Episode 3: Mark Simmons
Stand-Up Comedy, Dying on Stage, and the Philosophy of Laughter
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What actually makes something funny, and why does confidence on stage have less to do with control than we think?
In this episode of The Bardo Podcast, comedian Marc Salmon is joined by award-winning one-liner comedian Mark Simmons for a conversation about stand-up comedy, joke writing, confidence, failure, and the philosophy of laughter.
They explore what “dying on stage” really means, how audiences sense discomfort, and why the same material can work in one room and fail in another. The conversation looks at fun as a skill, audience trust, taboo, and how humour works through surprise, tension, and shifts in perspective. Rather than offering formulas for being funny, this episode stays curious about why laughter happens and what comedy reveals about how we make meaning.
Topics include:
Dying on stage and losing the fear of failure
Confidence, belief, and audience perception
Fun as a skill in stand-up comedy and everyday life
Joke writing, wordplay, timing, and structure
Audience trust, taboo, and tension
The philosophy of laughter
Guest
Mark Simmons is an award-winning one-liner comedian known for his sharp jokes and meticulous approach to joke writing. He has toured internationally, appeared on television and radio, and hosts the podcast Jokes with Mark Simmons.
Mark is on tour now - ticket/dates on his website
Mark’s Stand-up special
Reading List
Emily Herring - Herald of a Restless World: How Henri Bergson Brought Philosophy to the People
Sigmund Freud - Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious
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Music by Marc Salmon and Robert Fuller
Artwork by Zoe Brownstone - Check out her special here
