Laughing through the pain with Rory Petzer on The House of Motherly
Media personality and podcast host Jane Linley-Thomas.
Image: Supplied
Can laughter be used to deflect pain? Can it be a shield we hold up when life comes swinging with grief, doubt, or disappointment?
For comedian Rory Petzer, award winning radio producer, comedian, writer and all round story teller the answer is layered, much like the way he delivers a punchline. There’s humour, yes, but also truth, pain, and an incredible sense of resilience.
In our conversation, Rory opened up about how comedy became both a light and a lifeline during one of the most testing chapters of his life. He admits that it wasn’t about hiding from the pain, but rather finding a way to soften it and to be a light in darkness.
Comedian Rory Petzer and Jane Linley-Thomas.
Image: Supplied
Of course, humour doesn’t always behave. Rory shared the story of his worst experience “corpsing” on stage and just him talking about it made my hands sweat and mouth dry.
He describes it with such honesty and affection, because those moments remind him he’s human. And, like the best comics, he has always been open to mentorship and guidance, taking every stumble as a stepping stone to becoming sharper, braver, better. That ability to lean in and ask for guidance from his mentor and friend Barry Hilton saw him climbing back onto that very same stage a year later at the same event and crushed it. I love a comeback story!
In this chat we also share the same ritual that we both do before we get on stage. An act that is steeped in self-care, and that no matter how many rooms we stand in to make laugh or inspire, encourage and delight we still get those butterflies in the pit of our tummy’s.
I have come to learn that is what caring feels like. Those nerves are a sign of the deep desire to hold space and use our purpose for good. We also traced back to a younger Rory the boy, and we unearthed stories of his past that were both joy and sadness. I had tears in my eyes and a break in my voice when I said out loud that I believed his late mom and dad would be immensely proud of their son.
The boy who wanted to be a professional cricketer, who had no idea that his future would lead to standing under hot lights, mic in hand. We giggled while 'conversing' in French as he shared the story of studying in the land of love and baguettes “Parlez-vous français?”
What stands out most about Rory isn’t just the jokes, it’s his candor and vulnerability and how he can go from deep to funny with such ease. He talks about navigating self-doubt, about how comedy forced him to reflect on what really mattered and who he really wanted to be. His eyes sparkle when I mentioned The Golden Girls. He is not just a casual fan, this is full-blown devotion. His favourite? You’ll have to guess, but let’s just say he knows his Dorothy from his Blanche.
The thing about Rory is that he reminds us comedy isn’t just about the punchline. It’s about being brave enough to stand in your story, even the hard parts, and share them with others. It’s about turning pain into connection and being a life boat of relevant funny when it all feels a little too heavy.
A key takeaway from our chat is that we have the choice on how we show up in our lives. I like Rory choose to be the light in the darkness, how about you?