Stuart Goldsmith, rival podcaster and stand-up, talks about his brief acting career, stand-up tips, teaching resilience to business people, and the doom of climate change. They also discuss Edinburgh Fringe plans, creating a comedy show on climate crisis, facing fears, and the values of captivity vs freedom in comedy.
Resilience is crucial for comedians to navigate the highs and lows of their career.
Richard Herring delivers talks on resilience, offering relatable strategies for dealing with challenges and setbacks.
Herring's talks on resilience empower individuals and organizations with practical advice that applies beyond the realm of comedy.
Deep dives
The importance of resilience in comedy
Resilience is a crucial trait for comedians as they navigate the highs and lows of their career. Coping with failure and rejection, bouncing back from a bad gig, and persevering in the face of challenges are all part of building and maintaining a successful career in comedy. Comedians like Felicity Ward highlight the power of reframing negative experiences, such as using a metaphorical baseball bat to overcome self-doubt. Building resilience allows comedians to continue pursuing their passion and honing their craft, even in the face of adversity.
Using personal experiences to deliver impactful talks on resilience
Richard Herring has developed a unique approach to delivering talks on resilience, drawing on the experiences and insights of comedians. By sharing personal stories and anecdotes, Herring offers audiences relatable and practical strategies for dealing with challenges and setbacks. The talks address various aspects of resilience, including managing self-doubt, bouncing back from failure, and finding strength in difficult times. Herring's ability to combine humor with profound insights captures the attention of audiences and provides them with valuable tools for facing and overcoming obstacles.
Empowering individuals and organizations with resilience strategies
Through his talks, Richard Herring empowers individuals and organizations with resilience strategies that apply beyond the realm of comedy. By sharing the lessons learned from comedians' experiences, Herring provides practical advice on resilience that resonates with a wide range of audiences. The goal is to equip individuals with the tools and mindset to navigate challenges, bounce back from failure, and maintain a positive and determined outlook. These talks not only inspire and engage, but also provide tangible takeaways that can be implemented in both personal and professional contexts.
Becoming Hopeful About the Climate Crisis
The podcast episode discusses how the comedian has shifted his focus to creating a show about the climate crisis. Initially, he encountered resistance from audiences who either didn't care or were angry about the topic. Despite this, he believes it is important to remain hopeful and continue the conversation. The show delves into the complexities of the climate crisis, acknowledging the need for change but also highlighting the limitations of individual actions. The comedian plans to offer the show for free to activist organizations and as a paid performance for businesses to encourage dialogue and raise awareness.
Navigating the Comedy Circuit and Friendships
The podcast touches on the changing dynamics of the comedy circuit and the challenges of maintaining friendships as a comedian. The guest recounts the early days of driving long distances and performing in various clubs, acknowledging the pride associated with these experiences. However, as time goes on, he reflects on the tendency for comedians to become isolated and replace their social life with the comedy circuit. This isolation can lead to feelings of being a 'crap friend.' In the podcast, there is a conversation about camaraderie among comedians, but also the realization that the comedy industry is driven by self-interest. The guest expresses the desire for more genuine friendships beyond the comedy circuit.
#478 Surprise Postman - Richard is in Bath, but spent the night in Cheddar and is wondering about what the last few years of his life might hold for him. His guest is rival podcaster and stand-up, Stuart Goldsmith. They talk about Stuart’s brief acting career, whether Richard listens to The Comedians’ Comedian Podcast, why Stuart might need to go off for a wee at any moment (spoiler - he doesn’t), stand up tips, whether we’re all fucked because of climate change, how Stuart teaches business people resilience and a largely visual surprise for Richard to cap off a terrific chat about comedy and podcasting and how we’re all doomed.