I’m delighted to be coming back to Montreal for Just For Laughs 2023 with my full hour, IT IS I. Huzzah.
Two shows only.
Author Archives: Tom
265 – Goodbye
Oh hello.
As the title suggests, this is my little way of letting you know that I’m wrapping up Like I’m A Six-Year-Old once and for all. I’ve loved doing it – and thanks so much for listening to it and supporting it over the years! Bloody hell! – but I feel like after eight years, hundreds of conversations, a bunch of live shows, a pandemic and a book, it’s time for me to move on and focus my energies on other things.
If you haven’t already, please do check out my other weekly pod about the Greens and green politics with my friend Emerald Moon, Serious Danger – that’s here to stay, and I’m excited to grow that show as much as possible in the coming years.
SeriousDangerPod.com
The LIASYO back catalogue will remain up and available for the foreseeable future, but I’ll stop cheekily taking people’s money via Patreon effective immediately.
You can always come see me live if you like; I’m in Sydney with show “IT IS I” RIGHT NOW – then I head to Cairns, Toowoomba and Brisbane.
Thanks again, team. I love you all! Endlessly! xx
IT IS I Got Nomm’ed For Best Show
Huge news woah oh my gosh hot dang and all that.
My show IT IS I has been nominated for Most Outstanding Show at this year’s Melbourne Comedy Festival alongside some other legends/my enemies.
Come see the thing when it comes your way (please).
Book here!
Crikey Op-Ed: Return Qantas to The People!
264 – Ben Abbatangelo
Ben Abbatangelo is a proud Gunaikurnai and Wotjobaluk man and a social commentator. He’s the former deputy CEO of global non-profit AIME, has appeared regularly on The Project and the ABC and has written for The Guardian and The Saturday Paper.
Based on some of his recent work, I’ve sensed that Ben’s been going through something of a political shift of late, towards somewhere a bit more radical, and I was keen to talk him about it. In this conversation we discuss what that shift has involved, the naivety he’s left behind and what it means for his politics now. Ben also tells me about the legacy of the Northern Territory Intervention, explains the situation in Alice Springs and lays out the questions he’s asking about the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum and his sympathy for a progressive No vote.
Join the LIASYO Facebook group here please and thank you
If you’ve got the means please support this show by becoming a Patron
I’m currently touring my new stand up show IT IS I all over the country: SYDNEY (this week!) | CAIRNS | TOOWOOMBA | BRISBANE
To get discounted tickets to Sydney, use the promo code PODCAST
For discounted tickets to my shows in Brisbane, click here
Later in the year I’ll be coming back to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
Ben’s piece on The Project about First Nations people’s response to the Queen’s death
BEN’S ARTICLES: Reconciliation action plans let settlers take up more space, not relinquish it
Inside the Northern Territory Intervention
How to solve the real problems in Alice Springs
Cause of the Week: The Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council (martuwarra.org)
Direct download | iTunes | Spotify | libsyn
Bugle Episode #4261 – “Know Your Place, Serfs”
263 – Larissa Baldwin-Roberts
Larissa Baldwin-Roberts is a proud Widjabul Wia-bal woman from the Bundjalung Nations and has been a progressive activist since forever. She’s a co-founder of the First Nations climate pressure group SEED Mob and is the current CEO of GetUp!.
In this conversation I ask Larissa about where her politics come from and how she thinks about political ideology. She outlines how she views GetUp!’s role under a Labor government, her unique perspective on climate politics and how she thinks (/hopes) the Voice referendum debate is going to play out.
Join the LIASYO Facebook group here please and thank you
If you’ve got the means please support this show by becoming a Patron
I’m currently touring my new stand up show IT IS I all over the country: SYDNEY | CAIRNS | TOOWOOMBA | BRISBANE
To get discounted tickets to Sydney, use the promo code PODCAST
For discounted tickets to my shows in Brisbane, click here
Later in the year I’ll be coming back to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
WATCH: Larissa Baldwin-Roberts delivers the 2022 Dr. Charlie Perkins Oration
Direct download | iTunes | Spotify | libsyn
262 – Professor John Quiggin
John Quiggin is a widely-respected economist and professor at the University of Queensland. He’s a former member of the Australian Government’s Climate Change Authority, and he’s written widely about the scourge of neoliberalism and privatisation.
I wanted to get John on the show to discuss the essay written by Treasurer Jim Chalmers for The Monthly back in February, “Capitalism After The Crises“, in which he laid out his vision for “values-based capitalism”. In this conversation we discuss what the hell that actually means, whether or not it’s a hollow idea, and just how much this Labor government is prepared to deliver anything like it.
Join the LIASYO Facebook group here please and thank you
If you’ve got the means please support this show by becoming a Patron
I’m currently touring my new stand up show IT IS I all over the country: MELBOURNE (now!) | SYDNEY | CAIRNS | TOOWOOMBA | BRISBANE
To get discounted tickets to Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney, use the promo code PODCAST
For discounted tickets to my shows in Brisbane, click here
I’m performing my comedy lecture YES/NO at the Melbourne Comedy Festival – BOOK HERE
John’s response to Chalmer’s essay in The Conversation
Direct download | iTunes | Spotify | libsyn
Serious Danger LIVE in Brisbane
Excited to announce that my filthy vulgar Leftist podcast about The Greens will be live on stage in Brisbane in May!
It’s happening on Sunday May 21st at 2pm at the brilliant Good Chat Comedy Club, with brilliant guests.
Come join comrades TOM BALLARD and EMERALD MOON for this special Greensland live edition of their podcast about Australia’s broken political system and its biggest threat: the Australian Greens.
There’ll be laffs with award-winning comic GERALDINE HICKEY and Greens member for Griffith MAX CHANDLER-MATHER will help us celebrate the one-year anniversary of the break-through 2022 election. Good stuff!
Book now!
IT IS I 2023 Tour
My new stand up show is called IT IS I and I’m talking it all over the joint in 2023.
After writing a book, filming a TV show, becoming an uncle, surviving the plague and going slightly mad, Tom Ballard is back with a hot new hour – just for you.
“Brave, biting, ballsy and ultimately, brilliant.” ★★★★★ Time Out
“An absolute comedy masterclass.” ★★★★★ Beat Magazine
“Has a frankly ridiculous ability to hit all his marks and deftly detonate every punchline.” ★★★★½ The Age
“Unrelenting and uproarious.” ★★★★½ Chortle
“Much of his stand-up is about as funny as listening to a recording of one of Joe Stalin’s four-hour rants.” Gerard Henderson, The Australian
“[The audience’s] laughter was to Ballard’s jokes what applause and chants are at a Trump rally.” Holly Lawford-Smith