List Envy

List Envy

Mark Steadman

What's the most-used emoji? Who's the best Bond villain? Does anyone care that an olive is technically a fruit?Discover hidden gems from pop culture to pasta, hip-hop to history, and meet the creatives, enthusiasts, and experts who love them.Each week, host Mark collaborates with a guest to build a top-5 list on a topic they choose. If you want to know what your next TV binge should be, or where to go on your next trip abroad, List Envy has you covered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Top 5 physicists who influence our daily lives

Top 5 physicists who influence our daily lives

We’re all standing on the shoulders of giants. And there are no more impressive shoulders to stand on than the great physicists of the 19th and 20th centuries.This week, Mark is in conversation with author and teacher Katherine Benfante, to determine who wins physics.(00:00) - We need physics! (00:32) - Introduction (02:37) - Katherine’s pick: Sir Isaac Newton (05:01) - Mark’s pick: Joseph Swan (07:29) - Katherine’s pick: James Clerk Maxwell (13:53) - Mark’s pick: William Shockley (15:4

Aug 20, 2024 • 49:51

Top 5 ways to tame your brain gremlins

Top 5 ways to tame your brain gremlins

Hands up who overthinks stuff? Did you really put your hand up? Is anyone else putting theirs up? Did you put yours up too quickly? Maybe you were too slow? And what is a hand meant to do once it’s up in the air, anyway? I mean, we’re always being told to wave them like we just don’t care… how does a person do that?And breathe.Kim Witten helps people turn their overthinking into expert thinking, and she joins Mark to build a top-5 list of ways to tame the gremlins in our brain.(00:00) - You are

Aug 13, 2024 • 54:07

Top 5 Weird Al songs that aren’t parodies

Top 5 Weird Al songs that aren’t parodies

Staple a jelly doughnut to your ear, set your spleen to channel 27 and ask your favourite albino squirrel to a dance. Lex Friedman joins Mark to discuss their top-5 songs by “Weird” Al Yankovic that aren’t parodies.Lex is, among many things (musician, improviser, podcaster, game developer and consultant), a turbo Yankovic fan, and it’s quite possible that even Al himself might struggle to come up with a better list.(00:00) - Stay weird, Al (00:40) - Introduction (01:04) - Getting into W

Aug 6, 2024 • 48:29

Top 5 songs that drag us to the dance floor

Top 5 songs that drag us to the dance floor

Rhythm is a dancer. The rhythm is gonna get ya. And you must not, under any circumstances, stop the beat.This week, Stephanie Fuccio joins Mark to pick their top 5 songs that drag them to the dance floor. At the end of this, you’ll either leave with an earworm or the need to jump on a mini-trampoline for a bit.(00:00) - We have to dance (00:17) - Introduction (00:58) - When do you dance? (05:41) - Steph’s pick: Missy Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) (08:40) - Mark’s pick: Brush Shiels

Jul 30, 2024 • 48:41

Top 5 androids from sci-fi movies

Top 5 androids from sci-fi movies

Whether they go “pew pew”, “what is this thing called ‘love’?” or “Give me your clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle”, androids have, it turns out, been a staple of sci-fi films for a century.This week, Ayesha Khan joins Mark to rank androids from sci-fi films.(00:00) - Cold open (00:19) - Introduction (02:00) - What is an android? (03:38) - Ayesha’s pick: The Terminator, from Terminator 2: Judgement Day (07:32) - Mark’s pick: Marvin, from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (10:29

Jul 23, 2024 • 50:34

Top 5 piano pop acts

Top 5 piano pop acts

Whether you like to bash away at them or tickle them gently, you can get a lot of beautiful noise out of 88 keys.Jon Hickman rejoins Mark to discuss their top-5 piano pop ac.(00:00) - Cold open (00:26) - Introduction (00:47) - Jon’s pick: Billy Joel (03:21) - Mark’s pick: Ben Folds (Five) (15:28) - Jon’s pick: Regina Spektor (19:12) - Mark’s pick: Elton John (24:20) - Jon’s pick: Sean Smith (31:14) - Mark’s pick: Muse (35:42) - Jon’s pick: Keane (41:12) - Mark’s pick: Stevie Wonder (49:

Jul 16, 2024 • 1:01:57

Top 5 James Bond gadgets

Top 5 James Bond gadgets

Nothing is ever quite as it seems in the world of spies. A watch isn’t just a watch – it’s a deadly weapon. That phonebooth? Also a weapon. Bag pipes? Weapon. This sandwich though, that’s just Q’s lunch. Don’t touch it.Valerie Paris rejoins Mark to discuss their top-5 Bond gadgets. Like Valerie’s previous appearance, it’s funny and charming. Unlike Mark’s previous Bond episode, it’s accurate and researched.(00:00) - Cold open (00:26) - Introduction (00:54) - Welcome to Bond (03:29) - Va

Jul 9, 2024 • 56:35

Top 5 ways we can actually make a difference

Top 5 ways we can actually make a difference

The world faces a host of very real and serious dangers. But if you believe there’s nothing little ol’ us can do, it’s probably because that’s what certain people want you to think.No, this isn’t a conspiracy episode – just a collation of ways you can actually make a difference in your home, your street, your local area, and maybe a little further afield.Rebecca Bratspies, environment expert and law professor joins Mark to discuss their top-5 ways we can actually make a difference.(00:0

Jul 2, 2024 • 54:33

Top 5 ways to explore a new city solo

Top 5 ways to explore a new city solo

What should you do, eat, drink, look for or avoid while traveling alone to a new city?Arielle Nissenblatt, podcast maven and former List Envy guest, returns to decide on the top five ways to explore a new city while travelling solo.(00:00) - Sometimes it's better solo (00:33) - Introduction (01:03) - Guatemala was too hot (02:50) - Arielle’s pick: Join a free walking tour (07:35) - Mark’s pick: Follow the music (10:30) - Arielle’s pick: Go to a vegetarian restaurant (13:07) - Mark’s pic

Jun 25, 2024 • 42:01

Top 5 real-world inventions inspired by sci-fi

Top 5 real-world inventions inspired by sci-fi

What do mechanical limbs, credit cards, and the atomic bomb have in common? They all had their roots in science fiction.Ashley Hamer joins Mark to rank real-world inventions inspired by sci-fi, and Mark reveals that he apparently went to school in a gadget factory.(00:00) - Cold open (00:11) - Introduction (00:41) - Guest (03:44) - Ashley’s pick: Autonomous cars (07:21) - Mark’s pick: World Wide Web (08:39) - Ashley’s pick: Atomic bombs (10:09) - Mark’s pick: Mobile phone (11:58) - Ashl

Jun 18, 2024 • 34:45

Top 5 sonic logos

Top 5 sonic logos

Just like every brand has a visual logo, every accomplished brand has an audio – or sonic – logo too. Everything from the Netflix “tudum” to the noise your computer makes when it starts up… even the cap on the bottle of soda; it’s all been designed to be memorable.Professional voice actor Jodi Krangle joins Mark to discuss all things sonic branding, and to pick their combined top 5 list of sonic logos.(00:00) - Your kettle has a sonic brand (00:30) - Introduction (00:53) - Why is audio

Jun 11, 2024 • 40:35

Top 5 attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Top 5 attractions at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Where can you go to get a goodnight kiss, see a big wienie, and drink your way around the world? Why, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom of course!This week, Mark is joined by Disney turbo-enthusiast James Smith, to create the definitive list of things you can do in the happiest place on earth.(00:00) - Cold open (00:14) - Introduction (01:42) - The changing parks (03:16) - James’s pick: The Haunted Mansion (08:21) - Mark’s pick: Space Mountain (14:55) - James’s pick: Pirates of the Cari

Jun 4, 2024 • 55:06

Top 5 films that give us the creeps

Top 5 films that give us the creeps

If they don’t leave you humming to yourself during your midnight pee, then they don’t qualify.Standup comic Luke Gallacher joins Mark to discuss films that give them the absolute ick, and put them in the correct order.(00:00) - We don’t want famous people in our horrors (00:12) - It begins (01:26) - In this house we do horror (02:46) - Luke’s pick: Nightmare on Elm Street (05:18) - Mark’s pick: Midsommar (07:46) - Luke’s pick: Paranormal Activity (10:11) - Mark’s pick: the Babadook (13:

May 28, 2024 • 47:09

Top 5 haunted locations

Top 5 haunted locations

“Let’s get away to this old European castle”, he said. “It’ll be romantic”, he said. Then you find your husband’s EVP meter in your carry-on luggage and you remember you married a writer of real-life ghost stories.John Olson, author of the Stranger Bridgerland book series joins Mark to discuss places that will creep you the hell out.(00:00) - The Stair Monster (00:07) - Introduction (00:53) - The 100 Year-old House (04:03) - The Man in the Hat (05:03) - Where is the evidence? (06:38) -

May 21, 2024 • 40:35

Top 5 British sitcoms of the 1980s

Top 5 British sitcoms of the 1980s

We’ve got some half-priced cracked ice, codpieces, yellow coats and goldfish shoals nibbling at toes. That can mean only one thing – your podcast app is on the blink again.Jon Bounds rejoins Mark to discuss their top-5 80s sitcoms from the UK. There is a very long long-list.(00:00) - Jon moved Dead Elvis (00:07) - Introduction (00:53) - What makes a sitcom? (02:27) - Jon’s pick: Only Fools and Horses (07:19) - Mark’s pick: The Young Ones (11:29) - Jon’s pick: Hi-de-Hi (15:08) - Mark’s p

May 14, 2024 • 50:18

Top 5 Eurovision songs of 2024

Top 5 Eurovision songs of 2024

Sequins, ethnic-sounding instruments, scantily-clad androgynous gimps, wolves in tailored suits. It’s here. It’s Eurovision. Get used to it.Cat Turner joins Mark to sift through all 37 Eurovision 2024 semifinalists to discover which are objectively the best 5.(00:00) - Who chooses hockey over Eurovision? (00:08) - Introduction (02:00) - Memories of Eurovision past (04:28) - How Mark got Eurovision wrong (05:13) - Cat’s pick: Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim (07:36) - Mark’s pick: Aiko -

May 7, 2024 • 37:38

Top 5 British standups you have to see live

Top 5 British standups you have to see live

Those “You had to be there” moments; the jokes that made you cry but you can no longer remember; the savage putdown of the ambitious heckler. These are the moments that distinguish live comedy from what you can get on Netflix.This week, new standup Dave Bond joins Mark to discuss their top-5 British standups you can currently see live… and simply must!(00:00) - A first (00:08) - Introduction (00:55) - Make ‘em laugh (03:55) - Dave’s pick: Peter Kay (08:01) - Mark’s pick: Daniel Kitson (

Apr 30, 2024 • 42:42

Top 5 Korean TV romcoms

Top 5 Korean TV romcoms

Everyone’s pretty, everyone eventually gets down to it, no-one throws up, and occasionally steam comes out of someone’s ears. Is there more to cute Korean dramas than this?Turns out yes, yes there is, as positive psychologist and K-drama stan Anya Pearse explains.(00:00) - A lot of thought wente into this (00:11) - Introduction (00:57) - What makes K-dramas different? (04:39) - Anya’s pick: Extraordinary Attorney Woo (09:02) - Mark’s pick: I am Not a Robot (12:50) - Anya’s pick: Are You

Apr 23, 2024 • 49:44

Top 5 emoji reactions

Top 5 emoji reactions

Whether you’re 🤩, 😡, or 🫤 about them, emoji are a useful way to express in one tiny image what would take reams of text to express.So today, George Chachanidze rejoins Mark to pick their top 5 emoji reactions, and create a definitive list.(00:00) - 👋 (00:17) - Introduction (01:08) - History of the emoji (05:14) - George’s pick: 😂 (08:16) - Mark’s pick: 🤗 (10:16) - George’s pick: 🤔 (12:11) - Mark’s pick: 🙏 (14:09) - George’s pick: 👍 (17:03) - Mark’s pick: 👋 (18:49) - George’s p

Apr 14, 2024 • 37:57

Top 5 Simpsons characters

Top 5 Simpsons characters

Stuart Moore joins Mark to discuss their top-5 characters from America’s longest-running animated show.Snowball II, Groundskeeper Willy, Frank Grimes. These are just some of the characters that get absolutely no mention in this week’s episode.(00:00) - Do the Bartman (00:25) - Introduction (01:22) - Changing voices of the Simpsons (04:40) - Stuart's pick: Homer Simpson (10:17) - Mark's pick: Ralph Wiggum (12:51) - Stuart's pick: Lisa Simpson (15:57) - Mark's pick: Hank Scorpio (18:00) -

Apr 14, 2024 • 43:43

Season 3 begins April 16th

Season 3 begins April 16th

List Envy is returning, with a brand new set of comedians, writers, performers, and layabouts. Join Mark and his guests every week as they continue to rank things in order from 1 to 5, so you don't have to.

Mar 12, 2024 • 1:27

Top 5 modern indie bands

Top 5 modern indie bands

Indie music blogger Kamala Adams joins Mark to discuss all things modern indie, and to define what “modern” means. Kamala’s picks In order of discussion: Porridge Radio Despite Mark’s apparent ignorance, this band did crop up in the previous episode, but he had apparently forgotten. Regardless, Porridge Radio are Kamala’s current favourite band. Wolf Alice Initially on first blush, Kamala wasn’t a big fan of Wolf Alice, but they’re a varied band, and eventually they won her over. Blaenavon Named

May 31, 2021 • 50:41

Top 5 modern indie bands

Top 5 modern indie bands

Indie music blogger Kamala Adams joins Mark to discuss all things modern indie, and to define what “modern” means.(00:00) - Introduction(05:22) - Kamala's pick: Porridge Radio(07:40) - Mark's pick: The Corteeners(10:28) - Kamala's pick: Wolf Alice(13:42) - Mark's pick: Maxïmo Park(16:28) - Kamala's pick: Blaenavon(19:04) - Mark's pick: Gerry Cinnamon(22:22) - Kamala's pick: The Vaccines(24:34) - Mark's pick: Nothing But Thieves(26:54) - Kamala's pick: Courting(29:26) - Mark's pick: Courtney Barn

May 31, 2021 • 50:40

Top 5 albums of 2020

Top 5 albums of 2020

Mark talks vinyl and hunts down new music to enjoy, with music podcaster Elliott Farrar. Elliott’s picks In order of discussion: Weird! , by Yungblud Elliott picked Yungblud’s second studio album for the way the artist’s message of “you do you” bleeds through. Girlfriends , by Girlfriends Pop punk is back, in the form of Travis Mills and Nick Gross’ project, which may have a limited shelf-life, given Mills’ busy career. Grime MC , by Joe Actually released right at the end of 2019 – but near-as-d

May 24, 2021 • 1:02:39

Top 5 albums of 2020

Top 5 albums of 2020

Mark talks vinyl and hunts down new music to enjoy, with music podcaster Elliott Farrar.(00:00) - Introduction(09:26) - Elliott's pick: Weird!, by Yungblud(13:04) - Mark's pick: RTJ4, by Run the Jewels(16:06) - Elliott's pick: Girlfriends, by Girlfriends(20:00) - Mark's pick: Women in Music Pt III, by Haim(21:24) - Elliott's pick: Grime MC, by Jme(32:50) - Mark's pick: Letter to You, by Bruce Springstein(36:30) - Elliott's pick: Fake it Flowers, by Beabadoobee(39:46) - Mark's pick: Saint Cloud,

May 24, 2021 • 1:02:38

Top 5 ways to procrastinate

Top 5 ways to procrastinate

Mark is joined by super-talented singer-songwriter Bryony Williams. Bryony realised she could sing in her early teens, and spent most of her mid-to-late teens honing her craft. At nineteen she was in the electro-pop duo Field Harmonics, and has been recording solo since 2018.(00:00) - Introduction(05:50) - Bryony's pick: Cleaning(08:02) - Mark's pick: Over-planning the task(13:28) - Bryony's pick: Spontaneous trips out with pals(17:58) - Mark's pick: Organising and taxonomising(21:20) - Brony's

Apr 27, 2021 • 52:15

Top 5 ways to procrastinate

Top 5 ways to procrastinate

Guest Bryony Williams Your favourite rockstar with a watergun, once compared to a young Fiona Apple. @bryonywilliams | Linktree twitter.com Mark is joined by super-talented singer-songwriter Bryony Williams. Bryony realised she could sing in her early teens, and spent most of her mid-to-late teens honing her craft. At nineteen she was in the electro-pop duo Field Harmonics, and has been recording solo since 2018. Bryony’s picks In order of discussion: Cleaning Number one – with not so much a b

Apr 27, 2021 • 52:16

Top 5 positive tech developments for musicians

Top 5 positive tech developments for musicians

Guest Ella Gregg Founder of artist management and development company 321 Artists. twitter.com 321 artists Mark kicks off a music mini-season with artist manager Ella Gregg, who’s been supporting emerging music artists since she was a teenager. Tech has always been an important aspect of Ella’s work, including her early days helping artists get their work played in films or adverts. Ella’s picks In order of discussion Livestreaming Over the lockdown period, artists have needed to adapt in orde

Apr 20, 2021 • 1:14:15

Top 5 positive tech developments for musicians

Top 5 positive tech developments for musicians

Mark kicks off a music mini-season with artist manager Ella Gregg, who’s been supporting emerging music artists since she was a teenager.Tech has always been an important aspect of Ella’s work, including her early days helping artists get their work played in films or adverts.(00:00) - Introduction(07:20) - Ella's pick: Livestreaming(13:04) - Mark's pick: Loop pedal(18:22) - Ella's pick: Multi-participant video calling(23:50) - Mark's pick: Handheld SD card recorder(28:16) - Ella's pick: Digital

Apr 20, 2021 • 1:14:14

Top 5 fictional librarians

Top 5 fictional librarians

Many people are intrigued by the depiction of their profession in popular fiction, and none more so than librarians, like this week’s guest Owen Stephens.(00:00) - Introduction(06:35) - Owen's pick: Bunny Watson(12:13) - Mark's pick: Horace Worblehat(18:33) - Owen's pick: Lirael(24:02) - Mark's pick: Mrs Phelps(28:26) - Owen's pick: Oswald Bates(34:32) - Mark's pick: Brooks Hatlen(39:06) - Owen's pick: Tammy 2(45:22) - Mark's pick: Joe Bookman(48:00) - Breaktime(51:00) - Building the final list(

Mar 30, 2021 • 1:04:42

Top 5 fictional librarians

Top 5 fictional librarians

Guest Owen Stephens Librarian. “What else is there to say?” twitter.com Overdue Ideas | Ideas linking Libraries, Computing, E-learning, and anything else that springs to mind. Many people are intrigued by the depiction of their profession in popular fiction, and none more so than librarians, like this week’s guest Owen Stephens. Owen’s picks In order of discussion: Bunny Watson The TV company researcher and librarian played by Katharine Hepburn in the 1957 film Desk Set is top of Owen’s list f

Mar 30, 2021 • 1:04:43

Top 5 biopics

Top 5 biopics

Guest Aaron Conway Co-host of The Third Wheel podcast. Aaron Conway | Developer, Designer, one or the other. The Third Wheel twitter.com Whether they cover an entire life or centre on a pivotal moment, biopics are often Oscar fodder, and are frequently conic. In this episode, Mark and podcaster and web developer Aaron Conway get straight down to business, ranking the best biopics around. Aaron’s picks In order of discussion: The Social Network Aaron goes straight in with the Fincher/Sorkin col

Mar 23, 2021 • 55:28

Top 5 biopics

Top 5 biopics

Whether they cover an entire life or centre on a pivotal moment, biopics are often Oscar fodder, and are frequently conic. In this episode, Mark and podcaster and web developer Aaron Conway get straight down to business, ranking the best biopics around.(00:00) - Introduction(02:29) - Aaron's pick: The Social Network(06:52) - Mark's pick: Shadowlands(11:44) - Aaron's pick: Rocketman(19:46) - Mark's pick: Stan and Ollie(21:50) - Aaron's pick: The Wolf of Wall Street(27:22) - Mark's pick: Hillbilly

Mar 23, 2021 • 55:27

Top 5 subtly life-changing non-fiction books

Top 5 subtly life-changing non-fiction books

Guest Eliza Lita Europe Editor for The Meridian magazine. Top writer in Books and Reading on Medium. Eliza Lita – Editor and freelance journalist twitter.com Journalist Eliza Lita is a self-confessed bookworm, but her early reading focused more on non-fiction work. As a result, she’s picked up a wide variety of useful knowledge, and kept her curiosity alive. She and Mark share an appreciation for good crime fiction, and Eliza has some tips to help Mark finish the books he keeps starting. Eliza

Mar 16, 2021 • 8:37

Top 5 subtly life-changing non-fiction books

Top 5 subtly life-changing non-fiction books

Journalist Eliza Lita is a self-confessed bookworm, but her early reading focused more on non-fiction work. As a result, she’s picked up a wide variety of useful knowledge, and kept her curiosity alive. She and Mark share an appreciation for good crime fiction, and Eliza has some tips to help Mark finish the books he keeps starting.(00:00) - Introduction(06:10) - Eliza's pick: Ikigai(10:14) - MArk's pick: The Chimp Paradox(12:14) - Eliza's pick: The Face(15:56) - Mark's pick: Self-compassion(18:

Mar 16, 2021 • 55:09

Top 5 rewards of urban walking

Top 5 rewards of urban walking

Guest Sue Burlton Paediatric ICU nurse passionate about her career and her children. twitter.com Mark is joined by nature lover and avid walker Sue Burlton, and together they uncover the joys of a good stretch of the legs. If you’re planning a stroll, this will make excellent accompaniment. Sue’s picks In order of discussion: Wildlife You might be surprised how much wildlife is available for you to see, even in an urban space, so let the dog off the lead for a bit and take a look through the t

Mar 2, 2021 • 44:20

Top 5 rewards of urban walking

Top 5 rewards of urban walking

Mark is joined by nature lover and avid walker Sue Burlton, and together they uncover the joys of a good stretch of the legs. If you’re planning a stroll, this will make excellent accompaniment.(00:00) - Introduction(03:40) - Sue's pick: Wildlife(06:46) - Mark's pick: Time to yourself(10:28) - Sue's pick: Green space(13:38) - Mark's pick: Get stuff done(19:46) - Sue's pick: The canals of Birmingham(21:28) - Mark's pick: Time offline(23:34) - Sue's pick: The Seven Wonders Way(29:26) - Mark's pick

Mar 2, 2021 • 44:19

Top 5 point-and-click adventure games

Top 5 point-and-click adventure games

Guest Valerie Paris Creator of games, immersive media, and broken dreamthings. twitter.com Valerie Paris - itch.io Developer of horror video games including Butterfly Collector, Valerie Paris joins Mark to discuss point-and-click adventure games you’ll remember, and one or two you’ll never forget, no matter how hard you try. Valerie is too young to have played many of these games when they originally came out, but has made up for that Valerie’s picks In order of discussion: Grim Fandango This

Feb 23, 2021 • 50:35

Top 5 point-and-click adventure games

Top 5 point-and-click adventure games

Developer of horror video games including Butterfly Collector, Valerie Paris joins Mark to discuss point-and-click adventure games you’ll remember, and one or two you’ll never forget, no matter how hard you try.(00:00) - Introduction(07:11) - Valerie's pick: Grim Fandango(08:59) - Mark's pick: Day of the Tentacle(11:44) - Valerie's pick: Myst(16:39) - Mark's pick: Little Big Adventure(19:45) - Valerie's pick: Still Life(23:49) - Mark's pick: Discworld(27:42) - Valerie's pick: Loom(30:40) - Mark'

Feb 23, 2021 • 50:34

Top 5 tips for working in the creative sector

Top 5 tips for working in the creative sector

Mark is joined by the Creative Director at Worcester-based design, branding and development agency WeAreBeard, Dave Webb, to share his top tips for working in the kind of field that your mum told you you should have a backup for.Dave remembers the first day he was praised for drawing something good, instead of being made to feel like he was falling behind academically, which is where his affinity for creative work began.A creative person’s priorities often don’t fit in with a “professional” cult

Feb 16, 2021 • 1:22:51

Top 5 tips for working in the creative sector

Top 5 tips for working in the creative sector

Guest David Webb Creative Director at WeAreBeard. twitter.com WEAREBEARD - Design, branding & development Worcester Mark is joined by the Creative Director at Worcester-based design, branding and development agency WeAreBeard, Dave Webb, to share his top tips for working in the kind of field that your mum told you you should have a backup for. Dave remembers the first day he was praised for drawing something good, instead of being made to feel like he was falling behind academically, which is

Feb 16, 2021 • 1:22:52

Top 5 time-travel romance films

Top 5 time-travel romance films

Guest Karl Hodge University Course Director, and former tech journalist, currently researching VR and narrative. twitter.com Time-travel films are often about fixing the big things, so says this week’s guest, Karl Hodge, but time-travel romance films address the small things that keep us awake at night. Mark and Karl begin by looking at some of Christopher Nolan’s work, from Memento to Tenet , and trying to figure out whether they qualify as time-travel films. Groundhog Day This early time-loo

Jan 26, 2021 • 50:17

Top 5 time-travel romance films

Top 5 time-travel romance films

Time-travel films are often about fixing the big things, so says this week’s guest, Karl Hodge, but time-travel romance films address the small things that keep us awake at night.Mark and Karl begin by looking at some of Christopher Nolan’s work, from Memento to Tenet, and trying to figure out whether they qualify as time-travel films.(00:00) - Introduction(05:48) - Karl's pick: Groundhog Day(08:32) - Mark's pick: Back to the Future(12:02) - Karl's pick: The Time Travellers Wife(15:24) - Mark's

Jan 26, 2021 • 50:16

Top 5 people from Birmingham

Top 5 people from Birmingham

This week’s guest is musician, DJ and producer Kevin Kerr, and on the list is top people from Birmingham in the UK, or as we have them, Brummies.(00:00) - Introduction(04:38) - Rusty's pick: Benjamin Zephaniah(07:14) - Mark's pick: Stewart Lee(10:12) - Rusty's pick: Tony Iommi(12:32) - Mark's pick: John Cadbury(15:50) - Rusty's pick: Mike Skinner(20:14) - Mark's pick: John Oliver(22:50) - Rusty's pick: Pat Malloy(28:52) - Mark's pick: Janice Connolly(31:10) - Rusty's pick: Joe Lycett(34:50) - Br

Jan 19, 2021 • 50:31

Top 5 people from Birmingham

Top 5 people from Birmingham

Guest Rusty Nails Musician, DJ, producer, dreamer! One third of Titans of Doom. Rusty Nails | Free Listening on SoundCloud twitter.com This week’s guest is musician, DJ and producer Kevin Kerr, and on the list is top people from Birmingham in the UK, or as we have them, Brummies. Benjamin Zephaniah Kevin’s first pick is the poet and performer who might be best known to non-UK listeners as the priest in Peaky Blinders, but Benjamin’s words have touched both he and Mark, which is why he features

Jan 19, 2021 • 50:32

Top 5 moments of anarchism

Top 5 moments of anarchism

This week’s guest is Liam Barrington-Bush, a Bristol-based activist who helps organisations think more like people, and has loads of real-world experience of how people can govern themselves, build their own systems, and get closer to achieving what they want, without having those systems handed down to them.After years of community activism and disillusionment with political systems, Liam discovered that people were capable of remarkable things when they weren’t being told what to do. Mark and

Jan 12, 2021 • 1:26:40

Top 5 moments of anarchism

Top 5 moments of anarchism

Guest Liam Barrington-Bush Helping keep neighbourhoods undesirable. Hip-hop. Anarchism. Community is the answer. twitter.com more like people » Anarchists in the Boardroom | more like people This week’s guest is Liam Barrington-Bush, a Bristol-based activist who helps organisations think more like people, and has loads of real-world experience of how people can govern themselves, build their own systems, and get closer to achieving what they want, without having those systems handed down to th

Jan 12, 2021 • 1:26:41

Top 5 golden-age arcade games

Top 5 golden-age arcade games

Today Mark is talking the golden age of arcade games, which ran from 1979 til around 1983. Mark and Nick start with their own childhood arcade memories, and Mark gets quizzical about the American quarter as a “unit of fun”. As this was recorded during the Quarantimes, conversation inevitably turned to the decline in in-person entertainment like arcades and cinemas.(00:00) - Introduction(10:38) - Nicholas's pick: Pac-Man(22:17) - Mark's pick: Space Invaders(26:57) - Nicholas's pick: Defender(32:4

Jan 5, 2021 • 1:16:27

Top 5 golden-age arcade games

Top 5 golden-age arcade games

Guest Nicholas Bond Creator of the Retrogame Deconstruction Zone, focusing on early 1982. twitter.com Retrogame Deconstruction Zone Today Mark is talking the golden age of arcade games, which ran from 1979 til around 1983. Mark and Nick start with their own childhood arcade memories, and Mark gets quizzical about the American quarter as a “unit of fun”. As this was recorded during the Quarantimes, conversation inevitably turned to the decline in in-person entertainment like arcades and cinemas

Jan 5, 2021 • 1:16:28

Spooky stories: Part 2

Spooky stories: Part 2

Guests Catherine Turner Cat presents Cat’s Cabinet of Curiosities with Tom Clabon, a show about conspiracy theories, cults, cryptozoology, crime and conundrums. Cat's Cabinet of Curiosities Cat's Cabinet of Curiosities (@catscabinet_pod) | Twitter Tom Clabon Co-producer of Cat’s Cabinet of Curiosities. general comedy/films/music person. Tom Clabon (@tom_clabon) | Twitter Mark is joined once more by Cat Turner and Tom Clabon to swap spooky stories. If you haven’t already checked out part one,

Dec 31, 2020 • 40:02

Spooky stories: Part 2

Spooky stories: Part 2

Mark is joined once more by Cat Turner and Tom Clabon to swap spooky stories. If you haven’t already checked out part one, you can do so now.(00:00) - Introduction(01:10) - Mark's pick: The call is coming from inside the house(05:40) - Tom's pick: Boston Dynamics robot dog revenge(07:54) - Mark's pick: Petscop(16:16) - Mark's pick: The Young Ones' fifth housemate(27:42) - Honourable mentions(35:58) - PostambleTake my domain knowledge quizFind out if your knowledge and experience can get you paid

Dec 31, 2020 • 40:01

Spooky stories: Part 1

Spooky stories: Part 1

List Envy is back in the new year with a new slate of guests and lists. To get us back into the spirit, Mark called up previous guests Cat Turner and Tom Clabon to swap “scary ghost stories”, as is tradition, according to It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, which is a Christmas song.(00:00) - Introduction(03:22) - It's the most wonderful time of the year(04:04) - Cat's pick: Mothman(16:50) - Mark's pick: Cropsey(19:08) - Tom's pick: Talking Angela(24:15) - Cat's pick: Olivia Mabel(37:09) -

Dec 22, 2020 • 46:54

Spooky stories: Part 1

Spooky stories: Part 1

Guests Catherine Turner Cat presents Cat’s Cabinet of Curiosities with Tom Clabon, a show about conspiracy theories, cults, cryptozoology, crime and conundrums. Cat's Cabinet of Curiosities Cat's Cabinet of Curiosities (@catscabinet_pod) | Twitter Tom Clabon Co-producer of Cat’s Cabinet of Curiosities. general comedy/films/music person. Tom Clabon (@tom_clabon) | Twitter List Envy is back in the new year with a new slate of guests and lists. To get us back into the spirit, Mark called up pre

Dec 22, 2020 • 46:55

Top 5 UK garden birds

Top 5 UK garden birds

Guest Suzy Buttress Birdwatcher, nature lover, and host of the Casual Birder podcast. The Casual Birder Podcast Suzy Buttress (@suzybee_2) • Instagram photos and videos Mark chats with casual birder Suzy Buttress about features, song and flight. Suzy has specific criteria she uses to judge the quality of birds (which makes her a List Envy natural): song, plumage, behaviour and impact on the garden. She also provides some great advice if you’re looking to feed the birds, without becoming th

Mar 24, 2020 • 59:07

Top 5 UK garden birds

Top 5 UK garden birds

Mark chats with casual birder Suzy Buttress about features, song and flight.Suzy has specific criteria she uses to judge the quality of birds (which makes her a List Envy natural): song, plumage, behaviour and impact on the garden. She also provides some great advice if you’re looking to feed the birds, without becoming the crazy pigeon lady from Home Alone, or spreading plants that shouldn’t be spread.(00:00) - Introduction(05:46) - Suzy's pick: Robin(09:10) - Mark's pick: Goldfinch(11:44) - Su

Mar 24, 2020 • 59:06

Top 5 films about computers

Top 5 films about computers

Mark is joined by podcaster and self-confessed computer nerd Nick Moreton, to talk about films where people talk about mainframes and UNIX systems.There are quite a few swears in this episode, and more than a little discussion about a mutual friend, co-host of Nick’s podcast and Mark’s, and previous List Envy guest, Jon Hickman.(00:00) - Introduction(10:20) - Nick's pick: Hackers(16:26) - Mark's pick: The Matrix(21:44) - Nick's pick: The Social Network (26:16) - Mark's pick: Existenz(30:18) - Ni

Mar 10, 2020 • 1:04:11

Top 5 films about computers

Top 5 films about computers

Guest Nick Moreton Coder, teacher, punk, tea lover. You Don't Look Like A Runner Nick (@NGMoreton) on Twitter Mark is joined by podcaster and self-confessed computer nerd Nick Moreton, to talk about films where people talk about mainframes and UNIX systems. There are quite a few swears in this episode, and more than a little discussion about a mutual friend, co-host of Nick’s podcast and Mark’s, and previous List Envy guest, Jon Hickman.. Honourable mentions Her The Terminator Independence Da

Mar 10, 2020 • 1:04:12

Top 5 Bond villains

Top 5 Bond villains

Guest Thom Peterson Humour, mystery and downright stupid stuff! That’s his middle name….erm…..names. Thom Peterson (@AmazingGuyMagic) on Twitter www.AmazingGuy.com We look down the barrel of a gun, at a besuited comedy magician called Thom Peterson. He enters centre-frame, aims his gun and fires. Red washes over the screen. Fade to black. Thom maintains that magicians just want to be Bond, and who can blame him? He and Mark talk about their favourite — and least-favourite — Bonds, the trouble

Mar 3, 2020 • 56:20

Top 5 Bond villains

Top 5 Bond villains

We look down the barrel of a gun, at a besuited comedy magician called Thom Peterson. He enters centre-frame, aims his gun and fires. Red washes over the screen. Fade to black.Thom maintains that magicians just want to be Bond, and who can blame him? He and Mark talk about their favourite — and least-favourite — Bonds, the trouble with the E-on canon (which is not a villainous super-weapon), and much more.Expect swearing, Bond trivia, an extraordinary amount of incorrect information, and spoiler

Mar 3, 2020 • 56:57

Top 5 journalism films

Top 5 journalism films

Guest Karin Robinson Host of the Primarily: 2020 podcast. Former Democrats Abroad UK Vice Chair. Edelman UK Planning Director. Mum. Cat lady. Primarily: 2020 • A podcast on Anchor Karin Robinson (@karinjr) on Twitter Mark gets to the truth, with political podcaster Karin Robinson, as they share their lists of films about the people who keep the presses running. Karin hosts the Primarily 2020 podcast, which tracks the ongoing story of the Democratic primaries (the thing where they elect the par

Feb 25, 2020 • 57:37

Top 5 journalism films

Top 5 journalism films

Mark gets to the truth, with political podcaster Karin Robinson, as they share their lists of films about the people who keep the presses running.Karin hosts the Primarily 2020 podcast, which tracks the ongoing story of the Democratic primaries (the thing where they elect the party’s Presidential candidate). She feels that films about journalism tell the best stories about people engaging with public life.(00:00) - Introduction(03:42) - Karin's pick: Spotlight(07:02) - Mark's pick: Network(11:26

Feb 25, 2020 • 57:36

No episode klaxon

No episode klaxon

No episode this week due to technical issues. We should be back and podcasting again in a week or so, but if you’re interested in the many and varied problems Mark’s had trying to get the laterst episode up, then have a listen. Also if you’re curious about how Mark thinks about the show going forwards, stay tuned. If you’re interested, Mark put this episode together mostly on his iPad. He recorded the audio on the Mac, ‘cos that’s where his posh mic sits, but did all the mixing and editing, and

Feb 20, 2020 • 16:26

No episode klaxon

No episode klaxon

No episode this week due to technical issues. We should be back and podcasting again in a week or so, but if you’re interested in the many and varied problems Mark’s had trying to get the laterst episode up, then have a listen. Also if you’re curious about how Mark thinks about the show going forwards, stay tuned. If you’re interested, Mark put this episode together mostly on his iPad. He recorded the audio on the Mac, ‘cos that’s where his posh mic sits, but did all the mixing and ed

Feb 20, 2020 • 16:25

Top 5 geek things that aren’t geeky

Top 5 geek things that aren’t geeky

Guest Steve Dawson Writer (Walliams & Friend, Saturday Night Takeaway, Big School, Dawson Bros Funtime, Mitchell and Webb), Director (Groove Armada, FoD), Host of the Mind Canyon podcast. Steve Dawson (@SDawsonBros) on Twitter Dawson Bros. Comedy writer and performer Steve Dawson gets nerdy — but not really that nerdy — and talks about the culture and stereotypes around the word “geek”. But also there’s lots of stuff with lasers and electronic music. Steve talks about the book Laughter, by Ro

Feb 11, 2020 • 1:04:45

Top 5 geek things that aren’t geeky

Top 5 geek things that aren’t geeky

Comedy writer and performer Steve Dawson gets nerdy — but not really that nerdy — and talks about the culture and stereotypes around the word “geek”. But also there’s lots of stuff with lasers and electronic music. (00:00) - Introduction(06:58) - Steve's pick: Star Wars(12:42) - Mark's pick: The Big Bang Theory(19:26) - Steve's pick: Synthesisers(26:32) - Steve's pick: Collections(31:52) - Mark's pick: Game of Thrones(40:16) - Steve's pick: Comic-Con(46:26) - Mark's pick: Board games(51:14) - St

Feb 11, 2020 • 1:04:44

Top 5 types of graphics most often misread

Top 5 types of graphics most often misread

Guest Alberto Cairo Knight Chair at the University of Miami. New book: “How Charts Lie” (WW Norton). Previous: “The Truthful Art” (2016). Consultant and freelancer. Alberto Cairo (@AlbertoCairo) on Twitter The Functional Art: An Introduction to Information Graphics and Visualization Mark gets political and data-visual with data visualisation expert, Alberto Cairo. Alberto has a journalism degree and worked as a graphic designer for many years. He now teaches the subject, and quite literally wr

Feb 4, 2020 • 57:48

Top 5 types of graphics most often misread

Top 5 types of graphics most often misread

Mark gets political and data-visual with data visualisation expert, Alberto Cairo.Alberto has a journalism degree and worked as a graphic designer for many years. He now teaches the subject, and quite literally wrote the book on it. Although a lot of what’s covered in this episode is US-centric, Alberto maintains that the misuse of graphics isn’t a partisan problem linked to whether someone’s in a blue state or a red state, but essentially that the right is guilty of bullshitting.Bullshit is a w

Feb 4, 2020 • 57:46

Top 5 ways to eat potatoes

Top 5 ways to eat potatoes

Guest Arielle Nissenblatt Founder of the Earbuds Podcast Collective, co-creator of the Outlier Podcast Festival, a lover of license plates and roller blading. EarBuds Podcast Collective Arielle Nissenblatt (@arithisandthat) | Twitter Newsletter editor, event organiser and podcast wonder Arielle Nissenblatt joins Mark to discuss an often maligned tuber. Arielle grew up almost exclusively on potatoes, although she admits her palate has broadened slightly since then. If you ever thought this vege

Jan 28, 2020 • 44:50

Top 5 ways to eat potatoes

Top 5 ways to eat potatoes

Newsletter editor, event organiser and podcast wonder Arielle Nissenblatt joins Mark to discuss an often maligned tuber.Arielle grew up almost exclusively on potatoes, although she admits her palate has broadened slightly since then. If you ever thought this vegetable (which is not a vegetable, it’s a tuber; we’ve covered this) was boring, prepare to have your mind exploded all the way off.You’ll also learn some interesting facts about potatoes, so strap in and get ready to carbo-load.(

Jan 28, 2020 • 44:49

Top 5 literary heroines

Top 5 literary heroines

Guest Becky Graham Co-host of the podcast Your Own Words. Your Own Words Mark is joined by one half of the literary podcast Your Own Words, voracious reader and Danish furniture fan, Becky Graham, to swap notes on badass women from the printed page. A “sincere” apology The first discussion topic caused both guest and presenter to embark on a number of attempts at Irish accents. These were not successful, and all parties apologise for the inconvenience. This episode contains a few naughty words

Jan 21, 2020 • 1:05:40

Top 5 literary heroines

Top 5 literary heroines

Mark is joined by one half of the literary podcast Your Own Words, voracious reader and Danish furniture fan, Becky Graham, to swap notes on badass women from the printed page.(00:00) - Preamble (01:26) - Meet Becky Graham (07:32) - Becky's pick: Maureen O’Hara (19:04) - Mark's pick: Lisbeth Salander (25:28) - Becky's pick: Matilda Wormwood (29:36) - Mark's pick: Granny Weatherwax (32:58) - Becky's pick: Miss Marple (38:00) - Mark's pick: Arya Stark (42:14) - Becky's pick: Lucy Pevensie

Jan 21, 2020 • 1:05:39

Top 5 under-appreciated female authors

Top 5 under-appreciated female authors

Writer and podcaster Sara-Mae Tuson kicks off a double-bill of brilliant women in literature. This week, Mark and Sara-Mae discuss under-appreciated female authors.Sara-Mae is a writer who’s turned her natural storytelling abilities into podcasting magic. Her previous work, The Sugar Baby Confessionals picked won bronze in the Best Sex and Relationship Podcast at the 2019 British Podcast Awards, and she’s now working on a series all about the life and work of her first pick.Mark and Sar

Jan 14, 2020 • 1:10:53

Top 5 under-appreciated female authors

Top 5 under-appreciated female authors

Guest Sara-Mae Tuson Writer of young adult novels, producer for a boutique podcast company, copywriter and editor. Fable Gazers Season 2: Heyer Today Sara-Mae Tuson (@saramaetuson) | Twitter Writer and podcaster Sara-Mae Tuson kicks off a double-bill of brilliant women in literature. This week, Mark and Sara-Mae discuss under-appreciated female authors. Sara-Mae is a writer who’s turned her natural storytelling abilities into podcasting magic. Her previous work, The Sugar Baby Confessionals pi

Jan 14, 2020 • 1:10:54

Top 5 Cannon films

Top 5 Cannon films

Thrill to the sounds of podcaster and movie-lover Ben Smith, sharing his top five shlockbusters with Mark Steadman. You won’t believe your ears! List Envy, in select theatres now.Ben is the co-host of the EuroWhat? podcast with previous guest Mike McComb, and hailing from the same state as Mystery Science Theater 3000 has a keen eye for a film that’s so bad it’s good. But that’s not all the Cannon studio had to offer; some of the work is surprisingly meaningful, if buried under piles of

Jan 7, 2020 • 42:15

Top 5 Cannon films

Top 5 Cannon films

Guest Ben Smith He solves the puzzles and bakes the cookies. Co-host of the EuroWhat? podcast. Ben Smith (@BenMSmith) | Twitter Thrill to the sounds of podcaster and movie-lover Ben Smith, sharing his top five shlockbusters with Mark Steadman. You won’t believe your ears! List Envy, in select theatres now. Ben is the co-host of the EuroWhat? podcast with previous guest Mike McComb, and hailing from the same state as Mystery Science Theater 3000 has a keen eye for a film that’s so bad it’s goo

Jan 7, 2020 • 42:16

Top 5 Eurovision Song Contest finals from the '00s

Top 5 Eurovision Song Contest finals from the '00s

TV writer Mike McComb joins Mark to discuss the bizarre and beautiful magic of this European musical tradition. Enjoy this episode, and don’t forget to have a drink on Terry in song 9.Mike is a Eurovision aficionado, having come to it via the Sounds Like Teen Spirit documentary. He’s not let being American and thus being geofenced out of most live broadcasts steer him away, as his work on the EuroWhat? podcast will attest.Sign up to the weekly newsletter so you never miss a list, and fo

Dec 17, 2019 • 51:50

Top 5 Eurovision Song Contest finals from the '00s

Top 5 Eurovision Song Contest finals from the '00s

Guest Mike Mccomb Mike has been writing about TV online since 2008, when he started the blog WTF Little House on the Prairie? The blog was a project to practice writing about television analytically prior to getting an MA in Television-Radio-Film from Syracuse University, or as he likes to call it “TV Camp.” The EuroWhat? Podcast | A Eurovision Song Contest Podcast for Americans Mike McComb (@Rube_Goldberg) | Twitter TV writer Mike McComb joins Mark to discuss the bizarre and beautiful magic o

Dec 17, 2019 • 51:51

Top 5 rebooted Doctor Who episodes

Top 5 rebooted Doctor Who episodes

Mark gets wobbly-wobbly and timey-wimey with tech YouTuber George Chachanidze.The pair started by discussing their favourite incarnations of the Doctor, and then their favourite — or least favourite — companions.Spoilers aboundIf you’re not caught up with Doctor Whoand you intend to, be warned that Mark and George will spoil the hell out of it for you.(00:00) - Introduction (10:04) - George's pick: Heaven Sent (13:28) - Mark's pick: Father's Day (16:29) - George's pick: Blink (20:56) -

Dec 10, 2019 • 1:10:04

Top 5 rebooted Doctor Who episodes

Top 5 rebooted Doctor Who episodes

Guest George Chachanidze Host of the Snappy-Tech YouTube channel. Fundraiser by George Chachanidze : George is smartphone-less for a year! George Chachanidze 📵 (@g_chachanidze) | Twitter Mark gets wobbly-wobbly and timey-wimey with tech YouTuber George Chachanidze. The pair started by discussing their favourite incarnations of the Doctor, and then their favourite — or least favourite — companions. Spoilers abound If you’re not caught up with Doctor Who and you intend to, be warned that Mark a

Dec 10, 2019 • 1:10:05

Top 5 Christmas songs

Top 5 Christmas songs

The Christmas season begins with Mark talking to Daz Wright of Moselele, about the best songs to ring in the festivities.Daz is a musician, and a founder-member of the Birmingham-based ukulele group Moselele. He’s also a big fan of Christmas, and delivered a sack full of joy to the List Envy studio, along with an honest-to-goodness Christmas cracker and actual sleigh bells.(00:00) - Introduction (08:08) - Daz's pick: Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody (11:28) - Mark's pick: Greg Lake - I Beli

Dec 3, 2019 • 56:01

Top 5 Christmas songs

Top 5 Christmas songs

Guest Daz Wright Every ounce of his being is focussed on discussing video games, cats and the popular music of the day. He live in Moseley in Birmingham. Daz Wright (@dazwright) | Twitter Daz Wright The Christmas season begins with Mark talking to Daz Wright of Moselele, about the best songs to ring in the festivities. Daz is a musician, and a founder-member of the Birmingham-based ukulele group Moselele. He’s also a big fan of Christmas, and delivered a sack full of joy to the List Envy stud

Dec 3, 2019 • 56:02

Top 5 things we’re leaving behind

Top 5 things we’re leaving behind

Fellow podcaster Jon Hickman joins Mark to cast aside things from our adolescence that we can get by just as well without.Jon co-hosts the hilarious and often genuinely moving – no pun intended — fitness, running and tech podcast You Don’t Look Like a Runner with Nick Moreton, and Thread with Mark.(00:00) - Introduction (04:58) - Jon's pick: Kevin Smith movies (15:36) - Mark's pick: Smash Mouth (23:28) - Jon's pick: Pop charts (28:44) - Mark's pick: Bill Hicks (37:58) - Jon's pick: Grah

Nov 26, 2019 • 1:09:10

Top 5 things we’re leaving behind

Top 5 things we’re leaving behind

Guest Jon Hickman Host of You Don’t Look Like a Runner , Thread , and Beware of the Leopard. Writer at Paradise Circus, and 101 Things Birmingham Game the World. jonhickman (@jonhickman) | Twitter Hi I’m Jon! Fellow podcaster Jon Hickman joins Mark to cast aside things from our adolescence that we can get by just as well without. Jon co-hosts the hilarious and often genuinely moving – no pun intended — fitness, running and tech podcast You Don’t Look Like a Runner with Nick Moreton, and Thread

Nov 26, 2019 • 1:09:11

Top 5 fruits

Top 5 fruits

Guest Emma Stroud Lover of all things fun. Like making people laugh and think. Enjoy being a clown. Plus a speaker. Emma Stroud – MC * Performer * Speaker Mentor Emma Stroud (@emmastroudldn) | Twitter Everyone can stand to be a little bit more banana, so this week’s guest is professional clown, public speaker and banana enthusiast, Emma Stroud. Emma’s personal day of relevation – perhaps not dissimilar to Albert Hofmann’s bicycle day, as covered in our first episode — came about when Emma real

Nov 19, 2019 • 49:28

Top 5 fruits

Top 5 fruits

Everyone can stand to be a little bit more banana, so this week’s guest is professional clown, public speaker and banana enthusiast, Emma Stroud.Emma’s personal day of relevation – perhaps not dissimilar to Albert Hofmann’s bicycle day, as covered in our first episode — came about when Emma realised how transformative she found the act of dressing up at a grown-up function, not like a fancy duchess, but like a banana.Emma believes part of her purpose is, not only to help people laugh, but to enc

Nov 19, 2019 • 49:27

Top 5 algorithms that changed the world

Top 5 algorithms that changed the world

Mark gets mathematical with bayesian mathematician Sophie Carr.Sophie describes herself as an “accidental mathematician”, getting into the subject after studying to be an engineer. She got her PhD on the job, and transitioned from fluid mechanics to Bayesian statistics.Here’s the piping speech from Patriot Mark mentioned.(00:00) - Introduction(08:58) - Sophie's pick: Turbo codes(11:34) - Mark's pick: LZ 77 compression(14:04) - Sophie's pick: UUIDs(18:16) - Mark's pick: RSA(22:26) - Sophie's pick

Nov 12, 2019 • 46:52

Top 5 algorithms that changed the world

Top 5 algorithms that changed the world

Guest Dr Sophie Carr World’s most interesting mathematician and #Queenof Statistics winner. Owner of Bays Consulting. Loves Bayesian statistics. Dr Sophie Carr (@SophieBays) | Twitter Bays Consulting – Operational and Mathematical Analysis Mark gets mathematical with bayesian mathematician Sophie Carr. Sophie describes herself as an “accidental mathematician”, getting into the subject after studying to be an engineer. She got her PhD on the job, and transitioned from fluid mechanics to Bayesia

Nov 12, 2019 • 46:53

Top 5 90s kids’ cartoons

Top 5 90s kids’ cartoons

Guest Jamie Garner He can count, He can read and he can cook. The original triple threat. Jamie Garner - Birmingham, United Kingdom, keele university | about.me Jamie Garner (@grunt121) | Twitter Mark and his guest Jamie Garner have snuck out of bed, crept downstairs and turned on the telly for a channel-hop through ‘90s nostalgia. Both Mark and Jamie grew up with Saturday morning programming from the BBC, including /Going Live!/, /Live & Kicking/ and What’s Up Doc?, which showed cartoons and

Nov 5, 2019 • 1:00:17

Top 5 90s kids’ cartoons

Top 5 90s kids’ cartoons

Mark and his guest Jamie Garner have snuck out of bed, crept downstairs and turned on the telly for a channel-hop through ‘90s nostalgia.Both Mark and Jamie grew up with Saturday morning programming from the BBC, including /Going Live!/, /Live & Kicking/ and What’s Up Doc?, which showed cartoons and showcased some of the UK’s newest pop acts.Mark does not pass up the opportunity to discuss the kids’ presenter Andy Crane, and the fact that he narrated one of his favourite children’s

Nov 5, 2019 • 1:00:16

Top 5 movie monsters

Top 5 movie monsters

The show gets #spoopy as the Thrilling Adventure Hour’s Ben Blacker joins Mark to count down his top five silver-screen terrors.Ben co-created the Thrilling Adventure Hour with his writing partner Ben Acker as a live theatre show in the style of an old-timey evening of radio entertainment. There’s over a decade’s worth of Thrilling to enjoy, so subscribe to the free newsletter to get some hand-picked favourites you can see and hear via YouTube.Ben’s picksIn order of discussionXenomorphK

Oct 29, 2019 • 54:54

Top 5 movie monsters

Top 5 movie monsters

Guest Ben Blacker Writer of Hex Wives, co-creator of the Thrilling Adventure Hour, producer of the Dead Pilots podcast and host of the Writers’ Panel. Ben Blacker (@BenBlacker) | Twitter The Writers Panel The show gets #spoopy as the Thrilling Adventure Hour ’s Ben Blacker joins Mark to count down his top five silver-screen terrors. Ben co-created the Thrilling Adventure Hour with his writing partner Ben Acker as a live theatre show in the style of an old-timey evening of radio entertainment.

Oct 29, 2019 • 54:55

Bonus episode

Bonus episode

Guest Adam Juniper An Adam of all trades, master of some: Drone pilot and author, photo/tech publisher, sardonic wit and astronaut (possibly). Adam Juniper (@AdamJuniper) | Twitter Tame Sky: DRONE Reviews & Guides in Plain English This is a short bonus episode, with extra stuff we couldn’t fit into Tuesday’s show. It’s brought to you by our new membership page, where you can help support the show and get us to our goal to transcribe each episode, for just £2 a month. Links Support th

Oct 25, 2019 • 7:36

Bonus episode

Bonus episode

Guest Adam Juniper An Adam of all trades, master of some: Drone pilot and author, photo/tech publisher, sardonic wit and astronaut (possibly). Adam Juniper (@AdamJuniper) | Twitter Tame Sky: DRONE Reviews & Guides in Plain English This is a short bonus episode, with extra stuff we couldn’t fit into Tuesday’s show. It’s brought to you by our new membership page, where you can help support the show and get us to our goal to transcribe each episode, for just £2 a month. Links Support the podcast

Oct 25, 2019 • 7:37

Top 5 gadgets from the early 21st century

Top 5 gadgets from the early 21st century

Guest Adam Juniper An Adam of all trades, master of some: Drone pilot and author, photo/tech publisher, sardonic wit and astronaut (possibly). Adam Juniper (@AdamJuniper) | Twitter Tame Sky: DRONE Reviews & Guides in Plain English Technology writer and drone expert Adam Juniper joins Mark to discuss machines that go bleep. Adam spent many years editing and publishing books on photography, which over the years has become more about technology than chemicals. He and Mark discuss the fun and frus

Oct 22, 2019 • 1:11:23

Top 5 gadgets from the early 21st century

Top 5 gadgets from the early 21st century

Technology writer and drone expert Adam Juniper joins Mark to discuss machines that go bleep.Adam spent many years editing and publishing books on photography, which over the years has become more about technology than chemicals.He and Mark discuss the fun and frustration that can be had when delving into the world of smart home tech, and you can read more of Adam’s thoughts on this — and other desirable tech — on his Tech Yearning blog.Like Mark, Adam had a Game Gear, which you can hea

Oct 22, 2019 • 1:11:23

Top 5 products that moved humanity forwards

Top 5 products that moved humanity forwards

Mark speaks down-the-line with product designer, Simon Heap, as the two share their top five world-changing products, and gently collide over what can be construed a “product”.Simon has dedicated his life to making, as he calls it, “a better mouse trap”, and now specialises in designing products for sport. You might know Simon’s work from Dragons’ Den, or perhaps you’ve bought his potato masher?Simon once designed a CD player and argued for a sense of jeopardy within the mechanism (in t

Oct 15, 2019 • 59:10

Top 5 products that moved humanity forwards

Top 5 products that moved humanity forwards

Guest Simon Heap Director of Rugged Interactive, Cornish innovative sport design firm and maker of fitness equipment for everyone – Olympians, big brands and anyone with great ideas. Simon Heap (@designforsport) | Twitter Rugged Interactive | Motivational Fitness Technology Mark speaks down-the-line with product designer, Simon Heap, as the two share their top five world-changing products, and gently collide over what can be construed a “product”. Simon has dedicated his life to making, as he

Oct 15, 2019 • 59:11

Top 5 long-haul destinations

Top 5 long-haul destinations

Guest Alison Edgar Sales and marketing adviser, as seen on BBC One Breakfast. Dyslexic Amazon #1 Best Seller, award winning sales trainer and coach, International TEDx speaker. Alison Edgar (@thealisonedgar) | Twitter Home - Alison Edgar Mark takes flight with speaker, author and “the entrepreneur’s godmother” Alison Edgar, to build a list of the best places it takes too long to fly to. Alison flies a lot, and finds pinning her destinations on a map lends itself to a sense of perspective. Mark

Oct 8, 2019 • 42:44

Top 5 long-haul destinations

Top 5 long-haul destinations

Mark takes flight with speaker, author and “the entrepreneur’s godmother” Alison Edgar, to build a list of the best places it takes too long to fly to.Alison flies a lot, and finds pinning her destinations on a map lends itself to a sense of perspective. Mark responds by finding another way to tie this into his favourite sci-fi series, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.Alison, like Mark, enjoys — or enjoyed - a Bloody Mary, which has — for reasons best known to others — become de rig

Oct 8, 2019 • 42:43

Top 5 competitive solo beatboxers

Top 5 competitive solo beatboxers

Guest Tani Levitt Podcast producer for 247 Sports, host of SpeshFX, goofball extraordinaire. Netanel Levitt – Medium Tani Levitt (@HateItOrLevitt) | Twitter Prepare to have your face melted clean off as you enter a whole new world of mouth noise, with guest Tani Levitt. And remember, if you’re sitting in the plash zone, you will get spittle all over you. Tani presents SpeshFX, a narrative podcast that dives deep into the fascinating world of competitive beatboxing. If you’re familiar with the

Oct 1, 2019 • 56:32

Top 5 competitive solo beatboxers

Top 5 competitive solo beatboxers

Prepare to have your face melted clean off as you enter a whole new world of mouth noise, with guest Tani Levitt. And remember, if you’re sitting in the plash zone, you will get spittle all over you.Tani presents SpeshFX, a narrative podcast that dives deep into the fascinating world of competitive beatboxing. If you’re familiar with the rap battle scene, it’s like that but nicer, and where people make their O face when being hit by several megatons of sick beats (just helping ease you in with t

Oct 1, 2019 • 56:30

Top 5 latin boogaloo albums

Top 5 latin boogaloo albums

This week, Mark embarks on a journey of musical discovery, with Oliver Wang, co-host of the Heat Rocks podcast. If you’re not familiar with latin boogaloo, it’s time to get acquainted.Oliver loves this fusion of more traditional latin melodies — with complex chords and meandering melodies — and the growing soul music movement, prevalent in 1960s New York, not just because of its inherently physical nature — this stuff just makes you wanna move — but because of what it teaches us about t

Sep 24, 2019 • 53:35

Top 5 latin boogaloo albums

Top 5 latin boogaloo albums

Guest Oliver Wang Culture writer, sociology professor, disk junkie. Author of Legions of Boom and co-host of Heat Rocks. oliverwang.net O. Wang (@oliverswang) | Twitter This week, Mark embarks on a journey of musical discovery, with Oliver Wang, co-host of the Heat Rocks podcast. If you’re not familiar with latin boogaloo, it’s time to get acquainted. Oliver loves this fusion of more traditional latin melodies — with complex chords and meandering melodies — and the growing soul music movement,

Sep 24, 2019 • 53:36

Top 5 bands from Birmingham

Top 5 bands from Birmingham

Musician, writer and improv comedian Tom Clabon joins Mark to fight about which of Birmingham’s bands are best, and possibly what the word “definitive” means.And by Birmingham, we mean Birmingham. The proper one, in the UK.Tom has performed in bands (like Bussy), and like Mark knows the pain of publishing music to Bandcamp to little fanfare. But they’re both absolutely not bitter about it. Tom also presented Indie Mixtape on local station Brum Radio.The pair share gig-playing memories,

Sep 17, 2019 • 1:03:08

Top 5 bands from Birmingham

Top 5 bands from Birmingham

Musician, writer and improv comedian Tom Clabon joins Mark to fight about which of Birmingham’s bands are best, and possibly what the word “definitive” means. And by Birmingham, we mean Birmingham. The proper one, in the UK. Tom has performed in bands (like Bussy ), and like Mark knows the pain of publishing music to Bandcamp to little fanfare. But they’re both absolutely not bitter about it. Tom also presented Indie Mixtape on local station Brum Radio. The pair share gig-playing memories, the v

Sep 17, 2019 • 1:03:09

Top 5 pop punk bands of the 2000s

Top 5 pop punk bands of the 2000s

Musician and podcaster Brendan Hutchins joins Mark to discuss guitar music from the early 21st century.Brendan loves pop punk for its energy and reasons of nostalgia, and has lots of names to bring to the table. He also helps Mark define what isn’t pop punk.Mark based his list on bands who had seminal or otherwise important albums during the early 2000s, and while Brendan’s picks are perhaps from slightly younger bands, none of them formed post-2005.Mark shares stories about plectra, mu

Sep 10, 2019 • 56:51

Top 5 pop punk bands of the 2000s

Top 5 pop punk bands of the 2000s

Musician and podcaster Brendan Hutchins joins Mark to discuss guitar music from the early 21st century. Brendan loves pop punk for its energy and reasons of nostalgia, and has lots of names to bring to the table. He also helps Mark define what /isn’t/ pop punk. Mark based his list on bands who had seminal or otherwise important albums during the early 2000s, and while Brendan’s picks are perhaps from slightly younger bands, none of them formed post-2005. Mark shares stories about plectra, music

Sep 10, 2019 • 56:52

Top 5 British sitcoms of the 1970s

Top 5 British sitcoms of the 1970s

Writer and Internet raconteur Jon Bounds joins Mark to build a list close to his heart.Jon grew up on 70s sitcoms and wants nothing more than to share his love. If you’re in the UK, these might be shows you can check out on Yesterday or in film-form via Talking Pictures.Jon is a student of erstwhile TV, a fact clearly demonstrated by his massive affection for the 80s tele-phenomenon than is Boon.Mark and Jon’s differences in comedy tastes are perhaps best illustrated by the fact that Jo

Sep 3, 2019 • 1:04:20

Top 5 British sitcoms of the 1970s

Top 5 British sitcoms of the 1970s

Writer and Internet raconteur Jon Bounds joins Mark to build a list close to his heart. Jon grew up on 70s sitcoms and wants nothing more than to share his love. If you’re in the UK, these might be shows you can check out on Yesterday or in film-form via Talking Pictures. Jon is a student of erstwhile TV, a fact clearly demonstrated by his massive affection for the 80s tele-phenomenon than is Boon. Mark and Jon’s differences in comedy tastes are perhaps best illustrated by the fact that Jon quit

Sep 3, 2019 • 1:04:20

Top 5 British foods

Top 5 British foods

Mark talks to podcaster and “unapologetic Anglophile” Jen Tierney about the foods eaten and loved by “a nation of shopkeepers”. As a young girl, Jen was persuaded to watch a BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice , and has since made it her mission to consume all things Brit. As well as eating, Jen likes to cook, learning from /The Great British Bake Off/ and demonstrating more knowledge of British baked goods than the host of this podcast. Case in point: the popover. Honourable mentions Shepher

Aug 27, 2019 • 49:58

Top 5 British foods

Top 5 British foods

Mark talks to podcaster and “unapologetic Anglophile” Jen Tierney about the foods eaten and loved by “a nation of shopkeepers”.As a young girl, Jen was persuaded to watch a BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and has since made it her mission to consume all things Brit. As well as eating, Jen likes to cook, learning from /The Great British Bake Off/ and demonstrating more knowledge of British baked goods than the host of this podcast. Case in point: the popover.(00:00) - Introduction

Aug 27, 2019 • 49:57

Top 5 Harry Potter characters

Top 5 Harry Potter characters

This week, Mark is joined by podcaster, improv comedian and Harry Potter superfan Cat Turner, to collaborate on a list of the best five characters in JK Rowling’s Hogwarts universe.If spoilers are a thing you want to avoid, maybe skip this one until you’re all caught up. Like Mark maybe should’ve.Cat grew up listening to Stephen Fry read the Harry Potter books, and wants to sort her soon-to-arrive hamster into the appropriate Hogwarts house, but she insists she isn’t a nerd about it.Mar

Aug 20, 2019 • 51:11

Top 5 Harry Potter characters

Top 5 Harry Potter characters

This week, Mark is joined by podcaster, improv comedian and Harry Potter superfan Cat Turner, to collaborate on a list of the best five characters in JK Rowling’s Hogwarts universe. If spoilers are a thing you want to avoid, maybe skip this one until you’re all caught up. Like Mark maybe should’ve. Cat grew up listening to Stephen Fry read the Harry Potter books, and wants to sort her soon-to-arrive hamster into the appropriate Hogwarts house, but she insists she isn’t a nerd about it. Mark’s se

Aug 20, 2019 • 51:12

Top 5 childhood toys

Top 5 childhood toys

Improv comedian and self-styled “failed jogger” Lucy Day joins Mark to relive their childhoods and complain about the toys they never had. Both Mark and Lucy wanted a Mr Frosty but were denied one, and were both fans of the wonderful book and TV series The Animals of Farthing Wood. Mark nearly tells a story about showing a family member his organ (it’s fine), and Lucy reveals the toys that made her anxious as a child, namely Crocodile Dentist and Etch-a-Sketch. Trigger warning: if you ever put o

Aug 13, 2019 • 52:33

Top 5 journeys to scientific discovery

Top 5 journeys to scientific discovery

In this first episode, Mark speaks with sleep and respiratory scientist Max Thomas, all about science! Specifically, the unexpected or otherwise fascinating discoveries that have brought us incredible advancement. There’s also stuff about bums and willies, too, and more than one object being inserted into more than one dog.Max makes a living out of making people breathless, which is a cool way of saying he studies how people breathe, and often has to make them not breathe very well so h

Aug 13, 2019 • 1:05:52

Top 5 journeys to scientific discovery

Top 5 journeys to scientific discovery

In this first episode, Mark speaks with sleep and respiratory scientist Max Thomas, all about science! Specifically, the unexpected or otherwise fascinating discoveries that have brought us incredible advancement. There’s also stuff about bums and willies, too, and more than one object being inserted into more than one dog. Max makes a living out of making people breathless, which is a cool way of saying he studies how people breathe, and often has to make them not breathe very well so he can fi

Aug 13, 2019 • 1:05:53

Top 5 childhood toys

Top 5 childhood toys

Improv comedian and self-styled “failed jogger” Lucy Day joins Mark to relive their childhoods and complain about the toys they never had.Both Mark and Lucy wanted a Mr Frosty but were denied one, and were both fans of the wonderful book and TV series The Animals of Farthing Wood. Mark nearly tells a story about showing a family member his organ (it’s fine), and Lucy reveals the toys that made her anxious as a child, namely Crocodile Dentist and Etch-a-Sketch.Trigger warning: if you eve

Aug 13, 2019 • 52:32

Introducing List Envy

Introducing List Envy

What are your top 5 sandwiches? What’s the best way to rank Bond films? Which are your favourite misheard lyrics? Making lists is good, but it’s better with friends. This is List Envy , a podcast where Mark Steadman collaborate with actors, writers, musicians, comedians, scientists and podcasters to build a definitive top 5 list on a topic of the guest’s choosing. Clips in this trailer include * Cat Turner from Cat’s Cabinet of Curiosities , talking about Harry Potter characters * Writer Jon Bou

Aug 5, 2019 • 3:15

Introducing List Envy

Introducing List Envy

What are your top 5 sandwiches? What’s the best way to rank Bond films? Which are your favourite misheard lyrics? Making lists is good, but it’s better with friends.This is List Envy, a podcast where Mark Steadman collaborate with actors, writers, musicians, comedians, scientists and podcasters to build a definitive top 5 list on a topic of the guest’s choosing.Clips in this trailer include * Cat Turner from Cat’s Cabinet of Curiosities, talking about Harry Potter characters * Writer Jo

Aug 5, 2019 • 3:14

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