List Envy

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...

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 duche...

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) - Mar...

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 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-p...

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...

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 mashe...

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, enj...

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 peop...

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 physi...

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...

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 fro...

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 Boo...

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...

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-arri...

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 h...

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...

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 * C...