RHLSTP with Richard Herring

#267 Pukka Pie Ring - Richard is trawling the two days since his last podcast record for stand up material and predictably it isn’t gold. But the lack of it being gold, makes it gold. As always. His guest owes everything to her last RHLSTP appearance, it’s the multi-talented Rachel Parris. She reveals how all her impro shows are all very carefully scripted and chats about collusion with Debbie Magee, befriending Anna Kendrick on Twitter, the whirlwind year she has when her Mash Report pieces went super viral and whether her 6 weeks old marriage is holding together OK. Plus Richard pitches a new podcast based on regret and Rachel reveals how she was hit by anxiety in the wake of her momentous year. She also gamely defends Leicestershire even though she’s not mentioned as a notable resident of her home town on wikipedia.SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#266 Bigger on the Inside - Richard is back at the Manchester Podcast Festival and rolling out a 20 year old joke about the Magic Bus. His guest this week is actor and comedian Bethany Black. They discuss the no-man’s land between regular and Celebrity chase, what it’s like to be a huge fan of Doctor Who and getting to be on the show and witness two Time Lords in one Tardis, plus the motivations to become a stand up and how she was too poor to become bankrupt, how she managed to wrestle victory at the end of a terrible year and the smorgasbord of problems that Beth has to draw on for comedy, whether it’s got easier or harder to be Trans and how discussing mental illness in her routines is a helpful thing for us all. It’s an honest and heart-felt conversation, but will that stop the toilet obsessed trolls? Probably not.SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#265 Jeremy Thorpe is Innocent - Richard is at the Manchester Podcast Festival and reveals a surprising bit of his father’s Mancunian history. His guest is recipient of the British Empire Medal, Janice Connolly aka Barbara Nice. They chat about playing tambourine in a punk band, being discovered by Peter Kay, Simon Cowell’s sense of humour and how Janice is the original Fleabag. Plus her work in theatre and why Birmingham isn’t that bad (at least compared to Stockport). And a staggering denouement that you might want to check out on video.SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#264 Coin Master - Richard is giddy from doing too many podcasts in too short a time, but luckily his guest will bring him down to earth about how tough his life really is - it’s the brilliant and wise Sara Pascoe. They discuss audience members going on to be stars, the real way to enjoy Going for Gold, space-docking and whether portable fridges have a freezer, chimney-sweep genitalia and why men wolf-whistle and what they hope to gain from it. Lots of ace chat about empathy, evaluation and porn and being in a lift with Harry Potter. Plus Sara reveals a rumour about Rich that will surely rival the high-backed armchair. Order Sara's excellent book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sex-Power-Money-Sara-Pascoe/dp/0571335993SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#263 Finnish Sausage Party - Richard is riding high from another magazine article lauding this podcast, but was the journalist right about the audience. If the maths teacher he picks is anything to go by then they are actually much worse. His guest is thoughtful ginger genius Tim Minchin. They chat about how Tim is the tent poles of this podcast, the devastation of having his film cancelled four years into production, Rich pitches a predictable new musical and they discuss if there is any hope left for humanity. See Richard’s attempts at skiing here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfHuRDprFlY. Sadly motorboating exploits were never caught on camera. Check out Tim’s new show, Upright. SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#262 Voluntarily Shitfaced - Richard is back at the Oxford Playhouse and testing out his daughter’s jokes. Is she funnier than him yet? Of course she is. His guest is British Quiz Champion, Paul Sinha.In a honest and moving interview, Paul discusses the impact of the diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease has had and the turbulence that has inevitably brought and what comedy can be created from this situation. They also chat about his upcoming marriage, his quizzing triumph, the unpleasantness of tabloids and the weirdness of their afternoon quiz obsession, Taskmaster, quizzing and whether Richard will ever be on The Chase. And is that an upward or downward step from Celebrity Mastermind? Also Richard rolls out a very revealing Spice Girls based Emergency Question.SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#261 Capitalism in Space - Richard is at the Oxford Playhouse and unsettled by the fact that it’s 30 years since he left University and appeared on this stage in Month in the Country. His guest is environmental campaigner and journalist George Monbiot. Is the world screwed? Or can we save it if we all pull together? Why did George deliberately get arrested? Can Extinction Rebellion make a difference? And how can we reform our electoral system? Plus how wolves can change the course of rivers, fortune tellers correctly predicting George’s death (almost), being stung by massive hornets and how Thatcher smashed the BBC. An illuminating and terrifying interview.SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#260 Googling Colin Firth - Richard is back at the Liverpool Playhouse, making his annual proclamation to fight any University lecturer in the vicinity. His guest is screen-writer, author and Olympic ceremony writer, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who may be the most charming and awe inspiring man who has ever lived and also seems to be obsessed with robots (pervert). They chat about art theft, how to keep writing with seven kids, how big breaks can come by chance on coffee breaks, impressing priests in Cannes, the amazing destiny of every Duke of York, why the Amish hate buttons, the killer instinct that led to one of the greatest University Challenge performances of all time, writing one of the best loved (as well as one of the least loved) episodes of Doctor Who, plus the amazing story of how the Queen appeared in the opening ceremony of the Olympics and how the Scum nearly ruined the surprise.A truly illuminating and inspiring chat between one of the greatest writers in the UK and the winner of the Carnegie medal.SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#259 Cillagrams - Richard is at the Liverpool Playhouse and is impressed by the bravest heckle put down ever attempted in this proud city (with the best sense of humour in the world). His guest is one of the many stars of a showbiz dynasty, Kate Robbins. They discuss Eurovision sabotage, writing the theme tune to one of the most controversial TV shows of all time, meeting Cilla Black whilst dressed as Cilla Black, the rudeness of James Franco, creating Fergie’s laugh, an awkward meeting with Michael Barrymore and the mysterious curse that befalls anyone who works with Kate.SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#258 Tub of Spunk - RHLSTP returns to the Grand Opera House, York for the second week running. York is the most haunted city in Europe and Richard finds out what percentage of his audience have seen a ghost. The answer might surprise you. His guest is footballing and eating legend, Jon Parkin. They discuss the journeyman sportsman’s slightly unconventional training routine, his writing off of a golf buggy (and almost a goalkeeper), shitting in a bath in Magaluf, missing out on starters, how to lie your way out of being late for training, how he became friends with Jilly Cooper, self-inflicted injuries, gambling problems, depression and where he goes next now his playing career is over and if there’s any place for a bluff, proud, honest (except when he’s not) old-fashioned Yorkshireman in today’s game. Would he do anything differently if he had his time over? Would he f**k?Buy Jon’s book here - you won’t regret it - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Feed-Beast-Pints-poles-belly/dp/1910335991SUPPORT THE SHOW!Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.