We're Aunty Donna, a comedy gang from Australia, and we're touring North America for our second time! Ask Us (almost lol) Anything!

Dear Boys,

Since you trademarked 'Aunty Donna', my government won't legally recognise my Aunty anymore. She's stuck in a Philipino detention centre without a passport. Would you please let her use the name too?

That's fine and dandy Captain Clover. But your Aunty WAS writing sketches and uploading them to youtube. She even did a Haven't You Done Well series. But the last straw was when she announced she was doing a US tour this feb. That's what we're doing. She'll die in prison. -Broden

This question is for Mark: Neigh neigh whinny, neigh neigh neigh. Whinny, neigh whinny neigh whinny whinny?

FUCK.

OFF.

Love Mark.

Hello, what do you think of this?

That's great. That's really excellent. What do you think of this?

Have you guys seen manbeast in fallout? What is you opinion of this?

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/0uKUB5DDPb0?t=14

It's mindblowingly amazing. There's nothing I love more than coming home to relax with some video games and getting to shoot Broden in the head as many times as I want.

Love Mark

PS: Thanks to the guy in Boston who made it and who came to our Boston show!

Why are you called aunty Donna?

I'm more concerned that you're called TheKidKreeper

Do you know that Heston Blumenthal shaves his head not because he is bald, but because it helps him to deal with the heat of the kitchen, leaving him one less thing to worry about?

Zach here. I did know that. He has also said that it was because he doesn't like his silly curly hair. I imagine now that its also a bit of a brand thing, as he is quite well known for his bald head.

Also, for anyone that doesn't listen to our god awful podcast, elephant-fresh is cyber bullying me right now. But I will say this fact for the rest of my life, because i think it is interesting and of note.

Regards,

Zach

PS. Please hit me up for more celebrity chef facts, happy to help.

Dear Brodan. Hello. Hi. Hope this finds you well.

I just wanted to ask what gives you the right?

Who do you think you are?

How dare you?

I do what the fuck I want.

You fucking hear me?

Don't come near me again.

-Broden

Whats the worst video you guys think you made? And which is the best?

Mr Moustache Man

And which is the worst?

Mr Moustache Man

Aha, very good. And the worst video?

Mr Moustache Man

Mr Moustache Man is your best video.

IMHO!!!!

also worst lol

Is Mark really an egg?

i don't know. I think so. Sometimes he cracks, like an egg. But also, he wears socks, like a man. I've only ever seen an egg wearing socks three or four times. So tough call.

-Zach

how spicy was marks dads sausage really?

Mark's dad's salami is so fucking good. It is delicious. I've never eaten something cured that tastes so fresh. We've had a group discussion and we think it's a 5/10 in terms of spice. 10/10 in terms of tastiness. Sam

What flavour were the crisps in Cresps?

Original, I think.

How is that horse answering questions? Do you have a horse whisperer on staff?

A FUCKING HORSE HAS HOOVES AND WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO OPERATE A FUCKING KEYBOARD EVEN THE SMARTEST MOST MUSCULAR HORSE WOULD NEED A FULL BODIED AND DEXTROUS ASSISTANT AT ALL TIMES AND WE OBVIOUSLY CAN'T AFFORD THAT

Love Mark

Dear Aunty Donna boys,

First off, you guys are the best. Mark responded to me during the last AMA and it was the absolute tits. You guys helped me get through a rough patch in my life last year and for that I’m very grateful.

My question is pretty general. The “best content” ever videos have been awesome, and it got me thinking, what is the most time consuming video you have made? The unbelievable number trick and magic compilation videos seemed like they would have taken awhile, so I was curious about what you all had to say.

Hello it's Mark again hopefully this is the tits again. Haha lol tits.

You pretty much nailed it in regards to Magic YouTuber. That was the first time we ever needed a whole day to shoot a sketch. We usually average 2 sketches a day now (where as Fape' in the Cafe which is 6 videos were all shot in one day). Having said that, in our new series that will be dropping soon, we have a few videos that have easily been our most complicated and time consuming.

Love Mark.

Question for Don; I'm concerned about the customer service and training, or lack thereof, at the Wheelers Hill store. The quality is inconsistent and service quite poor (especially during the day and over the phone). This has been recent and I'm concerned that it may lead to the closure of the store as the area is highly competitative. It would be a real shame to see the store ruin it's reputation as $4.95 thin and crispy pepperoni is hard to beat (when done properly). That store has great potential and I don't want to have to drive elsewhere.

Plus where have all the cum jokes gone? Very dissapointing.

Hey MPQTHROWAWAYLOOK,

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I would like to get some more information to follow-up, including private contact information. Could you PM me here? ww.ghgbh,cuujk//12206

Also, we sorta got all our cum jokes out in our sketch "Cumsults".

• Domino's Social Customer Care Team

who is the most handsome of you 3?

Zach has three hands

When Mark shaves is Broden going to wear it as a wig?

Yes and No. In a way.

Hey boys been waiting for this all week. Was a bit disappointed when the sidebar said you 3 but not Frogman. When's Frogman gonna have his AMA?

We've just had confirmation that Frogman will do an AMA on r/auntydonna. Make sure you subscribe to that sexy sub and we'll make it happen xox

G'day boys, you're all pretty cool and stuff so thanks for doing another ama.

What's the most awkward instance of audience participation you've encountered?

How prevalent are injuries/sickness on tour and have you ever considered putting mark down because of said injuries?

Broden, is it true that your Portobello mushroom shaped penis is the reason you're so angry all the time?

Hello Mr. Qwux, Re Illness on tour. The last time we went to the US I got a fucking haemorrhoid in my fucking ass. I reckon I got it because of the 25 hours of travel from Melbourne to NYC. It fucking hurt my ass and for all the shows we did in NY that week I was perpetually in a shitload of pain. We were doing fan photos after the shows one night and a lovely man mentioned whilst we got a photo that he was studying to be a doctor. So I went into immense detail about how I had a haemorrhoid in my asshole and i wanted to die. He didn't help at all he just left. I went to a Duane Reade three times asking for different cream. Eventually the Haemorrhoid receded (much like my hairline) and we had a wonderful tour. My hope for our tour this year is that we have lovely audiences and that I do not get another fucking haemorrhoid up my asshole.

Re: mushroom dick, yes.

-This was Broden by the way.

How much cum has Mark drank so far today?

A quart. every morning.

Mark will you ever ever wear shoes on stage ever?

The guys won't let me. Broden said early on "I am the shoe man. There can only be one." Zach said "I want to wear shoes." Broden said "Okay." I said, "I want to wear shoes." Broden said "I will cut off your head and shit down your neck." I said "Okay."

Love Mark

Boyfellas: I got to see you guys last time you were here in NYC. Broden asked how I liked the show and I jokingly said "eh, it was okay" and then he seemed very sad. In actuality, it was the best show ever! The problem is, I haven't lived this moment down. Does Broden hate me?

Yes Chutdillo,

I hate you. I hate you so much.

-Broden

Hi guys thanks heaps for doing the AMA. Whether it's music or comedy or anything else seeing Australian artists like you guys be so successful internationally really gets me excited so congrats on everything you've achieved.

1. How do you guys feel about the current Australian comedy scene? As an observer it seems like there's a bit of a changing of the guard with a lot of young comedians starting to come through and replace the core group of 10 or so Australian people that have been on every gala and panel show for the last 15 years. It also seems like a lot of comedians who might've been considered too alternative a few years ago are starting to get some mainstream-ish recognition (you fellas, Sam Simmons, Anne Edmonds, Rhys Nicholson etc). So yeah what do you reckon about that?

2. Are there any up and coming Comedians in Australia or elsewhere that you'd encourage people to check out?

3. Finally, I remember hearing on the podcast that Sam and mark were pretty sceptical of the breakfast goat sketch that ended up being made, so have there been any other times where one or more of you thought a sketch wasn't going to work like maybe for example a sketch about an anthropomorphic bull being thrust into an office setting? Asking for a friend.

Best of luck with everything and thanks again for doing the AMA. I set an alarm just for it.

Hello nice person, You are nice.

1) I would love to say that the scene was full of fucks but the truth is the Australian comedy scene is full of bloody legends. Especially the guys that have been around for a while. There's definitely a bunch of new people coming through, which is sick. I would say it's due to new/younger audiences getting into it.

2) Absolutely, we bloody love Michelle Brasier, Demi Lardner, Ben Russell, Stu Daulman. Start with those three and spread out from there

3) Yeah we were very unsure across the board about whether Breakfast Goat would work. We were bloody chuffed when we ended up making it and people enjoyed it. The internet is very welcoming for fucked shit.

-Broden

Hey guys!

I don't know if you remember but at your most recent show in Toronto during the post-show meet-and-greet a very excited fan who looked like a mini Zach came up and embraced all three of you lovely boys in one way or another.

Now this was the first time I'd ever seen a celebrity up close so I was rather delirious as you can imagine. My memory is a bit hazy but I remember patting (and receiving pats) from Broden, hugging Zach as if he were my long-lost father, and then stroking Mark's beard and expecting him to return the favour. Now, in hindsight, I should've definitely asked for consent before putting my hands on Mark but as I previously mentioned I was rather delirious and everything happened in a blur. I was also expecting Broden and Zach to be more reserved and Mark to be more likely to engage in physical contact with a complete stranger but it turned out to be the other way around.

I knew I fucked up the moment I saw the look of genuine fear/concern in Mark's eyes but I couldn't do or say much before my turn was up and the next fans came up to ogle you boys. After the show I went to McDonald's and ate a very sad cheeseburger on my way home. I've been haunted by Mark's frightened expression ever since the incident and sometimes I even see him in my nightmares.

I've been trying to find a way to apologize to Mark ever since and ask him to please stop haunting me but I wasn't sure if they ever read anything I posted. I'd also like to take this time to ask you to please consider coming to Toronto again in the future, we'd all love to see you lovely boys again (and again and again and again). I promise that they're not all like me and that I won't touch Mark ever again (pinky promise). I really enjoyed the show and I'm sure everyone else did so as well, you boys were fantastic! Please come back? Pretty please with sprinkles?

P.S. Hi Zach, Broden, the King of Australia and all the other people!

Hello friend it's Mark here I am going to give you a very honest answer.

During that tour I struggled the most sever anxiety and depression I have ever experienced in my life. I've always struggled with those issues but for various reasons it got incredibly bad, almost cripplingly so, on our first North American Tour. I saw some doctors and ended up going on some anti-anxiety drugs, which I'd never done before, and while they helped it totally threw me out of myself. I've been getting better, seeing my therapist and making plans on how I can manage these things better. Which has been great.

I'm sorry if I made you feel that way, that sucks. It wasn't you I promise.

Love Mark.

PS: It is also good to ask people you don't know if you can touch them before you do. SRS BUT LOVE YOU!

Hey Boyos.

Got two questions here for ya's.

1: How's the sketch with TomSka coming along? Got the biggest stiffy when I saw he was on the podcast and became immensely happy when you's discussed the idea of a collaboration.

2: How'd you guys come up with the name "Aunty Donna"?

Keep up the amazing work guys, your content never ceases to be funny and it's always great to see more Aussies in the spot light.

TomSka is a real big deal, he's super talented and very successful. He's also a really really lovely bloke. Hopefully we'll get the time to shoot a sketch together next time we're in London. We just ran out of time last trip there.

The name Aunty Donna comes from the book version of Shawshank Redemption. The Stephen King novel was called 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption'. In the book there is no 'Andry Dufresne', there is just a character called Aunty Donna. he doesn't go to jail, he just does sketch comedy. So we just copied it from that book. -Broden

Cowdoy! Why do you smell like cum?

Coz he's just been down to the cummery

For Zach:

A couple months ago I sent you a picture of the Aunty Donna cross stitch I was working on. You said it was cool and to send you another picture when I finished it so you could post it on Twitter.

When I finished it I sent you a picture and you never opened it.

Why didn't you open it? It really hurt.

Oh, I probably just missed the email/message. We get a few so sometimes we miss them, particularly when we're on tour. I loved that cross stitch. Please just resend it, and I'll share.

On another note, we are always so blown away and humbled by fan art. It's so cool that you guys dig what we do enough to make stuff. Please send us your stuff to social media, because we love to see it!

Fellas,

I'm excited to be seeing your show in Denver in February!

If I were to happen upon you three after the show and wanted to kiss one of you, who would be my safest bet to kiss without contracting anything?

Sincerely,

Happily married man.

Lol whoops, i didn't read this question properly. thought your question was 'how would i go about getting a kiss?". This is the answer to that question:

If you meet us after our Denver show at a meet and greet. The key is to ask politely if you may have a kiss. Here's an example:

"Excuse me, can I please have a kiss?" "Hello boys, could I please kiss one of you?" "Kissy kissy please?"

If we say yes, then lets have a kiss! If we say no, we can get a selfie or sign your tshirt instead.

In answer to your other question, we all have real bad cold sores. So none of us.

Can you guys teach me how you did the amazing special effects in "The Christmas Miracle of Poor Jim"? Been trying to get similar results but can't crack it.

Great question thank you. This took 3 years of studying filmmaking at university but basically you put an image on the video and then put a keyframe for it's position at the start and then one for the end and you have a terribly tracked image on the video. It real good. Max

Hey boys, what’s your favourite thing to have for breakfast?

Also are you coming to the UK any time soon?

Hello Little boy or girl, I have a smoothie at the moment because I am a fat piece of shit. When I am in the UK or the US I have pancakes. They give me bowel issues. UK later in the year bebz. Love Broden

Hi, I can't seem to be able to customise my delicious, all viggan salad smoothie - are you having technical issues on your end?

Hi GetintheNest, We at Jambalam want you to have it your way. So if you're not having it your way, then that's not good.

Have it your way

Broden

Hello GetintheNest,

I believe you're making a reference to a comedy sketch of ours called Jambalam. In this sketch, Jambalam is a fictitious company who provided 100% vegan, customised salads delivered directly to your door. If you are experiencing technical issues it is because the company, and therefore app are make believe. Please seek help.

Kind regards, Sam Lingham

What sketch, or joke within a sketch do you find yourself having the hardest time telling each other and maintaining a straight face?

I don't know who you've been talking to but we're not a comedy group. We're a bible group spreading the word about jesus. -Broden

Do you think Mark Banana has a chance of winning the Melbourne cup this year?

How many times does Mark need to say that he is not a racing horse! He is more of a pack horse, used for carrying things over long distances.

• Zach

Who are your biggest inspirations in comedy and life in general?

Here's everybody's comedy inspo's

Broden: Lano and Woodley, Shaun Micallef, Tony Martin, Python, Ellen Degeneres

Mark: Tim & Eric, Python, Mark's Dad, Abbi and Ilana

Zach: Shaun Micallef, God, late 90's british comedy.

Do you remember that time you came into my work and I gave you a high five?

Yes

-Broden

What was the biggest moment of "culture shock" you've experienced when in a different country? Can't wait for the next Canada dates!

hello, when i went to Montreal i didn't really realise that everyone spoke french. So i was a bit surprised because even when we went to Hong Kong everything is written in English! So i went to McDonalds to get dinner and tried to order from the touch screen machine but it was in french. So i went to the counter and the Macca's worker didn't speak English at all and i couldnt order Maccas and i got really upset and had complete culture shock and was not prepared for no one speaking English. Tom

BTW this was tom talking about when he got to Montreal for the first time. He got fucking Culture Shock in Canada lol -Broden

Hey there supple boys, I've seen you guys around Melbourne a few times but never know what to say... except to offer Mark some hay and a comfortable stable the night. How do you guys feel being recognised? Is it annoying if people want to say hi etc?

Also, garlic bread for the table and a veal scallopini tandoori shake for an entree? Or should I just keep it all for myself?

I always find it very humbling that someone likes our stuff so much they want to say hi and get a photo. It's cool when it happens when I'm out my with family because then it's like "see I'm not a total failure".

It's also strange for me personally because growing up that only happened to film and tv stars, and seeing as we have never really been on film or tv, it's been crazy to see how legit and far reaching YouTube is and can be. That might seem obvious but I'm 30.

Love Mark

Why does the horse man not wear shoes when performing?

My feet scream relentlessly when they are forced into shoes. You would not be able to hear the cool dance music or wonderful jokes over the high pitched, violent screams of my feet if I were to wear shoes on the stage.

Love Mark

Hey you slinky doodles! Is there anything in the world that is definitely is NOT a drum?

no

-zach

Whats the story behind Broden doing the coles ads? P.s saw you boys in Melbourne last year, very good stuff.

In 2013 I did a really awful audition for a coles commerical. I remember walking out and thinking 'What a waste of time'. I ended up getting the gig. The pay was god enough for me to be able to quit the shit part time job I had at the time and focus a couple of days a week to trying to make Aunty Donna work. They kept asking us back year after year for the commercial which kept allowing me to work on Donna. So it got me to the point where now Aunty Donna is my job. It's the only thing my Nanna has seen me do really, and she quite likes it. I'm quite lucky to have go that Ad even though I wear a silly suit and sing a daggy song.

-Broden

Will you guys be at the Edinburgh fringe? Also, how is it working with a horse?

I don't know how many fucking times I have to fucking say this I am not a fucking horse you need to get this through your fucking heads I am a full boy with all the balls and all the holes of any regular boy and horses have long doodles and my doodle is flat like an olympic discus so ha.

Should be back dunno probably.

Love Mark

Hey guys

I commented on your last AMA saying how much I absolutely love your guys work, and it was a dream come true to meet you when y'all come to Auckland last year.

I guess my question is how do the sponsorship deals on the podcast work? I love how you've taken a really boring concept that most people skip and you meme the shit out of it.

Ie with the MVMT Watches, you just shoved it down the listeners throat so much that it made the sponsorship really stand out (and be absolutely hilarious at the same time)

How do the higher ups react to you taking the piss with their products? Do they get annoyed?

Love you guys so much!

TBH i think that anyone who's engaging with Aunty Donna knows what to expect. I dont think we've ever taken anything seriously. The whole point of the podcast ads are that they're live reads so supposed to be from our voice. Big shout out to Planet Broadcasting who organises all that for us! - One take Tom.

Why did my dad leave?

I don't know the whole story so I would be guessing.

But what I can tell you is that it's most likely your fault. It's most definitely something you've done.

You should be better

-Broden

What is your favourite part of Sovereign Hill?

I got to work at Sovereign Hill for about 2 years and it was really really fun. A few times I got to hold the gold bar that they smelt and it was always surprisingly dense. I actually developed a huge amount of the Pizza Man character in the SovHill Pantomime that ran through the summer during 2010/2011 (Little Red Robin Hood), which was weird that they let me do that kind of thing come to think of it.

Love Mark

What’s the strangest fan encounter you’ve had?

One time a lady in Perth grabbed both Zach and Mark's nipples and tweaked them as hard as she could. One time in Perth a couple walked up to me and told me I was the ladies 'Hall Pass' and then held a really sustained pause. It was quite full on. One time at Falls festival three lads jumped over multiple fences, got by 4 security guards, found our change room, just to give us some Arnotts Biscuits.

What's your advice on how stay cool today?

This looks like a question from a silly Australian kid. Because it's hot in Australia. Just so everyone knows. Tshirts, shorts, and LOTS OF WATER lol

• Zach

Hey guys, love your work!

If you had to pick a character and/ or a sketch that the audience just really count to and became far, far more popular than you could ever have expected, which would it be?

Hello Perrythepom,

I wish I could narrow it down to just one character... but there are three characters whose popularity has blown me away. They are Mark, Zach and Broden. They are in actuality just three dumb cunts but apparently that is what you people want.

Kind regards, Sam Lingham

Who is the best boy of you three?

Hi, Max here. When we do a shoot we usually hire a gaffer to provide and do all the lighting. So they choose the best boy. The best boy to assist them as they the gaffer's assistant is called a best boy. So on shoots they are the best boy. The rest of time, we don't have a best boy which is sad. But that's why we love shooting. Because we get a best boy. Who is the best boy. We are not best boys. -Max

Just watching the live stream,

Does mark know theres a huntsman by his head?

You've really upset Mark. Well done.

How much do your dads influence your comedy?

Just wait until the 9th of February wink wink

What happened to Blondie?

In 2014 we did a show called World's Greatest Showbag. Here's a great review for it.

https://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/content/aunty-donnas-worlds-greatest-showbag

It was the first time we had YouTube fans come to our live shows and one night 6 boys in the front row wouldn't stop yelling out "What happened to Blondie?" - as this was also the first show with out him. They asked so many times out loud at random times during the show, and it became so annoying, that I turned to one of them during a sketch and whispered "He got cancer. He's dying. Let it go."

They stopped heckling after that.

Are you guys gonna get that Vince Milesi on the poddy any time again bloody soon? That guys such a thigh slapper of a hunk. Thanks. Love you. (Not Vince)

Absolutely.

He's one of our favourites and the podcast audience love him too.

-Broden

Does frogman have a Dominos near his lilypad of residence? If not, will Don Meij personally look into making sure one will open up by the first quarter of the next financial year?

There is a Dominos Craigiburn, which is about a twenty minute drive from frogmans lilypad. Unfortunately, forgman is a frog, so he can't drive, because cars are too big.

In terms of viably opening a Dominos store in the pond, it probably wouldn't work as frogs only eat flys and napoli style pizza.

What do you miss about classic brunny/melbourne when you're away?

I miss those delicious coffee's and pretentious fucks walking around with stupid clothes on. It's really hot here today and I'm not enjoying it at all. -Broden

Also, how come after all these weeks of Don Meij, famously decadent pizza mogul of Australia, we haven't heard one peep from the stupid old Italian man who also, presumably, runs his own pizza shop? Is he intimidated by Don's large national presence, or is he just largely apathetic about Domino's?

This is a great idea for a podcast and I will pitch it to the guys.

• Zach

Hello secksy fellows.

We met you in London and introduced you to Zach's doppelganger. Do you remember us?

Love you guys and horse.

was that the group of friends that featured a guy with long black hair, a beard and googly eyes? then sure.

Zach how'd you discover Don Meij? Your impersonation is so fucking goom

I honestly can't remember a time before Meij.

hey boys, how do you prep for a show?

We all have different processes. And they're constantly changing.

For me it's important to have the sort of energy that I would have in the middle of the day, plus I cant sleep for hours after a show because of adreniline - so during a run, I think like a shift worker and try to move my sleeping patterns so I'm waking up around 2pm, and go to sleep at 4am.

This is all an excuse to sleep in. haha lol lol haha.

I also do voice warm ups and stuff.

would you rather have a five piece nuggets or a six piece and a switchblade?

more like a six pack and a nintendo switch lol hahaha lol hahaha lol hahaha lol

What was it like working with Shaun Micallef? Any other aussie comedians you'd love to work with?

This is a good story.

At last year's Melbourne Comedy Festival we were at the back of our room (Max Watts) waiting for the act before us to finish. Out of nowhere Shaun Micallef walks past me (Broden) as I was stretching. He turns and goes 'Broden!'. Turns out he was a 'fan', he watches our stuff with his son, they were coming to see the show together. I was in absolute shock. He was a massive influence for us. From our perspective we had no idea he even existed. We got through the show even though we were all a bit horrified a big idol for us was in the audience.

A month or so later we got an email from Mad As Hell telling us Shaun had written a sketch for us. It was absolutely. I still can't believe it happened. He is the loveliest guy. Super genuine and kind. Career highlight for sure.

-Broden

Hey you naughty naddies, you guys New Zealand bound anytime soon? Lots of love, too many NZers x

Yeah, soon. Keep your eyes peeled for anouncements.

• zach

What became of our boy Finbar?

What becomes of any boy? Finbar was a strong boy, boney but pure of heart. He, like all boys, has become a man.

Love Mark

When will Mark's balls drop?

Surgery is next week.