MAA #029: With Craig Coombsey Coombes

Interview with Craig "Coombsey" Coombes, the creator of Naked Tuesday (there's no space between the words if searching on Facebook) which is all about getting out of your comfort zone.  Coombsey frequents the Comic's Lounge as a punter, has appeared as a guest on Adam Hills Tonight (check out the footage here https://youtu.be/5CP8h-MO3Rs), and does a bit of specialised* stand up.  These ventures into the comedy world came about after Coombsey was diagnosed with thyroid cancer four years ago.  He had treatment including surgery and radioactive iodine, but despite all efforts it was found that tumours had spread and Coombsey was given an estimated 18 months to live.  That was three years ago. In that time Coombsey has quite literally been living his life to the full, which was kicked off when his close friend Pete B got him started on a Bucket List.

We discuss: Coombsey's experience of the illness (which he thought was viral laryngitis in the beginning), the subsequent treatment and insisting on a timeframe when he received the bad news, the significant role his Mum played in how he received the news and in his general outlook, The Bucket List and how everyone needs a Pete B, the first time he met Adam Hills, the profound health benefits of comedy, family health history, family reactions and setting a positive example for his kids, dealing with the tough times, upcoming plans including comedy in Montreal and filming a DVD at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, the importance of his tattoos, Coombsey's super power, and his message to make the rest of your life the best of your life.

*Coombsey does cancer-related material, where he aims to have a laugh at cancer's expense.  Coombsey likes his audiences to have fair warning about who he is and what he's about so they can be on board.