Comedian and fundraising manager Dane Hiser on his start at Vinnies, a first gig that ran 75 minutes, a dystonia diagnosis, and letting go of what other people think. Content note: depression, anxiety, OCD and mental health medication. Not medical advice. Content note: This episode includes discussion of depression, anxiety, OCD and mental health medication. Dane shares his own experience, which is not medical advice. Please do not stop or change any medication without talking to your doctor. Support details are at the end of these notes. Dane Hiser is a Sydney comedian and fundraising manager who spent years worrying about what other people thought of him. A limp in his left leg led to a diagnosis of dystonia, a neurological movement condition, and to a choice that changed how he looks after himself. In this conversation with Melanie Suzanne Wilson, Dane talks about his start at Vinnies, the manager who backed his idea two weeks into the job, and his first comedy gig, which ran for an hour and fifteen minutes. He also shares what happened when he came off a medication he had taken for 20 years, on his specialists' suggestion, and why he now puts looking after himself ahead of pleasing everyone else. See Dane live Excuse Me, Your Authentic Self is Showing, part of Geoff The Comedy Festival Saturday 17 October 2026, 1:00 pm Ashfield Bowling Club, corner of Orpington St and Parramatta Rd, Ashfield NSW Tickets: https://www.trybooking.com/au/event/1620694 In this episode 1. Life in Newtown and the inner west, and growing up in Penrith. 2. How a newspaper clipping posted by his grandfather led to ten years at Vinnies. 3. Two weeks into the job: pitching a regional launch in Parkes built around the film The Dish, and the manager who said "go for it". 4. A night for 800 people, 50 media spots, and why they never screened The Dish. 5. Bringing people together before everything is perfect. 6. People pleasing, and why Dane now makes himself the priority. 7. A limp, eight months of physios, and a diagnosis of dystonia. 8. A panel of twelve specialists, a medication he had taken for 20 years, and the two options he was given. 9. Anxiety, OCD and depression in his twenties, and the ways he hid a twitch. 10. Coming off the medication: what fell apart, what improved, and the break he wishes he had asked for at work. 11. His first comedy gig: an hour and fifteen minutes at a bowling club, where most people start with five. 12. The advice from comedian Stewart Francis that changed his stage persona, and why he is moving on from it. 13. Reading a room, and why a quiet audience is not always an unhappy one. 14. Moving towards solo shows, MC work and keynote speaking. 15. Mindfulness through connecting with an audience, and what wellness means to him now. Quotes from this episode "I have to be the priority. Because if I'm not the priority, I can't help the people I want to help." Dane Hiser "Working out why you're depressed is the hardest part about being depressed." Dane Hiser "People don't come to me expecting perfection." Dane Hiser "I should have asked for a timeout." Dane Hiser "In any moment you need funny." Dane Hiser About Dane Hiser Dane Hiser is a Sydney comedian, fundraising manager and comedy promoter. He started in the non-profit sector more than 25 years ago at Vinnies, the St Vincent de Paul Society, where he spent ten years in marketing, and he has since worked in fundraising, including for a children's cancer charity. He has performed stand-up since about 2008 and has run comedy rooms. He is now moving into solo shows, MC work and keynote speaking. His solo show is Excuse Me, Your Authentic Self is Showing. Support If this episode raises anything for you, support is available. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 In an emergency, call 000. Listeners outside Australia can contact their local crisis service. Full show notes and transcript: https://www.motivatecollective.com/s-7-ep-106-dane-hiser --- Support the show and the community behind it: 🌿 Become a member: https://www.motivatecollective.com/join 🎧 Ad-free episodes on Substack: https://substack.com/@themotivatecollective Or listen free on Spotify and all major podcast platforms.