EP06: The Only Thing I'm Afraid Of Is Regret - Ian Dowling

 People have this perception that, like, Irish guys are gonna fight you. Do you know what I mean? Like, they do, so. My biggest fear is the fear of regret. Yeah. Like, I don't mind being under pressure or stressed- Mm ... as long as I know I feel like I'm doing the right thing. Every time you book a show, you don't know if people are gonna rock up.

You know, you, you book a show, and then you put an ad on Meta, and then you put a poster up, and then you're basically sitting there going, "I hope people buy tickets." Like, I remember looking at the microphone for the first time, next to go up on stage, and I was just thinking like, "How, how can I get out of this?"

Like, surely there's a way, you know? Yeah. Just fight or flight. Knocked down, you get back up and go again. That's it, and it, the, it's so rewarding. Like, maybe it's because when you get to the top, you get to go down. Yeah, yeah. It's that contrast of life. Yeah, 'cause you, every time you try something new, you don't know.

Yeah, yeah, new material, yeah. Like, you're like, "This is the best idea ever." Yeah. And then you throw it out there, and it's like throwing a rock in a pond with no splash. Yeah. And your brain is expecting a laugh, and there's nothing, and you just go ugh. Yeah, and there are a lot of people, like, giving you abuse and everything like that?

Yeah, basically, I just want-- I thought... I kept on seeing your posts pop up- Yeah ... and I thought he, he cracks me up. And like we were talking about that risk before- Yeah ... we like record. But thought I'd... I'd just got to message people. That's the only way. Yeah. So I thought I'd just flick you a message and- Yeah

I appreciate you re-replying anyway. No, I appreciate you asking me. No. I think that's the thing, isn't it? Yeah. You just gotta like, if you're getting impulse to ask something- Yeah ... just do it. If you don't, you don't know what's gonna happen, do you? Yeah. Well, now we're here doing the podcast. Now we're here having a chat, like.

Yeah. Yeah, so. Having a coffee, having a chat. Happy Friday. Happy Friday, mate. Right, let's get into the challenge. Yeah. Challenge? The challenge. Didn't know there was challenges today. The tour. Shoot. No. Let's get into the, the tour we call it. What is it called? On Your Bike, Cunt. Yeah. So starts next week. Yeah.

Don't know when this poddy comes out- Yeah ... but it starts June 19th, so I'll probably be on the road. Yeah. And I'm gonna leave the Gold Coast on me pushy that I got last week- Yeah ... 'cause I didn't have a bike before. And I'm gonna cycle anti-clockwise around the whole country, around about 16,000 Ks. Yeah. And do a bunch of comedy shows along the way.

Sleep in a tent, sleep in random people's houses, and, uh, hopefully by the end of the year be able to be a full-time stand-up comedian. That's amazing. Oh, and also raising a bunch of money for Orange Sky- Yeah, yeah ... homeless charity. Yeah, we'll get into them. Yeah. We'll get into that. So there's a fair bit.

Yeah, yeah. We'll get into that. A whole bunch of things happening. Well, I spoke about it before, like the idea of it was losing your job. Yeah. So that fuck it moment. Yeah. Just gonna send it. Yeah. Fuck around Australia. 100%. Look at, look at the map, think why the fuck not? Yeah. Yeah. But that's exactly it. Like, like I couldn't find a reason why not.

Yeah. Like when I lost me job and I was like, "Righto, I'm gonna give myself a week to see if I can come up with an idea of how I can just do stand-up comedy." Yeah. And I was like thinking about getting a camper van, but I didn't have enough money. Like I had fuck all savings. And then I was on one of them Lime Bikes, the electric bikes, going to the supermarket, and had me phone there and I was making a video.

And I was like, "I wonder, could I just like cycle around the whole country doing comedy?" And then like that night I post it online, and then I was committed- Mm ... after that. And then it's rained every day since for the past month and a half. Ah, so you've had a lot, right? Been wild. Yeah. But like I was, I was excited about the...

You know when you get an idea and it feels right, like- Yeah ... 'cause I was to- the worst-case scenario, I can just get another job. Yeah. So I thought, "Okay, I have to do it." Yeah. Yeah. Like you said, like no, no regrets. No regrets. You're gonna look back and think- Yeah ... why, why, why didn't I do it? Yeah, yeah. I'd rather cycle up the highway to Cairns and have a bike with no wheels on it.

Yeah. You know? Like I'd rather get into all sorts of shit- Yeah ... and at least have a crack. Yeah. Mate- Than, than to go back into the job and then be thinking, "Oh, I could have tried that thing." Yeah. Or I'd see some other person doing the same thing, and then I'd just hate myself. Yeah. So. No, I don't want to have them.

No. No regrets. No regrets. Like it'll be a great experience, won't it? Like- Yeah ... all the people you meet- Yeah ... that you see. Just random lunatics. Like- Remember it forever, won't you? Yeah, yeah. Fucking- Who knows what'll happen. Like, I, you know, maybe I'll get married in the outback and start a farm. Who knows?

Yeah. I don't know. Maybe I'll get eaten by a shark. But probably that fear of regret as well, isn't it? Yeah. Not doing it, looking back, not doing it. That is my biggest fear. Yeah. My biggest fear is the fear of regret. Yeah. And just like- It's the only thing I'm afraid of. Like I don't- Yeah ... I'm not afraid of death or anything.

No. But I'm afraid of being old- Yeah ... and being one of them people that kind of, you know, says, "Oh yeah, I, I was gonna try that once." Right. Like that just makes me like just- Yeah ... cringe when I think of that. I, I, I'll agree with you. You wanna- Yeah Like s- shorten it Short 'Cause you don't know... So it's a gift, you don't know wh- when it gonna end.

No. And he's just gotta take these risks and- Just gotta, like- ... live it to the fullest, I suppose, and- Yeah. And I think, you know, don't you? Make some memories. Yeah. Like, you know if you're... Like, I don't mind being under pressure or stressed- No ... as long as I know I feel like I'm doing the right thing. Yeah. But there's nothing worse than know you're going against, like, that impulse or that instinct.

Yeah. You know? Like, I hate that feeling of knowing that I should be doing something else, 'cause you know. You always know when you should be doing something different. Mm. I hate that. Yeah. So yeah, that's kinda what I try to- Ah, yeah ... live me life by now. You feel, like, prepared mentally, physically? Like, I kinda do, and I kinda don't.

Yeah. Like, I, I have so many things to organize. Yeah. But I'm trying to focus on, like, organizing venues and all these things- Yeah ... which is, like, really time-consuming. And I've got me bike now, and I've trained for two weeks. Like, usually you're doing... But the thing about this event is that, like, I'll be kinda training as I go.

Yeah. 'Cause I'm gonna, like, cruise up the coast and do a bunch of gigs, so I'll be trying to get fit as I go along. Yeah. You know, like, ride to Brisbane, day off for the show, ride to Sunny Coast, then have a couple days before the show. So it's kinda the first couple months will be getting fit. Yeah. And then when I start heading to the outback, I should be strong to then become a cyclist properly.

Well, I suppose that, like you're saying, you have to, you have to book gigs yourself, do all the admin- Yeah ... and prepare. Yeah. Have you got, like, your tent and all that? I've got a tent. Got a tent last week. Did a little mini mission down to Lismore for the weekend- Yeah ... 'cause I was like, I've never even ridden more than, like, like, I don't know, 100K.

So I rode down to Lismore at the weekend- And it was intense. Like, I was riding for eight hours, and then I got down there and it was freezing. Mm. Uh, but the tent was fine, and I woke up the next morning. I was enjoying the suffering, like, you know, on the hills. Oh, yeah. Like, I enjoy that grind. Yeah. So I'm still excited about it.

Yeah. Um, so as long as I can stay healthy and- You're saying you enjoy, like, the struggle, like the- Yeah ... the mental resilience and- I love hills. Yeah. Like, I love grinding on hills. Mm-hmm. I always have. Yeah. There's... I don't know. Maybe it's because when you get to the top, you get to go down. Yeah, yeah. It's that contrast of life.

Yeah. Like, you get to... You know, it's like you get the suffering, but then it intensifies that fun going down the hill. Yeah. And it, like, it just intensifies the f- the enjoyment of the lunch after- Yeah ... and the shower after, you know? Yeah. So just playing in those dualities. That's good, mate. Yeah. The hills, you're saying, like, you enjoy the hills, but, like, what are you thinking, like the mental side- Yeah

of it? Where do you go, like, to push you, push you through that- I think- ... sort of the hardest moments ... I think the thing about... Yeah, I think the thing about hills is, like, I think you're forced to be present because, like, every, every second you're pushing. Yeah. And I think you can't, like, you can't think about anything.

You know, when you're in that push, you can't think about anything else. No. It's like a forced meditation. Yeah. 'Cause, like, say you're going up a hill for three kilometers, every second of that three kilometers your brain is saying, "Slow down," but you're... So you never have a time to think about bills or anything else.

No. So it's like this forced meditation. You're, you're just forced into the present moment. Yeah. And I think that's the magic of it. Yeah. I think, like, when you're completely present, it doesn't matter whether it's pleasure or pain- No ... 'cause you're in presence. Yeah. And I think that's the magic of it. Yeah.

Like, that's what I love about it. Yeah. So I suppose now you're what, a week away? Exactly. Yeah. A week. Exactly a week away. This day next week. Are you feeling, like, nerves or got any self-doubt? Are you just- Yeah. Like, like I don't have self-doubt in, like, completing it or doing the shows. The only things that worry me are that every time you book a show, you don't know if people are gonna rock up.

You know, you, you book a show, and then you put an ad on Meta, and then you put a poster up, and then you're basically sitting there going, "I hope people buy tickets," you know? Is that, is that more worrying than the, the cycle? That's the only thing I care about. The, the, the show and the- I don't care. Like, I, I've no fear of dying or- No

or hurting myself on a bike. I literally don't, like- I don't, like, I'm, I'm okay with suffering Yeah But I just, like, it's all ego fears Yeah It's all ego fears of, like, you know, you get to a comedy show and there are six people there. And so far, like, there's four shows on sale and they're all selling Yeah But that's the only fear I really have.

Like- Yeah ... I don't care about being cold or hot or- Yeah ... any of those things, like, 'cause- Just, just get paid ... you just deal with that Yeah Um, or booking venues. You know, you're like, you're trying to get in contact and it's just time-consuming Yeah So honestly, yeah, um- Well, that VR as well, once you're cycling, trying to book the- Yeah

trying to book the fucking venues and everything Yeah. But, like, I'm just gonna try and book a month ahead at a time- Yeah ... and then see how fast I'm going, and then- Yeah ... book the next month ahead Yeah And then just deal with things on like... 'Cause I'm sure, like, you know, you'll be going along a road and the tire will blow out Yeah Like, all those things are gonna happen Yeah, yeah It, it is.

No There's no way that's not gonna happen, like. Yeah. No. So I'm just gonna expect that there's gonna be bad shit Yeah. Is there a favorite part of Australia you're looking forward to the most? There's so many places I haven't been Yeah Like, I've never been to Airlie Beach. I've never been to Darwin. I'm looking forward to being in the outback and seeing, like, the big crazy skies at night Yeah, yeah 'Cause I remember working, I remember working out in the outback years ago And being like on a drill rig at nighttime and just seeing these meteor showers where the whole sky was lit up.

And that was one of the, like, most intense things I've ever experienced, like. Yeah. So I'm looking forward to, like, having a little campfire out in those places. Yeah. And also WA. Oh yeah. Beautiful in WA. You know? Yeah. Yeah. I'm gonna head there myself. I do want to go over there. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm, I'm keen. I love, I love the remoteness of that.

Like, I'm looking forward to just being out on the road there and just being in the elements. Yeah. And then just meeting random lunatics. You know, like going to a little local pub- Yeah ... and just meeting characters. Yeah. There's so many characters that we've- Oh, there will be,

wouldn't it? Yeah. Especially out there in like, out,

out in the outback. Yeah. You're gonna meet some good people. Just random people. Yeah. Like, I'm excited about that. Um, and then, and then just doing the shows as well, 'cause stand-up comedy is so fun. Yeah. And then also having new stories to tell on stage, which is even the most funnest part- Yeah ... of stand-up comedy.

That's, I suppose that's the other point of doing the trip, isn't it? Yeah. You're gonna get some new stories- Yeah ... meeting people. You can add that into your- Yeah. Like how, how are we when you go into the comedy side and how did you start? Um, so I started in 2020. Yeah. What am I now? I'm nearly 40, so it was like, I was like 34.

Yeah. Um, I was like all right into personal development stuff. Yeah. And I would go and watch, like, guys doing, you know, motivational speaking and stuff. Yeah. And I actually kind of wanted to do that. Yeah. I wanted to be like a, as wanky as it is, a life coach. Yeah, yeah. Like that's... I was right into that stuff.

Yeah. And then I read in a book, said, uh, this guy said, "Oh, if you wanna ever get good at public speaking, do stand-up comedy." Yeah. So I signed up to this competition. Oh, okay. Was it open mic night or just a com- Nah, it was a national comedy competition. National. Like, like I just, I just signed up online. Yeah.

'Cause I'd put it off for a year, 'cause in 2016 I wanted to try it- Yeah ... in Melbourne when I lived there, and I got on the wrong train, missed the gig, and I just went, "Oh, well, the universe doesn't want me to do it," you know? I pussied out. Yeah, yeah. And then I forgot about it for three years. Yeah. And then I saw this ad pop up on, um, Facebook on the Gold Coast for a raw national comedy competition, and I signed up to it.

And then I went in, it was like 150 people in the audience. But the good thing about it is like, the competition's actually a great way to do it because you've got all these people that are actually really good audience members. Yeah. 'Cause they're there to support their friends and family, whereas like open mic might be seven people.

Yeah. And usually it's just other comics who don't really care. No. Yeah. So it was actually the best way to do it because they were a really enthusiastic audience. Yeah. So I went up there terrified. Yeah. Like, I remember looking at the microphone for the first time, next to go up on stage, and I was just thinking like, "How, how can I get out of this?

Like, surely there's a way," you know? Yeah. Just fight or flight. And then it went really well, and I thought, "This is the best." Yeah. You must get hooked. This is unreal. Like- Yeah. And then the pandemic happened, and the whole world closed. Yeah. I was like, "Fuck." Yeah. That was it. Last gig for a year. Killed a lot of stuff for people, didn't it?

Like, like you're saying, just starting out. Yeah. Bars getting on the hook again. I was like, "I'm gonna do this every night." Yeah. And then that was it for a year. Yeah. But I was hooked. How'd you go in the, how'd you go in the competition? Uh, I, I won that heat. Did you? Yeah. Yeah. And I went through to the Queensland finals.

And then, but the thing was, like, so my ego was pumped up thinking I'm great at comedy now 'cause I just won this competition. Yeah. But then, like, you start the actual grind of doing open mics. Yeah. And there's, like, five people in the audience. I bet they're tough, aren't they? They're tough, like- Yeah ... uh, but they're, you need them.

Like, or you go to a pub gig where it's, there's a football game on in the corner. Right. There's Keno screens there. There's a kitchen chef shouting over there. Yeah. And you're trying to talk to these people who don't give a fuck that you're there. And they, they make it tough- Yeah ... 'cause, like, you're just up there just, like, dying.

Is that, like, one of your- Do you ever think, at them gigs, did you think about like quitting, giving up, or that was never in your mind? Well, the thing is, whenever I get the impulse to quit something, I'm like, if I'm... Like, I've no prob- I've given up so many things in my life- Yeah ... when I'm not interested.

Yeah. But if I'm interested and I wanna quit, then I know I'm just being a little bitch. Yeah. So like, there's been times like you're driving home from Brisbane. Like, so you drive to Brisbane after work. Yeah. Like you work 10 hours, drive to Brisbane in traffic for a free five-minute gig. Yeah. And then you, it's a horrible gig.

Everyone hates you. You're driving home and you're thinking, "What am I doing?" Like it's 10 o'clock at night. I've gotta be up again at four. What am I... I'm fucking 37 years old. You know- Yeah ... those th- Yeah ... but then like, then you know, you, you go and you watch a YouTube video of pro comedians talk. That's, everyone has that moment.

Yeah, yeah. Like, there- You gotta start- It's a rollercoaster ... yeah. You gotta start from somewhere, you know. That's it. And- There's probably a bit resilience to it as well, but of course- That's it. Like it's- ... knocks down and to get back up and go again, you've only yourself- That's it ... yeah. And it, the, it's so rewarding when you have a good...

I was lucky that I had such a good gig the first time. Yeah. So then I knew that that was the bar. Yeah, yeah. So then whenever I have a shit gig, I'm like, "It's fine." Kind of aiming for that again. Yeah. Yeah. And you only learn from the shit gigs. Yeah. 'Cause when you have a great gig, you finish and you have a beer and you go, "Oh, great."

Yeah. And you don't, you don't take notes. No. Whereas when you have a shit gig, you spend the whole drive home, no music- No ... just like, "Fuck," and just replaying. Yeah. "Oh, you, you said that stupid word." Just like hating yourself, but then you kind of fix something. You go, "Okay, well it didn't work because of that."

Yeah. And then you learn. So- Lessons learned. Yeah, that's right. You gotta- So the shit gigs you learn on ... learn from mistakes. Mm. Yeah. What, um... Like saying about shit gigs, what's like probably been your worst? Or like the, have you had like people like giving you abuse or anything like that? Well, like I, I'm lucky.

I don't get heckled that much. I think like when you're kind of a guy that looks like a guy... Like, I'll see people getting heckled, and it's usually because people maybe think they can get away with it. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah. I think people have this perception that like Irish guys are gonna fight you. Do you know what I mean?

Like they do, so- Yeah. I, like I've got heckled, but never really bad ones, to be honest. Mm. I've been pretty lucky. Yeah. Uh, but I've had shit gigs where like- Yeah ... being heckled is fine. The worst is when you're just bombing- Yeah ... and people are just sitting there like that. They're not laughing at the jokes.

Like that's, that hurts your ego more. What, when they don't laugh at the jokes? Yeah, 'cause you, every time you try something new, you don't know. Yeah, yeah. New material, yeah. Like, you're like, "This is the best idea ever." Yeah. And then you throw it out there, and it's like throwing a rock in a pond with no splash.

Yeah. And your brain is expecting a laugh, and there's nothing, and you just go ugh. Yeah. Um, so I've had plenty of them. Like I remember my second-ever gig after doing that. So I won that heat, and then my second ever gig- was in a, in a, uh, restaurant- Yeah ... in an afternoon gig, and I invited everyone I knew, girl I was dating and everything, and I just bombed for 10 minutes.

I'm just up there just like- Mm ... like, if someone handed you a gun, I'd be like, "Yeah." Yeah. "Let's end it." Yeah. Like, "I don't want to be here right now." No. Well, there's nothing... No, like, crowd. Like, they're just, they're just sitting there just- Well, there was laughs- Yeah ... but I mean, like, it's, it's just humiliating when you, you've, you, you think something's gonna be funny and it's not.

Not, yeah. And it's like... Uh, but, but over time that gets better because when something doesn't work, you can just acknowledge it- Yeah ... and then move on to something else. But in the beginning, you only have five minutes. Yeah. So if they're- Is that all you have? That's what they give you? Oh, yeah. Really? So, so you basically, you'll drive to Brisbane for- Yeah

five minutes. Yeah. And it- because you can't have more than that because if someone's shit- Yeah ... you, all your audience is gonna leave if you're like. Yeah. So, then you gotta, you gotta just keep doing five minutes and fixing that, and then you go to 10 minutes, and then you go to 10, 15, and then eventually get to an hour.

Yeah. But it takes a few years to get- Yeah ... to an hour because you're just constantly trying to fix little bits and pieces- Yeah ... and add a little bit here and a bit there and- How do you, like, pr- prepare that material stuff? Do you just off the whim of your head or you kind of just- Well, like, I'll take notes off the whim, but then I'll sit down and write.

Yeah. Not everyone writes. No. Like, I actually sit down and write. Like, 'cause I'll, I'll tell a story. So I'll, I'll have a story, and then I'll sit down, and then I'll actually go through it, like, quite meticulously, like a stopwatch, and be like, "Okay, there's no punchline for, like, a minute. That's too long."

Yeah. And then I'll put... I'll think, "Okay, I might be out on a run or a ride," and I'll think, "Okay, I need a punchline for that section 'cause it's too long." Yeah. 'Cause you can tell a story to mates that will make them laugh because they know you- Yeah ... and they're with you, but that doesn't work with strangers.

No. It has to be a punchline. It's, so you can have a normal story, and then you just gotta figure out how a punchline will work into it. So I'll literally go through it with a highlighter and be like, "Okay, I need a punchline there, a punchline..." And just work on that for a week. And who would you say your favorite comedian is?

Or like your, someone like you look up to and think I might want to be a sitcom? It's hard now because there's so many. Yeah. Like, so not that I want to be like- No ... but, um, I still think like one of my favorites of all time would probably be Louis C.K. Like he's like this... I don't know if there's anyone that I can think of that I probably w- have watched as much stuff.

But then like I like to tell stories, so I'll watch- Yeah ... like Jim Jefferies because he's like a really good long storyteller. Mm-hmm. Um, and now I've been getting right into like Katt Williams and- Yeah ... um, Ali Siddiq and these guys. Like Ali Siddiq tells these massive long stories, and like I love that.

Yeah. Um- So more sort of comedies like he's go- leading to like a punchline- Yeah ... like a story into a punchline. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And Shane Gillis and all. There's so many now. Yeah. Like I'll, I'll just go down, I usually just go down rabbit holes. Yeah. Whether it's music- Yeah ... what, books. Like I'll see someone I like, I'll consume everything they have, and then I'll find someone else- Yeah

and I'll consume everything they have. That's kind of how I go about it. Yeah. Oh. Oh. What about you? Anyone you're into? I quite like that Joe Wilkinson. I find him quite funny Joe Wilkinson? Yeah. Where's he from? Uh, UK. Yeah. Yeah. There's just so many people that, like- Oh, yeah ... if you're not in the algorithm, you don't- Yeah

like, people will send me someone, and I'm like- Kat Williams is good. Yeah. Yeah, Kat Williams is very good. Lee Evans. Yeah, yeah. All, he's a sweaty guy, right? Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I grew up with him. Did you? No, I'm, I mean, like, as in watching him, like- Oh, watching him ... yeah, yeah, yeah. My dad's a big fan, yeah. Like, he'd be sweating through the suit.

Yeah. Yeah. He's just got, he's just, oh, he's so good. Yeah. His facial expressions. Yeah. Yeah. But, yeah. Yeah, he's great. Um, it's just hard to keep track now 'cause there's so many. Do you ever, like, listen to music or podcasts when you're cycling, or do you just- Yeah ... just go? Yeah, I do a bit of both. I, I listen to a lot of dance music.

Yeah, I went to, like, the house. I saw you. I had a look at your Instagram. You, like, used to be, do a bit of DJing and stuff. Yeah. Well, what happened was, like, I always grew up with dance music- Yeah ... like raving and stuff. Yeah. And then during COVID, like, so I got obsessed with comedy after one gig, and then COVID happened during the lockdown, and then, like, I was unvaccinated, and then I was kind of anti all that stuff.

So when everything opened up again, I was still not allowed to do things. Yeah. So I just got back into the raving scene, 'cause you could go to festivals and no one gave a fuck about all that stuff. So I was like, "Fuck comedy." Like, the, the whole, the whole industry of comedy was all kind of, like, so following by the rules.

Yeah. So I was just going to festivals and, like, going to parties. Yeah. I was like, "Maybe I'll just be, become a DJ." So I went to a festival, and then I was like, "You know what? Fuck comedy. I'm gonna become a DJ." Yeah. And I went and bought decks on the way home after a four-day festival. And just for the next two years just started doing gigs around the Gold Coast.

Yeah. And just, like, bought decks and then was getting paid to do gigs, like, couple weeks later. Yeah. I was like, "This is the best thing ever." Uh, but it was mostly because of COVID. And then, um, yeah, so now I still listen, like, I'll be out on the bike just listening to, like, techno and trance and house music and, like, just grinding up a hill.

Mm. 'Cause it's, it's kind of the same as being at a rave. Yeah. Like, you're just cha- It's the two-step ... you're, you're still chasing the high. Yeah. Like, whether you're, whether you're at a festival or on a bike or running, at the end of the day, if anyone's gonna be honest- Yeah ... they're just trying to get high.

Like, it's all chasing, like- But, but- I don't, I don't, I don't want to say, like, a drug high, but, like, in endurance sports- No, it's not ... it's more like a spiritual high- Mm ... because it's the opposite of drugs. It's like prepaid drugs. Yeah. It's like you suffer first, feel good after. Get that buzz once you get through, get through the wall, you kind of get, like- That's it

a rush, the buzz. Yeah, yeah. And you just become peaceful and content- Yeah ... and everything's fine then. Who was, like, the first person you told about, like, the big tour? It was, what was it, 16,000Ks or whatever? Yeah. Honestly, I think I just posted online. Yeah. Like, I went home and I got a... I, but I know what an, an idea feels like when it's real.

Yeah. 'Cause I've had a, like, I know the difference between, like, an ego idea and a pure idea, 'cause I, I thought about it for a few hours, and I was like, "There's no negative to this." No. And then I made a ChatGPT poster, and I- Yeah ... put it online I was gonna do it. Um, and then I told my dad. My dad's, like, my dad's really cool in the sense that, like, he's never really pushed me to do...

He's always been open to- Yeah ... you know, supportive of whatever you're into, you know? And so I told him, and he was like, "Oh, that's a great idea." 'Cause he's not, like, obsessed with money or anything. He's more just into- you know, me being happy. Yeah. So he was like, "Oh yeah, that's cool. I'll, I'll try and get over when you're maybe in Perth."

And so that'd be cool. Yeah. We could have a little- Yeah ... adventure maybe together and he- Yeah ... he can rent a car and- When was the last time you saw him? He, he still in Ireland? Yeah. Yeah. It was probably nearly two years ago. Yeah. Yeah. So that'll be cool if he comes over- That'll be lovely ... have a little West Coast...

'Cause we always talked about how it'd be nice if we could, like, rent a four-wheel drive and do the West Coast together. Yeah. So if we can get him a car and then I can just- Cycle down, yeah ... you know, and then we meet up each day in the motel or the campsite and- Yeah, that'd be lovely ... it'd be a cool little bonding experience.

That was, yeah, some great memories- Yeah ... you had there, wasn't it? So I'm looking forward to things like that. Yeah. Yeah, lovely, man. Um, but yeah, music is definitely important. Like, I, I love just- You got, you got, like, a playlist sorted yet or just you're not set up there? I'm kind of, I'm kind of putting one together, but, like, it depends how, like sometimes, you know, you're, I'll be listening to high energy, like, you know, 30 BPM house.

Yeah. And then other times it'll be, like, maybe organic house, you know, 20 BPM, depending on how hard you're pushing. Yeah. Or I might just be like, you know what? I feel like listening to a three-hour podcast now. Oh, yeah. Uh, or audiobooks. Yeah. Just dep- Oh, I, I like the audiobooks. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. 'Cause that's the thing, you're out there, like, you do 100K a day, you can listen to a whole book.

Yeah. Is that what you... What sort of, like you're saying 100K a day, is that the most you're gonna do in a day or

do you think you'll be doing more? Well, I reckon the first section I'll probably be doing maybe, like, 70K a day. Yeah. But I'm thinking by the time I get to Port Douglas, and then I'm gonna drop down and go out to Mount Isa and up to Darwin, there's a lot of kilometers there, but not many towns. Oh. So I'm thinking at that point I'll start, like, giving the old endurance a test- Yeah

and then maybe do at least 100, maybe do, like, 120K days. I don't know. I'll see how I feel. Yeah, yeah. 'Cause I don't really know. No, yeah. But I reckon, like, so when I went to Lismore, I did 130K in two, each day for two days, and the body felt good, so I feel like once I get fit, I should be able to do that pretty consistently.

Yeah. Just build the endurance up. Yeah. All right. Just give it a couple of months for the body to adjust. Yeah. But now you're, like, standing for, I suppose, like, a week away. Yeah. You're, what's, like, what's going through your head, do you reckon? Oh- Just buzzing to get going? ... s- so many things. I'm making a lot of lists 'cause there's so many things going on in my head- Yeah

that I'm trying to make lists because my brain is just like, "Ah." Going a mile a minute, yeah. 'Cause I still gotta get a heap of things, and I gotta move out of my apartment on Wednesday. So that's kind of in my head of, like, like, the last couple mornings when I woke up, I was waking up thinking, "I'm not gonna be living here next week.

I'm not gonna be living anywhere." And, uh- So yeah, that kind of thing of like, well, I got to get that sorted. I got to get rid of all my shit. I've got to get these things. Um, but to be honest, like, like the Gold Coast show has been selling well, so that's kind of in my head of like, everything is okay. Yeah.

'Cause that's kind of my biggest concern. So it's just all the things I got to organize. Yeah. And also wondering, I still have to like put everything together and suss out if it all fits, you know? Like I've got cooking materials, and I've got so much shit. I've got to get rid of like all these... I can't take any of these...

Like I can't, I can't bring a pair of cream. Like how… That's not gonna be any good. No, no. I need to have like one pants that's maybe black. Yeah. 'Cause you can only bring one of each thing. Yeah. So like there's no point bringing white shoes and cream chinos 'cause like they'll be dirty after one day. Yeah, they won't do that.

Go, do well on the outback. No. Yeah. So I got to plan that kind of stuff of like- Yeah ... what's the one thing I'm gonna take? Yeah. So yeah. Pack your bags and- Yeah ... got all that to do. But yeah, a lot of things going through my head. No, I bet. Um, but do you know what? Like I feel good about it. Yeah. Buzzing to get going.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, guys, we got to touch on the, like the Orange Sky charity. Yeah. So like why, what they mean to you, I suppose, and why, why them, I guess. How'd you- Well, so I did an event two years ago. Yeah. Immigrant On The Run, where I ran to Brisbane and back, did two shows, and w- we raised money for Orange Sky, that one as well.

Yeah. Um, but also another local one. Um, so there's a few reasons why I picked Orange Sky. One is like I've always had a lot of empathy for homeless people because On one hand, like, I know people will often say, "Oh, you know, people can help themselves," and I agree with that. Yeah. I think that we do have the ability to completely help ourselves.

But I also know that there's a lot of people that don't have the things that we all think are normal. No. Yeah. Like family, friends, the mental ability to just deal with something. Yeah. And like, I've had times where I've nearly been homeless. Mm. And luckily, like, there's been times in Australia where I've rang my dad, and even as shameful as it is, I'm like, "Dad, can I borrow a bit of money 'cause I'm fucked?"

Yeah. And even though he doesn't have much money, he still helped me out. Yeah. But there's people that don't have someone to ask. No, like that. No, yeah, I agree with you, like that. Having that support network- Yeah ... people got around you. And so- Yeah ... it, it's very easy that someone could end up homeless or they, you know, people could have some mental health disease where they can't deal with things.

No. Um, and also, like when I was growing up, like, my grandad was actually... I actually don't wanna talk about that on the podcast. No, yeah, yeah, yeah. La-la-la. But, um, so like, I've always kind of seen how easy it is to happen. So I've done a few events where... Because I feel like, you know, as a society, like, they are the, the people that need the basics.

Yeah. Like, if we don't have the bacs- basics covered- No ... well then, we're kind of screwed, like. So Orange Sky, anyway, that's a b- a long way of saying, like, the great thing with Orange Sky is they're based all around the country. So they have these orange vans. Mm-hmm. And they park them up in different places, and they have like laundry facilities, showers, and, um, just volunteers to have a chat with.

Yeah. And people can rock up there and wash their clothes, and... Because if you're in a shitty situation and, like, at the very minimum, to be able to have a shower or get your clothes clean. Yeah. At least then you can kind of, okay, now you can deal with the rest and maybe think about getting an interview for a job- Yeah

or whatever. Um, and also I've met a lot of the women that work there and the guys that work... I met the founders recently. Yeah. And they're just two top dudes. Yeah. Like, just two blokes that just- Give a shit Yeah And so, um, and then also because I'm gonna be riding around, I thought it was perfect because I'm gonna be able to like stop off there, have a cup of tea And use them there, wash your clothes Maybe use them as well, yeah Yeah, yeah But, like, just, uh, being able to actually see them all and meet them all around the way Yeah Um, but yeah, so it's just always something I've kind of...

Like when I see a homeless person on the street, yeah, some of them are on drugs and this and that, but I still feel like people deserve the opportunity- Mm ... to at least get that first leg up. Yeah Um, 'cause if we can't help that- No ... then what, what are we doing, like? No, that's important, really. Yeah. No, that's good.

So yeah, there'll be a donation f- page for that on my, um- Yeah. There you go ... a, a link on my page. Yeah, we'll talk about that. Yeah. Yeah, we'll get onto that, but no, that's good. No, I think it's, uh, important, like you said, to help the people out, like you said. Yeah Like a support network and- Yeah ... all that sort of stuff.

I think if I didn't have that, what I've been through- Yeah ... I don't know. I'd be, I'd be in a very bad situation. Yeah So it's very important. Especially now how expensive everything is. Oh, yeah. Like, like there's a lot of people that are becoming homeless that don't have any maybe drug problems- Yeah ... or alcohol problems or anything, but they're just, what?

In a shitty situation. Yeah. Can't afford- And all of a sudden they're living in their car Yeah Yeah Living in their car. Yeah, it's hard, but... Oh, that Orange Sky, they obviously do a very good- Yeah ... obviously, obviously help people out like that, so it's very important, yeah. Yeah. And like any listeners, like now that you've heard it, you'll, you'll notice it.

Yeah You'll see the orange vans just parked up different like- Hard, hard to miss Yeah Yeah So they have them all over the Gold Coast and all over the country. Yeah. But people can c- follow your journey. So on your Instagrams and- Yeah. I've got- 'Cause this will be going out after you've started, but- Yeah

so. So Ian Dale in comedy. I'm gonna, I'm gonna po- I'm gonna try and post every day along the way. I want to get one of them drones that can follow me- Yeah ... 'cause I think it'd be cool to get some good footage- Yeah ... around Australia. Yeah. And then I'll, um, I'll start doing... I want to do a weekly longer form on YouTube- Yeah

to try and actually kind of create more of a story. Sort of like a vlog style video. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm trying to figure that out at the moment. Yeah. I'm trying to- I've not a clue about any of that sort of stuff I'm kind of just thinking about like how do you, how do you position it? So like I'm just... Yeah, that's kind of new to me.

Yeah. So I'm gonna try and make like a weekly longer video. Yeah. But that's something I've got to learn right now. Yeah. Another thing to add to the list. Another thing to add to the list. I know. The list is getting longer. And you've got, so upcoming shows, 46 shows in total on the tour? Yeah. And th- that'll change.

Like, that's just based on what I've kind of looked at so far. Yeah. Um, so I've got four booked in so far. Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast- Gympie, and now I'm trying to book Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton Yeah So it'll end up being about 46. Yeah Probably more, because I've realised I haven't added in Tasmania, so I'll probably add in that.

And then people kind of reach out about Central Coast and different things. So it'll probably end up being more. Yeah Or maybe I'll miss some. Like, I'm struggling to get a venue at the moment in, uh, Bundaberg, so maybe I'll lose one there and gain one there. Yeah, yeah, yeah You know? So- Where is... Are you starting on the Gold Coast?

Starting at the Gold Coast. And going full loop to back to the Gold Coast, or are you finishing somewhere else? Yeah. Well, I'm gonna... I'm thinking, it all depends how the trip goes. I'm thinking to, like... 'Cause I should have a full hour of new material. Yeah So I'm thinking to finish on the Gold Coast and do, like, a finishing show.

Yeah I think that'll be cool. Yeah Tell the story of the journey. Yeah. Um, but the second last one I hope will be Brunswick, because I wanted to do a show last year in Brunswick Picture House, a real cool venue. Uh, I didn't get around to it, so I'd like to do one there, and then do a finishing one on the Gold Coast.

Yeah. I think that'll be cool, just to tell the story, the whole thing. Oh, I hope it all works out for you. Yeah. What's, like, the big... If I was to look yourself in five years with the comedy- Yeah ... do you see yourself at, was it Ro- Royal Albert Hall? Royal Albert... I can't even say the word. Royal Albert Hall.

That's the one, yeah. Yeah Do you see yourself there? What's the- Well, I, I don't really think about venues that much. What I kind of think of more, like, for me, honestly, I just want to be working for myself as a comedian- Yeah ... and be free to travel around, because I... What I'd like to do is I'd like to finish this next year- Yeah

then go and do the m- the- Australian comedy festival circuit. Yeah. So like Adelaide, Melbourne, and then go and do like Edinburgh. Yeah. Maybe do like a bike tour of Ireland. I've never done comedy in Ireland. No, yeah. So I think it'd be cool to cycle around Ireland and do comedy. Yeah. Maybe Britain. Yeah. Um, so I don't really think much about venues.

No. It's more about I'd like to be free to the point where I can actually travel the world and do comedy. Yeah. Um, maybe go to like expat cities, like go to places where there's a bunch of Irish and put on a gig. Yeah. And, you know, maybe just... So it's more about that, being able to, and maybe being able to see my family more.

Yeah. Maybe do some gigs in Ireland, maybe spend a little bit of time here, a little bit of time there. Yeah. So basically just being able to do stand-up comedy full time. Maybe on the bike. That's the goal. Go around on the bike and- Maybe. Yeah. Who knows? I might love it after- Yeah ... this and- Well, you might not want to be on, go on a bike again.

Yeah, maybe a horse. Horse, yeah. It's been, it's been good coming in and have a chat. No, yeah. Um, yeah. I'm just gonna be out there for ages. Yeah. So I'm sure, I'm sure we'll, we'll chat along the way. It'll be good to do like, try and get a part two in like at the end of it. Yeah. Yeah, let's do that. And, uh, and then we'll come on here- Yeah

and you have all the stories. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And do a catch-up. Yeah. That's what I like thinking about. You know, when you've got a big kind of effort ahead of you- Yeah ... and you think about, "Oh, how nice would it be like sitting down here in a year's time-" Yeah ... after finishing," and just being like, "Oh, what a journey."

All the stories. You'll have all the people to invite. Yeah. That'd be a very good episode, I think. I'd like to do maybe, uh, while I'm going around, 'cause I'm gonna stay with random people. Yeah. Like I'm staying with a guy in Brisbane and, and it'd be cool to do like maybe a little interview, not like a podcast- No, yeah

but just maybe like a little quickfire interview with each person you stay. Yeah. Just, just random people. A quickfire questions. Yeah. Yeah. I wanna, I wanna think of a few questions- Yeah ... that like you just meet random people, like you might be in a truck stop. Yeah. Do a quickfire interview with Bruce on the highway, you know what I mean?

I think that'd be cool. So you've already got somewhere, uh, lined up in Brisbane to stay? Yeah, I'm gonna stay with this guy I offered- Yeah ... and I was like, "You know what?" Like I, so I've never really been that open with things like that in the past. No, yeah. I'm like, "You know what? This time, yeah." So s- like there's been people reached out from parts of Western Australia and that- Oh, yeah

so I'm looking forward to that. No, yeah, that'll be as- And then- ... good people already reaching out ... camp a bit of time. Yeah. Stay in houses. Yeah. Mix it up. Yeah. Maybe every now and again splash out on a motel. Treat yourself. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah, nice, mate. So. Well, good luck with it all. Yeah, appreciate it. Yeah.

And I'm, uh, looking forward to hearing about all the stories. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, appreciate it. I'll be, I'll be, I'll be following along. Nice one. Yeah. And I look forward to sitting down again next year. A year's time. When do you plan on finishing, you reckon? Well, maybe less than a year. I'm thinking at the moment eight months, 'cause I'd like to finish before the Australian festival season kicks off- Yeah

which is kind of around February. Uh, also I wanna get up and around the top and down to like say around Exmouth before the wet season kicks in. Yeah. So that's around October, and then if I get back to Gold Coast by February, then I can Then finish the tour and then go to like Adelaide and do gigs there for the festival, uh, not by bike- Right, yeah

but just do festival gigs. Um, so that's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking eight months. Oh, yeah. So that's based on a lot of guesstimates. You know? Yeah. But I think like in another month I'll have a better idea- Yeah ... on what it looks like. But that's what I'm thinking, eight months, February- That's the time

back on the Gold Coast. Yeah. I'll see you February then. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Lo- lock it in. Yeah. I'll let, I'll let you know and we'll, we'll get it booked in. Yeah. Perfect, mate. Looking forward to it. Good luck with it all. Thank you. Thanks for having me. Good man.