Chatting with Comedian David Smiedt about Comedy, Cancer, and the power of a good joke.

In this episode, host Mark McConville speaks with Australian comedian and writer David Smiedt about laughter, cancer, stand-up comedy, resilience and mental health. David discusses his journey from South Africa to Australia, his early days in Sydney comedy, the lessons comedians learn from bombing, his throat cancer diagnosis and treatment, and his show Finding Chemo. Mark and David also explore bedside comedy in hospitals, humour in cancer treatment wards, healthcare worker wellbeing, dark humour, loneliness, AI, critical thinking and the role of laughter as a coping tool.• laughter as a coping tool with clear limits • growing up in apartheid South Africa and migrating to Sydney at 19 • discovering stand-up at the Comedy Store and the appeal of raw joke craft • what bombing teaches about failure, learning and resilience • old-school jokes, modern boundaries and why audiences still want gags • critical thinking in the age of algorithms, polarised media and AI chatbots • youth mental health, loneliness and the cost of losing real connection • throat cancer diagnosis, treatment and using humour to get through it • turning illness into writing and the show Finding Chemo • bedside comedy in hospital, staff shows and what nurses’ humour reveals Thank you for listening. We invite you to hit the follow button or share this episode or have a flick through and see what content you think your friends and family might be interested in.For More info on David Smiedt: Insta: @davidsmiedtWebsite: davidsmiedt.com.auWil Anderson Inst: @officialwilandersonWant more info? Website: www.thelaughterclinic.com.auYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelaughterclinicAus"If you or someone you know needs support, please contact one of these Australian mental health services. In an emergency, always call 000."Lifeline AustraliaPhone: 13 11 14 (24/7)Web: lifeline.org.auSuicide Call Back ServicePhone: 1300 659 467 (24/7)Web: suicidecallbackservice.org.auBeyond BluePhone: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)Web: beyondblue.org.auKids Helpline (for people aged 5-25)Phone: 1800 55 1800 (24/7)Web: kidshelpline.com.auMensLine AustraliaPhone: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7)Web: mensline.org.auSANE Australia (complex mental health issues)Phone: 1800 18 7263Web: sane.orgQLife (LGBTIQ+ support)Phone: 1800 184 527 Web: qlife.org.auOpen Arms (Veterans & Families Counselling)Phone: 1800 011 046 (24/7)Web: openarms.gov.au1800RESPECT (sexual assault, domestic violence)Phone: 1800 737 732 (24/7)Web: 1800respect.org.auHeadspace (youth mental health, ages 12-25)Phone: 1800 650 890 Web: headspace.org.au13YARN (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support)Phone: 13 92 76 (13YARN) (24/7)Web: 13yarn.org.auMusic by Hayden Smithhttps://www.haydensmith.com