The Comedy Writers Group – Details, episodes & analysis

This week I'm joined by Colin Mochrie and Asad Mecci of HYPROV, a live show that combines hypnosis and improvisation going on tour around Australia and NZ.

We chat about Asad's relationship with hypnosis, how they both found improv in their lives, how Colin was cast in Whose Line Is It Anyway, and how Asad dreamed up the Hyprov concept.

We also get into pre-show and after-show routines, AI "art", and hypnosis as an anesthetic!

Get your tickets to Hyprov here.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.

• Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshops
• Access weekly bonus episodes
• Access the first 90 episodes of the podcast
• Exclusive access to our discord and facebook groups

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

This week I'm joined by comedian, actor, and author, Steph Tisdell (Bump, Class of 07, Total Control) for the first in a series of episodes where I will be directing her new show Steph Tisdell is Fat coming to Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

Across this EPIC special episode, you'll be a fly-on-the-wall to our first meeting. You will hear everything that Steph wants to pour into her new show, her relationship with stand-up, fitness, diet culture, weight, regulation, anxiety, ADHD, singing, dancing, and so much more.

It's frank, it's personal, it's a great conversation.

Follow Steph.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon.

• Unlock on our online meet-ups and workshops
• Access weekly bonus episodes
• Access the first 90 episodes of the podcast
• Exclusive access to our discord and facebook groups

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

This week on the podcast I'm joined by the Director of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Susan Provan. Susan is an icon of the Australian comedy scene and it was great to get to chat with her. It's my first guest with an Order of Australia!

Susan and I talk about the history of the Comedy Festival, how it's evolved over the years, programming, scouting, judging Raw Comedy, marketing, AI, and how she stays excited about the job.

Tickets for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are now on sale for 2026.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes along with the first 90 episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord communities, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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

NYC comedian Myq Kaplan returns to the podcast this week to talk all about his new special RINI now available on Youtube. Myq Kaplan is an absolutely profilic comedian boasting more than 20 years of experiences and with appearances on Conan, Letterman, and Last Comic Standing (just to name a few.)

We have a great chat about co-authoring a special, creating the perfect title for a show, promotion stamina, the nature of comedy, and lots more.

Follow Myq.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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

I'm joined by the brilliant Dave Thornton. Dave has been crushing it in comedy for more than twenty years. You might know Dave from stand-up stages around the world, and all the iconic shows over the years from Rove Live to The Project.

We chat about what motivated Dave to get into stand-up, the challenges of self-promotion, celebrating the wins, and his new stand-up special Nothing's Unpossible, available on Youtube. We also discuss what it's like to both have grandparents in the Dutch Resistance.

Follow Dave here.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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

This week I'm joined by the brilliant Claire Robin from the multi-award winning show, Nun Slut. I chat to Claire about the development of the show, her relationship with clowning, acting school, keeping the show fresh, and what it's like to get recognition in the form of AWARDS!

We also discuss the value of The Comedy Writers Group and the upcoming Comedy Writers Group Retreat coming up in January.

Follow Claire here.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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

This week we're talking web-series with the creators of 'Til You Make It which has recently dropped on Youtube. I'm joined by actor Emma Choy, writer / actor Phillip Hayden, and producer Riley Sugars. We chat about how the show emerged, evolved, and how satisfying it is to put it out into the world.

We also discuss the challenges of juggling work and parent life, and the hopes for the future of the series.

You can watch all the episodes here and follow the behind-the-scenes on instagram.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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

This week I'm joined by actor, writer, producer, director, Casey Feigh all the way from LA. We chat about his hit show Holy Shit Improv and it's upcoming Australian tour. We get into Casey's surprising comedy origins, his passion for improv, his relationship with feedback, and what motivates him to produce shows.

Follow Holy Shit Improv and get tickets to upcoming shows.

Follow Casey.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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

My guest this week is the brilliant Tim Batt. Tim is a comedian, podcaster, and producer. Podcast fans will know him from his cult-hit podcast The Worst Idea of All Time that he co-hosts alongside Guy Montgomery.

We discuss making stuff for money versus making stuff for fun, the origins of his podcast, shooting a pilot in a sewer, and the preciousness of time as parent.

Follow Tim Batt.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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

It's time for another Group Workshop episode! I'm joined by Comedy Writers Group members: Mema, Phil, and Christopher to workshop some new material and tackle some challenging scenarios.

We chat about how to approach performing outside, turning sandwiches into a story, and how boring sobriety can be. We also discuss the pre-show ritual and how we prepare for a show.

Follow Mema.

Follow Phil.

Follow Chris.

Follow your host, Marcel Blanch-de Wilt.

Follow The Comedy Writers Group on instagram and join the patreon to get weekly bonus episodes, 90+ episodes behind the paywall, access our exclusive facebook / discord, and come along to our weekly online writing and workshop sessions.

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