Getting Better Acquainted

In GBA 174 we get better acquainted with Tim Ralphs. He talks about being a storyteller and an interfaith minister, growing up at folk festivals, how life inflences how you understand stories and lots more. Tim plugs: Rebranding Beelzebub - 9.50pm at Banshee Labyrinth: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/rebranding-beelzebub His website: http://www.timralphs.com/ Story Forge - 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Fat Cat: https://www.facebook.com/groups/94064587663/ I plug: Stand Up Tragedy at the Free Fringe - 7.30pm every day from 2nd-22nd August at the Banshee Labyrinth: www.facebook.com/events/316554115169995/ Getting Better Acquainted Live at the Free Fringe 3.15pm every day from 18th-22th August at the Royal Oak: www.facebook.com/events/773670469351784/ Edinburgh shows we shout out: Lucy Ayrton's The Splitting of the Mermaid: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/lucy-ayrton-the-splitting-of-the-mermaid Sofia Walker's Can't Care Won't Care: http://freefringe.org.uk/edinburgh/cant-care-wont-care/2

In GBA 173 we get better acquainted with Harv. He talks about working in low paid jobs in the catering industry,how childhood bereavement and a religious upbringing have impacted on his life, how his political thinking and musical taste has developed and how class has influenced his thoughts on all these issues. Harv used to be the producer in Apples for Everyone and he has been Stand Up Tragedy's sound technician in residence since it started. He's really great at all things sound related and a wise and loyal friend. Harv plugs: Stand Up Tragedy - donations and shows: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ His Soundtech/production work: http://www.stephenharvey.me.uk/ https://twitter.com/SteveHSoundtech We're up in Edinburgh already of course and both Harv and me are running Stand Up Tragedy daily. Harv will be performing music up there too on 3rd, 12th and 15th. As promised in the episode I will put the track Harv produced and played drums on at the end of the show. It was put together for my Open EP.W

In GBA 172 we get better acquainted with Sophia Walker. She talks about going round the world in 8 mistakes, drawing on her experiences of working in the care industry to create a new piece of spoken word theatre, experiencing 9/11 through the wider social context of her international school classmates, filming documentaries in warzones, the etymology of the words and so much more. Sophia plugs: Can't Care, Won't Care 2-24th August 1.40pm at the Banshee Labyrinth: http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/420338-cant-care-wont-care/ Around the World in Eight Mistakes 9-24th August at the Pilgrim 5.30pm: http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/420579-around-the-world-in-eight-mistakes/ Both shows are part of The Free Fringe. Her first book Opposite the Tour Bus coming out this year from Burning Eye Press Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SophiaWalker Twitter: https://twitter.com/poetwalker I plug: Stand Up Tragedy at the Free Fringe - 7.30pm every day from 2nd-22nd August at the Banshee Labyrinth

In GBA 171 we get better acquainted with Liam. He talks about working as a brewer, discovering drawing, having a tough time growing up, being the first person from his family to go to university, going from a small village to the capital city, coping with social anxiety disorder and so much more. Liam plugs: His art: http://liamwillday.com/ His beer stall at Brockley Market: http://www.brockleymarket.com/ I plug: Stand Up Tragedy at the Free Fringe - 7.30pm every day from 2nd-22nd August at the Banshee Labyrinth: https://www.facebook.com/events/316554115169995/ Getting Better Acquainted Live at the Free Fringe 3.15pm every day from 18th-22th August at the Royal Oak: https://www.facebook.com/events/773670469351784/ We mention: Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Ewa: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-140-ewa London Brewers Alliance: http://www.londonbrewers.org/ Late Knights Brewery: http://www.lateknightsbrewery.co.uk/ Adnams Southwold: http://adnams.co.uk/ University of

In GBA 170 we get better acquainted with Fran. We catch up on what's been happening since we studied together 12 years ago, which for Fran involves becoming a Goth, founding the Cheshire Liberation Front, doing interesting things with Harvest Mice, becoming an Interpretation Officer at the British Museum, climbing mountains and lots more. Also I am outed as a man who has worn a fedora and I duly squirm about it. Fran plugs: The Sheriff of Nottingham the HR Years The Musical: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/sheriff-of-nottingham-a-musical-musing-on-middle-management 10th-16th August at 7.30pm at The Hotel Ibis The Cheshire Liberation Front: http://cheshire4life.blogspot.co.uk/ I plug: Stand Up Tragedy at the Free Fringe - 7.30pm every day from 2nd-22nd August at the Banshee Labyrinth We mention: Fedora: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedora Fedora Meme: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fedora-shaming Nice Guys of OK Cupid: http://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/nice-guys-on-okcupid-are-the-worst M

In GBA 169 we get better acquainted with James McKay. He talks us through Victorian poetry recitals, classical literature and history, plundering and re-contextualising the canon, the relationship between the Moomins and Zen thinking, putting on gigs in your front room and being an "Arts Thatcherite". If all of that sounds dry and worthy and highbrow then think again as this conversation is very much the opposite of that. James plugs: His Website: http://www.mckaypoetry.com/ Utter: Space: https://www.facebook.com/events/1403219706606930/ I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Tragic Misadventures: Wednesday 9th July at the Black Heart: http://www.facebook.com/events/601978073250123/ We mention: The book of Job: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Job Stand Up Tragedy: http://standuptragedy.co.uk Stand Up Tragedy performances by James: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sut-james-mckay-ep-2 https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/stand-up-tragedy-16 https://sound

In GBA 168 we get better acquainted with Sam. She talks about a childhood full of change and travel, being a mum (but not being defined by it), we compare notes from University and catch up on what we both did in our 20's. Plus she shows me her extensive collection of tattoos and we talk about putting art all over your body. Sam plugs: Oil Pulling and relaxing I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Tragic Misadventures: Wednesday 9th July at the Black Heart: http://www.facebook.com/events/601978073250123/ My blogpost about leaving/losing my job: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/%E2%80%A6yes.html We mention: Ged: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-31-ged Richard: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-richard-episodes The Platform Theatre: http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/about-csm/facilities/general/platform-theatre/ Hugo Chavez: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez Ministry of Stories: http://www.ministryofstories.o

In GBA 167 we get better acquainted with Oli. We compare parallel teenage lives in Cardiff, reminisce about the early days of Apples for Everyone, and get into Unitarian thinking, why he prefers the Silmarillion to the Lord of the Rings, the appeal and power of comics, pint's of filth, the Mabinogion, speaking welsh, spoilers for Promethea and lots more. The Apples for Everyone Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/apples-for-everyone/ The Apples for Everyone Archive: https://soundcloud.com/applesforeveryone/sets Oli Plugs: Modern Television particularly: Parks and Recreation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation Spaced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced The Shadow Line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_Line_(TV_series) Community: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_(TV_series) New Thundercats: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThunderCats_(2011_TV_series) Battlestar Galactica: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica_(2004_TV_series) The West Wing:

In GBA 166 we get better acquainted with Tamsin. We swap Lancaster University Theatre Studies war stories and she talks about speech and language therapy, recovering from a brain tumor and from breast cancer and lot's more. Tamsin Plugs: Speech and Language Therapy I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: bit.ly/TragicFringe Tragic Misadventures: Wednesday 9th July at the Black Heart https://www.facebook.com/events/601978073250123/ My blogpost about leaving/losing my job: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-week-of-goodbyes.html We mention: Connexions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connexions_(agency) Howard Pinter poem: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/mar/14/poetry.haroldpinter Breast Cancer Care: http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ Penny Brohn Cancer Care: http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/ Mesothelioma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelioma Narrative Therapy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative_therapy Mr Tumble: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/something-special/

In GBA 165 we get even better acquainted with my fernweh friend Alex. He talks about his play Son of Man. We talk about the themes behind the play and his research he has done while writing it. We cover interpretations and reinterpretations of Jesus in fiction, comparative mythologies, a discussion of the historical Jesus, a tour through CS Lewis' version of judgement day in The Last Battle, Christian Atheism and lots more. Alex Plugs: His kickstarter campaign for backing Son of Man will be up on Kickstarter soon. In the meantime it's facebook group is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272636382906179/ and it's on twitter here: https://twitter.com/sonofmanplay I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Greek Tragedy: Thursday 12th June at the Dogstar: http://www.facebook.com/events/625249897568126/ We mention: Alex's two episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-alex-and-dave-files Fernweh: http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/23-charming-

In GBA 164 we get better acquainted with Sonja. We talk about making and loving comics, being interested in novelty, veganism, thinking creatively and commercially, giving up work to go freelance and more. Also featured in this episode are two true stories Sonja told at Spark London events. Sonja Plugs: Plug: Her comics course: Prince's Drawing School: Drawing the Graphic Novel http://www.princesdrawingschool.org/programmes/public/shoreditcheve.asp Run by Emily Haworth-Booth http://emilyhaworthbooth.blogspot.co.uk/ Leaving a job How To Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric http://www.romankrznaric.com/how-to-find-fulfilling-work "Act Now, Reflect Later" Sonja's Spark Story: http://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/reaching-out-sonja-todd/ Twitter and instagram: https://twitter.com/sonjatodd http://instagram.com/sonjatodd Spark London plugs: http://www.sparklondon.com https://twitter.com/sparkLDN https://www.facebook.com/sparklondon Mon 9th June Father Figures open mic at the Hackney Attic with L

In GBA 163 we get better acquainted with Emma. We talk about The Moomins, adolescent brain development, The Moomins, knitting, The Moomins, the prefrontal cortex, The Moomins, researching and writing a PHD, The Moomins and more. After the conversation there is an added extra that was recorded at Geek Showoff earlier this year. This involves more from me about The Moomins. Geek Showoff is an offshoot of Science Showoff: http://scienceshowoff.org/ Emma Plugs: The Moomins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin Emma recommends starting with Finn Family Moomintroll: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn_Family_Moomintroll I recommend starting with Comet in Moominland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_in_Moominland Blakemore lab: read about the work Emma is doing and take surveys: https://sites.google.com/site/blakemorelab/ I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Greek Tragedy: Thursday 12th June at the Dogstar: http://www.facebook.com/events/625249897568126/ We mention:

In GBA 162 we get better acquainted with Adrian. He talks about making performance, how we can never be certain about anything, type-casting yourself, how life and making art have woven themselves together, and he explains who Samantha Mann is. Adrian Plugs: His website: http://www.charlesadrian.com His podcast: Page One: http://pageonepodcast.com/ Samantha Mann: http://www.MsSamanthaMann.com Letters From Samantha: https://soundcloud.com/mssamanthamann And Vera Chok: http://www.verachok.com I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Greek Tragedy: Thursday 12th June at the Dogstar: https://www.facebook.com/events/625249897568126/ We mention: Paula Varjack: http://www.paulavarjack.com/ Edinburgh episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/edinburgh-episodes George episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-70-superbard Spark London: http://www.sparklondon.com/ Nico and the Navigators: http://www.navigators.de/ Jacques Lecoq sc

In GBA 161 we get better acquainted with Jo. He talks about smell, history and memory, the intangible things. We explore ideas around his podcast Life in Scents and how they relate to his life. Jo Plugs: The Podcast: Life in Scents - iTunes / http://lifeinscents.com/ freelance audio and scents: jobarratt@gmail.com paying attention to your senses smelling a lemon I don't plug but probably should have plugged: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic History at the Hackney Attic on Friday 16th May from 7.30pm: http://www.facebook.com/events/231570123709490/ We mention: RSA: http://www.thersa.org/ Pod Academy: http://podacademy.org/ This American Life: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/ NPR: http://www.npr.org/ Geranium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium Distiller episode: http://lifeinscents.com/post/76108446561/darren-rook-is-the-co-founder-and-ceo-of-the Life In Scents: Astronomer episode: http://lifeinscents.com/post/33719749457/marek-kukula-life-in-scents Fennel seeds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennel Steve

In GBA 160 we get better acquainted with Emily. She talks writing, working in a bookshop, her baby going viral, bat invasions, television research and more. And at the end of the episode you can hear one of her short stories being performed at Stand Up Tragedy by her partner Richard who was last week's guest: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-159-richard Emily Plugs: Her website: http://emilycleaver.net/ I plug: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic History at the Hackney Attic on Friday 16th May from 7.30pm: https://www.facebook.com/events/231570123709490/ We mention: Writing Group: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-84-writing-group Small plays blog: http://smallplays.com/ Sherlock Holmes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Liars League: http://www.liarsleague.com/ Spark London: http://www.sparklondon.com/ Arthur's blog: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/baby-arthur-recreates-scenes-movies-blog_n_1082634.ht

In GBA 159 we get better acquainted with Richard. He explores ideas of belonging, pushing at frontiers, the ways that generations relate to each other and the human desire for narrative, through the topics of video games, fatherhood, employment, Oxford, personal and social history and more. Richard Plugs: If you have something creative you should do it. We mention: The Royal Court Theatre: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/ Verity Bargate Award: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verity_Bargate_Award Atari 2600: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600 Space Invaders: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Invaders Galaxian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxian Pong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong Break Out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakout_(video_game) Asteroids: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroids_(video_game) Spectrum ZX80: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX80 Master System: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_System Mega Drive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Genesis Carl Sagan: http://www.

In GBA 158 we get better acquainted with Laura. She talks music, fibromyalgia, her relationship with religion, Italian adventures and more. Laura Plugs: Her EP: Faces at the Fair: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/faces-at-the-fair-ep/id719163554 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faces-at-Fair-Laura-Bazell/dp/B00FHO1O3G http://www.laurabazell.co.uk http://laurabazell.wordpress.com/ We mention: EAL: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/resources/practical_resources_info/1067_english_as_an_additional_language EFL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFL Jane Eyre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre Matt W: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-29-matt Fibromayalgia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_fatigue_syndrome spoonies/ spoon theory: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ Groupon: http://www.groupon.co.uk/ Louise episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainte

In GBA 157 we get better acquainted with... me. The Personal Season ends with The Personal Episode: True stories told by me live on stage at Spark London over the last few years, broken up with tracks from The Open EP that I released for free download earlier this year. It starts with a vasectomy and ends in vomit! In between there's bullying, smashing through windows, an unusual stag night, crime and punishment and more. It's another episode I feel uncomfortable about putting out. Which has been a feature of this 3 week season. For more about Spark London go here: http://www.sparklondon.com/ This is the final episode of the 3 week "Personal Season". I plug getting better acquainted! Related episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-open-episodes https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-31-ged https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-106-jack-and-george https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-77-the-coventry-years https://soundcloud.com/gett

In GBA 156 pt 2 we get even better acquainted with my partner, Jen. We talk about how our 13 year relationship works, exploring the domestic compromises and tensions, arguments and conflicts, friendship and love, that come from living with someone and sharing a life together. We also cover the experience of living with (and living with someone who lives with) mental health issues. We push at the boundaries of openness and honesty in a conversation that is full of quiet revelations. Whether you know us well or know nothing about us, by the end of this conversation you will be intimately acquainted with who we are and how we fit together. This conversation picks up where Part 1 left off and I recommend listening to that episode first: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-156-jen-2-pt-1 This is the forth episode of a 3 week "Personal Season". On next wednesday (16th) the season will be rounded up with an episode collecting together true stories and personal songs that I've told and recorded ove

In GBA 156 pt 1 we get even better acquainted with my partner, Jen. We talk about how she feels being presented and represented on the podcast, introverts, ambiverts and extroverts, the way her memory works, the different distinctive smells of books, refining the mind and body, how we interact and intersect with each other as a couple and whether consciousness is an evolutionary disadvantage. Also I propose to her live on mic. This is the third episode of a 3 week "Personal Season". The second (and arguably even more personal) half of this conversation will come out on Friday (11), and on next wednesday (16th) the season will be rounded up with an episode collecting together true stories and personal songs that I've told and recorded over the last 2 years. Jen Plugs: Nothing in this half of the conversation, her plug will come at the end of Friday's episode. We mention: Our past GBA conversations: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-jen-episodes MJ Hibbett Episode: https://sou