Standard Issue Podcast

Protecting our elderly, with Kate Snell

Fri, 01 May 2026 01:36:00 -0000

David Barton, a Southport-based care home owner who preyed on wealthy, elderly residents to fund a lavish lifestyle, was jailed for 21 years in 2018. In today's podcast, Hannah chats to Kate Snell about her new book, The Care Home Swindler, which recounts Barton's case, and why, at a time where we don't always respect the elderly, it remains important.

Kate's book is available to buy here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-care-home-swindler/kate-snell/9781408723425

More about supporting Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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The Bush Telegraph: The (G)rapes of wrath

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

If the thought of a rapist having his cock mangled by very sharp plastic teeth is your thing, have we got news for you. We have! In fact, Mick and Jen have got not one, but two positive stories about rape for you this week. Albeit served with a shit sorbet of some truly horrible stats around domestic violence and suicide.

In SOTW, Mick (49-year-old mother of none) is choosing not to judge Cameron Diaz and inviting you to join her, while in JOTB, Jen’s chatting darts, swooning at Allyson Felix and sharing the most Trumpesque demand not to be made by Trump.

Rape Crisis has a 24-hour support line: 0808 500 2222 or online https://247sexualabusesupport.org.uk/

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Rated or Dated: Harold and Maude

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 02:10:00 -0000

The ultimate in age-defying relationships turns 55 this year, but how has Hal Ashby's black comedy aged? Starring everybody's favourite manic pixie dream sex pensioner, Ruth Gordon, and soundtracked by the then Cat Stevens - what's not to like? Right?

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Sudi Pigott considers the anchovy

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Journalist and author Sudi Pigott has spent nearly three decades writing about food and travel. In her new book, Consider the Anchovy: a Journey in Pursuit of the Little Fish With the Big Flavour, she pays homage to one of her favourite ingredients, albeit one she thinks is in need of a rebrand.

Jen chats to Sudi about why we should consider the anchovy, 'foodie' culture for the masses, and who inspires her when it comes to cooking.

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Alexandra Wood on Hilary Mantel, Thatcher and political violence

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

When back in 2014, the Guardian published Hilary Mantel’s short story The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, it sparked intense controversy. Critics called it a "distasteful fantasy" and "dangerous nonsense”, while others, our Mickey included, would argue that actually it’s a smart, creative exploration of a polarised political era from a literary heavyweight.

It’s also now a play, with Mantel’s short story in the safe hands of playwright Alexandra Wood. As if that wasn’t enough for Mick to want to get Alex on the Zoom, it’s opening in Liverpool, famously a bastion of anti-Thatcher sentiment.

They’re chatting the brilliance of Mantel, alternative pasts and futures, Maggie’s legacy and political violence.

The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher opens at the Liverpool Everyman on Saturday 2 May and runs until May 23. Tickets and more info available from everymanplayhouse.com

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Outside The Box April 2026

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 01:08:00 -0000

Looking for some TV suggestions? We have some. So that worked out well. Join us as we chat about Deadloch, The Pitt, Scarpetta, Euphoria, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, Secret Garden, The Dinosaurs, Babies and Bait.

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The Bush Telegraph: Ranting and raving (I'm raving)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 02:20:00 -0000

What's Jen got in common with some pensioners in Barnet? Find out in this week's BT as she and Hannah talk about women's health, some bad news for women and girls in Myanmar, the "womanosphere", running marathons while pregnant and throwing some moves while middle aged or elderly.

You can read the Standard Issue Substack here: https://standardissuepodcast.substack.com/

The Government's Women's Health Strategy is here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69df5d7261d2e8e9b9e42d2e/renewed-womens-health-strategy-for-england-web-accessible.pdf

More about the Pachamama Project here: https://www.thepachamamaproject.org/

Find out more about Hotsy Totsy's family raves here: https://hotsytotsyraves.com/

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Rated or Dated: Excalibur (1981)

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Jonathan Boorman’s epic thesp fest was a big hit at the box office and a surprise watch in the Dunleavy household. The cast list is impressive. The lighting is dark. The dialogue is as clanking as the shiny armour. And the laughs come thick, fast and mostly not on purpose. Did Mick, Hannah and Jen have a good time with all the thrusting, grunting, Arthurian legend and whole load of unexpected Geoff Tipps? And does the answer to that mean it’s a good film? Find out!

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Suze Kundu's good news is out of this world

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

A space mission that passed the Bechdel test? There’s never been such times! Mick needed no further prompting to get NASA’s finest, Dr Suze Kundu, on the Zoom to chat about bright spot amid the gloom: Artemis II. And not content with that being a feel-good story for the ages, Suze came armed with some other women-centred tales of joy in STEM.

As ever, there’s extra chat for our £5 patreons. And so if you want to know a bit more on how positive this mission has been for women in STEM, learn what’s next for Artemis and hear Suze crying at Carroll the lunar crater, visit patreon.com/standardissue.

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The Hunger, with Katriona O'Sullivan

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

After being raised by parents with addictions, professor of psychology at Maynooth University, Katriona O’Sullivan turned her experiences into bestselling non-fiction book Poor. Her follow-up, Hungry: A Biography of My Body, explores how poverty, and the sexual abuse she endured as a child, have shaped her relationship with her body.

Jen chats to Katriona about the vulnerability of neglected children and the adults they grow up to be, and the harm caused by society’s obsession with women shrinking themselves.

Help and support is available for survivors of all types of childhood abuse, via the National Association for People Abused in Childhood.

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Flicking #72: Left-Handed Girl

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Shih-Ching Tsou’s debut feature film caused a stir at Cannes, and tickled many a reviewer’s pickle, but flew under the radar when it landed on Netflix last November. A shame for many reasons, not least because it’s by a woman about women, as the iPhone camera tracks single mum Shu-Fen, and her two daughters – five-year-old I-Jing and university-aged I-Ann – as they try to make a fresh start in their home city of Taipei. What will Yosra and Hannah make of this refreshingly wang-light pick from Mick?

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The Bush Telegraph: This is not an emergency podcast

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 03:10:00 -0000

Everything is totally normal in America, right? This week, special guest Helen Lewis stops by to talk to Hannah about Trump's war, Hegseth's row with the Pope, AI doom-mongering, the US at 250, and other assorted insanity. Who you gonna call? No really, who?

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Rated or Dated: Josie and the Pussycats (2001)

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan’s teen musical comedy gave a well-deserved ribbing to the advertising and music execs of the early ‘00s, as well as teen culture in general. But at what point does this satire become part of the problem? Shall we ask Tara Reid? And what were they putting in Sunny Delight in the late ‘90s?

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Ila Colley on the trouble-making Elizabeth Allen

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

The fascinating story of Elizabeth Allen takes us from East London to a remote woodland cabin, to Hollywood and back, before settling in Coventry, where Compton Verney is exhibiting the artist’s absurd, funny and boldly prophetic work 60 years after her debut.

Jen catches up with Ila Colley, Compton Verney’s curator of folk art and the exhibition, Troublemakers and Prophets: Elizabeth Allen and Other Visionary Artists, to chat about Allen’s extraordinary life and work.

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Beneath the Waves

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 01:56:00 -0000

A new adaptation of Virginia Woolf's The Waves opens at London's Jermyn Street Theatre next week. Hannah chats to playwright Flora Wilson Brown about the appeal of Woolf to young people, the issues with adapting her work and the loss of “scenes” in the modern world.

Grab yourself a ticket here: https://www.jermynstreettheatre.co.uk/show/the-waves/

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Helen Thorn has faced big change and come back stronger

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

It’s fair to say author, Scummy Mummy and self-proclaimed running nerd Helen Thorn has dealt with some pretty hefty shit in the last few years. Her new book, How to face big change and come back stronger, is a hopeful, comforting, funny look at how to navigate some of life’s biggest challenges: change, grief and loss of self. It’s packed with practical wisdom from a plethora of women who have walked the walk.

Mick caught up with Helen to talk endurance, navigating life looking very different, growth, ditching bad habits, and – of course – lasagne.

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The Cost of Trust

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:30:00 -0000

Surgeon Ian Paterson was jailed in 2017 for conducting botched and often unnecessary operations on his patients, who were predominantly women. Hannah chats to Deborah Douglas and Tracy King about their new book, The Cost of Trust: The Butcher Surgeon and the Scandal that Shamed British Medicine, their experiences of being "cared for" by Paterson and the battle to ensure it can't happen again.

This episode contains some pretty graphic descriptions of surgery
You can buy The Cost of Trust here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-cost-of-trust/deborah-douglas/tracy-king/9780008712938

To hear the full interview, join the Patreon supporter gang here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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The Bush Telegraph: Is that a really long scroll, or are you just pleased to see us?

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

What could go wrong in an unregulated fertility clinic, asks our Jen while discussing a BBC report on families seeking fertility treatment in Northern Cyprus. Mick has better news about guidance aimed at making public spaces safer for women and girls, and there's a glimmer of hope from the Middle East. Elsewhere, the Daily Mail invites us to play a Guess Who? of “bodycounts” in SOTW, and there’s some uplifting news in Jenny Off The Blocks about sports science for female athletes, and the upcoming Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals.

Donate to the British Red Cross’s Gaza Crisis Appeal here.

You can find out more about the University of Portsmouth’s research group in breast health here.

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Rated or Dated: Chariots of Fire (1981)

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:18:00 -0000

Is it the Devil's work to run on a Sunday? Who's even heard of Cambridge University? And who will win a mini-break with Nigel Havers? Find out the answers to these and many more questions as we watch the classic '80s Oscar (and God) botherer.

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Samira Ahmed’s inside the box

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Journalist, writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed is a busy woman. Through the Square Window, her new(ish) podcast with Graham Kibble-White guides listeners through UK TV of decades gone by. It’s nostalgia with a keen critical eye, examining what TV reflected about and indeed brought to British culture. With telly very much still at the forefront, Samira’s also penned the forthcoming BFI Film Classics volume on 1964 Beatles’ movie A Hard Day’s Night.

She chats to Mick about TV, its role in our daily life, how her mum taught men to cook, and what the telly can tell us about a social moment. And of course, the Fab Four’s first film and what makes it such a great ride.

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Elinor Cleghorn on the radical history of mothering

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0000

The work of mothering has been undervalued for centuries, relegated to the sidelines thanks to patriarchal control of history. In her new book, A Women’s Work: Reclaiming the Radical History of Mothering, acclaimed author Dr Elinor Cleghorn brings stories of mothering out of the shadows to show how the women in them shaped history.

Jen chats to Elinor about the book, the denigration of mothering as “women’s work”, and the lessons we could learn (as well a few we could forget) from the past.

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Outside The Box March 2026

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 02:36:00 -0000

In this month's round-up of the best and worst TV, we're talking about A Woman of Substance, Gone, Rooster, The Lady, DTF St Louis and Louis Theroux: Inside The Manosphere.

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The Bush Telegraph: Because we got high

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Hannah’s been looking for light at the end of the endlessly depressing news-tunnel and found it in the case of seven Adams County sheriff’s officers vs Joseph “Afroman” Foreman, as well as some delightful canine antics. There’s less happy news about top schools excluding SEND pupils, but a little Brucey bonus if you like not retraumatising victims of domestic abuse. Elsewhere, a gold rush ensues at the athletics, and Jenny Off The Blocks also ponders new FIFA rules on coaches in women’s football.

Want to support us and enjoy additional content? Of course you do. And you can: patreon.com/standardissue.

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Rated or Dated: Best In Show (2001)

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Christopher Guest’s second time in the director’s chair involved him putting on a dog show. Co-written with Eugene Levy, this fake documentary about the people getting their pooches ready for the prestigious Mayflower Dog Show (and then the show itself) stars Michael McKean, Catherine O’Hara, Jane Lynch, Parker Posey, Fred Willard, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock and Jennifer Coolidge. And loads of dogs. Will Mick, Hannah and Jen give it a blue rosette or send it home with its tail between its legs?

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Now Tat Effby’s baking with gas

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

You might know Tat Effby as social media sensation The Caketoonist, sharing her brilliant, doable recipes with a hefty slice of humour all over the social media platforms. Tat’s now an author. Her first recipe book, Bake Your Sweet Time, takes traditional flavour combinations and puts them in recipes that vary in length and difficulty, depending on how much time you want to spend in the kitchen. It’s a triumph. She chats to Mick about caking, baking, and taking sweet liberties.

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Jess Baxter on Tracey Emin's Second Life

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Dame Tracey Emin burst onto the art scene in the 1990s and controversy has followed her ever since. Like in 1999, when her Turner Prize-nominated My Bed caused a media frenzy. Emin's raw, autobiographical and confessional work is very personal yet also platforms the wider female experience through its themes of abuse, sexuality, poverty, and reproductive rights.

Jen chats to Jess Baxter, assistant curator of major new exhibition Tracey Emin: A Second Life at the Tate Modern, about the artist, her work, and the expression of the female experience.

Want to support us and enjoy additional content? Of course you do. And you can: patreon.com/standardissue.

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Relatively speaking, with Catherine Carr

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Some 80% of us have at least one sibling, which makes it so commonplace we don't often give it much thought. But we should, says journalist Catherine Carr, and in today's podcast, she talks to Hannah about memory, loss, estrangement, birth order and her new book Who's The Favourite? The Loving, Messy Realities of Sibling Relationships.

* You can buy Catherine's book here

* Listen to her podcast, Relatively, here

* And support Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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The Bush Telegraph: Better not get a Travelodge

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Mick have braved this week’s onslaught of fresh hell. They’ve even tried turning it off and on again, but no, the news keeps newsing. And so they’re chatting the timescales of “immediate” change, archaic criminal law going through the Lords, ice cream and landmines in Croatia, and the sad slaying of the Buffy reboot.

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Rated or Dated: Jack & Sarah (1996)

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Dench, McKellan, Atkins, (Richard E) Grant! Who doesn’t love a bit of Tim Sullivan’s weepie ‘90s romcom? Hmmm, maybe Mickey and Hannah. Maybe even Jen herself. But can its sublime cast or Simply Red save this week’s offering?

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Helen Bain on Syliva Plath’s daffodil days

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

For her debut novel, Helen Bain chose one of her heroes as her focus: poet, author, arch-confessionist and genius, Sylvia Plath. The Daffodil Days spans a year and a half in Plath’s life, during which she and husband Ted Hughes head to Devon seeking the idyll of country living.

During that time, Plath completed The Bell Jar, gave birth to a son, Nicholas, and wrote the poems that would be posthumously published as Ariel. But she also threw herself full-heartedly into the Devon life, and it’s this and what it tells us about Plath, which Helen so beautifully explores in The Daffodil Days.

She chats to Mick about Plath, female genius, daffodils, hope and bellringing.

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Washing up with Isabel Daly

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Despite very little experience in feature filmmaking, director Isabel Daly teamed up with writer Issy Brett and actor/writer/producer, Carys Glynne, to make Washed Up, their debut feature film on a shoestring budget. The delightful story of a Cornish artist who accidentally falls in love with a selkie premieres at this year’s BFI Flare, the British Film Institute’s annual LGBTQIA+ film festival.

Jen caught up with Isabel to talk about filmmaking, queer representation in film, Airbnb culture, and the joy of a 90-minute movie.

Washed Up screens at BFI Flare on March 25 and 28 and tickets are available now.

Want to support us and enjoy additional content? Of course you do. And you can: patreon.com/standardissue.

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Flicking #71: I Swear

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Kirk Jones’s biographical drama based on the true life story of John Davidson, the man who taught Britain about Tourette Syndrome, is currently no 1 in the Netflix UK charts. It bagged lead actor Robert Aramayo the best actor gong at the recent Baftas, an awards ceremony that led to the film having a fourth act no one was expecting.

Hannah picked it as her next Flicking choice waaaay before any of that occurred. She, Yosra and Mick chat about this frank, powerful, gut-wrenching and funny account of a man still bringing much-needed awareness to a still misunderstood condition.

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The Bush Telegraph: Reports of our cognitive decline are greatly exaggerated

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Turns out we all just need to be a little more Linford, a little less Peter. Just one life lesson from Mick and Jen’s look at the news this week. There’s also the issue of savings versus compensation, former politicians you probably do not want to find in your mate’s bathroom, an important Mumsnet report into medical misogyny in Sexism of the Week, and news on the Iranian women’s football team in Jenny Off the Blocks.

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Rated or Dated: Lone Star (1996)

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 02:56:00 -0000

Long regarded as the peak of American indie filmmaking in the 1990s, John Sayles neo-western/murder mystery has a cracking cast and asks a huge moral question. Hannah thinks it's way ahead of its time but will Mickey and Jen agree?

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Poorna Bell wants more

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

When she turned 40, journalist and author Poorna Bell decided she’d had enough of being told her best years were behind her – not least because she was seeing so many older women absolutely killing it in their various and varied arenas. With that in mind she set about looking at the rules set for women by society, questioning how and why they’d come to be, which in turn became the basis for her new book: She Wanted More: Reimagine your future and live by your rules.

Jen chats to Poorna about why society writes off older women, our fears around ageing, and the art of not giving a shit.

Want to support us and enjoy additionalcontent? Of course you do. And you can: patreon.com/standardissue.

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Paula Varjack on Nine Sixteenths and changing the narrative

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

A “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Superbowl halftime show caused a huge furore and changed the course of Janet Jackson’s career for decades, while her fellow performer, Justin “Trousersnake” Timberlake thrived. Multidisciplinary artist Paula Varjack’s play, Nine Sixteenths, examines the impact of the infamous “Nipplegate” incident.

Jen chats to Paula about the play, the forces of racism, sexism and ageism that conspired to derail Jackson, and the hypocrisy that underlines pop culture.

As ever, there’s more available for our £5 and above patreons, and you can become one of those by visiting patreon.com/standardissue.

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The Bush Telegraph: Just because you still have your teeth, doesn't mean you're not trying

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 03:52:00 -0000

Sure, the news is all about the Middle East, but what else is going on? Quite a bit. In this week's Bush Telegraph, Hannah and Jen talk about how "baby brain" is actually good for women, the Telegraph's literally unbelievable school fees story, good news about homelessness in Wales, and sexism in the workplace. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, there's ice hockey, tennis and football.

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Rated or Dated: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Fava beans and Chianti all round as Mick’s picked Jonathan Demme’s Oscars-dominating 1991 psychological horror. Or is it a thriller? Other questions addressed include: how’s Hannah feeling about Scott Glenn; does the film have feminist credentials; what’s with the stereotyping, and how much ham is simply too much ham for Jen’s mum Cath? Fffffffffffffff. Etc.

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Annabel Port is adrift but singing

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:06:00 -0000

Talented multi-hyphenate Annabel Port’s The Other British Museum is a joyful collection of potted histories of recognisable items and our Mick cannot get enough. And so, she got Annabel on the Zoom to chat museum entries, the smell of Imperial Leather, the genesis of weekends, podcasting with Geoff Lloyd, and making a career out of your social awkwardness.

As ever, there’s more available for our £5 and above patreons, and you can become one of those by visiting patreon.com/standardissue.

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Understanding Tourette's with Jess Thom

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 03:28:00 -0000

If the ongoing furore surrounding last week's Baftas has proved anything, it's how poorly understood Tourette Syndrome still is. Hannah chats to campaigner, comedian and the woman behind Touretteshero, Jess Thom, about living with oppositional tics, why everyone supports the disabled community (until they don't), and how the vital Access to Work scheme is being neglected.

Find out more about Touretteshero here: https://www.touretteshero.com/about/

And more about supporting Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Outside the Box: February 2024

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:09:00 -0000

In this month's round-up of the best and worst TV right now, we’re talking about Under Salt Marsh, Small Prophets, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, Dirty Business and Lord of the Flies. And a surprising amount about caravans. Just because.

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Putting Sister Rosetta Tharpe back in the spotlight

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 02:32:00 -0000

Marie & Rosetta, which opens at London’s Soho Place on Saturday, tells the story of legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and her friendship and creative partnership with Marie Knight, a gospel singer. Hannah chats to Monique Touko, the play's director, about music that makes you feel stuff, working with Beverley Knight and a lot more.

Tickets for Marie & Rosetta are here: https://sohoplace.org/shows/marie-and-rosetta/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23068681375&gbraid=0AAAAAozHdPUyYvHqpNUidEGUZ2sz7hDwN&gclid=CjwKCAiA2PrMBhA4EiwAwpHyC0uVL2-RUrJpEafBHZ-6t9zJ1Op22_g3lL46PDnjpYHbkxdGJ66odxoCXYEQAvD_BwE

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Rated or Dated: Wildcats (1986)

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

A sports comedy? Starring Goldie Hawn and featuring the big-screen debuts of Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson? OK, we’ll bite. But will director Michael Ritchie’s tale of a single mum coaching a men’s American football team score a touchdown, or will Jen, Mick and Hannah send it for a gratuitous early bath?

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Deborah Cohen explains how the internet hijacked health

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

When it comes to health, award-winning broadcaster and expert medical journalist Dr Deborah Cohen knows what she’s talking about. Unlike a lot of people on the internet. And that’s because she puts the work in. Unlike a lot of people on the internet.

In a world where wellness influencers and podcast bros hawking wearables and supplements are becoming more trusted than the NHS, Deborah’s fascinating book, Bad Influence: How the Internet Hijacked Our Health, is an essential exploration of modern medicine versus 21st century snake oil. Mick was champing at the bit to find out more.

As ever, there's extra chat for our £5 and above patreons, and you can find out more about that here.

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AK Blakemore and Natasha Rickman shalt not suffer a witchfinder

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

England's witch trials remain a fascinating and relevant subject. They're the foundation of AK Blakemore's 2021 historical novel The Manningtree Witches, which has now been adapted for the stage and premieres later this month at Colchester's Mercury Theatre – a stone’s throw from the town where infamous Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins persecuted, tortured and executed local women. Jen got on the Zoom with AK and the Mercury's artistic director Natasha Rickman to talk about the importance of theatre, consistent public interest in the 17th century witch trials, and making Matthew Hopkins look a right wally.

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Barking up the right tree, with Catherine Dyson

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:55:00 -0000

Catherine Dyson's latest play, The Last Picture, focuses on an emotional support dog, Sam, who is taking a group of school children on a trip around an exhibit focusing on Europe in 1939. She chats to Hannah about empathy, dogs, antisemitism, audiobooks and the National Theatre.

You can see The Last Picture in Manchester, Bristol and Guildford. More details and tickets here: https://ett.org.uk/our-work/the-last-picture/

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The Bush Telegraph: Scandi goals? Sort of

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

What does a “streamlined” UK border look like? And if you vote for the MP of one party, should they be allowed to defect to another? These are just two questions Jen and Mick pose as they rootle around this week's news. What did they find? Well, there's a new immigration policy bothering British dual-citizens and, upsettingly as ever, more from the man who’d like to bother many more besides: Nigel *groans forever* Farage. There’s better news from the EU about companies discarding textiles, as well as a sexism Olympics alongside a JOTB report on the regular one.

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Rated or Dated: The Misfits (1961)

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:25:00 -0000

Miller, Huston, Monroe, Gable, Ritter, Clift and Wallach - what could possibly go wrong? Well, during filming, a lot. And while seemingly nobody was happy with the end result, The Misfits is now regarded as one of the best films of the 1960s. Will Mickey and Hannah agree?

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Meg Molloy is supporting working-class arts professionals

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

As well as being a freelance cultural strategy and communications consultant*, Meg Molloy is the founder of the Working Arts Club, a brilliant network supporting arts professionals from working-class backgrounds.

She’s chatting to Mick about the lay of the land for working-class kids wanting to access the arts, why it’s important they can do so, what the Working Arts Club is helping to make happen, and why Madge maybe needs to calm down about Margate a bit.

*Find out more about what that means with Mick’s first question

Find out more about Working Arts Club here. And more about Meg's exciting IWD auction project for AOAP here.

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It’s not you, says Dr Joanna Cheek, it’s the world

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

The news: a constant source of anxiety, rage and misery in our lives. It’s probably no coincidence then, says psychiatrist, and psychotherapist Dr Joanna Cheek, that rates of mental health problems are skyrocketing.

Jen chats to Joanna about her new book, It’s Not You, It’s The World: A Mental Health Survival Guide for Us All, why “triggers” are actually useful, the perils of living in a world we weren’t really designed for, and whether or not the younger generation really are just less hardy.

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Flicking #70: One Battle After Another

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Epic in scope and length, deliberately problematic characters, a very distinct aesthetic and a Jonny Greenwood score to give you the jitters: Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2025 award-bothering opus is Yosra’s pick for this month’s Flicking. But do Yosra, Hannah and Mick think Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn and Teyana Taylor deserve the plaudits being heaped upon them? And how much white male gaze is too much white male gaze when it comes to the hyper-sexualisation of a Black female character?

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Rated or Dated: Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

The only living neurotic in New York? Woody Allen certainly seems to think himself so as the writer/director/star of this much-lauded comedy drama. Its Chekhovian title suggests this is a film about women, but IS IT THOUGH ask Mick, Hannah and Jen.

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Sirin Kale on the Birth Keepers

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

New Guardian Investigates podcast The Birth Keepers, about controversial group The Free Birth Society, is the product of a year-long investigation by award-winning journalist Sirin Kale and reporting partner Lucy Osborne. The two journalists explore links between The Free Birth Society and baby deaths around the world, and look at the role of influencers and the dangers of misinformation. Jen chats to Sirin about the podcast, birth choices, and why the state of maternity services in the US and UK is turning more and more women off medicalised birth settings.

You can support us by becoming a Standard Issue patron here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Eva Brookes was made in China

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:34:00 -0000

Born during the one-child rule, Eva Brookes knows almost nothing about her life before she was adopted by a British couple and raised in Essex. Hannah chats to Eva about her new BBC Sounds podcast Made in China, identity, Britishness and how it feels to discuss it, privately and publicly.
* You can support us by becoming a Standard Issue patron here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Be Better at sustainability with Illana Adamson

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Educator, science translator and sustainability queen Illana Adamson works with businesses and non-profits to introduce sustainability initiatives, actions and behaviours into their organisations – and all our lives. She’s a big proponent of if you can’t be perfect, just be better. And we need to be, or this human race is run.

Illana chats to our Mick about real action over greenwashing, why women are so important in the work ahead, and how Mother Nature will always come out on top.

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The Bush Telegraph: Anal explosions are the least of our worries

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Who pays the highest price when respect is missing? That’s the inadvertent theme for Hannah and Mick as they tackle this week’s news. And it turns out there are plenty of people they’d both like to see with an unexploded WWI ordnance shoved where the sun don’t shine, including a lot of men in the Epstein Files, and a fair few MPs and Lords keen to get a dangerously faulty car on the road without an MOT. Take a deep breath and tuck in. Oh, and please do keep your historical artefacts where we can see them at all times.

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Rated or Dated: Loch Ness (1996)

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

What’s not to love about John Henderson’s 1996 family adventure, Loch Ness? Hannah, Mick, and Jen have no notes. Okay, they have a few. Like what kind of academic specialism has you hunting mythical creatures? What would a Habsburg prehistoric sea-beast look like? How hot is fixing a tap? And what's Rod Stewart's big beef?

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Going for Gold with Aimee Fuller and Vicky Gosling

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

If it’s escaped your attention that there’s a Winter Olympics getting underway at the end of the week, it might be because you think us Brits aren’t much cop at all that cold stuff. Think again, say former GB snowboarder turned TNT Sports pundit, Aimee Fuller, and Chief Exec of GB Snowsport, Vicky Gosling.

With the pair hoping for a huge uptick in Team GB’s fortunes at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026, Jen caught up with them to chat about the remarkable turnaround in our British team’s fortunes since Beijing in 2022, whether or not it’s good to be an underdog, and the TNT Sports documentary She Who Dares.

You can watch 24/7 coverage of Milano Cortina 2026 on TNT Sports and Discovery+.

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The notorious TGT

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 02:08:00 -0000

As the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill appears to hit the rocks in the House of Lords, Hannah chats to one of the people questioning whether it is fit for purpose, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. The pioneering wheelchair racer tells us about her concerns about the disabled community, coercive control and patients with anorexia.

* The Standard Issue Substack can be found here: https://standardissuepodcast.substack.com/

Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

* And Not Dead Yet UK can be found here: https://www.notdeadyetuk.org/

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Outside The Box: January 2026

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:14:00 -0000

What's coming to our TV screens in 2026? Find out in the year's first Outside The Box, as we talk about that, as well as why Hannah's cancelled her Netflix and what telly gems have made January a bit more bearable.

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Rated or Dated: Donnie Darko (2001)

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 03:13:00 -0000

From badly-timed cinema release to sleeper hit to cult favourite, Richard Kelly's debut film spawned careers, revivals and a Christmas number one. But has it stood the test of time (travel)?

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Thrills, spills and a strong female lead

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Anna Maloney’s fast-paced new thriller The 10:12 is set onboard a hijacked train, and some passengers aren’t just going to sit back and do as they’re told. One in particular, Claire Fitzroy, a late mid-life arts teacher, ruffles feathers when she not only takes action, but takes charge.

Anna chats to Mick about how wildly recollections of events may differ, have-a-go heroes (and heroines), and why you should never underestimate a woman in her mid-life.

There is, as ever, more chat for our £5 and above patrons, so if you fancy getting involved, visit patreon.com/standardissue.

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Dr Donna Peberdy on Screening Sexual Violence

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

When Dr Donna Peberdy, associate professor of performance, sex and gender at Southampton Solent University, began to see a lot of representations of violence against women in work made by female filmmakers, she realised what a useful tool they could be. So, in collaboration with the 16 Days 16 Films festival, she started Screening Sexual Violence, a research project and online resource.

Jen caught up with Donna to talk about the work she’s doing, what she’s seeing, and whether or not AI is about to make it so much worse.

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A timely reminder from history, with Lisa Zahra and Beth Burrows

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 02:48:00 -0000

Safe Haven, which has just opened at London's Arcola theatre, tells the true story of what happened in spring 2001, when two million Kurds fleeing Saddam Hussein's forces found themselves in the freezing mountains, and two Whitehall diplomats decided to intervene. Hannah chats to two of the play's stars, Lisa Zahra and Beth Burrows, to find out more.

* Safe Haven is on until February 7. More information and tickets here: https://www.arcolatheatre.com/event/safe-haven/

* You can support Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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The Bush Telegraph: 17 mistakes and some unspeakably good news

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

If you’ve no idea what’s going on with the US and Greenland, don't worry – neither do we. Nor, apparently, does Donald Trump, so join the club. Elsewhere, we’ve identified a learning opportunity for Nigel Farage, there’s good news neither Hannah nor Jen are ready to listen to, and we start the campaign for equal opportunities LOL-ing at the Beckhams. And with the Australian Open underway, Jen caught up with TNT Sports pundit and former GB tennis star, Laura Robson, to find out more about the runners and riders.

The Australian Open is broadcast on TNT Sports and available to stream on Discovery+ in the UK.

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Rated or Dated: From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Does Robert Rodriguez’s 1996 grindhouse-schlock fest with a screeching plot twist put even more NO into its writer and “star” Quentin Tarantino for Mick, Hannah and Jen? Ooh, it’s a breath bater. George Clooney’s film debut was a far cry from ER’s Dr Doug Ross, but classic Tarantino to its core. But does that mean it’s OUTRAGEOUS and CONTROVERSIAL and CLEVER and THE BEST or just jerk-off dogshit misogyny? Find out!

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In Room 706 with Ellie Levenson

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Journalist, author and mother of three, Ellie Levenson used to dream of time away from the pressures of family life, a fantasy shared by many of her female friends. This became the basis for her first novel, Room 706, a story about extra-marital affairs, gunmen, and who’s picking up those bread rolls the kids like. Jen chatted to Ellie about the book, the mental load, and what it's like to get props from Sarah Jessica Parker.

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Lucia Keskin’s nailing things she should have done

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Comedian, actress and writer Lucia Keskin made her name on YouTube as Chi with a C, where she started making content at just 16. Indeed, one of her first videos to go viral was her opening her GCSE results on camera.

Fair to say, Lucia’s a natural comedic voice, and the first season of her BBC3 sitcom Things You Should Have Done bagged a big following as well as a couple of awards (hello a BAFTA). It’s back this week for season two, so Mick got Lucia on the Zoom to find out what our spectacularly hapless hero Chi has been up to, and to talk about the joy in dopey and mean female characters, the excitement of added Bridget Christie, failing all your GCSEs, and how silly might save us all.

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Flicking #69: A Real Pain

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Jesse Eisenberg’s Oscar-winning comedy drama received an embarrassment of plaudits from the industry and critics. Now it’s time to get the ones that really matter: Mick, Hannah and Yosra watch American-Jewish cousins Benji (Kieran Culkin) and David (Eisenberg) as they embark on a Jewish heritage tour of Poland, following the death of their Holocaust-surviving grandmother. Feel-good film? Mismatched buddy comedy? Devastatingly bittersweet? All of the above?

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The Bush Telegraph: 73 questions (most of which are WTAF?)

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 02:04:00 -0000

It's the first BT of 2026, so Mickey and Hannah have some catching up to do. This time, they're talking about failure: Grok user failures, women's health study failures and child benefit failures. Still, elderly nuns are making a reappearance, so it's not all bad.

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Rated or Dated: Save the Last Dance (2001)

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Thomas Carter’s teen dance film helped launch the career of Julia Stiles, but has she been wronged by public perceptions of her dance skills in the years that followed? How many tropes are too many tropes? And can it hold a torch to 1983's Flashdance?

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The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto, with Elizabeth Hyman

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 02:30:00 -0000

Holocaust Memorial Day is coming up later this month (Tuesday 27 January), so Hannah's been on the Zoom with historian Elizabeth Hyman to talk about her non-fiction book The Girl Bandits of the Warsaw Ghetto. They talk about five very different women who lived there, the work they did for their people and the tough choices they made.

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Why Laura Hall lay her head in water

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Feeling bogged down by meetings and out of her depth at work, travel writer Laura Hall quit her job and embarked on a fresh challenge to get her life back on track. Her new book, The Year I Lay My Head in Water: Swimming Scandinavia in Search of a Better Life, documents the year that followed, spent cold-water swimming around Scandinavia. Jen chats to Laura about the book, the appeal of the sea, the insanity of cold-water swimming, and the absolute joy of taking on a daft challenge.

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Rated or Dated: Sexy Beast (2001)

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:42:00 -0000

Our weekly look at a film from the past is back for the New Year like a boulder about to smash into your swimming pool, as we watch Jonathan Glazer's debut: a one-last-job tale with a gangster who won't take no for an answer. No matter how many times he hears it. But does Sexy Beast still pass muster?

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Salima Saxton is a bad patient

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Last year, actor, author, life coach and professional mad woman (she co-hosts the Women Are Mad podcast with psychotherapist Jennifer Cox) Salima Saxton got ill. Obviously she started a Substack about it and Bad Patient – in which she writes about being ill with raw honesty, humour, insight and on her own terms – was born. Salima chats to our Mick about illness: how we perceive it, how we talk about it, how we don’t have to meet other people’s expectations when dealing with it and how it can change our perspective on, well, everything. Also, bonus chat: tricky dads.

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Wendy Welpton wants you on the floor

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

An injury in her early 40s, and a long period of chronic pain that followed, made Wendy Welpton think about how she was moving. Now a movement coach, founder of Reclaim Movement, and a podcast host, she’s also written a book – Move Well For Life: Unlock The Life-Changing Power of Everyday Movement – aimed at getting others to do the same.

Jen chats to Wendy about why movement should trump exercise, why it’s so important for people in midlife to move more and move better, and why she really really wants you to get on the floor.

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Review of the Year 2025

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 02:34:00 -0000

What's the best book we read this year? Or the best play we saw? We're talking about that, plus our favorite TV, events, sport, music, comedy and interviews of 2025, as we wave goodbye to a year that's been, well, how would we describe it?

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Rated or Dated: The Railway Children (1970)

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Adventure, nostalgia, trains, Cribbens and three elderly children posher than a lobster in a cravat: HOW JOLLY! Lionel Jeffries’ period piece based on E Nesbit’s 1906 book is a wholesome slice of classic British cinema, but what will filthy commoners Mick, Hannah and Jen make of it? And how will it go down with our resident five year old?

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Bears, dogs and creative thinking with Jessica Swale

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 02:07:00 -0000

Jessica Swale is a busy woman, so Hannah was surprised to discover the writer and director did have the time for a chat about some of her latest projects. They cover getting the tone right for Paddington: The Musical, working with children and dogs in Amazon's new Christmas film Merv, and Jessica's new book aimed at making sure we can all have A Year of Creative Thinking.

Find out more about supporting Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Tanya Kirk is ghosting us

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 02:21:00 -0000

Working in the 17th century gothic library at St John's College puts Tanya Kirk in an ideal position to talk about book-based ghost stories. She's just edited the latest in a series of short story collections - The Haunted Library: Tales of Cursed Books and Forbidden Shelves - so Hannah got on the Zoom to chat about why old books are spooky, why Christmas is a rich source of ghost stories, and the white gloves myth.

Tanya's latest book is available here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-haunted-library/tanya-kirk/9780712355292

* You can support Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Rated or Dated: Mermaids (1990)

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Richard Benjamin’s coming-of-age comedy-drama has a (sort of) dream cast, but how much will Jen, Hannah and Mick love central character Mrs Flax? Does the character even matter when she’s played by Cher? And can we get over a ropey age-gap and a real lack of DIY prep to allow Mermaids to shoop-shoop into our hearts?

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Padel-ing forward with Alex Brodie

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Padel might well be one of the fastest growing sports in the world, right now, but what exactly is it? And how is it different to tennis, squash, or pickleball?

Jen wanted to find out more, so she got on the Zoom with Alex Brodie, PR and sponsorship manager at UK Padel, one of the UK’s leading tournament organisers in the sport, to chat about the who, what and where of the game – and why it’s so good for women and girls.

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Dr Suze Kundu brings the sunshine (and science)

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Let’s bring some cheer to the end of the year with Dr Suze Kundu – that’s right NASA’s Dr Suze Kundu. She and Mick* debunk some bad science, celebrate some impactful and robust research and tech, and create some positive associations with the work of millions. With added Katy Perry and a plea to outer space-related height restrictions.

*mostly Suze, to be fair

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Liz Warner on employees with a difference

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:18:00 -0000

Just five per cent of people with a learning difference are in paid work, something highlighted by the recent case of Tom Boyd, who was let go by Morrisons after his family asked that he be paid for his work. That case spurred Liz Warner, a former CEO of Comic Relief, into action. Because the same thing had happened to her son and, we can all agree, needs to stop happening. Liz is launching a new initiative in the new year aimed to double the amount of people with a learning difference in paid work, so Hannah got on the Zoom to find out more.

You can find out more about The Different Kind here: https://thedifferentkind.com More information on how to support Standard Issue is here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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The Bush Telegraph: Good news? Bad news? Dog news?

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Reaction to Wes Streeting’s independent review on mental health, ADHD and autism might divide opinion, but surely we can all agree to be pleased about changes to the law around social media use in Australia. And if not, at least we’ll always have emotional support dogs. Hannah and Jen take a rootle through the news and sport this week to discuss all of the above.

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Rated or Dated: 9 to 5

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Watching 9 to 5, what a way to earn a living. Mick, Hannah and Jen revisit Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and – people’s favourite – Dolly Parton in this classic comedy about sexism in the workplace that everyone knows inside out. Don’t they?

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Vikki Stone’s on (oh yes she is!)

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Given we’re deep into pantomime season, it seemed only right that Mick got on the Zoom with Vikki Stone, the woman behind some of the best pantos in the UK. Vikki tells us about comedy, getting kids into the theatre, toddler raves, prime-time telly and why pantos remain one of the most enduring of British Christmastime traditions.

Mama Goose is at Stratford East until Jan 3

Beauty and the Beast is at New Wolsey Theatre until Jan 17

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Mary Mandefield’s not dating the same guy as you

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

In the Wild West that is dating apps, women are increasingly turning to novel ways of protecting themselves. Online groups such as Are We Dating The Same Guy, offer women a platform to share bad and even criminal experiences of dating. Broadcaster and journalist Mary Mandefield investigates the groups in a new Channel 4 documentary, Red Flags: Are We Dating the Same Guy? UNTOLD. So, Jen caught up with Mary to chat about the film, the groups, why women are using them, and if they themselves are entirely ethical.

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Flicking #68: Sister Midnight

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Bollywood star Radhika Apte is unhappy new bride Uma in writer/director Karan Kandhari’s feature debut, which Hannah’s picked for the last Flicking of 2025. The critics loved it, audiences weren’t so sure. Hannah, Yosra and Mick went in blind with no expectations and were all surprised. But in a good or bad way?

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The Bush Telegraph: Wise owls and other animals

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

There are abuses of power all over the shop, as Mick talks us through the second phase of Lady Elish Angiolini’s inquiry into the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public, and a truly horrific case in France. Meanwhile, Jen’s looking at more crises in public services, this time in teaching staff. But at least we’ve got Polly. And periods. No, really.

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Rated or Dated: Flash Gordon (1980)

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:05:00 -0000

A superhero with no special powers. An intergalactic wrong 'un trying to destroy the earth. Brian Blessed dressed as whatever that is. Welcome to this week's Rated or Dated. Now with added lasers.

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Small is beautiful, with Emma Rice

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:20:00 -0000

The Emma Rice Company's adaptation of Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales opened last week to rave reviews. Hannah grabbed some time with its founder, writer and director Emma Rice, to talk about a change of name, a new venue in Somerset, and Thomas. And a lot more besides, including Emma’s time as artistic director at The Globe, something that did not end happily, and why she thinks we’re all being a bit hard on Enid Blyton.

More information about the Emma Rice Company here: https://www.emmaricecompany.co.uk/

To support us on Patreon visit Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Bonnie Langford knows how old you are

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Paddington the Musical – a brand new show written by Jessica Swale, with music by Tom Fletcher – opens its doors at the Savoy Theatre in London this week. Among its impressive cast is Bonnie Langford, who many of us have grown up alongside, given she first graced our television screens back in 1971, aged six.

Jen caught up with Bonnie to talk about playing the iconic Mrs Bird, as well as a whole host of other roles over the course of her career, and why we love that Peruvian bear so much.

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Outside The Box: November '25

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 02:30:00 -0000

In this month's telly round-up, we're watching Death By Lightning, The Beast in Me, Down Cemetery Road, Plur1bus and Caroline Flack: Search for the Truth. Plus Hannah's finally got round to watching Where's Wanda?.

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The Bush Telegraph: Rage against the (old washing) machine

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Are you angry? Like really angry? Of course you are. Well, does Hannah have a dinner service for you. This week, she and Mick are asking whether the justice system is about to get a little less just, looking at the newly discovered age epochs of the human brain, celebrating having a bank account, and metaphorically smashing small TVs with a sledgehammer.

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Rated or Dated: Santa Claus: The Movie (1985)

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Christmas already? We know. But can we redeem ourselves if it’s Christmas by way of Jeannot Szwarc’s cult classic, Santa Claus: The Movie? A box office flop, it was nonetheless a hit in the UK, thanks to Dudley Moore’s turn as Patch the ambitious elf, some delightful animatronic reindeer, and top baddy-ing by John Lithgow. But will we agree?

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Have you heard the good news, with Generation Rent

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

All hail the Renters’ Rights Act, the biggest shake-up to renting in England for more than 30 years, which officially comes into play next May. It’s a bundle of positive news for tenants in private housing, not least the ditching of section 21 “no fault” evictions. So Mick got on the Zoom with Bismah Naqui from Generation Rent, an organisation that’s been working tirelessly for the past decade to amplify the voices and concerns of private renters, to talk about why this is a big win for them and a big win for tenants.

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Cindy Reymond spots an opportunity in women’s football

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Cindy Reymond is one of the eight women secretary generals who represented host cities during this summer’s UEFA Women’s Euro in Switzerland. That’s right: they were all women.

Jen catches up with Cindy to chat about her city of Geneva, what it takes to plan a major sporting event, not being the only woman in the room for a change, and why anyone would even want to host a women's football tournament if they can’t fill stadiums... Spoiler: they really can.

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Alice Loxton is walking through history

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 02:37:00 -0000

When Queen Eleanor died, her husband - Edward I - ordered that 12 enormous crosses be built along the route her body had travelled back to London. Some survive today. Historian Alice Loxton decided to walk that route on the same days. Which sadly for her, was December. Alice tells Hannah about that journey and her new book Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen, as well as history on the socials and the hidden stories on our own doorsteps.

More information on how to support us here: https://www.patreon.com/StandardIssue

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The Bush Telegraph: Whoa! Back to the island

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 02:14:00 -0000

Jen gets a swift and thoroughly unexpected trip through US political rumours this week, as Hannah looks at the latest from across the Atlantic. Plus there's skorts, sports and women-only carriages. What more do you need?

Saturday Night Live on edited Trump speech: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SesRWE02PIU

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Rated or Dated: Misery (1990)

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Another week, another one of film’s most villainous women: this time it’s deranged devotee Annie Wilkes, a role which bagged Kathy Bates an Oscar for mangling the feet, mind and spirit of novelist Paul Sheldon (James Caan). Its credentials are impeccable, with a William Goldman screenplay based on Stephen King’s novel directed by Rob Reiner. But, ask Mick, Hannah and Jen, is that bitch crazy? Is she misunderstood? Or is she just a hell of a drug?

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Ultra Women with Emma Wilkinson and Lily Canter

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Back in 2019, ultra runner Jasmin Paris made headlines when she smashed the Montane Spine Race, winning the 268-mile race in the depths of winter outright – while still breastfeeding. Her story was sold as an outlier – woman wins mixed race – but there are a lot of them about, particularly when it comes to ultra-endurance running, swimming and cycling.

Ultra Women: The Trailblazers Defying Sexism in Sport, penned by journalists and ultra runners Emma Wilkinson and Lily Canter, explores female endurance, from the first hunter-gatherers to modern athletes winning the toughest races outright, delving into the science, physiology and psychology that could give women the edge in ultras. Our Mick was FASCINATED.

Ultra Women is out now, published by Canbury.

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Sarah Grant on history’s most fashionable queen

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

More than two centuries since her execution, Marie Antoinette continues to influence fashion and culture, and is now the subject of a major new exhibition at the V&A South Kensington, Marie Antoinette Style.

Jen catches up with senior curator of the exhibition, Sarah Grant, to talk about the ill-fated former queen of France, why she still fascinates as a cultural icon, and if it's fair to compare her to Kim Kardashian.

Marie Antoinette Style is showing at the V&A South Kensington until March 2026, and you can find out more about V&A Academy courses here.

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I, Spy (with Agnes O'Casey)

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 03:03:00 -0000

There are a lot of spies in pop culture right now. This pleases Hannah immensely, so she jumped at the chance to get on the Zoom with Agnes O’Casey to talk about her role in upcoming play, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, based on John Le Carre's best-selling book. They chat about spies and why we're so fascinated with them, Agnes's role in another spy drama, Netflix’s Black Doves, and her great grandfather, legendary Irish playwright Sean O’Casey.

Tickets for Soho Place and the national tour are here: https://shorturl.at/samTg

More information on how to support us here: https://www.patreon.com/StandardIssue

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The Bush Telegraph: Another workplace ruined

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Bloody women. Is there anything they won’t ruin? Well, Mick and Jen take a stab at this week’s news, in which some institutions are too busy ruining themselves to notice: they’re looking at you the BBC and NHS Trusts. There’s also Spinderella, Stevens, and Jen very much NOT talking about Mary Earps in JOTB. Honest.

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Rated or Dated: One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 03:09:00 -0000

You know, the one with the good guy versus the evil nurse. Or is it? One of many questions we'll be asking as we watch Miloš Forman's Oscar botherer, set on a ward in a mental health hospital.

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Hollie McNish: Virgin

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

One of our firm favourites, poet Hollie McNish’s latest collection, Virgin, explores a six-letter word with outsized power. A power that should also be outdated, but is sadly not.

It is, as you’d expect from Hollie, a brilliant collection, packed with humour, rage, beauty, heartbreak and hope. She and Mick chat about dangerous words, what ‘virgin’ means to girls and women (and why it shouldn’t), the perils of mashed potato and how to come to terms with the phrase “making love”.

Virgin is published by Fleet and available in all good bookshops. Details of Hollie’s tour can be found at holliepoetry.com.

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Supplementary Ruth Tongue on nutrition

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Instagram is a right old pain in the proverbial when it comes to advertising, and our Jen has noticed she’s suddenly getting A LOT of ads targeted at peri/menopausal women. Nutritional supplements promise women everything from a peachy bum to a sound night’s sleep, but how much of it is actually true?

So she jumped on the Zoom with Ruth Tongue, nutritionist, pilates teacher and co-founder of employee wellness company Elevate, to find out how much protein we really need, if supplements are any good for us and why we’re always being sold a dream when it comes to our bodies.

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Flicking #67: Wicked

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

There’s no doubt that Yosra’s picked* one of last year’s juggernauts: John M Chu’s cinematic take on Winnie Holzman’s ridiculously successful musical version of Gregory Maguire’s dark adult novel reimagining the L Frank Baum children’s books that became a 1939 film classic still beloved today. Phew! That’s a whole load of fan bases to tickle. But what if you’re new to the new version of Oz? Why is it in two parts? Just how hard a sell is it to Mick and Hannah? And is… is Ariana Grande funny?

* An epic fantasy musical? Of course it was Yosra.

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The Bush Telegraph: Dawn of the Planet of the Arbury Apes!!!!!!

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:42:00 -0000

There's a cryptid been spotted in Cambridge and it's far from the least believable thing you'll hear in today's podcast, where Mickey and Hannah are chatting about exclamation marks, assisted dying, renters' rights and AI being bad for older women in the workforce.

* If you're missing your Jenny Off The Blocks fix, get over to our Substack where Jen is chatting about Mary Earps' autobiography and the many, many opinions on it: https://standardissuepodcast.substack.com/

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Rated or Dated: Charlie’s Angels (2000)

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

The Destiny’s Child theme tune celebrated all the women being independent, but – question - how appropriate are those lyrics for McG’s 2000 “action-comedy” film version of the 1970s TV series? Was it made for Jen, Hannah and Mick? Was it made for any women? And how many Susan Faludi references can Mick fit into a single episode?

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Selling cowboy country with Ellie House

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 02:56:00 -0000

Radio 4 and BBC World Service reporter and producer Ellie House makes some really interesting podcasts. Her latest, The Real ‘Yellowstone’: a battle for the cowboy way of life, focuses on the proposed sale of public land in Montana and the strange political bedfellows that have resulted. Ellie and Hannah also chat about the introduction of National Service for women in Denmark and the joys of travelling for work.

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Outside The Box October 2025

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 02:41:00 -0000

It's another OTB of two halves this month, with Mickey joining Hannah to chat about Riot Women, Only Murders In The Building, The Last Frontier and High Potential. Then Jen tag teams in to talk about Slow Horses, Coldwater, Blue Lights and How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge).

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The Bush Telegraph: What a faff

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0000

As the concept of ID cards rears its ugly head once again, Hannah and Jen are asking if Keir Starmer’s revolutionary way of eliminating faff will be as effective as Brexit in terms of reducing bureaucracy. Elsewhere, it seems the Home Office could do with some help in getting its day job done. Meanwhile, Henry VIII is repping Sexism of the Week via Hemel Hempstead, there are big international fixtures in Jenny off the Blocks, and thank God, as ever, for the French.

If you want to know more about what Hannah thinks about ID cards, and indeed, what we all think about all sorts of things, check out our Substack here.

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Rated or Dated: The Long Good Friday (1980)

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Or is it the long good objectification of a young Pierce Brosnan? Mick, Hannah and Jen are here to prove a Rated or Dated can be both, as they watch the cornerstone British gangster flick written by Barrie Keefe, directed by John Mackenzie, and which made a full-blown film star out of the late, great Bob Hoskins. He’s joined by a host of familiar faces, including Helen Mirren, in a film that’s prescient, political, tight and brutal.

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There she goes, Gosia Buzzanca’s Beautiful World

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0000

As an 18-year-old in search of freedom and adventure, Gosia Buzzanca left her small hometown of Poznan, Poland, eventually settling in Wales. In her new book, There She Goes, My Beautiful World, she charts her physical and emotional journey, teenage traumas, love and loss.

Jen chats to Gosia about her book, growing up in Poland, post-Brexit immigration in the UK, and the universal harsh realities facing young women.

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The Bush Telegraph: Allegedly...

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

With the Grand Old Duke of York’s title now vacant, Mick and Jen visit the horrific allegations against Prince (for now) Andrew, made in Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, and his other right royal cock-ups. There's more horror, this time in England's maternity wards. But fear not, there's also some joy, including puppies – 13 of ‘em! Woof! – a delicious turning of the tables in SOTW, and some half decent cricket results in Jenny Off the Blocks.

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Rated or Dated: The Proposition (2005)

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 01:50:00 -0000

Can an Australian film be a Western? Can one female character represent all of womankind? Is this the best Ray Winstone? And, most importantly, who's this Nick Cave fella? Find out all the answers, as we watch John Hillcoat's blood-stained, sun-baked drama.

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Saskia Flower on Lee Miller

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Model, muse, photographer, and war correspondent: Lee Miller's career covered a lot of ground. What a woman. And now at Tate Britain, you can see the most extensive exhibition of all aspects of her work the UK has seen to date.

Assistant curator of the exhibition Saskia Flower catches up with Jen to chat about what's in the exhibition, Miller’s extraordinary life, and looking at both the person and her work through a different lens.

Lee Miller is showing at the Tate Britain until February 15 2026.

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The internet isn't just dangerous for girls, with Tir Dhondy

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 03:08:00 -0000

We talk a lot on Standard Issue about how young women are victimised online, but young men are increasingly at risk too. Something terrifyingly obvious in Tir Dhondy's latest investigation, Blackmailed: The Sextortion Killers, now available to watch on BBC3. Hannah chats to Tir about the victims, the perpetrators and what, if anything, can be done to stop it.

You can watch Tir's documentary on the iPlayer here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002kl4v/blackmailed-the-sextortion-killers

For ad-free listening and more benefits, join the Standard Issue club here: https://www.patreon.com/c/StandardIssue

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The Bush Telegraph: Not just for men!

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Credit (albeit reluctant) where credit is due, Donald Trump’s only gone and pulled a blinder. Whether it means long-term peace in the Middle East remains doubtful, but Mick and Hannah are also wondering what’s next for Ukraine. How helpful is the word ‘tomahawk’ to any peace process? There are also – you guessed it – nuns, and a fun-for-some run.

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Rated or Dated: To Die For (1995)

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Gus van Sant’s black comedy gave Nicole Kidman the opportunity to show her villainous chops to mid-90s audiences. It also took a swipe at a media-obsessed America. But 30 years on, does it feel a bit old hat to modern audiences? What was it trying to say about ambitious women? And bitches – be they crazy?

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Lorraine Stansbie and Kate Flannery are Iron Ladies

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Iron Ladies is a new documentary about the women of the 1984-85 Miners’ Strike, a time in which working-class women who found themselves at the forefront of a battle against the British state. They fast became the backbone of the fight: organising pickets; keeping families fed, and raising cash to continue the strike. As Lorraine Stansbie and Kate Flannery – two of those redoubtable women – tell our Mick, it changed them. And not only them; it’s fair to say their actions reshaped the landscape of political activism for working-class women forever.

Iron Ladies is currently showing in cinemas across the UK and Ireland.

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Anne Odeke’s Even More… Ghost Stories

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Following her success with Princess Essex and the previous two chapters of Ghost Stories…by Candlelight, Anne Odeke has joined forces with High Tide theatre company to co-write Even More…Ghost Stories by Candlelight. The joint production, with Pentabus Theatre, is currently touring both the east and, indeed, west of the country.

Jen chats to Anne about the production, urban explorers, and her crazy year, post-Princess Dinubolu.

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The rhyme and reason of history

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 01:43:00 -0000

Catherine Clarke's new book - and accompanying Radio 4 series - A History of England in 25 Poems, tackles the big issues. And the smaller ones, too. Hannah chats to her about how poetry has helped shape our view of England and whether that view is accurate, as well the importance of local history and her role as the Director of Victoria County History.

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The Bush Telegraph: Quick, get Taylor Swift in the title, it's good SEO

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 01:23:00 -0000

If you're planning a trip to Europe or to leave your bike at a train station, or both, Hannah and Jen have got big news this week. Also, there's a new Archbishop of Canterbury, a woman no less. Who exactly? Doesn't matter. Or so it seems. You know who is good for clicks though? Taylor Swift. Best mention her a few times. Plus there's a lot of football commentator chat and a lot of women's football in Jenny Off The Blocks.

The Flicking episode on Pan's Labyrinth is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/sim-ep-689-flicking-21-pans-labyrinth/id1080808404?i=1000547941828
Rev Martine Oborne's Guardian piece is here: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/05/archbishop-of-canterbury-sarah-mullally-change

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Emma Dennis-Edwards is Not Your Superwoman

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In her play Not Your Superwoman, Emma Dennis-Edwards tackles the sometimes tricksy relationship between mums and daughters.

She chats to our Mick about complex intergenerational dynamics, the expectations on mums, intergenerational trauma, the shifting nature of ‘motherland’, and how exciting it is to work with talent as big as Letitia Wright and Golda Rosheuvel.

Not Your Superwoman is at the Bush Theatre, London, until November 1, but is currently fully sold out. Fingers firmly crossed for a transfer.

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Vicki Sparks is kicking off

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Following an epic summer of women’s sport, the UEFA Women’s Champions League is back, starting on October 7 and broadcast in its entirety on Disney+.

Jen catches up with commentator Vicki Sparks to find out more about bringing the women’s game to the House of Mouse, who Vicki’s backing in this year’s tournament, and how hard it really is to commentate on live sport.

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Flicking #66: Blackbird Blackbird Blackberry

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

With an awards-bothering central performance from Eka Chavleishvili, Elene Naveriani’s adaptation of Tamta Melashvili’s 2020 novel got smashing reviews across the board.

Set in a small, remote village in Georgia, the film brings us Etero, a single, middle-aged woman whose quiet, insular life is exploded by a near-death experience and a sexual awakening.

But is Etero isolated or independent? How mean can women feasibly be to one another? Is it a sexy film? And will talking about it prove too much for Mick’s pronunciation abilities? Yeah, that last one’s rhetorical.

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The Bush Telegraph: FINALLY

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Mick and Jen tackle this week’s news, which finally (FINALLY!) finds Labour kicking the ball towards a goal – and not even an own goal – in moves* that will annoy both racists and people who like kids living in poverty. There’s also an Old Missus, some classic Mick pronunciation, Jen cheering sportswomen all over the shop, and some nuns. Obviously.

*Probably. If the wind doesn’t change direction.

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Rated or Dated: Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 01:06:00 -0000

Is Sidney Lumet's 1975 bank robbery drama of its time? Or years ahead of its time? Or still pretty relevant to today? Or all of it? Find out as we watch Al Pacino Al Pacino-ing it to the max as the mob cheers him on.

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The Bush Telegraph: Nun-stop news

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Mick tackle this week’s headlines, looking at whether Jess’s Rule is progress or a damning indictment of the NHS, worrying about young girls reporting being sad every day, charting how the Taliban continues to take its misogyny up yet another notch, and finally – finally – finding something* to like about golf.

*Sister Rene of the Humility of Mary order

https://malala.org/countries/afghanistan

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Rated or Dated: Billy Elliot (2000)

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Stephen Daldry’s 2000 coming-of-age comedy-drama made big waves on both sides of the Atlantic, and a star of its young lead, Jamie Bell. But how funny is it? Is that dancing actually any good? And is that really how they select people for the Royal Ballet School?

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Atoosa Sepehr and Hannah Khalil’s English Persian Kitchen

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Food glorious food: not only does it sustain and nourish us as individuals, it brings together communities, crosses borders and merges cultures. When Atoosa Sepehr fled an abusive marriage in Iran, she found herself alone and lonely in London. And then she started cooking. The Persian dishes she created providing an anchor to the home she missed and forging friendships in the one she was creating.

In My English Persian Kitchen, Atoosa’s story is brought to the stage by playwright Hannah Khalil. But unlike most theatre, it’s not just food for thought, it’s also food for faces: during the one-woman show, actress Isabella Nefar cooks ãsh, a Persian noodle and herb soup, hugely popular in Iran – and then she shares the dish with the audience.

Mick caught up with Atoosa and Hannah to talk about the power and joy of food, finding community, and how the hell you fit a recipe into a play.

My English Persian Kitchen is on at Soho Theatre from September 30 to October 11, before travelling to Bristol, Dublin and Belfast.

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Len Pennie annaw

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Poet, broadcaster, and TikTok sensation, Len Pennie was last on the podcast back in February 2024 on the eve of publication of her first collection of poems, Poyums. Since then, she’s become a Sunday Times bestselling author, and picked up a British Book Award. In her new collection, Poyums Annaw, Len writes viscerally about her experiences of domestic violence, mental health problems, patriarchy, and a four year fight for justice, as well as love and joy.

Jen chats to Len about the ups and downs of her last year, why she writes with “love and spite”, and getting permission to feel our feelings.

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Outside The Box September 2025

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 01:50:00 -0000

It's Emmy time again and this month we're chatting about the good and bad choices made this year. Which is also an excuse to talk about The Penguin. We've also been watching King of The Hill, Only Murders in the Building, I Fought the Law, Hostage, The Newsreader, King & Conqueror, and Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.

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The Bush Telegraph: Bellend Olympics

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A freedom of speech special awaits you this week, as Hannah and Jen debate the rights and wrongs of opinions expressed on the killing of Charlie Kirk, as well as the rights and wrongs of hammering nails through your penis. There’s added joy from some nuns on the run and - finally - some good news for Keir Starmer and the families of the 97 victims of the Hillsborough Disaster. We also bring you the latest in women’s sport and some very strange noises from Hannah’s neighbour.

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Rated or Dated: Psycho (1960)

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

What’s a young man to do when he can’t stop murdering women he fancies? Blame his mum, obviously. The malign power of mothers is just one of several themes raised by the genre-defining Hitchcock classic and discussed by Mick, Hannah and Jen. Hold onto your shower curtains, it’s time for some piercing violin.

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Kate Bryan wants you to art

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Art historian, curator and broadcaster Kate Bryan is on a mission to wrest control of the art world from asymmetric haircuts and aloofness, and put it firmly back in the hands of us all. In her new book, How To Art, which is illustrated by David Shrigley, she sets about doing exactly that.

Jen chats to Kate about entering the art world from a working-class background, how to talk about art even if you don’t really know what you’re talking about, and why snobbery is so rife in the art world.

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Harriet Dyer asks you to please turn down your puffer jacket

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It’s silly turned up to 11, as Mick catches up with brilliantly bonkers comedian Harriet Dyer, who describes her standup as a fizzy blancmange of whimsy. Delicious.

Harriet’s currently on her biggest UK tour to date with her show Easily Distra…, but found some time to chat to Mick about mental health, getting trapped in cupboards and what she’s like at parties.

Tickets for Harriet’s tour can be found here: harrietdyer.com.

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Maia Novi and Invasive Species

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:49:00 -0000

After a much-lauded off Broadway run, Maia Novi's play about the time she was involuntarily held in a mental health facility has arrived in the UK. The Argentine writer and actor speaks to Hannah about Invasive Species, inner monologues, ambition and the advice Michaela Coel gave her.

Tickets for Invasive Species are here: https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/invasive-species-q1qt

More info about the Standard Issue membership club is here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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The Bush Telegraph: A man’s best froggy hypocrite

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Mick and Jen are on Bush Telegraph duties this week and, unlike it does for Sabrina Carpenter, the idea of men doing more housework is not getting them going. In other news, can you kill someone with menstrual blood? And was Angela Rayner right to resign? Plus, Jenny Off the Blocks returns with all things women’s sport.

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Rated or Dated: Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 01:12:00 -0000

The "gay cowboy movie" certainly opened the door for a lot of other films, but how does it fare 20 years later? Hankies at the ready as we take another look at the small story, big landscape romance that was robbed at the Oscars. Don't @ us.

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Witch? Refugee? Tragic hero? Natalie Haynes talks Medea

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

The story of Medea has been popular since antiquity and continues to endure today. Not least because big names want what’s undoubtedly one of the meatiest female roles in theatre. Meatiest in its most gruesome sense, as Medea is most famous for killing her children in order to get revenge on her faithless husband.

Or at least that’s the headlines. It is, of course, more complicated (if no less horrifying) than that, so our Mick was delighted that author, broadcaster and classicist Natalie Haynes’ latest novel, No Friend to This House, is her take on the Medea story.

They talk Medea as witch and midwife, Medea as refugee, the power of love, the dangers of motherhood and why Medea has proven so endlessly fascinating to storytellers and story listeners alike.

No Friend to This House is published by Mantle on Thursday 11 September, but available for pre-order now. And you can find out where near you Natalie is touring by following her on X @officialnhaynes and on Insta @nataliehaynesauthor.

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Dr Ingrid Clayton on the fourth "F" of trauma

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It took clinical psychologist, trauma therapist and complex trauma survivor Dr Ingrid Clayton years to understand how she had reacted to abuse within her home as a young person. But what she later understood to be a relational-trauma response known as “fawning” also helped her to make sense of her behaviour and relationships in the years that followed. And now that work informs her book, Fawning: Why the Need to Please Makes Us Lose Ourselves.

Jen chats to Ingrid about why we sometimes lean into situations that make us feel unsafe, the long-term impacts of this behaviour, and why we should revisit the narrative around trauma responses.

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Flicking #65: Better Man

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It’s Robbie Williams, but he’s a chimp! But is there anything more to Michael Gracey’s biopic jukebox musical drama about the British pop phenomenon? Are there any facts in it? And will you look at that cast: Steve Pemberton! Alison Steadman! Damon Herriman! Jonno Davies (who? what?). It’s (oddly) Hannah’s pick, (poor?) Yosra’s second watch and (warning) may contain Mick singing.

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The Bush Telegraph: Back from the dead?

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 01:01:00 -0000

Returning from a BT hiatus, Mickey and Hannah take a rifle through some of the daftest stories of the week, including AI failures, ball pits, watered down beer, rumours of Trump's death and odd book choices. While in Sexism of The Week, it turns out everything has been fixed in our absence. Oh no wait, it hasn't. Shame.

Chloe's story about The Salt Path is here: http://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-real-salt-path-how-the-couple-behind-a-bestseller-left-a-trail-of-debt-and-deceit

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Rated or Dated: Postcards from the Edge (1990)

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Is there anything Meryl Streep and/or Shirley MacLaine can’t do? It's a question we return to, as we settle down with Mike Nichol’s 1990 dramedy, based on Carrie Fisher’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. But to what extent is it based on Fisher’s real-life relationship with her mum, Debbie Reynolds? How well does it reflect issues around addiction? And, another question we return to: what is Roger Ebert even on about?

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Here come the (incredibly divisive) girls

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 01:04:00 -0000

A century after their birth, the Mitford Sisters continue to fascinate and appal in equal measure. As a new play about them, The Party Girls, opens at The Marlowe in Canterbury, Hannah chats to playwright Amy Rosenthal about why their stories still resonate, sisterhood and the frivolity of evil. Tickets for The Party Girls are here: https://showtours.co.uk/the-party-girls-tour-dates/

More info about becoming a Standard Issue supporter is here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott are wild folk

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Fairy tales have long been a source of life lessons and observations. Adding to that tradition and brimming with female power, Wild Folk: Tales From the Stones, by writer and illustrator Jackie Morris and stained glass artist Tamsin Abbott, is officially one of the most beautiful books in our Mick’s possession.

She chats with Jackie and Tamsin about the power of stories, the collaborative process, finding just the right sky and that aforementioned female power.

Wild Folk isn’t as easily available as it should be, but you can – and should – get it from www.sevenfables.co.uk.

Also, give Tamsin a follow @tamsintheshed and ditto Jackie @jackiemorrisartist, both on Instagram.

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Rated or Dated: Top Hat (1935)

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Featuring a couple of bona fide bangers by Irving Berlin, this Fred and Ginger bonanza, in which misunderstandings, misidentification and miscommunication slows true love’s flow, was the pair’s most successful film. But will the ‘idiot plot’ be too frustrating for words? Can Mick deal with the sheer amount of tap dancing? Why is Hannah screaming and refusing to look at the screen? And what am “Venice”?

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Karen Dobres’ bitch invasion

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In 2017, fashion model and counsellor-turned gender equality campaigner Karen Dobres, found herself on the board of her local football club Lewes FC, despite never having had an interest in the sport. But she discovered a passion for the women’s game and The Rooks made headlines as the first football club ever to pay its men’s and women’s team players equally. Her new book Pitch Invasion: My Story as a Feminist on a Football Club Board charts her time on the board.

Jen caught up with Karen to chat about the book, the thorny topic of equal pay in football, the power of the sport to change hearts, minds and culture, and why football matters.

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The world as you know it no longer exists

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 01:17:00 -0000

Hold Fast, the latest series of the BBC World Service's Lives Less Ordinary podcast, tells the extraordinary tale of the Avontuur, a 100-year-old sailing cargo ship which left Germany heading for the Caribbean in early 2020. What happened next could never have been predicted, as the world was gripped by a global pandemic and the 15-strong crew found themselves unable to disembark for 188 days. Hannah was delighted to chat to producer Christina Hardinge and composer Noémie Ducimetière about making a truly immersive podcast series about an incredible story of survival and teamwork.

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Outside The Box August 2025

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 03:40:00 -0000

This month's Outside The Box is a podcast of two halves. First up, Mickey and Hannah are chatting about Department Q, Untamed, Bookish and Parenthood. Then Jen arrives, and she and Hannah discuss Unforgivable, The Gone, Too Much, The Gilded Age and 1000 Men and Me: The Bonnie Blue Story. Yes, that is a whole lot of telly.

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Rated or Dated: Babe (1995)

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 01:57:00 -0000

A pig herding sheep? A kids film getting loads of Oscar nods? A main role containing just 16 lines of dialogue? Join Hannah and Jen as they discuss these and other unheard of (unherd of?) things, after watching an understated farmyard classic.

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Katy O’Neill Gutierrez is Blazing a Trail

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In 2017 Katy O'Neill Gutierrez was keen to get outdoors with her newborn daughter. When she searched for local mum and baby groups that combined a love of the outdoors with meeting other new parents, she couldn't find anything that fit the bill, so she decided to start her own. What started as a few friends meeting in North London for a walk with their babies turned into Blaze Trails, which now has more than 60 groups across the UK meeting regularly.

Jen chats to Katy about the significant impact of the organisation on the mental health of its members, combatting loneliness in new parents, barriers to getting active, and why equality can be so hard to come by in family life.

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Melissa Hogenboom on breadwinning

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

When BBC journalist Melissa Hogenboom happened across a study looking at attitudes towards male and female breadwinners, it made her wonder what other power imbalances we see play out in our everyday lives and how they affect us. This inspired her fascinating new book Breadwinners: and Other Power Imbalances That Influence Your Life.

Jen chats to Melissa about those inequalities, the value we place in different tasks, the point at which those values become entrenched, and why they hate the word “bossy”.

Breadwinners I published by Canongate and available now.

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Rated or Dated: Teen Wolf (1985)

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It was smash hit city for Michael J Fox in 1985, with Rod Daniel’s fantasy-comedyTeen Wolf following hot on the heels of Back to the Future, but did they have enough people in their hair and make-up department? Should 33-year-olds be at school? And how easy is it to accept a werewolf on your basketball team?

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Jo Hamilton vs the Post Office

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Jo Hamilton was one of the most high-profile victims of the British Post Office Scandal in which she, along with hundreds of other innocent subpostmasters, was wrongly prosecuted for shortfalls caused by faulty accounting software. The scandal is quite rightly considered one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British judicial history – with the Government also very heavily implicated.

Jo’s treatment at the hands of the Post Office had a devastating impact on, well, her whole world and that of her family. She went on to be a founding member of the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance and one of the 555 litigants in the successful group legal action of Bates & Others v Post Office Ltd. Her criminal conviction was overturned in April 2021. If you’ve seen ITV’s remarkable four-part drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Jo is played by Monica Dolan.

And so when she heard Jo had written a book, Why Are You Here, Mrs Hamilton?, Mick jumped at the chance to talk to Jo about what happened, how it’s changed her, and what still needs to happen in order for justice to be served.

Why Are You Here, Mrs Hamilton?: The Post Office Scandal and My Extraordinary Fight for Justice is published by Blink and available from all good bookshops.

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A breath of Jess air

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 01:38:00 -0000

Comedian Jessica Fostekew is going back on the road with her new show Iconic Breath, including short runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and at London's Soho Theatre. She chats to Hannah about still giving a shit, inherited traits, weightlifting, and guessing how old children are.

Tickets to Jess' Edinburgh show are here: ⁠https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/jessica-fostekew-iconic-breath⁠

And for the rest of the tour here: ⁠https://www.plosive.co.uk/events/jessica-fostekew-iconic-breath-tour-2026?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeEOPT83EkJgQV4yVP68nYdyMzG6LkvUYfmigUxzV8a07a0OIu9RiwBU8e7Qw_aem_fRrrXp35p2e844kQG4z2tw

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Flicking #64: Sing Sing

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Colman Domingo got an Oscar nod for his portrayal of John “Divine G” Whitfield in Greg Kwedar’s film based on the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts programme (RTA) at America’s Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison. Domingo is just one of a handful of professional actors starring alongside real-life alumni of RTA, a programme which gives them a sense of purpose and a close-knit group of friends. Yosra loved it when she saw it on its UK release last summer, but will Hannah and Mick feel the same? Could there even be tears in Dunleavyville?

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Lou Butcher, the Topless Runner

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 01:00:00 -0000

Lou Butcher, better known as the Topless Runner, has been running marathons naked from the waist up since having two mastectomies after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She chats to our friend Hazel Davis about health anxiety, body confidence, the politics of being bare chested and her memoir, Going Topless.

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Rated or Dated: Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975)

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 01:42:00 -0000

A fictional mystery without a solution masquerading as a true story is Australia's best film, you say? We do. Well, Hannah does anyway. But what does Mickey make of Peter Weir's dreamy boarding school drama/horror on a first watch?

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Childless by choice with Helen Taylor

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 00:42:00 -0000

Hannah is happily child-free so she was glad to grab some time with author Helen Taylor to chat about her new book Childless By Choice, which is part memoir, part cultural history. They talk about "crazy cat ladies", societal pressure, misconceptions and the pressing question of who is going to look after us when we get old.

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Rated or Dated: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It’s a big one this week, as Mick and Hannah watch possibly the most cult of cult films: Richard O’Brien’s stage show turned Jim Sharman’s screen show, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. So many questions. Has there ever been a hotter Curry than Tim? How might the modern youth view it? Did Hannah sing along? And what’s Mr Peanutbutter’s favourite berry got to do with anything? We see you shiver with… you know.

Mick mentions a couple of interesting articles, which you’ll find here: https://www.them.us/story/yes-rocky-horror-picture-show-is-transphobic-transmisogynist

And indeed here: https://www.bigissue.com/culture/theatre/rocky-horror-at-50-a-place-for-the-marginalised/

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Desiree Burch has The Golden Wrath

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Comedian and storyteller, actress and broadcasting star, Desiree Burch is also a perimenopausal woman with plenty to say about it. Mick got on the Zoom to talk about Desiree’s new show, The Golden Wrath, as well as the ups, downs and big bag of goo that is a woman’s midlife.

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Zelda Perkins has assured they can’t buy our silence

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In 2017, Zelda Perkins broke an NDA of more than 20 years to speak out against Harvey Weinstein. Since then, she’s tirelessly campaigned to end the misuse and abuse of NDAS – non-disclosure agreements – used to silence victims. Her campaigning included setting up Can’t Buy My Silence in 2021, and Mick chatted to her about that at the time.

Earlier this month, the Government announced it will ban NDAs designed to silence victims of workplace harassment and discrimination, a change that will be implemented through amendments to the Employment Rights Bill. A week later, the Lords passed it. This is a huge victory for Zelda – and the many brave people who have broken NDAs – after tireless campaigning, so obviously Mick got her back on the podcast to talk about the whats, whys, hows and what’s next.

For the full interview, get involved with our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/StandardIssue

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Rated or Dated: Flatliners (1990)

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Joel Schumacher’s sci-fi psychological horror exploring the boundaries between life, death and redemption was chock-a-block with early 1990s Hollywood's hottest property. But who gets redeemed and why? What happens when Bacon meets ham? And for the love of God, why won’t someone turn on a light?

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Paula Radcliffe and Natasha Edwards on Staying Out There

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In 2024, alongside Steph McCall and Olympic athlete Rose Harvey, Natasha Edwards co-founded BOLDLI running club, a response to safety concerns around women runners. Now, BOLDLI provides resources to help women gain the confidence to run when and where they want, and this year they’ve teamed up with the Altra Kielder Marathon to launch the Stay Out There: She Runs Free initiative.

Jen was tickled pink to catch up not only with Natasha but also with former world, European and Commonwealth champion, Paula Radcliffe – you heard us! – who is also backing the initiative. They're talking about why groups like BOLDLI are so needed, life after competitive running, and that time a bloke tried to catch up with Paula.

You can find out more information about the Altra Kielder Marathon here.

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The writer from the North Country

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 01:01:00 -0000

Karis Kelly's award-winning play Consumed is about to tour the UK, so Hannah grabbed the chance to chat with the playwright about Northern Ireland in the arts, mother-daughter relationships, religion, superstition, OCD, trans-generational trauma, blood on stage and a lot more.

Tickets for Consumed can be bought here: https://painesplough.com/productions/consumed/

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On writing, with Sally Gardner

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 01:53:00 -0000

Sally Gardner has had a long career of writing for children, for adults, and for everyone between. She chats to Hannah about her latest novel, The Bride Stone, growing up in London's Gray's Inn and about her belief that being dyslexic helped rather than hindered her writing career.

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Rated or Dated: Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 01:01:00 -0000

Are you ready for our close ups? Maybe not, but tuck in anyway as we watch Gloria Swanson's glorious swansong in Billy Wilder's dark comedy about lost fame, madness and how to arrange a funeral for a chimpanzee.

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Jean McNeil's wild encounters

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Adventurer, award-winning travel writer and Director of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Jean McNeil knows a lot about the world and our ever-more threadbare connection to it.

She chats to Mickey about her latest book, Latitudes: Encounters with a Changing Planet, a front-line witness account of the impact of climate change, and about her travels to and writing about remote, inhospitable places. Which started with being raised in one. And the fact Jean trained as a walking safari guide? Well, that’s (big) catnip to our Mick.

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Laura Abbott on Lost Mothers

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

During her career as a midwife, Dr Laura Abbott – now an associate professor in research at the University of Hertfordshire – became interested in the plight of women who gave birth in prison, or were separated from their babies by incarceration. And so she founded the Lost Mothers Project: a research project exploring the effects of mandatory separation of babies from women with Criminal Justice System involvement. As the Lost Mothers Project prepares to take its findings to Parliament, Jen chats to Laura about the vital work being done, an increased awareness of the England and Wales prison system for women, and why change needs to come now.

You can find out more about the work of the Lost Mother’s Project, including Scenes From Lost Mothers, here.

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Karen Pirie, TV's most ordinary detective

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 01:00:00 -0000

The second series of crime drama Karen Pirie is about to arrive, so Hannah grabbed some time with its star Lauren Lyle to talk about why Karen's not like other detectives, but a lot like most women her age. They also chat about Toxic Town, The Bombing of Pan Am 103 and women who "do".

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Rated or Dated: Back to the Future (1985)

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Starring Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd and a genuinely beautiful school building, Robert Zemeckis’s time travel comedy blockbuster continues to be a cultural touchstone. At the time, it dazzled at the box office and with critics alike. But 40 years on, how does it fare with Mick, Hannah and Jen? Do the inevitable time travel plotholes matter? How much did the young Jen fancy the young Fox? Does Mick own this 1980s smash on DVD? And, perhaps most importantly, what in the Doc Brown is going on with Hannah’s hair?

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Body talk with Rose Keating

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Oddbody is Rose Keating’s debut short story collection, an anthology of bold and unsettling tales inspired by her love of horror – and the genre's intersection with the female experience. In this episode, Jen gets inside the weird and wonderful mind of the Marian Keyes Young Writer Award winner, as she and Rose talk about how the body horror genre lends itself to the lived female experience, the inherent comedy of horror, and the horror (the horror!) of eggs. Oddbody is published by Canongate and is available now.

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Esther Freud’s sister (and other love[r]s)

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Author Esther Freud first shot to fame with her debut novel, Hideous Kinky, back in 1992. Her tenth novel, My Sister and Other Lovers, reunites readers with sisters Lucy and Bea, and astutely captures the realities of being a sister and having a sister. Spoiler: as much as pop culture would like us to think it, a sister is not a built-in BFF.

Our Mick chats to Esther about sisters, siblings, parents, the slippery nature of memory, and love in its many forms.

My Sister and Other Lovers is published by Bloomsbury and out now

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Rated or Dated: Tank Girl (1995)

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Rachel Talalay's 1995 take on the much-loved comic series Tank Girl had so much promise, but does it live up to its "truly feminist" hype? Who gets to decide? And how will a jazz-loving kangaroo-man help or hinder these efforts?

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Welcome to The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:55:00 -0000

Hannah's joined by playwright Iman Qureshi and director Hannah Hauer-King to chat about their play about the members of a lesbian choir, The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs. They chat about disability on stage, the search for community, and joining a uniquely British genre. *

The Ministry of Lesbian Affairs is on at the Kiln Theatre until July 12. You can find tickets here: https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/the-ministry-of-lesbian-affairs/

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Jess Andrews met all her friends on dating apps

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Theatre maker Jess Andrews found herself exploring the murky world of dating apps after she and her husband decided to join the polyamorous community. The experience inspired her to create her one-woman show I Met All My Friends on Dating Apps, which is now touring.

Jen chats to Jess about misconceptions around polyamory, why no one’s having a great time on dating apps and how we might fix some of the problems within it.

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Flicking #63: The Wild Robot

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This animated sci-fi adventure, adapted from Peter Brown’s much-loved books and written and directed by Chris Sanders, got a fair few Oscar nods, even if it missed out on an actual statue. But how will the tale of futuristic, task-oriented robot Roz, thrust into mothering gosling Brightbill amid the natural world’s chaos, fare with Mick, Hannah and Yosra? And what’s Bullseye got to do with it?

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Rated or Dated: Cocoon (1985)

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:38:00 -0000

Is there a conspiracy to stop us watching a feel-good film about pensioners? Who was younger than Hannah when it was filmed? Whose legs does Jen envy? How high are Mickey's socks? We answer all these questions and more as we watch Ron Howard's sci-fi comedy drama about old people fighting age with the help of aliens.

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Outside The Box June 2025

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:20:00 -0000

In this month's Outside The Box, Hannah and Jen are chatting about The Rehearsal, The Bombing of Pan Am 103, Beth, The Better Sister and The Last Anniversary.

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Tinuke Craig takes on British Summertime

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Announced as the new associate artistic director of Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre back in November 2024, Tinuke Craig is keen to show just how broad the theatre's programming can be. A production of Noughts and Crosses, based on the Malorie Blackman young adult series, and directed by Tinuke kicks it all off.

Jen chats to Tinuke about bringing Noughts and Crosses to the stage, giving young actors a break, and the wet panic of British Summertime.

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ROD: The Breakfast Club (1985)

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Where John Hughes first dared to tread, many – so very many – teen movies have followed. Starring Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy and Judd Nelson as five VERY DIFFERENT American high school kids thrown together in Saturday detention for various misdemeanours, does the Gen X cult classic pass muster with Mick, Hannah and Jen?

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Hannah Marsh pulls at threads

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

An emergency caesarean brought journalist Hannah Marsh's first child into the world. Afterwards, she struggled to make sense of the events that had led to his traumatic birth and her intense feeling of shame for not having the “perfect” birth she’d envisioned. Hannah set about looking into the origins of procedure, which in turn led to her new book, Thread: A Caesarean Story of Myth, Magic and Medicine.

Jen chats with Hannah about the many misconceptions about the caesarean (including thinking of it as a relatively recent procedure), the pressure on women around birth choices, and why women are struggling to have the births they want.

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Genius with Helen Lewis

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 01:21:00 -0000

What makes a genius a genius? Do IQ tests teach us anything? Is a belief in genius right-wing coded? Hannah chats to journalist, author, broadcaster and Standard Issue fave Helen Lewis about her new book The Genius Myth, hero worship, eugenics, class and (braces) football.

To hear the full interview or to listen ad-free you can:

* You can become a Standard Issue member here: https://www.patreon.com/c/StandardIssue

* Make a one-off payment here: ⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/StandardIssue⁠

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Rated or Dated: Maybe Baby (2000)

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Adapted from his own novel, Inconceivable, Ben Elton’s 2000 directorial debut is hard to track down these days. Should Jen ever have unearthed it? Has Elton written a convincing female character in Joely Richardson’s baby-hungry Lucy? Is Hugh Laurie just dialling it in? What in the sweet fancy Moses is Emma Thompson doing? And can Hannah and Mick ever get over the trauma of watching it?

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Ella Lambert and the sanitary pads of real change

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Back in 2020, then-student Ella Lambert started The Pachamama Project, when she was just 20 herself. 500 million people worldwide experience period poverty, including 100 million girls who miss school every single month. The Pachamama Project creates and distributes reusable period products to vulnerable women, girls and people who have periods, including refugees, around the world.

Our Mick tried not to think about what she was doing when she was 20, and got Ella on the Zoom to talk more about the brilliant UK charity she founded and why its work is so important.

The Pachamama Project is always looking for people to get involved, by the way, so please do check out thepachamamaproject.org for info on how to do that.

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Kirstie McLeod is telling stories in stitches

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Artist Kirstie McLeod founded the Red Dress project in 2009, as a platform for women in marginalised groups to share their stories. Sixteen years later, the collective embroidery project represents 380 embroiderers across 51 countries and is exhibited all over the world. Jen chats to Kirstie about the project, embroidery as a (perhaps) surprising medium through which to pioneer social justice, and the joy of putting needle to thread.

The Red Dress is currently being exhibited at the Woven festival in Kirklees

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Anoushka Lucas is a theatre animal

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:59:00 -0000

Fresh from her run in The Almeida's Rhinoceros, singer, composer, writer and actor Anoushka Lucas is back on stage in a revival of her one-way play Elephant. She chats to Hannah about why going back to it is a bit like reading an old diary, having a spectacularly successful side hustle and living in Russia.

Tickets to Elephant at London's Menier Chocolate Factory can be bought here: https://www.menierchocolatefactory.com/tickets/elephant/

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The Bush Telegraph: Dire straits in the status quo

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Inclusion, exclusion, cervical wands, disallowed ads, sunk rescue deals, and three whole women: Jen and Mick cover the lot in this week’s look at the news. Sexism of the Week uncovers a not so brave new world in how young men view women, and in JOTB there’s a pride of Lionesses, and some excellent cycle team names.

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Rated or Dated: The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse (2005)

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 00:45:00 -0000

What happens to characters when writers lose interest? They get a terrible film. Which is what The League of Gentlemen's Apocalypse is all about. Very meta. But does it avoid becoming a bad film itself? And since it's got Geoff Tipps, a surprisingly touching Herr Lipp plot, and Victoria Wood herself in it, do Mickey, Hannah and Jen even care?

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Kate Muir’s magnificent midlife crisis

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Kate Muir’s name might not ring any immediate bells, but her documentaries with Davina McCall about the perimenopause, menopause and HRT made quite the stir. And rightly so, given they busted myths around HRT that have been stopping women asking for it for decades.

Mick got on the Zoom with the women’s health campaigner, documentary maker, journalist and author to talk about the menopause movement, healthcare’s reluctance to keep up, the ridiculous idea that middle age is boring, and Kate’s latest book, How to Have a Magnificent Midlife Crisis.

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Jess Davies does not want to see your dick

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Former model Jess Davies started campaigning around image-based sexual abuse after her own experience of it, and the realisation that so many other women she knew had been through the same. Off the back of this came a string of documentaries, including Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next for BBC Three, and now a book, No One Wants to See Your Dick: A Handbook For Survival in the Digital World. Jen catches up with Jess to talk about how very common these problems are, the blurring of on and offline lives, and the ticking time bomb of Only Fans.

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Flicking #62: Civil War (2024)

Fri, 30 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

The most terrifying dystopias are within touching distance of now. And so it is with Alex Garland's Civil War, in which he uses imagined journalists chasing a story in an imagined civil war in an imagined future America to explore topics that resonate very loudly in the real world today. It’s a bleak, brutal and occasionally beautiful watch. But is it an important one? What’s its point? How good is Kirsten Dunst?!? And is two times too many times to see it? Hannah, Yosra and Mick discuss.

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The Bush Telegraph: What is this, Mary?

Thu, 29 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

How many kids is too many kids? Well, Boris Johnson and the UK Government are pretty divided on the issue. As well as covering the news of possible changes to the current two-child benefit cap, Hannah and Jen are talking about the horrific treatment of Nicola Packer, sexism and misogyny in the New South Wales police, and finally some good news about 20mph speed limits. Plus, there's joy for Charlton Athletic supporters, but sorrow for Mary Earps fans, in this week's Jenny Off The Blocks.

You can listen to Mick's chat with Terri White about the two-child benefit cap here.

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Rated or Dated: The Witches (1990)

Wed, 28 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A kids’ film with genuine horror credentials? Don’t Look Now’s Nicolas Roeg directs Roald Dahl’s 1983 tale of one boy (mouse) and his grandma versus a whole coven (convention) of child-killing witches. And by witches, we mean middle-aged women who don’t meet society’s arbitrary beauty standards and wear sensible shoes. WHAT COULD IT MEAN? Mick, Hannah and Jen investigate.

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Judith and John(s)

Tue, 27 May 2025 00:02:00 -0000

Acclaimed biographer Judith Mackrell makes a second visit to Standard Issue to chat about the Johns, a pair of siblings who went from an unhappy home in Wales to become two of the greatest British painters of the Edwardian period. She chats to Hannah about the very different but intertwined lives of Gwen and Augustus and why their work isn't always easy to find.

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Lesley Sackey is Fighting Forward

Mon, 26 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

After leaving an abusive relationship, former GB Boxer turned entrepreneur Lesley Sackey found herself living in survival mode – until she realised some of the lessons she’d learned in the ring could prove useful in life. She went on to co-found Fight Forward, an initiative helping women to empower themselves after experiencing abuse, as well as the forthcoming AI-integrated platform Pillow, which aims to help women move forward after trauma.

Jen catches up with Lesley to talk about her career in boxing, how her own experiences of abuse informed Fight Forward, and why boxing can help women recover after trauma.

You can find out more about Fight Forward, including signing up for sessions here.

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The Bush Telegraph: Be prepared (with teabags and tofu)

Thu, 22 May 2025 01:00:00 -0000

Which Standard Issue presenter would survive an apocalypse? Just one of the many important questions Hannah and Mickey are asking in this week's Bush Telegraph. See also: Is America deporting legals? What next for Gaza? Why do the courts treat women so poorly? And what does any of this have to do with a Romanian model? So good job we no longer have to ask "what about China?".

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Rated or Dated: Fame (1980)

Wed, 21 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Alan Parker’s musical-drama exploded the careers of Irene Cara, Gene Anthony Ray and others, and – thanks to the hit TV series that followed – earned a reputation as a fluffy tale of leg warmers and sweatbands. But underneath the choreographed routines, will this warts-and-all depiction of life at the New York School of Performing Arts prove TOO MUCH for Jen and Mick? And what is a hot lunch, anyway?

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Dr Suze Kundu has done her research… on research

Tue, 20 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In an era where misinformation is rife and spreads at light speed, the role of experts in research is more critical than ever. And yet, historical underrepresentation and systemic biases have led to a lack of trust in research among women and marginalised groups. So how do researchers regain our trust? Why is inclusivity so important? And how can we all better engage in research to ensure it’s more equitable and representative moving forward?

Mick put these questions to the excellent Dr Suze Kundu, nanochemist, science communicator and freelance journalist, and Research Community Engagement Consultant for NASA Science Explorer. That’s right, NASA. And true to data nerd form, Suze had answers.

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Cariad Lloyd does not know where she went (but she knows how to talk about it)

Mon, 19 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Cariad Lloyd is an actor, comedian and writer (and one of our faves), who has been talking about grief since the death of her father when she was 15. She’s turned her experiences into an award-winning podcast, Griefcast, and a bestselling book, You Are Not Alone. She’s now written a children’s book, Where Did She Go?, which aims to improve how we talk about death with children. Jen catches up with Cariad to chat about youngsters and grief, normalising those conversations, and fascinations with Nelson Mandela.

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Outside The Box May 2025

Fri, 16 May 2025 01:42:00 -0000

The big news is that someone has finally finished Mad Men, but if you're looking for some more recent TV, we've got that too. We chat about Poker Face, The Last of Us, Suspect: The Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes, Austin, The Four Seasons and Malpractice in our big round-up of the month's TV.

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Rated or Dated: La Haine (1995)

Wed, 14 May 2025 01:00:00 -0000

A film about racial tensions, police violence and disaffected youth? And this might be dated, you say? OK, probably not, but join us anyway as we talk about one of France's most well-respected films, why it's funnier than you'd imagine, and its breakout star Vincent Cassel.

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Sara Harrak and Leah Harvey take up some space

Tue, 13 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

When writer and director Sara Harrak got back into 5-a-side as an adult, she became obsessed, which led to her short film, Solers United. Starring Leah Harvey as Bills, it follows the trials and tribulations of a grassroots women's and non-binary team fighting for survival. Jen chats to Sara and Leah about community, gentrification, taking up more space, and the legend that is Dame Kelly Holmes.

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Bonnie Tsui On Muscle

Fri, 09 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Journalist, author and life-long athlete Bonnie Tsui is fascinated by muscle: how it looks; what it does, and how we think about it. Her curiosity led her to the meat of her new book, On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters, which explores the world of muscle from five different perspectives: strength; form; action; flexibility, and endurance. Jen chats to Bonnie about the nature and narrative of muscle, perceptions around strength, and taking a look under the proverbial bonnet.

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The Bush Telegraph: No poo-ing on the slide please

Thu, 08 May 2025 01:00:00 -0000

Should Labour be addressing immigration? Should men be mammographers? Does anyone fancy being imprisoned in the Jorvik Viking Centre? Jen and Hannah attempt to answer these and many other important questions in today's podcast. Plus, in Jenny Off The Blocks, we're talking about ACL injuries and good news for Charlton Athletic.

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Rated or Dated: Gladiator (2000)

Wed, 07 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Ridley Scott’s epic regeneration of the swords and sandals genre made megastars out of Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix and bagged a whole load of metal for the trophy cabinet, alongside a heap of box-office kerching. But 25 years on, does this tale of blood, brutality, bread, circuses and vengeance still thrill? Mick, Hannah and Jen share their thoughts. Unleash hell. Or just have a listen, your call.

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Laura Bates on the new age of sexism

Sat, 03 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Feminist writer, campaigner, and one of Standard Issue’s firm favourites, Laura Bates’s latest non-fiction is called The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny. Anyone fretting about the good old age of sexism, fret ye not, because it is still alive and kicking and very much fuelling and influencing the new one. And it’s impossible to stress enough how critical a moment right now is: this isn’t futuristic, distant and improbable amplified version of the same old, same old, it’s already affecting women and girls, and minority groups.

Our Mick chats to Laura about that, about the sheer scale of what’s happening, the regressive nature of breakneck “progress”, the problem with ‘outliers’, and about how men’s wants and wallets trump women’s rights and safety every time.

The New Age of Sexism: How the AI Revolution is Reinventing Misogyny is published by Simon & Schuster on May 15, but available for pre-order now.

laurabates.co.uk

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Flicking #61: Challengers

Fri, 02 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It’s game, set and love matches in our Yosra’s pick of 2024 films, as she, Mick and Hannah watch Luca Guadagnino’s sweaty tale of rivalry on and off the courts. Starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, it was a bit of a critics’ darling and a box-office champ. But does that mean a flying sausage for our three women? Or will they take issue with the plot, the characters, the tennis, the depiction of women (woman), and the Golden Globe-winning score? Ooh, it’s a mystery.

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The Bush Telegraph: You'd think, right?

Thu, 01 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

There’s a whole load of ‘but why the feck isn’t that already happening?’ in Hannah and Mick’s look at the news this week, as they take in nudification apps (no thanks), fresh rules for the police (yes please), and new investigations at old mother and baby institutions in Ireland (finally). Still, good news comes in the shapes of Jon Bon Jovi, miniature dachshunds, and new shoes.

Plus Sarah Millican's Light Relief for £5+ Patreon members.

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Rated or Dated: Look Who’s Talking (1990)

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Director Amy Heckerling is known for films centred on the female experience, but how feminist is a film about a woman narrated by an actual man-baby? Or a single mum hell-bent on finding a dad for her young child? Jen, Mick and Hannah revisit 1990’s Look Who’s Talking.

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Lucky boys with Chloe Hadjimatheou

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0000

If an adult male grooms a teenage girl into a sexual relationship, we're increasingly likely to call it abuse. But reverse the sex of the perpetrator and victim and attitudes are very different. In her latest podcast, Lucky Boy, journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou investigates one such case. She chats to Hannah about why female abusers are judged less harshly and their victims are often not seen as victims at all.

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Have Lauren Mishcon and Nicole Goodman tried this?

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Anyone who’s ever been anywhere near social media can attest to the somewhat loose definition of “self-care” adopted by society. Broadcasters Lauren Mishcon and Nicole Goodman, keen to challenge the deeply consumerist notions underpinning the wellness industry, and so their podcast, The Self-Care Club, in which they try and test different practices, was spawned. Now in its fifth year, the podcast has also led to a book, Have You Tried This: The Only Self-Care Book You Will Ever Need. Jen catches up with Lauren and Nicole to talk about the weird and wonderful things they’ve tried, how they define “self-care”, and just how problematic the industry is for women.

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Sophie Gilbert on how pop culture turned women against themselves

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In Girl On Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves, Pulitzer-nominated journalist Sophie Gilbert underlines how popular culture isn’t an innocuous force. She chats to our Mick about how focusing on how women and girls have been presented in pop culture from the late 1990s through the first two decades of this century revealed modern misogyny has been shaped by a mass culture attuned to male desire and all-pervasive pornography.

Girl on Girl is published by John Murray on May 1, but available for pre-order now.

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Rated or Dated: Leon (1995)

Wed, 23 Apr 2025 02:22:00 -0000

Once cool, now ick. That could describe so many things from 1995, but in this instance it's Luc Besson's thriller about a prepubescent girl and her assassin neighbour. But could it all have been so different?

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Meeting history with Amy Ng

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0000

Two young women walk into a theatre in China in 1935 and so begins a relationship that spans a turbulent period of history and ends with the death of one of them. Hannah chats to playwright and historian Amy Ng about her latest play, Shanghai Dolls, about finding the women behind the legends of Sun Weishi and Madame Mao, and about how we could all probably do with brushing up on our Chinese history.

More information and tickets here: https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/shanghai-dolls/

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Abigail Johnson on nineties nostalgia and millennium madness

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Books are a bit like buses for author Abigail Johnson, who signed a two-book deal after taking a punt on a creative writing course during the pandemic. Fast forward a few years, and Abigail's debut novel The Secret Collector is out now. Jen catches up with Abigail to talk about loneliness, learning from our elders (and indeed youngers), and the best bug that never happened.

The Secret Collector is available now.

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Outside The Box April 2025

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0000

There's a long weekend ahead and if you want to spend it watching telly, then you do you. Have some help choosing in the form of our monthly chat about TV, in which we're talking about The White Lotus, The Last of Us, After the Party, Dying for Sex, Black Mirror, Black Snow and Black Doves. Yeah, we saw the pattern there too.

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The Bush Telegraph: Mon dieu! Did we say we liked dystopias?

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Things are looking very worrying over in America, so of course we're talking about that. But we manage to get in a lot of other stuff too, including workers' rights, good news about bad games, rich women in space, mean girls in tennis and some more dreadful French pronunciations.

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Rated or Dated: American Psycho (2000)

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Comedy? Horror? Satire? A full-length Huey Lewis and the News music video? There’s a lot going on in Mary Harron’s big screen adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s controversial 1991 bestseller. Will Christian Bale’s much-lauded turn as Patrick Bateman blow Mick, Hannah and Jen away or turn their stomachs? What does a female director’s perspective bring to the exaggerated misogyny? Is any of it actually real? Do you like Phil Collins?

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Alice Vincent is listening

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Alice Vincent was a music journalist for many years, which had already started to shift how she listened, but then pregnancy and a deep trauma when her baby was very small led to her relationship with sound fracturing. In her new book, Hark: How Women Listen, she explores how she rebuilt that relationship, and also talks to other women about their experiences with sound and listening.

Our Mick got on the Zoom to talk about the different way sounds land in female bodies, and how we could all be listening more mindfully.

Hark: How Women Listen is available for pre-order now and out on May 1.

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Elsa James wants you to remember

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Elsa James’s new exhibition, It Should Not Be Forgotten, explores themes of chattel enslavement and its impact on contemporary Black British life. Confronting Britain’s national amnesia around its role in the transatlantic slave trade, Elsa’s work seeks to bring an alternative perspective on how we engage with the past. Jen chats to Elsa about the exhibition’s themes, sharing history, and facing its discomfort.

It Should Not Be Forgotten is at Firstsite Colchester until July 6.

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Honeysuckle Weeks's not-so-Little Women

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Actor Honeysuckle Weeks has been onstage and screen for more than 30 years and can currently be found touring as Marmee in a new adaptation of Louisa May Alcott classic, Little Women. Jen chats to Honeysuckle about how relatable the 1868 novel remains to young women, the tragedy of Jo, and loving Leslie Manville.

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The Bush Telegram: Just because we can, doesn’t mean we did

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

There’s a whole lot of manosphere in this week’s Bush Telegraph, helmed by Hannah and Mick, but maybe, just maybe, there’s a side of justice to boot. Thank Christ? Turns out a lot more Gen Z-ers have turned to God than we thought, so perhaps. Thank dire wolves? Well, now you’re just being silly.

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Rated or Dated: Cry-Baby (1990)

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

John Waters’ follow-up to smash hit Hairspray saw the so-called “Pope of Trash” enjoy the first-ever bidding war for his work. But does 1990’s cult classic Cry-Baby live up to the hype? Is it the lol-a-thon Jen remembers? And can Mick and Hannah still bear to look at Johnny Depp’s face?

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Brona C Titley's telling tales

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Writer, actor and top woman Brona C Titley was keener than mustard when she was asked to adapt Brian Helgeland’s 2001 medieval action comedy for the stage. A Knight’s Tale the Musical opens at Manchester Opera House this Friday, so Mick got Brona on the Zoom to chat the whys, the hows, and the horses.

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Dear Daughter, love Namulanta

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 00:40:00 -0000

Namulanta Kombo pitched an idea for a podcast to the BBC World Service and the result - Dear Daughter - has become a worldwide success story, garnering a devoted listenership and a bunch of awards. She joins Hannah from Nairobi, to talk about advice, good and bad, and the importance of passing on life lessons.

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Flicking #60: The Outrun

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Directed by Nora Fingscheidt and adapted from Amy Liptrot’s prizewining 2017 addiction memoir of the same name, The Outrun follows the recovery of young alcoholic Rona, and offers emotional turmoil in dramatic places. How will Mick, Yosra and Hannah cope with that? And it stars Saoirse Ronan. How will Hannah cope with that?

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The Bush Telegraph: A right old fiscal drag

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Mick and Jen are steeling themselves for the seven bill (sort of) increases rolling out across the country this week, as they chat budget bloopers and a 45p consolation prize. Meanwhile, it’s bleak news indeed as in the UK further crimes are alleged against serial rapist Zhenhao Zou, and across the pond, women in the US are up against infringements on democracy via the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. Still, thank God for that new UTI drug, eh? In Jenny Off The Blocks there’s tennis, rugby, an April Fool's and Cilla Black.

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Rated or Dated: Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:53:00 -0000

Join us as we get into the groove of a "feminist cult classic". Is that jacket lush? Is Madonna playing Madonna? Is Desperately Seeking Susan a feminist film at all? All the debate is raging here. And Jen's in fancy dress. You're welcome.

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Story of a Murder with Hallie Rubenhold

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 01:00:00 -0000

Historian Hallie Rubenhold's non-fiction book The Five found the stories of the victims of Jack the Ripper underneath a whole pile of misogyny and myth-making. She's about to do the same for the women at the centre of the Crippen murder, with her book Story of a Murder: The Wives, the Mistress and Dr Crippen. Hallie chats to Hannah about the wrongs done to Belle Elmore, by both her husband and history, and why most true crime sucks.

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Annabel Streets is walking with purpose

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0000

At various points in her life, writer and walking enthusiast Annabel Streets has felt a pull towards certain landscapes and wondered if there was a reason for that. In her new book, The Walking Cure: Harness the Life-changing Power of Landscape to Heal, Energise and Inspire, she explores the restorative and healing powers of walking. Jen catches up with Annabel to talk about why we should all be getting outside, the mindblowing new findings about the different benefits of different landscapes, and the many things to love about wandering around a cemetery.

The Walking Cure is published by Tonic and is available now.

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Lara Pulver and the perils of rehearsing at home

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Fiddler on the Roof could win big at this year's Oliviers, with 13 nods, including one for Best Actress for Lara Pulver. She's also about to hit our screens in Paramount's new drama MobLand. Lara chats to Hannah about all this, plus working with Helen Mirren, the cancellation of Maternal and how what the childminder walked in on really wasn't what it looked.

* You can listen to Jen's interview with Jackie Honess-Martin about Maternal here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr5qeoaEwC8

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The Bush Telegraph: Anyone want to add us to their WhatsApp group?

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0000

There's fuckwittery, and there's whatever the hell is going on at the highest levels of government in America right now. In this week's BT, Hannah and Jen look at that whole horror show, the chances of another pandemic, a new GCSE, and the dearth of women in brewing. Plus there's rugby and tennis in Jenny Off The Blocks. And, perhaps most importantly, updates from Newport Pagnell's Facebook group.

The Atlantic mentioned is here: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/trump-administration-accidentally-texted-me-its-war-plans/682151/

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RoD: Girl, Interrupted (2000)

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie head up James Mangold’s biographical drama, based on Susanna Kaysen’s 1993 memoir about her time in a psychiatric hospital in the 1960s. It was a big deal on its release, so Mick, Hannah and Jen give it a watch to discover whether it’s an astute look at female mental health in a time when women’s rights and standards were very different or, to put it bluntly, dogshit, uninterrupted.

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The many titles of Emily Scarratt

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

The Women’s Six Nations got underway on Saturday, with England eyeing a whopping 29th title in the tournament. And so, Jen jumped on the Zoom to chat to the Red Roses’ top scorer of all time: Emily Scarratt. They're talking about how women’s rugby is doing in the UK and on a global stage, the forthcoming World Cup, and how to take the lows, as well as the highs, when you're a professional athlete.

Tickets for the Women's Six Nations are available online now.

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Outside The Box March 2025

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 01:38:00 -0000

What a month, indeed what a few days, of TV. Hannah's got some high praise for Severance, The White Lotus, Toxic Town and Adolescence, while Jen's been keeping it real with some ITV dramas. And a few BBC ones to boot. Tuck in!

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The Bush Telegraph: What’s in your salad crisper?

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

It’s a full basket of news from Hannah and Mick this week: oven-ready gammon joints, Streep-Short joy, a pre-tribunal win for some of the BBC’s female presenters, the Met Police covering itself in glory again, and – all together now! – relugolix/estradiol/norethisterone acetate for the endo win. Plus, extra sunshine for our £5+ patrons with Sarah Millican’s Light Relief.

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Rated or Dated: Pretty Woman (1990)

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Garry Marshall’s much beloved romcom made a leading lady of Julia Roberts, and an absolute shedload of cash at the box office. But how romantic and/or funny is sex work, drug addiction and controlling relationships? And would either Hannah or Jen be up for being kept as Richard Gere’s pet?

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Nicky Anderson is Dancing With Shadows

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Investigative journalist and head of narrative at Stak, Nicky Anderson has been a ballet nut since she was a kid. And the New York City Ballet under George Balanchine? For many, it’s ballet at its pinnacle. But at what cost?

In her new seven-part podcast series, Dancing With Shadows, Nicky explores the history of the New York City Ballet and its influence, with a focus on the dark side of the company and the culture and legacy created and left by Balanchine.

Mick got her on the Zoom to talk about this deep dive into a sport-slash-art form renowned for demanding absolute sacrifice from its young, predominantly female, dancers and for being a very closed institution, how it shines a light on abuse sort of becoming par for the course, and the perils of genius.

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Rated or Dated: The Sound of Music (1965)

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0000

How do you solve a problem like two people who don't like musicals having to watch one of the world's best-loved musicals? Was it like brown paper packages tied up with string or just Do Re Mi Fa Soooo fucking long?

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Roisín O’Donnell’s portrait of coercive control

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Roisin O’Donnell’s striking debut novel, Nesting, tackles some big issues: domestic abuse, coercive control and the housing crisis in Ireland. We follow protagonist Ciara’s spur of the moment decision to take her two young girls and flee her abusive husband – and the challenges she faces staying away. Roisín chats to our Mick about coercive control, strong women in impossible situations, and sparks of hope.

If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. You are not alone.

Nesting is published by Scribner and out now.

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Jemima Rooper on an actor’s life

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Jemima Rooper has been on our screens since the mid ‘90s, featuring in shows such as As If, Hex, and more recently The Split and Geek Girl. Now she’s at London's Park Theatre as Suzanne in one of France's favourite plays, Farewell Mr Haffman. Jen catches up with Jemima to talk about playing a Nazi, life as an actor from a young age, and being that tricky not young/not yet old age of our mid-40s.

Farewell Mr Haffmann is at Park Theatre, London, until April 12

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Flicking #59: Timestalker

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Hannah, Yosra and Mick are all big fans of Alice Lowe. But will that translate into loving Timestalker, which she wrote, directed and stars in? Does an excellent supporting cast (Tanya Reynolds, Jacob Anderson, Nick Frost and Aneurin Barnard) get enough to do? And will the fast cuts and repetition leave them confused or swooning? Find out!

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The Bush Telegraph: Zen and the art of potty training

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

There has been some good news this week, if you squinted right. So we're saying "no thank you" to the White House bullies and "yes please" to big legal developments, potty training, the pursuit of happiness and teaching boys about positive masculinity. Plus, there's boxing news in Jenny Off The Blocks. You're welcome.

You can find out more about the Big Toile Project here.

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Rated or Dated: The Handmaid's Tale (1990)

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Margaret Atwood via Harold Pinter? Volker Schlöndorff’s 1990 adaptation of what’s become a feminist classic promises “a haunting tale of sexuality in a country gone wrong”. So there’s that for starters. Will Mick, Hannah and Jen get onboard with Schlöndorff’s vision of Gilead and what happens to the women living in it, or will they, like Pinter, find it all very tiring?

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Son of a bitch, it's Anna Morris!

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 02:50:00 -0000

Imagine losing it in public, a video going viral and the whole world calling you a bad mother. That's what happens in playwright and actor Anna Morris's new play Son of A Bitch, now at Southwark Playhouse. Anna chats to Hannah about raging in public, viral videos, empathy, and the pressure on women to be mothers. Good mothers. Excellent mothers.

You can book tickets for Son of A Bitch here: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/son-of-a-bitch/

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Emily Callaci wants Wages for Housework

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Like many new parents, Emily Callaci - writer and professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison - was amazed by the amount of housework that came with looking after small children. Her new book, Wages for Housework, is a history of the fascinating movement of the same name and explores how feminists before her have approached the dilemma of under-valued and unpaid work. Jen caught up with Emily to talk about the movement, why we could do with it making a comeback, and how different the world might look if essential work was valued differently.

Wages for Housework is available now.

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Is the public about to catch on to the Spycops scandal?

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0000

The women tricked into relationships with undercover police officers have spent a lot of years investigating and campaigning, largely unnoticed. Might a new ITV documentary about their stories finally get them the widespread support they deserve? Hannah chats to one of those women, Alison, and to Lucy Wilcox, the director of The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed to find out more.

* Hannah has previously interviewed Alison about her experiences of discovering her partner of eight years was a police spy. You can hear that interview, which also features Helen Steel, on Itunes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sim-ep-744-chops-255-groomed-gaslighted-ghosted/id1080808404?i=1000568597088

* The Undercover Police Scandal: Love and Lies Exposed starts on ITV and ITVX on Thursday 6 March.

* You can find out more about the Police Spies Out Of Lives campaign here: https://policespiesoutoflives.org.uk/

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The Bush Telegraph: A boob buffet

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Mick are ingesting and spitting out the news this week, and you’ll perhaps be unsurprised to hear that Trump needs to do better, the BBC needs to do better, the Church of England needs to do better, and Justin Baldoni needs to do better. Still, there’s always the prospect of mice paramedics to bring some cheer. And, for our £5+ patrons, extra rodent content courtesy of Sarah Millican’s Light Relief.

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Rated or Dated: The Stepford Wives (1975)

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Bryan Forbes’ 1975 satirical horror, based on the 1972 novel by Ira Levin, is so well known it's entered the lexicon. Is it a dystopian nightmare or does it have something to say about life right now? Why were some feminist groups against it? And if a woman had made it, how might it be different?

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Eowyn Ivey and Alaska’s dark fairy tales

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Eowyn Ivey, the million copy-selling author of The Snow Child, has been wanting to tell the story of her childhood her whole adult life. In her new novel, Black Woods, Blue Sky, she draws upon her experiences of violence growing up, as well as classic fairy tales, such as Beauty And The Beast to do just that. Jen chats to Eowyn about the book, the duality of humans, becoming the literary toast of the town, and Alaska’s main character energy.

Black Woods, Blue Sky is available now and you can watch an online event with Eowyn and Rachel Joyce online here.

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Victoria Smith on Hags and "unkind" women

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

‘Seasoned feminist hag’ Victoria Smith is sick to the back teeth of women being told to ‘just be kind’. This was catnip to our Mickey, who you’ll already have heard wanging on about Victoria’s 2023 book, Hags: The Demonisation of Middle-Aged Women, which asks why middle-aged women are treated with such active disdain and traces the hatred and fear of them back through history.

To be clear, Victoria's latest book, Unkind: How ‘Be Kind’ Entrenches Sexism, has no beef with actual kindness – in fact, she’s a big fan – but instead looks at how three little words – “just be kind” – can cost women way too much. And how a baked potato brought perspective.

Both of Victoria’s books are available now, and you’ll find her on X and Bluesky @glosswitch.

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Sophie McCartney has One Foot in the Rave

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Comedian, podcaster, novelist and mum-of-three, Sophie

McCartney initially found fame with her hilarious online content, which she

started posting when the Covid lockdown put her fledgling stand-up career on

hold. Since then, she hasn’t looked back, publishing her Sunday Times-bestselling

debut Mother Hens in 2023. And now she's about to embark on

her biggest tour to date, One Foot in the Rave. Jen catches up with

Sophie to talk about the ageing process, “having it all”, and why becoming a

mum doesn’t have to mean the end of your ambitions.

Tickets for One Foot in the Rave are on sale now.

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Rated or Dated: The Talented Mr Ripley (2000)

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 04:00:00 -0000

Mickey doesn't like jazz, Jen doesn't like long films and Hannah doesn't like Jude Law's face. So how is The Talented Mr Ripley going to go down in this week's Rated or Dated? Only one way to find out...

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Julia Raeside and comedy’s #MeToo reckoning

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Don’t Make Me Laugh is telly writer and broadcaster Julia Raeside’s debut novel. Set in the world of UK standup, Julia’s using pure fiction (honest guv!) and dark humour to look at the men lurking in the big, murky, grey area between ‘bad, wrong and damaging’ behaviour and the kind of actual crimes punishable by law. She chats to our Mick about the many blokes hiding in those shadows, the women working to out them, and the importance of shining a light on these pricks via conversation.

Don’t Make Me Laugh is published by Bedford Square and out now.

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Laura Horton's here (so put on your best Lynn face)

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Ever got drunk and started a punk band? Playwright Laura Horton has and, in today's podcast, she's chatting to Hannah about Lynn Faces, her play about the impact of coercive control and starting a punk band, all inspired by her own experiences. They also talk about the arts in the South West and the many other interesting women in Laura's family.

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Outside The Box February 2025

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Mercy, it's cold out. So if your plan is to spend the weekend inside, under a blanket, here's this month's telly round-up to help you make some smart viewing choices. We're talking about Severance, Am I Being Unreasonable?, Apple Cider Vinegar, Boyzone: No Matter What, Brian and Maggie, Unforgotten and Minx.

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The Bush Telegraph: Bootcut feuds

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Still reeling from the prospect of being dissed by a man in bootcut jeans, it's Hannah and Jen on Bush Telegraph duties. They’re looking at how Chelsea forward and Australia captain Sam Kerr found herself on the right side of the law and wondering why it was ever in question. Meanwhile, scrutiny of Kim Leadbeater’s Assisted Dying Bill has revealed it's starting to look like it isn't what MPs signed up for. Also featuring: Terminator roads, exceptional mumming and unexceptional headline-writing, and a spot of tennis.

You can watch Sophy Ridge’s piece on changes to the Assisted Dying Bill here, and find out more about Not Dead Yet here.

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Rated or Dated: Witness (1985)

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis and a very young Lukas Haas star in Peter Weir’s understated action movie, in which a young Amish boy witnesses the murder of a police officer and only one man can solve the crime. Ford, it’s Harrison Ford.

But what do Jen and Mick make of a less swaggering hero? Should Kelly McGillis have got her tits out? What does the film (maybe) say about gun control? And why can’t Jen recognise people in films?

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Andrea Gibb and the sisterhood of Miss Austen

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Currently taking telly by (gentle) storm, Miss Austen is screenwriter Andrea Gibb’s beautiful four-part adaptation of Gill Hornby’s historical fiction for the BBC. Mick caught up with Andrea to talk sisterly love, having one of our most revered writers in your hands, the question of legacy, the bitter joy of Mary Bunbury, and, actually, having a soft spot for Brontë.

Miss Austen is available on the iPlayer

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Nicola Slawson is Single

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

When journalist Nicola Slawson took the active choice to stay single after some bad relationship experiences, she noticed not many people were talking about the experiences of those who choose to fly solo. Cue her hugely popular newsletter, The Single Supplement, in which she presents a different perspective on being single. And now there's a book, Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms. She chats to Jen about stigma, choice, and why the work you do on you should be for you.

Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms is available for pre-order.

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Flicking #58: Anora

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Pitch black comedy, warped fairy tale or comedy drama? Whatever it is, Sean Baker’s story of a young sex worker from Brooklyn, who gets her chance at a Cinderella story when she meets and marries the son of an oligarch, is bothering the hell out of the Oscars. Will Yosra, Hannah and Mick fall in love with Mikey Madison’s Ani? Does Yura Borisov’s Igor deserve his Academy nod? How hard should we be laughing? And would Hannah make a good henchman? There’s so much to talk about.

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The Bush Telegraph: What happens when you give a gun to a cat?

Thu, 06 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It's very much full steam ahead on the batshittery in America and Hannah is struggling to keep up. Mickey has news about the state (and we do mean state) of women's prisons in England, and we ask ourselves, do the French still hurt over Agincourt? There are two Sexisms of the Week, with some ageism to boot. And for our Patreon supporters, there's bonus joy courtesy of Sarah Millican's Light Relief.

You can find Hannah's interview with Jules Rowan about life after prison here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/inside-and-out-with-jules-rowan/id1080808404?i=1000666711527

And Mickey's interview with Fiona Mackenzie here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fiona-mackenzie-wants-policies-for-women/id1080808404?i=1000683871660

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Rated or Dated: Beverly Hills Cop (1985)

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Eighties smash Beverly Hills Cop is absolutely steeped in nostalgia for Jen, Hannah and Mick alike. But, despite its banging soundtrack, charismatic leading man, and textbook English baddie, can it be anything but dated? Are our childhoods about to be ruined?

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Doing the work with Diane Samuels

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Playwright Diane Samuels has been working in theatre for more than 30 years, and her back catalogue includes 1993’s Kindertransport, winner of the Verity Bargate and Meyer-Whitworth awards. She’s back with new play As Long As We Are Breathing, which tells the real-life story of Miriam Friedman who, as a child in Slovakia during World War II, hid from the Nazis to survive the Holocaust. Jen chatted to Diane about trauma, grief, forgiveness and whether or not we still have cause to hope.

As Long As We Are Breathing is showing at the Arcola Theatre, London, until March 1.

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Philippa Dunne's not worried

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Actor, writer and former worrier queen Philippa Dunne is back on our screens this week as reliable Anne in Motherland spin-off Amandaland. She's chatting to Hannah about the highs and lows of being Amanda's friend, Mayo weather and learning to worry less.

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Sarah Treleaven on The Con

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

The second series of the CBC/BBC podcast The Con focuses on Kaitlyn Braun, who hoodwinked many doulas into believing she was pregnant. Hannah's talking to the writer, producer and host of Kaitlyn's Baby, Sarah Treleaven, about the hows and why of this extraordinary case, the harm it's done, and why it's often harder to persuade people they've been conned than it is to con them.

You can listen to Kaitlyn's Baby on BBC Sounds here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvq7

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The Bush Telegraph: What in the skibidi is going on?

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Suella Braverman’s glitching like Liz Truss, millions of kids in poverty, no new label for extreme misogyny, and ‘sexism is bad, pals’: there’s a lot to unpack in this week’s Bush Telegraph, brought to you by Mick and Jen. There’s good news, too, of course, including some of the yoot’s favourite words, brought to you by Jen, and a surprise book recommendation, brought to you by Mick. And if you’ve been hardcore manifesting a disturbing segue in JOTB about that time Ian Botham accidentally sent an unsolicited dick pic to the world, you are in for a badly angled treat.

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Rated or Dated: Wonder Boys (2000)

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 03:10:00 -0000

There are lies, affairs, copious pot-smoking, stolen memorabilia, Michael Douglas in a dressing gown, and a dead dog this week, as we watch Curtis Hanson's Wonder Boys. But what do Mickey, Hannah and Jen make of it, 25 years on?

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Kathy Slack's growing through a Rough Patch

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Rough Patch is the name of award-winning food writer, author and veg grower Kathy Slack’s new book (out on February 6, but available for pre-order now), and it’s a warm mix of memoir, a love letter to growing your own, and recipes.

It covers a year in Kathy’s life in which a brutal depression meant she left her high-flying city job and, eventually, found solace and purpose growing her own vegetables. She chats to Mick about depression, what advice to ignore and the joy of feeding yourself.

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Liz Johnson's Panathlon Challenge

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Panathlon Challenge is a charity aimed at giving young people with disabilities and special educational needs the opportunity to take part in competitive sport, and is chaired by Paralympic gold medalist, Liz Johnson.

Jen chats to Liz about the charity, what skills kids can take from competitive sports into their adult lives, and the barriers young people with disabilities and special educational needs face in terms of accessing services to help develop those skills.

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Dawn Adams on menopause, hormones and type 1 diabetes

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

In her early 20s, Dawn Adams was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and told she probably wouldn't live long enough to worry about any impact the menopause might have on her condition. And so, when Dawn started perimenopause and noticed changes in her condition, she began to question what exactly medical professionals and researchers do know about it? As ever when it comes to women’s health, the answer was not a lot.

Dawn's now involved in several research projects, and so Jen got the midwife and diabetes advocate on the phone to talk about autoimmune conditions, why we still don’t know enough about diabetes type 1, and how representative Steel Magnolias actually is.

You can find out more information on Ulster University’s research project here.

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The Bush Telegraph: True or false? Who even knows anymore?

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 01:30:00 -0000

Trump's back in the White House, so what better time for a big quiz about what's real news and what Hannah has just made up? Good luck, Jen. Also, there's more on the Online Safety Act, the ceasefire in Gaza and women's prizes in sport. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, we're talking tennis, cricket and what's in that little jar they win in The Ashes. Plus, if you're a Standard Issue supporter, it's time for some more Sarah Millican's Light Relief. You're welcome!

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Rated or Dated: Showgirls (1995)

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

They said it could never be done, but Tits Ahoy, Tits Akimbo and Tits McGee come together in Paul Verhoeven’s 1995 erotic drama/satirical masterpiece/car crash of nudity* and it’s more aggressively aggressive than is ever necessary.

Showgirls bombed and took a critical spanking at the time, but 30 years on, opinion has softened. Well, some opinions. Do they include those of our Mick, Hannah and Jen? Find out.

*delete as appropriate

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Women Are Mad – and rightly so

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Psychotherapist Jen Cox and life coach Salima Saxton, are best mates and co-hosts of the podcast Women Are Mad. Together they’ve created a space to show women that emotions are a superpower. And it has – as the name of their podcast suggests – a healthy focus on rage as a source of fuel and change. They chat to Mick about the power in sharing, the joy of rage, and why we need to let it out.

Women Are Mad is available wherever you get your podcasts and Jennifer’s book, Women Are Angry: Why Your Rage is Hiding and How to Let It Out, is available from all good bookshops.

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Outside The Box January 2025

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 01:40:00 -0000

Is your New Year's resolution to stay in and watch more telly? Unlikely, but let us recommend some things to watch regardless. This time we're chatting about What We Do In The Shadows, 100 Years of Solitude, Playing Nice, Somebody Somewhere, SAS Rogue Heroes, Missing You and Dr Odyssey (OMFG!)

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Rated or Dated: The Usual Suspects (1995)

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Bryan Singer’s much lauded, twisty-turny, Oscar-winning

classic starring Kevin Spacey has us separating art from artist this week. But

is the art all that interesting? What is Pete Postlethwaite’s head-scratcher of

an accent? And when the surprise ending's all everyone talks about, how does it

fare on a second watch?

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Fiona MacKenzie wants policies for women

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Fiona MacKenzie is Standard Issue’s original ‘random angry woman’, a tag she gave herself when she first came on the pod to talk about her campaign, We Can’t Consent To This. Her work led to a change in the law and the scrapping of the ‘rough sex defence’.

Fiona’s now exploring how Westminster can work better for women with The Other Half, a non-partisan think tank developing policy in women’s interests and spanning public life, justice, Mothers and Others. This includes assisted dying safeguards to protect the lives of vulnerable women, which, as the officially titled Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – more commonly known as the assisted dying bill – passes through Parliament, Fiona and Mick focus on in this interview.

The Other Half wants to hear from women in order to move forward in helping create policy that considers and benefits women, so take five minutes to fill in a couple of the surveys you’ll find on the website. theotherhalf.uk

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Tammy Beaumont and Ryana MacDonald-Gay on trash talk and top-spin

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

That great sporting rivalry the women’s Ashes got underway in Australia on Saturday. Jen caught up with two of England Cricket's finest, tournament debutant Ryana MacDonald Gay, and team stalwart Tammy Beaumont, to talk rivalry, excitement, and where the women’s game is at right now.

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Flicking #57: The Substance (2024)

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Coralie Fargeat’s gonzo body horror comedy The Substance just bagged Demi Moore a Golden Globe and started a lot of conversations when it hit cinemas last year. Conversations in which the word “feminist” came up a lot. And so, for the first Flicking of 2025, Mick, Hannah and Yosra hold onto their boob vomit to talk ageing, bodies, ageing bodies, the relationship between younger and older self, and how they may never get over Dennis Quaid eating shrimp.

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The Bush Telegraph: Phewee, who plogged?

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

New year, new news-storms, and grooming gangs have dominated

2025’s early headlines. But, asks Mick, how much do the people “leading” this

debate care about the working-class girls at the centre of the story and what

really needs to shift for that to happen? Meanwhile, Jen’s chatting about the

foster care crisis, and some intriguing new fitness trends. In Sexism of the

Week, we’re wondering how great a tourist destination Afghanistan actually

is, and there’s cricket and tennis in JOTB. And for our £5 and above Patreons,

The Boss, aka Sarah Millican, is back with some Light Relief.

You can listen to Mick's interview with Kiri

Pritchard-McLean about becoming a foster parent, here.

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Rated or Dated: Shallow Grave (1995)

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Danny Boyle's debut film won awards for Ewan McGregor but is he really the star of the show? Did anyone want to see that much of Keith Allen? What's Boyle's problem with friendship? All the answers lie within.

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The importance of being Sharon, Ronke and Eliza

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

A new version of Oscar Wilde’s iconic play The Importance of Being Earnest is enjoying a sold-out run at the National Theatre. Jen caught up with its stars, Sharon D Clarke, Ronke Adekoluejo and Eliza Scanlen, to chat about the enduring appeal of the play, how they’re bringing it to a fresh audience, and accessibility of theatre in the UK.

The run is now sold out except for Rush tickets, but you can catch it on NT Live from February 20.

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Spring Day's sprung

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 02:20:00 -0000

As a teenager, American comedian Spring Day was in a cult. Her latest show, Exvangelical, explains why she joined and why she left. She and Hannah chat about that and a lot more besides, including the differences in being disabled in the US and the UK.

* Tickets for the Soho Theatre shows, on January 7 & 8, are here: https://sohotheatre.com/events/spring-day-exvangelical/#:~:text=As%20seen%20on%20BBC's%20Live,dark%20comedy%20for%20nice%20people.&text=Spring%20joined%20a%20Christian%20cult,think%20you%20heathens%20would%20understand.

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Wendy Grace chats cold, hard cash

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Money makes the world go round, and that doesn’t look likely to change anytime soon. So why do so many of us put our head in the sand when it comes to cash? And how do we get more fluent at the money talk?

Our Mick definitely needs a little guidance where budgeting, saving and investing is concerned, so she got on the Zoom with financial literacy expert Wendy Grace. They’re chatting fears and anxiety around money, how we can change our relationship with it, when and how to get kids financially savvy, and why Wendy wants more young women to get passionate about pensions.

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Laura Tristram’s no year’s resolutions

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

With the New Year approaching, some of us will be thinking about resolutions for the year ahead. Not Laura Tristram, founder of new app, Lumii Life, an AI-powered mental health companion, who believes that shaming ourselves into “better” behaviours is never the way forward.

Jen caught up with Laura to talk about how New Year’s resolutions can actually be bad for our mental health, why we should treat ourselves with compassion, and what led her to found Lumii Life.

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Christmas Rated or Dated Revisited: Home Alone

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0000

It's our second revisit of a classic festive Rated or Dated and this time it's picked by Jen. How did 1990's Home Alone stand up when we watched it all the way back in 2020? Ahh, 2020. I'd say happy days, but you know...

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Christmas Rated or Dated Revisited: Love Actually

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0000

We're having a week off, so here's a classic from the Rated or Dated files. But what did Mickey, Jen and Hannah make of Richard Curtis's 2003 Christmas offering? You can probably guess, but if you haven't, it's probably best not to listen with your Nan while you're prepping the sprouts.

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Outside The Box #70

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0000

In the last Outside The Box of 2024, we've been watching Say Nothing, Shetland, Until I Kill You, The Day of the Jackal, Bad Sisters, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light, Mrs Davies and, you've guessed it, more Attenborough, in the form of Asia.

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Rated or Dated: Gremlins (1984)

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Christmas classic or RSPCA headache? Chris Columbus and Joe Dante’s creature feature had a lot of input from one Steven Spielberg and it shows. But will this horror/comedy/action combo for kids still surprise and delight Mick, Hannah and Jen? Is Gizmo still a charming little nugget? Are the gremlins mischievous, anarchic fun or irritating? And WHEN THE HELL IS BREAKFAST?

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Breast cancer is a feminist issue

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Dr Laura James ND specialises in naturopathic breast oncology and is on a mission to get breast cancer recognised as a feminist issue. That means her approach to breast cancer is holistic – imagine that, she takes the whole woman into consideration. Her argument is compelling and in this episode she’s explaining to our Mick how a breast cancer diagnosis pretty much always shines a light on the existing challenges women face.

Laura has also created a line of products for women who have or have had breast cancer, which you’ll find at bestforbreast.com, with all profits going to breast cancer services.

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Flicking #56: Anatomy of a Fall

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It’s Hannah, Yosra and Mick’s final review of a film of 2023, and Hannah’s picked another celebrated “feminist” movie from that year. Neither Poor Things nor Barbie impressed us much, so the pressure’s on for Justine Triet’s awards-bothering legal drama, Anatomy of a Fall. Will Sandra Hüller impress as a woman on trial after the sudden death of her husband? Will young Milo Machado-Graner’s acting chops blow us away as Daniel? Is Messi the French Border Collie more than just a “good boy” as Snoop? And why are we all sporting the heads of Labrador puppies? Find out.

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Rated or Dated: Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're watching Fathers for Justice blueprint and Oscar-nabbing weepathon, Kramer vs. Kramer. But how up to date will Jen and Hannah find the sexual politics? What will they make of Dustin Hoffman's method acting? And how much will Hannah want to give Meryl Streep a hug?

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Sabrina Verjee’s Lakes, Meres and Waters

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Ultra-runner and delightful human Sabrina Verjee loves a crazy adventure. She held the overall record for the 325-mile circuit of the Wainwrights between June 2021 and May 2022, and also held the female record for the Pennine Way between September 2020 to August 2021. On December 21, she’s about to take on a new challenge, running the 100-mile trail of Lakes, Meres and Waters in honour of legendary fell-runner Joss Naylor. Jen caught up with her to talk about loving a challenge, how much sleep is not enough sleep, and whether women are allowed to be adventurers.

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It's war, with Jessica Dromgoole

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0000

New BBC audio drama Purple Heart Warriors is about some of the Second World War's least talked about soldiers, the Japanese Americans of the 442nd. We all know Hannah is fascinated by war stories, but not everyone is, so she's asking director Jessica Dromgoole about how you make a story like this accessible to everyone, and what it tells us about war, loyalty, immigration and much more.

* Purple Heart Warriors starts on the BBC World Service on December 11 and the whole series will be available to listen to on BBC Sounds from December 9.

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Helen Charman's Mother State

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

When we talk about the politics of motherhood, it's often around isolated topics, such as the cost of childcare. But, in her new book Mother State: A Political History of Motherhood, academic and writer Helen Charman argues that this isn’t enough to understand the inherently political act of mothering.

Jen chats to Helen about bodily autonomy, the paradoxes around our understanding of motherhood, why we should all be interested in mothering, and why Margaret Thatcher wouldn’t have much liked Jen.

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The Bush Telegraph: U-turns, positive steps, and women of a certain age

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

What's going on in South Korea? Does anyone know? And, potentially related, has seen Liz Truss, recently? Hitler? Over here, the Government is finally shaking up the laws around stalking, which is a definite step in the right direction. In Sexism of the Week, our duo of "women of a certain age" have some thoughts on the allegations surrounding Masterchef presenter, Gregg Wallace. And finally, in Jenny off the Blocks, there’s Welsh joy and Suffolk sadness.

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Rated or Dated: When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's well loved, it's influential, it's got Carrie Fisher in it. Got to be rated, right? Well, what about that thesis about male-female friendships? Is Mickey invested in the relationship? Does Jen think it's relatable? Why doesn't Hannah hate this?

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Hannah George and Taylor Glenn, getting drunk, solving crime?

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It’s a staggering six years since we first had Hannah George and Taylor Glenn, the women behind the Drunk Women Solving Crime podcast, on Standard Issue. Since then, many drinks have been drunk and many crimes have been solved*, and now their award-winning podcast is about to get even bigger. From January, there’ll be two episodes of Drunk Women Solving Crime a week, available wherever you get your podcasts. Mick chats to Taylor and Hannah about crime, drinking, and US presidents.

*no crimes have actually been solved

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Laura Williamson is obsessed with Grimsby

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Back in May, Laura Williamson took over the reins as international editor-in-chief at pioneering sports media platform, The Athletic. Jen caught up with her to talk about being the only woman in the room, how things have changed for women in sports media, her ambitions for women in the profession, and supporting rubbish football teams.

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The Bush Telegraph: Holding space for space

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0000

As a petition threatens the nascent Starmer Government (it totally doesn't), Jen takes a look at the plan to "Get Britain Working". Hannah's talking about the aftermath of the Conor McGregor rape trial in Ireland. If you thought that leaving Earth was a way to avoid sexism, we've some bad news for you, but there's good news in the form of some Rosa grants for women and girls' groups. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, we're talking cricket, tennis and some confusion over where East London is.

Hannah's interview with the Spycops women is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sim-ep-744-chops-255-groomed-gaslighted-ghosted/id1080808404?i=1000568597088
Hannah's interview with Liz Carr about the assisted dying bill is here: https://podfollow.com/1080808404/episode/563ef5c2e2f8dc772733939451b4f4a66670e4ab/view
Mickey's interview with Rosa's Rebecca Gill is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sim-ep-849-pod-253-pod-save-the-women-and-girls-sector/id1080808404?i=1000612424467
Find out more about how to apply for a Rosa grant here.

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Rated or Dated: The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Groundbreaking visuals, brilliant storytelling and a ragtag bunch of characters that celebrate difference and being your true self: is there a bigger must-see movie for young and old alike than this musical fantasy classic? Has time been kind to it? Will the flying monkeys still lead to soiled underwear? Mick, Hannah and Jen have answers. And also questions.

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Liz Buckley talks Girls Aloud

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Our resident music guru Liz Buckley is back – and she’s brought some pop legends with her. Since their genesis on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, the late Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh have become proper chart botherers, world record setters and terrible ghosthunters. Liz is IN. Can she convince Mickey to get onboard the Girls Aloud tour bus, or is it a (sexy) no, no, no from Noonan?

Liz talks about The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, which you’ll find by clicking here

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Writing for kids with Emma Reeves

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Anyone could write a book for kids, right? Well, that does seem to be the prevailing view, so Hannah's been on the Zoom with Emma Reeves, writer and Chair of The Writers Guild of Great Britain, to find out why and how she writes for children, and why it's nowhere near as easy as everyone thinks.

* Emma's new play for kids, The Glass Slippers, is at The Lighthuse in Poole from December 7 until Christmas Eve. Find our more here: https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-glass-slippers/

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IMD2024 #3: Greg McHugh

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0000

New BBC sitcom Only Child is about a man realising his dad isn't coping on his own, but at the same time, doesn't really want to be helped. Highly relatable content, right? Hannah chats to one of its stars, Greg McHugh, about that whole "circle of life" thing that comes with ageing parents, and working with one of his comedy idols, Gregor Fisher. They're also talking about Fresh Meat, Marvellous and Gary: Tank Commander. Because of course they are.

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Bush Telegraph: Someone vs Somebody

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Are monkeys about to rise up and rule over us? Hannah hopes so, but probably not. Which is a shame, because humans are doing an appalling job of it. This week we're talking about Marine Le Pen vs Paris prosecutors, Rachel Reeves vs Farmers and the Onion vs Infowars. And in Sexism of The Week, Mickey's asking what's gone wrong with Ask For Angela.

You can hear Hannah's interview with Elizabeth Williamson about Sandy Hook and Alex Jones on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6e684K7XvKMXGMd4XGRift. Or on Apple Podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sim-ep-769-chops-264-sandy-hook-tragedy-and-truth/id1080808404?i=1000579799779

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Rated or Dated: Steel Magnolias (1989)

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

A stellar line-up of top women has drawn Jen to pick late-80s weepy Steel Magnolias. But will this film know what to do with its cast, or indeed know anything at all about women and their friendships? And is anyone prettier than Grandpappy’s duck on a Tuesday?

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IMD2024 #2: Nick Miller

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

What Nick Miller doesn’t know about football ain’t worth knowing. INTERNATIONAL MAN, football writer, author and – full disclosure – one of Mick’s all-time favourite humans, chats about his new book, Who Owns Football?, why the answer to that question increasingly matters to all of us, what Jilly Cooper's got right about the beautiful game, and how the women’s game is nailing it in all sorts of ways.

Who Owns Football? The Changing Face of Club Ownership is published by Bloomsbury and out now.

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IMD2024#1: Alex Lloyd-Hunter

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

The Dad Shift hit the headlines recently after a brilliant stunt, in which the campaign group attached dolls to statues of famous men across London. Why? To draw attention to the issue of men’s statutory paternity leave entitlement in the UK, which – spoiler alert! – is not good. In fact, it’s the worst in Europe, something the campaign group hopes to change.

Jen caught up with Alex Lloyd-Hunter, one of the group’s founders, to talk about why the system as it stands is hurting everyone, perceptions of gender roles when it comes to working and home lives, and whether or not men really do want an equal piece of the pie when it comes to childcare.

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Flicking #55: Rye Lane

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

A feel-good romantic comedy that doesn’t make women feel like shit? Say whaaaaaat? Yosra’s picked Raine Allen Miller’s playful feature directorial debut following a day (mostly) in the life of two twenty-somethings both reeling from bad break-ups and forging a connection. Is it the mind-changing rom-com Hannah’s been waiting for? Has it got Mick pining for Peckham? And is it possible for anyone to convincingly sing along with Terence Trent D’arby? Find out.

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The Bush Telegraph: A big week for Uranus

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It’s a mixed bag of news this week, as Mick and Jen take in: the results of the largest ever survey of rape and sexual assault survivors; the resignation of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury following the Church of England’s cover up of child abuse; Iraq slashing the age of consent to nine years old, and Yale’s new college course of Queen Bey. And in Jenny Off the Blocks, there’s good news, bad news, same-as-it-ever-was news, and big MOTD news.

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Rated or Dated: Fight Club (1999)

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0000

What is the message of Fight Club? Is all of it in Mickey's head? Might it be accidentally feminist? The answers to these unlikely questions (and many more) lie within...

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Listening to Janicza Bravo and Rebecca Hall

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 01:02:00 -0000

In new BBC drama series The Listeners*, a woman starts hearing a noise that seemingly no-one else can hear. Which was catnip to Hannah, who got on Zoom with its director, Janicza Bravo, and star, Rebecca Hall, to find out more.

* The Listeners starts on BBC1 on November 19 and is also available to watch on the iPlayer

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Yami on ice: Up the Greyhounds! (Not those ones)

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Women’s ice hockey is on the rise in the UK, and new team on the (ice) block, the Haringey Greyhounds are already intent on promotion at the end of the season. Jen caught up with assistant captain Yami Manchanda to talk about the UK’s ice hockey scene, access to the sport, and the joy of just giving something a go.

The Haringey Greyhounds are next in action at Alexandra Palace on November 25. Tickets available here or on the door (subject to availability).

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Outside The Box #69

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Rivals! Rivals! Rivals! Mickey's certainly excited about the small screen adaptation of Jilly Cooper's novel, but will Hannah and Jen agree? Find out in this month's Outside The Box, when we're also talking about Mr Loverman, Alma's Not Normal, Showtrial, Territory and Sweetpea.

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The Bush Telegraph: Worst. Sequel. Ever.

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Donald Trump becomes the first convicted felon to win the Presidential race and will reenter the White House – again. URGH. Not least for women. Hannah and Mick’s yearned for monkey overlords remain frustratingly absent, but at least Gary Barlow’s massive son and the backpack-wearing rats are here.

And there’s some extra light relief courtesy of Sarah Millican for our £5+ patrons.

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Rated or Dated: Pulp Fiction (1994)

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

One of the “cool” movies of the 1990s, Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece* is a carnival of violence and humour set to a banging soundtrack. It made stars of Samuel L Jackson and Uma Thurman, revitalised the careers of John Travolta and Bruce Willis, and basically gave Tarantino a blank cheque going forward. But did it tickle the pickle of Mick, Hannah and Jen? Or is it all Dick Dale and no trousers?

*Discuss. That’s why we’re here, right?

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Rae Mainwaring’s Bright Places

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Writer and theatre-maker Rae Mainwaring was in her early 20s when she was diagnosed with Mutiple Sclerosis – MS as it's commonly known. All she knew of the autoimmune condition at the time was that every single representation she’d seen of it on TV was one of abject misery, which, ultimately, was not her experience of MS. Some years later, she wrote about her experiences in Bright Places, her Peggy Ramsay award-winning play and a deeply personal and authentic exploration of the condition.

Jen caught up with Rae ahead of a tour of Carbon Theatre’s production of Bright Places to talk about chronic illness, misunderstandings around MS, and getting into theatre later in life.

Bright Places is touring the UK until December 13

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Karen Bloom Gevirtz on the commodification of medicine

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 01:02:00 -0000

There used to be a time when it was said you were better to seek medical treatment from your wife or your mother than from a doctor, because at least your wife or mother wouldn't kill you. And then it all changed. Hannah chats to Professor Karen Bloom Gevirtz about her book, The Apothecary's Wife: The Hidden History of Medicine and How It Became a Commodity, to find out more.

The Apothecary's Wife: The Hidden History of Medicine and How It Became a Commodity is out to buy on November 7, 2024

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The Bush Telegraph: Elections, two of them

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 02:02:00 -0000

Big news in the world of "how can that STILL be going on?" as both the Tory leadership election and the US Election enter their final days. Who will lose? Maybe all of us. Meanwhile, bus fares are going up and so is minimum wage but won't these just cancel each other out? In Sexism of the Week, we continue to let the side down by not having enough babies. And speaking of the next generation, in that she's young enough to be your daughter, Jen's got words for a basketball legend in Jenny Off The Blocks.

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Ellie Jackson on Medieval Women

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Wondering what medieval women did for us anyway? Or how we even know what they did, given back then only the monks could write? Then get yourself to the British Library's new exhibition, Medieval Women: In Their Own Words.

Jen caught up with the exhibition’s curator Ellie Jackson to find out how much we have in common with our medieval ancestors, and why they remain relevant to our lives today.

Medieval Women: In Their Own Words is showing at the British Library until March 2, 2025.

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Joanna Scutts and the lost firebrands we should read

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Literary critic and feminist historian Joanna Scutts’s latest book, Firebrands, showcases 25 pioneering women writers you should have heard of – but probably haven’t. Why? Well, in this episode, Joanna’s chatting to our Mick about the whys, the whos, the what’s changed, what’s not changed and the trouble that kicks off when women start having ideas.

Firebrands: 25 Pioneering Women to Ignite Your Reading Life is published by Duckworth and out now.

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Kate Summerscale unpacks the truth in true crime

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Kate Summerscale’s bestselling narrative nonfiction The Suspicions of Mr Whicher was made into big telly, starring Peter Capaldi and unraveling a murder that took place in the 1860s. Her latest book is much more recent history, however, and in The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place, she revisits the crimes of John Reginald Halliday Christie, one of Britain’s most notorious serial killers, putting flesh on the bones of his female victims and looking at the role played by the sensationalist media of the time.

She chats to Mick about all of the above, what Christie’s crimes said about Britain at the time, how much – if at all – anything’s changed, and why true crime is still such popular entertainment.

The Peepshow: The Murders at Rillington Place is published by Bloomsbury and out now.

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The Bush Telegraph: Shiny happy people leaving jail

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Mick and Jen are on news duty this week, talking cynical steps – or is it honourable intentions? – as social media companies try to get to grips with the Online Safety Act. Elsewhere, there are smiling faces aplenty outside Strangeways, as the Labour Government grapples with its inherited crumbling prison system. Thank the gods of whimsy that Paddington Bear is on hand to cheer us all up. Not Jen, though. He makes her cry. Also, there’s contraceptive chaos in Sexism of the Week, and some baffling sponsorship in Jenny Off the Blocks.

Meanwhile the boss, Sarah Millican, is back for our £5 and above Patreon subscribers, offering some light relief around the gendered use of language.

You can find the BPAS petition Mick talks about in this episode here.

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Rated or Dated: The Last Seduction (1994)

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Is The Last Seduction your average "bitches be crazy" film? Why no more roles for Linda Fiorentino? Can anyone bear that much jazz? The answers to these and many more questions lay within.

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Eloise Pennycott's telling More... Ghost Stories

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

After the success of last year's Ghost Stories by Candlelight tour, HighTide Theatre is back with a new production – More... Ghost Stories by Candlelight – showcasing four up-and-coming writers, including Eloise Pennycott.

Jen chatted with the actor, writer and theatre maker about the production’s tour of the East of England - which is also showing at The Globe, starting on October 30 - as well as sustainable theatre, representation of deaf people in the arts, and why we love being scared.

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Flicking #54: Barbie

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Life in plastic: is it fantastic… to watch? Greta Gerwig’s star-studded Barbie was one of THE big-hitters in cinema last year and, according to critics across the globe, wasn’t just pink and sparkly and fun, but came with a big ol' side of feminism. But did it, though? Did it? Hmmm. Mick, Hannah and Yosra will be the judge and jury of that.

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Rated or Dated: Quadrophenia (1979)

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Quadrophenia is a tale of young male angst and multiple wing mirrors, and is apparently the reason Jen's brother used to wear a cravat. But is it a case of style over substance? And is a game of "spot the young character actor" enough to keep us interested?

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Esteem and self-esteem with Amy Gledhill

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 01:00:00 -0000

How long does it take to sink in that you've won the Edinburgh Comedy Award? That's one of the questions Hannah is putting to comedian Amy Gledhill, who scooped the big prize this year for her show Make Me Look Fit on the Poster. They chat about the difference between self-confidence and self-esteem, local news and a lot more.

If you want to see Make Me Look Fit on the Poster, which is touring now, you can get tickets here: https://amygledhill.co.uk/live-dates

Or for Amy's 12-day run at London's Soho Theatre, here: https://sohotheatre.com/events/amy-gledhill-make-me-look-fit-on-the-poster-2/

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Daisy-May Hudson and Sophie Compton on Holloway

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Holloway women’s prison closed its doors in 2016, but the legacy left behind looms large for those who spent time there. As part of an exercise in healing, filmmakers Daisy-May Hudson and Sophie Compton took a group of six women who were imprisoned in Holloway back there. Their feature documentary Holloway, an examination of the criminal justice system in England and Wales, is the result. Jen caught up with Daisy-May and Sophie to talk about the ways in which women are failed by the system, and the need for more compassion in our discourse around the prison system.

Holloway is premiering at the London Film Festival

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Outside The Box #68

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 23:02:00 -0000

If you find yourself with some hours to fill with telly, then let us help you make some good choices. This time, we're talking about Slow Horses, The Perfect Couple, Ludwig, Only Murders In The Building, Joan, Apples Never Fall, Kaos and more.

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The Bush Telegraph: Debating dying

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

With MPs set to vote on a bill that puts forward proposals to give terminally ill people the right to end their lives, many of those who are against the bill worry about the lack of nuance put forward in debates. Actress and disability rights activist Liz Carr is one of those people. In this week’s Bush Telegraph, ahead of the bill’s introduction to parliament next week, Hannah chats to Liz about her documentary Better Off Dead?, the arguments against assisted dying, and why we aren’t hearing a more balanced debate on the subject.

Meanwhile in sport, Jen catches us up with the women’s T20 World Cup, and looks ahead to the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, next week.

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Rated or Dated: Monty Python’s Life of Brian

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 08:53:00 -0000

Mick’s picked one of her all-time favourites this week: 1979’s Life of Brian. And she’s not alone in loving this funny AF biting commentary about the danger of mass movements and the inherent weakness of any faith or ideology that eschews critical thinking, which still regularly tops ‘best comedy film’ lists.

But do Hannah and Jen feel the same? Does the Pythons controversial at the time satire stand the test of time? And is Mick still legally bound to Michael Palin? Find out!

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Pauline Black and Jane Mingay’s 2-Tone Story

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Musician Pauline Black is best known as the frontwoman of 2-tone band The Selecter, and wrote about her experiences in the band and life in her memoir Black by Design: A 2-Tone Memoir. On reading her book, filmmaker Jane Mingay was inspired to get in touch with Pauline and the result of their collaboration is the new documentary, Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story, which is showing at the London Film Festival.

Jen caught up with Pauline and Jane to chat about Pauline’s experiences, the impact of the 2-Tone movement, and why it is so relevant to what’s going on at the moment in modern British – and global - politics.

Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story is showing at the London Film Festival on October 12 and 19.

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Laura Bates is a sister of fire and fury

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Feminist, activist and best-selling author Laura Bates first came to attention as a fierce feminist voice 12 years ago when she started the Everyday Sexism Project. She’s since written a slew of brilliant, if enraging, non-fictions about how women and girls are treated, and quite rightly become a bona fide icon.

In this episode, she’s chatting to our Mick about the grim state of the world when it comes to male violence against women and girls, how she holds onto hope, why she’s reimagining the Arthurian legends in her YA novels Sisters of Sword and Shadow and Sisters of Fire and Fury, and the importance of finding feminist joy. Oh, and how she’s a dab hand at horseback archery these days.

Sisters of Fire and Fury is published by Simon & Schuster on October 10.

www.laurabates.co.uk

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Anne Odeke is an Essex Princess

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 23:00:00 -0000

Actor, playwright and Essex girl Anne Odeke was thrilled when she learnt about little-known historical figure Princess Dinobolu, the first woman of colour to enter a beauty pageant in the UK. Her reimagining of what led the “princess” to take to the stage at Southend-On-Sea’s Kursaal back in 1908 forms the basis of Princess Essex, the play she wrote and is currently starring in at The Globe.

Fellow Essex girl Jen, caught up with Anne to talk about the play, Essex, identity, and learning from Shakespeare's mistakes.

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The Bush Telegraph: The avocado comeback special

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Mick and Jen are on Bush Telegraph duty this week, and turning the colour of a Gen Z bathroom suite as they look at what’s happening at the Conservative Party Conference. Mick’s been watching Panorama’s episode about the menopause industry and screaming BUT WHY into a pillow, while Jen’s reliving one of her best moments being holy watered by a vicar during the 2008 London Marathon. The Boss, Sarah Millican, is back with some more Light Relief for our £5 and above Patreons, talking wet undereyes and bad Magnums. SOTW looks at some predictable tragic news from the US thanks to the overturning of Roe v Wade. And JOTB applauds Eni Aluko while giving Joey Barton’s head a wobble. Which is why you can hear rattling.

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Rated or Dated: Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 23:01:00 -0000

Peter Jackson's 1994 fantasy/true crime/coming-of-age/period/romance/horror Heavenly Creatures gave Kate Winslet and Melanie Lynskey their first screen roles. Why was one an instant star and the other a much-delayed one? Can a man capture the intensity of teenage girls? Who, if anyone, is mad in this case? Find out the answers to these questions and more.

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Michelle Ovens knows her small business stuff

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Michelle Ovens MBE, founder of Small Business Britain and huge champion of female business owners, is a total powerhouse and inspiration. She’s chatting to our Mick about small businesses, where they’re at, what’s in store, why more women are starting them, and the work being done by Michelle and her team to make the word 'entrepreneur' way more diverse than tech bros and wannabe Alan Sugars.

You can find Small Business Britain on all the socials @britainsmallbiz. And not a Sam the Eagle in sight.

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Happy 10th Birthday to us

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:02:00 -0000

It's our birthday! So, here's a very special episode - a chat about the last decade with the boss herself, Sarah Millican. We're talking about what we've learned in the last 10 years, the time Mickey and Hannah got shut into a service station and the mystery meeting that only Jen remembers.

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Rated or Dated: Fever Pitch

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Based on the much-lauded Nick Hornby classic, our Jen has picked filmic festival of football, Fever Pitch. But will protagonist and giant man-child Paul, played by Colin Firth, float Hannah or Jen’s boat? And what is the film trying to say, other than that women don’t like football?

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Harriet Wistrich seeks justice

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Having been involved in some of the country's most high-profile cases, lawyer and fearless campaigner for justice, Harriet Wistrich has some incredible stories to tell. Many of which are in her new memoir, Sister In Law. Hannnah chats to Harriet about the Stockwell shooting, Spycops, the media and Sally Challen, and asks if some of us are better built for legal battle.

Hannah's Spycops interview is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sim-ep-744-chops-255-groomed-gaslighted-ghosted/id1080808404?i=1000568597088

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Sue Cleaver is a Work in Progress

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Best known as Coronation Street’s loveable matriarch, Eileen Grimshaw, Sue Cleaver is a woman of many talents. As well as treading the boards as Mother Superior in Sister Act the musical, she’s written a book - A Work In Progress. Part memoir, part manifesto, it champions women in midlife and beyond. Our Corrie fanatic, Jen, caught up with Sue to chat about the ways women can be put out to pasture once they hit middle-age, letting go of negative thoughts, life as a Corrie legend and spending time in close proximity with one Mr Matt Hancock.

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Flicking #53: Killers of the Flower Moon

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Hannah’s picked Martin Scorsese’s take on the string of brutal murders of the oil-wealthy Osage Nation that took place in 1920s Oklahoma. It stars Robert de Niro (natch) and Leonardo DiCaprio (also natch) and features a brilliant performance from newcomer Lily Gladstone. But does it warrant the stonking three-and-a-half-hour run time? WTF is going on with Leo’s face? And will both Mick and Yosra manage to stay awake?

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The Bush Telegraph: Quintessentially British, or not

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Jen are on duty this week and, naturally, they’re wondering (like the rest of us) WTAF is “Britcore”? They’re also pondering the benefits of Brexit and, across the pond, just how many copies of his self-published book is a would-be Trump assassin likely to sell? The Boss, Sarah Millican, is back with some more Light Relief for our £5 and above Patreons, talking bad weather for (little) dogs and the perils of online shopping. SOTW lends itself nicely to some Thierry Henry objectification, and JOTB asks, does anyone actually want the Commonwealth Games?

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Rated or Dated: Women in Love (1969)

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It’s a first time watch of Larry Kramer and Ken Russell’s erotically charged adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s 1920 novel for both Mick and Jen. Will they finally understand teenage Hannah’s obsession with Alan Bates? How many times can Mick sing Liberty X? And what’s (young) Olly Reed doing to Jen’s bloomers? Also contains – and no one was expecting this – that time David Blunkett was attacked by a cow.

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Catherine Standish makes a stand (ish)

Sun, 15 Sep 2024 23:01:00 -0000

Slow Horses is back for a fourth series on Apple TV and Hannah's been on the Zoom with one of its stars, Saskia Reeves, to talk about the wonder of Catherine Standish, the odour of Jackson Lamb and how the series keeps on creating great roles for women over 50.

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The Bush Telegraph: Ordinary men, horrific crimes

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week, Mick and Jen are focusing on two stories gripping most women they know: the horrific mass rape case currently going through the French courts (and the astonishing bravery of Gisèle Pélicot), and the brutal murder of Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei. We’d apologise for it being so grim, but it’s hardly women’s fault, eh?

For balance, there’s not only one but two slices of good news, a phenomenal feat of athleticism, and an incredible Jean-Michel Jarre impression to enjoy.

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RoD Sideways (2004)

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Sideways might be regarded as one of the best films of the century, but is it just two middle-aged men on a drunken road trip? Let's find out...

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Vanessa Kisuule is in MJ recovery

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Award-winning poet Vanessa Kisuule is, in her own words, “a recovering Michael Jackson obsessive”. Yeah, that’s a tricky one to negotiate. Fame and all of its disciples are at the heart of Vanessa’s debut non-fiction (non-poetry), Neverland: the Pleasures and Perils of Fandom, in which she explores the fan/celebrity relationship, the big feelings when someone we love – famous or not – falls from grace, and the problem with “monsters”. Our Mick got on the Zoom to find out more.

Neverland is published by Canongate on September 12.

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Marina Gerner’s Vagina Business

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

When journalist Marina Gerner heard about a potentially life-changing innovation in heart health for women, she was keen to spread the word. But why were none of her usual editors interested in this “niche” subject area? In her new book, The Vagina Business: The Innovative Breakthroughs that Could Change Everything in Women’s Health, Marina takes us through the new technology that could make women's lives infinitely better – and the reasons why many of these innovations are not getting the financial investment they need. In this episode, she chats to Jen about funding and research gaps in women’s health, BS in the boardroom, and that old chestnut: relatability.

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The Bush Telegraph: Noasis, no-brainers, and bog off Boghossian

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Mick have looked at the news, had a big scream and are now ready to talk to you about Ticketmaster chaos, the ‘duty of candour’ law and why it’s a no-brainer to apply it to the Grenfell Tower tragedy, and why just because Peter Boghossian hasn’t heard feminists talking about Afghanistan doesn’t mean feminists aren’t talking about Afghanistan.

There’s also a teeny-tiny police cordon, and some unwelcome visitors in Sarah Millican’s house.

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Rated or Dated: Muriel’s Wedding (1994)

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

PJ Hogan’s 1994 classic, Muriel’s Wedding, launched his own career, as well as those of Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths. But has Jen misremembered the Aussie comedy as a “feel-good” movie? Is Muriel/Marial/Muriel a likeable protagonist? And will Mick and Hannah ever stop laughing about an unzipped beanbag?

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Reah Bravo on complicity

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

When Reah Bravo encountered sexual misconduct at the hands of a former employer during her time as a broadcast journalist, she was surprised by the way she handled it. As, she discovered, were many other women in similar situations. As Reah questioned the impact of the #MeToo movement, she set about examining the ways in which women are socially conditioned to not just tolerate abuse but even prop up abusive systems. That forms the premise of her new book, Complicit: How Our Culture Enables Misbehaving Men, and so Jen caught up with her to chat about this, as well as how women sometimes benefit from complicity, victim blaming, and how cultural identity informs it all.

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Wright and the right

Sun, 01 Sep 2024 23:02:00 -0000

We often talk about how social media is radicalising men and boys, but it absolutely happens to women and girls, too. In a new BBC3 documentary, America's New Female Right, Layla Wright heads to the US to find out why so many young women are advocating against their own interests. She chats to Hannah about domineering dads, the church, the thrill of clicks, going down a right-wing wormhole and working for Louis Theroux.

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Sleep, glorious sleep with Lisa Artis

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Who doesn’t love a good night’s sleep? And yet, 40% of us in the UK struggle with some sort of sleep issue. And yes, you guessed it, it affects women more than men.

Sunday marks the start of Sleeptember, so Mick grabbed the opportunity to get Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity, on the Zoom to talk about those all-important zeds – and why we’ve become so bad at getting them.

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The Bush Telegraph: Blood, social work and tears

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 23:06:00 -0000

It's Bush Telegraph time again and this week Hannah and Mickey are covering perhaps the widest range of topics ever: Oasis, menstrual blood, coercive control and cutting a whale's head off with a chainsaw. You are welcome. And in Sexism of the Week, Mickey's looking at how life is worsening for women in Afghanistan. We didn't say it was cheery. But it does need talking about.

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Rated or Dated: Bowfinger

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy x2 star in this satirical comedy from 1999, which is a firm favourite of both Hannah and Mick. Pressure. Which Eddie Murphy will steal the show? Will Heather Graham out Heather Graham herself? Will Hannah be able to stop watching the same three minutes of the film to watch all the film? Why is Mick practicing her kung-fu moves? Can Hannah get down from that mid-height platform? And, vitally, has Mick pushed her luck by picking Bowfinger for Rated or Dated?

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Inside and out, with Jules Rowan

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Adjusting to life on the outside is, for a lot of prisoners, very hard. But there's a wealth of advice on hand from the Life After Prison podcast and in this episode, Hannah chats to one of its co-hosts, Jules Rowan. They talk about what prison is for, who should and shouldn't be sent there, and how Jules has been using her experiences "inside" to help others navigate theirs.

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Flicking #52: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Tissues at the ready, because Yosra's picked a surprisingly dark Marvel film for this month's Flicking. The final outing for James Gunn's ragtag family of heroes led by Chris Pratt's Peter Quill puts half its focus on Rocket's (hellish, heartbreaking) backstory and the other on saving a Guardian in mortal peril. But does it have enough of its usual irreverent swagger to charm Guardians fan Hannah? And how much sobbing at sci-fi can Mick do in a week?

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The Bush Telegraph: Sprinkles of hope on the cupcake of shit

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Mick are finding glimmers of good in the bad news this week, as they celebrate the brave women seeking justice in cases involving sexsomnia (sure, yer Honour) and, separately, mesh complications. And what’s that? Extreme misogyny being recognised by the Government as an ideology dangerous to women and girls? There have never been such times. Like, literally; it’s a new dawn and we’re glad to see it. There’s also critical thinking, beavers, the ghost of Alec Guinness and a rendition of R Kelly’s Bump n’ Grind for which Mick cannot apologise enough.

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Rated or Dated: District 9 (2009)

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Is Wikus a hero, a villain or neither? Is Mickey over her aversion to gore? Does Hannah do a decent Johannesburg accent? Find out in this week's Rated or Dated, as we watch 2009's District 9.

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Angela Patton and Natalie Rae on Daughters

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

As part of her work as CEO of Girls for a Change, Angela Patton was faced with girls in her community who desperately wanted to spend quality time with their fathers. But in this case, the girls’ fathers were in jail, in a system that increasingly prevented contact time with loved ones. Not one to be phased by a challenge, Angela pioneered the highly successful programme, Date with Dad, which provided just that: an opportunity for the girls to attend a dance with their dads. When director Natalie Rae heard about the programme, she was keen to learn more, and so the pair collaborated to produce the new Netflix feature documentary, Daughters. Jen caught up with Angela and Natalie to talk about the programme, why it is so needed, and how the many problems within the US criminal justice system bleed into the rest of society.

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Outside The Box #67

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 23:01:00 -0000

So much sport, has there even been any time to watch telly? Of course there has. This month, Hannah, Mickey and Jen are talking about Simon Biles Rising, The Bear, Those About to Die, Slip, The Lady in the Lake, High Country, The Jetty and more.

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Jenny Off The Blocks Olympics Special

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 23:01:00 -0000

This week, Jen's joined by Hannah to chat about the carnival of sporting achievement that was Paris 2024. They're chatting about gender parity, Team GB winners, Raygun, whether the 100m is over-rated, Katarina Johnson-Thompson and what the hell is Hannah talking about when she says "I've been watching the running up the wall." Plus, if you now feel like watching more sport, Jen's going to tell you what to look out for.

* In this podcast, Hannah says that of the nine mothers in Team GB, six won medals. It was actually seven.

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Rated or Dated: Mary Poppins (1964)

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It’s a bona-fide classic in the Rated or Dated chair this week, as Hannah and Mick watch Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins for the umpteenth time and Jen comes at it fresh. Well, as fresh as someone with a four-year-old can be.

The songs are bangers, the plot’s ridiculous and surely no one’s comfortable with being told how amazing they are all of the time. And it raises all sorts of questions, although ‘how many times has Hannah been to a wedding with a chimney sweep?’ wasn’t one any of us were expecting.

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Bryony Byrne is a Fan/Girl

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Writer, performer and comedian Bryony Byrne loved playing football at primary school. So why can’t she remember any footballers post 1998? She explores this, as well as gender stereotypes, and female rage, through the spirit guidance of Eric Cantona in her Edinburgh show, Fan/Girl. Jen chatted to Bryony about the '90s, ladette culture, and falling back in love with football through Charlton Athletic.

Fan/Girl is at the Edinburgh Fringe until Aug 26 (except Aug 19), 12.10pm, Summerhall Demonstration Room

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Harriet Constable on Anna Maria della Pieta: the orphan who made Vivaldi famous

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Anna Maria della Pieta. Chances are you’ve heard of Antonio Vivaldi, but you’ve never heard of Anna Maria or her fellow female orphans at the Ospedale della Pieta, which in 18th century Venice boasted the greatest orchestra in the world. Without these ridiculously talented girls and women, The Four Seasons might not exist.

Harriet Constable’s debut historical fiction, The Instrumentalist, is the story of Anna Maria, Vivaldi’s favourite student and violin prodigy, shining a light on the women and girls we should have been talking about for the last 300 years.

The Instrumentalist is published by Bloomsbury on August 15.

@HarriConstable – Instagram

@HConstable – X

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Bribing horses with Kerenza Bryson

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Here at Standard Issue, we love the Olympics - because who doesn't? But we especially love the modern pentathlon, which got underway at this summer's Games on August 8 and continues until the final day of the Olympics on Sunday 11. Jen had the joy of chatting to Team GB modern pentathlete Kerenza Bryson just before she headed out to Paris. Kerenza’s hoping to add an Olympic medal to her haul from the European and World championships, so fingers crossed for that. In the meantime, you can hear Kerenza and Jen talking about being a woman of many talents, showcasing women’s sport, and getting the best out of a skittish horse. We've all been there.

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Rated or Dated – The Karate Kid (1984)

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week it’s Jen’s pick, ably assisted by Mick, who suggested 1984’s Rocky for kids, The Karate Kid. Why was she was so keen to rewatch that, we wonder. In unrelated news, how will Mick’s crush on Ralph Macchio have dated? How many times can she talk about The Karate Kid Part II? And how will this seminal film of Noonan's youth fare with Balboa fans, Jen and Hannah?

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Leave Juliet Cowan alone

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Twenty-five years after making the final of So You Think You're Funny, Juliet Cowan has taken her first show to the Edinburgh Fringe. She talks to Hannah about taking the estrogen goggles off, the rashness of perimenopause, returning to comedy, and her successful acting career, which has included roles in This Life, Back To Life, Back to Black and Pulling.

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Anna Akana warns us It Gets Darker

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

US comedian Anna Akana’s tagline might as well be ‘hello darkness my old friend’, because she travels into some pretty dark places for her comedy. This included talking about the stalker who hounded her so much she gave up standup for years, her sister’s suicide 17 years ago, and that time her dad ran off to fight in Ukraine.

In this episode, she chats to our Mick about making that shit funny, her commitment to expanding how we talk about taboo topics and mental health, and making her UK debut with her aptly titled show, It Gets Darker, which you can catch at the Edinburgh Fringe and then London’s Leicester Square Theatre.

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Amy Conway invites you to a controversial funeral

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Actor, playwright and civil celebrant Amy Conway's new one-woman show Catafalque opened at the Fringe last week and is soon to head off on a short tour of Scotland. In today's podcast, she's chatting to Hannah about funerals during Covid, the dilemmas celebrants can face and what it was like to write her own eulogy.

Tickets for Catafalque at Summerhall are here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/catafalque

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The Bush Telegraph: Choppy waters and gratuitous tits

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Mick and Jen are on Bush Telegraph duties this week and trying not to get seasick as they negotiate the choppy waters of the Seine, remaining buoyed by Flavor Flav’s unlikely appearance in a pool. Meanwhile, there may be tough times ahead for Rachel Reeves, horrors unfold on the streets of Southport, and one woman has tits galore right in her face.

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Rated or Dated: Parenthood (1989)

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Hannah's picked one of Jen's faves, so how's that going to pan out? This week, we're watching Ron Howard's comedy about raising kids, that comes with an all-star cast. Does Frank deserve redemption? Does Mickey like the change of pace for Rick Moranis? And is Dianne Wiest the best thing in it? Spoiler alert on that last one - she is.

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Sue Elliott-Nicholls’ History Social Club

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

London's East End has inspired hundreds of books, films, TV programmes and characters. Now, there's a new podcast dedicated to its history, courtesy of writer, actor, and broadcaster Sue Elliott-Nicholls and Immediate Theatre. The Hackney and Newham History Social Club tells stories of the lives of people from the two London boroughs, as well as many who travelled to London to make their lives there.

Sue chats to Jen about the warm and wonderful stories coming out of what started as a lockdown project, valuing our elders, and the changing face of the East End.

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Susannah Walker goes feral, walking The Hard Way

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Susannah Walker is one of the co-founders of brilliant charity Make Space for Girls, which campaigns for parks and other public spaces to be as welcoming for teenage girls as they are for teenage boys. Because it has implications, not least the question ‘who do public spaces belong to?’ Spoiler: it ain’t women.

And so, in Susannah’s new book, The Hard Way: Discovering the Women Who Walked Before Us, she examines women’s place in the countryside, walking ancient tracks, discovering some excellent wild women sidelined by history, and going a bit feral herself. She’s chatting to Mick about all of this and more, in this Monday episode.

And if you’re Marlborough way, you can see Mick chatting to Sus

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Isa Guha takes the lead

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Isa Guha, former cricketer, member of England’s World Cup winning team, and the first South Asian player to represent the country in the sport, has carved out a successful role for herself as a presenter since she retired from the game. Now, through her charity Take Her Lead, she wants to help other young women and girls to get a foothold in the male-dominated arena. She chatted to Jen about the charity, diversity in women’s sports teams, and life as a woman in sports broadcast media.

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Bush Telegraph and sport: The right time to quit and skills for a modern soldier

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Another roller coaster of a week, so strap in for the Bush Telegraph with Lembit Opik and ... no, away with you... with Hannah and Jen. This time they're talking about Hannah's new career as a freelance White House advisor and Jen's got Track & Trace PTSD. In Sexism of the Week, there's some horrifying figures on violence against women and in Jenny Off the Blocks, there's some questions about violence towards a horse. None of which is good. But there is also the modern pentathlon. There will always be the modern pentathlon!

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Rated or Dated: Metallica: Some Kind of Monster

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

How many women in this week’s Rated or Dated? ZERO WOMEN. Must be a Mickey pick, eh? Correct. But what a pick: 2004’s rockumentary classic/accidental comedy, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster from filmmakers Joe Berlinger and the late Bruce Sinofsky. And man, oh emotionally stunted man, does it raise a lot of questions about the human condition. And other questions, too. Such as, which Metallica did Jen fancy? And, how many times has Hannah accidentally seen them live? And, is that Mark Kermode? And also, can a human survive a pancreas explosion?

A bonus treat for any Metallica fans listening: Mick’s put some song title Easter eggs in there for you. Happy hunting!

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Rebekah Pierre on putting the care back into care

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 00:02:00 -0000

There are currently 82,000 children in care in the UK. What's life like for them and how will growing up in care go on to affect their lives? Hannah's been on the Zoom with Rebekah Pierre, editor of an excellent new book, Free Loaves on Fridays: The Care System As Told By People Who Actually Get It, to find out more.

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Ilaria Bernardini is happy being the forest

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Italian author Ilaria Bernardini is a big deal in her home country. And rightly so. Her latest novel in English, We Will Be Forest, was longlisted for Italy’s presitigious Strega Prize when it originally came out in 2018, and she’s received a tankload of plaudits for her works for the page and screen.

In this episode, Mick’s chatting to Ilaria about the pain, hope and renewal of change, particularly in relationships and events that affect our physical health, the invisible lines that connect us all – and what part plants and nature can play in all of that.

We Will Be Forest is translated by Livia Franchini, published by Whitefox and out now.

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Flicking #51: Nyad

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

What’s this, not one but two older women with a lot to do? In the same film? There’s never been such times. Mick’s picked Nyad, the 2023 sports biopic from dream team Elizabeth Chai Vasarheluyi and Jimmy Chin about marathon swimmer Diana Nyad’s attempts to swim the 110 miles of open ocean from Cuba to Florida – in her 60s.

But will Hannah and Yosra enjoy this tale of endurance and hubris? And did Annette Bening and Jodie Foster earn those Oscar nods? Find out!

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The Bush Telegraph: Somebody just shot Trump, and Terri White talks child poverty

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Assassination attempts, conspiracy theories and a MAGA Prince Harry costume. How can Hannah and Mickey cram all the drama of the US election into one BT? Well, they give it their best shot, no pun intended.

And for Sexism of the Week, Mickey's been on the Zoom with journalist, broadcaster and author Terri White. Terri's podcast series, Finding Britain's Ghost Children, quite rightly scooped a whole load of awards and she has continued to bang the drum on how appalling the UK is when it comes to child poverty – 30% of our kids live below the breadline. One huge driver of this is the two-child cap, which Labour has not pledged to scrap. Terri tells Mick why it needs to go immediately if not sooner, talks about the devastating effects it's having, and explains why it's very much a feminist issue.

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Rated or Dated: True Lies (1994)

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week it's Jen’s pick, and for reasons not even she can explain, she's chosen James Cameron's 1994 Arnie-fest, True Lies. But is Cameron telling tales of tough women, or toxic entitlement? How has Hannah found common ground with a horse? And why does Mick look like she's been crying?

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Geraldine Collinge's Nature Study

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Artist Louise Bourgeois became a household name late on in her seven-decade long career, and is known best by many for her iconic spider sculptures. However, her body of work explores themes such as life cycles, nature, motherhood, and relationships. As part of its 20 Years of Compton Verney programme, the Warwickshire art gallery and stately home is showcasing Bourgeois’ work in a new exhibition Louise Bourgeois: Nature Study.

Jen caught up with CEO of Compton Verney, Geraldine Collinge, to chat about Bourgeois’ life, work, and why she’s so important, as well as how the venue is celebrating the 20th anniversary of opening its doors to the public.

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Marvel-lous Lisa Jewell

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 01:00:00 -0000

Best-selling crime author Lisa Jewell has written a book for Marvel. You heard us. So, our Hazel Davis got on the phone to find out more. They chat about Jessica Jones, killing off characters, a terrible first marriage, audiobooks, hoarding and a lot more besides.

To hear the full interview, including Lisa talking about None Of This Is True, you can sign up to the Standard Issue membership scheme here: https://www.patreon.com/StandardIssue

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Rediscovering The Secret Garden

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0000

The Secret Garden was a childhood favourite of Anna Himali Howard and Holly Robinson - and our Hannah, too - so she leapt on the Zoom to talk about their new stage adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic novel. They talk about the themes of disability and India, as well as staging a play at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre during the Great British Summer - whatever the weather.

Tickets are on sale here; https://openairtheatre.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhb60BhClARIsABGGtw8gIaATFcs62_0fZca2IqIiCO2SvDfIX8SgPJtHv-dloqZtR_D_TwkaAnBOEALw_wcB

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The Bush Telegraph: The crowd goes wild!

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Jen and Mick are on Bush Telegraph duties this week, and boy, oh boy, are they giddy with optimism after Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 General Election. That's rhetorical. And yet, as new PM Keir Starmer rings the changes, some things stay the same – hello sexism. Not that any of it is stopping Jobby the parrot having a lovely time. Meanwhile in sport, we’re chatting Wimbledon and misogyny, and definitely not sending any angry tweets.

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Rated or Dated: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Hannah's been pretty upfront about how much she loved this film as a kid, but hang on, isn't it basically a musical about the rape of the Sabine women? Yes, yes, it is. But will the sheer toe-tapping nature of MGM's much-loved feast for the eyes, help Jen and Mick get over that terrible premise? No prizes for guessing.

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Martha Loader on the problem of Bindweed

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

The statistics around domestic violence in the UK and beyond are horrifying – and have been for a long time. When playwright Martha Loader heard about schemes to rehabilitate the perpetrators of abuse, she was inspired to write what became the winner of the 2022 Bruntwood prize for playwriting, Bindweed, which is at London's Arcola Theatre from July 9-13.

Jen spoke to Martha about the issues explored in Bindweed, about the onus of solving the endemic problem of domestic abuse being firmly put on the perpetrators, and about the curiosity of nervous laughter.

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Liz Buckley chats Kathleen Hanna

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It’s been a while, but our resident music guru Liz Buckley is back. And she’s read Kathleen Hanna’s new autobiography, Rebel Girl. This has given her the perfect excuse to chat to our Mick about Hanna’s life and works so far, Bikini Kill and the band’s part in the riot grrrl movement that combined feminism, punk music, and politics, and why her gigs are great spaces for tits.

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Georgia Cloepfil v The Clock

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

A far cry from the glamour and wealth of the Premier League, Georgia Cloepfil spent her days travelling around the world in search of a career as a professional footballer. In her new book, The Striker and the Clock, she details the loneliness of that life, seeking a time-limited win that might never come. She caught up with Jen to talk about that, as well as issues that continue to surround the women’s game, including inequality in pay and conditions, snobbery, and why women’s sport is definitely not “having a moment”.

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The Bush Telegraph: Biden and a bunch of balls

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's Election Day! Finally! And it's also Independence Day, so in this week's BT, Hannah's been chatting to The Atlantic's Helen Lewis about what comes next for #TeamBiden after *that* Presidential Debate performance.

And in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's chatting about the fate of Reading FC's women's team, as well as Wimbledon, and the best ways to ensure women's sport is taken seriously.

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Rated or Dated: Splash

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

What is Hannah’s timeline when it comes to someone she’s romantically involved with revealing they’re part fish? Just one of the big questions in this week’s Rated or Dated, as we go back to 1984 to watch Mick’s pick of Ron Howard’s Splash, a fish-out-of-water rom-com, in which Tom Hanks falls in love with Daryl Hannah as a mermaid.

It also stars John Candy. Will that be enough to win Candy fan Jen over? Is it really a happy ending or does it finish on a major plot hole? Hold your laptop/phone up to your ear as if it’s a conch to find out.

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Votes for women! Jemima Olchawski on Fawcett’s #SheVotes24

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It can’t have escaped your attention there’s a general election happening in the UK this week. Polls show that 23 per cent of women are still undecided on how to vote, and when you look at where the political sphere is letting us down – healthcare, childcare, equal pay – it’s no surprise so many aren’t sure where to put their X.

The Fawcett Society knows a thing or two about what women need and its latest project, #SheVotes24, has brought together more than 120 women’s organisations to address what policies will help women, and so Mick got on the Zoom with CEO Jemima Olchawski to talk past wins and future hopes in the way Parliament looks out for women – whoever’s in charge.

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Laura Waldren and Some Demon

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0000

This year's Papatango Prize winner, Laura Waldren, joins Hannah to chat about her play Some Demon, which is set in a unit for people with eating disorders. They chat about Laura's own experiences with anorexia, the difficulties of telling stories with no clear beginning, middle and end, and how to get a first play staged in an increasingly tough market.

* You can see Some Demon at the Arcola until July 6. Tickets here: https://www.arcolatheatre.com/whats-on/some-demon/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvvmzBhA2EiwAtHVrb_1yZw6rrwg2nyfypbTSFK-ZQfqCmwDecgz6IdcTUBRkFCV5Wi2Q4BoCy-kQAvD_BwE

* Or at the Bristol Old Vic from July 9-13. Tickets here: https://visitbristol.co.uk/event/some-demon-at-bristol-old-vic/320509301/

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Women in engineering with Orlagh Costello

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 23:02:00 -0000

June 23 was Women in Engineering Day, so Hannah got on the Zoom with Orlagh Costello, an engineer on a mission to get more women into the male-dominated industry. They talk about what puts women off, how we can change that and why if you're doing engineering with your penis, you're doing it wrong.

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The Bush Telegraph: Nowodhow an seythen ma

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It’s just one week from the General Election and we’re assuming you’re as sick of the pantomime as us, so instead Hannah and Mick are talking: vandals at least having the courage of their convictions, a lorra lorra cash from our Taylor, the uptick in talking Kernewek, that twat Hannah’s dad fired, and why Manchester United need to do better.

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Rated or Dated: Batman (1989)

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Does falling in acid turn your hair green? Who's the worst person Jerry Hall's found on her sofa? And is Michael Keaton, star of Tim Burton's first take on the Batman film franchise, really the fourth best to have graced the Batsuit? We're asking all this and more as we revisit 1989's Batman.

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Jen Brister is channelling her rage

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

What a treat for our Mick to get on the Zoom with excellent comedian and total smasher, Jen Brister. They’re chatting optimism in the face of the news, the upcoming general election, hang-gliding dogs, and All Our Relations, which is Jen’s non-profit, raising money to help Palestinian families stuck in Rafah.

You can and should follow Jen on the socials, where she’s @jenbristercomedy, listen to her on Women Talking Bollocks, her podcast with Maureen Younger and Allyson June Smith, download her show The Optimist from 800 Pound Gorilla, and get involved with All Our Relations on Instagram @_allourrelations.

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Sophie Swithinbank surrenders

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Surrender, a new play at the Arcola Theatre Dalston, is the story of a mother in prison, meeting her estranged daughter for the first time in many years. Mother wants to put her side of the story across about how she came to be there – but is everything as it seems?

Jen caught up with playwright Sophie Swithinbank, who wrote the play in collaboration with Phoebe Ladenburg, the actor playing Mother, to talk about a failing system, the emotional toil of mumming, and unreliable narrators.

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Flicking #50: The Holdovers

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Merry Christmas one and all! That’s right, Hannah’s picked 2023’s The Holdovers, Alexander Payne’s dramedy set in a posh boys’ boarding school in the 1970s over the festive period. It bagged an Oscar for the glorious Da’Vine Joy Randolph and features equally stellar performances from Paul Giamatti and newcomer Dominic Sessa. Are we giving too much away in this write-up? Nah, Hannah, Yosra and Mick all agree it’s fecking delightful. Come join the love-in. Bring bourbon.

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Rated or Dated: Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 23:02:00 -0000

This week, we're watching one of the most successful low-budget films ever, 2004's Napoleon Dynamite. Hannah and Jen chat about ligers (pretty much their favourite animals), why Jen's got her hair in a side ponytail and whether we'd enjoy seeing our siblings hit in the face by a steak.

Here's the interview that Hannah promises: https://magazine.byu.edu/article/its-still-dynamite/#:~:text=That%20took%20us%20by%20surprise,different%20area%20for%20a%20while.

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Priddy interesting

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 23:02:00 -0000

After a rapturously received debut album, folk star Katherine Priddy had to tackle the infamous "difficult second album". In this podcast she talks to journalist Hazel Davis about The Pendulum Swing, her upcoming appearance at the Cambridge Folk Festival, supporting Elbow, being judged by McFly, and what a folk way to die would be.

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A bumpy ride with Laura Laker

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Back in the 1970s, a group of Bristolian idealists dreamed of a nation stitched together by safe cycling paths, which would make us less reliant on our cars. They founded what would become Britain's 13,000 miles long National Cycle Network. Cycling journalist Laura Laker wondered what had gone right and, indeed, wrong, with a network once described by the CEO of the charity that runs it as “a bit crap”, and set off on an epic journey around the UK to find out more.

That journey became the basis for her new book, Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network. Fellow cycling enthusiast Jen, caught up with Laura to talk about what inspired her journey, the magic of travelling by bike, and why all leaders of a country should go on a big old road trip before they sign up to the job.

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Outside The Box #66

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:25:00 -0000

In this month's Outside The Box, Hannah and Jen are talking about Rebus, Eric, Bodkin, Insomnia, Alaska Daily, The Gathering, Dark Matter and Bay of Fires. Plus, it turns out Hannah was right about Colin Farrell being a BEEEEEP in Sugar.

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The Bush Telegraph: Uprooting, under-valuing, and some sad human testicle samples.

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

The world has gone election-crazy, but fortunately Hannah and Jen have mostly swerved it in this week’s Bush Telegraph. There’s some real human hardship to talk about, beyond poor ickle Rishi’s lack of Sky TV, as well as some mental imagery you’re likely never to forget around microplastics and human testicle samples.

In sport, we’re looking at the European Athletics Championships, as well as saying a firm “fuck this shit” to the decision makers at Thornaby FC.

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Ellen Atlanta’s pixelated nightmare

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Journalist Ellen Atlanta fell into a career in the beauty industry. Like many of us who subscribe to westernised beauty ideals and an online-culture, it was fine until it wasn’t. For Ellen, that was when she began to question whether or not she was part of the problem herself, and so began her work on her debut book, Pixel Flesh: How Toxic Beauty Culture Harms Women.

In this episode, she chats to Jen about the book, a life spent online, the harmful standards women hold themselves up to and the increasingly dystopian nightmare of the cult of Kylie Jenner.

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Denise Gough on addiction, People, Places & Things

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Fans of the Star Wars universe will no doubt recognise Ireland’s Denise Gough as steely Andor villain Dedra Meero. But it was back in 2015 that she was catapulted to stardom with her role as Emma in Duncan Macmillan’s existential addiction drama, People, Places & Things.

Almost ten years on, People, Places & Things is back and so is Denise with a proper barnstormer of a performance in a play that’s funny, clever, vivid, devastating and one of the most emotionally intelligent takes on addiction, recovery and our notions of self our Mick’s ever seen.

Denise is herself a former addict, so in this episode, she and Mick are talking about addiction, the dark humour of addicts, notions of self, that time psychiatrists had a fight in the foyer, and why it’s important to see women in roles like this.

People, Places & Things runs until August 10 at Trafalgar Theatre. https://trafalgartheatre.com/shows/people-places-and-things/

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Caoimhe O’Neill is all in for Scotland

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Fun times for football enthusiasts approach us, as the Euros kick off in Germany next week. Both England and Scotland are through to the tournament, with Scotland up first, against the host nation, before England take on Serbia – but how will the home nations fare?

Jen caught up with Caoimhe O’Neill – journalist at The Athletic, Liverpool FC fan, and the proud owner of two Scotland shirts – to find out if football really is coming home, what it means to leave Marcus Rashford behind, what’s next for Jen's adoptive dad, Gareth Southgate, and who we should be looking out for in both squads.

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The Bush Telegraph: Three bloviators, two horses and one troubling judge

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 23:02:00 -0000

What a week! Trump is guilty, Farage is milkshaked, Owen Jones is Owen Jones-ing and some of the four horses of the apocalypse are having a nice time in a field. At least concrete is still concrete. Mickey and Hannah manage to fit all this in and still find time for a horrific sexism of the week, in which we get to see how one judge's mind works and really don't like it.

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Rated or Dated: Speed (1994)

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week, Jen’s getting philosophical with high on drama, easy on the acting, ‘90s runaway hit, Speed. But can Mick and Hannah get on board? Der dum tsssssshhhhhh. Cue maniacal laughter, and a shedload of plot holes.

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Aamna Modhin on the making and unmaking of a refugee

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

With Scattered, award-winning journalist and former child refugee Aamna Mohdin has written a warm, candid and surprisingly funny memoir about her family’s experiences fleeing the Somali civil war in the 1990s. She chats to our Mick about survivor’s guilt, people not 'migrants', the joys in interviewing your parents, and her relationship with Somalia today.

Scattered is published by Bloomsbury, out on June 6 and available from all good bookshops.

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Did Genevieve Kingston ever tell you about loss?

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0000

When she was 11, Genevieve Kingston's mother died, leaving her a box of gifts and letters, designed to see her through the big events of her life. In her new memoir, Genevieve, now a writer and actor, explores the loss of her mother and the joys of refinding her through her letters from the past. Hannah chats to her about that memoir - Did I Ever Tell You? - being on Oprah's 'to read' list, and how some cultures are just better at dealing with death than others.

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Fate and the Fates with Rosie Garland

Thu, 30 May 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Rosie Garland is a poet, an author and the front woman, since the 1980s, of punk band The March Violets. In this podcast, Hannah chats to her about her latest novel, The Fates, which is about, you've guessed it, the Fates, about how mythology treats women and why Zeus was an absolute dick. They're also talking about Rosie's recovery from cancer, how that affected her writing and performing and about what's next on her very full life plate.

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Rated or Dated: Gaslight (1944)

Tue, 28 May 2024 23:00:00 -0000

Mickey, Hannah and Jen are asking all the big questions this week. Such as, when a film's plot is so famous its title is now a verb, how's that going to affect three first-time viewers? And what would 1940s audiences have thought was going on? Also, were any Victorians called Paula and Brian?

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Scarlett Thomas and a honeymoon from hell

Tue, 28 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

A cursed wedding, a honeymoon meltdown, a gaslighting hotelier, and some pretty dodgy goings on: Scarlett Thomas’s latest novel, The Sleepwalkers, is a gripping tale of catastrophe from the contents page on.

Scarlett chats to Mick about finding inspiration on a holiday from hell, the chain of blame in Big Patriarchy, trusting women, judging women, a love of wrong things, and big lash action.

The Sleepwalkers is published by Simon & Schuster, out now, and a brilliant, very dark, very funny read.

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Tabitha Barber on seeing women in art

Mon, 27 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Hot on the heels of Women in Revolt!, Tate Britain is hosting another huge exhibition dedicated to professional women artists, spanning 400 years from the early 16th Century. Now You See Us: Women Artists in Great Britain, 1520-1920 puts paid to the notion that women couldn’t make a living from art, and only ever pursued it as a cute leisure activity. Jen caught up with Tabitha Barber, Tate Britain's Curator of British Art, 1550-1750, to talk about what women artists were up to, why misconceptions around them exist and why art is *sort of* like football when it comes to ideas about the sexes.

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Flicking: Theater Camp

Fri, 24 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This mockumentary comedy flew under the radar when it was released last year. But our Yosra’s excited to make a song and dance about Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s big-hearted tale of a musical theatre camp, struggling to save itself after its beloved founder falls into a coma.

It’s well charted that we love a mockumentary, but will there be enough gags for Hannah? Or too much singing for Mick? You know what to do.

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The Bush Telegraph: Who calls their kid “Stonewall”, anyway?

Thu, 23 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Jen and Hannah are on Bush Telegraph duty this Thursday 23 May. They’re talking about how the only thing the UK doesn’t seem to be in short supply of these days, is court rulings against its own Government. Meanwhile the wait for a wheelchair hits frankly ludicrous levels. Harrison Butker (you heard) has his say on a woman’s worth, and with any luck it’s his balls Serena will be hitting in the near future, as Jen chats about a possible comeback in JOTB.

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Rated or Dated: Earth Girls Are Easy (1989)

Wed, 22 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Jeff Goldblum, people! Turns out, the big fella isn’t necessarily a lure for Hannah and Jen, so will they find anything else to like in Julien Temple’s American-science-fiction-musical-romantic comedy? And yes, of course it was Mick who picked it.

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A generous serving of Vinette Robinson

Tue, 21 May 2024 01:00:00 -0000

New drama series The Gathering is making waves on Channel 4 as we speak, so Hannah leapt at the chance to chat to one of its stars, Vinette Robinson. They talk about teenage ambition, playing real women with real problems, social media, teenage girls, working with Mike Leigh, the single-take logistics of Boiling Point, giving birth dozens of times in The Lazarus Project, and her upcoming appearance on Inside No 9. You are welcome.

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Kitty Ruskin's Ten Men

Mon, 20 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Buoyed by a positive sexual experience at university, journalist Kitty Ruskin decided to embrace her sexuality with a year of casual dating and no-strings sex. She was hoping to find pleasure and excitement, but the reality wasn't all fun and sexy games. All of which she chronicles in her new book, Ten Men: A Year of Casual Sex. Jen caught up with Kitty to talk about her quest, consent, dating apps and the so-called “sexual marketplace”. A heads up this interview touches on rape and on sexual assault, including Kitty's experience of this as a child.

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Outside The Box #65

Thu, 16 May 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Hannah's in the market for a new favourite TV programme, so this week - along with Jen and Mick - they're auditioning Shogun, Shardlake, Renegade Nell, David Attenborough's Mammals, Sugar, Fallout and Palm Royale. Plus there's some chat about some of TV's more controversial offerings, Baby Reindeer and The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

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The Bush Telegraph: Ninnies and pillocks and barmpots, oh my!

Thu, 16 May 2024 10:40:10 -0000

It’s Hannah and Mick on Bush Telegraph duty this Thursday 16 May. They’re talking about: the humanitarian crisis playing out in Sudan and why we’re not hearing enough about it; lummoxes, tosspots and numpties, and – separately but connected – the Tories’ ongoing desperate bumblefuckfest ahead of the general election (BUT WHEN IS IT?); the rise and enforced rest of the robots, and Northern Ireland scoring goals for women and girls all over the shop.

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Rated or Dated: Tea with Mussolini (1999)

Wed, 15 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Has Maggie Smith ever Maggie Smithed harder than in Tea with Mussolini? It's just one of Hannah's questions about Franco Zeffirelli's 1999 lady-fest, which Jen's picked despite her dad's apparent love for it. Other questions include, has Rated or Dated reached Cher saturation point? Is it ever okay to be pals with a dictator? And, from Mick: WTF is Dench doing?

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Salty adventures with Francesca de Tores

Tue, 14 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Author Francesca de Tores, who you may know better as Francesca Haig, was gripped when she happened upon the Wikipedia entry for 18th century pirate, Mary Read. A woman pirate? Damn straight, a woman pirate. And so began Saltblood, Francesa’s first work of historic fiction.

Jen caught up with her to chat all things Mary, and navigating the male-dominated waters of swashbuckling adventures.

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Kiri Pritchard-McLean is Batman in sequins

Mon, 13 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

For three years, comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean has had a secret alter-ego as a foster parent. But now she’s out, and talking about everything about fostering life – from gusset to hairline – in her new tour show, Peacock.

In this episode, she’s chatting to Mick about why she and her partner decided to foster, the processes involved, the joys gained, why your hair can never be too big, and what to do with those eight spare biros knocking around the kitchen.

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Storrie Time with Ashley

Fri, 10 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Having been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe since she was 13, comedian and writer Ashley Storrie has had her fill of it. Lucky for her, she’s been starring in BBC Three comedy series Dinosaur. In this episode, she chats to Jen about the unusual way she came to co-create the series, neurodiversity on screen and how it compares to her experiences with autism spectrum disorder, and how to get started in comedy.

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The Bush Telegraph: Bad news, good news, bear news

Thu, 09 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It’s Mick and Jen on Bush Telegraph duty this Thursday 9 May. They’re talking: male entitlement (whaaa?); police incompetence (no way!); remarkable women (come on now!); institutional sexism (surprise!), and Emma Hayes being brilliant (plus ça change).

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Rated or Dated: East is East (1999)

Wed, 08 May 2024 00:00:00 -0000

Does everyone have half a cup of tea? Great, let's begin. In this week's Rated or Dated, we're watching 1999's comedy-drama East is East. But how well does the comedy and drama really gel? Does anyone have any sympathy for George? And exactly how much does Hannah love Linda Bassett? All the answers lie within. Now wash your bastard curtains!

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Britain's got Georgie Carroll (temporarily)

Tue, 07 May 2024 01:00:00 -0000

Georgie Carroll went from being a nurse in Rochdale to a stand-up comedian in Adelaide. In this podcast, she's chatting to Hannah about wanderlust, career changes, being on Britain's Got Talent and the contradiction between how we think of nurses and how we sometimes treat them.

Georgie is on tour now around the UK. You can find out more about her show, Sister Flo 2.0, where it's on and how to get tickets here: https://www.georgiecarroll.com/live-shows/

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Yuan Yang explores the new China

Mon, 06 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

When journalist Yuan Yang’s activist friend Sam joked about Yuan writing the news story if Sam was ever detained… and then disappeared, Yuan knew there was a bigger story to tell about modern China. Her new book, Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China, looks at modern China through the lives of four women in their 30s.

She’s chatting to Mick about China’s communist lie, the fear of falling off ladders, pigs, parenting, and how the stories of these four brave idealist women in China’s new social order led to Yuan standing for Parliament here in the UK.

Find out about China’s left-behind children, what happened to a magic pig, and more, by becoming a Standard Issue Patreon Champ or Legend at patreon.com/StandardIssue

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Standard Issue: A new frontier

Wed, 01 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

We interrupt your normal Standard Issue broadcast this week to tell you about the *new* normal Standard Issue broadcast, starting on Monday 6 May. But don’t worry, it’s not a cryptocurrency podcast. Or a Star Trek podcast, for that matter.

That’s right, we’ve been teasing it for a while now, and finally Mick, Hannah and Jen are here to explain to you, dear listeners, how the new podcast format will work.

To subscribe to our new Patreon tiers to enjoy ad-free podcasts, as well as exclusive content, competitions and treats, visit: https://www.patreon.com/StandardIssue

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SIM Ep 966 Chops 297: Stranger Things (and even stranger things) with Kate Trefry

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Stranger Things: a bonafide telly phenomenon. The Duffer Brothers’ Netflix series has won an army of diehard fans across all demographics with its big budget mix of horror, fantasy and 80s nostalgia that makes sure never to skimp on character or storytelling. Kate Trefry’s been a writer on the series since season two and is currently wrapping up the fifth and final season, expected to be released next year.

She’s also written its stage production and prequel, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, working with the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Stephen Daldry to bring Hawkins to the Phoenix Theatre in London. As well as a slew of five-star reviews, Stranger Things: The First Shadow recently picked up the best new entertainment or comedy play at the Oliviers.

Our Mick has also seen and been blown away by it, so was chuffed to bits to catch up with Kate a couple of days after the awards. They’re chatting Stranger Things (obviously), the play and the series, being an outsider, winning hearts and minds, new motherhood, and the birth of evil.

Visit phoenixtheatre.co.uk for tickets.

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SIM 965 Pod 302: Blue Lights, cricket whites and on Wednesdays we wear pink

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:02:00 -0000

The BBC's Belfast-set police drama Blue Lights is back on our tellies, so Hannah grabbed the chance to talk to one of its stars: former comedian, now novelist and actor, Andi Osho. They chat about understanding history, running down alleyways and going grey in an industry where many women aren't. Jen's talking to writer Kate Atwell and director Diane Page about bringing women's cricket to the stage in Testmatch, and in Jenny Off The Blocks, there are some new Invincibles in town. There's Cher and a drunk dog in BT, and the "what I did on my day in Cambridge" that nobody asked for in SOTW. Meanwhile, in Rated or Dated, Mickey's trying to make fetch a thing, as we watch 2004's Mean Girls.

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SIM Ep 964 Chops 296: Powering up with Yasmin Ali

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Most of us would be able to name our energy provider and probably a list of reasons we’re annoyed with them, but when it comes to the hows and whos that get it to, say, our plug sockets, details can be a bit sketchy.

Mick’s been on the Zoom with Yasmin Ali, a chemical engineer dedicated to developing renewable energy projects and author of the book Power Up: An Engineer's Adventures into Sustainable Energy. All credit to Yasmin, who has taken a potentially dry and technical subject and made it a fascinating read. Although – spoiler alert – there are no easy answers to the looming energy crisis.

And so, in this week’s Chops, Mick and Yasmin are talking about the complicated answers, about how Yasmin’s grounding in fossil fuels led her to hydrogen, her passion for (and optimism about) clean energy, why being born in Iraq made her love Norway, and why she’s not watching Oppenheimer.

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SIM Ep 963 Flicking #48: Poor Things

Sat, 20 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Hold onto your fannies, because for this month’s Flicking, Mick’s picked Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthikos (man), based on a novel by Alisdair Gray (man), adapted for the big screen by Tony McNamara (man) and one of 2023’s hot feminist picks. DISCUSS.

Emma Stone bagged an Oscar for her portrayal of Bella Baxter, the Frankenstein’s monster-esque creation of Dr Godwin Baxter (Willem Defoe), who goes on a voyage of self-discovery and empowerment/has sex with a lot of people – same, same. DISCUSS. And yes, Yosra and Hannah have a lot to say. And rightly so. Also includes *quite* the revelation for Yosra about Yosra. Hold onto your fannies! Did we already say that? Well, you can never have too much fanny. DISCUSS

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SIM Ep 962 Pod 301: Loretta Lynn, Tanya Franks and – whose hand is that? – oh, Tracy Flick

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You’ve seen Sharon Horgan’s brilliant sitcom Pulling, right? If you haven’t, please do go watch it immediately *waits impatiently, tapping foot* Okay! How good is Tanya Franks in it?!? SOOOO good. Which means you’ll understand why our Hannah has been champing at the bit for nigh on a decade to get an interview in. And here she is: Tanya Franks chatting to Hannah about accents, marathons, free speech, her current role in Power of Sail at the Menier Chocolate Factory and, of course, the joy and chaos of Karen in Pulling.

Another brilliant woman? But of course – have two. It’s been a while, but Liz Buckley, our resident font of all music knowledge, is back and she’s explaining to Mick why we should all love Loretta Lynn. Lynn might not have called herself a feminist, deeming the label too exclusive, but sweet Lordy, she was a shot in the arm for women in the very male, very conservative world of country music.

Get your camel toe out for the lads! In Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen’s looking at Nike’s new Olympics wear for Team America (fuck yeah!). And in Rated or Dated, can a satire satirise something before it’s even happened? Here’s looking at you, 1999’s Election.

Power of Sail is at the Menier Chocolate Factory until May 12

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SIM Ep 961 Chops 295: Elaine Lin Hering is Unlearning Silence

Sun, 14 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Harvard Law School lecturer, consultant and speaker, Elaine Lin Hering, was frustrated in her professional life by the realising that having a seat at the table isn't enough if no one can hear what you're saying. This inspired her to write Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent and Lead With Courage, and she chats to Jen about it in this week's Chops. They talk about how we learn silence, how we actively silence others, why that disproportionately impacts certain groups, and the myth of imposter syndrome.

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SIM Ep 960 Outside The Box #64

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 09:40:00 -0000

Having a busy April? Why not have a nice sit down and turn on the telly? This month, Hannah and Jen are talking about Passenger, Manhunt, The Gone, The Dry, Masters of the Air, Mary & George, The Regime and Tell Them You Love Me.

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SIM Ep 959 Pod 300: Glass cliffs, tragic magic and TOP THAT!

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

We’ve all heard of the glass ceiling, right? But what about the phenomenon befalling the high-flying women who have dared to smash through it? It’s known as the glass cliff, and Sophie Williams has written a book about it. Sophie joins Mick this week, to talk about how and why it happens – and why the issue matters to all women.

Meanwhile, Jen is on the Zoom with theatre company Dirty Hare, to talk witches, history and their play Gunter, which is showing at The Royal Court Theatre until April 25.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, there’s rugby, cricket and more. And in Rated or Dated, there’s more witchcraft afoot, but will 1989 “cult classic” Teen Witch be cinematic magic or a curse on the eyes, ears and emotions?

Meanwhile, in unrelated news *cough*, Hannah's wading through a river of jobbies in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 958 Chops 294: Hadley Freeman and the Good Girls

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 23:02:00 -0000

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, hospital admissions for eating disorders have increased by 84% over the past five years. And yet, for so many of us, anorexia remains very hard to understand. Hannah chats to author, journalist and recovered anorexic Hadley Freeman about her memoir Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia, about her experiences, as a teenager and now a mother, and about why so many women have a complicated relationship with food.

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SIM Ep 957 Pod 299: All aboard the flying bath mat!

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 23:02:00 -0000

Experts - we should listen to them, right? RIGHT? Well, maybe not all of them. That's what Hannah learned while talking to Dr Julia Shaw, a criminal psychologist and the host of new Radio 4 show Experts on Trial. Jen's been on the Zoom with Heather McCalden to talk about her genre-bending debut book, The Observable Universe, which is about losing both her parents to AIDS in the early '90s, and grief in the internet age. And in Rated or Dated, having not seen it as kids, what will Mickey and Hannah make of 1984's The NeverEnding Story?

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SIM Ep 956 Chops 293: Courtney Moorehead Balaker on The Coddling of the American Mind

Sun, 31 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0000

If you've not read the Atlantic article The Coddling of the American Mind, or the book that followed it, you've likely heard us recommend it. And now, it's a documentary, so Hannah got straight on the Zoom to California to talk to its producer Courtney Moorehead Balaker about the current mental health crisis among young people and how, rather than helping, the culture on US university campuses is making young people more vulnerable. And how tribalism, helicopter parenting and the “one strike and you're out” culture of public shaming has left young people afraid to make mistakes.

The original Atlantic article, by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, is here: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/09/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind/399356/

You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coddling-American-Mind-Intentions-Generation/dp/0735224897

And you can watch the film here: https://www.thecoddlingmovie.com/

If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out to the Samaritans. More details here: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/

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SIM Ep 955 Pod 298: Love letters to Scotland

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:53:48 -0000

Playwright Stef Smith is best known for her, well, plays. But her award-winning BBC Scotland drama, Float – a tender tangle of love, life and identity in small-town Scotland – is also well worth your time. Season one is already bingeable on the iPlayer and, ahead of season two hitting screens at the end of the month, our Mick chatted to Stef about water, women in love, representation, and the joys of being a soppy sausage.

Talking of soppy sausages, Jen’s quite rightly feeling emotional about what seeing sporting women means to girls getting into sporting. And has top-tier cynic Hannah Dunleavy gone and picked a romance for Rated or Dated? Well, that’s up for discussion as we watch 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Plus bullies, unfinished church business, time theory, not enough nurses, and the return of Nelson Mandela.

PS: Scotland, we love you.

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SIM Ep 954 Chops 292: Suzie Miller on Prima Facie and criminal justice

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Playwright Suzie Miller is best known for her award-sweeping masterpiece, Prima Facie, a searing critique of the criminal justice system and, specifically, how it deals with survivors of sexual assault and rape. She’s now adapted the play into a novel, and so Jen was chuffed to bits to talk to her about the process of adaptation, as well as why she wrote it, the impact the play has had, and the sheer lunacy of a system that simply isn’t fit for purpose. Also, Jodie Comer, who blew minds in the play, reads the audio book. Win.

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SIM Ep 953 Flicking #47: Oppenheimer

Sat, 23 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

They don’t come much bigger than Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan’s three-hour Oscar-nabbing historical drama, and Hannah’s pick for this month’s Flicking. It’s quite rightly made Cillian Murphy the man of the moment, but how’s Yosra feeling about Robert Downey Jnr’s gongs? And will it have enough bang for its buck as far as Mick’s concerned? Find out!

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SIM Ep 952 Pod 297: Finding joy, female pleasure, and just the one Jack Nicholson

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Hollie McNish - Standard Issue fave, award-winning poet, and all-round smasher - is back with Lobster, a brand-new collection of poems and prose. Naturally, Mick was delighted to jump on the Zoom to talk to her about it, as well as joy, not-joy, vulvas, knickers and RP.

Over IRL, as the kids say, Jen was chuffed to bits to be reunited with writer Anoushka Warden, to talk to her about her debut novel, I’m F*cking Amazing. They also chat sweary titles, female pleasure, and navigating the NHS.

There are recent retirements and romantic relationships in Jenny Off The Blocks, and in this week's Rated or Dated, we wonder if Hannah’s changed her mind about 1984 tearjerker Terms Of Endearment. And what did the Roman Empire ever do for women, eh? The British Museum has the, well *an* answer in this week’s Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 951 Chops 291: Jenny Kleeman knows The Price of Life

Sun, 17 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Journalist, broadcaster, documentary-maker, author and Mickey mind-blower is back on the podcast to chat about her incredible new book, The Price of Life: In Search of What We’re Worth and Who Decides.

It’s a fascinating and brutal investigation into who puts a price on our heads – because we all have not just one, but several, depending on the situation. Jenny’s met with a hitman, people who’ve faked their own death, modern-day slaves, the makers of F-35 fighter jets, scientists, effective altruists, parents whose children have died in terrorist attacks, kidnap victims and, for a frankly wild final chapter, an American funeral parlour owner and body broker to find out what we’re worth, dead or alive.

And now she’s chatting to our Mick about all of the above, whether cold calculations are the way to measure a life, and how she still has a deep faith in the good of humanity.

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SIM Ep 950 Pod 296 The '70s, the late '90s and right now

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 01:01:00 -0000

If you find watching sport in public a bit intimidating, Set Piece Social will be for you. This week, Jen chats to Naomi Fitzgibbons and Kate Hetherington about their pioneering new project to get women watching women's sport. Hannah's talking to writer Farine Clark about her new play London Zoo, and what inspired her career changes from medicine through journalism and into the arts. In Rated or Dated, Mickey (*screeches to a stop in a 1974 Gran Torino*) has had us watching 2004's Starksy & Hutch (*doesn't run out of fingers on one hand counting female roles*). And in BT, we've got some good news and some more good news and some more good news. Also some bad news. But let's focus on the positive eh?

More info about London Zoo at the Southwark Playhouse here: https://southwarkplayhouse.co.uk/productions/london-zoo/

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SIM Ep 949 Chops 290: Liz Jensen’s Wild and Precious Life

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Liz Jensen is better known for her fiction writing, but the author and activist has just published a memoir, Your Wild and Precious Life: On Grief, Hope and Rebellion. Her new book documents her grief after the death of her son Raphael, a zoologist and ecological activist, in 2020, aged just 25, and her fight for the future of our planet, in his name.

In this week’s Chops, she talks to Jen about the cathartic experience of writing the book, the parallels between grieving the loss of a child and grieving the destruction of the planet, the point of protest, and the radicalising nature of bereavement.

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SIM Ep 948 Outside The Box 63

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 12:36:00 -0000

This month's Outside The Box is here and this time we're talking about True Detective: Night Country, Masters of the Air, Mr & Mrs Smith, Trigger Point and Breathtaking, plus a load of stuff Hannah didn't even make it through the first episode of. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 947 Pod 295: Women with balls (and other objects)

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Imagine having an idea so engaging that you make Anjelica Huston want to talk about Tupperware. Well, hello journalist Annabelle Hirsch, whose book, A History of Women in 101 Objects, is a fascinating walk through female history via, well, 101 objects.

The book came out last October and is well worth your eyes, but if you like to get your ears involved and the voices of Helena Bonham Carter, Leila Slimani, Olivia Colman, Margaret Atwood and Meera Syal, to name but a few, tickle your pickle, then the audiobook of Annabelle’s work is a thing of joy. Annabelle’s chatting to our Mick in this week’s podzine about how objects – some everyday, some remarkable – can provide a deep dive into women’s lives throughout history.

There’s more herstory this week, as Jen’s been chatting to documentary makers Rachel Ramsay and Victoria Gregory about COPA 71, their new feature documentary in which the pioneering footballers in Mexico’s unofficial 1971 Women’s World Cup tell their remarkable story. It was a tournament that witnessed record crowds, but has been largely written out of sporting history and the stories of it – and indeed the stories behind the making of this documentary about it – are compelling.

There’s more compelling this week, in the form of Glenn Close and John Malkovich, doing some magnificent work in Hannah’s Rated or Dated pick: 1989’s Dangerous Liaisons. Any excuse for Mick’s French-via-Delboy accent, eh?

Plus, drop shots, cheap shots and poor form all round in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 946 Chops 289: Tracy King's been thinking

Sun, 03 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Critical thinking isn't exactly everyone's strong point and in her upcoming memoir Learning to Think, Tracy King explains how she went from born-again Christianity to pseudoscience to teaching herself to think critically. And when she applied that thinking to the violent death of her father, she uncovered a whole other story from the one she'd been told. In this week's Chops, Tracy and Hannah chat about all that, plus poverty, school refusal and alcoholism.

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SIM Ep 945 Pod 294: Good sisters, bad sisters, and some rebirth

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Writer and Standard Issue fave Kerry Hudson is back with brand-new memoir, Newborn, the follow-up to her previous work, Lowborn. In this week’s podzine, Hannah jumps on the Zoom to talk with Kerry about class, social mobility, money and why you can't air fry your way out of poverty.

A self-professed Mary Shelley “obsessive”, our Jen was delighted when news of Lesley McDowell’s new novel Clairmont, landed in her inbox. She and Lesley chat about why its namesake Clair Clairmont remains little known, as well as historical fiction, the Shelleys, and those dastardly Romantics.

Meanwhile, will Mick ever stop being sick in her own mouth in response to this week’s Rated or Dated, 1999's The Other Sister? Find out.

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SIM Ep 944 Chops 288: Again, With Feelings with Catherine Bohart

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Comedian, podcast mogul, writer, broadcaster and professional oversharer, the glorious Catherine Bohart is this week’s Sunday Chops. She and Mick are chatting about the joy and freedom of podcasts, being a professional oversharer, living with OCD, the giving and receiving of advice and, of course, her new show, Again, With Feelings, which is on tour in various venues around this country, in Ireland and in Australia, from March 4.

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SIM Ep 943 Pod 293: Gambling, fighting and getting your whole family in a room together

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 01:02:00 -0000

Lindsay Duncan - you heard us! - is on stage at the National Theatre in a revival of Dodie Smith's Dear Octopus, so of course Jen jumped at the chance to chat to her. They were joined by the play's director, Emily Burns, to discuss family dynamics, age and a whole lot more. Hannah's also talking theatre this week, with Hannah Walker, creator of Gamble, a new show on tour around the country, which deals with her partner's struggle with gambling, how it's affected their relationship and what's helped them overcome it. Mickey's astride a horse, figuratively (probably), in this week's Rated or Dated, as we chat about 1974's Blazing Saddles. We're (almost) all about the netball in Jenny Off The Blocks and in BT we're talking abortion rights, budget cuts and some not hot felons. And one hot one.

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SIM Ep 942 Chops 287: Len Pennie’s Poyums

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Performance poet Len Pennie is a big deal on the social media, particularly TikTok, where her Scots Word of the Day videos, forthright, urgent poetry and wicked sense of humour have made her a bona fide star.

Published by Canongate on February 22, her debut poetry collection, Poyums, she covers a lot of ground, from depression and mental health to misogyny and abusive relationships. If that all sounds bleak, well, the topics are, but Len’s honesty, rawness, humour and playfulness of language make her poems anything but.

She chatted to our Mick about all of the above, the joy and importance of Scots language, and the problem with “nice guys”.

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SIM Ep 942 Flicking #46: Past Lives

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Greta Lee and Teo Yoo star in Celine Song’s debut feature, which follows deeply connected childhood friends Nora (Lee) and Hae Sung (Yoo) over the course of 24 years and an ocean of separation. It’s a gentle, poignant, philosophical, maybe romance, chosen by Yosra for this month’s Flicking. But will it have enough wallop for Mickey and not too much of the soppy stuff for Hannah? Find out.

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SIM Ep 941 Pod 292: Olga, Ola, Othello and okay, let’s DANCE MONTAGE

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Imagine making a film set in a town where dancing is illegal. Imagine that bit being the true story element of said film. Imagine that not one of the team had ever seen 1984’s Footloose in full before this very week. SCENES, such very eighties scenes, in this week’s Rated or Dated, chosen by Offord, montaged by Bacon.

Before that, Mick’s been on the Zoom with comedian Olga Koch to chat about her latest show, Prawn Cocktail, the masters she did in lockdown, which looks at parasocial relationships and how the two might come together.

Hannah’s been to see Othello at The Globe’s Sam Wanamaker theatre, a new production directed by Ola Ince, and she loved it. Hannah chats to Ola about placing Othello in a police force, putting words in Shakespeare’s character’s mouths, and why she’s put a second black man onstage in a play which quite on purpose only ever has one.

In Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen’s talking about allyship in football (we can all wave our scarves in celebration at CANDI Utd’s recent actions), while over in the Bush Telegraph, we’re getting up to date on who’s in charge of France and what a nutritious breakfast looks like, as well as looking at some bad maths for women.

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SIM Ep 940 Pod 291: Where are we going? What does it mean? And what is this film?

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Why won't copy show up?

Comedian, writer, podcaster, friend of Standard Issue, and glorious human being Jess Fostekew is back on tour with her new show Mettle, and so Mick jumped at the chance to talk to her about it. They also chat buses, bulking, and the tiny birds of Geoff Capes.

Hannah’s been on the Zoom to talk to journalist and award-winning podcast host Catherine Carr about her podcast Where Are You Going?, why people are so keen to tell her the answer to this question and why listeners can't get enough of it.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen ponders what's next for the Women’s Tour. And we wonder what is this film, as we settle down for some Gen X stereotypes and miserable facial hair in 1994’s Reality Bites for this week’s Rated or Dated.

Meanwhile, there’s Viking fire, heavy workloads, and a crypt full o’ dust in the Bush Telegram.

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SIM Ep 939 Chops 286: Broken Water, broken nights, and the highs and lows of mumming

Sun, 04 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Being a mum is great, but it can also be relentlessly challenging and impossibly difficult. Not to mention that from the day they're born, you know you'll eventually lose your children to adulthood.

In her late 30s, writer and actress Michele Winstanley gave birth to a much-wanted child, and quickly realised that mumming wasn't the sugar-coated dream she'd been sold. And so she wrote a play about her own experiences and those of others at different stages of their motherhood journey.

A decade on, Broken Water is now playing at the Arcola Theatre. Our Jen caught up with Michele and director Nicola Samer to talk about the highs and lows of being a mum, the losses we incur along the way, and, when it comes to representations of motherhood, how much (or little) has changed in the last ten years.

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SIM Ep 938 Pod 290: Live from Antarctica and the Fountain of Destiny!

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 01:08:05 -0000

Sort of. This week, Jen's been on the satellite phone to bone fide polar adventurer Harpreet ‘Preet’ Chandi. Preet recently broke a third World Record, becoming the world’s fastest woman to complete a solo unsupported ski expedition to the South Pole. She chats to Jen about the how and why, accepting failure when it comes, becoming a role model and looking after your mental health. Speaking of which, Mickey's been on the Zoom with our resident psychotherapist Jane Watson to talk about "the overwhelm", how to spot it and what to do if it's not as simple as "have you tried removing stress from your life?" In BT, Hannah has a smorgasbord of vaccination news, while in SOTW, we look at #OppenOscarBarbieHeimerHistoryIsForMenKenGoslingGerwigGate. And in Rated or Dated, we ask "is this the reason there are so few statues of women?" as we watch 1974's The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.

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SIM Ep 937 Chops 285: A Phone Fix with the Brain Doctor

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 01:46:00 -0000

Are we addicted to our phones? Are they bad for our mental health? Are they changing the way we behave? Hannah gets the answers to these and many more questions from neuroscientist Dr Faye Begeti, otherwise known as the Brain Doctor, whose new book The Phone Fix: The Brain-Focused Guide to Building Healthy Digital Habits and Breaking Bad Ones is out on February 1.

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SIM Ep 936 Pod 289: Comedy, cancer, college campuses and Christ almighty, our eyes

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 03:00:49 -0000

Stand up Laura Smyth came to comedy later in life and with a whole load of experiences, including cancer, under her belt. People are lapping it up, and tickets to her debut tour show, Living My Best Life, are selling like hot cakes. Mmm, hot cakes. Laura chats to our Hannah about wide-ranging appeal, the big C and maintaining a sense of self.

Mick’s been on the Zoom to America, chatting to author Kiley Reid, whose debut novel, Such a Fun Age, which had race relations as its focal point, was a much-hyped international bestseller longlisted for the Booker Prize. No pressure for the follow-up then, eh? They’re talking money, shame and Come and Get It, Kiley’s sophomore novel, set on a college campus.

There’s more Stateside school time as Jen’s Rated or Dated pick of 1999’s She’s All That, unsurprisingly goes down like a lead balloon. Mmm, lead balloons. Not least with Jen. Still, she’s better news of a football, rugby and boxing nature in Jenny Off the Blocks.

Plus, there’s a rush of good news (although some is definitely broccoli in disguise) in this week’s Bush Telegraph.

Laura Smyth will be on tour with brand new show Living My Best Life from April this year, tickets are available from https://laurasmyth.com

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SIM Ep 935 Chops 284: Zahra Nader on the plight of women and girls in Afghanistan

Sun, 21 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

If ever a subject demanded a bit more of our time, it’s what’s happening to women and girls in Afghanistan under the Taliban. Zahra Nader, editor-in-chief of Zan Times, a brilliant, women-led investigative newsroom, covering the human rights crisis in Afghanistan with a focus on women, is well-placed to tell our Mick what’s really happening on the ground in Afghanistan.

Despite the risk to the safety of those involved, since its genesis in August 2022, Zan Times has reported on the rise of child marriage, the impossible choices that women health workers face, the rise of female suicide, femicide and domestic violence, how women journalists continue to fight, and how humanitarian aid is not reaching the most vulnerable, bringing attention to distressing issues that affect women in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Zahra also talks about how letting the Taliban get away with this treatment of women isn’t just bad for women in Afghanistan, it sets a precedent that’s bad for all women. But it’s only women, eh? Maybe that’s why the world seems to have forgotten about this particular, HUGE, human rights issue.

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SIM Ep 934 Outside The Box #62

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 02:02:55 -0000

It's cold out, although inexplicably sunny in Hannah's lounge, so let's all stay in and watch some telly. This month, we're talking about Julia, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Slow Horses, Fool Me Once, True Detective: Night Country, Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster, and the final ever episode of Ghosts. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 933 Pod 288: Fast fashion, favourable odds and four weddings

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Just how bad is fast fashion for the earth and and how can we help curb its impact? Just a couple of the questions Mick’s asking Harriet Saywood-Bellisario, designer and founder of sustainable womenswear label Saywood, as they chat about how fashion and sustainability don’t have to be at odds.

Jen’s chatting to Eurosport presenter Rachel Stringer about The Cube, early mornings and the runners and riders in this year's Australian Open.

We’re asking "has it dated?" (we hadn’t noticed) and Hannah’s shouting a big old fuckity fuck at herself for choosing 1994's Four Weddings and a Funeral as this week’s Rated or Dated offering.

And in the Bush Telegraph, the Government is expertly throwing money in a black hole again, as we talk about predictable chaos, problematic policing and preventative medicine.

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SIM Ep 932 Chops 283: Kahlo, Basquiat & Jennifer Clement’s Promised Party

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 03:00:36 -0000

Frida Kahlo and Jean-Michel Basquiat are huge names from the world of art, but what must it have been like to hang out and grow up in their worlds? Author and poet Jennifer Clement knows all about it and has written about her fascinating life in new book, Promised Party: Kahlo, Basquiat & Me.

In the memoir, Jennifer writes about her upbringing in a bohemian community in 1960s and 70s Mexico City, before moving to New York City as a dancer in the late 70s, and living through the counterculture scene of the 1980s. She chats to tocayo Jen, about her experiences, story-telling, posthumous fame, and the work she’s undertaken as PEN International’s ONLY woman president, to make sure women’s voices are heard, and celebrated.

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SIM Ep 931 Flicking #45: Cocaine Bear

Sat, 13 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Mama’s got a brand new bag! And by “Mama”, we mean Flicking. This year, instead of watching firm favourites from their pasts, Hannah, Yosra and Mickey are giving their thoughts on films released in 2023.

And what an absolute classic to start with: Cocaine Bear. Elizabeth Banks’ 1980s-set creature feature, in which a massive black bear eats a whole load of cocaine and goes full carnage. It’s the magnificent Ray Liotta’s Swansong and he’s joined by a cast of dreams – and an apex predator off her furry tits on coke. But does it live up to the hype and that title?

(Guess who chose it. Guess who was the only one of them to see it at the cinema. Go on. Bet you can’t…)

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SIM Ep 930 Pod 287: Health, holidays and high drama

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 02:35:05 -0000

Yes, we do keep banging on about medical misogyny and you'll get no apologies from us. On that note, Mickey's been on the Zoom with journalist Sarah Graham, who specialises in writing about women’s health, to talk about her excellent book, Rebel Bodies: A Guide to the Gender Health Gap Revolution. Hannah's chatting to Lonely Planet writer Jade Bremner about how to do a bucket list holiday on a budget. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's excited about the return of Emma Raducanu. In BT, we're banging on about electricity meters, plagiarism and hot flushes. And there's cold flushes aplenty in Rated or Dated, as well as useful info on how much a broken leg can hamper a nice walk in the mountains, as we watch 2003/4's Touching The Void.

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SIM Ep 929 Chops 282: India Rakusen's Child

Sun, 07 Jan 2024 01:21:00 -0000

Journalist India Rakusen is about to launch an ambitious new project for Radio 4/BBC Sounds, so Hannah leapt at the chance to chat to her about it. The 27-part series (wow), Child, starts from when a sperm meets an egg, and then follows the mother and her pregnancy, through to birth and the first year of a child's life. India and Hannah chat about why we should all be interested, even if we've no intention of having children ourselves, about the science and the politics of this early stage of human development, and about how babies aren't just big lumps who cry and shit themselves. Who knew?

* Child starts on Radio 4 on Friday, 12 January, at 2.45pm. It will also be available on BBC Sounds.

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SIM Ep 928 Pod 286: We like to move it, move it

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 03:00:14 -0000

Don’t worry, we’ve not come over all ‘new year, new you’ bollocks, but this week’s podzine is packed with exercise chat, from recognising a cult when you see one to getting a bit more bang for your buck when it comes to walking.

Jen’s been on the Zoom with writer and performer Kate Sumpter to talk about her one-woman show SPIN, as well as wellness in general, and the ‘church’ of fitness in particular.

Meanwhile Hannah, a recent convert to the joy of pounding the P, has been chatting to Joanna Hall, sports scientist and founder of Walk Active about walking, why we should all be doing it and how to maximise the time you have for exercise.

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SIM Ep 927: Blast from the gigcast past #6

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 03:03:00 -0000

We're having a little break for Christmas, but to keep you entertained over the festive period, here’s a blast from the gigcast past. Jen’s chosen a cracker - pun intended - from 2017, just as we were about to launch the podzine. In it, the Boss - Sarah Millican - and Mick, play host to Sue Perkins, Zoe Ball and Cariad Lloyd.

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SIM Ep 926: Blast from the gigcast past #5

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 02:30:00 -0000

We're having a little break for Christmas, but to keep you full of Standard Issue joy while you’re in a cheese coma/back at work, here's a favourite gigcast from the before times. In this episode, Mick's taking us back to 2018, when A Very Good Thing Indeed happened for women – and not just that we got Marian Keyes, KT Tunstall and Vicky McClure onstage.

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SIM Ep 925: Blast from the gigcast past #4

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 01:00:00 -0000

We're having a little break for Christmas, but just in case you are jonesing for our voices, here's a favourite gigcast from days of yore. In this episode Hannah's revisiting one from way back in January 2017, when we spoiled you rotten by putting Sarah Millican, Sharon Horgan, Sandi Toksvig and Claudia Winkleman on the same stage. Yes, you read that correctly.

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SIM Ep 924 Pod 285: Bold women, busy women, and a couple of camels

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 03:00:37 -0000

The wonderful Lisa Palfrey is back on our screens over the festive period, alongside all of Wales (almost), in BBC One comedy drama, Men Up*, about a 1994 trial for the then-new drug, Viagra. Hannah jumped at the opportunity to get on the Zoom with Lisa to talk about the show, as well as Welsh talent, Christopher Guest, and one of Hannah’s faves, the 2014 film Pride.

Mick’s chatting to the legend that is Robyn Davidson, solo adventurer and author, whose wonderful new memoir, Unfinished Woman, explores unexpected fame, the slipperiness of memory and the impact of her mum’s suicide.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s talking about history-maker Rebecca Welch, who is set to become the first ever woman to referee a Premier League match. And did our hearts love, or indeed loathe till now? We find out by watching 1998’s Shakespeare In Love, in Rated or Dated.

Meanwhile, given it's nearly Christmas, it's quiz time in BT! Head scratchers pertain to current cabinet ministers and a woman's missing identity. BIG CASH PRIZES!

* Men Up is on BBC1 on Friday, December 29 at 9pm. It will also be available on the iPlayer.

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SIM Ep 923 Chops 281: Rebecca Roache is not fucking offended

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

From the lowly F-bomb, all the way over to the spam-faced jizz clown end of the spectrum, we’re big fans of a swear here on Standard Issue. But why is swearing considered offensive when the words don’t really mean anything offensive? Dr Rebecca Roache, philosopher and senior lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, was keen to get to the bottom of this topic, which she examines in her book, For F*ck’s Sake: Why Swearing is Shocking, Rude and Fun.

In this week's Chops, she joins Jen to chat about swearing in general, what makes anything offensive, the double standard when it comes to women and “industrial” language, and why “cunt” is The Worst Word. Contains strong language.

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SIM Ep 922 Outside The Box #61

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0000

Sure, you're probably busy with Christmas prep, but if you'd like some recommendations on what to watch during/after, you've come to the right place. This month we're talking about Lupin, Time, Kin, Vigil, Boat Story, Scrublands, The Crown and Squid Game: The Challenge. You're welcome.

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SIM 921 Pod 284 Homelessness, heroines and Howie (oh, Jesus Christ!)

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 01:01:00 -0000

Milton Keynes, once the UK capital of youth homelessness and dubbed "tent city" by the media, has successfully tackled its rough sleeping crisis. How? Hannah got on the Zoom with city councillor and soon-to-be Labour candidate in the next election (please arrive soon) to find out. Mickey asks theatre director Amy Hodge to pick her favourite kid as they talk about the fantastically great women getting some big rep in the stage show Fantasically Great Women Who Changed the World. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's talking about Joey Barton talking (oh God!), and in Rated or Dated, there's a fiery death and folk music as we watch 1973's The Wicker Man (oh Jesus Christ!). Which is more horrific? You decide. Also, we decide. And in BT, who fancies a pit-stop operation? Anyone?

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SIM Ep 920 Flicking #44: Paddington 2

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 03:00:38 -0000

SPOILER ALERT: It’s a massive love-in on Flicking this month, and rightly so, because our Hannah has picked the glorious Paddington 2. Seriously, what’s not to love? Yosra and Mick are also big fans, and there’s even a guest appearance from the bear himself.

It’s not all hearts and flowers, mind, as Hannah revisits a grudge against a cartoon bear from the past.

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SIM Ep 919 Pod 283: Revolting women, women drivers and knicker issues

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Curator Linsey Young spent five years working on the excellent Women In Revolt! exhibition at Tate Britain and, trust us, it was time very well spent. In this week’s podzine, she talks to Mick about punk art, reclaiming bodies, a three-minute scream, working-class humour, constellations not stars, and eating a baby.

Jen has been on the Zoom with historian Kassia St Clair to chat about women drivers, the history of the average motor, sexy (and sexual?) cars, and her new book, The Race to the Future: The Adventure That Accelerated the Twentieth Century.

Meanwhile, in Jenny Off The Blocks, there’s huge news in women’s football, and the news has got Hannah smashing her (poorly) head against her desk in the Bush Telegraph. And seriously, who doesn’t want to see a model village destroyed by pebbles? Just one of Hannah’s excellent points in this week’s Rated or Dated when – is it a bird? (No) Is it a plane? (Kinda) – 1978’s Superman is in the hot seat/spiky starship.

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SIM Ep 918 Pod 282: Broken bits, Disobedient Bodies, and an absolutely massive voice

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 03:00:45 -0000

It’s pretty well documented that the beauty industry isn’t particularly kind to women, but why are we accepting the capitalist forces that make us feel almost universally crap about ourselves? And where do they even come from? These are questions that writer, academic and broadcaster Emma Dabiri sets out to answer in her new book Disobedient Bodies: Reclaim Your Unruly Beauty. And in this week’s podzine she chats to Jen about beauty standards, empowerment and doing beauty better.

Meanwhile, Hannah gets to be a hero just for fixing a hoover, as she chats to Fiona Dear, co-director of UK Strategy and Operations at The Restart Project, which aims to help us fix our own stuff and prevent it going to landfill.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, we're fighting fit again, and Jen’s bigging up Katie Taylor. Plus, we’re appreciating every single one of Jane Horrocks’s voices in this week’s Rated or Dated, as we revisit 1998's Little Voice. Can Mickey ever get over Michael Caine and his bee facts? Should she even try?

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SIM Ep 917 Chops 280: Arit Anderson and a big love of trees

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Arit Anderson, garden designer, presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World, host of the Growing Greener podcast, and passionate environmentalist, really loves trees. So much so, she’s co-authored a book about them with botanist Dr Henrik Sjöman. The Essential Tree Selection Guide, in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is a brilliant, comprehensive, jargon-free look at how which tree we choose to plant where really matters, as well as a tree bible when it comes to their climate resilience, carbon storage and other ecosystem benefits.

Our Mick also really loves trees, so was delighted to get Arit on the Zoom to chat about our arboreal friends, how we can save them, how they can save us, gardening opportunities, starting again in your forties, and how we can all do our bit when it comes to sustainability.

Photograph of Arit by Diana Monkhurst

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SIM Ep 916 Pod 281: Defending, trending and upending

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 01:57:03 -0000

As you know, we love an angry woman who gets shit done, so Mick's been on the Zoom with Lisa Baskott to find out about 2nd Line of Defence, her award-winning female-focused recruitment agency for the private security sector. Jen's chatting to fashion editor Bay Garnett about her new book Style and Substance: Why What We Wear Matters, thrifting a bargain and sustainable fashion. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Premiership women’s rugby is back and there's news about the environment and missing apostrophes in BT. And in Rated or Dated, are we laughing or wincing or both, as we watch Hannah's pick - 1983's Trading Places?

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SIM Ep 915 IMD 2023: James Graham’s Dear England

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Since it’s International Men’s Day, we’ve only gone and invited a man to chat to us for this week’s Chops, because gender inequality is bad for everyone. And what group of men can better demonstrate this than... the England football team?

Screenwriter and playwright James Graham’s new play Dear England, got off to a very successful start at the National Theatre and is now enjoying an extended run in London’s West End. So our Jen caught up with James to find out more about it. They chat toxic masculinity, fear of failure, national identity, and the gaffer himself, Gareth Southgate – call him Gareth.

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SIM Ep 914 Outside The Box #60

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 11:56:05 -0000

Oh hello loadsa new TV, welcome to Outside The Box. This week we're talking about Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, The Newsreader, Robbie Williams, Shetland, What We Do In the Shadows, Planet Earth III, Bodies and Savior Complex. If there's not something in that extraordinarily mixed bag for you, we don't know what to tell you.

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SIM Ep 913 Pod 280: Circus thrills, Joni Mitchell’s skills and, urgh, fucking Twilight

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Joni Mitchell is 80, and so Hannah got on the Zoom with musician Jesca Hoop to celebrate the high priestess of folk and living legend. Mitchell’s songs have soundtracked our lives and her pioneering work changed music forever, all of which Jesca explores in her new Radio 4 series, Legend: The Joni Mitchell Story.

Meanwhile, Mick’s been chatting to Yuliia Pykhtina, hoola hoop goddess and co-founder of be-Spiegeltented circus-cabaret, La Clique. They talk circus life, living in Ukraine, and delicious round potato snacks.

In Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen’s once again tipping her hat to the incredible Emma Hayes, and – SPOILER! – there is absolutely no hat-tipping going on in Rated or Dated as the team watch 2008’s chaste, twinkly vampire, toxicity-fest, Twilight. Urgh, fucking Twilight.

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SIM Ep 912 Chops 279: Anna Ptaszynski has Everything To Play For

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 03:00:33 -0000

Sport is for everyone says Anna Ptaszynski – QI elf and host of the No Such Thing As A Fish podcast – which is one of the reasons she’s co-authored Everything To Play For: The QI Book Of Sports. In this week’s Chops, she talks to our Jen about how we can make sport more interesting to a wider audience, funny things we didn’t know about sport, novel ways of cheating in the modern pentathlon and, of course, Charlton Athletic.

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SIM Ep 911 Flicking #43: My Neighbor Totoro

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Is it a troll? Is it a cat-rabbit? Is it an imaginary Japanese spirit of the forest? All of the above, because in this month’s Flicking, our Yosra Osman has got us chatting Totoro, more specifically Studio Ghibli’s 1988 animated film, My Neighbor Totoro. Yosra’s a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s tale of two sisters who, with their dad, move to a new house in the countryside to be nearer their poorly mum, and have adventures with the wondrous spiritual tree guardian who lives nearby. But will Mick and Hannah be equally charmed? Find out.

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SIM Ep 910 Pod 279: Time travel, ancient times, and different times

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 03:00:11 -0000

With The Lazarus Project – the twist-tastic, time-travelling, Sky sci-fi drama – returning to our screens imminently, our Hannah is chuffed to bits. And even more so to be joined by one of its stars, Anjli Mohindra, on the Zoom, to talk about the show and why she’s just so damn good in it.

Mick chats to Natalie Haynes, comedian, classicist and one of our faves. This time, they're talking about Natalie's deep dive into goddesses, which are the subject of her latest book, Divine Might, and include Mick’s new [second] favourite spinster.

There’s a Mary Earps love-in in Jenny Off The Blocks, but how much is there to love about 1993’s The Piano? It's the greatest film by a female director of all time, or so some say, but will the team deem it Rated or Dated?

Meanwhile, Mick and Hannah cover questionable “lifestyle choices”, and questionable conspiracy theories in the Bush Telegraph, which also contains excellent sheep news.

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SIM Ep 909 Chops 278: Vulga Drawings for your ears

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Cartoonist Lily O’Farrell, who you probably know better as Vulga Drawings, does a fine line in accessible, fun, free, educational, feminist cartoons tackling hot-button topics and the kind of stuff you chat about with your female friends.

And so it’s not surprise to find that Lily’s new podcast, No Worries If Not!, is an accessible, fun, free, educational and feminist exploration of how internet culture is affecting all of us, but women in particular. Three episodes in and Lily and her expert guests have looked at the Alpha Male myth and why it’s horseshit, talked about the insidious nature of diet culture, and investigated how AI is negatively impacting women – but also its positive possibilities.

Mick got on the Zoom with Lily to talk cartoons, podcasts, primatology, trolls, Andrew Tate, masturbation, empathy, responsibility, buying spells off Etsy – and much more besides.

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SIM Ep 908 Pod 278: Chip stacking, whip cracking and nick-nacking

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 02:21:41 -0000

Poker might be male dominated, but is it a man's game? Is it hell, says science writer and competitive player Alex O'Brien. She talks to Hannah about what poker can teach us about what to do when the chips are down and her new book The Truth Detective. Jen's been chatting to director Anastasia Osei-Kuffour about biological clocks, the weight of expectations, and new play, Brenda’s Got A Baby. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, she's talking about the WTA finals, and more besides. In Sexism of The Week, Mick's finally done all the sexism. (Of course she hasn't). And there's plenty more on show, as we watch 1953's Calamity Jane. Dagnabbit!

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SIM Ep 907 Outside The Box #59

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 01:34:53 -0000

Autumn's usually a jam-packed time for TV schedules, but we're still waiting for some long-promised stuff. In this month's Outside The Box, we catch up with new arrival dates and take a look at some of October's big releases, including Ghosts, Boiling Point, The Long Shadow, The Reckoning, Partygate and Interview with the Vampire.

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SIM Ep 906 Pod 277: Killing Jack, Helen’s story and too much ballet

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 02:00:18 -0000

In playwright Sadie Hasler’s new thriller, Killing Jack, she explores women reclaiming the streets today, while honouring the lives of Polly, Annie, Elizabeth, Catherine and Mary Jane – the women killed by Jack the Ripper. She chats to our Mick about family trees, class and privilege, difficult conversations, and why she’s not having Jack the Ripper in her Jack the Ripper play.

Jen chats to director Rosie Morris, whose documentary short, My Blonde GF, tells the story of Helen Mort, a woman whose life was turned upside down when she discovered she'd been the victim of deepfake pornography. They also talk about the deep-rooted misogyny that runs alongside image-based sexual assault, and why we need to think about what we post online.

And it’s ballet a-go-go in this week’s Rated or Dated as Mick and Hannah watch Powell and Pressburger 1948 classic The Red Shoes.

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SIM Ep 905 Chops 277: Editing Alcott

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 00:07:53 -0000

Louisa May Alcott is best known for perennially popular novel Little Women, but her life, and indeed her mind, was a lot more interesting still. Hannah's been on the Zoom with writer and editor Liz Rosenberg to chat about the self-described "women's right woman" and essayist. They also talk about hippy communes, civil war nursing, paddling your own canoe, and A Strange Life: Selected Essays of Louisa May Alcott, edited by Liz and out next week.

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SIM Ep 904 Pod 276: Cosy crime, pool time, and rhythm and rhyme

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 02:00:15 -0000

With “cosy crime” making waves in the literary world right now, journalist Hazel Davis jumped on the Zoom to chat to writer Flic Everett about why we’re forgoing gritty reality, and her new series of novels.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats to Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell, former Great British swimming champion and host of the Physical Capital podcast, about representation, mental health, and myth-busting. And in Rated or Dated, we’re feeling the rhythm and, indeed, the rhyme, as we watch 1993’s Cool Runnings.

Meanwhile in the Bush Telegraph, Mick and Hannah take the dog’s ears out of their mouths for long enough to chat bloodsuckers aplenty, including grifters and bedbugs.

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SIM Ep 903 Chops 276: Still making space for girls

Sun, 15 Oct 2023 02:00:35 -0000

Susannah Walker and Imogen Clark are the two (very excellent) women behind Make Space For Girls, and you may remember Mick had a chat with them a couple of years ago when the charity was just nine months old.

Two years on and its campaign to make our parks and public spaces more friendly and accommodating for tween and teenaged girls continues apace, so Mick caught up with Susannah to talk about their recently released Parkwatch report, the fact that most parks have more facilities for dog waste than for teenage girls, and why we’re still in the situation where 90% of the facilities provided are about 90% used by the male 50% of the population. It’s not all doom, gloom and nowhere to go for girls, though: Susannah also has good news. Praise be!

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SIM Ep 902 Flicking #42: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 02:00:57 -0000

Indiana Jones: one of cinema’s greatest characters. It’s big talk from our Mick, who’s in charge of this month’s Flicking and has chosen her favourite (note: not the ‘best’) of the trilogy. Yes, trilogy; you read that right and we’ll be taking no further questions on this matter.

1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, a high energy, tall tale of derring-do, ancient knights, a big ol’ religious McGuffin and a father-son relationship in need of salvation, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery and a chef’s kiss Denholm Elliott.

But will some dubious casting, chauvinism and improbable luck at every turn be too much for Yosra and Hannah? Find out. Der-der-de-der…

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SIM Ep 901 Pod 275: Mystery, medicine and myxomatosis (unconfirmed)

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 00:17:20 -0000

Private investigation isn't like it is on TV. Take that from Caitlin Davies, journalist, author and newly-minted PI, who's been on the Zoom with Mickey to talk about the history of women in the trade and her new book Private Inquiries: The Secret History of Female Sleuths. There's also some history (and science and comedy) in Kiri Pritchard-McLean's new Radio 4 Show The Best Medicine. She chats to Hannah about why she jumped at the chance to make it, as well as about sexual harassment and assaults in comedy. In Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen's chatting about Simone Biles, Panini stickers and more. And in BT, there's some good news about Nobel Prizes (and a lot of bad news about everything else). Which means you should at least be ready for Rated or Dated, in which we're watching Operation Market Rabbit, sorry, Watership Down. Sorry.

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SIM Ep 900 Chops 275: Zoe Desmond and Rebecca Cox are happy single parents

Sun, 08 Oct 2023 02:00:52 -0000

Through her own experience of becoming a single parent, Zoe Desmond wanted to change the often isolated picture for people in similar situations. So she set up the Frolo app, aimed at helping to foster a community focussed on the joy of solo parenting, rather than the negative stereotypes often perpetuated by society and the media.

It was through the app that Zoe met journalist Rebecca Cox, herself a single mother to a young child, who shared many of the same concerns as her and others in their community. So they decided to write a book about it, How To Be A Happy Single Parent, a practical handbook for anyone parenting alone, or thinking about doing so.

This week they chat to Jen about their experiences, the shared experiences of single parents, how society could better support them, and thee joy to be found in bringing up a child on your own.

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SIM Ep 899 Pod 274: DNA, Morven Christie, and can we have some more?

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 02:00:38 -0000

What do you get the person who has everything? A home DNA testing kit seems to be the present du jour and in the UK alone, more than 4.7million of us have spit into a vial to find out more about our ancestry. Journalist Jenny Kleeman’s new BBC Sounds series, The Gift, explores what happens when technology, genealogy and identity collide, and our Mick got on the Zoom with her to chat crimes solved, sperm stolen, and why these kits’ popularity show no signs of waning. Because what could possibly go wrong?

After a full six years of trying, it’s finally happened: the glorious Morven Christie is chatting to Hannah. They talk her new series, Payback (which starts tonight on ITV), The A-Word, leaving Twitter, and the effects, if any, of the #MeToo movement in telly.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s got her football on – there’s a lot of it about – from grassroots club Victoria Park to Nigeria’s Super Falcons. And all of those women are dealing with tomshittery. FFS.

And how’s about some family-friendly child exploitation? You got it! In Rated or Dated, we watch 1968’s Oliver!. Will we be asking for more? How long is that song going on for? And does Mick actually know what ‘loveable’ means?

Plus, there are gaps all over the shop in the Bush Telegraph. Mind them? We’re fecking livid about them.

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SIM Ep 898 Chops 274: How the transatlantic slave trade created modern Britain

Sun, 01 Oct 2023 02:00:58 -0000

When journalist Moya Lothian-McLean was asked whether she’d be interested in exploring the truth about Britain’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and what that means to and for modern Britons, she didn’t need asking twice.

The resulting podcast, Human Resources, is a smart, nuanced, meticulously researched look at the realities and effects of the slave trade, the capitalist system it created, and how it’s indelibly shaped us all.

With Human Resources’ third season underway, Mick got on the Zoom to Moya to talk about why it’s so important to distinguish between the US and the UK, the connections of race and class, women slave owners (who were more numerous than you’d think), why the political is so personal to so many of us on this matter, and why ever-smaller “identity” boxes with no connection to each other are not useful for a solid society.

NB: At one point, Moya talks about Ireland and says, "I know it's not part of Britain...", which is true today – and that's what Moya is referring to – but it was under British rule when what Moya refers to happened.

Human Resources is from Broccoli Productions and available from all good podcasts apps.

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SIM Ep 897 Pod 273: Rom-coms aplenty and a flurry of goals

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 02:00:37 -0000

Why is “sorry” so often the easiest word for women? It’s a question author and mental health campaigner Lucy Nichol found herself asking on a regular basis, and a topic she covers in her latest novel, No Worries If Not!. She and Mick chat about apologies, how empowered we really were back in the ‘90s, and what they'd like to see on a T-shirt.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Dr Carrie Dunn makes a welcome return to chat all things women’s football, the new WSL season, and her book Woman Up: Pitches Pay and Periods – the progress and potential of women’s football.

In Rated or Dated, we ask – once again - how romantic is stalking? And has Hannah finally found something she hates more than Love Actually? We watch 1993’s Sleepless in Seattle.

Plus, in the Bush Telegraph, we’re thankful for animals and, er, cornflakes. You heard.

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SIM Ep 896 Chops 273: The wild life of Margaret Cavendish

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 00:55:44 -0000

If you don't know a huge amount about the English Civil War, join the club. Also, perhaps get your hands on a copy of Francesca Peacock's excellent new book Pure Wit: The Revolutionary Life of Margaret Cavendish. Hannah got on the Zoom with Francesca to learn about how the war affected Margaret's life, and what that life can tell us about marriage, infertility, literature, fashion and feminism in the 17th century.

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SIM Ep 895 Outside The Box #58

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 02:51:14 -0000

It's September, the nights are drawing in and do we have some TV recommendations for you? Yes, we do. In this episode, we're chatting Winning Time*, The Woman in the Wall, Only Murders In The Building, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart, Painkiller and Beef.

Since we recorded this, Winning Time has, indeed, been cancelled. *sobs*

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SIM Ep 894 Pod 272: A mysterious past, an uncertain future, and a leap off a spillway

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:25:01 -0000

Who wants to live forever? That's the question Hannah puts to Dr Aleks Krotoski, tech journalist and podcaster, whose latest series, The Immortals, looks at the tech millionaires searching for the key to eternal life. And if they are looking forward, Jen's looking backwards with Donna Freed, whose search for answers about her birth parents led her to a well-publicised crime. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's got some news about viewership of women's sport, and in Rated or Dated, we're on first name terms with the stars as we watch 1993's The Fugitive.

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SIM Ep 893 Chops 272: The voice of Doon

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 00:02:32 -0000

Actor, comedian and writer Doon Mackichan has written an incredibly to-the-point memoir, My Lady Parts, and so, OBVIOUSLY, Hannah leapt at the chance to talk to her. They chat about ageing, Smack The Pony, Paedogeddon, telling off Mamet, and dead naked women on TV.

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SIM Ep 892 Flicking #41: Raising Arizona

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 02:00:34 -0000

Raising Arizona, The Coen Brothers’ second film, is a screwball comedy starring Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter, as a loved-up couple who can’t have kids of their own and so decide to steal a baby. It’s also a Dunleavy family favourite, hence our Hannah choosing it for this month’s Flicking.

Will Raising Arizona raise Mick and Yosra’s spirits as high as Cage’s hair? Or will it sink like two prisoners returning to the clink through a tunnel of mud? Find out!

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SIM Ep 891 Pod 271: Dating, TikTok and see-thru knickers

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 02:00:57 -0000

Dating: it’s weird, isn’t it? Two strangers having contrived chat in a lost-forever pocket of time. Which all makes it excellent fodder for playwright Miriam Battye, who’s chatting to Hannah about her latest stage offering, Strategic Love Play. Miriam also spent some time in the Succession writers’ room, but Hannah wasn’t interested in talking about that. LOLZ. There is also Succession content, including why Roman accidentally sending Logan a dick pic was always going to happen.

There’s more writing that leads to laughing, as Mick catches up with comedian and sketch-based internet sensation, Laura Ramoso, who gives her a few tips on making TikTok work for you even if you’re scared of it. Laura’s one-woman show, Frances, starts its run at Soho Theatre on September 19.

Jen’s rounding up women’s sports in Jenny Off The Blocks, and we’re keeping our fingers firmly crossed that Barbara Slater’s replacement as the Beeb’s director of sport is another woman. Preferably another Barbara.

And hold onto your transparent panties, because we’re questioning the ‘masterpiece’ status of Sofia Coppola’s Lost In Translation as it hits its 20th birthday. A good few years older than Scarlett Johansson was when making it.

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SIM Ep 890 Chops 271: A good Samaritan and some excellent company

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 02:00:11 -0000

Preventable deaths by suicide remain the biggest killer of young people under the age of 35 in the UK and continue to rise across the population. Though men account for 75% all suicides, the biggest increase in 2021, according to the most up-to-date Government statistics, was in women and girls aged 24 and under. Keen to bring these numbers down, is the suicide prevention charity, Samaritans*, and for those already bereaved by a loved one taking their own life, Suicide & Co** provides help and support.

For World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, Jen caught up with CEO and co-founder of Suicide & Co, Amelia Wrighton, to talk about stigma, shame, the specificities of dealing with such a bereavement, and the help available to those in need. She also spoke to Samaritans volunteer, Roxy McCarthy, about her experience of both using the charity’s services, and becoming a volunteer.

* Whatever you’re going through you can contact Samaritans at any time via the phone on 116 123, or via email at Jo@samaritans.org.

** You can find out more information about Suicide & Co via its website, or by contacting info@suicideandco.org.

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SIM Ep 889 Pod 270: Policing, poetry, and pooh-poohing

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 02:00:49 -0000

ITV crime drama The Tower is back on our screens for a second series, presenting our Hannah with an excellent opportunity to jump on the Zoom with Gemma Whelan, who plays DS Sarah Collins. They chat about the reputation of the Met, telling women’s stories, Gentleman Jack, Upstart Crow and what exactly Gemma was doing with that fox.

Jen's chatting to poet Maggie Smith about how when her career took off, her marriage declined, something she charts in her gorgeous new memoir, You could Make This Place Beautiful. They're also talking mumming, wifeing, and the division of labour.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s talking about the US Open, among other things. And get your strategically placed Chelsea buns out for the lads, as the team revisit 2003’s Calendar Girls. Plus, in the Bush Telegraph*, Britain’s schools are crumbling, but won’t somebody think of Gillian Keegan? Yeah, not even Mick's got the sarcasm levels to sell that one.

*If you want to read the story Hannah references in BT about parental alienation, you can do so here.

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SIM Ep 888 Chops 270: Wifedom

Sun, 03 Sep 2023 02:00:41 -0000

Anna Funder’s Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life is, ostensibly, a biography of Eileen Blair, nee Eileen O’Shaughnessy, aka the first Mrs George Orwell. And indeed, Anna tells Eileen’s story beautifully, using Eileen’s own words from letters to friends and to her husband, with added judicious fiction, as she imagines scenes from the Orwells’ lives, and from Eileen’s life.

Turns out, Eileen played a vital role in Orwell’s writing and in his life (in actually saving his life – and indeed in keeping alive many others during the Spanish Civil War) and yet she’s mostly absent from Orwell’s own writing and from his biographies, which are all written by men.

And so, as well as shining a light on one woman’s hitherto hidden life, Wifedom is also a polemic against the patriarchy and an examination of what it meant and means to be a wife.

In this Chops, Mick chats to Anna about all of this, about wife-ing, about Eileen, about Orwell, and, not unrelated to that last name, a lot about arseholes.

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SIM Ep 887 Pod 269: To mickle or muckle, that is the question

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 02:00:58 -0000

Nina Sosanya has been a regular presence on TV screens since the nineties, quite often portraying hard-working and so seen as “difficult” women, including Jenny in Teachers and now Leigh in Screw. Screw is back for season two, so our Hannah took the chance to get Nina on the Zoom to chat about, well, being on the Zoom, putting the prison uniform back on, those ‘difficult’ women and the strikes in America.

Jen’s chatting to Dr Friederike Otto, senior lecturer in climate science, about climate change and angry weather – which, coincidentally, is also the name of her new book. And in Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen’s rightly raging about Rubiales while also redressing the balance.

And in Rated or Dated, the team visits a time capsule set in the north (so, spoiler, Mick’s delighted), as we watch Sir Tom Courtenay deliver performance magic in 1963 British New Wave classic, Billy Liar.

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SIM Ep 886 Chops 269: Shelina Janmohamed’s Story of Now

Sun, 27 Aug 2023 02:00:47 -0000

The British Empire has been a hot topic for centuries, but debates around its impact have reignited in recent years. In trying to explain these debates to her children, writer, podcaster and advertising executive, Shelina Janmohamed, was struck by how few resources there were available to help inform that conversation.

And so, Shelina wrote The Story Of Now: Why We Need To Talk About The British Empire, her own book for children aged ten and above. In this week’s Chops, she joins Jen to talk about why understanding the British Empire is instrumental in understanding the world around us, how conversations need to extend beyond those around slavery and colonisation, and why it’s important to get children involved in them.

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SIM Ep 885 Pod 268: Names, games and flames

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 00:34:14 -0000

How much can a person's name tell us about them? Almost everything, says journalist Sheela Banerjee and in this week's podcast, she's chatting to Mickey about her book, What's In A Name? and how she’s used what we call ourselves and our kids to examine the history of modern, multicultural Britain. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen talks to Team GB triathlete Jess Learmonth, about being a gold medallist, support for athletes on maternity leave and gearing up for the next Olympics. So, does that mean we're not talking about the World Cup final? Of course not, in BT and SOTW, Hannah and Jen can't get enough of it. And in Rated or Dated, Mickey's picked 1998's Blade. Turn on the blood sprinklers!

NOTE: Since we recorded on Monday afternoon, Luis Rubiales has apologised for kissing Spain player, Jenni Hermoso. Rubiales said: "I was completely wrong, I have to admit it."

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SIM Ep 884 Chops 268: Caroline Moran and the never-ending hen do

Sun, 20 Aug 2023 00:50:45 -0000

Henpocalypse! hit our screens this week, so Hannah's been on the phone with its writer and creator, Caroline Moran, to talk about the end of the world, hen parties and why hen parties sometimes feel like the end of the world. They also chat about big families, babysitting, working class characters on TV and why sometimes Danny Dyer is the only man for the job.

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SIM Ep 883 Flicking #40: Enchanted

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 02:00:40 -0000

It’s our Yosra’s turn picking Flicking and she’s been a bit nervous about making Hannah and Mick watch Enchanted, 2007’s live-action/animated musical fantasy romantic comedy film from the House of Mouse, starring Amy Adams as would-be princess Giselle transported from her cartoon world to actual New York City for a reality check and, potentially, true love’s first kiss.

That’s right: Yosra’s chosen a Disney princess movie. Will Mick and (especially) Hannah suffer Nam-style flashbacks to some of the horrors of Dunleavy Does Disney? Or will there be a fairytale happy ending? *EastEnders theme tune*

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SIM Ep 882 Pod 267: Great wives, unforgettable girls, and Paul Newman’s face

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 02:00:13 -0000

When it comes to creative partnerships, Standard Issue fave Helen Lewis is more interested in The Krankies than Beyoncé and Jay Z. In this week’s podzine, she got on the Zoom with Hannah to talk about the second series of her Radio 4 show Great Wives, as well as the upcoming 2024 US election.

Meanwhile, Mick chats to theatremaker Elisabeth Gunawan about dark clowning, mail order brides, cultural stereotypes and her award-winning play, Unforgettable Girl.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, there’s World Cup fever, as well as the cycling world championships. And in Rated or Dated, a melodramatic masterpiece and some objectifiable eyes, as the team revisits 1958’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Plus there’s dodgy policing and dated Disney in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 881 Chops 267: Two women get into The Arc

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 02:00:54 -0000

Kayla Feldman is directing The Arc, a trilogy of brand new short plays, of which Amy Rosenthal’s Birth is one. It’s joined by Marriage written by Alexis Zegerman and Death penned by Ryan Craig for a story of hatches, matches and dispatches told through a Jewish lens, as The Arc as a whole shines a contemporary light on the cycle of Jewish life, and what it means to live as a Jew in 2023.

In the first half of this Chops, Mick chats to Kayla about the specific rituals in universal experiences, whether art can win hearts and change minds and the challenges of directing three plays at once. And in the second half, she talks to Amy a bit more about her play Birth, what inspired it, and the sometimes slippery nature of faith.

The Arc premieres at Soho Theatre on Tuesday 15 August and runs until Saturday 26 August. More details and indeed tickets can be had at sohotheatre.com.

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SIM Ep 880 Outside The Box #57

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:34:55 -0000

Winning Time is back on our tellyboxes! How excited are Hannah and Mick? That's just one of many questions we're asking in this month's Outside The Box. See also: What's going on with the Writers'/Actors' strikes? Is Packham the new Attenborough? Why didn't Stephen Root get an Emmy nod? Are Mickey and Jen still watching And Just Like That? Is The Bear style over substance? Why does Idris Elba make such strange choices? And has the BBC given us another summer stinker?

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SIM Ep 879 Pod 266: At the fringe, in the ring and off your face

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:18:18 -0000

Could anything make the Edinburgh Fringe more stressful for a comedian? Well, American comedian Janine Harouni is doing it while nine months pregnant, so Mickey got on the Zoom with her to find out what her plan is, what it's like when your dad voted for Donald Trump, and family history. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's talking to director Georgina Cammalleri about her new boxing documentary, Right To Fight, and why sports documentaries can tell us a lot, regardless of whether we're interested in the sport in question. In BT, we meet triumph (Barbie) and disaster (Truss), and in Rated or Dated, we're off to the Wild West to ask some big questions, because Hannah picked 1998's Young Guns. Question 1: Did you guys see the size of that chicken?

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SIM Ep 878 Chops 266: Jo Caulfield talks the funny things about death

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 02:00:38 -0000

Comedian, firm Standard Issue favourite and now author, the mighty Jo Caulfield has penned The Funny Thing About Death…, a truly lovely, funny and moving book about illness and grief but, mostly, about her big sister Annie and their relationship.

In this Chops, Jo chats to our Mick about siblings in general, Annie in particular, getting – or indeed not getting – to grips with someone you love dying, how to not get ashes in your face, and, well, the funny things about death.

The Funny Thing About Death… is available from all good bookshops, with all proceeds going to Macmillan.

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SIM Ep 877 Pod 265: Put your knickers on and go home

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 02:00:06 -0000

Biological clocks, abortions rights, percussive speculum – it’s all happening in Larisa Faber’s brilliant play, stark bollock naked. Mick got on the Zoom with Larisa and her partner in collaboration, Shamira Turner, to chat whether that tick-tock is real, imagined or societal and to try to answer the evergreen question, ‘will women ever be fully human?’.

Samantha Lane, artistic director of Little Angel Theatre, talks to our Hannah about why it's never too early to start taking your kids to the theatre, and how shouting, pointing and tapping knees are all positively encouraged from the little ones.

There’s sports, sports and more sports, including some spicy Women’s World Cup footballing action, in Jenny Off The Blocks. The jury’s out on whether Hannah will ever recover from *that* scene in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1998 sleeper hit There’s Something About Mary. (Seriously though, how do you get the frank above the beans?)

And are our alien overlords finally here and, if so, have they made the woke list? Find out in this week’s Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 876 Chops 265: Fiona Allen is on the run

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 02:00:09 -0000

What’s this, Smack The Pony’s Fiona Allen? Oh HELLO. Ahead of Fiona’s debut – debut! – standup show, Fiona Allen: On The Run, our Mick got on the Zoom to this one-woman whirlwind to chat Smack The Pony (obvs), women and comedy (obvs), and falling in love with a bull (erm).

Fiona Allen: On The Run, kicks off with an Edinburgh Fringe run at the Pleasance Courtyard from the 2nd to 20th of August, before going on a UK tour. For details of dates, just type ‘Fiona Allen On The Run tour’ into Google – or whichever search engine you use – and you’ll find links to Chortle and the British Comedy Guide. Or click here.

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SIM Ep 875 Pod 264: Boybands, girlfriends and horseplay

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 02:00:48 -0000

K-Pop is known for its good-looking stars, catchy tunes, and teenage fanbase. However, as journalist Chloe Hadjimatheou investigates in her new Radio 4 series, Burning Sun, there is a darker and frankly horrifying side to this popular music phenomenon. She chats to Hannah about what life is like for women in South Korea, sexual abuse, and the digital culture enabling it.

Mick chats to Carole Fisher, host of new podcast The Girlfriends, a true crime story about the murder of Gail Katz by her husband Robert Bierenbaum, about how he got away with it for 15 years, and the women who eventually helped bring him to justice.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s chatting about a whole host of World Cup action, and the sporty theme continues in Rated or Dated, albeit with a lamentable lack of dancing horses, as the team watches 1978’s International Velvet. Meanwhile, there are rebrands galore in the Bush Telegraph, aka, The Home of Nuance.

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SIM Ep 874 Chops 264: A Ukrainian Family History

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 00:59:35 -0000

When Victoria Belim set out to write a family history, she uncovered a mystery that told her a lot about her family and Ukraine's past. And now, as The Rooster House: A Ukrainian Family History is published, all eyes are on Victoria's home country. She talks to Hannnah about uncles with bad opinions, cucumber whisperers, and how Ukraine is processing its past while struggling for its future.

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SIM Ep 873 Flicking #39: Who Framed Roger Rabbit

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 02:00:13 -0000

Cartoons and live action living together in total harmony? Movie fan Mickey Noonan has picked a cinematic game changer for this month’s Flicking. Robert Zemeckis’s boundary-bashing, genre-mixing, Oscar-nabbing 1988 film Who Framed Roger Rabbit is a tightly structured classical noir script packed to the gills with gags and boasting a career-best performance from delightful furball Bob Hoskins. A joy for all the family, right. Right? Have Hannah Dunleavy and Yosra Osman got their stern judging faces on or is this episode a total love fest? Find out!

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SIM Ep 872 Pod 263: Painting, doomscrolling and whale riding

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 01:06:06 -0000

If you've not heard of 17th Century artist Artemesia Gentileschi, you're not alone. The good news is that Mickey's been on Zoom with author Elizabeth Fremantle to find out about Gentileschi's incredible life, what her beautiful but brutal paintings reveal about her story, and Elizabeth's new book Disobedient. Jen's chatting to journalist and author Paula Cocozza about her new book Speak To Me, and a lack of connection in an overly-connected world. In Jenny Off The Blocks, we'll be looking ahead to the Women’s World Cup, which kicks off on Thursday. Hooray. In Rated or Dated, will there be blubb(er)ing as Hannah picks one of New Zealand's most famous films, Whale Rider? And in BT there's sexism, more sexism, ageism and a bit more sexism for good measure.

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SIM Ep 871 Chops 263: LalalaLetMeExplain(s) it’s probably not you

Sun, 16 Jul 2023 02:00:25 -0000

The world of sex, relationships and dating is a minefield, growing increasingly difficult to navigate thanks to the use of online apps. Fortunately, educator and social worker-turned-anonymous relationships expert, LalalaLetMeExplain is here to talk us through it.

Known for her hilarious, honest and relatable advice – which she’s already turned into a book, Block Delete, Move On, and a regular column in OK! Magazine – LaLa is about to launch a new podcast, It’s Not You It’s Them…But It Might Be You.

In this week’s Chops, she joins Jen to chat about her unique brand of advice and how she turned it into an online community of hundreds of thousands, common relationship pitfalls, and why we need the language to call out bad behaviour.

It’s Not You It’s Them…But It Might Be You With Lalalaletmeexplain is available to listen to on all podcast platforms from Monday 17th July.

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SIM Ep 870 Pod 262: Teenage dreams, midlife joys, and yippee-ki-yay, melon farmers!

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 02:00:44 -0000

Cora Bissett isn’t just a woman of a whole load of talents, she's also a total smasher, so Hannah was delighted to natter about her award-winning show, What Girls Are Made Of. Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe for a third-time, it charts Cora’s time in early 90s indie band Darlingheart, so she and Hannah talk about the music industry then, the music industry now and being a teenager in a band.

Mick’s been on the Zoom with award-winning journalist and editor, author, podcast host and midlife expert Lorraine Candy, to talk about the magnificence waiting to be unlocked in a woman’s midlife, how we unlock it, and what the feck’s going to happen to our gums.

And in Rated or Dated, it’s Christmas in July as we watch 1988’s Die Hard. Yippee-ki-yay, listeners!

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SIM Ep 869 Chops 262: Game On with Sue Anstiss

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 02:00:32 -0000

Writer, broadcaster and activist Sue Anstiss has been working in the women’s sports and fitness industry for the last 30 years, and has her fingers in a lot of pies. As well as setting up her own company, Fearless Women, and the Game Changers podcast, she also co-founded the Women’s Sport Collective, and is a founding trustee of the Women’s Sport Trust.

Having written award-nominated book Game On: The Unstoppable Rise of Women’s Sport, she’s now back with a new Netflix documentary of the same name, celebrating the big wins in women’s sport, while also commenting on how far we have yet to go.

She joins Jen in this week’s Chops to chat about all of this, the role of the media – and indeed consumers – when it comes to flying the flag, and the ingrained attitudes we still need to unpick when it comes to women’s sport.

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SIM Ep 868 Outside The Box #56

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 23:29:27 -0000

We've been spoiling you on the podcast with a lot of great chats with female TV writers of late, but some stuff we watch is written by men, too. If you can believe it.This month we're talking about Best Interests, The Gallows Pole, Black Mirror, Shrinking, There She Goes, White House Plumbers and Idris on a Plane*.

* Actually called Hijack, which we can all agree is a missed opportunity.

You can hear Hannah's chat with McLennan and McCartney about Deadloch here: https://play.acast.com/s/standardissuespodcast/sim-ep-863-chops-259-mclennan-mccartney-australias-lennon-mc

You can hear her talking to Bridget Christie about The Change here: https://play.acast.com/s/standardissuespodcast/sim-866-chops-261-christie-almighty

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SIM Ep 867 Pod 262: 3D-ing the nipple, believing in football, and befriending some diamonds

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 02:00:17 -0000

Tattooist Tanya Buxton has seen first hand what a difference some ink can make to body confidence. And for women who have undergone breast cancer surgery, Tanya’s work on areola tattoos has been life-changing. Mick caught up with her to chat about the hugely positive response from the women who have them, the frustration that comes from social media platforms censoring her work, and why she founded the Mastectomy Tattooing Alliance.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats to Luma Mufleh, CEO and founding director of the Fugees Family, and author of the new book Believe In Them: One Woman’s Fight For Justice for Refugee Children, about football as a route to empowerment.

Hannah’s taking a walk down Tanya McQuoid memory lane in this week’s Rated or Dated, as the team revisits 1953’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and there’s good news and – hang on! – good news, in this week’s Bush Telegraph.

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SIM 866 Chops 261: Christie almighty!

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 02:30:31 -0000

When was the last time you heard a female character talk about the menopause? Or saw her take a break from her family? Thanks to comedian and writer Bridget Christie, the answer might now be "yesterday", rather than "I dunno, the mid '90s maybe?" She chats to Hannah about her new Channel 4 sitcom The Change, as well as the change, and change in general. You are welcome.

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SIM Ep 865 Pod 261: Unsafe data, moist cakes and a woman trying to better herself

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 23:07:28 -0000

We all need to worry about laws impinging on our right to keep our data, and specifically our phones, private. That's according to Kate Stonehill, director of new feature documentary Phantom Parrot. Jen got on the Zoom with her to talk about draconian laws, data security and what the hell a parrot has to do with any of this.

And for pudding/dessert/afters*, Mickey's chatting to Tat Effby, a woman with a dry sense of humour and moist sense of cake, who’s taking TikTok and Instagram by sweet, delicious storm as The Caketoonist. In Rated or Dated, we've big love for Walters and Caine, plus Hannah's feeling nostalgic for polyester bridesmaid dresses, as we watch 1983's Educating Rita. And in Sexism of The Week, Mickey's got bad news for women wanting a pay rise.

* you do you.

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SIM Ep 864 Chops 260: Jude Kelly is a Primadonna

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 02:00:49 -0000

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Jude Kelly – theatre director, and CEO and founder of the WOW Foundation – has done A LOT. As well as her previous role as artistic director of London’s Southbank Centre, she also set up the hugely successful global Women of the World festival, and is one of the 17 founding “primadonnas” behind the Primadonna Festival, which returns for its fifth year, this summer. In this week’s Chops, she chats to Jen about the festival, her career highlights, platforming women, and dismantling prejudice. WOW indeed.

The Primadonna Festival takes place in Stowmarket, Suffolk, July 28-30. Tickets available now.

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SIM Ep 864 Pod 259: Love Island, Brokeback Mountain and Global Thermonuclear War

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 02:00:48 -0000

Ruth Kelly’s debut thriller, The Villa, is a sharp social commentary on the dark side of reality TV, as well as a total page turner. She tells our Mick about her time watching people in a glass box in Bristol, why the viewers of reality telly are as complicit and culpable as the stars and the TV execs, and what it’s like to be the Miss World of ghostwriting.

Our Hazel Davis has been on the Zoom with singer-songwriter Eddi Reader to talk singing, songwriting, playing the Balladeer in the new stage version of Brokeback Mountain, and why love is love – no matter what shape your nose is.

Jen's got good news and bad news – as ever – in Jenny Off The Blocks. And in Rated or Dated, we’re distrusting computers and wondering how we’ll ever work out when something’s made in the 1980s. Hello tiny Matthew Broderick and 1983’s WarGames. Shall we play a game, listeners? Let Hannah go first though, eh – she’s been waiting for aaaaages.

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SIM Ep 863 Chops 259: McLennan & McCartney (Australia's Lennon & McCartney?)

Sun, 18 Jun 2023 00:34:28 -0000

Amazon's new murder-mystery series Deadloch is the latest project from Australian comedy pairing Kate McLennan and Kate McCartney. So, it's got many jokes and zero naked dead women. Hannah got on the Zoom with them to find out why this shouldn't be a radical concept but seems is, as well as writing in a tent in a park, getting recognised on the Bruny Island ferry and Australia's relationship with the c-word. Except, we don't call it the c-word and we say it a lot. Just so you know.

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SIM Ep 862 Flicking #38: The Philadelphia Story

Sat, 17 Jun 2023 02:00:01 -0000

STOP PRESS: Hannah Dunleavy – yes, *our* Hannah Dunleavy – has only gone and picked a rom-com for Flicking. In the face of such a shocker, will Mick and Yosra even be capable of speech in order to share their thoughts on 1940’s ‘comedy of remarriage’ The Philadelphia Story, starring powerhouse trio Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant? Well, of course. Not least because there are some domestic violence LOLZ and attitudes towards women that don’t quite cut the mustard in 2023. But what do they all have to say about the rest of the film and the glorious Hepburn? Find out.

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SIM Ep 861 Pod 258: Three Women and a Rosemary's Baby

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 02:00:58 -0000

It’s British Summer Time (almost)! What better way to celebrate than with some new music on the beach? In this week’s podzine, Jen catches up with Jessie Maryon Davies, musical director and composer, and Hannah Jane Walker, librettist of new song cycle, Herring Girls: Greater Than We Are Alone, which kicks off the First Light Festival in Lowestoft this weekend. They talk about social history, the greatness of community choirs, and being (a bit) like Beyoncé.

Standard Issue fave and much-lauded author Liz Hyder, is back to chat to Mick about her new novel The Illusions, which explores the crossover between the golden age of magic and early moving pictures, and about the women heavily involved in both but left in the shadows of history – until now.

There’s netball, tennis and more in this week’s Jenny Off The Blocks. And what kind of parties is Hannah looking forward to as a Catholic pensioner? Find out in this week’s Rated or Dated, as we watch Rosemary’s Baby.

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SIM Ep 860 Chops 258: Opening the window on the Shubbak Festival

Sun, 11 Jun 2023 02:00:07 -0000

Shubbak Festival is the UK's largest biennial celebration of contemporary Arab culture, bringing new and unexpected voices together with established artists to London – and other parts of the UK. It returns for its seventh edition this summer, from June 23 to July 9, so Mickey got on the Zoom with its joint CEOs, Taghrid Choucair-Vizoso and Alia Alzougbi, to find out more.

They chat about what to expect from this enormous celebration of Arab artists’ creativity, innovation and diversity, as well as how it’s hard *not* to programme women, why it’s so important to share and celebrate Arab cultures across communities, and some of the challenges of putting together such an enormous, borders-busting festival.

Check out the Shubbak programme at shubbak.co.uk – and keep your eyes peeled for a few Standard Issue faves.

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SIM Ep 859 Pod 257: Unbreakable, unlikeable and lousy with virginity

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 01:19:15 -0000

We're back to the witch hunts this week, albeit of a different kind, as Hannah chats to Sophie Perrins, producer of new documentary Forced Out. They chat about the hard reality of what it meant to be a gay man or a lesbian in the British military at the end of the 20th century and about the brave people who stood up to this huge injustice and, eventually, forced a change. Jen's chatting to author, film critic and broadcaster, Anna Bogutskaya, about her new book Unlikeable Female Characters, and, not coincidentally, Shiv Roy. And there’s a broadcast backlash in Jenny Off The Blocks. Huge sigh. In Sexism of the Week, Mickey's got news from an Aussie bar, sorry, bra, sorry bar bra. And in Rated or Dated, load up the pussy wagon (yuk), because we're watching Grease.

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SIM Ep 858 Chops 257: Suzy Madigan on Ukraine, and on the rise of AI

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 02:00:10 -0000

Suzy Madigan, senior humanitarian advisor on gender and protection at international humanitarian charity CARE International, is a human rights specialist who’s worked as an international humanitarian aid worker for 15 years within the UN and NGOs. So, when it comes to humanitarian crises and responses to them, she very much knows her shit. And her name probably rings a bell, because Mickey chatted to her in spring last year about the then-fairly new war on Ukraine.

She’s back from Ukraine and back on this week’s Chops. Her recent visit to Ukraine, saw Suzy meet with the women-led organisations doing a lot of the heavy lifting in keeping the country running. She and Mickey chat about how things are on the ground, what these brilliant women are doing and their concerns now – and for what happens after the war.

Suzy is also founder and author of The Machine Race, an ongoing series of essays investigating artificial intelligence and what it means for Joe and Joan Public. Because, as citizens, our understanding of AI is mostly pretty limited. And so, with The Machine Race, Suzy’s hoping to demystify and, in doing so, help democratise AI. Because it’s happening. And it’s happening fast. Can she stop Mick watching that Pepperoni Hug Spot advert? Find out.

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SIM Ep 857 Outside The Box #55

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 13:02:51 -0000

All good things come to an end and in this Outside The Box we talk about a few of them. So brace yourself for some Succession and Barry finale chat, as well as Mickey's better late than never Better Call Saul thoughts. Or should that be Better (late than never) Call Saul? Dunno. Moving on, we're also talking about the latest Inside No 9, Perry Mason, Malpractice, Poker Face, The Steeltown Murders and Black Ops. Plus there's an interlude on how much Hannah loves Stephen Root. Spoiler alert, it's a lot.

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SIM Ep 856 Pod 256: You can never have too much chat about witches

Wed, 31 May 2023 02:00:58 -0000

Witchcraft, witch hunts, and which witches are witch: in this week’s podzine, Hannah has a fascinating, feminist (obviously) chat to journalist India Rakusen about all things witch-related and her new podcast, Witch.

Jen’s chatting to Peaky Blinders’ Amber Anderson, star of a new production of Neil LaBute’s The Shape of Things at London’s Park Theatre, about cruel relationships, societal pressures, controversial characters, and absolutely not aligning with the women she plays.

There’s a regular dollop of sporting action in Jenny Off the Blocks, and Mick’s chosen a Rated or Dated that threatens everyone’s warm childhood memories and might even ruin Hannah’s Christmas: 1988’s Big.

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SIM Ep 855 Chops 256: The best queen we never had?

Sun, 28 May 2023 00:25:01 -0000

Lady Margaret Beaufort was a major player in the War of The Roses and the mother of Henry VII. This week marks 580 years since her birth so Hannah's been on the Zoom with historian Nicola Tallis, author of Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch, to chat about Margaret's life, her legacy and why many people believe she's the greatest monarch we never had.

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SIM Ep 854 Pod 255: The great outdoors and a colossal prick

Wed, 24 May 2023 02:00:59 -0000

Making babies for a chance to win cold, hard cash sounds like something out of a dystopian nightmare, but was something wealthy lawyer and high-level prankster/prick Charles Vance Millar planned for lols in Toronto, in the decade after his death in 1926. When our Hannah heard about Caroline Lea’s fictional retelling of the shockingly real-life Great Stork Derby in her latest novel Prize Women, she had to talk to her. They chat about Vance Millar, the women who got caught up in his dubious legacy and why the number of children women have is topical again.

Award-winning and best-selling author, and long-distance runner, Dr Rachel Hewitt was interested in the erasure of women from the history of sporting pursuits in the great outdoors, when a series of family bereavements made her question loss in the wider sense. She joins Jen to chat about In Her Nature: How Women Break Boundaries in the Great Outdoors, her new book, which examines grief, the things women lose - or rather are taken from them - just by virtue of their sex, and the women who blazed a trail in early outdoor sports.

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SIM Ep 853 Chops 255: Cornwall, rural poverty, resilience and writing

Sun, 21 May 2023 02:00:48 -0000

Working-class poet and writer Natasha Carthew is Cornish. She grew up in a small village called Downderry, where the rockpools, beautiful beaches and hedgerows were as constant as the low wages, high property prices, lack of nearby resources and services, and the high rates of alcoholism, drug misuse, mental health crises and suicide. How’s that for a picture perfect postcard?

Rural poverty often gets lost amid the stats on urban poverty, so in her first non-fiction, Undercurrent: A Cornish Memoir of Poverty, Nature and Resilience, amid recollections of her youth, Natasha investigates the state of poverty in rural places in general, and Cornwall in particular.

In this Chops, Natasha chats to our Mick about the generational trauma of rural poverty, the othering of poor kids, and how careless tourists add to the problem. But it’s not all doom and gloom: Natasha is a huge champion of working-class voices and so they also talk about the power of resilience and writing, and the return of the excellent ClassFest in 2024.

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SIM Ep 852 Flicking #37: The Truman Show

Sat, 20 May 2023 02:00:42 -0000

Good morning listeners! And in case we don't see you, good afternoon, good evening and goodnight. Jim Carrey’s Truman Burbank is the star of this month’s Flicking, but maybe we’re all the subjects of Yosra’s pick: Peter Weir’s terrifyingly prescient 1998 drama/sci-fi/dystopia/horror, The Truman Show. How do Hannah and Mick feel about that? Find out.

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SIM Ep 851 Pod 254: Lost on your own phone, faking your own death and starting your own day care

Tue, 16 May 2023 23:59:28 -0000

Digital frustration affects most of us, which probably explains why comedian Stevie Martin's sketches went viral in lockdown. This week, Mickey catches up with her to talk about all sorts, including her new YouTube pilot, screen time, and how her bum is. Hannah's been on the Zoom with writer, actor and director Daniella Isaacs to chat out about her new BBC audio drama People Who Knew Me and why they both keep forgetting to take their earphones out. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's looking ahead to the French Open and in Rated or Dated, we've been watching 2003's Daddy Day Care, with mixed results. And in Sexism of The Week, someone's been reading the Daily Mail. Why Mickey? Why?!?

You can watch screen time here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQYdc-FxeYg

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SIM Ep 850 Chops 254: Baz Moffat’s revolution in women’s health and fitness

Sun, 14 May 2023 02:00:14 -0000

Born of frustration around a lack of body literacy and taboos hindering progress in women's health and fitness, Baz Moffat, a coach and former GB rower, founded The Well HQ in 2021 with scientist Dr Emma Ross and GP Dr Bella Smith. They hoped to address the huge knowledge gap around how women’s bodies work and function, which hinders our ability to optimise performance and enjoyment in sports and fitness. Fast forward two years, with The Well going from strength to strength, they've published a new book, The Female Body Bible: A Revolution in Women’s Health and Fitness. Jen talks to Baz about her experiences as an elite athlete and coach, and the more than marginal gains to be made in women’s sport by a better understanding of women’s bodies, as well as addressing some of the myths doing the rounds around women’s participation in sport and fitness at different life stages.

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SIM Ep 849 Pod 253: Pod save the women and girls sector

Wed, 10 May 2023 02:00:21 -0000

Now then, it’ll probably come as no surprise to you that we reckon 51% of the population deserve to get a bit more than the 1.8% of the grants awarded to charities in the women and girls sector. That the number is so low is new info uncovered by Rosa and its fresh research into the state of funding for women’s and girls’ organisations across the UK, so Mick got on the Zoom with Rosa’s CEO Rebecca Gill to find out more and organise a sky scream flashmob.

Hannah’s been chatting with journalist and fellow podcaster Coco Khan, who’s just hit the podwaves as co-host of the new Pod Save the UK alongside comedian Nish Kumar. They’re talking politics and Politics and whether we’re always bound to catch a cold when America sneezes.

Jen’s feeling a bit sheepish at the top of Jenny Off the Blocks, but makes up for it with some good news of double headers. And just how creepy can one, potentially Vaseline-smeared man be? Rated or Dated takes a look at 1993’s Indecent Proposal, and really? You couldn’t pay Mick and Hannah enough. Jen’s got her 50p ready though.

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SIM Ep 848 Chops 253: Messalina - libelled or libidinous?

Sun, 07 May 2023 00:43:10 -0000

Messalina was the notorious third wife of Roman emperor Claudius. But is she also history's top shagger? Or its most maligned woman? Or, and hear us out, can she be both? Hannah got on the Zoom with historian Honor Cargill-Martin, author of new book, Messalina: A Story of Empire, Slander and Adultery, to learn more. They also find the time to fangirl about Mary Beard. Because they're only human.

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SIM Ep 847 Pod 252: Welsh strength, weird stuff in boxes, and we-ellll…

Wed, 03 May 2023 02:00:18 -0000

Our Mick is a big fan of strength training these days, and so she was delighted to jump on the Zoom with writer Rebecca F John to hear all about real-life Welsh strongwoman Kate Williams, aka Victorian music hall sensation, Vulcana. They talk strength, beauty, heroism, tragedy, Scotland Yard, Wales, and Rebecca’s new novel Vulcana, a fictional retelling of Kate's life.

Jen catches up with professional organiser Jenn Jordan to talk about the cathartic powers of decluttering, and the unexpected things one finds in a Ryvita box. And in Jenny Off The Blocks we look back at a HUGE weekend in women's sport.

This Is Spinal Tap quite rightly holds a special place in Hannah's heart – and Mick's. And the team all loved Christopher Guest's debut mockumentary, 1996's Waiting For Guffman. So what will they make of his 20-year-old foray into folk, A Mighty Wind? And how do you get a potato out of a paddywagon?

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SIM Ep 846 Pod 251: Comedy royalty, centring netball and what's happening in Timeline B

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 23:16:43 -0000

Vicki Pepperdine is in some of our favourite comedies, so - of course - we leapt at the chance to have her on the podcast. Vicki chats to Hannah about playing Princess Anne in The Windsors, working with Julia Davis, their "filthy" podcast Dear Joan and Jericha, and why not enough people have watched Getting On. In Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen chats to Kelly Gordon, executive lead for Netball England’s NETBALLHer campaign, about sport for life and the barriers women face when it comes to sports participation. In Rated or Dated, we overpluck our eyebrows and crack open a Grolsch, because we're watching 1998's Sliding Doors. And Mick's got some batfish news in the Bush Telegraph, where we're also trying to untie an artistic gordian knot.

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SIM Ep 845 Chops 252: Gushing about The Dry

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 00:10:27 -0000

The Bafta Television Craft Awards get dished out tonight, so Hannah's been on the Zoom with Nancy Harris, one of the nominees in the Best Writer (Comedy) category, to talk about her excellent comedy drama, The Dry, which struggled to find a home for eight years and is now available to watch on ITVX. They chat about why alcohol is such a fascinating but difficult topic to write about, dealing with high drama in a low-drama way and how Irish women are all over it when it comes to comedy writing in the UK.

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SIM Ep 844 Outside The Box #54

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:19:52 -0000

So much telly to watch and so little time. But we've given it our best shot. What troopers! This month we're talking about Succession, Blue Lights, Swarm, The Power, Ted Lasso, Wellmania, Rain Dogs and Dreamland.

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SIM Ep 843 Pod 250: Writing crime, killing joy, and no tits please, we’re dancing

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 02:00:30 -0000

For 44 years, the third page of what was the most widely sold newspaper in the UK was dominated by a topless young woman. Depending on who you asked, Page 3 of The Sun was either a great British institution or a sexist time-warp. And then, in 2012, Jo Cheetham and a group of fellow campaigners took on The Sun and called for No More Page 3. They won. In this week’s podzine, Jo chats to our Hannah about her role in No More Page 3, her new book Killjoy, and why she hates fun.

Clearly having the whale of her life is actor, screenwriter and showrunner Emer Kenny, whose adaptation of Val McDermid’s bestseller The Distant Echo smashed it on our screens as ITV series Karen Pirie. Mick has an excellent natter with Emer about when you shouldn’t listen to true crime podcasts, asking for chairs, and playing Tash in Channel 4’s period crime caper The Curse, which returns for its second series on April 27.

In BT, there’s bad maths, convenient T-shirts and a freezer full of poo, while in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s noticing it’s one step forward and a few more back. And there’s more fancy footwork in Rated or Dated, as the team have a total blast watching 1983 smash hit, Flashdance, with and without their bras on.

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SIM Ep 842 Chops 251: All the houses Kieran Yates has ever lived in

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 02:00:46 -0000

Home is the focus of this week’s Chops, in which Mick chats with Kieran Yates, journalist, broadcaster and author of new book, All The Houses I’ve Ever Lived In: Finding Home in a System That Fails Us.

We all move from place to place, finding and writing the stories that make us who we are, and Kieran knows more than most about moving, displacement, housing and home, having lived in 20 different houses by the time she was 25, navigating the chaos of a housing system often not fit for purpose. As a result All The Houses… is part-memoir, part indictment of our current political climate and part celebration of the things that make a home.

Kieran and Mick chat depressing stats around housing, mould, gnomes, activism, the joy and hope of community action, and how we’re all in this together. All The Houses I’ve Ever Lived In is published by Simon & Schuster on April 27 and available for preorder now.

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SIM Ep 841 Flicking #37: Shaun of the Dead

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 02:00:43 -0000

Another Mickey Flicking pick, another comedy. But come on now, surely there’ll be no complaints when it’s Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s 2004 zom-rom-com, Shaun of the Dead? Aka Spaced with zombies? That’s just one of the questions answered by Yosra and Hannah, as the conversation covers scares, terrible friends, apocalypse plans, and drunkenly ripping your shirt off on the streets of your hometown.

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SIM Ep 840 Pod 249: Growing the fuck up, damning the ban, and a shit-tonne of mash

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 02:00:19 -0000

We could all do with a little refresher in adulting from time to time, says Sarah Knight, author of the multi-million selling No F*cks Given Guides. Sarah’s back on the podzine this week, to talk about the latest in the series, Grow The F*ck Up, as well as giving Jen a few pointers on where grown-ups go wrong, why self-awareness can be a real drag but is absolutely crucial, and how to ask for what we want.

Hannah's chatting to Davinia Hamilton and Marta Vella, the Maltese actors and writers behind Blanket Ban, a play about Malta's total ban on abortion, which opens at the Southwark Playhouse on 25 April.

In JOTB, Jen's asking how on earth it can be possible that women’s football isn’t cool enough, as she talks all things international. And it’s mashed potato and strong nana game at the ready in Rated or Dated, as Mick takes us to her leader, Steven Spielberg, to revisit UFO blockbuster Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Is it out of this world? Find out.

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SIM Ep 839 Chops 250: Dina Nayeri on Who Gets Believed

Sun, 09 Apr 2023 02:00:48 -0000

Believability underpins our political, legal, and judicial systems – it’s key to who we trust to make laws, enforce laws and administer justice to those who breach them. And yet our own individual subconscious (and conscious) biases heavily dictate who we choose to believe.

Writer, activist and teacher Dina Nayeri experienced how where you are in the social hierarchy can change how believable others find you first hand, when she and her family fled Iran for the US as refugees. Her new book, Who Gets Believed? When the Truth Isn’t Enough, examines what constitutes believability in our culture.

In this week’s Chops, Dina chats to Jen about why women traditionally fare badly on the believability scale, why culture can have a huge impact on how we perceive the truthfulness of others, and how that can impact particularly badly for those seeking asylum in other countries.

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SIM Ep 838 Pod 248: You can never have too much Zoe Lyons (or too many celebrity court cases)

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 00:23:03 -0000

We bloody love Zoe Lyons. She's funny, she's honest and she gives great interviews. So, in this week's podcast, Mick grabbed some time with the comedian to talk about midlife crises, jokes as a defence mechanism and lifting weights. Jen's having a chat with Liv Hennessy and Lisa Spirling, writer and director of the new play Vardy v Rooney: The Wagatha Christie Trial. And there's more celebrity trials ahoy in BT, as Hannah takes a look at Paltrow v Man who can't enjoy a wine tasting anymore. There's golf and Wimbledon chat in Jenny of The Blocks, and in RoD we're watching 1998's The Butcher Boy. Did we like it? Well...

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SIM Ep 837 Chops 249: Anita Bhagwandas wants our beauty standards back

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 02:00:05 -0000

Ugly: Giving Us Back Our Beauty Standards, the new book from award-winning journalist, beauty editor and broadcaster Anita Bhagwandas, explores how (and, crucially, why) the Eurocentric beauty ideal thrust upon us by capitalism, white supremacy and classism is making so many people – women in particular – feel shit.

In this Chops, Anita chats with our Mick about the view behind the curtain, the stolen powers driving accepted beauty standards – and why we don’t have to, and indeed shouldn’t, accept them.

Ugly is published by Blink and is out now.

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SIM Ep 836 Pod 247: Clean spaces, dazzling talent, and how close is the airport?

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 02:00:29 -0000

Beaches are nice, eh? Green spaces are nice, eh? Looking at places generally not covered in shit is nice, eh? They are, and in this week’s podzine, Jen’s chatting to Nicky Green, CEO of the Two Minute Foundation, about how we can all do our bit to keep Britain tidy (remember that?) in a teeny-tiny amount of time.

Hannah’s been talking to Lucy O’Brien, author of many music books about brilliant women. They cover a whole load of ground about being a woman in the music business, but focus on Karen Carpenter, an incredible musician whose tragedy tends to overshadow her achievements, as detailed in Lucy’s latest book, Lead Sister: The Story of Karen Carpenter.

This week’s Rated or Dated is a particularly interesting and complicated slice of history, with added Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Sidney Poitier, as we watch 1967/8’s Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner. Make another pie would you, Tillie?

And where’s Mick? Well, you might find her in a feather boa, sambuca in hand, being loud near Rolex wearers in York. Sorrywhatnow? The Bush Telegraph should put you straight.

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SIM Ep 835 Chops 248: Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton and The Gender Bias

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 02:00:46 -0000

Chief fire officer, Big Issue ambassador, psychologist, author, champion of dogs – there are legion reasons Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton is one of our favourite guests. And now she’s gone and penned a book that’s bang up Standard Issue’s alley. The Gender Bias: The Barriers That Hold Women Back and How to Break Them explores the serious amount of glass – ceilings, cliffs, breadlines – thwarting women’s potential and delaying equality being reached. So our Mick got on the Zoom to chat to Sab about gender bias, women biased against women, the modesty trap and the glass case of emotion trapping women. And dogs. There’s quite a lot of dog chat.

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SIM Ep 834 Outside The Box #53

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 00:09:43 -0000

Only a few sleeps until Succession, so in the meanwhile we've been gorging on a lot of documentaries, including We Need to Talk About Cosby, Wild Isles, Paula, Kathy Burke: Growing Up and Finding Michael. Still time for a bit of drama as Hannah and Mick chat about the last three episodes of The Last Of Us, Jen talks Fleishman Is In Trouble and we all have thoughts on Unforgotten's fifth series.

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SIM Ep 833 Pod 246: Does this taste like metal?

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 03:00:13 -0000

We're full of life advice in this week’s podzine. First up, Mick chats to Helen Wills, mum of teenagers and host of the Teenage Kicks podcast, about navigating the teenage years as a parent, letting go of control, and what we can learn from the adolescents in our lives.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens if someone dies without family or money to deal with the aftermath, Evie King has written a book about exactly this, Ashes to Admin: Takes from the Caseload of a Council Funeral Officer. She chats to Hannah about the practicalities of planning a funeral and why it’s good to keep death at the back of our mind.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s chatting equal prize money, stupid stories, and alpine excellence, and for god’s sake don’t say his name three times – we’re watching 1988’s Beetlejuice in Rated or Dated.

Meanwhile there’s #Patygate, policing, and period pains in the Bush Telegraph – but does it taste of metal?

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SIM Ep 832 Chops 247: Leah Hazard on the womb

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 03:00:39 -0000

Considering that we all start life in one, and that roughly half of the global population has one, the womb remains one of the most under-researched, misunderstood, and controversial organs in the human body. Midwife and best-selling author Leah Hazard wanted to highlight this absence of knowledge, as well as the incredible work being done to better understand it in the future, in her endlessly fascinating new book Womb: The Inside Story of Where We All Began. In this week’s Chops, Leah chats to Jen about some of that incredible work, why the womb remains profoundly political, and the challenges of getting men, and publishers, to care.

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SIM Ep 831 Flicking #36: God’s Own Country

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 03:00:23 -0000

If you want to make our Hannah angry, simply refer to God’s Own Country, Francis Lee’s 2017 film about love between an isolated young sheep farmer (Josh O’Connor) and a Romanian migrant worker (Alex Secareanu) set on a failing farm, as the Yorkshire Brokeback Mountain and watch her Bruce Banner it up. And right enough. It’s fair to say that love for this film, for its cast (hello also Ian Hart and Gemma Jones) and for its closing song from Patrick Wolf is in the air for Yosra and Mick, too. So please enjoy three women having a lovely chat about a wonderful bit of cinema.

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SIM Ep 830 Pod 245: Embalming, boxing and SO MUCH SHOUTING

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 01:40:02 -0000

Embalming and rape might not sound like the makings of a great conversation, but Mickey proves that theory wrong when she gets on the Zoom with Alexandra Donnachie, whose play When We Died covers both topics. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's chatting to boxer Caroline Dubois about the Olympics, trash talking, and turning professional. And in Rated or Dated, well, as you'll hear for yourself, we've thoughts on 1968's The Producers. And - spoiler alert - most of them aren't warm ones. Hannah's got some fun facts about the Elgin Marbles in BT and in SOTW, Mick's talking about childcare costs. Because when aren't we?

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SIM Ep 829 Chops 246: Anna Motz and violent women

Sun, 12 Mar 2023 01:00:50 -0000

"But women are violent, too" is a phrase often designed to shut down conversations about male violence. But, the inconvenient truth is, women can be and are violent. When? Why? And how does it differ from male violence? They're just some of the questions Hannah puts to Anna Motz, author of a fascinating new book A Love That Kills: Stories of Forensic Psychology and Female Violence.

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SIM Ep 828 Pod 244: A superstar artist, soapstar queens, and a toe for everyone!

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 03:00:05 -0000

Politics, power and sex play important parts in both of this week’s interviews. Ahead of new BBC documentary, Becoming Frida Kahlo, Hannah’s been on the Zoom with filmmakers Louise Lockwood and Nancy Bornat to talk about the superstar Mexican painter, who channelled her pain, heartache and womanhood into her art.

Jen takes us even further back in time to revisit Tudor queens, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, who are the focus of a new exhibition at Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Assistant curator Kate McCaffrey chats about Catherine and Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers and explains why we still find their lives so fascinating.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s talking about athletics, and a big new deal in women’s sport. In Rated or Dated, there’s bowling, blunts and bonus Tara Reid, as we watch a bonafide cult classic: 1998’s The Big Lebowski. And in the Bush Telegraph, we’re talking boats, bellends, some really bad policies, and Mick is absolutely not wishing you a happy International Women’s Day.

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SIM Ep 827 Chops 245: Nell Frizzell’s tracksuit years

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 03:00:13 -0000

Why do we have hundreds of terms for the different stages of childhood and adolescence, but just one for the parents navigating their way through them all? This is just one of the questions asked in journalist Nell Frizzell’s excellent new book, Holding the Baby: Milk Sweat and Tears from the Frontline of Motherhood. Nell joins Jen to talk about her part-memoir, part-manifesto examining why we treat parenthood as an individual slog rather than a shared cultural responsibility. They chat mental health, maternal rage, relationships, and sleep deprivation, as well as how to fix a system that isn’t working for anyone.

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SIM Ep 826 Pod 243: Perfectly reasonable, historically sinkable, and dramatically flappable

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

One woman’s “reasonable” is another woman’s eating cheesy crisps on the Tube. With our own concept of what it is to be reasonable, and indeed unreasonable, so entrenched in personal experience, Mick was fascinated to chat to cultural studies expert Kirsty Sedgman about her new book, On Being Unreasonable: Breaking the Rules and Making Things Better.

Titanic Belfast is about to reopen after a major refurbishment, so Hannah got on the Zoom to Eimar Kearney from the centre to talk about the world's most famous sunken ship, why it remains fascinating, and why the capital of Northern Ireland is well worth a visit.

There is no good news in Jenny Off The Blocks, but there are some excellent women hoping to change the sporting landscape for others. Meanwhile, we are all a-flap, as 1963 Hitchcock classic The Birds gets Rated or Dated.

Plus, spiralling costs, awkward admissions, and surprising progress in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 825 Chops 244: Dr Marieke Bigg on how medicine fails women

Sun, 26 Feb 2023 03:00:34 -0000

In sociologist Dr Marieke Bigg’s new book, This Won’t Hurt: How Medicine Fails Women, she explores the huge gaps in women’s health, the sexism inherent in medicine and the lingering gender bias which means women are mocked, misdiagnosed and dismissed. Come on now, that’s bang up our street, right? Right.

And, as you’d expect from a sociologist, Marieke is interested in the role society has to play in the medical landscape, and so in this Chops, she chats to our Mick about history, research, the lie of objectivity, the win-win of sex disaggregation, Nancy Friday, Gillian Anderson and hope.

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SIM Ep 824 Outside The Box #52

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 02:41:11 -0000

The Last of Us is breaking hearts, inspiring nightmares and repopularising Linda Ronstadt. Is there a more versatile show on TV? In this month's Outside the Box, we find out as we watch Nolly, Lockwood & Co and Better, plus we've final thoughts on Happy Valley *sobs*. There's been some documentary viewing going on too, as we chat about Stolen Youth, Emily Atack: Asking For It? and Killing County. And if that's not enough for you, there's a good fistful of Christopher Walken, as we finally catch up with Severance and series two of Outlaws.

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SIM Ep 823 Pod 242; Big Women, brilliant Bukky and back to 6am - again

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 01:56:59 -0000

Where can you find a new exhibition featuring the work of more than 20 female artists, curated by another - Sarah Lucas? Essex, that's where. This week, Jen's chatting to Sally Shaw, director of Firstsite Colchester, about its new BIG WOMEN exhibition and the state of art in the UK right now. Mick's been on the Zoom with award-winning actor Bukky Bakray, star of the film Rocks, currently on our screens in Netflix’s new psychological twister The Strays, and about to make her stage debut in Sleepova at The Bush Theatre. In Jenny Off The Blocks, we're all about equality, diversity and inclusion. And in Rated or Dated, we find out if Hannah would run naked down the street if there was no tomorrow. For context, we're watching Groundhog Day.

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SIM Ep 822 Chops 243: The White Rose and Sophie Scholl

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 00:05:41 -0000

Yesterday (18 February 2023) was the 80th anniversary of the arrest of two youngsters, brother and sister Hans and Sophie Scholl, members of The White Rose, a non-violent group pledged to resisting the Nazis through a leafleting and graffiti campaign. Just four days later, Hans, 24, Sophie, 21, and another member of the group, Christoph Probst, 23, were executed for high treason. Hannah was lucky enough to grab some time with Dr Alexandra Lloyd, who runs the White Rose Project, based at the University of Oxford, to chat about what drove the group, their legacy and why it's Sophie that has come to represent them in the public imagination.

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SIM Ep 821 Flicking #34: Everything Everywhere All At Once

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 03:00:49 -0000

It's got Oscar nominations coming out of its ears, and now our Yosra Osman has given Daniels Kwan and Scheinert's dizzying multiverse adventure the nod, by picking it for this month's Flicking.

But what will Mick and Hannah make of this tale of a middle-aged woman (Michelle Yeoh) unwillingly embroiled in an epic battle in various parallel universes to save the various parallel universes while still having to file her tax return? How has Mick managed to find nostalgia in a brand new film? Will Hannah make it through a multiverse film without vomiting? And how many sex toy jokes is too many sex toy jokes?

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SIM Ep 820 Pod 241: Mums, mutts, mates and Mandy

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 03:00:28 -0000

Jacqui Honess-Martin’s brilliant ITV drama, Maternal, centres on three female doctors going back to work after having children and our Jen bloody loves it. As well as exploring mumhood and female friendship, it’s also a warts-and-all look at the NHS, so Jen and Jacqui chat dodgy temperatures, dodgy infrastructure, and why it’s not helpful to put the NHS on a pedestal.

Hannah’s been on the Zoom with Rachel Casey, Director of Canine Behaviour and Research at Dogs Trust, to talk about the cost of living crisis, how it's affecting pet owners and what can be done to keep pets with their owners.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, even Alex Morgan doesn’t understand FIFA, while in Rated or Dated, Hannah and Mick’s forthcoming trip to Rome could be on the rocks following a discussion of who’s the real prick in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. And in the Bush Telegraph, there’s abhorrent nonsense in America, abhorrent nonsense over here, but some potentially good news from Australia.

A heads up that this is a particularly C-bomb heavy episode, but, y’know, with good cause as ever.

*If you are struggling to look after your dog and need support, if you're interested in fostering or adopting a dog, or if you want to make a donation, you can find out more at the Dogs Trust website https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/.

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SIM Ep 819 Chops 242: Tracy-Ann Oberman comes from sturdy stock

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 01:41:44 -0000

The Merchant of Venice remains one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays, but how does a gender-swapped Shylock change things? In this week's Chops, Hannah finds out as she chats to actor and playwright Tracy-Ann Oberman, who is about to start a UK tour playing theatre's most notorious money lender. They chat about Tracy-Ann's tough-as-nails female ancestors, anti-semitism then and now, Twitter pile-ons and a whole lot more.

* The Merchant of Venice 1936 opens at Watford Palace Theatre on February 27, ahead of a national tour.

https://watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk/events/the-merchant-of-venice-1936/

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SIM Ep 818 Pod 240: Sonnets, sh!ts, and a serious lack of skills

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 03:00:42 -0000

Our Hannah might not seem like the most likely candidate for a chat about Valentine’s Day, but when she found out Standard Issue fave Val McDermid was presenting Cupid Loves Eros, a Radio 4 programme exploring queer love poetry, she was on the Zoom like a ferret up a (too long) trouser leg. They talk about representations of love in literature, the interest in queer love, and the return of Karen Pirie, among other things.

Presenters, former DJs, gut health aficionados and hosts of Know Your Sh!t, Lisa Macfarlane and Alana Macfarlane-Kempner, aka The Mac Twins, are breaking taboos with the new Channel 4 show. They join Mick to chat about all things gut health, and how they ended up as ‘chief guinea pigs’ for King’s College London’s British Gut Project.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s full of good news from the world of women’s sport – and some Tory ambition. Speaking of which, Liz Truss is back, and Mick’s all for it. Find out why in the Bush Telegraph.

The full series of Know Your Sh!t is available to watch now on All 4, and Cupid Loves Eros airs on Radio 4 from February 9th.

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SIM Ep 816 Chops 241: Jo Todd and the need for Respect

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 03:00:40 -0000

Jo Todd has worked in the domestic abuse sector for more than 30 years, so she really knows her shit. For the past 22 years, she’s been CEO of Respect UK, a pioneering domestic abuse organisation, developing safe, effective work with  perpetrators, male victims and young people who use violence.

In this week’s Chops, she chats to our Mick about what safe, effective work with perpetrators looks like and why it’s vital in the prevention of domestic violence moving forwards. They also talk about the unhelpful narratives around domestic abusers in the media and in everyday life, why domestic violence is absolutely not a gender neutral issue, and how we all need to be involved in the huge societal shift needed to tackle it.

respect.uk.net is a wealth of information and resources, and if anything Jo and Mick talk about resonates with you or someone you know, you can contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline 24/7 on 0808 2000 247 or online at nationaldahelpline.org.uk.

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SIM Ep 815 Pod 239: Sarah Millican, Oscars and Cliff Richard on a bus

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 01:56:16 -0000

The gang's all here! And by that I mean, this week Mick is having a very lovely natter with The Boss, Sarah Millican, about Bobby Dazzler, Late Bloomer, Taskmaster, robots, balloons and safety potatoes. And Hannah is chatting to our Yozzie - Yosra Osman - about what she makes of this week's Oscar nominations. Jen's got words for the president of motorsport's governing body in Sexism of the Week. And we hop aboard the Summer Holiday bus in Rated or Dated. But will we make it to the final destination/end?

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SIM Ep 815 Outside The Box #51

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 01:00:15 -0000

The whole country's watching Happy Valley, so we decided not to bother because ... nope, can't keep that up. Of course we're watching it and of course we've loads to say about it. But that's not all. We're also chatting about The Last Of Us, The Light In The Hall, Our Flag Means Death, Without Sin, I Hate Suzie Too, Christmas - remember that far back? - and more.

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SIM Ep 814 Pod 238: Sort your sewing out, Sort Your Shit Out, and sort your massive cock out

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 03:00:57 -0000

Ellie Gibson, comedian, one half of comedy double act The Scummy Mummies and self-proclaimed “bit of a pisshead”, has taken a long, hard look at her relationship with booze and decided to do something about it. She’s started a podcast! She tells our Mick about the excellent Sort Your Shit Out, the joys and rules of moist January, the perils of kiwi fruit, and finding a liveable middle ground when it comes to alcohol.

Jen talks to Guildford Refugee Aid* volunteer Melanie Keane about how she's helping refugees via the practical as well as therapeutic powers of sewing. And will Jen also get the help she needs with making those trousers?

Jen’s talking "embarrassment" in women’s football and the gender gap in women’s sport in Jenny off The Blocks. And in Rated or Dated, Hannah’s much more tickled by John C Reilly than Mark Wahlberg’s hefty schlong, as we watch actual wang-fest, Boogie Nights.

Plus, there’s a big resignation, a landmark law and more of the old kickball in the Bush Telegraph.

*If you fancy helping out the refugees Melanie is helping out, here’s the link to the Guildford Refugee Aid’s Amazon wishlist. https://www.amazon.co.uk/registries/custom/2SI9TJN75QUND/guest-view

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SIM Ep 813 Chops 240: Teching CTRL? Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon leads the way

Sun, 22 Jan 2023 03:00:27 -0000

Tech whizz, creator of award-winning social enterprise Stemettes, host of the Women Tech Charge podcast, and a familiar face off the telly thanks numerous Countdown appearances, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon is a firm advocate for women and girls owning it in tech spaces. Her excellent new book, She’s In CTRL: How Women Can Take Back Tech, aims to help more women and girls do just that.

She got on the Zoom to talk to our Mick about why women are under-represented in tech, why it matters, and how we can all help change that – starting with ourselves. They chat gatekeepers and getting round them, herstories lost to history, why it’s SO important that women and girls claim their rightful spaces in the world of technology, and how there’s no such thing as being too full to learn.

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SIM Ep 812 Flicking #33: Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 03:00:12 -0000

Another Mickey Flicking choice, another veritable wang fest. OTT pro Will Ferrell heads up a stellar comedy cast in Anchorman, a 2004 satire of 1970s newsrooms co-written with and directed by Adam McKay. Packed with clever silliness, silly silliness, incredible performances, quotable lines and a really cute dog that speaks Spanish, it’s one of Mick’s go to ‘cheer me up’ films. But what do Hannah and Yosra make of it? And will their thoughts leave Mick in a glass case of emotion? Tridents at the ready.

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SIM Ep 811 Pod 237: Burning, lobbing, and staying away from the blackberries

Wed, 18 Jan 2023 03:00:43 -0000

Familiar TV face Kate O'Flynn is back on the box in Everyone Else Burns, a new Channel 4 sitcom about a family in a religious cult. So Hannah jumped on the Zoom to chat to Kate about her career to date, the joy of deadpan delivery, representation of the regions, and acting alongside Olivia Colman.

With the Australian Open underway, Jen caught up with former world number 5 and legendary pundit Jo Durie, to talk about who to watch out for, who we’ll be missing, and just what the what is going on with Emma Raducanu.

In Rated or Dated, we’re steering well-clear of the blackberries, as we tuck into 2002/3’s The Good Girl. And in the Bush Telegraph, Mick’s got a horrible taste in her mouth, as we talk unpaid taxes, new Labour, and the same old bullshit.

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SIM Ep 810 Chops 239: Cariad Lloyd wants you to know You Are Not Alone

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 03:00:28 -0000

Back in 2016, actor and comedian Cariad Lloyd started Griefcast, her award-winning podcast in which she talks to people about their experiences of grief and death. That’s seven years of talking about death and grief, and Cariad has poured all of the things she’s learned into a wonderful new book, You Are Not Alone: A New Way To Grieve, which – like her – is candid, funny, warm and full of empathy.

In this Chops, Cariad chats to our Mick about the power of conversation, what question about grief makes her rightly furious, and writing a book about grief when the whole world was grieving.

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SIM Ep 809 Pod 236: Happy Valley, happy together and happy listening

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 01:34:07 -0000

Happy Valley is finally back for a third and final series, hooray, so Hannah leapt at the chance to chat to its creator, the writer Sally Wainwright. They talk about the return of Catherine Cawood and why there might be life in Gentleman Jack yet. Mickey's been on the Zoom with comedy double act Norris and Parker – Katie and Sinead to their pals – to talk sirens (the female kind), witches, friendship and poo. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's got news on what's coming in the first sporting quarter of 2023. In BT we're talking about that broken necklace, a crisis in pathology and Macron (any excuse). And in Rated or Dated, we're wondering if time has been kind to Good Morning, Vietnam.

* Norris & Parker: Sirens is at Soho Theatre, Wed 11 to Sat 14 Jan, 10pm. sohotheatre.com/shows/norris-and-parker-sirens/

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SIM Ep 808 Chops 238: Dr Lisa Sugiura talks online harm

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 03:00:22 -0000

After stalling while the Tory Party considered which unelected Prime Minister was going to lead the country back in 2022, the Online Harms Bill is now back on the agenda in Parliament, rebranded as the Online Safety Bill. In this week’s Chops, Jen catches up with Dr Lisa Sugiura, Reader in Cybercrime and Gender at the University of Portsmouth, to find out why that rebranding might be a problem. They chat about how the online world presents new opportunities for domestic abusers, why the Online Safety Bill isn’t worth the paper it's written on, and why it's not all LOLZ about Andrew Tate's pizza box faux pas. Don’t have nightmares, like.

Lisa's book, The Incel Rebellion: The Rise of the Manosphere and the Virtual War Against Women, is available here.

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SIM Ep 807: The Gospel according to Rina Raphael

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 03:00:11 -0000

The so-called “wellness” industry is worth an estimated $4.4 trillion, but what does “wellness” even mean? As we deal with the onslaught of #newyearnewyou Instagram advertising, and algorithms set to do a guilt-tripping number on us over any festive indulgences, Jen jumps on the Zoom with journalist Rina Raphael, author of the new book The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop and the False Promise of Self-Care. They talk about the concept behind wellness and how it has been appropriated for cold hard cash, the allure of influencers over medical professionals, and the value of self-heating crystal mats.

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SIM Ep 806: Jenny Off The Blocks review of 2022

Wed, 28 Dec 2022 03:00:12 -0000

What an incredible year for women's sport: the Lionesses’ glorious Euro win at Wembley; Commonwealth Games triumphs; the inaugural Tour de France Femmes - there's been A LOT to feast on. It all means there are tough choices in store for England Cricket captain, Heather Knight, Sky Sports' NFL expert Phoebe Schecter, Eurosport's Queen of cycling Orla Chennaoui, and England Rugby's Shaunagh Brown, as Jen asks them for their highlights of 2022.

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SIM Ep 805 Chops 237 Tania Hershman isn't doing it by halves

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 01:01:38 -0000

We're so often told that our "other half" is out there somewhere, but author Tania Hershman thinks she's a full person by herself. A concept that is absolutely in Hannah's wheelhouse. They chat about the joys of being alone, even at this time of year, the "baffling" world of women who don't marry, and Tania's new book, Go On.

If you're alone this Christmas and it doesn't fill you with joy, remember that the boss, Sarah Millican, will be running #JoinIn on Twitter on Christmas Day. You don't need an invitation, just get involved.

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SIM Ep 804 Pod 235: Robotic Spice, Cultural Spice, and Superfluous Spice (The Movie)

Wed, 21 Dec 2022 03:00:18 -0000

The issue of violence against women and girls is depressingly evergreen (see this week’s Bush Telegraph), and one which writer Emma Hickman takes on in her science fiction fairytale podcast, Eliza: A Robot Story. Mick caught up with Emma to chat about why she made a robot the protagonist of the series, what it was like to work in partnership with Manchester Women’s Aid and The Pankhurst Trust, and our old friend Poor Samantha, the sex robot*.

Journalist Chanté Joseph talks to Jen about fronting the Guardian’s Pop Culture with Chanté Joseph podcast, the small-p politics in pop culture and her top stories of 2022. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s looking forward to the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year awards.

In Rated or Dated, we travel back in time to 1997 in a Routemaster Tardis to reminisce Miss Selfridge T-shirts and Michael Barrymore among other things, as Hannah asks herself why in God’s name has she made us watch Spice World The Movie.

Plus there’s bad “jokes” and bad healthcare in the Bush Telegraph.

*A heads up: this chat also includes discussion around rape, sexual abuse and coercive control.

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SIM Ep 803 Chops 236: Hannah Khalil is a woman of many stories

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 01:10:04 -0000

It must be great to have one show on at The Globe. Hannah Khalil has two. In this week's podcast, the writer in residence at London's most famous theatre talks to Hannah about Hakawatis: The Women of the Arabian Nights, which is on at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse until January 14, and The Fir Tree, a reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen's classic children's story, which on at the Globe until December 31.

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SIM Ep 802 Outside The Box #50

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 13:52:04 -0000

The weather outside is frightful, but TV is so delightful. Well, not all of it, but you know. This month we've been watching The White Lotus, Upright, Granite Harbour, Mammals, Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen, God Forbid and The Patient. And Jen really took one for the team and watched some of Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal. What a trooper! Plus there's a round-up of the best TV to come over Christmas and into 2023. Exciting!

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SIM Ep 801 Pod 234: A rap icon, an England prop, and pure Muppet magic

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 03:00:02 -0000

HOLLA! Our Mick’s got resident music guru Liz Buckley on the request line to chat the majesty, mischief and massive talent that is rap icon Missy Elliott. Why? Well, MISSY ELLIOTT. But also, it’s happy 25th birthday to her debut album Supa Dupa Fly, *and* happy 20th birthday to Under Construction. Inflatable bin bags all round!

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s chatting to England and Harlequins prop, Shaunagh Brown, about the rise of women’s rugby, why we still need to go further, putting the day job on pause, and what it's like to be an internet sensation.

This week’s Rated or Dated dispenses with any pretence of being non-partisan, as Mick and Hannah celebrate a festive film close to both their hearts. Step forward 1992’s The Muppet Christmas Carol, you absolute felty, furry, Michael Caine-y delight.

Plus there’s feminism 101 in the Bush Telegraph and a stinking bellend in Sexism of the Week.

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Ep 800 Chops 235: Ruth Sheen does what she likes

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 01:09:38 -0000

If you're wondering where you recognise Ruth Sheen from, the answer could be literally anything. This week, she chats to Hannah about Mike Leigh films, Inside No 9, It's A Sin, Unforgotten, acting roles for women over the age of 60, and joining the cast of Strike, which returns to BBC tonight for a fifth series.

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SIM Ep 799 Flicking #32: The Death of Stalin

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 03:00:07 -0000

It’ll come as no surprise that our Hannah is a huge Armando Iannucci fan. And The Death of Stalin, his 2017 satire on the brutality and absurdity of tyranny and what happens in the aftermath of, in this case, the death of Soviet monster Joseph Stalin, is a firm favourite. Brimming with trademark Iannucci smarts, wit and creative insults, boasting a dream cast of big names, and darker than the inside of a cow, fellow Iannucci fans Mick and Yosra were bound to love it too. Well, you’d have thought.

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SIM Ep 798 Pod 233: Who am I, why have I never heard of that person, and why is that guy always shouting?

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 01:06:09 -0000

Everyone does a lot of talking about being "their authentic self" but is that a performance that means they are not really "authentic" at all? This week, Jen poses that question - and many more besides - to journalist Emily Bootle, author of a new book This Is Not Who I Am. Mick's chatting to Takara Small, host of the They Did That podcast, which shines a light on history’s forgotten – or often, usurped – inventors, scientists, educators, musicians, artists and activists. Hannah tries to get to the bottom of the Balenciaga photoshoot drama in BT and there’s Twitter twattery in Jenny Off The Blocks. And, finally, we wonder if Nicolas Cage will go full Nicolas Cage in Rated or Dated, as we watch 1987's Moonstruck. Spoiler alert: Of course he does. What is this? Your first rodeo?

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SIM Ep 797 Chops 234: Miki Berenyi talks some not-so lush times

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 03:00:03 -0000

Miki Berenyi, probably best known as one of the founding members of late 80s and early 90s alt-rockers Lush, has written a superb, painfully honest, no-holds-barred memoir about her tricky (to put it mildly) childhood and time in Lush and on the Britpop scene.

And so Mickey got on the Zoom to Miki to chat Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved Me From Success, bands and fallouts, Britpop and misogyny, difficult childhoods and understanding that nobody’s perfect

Though beautifully written, Fingers Crossed is, at times, brutal. A heads up that she and Mick talk about child sex abuse and neglect in this podcast. They are both fairly philosophical about their own experiences – now, at least – but keen that these conversations continue to happen as a reminder that this doesn’t just happen “over there to someone else”.

Miki is a beautiful writer and, given December is upon us, Fingers Crossed would make an excellent gift for anyone into music and/or brilliant, fierce women.

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SIM Ep 796 BONUS POD: Love Actually gets Rated or Dated

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:08:55 -0000

A while ago, Mick made the team watch Love Actually for Rated or Dated and, well, regular – and even irregular – listeners can probably figure out how that went. Given that Richard Curtis’s celluloid toilet bowl of loose stools is currently celebrating another anniversary, it seems a good time to remind women exactly why this film is self harm for the eyes, ears and soul. As Hannah so succinctly puts it, Cunts Actually.

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SIM Ep 795 Pod 232: Neurodiversity, charity, and deffo not a Nazi

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 03:00:18 -0000

Theatre might be making big strides in some areas of inclusion, but how does it look for neurodiverse performers or audience members? Hannah spoke to Liselle Terret*, associate professor of performance at the University of East London, to find out, as they chat about the Access All Areas Theatre Company, and how to better promote and support a wider range of artists.

Hygiene poverty now affects an estimated 6% of adults in the UK, so Jen caught up with Ruth Brock, CEO of The Hygiene Bank, to talk about why we need to spread the word about an often forgotten (or ignored) issue, what The Hygiene Bank is doing to combat it, and how we can all help.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s talking heading, jabbing and putting, while in Rated or Dated Hannah’s picked a romance from the past, in 1942’s Casablanca. Is it going to be the start of a beautiful friendship? And in the Bush Telegraph, Mick’s calling bullshit on treating women’s body types as trends.

*If you want to get in touch with Liselle, you can do so here: https://www.uel.ac.uk/about-uel/staff/liselle-terret

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SIM Ep 794 Chops 233: Kate Nash is Positively Purple

Sun, 27 Nov 2022 03:00:52 -0000

With the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities coming up on December 3, Jen jumped on the Zoom with Kate Nash OBE, the woman behind Purple Space, the world’s only networking and professional development hub for disabled employees. They chatted about Kate’s new book Positively Purple: Build an Inclusive World Where People with Disabilities Can Flourish, how employees and colleagues can support disabled co-workers, the power of positivity, and why referring to disabled people as “inspirational” just for living their lives needs to not happen anymore.

To enjoy our podcasts without adverts you can support us on Patreon. But times are tough, and for absolutely zero pounds, you can also do us a massive favour by subscribing to our YouTube channel. Thanks.

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SIM Ep 793 Pod 231: Brexit fallout, lung power, fast women, and cats

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 03:00:54 -0000

Are we still talking about Brexit? You bet your badgers, we are, because it’s still causing – euphemism warning – mischief all over the political, trade and, well, everything shop. So Mick got on the blower with Naomi Smith, CEO of Best For Britain and co-host of the Oh God, What Now? podcast to talk Brexit fallout, the political upshot of the latest Tory “budget”, and why Best For Britain is campaigning for a general election now. Yes please and thank you.

Hannah chats to Keala Settle, actor, star of The Greatest Showman and the woman behind that huge singing voice, about why she was desperate to do a pantomime. So now she’s in one*. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s talking fast women and fast cars, and also quite understandably explaining how things in Qatar remain a royal mess of human rights violations.

And in Rated or Dated, Mick and Jen are watching 1942’s Cat People – a horror movie from the past. Two of their very favourite things. Cats though. They do love a cat.

*And you can get your tickets here: https://www.royalandderngate.co.uk/whats-on/jack-beanstalk/

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SIM Ep 792 IMD22: Jim Howick & Ben Willbond on the Ghosts of Christmas yet to come

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 01:58:52 -0000

After an eventful series four of everyone's favourite haunted house sitcom, Hannah catches up with two of its stars and co-writers, Jim Howick and Ben Willbond, to talk about sucking off Mary, dealing with grief, fan art, Christmas specials, There She Goes, working with Guillermo del Toro – and more.

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SIM Ep 791 Outside The Box #49

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 01:41:13 -0000

In this month's Outside The Box, we're asking all the important questions. Has The White Lotus set itself too high a bar? Will The English be the first Hugo Blick series Hannah likes? Why didn't anyone tell Jen The Devil's Hour was sci-fi? Does anyone want to watch Charles and Diana's marriage fail - again - in The Crown? And lastly, where are all the lads? (Well, that one's easy to answer, they're in SAS: Rogue Heroes.) Plus, there's a tiny Rated or Dated for you, as Mick reports back on watching Buffy in her 40s.

More on Paris Syndrome here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome

That scene with Alex Ferns (mining in the altogether) in Chernobyl can be found, sadly, nowhere.

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SIM Ep 790 Pod 230: Poverty, posters and Peter's short shorts

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 02:34:10 -0000

The cost of living is dominating conversations around the country, so, in this week's podcast, Jen chats to Helen Barnard, associate director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, and director of research and policy at Pro Bono Economics, about assumptions made about poverty. Mick's chatting with Claudia Brewster, course leader of Graphic Design, Creative Advertising and Visual Communication at the University of Gloucestershire, and one of her second-year students, Siobhan Smith, about the posters they’ve been designing for the March for Freedom for Afghan Women and Girls taking place in London on Sunday 27 November. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's boycotting Qatar and in BT, Hannah's rounding up the results of the midterms in the US. And last, but oh so very much not least, we'll find out what's easier to look after, heroin or babies, as we watch 1987's Three Men And A Baby in Rated or Dated.

* You can grab your March for Freedom posters here: https://marchforafghanwomenandgirls.com/

* Helen Barnard's book can be bought here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1788213971/ref=cm_sw_r_apa_i_F9YMB439145K46BBZEMB_3

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SIM Ep 789 Chops 232: Depressed? Blurt it out, says Maddy Dilley

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 03:00:54 -0000

This week in the Chops, we’re chatting depression, because – as we’re seemingly constantly told – it’s okay to not be okay and it’s good to talk. But what do those soundbites really mean and how helpful are they for people dealing with depression

No stranger to the black dog, Mick got on the Zoom with Maddy Dilley, managing director of The Blurt Foundation, a brilliant social enterprise dedicated to helping those affected by depression and anxiety, to talk stigma, self-stigma, self-care, misconceptions, peer support and how Dougal can be there for Ted.

If anything in this podcast makes you think you need help, then please get in touch with your GP. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can be on the way to recovery. And do check out blurtitout.org, which has a wealth of information and resources – and people who genuinely give a shit.

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SIM Ep 788 Flicking #31: West Side Story (1961)

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 03:00:55 -0000

SIM Ep 788 Flicking #31: West Side Story (1961)

Our Yosra Osman isn’t alone in loving 1961’s cinematic musical West Side Story, in which love-at-first-sighters Maria and Tony find themselves entangled in a bitter battle between rival gangs The Jets and The Sharks amid music from Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.

60+ years on, with a recent Steven Spielberg revival in the bag, is it a cinematic gem packed with bangers or a problematic white vision of racial unrest? Can a film be both? Will Hannah ever stop hanging out in underground car parks, making shapes and saying “cool!”? And why are she and Mick looking nervous?

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SIM Ep 787 Pod 229: Brains, balls and not nature's banana

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 03:00:17 -0000

“What’s going on inside our noggins?” is a question we are often terrified to ask, but neuroscientist and Standard Issue favourite Professor Sophie Scott is more than happy to delve right in. She chats to Hannah about "lady brains", the infinite wisdom of post-menopausal killer whales, how chromosomes affect the old grey matter, and her new book, The Brain: 10 Things You Should Know.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats to Leonie Pryor, match official developer at the Rugby Football Union, about their #Inspire campaign, aimed to get more women into refereeing.

Grab your hankies and hold on tight, as Hannah and Mick revisit Michael Winterbottom’s 1997 war drama, Welcome To Sarajevo. And in this week's Bush Telegraph, Mick has some interesting (*question mark*) Christmas list ideas. Prepare the underground cellar and light the dusty vagina candle!

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SIM Ep 786 Chops 231 Dr Amy Jeffs is wild at heart

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 00:58:16 -0000

Medieval Britain can feel somewhat impenetrable, even for history fans, so thank goodness for Dr Amy Jeffs, writer of the best-seller Storyland and new book Wild: Tales From Early Medieval Britain. She chats to Hannah about the many ways of telling a story, the tie between the individual and the landscape, the weirdness of the Fens and finding hope in a time of hopelessness.

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SIM Ep 785 Pod 228: Cat women, strong women and a woman with an egg

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 03:00:54 -0000

The expression "cat lady" comes with a lot of baggage, something writer and podcaster Dawn O'Porter couldn't understand. She talks to Jen about her new book Cat Lady, which challenges stereotypes around the love we have for our pets. They also chat complicated characters, the reality of living in LA, and the ongoing refugee crisis*.

Imagine a women-only fitness space that encourages women to strength train with heavy weights and builds confidence as much as muscle. It’s real! StrongHer, in London’s Bethnal Green (but with excellent online options), exists thanks to Tig Hodson and Sam Prynn, who created a place they wanted to work out in. And it’s where our Mick flips tyres and chucks herself over walls. She borrowed Jenny Off The Blocks for a week to chat with Tig about strength training, listening to your cycle, and why the fear of getting ‘bulky’ is a nonsense.

Lucas “Luke” Jackson clearly isn’t worried about a bit of bulk, as he stuffs 50 eggs down his gullet in one of cinema’s most iconic scenes. Yep, this week’s Rated or Dated is 1967 prison drama classic, Cool Hand Luke and unlikely inspiration for Hannah.

And in the Bush Telegram, there’s bad at your job and then there’s Suella Braverman.

*You can donate to Choose Love here.

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SIM Ep 784 Chops 230: Mellany Robinson investigates wicked spirits

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 03:00:44 -0000

In Essex alone, around 1000 people – predominantly women – were accused of witchcraft between the 1500s to 1800s, as part of the now infamous English witch trials. As the jail where many of the accused were held, Colchester Castle played a key role, and so Colchester Museums have teamed up with the Museum of British Folklore and the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in Boscastle to create an exhibition about the witch trials, and the people who fell victim to them.

In this week’s Chops, Jen catches up with Mellany Robinson, projects manager of the British Museum of Folklore and co-curator of Wicked Spirits? Witchcraft and Magic at Colchester Castle. They chat about the historical context of the trials, the women who were accused, and why the witch trials remain worryingly relevant to contemporary society.

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SIM Ep 783 Pod 227 That was the (four-day) week that was!

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 23:46:53 -0000

Working a four-day week can benefit employees, businesses, the environment and the economy. That's according to Mariam Salman from The Four Day Week Campaign, so Hannah got on the Zoom with her to find out more. Ahead of the NFL match between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, Jen gets the lowdown on the match and indeed the sport, from Sky Sports presenter Hannah Wilkes. In Rated or Dated, 1992's Buffy The Vampire Slayer comes under the microscope, but can it escape constant comparison to the TV series? In Sexism of the Week, Mick's got news of another drama over a statue of - wait for it - a woman. And in the Bush Telegraph? Well, what can we say? Other than Steve Baker really is a c*nt.

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SIM Ep 782 Chops 229: The UK Government’s attack on nature

Sun, 23 Oct 2022 02:00:51 -0000

While we’re all distracted by those in power doing the leadership hokey cokey and making the UK a political laughing stock, damaging policy is being pushed through. And it’s outrageous. In September, the Government launched what’s basically an attack on nature, proposing policy that’s a huge threat to the UK’s already rapidly depleting wildlife and explicitly breaking promises it made in its 2019 manifesto.

So Mick got on the Zoom with Laura Taylor, conservation manager for Bedfordshire at The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire, who outlined exactly what the Government is doing and why it’s catastrophically harmful to nature, wildlife, us and the economy.

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SIM Ep 781 Outside The Box #48

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:54:58 -0000

If you're trying to escape the chaos on the news, October's Outside The Box has some suggestions of what you should switch on instead. And this month that includes spectres, chefs and a very hot pensioner, because we're chatting about This England, Ghosts, The Old Man, The Bear, The Walk-In and Inside Man.

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SIM Ep 780 Pod 226: Mad women, bad women, and cramped women

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 02:00:22 -0000

EDIT: In this episode, when talking about Chelsea women's manager Emma Hayes, Jen accidentally said Emma had undergone an emergency caesarean, when in fact she had undergone an emergency hysterectomy. We apologise to Emma and our listeners for this error, which has now been corrected.

True crime is a solid part of our popular culture these days. Focus tends to fall on the perpetrator rather than the victim, though, something historian Hallie Rubenhold, author of excellent book The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper, wanted to challenge. And did! And continues to do! She chats to Mick about her podcast Bad Women, back for a second season. This season explores the rich and complex lives of the victims of Blitz killer, The Blackout Ripper, and looks at what wartime meant for Britain's women in terms of new opportunities and old-as-time danger.

After one train vestibule too many, Abby Taylor got onboard with the Campaign for Family-Friendly Trains, and joins Jen this week to talk about why accessibility matters, and what train companies can do to make it easier for those of us with small people to get around.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen recaps the week in women’s sport, including a cracking bout between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall, and joy for the Republic of Ireland’s women’s football team. In Rated or Dated, Hannah takes us back in time to the origins of the Bitches Be Crazy genre, as we revisit 1962’s What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? And in Bush Telegraph, there's a lot of toilet talk. Blame the Tories.

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SIM Ep 779 Chops 228: A study in Scarlett

Sun, 16 Oct 2022 00:35:48 -0000

Historian Sarah Churchwell is interested in the big cultural beasts and there's maybe none bigger than Gone With The Wind. In her latest book - The Wrath to Come: Gone With the Wind and the Lies America Tells - Sarah looks at the mistruths spread by Margaret Mitchell's book and the film adaptation, where they came from, why they were so readily accepted and how they fit into America's tendency towards myth-making. Hannah caught up with Sarah to chat about the Lost Cause, the treatment of Hattie McDaniel, and why Scarlett O'Hara spoke to the women of war-torn Europe.

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SIM Ep 778 Flicking #30: This Is Spinal Tap

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 02:05:02 -0000

A comedy? From the 1980s? Starring mostly men? And one of those men is Christopher Guest? Once again, it’s a tough old task to work out whose pick it was for this month’s Flicking, but – entirely predictably – Mick is head over big bottom with 1984 cult classic This Is Spinal Tap, the mockumentary of a rockumentary following one of England’s loudest bands. But how does Hannah feel about the film that started a genre? And what’s that, Yosra’s got a confession to make? Turn it up to 11.

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SIM Ep 777 Pod 225: Cyberstalking, handbagging, and rodents of unusual size

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 02:00:36 -0000

Guardian journalist Sirin Kale’s new podcast, Can I Tell You A Secret?, explores how a cyberstalker wreaked havoc across the internet and ruined people’s lives. She chats to Jen about obsession, fear, the lives we lead online, and how the police and CPS are letting victims of cyberstalking down.

Back on September 8, Hannah chatted to actors Kate Fahy and Marion Bailey about playing Margaret Thatcher and The Queen in Moira Buffini’s play Handbagged. That’s right, September 8. Just hours later the Queen died, and so we’ve held onto this interview for a little while. The play is still running (at The Kiln Theatre, London, until Oct 29) and Hannah, Kate and Marion’s chat is still a corker.

In JOTB, Jen’s looking at various internationals and doing some announcer practice, and in BT, there’s good energy, bad energy, and a whole lot of Hands.

Plus, Mick girds her loins as she throws a much-loved film to the Rated or Dated wolves. Rob Reiner’s 1987 fantasy adventure comedy The Princess Bride is a firm favourite in the Noonan household, but what do Hannah and Jen make of it? FIND OUT.

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SIM Ep 776 Chops 227: Danielle Durchslag and the dynasty of frozen cake

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 02:00:43 -0000

Chosen is New York-based artist Danielle Durchslag’s first solo exhibition outside of the USA and its mix of video collage and film explores the political and psychological complexities of American Jewish wealth. Yeah, you’re right, that is one hot potato. But it’s also something Danielle knows very well, given her family background and family money means carrying the complicated baggage – as well as incredible privilege – that being one of what she terms “the Jewish 1%” brings with it.

Danielle chats to our Mick about powerful victims, powerful dynasties, the power of humour, Katharine Hepburn, and eating her dinner off Edward VIII’s china.

Chosen is at The Four Corners Gallery in Bethnal Green, London, from Tuesday 11 October until Saturday 15 October. Visit https://www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk/whats-on/chosen-danielle-durchslag for more details.

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SIM Ep 775 Pod 224: The Holocaust, online dangers, and the ultimate in Daddy issues

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:58:45 -0000

Tova Friedman had survived a ghetto and a gas chamber in Auschwtiz before the age of five and you can read her amazing life story in her memoir, The Daughter of Auschwitz. In this week's podcast, she chats to Hannah about Holocaust denial, leaving guilt behind and becoming a TikTok sensation in her 80s. Mick chats with the force for good that is Soma Sara about Everyone’s Invited, her campaign focused on exposing rape culture, the damage done by porn, the reality of online lives, and why parents really need to step up when it comes to conversations around sex. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's talking about major stages for women's sport and in BT, we're talking about the Kwarteng U-turn and some worrying cancer statistics. And in Rated or Dated, we find out what happens when you mix wood and ham, as we watch 1997's The Devil's Advocate.

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SIM Ep 774 Chops 226: Trust the science (fiction)

Sun, 02 Oct 2022 00:48:15 -0000

Think you don't like sci-fi? Maybe you should think again. In this week's Chops, ahead of a major new exhibition at The Science Museum*, Hannah chats to our favourite sci-fi geek (not nerd), Samira Ahmed, about how the sheer breadth of the world of sci-fi should mean there's something for everyone. They also chat about the legacy of Nichelle Nichols, collecting, making space stations out of egg boxes and Doctor Who.

* More info here: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/science-fiction

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SIM Ep 773 Outside The Box #47

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:19:04 -0000

Not to remind you that the nights are drawing in, but *whispers* they are. So, let us help you plan some TV viewing. In this month's Outside The Box, we talk about The Capture, House of The Dragon, Shetland, Only Murders In The Building, Frozen Planet II, The Rings of Power, The Suspect, Mind Over Murder and Karen Pirie. Some of it in Brian Blessed's voice. You're welcome?

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SIM Ep 772 Pod 223: Girlfear, artistic elitism, and all the eff words

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 02:00:41 -0000

We'd take any excuse to chat to award-winning author Kamila Shamsie, and her excellent new novel, Best Of Friends, was more than enough reason for Mick to jump on the Zoom with her. In this episode, they talk about childhood friendship, “girlfear”, and the changing face of democracy.

Jen chats to broadcaster and art historian Katy Hessell about her new book The Story Of Art Without Men, why women haven’t had much of a look in in the world of art, and how the internet is democratising the traditionally elitist industry.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, big things are happening in the broadcasting of women’s sport, and over on Rated or Dated Hannah is posing quite the f*cking dilemma with this week’s pick: Glengarry Glen Ross.

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SIM Ep 771 Chops 265: Sophie Melville is Iphigenia In Splott

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 02:00:32 -0000

Austerity and the dangerously stretched state of the NHS have never cut so deep. And yet, that statement felt just as true back in 2015 when Iphigenia In Splott, Gary Owens’ lauded monodrama reimagining of Euripedes’ Iphigenia In Aulis, first debuted.

It’s only right that Iphigenia In Splott is back now, once more starring the phenomenal Sophie Melville as Effie – our Greek heroine via Cardiff. Effie’s life is a mess of drink, drugs and drama every night, and a hangover worse than death the next day – until one night gives her the chance to be something more.

In Greek myth, the story of Iphigenia is a tragedy: a young girl sacrificed for male hubris, ambition and legacy, and Mickey chats to Sophie about the Iphigenias, the Effies, of today, how they’re being sacrificed and why the time is ripe for revolution.

Iphigenia In Splott is at the Lyric Hammersmith, London, until October 22. Tickets available here: https://lyric.co.uk/shows/iphigenia-in-splott-2/

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SIM Ep 770 Pod 222: Cricketing highs, cashflow lows, and some sexist hoofing

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 02:00:42 -0000

There’s no escaping that tough financial times are only going to get tougher, and so Hannah got on the Zoom with Dr Jodi Gardner to talk about debt, and why the demise of payday loan companies might not have been the victory it first seemed, as the cost-of-living crisis bites and one million desperate householders turn to loan sharks to make ends meet.

As England Women prepare to play India in a one-day international at Lords*, Jen nabs team members Kate Cross and Sophia Dunkley for a chat about the changing face of women’s cricket, and the significance of playing at the incredible venue.

And it’s one of the most beloved, highly respected films of all time, but will that save 1952’s Singin’ In The Rain from a slagging off on Rated or Dated if needs be? *hollow laughter*

* Tickets for the England Women’s Cricket Team’s ODI against India on September 24th are available here.

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SIM Ep 769 Chops 264: Sandy Hook, tragedy and truth

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 00:19:51 -0000

While most of the world was reeling from the shock of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, a conspiracy theory began to form that it was a hoax designed to force through new gun control laws in the US. In her excellent book Sandy Hook: An American Tragedy and the Battle for Truth, New York Times journalist Elizabeth Williamson takes us through events, from the horror police found at the scene to the ongoing struggle of the bereaved parents to defeat the lies told about their children by InfoWars' Alex Jones. She talks to Hannah about the effect such mass shootings have on the local community, why America seems more susceptible to conspiracy theories than most and how this whole tragedy has been a blueprint for the spread of fake news.

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SIM Ep 768 Pod 221: Stitching, biting and being dangled out of a window upside down

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 00:44:13 -0000

Jen's taken up clothes making, so who better to get on the Zoom with than winner of 2021's Great British Sewing Bee, Serena Baker? They chat about stitching, sustainable fashion, and her book Serena Sews. Hannah chats to actor Jennifer Kirby about Vampire Academy, why teenage girls can't get enough of bloodsuckers and why Linda Bassett is the cat's pyjamas. In BT, we're talking about - what else? - reaction to the Queen's death, but fret not, there is good news in Jenny Off The Blocks. And in Rated or Dated, we're back to the 1990s or the 1950s, depending on how you look at it, as we watch LA Confidential.

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SIM Ep 767 Flicking #29: True Grit

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 23:39:42 -0000

A western? About a spiky teenage girl? With Jeff Bridges? Who could possibly have chosen that? This month, it was (unsurprisingly) Hannah who plumped for the Coen Brothers' True Grit as the film under the microscope. But will Jen and Yosra come along for the ride?

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SIM Ep 766 Pod 220: Tourism, action, and dancing with hairlines

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 02:00:02 -0000

When we think about the average British tourist, we don’t always conjure the most sympathetic image. This week, Hannah chats to Lucy Lethbridge - author of fascinating new book Tourists - about the democratisation of the foreign holiday and the impact that's had on the places we go.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats to CEO of charity The Youth Sport Trust, Ali Oliver, about the School Games National Finals, getting kids active, and the Lionesses

Effect.

We're watching 1992's The Last of The Mohicans in Rated or Dated and "welcoming" a new Prime Minister in the Bush Telegraph. But is it just a case of mummy being called to clear up again?

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SIM Ep 765 Chops 263: Natalie Haynes and the monstering of Medusa

Sun, 04 Sep 2022 02:00:21 -0000

Back last May, when Mick interviewed classicist, comedian and author Natalie Haynes about Pandora’s Jar – her anthology of women in Greek myths – she asked who Natalie’s favourite woman from Greek myth is and the answer was swift: Medusa.

And it’s easy to see why. Medusa, best known as a monster with snakes for hair and the ability to turn living creatures to stone with just a look, was actually a young woman, horribly wronged, terribly punished and then painted as a villain.

Stone Blind is Natalie’s new novel, a sharp, warm, funny and incredibly moving take on Medusa’s story.

She and Mick also chat religion, capricious deities, goddess alter-egos, knitting, and how to research the women in Greek myths when women in the Classics tend to get pretty short shrift.

Stone Blind is out on September 15, but you can also listen to Natalie on her excellent Radio 4 series Natalie Haynes Stands Up For The Classics, available on BBC Sounds.

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SIM Ep 764 Pod 219: Life under the Taliban, and a man on the edge

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 02:00:55 -0000

It’s a year since US and UK troops pulled out of Afghanistan, in what can only be termed a clusterfuck of mishandling. The Taliban wasted no time in regaining control of the country and, despite a lot of chatter that this would be a more enlightened Taliban 2.0, different from the brutal backwardness of the 1990s, immediately began restricting freedoms for women and girls.

Campaigner and founder of Action For Afghanistan, Zehra Zaidi, knows all too well how horrifically the Taliban’s rule has affected Afghan women and girls and, in this week’s podcast, she talks to Mickey about the direct, violent threat to their lives from the Taliban – and why we need to be doing so much more to help.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s talking retirements galore, while wearing her best I love Serena T-shirt in honour of the start of the US Open, which marks the closing chapter in the GOAT’s career.

And in Rated or Dated – spoiler – Hannah’s not happy again, as we watch Richard Donner’s 1897 shoot-first-don’t-bother-asking-questions study of 1980s machismo on the edge, Mel Gibson, sorry Lethal Weapon. Same diff, innit.

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SIM Ep 762 Pod 218: Witch prickers, wipeouts, and what a lot of tits

Wed, 24 Aug 2022 02:00:10 -0000

Tracy Dawson had a steep learning curve when she was starting out in screenwriting, as she came to realise the same opportunities didn’t exist for her, deemed as “niche” as a woman, as they did for men. This inspired her new book Let Me Be Frank, about women who disguised themselves as men to get what they wanted. She chats to Hannah about the book, defiance, and whether or not “shit” is a swear word.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen hits the beach to chat to former world champion Pauline Menczer, about being a trailblazer in women’s surfing, and the new documentary Girls Can’t Surf.

In Rated or Dated, Mick’s eyes are hurting, because we’re back in 1992, revisiting the ker-ay-zy bitches of gratuitous tit-tastic Single White Female. Meanwhile, there’s a medley of protests with a dash of human excrement in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 761 Outside The Box #46

Thu, 18 Aug 2022 23:22:35 -0000

It's not been all sport and Love Island on the telly in August. In fact, it's not even been all August on our TVs, as we tuck in to recent offerings as well as some stuff we've been meaning to watch for ages. So brace yourself for a whole lot of chat about Winning Time: The Rise of The Lakers Dynasty, The Resort, The Newsreader, Shetland, Marriage, Gaslit, The Sandman and Ted Lasso.

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SIM Ep 760 Pod 217: Hungry women, toxic love, and ‘80s face

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 02:00:22 -0000

What would happen if a food writer became an accidental murderer and deliberate cannibal? In this week’s podcast, Mick finds out as she chats to journalist Chelsea G Summers about her debut novel A Certain Hunger. They discuss the symbolism of cannibalism, women’s relationships with food and their bodies, and how it is used against them.

Jen chats to C E Riley - director of Primadonna Festival and author of new book Is This Love? - about bad behaviour, toxic love and messing with the patriarchy, one football match at a time. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, she’s paying tribute to The Queen, Serena Williams, as she approaches an “evolution”.

And finally, did Hannah have the time of her life watching Dirty Dancing for this week’s Rated or Dated? You’ll have to listen to find out.

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SIM Ep 759 Chops 261: Esther Manito knows it’s #NotAllMen

Sun, 14 Aug 2022 02:00:26 -0000

“Being the guy who wanks on the Tube – that’s not aspirational.” Just some of the words of wisdom from this week’s Chops guest, comedian Esther Manito, who has some thought-provoking opinions around the role women play in generational sexism.

Esther’s currently at the Edinburgh Fringe with her show, #NotAllMen, but here she’s chatting to our Mick about '90s lad mag culture, why applauding men for basic decency is bad, the rise and rise of King Baby (and the part women play in their creation), and how SHE KNOWS IT’S #NOTALLMEN, but how do women help make it #notanymen?

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SIM Ep 758 Flicking #28: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 02:00:49 -0000

*sings* Spider-Man, Spider-Man/Does whatever a spider can./Spins a web, any size./Catches thieves just like flies./Look out/Here comes the Spider-Man… and another Spider-Man… and a Spider-Woman… and a Spider-Pig… and Nicholas Cage…

WHAT NOW? If you’ve already seen 2018's Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, this month’s Flicking pick from Yosra, that will all make sense. If not, strap in, as Yosra, Hannah and Mick enter the Oscar-winning animated Spidey multi-verse.

Did Mick rekindle her old love for the emo kids’ superhero of choice? Did Hannah manage to keep the contents of her belly down? FIND OUT.

Also, enjoy Mickey forgetting the word “touchstones” and instead referring to characters as “grounding rocks”. Mmm, words.

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SIM Ep 757 Pod 216: Lovable dogs, disinterested tour guides and sweet-smelling donkeys

Wed, 10 Aug 2022 02:00:49 -0000

Nestled in the sweet spot of ‘cartoon for kids that adults love, too’, the Emmy Award-winning Bluey is a firm favourite in the Offord household. Which means our Jen’s trying really hard not to fangirl as she chats to actress Melanie Zanetti, aka Chilli, about Australian cattle dogs, crossing comic boundaries, parenting goals and never meeting your husband.

If you’re not already a fan of comedian Eleanor Morton’s zero-fucks-given tour guide Craig, then get yourself onto the socials for a watch immediately. Or stay here and listen as Mick catches up with Eleanor to talk Craig, what happens when a history fan makes comedy, her Edinburgh show Eleanor Morton Has Peaked, and the joy of out-of-season graveyards.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s quite rightly still wanging on about us winning Euro 2022, and explaining why the Commonwealth Games are more than the poor (wo)man’s Olympics.

And finally, it was bad enough before Hannah brought innocent donkeys into it… There’s vabbing, an Amnesty on decent Twitter etiquette, just desserts for a human heart attack, and the return of Mick’s favourite electric sheep in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 756 Chops 260: Jane Campbell's not just brushing cats

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 00:09:01 -0000

Old women aren't often the protagonists of stories, which is why when Hannah got the chance to chat to Jane Campbell, she jumped at it. Jane, who is 80, has just had her first collection of short stories - Cat Brushing - published, and she tells us why it's never too late to make your hobby your job.

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SIM Ep 755 Pod 215: Lionesses and tigers and bearing crosses, oh my!

Wed, 03 Aug 2022 01:26:00 -0000

Our Mickey loves her some Mabel Stark, so when she heard about Tiger Lady, a new play from Dead Rabbits Theatre Company, she got straight on the Zoom with Natisha Williams-Samuels and Kasia Zaremba-Byrne, star and writer/director respectively of the new show about Mabel's incredible life. Hannah's been chatting to author Rebecca Wait about her latest book I'm Sorry You Feel That Way, mother/daughter disasters and why we put too much pressure on youngsters to have "the time of their life" at university. And in the Bush Telegraph, we're talking about the Labour Party, monkeypox and, sorrywhatnow, England are European Champions? Yeah, they bloody are!

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Pod 754 Chops 259: Sophie Gallagher on How Men Can Help

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 02:00:01 -0000

Violence against women is an issue that isn't going away any time soon. In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, and a string of widely reported murders of women by men, some men are asking what they can do to be better allies. Sophie Gallagher, deputy features editor at the i paper, has some ideas, which she puts forward in her book How Men Can Help: A Guide To Undoing Harm and Being A Better Ally.

In this week's Chops, she chats to Jen about the mammoth task of getting men to understand the scale of the problem women face, what she hopes to achieve with the book, and why #NotAllMen can get in the bin.

If you've been affected by any of the issues Sophie and Jen are talking about, you can find out more information about where to get support from Refuge, or Rape Crisis England and Wales.

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SIM Ep 753 Pod 214: Birmingham flavoured, with a healthy dash of Michael

Wed, 27 Jul 2022 02:00:02 -0000

With the Birmingham Festival 2022 about to get underway, Hannah ventures (via Zoom) to the glorious Midlands for a chat with artist Dawinder Bansal about her exhibition, Jambo Cinema, which opens on July 28. They're talking Bollywood, social history, video shops and “daytimers”, among other things.

Jenny Off The Blocks also takes us to Birmingham as, ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Jen catches up with lawn bowling superstar Amy Pharoah of Bowls England.

Plus, we ask how many times a film’s dialogue can reasonably repeat the central character’s name? The team finds out as 1987’s The Lost Boys gets Rated or Dated. And in BT, Mick’s got a stunning new rendition of the theme to Top Cat, as she reflects on the Tory leadership cuntest. Sorry, we meant, yeah, cuntest.

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SIM Ep 752 Chops 258: Helen Bauer and Yuriko Kotani

Sun, 24 Jul 2022 02:00:28 -0000

Not one, but TWO funny women in this week’s Sunday Chops, the first of two Edinburgh Fringe specials – although if you can’t get to the festival, fret not, as both of these excellent comedians can be found elsewhere, too.

Human fireball Helen Bauer tells Mick about giving advice on the Trusty Hogs podcast, dealing with diet culture in her show Madame Good Tit, and what it’s like to have Marsha from Spaced as your mum in her BBC Three pilot Small Doses. She also introduces her to Pen Island.

After the break, Yuriko Kotani, a Japanese comedian based in the UK puts the wind up Mick with her talk of “kaiju” – that’s monsters or strange beasties to those of us who don’t speak Japanese. Actually, no wind at all; turns out Godzilla lives in Mick's house.

You can give both of them a follow on the socials. Helen is @Helenbabauer and Yuriko is @YurikoComedy.

Helen Bauer’s Madame Good Tit is at the Pleasance Courtyard, Aug 3 to 28, 5.40pm

Yuriko Kotani’s Kaiju About is at the Pleasance Dome, Aug 3 to 28, 7.30pm

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SIM Ep 751 Outside The Box #45

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 11:37:16 -0000

Is The Lazarus Project Sky's best original drama in a long time? Did Sherwood avoid the Spycops cliche? Does Hannah still love, love, love Only Murders In The Building? Does Mick regret her trip to Paris? Will Jen ever make it past episode one of anything? We answer these questions - and more - in this month's Outside The Box.

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SIM Ep 750 Pod 213: Phoebe Bridgers, shutting the fuck up, and the quest for eternal youth

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 02:00:08 -0000

Ayisha Malik’s new book, The Movement, explores life in a world where everyone is talking, but no one seems to be listening, and what it means to have a voice. She chats to Jen about how we communicate and why a female protagonist shutting the fuck up is a feminist statement.

Our regular music mistress, Liz Buckley, gives Mick the lowdown on Phoebe Bridgers, the joy of puns, slagging off Ryan Adams, and why it’s never not fun to put an expletive in your name.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s rounding up all the action in athletics, cricket and of course, the Women's Euro. And in Rated or Dated, filler, spray paint and misogyny at the ready as we watch Robert Zemeckis’ star-studded 1992 schlocky horror show, Death Becomes Her.

Plus, thank goodness Hannah found Bonnie in this week’s Bush Telegraph. What a good girl!

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SIM Ep 749 Chops 257: Escape From North Korea

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 00:46:44 -0000

Jihyun Park's new book, The Hard Road Out, details how she escaped, not once, but twice, from one of the world's most repressive and secretive regimes: North Korea. She talks to Hannah about why, with the help of South Korean writer Seh-Lynn Chai, she's now chosen to tell her story, about brainwashing, escape, sexual exploitation, and a new life for Jihyun and her family in the UK.

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SIM Ep 748 Flicking #27: Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Sat, 16 Jul 2022 02:00:08 -0000

Clearly, a franchise revival-cum-nostalgia fest of one of Mick’s all-time favourite movies was going to be Noonan catnip, so she’s been in giddy bliss the four times she’s watched Ghostbusters: Afterlife since it came out in November 2021. But what do Yosra and Hannah make of Jason “son of Ivan” Reitman’s sort of sequel, sort of reboot, definite love letter to the 1984 supernatural comedy classic? Just how many Easter eggs can you enjoy before you feel sick? And – altogether now – who you gonna call(back)?

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SIM Ep 747 Pod 211: West End shows, queens of crime, and a shaken pug

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 02:00:27 -0000

There’s a wealth of cracking shows at the West End this summer, so Hannah got on the Zoom with Ruth Bratt – actress, comedian, and star of Showstoppers – to get the lowdown on where to spend your cash.

Mick chats queens of crime, the golden age of detective fiction, and why Richard Curtis can do one with journalist and host of the excellent Shedunnit podcast, Caroline Crampton.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s chatting kicking off, mouthing off, and a shed load of goals, as she looks back at the Wimbledon finals and all the latest action from the Women’s Euro. There's bad rapping and shaken pugs in Rated or Dated, as the team revisit 1997 blockbuster Men In Black. Plus, in the Bush Telegraph: clowns to the left of us, and frankly terrible people to the right, as the Tory party implodes and a leadership contest hots up.

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SIM Ep 746 Chops 256: Louise Perry’s case against the sexual revolution

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 02:00:52 -0000

What if the sexual revolution was the biggest lie ever sold to women? With her new book, The Case Against the Sexual Revolution: A New Guide to Sex in the 21st Century, journalist and campaigner against male sexual violence, Louise Perry has penned a fierce, bold, radical exploration of whose interests sex positivism really serves. Spoiler: it ain’t women.

She chats to Mickey about sociosexuality, the murky nature of consent, taking sex seriously, how porn is ruining our sex lives, why she’s not Mary Whitehouse, and the freedom that comes with knowing you’re probably going to annoy everyone.

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SIM Ep 745 Pod 210: Balls, balls, balls, balls...

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 23:27:34 -0000

How do you keep calm during an LBC call-in? This week, Mick finds out from writer, broadcaster and mental health champion, Natasha Devon, as they chat about privilege one-upmanship, toxic friendships and Natasha's new book Toxic. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's talking balls to one half of the Two Girls Talk Balls Podcast, Charlotte French, about the Women’s Euro, which kicks off TONIGHT. It's definitely a balls-heavy Rated or Dated too, as Hannah picks 2002's Road to Perdition. It's all gone a bit 1930s Italy in SOTW and there's balls and Balls in BT. Balls for everyone, basically.

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SIM Ep 744 Chops 255: Groomed. Gaslighted. Ghosted.

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 01:39:48 -0000

Earlier this year saw the publication of Deep Deception, a non-fiction book about the Spycops scandal by five of the many women targeted by undercover police officers in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and into the 2010s. They were part of left-wing activist groups routinely spied on by the Special Demonstrations Squad, a police unit founded in 1968. All five were hoodwinked into believing they had met their perfect man, when, in fact, the person they shared their life with did not really exist. Instead, their partners were being played by specially-trained - and married - police officers who had stolen the identity of a dead child. This week, Hannah chats to two of them: Helen Steel and Alison* about the fascinating, mysterious, horrifying and important history of the Spycops scandal.

* Not her real name

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SIM Ep 743 Pod 209: Satire, netball, and the continued rolling back of women’s rights

Wed, 29 Jun 2022 02:00:15 -0000

It’s definitely a podcast of two halves this week. In BT, Mick chats the US Supreme Court’s barbaric striking down of Roe V Wade and what that means for women and people who can get pregnant, and Jen looks at the ongoing binfire that is the UK government and every fecker in it. Screaming pillows mandatory.

But, it’s not all doom and gloom, as that’s followed by not one, but TWO brilliantly funny women being brilliantly funny. Mick catches up with everyone’s favourite “Tory MP” Rosie Holt, aka actor, comedian, satirist and social media sensation, Rosie Holt. And Jen somehow manages not to shout “Pivot!” at the excellent Laura Lexx, even though they’re talking about Laura’s new book, set in the world of recreational netball and called Pivot.

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SIM Ep 742 Chops 254: Marianne Shine on fashion's darkest secret

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 02:00:57 -0000

Following a 2020 investigation by Guardian journalist Lucy Osborne that exposed an historic culture of control, coercion and abuse within some of the world's leading modelling agencies, the fashion industry has been having something of a #MeToo moment. Building on Osborne's ongoing investigation, a new Sky Documentaries series, Scouting For Girls: Fashion's Darkest Secret, began on June 24.

In this week's Chops, Jen chats to former model, actor, therapist, and contributor to the series, Marianne Shine, about her experience as a young model in Paris in the 1980s. They talk about the endemic culture of abuse, its links to serial abuser Jeffrey Epstein, and how the unregulated industry put - and continues to put - young women and girls in harm's way.

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SIM Ep 741 Pod 208: Sworn spinsters, welcome women and balls-to-the-wall lunacy

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 02:00:52 -0000

Teresa Lim’s first book, The Interpreter's Daughter, recounts what happened when she set out to trace her family history. She tells Hannah about her discoveries, which span 19th century China to modern-day Singapore, and include a hidden tale about her great aunt, who was, it turns out, a woman after our Hannah’s own heart. Mostly.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s been on the Zoom with fellow journalist Natasha Everitt to find out about the HerGameToo campaign, which works to eradicate sexism in the football industry. They chat about what the campaign’s up to, why men's football is still an unwelcoming place for women, and Charlton Athletic. Obviously.

And if Mick sounds giddy in Rated or Dated, it’s because she is. But what will Hannah and Jen make of Face/Off, John Woo’s 1997 blockbuster of batshittery, and just how tall is Snoop Dogg?

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SIM Ep 740 Chops 253 Young women on the financial edge

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 02:09:10 -0000

More than half of young women are ‘filled with dread’ at the state of their finances and 29% are “always in debt”. The picture for young mums is bleaker yet. That's according to The Young Women's Trust's annual survey, released this week. Hannah got on the Zoom with Claire Reindorp, the charity's chief executive, to find out more. They chat about university debt, discrimination, the gig economy, the cost of childcare and – of course – whether cancelling the Netflix subscription is the cure-all some people seem to think it is. SPOILER ALERT: It is not.

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SIM Ep 739, Pod 207: Nightcrawling, madhouses, and a surprising amount of Bill Pullman

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 02:00:42 -0000

Leila Mottley is the author of the hour – and don’t take our words for it, that’s straight from Oprah Winfrey. She joins Mick to talk about her novel Nightcrawling, based on a real-life story, which tells the tale of Oakland teen Kiara, who is fighting to keep her life together any which way she can, leading to her being sexually exploited by police.

Meanwhile Hannah catches up with actress Sinead Matthews, star of Hullraisers - who can currently be seen on stage in The Madhouse, alongside David Harbour and Bill Pullman - about dysfunctional families, death, and money, among other things.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s chatting about the ongoing outpouring of stories of abuse in gymnastics, while it’s high fives all round in cycling. And can women really not play baseball? Hannah and Jen question 1940s American Voice’s judgement in this week’s Rated Or Dated, as they watch 1992’s A League Of Their Own.

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SIM Ep 738 Chops 252: Melissa Johns has no shame

Sun, 12 Jun 2022 00:15:35 -0000

Having private photographs you sent to your boyfriend hacked from your iCloud and spread around the internet is most people's idea of hell. When it happened to actor Melissa Johns, she knew there was only one way through it. She chats to Hannah about intrusion, body image, shame, disability and turning the whole thing into a one-woman show, Snatched.

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SIM Ep 737 Flicking #26: Four Lions

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 02:00:14 -0000

She’s kept it quiet until now, but turns out Hannah loves Kayvan Novak. Who knew? (Everyone. Everyone knew.) But his beautiful face isn’t the only reason our Dunleavy’s a colossal fan of Four Lions, Chris Morris’s 2010 cult gem about an inept gang of jihadis. But will it make Yosra and Mick laugh? Will it make them cry? Both? Find out in this month’s Flicking. WARNING: Toploader earworm imminent…

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SIM Ep 736 Pod 206: Tom, Dick & Harry and Natalie and Al Capone (walk into a podcast)

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 01:26:32 -0000

We need to ditch the shame around sex. Everyone's good with that, yeah? If that hasn't convinced you, Natalie Lee - aka Style Me Sunday - will almost certainly do a better job. She chats to Mick about the absolute joy of feeling herself and her aptly-titled new book, Feeling Myself. And while we're on the subject of feelings, Hannah gets dangerously close to having some when she chats to Theresa Heskins, director and co-writer of a new play, Tom, Dick & Harry, based on the true story of the "great" escape from Stalag Luft III. And we stick with the history in Rated or Dated. Of course we don't, we're watching The Untouchables. Also, Mick has a SOTW MASTERclass and there's mosquitos, mojitos and that Bojo mofo in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 735 Chops 251: Unsuitable for Robins

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 02:00:10 -0000

Football’s domestic leagues have wound up for this season, but we are here for you with some excellent chat from excellent women, as Dr Carrie Dunn joins Jen to chat about their respective new books.

In 1921, women were banned from playing football in the grounds of affiliated Football Association clubs for 50 years. Of course women didn’t just stop playing football, and Carrie’s new book, Unsuitable for Females, is a deep dive into the history of women’s football during the ban, and the people who kept the women’s game alive.

Our Jen’s new book, The Year Of The Robin, charts the ill-fated 2019/20 season of her beloved Charlton Athletic. She recounts her personal experiences living through it with her brother, Michael, and looks at what a lower-league football club can tell us about society.

Carrie and Jen also chat about being female football writers, tribalism, and where the women’s game is at ahead of the Euros this summer.

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SIM Ep 734 Outside The Box #44

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 02:22:36 -0000

Kidnaps, rebirths, mythical serpents, magical pregnancies, the Upside Down and people who take a chunk out of your salary, this month's Outside The Box has it all. In it, we chat about The Essex Serpent, Ten Percent, Floodlights, Stranger Things, Inside No 9 and Life After Life. So yes, you can spend the long weekend watching TV if you want.

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SIM Ep 733 Pod 205: Ultrarunning, understanding beauty, and The Witches of Eastprick

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 02:00:04 -0000

251km across the Sahara on foot? Erm… Sabrina Pace-Humphreys tells Mickey about the Marathon Des Sables, aka “the toughest footrace on earth” and what in the sweet fancy fuck inspired her to do it. She also chats about how ultrarunning and rural racism led her to activism, founding the Black Trail Runners, and writing her memoir, Black Sheep.

Jen’s been on the Zoom with Shelina Janmohamed, author of the new book, BeYOUtiful, and they’re talking about why we need to mix things up when it comes to understanding beauty, and how advertising is finally shifting away from the male gaze when flogging products to women.

Inspired by The Witches of Eastwick, which is this week’s Rated or Dated, the team somehow manage to manifest Chris Hemsworth for tea-making duties. And it’s Platty Jubbs weekend ahoy in the Bush Telegraph, although Hannah and Jen’s chat about booze culture might well put you off your royal insignia-ed pint. No worries, just light up that royal insignia-ed reefer and let a horse sort any admin.

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SIM EP 732 Pod 204: Ending homelessness, finding your voice and is the Pope still a Catholic?

Wed, 25 May 2022 02:00:27 -0000

Ace actor Shobna Gulati has taken on the role of Mari Huff in a new version of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, so Hannah jumped on the Zoom to find out more. Not that we needed much excuse. They chat about being on tour with your son, embracing the grey and working with Victoria Wood.

Mick speaks to Ellie Greenhalgh, the lead on the Women’s Development Unit, a partnership project between The Connection at St Martin’s and Solace Women’s Aid, and Caroline Muir from the 18Keys project at St Martin’s Trust, about the specific needs of homeless women, and a new strategy that aims to end women’s homelessness in London – and hopefully beyond.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s hailing an historic development in, hang on, men’s football? And, hold on to your habits, as we revisit 1992’s Sister Act in Rated or Dated. Plus there’s grubbiness galore and some unexpected blacklists in the Bush Telegraph.

* The Women’s Development Unit has published a new London-wide Strategy for Ending Women’s Homelessness to transform how the capital responds to women’s homelessness.

* The Connection is working with St Martin-in-the-Fields Trust to raise funds for the 18 Keys project. 18 Keys will provide specialist support and safe, stable accommodation for women who have been sleeping rough to recover and become independent again.

* The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is touring nationally until July 16, and you can buy tickets here.

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SIM Ep 730 Pod 203: No-strings sex, deaf theatre and a suitcase full of money

Wed, 18 May 2022 00:10:11 -0000

Men are looking for sex and women are looking for love, right? Wrong, says Kala Ellis, creator Spreadsheet, a new sitcom starring Katherine Parkinson, which debuts tonight on Channel 4. Hannah chats to Kala about what happens when you're not looking for "the one", comparisons to Sex and The City and why new apps can be frankly terrifying. Meanwhile, Jen's been learning more about 20 years of Deafinitely Theatre from its artistic director Paula Garfield, as well as some pretty shocking facts about domestic violence and educational attainment. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, she's chatting about the French Open. In Sexism of the Week, Mickey's got some thoughts about how the BBC is spending its comedy budget, plus we're watching violent AF 2007 neo-western No Country For Old Men in Rated or Dated. You're welcome.

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SIM Ep 729 Chops 249: Appropriating Boudica, with Sarah Perry

Sun, 15 May 2022 02:00:57 -0000

Acclaimed writer Sarah Perry’s surprise (to her) best-seller The Essex Serpent has been adapted to a six-part Apple TV series, starring Tom Hiddleston and Claire Danes (we know). Could there be a better excuse – not that we needed one – to get her on the Zoom, for a natter? Our Jen was giddy as a kipper to chat to Sarah, about having a book fly off the shelves, what it’s like to have a Hollywood star play your protagonist, the fetishisation of women’s trauma, and – of course – being an Essex girl.

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SIM Ep 728 Flicking #24: Get Out

Sat, 14 May 2022 00:30:12 -0000

Is Jordan Peele's directorial debut a horror film, a satire or both? We find out, as Yosra brings 2017's Get Out to the court of Flicking. We chat about race (obvs), class (natch) and Daniel Kaluuya's iconic tears (because of course).

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SIM Ep 727 Pod 202: All human life is here. And also an alien

Wed, 11 May 2022 02:00:50 -0000

In this week’s podzine, the glorious Laura Bates joins our Mick to rage against the sexism machine. The feminist writer, activist, founder of Everyday Sexism and author has written another book – Fix The System, Not The Women – and it’s both vital and full of righteous fury.

Hannah’s been chatting to Julie Owen Moylan about her debut novel That Green-Eyed Girl, about getting her first break in publishing over the age of 60, and about making the big leap over the class barrier.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, it’s Emma Hayes appreciation time. Again. And no one’s complaining. And in Rated or Dated, we’re asking how good does Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi mega-blockbuster E.T. look at 40? Tricky, given E.T., the delightful sweaty sausage/joke shop turd protagonist, always looked 187 anyway.

Plus, abortion, poverty, class, the menopause and *spits* Allison Pearson in the Bush Telegraph.

And here's that link Hannah promises: https://twitter.com/RobynVinter/status/1521872761689419777.

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SIM Ep 726 Pod 201: Marys, esports, and a golden ball or two

Wed, 04 May 2022 02:00:54 -0000

Marys Seacole is Jackie Sibblies Drury's new play exploring the life of the Scottish-Jamaican nurse who treated British soldiers during the Crimean War, and of other ‘Marys’, those in the caring professions. Hannah catches up with Kayla Meikle and Olivia Williams, who play Seacole and Florence Nightingale respectively, to chat about in what – and indeed whom – society places value.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen talks to Vera Wienken, senior brand manager at Riot Games, about esports and the forthcoming Game Changers tournament. And in this week’s Rated or Dated, hold on to your sports bras and keep your eye on the ball, as Mick and Jen revisit 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham.

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SIM Ep 725 Chops 248: 50:50 Parliament with Frances Scott

Sun, 01 May 2022 02:00:02 -0000

Frances Scott is the woman behind 50:50 Parliament, a brilliant campaign working with all the UK’s political parties to help women progress in politics in order to build a better democracy. We can all agree it needs to be better, right? Right. She talks to our Mick about how it all started, why it’s so damn important to have women’s voices in Parliament, and how we can all help make it happen.

Please, please bear all of this – and indeed a lot of the drums we bang on Standard Issue – in mind when you head to the ballot boxes on Thursday 5 May to vote for councillors if you’re in England, Wales or Scotland or if you’re in Northern Ireland, your government.

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SIM Ep 725 Outside The Box #43

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 00:11:48 -0000

At home this Bank Holiday Monday? If you're looking for some TV to watch then you've come to the right place. This time, we've talking about Julia, Gentleman Jack, The Witchfinder, Inside No 9, Russian Doll and Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story.

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SIM Ep 724 Pod 200: Touring, shooting and a sh*tload more shooting

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 00:52:00 -0000

Comedian Isy Suttie just announced her first stand-up tour in six years, so Hannah got on the Zoom with her to find out more and reminisce about childhood trips to Center Parcs. Because why not? In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's chatting to Leah McDerment of the London Lions about the team’s fantastic season and the growth of basketball in the UK. We're back in 1997 in Rated or Dated, as we watch romcom-cum-shoot 'em up Grosse Pointe Blank. And what's Mickey doing? Well, she's been bitten by a strange rat, which could be the start of a new superhero franchise. Watch this space.

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SIM Ep 723 Chops 247: The impact of conflict on women and girls in Ukraine

Sun, 24 Apr 2022 02:00:29 -0000

Clearly what’s happening in Ukraine is horrific for everyone there, but women and girls are particularly at risk during conflict, whether they’re fleeing the country or staying put in Ukraine.

Suzy Madigan, senior humanitarian advisor on gender and protection at CARE International, has 20+ years experience in humanitarian work, with a focus on helping women and girls, and in this Chops, she explains to Mick the specific risks for them during conflict. They chat about how the Ukraine conflict impacts women and girls, the processes in place and that need to be put in place to help, other emergencies that must not be forgotten, the role of the UK Government, and – of course – what we, the public, can do to help. (Cash not stuff, smashers. Cash not stuff.)

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SIM Ep 722 Gig 61: Millican, Young and Hayward

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Back in October at the Newcastle Stand, Mickey was tasked with herding the following brilliant comedy cats: Sarah Millican, Louise Young and Sally-Anne Hayward. As ever during In Conversations, the gamut of topics is vast, but with a healthy focus on cats, chocolate and periods. However, the real issue is clearly how the hell Sally-Anne Hayward still walks among us given her unsanitary sanitary product behaviour. You’ll never look at a sock the same way again.

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SIM Ep 721 Chops 246: Love in the time of The Troubles

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 02:00:25 -0000

Louise Kennedy’s short story collection The End of the World is a Cul-de-sac garnered her all sorts of well-deserved plaudits. Her debut novel, Trespasses, is a page-turning story of love and loss set in Belfast during The Troubles, in which Louise’s spare, lyrical writing brings to uneasy life the reality of people getting on with their lives in a time and place where the unspeakable is just everyday.

In this Chops, Louise chats to our Mick about the Troubles and their legacy, and what problems Brexit and the unresolved difficulties of the Northern Ireland Protocol might mean, starting writing in your 40s, dealing with cancer, and why the joy of doomed love might just mean readers are perverts.

Trespasses is out now, published by Bloomsbury.

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SIM Ep 720 Pod 199: Hull, hell, and help, what’s happening?

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 02:00:59 -0000

Comedian Lucy Beaumont is a busy woman, starring as a fictionalised version of herself in Dave’s Meet The Richardsons and being the co-writer of new Channel 4 sitcom, Hullraisers. In this week’s podzine, she chats to our Hannah about why Hull is no longer the butt of a national joke and that time she wet herself before 8 Out of 10 Cats.

For Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s been on the Zoom with multi-award-winning audio documentary maker and writer Hana Walker-Brown. They’re talking about degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), concussive and sub-concussive trauma, and how that all ties to sport, its players, and their lives – and those of their families – off the field. All of which is covered in Hana’s new non-fiction book, A Delicate Game: Brain Injury, Sport and Sacrifice.

And it’s bonkers galore in Rated or Dated, as Mick’s choice of Robert Altman’s 1977 avant-garde piece, 3 Women, leads to all sorts of questions, but not many answers.

Plus, there’s loads of good news in the Bush Telegraph. If you’re patient, like.

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SIM 719 Chops 245: Georgina Scull has no regrets

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 02:00:24 -0000

A life-threatening ectopic pregnancy at 37 caused writer Georgina Scull to re-evaluate her lot. Having not lived the life she’d “planned”, she set about talking to people facing their own mortality to find out what they wished they'd done differently. Her new book, The Regrets of The Dying: Stories and Wisdom That Remind Us How to Live, is the result. She chats to Jen about common themes of regret, the patterns that drive them and how, by listening to other people’s regrets, we can lead more fulfilled lives.

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SIM Ep 718 Flicking #23: Bridesmaids

Sat, 09 Apr 2022 02:14:53 -0000

The love for Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo's 2011 comedy brimming with women is flowing out of Mickey like lava, in the latest episode of Flicking. But what do Yosra and Hannah make of Bridesmaids? The cast? The plot? The outrageous opulence? The weird American tradition of having 27 big days before The Big Day? Find out!

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SIM Ep 717 Pod 198: Chasing cash, discovering comets, and an absolute load of codswallop

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 02:00:50 -0000

Times are tough, financially speaking, and Makala Green knows a thing or two about looking after the pennies, having worked her way up from a 16-year-old cashier at Nationwide bank to being a chartered financial planner. In this week’s podzine, she chats to Jen about her new book, The Money Edit, and what we can do to keep on top of our finances.

When do you think the first woman was paid to work in science? Hannah finds out as she chats to Izzy Wall, assistant curator at Bath's Herschel Museum of Astronomy, about astronomer Caroline Herschel.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats about the new Number One in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings, while in Rated or Dated, Mick’s ready to rename the whole section after sitting through 1997’s Chasing Amy. And in the Bush Telegraph, there’s a plague island and some tiny joyous ear hairs.

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SIM Ep 716 Chops 244: Catherine The Inoculated

Sun, 03 Apr 2022 00:07:45 -0000

Journalist and writer Lucy Ward tells Hannah how she turned a tale of family history she heard in a school playground into the cracking new non-fiction book The Empress and the English Doctor: How Catherine the Great defied a deadly virus. They talk about how Catherine The Great's bold decision to be inoculated - and talk about it publicly - helped the fight against smallpox, about writing that book during a pandemic, and about why now is the perfect time to try to understand Russian history a bit better. And pus. There's quite a lot about pus.

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SIM Ep 715 Pod 197: Hosting refugees, fierce Victorian women, and how’s that serenity?

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 02:00:44 -0000

Areej Osman is a senior placement coordinator at Refugees At Home, and this week, she’s explaining the realities of hosting a displaced person. She and Jen chat pros, cons, vulnerabilities and responsibilities.

Victorian girl power is the foundation of author Liz Hyder’s latest fiction, The Gifts, and she’s talking to Mick about fierce women, unscrupulous surgeons, surprise wings and the joyful power of storytelling.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, there’s a surprise retirement and more cricket, while in Rated or Dated, Hannah’s pick of 1997 Aussie cult classic The Castle leads to some Dunleavy and Noonan reminiscing about gifts from Lourdes. And in the Bush Telegraph, there’s trafficking, taxes and toxic behaviour, but absolutely no Nazis.

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SIM Ep 714 Chops 243: The Life of Lolita Chakrabarti

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:46:32 -0000

The stage version of The Life of Pi is currently pulling in the crowds and snaffling all the Olivier nominations, so Hannah got on the Zoom with the woman responsible for adapting the book: Lolita Chakrabarti. They talk about the highs and lows of tackling such a well-loved novel and its themes of storytelling and faith, as well as chatting about some of Lolita's other recent projects, including A Working Diary, the book she wrote with her husband, fellow actor Adrian Lester.

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SIM Ep 713 Pod 196: Spinning, winning and My Cousin Vinny-ing

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:00:02 -0000

How do you turn a book of short stories into a cohesive play? This week, Mickey finds out as she chats Angela Carter, feminism, wolves and circus skills with Mary Swan, director of Proteus Theatre’s adaptation of The Bloody Chamber. Jen's been on the Zoom with US writer Kimberly Jones about her book, How We Can Win, and the economics of racial inequality in the US, and in Jenny Off The Blocks, she's looking forward to the Women's Six Nations. In BT, we're discussing P&O and Child Q, plus you can find out why an interview Hannah has been chasing for months (and is now not happening), turns out to be really good news. And we take a listener's suggestion and tuck into My Cousin Vinny. Will we ever do that again? You can find out in this week's Rated or Dated.

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SIM Ep 712 Chops 242: Professor Jane Monckton Smith talks coercive control

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 03:00:45 -0000

Professor Jane Monckton Smith is a criminologist specialising in domestic homicide, a former police officer, a professor of public protection at the University of Gloucestershire, and responsible for groundbreaking work on coercive control and stalking. Too right we love her.

In this Chops, she chats with Mick about her latest book, In Control: Dangerous Relationships and How They End in Murder, in which she lays out the eight stages of a domestic homicide timeline – the first temporal sequencing of domestic homicide, and vital to helping stop the appalling rates of domestic murder.

It’s an outstanding book, which should be required reading for, well, everyone. And it’s testament to Jane that, despite the subject matter, it is both accessible and engaging. And out now in paperback, courtesy of Bloomsbury.

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SIM Ep 711 Pod 195: Advice from Rachel Parris, rhinestones for Dolly Parton, and more Kip please

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 03:00:20 -0000

Comedian and Standard Issue fave Rachel Parris has been soliciting advice from strangers for her new book, which is called... Advice From Strangers. She chats to Hannah, from the back of a cab, about the joy and madness of actual advice from strangers, being on tour, and her candid writing about late miscarriage.

Our resident music buff Liz Buckley is back and she's in a shiny hat, because this time she's talking to Mick about country music superstar, rhinestone queen, philanthropist, stealth feminist and absolute shero: Dolly Parton.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, shit's getting real at Chelsea, and Jen's also wondering what the what is going on in the England women's cricket team. And in Rated or Dated, grab your hankies and prepare to shout "FIT!" a lot, because we're watching the devastatingly beautiful people in Anthony Minghella's Oscar-bothering 1997 romance/drama, The English Patient.

Plus, apocalyptic times and, indeed, shenanigans in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 710 Chops 241: A 21st Century To Kill A Mockingbird

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 03:00:29 -0000

Aaron Sorkin's award-winning adaptation of much-loved Harper Lee novel To Kill A Mockingbird, is finally coming to London's Gielgud Theatre. In this week's Chops, Jen catches up with Pamela Nomvete and Gwyneth Keyworth, who play Calpurnia and Scout in the new production, to find out what it's like to play such beloved roles, how Sorkin has brought the play into the 21st century, and whether or not Scout is a revolutionary, rather than simply an innocent narrator.

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SIM Ep 709 Flicking #22: War for the Planet of the Apes

Sat, 12 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0000

It's Hannah's Flicking pick and she chose the third film of a trilogy set in a time of pandemic AND war. So, is Matt Reeves' 2017 sci-fi, dystopian, performance capture, ape-tastic blockbuster good enough for Yosra and Mick to forgive her? All hail Caesar is all we're saying.

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SIM Ep 708 Pod 194: The invisible mam, bloody difficult women, and the joy of running and crying

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 03:00:09 -0000

Jessica Turner and Amara Karan are stars of Tim Walker’s new play Bloody Difficult Women, in which they play Theresa May and Gina Miller respectively, in a storyline that charts the events behind the court case Miller brought against May in 2016 and what’s happened since. They chat to our Jen about being powerful women – and making Theresa May sympathetic. Sorrywhatnow?

Hannah’s been on the Zoom with comedian Hayley Ellis to chat touring with the boss (as in our boss, Sarah Millican), bringing up a baby in a pandemic, what she learned about comedy when she couldn't do it, and why it’s always key to check someone’s a real doctor before whipping your piles out. Sorrywhatnow?

In Jenny Off The Blocks, it’s tough titties for Chelsea fans and loadsa medals at the Paralympics, and there’s a big cinematic hug in Rated or Dated as the team watch Stand By Me. Meanwhile, in BT, the good news is a plaque for women has been removed and Mick’s put International Women’s Day in the sin bin. SORRYWHATNOW?

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SIM Ep 707 Chops 240: Sexy But Psycho?

Sun, 06 Mar 2022 03:00:03 -0000

Psychologist and working-class feminist author Dr Jessica Taylor’s new book, Sexy But Psycho: How the Patriarchy Uses Women’s Trauma Against Them, is an uncompromising challenge to the psychiatric labelling and medicalisation of women and girls. And blimey, what a book: huge food for thought and a push for seismic change, engagingly written.

In this Chops, she chats to our Mick (fresh from having her mind blown) about why she’s challenging the traditional medical model of psychiatry, the incalculable damage caused by pathologising women, the straight line between “she’s a witch!”, “hysteria” and borderline and emotionally unstable personality disorders, false comfort in diagnosis, why everyone should be cautious when seeking mental health diagnoses, and the huge pros of a trauma informed response to mental health. Oh, and why Freud needs to get in the sea.

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SIM Ep 706 Pod 193: Het bonhe, Sprakkar and Tom Jones covered in wildlife

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 02:24:57 -0000

Why is everyone in Iceland so happy? Might it be that they are closer to gender equality than most? In this week's podcast, Hannah chats to writer, journalist and First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Reid, about life for women in a country with the same number of residents as Nottingham, and her new book Secrets of The Sprakkar. With the Winter Paralympics just a few days away, Jen's been on the blower to Vicky Gosling, chief executive of GB Snowsport, to talk about a disappointing Winter Olympics and hope for the future. We're struggling again with the binary nature of Rated or Dated as Mickey picks this week's film, Tim Burton's Mars Attacks! And it's good news for Hank The Tank, but not much else to cheer about as we say het bonhe in this week's Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 705 Chops 239: My Pen Is The Wing of A Bird

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 01:26:41 -0000

My Pen is The Wing of a Bird is an excellent new book - on sale now - featuring short stories by 18 new female writers in Afghanistan. It exists thanks to the hard work of the people behind the writers' development programme Untold, and exists despite the not insubstantial obstacles of a global pandemic and the disaster that befell Afghanistan last summer. In this week's Chops, Hannah talks to the founder of Untold, Lucy Hannah, and Shekiba Habib, one of the translators who worked on the stories, and now lives in the UK. The chat about life for women in Afghanistan today, the work necessary to pull this book together and the variety of stories it tells.

My Pen is the Wing of a Bird is published by MacLehose Press. Untold Narratives CIC works with writers marginalised in society by community or conflict. You can support Untold’s work here: http://untold-stories.org/donate/

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SIM Ep 704 Outside The Box #42

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 17:26:29 -0000

Loads of TV to chat about this month, but does any of it tickle our fancy? In this episode we talk about Trigger Point, Chloe, The Tinder Swindler, The Responder, Screw, Misha and The Wolves and more. Plus, Hannah explains why she's not watching Inventing Anna and is totally #TeamRachel.

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SIM Ep 703 Pod 192: Breaking the cycle, ditching the booze, and not a lot of buttons

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0000

After finding herself stuck in a decade-long cycle of toxic and controlling relationships, comedian and writer Maddy Anholt embarked on a period of self-reflection, therapy, and research about the perpetrators of domestic abuse. She caught up with Jen to talk about her new book How To Leave Your Psychopath, patterns of abuse and being endorsed by Melanie Brown.

Sobriety coach Veronica Valli is on a mission to spread the word that “sober” doesn’t mean “boring” and that you can visit festivals and wear lipstick without being under the influence. Mick chats to Veronica to find out more about why we drink booze, why our culture is so soaked in it and how to manage our relationship with, or without, it.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s tipping the hat to our victorious curlers, there are shirts akimbo in Rated or Dated, as the team watches 1997’s The Crucible, and Hannah asks an important philosophical question about pizzas and forests in BT.

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SIM Ep 702 Chops 238: Feeling Frayed with Sarah Kendall

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 03:00:41 -0000

Frayed, Sarah Kendall’s comedy drama set in 1980s Australia, is well worth your time and with Frayed 2 due to land on Sky One on Wednesday 23 February, our Mick got on the Zoom with the writer and comedian to find out more. They chat writers rooms, punchy storylines, Yellowjackets, T-shirts, toenails, and creating one of the most unlikeable leads on television.

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SIM Ep 701 Pod 191: difficult dating, unjust detention and insufferable prickery

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 03:00:22 -0000

Fanology, personal ads, two world wars, Aids, racism and homophobia: the path to satisfying dating never has run smooth. Mick discovers all this and more in her chat with journalist, broadcaster and dating expert Nichi Hodgson.

It’s 80 years this week since the US signed what became known as the Japanese Internment Bill, so Hannah has a fascinating chat with author Andrea Warren about her latest history book for kids, Enemy Child.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s looking back at a record-breaking year in women’s sport, and some new research from the Women’s Sport Trust, while in Rated or Dated, there’s a quest for new swears, as the team watch John Hughes’s 1987 cult classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Plus, Jen takes a horrifying diversion

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SIM Ep 700 Chops 237: A whole lot of Rosie Cavaliero

Sun, 13 Feb 2022 01:43:42 -0000

Currently making us laugh in Radio 4/BBC Sounds' The Train At Platform 4, Rosie Cavaliero is a familiar face to anyone who's watched almost any British comedy in recent years. She talks to Hannah about the highs and lows of train travel, radio acting, being "the female Kevin Eldon", being covered in pustules in front of Jon Hamm, and a terrifying flight through the Himalayas.

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SIM Ep 699 Flicking #22: Marie Antoinette

Sat, 12 Feb 2022 03:00:52 -0000

Mile-high wigs, sweets galore, sumptuous sets, a punk soundtrack and a laissez-faire regard for historical facts: all present and correct in Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette, starring Kirsten Dunst in the title role. It's one of our resident film buff Yosra Osman's favourites and a new watch for Hannah and Mick. What did they make of it? Find out. Maybe have some cake as you listen – it's what she would have wanted.

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SIM Ep 698 Pod 190: Nature and sex? Fuggedaboutit!

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 01:20:24 -0000

Beatrix Potter was a woman of many talents and with Drawn To Nature, a new exhibition dedicated to her life and work, opening this weekend at the V&A, Hannah got on the Zoom with Helen Antrobus, one of its curators, to find out more. Jen's chatting to Hillary Jordan and Cheryl Lu-Lien Tan, creators, editors and contributors to Anonymous Sex, a new collection of erotic fiction. In Jenny Off The Blocks, there's more Winter Olympics, and Mickey's got her best velour tracksuit on for this week's Rated or Dated, 1997’s Donnie Brasco. And in BT, we're asking when criticism of a woman is and isn't sexist, and what exactly we're levelling up to.

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SIM Ep 697 Chops 236: Desire, duty, defiance and Anna Karenina

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 03:00:48 -0000

Sheffield Theatres is 50 and is opening its anniversary season with a big one: Anna Karenina. Often acclaimed as the best novel ever written, Leo Tolstoy’s epic narrative is an immense canvas of desire, duty and defiance, adultery, passion and suicide told over more than 800 pages. A piece of cake to bring to the stage, right?

Helen Edmundson’s much-celebrated adaptation does some of the heavy lifting, leaving the rest to the Sheffield Theatres team. So Mickey got on the Zoom with two of the production’s big hitters: Adelle Leonce, who is playing Anna, and designer Georgia Lowe, to find out how you take a complex novel in eight parts, with more than a dozen major characters, spread over more than 800 pages and set in late 19th century Russia and bring it up-to-date for a contemporary audience.

Anna Karenina is at The Crucible from Feb 5 to 26. Find out more: www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

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SIM Ep 696 Pod 789: Diagnosis, Partygate and hurtling headfirst downhill at speed

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 03:00:32 -0000

On the bus home from her diagnosis of degenerative hearing condition otosclerosis, journalist and broadcaster Helena Merriman got thinking about the experiences of others on the receiving end of life-changing diagnoses. In this week’s podzine, she talks to Mick about Room 5, her latest series for Radio 4, a collection of stories about lives that change in a heartbeat and the process of diagnosis and recovery.

With the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics kicking off this week, Jen chats to skeleton gold medallist turned Eurosport pundit Amy Williams about how to get into winter sports in the UK, and what it’s like to chuck yourself headfirst down an ice track.

In the Bush Telegraph, Sue Gray’s been, Theresa May – yes THERESA MAY – delivers perhaps the best Boris burn, there's good news all over the shop, and M&Ms get Hannah banging her head on her desk. Meanwhile, the team tries not to hurl as they revisit 1992's Wayne's World in Rated or Dated.

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SIM Ep 695 Chops 235: Danielle Friedman gets physical

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 03:00:18 -0000

Ever wondered where the weird and wonderful workouts of the women’s fitness industry originated? Danielle Friedman did, which is why the journalist and author decided to research and write a book about the history of women’s fitness. In this week’s Chops, the last of January so possibly at the point at which you’re thinking of ditching any new year’s fitness resolutions, Danielle chats to Jen about Let’s Get Physical. They also talk about perceptions of women’s strength, the dismissive attitude society takes to women’s leisure pursuits, and – if you do need some inspiration to meet your fitness goals – brace yourself: Danielle gives Jen the best piece of fitness advice she’s ever heard.

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SIM Ep 694 Pod 188: Ann Dowd, the hostile environment, and a deadbeat dad

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 03:00:02 -0000

Ann Dowd – sorry… ANN DOWD! – joins Hannah on this week’s podcast to talk about her new film Mass, the Oscar buzz surrounding her performance, Aunt Lydia, The Leftovers, feral nuns and making it over 35.

Jen chats to Sonita Gale, about her BAFTA long-listed new documentary, Hostile, the history of immigration to the UK, and the realities of the hostile environment for the very many people living in it.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Australia is host supreme when it comes to women’s sport, although Jen’s not making any tennis predictions for the Open after last week’s optimism fell flat.

In Rated or Dated, there’s a barrel load of eccentrics and a dad in search of forgiveness/somewhere to live, as Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums turns 20.

And in the Bush Telegraph, there’s danger on the move, danger standing still, a lack of sex disaggregated data, and an incredible “exclusive”.

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SIM Ep 693 Chops 234: We [Still] Can’t Consent to This

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 03:00:31 -0000

“Random angry woman” Fiona Mackenzie was appalled when she saw the ‘rough sex’ defence being used in the horrific killing of Natalie Connolly in 2016 – a defence which, in December 2018, saw her killer sentenced to just three years and eight months in prison. And so Fiona did something about it, starting We Can’t Consent To This to highlight and then to campaign against men claiming ‘consensual rough sex’ as a defence against injuring and killing women. Last year, a new amendment was added to the Domestic Abuse Bill ruling out "consent for sexual gratification" as a defence for causing serious harm to a person. But is it working?

In this episode of the Sunday Chops, Mick chats to Fiona about this, about why choking is always dangerous and about how Fiona and her We Can’t Consent To This co-founder, Louise Perry, have since further expanded the campaign to fight the normalisation of male violence against women and girls during sex.

A heads up, that the topic is – clearly – awful, and Mick and Fiona do go into some detail about the horrific brutality of male violence against women and girls during sex.

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SIM Ep 692 Outside The Box #41

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 04:26:46 -0000

It's the first Outside The Box of 2022 and we're talking about a whole load of telly, including Anne, Rules of The Game, Four Lives, The Girl Before, The Green Planet and Yellowjackets. We also find out if anyone is still watching And Just Like That.... Spoiler alert: Jen is - even if she's not entirely sure why.

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SIM Ep 691 Pod 187: Cassandras, unreliable narrators and a foot-high fringe

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 03:18:45 -0000

Would you want to predict the future, if you could? This week, Hannah is chatting to actor writer and disability activist Athena Stevens, about her play The Diagnosis, in which another Cassandra is doomed not to be believed - again. Journalist Hazel Davis gets on the Zoom to author Jenn Ashworth to talk about unreliable narrators, listening to your own books and her latest novel, Ghosted. Jen's got her eye on the Australian Open ball in Jenny Off The Blocks and we're pondering the Prime Minister's next move in BT. And last but very much not least, in Rated or Dated, we visit the stool/am dram capital of America, as we watch Waiting For Guffman.

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SIM Ep 690 Chops 237: Queens, cousins, rivals, opposites?

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 01:28:41 -0000

Most people think they've got a grasp on history when it comes to the Tudors, but how much of that knowledge comes from pop culture or male historians? This week, Hannah chats to Dr Andrea Clarke, curator of The British Library's fantastic exhibition Elizabeth and Mary: Royal Cousins, Rival Queens. They talk about Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots, how they were similar and how they were different, and what myths about them need to go in the bin right now. Andrea talks us through some of the treasures on display, many for the first time, and has a crack at answering the eternal question: Did it really need to end with Mary's head on the chopping block?

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SIM Ep 689 Flicking #21: Pan’s Labyrinth

Sat, 15 Jan 2022 03:00:43 -0000

Fauns and fascism ahoy, as Hannah gets Yosra and Mick to watch Guillermo Del Toro’s 2006 dark fantasy, Pan’s Labyrinth, set in post-civil war Spain. It throws up a lot of questions: Just how good is Ivano Baquero? Would you trust a fairy-tale creature? Who in the 21st Century is buying little statues of Francisco Franco? And why does Mick Jagger get a mention?

Also contains – inevitably – some history chat, and what’s possibly a revelation of Hannah’s other career as a spy.

Finally, Mick would like to apologise to Stoke-on-Trent. It’s just a joke.

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SIM Ep 688 Pod 186: Resolutions, life in the fast lane, and two very broken legs

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 03:00:55 -0000

Some of us made plans to “better ourselves” to mark the advent of 2022, so Mick got on the Zoom with our resident psychotherapist Jane Watson, to talk about why we make new year’s resolutions, why we break them and how we can all be a bit kinder to ourselves.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen has a natter with two-time W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, about an amazing year in women's motorsports and what's coming up next.

In the Bush Telegraph there are questions of taste, responsibility and bunga bunga statues, and in Rated or Dated, we're OK, despite having watched 1992's The Hand That Rocks The Cradle.

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SIM Ep 687 Chops 236: The 4th Country, the North country

Sun, 09 Jan 2022 03:00:30 -0000

Northern Ireland is so often absent from our media and from the arts in the UK, so Hannah has been on the Zoom with Kate Reid, the writer of new play The 4th Country, and one of its stars, Rachael Rooney. They chat about a time of great change in the province and why England's view of it is so often wrong, as well as the highs and lows of rehearsing under the ever-present threat of a new lockdown.

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SIM Ep 686 Pod 185: Business and boulders

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 03:00:05 -0000

In the first podzine of 2022, Mickey asks ‘new year, new business?’ as she catches up with Karen Campbell: marketing consultant, small business enthusiast, owner of Hotsy Totsy – a supper club and community for brilliant women – and fierce champion of female entrepreneurs. They’re chatting about why you should start your own business, the pandemic’s silver lining for small business owners, the joy of art deco, and how finding your tribe is key to success.

Bound to get those exercise muscles twitching, Jen chats to mountain leader, and writer Anna Fleming about her new book Time On Rock, as well as the great outdoors, the many ways we can get into sport, and why rock climbing isn't all fleeces and real ale.

And starting the year as she no doubt means to go on, there’s a cameow from Peggy, clearly delighted to see Hannah’s set her mic up again.

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SIM Ep 685 Blast from the gigcast past #3: Omielan, Millican, Garofalo and Pollard

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 03:15:46 -0000

Since it’s Christmas and it’s been a while since we could all enjoy regular live shows, Hannah, Mick and Jen have each chosen a favourite gigcast from, dare we say, better times, and they’re all corkers. Yes, you did read the title correctly, and yes, we did, at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018, gather together on stage Luisa Omielan, Janeane Garofalo and SU POLLARD, alongside the boss, Sarah Millican.

What follows in this podcast is absolute carnage, of the best possible kind, as Su reveals the contents of her tiny suitcase, and our esteemed panel chat tit-covering trousers, bums, and Cher, among other things.

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SIM Ep 684 Blast from the gigcast past #2: Colman, Godliman, Millican and Eclair

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 03:15:00 -0000

Picture this: September 2017, Leicester Square Theatre, Sarah Millican, Kerry Godliman, Jenny Eclair and Olivia Colman onstage. And Mickey. Yeah, Mick could barely believe it either. So imagine her delight when it turns out she and Olivia Colman are equally disgusting.

Hannah, Mick and Jen have each chosen a favourite gigcast from, dare we say, better times, and they’re all corkers. In this one, there’s the bravest little girl in the world, cardigan judgement, dogs in pants, and Judi Dench’s bogies.

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SIM Ep 683 Blast from the gigcast past #1: Millican, Brand and Burke

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 00:47:03 -0000

Oh hello November 2016, nice to see you again. And, yes, we really mean it, because in a terrible month, in a terrible year, something great did happen. And that was that Hannah got to be onstage with the boss - Sarah Millican - and two titans of comedy, Jo Brand and Kathy Burke. Hannah, Mick and Jen have each chosen a favourite gigcast from, dare we say, better times, and they’re all corkers. In this one, there are falls, awards and a whole lot of Brendas.

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SIM Ep 682 Chops 235: Jenny Off The Blocks review of 2021

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 03:00:44 -0000

It's been a funny old year for, well, everything really, and sport is no exception. In this week's Sunday Chops, Jen and journalists Dr Carrie Dunn and Natasha Henry look back at women's sport in 2021. They talk about all the hot topics, including how big an impact the pandemic has had on women's sport, whether or not the success of Emma Raducanu is set to be a flash in the pan, and exactly what did Carrie do to upset Piers Morgan?

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SIM Ep 681 Pod 184 Choosing love, choosing films and choosing to play the Pipes of Peace

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 03:25:03 -0000

Happy Last Podcast Before Christmas Day! This week, Jen's chatting to Philli Boyle, a founding member and director of partnerships for the charity Choose Love, about the migrant crisis, winning hearts and minds, and how we can all help by choosing love this Christmas. Hannah gets on the Zoom with our favourite cinema fan, Yosra Osman, to find out what top films of 2021 we can all tuck into over the festive period. And Mick's got a reminder about how we can all #JoinIn this Christmas and why, for her, it's Paul McCartney for the festive win. Merry Christmas!

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SIM Ep 680 Chops 234: No one puts Elf (Lyons) on the shelf

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 03:00:36 -0000

She’s going to hate us for that title pun. And rightly so. Being a comedian called Elf at Christmas is just one of the things that our Mick is chatting to Elf Lyons about in this episode of the Sunday Chops. They also talk being a teacher in the pandemic, dealing with hecklers, the comedy industry’s #MeToo movement, her Soho Theatre show Elf Lyons Talks Dirty For An Hour, and guinea pigs. Obviously.

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SIM Ep 679 Outside The Box #40

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 16:29:18 -0000

Since it's increasingly dark and cold outside - if we're still allowed out by the time you read this - what better time is there to sit at home and watch some telly? In this episode we're looking at the bloodbath ending of season three of Succession and Sex and The City reboot, And Just Like That... Plus we're talking The Outlaws, Yellowjackets, American Rust, American Crime Story: Impeachment, In My Skin, David Baddiel: Social Media, Anger and Us, Shetland and Landscapers.

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SIM Ep 678 Pod 183: Pregnant panto, hungry homes, and WTF is Capote?

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 03:00:17 -0000

Potential pitfalls for child stars are well documented, so in this week’s podzine Hannah wants to know where it all went RIGHT for actor Dani Harmer, who found fame as Tracy Beaker in the hit CBBC series of the same name. They chat about being a heavily pregnant Fairy Godmother, Strictly Come Dancing, and the enduring appeal of Tracy Beaker.

Emma Revie, CEO of The Trussell Trust, talks to Mick about why the Trust is having to give out 7,000 emergency food parcels a day this December, and the impossible decisions faced by so many families living below the breadline in the UK.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's chatting ladies, unladylike behaviour, and the upcoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, while the Bush Telegraph's got brave women, big clean ups, and buck-takers. And finally, in the last Rated or Dated of the year, the team are frustrated by the absence of Truman Capote as they watch 1961's Breakfast at Tiffany’s and call the RSPCA.

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SIM 677 Chops 233: Strong Female Leads goes Christmas shopping

Sun, 12 Dec 2021 02:06:12 -0000

Nobody wants another hastily-grabbed toiletries set for Christmas. Well, maybe some people do, but some of us want NASA-themed Lego, award-winning graphic novels and a T-shirt with Angela Lansbury's face on. So, we've brought in the big guns, our friends over at the Strong Female Leads podcast, Kate McCabe and Debra-Jane Appelby, to talk Hannah through the best presents for the geek in your life this Christmas. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 676 Pod 182: Sewing, gifting and gatecrashers

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 03:00:26 -0000

Don’t get us wrong, flowers are blooming lovely, but sometimes it’s nice to give – and to receive – something a bit different. But what? Well, on this week’s podzine, Steph Douglas, founder and CEO of Don't Buy Her Flowers, chats to Jen about thoughtful present giving – just in time for Christmas.

When Mandi Bharij started her sewing side hustle Make With Mandi, she had no idea her patterns and sewing tips would make her a name in the Instagram sewing space. She talks to Mick about pattern-making, the importance of visible diversity in sewing and how if you don’t ask, you don’t get.

There are big US trials and small British bus drivers in the Bush Telegraph, a symbolic FA Cup in Jenny Off The Blocks, and the awful spectre of being unmarried and working with books looms almost as large as the

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SIM Ep 675 Chops 232: Caitlin Davies's Queens of the Underworld

Sun, 05 Dec 2021 03:00:12 -0000

Author and journalist Caitlin Davies is the cat’s fancy tracksuit when it comes to writing about women, crime and punishment, as first demonstrated in her 2018 book Bad Girls: A History of Rebels and Renegades. Which we LOVED.

Caitlin’s new book, Queens of the Underworld: A Journey into the Lives of Female Crooks, is another brilliant piece of research, which shines a light on an important – and mostly neglected – part of women’s social history. Our Mick got on the Zoom with Caitlin to find out more about these extraordinary women and why society didn't want us to remember them.

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SIM Ep 674 Flicking #20: Jurassic Park

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 03:00:11 -0000

Dinosaurs! In this month’s episode of Flicking, clever girl Mick tells Yosra and Hannah why she loves, loves, loves Stephen Spielberg’s 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. Do they too feel the excitement? How’s it looking nearly 30 years on? And are Yosra and Hannah convinced by Mick’s constant comparisons to Spielberg’s other epic creature feature, Jaws, or do they want to shooooooot heeeerrrrr? Find out. 🦖🦕

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SIM Ep 673 Pod 181 Finding commonality, celebrating difference and throwing a box of JD through a window

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 01:36:16 -0000

Everyone loves a bit of LadyTech, right? Massive sigh. This week, Jen is chatting to CEO and founder of the Peanut app Michelle Kennedy, about finding solidarity among women and why "the ladies" get patronised in business (and not in the cold hard cash way). Hannah talks to Catherine Deakin from the charity Changing Faces, about life for people with facial differences, James Bond and Christmas parties. There's loadsa good news in Jenny Off The Blocks and Mickey is reminiscing about Clockhouse by C&A in Rated or Dated, as we watch 1976's A Star is Born. Plus, the lads are holding out for a hero in Sexism of the Week. Because bless them.

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SIM Ep 672 IMD21 #5: Men’s Sheds

Sun, 28 Nov 2021 03:00:17 -0000

Think you know what a shed can do? Think again. The UK Men’s Shed Association (UKMSA) is an incredible movement of community spaces for men to connect, converse and create. Sheds combat loneliness and encourage men to talk shoulder to shoulder – such a great, straightforward and vital idea. And so Mickey got on the Zoom to David Meli, the charity’s Partnerships and Community Development Manager, and Men’s Shed ambassador Allan Clarke to find out the hows, whys and benefits of being a Shedder.

All applications for your very own Allan to be sent via the Men’s Sheds’ website, please, which you’ll find at menssheds.org.uk.

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SIM Ep 671 IMD21 #4: Giles Terera and Michael Balogun on Blue/Orange

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 17:39:00 -0000

It's a cliche in theatre to say a play is more relevant than ever, but in the case of Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange, it's 100% true. A new version of it, starring Michael Balogun and Giles Terera is currently on at Northampton's Royal & Derngate Theatres and Hannah spoke to them about the show's themes of race, mental illness and truth, as well as the emotional rollercoaster of last year's National Theatre production of The Death of England: Delroy. They also chat about Hamilton

- obviously - and the advice they'd give working-class youngsters about breaking into acting. Listener, she loved them.

The interview Hannah refers to in this podcast can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvqng

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SIM Ep 670 Pod 180: Teenage angst, teenage dreams, and a purity spiral too far

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 03:00:26 -0000

After writing a piece exposing the call-outs, draggings and pile-ons rife in the toxic world of YA Twitter, author Kat Rosenfield found herself a target. She talks to Hannah about speaking out, as well as her new novel No One Will Miss Her, and the joy of working with Stan Lee. Stan. Lee.

Our resident music guru Liz Buckley is back to talk to Mick about why even if you're a middle-aged woman, it's more than okay to climb aboard the Billie Eilish juggernaut.

There’s bullshit, batshit, and Peppa Pig in the Bush Telegraph. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen is wondering what Kim Kardashian and Dirty Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani have in common, and also joins the growing number of people asking #WhereIsPengShaui? And in Rated or Dated, we're donning our tinfoil hats and asking for Mother, as we watch 1986's The Mosquito Coast.

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SIM Ep 669 IMD21 #3 Matt Forde and the love Labour's lost

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 01:21:00 -0000

Matt Forde is a comedian whose book, Politically Homeless, charts his progress from working for the Labour Party to disillusionment in the Corbyn years. He's also the host of the excellent podcast, The Political Party, and co-host, with Alice Levine, of British Scandal. Hannah talks to him about all of that, obviously, and a lot more besides, including the sort of personality it takes to fake your own death, drawing a cock and balls on a ballot paper, Mo Mowlam, and that time Hannah embarrassed herself in front of Armando Iannucci.

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SIM Ep 668 Pod 179: Get Off, get empowered and get watching

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 03:00:53 -0000

Comedians Kiri Pritchard McLean and Nina Gilligan have launched Get Off! Live Comedy, an independent and confidential HR support service that deals with sexual harassment in live comedy. Hannah got on the Zoom to Kiri to talk about the whys and hows, and they also chat The Covid Arms, and hard-core bulldog clips.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen catches up with Tamara Taylor, former England Rugby captain and player-coach at Saracens Women, to chat about Empower Her, a new women in leadership initiative by the Saracens Foundation and Shawbrook Bank.

And there’s bleak, bleak, and, well, more bleak as Mick and Hannah discuss this week’s news in the Bush Telegraph, and Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971 masterpiece The Last Picture Show gets Rated or Dated.

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SIM Ep 667 IMD21 #2: Being a pro-feminist ally with Chris Green

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 03:00:34 -0000

Pro-feminist activist Chris Green founded the UK arm of the excellent White Ribbon campaign and, as he tells our Mick, has a lot more up his sleeve when it comes to being an excellent ally to women – and engaging more men to do the same.

This is the second in our International Men’s Day 2021 series of interviews. Make sure you have a listen to Jen’s chat with comedian and author Dave Chawner about his experience of having anorexia, and eating disorder psychiatrist Dr Stephen Anderson, who is also a member of the board of trustees at Beat, the UK's eating disorder charity.

And obviously, keep your eyes and ears peeled for more MANterviews in the November pipeline.

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SIM Ep 666 Outside The Box #39

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 14:02:15 -0000

How are we going to fill these long evenings? Suggestion one: telly. This month, we're talking Succession, What We Do In The Shadows, Close To Me, Stath Lets Flats, Squid Game, Dexter: New Blood, The Outlaws and Panorama: Why Do You Hate Me? Yes, that is a lot.

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SIM Ep 665 Pod 178: A bawdy woman, a murderous bunch and a big old bum toot

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 01:40:09 -0000

Zadie Smith taking on Chaucer? Big yes please. This week, Mickey is chatting to actor Clare Perkins about Smith's new play The Wife of Willesden, playing a woman with five husbands and meeting Christopher Walken. Hannah catches up with comedian and top woman Zoe Lyons, who tells us about living with alopecia and why she's decided to talk publicly about it. In Rated or Dated, we're wondering if we'd make it through dinner, as we watch 1996's The Last Supper. And there's sniggering ahoy in The Bush Telegraph, as we discuss THE big story from COP26.

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SIM Ep 664 IMD21 #1: Beating eating disorders

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 03:00:08 -0000

It's that time of year where we let some dudes talk, for a change. In the first part of our 2021 International Men's Day series, Jen chats to comedian and author Dave Chawner about his experience of having anorexia, as well as Dr Stephen Anderson, an eating disorder psychiatrist and member of the board of trustees at Beat, the Uk's eating disorder charity.

They chat about what it's like to be a man suffering from an illness so typically associated with women, why eating disorders are on the rise in men, and why it's so important for those who are suffering to seek help. If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s health, help is available, and you can contact Beat 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677 or beateatingdisorders.org.uk .

While we've got you, Stephen is raising money for Beat by running the 2278 miles of Route 66 virtually, and has 853 left to go since starting in April. If you want to support him and support Beat, you can do so here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/stephen-anderson23

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SIM Ep 663 Flicking #19: William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 03:00:36 -0000

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? HE'S HERE, PAL! Jen, Yosra and Mick recall teenage loins being aflame as, courtesy of Jen's pick, they watch Baz Lurhmann's 1996 take on the 424-year-old romantic tragedy and are reminded just how damn pretty Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes were as the star-crossed lovers. Obviously, Lurhmann gives big Bill a nod in the film's title, but how does his mangling of Sheakespeare's text, frenetic camerawork and extended MTV video vibes stand up 25 years on? Does the fish-tank scene still make us all woozy? And does anyone know what Mercutio's wanging on about in that Queen Mab speech? Find out.

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SIM Ep 662 Pod 177: Extraordinary women, surprising sports, and bring back Buddy's Song, actually

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Pakistani-American artist and author Maliha Abidi is passionate about feminism and diversity, both of which come to the fore in her new book Rise: Extraordinary Women of Colour Who Changed the World. She chatted with Mickey about art for social change, being bigged up by Malala, and staying sane on social media.

In Jenny Off the Blocks, the temperature may be dropping, but rounders is going nowhere. So says Natalie Justice Dearn, CEO of Rounders England, who has some surprising information for Jen about the much-loved "summer sport".

Meanwhile, there's some dangerous snoozing and unwarranted upbeat deliveries in the Bush Telegraph, and the team's swear jar is overflowing in Rated or Dated. Thanks Love Actually. Thanks a fucking bunch.

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SIM Ep 661 Chops 231: The many "a-ha!" moments of Cecelia Ahern

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Cecelia Ahern has written a lot of books, and now she's busying herself with producing and screenwriting, too. Fresh from publication of Freckles, her 18th novel, Cecelia joined Jen on the Zoom to chat about finding your tribe, befriending white van drivers, bringing the written word to the screen, and Sister Act – because why not?

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SIM Ep 560 Gig 60: Millican, Wonfor and Ramsey

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

We’re back, baby! Our first gigcast in *checks calendar* a shit-long time and it’s an absolute corker. Obviously. Mickey’s joined by the boss Sarah Millican, journalist and excellent fact-haver Sam Wonfor, and co-host of smash hit podcast Shagged, Married, Annoyed Rosie Ramsey, and the conversation is WIDE RANGING to say the very least.

Cheese, nans, Byker Grove, an innovative way to deal with dust bunnies, being a shit mam, Below Deck, true crime, the boss’s birthday, and bits of the Queen we’ve never thought about before all make the chat.

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SIM Ep 559 Chops 230: Forced adoptions

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 02:00:52 -0000

Diana Defries was just 16 when, like thousands of unmarried mothers in the UK between the 1940s and 1970s, she was forced to give her baby up for adoption. The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has recently announced a new inquiry into these practices, and Diana told Jen about her experience, what an inquiry can achieve, and why the women affected - and their children - deserve and need an apology.

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SIM Ep 558 Pod 176: Fear, a Ford Focus, and 50 shades of shit

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 02:00:25 -0000

Get ready to hide under your duvet as we travel deep into THE FEAR for this week’s podzine. Hannah’s been on the Zoom with our pal and psychotherapist Jane Watson to talk fear: where it comes from, how to beat it, when to trust it, and why cotton wool is up there with spiders and falling.

Jen catches up with comedy writer Gabby Hutchinson Crouch to chat about her new book, Wish You Weren’t Here, the liminal spooksville of service stations, the horrors of 2016, and how the death of David Bowie might well have opened the Hellmouth.

Sticking with the spooky theme, we’re watching 1991’s The Addams Family and at the very least having a nice time with the theme tune *click click*.

The upcoming W Series finale, and a leaked report investigating bullying and harassment in horse racing are keeping Jen busy in Jenny Off The Blocks. And, because there’s nothing more scary than the real world, the team are dealing with 50 shades of shit in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 557 Chops 229: The joy and importance of working-class writers

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 02:00:16 -0000

If you’ve been enjoying our working-class content recently – Hannah’s interviews with Sophie Willan and Lynsey Hanley, and our chats about the film Rocks and the documentary Harlan County USA are all well worth your ears – then here's another doozy for you, as Mick chats with writer Natasha Carthew, the founder and director of The Working-Class Writers Festival.

Natasha’s everything we love: extremely talented, generous, fiercely proud of being working-class, and a force of nature when it comes to getting fair recognition for working-class – and in particular working-class women – writers in fiction, non-fiction, and for telly and stage.

The Working-Class Writers Festival takes place in real life in and around Bristol, but there are also loads of events that can be attended online. Terri White’s there, Cash Carraway’s there, Val McDermid’s there, Sadie Hasler’s there: it’s going to be brilliant. And what’s more, everything is free. Give the festival a follow @ClassFestival on Twitter or visit bristolideas.co.uk to find out more about the many excellent events taking place October 21 to 24.

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SIM 556 Pod 175: Flushed, free and on the picket line

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 01:00:51 -0000

If you've not been watching Back To Life, you're missing out, as you'll learn from our Mickey's chat with its creator and star Daisy Haggard. They chat about research, old-school romance and crisps. Always with the crisps, those two. Meanwhile, Hannah's been on the Zoom with Catherine Cranfield to talk about Flushed, her play about premature ovarian insufficiency and in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's shocked - SHOCKED - by the findings of a new report into why girls are put off sport. There's a bit of Lego sticking in the throat in The Bush Telegraph, not that anyone should be putting Lego in their mouth, to be clear. And there's some tough, tough women in Rated or Dated, as we watch Barbara Kopple 1976's documentary Harlan County USA. All human life is here.

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SIM Ep 555 Chops 228: Lynsey Hanley has class

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 00:14:15 -0000

Been listening to A Home Of Our Own, the Radio 4 series that started this week? You should be. In it, journalist and author Lynsey Hanley explores Britain's broken housing market through the stories of 10 different homes, from all over the UK, and their occupants. Lynsey's the author of two books, Estates: An Intimate History, and Respectable: Crossing the Class Divide, so Hannah got on the Zoom with her to talk about the vanishing dream of getting a foot on the property ladder for many, if not most, under 40s in this country.

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SIM Ep 554 Outside The Box #38

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 18:57:16 -0000

What the hell happened to evenings? If you want to fill the dark hours with some telly, we're here with some suggestions, including Help, Only Murders In the Building, Mr Mayor, Wolfe and The White Lotus. Plus we're chatting about the sudden surplus of Britney Spears documentaries.

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SIM Ep 553 Pod 174: NDAs, Antigone and – shit me! – it’s David Bowie

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 02:01:21 -0000

The use, or rather mis-use, of non-disclosure agreements is rife in all sorts of nefarious dealings. Zelda Perkins, former assistant to Harvey Weinstein and the first to break her NDA with him, and Julie Macfarlane, a law professor who took on the Anglican Church, want to change that and they chat to Mick about their new campaign, Can’t Buy My Silence. Julie also has a book decoding the well-worn methods used by church, school and state to silence survivors, from first reporting to cross-examination to NDAs, and Going Public: A Survivor's Journey From Grief to Action is available here.

Meanwhile, Jen chats to actor and playwright Merlynn Tong about her adaptation of Antigone, and why she’s written Creon as a woman, while in Jenny Off The Blocks, she’s asking can women have it all, and looking to Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg for the answers. No, really.

In the Bush Telegraph, we’re wondering if flagging down a bus is really the answer to institutionalised sexism in the Metropolitan police. Plus, please imagine our best Blue Steel, as in Rated or Dated we watch cameo-tastic 2001 male model comedy, Zoolander.

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SIM Ep 552 Chops 227: Sarah Solemani likes good questions

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 00:37:51 -0000

Actor and writer Sarah Solemani has adapted Jo Bloom's novel Ridley Road into a four-part drama for the BBC, which starts tonight. Hannah chats to Sarah about the ups and downs of adapting someone else's work, fascism, anti-semitism, and Psychoville. Because Psychoville.

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SIM Ep 551 Flicking #18: Rocks

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 02:00:41 -0000

Sarah Gavron and Theresa Ikoko's 2019 coming-of-age drama Rocks is our Yosra's homegrown pick for this month's deep delve into our favourite films. It’s the story of Shola, AKA Rocks (Bukky Bakray) – a 15-year-old east Londoner, and force of nature, who returns home from school to find her depressed mum gone, leaving Rocks to look after herself and her little brother – and a first-time watch for Mick and Hannah. The team chat the power of female collaboration, being a teenage girl, raising little brothers, and what they'd do to help a friend in an almost impossible situation.

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SIM Ep 550 Pod 173: Awkward laughter, being your own champion, and sentient fuckholes

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 02:00:12 -0000

Nothing delights comedian Njambi McGrath more than the spice of uneasy laughter. Ahead of the Soho Theatre run of her standup show, Accidental Coconut, she chats to Mickey about mining humour from hardship, her incredible grandmother and her new Radio 4 series Njambi McGrath: Becoming Njambi.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s on the Zoom with boxer, model and activist Ramla Ali, who’s recently added ‘author’ to her arsenal, with new book, Not Without A Fight.

Plus, Hannah’s bristling with righteous anger as she quite rightly gives The Lancet what for in Bush Telegraph. And grab your new skirt suits and old stereotypes, as 1996’s The First Wives Club gets Rated or Dated – and does absolutely nothing for Dunleavy’s mood.

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SIM Ep 549 Chops 226: Pepsi and Shirlie are still friends

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 02:02:33 -0000

There's been a lot of life since Wham!, but Pepsi Demacque-Crockett and Shirlie Holliman-Kemp are still mates. So, it's perhaps not surprising that they've written a shared memoir, It's All In Black and White: Wham! Life and Friendship. Hannah's been on the Zoom with the pair of them to talk about playing China in the 1980s, meeting Liza Minelli, fame, family, endometriosis and, of course, the legacy of George Michael. So, almost everything there is.

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SIM Ep 548 Pod 172: Widows, Twitter fame and a poor, neglected cat

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 02:35:46 -0000

Since that infamous council meeting went viral earlier this year, Jackie Weaver's life both has and hasn't changed. She chats to Hannah about her new book You Do Have The Authority Here, her new podcast, and good-old local politics. Jen's been on the phone to Kat Lister to talk about being widowed young and why she decided to write about it in her memoir The Elements. Jenny Off The Blocks looks at the rise of Fallon Sherrock, and in Rated or Dated, we're watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Nice to spot you, Brucie, to spot you nice. And in the Bush Telegraph, we're talking about Nicky Minaj's cousin's friend's swollen balls, because the world hasn't talked about them quite enough this week.

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SIM Ep 547 Chops 224: Sophie Willan's not "not normal"

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 12:45:57 -0000

Alma’s Not Normal, Sophie Willan’s new BBC comedy is absolutely worth your time and our Hannah’s been on the phone with the writer and comedian to find out more. They talk about class, addiction, the North and a whole bunch of other topics that everyone’s got an opinion on, but not always first-hand experience. And Sophie tells us about Stories of Care, her project to help care leavers get into the arts.

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SIM Ep 546 Pod 171: Sex talk, para sport, and Old Jedediah Burgundy

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 02:00:59 -0000

Talking about sexual health remains a massive taboo in British society so, as it’s Sexual Health Week, Hannah jumped on the Zoom with Lisa Hallgarten from Brook, the charity pioneering healthy sex and relationships among young people. They chat about sexual health in lockdown, consent, and how to have The Talk with your young people.

Jen catches up with para-athlete Libby Clegg to talk about guide dogs, the state of disability sport, and her new book My Life With Hatti. And in Rated or Dated, there’s some big talk about Mick’s big pick: Citizen Kane – did it really inspire Will Ferrell's Ron Burgundy? Meanwhile, in the Bush Telegraph, winter is coming, as we ponder who is the worst member of the current cabinet?

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SIM Ep 545 Chops 223: Making space for girls

Sun, 12 Sep 2021 02:00:13 -0000

Susannah Walker and Imogen Clark are the two (excellent) women behind Make Space For Girls, a new charity with Ronseal aims when it comes to parks and other public places.

Because – get ready to feign surprise – girls are not taking up the same amount of space in our parks and public places as boys, particularly once they hit their teens. In fact, after the age of just eight years old, girls use parks less than boys. And that needs to change.

Cue Make Space For Girls. Susannah and Imogen chat to our Mick about park architecture (parkitecture?), the problem with MUGAs, when it’s not helpful to chicane and the incredible progress they’ve made in changing hearts, minds and planning in the short nine months since they set up Make Space For Girls.

If you Twitter, give them a follow on @MakeSpaceForGi1 or if you’re more the ‘Gram type, you’ll find them at make_space_for_girls.

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SIM Ep 544 Outside The Box #37

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 12:34:35 -0000

It's September and autumn's round the corner, so there's loads of new drama coming our way. This week Hannah and Jen chat about Vigil, Stephen, The White Lotus and Annika. Plus, they finally catch up with the really very good documentary Lorena, and Hannah has some TV-related podcast news. You're welcome.

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SIM Ep 543 Pod 170: Landmarks, lockdowns and literally stepping on people to get what you want

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 02:00:06 -0000

The last 18 months have taught us a lot, including the value of public art, so Mickey's been on the Zoom with the excellent Gemma Cairney to talk about her new TV show, Landmark, and the search for someone to create a new landmark for Coventry. Jen's been chatting to filmmaker and artist Margaret Salmon about her film Icarus (After Amelia) and the impact of lockdown on women. She also picked this week's Rated or Dated, Crocodile Dundee, and you can probably guess how that went. There's also plenty o' sport, bad news from Texas in SOTW and murder hornet mayhem in BT. What more is there?

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SIM Ep 542 Chops 222: First love, dangerous ideology and Camp Siegfried

Sun, 05 Sep 2021 02:00:02 -0000

Written by a woman, directed by a woman, with a strong female lead and a creative team of loads of women, Camp Siegfried, which opens at The Old Vic on Tuesday 7 September, couldn’t be more up our strasse.

As the world unknowingly sits on the brink of the Second World War, girl meets boy at summer camp Camp Siegfried, exclusively for American youth of German descent. The total head-spin of first love, the search for identity and belonging, gives way to the camp’s real aim: the preaching of Nazi ideology that will ultimately threaten to destroy them, and set the worldwide stage for global atrocity, devastation and genocide.

And so, for this Chops, Mick caught up with writer Bess Wohl and director Katy Rudd to learn about the real Camp Siegfried, and what happens when all-consuming love meets all-consuming ideology.

Camp Siegfried runs until October 30 and you can get tickets from oldvictheatre.com.

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SIM Ep 541 Flicking #17: Almost Famous

Sat, 04 Sep 2021 02:00:26 -0000

This month it's Hannah's pick and she's taking Yosra and Jen on a coming-of-age road trip of nostalgia with 2000's Almost Famous - and some bold claims she has to make about it, too. They cover the best scenes of the late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman, the wonder of Frances McDormand, the moral conundrum of yesteryear groupies, and what they would - or wouldn't - have done to make it onto Lee Ryan's tour bus (or Eddie Vedder's, for that matter).

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SIM Ep 540 Pod 169: Mending hearts, Kissing Emma, and big love for Tennessee Williams

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 02:00:07 -0000

It’s once more into the breakup breech for our newlywed Mickey, who this week chats to comedian and fellow podcaster Rosie Wilby about how relationship breakdowns can equal important lessons learned and why lesbians know best when it comes to leaving. Rosie covers all this and more in her book, The Breakup Monologues. Jen’s been on the Zoom with comedian and author Shappi Khorsandi about Emma Hamilton – maid, model, dancer, prostitute and actress to mistress of Lord Nelson and the protagonist of Shappi’s new YA book, Kissing Emma. They’re also talking sharp-elbowed middle-class mums and how youngsters are failed by the system.

And Hannah’s Rated or Dated pick of 1951’s A Streetcar Named Desire might out Mick as some sort of philistine, but it doesn’t stop the pair of them getting hot under the collar about the genius of Tennessee Williams.

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SIM Ep 539 Chops 221: Chasing your dream (and some Olympic medals) with Bianca Walkden and Anna Hopkin

Sun, 29 Aug 2021 02:00:26 -0000

Earlier this month, Team GB finished the Tokyo Olympic games fourth on the medal table with a massive 65 medals, equalling our London 2012 Games haul. That makes us the first country to match its medal or better its tally for two consecutive Games after hosting – hurray! In this week's Chops, Jen chats to the winners of two of those medals, Anna Hopkin, part of the 4x100m mixed medley relay gold-medal-winning team, and bronze medalist and head-kicking extraordinaire, taekwondo fighter Bianca Walkden.

They both spoke to Standard Issue on behalf of Team GB and Bridgestone, proud partner of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, as part of their Chase Your Dream No Matter What campaign.

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SIM Ep 538 Pod 168: Violence, Deceit, and Beefy polymorphs

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 02:00:45 -0000

Violence against women and girls is seemingly never out of the news, but certain necessary conversations just aren't being had. Journalist Rachel Thompson wanted to address these grey areas and she talks to Jen about her new book, Rough: How Violence Made Its Way Into The Bedroom, which explores how something comes to be labelled as sexual violence – or indeed not.

Meanwhile, Hannah catches up with actor Niamh Algar about Channel 4 drama Deceit, in which she stars as the policewoman charged with honey trapping Colin Stagg. They also talk about her new horror film Censor which is out in cinemas this week and already getting great reviews. Oh, and about working with Stephen Graham, because, y'know, Hannah.

In Jenny off the Blocks, Jen’s talking golf for the second consecutive week, as she rounds up the latest action in women’s sport. In Rated or Dated, we’re howling at the moon/Wikipedia/Mick's attempts at doo-wop as we watch 1981’s An American Werewolf In London. And there’s unappetising beef, inspiring bikes and a well dodgy holiday policy in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 537 Chops 220: The Best Most Awful Job

Sun, 22 Aug 2021 02:00:38 -0000

You may well have heard the rumours that motherhood can be pretty hard work at times. Guess what... the rumours are true. In this week's Chops, Jen chats to two excellent writers, Saima Mir and Mimi Aye, both contributors to the book, The Best Most Awful Job: Twenty Writers Talk Honestly About Motherhood.

Jen and Saima talk about maternal rage, expectations of motherhood vs reality, and Petit Filous absolutely everywhere. And she chats with Mimi about the experience and pain of being othered - and watching your children being othered - in your own country.

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SIM Ep 536 Pod 167: Billie Holiday, accidental up the duffery and terror everywhere

Wed, 18 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

It’s an epic challenge for our resident music expert Liz Buckley in this week podzine, as Mick asks her to cram as much info about the incredible Billie Holiday’s jam-packed short life into a 15-minute chat. Start your clocks now...

Meanwhile, Jen’s been on the Zoom with journalist and writer Sophie Heawood about her excellent book The Hungover Games, and the trials and tribulations of getting accidentally knocked up. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, she is, as ever, rounding up the latest news in women's sport.

We won’t beat around the Bush Telegraph, it’s a particularly bleak news week – but you probably already knew that. Hopefully some interesting chat and very angry vaginas will cheer you up, as the team give 1986’s Aliens the Rated or Dated treatment.

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SIM Ep 535 Chops 219: Pandora Colin on women, TV, theatre and pirates

Sun, 15 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Actor Pandora Colin is a human joy, so our Mick was delighted to natter with her about, well, all sorts. They chat the continued dearth of decent – decent being the key word – roles for women over 35 and why maybe we’re not grateful just to be thrown a few crumbs, and the not-so-maverick white, male detective, and, given Pandora played Dr Vetrova in 2019’s incredible mini-series Chernobyl, what it’s like being in landmark telly. They also cover the joy of food and music, while Mick discovers what David Bowie, Joy Division and a Russian disaster have in common,

Oh, and of course they chat about the play that Pandora is currently in, which is Bach & Sons at the Bridge Theatre. www.bridgetheatre.co.uk

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SIM Ep 534 Outside The Box #36

Fri, 13 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Women, that's what we like on TV, and this time, we've the full gamut for you. From funny sisters in This Way Up and a hard-pressed working mum in I Am... Victoria to high school girls in Cruel Summer and an icon in Reclaiming Amy. And last, but very much not least, there are feral nuns in Lambs of God. You are welcome.

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SIM Ep 533 Pod 166: Ghosts, regrets, soul and tiny feet

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Regrets, we’ve had a few… and it probably does us the power of good to mention them. So says very wise and utterly lovely Amanda Prowse, the international best-selling novelist whose latest book, Waiting To Begin, inspired The Art of Regret – a campaign designed to get women to share their secret regrets and potentially see them turned into city-centre artworks. In this week’s podzine, she tells our Mick all about it.

Also, GHOSTS IS BACK. And we are very excited. Lucky Hannah got on the blower (Zoom) to Martha Howe-Douglas, one of the writers and stars of the glorious BBC comedy to find out about writing and filming during the pandemic, playing unlikeable characters, and what’s in a name when that name is Fanny Button.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen is understandably sad about the end of the Olympics and couldn’t be less bovved about European football dramz. There’s big 60s soul (yay!) and big misogyny (boo!) as the team watch 1991’s The Commitments in Rated or Dated. Plus, rubbish numbers, greenhouse gasses, and tiny but inspiring feet in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 532 Chops 218: Testosterone with Dr Carole Hooven

Sun, 08 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Is testosterone a feminist issue? Well, after reading Dr Carole Hooven's new book Testosterone: The Story Of The Hormone That Dominates And Divides Us, Hannah totally thinks it is. So, she got on the Zoom with the Harvard evolutionary biologist to chat about what testosterone – or "T" – can teach us about the differences in how boys and girls play, male aggression and DSDs, often erroneously called intersex conditions. And, perhaps, most pertinently, about why all these topics remain so controversial, and how, increasingly, politics and science don't play well together.

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SIM Ep 531 Flicking #16: Little Shop of Horrors

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

This month, Mick has Yosra and Jen watching one of her most-loved Christmas films: 1986 musical Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Muppet-master Frank Oz and starring everyone’s favourite Ghostbusters nerd, Rick Moranis. But is it a Christmas film? Well, clearly not. But can Mick convince Jen and Yosra that the songs, the Levi Stubbs-voiced man-eating plant, the bright colours and the pantomime vibe put the ho ho ho into horror fun? Find out!

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SIM Ep 530 Pod 165: Ice cream, allotments and a (terrifying) chocolate factory

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

There’s been more than a bit of grief, loss, and mental health problems doing the rounds lately, as we come out the other side of a harrowing 18 months, for many. So Mick caught up with artist The Fandangoe Kid, to talk about her new project Fandangoe Whip, and how she’s opening up conversations via the medium of ice cream – is there any better way? It’s National Allotments Week, so Hannah chats to Diane Appleyard, from the National Allotment Society, about the restorative powers of veg-growing, gooseberries, and not snogging Michael Gove.

In Jenny Off The Blocks Jen is talking all things Olympics, and in Rated or Dated, oompa, loompa doompadee doo, will we think this week’s film is quite poo? That’s right, we’re watching 1971’s Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Meanwhile, there’s immigration shambles, Disney fuckhousery, and peachy (ish) Schapps in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 529 Chops 217: Sylvia Lancaster on hate crime

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Hate crimes are on the rise, but are far from a new phenomenon. Many of us will remember the high-profile murder of 20-year-old Sophie Lancaster in 2007, after she and her boyfriend, Rob, were brutally attacked by five boys, seemingly for being "alternative". Sophie's murder has recently inspired a major storyline on Coronation Street, so Jen caught up with Sophie's mum, Dr Sylvia Lancaster OBE, to talk about how this came about, the realities of life for alternatives, and turning hate into hope through the foundation Sylvia set up in her daughter's name. https://www.sophielancasterfoundation.com/

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SIM Ep 528 BONUS POD: Stop! Coffee time!

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

An extra podcast? You are welcome, you lucky, lucky people.

We’ve teamed up with Carte Noire, makers of delicious coffee and big proponents of the French art of living, to celebrate the joy of living life to the full. We’re also huge fans of YOU DO YOU, MATE! so in this episode we chat about what that means to us. For Jen, it’s cycling across America, for Mick, it’s having a nice sit down and a stare with a mug of the good stuff, and for Hannah, it’s making the decision to put herself first sometimes.

And we did – of course! – get some other excellent women involved: workaholic journalist Hazel Davis talks about the importance of taking a break, mental health advocate Lucy Nichol tells us why it’s key to be true to yourself, and teacher Lucy Reynolds shares her sanity-saving (occasionally stealth) coffee rituals.

Brew up, get comfy and enjoy.

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SIM Ep 527 Pod 164: Asia, medals and inappropriate dancing to Super Freak

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

How has the pandemic affected attitudes towards Asians in the UK? And how useful a descriptor is the word Asian anyway? This week, Hannah chats to writer Ava Wong Davies about this and her episode of Future Theatre's new Fully Amplified podcast. With the Olympics in full flow, Jen's been on the blower to former European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic track cycling champion Jo Rowsell about the switch from podium to pundit and Team GB's medal hopes. Mickey's looking at Olympic outfit nonsense in Sexism of the Week and we're asking when a shark attack is not really a shark attack in BT. Plus we're pushing a bus uphill in this week's Rated and Dated and still having a lovely time, as we watch 2006's Little Miss Sunshine.

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SIM Ep 526 Chops 216: Blue Plaques for women

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Who is to blame for a lack of Blue Plaques for women in London? In a way, it's all of us, as English Heritage rely on the public for nominations. In this Chops, Hannah chats to Anna Eavis, curatorial director at English Heritage, about attempts to celebrate and commemorate more women. Ellen Craft is one of the women being honoured with a Blue Plaque this year and so her nominator, Dr Hannah-Rose Murray from the University of Edinburgh, also joins the chat to talk about Ellen's incredible life. Hopefully it will inspire you to nominate some fantastic women of your own.

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SIM Ep 525 Pod 163: Comedy writing, channel swimming and Olympic rumpy pumpy

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Splish, splash, we were… having a bath? Nah, swimming the Bristol Channel more like. Not Mick, Hannah and Jen – OBVS! – but the Henley Mermaids are undertaking this epic open-water challenge to raise cash for the Sunrise charity for brain conditions. Three fifths of them chat to Jen about the whats, whys and hows, as well as the many joys of being self-defined “middle-aged ladies”.

Mick and Hannah have a bloody lovely time chatting with Georgia Pritchett, multi award-winning screenwriter of top-level telly – including Veep, Succession, and The Thick Of It – about why feelings are like pickled eggs, the wait and travelling involved in writing with other women, and why ‘Boss and Toss’ was the TV romance we all needed.

The team are all wearing corduroy suits and smoking like chimneys as 1976’s All The President’s Men gets Rated or Dated. And there’s rumpy pumpy, grumpy Dutch veg sellers and way too much singing in the Bush Telegraph.

If you fancy chucking the Henley Mermaids some bunce for their wet endeavours, you can do so here: https://www.henleymermaids.com/

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SIM Ep 524 Chops 215: The joy of divorce? Damn right, says Helen Thorn

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Helen Thorn's new book Get Divorced, Be Happy is an account of what she’s learned over a pretty big year, a sharing of the best tips she’s picked up along the way, a huge hug for anyone going through similar and a clink of the fizz glass to female friendship. It is *hugely* uplifting.

In this Chops, the Australian half of the Scummy Mummies chats to our Mick about self-reclamation, getting through life’s shitty bits, the joy as well as the tough parts of single mumming, and how what feels like the worst thing to ever happen to you could well be the best.

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SIM Ep 523 Outside The Box #35

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 12:46:58 -0000

How are we in July already? Who knows, but if you're not planning on watching the Olympics this month, maybe you'd like to know what TV to get into your eyes and what to avoid. In this episode, Hannah and Mick finally catch up with The Nevers and tuck into the second half of Lupin, while Jen's been watching Sex/Life and it's important to point out that we didn't make her. Jen and Hannah chat about Epstein's Shadow: Ghislaine Maxwell and there's other documentary news. And Mickey's been watching Together. Plus, we are varying degrees of excited about the Succession trailer, The Many Saints of Newark and the Sex & The City reboot.

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SIM Ep 522 Pod 162: Innovation, inclusion, and ick, what just happened to his head?

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Ever wondered if the economy is built for men and whether or not that might be doing us all a massive disservice? You’d be right, says financial journalist Katrine Marçal. She chats to Mick about Mother of Invention, her excellent new book shining a light on how understanding the consequences of sexism in our economy could be what saves us all.

Ahead of this summer's Paralympics, disability rights charity Scope has published some shocking findings about declining rates in sports participation among the disability community of Great Britain. Jen caught up with Laura Cook to discuss the charity’s Make It Count campaign and the barriers facing disabled people looking to stay active.

In the Bush Telegraph, we’re chatting about how all sorts of bellendery, rather than football, came home, and we look to cows – yes cows – for some good news. Meanwhile there's small plot, big CGI and massive cinematic ripples, as 1996’s The Frighteners gets Rated or Dated.

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SIM Ep 521 Chops 214: Who you calling a lesser Bronte?

Sun, 11 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Last year marked 200 years since the birth of Anne Bronte and then, well, you know the rest. But the good people at The Bronte Parsonage aren't going to let a global pandemic rob her of a celebration and its exhibition dedicated to Anne is back in business. So Hannah got on the Zoom with events officer Lauren Livesey to chat about why the youngest Bronte is absolutely not "a lesser one", why The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is fiercely feminist, hugely complicated and potentially un-adaptable, and why your age likely affects your feelings about Anne's value. Plus Hannah puts up a spirited defence of Bramwell. She has her reasons.

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SIM Ep 520 Pod 161: Sport-fuelled, haunted and Furious

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

How much sport is too much sport? Let's find out. In this week's podcast, Jen is trying to compress Wimbledon, the Euros and the Olympics into one Jenny Off The Blocks and it's a valiant effort, if we do say so ourselves. She's also been chatting to author Zen Cho about representations of Malaysia, haunting grannies, and her new book Black Water Sister. Cinemas need bums on seats, so Hannah's been on the Zoom with our favourite film fan, Yosra Osman, to talk about what new flicks are absolutely crying out for a big-screen viewing. Mickey's got all the news about soldiers in stilettos in Sexism of the Week and we ponder a maskless world and that Bill Cosby ruling in BT. And John Singleton's debut film, 1991's Boyz N The Hood gets the Rated or Dated treatment. That sounds like a lot. It is a lot. You're welcome.

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SIM Ep 519 Chops 213: Hey America, what’s happening?

Sun, 04 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

After four years of being constantly yelled at by Donald Trump, covid reports aside, it’s been eerily quiet since 46th US President Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20 this year.

Independence Day seems the perfect time to have a look at how Biden’s doing, what’s currently going down in Washington and what the future may hold, and so Mickey and Hannah got on the Zoom with leading UK journalist Helen Lewis, who, as staff writer for The Atlantic, knows a thing or two about American politics.

They talk reasons to be cheerful, reasons to be fearful, Biden, Harris, the role of the media, extreme Republicans, and why Facebook needs to never give Trump his account back.

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SIM Ep 519 Flicking #15: Clueless

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

It's our resident film buff Yosra Osman's pick this month, and she's shamed Mick, Hannah and Jen by being the first to choose a film with a female director. Yosra's a big fan, but what do Hannah and Mick make of Amy Heckerling's iconic teen rom-com, Clueless? Is it a yes please or a *makes W with thumbs and forefingers* whatevah?

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SIM Ep 518 Pod 160: The joy of cats, the power of periods, and #FreeBritney

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

CATS. What could be better, eh? Well, how about cats + excellent comedian Suzi Ruffell? Exactly! This week, Hannah catches up with Suzi to chat cats. And if you need more info than that 1. Why, what’s wrong with you? And 2. Because in Suzi’s new Radio 4 show, My Cat, The Judge, she and her cat Velma embark on a scientific quest to find out if cats and humans can ever truly understand each other. Mow.

Mick’s chatting to artist Carolyn Defrin about period power, overcoming the woo-woo and her latest project, 28 Days Greater, a 28-strong series of short films screening as part of Camden People’s Theatre’s annual Calm Down Dear festival. Jen’s talking about YouGov's Women in Sport report in Jenny Off The Blocks, while Hannah’s got the team racking their brains to remember 20-year-old pop culture refs as Rated or Dated does 2001’s Shrek. And of course – OF COURSE – there’s Hatt Mancock chat in this week’s BT, alongside how the Government should really tackle childhood obesity, and some blooming excellent news for Gibraltar.

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SIM Ep 517 Chops 212: Melissa Febos’s Girlhood

Sun, 27 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Sometimes a book has you nodding along so furiously, you give yourself neck ache. That’s what happened when our Mickey read Girlhood, Melissa Febos’s collection of eight personal essays examining what it means to come as age as a woman and how the hell we stop landing girls with baggage they’ll carry with them for life.

Mick chats to Melissa about patriarchy attacks, why it’s so difficult for girls and women to say no, “empty consent”, mums and daughters, and, erm, cuddle parties.

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SIM Ep 516 Pod 159: Computers, rights, and a rusty spoon.

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

If you’re baffled by computers and the like, you’re absolutely not on your own – but there's hope! This week, Mick catches up with Dr Sue Black to chat about computer science, why it’s a good idea to know at least a little bit about this witchcraft, and how Sue's new podcast, 100 Moments That Rocked Computer Science, can help you do just that.

With a referendum about to take place in Gibraltar – a country with some of the harshest abortion laws in Europe – Hannah chats to Kayley Linares from Gibraltar For Yes about the campaign to change those laws and give women bodily autonomy.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's chatting Olympic hopes and a summer of sporting firsts. In Rated or Dated, Mick’s hoping no one will be cutting her heart out with a spoon, as we watch 1991’s Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. And in the Bush Telegraph, we're asking is “ministerial leadership” *really* the answer? Now what do you think?

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SIM Ep 515 Chops 211: Amelia Dimeldonberg on caring, content and chicken

Sun, 20 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

At 27 years old, queen of chicken shop chat Amelia Dimeldonberg has been dominating content creation for the best part of a decade. As she launches Who Cares?, her new series for UKTV and Dave, she chats to Jen about capturing the mood of the nation, launching her own production company, the enigma that is Big Narstie, and Olivier Giroud's facial hair.

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SIM Ep 514 Outside The Box #34

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 13:56:27 -0000

There's loads of meaty drama to get your teeth into this month, as we chat about the last episodes of Mare of Easttown, as well as Time, The Underground Railroad, The Beast Must Die and Fargo 4. But there is time for some comedy too, because we've been watching Motherland and Inside No 9. And for those of you wondering if Inside No 9 really is a comedy, we talk about that too. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 513 Pod 158: Yarl's Wood, the Euros and David Bowie's wang (walk into a podcast)

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

It's Refugee Week, so Mickey has been on the Zoom with Agnes Tanoh and Sam Hudson from Women For Refugee Women about how Yarl’s Wood is a prison not sanctuary, the plight of refugee women in the UK, and the fight to halt the building of a new detention centre in County Durham. Euro 2020 is finally underway, so Jen chats to Scotland Women's football manager and BBC Sport pundit, Shelley Kerr. With all this talk about "the health of the nation", Hannah's got a barrage of facts in BT that might make you question what those words mean. And, cover your eyes, The Goblin King has his indecently tight pants on in Rated or Dated, as we watch 986's Labyrinth. You have been warned.

More about that St John's College study Hannah talks about in BT here: https://www.joh.cam.ac.uk/scientists-can-predict-which-women-will-have-serious-pregnancy-complications
You can sign Agnes’ petition to stop detaining women seeking asylum here: https://www.change.org/stop-detaining-women
You can use this simple tool to contact your MP and ask them to take action to stop the new immigration detention centre for women: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/write-to-your-mp-hassockfield
You can find out more about the Home Office’s plan to open the new detention centre here: https://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/stop-the-new-detention-centre/

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SIM 512 Chops 210: charting Mary Wollstonecraft's love and fury

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Mary Wollstonecraft is the subject of Samantha Silva’s latest book, Love And Fury, an historical fiction reanimating the life and legacy of arguably the world’s first feminist. And what a life. Samantha chats to Mickey about being an 18th Century radfem, why Wollstonecraft is still all-too relevant today, the importance of women – obvs! – and *that* Newington Green statue.

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SIM Ep 511 Pod 157: Unwell women, Hill without Bill, and RELEASE THE KRAKEN!

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest novel, Rodham, imagines an alternative history for Hillary Clinton – one in which she never married Bill – and she chats to Hannah about how exactly you go about blending fact and fiction, the highs and lows of 2016, and that time Hannah predicted a tit explosion in a political debate.

Rubbish research, wandering wombs and the ol’ “women are making shit up” come into play AGAIN, as Jen talks to Dr Elinor Cleghorn about women and medicine and the litany of ways women’s bodies and minds have been misunderstood throughout history, as covered in her new book Unwell Women. And in JOTB, Jen's chatting the Euros, the Paralympics and showing solidarity.

The team are wearing sandals and ready to fight stop-motion beasties as Rated or Dated travels back to 1981’s Clash of the Titans to get misty-eyed over Ray Harryhausen’s creations and baffled by Laurence Olivier’s film choices. And there’s a quite frankly astonishing amount of good news in the Bush Telegraph. Also, y’know, some depressing business as usual, because the world's not tilted entirely off its axis.

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SIM Ep 510 Chops 209: Jane Thynne is in Widowland

Sun, 06 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Best-selling author Jane Thynne's upcoming novel, Widowland, was inspired by reactions to Jane herself, after the death of her husband, fellow best-selling scribe Philip Kerr. She chats to Hannah about Widowland, and why some alternative histories are closer to reality than we might think, as well as the status of widows, in the past and today. Jane also chats refreshingly openly about her experiences of losing her husband, and how it has altered her attitudes to life, possessions and the wisdom of choosing computer passwords. Widowland, written under the pen name CJ Carey, is published on June 10.

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SIM Ep 508 Pod 157: Isolation, celebration and parents who need to stay divorced

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Ever read a book and thought, "I'd love it if (child I know) could read it, but it's still a bit old for them?" Well, Victoria Hislop has solved that problem with at least one of those books, rewriting her novel The Island, as Maria's Island, a book for kids. Jen caught up with her to find out more, and also learned a lot about why leprosy is still a real problem in some parts of the world. Hannah's been chatting about the Celebrating City Women initiative with Wendy Hyde, from The City of London Corporation, and historian Virginia Rounding. Plus, Jen chats Naomi Osaka, mental health and the media, in Jenny Off The Blocks, and it's double Hayley Mills and piss-poor parenting ahoy as we watch 1961's The Parent Trap in Rated or Dated. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 506 Pod 156: We are the stigmatists, journalists and weirdos, mister

Wed, 26 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

It’s hard for teenage girls to make their voices heard at the best of times, let alone in the midst of a global pandemic. This week Mick chats to playwright and co-director of Illumine Theatre, Lisa Parry, who's written an excellent play, The Merthyr Stigmatist, about just this. They also talk about small-town Wales, and that time a cockatiel decapitated the baby Jesus.

Prepare for your mind to be blown as Hannah gets on the Zoom with writer Judith Mackrell, to talk about her new book Going With The Boys: Six Extraordinary Women Writing From The Front Line, a group biography of six incredible women working as Second World War correspondents.

In Jenny off the Blocks, Jen’s got beef with clay as she gives us the lowdown on the French Open, and in Rated or Dated, we're hailing the four corners of shite special effects as we watch 1996's The Craft.

Dig in!

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SIM Ep 505 Chops 207 Transforming drug policy

Sun, 23 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Misuse of Drugs Act, so Hannah's been on the Zoom to Jane Slater, of the campaign group Transform Drugs, to talk about where and why reform is needed. They discuss the pressure UK drugs laws put on the justice system, prisons and health services, as well as communities and individuals, why we have fallen so far behind other countries when it comes to marijuana policy, and why a law that's not enforced equally shouldn't be enforced at all. Have at it.

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SIM Ep 504 Pod 155: Myths, panic, secrets, and lies

Wed, 19 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

What have the Greek myths ever done for us? Loads, it turns out, as writer, broadcaster, classicist and comedian Natalie Haynes explains to Mickey in this week’s podzine. They chat about how the Classics still resonate, why they’re for everyone, and how the women in Greek myth have been given short shrift by (relatively) modern interpreters. What a surprise, eh?

We can all agree that panic attacks are fucking horrible, but they’re still quite often dismissed or lumped in with other mental health issues. Jen chats to mental health advocate Claire Eastham, who has had 371 panic attacks and so is perfectly placed to discuss why they happen and how to deal with them; something she also covers in her new book F**K I THINK I'M DYING.

The answer to the weekly question Rated or Dated is plain as day, schweedhaaart, as the team watch Mike Leigh’s Secrets & Lies and take turns doing Brenda Blethyn impressions. Plus, there’s football chat and Alex Scott celebrations in Jenny Off The Blocks, and an exciting experiment, a Matlock car-park, and a need for women in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 503 Chops 206: The joy of Rakie Ayola

Sun, 16 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

You’ll no doubt recognise award-winning actor Rakie Ayola from her wide-ranging stuff on the telly – from Black Mirror to EastEnders to Doctor Who to Noughts + Crosses to Holby City – or you may have seen her at the theatre in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime or as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter And The Cursed Child or, most recently, in her award-winning turn as Noni in On Bear Ridge at the Royal Court.

As of tomorrow, Monday 17 May, you can catch Rakie as DS Holland in The Pact, Little Door’s new six-parter for BBC Wales. It's a tense, gripping thriller about a mysterious death and its impact on a group of four female friends who make a terrible decision. You can watch it on BBC One each Monday at 9pm or, if you’re an impatient telly watcher, the whole series will also be on iPlayer from May 17.

Our Mickey caught up with Rakie to chat about the enduring pull of crime dramas, how the boring trope of dead, naked woman needs to jog on, the need for more menopausal women on telly, the joy of Wales, learning Welsh – and underestimating Wales at your peril.

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SIM Ep 502 Outside The Box #33

Fri, 14 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Lots of returning BBC comedy series this month, but we still had time to take a look at the finale of Line of Duty, Viewpoint and its ensuing shitshow, Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown and Ian Wright's Home Truths. We tackle one of those newly-returned series, This Time With Alan Partridge, and Hannah's also been laughing at Leonardo, although not sure that's what they were hoping when they made it. And Mick's been learning about makeup and its glamorous history in, er, MakeUp: A Glamourous History. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 501 Pod 154: High hopes, low take-up and driving off a cliff at the end

Wed, 12 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

The old world slowly returns, so Hannah's been on the blower to Standard Issue fave and new comedian Vix Leyton to chat about how she's salvaged a good year from a very bad one and our gradual reset to "normal". With Covid vaccine take-up still low among black and ethnic minority communities, Jen's been chatting to the Runnymede Trust's Halima Begum to find out why, as well as what the proposed Covid passport (er, no thanks) might mean for those groups. There's maternity rights in Jenny Off The Blocks, and in Sexism of the Week, Mickey's got some startling figures about how harassment affects women while jogging. We're all about last week's election, and reactions to it, in the Bush Telegraph and in Rated or Dated, we watch one of the boss's favourite films, Thelma Louise. No pressure.

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SIM Ep 500, Chops 205: In the picture with Dr Catherine McCormack

Sun, 09 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

For millennia, men have written the narrative around women's bodies and sexuality, and this applies to visual representations too, says Dr Catherine McCormack, art historian, independent curator, and author of the new book Women In The Picture: Women, Art And The Power Of Looking. Jen caught up with Catherine to talk about just that, as well as the debate around censorship and whitewashing history, the difference between liberation and exploitation, and errrr, Nuts magazine.

Catherine refers to historic allegations of abuse made against film director and actor Woody Allen. Allen has vehemently and consistently denied these.

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SIM Ep 499 Pod 153: Slugs, space and the need, the need for speed

Wed, 05 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Masturbation, owed orgasms, shame, grief and the word 'moist': all of them get a look-in during Mick's wide-ranging chat with excellent poet Hollie McNish, whose brilliant new book, Slug is a bona-fide gem. Hannah catches up with Julie Gearey, writer and creator of new SkyOne sci-fi series Intergalactic, to chat the joys of a feminist Con Air in particular, and women in sci-fi in general.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's loving the work of Katie Taylor and Emma Hayes, and there’s a need for greater respect the American taxpayer in this week’s Rated or Dated, Top Gun. Plus there’s dodgy ‘dos, dodgy deeds, and generally too much news in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 498 Chops 204: Magic, pum-pums and the glory of fuck

Sun, 02 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Leone Ross’s incredible third novel, This One Sky Day (published as Popisho in the US), is a joyous magic realism adventure into self-acceptance and the power of people.

It led to Leone and our Mick having a wide-roaming natter, which covers self-discovery, self-acceptance, the joy of sauce, the food we need, workaday magical powers, the power of pum-pums (vulvas, if you’re wondering), transformative sex, politics with a big and a small ‘P’, imagining an island with no colonial history and the evergreen glory of the word ‘fuck’.

Before you dig in, an apology: at the time of the interview, Mick didn’t notice Leone’s jewellery jangle, which you will hear throughout the chat (despite her best editing). You will get used to it though, promise.

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SIM EP 497 Flicking #13: Airplane!

Sat, 01 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

This month Mick takes us on a nostalgic voyage as the team revisits one of her childhood favourites, 1980's Leslie Nielson comedy vehicle, Airplane! Daft as you like and full to the brim with gags, but just how recently has Mick watched it and how will her Millennial co-pilots, Yosra and Jen, feel about it?

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SIM Ep 496 Pod 152: Embracing sadness, overturning assumptions, and Big Billy Two Dicks

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

How do you feel about being sad? It might be hard to feel good about it, but journalist Helen Russell has some excellent reasons to stop fearing it, as she chats to our Jen about her new book, How To Be Sad: Everything I've Learned About Getting Happier, By Being Sad, Better.

Mick’s been on the Zoom with Lara Parmiani, artistic director of Legal Aliens Theatre Company, to chat about Things I Am Not, a ten-part series of podcasts turning assumptions around migrant women on their head.

There are super-leagues, mega-bucks, and Red Roses in Jenny Off The Blocks; dodgy dealings, hope, hard work, and great knobs of the ocean in The Bush Telegraph, and modern girls, modern boys, but no sports bras in Rated or Dated, as the team watches 1981’s Gregory’s Girl.

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SIM Ep 495 Chops 203: Survivor Stories

Sun, 25 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Personal testimony is a powerful part of the national debate about sexual abuse and in this week's Chops, Hannah gets on the Zoom with Journalist Lizzy Dening to find out more about her website Survivor Stories. They chat about how lockdown has impacted survivors of sexual abuse, how "telling your story" can help you to move on and why the words "what was she doing out at that hour?" should get in the bin forever.

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SIM Ep 494 Pod 161: The outside world, the outside gym and the friend only you can see

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

The world is opening up again, but do all of us feel ready for it? Mick's been on the phone with Standard Issue's favourite psychotherapist, Jane Watson, to find out how to ease ourselves back into the old normal and what to do if we like the new normal too much for that. Jen catches up with Faye Bell, founder of Strong and Bendy fitness studio to chat about post-Covid gymming. In Rated or Dated, we talk mud pies, upskirting and the late Rik Mayall as we watch 1991's Drop Dead Fred. The Church of England, Hatt Mancock and a woman's right to choose what happens to her own body all get a look-in in The Bush Telegraph. And then there's Pinky Gloves. WTAF?

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SIM Ep 493 Chops 202: Eating Disorders, self harm and The Fear

Sun, 18 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Eating disorders have, unusually, made the news a fair bit during the course of the pandemic, which – perhaps unsurprisingly – has seen a rise in eating disorders. And while the official stats aren’t available as yet, professionals are also reporting a surge in self-harming behaviour, not just in adults, but also among children, some as young as eight.

Mickey and journalist Kelly Welles chat about their personal experiences of eating disorders and self-harm, and how Kelly channelled her depression, anxiety and self-harming behaviour into her debut fiction The Fear. (And managed to make it funny.)

If you or someone you know needs help, beateatingdisorders.org.uk is a good resource, Mind.org.uk is brilliant on, well, loads of stuff, including eating disorders, self-harm and suicide ideation, and Harmless.org.uk provides advice around self-harm.

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SIM Ep 493 Outside the Box #32

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 13:27:23 -0000

Mother of God, Line of Duty is back and we've thoughts, loads of them. There's also a whole lot to say about the end of an era for Unforgotten, and three-part ITV series Too Close. Mick's got a lot of good things to say about the Tina Turner documentary, TINA, and Hannah's been watching a documentary about the Great Famine in Ireland. Never let it be said that we lack breadth.

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SIM Ep 492 Pod 150: Bigamy, bigotry and... Brian?

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Narratives around race and ethnicity continue to be reductive and damaging, says journalist Natalie Morris, who chatted to Jen about her new book Mixed/Other, as well as identity, entitlement, and the limitations of the census. Hannah’s found out some juicy gossip about her family, so she’s caught up with Professor Rebecca Probert about the history of divorce and – SPOILER ALERT – bigamy.

In Jenny off the blocks, Jen’s talking about the unstoppable rise of Rachael Blackmore. In Rated or Dated, the team rollerskates gratuitously into 90s romcom, The Truth About Cats and Dogs. And it's breaking news, unreliable news, and surprising news sources in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 491 Chops 201: On This Day She

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Women are often missing from history, their roles downplayed, their achievements diminished. In this week's Chops, Hannah chats to three women on a mission to correct this: Ailsa Holland, Tania Hershman and Jo Bell. After the success of the @OnThisDayShe Twitter account, they've released a weighty book, also entitled On This Day She, which as they tell Hannah, is filled with tales of brilliant, pioneering, complicated, flawed women. And some plain bad ones too.

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SIM Ep 490 Pod 149: Motherhood, history, and thank fuck for Hugh Grant

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

This weekend is the British Library's HistoryFest, so Hannah's been on the Zoom with one of this year's speakers, Dr Peggy Brunache, to find out more about the trans-Atlantic slave trade and what myth should be thrown in the bin forever. Mickey catches up with Katherine Kotz, multi-hyphenate in the arts, and curator of an excellent new online short-film festival called The Motherhood Project at the Battersea Arts Centre, which is raising cash for Refuge. Katherine managed to fight the delirium of new mumming to explain why it exists and what punters can expect.

And blimey O’Reilly, what a Rated Or Dated, as Hannah and Mick revisit Bridget Jones’s Diary 20 years on to see how it speaks to, for and about women. Strap in: it ain’t pretty.

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SIM Ep 489 Chops 200: Shaking hands with Ella Al-Shamahi

Sun, 04 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Covid 19 has given the handshake a bad rap, reckons explorer and paleoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi, who set out to explore the origins and significance of the greeting in her book The Handshake: A Gripping History. She chatted to Jen about why she is a massive advocate for the handshake, why it's probably not gone for good, and why some of us have really missed physical contact in our lives, over the past year

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SIM Ep 488 Flicking #12: Pride

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Brace yourself for Hannah's naming of the genre of film that British filmmakers have absolutely mastered and of which 2014's Pride – the (based on a true) story of the 1980s alliance between London gay-rights activists and striking Welsh miners – might just be the pinnacle. Yosra's onboard, but will Mick's po-faced feminism ruin everything?

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SIM Ep 487 Pod 148: Gloss, hormones and Julia Roberts's tits

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 02:00:00 -0000

We're not always singing from the same hymn sheet as other women's magazines, but that doesn't mean we don't find the whole industry fascinating. So this week, Mickey got on the phone to Nina-Sophia Miralles to chat about the history of one its biggest beasts, Vogue, which Nina charts in her new book Glossy. Jen's chatting hormones, training and women's sport with The Well HQ's Baz Moffat and Dr Emma Ross. We put on our best push-up bras (we don't) for this week's Rated or Dated, as we watch Julia Roberts being beautifully frank and frankly beautiful in Erin Brockovich. In the Bush Telegraph, Hannah's pretty dubious (and very sweary) about vaccine passports and Mickey's got some shocking (also not shocking) facts about women in advertising. Have at it.

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SIM Ep 486 Chops 199: Places Molly McCully Brown has taken her body

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 02:00:00 -0000

American poet and essayist Molly McCully Brown’s latest book, Places I’ve Taken My Body, is a collection of personal essays that travel the physical, emotional and mental journeys of a life in all its frustration, pain, limitations, joy, humour and colour, told through Molly’s lens of living with cerebral palsy.

Molly chats to Mickey about disability and desire, treating a body with kindness (and how hard that can be), the sheer stop-everything-and-watch-it-now excellence of the documentary Crip Camp, and activism by necessity not choice.

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SIM Ep 485 Pod 147: Fighting, forgetting, and the sex life of pandas

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

At just 20 years old, Ameena Hamid is Britain’s youngest theatre producer and a champion of those whose stories don't get told. She chats to Hannah about supporting young graduates, putting underrepresented voices centre stage, and why it’s key that theatre pays attention to who its audience is and – crucially – who its audience can be.

Grooming and exploitation of children has risen during lockdown, so Jen got on the blower to Becky Fedia, national programme manager at The Children’s Society, to discover more and find out what we can all do to help if we spot something that doesn’t look right. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s talking about a landmark deal for the Women’s Super League that’s mainly good news… right, Jen?

There’s foreign policy, no policy, a load of euphemisms, panda loving, and cartoon pants in the Bush Telegraph. And grab a biro and a hot needle as we tattoo Hannah’s best ‘notes to self’ on our leg in honour of 2001’s Memento, this week’s Rated or Dated.

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SIM Ep 484 Chops 198: Delphine Minoui, Syria, and the secret library of Daraya

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

When Delphine Minoui, journalist and Middle East correspondent for Le Figaro, discovered a photo of an underground library amid the rubble and battleground of the besieged Syrian city of Daraya, she had to find out more. And so started the incredible story of The Book Collectors of Daraya, an incredible tale of rebels, bravery and books. Mickey chats with Delphine about Daraya, the rebels she befriended, the women in hiding, what’s happening in Syria, and making an invisible story, visible.

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SIM Ep 483 Outside The Box #31

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 10:14:43 -0000

We're sooo close to being allowed to do anything else other than watch TV, but with a few weeks still to go, here's what we've been enjoying and not enjoying over the last month. We give a big cheer about the return of Unforgotten and an even bigger cheer that The Terror is finally on the proper telly. Hannah would like it to be known that she told you so. Mick's been watching Your Honour and Pretend It's A City and Jen's got views on both Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency and Caroline Flack: Her Life And Death. Plus we're love, love, loving Lucy Worsley's Blitz Spirit. Tuck in!

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SIM EP 482 Pod 146: Rummaging, working from home and wannabe rocking

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Working from home has been the bane of many people’s lives over the last 12 months, but Harriet Minter, journalist, broadcast and author of new book Working From Home, reckons there are some pretty serious pros, as well. She tells Hannah all about finding out how, where and when you work best to optimise performance. Meanwhile, we’ve been rummaging in our family trees with this week’s podcast sponsor, Ancestry, and Mick talks to the genealogy brand’s executive story producer, Jennifer Utley, to get some top tips on researching the women in your families. In the Bush Telegraph, we’re talking about male violence against women, whataboutery, what the whattery, and why we desperately need to talk to our boys. And in Rated or Dated, we’re confused by the confederate flag, as we watch Chesney Hawkes vehicle, 1991’s Buddy’s Song.

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SIM Ep 481 IWD 2021 #6: Gaby Hinsliff on bringing Betty Friedan into the 21st Century

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Is there a place for seminal second-wave feminist Betty Friedan in modern feminist thinking? On what would have been the 100th anniversary of her birth, Thread has published Friedan’s classic text, The Feminine Mystique (originally published in 1963), as an e-book. Journalist Gaby Hinsliff has written the intro and she joins our Mickey in the sixth and final interview in our International Women’s Day 2021 specials to talk about why, yes, Friedan still has A LOT of relevant things to say about the continued fight for women’s rights. With a few caveats.

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SIM Ep 480 IWD 2021 #5: Feminist writing with Dr Hannah Dawson

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Ideas around feminism might change over time, but the battles feminists face have alarming continuity. Dr Hannah Dawson, historian of ideas at King's College London, has charted feminist thought from 1405 through to the present day in The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing. In the fifth episode of our International Women's Day 2021 series, she chats to Jen about just that, the writers that shaped her, and the absolute bloody joy of Jeanette Winterson.

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SIM Ep 479 International Women's Day 2021 #4: Sophie K

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

In the fourth of our International Women's Day 2021 podcasts, Hannah chats to Kerrang!'s only female DJ, Sophie K, about women in rock music, from those on the stage to those writing about them. They chat about why there are still so few women at the head of rock - and even fewer women of colour - as well as a year without live music, the effect of lockdown on young musicians and why the ageing rockstar cliche can do one. Have at it.

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SIM EP 478 IWD 2021 #3: Lifting with Laura Hoggins

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

You can't win as a woman with a body, for being too fat, too thin, too muscly and so on, but Laura "Biceps" Hoggins, PT and co-director of The Foundry gym, has learnt to give zero fucks, about this. In the third part of our International Women's Day series, she chats to Jen about Instagram, strong women, why exercise should never be a punishment, and fake news bums.

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SIM Ep 477 IWD 2021 #2: Katy Wix

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

In the second of our International Women's Day 2021 podcasts, Hannah chats to actress Katy Wix about her soon-to-be-released book Delicacy: A Memoir about Cake and Death. They discuss body image, the first time they heard the word diet, returning to filming, talking ill of the dead, youthful exuberance, Susie Orbach and their first bras. So, you know, a lot. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 476 IWD 2021 #1: Harriet Wistrich and the fight for justice for women

Mon, 08 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Feminist lawyer, fierce campaigner for women’s rights, founder of the Centre For Women’s Justice, a charity and public interest law firm holding the state to account for violence against women and girls, and co-founder of campaigning organisation Justice For Women, Harriet Wistrich is a bonafide hero.

In the first of our six long-form interviews with excellent women to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021, Harriet chats to Mickey about the dire stats around rape prosecutions, taking the Crown Prosecution Service to court, women who kill their abusers and the misogyny rife throughout the criminal justice system in England and Wales.

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SIM 475 Chops 197: Francesca Specter, lone star

Sun, 07 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Being alone - be that physically or emotionally - gets a bad rap, something Francesca Specter is trying to change. In this week's Chops, she and Hannah talk about living alone vs never getting a minute to yourself, how the nation views loners, "the bogey man of the naked self" and Francesca's new book Alonement. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 474 Flicking #11: County Lines

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

This month's Flicking is an important but challenging watch, in the shape of Henry Blake's 2019 directorial debut, County Lines. But how does the film deal with stereotypes relating to "gang" culture, and can our intrepid film-adventurers see the film for the grit? Spoiler alert - they very much can.

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SIM Ep 473 Pod 145: Fearless, seeking justice and kinda funny looking

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

The pandemic has highlighted many things, not least that motherhood is hard work. In this week's podcast, Jen talks to Pregnant Then Screwed's Joeli Brearley about the fight for rights for pregnant women and mothers, and her new book Pregnant Then Screwed. Hannah's also chatting imposter syndrome, bad haircuts and The Fear Fighter Manual with Luvvie Ajayi Jones. British Gymnastics comes under the spotlight in Jenny Off The Blocks and in BT we're talking nuance, Shamima Begum and - er - Mr Potato Head, who's lost his Mr but not his head, which to be fair is 90% of him. And in Rated or Dated we're off to snowy Minnesota to watch 1996's Fargo. Oh, you betcha ya, yah.

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SIM Ep 472 Chops 196: Why aren't we talking about violence against shop workers?

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Well, we're talking about it - obviously - but as incidents of verbal and physical abuse against shop workers rockets, the media remains pretty quiet on the subject. Hannah's been on the phone to Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) to find out the human cost behind some pretty staggering statistics about how the country is treating this group of key workers. She chats to Tracy Gilbert, Scottish Deputy Divisional Officer, and Joanne Cairns, Deputy Head of Research, about what it's like to be on the frontline of the pandemic, what the Government needs to do to tackle the growing problem, how it's affecting women specifically and much more. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 471 Pod 144: death, hormones and the worst toilet in Scotland

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Salena Godden’s Mrs Death Misses Death is receiving rave reviews and has already been snapped up for film and telly by Idris Elba’s Green Door Pictures, so we got Hazel Davis to talk to the poet, author, standup and activist about her oddly prescient debut novel. Meanwhile, Jen fired up the Zoom to chat with Amy Thomson, founder of the Moody Month app and author of Moody: A Woman's 21st Century Hormone Guide. There’s cake AND masturbation, so definitely put the kettle on.

Over in Rated or Dated, Mick should absolutely be apologising for her attempts at a Scottish accent and Hannah’s trying to keep it all down as they watch 1996’s Trainspotting. Morally murky? Proper funny? Cool Britannia? All of the above? Ya fuckin’ dancer!

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SIM Ep 470 Chops 195: Lucy Worsley has Blitz Spirit

Sun, 21 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Eighty years since The Blitz terrorised the British public, we find ourselves back in confusing, scary and dangerous times. In this week's Chops, Hannah chats to chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces and TV historian extraordinaire Lucy Worsley about her new documentary Blitz Spirit. They talk about people working on the frontline of the Home Front, what history can teach us about these strange times we live in now and whether our current experiences can help us understand the past a bit better. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 468 Pod 143: Selfishness, swallows, and sleeping with a hat montage

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Knowing what is or isn't going to give you a hangover is essential lockdown intel, so Mick gets busy herding delightful comedy cats and hosts of the Spit or Swallow podcast, Lou Conran and Sally-Anne Hayward, to find out more. Jen has a natter with Michelle Elman, life coach and author of new book The Joy of Being Selfish, about boundaries, why we need them and how to set them.

In Jenny off the Blocks, Jen's talking sailing, specifically the Vendee Globe, completed by Pip Hare last week. Just how good a combo is domestic violence, absent eyelids and a glorious hat montage? Find out as this week’s Rated or Dated revisits Sleeping With The Enemy. Plus, in the Bush Telegraph, there's fun with percentages, a(nother) celebration of Stella Creasy, and a centuries-old debate about where women should be is still happening. Sigh.

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SIM Ep 467 Chops 194: Kate Fox is oscillating (and swimming)

Sun, 14 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Mick chats to poet, performer and fellow northern bird Kate Fox about The Oscillations, Kate's wonderful new collection of poetry, full of joy, wry observations and humour, while tackling hard-hitting topics such as loss, trauma and the pandemic. They also talk attention spans, flux and flow, weak ties, dogs’ bums, neurodiversity, the occasional importance of labels, and larking about in the North Sea.

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SIM Ep 467 Outside The Box #30

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

It's a busy start to 2021 for Outside The Box and this month we're talking about It's A Sin, The Serpent, Lupin, Staged 2, The Investigation and A Perfect Planet. Plus Hannah's got some love for Alison Wright, Mickey's doing her best French accent and Jen takes us on a tour of ITV's best and worst police dramas. We didn't make her.

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SIM Ep 466 Pod 14: Under pressure, slightly hungover and on the rampage

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

We've all been under a lot of pressure in the last year and anecdotal evidence suggests it's starting to take its toll on the nation's relationships. So, this week, Hannah got on the phone to Dee Holmes from Relate, to find out if work pressures, health concerns, financial worries, grief, childcare issues and close proximity is bonding us closer together or tearing us apart. Mickey's chatting to Rebecca Watson about little scratch, her debut novel, a formally inventive day-in-the-life of a slightly hungover woman. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's wondering if a top woman moving from managing women's football to men's football is good news for women in sport and Mick's off to Japan and Sutton Hoo in Sexism of the Week. And finally, in Rated or Dated, we very much are looking at you Robert, as we watch 1976's Taxi Driver and Hannah thinks she's identified Q. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 465 Chops 193: Nell Frizzell's Panic Years

Sun, 07 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

The period in a woman's life between adolescence and menopause has no name, something journalist Nell Frizzell wanted to change when she set out to write The Panic Years, a hilarious and candid memoir about her experience of this time of flux. Jen caught up with Nell to chat about fertility, how we're not talking about it - or even bothering to research it - properly, and how all of the responsibility around it is foisted upon women. They also talk about the myths around male and female sexuality and the power dynamics it creates, and about the harrowing early days of parenthood.

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SIM Ep 464 Flicking #10: Mommy

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Powerhouse performances, intriguing aspect ratio and fidget-inducing discomfort: Yosra's pick of 2014's Mommy from wünderkind director Xavier Dolan is a fresh watch for Mick and Jen. What do they make of it? Who knew middle-age women given meaty storylines could have so much fun? And when did they last phone their parents?

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SIM Ep 463 Pod 141: African Europeans, The Troubles and ‘anyone for tennis?’

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

In 2018, Professor Olivette Otele became the UK’s first black female history professor. 2018! She chats to Mick about missing stories, her book African Europeans, and the toppling of Edward Colston. Hannah catches up with writer Kerri Ni Dochartaigh to talk growing up in The Troubles, how nature can help your mental health and Kerri’s beautifully written debut, Thin Places.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, ahead of next week’s Australian Open, Jen’s on the blower to Jo Durie, tennis pundit and former world number 5. And it’s an absolute treat of a Rated or Dated, as the team wonders “WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK is Neil Diamond doing?" while watching 1981’s The Jazz Singer.

Plus, in the Bush Telegraph, there’s grade-A bellendery, some class Russian accents, a ridiculously pricey bog brush and some important questions about eagles.

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SIM Ep 462 Chops 192: Cerys Matthews and the origin of the croissant (among other things)

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Cerys Matthews – singer, songwriter, author, broadcaster and indisputable champion of unusual sounds on the radio (hello yodelling!) – chats to journalist Hazel Davis about all manner of things in this week’s Sunday Chops.

Wide-ranging topics include why Cerys isn’t a nurse, the lost opportunities of the pub, growing up singing, cuisine and where it comes from, and why you should always make time to poo. Oh, and they also talk about her new collaborative album, We Are From The Sun, a gorgeous, lyrical album in which ten poets read to shape-shifting arrangements from Cerys and Hidden Orchestra.

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SIM 461 Pod 140: Craftivism, cunning characters, and caring

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

There’s plenty to be making noise about at the moment, but activism can take many different forms, so in this week’s podzine, Hannah gets on the blower to comedian, writer and Standard Issue fave, Jenny Éclair, to chat about her new BBC show Craftivism: Making a Difference, and the power of picking up your pins and needles. Since January is the perfect time to curl up with a good book, Jen is chatting to author Susie Yang about her debut novel, White Ivy, an alternative immigrant narrative and brilliantly dark class critique. We’re feeling Priti vacant and generally pretty fucked off at the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the CPS’s handling of rape cases in the Bush Telegraph. In Jenny off the Blocks, Jen talks #ICare and the women’s rugby players calling out online abuse, and there’s some incongruous traffic-related violation as Rated or Dated tackles Rocky V.

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SIM Ep 460 Chops 191: This is why we all need to resist

Sun, 24 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Political commentator, indefatigable activist and all-round top woman, Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu is a familiar face fighting the anti-racism fight on TV screens, social media and now, um, Tik-Tok. Her book, This Is Why I Resist, is a powerful, passionate polemic against structural racism. In this Chops, she tells Mickey why she had to write it. They also talk about the problem of performative allyship, the insidiousness of structural racism, and why the angry black woman trope is so pernicious.

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SIM 459 Pod 139: Resisting, rethinking and remaking a perfectly good dress

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

January is a good time to try to get on top of your finances, so Hannah's been on the Zoom to author and podcaster Selina Flavius to talk about her new book Black Girl Finance and why we should all talk a bit more about money. There's a preview to this week's cracker of a Chops, as Mickey catches up up with political commentator and activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu to talk about dismantling structural racism, the big problem of performative allyship, and handing Piers Morgan his arse on a plate. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's bidding a fond (ish) farewell to Phil Neville and we chat Grenfell Tower, the Irish Mother and Baby Homes Inquiry, and "flawed" Phil Spector in BT. Plus, grab your linen suit and try to remember where you left that fully-loaded bifter, because in Rated or Dated we're watching 1986's Pretty In Pink.

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SIM Ep 458 Chops 190: Mary Beard is inside culture

Sun, 17 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

As America experiences its most contentious transfer of power in generations, Hannah chats to historian Mary Beard about why succession is always a fraught and dangerous time, how society deals with "the losers" and the latest series of her BBC show, Inside Culture. They also talk about the politics of how language evolves, how future historians are going to make sense of the wild times we're living through, and whether "the right side of history" actually exists.

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SIM Ep 457 Pod 138: Science, cancer, and hey The Kids, u ok hun?

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Covid is hitting cancer patients especially hard, and Professor Pat Price, chair of the charity Action Radiotherapy and founder of Radiotherapy4Life and the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, talks to Jen about what that means in human terms, the state of the NHS, what can be done, and how the Catch Up With Cancer campaign can help.

The miracle of science that is Dr Suze Kundu gets on the Zoom with Mick to talk vaccines, what’s happening in the world of STEM, how to tackle those home-school science lessons and – of course – how it's going for women and girls in science.

Over on Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s explaining why those “business meetings in Dubai” have made for a bad week for the Women’s Super League, while in Rated or Dated, the team asks "What's with the kids today? Erm, sorry, in the ‘50s?" as they watch 1955 classic, Rebel Without A Cause. Plus, in the Bush Telegraph, there's all sorts of GOOD news. We shit you not.

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SIM Ep 456 Chops 189: Getting Niix fit with Nicki Philips

Sun, 10 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Since it's January, and you might be thinking about getting all Joe Wicks for the new year, Jen caught up with pilates expert, PT and founder of wellness brand Niix, Nicki Philips. They chatted about the new fitness app the brand has launched, how Covid has changed the fitness world, and why it just doesn’t matter if you want to eat that doughnut.

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SIM Ep 455 Flicking #9: The Straight Story

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Rev up your petrol lawnmower, clamber aboard and come on a journey of discovery as Yosra watches Mick's pick of 1999's The Straight Story for the very first time. Does she like it? Is Hannah happy to sit through it again? And what magic happens when Walt Disney, David Lynch and an old cowboy get together?

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SIM Ep 454 Pod 136: Debt, Driving Forces and ¿donde esta el water sword?

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

As the UK teeters on the edge of another economic crisis, Hannah gets on the blower to Dr Jodi Gardner to chat about austerity and what the Government could be doing to avoid the mistakes of the past. Is it, do we think? *hollow laughter* Jen chats to Judy Murray about her new women’s sports series, Driving Force, and how to turn your kids into tennis champions. And hold on to your stolen leather jackets, because in this week’s Rated or Dated, we’re taking an inappropriate extra-curricular play date with 1996’s Dangerous Minds. Plus, coming live from tier nine thousand eight hundred and twelve, the gang discuss new rules, shambolic schools, and just how Spanish you have to be, to be, well, Spanish.

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SIM Ep 454 Gig 59: Millican, Dunleavy, Noonan and Offord

Sun, 03 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

What a year, eh? The almost constant doom and gloom of 2020 is why we decided to record a relentlessly chipper gigcast for the start of 2021. And so we got the Standard Issue family – Mick, Hannah, Jen and the boss Sarah Millican – together for a Zoom natter.

Chat includes flotation tank horror, contouring with Marmite, tiny hats for rats, playing find the poo, Penguin Ski Sunday, book recommendations, and the unmitigated joy of a good cackle.

This podcast was recorded at the beginning of December.

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SIM Ep 453: Review of the Year with Hazarika and Lewis

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 03:03:00 -0000

2020 has been wild/weird/traumatic/a relentless knobhead (delete where applicable) so for our review of the year we've brought in the big guns: Ayesha Hazarika and Helen Lewis. We talk about how the Government has coped with the pandemic and how the public has coped with the lockdown, as well as cancel culture, woke capitalism, Biden's victory and zombie minks. Tuck in!

* This podcast was recorded on December 16, 2020

* The tale of the exploding whale is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPuaSY0cMK8

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SIM Ep 452 Outside The Box #29

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Christmas probably hasn't been what you planned this year, but we can at least help keep you entertained for the rest of December. In this month's Outside The Box, we talk about the Ghosts Christmas special, Ridley Scott's HBO sci-fi Raised By Wolves and the upcoming Beeb mini-series Black Narcissus. And we're doing a TV review of the year and chatting about some of our faves of 2020, including I May Destroy You, I Hate Suzie, Crip Camp, The Plot Against America, The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, Mike Judge's Tales From The Tour Bus, Home, What We Do In The Shadows, Bojack Horseman and In My Skin.

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SIM Ep 451: Games, Hope and charity this Christmas

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Our Christmas interview special has light, shade, laughs and a slice of Hope. Ellie Gibson – games journalist, co-host of the Extra Life podcast, and "the common one " (her words) from the Scummy Mummies – is here to tell you all about the joys of gaming. She chats to our Mick about navigating the uber-male world of gaming, letting your kids loose online, and the strangely therapeutic powers of virtual farming.

Meanwhile, our Jen chats to Liz Scowcroft, head of research and evaluation at Samaritans, about loneliness at Christmas and what can be done to keep an eye on those that might be struggling, and she also catches up with mental health campaigner and writer Hope Virgo, about something to look forward to in January – finally! – with the charity's Brew Monday, and new book How To Listen.

You'll also hear our Hannah with a reminder that anyone feeling lonely on Christmas Day should definitely check out the boss's excellent Twitter love-in #JoinIn, which will be bringing people together online for the tenth year running.

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SIM Ep 450 Chops 188: Sian Harries is Frothing

Sun, 20 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

We can all agree there has been too much news this year, right? So, our final Chops of 2020 is all about froth, as Hannah chats to screenwriter Sian Harries, co-host (with her husband Rhod Gilbert) of the podcast, The Froth. They talk about the joys of figuratively chatting shit, why this so often turns into literally chatting shit, why Four Seasons Total Landscaping is 2020's funniest joke, how Wales has fared during the pandemic and who - WHO? - is missing their signed photo of Judi Dench. Tuck in!

This podcast was recorded in mid-November

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SIM Ep 449 Pod 135: TV history, amateur dramatics and thank God for bungee cords

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Should there be a disclaimer on The Crown that it’s a drama not straight history? It’s just one of the questions about television’s depictions of history that Hannah puts to historian and author Hallie Rubenhold, as they chat accuracy in period dramas. Hazel Davis and Jenny Landreth share their love of amateur dramatics, wonder why some people *cough* are a bit sniffy about it, and talk Break A Leg, Jenny’s book extolling the joys of community theatre.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Tom Allen’s been trying his hand at commentating and Jen’s all for it. She’s also chatting Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign, netball outfits and voting for Hollie Doyle in this year’s SPOTY. There’s a lot to love (life-size Jesus doll on a cross) despite a bad taste in the mouth (dated language and some punching down) as the team watch 1999’s Drop Dead Gorgeous. But will they be able to agree if it’s Rated or Dated? Plus there’s gunships, extra cash, elf-wear, and snack revelations in the Bush Telegraph.

Lob us a party egg, we’re proper giddy!

The audio of Tom Allen and Mark McAdam is from Sky Sports News' Gillette Soccer Saturday Live Scores from Saturday 12 December.

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SIM Ep 448 Chops 187: Amanda Prowse and The Boy Between

Sun, 13 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Depression is, to put it bluntly, a big bag of dicks. And it’s equally a bag of dicks for those watching someone they love go through it; something which international bestselling author Amanda Prowse knows all too well, having watched her son Josh suffer from such severe depression that he planned to take his own life.

We're often told it's good to talk and it's okay to not be okay – both cracking bits of advice – but it’s not always that easy in practice. And so Amanda and Josh found a new way to communicate, which not only helped them to help Josh and keep going through the most heartbreaking situations, but also got them thinking about how sharing their experience could help others. Cue The Boy Between: A Mother and Son's Journey From a World Gone Grey, a book co-authored by Amanda and Josh, detailing their experiences of Josh’s depression and how it affects the lives of those who dearly love him.

In this Chops, Amanda tells our Mickey all about the book, how it came about and where she and Josh are at now.

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SIM Ep 447 Pod 134: Hope, crowd control and keeping the change, ya filthy animal

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

After the year we've all just had, staying hopeful is hard, but Mick's been to an expert - bona fide entertainment legend Ruby Wax - for some tips. Lucy Nichol is back with us, chatting to positive psychology coach Ruth Cooper-Dickson about coaching and supporting volunteers working with refugees, and how to handle our own expectations regarding post-traumatic growth in the pandemic. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's looking at the return of the crowd to sports events and in the Bush Telegraph we're talking Brexit, boo, The Green Nobels, hooray, and the collapse of the High Street, boo. And in Rated or Dated, we watch Home Alone to see how it looks at 30 and ponder what we'd do if we were ever trapped in a house on our tod. Oh hang on...

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SIM Ep 446 Chops 186: Nadiya Hussain is having an adventure

Sun, 06 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Been cooking more in lockdown? Or less? Either way, you're going to like what we're serving in this Chops as Hannah chats to chef, TV presenter and all-round gem Nadiya Hussain about her new series for the BBC, Nadiya's American Adventure. They talk about what food can teach us about immigration, how it connects people to the past and how it brings cultures together. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 445 Flicking #8: Grey Gardens

Sat, 05 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Grab your favourite jumper, wrap it around your head and safety pin your backless swimming costume together, as this month's Flicking sees Mick and our resident film buff Yosra Osman visit the iconic Grey Gardens at Hannah's behest. The Maysles brothers' cult 1975 documentary throws up a lot of questions: What will they make of Big and Little Edie Beale? What does it tell us about mums, daughters, mums and daughters, and women in general? How did it change documentary making? And just how many raccoons is too many raccoons?

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SIM Ep 444 Pod 133: Miscarriage, magic realism and martial arts

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Meghan Markle has put the little-talked-about subject of miscarriages on the front page, so Hannah chats to director Frances Loy about Swings and Roundabouts, her debut short film about grief after a miscarriage. Journalist and author Tina Jackson tells Mickey about her book The Beloved Children, a razzle-dazzle slice of magic realism set in wartime London and inhabited by gloriously defiant women.

Jen’s back and so is Jenny Off The Blocks, in which she’s tackling the ever-thorny issue of BBC Sports Personality Of The Year. And there’s also a sneak preview of this week's Chops in which Hannah catches up with the excellent Nadiya Hussain about her new series for the BBC.

There’s fighting, flying and more fighting as the team revisits 2000’s martial arts opus Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in Rated or Dated. Plus, get a load of sensible celebs, horrific stats and some joyous(?) jingle-jangling from Hannah in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 443 IMD20#5: The Good Lad Initiative

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

The Good Lad Initiative is a gender equality charity, working to tackle the root causes of inequality and promote positive masculinity. Mickey caught up with director Dr Dan Guinness and head of facilitation and training Ben Hurst to find out more about the power of conversation, lightbulb moments and being a work in progress.

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SIM Ep 442 Outside The Box #28

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

We might all be tiring of inside life but at least there's a whole lot of TV on to keep us entertained while we're at it. In this month's Outside The Box, Hannah and Mickey chat about The Queen's Gambit, Small Axe, The Good Lord Bird, The Crown, The Undoing and My Octopus Teacher. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 441 Pod 132: Menopause, money and wearing your shorts over your trackie bottoms

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

It's been a while since we've had the boss - Sarah Millican - on the podcast, but this week she has some exciting news to share. But that's not all we have to offer in this episode. Hannah chats to journalist and Loose Woman Kaye Adams about Still Hot, the collection of essays about the menopause she's co-edited with Vicky Allan, and why some of us are most definitely in denial. Mickey talks to serial entrepreneur Shaa Wasmund about business in the time of Covid, why women aren’t getting the breaks, and why class representation is key. In the Bush Telegraph, we're talking Page 3 dreams (?) and when bullying should absolutely be called bullying. And in Rated or Dated, we’re admiring the fashion choices but not so much the plotting as we watch 1985’s The Goonies. Have at it.

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SIM Ep 440 IMD20#4: Richard Herring and November 19

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Would it even BE International Men’s Day without some sort of Richard Herring interaction? Not as far as we’re concerned. And it just so happens that Richard has written a new book: The Problem With Men, When Is International Men’s Day (And Why It Matters). It is, as you’d expect, very funny indeed, charting Richard’s journey from pedant hoisted by his own petard answering every ‘When’s International *Men’s* Day?’ asked on International Women’s Day, to his understanding of why IMD is necessary and how we all need to join together to fight sexism. Because – and we’ll never tire of saying this – inequality is shit for everyone.

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SIM Ep 439 Gig 58: Rickard and Chaponda

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to our annual MAN GIG, an absolute smasher of a natter Mick and Hannah had with comedian Daliso Chaponda and screenwriter and actor Laurence Rickard. Chat includes pet cavemen, Jacinda Ardern, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Alton Towers, and selling Ed Sheeran, as well as providing answers to the questions "where did the Dunleavys get that Sanyo VHS recorder from?" and "what exactly is Mick’s granddad playing at?"

On the subject of MEN, please do have a listen to our IMD2020 series of Chops, where we’re chatting to, in no particular order: Andrew Cotter, Mat Fraser, Michael Spicer, Richard Herring, and Dan Guinness and Ben Hurst from The Good Lad Initiative.

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SIM Ep 438 Chops 185: Carmen Callil on those times and these times

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 03:05:00 -0000

The indomitable Carmen Callil – mother of Virago Press, writer, publisher, fierce feminist, joyful crone, enraged person and self-proclaimed difficult woman – is one hell of a role model. And one hell of a writer. Callil's latest book, Oh Happy Day: Those Times And These Times, brims with eloquent rage as she delves into her ancestors’ lives to tell a gripping story of Empire and the poverty and injustice of 19th Century England, and how that led to her family's migration to Australia. It’s brimming with eloquent rage and truly wonderful. And as the title suggests – and as Carmen and Mickey discuss – those times aren’t so different from these times for a lot of people living in poverty in modern Britain.

They also talk Virago, Angela Carter, rage, Thatcher, progress or its lack, going grey, and new books for your shelves.

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SIM Ep 437 IMD20#3: Michael Spicer is the man in the room (well, Zoom) next door

Sun, 15 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Jen catches up with comedian and writer Michael Spicer, who you’ll know from his excellent The Man In The Room Next Door sketches (and if you don't, do check them out – they're pitch perfect), and now new book The Secret Political Adviser: The Unredacted Files Of The Man In The Room Next Door. They chat being a man online, being Matt Hancock online, and contemporary political heroes – spoiler alert, they’re a bit thin on the ground in the UK at the minute.

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SIM Ep 436 Pod 131: Drinking, publishing and so long Trump!

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

There's been some good news! At long ruddy last! So this Bush Telegraph is the chirpiest it's been for a long time, but that's not all there is to enjoy in this week's podcast. Mickey chats to publishing legend and utter delight Carmen Callil about founding Virago press, class, poverty, history, the need for revolution, and being a difficult woman. Meanwhile, ahead of Alcohol Awareness Week, Hannah chats to Ailsa Clarke about raising a son with FASD and why the conversation about alcohol and pregnancy remains so contentious in the UK. And in Rated or Dated, we watch 1999's The Green Mile, which is apparently “sometimes long”. You're telling us, Hanks, you're telling us!

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SIM Ep 435 IMD20#2 Mat Fraser is telling Crip Tales

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

In the second of our International Men's Day interviews, Hannah chats to actor, writer, musician and activist Mat Fraser about Crip Tales, an excellent new series he created for the BBC, which is written, performed and made entirely by disabled people. They also chat about why that community doesn't get the public support other minority communities do, why acting might be one of the areas in which disabled women are better represented than men, and about America's new drug laws. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 434 Flicking #7: The Nightmare Before Christmas

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Straddling the seasons of Hallowe'en and Christmas like some stop-animation colossus, The Nightmare Before Christmas – aka Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas – is our Yosra Osman's pick this month. But what will Hannah and Mick make of the 1993 (1993!) cult favourite, how do we make Sally stop pining over self-obsessed Sandy Claws-kidnapper Jack Skellington, and what's Hannah wearing next time?

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SIM Ep 433 Pod 130: Ushers, refugees and Rebecca, I tell you!

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Lockdown II: Electric Boogaloo or whatever we’re calling these latest Unprecedented Times. It’s already having an effect and has put My Red Stripes – disability and inclusion campaigner Jo Milne’s public health awareness campaign around Usher Syndrome – on hold for a while. Nevertheless, Jo still has a lot of interesting stuff to share with Mick about what she’s been up to, what we can do to recognise invisible disabilities, and how masks are a problem for deaf people.

Meanwhile, Hannah’s chatting to director Eva Mulvad about Love Child, her poignant documentary of Leila – who also joins in the chat – and Sahand, an Iranian couple who, outlawed for their love, flee the country with their four-year-old son, Mani.

And in Rated or Dated, it’s happy 80th birthday to Alfred Hitchcock’s take on Daphne Du Maurier classic, Rebecca. Does it lead to violent love behind a palm tree or will Hannah and Mick set fire to it a la Mrs Danvers and Manderley? Next slide, please.

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SIM Ep 432 IMD20#1: Andrew Cotter has two very good dogs

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

We can all agree that lockdown wasn't especially joyful, but what many of us also agree on, is that the absolute highlight were the antics of Olive and Mabel, two very good dogs belonging to Andrew Cotter, sports commentator and now author of very good book Olive, Mabel and Me. In the first of our International Men's Day 2020 interviews, Hannah asks Andrew what this year has taught him about fame, sport, social media, mental health and, perhaps most importantly, the real value of pets. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 431 Pod 129: Studying homelessness, robbing banks and please God let Joe Biden win

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Homelessness is a topic that, sadly, never goes away, so in this week's podcast Mick chats to Maeve McClenaghan, investigative journalist and host of brilliant podcast The Tip Off, about what she discovered when she started looking into the number of people dying homeless on Britain’s streets. The US election is less than a week away and Hannah talks about the best/worst case scenario with American comedian Kate McCabe. Mick's picked another war film for Rated or Dated, 1970s Kelly's Heroes, and Hannah's got an oddball question about Oddball. And in the Bush Telegraph, it's Marcus Rashford 1 The Government 0, even if it didn't go his way this time. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 430 Chops 184: Unfinished Business at the British Library with Dr Polly Russell

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Dr Polly Russell is the curator of the British Library’s cracking and important new exhibition Unfinished Business: The Fight For Women’s Rights. Bang up our alley? Yes siree.

She chats to Mickey about this landmark, three-years in the making exhibition of extraordinary content, which shows how the work of contemporary feminist activism has its roots in the long and complex history of women’s rights. And yes, the British Library is in London, but there is a wealth of resources available online, in podcast form and in a book, so that everyone can experience this very special event. www.bl.uk

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SIM Ep 429 Gig 57: Parris and Wix

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Katy Wix AND Rachel Parris? Yep, this is a stone-cold doozie of a Zoomcast. Chat includes choosing one word to describe 2020, jigsaw aggression, unusual funeral behaviour, a needs-must ‘rethink reskill reboot’, the joy of geeking out, Tracey Emin, Tori Amos, Mick’s not-wedding, Hannah’s auntie Tina, and the geography lessons we can all learn from Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car.

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SIM Ep 428 Chops 183: Megan Phelps Roper has Unfollowed

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Our world is more divided than we can ever remember it, but what can we do to change hearts and minds? In this Chops, Hannah chats to Megan Phelps-Roper, author of Unfollow, a memoir about growing up in - and leaving - the notorious Westboro Baptist Church. They chat about how the media ought to be reporting on extremist groups, why - and how - we should talk to people we don't agree with, and who bears responsibility for the standard of public debate.

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SIM Ep 427 Pod 128: Protest, progress and some classic Bette Davis

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We've not one, but two, great chats about fascinating books in this week's podcast. Mickey talks to Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga, whose latest novel, This Mournable Body, has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and who was recently arrested for taking part in a peaceful protest about government corruption. Meanwhile Hannah's been on the Zoom to Westboro Baptist Church apostate and author of new book Unfollow, Megan Phelps-Roper about leaving her family and her religion behind and what the world can learn from her experience. In Rated or Dated, we finally find a film we both love, 70-year-old Bette Davis classic All About Eve. And in BT, Joan makes a bid to finally seize control of the whole podcast. More news as it happens.

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SIM Ep 426 Chops 182: Baby Loss Awareness Week

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

It's Baby Loss Awareness Week, so in this Chops Hannah chats to Karen Burgess, CEO of baby loss counselling charity Petals, and Lia Shimada, one of the bereaved mothers helped by the service. They talk about the shame and blame around the loss of a child, what society can do to help reduce that, what's helpful to say or do for parents grieving this loss and – importantly – what's not.

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SIM Ep 425 Outside The Box #27

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

It's too rainy, right? Let's all spend the weekend in front of the telly catching up on some excellent documentaries. We chat The Social Dilemma, A Perfect Crime and Challenger: The Final Flight in this month's Outside The Box. Hannah admits to having watched series two of Ghosts twice already and gives Mickey the hard sell, and we talk Des and whether it's fair to judge something on what you wanted it to be rather than what it was. Plus we have feelings on the cancellation of Glow. Because WTF, Netflix?

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SIM Ep 424 Pod 127: Klopping, birthing and “hit it with a hammer!”

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp and comedian Laura Lexx is the romance we all need right now. Yeah yeah, it’s not real, but it is joyous. You can and should read all about it in Laura’s book, Klopp Actually: (Imaginary) Life With Football’s Most Sensible Heartthrob. She tells our Mick how it all came about, what the man himself thinks so far, and why it’s best to treat Twitter like a child.

Meanwhile, Jen's slowly easing herself back into work by talking to Rowan Davies head of policy and campaigns at Mumsnet and Maria Booker, programmes director at Birthrights, about their survey on consent and information in the antenatal period.

In Rated or Dated, Hannah is forced to gird her loins as she and Mick find out whether Goldie-Hawn vehicle Private Benjamin has stood the test of 40 years' time. And there are bears, hammers, Mickey for POTUS (again), and more bears (but chonky) in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 423 Chops 181: Laura Bates goes manospheric

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Incels, pick-up artists, men's rights activists; the internet is literally crawling with angry men and as Laura Bates found out, they are more than happy to indoctrinate youngsters too. The writer and creator of the Everyday Sexism project tells us about her new book, Men Who Hate Women, how online bile is bleeding into the mainstream and why tech companies need to do more to prevent it. It's some sobering, but vital, listening. Tuck in.

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SIM Ep 422 Flicking #6: Ghostbusters

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

It's that time of the month where Hannah, Mick and our resident film buff Yosra Osman chat about their favourite films. This time Mick's picked 1984's supernatural comedy classic, Ghostbusters. But what about underused Winston? And, erm, predatory Venkman? If Hannah and Yosra don't like it, who's Mick gonna call? (Ghostbusters: 555-2368)

Also features cat interludes and the mystery of why Hannah's hands aren't where we can see them.

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SIM Ep 421 Pod 126: Studies, steel and a shameful waste of whiskey

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Wondering what lockdown did to the nation's physical and mental health? Then wonder no longer, because this week Hannah's been on the phone to Dr Daisy Fancourt, one of the team behind the Covid Social Study, to find out how things like sex, age, race and socio-economic grouping absolutely affected how you will have experienced the last six months. Hazel Davis chats to Michelle Rawlins, author of Women Of Steel, which charts the story of the incredible Sheffield women who stepped up during World War II to keep the foundry fires burning. In Rated or Dated, we're bemoaning the wanton waste of perfectly good whiskey - and Jerry Bruckheimer's vision of feminism - as we watch soon-to-be 20 Coyote Ugly. And in the Bush Telegraph, Mick's chatting Brexit, Hannah's chatting Trump and we're all thanking monkey Jesus that David Attenborough's joined Instagram. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 420 Chops 180: International Safe Abortion Day 2020

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 12:15:00 -0000

Monday 28 September is International Safe Abortion Day and our hard-working, very tired friends at Alliance 4 Choice got in touch to let us know that while the usual March For Choice can’t happen this year because pandemic, they’ve got some activities lined up over the weekend to celebrate it. It seemed the perfect opportunity to have a catch up about where abortion rights are at in Northern Ireland, with our neighbours in Ireland, and in Gibraltar, Malta and Poland. And so, we’re talking to Danielle Roberts of Northern Ireland’s Alliance For Choice, Anna Carnegie of Ireland’s Abortion Rights Campaign, Selena Victory of No More Shame and Gibraltar For Yes, and – of course! – the powerhouse that is Abortion Support Network’s Mara Clarke.

Happy International Safe Abortion Day! Let’s make bodily autonomy something that every woman can celebrate.

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SIM Ep 419 Pod 125: The joy of Joan, the future of theatre, and sexy pots

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

One last face-to-face interview before we all become inside people again? You got it. Mick meets up with our music guru/mother of kittens Liz Buckley to celebrate Joan Jett, an incredible musician who isn’t letting turning 62 get in the way of being a rock icon. Hannah gets on the blower to Kaya Stanley Money, executive director of Camden People's Theatre, to find out what's next, both for that venue and for theatre as a whole, why theatre is so expensive to make and the joy of digital.

Plus, in the Bush Telegraph, there’s the Notorious RBG, a surprisingly clear take on what’s what with the government and Covid, and a return to Gilead. And, 30 years on, how are Mick and Hannah’s loving feelings for 1990 supernatural tissue-fest Ghost? And exactly how erotic is *that* pottery scene? Answers and, to be fair, many more questions raised, in this week’s Rated or Dated.

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SIM Ep 418 Chops 179: Katherine Boyle is Twitching

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, Hannah chats to radio producer and presenter Katherine Boyle about her move (along with Iain Lee) to Amazon's new streaming service Twitch. They talk about equal pay in radio, niche fandom, working with the Great British Public and the mental health of the nation. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 417 Gig 56: George and Hill

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to our third Zoomcast - yes we're sticking with that word - where we're joined by comedian and author Jane Hill, and the writer and one third of Drunk Women Solving Crime, Hannah George. We talk about happiness, injuring yourself on the toilet, whether audio books are the ultimate in laziness, and if any of our clothes fit us anymore. You are welcome.

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SIM Ep 416 Chops 178: Blaming women for everything with Dr Jess Taylor

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Dr Jess Taylor is a feminist psychologist, founder and owner of VictimFocus, and author of essential read, Why Women Are Blamed For Everything – an exploration of the many reasons women are blamed for male violence. Because aren't we just? She chats to our Mick about ‘victim’ versus ‘survivor’, how education and the media are letting us all down, and unpicking the tangle of reasons that leads us to blame women for sexual violence committed against them.

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SIM Ep 415 Outside The Box #26

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

How the hell is it September? Don't think too deeply about that and instead get your ears round this month's Outside The Box, where Hannah very much doesn't hate I Hate Suzie, and she and Mick chat the highs and lows of I'll Be Gone In The Dark. Plus - there's never been such times - we do some listener requests, watching Harlots, Almost Australian and The Umbrella Academy. You are welcome.

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SIM Ep 414 Pod 124: problem films, silent women and way too much hair

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Big questions dominate this week’s episode.

1. Does building a house while singing and dancing make amends for outrageous sexism? No, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, no it does not. Still, nice moves. That’s just one of the old(er) films Hannah and our resident movie buff Yosra Osman tackle in a fascinating chat about what happens when your favourite film – and indeed novel, song or cartoon – becomes “problematic”.

2. Why do women stay silent in the face of abuse at the hands of powerful men? Mick catches up with author Hannah Begbie about this big topic, something Hannah tackles with skill and a delicate touch in her new book Blurred Lines.

3. What the feck’s happening with Brexit and indeed in America? Mick and Hannah give explaining those particular shitshows their best shots in the Bush Telegraph.

And finally, possibly the biggest question of all…

4. Is 1995’s, Oscar-nabbing, Mel Gibson vehicle Braveheart rated or dated? Find out as a staple feature from our magazine years makes it onto the podcast. Altogether now: FREEEEEEEEEDDDDDOOOOOM!

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SIM Ep 413 Chops 177: Annie Nightingale

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

This week's Chops is Mick's full half-hour chat with the awesome Annie Nightingale: Britain's first female DJ, the longest serving woman at Radio 1, and a proper joy. They chat about Annie's latest book, Hey Hi Hello, 50 years of pop culture, the sadness of nostalgia, being awestruck by the mere mention of Miles Davis, and what happened when she found herself in a lift with Paul Newman.

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SIM Ep 412 Flicking #6: Badlands

Sat, 05 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Ah, Terence Malick, a Marmite maverick in cinema. Do you love his films? Do you hate his films? Perhaps you're prepared to have your mind changed either way, like someone who ran out of jam to put on their toast, but found an old jar of the yeasty brown stuff in the cupboard and gave it another shot. Find out whether it's "Malick on toast all round!" as Hannah gets Mick and Yosra to watch 1973's Badlands.

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SIM Ep 411 Pod 123: Goddesses, fairies and everyone's favourite Nightingale

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We took the Bank Holiday off so there's no BT or DDD this week, but instead four - count 'em - FOUR great interviews with FIVE - *faints* - top women this week.

Mick catches up with the one and only Annie Nightingale, Britain's first female DJ, longest serving woman at Radio 1 and an utter delight, to talk about Hey Hi Hello, her latest book, which charts five decades of pop culture. Hannah's talking to Nydia Hetherington about her debut novel A Girl Made of Air, fairies on the Isle of Man and the literary appeal of the circus. Mick chats with the excellent Liz Foley and Beth Coates about You Goddess! their follow-up to What Would Boudicca Do? – this time they’re gleaning useful advice and female solidarity from legendary (literally) women. And, last but not least, Hannah's found another ethical clothes shopping fan in journalist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 410 Pod 122: Freedom of speech, Black British history, and a final disaster

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

As kids return to schools, Lavinya Stennett of The Black Curriculum tells Mick why Black British history needs to be mandatory teaching within the national curriculum and chats about the #TBH365 campaign aiming to make that a reality. Hannah talks to award-winning novelist Elif Shafak about her new non-fiction book, How To Stay Sane In An Age of Division, and why we should all spend a bit more time engaging with people we don't agree with.

There’s back-to-school confusion, hat drama and tail-eating snakes in the Bush Telegraph. And it's fishing – shit yeah! – in the final Dunleavy Does Disaster as we watch The Perfect Storm. Cue montage.

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SIM Ep 409 Chops 176: Dr Kat Arney and the Rebel Cell

Sun, 23 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Journalist Hazel Davis got on the phone to Dr Kat Arney to talk about Rebel Cell: Cancer, Evolution and the Science of Life, Kat's book – out now – about the big bug in the system of life and how we get cancer because we can't not get it. They also chat cancer and Covid-19, Tasmanian devils, clams, Maud Slye and LOADS of mice.

https://www.rebelcellbook.com/

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SIM Ep 408 Pod 121: Refugees, debut novels and dubious jerky

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

With the ever-pressing situation of refugees back in the headlines, Mickey gets on the phone to Ethiopia to talk refugees, camps and coronavirus, and how women and girls are particularly affected, with Betelhem Mengistu, a Community Wellbeing Initiative Co-ordinator for the International Rescue Committee. Hannah's been on the blower to Baltimore to chat to Kate Reed Petty about her amazing debut novel True Story and how her time on a jury in a rape trial inspired it. Then it's off to the Andes In Dunleavy Does Disaster, as we watch Alive. They thought they had problems, Hannah's lost her bingo card. Plus, in the Bush Telegraph, we're giving the Government a U in the A-Level shitshow and ask the Internet Watch Foundation about the true cost of child abuse images online. Thanks for listening.

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SIM Ep 407 Chops 175: Rachel Mariner is a Recovering Misogynist

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 02:15:00 -0000

Playwright and lawyer Rachel Mariner joins Mickey to talk about her new play, Recovering Misogynist, which you can stream courtesy of the Cambridge Junction (until Aug 26). They chat about everything from feeling sorry for Harvey Weinstein to Mary Beard, from an incredibly surprising blind date to the Kardashians, from sacrificial old goats to the orange dicksplash in the White House.

Diverse as all that is, it pretty much all plays a part in Recovering Misogynist, which you can – and should – digitally stream from www.junction.co.uk/recovering-misogynist.

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SIM Ep 406 and Chops 174: Kerry Hudson is Lowborn

Sun, 16 Aug 2020 02:00:29 -0000

In this week's Chops, Hannah chats to author Kerry Hudson about her autobiographical book Lowborn: Growing Up, Getting Away and Returning to Britain's Poorest Towns, which is now out in paperback. They chat about how class politics has changed post Brexit. why the middle-class view of growing up poor is often wildly inaccurate and that thorniest of words, "privilege". Have at it.

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SIM Ep 405 Gig 55: Duker, Moore, Dunleavy and Noonan

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Mick are joined by excellent comedians Sophie Duker and Thanyia Moore for our second gig via the wonder of Zoom. Chat is wildly varied, taking in feet, anal hygiene for cats, true love for Michaela Coel, why powerful women get labelled as 'difficult', dungarees, silver wolves, woke foxes, the mum perspective, and the evergreen nature of fart jokes.

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SIM Ep 404 Chops 173: Bryony Gordon’s Glorious Rock Bottom

Sun, 09 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Glorious Rock Bottom is straight-talking journalist and author Bryony Gordon’s candid and compelling sobriety memoir. In this chat with our Jen, Bryony explains what made her realise her drinking was a problem, what it means to be an alcoholic, how she learned to tell the stigma around alcoholism to jog on, expectation vs reality when it comes to AA, why we need to take responsibility for our own actions, and why she decided to share her personal story with the world.

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SIM Ep 403 Outside the Box #25

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Fancy a weekend in front of the telly? Yeah, you do. So let us offer some suggestions in August's Outside The Box, where we chat Mrs America, There She Goes, Perry Mason and The Plot Against America. Open snacks on three, two...

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SIM Ep 402 Pod 120: Intimacy coordinators, babies and why do our listeners hate us?

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Everyone agrees that intimacy coordinators are a good idea, but what do they actually do? This week, Mick chats to Ita O’Brien about her work, including in Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, to find out more. We're also catching up with Jen on maternity leave to see how she and Lyra are doing. In Dunleavy Does Disaster we watch The Last Sharknado because, well because one of you asked us to. Er, thanks? In the Bush Telegraph, we're talking about how Trump can't actually delay the next election, what the hell is going on with Coronavirus in this country and the "white men not nominated for a Booker" row. And in Sexism of the Week, we're pondering #challengeaccepted. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 401 Chops 172: Linda Scott and The Double X Economy

Sun, 02 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, Jen chats to Prof Linda Scott, internationally-renowned expert on women's economic development and author of hit new book The Double X Economy. They chat about women's spending power, who advertising is really aimed at and if the gender pay gap isn't all a massive ploy to keep mothers at home. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 400 Flicking #5: Moonlight

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Our resident film buff Yosra Osman shares her pick this week. Find out why Barry Jenkins' 2016 Oscar-winner Moonlight is (one of) her favourite(s), what Hannah and Mick make of it and just how much Yosra loves Janelle Monáe.

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SIM Ep 399 Pod 119: Recovery, NEETs and make ours a large one

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Lessons from history, the life-changing power of confidence, lots of Scotch and a 90s revival all play big roles in this week’s podzine. Annabel Bligh of The Conversation UK and The Anthill Podcast tells Mickey about new podcast series Recovery, a fascinating six-parter looking at key crises through history, and society’s subsequent recovery, to see if any parallels can be drawn with what’s happening today.

Hannah talks to Kate Nation, founder of Turtle Dove, a charity aiming to empower young women not in education, employment or training – NEETs – about what they do and the incredible difference self-confidence can make. And grab yourself a scotch and your best John Motson costume, as Dunleavy Does Disaster discusses the word “classic” in regards to 1979’s Meteor. Oh, and there’s not even the tiniest apology for Mick’s terrible Sean Connery impression. Plus there’s fat fighting, fundraising and a continuing lack of empathy on Twitter in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 398 Pod 118: Weight, hate and the departure gate

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We've some big hitters from the world of feminism for you in this week's podcast. You are welcome. First up, Mickey chats to Woman's Hour's Jenni Murray about fat shaming, changing attitudes and her new book Fat Cow, Fat Chance. Hannah talks to Labour MP and woman of action Stella Creasy about why she's working to make misogyny a hate crime. In DDD, we're less than rapturous about the Rapture as we watch Left Behind. Plus there's bona fide good news and a correct usage of the word hero in the Bush Telegraph. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 397 Chops 171: Jenny Kleeman talks Sex Robots & Vegan Meat

Sun, 19 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Journalist and documentary maker Jenny Kleeman talks to Mickey about her astonishing debut non-fiction, Sex Robots & Vegan Meat. Five years in the writing, Jenny delves into new innovations in technology on the frontiers of sex, food, birth and death that will, in the future, change the way we live (and die) forever.

They talk about the impact these technologies will have on women, which tends to be – wait for it! – negative and also tends to outweigh any negative effect on men. They also chat about some positive outcomes, Terminator on the dark web, and Jurassic Park.

Jenny is utterly engaging with a nicely dark sense of humour when it comes to the dystopia seemingly just around the corner. She’s also hopeful about the human race. Can she convince our Mick to feel the same?

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SIM Ep 396 Pod 117: sex robots, period drama and naked disaster

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Period blood, poos stuck in windows, sex robots and death machines: squeamishness be damned in this week’s episode. Journalist and documentary maker Jenny Kleeman tells Mickey about her debut book, Sex Robots & Vegan Meat, a fascinating, terrifying and darkly funny look at technological innovations currently in the pipeline that could potentially change how we live (and die) forever.

Hannah catches up with Kelly O’Sullivan, writer and star of new film Saint Frances, which opens in cinemas later this month, to talk drama-free abortion and why period-stained is definitely the new black.

There’s impressive explosions and thoughtful casting in DDD – sorrywhatnow?! – as Hannah, Mick and Lucy watch 2016’s based-on-a-true-story Deepwater Horizon and feel the fear of being fully nude when disaster strikes. And thank Christ for animals, providing all the good news in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 395 Chops 170: Having children taken into care

Sun, 12 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Lucy Nichol takes the Chops reins this week. Society loves to stigmatise, but more often than not, the whole story isn't in the public domain. Lucy talks to a woman who had her children taken into care. They chat about her very personal story, about how things went wrong, the assumptions we make about motherhood and mental health, and what it all meant for her and her (now back together again) family.

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SIM Ep 394 Outside The Box #24

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 15:11:25 -0000

Sold on the idea of watching things filmed in lockdown yet? We weren't immediately, but in this month's Outside The Box, we talk about the roaring success of Talking Heads and the stupid fun of Staged. Plus we're chatting The Salisbury Poisonings, The Sinner, Athlete A, Roll Red Roll and What We Do In The Shadows. And there's early thoughts on Mrs America, which we'll cover in full next month. Along with Perry Mason. Because Hannah hasn't mentioned Matthew Rhys for at least 20 minutes.

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SIM Ep 393 Gig 54: Lyons, Brister, Noonan and Dunleavy

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Lockdown and social distancing may have stopped our gigcasts, but that doesn't mean we can't try our best to replicate them for you*. So, as we had planned to go to Brighton this summer, we've instead made Brighton come to us in the form of excellent comedians Zoe Lyons and Jen Brister. We chat hardcore running, excessive drinking, using the toilet as an office and having a breakdown in the Co-op. Who doesn't want to listen to that?

* Over Zoom. Yes we miss seeing your faces and look forward to seeing them all soon.

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SIM Ep 392 Chops 169: Coming Undone with Terri White

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 02:15:00 -0000

Terri White's debut book, Coming Undone, A Memoir, is an extraordinary piece of writing that deals with child abuse, alcoholism, mental breakdown and much more. She and Mick talk about all of that and also about kids growing up in poverty and how that’s still a reality now, why trauma shouldn’t be couched in euphemisms and metaphors, how Terri's view of success has altered, and why the fuck she decided to record her own audiobook.

Over on this week's other Chops, Jen chats to Ashley 'Dotty' Charles, who tells her that while we might all be angry at the world, if you don't pick your battles, you can't win the war. The broadcaster and writer chats about her excellent (and much-needed) new book Outraged: Why Everyone is Shouting and No One is Talking, about the difference between productive and not-at-all-helpful indignation, and how some people have built a career from being outraged.

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SIM Ep 391 Chops 168: Picking your battles with Ashley 'Dotty' Charles

Sun, 05 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Angry at the world? You probably should be. But, as Ashley 'Dotty' Charles tells us in this week's Chops, if you don't pick your battles, you can't win the war. The broadcaster and writer tells Jen about her excellent (and much-needed) new book Outraged: Why Everyone is Shouting and No One is Talking, about the difference between productive and not-at-all-helpful indignation, and how some people have built a career from being outraged.

Because there's so many excellent women and not enough time, we've two Chops this week, so when you finish here, pop over to check out our other hearty feast of a Chops, where Mickey chats to Empire editor Terri White about her memoir Coming Undone. It's an excellent listen too. Happy Sunday!

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SIM Ep 390 Flicking #4: Jaws

Sat, 04 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Steven Spielberg's 1975 classic Jaws is our Mick's pick for this episode of Flicking. She and Hannah are joined by film buff Yosra Osman to talk the joys of Bruce the big fish, definitions of manhood, pissed-up stars, an iconic score and that speech. Because everyone's seen Jaws. Right, Yosra?

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SIM Ep 389 Pod 116: shielding, Coming Undone and Olympic mumming

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Disability activist Gem Turner has been shielding, and she talks to Hannah about what that means, whether she feels ready to go back into the real world and what the last few months have taught her about how this Government views disabled people. Award-winning journalist and editor-in-chief of Empire magazine Terri White chats to Mickey about her beautiful, hard-hitting memoir Coming Undone, an extraordinary book, dealing with poverty, child abuse, alcoholism and mental breakdown.

And time-travelling Jen is here again, catching up with the awesome – in the most literal meaning of the word – Jo Pavey about being an Olympian and keeping kids active during lockdown.

Jam-packed? Damn right.

Plus, in Dunleavy Does Disaster, Hannah, Mick and Lucy are stuck in a tunnel with Sylvester Stallone and a plucky band of survivors trying to reach Daylight (and very ungrateful about the vital help from their rat friends). And in the Bush Telegraph, Hannah and Mick are talking Thrones of Labour, CPS failings and Mary Jackson HQ.

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SIM Ep 388 Chops 167: Fighting racism against Gypsies, Roma and Travellers

Sun, 28 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, which exists to raise awareness about these communities within the UK. That’s 300,000 people, and sadly, if not unsurprisingly, they’re facing racism on an individual and systemic level every day. And so Mickey caught up with Josie O Driscoll, director of GATE Herts and founder of Report Racism GRT, and Professor Margaret Greenfields, professor of Social Policy and Community Engagement at Buckinghamshire New University. Margaret shares some pretty horrifying headline findings from a forthcoming report into racism against GRT communities and suggests ways those outside of the communities can be better allies, and Josie tells us about the hard work being done within GRT communities to call out the racism they face, as well as own the communities’ problems and move forwards. #GRTHM #GRTHM2020

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SIM Ep 387 Pod 115: Zooming, driving & showing gender stereotypes the door

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We love women, we love history, we love a whole lot of women's history. So, the good news is, in this week's podcast, Mickey chats to a Standard Issue fave, writer Anneka Harry about her new book Gender Rebels, which celebrates the diverse, defiant and daring women who changed the rules, and their identities, to get shit done. Broadcaster Sue Elliott-Nicholls has, like all of us, been Zooming and she shares her thoughts about her mini-me in the corner. We've Part II of Jen's interview with athlete and multi-medallist Asha Philip and in Dunleavy Does Disaster, we watch How It Ends. The answer, my friends, is badly. And that's not even a spoiler alert. Plus, there's all the news we can bear to look at in the Bush Telegraph. Send help!

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SIM Ep 386 Chops 166: The History Women

Sun, 21 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Everybody loves a bit of history, right? Even if it's just that it gives us a break from living through it. In this week's Chops, Hannah chats to Rachel Crossley from the East End Women's Museum about how it came into being (and is that a yarn, believe us), its celebration of the Equal Pay Act, how you can help collect stories that reflect the diversity of East London and what the future holds for this celebration of ordinary and extraordinary women. Spoiler alert: it's very exciting.

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SIM Ep 385 Pod 114: funerals, fashion and slow-moving magma

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Fancy a strangely uplifting listen about funerals? Well, Mick catches up with Poppy Mardall, founder of Poppy’s Funerals, to find out about funerals in the time of coronavirus and lockdown, how people are adapting and creating new rituals to say goodbye, and how it might have changed the landscape forever.

Given leaving the house is now a real possibility again, we’re having to think about getting dressed, so Hannah talks to fashion journalist Naomi Barling about how lockdown might have changed our views on whether clothes are use or ornament. They also chat about how fashion needs to up its game in terms of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Plus, there's hot lava and an overly generous critique of racism and policing as Dunleavy Does Disaster does 1997’s Volcano, bodily fluids all over the shop in Bush Telegraph, and a baffling incomprehension of female pleasure in Sexism of the Week. With snails.

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SIM Ep 384 Chops 165: The imperfect art of caring with Penny Wincer

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 02:05:00 -0000

Penny Wincer is a two-time carer, single mum and author of the eye-opening Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring. In this Chops, she chats to Mickey about the loaded nature of the term ‘carer’, how disabled people have been thrown under the bus, the absolute pittance unpaid carers receive in the UK, the unique intersection of disability, the medical versus social model of dealing with disability, and the importance of individual stories in helping us understand what need to be done to make lives better for disabled people and those looking after and supporting them.

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SIM Ep 384 Chops 164: A history of working motherhood

Sun, 14 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In the first of this week's Chops, Hannah chats to Dr Helen McCarthy, historian and author of the fantastic new book Double Lives. They chat about the history of working motherhood, how society and feminism have viewed mums and work, and how working mums have viewed themselves. And, in the midst of the worst crisis in childcare in living memory, they ask what the future may hold for women who want to have kids and careers.

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SIM Ep 383 Outside The Box #23

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 16:58:01 -0000

Lockdown might be easing but that's no reason to give up on your TV viewing. This month, Hannah and Mickey chat about the marvel that is Michaela Coel, and her new drama I May Destroy You. There are documentaries aplenty as we watch 16 Shots and Crip Camp. Mickey talks Windrush drama Sitting in Limbo and there's twice as much Mark Ruffalo to go around as Hannah chats I Know This Much Is True. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 382 Pod 113: Caring, broadcasting and running

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

It’s National Carers Week, so in this week's podcast, Mickey chats to Penny Wincer, two-time unpaid carer, single mum and author of Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring about the loaded nature of the word carer and how, in the UK, disabled people have been thrown under the bus. Hannah catches up with performance duo Hunt & Darton to find out how their arts project Radio Local is helping communities unearth their good news stories. She may be on maternity leave, but Jen's left us a cracking chat with queen of athletics Asha Philip, in the first of a two-part interview. And in Dunleavy Does Disaster we watch Knowing, where everyone's so busy shouting each other's names they don't notice how truly dreadful the film is. We did though. And in the Bush Telegraph, sigh, well, it's the world right now. There's no getting away from it.

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SIM Ep 381 Chops 163: Dr Rachel Clarke and the importance of palliative medicine

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 23:00:00 -0000

Dr Rachel Clarke is a specialist in palliative medicine, author of Dear Life: A Doctor’s Story of Love and Loss, and outspoken supporter of the NHS. In this episode, she chats to Mickey about the current state of things in the NHS, what with coronavirus, lockdown and government aides doing whatever the fuck they like, and shares some cockle-warming stories of how she’s helped people live their last days to the full, the heartbreaking story of her dad’s terminal cancer diagnosis, and some frankly horrifying stats on hospice funding.

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SIM Ep 380 Flicking #3: The Station Agent

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Tom McCarthy’s 2003 indie gem The Station Agent is our Hannah’s pick for this episode of Flicking. What will Mick and Jen make of this darkly funny tale of Fin (Peter Dinklage) a man who just wants to be left the fuck alone? And what will it tell them about Hannah?

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SIM Ep 379 Pod 112: Dying well, postpartum psychosis, and things to do in an IKEA car park

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Jen might be on mat leave, but we have her time-travelling counterpart in this episode. She's talking to author and illustrator Laura Dockrill about her new book What Have I Done?, an account of her experience of postpartum psychosis and the continued misconceptions and misinformation around women’s health. Mick chats with Dr Rachel Clarke, specialist in palliative medicine, author of Dear Life, and wonderfully outspoken supporter of the NHS, about the possibility of dying well and the joy of a prize bull in a hospice. Mick and Hannah welcome Lucy Reynolds to the DDD fold as they tackle 1998 asteroid flick Deep Impact and find the lack of hope somewhat refreshing. Also, the roar of fury continues in the Bush Telegraph, and there’s genuine, heartfelt, no-word-of-a-lie sympathy for men’s experience of the menopause in SOTW. Altogether now: poor men.

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SIM Ep 378 Pod 111: Sex, lies and the worst film of all time

Wed, 27 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

As you probably know, we love old people here at Standard Issue, so our Jen got on the phone to Meryl Davies, chief executive of Re-engage, about respecting your elders and what we can do to help those who are socially distancing right now. We asked journalist and folk music fiend Hazel Davis to get on the phone with musician and ethnomusicologist Dr Fay Hield to chat about how the pandemic is affecting musicians and the inventive ways in which they’re surviving.

Hannah chats to Dr Alyson McGregor about her new book Sex Matters and how Covid-19 presents an opportunity to change how we conduct health studies and collect statistics. Jen's talking big money and the chances of skipping the Tokyo Olympics entirely in Jenny Off The Blocks and in DDD, we watch classic bad filmPlan 9 From Outer Space. And in the Bush Telegraph, we're – er - let's just say, we're furious. You can probably guess why.

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SIM Ep 377 Chops 162: Han & Lou Solo

Sun, 24 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Millions of people in the UK are doing Lockdown alone, but you'd be mistaken for thinking they don't exist if you listened to the Government or the media. So, Hannah got on the phone to comedian Lou Conran to swap stories of Solo Lockdown. They chat about filling the hours, irrational and rational fears, and what this whole shebang can tell us about the value we put on childless or single women. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 376 Pod 110: R&R, consumer queens, and monstrous donkeys

Wed, 20 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Maytree is a respite centre for people who are feeling suicidal, and this week our Jen chats to its director, Natalie Howarth, about the impact of lockdown on our mental health and how to help someone you’re worried might be suffering. Mick catches up with consumer rights queen Vix Leyton about what’s what in the time of coronavirus, how Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act remains the consumer’s friend and the places online that can help you chase claims.

Sport is (sort of) BACK in Jenny off the Blocks, there are some strange hues of leather and shaky cameras galore as Dunleavy Does Disaster takes on Earthquake, and some absolute bastard donkeys in the Bush Telegraph. The bastards.

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SIM Ep 375 Chops 161: Antigone Rising with Helen Morales

Sun, 17 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

What can we learn from the ancient Greeks? And what should we probably unlearn from them? In this episode, Jen chats to Professor Helen Morales, classicist and Argyropoulos Chair in Hellenic Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. They chat about Helen's new book Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths and how ancient misogyny still underpins modern society, as well as some pilgrimages to Dollywood, among other things.

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SIM Ep 374 Gig 53: McLynn and Hazarika

Wed, 13 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Back on February 14 this year, Mickey and Hannah were joined by actor and one-woman cat herd Pauline McLynn and journalist, political commentator and comedian Ayesha Hazarika.

Now then, there’s some stuff in here that is clearly just jokes and lols – we absolutely do not endorse alcoholism or stalking. But hopefully you already knew that. And it’s very much worth remembering this was recorded back in February before we were officially in a global pandemic,

And so, please get ready for topics including the turn of a man’s ankle, Riverdance, some genuinely excellent advice, and Hannah’s shit, mud-covered, fully nude birthday. Among many other marvellous tangents.

We recorded this in front of a live audience at King’s Place in London, so thanks to them, thanks to Emma Corsham for all things tech, and thanks to our lovely audience. They had a great time. And when we can host live gigs again, you should come along and have a great time, too.

Oh, just one more thing: is Pauline the Nigel Farage of this panel? Tweet us: @StandardIssueUK

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SIM Ep 374 Gig 53: McLynn and Hazarika

Wed, 13 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Back on February 14 this year, Mickey and Hannah were joined by actor and one-woman cat herd Pauline McLynn and journalist, political commentator and comedian Ayesha Hazarika.

And so, please get ready for topics including the turn of a man’s ankle, Riverdance, some genuinely excellent advice, and Hannah’s rubbish, mud-covered, fully nude birthday. Among many other marvellous tangents.

Oh, just one more thing: is Pauline the Nigel Farage of this panel? Tweet us: @StandardIssueUK

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SIM Ep 373 Flicking #2: Kindergarten what?

Sat, 09 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Since cinemas are consigned to the list of things we used to do in these coronavirus-y times, we decided to have a watch of some of our own favourite films. Jen chose first, and opens this series with "classic" 90s comedy, Kindergarten Cop. Yes, we were surprised too. But can a man looking after children sustain the interest of the rest of our intrepid viewers for an hour and 50 minutes?

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SIM Ep 372 Outside The Box #22

Fri, 08 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Young love, epic drugs binges, basketball, a golden box and an orange Michael Sheen - this month's Outside The Box has it all. We chat the highs and lows of Quiz, Normal People, Mike Judge Presents Tales From The Tour Bus, The Last Dance, Unorthodox, Devs and The A Word. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 371, Pod 109: Hugging, homelessness and Handsy Joe

Wed, 06 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We all miss hugging our friends, right? But will we ever feel safe to do it again? This week, Mickey got on the phone to psychotherapist Jane Watson to find out why all our emotions are clamouring to have a go in lockdown and how we can prepare ourselves for the outside world again. Hannah chats to Sarah Halls of Wintercomfort, an outreach service for rough sleepers, about how they are coping in the current chaos. Plus she's talking about Biden vs Trump with comedian Kate McCabe. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen looks at the equal pay issue for the US national football teams and in Dunleavy Does Disaster, we watch Sharknado. Seriously, though, what the fuck?

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SIM Ep 370 Chops 160: The answer is quizzes

Sun, 03 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Quizzes are helping make Lockdown UK a bit more bearable, but you already knew that, right? Have a point! Hannah got on the phone with quiz enthusiasts and hosts of the excellent podcast Fingers on Buzzers, comedian Lucy Porter and The Chase's Jenny Ryan. They chat about why we just love getting questions right, how quizzes are the perfect tool for socially-distanced socialising and what the nation's favourite quiz shows can tell us about society at any given time.

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SIM EP 369 Pod 108: Helping refugees, saving businesses, and not counting calories

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In this week’s podzine, Mick chats to Sam Hudson of the charity Women For Refugee Women about how women refugees in the UK are faring in the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, on the business side of the coronavirus crisis, Jen chats to Hannah Turner-Voakes, founder and director of small business Paper Dress Vintage, about the impact of the virus and lockdown. Following on from BBC programme The Restaurant That Burns Off Calories, writer Lucy Nichol catches up with campaigner and author Hope Virgo to talk about how to have a responsible conversation about diet and eating disorders.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen ponders the prospect of two becoming one in tennis, and women be screaming as Hannah takes on The Poseidon Adventure in Dunleavy Does Disaster. Over in the Bush Telegraph, BoJo’s back, Pearson’s out, and Trump is, well, inexplicable to be honest.

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SIM Ep 368 Chops 159: Women, COVID-19 and spotlit inequality

Sun, 26 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

The Fawcett Society has been fighting sex inequality since 1886. Mick caught up with its CEO, Sam Smethers, to talk specifically about women and Coronavirus, and how the pandemic is further highlighting structural inequality. Which is bad, yes, but Sam does have hope that this means those at the top might realise things need to change when it comes to moving forward post-Coronavirus.

https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/

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SIM EP 367 Pod 107: Beauty Bankssss, Shakesssspeare and snakesss

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Snakes on a podcast! It's almost a theme this week. But not quite. We'll get to the reptiles in odd places, but first journalist, author and beauty guru Sali Hughes chats to Mick about her work as co-founder the excellent Beauty Banks charity and #HelpingHands, its sibling initiative getting essential toiletries to people in need during the pandemic.

Ahead of Shakespeare Day, Hazel Davis chats to Emma Smith, Professor of Shakespeare Studies at Oxford, about why the Bard enjoys such longevity, and how his women fare. Jamie Chadwick, winner of last year's inaugural W Series, joins Jen in Jenny Off The Blocks to talk life in the fast lane, the physicality of motor racing and her bid for F1. And where are those snakes? Well they're on a plane in Dunleavy Does Disaster, as Hannah, Mick, Jen and Sarah Millican watch 2006's Samuel L Jackson-starring internet sensation.

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SIM Ep 366 Chops 158: pet care in a pandemic

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We don’t know about you, but animals are playing a big part in keeping us sane (sort of) in these unsettling times. And so, Hannah and Mick got on the Zoom to Dr Judy Puddifoot – TV vet and all-round top woman – to ask her advice on looking after your pets in the lockdown and put those myths about animals spreading the virus to bed.

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SIM Ep 365 Pod 106: Remembering Brexit, coping with stress and massive worms

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

With reports of domestic violence soaring in LockdownUK, Mickey gets on the phone to Dawn Redshaw, who runs two women’s refuges in Salford, to learn how they are coping and what we can do to help. We've all lost track of what's happening with Brexit, so Hannah asks Best For Britain CEO and Remainiacs host Naomi Smith for the latest. Writer and mental health campaigner Natasha Devon tells Mick and Jen about her new book Yes You Can: Ace Your Exams Without Losing Your Mind. The boss, Sarah Millican, joins us for another Dunleavy Does Disaster as we watch Tremors. Plus we chat Priti Patel's unorthodox counting method and the plight of local newspapers in the Bush Telegraph. Yes, we are spoiling you.

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SIM Ep 364 Chops 157: Rebecca Schiller on Birthrights in the time of Corona

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the NHS and among users of the healthcare system, including pregnant women. Currently up the duff, our Jen caught up with Rebecca Schiller co-founder and trustee of Birthrights, and author of the very excellent book Your No Guilt Pregnancy Plan: A Revolutionary Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and the Weeks That Follow. They chatted about what Birthrights is doing to help provide advice to, and advocate for pregnant women, what impact coronavirus is having on antenatal and postnatal services, and how to navigate these very anxious times if you're expecting.

You can find more information and advice on the Birthrights website: https://www.birthrights.org.uk/

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SIM Ep 363 Outside The Box #21

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Got a huge amount of time to watch TV? Struggling to watch TV? Either way, we feel you. In this month's Outside the Box, we chat Tiger King, In My Skin, Trigonometry, The Nest and The English Game. Plus Hannah and Mick finally catch up with Tim Minchin's Upright *chef's kiss*. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 362 Pod 105: Child birthing, soul baring, and top jobbing.

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jen chats to Rebecca Schiller, co-founder and trustee of Birthrights, about what they’re doing to help pregnant women during the coronavirus outbreak. Mick has a natter with Kayleigh Llewellyn, writer and creator of award-winning BBC comedy drama series In My Skin. Rachel Reeves, now shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, spoke to Jen back in March about her book Women of Westminster, and why we need to see more women in the top jobs in government.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen recaps the many cancellations in women’s sport, Hannah stretches the meaning of disaster a bit, but has a lovely time as Dunleavy Does Disaster takes on Con (H)Air. Plus in the Bush Telegraph there are some Judgey McJudgetons, unlikely scapegoats and an unwelcome headline about domestic abuse as the UK Lockdown rumbles on. Thank Christ for marauding goats.

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SIM Ep 361 Chops 156: Layla Saad and White Supremacy

Sun, 05 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode Jen chats to Layla Saad, teacher, speaker and author of new book White Supremacy and Me: How to Recognise Your Privilege, Combat Racism, and Change the World. They talk about white supremacy and why white people need to dismantle it, the intersection of privileges, performative wokeness and, er, Laurence Fox.

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SIM Ep 360 Pod 104: Recovering from coronavirus, understanding autism and keeping fit

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Sarah Millican, Rachel Parris, Nacoa, front room personal training, autism, Coronavirus, unsexy disaster, and tit slings: it is a BUMPER episode.

Hannah catches up with Hilary Henriques from charity Nacoa to find out how they're continuing to provide support to children of alcoholics in Lockdown UK, and she also talks to comedian Rachel Parris, who explains what it's like to have Coronavirus, as well as what's coming up for fans of The Mash Report. And it’s World Autism Awareness Week, so Mick chats to artist and author Charlotte Amelia Poe about their book How To Be Autistic.

In Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen talks to personal trainer and media fitness expert Anna Reich about how you can stay fit during lockdown. The boss joins the team for Dunleavy Does Disaster and totally cheats while watching 2003 journey to the centre of the Earth, The Core, and there are acronyms aplenty in BT but a dearth of bras in SOTW.

Get jigg(l)y with it!

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SIM Ep 359 Chops 155: Workplace bullying and harassment

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 02:00:00 -0000

With the world in chaos, there's never been a more important time to look after your staff, so Hannah's been talking to The Royal Society of Chemistry CEO Dr Helen Pain and Laura Norton, Senior Programme Manager (Inclusion & Diversity), about its new support line. They chat about the advice and support they are providing for people experiencing (or indeed witnessing) bullying and harassment in the workplace, why it's needed and why it's vital to reach those guilty of bullying as well those being subjected to it.

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SIM Ep 358 Chops 154: Shaping the future with Niamh O'Keeffe

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In a time where the need for a steady ship couldn't be greater, and ahead of an anticipated announcement about the result of the Labour Party's leadership contest, Jen caught up with leadership adviser Niamh O'Keeffe. They talk about her new book Future Shaper: How Leaders Can Take Charge in an Uncertain World, what makes a good leader, and who's running the coronavirus show on the world stage, right now.

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SIM Ep 357 Pod 103: School closures, stress and the back of Mia Farrow's head

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

If you've found the last few weeks stressful - and who hasn't? - we're here with some help. Mick talks to Katya Jezzard-Puyraud of Lighthearts UK to get some tips on dealing with anxiety, and long-time home edder Hazel Davies gives us some tips for coping now that schools have all been shut. We've also got Abortion Support Network’s Mara Clarke filling us in on what’s happening to women needing to access abortion services in the time of coronavirus. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats to journalist Carrie Dunn about what the abrupt end to the football season means for next year's Women's Euros. Hannah's having the time of her life, watching Avalanche, very much the Crossroads of disaster films. Plus there's trolley trolls, pregnancy and the Windrush scandal in the Bush Telegraph. Tuck in. Stay safe. And socially distance. Until next week!

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SIM Ep 356 Chops 153: #NotYourPorn

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Kate Isaacs is the founder of the #NotYourPorn campaign, whose mission is to hold porn companies to account. She believes revenge porn should not be a porn category, and consent should come before profit. Which you'd think would be hard to argue with. However, as you’re about to hear in this chat she had with our Mickey, Pornhub – very much the Johnny Big Balls of commercialised porn – isn’t making it easy for victims of non-consensual porn to get justice. Or indeed, videos taken down.

You can help by visiting notyourporn.com and following and sharing the campaign on social media, where you’ll find it on Twitter with the handle @notyourporn.

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SIM EP 356 Pod 102: Bugs, boys and books.

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

This week's podcast comes straight from our respective self-isolation bunkers, because frankly, we can't sustain this rate of hand-washing.

Joining us - and you - is our resident music guru Liz Buckley, who brings us some much needed joy by way of the Pet Shop Boys. Hannah goes to author Claire Allan for some advice on what to get our reading chops around during these most-long of days.

We're herding nans and chomping on budget apples in the Bush Telegraph, while in Jenny off The Blocks, Jen is chatting about renowned unskilled footballers the US Women's national team. Last but by no means least, there are incongruous sporting and indeed geological references in Dunleavy Does Disaster as Hannah takes on Gladiator, sorry, Pompeii.

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SIM Ep 355 Chops 152: Gilded cages and glass ceilings in art

Sun, 15 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

The art world's not exactly been what you'd call welcoming to women over the years, as you can discover at London's Guildhall Art Gallery's latest exhibition Enchanted Interiors. In this week's Chops, Hannah chats to curator Katty Pearce about the gilded cages women have been kept in, the glass ceiling facing female artists and whether or not the Pre-Raphaelites deserve all the side-eye Hannah's been giving them.

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SIM Ep 354 Outside The Box #20

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

There's probably never been a better time to stay inside and watch some TV, so let us give you some pointers in March's Outside The Box. We talk Inside No 9, This Country, Bojack Horseman, Home, Last Tango in Halifax, Night on Earth, Rio and Kate: Becoming A Step Family, The Stranger, The Trials of Gabriel Fernadez and Locke and Key. Yes, that's a whole lot of telly.

* If you're looking for that link Hanah promises on Reconstruction, look no further: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7ypw_mNn8A

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SIM Ep 353 Pod 101: sexual feeling, groundbreaking feats and shit pie

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

With very clean hands, this week's podzine brings you Sex and Lies, as author Leila Slimani tells Jen all about her new book looking at the secret sex lives of women in Morocco, a country that still expects its women to be virgins or married.

Part of the brilliant Vaults Festival, Miles Apart Together is a new play charting world-beating feats accomplished by women you've never heard of. But you're hearing about them now, as actor Meg Kubota tells our Hannah about Annie "Londonderry" Kopchovsky, Bessie Coleman and Junko Tabei.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen’s wondering if it’s time for Phil Neville to sling his hook as far as his management of the Lionesses is concerned, and in the Bush Telegraph the team talks COVID-19, convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein and #WeToo, and the problem with the Labour leadership race. Well, one of them anyway.

And there are more fun and games in Dunleavy Does Disaster, as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson saves what's left of the day while his on-screen daughter goes tits akimbo in 2015's San Andreas.

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SIM 352 IWD20 #7: Samra Habib's Queer Muslim Memoir

Sun, 08 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

It's the last in this year's International Women's Day series (although, in truth, every day is IWD at Standard Issue) and Hannah has been to chat to writer and photographer Samra Habib. They talk about her book We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir, and about what it's like both to be LGBT in Muslim communities and a Muslim in LGBT communities. Don't forget to listen to all our our IWD20 series, where we talk to brilliant women including Amelia Bullmore, Sophie Walker, Helen Lewis, Vivienne Hayes and Su Pollard. And Happy IWD to you all.

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SIM Ep 351 IWD20 6: Vivienne Hayes and the Women's Resource Centre

Sat, 07 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

For this, the International Women’s Day Eve episode in our series of IWD 2020 interviews, Mick caught up with fierce feminist, relentless activist and CEO of the Women’s Resource Centre, Vivienne Hayes. They chat challenging systemic sexism, class, the power of solidarity, the vital importance of women’s spaces and Pay Back The Tampon Tax – the Women’s Resource Centre’s excellent campaign for the government to give the cash raised by VAT on tampons and sanitary pads to the women’s sector. Which it promised to do. Then didn’t. No, we're not surprised either. It’s a campaign well worth getting behind, we're sure you’ll agree, and you’ll find ways to get involved at www.wrc.org.uk.

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SIM Ep 350 IWD20 #5: Difficult Women with Helen Lewis

Fri, 06 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

In part five of our series for International Women's Day 2020, Jen and Mick talk to Helen Lewis, journalist and author of the new book Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights. They talk about speaking up, erasing history, cancel culture, and the #oneballcampaign, among many other things.

Difficult Women: A History of Feminism in 11 Fights is available now, published by Jonathan Cape.

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SIM Ep 349 IWD20 #4: Andrea Heaton

Thu, 05 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Smile Club, the new play from theatre-maker and actor Andrea Heaton, follows Lisa, an attendee of Smile Club – Smile Club being the government drive that exists to tame unruly women in Andrea’s imagined dystopian future. Although, as she and Mickey touch on, that dystopia feels closer than is comfortable.

Smile Club is a Red Ladder production and opens at Leeds Playhouse on March 5 before going on tour.

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SIM Ep 348 IWD20 #3: Su Pollard

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

On day three of our International Women's Day 2020 series, we give you the gift of Su Pollard, actor and national treasure, best known as Hi-de-Hi's Peggy, and now starring in one-woman show Harpy. Jen chats to Su about mental health, ageing stars, wedding singers and upsetting passengers from the mighty Harwich Ferry. And parrots, obviously.

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SIM Ep 347 IWD20 #2: Sophie Walker

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Inspiring force of nature and all-round top woman Sophie Walker chats to Mickey about: activism and how we can all get involved; being an optimistic feminist (and how we can all be one); how being the founding leader of the Women’s Equality Party changed her life; her recent appointment as CEO of The Young Women’s Trust, and her brilliant book, Five Rules For Rebellion: Let’s Change The World Ourselves.

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SIM Ep 346 IWD20 #1: Amelia Bullmore

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

In the first of our special interviews celebrating International Women's Day 2020, Hannah and Jen chatted to actor and writer Amelia Bullmore about her varied career. They talked about working with such excellent women as Sally Wainwright and Val McDermid, the joy of costumes, Coronation Street and - of course - I'm Alan Partridge, as well as how to write crime drama responsibly. Loads more bonus IWD podcasts to enjoy this week, so don't forget to press subscribe wherever you are listening to this to make sure you don't miss any of them.

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SIM Ep 345 Chops 151: Molly Aitken's Island Child

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode Jen catches up with author Molly Aitken to chat about her debut novel, The Island Child. They talk about motherhood, mental health, mythology, and why women don't ever seem to catch a break when it comes to complicated characters.

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SIM Ep 344 Gig 52: Ellis and Lexx

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

At last year's Edinburgh Fringe, Mick, Hannah and Jen had a bloody lovely chat with comedian Laura Lexx and presenter and author Janet Ellis. They talked about finding a thing's peril (but doing it anyway!), the joy and revelation of napping, Goldie the dog, Goldie the musician, and the importance of the Night Stool Man. You’re probably going to have to listen if you want to know what that means.

Our next gig is on March 29 as part of Podfest Birmingham, where we’ll be joined by bloody excellent actor and writer Helen Monks, comedy legend Janice Connolly aka Mrs Barbara Nice, and our very own flipping boss, Sarah Millican. Check out our website standardissuepodcast.com for info on all of our gigs, including where you can buy tickets.

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SIM Ep 343 Chops 150: The truth about romantic fiction with the RNA's Alison May

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 03:01:00 -0000

From Marian Keyes to Jilly Cooper, Joanne Harris to Toni Morrison, Barbara Cartland to Gabriel Garcia Marquez: romantic novels are a broad church able to tackle a lot of big topics and hot potatoes. And yet a lot of people still get sniffy when it comes to romance.

We chatted to the bloody smashing Alison May, Chair of the Romantic Novelists’ Association – this year celebrating its 60th anniversary – about changing hearts and minds, inclusivity, literary love stories, that time Cliff Richard played Heathcliff, why Same Girl by Usher and R Kelly would make a terrible romantic novel, and the intriguing sounding “banging” line of Mills & Boon books called Dare. Crikey Moses.

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SIM Ep 342 Chops 149: Pregnant Then Screwed

Sun, 23 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Ever wondered why some of the women around you just can't seem to catch a break in the workplace? In the fourth and final episode of our series on pregnancy, Jen catches up with Aceil Haddad, head of comms at the pregnancy and maternity rights charity Pregnant Then Screwed. They chat about the problems facing women in the workplace who are pregnant, on maternity leave or have returned to work after having kids, as well as the "comedy" tropes associated with motherhood and older women, feeling seen, and just how many children Boris Johnson may or may not have.

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SIM Ep 341 Pod 100: The Mercies, Teatime and Closed Lands

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

FANFARE PLEASE. It's our 100th podzine and, woman oh woman, is it a bumper banger. (Yes. Yes it is.)

Kiran Millwood-Hargrave writes beautifully of women's experiences from history and The Mercies, her debut adult fiction (although don't think you're too old to read her children's and YA books), is no different, charting a 17th Century real-life devastating storm and imagining what happened in the three years between that and a real-life devastating witch hunt. She tells Jen all about The Mercies and its inspiration.

Comedian, actor and writer Katherine Jakeways joins the team to talk spending rather too much time with family, what it's like writing for radio, the art of audio spoon balancing and her new Radio 4 sitcom, Teatime.

Becka McFadden tells us about Legal Aliens Theatre Company's play Closed Lands, and we chat why the West is so keen on building walls, both literal and metaphorical.

There's really bad wind as Dunleavy Does Disaster tackles Twister and the stomach-churning effect of Bill Paxton's character within it. And in the Bush Telegraph, Jen has some excellent words on how we can all be better at the media and why that's necessary. Among other stuff.

So cover yourself in tampons for warmth (see SOTW for more details) and get stuck in.

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SIM Ep 340 Chops 148: Is it normal? Mental health in pregnancy with Mumsnet

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 03:01:00 -0000

We hear quite a lot about the joy and wonder of pregnancy, rather less about the stress of wondering if something's wrong or you just need to fart. In part three of our series on pregnancy, Jen talks to Anna Cook, team member at Mumsnet, about mental health in pregnancy, the anxiety around growing a human, and what you can do to help yourself and others experiencing it.

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SIM Ep 339 Chops 147: When Hazel (Davis) met Nina (Stibbe)

Sun, 16 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Journalist Hazel Davis had The Best Time when we sent her to the British Library to chat with author and all-round hilarious woman Nina Stibbe. Chat veers delightfully wildly from Nina's first book, Love, Nina, to wayward mothers, prudish teens, being first published at 50, and when it's okay to risk pissing off your entire family. Nina's novel Reasons To Be Cheerful is out in paperback now.

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SIM Ep 338 Flicking #1

Fri, 14 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

In the first of our new film podcast, Flicking *sniggers*, we're off to the Oscars where there is laughter, terror, some really old white dudes, and not a lot for anyone else. That's right, this month we watch the winners (Parasite, Joker, Jojo Rabbit), the losers (The Irishman) and the not-even-nominated (Just Mercy and Queen & Slim).

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SIM Ep 337 Pod : Drugs, reality bubbles and the sea

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Looking for a clever woman? Well, lucky you, we've four of them for you and that doesn't even include us. This week, Mick catches up with photographic artist Mandy Barker to talk about her exhibition Our Plastic Ocean, a retrospective of her work addressing the global crisis of marine plastic pollution. Jen talks to science journalist Ziya Tong about her book The Reality Bubble and society's blindspots. And Hannah's chatting to Dr Suzi Gage about her new book Say Why To Drugs and what the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special can teach us about attitudes to recreational drug taking. In Jenny Off the Blocks, Jen's speaking to Kait Borsay, one of the hosts of The Offside Rule, about how the podcast's new sponsor has saved the day, and in Dunleavy Does Disaster we watch Independence Day. America! Fuck yeah!

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SIM Ep 336 Chops 146: Anne Miller, Hannah, Jen, Mickey and the Animal Spies

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 03:01:00 -0000

QI Elf, Museum of Curiosities producer and our resident bookworm Anne Miller came round to Mick's to chat to the team about her new kids' book, Mickey And The Animal Spies. Talk covered spies, animals we’d like to live with, the joy of kids books, and that time Dunleavy worked in Harrods' swimwear section. It was delightful.

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SIM Ep 335 Chops 145: Getting physical with the Active Pregnancy Foundation

Sun, 09 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

The internet can be a nightmare for women trying to navigate the dos and myriad of don'ts for pregnant women, especially when it comes to staying active during pregnancy. Now that she is very much up the duff, Jen wanted to find out more about what she should be doing to stay fit, and fortunately Dr Marlize de Vevo and Sally Kettle of the Active Pregnancy Foundation were on hand to advise. Spoiler alert: there's no such thing as "should".

Just to add, while these birds know their stuff, every pregnancy is different and you should always talk to a GP before you embark on a new exercise regime during pregnancy or if you have any concerns.

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SIM Ep 334 Outside The Box #20

Fri, 07 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

2020 has started with a bang on TV, so we've watched loads so you can get away with just watching the best bits. You are welcome. In this episode we chat Deadwater Fell, Killer Inside: The Mind Of Aaron Hernandez, Cobra, Sex Education, Messiah, The Outsider, You and Cheer. Plus Hannah wants us to make Lucy Worsley a National Treasure. The campaign starts here!

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SIM Ep 333 Pod 98: Sticky doors, misdiagnosis, and adult playtime

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

This week, we chat to actor and writer Katie Arnstein about the final play in her It’s A Girl! trilogy, Sticky Door, which covers her year-long journey of sexual exploration. Journalist and author Susannah Cahalan tells Jen about her book The Great Pretender, about understanding “madness” and the blurring of lines between physical and mental health. In Jenny Off the Blocks, personal trainer and author of Train Happy, Tally Rye, tells us about giving #fitspo the middle finger, and it’s a right old pa-lava in Dunleavy Does Disaster as we scale the dizzy heights of Dante’s Peak. Plus there’s Brexit, Stateside shit-housery and sports bantz in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM EP 332 Chops 144: Portraying Pregnancy at the Foundling Museum

Sun, 02 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Women's bodies are a constant source of controversy and debate, during pregnancy as much as any other time in our lives. In the first of a series about pregnancy running throughout February, Jen checked out the Foundling Museum's Portraying Pregnancy: From Holbein to Social Media exhibition, and caught up with its curator Karen Hearn, as well as the museum's director Caro Howell, to find out why this stage of a woman's life has historically been so shrouded in mystery, and precisely what an art historian makes of those famous Beyonce snaps.

(Picture credit: Beyonce/Instagram)

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SIM Ep 331 Gig 51: Stevenson and Haggard

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Multi-hyphenates Daisy Haggard and Tiff Stevenson joined Mick and Hannah at Kings Place on the eve of the general election – oh heady days of hope! – for a cracking gig, which involved some very entertaining politics chat that led to us all living on an island with talking sharks. Ahh, we wish. There’s also a whirlwind lesson in yoga for Mick and Hannah, a lot of sweating when it comes to thinking of things we like about ourselves, crying in the tax office, Googling big gardens, passive-aggressive presents, full-on aggressive presents, and a whole mess of crisps.

Our next live event is at Kings Place is on February 14, with excellent women Pauline McLynn and Ayesha Hazarika. Some people know that date as Valentine’s Day, but whether you’re into hearts and flowers or not, laughter is good for the soul and the loins. Honest. Get your tickets here: www.standardissuepodcast.com

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SIM Ep 330 Chops 143: Cervical Cancer Prevention Week

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

It's Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, so in this episode of the Sunday Chops we speak to Kate Sanger, head of communications and public affairs at Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust, and Mercedes, one of the charity's volunteers. We chatted about the #SmearForSmear campaign, HPV and how it is linked to cervical cancer, and what we can all do to help encourage those who can to have a smear test.

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SIM Ep 329 Pod 97: Lovesick, loving Europeans and learning to love sweating

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 03:45:07 -0000

It's our last podzine before that big Brexit date, so this week we're talking to Maike Bohn, from campaign group The 3 Million about how EU27 citizens feel about life in a post-Brexit Britain, what their chances of staying here are and what we can all do to make life a bit easier for them. Ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, Mickey chats to composer Na'ama Zisser about her new work Lovesick, which is part of a special performance at Manchester Jewish Museum on Monday 27 January. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats to Sport England's Director of Insight, Lisa O'Keefe, about the 5th year of their This Girl Can campaign and the joy of public sweating, and to netball star Ama Agbeze about body image. And get out your face masks, because we're watching Contagion in Dunleavy Does Disaster. NO PEANUTS!

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SIM Ep 328 Chops 142: The Internet Watch Foundation

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Child abuse isn't most people's first choice of conversation topic, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't talk about it. Last week, Hannah went to the Internet Watch Foundation to meet its CEO Susie Hargreaves to learn more about what the charity is doing to remove images of child sexual abuse online, why we shouldn't ever call it child pornography and how they look after the mental health of their staff whose job it is to see such videos.

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SIM Ep 327 Pod 96: Believing women, being brave and breaking records.

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

No Bush Telegraph or Dunleavy Does Disaster this week but, instead, a whopping four interviews with top women. Hannah chats to Joan Smith, Chair of The Mayor of London's Violence Against Women and Girls Board, about the recent horrendous Cyprus rape case and why it doesn’t end there when it comes to the legal difficulties facing victims of sex crimes. Mick talks to Kiley Reid about her excellent book Such a Fun Age, a whole host of privileges, and life in Trump’s US. Jen catches up with Standard Issue favourite, adventurer and author Paula McGuire, to talk about finding adventure in even the little things, as well as former British No 1 turned Eurosport pundit Annabel Croft, about the Australian Open – surely it’s Serena’s time, right?

(And for those of you who want to watch it, all courts and all matches of the Australian Open are live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player)

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SIM Ep 326 Chops 141: Getting on your bike with the Croydon Cycle Theatre

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Fancy zipping around town on a bike rather than sitting in endless traffic jams? Well, there may be politics on those there streets, but there are still plenty of reasons to start cycling. In this episode, comedian Vanessa Hammick and teacher Amy Foster, founders of the Croydon Cycle Theatre, tell us the whys and hows to getting on your bike.

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SIM Ep 325 Outside The Box #19

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Need to save some money in January? Then stay in and watch the telly. Hannah's got some news on what's coming up this month, including another Jonestown documentary, because yes, we still need them. We also talk Dracula and The Trial of Christine Keeler. And Mickey has finally finished Succession, so we can discuss the worst aspects of Shiv (spoiler alert, it's all of her) and why there is so much to love about intergenerational power couple Boss 'n' Toss. And finally, FINALLY, the last series of The Deuce is here. Hooray! Oh wait *cries forever*.

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SIM Ep 324 Pod 95: Fuck no! Yes dogs! And a sinking feeling

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Ever wanted to harness the power of ‘No’? Yes? Thought so. In that case, Hannah’s chat with the ever-excellent guide to giving no fucks and sweary delight Sarah Knight is for you, as she talks through ways to make saying no easier. Her book Fuck No! is absolutely worth your yes.

Tour de force Rosalind Blessed currently has two plays in rep at the Old Red Lion Theatre, London, and she tells us about The Delights Of Dogs and the Problems Of People and Lullabies For The Lost, both of which cover hefty topics, including domestic violence and mental health issues. That doesn’t mean we don’t get quite rightly distracted by how much we bloody love dogs. DOGS!

In the Bush Telegraph, we’re trying to stay upbeat in the face of a world quite literally on fire. BUT there is potential joy to be had in certain MPs running in the Labour leadership race, and Ricki Lake’s inspirational take on female hair loss. Jen’s chatting exciting events in the 2020 women’s sports calendar, while the plaster is firmly ripped off in Dunleavy Does Disaster as the team watches 1997 epic Titanic. Hurry, Jack! And we’ll leave you with the news that rumours Dunleavy is enjoying sexy time with some oiled-up kale remain unconfirmed.

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SIM Ep 323 Quiz 2: Jenny Off The Blocks' quiz of the year

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

We begin 2020 by looking back at a great year of women's sport in the time-honoured tradition of a bloody great big quiz. Jen makes like Sue Barker to host, as we discover just how much attention Hannah and Mickey have been paying to the weekly JOTB, as they answer questions alongside our special guests, journalists Kelly Welles and Natasha Henry. Contains pies, cheese and more than a pinch of Jamie Redknapp.

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SIM Ep 362: Outside The Box Quiz of the Year

Thu, 26 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

It's Boxing Day, so why not gather those members of your family you're still talking to and join in with our TV Quiz of The Year. Team captains Mickey and Jen are joined by TV critic Julia Raeside and writer and one third of Drunk Women Solving Crime Hannah George, as our Hannah asks the questions about what's been on the box in 2019. Happy quizzing!

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SIM Ep 321 Gig 50: Kumar, Lycett, Parkinson and Millican

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Joe Lycett, Nish Kumar, Craig Parkinson and the boss herself, Sarah Millican? What. A. Lineup. Yep, in one last aural treat before Christmas, we bring you three wise men (and one woman) from our IMD gig recorded back in November. Oh, and also Mick and Hannah. Chat involves solo volleyball, climate change, peer pressure, being Buzz Killington in a WhatsApp group, sharing feelings and just how much Mummy has been drinking.

Whatever you’re up to over the festive period, we hope you have a smashing time. As our Christmas present, please do book to come see a live show. We can’t keep doing them if there’s no audience and, as you’re about to hear, they are stupid amounts of fun. Visit www.standardissuepodcast.com for gig details.

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SIM Ep 320 Chops 140: Being Priya Basil's guest

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

When Priya Basil was asked to write a book about hospitality, she was struck by how many forms this could take, something she explores beautifully in her book Be My Guest. Jen caught up with Priya to talk the joys of generosity, food, shelter and the general warmth of humanity - because it's out there somewhere, right?

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SIM Ep 319 Pod 94: Smashing stigma, a deadly downstairs and our women of the year

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

#SmashAbortionStigma is the new campaign from Marie Stopes UK, aiming to make people feel more comfortable talking about their abortion experiences – that includes the healthcare professionals, too, as Dr Yvonne Neubauer, associate clinical director at Marie Stopes UK, explains to Mickey. We're also chatting to comedian Amy Vreeke about her one-woman comedy show, The Year My Vagina Tried To Kill Me, which covers her experiences with endometriosis and the fun and games* of being misdiagnosed, dismissed and definitely not cured.

In the Bush Telegraph, we're bigging up our women of the year, which include Caroline Criado-Perez, Greta Thunberg and Ayesha Hazarika. There are more excellent women in Jenny Off The Blocks's very own SPOTY. And there's way too much calamity to handle as Dunleavy Does Disaster checks out 2009's 2012. Nature, you absolute bastard!

*No actual fun and games

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SIM Ep 318 Chops 139: Pain and Prejudice with Gabrielle Jackson

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Journalist Gabrielle Jackson’s personal dealings with endometriosis led her to explore how women – historically and through to today – are underserved, sometimes fatally, by the systems that are supposed to keep us healthy. The resulting book, Pain And Prejudice: A Call To Arms For Women And Their Bodies, reveals how there’s very little research into women’s bodies and therefore medicine quite often gets it wrong or shrugs its shoulders and calls us hysterical.

Gabrielle chats to Mickey about how we got here, what it means and where we go next. There's hope and power in collective anger, people!

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SIM Ep 317 Pod 93: Hysteria and space dementia (don't forget to vote!)

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

With the General Election just a day away, we talk to Chi-chi Shi and Rosa Caradonna of campaign group FCK Boris about why young people are rallying against the Tories. Mick chats to Gabrielle Jackson, author of new book Pain and Prejudice, about the pain gap and Jen's talking all things sport in Jenny Off The Blocks. Hannah's been charming babies at train stations, which goes some way to excusing her tantrum about having to watch Armageddon. Plus, we chat the Peloton advert in Sexism of the Week. Have at it. (And please, people, use your votes tomorrow.)

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SIM Ep 316 Chops 138: Five Steps To Happy with Ella Dove

Sun, 08 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Since it was World Disability Day on Tuesday, Jen caught up with author and journalist Ella Dove, who was left 'temporarily incapacitated' after an accident led to her leg being amputated below the knee. They chatted about Ella's book Five Steps To Happy, which is partly based on her experience of becoming an amputee, processing trauma, and the perils of online dating, among other things.

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SIM Ep 315 Outside The Box #18

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 01:00:00 -0000

Got a load of Christmas wrapping to do? Then why not park yourself in front of the telly and get viewing? We talk Watchmen, The Crown, His Dark Materials, Ladhood, Guilt and War of The Worlds in this month's Outside The Box. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 314 Pod 92: Elections, abuse and awareness

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode we chat to Fiona Mackenzie of We Can’t Consent To This, a campaign highlighting the alarming trend of men claiming ‘rough sex’ as a defence against injuring and killing women. Author and journalist Ella Dove tells us about being ‘temporarily incapacitated’ after an accident led to her leg being amputated below the knee at the age of 25.

There are single mothers, sly tactics and “weapons-grade shithousery” in the Bush Telegraph, and it’s awards season in Jenny Off The Blocks. Plus, is it a dinosaur? Is it a gorilla? No, it’s Godzilla you idiots, in Dunleavy Does Disaster.

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SIM Ep 313 Chops 137: The (feminist) little mermaid

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

The Little Mermaid is a much-loved fairy Hans Christian Andersen tale that became a Disney film classic. But boy oh boy is it problematic. Author Louise O’Neill has written The Surface Breaks a cracking retelling of the story, in which our protagonist learns a few things about the silencing of women, and the sea witch is truly a hero for our times. Louise chats to our Mickey about weak but controlling men, strong but ostracised women, and the joys and strengths of self-acceptance.

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SIM Ep 312 Gig 49: Cairney and Jones

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Gemma Cairney and Rosie Jones join Hannah, Mick and Jen to chat fighting with furniture, sledging for Brexit, starting a commune, pissing yourself on Mastermind, the kindness of strangers, and ham on the back of Jen’s jeans. Release the cats!

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at The Stand Comedy Club, as part of the Edinburgh Fringe back in August.

Our next show is at London’s Kings Place on December 11, where we’ve got the excellent telly star and crisp addict Daisy Haggard and brilliant comedian/inspirational cowboy-boot wearer Tiff Stevenson. Come! Tickets for all our gigs are available via our website: www.standardissuepodcast.com.

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SIM Ep 311 IMD 19 #7: Buses4Homeless

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Getting solutions to homelessness on the road (well, in a secure site) has become businessman Dan Atkins' passion. Mickey caught up with the founder of Buses4Homeless to find out more about this low-cost, holistic approach to homelessness and to discover the ins and outs of upcycling four double deckers into sleeping, eating, wellbeing and learning spaces for previously homeless guests, with a long-term goal of getting them back on their feet.

www.buses4homeless.org

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SIM Ep 310 IMD 19 #6: Lemn Sissay's Name Is Why

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Lemn Sissay's no. 1 Sunday Times' bestseller My Name Is Why tells the story of the poet and broadcaster's childhood in the care system. For the sixth episode in our International Men's Day series, Jen and Lemn chat about why the records detailed in his book inspired him to take the government to court, how we can all improve our lived experiences by listening to others, and saying the wrong – or right – thing in Urdu.

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SIM Ep 309 IMD 19 #5: Chris Spencer's Cold War Steve

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Hot on the heels of yesterday's political animals comes Chris Spencer, the man behind radical figure, Cold War Steve. Jen chats to Chris about how Phil Mitchell became the poster boy for Britain's political turmoil, seeking solace in a hellscape and fighting for Bungle.

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SIM Ep 308 IMD 19 #4: Chris Addison and Femi Oluwole

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Politics has become very macho and very toxic in recent years, so in the fourth of our International Men's Day interviews, we invited political activist Femi Oluwole and comedian and writer Chris Addison in to find out what they thought about politics becoming literally a load of old balls.

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SIM Ep 307 IMD '19 #3: Rich Wilson is Insane In The Men Brain

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 00:00:00 -0000

Putting the men into mental health, treating yourself as an ongoing project, accepting your parents as people, being a "woke feminist geezer", and when it's absolutely inappropriate to windmill – there's a whole maze of chat as Mick catches up with Rich Wilson, comedian, bloody lovely fella and host of the excellent Insane In The Men Brain podcast.

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SIM Ep 306 IMD '19 #2: George Alagiah

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In the second of our International Men's Day 2019 specials, Hannah and Jen caught up with George Alagiah – journalist, author, and main dude at the BBC News at Six. They chatted living in a relentless news cycle, the masculinity of a newsroom, and George's new book, The Burning Land.

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SIM Ep 305 IMD '19 #1: Paterson Joseph

Mon, 18 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In the first of this year's International Men's Day interviews, Hannah and Mickey went to London's Old Vic to meet actor Paterson Joseph, who is about to appear on stage as the Scrooge in Jack Thorne's version of A Christmas Carol (opens on Nov 23). They chatted about why writers are still drawn to Dickens, the state of the world, The Leftovers and, of course, Johnson. Because Johnson.

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SIM Ep 304 Chops 136: Other mothering with Jen Brister

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we're joined by comedian and Standard Issue fave, Jen Brister to chat about her new book The Other Mother. We talked about what it's like to be the "other" or non-biological mother of twin boys, not feeling guilty, and novel uses for all those jars of teeth*.

*Not as weird as it sounds. Probably.

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SIM Ep 303 Chops 135: Who you gonna call? Vagina-myth buster Dr Jen Gunter!

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Dr Jen Gunter, gynaecologist, expert on women’s health, and author of bestseller The Vagina Bible, chats to Mickey and busts some myths about the vulva and vagina. From Greek statues to white knickers, "dirty" vaginas to bullshit about the hymen, and what porn is teaching kids, you might want to take notes/buy the book. You definitely want to follow her on Twitter @drjengunter.

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SIM Ep 302 Pod 91: Best buys, big hitters and busy bees

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this week’s podzine Hannah chats to author Anna Cosslett about her new book Your Life As I Knew It, about bringing up her severely autistic son, Huw. We’re joined in the studio by our resident consumer expert and all-round lovely person Vix Leyton to give us the lowdown on bagging a Black Friday bargain and what the Brexit is happening in the world of retail. There’s electoral Wacky Races, questionable gynaecological procedures and some cheeky identity theft opportunities in the Bush Telegraph, homage paid to boxing great Nicola Adams in Jenny Off The Blocks, and quite the buzz (sorry not sorry) about Dunleavy Does Disaster this week as we watch The Swarm.

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SIM Ep 301 Chops 134: She Said with Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey are the two Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporters that broke the Harvey Weinstein story back in October 2017. It kickstarted the #MeToo movement, which continues to this day. Their new book, She Said, is a powerful page-turner that tells the story behind the breaking of the story – and what happened next for some of the women involved in the allegations against Weinstein, as well as other powerful men. Mick caught up with them to chat investigative journalism, Weinstein intimidation, loopholes, turncoats, brave-ass women, and where Me Too goes from here.

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SIM Ep 300 Outside The Box #17

Fri, 08 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

It's dark out, so best stay in and watch some TV. And man, is there a lot to choose from. We talk Succession, Bojack Horseman, Motherland, Young Offenders, The Accident, Seven Worlds, Dublin Murders and a tiny bit of His Dark Materials in this month's Outside The Box. Have at it.

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SIM Ep 299 Pod 90: Greenham, Blue Peter and the bright white of another Ice Age

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Radical women, bloody-minded women, successful sports women: there's loads of positive stuff in this week's podcast – hurray! Hannah learns all about the excellent Greenham Women Everywhere project from its co-coordinator Rebecca Mordan, who explains the work of, and shares anecdotes from, the extraordinary campaigners of the Greenham Common peace camp of the 1980s. Mickey has a lovely natter with author and erstwhile Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis about her latest novel, How It Was, and they cover loads of ground including the joys of being invisible, Blue Peter (obvs), and mother-daughter relationships. Jen's got a lot to applaud in Jenny Off The Blocks, and even our resident northerner's got her big coat on as Dunleavy Does Disaster talks 2004's The Day After Tomorrow.

It's not all highs, mind, because there is of course the news, and this week's Bush Telegraph has sexism galore, with more depressing ongoings in Parliament, the BBC, and with reproductive rights in America. But also a naked man under a table. Possibly.

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SIM Ep 298 Chops 133: women smashing it in business with Anna Jones and Debbie Wosskow

Sun, 03 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Fiercely successful business brains Debbie Wosskow and Anna Jones, founders of leading women’s network The AllBright and authors of Believe Build Become, chat to Mickey about the power of failure and risk, the benefits of a poor short-term memory, the huge boost women can and need to give other women, and how a serendipitous meeting led to the formation of a monster global sisterhood of kick-ass women who’ve got each other’s backs.

You may have already heard of The AllBright as a swish women-members only club with spaces in Fitzrovia and Mayfair, as well as LA, which may draw you in or indeed put you off. But, however you feel about members clubs, that’s just one aspect of what The AllBright’s about, and there’s a lot of free information, help and solidarity made available on the website for anyone who wants to get involved, whether that’s signing up as a member or getting solid advice on how to ask your boss for a payrise. www.allbrightcollective.com

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SIM Ep 297 Gig 48: Stella Creasy and Taylor Glenn

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 03:00:00 -0000

It's rare we open a gigcast with the question "WTF?" but as our guests last month were MP Stella Creasy and US comedian Taylor Glenn it seemed rather fitting. We also talked about what we'd change if we were in charge of the world, "liberal bros", disastrous driving tests and foam shrimps. Because foam shrimps.

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SIM Ep 296 Chops 132: Venus with Sophie Duker

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 03:03:00 -0000

Last week, Mick and Hannah went to the pub with comedian Sophie Duker to find out if life has changed since she became one of the first women of colour to be nominated for an Edinburgh Award. Spoiler alert, it has. They also chatted about her show Venus, making Oxbridge more accessible to minorities, and lesbian cruises. You are welcome.

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SIM Ep 295 Chops 131: Jemma Neville's Constitution Street

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 03:00:15 -0000

Back in August Jen caught up with Jemma Neville, author of Constitution Street, which charts the real-life stories on one Edinburgh Street. With Brexit looming – possibly, probably, who knows? – now seems like as good a time as any to share Jemma's thoughts on the UK's current political shitstorm, why democracy needs reframing, and the good that can come from the act of listening.

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SIM Ep 294 Pod 89: People power, split screens, and blood lust

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

On this week’s pod, Mick chats to Alliance For Choice’s Danielle Roberts about some good news on reproductive and gay marriage rights in Northern Ireland, following changes to the law this week. Hannah speaks to former Conservative, now Lib Dem MP Heidi Allen about what’s going on in Parliament about Brexit this week and how you can help push for a People’s Vote. Jen speaks to author Kiran Millwood-Hargrave about her new book The Deathless Girls and bloody lusty, sex lusty, sexy lady things. Plus she's chatting racism in football (again, sighs) and motor sport in Jenny Off The Blocks. In Dunleavy Does Disaster, there’s split-screen chaos and snow ploughs aplenty in Airport. And In the Bush Telegraph we’re talking, among other things, a petulant Prime Minister and misguided missions.

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SIM Ep 293 Chops 130: Sara Sheridan asks Where Are The Women?

Sun, 20 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Back in August, Jen and Mick had a natter with pirate queen (of sorts), writer and wonderful human Sara Sheridan about her new book Where Are The Women: A Guide To A Reimagined Scotland. They talked about what Scotland would look like if we thought about women's achievements in the same way we do men's, why it's important to memorialise women, and what exactly a pirate queen smells like.

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SIM Ep 292 Pod 88: Sisters, social media and... soccer (sorry, football)

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week best selling author Jung Chang drops by to chat to Jen about her new book Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister, and the joy of archives. Mick and Hannah chat to Sarah Raphael and Naomi Shimada about their mixed feelings around social media, how it’s affecting all of our lives and what the Dickens a Snapchat “streak” is.

In Jenny Off The Blocks, Carrie Dunn tells us about her new book Pride of the Lionesses, among other things. Over in DDD, Hannah is warning us not to use the lifts, FFS, as we switch seamlessly from dystopia to disaster with The Towering Inferno. And there's dogging, dicksplashes and dangerous diagnoses (or not) in... The Bush Telegraph. And corned beef. A lot of corned beef.

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SIM Ep 291 Chops 129: World Menopause Day with Dr Louise Newson

Sat, 12 Oct 2019 23:00:00 -0000

Ahead of World Menopause Day 2019 on October 18, we do a bit more banging on about the menopause. Because it's important. And also because we managed to grab some time with Dr Louise Newson, known to many simply as the Menopause Doctor. Mick chats to her about symptoms, diagnosis, education, her (excellent) Haynes manual, and how knowledge is very much power when it comes to coping and indeed thriving for peri and menopausal women.

Visit https://www.menopausedoctor.co.uk for comprehensive info from Dr Newson and her fellow experts. And check out our whole series of Chops on the menopause, which you'll find on our Acast and Apple Podcast pages.

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SIM Ep 290 Bonuspod: London Film Festival 2019

Fri, 11 Oct 2019 10:25:20 -0000

It's the 63rd BFI London Film Festival and our Jen has been getting right in the thick of it, chatting to top female filmmakers. She has sourced quite the eclectic bunch for you.

Alice Seabright and Elaine Gracie are director and writer of End-O, a short film about endometriosis; Anna Eborn is the director of coming-of-age documentary Transnistra, about a group of teenagers growing up in the breakaway republic of the same name; Aoife Kelly and Zainab Balogun are director and star of Walking With Shadows, a drama about a heterosexual couple whose lives are turned upside down when it's revealed husband Adrian is gay; and Svetla Tsortsorkova is writer and director of Sister, a film about secrets and lies and having a compulsive liar in the family.

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SIM Ep 289 Pod 87: Civil rights, mental health and bad auditions

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Always make sure you are in the right place for an audition. That's just some of what we learned from Cassiopeia Berkeley-Agyepong and Simone Ibbett-Brown, who came into the studio to tell us about their new play, Shuck N Jive, which is based on their experiences of the theatre as actresses of colour. Jen got on the phone to civil rights legend, writer Nikki Giovanni, ahead of her event at the Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival on October 21. Also, it's Mental Health Awareness Week, so Gail Porter talks about her mental health experiences – and her fear of nuns, which isn't related. There's more screaming into the sky in the Bush Telegraph (obvs), Mick's got another Sexism of the Week for you (obvs) and there's athletics in Jenny Off The Blocks. Have at it.

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SIM Ep 288 Chops 129: Helen Monks talks Trojan Horse

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Helen Monks tells us about Trojan Horse, the award-winning play she co-created, which tells the story of the Trojan Horse scandal, and is about to go on a nationwide tour. She also chats tackling ingrained Islamophobia and the joys of multicultural Birmingham with our Hannah, who manages to almost get some Upstart Crow news out of her too. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 287 Chops 128: Crossfire with Malorie Blackman

Sun, 06 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Back in August Jen met up with Malorie Blackman at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. They chatted about Malorie's new book Crossfire, the fifth instalment of her Noughts and Crosses series, why she loves writing for young adults, and what it's like to be loved by Stormzy.

Look out for a second helping of Chops today, in which Hannah has a natter with actor and co-writer of the new play Trojan Horse, Helen Monks.

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SIM Ep 286 Outside The Box #16

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 10:02:41 -0000

Was it worth the wait for Mindhunter? Is Unbelievable the most feminist TV we've seen yet? Why was Bojack cancelled? Who is the guy that's like the Hulk but red? We answer these and many more questions in this month's Outside The Box, where we're also talking Top Boy, Frayed and Brassic.

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SIM Ep 285 Pod 86: Reproductive rights, coal mining and Mars

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Abortion rights, Victorian-esque coal mines, dead dictators and dodgy CGI: this week’s podzine is quite the mix.

Filmmaker Lucy D'Cruz tells Hannah and Jen all about the current situation regarding reproductive rights in Argentina and her new documentary My Body, Their Choice. (Get involved with the crowdfunder, here: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/abortion-my-body-their-choice#/). Mick chats with author Liz Hyder about her brilliant debut fiction, Bearmouth, kids down coal mines, women with wings and that time a surgical procedure had a 300 per cent mortality rate.

There’s Bullseye, bad politicians and BBC bullshit in the Bush Telegraph, still no time travel in Jenny Off The Blocks, and Mick’s on her own when it comes to sticking up for Total Recall in (the last) Dunleavy Does Dystopia. She’s never even been to Mars!

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SIM Ep 284 Chops 127: Endometriosis and the early menopause

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 02:01:00 -0000

In the fifth and final instalment of our series on the menopause, Jen catches up with journalist Lucy Pasha-Robinson, who went through a temporary, medically induced menopause aged 25, as treatment for endometriosis. They chat about the physical and physiological impacts of experiencing symptoms of the menopause at such a young age, the lack of support for those experiencing early menopause, and why the Dickens there aren't more treatment pathways available to endometriosis patients.

This week's episode of the Standard Issue Podcast is sponsored by Blow Ltd. Standard Issue listeners can get £15 off a service by Blow by visiting Blowltd.com and using the code ISSUE15.

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SIM Ep 283 Chops 126: The Vaginismus Network

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Vaginismus is not often talked about, not often recognised and not often understood, but the Vaginismus Network is on a mission to change that. Back in the summer, Mickey and Hannah met its co-founders Kat Wilson and Lisa Mackenzie to learn more about it, how it affects them and how they are helping bring other women with the condition together.

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SIM Ep 282 Gig 47: Scummy Mummies and Kemah Bob

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Top funny women Kemah Bob and the Scummy Mummies’ Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson joined Mick and Hannah on stage at the Marlowe Comedy Festival in Canterbury to talk forgotten swimming costumes, racing vibrators, pillow privilege, wasp chocolate, the horror of Cats (the forthcoming film not the animal), evolving incompetence and all the beautiful colours of the rainbiv. Yeah, you heard us, rainbiv.

Thanks to Emma Corsham for all things tech, thanks to all at the Marlowe Comedy Festival and thanks to Helen, Ellie and Kemah.

Tickets for all our gigs are available via our website: www.standardissuepodcast.com.

This week's episode of the Standard Issue Podcast is sponsored by Blow Ltd. Standard Issue listeners can get £15 off a service by Blow by visiting Blowltd.com and using the code ISSUE15.

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SIM Ep 281 Chops 125: Meg Mathews' menopause

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 02:01:00 -0000

Meg Mathews is the fourth Chops in our menopause series, as Mick finds out all about her website, megsmenopause.com. They talk about the loneliness menopause can bring if you don’t understand what’s going on, and how Meg's experiences made her want to make things easier for other women to recognise what's happening and thrive rather than survive.

megsmenopause.com is a brilliant resource for any woman feeling like she’s at the start of the peri, deep into it, or even a good few years before it’s likely to happen – best to be well-armed, eh? (Yes.)

Meg's a little bit woo-woo, a whole lot of practical and absolutely no-nonsense talking when it comes to matters of the menopause. We loved her.

This week's episode of the Standard Issue Podcast is sponsored by Blow Ltd. Standard Issue listeners can get £15 off a service by Blow by visiting Blowltd.com and using the code ISSUE15.

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SIM Ep 280 Chops 124: Sex, Power, Money with Sara Pascoe

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week Jen and Mick chat to comedian and writer Sara Pascoe about her wonderful new book, Sex, Power, Money. They talk about society's transactional view of sex, when pop songs used to empower young girls, and yucking someone else's yum, as well as all the other projects Sara has on the go right now.

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SIM Ep 279: Live at London Podcast Festival

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Oh yes, we're coming at you live this week and by live, we mean we recorded this at London Podcast Festival at the weekend. We were joined by two special guests: comedian and disability rights activist Tanyalee Davis and journalist and co-author of Slay In Your Lane Yomi Adegoke. We talked about the historical shitstorm that is UK politics, the decline of print magazines and what you should and should not glue onto your forehead. Get it in your earholes!

This week's episode of the Standard Issue Podcast is sponsored by Blow Ltd. Standard Issue listeners can get £15 off a service by Blow by visiting Blowltd.com and using the code ISSUE15.

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SIM Ep 278 Chops 123: everyday menopause with Elaine Miller

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 02:01:00 -0000

Dealing with menopause in the workplace is just one of the things Elaine Miller is passionate about. Her official title is physiotherapist and comedian but we reckon Queen of the Pelvic Floor is more fitting, and in this, the third in our series looking at the menopause, she chats to Mick about what needs to be done to make the menopause an accepted and well-handled part of everyone's life.

Elaine is also very funny and her show Gusset Grippers is hilarious and informative. Catch it if you can and definitely giver her a follow on Twitter @GussieGrips and Instagram, where she's Gusset_Grippers. #drybyChristmas

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SIM 277 Chops 122: Life lessons with Eni Aluko

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode Jen chats to Juventus and former England striker Eni Aluko, a straight-up legend of the women's game, to talk about her new book, They Don't Teach This. They had a natter about identity and fitting in, valuable lessons Eni's learned throughout her impressive career as a footballer and a lawyer, and what it's like to take on The Man – as Eni did when she challenged the culture within the Football Association.

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SIM Ep 276 Pod 85: Musical women, medical women and maniacal laughter

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week Mick and Jen catch up with star of the stage and screen Jodie Prenger, currently touring in the National Theatre’s production of Shelagh Delaney’s taboo-breaking play, A Taste of Honey (https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/a-taste-of-honey-uk-tour), to talk about mimicking everyone from your nan to Liza Minnelli. Hannah chats to tour guide and living history practitioner Ailsa Clarke to learn about the Edinburgh Seven – the first women to train to be doctors in the UK (https://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/whats-on/edinburgh-seven-0). There’s no records and new records in Jenny off the Blocks, Double Daves and dastardly parliamentary dealings in the Bush Telegraph, and Dunleavy gets all Loony Tunes as she does Robocop.

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SIM Ep 275 Chops 121: Carrie Gracie's Equal: A Story of Women, Men & Money

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 02:01:00 -0000

When Carrie Gracie took the BBC to task about its gender pay gap, the whole world was watching. The journalist and now author tells Mickey and Hannah how it felt to fight, to win, to find a sisterhood, and to bear the standard for other women. They also chat unconscious gender bias, the motherhood penalty, why so many people don’t think the gender pay gap exists, and how men need to step up. All of which is covered in Carrie’s excellent new book, Equal: A Story of Women, Men & Money.

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SIM Ep 274 Chops 120: The HRT crisis

Sun, 08 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

With women all over the country struggling to get their HRT prescriptions filled, are we in a women's health crisis? As part of our special series about the menopause, Hannah chats to Dr Anne Henderson about what is causing the HRT shortage, what women can do if they are affected and what the rest of us can do to help. They also chat about the paper recently printed in the Lancet linking HRT to breast cancer, and Hannah learned something about how few doctors receive training in the menopause at all.

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SIM Ep 273 Pod 84: Essex girls, equal pay and more football please

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Carrie Gracie – that's right, the fierce AF BBC journalist who kicked Auntie right in the nuts over equal pay – joins us to talk about exactly how being "mad, bad and determined" helped her win a previously unthinkable fight with her employer. She also explains how she wants to help all women get the equal pay they deserve, as she shares her story, research and advice in her new book, Equal: A Story of Women, Men and Money. Listeners, we swooned.

Also swoonsome is playwright Sadie Hasler, who's tackling Essex Girl stereotypes in her new play, Stiletto Beach, which opens at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, on September 4. Our very own resident Essex girl is having a lovely time on her holidays, but she managed to score a natter with former England star Eni Aluko for Jenny Off The Blocks before she packed her suitcase. In a snippet from a forthcoming big interview, they talk about how the women's game needs more love and investment.

Love fails to conquer all in this week's Dunleavy Does Dystopia, in which Hannah and Mick discuss 2010's Never Let Me Go and how scarily close to home its ideas are. And finally, bits of the Bush Telegraph are out of date. Because no one knows what the fuck is happening from one minute to the next. And that absolutely includes PM Bumblefuck McPantsonfire.

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SIM Ep 272 Chops 119: Darcey Steinke's Flash Count Diary

Sun, 01 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Throughout September we'll be running a special series of Chops about the oft-dreaded and rarely-discussed subject - the menopause. In this first episode, Jen speaks to author Darcey Steinke about Flash Count Diary: A New Story About Menopause, a fierce and fantastic account of her experience, including some major plus points and some unexpected animals.

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SIM Ep 270 Chops 118: celebrating black womanhood with Bernardine Evaristo

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 02:01:00 -0000

Bernardine Evaristo's latest fusion fiction, Girl, Woman, Other, long-listed for this year’s Booker Prize, is an exploration and celebration of black womanhood, being black British and a love song to modern Britain – which is as complicated a relationship as you’d imagine. Mick caught up with her at the Edinburgh International Book Festival to find out more, and to talk about the burden of representation, misguided history and the joys of experimental form.

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SIM Ep 269 Chops 117: Becoming Dinah with Kit de Waal

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Author Kit de Waal chats to our Jen about her about her new novel, Becoming Dinah, which is part of the Bellatrix series for feminist young adult and teen readers. They chatted about re-imagining the classics, finding your inner 14-year-old, and the forthcoming Primadonna book festival (Aug 30-Sept 1, https://www.primadonnafestival.com/), of which she's one of the co-founders.

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SIM Ep 268 Outside The Box #15

Fri, 23 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Ding Ding! Round Two of this month's Outside The Box is here and yes, that is a tortured wrestling reference. Because this time we're talking Netflix's Glow, which is back in the ring for a third series. Elsewhere, we're all about Channel 4 as we watch Kathy Fucking Burke's All Woman, Aisling Bea's This Way Up and Jade: The Reality Star That Changed Britain. Get it in your ears and be set for a great weekend in front of the telly.

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SIM Ep 267 Pod 83: cats, dogs, mums, babies, and books on fire

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Cats in space, dogs in graveyards and other animal biographies come to the fore as Hannah chats with Kimberlie Hamilton, children's author of Rebel Cats; Brave Tales of Feisty Felines and Rebel Dogs: Heroic Tales of Trusty Hounds, both of which have new pride of place on the Dunleavy bookshelf.

Suzy K Quinn reveals all the Lies We Tell Mothers, which is handily also the title of her latest book (sorry, but it's time to wave ta-ra to that pineapple induces labour myth).

Jen's rightly fuming about the racism once more rearing its ugly head in football in Jenny Off The Blocks, and in Dunleavy Does Dystopia the team get hot under the (book)flaps about why a film as dull as 2018's Fahrenheit 451 even got made.

Plus, there's deep fried Home Office idiocy, sexy pavement lichen and evil avocados in the Bush Telegraph, and some startling new research leaving Mick agog in Sexism of the Week. Tuck in.

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SIM Ep 266 Chops 116: Dorothy Koomson tells us her secrets

Sun, 18 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jen catches up with mega-author Dorothy Koomson, who tells her about her 15th book, Tell Me Your Secret. They chat bodily autonomy for women, violence, the "perfect" victim, and Casualty - because of course they did.

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SIM Ep 265 Pod 82: reproductive rights, social history and erotic hobbits

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week busy bee Mick chats to Dani Beckett of UK campaign organisation Abortion Rights about what's currently what in England, Scotland and Wales and how BoJo's new Cabinet might impact this and – surprise! – not in a positive way. She also catches up with comedian Anna Drezen to talk about her Edinburgh Show Okay, Get Home Safe!!, and hobbit erotica, among other things. Hannah chats to Dr Shirin Hirsch about Disrupt, the People's History Museum's exhibition marking 200 years since the Peterloo Massacre, an in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen's raging about the Forbes 100.

Since we're up in Edinburgh, there's no Bush Telegraph or Dunleavy Does Dystopia this week, but we'll be back to normal next time.

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SIM Ep 263 Chops 114: Motherhood and monsterhood with Katie Hale.

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jen chats to author Katie Hale about her new book I Am Monster, partly inspired by Robinson Crusoe and Frankenstein, as well as the current global political bin-fire. They chatted about said bin-fires, about societal concepts around femininity and motherhood, and writing complex female leads. And dogs, there are a few dogs, too.

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SIM Ep 264 Chops 115: homelessness – and what we can do to help

Sun, 11 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

We wanted to do a homelessness special in the summer, because it’s a situation that gets a lot of attention at Christmas, but is a grim reality for many people all year round.

Mick talks to absolute powerhouse Bianca Robinson, CEO of CEO Sleepout, about getting big businesses to help people on the streets, the reality of rough sleeping and how we can all do our bit. She and Hannah also met up with Sabrina Cohen-Hatton a leading fire officer and psychologist, author of the brilliant book The Heat of the Moment, and an ambassador for The Big Issue. She told us about her time spent sleeping rough as a teenager, the dangers facing rough sleepers all year round, why she's so proud to be talking about The Big Issue and, again, what we can all do to help.

(On which note, Bianca has some cracking recommendations for which charities could do with an injection of your hard-earned, but buying The Big Issue is an excellent place to start.)

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SIM Ep 262 Outside The Box #14

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Orange is The New Black has come to an end and we chat its seventh and final series, as well as its legacy, in this month's Outside The Box. We also talk Dark Money, I Am... and Catch-22. Plus, Hannah's finally caught up with Home and Mick watched something new on Netflix. Or maybe it was a fever dream. Either way, she tells us about it.

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Ep 261 Pod 81: Old women, con women and high-fashion monks

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Why don't more of us appreciate how interesting older women are? It's a question we put to author and social history fan Kate Thompson, who came to tell us about her new novel Secrets of the Homefront Girls and why, when you've written about real-life matriarchs, there's no going back. Rachel DeLoache Williams talks to Hannah about being taken in by a con woman, enduring a high-profile trial and her new book My Friend Anna. Jen's serving up a shit sandwich in Jenny Off The Blocks and there are smashed cafetieres all over the Bush Telegraph. Plus, Mick enjoys watching John Prescott - wait, what? - as Dunleavy Does Dystopia does Equilibrium. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 260 Chops 113: Bryony Kimmings is a phoenix, bitch!

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

She's been a dinosaur-based pop singer, started conversations about depression and penned a musical about cancer. Now performance artist and writer Bryony Kimmings is at the Edinburgh Festival with her show I’m A Phoenix, Bitch, which tackles trauma and recovering from it – with trademark Kimmings' songs, warmth and comedy of course. She tells Mickey all about it, and they also talk mental health and the NHS, art on the school curriculum, climate change, creativity for all, and just how hard it is to be a theatre-maker.

I'm A Phoenix, Bitch is currently at the Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 5.30pm.

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SIM Ep 259 Chops 112: F Off Facebook?

Sun, 04 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Do social media companies wield too much power or should we all take more responsibility for what we put online? It's a question The National Youth Theatre's new play F. Off is currently asking Edinburgh Fringe audiences. Hannah grabbed some time with Tatty Hennessy, one of the show's co-creators, to chat about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, being addicted to the internet and why boycotting social media might be too simplistic a response. Get yourself off Facebook and put this in your ears!

F Off is on at the Belly Button, Cowgate - Underbelly, 2 – 25 August, 12.50pm (No performance 12 August)

Tickets from www.nyt.org.uk or www.underbellyedinburgh.co.uk priced from £10.

Find out more at @NYTofGB. Photographs by Helen Murray

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SIM Ep 258 Gig 45: Vee, McLean and Millican

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Comedian Sindhu Vee, professional Loose Woman Andrea McLean and the boss herself Sarah Millican joined Mick and Jen for this In Conversation recorded at Kings Place back in May. Chat included socks for sex, old lady home perms, success at any age, not shitting for a month, and meeting Jon Bon Jovi covered in sanitary towels. Also contains excellent advice on how to handle both a spider and a shit friend.

Next gigs:

Edinburgh: Aug 11 and 12, Stand 1, 1.40pm

Kings Place, London: Sep 15, 4.30pm

Info here: www.standardissuepodcast.com

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SIM Ep 257 Chops 111: Is Anoushka Warden's Mum a tw*t?

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 02:01:00 -0000

In this episode Jen chats to Anoushka Warden, writer and performer of My Mum's a Tw*t. They talked about Anoushka's experience of her mum joining a cult when Anoushka was 12 years old (which the play is based on), being a resilient teen and gangsta rap, obviously.

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SIM Ep 256 Chops 110: Let's talk about death... and normal dying

Sun, 28 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Lucie Rudd is a nurse specialising in oncology and palliative care for more than 20 years and is now an end of life care advisor at Macmillan. She chats to Mick about how wrapping your head around "normal dying" and doing some practical planning, such as writing a will or thinking about what you’d put on your bucket list, earlier rather than later can make it easier to prepare for the inevitable. And, as Lucie wisely notes, ‘Talking about dying will not make someone die.’ We’d do well to remember that and start the conversation.

We’ve teamed up with Macmillan again to go a bit more in-depth into the topics around death that we touched on at the panel event we did with them back in May.

Our first Chops guest was the brilliant Poppy Mardall, founder and director of Poppy’s Funerals, a modern-day funeral company aiming to revolutionise the funeral trade, who was full of incredible insider knowledge that left me and Jen agog. In the second, Hannah and I spoke with Saima Thompson, restaurateur, writer and blogger, who just happens to be a stage 4 cancer patient, and she told us the ins and outs of living with a terminal prognosis and all that entails. And finally, our Jen spent some time with Nicky Diaz of Cruse Bereavement, talking about how grief can be the pits and what can be done to help ourselves or others keep heads above water.

Macmillan knows talking about death can be difficult but having honest conversations and taking small but simple steps, such as writing a will, can help you and your family prepare emotionally, practically and financially. Macmillan Cancer Support offer a will-writing service to help you take that first step in planning for the future, so you can get on with living life as fully as you can. Visit macmillan.org.uk today for information and support.

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SIM Ep 255: Edinburgh Special 2019

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

With the Edinburgh Fringe fast approaching, we’re doing things a bit differently this week, bringing you a selection of our top picks for the festival, and – obviously – they’re all women. We caught up with Cally Beaton about the invisibility (or not) of women over 50; Jess Fostekew talks to us about societal perceptions of strength and femininity and raising a sexist baby; Desiree Burch talks to Mick about self-discovery and All Of The Stairs at Machu Picchu; Laura Lexx tells Jen why we need to be more discerning about where our anger goes, and Mick chats to Tiff Stevenson about finding the funny as well as the fierce in reproductive rights. PHEW!

Cally Beaton: Invisible, Assembly George Square Studios, July 31 to Aug 26 (not Aug 13), 5.10pm
Jessica Fostekew: Hench, Monkey Barrel, 1-25 Aug (not Aug 12), 1.30pm.
Tiff Stevenson: Mother, Monkey Barrel, July 31 to Aug 25, 9.15pm
Laura Lexx: Knee Jerk, Gilded Balloon, 31 Jul - 25 Aug (not Aug 14), 5.15pm
Desiree Burch: Desiree's Coming Early!, The Big Cave, Heroes @ The Hive, Aug 1 to 25, 7.40pm

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SIM EP 253 Chops 108: The Crucible

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In one of TWO Sunday Chops this week, Hannah grabbed some time with choreographer Helen Pickett, whose new narrative ballet The Crucible has its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival as part of Scottish Ballet's 50th anniversary celebrations. They talked about the enduring appeal of Arthur Miller's play, how easy it was to translate into dance and about work to get more women of colour on stage. And Megan Rapinoe. Because of course.

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SIM Ep 254 Chops 109: Let's talk about death... Bereavement

Sun, 21 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In one of two Chops this week, Jen chats to Nicky Dias of Cruse Bereavement Care about why we grieve, why it's so utterly shit and how we can help ourselves and others experiencing a bereavement.

We’ve teamed up with Macmillan again, going a bit more in-depth into the topics around death that we touched on at the panel event we did with them back in May. Our first Chops guest was the brilliant Poppy Mardall, founder and director of Poppy’s Funerals, a modern-day funeral company aiming to revolutionise the funeral trade, who was full of incredible insider knowledge that left Mick and Jen agog. In part two, Hannah and Mick catch up with restaurateur, writer and blogger Saima Thompson, who just also happens to be a stage 4 cancer patient. They dicsovered how to talk about death, why it’s important, the reactions of others, cancer and mental health, and how perspective changes when your prognosis is terminal.

If it's got you thinking about how and where you would like to be cared for at the end of your life, choosing the funeral you’d like, the legacy you want to leave behind or who you want to remember in your will, Macmillan has information and resources to support the conversation and help you have it. Visit macmillan.org.uk today for information and support.

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SIM Ep 252 Pod 80: Vaginas, Yootha and the Anniversary Games

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

It's been a busy week at SI HQ, Mick's managed to grab some time with Alliance for Choice's Danielle Roberts to see whether last week's vote on abortion rights means it really is Now For NI. Florence Schecter comes in to tell us the latest on The Vagina Museum and we chat to Caroline Burns Cooke about the '70s sitcom legend Yootha Joyce. In Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen meets Paralympian Stef Reid to learn more about next weekend's Anniversary Games. Plus there are actual men on fire in Dunleavy Does Dystopia, when we watch Rollerball. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 250 Chops 106: America Is Hard To See

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In one of two Sunday Chops this week, Hannah and Mick talk to Priscilla Holbrook, one of the team behind America is Hard To See, which is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe after an award-winning off-Broadway run. It tells the story of Miracle, a community of paroled sex offenders in rural Florida, so we talked to Priscilla about how she got involved, forgiveness and whether calling such men "monsters" does more harm than good.

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SIM Ep 251 Chops 107: Let's talk about death... when you're living with cancer

Sun, 14 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In this one of two Chops this week, Hannah and Mick catch up with restaurateur, writer and blogger Saima Thompson, who just also happens to be a stage 4 cancer patient. We talked about HOW to talk about death, why it’s important, the reactions of others, cancer and mental health and how perspective changes when you're prognosis is terminal.

We’ve teamed up with Macmillan again going a bit more in-depth into the topics around death that we touched on at the panel event we did with them back in May. Our first Chops guest was the brilliant Poppy Mardall, founder and director of Poppy’s Funerals, a modern-day funeral company aiming to revolutionise the funeral trade, who was full of incredible insider knowledge that left Mick and Jen agog.

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SIM Ep 250 Outside The Box #13

Fri, 12 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

We're taking a trip to the Upside Down in this month's Outside The Box, when Hannah and Mick chat Stranger Things. There's a whole heap of Matt Berry in What We Do In The Shadows and The Year of The Rabbit. Jen's finally watched Big Little Lies. Plus there's Waco and Surviving America's Most Hated Family. Yes, that is a lot of TV to have watched. You're welcome.

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SIM Ep 249 Pod 79: We need your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

That’s right, Terminator 2 gets the Dunleavy Does Dystopia treatment in this week’s episode. Hold onto your trousers, Arnie fans. There are more bikes, too, as Jen chats to Caroline Folmer, bad-ass cyclist and member of the Donnons des Elles au Velo, who, if you’re not aware of them, are the female cyclists tackling the 21-stage, 3,351km track of the Tour de France. Because it’s NO WOMEN ALLOWED in the actual race. Fucksake.

Mick catches up with US journalist and author Lisa Taddeo about her remarkable new book, Three Women, which explores female desire by charting the intimate lives of three real American women, and poet and playwright Marika McKennell tells the team about her work in pupil referral units and her new play E8, heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe next month.

Over in the Bush Telegraph and SOTW, Trump’s not down on his country’s history, Georgie Boy Osborne couldn’t spell impostor syndrome if it was his job to do so, and the Dalai Lama’s ruining men’s rights’ hashtags.

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SIM Ep 248 Chops 105: Let's Talk About Death... Funerals

Sun, 07 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Poppy Mardall, founder and director of Poppy’s Funerals, stopped by to share her incredible insider knowledge about what happens within the funeral industry. A lot of it was Brand New Information, at least for Mick and Jen, who basically sat open-mouthed when they found out what you can legally do in your back garden.

This is the first in a series of Chops running throughout July, in which we talk about death. You may remember that back in May, Hannah and Mick hosted a panel event talking about death for Macmillan. The chat was fascinating and the reaction was ‘more please!’ from listeners and panel guests alike. And we don’t like to disappoint.

If it gets you thinking about how and where you would like to be cared for at the end of your life, choosing the funeral you’d like, the legacy you want to leave behind or who you want to remember in your will, Macmillan has information and resources to support the conversation and help you have it. Talking about death can be difficult but having honest conversations and taking small but simple steps, such as writing a will, can help you and your family prepare emotionally, practically and financially. Macmillan Cancer Support offer a will-writing service to help you take that first step in planning for the future, so you can get on with living life as fully a you can. Visit macmillan.org.uk today for information and support.

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SIM Ep 247 Pod 78: Troweling it on, Trump-ing off and throwing in

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord catch up with writer, actress and straight-up legend among women, Rebecca Humphries, to chat about her “no bullshit” beauty blog, The Trowel, and what it’s like to be in the eye of a media shitstorm. Hannah has a natter with comedian and bona-fide American Kate McCabe, to find out more about the upcoming Democratic Primary over in the US of A. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen gets the lowdown on the forthcoming Netball World Cup from luminary of the game and BBC Sport pundit, Sara Bayman.

Dunleavy Does Dystopia takes on the harrowing Children of Men, while in the Bush Telegraph the team hope, as ever, to wake from the dystopian nightmare of the Boris, Brexit and bumholes.

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SIM Ep 246 Chops 104: Sophie Thompson

Sun, 30 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

For this week's Chops, Hannah went to London's Old Vic to meet actor, author and scene-stealer extraordinaire, Sophie Thompson, to chat about her latest play Present Laughter, the perils of fame and talking to herons. They also chatted her books for kids, Zoo Boy, and Detectorists, Because of course they did.

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SIM Ep 255 Gig 44; Lederer, Adams and Millican

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Back in April, Mickey and Hannah met comedian Jayde Adams and the legend that is Helen Lederer for another weird and wonderful In Conversation event. And this time, the boss, Sarah Millican dropped in, too. We talked about what we'd save from our homes in a fire, what stories stuck with us from childhood and what happened that time the cat sat on Jayde's mum's head. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 244 Chops 103: Period power with Maisie Hill

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

The menstrual cycle: it and its associated hormones (big hitters = oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone) have a massive impact on women's lives. And it's not all painful cramps and mood swings. You may have heard Mickey advertising an Audible book called Period Power, which is an unputdownable 126,000 words by women's health practitioner, birth doula and go-to authority on all things menstruation, Maisie Hill.

Mick and Jen had a natter with Maisie, and we're pretty sure what she has to say will excite and inspire you to harness those hormones and make them work better in your world – and make you ever so curious about these incredible bodies we inhabit, but which have had so little research attention. Oh, and prepare to hear a few facts, good and bad, that will blow your mind.

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SIM Ep 244 Outside The Box #12

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 02:18:06 -0000

A bonus edition of Outside the Box this week, because TV keeps being so relentlessly good. This time we talk Ghosts, Black Mirror, Jessica Jones, The Handmaid's Tale and Years and Years. Plus, there's news of some long-awaited returning series on Netflix. Get it in your ears!

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SIM Ep 243 Pod 77: refugees, elephants, Olympic legends and 1984

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Sarah Millican – that’s right, the boss herself! – gets involved in this episode to talk about her new Radio 4 panel show, Elephant In The Room, which starts on Thursday 27 June. Author Dina Nayeri joins Jen and Mick to discuss how we’re treating those seeking refuge in our country, what we can do better, Dina’s own story and her new book, The Ungrateful Refugee. In JOTB, Jen catches up with gold-medal owning Olympian rower Katherine Grainger to talk what’s what in women’s sport right now, and Dunleavy Does Dystopia goes back in time to 1984’s Nineteen Eighty-Four/looks outside for a bit. And in the Bush Telegraph, there’s a cracking list of names you can call Farage, and a cupboard’s worth of soiled jizz-flannels in Sexism of the Week.

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SIM Ep 241 Chops 100: Susan Calman is (mostly) Sunny Side Up

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Comedian and author Susan Calman chats to Mickey about her new book Sunny Side Up, covering all sorts of stuff, from how to navigate the depressing political environment of people yelling at each other on Twitter to making the future a kinder place for her niece, from ‘Thumbs Up Thursdays’ to being bait on Death Row. There's also cat chat. Obviously.

Over on Chops number two, Hannah asks what Michael Gove's recent drugs-related revelations mean for his crack at the Tory leadership contest, and chats drugs in the Commons in general, with host of the Say Why To Drugs podcast Dr Suzi Gage and one of our favourite political correspondents, Ayesha Hazarika.

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SIM Ep 242 Chops 101: The politics of drugs

Sun, 16 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Michael Gove's recent admission that he took cocaine in the past has seemingly affected his chances of becoming our next Prime Minister. But does anyone actually care? And if so, why? We chat to two experts, political commentator Ayesha Hazarika, and host of the Say Why To Drugs podcast Dr Suzi Gage, about who is really driving the conversation on drug use in the UK, about whether honesty is the best drugs policy and about who, if anyone, is winning the war on drugs.

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SIM Ep 240 Pod 76: Shit therapy, crap laws, but some Calman sunshine at the end of the tunnel

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 02:00:28 -0000

This week we catch up with mental health writer Michelle Thomas about her debut book My Shit Therapist. Frances Ridout, director of the Legal Advice Centre at Queen Mary University London, pops by to tell us about the work she’s doing to help victims of image-based sexual abuse. There’s a sneaky taster of this week’s Sunday Chops with the absolute smasher that is Susan Calman, who's talking to Mick about her book Sunny Side Up.

There’s peak Trump, good news/bad news over at Nike, and some Nigey nonsense in the Bush Telegraph, leopard print barnets and football fever in Jenny off the Blocks, and Dunleavy Does Dystopia watches Demolition Man. Be well.

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SIM Ep 239 Chops 99: Tin-can cooking with Jack Monroe

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

With people finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet and growing numbers stockpiling in Brexit bunkers across the land, we caught up with food writer Jack Monroe to chat about her new book Tin Can Cook. Topics covered include massaging cows, the joy of tinned stewed steak, and why we shouldn't be celebrating food banks.

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Ep 238 Outside The Box #11

Fri, 07 Jun 2019 14:19:15 -0000

Was May 2019 the best month of TV ever? Our Hannah thinks so. She, along with Mickey and Jen, talk HBO drama Chernobyl, Sally Wainwright's Gentleman Jack, Shane Meadows' The Virtues, the end of Veep AND the long-anticipated return of Deadwood. Welcome the fuck back.

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SIM Ep 237, Pod 75: The fight, the island and the fight on an island

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week, we chat the battle for the right to bodily autonomy in the southern states of America with Staci Fox of Planned Parenthood Southeast. Jen meets Helen Edmundson to talk about her timely adaptation of Andrea Levy's Small Island. There's tennis and news about a free Standard Issue event in Jenny Off The Blocks, and Mickey's talking sweetie-flavoured foofs in Sexism of the Week. Wait, what? Plus, there's inter-generational strife as Dunleavy Does Dystopia watches Battle Royale. Like old people and young people are ever going to start hating each other.

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SIM Ep 235 Gig 43: Phillips, Knight and Millican

Wed, 29 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

What a corker of a gigcast: Jess Phillips MP, Beverley Knight, the boss herself Sarah Millican, Mick and Hannah in the hosting seats, gambols, being bostin’, singing for the Queen, loving Prince, cannibalism in bunkers, Guns N’ Roses in Asda, fruit that’s too chowy-chowy, Scott Bakula, and some incredible signing.

Recorded live in March as part of the first Birmingham Podfest.

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SIM Ep 234 Chops 98: Women's World Cup Special

Sun, 26 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode Jen gets giddy abut the Women's World Cup as she chats to a host of excellent women about the upcoming tournament. She's joined by Kait Borsay, host of The Offside Rule podcast to give her top tips on who to watch out for in the England Squad; Manchester City and Scotland forward Caroline Weir talks rivalry with her English teammates; filmmaker Naziha Arebi talks about her film Freedom Fields and countries where women are fighting for more than the right to play; and former Arsenal and England defender Alex Scott, part of the BBC's Women's World Cup team*, talks about her experiences on and off the pitch and why it's a great time to get excited about women's football.

Throughout May, Jen's treating you to a selection of sporty Chops in which Jen chats to: Catherine Bond-Muir, CEO of the W Series –the brand new motorsport series for women - as well as drivers Alice Powell and Emma Kimilainen, to find out how the series got off the ground, and why it's so needed; Jacky Forsyth and Claire-Marie Roberts about their book The Exercising Female and the stunning lack of research into women's bodies and minds when it comes to physical activity; and Sarah Train from anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out about what they're doing to tackle racism and homophobia in football.

*Follow the World Cup on the BBC from June 7 across TV, radio and online.

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SIM Ep 233 Ep 74: Aretha-worshipping, stigma-breaking, and multi-hyphenating

Wed, 22 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week, Mick catches up with Standard Issue music guru Liz Buckley, to talk all things Miss Franklin thanks to Amazing Grace, the previously unseen 1972 recording of stone-cold soul legend, Aretha. Jen chats to Sandra Gamper and Katie Caiger, hosts of the new podcast, M's The Word, about the stigma and silence around miscarriage and baby loss. And we chat to podcaster, journalist, author and all-round multi-hyphenate Emma Gannon about the art of the side hustle.

Meanwhile, there's good and bad news for humanity in the Bush Telegraph, and Jen chats to outgoing head of UK Sport Liz Nicholl in Jenny Off The Blocks.

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SIM Ep 232 Chops 97: Kicking it out with Sarah Train

Sun, 19 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Sarah Train, one of Kick It Out's professional clubs equality officers, tells Jen about the work the organisation is doing to end discrimination of all forms - including racism and homophobia - across football, and how football fans can help.

Throughout May, Jen's treating you to a selection of sporty Chops in which Jen chats to: Catherine Bond-Muir, CEO of the W Series –the brand new motorsport series for women - as well as drivers Alice Powell and Emma Kimilainen, to find out how the series got off the ground, and why it's so needed; Jacky Forsyth and Claire-Marie Roberts about their book The Exercising Female and the stunning lack of research into women's bodies and minds when it comes to physical activity; and there's a Women's World Cup Special featuring *gasps* Alex Scott.

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SIM Ep 231 Pod 73: Sally Wainwright, a Cambodian twin, shouting out, and running in your pants

Wed, 15 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Sally Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack hits UK screens this Sunday, and last June(!) team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord caught up with Sally on set to learn all about this new Suranne Jones-starring HBO/BBC drama. Giddy kippers? You bet your arse we were. Mickey catches up with Jo Caulfield to talk about her sister Annie Caulfield’s last book, My Cambodian Twin. Annie, who died in November 2016, was a remarkable writer and one of the Standard Issue contributors, and her final tale is an incredible one. Jen grabs five minutes on the blower with Imriel Morgan, to find out what’s happening at Shoutout Network’s second Content Is Queen Women’s Podcast Festival this weekend (at which Jen is representing Team Standard Issue), and there’s running in smalls happening to raise awareness of body confidence, as Natalie Lee, aka Style Me Sunday, tells Jen all about the Vitality London 10000.

Over in the Bush Telegraph, Mick really gets into telling certain publications and people to eff off, Jen’s forward rolling through doorways and the covert whale is back!

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SIM Ep 230 Macmillan panel: Let's Talk About Death

Sun, 12 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Let's talk about death. No, wait! Come back. Most people’s immediate reaction might be that death is a morbid topic, but in reality this chat, organised by Macmillan for its Let's Talk About Death campaign and hosted by our Mick and Hannah, was warm, funny and fascinating. And important.

It helped that there were four excellent women on the panel.

Cathy Rentzenbrink, is the best-selling author of The Last Act of Love, written after her brother Matty’s eventual death from a road traffic accident which left him in a permanent vegetative state.

Poppy Mardall is the founder and director of Poppy’s Funerals, a modern-day funeral company aiming to revolutionise the funeral trade.

Saima Thompson is a restaurateur, entrepreneur and blogger who was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer aged 29.

And Lucie Rudd, having been a nurse working in oncology and specialist palliative care for 20 years, is now an advisor for end of life care for Macmillan.

Macmillan knows talking about death can be difficult but having honest conversations can help you and your family prepare emotionally, practically and financially for the future, so you can get on with living life as fully as you can. Visit macmillan.org/letstalkaboutdeath to help start your conversation. Dying Matters Week kicks off on Monday 13th May – that’s tomorrow if you’re listening to this freshly squeezed on Sunday – with hundreds of events taking place across the UK. For more information, see www.dyingmatters.org.

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SIM Ep 229, Chops 96: Jackie Forsyth and Claire-Marie Roberts on The Exercising Female

Sun, 12 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jen catches up with Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology, Jackie Forsyth and Senior Lecturer in Sport Psychology, Claire-Marie Roberts to talk about their book The Exercising Female, chatting about why more research is needed when it comes to women in sport, and even debunking the odd period myth.

Throughout May, Jen's treating you to a selection of sporty Chops in which Jen chats to: Catherine Bond-Muir, CEO of the brand new motorsport series for women - the W Series - as well as drivers Alice Powell and Emma Kimilainen, to find out how the series got off the ground, and why it's so needed; Sarah Train from Kick It Out about homophobia (as well as other forms of discrimination) in football; and there's a Women's World Cup Special featuring *gasps* Alex Scott.

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SIM Ep 228 Pod 72: Understanding, rejoicing and (blade) running

Wed, 08 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

With Westminster’s political bin-fire still burning bright, Mick caught up with Belfast-based journalist and author Siobhan Fenton to find out how it's affecting what’s going on in Northern Ireland. The team had a natter with writer Bella Heesom about her new play, Rejoicing At Her Wondrous Vulva The Young Woman Applauded Herself, and why we should all be celebrating our lady bits a lot more. Jen chats to terrific hockey birds Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh about the BBC’s plans to #ChangeTheGame and the forthcoming summer of women’s sport, and all eyes – human and/or replicant – on Blade Runner in Dunleavy Does Dystopia. Contains flying cars. Meanwhile in the Bush Telegraph, there’s more Twitter twattery and some covert whales. Really.

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SIM Ep 227 Chops 95: Life in the fast lane with the W Series

Sun, 05 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Throughout May, we're treating you to a selection of sporty Chops, in which: Jen chats to Sarah Train from Kick It Out about homophobia – and other forms of discrimination – in football; Jackie Forsyth and Claire-Marie Roberts about their book The Exercising Female and why we shouldn't be lumping men and women's bodies together as one giant interchangeable lump when it comes to sport (or, you know, anything); and we'll have a Women's World Cup Special featuring *gasps* Alex Scott.

In this episode, Jen catches up with Catherine Bond-Muir, CEO of the W Series, the brand new motorsport series for women, as well as drivers Alice Powell and Emma Kimilainen, to find out how the series got off the ground, and why it's so needed.

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SIM Ep 226 Doc 2 Pt 2: That Bloody Woman – Exploring Margaret Thatcher's Legacy

Fri, 03 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Forty years after Margaret Thatcher became the UK's first female Prime Minister, she remains one of the most divisive names in British political history. We wanted to explore her political legacy today, so asked 22 women - some of whom knew her, most of who spent their formative years in Thatcher's Britain - about how Thatcherism changed, and continues to change the country we live in.

In the second part of our two-part special podcast, we look at what That Bloody Woman did for – or indeed to – country, society and state.. Featuring the thoughts of Jess Phillips MP; author Val McDermid; political commentator Ayesha Hazarika; Southall Black Sisters' Pragna Patel; former health minister Edwina Currie; journalist Samira Ahmed, author Claire Allan; journalist Siobhan Fenton; writer AL Kennedy; comedian Jo Caulfield; Debbie Mathews and Dot Rodgers from the Sheffield Women Against Pit Closures, and disability rights activist Barbara Lisicki, among many others.

In part one we look at the effect Thatcher had on women and minorities, and if you haven't already listened, you should.

Thanks to ITV's News At Ten.

Credits: "Super Power Cool Dude" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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SIM Ep 225 Doc 2 Pt 1: That Bloody Woman – Exploring Margaret Thatcher's Legacy

Wed, 01 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In this first part of a two-part special podcast, we look at the effect That Bloody Woman had on women and minorities. Featuring the thoughts of Jess Phillips MP; author Val McDermid; former leader of the Women's Equality Party, Sophie Walker; political commentator Ayesha Hazarika; Stonewall founder Lisa Power; Southall Black Sisters' Pragna Patel; former health minister Edwina Currie; and journalist Samira Ahmed, among many others.

In part two, we'll be focusing on what Thatcher did for - or indeed to – country, society and state. We talk to even more brilliant women, including author Claire Allan, writer AL Kennedy, comedian Jo Caulfield and some of the women from the Sheffield Women Against Pit Closures.

Credits: "Super Power Cool Dude" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Thanks to ITV's World In Action and Spitting Image

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SIM Ep 224 Gig 42: Balding, Pascoe, Dunleavy and Offord

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Clare Balding and Sara Pascoe? On the same show? Oh yes, it's gigcast week and this time we're spoiling you with a recording of the In Conversation show we did on Valentine's Day, where Hannah and Jen asked questions about role models, romance and why everyone should stop talking to Clare about horses, especially if that horse is imaginary. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 223 Chops 94: Eileen Noble - Marathon Woman

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

With the London Marathon taking place on April 28, Jen went to meet 84-year-old marathon runner Eileen Noble, to find out why she loves running, what's changed over the 18 marathons (and counting) she's participated in, and why she wishes more people would take up the sport.

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SIM Ep 222 Pod 71: renting, boxing and fighting racism

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Scrapping no-fault eviction is a start, but as Georgie Laming of Generation Rent tells Hannah and Jen, there are many more difficulties facing those trying to keep their heads above water in the renting section of the housing market.

Natasha Devon is back, this time chatting what’s what with anti-semitism in certain sectors of the Labour Party and how we can all help. And there’s more calls to fight racism, this time in football, as Jenny Off The Blocks finds Jen talking to Sarah Train, one of Kick It Out's professional clubs equality officers.

Also, the brilliant Libby Liburd is in to talk boxing in general, women boxers past and present in particular, and how it’s all incorporated in her new play, Fighter (Stratford Circus, Apr 25 to 27).

Dunleavy Does Dystopia visits the not-too-distant future of 2022, as seen through 1973’s Soylent Green, starring Big Chucky H himself, and there’s a vision of future peace on Twitter that no one’s ready to believe in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 221 Chops 93: Jess Robinson... and other slebs

Sun, 14 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Musical comedian and impressionist Jess Robinson chats impersonations, finding your own voice and what it’s really like on Britain’s Got Talent, as Hannah, Mick and Jen just shout ‘do more voices! at her, like the delightful pricks they are. Jess also attempts to teach the team how to ‘do’ Liza Minnelli, which includes a double hip operation and a sterling effort from our Jenster.

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SIM Ep 220 Pod 70: Impressions, imperfections, and the importance of not being earnest

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week the team catch up with comedian and musical impersonator extraordinaire, Jess Robinson (and a few friends, natch). Mick and Jen chat to Natasha Devon, campaigner, author and presenter of Channel 4’s The Naked Beach about body positivity and mental health. There’s T-bots, gory rips and cat chats in the Bush Telegraph while Jenny Off The Blocks looks at Wrestlemania. And Dunleavy Does Dystopia ponders whether size really does matter as Hannah takes in the intense earnestness of Gattaca.

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SIM Ep 219 Chops 92: Joanne Harris, magic, empty nests and the scent of a colour

Sun, 07 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Joanne Harris, globally bestselling author of Chocolat (among many other books), chats to our Mickey about her latest novel, The Strawberry Thief, and a whole host of other topics, including empty nest syndrome, magic and folklore, the pinkification of women authors, being badass on Twitter, and that time someone left a machine gun in her garden hedge.

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SIM Ep 218 Pod 69: The Strawberry Thief, The Yorkshire Ripper Files and The Running Man

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This week Mickey meets best-selling author Joanne Harris to talk about her new book, The Strawberry Thief, returning characters and why she can smell colours. Hannah caught up with documentary maker Liza Williams to find out what The Yorkshire Ripper Files can teach us about how society treats female victims of crime, even today. Jen talks football in Jenny Off The Blocks. And in the first of our new series Dunleavy Does Dystopia, we look at 1987's version of 2019 - The Running Man.

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SIM Ep 217 Chops 91: teenagers – what are they like?

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 02:00:00 -0000

We've all been teenagers, so we asked mum of two of them Sue Elliott-Nicholls if it was as nightmarish-slash-joyous from the other side and what she’s learned along the way. It was also a chance to hark back to the days when we thought we were getting away with smoking, blushed at the sex chats, ran away with our roller skates (Hannah) and that one time Mick's mum panicked that Pro Plus was a gateway to heroin.

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SIM Ep 216 Gig 41: Hughes, Brister and Cooper

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

London Hughes + Jen Brister + Daisy May Cooper + our baffled hosts, Mickey Noonan and Hannah Dunleavy = an absolute balls-to-the-wall gigcast. Topics covered include getting a world record or four, shitting in the streets, the joy of mispronunciation, why hairy legs and litter don't get on and the potential delights of an on-call tuk-tuk.

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SIM Ep 214 Chops 89: The Sisterhood with Daisy Buchanan

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Sisters, never were there such devoted sisters. Really? Journalist and author Daisy Buchanan chats to our Mick about the complicated relationships of sisterhood – biological, BFFs and feminism. Daisy's new book The Sisterhood is a warm, wise and funny look at those relationships, and she chats body image, teenage girls and magazines, advertising, lifting up other women, visible vulnerability, while Mick reveals the time she put her sister in a bin, sorry, outdoor cupboard.

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SIM Ep 215 Chops 90: Sophie Hannah

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In one of two Sunday Chops today, we talk to author Sophie Hannah about her book - now also a podcast - How To Hold A Grudge and why she thinks "letting it go" isn't always the best way forward. She also tells us about her next Poirot novel and her new project to help authors "get out of their own way". Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 213 Pod 68: grudging, sistering and skating

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 03:09:09 -0000

In this week's episode Mick chats to journalist and author Daisy Buchanan about her latest book The Sisterhood, which charts the sometimes complicated relationship between women, especially those we're related to. We catch up with author Sophie Hannah, host of podcast How To Hold A Grudge, based on her book of the same name, and discover why the dictionary along with the rest of the world has got it wrong on grudges. There's side-eye, psychics and Toxic-ity in the Bush Telegraph, and Jen chats to Lucy Adams of GB Skateboarding about 10-year-old skating sensation, Sky Brown, in Jenny Off The Blocks.

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SIM Ep 212 Chops 88: On The Come Up with Angie Thomas

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode, Jen catches up with Angie Thomas, bestselling author of The Hate U Give and On The Come Up. They natter about Angie's books, the experience of disadvantaged young people, and why it's important not to be condescending to teenagers.

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SIM Ep 211 Outside The Box #10

Fri, 15 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Hello March, what you got on the telly for us? In this week's episode, we talk the return of Partridge, Derry Girls and Fleabag, as well as Ricky Gervais' After Life. Plus there's all the controversy of Leaving Neverland and Louis Theroux's The Night in Question. Tuck in.

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SIM Ep 210 Pod 67: Jess Hynes, denial culture and the final Dunleavy Does Disney

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 03:00:31 -0000

Guest-wise this week, Jen's boxing clever with stone cold legend Jessica Hynes, chatting about her new film, The Fight, and psychotherapist Jane Watson comes in to talk measles, Michael Jackson and the epidemic of denial. Football, rugby, athletics... there's almost too much to mention in Jenny Off The Blocks, and Hannah and Mick are both giddy with excitement: Hannah because Dunleavy Does Disney finally – FINALLY – bows out (with a whimper, thanks Hercules), and Mick because she gets to say the phrase 'transient anus'. A lot. And, as ever, there are more arseholes to be found in the Bush Telegraph and Sexism of the Week.

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SIM Ep 209, IWD #5: 100 years of women in the Met with Jennifer Rees

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In our fifth episode of our International Women's Day 2019 series, we caught up with Jennifer Rees, former police officer and author of Voices From The Blue, celebrating 100 years of women in the Metropolitan Police. We chatted about the first intake of birds on the beat, institutionalised sexism, and just how accurate an episode of Luther really is.

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SIM Ep 208 IWD2019 #4: Women in science

Thu, 07 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

British Science Week is about to kick off, so to celebrate, the fourth in our IWD2019 series is a round table about women in science. We got together with the Royal Society of Chemistry to talk hidden heroines, the leaky pipeline, mentoring, and the joy of science with Dr Sohini Kar-Narayan, Dr Gemma-Louise Davies, Dr Claire Murray and Pip Matthews, Inclusion and Diversity Programme Officer for the Royal Society of Chemistry. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 207, IWD #3: Can they kick it, with Jill Scott & Sarah Hunter

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In the third episode of our International Women's Day 2019 series, Jen catches up with two sporting legends: Manchester City and England midfielder, Jill Scott, and Loughborough Lightning and England Women's Rugby captain, Sarah Hunter. Chat includes the forthcoming Women's Football World Cup, the ongoing Women's Rugby Six Nations, and the incredible leaps forward in women's team sports.

Image of Sarah Hunter courtesy of the RFU Collection via Getty Images.

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SIM Ep 206, IWD 2019 #2: Karla Williams on Ms Mono and female-centered stories

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In the second episode of our International Women's Day 2019 series, Hannah and Jen caught up with writer and producer Karla Williams, co-founder of Ms Mono, a production company focused on female-centred stories. They talk representation, complex characters, and how Ms Mono is hoping to shake up the TV industry.

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SIM Ep 205 IWD 2019 #1: Rediscovering Andrea Dunbar

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In the first of our series celebrating International Women's Day 2019, Hannah went to meet writer Lisa Holdsworth to talk about her new play Black Teeth and a Brilliant Smile, based on the life of working class playwright Andrea Dunbar, who died aged 29. They talk Rita, Sue and Bob Too - including that controversial ending - how Andrea's life and work bled into each other, and the barriers working class youngsters face when entering the arts.

More information about Lisa's new play can be found here: https://www.freedomstudios.co.uk/production/black-teeth-and-a-brilliant-smile/

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SIM Ep 204 Chops 87: Come From Away

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, we're talking new musical Come From Away. Set on September 11, 2001, and the days afterwards, it tells the tale of what happened in the town of Gander, Canada, where 38 inbound planes were rerouted after America closed its airspace in the wake of the attacks. Hannah managed to grab some time with co-creator Irene Sankoff to talk about a true story full of comedy, tragedy, love and fear.

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SIM Ep 203 Gig 40: Bates, Ward and Ruffell

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Laura Bates, Felicity Ward and Suzi Ruffell joined us back in December for an In Conversation event and here's the result. We talked feminism (natch), meeting a young Ed Sheeran and lizard ownership. Plus that time someone nearly threw up on a tiny child while punting. Spoiler alert, it was Hannah.

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SIM Ep 202 Chops 86: Not about the Burqa with Mariam Khan

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's Sunday Chops, Jen chats to British writer and activist Mariam Khan, editor of new book It's Not About The Burqa: Muslim Women on Faith, Feminism, Sexuality and Race. They chat about why Muslim women need to reclaim their own narrative, Brexit and, obviously, Beyonce.

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SIM Ep 201 Pod 66: Prizes, hidden histories and an inexplicable Elvis

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

This week, Jen meets comedy legend Helen Lederer to learn about the Comedy Women in Print Prize. Author Hallie Rubenhold dispels some myths about the victims of Jack the Ripper. Jen's talking some good-value sport in Jenny Off The Blocks, Dunleavy Does Disney has its penultimate outing and it's all falling apart in the Bush Telegraph. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 200 LGBT History Month #3: Rosie Jones

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In Part III of our LGBT History Month series, comedian Rosie Jones comes into the studio to talk LGBT voices in comedy, dating as a disabled person and what it was like to actually have a good year in 2018. A lovely time was had by all. If you've not yet listened to the rest of the series, get that done too. In Part I, comedians Kate McCabe and Debra Jane Appelby talk representation for LGBT women in popular culture. In Part II, Hannah chats to Olivia Potter-Hughes from the NUS-USI about the battle for marriage equality in Northern Ireland. And coming up next week, Jen chats to about Sarah Trainer, the professional clubs equality officer at Kick it Out. You. Are. Welcome.

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SIM Ep 199 Chops 85: social media is NOT ruining your life with Sara Tasker

Sun, 17 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Social media doesn't have to be a harbinger of mental health issues and FOMO, as Instagram guru Sara Tasker tells Mickey in this Chops. Sara's debut book, Hashtag Authentic, looks at how women can use Instagram (and other platforms) to positive effect. She and Mick chat about how to navigate social media with your soul intact, stealth feminism, and what Luke Skywalker did with his pants.

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SIM Ep 198 Outside The Box #9

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 11:28:20 -0000

What you going to be watching on the telly this month? We talk True Detective, Russian Doll, Fyre and The Ted Bundy Tapes in February's Outside The Box. And also, oddly, Diagnosis Murder. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 197 Pod 65: Media, melons & making evil

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 03:08:11 -0000

This week, we catch up with Alice-May Purkiss, author of new book Life, Lemons and Melons, about being diagnosed with breast cancer at 26 and why we all need to CoppaFeel! Dr Julia Shaw swings by to tell us about her new book Making Evil: The Science behind Humanity’s Dark Side, why all “evil” roads lead back to Hitler, and giving that kitten a squeeze. And there's a sneak peak of this week’s Sunday Chops, in which Mick natters to Instagram guru Sara Tasker about why social media isn’t ruining your life and her new book Hashtag Authentic.

We’re a woman down in the Bush Telegraph, Jen is getting narky about visibility (or the lack of it) in Jenny Off the Blocks, and Dunleavy Does Disney edges ever closer to the finish line with Brother Bear.

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SIM Ep 196 Chops 82: The real East End women

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Author Kate Thompson's brilliant new book The Stepney Doorstep Society tells us about an East End was run by matriarchs during the Second World War. Hannah went to meet Kate, along with Marie, one of the women featured in the book, to talk the Bethnal Green tube disaster, backstreet abortions, sex education and evacuees. Plus they ponder whether women really can "have it all" in the 21st century. When you've finished this Chops, maybe pop over to listen to the latest in our LGBT History Month series, when Hannah is talking to Olivia Potter-Hughes about the campaign for marriage equality in Northern Ireland.

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SIM Ep 195 LGBT History Month #2: The fight for marriage equality in Northern Ireland

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In the second of our bonus podcasts for LGBT History Month, we talk to NUS-USI President Olivia Potter-Hughes about the campaign for marriage equality in Northern Ireland, what comes next and how the rest of the UK can get involved. Plus, while we had the chance, we chatted about NI's other two hottest potatoes - Brexit and abortion rights. If you haven't caught the first in this series, you're missing out. Comedians Kate McCabe and Debra-Jane Appelby of the Strong Female Leads podcast talk LGBT representation in popular culture. And next week, we talk to comedian Rosie Jones about dating and disability. Yes, we are spoiling you.

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SIM Ep 194 Pod 64: The city, the suburbs and the Sorcerer's Apprentice

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

We've a fascinating chunk of social history coming for you this week as we talk to musician and writer Tracey Thorn about hew book on her childhood in suburbia - Another Planet. Hannah meets author Kate Thompson to find out about life for women in the East End during the Second World War and Kate's new book The Stepney Doorstep Society. Plus one of the women on which the book is based - Marie - shares some hair-raising stories of her own. There's more screaming into a pillow about Brexit in the Bush Telegraph, Mick's shooting fish in a barrel in Sexism of the Week, Jen talks rugby in Jenny Off The Blocks and Dunleavy Does Disney couldn't put Fantasia off any longer. Until next time!

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SIM Ep 193 Chops 82: LGBT History Month #1 - Pop Culture

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

It's LGBT History Month and we've got another series of themed Sunday Chops coming at you throughout February. First up, we asked our friends over at the Strong Female Leads podcast - comedians Kate McCabe and Debra-Jane Appelby - to talk representation of LGBT women in popular culture. They talk where they are represented, how they are represented and who is playing them. And more besides. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 192 Chops 81: Bedrooms of London

Sun, 03 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, Mick and Jen catch up with Caro Howell, director of the Foundling Museum, to talk about Bedrooms of London, the museum’s forthcoming exhibition in partnership with The Childhood Trust and highlighting the lives of children surviving below the breadline in our capital. Photographer Katie Wilson has taken shots of the sleeping spaces of children living in poverty in London, and these are accompanied by first-hand narratives collected and written by Isabella Walker.

Caro speaks eloquently about child poverty, challenges the prejudices and stereotypes associated with it, and explains what we can all do – and must do – to help these kids and their families.

If you’re in London and able to get to the Foundling Museum, Bedrooms of London runs from February 8 to May 5. foundlingmuseum.org.uk

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SIM Ep 191 Gig 39: Riley, Sarpong & Solomon

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this In Conversation, Mick and Hannah had a lovely chat with Lisa Riley, June Sarpong and Stacey Solomon, about the internalised misogyny of Alexa, getting a bit Walthamstow, the perils of wayward loo roll, and knowing your Johns from your Daves.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Leicester Square Theatre in October 2018, so some of the plugs are out of date. But you can still hear our chat with A.L. Kennedy on this very podcast feed. And you should.

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SIM Ep 190 Gig 38: Pascoe & Phelps

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this special In Conversation, sponsored by Twinings Superblends, Mick, Hannah and Jen are joined by writer Sarah Phelps and comedian Sara Pascoe. They chatted about all sorts, from who they’d most like to enjoy a cuppa with, to novel ways to look after your noggin’.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Twinings Here For You event in London.

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SIM Ep 189 Chops 80: the IVF indignity Olympics with Christine Robertson

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 03:30:00 -0000

In this Chops, the third and final part of our series on fertility, Mickey talks to writer Christine Robertson, former participant in the IVF indignity Olympics, about her experiences trying to get pregnant, how IVF is a big test of a person’s dignity, sense of humour and sanity – and what she did when it didn’t work.

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SIM Ep 188 Chops 79: Calming The F**k Down thanks to Sarah Knight

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, Mick, Hannah and Jen catch up with Sarah Knight, self-titled anti guru and author of the bestselling No Fucks Given Guides. She shares her cracking tips on how to deal with anxiety – in its lower case and diagnosed guises – all of which are charted in her latest book, aptly titled Calm The F**k Down.

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SIM Ep 187 Pod 63: WTFJH, Jayde Adams and jog on Inside Out

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord talk feminism, grief and what we can learn from drag queens and the Spice Girls with the truly divine Jayde Adams, and Hannah gets Lara Spirit of the excellent Our Future Our Choice on the blower to ask what the fuck just happened in the bin fire that is Brexit. There's more Australian Open chat in Jenny Off The Blocks, a sporty sexism of the week, three bits of good news in the Bush Telegraph and Dunleavy Does Disney's Inside Out. No, she's not okay, hun.

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SIM Ep 186 Chops 78: fat fertility

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 03:30:00 -0000

It's a double helping of Chops – hurray!

In our other episode, Jen chats to journalist Abby Ellin, author of the new book Duped: Double Lives, False Identities, and the Conman I Almost Married. They talk about their own experiences of dealing with con artists, why people lie, and how it impacts those around them.

This episode is part two of our three-part series on fertility, and Mick and Jen catch up with self-titled fat positive fertility coach, Nicola Salmon, to talk about her campaign Fat Fertility Matters and the myths surrounding weight and pregnancy.

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SIM Ep 185, Chops 77: Duped - Abby Ellin & the conman she almost married

Sun, 20 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

It's a double helping of Chops for you lucky lot today. In our other episode - part 2 of our series on fertility - Mick and Jen catch up with fat fertility coach, Nicola Salmon, to talk about her campaign Fat Fertility Matters.

In this episode, Jen chats to journalist Abby Ellin, author of the new book Duped: Double Lives, False Identities, and the Conman I Almost Married. They talk about their own experiences of dealing with ne'erdowells, why people lie, and how it impacts on those around them.

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SIM Ep 184 Outside The Box 8

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:17:44 -0000

It's the first Outside The Box of 2019 and we're back talking telly. More specifically, Murder Mountain, Les Miserables, Sex Education, You, Catastrophe and why Hannah's excited about Stephen Graham. Even more so than usual.

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SIM Ep 183 Pod 62: Patti Smith, armchair critics, and the sea

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

New week, new podcast and we've another treat for your earballs here. Mickey talks to music mega-mind Liz Buckley about the glorious Patti Smith, Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch talks when armchair criticism goes to far, and Jen chats to journalist Charlotte Runcie about her debut book Salt On Your Tongue: Women and The Sea. Plus there's the Australian Open in Jenny Off The Blocks and #DunleavyDoesDisney goes to Utopia, sorry Zootopia.

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SIM Ep 182 Chops 76: Fertility - Going it alone

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In the first of our series on fertility, Hannah and Mickey go to Dublin to speak to teacher and single mum Aoife McArdle about going it alone with IUI. She tells us the how, the where and the how much, as well as what she told her daughter about where she "came from". Tuck in!.

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SIM Ep 181, Pod 61: Legislating, twerking and carpe-ing the diem

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

We're back with the first podzine of 2019, with a ray of January sunshine. Standard Issue favourite Paula McGuire is back to give you a five minute guide to keeping your pecker up, or, er being positive. We’re joined by Julie Cohen and Betsy West to talk about their new documentary RBG, about legendary Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Marina Gask swings by to tell us about online magazine Audrey, flipping the bird to the midlife comfort zone and carpe-ing the diem. Jen gets her twerk on with Kelechi Okafor, founder of the Kelechnekoff fitness studio, in the name of making fitness fun in this week’s Jenny off the Blocks, and Dunleavy does Disney’s Cars – toot, and indeed, toot.

There’s Veganuary vs Gammon controversy in the Bush Telegraph, some dastardly women having fun in Sexism of the Week, and some even worse fish in barrels.

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SIM Ep 180 Chops 75: An Edited Life with Anna Newton

Sun, 06 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, Mick chats with blogger, vlogger, podcaster and now author, Anna Newton, a woman with her shit together who knows that having together shit doesn’t always come easy. Cue her book: An Edited Life is a (delightful-to-read) manual to getting the best out of the worlds of home, work and life-in-general, penned by someone who knows how to get stuff organised. Our Mick was all ears and note-taking.

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SIM Ep 179 Gig 37: Lawson, Ahmed, Prenger & Millican

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

In this In Conversation, Sarah and Mickey had a ruddy smashing time with Nigella Lawson, Samira Ahmed and Jodie Prenger, chatting about being a cat, the power of the BBC voice, laughing at funerals, combing cows, excellent letters to Newsround, how to talk buzzard and Roger Moore as God.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Leicester Square Theatre in September. That means a couple of the plugs are out of date. Obviously we know now that Fiona Bruce got the Question Time job, but we love Samira’s pitching so much it’s staying in. And Nigella’s tour is over, but there’s still loads of good stuff over on her website.

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SIM Ep 178 Gig 36: Morrissey, Mitchell, Jackson and Herring

Wed, 26 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This gigcast is from our one gig of the year where we allow some blokes to do the talking, and Sarah and Mickey had a belly-achingly fun time with Richard Herring, Colin Jackson, David Mitchell and David Morrissey.

Chat included baloney sandwiches, Kes, too many trainers, a fish not called Chris, the power of exercise and the smell of balls.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Leicester Square Theatre in November. That means a couple of the plugs are out of date, as in the Upstart Crow Christmas Special was on… Christmas Day. But you can get it on catch up and you absolutely should.

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SIM Ep 177: Best of In Conversation 2018

Tue, 25 Dec 2018 04:00:00 -0000

The world is full of brilliant broads and we've had loads of them onstage with us in 2018. And so, as our Christmas gift to you, we thought it would be fun to put some of the biggest laughs into one handy 'best of' In Conversation.

Please put your hands together for Ruth Jones, Fern Britton, Wunmi Mosaku, Sally Wainwright, Helen Thorne, Ellie Gibson, Sally Phillips, Roisin Conaty, Isy Suttie, Bridget Christie, Marian Keyes, Hollie McNish, Jack Monroe, Liz Carr, Desiree Burch, Jo Caulfield, Jennifer Saunders, Sian Gibson, Jennie McAlpine, Cherylee Houston, Shazia Mirza, Konnie Huq, Rachel Parris, and Lucy Mangan. And of course our Sarah Millican, Hannah Dunleavy and Mickey Noonan.

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SIM Ep 175 Chops 73: Liz Buckley's albums of 2018

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's double serving of Sunday Chops, we talk to two of our experts to find out what they made of 2018. In the other episode, Hannah met up with our favourite cinema reviewer, Yosra Osman, to talk her films of the year, while in this portion, Mickey talks to our music guru Liz Buckley about her favourite albums of 2018. Have at it!

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SIM Ep 176 Chops 74: Yosra Osman's films of 2018

Sun, 23 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's double serving of Sunday Chops, we talk to two of our experts to find out what they made of 2018. In the other episode, Mickey talks to our music guru Liz Buckley about her favourite albums of the year, while in this serving of Chops, Hannah met up with our favourite cinema reviewer, Yosra Osman, to talk her films of the year. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 174 Pod 60: top birds, great books, Luther and laughing

Wed, 19 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat to QI elf and human bookworm Anne Miller about the best reads for the festive period – to buy as presents or to curl up with yourself. Hannah and Jen catch up with cracking actor and excellent human Wunmi Mosaku to talk Luther, Idris Elba and the potential perils of being a sidekick, and Jen has a natter with tip-top comedians Rachel Parris and Jenny Bede about how this year's been for women in comedy.

In the Bush Telegraph, we're saluting our women of the year; as ever, there are loads of birds doing the rest of us proud. And Hannah provides a round-up of all the Disney's she's done in 2018. The fact she's not a gibbering wreck is some sort of Christmas miracle, quite frankly.

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SIM Ep 193 Chops 72: Bloody Good festive periods

Sun, 16 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this week’s Sunday Chops we’re offering up an extended version of Jen’s chat from this week’s podzine with founder of Bloody Good Period, Gabby Edlin. Gabby chats to Jen about why she started the charity, which provides period supplies to refugees and asylum seekers, the injustice of period poverty, and the stigma still surrounding our monthly cycles.

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SIM Ep 192: Outside The Box 7

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 12:51:56 -0000

Christmas is just round the corner, so we talk (some of the mountains of) festive viewing in this month's Outside The Box. Plus, we chat Young Offenders, Mrs Wilson, Hot Girls Wanted:Turned On, Death & Nightingales, and I'm a Celebrity. And, as it's the last OTB of the year, we decree the best TV programme of the year. Spoiler alert: it's The Deuce.

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SIM Ep 191 Pod 58: Pioneering women, period poverty and predictions

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

We've another new podcast for you and this week is a corker. Hannah talks to Dr Lauren Arrington from the University of Liverpool about Constance Markievicz, the first woman elected to the Houses of Parliament, 100 years ago this month. Jen meets Gabby Edlin of Bloody Good Period to chat period poverty and how we can all help women and girls over the festive period. And Mickey can't stop thinking about a shaved Boris Johnson in The Bush Telegraph. Plus there's awards news in Jenny Off the Blocks and more benevolent robots in Dunleavy Does Disney. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 188 Chops 70: kicking off for disability rights with Barbara Lisicki

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this portion of Chops goodness, Mick has a natter with bona fide bad-ass Barbara Lisicki (@wanda_barbara), comedian, fierce disability activist and proud protest T-shirt wearer.

They chat about all sorts of stuff, particularly what Barbara and various allies got up to in their ongoing quest to change the pity-led narrative around people with disabilities. So, revel in Barbara’s telling of the glory that is the Piss On Pity tee and accompanying campaign, and some of the other brilliant and ultimately law-making activism Barbara got up to with DAN, the disabled people’s Direct Action Network. And, perhaps like Mick, find yourself nodding along with why she hates Children In Need.

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SIM Ep 190 Chops 71: Emer and Sarah (and Aisling, of course)

Sun, 09 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to one of two Sunday Chops today. In this episode, Hannah meets Irish authors Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen to talk about the runaway success of Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling; what it's like to write in a pair, and how Aisling is already heading for the big screen. Tuck in.

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SIM Ep 188, Pod 57: Kindness, kicking and being a complete Aisling

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week the team talk trying not to be a prick with comedian Juliette Burton, whose show Butterfly Effect charts her personal journey to connect with her fellow (wo)man via random acts of kindness. Jen has a natter with Kelly Simmons, Director of the Woman’s Professional Game at the Football Association, as well as bona fide Lioness and Reading midfielder Fara Williams, about what football fans have to look forward to over the next few years. And Hannah chats to publishing sensations and authors of Oh My God, What a Complete Aisling, Emer McLysaght Sarah Breen. Plus get a sneaky peek of this week’s upcoming Sunday Chops in which Mick talks to comedian and disability activist Barbara Lisicki about her long-running involvement in the campaign for disability rights.

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SIM Ep 187, Chops 69: Paula McGuire's Year of Fear

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode of the Sunday Chops, our Jen catches up with Paula McGuire, Standard Issue favourite, writer, speaker and all-round legend. Last year, Paula spoke to Jen about her Big Mad Swim. It didn't go according to plan. Not that Paula's let it stop her journey. They talk anxiety, failure, and facing your fears.

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SIM Ep 186: World AIDS Day 2018

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this special episode to mark World AIDS Day, Mickey chats with HIV advocate Lizzie Jordan, aka 'the Nigella of HIV'. What a moniker! It’s the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day and while advances in science around the virus are simply incredible, raising awareness and funds, fighting prejudice and increasing education remain vital.

The stereotypes and stigma around the virus put people in danger, so they need to change. What's more, around 20,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with undiagnosed HIV, which is why, Lizzie explains, she is always banging the drum for sexual health MOTs.

Visit www.tht.org.uk for more info on how we can all help.

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SIM Ep 185 Gig 35: Scummy Mummies, Phillips and Millican

Wed, 28 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this gigcast, da boss Sarah Millican and our Hannah Dunleavy are In Conversation with Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson, aka The Scummy Mummies, and Sally Phillips. Chat covers all the bases: how to stop your kids accessing porn, a rolling boulder of tits, Where's Teddy?, charity-shop Diana and the saddest Gangnam Style ever.

This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Cheltenham Comedy Festival in September, 2018.

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SIM Ep 183, Chops 67: Yes to consent

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week, we've two Sunday Chops for you, because we're good like that. First up, in this episode, Mickey and Hannah went to Middlesbrough to meet Jennifer Cassarly to learn about her work to help youngsters understand that no means no. Mick also learns what incognito browsing is, so there really is something for everyone.

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SIM Ep 184, Chops 68: The law online

Sun, 25 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

It's a two-course Chops this week, hooray! In this podcast, we talk to journalist and media law expert Holly Powell-Jones (disclaimer, not a lawyer) about what legal pitfalls exist for anyone blogging, podcasting or even just airing their thoughts on social media. From contempt of court, to copyright and defamation, she talks keeping your nose clean online.

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SIM Ep 182, Pod 56: Social media, shopping and satirical scribblings

Wed, 21 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's podcast, we talk to Holly Powell-Jones about the work she's doing to help teenagers understand the law when it comes to social media, plus our consumer expert Vix Leyton stops by to chat Black Friday, loyalty schemes and keeping to a budget over Christmas. Jen meets graphic novelist Emma Clit to talk The Mental Load, as well as catching up with Sally Bolton, Strategic Planning & Operations Director at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, and Lisa O'Keefe Head of Insight at Sport England to talk about Ticketmaster's State of Play report and what it tells us about women's sport. Plus, we take a look at (oh God, no) Brexit, in the Bush Telegraph. And Dunleavy Does Disney goes under the sea. No, not that one, the good one.

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SIM Ep 181 IMD 5: Luke Hart on domestic violence and changing the narrative

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week we’re doing things a bit differently. We’re always wanging on about how gender inequality is a ballbag for everyone – because it is. And so, around International Men’s Day on November 19, we decided to do a series of interviews where we chatted to blokes about what’s going on with the dudes.

In this episode, Mickey has a frank and frankly heartbreaking conversation with Luke Hart about how language around domestic violence and coercive control needs to change. Luke is a domestic violence campaigner and co-author, alongside his brother Ryan, of Operation Lighthouse, which tells the story around how his mum Claire and sister Charlotte were murdered by his father.

The National Domestic Violence Freephone Helpline is 0808 2000 247.

In our other #IMD interviews, Mickey chats with author and mental health advocate Matt Haig about brain diahorrea, Hannah talks booze culture and growing up the child of an alcoholic with Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth, Jen chats how sport can help kids in communties affected by crime and violence with Fight For Peace's Dr Jacob Whittingham Vigors, and also talks to writer, performer and campaigner Jordan Stephens about toxic masculinity.

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SIM Ep 180 Chops 66: immodest women, sexy Victorians and terrorist suffragettes

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, the team chats with historian Dr Fern Riddell, author of The Victorian Guide To Sex and Death In Ten Minutes: Kitty Marion: Activist, Arsonist, Suffragette. Dr Fern explains the joys and importance of being an #immodest woman, what the Victorians can teach us about sex (spoiler: it's a fuckload), and talks about the life of Kitty Marion, music hall actress, fierce woman, suffragette and Fern's original #MeToo moment. We also discover that Captain Offord does NOT find scary raves a turn on and that Hannah's some sort of airforce royalty.

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SIM Ep 179 IMD 4: Jordan Stephens on toxic masculinity

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Jen catches up with writer, performer and campaigner Jordan Stephens, who found fame at a young age as part of hip-hop duo, Rizzle Kicks. They talked about toxic masculinity, redefining prescribed gender characteristics and why putting men on a pedestal can actually harm them.

If some of the subjects Jen and Jordan touch on in this interview have affected you, or you feel you need to talk, you can contact the Samaritans in the UK and Republic of Ireland by phone on: 116 123, or via email at: Jo@Samaritans.org (UK)/Jo@Samaritans.ie (ROI).

Keep your ears peeled for chats with writer and mental health advocate Matt Haig; Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth; Dr Jacob Whittingham Vigors of Fight For Peace; and domestic violence campaigner Luke Hart.

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SIM Ep 178, IMD 3: Alcohol with Jonathan Ashworth

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week we’re doing things a bit differently. We’re always wanging on about how gender inequality is a ballbag for everyone – because it is. And so, ahead of International Men’s Day on November 19, we decided to do a series of interviews where we chatted to blokes about what’s going on with the dudes. Keep your ears peeled for chats with writer and mental health advocate Matt Haig; writer, performer and campaigner Jordan Stephens; Dr Jacob Whittingham Vigors of Fight For Peace; and domestic violence campaigner Luke Hart.

Because next week is also Alcohol Awareness Week, Hannah went down to Westminister to talk to Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth about being the child of an alcoholic, how society views drinking and why it's good to talk, no matter how hard it seems.

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SIM Ep 177: Outside the Box 6

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this month's Outside The Box, we talk HBO's Intimacy Co-ordinators, plus House of Cards, Daredevil, what's keeping Luther, a big cancellation and Informer. Which is all but nothing to the news that Deadwood is finally returning. Deadwood, Deadwood, Deadwood. Get it in your ears. Also, Deadwood.

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SIM Ep 175, IMD 2: Fighting for Peace

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week we’re doing things a bit differently. We’re always wanging on about how gender inequality is a ballbag for everyone – because it is. And so, ahead of International Men’s Day on November 19, we decided to do a series of interviews where we chatted to blokes about what’s going on with the dudes. Keep your ears peeled for chats with writer Matt Haig, Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth MP, writer, performer and campaigner Jordan Stephens, and domestic violence campaigner Luke Hart.

In this episode Jen took herself off to North Woolwich to meet Dr Jacob Whittingham-Vigors, Head of Programmes at the Fight For Peace London Academy. They chatted about the organisation's work using boxing and martial arts among other things, to help support the development of young people in communities affected by crime and violence, the challenges facing young men in inner cities, and the life lessons of Rocky Balboa.

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SIM Ep 176: Jewish Film Festival

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 00:00:00 -0000

With the 22nd UK Jewish Film Festival in full swing at cinemas around the country, Hannah recently managed to grab some time with Austrian filmmaker Ruth Beckermann about her brilliant documentary The Waldheim Waltz, which examines how Austria came to elect Kurt Waldheim, a former Nazi, to the role of president during the 1980s. No, really.

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SIM Ep 174, IMD 1: Mental health with Matt Haig

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week we’re doing things a bit differently. We’re always wanging on about how gender inequality is a ballbag for everyone – because it is. And so, ahead of International Men’s Day on November 19, we decided to do a series of interviews where we chatted to blokes about what’s going on with the dudes. Keep your ears peeled for chats with Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth MP, writer, performer and campaigner Jordan Stephens, domestic violence campaigner Luke Hart and Dr Jacob Whittingham-Vigors of Fight For Peace.

We’re kicking off our series of man specials with Mickey talking to awesome author and mental health advocate Matt Haig brain diahorrea, the many perils of Twitter and how Netflix has got it in for shut-eye.

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SIM Ep 173, Chops 65: A.L. Kennedy, a Little Snake & other animals

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

The team were delighted to catch up with author and performer, A.L. Kennedy ahead of the publication of her cracking new book The Little Snake. As well as the book, they chatted about the state of the nation, the art of storytelling, and the curious incident of the dog and the plate glass window, and as you'll hear, they had a very lovely time indeed.

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SIM Ep 171 Chops 64: mental health stigmas with Lucy Nichol

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 03:00:00 -0000

For this Sunday Chops, we hand over the reins to the excellent Lucy Nichol, mental health advocate extraordinaire and author of the brilliant A Series of Unfortunate Stereotypes, which started out as a regular Standard Issue column.

For this Chops, Lucy wanted to focus on some of the very many stigmas that still surround mental health and what we can do to get them to jog on. And so she’s chatted to four women about their very different experiences with mental health. Anna Foster is talking OCD, Claire Eastham is chatting social anxiety, Poorna Bell talks about her late husband’s addiction and the unhelpful stereotypes of drug users we’re forever seeing in the media, and finally, Hope Virgo explains the issues around anorexia and why her #dumpthescales campaign is a life-saver.

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SIM Ep 170 Gig 34: Omielan, Millican, Garofalo and Pollard

Wed, 31 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this gigcast, we got Hannah Dunleavy, Sarah Millican, Luisa Omielan, Janeane Garofalo and Su Pollard onstage to see what would happen. Crikey. There’s tit-covering trousers, a dearth of condoms, a blast of Madonna and a frankly hilarious bum story. We recorded this gigcast back in August in Edinburgh at The Stand Comedy Club as part of our Edinburgh Fringe run. It was even more deliciously bonkers than we expected. And we’re the people who decided to get Su Pollard and Janeane Garofalo in the same room.

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SIM Ep 169 Chops 63: Refuge Woman

Sun, 28 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, Mickey talks to self-proclaimed 'refuge connoisseur' Cash Carraway about her warm, darkly funny one-woman show, Refuge Woman. Cash talks the reality of life in a women's refuge, the devastating effect of government funding cuts and the rage-inducing condescension of the media. Channel 5, she's looking at you.

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SIM Ep 168, Pod 54: Voting, Spending and Screaming

Wed, 24 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's podzine, the team put their marching boots on - again - to join the 700,000 or so crowd at Saturday's People's Vote March in London. As well as drawing serious props for their signage and indeed dog-age, the team caught up with MPs Anna Soubry, Sarah Wollaston and Joanna Cherry; Lara Spirit of Our Future, Our Choice; Sorcha Kirker of the Highlands and Islands Students' Association; Standard Issue stalwart Jane Bostock; and Delia Smith. You heard.

They also chatted to Seyi Newell from Rosa, the UK fund for women and girls, about how charities and projects set up to help women can get their hands on some cold hard cash. by way of their Justice and Equality Fund; and Sarah Morgan, host of podcast The Fear drops by to talk about getting the willies in the run-up to Hallowe'en. Hannah is swiping left on battery bullies in SOTW, Jen is pondering the IOC's moral compass in JOTB, and Dunleavy Does Disney does The Good Dinosaur, the title of which may or may not be misleading.

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SIM Ep 167, Chops 61: Black History Month #3 - A question of race

Sun, 21 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Two portions of Chops again this week! We are kind to you. In this episode, as part of our series celebrating Black History Month, Hannah speaks to award-winning black feminist writer Claire Heuchan about her new book What is Race? Who are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter? And Other Big Questions - and manages to squeeze in a couple of questions of her own. And when you're done with this Chops, Mickey awaits with wrestling news. No, really.

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SIM Ep 168 Chops 62: Wrestlenoonia!

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, inspired by GLOW and the fat bespandexed lads of the 1970s and 80s, our Mick gets in the ring with WrestlePro coach Sam Bailey and pro-wrestlers Lana Austin and Hollie to get to grips with the art of wrestling. Tip: it hurts your elbows. She also chats to Emily Read, founder of Pro Wrestle Eve and a leading light in the world of women's wrestling. Grab your leotard, Big Mickey Hotpot needs you to get ready to rumble!

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SIM Ep 166, Pod 53: Hearing, watching and burning this city to the ground

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Oh hello, listener, meet jam-packed podcast. This week comedian and multi-hyphenate Samantha Baines comes in to the studio to tell us about hearing loss and why Hannah should get a less 1970s hearing aid. Elizabeth Foley and Beth Coates talk inspirational women and their new book What Would Boudicca Do?. Hannah and Mick meet Selina Cartmell to chat about her first year as Artistic Director of The Gate Theatre in Dublin. And Jen basks in Carrie Dunn's expertise when it comes to women's football. Plus Dunleavy Does Disney takes a trip to Atlantis, with mixed results.

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SIM Ep 165, Chops 60: Black History Month #2 - Slaying in your lane

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 02:01:00 -0000

We are spoiling you rotten this week with two servings of Chops, once again!

Since October is Black History Month, for the four Sundays of October, we’re chatting to brilliant black women doing incredible things. Last week, Mick chatted to Wanna Be podcast host and CEO of the Shoutout Network, Imriel Morgan, next week Hannah catches up with Claire Heuchan about her book for kids, What Is Race? Who Are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter? And Other Big Questions, and Mickey has a date with Hot Brown Honey, mashers up of social activism, music, dance and burlesque.

In this episode Jen is chatting black British history and future with Elizabeth Uviebinené and Yomi Adegoke, authors of Slay In Your Lane: The Black Girl Bible, as they discuss gatekeepers, hair and why we all need to be able to tell our stories.

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SIM Ep 164 Chops 59: The legacy of the laundries

Sun, 14 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In September, councillors rejected plans to sell the site of the last of Ireland's infamous Magdalene Laundries to a Japanese hotel chain. We met Dr Maeve O'Rourke to find out what survivors would like to see on the site instead, as well as learn more about what life was like for women who found themselves incarcerated there against their will. And how they still face a battle for justice.

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SIM EP 163, Bonus Pod: Girls on Film: a London Film Festival Special

Sat, 13 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In another treat for you this week, our Jen has been tearing around the BFI's 2018 London Film Festival, in which this year the Institute is screening more films by female filmmakers than ever before. Jen caught up with the directors (and a producer!) of three top films showing at this year's festival: Naziha Arebi and Flore Cosquer, director and producer of Freedom Fields, an inspiring documentary about the Libyan women's national football team; Sudabeh Mortezai, director of the devastating drama Joy, about a Nigerian woman trafficked into the European sex industry; and Jessica Leski, director of the nostalgic documentary I Used to be Normal: A Boyband Fangirl Story.

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SIM Ep 162 Outside the Box 5

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this month's Outside The Box, there's almost too much TV to take in. Hannah, Jen and Mickey try their best and talk the best of the month's watching, including The Deuce, Bojack Horseman, No Offence, Mystery Road and Upstart Crow. You're welcome!

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SIM Ep 161 Pod 52: adoption, crime solving and rolling with life's punches

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:04:48 -0000

In this week's podzine, Mick and Hannah meet up with the Drunk Women Solving Crime, aka Taylor Glenn and Hannah George, to chat true crime, booze and very audible gasping. Ahead of National Adoption Week, which starts on October 15, adopter Dotty Winters shares the pros, cons, joy, tears and hard-won wisdom of the process. Author Jean Hannah Edelstein talks about her new non-fiction This Really Isn't About You about how Lynch Syndrome and her father's death turned her life upside down and that one time Tinder wasn't an arsehole. For Jenny Off The Blocks, Jen chats with Emma Bramwell, who is running 30 races in the 12 months leading up to what would have been her brother Adam's 30th birthday. Dunleavy Does Disney's Coco and maybe-just-maybe does a tiny cry, and there's a fierce doughnut debate in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 160 Chops 58: Mother Courage + Father Ted + needy cats + arse tattoos = Pauline McLynn

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Double Chops ahoy! In this, the second portion of Sunday Chops, our Mickey's having a brew with Pauline McLynn, aka Mrs Doyle from Father Ted, Libby Croker from Shameless, Yvonne Cotton in EastEnders and many theatre roles, including right now Mother Courage in Red Ladder Theatre’s immersive promenade production of Brecht’s classic Mother Courage and Her Children (which is absolutely excellent and on until October 20 in Leeds).

You'll fast discover that Mick wound up with a massive girl crush on Pauline, who is a proper treat. They chatted Mother Courage, Father Ted, the perils of warm poo and needy cats, knitting tea cosies and that time she may or may not have flashed Tom Cruise.

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SIM Ep 159 Chops 57: Black History Month #1 – Imriel Morgan

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Double Chops portions ahoy! Monday 1 October marked the start of Black History Month and for the four Sundays of October, we’re chatting to brilliant black women doing incredible things.

Jen will be catching up with Elizabeth Uviebinené and Yomi Adegoke, authors of black girl bible Slay In Your Lane, Hannah chats with Claire Heuchan about her book for kids, What Is Race? Who Are Racists? Why Does Skin Colour Matter? And Other Big Questions, and Mickey has a date with Hot Brown Honey, mashers up of social activism, music, dance and burlesque.

And for this Chops, our Mick nattered with Imriel Morgan, host of the Wanna Be podcast, co-founder of the ShoutOut Network and all-round top bird. They talked stuff to do, films to watch, how Windrush affected Imriel's family and much more.

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SIM Ep 158 Pod 51: marching, rhyming and fighting

Wed, 03 Oct 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode, Mick and Hannah take a trip to Dublin to join the March For Choice and find out what's been going on since the #Repealthe8th referendum back in May, where they natter with a few familiar voices, as well as make some new friends. Mick has a chat with host of the Wanna Be podcast and CEO of the Shoutout Network, Imriel Morgan, to find out why Black History Month is so important and how everyone can and should celebrate it. The team catch up with poetry anthologist Ana Sampson about her book, She Is Fierce, ahead of World Poetry Day on October 4, and Jen talks bare-knuckle brawling with playwright Joy Wilkinson, who looked into the boxing world for her play The Sweet Science of Bruising.

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SIM Ep 157 Chops 56: The People's Vote

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 02:14:42 -0000

On October 20, we'll be in London for the People's Vote March For The Future. In this week's Chops we talk to two women who know their stuff about Brexit, Amanda Chetwynd-Cowieson from For Our Future's Sake and campaigner and businesswoman Gina Miller, about what they think might be around the corner for the UK if or when we leave the EU.

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SIM Ep 156 Gig 33: Hazarika, Porter and Rooney

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's gigcast time again and this week we've a real treat for you, the first of the two In Conversation events we recorded at the Stand comedy club during this year's Edinburgh Festival. Hannah and Mickey were joined on stage by comedian and political commentator Ayesha Hazarika, stand-up Lucy Porter and actress and all-round gem Sharon Rooney. They chatted about who's a currant bun (we all are, apparently), that time Lucy got married aged four and why Ed Miliband can't book his own taxis. What else is there?

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SIM Ep 155 Chops 55: othellomacbeth: wronged women seek vengeance

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In Chops Two-o (let's just roll with it), our Mick catches up with Jude Christian, director of and fierce imagination behind othellomacbeth, a fresh, feminist mash-up of two of Shakespeare's best-known and most-performed plays. They chat about the Bard, OJ Simpson, wronged women in and out of Shakespeare, the problem with heroes, the Me Too movement and Katie Hopkins as a giant rat.

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SIM Ep 154 Chops 54: body image with Natasha Devon

Sun, 23 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops Uno, Jen and Hannah chat with the properly awesome Natasha Devon, campaigner, Mental Health Collective member and author of A Beginner's Guide To Being Mental, An A-Z From Anxiety to Zero Fucks Given. Topics covered include the rise in self-harm among children, particularly young girls, the perils of social media, and how we can all learn to feel better about ourselves. They also talk about Natasha's excellent Where's Your Head At campaign, which aims to make workplaces more savvy about mental health issues. You can find more info on that here: http://www.wheresyourheadat.org/.

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SIM Ep 153 Pod 50: live at the London Podcast Festival

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

This week we've got a podcast with a difference as we bring you a podzine-gigcast hybrid, hosted by all three of the team. There's a bit of Bush Telegraph, a bit of interview-type chat, a fair few tangents and a whole lot of fun.

Recorded live at the London Podcast Festival on September 15, our frankly tremendous guests are Imriel Morgan, host of WannaBe Podcast and CEO of the ShoutOut Network, Chidera Eggerue, blogger, author, founder of #saggyboobsmatter and more commonly known as The Slumflower, and Angela Barnes, award-winning comedian, co-host of Newsjacker and Cold War bunker nerd.

Also, Jen celebrates a birthday, Mick gets tennis wrong and Hannah does an accent.

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SIM Ep 152 Chops 52: Hoarding

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Sunday Chops time again and this week we're putting you in the capable hands of journalist Hazel Davis. In August, the WHO reclassified hoarding as a mental disorder and, as the child of a hoarder, Hazel shares with us an honest account of her experiences and talks to psychotherapist Rachel Morris about how to help a hoarder and how to help yourself if you've grown up with one..

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SIM Ep 151 Pod 49: Diaries, dystopia and delightful schemes

Wed, 12 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

New Wednesday, new podcast (let's make that a saying, eh?) and this week we've got loads of goodness for you. Mickey goes to Glasgow Women's Library to find out more about this valuable resource for women's history. And does a quiz from a Jackie annual. Natch. Hannah meets playwright Dawn King to chat about the West End debut of her award winner Foxfinder, as well as writing dystopia and the barriers for women in theatre. Author Stella Duffy drops by to inspire us to start our own Fun Palace (she's very persuasive) and Jen meets GB wheelchair basketball star Sophie Paterson to talk wheelchair basketball and charity Path To Success which is helping to support women in disability sport. What are you waiting for?

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SIM Ep 150, Chops 51: Self-love with The Slumflower

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's second helping of Chops, Jen meets up with blogger, speaker and author Chidera Eggerue, aka The Slumflower, to talk about her new books What A Time to Be Alone and Scribble Yourself Feminist, why you should never seek approval for being you, how Nigerian women are killing it in UK popular culture right now, and of course, why #SaggyBoobsMatter. You can catch Chidera as part of our lineup for the #LondonPodcastFestival at 2pm on September 15, alongside Imriel Morgan and Angela Barnes.

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SIM Ep 149, Chops 50: The real women of Holloway Prison

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Sunday Chops time again and this week we have two servings for you. Loosen your belts. In this episode, Mickey and Hannah go to the Echoes of Holloway Prison exhibition to meet journalist and author Caitlin Davies to talk about her new book Bad Girls: A History of Rebels and Renegades. We chat about some of the many women who found themselves in one of the country's most famous prisons - from the Suffragettes and the Greenham Common activists to refugees and unfaithful wives, and ask what we can learn about how society judges women from the way it treats its prisoners. Tuck in.

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SIM Ep 148, Pod 48: Mothers, Spacers, Singers & Headers

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

The team are back with an absolute corker for you this week. First up, we chat to author Hannah Begbie about her new book Mother, and caring for a child with cystic fibrosis. Jen gets double sportsy as she gets on her bike to catch up with tour guide Sophie Campbell and Jess Chu, head of diversity and inclusion at Santander, to talk about the Santander Cycle's Tour de Force, and also has a natter with Charlie Clifford and Amber Stobbs from Charlton Athletic's women's team about the start of the new FA Women's Championship. Finally, in a Standard Issue first, we have some live music (get us!) from the wonderfully-named She Street Band as we talk, and indeed sing, Bruce Springsteen.There's dancing, crowdfunding and surprising comedy sets in the Bush Telegraph, and Hannah does Disney's Treasure Planet. Give your ears the treatment they deserve!

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SIM Ep 146 Chops 48: Rising up with Gina Miller

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's a double portion of Chops for you this weekend, you lucky so-and-sos, so keep your ears peeled for our other offering, by way of a chat betwixt Mick, Jen and the legend that is June Sarpong, about her bookDiversify. In this particular Chops, Jen and Hannah had a natter with THAT Gina Miller about her new book Rise: Life Lessons in Speaking Out, Standing Tall and Leading the Way. They also talked about being a woman in the public eye, standing strong in the face of microaggressions and, of course, the B word.

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SIM Ep 147 Chops 49: Diversify! with June Sarpong

Sun, 02 Sep 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, Mickey and Jen meet the utterly charming June Sarpong; that's right, that excellent bird off of the telly from the golden age of youth TV. Also, broadcaster, campaigner and now author, as she's penned not one but two books: Diversify and The Power of Women. She tells us about both, about making society a better place, about how women are bloody smashing, and about how Vernon Kaye's accent baffled Hollywood stars on a weekly basis. Also contains some sort of Hollyoaks wormhole.

It's a double helping of Chops this week, so make sure you check out Jen and Hannah's excellent chat with THAT Gina Miller. We guarantee you'll have a girl crush by about five minutes in.

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SIM Episode 145: Gig 32: Gibson, Houston, McAlpine and Millican

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's gigcast time again. Two in a month? We are spoiling you. This week, we have a recording of an In Conversation event held in Sale in June, with top guests Sian Gibson, Cherylee Houston and Jennie McAlpine. They spoke to our Hannah and the boss, Sarah Millican, about smelling weather (yeah, that's a thing), meeting Take That and how, if your knickers fall down you should just keep walking. You're welcome!

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SIM Episode 144: Chops 47: Into the West

Sun, 26 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, Hannah has a cracking chat with Californian theatremaker Annie Saunders about her Edinburgh Fringe show Our Country, which looks at the myths of the Wild West, Antigone and childhood. They also talk younger brothers, medical marijuana and what happens when the law and your own beliefs don't coincide. Tuck in!

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SIM Ep 143 Pod 47: statues, singing, siblings & a sporting challenge

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode, Hannah's chatting statues being left where they belong, as she catches up with brilliant feminist activist and campaigner Caroline Criado Perez who's fighting for Emmeline Pankhurst to stay put, and she also finds out more about Annie Saunders' play Our Country, which takes in siblings, marijuana and the Wild West. Mick talks to Scottish musician and all-round top bird Carla J Easton, who's bigging up some women pop pioneers for the Edinburgh International Festival's Since Yesterday event on Friday 24 August, and Jen natters with Lauren Hendry, who took on an incredible sporting challenge then wrote a bloody lovely (and funny) story about it.

There's Boris, Botox and adult babies in the Bush Telegraph, and astonishment that Piers Morgan isn't the biggest spaffbangle in a Good Morning Britain-based Sexism of the Week. And Dunleavy Does Disney's Oliver & Company and really needs a lie down now please and thanks.

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SIM Ep 142 Chops 36: Edinburgh special

Sun, 19 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's a Chops with a difference as we chat to four excellent women currently doing their thing up at the Edinburgh Festival.

Natalie Palamides, winner of last year’s newcomer award, talks to Mick about Nate, her hilarious, physical comedy show involving a moustachioed young bloke basted in toxic masculinity but trying to do the right thing. Hannah catches up with Ingrid Garner about her play Eleanor’s Story: An American Girl In Hitler’s Germany, based on Ingrid's grandmother’s experiences as a child forced to move to Nazi Germany and try to fit in as war breaks out around her. Jen talks swimming, being a teenage girl at school and how sport can ease the angst a little with Katrina Quinn, whose show Individual Medley covers all those bases. And finally, Hannah also talks to Alissa Anne Jeun Yi about her show Love Songs, the stereotyping of Asian women – from the lotus flower to the super-sexualised to the Dragon Lady – dealing with her sexual assault and, amid all that, looking for love.

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SIM Ep 141 Gig 31: Keyes, McClure and Tunstall

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Mickey and Hannah had a bloody lovely time with Vicky McClure, KT Tunstall and Marian Keyes, chatting about So. Much. Stuff, including Repealed The 8th, axe injuries, de-pinking, This Is England, free crisps, bags of hair and wishing for Lynx Africa. It also contains tap dancing. Yeah, we know that’s not great for audio, but, y’know, buy a ticket; see it happen.

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SIM Ep 140 Outside The Box 4

Sat, 11 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Outside The Box o'clock and our Hannah's back with TV news, reviews and opinion. This month, she's chatting Orange Is The New Black, Unforgotten, Sharp Objects, Atlanta and why she's not watching Picnic At Hanging Rock. There's also Emmy chat, Matt Groening, Catastrophe, Dark and Stranger Things news, and your views on which series have used music like a boss.

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SIM Ep 139, Pod 46: Feminist fringes, twitching twinkles & train journeys from hell

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

On this week's podzine Team Noonan, Dunleavy & Offord are back to business. Mick preps for Standard Issue's forthcoming Edinburgh journey by having a natter with journalist Shona Craven about where to find feminism at the Fringe. Jen is chatting to a prime example of the above, by way of physiotherapist Elaine Miller who talks about her Edinburgh show Gusset Grippers, and why we need to talk about female incontinence. And Hannah catches up with comedian Tanyalee Davis to hear about her #ScooterGirlCampaign to get train companies to make better provision for disabled people. Jen also catches up with darts player Fallon Sherrock in JOTB, while Dunleavy does Disney's Wall-E - Eeeeeeva!

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SIM Ep 137, Chops 35: The Hurricane Girls

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Sunday Chops time again and this week we're offering up double portions. In this episode, Hannah and Mickey met author Jo Wheeler to talk about her new book The Hurricane Girls, which tells the tales of many of the women who flew planes for the ATA during the Second World War. Plus, Candy Adkins, the daughter of one of those pilots, joined in the chat too. Herewith, the dope about them...

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SIM Ep 138 Chops 46: Showstopping musicals

Sun, 05 Aug 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Sunday Chops time again and this week we have double portions. In this episode, Ruth Bratt, one of the super talented people behind Olivier Award-winning improvised musical Showstopper! drops by to tells us how on earth they do that. And to give us some top tips about musicals we should probably go see (and a few we shouldn't).Tuck in.

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SIM Ep 136 Pod 45: Edinburgh Fringe Festival special

Wed, 01 Aug 2018 02:05:39 -0000

As the Edinburgh Fringe festival kicks off, we talk to five women about their shows.The super funny Jen Brister talks about Meaningless and raising sons (while living with her mother); rising star Sindhu Vee chats about her debut solo show Sandhog; Jane Hill tells us why she gave up alcohol and her show Addicted To Fun; and Kiri Pritchard-McLean looks at gaslighting in Victim, Complex. Plus, if you've ever wondered exactly how the improvised musical Showstopper! works, Ruth Bratt stops by with an explanation. Yes, we are spoiling you with brilliant women. You're welcome.

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SIM Ep 135 Chops 44: Women's Aid and domestic homicide

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 02:00:00 -0000

The murder of Anne Searle at the hands of her husband Stephen has been all over the news, and some of the reporting has been appalling – minimising violence against women. Our Mickey chats to Katie Ghose, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, about what needs to be change in the media, the Femicide Census, the severe threat to women’s refuges, the forthcoming Domestic Violence Bill and what we can all do to help.

Photo of Katie Ghose courtesy of Gus Palmer.

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SIM Ep 134 Gig 30: Conran, Hesmondhalgh, Dunleavy and Noonan

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's gigcast time and for this recording back in May, Mick and Hannah travelled to Salford's The Lowry to chat to comedian Lou Conran and actor Julie Hesmondhalgh – diamonds, the pair of 'em. Topics covered include fake legs, bad badges for kids, platinum wallpaper and apologies to Jesus.

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SIM Ep 133 Chops 43: jolly hockey sticks (and gold medals)

Sat, 21 Jul 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Would you look at that: a Sunday Chops on a Saturday like the maverick mofos we are. Okay, okay, the reason is: Saturday 21 July is the start of the Hockey World Cup. To learn more about the games at hand and the game in general, we chatted to Olympic gold-bagging TeamGB-ers (Rio, 2016) Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh. And they were awesome.

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SIM Ep 132 Pod 44: Trump, Brontë, Parkinson & the Richardson-Walshes

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord are mostly enjoying a bit of outdoor time in this week's podzine, which is No 44, but should be No 45, given we recorded the Bush Telegraph special at the Women's March on London on the day of Trump's UK visit. Mickey and Hannah are surrounded by birdsong as they chat #TeamEmily with the Brontë Parsonage Museum's Lauren Livesey. Hannah also went to sunny Mold to talk Home, I'm Darling with actress Katherine Parkinson and Theatr Clwyd's Tamara Harvey. And the one time a studio happened, it was to learn more about the Hockey World Cup from Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh. So no complaints there.

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SIM Ep 131 Pod 43: legislation, observation and excavation

Wed, 11 Jul 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord are back for the sweatiest of times. Our Mick catches up with the ever wonderful Mairead Enright to find out what’s been going on with abortion legislation in Ireland since the referendum; the team chat to archaeologist Sam Leggett about digging up the past; and Hannah gives you some top tips for TV watching this month. Jen is going ga-ga for Gareth Southgate and Hannah does Disney’s A Bug’s Life. And in the Bush Telegraph, it’s all Trumpy, Brexity, and melty.

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SIM Ep 130 Chops 42: sorted for Es and whizz?

Sun, 08 Jul 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, Hannah and Mick chat to the awesome Dr Suzi Gage about her podcast, Say Why To Drugs, and about drugs in general: booze, prescription and illegal. And William Hague; he gets a mention, too.

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SIM Ep 129 Pod 42: bees, birds and balls

Wed, 04 Jul 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord venture OUTSIDE and somehow manage not to spontaneously burst into flames in the heat. Hannah chats to US journalist Hannah Levintova of the excellent Mother Jones about the current hoo-ha over America's Supreme Court and how it could seriously affect women's rights. She also catches up with bee queen Kath Austin to talk about the buzzy little pollinators and how they help Kath's company making food wrap. Hazel Davis talks to Marianne McNamara and Vashti MacLachlan of Mikron Theatre, artistic director and writer of its touring production about Sylvia Pankhurst, Revolting Women, respectively. Finally, Jen grabs 10 minutes with 5Live legend and top sporting brain Elly Oldroyd to talk Wimbledon and female athletes taking time out for kids.

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SIM Ep 128 Gig 29: Parris, Mangan, Mirza, Huq and Millican

Wed, 27 Jun 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's gigcast time again and we've another terrific line-up for you. Back in April, our Sarah and Mickey In Conversation-ed with Konnie Huq, Rachel Parris, Shazia Mirza and Lucy Mangan, where they talked stolen shoes, being the face of sex toys, expandable foam and breaking your coccyx.

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SIM Ep 127 Chops 41: Refugee Week 2018

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, our Mickey Noonan talks to Laura Kyrke-Smith, director of communications at International Rescue Committee, Europe, an organisation doing incredible work to help refugees in the short and long term. She also chats to Yasmin Kadi (pictured), musician, actor – and refugee. Yasmin and her family were forced to flee their home in Sierra Leone during the blood diamond war and her story is a powerful reminder that we need to look out for, and look after, our fellow humans.

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SIM Ep 126, Pod 41: 14th century broads, 21st century friendships and 20th century dramas.

Wed, 20 Jun 2018 02:00:00 -0000

On this week’s podzine, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat 14th century Italian broads and female leaders with business psychologist Paula Gardner; writer Rabiah Hussain talks to us about her debut play Spun, female friendships and micro-aggressions, and we bid “ahoy there!” to journalist Julia Raeside who drops by to talk to us about her Howard’s Way inspired podcast, Always There. Kanye West is back to bother us in the Bush Telegraph, joined by a massive Chope, and Dunleavy does Disney’s Monsters Inc.

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SIM Ep 125 Chops 40: World Cup overfloweth

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Sunday Chops our Jen catches up with Kait Borsay, journalist, broadcaster and co-founder of The Offside Rule Podcast, to talk all things World Cup related. They chat about whether or not the England squad can cut the mustard in Russia, top tips for a cheeky flutter, what's going on with women in sports broadcasting and whether or not it's fair to compare Raheem Sterling - or Jen - to a rocket scientist.

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SIM Ep 124 Pod 40: crap trains, screenwriting dames and World Cup games

Wed, 13 Jun 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord meet Sara Nelson from independent watchdog Transport Focus and go full Partridge to talk about the current trainageddon and how you got to fight for your right to traaaaavel. Mick and Hannah chat to the excellent Lisa Holdsworth from the Writers Guild of Great Britain to discuss the ridiculous gender disparity in screenwriting, and Jen gets her World Cup frothing over as she discusses games, teams, players and everything soccer with Kait Borsay, co-founder of The Offside Rule podcast and fellow football nerd.

There's a big part of the Bush Telegraph where everyone fails to keep it together, Piers Morgan's out to fix sexism (yeah, right) and Dunleavy Does Disney's Mulan. Finally. Because loads of you have asked about it. So what score do you think she gives it?

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SIM Ep 123 Chops 39: The Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Sunday Chops time again! This week we have more from that great chat between our Jen and Sarah Clementson from the Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse, a charity doing vital work in Essex. (Which is why we'll be supporting them at our upcoming In Conversation event at the Harwich Festival, please come if you're nearby). In the meanwhile, here's Jen and Sarah talking #MeToo, how CARA is helping women in crisis and what we can do to support someone who has been the victim of sexual violence.

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SIM Ep 122 Pod 39: Reading, rape survivors and still feeling repealing

Wed, 06 Jun 2018 02:00:00 -0000

On this week’s podzine, Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord are back, riding high on the crest of a historic wave of a new era in women’s rights. Well, in Ireland, anyway. Literary expert Anne Miller is giving her shout-outs for your summer reading list; Jen chats to Sarah Clementson from the Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse in Essex about how they’re helping women and why women need that help so badly, and Mick chats to Mara Clarke of the Abortion Support Network and Danielle Roberts from Alliance For Choice about the continuing fight for abortion reform, particularly in Northern Ireland and how we can help women still having to travel, as well as giving you a sneaky ear-peek of our recent show with author Marian Keyes, talking #RepealedThe8th. Our Dunleavy does Disney’s The Incredibles while her tits almost take over The Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 121 Gig 28: Jones, Britton, Mosaku, Wainwright and Millican

Wed, 30 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Blimey O'Reilly, it's a corking gigcast for your ears, champs. In this In Conversation, Sarah Millican and Hannah Dunleavy had an excellent time with Ruth Jones, Fern Britton, Wunmi Mosaku and Sally Wainwright. WE KNOW! Chat included the changing world for women on TV, #MeToo, cats bums, cats on trains and that time Sally Wainwright may or may not have killed a man.

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SIM Ep 120 Chops 38: Fashion Disruptors

Sun, 27 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, Jen and Mick had the pleasure of meeting journalist, broadcaster, activist and straight-up legend Caryn Franklin to talk about feminism and diversity in fashion, ageism and identity, and why it's always better to metaphorically tip over a table.

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SIM Ep 118 Pod 38: geeking, guns and fashion

Wed, 23 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

This week team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord get the lowdown on the goings on at a ComicCon from proud geek and cohost of the Strong Female Leads' podcast, Debra-Jane Appelby. Strong Female Leads' other cohost, American comedian Kate McCabe, talks about the big problem of guns in the USA, and Jen and Mick meet broadcaster, journalist, activist and bona fide icon, Caryn Franklin, possibly the fiercest feminist in fashion.

Dunleavy Does Disney's Meet The Robinsons – yep, Mick and Jen looked pretty blank, too. And there are all sorts of women having to fight for their reproductive rights in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 113 Chops 37: Caroline Flint

Sun, 20 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Mickey and Hannah went to the Houses of Parliament to meet MP for Don Valley, Caroline Flint, to talk about 21 years in the Commons, changing attitudes to women in politics and why Labour has yet to have a female leader.

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SIM Ep 113 Pod 37: Albertine, alcohol and awards

Wed, 16 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

This week Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord return to normal podcasting business, with Mick chatting to resident music guru Liz Buckley about Viv Albertine of The Slits, as Albertine publishes her second book, Throw Away Unopened; Hannah and Mick chat to Caroline Flint MP about booze and being a child of an alcoholic, and our Jen has a natter with author Kit de Waal about her new book The Trick To Time and her efforts to get more working-class voices in writing. Jen is paying tribute to Chelsea and England midfielder, Katie Chapman, in Jenny Off The Blocks, Hannah shatters some dreams as Dunleavy “does” Disney’s The Aristocrats, and there’s a triumvirate of wrong by way of Berlusconi, Polanski and Farage in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 110 Doc 1 Part 2: Repealing the 8th

Thu, 10 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

On May 25, Ireland votes on whether to allow women access to safe and legal abortions for the first time. In a special, two-part documentary, we look at the campaign to Repeal The 8th and talk to some of the women at the heart of it. About the current situation. About current attitudes. About the campaign's chances of success. And we ask what the future might hold for the women of Ireland and other countries where women are currently denied the right to reproductive care and rights over their own bodies.

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SIM EP 109 Doc 1, Part 1: Repealing the 8th

Wed, 09 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

On May 25, Ireland votes on whether to allow women access to safe and legal abortions for the first time. In a special, two-part documentary, we look at the campaign to Repeal The 8th and talk to some of the women at the heart of it. About the current situation. About its repercussions. About the sad history of reproductive rights in Ireland. And about how to win hearts and minds on this traditionally divisive issue.

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SIM Ep 108 Chops 34: she's a firefighter, kick-ass firefighter

Sun, 06 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this Chops, Mick and Hannah basically listen in awe as Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton deputy assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, expert psychologist, author and all-round top bird, talks fire safety, the humans behind the badge, why there's space for more women in the service and how we can learn to help ourselves. Seriously, she's incredible and when her book – Through The Fire – comes out next spring, we'll be first in line at Waterstone's.

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SIM Ep 107 Pod 36: feminists, firefighting and films

Wed, 02 May 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat what's hot on DVD in the next few weeks with film buff Yosra Osman. Mick catches up with author Julia Pierpont to talk The Little Book of Feminist Saints and the fierce women that inspired it, and Hannah and Mick get all hot and flustered in the presence of Dr Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, deputy assistant commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, psychologist, author, TV muse and all-round brilliant bird, as she tells them what inspired her forthcoming book, Through The Fire, and explains the realities of being a firefighter.

Jen's chatting football in Jenny Off The Blocks, Hannah's reached Bolt in Dunleavy Does Disney and there's all manner of wrongness on Tinder and coming out of John Humphry's mouth in the Bush Telegraph.

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SIM Ep 106 Gig 27: Christie, Conaty, Suttie and Millican

Wed, 25 Apr 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this In Conversation, Sarah Millican and Mickey Noonan had a corking time with Isy Suttie, Bridget Christie and Roisin Conaty. Chat included foreign bodies in places they shouldn’t be, the joy of shame, fast dog ejaculation, watching telly on all fours, why you should never accept a drink from Isy and a strange photo request from Roisin.

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SIM Ep 104: HDIOTB 2: What to watch in April

Fri, 20 Apr 2018 11:14:29 -0000

Hannah, Jen and Mickey talk news, reviews and the best things to watch on TV this month. This week Hannah's tackling the return of Roseanne, Idris Elba's In The Long Run and why you should never go with a hippy to a second location.

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SIM Ep 103 Pod 35: meat-pie madness, Russia, records and ta-ra Facebook

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 02:00:42 -0000

In this episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat to Russian standup Olga Koch about the state of the world right now, and wish they were as bold as Christine Robertson who quit Facebook five years ago and hasn't looked back. Mick chats to Maria Harris, owner of Tall Bird Records, about opening a record shop and what's happening for Record Store Day on April 21. Jen catches up with super-cool runner Kate Carter and gets the lowdown on becoming a marathon addict and Dunleavy Does Disney's The Emperor's New Groove and stumbles into a Sting wormhole. There's also some meat-pie madness in the Bush Telegraph and Jen has a ‘you needed to be there’ moment about a photo on Facebook. Strap in lads.

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SIM Ep 102 Pod 34: Weird pets, canal legs and #repealthe8th

Wed, 11 Apr 2018 02:00:00 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord speak to all-round brilliant woman Mara Clarke, founder of the Abortion Support Network, about the forthcoming Irish referendum on May 25 (#repealthe8th #trustwomen). TV vet and absolute smasher Dr Judy Puddifoot chats National Pet Month, #BreedToBreathe, why Hannah's cats are so weird and whether Mickey’s old boy wanted to date her, and Mick and Hannah get their canal legs and investigate living on a houseboat by drinking tea on a barge with comedian Karen Bayley and her dog Boatman Bertie. Also, Dunleavy Does Disney reaches Alice In Wonderland and Jen's got the latest from the Commonwealth Games.

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SIM Ep 101 Chops 32: beetle joy

Sun, 08 Apr 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Beetles, bugs and Blue Peter badges: our time chatting with author and all-round top bird Maya “MG” Leonard was funducational as fuck. Writing her Beetle Boy trilogy meant Maya had to gen up on the insect world and allowed her to wow team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord with tales of beetle derring do and overcoming creepy crawlies giving you the heebie-jeebies.

Also, Hannah puts her hand on a barbecue and takes her trousers off in a restaurant, Jen rescues her housemate from spiders but discovers she’s accidentally been murdering them, Mick does a terrible visual gag just perfect for podcasts and we discover what flavour of jelly is a beetle’s favourite.

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SIM Ep 100 Pod 33: Mini-beasts, mega food and not safe spaces.

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 02:00:00 -0000

Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord are back with more delightful witterings for your ears. This week, they are joined by comedian and all-round legend Jess Fostekew to talk about her new podcast Hoovering, and the joy of grub. And on a less delicious, but equally awesome note, author Maya Leonard tells us why creepy crawlies shouldn’t give us the heebie jeebies. Plus Mick catches up with amputee poet and performer Jackie Hagan to talk about her latest work, This Is Not A Safe Space.

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SIM Ep 99 Chops 31: business sense and bras with benefits

Sun, 01 Apr 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Sunday Chops time again and this week Hannah met up with award-winning businesswoman and founder of THEYA Healthcare, Ciara Donlon. They talked about how the company's bamboo bras are helping women recovering from breast cancer, as well as the hurdles for women in business, top tips for starting your own firm and Repeal The Eighth. Get stuck in.

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SIM Ep 98 Gig 26: Saunders, Caulfield and Burch

Wed, 28 Mar 2018 02:00:00 -0000

In this In Conversation, Mickey Noonan and Hannah Dunleavy had a proper marvellous time with Desiree Burch, Jo Caulfield and Jennifer Saunders. You heard us. Topics included cat wrangling, Neopolitan poo, whether there are actually any women in history and how easy it is to get chewing gum stuck in your pubes.

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SIM Ep 97 Chops 30: Impostor Phenomenon AKA who the fuck am I?

Sun, 25 Mar 2018 02:00:00 -0000

It's Sunday Chops time again and this week we've a bit more from that cracking interview with Anglia Ruskin University's Dr Terri Simpkin. We asked the expert on Impostor Phenomenon to fix Hannah and she gave it her best go. And dished out some interesting facts and handy tips while she was at it.

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SIM Ep 96 Pod 32: flying solo, disabled creatives and imposter phenomenon

Wed, 21 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord do a metric shit-tonne of learning. Seriously. Dr Terri Simpkin explains all about imposter phenomenon (and why it's not a syndrome) and cures Hannah (crikey!); career coach Sheila Chandra and actor/theatremaker Lisa Hammond, aka EastEnders' Donna Yates talk being disabled creatives, how government rhetoric, not to mention cuts, is making life harder for people with disabilities and reminisce about Grange Hill; travel writer Laura Jackson shares some corking tips for birds flying solo, and Cambridge cox Sophie Shapter talks the Boat Race. Obviously.

Jizzclowns abound in the Bush Telegraph and Netflix gets the starring role in Sexism of the Week. Also, there is A LOT of Phil Collins. Like, A LOT. Brace yourselves for Dunleavy Does Disney's Tarzan, kids – you can feel Phil coming in the air tonight. Oh lord.

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SIM Ep 95 Chops 29: coercive control

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

For this Chops, we were lucky enough to be joined by writer Helen Walmsley-Johnson, whose new memoir, Look What You Made Me Do, is a devastating account of domestic violence, specifically focusing on coercive control.

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SIM Ep 94 Bitchin' 5: Khlo-C-D

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

It's Saturday Bitchin' and this time our pal Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch is rightly furious with Khloe Kardashian calling her app to keep your house tidy Khlo-C-D. THAT'S NOT WHAT OCD IS! says Gabby – but much more articulately and with jokes about bears.

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SIM Ep 93 HDIOTB 1: good TV for your eyes

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Want to watch something excellent on the gogglebox but suffering from option paralysis? Fret ye not. Our Hannah Dunleavy bloody loves decent telly and she'll be here every third Friday of the month with recommendations of what to binge on and what to bin off.

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SIM Ep 92 Pod 31: coercive control, creative cussing and canny youths

Wed, 14 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat to author Helen Walmsley-Johnson about her new memoir, Look What You Made Me Do, a devastating but brilliant account of domestic violence and coercive control. Language enthusiast Kathy Salaman joins the team to discuss all things swearing and finally put to rest the question of whether profanity's a sign of low intelligence or being really fucking cool (place your bets now, kids), and Our Future Our Choice co-founder Lara Spirit talks about the youth campaign aiming to democratically stop Brexit.

There's ass-kicking birds, evil laughter and Trump ridiculousness in the Bush Telegraph, makeup and Kate Middleton in Sexism of the Week, sportsings in Jenny Off The Block and Dunleavy Does Disney's Up.

Oh, and though we don't usually do a warning and cuss like sailors, this week, we are particularly sweary-ass motherfuckers. Join in – it's fun!

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SIM Ep 91, Chops 28: A very smelly Mother's Day

Sun, 11 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

It's the day we celebrate mams, so we decided to ask the excellent Molly Sheridan of Reek Perfume back on the podcast for a chat with her mum – and business partner – Sara Sheridan. Heather Pearson of The Grantidote asks the questions, as Molly and Sara give us the lowdown on what it's like to be part of a smelly mother-daughter enterprise: the highs, the lows and the inter-generational differences in their respective takes on life.

Happy Mother's Day!

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SIM Ep 89 IWD 3: England rugby captain, Sarah Hunter

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Happy International Women’s Day – up the women!

To celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, we’re running a series of interviews with some kick-ass broads. Ayesha Hazarika talks to us about politics, comedy and how the two can go hand-in-hand; Laura Bates chats about her new book Misogynation and some truly startling facts and figues about everyday sexism. Historian and Newnham fellow Dr Gill Sutherland explains the important role Millicent Fawcett played in the suffrage movement and England rugby captain Sarah Hunter talks sport in general and rugby in particular.

Here’s England rugby captain Sarah Hunter with some brilliant insights into women and sport. Photo courtesy of The RFU Collection via Getty Images.

It seems exactly the right time to big up some charities doing excellent work for women, but desperately in need of your cash, should you have some to spare: Refuge, Rape Crisis, the Abortion Support Network, the Homeless Period, Women in Sport, The Samaritans and just putting a few extra items, including sanitary hygiene products, in your local food bank.

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SIM Ep 90 IWD 4: Ayesha Hazarika

Fri, 09 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Happy International Women’s Day – up the women!

Here’s political advisor-turned-standup Ayesha Hazarika telling us how women in politics are doing better than ever before but there’s still a long old way to go.

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SIM Ep 88 IWD 2: Dr Gill Sutherland on Millicent Fawcett

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Happy International Women’s Day – up the women!

Here’s Dr Gill Sutherland, historian and Newnham College fellow explaining why Millicent Fawcett was such a big suffrage deal and very different to the Pankhursts. Just a heads-up: we recorded this in a room at Newnham that turned out to be a tad echoey.

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SIM Ep 87 IWD 1: Laura Bates

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Happy International Women’s Day – up the women!

To celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, we’re running a series of interviews with some kick-ass broads. Ayesha Hazarika talks to us about politics, comedy and how the two can go hand-in-hand; Laura Bates chats about her new book Misogynation and some truly startling facts and figures about everyday sexism. Historian and Newnham fellow Dr Gill Sutherland explains the important role Millicent Fawcett played in the suffrage movement, and England rugby captain Sarah Hunter talks sport in general and rugby in particular.

Here’s author and activist Laura Bates with some jaw-dropping stats and facts on everyday sexism and more. Also, her book, the brilliantly titled Misogynation is available to buy now.

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SIM Episode 86 Pod 30: Science, stigmata and saris

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord talk to Anjali Ramachandran about her podcast Nevertheless, and the importance of getting young girls interested in STEM. Lucy Nichol tells us about her book, A Series of Unfortunate Stereotypes, which charts the stigmas surrounding mental health. And Mickey meets Rani Moorthy to learn why the sari inspired her to write a series of plays. Plus Jen's putting the case to save basketball in Jenny Off The Blocks and Dunleavy goes rogue and watches Moana without telling the others.

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SIM Ep 85 Gig 25, Carr, McNish, Monroe, Noonan & Dunleavy

Wed, 28 Feb 2018 03:00:00 -0000

Back in January, our Mickey Noonan and Hannah Dunleavy hosted an In Conversation event at Cambridge Junction. They were joined by actress and activist Liz Carr, food writer Jack Monroe, and poet and playwright Hollie McNish, They talked about licking walls, guinea pigs and dreams of being a concierge. And potatoes, lots and lots of potatoes.

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SIM Ep 84, Chops 27: Ruby Tandoh Eats Up

Sun, 25 Feb 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week, we have a Chops appropriate subject matter, as our Maddie Hickish, the erstwhile unheard member of the Standard Issue Team, meets columnist, author and one-time Great British Bake Off contender, Ruby Tandoh. They chatted about Ruby's new book, Eat Up!, the "clean eating" backlash, and the joy of food. Plus, remember Supermarket Sweep? Just WHAT can you buy for less than a tenner in a newsagent, these days? Our Maddie and Ruby find out...

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SIM Ep 83 Pod 29: Lorde, food and sex dungeons

Wed, 21 Feb 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord talk to Eve Simmons, who gives us the lowdown on Eating Disorders Awareness Week and her website, Not Plant Based. Our resident music guru, Liz Buckley puts another dime in her jukebox, baby, and chats to Mick about Lorde and the Grammys, and the very excellent Desiree Burch tells us about her show Unfuckable and working in a sex dungeon – we’ve all been there, right?

Plus the team ponder “is she fat or is she pregnant?” in Sexism of the Week, Jenny Off The Blocks gets totes emosh about Lizzy Yarnold, and Dunleavy “does” Disney’s Ratatouille.

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SIM Ep 82 Chops 26: Dunleavy meets Dolan

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 04:00:00 -0000

What's that? A bonus Sunday Chops? Our Hannah Dunleavy managed to snag half an hour with Bafta-winning actress Monica Dolan this week and here is the result, a proper good chat about her new play The B*easts, the joys of the Edinburgh Festival, playing Rose West and snogging Alan Partridge in a disabled toilet. Have at it.

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SIM Ep 81 Chops 25: Literary gems

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 03:00:00 -0000

It's two for the price of one on Chops this week. This plate is a pile of delicious reading, as suggested by Anne Miller, our books expert, QI elf and all-round top bird. She brought three books into the studio: Lucy Mangan's Bookworm, Joanna Cannon's Three Things About Elsie and Gail Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. The chat also includes tales of Hannah's hunts for land-based smugglers, Mick's adventures with fighty mice and the joyous image of pensioners at the Whitby Goth Weekender. If you need us, we'll be pushing hard on the back of a wardrobe with hope in our eyes and Narnia in our heart.

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SIM Ep 80 Pod 28: books, film, money and sport

Wed, 14 Feb 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week, Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord find out just how loyal you should be with your cash (and how much inertia is costing us) thanks to more solid nous from our personal finance expert Vix Leyton, whose advice is always bang on the money. Anne Miller gives Mickey and Hannah the gen on what books to read right now, and our human film guide Yosra Osman shares her cinematic must-sees as Oscar season gets underway.

Jenny Off The Blocks is all over the Olympics, Dunleavy Does Disney's The Black Cauldron, and a meaty Sexism of the Week nearly makes our Offord shit a lung, laughing.

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SIM Ep 78 Pod 27: newsing, casting and living with MS

Wed, 07 Feb 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week, Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat to Miss L about the acting industry and @proresting, her Twitter timeline raising awareness of casting call bullshit. Comedian Angela Barnes talks Newsjack and how to write satirical comedy in an era where the news itself has jumped the shark, and journalist Nadine McBay offers a beautiful, lyrical insight into living with Multiple Sclerosis. Jen's letting off steam about grid girls and general sexist nonsense in sport and Dunleavy does Disney's Chicken Little. Sweet fancy Christ. Oh and there's slurping. Joyously noisy slurping.

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SIM Ep 77 Chops 23: Alison Inman on social housing and domestic abuse

Sun, 04 Feb 2018 03:00:00 -0000

The awesome Alison Inman, president of the Chartered Institute of Housing and all-round top bird, joined the team to chat about social housing, how the lack of it affects women (particularly those in abusive relationships), and what can be done to help. Come on you YIMBYs!

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SIM Ep 76 Gig 24: Lindsay, Enright, Millican and Dunleavy

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation..., Hannah Dunleavy and Sarah Millican chat with Sally Lindsay and Jo Enright about the best shit daytime telly, birthday epidurals, boiling tea-bags in a kettle and being the shape of a Brown Owl.

Recorded at Leamington Spa Comedy Festival, October 2017.

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SIM Ep 75 Chops 22: A Woman Lived Here

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this week's Chops, Allison Vale stuns Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord into almost silence with fascinating tales of women's derring do and achievements. The stories are taken from Allison's new book, A Woman Lived Here, which charts London's remarkable women and the reasons they deserve a blue plaque.

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SIM Ep 74 Bitchin' 4: the MeToo backlash

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

It's Saturday Bitchin' and this time our Mick needs to vent about the (inevitable) backlash to the #MeToo movement. But don't worry, she's also solved the problem of the patriarchy – as long as no one (Hannah) gets too distracted by David Bowie's crotch, Friends or He-Man.

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SIM Ep 73 Pod 26: Female parts, medical musicals, and historical broads

Wed, 24 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord have a good old natter with Hoxton Hall's Artistic Director Karena Johnson about the theatre's new season, Female Parts, Mickey has a chat with Bryony Kimmings about cancer - namely her show, The Pacifist's Guide to the War on Cancer, and we get giddy over story time with Allison Vale, who's talking about her excellent book A Woman Lived Here. Elsewhere, Sarah's answering your life questions, Jen has some thoughts on the best position to play in netball, Dunleavy "does" Disney's Basil The Great Mouse Detective, and the team wonder - just how bad are they at being feminists?

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SIM Ep 72 Pod 25: magic slippers, science, repeal the 8th and sheep

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week, skint AF team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord get some tips from consumer queen Vix Leyton about tapping into cash you didn't think you had, Aoife Moore talks Repeal the 8th and how we can all help and Dr Suze Kundu gives us the lowdown on women in science. Bogeys are in, out and all over the shop in Sarah's SMQT, Jen chats a load of isms happening in sport and Dunleavy Does Disney's Toy Story.

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SIM Ep 71 Chops 20: Fitness for the Uninitiated

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

It's a Chops with a bit of a difference this week as our excellent @inspireajen inspires a you. Jen bloody loves her sportsings, but it wasn't always that way. She talks a bit about how and why her attitude to being active changed and chats to Sport England's Kate Dale about the need for #ThisGirlCan and fitness instructor Wendy Ambrose-Green about how you're never too old, unfit or shy to get into sport. Our Mick is trying to get back into running and shares a few pointers on how to love your trainers again, and, talking of trainers, Jen has the lowdown on bits of kit that are important to get right (tits and feet, pals, tits and feet).

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SIM Ep 70 Bitchin' 3: Toby Young

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

It's Saturday Bitchin' and our Hannah's getting her tits in a twist again. Know who'd probably tweet about that? Toby (fucking) Young, Titmaster General and all-round ridiculous egg. Since we recorded this, he's stepped down from the Office for Students, presumably to concentrate on tweeting about the lady lumps, but there are many MANY reasons he should never have got the role in the first place. Over to you, Dunleavy.

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SIM Ep 69 Pod 24: This Girl Can, sorting shit, telly and frogs

Wed, 10 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord get back on the news trail, Karen Campbell shares some tips on how to get your shit together on all life fronts and Dotty Winters gives us the lowdown on surviving self-employment. Hannah's back Outside The Box, with a host of excellent TV programmes to get you through January's dark nights and sad bank balance, Jen chats to Sport England's Kate Dale about This Girl Can, Sarah's comparing her dog and her husband and Dunleavy Does Disney's The Princess and the Frog.

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SIM 68 Gig 23: Fostekew, Raeside, Maguire and Millican

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation..., Mickey Noonan and Sarah Millican chat with Jessica Fostekew, Grainne Maguire and Julia Raeside about Don Draper, Hillary Clinton, throwing bricks at TVs and that time the Queen got well excited about cows.

Recorded at Hen & Chickens, London, on September 19, 2017.

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SIM Ep 67 Gig 22: James, Bhaskar, Allen, Osman and Millican

Wed, 03 Jan 2018 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation..., Hannah Dunleavy and Sarah Millican chat with... men. That's right. Gender inequality is shit for everyone so for International Men's Day, we did a one-off In Conversation with bona fide blokes Elis James, Richard Osman, Sanjeev Bhaskar and Tom Allen. Topics include reading reviews, catching trains, never being able to finish the Internet and Pinterest, the place of dreams.

Recorded at The Shaw Theatre, London, on November 19.

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SIM Ep 66 Gig 21: Beacham, Frances-White, Moyes, Jones and Millican

Wed, 27 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation..., Hannah Dunleavy and Sarah Millican chat with Stephanie Beacham, Suranne Jones, Jojo Moyes and Deborah Frances-White about getting sacked in front of John McEnroe, first dates, disasters at nativity plays and how we should all just be a lot more like Stephanie Beacham.

Recorded at Leicester Square Theatre on December 14, 2017.

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SIM Ep 65 Pod 23: women of the year, consumer rights, homelessness and local newspapers

Wed, 20 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord talk to consumer rights queen Vix Leyton about what's what when it comes to shopping and returns (and bad hairdressing experiences), and journalist Alice Hutton explains why we should all give a shit about the slow death of local newspapers. Jen chats to filmmaker and activist Daisy May Hudson about Half Way, her award-nominated documentary about hidden homelessness, and our Sarah tells us about her brilliant #joinin campaign that takes place every Christmas Day. The team also share their picks for Women of the Year and Dunleavy Does... well, she doesn't.

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SIM Ep 64 Chops 19: Sarah Millican on How To Be Champion

Sun, 17 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

As part of our Sarah's book tour, Hannah caught up with her in Cambridge for a chat about all sorts of stuff from confidence to class, as well as some questions from the audience. Lovely stuff.

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SIM Ep 63 Gig 20: Phillips, Ryan, Jones and Millican

Sat, 16 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation..., Mickey Noonan and Sarah Millican chat with Jess Phillips MP, Katherine Ryan and Alex Jones about massive babies, stand-up poos, exploding seagulls, adorable feet and the fear of potential Frankencunt.

Recorded at Leicester Square Theatre on November 5, 2017.

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SIM Ep 62 Pod 22: Pass-agg Christmas, banging tunes and being alone no more

Wed, 13 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord get some excellent pass-agg Christmas gifts ideas from comedy writer Sarah Morgan that'll piss off your homophobic uncle while putting cash in various charities' coffers – win! Music guru Liz Buckley talks to Mick about her favourite albums of 2017, and Dannie Grufferty, co-ordinator of The Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness, tells the team all about the commission and how we can help people suffering from loneliness. Our Sarah gets her Doctor Doolittle on in #SMQT, Jen's talking cheats and victories in Jenny Off The Blocks and Dunleavy Does Disney's The Jungle Book. Which may or may not descend into cat impressions.

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SIM Ep 61 Chops 18: 2017's films of the year

Sun, 10 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

This week our Hannah and Jen are joined by resident film buff, Yosra Osman to talk films of the year. They had a good old natter about Oscar gaffes, monkeys in dystopian societies and the loveliness of Jamie Bell.

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SIM Ep 60 Bonuscast: Outside the Box 2017

Sat, 09 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Crikey chiefs, it's only a bloody bonuscast. Our Hannah has been selflessly watching all of the best telly (well, as much of it as she can squeeze into her eyes) and here shares what pleased her most in 2017 in a special end of year Outside the Box.

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SIM Ep 59 Pod 21: magic, movies and "making luuuurve"

Wed, 06 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Brace yourself Maureen, I'm coming in. Or at least that's what it becomes clear comedian Maureen Younger would love for Outlander's Jamie Fraser to whisper, as team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord discover while MY and fellow comic Jen Brister (that's right, she of the literally shitty caravan experience) tell them all about what inspires their podcast, Droughtlander. Film buff Yosra Osman discusses the cinematic highs of 2017 with Hannah and Jen, and Fiona Longmuir's talks 20 years of Harry Potter and the enduring power of magic. Also, Sarah's using athlete's foot cream in places it's not meant for, and Dunleavy Does Peter Pan. It's a pure belter.

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SIM Ep 58 Chops 17: Margaret Cho interview

Sun, 03 Dec 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Filthy, lurid and with no-punches-pulled, Korean-American comedian Margaret Cho is out of rehab and back on tour with her new show, Fresh Off The Bloat. She chats Weinstein, Trump, making people laugh and speaking out with Hazel Davis.

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SIM Ep 57 Gig 19: Front, Moffatt, Mok and Millican

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation..., Hannah Dunleavy and Sarah Millican chat with Rebecca Front, Scarlett Moffatt and Evelyn Mok about the circle of ice-cream life, Adele-ing in the bath, the joy of capes and light-up tree Jesus.

Recorded at Leicester Square Theatre on October 5, 2017.

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SIM Ep 56 Chops 16: Susan Wokoma talks plays, politics and, um, Star Wars

Sun, 26 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Our Jen joins Cariad Lloyd to chat to the all-round smasher Susan Wokoma about her West End debut in Labour Of Love, diversity – or rather the lack of – in entertainment, politics, and why she's C3P-No.

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SIM Ep 55 Pod 20: ending domestic violence, demanding diversity, and a full Scottish, please

Wed, 22 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

This week, Sarah Millican turns the tables and asks the listeners an important life question. Our Jen hooks up with Cariad Lloyd to chat to the excellent Susie Wokoma about Labour of Love, recognition from BAFTA and the diversity problem, Sam Wonfor talks to Catrina McHugh, artistic director of Open Clasp Theatre Company, about Key Change, the company's play being used by the UN to highlight the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Nov 25), and our resident Scot in England, Dotty Winters, offers some tips on celebrating St Andrew's Day. All this, the usual good stuff AND a bonus side of square sausage courtesy of Dunleavy doing Disney's Brave. Strap in lads, we might have found one she likes.

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SIM Ep 54 Chops 14: Libby Liburd, Muvvahood and the shit single mums get

Sun, 19 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Team Dunleavy, Noonan and Offord chat to excellent actor, writer and activist Libby Liburd about her one-woman play Muvvahood, which looks at being a single mum and societal attitudes towards parents having to do it on their own – for whatever reason. Spoiler: a lot of attitudes towards single mums still suck a dog's balls.

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SIM Ep 53 Bitchin' 2: fireworks

Sat, 18 Nov 2017 13:53:43 -0000

It's Saturday Bitchin' and our Hannah's getting her tits in a twist again. This time, out-of-time fireworks are on the receiving end of the Dunleavy wrath. And rightly so. Also, no one needs to be in the opening scenes of an episode of Casualty, right?

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SIM Ep 52 Pod 19: Muvvahood, Mothers, and Icelandic pop powerhouses

Wed, 15 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

This week Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord catch up with writer, actor and activist Libby Liburd (@LibbyLiburd) about her play Muvvahood and life as a single mother in Britain today. Mick has a natter with Liz Buckley (@Liz_Buckley) about everyone's favourite Icelandic popster, Bjork, and catches up with Amanda F*cking Palmer (@Amandapalmer) about her latest release, Mother. Sarah's all over your life questions in SMQT, Jen is wanging on about sport and Hannah "does" Disney's Dumbo. Sharp intake of breaths all round.

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SIM Ep 51 Chops 13: The year in Trump

Sun, 12 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

A year on from DJT winning the US election, team Dunelavy, Offord and Noonan chat to standup and bonafide American Taylor Glenn about the lows and hi... well, the lows of this hellish trip to Trumpton. Sweet fancy Moses, it's a shitehawks situation?

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SIM Ep 50 Pod 18: Top Trumpings, war poetry and socks on the loose

Wed, 08 Nov 2017 03:00:57 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat to comedian and bonafide American Taylor Glenn (@TaylorGlennUK) about the past year of Trump *shudder*. Ahead of Remembrance Day, poet, performer, writer and fighter Lisa Luxx (@LisaLuxx_) talks to us about the importance and vitality of war poetry giving people a voice as she plans her trip to Lebanon to become a war poet herself. Sarah's dealing with socks on the loose in #SMQT, Jen's dealing with shitbiscuits in the FA and Dunleavy's losing the will to live during Disney's Tangled. Trying times. But we can all agree that Snoop Dogg doing the commentary for Planet Earth is the shizz, right? Right.

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SIM Ep 49 Chops 12: Go on stress – do one.

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat to Katya Jezzard-Puyraud and Liz Axham, aka LightHearts UK about stress and how to deal with that prick, as well as canny ways to look after your mental health and get a calmer brain.

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SIM Ep 48 Pod 17: griefing, stressing and hunching

Wed, 01 Nov 2017 03:00:00 -0000

This week, team Noonan, Dunleavy and Offord chat to Katya Jezzard-Puyraud and Liz Axham, aka LightHearts UK about stress (Nov 1 is National Stress Awareness Day), how to deal with it and canny ways to look after your mental health. Jen is ALL about the talking, catching up with Cariad Lloyd to find out about her excellent podcast Griefcast, and also having a natter with British film writer and producer Isabelle Stead to find out about her new film The Journey, which follows a woman who's also a would-be suicide bomber. And our Sarah's back answering one of your life questions. It involves seals and Joan Collins.

There's all the usual hot stuff, too, including lust and punishment in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, indicating Disney got a proper fire in its pants in the 1990s. Is Dunleavy impressed? Place your bets.

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SIM Ep 47 Chops 11: Black History Month with Rebecca Solomon

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Teacher Rebecca Solomon chats with our Mickey about Black History Month how it's handled – or more accurately, not really handled – in education, black British history, role models and why people need to stop touching her hair (spoiler: because it's weird and rude).

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SIM Ep 46 Gig 18: Calman, Samms, Earl and Millican

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Mickey Noonan and Sarah Millican chat with Susan Calman, Emma Samms and Rae Earl about Strictly, glitter all over the shop, uppers and downers of the arse, what 10cc is a measurement of and the cheering properties – or not – of a Mr Potato Head .Recorded at the Cheltenham Comedy Festival on September 18, 2017.#TeamCalmanAll of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast, as well as other hosting sites.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations, our podzine, and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for an archive of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 45 Chops 10: Damn Rebel Bitches unite

Sun, 22 Oct 2017 02:00:00 -0000

Molly Sheridan, co-founder of REEK perfume, makeup artist and self-proclaimed 'smelly bitch', came into the studio to talk about the beauty industry and whether it can ever be feminist. And just so you know: she smelt lush.

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SIM Ep 43 Chops 9: Gem Turner on disability, fashion, makeup and sex

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 03:00:00 -0000

Hannah and Mick took a trip to Pontefract to chat with the absolutely excellent Gem Turner. Gem's blog, Style and Disability (gemturner.com), recently bagged her a Diversity in Media Award. She chatted about fashion, makeup, barriers, disability, sex and her work with Enhance the UK (@Enhancetheuk), and not noticing Big Dris at the big do.

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SIM Ep 42 Chops 8: Rae Earl and It's All In Your Head

Sun, 15 Oct 2017 02:00:00 -0000

Writer, comedian and author Rae Earl was a panel guest at our Cheltenham gig in September so our Mickey snaffled half an hour with her beforehand to chat about her new book, It's All In Your Head: A Guide To Getting Your Sh*t Together. Well, that was the plan. The conversation quickly went rogue, taking in everything from mental health to mooncups, Ghostbusters to Michael Palin's duty to be a bigamist. Lovely stuff.

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SIM Ep 41 Pod 15: mixed-up minds, diversity wins and stationary royals

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 02:00:00 -0000

This week, the ebullient Rae Earl tells our Mickey about her new book, It's All In Your Head: A Guide To Getting Your Sh*t Together, and bigs up mental health for all. In an empty ballroom of all places. Diversity in Media Award-winning blogger Gem Turner chats to Hannah and Mickey about the importance of talking about disability, as well as her work with Enhance the UK. And of course all your usual favourites, including a corking sports piece from Jen, and Sarah Millican is IN THE ROOM as Dunleavy does Sleeping Beauty. Now how do you think that worked out for the film?

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SIM Ep 40 Chops 7: Sarah Millican and How To Be Champion

Sun, 08 Oct 2017 02:00:00 -0000

Our Sarah Millican’s only gone and written a bloody book, the clever little shit! How To Be Champion came out on October 5. Here in the full Chops, Mickey chats to Standard Issue’s glorious founder about meat buckets, not-Chinese burns and tips for being champion even when life's being a prick. Oh, and her book. Obviously. THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast.

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SIM Ep 39 Bitchin' 1: Brexit

Sat, 07 Oct 2017 02:00:00 -0000

Sometimes the world gets properly on our tits and we need to let off a bit of verbal steam. Plus we had an excellent name that we really wanted to use, so we made up another slice of bonus podcasting goodness in order to do so.Welcome, dear listeners to... Saturday Bitchin'.This week, our Hannah gets a right cob on about monumental political, economical and indeed sensical* clusterfuck that is Brexit.*Yes, that's a word.

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SIM Ep 38 Pod 14: Team Calman, being champion and POTUS picks

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 02:00:00 -0000

This week, comedian Kate McCabe gives us her possible POTUS wishlist in the wake of Oprah Winfrey 2020 rumours; Strictly smasher Susan Calman chats about being Greta Garbo among other things in a sneak peek at our forthcoming Cheltenham gigcast; and Mickey talks to our very own Sarah Millican about her brand new book How To Be Champion.Plus all your usual favourites, our Jen is chatting big changes ahead in women’s football and Hannah “does” Disney’s 101 Dalmatians.

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SIM Ep 37 Gig 17: Brown, Fairburn, Fostekew and Millican

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 02:05:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue's Hannah Dunleavy and founder Sarah Millican chat with Sarah Brown, Rachel Fairburn and Jess Fostekew about pesky Ian McKellan, Tom Fostekew, a brand new version of The Wheels on the Bus, and a new kind of detective agency.Recorded at the The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh on August 14, 2017.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast, as well as other hosting sites.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations, our podzine, and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for an archive of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 36 Gig 16: Gadsby, McDermid, Carlson and Millican

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue's Mickey Noonan and founder Sarah Millican chat with Hannah Gadsby, Urzila Carlson and Val McDermid about dogs in the SAS, what lesbians keep in their knife roll, boob sweat and a new range of car horns.Recorded at the The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh on August 13, 2017.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast, as well as other hosting sites.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations, our podzine, and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for an archive of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.And check out the cheeky Simon Munnery in the photo. What a scamp.

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SIM Ep 35 Gig 15: Colman, Godliman, Eclair and Millican

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue's Mickey Noonan and founder Sarah Millican chat with Jenny Eclair, Olivia Colman and Kerry Godliman about judging cardigans, dogs in pants, the bravest little girl in the world and Judi Dench’s bogies.

Recorded at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on September 3, 2017.

All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast, as well as other hosting sites.

ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations, our podzine, and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.

You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for an archive of ace.

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SIM Ep 34 Chops 6: Leanne Davis on Alzheimer's

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 02:00:00 -0000

September is Alzheimer's Awareness Month and in this week's podzine, Leanne Davis shared her experiences of life with her mum Eunice, who has early onset dementia. Here's the full-length piece: warm, engaging, heartfelt and a little bit devastating. THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast.

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SIM Ep 33: Chops 5: Pascoe & Lloyd on Pride and Prejudice

Sun, 24 Sep 2017 02:00:00 -0000

Ahead of the debut of Sara Pascoe's stage adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, we sent comedian, actor & Jane Austen expert Cariad Lloyd to get the lowdown. Have a listen to them chatting "Fresh eyes", the ideal proximity from the Bennett sisters on a train, and the beauty of Colin Firth in a lake.THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast.

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SIM Ep 32 Pod 13: Austen, Alzheimer's, Blondie, Bambi, and a roof-bound giraffe

Wed, 20 Sep 2017 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the podzine, Cariad Lloyd chats to Sara Pascoe about Sara's stage adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Liz Buckley joins us to chat Debbie Harry, Leanne Davis tells us about life with her mum, who has early onset dementia and Sarah's of a mind to call the zoo hotline. Over in Dunleavy Does Disney, Bambi's in the hot seat and, lawks a lordy, not one character is in Mickey or Jen's wank bank. Hannah is understandably relieved. WARNING: Contains singing. Of sorts.THE TEAM: Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy, Jen Offord and Sarah Millican.THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast.

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SIM Ep 31 Chops 4: Caitlin Brodnick and Dangerous Boobies

Sat, 16 Sep 2017 23:00:00 -0000

In this week's podzine, our Hannah spoke to American comedian and actress Caitlin Brodnick about her new book, Dangerous Boobies: Breaking Up With My Time-Bomb Breasts. In the full interview for Chops, Caitlin tells Hannah why she decided to have a preventative double mastectomy after testing positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, her relationship with her boobs and how bra shopping isn't any easier despite not having insanely large tits anymore. We hear you, Caitlin!

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SIM Ep 30 Pod 12: Scummy Mummies, whitewashing, boobs and sexy monkeys

Wed, 13 Sep 2017 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode of the podzine, Hannah and Jen chat to the brilliant Scummy Mummies, aka Helen Thorn and Ellie Gibson, and Hannah also has a chat with comedian Caitlin Brodnick about her new book, Dangerous Boobies. Yosra Osman's looking at whitewashing in film and Sarah's confused about fish. Over in Dunleavy Does Disney, Aladdin's getting all sorts of a seeing to. WARNING: Contains singing.THE TEAM: Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy, Jen Offord and Sarah Millican.THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Acast.

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SIM Ep 29: Chops 3: Jenny Off The Blocks meets Clare Balding

Sun, 10 Sep 2017 02:00:00 -0000

In this week's Podzine, our Jen met up with Clare Balding to talk about all sorts of things. In the full interview, which we present to you courtesy of the Sunday Chops, Jen and Clare have a natter about being a national treasure, exciting times ahead for women's sport and why women's football is setting the standard, as well as Clare's new children's book The Racehorse Who Disappeared. Oh, and who'd win a fight between Clare, Sue Barker and Gabby Logan.Picture credit: Bill Waters.

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SIM Ep 28: Pod 11: Clare Balding, power ballads and friends with different views

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 23:00:00 -0000

Our Jen's been all over it this week, meeting National Treasure Clare Balding and also talking to the Samaritans about World Suicide Prevention Day. Meanwhile, Sooz Kempner is talking about staying friends across a political divide and Hannah looks at some returning comedies on TV. Plus its Frozen time in Dunleavy Does Disney.

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SIM Ep 27 Gig 14: Millican, Bea, Walsh and Thornton

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 08:03:54 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue's Hannah Dunleavy and founder Sarah Millican chat with Aisling Bea, Kate Thornton and Holly Walsh about STDs, dustbusting and the ongoing beef between the badger and fox communities.Recorded at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on July 18, 2017.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssueMagazine.com/Podcasts.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations, our podzine and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter and find us on Facebook and Instagram. Or visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for an archive of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Richard Power for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 26: Chops 2: Jenny Off The Blocks Meets Judy Murray

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 00:44:14 -0000

When our Jen met Judy Murray, tennis coach extraordinaire, they did so much chatting we couldn't fit it all in our ordinary podcast.So here's the full interview for your Sunday morning listening pleasure. Or, indeed, whenever you choose to listen to it. Jen and Judy talk getting more girls into tennis and more women into coaching, as well as how you raise a world champion, or just get your kid interested in sport. And there are some tips for who to look out for at the US Open. We know, we're spoiling you.

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SIM Ep 25 Pod 10: Judy Murray, All Killa, gaming and poo-covered campervans

Wed, 23 Aug 2017 08:20:17 -0000

Crikey, it's a bumper podzine this week. Our Jen chats to coaching legend Judy Murray, Hannah and Mickey catch up with All Killa No Filla's Kiri Pritchard-McLean and Rachel Fairburn to discuss serial killers, Debra-Jane Appleby talks women and gaming and Jen Brister revisits the poo-soaked French holiday from which the shame stench still lingers. There's all the usual stuff, too, with The Bush Telegraph, Sexism of the Week, our Sarah sorting some life questions and Pocahontas in the hot seat for Dunleavy Does Disney.THE TEAM: Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy, Jen Offord and Sarah Millican.THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 24: Chops 1: Big mad swim and kicking anxiety with Paula McGuire

Sun, 20 Aug 2017 09:13:13 -0000

An extra slice of our Jen's weekly sports section, Jenny Off The Blocks. In this week's podzine, Jen chatted to Paula McGuire, a self-professed "recluse turned adventurer".In the full interview, Jen and Paula chat about the power of sport to change lives, mental health and a shared love of bonkers challenges.Paula battled against anxiety and mental health issues to become an unlikely sporting hero and now hopes to become the first ever person to swim the coast of mainland Britain.Find out more about Paula's Big Mad Swim around Britain at: http://www.paulamusttryharder.co.uk/the-big-mad-swim-around-britain/Read about Jen's US roadtrip on Beyonce (the bike, not the person) in our archive: http://standardissuemagazine.com/health/burn-in-the-usa/

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SIM Ep 23 Pod 9: TV women, Bond and a big mad swim around Britain

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 08:13:12 -0000

In this week's podzine, our sportsing Jen met up with Paula McGuire, a properly inspiring woman who's about to embark on an incredible swimming challenge. Mickey's been shaken but not stirred (or maybe a bit stirred) by some Bond anniversaries and Hannah's looking at the best performances by women on TV this year so far. Our Sarah is all about the etiquette in this week’s SMQT and joins us for Dunleavy Does Disney, where we take a look at Lady and the Tramp. Woof. THE TEAM: Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy, Jen Offord and Sarah Millican.THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 22 Pod 8: puppets, footer and anxiety

Wed, 09 Aug 2017 07:59:52 -0000

Howdy partners! In this week's podzine, Taylor Glenn looks at the pros and cons of 'sharenting', Andrea Hubert talks about anti-semitism in the media, Lucy Nichol shares her top tips on dealing with anxiety and Lou Conran celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh Fringe. Also, it turns out The Mooch is out, boobs are back and bed-wetting 1990s bands might yet have a gig. Our Sarah's watching Christmas movies and The Rock, Jen's talking football and money and we get to imagine a tiny Hannah in earphones in Dunleavy Does Disney, which this week tackles Pinocchio.THE TEAM: Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy, Jen Offord and Sarah Millican.THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 21 Gig 13: Millican, Tarbuck, Street-Porter and Taylor

Wed, 02 Aug 2017 08:24:58 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue's Hannah Dunleavy and founder Sarah Millican chat with Liza Tarbuck, Janet Street Porter and Ellie Taylor about luck, other people's shopping baskets and extreme fishing with JSP.Recorded at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on July 18, 2017.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssueMagazine.com/Podcasts.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations, our podzine and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for an archive of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 20 Pod 7: Fringing like a boss, classic sitcoms and feminist weddings.

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 08:15:15 -0000

In this week’s podzine, Edinburgh Fringe expert Hazel Davis is sharing her top tips on how to make the most of the festival; our Hannah tells you why you should give a shit about classic sitcom Roseanne; Rosie Wilby is talking breakups, and Sarah Ledger tells us how and why her daughter Jessie had a feminist wedding. Our Sarah is musing pets and pants in this week’s SMQT, Jen gets us up to speed on the women’s Euros and why everyone’s talking about Jodie Taylor and Dunleavy Does Disney’s The Fox and the Hound.THE TEAM: Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy, Jen Offord and Sarah Millican.The ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com. You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 19 Pod 6: Jess Phillips, Latitude and Doctor Who's a what now?

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 08:38:05 -0000

In this episode of the podzine, Mickey chats to all-round top broad Jess Phillips MP, Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch talks new Doctor Who, Yosra Osman tells us what's hot in the cinema and Daisy Leverington shares some tips on coping with the summer holidays. There’s a mini gigcast from our stint at Latitude, with Deborah Frances-White and Susie Wokoma, our Sarah gets some more of your life questions answered, Jen gives us the lowdown on cricket, football and lacrosse and Dunleavy Does Disney’s The Rescuers with surprising Dunleavy results.Parts of the podzine were recorded live at Latitude.THE TEAM: Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy, Jen Offord and Sarah Millican.THE ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings.We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com.You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 18 Pod 5: getting shit done, Arlene Foster and bald miners

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:24:23 -0000

In this episode of the podzine, Jen Offord chats to Jane Austen enthusiast and all-round smasher Cariad Lloyd, Aoife Moore talks the DUP, politics in Northern Ireland and what it all means for women and Dotty Winters has some kick-ass tips for Georgey Boy Osborne on how to multi-task like a boss. Our Sarah answers not one, but two very important life questions, Jen gives us the lowdown on Wimbledon and the forthcoming Euros and Dunleavy Does Disney’s Snow White.ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings.We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com.You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 17 Gig 12: Moyet, Lyons, Scanlan, Syal and Millican

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 08:01:00 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue editor Mickey Noonan and founder Sarah Millican chat with Alison Moyet, Joanna Scanlan, Meera Syal and Zoe Lyons about goats, rose-sniffing, the time Jane Austen spent in 1970s Wolverhampton and when it's no one else's business if you're going for a 10:1.Recorded at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on June 27, 2017.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssueMagazine.com/Podcasts.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations, our podzine and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for an archive of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 16 Pod 4: Ancestor chasing, the perfect brew and unhelpful wangs

Wed, 28 Jun 2017 07:57:27 -0000

In this episode of the podzine, Jess Fostekew tells us how to do fancy dan outdoor dining, Hannah Dunleavy chats geneaology with Karen Clare from Family Tree Magazine ahead of the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? and Anneka Harry gives us the lowdown on where the UK’s at with LGBTQ+ rights. Our Sarah answers a very important question and Dunleavy Does Disney’s The Little Mermaid.Parts of this episode were recorded at the Harwich Arts Festival. ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings.We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com.You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 15 Pod 3: festivals, PDAs, Japanese love pillows and bibbidi-bobbidi-eww

Wed, 21 Jun 2017 07:59:42 -0000

It’s episode three of our podcast and it’s a jam-packed, sequin-strewn corker. And yeah, that’s bragging, but seriously: the ridicu-funny Kiri Pritchard-McLean gives us the lowdown on how to rule at doing festivals, Ashley Davies has some tips on the social PDAs best avoided if you’re slightly uptight/a normal human being and our Mickey Noonan chats to comedian, broadcaster and guilty feminist, Deborah Frances-White. Sarah Millican’s back answering another hot question (this one from one of you lovely lot) and the team – Mickey, Jen and Hannah – decide whether Disney’s original Cinderella is bibbidi-bobbidi-boo or bibbidi-boobidi-eww. Go on, hazard a guess. ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings.We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com.You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 14 Pod 2: A magazine for ears

Wed, 14 Jun 2017 08:10:57 -0000

In this episode, we share our thoughts on the ongoing political shitblizzard in The Bush Telegraph, Dunleavy 'doing' The Lion King, Sarah Millican's Question Time, a roundup of what to watch on the box this summer, a chat with a genuine American about poisonous hairball Donald Trump and a surprise guest spot from a furry pal.ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings.We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com.You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram.All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 13 Pod 1: A magazine for ears

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 06:46:58 -0000

In our first episode, we chat to founder Sarah Millican, Jen Brister tells us about being 'the other mother', film buffs Yosra Osman and Day Moibi talk black cinema in 2017 and the team – Mickey Noonan, Hannah Dunleavy and Jen Offord – chat about women's issues in GE2017 and kick off Dunleavy Does Disney. Nope, not the weirdest porn film you've never seen, but rather our brilliant dep ed tackling Disney films with logic, feminism and funnies to see how they fare. This week, Beauty and the Beast.ADMIN: Our music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton, all rights reserved. Thanks to David Young, Mary Young and John Clare for their help with the stings. We have an archive full of excellent articles at www.standardissuemagazine.com.You can write to us at mailbag@standardissuemagazine.com, follow us on Twitter at @StandardIssueUK or find us on Facebook and Instagram. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and Podomatic.

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SIM Ep 12: Perkins, Ball, Lloyd and Millican

Tue, 23 May 2017 08:00:20 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue editor Mickey Noonan and founder Sarah Millican chat with Sue Perkins, Zoe Ball and Cariad Lloyd about skin babies, magicians' assistants, life after sponge and tickling the Pope's balls. #sweetmeatsRecorded at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on May 1, 2017. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssueMagazine.com/Podcasts. ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads. You can keep up with all of our podcasts by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or just visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for a whole archive of ace. Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 11: Coren-Mitchell, Hynes, Morgan, Millican

Thu, 20 Apr 2017 11:51:03 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue deputy editor Hannah Dunleavy and founder Sarah Millican chat with Victoria Coren-Mitchell, Jessica Hynes and Diane Morgan about shoe shops, lucid dreams and how The Rock handles a woman’s kittens.Recorded at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on March 27, 2017. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssueMagazine.com/Podcasts. ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads. You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or just visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for a whole magazine of ace. Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing. Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 10: Hart, Giedroyc, Tiernan and Millican

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 08:21:47 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation…, Standard Issue editor Mickey Noonan and founder Sarah Millican chat with Miranda Hart, Mel Giedroyc and Eleanor Tiernan about stationery, piles and being down with the kids. Warning: contains audio yoga. Recorded at the Leicester Square Theatre, London on February 14, 2017. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssueMagazine.com/Podcasts.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads. You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or just visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for a whole magazine of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing.Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 9: Hill, Ward, Dunleavy and Millican

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:51:53 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation with..., Standard Issue, deputy editor Hannah Dunleavy and our glorious founder Sarah Millican chat with Danielle Ward and Jane Hill about the perils of doughnuts and where not to put your nipple. Recorded at the Firebug, Leicester on February 11, 2017, as part of the Leicester Comedy Festival. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssueMagazine.com/Podcasts.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads. You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or just visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for a whole magazine of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing.Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 8: Winkleman, Toksvig, Horgan and Millican

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 12:16:23 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation with..., Standard Issue, editor Mickey Noonan and our glorious founder Sarah Millican chat with Sandi Toksvig, Claudia Winkleman and Sharon Horgan about death by gentleman’s junk, feminism, disrespecting Africa, and life lessons from Sheila Hancock. Recorded at Leicester Square Theatre on January 11, 2017. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssuemagazine.com/Podcasts.ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads. You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or just visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for a whole magazine of ace.Thanks to Jen Offord for organising the event and Maddie Hickish for pressing record and editing.Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Barry Hilton. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 7: Brand, Burke and Millican

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 10:23:20 -0000

In this episode of In Conversation with..., Standard Issue, deputy editor Hannah Dunleavy and our glorious founder Sarah Millican chat with Jo Brand and Kathy Burke about the shitshow that's been 2016, perfect gifts for your partner and the optimum number of times to be called Brenda. Recorded at Leicester Square Theatre on November 20, 2016. All of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssuemagazine.com/Podcasts ADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes, including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads. You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter or find us on Facebook. Or just visit www.standardissuemagazine.com for a whole magazine of ace.Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Michelle Imbierski. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 6: French, Millican, Walsh and Kendall

Thu, 29 Sep 2016 15:14:12 -0000

Hey there excellent people, In this episode of In Conversation with..., Standard Issue editor Mickey Noonan and our glorious founder Sarah Millican chat with Dawn French – that's right, Dawn bloody French! – Sarah Kendall and Holly Walsh about traffic, bosoms and dog-toy dildos. Warning: contains impressions.Recorded during 2016's Cheltenham Comedy Festival. www.standardissuemagazine.comAll of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssuemagazine.com/PodcastsADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads. You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter.Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Michelle Imbierski. All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 5: Millican, Brand and Pritchard-McLean

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 22:12:16 -0000

Hey there lovelies,In this episode of In Conversation with..., Standard Issue editor Mickey Noonan chats with our glorious founder Sarah Millican, excellent actor and standup Katy Brand and brilliant comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean about dogs in wheelchairs, BBQ boobs and what an 11-year-old sees as the perks of being a prison chaplain.Recorded at The Stand during 2016's Edinburgh Fringe Festival.www.standardissuemagazine.comAll of our podcasts are available on iTunes and directly from StandardIssuemagazine.com/PodcastsADMIN! Just a quick reminder to please rate, review and subscribe to ALL our podcasts on iTunes including previous In Conversations and fortnightly geek girl celebration Strong Female Leads.You can keep up with all our articles, news and reviews by following @StandardIssueUK on Twitter.Our In Conversation theme music was composed and recorded by Michelle Imbierski.All rights reserved.

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SIM Ep 4: Suttie, Annette and Pritchard-McLean

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 16:10:30 -0000

Isy Suttie, Amy Annette and Kiri Pritchard-McLean chat with Standard Issue editor Mickey Noonan at Mach Fest, 2016.

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SIM Ep 3: Calman, Caulfield and Millican

Wed, 04 May 2016 08:58:59 -0000

Highlights from Standard Issue In Conversation at Glasgow Comedy Festival 2016. Our Editor Mickey Noonan wrangles a panel of brilliant, smart and hilarious women as they talk about feminism, gravy and hammers. Featuring Sarah Millican, Jo Caulfield and Susan Calman.

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SIM Ep 2: Pascoe, Conaty, Caulfield and Kennedy

Wed, 30 Mar 2016 07:17:56 -0000

Highlights from Standard Issue In Conversation at Dave's Leicester Comedy Festival 2016. Our Editor Mickey Noonan wrangles a panel of brilliant, smart and hilarious women as they talk about feminism, writing and poo. Featuring Sara Pascoe, Jo Caulfield, Roisin Conaty and Emma Kennedy.

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SIM Ep 1: Donkeys and Elephants – the US Primaries

Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:53:44 -0000

Welcome to the Standard Issue podcast. Here we get smart, funny women together and let them have a good old natter. This week Hannah Dunleavy, Kate McCabe and Sarah Millican are talking about the US primaries, covering everything from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to Smurfette and Mr Whippy.

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