Getting Better Acquainted

In GBA 203 we get better acquainted with Sajeela Kershi. She talks about making comedy and her show Immigrant Diaries where people share their true life stories, and we move from these topics into wider discussions of Islamophobia, racism, belonging, social responsibility as well as into personal recollections of Sajeela's childhood. Sajeela plugs: Changing Britain Festival: Immigrant Diaries: 24th April: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/immigrant-diaries-91203 Twitter: https://twitter.com/sajeelakershi Shallow Hallal: https://boxoffice.brightonfringe.org/comedy/7742/sajeela-kershi-shallow-halal Comedy Cottage: 16th April: https://www.facebook.com/events/1414664585508687/ I plug: Tragic Spring at the Hackney Attic 25th April: https://www.facebook.com/events/588668424609848/ We mention: The treatment in the press and public opinion of the young girls who wanted to join IS: http://mediadiversified.org/2015/02/24/the-denial-of-childhood-to-children-of-colour/ http://mediadiversified.org/2015/03/05

In GBA 202 we get better acquainted with Tom Humberstone. He talks about turning the news into comics for the New Statesman, looking for nuance in political discourses, the landscape of the comics industry and how the internet effects argument and a lot more. Also we get into the comic he drew in response to the response to the Charlie Hebdo killings and how people responded to this response Tom plugs: His website: http://tomhumberstone.com/ In the Frame: http://www.newstatesman.com/subjects/In%20the%20Frame We mention: Helen Zaltzman: http://helenzaltzman.com/ Unfortunatalie/Nat Guest: https://twitter.com/unfortunatalie Wil Hodgson: https://wilhodgson.wordpress.com/ Kieron Gillen: http://gillen.cream.org/wordpress_html/ Hannah Berry: http://hannahberry.co.uk/ Alex Herne: https://twitter.com/alexhern Jen Adamthwaite: http://www.jadamthwaite.co.uk/ Edward Ross: http://edwardmaross.blogspot.co.uk/ Darren Hayman: http://www.hefnet.com/ January Songs: http://januarysongs.tumblr.com/ January songs picture: h

In GBA 201 we get better acquainted with Mel Jones. She talks about so many things both personal and political; sex, depression, therapy, age, forgiveness, family, performing, community, discrimination, news, songwriting and speaking words are just a few of the topics and tangents we cover. Content Note: This episode deals with mental health issues and therapy. The conversation also covers issues around child abuse and sexual abuse, although it doesn't contain graphic descriptions of either. It also contains plenty of love, warmth and laughter Mel plugs: Friggers of Speech: https://www.facebook.com/FriggersofSpeech Contact Mel poetrymel@hotmail.co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/mel.jones.505 The next SUT is: Tragic Spring: http://www.facebook.com/events/588668424609848/ We mention: PBH Free Fringe CD: https://pbhfreefringespokenword.bandcamp.com/album/a-maze-of-breaths-spoken-word-at-pbhs-free-fringe Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Porn Poem: https://pbhfreefringespokenword.bandcamp

This is GBA 200 pt 5 with guest host Charley Harrison. The #GBA200 season will celebrate 200 episodes of Getting Better Acquainted with a week of daily episodes where the script is switched and the people I know interview me. It's taking place from the 16th-20th of March. The guest hosts are Helen Zaltzman, Chella Quint, Sophia Walker and James McKay, Jen Adamthwaite and Charley Harrison. During this week we'll learn what Getting Better Acquainted might be like if it was made by someone else, and whether I'm a consistent character or not; we'll explore and celebrate how combinations of people and places create wildly different conversations. I'll also be re-sharing and discussing the first 200 episodes of GBA on the show's twitter feed, using the hashtag #GBA200. If you want to join in the celebrations by sharing your favourite episodes, you would be very welcome to do so! I plug: Listening to marginalised voices and non mainstream media sources via Social Media Mentioned in the episode: Spark London: h

This is GBA 200 pt 4 with guest host Jen Adamthwaite. The #GBA200 season will celebrate 200 episodes of Getting Better Acquainted with a week of daily episodes where the script is switched and the people I know interview me. It's taking place from the 16th-20th of March. The guest hosts are Helen Zaltzman, Chella Quint, Sophia Walker and James McKay, Jen Adamthwaite and Charley Harrison. During this week we'll learn what Getting Better Acquainted might be like if it was made by someone else, and whether I'm a consistent character or not; we'll explore and celebrate how combinations of people and places create wildly different conversations. I'll also be re-sharing and discussing the first 200 episodes of GBA on the show's twitter feed, using the hashtag #GBA200. If you want to join in the celebrations by sharing your favourite episodes, you would be very welcome to do so! I plug: Watching TV! Mentioned in the episode: #ThePush https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ThePush&src=typd #VSS https://twitter.com/sea

This is GBA 200 pt 3 with guest hosts Sophia Walker and James McKay. The #GBA200 season will celebrate 200 episodes of Getting Better Acquainted with a week of daily episodes where the script is switched and the people I know interview me. It's taking place from the 16th-20th of March. The guest hosts are Helen Zaltzman, Chella Quint, Sophia Walker and James McKay, Jen Adamthwaite and Charley Harrison. During this week we'll learn what Getting Better Acquainted might be like if it was made by someone else, and whether I'm a consistent character or not; we'll explore and celebrate how combinations of people and places create wildly different conversations. I'll also be re-sharing and discussing the first 200 episodes of GBA on the show's twitter feed, using the hashtag #GBA200. If you want to join in the celebrations by sharing your favourite episodes, you would be very welcome to do so! I plug: Sophia Walker: https://www.facebook.com/SophiaWalker https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-172-sop

This is GBA 200 pt 2 with guest host Chella Quint. The #GBA200 season will celebrate 200 episodes of Getting Better Acquainted with a week of daily episodes where the script is switched and the people I know interview me. It's taking place from the 16th-20th of March. The guest hosts are Helen Zaltzman, Chella Quint, Sophia Walker and James McKay, Jen Adamthwaite and Charley Harrison. During this week we'll learn what Getting Better Acquainted might be like if it was made by someone else, and whether I'm a consistent character or not; we'll explore and celebrate how combinations of people and places create wildly different conversations. I'll also be re-sharing and discussing the first 200 episodes of GBA on the show's twitter feed, using the hashtag #GBA200. If you want to join in the celebrations by sharing your favourite episodes, you would be very welcome to do so! I plug: My Patreon account is coming soon. Currently it's half finished because things like #GBA200 have been getting in the way of me fin

This is GBA 200 pt 1 with guest host Helen Zaltzman. The #GBA200 season will celebrate 200 episodes of Getting Better Acquainted with a week of daily episodes where the script is switched and the people I know interview me. It's taking place from the 16th-20th of March. The guest hosts are Helen Zaltzman, Chella Quint, Sophia Walker and James McKay, Jen Adamthwaite and Charley Harrison. During this week we'll learn what Getting Better Acquainted might be like if it was made by someone else, and whether I'm a consistent character or not; we'll explore and celebrate how combinations of people and places create wildly different conversations. I'll also be re-sharing and discussing the first 200 episodes of GBA on the show's twitter feed, using the hashtag #GBA200. If you want to join in the celebrations by sharing your favourite episodes, you would be very welcome to do so! I plug: Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Storylines: http://www.ampersandmedia.co.uk/current.php Edinburgh - SUT: h

In GBA 199 we get better acquainted with Adele Hampton. She talks spoken word, journalism, finding her voice, navigating the intersections of class, race, gender and sexuality, her specific experiences of growing up biracial, moving to London from America and so much more. Adele plugs: Her video production work: Contact her at Adele Hampton on facebook. Check out her previous video work: http://adelehampton.com/ I plug: The upcoming #GBA200 season (16th-20th March 2015) where I will be celebrating 200 hundred episodes of Getting Better Acquainted with a week of conversations where the table is turned and other people run the show and I am the guest. And Tragic Spring: https://www.facebook.com/events/588668424609848/ We mention: Sophia Walker: https://www.facebook.com/SophiaWalker Can't Care Won't Care: http://www.rondotheatre.co.uk/production/1159/ Around the World in 8 Mistakes: http://sabotagereviews.com/2013/08/29/edinburgh-fringe-review-around-the-world-in-eight-mistakes-by-sophia-walker/ Stand U

In GBA 198 we get better acquainted with Jack Rooke. He talks about co-writing a show about the death of his dad with his Nan, the barriers to education and the arts that people from working class backgrounds have to deal with, how suicide is presented in the media, watching daytime TV and so much more. He *is* crowdfunding his show: http://t.co/TWiOZCoU3K Here he is in a video telling you about it: http://t.co/pZ50wGETXV Content Note: Bereavement and reference to suicide and mental health. Jack plugs: @JackRooke: https://twitter.com/jackrooke Good Grief: http://www.thegoodgriefproject.com Child Bereavement Network: http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/ Plan If: http://www.planif.org.uk/ I plug: The upcoming #GBA200 season where I will be celebrating 200 hundred episodes of Getting Better Acquainted with a week of conversations where the table is turned and other people run the show and I am the guest. We mention: Roundhouse: http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/ Spark London: http://sparklondon.co

In GBA 197 we get better acquainted with Toni. She talks about being a sex worker and sex worker rights activist, decriminalisation, the problems with the Swedish Model, the language and stigma around sex work, harm reduction, how various systems of oppression intersect around the lives of sex workers and more. Toni is a member of the Sex Worker Open University: http://www.sexworkeropenuniversity.com/ Content Note: Some reference to violence against sex workers and to rape and sexual assault, although none of these references are graphic or personal accounts. Toni plugs: @SexWorkerOU: https://twitter.com/SexWorkerOU CONFIDE: Helpline: http://confideinfo.com/about/ I plug: Tragic Winter @ Hackney Attic: 28th February: http://www.facebook.com/events/1516191711967276/ We mention: International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers: http://www.december17.org/ Carol Leigh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_Leigh Tres Cosas Campaign: https://3cosascampaign.wordpress.com/about/ Decriminalisation: http:/

In GBA 196 we get better acquainted with Siobhan. She talks about making comedy, being a sign language interpreter, the politics of marriage, honeymooning in lapland, grief and bereavement, spreading eccentric joy, feminism, being an identical twin and so much more. The conversation focused on Siobhan's breasts much more than either of us were expecting. Siobhan plugs: We Are Funny Variety @ Dirty Dicks: 25th February: https://www.facebook.com/events/807156749349594/ I plug: Tragic Winter @ Hackney Attic: 28th February: https://www.facebook.com/events/1516191711967276/ We mention: Stand Up Tragedy: www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Tragic Heroes: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sets/tragic-heroes CUNTH: http://www.cunth.co.uk/ Charley Harrison: http://charleylucyharrison.com/ We Are Funny: http://wearefunnyproject.com/ Tragic Christmas: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sets/tragic-christmas BSL: http://www.british-sign.co.uk/ SSE: http://www.signedlanguage.co.uk/signsupportedenglish.html Sense: http

In GBA 195 we get better acquainted with Jess. He talks about positivity as a political act, being a tour guide, the representation of minority religions, teaching English in China, the impact of his sister's life and death on his family and exploring the infinite and the unknown. Jess plugs: Upcoming short film in production: working title Duty of Care: http://www.ideastap.com/People/Jess-Brownrigg @JessBrownrigg Thinking beyond ourselves. Extra plug: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Winter 28th February: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Stand_Up_Tragedy_Tragic_Winter/ We talk: Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Stand Up Tragedy Story: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/tragic-beginnings-act-1 Tour Guide Spark Story: https://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/a-grand-gesture-jess-brownrigg/ Kepler Telescope: http://kepler.nasa.gov/ New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/ Aristotle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle 3

In GBA 194 we get better acquainted with Paula Varjack. She talks about finding herself through becoming someone else, creating performed documentary, how money and art and identity intersect, singing the Cat in the Hat to the tune of Radiohead's Creep, the ethical and practical concerns of producing shows and more. I also get a chance to tease out some of the nuances around my attitude to copyright. Paula plugs: Her website: http://www.paulavarjack.com How I Became Myself (By Becoming Someone Else): http://www.paulavarjack.com/projects/How-I-Became-Myself-(By-Becoming-Someone-Else).html Contacting her if you are an artist wanting to get involved with Show Me the Money: http://www.twitter.com/paulavarjack Extra plugs: The Fail Better Podcast: http://www.londonfieldsradio.co.uk/2015/02/01/fail-better-podcast-episode-1-amy-acre-james-harris/ Anti-Slam Anti-Valantines - 14th Feb Hackney Attic: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Anti_Slam_Valentine_S_Special/ Varjack and Simps

In GBA 193 we get better acquainted with Dan Simpson. He talks about performance and process, working with words, learning acceptance, geek culture, categorising the arts and lots more. Dan plugs: Anti-Slam Anti-Valantines - 14th Feb Hackney Attic: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Anti_Slam_Valentine_S_Special/ Varjack and Simpson: http://varjackandsimpson.tumblr.com// Stand Up And Slam: http://www.standupandslam.com/ https://twitter.com/StandUpAndSlam Dan Simpson: https://dansimpsonpoet.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/dansimpsonpoet We mention: Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ PBH Free Fringe: http://freefringe.org.uk/ Robin Williams: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Williams Eddie Peppitone: http://eddiepepitone.com/ Pac-Man: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man Clyde: http://pacman.wikia.com/wiki/Clyde Richard Marsh: https://richmarsh.wordpress.com/ Dirty Great Love Story: https://richmarsh.wordpress.com/dirty-great-love-story/ Wingman: https:

In GBA 192 we get better acquainted with Amy. She talks about asking who is Helen of Troy, gender and performance, the cultural experience of Third Culture Kids, diversity in the arts, feminism, mythology, identity and more. Amy plugs: GAP Salon: https://gapsalon.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gapsalon https://twitter.com/GAPsalon The Helen Project: http://www.amyclaretasker.com/directors-notes/the-helen-project/ Hyphenated: http://www.amyclaretasker.com/hyphenated/ http://weareimprobable.tumblr.com/post/105599395518/hyphenated-a-viral-storytelling-project-about Amy Clare Tasker: http://www.amyclaretasker.com/ I plug: The next D and D event: D&D 10, 24 - 26 January 2015: What Are We Going To Do About Theatre And The Performing Arts? http://www.devotedanddisgruntled.com/events/devoted-and-disgruntled-10-what-are-we-going-do-ab/ Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Winter: Saturday 28th Feb at Hackney Attic: https://www.facebook.com/events/1516191711967276/ (Featuring Alice Bell: https://soundclou

In GBA 191 we get better acquainted with Jonathan Blake. He is one of the real people who are fictionalised in the film Pride. We talk about being played by Dominic West, living with HIV, LGBT rights and homophobia, the politics of the left, coming out, housing cooperatives, acting, activism, costume making and more. Content Note: Discussion of suicide, depression, living with HIV, homophobia, transphobia Jonathan plugs: The reformed LGSM who can be found here: http://www.twitter.com/LGSMpride Their Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1414067749/funding-for-tredegar-band-at-london-pride-2015 We mention: Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ Pride: http://www.pridemovie.co.uk/ Mike Jackson: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-185-mike-jackson GBA 179 Focus E15 Mothers (feat Mike Jackson): https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-179-focus-e15-mothers Dominic West: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_West The Wire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire

In this Getting Better Acquainted Extra I follow up last year's Uncertain New Year episode with a round up of how 2014 actually panned out for me, mixed in with some true stories that I told told at Risk!, Spark London and Stand Up Tragedy. It's a bumper sized episode but it's much shorter than the year it sums up. The true stories and reflections cover some dark times both from this year and from my past (content note for anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, bullying, body image) as well as plenty of fun and positive times from both this year and from my past. There's also music, reflection, sex clubs, a cameo from Stewart Lee* and quite a lot of me talking. Next week normal service will resume and GBA will be back yo it's in conversation format. * Stewart Lee does not literally appear in this episode. I plug: This kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1414067749/funding-for-tredegar-band-at-london-pride-2015 LGSM: https://twitter.com/LGSMpride Pride: http://www.pridemovie.co.uk/ Things

In GBA 190 we get better acquainted with Christmas (again). It's the 2014 Christmas Special and this time we focus more on the complicated than the uplifting. The majority of the episode is a conversation between me and my friend Nina, two people with a complicated relationship with Christmas swapping our war stories. Also so featured in the episode is a story of recent Christmas joy from Connor and a song from Martin Austwick. The episode also contains my father's voice speaking to his granddaughter in the past and providing some Tove Jannson style Christmas spirit. This episode hopes to offer solidarity to the seasonally afflicted and an explanation to those who love Christmas for why many of us might not. It does touch on upsetting family dynamics and mental health issues, including specific reference to traumatic events, depression and violence against children but in an actually pretty light and seasonal way. For other GBA flavours of Christmas see the past 3 Christmas Specials: 2011: https://soundclo

In GBA 189 we get better acquainted with Heather. She talks about how faith and theatre has influenced her passion for working with young people and in getting involved with LGBT rights, her methodist upbringing and personal relationship with God, the experience of being pregnant and how she first knew me as "Pajama Boy". Heather Plugs: Speaking up for other people's rights. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke We mention: Tim: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-188-tim Mencap: https://www.mencap.org.uk/ PGCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postgraduate_Certificate_in_Education I Have 2 Mummys books: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Has_Two_Mommies http://www.amazon.co.uk/Some-people-have-Mums-SomeFamilies-net/dp/1484097122 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tale-Two-Mommies-Vanita-Oelschlager/dp/0982636679 Central Park Penguins book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Tango_Makes_Three Heteronormativity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteronorm