Standard Issue Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rated or Dated: Picnic At Hanging Rock (1975) Aug 06, 2025

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A fictional mystery without a solution masquerading as a true story is Australia's best film, you say? We do. Well, Hannah does anyway. But what does Mickey make of Peter Weir's dreamy boarding school drama/horror on a first watch?

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Childless by choice with Helen Taylor Aug 01, 2025

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Hannah is happily child-free so she was glad to grab some time with author Helen Taylor to chat about her new book Childless By Choice, which is part memoir, part cultural history. They talk about "crazy cat ladies", societal pressure, misconceptions and the pressing question of who is going to look after us when we get old.

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Rated or Dated: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

It’s a big one this week, as Mick and Hannah watch possibly the most cult of cult films: Richard O’Brien’s stage show turned Jim Sharman’s screen show, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. So many questions. Has there ever been a hotter Curry than Tim? How might the modern youth view it? Did Hannah sing along? And what’s Mr Peanutbutter’s favourite berry got to do with anything? We see you shiver with… you know.

Mick mentions a couple of interesting articles, which you’ll find here: https://www.them.us/story/yes-rocky-horror-picture-show-is-transphobic-transmisogynist

And indeed here: https://www.bigissue.com/culture/theatre/rocky-horror-at-50-a-place-for-the-marginalised/

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Desiree Burch has The Golden Wrath Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Comedian and storyteller, actress and broadcasting star, Desiree Burch is also a perimenopausal woman with plenty to say about it. Mick got on the Zoom to talk about Desiree’s new show, The Golden Wrath, as well as the ups, downs and big bag of goo that is a woman’s midlife.

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Zelda Perkins has assured they can’t buy our silence Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

In 2017, Zelda Perkins broke an NDA of more than 20 years to speak out against Harvey Weinstein. Since then, she’s tirelessly campaigned to end the misuse and abuse of NDAS – non-disclosure agreements – used to silence victims. Her campaigning included setting up Can’t Buy My Silence in 2021, and Mick chatted to her about that at the time.

Earlier this month, the Government announced it will ban NDAs designed to silence victims of workplace harassment and discrimination, a change that will be implemented through amendments to the Employment Rights Bill. A week later, the Lords passed it. This is a huge victory for Zelda – and the many brave people who have broken NDAs – after tireless campaigning, so obviously Mick got her back on the podcast to talk about the whats, whys, hows and what’s next.

For the full interview, get involved with our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/StandardIssue

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Rated or Dated: Flatliners (1990) Jul 23, 2025

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Joel Schumacher’ssci-fi psychological horror exploring the boundaries between life, death and redemption was chock-a-block with early 1990s Hollywood's hottest property. But who gets redeemed and why? What happens when Bacon meets ham? And for the love of God, why won’t someone turn on a light?

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Paula Radcliffe and Natasha Edwards on Staying Out There Jul 22, 2025

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In 2024, alongside Steph McCall and Olympic athlete Rose Harvey, Natasha Edwards co-founded BOLDLI running club, a response to safety concerns around women runners. Now, BOLDLI provides resources to help women gain the confidence to run when and where they want, and this year they’ve teamed up with the Altra Kielder Marathon to launch the Stay Out There: She Runs Free initiative.

Jen was tickled pink to catch up not only with Natasha but also with former world, European and Commonwealth champion, Paula Radcliffe – you heard us! – who is also backing the initiative. They're talking about why groups like BOLDLI are so needed, life after competitive running, and that time a bloke tried to catch up with Paula.

You can find out more information about the Altra Kielder Marathon here.

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The writer from the North Country Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

Karis Kelly's award-winning play Consumed is about to tour the UK, so Hannah grabbed the chance to chat with the playwright about Northern Ireland in the arts, mother-daughter relationships, religion, superstition, OCD, trans-generational trauma, blood on stage and a lot more.

Tickets for Consumed can be bought here: https://painesplough.com/productions/consumed/

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On writing, with Sally Gardner Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

Sally Gardner has had a long career of writing for children, for adults, and for everyone between. She chats to Hannah about her latest novel, The Bride Stone, growing up in London's Gray's Inn and about her belief that being dyslexic helped rather than hindered her writing career.

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Rated or Dated: Sunset Boulevard (1950) Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Are you ready for our close ups? Maybe not, but tuck in anyway as we watch Gloria Swanson's glorious swansong in Billy Wilder's dark comedy about lost fame, madness and how to arrange a funeral for a chimpanzee.

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