RHLSTP with Richard Herring

Anneka Rice, a beloved television presenter and creator of formats like Treasure Hunt, shares her journey into stand-up comedy and her poignant radio series, 'Anneka Has Issues.' She humorously recounts an airport mishap involving a souvenir bullet and reflects on using comedy to tackle serious topics like Alzheimer's. Anneka also discusses her community projects and the revival of 'Challenge Annika,' emphasizing the importance of altruism and personal connections with the elderly. With an engaging blend of humor and honesty, she explores life, death, and the creative process.

Journalist and author Jonathan Freedland joins Richard Herring to discuss his gripping non-fiction thriller, The Traitor's Circle. They delve into the chilling consequences of personal betrayal during Nazi Germany and the unexpected profiles of resisters, including aristocrats and diplomats. Freedland reveals the shocking origins of mass murder and the historical parallels to modern authoritarianism. The discussion highlights the courage of those who defied oppression and the emotional toll of uncovering these stories, making history both haunting and inspiring.

Rhys James, a stand-up comedian and broadcaster known for his panel show appearances, shares hilarious insights on everything from his quirky poker journey to pranking the lactose intolerant. He dives into the complexities of urinal etiquette and the challenges of being tall yet feeling small. The duo speculates on the future of Taskmaster, especially following Greg Davies's possible departure, and debates the influence of AI on comedy and entertainment. Rhys also recalls a unique charity prank involving a single DVD and reveals his regrets about buying a Rolex spoon.

#416 John the Mouse - Rich has some helpful suggestions to help the footballers support LGBTQ+ rights and is amazed by the press reaction to last week’s podcast. His guest is superlative stand up comedian and podcaster James Acaster. They discuss Nasty Nick’s funeral, the Richard E Grant mystery, why James never retired from stand up and why he’s now inviting hecklers, the weird experience of being a last minute replacement mouse in Cinderella, confusing and angering people with his fantastically funny new book “James Acaster’s Guide to Quitting Social Media”, his new audio sitcom and how his brilliant routine about edgy comics has done no good at all. Plus will James agree with Richard’s conjecture that all music is terrible?Buy James’ book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/james-acaster-s-guide-to-quitting-social-media-james-acaster/6882707Listen to Springleaf here - https://www.jamesacaster.com/springleaf/Buy Richard’s book here http://gofasterstripe.com/ballSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #161 - Seriously Silly - The Life of Terry Jones - Richard chats to renowned comedy historian Robert Ross about his fabulous new biography of actor, writer, director and Python, Terry Jones. The topics includes what it’s like to befriend a Python and how that friendship affects the writing of a biography, how comedy history can be a map for future comedians, how Jones’ influence in the sketch group is perhaps underestimated, how the Python members could never have imagined that the sketch show they were embarking on would bind them for the rest of their lives, what a fine movie director he was, how he helped Rich get an A in his A level English, how his dementia affected his later years and how the new naked statue of Terry will be viewed by the people of the future.Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/seriously-silly-the-life-of-terry-jones-the-authorised-biography-robert-ross/4553b8f600a0191aSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nish Kumar, a talented comedian and writer, shares insights from his recent tour and experiences in the U.S. He humorously critiques the concept of class identity, discussing how perceptions change with wealth. Nish reflects on the challenges of comedy in today's political landscape, addressing the limits of satire and the dangers of 'both-sidesism.' With amusing anecdotes about his doppelgänger Jason Mantzoukas and a mishap in a canoe, he emphasizes the importance of camaraderie in the comedy world and the evolving industry shaped by social media.

#415 Mosquito in the Kitchen - Richard recalls a couple of childhood memories that can’t possibly hare happened. His guest is the king of mischief and righteous anger (who is also very funny) Joe Lycett. They talk about how Joe brought down a Prime Minister, how he was almost arrested for a joke, how his spoof Sue Gray report fooled some members of parliament, how people decided what snacks Santa would be getting, the personal heartbreak behind Joe’s anger about the government’s reaction to Covid, why he literally talked sh*t and the extreme steps Joe is taking to try and persuade David Beckham to withdraw from his role in Qatar. This is an exceptional show which is why we are putting it out as soon as possible.Buy Joe’s extraordinarily funny and beautiful special “More More More” here https://watch.joelycett.com/Buy Richard’s new book here. http://gofasterstripe.com/ballSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #160 - Love Triangle - It’s another face to face Book Club at the Podcast Room with mathematician and gigantic nerd Matt Parker talking about his exciting book about triangles. Find out how a triangle solved a pig murder, what it’s like to very briefly be the most recently published maths author and to see the work of the earliest known maths author first hand, how triangles can tell us the size of the planet or how far away a space probe is, whether bees know they are making hexagons, how Rich’s dad used one of the world’s first computers (though wasn’t aware of sex workers), how to cut a sandwich into three equal bits and what comedy and mathematics have in common. Plus how Rich might have been a mathematician himself, but now doesn’t even know calculus is for.Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/love-triangle-the-life-changing-magic-of-trigonometry-matt-parker/1798f7df08f9ff54See Matt on tour https://standupmaths.com/shows/See RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #588 - Edmund Hilary's Yeti Rucksack - Rich is upset about the things his wife is saying about him in her show, but never mind, he's being visited by the crew from the Cryptid Factor, Rhys Darby, Dan Schreiber and the mysterious Buttons. They chat about ghosts (a lot, given they've said they don't really talk about that), Rich trying to kill the Loch Ness Monster and what the Loch Ness Monster might actually be, whether an alien spacecraft is on the way to conquer Earth (you'll probably know one way or the other by the time this goes out and I for one welcome our alien overlords), the incredible rise of New Zealand comedians, which podcast is Dan's proper one, Button's hob-nobbing with Prime Ministers and rugby players, the improvised scenes in Flight of the Conchords and making out with Scully and why did Rich need to apologise to Rhys? - will there be time to find out?Listen to the Cryptid Factor here (or wherever you get your podcasts) - https://open.spotify.com/show/6N8YaO6bqGr7RtCMovP4HLSee RHLSTP live - https://richardherring.com/gigsSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#413 Brian Conley’s C*ck - Richard is discombobulated after returning (briefly) to Shepherd’s Bush after five years away. His guest is the fantastic stand up Chris McCausland. They talk about what pushed him towards stand up and why he was reluctant initially to do too much about his blindness, nearly becoming a spy, that amazing BAFTA bit with Lee Mack, performing for Prince William, being on the Jubilee bus and and why Chris hates the name of his own tour. Plus how working hard on a panel show appearance can help your career. Who knew?See Chris on tour https://chrismccausland.com/tour/Buy Richard’s new book here. http://gofasterstripe.com/ballSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.