Looking Outside Comedy: Monty Franklin, Stand-Up Comedian

Aug 22, 2023

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Another Aussie joins us on Looking Outside to explore the power of laughter and positivity through comedy, with stand-up comedian, actor and TV personality, Monty Franklin.

Having lived in the US and toured 42 states over the last ten years, Monty has performed to more than a million Americans, and whether it’s on stage or at the bank, he speaks to the privilege of making people forget their troubles, even for a little while. He says laughter is one of the greatest things people can experience, and it's his role to find the kind of comedy that is relatable; stories about day to day life that despite being his, are not really about him but his listeners.

Story crafting has been an interest area for Monty since he was little, whether it was standing up and telling stories in front of his (funny) family, learning about the stories that shaped his home country of Australia, through indigenous culture, art and The Dreaming, or exploring the stories that live within other art forms like film or music.

Today he funnels his love of storytelling into his comedy shows or in his writing. Monty says all we leave behind on this earth are the things we hear, learn and pass down. So it’s either in the fields of education or storytelling that we pass on the history of the world and learnings of our time on it.

Monty speaks to positive stories about good people, doing good things for each other, as the ones we’re drawn to today, despite seemingly being divided by politics. Monty believes 99% of people are good and want to get along, and what helps in that is thinking outside the parameters of what we perceive as true; to consider a different take on things and not shut ourselves off to the evolution of ideas.

Jo and Monty also chat through the ups and downs of Aussie relocation to America, particularly in having to ‘start over’ no matter what success was previously gained, of benefiting from the strength of the Aussie brand (a testament, Monty says, of the “good people” that went international) but also wearing its novelty-factor … and even after so long feeling a little out of place.

While Monty admits that it is an ego-boost to be ‘in the limelight’, he says great comedians listen more than they talk. And while being on stage gives you a thick skin for critique, you’re not immune to feeling hurt from negative comments, or from having good and very bad days, which reinforces the need to strengthen your mental health to handle the swings of life, which ultimately should be expected because you can’t be up and laughing all the time.

To look outside, Monty listens to TED Talks in the morning. A 12 min video over breakfast on a range of topics gives him a fresh perspective and knowledge about something new and interesting. Monty says learning this way is quick and he gets something surprising from it every time. Once a year, Monty also takes a surf trip, with his friends and without a phone.

Monty Franklin is an Australian born stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and television personality, now based in LA.

He tours all over the world headlining some of the biggest comedy clubs and also opens for Rob Schneider, Joe Rogan and Jim Breuer.

Monty was on Ep #1794 of The Joe Rogan Experience and he is currently appearing in 'Real Rob' on NETFLIX, season 1&2.

He has had roles on 'New Girl' - FOX, 'Becoming Bond' - Hulu and is the creator and star of 'The Manny' - TV Pilot.

Monty’s numerous television stand-up performances include AXS TV's Live At Gotham, Channel 10s The Circle, Foxtel’s Stand Up Australia, and as part of The Comedy Channel’s special – The Best Of Stand Up and Comedy Gold.

Monty has produced, written and starred in two TV Pilots of sketch-comedy show No Monkeys on Bikes for Channel 7, co-hosted a weekly radio show on Fox FM and produced a number of short films featured in festivals around the world. Monty was the host of the pilot Tv Show 'Australia UpLate' and filmed a forth pilot with Channel 7 for a comedy travel show.

Monty is now based in Los Angeles where he performs all over the country, headlining some of the most sort after comedy clubs in the world including The Improv Comedy Clubs, The Laugh Factory and Monty's name was recently added to the world famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, the first Australian on the wall, a great honor.

In 2020 Monty raised $280,00Aud for the Wildlife Warriors Foundation putting a stand up show on at Novo Theatre in LA with Joe Rogan, Jim Jefferies and Whitney Cummings.

Follow Monty on Insta and TikTok
Learn more about Monty www.montyfranklin.com
Listen to Monty on the Joe Rogan Experience, Episode 1794

Looking Outside is a podcast dedicated to exploring fresh perspectives of familiar business topics. The show is hosted by its creator, Joanna Lepore, consumer goods innovator and futurist at McDonald's. Find out more at looking-outside.com.

Connect with Jo and join the Looking Outside community on LinkedIn.

OBOY music features in Episode 41.