Discover seven titles that spotlight the lighter side of life’s small annoyances and big injustices
Humour connects us. Sometimes it’s as bold as a comedian speaking truth to power, voicing thoughts we’ve all had but never articulated. Sometimes humour hits at the best times, when you’re around friends listening to a funny podcast. And sometimes it comes at an opportune moment, at the end of a hard day, when you’re on your couch alone and in need of some levity.
Whenever, and however, you get it, laughter really is the best medicine. And to help you get your daily dose, we’d like to welcome you to Audible.ca’s comedy club – a mobile comedy club that goes wherever you go.
Listen to stand-up as you lay down in your bed. Put on some improv when you’re stuck in the monotony of your daily commute. Share your favourite comedian with friends or even discover you haven’t heard yet. at Audible.ca. But may we suggest the following line-up? It’s a who’s who of comedy stars ready to entertain you at the press of a button!
Framed as a heartfelt, minutely observed and laugh-out-loud funny series of letters to her daughters, comedian Ali Wong’s Dear Girls touches on everything from motherhood, to how to get ahead in a male-dominated world and even how to hold in a fart during yoga.
Wong is never afraid to say exactly what’s on her mind, whether it’s crude, beautiful or angry. And that’s exactly what we love about her. As with her wildly popular standup specials, Wong shows us why she’s the queen of having absolutely no filter.
If you listen to Dear Girls in public prepare to hold in your belly laughs – you might get some funny looks!
Get Some Sage Advice From Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Hosts of the criminally funny podcast My Favorite Murder, comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark know a thing or two about not getting murdered. In Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered they share advice using personal stories about addiction, afflictions and mental health to help make their point.
Through candid talks and vulnerable discussion, Kilgariff and Hardstark prove they can take the darkest subject matter and still find room for empathy and humour. If you prefer your life advice with a healthy helping of laughter, this is your kind of audio show.
The creators of 64th Man want to make it clear that this Audible Original is “not an audiobook,” it’s “TV for your ears”. Featuring John Cena, Jane Curtin and a bevy of Saturday Night Live alumni, 64th Man follows the ordeals of Billy Logan (Cena), an NFL reject returning to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In football, 63 players make it to the roster or squad. Logan is the 64th man, the one forced to face his near-success while toiling in obscurity. Back at home, Logan meets an eccentric cast of characters, including tech bros, a health guru and an elderly trainer, all played by SNL heavy-hitters like Leslie Jones, Will Forte and Jay Pharaoh.
Have we got an audio comedy for you! Written by and featuring Kate McKinnon, the breakout star of SNL, Audible Original Heads Will Roll is a 10-episode satirical take on the wicked fairytale queen trope.
Come for the rapid-fire one-liners, but stay for the amazing supporting cast, including Peter Dinklage (yes, that Peter Dinklage, from Game of Thrones), Tim Gunn (yes,that Tim Gunn from Project Runway) and Meryl Streep (yes, that Meryl Streep, from every Oscar acceptance speech ever).
Journey From Childhood to Motherhood With Tina Fey
Memoirs are a great way to hear from your favourite comedians and when Tina Fey’s memoir dropped in 2011, it dropped like a mic on a spotlighted stage. Fresh off her successes with SNL, spot-on Sarah Palin impersonations and 30 Rock, Fey could have rested on her laurels. Instead she kept the laughs coming by releasing one of the funniest, smartest and all-around best comedy audiobooks we’ve heard.
Bossypants chronicles Fey’s life from childhood to motherhood, making stops at college, her tenure at SNL and her near-disaster of a honeymoon. Each of the audiobook’s vignettes is written with precision, silliness and Fey’s trademark acerbic wit. Hear it the way it was intended: narrated by Tina Fey herself.
Laugh and Cry (and Laugh Again) With Jonathan Van Ness
Fans of Queer Eye already know Jonathan Van Ness, the always funny, always candid hairdresser with a heart of gold. And if you don’t know him yet, you’re about to. Over the Top is equal parts funny and heart-rending, a journey of self-acceptance as raw as it is hilarious.
If you want an audiobook that’ll use up all your tissues (between the laugh-crying and the cry-crying), Over the Top was practically made for you. Jonathan Van Ness is living proof that comedy can be cathartic.
You may not be able to get a spot at his chic LA salon, but you’re all welcome into his inner-circle with this powerful audiobook
Remove the Rose-Coloured Glasses With Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer
Social media moguls Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer (the titular Cat & Nat) want to get real about motherhood. This isn’t the idyllic picture of being a mom you’re used to hearing. There are no “cherish every moment” maxims dispensed here – just an honest, hilarious account of the very real struggles of motherhood.
Peppered throughout with frank advice and embarrassing personal stories, Cat and Nat’s Mom Truths is a must-listen memoir for mothers exhausted by all those rosy accounts of motherhood (and exhausted by the mounting laundry in the family hamper). Once you’ve put the kids to bed, find your kindred mom spirits in Cat & Nat. You’ll be glad you did.
At its best comedy lets you know you’re not alone. There are other people out there who share the same grievances, annoyances and personal struggles. And, if you can’t overcome them yet, you can at least laugh about them together.
What was the last listen that made you laugh? Share your thoughts and your favourite Audible comedy titles on our Facebook page.
What was the last listen that made you laugh? Share your thoughts and your favourite Audible comedy titles on our Facebook page.
