'We don’t want anyone to be the butt of the joke — that’s quite rare in male-dominated podcasts'

Killian Sundermann and Tony Cantwell of the Young Hot Guyz podcast chat to Jennifer McShane about their quirky origin story, the pressure to be funny and what to expect from their live show at Cork Podcast Festival  

Killian Sundermann, Tony Cantwell and Shane Daniel Byrne of the Young Hot Guyz podcast

What do you get when you put three pros of standup, stage and screen in a studio with three microphones?

It’s no surprise Killian Sundermann, Tony Cantwell and Shane Daniel Byrne, hosts of Young Hot Guys, have found themselves hosting a hilarious podcast together, but that doesn’t make the origin story any less funny.

“We basically took our clothes off and got into an intimate photo shoot with each other,” Cantwell recalls. “It was very Calendar Girls, but for blokes.”

The three comedians had stripped down for a calendar photoshoot in 2021 for Dubliner Whiskey (an original copy of which Tony proudly waves across our Zoom screen). It was driven by a touch of
jealousy, an earring from George’s Street Arcade, and the desire to raise money for a good cause.

“We had met before,” Cantwell says, “we do lots of gigs together and end up on the same type of lineups. So we found ourselves sort of gravitating towards each other.”

“We just hung out a lot and enjoyed each other’s company,” Sundermann agrees, adding there’s no core message for the podcast, but the trio feels comedians should be “seriously silly” first and foremost.

“We feel comedians should just talk about whatever the silliest thing is and not take things too seriously. And if there is any kind of impact, it’s that people listen to a conversation they might hear in the pub, and we thought it’d be cool if they want to be privy to this kind of chat.”

One of the great joys of the podcast is its conversational nature. The lads don’t come in with a strict agenda. Instead, they let the conversation flow, often starting with a topic or incident from the week that gets completely derailed into something else entirely (there’s an entire episode dedicated to this derailing) — this very chat started with chatter about sanding, power tools and a discount in Woodie’s sweetly wrangled by Sundermann’s dad.

But that’s the appeal — and just one example of the heart behind the humour.

“We do give ourselves the space to discuss things, usually through a humorous lens,” Sundermann says. “Sometimes, with comedy podcasts, there’s constant pressure to be funny. And I don’t think we put that on each other, and therefore, I think it often ends up being funnier.”

An important note is they might not agree on everything, but the duo unanimously acknowledges that Daniel Byrne — absent from the call due to Edinburgh Fringe gallivanting — is the ‘leader’.

“Without a doubt,” they agree.

Killian Sundermann, Tony Cantwell and Shane Daniel Byrne of the Young Hot Guyz podcast

An inclusive space

Sundermann feels the podcast has a unique place in the Irish comedy scene because it’s free of the macho energy that can sometimes dominate male-led shows.

“We’re all very curious, and inclusivity is important to us,” Cantwell explains. “We don’t want anyone to be the butt of the joke. I find that’s quite rare in male-dominated podcasts, and it’s something we’re really proud of. And apart from Killian now playing Pitch ‘n Putt because he injured himself playing five-aside, we’re also free of anything sports-related, which is rare for a boys’ podcast.”

Sundermann chimes in: “Listeners will be delighted to hear my ankle has healed up, and I’ll be back terrorising the team very soon.”

Speaking of loyal followers, the trio are especially proud of their fans who tune in from all corners of the globe, including those living abroad who crave a taste of home with a dose of authentic Irish conversation.

“The best thing we hear from listeners is that they were walking around Tesco laughing like mad people,” Cantwell says. “I love the idea of people laughing out loud at something we’ve made.”

When it comes to their live shows, the energy ramps up even more.

“The live show is the most fun because it’s not just the three of us — it’s the three of us and everyone else in the room, creating something together,” Sundermann explains. “Things come up that you wouldn’t have made on your own. We don’t want the live show to be a replica of the podcast; we want to put on a show.”

Cantwell adds: “We want the live podcast to be more than just a conversation. There’s something really important about giving people something
custom, just for that one night.”

So, what’s next for the trio? More live shows, more stand-up, and definitely more funny anecdotes. And while they’ve already dabbled in various live formats, from stand-up to sketch comedy, they’re eager to bring all those elements to their live podcasts, ensuring it’s more than just a replica of their recordings but a live experience that everyone enjoys giggling along with.

As for the podcast’s future, they aren’t about to overthink it. They’re just going to keep doing what they do best: Being themselves, helping each other — and their listeners — find the funny moments in life, and reminding us that sometimes the best medicine is simply a good old-fashioned belly laugh.

Cantwell sums it up best; “If I can make Killian and Shane laugh, then I’m happy. That’s always the vibe we want.”

• Shane Daniel Byrne, Tony Cantwell and Killian Sundermann’s podcast ‘Young Hot Guys’ is available on headstuffpodcasts.com or wherever you get your podcasts. 
• The trio will perform a live podcast at Cork Podcast Festival on Sunday, September 8. Tickets from €31, see corkoperahouse.ie