A Place to Stray

Hello, dear listener. This is The Story of A Boy and His Close Personal Friend, Who Was Shaped Suspiciously Like an Internet Media Production Company. It may surprise you to learn that I was the boy. Nothing else about this episode will surprise you. Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod

Episode 26 of A Place To Stray. Sometimes, naming a podcast episode is a creative outlet in and of itself. You measure puns against each other, trying out different wordplays and cadences. Brevity is an art form unto itself, and a great title is an enormous victory. And sometimes, you went to Chicago. And titles are hard. Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod

Episode 25 of A Place to Stray. About 18 months ago, I made an episode about data presentation (thrilling, I know). Everyone yelled at me to stop using Goodreads, because I complained about the lack of graphs and data it provides, and to switch to Storygraph instead. I did that and have been a Storygrapher since. Now it's high time I yelled back. Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod

Episode 24 of A Place to Stray . How much of you at 13 years old self is still a part of your current self? That was a real person, with thoughts and opinions. And, if you're 26 like me, you've doubled that kid's experience of life. Maybe you've had the same thoughts I had, when I sat on that idea for a while. How much do you remember? And what would that kid think of you, if you w...

Episode 23 of A Place To Stray. Disclaimer: No animals, real or fictional, were harmed in the making of this episode. But like. Would you still listen if a fictional dog didn't make it through? And if you knew a dog was in it, would you want to know in advance whether they survive or not? Sure, there's a 90 minute episode in that premise. Whatever you say, Stephen. Follow the Instagram @placetostr...

Did you know that the release of Super Mario Bros on the NES is now closer to the Second World War than to the present day? Isn't that CRAZY? Isn't that NUTS? Isn't that INSANE? No? You don't think so? Not especially? I mean, 1985 was a long time ago now, you're right. But like... Isn't it BIZARRE? Enjoy an hour of that kind of insight, everyone. Follow the Instagram @place...

Episode 21 of A Place to Stray. If you could speak to the gods and have them answer your questions or reveal the future, would you? For deities' minds are fundamentally different from our own, their words arcane and their prophecies cryptic. Entire mythological cycles are filled with those unfortunates who placed too much stock in a misunderstood prediction. Petitioners must keep their wits an...

Episode 20 of A Place to Stray. Having returned to his home planet, Stephen decides to re-familiarize himself with the place through the power of song. He immediately falls down so many rabbit holes that he had to cut most of them before he even began recording. Welcome back to the show, everyone. Nothing has changed. Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod.

The unsung hero of the podcast, from the very first episode, has been the mint tea Stephen drinks to keep his throat alive while talking for (sometimes) hours. He realises he doesn't actually know that much about mint, and falls down a rabbithole. Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod

Episode 18 of A Place to Stray . This episode releases a week before Stephen's thesis. He is stressed, busy, overworking and undersleeping. It's the perfect time for him to revisit and try (very very badly) to explain one of his biggest sources of joy recently. And also 7 years ago? But also recently again. Haiji is the best character, no other opinions are valid. Follow the Instagram @pla...

Episode 17 of A Place to Stray The first of his two "Thesis Mode" episodes, Stephen reminisces about the times before, when he was travelling and, crucially, wasn't writing a thesis. This leads to a full-circle moment at he base of Paris's Tour Saint-Jacques. Speaking of full circles, the sun is out. For some reason, Stephen thinks this is a bad thing. Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod

Episode 16 of A Place to Stray. Stephen misses his cat. At the time of recording, he would see Ash the next day. At the time of release, he does not know when he'll see that little grey idiot next. To fill that little fluffy hole in his heart, he examines various attempts to sell children on pets which don't need all that same feeding, care and attention. Except for when they do. Follow @p...

Episode 15 of A Place to Stray. This month finds Stephen still recovering from the transcendent experience of eating whole, actual meals two days in a row, as opposed to the usual slop he "cooks". He takes an hour to ruminate on his warped relationship with food. Also, happy Paddy's Day everyone! Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod

Episode 14 of A Place to Stray. Content warning: This episode makes explicit and recurring reference to Valentines Day, despite coming out the day afterwards when you thought you might be finally safe from all that. Even more concerningly, Stephen talks about music. And also Sonic the Hedgehog, for some reason. And it's 89 minutes long, for some reason. Enjoy! Follow the Instagram @placetostra...

Episode 13 of a Place to Stray. Famously, all goalkeepers are at least a little bit mad. This month, Stephen explores why goalkeeping has always been his favourite position in most sports, and what exactly that might say about him. Join him on his journey, he may require saving. Follow the Instagram @placetostraypod. Also, add to the Anti-Valentine's Playlist for next episode! https://open.spo...

Episode 12 of A Place to Stray. Studio Ghibli has earned its place as one of the most beloved animation studios in the world, having spent decades masterfully exploring the cross-sections between joy and sorrow, whimsy and tragedy. Instead of just saying that, Stephen spends far too long trying and failing to explain why they might be worth your time, before experiencing the single weirdest night...

Episode 11 of A Place To Stray . Stephen takes a short break from his children's literature degree to read a children's book. He falls hopelessly in love with it, and spends an hour badly trying to convince you to do so as well. You don't understand, it's SOOOOO good though... NSP's cover of America's "The Last Unicorn" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF1Q56YAo0Q Follow the Instagram @placetostray...

Episode 10 of A Place to Stray. Having moved over and (kind of) settled in, Stephen waves farewell to bi-weekly podcasts with a review of his first couple of weeks in the UK, and a glance through the things he brought with him. For some reason, unknown even to him, this episode balloons to over an hour long. Help. Follow @placetostraypod on Instagram!

Episode 9 of A Place to Stray As Stephen discovers the joy of packing for longer than a week away, he discusses the things he needs to leave in Ireland that he would, if he had the choice, bring with him. He also talks about Sonic the Hedgehog for longer than you would probably expect. Follow @Placetostraypod on Instagram!

Episode 8 of A Place To Stray Podcasting about podcasting makes its grand, entirely accidental return! Stephen records an episode about AI, hates it, records a bit more about how much he hates it, and then records another section 2 days later to try and Frankenstein the whole thing together. This show is a mess and I don't know why you listen. Follow @placetostraypod on Instagram!

Episode 7 of A Place to Stray. Following a template which is starting to describe most episodes of the show, Stephen becomes interested in something fairly silly and takes it way more seriously than he should. This time, it's Godzilla's turn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr3hGXe35H8 Follow @Placetostraypod on Instagram

After receiving divine inspiration atop Ireland's holiest mountain, Stephen finally pauses to ask some of life's most important questions. All of which just happen to relate to toilets, bathrooms, latrines, and other forms of defecatory receptacles. Follow @placetostraypod on Instagram!

This week, Stephen pairs his childhood hobbies (reading, videogames, etc) with his adult hobby (complaining about data presentation). This swiftly becomes very embarrassing. Follow @placetostraypod on Instagram!

Episode 4 of A Place To Stray. Stephen investigates the origin of the modern royal family of the tiny Saltee Islands, off the south east coast of Ireland. Unfortunately, it turns out that researching local history over the internet is pretty tough actually. Follow @placetostraypod on Instagram!

Episode 3 of A Place to Stray. Captain Horatio Hornblower, of CS Forester's book series, is a character defined by self-criticism: Driven by anxieties that even those closest to him view him only as a failure waiting to happen, and completely unable to accept or believe praise of any kind. This week, Stephen tries to figure out why this series appeals to him, and logically concludes that it mu...