Author Archives: Tom
2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Oxfam Gala
12 – Clementine Ford
Clementine Ford is a self-described “feminist killjoy to the stars”. As a Daily Life columnist, speaker and activist, Clem is a proudly outspoken advocate for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and a staunch critic of rape culture and all that entails.
Our conversation covered the perceptions of and challenges faced by modern-day feminism, society’s attitude towards the perpetrators and victims of rape and sexual assault, men’s role in feminism, checking one’s privilege, “rape jokes” and more.
Please note this discussion comes with a strong trigger warning; details of sexual assaults and victim blaming are mentioned.
Clementine’s TED Talk: Your Vagina Is Not A Car
Opinion piece: It Was Easy For Bayley To Stalk, Rape And Murder
Article: Comedian Ray Badran Tells Audience Member To Die For Objecting To Rape Joke
My blog on rape jokes after the Daniel Tosh controversy
Opinion piece: There’s Nothing Funny About Misogyny
Opinion piece: How the Offence Debate Misses The Point Of Comedy by Helen Razer
triple j’s Hack program: Are rape jokes ever OK?
Cause of the Week: Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre (safesteps.org.au)
An Australian Odyssey
I got to work with Radio National‘s Radiotonic program to adapt my 2014 stand up show UnAustralian(ish) for the radio. We even got actual kids to read out the actual diary entries of myself and my older brother Gavin.
I’m really proud of how it turned out and would love you to take a listen here.
Steele Wars
Had a BLASTER (lol) doing Steele Saunders’ Steele Wars podcast and talking about my love of that galaxy far, far away. Listen to it for free here.
11 – Richard Cooke
Journalist and comedy writer Richard Cooke has worked with the likes of The Chaser, The Checkout, The Saturday Paper, The Guardian and The Monthly.
He gave me some of his time to sound off on Aussie hip hop, Australian political satire, the theory of “mutual obligation” and tax evasion and the role of polling in today’s politics.
Article: Why I Have Resigned From The Telegraph
Article: The People Versus The Political Class
Cause of the Week: Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org)
Daily Review Blog #5
My first entry from the 2015 Melbourne Comedy Festival is up here, covering whatever the hell is going on in the above image, a rape joke controversy and an insight into my “creative process”.
Sweet Eye Candy
Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred in 2015
My 2015 stand up show is called Taxis & Rainbows & Hatred and I think it’s my BEST ONE YET or whatever else you need to hear in order to come along and watch it (please).
The show’s about a bad thing that happened to me in a taxi in Newcastle, as well as loneliness, sex, love, labels and finding the courage to be yourself.
Hope to see you guys there.
ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL @ THE GARDEN OF UNEARTHLY DELIGHTS (STUDIO 7)
Friday Feb 13th – Sunday March 1st, 8:30pm (no show Monday Feb 16th). Tickets available here.
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BRISBANE COMEDY FESTIVAL @ THE BRISBANE POWERHOUSE (VISY THEATRE)
Tuesday March 10th – Sunday March 15th, 8:45pm (7:15pm Sunday). Tickets available here.
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MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL @ THE SWISS CLUB
Thursday March 26th – Sunday April 19th, 8:15pm (7:15pm Sundays. Wheelchair-accessible show Monday 30th March. AUSLAN interpreted show Wednesday April 8th). Tickets available here.
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SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL @ THE COMEDY STORE
2 shows only! Thursday April 30th & Friday May 1st, 7pm. Tickets available here.
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PERTH COMEDY FESTIVAL @ MT LAWLEY BOWLING CLUB
Wednesday May 13th – Saturday 16th May, 8:15pm. Tickets available here.
Well blow me down if it isn’t all done!
Cheers so much to everyone who made it out to the shows, these past few months have been more than being tickled in a milkshake factory. I hoped you liked me ranting about homophobes and my love handles and dying alone as much as I liked doing the ranting.
10 – Ben Riley
Ben Riley describes himself as a classical liberal, a Queenslander and a larrikin. He’s a former president of the Young Liberals and the current Vice President of the International Young Democractic Union.
We came together to find out exactly where we do and don’t agree on things like the privatisation of public assets, the State’s role in our lives, puppy farms, same-sex marriage, diversity in politics, the environment and our Prime Minister’s character.
Plus we laughed about that time he got drunk and was a bit silly.
Cause of the Week: The Young Liberal Movement of Australia (youngliberal.org.au), Oxfam Australia (oxfam.org.au)