Getting Better Acquainted

In GBA 188 we get better acquainted with Tim. He talks about mathematical physics, particle accelerators, the dark matter that may form the universe, E=mc2, films, playing the bass, being a twin, having a happy childhood and more. Tim Plugs: His website: http://www.t-j-walton.co.uk/ We mention: Edinburgh Special: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-15-edinburgh-festival Large Hadron Collider: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/646.aspx CERN: Cern Particle Accelerator: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_accelerator Ion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion Plasma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29 Special Relativity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity General Relativity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity Michelson-Morley Experiment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelson%E2%80%93Morley_experiment E=MC2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass%E2%80%93energy_equivalence Tachyon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachyon King's Lynn: http://www.kingslynnonline.com/ Hunstanto

In GBA 187 we get better acquainted with Hannah. She talks about connecting with people, about the crack in everything that lets the light get in, about rootlessness, relationships, family, love, death and pain. It's a conversation that threads itself around how facebook can connect and dissect people, making your life into fiction and finding out what how people relate and connect to each other. Content Note: The conversation is warm but it covers dark and difficult subjects including suicide, bereavement and experiences of mental health issues and traumas. Hanna plugs: Boyhood: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyhood_%28film%29 We mention: Spark London: sparklondon.com/ "There is a crack, a crack in everything That's how the light gets in" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ma5tF6TJpA Watching the English - Kate Fox: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-English-Hidden-Rules-Behaviour/dp/0340818867 https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-131-carl You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher

In GBA 186 we get better acquainted with Connor. In a glass house late at night in the cold eating crisps we have a conversation where all roads lead back to radio, passing through Ireland, Brussels, China, childhood, The Third Coast Festival, In the Dark and more. There's also lot's of podcast talk. Connor plugs: In the Dark: http://www.inthedarkradio.org/ Invisible Picture Palace: http://invisiblepicturepalace.com/ We mention: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-87-in-conversation Invisible Picture Palace episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/gba-live-the-invisible-picture Helen and Olly's Required Listening: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m5j91 Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-127-robin-the-fog Rethink Daily: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ Ricky Gervais podcast: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ricky_Gervais_Show Radio Sweden: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/default.aspx?programid=2054 Ministry of Stories Ouch!

In GBA 185 we get better acquainted with Mike Jackson. I met Mike at theFocus E15 Mothers Occupation earlier this year and he is one of the real people who are fictionalised in the film Pride. We talk about the personal and the political, going through class experience and class struggle, LGBT rights, solidarity between differently oppressed groups, consciousness raising, activist and trade union history and so much more. Mike plugs: The reformed LGSM who can be found here: http://www.twitter.com/LGSMpride And in the future they'll be on facebook too here: LGSM 2014 We mention: GBA 179 Focus E15 Mothers (feat Mike Jackson): https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-179-focus-e15-mothers Focus e15 Mothers: https://twitter.com/FocusE15 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-E15-Mothers/602860129757343 http://focuse15.org/ Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ Pride: http://www.pridemovie.co.uk/ Billy Elliot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Elliot Brassed Off: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki

In GBA 184 we get better acquainted with Duncan. He talks about writing for theatre, day jobs, The West Yorkshire Playhouse writer's programme, the Royal Court Theatre Young Writer's Programme, getting involved in youth theatre, studying law, challenging your own beliefs and attitudes, moral ambiguity and growing up in Malvern. Duncan doesn't plug anything but you can find him here: https://twitter.com/duncan_gates http://thethingsthatarenotthere.wordpress.com/ I plug: http://www.davepickeringstoryteller.co.uk We mention: Matt Hill: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ Malvern: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvern,_Worcestershire Grease: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical) Oh What A Lovely War: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War UB65: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_UB-65 Charles Bukowski: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bukowski John Steinbeck: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck Of Mice and Men: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Mice_and_Men Festival Theatre: http://www.m

In GBA 183 we get better acquainted with Vicky who I met through the Ministry of Stories where she works and we talk about engaging children through creative writing, working in a Monster Supplies shop, the human capacity for learning, how the French Horn is received in folk clubs, commuting between the country and the city, the joys of birdwatching, navigating the education system and so much more. Vicky plugs: Her band the flowing: https://www.facebook.com/theflowing Birdwatching We mention: Ministry of Stories: http://www.ministryofstories.org/ Ministry of Stories on Cbeebies: http://bit.ly/MiScbeebies Poetry Garden: http://www.ministryofstories.org/planting-poetry/ Acrostic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrostic Mesostic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesostic Matt Hill: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ The Story: http://thestory.org.uk/ Hoxton Monster Supplies: http://www.monstersupplies.org/ Plainchant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plainsong Early Folk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music#Early_fol

In GBA 182 we get better acquainted with Reni Eddo-Lodge. She talks about coming to mainstream journalism via activism and blogging, analyzing how power works, how the both the left and the media are held back by viewing everything through the lens of middle class white men, the "Great Intersectionality Wars" of 2012, black feminism, cultural capital, critical race theory and more. If that makes the conversation sound academic and dry then let me assure you it really isn't. The conversation takes place in a busy cafe in Hackney, Reni is battling the end of an illness, I am battling my privilege based ignorance, but despite that we manage to have a great conversation about race, class, gender and the media. http://renieddolodge.co.uk/ Reni plugs: Email her if you want her to speak at things you are doing: http://renieddolodge.co.uk/contact/ You can find her online at: https://twitter.com/renireni I plug: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Horror: https://www.facebook.com/events/707597412628896/ Tragic Friends Act

In GBA 181 we get better acquainted with Kary. We talk about making Ministry of Stories for Cbeebies Radio, journeying into radio via 90's alternative music, living in many countries, practicing and teaching kundalini yoga. As often happens when talking to someone who also does interviews the tables are occasionally turned. Expect adventures, narrative, conscious living, feminism and more! Kary plugs: http://www.inspiredradio.co.uk/ You can hire me to do freelance work: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-week-of-goodbyes.html We mention: Matt Hill: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ Ministry of Stories: http://www.ministryofstories.org/ Cbeebies Radio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio/ Ministry of Stories series: http://bit.ly/MiScbeebies Terry Saunders: http://www.terrysaunders.co.uk/ Jenni Murray: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/17dynSh8ZdhxqcljQ99TPqP/jenni-murray Woman's Hour: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb Radio 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 Ignite: http://ignitecreati

In GBA 180 we get better acquainted with George. He talks about connecting with comics and manga as a child , being told being an animator wasn't for him by his careers adviser, going to art school, and making a living as an animator. We also cover memory, libraries, Hong Kong and more. George (http://www.georgecheng.co.uk/) plugs: Your local library. I plug: This blogpost: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-week-of-goodbyes.html Hiring me to do freelance work: https://dave-pickering.squarespace.com/hire-me-to-tell-stories/ Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Friends at the Dogstar in Brixton on Thursday 25th September from 7.30pm. Pay What You Like: www.facebook.com/events/571116096344062/ We mention: Ged: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-31-ged South Hill Park: http://www.southhillpark.org.uk/ Richard: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-richard-episodes The Middle Class Bastards: https://soundcloud.com/themiddleclassbastards Transformers: http://en.wikipedi

In GBA 179 we get better acquainted with Focus E15 Mothers. I talk to some of the people involved in the political struggle taking place at the Carpenters Estate, where a group of mothers and their supporters have turned some uninhabited (but perfectly fit to be inhabited) flats into a social centre serving the community and raising awareness of the harsh realities of local and national housing policy. https://twitter.com/FocusE15 https://twitter.com/E15OpenHouse https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-E15-Mothers/602860129757343 https://www.facebook.com/pages/E15-Open-House-Occupation/1630838387142657 https://www.facebook.com/events/322455237939436/ Also in the episode is a talk given by Mike Jackson one of the members of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners the activist group featured in the recent film Pride. http://www.coolcave.co.uk/blog/video/all-out-dancing-in-dulais-1986.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsFY0wHpR5o More info on Focus E15: http://t.co/A5mO2CKqmj http://t.co/ySKSDDOKKj

In GBA 178 we get better acquainted with Bouncy Poppy Songs About Death. Join me, Hayley and George at a listening party for the new album by The Reactionaries. It's the first time we'd all sat down and listened to the finished album together. Plugs: Bouncy Poppy Songs About Death on bandcamp: https://thereactionaries1.bandcamp.com/releases Our eponymous first album on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thereactionaries/sets/the-reactionaries To leave feedback or to approach Hayley about her novel or George about his production skills contact GBApodcast@gmail.com or @GBApodcast on twitter. Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Friends at the Dogstar in Brixton on Thursday 25th September from 7.30pm. Pay What You Like: www.facebook.com/events/571116096344062/ Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Horror at the Hackney Attic on Saturday 25th October from 7.30pm. Tickets £5 in advance and £7 on the door: https://www.facebook.com/events/324271494401590/ We mention: Apples for Everyone: https://soundcloud.com/applesforeveryone/set

In GBA 177 we get better acquainted with Daniel. He talks magic, twitter, words, comedy and opinions and has opinions and apologies for having opinions on all of those pursuits. The conversation is a delightful dance of arrogant self-deprecation and comfortable social awkwardness with some live card tricks thrown into the mix. Daniel plugs: @daniel_barker: https://twitter.com/daniel_barker Buying him beer in pubs. I plug: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Friends at the Dogstar in Brixton on Thursday 25th September from 7.30pm. Pay What You Like: https://www.facebook.com/events/571116096344062/ We mention: Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Barnardos: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/ James Ross: https://twitter.com/fki01 Eddie Izzard: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Izzard Bill Bailey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Bailey Tweet typos: http://www.thewire.com/entertainment/2012/11/inside-nitpicky-minds-twitter-typo-police/59412/ Derren Brown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derren_Brown Houdini: ht

In GBA 176 we get better acquainted with Eithne. She talks about movement between cultures, both her own global travel experiences and the experiences and issues facing groups of migrants within London . She also talks about working on equality and diversity within museums, telling her own stories in memoir and on stage and introduces me to the concept of Intangible Heritage. Content note: Some complex or upsetting issues are touched on briefly at times during this conversation: e.g FGM, abortion, bereavement, racism Eithne plugs: Her website: http://www.ethnienightingale.com Her Spark London story The Milkman's Round: http://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/the-milkmans-round-eithne-nightingale/ If any agents are interested in representing her memoir get in touch! We mention: Spark London: http://wwwsparklondon.com/ V and A: http://www.vam.ac.uk/ Museum of Childhood: http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/ Heritage Lottery Fund: http://www.hlf.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx Nyerere: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius

In GBA 175 we get better acquainted with Neil Denny. He talks about balancing and compartmentalizing his day job and his "hobby" (producing and presenting the podcast and radio show Little Atoms). We get into class, road-trips across America, whether prayer or masturbation is the more shameful act, being both inside and outside the media and lots more. Neil plugs: His podcast and radio show Little Atoms: http://littleatoms.com/ Available on iTunes and to hear live via the radio in the London area at 10.30am every Saturday on Resonance 104.4 FM or streamed at that time via the Resonance FM website: http://resonancefm.com/ He also plugs his live appearances as and when they arise. Follow him on twitter: @littleatoms We mention: Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ Neil on Spark London: http://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/best-of-spark-2-neil-denny/ Geek Showoff: http://scienceshowoff.wordpress.com/geeks/ Z List Deadlist: http://www.zlistdeadlist.com/ Izy Lawrence: https://www.iszi.com/ Winchester Scien

In this GBA Extra James McKay recites Imperfect Enjoyment by Rochester for your NSFW enjoyment. Rochester: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilmot,_2nd_Earl_of_Rochester James: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-169-james-mckay

A live recording of a GBA recorded at #edfringe 2014 at the Royal Oak as part of the PBH Free Fringe. This recording is unedited and posted in a no frills way due to the intensive workload of the festival, and for that reason these shows will also not have shownotes attached to them. 22nd August: Megan Cohen: http://plays.megancohen.com/ Megan Cohen is playwright, friend to the meek, and transmedia cultural juggernaut. Member of San Francisco Neo-Futurists. She is doing her solo show Take Me Home at #edfringe 2014.

A live recording of a GBA recorded at #edfringe 2014 at the Royal Oak as part of the PBH Free Fringe. CONTENT NOTE: The conversations touches on child abuse, drug use, violence and bullying. This recording is unedited and posted in a no frills way due to the intensive workload of the festival, and for that reason these shows will also not have shownotes attached to them. 21st August: Tamer Kattan: http://www.tamerkattan.com/ Tamer Kattan was born an outsider and that's where he stayed. This Egyptian-born American was born into a family of Muslims, Christians and Jews leaving him incredibly comfortable in the uncomfortable. From school yard bullies to an abusive father, comedy quickly became a weapon of this underdog. This award winning international comedian with TV and commercial credits in the United States. A regular at the Comedy store, Improv and Laugh Factory in Los Angeles, he now resides in the UK where you can find him at Comedy Cafe, Top Secret and The Comedy store in London.

A live recording of a GBA recorded at #edfringe 2014 at the Royal Oak as part of the PBH Free Fringe. This recording is unedited and posted in a no frills way due to the intensive workload of the festival, and for that reason these shows will also not have shownotes attached to them. 20th August: 20th August: Fay Roberts: http://www.fayroberts.co.uk/ Fay Roberts is a performance poet and peripatetic percussionist. By day she pokes projects and by night she projects across a microphone. She runs the Cambridge chapter of Hammer & Tongue, along with her own arts label/ brand/ movement/ “nebulous poetry concept” Allographic Press. And she is the director of Spoken Word at PBH's Free Fringe and runs Other Voices Caberet.

A live recording of a GBA recorded at #edfringe 2014 at the Royal Oak as part of the PBH Free Fringe. This recording is unedited and posted in a no frills way due to the intensive workload of the festival, and for that reason these shows will also not have shownotes attached to them. 19th August: Chella Quint http://www.chellaquint.com/ Chella Quint is a comedian, designer, artist, education consultant, and old school zine girl from Brooklyn, New York who now lives in Sheffield. She is the Sheffield Docfest 2013 Specialist Factual New Talent Pitch winner (for which she wrote and presented Lifting the Lid, a short film about menstruation education for the Open University) and she has recently completed a Master’s Degree in Education focusing on changing attitudes to menstruation in secondary schools. Her research has an accompanying #PeriodPositive campaign and website. She regularly performs science communication comedy in the UK and abroad, and recently hosted a comedy show live from CERN. She’s been comm

A live recording of a GBA recorded at #edfringe 2014 at the Royal Oak as part of the PBH Free Fringe. This recording is unedited and posted in a no frills way due to the intensive workload of the festival, and for that reason these shows will also not have shownotes attached to them. 18th August: Rosie Wilby: http://www.rosiewilby.com/ Rosie Wilby is a comedian, musician, writer and broadcaster based in London. As a comedian, she has performed at Sydney Mardi Gras, The Comedy Store, Latitude Festival and on Radio 4. As a musician she has performed at Glastonbury Festival, Ronnie Scotts and on Carlton TV.