Made Of Human With Sofie Hagen

Sofie and writer, speaker, activist and podcaster Carly Findlay talk about bad interviews, avoiding internet arguments, Carly’s work as the Access and Inclusion Officer at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, micro-aggressions against disabled people, You Can't Ask That, click bait, becoming more assertive, backlash from the disability community, switching off and a deep love for Savage Garden.The audio from the interview Carly mentioned is  here.Support the show

Sofie and returning guest comedian Mark Watson plan a coup, write a sitcom and talk about the middle ground in politics, God and the existence of alien porn, patterns of failure, clinging to the rock and how negativity can become your comfort zone.Trigger warning: Depression, Suicide.Support the show

Sofie and returning guest comedian Mark Watson talk about cooking, multi-tasking, touring in Denmark, to airquote or not to airquote, being on Celebrity Island, psychological clutter, an astronaut's perspective, gratitude, masculinity and try to recreate the success of Mark’s first appearance on the podcast, which had nothing to do with the word ‘porn’ being in the title.Trigger warning: Excessive drinking, Depression.Support the show

Sofie talks to comedian Jodie Mitchell about being part of a drag king troupe, getting bigger laughs as a man, playing along the lines of gender, getting fucked over by a budgie, her terrifying Scottish mother, class and comedy, being homeless as a teenager, the importance of having your own space and the pressure of self-advancement.Support the show

Sofie talks to comedian Judi Love about a very bad 2 weeks, social media, going to comedy school, being a single Mum, the black comedy circuit, leadership, being funny as a means of survival, making people happy, the ‘strong black woman’ and emotional wellbeing, going back to Uni, success, not segregating racists, giving relationship advice and finding a way of shouting without people realising you're shouting. Trigger warning: Depression, grief, racism. Support the show

Sofie talks to comedian, TV presenter, writer and actress London Hughes about winning Funny Women with just 3 months comedy experience, the black comedy circuit, comedy roasts, knockbacks, Celebs go Dating, why you shouldn't get gastroenteritis for someone who isn't The One, the importance of free parking when it comes to relationships, the barrier between cute and sexy, being bullied, writing to Lenny Henry and being the black lead in an Apatow film. Support the show

Sofie talks to returning guest comedian, writer and sex worker Avery Edison about being transgender, feeling like a dinosaur, why “cops aren’t human”, restorative justice, what comedy and sex work have in common, bi-polar disorder, being sent to a men's prison in Canada, the difference between handcuffs and manacles, the Jamie Bulger case and removing emotion from the justice system.Trigger warning: Imprisonment, suicidal thoughts. Support the show

Sofie talks to Ola The Comedian about why South Africa should be the new Edinburgh, private schools and privileged white boys, going from banker to standup, an unexpected connection between porn and comedy, the female-run cabal that ran his childhood, the luxury of a black and white perspective and a really weird gig in The Seychelles.Support the show

Sofie talks to writer, actor and comedian Lolly Adefope about playing up to expectations, race and reviews, Andrew Lawrence and “women posing as comedians”, who you are when you’re alone, fantasies and daydreams and being very cool when meeting Harry Styles.Support the show

Sofie talks to writer and director Stuart Saint about dating while being HIV positive, what it means to be “undetectable”, chemotherapy and misconceptions, PEP treatment, being starved of real reality, the laws of attraction and vibrational manifestation and being addicted to life.TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of serious illness (HIV, Cancer).Works mentioned in this episode:A Poke in the Eye by Georgie MorrellSupport the show

Sofie talks to writer and director Stuart Saint about being diagnosed with HIV and Cancer, Five Star and Madonna being the inspiration for a career in dance, Armistead Maupin, the importance of representation, disagreeing with labels, the link between fear and rebellion and the need for better sex education.TRIGGER WARNING: Discussion of serious illness (HIV, Cancer), BullyingWorks mentioned in this episode:Tales of the City by Armistead MaupinBig Mouth on NetflixSupport the show

Sofie talks to scholar and fat activist Dr. Cat Pausé about travelling Europe, fat activism, being a scholar, legal discrimination of fat people, science, authenticity and Hamilton. Support the show

Sofie talks to Australian comedian and theatre-maker Zoë Coombs Marr about marrying "a gay dandy Tilda Swinton", political comedy, the trickiness of earnestness, lesbian separatists, a mirage-like cabin in the woods and her character Dave.Works mentioned in this episode:Wild Bore by Zoë Coombs Marr, Adrienne Truscott and Ursula Martinez.Lesbian Nation by Ariel Levy in The New Yorker.Support the show

Sofie talks to returning guest Australian comedian Felicity Ward about the perfect conversation, bad gigs, Lord Buckethead, a “pendulum” of a year, compulsive behaviour, language and curiosity, her sparse Youtube channel, dancing and most importantly – what a ‘dag’ is.Stand-up gig against homelessness: http://thecomedystore.co.uk/london/show/stand-up-against-homelessness/Support the show

Sofie talks to writer, podcaster and storyteller Jon Ronson about phobias, mismanaging bands, being funny, the lasting impact of bullying, meeting an illegal atom-splitter, having a bad time in Cannes, mental illness and stigma, empathy and power, bespoke porn and dangerous situations.Works mentioned in this episode: The Des Bishop Podcast with Maeve HigginsThe Butterfly EffectOkjaSupport the show

Sofie talks to actor and musician Hadley Fraser about starring in Les Miserables and Young Frankenstein, the difference between performing drama and comedy, working with Ross Noble and Mel Brooks, how to cope when things go wrong, his daughter, being sheltered, writing theatre, being busy with good people and defining success.Support the show

In this first ever LIVE episode, Sofie talks to comedian, radio host and podcaster Josie Long about game-changing beauty tips, Dawson's Creek, sexism in comedy, concern trolling, “street racists”, being on The Island, how a show not working is like a badly fitting shirt, being in love, Gogglebox and the crushing conformity of public opinion.TRIGGER WARNINGS: Discussion of threats of violence.Support the show

Sofie talks to comedian, writer and podcaster Hari Kondabolu about not calling himself an Activist-Comedian, Intersectionality, the “choir” of agreement, The Problem with Apu, being a killjoy, having room to make mistakes on stage, making art while leading a balanced life, knowing your voice, working with refugees as an immigrants rights organiser, touring with Chris Rock, the bureaucracy of comedy and the pros and cons of making fun of Weezer. Support the show

Sofie talks to psychotherapist and fat activist Charlotte Cooper about doing a PhD and turning it into a book, the influence of Punk, early fat feminists from the 60’s and 70’s, the importance of archives, the professionalisation of HAES, co-counselling, the Fattylympics, Michel Foucault, the meaning of self-care and Project Swagger.Works mentioned in this episode:Fat Activism: A Radical Social Movement and Fat and Proud by Charlotte Cooper The Fat Underground Shadow on a Tightrope by Schoenfielder/Weiser/MayerJudy Freespirit PapersThe FattylympicsPhilosopher Michel FoucaultProject O/SwaggerThe Adipositivity ProjectSupport the show

Sofie talks to podcaster, marketing co-ordinator and CEO of ShoutOut network Imriel Morgan about starting a podcast network for people who come from under-represented groups, Melanin Millenials, her new podcast Wanna Be, anthropology, slavery, respect for authority, drunk monkeys, the Haitian revolution and the Spice Girls.TRIGGER WARNINGS: Racism.Works mentioned in this episode:Melanin MillenialsWanna Be podcastThe Gag ReflexThe Bone Woman by Clea KoffSupport the show