Bedroom Feedback, Gary Neville and Sleep Routines

0:00Romesh Ranganathan:Welcome to the Wolf and Owl email special. Welcome. Congratulations, because now we're in studio. We did two eps a week. You've sent in your emails. Now it's time for the boys to read them. And what's the email address, Tom? It is wolfowlpod at gmail.com. Come on, my guy. So proud of you. Weird that you went for that hand. Yeah. Okay.

0:25Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah. Yeah, what do you want? Beak or jaws? Feathers or fur? Sharp teeth or feet with claws Whatever's preferred Just kidding, every word in this song's about two grown men Dressed up as a bird and a dog So let's do our first email, shall we? Let's do it. I'm so excited about that. I don't know why I just feel like I've come into this with a very sort of like... You know like... What's that? I can't... There's not a word for it. Like, elated. It's horrible. Do it again. Bit bigger. this feels so like i don't know why i've just come into this with an energy that just i feel like nothing can top this feeling right now well let's see if this email can sad sad indication of where my life is what's your highlight of 2026 um we're doing a podcast and we just entered into an email episode and i just felt so fucking good about life let's see how you get on uh hey i've been listening to the show for a short while whilst walking to keep my steps up.

1:25Romesh Ranganathan:Great thing to do. That's good. What's your step situation currently? At least 12 ,000 a day. Are you managing that? Yeah, pretty much. I reckon I'm doing two, three, three. What? No, mate, I've watched the play. In the play, at least you're doing five. Oh, I didn't think about that. Yeah, you're doing five, six hours on the play. And I'm going up and down the stairs. Yeah. Holy shit. You're easily doing so. I'm smashing it. It's great, especially on the cold days, though random strangers do wonder what I'm laughing at as they walk by. Tell them. We need more listeners. Absolutely. They can't see.

1:50Romesh Ranganathan:I wish people would just go. Yeah. buzz under the winter hat okay cool anyhow this is just a quick question regarding the world cup football whether you guys together individually will be doing any podcasty related stuff for it even if it's just trump impressions i should have added i was wondering if you could do a comics get together and maybe run an alternative commentary surely there's some comedic gems hiding in that look forward to hearing back that's from sunil hello um it's oh that's not really that positive response no no it's good you're feeling like this no good no i'm just you know what it's just it's sparked it's sparked something in me a little i weirdly did a show years ago called comedians uh watching football which is like a i remember that show yeah i never did that um who did you do it joe wilkinson oh that's nice which is fun um we didn't often talk about football usually just chat about any other old crap but um it's it's a weird one isn't it because i do think there is probably something in sort of but i think as comedians you're just going to chat about anything apart from the football i think it's like i don't think people will mind that no no i sometimes listen to the commentary by the way and sort of think i wonder what so-and-so's had for lunch i'd rather like hear what gary neville i don't really like it when if the game's a bit slow and they start to go into like he had a bit of a nightmare journey and didn't he or whatever you know when they start i like all that i'd rather that than you know when they try and do it and they try to set sex the game up and it's a boring game and they try to I think there's nothing wrong with it they jump into every moment going oh wow look this really feels like it's picking up as a goalkeeper sort of does an over arm throw instead of an under arm one I think there's an argument to just stay quiet for a bit I think commentators are often I always worry that something's happened if that happens if Gary Neville and whoever's quiet I go I do you think they eat do I think they eat Super Sunday no Super Sunday do you think they at any point because that's the thing me and Joe used to do.

3:49We used to do the first half and we'd always mention like, oh, we're going to have burgers second half, we're going to eat second half, whatever. So second half, they had to always for continuity, for continuity, had to always have, we always were eating in the second half. Right, right, right. So I'm just like, Super Sunday's the biggest busy, I'm just using Gary Neville because he's used it, or Carragher's co-commentating.

4:11Romesh Ranganathan:A bit angry at Gary Neville at the moment, actually. Why? What's he doing? Do you know, you met him by the way yeah he came in League of Their Own okay I like Gary Neville I do I quite enjoy I'm a bit upset with him you've got Gary Neville energy in some ways well that's a complimentary compliment is it how he's great Gary Neville's quite fucking I love him for so many reasons yeah but sorry I've got nothing against Gary Neville although I'm a bit upset with him at the moment yeah but when you say something like that it's never normally a compliment that is a matter I can't okay why do you think I've got Gary Neville Gary Neville energy.

4:47Romesh Ranganathan:The way you just said it like that is very Gary Neville. In what way though? You've just got Gary Neville. It's hard to be specific but if there was any footballer I was going to say you've been injected with their energy. Gary Neville and you would be. Not Ian Wright or anyone like that. No, definitely. You don't. Come on. No, but I mean energy. I'm not talking about football ability. No, don't. It's sort of general vibe. You've nothing like Ian Wright. Why? Ian Wright is... Because Ian Wright's crazy. In what way? Ian Wright's more like Beckett, I think. Right, okay. And who would you be?

5:20Romesh Ranganathan:Probably... Matthew Flamini? No, I don't know. Probably like someone who's a bit more, yeah, silly and sort of... Probably like Jamie Vardy or someone like that. Fucking hell. Do you know what? Shut up. Sorry, that was such a nothing... Horrible thing to say. I like Jamie Vardy. No, but you've got this... Every now and again, the mask slips and I get an insight into... You basically, you think I'm some sort of bookish nerd. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. And you think you're some sort of happy-go-lucky kind of wacky character that everybody loves. Let's just look at the booking you're making, right?

5:54You're sitting there and you're looking at what you're going to book in. With Gary Neville, you're going to get a very specific thing. By the way, I think Gary Neville can be quite funny at times. Yeah, he can be, yeah. I'm saying with Gary Neville, you're going to get someone who I think is a sure set pair of hands to fucking go, right, that's the guy that's going to fucking hold this shit together, right? With someone like Jamie Vardy, you're going to pull Jamie Vardy in for silly soundbites and stuff that he's going to say that he'll get wrong or whatever. I'm not saying that as a compliment to myself.

6:20More than often, I'd love to be people go, oh, God, Tom Davis' observation on this was so intelligently thought out. But it's not people go, oh, my God, that story out about shitting himself in 1998 was the funniest thing we'd heard. Yeah. That is what I'm saying.

6:35Romesh Ranganathan:You're better at comedy than me. No. Well, that's sort of what I'm taking from this. I'm a bigger fool. What you're saying is I'm holding this shit together and you're saying funny stuff. No, no, no. That is a summary of what you've just said. No, I'm more of a fool, I think. I'm more of your... A jester. I think people would laugh at me more than they'd laugh with you, I think. Just don't... Fuck off. Don't you think that that's... Gary Neville, by the way, I think is generally one of my favourite things. I'm very angry about what he said about Gabriel Martinello. What's he said about Gabriel Martinello?

7:07You know when he was like...

7:07Romesh Ranganathan:Who was it who got injured for Liverpool and then he was like trying to shove him off? Obviously didn't realise how bad the injury was. And then Gary Neville said, I'm surprised that some of the Liverpool fans didn't set about him. What? They should have laid into him. That's a bit mean-spirited. But Gary, for the most part, I think, yeah. I think Gary has a good age. Gary, I know you watch this because you feel like the overlap's being threatened. Just think about what you're saying. Do you think, because you know, Gary, people are saying that it's political. What's political? Well, Gary Neville could be like a Labour, he could actually be running for Labour, a seat in the Labour Party.

7:41Right. Would you like to see that? I just think at the point, I think we're at a point now where we probably need loads of celebrities just to start running.

7:47Romesh Ranganathan:Why? Well, you and I firmly disagree on this. Celebrities need to stay the fuck out of it. Yeah, but at the moment, I just think at least it makes it more fun. In what way? Well, I don't know, like Gavin Inica versus Ian Botham. At what? Discussing taxation? What are you talking about? I think you have, right, all the clever bods behind him who are just a bit quiet. Yeah. And it becomes a bit more like WWE. Now I know you're just trying to wind me up. No, I'm just saying. You are. You're being a little, cheeky little bugger now. You're saying stuff to wind me up. I just think it could be an interesting way.

8:22Okay. Who do you think would win between Ian Botham and Gary Lineker? What? Like running the country. Who would?

8:29Romesh Ranganathan:Fuck me. Who do I think would win between Gary Neville and Ian Botham? No, Gary, yeah. Gary Lineker. Or Gary Neville and Ian Botham. Gary Neville and Ian Botham. I mean look it's an insane question but I would say Gary Neville okay anyway and answer your question I don't think we are going to do World Cup specific stuff are we I think we'll probably talk about it when it's on who do you think is going to win I don't know I'm loathe I always get sort of like mixed up in hype and say England and then really regret it I don't know I think I suppose it's been held in America and it's the last waltz of Messi isn't it so it could be Argentina are a good side as well alright shall we go to the next question Tom okay do you want me to read this one i'd love you to yeah hi swan wolf and al i'm a new listener and fervently trying to catch up from the start i started listening in late 2025 and really enjoy the cheeky brotherly love between you two and it's refreshing to see how two adult men can discuss various topics with care and integrity i often agree with you and the advice you give Although generally, I agree more with the Al's advice.

9:35Sorry, Wolf. I guess you won't call me a sweet, sweet soul if you actually read this one out. Well, that's great, isn't it? Because so conspiring, I'm reading this one out. Anyway, I felt the urge to email you because in episode 43, way back in 2021, a listener emailed you about their neighbor's noisy sex. Tom then went on to say he doesn't make sounds during sex, and it's not something he thinks men are required to do.

10:02Romesh Ranganathan:Hold on, can we just stop there? Did you say that? I don't remember saying it. I mean, I say a lot of shit on this. Are you saying you don't think it's something men are required to do? That doesn't really sound like something you'd say. It doesn't say that. I don't think I'd say I don't think it's something that men are required to do. Tom then went on to say he doesn't make sounds to you and says, that I believe. Yeah. And it's not something he thinks men are required to do. I don't think I'd have used that terminology. No. Anyway, carry on. And this is where I disagree with him. We don't even know if you've said it.

10:31I've had to ask my husband, we've been together 12-ish years, to be more vocal, especially when he's close to climaxing. Oh, God.

10:39Romesh Ranganathan:This is what I'm fucking... It helps me get him to the finish line, too. Oh, God. I think it's because I'm a giver, and my enjoyment is intertwined with his pleasure. Oh, fucking... Why have I had to read this one? No, I'm not talking about performance grunting and fake climaxing noises. Those would put me off. although I don't mind the dirty, sexy statement. So my question is, have your wives ever asked you to be a bit more vocal during sex? And if not, would you be up for trying it to see their reaction? Also, you introduced any new tricks into your sex life. Christ almighty. Please keep me anonymous.

11:16Oh yeah, fucking.

11:18Romesh Ranganathan:Yeah, as long as you're anonymous. Let's talk about what noises you make in bed, but keep me anonymous. Because I'm an elected local councillor in my area. Oh, my God. And I'd rather not be known as a naughty councillor. Love the seawater turtle. Brackets, Keir Starmer. Oh, okay. I mean, Tom, how open are you willing to be in this conversation? I'll be open to an extent. I think it's actually more, I'm a very open book, but then I sometimes have to take in consideration that I'm talking about. Sure. There's two people I'm talking about. Yeah, yeah. so in that's it yeah me and my wife oh right okay and likewise for you so there's a sense of here and i there's a part of me even just reading having this back you felt awkward no no just more maybe i've been a bit too open in another situation right okay and actually maybe i should i should look at anything okay let's not comment on what lisa and cat do no no and also let's let's talk about us as a whole yeah um you made this even more creepy word than it had to be um I do think that there's an element of, over the years, I think, like, quietly laying there.

12:28What's going on? No, no, it's just, I think, like, for the most part, I do think men sort of, like, feel weird about making sort of too much. Are you a noisy lover? Are you a rumptious lover?

12:43Romesh Ranganathan:I don't know. I don't know if I want to talk about this. i i i this is i thought i wanted to be open and as soon as you directed the light towards me i no no because i knew that you were doing it to me you wanted to see what what my hand was and then you'd i'll tell you where your hand was yeah my thing about it is it's a very and it's probably why they've asked to be anonymous it's because it's a very open thing and i i think there's a certain there's pretty certain boundaries i will say that whenever i've talked about and like I think the fact of the matter is I think I think for a man sometimes it's You've really taken put your hand firmly on the tiller for this answer haven't you?

13:24No what I'm doing is I'm actually Do you know who I feel like? Who? I do now feel like a politician I'm like Beefy Botham in a I'm trying to sort of skirt around a very like delicate issue and not and not offend or upset anyone involved in the whole thing

13:41I do remember one of the worst no no i just remember one of the worst things i ever had uh well before i was with katherine i was smart yeah i think i probably have got more stupid since i've been with her but anyway um i was i was with a woman and afterwards when i did climax i tell my oh mate that was the worst thing i've ever said post-sex i think that was awful that felt that was just such an our mate felt like a really

14:12Romesh Ranganathan:I've said stuff like oh god

14:21that

14:21Romesh Ranganathan:I remember I remember finishing having sex and then just almost immediately going that was amazing laughing laughing

14:39have you ever done it where you thank someone after it's like a real oh thank oh thank you

14:44Romesh Ranganathan:oh wow that thank you uh it's this is so embarrassing i didn't think i didn't think i could be embarrassed but i'm finding this really tricky four years of it and do you know what it actually weirdly makes i kind of thought me and you were open enough yeah this is the one email do you know what i've always labored under the the illusion that i'm a that i'm completely open and happy to talk about anything i think partly is least is privacy okay what i will say is this okay i am going to say this right because i do think in the interest of the podcast i'm not completely silent during sex there you go i've said that yeah i don't lie there like that Sometimes what I would say is I do say things in the heat of battle that when you come back down afterwards, you sort of think that was a bit embarrassing.

15:40What are you looking like?

15:43Romesh Ranganathan:A lot of it is me asking for feedback on what I'm doing. Oh, fuck.

15:52Oh, my God. Is that nice? How are you finding that? All right. Go once more around there, shall we?

16:05Stop there or keep going? Is that good? You tell me honestly. Is it better like this or like this? I'll try again.

16:12Romesh Ranganathan:Is it better like this or like this? Are you being true, Fong? Are you being true? Oh, God. Anyway. You can read this one. Hello, Wolf and Owl. I'm the tired tortoise. I love my job. My home life is good. Nothing is particularly wrong, but I'm exhausted all the time. Not dramatic tire, just permanently low battery. My question is, is this adulthood or should I be actually doing something about it? This is a good, this is an interesting, but I've felt very much like this, this, the last few months. I've fallen off a little, I've fallen. You've been very busy though, Tom, in fairness to you. I've been busy, but I've also fallen off like having like positive habits.

16:51Right. You've not been going to the gym as much. Yeah, I've not been working out. I've not been having sort of time to start the day in a place where I've literally, I've started the day almost rushing, you know, getting grace ready for school, getting things flying out the door, going to a drop and grace off, going to work. And I literally, I found that I've become a real victim to the snooze, like a real victim of like putting the snooze button on, which all of last year, the snooze button was complete. I literally got out of bed, boom, 6 a.m., 5.30, and went and got stuck in.

17:25Romesh Ranganathan:5.45? Yeah, sometimes 5. No, no, never after 6. Okay. And then I got stuck in. And now I'm like, I literally would just put on the snooze, the snooze. And that behavior has now had like an impending, like across Catherine and Grace, we're all like, we're all snoozing. So like this morning, for example, like we literally just got Grace to school just in time right we're running late because we all were laying in bed snoozing and whatever so i do i do think that actually number one early nights are the best thing you can have again let that thing of watching three or four episodes of the american office before bed it's creeping so it's just i think getting as much around your actual schedule and trying to look like try to sort of when you're when you're up get up get outside work out do something uh and preach but also i find that then my diet is off and i'm eating crap i'm eating burgers three or four times a week at the moment crazy i've gone into a place where burger is that bad they are if you're having mcdonald's or burger king more than once a week i literally and by the way i'm having them i've gone back into a place of having that as a as a fourth meal some evenings coming home from work late you're like oh let's just stop and i'll get a Burger King or Five Guys or whatever.

18:47So it's a, yeah. Yeah. So that's made me very, so you, yeah. Should you actually be doing something? Number one, get yourself, have some tests, just to, it's always worth having blood tests, I think, to see if there's anything else going on. Really good advice. I'd just say just get in healthy, little healthy habits and pick little things bit by bit and build up a more resolute way of being. What about yourself, D? Really good. You're so busy at the moment.