The name Sarah Hillier is synonymous with the comedy scene.
As the creator of improv supergroup Squad Goals and comedy album Inessa and Sarah Get You Through the Day, she has established herself as a formidable presence in the world of comedy and improv. And now, she’s taken a leap into ethereal comedy with her podcast The Funny Thing About Ghosts, hosted on the Sonar Network.
Each episode, Hillier and her guests delve into the mysterious realm of ghosts, paranormal events and peculiarities – anything that sends shivers down spines. When we meet to discuss the podcast, Hillier shares that she has “always been interested in the paranormal and otherworldly topics. As long as I can remember, I’ve heard stories and always wanted to hear more. We used to listen to a radio show called Coast to Coast when I was a kid, and I’ve been interested in doing something like that ever since.” After a brief pause, her eyes flash. “I feel oddly connected to what we can’t see, and I NEED to know what’s out there!”
Hillier’s journey into comedy began at the Second City Toronto, where she wrote and starred in two award-winning mainstage shows. Her comedic prowess extends to the Comedy Bar’s Sunday Night Live, and her TV and film credits include appearances in Transformers: Bot Bots (Netflix), Tammy’s Always Dying (TIFF), and Frat Pack (Lionsgate). Dubbed by The Grid Toronto “Toronto’s answer to Amy Poehler, Hillier balances the world of comedy with the warmth of her personal life. She lives with her “very funny and lovely husband” Andy Hull (who helps produce and sometimes co-hosts the podcast) and their two children Harry and Owen, plus her cat Leia.
Drawing from her rich background in comedy – which has been recognized with multiple Canadian Comedy Awards – Hillier deliberately merges humour with the supernatural in The Funny Thing About Ghosts: “I have listened to a bunch of paranormal podcasts over the years, which I love. But I realized there was definitely a place to add some silliness and fun to the genre. Some ghost stories are just so funny, and I really wanted to showcase that.” But fear not, serious paranormalists. Because she is a “full-on believer in all of it, it’s all coming from a very genuine place. But then we find the funny,” she smiles.
Even better, The Funny Thing About Ghosts doesn’t just promise chills and laughs: it’s packed with guests who share their own paranormal experiences. The show’s guest roster is an intriguing blend of comedians, improvisers and experts who offer diverse perspectives on the supernatural. They include Ann Pornel, host of the Great Canadian Baking Show, Survivor winner Erika Casupanan, and renowned comedian Colin Mochrie, who joins her in the first episode. Hillier singles Mochrie out for his humour and authenticity: “Colin is always so funny, and of course, he is funny on his episode. But he gets real, too. He has a ghost story to tell, and that’s always the most exciting thing: when a guest comes on with a real story.”
As a seasoned performer on Second City Toronto’s Mainstage, Hillier’s background in live comedy performance infuses her podcasting style with a versatile flair: “Performing live is my first love in comedy, and I do it any chance I get. I think it really gives you a good base for everything else.” Her experience in improv has proven invaluable in discussing unexpected ghost stories and weird paranormal experiences: “Improv makes you say yes to other people’s ideas, which is super-important when talking about ghost stories. I want to say ‘Yes’ to the possibility that every story I hear is true. Life’s more fun when you say ‘yes’!”
In case you’re wondering what terrifies Hillier the most, it’s not ghosts and the supernatural. It’s the extraterrestrial: “I have been very afraid of aliens since I was a kid, and still am.” After another brief pause, her eyes flash again. “I really think I WILL encounter them someday!!”
In a world that’s got plenty of unknown and needs all the laughter it can find, The Funny Thing About Ghosts offers listeners a ticket on a gripping and chuckle-inducing journey into the enigmatic. Climb aboard. Just be ready to jump . . .then laugh, then jump and laugh again.
Click here to listen to The Funny Thing About Ghosts.
© Arpita Ghosal, Sesayarts Magazine, 2023
