The Banterists

Heatwaves, Homeopathy, and Weird Expressions: Jenny Harris on Complementary Therapies Phill, Jo, and guest Jenny Harris open with updates on a severe heatwave in France and Jo’s visit to the Fresh Air sculpture exhibition in Quenington, Cotswolds, then discuss a viral but fabricated Instagram story about a fake museum guide. They share “word of the week” terms tied to homeopathy (succussion, tritu...

Spritzes : From Aperol to the Hugo Spritz Kevin returns to the Banterists podcast cocktail segment,He introduces spritzes as alcoholic drinks diluted with sparkling wine or soda water, tracing the term to the German “spritzen” and the origin to Austrian soldiers in 1800s Veneto who added still water to strong wine, later evolving to sparkling water. He explains how adding bitters led to competing...

Time Travel, Victorian Slang, and Medieval Reenactment with Rachel Parton Phil and Jo open The Banterists with a history theme inspired by rewatching Midnight in Paris and the idea that people romanticize other eras. They discuss a Swiss startup turning human urine into certified fertilizer approved in Switzerland and France, then share Victorian slang including “giggle mug,” “bitch the pot,” “tig...

Sparkling Wine Cocktails and the Venetian Sgroppino Kevin discusses sparkling wine in cocktails, explaining Champagne’s strict French production rules and suggesting less expensive alternatives such a Prosecco and Cava. He outlines how bubbles are captured and compares three main production methods—ancestral (fruit-driven), tank/charmat (used for Prosecco), and traditional (used for champagne, cav...

Phil and Jo host The Banterists without Lily, share a listener recommendation for Tuscany’s Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle, and discuss literature. Jo highlights spoof/parody books, including the 2014 self-published Ladybird-style Go to the Gallery that inspired Penguin’s 2015 grown-up Ladybird spoofs (over five million sold) and mentions legal action, plus Sean Lock’s The Tiger Who Came for...

Kevin thanks listeners who contacted the Banter Trust email and answers Charlotte in Boston’s question about what music and places he associates with each cocktail, pairing a whisky mac with a Scottish ceilidh and Wolfstone, and a margarita with an elegant oceanfront bar in Tijuana and Catrell and Paco Amoroso. This week’s drink is the Negroni, which he describes as a balanced sweet-bitter cocktai...

Margarita Origins, Tequila vs. Mezcal, and a Chilli-Ginger Syrup Twist Kev recounts discovering a chilli and ginger margarita about eight years ago in a Worcester, UK restaurant whose manager later emailed cocktail recipes, and uses it to introduce this week’s drink: the margarita. They trace its roots to Northern Mexico around US Prohibition and explain the “daisy cocktail” template of spirit, ci...

Phill, Lilly and Jo are taking a break this week but Kocktail Kev is with you and introduces a new weekly short segment on Banterists about cocktails, including their stories, how to make them, and tasting along with readily available ingredients and straightforward proportions using a 25 ml/50 ml measure. He defines a cocktail as a combination of two or more drinks with at least one alcoholic, an...

Music Memories, Teen Slang, and Lightsaber Dueling Phil and Jo host The Banterists without Lily, who is directing a play, and introduce an episode focused on music alongside their usual recommendations and a teased new segment. They discuss a Guardian article about Sébastien Bérard and France recognizing lightsaber dueling as an official sport, then share “word of the week” (pandiculation) and tee...

Phil and Lily host The Banters without Joe and welcome guest Simon Clark, president of the non-profit cultural association Atelier des Art du Noble Val (founded 2022 in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val) promoting music and the arts across the region. Simon describes moving to France after buying a property at 50, drawn by the area’s scenery and a barn he converted into a concert/rehearsal space, plus gîtes...

Phill, Jo, and Lily are back for another wide-ranging conversation covering listener mail, cringe-worthy memories, the origin of a surprising word, and a deep dive into their favourite artists and artworks. In this episode: 📬 Listener Mail Ian from France writes in about Episode 1 (favourite films) — correcting the group on Wuthering Heights in French cinemas, Bob Hope's Road Movies co-star (...

This week, Phill, Jo and Lilly take a trip down memory lane as they share some of their most unforgettable life moments… but not before a bit of classic Banterists chat about zombie filler . From magical weddings in Italy 🇮🇹 to camel riding adventures in Morocco 🐪, the gang swap stories that will make you laugh, reminisce, and maybe even feel a little nostalgic. They also dive into incredible cul...

In this episode, Phill takes the hosting reins solo while Lilly and Jo are off on other adventures—but he’s not alone for long! Joining him is special guest Banterist Tori, all the way from New York, currently exploring life abroad through Workaway. 🌍 Main Topic: Workaway Life Phill and Tori dive into the world of Workaway—what it is, how it works, and why it’s becoming such a popular way to trav...

Episode Summary: Jo, Lily, and Phill dive into the always-contentious topic of favourite films - with Phill’s self-described "highbrow" choices raising a few eyebrows. Before getting into other films, the episode opens with a chat about Oscar-winning short films, including A Friend of Dorothy's (starring Miriam Margolyes) and the intriguing French film Two People Exchanging Saliva ,...

In the first episode of The Banterists, hosts Phill, Jo, and Lilly introduce the podcast and discuss TV, color, and the Oscars. Phill recommends the TV series Small Prophets, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, set in Manchester and centered on Michael searching for his vanished girlfriend using homunculi prophecies; they praise its observational humor, set design, and cast including Pierce Q...

The Banterists is a brand-new podcast where three friends dive into big ideas, small obsessions and everything in between. Expect lively conversations, plenty of laughs, and honest opinions on everything from books, theatre, TV and fashion to music, art, exhibitions and whatever else grabs their attention. Thought-provoking, entertaining and full of personality, it’s like eavesdropping on your fri...