One of the fastest rising stars selling out venues across European cities, Sri Lankan born Vidura spent his childhood, his teenage years and his young adulthood in small chunks of time in different countries, Vidura is a globe-trotter. To him, Berlin sometime feels more like home than Colombo. In the final episode of the first season of this podcast, Vidura is our perfect guest to illustrate how conventional definitions of "homeland", "mother tongue" no longer make senses to the globally mobile young population. An accent that cannot be easily located. Having lived in the United States and reading mostly in English, at times Vidura feels like English is more like his most fluent language, similar to lots of young immigrants who move to big cities for a brighter future, better career and a fun life, Unsurprisingly, these are also the bulk of Vidura's dedicated audience. A thinker and a prolific reader, Vidura sheds light on his cultural commentary approach to comedy and why he only write jokes that he has emotional attachments to or from ideas he has been mulling over in his head. --------------------------------- Follow Vidura on Instagram and his website Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------- 00:54 Intro 02:45 The infamous Rajapaksa family in Sri Lanka (no relations to Vidura) 04:02 Vidura’s weird mixed/ Netflix accent 05:37 Sinhala and other languages in Sri Lanka 06:59 Moving between USA and Sri Lanka and Vidura’s first language 10:46 Do British people ask Vidura about his accent? 12:31 Vidura’s audience’s profile 13:49 Vidura’s unique perspective because of his life journey 15:16 Too foreign to be a Sri Lankan 17:40 Wanting to leave Sri Lanka 19:54 More on Vidura’s connection with Sri Lanka and Colombo 22:47 Berlin feels like home 23:57 Not tailoring material too much 26:18 View on South Asian comedians doing the “accents” 29:24 Cult leader look and chilled energy 31:02 Only talk about things he actually cares about 34:38 A habit of reading 35:17 British people trying to seem smart 36:30 Vidura’s way wit words 39:51 Telling jokes as minority/an immigrant 43:26 Vidura’s high-quality video clips on Instagram 46:38 Vidura’s website and social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

When your host messaged Dan about the interview at the start of this year, he replied that he was still on the move after leaving Russia. He could not be sure where he will have a legal paper to stay. It's a weirder-than-ever time to be a Russian comedian, especially one who dared to joke about Putin's height in his comedy special. Dan followed his instinct to become a 'travelling comedian'. Travelling or exiling, depending on how you see it. In deciding to leave Moscow, Dan ditched a successful career as a stand up comedian back home. Even though it was still possible to continue to perform in his mother tongue for the overseas Russians, Dan decided to convert himself to an English stand up performer. He did have to start over again but in his own words, it is a chance to re-invent himself from Денис Чужой (Denis Chuzhoy) to Dan The Stranger. Dan talks about this extraordinary journey and his comedy choices - why he'd shy away from hack Russian stereotypes and how Mike Birbiglia inspired him with comedy story-telling. --------------------------------- Follow Dan on Instagram His stand up special (in Russian) released in September 2021 that was mentioned in this episode Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------- 00:48 Intro 02:47 From a (domestic) Russian comedian to an exiled/travelling Russian comedian performing in English 07:30 Declaring his view on the war is a must 09:21 Infrequent English performances prior to the exile 10:53 Conversion to a new language to make a living 14:04 A chance to re-invent yourself 16:00 Continue to learn English from an App 18:20 The journey out of Russia 20:49 How have Dan’s audience changed after he left Russia? 21:48 Russian overseas do not stick together 24:22 Hack jokes based on Russian stereotypes 30:51 90% thinking in Russian and 10% thinking in English 32:13 Dan’s special in Russian released in 2021 33:29 “Russian comedy”? 37:01 Police knocks of the door for his jokes 40:25 Dan’s atypical comedy choice as a Russian comedian 42:33 Writing jokes inside a story --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Schalk Bezuidenhout was tour support for Trevor Noah and won South African Comics' Choice Awards' Newcomer and Break Through Act of the Year. This episode was recorded in May when the South African star brought his show to Soho Theatre in London for a 5-day run, filling the room with South African expats and local Brits alike. Schalk explains the stereotypes attached to Afrikaans and talks about how Afrikaans speakers are often on the receiving end of jokes in South Africa, how the Afrikaans accent can be made fun of, Nevertheless, comedy serves as the unifying factor for the multi-racial post-Apartheid South Africa by creating a shared experience When gigging abroad, the white South African label used to lead the audience to automatically assume the comic has got to be racist, so much so that a disclaimer is required. Schalk explains how things are changing and why he would always identify himself as an Afrikaans South African rather than just a South African. *Apologies from your host in this episode as he mispronounced Afrikaans by omitting the "S" at the end on a few occasions. --------------------------------- Follow Schalk on Instagram and his website Schalk will be in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival this August! See Schalk in EdFringe Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter Your host Kuan-wen will be in Edinburgh in August, too! --------------------------------- 00:50 Intro 02:28 Afrikaans as a language (vs. Modern Dutch) 05:54 Schalk prefers performing in English 08:05 Languages in South Africa 09:28 South Africans’ less privileged passports 12:30 Schalk’s accent / comedy being one of the unifying factors in South Africa 16:11 Schalk performing in front of other ethnicities in South Africa 18:07 How Schalk was “forced” into learning English 19:29 Picking on English South Africans 19:59 Needing to warm up to switch to English 22:04 A party for South Africans (other guests welcome) 23:50 Changing words and slangs in the comedy set 25:39 Different approaches for gigging in different cities 28:36 A Public school is a Private school in the UK 29:34 People tend to ask “where’s your accent from?” 32:45 Afrikaans as oppressed (Anglo-Boer war) or oppressor (Apartheid)? 33:24 Comedy audience automatically assumed white South African comedians to be racist 36:30 The Afrikaans South African performer rather than just South African 38:41 South Africans in the UK more homesick than those in Australia 41:21 How many South Africans there are in the UK ---------------------------------- 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

Having only started performing comedy in the UK in 2021, Joshua was crowned winner of So You Think You Are Funny in 2022 and bagged another win at London Comedy Store gong show. He was finalist at BBC New Comedy Award 2022 and nominated as Best Newcomer by Chortle. The Southern India's native came to the UK for a corporate job and he only took up a comedy course to get better at communication doing his corporate job, These achievements and credits were unintended. Equally unintended is his understated, still and measured stage delivery. Joshua claims he is just trying to remember his lines! This episode inevitably covers a few big topics as our chilled and composed guest is incredibly intelligent and eloquent. Joshua explains the opening line about his accent he dislikes and how he has had to go the extra mile to convince others that some Indian boys really are called Joshua. --------------------------------- Follow Joshua on Instagram and Youtube Joshua's work=in=progress show at Top Secret Comedy Club in London on 17 July 2023 - tickets Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 00:38 Intro 02:43 Why is Joshua named Joshua? Anglo Indians or Indians who converted to Christianity? 07:49 Joking about his Indian accent he didn’t think he has;========= a school that focuses on English education 11:02 To “perfect” one’s accent? 12:09 The “Bank support accent” joke 15:00 “Sorry my name is not brown enough for you” 18:47 Joshua’s languages 20:14 Languages in South India 20:52 North v South in India 21:59 Colourism; racism without the race 24:44 Joshua on colonialism 30:11 A subdued, still style of comedy delivery (that is unintended) 34:25 Not staging a fake Indian accent 35:56 Joshua’s upcoming shows and 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

Our very first Portuguese guest is comedian Jomi Cruz who radiates tons of youthful energy and resembles a junior Eurovision contestant. Jomi shares how he acquired a quasi American accent that is not good enough to fool Americans but just enough to trick some Brits. Jomi chats about the few stereotypes associated with Portugal for British audience but the one bad joke about Madeline McCann* that is sure to put punters off but 1 out of every 5 new open mic comics tempts to do. Sounding not typically Portuguese but more certainly camp, the fashion-forward and even androgynous-dressing Jomi explains how he learned to embrace his accent, his campiness through therapy. The episode was recorded back in January but the overlap of its release date with the renewed reservoir search for Maddie REALLY IS CONINCIDENTAL. --------------------------------- Follow Jomi on Instagram and his London comedy night - Comedy Freaks Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 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 --------------------------------- 00:50 Intro 02:22 Madonna’s time in Lisbon 03:03 Where is the name “Jomi” from 03:57 What does Portuguese sound like? 04:27 Jomi’s fake-ish American accent 09:22 Not an obvious Portuguese accent vs hack immigrant comedy 12:08 Junior Eurovision vibe 13:08 Starting his comedy set stating he is Portuguese 14:42 Hating the way he spoke pre-therapy 16:28 Embracing his campness 22:00 Therapy and change of attitude towards his way of speaking 23:26 Rejected by toxic masculine male punters due to his dampness? 26:08 Jokes about Madeleine McCann 30:28 Portuguese typically good at foreign languages? 32:52 Being nice and The changing Portuguese mentality 34:55 Jomi’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Evaldas could have stayed in his native Lithuania and earned much more from doing comedy. After all, he started performing at a critical time in Lithuania when anyone who decided to perform was almost automatically a professional comedian. Instead, the hopeless romantic fan of stand up comedy came to the UK and started again from bottom of the barrel - doing open mic gigs all over the place to work his way up. All these because he saw a visiting pro and concluded he had to leave to get good. Your host Kuan-wen reunited with his victor - they both participated in a new act competition in Manchester in 2019. Your host came second; this episode's guest was the rightful winner. Evaldas talks about how he worked on his English to soften the accent and how he gets annoyed when the audience make notes of his accent rather than focusing on his jokes. He talks about the "East European" label as seen by audience in the UK, as most Brits know very little about his home country. You will also hear Evaldas' nuanced view on comedy sketches on social media, including his own ones, and the use of social media for comedians in general. Apart from comedy, the discussion also includes his take on the legacy of Russian/Soviet occupation in Lithuania --------------------------------- Follow Evaldas on Instagram and Youtube Evaldas also produced a very interesting documentary on his experience of participating in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a new-ish comedian. See the documentary here. Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 00:53 Intro 02:11 Evaldas’ seemingly American accent 04:58 Lithuania and Taiwan’s “Small Country Syndrome” 06:38 Evaldas would rather people focus on his jokes than on his accent (even if it is a praise) 09:01 Private English lessons in the past and continue to work on his English pronunciation 11:16 Being half Russian but not embracing the Russian side of heritage 13:52 Comedy audiences from Eastern Europe 15:36 Russian or English as foreign language in Lithuania 17:34 Why Evaldas moved to the UK (Manchester first, then London) 19:22 Lithuania’s fast-growing comedy scene 23:31 The regional “East European” identity 26:30 Not yet addressing a harsh and poor East European childhood on stage 27:26 A preference over American style comedy 30:43 Evaldas’ committed approach to comedy sketches on social media 32:17 Social media as a comedian’s necessary evil in this day and age ---------------------------------- 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

Described by some as the "mother hen" of Singapore's burgeoning stand up comedy scene, Sam has just performed his solo show "Government Approved Sex" to critical acclaim at this year's Melbourne Comedy Festival. This episode was recorded at the start of 2023 when Sam returned to the UK after a mini-tour in continental Europe (preceded by a full Edinburgh fringe run last summer). Sam shares why his mother tongue Mandarin isn't his most proficient language - something that is not uncommon for Singaporeans. He explains how Singapore's language policy means he no longer speaks the languages of his grandparents, which his parents use to openly hide secrets from him. Sam also provides his insightful take on the differences between audiences in Singapore, continental Europe and the UK. Due to your host's friendship with Sam, there have been a lot of banters and swear words so apologies for the numerous beeps this episode! --------------------------------- Follow Sam on Instagram, Twitter and his website Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- 00:52 Intro (Bickering between the guest Sam and your host Kuan-wen) 05:24 Not fluent in his mother tongue - Mandarin 07:14 Singapore’s official language and de facto lingua franca 09:52 Why doesn’t Sam speak any southern Chinese languages? 13:12 International school v Chinese school students 15:23 Sam’s not-quite-Singlish English accent 17:50 Choosing to focus on stand up comedy in English instead of Mandarin 19:35 Sam’s role in Singapore’s stand up comedy scene/ opening for Jim Jeffery 21:40 Scottish comedians slowing down when performing in Singapore 22:43 Singapore’s complex relationship with its neighbour Malaysia 24:38 On Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew 27:43 Differences between comedy audiences in Singapore, continental Europe and the UK 29:19 Sam’s "Introductory Set" 31:41 Kuan-wen’s example of how comedy savvy the UK audience can be 32:42 Sam’s “Introductory Set” when performing abroad 36:20 Does Sam always mention he is gay on stage abroad? 38:29 Sam’s military service experience 41:04 Sam’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Actor and comedian Anne Klein is the first Oscar nominee (In the short film The Red Suitcase) and the first Luxembourgish guest on this podcast. Fluent in English, French, German and her native Luxembourgish, Anne has this amazing ability to switch between languages and disguises her accent(s) to fool inattentive listeners. Anne talked about being the oddball that is too weird for her small country and her coming of age after she left Luxembourg. The pandemic ironically forced her to move back home for a year or two, but this time round, she managed to find her arty people in the small country of 646,000 people and changed her pre-existing view on her own hometown. Anne also talked about how Luxembourgish lacks a richer vocabulary because of the people's fluency in languages of their neighbouring countries. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Anne shared how she started her comedy journey and offered her view on actors and comedians not just "picking one lane." --------------------------------- Follow Anne on Instagram, Twitter and her website. Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter --------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- 01:01 Intro (sound tech guessing where Anne is from) 03:46 Some facts about Luxembourg 05:07 How to pronounce Anne’s name 05:49 Luxembourgish people’s abilities to switch between languages 08:11 English being Anne’s language of choice when she talks about her emotions 09:42 Coming of age after leaving Luxembourg 13:48 In London, no one cares about your appearance (Kuan-wen mentioned Sam Smith's 2023 Brit Awards outfit. For a reminder, see this) 15:27 Do people notice Anne has an accent? How does Anne’s accent(s) affect her acting work? 17:57 Anne’s French and German (proficiency and accents) 22:08 The Luxembourgish language and how it’s used (Students taught in German and French) 25:58 How to say “Four beers, quick quick” in Luxembourg 26:14 People not knowing (enough) about Luxembourg 27:11 Kuan-wen unimpressed by his day trip to Luxembourg 28:02 Anne rarely mentions Luxembourg in her comedy routines 29:27 The pandemic forced Anne to move back home and the difference this time 31:12 A trained actor performing comedy; pick a lane? 34:40 Luxembourg and Eurovision 36:13 Love having her hands in lots of pies --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

This week, your host Kuan-wen would like to introduce the burgeoning comedy scenes in his native Taiwan - both in English and in Mandarin - as an example of how Asia is catching the stand up comedy fever (and catching up!). Since he has not lived in Taiwan for over a decade, the introduction is recorded through the eyes of an Englishman who has spent the last few years first in Shanghai and then in Taipei. Outside comedy, Adam is a journalist who moved to Asia for work and perhaps for a bit of change of scenery. Then Covid happened and the lucky Adam enjoyed a relatively free year of 2020 in Taiwan. He was heavily involved in the English-speaking "expat scenes" in Taiwan, witnessing the growth of the parallel local scene and even started performing in Mandarin himself. There are long queues for people who want to sign up to perform. Someone's first open mic gig may be in front of an audience of 180. But, occasionally, you perform to audience who are actually not that fluent in English and are introduced as, "here comes a white dude who performs stand up comedy." --------------------------------- Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 Intro 04:08 Kuan-wen and Adam swapped their homelands 07:05 Adam’s (West) Yorkshire accent 09:22 Adam’s Taiwanese sounding Mandarin accent 12:21 How Taiwanese and Chinese speak differently 13:54 Taiwan’s Mandarin and English Open Mic scenes 17:45 Avoiding references not relevant to audience in Asia 20:36 Why did Adam move to Shanghai first and Taiwan later 24:00 Adam spent 2020 Covid free in Taiwan 27:59 Comedy based on East Asian stereotypes 35:05 English comedy shows in Asia and “Expat scenes” 39:08 Adam’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Our mini Scandinavia tour comes back to Norway again after two recent episodes feauturing guests from Denmark and Sweden. Viggo Venn, previously half of clowning duo Zack & Viggo, is our second guest from Norway. Viggo trained as a clown at the renowned École Philippe Gaulier, where he is now a member of the teaching staff. His clowning instinct - a desire to entertain and a persistence to embrace failures ("flops") - meant this recording has been the most chaotic and disruptive to date. But it was fun! Viggo explains why he exaggerates the "foreign idiot" persona on stage and consequently exaggerates his accent. We also peek into Viggo's journey as a performer - how he ended up training as a clown after coming across Dr. Brown's show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Viggo was not only interviewed but performed throughout this recording. The whole episode is interwoven with two running gags, namely Viggo insisting he and your host Kuan-wen are related due to the pronunciation of their names and that Viggo is not happy another Norwegian comedian (Thor Stenhaug in episode 2) was invited first. --------------------------------- Follow Viggo on Instagram and check out his website for shows and clown workshops Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:59 Intro 03:08 How Viggo wrongly pronounces his own name and Viggo starts the running gag he and Kuan-wen are brothers (and went wild) 06:48 A stronger Norwegian accent on stage in the UK to be the “foreign ldiot” 11:45 Are Norwegians more boring? 12:50 Norwegians’ perception of themselves and attitudes towards Sweden and Denmark 15:35 UK comedy audience’s particular appreciation of high brow and silly lowbrow comedy at the same time 16:40 Kuan-wen’s observation how Viggo adjusts his accent 18:50 A clown that does stand up 24:37 Viggo being disruptive (AGAIN!) 26:09 How Viggo decided to train as a clown 28:55 Purist believers of stand up comedy 32:46 Zack & Viggo 33:58 Viggo being disruptive (AGAIN!) 39:26 Viggo’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Evelyn Mok is well known for being the former co-host of the (now retired) Rice to Meet You Podcast and the creative mind behind multiple popular sketches. The Swedish native is also one of the highest-profile comedian of East Asian heritage in the UK, who now spends her time between both countries. Evelyn talked about how the feeling of being "other'ed in Sweden in her childhood prompted her to mimic a near perfect American accent as an escape. She also shared the cadence employed earlier in her comedy career - partially a remnant of getting out of a stage character and partially her understanding at that time of how funny should sound like. This episode also includes Evelyn's reflection on her relationship between stand up (more specifically doing stand up in the UK) and depression and why it can be a complex mix. She has prioritised taking care of her own mental health and is now a in better place again to pursue her love for stand up. --------------------------------- Follow Evelyn on Instagram Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:48 Intro (& some chitchat) 05:19 Where did Evelyn’s get her near perfect American accent from and why was young Evelyn determined to mimic the American accent? 08:45 Why ethnic minority immigrants are more likely to try stand up comedy 09:55 Can Evelyn’s American accent fool native speakers? 11:05 When Evelyn’s Swedish sound slips 13:00 Different Nordic sounds and stereotypes (inc. some Eurovision chat) 16:54 Evelyn might not have to explain her accent but needs to address her background - because of her ethinicty - if she wants to mention Sweden 21:25 Evelyn’s old “cadence” - the way Evelyn used to speak on stage - and the character she used to employ 24:58 How “Funny” sounded to Evelyn 30:21 Depression; how it affected Evelyn’s stand up 33:12 From a character to a stage persona to finally be her true self 37:44 Evelyn can only manage this American accent 41:07 Is Evelyn more fluent in English than in her native Cantonese? 41:52 Re-discovering her Swedishness and Asianness - 45:15 Looking back on a therapy like—episode 47:27 Evelyn’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

“Are you the WHSmith guy?” Stephen Buchanan is known by strangers these days for his viral sketch clips, shared so widely that he’d be stopped and recognised by random people on the street. He won the BBC New Comedy Award in 2018; he is a third of the popular podcast Some Laughs and part of the new generation of comedy talents coming out of Glasgow, a city that has produced exceptional performers from Frankie Boyle, Kevin Bridges, Larry Dean to Billy Connolly. With one of the most consistent guest’s own chuckle rate throughout the interview, Stephen talks about the working class character of Scotland's biggest city and the "Tall Poppy Syndrome" he was taught growing up as a wee working-class Glaswegian lad. Being neither the tallest nor the most capable of playing football or fight, Stephen morphed into the funniest guy in the playground to survive. Your hosts also asks Stephen about his daft, beta-male stage persona and why he does not go down the incel-pleasing trope of opinionated comedy style. --------------------------------- Follow Stephen on Instagram. or Twitter Stephen is a third of Some Laugh Podcast with fellow Scottish comedians Marc Jennings and Stuart McPherson Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:49 Intro 03:40 A viral clip that makes Stephen “The WHSmith Guy” 06:40 Only having an accent when gigging in London 08:11 Adjusting the accent level depending on the person you talk to 10:03 Did Stephen have his podcast parters think about their accents when recording? 11:57 BBC World Service producer changing Stephen’s references for American listeners - a “Bin” (Trash can) 15:32 Changing the way he speaks performing outside Scotland 18:37 Changing a working class accent for London centric Upper class audience 21:49 Why has Glasgow nurtured so many great comedians? 24:52 The Scottish mentality - The Tall Poppy Syndrome 27:38 Stephen’s akin to Charlie in Always Sunny In Philadelphia 31:50 Joking about his own height on his terms 34:00 Silly mundane stuffs rather than opinionated comedy 38:21 Jokes made funnier because of the accent or only funny because of the accent? 41:12 Glaswegian accent voted the 3rd sexiest accent in the UK 44:15 Comedians free to swear when performing in Glasgow 46:24 Some (obligatory) bagpipe music 47:19 Stephen’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

"What's your mother tongue?" A simple question.. Cansu Karabiyik, our guest this week, replied, "That's a complicated question. I don't really have a national identity anymore." As a Kurdish/Turkish Danish citizen who studied abroad first in America then at Cambridge University in the UK, Cansu is an example that national identity and our relationship with a language may not always be straightforward. Cansu in this episode talks to your host Kuan-wen about how she had to adjust her comedy performing style since moving across the pond from London to New York. With such a complex background, how she selectively chooses bits about her to include in her introductory lines to provide the context for subsequent jokes. Your host and the guest also had a gentle dig at the Cambridge University and the world famous Cambridge Footlights club (hopefully all justified after you watch the video - see link below!) Cansu debating "Cambridge Footlights have NOT ruined British Comedy" (cringe...) --------------------------------- Follow Cansu on Instagram. Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:42 Intro 02:14 A Kurdish comedian from Denmark who parents are from Turkey 05:04 Changes to Cansu’s accent since she moved from the UK to New York 06:51 British humour v New York audience 12:42 Kurdish v Turkish v Danish, which one is Cansu’s mother tongue? 14:22 Kuan-wen draws parallels between his Taiwanese and Cansu’s Kurdish 15:23 Cansu’s confusing accent to others 17:12 Unconscious bias to link ethnicity to choice of languages 18:35 How Cansu works with her confusing accent performing comedy 21:33 English is a language reserved for comedy jokes 23:10 Cansu’s straight talking from Danish and Middle Eastern cultures 25:50 Being “other”ed in Denmark and the Danish Ghetto Laws 30:05 Differences between Kurdish people in Turkey/Iraq/Syria/Iran 32:46 Cansu’s Cambridge and Cambridge Footlight experience--------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Ahead of the Chinese New Year, we are rejiggling the podcast's format slightly. Our guest this week is Jesse Appell, a native English speaker from Boston, USA who performs stand up comedy in Mandarin and whose career started in China. This reverses our usual format of interviewing non-native English speakers who perform English stand up. Known as 艾杰西 in China, Jesse has performed on Chinese TV and apprenticed over 7 years under the late Chinese Xiang Sheng* Master 丁广泉 （Ding Guang-Quan）Having started as a Fullbright scholar researching Chinese humour and performance, Jesse has an astonishing command of the Chinese language and has in your host Kuan-wen's view picked up a lot of mannerisms of a typical Chinese speaker from Northern China. Jesse shares his experience of performing in front of Chinese audiences. He explains how he has had to adapt to their expectations, when anything he covers risks being interpreted as "What an American has got to say about China" The pandemic also unexpected forced Jesse to move back to the States, a situation that he described as "being an exile in my own country" and "no one else would believe except for the Chinese Immigrants" A bonus episode recored in Mandarin will be released on Chinese New Year's Day 21 Jan. *Xiang Sheng is a traditional performing art in Chinese comedy. See more on Xiang Sheng --------------------------------- Follow Jesse on Instagram or his Youtube Channel. If you use the Chinese Weibo, you can find Jesse as @艾杰西 Jesse's tea business has a separate Instagram account Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:53 Intro 02:14 UK vs “Europe”? Or Rest of Europe? 03:32 Jesse’s impeccable accent (Beijingers like) when he speaks Mandarin 07:27 Back in USA, Jesse having to deal with Americans’ lack of knowledge in China (including Chinese Americans) 09:30 Forced to move back to USA by accident - exiled in his own country 11:33 Jesse’s assessment of different comedy crowds 14:43 What Jesse can and can’t say as an American performing in China 17:04 When an audience’s expectation of a comedian is not neutral 18:42 Chinese not used to meeting caucasians speaking fluent Chinese in real lives 21:55 Jesse’s tea business and coming to the Baltic states and to the UK ‘en route’ 25:54 On differences between Asians and Asian Americans; on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”, Margaret Cho, “Fresh off the Boat” and the Vietnamese character Dong in “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” 34:03 Audience not bothered by Jesse doing a thick Chinese accent 34:45 Different personalities when different languages are used? 38:52 Advocating doing comedy in a foreign language --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! The first episode in 2023 took your host to the Land of Song on the British isles - Wales. Steffan, more often in his Welsh tongue, is a Radio host, TV presenter and household name in his native Wales. Steffan also performs throughout the UK in English, a language he only became fluent in his teens. The Swansea native's love for his culture and his langue is evident throughout this interview. Steffan shared how he thinks in Welsh, how his skills at translating between the English and the Welsh languages help him deal with occasional glitches on stage and why he is fed up with lazy jokes about the Welsh language. So fed up is he that he wrote a whole show mocking the English language - those lazy "jokes" are not about Welsh but simply about a language you don't know. --------------------------------- Follow Steffan on twitter, Instagram or join his Facebook group Steffan's Rats in Boilersuits: The Torchwood Podcast Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- Kuan-wen mentioned a set from the Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert and the Welsh singer Browen Lewis. 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:50 Intro 02:09 Rhod Gilbert’s comedy portrayal of Cardiff 02:51 Growing up copying the Received Pronunciation accent; English fluency only in his teens 07:48 Thinking in Welsh; mastery over English as second language 11:09 Occasional glitches 12:55 Autism and accents 15:04 When the comic forgets a specific English word 16:33 Translating skills (The Welsh Language Act 1993) 18:59 An example of a glitch 20:57 Just admit you forget the word 22:53 Tougher gigs to perform to Welsh audience 30:28 Less stereotypes and more nuances for home crowds? 32:28 Audience shouted Sheepshagger 34:04 Accessibility to home culture and mother tongue 39:23 First show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival was secretly about languages 45:00 Battles to save the Welsh language 46:16 What is a microwave in Welsh? 46:53 Steffan’s social media and podcast --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Bon Nadal! Feliz Navidad! Our last guest in 2022 is our third Spanish-speaking guest - also the podcast's first Catalan speaker - the self-titled "Lovely Boy From Barcelona" Sergi Polo. Fresh from being nominated for the prestigious Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year, Sergi is a regular at the popular Angel comedy in London who is known for his snappy, sharp and witty gags. Just check his Instagram page for the reels and you'll get an idea. Your host Kuan-wen had an interesting discussion with Sergi on their differing views when it comes to mockery of accents. Sergi does not mind it; in fact, he further welcomes jokes and comedy based on stereotypes. He does reveal some of Spain's curious attitudes on racism, legacy of colonialism. Asian listeners, buckle up; listen in to find out how "Takeshi's Castle (風雲!たけし城)" is translated in Spain. --------------------------------- Follow Sergi on Instagram Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:41 Intro 01:06 Sergio is Spanish (Castilian); Sergi from Barcelona is Catalan 03:24 “My Spanish accent is beautiful” 07:07 Spanish words written the way they are pronounced and the “Acento” 10:46 The accent helps Sergi stand out and be different from other comedians in the UK 13:56 No problem having his accent mocked 16:00 Sergi’s relaxed view on Manuel from Fawlty Towers 17:00 Catalans like to make fun of themselves 19:45 Spanish fine with the F word or the N word between friends if they know there’s no malicious intent 21:56 Racism in Spain, the Spanish version of Takeshi’s Castle 24:12 Franco in Spain; Taiwanese attitude towards a past dictator 27:02 Do younger Spaniards have much less strong accents in English? 29:18 Sergi in fact having a Catalan accent in English 30:02 How the Catalan language is being kept alive 32:38 An example of a joke that is either offensive or based on truth 34:51 Sergi’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Baby comic Jin Hao Li is still studying at the University of St Andrews, but he already amassed a remarkable win at the legendary Comedy Store Gong Show in London and got through to the final of Chortle Student Comedy Award this year; A fellow veteran comedian described him as "You are a baby who is walking - but you are not supposed to!" The Singaporean comedy prodigy explains in this episode why he does not carry the usual sound of Southern Chinese dialects like many fellow Singaporeans do. Jin Hao talks about code switching and how his Singlish is only revealed with boys back home. Even though he adores Singlish and Singlish humour, he is just unable to perform his surreal style of comedy in the Singlish accent and retains instead this "privileged international student" accent. --------------------------------- Follow Jin Hao on Instagram Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:53 Intro 05:03 An Atypical Chinese Singaporean who does not have a dialect 08:12 Singlish accent v privileged international student accent 10:55 White British putting on a “Black-ent” 13:17 Learning English through Coca-Cola-lisation 18:22 Chinese Singaporeans preferring a separate label from Mainland Chineses 19:49 Chinese Singaporeans with Southern Chinese heritage (Hokkien v Cantonese v Hakka v Mandarin) 20:46 The Manchurian people and the language (Northeast China) 22:03 Jin Hao confused between “Elderly” 長輩 and “Seniors” 前輩 in Mandarin 25:29 Jin Hao’s inability to write jokes in Singlish 28:23 The “Speak Good English” Campaign in Singapore 29:39 Why do some people refuse to think of Malaysia and Singapore as English-speaking countries? 35:35 Jin Hao performs in a non-Singlish accent in Singapore 37:33 Moving from China to Singapore 39:58 Jin Hao’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Your host Kuan-wen describes Freddi as one of the best kept secrets to comedy audience in the UK and the US. Freddi has been a veteran on the Berlin stand up comedy scene, one of the largest in a non-English-speaking country in Europe thanks to the large number of expats in the city. In fact, it should be two scene"s", since Freddi used to perform both in German and in fluent English and the two only have a limited amount of crossovers. Most expat comedians perform only in English; more German comics perform in German. When Comedy Central sought localised content across the globe, Freddi got on national TV in astonishing speed, as she and her generation of Berlin comics just got enough experiences at the right place and the right time. Then the pandemic happened and Freddi decided to give up performing comedy in German. Your host Kuan-wen reunited with the "old friendly acquaintance" of his to discuss her journey and how she made up her mind. Freddi shared her insight into stand up comedy remaining a underground-ish sub culture in Germany for now. Freddi also explains how she finds it difficult to joke about her faith to Germans or to joke about sex club culture outside Berlin. --------------------------------- Follow Freddi on Instagram To get a flair of Freddi performing in German on TV Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:37 Intro 02:36 Freddi’s very American accent and its origin 05:51 German colonialism 08:08 Credential to joke about the Nazi grandfather 10:46 The make up of comedy audience in Berlin 14:19 Political Cabaret (Politisches Kabarett) in Germany 17:27 German audience not getting modern stand up comedy 18:59 Why Freddi gave up performing stand up in German 21:49 German audience not receptive of discussing someone’s faith in public 28:13 Changes in Berlin’s comedy scene 34:09 Not necessarily easier for the comedian to tell and write jokes in their mother tongue 39:23 Sex club culture referenced in Freddi’s Berlin jokes lost in translation in Edinburgh Fringe Festival 43:00 Freddi’s relationship with her (ex-) Christian faith 46:53 Is German an ugly-sounding language? 48:14 Freddi’s social media and her full German name --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

India's stand up comedy star Sahil Shah has been in this business for over a decade. He has been at the forefront of India's modern stand up comedy scene and has pretty much grown with the scene. It started with comedy sketches uploaded to Youtube, later packed out live shows. This year, he performed for the first time at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the UK - including a week at the Comedy with an Accent showcase - and was scouted by Soho Theatre to bring his own show to London. On the eve of his second night performing at London's Soho Theatre in October, your host Kuan-wen reunited with the energetic performer from Mumbai to record this episode. Sahil explains how the rich languages and the sheer scale of India give rise up to a variety of stand up comedy scene"s" in different language zones. As an act who performs only in English, he shares why he prefers to have jokes' set ups in English but reveals his punchline in Hindi. He nevertheless adjusts his performance style when facing non home crowds and discusses the difference between the comedy audiences in India and in the UK. --------------------------------- Follow Sahil on Instagram , Twitter and Youtube Sahil's first comedy special on Amazon Prime Childish Behavior East India Comedy on Youtube Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram and Twitter ---------------------------------- If you like the episode, please share it and leave a review. For any comments or suggestions, please contact us on Instagram email comedywithanaccent@gmail.com ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:44 Intro 06:47 Languages Sahil speaks 10:05 Languages in India and languages switching in Mumbai 11:43 Set up in English, punchline in Hindi 17:55 Different performance strategies for non home crowds 20:53 Mindful of one’s own accent to adjust the speed and to enunciate 24:38 When someone “put on” an Apu accent 28:57 Indian audience clapping at comedy shows 33:31 The stand up comedy scene in India 36:27 Caste and comedy 41:51 Any plan for Sahil to perform comedy in Hindi and/or Gujarati? 42:42 Comedy at its funniest with localism; the bit about the chappal 46:41 Sahil’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe

Live at the Apollo star Esther Manito started performing stand up comedy only as recently as 2016 - not to forget we should probably count two years out because of the pandemic. The ex teacher has since brought two critically claimed solo shows (Crusade, #NotAllMen) to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and become the first female comedian to perform at Dubai Opera House. Describing herself as an "Essex Arab Girl Comedian", Esther is in her own words a chameleon of accents having grown up between mixed and sometimes clashing cultures and social classes. Between an Arabic-speaking Lebanese father and a Geordie mother who switched to a southern English accent at home, Esther nevertheless wears the badge of her distinct Essex accent with pride. This is the first episode to feature a distinct British regional accent. The Essex accent has an endearing nature but carries the social connotations of being thick and unsophiscated, best embodied by the all-time guilty pleasure reality TV show The Only Way is Essex. --------------------------------- Follow Esther on Instagram or Twitter Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram or Twitter Esther's hilarious podcast with comedian Lily Phillips: Ghastly Women --------------------------------- Esther started performing stand up comedy as a young mother after she just gave birth to her second child. If you are interested in how Esther balances her family life whilst switching career as a comedian, there is a great episode on the Parenting Hell Podcast by Josh Widdecombe and Rob Beckett. Also recommended is the interview by comedian Cally Beaton on her podcast Namaste Motherfxxker. ---------------------------------- Episode timeline 00:57 Intro 01:48 First British regional accent featured on this podcast 03:12 A variety of Essex accents 05:17 A chameleon of accents - Esther’s mixed heritage 10:45 What the Essex accent makes Esther feel as opposed to a Posh British accent 12:43 The evolution of the modern Essex accent 13:42 Quirky examples of an Essex accent 19:03 Definition of a “chav” 20:37 Comedy and social classes in the UK - made more complicated by misperceptions of regional accents 23:10 Double standards applied to comedians with different accents on swearing 25:28 Fetishisation of “working class” 28:39 An outsider in her own home town 31:01 Ranting on stage and a comedic voice of “tiredness” of being a mum/wife/woman 34:49 Two funny arguments between Esther and her husband 38:00 A hardworking comedian that balances the life as a mother with young children 40:21 Discriminatory treatment of women in Kuan-wen's extended family 41:54 The name “Manito” and Esther’s maiden name 42:50 When English polite manner only confuses Esther’s Lebanese relatives 46:22 Esther’s social media --------------------------------- Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe