The Comedy Writers Group

On this week's bonus episode I'm joined by returning guests, Luke Heggie and Chris Ryan. We chat merch, not caring, jokes VS story, before getting into some new material from the note section.Stick around at the end of the episode to hear me workshopping a new joke with CWG member, Katie Eyles. Catch Chris and Luke performing around the country.Follow Chris.Follow Luke. Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Josie Long! Josie is coming to The Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her show Now Is The Time of Monsters. We chat about her new show, taking a comedy class at 14, making independent films, and how to channel more positivity into stand-up.Follow Josie.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by Jett Bond, Zoe Heim, and Elyce Phillips to talk room running, open mics, and alt comedy.Jett and Zoe run Proudly and Elyce runs Script Jam. They're all doing excellent work championing the next generation of Melbourne comedy so I wanted to get together to hear about them and their approach.This episode is FREE to listen for a limited time only!Follow Proudly.Follow Script Jam.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by Abby Wambaugh who is bringing her show, The First Three Minutes of Seventeen Shows, to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. I figured there was no better way to promote the occasion than to do a very special concept episode where we do the first three minutes of seventeen podcast episodes.Follow Abby.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Special thanks to the contributors on this episode: Emma Leonard, Maddie Stokes, Dan Hough, Rob Hislop, Gabi De Bartha, and Jaye Heather.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steph Tisdell returns to continue our journey together developing her new show Steph Tisdell is Fat touring the country this year. In this episode we get into finding confidence, discussing the first act, and resisting the urge to apologise.Make sure you listen to Part 1 first.This episode is FREE to listen for a limited time only!Find tix to Steph's show here.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lara Ricote (Mitchell & Webb are Not Helping, QI, Edinburgh Best Newcomer) is back on the podcast to chat about her new show INKLING coming to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. We dig into Lara's London lifestyle, how she landed her recent TV roles, and how she has been developing her latest live show.It's a delightful time.Follow Lara.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci of HYPROV, a live show that combines hypnosis and improvisation going on tour around Australia and NZ.We chat about Asad's relationship with hypnosis, how they both found improv in their lives, how Colin was cast in Whose Line Is It Anyway, and how Asad dreamed up the Hyprov concept.We also get into pre-show and after-show routines, AI "art", and hypnosis as an anesthetic!Get your tickets to Hyprov here.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by comedian, actor, and author, Steph Tisdell (Bump, Class of 07, Total Control) for the first in a series of episodes where I will be directing her new show Steph Tisdell is Fat coming to Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.Across this EPIC special episode, you'll be a fly-on-the-wall to our first meeting. You will hear everything that Steph wants to pour into her new show, her relationship with stand-up, fitness, diet culture, weight, regulation, anxiety, ADHD, singing, dancing, and so much more.It's frank, it's personal, it's a great conversation.Follow Steph.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Bloom, author of Finding Your Comic Genius (now in audiobook form) returns to the podcast to answer questions submitted by the CWG community. We chat about his time in Australia, boom-mic moments, recording the book, and workshop one of my new jokes.Become a member to access the bonus episode where Adam and I dig deeper into persona.Thanks to Amy, Huw, Jeremy, and Reegan for their questions.Follow Adam.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm alone in the studio answering YOUR questions! Alice wants to know about starting a podcast, Lily asks about being married to an actor / comedian, Sarah wants to know about marketing strategies, Marnie is keen to hear about directing, and Beray has a question about accents.I also listen back to one of my recent sets and try and assess myself in real time.Let's get stuck into it! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by the fabulous Steph Crothers! Steph is an improviser, stand-up, and voice actor. We chat about her career as a stripper, children's entertainer, and how she's combining both experiences into her new MICF show Daddy Day Care.We also get into how AI is coming for the Voice Actor jobs. Check out this week's bonus episode on Thursday for even more Steph!Follow Steph.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Sweeney Preston. You might know Sweeney from his work in In Pour Taste, Late Nite Powerpoint Showcase, or seeing his stand-up shows around the world.We chat about his experience taking his wine-tasting comedy show that he co-created with his counterpart Ethan Cavanagh to Las Vegas. We also dig into his experience writing for Spicks & Specks, his solo show Australia's Worst Journalist. Follow Sweeney.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the return of the IS THIS ANYTHING? format where I workshop new bits and pieces with a special guest. This week I'm joined by Leigh Qurban. We started out in Adelaide together and we catch up on fourteen years of stand-up, starting out in a small pond, moving to the big smoke, and what it's like to be a new parent doing comedy.Follow Leigh.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's that time again! We're looking back on the year that was with my special guest co-host (as always) Freya Morton and our guest, Jeremy Dooley!We chat about our comedy highlights in TV, movies, and comedy specials.In Part 2 (available Thursday in the BONUS feed) we chat personal comedy highlights, favourite books, and we announce The CWG Comedian of the Year!Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our most epic episode yet! I've invited everyone from the Christmas Party for a Marathon Podcast. Recorded at the CWG Christmas Party. I hope it makes you feel like you were there!Featuring Ben Volchok, Brad Shean, Alice Jones, Lukas Opasinov, Marnie Mills, Louis Nicoll, RJ Carey, Sowmya Hiremath, Tamara Absalom, Dean Gallagher, Noni Field, Jason Roche, Laura Bruce, Roisin McAlinden, Belinda Anderson-Hunt, Matt Jenner, Yeluselemi, and Ece Musatoff.We cover so many subjects from Christmas Party chit-chat, dogs VS babies, accents, alt comedy, clown school, European holidays, first jobs, and so much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast I'm joined by actor, comedian, and content-creator, Charlotte Grimmer. Charlotte boasts over 200K followers across her platforms and has hit millions of views.We chat about graduating NIDA, her first video, performing her solo show in Edinburgh, sponsored-content, the creative process, and her upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival season.Follow Charlotte here.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshopsAccess weekly bonus episodesAccess the first 90 episodes of the podcastExclusive access to our discord and facebook groups  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast I'm joined by the Director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Susan Provan. Susan is an icon of the Australian comedy scene and it was great to get to chat with her. It's my first guest with an Order of Australia!Susan and I talk about the history of the Comedy Festival, how it's evolved over the years, programming, scouting, judging Raw Comedy, marketing, AI, and how she stays excited about the job.Tickets for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are now on sale for 2026.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes along with the first 90 episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord communities, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NYC comedian Myq Kaplan returns to the podcast this week to talk all about his new special RINI now available on Youtube. Myq Kaplan is an absolutely profilic comedian boasting more than 20 years of experiences and with appearances on Conan, Letterman, and Last Comic Standing (just to name a few.)We have a great chat about co-authoring a special, creating the perfect title for a show, promotion stamina, the nature of comedy, and lots more.Follow Myq.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by the brilliant Dave Thornton. Dave has been crushing it in comedy for more than twenty years. You might know Dave from stand-up stages around the world, and all the iconic shows over the years from Rove Live to The Project. We chat about what motivated Dave to get into stand-up, the challenges of self-promotion, celebrating the wins, and his new stand-up special Nothing's Unpossible, available on Youtube. We also discuss what it's like to both have grandparents in the Dutch Resistance.Follow Dave here.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Claire Robin from the multi-award winning show, Nun Slut. I chat to Claire about the development of the show, her relationship with clowning, acting school, keeping the show fresh, and what it's like to get recognition in the form of AWARDS!We also discuss the value of The Comedy Writers Group and the upcoming Comedy Writers Group Retreat coming up in January.Follow Claire here.Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.