What followed was a career that took him from behind the scenes to in-front of the camera, including a brief cameo as Officer Minogue in the Taika Waititi mockumentary ‘What We Do in the Shadows’, which eventually earned a reprised role in the hit spin-off TV show ‘Wellington Paranormal’.
His all-around talents have also seen him write, direct, and produce several projects for the small screen and he recently produced the critically acclaimed film, ‘Coming Home in the Dark’.
In this episode of the Between Two Beers podcast, Minogue opens up on his late start in the arts, his emergency circumcision, his relationship with alcohol, the loss of his father, what it’s like working with Jermaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Leigh Hart and Jason Hoyte, the most pivotal moment in his career and all the best stories in between.
This episode reveals the depth of character behind the comedy routines. Minogue talks about some areas of his journey that he hasn’t aired before, and the thoughtfulness of his answers and the vulnerability he showed was inspiring.
Show notes | Mike Minogue
2:39: Paul Henry should scale down and a special Between Two Beers announcement
7:21: An emergency circumcision
11:57: Reflections on growing up in Levin
16:03: Mike Minogue’s relationship with alcohol
21:48: A career as a salesman and partying in Sydney
28:10: Roadie, runner, dishwasher, actor
34:40: Losing his father
39:03: How getting fired changed the course of Mike’s career
46:10: A Karen O’Leary interlude
50:22: Making an effort with Te Ao Maori
55:40: Wellington Paranormal, Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement
58:52: Working with Leigh Hart on The Late Night Big Breakfast
1:00:46: Improvisation and the experience of working on What We Do In The Shadows
1:06:20: Unknowingly impressing The Alternative Commentary Collective
1:12:41: Hauraki Big Show
1:20:59: Coming Home in the Dark and the role of the Producer
1:26:37: Helping guide others: setting up Frank Management
1:34:41: Last words from Steve, Seamus and Mike
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