her coming of age after she left Luxembourg. The pandemic ironically forced her to move back home for a year or two, but this time round, she managed to find her arty people in the small country of 646,000 people and changed her pre-existing view on her own hometown. Anne also talked about how Luxembourgish lacks a richer vocabulary because of the people's fluency in languages of their neighbouring countries. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Anne shared how she started her comedy journey and offered her view on actors and comedians not just "picking one lane." --------------------------------- Follow Anne on Instagram, Twitter and her website. Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- 01:01 Intro (sound tech guessing where Anne is from) 03:46 Some facts about Luxembourg 05:07 How to pronounce Anne’s name 05:49 Luxembourgish people’s abilities to switch between languages 08:11 English being Anne’s language of choice when she talks about her emotions 09:42 Coming of age after leaving Luxembourg 13:48 In London, no one cares about your appearance (Kuan-wen mentioned Sam Smith's 2023 Brit Awards outfit. For a reminder, see this) 15:27 Do people notice Anne has an accent? How does Anne’s accent(s) affect her acting work? 17:57 Anne’s French and German (proficiency and accents) 22:08 The Luxembourgish language and how it’s used (Students taught in German and French) 25:58 How to say “Four beers, quick quick” in Luxembourg 26:14 People not knowing (enough) about Luxembourg 27:11 Kuan-wen unimpressed by his day trip to Luxembourg 28:02 Anne rarely mentions Luxembourg in her comedy routines 29:27 The pandemic forced Anne to move back home and the difference this time 31:12 A trained actor performing comedy; pick a lane? 34:40 Luxembourg and Eurovision 36:13 Love having her hands in lots of pies --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

This week, your host Kuan-wen would like to introduce the burgeoning comedy scenes in his native Taiwan - both in English and in Mandarin - as an example of how Asia is catching the stand up comedy fever (and catching up!). Since he has not lived in Taiwan for over a decade, the introduction is recorded through the eyes of an Englishman who has spent the last few years first in Shanghai and then in Taipei. Outside comedy, Adam is a journalist who moved to Asia for work and perhaps for a bit of change of scenery. Then Covid happened and the lucky Adam enjoyed a relatively free year of 2020 in Taiwan. He was heavily involved in the English-speaking "expat scenes" in Taiwan, witnessing the growth of the parallel local scene and even started performing in Mandarin himself. There are long queues for people who want to sign up to perform. Someone's first open mic gig may be in front of an audience of 180. But, occasionally, you perform to audience who are actually not that fluent in English and are introduced as, "here comes a white dude who performs stand up comedy." --------------------------------- Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- 01:02 Intro 04:08 Kuan-wen and Adam swapped their homelands 07:05 Adam’s (West) Yorkshire accent 09:22 Adam’s Taiwanese sounding Mandarin accent 12:21 How Taiwanese and Chinese speak differently 13:54 Taiwan’s Mandarin and English Open Mic scenes 17:45 Avoiding references not relevant to audience in Asia 20:36 Why did Adam move to Shanghai first and Taiwan later 24:00 Adam spent 2020 Covid free in Taiwan 27:59 Comedy based on East Asian stereotypes 35:05 English comedy shows in Asia and “Expat scenes” 39:08 Adam’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Our mini Scandinavia tour comes back to Norway again after two recent episodes feauturing guests from Denmark and Sweden. Viggo Venn, previously half of clowning duo Zack & Viggo, is our second guest from Norway. Viggo trained as a clown at the renowned École Philippe Gaulier, where he is now a member of the teaching staff. His clowning instinct - a desire to entertain and a persistence to embrace failures ("flops") - meant this recording has been the most chaotic and disruptive to date. But it was fun! Viggo explains why he exaggerates the "foreign idiot" persona on stage and consequently exaggerates his accent. We also peek into Viggo's journey as a performer - how he ended up training as a clown after coming across Dr. Brown's show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Viggo was not only interviewed but performed throughout this recording. The whole episode is interwoven with two running gags, namely Viggo insisting he and your host Kuan-wen are related due to the pronunciation of their names and that Viggo is not happy another Norwegian comedian (Thor Stenhaug in episode 2) was invited first. --------------------------------- Follow Viggo on Instagram and check out his website for shows and clown workshops Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:59 Intro 03:08 How Viggo wrongly pronounces his own name and Viggo starts the running gag he and Kuan-wen are brothers (and went wild) 06:48 A stronger Norwegian accent on stage in the UK to be the “foreign ldiot” 11:45 Are Norwegians more boring? 12:50 Norwegians’ perception of themselves and attitudes towards Sweden and Denmark 15:35 UK comedy audience’s particular appreciation of high brow and silly lowbrow comedy at the same time 16:40 Kuan-wen’s observation how Viggo adjusts his accent 18:50 A clown that does stand up 24:37 Viggo being disruptive (AGAIN!) 26:09 How Viggo decided to train as a clown 28:55 Purist believers of stand up comedy 32:46 Zack & Viggo 33:58 Viggo being disruptive (AGAIN!) 39:26 Viggo’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Evelyn Mok is well known for being the former co-host of the (now retired) Rice to Meet You Podcast and the creative mind behind multiple popular sketches. The Swedish native is also one of the highest-profile comedian of East Asian heritage in the UK, who now spends her time between both countries. Evelyn talked about how the feeling of being "other'ed in Sweden in her childhood prompted her to mimic a near perfect American accent as an escape. She also shared the cadence employed earlier in her comedy career - partially a remnant of getting out of a stage character and partially her understanding at that time of how funny should sound like. This episode also includes Evelyn's reflection on her relationship between stand up (more specifically doing stand up in the UK) and depression and why it can be a complex mix. She has prioritised taking care of her own mental health and is now a in better place again to pursue her love for stand up. --------------------------------- Follow Evelyn on Instagram Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:48 Intro (& some chitchat) 05:19 Where did Evelyn’s get her near perfect American accent from and why was young Evelyn determined to mimic the American accent? 08:45 Why ethnic minority immigrants are more likely to try stand up comedy 09:55 Can Evelyn’s American accent fool native speakers? 11:05 When Evelyn’s Swedish sound slips 13:00 Different Nordic sounds and stereotypes (inc. some Eurovision chat) 16:54 Evelyn might not have to explain her accent but needs to address her background - because of her ethinicty - if she wants to mention Sweden 21:25 Evelyn’s old “cadence” - the way Evelyn used to speak on stage - and the character she used to employ 24:58 How “Funny” sounded to Evelyn 30:21 Depression; how it affected Evelyn’s stand up 33:12 From a character to a stage persona to finally be her true self 37:44 Evelyn can only manage this American accent 41:07 Is Evelyn more fluent in English than in her native Cantonese? 41:52 Re-discovering her Swedishness and Asianness - 45:15 Looking back on a therapy like—episode 47:27 Evelyn’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

“Are you the WHSmith guy?” Stephen Buchanan is known by strangers these days for his viral sketch clips, shared so widely that he’d be stopped and recognised by random people on the street. He won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2018; he is a third of the popular podcast Some Laughs and part of the new generation of comedy talents coming out of Glasgow, a city that has produced exceptional performers from Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges, Larry Dean to Billy Connolly. With one of the most consistent guest’s own chuckle rate throughout the interview, Stephen talks about the working class character of Scotland's biggest city and the "Tall Poppy Syndrome" he was taught growing up as a wee working-class Glaswegian lad. Being neither the tallest nor the most capable of playing football or fight, Stephen morphed into the funniest guy in the playground to survive. Your hosts also asks Stephen about his daft, beta-male stage persona and why he does not go down the incel-pleasing trope of opinionated comedy style. --------------------------------- Follow Stephen on Instagram. or Twitter Stephen is a third of Some Laugh Podcast with fellow Scottish comedians Marc Jennings and Stuart McPherson Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:49 Intro 03:40 A viral clip that makes Stephen “The WHSmith Guy” 06:40 Only having an accent when gigging in London 08:11 Adjusting the accent level depending on the person you talk to 10:03 Did Stephen have his podcast parters think about their accents when recording? 11:57 BBC World Service producer changing Stephen’s references for American listeners - a “Bin” (Trash can) 15:32 Changing the way he speaks performing outside Scotland 18:37 Changing a working class accent for London centric Upper class audience 21:49 Why has Glasgow nurtured so many great comedians? 24:52 The Scottish mentality - The Tall Poppy Syndrome 27:38 Stephen’s akin to Charlie in Always Sunny In Philadelphia 31:50 Joking about his own height on his terms 34:00 Silly mundane stuffs rather than opinionated comedy 38:21 Jokes made funnier because of the accent or only funny because of the accent? 41:12 Glaswegian accent voted the 3rd sexiest accent in the UK 44:15 Comedians free to swear when performing in Glasgow 46:24 Some (obligatory) bagpipe music 47:19 Stephen’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe