This week on episode 499… I'm joined by Ray Bradshaw - the multi-award-winning Scottish comedian who’s about to head out on his fourth UK tour with CODA. You may know Ray from BBC Scotland and Radio 4, he’s recently just finished supporting John Bishop, and hosts his own hit football podcast, Fantasy Fives! We discuss:

• growing up as a child of deaf parents and how that shaped Ray’s confidence, memory and lack of stage nerves
• making comedy accessible with the technical challenge of signing live comedy with timing laughs and learning structure
• Ray’s approach to stand-up with no notes and no structure but total authenticity
• being niche famous and knowing when you’ve already won

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can instantly WATCH the full episode and get access to over 10 minutes of exclusive extras including:

• using Edinburgh to turn material, not create buzz
• building a comedy career around family life
• and embracing mistakes, from announcing the wrong person had died on live radio to thanking the wrong city on an arena tour

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✅ Over 10 minutes of exclusive extra content with Ray

✅ Early access to new episodes where possible

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Ray: Ray Bradshaw is on tour in 2026 across the UK and Ireland with CODA, find out all the dates and more at raybradshaw.com. You can also watch Ray’s special, Bald Ginger, on BBC iPlayer.

Everything I'm up to: Come and see me LIVE! Find out all the info and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

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Today I’m joined by Urooj Ashfaq - the Mumbai-based comedian, writer and actor who’s quickly become one of the most exciting voices in stand-up. Bursting onto the scene winning Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2023, she’s now back with her new show, How To Be A Baddie.

We discuss the danger of optimising your honesty, the evolution of the Indian stand-up scene, can you be emotionally sensitive while succeeding in comedy, why you can’t plan authenticity, the pressure for women to never be mediocre and we find out if Urooj Ashfaq is happy!

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can instantly WATCH the full episode and get access to 25 minutes of exclusive extras including Urooj’s comedy superpowers, the pressure to perform for clicks, brand deals and the vulnerability of going viral.

👉 Sign up to the NEW ComComPod Mailing List and follow the show on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok,

Support our independently produced Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Instant access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 25 minutes of exclusive extra content with Urooj

✅ Early access to new episodes where possible

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with Urooj: You can keep up-to-date with Urooj Ashfaq on Instagram, @uroojashfaq.

AOB: If you’re a student comedy society or group that can’t afford to go to the Edinburgh Fringe 2026, Stevie Martin is running a Student Comedy Fringe Fund which is now open for applications, there's an introduction session on 18th Dec and the deadline is Jan 7th. Find out more at linktre.ee/5tevieM!

Everything I'm up to: Come and see me LIVE! Find out all the info and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded in January 2020, John Kearns is a master at finding pathos in the prosaic, combining clowning and standup in a way that makes absolutely no sense written down. With influences from Jacques Tati to Neil Hamburger, we explored his sense of place within himself, overreaching in his writing, and ambition in his career...

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can instantly get access to 30 minutes of exclusive extras including John's brilliant technique for underpinning all his material with genuine pathos, delving into writing for Harry Hill, meeting Chris Morris, and how the spotlight can burn...

👉 Complete the ComComPod Survey and sign up to the NEW ComComPod Mailing List!

Support our independently produced Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Instant access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 30 minutes of exclusive extra content with John

✅ Early access to new episodes

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!

Catch Up with John:

John Kearns is on tour throughout 2026 with Tilting at Windmills, find all the info and more at www.johnkearnscomedy.co.uk.

Everything I'm up to:

Come and see me LIVE! Find out all the info and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.

Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.