Mickey, Hannah and Jen are asking all the big questions this week. Such as, when a film's plot is so famous its title is now a verb, how's that going to affect three first-time viewers? And what would 1940s audiences have thought was going on? Also, were any Victorians called Paula and Brian? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc…

Standard Issue: TRT dog rescues, bucket brigades, cartel cops, probie problems, and more fake firefighters....that’s what’s currently going on in public safety news! Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has to offer! TIMES…

A cursed wedding, a honeymoon meltdown, a gaslighting hotelier, and some pretty dodgy goings on: Scarlett Thomas’s latest novel, The Sleepwalkers, is a gripping tale of catastrophe from the contents page on. Scarlett chats to Mick about finding inspiration on a holiday from hell, the chain of blame in Big Patriarchy, trusting women, judging women, …

Hot on the heels of Women in Revolt!, Tate Britain is hosting another huge exhibition dedicated to professional women artists, spanning 400 years from the early 16th Century. Now You See Us: Women Artists in Great Britain, 1520-1920 puts paid to the notion that women couldn’t make a living from art, and only ever pursued it as a cute leisure activi…

This mockumentary comedy flew under the radar when it was released last year. But our Yosra’s excited to make a song and dance about Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman’s big-hearted tale of a musical theatre camp, struggling to save itself after its beloved founder falls into a coma. It’s well charted that we love a mockumentary, but will there be eno…

Jen and Hannah are on Bush Telegraph duty this Thursday 23 May. They’re talking about how the only thing the UK doesn’t seem to be in short supply of these days, is court rulings against its own Government. Meanwhile the wait for a wheelchair hits frankly ludicrous levels. Harrison Butker (you heard) has his say on a woman’s worth, and with any luc…

Jeff Goldblum, people! Turns out, the big fella isn’t necessarily a lure for Hannah and Jen, so will they find anything else to like in Julien Temple’s American-science-fiction-musical-romantic comedy? And yes, of course it was Mick who picked it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

New drama series The Gathering is making waves on Channel 4 as we speak, so Hannah leapt at the chance to chat to one of its stars, Vinette Robinson. They talk about teenage ambition, playing real women with real problems, social media, teenage girls, working with Mike Leigh, the single-take logistics of Boiling Point, giving birth dozens of times …

Buoyed by a positive sexual experience at university, journalist Kitty Ruskin decided to embrace her sexuality with a year of casual dating and no-strings sex. She was hoping to find pleasure and excitement, but the reality wasn't all fun and sexy games. All of which she chronicles in her new book, Ten Men: A Year of Casual Sex. Jen caught up with …

Standard Issue: Cancer PFAS, stolen fire boats, and firehouse tones....that’s what’s currently going on in public safety news! Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has to offer! TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Clean Cab 2.0 (21:15) Homel…

Hannah's in the market for a new favourite TV programme, so this week - along with Jen and Mick - they're auditioning Shogun, Shardlake, Renegade Nell, David Attenborough's Mammals, Sugar, Fallout and Palm Royale. Plus there's some chat about some of TV's more controversial offerings, Baby Reindeer and The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Learn more about y…

It’s Hannah and Mick on Bush Telegraph duty this Thursday 16 May. They’re talking about: the humanitarian crisis playing out in Sudan and why we’re not hearing enough about it; lummoxes, tosspots and numpties, and – separately but connected – the Tories’ ongoing desperate bumblefuckfest ahead of the general election (BUT WHEN IS IT?); the rise and …

Has Maggie Smith ever Maggie Smithed harder than in Tea with Mussolini? It's just one of Hannah's questions about Franco Zeffirelli's 1999 lady-fest, which Jen's picked despite her dad's apparent love for it. Other questions include, has Rated or Dated reached Cher saturation point? Is it ever okay to be pals with a dictator? And, from Mick: WTF is…

Author Francesca de Tores, who you may know better as Francesca Haig, was gripped when she happened upon the Wikipedia entry for 18th century pirate, Mary Read. A woman pirate? Damn straight, a woman pirate. And so began Saltblood, Francesa’s first work of historic fiction. Jen caught up with her to chat all things Mary, and navigating the male-dom…

For three years, comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean has had a secret alter-ego as a foster parent. But now she’s out, and talking about everything about fostering life – from gusset to hairline – in her new tour show, Peacock. In this episode, she’s chatting to Mick about why she and her partner decided to foster, the processes involved, the joys gaine…

Dave McGrail is a retired Assistant Chief with Denver (CO) Fire Department. With over 40 years in the fire service, he is most known for his contributions to high-rise firefighting and is regarded as an industry expert. Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything…

Having been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe since she was 13, comedian and writer Ashley Storrie has had her fill of it. Lucky for her, she’s been starring in BBC Three comedy series Dinosaur. In this episode, she chats to Jen about the unusual way she came to co-create the series, neurodiversity on screen and how it compares to her experiences …

It’s Mick and Jen on Bush Telegraph duty this Thursday 9 May. They’re talking: male entitlement (whaaa?); police incompetence (no way!); remarkable women (come on now!); institutional sexism (surprise!), and Emma Hayes being brilliant (plus ça change). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Does everyone have half a cup of tea? Great, let's begin. In this week's Rated or Dated, we're watching 1999's comedy-drama East is East. But how well does the comedy and drama really gel? Does anyone have any sympathy for George? And exactly how much does Hannah love Linda Bassett? All the answers lie within. Now wash your bastard curtains! Learn …

Georgie Carroll went from being a nurse in Rochdale to a stand-up comedian in Adelaide. In this podcast, she's chatting to Hannah about wanderlust, career changes, being on Britain's Got Talent and the contradiction between how we think of nurses and how we sometimes treat them. Georgie is on tour now around the UK. You can find out more about her …

When journalist Yuan Yang’s activist friend Sam joked about Yuan writing the news story if Sam was ever detained… and then disappeared, Yuan knew there was a bigger story to tell about modern China. Her new book, Private Revolutions: Coming of Age in a New China, looks at modern China through the lives of four women in their 30s. She’s chatting to …

Standard Issue: Elderly man jacked twice, trailer mishap, drunk guts, and comp time for funerals....that’s what’s currently going on in public safety news! Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has to offer! TIMESTAMPS (0:00) P…

We interrupt your normal Standard Issue broadcast this week to tell you about the *new* normal Standard Issue broadcast, starting on Monday 6 May. But don’t worry, it’s not a cryptocurrency podcast. Or a Star Trek podcast, for that matter. That’s right, we’ve been teasing it for a while now, and finally Mick, Hannah and Jen are here to explain to y…

Stranger Things: a bonafide telly phenomenon. The Duffer Brothers’ Netflix series has won an army of diehard fans across all demographics with its big budget mix of horror, fantasy and 80s nostalgia that makes sure never to skimp on character or storytelling. Kate Trefry’s been a writer on the series since season two and is currently wrapping up th…

Standard Issue: Skating with the youth, rim to rim hiking, news story mishap, self-defense training, and the Key Bridge collapse....that’s what’s currently going on in public safety news! Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has…

The BBC's Belfast-set police drama Blue Lights is back on our tellies, so Hannah grabbed the chance to talk to one of its stars: former comedian, now novelist and actor, Andi Osho. They chat about understanding history, running down alleyways and going grey in an industry where many women aren't. Jen's talking to writer Kate Atwell and director Dia…

Most of us would be able to name our energy provider and probably a list of reasons we’re annoyed with them, but when it comes to the hows and whos that get it to, say, our plug sockets, details can be a bit sketchy. Mick’s been on the Zoom with Yasmin Ali, a chemical engineer dedicated to developing renewable energy projects and author of the book…

Hold onto your fannies, because for this month’s Flicking, Mick’s picked Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthikos (man), based on a novel by Alisdair Gray (man), adapted for the big screen by Tony McNamara (man) and one of 2023’s hot feminist picks. DISCUSS. Emma Stone bagged an Oscar for her portrayal of Bella Baxter, the Frankenstein’s monster-e…

Kevin Shea is a retired FDNY firefighter who shares his experiences of rope rescues, training, and the World Trade Center bombing of 1993. Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has to offer! TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Training Is The Founda…

You’ve seen Sharon Horgan’s brilliant sitcom Pulling, right? If you haven’t, please do go watch it immediately *waits impatiently, tapping foot* Okay! How good is Tanya Franks in it?!? SOOOO good. Which means you’ll understand why our Hannah has been champing at the bit for nigh on a decade to get an interview in. And here she is: Tanya Franks chat…

Harvard Law School lecturer, consultant and speaker, Elaine Lin Hering, was frustrated in her professional life by the realising that having a seat at the table isn't enough if no one can hear what you're saying. This inspired her to write Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent and Lead With Courage, and she chats to Jen about i…

Standard Issue: Wildland beer, emergency calls for money, u-hauling, and peer pressure....that’s what’s currently going on in public safety news! Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has to offer! Get your free gift at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…

Having a busy April? Why not have a nice sit down and turn on the telly? This month, Hannah and Jen are talking about Passenger, Manhunt, The Gone, The Dry, Masters of the Air, Mary & George, The Regime and Tell Them You Love Me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesAv Standard Issue

We’ve all heard of the glass ceiling, right? But what about the phenomenon befalling the high-flying women who have dared to smash through it? It’s known as the glass cliff, and Sophie Williams has written a book about it. Sophie joins Mick this week, to talk about how and why it happens – and why the issue matters to all women. Meanwhile, Jen is o…

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, hospital admissions for eating disorders have increased by 84% over the past five years. And yet, for so many of us, anorexia remains very hard to understand. Hannah chats to author, journalist and recovered anorexic Hadley Freeman about her memoir Good Girls: A Story and Study of Anorexia, about her…

Craig discusses setting the standard on the All Clear Podcast with Travis McGaha. Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has to offer! Get your free gift at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Drinklmnt.com/thestandard⁠⁠⁠ TIMESTAMPS (0:00) Training The Bas…

Experts - we should listen to them, right? RIGHT? Well, maybe not all of them. That's what Hannah learned while talking to Dr Julia Shaw, a criminal psychologist and the host of new Radio 4 show Experts on Trial. Jen's been on the Zoom with Heather McCalden to talk about her genre-bending debut book, The Observable Universe, which is about losing b…

If you've not read the Atlantic article The Coddling of the American Mind, or the book that followed it, you've likely heard us recommend it. And now, it's a documentary, so Hannah got straight on the Zoom to California to talk to its producer Courtney Moorehead Balaker about the current mental health crisis among young people and how, rather than …

Frustrated with industry fitness standards, Jen Piper wrote a letter to the fire service in hopes of making change. Wake Work & Win by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get access to more episodes, video content, and everything else The Standard Community has to offer!

Playwright Stef Smith is best known for her, well, plays. But her award-winning BBC Scotland drama, Float – a tender tangle of love, life and identity in small-town Scotland – is also well worth your time. Season one is already bingeable on the iPlayer and, ahead of season two hitting screens at the end of the month, our Mick chatted to Stef about …

Playwright Suzie Miller is best known for her award-sweeping masterpiece, Prima Facie, a searing critique of the criminal justice system and, specifically, how it deals with survivors of sexual assault and rape. She’s now adapted the play into a novel, and so Jen was chuffed to bits to talk to her about the process of adaptation, as well as why she…