The Craziest Gig Ever (and Why Berlin Comedy Is Different): Simon Gonzales

Kourosh Mohebian: Comedy, Censorship and Cyrus the Great in Iran

I sat down with my hilarious friend and stand-up comedian, Kourosh Mohebian, to talk about his life and the experience of growing up in Iran. We started with a surprising dive into the history of his namesake, Cyrus the Great, and the context of his upbringing, where he had to pretend to be religious outside his home. Kourosh shared some wild stories about getting access to entertainment through swapping obscene CDs and watching German cartoons , the weird realities of dating (including car-based flirting) , and the intense challenges of immigrating to Germany for his PhD. It was an incredibly funny and insightful look into life behind the scenes in a restricted society.

Comedy, Partition, and the UN Evacuation: Ali Hasnain's Wild Ride

In this episode (episode 6), I catch up with one of my closest buddies and former co-host of the "Kimchi Curry" podcast, Ali Hasnain. We reminisce about the chaotic and exciting week in Berlin in 2019 where we kicked off our joint comedy journey. Ali shares hilarious—and cringe-worthy—memories, including the time I thought he was the nicest host ever for researching open mics for me (turns out he wanted to perform too!). We also dive into Ali’s incredible background, from his Indian and Pakistani heritage to his experience as a 10-year-old being evacuated from Indonesia during a political overthrow. Finally, we geek out over our shared love for WWE and how great the current storylines are.

The Art of Pun: Sandy Jones on Comedy, Wrestling and a Life of Travel

I was delighted to welcome my fellow Berlin comedian, Sandy Jones, onto the podcast to talk about his journey. It took him almost a decade to finally start stand-up, and we discussed how he overcame the 'resistance' to pursue his passion. We dove deep into his artistry with wordplay and puns , and the challenges of moving around the world as a kid—from Indonesia to Texas. Finally, we celebrated our mutual, passionate fandom for WWE wrestling, covering everything from WrestleMania to the Royal Rumble.

Comedian Abi Mohanty on Her Comedy Journey, Indian Cinema and Navigating Online Hate

In this episode (#4 of Happy Podcast) I talk with stand-up comedian Abi Mohanty, who is based in Berlin and originally from near Calcutta, India. The conversation delves into the darker side of comedy, starting immediately with the recent online hate and real threats Abi received after posting a joke. Abi reflects on the "tragedy plus time" rule for comedy, the difficulty of being an unafraid comedian, and the risks of performing.

The Craziest Gig Ever (and Why Berlin Comedy Is Different): Simon Gonzales

In this episode, I sit down with my comedy partner and close friend Simon Gonzales, who is a Swedish/Spanish comedy legend in Berlin’s stand-up comedy scene. We talk about: - The most awkward stage intro ever (after a minute of silence 😳) - Losing €700 on our first tour date and what we learned from it - The behind-the-scenes of running shows in Berlin’s comedy scene - Cultural mashups between Sweden, Spain, and Germany - Simon’s upcoming comedy documentary project It’s a mix of laughs, storytelling, and life lessons 😊