Getting Better Acquainted

In GBA 194 we get better acquainted with Paula Varjack. She talks about finding herself through becoming someone else, creating performed documentary, how money and art and identity intersect, singing the Cat in the Hat to the tune of Radiohead's Creep, the ethical and practical concerns of producing shows and more. I also get a chance to tease out some of the nuances around my attitude to copyright. Paula plugs: Her website: http://www.paulavarjack.com How I Became Myself (By Becoming Someone Else): http://www.paulavarjack.com/projects/How-I-Became-Myself-(By-Becoming-Someone-Else).html Contacting her if you are an artist wanting to get involved with Show Me the Money: http://www.twitter.com/paulavarjack Extra plugs: The Fail Better Podcast: http://www.londonfieldsradio.co.uk/2015/02/01/fail-better-podcast-episode-1-amy-acre-james-harris/ Anti-Slam Anti-Valantines - 14th Feb Hackney Attic: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Anti_Slam_Valentine_S_Special/ Varjack and Simpson: http://varjackandsimpson.tumblr.com Never Mind the Fullstops 5th March: http://varjackandsimpson.tumblr.com/fullstops Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Winter 28th February: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Stand_Up_Tragedy_Tragic_Winter/ We mention: Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ The Free Fringe: http://freefringe.org.uk/ The Anti Social Network: http://www.paulavarjack.com/projects/the-anti-social-network.html Rada: https://www.rada.ac.uk/ Chelsea Theatre: http://www.chelseatheatre.org.uk/ Lesley Ewen: http://www.generallife.org/ Everything's A Remix: http://everythingisaremix.info/watch-the-series/ Manchester Rambler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YENYMwuCG2Y Creative Commons: http://creativecommons.org/ Instagram: http://instagram.com/ James Harris: http://jamesharrisstandup.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBzeRGnvFEJTvI-cFw-TqIA Miranda July: http://mirandajuly.com/ No One Belongs Here More Than You: http://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Belongs-Here-More-Than/dp/1847671160 Bargehouse - GrimmTales: http://www.grimm-tales.co.uk/ Soho Theatre: http://www.sohotheatre.com/ Leicester Square Theatre: http://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/ Hackney Attic: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/Attic/Hackney_Attic/ The Anti-Slam: http://varjackandsimpson.tumblr.com/anti-slam Raymond Antrobus: http://raymondantrobus.blogspot.co.uk/ The Dogstar: http://dogstarbrixton.com/ Superbard: http://www.superbard.co.uk/ Creative One: https://www.creativeone.com/cmindex.aspx Paloma Faith: http://www.palomafaith.com/ Myspace: https://myspace.com/ Cat in the Hat / Creep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wl3Yc4FgjA Radiohead: http://www.radiohead.co.uk/ Cat in the Hat: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cat_in_the_Hat The Christmas Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfHaBbCLzDo Dan Simpson: https://dansimpsonpoet.wordpress.com/ Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Public Liability Insurance: http://www.confused.com/small-business-insurance/guides/understanding-public-liability-insurance Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 193 we get better acquainted with Dan Simpson. He talks about performance and process, working with words, learning acceptance, geek culture, categorising the arts and lots more. Dan plugs: Anti-Slam Anti-Valantines - 14th Feb Hackney Attic: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Anti_Slam_Valentine_S_Special/ Varjack and Simpson: http://varjackandsimpson.tumblr.com// Stand Up And Slam: http://www.standupandslam.com/ https://twitter.com/StandUpAndSlam Dan Simpson: https://dansimpsonpoet.wordpress.com/ https://twitter.com/dansimpsonpoet We mention: Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ PBH Free Fringe: http://freefringe.org.uk/ Robin Williams: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Williams Eddie Peppitone: http://eddiepepitone.com/ Pac-Man: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man Clyde: http://pacman.wikia.com/wiki/Clyde Richard Marsh: https://richmarsh.wordpress.com/ Dirty Great Love Story: https://richmarsh.wordpress.com/dirty-great-love-story/ Wingman: https://richmarsh.wordpress.com/wingman/ Skittles: https://richmarsh.wordpress.com/skittles/ We Are All Orange Ghosts: https://dansimpsonpoet.wordpress.com/orange-ghosts/ Ross Sutherland: http://www.rosssutherland.co.uk/ Standby for Tape Backup: http://www.rosssutherland.co.uk/main/archives/960 Apples and Snakes: http://www.applesandsnakes.org/ Canterbury Laureate: https://dansimpsonpoet.wordpress.com/tag/canterbury-laureate/ Benjamin Zephaniah: http://benjaminzephaniah.com/ Kate Tempest: http://katetempest.co.uk/ Rob Auton: http://www.robauton.co.uk/ Mark Grist: http://www.markgrist.com/ Tim Key: https://twitter.com/timkeyperson Tim Minchin: http://www.timminchin.com/ Storm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhGuXCuDb1U John Cooper Clarke: http://johncooperclarke.com/ Indie Feed: http://indiefeedpp.indiefeed.libsynpro.com/ Bang Said the Gun: http://www.bangsaidthegun.com/ Arts Emergency: http://www.arts-emergency.org/ Alternative Old Boys Network: http://www.arts-emergency.org/alternative-old-boys-network/ Future First: http://futurefirst.org.uk/ Ricky Tomlinson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Tomlinson Rada: https://www.rada.ac.uk/ Central: https://www.cssd.ac.uk/ Eastenders: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m86d Never Mind the Fullstops: http://varjackandsimpson.tumblr.com/fullstops The Antislam: http://varjackandsimpson.tumblr.com/anti-slam Fay Roberts: http://www.fayroberts.co.uk/ Greece - Summer Nights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4 Paula Varjack: http://www.paulavarjack.com/ Paul Sweeney: https://twitter.com/sweencutscomedy Hammer and Tongue: http://www.hammerandtongue.com/ Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/ Call of Duty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call_of_Duty Grand Theft Auto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto_%28video_game%29 Mark Zuckerberg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zuckerberg Star Trek: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek Lord of the Rings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings Gamergate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gamergate_controversy Fake Geek Girl: http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Fake_geek_girls Climate Change Poems: Tipping Point: Weatherfronts http://weatherfronts.dansimpsonpoet.co.uk/ Canterbury Roman Museum Residency: https://dansimpsonpoet.wordpress.com/projects/canterbury-roman-museum-residency/ Burning Eye Books: https://burningeyebooks.wordpress.com/ Myers Briggs Personality Type: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myers-Briggs_Type_Indicator NotAllMen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NotAllMen Mansplaining: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansplaining Ministry of Stories - Cbeebies Radio Series: http://bit.ly/MiScbeebies The Richard Tyrone Jones Live Edinburgh Episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-live-6-richard-tyrone Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 192 we get better acquainted with Amy. She talks about asking who is Helen of Troy, gender and performance, the cultural experience of Third Culture Kids, diversity in the arts, feminism, mythology, identity and more. Amy plugs: GAP Salon: https://gapsalon.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/gapsalon https://twitter.com/GAPsalon The Helen Project: http://www.amyclaretasker.com/directors-notes/the-helen-project/ Hyphenated: http://www.amyclaretasker.com/hyphenated/ http://weareimprobable.tumblr.com/post/105599395518/hyphenated-a-viral-storytelling-project-about Amy Clare Tasker: http://www.amyclaretasker.com/ I plug: The next D and D event: D&D 10, 24 - 26 January 2015: What Are We Going To Do About Theatre And The Performing Arts? http://www.devotedanddisgruntled.com/events/devoted-and-disgruntled-10-what-are-we-going-do-ab/ Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Winter: Saturday 28th Feb at Hackney Attic: https://www.facebook.com/events/1516191711967276/ (Featuring Alice Bell: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-115-alice-bell) We mention: Devoted and Disgruntled: http://www.devotedanddisgruntled.com/ Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ WOW Parties: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/wow-parties-81651 Women of the World Festival: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/women-of-the-world South Bank Centre: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk Improbable Theatre: http://www.improbable.co.uk/ Open Space: http://www.openspaceworld.org/ Greek Tragedy: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sets/greek-tragedy Megan Cohen: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-live-14-megan-cohen http://plays.megancohen.com/ Iliad: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad Odyssey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey Helen of Troy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_of_Troy Euripides: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euripides Simpsons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpsons Friends: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia Milihelens: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/millihelen Marlowe's Faustus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Faustus_(play) DIVAfest: http://www.theexit.org/divafest/ Dramaturge/ Dramaturg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dramaturge My website: hhtp://davepickeringstoryteller.co.uk Beethoven: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_Beethoven Verbatim Theatre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbatim_theatre Third Culture Kid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_culture_kid Teddy Roosevelt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Roosevelt National Theatre: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ Between Us - Arcola Theatre: https://www.arcolatheatre.com/production/arcola/between-us Mistress Contract - Royal Court: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/whats-on/the-mistress-contract Blurred Lines - National Theatre: http://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/blurred-lines Female Arts: http://www.femalearts.com/ So and So Arts Club: http://www.thesoandsoartsclub.com/ Women's History Month: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_History_Month Etcetera Theatre: http://www.etceteratheatre.com/ Lucy Kerbel - 100 Great Plays for Women: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Plays-Women-Lucy-Kerbel/dp/1848421850 bell hooks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_hooks Andrea Dworkin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Dworkin You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 191 we get better acquainted with Jonathan Blake. He is one of the real people who are fictionalised in the film Pride. We talk about being played by Dominic West, living with HIV, LGBT rights and homophobia, the politics of the left, coming out, housing cooperatives, acting, activism, costume making and more. Content Note: Discussion of suicide, depression, living with HIV, homophobia, transphobia Jonathan plugs: The reformed LGSM who can be found here: http://www.twitter.com/LGSMpride Their Kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1414067749/funding-for-tredegar-band-at-london-pride-2015 We mention: Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ Pride: http://www.pridemovie.co.uk/ Mike Jackson: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-185-mike-jackson GBA 179 Focus E15 Mothers (feat Mike Jackson): https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-179-focus-e15-mothers Dominic West: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_West The Wire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire Stephen Beresford: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Beresford Matthew Warchus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Warchus Janet Baker: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Baker Julius Ceaser: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar_%28play%29 The Miner's Strike: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984%E2%80%9385) Margaret Thatcher: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher "Equal" Marriage Bill: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_(Same_Sex_Couples)_Act_2013 Dulais: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulais_Valley Leelah Alcorn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Leelah_Alcorn Philip Larkin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Larkin CBS Films: http://www.cbsfilms.com/ Sian James: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si%C3%A2n_James_%28politician%29 Rose Bruford: https://www.bruford.ac.uk/ Joe Allen: http://www.joeallen.co.uk/ Act Up / Larry Kramer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Kramer Rupert Murdoch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Murdoch Norman Fowler: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Fowler Terrence Higgins Trust: http://www.tht.org.uk/ Body Positive: http://www.self-help.org.uk/directory/aids-hiv/?entryid54=29538 George House Trust: http://www.ght.org.uk/ Greenham Common: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenham_Common_Women%27s_Peace_Camp AZT: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-rise-and-fall-of-azt-it-was-the-drug-that-had-to-work-it-brought-hope-to-people-with-hiv-and-aids-and-millions-for-the-company-that-developed-it-it-had-to-work-there-was-nothing-else-but-for-many-who-used-azt--it-didnt-2320491.html Gay is the Word: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay%27s_the_Word_%28bookshop%29 Gay Left: http://www.gayleft1970s.org/ Trotsky: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Trotsky NUT: http://www.teachers.org.uk/ SWP: https://www.swp.org.uk/ Equity: http://www.equity.org.uk/home/ Housing Corporation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_Corporation Grand Theatre: http://www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre All Out Dancing in Dalice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHJhbwEcgrA Still the Enemy Within: http://the-enemy-within.org.uk/ Soma Mining Disaster: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_mine_disaster Ken Livingstone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Livingstone GLC: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_London_Council The Stage: http://www.thestage.co.uk/ English National Opera: http://www.eno.org/ Wagner: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Wagner You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In this Getting Better Acquainted Extra I follow up last year's Uncertain New Year episode with a round up of how 2014 actually panned out for me, mixed in with some true stories that I told told at Risk!, Spark London and Stand Up Tragedy. It's a bumper sized episode but it's much shorter than the year it sums up. The true stories and reflections cover some dark times both from this year and from my past (content note for anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, bullying, body image) as well as plenty of fun and positive times from both this year and from my past. There's also music, reflection, sex clubs, a cameo from Stewart Lee* and quite a lot of me talking. Next week normal service will resume and GBA will be back yo it's in conversation format. * Stewart Lee does not literally appear in this episode. I plug: This kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1414067749/funding-for-tredegar-band-at-london-pride-2015 LGSM: https://twitter.com/LGSMpride Pride: http://www.pridemovie.co.uk/ Things mentioned: Uncertain New Year: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/uncertain-new-year Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ GBA Christmas Special 2014: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-190-christmas Stand Up Tragedy Christmas Special: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/selected-tragedy-vol-5-tragic-christmas Open EP: https://soundcloud.com/the-dave/sets/the-open-ep My Week of Goodbyes: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-week-of-goodbyes.html Pod Acadamy: http://podacademy.org/ RSA: http://www.thersa.org/ My website: http://www.davepickeringstoryteller.co.uk/ Jo Barrett: http://muteandinvisible.com/ Life in Scents: http://lifeinscents.com/ #GBA2014 Open Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-open-episodes Personal Season: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-personal-season-2014 Comment is Free: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/01/tough-choice-cut-job-enfield-children-centres-austerity Living Streets: http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/ Geek Showoff - Science Showoff: http://www.scienceshowoff.org/ The Moomin Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-moomins-episode Stand Up Tragedy Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy Tragic Christmas: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sets/tragic-christmas Arts Emergency: http://www.arts-emergency.org/ @Kit Lovelace: https://twitter.com/kitlovelace Kit Lovelace Episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-68-kit-lovelace Free Fringe: http://freefringe.org.uk/ Eddie Peppitone: http://eddiepepitone.com/ Rob Auton: http://www.robauton.co.uk/ GBA Live: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/gba-live-at-edfringe-2014 Sara Pascoe: https://twitter.com/sarapascoe Andy Zaltzman: https://twitter.com/zaltzcricket Bouncy Poppy Songs About Death: http://thereactionaries1.bandcamp.com/album/bouncy-poppy-songs-about-death BPSAD GBA: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-178-bouncy-poppy-songs-about-death Matt Hill: http://rethinkaudio.wordpress.com/ BAFTA Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/bafta Storylines: http://www.ampersandmedia.co.uk/current.php Ampersand Media: http://www.ampersandmedia.co.uk/ Focus e15 Mums: http://focuse15.org/ Musa Okwonga: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-148-musa-okwonga Neil Denny: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-175-neil-denny Reni Eddo Lodge: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-182-reni-eddo-lodge Mike Jackson: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-185-mike-jackson Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ Mind Haringey: http://www.mindinharingey.org.uk/ Forty Hall: http://www.fortyhallestate.co.uk/whats-on/events/forty_hall_by_candlelight_1 Jen: http://www.jadamthwaite.co.uk/ You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone,

In GBA 190 we get better acquainted with Christmas (again). It's the 2014 Christmas Special and this time we focus more on the complicated than the uplifting. The majority of the episode is a conversation between me and my friend Nina, two people with a complicated relationship with Christmas swapping our war stories. Also so featured in the episode is a story of recent Christmas joy from Connor and a song from Martin Austwick. The episode also contains my father's voice speaking to his granddaughter in the past and providing some Tove Jannson style Christmas spirit. This episode hopes to offer solidarity to the seasonally afflicted and an explanation to those who love Christmas for why many of us might not. It does touch on upsetting family dynamics and mental health issues, including specific reference to traumatic events, depression and violence against children but in an actually pretty light and seasonal way. For other GBA flavours of Christmas see the past 3 Christmas Specials: 2011: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-christmas-special 2012: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-91-getting-better 2013: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-141-a-room-full-of Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year! To hear the contributors at length in a none Christmas context listen to these episodes: Nina: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-132-nina Connor: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-186-connor Martin: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-67-martin-the-sound-man Dad: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-dad-episodes Mentioned/Plugged: Martin Austwick: http://www.martinzaltzaustwick.com/ https://twitter.com/martinaustwick http://www.thesoundoftheladies.com/ https://martinaustwick.bandcamp.com/ Stand Up Tragedy: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy Full Tragic Christmas: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sets/tragic-christmas Tove Jansson: http://www.tovejansson.com/ The Fir Tree: http://tygertale.com/2013/12/01/december-1st-the-fir-tree-by-tove-jansson/ The Moomins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin The Mum Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-mum-episodes-1 (There will be no GBA next week. It will return in January 2014.) You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 189 we get better acquainted with Heather. She talks about how faith and theatre has influenced her passion for working with young people and in getting involved with LGBT rights, her methodist upbringing and personal relationship with God, the experience of being pregnant and how she first knew me as "Pajama Boy". Heather Plugs: Speaking up for other people's rights. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke We mention: Tim: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-188-tim Mencap: https://www.mencap.org.uk/ PGCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postgraduate_Certificate_in_Education I Have 2 Mummys books: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heather_Has_Two_Mommies http://www.amazon.co.uk/Some-people-have-Mums-SomeFamilies-net/dp/1484097122 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tale-Two-Mommies-Vanita-Oelschlager/dp/0982636679 Central Park Penguins book: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_Tango_Makes_Three Heteronormativity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteronormativity Methodism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodism Rowan Williams (The Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of recording): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowan_Williams You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 188 we get better acquainted with Tim. He talks about mathematical physics, particle accelerators, the dark matter that may form the universe, E=mc2, films, playing the bass, being a twin, having a happy childhood and more. Tim Plugs: His website: http://www.t-j-walton.co.uk/ We mention: Edinburgh Special: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-15-edinburgh-festival Large Hadron Collider: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/646.aspx CERN: Cern Particle Accelerator: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_accelerator Ion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ion Plasma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29 Special Relativity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity General Relativity: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativity Michelson-Morley Experiment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelson%E2%80%93Morley_experiment E=MC2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass%E2%80%93energy_equivalence Tachyon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachyon King's Lynn: http://www.kingslynnonline.com/ Hunstanton: http://www.norfolk-on-line.co.uk/hunstanton-norfolk/ Richard: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-richard-episodes Nuffield Theatre: https://www.liveatlica.org/information/visiting/live-at-lica-venues/lancaster-nuffield-theatre Muse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muse_%28band%29 Philip Glass: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Glass Cinematic Orchestra: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cinematic_Orchestra Dad: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-dad-episodes You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 187 we get better acquainted with Hannah. She talks about connecting with people, about the crack in everything that lets the light get in, about rootlessness, relationships, family, love, death and pain. It's a conversation that threads itself around how facebook can connect and dissect people, making your life into fiction and finding out what how people relate and connect to each other. Content Note: The conversation is warm but it covers dark and difficult subjects including suicide, bereavement and experiences of mental health issues and traumas. Hanna plugs: Boyhood: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyhood_%28film%29 We mention: Spark London: sparklondon.com/ "There is a crack, a crack in everything That's how the light gets in" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ma5tF6TJpA Watching the English - Kate Fox: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-English-Hidden-Rules-Behaviour/dp/0340818867 https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-131-carl You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 186 we get better acquainted with Connor. In a glass house late at night in the cold eating crisps we have a conversation where all roads lead back to radio, passing through Ireland, Brussels, China, childhood, The Third Coast Festival, In the Dark and more. There's also lot's of podcast talk. Connor plugs: In the Dark: http://www.inthedarkradio.org/ Invisible Picture Palace: http://invisiblepicturepalace.com/ We mention: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-87-in-conversation Invisible Picture Palace episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/gba-live-the-invisible-picture Helen and Olly's Required Listening: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01m5j91 Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-127-robin-the-fog Rethink Daily: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ Ricky Gervais podcast: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ricky_Gervais_Show Radio Sweden: http://sverigesradio.se/sida/default.aspx?programid=2054 Ministry of Stories Ouch! http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/podcast/ Farming Today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/farming The Live GBA Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/gba-live 100th Episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/gba100-1 International Crisis Group: http://www.crisisgroup.org/ Magritte: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ren%C3%A9_Magritte BBC Chinese Service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/chinafocus DX Listening Digest: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html The World Service: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio Radio 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 China Radio International: http://english.cri.cn/ Coffee Flavoured Tea: http://www.coffeeflavouredtea.net/wordpress/ https://soundcloud.com/coffeeflavouredtea RTE: http://www.rte.ie/ Radio 1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 Radio 2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2 Radio 5 Live: http://www.bbc.co.uk/5live Murphy Radio: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murphy_Radio https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-74-mervyn Good Friday Agreement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_Agreement 6 Degrees of Separation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_degrees_of_separation Open Society Foundation: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/ George Soros: http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/people/george-soros Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ This American Life: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/ Radiolab: http://www.radiolab.org/ Third Coast Festival: http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org/ The Story: http://thestory.org.uk/ Karl James episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-chris-and-karl-episodes Timehop: http://timehop.com/ Maplin: http://www.maplin.co.uk/ The Sound of Silence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4 Simon and Garfunkle Greatest Hits: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_and_Garfunkel's_Greatest_Hits Carry On Up the Charts Beautiful South: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carry_On_up_the_Charts Bailrigg FM: http://bailriggfm.co.uk/ Teenage Kicks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAtUw6lxcis John Peel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peel Micheal Fenton Stevens episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-michael-fenton-stevens Pigs in Space: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTGDpUg3CHY Lights Out Listening: https://lightsoutlisteninggroup.wordpress.com/ You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 185 we get better acquainted with Mike Jackson. I met Mike at theFocus E15 Mothers Occupation earlier this year and he is one of the real people who are fictionalised in the film Pride. We talk about the personal and the political, going through class experience and class struggle, LGBT rights, solidarity between differently oppressed groups, consciousness raising, activist and trade union history and so much more. Mike plugs: The reformed LGSM who can be found here: http://www.twitter.com/LGSMpride And in the future they'll be on facebook too here: LGSM 2014 We mention: GBA 179 Focus E15 Mothers (feat Mike Jackson): https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-179-focus-e15-mothers Focus e15 Mothers: https://twitter.com/FocusE15 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-E15-Mothers/602860129757343 http://focuse15.org/ Spark London: http://sparklondon.com/ Pride: http://www.pridemovie.co.uk/ Billy Elliot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Elliot Brassed Off: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassed_Off The Full Monty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Full_Monty Stephen Beresford: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Beresford Marc Ashton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Ashton Joe Gilgun: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Gilgun This Is England: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_England The Miner's Strike: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984%E2%80%9385) Margaret Thatcher: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Thatcher Pricewaterhouse Coopers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PricewaterhouseCoopers Neoliberal: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism Neoconservative: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoconservatism Von Hayek: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Hayek Milton Friedman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_Friedman Tony Benn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Benn Naomi Klein: This Changes Everything: http://www.amazon.co.uk/This-Changes-Everything-Capitalism-Climate/dp/1451697384 Freddie Fox: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Fox_(actor) Pink Triangle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_triangle Print Workers Strike: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wapping_dispute Still the Enemy Within: http://the-enemy-within.org.uk/ Women Against Pit Closures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_Against_Pit_Closures Clement Attlee http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clement_Attlee Accrington: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accrington 1967 Sexual Offences Act: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_Offences_Act_1967 Johnathan Harvey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Harvey_(playwright) Beautiful Thing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beautiful_Thing_(play) Canary: http://www.amazon.co.uk/22Canary-22-Modern-Plays-Jonathan-Harvey/dp/1408131048 "Equal" Marriage Bill: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_(Same_Sex_Couples)_Act_2013 Mark Ashton's Fund: https://www.facebook.com/markashtontrust Soma Mining Disaster: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soma_mine_disaster You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 184 we get better acquainted with Duncan. He talks about writing for theatre, day jobs, The West Yorkshire Playhouse writer's programme, the Royal Court Theatre Young Writer's Programme, getting involved in youth theatre, studying law, challenging your own beliefs and attitudes, moral ambiguity and growing up in Malvern. Duncan doesn't plug anything but you can find him here: https://twitter.com/duncan_gates http://thethingsthatarenotthere.wordpress.com/ I plug: http://www.davepickeringstoryteller.co.uk We mention: Matt Hill: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ Malvern: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malvern,_Worcestershire Grease: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical) Oh What A Lovely War: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh!_What_a_Lovely_War UB65: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_UB-65 Charles Bukowski: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bukowski John Steinbeck: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck Of Mice and Men: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Mice_and_Men Festival Theatre: http://www.malvern-theatres.co.uk/events/venues/festival/ Theatre of Small Convenience: http://www.wctheatre.co.uk/ Shakespeare: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare Alien: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(film) Royal Court Theatre: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/ West Yorkshire Playhouse: http://www.wyp.org.uk/ Richard: The Weir: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weir Donmar: http://www.donmarwarehouse.com/ Sarah Kane: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Kane UEA: https://www.uea.ac.uk/ ATOS: http://uk.atos.net/en-uk/home.html Professor X: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor_X Karl Popper: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Popper Black Swan Theory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_swan_theory DV8: http://dv8.co.uk/ You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 183 we get better acquainted with Vicky who I met through the Ministry of Stories where she works and we talk about engaging children through creative writing, working in a Monster Supplies shop, the human capacity for learning, how the French Horn is received in folk clubs, commuting between the country and the city, the joys of birdwatching, navigating the education system and so much more. Vicky plugs: Her band the flowing: https://www.facebook.com/theflowing Birdwatching We mention: Ministry of Stories: http://www.ministryofstories.org/ Ministry of Stories on Cbeebies: http://bit.ly/MiScbeebies Poetry Garden: http://www.ministryofstories.org/planting-poetry/ Acrostic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrostic Mesostic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesostic Matt Hill: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ The Story: http://thestory.org.uk/ Hoxton Monster Supplies: http://www.monstersupplies.org/ Plainchant: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plainsong Early Folk: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_music#Early_folk_music.2C_fieldwork_and_scholarship Yann Tiersen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yann_Tiersen Apples for Everyone: https://soundcloud.com/applesforeveryone Isle of Grain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Grain Boris Johnson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_Johnson How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Bad-Birdwatcher-Greater-Glory/dp/1904977057 Jem Rolls: https://www.facebook.com/jem.rolls.1 - Bird Poem: https://pbhfreefringespokenword.bandcamp.com/track/i-know-what-the-birds-are-thinking-and-i-understand-that-look-in-their-eyes RSPB Website bird songs: http://www.rspb.org.uk/discoverandenjoynature/discoverandlearn/birdidentifier/ You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 182 we get better acquainted with Reni Eddo-Lodge. She talks about coming to mainstream journalism via activism and blogging, analyzing how power works, how the both the left and the media are held back by viewing everything through the lens of middle class white men, the "Great Intersectionality Wars" of 2012, black feminism, cultural capital, critical race theory and more. If that makes the conversation sound academic and dry then let me assure you it really isn't. The conversation takes place in a busy cafe in Hackney, Reni is battling the end of an illness, I am battling my privilege based ignorance, but despite that we manage to have a great conversation about race, class, gender and the media. http://renieddolodge.co.uk/ Reni plugs: Email her if you want her to speak at things you are doing: http://renieddolodge.co.uk/contact/ You can find her online at: https://twitter.com/renireni I plug: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic Horror: https://www.facebook.com/events/707597412628896/ Tragic Friends Act 3: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/tragic-friends-act-3 We mention: Focus E15 Mum's: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-179-focus-e15-mothers https://twitter.com/FocusE15 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-E15-Mothers/602860129757343 Facebook Egg Freezing: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/21/facebook-apple-egg-freezing-virgin-unlimited-holidays-business-benefits Channel 4 Best Young Blogger Award: http://www.theguardian.com/media/pda/2010/oct/25/channel-4-britains-best-young-blogger-louise-jones Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/ Intersectionality: http://www.feministtimes.com/call-yourself-an-intersectional-feminist/ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10572435/Intersectional-feminism.-What-the-hell-is-it-And-why-you-should-care.html Billy Bragg: http://www.billybragg.co.uk/ Critical Race Theory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_race_theory Kimberley Crenshaw: http://www.newstatesman.com/lifestyle/2014/04/kimberl-crenshaw-intersectionality-i-wanted-come-everyday-metaphor-anyone-could Kimberley Crenshaw's LSE lecture: http://www.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/events/2014/03/20140326t1830vOT.aspx Marx: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx New Statesman: http://www.newstatesman.com/ Intersectionality Wars of 2012: http://www.utne.com/community/intersectionality-zm0z14uzwil.aspx#axzz3Gs0ZAAWL http://www.thefword.org.uk/blog/2012/10/a_problem_that Sheryl Sandberg: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheryl_Sandberg You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 181 we get better acquainted with Kary. We talk about making Ministry of Stories for Cbeebies Radio, journeying into radio via 90's alternative music, living in many countries, practicing and teaching kundalini yoga. As often happens when talking to someone who also does interviews the tables are occasionally turned. Expect adventures, narrative, conscious living, feminism and more! Kary plugs: http://www.inspiredradio.co.uk/ You can hire me to do freelance work: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-week-of-goodbyes.html We mention: Matt Hill: http://rethinkdaily.co.uk/ Ministry of Stories: http://www.ministryofstories.org/ Cbeebies Radio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio/ Ministry of Stories series: http://bit.ly/MiScbeebies Terry Saunders: http://www.terrysaunders.co.uk/ Jenni Murray: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/17dynSh8ZdhxqcljQ99TPqP/jenni-murray Woman's Hour: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qlvb Radio 4: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 Ignite: http://ignitecreative.tv/ Radio Production Awards: http://www.radioacademy.org/events/radio-production-awards-2/ Media Week: http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/ Something Else: http://www.somethinelse.com/ Acid House: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_house Techno: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techno Psychedelic Trance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychedelic_trance Drum and Bass: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_and_bass Reggae: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggae Bashment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashment Latin Jazz: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_jazz Straight no Chaser: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_No_Chaser_(magazine) Jez Nelson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jez_Nelson Jazz FM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/102.2_Jazz_FM Gilles Peterson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilles_Peterson Benji B: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benji_B Sun Ra: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Ra Steve Chandra: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Chandra_Savale Asian Dub Foundation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Dub_Foundation Kundalini Yoga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kundalini_yoga Kundalini Yoga Collective: http://kundaliniyogacollective.co.uk/ Burning Man: http://www.burningman.com/ Earth Dance: http://www.earthdance.org/ Aisha and Abdel GBA: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-7-aisha-and-abdel You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond. On-demand and on the go! Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores. Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review? Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!