7 Years 167 days - Circumnavigate7 Years 167 days - Circumnavigate
I'm Quitting Alcohol
David Boyle talks about planning a filmed stand-up show in India, reflecting on his past attempts to work around toxic comedy scenes and build his own path. The episode mixes humour with blunt commentary on the business of comedy and how his sober life lets him push forward more clearly.
7:55•29 Oct 2026
Comedy, Circumnavigation and Staying Sober: Boyle Plots His Next Move
Episode Overview
- Boyle confirms a filmed comedy show in Bangalore and focuses on six weeks of intensive preparation.
- He reflects on attempting to circumnavigate a toxic Melbourne comedy scene by creating independent shows.
- The episode stresses that success often means building your own spaces, audiences and footage rather than waiting for approval.
- Boyle highlights the importance of relationships in the industry while still maintaining some distance from unhealthy dynamics.
- He points out that many seemingly successful comedians still struggle financially, calling much of the business "smoke and mirrors".
“"It's all about what you're willing to do yourself, you know, it's actually a little bit of a balancing act."”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? For David Boyle, it seems to involve a microphone, a backpack, and a stubborn commitment to staying sober. In this short, punchy episode of "I'm Quitting Alcohol", Boyle talks less about booze and more about building a life around comedy while keeping his recovery on track. You’ll hear him lock in a filmed show in Bangalore, India, aiming for four cameras and a tightly honed set built from years of material.
He jokes about "metabolising" and "manifesting" his plans, but underneath the humour is a clear picture of someone using creativity and hard work to keep moving forward instead of slipping back. Boyle looks back on his time in the Melbourne comedy scene, describing how he and a group of comics tried to "circumnavigate" the toxic parts of the industry by doing their own thing.
He talks candidly about talented friends quitting comedy and how success often has more to do with "how much dick you are willing to take in your rectum" than how funny you are. It’s blunt, crude and very honest, showing how resentment, disappointment and perseverance all sit side by side. There’s also a practical thread running through the episode: build your own room, get a couple of cameras, pull a crowd, and create your own path.
Boyle points out that many comedians with big followings are still financially struggling, calling it all "smoke and mirrors" and reminding you that external success doesn’t always match internal reality. For anyone on a sobriety journey who’s wondering what life can look like years after quitting alcohol, this episode gives a raw slice of Boyle’s day-to-day thinking: chasing gigs, planning tours, and pushing ahead, one sober decision at a time.
It’s messy, funny, and very real — how might you carve out your own path, no matter who’s trying to keep you on the outside?
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