The Funny Haha Survival Guide

Host Alexis Strum chats to this year's Funny Women Awards winner of the Stage Award, Izzy Askwith as well as runners-up Mary O'Connell and Eryn Tett and we discuss reply guys, whether or not you can learn to be funny and what motivated them to become comedians.

Mummy vlogger Sophie McCartney of Ed Sheeran 'Shape Of You' parody fame joins host Alexis Strum to chat getting sued by Universal records, manifesting and what it feels like to go viral! This episode was streamed LIVE on Twitch on Wednesday 23rd September 2020.

Host Alexis Strum chats to Twitch streamers Claire Lim and Ashley Storrie about how to stream comedy, how to build your community and harness your creativity. This episode was live streamed in August 2020.About our guests:Claire Lim is a presenter, podcaster and host whose Twitch crew are known as the Wee Squad. She recently ran a two day event called 'WeeCon' where she interviewed panellists such as Armando Iannucci, raising money for the Cybersmile charity.Ashley Storrie is a comedian, BBC Radio Scotland presenter and pickle eater, best known for her Harry Potter parody #tanyapotter, which was picked up by the national press and LadBible and is currently at over 24 million views.

Host Alexis Strum talks to Andi Osho and Athena Kugblenu about racial diversity in comedy- onstage and on TV, as well as the weirdness of online gigs and how the Edinburgh festival isn't the 'be all and end all' for tomorrow's comedy stars. Becky Singh from Funny Women also joins us in the chat as we talk about changes that need to be made in the industry- from writers rooms to commissioners themselves, in order for scripted comedy to provide a more diverse, inclusive perspective. A few notes on our guests:Andi Osho:Andi is an actress, Funny Women Award-winning comedian and author. Andi has an inspiring series on YouTube called, 'Creativity Live Chat' and has conquered Hollywood with movies such as Shazam! and Lights Out and her debut novel, 'Asking For A Friend' is out next year.Athena Kugblenu:Athena is a comedian and writer. he is a member of the BBC Comedy Room 2019/20 and was awarded the BBC Felix Dexter Bursary for BAME up-and-coming comedy writers in 2020. She has written for Horrible Histories, Radio 4’s Dead Ringers, News Quiz, Newsjack, The Now Show and is a lead writer for multi cultural sketch show Sketchtopia. She also has a PRINCE 2 qualification!

Host Alexis Strum talks to Vicki Pepperdine about: COVID Tarts, buying random gymnastic beams and how to discover your essence.Lynne Parker from Funny Women also joins us for the chat.A few notes on our guest:Vicki PepperdineVicki is a British writer and actress who is perhaps best known at the moment for the darkly funny podcast 'Dear Joan and Jericha' with Julia Davis. She has appeared in over 50 TV shows, including Rev, Nighty Night, Miranda and Alan Partridge.

Host Alexis Strum chats to Helen Lewis and Rosie Wilby about the very timely subject of cancel culture, whether feminism is still possible whilst in lockdown and along with Funny Women's Kate Stone, we pick our favourite heroines of the pandemic.A few notes on our guests:Helen LewisHelen is a staff writer for 'The Atlantic' and author of 'Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights'. She has also written for many other publications including The Guardian and The Sunday Times.Rosie WilbyRosie is a comedian, podcaster and author best known for her book, 'Is Monogamy Dead?' and her podcast, 'The Breakup Monologues'.

Guests Stevie Martin and Gina Martin join host Alexis Strum to chat: sibling tortoises, everyday sexism in comedy and social media activism. And of course we got them to play 'How Alert Are You?' our Corona Quiz! ! A few notes on our guests:Stevie MartinStevie is a writer, comedian and voiceover artist, and co-hosts the podcast 'Nobody Panic' with Tessa Coates as well as 'Might Delete Later' with her sister Gina.Gina MartinGina is an activist, influencer and campaigner who successfully campaigned to make upskirting a criminal offence. She is also the author of, 'Be The Change: A Toolkit for the Activist in You'.

Guests Charlie George and Emma Sidi join host Alexis Strum to chat: terrible dancing, Charlie Brooker, La Princessa de Woking, hand-washing to Bon Jovi and weird pre-show rituals at Pret A Manger! A few notes on our guests:Charlie GeorgeCharlie is a writer and stand up comedian. She has been writing almost legibly without the help of Grammarly or a proper education since she was 16. Her work has appeared in the unanswered inboxes of many professionals, as well as on her poorly performing social media posts. Her favourite writers are Tao Lin, David Sedaris, Toni Morrison and a former housemate, who for legal reasons cannot be named, but whose book: Passive aggressive fridge notes, is available NOW in all shared living arrangements.Emma SidiEmma Sidi is a comedian, actor and writer, who has popped up in comedy series such as Stath Lets Flats, King Gary, W1A and in Liam Williams's Pls Like as less-than-influential influencer Millipede. She has taken up three critically acclaimed solo shows to the Edinburgh Fringe and has just release her new short La Princesa de Woking on Youtube. She is obsessed with the Real Housewives franchise, and while she used to be a true Real Housewives of New York devotee, she has recently found herself slightly preferring the Beverly Hills edition.