Old News Podcast

Episode 13: The Channel Tunnel

and President

We're digginging ourselves into a big hole and doing and episode on the Channel Tunnel. Russell indulges his love of trains, David guesses some French, the Queen and President Mitterand do the business, and somehow we end up in Turkmenistan.

We also talk about shed erections, David still being stiffer than said shed, and pineapple cider.

We're Still Here!

Just a little announcement to say we're still here, we haven't dissapeared and we'll be back soon.

Episode 12: Exxon Valdez

The year is 1989 and one of the worst oil spils the world had ever seen occurs off the coast of Alaska.

In this episode we look at the impact the disaster had on the shipping industry, the environment and the economy.

We also mention Schrodinger's car, try to make money out of cheesy meat and David uses the word "splurge".

Episode 11: Exoplanets, Kepler and Aliens

We're heading back into space this time to talk about the discovery of the first exoplanet. During the discussion of observation methods, signals and space telescopes we mange to include broken cars, the 57 varieties of hard left politics, ancient Rome and the East India Company.

This is the BBC Future article Russell mentions towards the end of the episode: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20161215-if-we-made-contact-with-aliens-how-would-religions-react

ESA's CoRoT overview page: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/COROT_overview

NASA's Kepler page: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html

Episode 10: New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina

We metaphorically cross the pond in this episode to investigate Hurricane Katrina, its effects on New Orleans and the aftermath. This leads us into the sensitive subjects of race, politics and equality.

While doing this of course we still manage to take a quick interlude, talk about banana shaped vegetable scrubbing brushes being used for the wrong thing and internet fu. All while drinking the ever-present beer of indeterminate strength.

Listen out for some more easter eggs after the end music!

This episode was brought to you by the numbers 4, 7 and The Last Tuesday Project podcast available wherever you find podcasts and their website www.lasttuesdayproject.com

Episode 9: Breakup of Czechoslovakia

The story of how and why Czechoslovakia broke up into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. What has happened since and what the world can learn from it.

We also talk about the BBC Radiophonic Workshop and two different types of spring.

Episode 8: Digital Switchover

This time David and Russell look back at the UK's switch to digital TV and radio while drinking some actual real beer. Somehow noodle-like worms, French Canada, monkeys and good old John Logie Baird come into it.

 

Episode 7: The Return of Hong Kong

In this episode, somewhere amongst the chat about Godzilla, echidnas, reindeer slippers and wooly mammoths we manage to talk about the 1997 return of Hong Kong to China.

We also revisit and update some of our old episodes - hence the mammoth.

There was no beer for this one, just some massive cups of tea, and listen out for David's wonderful singing!

 

Episode 6: The Raoul Moat Manhunt

We're back!

With another listener suggested episode. This time David and Russell discus the man hunt and subsequent stand-off, for Raoul Moat in the north east of England. We then move on to its ramifications for the media and society. Somehow we also manage to include roosters, camel’s noses, hippo’s testicles and of course no Old News episode would be complete without some “beer of indeterminate strength.”

Listen out for an Easter egg after the music as well!

Episode 5: Chernobyl

For the first time we have a listener suggested subject - the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

Once again, Russell reveals he is skipping the country while David has, surprisingly, not had any DIY related problems. Welsh sheep, the pronunciation of "Bath" and cheesy chains all make unexpected appearances.

We also give a shout out to our friends at The Last Tuesday Project podcast. Give them a listen at www.lasttuesdayproject.com

 

NOTE: Russell mentions that he can't remember what SCRAM stands for. It could stand for "Safety Control Rods Activation Mechansim", "Safety Control Rods Actuator Mechanism", or the slightly strange "Safety Control Rod Axe Man".