July 16, 2025 • 44 mins
Nick White shares his remarkable journey from drafting buildings to crafting punchlines. With the sharp observation skills of an architect and the timing of a seasoned comedian, Nick reveals how he transitioned from designing spaces to creating characters that have captured the hearts of over half a million followers online.
Having trained as an architect and worked in prestigious firms from Brisbane to New York, Nick found himself increasingly drawn to comedy, performing at open mics after long days in the office. What started as a creative outlet gradually revealed itself as his true calling. His honest reflections on the architectural profession resonate deeply—the hierarchical structure, the jargon-heavy presentations, and the disconnect between university creativity and workplace reality.
Nick's viral "Design Dissection" series and beloved characters like Carly (the endearingly dull co-worker) demonstrate how he's brilliantly merged his architectural knowledge with his comedic talents. Rather than abandoning his design background, he's transformed it into something uniquely his own. The conversation explores how his architectural training provided transferable skills for his comedy career—from graphic design abilities for merchandise to organizational habits that help him structure his creative work.
The most compelling moment comes when Nick describes his terrifying leap from job security to creative entrepreneurship. After resigning, he panic-bought canned soup expecting poverty, only to receive his two biggest brand deals days later. This perfectly captures the universal fear and exhilaration of following one's authentic path.
For anyone questioning their career trajectory or contemplating a creative pivot, Nick offers refreshingly practical wisdom: follow your gut, pay attention to what brings you joy, and recognize that your current skills might find surprising applications in unexpected places. His story proves that sometimes the most rewarding path isn't climbing the ladder you're on, but building an entirely new one that feels authentically yours.
Follow Nick on Insta, TikTok & check out his latest tour dates below:
https://comedy.com.au/tour/nick-white
https://www.instagram.com/nickwhite49
https://www.tiktok.com/@missnickiewantie
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Back by popular demand— Lauren's 'Colour and Materials Masterclass ' returns on August 2nd! If you're unsure how to pair paint colours with floors or finishes, this full-day online event is for you. Learn how colour really works and follow a clear, step-by-step method to confidently choose the right paint every time. It's a fun, practical day with a vibrant community of fellow colour lovers.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Today's guest has designed buildings and
punchlines.
This is a new one for theDesign Anatomy podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
He trained as an architect, worked in New York
and then pivoted into comedy,where he's now got over half a
million followers way over halfa million and a widely popular
series called Design Dissection,and I was actually honored to
be his first guest dissectionand I was actually honoured to
(00:28):
be his first guest, not tomention sold out shows at the
Comedy Festival and touringAustralia and the world.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
We are talking about Nick White, and today we're
diving into what made him leavearchitecture, what he misses, if
anything, and how he's found anew way to connect with design
through humour.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So whether you're knee-deep in CAD drawings or
ready to quit it all and startit over again on TikTok, this
episode is for you.
Thank you so much, nick, forbeing here, hi.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I don't know what to expect on this episode, to be
honest, because we've never hadanybody really funny.
I'm usually the funny one,reckon yeah it could get
competitive.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I don't know.
I don't know what to expecteither I don't know that funny
actually.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I'm just the.
I'm just the one that says allthe stupid stuff, aren't I laura
?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
no, you're not saying funny stuff, not stupid stuff
the no filter.
So yeah, I mean, it was reallygreat, nick.
When I first I guess, when Ifirst came across you, it was on
Instagram and I was like, oh,phil, my husband, like look at
this so funny.
And then one day you followedme on Instagram and I was like,
(01:37):
oh my god, nick White isfollowing me.
And I was having lunch with myfamily and they're like, what
are you talking about?
I'm like, oh my god, you guysdon't understand.
It's Nick White is so funny,he's following me on Instagram
now.
Like I was having lunch with myfamily and they're like, what
are you talking about?
I'm like, oh my God, you guysdon't understand.
It's Nick White, he's so funny,he's following me on Instagram
now.
Like I was pretty excited, ohthanks.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Pat Love it.
Thank you, I mean thanks.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
And then you reached out to me asking if we could
make a little video, which wasthe most fun day ever.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
It was fun, so having you come over to my house.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, it was really fun and it's nice seeing the
videos you know pop up andeverything.
So, yeah, it's really cool tohave you come onto our podcast
and I guess you know, when youcame over and we got to chatting
, I think I did know that youwere an architect before, but it
got me thinking, oh, that's sointeresting, Like what a pivot
(02:28):
from architecture into comedy,and I thought that would be a
really fun topic to kind of diveinto today.
And I also found out that youworked in New York, which is
pretty incredible.
So, I guess, with architecture,how did you follow that path to
architecture?
How did you land there?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Well, I just drew a lot when I was a kid.
I drew everything.
I drew people, I drewneighborhoods and roads and
houses.
I drew a lot of houses too, anda lot of floor plans.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
That's normal, that stuff right?
Yeah, I know I used to do a lotof floor plans Normal.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, right, I used to come up with characters and
then I would draw the houses andthe floor plans for my
characters.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I love that.
That's very cool.
That's different.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, I love it, yeah , but then I discovered the Sims
.
So then the Sims became likeyou know, it just enhanced that
kind of activity.
And then the Sims, I just yeah,I, yeah.
I was like, wow, I shouldprobably study architecture
because I love drawing and I'mobsessed with houses, because my
dad used to like drive mearound to see all the new houses
when I was a kid.
(03:31):
So yeah, and then I was like,but then everyone was like you
need to know a lot of maths andI was like, oh god, but then it
turns out you don't really.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
So then I did architecture I got scared by the
math thing as well.
In design, yeah, you had tohave like the top level maths
and that was my worst subjectand I'm like, okay, well, I just
got to try and do it, but yeah,you don't really use it that
much.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
You don't.
We have calculators.
We didn't even need for thecourse I did in Brisbane.
You didn't even need to do thetop maths.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Oh really.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah.
So I was like oh okay, well,thank God.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
No, I had to do it.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I had to put myself through it.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
God that was stressful.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Not for me, not me Did you have to do math, though,
lauren, to get into your courselike the top?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
R M I T?
No, because I did interiordesign.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I didn't do maths in year 12 or 11.
I did, so they must havechanged it.
I'm a bit older, so maybe whenI had to do it, but you had to
have that math to get into thatcourse oh, really, I still did
maths, but I didn't have to dothe top, the top one oh, good,
good.
What was it called the?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
maths.
That's what it was called inbrisbane.
Queenland's a bit different,but let's talk about maths
actually.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
No, that's not that's my fault.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Got stuck on it, let's not talk about maths.
I couldn't think of anythingmore boring so what about new
york?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
how did you end up in new york, nick?
Speaker 3 (04:56):
hi, good question.
Um well, how did I end up innew york?
I don't even know.
Well, I was kind of justworking full time in Brisbane
after I finished studying.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
So straight into architecture yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Well.
I was already working at thisfirm while I was doing my
master's.
So then I just went on to fulltime.
But then the year before myfriend didn't do her master's,
she moved to New York and so didanother friend, like two
architecture friends.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
And.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I went to visit them while I was doing my master's
and I was like, oh, this looksfun.
And then, yeah, after Ifinished my master's, I was like
, okay, I'm going to either moveto Melbourne or New York, just
because I don't want to stay inBrisbane.
And then I chose Melbournebecause it's easier.
But then I had a dream that Iwas hanging out with my best
friend in New York and then Iwoke up and was like, yeah,
we're moving to New York.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's awesome.
We're moving to New York.
So much fun Do you often letyour dreams decide the future of
your life.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I definitely pay attention to them.
I think it's because with thatone I was a bit back and forth
for a while and that dream wasso.
That dream felt real.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
And it was such a fun dream.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And her and I were just having the best time, and I
was like I can't ignore thatdream.
So, yeah, and her and I werejust having the best time, and I
was like I can't ignore thatdream, so I let it make that
decision, that's very cool andwas it fun.
No, no, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
It was the best it turns out your friend was just
really mean when you got thereand you didn't have any fun at
all.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Yeah, it's like she planned the dream to trick me.
It was really fun.
I mean, my final year there wascovid, so I moved home in march
2021, so that that was ups anddowns, but overall it was very,
very pivotal in my growth, Iguess, and it was just really
fun, yeah the covid that wasreally intense in new york,
wasn't it at the start?
Speaker 1 (06:42):
oh yeah, really bad yeah oh my god similar to, um,
what it was like in italy, backin milan and rome yeah, no joke
well, is that where you were?
no, no, I just we.
I was supposed to be going.
I usually go to milan each yearand I was supposed to be going.
So I was talking to people overthere and it sort of started
with the whole like oh no, it'snot that bad, the media is, like
(07:03):
you know, pumping it up.
And then it just started withthe whole like, oh no, it's not
that bad.
The media is, like you know,pumping it up.
And then it just went into theyou know high body count and all
of that sort of stuff.
So we didn't see that over here, thank God.
But yeah, there were somecities.
That really was pretty bad,right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Good times.
That's just such an upliftingtopic.
Let's talk about maths and thenCOVID Stay with us and body
counts it's gonna get better.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So funny, we can use our skills in maths to keep up
with how many dead people therewere yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
So then you're in new york and you, so you did.
You find it hard to get workthere, or because you had
friends there already in theindustry, did that sort of mean
you had doors open for you?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Well, yeah, so my best friend worked as an
interior designer for anAustralian cafe brand over there
.
And that's how she knew TaliRoth because they worked
together designing a few cafes,and then, and before I moved
over's like, oh yeah, I'll getyou, I'm gonna try to get you a
job, as, like my assistantdesigner and I was like cool,
but then she was like, once Iwas there, she's like, oh yeah,
(08:12):
I don't really, they're notreally open to that idea.
So then I just worked at thecafe for like eight months, oh
wow, and had had like probablyhad like five, between five and
ten job interviews inarchitecture that whole time and
was about to give up, uh, andjust be like I'll just work at
this cafe for a year and thenmove home after this one year
visa is up.
But then, yeah, like the lastinterview before I gave up, they
(08:33):
liked me and then I workedthere and got a new visa which
was for another two years.
Yeah, so that's how thathappened a small world, what
sort?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
of projects were you working on?
Speaker 3 (08:43):
um, so it was a design build firm, like a
residential design build, so itwas a pretty small firm.
It was, um, so it was a husbandand wife who ran it and the
wife was an architect so she hada team of well it I mean it was
during covid, so it was, youknow, up and down like had to
let people go, then hire people.
But yeah, it was her, her namewas Megan, and then Patrick was
(09:06):
the senior designer he's likeone of my best friends and then
I was junior architect and thenwe had the building like
construction team as well,because the husband was a
project manager, so we had aconstruction team of like 15 to
20, and we had about two tothree project managers in the
office as well.
So yeah, it was pretty hands-onlike I did.
I did all the surveys of theapartments.
(09:28):
Yeah, I did a lot of sidevisits.
It was cool that's cool.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
So you had that defining moment when you were
like is that melbourne?
Is it new york?
You had a dream what aboutpivoting from architecture into
comedy?
Was there a moment, or was itmore of a slower kind of
evolution?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Well, I entered this comedy competition when I was 20
and I didn't progress.
But then for about three yearsI was like, yeah, I've done
stand-up comedy.
And everyone's like, okay, weget it.
And then at the start of mymaster's, when I was 20, how old
was I?
23.
I entered it again and I got tothe semifinal and I just had
(10:08):
the best time doing it.
So, literally at the start of mymaster's, which was only a one
year program, I was just likeyou know what?
I actually think I'm going tobe a comedian.
And everyone was like, oh, youjust got a degree and you're
about to do another one.
And I was like like, yeah, butI think comedy is what I meant
to do.
And everyone was just like,okay.
So that literally while I wasstill studying, I was like I'm
gonna try to be a comedian.
(10:28):
And and then, yeah, worked inbrisbane for about nine months
after graduating and then, yeah,started consistently doing open
mics once my master's was doneand yeah realized that I mean I
wasn't good to start off with,but I had potential.
And then moved to to New Yorkjust with the goal of
experiencing life and doingstand-up in like the hardest
city to do stand-up in and yeah,and that's.
(10:50):
I was definitely and I didn'treally keep it a secret, like my
bosses knew that I did stand-up, but I was never like, yeah,
I'm going to be a stand-upcomedian.
I was like, oh, it's justsomething I do sometimes
sometimes I love architecture,though.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
My heart is here with you guys, all of you architects
, and then at night, you wouldbe doing so.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Did you do open mics in new york?
Speaker 1 (11:13):
yeah, yeah I did um.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That would have been intense yeah, it was crazy, like
because some of them therewould be.
No, the audience would just beother comedians who were just on
their phone and sometimes youhad to pay money to do an open
mic and I was working at thiscafe.
I'd known I was really poor fora few months there, so it was a
pretty rough transition.
But then I eventually kind oflike found my feet and the kind
of shows I liked to perform atand then I produced a comedy
(11:36):
show for that australian cafethat I worked at.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
So I produced like a monthly show for them um, so
yeah, I I kind of got into it.
Was that on social media?
Is that where that was?
What do you mean?
You produced a social?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Oh, like I just because I was friends with a lot
of the corporate team, becausemy best friend worked as the
designer and they knew I didstand up, so they were like, oh,
we have a new venue.
Where was it?
It was like little Italy orsomething like I don't even try
Becca, little italy, orsomething like I don't even try
becca, I've forgotten all thenames I need to move back.
No, I'm kidding um and yeah, andthey were like oh yeah, nick
(12:08):
does stand up.
And then so I would kind ofjust like curate the lineup.
Um yeah, I basically just gotthe lineup, told them when to be
there, made sure it was all setup and and I would also perform
.
But I wasn't very good yet andlooking back some of the lineups
I was like what I?
I just didn't know what I wasdoing, but who cares, it was fun
.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
It's all the rite of passage, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
You're going to start somewhere, right, yeah, it is
the rite of passage.
Yes, I'd say that's prettylucky, though, to have been in
New York and be able to doactual comedy there as well.
Australian comedian startingout.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I think that's kind of the dream.
Right To go and do somethinglike that.
It was pretty awesome.
I mean, yeah, I was stillpretty new to stand up so I
wasn't getting any amazingopportunities there, but I
didn't care because I knew I wasstill pretty inexperienced.
But it definitely informed.
And also I came out when Imoved there so like started
doing kind of more personalmaterial and like stuff while I
was going through that.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
So yeah, it was it all kind of just really helped
me grow and develop as a personand a comedian.
I guess.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So when did the social media aspect sort of
start?
Oh, that wasn't till I movedhome in 2021.
Because when I was living withmy best friend in New York, she
was always like you shoulddownload TikTok, it's really fun
.
And I was like I'm 27.
I'm too old for TikTok.
Oh, my God, don't be silly.
That's what I thought at thetime.
(13:33):
I was like I'm nearly in mylate 20s and then moved home,
had horrible mental health, wasliving with my parents, had to
start again in the comedy sceneand I was like fine, I'll
download tiktok oh my gosh, sounder duress thank, yeah, yeah,
and I mean for about a year ontiktok, I wasn't really trying
and like it.
I never really.
I mean, my username is missnicky wanty, which was my fake
(13:55):
drag name like I didn't, reallyI wasn't being strategic, you
know what I mean.
Yeah, um, yeah, and then so forabout a year I wasn't really
putting much effort in.
But then, yeah, 2022, I startedkind of doing more like
characters and stuff like that,and that's when it kind of took
off, like early 2022.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I was going to say so .
Were you working inarchitecture still at the time
when you'd come back?
Did you have a?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Yeah, so I moved back and was living with my parents
on the Sunshine Coast and then Iactually started gigging again
in Brisbane and then this onecomedian was homophobic towards
me and I was just like I need toget out of Brisbane, like I
haven't just lived in New Yorkand like discovered myself to
come back to Brisbane and havethat shit.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Well, that is so sad.
Oh, am I allowed to swear?
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Oh, go ahead, We'll have to make this an explicit
episode.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I'm going to have to make this an explicit episode.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
So then I just started applying for heaps of
jobs in Sydney just because Ididn't really know many people
in Melbourne, but I had a fewreally good friends in Sydney.
And then I got a job at RothyLohman in Sydney.
Oh cool, yeah, and I worked atRothy Lohman.
For how long?
A year and a half.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
And then you were still.
Was TikTok happening then?
Is that when you were?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, tiktok kind of took off, I guess about six
months into working at Rothy ora bit longer like eight months
working there.
So yeah, some of my coworkerswould be in my videos sometimes
which was fun, or were they intheir videos?
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Did they know that they were in their videos?
Were they the characters?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Oh yeah, they knew.
I mean I couldn't shut up.
I was annoying at work.
Everyone knew what I was up to.
Everyone knew what I was doingonline.
So I was definitely I don'tthink I was a personality hire,
but I think I was okay at my job.
But I think people just likedme because I was really silly
(15:48):
and then because I used to, oneof my first popular characters
was like this annoying co-workerwho'd be like so what I'm gonna
get you to do for me.
If we could just have a quickchat for this one, so I would
just always have them in myvideos and me coming up to them
being like hey, can we, can Ihave a quick chat with you?
Is that all good?
um, amazing and then on my lastday, on my last day working
there, uh, we were just havinglike friday afternoon drinks and
(16:11):
then I was like, oh, cansomeone film me, I'm just gonna
be a bit silly.
And then that was my first likearchitecture friend videos,
because I just started likepresenting something um and yeah
, that's where they started onthe on my last day at rothy
loman oh, it's so relatable.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I mean I have had meetings with that person where
I've left the.
What have I done?
Oh, anything, the drink bottleon the sink.
I mean that was the example, Ithink, in your video and losing
work because of it.
And if we don't get thatclients because of drink bottle
like there, that that is the,the vibe.
It is just exactly the vibe Iknow, I worked at a practice a
(16:46):
couple in that similar realm toroughly loman and I think that
is just.
Everyone is so hard relatingand I mean I'm carly, like, if
you didn't know, like she is thedull co-worker.
I love dull conversations, I'msorry, but like talking about
all of the um, homemade pizzas.
Actually, that's you, brie.
Yeah, I'm the homemade pizza.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I was just like well, I don't know if I'm the dull
co-worker, You're not the dullco-worker.
All the inappropriate things.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Oh, oh Well, I'm the dull co-worker too.
Everyone's always like how doyou do that character so well?
I'm like it's because it's apart of me as well.
Like I'm multifaceted, I haveboring parts.
I love being very specific andbeing like oh yes, these ones
are good because they're not toostrong.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Like you know, I'm I'm very like I do, prefer the
chewy ones.
The chewy ones are good.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Yes, I feel like they leave a bit of an aftertaste
that just, and then I needanother one to get rid of that,
so they become more expensive inthe long run.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
She's so relatable, it's just so.
They're just such wonderfulcharacters and it's no wonder
they've just been, yeah, blownup on TikTok and Instagram.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So I guess, if you're- listening and you're not
familiar.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
you just have to jump on and you'll know what we're
talking about, but I reckon mostof you guys will know.
So when you were doing thosevideos working at Rothie Lohman,
were people like oh, what's hedoing?
Like, is he actually going todo this?
Like what about yourarchitecture degree?
Like, did you not just finishthat and are you still paying
off there?
You know all of that.
(18:20):
Like, do you think, though,there's know all of that?
Like do you think, though,there's something sort of
architecturally flawed part ofthe pun in the industry that
pushes young designers to changecareers after investing all of
that time and money into study?
Speaker 3 (18:33):
yeah, I think.
So I mean, well, I for me itwas like I really liked
university because you couldkind of I don't know, you could
be quite free with yourcreativity, um, and working in
practice, you could still bequite free with your creativity
and working in practice.
You could still really run wildwith your creativity if you
really proved yourself, whichfor me I knew that I didn't
really want to work my way up atany of these firms because I
(18:56):
had another plan.
So I wasn't really given muchresponsibility.
But that was kind of my owndecision.
I think, you really have to.
I don't want to say sell yoursoul, but you have to put in the
hours, you have to stay late,you have to really like-, but
you did say that though.
I did say it, so it's out there.
But I think, yeah, I think likeworking in practice is not what
a lot of people expected, likethe reality of what it is to
(19:18):
work in architecture isn't whata lot of us expected, think.
But I, yeah.
So for me it's hard for me tosay because I always had a
different plan and it was justso I could survive financially
worked in architecture.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
But it's funny because, like I, feel like you
could have chosen a better thingto to survive financially in,
by the way, I know, I know, Iagree well, that's the thing,
though, but it's like but I it'slike
Speaker 3 (19:42):
architecture, even though I I could tell it wasn't
my calling, I still enjoyed itand it I think it's a profession
that attracts interestingpeople to it.
So I made a lot of cool friends.
But and it was funny because,like every six month review, my
boss would be like so have youstarted your logbook, like
looking into registration?
I'd be like, oh, yep, and I'vejust kind of started looking
into it.
And then six months later he'dbe like so, oh yeah, and I've
(20:03):
just kind of started lookinginto it.
And then, six months later,he'd be like so how's your
logbook going?
I'm like, oh yeah, I'm startingto get it prepared.
He's like you're alwaysstarting it.
Like what are you?
I'm like, yeah, I haven't even.
I don't even know what I haveto do.
So, yeah, I had to kind of likestall until I could quit.
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
What is that about?
So you've got to log a certainamount of hours before you can
be registered?
I didn't know it's.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
It's like um, yeah, you have to log hours in
different kind of faces of aproject and like some admin
stuff and like documentationstuff, and then you have to sit
an interview and an exam.
It's like such a slog to getregistered it's like doing your
master's again.
I swear it's like so.
Many of my friends are like ohsorry, I can't hang out.
(20:44):
I'm trying to go forregistration.
I'm like I will not have whatshe's having.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
That sounds awful, so yeah I would never have been
able to do it because I'm so badat logging hours like I would
have gone.
Oh, what was I doing then?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
yeah, it's like stop living in the past, babe why
does it matter?
Speaker 1 (21:03):
it doesn, it doesn't matter.
They're gone.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
But I think you're right, like you do need to have
so much passion to persist andstick to it.
Like I found myself, you know,in an office similar to to Rothy
Lohman, just going, oh,hierarchy, that's not for me.
Like just that whole system,the way everything's set up.
And you're right, you know youcould be creative if you were
(21:28):
the director or you were likequite high up, but I felt like,
oh, okay, I'm just going to bedoing schedules for six months
and then after that I'm going toget to draw toilets.
Awesome, like it was just like.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
But I mean, I will say, though, like R, rothy loman
, and actually every job I hadrothy loman and crafted in new
york and in brisbane, I workedat a small firm called renee
dunn.
All of them gave me like, evenat rothy loman they're like oh,
you can, this is your project.
You get to like do a lot of thedesigning.
And I'd kind of be like uh,there's probably someone who can
do it better, like I don't knowwhy you.
I'd be like are you sure?
And then I'd leave at 5 30 andthey'd be like oh, what do you?
(22:07):
Did you finish it?
I'm like no, but it's 5 30, likeI think they realized like they
were really good to work forthey were really good to work
for, without trying to give meopportunities to progress and
stuff, but I was just like no,that's no, thanks, I don't want
to to be stressed.
I have to perform in front of100 people tonight.
That's stressful.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I don't want this to be stressful too.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, truly, that's how I felt.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Yeah, oh, it's.
So I can relate to that,because when I was working in a
practice I actually startedteaching an interior design,
just a short course, and Ireally enjoyed it and you know
it's led on to all these otherkind of things.
So isn't it funny where you,you know you think this is what
you've signed up for, this is it, this is, and then you get
there you're like oh, uh, yeah,no, I don't think so.
(22:53):
So, yeah, it's where you're sortof like comedy is a comedy is
quite a pivot, though, um, doyou think there have been some
transferable skills, though,from architecture to what you're
doing now?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
oh yes, well, I mean, I mean definitely.
Well, the inspiration is onething, and knowing all the
jargon and all that stuff forthe character, in terms of skill
, I guess, well, actually, Imean I use photoshop and
illustrator a lot just for likevisuals.
Yeah, like this week I puttogether a pitch for an idea I
(23:26):
have, so that was all in.
Like Illustrator and InDesign,yeah, and you know I make the
illustrations for my merch, so Idraw all that in.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Illustrator.
Oh, that's fun yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
And I edit.
I mean, I guess editing videosisn't architecture, but yeah, I
use a lot of like software.
That's the skills I kind oflearned while I was studying um,
and I guess also just likeworking full-time for however
many years I did it just kind ofhelps me.
I think I'm glad that I had allthat experience before trying
to work for myself as a comedian, because, yeah, I like to have
(23:57):
a bit of structure, I like tohave lists, I like to yeah, I
don't know, I think it's helpedme be a bit organized and
self-sufficient.
I guess.
What else have I learned fromarchitecture?
That I want a nice house oneday?
I don't really know.
I mean, I got a lot of coolconnections from it and I think
it's been cool to realize that Istill actually do have a
(24:18):
passion for it.
But I have to approach it in away that feels authentic to me.
That's what I realized.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
And there's things that you're kind of learning as
well, just being in an officelike that, that you don't really
realize, even as you weresaying, just the organization,
how to structure your day andeverything like that.
So do you ever feel like, withwhat you're doing now, with the
comedy and the content, do youfeel like, oh, my God, I've got
this pressure, now I need tocreate more content?
Speaker 3 (24:44):
sometimes um, is it kind of the?
Speaker 1 (24:47):
main thing you do now , or is it like, what's the
balance of your like, yes, whenyou're creating anything to do
with comedy?
Is it more about the shows andlike working on that content, or
is the?
Is the social media stuff kindof taken over?
Speaker 3 (25:02):
It's definitely both.
I mean, my main income is likebrand deals, so like Instagram
reels and TikToks with a brand.
So I definitely try to keep upmy online presence, but I don't
force it.
Like if there's a week or twowhere I'm not inspired to do a
video, then I just don't.
Like, I really follow whatfeels right and that's really
how I've lived my life up untilthis point.
(25:23):
I just follow what feels rightand that's really how I've lived
my life up until this point.
I just follow what excites meand what feels authentic as a
creative.
So, yeah, touring takes up thefirst half of my year.
That's kind of the main thing.
Um, and then when I get to aquiet point like this, because
like most of my tour is over,I'm like okay, what, what do I
do now?
Like occasionally I freak out abit like, oh god, like no one's
telling me what to do.
I need to actually think whatdo I want?
so that's why like this week Iput together this pitch for this
(25:46):
idea I had and like, yeah,sometimes I just have to be like
what's next?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
but um, yeah, I think though it is freeing.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
It's really cool.
I'm so grateful.
Yeah, it's really cool.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
When you left rothi loman, like when you finished up
there, was it because youwanted to focus on this full
time?
Yeah, yeah, so that's a hugedecision to make, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (26:06):
it was so scary.
It was like it was so funnybecause that's what I had been
working towards for years.
And then I started making moneyfrom like tiktok and instagram
and stuff.
But then I was just too scaredto quit but it felt like I was
doing two full-time jobs andthen I used to work from home
and just be like, oh god, I justhave this like internal thing
telling me I have to quit.
But it felt like I was doing twofull-time jobs and then I used
to work from home and just belike, oh god, I just have this
(26:26):
like internal thing telling me Ihave to quit.
And then I'd call my dad and belike, dad, I want to quit.
And he'd be like, okay, quit.
Then I'd be like, no, I can'tquit yet.
And he's like, okay, then thendon't quit.
And I'd be like, no, I want to.
Though so then, yeah, and then II resigned and I gave them
three weeks notice and then Iliterally resigned and then like
freaked out and then went toKohl's that afternoon and bought
(26:48):
all this like tin soup and tuna, because I was like I'm gonna
go poor, I need, I need to likestock up because I'm gonna have
no money soon, um, so funny.
But then literally like twodays after I resigned, I got my
two biggest brand deals.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
at that point so by the end of the week I was like
okay that was the right decisionthat is amazing yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
And then on my last day, because every time I leave
a firm I just save some of thework that I did if I ever need
it for a portfolio and then Iwas like you know what, I'm not
going to do that.
And then my coworker, connor,he was like well, I mean you may
as well, there's no harm.
And I was like no, becausethat's me in the back of my mind
saying you might fail.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
So I didn't look back , oh yeah and look at you now oh
, that's just so, it's soinspiring, it's really cool.
Um, and just touching on thosebrand deals, like I feel like
the way that you create contentfor brands is so clever and so
authentic and I I mean you doget that impression that you're
making content out of a want todo it, it's a passion to do it,
(27:59):
like it doesn't feel forced atall.
But I think I've seen one forBig W.
Was that right?
Was that the Big W jumpers?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Anyway, a few of them , but they're really cleverly
done the yogurt, I don't know, Ithink the ones I've seen.
I didn't even realize it wasyeah, I didn't realize it was
beautifully done content andtalk.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
I'm like oh, hang on a minute yeah, I think that's a
real, that is a skill on itself.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Yeah right, yeah yes well, I mean, yeah, for me it's
like I don't know.
I just I never want to feellike I'm an influencer that's
making ads.
To make ads, I'm like I justwant to be a comedian, so I want
everything to be funny andthere's a lot of.
I mean not a lot, but there arebrand deals.
I turned down because I'm likeI can't think of a way to make
that funny without it beingcringe or an obvious ad.
(28:47):
You know, like I mean in myearly on in my career I did
everyone that came across mydesk.
I'd be like, yes, but now I'mlike I can't make that funny,
like so yeah, I only do it if itfeels right.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Yeah, you do get.
That feeling Was there like acertain point where you were
like oh, this has gone viral.
I feel like this is like areally big, exciting, big deal
right now.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
I guess every time I come up with a new character or
a new series that's really wellreceived, it just feels like
another step in the staircase ina way.
Like and carly was a huge, shewas like a flight of stairs,
like that was a big jump in mybut even the architecture stuff,
like, yeah, there's been a fewthat have really taken me to a
new level.
Yeah, so there's been a few.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Carly was definitely a big one like she changed my
life for sure so literally, whenyou first did a video with that
character, it really took off.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Yeah, I mean the first video I did as Carly yeah,
really blew up.
And then the first one I did asJerry, the annoying co-worker
guy.
That really took off as well.
He's so annoying it's like, oh,he's the worst, I know.
(29:56):
It's kind of like every year Ihave a new one.
That kind of takes me toanother avenue, I guess.
Yeah, do people send you ideas?
Yeah, sometimes.
Sometimes people will send likea paragraph this long.
They're like I was just on thebus and I heard this lady
talking about her kindle and howshe wished she charged it, and
like people will literallyrecite everything they heard and
I'm reading it like oh, okay,like um, sometimes, yeah,
sometimes, people have reallygood ideas yeah, hey, pass it on
(30:19):
, babe.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Oh, carly would love that carly would say that like
she's not even real, but she isreal like we all have such a
fondness for that character ohso funny and it must.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Obviously it really relates if they're the ones like
the, the jerry character andthe carly character that they
took off.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Obviously people have that like, like you really love
carly, it's like this kind ofconnection to them, because
they're like oh my god, that's,that's that person who everyone
has that person somewhere intheir life, right I know, I
think it's just like it's justwhat I am observing a lot in my
life at the time, and because Iwas working in an office like
Jerry came from that and then Iguess I might have worked with a
(31:00):
few Carly's, but Carly isreally just an extension of me,
Like she has my gentle natureand like that's why I think
people connect with her, eventhough it's this character that
I'm kind of making fun of.
I think it's a part of mebecause people will comment and
be like she's so boring.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
But why do I love listening to her so much?
I'm like because I'm aperformer man.
So great With your architectureseries, have you?
Because I don't know.
Could you talk about what thatis?
Because I guess what I want toask you is have you had some
architects come out and go?
Oh my God, are you poking funat us like?
Is it in a negative way, like?
Speaker 3 (31:38):
um only honestly not many um yeah I think I've only
noticed a few comment.
Well, I don't really read allthe comments anymore, but I I
noticed one comment a few weeksago of someone being like well,
obviously this guy just left theindustry because he was bitter,
blah, blah, blah, but for themost, everyone is a pretty good
sport and my what crosses bitterat all?
(32:00):
I don't know, not at all I knowI'm like it's just we're allowed
to have fun and have fun atourselves, like that's what life
should be about.
It just makes life more fun ifwe don't take it as seriously,
you know.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
But I think that there are architects that do
take it seriously and I guess to.
To paint a little picture, ifyou haven't seen nick's videos,
it's um going through a spaceand just using some of that
architectural jargon to explainwhat you're seeing, basically,
and you know.
Architects they froth over allof that.
And interior designers, I guesstoo.
All of the words that we use,and a lot of it is absolutely
(32:40):
meaningless.
It's this language that theyuse that you're taught at
university, and when youactually think what were they
trying to say, I don't actuallyknow Nothing.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I know it's wanky basically isn't it, that's what
it is.
They're just big wanky.
Basically isn't it, that's whatit is.
They're just big wankers, andthat's why like when I was
studying architecture.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I really felt inferior because I was like I
don't know how to describethings like that, Am I?
Maybe I'm not cut out for this,but now I'm like, oh well,
maybe they didn't know what theywere talking about either.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
You know what I mean?
They didn't.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Oh, that's.
Yeah, it's a funny one.
So do you think you will everreturn to architecture in some
way, even if it's to maybedesign your own place?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Yeah, oh yeah, I mean honestly like, because, yeah,
so I've been doing thesearchitecture videos for I guess,
I don't even know, two and ahalf years, I guess, yeah, but
then I started this.
Oh, no, three and a half years,no, like, like, what year.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Are we in?
What the hell?
I don't even know, it doesn'tmatter, I know tell me about it.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
But yeah, and then I started this series called
Design Dissection that you wereon the first episode, which you
know they live on YouTube andthen they're not.
They don't have crazy numberson YouTube but I can like chop
them up on socials and theyperform pretty well.
But that's just kind of a proofof concept of, like, I'm
interested in architecture, Iknow a bit about it and it
excites me and you can see, inthese videos I sometimes slip in
(34:00):
and out of character because Igenuinely get excited and I like
to talk about it.
So, um, so yeah, I think I wantto kind of keep exploring
things like that, because Ireally enjoy filming those and
editing those.
Um, and it's just a fun day,like I had a great day with you,
I had a great day with tali.
It's just like and it's fun tomeet people and then do stuff
like this.
So, um, yeah, I think I I wantto kind of keep exploring what
(34:22):
avenues are there forarchitecture crossover, crossing
over with comedy, because, yeah, I think if I can approach
architecture and design asmyself and I'm lucky now that
people kind of get me and get myvibe and my comedic voice and
things like that, yeah, I findit less intimidating now and I
can just have fun with it and bemyself and be a bit silly have
(34:42):
you got anybody on your listthat you would love to go into
their space?
oh, I mean like what would bethe ultimate my ultimate would
go would be to go to TroySavant's house because we've all
seen his architectural digest.
That was that would be to go totroy savant's house because
we've all seen his architecturaldigest.
That was that would be amazingI know.
And then I was a girl who worksat flack studio messaged me and
(35:03):
she was like, oh, like, I'll seeif, um, we can do.
And I was like, oh, my god,yeah, and then.
And then she never, and then Ihaven't heard from her.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Oh, call out, I knowack, I know, david.
Come on, david, hello.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
David, hello, hello, mr David Is his name?
David Flack, hello, mr Flack.
But yeah, I mean, I don't knowI was actually going to.
I'll talk to you after ifthere's anyone else you
recommend.
Well, how about?
Speaker 1 (35:31):
your house, Brie.
Oh, you can come here anytime.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Oh bad.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
The architect recommend well, how about your
house?
Speaker 2 (35:42):
brie, oh, you can come here anytime.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Oh bad actually kind of terrible.
Oh well, no, I'm kidding bringyour doggo.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Oh, yeah, oh, did you say bring your doggo, or doggo?
Speaker 3 (35:51):
doggo.
He gets car sick though, so Iprobably should have you got I
have a golden retriever whoturns one in about oh so nine
days?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
yep, he's a daycare right now.
Speaker 3 (36:02):
He's he has a lot of energy if he's home.
I have to take him for likefour walks a day because we I
live in an apartment.
Yeah well, that's why I waitedtill I worked for myself and
lived alone, so I can like youknow, walk him a lot, but this
week, yeah, he's been at daycarea few days because I'm like I
have a sore back.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
He'd love that, though I have this deadline.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Oh, he loves it.
And they say that as soon as hegets there he just plays until
he leaves in the afternoon Likehe has so much energy.
It's crazy oh, that's so great.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Okay, I haven't seen him on the, on the socials, well
that's my newest my newestcharacter is a dog trainer,
because I had to get a dogtrainer.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Yes, yeah, because he was pulling so hard that my
back I got this back injury thatI already had, but he's made it
really bad.
So I had to get this dogtrainer out and she was so good,
but she was such a characterand I was like, oh, I have to do
it, I have to do it so yeah,that's yeah, you're giving me no
choice babe beware if you haveany interaction with nick,
(37:05):
you'll end up as a character.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
I mean that coffee have you had anyone say to you
oh, is that me?
Is that like um?
Speaker 3 (37:13):
sometimes, when I worked when I worked at rothy
loman.
Sometimes people would be like,was that one me?
And I'm like, no, none of theseare you guys.
But then there was a guy atrothy loman who I won't say too
much, but definitely I just Ididn't gel with him and well, I
have a character now called thecreepy co-worker.
Let's just say, let's justleave it at that leave it at
that.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Read between the lines of what you will.
Yes, I love it.
So I would love to know fromyour point of view do you have
any advice from any architectsthat are feeling a bit stuck or
they're questioning their careerpath and they maybe feel like
you were feeling it?
Rossi Lohman.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Do they need to go and do stand-up?
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Look, don't do stand up um, unless you hate yourself.
No, I'm kidding yeah, actually,yeah, no, architects, try
comedy, please.
That's, I'm trying to makemyself that yes um, I would just
say, well, my advice is alwaysfollow your gut, but I know
that's not as easy for everyone,but that's kind of what I've
(38:14):
always done.
But I guess I would also saywe're very lucky that, with what
we studied and kind of what wedo, it does give us a lot of
skills and a lot of just likeyeah, there's so many things you
can branch off to do.
So I think just definitely keepin touch with yourself in terms
of like what sparks joycreatively, um, and I mean, it's
(38:35):
not always the best idea tomonetize your hobbies, but
sometimes it works out.
I think at least you still needto have things that kind of
like nourish your soul and kindof like your escape from the
madness of everything.
But I think definitely just payattention to what you enjoy and
what skills you have developedin practice.
And I don't think there's arush, but I think just, yeah,
(38:56):
start to pay attention to whatyou could branch off into, I
guess.
I mean, I guess I have friendswho are doing all sorts of
creative things now, likephotographers, visual artists
still a lot who are in design.
Some people even changed tolandscape architecture without
studying it.
They just were working inarchitecture applied for
landscape because that was theirinterest.
And now, yeah, one of my goodfriends is a landscape architect
(39:19):
.
So, yeah, I don't know, justkeep your eye on what's
happening.
What?
Speaker 2 (39:22):
jobs are going.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
Yeah, I don't really know, I mean just yeah bad, just
feel it follow your gut bad.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
I think that's really good advice, though, to try and
good yeah, just to connect withyourself.
I think that's the start, isn'tit?
And listen to your dreams,obviously, because they can tell
you which way to go yeah,totally listen to your dreams
yeah but yeah, being authentic,I think makes makes you happier
than when you're not so totally.
(39:50):
You've got to try and work outwhat that is that's making you
unhappy, right yeah, yeah whatwould make you happy?
A lot of ways.
An easy answer.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
It's the hard way to live life.
It's the most like it pays off,like it's hard to go through
those things to be like okay, Ireally need to do what feels
right, even though it's scaryyeah.
But, it pays off because itgets you to where you're meant
to be, you know totally agreewith that.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
That was very philosophical.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
I love it oh, yes, and also, I would also just say
you can get your stationery fromkmart.
They do erases, they do thatand they have little pencil
cases that four dollars.
So I just say, if you're doingsomething with, I do a lot of
coloring, so, yes, that's mysorry, I try and do in here, but
that's my sorry, I try and doit in here, but that's my advice
(40:35):
.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
Well, actually.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Carly, she inspired me.
I had to go to I shouldn't sayI had to go to my mum's.
I went to my mum's for lunchand I bought a coloring book to
entertain myself and that wasthanks to Carly, because I
wanted to do something mindfulwhile we were sitting around the
table.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
Honestly, it sounds ridiculous because you think, oh
, that's what I did when I waslittle, but it really just.
It calms me down.
I have a yogurt and my coloringin book and I feel like I'm on
cloud nine.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
Yes, oh my gosh, that is so cute.
So, what is next for Nick?
What's next?
What have you got coming up?
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Well, good question, oh well, oh, I can't, I'll tell
you after this, because ithasn't.
Well, actually, when's thispodcast coming out?
Speaker 2 (41:21):
In a week or two.
Okay, I'll tell you after wecan time it.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
No, it's fine, it's just a project that just.
I would suggest people keep aneye out on my socials and
Carly's socials.
That's something that I amgoing to do?
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Is she going on a?
Speaker 3 (41:33):
honeymoon, oh, I mean , well, I am touring in the UK
later this year maybe, but myhoneymoon was in Tassie.
That was always the story, butI didn't go to Tassie this year.
What else am I?
Well, I'm touring and I'm doingsome shows in Melbourne this
month for the Replay Festivaland then London in September.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Where would that be, Nick?
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Tell us in in september.
Tell us, tell us some details.
Oh yeah, that'll be at comedyrepublic.
On july 24th and july 25th.
Tickets are in my bio.
Excellent, yeah, and what else?
Just yeah, content, um, whoknows I've I've so many ideas at
the moment and I'm trying tolike organize them all and get
them moving, but at the moment,yeah, not, not heaps to report
(42:14):
it's fun.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
It sounds like a lot plenty yeah yeah, it's enough.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
Yeah, and I want to keep doing some more design
dissection, so we'll get some ofthose in the works as well
super fun.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Thank you so much, nick.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
It was so fun to chat thank you, that was so fun of
course, and carly thanks, carlyoh yes, you're welcome.
Today's guest has designed buildings and
punchlines.
This is a new one for theDesign Anatomy podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
He trained as an architect, worked in New York
and then pivoted into comedy,where he's now got over half a
million followers way over halfa million and a widely popular
series called Design Dissection,and I was actually honored to
be his first guest dissectionand I was actually honoured to
(00:28):
be his first guest, not tomention sold out shows at the
Comedy Festival and touringAustralia and the world.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
We are talking about Nick White, and today we're
diving into what made him leavearchitecture, what he misses, if
anything, and how he's found anew way to connect with design
through humour.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So whether you're knee-deep in CAD drawings or
ready to quit it all and startit over again on TikTok, this
episode is for you.
Thank you so much, nick, forbeing here, hi.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
I don't know what to expect on this episode, to be
honest, because we've never hadanybody really funny.
I'm usually the funny one,reckon yeah it could get
competitive.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
I don't know.
I don't know what to expecteither I don't know that funny
actually.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
I'm just the.
I'm just the one that says allthe stupid stuff, aren't I laura
?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
no, you're not saying funny stuff, not stupid stuff
the no filter.
So yeah, I mean, it was reallygreat, nick.
When I first I guess, when Ifirst came across you, it was on
Instagram and I was like, oh,phil, my husband, like look at
this so funny.
And then one day you followedme on Instagram and I was like,
(01:37):
oh my god, nick White isfollowing me.
And I was having lunch with myfamily and they're like, what
are you talking about?
I'm like, oh my god, you guysdon't understand.
It's Nick White is so funny,he's following me on Instagram
now.
Like I was having lunch with myfamily and they're like, what
are you talking about?
I'm like, oh my God, you guysdon't understand.
It's Nick White, he's so funny,he's following me on Instagram
now.
Like I was pretty excited, ohthanks.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Pat Love it.
Thank you, I mean thanks.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
And then you reached out to me asking if we could
make a little video, which wasthe most fun day ever.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
It was fun, so having you come over to my house.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah, it was really fun and it's nice seeing the
videos you know pop up andeverything.
So, yeah, it's really cool tohave you come onto our podcast
and I guess you know, when youcame over and we got to chatting
, I think I did know that youwere an architect before, but it
got me thinking, oh, that's sointeresting, Like what a pivot
(02:28):
from architecture into comedy,and I thought that would be a
really fun topic to kind of diveinto today.
And I also found out that youworked in New York, which is
pretty incredible.
So, I guess, with architecture,how did you follow that path to
architecture?
How did you land there?
Speaker 3 (02:45):
Well, I just drew a lot when I was a kid.
I drew everything.
I drew people, I drewneighborhoods and roads and
houses.
I drew a lot of houses too, anda lot of floor plans.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
That's normal, that stuff right?
Yeah, I know I used to do a lotof floor plans Normal.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Yeah, right, I used to come up with characters and
then I would draw the houses andthe floor plans for my
characters.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
I love that.
That's very cool.
That's different.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Yeah, I love it, yeah , but then I discovered the Sims
.
So then the Sims became likeyou know, it just enhanced that
kind of activity.
And then the Sims, I just yeah,I, yeah.
I was like, wow, I shouldprobably study architecture
because I love drawing and I'mobsessed with houses, because my
dad used to like drive mearound to see all the new houses
when I was a kid.
(03:31):
So yeah, and then I was like,but then everyone was like you
need to know a lot of maths andI was like, oh god, but then it
turns out you don't really.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
So then I did architecture I got scared by the
math thing as well.
In design, yeah, you had tohave like the top level maths
and that was my worst subjectand I'm like, okay, well, I just
got to try and do it, but yeah,you don't really use it that
much.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
You don't.
We have calculators.
We didn't even need for thecourse I did in Brisbane.
You didn't even need to do thetop maths.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Oh really.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah.
So I was like oh okay, well,thank God.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
No, I had to do it.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I had to put myself through it.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
God that was stressful.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Not for me, not me Did you have to do math, though,
lauren, to get into your courselike the top?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
R M I T?
No, because I did interiordesign.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
I didn't do maths in year 12 or 11.
I did, so they must havechanged it.
I'm a bit older, so maybe whenI had to do it, but you had to
have that math to get into thatcourse oh, really, I still did
maths, but I didn't have to dothe top, the top one oh, good,
good.
What was it called the?
Speaker 3 (04:37):
maths.
That's what it was called inbrisbane.
Queenland's a bit different,but let's talk about maths
actually.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
No, that's not that's my fault.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Got stuck on it, let's not talk about maths.
I couldn't think of anythingmore boring so what about new
york?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
how did you end up in new york, nick?
Speaker 3 (04:56):
hi, good question.
Um well, how did I end up innew york?
I don't even know.
Well, I was kind of justworking full time in Brisbane
after I finished studying.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
So straight into architecture yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
Well.
I was already working at thisfirm while I was doing my
master's.
So then I just went on to fulltime.
But then the year before myfriend didn't do her master's,
she moved to New York and so didanother friend, like two
architecture friends.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
And.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
I went to visit them while I was doing my master's
and I was like, oh, this looksfun.
And then, yeah, after Ifinished my master's, I was like
, okay, I'm going to either moveto Melbourne or New York, just
because I don't want to stay inBrisbane.
And then I chose Melbournebecause it's easier.
But then I had a dream that Iwas hanging out with my best
friend in New York and then Iwoke up and was like, yeah,
we're moving to New York.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's awesome.
We're moving to New York.
So much fun Do you often letyour dreams decide the future of
your life.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I definitely pay attention to them.
I think it's because with thatone I was a bit back and forth
for a while and that dream wasso.
That dream felt real.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
And it was such a fun dream.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
And her and I were just having the best time, and I
was like I can't ignore thatdream.
So, yeah, and her and I werejust having the best time, and I
was like I can't ignore thatdream, so I let it make that
decision, that's very cool andwas it fun.
No, no, yeah, it was.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
It was the best it turns out your friend was just
really mean when you got thereand you didn't have any fun at
all.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Yeah, it's like she planned the dream to trick me.
It was really fun.
I mean, my final year there wascovid, so I moved home in march
2021, so that that was ups anddowns, but overall it was very,
very pivotal in my growth, Iguess, and it was just really
fun, yeah the covid that wasreally intense in new york,
wasn't it at the start?
Speaker 1 (06:42):
oh yeah, really bad yeah oh my god similar to, um,
what it was like in italy, backin milan and rome yeah, no joke
well, is that where you were?
no, no, I just we.
I was supposed to be going.
I usually go to milan each yearand I was supposed to be going.
So I was talking to people overthere and it sort of started
with the whole like oh no, it'snot that bad, the media is, like
(07:03):
you know, pumping it up.
And then it just started withthe whole like, oh no, it's not
that bad.
The media is, like you know,pumping it up.
And then it just went into theyou know high body count and all
of that sort of stuff.
So we didn't see that over here, thank God.
But yeah, there were somecities.
That really was pretty bad,right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
Good times.
That's just such an upliftingtopic.
Let's talk about maths and thenCOVID Stay with us and body
counts it's gonna get better.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So funny, we can use our skills in maths to keep up
with how many dead people therewere yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
So then you're in new york and you, so you did.
You find it hard to get workthere, or because you had
friends there already in theindustry, did that sort of mean
you had doors open for you?
Speaker 3 (07:49):
Well, yeah, so my best friend worked as an
interior designer for anAustralian cafe brand over there
.
And that's how she knew TaliRoth because they worked
together designing a few cafes,and then, and before I moved
over's like, oh yeah, I'll getyou, I'm gonna try to get you a
job, as, like my assistantdesigner and I was like cool,
but then she was like, once Iwas there, she's like, oh yeah,
(08:12):
I don't really, they're notreally open to that idea.
So then I just worked at thecafe for like eight months, oh
wow, and had had like probablyhad like five, between five and
ten job interviews inarchitecture that whole time and
was about to give up, uh, andjust be like I'll just work at
this cafe for a year and thenmove home after this one year
visa is up.
But then, yeah, like the lastinterview before I gave up, they
(08:33):
liked me and then I workedthere and got a new visa which
was for another two years.
Yeah, so that's how thathappened a small world, what
sort?
Speaker 1 (08:41):
of projects were you working on?
Speaker 3 (08:43):
um, so it was a design build firm, like a
residential design build, so itwas a pretty small firm.
It was, um, so it was a husbandand wife who ran it and the
wife was an architect so she hada team of well it I mean it was
during covid, so it was, youknow, up and down like had to
let people go, then hire people.
But yeah, it was her, her namewas Megan, and then Patrick was
(09:06):
the senior designer he's likeone of my best friends and then
I was junior architect and thenwe had the building like
construction team as well,because the husband was a
project manager, so we had aconstruction team of like 15 to
20, and we had about two tothree project managers in the
office as well.
So yeah, it was pretty hands-onlike I did.
I did all the surveys of theapartments.
(09:28):
Yeah, I did a lot of sidevisits.
It was cool that's cool.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
So you had that defining moment when you were
like is that melbourne?
Is it new york?
You had a dream what aboutpivoting from architecture into
comedy?
Was there a moment, or was itmore of a slower kind of
evolution?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
Well, I entered this comedy competition when I was 20
and I didn't progress.
But then for about three yearsI was like, yeah, I've done
stand-up comedy.
And everyone's like, okay, weget it.
And then at the start of mymaster's, when I was 20, how old
was I?
23.
I entered it again and I got tothe semifinal and I just had
(10:08):
the best time doing it.
So, literally at the start of mymaster's, which was only a one
year program, I was just likeyou know what?
I actually think I'm going tobe a comedian.
And everyone was like, oh, youjust got a degree and you're
about to do another one.
And I was like like, yeah, butI think comedy is what I meant
to do.
And everyone was just like,okay.
So that literally while I wasstill studying, I was like I'm
gonna try to be a comedian.
(10:28):
And and then, yeah, worked inbrisbane for about nine months
after graduating and then, yeah,started consistently doing open
mics once my master's was doneand yeah realized that I mean I
wasn't good to start off with,but I had potential.
And then moved to to New Yorkjust with the goal of
experiencing life and doingstand-up in like the hardest
city to do stand-up in and yeah,and that's.
(10:50):
I was definitely and I didn'treally keep it a secret, like my
bosses knew that I did stand-up, but I was never like, yeah,
I'm going to be a stand-upcomedian.
I was like, oh, it's justsomething I do sometimes
sometimes I love architecture,though.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
My heart is here with you guys, all of you architects
, and then at night, you wouldbe doing so.
Speaker 3 (11:12):
Did you do open mics in new york?
Speaker 1 (11:13):
yeah, yeah I did um.
Speaker 3 (11:14):
That would have been intense yeah, it was crazy, like
because some of them therewould be.
No, the audience would just beother comedians who were just on
their phone and sometimes youhad to pay money to do an open
mic and I was working at thiscafe.
I'd known I was really poor fora few months there, so it was a
pretty rough transition.
But then I eventually kind oflike found my feet and the kind
of shows I liked to perform atand then I produced a comedy
(11:36):
show for that australian cafethat I worked at.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
So I produced like a monthly show for them um, so
yeah, I I kind of got into it.
Was that on social media?
Is that where that was?
What do you mean?
You produced a social?
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Oh, like I just because I was friends with a lot
of the corporate team, becausemy best friend worked as the
designer and they knew I didstand up, so they were like, oh,
we have a new venue.
Where was it?
It was like little Italy orsomething like I don't even try
Becca, little italy, orsomething like I don't even try
becca, I've forgotten all thenames I need to move back.
No, I'm kidding um and yeah, andthey were like oh yeah, nick
(12:08):
does stand up.
And then so I would kind ofjust like curate the lineup.
Um yeah, I basically just gotthe lineup, told them when to be
there, made sure it was all setup and and I would also perform
.
But I wasn't very good yet andlooking back some of the lineups
I was like what I?
I just didn't know what I wasdoing, but who cares, it was fun
.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
It's all the rite of passage, isn't it?
Speaker 1 (12:26):
You're going to start somewhere, right, yeah, it is
the rite of passage.
Yes, I'd say that's prettylucky, though, to have been in
New York and be able to doactual comedy there as well.
Australian comedian startingout.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I think that's kind of the dream.
Right To go and do somethinglike that.
It was pretty awesome.
I mean, yeah, I was stillpretty new to stand up so I
wasn't getting any amazingopportunities there, but I
didn't care because I knew I wasstill pretty inexperienced.
But it definitely informed.
And also I came out when Imoved there so like started
doing kind of more personalmaterial and like stuff while I
was going through that.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
So yeah, it was it all kind of just really helped
me grow and develop as a personand a comedian.
I guess.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
So when did the social media aspect sort of
start?
Oh, that wasn't till I movedhome in 2021.
Because when I was living withmy best friend in New York, she
was always like you shoulddownload TikTok, it's really fun
.
And I was like I'm 27.
I'm too old for TikTok.
Oh, my God, don't be silly.
That's what I thought at thetime.
(13:33):
I was like I'm nearly in mylate 20s and then moved home,
had horrible mental health, wasliving with my parents, had to
start again in the comedy sceneand I was like fine, I'll
download tiktok oh my gosh, sounder duress thank, yeah, yeah,
and I mean for about a year ontiktok, I wasn't really trying
and like it.
I never really.
I mean, my username is missnicky wanty, which was my fake
(13:55):
drag name like I didn't, reallyI wasn't being strategic, you
know what I mean.
Yeah, um, yeah, and then so forabout a year I wasn't really
putting much effort in.
But then, yeah, 2022, I startedkind of doing more like
characters and stuff like that,and that's when it kind of took
off, like early 2022.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I was going to say so .
Were you working inarchitecture still at the time
when you'd come back?
Did you have a?
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Yeah, so I moved back and was living with my parents
on the Sunshine Coast and then Iactually started gigging again
in Brisbane and then this onecomedian was homophobic towards
me and I was just like I need toget out of Brisbane, like I
haven't just lived in New Yorkand like discovered myself to
come back to Brisbane and havethat shit.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
Well, that is so sad.
Oh, am I allowed to swear?
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Oh, go ahead, We'll have to make this an explicit
episode.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I'm going to have to make this an explicit episode.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
So then I just started applying for heaps of
jobs in Sydney just because Ididn't really know many people
in Melbourne, but I had a fewreally good friends in Sydney.
And then I got a job at RothyLohman in Sydney.
Oh cool, yeah, and I worked atRothy Lohman.
For how long?
A year and a half.
Speaker 1 (15:02):
And then you were still.
Was TikTok happening then?
Is that when you were?
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, tiktok kind of took off, I guess about six
months into working at Rothy ora bit longer like eight months
working there.
So yeah, some of my coworkerswould be in my videos sometimes
which was fun, or were they intheir videos?
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Did they know that they were in their videos?
Were they the characters?
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Oh yeah, they knew.
I mean I couldn't shut up.
I was annoying at work.
Everyone knew what I was up to.
Everyone knew what I was doingonline.
So I was definitely I don'tthink I was a personality hire,
but I think I was okay at my job.
But I think people just likedme because I was really silly
(15:48):
and then because I used to, oneof my first popular characters
was like this annoying co-workerwho'd be like so what I'm gonna
get you to do for me.
If we could just have a quickchat for this one, so I would
just always have them in myvideos and me coming up to them
being like hey, can we, can Ihave a quick chat with you?
Is that all good?
um, amazing and then on my lastday, on my last day working
there, uh, we were just havinglike friday afternoon drinks and
(16:11):
then I was like, oh, cansomeone film me, I'm just gonna
be a bit silly.
And then that was my first likearchitecture friend videos,
because I just started likepresenting something um and yeah
, that's where they started onthe on my last day at rothy
loman oh, it's so relatable.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
I mean I have had meetings with that person where
I've left the.
What have I done?
Oh, anything, the drink bottleon the sink.
I mean that was the example, Ithink, in your video and losing
work because of it.
And if we don't get thatclients because of drink bottle
like there, that that is the,the vibe.
It is just exactly the vibe Iknow, I worked at a practice a
(16:46):
couple in that similar realm toroughly loman and I think that
is just.
Everyone is so hard relatingand I mean I'm carly, like, if
you didn't know, like she is thedull co-worker.
I love dull conversations, I'msorry, but like talking about
all of the um, homemade pizzas.
Actually, that's you, brie.
Yeah, I'm the homemade pizza.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
I was just like well, I don't know if I'm the dull
co-worker, You're not the dullco-worker.
All the inappropriate things.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Oh, oh Well, I'm the dull co-worker too.
Everyone's always like how doyou do that character so well?
I'm like it's because it's apart of me as well.
Like I'm multifaceted, I haveboring parts.
I love being very specific andbeing like oh yes, these ones
are good because they're not toostrong.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Like you know, I'm I'm very like I do, prefer the
chewy ones.
The chewy ones are good.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
Yes, I feel like they leave a bit of an aftertaste
that just, and then I needanother one to get rid of that,
so they become more expensive inthe long run.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
She's so relatable, it's just so.
They're just such wonderfulcharacters and it's no wonder
they've just been, yeah, blownup on TikTok and Instagram.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
So I guess, if you're- listening and you're not
familiar.
Speaker 2 (18:00):
you just have to jump on and you'll know what we're
talking about, but I reckon mostof you guys will know.
So when you were doing thosevideos working at Rothie Lohman,
were people like oh, what's hedoing?
Like, is he actually going todo this?
Like what about yourarchitecture degree?
Like, did you not just finishthat and are you still paying
off there?
You know all of that.
(18:20):
Like, do you think, though,there's know all of that?
Like do you think, though,there's something sort of
architecturally flawed part ofthe pun in the industry that
pushes young designers to changecareers after investing all of
that time and money into study?
Speaker 3 (18:33):
yeah, I think.
So I mean, well, I for me itwas like I really liked
university because you couldkind of I don't know, you could
be quite free with yourcreativity, um, and working in
practice, you could still bequite free with your creativity
and working in practice.
You could still really run wildwith your creativity if you
really proved yourself, whichfor me I knew that I didn't
really want to work my way up atany of these firms because I
(18:56):
had another plan.
So I wasn't really given muchresponsibility.
But that was kind of my owndecision.
I think, you really have to.
I don't want to say sell yoursoul, but you have to put in the
hours, you have to stay late,you have to really like-, but
you did say that though.
I did say it, so it's out there.
But I think, yeah, I think likeworking in practice is not what
a lot of people expected, likethe reality of what it is to
(19:18):
work in architecture isn't whata lot of us expected, think.
But I, yeah.
So for me it's hard for me tosay because I always had a
different plan and it was justso I could survive financially
worked in architecture.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
But it's funny because, like I, feel like you
could have chosen a better thingto to survive financially in,
by the way, I know, I know, Iagree well, that's the thing,
though, but it's like but I it'slike
Speaker 3 (19:42):
architecture, even though I I could tell it wasn't
my calling, I still enjoyed itand it I think it's a profession
that attracts interestingpeople to it.
So I made a lot of cool friends.
But and it was funny because,like every six month review, my
boss would be like so have youstarted your logbook, like
looking into registration?
I'd be like, oh, yep, and I'vejust kind of started looking
into it.
And then six months later he'dbe like so, oh yeah, and I've
(20:03):
just kind of started lookinginto it.
And then, six months later,he'd be like so how's your
logbook going?
I'm like, oh yeah, I'm startingto get it prepared.
He's like you're alwaysstarting it.
Like what are you?
I'm like, yeah, I haven't even.
I don't even know what I haveto do.
So, yeah, I had to kind of likestall until I could quit.
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
What is that about?
So you've got to log a certainamount of hours before you can
be registered?
I didn't know it's.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
It's like um, yeah, you have to log hours in
different kind of faces of aproject and like some admin
stuff and like documentationstuff, and then you have to sit
an interview and an exam.
It's like such a slog to getregistered it's like doing your
master's again.
I swear it's like so.
Many of my friends are like ohsorry, I can't hang out.
(20:44):
I'm trying to go forregistration.
I'm like I will not have whatshe's having.
Speaker 1 (20:48):
That sounds awful, so yeah I would never have been
able to do it because I'm so badat logging hours like I would
have gone.
Oh, what was I doing then?
Speaker 3 (20:56):
yeah, it's like stop living in the past, babe why
does it matter?
Speaker 1 (21:03):
it doesn, it doesn't matter.
They're gone.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
But I think you're right, like you do need to have
so much passion to persist andstick to it.
Like I found myself, you know,in an office similar to to Rothy
Lohman, just going, oh,hierarchy, that's not for me.
Like just that whole system,the way everything's set up.
And you're right, you know youcould be creative if you were
(21:28):
the director or you were likequite high up, but I felt like,
oh, okay, I'm just going to bedoing schedules for six months
and then after that I'm going toget to draw toilets.
Awesome, like it was just like.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
But I mean, I will say, though, like R, rothy loman
, and actually every job I hadrothy loman and crafted in new
york and in brisbane, I workedat a small firm called renee
dunn.
All of them gave me like, evenat rothy loman they're like oh,
you can, this is your project.
You get to like do a lot of thedesigning.
And I'd kind of be like uh,there's probably someone who can
do it better, like I don't knowwhy you.
I'd be like are you sure?
And then I'd leave at 5 30 andthey'd be like oh, what do you?
(22:07):
Did you finish it?
I'm like no, but it's 5 30, likeI think they realized like they
were really good to work forthey were really good to work
for, without trying to give meopportunities to progress and
stuff, but I was just like no,that's no, thanks, I don't want
to to be stressed.
I have to perform in front of100 people tonight.
That's stressful.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
I don't want this to be stressful too.
Speaker 3 (22:27):
Yeah, truly, that's how I felt.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Yeah, oh, it's.
So I can relate to that,because when I was working in a
practice I actually startedteaching an interior design,
just a short course, and Ireally enjoyed it and you know
it's led on to all these otherkind of things.
So isn't it funny where you,you know you think this is what
you've signed up for, this is it, this is, and then you get
there you're like oh, uh, yeah,no, I don't think so.
(22:53):
So, yeah, it's where you're sortof like comedy is a comedy is
quite a pivot, though, um, doyou think there have been some
transferable skills, though,from architecture to what you're
doing now?
Speaker 3 (23:06):
oh yes, well, I mean, I mean definitely.
Well, the inspiration is onething, and knowing all the
jargon and all that stuff forthe character, in terms of skill
, I guess, well, actually, Imean I use photoshop and
illustrator a lot just for likevisuals.
Yeah, like this week I puttogether a pitch for an idea I
(23:26):
have, so that was all in.
Like Illustrator and InDesign,yeah, and you know I make the
illustrations for my merch, so Idraw all that in.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Illustrator.
Oh, that's fun yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:36):
And I edit.
I mean, I guess editing videosisn't architecture, but yeah, I
use a lot of like software.
That's the skills I kind oflearned while I was studying um,
and I guess also just likeworking full-time for however
many years I did it just kind ofhelps me.
I think I'm glad that I had allthat experience before trying
to work for myself as a comedian, because, yeah, I like to have
(23:57):
a bit of structure, I like tohave lists, I like to yeah, I
don't know, I think it's helpedme be a bit organized and
self-sufficient.
I guess.
What else have I learned fromarchitecture?
That I want a nice house oneday?
I don't really know.
I mean, I got a lot of coolconnections from it and I think
it's been cool to realize that Istill actually do have a
(24:18):
passion for it.
But I have to approach it in away that feels authentic to me.
That's what I realized.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
And there's things that you're kind of learning as
well, just being in an officelike that, that you don't really
realize, even as you weresaying, just the organization,
how to structure your day andeverything like that.
So do you ever feel like, withwhat you're doing now, with the
comedy and the content, do youfeel like, oh, my God, I've got
this pressure, now I need tocreate more content?
Speaker 3 (24:44):
sometimes um, is it kind of the?
Speaker 1 (24:47):
main thing you do now , or is it like, what's the
balance of your like, yes, whenyou're creating anything to do
with comedy?
Is it more about the shows andlike working on that content, or
is the?
Is the social media stuff kindof taken over?
Speaker 3 (25:02):
It's definitely both.
I mean, my main income is likebrand deals, so like Instagram
reels and TikToks with a brand.
So I definitely try to keep upmy online presence, but I don't
force it.
Like if there's a week or twowhere I'm not inspired to do a
video, then I just don't.
Like, I really follow whatfeels right and that's really
how I've lived my life up untilthis point.
(25:23):
I just follow what feels rightand that's really how I've lived
my life up until this point.
I just follow what excites meand what feels authentic as a
creative.
So, yeah, touring takes up thefirst half of my year.
That's kind of the main thing.
Um, and then when I get to aquiet point like this, because
like most of my tour is over,I'm like okay, what, what do I
do now?
Like occasionally I freak out abit like, oh god, like no one's
telling me what to do.
I need to actually think whatdo I want?
so that's why like this week Iput together this pitch for this
(25:46):
idea I had and like, yeah,sometimes I just have to be like
what's next?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
but um, yeah, I think though it is freeing.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
It's really cool.
I'm so grateful.
Yeah, it's really cool.
Speaker 1 (25:56):
When you left rothi loman, like when you finished up
there, was it because youwanted to focus on this full
time?
Yeah, yeah, so that's a hugedecision to make, isn't it?
Speaker 3 (26:06):
it was so scary.
It was like it was so funnybecause that's what I had been
working towards for years.
And then I started making moneyfrom like tiktok and instagram
and stuff.
But then I was just too scaredto quit but it felt like I was
doing two full-time jobs andthen I used to work from home
and just be like, oh god, I justhave this like internal thing
telling me I have to quit.
But it felt like I was doing twofull-time jobs and then I used
to work from home and just belike, oh god, I just have this
(26:26):
like internal thing telling me Ihave to quit.
And then I'd call my dad and belike, dad, I want to quit.
And he'd be like, okay, quit.
Then I'd be like, no, I can'tquit yet.
And he's like, okay, then thendon't quit.
And I'd be like, no, I want to.
Though so then, yeah, and then II resigned and I gave them
three weeks notice and then Iliterally resigned and then like
freaked out and then went toKohl's that afternoon and bought
(26:48):
all this like tin soup and tuna, because I was like I'm gonna
go poor, I need, I need to likestock up because I'm gonna have
no money soon, um, so funny.
But then literally like twodays after I resigned, I got my
two biggest brand deals.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
at that point so by the end of the week I was like
okay that was the right decisionthat is amazing yeah.
Speaker 3 (27:11):
And then on my last day, because every time I leave
a firm I just save some of thework that I did if I ever need
it for a portfolio and then Iwas like you know what, I'm not
going to do that.
And then my coworker, connor,he was like well, I mean you may
as well, there's no harm.
And I was like no, becausethat's me in the back of my mind
saying you might fail.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
So I didn't look back , oh yeah and look at you now oh
, that's just so, it's soinspiring, it's really cool.
Um, and just touching on thosebrand deals, like I feel like
the way that you create contentfor brands is so clever and so
authentic and I I mean you doget that impression that you're
making content out of a want todo it, it's a passion to do it,
(27:59):
like it doesn't feel forced atall.
But I think I've seen one forBig W.
Was that right?
Was that the Big W jumpers?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Anyway, a few of them , but they're really cleverly
done the yogurt, I don't know, Ithink the ones I've seen.
I didn't even realize it wasyeah, I didn't realize it was
beautifully done content andtalk.
Speaker 2 (28:20):
I'm like oh, hang on a minute yeah, I think that's a
real, that is a skill on itself.
Speaker 3 (28:24):
Yeah right, yeah yes well, I mean, yeah, for me it's
like I don't know.
I just I never want to feellike I'm an influencer that's
making ads.
To make ads, I'm like I justwant to be a comedian, so I want
everything to be funny andthere's a lot of.
I mean not a lot, but there arebrand deals.
I turned down because I'm likeI can't think of a way to make
that funny without it beingcringe or an obvious ad.
(28:47):
You know, like I mean in myearly on in my career I did
everyone that came across mydesk.
I'd be like, yes, but now I'mlike I can't make that funny,
like so yeah, I only do it if itfeels right.
Speaker 2 (28:58):
Yeah, you do get.
That feeling Was there like acertain point where you were
like oh, this has gone viral.
I feel like this is like areally big, exciting, big deal
right now.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
I guess every time I come up with a new character or
a new series that's really wellreceived, it just feels like
another step in the staircase ina way.
Like and carly was a huge, shewas like a flight of stairs,
like that was a big jump in mybut even the architecture stuff,
like, yeah, there's been a fewthat have really taken me to a
new level.
Yeah, so there's been a few.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Carly was definitely a big one like she changed my
life for sure so literally, whenyou first did a video with that
character, it really took off.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Yeah, I mean the first video I did as Carly yeah,
really blew up.
And then the first one I did asJerry, the annoying co-worker
guy.
That really took off as well.
He's so annoying it's like, oh,he's the worst, I know.
(29:56):
It's kind of like every year Ihave a new one.
That kind of takes me toanother avenue, I guess.
Yeah, do people send you ideas?
Yeah, sometimes.
Sometimes people will send likea paragraph this long.
They're like I was just on thebus and I heard this lady
talking about her kindle and howshe wished she charged it, and
like people will literallyrecite everything they heard and
I'm reading it like oh, okay,like um, sometimes, yeah,
sometimes, people have reallygood ideas yeah, hey, pass it on
(30:19):
, babe.
Speaker 2 (30:20):
Oh, carly would love that carly would say that like
she's not even real, but she isreal like we all have such a
fondness for that character ohso funny and it must.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
Obviously it really relates if they're the ones like
the, the jerry character andthe carly character that they
took off.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
Obviously people have that like, like you really love
carly, it's like this kind ofconnection to them, because
they're like oh my god, that's,that's that person who everyone
has that person somewhere intheir life, right I know, I
think it's just like it's justwhat I am observing a lot in my
life at the time, and because Iwas working in an office like
Jerry came from that and then Iguess I might have worked with a
(31:00):
few Carly's, but Carly isreally just an extension of me,
Like she has my gentle natureand like that's why I think
people connect with her, eventhough it's this character that
I'm kind of making fun of.
I think it's a part of mebecause people will comment and
be like she's so boring.
Speaker 2 (31:20):
But why do I love listening to her so much?
I'm like because I'm aperformer man.
So great With your architectureseries, have you?
Because I don't know.
Could you talk about what thatis?
Because I guess what I want toask you is have you had some
architects come out and go?
Oh my God, are you poking funat us like?
Is it in a negative way, like?
Speaker 3 (31:38):
um only honestly not many um yeah I think I've only
noticed a few comment.
Well, I don't really read allthe comments anymore, but I I
noticed one comment a few weeksago of someone being like well,
obviously this guy just left theindustry because he was bitter,
blah, blah, blah, but for themost, everyone is a pretty good
sport and my what crosses bitterat all?
(32:00):
I don't know, not at all I knowI'm like it's just we're allowed
to have fun and have fun atourselves, like that's what life
should be about.
It just makes life more fun ifwe don't take it as seriously,
you know.
Speaker 2 (32:15):
But I think that there are architects that do
take it seriously and I guess to.
To paint a little picture, ifyou haven't seen nick's videos,
it's um going through a spaceand just using some of that
architectural jargon to explainwhat you're seeing, basically,
and you know.
Architects they froth over allof that.
And interior designers, I guesstoo.
All of the words that we use,and a lot of it is absolutely
(32:40):
meaningless.
It's this language that theyuse that you're taught at
university, and when youactually think what were they
trying to say, I don't actuallyknow Nothing.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I know it's wanky basically isn't it, that's what
it is.
They're just big wanky.
Basically isn't it, that's whatit is.
They're just big wankers, andthat's why like when I was
studying architecture.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
I really felt inferior because I was like I
don't know how to describethings like that, Am I?
Maybe I'm not cut out for this,but now I'm like, oh well,
maybe they didn't know what theywere talking about either.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
You know what I mean?
They didn't.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (33:11):
Oh, that's.
Yeah, it's a funny one.
So do you think you will everreturn to architecture in some
way, even if it's to maybedesign your own place?
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Yeah, oh yeah, I mean honestly like, because, yeah,
so I've been doing thesearchitecture videos for I guess,
I don't even know, two and ahalf years, I guess, yeah, but
then I started this.
Oh, no, three and a half years,no, like, like, what year.
Speaker 2 (33:37):
Are we in?
What the hell?
I don't even know, it doesn'tmatter, I know tell me about it.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
But yeah, and then I started this series called
Design Dissection that you wereon the first episode, which you
know they live on YouTube andthen they're not.
They don't have crazy numberson YouTube but I can like chop
them up on socials and theyperform pretty well.
But that's just kind of a proofof concept of, like, I'm
interested in architecture, Iknow a bit about it and it
excites me and you can see, inthese videos I sometimes slip in
(34:00):
and out of character because Igenuinely get excited and I like
to talk about it.
So, um, so yeah, I think I wantto kind of keep exploring
things like that, because Ireally enjoy filming those and
editing those.
Um, and it's just a fun day,like I had a great day with you,
I had a great day with tali.
It's just like and it's fun tomeet people and then do stuff
like this.
So, um, yeah, I think I I wantto kind of keep exploring what
(34:22):
avenues are there forarchitecture crossover, crossing
over with comedy, because, yeah, I think if I can approach
architecture and design asmyself and I'm lucky now that
people kind of get me and get myvibe and my comedic voice and
things like that, yeah, I findit less intimidating now and I
can just have fun with it and bemyself and be a bit silly have
(34:42):
you got anybody on your listthat you would love to go into
their space?
oh, I mean like what would bethe ultimate my ultimate would
go would be to go to TroySavant's house because we've all
seen his architectural digest.
That was that would be to go totroy savant's house because
we've all seen his architecturaldigest.
That was that would be amazingI know.
And then I was a girl who worksat flack studio messaged me and
(35:03):
she was like, oh, like, I'll seeif, um, we can do.
And I was like, oh, my god,yeah, and then.
And then she never, and then Ihaven't heard from her.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
Oh, call out, I knowack, I know, david.
Come on, david, hello.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
David, hello, hello, mr David Is his name?
David Flack, hello, mr Flack.
But yeah, I mean, I don't knowI was actually going to.
I'll talk to you after ifthere's anyone else you
recommend.
Well, how about?
Speaker 1 (35:31):
your house, Brie.
Oh, you can come here anytime.
Speaker 2 (35:34):
Oh bad.
Speaker 3 (35:37):
The architect recommend well, how about your
house?
Speaker 2 (35:42):
brie, oh, you can come here anytime.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Oh bad actually kind of terrible.
Oh well, no, I'm kidding bringyour doggo.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Oh, yeah, oh, did you say bring your doggo, or doggo?
Speaker 3 (35:51):
doggo.
He gets car sick though, so Iprobably should have you got I
have a golden retriever whoturns one in about oh so nine
days?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
yep, he's a daycare right now.
Speaker 3 (36:02):
He's he has a lot of energy if he's home.
I have to take him for likefour walks a day because we I
live in an apartment.
Yeah well, that's why I waitedtill I worked for myself and
lived alone, so I can like youknow, walk him a lot, but this
week, yeah, he's been at daycarea few days because I'm like I
have a sore back.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
He'd love that, though I have this deadline.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
Oh, he loves it.
And they say that as soon as hegets there he just plays until
he leaves in the afternoon Likehe has so much energy.
It's crazy oh, that's so great.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Okay, I haven't seen him on the, on the socials, well
that's my newest my newestcharacter is a dog trainer,
because I had to get a dogtrainer.
Speaker 3 (36:41):
Yes, yeah, because he was pulling so hard that my
back I got this back injury thatI already had, but he's made it
really bad.
So I had to get this dogtrainer out and she was so good,
but she was such a characterand I was like, oh, I have to do
it, I have to do it so yeah,that's yeah, you're giving me no
choice babe beware if you haveany interaction with nick,
(37:05):
you'll end up as a character.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
I mean that coffee have you had anyone say to you
oh, is that me?
Is that like um?
Speaker 3 (37:13):
sometimes, when I worked when I worked at rothy
loman.
Sometimes people would be like,was that one me?
And I'm like, no, none of theseare you guys.
But then there was a guy atrothy loman who I won't say too
much, but definitely I just Ididn't gel with him and well, I
have a character now called thecreepy co-worker.
Let's just say, let's justleave it at that leave it at
that.
Speaker 2 (37:33):
Read between the lines of what you will.
Yes, I love it.
So I would love to know fromyour point of view do you have
any advice from any architectsthat are feeling a bit stuck or
they're questioning their careerpath and they maybe feel like
you were feeling it?
Rossi Lohman.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
Do they need to go and do stand-up?
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Look, don't do stand up um, unless you hate yourself.
No, I'm kidding yeah, actually,yeah, no, architects, try
comedy, please.
That's, I'm trying to makemyself that yes um, I would just
say, well, my advice is alwaysfollow your gut, but I know
that's not as easy for everyone,but that's kind of what I've
(38:14):
always done.
But I guess I would also saywe're very lucky that, with what
we studied and kind of what wedo, it does give us a lot of
skills and a lot of just likeyeah, there's so many things you
can branch off to do.
So I think just definitely keepin touch with yourself in terms
of like what sparks joycreatively, um, and I mean, it's
(38:35):
not always the best idea tomonetize your hobbies, but
sometimes it works out.
I think at least you still needto have things that kind of
like nourish your soul and kindof like your escape from the
madness of everything.
But I think definitely just payattention to what you enjoy and
what skills you have developedin practice.
And I don't think there's arush, but I think just, yeah,
(38:56):
start to pay attention to whatyou could branch off into, I
guess.
I mean, I guess I have friendswho are doing all sorts of
creative things now, likephotographers, visual artists
still a lot who are in design.
Some people even changed tolandscape architecture without
studying it.
They just were working inarchitecture applied for
landscape because that was theirinterest.
And now, yeah, one of my goodfriends is a landscape architect
(39:19):
.
So, yeah, I don't know, justkeep your eye on what's
happening.
What?
Speaker 2 (39:22):
jobs are going.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
Yeah, I don't really know, I mean just yeah bad, just
feel it follow your gut bad.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
I think that's really good advice, though, to try and
good yeah, just to connect withyourself.
I think that's the start, isn'tit?
And listen to your dreams,obviously, because they can tell
you which way to go yeah,totally listen to your dreams
yeah but yeah, being authentic,I think makes makes you happier
than when you're not so totally.
(39:50):
You've got to try and work outwhat that is that's making you
unhappy, right yeah, yeah whatwould make you happy?
A lot of ways.
An easy answer.
Speaker 3 (39:57):
It's the hard way to live life.
It's the most like it pays off,like it's hard to go through
those things to be like okay, Ireally need to do what feels
right, even though it's scaryyeah.
But, it pays off because itgets you to where you're meant
to be, you know totally agreewith that.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
That was very philosophical.
Speaker 3 (40:14):
I love it oh, yes, and also, I would also just say
you can get your stationery fromkmart.
They do erases, they do thatand they have little pencil
cases that four dollars.
So I just say, if you're doingsomething with, I do a lot of
coloring, so, yes, that's mysorry, I try and do in here, but
that's my sorry, I try and doit in here, but that's my advice
(40:35):
.
Speaker 1 (40:37):
Well, actually.
Speaker 2 (40:38):
Carly, she inspired me.
I had to go to I shouldn't sayI had to go to my mum's.
I went to my mum's for lunchand I bought a coloring book to
entertain myself and that wasthanks to Carly, because I
wanted to do something mindfulwhile we were sitting around the
table.
Speaker 3 (40:50):
Honestly, it sounds ridiculous because you think, oh
, that's what I did when I waslittle, but it really just.
It calms me down.
I have a yogurt and my coloringin book and I feel like I'm on
cloud nine.
Speaker 2 (41:03):
Yes, oh my gosh, that is so cute.
So, what is next for Nick?
What's next?
What have you got coming up?
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Well, good question, oh well, oh, I can't, I'll tell
you after this, because ithasn't.
Well, actually, when's thispodcast coming out?
Speaker 2 (41:21):
In a week or two.
Okay, I'll tell you after wecan time it.
Speaker 3 (41:24):
No, it's fine, it's just a project that just.
I would suggest people keep aneye out on my socials and
Carly's socials.
That's something that I amgoing to do?
Speaker 2 (41:33):
Is she going on a?
Speaker 3 (41:33):
honeymoon, oh, I mean , well, I am touring in the UK
later this year maybe, but myhoneymoon was in Tassie.
That was always the story, butI didn't go to Tassie this year.
What else am I?
Well, I'm touring and I'm doingsome shows in Melbourne this
month for the Replay Festivaland then London in September.
Speaker 1 (41:51):
Where would that be, Nick?
Speaker 3 (41:52):
Tell us in in september.
Tell us, tell us some details.
Oh yeah, that'll be at comedyrepublic.
On july 24th and july 25th.
Tickets are in my bio.
Excellent, yeah, and what else?
Just yeah, content, um, whoknows I've I've so many ideas at
the moment and I'm trying tolike organize them all and get
them moving, but at the moment,yeah, not, not heaps to report
(42:14):
it's fun.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
It sounds like a lot plenty yeah yeah, it's enough.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
Yeah, and I want to keep doing some more design
dissection, so we'll get some ofthose in the works as well
super fun.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
Thank you so much, nick.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
It was so fun to chat thank you, that was so fun of
course, and carly thanks, carlyoh yes, you're welcome.
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