Hot Takes: Hannah Gadsby, The High Low and remembering Helena

Australian comic Hannah Gadsby is rewriting the rules of comedy.

THINK

There's a moment in Hannah Gadsby's new stand-up special Nanette that will stay with you long after the hour-long show. It comes just before the 20-minute mark when Gadsby reveals she's planning to quit comedy.

The Australian comic has been in the game for more than a decade, sharing her insights on the world as a tired, quiet lesbian, who is occasionally mistaken for a man. Her observations are searing, scathing and very, very funny. They are also frequently self-deprecating, which is fine when, like the majority of comedians, you're a straight, white male.

But Gadsby isn't. And neither are the people who identify with her or her comedy.

"Do you understand what self-deprecation means when it comes from somebody who already exists on the margins? It's not humility. It's humiliation. I put myself down in order to speak, in order to seek permission to speak. And I simply will not do that anymore."

It's an epiphany that has changed Gadsby's life – and will go on to affect thousands more as they share this excellent, insightful and thoroughly thought-provoking comedy special.

Stream it immediately on Netflix.

LISTEN

Caitlin Marett, Brodie Kane and Gracie Taylor host The Heartbreakers.

One of my favourite weekly podcasts is the delightful High Low, produced and presented by British journalists Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes (side note: Alderton's book Everything I Know About Love makes for excellent holiday reading, should you be in the market…) Each week they intelligently discuss a full spectrum of world events – from the worthy and important to the superficial and salacious.

In the same vein, I'd like to present my own mini High Low – with this week's high coming in the form of Speaking Secrets, a fascinating deep-dive podcast exploring the MeToo movement in New Zealand and how it is affecting Kiwi women. Meanwhile, my lowbrow - but thoroughly entertaining - recommendation is The Heartbreakers, a weekly podcast featuring Brodie Kane, Caitlin Marrett and Gracie Taylor dissecting the ridiculousness that is Heartbreak Island.

All three podcasts are available to stream now through iTunes.

VOTE

Shavaughn Ruakere and her partner Enrique will take to the floor to dance for the Breast Cancer Foundation in the grand final of Dancing With the Stars on Sunday night.

Three years ago, my beautiful, dazzling friend Helena died. She was 37 and spent the last five years of her life battling breast cancer and spreading the important and eloquent message: "Ladies, check your boobies."

Over the past nine weeks, Shavaughn Ruakere has been dancing for Helena on Dancing With the Stars, and on Sunday night, she will take to the floor for the grand final. There's a big sparkly trophy at stake, which Helena would have bloody loved – she was a "more is more" kinda gal. More importantly, every vote for Shavrique will raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation.

If you do just two things this week, let them be this... Text Shav to 3333 (texts cost 99c). And ladies, please, check your boobies.