Standard Issue Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Rated or Dated: Idiocracy (2006) Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

When Mike Judge showed us a vision of America in the future, nobody thought the future would arrive so soon. Did the social satire predict the rise of Trump? Can a film about dumb people ever really be clever? And what's the worst thing to have taped to your car bonnet?

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Suze Kundu eclipses the bad news with the good Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

It’s a podcast of positivity, as our Mick has one of her regular catch ups with NASA’s Suze Kundu.

They’re covering all sorts of topics, starting of course, with the recent eclipse and why its study is so important. Then there’s the new discovery that menstrual blood is basically magical, wound-healing elixir to celebrate, as well as some brilliant, inspirational kids who are filtering microplastics out of water with tamarind seeds.

If you’re one of our £5 and above patreons, there’s a bonus good news story to do with little lungs doing better in London, so get involved at patreon/com/standardissue.

And give Suze a follow on the socials @funsizesuze.

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The Suffrage Detective investigates Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Elizabeth Crawford picked up her nickname after decades of work uncovering rare books and collectables related to the suffrage movement. She chats to Hannah about her latest book, The British Women's Suffrage Movement in 100 Objects, lesser known historical heroines, and how merchandising helped the Suffragettes make their mark.

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Rated or Dated: AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001) Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

It’s the Spielberg-Kubrick vision of the future no one was sure about at the time, but later got some pretty big acclaim. 2001’s AI: Artificial Intelligence remains a Marmite movie, so how will Hannah and Mick feel about this Pinocchio story of a robot who wants to be a real boy? Where can we get us one of those robo-teddies? And having witnessed Jude Law as a rent-a-pump mecha, will Hannah ever sleep soundly again?

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At home with Vanessa Feltz – literally Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

As the star of daytime TV, radio and podcasts for more than 30 years, there’s not much we don’t think we already know about Vanessa Feltz. But there's always more to learn, so now she’s back on our screens with At Home with Vanessa, a new YouTube show filmed in her actual home, with her actual friends, and her actual favourite crisps shipped over from Ireland for the occasion.

Jen visited Feltz Towers to chat about the show, her career, the tabloid press, and whether or not she really was drinking custard.

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Outside The Box August 2026 Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

In this month's round-up of some of the best and not-so-best things on TV, we're talking about Furious, Possession, Evolution, My Brilliant Career, 100 Years of Solitude, Station 11 and the return of Ted Lasso.

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The Bush Telegraph: All aboard the bus to Wetwang! Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

This week, Hannah and Mickey look at some of the week's best and worst stories, including major finds by archeologists, the scandal that continues to engulf Cambridge University, free travel for disabled people in England, and the ongoing "early release" crisis.

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Rated or Dated: The Others (2001) Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Alejandro Amenábar’s creepy AF tale of grief and darkness in post-war Jersey cleared a path for the return of old-school horror. But does it stand up when you already know the twist? Is there a fate worse than Keith Allen in your upstairs? And will we ever stop inflicting Nicole Kidman on poor Hannah?

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Susan Calman is not going on a sex cruise Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

It’s been a while since comedian Susan Calman went on tour: 10 years, in fact. Her brand new show, Tall Tales, kicks off in September, and promises stories, big laughs, a dose of peri rage, and – possibly – some dancing.

Mick got on the Zoom with Susan to talk comedy, weights, cats, anxiety, grief, facing big challenges, sex cruises and serial killers.

As ever, there’s more chat for our £5 and above patrons, including a really very convincing argument about why we should all be playing golf. Get involved at patreon.com/standardissue.

Tickets and info for Susan’s tour can be found at susancalman.com.

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Anna Holmes turns the negative into a positive Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

When it comes to saying no, journalist and author Anna Holmes has form. Back in 2007, she founded feminist website Jezebel, which at the time was a big old flip of the bird to traditional women’s media, and went on to change the entire media landscape. In her new book, The Power of No: A Celebration, she turns ideas around a presumed negative (especially when uttered by a woman) on their head.

Jen chats to Anna about “no” as a complete sentence, why when it comes from a woman, the word is often understood as a provocation, and the many other ways in which society expects us to diminish ourselves.

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