Standard Issue Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Bush Telegraph: Reports of our cognitive decline are greatly exaggerated Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

Turns out we all just need to be a little more Linford, a little less Peter. Just one life lesson from Mick and Jen’s look at the news this week. There’s also the issue of savings versus compensation, former politicians you probably do not want to find in your mate’s bathroom, an important Mumsnet report into medical misogyny in Sexism of the Week, and news on the Iranian women’s football team in Jenny Off the Blocks.

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Rated or Dated: Lone Star (1996) Mar 11, 2026

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Long regarded as the peak of American indie filmmaking in the 1990s, John Sayles neo-western/murder mystery has a cracking cast and asks a huge moral question. Hannah thinks it's way ahead of its time but will Mickey and Jen agree?

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Poorna Bell wants more Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

When she turned 40, journalist and author Poorna Bell decided she’d had enough of being told her best years were behind her – not least because she was seeing so many older women absolutely killing it in their various and varied arenas. With that in mind she set about looking at the rules set for women by society, questioning how and why they’d come to be, which in turn became the basis for her new book: She Wanted More: Reimagine your future and live by your rules.

Jen chats to Poorna about why society writes off older women, our fears around ageing, and the art of not giving a shit.

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Paula Varjack on Nine Sixteenths and changing the narrative Mar 06, 2026

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A “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Superbowl halftime show caused a huge furore and changed the course of Janet Jackson’s career for decades, while her fellow performer, Justin “Trousersnake” Timberlake thrived. Multidisciplinary artist Paula Varjack’s play, Nine Sixteenths, examines the impact of the infamous “Nipplegate” incident.

Jen chats to Paula about the play, the forces of racism, sexism and ageism that conspired to derail Jackson, and the hypocrisy that underlines pop culture.

As ever, there’smore available for our £5 and above patreons, and you can become one of those by visiting patreon.com/standardissue.

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The Bush Telegraph: Just because you still have your teeth, doesn't mean you're not trying Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

Sure, the news is all about the Middle East, but what else is going on? Quite a bit. In this week's Bush Telegraph, Hannah and Jen talk about how "baby brain" is actually good for women, the Telegraph's literally unbelievable school fees story, good news about homelessness in Wales, and sexism in the workplace. And in Jenny Off The Blocks, there's ice hockey, tennis and football.

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Rated or Dated: The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Mar 04, 2026

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Fava beans and Chianti all round as Mick’s picked Jonathan Demme’s Oscars-dominating 1991 psychological horror. Or is it a thriller?Other questions addressed include: how’s Hannah feeling about Scott Glenn; does the film have feminist credentials; what’s with the stereotyping, and how much ham is simply too much ham for Jen’s mum Cath? Fffffffffffffff. Etc.

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Annabel Port is adrift but singing Mar 03, 2026

Show notes

Talented multi-hyphenate Annabel Port’s The Other British Museum is a joyful collection of potted histories of recognisable items and our Mick cannot get enough. And so, she got Annabel on the Zoom to chat museum entries, the smell of Imperial Leather, the genesis of weekends, podcasting with Geoff Lloyd, and making a career out of your social awkwardness.

As ever, there’smore available for our £5 and above patreons, and you can become one of those by visiting patreon.com/standardissue.

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Understanding Tourette's with Jess Thom Mar 03, 2026

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If the ongoing furore surrounding last week's Baftas has proved anything, it's how poorly understood Tourette Syndrome still is. Hannah chats to campaigner, comedian and the woman behind Touretteshero, Jess Thom, about living with oppositional tics, why everyone supports the disabled community (until they don't), and how the vital Access to Work scheme is being neglected.

Find out more about Touretteshero here: https://www.touretteshero.com/about/

And more about supporting Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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Outside the Box: February 2024 Feb 27, 2026

Show notes

In this month's round-up of the best and worst TV right now, we’re talking about Under Salt Marsh, Small Prophets, How To Get To Heaven From Belfast, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, Dirty Business and Lord of the Flies. And a surprising amount about caravans. Just because.

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Putting Sister Rosetta Tharpe back in the spotlight Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

Marie & Rosetta, which opens at London’s Soho Place on Saturday, tells the story of legendary singer, songwriter and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and her friendship and creative partnership with Marie Knight, a gospel singer. Hannah chats to Monique Touko, the play's director, about music that makes you feel stuff, working with Beverley Knight and a lot more.

Tickets for Marie & Rosetta are here: https://sohoplace.org/shows/marie-and-rosetta/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23068681375&gbraid=0AAAAAozHdPUyYvHqpNUidEGUZ2sz7hDwN&gclid=CjwKCAiA2PrMBhA4EiwAwpHyC0uVL2-RUrJpEafBHZ-6t9zJ1Op22_g3lL46PDnjpYHbkxdGJ66odxoCXYEQAvD_BwE

You can support Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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