They talk about:

• The hazards of being a critic and running into people you've reviewed badly
• Scottish representation in comedy awards lists, and the McTavish award
• Details of the reviewing process through the eyes of an actual reviewer
• How reviewers scout possible talent at lineup shows, and what it looks like to cover the Fringe this way

They recommend:

• Corbin Milligan
• Chris Forbes
• Miles Jupp

They talk about:

• Money or vibes - which of these is more important to your shows?
• Discovering through an ADHD coach the importance of financial resilience
• The outdated career blueprint for comedians
• Redefining success as you level up in comedy, and Elf Lyons, queen of Edinburgh
• Evolving the comedy business model and building new landscapes for production

They talk about:

• Navigating identity as an Asian-Australian comic performing internationally
• The difference between Edinburgh Fringe versus the Australian Fringe festivals
• Farming your shows for content
• Social media strategies for comedians - converting one-off viral viewers to longterm fans

They talk about:

• Ever-decreasing Fringe attendance, including the huge amount of shows this year that have been heavily impacted by low attendance
• The importance of brand consistency as a comedian, and building a recognisable identity
• Growing and changing over 12 years of the Fringe - from student sketches to international solo shows
• How to build a joke that'll win you a 'Best Joke of the Fringe' award

They talk about:

• The challenge of bringing the same show every year, competing with new concepts
• The perils of putting your face on your merch
• The Evolution of The Dark Room, and how it has transformed over 15 years
• TV deals, development hell, and failures we don't mention

They talk about:

• Show evolution and the importance of flexibility in your concepts
• Whether drinking alcohol helps or hinders your comedy performance
• The balance between absurd alternative bits and traditional observational stand-up, and how one might feed the other
• The psychology of the audience and how to 'trap' them
• How to get a crowd to 'buy in' to your show

They recommend:

• Dan Rath
• Ray O'Leary
• Hoani Hotene
• Booth the Clown
• Jack Ansett

They talk about:

• How the comedy circuit was in the olden days
• Becoming the UK's first major victim of identity theft and how that show skyrocketed his career
• Writing and teaching sitcom structure
• How to process personal grief on stage 
• How comedians make money these days

They recommend:

• Ignacio Lopez
• Milton Jones
• Mark Simmons

They talk about:

• Performing a joint double-act show as a romantic couple, delegating show management duties, and navigating trust on stage.
• Writing comedy together, adapting jokes to fit individual performance voices, and the ethics of "punching down."
• Transitioning from musical theatre and drama school into stand-up comedy, commercial castings, and how the audition process works. 
• Abbie's experience performing on Britain's Got Talent, writing family-friendly comedy songs, and live television production logistics.
• The importance of supporting arts and music education in schools.

They recommend:

• NewsRevue
• James Beatty's Comedy Brunch
• Aidan Jones
• Becky Umbers
• Milo Edwards
• Massioke

They talk about:

• The definition and industry pressure of an official Edinburgh Fringe "debut" hour compared to work-in-progress runs.
• Her background writing and developing for television (EastEnders, River City, Bridge of Lies) and the funding challenges facing independent Scottish comedy productions.
• Collaborating with comedian and director Stuart Laws to sharpen her show's narrative structure, pacing, and callbacks.
• Gender dynamics in comedy, confronting reviewer biases, and using stage presence and costuming to connect with audiences.

They recommend:

• Stuart Laws
• Rosco McClelland
• Jack Ansett
• Tom Ballard
• Tom Cashman
• Grace Mulvey

They talk about:

• The rising financial costs and changing landscape of the Edinburgh Fringe.
• The differences between performing a 20-minute comedy club set and developing a 1-hour festival show.
• The mechanics, history, and economics of PBH's Free Fringe and bucket donation models.
• Online comedy videos and social media vs. the traditional live stand-up circuit.
• The fragmentation of media monoculture and how different generations consume comedy.

They recommend:

• Tom Towling
• Rachel Baker
• Mary Flanigan
• Anna Thomas
• Kyla Cobbler

They talk about:

• How the Edinburgh Fringe compares to Australian and American comedy circuits.
• The financial realities and creative freedom of performing at international festivals.
• Navigating political correctness, progressive culture, and boundary-pushing stand-up comedy.
• The rise of independent comedy, social media virality, and circumventing traditional industry gatekeepers.
• Crazy festival experiences, death threats from going viral, and an encounter with the FBI.

They recommend:

• Geoffrey Asmus
• Dan Tiernan
• Jessica Brodkin
• Kyle Legacy

They talk about:

• Directing live comedy, filming stand-up specials, and visual storytelling techniques.
• The creative mechanics, economics, and chaos of running concept Fringe shows.
• How venue layout, room setup, and environment shape audience psychology.
• Audience interaction, performance etiquette, and connecting with neurodivergent crowds.
• The role of a director in structuring solo stand-up and storytelling shows.
• How much Mr Blobby costs. 

They recommend:

• Kate Hammer
• Jennifer Jane
• John Kearns
• Elouise Eftos
• Li Jin Hao
• Bella Hull
• Sam Eley
• Phil Ellis

They talk about:

• The learning curve of writing multi-year Fringe shows and comedy "boot camp."
• The concept and strategy behind the "Coward's Hour" versus full one-hour shows.
• PR, joke list submissions, and how national press coverage actually works at the festival.
• The financial realities, tax returns, and administrative side of freelance comedy.
• Handling gig mishaps, crowd work, and the craft of reading an audience.

They recommend:

• Chelsea Birkby
• James O'Donoghue
• Paul Hilleard
• Alex Kitson
• James Trickey
• Jordan Brooks
• Tom Neenan
• Andrew White

They talk about:

• The financial realities and business models of the Edinburgh Fringe.
• Review scandals and promotional stunts.
• Stand-up comedy as an art form versus viral social media clips.
• The purpose and structure of the Ish Edinburgh Comedy Awards.

They recommend:

• Elf Lyons
• Gary Starr
• Julia Masli
• Paul Foot
• Phil Ellis
• Mark Ford