10 Questions with Adam Zwar

Tom Hollander is in my top five actors of all time. A rare beast who can do comedy and drama with equal, effortless brilliance. He lands a line so dry you need a glass of water just to recover—then, in the next breath, breaks your heart with those devastatingly eloquent eyes. And now, thanks to The White Lotus, he has also proved himself outstanding at dying. A Napoleon of the screen—compact but commanding, wielding presence like an emperor wields an army—he strode through Season 2, a vision of louche menace and debauched charm, before being so cruelly dispatched that I half-expected him to rise from the waves like some Mediterranean revenant, clutching an aperitivo and a bon mot. But no. Gone. Finished. Season 3 will have to stagger on without him, and be the lesser for it.So, in pre-mourning his absence, I give you two small consolations: a video in which he bemoans sharing a name with a very rich man, and possibly the greatest Life in the Day feature ever published. Read it. Read it twice. Then go and watch Rev. again, because honestly, nobody does it better.This appeared in The Sunday Times - Sunday, October 04 2020,I wake up generally at 3 or 4am. Not because I'm like Margaret Thatcher, but because I need to pee. I pee in the darkness using my phone screen to illuminate the target, then often take half a sleeping pill (antihistamine), turn on the World Service very quietly and try to go to sleep again. Sometime between 6 and 8 I wake again, turn up the Today programme gently. If my girlfriend is there we hold each other in different positions. If she isn't I wrap my arms around a pillow and continue listening to the bad news. Whoever gets up first will go downstairs and start baking porridge. It's like a savoury flapjack and was recommended to me by a very healthy-looking nutritionist. It takes about 40 minutes to cook and we eat it in such large quantities with olive oil and salt that we negate any nutritional benefits. But we enjoy it. And while it's cooking it gives us time to look at our phones.Sometimes in this waiting period I try to do three slow sun salutations to stretch myself out, but often I don't. I brew the first of many coffees. Which mostly involves heating up the stuff in the cafetière left over from the day before. If it's a slow day I make it in one of those Italian alloy things that students always used to have that involve a lot of assembled parts and washing up. Owing to forces beyond my control, life has not been as busy as it used to be.After we've eaten and my girlfriend has gone to work I look at myself in the mirror and try to see what others see. Examine my bald patch, weigh myself and pull my stomach in. Then let it out. Then pull it in again. If I'm feeling positive I might get dressed at this point and go for my second coffee on the street below. I've lived in the same flat for 20 years and one of the rewards for this loyalty is that I know all the shopkeepers and stallholders on the street, for whom I have become like a piece of the old furniture they sell.Hello Glen, hello Kris, Ghino!, hello Brendan, hello Fati, wave at Ray, turn the corner, bonjour Raschid, ça va? (keep going 'cause I can't really speak French), hello Hassan, hello Reg, morning Dave, yup still here Tony, hello Beatrice (she doesn't notice), slide into Porto: “Maya four-ter take away please” (phonetic Portuguese). Then take it home and leave it on the sideboard with any post that has arrived from my stalker.Then I might call my agent. “Isn't she? No, no, nothing important… just checking in…”Soon it's time for my midmorning nap. Followed by the preparation of lunch, which I start at 12.15pm. And at 1pm I turn on the radio again to listen to World at One and hear politicians lying or reports of the world ending.Whatever I make for lunch I eat too much of, which makes me feel a bit lethargic, so I make some more coffee and turn off the radio as The Archers starts so I'm ready to begin the second half of the day.The afternoon is time for hobbies and extracurricular activities. If it's sunny I might go for a cycle ride down the canal, if it's raining I might masturbate and doze, or speculate on the extraordinary injustice of Philip Green's knighthood, or look at that app that tells you which celebrity you most resemble (Tom Hardy). Sometimes I read long-form articles about the collapse of western society and the destruction of the planet.From about 5pm, assuming I haven't mislaid my house keys or mobile phone, it's possible to surf through the rest of the day on the news feed while preparing food, eating it and digesting through Newsnight.Then it's time to go to sleep again. Cracking a little sleeping pill in half in case I need it later, I turn on the radio very quietly. If my girlfriend's there we hold each other in various shapes. If she's not I put my arms around a pillow. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mrzwar.substack.com

One of the funnier moments from the Alan Jones era. Warning: It does contain the voice of Mark “Chopper” Read. And the voice and face of Alan Jones. PS: The studio audience was so polite! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mrzwar.substack.com

Robert William Hoskins, actor, born 26 October 1942; died 29 April 2014.It didn't matter that this guy—who left school at 15 to become a bouncer, porter, window cleaner, and fire-eater—went on to become ridiculously famous. He was always down-to-earth: "Actors are just entertainers, even the serious ones. That's all an actor is. He's like a serious Bruce Forsyth."Hoskins could play serious and scary, then turn on a dime to reveal sweetness and a big heart.A chance audition led him to the theatre, which opened the door to roles in BBC dramas and a beloved ad for British Telecom, where he delivered the catchphrase "It's good to talk." Around that time, Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Cotton Club (1984), and suddenly he was in movies. Brazil followed, then Sweet Liberty, his Oscar-nominated turn as an ex-con in Mona Lisa, the blockbuster Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Heart Condition, Mermaids, Hook, and Oliver Stone's Nixon, where he played J. Edgar Hoover."You don't go to Hollywood for art," he said in 1999. "And once you've got your fame and fortune—especially the fortune in the bank—you can do what you want to do. It's basically f**k-you money."In 2012, at 69, he announced his retirement after being diagnosed with Parkinson's. Two years later, he died from pneumonia.Miss you, Bob Hoskins. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mrzwar.substack.com

This week's guest on Out of the Question is the comedian and TV host, Tom Ballard. You all know Tom from Triple J, multiple hosting and guesting engagements on the ABC and Channel 10 as well as the iconic Tonightly with Tom Ballard. We talk about that here. There's also his stand up and his book, I Millennial. And now he's back with a new Melbourne Comedy Festival Show, It Is I, which is at the Victoria Hotel from March 30 and ALSO Yes/No – A Comedy Lecture, which is also at the Victoria Hotel from April 15. Tickets at the Festival website.Tom on Tonightly being cancelled. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

Too much has happened since Dave O'Neil recorded this episode of Another 10 Questions back in the peak pandemic days of November, 2021. The point of Another 10 Questions was to invite guests back onto the pod as a catch up or check in. And since Dave was on the very first episode of this podcast back in 2015, there was a lot to talk about. Most listeners will be familiar with Dave's work on Spicks and Specks, Agony, Randling, The Nugget, and more recently, great cameos in Utopia and Fisk. He was also the head writer on Totally Full Frontal, and with the screenwriter, Mark O'Toole, he wrote the feature films Take Away and You and Your Stupid Mate.Catch Dave's new Melbourne Comedy Festival show Overweight Lightweight at Morris House from March 29 to April 9. Tickets here. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

This week's guest on Out of the Question is the comedian Mel Buttle. I've been a long-time fan and this is our first ever chat. I particularly love her Mum character, which she occasionally releases on social media. We talk about the genesis of that here. We also talk school, jobs, growing up in Queensland and the Great Australian Bake Off which Mel co-hosted for five years. Stay tuned for her handy baking tips.You can also check out Mel's new Melbourne Comedy Festival Show Let Me Know Either Way which is at the Melbourne Town Hall from April 11. Tickets at the Festival website. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

“I feel like I'm a very, very big energy in a world that wants you to be a little bit smaller.” - Nikki Britton.This week's guest on Out of the Question is the comedian Nikki Britton. Apart from her live work, you might have seen Nikki on Have You Being Paying Attention, The Project and How to Stay Married.She's returning to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival with her show, Getting Out in Front of It, from April 11. You can get tickets at the Festival website.We had some tech difficulties in this chat, which I hope aren't too obvious. I was stuck in a motel in Castlemaine, where I'm filming a TV show, and Nikki was in her car after doing some sort of fitness thing. Also, I had food poisoning. Which probably didn't contribute to anything. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

This week's guest on Out of the Question is writer, comedian, and musician, Sammy J.It's a great chat. How could it not be? We talk about Sammy's start in comedy, some of the formative shows he was involved in as a writer performer, the sitcom he created with Heath McIvor called Sammy J & Randy in Ricketts Lane, and then his transition to political satire with Sammy J's Playground Politics. Now he's taking a live version of his political satire featuring stand up, songs and storytelling around Australia. For bookings check out Sammy-j.comRight now, you can hear him host Breakfast on ABC Melbourne. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

This week, I'm extremely excited to have Osher Günsberg on the show. Most people know him from hosting the Bachelor and it's associated spin offs I was more an Australian Idol guy who loved the on screen chemistry shared by Osher and James Mathison.  But that's just me showing my age. During our conversation, we talk about all that, as well as his radio days, as well as getting back on the horse when you're down as well as the extreme heights he hit hosting TV shows in the US.  Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

This week's very special episode of Out of the Question is a Wilfred reunion episode with my fellow Wilfred creator, Jason Gann. We talk about the origins of Wilfred and where Jason is in his life right now. I met him as an acting student at the University of Southern Queensland. After graduating, he performed for the Queensland Theatre Company and the Twelfth Night Theatre in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne and appearing in The Wedge, Wilfred, and also the feature film Rats and Cats, which screened at SXSW. He then went on  to make the Channel Ten series, Mark Loves Sharon, before moving to the US where he starred in, executive produced and was one of the writers on the US version of Wilfred, which ran for four seasons on FX.Don't forget to check out our Wilfred Australia tribute page. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this week is satirist, humourist, author and stand up – Titus O'Reily. Titus used to be called Alex Twomey. He was a corporate guy who specialised in crisis and issues management. As we discover in this interview, Alex started writing a blog while still working in his office job and gave himself the pen name “Titus O'Reily”. The blog was hilarious and it turned out I wasn't the only one to think so. He was soon asked to write books and perform live shows and more success followed. Now you see him regularly casting his jaundiced eye over every AFL season on radio and his regular appearances on The Front Bar where he mocks his own team, Melbourne, for being posh and my team, Carlton, for everything. His blockbuster podcast Sports Bizarre with Mick Molloy, in which Titus tries to bamboozle Mick with the strangest stories to occur in world sport, is back for another season. So check that out. This conversation looks under the bonnet of how you transition from a real job into becoming a comedy professional. It's full of wisdom and revelation, but always returns to the theme of hard work.Check out Sports Bizarre here. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

This week's guest is my long time pal and work colleague, Sarah Wilson. Sarah is a multi-New York Times and Amazon best-selling author, podcaster, international keynote speaker, philanthropist and climate change advisor. She founded the I Quit Sugar movement – a digital wellness program and 13 award-winning books selling into 52 countries. And in 2022 she sold the business and gave everything to charity. In what seems to be a lifetime ago, Sarah was the editor of Cosmopolitan Australia; host of Season 1 of Masterchef Australia; was a journalist at the Sunday Magazine, which appeared in the Sunday Herald Sun and Sunday Telegraph – and that's where we became mates.I always leave a chat with Sarah feeling a little wiser than I did at the start. I hope you enjoy. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

I've been lucky with the content offered by the guests on this podcast – but this guy has an unusually inspiring story. Working class boy, becomes a political operative at 19, works his way up to being an advisor in the Rudd and Gillard Governments before pivoting to cricket commentary and becoming one of the best-known cricket broadcasters in the world. His name is Adam Collins, and in 2018, he saw there was no Australian radio presence covering the test series between Australia and Pakistan in the UAE, so he used the money he was saving to buy a house and bought the rights to broadcast the series. He talks about the stress of that deal here, particularly finding a station he could on sell the broadcast to, as well as overcoming tech and censorship issues. Right now, the whole saga is being developed into a feature film. Quick shout out to The Final Word - the best cricket podcast going around hosted by Adam and his on-air partner, Geoff Lemon.I hope you enjoy this chat. Check out the exclusive bonus video below where Adam discusses the two funniest cricketers he's met.Links: The Final Word PodcastAdam's collaboration with Wayne Swan which set his career pivot to cricket journalism in motion. BONUS VIDEO: THE FUNNIEST CRICKETERS ADAM COLLINS HAS MET Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

This week's guest on Out of the Question is writer, comedian, and musician, Andrew Hansen. He's the member of The Chaser who sings and sometimes gets into trouble for the lyrics he sings. I think he's hilarious in the style of a shorter Cleese or a stronger jawed Tim Brooke-Taylor – while, at the same time, being completely his own thing. He's also been a radio presenter on the ABC, Triple M and Nova. And he's toured his live stage shows around the country many times. In fact, you can catch his new show Andrew Hansen Is Cheap in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Launceston in the next few months. Just type in bio.to/andrewhansen and all will be revealed. Alright. We had a good chat. He's a decent man, Andrew Hansen. Before the interview proper, I told him how great I thought his Billy Connolly impersonation was and we started talking about impersonation comedy in general. A serious moment when Andrew talks about what it's like to be sued over a joke. Get full access to The Kicker at thekicker.substack.com/subscribe

This week’s guest is the former Western Bulldogs great, turned AFL commentator, turned radio host, Luke Darcy. In 2002, Luke was awarded the AFL Players Association Most Valuable Player Award, the Australian Football Media Association Player of the Year Award, and the Herald Sun Player of the Year Award. He represented Australia in the International Rules Series against Ireland that same year and was captain of the Bulldogs in 2005/6. When he retired he proved he had a natural talent for broadcasting and remains one of the Seven Networks biggest stars – not just with its Saturday Night AFL coverage, but also hosting the Olympics. Luke recently found time in his busy schedule to launch the Empowering Leaders Podcast,  where he and his guests break down the fundamentals of a 21st century style of leadership, touching on themes such as collaboration, integrity, and innovation. Episodes drop every Wednesday. I started our discussion by asking Luke, how his colleagues would describe him? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Welcome to the 100th episode of Out of the Question, the show formerly known has 10 Questions. It’s been a wild 100 episodes recorded over seven years – the most recent 50 coming a lot quicker than the first. I’m not going to mention individual episodes, but I want to thank all the guests who have come on and revealed their most personal stories and opinions. I’m so spoiled that when an interview subject doesn’t bear their soul, I’m  left wondering why. So thank you to all the generous guests. Quick apology for the sound quality in first fifty eps. No Zoom in those days. You either had to be in the same city or record the episode over the phone and no one wanted to do Skype. I’m sure there were other options, but I just didn’t have the bandwidth to seek them out. Now to help celebrate the big three figures, I’ve invited back the first ever guest on the podcast – Dave O’Neil. Over the past 100 eps, Dave has been on the show twice and gets mentioned in passing by guests every other week. We recorded the first ever episode in August 2015. In fact, we had to record it twice because we had phone problems. So, for this landmark episode, I’ve asked Dave to list the five biggest events in his life since that day.  We start proceedings with the fifth biggest event and move on from there.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

It’s been seven years since I last interviewed Ash Williams for this podcast. Back then, the former Hughesy and Kate co-host had recently returned from LA, where he’d made guest appearances on Anger Management, The Exes and You’re The Worst. He also sold photos of his feet, appeared in tickling videos and worked as a shirtless waiter at a gay bar. We’ll hear all about that in this interview. But in recent years, he’s been a  morning television regular, fronted colour reports for the Australian Open and hosted Miss Universe Australia. But probably his biggest gig was appearing in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. We talk about all that in the interview and you can also check out the related video content at adamzwar.substack.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

It was a treat for a sports nuffy like me to interview the football and cricket commentator, Mark Howard. I think Mark, or Howie’s as he’s commonly referred to, is one of cricket’s strongest ball-by-ball commentators. He’s always prepared. He’s got insight. And he brings out the best in the former stars offering special comments. During our chat, I learned he started his career in television as a crew-guy on the Forumula One broadcast. He then took a job as a reporter for Ten Sports, before becoming a boundary rider and commentator on Ten and Triple M’s AFL coverage. But perhaps his biggest break was commentating the Big Bash on Ten, before moving to Fox Sports – where he now commentates the network’s cricket and AFL coverage. He can also be seen hosting Fox Footy’s new late night show – Best on Ground. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

This week’s guest is one of the enduring stars of Australian comedy. He’s good-hearted, infinitely likeable, smart and funny. I speak, of course, of the great Peter Helliar. I’ll take it for granted that we all we Peter best for his on air partnership with Rove McManus as well as his work on Skithouse, Before The Game, co-hosting The Project and his super-star alter ego – the final pick in the 2004 AFL draft, Brian Strauchan.  There are also his successful TV shows, It’s a Date and How to Stay Married. And then there’s his stand-up – which is consistently funny, and also forms a heartfelt connection with the audience. Don’t forget to check out Pete’s movie podcast You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet, where he talks to movie lovers about classic and beloved movies they haven't quite got around to seeing.... until now. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

This week’s guest has been part of our lives for decades. The high school debating star studied law, science and maths at university before winning Raw Comedy and embarking on a stellar radio career – first on Triple J and then on 702. I speak of course of the guy who hates being called “a math’s genius”, Adam Spencer. Still, Adam’s pretty good at maths and has written five books on the subject, including the recently released Maths 101.Adam’s TV appearances include Good News Week and The Glasshouse as well as weekly sports wrap, The Back Page. And apart from always being  in-demand for corporate gigs, he’s also co-founder of Dry July which has raised over $75 million for adult cancer services.BONUS CONTENT: IF ADAM COULD GO BACK FIVE YEARS, WHAT ADVICE WOULD HE GIVE HIMSELF? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

This week we’re talking to the playwright, author, and Guardian columnist, Van Badham. Over the course of our chat, we cover her humble beginnings to early steps as a playwright at the University of Wollongong to studying theatre in Britain and having multiple award-winning plays staged over there, to her residency at the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and being appointed Literary Manager at Britain’s renowned Finborough Theatre. We also discuss Van returning to Australia, and taking a job working at the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne before The Guardian and television punditry came calling. It’s been a wild journey, but it was a journey Van always knew she’d be going on.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

I’ve met this week’s guest many times over the years – generally at gigs or in the green rooms of TV studios, and I never waste the opportunity to tell her how great she was on the iconic late 1980s early 90s sketch show, The Big Gig, or the spoof hospital soap opera, Let The Blood Run Free. I speak of course of the legendary Jean Kittson. INnmore recent years, Jean‘s popped up as a regular on The Einstein Factor, The Glass House and 20 to One. But her main vocation has been writing. There have been regular columns in the Sunday Telegraph, and the SMH, and two successful books – her DIY guide to life, Tongue Lashing, released in 1998, and You’re Still Hot To Me – The Joys of Menopause, released in 2014. Now, in what can only be put down to as just plain excellent taste on behalf of Channel Nine, Jean is appearing as a contestant on Celebrity Apprentice Australia starting at 7pm on May 22. As usual, I started off my chat with Jean by asking her how her fellow workers would describe her. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

It was quite an emotional day when I interviewed this week’s guest, the former rugby international turned best-selling author, Peter FitzSimons. Because it was the day after my father died. I’ve written about my Dad, Desmond Zwar, a lot on social media. He was the author of 20 non fiction books, including The Loneliest Man In the World about Rudolf Hess, In Search of Sir Keith Murdoch, This Wonderful World of Golf, where he went on the golf tour with Peter Thomson, and the runaway best seller, Golf: The Dictionary with illustrations by the great Jeff Hook. Dad, an avid reader, was in a nursing home towards the end of his life, so I ran his Kindle account. Whenever he wanted to read another book, I would buy it and sync it into his Kindle. And the last book I bought Dad, and the last book he read, was Peter FitzSimon’s biography of Ned Kelly. So it was strangely appropriate that the day after Dad’s passing, I was interviewing Peter. I didn’t tell him the situation. I didn’t want to make him feel weird. But the coincidence was not lost on me.Some would know Peter from his seven rugby tests with the Wallabies as a lock forward from 1989 to 1990. Others would know him from his columns in the Sydney Morning Herald. But most would have read, or at least threatened to read, one of his 27 books – many of which have become best sellers. There have been the rugby books, which we’ll talk about later, joke books, a book on Nietzsche, historical biographies on Nancy Wake, Kim Beasley, Douglas Mawson, Kingsford Smith, Breaker Morant, and James Cook, and then there have been the books on big subjects like Gallipoli, Kokoda, the Batavia and the Eureka Stockade. And now he’s written The Opera House :The extraordinary story of the building that symbolises Australia. In this interview, we get into the guts of how Peter came to be a writer, the word he most overuses in his books, and how he gave up the grog and managed to fit even more into his day. PETER ON GIVING UP THE GROG This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

This week’s guest is Andy Lee - one half of Australia’s most popular comedy duo ever. He and Hamish Blake started off doing TV and radio at university, before making their commercial radio debut on Fox FM doing the 10pm-to-midnight slot on Mondays. We discuss that in this episode as well as their network TV debut on Channel 7’s The Hamish and Andy Show. As of this moment, Hamish and Andy have enjoyed nearly two decades of unparalleled radio and television success with their drive show on Fox FM often reaching 2.5 million listeners and their TV shows such as Real Stories, Hamish and Andy’s Gap Year, True Story with Hamish and Andy, and Hamish and Andy’s Perfect Holiday getting huge ratings and playing all over the world. In the past few years, Hamish and Andy have branched into more solo work, with Andy hosting The Cube on Channel 10 and The Hundred on Channel Nine. During our chat, Andy and I talk a lot of shop, deep dive into his friendship with Shane Warne, and conclude that there’s no reason you can’t eat pasta on consecutive nights. Please forgive my croaky  voice during this episode. You’d think I’d shut up because I was unbearable to listen to – but, no, I seemed to have a lot to say.Andy discusses turning into his Dad: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

This week’s guest is one of the elders of podcasting in Australia. Back in 2010, he and Wil Anderson started making the podcast TOFOP – as well a collaborating on other podcasts, including the enduring and iconic, Two Guys One Cup. He’s also a well-known actor, starring in Blue Heelers, McLeod’s Daughters and Home and Away. I speak of course of Charlie Clausen. This episode was recorded in the aftermath of the Northern Rivers floods in which Charlie was on the front line of the rescue effort while I stood in my borrowed gumboots many lines back. During our chat, Charlie details the perils of acting and podcasting and how to deal with people offering up unsolicited criticisms along the way. IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT CHARLIE DIDN’T GO TO DRAMA SCHOOL: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

This week’s guest on Out Of The Question is Masterchef judge, Andy Allen. Andy was an elite basketball player and full-time electrician before becoming a Masterchef contestant and then winner, in season 4. After that, he became a trainee chef at Three Blue Ducks restaurants, head chef at their Rosebery establishment, and then a co-owner of the group. In 2019, he returned to Masterchef as a judge. And that’s where he is today, while also working every spare moment he can get at the Three Blue Ducks restaurants. This is a conversation with a guy who seems to make the most of every second of his life. BONUS CONTENT: ANDY TALKS ABOUT GETTING THE MASTERCHEF JUDGING GIGSOCIALS: ANDY ALLEN VS MARCO PIERRE WHITE This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Our guest this week is the brilliantly laconic comedian Dan Connell. I first saw Dan perform at Dave O’Neil’s Fun House in around 2014 and was immediately struck by his super-relaxed delivery and use of old school lexicon. Dan grew up in the rugby league heartland of Bateman’s Bay on the New South Wales South Coast, which was hit by the terrifying Currowan fire in 2019 that ended up burning for 74 days and nearly took the house that Dan grew up in. When not worrying about his parents having to fight fires, Dan is steadily growing his career. It’s kind of like his comedy, just sneaking up on everyone. He’s made multiple appearances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, including the opening night gala. He’s toured Australia many times, as well as Asia and Edinburgh, and his TV appearances include Comedy Up Late and the Oxfam Gala on the ABC. In this interview, Dan talks about his reaction to a terrifying moment when his wife was giving birth and how injuries prevented him from having a career in professional rugby league. As usual, I started off by asking Dan, how his fellow workers would describe him.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or the podcast app you like best. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

The lawyer-turned-comedian and television creator, Nazeem Hussain.If you’re anywhere near TikTok you’ll see that Nazeem’s sketch shows Legally Brown, which first screened on SBS, and Orange is the New Brown (Channel 7), have gained a whole new, obsessively loyal audience.But Nazeem’s not thinking too much about creating any television right now.He’s just become a father for a second time and his stand-up show, Hussain That? is currently playing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival before he takes it around Australia.In this episode, we revisit a story Nazeem told me in 2015, in which he and his family narrowly escaped death.We also talk about his problem with punctuality, and how former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, once sent him fun sized Snickers bars.As usual, I start off by asking Nazeem, how he thinks his colleagues would describe him. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar More from Out of the Question on Nearly.com.auMore about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Pretty excited to have the British comedian Mark Watson on the podcast this week – not only do I find him hilarious, but I also like the way he explores the formats in which comedy can be presented.He’s won Perrier awards, Time Out Critics Choice awards and been nominated for Barry Awards at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.He’s appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Mock the Week, Would I Lie to You, and Michael Mcintyre’s Comedy Roadshow. AND, he’s also written five novels.Mark is back in Melbourne right now with his new show This Can’t Be it – where he tries to cram a year of pathological overthinking into an hour’s stand up.Mark’s plane to Melbourne, which also had Adam Hills on board, was delayed by 24 hours due to a catering issue.We talk about that here.We also talk about him using a Welsh accent when he first started in comedy, and the fact that it’s necessary in an industry where you need to create your own work to continually tell yourself to keep going.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Pretty excited to be interviewing a duo this week. Possibly, Australia’s funniest duo.They are Melbourne Comedy Festival favourites, they’re winners of the Edinburgh Fringe Perrier Award, and they made two hilarious seasons of their sitcom on the ABC.Throughout this interview with Colin Lane and Frank Woodley we talk about how they started off as a trio called The Found Objects with a writer-performer called Scott Casley.They also talk about performing comedy when you’re grieving, as well as performing comedy immediately after a partner has given birth.And they also reveal that in 30 years of working together, they’ve never told each other to get fucked. But that may or may not change during the course of this interview.On a serious note, Lano and Woodley are about to embark on their most ambitious show yet – a comic, demented (their description), version of the Herman Melville novel, Moby Dick, which is touring all over the country.  As usual, I start off by asking Colin and Frank how their fellow workers would describe them.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Annabel grew up on a farm, graduated from the University of Adelaide, became a journalist at the Adelaide Advertiser and moved on to The Age where she worked in the paper’s London bureau.Then, when she returned to Australia in the mid 2000s, she wrote books, won Walkley Awards and also appeared on quiz shows (Randling) and panel shows (Gruen).And from those beginnings, a stellar TV career emerged in which she wrote and starred in such shows as Kitchen Cabinet, where she  would prepare a meal with a politician while interviewing them, The House, about the inner workings of Parliament House, Back in time for Dinner – about a modern family discovering how Australians shopped, cooked and ate in the olden days, and now the returning Tomorrow Tonight, where a panel of guests work out how to survive a ground breaking hypothetical news story.Our chat was short and funny and moving and only slightly hampered by builders reattaching Annabel’s roof to her house. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar More from Out of the Question on Nearly.com.auMore about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

This week has been a hell of a week for anyone living in the flood effected Northern Rivers region of NSW, so I thought it was appropriate to talk to author, comedian, and now Green’s candidate for Richmond in northern NSW, Mandy Nolan.All week she’s been helping the rescue effort in the region, so I was lucky to get her on Zoom for a chat.She’s one of the funniest comedians in Australia. She’s definitely Australia’s funniest non-celebrity comedian.Anyone in the business knows that it’s foolish to immediately follow her on stage.But becoming a household name has always eluded her.We talk about that here. We also talk about growing up under the shadow of domestic violence and how her Dad dying meant her life could officially start. And we talk about how The Greens finally convinced her to run.If you want to help out with victims of the Queensland and NSW floods, the Give List provides many options.https://www.australianphilanthropicservices.com.au/queensland-nsw-floods-2022/ SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar More from Out of the Question on Nearly.com.auMore about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Our first guest under the new Out of the Question moniker is the screenwriter and satirist, Chris Taylor.Post university, Chris started off as a cadet journalist for ABC news in Melbourne before moving back to Sydney and writing full time for the Chaser newspaper.He soon became a fully-fledged member of the Chaser and was a distinctive voice in all the group’s iterations.Other works include being a presenter on Triple J, writing shows and songs with his Chaser-pal Andrew Hansen, creating the half hour drama, Upright, starring Tim Minchin for Foxtel and now being a team captain on the Australian version of Would I Lie To You, screening on Monday night on Channel 10.I loved this chat.Smart guy, Chris Taylor.As our talk unfolds you get why the Would I Lie To You team have put him in the David Mitchell chair.I started off by asking Chris how he thinks his coworkers would describe him? SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar More from Out of the Question on Nearly.com.auMore about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

The smart, talented and hilarious Chrissie Swan.She was an advertisting copywriter before going on Big Brother in 2003.After that came a stint on regional radio in Queensland, then Vega and Mix FM in Melbourne, and now Chrissie, Sam and Brownie on Nova.In between, there were long term TV stints on The Circle, Can of Worms and The Great Australian Spelling Bee for Channel 10.Now she’s back on the network tonight – Februaty 28 – hosting the Australian reboot of Would I Lie To You.In this interview, she talks about the psychological transformation she’s undergone over the past year and how it’s based on getting an adequate amount of sleep.We also discuss the rigours of radio performance reviews and the joys of being sacked. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

I first came across the Adelaide-raised Anthony “Lehmo” Lehmann when he teamed up with Wil Anderson for their national drive show Wil and Lehmo. I loved his work on Before the Game where he cracked football-wise alongside Dave Hughes, Peter Helliar, Andy Maher and Samantha Lane.Since then, he and Joe Stanley took Gold FM’s breakfast show to number one before being fired – he talks about that here – and he’s since moved on to hosting breakfast on SAFM.I like Lehmo’s work ethic and the fact that he’s performed to Australian troops in army bases in East Timor as well as across the Middle East.He talks about that here as well in an extremely moving way. His new show is called Be Nice and it's at the Rhino room at the Adelaide Fringe, starting on February 22.Lehmo said it was originally going to be called Don't Be A Fuckwit but he thought that might scare people off. More about Lehmo here - lehmo.com.au SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Adam's book Twelve Summers is out now.Twelve Summers is the story of those big memories and the big matches that accompanied them, told by one of the funniest writers in Australia. Australian audiences know her best for her work as “Patricia Saunders” on Love Child, “April” on No Activity and the showstopping “Stevie” on The Other Guy. But since moving to the US, Harriet’s career has reached even greater heights – first she starred in The Inbetween, a supernatural drama for NBC, then came the box office hit, The Invisible Man, and she’s currently appearing on the new NCB sitcom, American Auto.Harriet and her husband, Patrick Brammall, are back in Australia filming a sitcom they wrote and created for Binge. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Welcome to our short 10 Questions spin off, The Top Three.I choose a topic and ask guests to list their three favourite things about it.On this episode, comedian Lawrence Mooney details his top three beverages. Get the full series here - https://www.patreon.com/10QuestionsWithAdamZwar SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Adam's book Twelve Summers is out now.Twelve Summers is the story of those big memories and the big matches that accompanied them, told by one of the funniest writers in Australia. This episode’s guest is one of my favourite comedians, Lawrence Mooney.I love Lawrence because he says the things I dare not think.He’s an actor, a writer, a stand up and of course a radio host.I’ve known him since we made the pilot for the Agony series back in 2010 and it was about 30 seconds into interviewing him that I knew we had a show.So I’m  extremely grateful to him.Other career highlights for Lawrence include hosting the tonight show, Dirty Laundry Live, the Paralympics for ABC2, and Moonman in the Morning for Triple M. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Adam's book Twelve Summers is out now.Twelve Summers is the story of those big memories and the big matches that accompanied them, told by one of the funniest writers in Australia. After starring on such Australian TV shows as Moody Christmas, Strange Calls and Offspring, Patrick Brammall co-created the Stan hit No Activity with Trent O’Donnell.They took it to the US where it played on CBS All Access for four seasons.Brammall, who also starred in the US remake, appeared alongside such luminaries as Will Ferrell, Amy Sedaris, Amy Schumer, Jesse Plemons, JK Simmons, Bob Odenkirk, Kevin Bacon, Jessica Alba, Will Forte, and Matt Walsh.Now Patrick’s appearing the CBS hit, Evil, before returning home to film a new sitcom which he writes and stars alongside his wife, Harriet Dyer. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Adam's book Twelve Summers is out now.Twelve Summers is the story of those big memories and the big matches that accompanied them, told by one of the funniest writers in Australia. Today we’re joined by former advertising copywriter turned social commentator turned novelist Jane Caro. It’s impossible not to feel wiser after a conversation with Jane If you suffer anxiety or insecurity and want to turn your life around – then listen in.I first came across Jane on what used to be The Gruen Transfer, then invited her to be on Agony, and was immediately engaged by her clear thinking and the effortless way she gets her message across.Here she talks about the days when being a feminist wasn’t cool, how to freak out someone who is shouting at you, and the wisdom she was taught the morning after her daughter nearly died. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Adam's book Twelve Summers is out now.Twelve Summers is the story of those big memories and the big matches that accompanied them, told by one of the funniest writers in Australia. Writer, director and producer, Trent O’Donnell, is one of Australia’s most prolific comedy creators – co-creating such shows as Review With Miles Barlow, Moody Christmas, No Activity and Squinters.He moved to the US in 2012 where he directed and executive produced New Girl. His other directing credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place, and the new series of Saved By the Bell.Alongside Patrick Brammall, Trent reimagined No Activity for an American audience on CBS and is now the set up director and executive producer of the US’s number one comedy, Ghosts. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Adam's book Twelve Summers is out now.Twelve Summers is the story of those big memories and the big matches that accompanied them, told by one of the funniest writers in Australia. Those who only know today’s guest Ed Kavalee from television are getting just a fraction of his personality. His close friend, Josh Lawson, used to call him the unofficial mayor of Melbourne.If you needed to get into a popular club or restaurant – you’d talk to Ed. I’d go further than that, if you needed a kidney, you’d talk to Ed.Certainly, if you need someone to give you a rousing speech that will make you feel like you can lift a mountain, Ed’s the guy to go to.Ed came up through theatre sports and worked in radio promotions before becoming Tony Martin’s co-host on Get This.Then, when Get This was inexplicably pulled off the air despite bumper ratings, Ed became the co-host on Nova’s Hughesy and Kate.Many radio gigs followed, as well as a stint in LA and now he’s hosting Hughesy, Ed and Erin on 2dayFM.His TV credits include being a series regular on Thank God You’re Here, TV Burp, Santo, Sam and Ed’s Cup Fever, and now Have You Being Paying Attention. SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

Adam's book Twelve Summers is out now.Twelve Summers is the story of those big memories and the big matches that accompanied them, told by one of the funniest writers in Australia. The first politician I ever interviewed – way back in 1993 – was the former leader of the Australian Democrats, Cheryl Kernot. And I’m delighted she could join us here.Cheryl was the Democrats’ Senator for Queensland from 1990 to 1997.She then left The Democrats to join the ALP, where she ran for and won the seat of Dickson in the house of representatives. It was a seat she held until 2001.I always liked Cheryl’s easy-going manner and it was during her time as leader of the Democrats that you always felt - given the right conditions, they might just challenge one of the major parties.In this interview, Cheryl discusses the highs and lows of being the third party option, the pressure politics puts on a marriage, suddenly realising you’re famous and how her nine year old grandson requested to go to question time in Canberra for his birthday.  SocialsTwitter - Adam ZwarFacebook - Adam Zwar 10 Questions with Adam Zwar is produced in part by Nearly Media.More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com

I’ve known Dil, as he is often called, from around the comedy traps for quite a few years and watched him graduate from open mics to headlining, and from bit parts in TV shows to main roles.I last spoke to him in 2015 before I moved to LA and while I was gone he released two hour-long comedy specials, won a Logie and lost more than a third of his body weight. During this interview we talk about growing up in Sri Lanka, Melbourne University, being an account at KPMG and then moving into stand up. More about Out of the Question: https://www.nearly.com.au/out-of-the-question-with-adam-zwar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit adamzwar.substack.com