Hard Knock Knocks

Hard Knock Knocks
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  • COMEDY INTERVIEWS

Ready to take your stand-up comedy game to the next level? If you’re grinding through open mics but feel like your progress is stuck in slow motion, the Hard Knock Knocks podcast is your shortcut to success. Each episode features candid interviews with Australia’s most seasoned stand-up comedians—unpacking how they got started, what they’ve learned, and what they wish they knew when they began. Get insider tips, avoid common pitfalls, and sharpen your craft with real-world advice from the pros who’ve been there and crushed that. Learn more about the Hard Knock Knocks comedy school.

  1. 102: Lisa Gatenby - Never Growing Up

    03/24/2022

    102: Lisa Gatenby - Never Growing Up

    Lisa Gatenby is the Peter Pan of stand-up comedy. Having worked in the business of children's toys for many years, Lisa admits she's never grown up, and loves to add a level of silliness to her performance. In this interview, you'll learn how Lisa has developed her stand-up comedy skills since graduating from the Hard Knock Knocks comedy course, her upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival shows with fellow alumni, Jeremy Dooley, and how she had to adjust her language for a US audience. Plus much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    26 min
  2. 101: Tom Siegert - Fighting for Comedy

    01/04/2022

    101: Tom Siegert - Fighting for Comedy

    Comedian Tom Siegert got his comedy spark at the Gershwin Room in St Kilda. His muse was the legendary comedian Greg Fleet. Today, Tom’s an established comedian in his own right, having performed on TV and at comedy festivals around Australia, as well as hosting his own podcast, Good Banter, with fellow comedian Evan Hocking. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis digs deep into Tom’s evolution from one-liner comedian to story teller, as well as his creation of the comedy character – The Suburban Footballer. And on the topic of Aussie Rules, you’ll also hear how Tom stood up to protect his comedy against formidable Eddie McGuire – former host and president of The Footy Show and Collingwood Football, respectively. And if you enjoy this podcast, you might also like to see Comedian Tom Siegert at the 2022 Melbourne International Comedy Festival at The Rubber Chicken in South Melbourne, April 21 to 24. In the mean time, be sure to join our Facebook group The School of Hard Knock Knocks Community. This group will help you stay abreast of upcoming courses, stand-up comedy shows and general advice for comedy performers.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min
  3. 100: Katie Burch – Avoiding the waffle and being cruel

    09/07/2021

    100: Katie Burch – Avoiding the waffle and being cruel

    Comedian Katie Burch didn't want to work at NASA or work towards world peace. She wanted to be a comedian, and a dark comedian at that.   In this 100th episode of the School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast, host Steve Davis chats with former National Raw Comedy Finalist Katie Burch about what it takes to be a successful comedian, her life in a cult, and why appealing to a woke crowd isn't great for your comedy career. She also highlights the importance of suffering in the creation of jokes - or at least her preferred form of cruel dark comedy   And if you enjoy this podcast, be sure to join our Facebook group The School of Hard Knock Knocks Community to stay abreast of upcoming courses, shows at The Rubber Chicken in South Melbourne, and general advice for comedy performers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
  4. 099: Ashley Fils-Aime – Reinventing yourself in comedy

    08/18/2021

    099: Ashley Fils-Aime – Reinventing yourself in comedy

    Haitian-American comedian Ashley Fils-Aime had it all. International tours, sold out shows, and supporting a mega comedian for 11 years. But he stepped away, for love. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode you'll learn how Ashley had to reinvent himself throughout life. First, growing up with grandparents in Haiti, schooling in Florida, being homeless, being the support act of Pablo Francisco, and then going it alone in Australia. This is not only a podcast about comedy. Host Steve Davis and comedian Ashley Fils-Aime drops some serious philosophical bombs, son. You'll get that reference later. So sit back and enjoy, this episode. And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to listen to previous interviews with some of Australia, and the world's funniest comedians. Or head over to our School of Hard Knock Knocks Community Page on Facebook. You'll be kept up to date on future episodes, shows at The Rubber Chicken, and upcoming stand-up comedy courses at The School of Hard Knock Knocks.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min
  5. 098: Wayne Deakin – Overcoming the wilful ignorance in comedy

    07/08/2021

    098: Wayne Deakin – Overcoming the wilful ignorance in comedy

    When you start out in comedy, you're looking for stuff that is funny. When you get good, you find stuff you want to talk about, and make that funny. So says comedian Wayne Deakin, a 20 plus year veteran of stand-up comedy who has performed in London, New York, Las Vegas, Montreal, all over Australia, AND to Aussie troops in the Middle East. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode straight shooter 'Deaks' shares his philosophy on taboo topics, discusses the wilful ignorance of audiences, and shares great advice for up and comers who prefer to perform more edgy topics. And if you enjoy this interview with comedian Wayne Deakin, you might be interested to learn that he's our guest comedy coach at the School of Hard Knock Knocks stand-up comedy course in Melbourne this September. Check out www.schoolofhardknockknocks.com for more information and to sign up. And now, here's host Steve Davis, and comedian Wayne Deakin See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    32 min
  6. 097: Lewis Spears – The consummate professional behind the 'Spears' brand

    06/09/2021

    097: Lewis Spears – The consummate professional behind the 'Spears' brand

    By dying, Prince Phillip helped sell out comedian Lewis Spears' last week of his Melbourne International Comedy Festival (MICF) show. Morbid, yes. But also, totally on brand. And totally orchestrated. Yes, mainstream media, like the Daily Mail who called Spears a monster, was played by this true professional.  In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast interview, host Steve Davis delves deep into the business mind behind the 'Spears brand', finds out what it takes to build a following of over half a million subscribers, why every show finishes with debrief and not a beer, and how ultimately to succeed in stand-up comedy today, it takes a team effort. If you're in the comedy scene and know 'someone' who is incredible at stand-up, but just not doing very well, then this is the podcast interview they need to hear. Comedian Lewis Spears succinctly puts the 'business' into 'show business'.  And if you enjoy this interview, then meet the man in person at The Rubber Chicken this June 18. Comedian Lewis Spears is joined by comedians Matt O'Neill and the legendary Chris Wainhouse for the Dark Comedy Special. Tickets are on sale now, so visit www.therubberchicken.com.au. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    40 min
  7. 096: Charles Firth – Exposing truths and undermining power structures with satire

    12/07/2020

    096: Charles Firth – Exposing truths and undermining power structures with satire

    Six and a half million people a month consume The Chaser's content. That's some seriously sought-after satire! In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episode, host and Chaser fanboy, Steve Davis, chats with The Chaser's, Charles Firth, about creating headlines and the editorial process, adopting your enemy's voice, and how AI is developing a 'sense' of humour. If you like ruffling features, taking the piss, and dystopian fairy tales, then you'll love this interview with Charles Firth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
  8. 095: Ian McFadyen – Creating an Australian sketch comedy national treasure

    11/11/2020

    095: Ian McFadyen – Creating an Australian sketch comedy national treasure

    In 1988 The Comedy Company changed the face of Australian sketch comedy. Kylie Mole, Uncle Arthur, Con the Fruiterer, and Colin Carpenter became part of the Australian lexicon. So too their creators - Mary-Anne Faye, Glenn Robbins, Mark Mitchell and Kym Gyngell, as well as Russell Gilbert, Tim Smith and, the group's founder, Ian McFadyen. You know them as comedy royalty. What you don't know is that it all started with a loaned hammer. In this School of Hard Knock Knocks podcast episodes, host Steve Davis interviews The Comedy Company creator, Ian McFadyen, as they name-drop down Australian comedy memory lane. You'll learn how a poorly funded comedy show beat the 800-pound gorilla of the time, 60 Minutes, how the 'writers room' generated ideas, and ultimately learn how serendipity created this national treasure. And if you're interested in learning how to write comedy sketches, then stay tuned. In 2021 the School of Hard Knock Knocks is launching our sketch writing course. Learn how to write, edit and even produce your own sketch show, with help from veteran comedy writers and directors. Best of all, your comedy will be turned into an actual Australian sketch comedy web series! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 33m
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About

Ready to take your stand-up comedy game to the next level? If you’re grinding through open mics but feel like your progress is stuck in slow motion, the Hard Knock Knocks podcast is your shortcut to success. Each episode features candid interviews with Australia’s most seasoned stand-up comedians—unpacking how they got started, what they’ve learned, and what they wish they knew when they began. Get insider tips, avoid common pitfalls, and sharpen your craft with real-world advice from the pros who’ve been there and crushed that. Learn more about the Hard Knock Knocks comedy school.

Information

  • Creator
    Hard Knock Knocks
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2022
  • Episodes
    102
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 School Of Hard Knock Knocks
  • Show Website
    Hard Knock Knocks

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