Sarah O’Neill’s creative ambitions push far outside the boundaries of her day job. Her abilities also. She is a junior audio producer at Ampel in Sydney, but also a Zillennial (yes, I smiled too at this new title. For the uninitiated it refers to those born three years into Gen Z) musical comedian and a content creator – the creator of podcast, Bevz with Sez. Sez’s musical comedy and vlogs live on her social media accounts; she connects with her audience on TikTok; “but obviously, I keep a strict Sarah only content rule for Linkedin, hey I’m not that wild,” she notes.
The Stable: Tell me about yourself and how you became Sez
O’Neill: As a comedian and producer, I found a great home at Ampel. We develop a fantastic slate of comedy gigs here at Ampel; I am the lead producer on The Swab with Georgie Carroll. Working with A-list comedians is a dream come true not only do I learn about producing comedy, but I see what it’s like to be a performer behind the scenes. Where did I start? I’ve been performing music, dance and comedy since I was eight years old, but when I got involved at SYN community radio, I fell in love with creating audio. Then I started producing podcasts independently, and I quickly realised that this was what I wanted to do with my time. The hosting aspect and the creative and development process of a podcast are genuinely thrilling. I started off volunteering then freelancing as I built my portfolio and network. Why not be a comedian and an audio producer, I thought? My improv comedy podcast, CHILD OF 98, reached the top charts in Comedy on Apple Podcasts and was in New and Noteworthy for five months. I’ve had a different experience from most, starting my audio career in the pandemic. I’ve never known life in the office, and remote work is my norm. So, doing a few things simultaneously feels more realistic as I’m in the comfort of my own space most of the time.
The Stable: Why do you think creative people need something “on the side.”
O’Neill: I believe it’s fundamental for the mental health of any creative to be expressing themself in some way, whether that’s painting, journalling or performing on stage. Yes, you might not always get paid for your creativity, but it’s essential to be consistent and remember that your creativity is a strength. My comedy and writing complement my work-life in such a significant way. Going to the gym or walking after work gives you endorphins and a sense of pride. So does my creativity and going to stand up or creating content.
The Stable: What’s Bevz with Sez. How and why did you start it?
O’Neill: The idea of Bevz With Sez was born in lockdown in my share house in 2021. For a while, I wanted to develop a podcast idea where I could interview comics, musos and content creators. I wanted it to feel original, fun, uplifting, and something I hadn’t seen in the Aussie podcast world. Then I saw a TikTok comment on one of my posts saying, “when lockdown is over, I have to have a Bev with Sez”. Suddenly, I felt inspired by the idea of recording or filming a podcast in the pub. I sat on the concept and workshopped it for a couple of months before pitching it to Josh Butt at Ampel. He then asked me to workshop it more with the team and develop an angle that separated my podcast from others. With the help of Brittany Frappell and Justin Macarthur, I wrote an even better treatment and then it was go-time. We’ve been in the development and planning stages for the past couple of months but plan to record in April this year. I’m beyond delighted that Bevz With Sez will be an Ampel Original Podcast.
The Stable: Challenges and achievements so far? (What are the ones that matter to you?)
O’Neill: A challenge has been Covid for sure. I came up to Sydney to record a pilot episode for Bevz With Sez; with a great team ready to go and energy high, things started to go downhill with outbreaks of Covid in Sydney. We were getting ready for the shoot when one of our guests went into isolation. Then the pub location had bartenders who got Covid, so we had to find somewhere else. Josh found a second location in Surry Hills, but with numbers spiking and Christmas around the corner, the safety of the talent and crew was too important to me, so we cancelled again. I felt so bad that everyone had put so much time into getting this shoot to happen, but I had to make a decision I thought was best. So I sat back and started a new plan for our pilot episode.
Achievements have been getting our audio trailer ready and doing the cover art. Luke Sewell in our production team at Ampel is genuinely brilliant at what he does and has illustrated the Bevz With Sez cover art. These things can seem small, but it sets the mood, and it’s exciting to have content to show to people and create some hype.
The Stable: What’s next for Bevz with Sez?
O’Neill: With the help and guidance from the team at Ampel and primarily my executive producer, Stuart Buckland, we will record episodes in Melbourne and Sydney pubs and blast Bevz With Sez on social media. A social media strategy is indispensable for any podcast in 2022, especially for my fellow Gen Zers and Millennials. This is how we discover podcasts, and if our mates are sharing podcasts with us, you can bet it’s through DMS on Instagram, TikTok or other social media platforms. Our Ampel team has been a great support in building the show’s strategy, and with my own experience on TikTok and live comedy gigs, I know my audience will love this.
Bevs With Sez will grow as time passes, but my focus is my audience and being a positive voice for our generation. I think storytelling is an excellent vehicle for change and even better if you can make people laugh. Representation in media has come a long way. I am a queer, plus-sized comedian, and I hope Bevs With Sez helps people feel seen.
My plan for Bevz with Sez is the first season leaves people craving more Sez energy. I know a lot of my audience felt lonely during Covid, so I hope this is inspirational to people who suffer from anxiety and don’t feel like having a bev with their mate, sometimes. I hope to see Bevs With Sez as a cult internet classic. We need to see more Gen Z women and queers in podcasts and comedy. Hopefully, Bevz With Sez lives on forever because I am all in.
We launch in May, but you can follow me now: @sez.com.au
