Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things Pierre Novellie
Mar 11, 2026
Pierre Novellie, a sharp stand-up comic and podcaster, shares his quirky passions. He raves about beef rituals and steak lore. He explains why gaming and puzzle worlds comfort him on tour. He champions fiction and urges more reading, especially for men.
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Beef Shapes Taste And Memory
- Pierre's love of beef shapes his food preferences from cuts to sauces and even childhood biltong habits.
- He contrasts South African gamier steak and biltong with British/Irish rich beef and prefers peppercorn or minimal salt for quality cuts.
Stop Writing While You're Hot
- Stop writing while you're hot to preserve momentum and improve ideas overnight.
- Pierre copied Graham Greene's habit (500–1,000 words/day) and found enforced stopping kept him excited and more creative the next day.
Thunder As Cozy High Altitude Memory
- Thunder evokes safety and nostalgia for Pierre because Johannesburg's high-altitude storms were frequent and dramatic.
- He links big-sky thunderstorms to quick sleep, counting seconds between lightning and thunder, and childhood comfort.
