Compiled by Jasper Baumann and Tess Connery
Nature or Nurture: Jimmy & Nath on whether or not people are Born Funny
This week, the Hit Network’s Jimmy & Nath Show launched a new podcast series, Born Funny, on LiSTNR. In the podcast, Jimmy Smith and Nath Roye, take a deep dive into when Australia’s funniest humans and ask them the question, “are you born funny?”
Podcast Week’s Tess Connery caught up with Smith and Roye to find out.
Jimmy & Nath
How did Born Funny come to be?
“We do everything together (it’s sickening really), co-dependency at its finest, and because of that we are always throwing ideas and concepts at each other on golf courses, in bars, at the gym, at home and this was one of those. The idea came amidst covid when we were back living in Tassie, Nath had been thinking about a way we could expand the Jimmy & Nath brand outside the confines of the radio studio leaning into our abilities as interviewers and broadcasters but on a topic we are passionate about, that being humour.
“Little did Jim know, Nath had written a full pitch out for the podcast already including guest angles, media and digital plans so by the time we agreed to do it the foundations had been laid. When we finally recorded the first episode, our radio worlds changed, and we were given two new national shows (The Jimmy & Nath Show) back in Sydney which meant the podcast had to go back on the shelf again for a year until we were settled and ready to go again. Finally, that time presented itself again and we now have 11 episodes recorded with some amazing guests who tell some incredible never before heard stories about their relationships with humour, forging their careers and of course answering if they were truly Born Funny.”
On the surface, “are you born funny?” seems like a straightforward question, but I imagine you must get a whole range of answers to it. How did that become the question to centre the podcast on?
“Being two people who pride themselves on creating ‘funny’ being obsessed with ‘humour’ and understanding how and why something can make someone laugh, we wanted to know how the funniest people in the country found their relationship with humour. Did they think about it like we did? Did they discover it? Did they develop it? Or did they just have it and not really know how or why? We thought the perfect way to explore the journeys some of these people have with ‘funny’ is by chronologically following who they were as people, picking moments from their lives that pointed to them being ‘the funny one’.
“A lot of these guests were never the funny one, they didn’t think they were funny, humour wasn’t on their radar and then something happened where it all changed. Humour was used as a protective instinct; it was a coping mechanism and for some it was something they had to force and really work at despite copious amounts of criticism. Each of these individual stories helped us and hopefully the audience understand that being Born Funny does not equate to success, although a lot of these stories were of resilience, tragedy and very bloody hard work which is what made these people tick. The best bit about it is when we ask them at the start of the podcast if they think they were born funny, and then again at the end of the chat, their answer changes! It’s like they are discovering about their relationships with humour at the same time we are.”
What are you looking for when finding guests for the podcast?
“Originally the idea for guests was to focus on those who make a living out of being funny, comedians and stand ups. However, this quickly changed when we realised that ‘funny people’ are everywhere and aren’t necessarily always those that stand up with a microphone and tell punchlines. Yes, many of these guests are comics and comedians, but some are entertainers in other fields – video, social media, sport, presenting or writing, where ‘funny’ became a tool for them that drove their success in whatever career they are in now.”
You guys are already busy, how are you finding adding the podcast on top of your radio responsibilities?
“The problem with us is that we thrive on busy, if we aren’t we feel like we aren’t doing enough. This has its benefits and its detriments but it’s how we like to work, it keeps us fulfilled, challenged, and developing in different ways. We are always looking for ways to expand on what we already do, we know radio, we know we are good at radio but what other feather could we add to our cap that complimented what we already do, podcasting was the answer! We have a supportive team around us (and call on a lot of favours) but supportive professional relationships allow us to keep doing what we do, plus we know our roles. Jimmy is phenomenal at creating videos and socials that compliment our audio presence and drive audience, whilst Nath focusses on bringing in guests, organising and finding ways to expand the reach of the podcast and our projects.”
What do you hope listeners get from Born Funny?
“We hope listeners get one of two things from Born Funny. Firstly, humour is one of the most subjective things we believe in the world and so is its relationship with each of our guests. The podcast seeks to explore the lives of ‘funny people’ and prove that a lot of the time humour and more importantly success wasn’t thrust upon them from birth, it was worked at, it was toiled over and it failed a lot of the time and that is okay. Being funny is also one of the things where if it works, you know right away (because someone laughs) and if it doesn’t you know even faster, these stories are ones of resilience and persistence. The best is that each guest is still learning and at times still failing despite being the best at what they do, which is an important lesson for anyone we feel who listens irrespective of whether they are in the entertainment space or not. The second thing we hope listeners get out of Born Funny, is very simple, a laugh. Yes, there are some more serious undertones to these stories and where the humour came from, but also the anecdotes and delivery of these stories are unbelievably funny, to the point where we had headaches afterwards from laughing so much with these guests! It is impossible to listen to this podcast without laughing out loud and that is a testament to the people sitting on the microphone opposite us, be they’re Born Funny or not.”
SleepScape is the new podcast series the producers hope you never finish
SleepScape is a new sleep aid podcast from Jay Walkerden and Katie Mattin’s growing Podshape business.
“We have chosen 10 iconic places in Australia that we thought people would be interested in hearing what they sounded like,” Podshape co-founder Jay Walkerden told Mediaweek.
“Falling asleep can be such a challenge for many people.”
Walkerden noted the series launched just over a month ago and Podshape had great support from Apple and Spotify on their respective platforms.
“It’s a subscription-based series,” added Walkerden. “We offer three days for free for trialling. We are adding new titles all the time.” The monthly fee is $7.99 or that cost drops to $6.66 with an annual subscription of $79.99.
Gidget Foundation partner with LiSTNR to launch 1 in 5 Mothers, 1 in 10 Fathers
To help raise awareness for perinatal depression and anxiety (PNDA), Gidget Foundation Australia and LiSTNR have launched the 1 in 5 Mothers, 1 in 10 Fathers podcast series.
PNDA impacts around 100,000 Australians each year – in fact, it affects 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers – and often comes as a surprise to the parents or families affected. This is a temporary and treatable condition and support services are available across Australia.
In the podcast, in partnership with Gidget Foundation Australia, LiSTNR spotlights PNDA in honest accounts by those able to share their stories allowing listeners to meet some of the 1 in 5 mothers, and 1 in 10 fathers who have experienced and worked through their PNDA.
The series is hosted by Nine News presenter Davina Smith, who experienced perinatal depression herself after the birth of her first child and is now a Gidget Ambassador.
During each episode, one person who has struggled with PNDA will share their story with the support of a Gidget clinical perinatal specialist. Davina Smith and the perinatal specialist then reflect on the story, discuss the intricacies of managing a perinatal mental health condition and talk through the various ways to identify and treat it.
[Listen to 1 in 5 Mothers, 1 in 10 Fathers here]
NITV launches new video podcast, Goodways
National Indigenous Television (NITV) have launched a new video podcast that’s full of laughs and banter, bringing together NITV’s First Nations digital team yarning about life, love, and everything in between.
From ghost stories to making sure you’re not crushing on a cousin, Goodways is the new First Nations vodcast full of lively chat about identity, childhood and relationships.
Hosted by NITV’s Jodan Perry (Worimi and Wiradjuri), Jonah Johnson (Wiradjuri), Alexis Moran (Wakka Wakka and Yuin), Jason Haji-Ali (Yawuru) and Bronte Charles (Bundjalung and Mununjali) – the crew bring personal perspectives from right around the country.
Co-host and Head of Digital at NITV, Jodan Perry said: “Goodways is the feeling of sitting round yarning up with your cousins. It’s a space where we can kick back and talk all the things that make us Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, our successes, strengths, beauty, all in a relaxed, and cheeky way,” he said.
Christian O’Connell returns to host the second season of Stuff of Legends
Christian O’Connell is back as the host of the podcast, Stuff of Legends, bringing audiences even more revealing conversations with celebrities from around the world.
Off the back of an award-winning first season, Christian O’Connell has invited household names, including Jameela Jamil, Eric Bana and Richard E Grant, to share the stories behind three treasured objects from their lives.
Stuff of Legends Season 1 featured Matthew McConaughey, Adam Hills, Celeste Barber, Wil Anderson and Ricky Gervais and was awarded ‘Best Entertainment Podcast’ at the Australian Podcast Awards in 2021. A curious and interested host, O’Connell guides these conversations along with humour and tenderness as the celebrities share never heard before stories.
O’Connell said: “After 25 years of interviewing people, this is a new way of unearthing fresh and real stories that surprise not only us listening but the well known guests sharing them.
“Our stories are the most treasured parts of our lives; the success, the failures, the hopes, the fears, the dreams. They connect all of us and it is a true privilege to sit with these wonderful guests and listen to them. I hope the listeners enjoy them as much as I did.”
