Biripi comedian Andy Saunders has a clever plan to educate the masses through laughter

“When someone’s laughing, they’re at their most vulnerable, you can teach them anything.”

Comedian Andy Saunders jokes around on the set of Living Black with host Karla Grant

In the NSW town of Taree during the early 1980s, a young Andy Saunders could often be found in his grandparents' lounge room.

Television wasn’t the entertainment of choice: instead Andy would be the centre of attention, taking every opportunity to tell jokes to his family.

“I always say this about all First Nations families’ lounge rooms. That’s where comedy is created and conceived," he told NITV's Living Black.

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“If you want constant comedy and connection and communication through a yarn, just sit in an Aboriginal loungeroom for a day."

Growing up in a commercial fishing family, Andy was often enthralled by his uncle’s gift for storytelling and setting up a good joke.

By the age of four, he had already developed a skill for telling jokes beyond his years.

“I was one of those kids that just loved being around that type of conversation," he told host Karla Grant.

Andy Saunders as a young child (on left). Source: Supplied

"I immersed myself in those yarns and those story-tellings and fast-forward to now, I'm doing it for a living.”

Stepping up to the mic

Decades would pass before the Biripi man would test his comedy skills on an audience outside his family. The day before his 30^th birthday, he stepped out on stage for the first time to a crowd of 500 people at Newcastle University.

Comedian Andy Saunders performing comedy on stage Source: Supplied

“All of this adrenaline just buzzed through my body. It was an out-of-this-world experience and I was just hooked.

"I was like, I wanna do this forever. So I just started writing proper jokes from then and telling them to Deb and that's why she's heard 'em all!”

Andy and his wife have been together for over 30 years, meeting in high school and bonding over their similar backgrounds. He attributes the success of their relationship to a strong level of respect, understanding – and of course, shared humour.

“She's very quick witted, she's quite funny.

"We both bring equal amount of value to the table when it comes to being in a relationship, being partners, parents, friends and just ride-or-dies to the end.”

Taking on the Block, and stereotypes

Never ones to shy away from a challenge, Andy and Deb were chosen as contestants on the Nine Network renovation series ‘The Block’ in 2019, with the couple set the task of renovating a three-story terrace in St Kilda, Victoria.

The experience would be gruelling for the couple, both physically and emotionally.

“In the first three weeks I lost 17kgs. And I've got nothing to lose! From a distance in a pair of shorts I look like a bar stool, it’s not appealing,” jokes Andy.

Andy and Deb Saunders with their family on 'The Block' St Kilda home set Source: Supplied

“It was also a learning experience of how important home was and how important being on Country was to me, because it was four months,104 days, with no days off, at an average of 20 hours physical labour a day.”

The couple took home over $400,000 helping them to pay off their mortgage. But for Andy, the biggest reward for was the response he received from the community.

“I remember all the messages from Aboriginal men and non-Indigenous women with Aboriginal husbands, and kids with fathers who are Aboriginal saying, 'Thank you for representing Aboriginal men that wasn't according to the [negative] stereotype that has been unfair for many, many years”.

“If I was a small part of changing mindset in a few people ... then it was definitely worth it.”

On the circuit

Comedian Andy Saunders performing at the Luminosity All Stars 2022 at The Glasshouse Port Macquarie. Source: Supplied / Lindsay Moller Productions

Andy had already made a name for himself on the comedy circuit prior to his time on ‘The Block’, performing at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Just for Laughs festival to name a few.

But the comedian has big plans to perform internationally and continue to push the envelope with his comedy.

“When someone’s laughing, they’re at their most vulnerable. You can teach them anything. Strategically place a lesson in there and they will learn from it because they are at their most vulnerable.”

Andy believes there’s an opportunity between the laughs in his act to educate these mainstream audiences.

“I think being Indigenous, I do my people an injustice if I’m not going to write jokes about changing a mindset on a stereotype about my people.”

There’s one place that the comedian feels the most at home when performing: in front of mob. Andy says it takes him back to his grandparents' lounge room, all those years ago.

“I love my mob audience, it feels like I’m joking to family when I joke to an audience full of mob. I can get away with anything and say anything in front of them. That’s why I can’t wait to perform at the Aboriginal Comedy Allstars in Brissy this week!”

Watch Living Black weekly from Monday 22 April at 8.30pm on NITV and on SBS from Tuesday 23 April at 10.30pm.

Living Black will also be available to stream for free on SBS On Demand and will be subtitled in Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.