2023-12-18 Practical Guide

Podcasting for Comedians: How to Be Funny on Audio

Joe Rogan. Marc Maron. Conan O'Brien. The biggest comedians in the world are now podcasters. Why?

Intimacy

Stand-up is a performance. Podcasting is a hanging out. It builds a parasocial relationship. Listeners feel like they are your best friends. This allows for a slower, more conversational type of humor ("Riffing").

The "Riff"

Riffing is improvising on a theme with a partner. It's not about structured jokes; it's about the chemistry of the banter. * Tip: "Yes And" applies here too. Support your co-host's bad jokes until they become good jokes.

Audio Constraints

Visual comedy doesn't work. You can't do a funny face. You have to use your Voice as the instrument. * Funny voices/impressions. * Sound effects. * Descriptive language ("He looks like a raccoon that got stuck in a dryer").

Consistency

The key to a comedy podcast isn't one great episode; it's showing up every week. You are becoming part of the listener's routine.