Episode 153
Statman Ross, BetaBet and A New Operating System
Show broadcast on 21 January 2017
An absolute anvil of a podcast this week, packed with not one but two brand new features and some farewell analysis of Winner Plays On by Elis & John's Andy Zaltzman, Ross "Statistician" Middleton. Plus LOADS of the usual stuff too - Humble Brag Of The Week, Email Of The Species, Elis' Laid-Back and Light-Hearted Paper Review, and Tick Off A Taste! And a world first in the Keep It Session Sessions...
Podcast intro
Does listening to depressing music when you're down make you feel worse or better?
John's introduction of Elis
"To my left is the author of the celebrated treatise 'In defence of Ceefax'. "
Elis James' Light-Hearted Paper Review
Elis' selection of humorous stories from this week's newspapers.
Emigrating to a micro state on a platform in the sea - could John have his own micro state? Currency would be the farthing, flag would be a robin holding a trident, with pint motives and in an unusual shape with 4D - you can see through it into the past.
John's Shame Well
John frees another listener of their shame.
New feature: John's Shame Well - your examples of 'minute shame causers' - those small things you've said or done in the past that still cause you to feel shame and regret now when you think about them... Send them and they will be read out on the shame well to relieve you of your burden.
Someone once lied and said they had sold Vic Reeves a printer. Elis said a mean thing to a girl in 1999.
Humblebrag
More examples of that scourge of social media, the humblebrag.
A long open letter-style post to someone's partner thanking them for having the strength to say 'yes' to all the amazing things they want to show off to others that they have done together.
Winner Plays On
Elis and John face off in the weekly quiz on topics of their choice.
PCD Ross Middleton is a guest, talking through his statistical analysis of WPO.
Betabet
Elis and John compete to name as many things as possible on a theme in alphabetical order in 30 seconds.
New Feature replacing WPO: Beta Bet - Elis and John compete to name as many things as possible on a theme in alphabetical order in 30 seconds. While one does it the other listens to music on headphones in the 'listening booth' then has their go.
This week: chocolate bars. 4-4. There is only one known chocolate bar beginning with 'E' and it's not British. John wins tiebreaker.
Tick Off a Taste
The gang try a new taste sensation sent in by a listener.
From Iceland, candy coated in or containing 'pepper' (really a liquorice-based spicy flavour)
The 'Keep It Session' Sessions
A special section at the end of the podcast for music recommendations.
JR Double play: Jerry Garcia / Richard and Linda Thompson. John went "stark raving bink bonks" trying to remember the songs and artists during the week. Euphoric when he found it: Elis: "Pants off, listening to it?" John: "Pants off. Pants all over the place."