The Big Smoke Variety Show

Starspotting with Dr Sheila Kanani

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
Tonight, we look up. But also down, and within! This episode is all about the stars — not just what they are, but what they’ve meant to us across time. From ancient myths and shared human stories to cutting-edge space science, Starspotting explores how looking skyward can reconnect us to something far greater than ourselves.
We begin our mission with planetary scientist, space educator, and Saturn super-fan Dr Sheila Kanani. Drawing on her book The Starspotter’s Guide, Sheila guides us through Saturn’s rings, its extraordinary moons, black holes, alien life, and the deep links between science, mythology, and imagination. From the Cassini mission to the shared star stories told by ancient cultures thousands of miles apart, this conversation reminds us that astronomy has always been a human pursuit.
When the city lights pull us back down to Earth, we head to the River Thames to meet our resident Mudlark Sean Clark. On the foreshore near Blackfriars, Sean shares one of his most remarkable finds yet: a near-complete medieval floor tile dating back over 700 years, bearing the unmistakable Three Lions of England. From royal symbolism to the strange objects history leaves behind, it’s a reminder that even the smallest discoveries can carry enormous stories.
After a good lark by the river, we pop into the local for a pint — and a Pub Quiz. This round: Aliens in Pop Culture. From Depression-era sci-fi panic to Hollywood classics, it’s a quickfire test of your extraterrestrial expertise.
And finally, we return to the skies with poet Rishi Rian, who delivers Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing — a surreal, funny, and quietly devastating meditation on mental health, modern distraction, and what happens when empathy runs wild at 30,000 feet.
So whether you’re stargazing, mudlarking, or simply trying to stay present on the journey — settle in, look up, and join us once again in The Big Smoke.
👽 Pub Quiz: Aliens in Pop Culture — Answers
1) The War of the Worlds — Answer: H. G. WellsThe legendary 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds was based on the novel by H. G. Wells — not to be confused with its director and narrator, Orson Welles.
2) Mars Attacks! — Answer: “We come in peace.”In Mars Attacks!, the Martians’ repeated cry of “Ack! Ack! Ack!” is translated in the film as “We come in peace” — a hilariously ironic message given that they are actively destroying everything in sight.
3) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial — Answer: Reese’s PiecesIn E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Elliott uses Reese’s Pieces to lure E.T. into his home. Fun fact: the filmmakers originally approached Mars (makers of M&M’s), who declined the product placement — a decision that reportedly led to a major sales boost for Reese’s Pieces after the film’s release.
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Links
🪐 Learn more about Sheila Kanani
🔭 Order The Starspotter’s Guide
🦁 Learn more about Sean Clark 
🪙 2026 Mudlarking events
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro and Show Menu
(02:26) Dr Sheila Kanani Interview
(48:28) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find
(55:20) Pub Quiz: Aliens in Pop Culture
(57:04) Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing by Rishi Rian
(1:05:47) Outro
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Original Music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
‘Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing’ written and performed by Rishi Rian

What Music Is with Bill Barclay

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
Tonight, we explore music, movement, and a little misfiring magic — three very different ways humans try to make sense of the world.
We begin with music, and a deceptively simple question: what, actually, is it? Kevin is joined by director, writer and composer Bill Barclay to discuss What Music Is, a project that draws together music, neuroscience and astrophysics. From the ancient idea of the “music of the spheres” to planetary orbits and harmonic relationships, the conversation explores why music exists in every culture, why it can feel deeply right in a chaotic world, and how listening — especially to live music — is the brain-spa we all need.
When the bells ring out across The Big Smoke, we head to our local village hall to check out what's pinned to the Parish Noticeboard. Today, we turn our attention to Parkrun. From its beginnings in Bushy Park to its sprint across the globe, we explore how a free, weekly 5K became a quiet cultural phenomenon.
And finally, as the fog rolls back in, we head back to our audio-stage where two apprentice magicians arrive from the Xander Eldrick Institute to complete their final examination. The Strange Brothers attempt to perform spectacular illusions on an audio-only podcast, with predictably strange results. What follows is a brand new comedy segment for 2026, where a bit of editing and imagination result in some real magic.
So listen closely, fire up those neural networks, and join us once again in The Big Smoke.
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Links
🎵 Learn more about Bill Barclay and ‘What Music Is’
🏃🏻‍♂️ Learn more about Park Run
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:54) Bill Barclay Interview
(46:31) Parish Notices: Park Run
(54:13) The Strange Brothers
(01:04:05) Outro
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
Trappist – 1 audio clip by Shawn Feeney
Parish Notices written by Adam Wright
The Strange Brothers written and performed by Jamie Sandersfield and Matthew Nicholson
 

Christmas Special: ‘An Undigested Bit of Beef…?’

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show Christmas Special, recorded live beneath the West End at The Phoenix Arts Club.
Tonight, we gather for an old-fashioned festive tradition: ghost stories at Christmas, games played in good company, and the sense of connection that comes from gathering together at the darkest time of the year.
We begin with Charles Dickens, and a lesser-known seasonal tale from The Pickwick Papers: The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton — a darkly comic story of Gabriel Grubb, a gravedigger who despises merriment and is forced to confront what it means to sneer at the joy of others. From there, the live show unfolds with crackers pulled, paper crowns donned, groan-worthy jokes judged, and the mysteriously hidden Christmas Pickle, promising good fortune to whoever spots it first. Music fills the room thanks to the Lewisham Creative Chorus, performing original festive material, while Sean Clark the Mudlark shares a true ghostly tale about a trade token from the Thames foreshore, and its link to the famous diarist Samuel Pepys.
After a suitably Dickensian Pub Quiz, the night darkens with one of the most unsettling Christmas ghost stories ever written: Elizabeth Gaskell’s The Old Nurse’s Story, read by Rachel Pickup — bleak, wintry, and deliciously spine-tingling. We then consult Dr Quack, whose hysterical and historically accurate medical treatments come back to haunt him. We hear some of our audience’s favourite Christmas memories, the pickle is finally revealed, and we leave the live space behind for one final reflection: a meditation on the restless spirit of one of the original pantomime dames, Dan Leno, who may never have quite left the theatre on Drury Lane.
So pour yourself something warm, listen closely, and join us beneath the glittering West End. Merry Christmas, and we’ll see you soon in The Big Smoke.
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Chapters
(00:00) Christmas Memories
(02:14) Intro
(03:30) The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton
(17:28) Christmas Crackers
(21:00) Lewisham Creative Chorus
(30:37) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find
(42:15) Pub Quiz: The Three Spirits
(48:51) The Old Nurses Story
(1:04:21) Dr Quack
(1:14:48) Christmas Memories
(1:16:13) The Ghost of a Pantomime Dame
(1:22:16) ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ sung by Lewisham Creative Chorus
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original theme music by Giles Terera, arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
The Old Nurses Story by Elizabeth Gaskell adapted by Cait Roddam Jones and performed by Rachel Pickup
Dr Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy
Many thanks to our musical guests Thomas Guthrie and the Lewisham Creative Chorus with Outcry Ensemble, Vox Urbane's Vox Genesis programme, Lydia Kenny, Francesca Collyer-Powell, Jessica Anderson, Jess Mollie and Mike Veazey

Human-ish: Justin Gregg on Anthropomorphism

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
This week, we slip into the strange, funny and quietly revealing world of anthropomorphism — the very human habit of seeing minds, motives and meaning everywhere we look.
First, Kevin pulls up a chair with scientist and bestselling author Justin Gregg, whose book Humanish explores why we dress up our dogs, get too attached to inanimate objects, and sometimes find ourselves arguing with ChatGPT. From friendly alligators to fauxnads, Justin explains how attributing human qualities to animals, objects and AIs can make us smarter, kinder — and occasionally a little delusional. 
On our Parish Noticeboard, we trade the clamour of the city for the steady rhythm of cut tile and grout at the Hackney Mosaic Project — a place where volunteers piece together hope, community and colour one tiny tile at a time. It’s a gentle reminder that creativity can be a holiday from your own head, and that some of the city’s most moving artwork has a deeper story behind it than you might think.
Then Audio Archives returns with a newly unearthed — and increasingly unhinged — festive radio commercial featuring vanished 80s icon Jay Gladrock. What begins as a simple cereal advert soon descends into chaos, ego, and nut-based wordplay. It may well be the last surviving recording of Gladrock before he disappeared from public life entirely. Listener theories are, as ever, welcome. 
Finally, we round things off with a festive Victorian Parlour Game: The Minister’s Cat. Straight from Fezziwig’s Christmas gatherings, this classic game of quick wits and alphabetical adjectives is your guaranteed cure for a post-turkey slump!
So settle in as we wander from curious minds to tiny tiles, from lost legends to lively language — all here in The Big Smoke.
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Links
🧠 Justin Gregg – Website
📘 Humanish by Justin Gregg – Book
🎨 Hackney Mosaic Project – Official Site
📚 Tessa Hunkin’s Hackney Mosaic Project – Book
🍁 Maple Leaf or Make Believe – CBC Video
🍁 Maple Leaf or Make Believe – CBC Article
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:35) Pub Quiz: Maple Leaf or Make Believe
(02:35) Justin Gregg Interview
(49:24) Parish Notices: Hackney Mosaic Project
(57:05) Audio Archives: Unreleased Commercial
(1:10:49) Victorian Parlour Games
(1:13:00) Live Christmas Show 
(1:14:20) Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answers
(1:15:24) Outro
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
Audio Archives written by Aidan Parker and performed by Jamie Sandersfield, Matthew Nicholson and Cait Roddam Jones

Audio Advent: How Rudolph Came To Be

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
We’re slipping a little audio chocolate into your advent calendar: the true origin of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, plus a reading of the original 1939 story that made him a star. A festive treat from The Big Smoke family to start the holiday season.
This piece was created by our host Kevin Bennett and is starring actors Adam Cunis and Hollie Hales. It warmed the hearts of the audience at our 2024 Christmas live show, so we wanted to share it with you as you open the first door of your advent calendars!
If you'd like to join the fun at our live show this year, click the link below for info and tickets.
Happy Holidays from The Big Smoke Variety Show!
🎟️ The Big Smoke LIVE Christmas Special is at The Phoenix Arts Club in Soho on 14th December, 2025 — expect ghost stories, games, music and festive mischief.
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(00:30) How Rudolph Came To Be
(05:27) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
(17:10) 2025 Live Christmas Show
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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Adam Cunis is an actor who’s recent work includes 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (Bridge Theatre), and 'Macbeth Storytelling' and 'The Woman in the Moon' (Shakespeare's Globe - Sam Wanamaker Playhouse). He recently appeared in ‘Suspect: the Shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes’ (Disney+). His audio work includes Outliers podcast (Historic Royal Palaces) and The Incident Room (New Diorama).
 
Hollie Hales trained at RADA. Her recent theatre work includes 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' (Bridge Theatre). Her audio work includes the ‘Tales of a Monstrous Heart’ fantasy trilogy by Jennifer Delaney (Audible). She works with Jane Austen’s house and will be performing readings for ‘A Celebration of Jane Austen’ in December and ‘Rebel Readings’ a collection of Jane’s favourite works at the museum in Chawton in January.
 

Exploring Britain’s Living Room: Your Local Pub!

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
This week, we raise a glass to Britain’s most beloved institution — the pub — and explore how these living rooms of London connect history, community and creativity in ways as rich as any museum or gallery.
First, our guests pull up a stool: its pub historian Charo Havermans and artist Lydia Wood. Together they explore how pubs began in the hands of women, why they became vital community “third spaces,” and how a good pub can feel like stepping into someone else’s living room — or even stepping back in time. 
On our Parish Noticeboard, we wander from one place of warm company to another —  Hoxton Hall. A Victorian music hall with over 160 years of creativity, care and community under its rafters. Once home to circus acts and performing dogs, now home to a powerful Creative Health Initiative.
After all that history (and a few imaginary pints), it’s time to consult our hilarious and historical Doctor Quack, who finds himself called upon to assist with a delivery — a job he isn’t entirely equipped for.
Finally, we catch our breath with Archie’s Neuro Nuggets, as he strolls through Battersea Park to explain the soothing science of white, pink and brown noise — the perfect counterbalance to the lively chorus of the pub.
So pull up a chair, pour yourself your favourite pint, and join us as we wander from bar rooms to music halls, from questionable medicine to calming soundscapes — all here in The Big Smoke.
🎟️ The Big Smoke LIVE Christmas Special is at The Phoenix Arts Club in Soho on 14th December — expect ghost stories, games, music and festive mischief.
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:38) Pub Quiz: Kings Head or Kings Bed?
(02:30) Charo Havermans and Lydia Wood Interview
(51:46) Parish Notices: Hoxton Hall
(58:47) Dr Quack
(1:06:58) Live Christmas Show
(1:08:27) Archie’s Neuro Nuggets
(1:14:28) Pub Quiz Answers
(1:16:31) Outro
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Links
📚 Locals – Pre-order Lydia Wood’s Book
🗓️ Lydia Wood – 2026 Pub Calendar & Website
🎨 Lydia Wood – Instagram
🍺 Book a Historic Pub Tour with Charo Havermans
📸 Charo Haverman – Instagram
🍻 Back Behind the Bar: Pub Landladies of East London
🎭 Hoxton Hall
🐊 Dr Quack – Crocodile Dung Contraceptive 
🥛 Dr Quack – Milk Blood Transfusion 
🧠 Archie McAlpine – Neuro Nuggets
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
Dr Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy

The Royal Institute of Philosophy: Unlocking Minds for 100 Years

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
This week, we explore philosophy, freedom, and the peculiar ways we find meaning — from the quiet depths of the soil to the bustling banks of the River Thames.
First, Kevin is joined by Professor Edward Harcourt, Academic Director of The Royal Institute of Philosophy, celebrating its centenary year. Together they ask: what is philosophy, really? How can it help us think, question, and live better? Edward shares how puzzlement, not wonder, is where true philosophy begins — and what the institute’s mission, real philosophy for everyone, meant in 1925 and what it means today.
On our Parish Noticeboard, we dig into the curious world of worm charming — the ancient, oddly musical art of luring earthworms from the soil. With the help of worm expert Dr Kevin Butt, we learn how this humble tradition connects communities, science, and the secret lives beneath our feet. 
Then, we turn to one of The Royal Institute of Philosophy’s most inspiring outreach projects — Unlocking Minds, a prison education programme co-founded by Paul and Dan. Through pop music and film, they bring philosophy into prisons, sparking reflection, debate, and discovery in places where freedom of thought is most deeply desired.
Finally, our resident Mudlark Sean Clark brings us to the River Thames to reveal his latest find — a centuries-old quant, better known as the “non-sexy end of a barge pole”. It’s a muddy reminder that London’s history is always just below the surface, waiting to be unearthed.
So pull up a chair, pour yourself something puzzling, and join us as we dig into ideas, earth, and everything in between in The Big Smoke.
🎟️ The Big Smoke LIVE Christmas Special is coming to The Phoenix Arts Club, Soho – 14th December. Expect ghost stories, lively games, seasonal music and festive mischief.
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:27) Pub Quiz: Maple Leaf or Make Believe
(02:27) Edward Harcourt Interview
(32:05) Live Christmas Show
(33:35) Parish Notices: Worm Charming
(43:06) Unlocking Minds: Philosophy in Prisons Interview
(1:15:46) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find
(1:20:07) Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answers
(1:21:31) Outro
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Links
💫 Become a Patron – Unlock Your Backstage Pass
🧠 The Royal Institute of Philosophy
🪱 World Worm Charming Championships – Willaston
🪱 Blackawton International Festival of Worm Charming – South Devon
📚 Worm by Dr Kevin Butt
🍁 Maple Leaf or Make Believe Article
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
 

The Humanity of Ghosts

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
This week, we wander through London’s haunted past, uncover the humanity behind history’s ghost stories, and rediscover how kindness, comedy, and curiosity connect us all. From spectral legends to small acts of light in the dark, this episode celebrates the strange and the sincere in equal measure.
First, Kevin is joined by historian and author Dr Maddy Pelling — host of After Dark — for a walk through the strange, true story of the Hammersmith Ghost. Together they unearth the 1800s case that blurred the line between myth and murder, ask why ghosts so often reveal the living more than the dead, and explore how our fears have always found form in flickering candlelight.
Then, on our Parish Noticeboard, we turn from frights to generosity with the story of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF — the Halloween tradition that began with a few milk cartons and became a global movement. 
After that, we open the Audio Archives to dust off a peculiar relic from the 1990s: the first ever bum dial. Part séance, part sitcom, it’s proof that even ghosts can appreciate good signal.
Finally, the Victorian Parlour Games return with Ring My Gourd! — glowing rings, good humour, and just the right amount of Halloween mischief.
So pour yourself something warm, get comfortable, and join us for a night of hauntings, humour and history in The Big Smoke.
🎟️ The Big Smoke Christmas Special is coming to The Phoenix Arts Club, Soho – 14th December. Expect ghost stories, lively games, seasonal music and festive mischief. 
💬 Follow, review, and share the show with a friend — and remember: may your ghosts be friendly, and your gourds well-ringed.
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(1:42) Pub Quiz: Trick-or-Trivia!
(2:43) Maddy Pelling Interview
(58:45) Live Christmas Show 
(1:00:04) Parish Notices: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
(1:08:02) Audio Archives: Bum Dial
(1:22:43) Victorian Parlour Games
(1:24:57) Pub Quiz Answers
(1:27:11) Outro
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Links
🎓 Learn more about Dr Maddy Pelling
📚 Pre-order Maddy’s upcoming book Hoax
🎃 75 Years of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
🇬🇧 UNICEF UK
🌍 UNICEF International
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
Audio Archives written by Aidan Parker and performed by Aidan Parker, Cait Roddam Jones and Kevin Bennett

The Season of Fear

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
This week, we walk through the fog of fear, meet courage on the street corners of London, and follow the rivers that carry us home.
First up, Kevin sits down with historian and author Robert Peckham to ask what it really means to live with fear. From the “dizziness of freedom” to the way algorithms mirror our anxieties, Robert explores how fear shapes everything from politics to art—and why it might be the key to understanding hope itself.
On the Parish Noticeboard, we pick up a copy of The Big Issue and uncover the story behind one of Britain’s most remarkable social enterprises—where every magazine sold is a step toward dignity and independence. In doing so, we meet André Rostant, a vendor whose voice reminds us that courage isn’t found in headlines, but in the quiet persistence of those rebuilding their lives one sale at a time.
Then, we cross the ocean from the Thames to the Bulkley River, where our new Canadian Correspondent Taninli Wright introduces us to the Wet’suwet’en Nation. Her retelling of an ancestral story, How the Daylight and Lakes Had Come, reminds us that light and belonging are always worth reclaiming.
Finally, as the fire crackles and the tea steeps, comedian and philosopher Alex Farrow joins us with his musings on fear, humour, and the rituals that help us laugh in the dark.
So settle down as the nights draw in, courage flickers in the lamplight, and the stories of The Big Smoke come alive.
Don’t forget to follow the show, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend. Until next time—keep the kettle warm and the lights low. We’ll see you soon in The Big Smoke.
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Links
✨ Become a Patron and unlock your Backstage Pass – Support the show and access exclusive perks, behind-the-scenes updates, and early live show tickets.
📝 Take our quick listener survey – Share your thoughts for a chance to win a prize!
📚 Learn more about Robert Peckham – Explore his work and book ‘Fear: An Alternative History of the World.’
📰 Discover The Big Issue – Find out how the magazine is changing lives across the UK.
📖 Read André Rostant’s book – The Muffin Man – A moving collection of reflections from a Big Issue vendor.
🎭 Visit Stand-Up Philosophy – The show where comedians and philosophers meet on stage.
😂 Follow Alex Farrow – Explore his latest shows, writing, and tour dates.
🍁 Maple Leaf or Make Believe – The Real Headline – Read the true Canadian story behind this week’s Pub Quiz!
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:36) Pub Quiz: Maple Leaf or Make Believe
(02:35) Robert Peckham Interview
(45:04) Parish Notices: The Big Issue
(52:38) Canadian Correspondent Taninli Wright
(1:01:46) Standup Philosopher Alex Farrow
(1:09:35) Maple Leaf or Make Believe answers
(1:10:41) Outro
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Assistant Produced by Adam Wright
Original music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
 

The Philosophy of Board Games

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
This week, we roll the dice under the Harvest Moon, sail the seven seas with wacky shipmates, and curl up with stories that feel like home.
First up, Kevin sits down with author Caroline Taggart to explore the timeless pastime of board games. From Monopoly meltdowns to horse-racing favourites lost to history, Caroline reveals why games aren’t just entertainment—they’re anthropology, philosophy, and sometimes even a mirror of society itself.
On the Parish Notice Board, we turn our eyes skyward to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, celebrating 350 years of stargazing. From the Harvest Moon to the birth of Greenwich Mean Time, discover how the mysteries of the cosmos have guided farmers, explorers, and dreamers for centuries.
Then we venture out to sea with our resident GP Doctor Quack, who returns with another round of jaw-dropping (and occasionally stomach-turning) medical “breakthroughs”. From goat’s testicle transplants to jars of bottled wind, they’re history’s strangest cures brought vividly (and hilariously) back to life.
Finally, Archie’s Neuro Nuggets makes a cosy return to remind us why rewatching our favourite sitcoms isn’t procrastination at all—it’s a spa day for your neurons.
Oh! And don’t miss our Victorian Parlour Game of the week – Checkers Go Bang!
Don’t forget to follow the show, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend who loves a quirky story. Until next time—roll the dice, reap the harvest, and don't sniff anything in a jar! We'll see you soon in The Big Smoke.
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Links
✍🏼 Fill out our short survey for a chance to win a copy of The Philosophy of Board Games! Take the survey
✨ Become a patron and unlock your Backstage Pass: https://patreon.com/TheBigSmokeVarietyShow
📗Caroline Taggart’s book - The Philosophy of Board Games
🌙 Royal Observatory Greenwich
📘Louise Devoy’s book - Royal Observatory Greenwich: A History in Objects
🧠Archie McAlpine Associates
🩺Dr. Quack’s Medical Treatments:
🐐Goat Testicle Transplant
💨 Farts in a Jar
🐋Whale Carcass Treatment
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(01:40) Pub Quiz: Board Games Trivia
(02:25) Caroline Taggart Interview
(45:54) Parish Notices: Harvest Moon
(53:47) Dr. Quack
(1:02:25) Archie's Neuro Nuggets
(1:08:42) Victorian Parlour Games: Checkers Go Bang
(1:10:09) Pub Quiz Answers
(1:11:58) Outro
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Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin BennettProduced & Edited by Alex GrahamAssistant Produced by Adam WrightOriginal music by Giles TereraMusic arranged and played by Joseph AtkinsDr. Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy