Richardson's Rubicon

In this season opener, John strips the podcast back to its core purpose. The show drops the scattered topics and shifts hard toward speculative fiction, worldbuilding, and the craft behind imagined futures. John explains why the old format was unfocused, why this reset is necessary, and why writers must confront their own blind spots if they want their stories to work. He outlines the new plan for...

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I had a fascinating and often funny conversation with Bill Pautler, author of the book Awakening to Ourselves , The Practical Art of Building A Spiritually Aware Life. Bill’s had quite an adventurous life, he’s done everything from hot-air ballooning and motorcycling to scuba diving, along with raising a family (twice!). But what stood out most was his unex...

In this week’s Richardson’s Rubicon, I sat down with Hannah Ashwell mental health whizz, PTSD specialist, and all-round change-maker to tackle two of the sneakiest modern addictions: porn and gambling. Trust me, these things fly under the radar far more than booze or smack, and Hannah’s got the stats to prove it. We kicked off by digging into her story. She’s not just another talking head, she’s a...

Welcome to this episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where I dive into a topic that might not be on your radar, but will certainly grab your attention. Today, we're welcoming John Forbes from the Freeport Campaign Group, which is part of Salvo. John joins us for an eye-opening discussion about Freeports and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Scotland. Despite their promising names, these zones come with...

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, John Richardson talks with Colette Walker, leader of the Independence for Scotland Party, about the launch of Liberate Scotland and how it all links in with the UN decolonisation case. Colette shares how she has always felt Scottish rather than British and how class divisions in period dramas first sparked her distaste for the Union. She explains the foundi...

In this solo episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I navigate a chaotic evening after my guest cancels last minute. Probably not my best episode, sorry! I reflect on the previous week's well-received interview with Alex Thorburn of Liberation Scotland and Salvo and share listener feedback. I go into current affairs, questioning the BBC's framing of Scotland's performance, have a go at John...

This week, we're discussing Scottish independence with researcher Alex Thorburn from Salvo and Liberation Scotland , two civic movements developing their own strategy without waiting for approval from Westminster. We explore Scotland's claim to nationhood through the Claim of Right, the Treaty of Union, and their significance in the 21st century. Alex walks us through a potential route to...

Welcome to another episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where we dive into the absurd, tackle the unpredictable, and poke fun at the political circus! This time around, I'm kicking off with the sport you never knew existed - underwater rugby. Flippers and salty balls! But that's not all! We'll swim out of the pool and into the political kiddie pool where Nigel Farage is making waves by...

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon , we dive head-first into the idea of a UK wealth tax on the super rich. Inspired by campaigners like Gary Stevenson and supported by groups like Tax Justice UK, we explore why this idea is gaining momentum – and why some people still think it won’t work. Also, we’re diving into why this might be the key for Labour to outdo Reform UK. It’s all about rethinki...

In this episode, I talk about Keir Starmer’s new deal with the EU and what it really means for the UK, especially for fishing, food exports, and everyday workers. I start with fishing. For years, we were told that leaving the EU would give us back full control of our waters. But the truth is, a lot of our fishing rights are still in foreign hands. Over half of England’s quota is owned by companies...

This is the first real episode of the new call-in format. I go through all the emails sent to the show, where clearly my back catalogue is being fully explored! ITIL, Bees, AppSumo and the recent cyber attacks on Harrods, M&S, and the Co-op are explored. Remember, kids, use an authentication app like Authy or Google Authenticator wherever you can! Be on the next show, call in! https://richards...

Hey there, and welcome to the very first episode of Riffin' the Rubicon! I'm John Richardson, and I'm diving headfirst into this new live show adventure. Funny enough, it was VE Day when I did the recording. We'll talk about how folks sometimes overlook the true meaning of the day, all while I try to shake off this feeling that I'm stuck in an episode of Fawlty Towers! Plus, I'll let you in on a d...

Welcome to a new episode of Richardson's Rubicon hosted by me, John Richardson. In this episode, I dive into the economic principle of price elasticity of demand (PED) and its potential implications for the tourist sector, focusing especially on the controversial topic of visitor levies, or tourist taxes. I explore recent trends and data indicating a shift from serviced accommodations like hot...

Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon! In today's episode, I delve into the heated topic of the visitor levy, often misconceived as a mere tourist tax. PLUS!!!! NEWSFLASH AT THE BEGINNING! Join me, John Richardson, as I navigate through bizarre social media reactions and comments on this contentious issue. I discuss the misconceptions surrounding the tax, how it affects everyone staying in...

Right, let’s cut to the chase. On the latest Richardson’s Rubicon, I tore into this new Visitor Levy Scotland’s rolled out. Frankly, it’s infuriating, and I won’t sugarcoat it. First things first: don’t let them spin this as a “tourist tax.” It’s a charge on everyone staying in accommodation—yes, even your cousin from Manchester here for a weekend. And mark my words, every council in Scotland will...

In this episode of Richardson's Rubicon podcast, host John Richardson dives into the hot topic of Scotland's new Visitor Levy, often mislabeled as a 'tourist tax.' John clarifies that the levy is an accommodation tax, impacting both locals and visitors, and outlines its implications on small businesses like his own B&B. He compares the progressive percentage-based levy in Scotl...

Hello there, I'm John Richardson, your host on the Richardson's Rubicon Podcast. In this episode, we'll explore the tasks beekeepers should focus on in November and December, especially for those in the Northern Hemisphere, like in Scotland. We'll discuss the importance of providing sugar syrup and treating for varroa mites in the months leading up to winter. We'll examine how bees adapt their phy...

Welcome to a new, quick episode of Richardson's Rubicon podcast titled "Bluesky Verification." I'm your host, John Richardson. In this episode, we explore security protocols, identity verification, and user experience on social platforms. We kick off with an analysis of different social media verification methods, with an emphasis on Bluesky's unique approach. I dissect the transition from Twitter...

Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon, I'm your host, John Richardson, and today we're delving into something a little different. It's going to relate to my IT expertise, but resonates in everyday life, specifically dealing with service desks. What's making today's episode worth your listen is an exasperating experience I recently encountered with my teen son's mobile phone insurance claim. This or...

🎙️Unravelling the investing mysteries of Lifetime Deals! Join host John Richardson in the next episode of Richardson's Rubicon! Discover the risky yet rewarding world of LTDs through real examples like 'Sessions'. ✔️ Gain insights on the advantages, pitfalls, and Kickstarter-like surprises of Lifetime Deals. ✔️ Discover effective strategies to elevate consumer experiences on LTD platforms such as...

In S2E18 of Richardson's Rubicon, hosts John Richardson and Nate Stinehour delve into the thrilling and enriching intricacies of the gaming community within the context of EverQuest, an iconic MMORPG that's been captivating players for over 25 years. Underscoring the sense of companionship and support fostered among community members, the hosts share personal triumphs and challenges in the...

Hey fellow Norrathians! Your wait is over! We've just rolled out our latest episode, The Good, the Bad, and the Goofy, where we deep dive into everything EverQuest. This is one of a series of episodes where we invite you along to Ask The Panel your questions. You can even take part in the episode recording if you join our monthly webinar. Next one is Friday July 19th, check details here: https...

Where do I start with this? It was an amazingly fun episode! We put out a call to all of the EQ communities asking for your questions and the end result was this episode! Join us as Nate, Tom, Joe, Jordan and John field your questions and discuss the many and varied intricacies of EverQuest. Get ready to test your EverQuest knowledge with a thrilling and perhaps inaccurate trivia quiz conducted us...

An insightful dive into the world of EverQuest: Comparing Classic and Modern versions, the struggles with in-game experiences, and the effects on the gaming community. Introduction As the world of gaming continues to evolve, so do the demands and expectations of the players. In the most recent episode of Richardson's Rubicon, podcasters John Richardson and Nate Stinehour explore what many fans...

In episode 14 of Richardson's Rubicon, we ( John Richardson and Jordan Doll) take you on an exciting journey through the iconic game of EverQuest. P99 Classic. The discussion mainly centres around the game's quests involving the Iksar Shadowknight Khukris and is the second part of our series on this, thanks to the immense expertise of Jordan, AKA Razorlou on P99 Green. https://wiki.project...