This is a new series of episodes recorded with Martin Junna of Improv Comedy troupe, Ruutu10 and we talk about the similarities and differences between Ruutu10 and Comedy Estonia. In each episode we are trying to pick a topic and break down how we each do it. Episode 99! Now that open mics are happening again we have a timely episode. Martin and I talk about how to choose a venue for your comedy performance. Why one cafe but not another cafe? Bars? What about theater shows? Theater shows are...

Today Tim and I had a real nice chat with Paul Senosi, who runs the Bobotie pie store in Baltijaam. We both think he's got the best pies in Estonia. He's also got a great story to tell about growing up in South Africa. He lived though the apartheid days and was a teacher in a "colored" neighborhood. It's given him a sort of stoically strong work ethic I've seen in a few South Africans, basically if you lived through those days, everything else doesn't seem as hard. We talk a lot about food...

This is a new series of episodes recorded with Martin Junna of Improv Comedy troupe, Ruutu10 and we talk about the similarities and differences between Ruutu10 and Comedy Estonia. In each episode we are trying to pick a topic and break down how we each do it. In this week's episode we talk about the upcoming season of comedy and we think it's going to be a fantastic time for both performers and audience when everyone is allowed out again. We talk about what makes a good venue and in...

This is Olga's third episode on the podcast and second done remotely from Melbourne. She moved there about 18 months ago to pursue the Estonian dream and has been getting into the local comedy scene. Recently the Melbourne International Comedy Festival was on and Olga and two friends got together and did a 10 night run of their own show "Of Outsiders & Misfits". Yup, comedy and pretty much everything else is alive and well in Australia and we hear what it was like to prepare and run your...

Caleb Brunick is American, 22, has lived in Estonia for 4 years and is a Comedy Estonia comedian. He has a story which in one way I am intimately familiar with: working on your comedy career as a foreigner in Estonia. On the other hand, he's blowing up on TikTok and I am like, wtf is TikTok anyway? Caleb talks about making those TikTok videos and interacting in impromptu streams with Estonians on his channel. That's a very different experience in getting to know a place and a culture than...

This is a new series of episodes recorded with Martin Junna of Improv Comedy troupe, Ruutu10 and we talk about the similarities and differences between Ruutu10 and Comedy Estonia. In each episode we are trying to pick a topic and break down how we each do it. After talking about the business side for 4 episodes, we get into being an artist and how do we practice creativity. We look at how Martin and myself have balanced writing jokes and also running the operation. Pre-show stress has been a...

Welcome to Literary Guy podcast! This week Sille-Kadri Simer joins myself and Tim in the studio to discuss the 10 year anniversary of one of the finest pieces of literature written about this fine country "Bang Estonia" by Roosh V. In this classic 2012 piece of cultural learning, this guy came to Estonia and wrote a guidebook for how to score with chicks. A decade later, we go back and discuss if his advice and insightful social observations stand the test of time: Is Atlantis a good place to...

Tauri Einberg and I talk about one of the many curiosities of the final days of the USSR: In January 1990 McDonalds opened a store in Pushkin Square in Moscow, with the blessing of Mikhail Gorbachev. In the perestroika days Gorby had basically hung a sign on the door of the USSR "Open For Business".... but it was still very much the Soviet Union. It's a great example of the insane challenges companies faced when trying to do business with a country where most people couldn't even get a fresh...

This is a new series of episodes recorded with Martin Junna of Improv Comedy troupe, Ruutu10 and we talk about the similarities and differences between Ruutu10 and Comedy Estonia. In each episode we are trying to pick a topic and break down how we each do it. In this episode we had meant to to "how to sell to private events part 2" but instead we started to talk about the Estonian entertainment industry and how our groups fit into it. TV, what sort of shows could we make? Can we even adapt...

This is a new series of episodes recorded with Martin Junna of Improv Comedy troupe, Ruutu10 and we talk about the similarities and differences between Ruutu10 and Comedy Estonia. In each episode we are trying to pick a topic and break down how we each do it. In this episode we discuss how we sell and perform at private events like birthdays or company parties. Doing these sort of performances is a key way for artists to earn a proper living but if you don't do the prep work, it can be a big...

Tim is back and we banter about Emakeelepäev as we try and work out who is "Foreigner of the Year 2021". It's an old school long ass episode where we go through such controversial topics as: The fall of the Irish language Who's paying the copyright on those old Estonian 90's songs which you later found out are covers of Western songs? The literary masterpiece that is "Bang Estonia" by Roosh V Is Tim depressed? What will Louis do now he's not CEO of Comedy Estonia...

This is a new series of episodes recorded with Martin Junna of Improv Comedy Troupe, Ruutu10. We talk about the similarities and differences between Ruutu10 and Comedy Estonia. Somethings are close, somethings are different. Somethings are different because Stand Up is different to Improv but somethings are different just cause there is no one path when trying to make it as an artist. In our second episode we look further into how each group arranges their shows. I know how Comedy Estonia has...

It has been a while but the sun is out and it's time for the next season of Comedy Guy. With this episode I am starting a new series along with Martin Junna of Impro troupe Ruutu10. I have all these topics I want to discuss about running a comedy group and how to help develop artists. In past seasons I have spoken to other people in the entertainment industry about how their art form works.With Martin and his experiences running Ruutu10, we have many similar experiences. They also have a...

Ardo Asperk and Karl-Alari Varma from the Külapood podcast join me for a very special episode. The year was 1984, Mr T was a household name after Rocky 3. The first season of the A-Team had been on TV and he was at the height of his fame. In this year Mr T produced a self help motivation VHS for kids called "Be Somebody or Be Somebody's Fool". Ardo, Karl and myself talk about the life and career of Mr T and we break down this amazing video scene by scene. Mr T addresses such topics as:...

My guest this week is Jesse Wojtkowiak, who is current Head of Information Security for Pipedrive and also a former US Navy Aviator. Jesse spent 22 years in the service flying both fixed wing and helicopters. I saw him speak about security at a conference recently and it stood out to me because he was using the principles of leadership to create a better culture of security at Pipedrive. We have a chat about leadership in the military and how it can help you in business and in life.   Watch...

***** I really messed up the sound in this episode. We tried doing it online and I didn't know the recording had a massive feedback and it was a total shitshow. I tried to revive the audio the best I could but I understand if this too hard to listen to. I don't have another episode this week so I'll put this up anyway - Louis ***** Olga is one of our Comedy Estonia comedians who moved to Australia almost a year ago now. She had dreams of living in a social, care-free sunny environment where...

We went and shot guns at TLK before the episode and we are fired up. Tim's time back in Ireland, all the best places to eat in Paide (spoiler: it's still pizza kiosk), getting pulled over by the cops and the trip we have planned to Cyprus in January. It's some classic Irish "craic" (whatever that is)

It's Sille and me and a bottle of wine.   Watch the episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/Twh77tJsEqM

It's a pleasure to have singer / songwriter Stig Rästa in the studio with me. We chat about his career, the Estonian management agency he runs and his experiences at Eurovision (along with some of mine). Watch the episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/4bhQf9CGTUA

Episode 80! Last week we visited Riga for the Comedy Latvia English Open Mic and I had a chance to finally record with my friend Elizabete Boka, who is a manager for young male models. She works for an agency called SAGE Management and they scout models throughout the Baltics and then send them on modelling shoots throughout the world. Elizabete's department is young male models, namely teenagers into young adults. It's tough out there for a young guy who wants to model, you have one season,...

I sit down and catch up with my brother Ardo Asperk. Two comedians talking about comedy, you know how these episodes go. Our latest Stand Up sets, when is Ardo doing his next hour and how come Estonia is weirdly the best place in the world to be a Stand Up comedian right now? Check out Ardo and Karl on their podcast Külapood which is closing in on 200 episodes https://kulapood.podbean.com/I reckon Ardo is line for line the best comedy writer in Estonia. You can buy his first two specials...

Sten Erik Allikas is an old friend of mine who I haven't seen in years because hes been away from Estonia for the better part of 10 years off and on. Sten is just a regular dude who I think has had a pretty amazing life and shows that if you just get out there and try stuff, you will find your path. He grew up in Tallinn, had an interest in music and fell into working in a kitchen. He took those skills and was able to land a job in one of the best restaurants in London where he honed his...

Erik Ott is a Comedy Estonia comedian and also an active member of the Estonian Army. We start by talking about how the Army dealt with the lockdown and talk about the troops being locked in on base and you can imagine that was a tough time. We get a lot into leadership and how the Army teaches leadership as Erki is currently studying at the military academy in Võrumaa. Leadership is probably my favourite topic (beside grilling and retro games) and go deep into the lessons Erki has learnt and...

After 6 weeks off I am back with more episodes of Comedy Guy. I am trying to get into a weekly schedule of releasing each Monday but here is an episode to kick us off. I talk with Roger about the Comedy Estonia Suvetuur. Roger is studying PR and as part of his internship he was one of the project managers of the Suvetuur. I figure the most Comedy Estonia way for us to debrief the process and lessons learnt is by talking about it on a podcast. This year the tour was about 33 shows across the...

Just a quick episode for a very hot Friday afternoon in the city! It's too hot to be inside and live streaming so we will have July off. Thanks for the support over the last 13 weeks. This started as a quick idea for something to do during lockdown and it's been a fun way for us to finish off the week. Go out and enjoy the sunshine and see you in August! Marianne and Sille are doing a Tissident Live show on July 14th at Club LAEV in...