Before Aunty Donna got big, you were in a Coles commercial for years. Do people recognise you in the street if you are in a Coles ad?

No one ever did. In fact, when the ad was airing, my face was on the little conveyor belt dividers and I would hold it up next to my face to show the checkout person it was me. I’d say, “Look!” And the poor checkout person would be like, “What? Do you want to buy that?” I think people don’t associate real humans with the people who are in the ads, I think they believe they’re humans made entirely by Coles and Woolworths, particularly if they’re in a big red suit and they’re acting crazy. So, no one ever clocked me, unfortunately.

It was actually a fun bit. I needed that money so desperately at that time because Aunty Donna had just started and I had no money. The day we shot it, I was like, “This is gonna be the most embarrassing thing I’ve ever done, and everyone in my family is going to see me dancing around on TV every day, but at least I’ll be able to keep doing this comedy thing for a bit longer.” And then it just kept going and going and going for years.

You have an excellent voice. Has it ever come in handy in your day-to-day life?

I think it’s actually probably hindered me because when I speak normally I have a quite normal, high-ish voice – but I also have the ability to make it go very low. So when people meet me, they think I am going to be this debonair James Bond type, that Broden is this handsome, beautiful man. And then I show up and say, “How you gaurn?” Most people say things like “it’s such a disappointment to meet you” and “I’m so sad about this”. So it’s actually worked the opposite.

What’s been your most memorable interaction with an Aunty Donna fan?

We’ve had fans who have passed away and we have had moments with them in their last days. When the Netflix show came out, we sent a script to a fan who was dying. As a comedy group, there can be so much negativity online but one of the great, genuine honours is being able to meet people who you’ve had a profound impact on – or they have a profound impact on you, which is something I didn’t expect when making the stupidest sketch comedy in the world.

There’s sometimes a bit of pressure with comedy to be talking about hot-button topics or wanting to be seen to be making a difference. But we have a mantra that we just wanted to be a break for people, a mental reprieve. That’s our goal. So to see when that has an impact is really, really nice.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

I don’t even remember who said this but it’s “just wait 10 minutes”. I think you can apply that to lots of different things. Whenever you’re in a conflict or a point of tension, or you need to make a decision, just wait 10 minutes and see how you feel. You’ll be amazed how often you change your mind or feel differently. It’s incredibly valuable to be able to overcome emotional moments. When I was a creative in my 20s I didn’t wait 10 minutes. Now that I’m in my twilight years I do.

What pets do you have, what are their names and what are their nicknames?

Two years ago I was at work and my partner called to say, “Don’t be mad – I’m going to pick up a dog.” His name is Shadow. He was sort of a guard dog in rural Griffith, and was treated quite badly. He and his brother used to get out and run around Griffith. His brother got a cat so they put him down and they were going to put down Shadow too because his family didn’t want him any more. So we got him.

Shadow is a big brindle staffy with one eye. He’s very reactive and a bit afraid of new people but he’s the best thing that has happened to me and my partner in our whole time together. He’s my absolute favourite person. He’s a good boy.

Which book, album or film do you always return to and why?

My new favourite book is Helen Garner’s The Season. She is one of Australia’s great writers and this new book is her hyper-focusing on her grandson’s footy team in west Melbourne. It is my favourite because not only is it a cool Melbourne story and connected to footy but it also feels like hanging out with your nanna.

What is your most controversial pop culture opinion?

There have been a lot of great female pop stars on the rise. So you’ve got Charli xcx, who has been around for a while, Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter – but I think they’ve been surpassed. Do you know who’s going to be the next one? It’s 100% Doechii. She is the icon of the next decade. I can’t believe how good she is. I can’t stop watching her Tiny Desk Concert and listening to her album. She’s so good!

If you could change the size of any animal to keep as a pet, what would it be?

I think I just want bigger dogs. I’d make an enormous poodle, the size of a giraffe. I think that could be cool, because dogs are man’s best friend. They’re the animals who want to be around us. I want an elephant-sized staffy. Yeah, he would probably kill people but I’d love him.

What’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a celebrity?

Ed Helms produced our Netflix show in the US – he helped us sell it. He came into all the pitch meetings and told everyone we were good – so he lied to their faces, basically. His production company is called Pacific Electric Picture Company and they have this beautiful office. Hollywood offices are incredible – they all have their own aesthetic and they throw money at every thing. So on the first day I met Ed I’d been speaking to him for about five minutes and said, “Love the office, by the way. It’s so cool. Really nice.” And he was like, “Oh thanks. People love that show.” I was panicking, going, “No, no, I’m not a schmuck!”

I AM a big fan of The Office though. It’s like saying to Seinfeld, “By the way, I love Seinfeld.” I felt sick in my tummy.

Do you have a nemesis?

Collingwood football club. All 120,000 of them.

What are you secretly really good at?

I’m really good at being bad at the video game NBA 2K and I’m really good at taking the abuse from 14-year-old boys who call me a loser. That’s my secret talent – I am able to sit through boys being mean to me.

• Aunty Donna are touring their new live show Drem to the UK, Ireland and Australia in 2025: see here for dates