Raven On: A Pop Culture Podcast

It's a cross-city chat as Nat & Stu Skype the latest Raven Dong/Daemon On episode. This girthy instalment covers Episode 2 of His Dark Materials, which features Ruth Wilson walking down a series of corridors, and Lyra essentially trapped in a golden cage like some sort of metaphor. Your intrepid interlocutors then turn their attention to Episode 4 of Watchmen, which featured more batshit crazy stu...

Nat & Stu reunite to yabber on about not one, but TWO, new series. First up it's His Dark Materials, the BBC/HBO production of Phillip Pullman's popular young adult series. There's a lot of discussion about what a "Daemon" is, and whether or not it needs to poop, along with how to do exposition in a fantasy series. Please note! Natalie has read the books, and while she has forgotten most of it, is...

It's been more than FIVE MONTHS since Nat & Stu have seen each other, which means a catch-up podcast is LONG OVERDUE. Strap yourselves in though, this is a long one. But you've got pause and stop buttons, and you're sensible humans, you can listen in whatever fashion you like. There's about half an hour of general chit-chat, including tales of Natalie's theatrical adventures around the globe. Exam...

A special LIVE performance of the GoT theme kicks off the final Raven On Live podcast, marking the final episode of the best TV show ever. Wendy Lang and Zannah(@wendylangmusic & @zannahmusic on Insta)return later in the episode to debut Zannah's new song "Bones Lay Still", a beautiful GoT-inspired piece that we were privileged to enjoy. Yes, this is the LONGEST episode ever of the podcast, but wh...

It's flame time on Raven On, as not only do Nat & Stu discuss the huge events of "The Bells", including Daenerys' epic decision, but they also lay the foundations for their own long-awaited feud. With a fantastic live studio audience, Nat & Stu tackle the big issues of plot development, character arcs, Clegane Bowl, and whether Jon Snow should have just had sex with his auntie and saved everyone a...

They're back, with much ruminating to do! Nat & Stu reconvene in front of a live audience to discuss the fallout from "The Last of the Starks". With Dany losing another dragon and a trusted adviser, will she go full Mad Queen? Will Varys and Tyrion betray her? Why did Jon Snow not say goodbye to his loyal wolf Ghost? How good is Tormund at just everything? All that is just the beginning - plus the...

TORMUND GIANTSBANE IS ALIVE! That's pretty much the only thing Stu cares about after the epic battle of "The Long Night", but he and Nat still find a lot more to chat about in this week's live podcast. Arya stabbing! Bran warging! Melisandre flaming! A bunch of people unexpectedly surviving! Plus, we were treated to an amazing musical performance by Wendy and Zannah, who sang "Jenny of Oldstones"...

Valar Morghulis has never seemed so real as we approach The Great Big F***-Off Final Battle. Nat & Stu are joined by an enthusiastic crowd who want to process all the quiet hope and despair in this episode, and also to boo Natalie's puns, apparently. There's an episode quiz, audience input AND a big survey on who we think will live or die in the Battle for Winterfell. Plus the (highly likely) fina...

Valar Morghulis! Valar Dohaeris! Your loving servants of the Old Gods, New Gods, Red God, Drowned God, Many-Faced God, and God of Death, Nat & Stu are BACK! Game of Thrones Season Eight is finally here, and your two recapodcasters (sure, that's a word) have returned to get super excited about all things Westeros, and super scared about the impending end of the best show ever. There's lots of setti...

They're back! With just a few precious days until Game of Thrones Season 8 starts, Nat & Stu catch up for a chat about all things Westeros ahead of the beginning of the end. They chat about trailers and other publicity HBO has been drip-feeding to we thirsty fans, relive older episodes in a blaze of nostalgia, plus many, many sidebars. And there's a new in-podcast sitcom! Get ready for "Cersei & Q...

Happy 2019, everyone! Nat & Stu are joined by special guests Nick Wiggins and Greg Rowbotham to mine over the last episode of Season 11, and first (only?) episode of 2019 - "Resolution". This is a particularly long listen, so maybe jump on the treadmill, or bike, or scooter, or do some cleaning - basically settle in for a deep dive into the nerd pool. Thanks to everyone for listening to Who's Rave...

It's finally here - the long-talked about, possibly foolish, self-penned episode of Doctor Who: "Jefferson Starfish". When the Doctor and Stu accidentally wind up in London on New Year's Day 1889, they're startled to discover Jack the Ripper might be back. But soon twists reveal a different culprit at play, bent on an EXPLOSIVE revenge! Featuring cameos from real-life historical figures such as In...

All good things must come to an end - even a "mostly fine? It was fine, wasn't it?" season of Doctor Who. Join Nat & Stu for their final S11 recap podcast, in which they wade in to the Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos, get reacquainted with Tim Shaw, and Joining the team for one last trip in the TARDIS is Greg from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast, who helps the hosts muse over Jodie Whittaker's...

Nat & Stu go to Norway for magic mirrors, alternate dimensions, crap creepy monsters and COSMIC FROGS! Yes, it's another pretty good episode, is "It Takes You Away". There are also plenty of tangents this week because your hosts were in weird moods. Natalie rants about Coca-Cola and is inflicted over Zac Efron as Ted Bundy; while Stu is still riding BIG COW all the way to the paddock. Enjoy!

Nat & Stu are back, and they're on Skype again! Forgive the odd technical glitch as they VOIP it up and discuss "The Witchfinders". Nat also goes on a typical Nerdy History Rant, Stu muses over the gender implications of the Doctor becoming a woman finally seeing the light of day, the pair both praise the devil out of Alan Cumming's King James, and ponder what the final two episodes might hold. En...

Kerblam! Nat and Stu are joined by journalist and Doctor Who fan Nick Wiggins for a look at this subtle examination of human labour versus robotic efficiency OR massive dig at/exoneration of Amazon. Stu is cranky that the key message is that mega-corporations have it right, and that you shouldn't rebel, just be happy you have a job. Nick brings an intriguing season-arc theory to the table, which i...

Welcome back to Who's Raven On, where this week Nat & Stu declare "Demons of the Punjab" to be their best-liked episode so far this season, and not just because of CRUMPET. However, as expected, there are some flaws and questions about this episode, and the broader question of how interventionist the Doctor should be, particularly when fake personal histories are mixed in with real historical even...

Tiny hungry space monsters and strangely undermined plot points form key talking points of this week's Who's Raven On podcast. Nat & Stu are puzzled by an episode that had lots of promising parts, but somehow left them both with more questions than answers. Plus there's a special appearance from guest podcaster, Chloe Giantsbane!

SPIDERS! GIANT SPIDERS! RAP MUSIC! MR BIG! It's all happening on this week's episode, as Nat & Stu wrap their hairy legs around toxic Sheffield spiders and irresponsible yet ebullient capitalism. There's a bit of talk about how Stu & Nat feel Jodie Whittaker is travelling as the Doctor, plus a lot of talk about writing their own episode involving starfish. Tune in for more development as we go alo...

The Doctor is back in time and hooooooooooo it's complicated. Join Nat & Stu - and special guest Dan Beeston from the Smart Enough to Know Better podcast - as they talk about "Rosa". They are, of course, all very white, and are very aware that they may accidentally offend given the subject matter of the episode - race in America - is just a *teensy* bit incredibly complicated and loaded. There are...

Nat & Stu are coming to you via Skype this week, but that doesn't stop them throwing down some incisive commentary on Doctor's accidental visit to Desolation in "The Ghost Monument". Art Malik has a lot of fun as the organiser of an intergalactic space rally, the TARDIS gets a makeover, and what is "The Timeless Child"? All that and more nitpicking from Nat in this week's podcast.

Nat & Stu crash through the train ceiling of charming adventure drama with their first podcast of the new and womanly improved series of Doctor Who. Hear their thoughts on Jodie Whittaker as the new Doctor, the change in theming, tone and music, a lowdown on companions, plus special guest Greg from the Smart Enough to Know Better weighs in on that toothy villain. As the Doctor herself says: "Well,...

Nat and Stu are back, and it's FANTASTIC! (They hope) Your intrepid Game of Thrones tragics are filling Westeros void by jumping onboard the TARDIS train and doing a podcast about the new season of Doctor Who - you know, the one with the WOMAN! A WOMAN! Can you even imagine, goodness gracious, what on Gallifrey is going on? Anyway, this is a preview/introductory podcast in which Nat and Stu discus...

Well, stone the crows, if it isn't a wildly out-of-season Raven On episode! Natalie and Stu decided to get together for some old-fashioned banter, as well as introduce Stu's newborn daughter CHLOE GIANTSBANE to the world of amateur podcasting. It's been a year since S7 ended, and who knows how much longer we have until S8 takes GoT out of our lives together, so strap in for some poorly-researched...

Deja vu, it's another Raven On S7E7 podcast! As promised, this is the full, "Hey they're in the room together" finale rundown that Stu and Nat promised before Nat selfishly went to New York and disrupted the usual schedule. There's a bit of chat about recapping New York-style, then onto the episode itself, Jon Snow's buttocks, and the BOAT SEX between blood relatives. Littlefinger's demise is welc...