S12 EP1: A Whole New World...

20:22Josh Widdicombe:I'm absolutely fucking living about that. Wait a week, Donald. Yeah, so is your ambition at an all-time high? I'm at an all-time low. No, my ambition is not at an all-time high. You've got this podcast twice a week and another podcast. Do listen to it, people. It's got incredible reviews. Your one's got research in it. It's actual like a... Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a proper podcast. He's doing all the research. So, Rob, you might have noticed. You might have noticed. Do you want me to talk you through the process? I'm going to talk you through it right compare it to this podcast and I want you to react like you're doing it so the process for this one is we turn up on a Monday, chat to each other and now going forward we're going to pop into London once a month to talk to guests and record them and put them out that is a process which zero prep that does mean Monday is even shorter so our Monday now will be 9 till 10.30 probably also you've got to give me to 11 10.30 is

21:22No, Michael. You're getting 55 minutes. That's how long the show is. Right. So, tell me for your process. It's not all about Mr. Blobby. It's about pop culture. And that's the first episode.

21:34Josh Widdicombe:It's the Josh Whittaker Museum of Pop Culture. Download it now. That's the plug. I'm doing loads of promo, Rob, because I'm a sucker for that. Your ambition's through the roof, mate. My ambition's not through the roof. My fear about my TV career is through the roof. Josh, we both ended the year absolutely on our arse, completely overworked, exhausted, kept banging on about being tired, overwhelmed. You've launched a new podcast over Christmas. Do you know what? The way to look at it, Rob, is it's really going to help this podcast because I'm going to be more fucked. Right. Good to know. Yep. Fair enough.

22:11Josh Widdicombe:The thing with you, Rob, is the mistake you've made if you don't like people that take on too much as you've decided to hang out with me and Romesh.

22:22I just think, because I did nothing on holiday and I'm talking properly nothing, I was just like, maybe there's another way. Yeah, there is. Of just doing nothing. But Rob, just do nothing.

22:34Josh Widdicombe:Don't stop this though. But just do nothing. Don't worry, I'm off to Scotland and Dubai in the next two weeks. Don't you worry about that. Oh my word, the big thing. Talk me through the process of your new podcast. I want to hear about your Christmas. Yeah, okay. So very quickly. Yeah. One of my friends, a TV researcher, does the pack. Yeah. And then I take the pack and I edit it into a script for the four episodes. Not like a word-for-word script, like all the things I need to know. And then I record four episodes in one setting. Are you doing series of this show? Is it on every week forever?

23:06Josh Widdicombe:It's on every week forever. Wow. Okay. So how many have you got recorded so far? About three months worth. Oh! Oh, no wonder you were fucked last year, you little beaver. Turning like my ear tired because you're always blobbing off. Blobbing off.

23:26Anyway, well done. I had to listen. And well done. It's a good podcast. It's a good idea. Very good idea.

23:31Josh Widdicombe:Thank you. People love all that. Yeah, people love all that, Rob. So you've got Mr. Blobby, what other ones you got? We've got, next one is Stock Aiken and Waterman. Who are they? Well, you're about to find out, Rob. Perfect. Great sale. I wonder you're definitely on the promo train. Definitely on the promo train. They're songwriters. You know Pete Waterman. Oh, yeah. They're the most successful. Kylie, Jason, Rick Astley, Bananarama. They're the most successful. They dominated the 80s, Rob. Did David Hasselhoff bring down the Berlin Wall? That's the one after. Do you know what this reminds me of?

24:03What? I feel like a 10-year-old, right? Like when I first met Tony Blackburn. Yeah. He said loads of things I didn't know what he was talking about. that's what a 10 year old thinks listening to this

24:16Josh Widdicombe:do you know what Rob can I be honest when I met Tony Blackburn I thought tell me everything you know because I want to know it Tony just whisper it every experience you've had in your life whisper it into my ear Tony do you know what I miss the most about the Radio 2 show is seeing what clothes Tony Blackburn was wearing because then I knew what season we were entering because it was only spring when he came in in his short-sleeved polo shirts. But when the heat of his gilet was on, you knew it was a cold day.

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25:48Josh Widdicombe:After three months, plan auto renews at$12.99 a month. Terms apply. Right, let me tell you about my Christmas. Yeah, let's talk about Christmas. Sorry, it's a bit all over the place. It's just, it's like this. We haven't seen it. This is what it is. So we, we went, Rob, we've, this is going to blow your mind. Yeah. We've really got into the community spirit here. In Exeter? Yeah, not only did we have Christmas drinks at our house. With whom? New friends. Who are the new friends? Have you met these? Some parents from school. Yeah. And some people we knew before we moved here. Nice, okay. And you had little Christmas drinkies, did you?

26:28Josh Widdicombe:We had Christmas drinks, yeah. That's nice. And then Rob, we went carol singing, door to door. Hello? Well, it's been a great... I can't believe we're going to end on the first Visualise podcast, but that's me done.

26:46I can't do it.

26:58Do you know what? I'm only 30 % joking. um so you how many of you we got invited invited by who one of our friends full of detective

27:14Josh Widdicombe:yeah and then we went um we met up there's probably about 20 people so this with the people you're having drinks with well some of them there was some overlap so it was a separate event you had drinks and then another day different day different day okay tried to ease you in with the drinks yeah come to mine for drinks i knew where it was going right okay so your friend who is this friend is this a from we've got various friends yeah but was this a from before friend or was it a school friend school friend yeah okay so you're under pressure there peer pressure we're not under pressure we wanted yeah we want yeah we want i love the equivalent of me being down the pub and then someone going i tell you what about a football player he's a wanker isn't he and i probably quite like him i go oh yeah he is yeah what a wanker that kind of thing the least wanker of all times anyway so you've been peer pressured into going caroling with these people we haven't been peer pressured we got asked and then actually we were coming back from somewhere and we were late and I made a specific effort to go because I was so desperate you sounded like you were dying you run out of breath I burped in the middle and I tried to cover up I tried to cover up a burp just burp mate I have done So how many houses?

28:31Are they near your house? We only hit specific ones that people knew Right, they would be welcoming of it Yeah So you knocked the door Yeah, well I didn't, the kids did

28:41Josh Widdicombe:The kids, and then what are you singing? There's, you're going to love this Rob It's not just singing, there's a couple of people with like instruments, like trumpets Oh my fucking, have you joined the Salvation Army? No, I wish I had, give it a year They don't drink. I love it. They don't drink. They're not allowed to drink, aren't they? The adults are all drinking. They're all drinking. Does Salvation Army drink? No, I don't know about the Salvation Army. The only person I know in the Salvation Army is Harold Bishop. If you enjoyed that kind of reference, I know just the podcast for you. Hey, don't call him Mr.

29:15Josh Widdicombe:Blobby. So we went carol singing? Yeah, but you're singing songs with trumpets. Is it for money? No, just for joy. Just for joy. And what face do these people that you answer to after? what what is their face it's so awkward for the person at the door that opens the door well the comedian i'm sadly it was too late because i apparently when mike wozniak opened the door he was half half dressed he was right first of all don't open the door topless mike that's his problem he's absolutely ripped he's like neb flanders yeah with the mustache you never expect someone with a mustache to have abs exactly it's one or the other so you did the caroling door to door.

29:56That is weird. That is odd, that.

29:58Josh Widdicombe:No, it's not. It's totally normal. No, it's not. In Love Actually, it's the kind of thing you see in Love Actually and go, what kind of pricks are going to go around there annoying people doing that? You're telling me if carolers came to your door you wouldn't go, this is a magical moment in my life? My gate.

30:18No thank you. Through the intercom.

30:22Josh Widdicombe:I'm in the Maldives. second year in a row yeah fuck off i would go back but i wouldn't go for christmas day do you want to see a photo of it the caroling yes i do think for me i think because when you're from southeast london and you've grown up in an area that's not sort of twee and middle class yeah the door knocking and it's strangers automatically i feel like someone's going to try and rob my house or yeah do me over so like while we're caroling someone's coming in the back yes 100 and i don't like singing in public but you know if you want to do that go for it just never knock at my door please never knock your door rob if anyone's got any ring doorbell footage of this please send it to me or send it to the podcast at hello at parenting locked well i don't know what the fuck it is

31:15Josh Widdicombe:do you want a video rob yeah yeah have you got one yeah see whether you you can suck the joy out of that. Josh, I don't know if you want me to respond to this. This is beautiful. I'm being taken back. I loved it. Everyone looks so sad. Christmas is a maudlin time, Rob. I thought it'd be a bit jazzy. You all look like you're there by... Can I tell you what's happening? Silent Night's not Calypso song. No one there wants to be there. They do. We all did. I had the time of my life. I can't wait for next year. I'll tell you now, if you're part of that group, anonymously messaging, there is 100 % dads in that group going, why the fuck do you have to do this?

31:56I don't really want to do it either, but there's a few people doing it.

32:00Josh Widdicombe:I can't wait for next year, Rob. Not everyone's full of not everyone's grinching their way across the world to avoid their own birthday. I'm not the bottom door singing like that. Sorry. Look, if you like that, you like it, Josh, but it's not a bit of me. Absolutely not. Wandering around with a trumpet, caroling at people. But why do they get... You're not raising money for charity or nothing? There's no collection, just spreading joy. Someone gave us some celebrations. Oh, that's nice, isn't it? The kids like it. The kids aren't doing anything that's outside at night. I sent a photo of the very happy little kids just to really pull on your heartstrings.

32:37Josh Widdicombe:Yeah, they look happy. The kids look happy. They just like being out. But they'll learn.

32:45Right.

32:45Josh Widdicombe:So we also went to Lapland, UK. Oh, we went to there. It was amazing. I thought they'd gone up a level this year. It was so good. I saw Paul Merson. Paul Merson? Bumped into Paul Merson. I bumped into, didn't bump into him because I don't know him, but Filippio Pippo Inzaghi, the Italian striker and now football manager, was on my flight. Did you say anything? I didn't say anything. No, we kept being in his way with loads of kids. So we were actually. Well, he was always quite out of position back in the day, Rob. Oh, here we go. Here we go. And then on the second flight, Chris Moyles was on it.

33:18Josh Widdicombe:Chris Moyles? I'm going on Moyles on Wednesday to promote my podcast, Rob, because I never start working. Yeah, ask him about it. I saw him on the flight. I will. Rob, can I tell you about Lapland UK? Yeah. This is, once again, trigger warning for fans of Santa. Okay? Parents, trigger warning. We got a Santa that we knew. oh one of our friends or comedian colleagues comedian colleagues is a santa at lapland uk and when we went in and it was him we knew you weren't there it was the greatest moment of my life did he do that on purpose for you was it by accident no because i requested him and the guy said we can't do that for you and then we got him whether the guy was playing with us but it was incredible i had the best time but wasn't it a danger that they might go no they don't know that well oh they're not making that many times fair enough yeah text so no i did get a text but i was also oh this is why like you're straight on the camera now some can i tell you something sometimes i don't even have the camera on when we used to do it not in vision yeah no i know i can hear i can hear you tapping away no i had stuff to talk about oh because a loads has happened i had loads of stuff to talk about but um well that's good so while i was talking you decided to look at the list of things you wanted to talk about?

34:38Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I was going to try and weasel out of that. I was going to try to think of a funny quip, maybe deny it, maybe. Give me through your fucking list then. Give me your list. No, no, it's fine.

34:52Josh Widdicombe:I'm taking through your list. No, no, it's fine. Talk to me about Christmas. No, no, it's fine. We've got your list. I want to hear about the kittens. That's more important. Oh, yes. I gave them a photo of kittens on Christmas Day. yeah my daughter opened it and she said oh that's a nice photo thinking we got a photo of kittens because you're not then we went to get them on january the 3rd drove up to oh that's a fun new year thing no wonder you're full of beans you've got new kittens in the house got new kittens in the house i'm still buzzing from the caroling to be honest rob i know to be fair i think i'll be all right i'm a bit jet-lagged at the moment and i've just got post-holiday blues which is normal Would you like me to sing you O Little Town of Bethlehem Just to boost you up Do it now O Little Town of Bethlehem I mean I actually think they could put a complaint in With you At least the other gons could sing I didn't do much singing Because I know I'm a bad singer So I kept doing stuff like You were still singing with that Your voice Because you've got a funny voice anyway You're going to ruin it for everyone else Because all they're going to talk about is you And there'll be people that can really sing in that group That's why I kept my voice down.

36:01Josh Widdicombe:I kept doing stuff like when people were singing, I'd think, maybe I should go and take like a nice long lens shot down the street of this. Because then... You're not the one singing at the front door trying to get attention. So on your time off from performing in front of people, you decided to go door to door to perform. No, I didn't. That's unfair. That's unfair. Well, it's what happened. I... Oh, you're right. I've just thought I'd sing at you. Just trying to enjoy my fucking night, actually. I've got my bollocks off. I've got a to-do list coming out my arse. I've got to go and get this veg prepared for tomorrow.

36:34Now, what day of the week did you do? Was it Christmas Eve? It's Christmas coming up.

36:38Josh Widdicombe:Have you got a podcast app? If you just click subscribe there. You're like a politician that's under pressure. Yeah. So, yeah, the kittens, we went and got them from the breeder in Bournemouth. What have you got then? You've got two. What breed are they? They're Siberians. And then you've got a brown one called Fluffball. They're both the same colour. They're both kind of tortoise shelly. Why did you do that? Just because it's cute? Because it wouldn't be hard to tell them apart? Or are they all the same? They're all the same. They're sisters. Right, okay. Yeah. So Fluffball and? Tilly. Each child got to name one.

37:17Josh Widdicombe:What are you actually going to call Fluffball? That's his name. Her name. Her name. Fluff FB? Fluffs? Fluffs. because it won't be Fluffball. No, it'll be Fluffs. Fluffs. It's going to be awful at the vet, Fluffball Whittacombe, isn't it? That is going to be a fucking shocker. Sounds like your nutsack. Oh, my word. Here he is on Fluffball Whittacombe. And how's Beryl? They're currently in a room, so Beryl knows something's going on, but she's not sure what. Beryl's not allowed in the room with the other kittens. Yeah. so they get there i've been a week in a room and then when do you introduce them uh i introduce them um after a week and i have to have that how do you how does that work five or six i gather around sing a few songs play a bit of trumpet whatever it's like is there no but is there a way to do it i think you just open the door and let them come out but what if beryl attacks them well we'll have to play that one by ear what's likely to happen i mean i've got no idea i don't know what's going to happen yeah i don't know what's going to happen so that'll be ideally beryl will die soon what no it is an unbelievable thing to say that oh that's about okay but that would be helpful wouldn't it i forgot that you hate animals and you hate your own dogs and you hate eric or whatever you're alan you're a cat no i don't hate animals totally dead inside so i'm not totally dead inside but i'm just saying from a point of view of bridget bardo who loved animals but hated humans if beryl works but you know beryl's old no she's only 10 she's only 10 how old was the other one that died oh we had an absolute shocker as well eddie she weren't dead no no we had a shocker garden covered in mud where his dad came for christmas with his dog right yeah beryl basically hid under the bed for two days and pissed on the futon that i was sleeping on and but but but as a dirty if she were to pass it wouldn't have its benefits no i love beryl with all my heart yeah you're you stinker for a piss your coat's got a piss on your bed's got a piss on your two new kittens are scared of her i wish you could go into the kitten room and smell how bad it is that's the next level of podcasting but yeah that's the next level because it's so, it's such an awful stench, but it's so reassuring.

39:49Josh Widdicombe:Why is it smell? It's so reassuring. I feel at home in that. I've never ever known anyone to say the smell of cat piss is reassuring. It's cat piss and shit and the wet cat food all in one kind of hot box. So one, why is it? Why aren't you cleaning the floor after they piss? No, no, no. No, they've got litter. So why aren't you changing the litter? We are, but it just has totally taken over the room. Oh, okay, fair enough. Why is it reassuring? Because it feels like you're at one with the kittens. I'm just a deeply sensitive man, Rob. I go caroling, I love kittens. No, but I don't mind you loving caroling.

40:33Josh Widdicombe:Yeah, it's not for me, but it is for you. Well, it doesn't feel like that. No, no, no. Look, I wouldn't like to... You said every person there was there under duress. I can no not everyone but I'd say a strong majority there'll be a lot of people that don't want to be there but they're being there to keep their kids and wife happy or husband happy but if people like it that's fine I get that having kittens great you love cats go for it brilliant the smell of cat piss shit and food is reassuring blows my fucking mind I got no idea what like I can't even begin caroling I'll understand why you like singing It's Christmassy.

41:08It's a community thing. Go out and do it. Great. Not for me. I get it.

41:11Josh Widdicombe:Because I feel like I'm at one with the kittens in their little... Well, why don't you get in there, strip them, shit and piss on the floor and have a bit of dinner? Well, I've got to do this, but afterwards... What does Rose think of the smell of the cat piss? Well, it's awful. Yeah? Yeah.

41:36Josh Widdicombe:But you're reassured. I just feel like I'm in a little kidney cocoon when I'm in there. Oh, you're sweet, aren't you? I am something else. That's nice. It's nice to be. Yeah, I'm having manic highs and lows at the moment, so it's quite interesting. Really? In what ways? I don't know. No, I... Do you know what? When I... Sometimes, if I take too much on, I had to do an interview on Radio X at 9am yesterday, and I was so manic. On Sunday, the 4th of January. I know. What are you doing? Full disclosure, I had forgotten I'd put it in. And then I got the, you know, the classic text of the Zoom links with you.

42:13Josh Widdicombe:Can you log on in two minutes? You're like, oh, fuck. Yeah. So are you logging on from your new little studio? No, because I built this last night at 10 p.m. Right, okay. Yeah.

42:30in a classroom of sodas most stay quiet then there's mr pib sweet cherry bold outbursts the

42:38Josh Widdicombe:kind of flavor that gets attention bold kick of cherry new maybelline serum lipstick maybe it's not just lipstick it's lush color with endless possibilities it's serum infused with a hyaluronic acid and oil blend for eight hour plumping moisture in tone enhancing shades it's more than the shade it's who's wearing it you new maybelline serum lipstick maybe it's maybelline so this happens a bit on the holiday because when i arrived i've got to show this picture when i arrived at the mall the mall digs right yeah it's quite a long journey the end of last year like towards december was the most exhausted i've ever been like just too much work overwhelmed and just knackered just really struggled to get through was ill as well and all sorts um and then when i got there like let me see i'll send his photos this i look so fucked i look like i look like i've been taken to rehab i look exhausted i look so mental right yeah um the first and again this is why i googled am i okay the first five days of holiday when i was sleeping for 11 hours i was also i kept bursting into tears josh did you but not i I don't know if you are okay, Rob.

44:03No, I wasn't okay. I think it was complete exhaustion. I just couldn't talk about anything. Apparently, it's like if your nervous system, like you've been doing too much, if you actually have time to wind down, your body just can't take it. So I just kept the person into tears.

44:20Josh Widdicombe:Oh, Rob. Then that stopped after about four or five days. And I had the most relaxing, brilliant time ever. And what was Lou doing when you were bursting into tears? sort of well being supportive but also it's quite awkward when you're trying to have a normal conversation at dinner and someone just bursts into tears and she's going this Saturday's cost us quite a lot of money Rob I'm trying to enjoy it I'm crying and I'm enjoying it I think I'm enjoying it I could be at home caroling for free and then what I would do was know it was coming and say we were riding bikes from the room to like dinner all around the island i'd let them go ahead or then you just ride slowly on a bike crying yeah that's the solution yeah but absolutely let go like well no no no i'm still holding on not one of those kids remember those kids that could ride no hands i can't believe that and though why do kids i don't want to sound like i'm 400 years old why do they ride along doing wheelies these days just constant wheelies i think it's a way to show off yeah look how good i am at this yeah yeah so what i'll do is i just go at the back of the the sort of um convoy and just burst into tears and then once we got to the restaurant just looks like you're a sad man who's crying because family's rode off on a bike without him yeah yeah that's what it looks like but it was um and what are you thinking when you're crying is there any reason are you thinking oh why am i crying or you just think i'm just crying it would be like a subtle thing of something nice happened or thinking of something sad but rather than just going oh that's a sad thought fully like but i think it was i mean i went on chat gpt and asked and they just sort of said if you've been really busy and overwhelmed your nervous system has been in such a state of mania that it's just your body's rebalancing and then you burst into tears when you read that yeah because then i thought who's why i asked chat gpt so much water as well when you go somewhere really nice at holiday there's a lot of pressure to enjoy every moment because it's expensive and i have this discussion with rose because rose she doesn't have it now because of the kids yeah but when we used to go on holidays the two of us it would take two days for her to acclimatize yes so she'd be in quite a weird mood for two days and i would always think this is a lot of money you're writing off if we if we're paying for the first two days yeah exactly well I did five days of tears yeah yeah exactly yeah the also the worst part is if you are somewhere really nice because if your day's shit and busy right it's raining or you've got a meeting you don't want to do and you've got the ump and you feel sad and emotional you at least you can go because I'm doing this and I don't really enjoy this part of my job or blah blah but when you are like on holiday and basically what is essentially paradise on earth the Maldives isn't it it's like the place it's like beautiful weather beautiful sea and you're still sad there yeah well well, I'm the problem, aren't I?

47:27You can't go on holiday from yourself, Rob. I've done everything I can. I've saved all this money to spend all this money, but it's still this little old prick ruining my day. Neat. But no, I did have a good, I did have a great time though, but it was just such a few days.

47:43Josh Widdicombe:Yeah, you were just riding along on a bike on your own, slowly crying. I had the best holiday of my life. Could have done that in Brobilly. With a Christmas tree.

47:55I'm sure there's people listening. Parents in paradise panicking.

47:59Josh Widdicombe:Oh, panicking in paradise. Panicking in paradise. When have you been on holiday? And it's supposed to be this amazing trip and you're all calm, but you got really upset or just couldn't cope, or a moment where you were crying or a time when you thought it would be all right. I think there'll be more of that. Everyone has to in the first few days to acclimatise. And then I was ruining Christmas for the kids because it wasn't Christmas yet. Oh, God, yeah, that's bad. Anyway. Oh, man. And Rob, can I ask you something? Yeah, go on. Can you read out your list of prompts and we'll do them in the next episode where it's the two of us?

48:31Okay, cool. What have we got? You've got like, oh, Cat Burns, TikTok messages to people.

48:37Josh Widdicombe:Sorry, is Cat Burns the person or a thing that happens to you? Oh, we've got a Joel Domit intro to do. All right. Oh, I've got a catchphrase that kids have told me. Oh, my Instagram broadcast channel. You what? Have you got an Instagram broadcast channel? Yeah, but I didn't even know I had it. Belly Dancer, Hey Jude. Bit of singing, I'd love that. That's it really, I think. Oh, I'll look forward to it. That'll be the next episode. How have you enjoyed, I think we should talk about this, Rob, on camera. How have you enjoyed this experience? I think it's fine. It's a bit strange at the start. Yeah, I thought it took us.

49:13Josh Widdicombe:I thought it took us 10 to 15 minutes to feel comfortable. Yes, and then I felt fine. Two things. One, I'm quite concerned about how I'm sitting and I don't know if it's very flattering, the angle. Yes, I feel like I'm a bit belly first. Do I go up like that? I'm belly first, am I? Is that what you're thinking? You're looking at me saying that I'm belly first. No, no, no. How do you feel about when I get my legs up like that? I like it. I think you be you. Do I feel like Joe Wiley? No, no, no. But now you said it, you do look a bit like that. I think she'd do one of her clips. That is the kind of way a 45-year-old woman podcaster would sit holding a big coffee cup with a cardigan on.

49:52but if that's how you want to do it do it and the other thing is and i think can we say this if we are going forward to this video podcasting thing can i just say this going forward though with these video podcasts where there's comments on spotify or youtube anyone that we bring on the show please can be kind and it's okay to disagree with us or the people and but nothing personal about appearances or what nothing personal let's try and create a very warm and friendly comment section.

50:19Josh Widdicombe:Remember how Rob reacted to my carol singing and do the opposite. Oh, you know, I'm playing it up for the pod. We want this to be because what it is, is a lovely, warm community. Yeah, but I wouldn't say that to a stranger I've never met on the internet. I'll just say to someone I know. But yeah, I think I'm excited. Shall we do our first small business of the year, Rob? Yeah, let me get a small business up. There's a bit of a behind the curtain here. You just see I've got to do it on the phone but I think Michael how's it felt for you first 5-10 minutes if you could both lose some weight maybe

51:00Josh Widdicombe:oh god oh my god I've got to tell you why I need to lose some weight Rob why? I've got a cover shoot for a magazine and I will tell you what magazine what magazine? I'll tell you what magazine it is next episode because it will make you laugh all right okay um small business here we go hi rob josh and michael thanks for the pod we love it in our house and have been listening since covid when my wife was pregnant with our son rufus my wife also loves a pod and would be so excited to hear a small business shout out for her small business london speech therapy they provide invaluable support to children through working in schools and working privately with families across london they also work with adults who have stammers voice issues speech sound difficulties or language language and communication differences due to their neurodivergence.

51:50They see clients face-to-face and also online. If anyone isn't based in London, my wife, Emily, and her friend slash business partner, Mayread, M-A-I-R-E-A-D, have been working tirelessly to make this business a success. We'd really appreciate the shout-out. Thanks, Charlie, Emily, Rufus, and Bryony.

52:08Josh Widdicombe:There we go. Hi, big, small business shout-out to my wife's – I quite like that, big, small business shout-out to my wife. my wife's business, Paws for Thought Cat Cafe, Paws spelt P-A-W-S, based in Romsey, Hampshire. It's an amazing place home to eight rescue cats from Romania, a calm, relaxing cafe with delicious food and drinks surrounded by playful cats, beautiful decor, and a reassuringly dreadful smell. Send Beryl there. Beryl is the centre of our household, Rob. How dare you? I tell you what, if Beryl's pissing on me coat and bed. I find that smell reassuring. By the way, I added the bit about the cat cafe stinking.

52:53Josh Widdicombe:Owner Emma does an incredible job and that wasn't part of the original email. Oh, I can't imagine why. Owner Emma does an incredible job creating a beautiful home to these rescue cats. Great work. While supporting many other pet charities across the globe and UK cats in need of forever homes. Please give her a shout out and visit our website pauseforthoughtcatcafe.com on Instagram at pauseforthoughtcatcafe. thanks so much Aaron there we go okay Josh I'll see you next time we didn't do an intro we'll do Josh's one tomorrow Joel's one not tomorrow Joel's one Joel's one next week I promise be a bit more upbeat I'm just a bit jet lagged today okay I want to be more positive Michael was I too negative did I sound like a twat no no and yes

53:47Josh Widdicombe:Hello, Parenting Hell listeners. Recognize that voice? Yes, it's Josh Whittacombe here.

53:55Josh Widdicombe:I have got a new podcast, Josh Whittacombe's Museum of Pop Culture. And I'm going to say it, I'm about 85 % sure you're going to love it. Here are the reasons why. Number one, I'm confident if you're listening now, you don't hate me and possibly think I'm funny. Number two, I'm confident if you're listening now, you like podcasts. Number three, I'm confident if you're listening to me and Rob, you prefer pop culture to people talking about things, let's be honest, boring things, like history, economics, or politics. I know I do, and that is why I made this podcast. I wanted a show that tells the stories I love from popular culture in the way other podcasts do for drier topics.

54:32Josh Widdicombe:See above. Basically, I wanted a podcast that realized Milli Vanilli were more interesting than Elizabeth I. Join me as I give the definitive, or at least the funniest, takes on Mr. Blobby. When Ghostwatch convinced BBC viewers ghosts were real. When a band burned a million pounds for a laugh. The Spice Girls, a truly catastrophic Spider-Man musical with music from U2 and David Hasselhoff, Baywatch and his part in the fall of the Berlin Wall. All of them are real, by the way. Either you know what these things are and you're about to learn far more about them than you ever realised you wanted to, or you don't.

55:05Josh Widdicombe:And you're about to be introduced to some of the maddest things in modern or ancient history. Stiff necks will learn, loose necks will laugh New episodes available every Wednesday and Saturday Perfect to fill those gaps between your weekly doses of parenting hell So go on, you might as well listen, subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts now Museum of Pop Culture with me, Josh Widdicombe Available everywhere on the 1st of January