Jokes, Judaism, and Autism: One Comedian's Journey to Understanding His Family, with Dave Cohen

Mid-life Men: the mental health podcast

In this episode of Midlife Men, Dave Cohen, comedian, novelist, and comedy writing teacher, discusses his relationship with his parents. His upbringing in a close-knit Jewish community in Leeds, shaped by the Holocaust and the establishment of Israel, lays the groundwork for a complicated familial dynamic.
As he navigates adolescent rebellion, moves to London to pursue a comedy career, and challenges his father's firm pro-Israel stance, underlying concerns of family, identity, and mental health surface. Comedy becomes his release, with self-deprecating humour and Jewish-themed jokes defining his acts. Dave's path sheds light on parental acceptance, the struggle for belonging, and how generational gaps and undiagnosed conditions affect relationships.
Despite never truly connecting with his father, the gradual understanding of his father's autism brings understanding and insight into their past interactions. Through introspection and empathy, Dave shares the importance of seeing things from his parents' perspective and the significance of unresolved family dynamics in shaping his personal and professional life.

Dave also discusses the potential connection between autism, mental health, and comedy, suggesting that individuals with autism might find solace in forms of self-expression like stand-up comedy. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, Dave emphasises the importance of self-awareness, understanding others' perspectives, and resolving familial conflicts before it's too late.

His story concludes with the realisation that while some bonds and understandings may never materialise, the journey towards comprehension and acceptance is an ongoing process echoing the complexities and nuances of family dynamics and mental health.
To find out more about Dave, and his work as a comedian, broadcaster, comedy writer, teacher, and author, visit his website: https://www.davecohen.org.uk/.