Shanthi Teaches Romesh How To Interview

4:01Romesh Ranganathan:That's perfect.

4:05Shanthi Ranganathan:Everything, the comments.

4:07Romesh Ranganathan:Bloody hell mum, I think I must really want you to find me endearing because you crossed your legs and then we crossed mine straight afterwards. There you go, so you've got both options. I would love it if this podcast, we could make this podcast, same thing with the intro, choose your own adventure.

4:35with me shanti how are you this week mom how's life treating you how happy are you on a scale of one to ten ten out of ten really ten out i told you i changed

4:47Shanthi Ranganathan:myself, I'm learning to keep my heart happy.

4:51Romesh Ranganathan:Good.

4:52Shanthi Ranganathan:So more and more, you are sulking and sitting down and like that horrible face. You are not going to go anywhere. Be happy. Enjoy.

5:04Romesh Ranganathan:Are you doing an impression of my inner monologue?

5:07Shanthi Ranganathan:Listen, my son. My son. Yes. You are here?

5:11Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, I think so. Okay.

5:13Shanthi Ranganathan:Right. Listen to your heart, darling, in the morning. What it says, obey. That's all you have to do.

5:20Romesh Ranganathan:Obey your heart.

5:20Shanthi Ranganathan:Everything will fall into place.

5:22Romesh Ranganathan:Where did you read that? Because you've been doing a lot of this heart chat recently.

5:25Shanthi Ranganathan:A spiritual book.

5:26Romesh Ranganathan:Okay. I read and pick up the nice things and I follow it up. Good. I'm glad.

5:35Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah.

5:35Romesh Ranganathan:And so that's made you happy?

5:36Shanthi Ranganathan:Very happy.

5:37Romesh Ranganathan:And we've been having some nice phone calls, haven't we?

5:40Shanthi Ranganathan:Yes. Yeah.

5:41Romesh Ranganathan:It's been going very well, hasn't it?

5:42Shanthi Ranganathan:My God, what a different. You know why?

5:45Romesh Ranganathan:Why?

5:45Shanthi Ranganathan:I give you good morning, my son. Have a wonderful day. Every morning at seven, I send you. Since then, you have changed. You have changed. Hello, mom. How are you? God bless you, mom. And things like that. I started it.

6:01Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah.

6:02Shanthi Ranganathan:That motivates you, my message.

6:05Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah.

6:06Shanthi Ranganathan:And give you happiness in your heart.

6:07Romesh Ranganathan:Shall I do an impression of when I see you?

6:15Romesh Ranganathan:That's what happens to me every morning.

6:16Shanthi Ranganathan:I don't think so. Bitch has sent me another message.

6:24Shanthi Ranganathan:Okay, okay. I'm not sending you anymore. Why? I'm only joking.

6:30Romesh Ranganathan:This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required. Compatibility and availability varies 18+. Amazon Health AI presents Painful Thoughts. I, um, I can't stop scratching my downtown.

7:03Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, but I'm not itching to go downtown and tell a receptionist I'm here to talk about my downtown. Some things you'd rather type than say out loud.

7:14Romesh Ranganathan:There's no question too embarrassing for Amazon Health AI. Chat your symptoms and get virtual care 24-7. Healthcare just got less painful. Now, Mum, we had Gabby Logan on Monday's show. Gabby Logan. She was on Parents Evening. Do you remember?

7:32Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. What was the thing? It was like theme park rides, wasn't it? And then one of them was, I swear one of them was like a sexual... You were about to see, I think.

7:44Romesh Ranganathan:Are we about to sit? Okay, great. You were great on Parents Evening, by the way.

7:47Shanthi Ranganathan:Well, great in as much as Lois and I managed to win the money for charity. Yes. That was good. But you sit there going, Why do I look so bored? Not so much. This bit not... Really? Because you kind of know what, you know, what is going to make the edit in the end. Of course, Lois would have no idea, you know, as a 20 year old who's never been on TV before. Oh my God. So I'd be thinking, she'd be saying something, I'm thinking, oh, be quiet.

8:10Romesh Ranganathan:Have you not ever seen, watched any of the interviews back? That's how you sit. For every interview I sit like that. Yeah. Yeah. Mostly we edit around it. Fuck. Have anybody... It just looks so... I look so... Can we just... Can we go back? Can we just... That... There. Can I genuinely tell you what it is? Look at that. Look at that. Oh, my God. That's me interviewing somebody, trying to show interest in what they're saying. Yeah. The problem is your engaged face looks like you're dead inside. Right. That is an issue. You should try mirroring them. Yeah. Because you've seen that face a lot in meetings, haven't you?

8:51Shanthi Ranganathan:Most of the time, I mean, I talk to you, you are like that.

8:54Romesh Ranganathan:I'm like that? I think that's your go-to. That's bad, though, man. It is bad. How is this podcast doing okay? You're bored. I'm not bored. I'm genuinely... But you look at that. Yeah. That is... That's bad. How should I... Oh, let's try and workshop this now. we probably should have done before we started the podcast but um i did but how about this

9:19Shanthi Ranganathan:that's better is that better should i try that for now oh yeah also try to hear positive nods

9:26Romesh Ranganathan:maybe also act generally like surprised like wow that's interesting face show me that's interesting yeah yeah that's good shanti tell rom a story and let rom just react so maybe just so this is like a practicing being a better interview. You should ask a question. Sound genuinely like you want to know the answer. And then also you could try just a follow-up question. Okay, sure. Mum, how was your journey into the podcast today?

9:52Shanthi Ranganathan:It's really good. Really good. That's a bit too much. Why? Why are you shaking your head like that? And the mouth. You look like a frog. Oh. Don't do that.

10:08Romesh Ranganathan:Okay. and why do you think I look like a frog that was my full up question okay you've got distracted from the other one you should have followed up on the original story because she never gave you a full answer oh yeah how did you get here

10:19Shanthi Ranganathan:how did I get here yeah by car oh

10:24Romesh Ranganathan:we all keep going we all use cars don't we all the time that sort of dismisses the story and makes it seem like it's not that interesting no I'm being relatable well that's a statement that's a statement you need to follow with a question okay Would you say cars are your favourite type of transport?

10:42Shanthi Ranganathan:I don't mind a helicopter Oh

10:46Romesh Ranganathan:Well, I was not expecting you to say that Great

10:48Shanthi Ranganathan:Because That's really good

10:51Romesh Ranganathan:Keep going, keep going Oh, keep going Yeah When's the last time you got a helicopter?

10:55Shanthi Ranganathan:In California We're not, we're not

11:04Shanthi Ranganathan:This is This is horrible romance. Stop it. Oh, this is exaggerated. I think you've now got distracted by going all a lot.

11:16Romesh Ranganathan:And she's told you that she's flown a helicopter in California. Oh, in California.

11:22Shanthi Ranganathan:California, yeah.

11:23Romesh Ranganathan:What were the circumstances around that? Ben and them, they arranged to fly around trumps.

11:32Shanthi Ranganathan:golden that something building oh that's the one yeah that's very fascinating I enjoyed the ride

11:41Romesh Ranganathan:would you go on a helicopter again then do you think

11:43Shanthi Ranganathan:yeah when you buy one oh okay

11:50Romesh Ranganathan:what do we think that's brilliant the better yeah yeah yeah I don't know if I'd have the guts to do that with an actual guest

12:00Shanthi Ranganathan:I'm not a guest who the hell am I

12:02Romesh Ranganathan:You're part of the show, aren't you? But you can take elements of it. You can only do less of the, ooh. If I was going to choose, I don't want to give you a no. So is how I've been sitting and looking, has it been something you've discussed? That's good.

12:15Shanthi Ranganathan:This is like this, man. What do you mean by discussed?

12:19Romesh Ranganathan:As in like, it's a problem. Because I think that's an issue. Yeah. To be honest. The problem is we've only got two, sorry, we've got four cameras. Yeah. But it's quite... It's quite difficult to... What angle makes that look interesting? I don't even think a behind shot would make that look interesting. Sometimes try and crop really tight. You've got your hand there, it's right up. No, it's not... So even that, it's like you're so pushing your cheek. I don't... And also, by the way, I don't know if we got this, but John had to tell me to stop touching the top part of the microphone. So basically, I am fucking up.

12:59Romesh Ranganathan:both the audio and the vision on this podcast it is a it is a miracle that we're even able to do this at this time do you want i seriously like i want to try and you know i don't want to i can feel the laughter sort of coming out no no no like you've got i think you've got so much better as this has gone on that's not a joke right thank you and actually aren't we getting lots of comments now of people saying what a great interviewer we are so i think you know there are things you could work on okay you know there are more than we've talked you know what's really sad is when somebody has to say that that's when you know you're shit that like when when people rinse you yeah okay fine when somebody goes actually you're doing really well that's when you know you're the little engine that could that that is when you know they actually have to give you a pep talk.

13:55Romesh Ranganathan:That's one of the saddest things that I've experienced since doing this podcast. He's good at interviewing, isn't he?

14:03Shanthi Ranganathan:Listen, I watch all your program. Listen, the way you interact with people, interview them, oh fuck.

14:12Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, the way I interview them.

14:13Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, and the way you stand. I love it. I love it.

14:17Romesh Ranganathan:Thank you.

14:17Shanthi Ranganathan:I really do like it. Especially on Weakest Link

14:23Romesh Ranganathan:Right Would you say that's your favourite of my No Of my The two game shows that I host Because it's Weakest Link And then there's the other one

14:34Shanthi Ranganathan:What's the other one?

14:36Romesh Ranganathan:What's the other one? What's the other one? What's the other show apart from Weakest Link Where I ask questions There we go

14:45Shanthi Ranganathan:Parents Evening Yeah Your shoulders were straight I don't know whether the suit is tight or is holding it back.

14:52Romesh Ranganathan:Okay.

14:53Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh, I really admire. I was thinking as a mother, oh, he could do modeling. Okay.

14:59Romesh Ranganathan:You look good. That sentence leans heavily on as a mother. Okay, well, thank you so much for this therapy session. But Gabby Logan was good on parents. I didn't expect her to descend quite into what happened there. I wasn't hoping for some nightmare fuel for tonight, but we've got some. got two canisters full so that's something for me to stay awake about tonight and now I can't I've got to sit like this for the rest of the episode does this look natural? I think genuinely try for that just those positive affirmations try it for the rest of this episode lift your shoulders

15:38Shanthi Ranganathan:lift your arms like that this is going to your neck you don't have a neck collar listen then straighten it like that Jesus Christ That's not the way to do it Lift your shoulders like that

15:52Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah

15:53Shanthi Ranganathan:Pull it down This is like neckless body

15:56Romesh Ranganathan:I'm doing the same as you Mum, I've got a neck Put your shoulders up What? Where the fuck is my neck supposed to go? I'm not fucking mecha neck from He-Man This is as long as the neck goes What are you doing? Listen

16:12Shanthi Ranganathan:Listen

16:14Romesh Ranganathan:Romy What are you doing?

16:16Shanthi Ranganathan:This

16:16Romesh Ranganathan:Okay, so what am I supposed to do? This one goes up. Oh, yeah. You've got loads of neck. You're like a fucking giraffe. I don't know how you think you look. Your neck is horse. I did something.

16:33Romesh Ranganathan:Anyway. Anyway. Anyway. Okay, I'm going to try and be a bit more. More audience. Okay. Time. Do you want to do it? Well, I saw it like we did start the clip, but then we didn't get to the point that I think Gabby was getting to. let's see the point that gabby was getting to that clip about the um reverse cowgirl

16:55Shanthi Ranganathan:it was see that's one of those moments where i thought on the night i thought i know what this will end up being reverse cowgirl the mom have you heard of it no it's a sexual position why is she talking about sexual position in parents evening there was like

17:14Romesh Ranganathan:name the was it rides at a theme park yeah and one of them was reverse cowgirl so they had to figure out if that was a ride name or not and in a way it is and i've got great news mom parents evening is back baby series three you can catch up on itvx if you missed the first two series but series three will be out very very soon can't confirm hosts yet can we no what was that you did with your face shanti have you heard the other news yeah what's the I think we can announce that there's going to be a Spanish version of Parents Evening and an Australian version of Parents Evening.

17:51Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh, my God.

17:52Romesh Ranganathan:How's your Spanish? Off the back of the Australia special. We're hosting. And they've said that, can we do it like the locals? Hi, mate. Welcome to Parents Evening. Here's my mum. Shanti. Good. And then the Spanish one. Bienvenidos. What the fuck's evening? Noche. Noche del... Parentes. Parentes. Oh, oh. Bebe dos. Y mi madre, Shanti.

18:26Shanthi Ranganathan:Shanti. Good.

18:29Romesh Ranganathan:I think we're ready.

18:30Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah.

18:30Romesh Ranganathan:Okay. They've got hosts. Yeah. Your summer runs just got a boost of energy in Lululemon's Shake It Out shorts. Made in our ultra breezy lightweight swift fabric, the Shake It Out shorts have a flowy, layered hem and a comfy built-in liner. These shorts keep you locked in for miles with distraction-free storage and a waistband that doesn't budge. They might just be the shortcut to your summer goals. Shop the Shake It Out shorts now at lululemon.com. This summer, Prime Video takes you back before Legally Blonde, before law school, and into the world of Elle Woods in high school. Set in 1995, this Gemini vegetarian knows exactly who she is until her family moves from bel-air to seattle packed with iconic fashion 90s nostalgia and a throwback soundtrack elle proves one thing law school was hard high school was harder from the world of legally blonde watch elle a new original series only on prime video watch now now it's time to hear from our listeners a reminder that you can send us a whatsapp message voice note to 07731623355.

19:35Romesh Ranganathan:I'll say that slower 07731623355 or you can email podcast at rangami.com and don't forget if you haven't already please give you like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. First up we have got a voice note sent by Joe from Suffolk. Hi Romesh, hi Shanti, me and my partner love to podcast and the question I have for you today is me and a friend have been having a decade-long argument. We can never seem to agree or understand each other's reasons. But I'd like you both to answer it and hear your thoughts on it. But it's a would you rather. So would you rather fight one dog-sized spider, maybe about the size of a Labrador, or would you rather fight a thousand seagulls?

20:27Romesh Ranganathan:So would you rather fight a thousand seagulls or a dog-sized spider? no weapons are allowed you can only use your limbs it's essentially just a fist fight but yeah, thank you that's an unusual would you rather is it, because it's normally like, would you rather fight a dog sized spider, or a thousand spider sized dogs or something, do you know what I mean that's quite unusual mum what would you rather fight, dog sized spider, do you understand the question, I don't mean to patronise here So would you rather This is the choice you've got A spider that's the size of a dog

21:04Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah

21:05Romesh Ranganathan:Or a thousand seagulls Which one would you rather fight?

21:11Shanthi Ranganathan:Seagulls

21:12Romesh Ranganathan:You'd rather fight a thousand seagulls Why please?

21:16Shanthi Ranganathan:If I have food Start throwing at them They just fly over the food

21:21Romesh Ranganathan:I think the food would attract them to you, wouldn't it?

21:23Shanthi Ranganathan:No, just throw it fast, quickly

21:25Romesh Ranganathan:You've got to feed a thousand seagulls

21:26Shanthi Ranganathan:Why not? Probably just bring the normal amount of mutton rolls you bring into the podcast.

21:30Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. I don't think you're allowed to, I mean, he said no weapons. That's not a weapon. He said it's, I'm assuming that we've got nothing upset for our bodies. Unless you can.

21:41Shanthi Ranganathan:Well, yeah, okay. Yeah, so what would you rather fight? I don't want to fight with anything.

21:48Romesh Ranganathan:Okay, but I don't think we can accept that. You have to fight one of them, or a thousand of them.

21:55Shanthi Ranganathan:I'm not frightened of spiders.

21:57Romesh Ranganathan:Okay. If it's a dog-sized spider?

21:59Shanthi Ranganathan:But I've never seen a dog-sized spider.

22:02Romesh Ranganathan:Me neither. Have you seen a dog-sized spider? Never. This is never ever in my life. Georgie? No.

22:08Shanthi Ranganathan:So why would I fight with him? He's just creating that to be interesting.

22:13Romesh Ranganathan:Correct. So let's answer him.

22:15Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah.

22:15Romesh Ranganathan:Would you rather fight a dog-sized spider or a thousand seagulls?

22:20Shanthi Ranganathan:Seagulls.

22:21Romesh Ranganathan:Okay. Why? A thousand seagulls, Mum. A thousand. attacking you. I'll find a way of escaping. 1 ,000 seagulls?

22:32Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, yeah, yeah. I will. I'll fight. It's a bird. It's a thousand birds. If it sting you,

22:38Romesh Ranganathan:you are dead. And 999 of his mates. Okay. We don't know if the spider's poisonous, by the way. What's your technique for taking on the seagulls? How would you do it?

22:49Shanthi Ranganathan:I mean, Ramesh is saying I can't take any food with me. So you are stuck with them to fight.

22:55Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah.

22:59Shanthi Ranganathan:run off

23:00Romesh Ranganathan:run off okay I don't think oh I lie down on the ground yeah and let them what finish eating you why would they eat me they're attacking you you're in a fight with them the whole thing is you're in a fight with them I will say fuck off okay I think that would probably work and you'd say fuck off a thousand times yeah it's not as easy as you say fuck off once to the dog sized spider

23:26Shanthi Ranganathan:I don't think there's a spider the dog size

23:29Romesh Ranganathan:do we know has anyone seen let's double check has anyone seen a dog size spider no way you don't think so seagull

23:34Shanthi Ranganathan:we have seen so many of them

23:36Romesh Ranganathan:have you ever seen a thousand seagulls

23:38Shanthi Ranganathan:they're really big as well

23:39Romesh Ranganathan:what are the seagulls yeah massive

23:41Shanthi Ranganathan:they nick the food they're so quick

23:44Romesh Ranganathan:I think seagulls are horrible horrible creatures they shit on you yeah and the ones in Brighton are so aggy Theo like the kids on more than one occasion when we've been in Brighton had their food nicked off them. They come in like, you have to be really careful. If you buy food on the pier, you come in and just nick it. Horrible. Imagine a thousand of them. A thousand.

24:07Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah.

24:08Romesh Ranganathan:Largest spider is the Goliath bird eater. Bird eater, yeah. How big is that? 13 centimetres. We could do one of those against those seagulls, couldn't you? 13 centimetres? Yeah. 13? Yeah. The body boasts a, yeah, boasts a body length of up to 13 centimetres. Boasts. Making it roughly the size of a dinner plate. Okay. So that's the biggest spider you can get. So this is, I'm assuming that Joe's made a subject.

24:38Shanthi Ranganathan:I'll change my mind. I'll go with the spider. Okay. Yeah, because I get a stick and I hit it so far.

24:45Romesh Ranganathan:Not allowed a weapon.

24:46Shanthi Ranganathan:No.

24:47Romesh Ranganathan:You could kick it. You could kick it.

24:48Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh, feed the damn thing. You can't take food. Food. It's just you on your own.

24:53Romesh Ranganathan:You're allowed to be clothed, I believe.

24:55Shanthi Ranganathan:Spider got ice on the stomach or so many ice they have.

25:01Romesh Ranganathan:They've got a lot of ice, yeah. A lot of ice, yeah. Poke it in the ice?

25:05Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah.

25:06Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah.

25:07Shanthi Ranganathan:With the finger?

25:08Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah.

25:08Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah. Blind them.

25:09Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, good. The other one. Yeah.

25:11Shanthi Ranganathan:So they won't be able to see it to fight.

25:14Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. And then what if they start spinning a web? Spinning a web? Yeah.

25:18Shanthi Ranganathan:It's not strong.

25:19Romesh Ranganathan:It's a dog-sized spider.

25:21Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh, that's okay. It's not a Spider-Man.

25:24Romesh Ranganathan:No, it's not Spider-Man. Yeah. Spider-Dog.

25:27Shanthi Ranganathan:Spider-Dog.

25:28Romesh Ranganathan:Okay. I think this is a no-brainer. Dog-sized spider all day.

25:32Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah.

25:32Romesh Ranganathan:100%. A thousand seagulls. No way. Dog-sized spider. I think mum's right. Poke it in the eyes. Try and avoid the webbing. I think a few good punches to the eyeballs just to really stun it. and then what I would try my initial thing would be to punch it in the eyes sort of stun it then I would try and break one of its legs off pull one of its legs off and then beat it you fashion a weapon out of the leg and you beat the spider with one of its legs and it's seven legged now so it balances all over the place

26:08Shanthi Ranganathan:just imagination

26:11Romesh Ranganathan:correct I'm not telling you the story of something that happened

26:19now apparently Joe's got a take on this shall we listen I would rather fight the one dog-sized

26:25Romesh Ranganathan:spider purely because if you defeat one of the seagulls you still have 999 enemies that fly and could beat you in the head really hard um it's a no-brainer for me but my friend seems to feel the complete opposite way and it's divided our friendship for years and sort of every time we come across somebody that we know that hasn't had an input into the argument we bring them in and uh we seem to have this thing going to see who's team seagull or who is team dog-sized spider but yeah interesting to see what your answers are thank you uh well look joe it sounds like we agree with you i would go if if i was naming the teams i would just call it team spider so it's quite annoying to have to say dog-sized every time i think you're right and your friend's wrong that's my opinion mom and i both think spider uh so we're team spider unless that's the opposite anyway it doesn't matter thank you so much for your voice note we've now got thank you we've now got an email from eve um we don't know if it's the the eve uh but as i can see her great aunt lives in sri lanka so i think it's unlikely don't know hi Ramesh and Shanthi it's Eve here I need you and Shanthi's help with a problem my great aunt lives in Sri Lanka in Jaffna and has a pet dog called Raj who we visited recently she started giving him leftover curry as a treat oh god fucking hell she started giving him leftover curry as a treat but the problem is he no longer eats any of his usual dog food he won't eat anything except curry

28:06Romesh Ranganathan:we don't want him to starve so we do keep eating him but as the vet said he's now becoming morbidly obese oh god oh i should have read ahead hold on let's clear our palates because it's actually getting quite sad now we're now worried that he will no longer be able to walk soon people in our village are laughing at him as he's gotten so big we'd really like your advice to help our dogs start eating real dog food again me and my mum really love your podcast by the way but my Sri Lankan family think you're mean to your mum oh yeah that is uh an ongoing thing that I'm too mean I can I sorry I'm not going to do the usual I I think there's a strong argument that mum's meaner to me than I am to her on this podcast and you and I think you take her side I I think it's actually for you to say that mum isn't giving as good as she gets it's actually quite patronizing so shame on you actually go fuck yourselves there it is now we're at the wedding in september which you missed and your mum went to what what what we were at the wedding in september which you missed and your mum went to and we're all very disappointed you couldn't make it and we were glad to hear shanti tell you off for it on the podcast oh my god do you remember that wedding what wedding the wedding where i

29:21Shanthi Ranganathan:organized the car for you and you went and then oh my that's my cousin yeah so they were they were

29:27Romesh Ranganathan:at the wedding. Eve was at the wedding. Is that what she's saying? Were you? Holy shit. So you actually met Eve? Did she say anything about...

29:37Shanthi Ranganathan:I don't know. I can ask my cousin, who is this Eve?

29:41Romesh Ranganathan:Could you move the mic close to your throat?

29:53Romesh Ranganathan:Okay. Well, thank you so much for your email, Eve. What are you doing? I'm doing what you were doing. Thank you for your advice. We love the podcast. Keep making these episodes with Shanti. We will do, won't we, Mum? Yes. Unless, one of the things that I... Do you actually enjoy doing the podcast?

30:11Shanthi Ranganathan:I do, a lot.

30:12Romesh Ranganathan:You would tell me if you were thinking about quitting, wouldn't you? If Mum quit, would we have to just end it? We wouldn't do the Monday ones either, would we? Don't know what we'd do. You're not thinking of quitting, are you?

30:25Shanthi Ranganathan:I never said that but he's coming into rummage this bitch is here all the time I need to get rid of her that's why he's asking questions

30:36Romesh Ranganathan:can everyone else hear that do you would you do one on your own mum no

30:41Shanthi Ranganathan:I want my son

30:43Romesh Ranganathan:thank you Eve sorry that I didn't sorry I wasn't at the wedding as you know mum was really pissed off what do you think she should do about her dog Raj put him on a diet

30:52Shanthi Ranganathan:with just don't give him curry boiled meat or something no don't add all these spices and things it's a lot of fat going into his body so it's bad i um i can't believe you anybody started the idea of feeding a dog curry feels so but it's just so insane do you mean like

31:16Romesh Ranganathan:you're basically weaponizing that dog's asshole it's like i find it so horrible having to clean up dog poop anyway, let alone after they've had a curry. Anyway, we have a rule at our house. The dog's not allowed any human food at all. That's, I know this isn't helpful, but I'm just saying that we have to...

31:37Shanthi Ranganathan:They love cake, no?

31:38Romesh Ranganathan:No. Do they love cake? No. They would like to eat cake if they could.

31:42Shanthi Ranganathan:The bits, he lick it, yeah.

31:43Romesh Ranganathan:If you drop, the boys are very messy. Yeah. And so sometimes they hover around because they know that the kids are going to drop food, but they're not allowed to beg or anything like that. I think you need to not give curry as an option to the dog. I think you actually, if you don't give the dog the option of curry, eventually the dog will just eat anything, right?

32:05Shanthi Ranganathan:That's it. Yeah. Don't feed him.

32:07Romesh Ranganathan:Dogs are actually quite, people kind of think that dogs are really like nice and they are nice in a way, but also they're quite selfish. And so, and they're quite clever. So if they think, basically you've trained the dog to know that you're going to offer food for a bit and then if that doesn't work you'll give the dog curry you need to remove that option from the dog's mind so you need to train that dog to realize that curry is no longer an option and unfortunately you've got a lot of training to do because the dog has had it re raj has had it reinforced to him that curry is an option for a long time so it's going to take you a while to undo that um but yeah you need to cut that out treats and also treats cut out treats treats are

32:48Shanthi Ranganathan:if you want the dog to live for a long time yeah I mean their age thing is 12 years is it they live for 12 or 13 it depends on the breed breed okay so

33:01Romesh Ranganathan:dog sized spiders can live longer

33:05Shanthi Ranganathan:why are you bringing that in this is no this is separate I was just doing a little callback sorry

33:09Romesh Ranganathan:yeah

33:10Shanthi Ranganathan:then you have to look after don't give him curry

33:13Romesh Ranganathan:yeah don't give him curry

33:14Shanthi Ranganathan:can you just scale

33:15Romesh Ranganathan:the curry spices slowly over time, over a week or two. What, make it blander? But they want to give it dog food, don't they? What is it? Can we start and then keep incrementally putting some dog food in and transition slowly? Yeah, it's not a bad idea. That's not a bad idea.

33:33Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, you can.

33:35Romesh Ranganathan:What do they want? Can we just scroll up to the email, please?

33:38Shanthi Ranganathan:They want the dog food.

33:39Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, they want to eat dog food. Dog food. Yeah, you could just get, you know, we get our kids... Where is that dog?

33:45Shanthi Ranganathan:Is he in Sri Lanka? Yes, in Sri Lanka.

33:47Romesh Ranganathan:Jaffna, actually.

33:48Shanthi Ranganathan:Jaffna.

33:48Romesh Ranganathan:Is that a thing in Sri Lanka that do people...

33:50Shanthi Ranganathan:We do feed curry.

33:52Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. What do you mean by that? What's that supposed to mean? No, I just didn't know what the tradition was, that was all. It's not a tradition. What the norm was. Right, okay. Well, this is not the norm. I know you think that because it's Sri Lanka, and you're trying to sort of set up a new stereotype. But actually, they normally feed it dog food. But this is unusual, and it so happens that mum used to do that as well but that's but two is yeah not a robust enough sample size two out of two yeah fine that you've encountered of the ones that you've encountered for the ones that have talked about feeding the dog okay so if you met two sri-lankers that had bo would you go they all smell should we go on to the third question okay we've got a voice note from gi in portugal let's have a listen hi homish hi shanti oh beautiful love your podcast my name is gi from portugal My dilemma is quite simple.

34:43Romesh Ranganathan:Every day I have to take a bus to the office. It's a commute of around 40 minutes. I take the bus early in the morning, around 7.30. And I like to chill on the bus, maybe take a nap or listen to some podcasts or music. But now and then, every now and then, a guy I know, not really a friend of mine, but a friend of a friend. We are polite with each other. but every time he sees me on the bus he sits by my side and he starts chatting and it ruins the trip completely because i cannot i'm not interested in maintaining the conversation that early in the morning i want to chill i want to listen to something uh listen to the latest episodes and i cannot do it and my dilemma is how can i tell him that i don't want to chat on the bus without being rude, without offending him, without hurting his feelings.

35:43Romesh Ranganathan:Shanti, how would you do it? Greetings from Portugal. Love your podcast. Bye-bye. Guy, thank you so much for your voice note. I think it's unacceptable that the default expectation of people that see people they know in public transport is that they want to talk. That should not be the default. The default should be they don't want to talk, and then the conversation is unusual. I don't get it. When you're on the... I sympathize with Guy. What would you do?

36:15Shanthi Ranganathan:I will buy in Portugal, you can buy lovely cakes there. Because Sri Lanka ruled by Portuguese so many thousand years ago.

36:26Romesh Ranganathan:Okay.

36:26Shanthi Ranganathan:So we learn some of the cakes from them. Okay. Okay? Right. Buy a cake, or just tell him I made this cake. you eat some then he can eat some he will keep his mouth shut

36:44Shanthi Ranganathan:give him a big piece

36:46Romesh Ranganathan:I had no idea

36:49Shanthi Ranganathan:yeah it's true

36:51Romesh Ranganathan:shut him up

36:52Shanthi Ranganathan:give him a drink as well so bring a cake

36:57Romesh Ranganathan:you ask specifically for mum's advice every day bring a cake and a drink and give it to that guy and he'll get the message you don't want to talk to.

37:10Shanthi Ranganathan:Take a different time bus or he can go early. He can't do that

37:13Romesh Ranganathan:because he's got to get to work at a certain time.

37:15Shanthi Ranganathan:Certain time. There will be a bus before that time. I know,

37:20Romesh Ranganathan:but he doesn't want to get an earlier bus just for the sake of avoiding this guy.

37:23Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh, later.

37:24Romesh Ranganathan:Tell the boss. Yeah, but then he might be late to work.

37:25Shanthi Ranganathan:Tell the boss.

37:26Romesh Ranganathan:Say to the boss what? I've got this guy that keeps talking to you on the bus and I want to listen to a podcast. My wife is pregnant. My wife is pregnant?

37:31Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, so I have to come a bit late.

37:35Romesh Ranganathan:Why does he have to come late? Because his wife is... Okay, Guy, what can we do? You either say your wife's pregnant or you take a cake. All right, man? Okay.

37:49Romesh Ranganathan:What's your advice? It's difficult. It's really difficult. And I empathise with Guy quite a lot.

37:55Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, yeah. Guy, if the guy doesn't know what... Well, the truth is the easiest thing to say is I don't,

38:08Romesh Ranganathan:I feel a bit tired. You can actually be honest if you want and go, actually, this is one of the only quiet times I get. I'm happy to say hello and stuff, but it's okay if I, and you're listening to stuff. You can actually lie and say, I've got to listen to this for work. Do you mind if I get to this and just say hello? and like have a couple of questions, you know, a bit of interaction and go, really sorry, man, I've got to listen to this thing. And then you set that up and then that can take you a few days. And then you can say, you know, maybe one day you do have a chat with him and then you go, I've got another thing I've got to.

38:45Romesh Ranganathan:And then basically what you're doing is you're reducing the expectation to talk on the bus. I think that's probably the easiest way to do it.

38:53Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh, he can say he got a project to finish.

38:55Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah.

38:56Shanthi Ranganathan:And I'm working on it. Yeah. And that's why I'm listening to get some ideas. Yeah, that's why we're sort of similar. Kind of a sort of similar? Quite close to my arm. Yeah.

39:08Romesh Ranganathan:Nice project. Yeah. Yes. Really good idea, mum, actually.

39:13Shanthi Ranganathan:Why? You don't talk. We are sitting in the car. When? When we travel together.

39:24Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah.

39:24Shanthi Ranganathan:What do I do? Don't talk.

39:27Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. What are you talking about?

39:28Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, he can do that. You don't have to talk. Yeah, you don't have to talk.

39:31Romesh Ranganathan:You don't have to talk. Yeah, but the guy is trying to talk to him.

39:34Shanthi Ranganathan:If he doesn't give an appropriate answer, he will shut up.

39:39Romesh Ranganathan:What do you mean appropriate answer?

39:42Shanthi Ranganathan:So every time he asks you a question or something, maybe he's giving him a...

39:47Romesh Ranganathan:Let's try it now. You're on the bus. I mean, that would never happen. But you're on the bus or train. That would also never happen. But you're on the bus or train, and I come and sit with you.

39:57Shanthi Ranganathan:Okay?

39:57Romesh Ranganathan:You're Shanti I'll be stranger Okay And let's make it in the real world So I've recognised Let's say I've recognised you Alright Busy this train isn't it Yeah Are you Are you Shanti Ranganathan I am I listen to your podcast I'm such a big fan

40:19Shanthi Ranganathan:Oh thank you so much Giving me a compliment

40:22Romesh Ranganathan:Where do you record that podcast It's so good In London

40:27Shanthi Ranganathan:somewhere.

40:28Romesh Ranganathan:Oh, amazing, amazing. And do you enjoy doing it?

40:32Shanthi Ranganathan:I do, thoroughly enjoy. Why do you ask? What, I was just interested.

40:38Romesh Ranganathan:And what's it like working with your son? Like, it must be, he seems really funny.

40:42Shanthi Ranganathan:He is funny. I enjoy working with him. Yeah, anything else you want to ask? It doesn't really feel like you're shutting it down.

40:56Romesh Ranganathan:you're inviting more questions

41:03Shanthi Ranganathan:no I'm giving him a message he's not a fucking lawyer why does he want to know all that anything else you want to ask stop that

41:15Romesh Ranganathan:it felt like you're inviting more questions

41:18Shanthi Ranganathan:then he will run out of questions he won't answer

41:21Romesh Ranganathan:well thank you Guy we hope that works and I've got to be honest here, very excited to hear that somebody in Portugal listens to the podcast. That's cool, isn't it? Okay. Thank you so much, everybody. A reminder to you that you shouldn't interact with strangers or friends on public transport unless they invite you to. Just let them listen to the Ramesh Ranganathan show in peace. That's all we've got time for. Thank you for listening and watching. We'll be back next week and never forget to tune in on Monday for another top interview. Mum, would you like to say goodbye?

41:49Shanthi Ranganathan:Goodbye, Guy. Everybody, love you all. Everybody, everybody.

41:52Romesh Ranganathan:It's not just that. to Gi, everybody.

41:54Shanthi Ranganathan:He's the last caller in this

41:57Romesh Ranganathan:podcast. Yeah, okay.

41:58Shanthi Ranganathan:So I just say bye.

42:01Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, okay.

42:02Shanthi Ranganathan:And I love everybody.

42:04Romesh Ranganathan:We love everybody here.

42:05Shanthi Ranganathan:Yeah, and bye-bye. Bye-bye. Have a good day.

42:08Romesh Ranganathan:Especially to Gi. Take care. See you later. And that guy that keeps talking to Gi on the bus, fuck off, mate. Peace! Eat a cake. That's it. Eat a cake. Thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode. Before you go, If you've enjoyed this episode and you've not subscribed, that's a bold decision. Crazy behavior. Follow and subscribe to The Romesh Ranganathan Show wherever you listen. It helps me, really, like really helps me. It helps the team and it costs you absolutely nothing. We drop episodes every Monday and Thursday. Mondays, I'm joined by great guests. Thursdays, my mum Shadi joins me to answer your questions and family dilemmas.

42:46Romesh Ranganathan:We'll see you Monday with another great guest and back here with mum on Thursday. If you've got a problem you want to solve or a story you want to share, send it to podcast at Rangami.com, voice not or text us on 07731 623 355. We can't promise good advice, but you might end up on the show. See you soon. Good energy in. Good energy out.

43:15Romesh Ranganathan:Storm. Zero sugar, 200 milligrams of caffeine and immunity support. Storm, energy for life.