Comedy with an Accent

Is it possible to perform stand up in yet another language (aka not English, not your mother tongue, also less fluent) but relying solely on translating whatever existing materials in English you have? Technically - yes. Though some jokes are simply not translatable. Some can be translated but it would not make sense or would not work. Some might still work but the effect could be heavily discounted. There are your host Kuan-wen own experiences.The third instalment of your host’s monologue geeks out on foreign languages and comedy again. He summarised a few thoughts from performing at French It Up Comedy Club by accident (Season 2 Episode 26) and dabbling in a few sentences in Italiano at another night called Italian-ish.The podcast will have a short summer break as your host is bringing another solo show to Edinburgh Fringe Festival. We will be back in autumn and have a nice summer break!*The mix-up of languages and feeling unsure about the fluency level became even more evident through editing this episode. Your host said “the habitants of London” when in hindsight, it probably would have been more natural to say “the inhabitants of London’. Then he realised it’s because he was jumping back and forth between English and French. In French, they are more used to saying “les habitants”Also, he is still not sure if it should be “J’ai l’air de lesbienne”, “J’ai l’air lesbienne’ or “J’ai l’air dune lesbienne”?? Any French speaker that can shed some light on this?---------------------------------Kuan-wen’s 2025 Edinburgh Fringe show Andrews Are The Worst(This will be performed in Scotland, where their Patron Saint is St Andrew 😆)https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/kuan-wen-andrews-are-the-worstFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------00:32 Intro - summary of what this monologue episode is about02:10 Why another monologue episode?04:19 Discussion on comedy and translation in prior episodes05:09 English being the comedy language for most guests on this podcast07:25 Performing in a second foreign language - Your host Kuan-wen’s experience of performing at French It Up Comedy Club09:39 Kuan-wen’s estimate of his fluency in either language13:56 Some joke types are not cut out for translation (eg puns)17:51 Different social norms for the speakers of another language19:45 Unsure about whether the exact words are used24:42 A phonetically sounding word may not sound funny anymore in another language29:00 Less capable of riffing in French on stage29:57 Jokes written specifically in French31:55 What would a French native speaker fluent in English prefer?33:55 Cross-language puns37:18 Conclusion41:28 How multiple languages co-exist in one’s brain? Kuan’wen’s own example - the distance between some languages seems to be wider45:02 Cities where comedy shows in different languages are available46:45 Latest podcast statistics---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram ---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Mike Rice is probably THE guest this podcast has had so far who proved to be the best at impersonations and accent mimicry. During the course of this interview alone, he improvised a South London, a posh West London, a stereotypical Essex woman and a generic American accent. In his comedy routines and comedy special on Youtube, Mike has done a German accent in the context of WWIII jokes and he has also done an Indian accent. Did the last one cross the line? Between Mike’s inclination for dark jokes, there’s a lengthy discussion why it may not have and Mike’s intention with his jokes.Mike explains the catholic hangover in the Irish parlance and how he went from semi-consciously ditching his Irish accent to pick up an American twang in the USA to embrace his Irishness and appreciate the beauty of how his father talks and what growing on a farm means.Slightly further from the usual focus on accents, identity of this podcast, Mike accounts for his rebellious teenage years and the depression in his twenties, how he changed his outlook in life and how he balances a creative soul that isn’t afraid of showing vulnerability with an upbringing where he was expected to toughen up.Mike’s podcast: Mike and Vittorio’s Guide to ParentingMike’s special on Youtube: An Irish Disgrace & Nasty Character---------------------------------Follow Mike on InstagramMike’s 2025 Edinburgh Fringe show Mike is going on tour starting from November 2025. See his Instagram for ticketsFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------01:00 Intro04:37 People making remarks about the Irish accent05:23 An accent from rural Ireland and the catholic hangover09:24 Mike’s family dynamics11:24 Mike trouble-making teenage years and the school trip to Andorra (Part 1)13:36 A discussion on using “That’s gay” as a punchline to a joke17:09 When does a joke go too far? The intention and the context of a joke19:22 Personality developed to deal with the environment20:45 On doing accents25:05 The school trip to Andorra (Part 2)28:00 Rebellious teenager but also a sensitive soul31:24 Pain and unhappiness in his 20s34:50 Mike’s podcast output35:42 Mike not seen as an outsider despite his accent38:09 From disliking his Irishness to embracing it; an inferiority complex from not being able to wash away the farm smells43:54 An advantage to be an Irish act in metropolitan England45:37 Gigging in continental European cities46:19 Irish descendants47:38 Mike’s use of the English language and the books he read51:19 Mike’s online following and his consistent stage/podcast/real-life persona53:53 Mike’s social media---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

Have you ever tried to learn a foreign language so hard, that it influences and moulds your speech pattern in your native tongue? That you moved to a foreign land to learn that foreign language, consequently your English vocabulary becomes restricted to the more common words, just so people around you could understand?Such is the story of Spring Day (Comedian, not the weather), a fluent Japanese speaker who lived in Japan for over 16 years and who started learning this language at the age of 13. Spring tells the random nature of her life story how she ended up in Japan, how she became a comedy performer in both Japanese and English in Tokyo, and why she decided to leave after she realised her identity would always be an outsider （外人, gaijin） in JapanSpring now happily calls London and the UK home. She was featured on Live at the Apollo on TV, one of the highest achievements comedians in the UK can have. In this episode, Spring recounts the tales in Midwestern America where she used to call home and left behind, becoming the minority American who has a passport and travel abroad, and her long and complex, entangled history with the land of Nihon (and all the obscure observations of this island nation that are no longer her comedy materials)---------------------------------Follow Spring on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------01:12 Intro03:28 Leaving behind her identity as an outsider （外人, gaijin）in Japan05:14 “Just the right level of passive-aggressiveness” in the UK - compared to Japan and the US07:58 Do American comedians have an “accent” for British audiences?09:08 Spring’s aversion to American centralism12:22 Immigrants? Expats?14:02 How fluent is Spring in Japanese now?16:05 A mid-western American accent influenced by Japanese and British expats18:56 Why Spring moved to Japan and started performing comedy in Tokyo?21:18 Spring’s accent when speaking Japanese23:39 The foreign loaned words in Japanese making it harder for English speakers26:56 Performing stand up in Japanese and why some of Spring’s jokes couldn’t translate29:50 How Spring’s time in Japan shaped her stand up and her speech pattern31:41 Onomatopoeia （オノマトペ） in Japanese34:24 All the dark sadness and tragedy in Japanese Rakugo（落語, “fallen words”）, folk music and literature35:58 The tales of two Kansas Cities in Kansas and in Missouri37:49 Spring’s Mid-western accent39:36 A stage character of a rural American?41:57 Living on the same street with serial killers43:59 Caricatures/characters of rural Americans47:06 Some of Spring’d weird experiences in Japan that became her comedy materials50:47 Transition to the UK and finding out who she is outside Japan53:10 London is now home55:04 Spring’s social media---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

Martin Durchov has never done any podcast interview - not until this episode popped his podcast cherry. You can find his Instagram profile, but be warned there’s not a single comedy-related content on it.The Bulgarian native is one giggly and happy chap, described by your host Kuan-wen as a very “settled” immigrant in the UK. Even his accent mellowed over the years he stays in the UK - a fun fact your host found out when he checked Martin’s stand up clips in preparation of the interview and noticed the accent shift pre- and post- Covid.Martin talks about the wider “East European” brand, how Bulgaria often gets lumped together with its neighbour Romania, what national stereotypes he incorporated into his comedy routines and how he gradually edit down the percentage of jokes based on his nationality. He learned early on that it is better as a performer to address the obvious, for him that is the accent and the hairs on his arms.For listeners who are gigging comedians, Martin also shares why he Is not set on pursuing the comedy career progression even though he had a very promising start pre-pandemic (winning the Comedy Store gong show, getting into the final of So You Think You Are Funny and getting paid work within a year or two)---------------------------------You can find Martin on Instagram, but there might not be any comedy-related content there….Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------01:10 Intro04:14 Citing his accent and foreignness as the opening joke but unaware of the accent at the start08:19 “It’s good to mention obvious things”11:43 Bulgarian stereotypes as an East European country and why it tends to be bundled with Romania19:45 Bulgaria Searches For Talent23:29 Getting requests to do certain jokes24:42 Between jokes and portraying your own country’s image27:00 A gentler and silly stage persona30:58 Martin’s accent mellowed over the years32:22 Not pursuing comedy career progression and not into the social media game37:14 On being the face of one’s own small country41:36 Foreignness does not weigh much on Martin’s mind44:04 Without hearing Martin accent, others not able to work out where he’s from45:28 Not having too many connections with Bulgaria in the UK49:06 Martin’s (non-)used social media---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Shalaka is a self-proclaimed nerd with a PHD in trains whilst loading herself with Millennial angst. Those are supposed to be the most interesting and unique things about her. However, just because she’s from India, the audiences in the UK expect her to talk about being Indian or South Asian.In this episode, Shalaka eloquently explains her own code switching, detailing her accent automatically adjusts based on the people she talks. This is the result of a racist “friend” at Uni constantly mocking her accent for years. As a first generation immigrant, she is also surprised by the gap between how the British Indians’ idea of India and the India she knows from growing up in Bangalore.Her ethnicity becomes an easy target for the sometimes lazy opponents during Comedy Roast Battles, which only serves Shalaka as she excels in this specific format of comedy shows (UK Roast Battle Champion and International Roast Battle MVP).You can catch Shalaka at the following work-in-progress shows:May 24th - The Boathouse, Cambridge Fringe (tickets)June 6th - Canal Café, Chichester Fringe (tickets)*Your host Kuan-wen referenced Ronny Chieng's bit on The Daily Show, the idea being "Indians are not Asians (in America)" It was a topical line when Rishi Sunak became the UK's first Prime Minister of Indian heritage. See the clip here.Another reference is to Russell Peters. We cannot find the exact clip but there is a similar clip of crowd interaction from Russell Peters mocking a Taiwanese American (or maybe Canadian) for having an Anglicised name. See the clip here.---------------------------------Follow Shalaka on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------01:00 Intro03:25 Not insisting on the correct pronunciation for her name04:30 Hilarious caption typo in Shabaka’s Comedy Central clip05:55 Code switching - Shabaka’s accent changes depending on who she talks to09:48 What do people (in the UK) mean when they say “Asian”?11:29 Shalaka’s different way of speaking at South Asian gigs12:46 An idea of India frozen in time17:03 Attitude towards women also frozen in time21:28 People’s view on India from British Indians vs from Indians25:30 Clownery of your own culture in front of audience that are not South Asian27:33 Shalaka’s light Indian accent is the result of befriending someone racist to her32:05 More self-reflection on her accent34:18 Minority comedians mimicking an accent that is not genuinely theirs39:58 How Schlaka’s ethnicity is used as attack lines during Roast Battle matches42:04 White racism not as hurtful as Indian to Indian racism45:34 Not focusing on being the Indian comic; not pandering50:33 Shalaka’s own memory of India also has a gap with India today55:31 Shalaka’s social media---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

This bonus episode (90% in French and the remainder in English) was recorded as part of the conversation with French It Up Comedy Club founder Jeff Vitale, the majority of which was released as season 2 episode 26 in the previous week.-------------------Cet épisode bonus est un extrait de l’entretien publié la semaine dernière avec Jeff Vitale, fondateur de “French It Up” comedy club, où les spectacles se font en français même si le club se trouve à Londres. Pendant un quart d’heure, votre animateur et son invité Jeff ont discuté la dynamique entre les langues, la géopolitique et les identities culturelles lorsqu'une langue est partagée par plusieurs pays. Ils ont aussi parlé de faire la thérapie en anglais au lieu de français. L’entretien original a été mené principalement en anglais (l’épisode précédent) sauf un quart d'heure vers la fin. Cet épisode bonus permet aux auditeurs francophones de mieux comprendre notre invité dans sa langue maternelle (malgré la maîtrise limitée de la langue française de l’animateur).------------------A proper separate episode in French was originally planned, but your host had to concede he's just not that fluent in French to conduct a whole interview. 😅. The short segment in French is therefore released as a bijou bonus episode for the French speaking listeners (which we are not even sure there are that many!)Regular English episodes will resume next Tuesday on May 6th, 2025.

“French It Up est LE comedy club français à Londres. Lancé en 2016 par Jeff Vitale, depuis rejoint par Fabrice Edouard Laroche Francoeur, le concept séduit un public francophone de plus en plus large et fait émerger une nouvelle scène d'humoristes français à Londres.”After introducing London’s Comedy show in the Spanish language Comedy Por Favor in episode 19, we turn our attention in this episode to London’s French comedy club “French It Up”, whose shows currently rotate between the trendy Exmouth Market in Clerkenwell and nestled next to the beer garden in Vauxhall. The mastermind behind this, Jeff Vitale, talks about the specific “expat humour” and makes a careful distinction between French speakers and French expats, as a good percentage of the audience also comes from other francophone countries. He shares how he has grown and plans to continue to grow this comedy club from strength to strength in this English city that boasts enough French citizen to be France’s fifth or sixth largest city.---------------------------------Follow French It Up Comedy Show on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------00:51 Intro02:39 An episode about a comedy show in a foreign language04:47 French It Up audience’s specific sense of humour (expat Francophones)07:36 Work office observations as popular joke materials09:52 French speaking audience does not equal French people11:58 Reasons for stopping bilingual French/English shows15:51 Comedy materials about migration and cross cultural differences17:00 Doubters and continuing to attract non comedy fans19:48 Why French It Up was set up22:57 “Intermittents du spectacle” - French government support for actors24:38 More efforts into organising and promoting shows post Covid27:15 Cross over with English stand up scene? French It Up’s own eco-system of performers30:18 Not to be confused as a show in English (but talking about France)30:53 Where the show name “French It Up” comes from32:00 Jeff speaks too fast for non native French speakers to understand33:04 How fluent one’s French has to be to go to a French It Up show?35:18 The French language’s fluidity and rythmn38:59 French It Up being a relief for nostalgia?---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Celiac, dyspraxia, sporran, ricochet, hypochondriac, cheugy, mausoleum, flab… how many of these English words do you - as a non-native English speaker - know? Similar question for the native English speakers again: any of these words that you are not aware of?These are just a sample of words in the English language that your host Kuan-wen has acquired through doing comedy, mostly from observing other comedians’ routines. More than just getting exposed to new words, your host explains why he believes doing comedy in English has multiple advantages when it comes to learning the language, that you do not need to wait until your English is considered “perfect” before you can starting trying out English comedy.(*Yeah, this is kind of a filler episode with no guests)---------------------------------Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------00:32 Intro01:27 Outline for this episode02:22 Reasons for another monologue episode04:01 Learning the English language through performing comedy in English - an analogy06:21 An advantage for non-native English speakers who perform comedy in English07:43 Performing in English forces performers to listen to themselves how they speak09:17 Learning a more natural/wholesome English through doing comedy11:40 Learning about another culture - a wider group of people one gets in contact with12:54 Musicians having lighter accents13:34 Pursuit of specificity in comedy helps grow one’s vocabulary14:35 List of words Kuan-wen learned from other comedians’ comedy sets:celiacdyspraxiasporranricochet (from Ken Cheng)hypochondriaccatharsischeugy (from Shalaka Kurup)mausoleum (from Pete White)flab (from Adam Riley)necrophilia23:48 Four comedy gigs with vastly different audiences within three days - a mixed crowd with many Mandarin speakers; a crowd of French speakers; a crowd of a provincial English town; a crowd with mixed European punters28:48 Podcast listener statistics Jan-Mar 202530:58 Upcoming episodes---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Veteran London-based Romanian comedian Radu Isac returns after his last interview on this podcast in 2022. Radu catches up with your host Kuan-wen to chat about how his career plans and gigging pattern change along with the moving landscape of the comedy industry. Between this episode and the first interview three years ago, Radu released his comedy special “Keep Coughing” on Youtube and organised his own tour across continental European cities.Regarded as the comedian’s comedian in Romania (some fans even described him as Romania’s George Carlin), Radu shares his approach performing in front of liberal and less liberal audiences, British and a more internationally mixed audience and why he thinks it is important to be able to make different crowds laugh. He talks about running the popular bi-weekly Immigrant Comedy show in London and why comedy should remain a safe space for the expression of ideas, as he has done so in his comedy special.Radu’s comedy special “Keeping Coughing” (free to watch on Youtube)Radu’s live comedy show “Sadly Funny" at Top Secret Comedy Club in London 6 April 2025---------------------------------Follow Radu on Instagram and his websiteFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------00:34 Intro02:06 Summary of Radu’s prior appearance on this podcast03:49 Gigging less often outside London now04:36 Radu’s vs liberal audience and comedy shows with audience less sympathetic with immigrants07:53 An example of audience not taking Radu’s poking well09:32 How to and who to mention the act is foreign?10:51 Change of career goals - non-native English speaking audience and touring outside the UK16:29 With non British audience in mind, changes in joke writing?18:23 Casual racism from English hosts of podcasts Radu went on20:52 Touring (gigging) in continental Europe22:21 A released comedy special recorded in Vienna (and another unreleased version recorded in London)24:41 Difference between UK gigs and gigs in continental European cities29:57 Running Immigrant Comedy Show and Radu’s criteria for “immigrants”34:00 Romanian Youtube users’ comment on Radu’s accent36:09 On Radu’s comedy special on Youtube “Keep Coughing”37:22 On the joke “A vaxxed anti-vaxxer”, Radu’s intention and his approach44:16 Radu’s social media---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Given Ireland and Britain’s complex history, not least over 700 years of colonisation and dominance and the most recent thorny issue of Northern Ireland’s border during Brexit negotiation, what does a comedian’s Irish accent represent in the eyes of British audience?There are in fact quite a few Irish comedians in the UK. Peter Flanagan is our very first guest, as in addition to his identify of a professional club comic, he is also a column writer for The Irish Times, documenting his views as a Irish diaspora living in the UK and his witty take on British politics.Peter talked about the most memorable heckle from an English woman that was akin to a racist mime, what an idealised Irishman’s image would be and how he got used to the British public’s lack understanding in the bilateral history or even just Britain’s own history (and geography).---------------------------------Follow Peter on Instagram and facebookFollow your host Kuan-wen on InstagramAn example of Peter's column in The Irish Times (note that there's a paywall)Kuan-wen was singing a jingo for Sheila's Wheel (click for video on Youtube) - a commercial for car insurance aimed at female drivers in the 2000s. ---------------------------------00:47 Intro03:01 Out of numerous Irish comedians in the UK, why Peter is invited04:33 An Irish accent too strong for some yet not strong enough for some05:53 The perception of a “Dublin” accent in Ireland07:23 Not just one accent in Ireland (and stereotypes of a generic Irish accent/Irish comedian)09:06 A memorable racist meme heckle11:54 Irish used to be the main group on the receiving end of racist attitudes in the UK13:24 How Peter feels as an Irish comedian in the UK? Is it fair to compare Anglo-Irish relationship with that between Taiwan and China?17:42 The sweet Irish accent for BBC and the idealised Irishman - Terry Wogan20:52 Different expressions of humour: between a column writer for The Irish Times and a club comic24:51 Making stand up comedy informative or even using it to educate the audience?27:18 British public’s lack of understanding of their own history and indifference to Ireland30:11 For all the Nazi jokes British comedians make, where’s the British Empire’s South African concentration camp joke?31:40 How Peter won over Brexit-supporting audience?34:41 Learning to be himself and not liked by some on social media40:04 City comedy vs rural comedy43:18 Difference between Irish audience and British audience45:09 Peter’s social media---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Name a stand up comedian who’s like the ambassador of both the English and French cultures? Many of you probably think of her bright pink hairs straight away. Yes, you have Tatty Macleod in mind, and she really has been given the title of an honourary ambassador for the British Council and was invited to host the alumni day by the French embassy in the UK.THE Anglo-French (or Franglais/ Frenglish) stand up comedian and social media star is well known for her hilarious online sketches on observations of both cultures in both languages. Her debut comedy hour - FUGUE - sold out its entire 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Festival run. The subsequent tour has sold over 10,000 tickets and counting, with the continental European leg now extended to 2025. This includes four nights at the Soho Theatre and two nights at Clapham Grand in London as well as three nights at Théâtre des ateliers in Paris - with three more nights at Théâtres des variétés in Paris booked in this May.Among Tatty’s 600k+ followers across Instagram & TikTok, many are nomads themselves who are attracted to what Tatty personifies as a Third Culture Kid - a fluid identity and multilayers of heritage, accompanied by bi- or trilingualism. Born in Zimbabwe to British parents and raised in France by her ethnically Scottish/Welsh but culturally English mum, Tatty talks about code-switching, fine-tuning her accent to fit in and how accent, languages become intertwined with emotions and her identity in this fantastic episode.---------------------------------Follow Tatty on InstagramTatty is on Tour in Europe in 2025. Check Tatty’s website (click here) for tickets.Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------00:55 Intro02:04 A true bilingual guest and how she thinks accents reflect one’s life journey04:35 Coming to terms with a tinge of an English accent when she speaks French now06:36 Moving between countries - a quick summary of Tatty’s childhood and adolescence07:41 Accents, languages, identities - and a sense of belonging10:39 A very subtle accent but visual clues of a non French person14:30 How Kuan-wen learned to speak French and dislike Parisians15:40 Choosing what language to speak in v.s. being rude to foreigners?21:09 A Third Culture Kid; a bicultural upbringing23:41 People remain determined to ask Tatty to pick a side (between her dual cultural heritages)26:48 Tatty’s specific fan base30:18 What did this question/terms of phrasing “like we say in French (Comment on dit en français)” imply?34:07 Are the cultural nomads an ultra niche group?36:17 All identifies are relative; shall we say British or English?39:17 Tatty’s diction when she speaks English; an accent from a time capsule43:30 Changing one’s accent to fit in44:54 Jokes/comedy sketches based on stereotypes grounded in reality46:32 Tatty’s debut solo show (currently on the European leg of the tour)49:31 Nearly didn’t do the comedy sketches online52:00 Tatty’s social media---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! This is a one-off monologue (without a guest!!) before 2024 comes to an end. But hey. monologo(s) do also mean stand up comedy in Spanish and Italian.This episode covers the 2024 Spotify for Podcast unwrapped to share with the listeners data of your consumption of this Podcast this year, supplemented by statistics from the podcast’s hosting platform. There is in addition a mid-point summary of season 2, with a roadmap of episode recommendations for different types of listeners.Your host Kuan-wen then shares the original idea of the podcast, his thoughts on guest invitations - maybe a bit of frustration, too - and his recent experience of studying and brushing up his *Taiwanese for a podcast interview.*For context, the use of Taiwanese is in constant decline in Taiwan owing to past government policies, with ever fewer people from younger generations being able to master it. Its circumstances are comparable to those of Welsh and Irish.---------------------------------Follow your host Kuan-wen on InstagramFollow Comedy with an Accent on Instagram---------------------------------00:33 Reasons for a no-guest episode03:59 Alternative idea of the host of the podcast turning into the guest for a one-off (nah)05:45 Outline for this episode07:44 2024 - Season 2 mid-point review and some stats08:45 Season 2 episode recommendations (based on the type of listeners)17:08 Data from 2024 Spotify for Podcasters Unwrapped18:30 More data on Podcast consumption from the hosting platform24:50 The idea behind Comedy with an Accent since the launch - a moving Venn diagram27:51 Criteria for guest invitations/selection31:34 Kuan-wen’s apologies for occasional grammatical and pronunciation errors34:04 Kuan-wen prepping for an interview conducted entirely in Taiwanese38:17 Thoughts on producing the monologue episode40:34 How much discussion about languages should be included in the podcast?---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

North Macedonia’s proudest export to the UK and so far the only North Macedonian comedian performing professionally on the UK comedy circuit, Vlad has appeared on BBC Stand Up for Live comedy in 2021. He took home various awards wins from Comedy Store London King Gong, Up The Creek Comedy Club’s One To Watch and The Stand Up Comedy Club’s “Get Up, Stand Up” competitions.A sizeable chunk of the interview was given to explain why North Macedonia ended up being called North Macedonia, after years of appearing as FYR Macedonia in Eurovision, why “Macedonia” can be a tricky name to claim. Vlad explains his reluctance to spend more time on this point due to the general lack of awareness about his native land by the western word. We also explore the wider dynamics of the Balkons region and between the ex-Yugoslav neighbours and how this interacts with comedy.Vlad also points out the double standards when Little Britain is pulled off the shelf, there is little outcry when it comes to Borat. We talk about employing stereotypes as tools for comedy and why ignorant depiction of foreigners continue to get by.---------------------------------Follow Vlad on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------00:40 Intro03:09 Some introduction about Vlad’s native North Macedonia and why there is a “North” before “Macedonia”07:03 People know little about other parts of the world why Vlad is tired of having to explain his nationality10:46 Explain your accent at the start to build a relationship with your UK audience15:26 The odd gig when the immigrant label irritated the audience16:10 Could comedic exaggerations be taken as misleading factual statements?19:22 How true are these jokes? The Serbian aunt boycotting Sex And The City joke and the Taiwanese army joke24:05 Being the only comedian from your country on the UK comedy circuit25:37 Is Macedonian just an extension of Bulgarian?32:17 The Balkan discussion34:21 Nostalgia towards Yugoslavia37:35 The “Borat” question44:27 Growing out of early jokes based on foreign stereotypes48:25 Vlad’s social media---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

¿sabias que todos los meses se hace un show de monólogos de comedia en español en Londres?One half of the masterminds behind the popular Comedy Por Favor show, Sergi Polo returns to talk about how the idea of a comedy show in Spanish in London came about and why the brand has been a massive success in the Spanish and the wider Hispanic community - with every single show sold out in advance since the first show two years ago.With performers from Spain, Latin America and Spanish-speaking Anglophones and the mirroring audience, a Comedy Por Favor show is always a hodgepodge of conviviality and joy (and a bit of a chitchat). As everyone in the room is guaranteed bilingual person, this creates a supportive atmosphere if anyone struggles to speak Spanish at any given point.Sergi also shares his insight and the uncertainty he still questions himself performing in different languages to crowds in different countries. The same question is extended to his online output in English as well as Spanish, where Sergi has grown his followers substantially since his last episode two years ago.---------------------------------Follow Sergi on InstagramSergi and Soraya’s podcast (in Spanish) Los de LondresFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------00:49 Intro02:22 Why is Comedy Por Favor - a comedy show in Spanish in London - so popular? (compared to other comedy shows in foreign languages )05:57 How the idea of Comedy Por Favor was born06:37 The trial runs/practices in Barcelona before the first show in London08:40 Kuan-wen’s Casio watch disrupting the interview09:32 Warm reception by the Comedy Por Favor audience10:54 A show that makes the audience feel they are transported back home12:12 The chitchatty Spanish-speaking audience14:22 Misunderstandings between Spanish spoken in different countries?16:17 Hoping to attract more Latin American audiences19:17 Spanish-speaking native English speakers who go to Comedy Por Favor shows22:09 A supportive audience for non-native performersdoing comedy in Spanish25:43 Jokes based on ideas that are funny more easily translated27:34. Sergi learned English through performing comedy in English28:51 Puns and comedy in different languages29:38 How to estimate the market size for a Spanish comedy show in London? How many Spanish speakers are out there?30:55 To create a community rather than pursuing bigger venues for bigger shows32:11 Doing comedy solo shows/specials in different languages37:29 A TV interview in Catalonia38:10 Doing a show in Catalan in London on Saint George’s Day39:29 Differences between Spanish audience in London and in Spain41:40 Sergi’s Social Media; Los de Londres podcast--------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Our third ever guest from England hails from Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire. For listeners interested in the numerous accents that exist in the UK, the Hull accent is considered one of the most distinct accents.Louise Atkinson has provided the tour support for Live at the Apollo stars Sarah Keyworth and Esther Manito and her solo show “Mates” won the Amused Moose Best Debut Show at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023.A proud northerner, Louise talks about what makes the Hull accent distinct, which has been named as the sexiest accent by Timothée Chalet. As the podcast now boasts more listeners outside the UK, the conversation goes into great length explaining the North v.s. South divide in England and the relevant but not entirely identical class divide in the society.Louise talks about the local pride - Hull was selected as UK City of Culture in 2017 and has widely been seen as a tremendous success story.---------------------------------Follow Louise on InstagramLouise’s podcast Be Fairy Afraid on Spotify; Be Fair Afraid on Apple PodcastFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------01:05 Intro03:57 Louise hates it when people from south of England question her accent05:20 Fellow. Comedians mocking Louise’s accent07:45 Adjusting her accent overseas in a corporate job08:45 Accents and classism in the UK11:20 North vs South divide in the UK13:40 A world famous actor from Yorkshire15:33 Northern England vs South England is not always working class vs middle class16:52 Proud of being from Hull18:44 “I HATE people” but perceived as “affable” because of a northern accent21:25 The Hull accent is the sexiest accent per Timothée Chalamet in the UK; what influence makes the Hull accent distinct?26:25 Who gets to joke about Hull being the backwater?26:50 UK City of Culture 201728:54 Self-deprecating a British trait, not necessarily just for the Northerners29:34 Performing across the UK and knowing audience from different parts of the country32:40 The “Waitrose” audience36:10 A few more random facts about Yorkshire and Hull37:52 Louise’s social media--------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Donatas Kveselys is the second Lithuanian comedian featured on this podcast. This episode, however, feels half-dedicated to the Kingdom and the people of Sweden, for Gothenburg, Sweden is where Donatas currently lives and where he started performing stand up comedy (in English).Donatas is a London Comedy Store Gong Show winner. He also secured the 3rd spot in the Roast Battles’ 2024 International Western Division League table.Having already left his Eastern European homeland Lithuania to move to Sweden for work, Donatas gave stand up comedy a go in his adopted country where the majority of population do not speak English as their mother tongues (but are known to proficient English speakers). Talking about layers of cultural and linguistic code switching!Donatas discusses how he got to understand the reserved Swedish folks inside out from a foreigner’s perspective. He talks about doing Swedish jokes for Swedish crowds - If you don’t know already, you should definitely google “SNUS” and “SWEDEN” - but also explains why he is now travelling and gigging elsewhere in Europe for a broader reach. Content warning - from 34:47 onwards there's a brief mention of suicidal feelings as part of a discussion on anxieties---------------------------------Follow Donatas on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------01:02 Intro04:12 A Lithuanian comedian performing English stand up comedy in Sweden05:18 An East European accent07:13 The odd foreign performer who performs in English at Swedish comedy shows10:18 Lithuania in Swedish people’s eyes12:57 Dissecting the “Chernobyl Survivor” joke and Lithuanian stereotypes16:21 Lithuanians’ views of HBO’s series Chernobyl being shot in Vilnius19:20 A white comedian with a foreign accent vs a Swedish comedian from ethnic minority backgrounds23:45 Lithuanian as an East European language but not a Slavic language - it’s a Baltic language25:11 Swedish people in Donatas’ words28:30 Jokes for Swedish audience only; “SNUS” in Sweden30:41 Travelling around to perform to difference audiences32:03 What does Donatas like about performing for the Swedish audience33:10 Bad at imitating his comedy idols, finding his own voice34:47 Penchant for dark humour37:35 Returning to his home country to perform in Lithuanian?40:09 Donatas’ social media--------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Winner of the prestigious So You Think You Are Funny competition in 2023, Samira Banks is a bright new star making waves on the UK comedy circuit. Her trademark jokes include her family’s journey fleeing their homeland as refugees. The crowd’s laughters are often raucous but some sensitive souls amongst them also pull their faces wondering. “Are we supposed to joke about refugees?”On stage, Samira refers to her heritage as a broad “from the Middle East.” She never specifies which specific country that is. This question thus forms the central discussion of this episode and explains why in the episode title, both her mother tongue and her native country remain unspecified.Growing up in Germany and moving to the UK for work, Samira is another guest with an international accent that is hard for others to associate it with a specific place. Samira shares her family’s stories and why a reunion of her extended family would turn into a mishmash of accents.---------------------------------Follow Samira on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------00:58 Intro03:58 An international accent that is hard to pin down06:58 Picking up multiple languages growing up08:31 Why Samira chooses not to specify her home country when performing13:09 Family history of fleeing and becoming refugees settling in different western countries16:51 A closely-knit family and the elders’ funny views on romance and marriage18:39 Between the English language, the German language and her mother tongue19:48 German speakers refusing to see Samira as German20:50 Some other complaints about German speakers23:50 German v.s. British25:22 Samira’s past naive assumption of anyone with accents from the north of England27:04 Middle class refugees’ “privileges”29:29 Difficulties of handling refugee experiences as comedy materials31:52 What does Samira think about her position telling her parents’ life experiences?35:59 Samira’s social media--------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

How do you perform and progress on the comedy circuit, when you as a native English speaker already moved to an Asian country where the population does not speak English as their mother tongue (and there really isn’t much stand up comedy going on)?Such is the story of Sam Yarb, co-founder of the leading comedy club in Taiwan - Two Three Comedy Club 二三喜劇. Sam started by arranging road trips to cities and towns of all sizes on the East Asian island to target the scattered English-speaking expats. Gradually, along came the Taiwanese people.As stand up comedy becomes more popular and the Mandarin scene outgrows the English scene, Sam becomes the instrumental figure in bringing international acts to the island and connecting the English performers with neighbouring Asian countries.We hear from Sam how he manages a comedy club in a foreign land and Sam’s observations on the local Taiwanese v.s. expat audienceThe Firelight Chat podcast episode with Sam quoted in this episode:On Apple PodcastOn Spotify---------------------------------Follow Sam on InstagramTwo Three Comedy Club on Facebook Two Three Comedy Club on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------00:44 Intro02:51 Sam’s accent05:03 How Sam started performing comedy in Southern Taiwan (a short Northern v.s. Southern Taiwan debate)06:36 Comedy road trips in Taiwan08:51 Audience make-ups in small Taiwanese towns and tailoring materials10:57 A self-deprecating American comic in front of a Taiwanese audience15:50 Expat v.s. Taiwanese audiences19:56 Taiwanese approaching stand up comedy shows with curiosity23:07 Taiwan - China relations as comedy material?26:12 Expat audience in Taiwan v.s. US audience26:57 Nationality comparison based comedy materials28:34 Being a comedy promoter/producer in Asia30:31 How the small town gigs are organised and promoted31:31 Writing all funny ideas that come to mind and making selections later35:03 Sam’s Social Media and 23 Comedy Club in Taipei--------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Polish stand up comedian Kat Nip is a Berlin-based but globe-trotting performer. She runs her own comedy show in Berlin but is also a regular at comedy clubs in London, including the popular Top Secret Comedy Club.Winner of London Comedy Store gong show, Kat Nip has written for and acted in Comedy Central Poland’s “Mini-Mock” series in 2022 and 2023. She has also appeared on Arte and Buzzfeed UK.Having lived half of her live outside her native Poland, Kat’s native slavic sound is quite hard to detect. Yet her accent morphs where she moves to, so she ends up with a funny scenario of a faint German accent even if she does not speak fluent German.Kat also shares how changes in her health and lifestyle led her to reflect on her comedy materials and directions as well as her stage persona.Kat's comedy special "Traitor" can be seen on OUTtv---------------------------------Follow Kat Nip on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------00:37 Intro01:51 Guessing Kat’s nationality based on her accent03:45 A Berlin-based polish comedian who lived in the UK and almost everywhere, hence the confusing accent07:45 Ending the podcast policy09:41 Unfiltered10:34 Polish stereotypes12:45 More of a Berlin girl than a Polish lady on stage?15:25 Quit drinking but continuing to do a show about jokes on drinking19:00 Moving on from the easy jokes21:53 Traumatic experience of performing in Polish to the kind of Polish crowd that made her leave Poland24:46 Specific type of fellow Polish netizens that are easily offended28:13 Is the “Polish builder” stereotype still valid?31:12 Kat’s journey and why she left her village32:48 Difference being a Polish comedian between London and Berlin35:03 Comedy reflecting life’s changes (moving on from typical Berlin expat lifestyle)39:14 Just live your life the way you want41:43 Why choosing “Kat Nip (presents)” as stage name?43:49 Hastag gross food on Instagram45:07 Kat’s social media--------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

As one of the founding members of Becomedy - a comedy show production team in the English as well as Italian languages in both Italy and the UK - Tiziano La Bella is a stand up comedian performing professionaly in both languages. He has appeared on Comedy Central Italia and Amazon Prime and only just recently relocated from London back to his home town Rome. Tiziano came to the UK with a clear objective to hone his craft, at a time when there simply wasn’t much stage time for stand up comics - Italy was not yet familiar with the concept of modern stand up comedy and would confuse it with their traditional cabaret. (He definitely did not come for the British weather and sky!)As a result of the migration of Italians in the UK, Becomedy has been able organise stand up comedy shows in Italian in London and Tiziano has performed more frequently in Italian in recent years, leading to more gigs booked in his native Italy. Tiziano has made use of what he learned from English stand up to shift more focus on performing in Italian and eventually decided to move back as the stand up comedy scene in Italy is now fast growing.On the eve of his relocation, this podcast invited Tiziano to talk about his accent which carries a hint of Australian English, his creative process in both languages and how he dissect the audience into four different groups. We also talked about the Italian stereotypes and how the Italian accent is the endless bottom of the joke, even though Tiziano does not find doing accents particularly offensive.---------------------------------Follow Tiziano on InstagramFollow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram---------------------------------If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram or email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com---------------------------------00:46 Intro04:14 An evolving accent and now a hint of an Aussie accent08:03 The W-word between British English and Australian English and how Americans and British audiences perceive the C-word differently10:56 Foreign/minority comedians doing accents on stage?12:35 Young Italians’ improved English fluency15:13 Italian stereotypes mined by influencers on social media16:43 Choosing the funny-sounding words and the formality level of words20:06 Weird Duolingo scenarios21:13 Italian immigrants not necessarily able to improve their English fluency27:05 Forced to use English regularly during Erasmus and starting to perform stand up comedy29:54 Start of stand up comedy journey and how Tiziano never intended to settle in the UK32:06 Returning to Italy; shifting to content and performance in Italian35:19 The reality of living in Roma (Garbage collection) v.s. garbage collection in Taiwan36:07 “Is this joke about Chinese offensive?”37:50 Italian accent being the only accent everyone is comfortable with doing42:10 Not having a stereotypical Italian appearance (based South Italians)44:23 Differences between performing in different languages to difference crowds47:47 BeComedy with Italian/English shows in the UK and in Italy49:17 Tiziano’s social media--------------------------------Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe