What is the Humanish podcast?
A podcast full of conversations and stories about the worlds we create and live in.
There's a full blurb at the bottom of this page.
The Biscuit Reviews now has its own channel and site so click here to go straight to them.
The Biscuit Reviews No.6: Witch / Isabella & Blodwen
Saturday 22nd July, 2023
16min 37secs
Be prepared to be drawn into mesmerising tour through the centuries as journalist India Rakusen presents "Witch" - a quite stunning podcast series. Full of surprising revelations that take you from outrage and horror to joy and hope via watery graves and icy rivers.
Rachael Smith delivers a fun and chaotic story of a centuries old witch unleashed to help precious 16 year old Isabella as she struggle to fit in and make her mark at Oxford University.
You can read the written review and see the short video as well as get the relevant links for each one separately by going to the episode page here.
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Mental Health Exam.
Thursday 18th May, 2023
20min 47secs
For most of us, the thought of school brings back some pretty strong memories…and not just about school dinners.
If post-pandemic we saw a dip in exam success, we saw a rise in mental health referrals. Maybe we should do a mental health exam alongside academic subjects?
This episode, I’m joined by Louise Clarke to find out about ELSAs - one way in which schools are trying to support children to cope emotionally with the challenges of education.
You can go to the episode page here for more info. Or click the player < to listen now.
The Biscuit Reviews No.5: Open Water / The Night She Disappeared
Thursday 20th April, 2023
13min 37secs
Another double header as I blitzed through these books so fast.
Caleb Azumah Nelsons debut novel Open Water is an astonishing achievement. Combining poetic prose and rhythms to match the heart wrenching tale of love and identity against the backdrop of a frenetic London and racial tensions.
Lisa Jewell has cemented her reputation as an elite thriller writer and The Night She Disappeared is an other hit of the genre - which might seem a long way from her debut novel in 1999 but there are similarities that make both compulsive reading.
You can read the written review and see the short video as well as get the relevant links for each one separately by going to the episode page by clicking here.
So You Want To Be...a Prison Officer.
Thursday 13th April, 2023
28min 23secs
How would you cope in a hostage situation? How about in a riot?
When Jill Sunter made the big decision to swap the school run for the prison run, she might not have imagined the range of challenging and unusual situations she would find herself in. Or what people would stretch out a friendly arm to provide some comfort.
Let's go back to the 90s and a prison in Scotland...
You can go to the episode page here for more info. Or click the player < to listen now.
The Biscuit Reviews No.4: Elizabeth is Missing / Cardinal
Thursday 6th April, 2023
13min 7secs
A double header this week. First up, I marvel at how in "Elizabeth is Missing", Emma Healey has crafted a tale about an old lady with dementia into a thrilling and moving mystery. That's followed as I reveal the themes that connect that novel to the Scandi-noir-esque Canadian detective series "Cardinal".
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The episode starts with the novel, but you can skip to 7minutes 20second if you just want Cardinal review. For the full write up and links to TikTok and YouTube versions, go here for Elizabeth is Missing, and here for Cardinal.
So You Want To Be...an Entrepreneur.
Thursday 16th March, 2023
30min 15secs
In this first episode of a new mini series, I meet Owen Newton, who is looking to add to his 9-5 income with a 5-9 job. Using his evenings to come up with money making plans, Owen runs through a series of inventions from board games to subscription services. So how does he end up with an international business operating out of his garage?
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Click HERE to go to the episode page for a transcript.
The Biscuit Reviews No.3: The Power by Naomi Alderman
Saturday 28th January, 2023
8min 47secs
The Power by Naomi Alderman is a provocative near future science fiction novel that poses a “what if?” scenario and dares you to confront the world around you and your place in it. It is quite literally shocking, as well as a world-hopping thriller with graphic action and uncomfortable moral choices. Could it also be the smash hit TV show of 2023?
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Click HERE to go to the blog page for full written version and links to TikTok and YouTube versions.
The Biscuit Reviews No.2: The Coming Storm
Saturday 21st January, 2023
7min 45secs
The Coming Storm is a BBC podcast by journalist Gabriel Gatehouse and producer Lucy Proctor that on the surface is about the background to the Capitol Insurrection in Washington DC on the January 2021. Whilst the repercussions of that day still reverberate in the news and the courts in the present, this series takes a deep dive into history.
What makes this a must listen series and how is it like the best thriller films?
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Click HERE to go to the blog page for full written version and links to TikTok and YouTube versions.
The Biscuit Reviews No.1: Stephen King's Fairy Tale
Saturday 14th January, 2023
9min 30secs
Did Stephen King write a Young Adult novel? I also think I know the perfect director to make any film adaptation that might be tried of this vast imaginative novel.
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In the first of my The Biscuit Reviews selections, I give myself a treat by starting with an author who I have re-embraced in the last decade after first leaping into IT and Needful Things when my older brothers got me into horror books as a kid. Let's dive into how the master storyteller gets to grip with one of the oldest story forms - the fairy tale.
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Click HERE to go to the blog page for full written version and links to TikTok and YouTube versions.
Tuesday 19th May, 2020
40min 20secs
Special effects in movies are an aspect of the creative process that we often take for granted. Sure, we appreciate the big "gasp" moments, or tut something doesn't quite look right. Digital Visual Effects Artist Juan-Luis Sanchez reveals the bits we might not notice. Like toggles.
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This bonus episode has been broadcast from a previous show with kind permission from Juan-Luis.
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Click HERE to go to the episode page.
Tuesday 12th May, 2020
49min 37secs
How often do you look up at the moon and think "people walked there?" It's not just a a technical, scientific achievement, but a testament to human imagination. Astrophysicist Professor Martin Barstow explains the achievements of Hubble in its 30years and how we are looking further into our Universe and into the past and our search for life. Poet and author Dom Conlon talks about the connection of art and space and how it inspired his book of poetry, This Rock That Rock. Join us for a voyage of beginnings and endings and imagination.
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Click HERE to go to the episode page.
Tuesday 5th May, 2020
31min 49secs
Rachael Smith is a comic creator who as well as contributing to existing titles such as Doctor Who, has built up an impressive catalogue of her own books like Wired Up Wrong, and The Rabbit. She has often confronted her depression and anxiety through her work and continues to build a loyal fan base. Over the last few weeks she has been sharing #QuarantineComix online – her daily observations of Lockdown life. This seemed like the perfect excuse to catch up and chat about her work and what gardening has got to do with comic creation.
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Click HERE to go to the episode page where there is also a transcript .
Tuesday 28st April, 2020
35min 12secs
Back in the old world of September 2019, I met up with award winning transgender poet Jay Hulme in the beautiful surroundings of historic Bradgate Park in Leicestershire. Our conversation started about Jay's new book and poetry and for young people before we we dived head first into Victorian history, the scandal of the tabloids, and ...cannibalism.
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Click HERE to go to the episode page where there is also a transcript .
Tuesday 21st April, 2020
30min 09secs
Often how we make sense of the world around us is through stories and creating a narrative. Right now, it might be that you're turning to familiar stories and re-watching, or re-reading your favourites for comfort. What do we get from this? And what stories that might be produced in the months and years ahead to reflect this time? This episode I'm joined by writer and TV producer Jonathan Gilbert as we talk comfort viewing.
Click HERE to go to the episode page where there is also a transcript .
*PLEASE NOTE this is an uncensored recording that contains one moment of explicit language.
Tuesday 14th April, 2020
34min 36secs
Theatre and football might have more in common than most people think. For Jenna Omeltschenko, (Touring Partnership Manager at the National Theatre) there is a deep rooted passion for both. One was bequeathed by family; the other developed by passionate teachers and the chance to inspire others to share their experience, their story. This is an episode with roots that stretch from Hungary, Ukraine, Irleand, and Manchester to the South Bank in London.
Click HERE to go to the episode page where there is also a transcript .
Monday 6th April, 2020
40min 51secs
With her 40th Birthday around the corner, actor Tonia Daley-Campbell decided to write a book about the life she had led that meant she finally felt like her authentic self. I decided to borrow that title for this episode as it perfectly encapsulated our conversation about overcoming barriers how we sometimes don't notice the steps we - or others - take.
Tonia is an actor from Wolverhampton, and also a producer across the performing and visual arts. We chat about dealing with imposter syndrome, and how a childhood audition for Wizard of Oz has led to producing a supernatural TV series and comic!
Click HERE to go to the episode page where there is also a transcript .
Friday 10th April, 2020
4min 37secs
This is a soundbite from the forthcoming episode with Jenna Omeltschenko, Touring Partnership Manager at the National Theatre.
The context for this clip is my question to Jenna about something that I've found quite common - a perception (often whispered quietly) that working in theatre education, or outreach and participation work is "less than" the "real" shows. It prompted such an impassioned response that it felt right to share it in its entirety.
Click HERE to go to the episode page where there is also a transcript .
WELCOME TO HUMANISH
Friday 3rd April, 2020
4min
Welcome to Humanish.
The first mini-series of episodes are on their way and this trailer will give you an idea of what to expect.
The whole podcast is about sharing our stories and ideas. The stories we tell ourselves and each other shape the world we live in. I'll be having conversations with people from all different backgrounds to find out what makes us who we are? There will also be some one-off specials along the way.
Humanish is a podcast of conversations about what makes us who we are.
Is it what we do? Our family? The things we love?
The title is explained more on the ABOUT page in case you're wondering. "There are a loads of podcasts with people just talking, why should I try another one?" might be a fair and reasonable question that you're asking. For a start, this podcast will be pretty varied with different series on certain themes. For example, the opening episodes will be conversations with people from very different backgrounds and careers about something they love. Some of these podcasts will come with videos and all of them will be available to read as well. The podcast will be available on all your usual platforms from iTunes to Soundcloud, Acast, and Stitcher (links at the top of this page), as well as right here. You'll be able to click each episode to go to a dedicated page with a transcript of that episode. Please feel free to link up your friends and leave a rating on iTunes as that helps to promote the show.
Get in touch via the contact page.
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