Getting Better Acquainted

In GBA 171 we get better acquainted with Liam. He talks about working as a brewer, discovering drawing, having a tough time growing up, being the first person from his family to go to university, going from a small village to the capital city, coping with social anxiety disorder and so much more. Liam plugs: His art: http://liamwillday.com/ His beer stall at Brockley Market: http://www.brockleymarket.com/ I plug: Stand Up Tragedy at the Free Fringe - 7.30pm every day from 2nd-22nd August at the Banshee Labyrinth: https://www.facebook.com/events/316554115169995/ Getting Better Acquainted Live at the Free Fringe 3.15pm every day from 18th-22th August at the Royal Oak: https://www.facebook.com/events/773670469351784/ We mention: Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Ewa: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-140-ewa London Brewers Alliance: http://www.londonbrewers.org/ Late Knights Brewery: http://www.lateknightsbrewery.co.uk/ Adnams Southwold: http://adnams.co.uk/ University of Westminster: http://www.westminster.ac.uk/ Tim Marrs http://timmarrs.co.uk/ Paul Foot: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Foot_(comedian) Crumbling Cookie: http://www.thecookieleicester.co.uk/ Ralph Steadman: http://www.ralphsteadman.com/ Dan Savage - Savage Love: http://www.savagelovecast.com/ Harold Pinter - life is hell interview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/5110060.stm Social Anxiety Disorder: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-anxiety/pages/social-anxiety.aspx Tragic Christmas: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sets/tragic-christmas 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 170 we get better acquainted with Fran. We catch up on what's been happening since we studied together 12 years ago, which for Fran involves becoming a Goth, founding the Cheshire Liberation Front, doing interesting things with Harvest Mice, becoming an Interpretation Officer at the British Museum, climbing mountains and lots more. Also I am outed as a man who has worn a fedora and I duly squirm about it. Fran plugs: The Sheriff of Nottingham the HR Years The Musical: https://www.edfringe.com/whats-on/comedy/sheriff-of-nottingham-a-musical-musing-on-middle-management 10th-16th August at 7.30pm at The Hotel Ibis The Cheshire Liberation Front: http://cheshire4life.blogspot.co.uk/ I plug: Stand Up Tragedy at the Free Fringe - 7.30pm every day from 2nd-22nd August at the Banshee Labyrinth We mention: Fedora: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fedora Fedora Meme: http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/fedora-shaming Nice Guys of OK Cupid: http://www.buzzfeed.com/katienotopoulos/nice-guys-on-okcupid-are-the-worst MJ Hibbett: http://www.mjhibbett.co.uk/ Carsmile Steve: https://twitter.com/CarsmileSteve Moon Horse: http://www.mjhibbett.co.uk/moonhorse/ Edinburgh Special 1: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-15-edinburgh-festival Edinburgh Special 2: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-71-edinburgh-festival Edinburgh Special 3: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-124-stand-up-tragedy-at PBH Free Fringe: http://www.freefringe.org.uk/ PBH Episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-live-8-peter-buckley-hill Spark London: http://www.sparklondon.com Hackney Attic: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/Attic/Hackney_Attic/ Jen episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-jen-episodes Alan Moore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore Sir Gawain and the Green Night: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Gawain_and_the_Green_Knight Cheshire Liberation Front's Political Indoctrination Rally: http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/event/227497-cheshire-liberation-fronts-political-indoctrination-rally/ Weight Watchers Magazine: http://www.weightwatchers.co.uk/shop/mag/ Slimelight: http://www.slimelight.com/ Erotic Reading Group: http://metro.co.uk/2012/11/21/fleshing-out-the-story-the-rise-of-erotic-book-clubs-537703/ Mexican Wrestling London school of Lucha Libre: http://londonschoolofluchalibre.blogspot.co.uk/ Darryl Hannah - Blade Runner: https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=daryl+hannah+blade+runner&safe=off&rlz=1C1CHFX_en-GBGB456GB456&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=5oXGU9PLGpPG7AaIgIG4BA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=985&bih=423 Scafell Pike: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scafell_Pike William Makepeace Thackeray's belated Bicentenary: http://www.freefringeforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=131&t=1583 Al Murray: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Murray Miriam Margolyes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miriam_Margolyes Austentatious: http://austentatiousimpro.com/ British Museum: http://www.britishmuseum.org/ UCL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ The Story: http://thestory.org.uk/ Scott of the Antarctic: The Musical: http://www.chortle.co.uk/shows/edinburgh_fringe_2013/s/21909/scott_of_the_antarctic%3A_the_musical Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedt.co.uk Richard Herring - The Leicester Square Podcast: http://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/richard_herring_lst_podcast/ The Art of Wrestling - Colt Cabana: http://tsmradio.com/coltcabana/ Sisters of Mercy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sisters_of_Mercy The Cure: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cure Fields of Nephilim: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_of_the_Nephilim The Mission: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mission_(band) The Cult: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cult Marilyn Manson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilyn_Manson Lee and Herring: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_and_Herring janta - swedish term: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Jante Jerry Lee

In GBA 169 we get better acquainted with James McKay. He talks us through Victorian poetry recitals, classical literature and history, plundering and re-contextualising the canon, the relationship between the Moomins and Zen thinking, putting on gigs in your front room and being an "Arts Thatcherite". If all of that sounds dry and worthy and highbrow then think again as this conversation is very much the opposite of that. James plugs: His Website: http://www.mckaypoetry.com/ Utter: Space: https://www.facebook.com/events/1403219706606930/ I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Tragic Misadventures: Wednesday 9th July at the Black Heart: http://www.facebook.com/events/601978073250123/ We mention: The book of Job: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Job Stand Up Tragedy: http://standuptragedy.co.uk Stand Up Tragedy performances by James: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sut-james-mckay-ep-2 https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/stand-up-tragedy-16 https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sut-daily-ep-14-fay-roberts City of Dreadful Night: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Dreadful_Night Tragic Christmas: https://soundcloud.com/standuptragedy/sets/tragic-christmas The New Mother: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Mother How Horatius Held the Bridge: http://www.englishverse.com/poems/horatius Rochester: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilmot,_2nd_Earl_of_Rochester https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-extra-imperfect-enjoyment-by-rochester Whitman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman James on soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mckay_poetry The Libertine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Libertine_(2004_film) King James Bible: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version Sermon on the Mount: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sermon_on_the_Mount Ecclesiastes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesiastes Book of Revelation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation Song of Solomon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_Songs Leviticus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Leviticus The Byrds - Turn! Turn! Turn! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ga_M5Zdn4 Boney M - The Rivers of Babylon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nm1g8FFRArc&feature=kp Hinduism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Monotheism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism Norse Myths: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norse_mythology Rhetoric: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric Arundel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arundel Inky Fingers: http://inkyfingers.org.uk/ Christopher Smart - Jubilate Agno http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jubilate_Agno Stopham: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stopham Coventry Cathedral: http://www.coventrycathedral.org.uk/ Beat Poetry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_Generation E M Forster: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._M._Forster Kipling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kipling Coleridge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Taylor_Coleridge Wordsworth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wordsworth Swinburne: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algernon_Charles_Swinburne Tennyson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred,_Lord_Tennyson Browning: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Browning Snufkin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snufkin Moomins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin Comet in Moominland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_in_Moominland Little My: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_My Snorkmaiden: http://moomin.wikia.com/wiki/The_Snork_Maiden Moomin Valley in November: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moominvalley_in_November Moominland Midwinter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moominland_Midwinter Finn Family Moomintroll: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn_Family_Moomintroll Moomin Pappa at Sea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moominpappa_at_Sea The Way of Zen - Alan Watts: http://www.amazon.com/The-Way-Zen-Alan-Watts/dp/0375705104 Japanese cartoons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnOj1EyMLgg&feature=kp Polish Cartoon: https://www

In GBA 168 we get better acquainted with Sam. She talks about a childhood full of change and travel, being a mum (but not being defined by it), we compare notes from University and catch up on what we both did in our 20's. Plus she shows me her extensive collection of tattoos and we talk about putting art all over your body. Sam plugs: Oil Pulling and relaxing I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Tragic Misadventures: Wednesday 9th July at the Black Heart: http://www.facebook.com/events/601978073250123/ My blogpost about leaving/losing my job: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/%E2%80%A6yes.html We mention: Ged: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-31-ged Richard: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-richard-episodes The Platform Theatre: http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/about-csm/facilities/general/platform-theatre/ Hugo Chavez: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Ch%C3%A1vez Ministry of Stories: http://www.ministryofstories.org/ Chris: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-41-chris Inka: http://inkatattoos.co.uk/ Oil Pulling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_pulling Bindweed: http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/problems/weeds/field-bindweed/456.html Swallows: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallow Jack Sparrow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Sparrow Snow Camp: http://www.snow-camp.org.uk/ Red Bush Tea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos Keenwah: http://www.keenwah.com/ Palm Oil - Orangutans: http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/about_forests/deforestation/forest_conversion_agriculture/orang_utans_palm_oil/ 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 167 we get better acquainted with Oli. We compare parallel teenage lives in Cardiff, reminisce about the early days of Apples for Everyone, and get into Unitarian thinking, why he prefers the Silmarillion to the Lord of the Rings, the appeal and power of comics, pint's of filth, the Mabinogion, speaking welsh, spoilers for Promethea and lots more. The Apples for Everyone Episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/apples-for-everyone/ The Apples for Everyone Archive: https://soundcloud.com/applesforeveryone/sets Oli Plugs: Modern Television particularly: Parks and Recreation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks_and_Recreation Spaced: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaced The Shadow Line: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_Line_(TV_series) Community: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_(TV_series) New Thundercats: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ThunderCats_(2011_TV_series) Battlestar Galactica: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlestar_Galactica_(2004_TV_series) The West Wing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_West_Wing I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Tragic Misadventures: Wednesday 9th July at the Black Heart http://www.facebook.com/events/601978073250123/ My blogpost about leaving/losing my job: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/…yes.html We mention: Red Dwarf: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dwarf 2001: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A_Space_Odyssey_(film) League of Gentlemen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_League_of_Gentlemen Jack Episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-46-jack Cadw: http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/ The Plural: https://soundcloud.com/the-plural Enterprise Studios: http://www.enterprisestudios.com/ Hayley Episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-9-hayley Henry Episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-56-henry Vale of Glamorgan: http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/index.aspx Steve Bland Assembly: https://myspace.com/thesteveblandassembly Scampi Fries: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Smith's_Snackfood_Company Metros: http://www.visitcardiff.com/eat-and-drink/club-metro-metros-p106771 Angel Tavern: http://www.walesuk.info/angel.html Zeus: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/fun-stuff/45-nightclubs-you-definitely-went-6436231 London Welsh Centre: http://www.londonwelsh.org/ Unitarian: http://www.unitarian.org.uk/index.shtml 200AD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_AD_(comics) Zenith: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenith_(comics) Grant Morrison: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Morrison Invisables: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisibles Pat Mills: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Mills Alan Moore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore Rouge Trouper: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rogue_Trooper Supreme: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_(comics) The Boys: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boys_(comics) Preacher: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preacher_(comics) Batman films: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/search/?search=batman&sitesearch=rt Superman films: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/search/?search=superman&sitesearch=rt Superman 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superman_II Green Lantern: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/770677993/ Thor: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/thor/ Iron Man films: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/search/?search=iron+man&sitesearch=rt 300: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/300/ Dawn of the Dead: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dawn_of_the_dead/ Tolkien: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien Lord of the Rings: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings Silmarillion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silmarillion Mabinogion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mabinogion The Chronicles of Prydain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Prydain Arthurian Legends: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Arthur The Wire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire Narnia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narn

In GBA 166 we get better acquainted with Tamsin. We swap Lancaster University Theatre Studies war stories and she talks about speech and language therapy, recovering from a brain tumor and from breast cancer and lot's more. Tamsin Plugs: Speech and Language Therapy I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: bit.ly/TragicFringe Tragic Misadventures: Wednesday 9th July at the Black Heart https://www.facebook.com/events/601978073250123/ My blogpost about leaving/losing my job: http://davepickeringblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/a-week-of-goodbyes.html We mention: Connexions: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connexions_(agency) Howard Pinter poem: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/mar/14/poetry.haroldpinter Breast Cancer Care: http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/ Penny Brohn Cancer Care: http://www.pennybrohncancercare.org/ Mesothelioma: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelioma Narrative Therapy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrative_therapy Mr Tumble: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/something-special/ Makaton: https://www.makaton.org/ British Sign Language: http://www.british-sign.co.uk/bsl-british-sign-language/ Singing Hands: http://www.singinghands.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 165 we get even better acquainted with my fernweh friend Alex. He talks about his play Son of Man. We talk about the themes behind the play and his research he has done while writing it. We cover interpretations and reinterpretations of Jesus in fiction, comparative mythologies, a discussion of the historical Jesus, a tour through CS Lewis' version of judgement day in The Last Battle, Christian Atheism and lots more. Alex Plugs: His kickstarter campaign for backing Son of Man will be up on Kickstarter soon. In the meantime it's facebook group is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/272636382906179/ and it's on twitter here: https://twitter.com/sonofmanplay I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Greek Tragedy: Thursday 12th June at the Dogstar: http://www.facebook.com/events/625249897568126/ We mention: Alex's two episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-alex-and-dave-files Fernweh: http://www.buzzfeed.com/alanwhite/23-charming-illustrations-of-untranslatable-words-from-other Hiraeth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiraeth Jesus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus Thor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor Yahweh: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahweh Zeus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus Odin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin Loki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loki Prometheus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus Lucifer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer John the Baptist: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Baptist Matthew: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthew Luke: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Luke Mark: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark Philip Pullman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Pullman The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Man_Jesus_and_the_Scoundrel_Christ His Dark Materials: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials Messiah: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah John: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Apostle The Last Temptation of Christ: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Temptation_of_Christ_(film) Martin Scorsese: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Scorsese Richard Dawkins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dawkins Midrash: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midrash Christology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christology Christian Atheism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_atheism Nicaea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Council_of_Nicaea Aslan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aslan CS Lewis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Lewis Tolkien: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien Narnia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Narnia The Last Battle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Battle Diogenes The Cynic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_of_Sinope Alan Moore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore Kingdom of God: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_God_(Christianity) Dominic Crossan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dominic_Crossan The Good Samaritan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Good_Samaritan Dawkins + Mehdi Hasan: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/21/richard-dawkins-mehdi-hasan_n_3127629.html Leap of Faith: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_of_faith 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 164 we get better acquainted with Sonja. We talk about making and loving comics, being interested in novelty, veganism, thinking creatively and commercially, giving up work to go freelance and more. Also featured in this episode are two true stories Sonja told at Spark London events. Sonja Plugs: Plug: Her comics course: Prince's Drawing School: Drawing the Graphic Novel http://www.princesdrawingschool.org/programmes/public/shoreditcheve.asp Run by Emily Haworth-Booth http://emilyhaworthbooth.blogspot.co.uk/ Leaving a job How To Find Fulfilling Work by Roman Krznaric http://www.romankrznaric.com/how-to-find-fulfilling-work "Act Now, Reflect Later" Sonja's Spark Story: http://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/reaching-out-sonja-todd/ Twitter and instagram: https://twitter.com/sonjatodd http://instagram.com/sonjatodd Spark London plugs: http://www.sparklondon.com https://twitter.com/sparkLDN https://www.facebook.com/sparklondon Mon 9th June Father Figures open mic at the Hackney Attic with Letter Lounge: https://www.facebook.com/events/722460404485371/ Mon 16th June Reality Check open mic Upstairs at the Ritzy: https://www.facebook.com/events/625377634222503/ Fri 4th July Spark London teams up with Risk! at the Hackney Attic: http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Hackney_Picturehouse/film/Spark_Presents_Risk_Live_In_London_One_Night_Only/ Mon 7th July Best of Spark London at Canal Cafe Theatre: http://www.canalcafetheatre.com/Calendar.php I plug: Myself: http://www.davepickeringstoryteller.com Here are some extra plugs: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: bit.ly/TragicFringe Greek Tragedy: Thursday 12th June at the Dogstar: www.facebook.com/events/625249897568126/ We mention: Labyrinth: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labyrinth_(film) Timmy's Pies: http://timmyspies.com/ Bloomsbury Festival: http://bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/ Sonja's podcast: https://soundcloud.com/sound-like-you-mean-it Erwin Blumenfeld: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Blumenfeld Surrealism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism Dada: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada Pixar: http://www.pixar.com/ Tatty Divine: http://www.tattydevine.com/ Creating A Life Worth Living: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creating-Life-Worth-Living-Filmmakers/dp/0060952431 The Artists Way: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Artists-Way-Discovering-Recovering/dp/0330343580 Scott McCloud: http://scottmccloud.com/ Understanding Comics: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Comics-The-Invisible-Art/dp/006097625X Reinventing Comics: http://www.amazon.com/Reinventing-Comics-Imagination-Technology-Revolutionizing/dp/0060953500 Making Comics: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Comics-Storytelling-Secrets-Graphic/dp/0060780940 Look In: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look-in The Beano: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beano The Dandy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dandy Eddie Campbell: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Campbell Graffiti Kitchen: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Graffiti-Kitchen-Eddie-Campbell/dp/1568620217 From Hell: http://www.amazon.co.uk/From-Hell-Alan-Moore/dp/0861661419 Eddie Campbell on Too Much Information: http://canadapodcasts.ca/podcasts/TooMuchInformation/2375011 Watchmen: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watchmen Alan Moore: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Moore Neil Gaiman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Gaiman Blankets - Craig Thompson: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blankets-Hardcover-Edition-Craig-Thompson/dp/1603090967 Gail Simone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Simone Maus: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maus Ladies Do Comics: http://www.laydeezdocomics.com/ Ariel Schrag: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_Schrag Potential: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Potential-School-Comic-Chronicles-Schrag/dp/1416552359 Ghostworld: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_World American Splendor: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Splendor The Amazing Adventures Kavalier Clay by Michael Chabon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Amazing-Adventures-Kavalier-Clay/dp/1841154938 Sandma

In GBA 163 we get better acquainted with Emma. We talk about The Moomins, adolescent brain development, The Moomins, knitting, The Moomins, the prefrontal cortex, The Moomins, researching and writing a PHD, The Moomins and more. After the conversation there is an added extra that was recorded at Geek Showoff earlier this year. This involves more from me about The Moomins. Geek Showoff is an offshoot of Science Showoff: http://scienceshowoff.org/ Emma Plugs: The Moomins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin Emma recommends starting with Finn Family Moomintroll: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn_Family_Moomintroll I recommend starting with Comet in Moominland: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_in_Moominland Blakemore lab: read about the work Emma is doing and take surveys: https://sites.google.com/site/blakemorelab/ I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Greek Tragedy: Thursday 12th June at the Dogstar: http://www.facebook.com/events/625249897568126/ We mention: Steve X: https://twitter.com/steve_x Bright Club: http://www.brightclub.org/ The Moomins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk Science Showoff: http://scienceshowoff.org/ UCL: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience: http://www.icn.ucl.ac.uk/ Neuroscience: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroscience Matilda: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matilda_(novel) All the Moomin characters mentioned: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Moomin_characters Tove Jannson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tove_Jansson MRI scan: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mri-scan/pages/introduction.aspx Prefrontal cortex: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefrontal_cortex Psychology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology Haberdashery: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haberdasher Psychiatry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatry Fine Art: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fine_art The Moomins and the Great Flood: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3300083-the-moomins-and-the-great-flood Moominland Tales The Life of Tove Jansson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSZKzLHI5wg Moominvalley in November: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moominvalley_in_November Moominland Midwinter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moominland_Midwinter 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 162 we get better acquainted with Adrian. He talks about making performance, how we can never be certain about anything, type-casting yourself, how life and making art have woven themselves together, and he explains who Samantha Mann is. Adrian Plugs: His website: http://www.charlesadrian.com His podcast: Page One: http://pageonepodcast.com/ Samantha Mann: http://www.MsSamanthaMann.com Letters From Samantha: https://soundcloud.com/mssamanthamann And Vera Chok: http://www.verachok.com I plug: The Stand Up Tragedy IndieGoGo Campaign: http://bit.ly/TragicFringe Greek Tragedy: Thursday 12th June at the Dogstar: https://www.facebook.com/events/625249897568126/ We mention: Paula Varjack: http://www.paulavarjack.com/ Edinburgh episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/edinburgh-episodes George episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-70-superbard Spark London: http://www.sparklondon.com/ Nico and the Navigators: http://www.navigators.de/ Jacques Lecoq school: http://www.ecole-jacqueslecoq.com/en Mick Barnfather: http://www.mickbarnfather.com/ Phillippe Gaulier: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Gaulier Fred Astaire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Astaire Ginger Rodgers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Rogers Little Shop of Horrors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Shop_of_Horrors_(musical) Pirates of the Caribbean: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirates_of_the_Caribbean_(film_series) Johnny Depp: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Depp Orlando Bloom: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Bloom Apples for Everyone: https://soundcloud.com/applesforeveryone Superbard: http://www.superbard.co.uk/ Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ The Intentional Fallacy: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/289889/intentional-fallacy Theodor W. Adorno: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_W._Adorno Roland Barthes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Barthes Michel Foucault: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault Death of the author: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_the_Author tissue of quotations: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/98418-the-text-is-a-tissue-of-quotations-drawn-from-the Jorge Luis Borges: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Luis_Borges Don Quixote by Cervantes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quixote Desert Island Discs: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/desert-island-discs Letters from America: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00f6hbp 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 161 we get better acquainted with Jo. He talks about smell, history and memory, the intangible things. We explore ideas around his podcast Life in Scents and how they relate to his life. Jo Plugs: The Podcast: Life in Scents - iTunes / http://lifeinscents.com/ freelance audio and scents: jobarratt@gmail.com paying attention to your senses smelling a lemon I don't plug but probably should have plugged: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic History at the Hackney Attic on Friday 16th May from 7.30pm: http://www.facebook.com/events/231570123709490/ We mention: RSA: http://www.thersa.org/ Pod Academy: http://podacademy.org/ This American Life: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/ NPR: http://www.npr.org/ Geranium: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium Distiller episode: http://lifeinscents.com/post/76108446561/darren-rook-is-the-co-founder-and-ceo-of-the Life In Scents: Astronomer episode: http://lifeinscents.com/post/33719749457/marek-kukula-life-in-scents Fennel seeds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennel Steve episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-107-steve Brixton Academy: http://www.o2academybrixton.co.uk/ Lady Gaga: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gaga 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 160 we get better acquainted with Emily. She talks writing, working in a bookshop, her baby going viral, bat invasions, television research and more. And at the end of the episode you can hear one of her short stories being performed at Stand Up Tragedy by her partner Richard who was last week's guest: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-159-richard Emily Plugs: Her website: http://emilycleaver.net/ I plug: Stand Up Tragedy: Tragic History at the Hackney Attic on Friday 16th May from 7.30pm: https://www.facebook.com/events/231570123709490/ We mention: Writing Group: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-84-writing-group Small plays blog: http://smallplays.com/ Sherlock Holmes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock_Holmes Stand Up Tragedy: http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk/ Liars League: http://www.liarsleague.com/ Spark London: http://www.sparklondon.com/ Arthur's blog: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/baby-arthur-recreates-scenes-movies-blog_n_1082634.html http://www.studioarthur.co.uk/ The Blair Witch Project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blair_Witch_Project Total Recall: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_Recall_(1990_film) Alien: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(film) Fargo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fargo_(film) American Beauty: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Beauty_(film) Neil Gaiman: http://www.neilgaiman.com/ The Dice Man: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dice_Man Steal Like An Artist: http://austinkleon.com/2011/03/30/how-to-steal-like-an-artist-and-9-other-things-nobody-told-me/ Huckleberry Finn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventures_of_Huckleberry_Finn Just William: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just_William Wizard of Oz: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz Moomins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moomin Rainy Night on Soho: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSyL-TrD_2g Spark Story: http://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/how-to-remove-bats-from-your-bedroom-emily-cleaver/ 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 159 we get better acquainted with Richard. He explores ideas of belonging, pushing at frontiers, the ways that generations relate to each other and the human desire for narrative, through the topics of video games, fatherhood, employment, Oxford, personal and social history and more. Richard Plugs: If you have something creative you should do it. We mention: The Royal Court Theatre: http://www.royalcourttheatre.com/ Verity Bargate Award: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verity_Bargate_Award Atari 2600: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_2600 Space Invaders: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Invaders Galaxian: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxian Pong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong Break Out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakout_(video_game) Asteroids: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asteroids_(video_game) Spectrum ZX80: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX80 Master System: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_System Mega Drive: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Genesis Carl Sagan: http://www.carlsagan.com/ Quantum Physics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_theory Higs Boson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higgs_boson Lord Nuffield Morris: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris,_1st_Viscount_Nuffield Radiohead: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiohead Supergrass: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supergrass Ride: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_(band) 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 158 we get better acquainted with Laura. She talks music, fibromyalgia, her relationship with religion, Italian adventures and more. Laura Plugs: Her EP: Faces at the Fair: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/faces-at-the-fair-ep/id719163554 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Faces-at-Fair-Laura-Bazell/dp/B00FHO1O3G http://www.laurabazell.co.uk http://laurabazell.wordpress.com/ We mention: EAL: http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/resources/practical_resources_info/1067_english_as_an_additional_language EFL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EFL Jane Eyre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre Matt W: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-29-matt Fibromayalgia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibromyalgia Chronic Fatigue Syndrome / ME: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_fatigue_syndrome spoonies/ spoon theory: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ Groupon: http://www.groupon.co.uk/ Louise episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-louise-episodes-1 Monkey Music: http://www.monkeymusic.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 157 we get better acquainted with... me. The Personal Season ends with The Personal Episode: True stories told by me live on stage at Spark London over the last few years, broken up with tracks from The Open EP that I released for free download earlier this year. It starts with a vasectomy and ends in vomit! In between there's bullying, smashing through windows, an unusual stag night, crime and punishment and more. It's another episode I feel uncomfortable about putting out. Which has been a feature of this 3 week season. For more about Spark London go here: http://www.sparklondon.com/ This is the final episode of the 3 week "Personal Season". I plug getting better acquainted! Related episodes: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-open-episodes https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-31-ged https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-106-jack-and-george https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-77-the-coventry-years https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-80-alex https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-81-dave-guest-hosted-by https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-17-cardiff https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-67-martin-the-sound-man The Open EP: https://soundcloud.com/the-dave/sets/the-open-ep Hero: https://soundcloud.com/the-dave/hero Producers: Stephen Harvey - https://twitter.com/SteveHSoundtech tech[at]standuptragedy.co.uk Martin Austwick: https://twitter.com/martinaustwick http://www.thesoundoftheladies.com/ Shameem: https://soundcloud.com/muzikal-azylum 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!