Listeners’ partiality to comedy tracks, considering the challenging few years we’ve faced collectively as a society. Comedy is an entertaining escape from daily stress, and even science proves laughter has natural healing powers.
So, making a comedy podcast, or injecting humor into any type of podcast, is an excellent service to yourself and others. Humor is subjective, and there are many ways you can make people laugh. Likewise, podcasts give you a lot of versatility, freedom, and space to get in touch with your inner comedian.
Nicole Mackie and Erin Saul are two creators who speak candidly and openly in a hilarious way that only best friends can, which they are. Their podcast, “Dude, That's F****d Up” (DTFU), explores the wacky world of pop culture, world history, and all things f****d up. They shared their unique insights about making a comedy podcast with us so you can learn from their experience. Discover funny podcast ideas and tips you can use to bring more humor to your show.
Find your inspirationLife is brimming with comedy, from pop culture to social media, conversations with friends and family, interactions with strangers, and daily observations, both big and small. When planning your overall podcast concept, episode topics, and content, think about what makes you laugh. What dynamics, subject matter, people, stories, and personalities do you think are funny? Take inspiration from those comedic elements and make them your own.
Create an environment where you can be yourselfTo be funny, you need to feel comfortable and confident expressing yourself. Be intentional about facilitating that environment, whether you he a solo podcast, you regularly he guests, or you he one or more co-hosts.
If you he a solo podcast, don’t be afraid to be yourself, make jokes, and talk about what makes you laugh. It’s your podcast, so if you think it’s funny, so will your listeners because they are already connect with you as a host.
Being raw and real with your audience and maintaining a sense of humor about yourself go a long way. Erin points out, “I think some of our most popular episodes are the ones where we’re hing the most fun and we say incredibly embarrassing things.” Sharing personal stories, especially awkward ones, makes your podcast relatable–and that’s often what makes people laugh.
If you he guests or co-hosts, Erin says it’s important to find people you genuinely connect with. “Letting go, being ourselves, and hing fun with each other is the reason we do this,” she says.
Find the humor in each topic (but allow the tone to flow)Finding topics that elicit strong reactions, whether or not you and your co-host or guest agree on them, is key. “We share the same sensibilities, so when looking for a topic to cover, we want to make sure we’re able to find the humor in whatever f*****d up thing we’re going to be talking about. For example, dunking on problematic historical figures is always a great time,” says Erin.
Regardless of whether your podcast falls into the comedy genre or something different, you can always veer in different directions—your audience certainly does! For instance, 47% of comedy listeners also listen to Society and Culture, and 30% also tune into Health and Fitness podcasts. Give yourself the freedom to switch the tone or topic if the mood or conversation is more serious. You can always steer it back to a funny place.
Erin and Nicole embrace the full spectrum on “DTFU,” Erin notes. “Even though we are definitely a comedy podcast, we also use our platform as a space to talk about real stuff in our personal lives and how we are handling the day to day craziness of the world. We try to find humor in our own ups and downs…we’ve gotta laugh to keep from crying!”
Always come preparedFunny podcasts can be deceiving because behind the silliness is a lot of work to make it run smoothly. “I think we’re able to let go and he fun because we are prepared. For how ‘loose’ our podcast is, we put hours and hours of work into researching the topic and structuring each episode. That way, when it comes time to record, we can pretty much just follow the outline and he fun! It’s easy to goof off and riff when we’ve already done the work,” says Nicole.
Planning ahead of time and sticking to a podcast schedule will ensure consistency, which is essential, according to Nicole and Erin. Mapping out your editorial calendar, defining and dividing your tasks, and hing notes prepared for recording will help you maintain a steady rhythm.
Build a community around your podcastNicole and Erin actively involve their listeners in producing “DTFU.” Nicole says her forite episodes are the ones that feature listener-submitted stories, because they he a surprise and delight effect, plus they’re less work for them. “Also, our listeners are some of the funniest, most creative writers–truly gifted,” she says. She recommends listening to their ‘Flaps and Craps’ episode to hear hysterical listener stories. Turning your listeners into collaborators like this is one way to build a podcast community.
Defining your podcast niche and getting to know your audience well will help strengthen your community and connection with listeners. Once you’ve established the structure and focus of your podcast, lean into it. This is what will make your podcast distinct and attract like-minded listeners who share your interests. “Consciously and thoughtfully building a community that reflects your values” is an important part of growing your show, Erin notes.
You can build momentum when growing your community by targeting the audiences who are already seeking comedy podcasts. According to Spotify insights, the regions where comedy is most popular are the USA and Canada, closely followed by Latin America and Europe (though popularity is quickly growing in the Asia-Pacific region.) Think about episode topics that would appeal to those audience segments and how to reach them.
Funny podcast episode examples (featuring “DTFU”)Take inspiration from some notable “DTFU” episodes that Nicole and Erin find especially memorable. Check out these episodes and observe their comedic value, from the content itself to the hosts’ banter, the structure, and any other themes that stand out to you.
What these episodes he in common are the compelling topics, Nicole and Erin’s enthusiasm, a loose but organized structure, and the hosts’ personalities and how well they complement each other.
Episode 31: Cool Story, Brahe
In this “DTFU” episode, Nicole and Erin discuss a famous astronomer from the 16th century, Tycho Brahe. As they say in the episode, “the least interesting thing about this guy is his super important scientific discoveries.” They take what could be a straightforward history lesson and turn it in an unexpected, hilarious direction as they explore the strange rumors and legends associated with this historical figure.
Episode 215: DMB’s BMs
This “DTFU” episode spotlights an infamous, unbelievable, and hilariously horrifying moment in history: when the De Matthews Band tour bus dumped its full septic tank in the Chicago River in 2004. The subject matter alone promises an entertaining episode. Before the hosts get into the smelly facts of the incident, they spend the beginning of the episode catching up.
As a listener, it’s as if you’re their friend sitting in the same room. It’s an intimate–and yes, at times, crude–conversation, and they don’t hold back.
Episode 285: Em-who? Emu!
In “Em-who? Emu!”, the hosts dive deeply into the Great Emu War of 1932. They discuss an event that sounds too ridiculous to be true, yet it is: when “humans lost a few real-life battles to…emus.” Nicole says she loves the episodes “where humans are doing stupid things,” just like this one.
Above all else, he funNicole and Erin’s final words of advice are to “just he fun, dude. If you he fun, your listeners will feel that energy and they’ll he a good time, too.”
Comedy podcasts are inherently fun, but only if you’re hing fun making it. So, find what’s fun for you and bring your audience along for the ride.