This week's interview is with the delightful and dynamic musical comedy duo Colin Craig and Alia Vryens​, otherwise known as Pick Up, which they describe as Kylie Minogue’s Tinder account meets Freddie Mercury’s Grindr account. Catch them performing at Perth Fringe and MICF in 2018!!

We discuss: Their background in theatre and learning the ropes of the comedy community, Colin and Alia’s experiences with mental health issues, the Rocky analogy and finding your own way to measure success, job titles in the Arts and how we self-identify, the Fail Faster mantra and the First Pancake Theory, ways to manage mental health, views on medication, support from the Arts community, issues with body image and being our own worst critics, Alia and Colin’s super powers, how to accept compliments, and their messages to recognise your achievements and efforts, and remember that emotions and bad experiences don’t last forever so ride them out.

Interview with Comic Book Producer Maarten Bouw. One of many comics he (together with his twin brother) has produced over the past 5 years is called Shtick, which is about a Comedian who tells an offensive joke and then goes on a mental health journey while dealing with the fallout. For more info on Maarten's comics and how to get your hands on them, check out the Facebook page: Drawn Out Dad Productions.

We discuss: Maarten’s experience of anxiety, not sweating the small stuff, locus of control and looking at the bigger picture, how Maarten started producing comic books, making changes for better life balance, anxiety flare ups, the benefits of seeing health professionals, anxiety feeding itself, mindfulness to assist with comfort eating, listing a few of our favourite podcasts, dealing with grief, Maarten’s super power, and Maarten’s message that only you can make the changes to get where you want to be in life, so set yourself small goals to make it happen. And make succotash: it is delicious.

Interview with the industrious and insightful Jade Fitzgerald, who is a Comedian from Albury. Jade started her comedy career in 2016 and has since competed in RAW and performed a Fringe show called The Three Step Program.  Jade also runs a room in Albury called Off the Rails.

We discuss: The organic country comedy scene emerging in Albury,  the high suicide rates in rural and regional areas, working with high-risk youth, having a wonderful behind-the-scenes husband, men experiencing post-natal depression, accessing mental health services in the country, The Healthy Mind Platter (www.mindplatter.com), the benefits of sleep diaries and charting, vacuum and rally noise, supporting gay marriage (recorded before the Yes outcome), views on being gay in the country, minorities in the AFL, Jade’s super power, university options and the low average wage of country areas, gendered thinking and body autonomy, family genetics, and Jade’s message to reach out and seek help if you need it.