Episode
E220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
1:25:36
Published: Thu Feb 09 2023
Description
From a maths teacher and occasional rapper to one of the UK's most popular comedians, you would think this was the setup to one of Romesh Ranganathan's typically deadpan jokes. However, as is the case with most comedians, behind the jokes and laughter lies pain. After bursting onto our screens, Romesh has been constantly working, always afraid that his success could slip out from under him at any moment, stemming from his family struggles as a teenager when his father was sent to prison and life as he knew it fell apart. In this hilarious but also intimate conversation, Romesh discusses the life experiences that have provided him with the endless material for his sold-out shows, but also the challenges that have made him the man he is today. Childhood Your dad’s prison years Were you ashamed of your family? Being a lazy kid What was your opinion of yourself? Dealing with a voice in my head Your comedian journey Your days pre-stand up The loss of your father Your mum's support Becoming a successful comedian Are you happy? Last guest’s question Romesh: Instagram - https://bit.ly/3JSdbR4 Twitter - https://bit.ly/3Xhgq7K Romesh's book: http://bit.ly/3DPPTaY Romesh's tour: http://bit.ly/3Ywd2H8 Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://g2ul0.app.link/3kxINCANKsb Follow: Instagram - https://bit.ly/3CXkF0d Twitter - https://bit.ly/3wBA6bA Linkedin - https://bit.ly/3z3CSYM Telegram - https://g2ul0.app.link/SBExclusiveCommun Sponsors: Bluejeans - https://g2ul0.app.link/NCgpGjVNKsb Huel - https://g2ul0.app.link/G4RjcdKNKsb Intel - https://bit.ly/3FxWMO2 Craftd - https://g2ul0.app.link/gZ8in6Dsvsb
Chapters
Comedian Ramesh Ranganathan shares insights on the link between stand-up comedy and mental health and how he handles negative self-talk and self-doubt in his performances.
00:00 - 01:07 (01:07)
Summary
Comedian Ramesh Ranganathan shares insights on the link between stand-up comedy and mental health and how he handles negative self-talk and self-doubt in his performances.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker expresses gratitude for the privilege of engaging in conversations with notable individuals via podcasting and highlights the millions who choose to follow them on the app.
01:07 - 04:25 (03:18)
Summary
The speaker expresses gratitude for the privilege of engaging in conversations with notable individuals via podcasting and highlights the millions who choose to follow them on the app. They also recall their admiration for British stand-up and the comedic genius of Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker empathizes with the interviewee's childhood experiences, stating that they too felt pressure from their parents while growing up.
04:25 - 07:41 (03:16)
Summary
The speaker empathizes with the interviewee's childhood experiences, stating that they too felt pressure from their parents while growing up. The interviewee's childhood memoirs were characterized by "opposing chapters," and the speaker relates to the interviewee's love for joke books.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
A podcast host recounts memories of his family's financial situation growing up and how his father's illegal import-export deals had an impact on their lifestyle.
07:41 - 10:01 (02:19)
Summary
A podcast host recounts memories of his family's financial situation growing up and how his father's illegal import-export deals had an impact on their lifestyle.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
A personal story of a child trying to come to terms with his parents' divorce and how he coped with moving to a new house with his father.
10:01 - 13:45 (03:44)
Summary
A personal story of a child trying to come to terms with his parents' divorce and how he coped with moving to a new house with his father.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker discusses keeping personal struggles a secret from family and the need to establish a reliable communication plan in order to keep the secret.
13:46 - 16:14 (02:28)
Summary
The speaker discusses keeping personal struggles a secret from family and the need to establish a reliable communication plan in order to keep the secret.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker recounts a story of a girl he liked asking to use his bathroom, but his mother forbid it, leading to an uncomfortable situation.
16:14 - 18:03 (01:49)
Summary
The speaker recounts a story of a girl he liked asking to use his bathroom, but his mother forbid it, leading to an uncomfortable situation.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker admits to going through a phase of giving up and believing that things were just supposed to be the way they were.
18:03 - 19:54 (01:51)
Summary
The speaker admits to going through a phase of giving up and believing that things were just supposed to be the way they were. However, witnessing someone work hard and still struggle helped the speaker realize the importance of not giving up and keeping a positive mindset.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker reflects on the negative voice in his head that pushes him to be uncomfortable and how he doubts what he would have become if he had stayed in his comfort zone.
19:55 - 22:18 (02:23)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the negative voice in his head that pushes him to be uncomfortable and how he doubts what he would have become if he had stayed in his comfort zone.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Is to sort of encourage those kind of mental health conversations and stuff.
22:18 - 24:12 (01:53)
Summary
Is to sort of encourage those kind of mental health conversations and stuff.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker shares their experience of feeling frustrated in a situation where they must be relaxed.
24:12 - 26:27 (02:15)
Summary
The speaker shares their experience of feeling frustrated in a situation where they must be relaxed.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The experiences one faces during their formative years become the foundation of their behavior and outlook in the future.
26:27 - 30:27 (03:59)
Summary
The experiences one faces during their formative years become the foundation of their behavior and outlook in the future. Childhood trauma has been linked with negative behavior and it is important to understand its effects on individuals.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The podcast host shares his discovery that when he lets go of the belief that bad things are happening to him, he is able to separate himself from conflicts and understand that each person has their own issues.
30:27 - 33:01 (02:33)
Summary
The podcast host shares his discovery that when he lets go of the belief that bad things are happening to him, he is able to separate himself from conflicts and understand that each person has their own issues.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker discusses the need to take care of one's mental health and find coping mechanisms such as mindfulness and meditation to navigate through tough times.
33:01 - 34:45 (01:44)
Summary
The speaker discusses the need to take care of one's mental health and find coping mechanisms such as mindfulness and meditation to navigate through tough times.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker discusses their personal experience with suicidal thoughts and how he/she was able to overcome them by shutting off the negative voice and seeking help.
34:45 - 37:27 (02:41)
Summary
The speaker discusses their personal experience with suicidal thoughts and how he/she was able to overcome them by shutting off the negative voice and seeking help.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The guest discusses how they were drawn to comedy and how life changing experiences led them to pursue a career in entertainment, going against the traditional milestones of success.
37:27 - 39:57 (02:30)
Summary
The guest discusses how they were drawn to comedy and how life changing experiences led them to pursue a career in entertainment, going against the traditional milestones of success.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker reflects on their early gigs in small venues and how the emotional highs of performing in front of a positive crowd can be an incredible feeling.
39:57 - 42:13 (02:15)
Summary
The speaker reflects on their early gigs in small venues and how the emotional highs of performing in front of a positive crowd can be an incredible feeling.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
A comedian discusses the constant need to create new material in order to continue succeeding in stand-up comedy.
42:13 - 45:10 (02:57)
Summary
A comedian discusses the constant need to create new material in order to continue succeeding in stand-up comedy.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker promotes a virtual event production tool and claims that it is the best tool for immersive and high-quality virtual events.
45:10 - 49:24 (04:13)
Summary
The speaker promotes a virtual event production tool and claims that it is the best tool for immersive and high-quality virtual events. At the end, the speaker gives a tip to make virtual meeting experiences ten times better.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker shares about their dad's work ethic and passing away suddenly, as well as the difficulty of leaving a job and dealing with strained relationships.
49:24 - 54:51 (05:26)
Summary
The speaker shares about their dad's work ethic and passing away suddenly, as well as the difficulty of leaving a job and dealing with strained relationships.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker reflects on a conflict with his father and shares his thoughts on their relationship, acknowledging his father's flaws while recognizing his positive traits.
54:51 - 59:07 (04:16)
Summary
The speaker reflects on a conflict with his father and shares his thoughts on their relationship, acknowledging his father's flaws while recognizing his positive traits.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker discusses the struggles of a mother and hero in his life who deals with heartbreak while raising children alone.
59:07 - 1:03:53 (04:46)
Summary
The speaker discusses the struggles of a mother and hero in his life who deals with heartbreak while raising children alone.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
Comedian talks about how his friend's loan saved his career when he was struggling financially and could not afford to travel to gigs.
1:03:53 - 1:08:14 (04:21)
Summary
Comedian talks about how his friend's loan saved his career when he was struggling financially and could not afford to travel to gigs.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker shares how a supportive mentor helped him in his comedy career, from watching his gigs to giving honest criticisms within the context of encouragement.
1:08:14 - 1:11:21 (03:06)
Summary
The speaker shares how a supportive mentor helped him in his comedy career, from watching his gigs to giving honest criticisms within the context of encouragement.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker reflects on the ups and downs of their career in comedy, acknowledging the role of luck in success but also the meritocracy that can exist in the field.
1:11:21 - 1:15:51 (04:30)
Summary
The speaker reflects on the ups and downs of their career in comedy, acknowledging the role of luck in success but also the meritocracy that can exist in the field.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker believes it is better to live in a psychological world of controllables rather than chasing after things that feel like shit and are uncontrollable, citing examples of setting goals like winning a BAFTA that may not necessarily be in our control.
1:15:51 - 1:20:26 (04:34)
Summary
The speaker believes it is better to live in a psychological world of controllables rather than chasing after things that feel like shit and are uncontrollable, citing examples of setting goals like winning a BAFTA that may not necessarily be in our control.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The pandemic highlighted the importance of finding activities for personal enrichment outside of a job to avoid a complete loss of identity.
1:20:26 - 1:23:56 (03:30)
Summary
The pandemic highlighted the importance of finding activities for personal enrichment outside of a job to avoid a complete loss of identity. Engaging in hobbies or creative activities can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
EpisodeE220: Romesh Ranganathan: There's A Dark Voice In My Head That I've Learnt To Control
PodcastThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
The speaker shares the heaviness of having a negative voice in their head and how it affects their personal life.
1:23:56 - 1:25:33 (01:36)
Summary
The speaker shares the heaviness of having a negative voice in their head and how it affects their personal life. The transcript also includes an ad for Dell XPS and Samsung Galaxy Book 360.