I have written before about podcasts, which are becoming more ubiquitous by the day. Whether you’re travelling, doing the gardening or just fancy some background entertainment, podcasts are easily available to listen to on your smartphone or smart speaker, and are free, with thankfully a minimum of advertisements. Here are four of my favourites for you to consider.
Blindboy Podcast
I’ll start with the one which is most difficult to classify: The Blindboy Podcast. The presenter, Blindboyboatclub, to give him his full name, is an Irishman – formerly a member of a band the Rubberbandits – who keeps his anonymity preserved by wearing a plastic bag on his head. Every Wednesday, for the past few years, he releases an hour or so of material on whatever topic that interests him – his so-called “hot takes”.
Recent episodes include “A psychosexual history of digestive biscuits and their use as instruments of physical force republicanism” and “The history of the English working class with Professor Carl Chinn”. His podcasts are – and there is no way I can avoid the stereotypical imagery here – like listening to an erudite Irishman several pints in, holding forth in a pub in Southern Ireland. Strong language will abound, humour is ever-present, and he will take you on a journey anywhere and everywhere. Alternatively, he might read you one of his short stories – he’s a published author as well.
In his own words, “Childhood curiosity has never left me” and, since the podcast began in 2017, his unique – and it truly is unique – content means that he now has over a million listeners, although as he is keen to point out, he is sponsored by no-one, which means that if wants to devote an entire episode to the inside of a tennis ball, he will do. Like the yeast-based product used as a spread, you will either love his work or hate it, but if you love it, there are seven years’ worth of episodes you can catch up with.
Hardcore History
Someone equally erudite, but much more focused, is Dan Carlin, whose “Hardcore History” series has been running since before the word “podcast” was even invented (the first episode came out in 2006). That first episode was 16 minutes long; the latest one released in November last year came in at over 6 hours. Carlin, a former journalist, is not, as he states, a professional historian, but he is fascinated by history, and has the ability to narrate history in a way which makes it relatable to the modern day: when covering the Greco-Persian wars, he muses on what it might do to the human psyche to have to – thanks to the limitations of the weapons of the day – basically carve up your enemy in front of you rather than to dispatch them, as one would today, from some distance away by pulling a trigger or pressing a button.
Carlin’s podcasts have accompanied me on many a long journey, and it has been like having a friend, with a great enthusiasm for, and interest in history, explain and narrate it to me with such panache that hours spent listening to him are a pleasure.
Millions of listeners agree with me; so if you want to find out why, I recommend you listen to one of his self-contained episodes, “The Destroyer of Worlds” which, years before the release of “Oppenheimer”, talks about the early years of the Nuclear Age. Did you know that the pacifist, Bertrand Russell, once advocated a pre-emptive nuclear strike on Russia? This, and much more, is contained within that self-contained episode, and if you enjoy it, I urge you to then go onto tackle the six-part “Blueprint for Armageddon”, his masterpiece, which covers World War One. Hopefully, you have many hours of listening to enjoy.
It could be argued that since the demise of “Parkinson”, the celebrity interview which focuses on a sole person, and gives them space to tell their story, has entered a decline, with a multiple-guests format used by Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton. My next two recommendations buck that trend.
Out to Lunch
Firstly, there is “Out to Lunch”.
Originally hosted by Jay Rayner, the format is simple: the interviewer (currently Ade Edmonson) takes a famous person out to lunch, and over food and drinks, gets them to tell their story. Whether musician (Chrissie Hynde), actor (Richard E Grant), author (Ian Rankin), comedian or cook, the episodes, generally clock in at under the hour, won’t win any awards for investigative journalism, but foster a sense of intimacy, as if you were sitting at the table with them.
Rockonteurs
“Rockonteurs” is more specialised: an interview by musicians with musicians. Gary Kemp was, of course, one of the 80s group “Spandau Ballet”, but is of late performing with his co-host, Guy Pratt, and Nick Mason, drummer of Pink Floyd, in his band which re-creates early Floyd classics.
Pratt, bass player extraordinaire, has plucked the strings with everyone from Michael Jackson to Madonna to Roxy Music and indeed Pink Floyd themselves. Thanks to their musical pedigrees and, it has to be said, longevity, their knowledge of music over the past 50 years is encyclopaedic, and after they exchange some banter – thankfully not too “laddish” – they then speak to guests such as Mark Knopfler, Trevor Horn, Noddy Holder, and Jimmy Webb about their lives and musical legacy. Lasting just over an hour, time is given to explore the background behind the most famous pieces of music of the last 60 years, and their combined knowledge of “the industry” means they are able to relate to their interviewees and get more from them than a journalist would. Highly recommended.
Events taking place this weekend (tickets available at time of writing):
Cambridgeshire:
Cambridge Philharmonic – Magic of the Movies. Music from Star Wars and other films. Sat 18 May 16:00 & 20:00. West Road Concert Hall. Tickets from £15
Norfolk:
Pain & Struggle – Norwich exhibition of Ukrainian war photographs by serving master sergeant, Roman Naumov.
Open 11:00– 16:00 Monday to Saturday throughout May. Free entry. Location: Prospect House, Rouen Rd, Norwich NR1 1RE
Norfolk and Norwich Festival Free performances the city centre and throughout Norfolk. Runs until 26 May. Full programme here.
Crab & Lobster Festival – Art trail, stalls, concert, auction and much more. Fri 17 – Sat 18 May, Cromer & Sheringham.
Suffolk:
Sae Wylfings: Anglo Saxon Living History at Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge. 18 & 19 May 10:00–16:00. With craft displays and warriors to chat with, there’s something for all ages and interests. Activities will include weaving, combat display and weapon demonstrations and living history. Free entry for National Trust members. Prices: Adult: £16.00 Child: £8 (Family tickets and concessions available)
Juiced Automative – celebrating the best modified, performance & custom vehicles in East Anglia and beyond. 100s of show cars, club stands, automotive traders, kids rides & bouncy castle. Sunday 19 May. Price £10 adults, children under 16 go free. Venue 16, 312 Tuddenham Road, Ipswich IP4 3QJ
Essex:
Miniature Steam Gala – Colne Valley Railway. A portable 5″ gauge railway will be in operation on site, plus unlimited rides on the standard gauge railway. 18 & 19 May, 10:30–15:00 (Site closes at 17:00). Tickets from £15 (concession and family tickets available). Castle Hedingham CO9 3DZ
Open Day at the gardens of Easton Lodge – Nature activities will include pond dipping and Essex Bat Group will be with us to explain about the lives of the bats that frequent the Gardens. Children and their adults will also enjoy a trail, the treehouse and the Gardens in vivid green and spring colours. Sunday 19 May 11:00-17:00. Tickets: £6:50 for adults. Gardens of Easton Lodge, Park Road, Little Easton, Dunmow, Essex CM6 2BB
The Literary Landscape Art Exhibition – From 19 May, 14:00-16:00. ‘Literary landscapes’ showcases a variety of printmaking techniques such as polymer etching, linocut, collagraph, drypoint, screenprint and monotype. The Gallery, Parndon Mill, Harlow, Essex CM20 2HP
Hertfordshire:
Herts Book Festival – Drawing their inspiration from the number of talented published authors they have on their doorstep, the Herts Book Festival is a free event for people of all reading ages and abilities – because they believe books are for everyone. Admission free for all.
Saturday 18 May: Hertford on the lawn of Hertford Castle, Hertford SG14 1HR. Sunday 19 May: Ware at Southern Maltings, Kibes Ln, Ware SG12 7BS.
Bedfordshire:
Paddle-out Protest – Join Surfers Against Sewage paddle-out in protest at the state of rivers. 2pm Saturday May 18, Great Ouse river, Castle Mound, Bedford.
