Outside The Box October '26

Justice, recognition of abuse, the calling out of CPS tomfuckery, period products: it’s all been a long time coming, but Mick and Hannah are celebrating some wins this week. Are these wins the silver lining of an absolutely ginormous turdcloud? Well, yes. But slim pickings are still pickings. Dim those headlights and have at ‘em.  Rape Crisis has a free 24/7 Support Line on 0808 500 2222 or chat online at 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk. Hannah’s interview with Harriet Wistrich, which includes a look at the case of Eleanor de Freitas is here. The UN press release on the decision about the handling of the de Freitas case is here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in 2001, Todd Field’s directorial debut — an unflinching dissection of love, grief, and vengeance — made waves at the box office as well as in awards season. But did its portrayal of violence shock Hannah? What’s Mickey’s line? And why does Jen know so much about burying bodies? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As her name might suggest, Marathon Max runs marathons. A lot of them. She’s also a running and fitness competition coach, and a professional champion of women moving their bodies. Whether you’re like our Jen and training for your next marathon, or just starting to *think* about Couch to 5k, Max is a brilliant source of expertise, advice and encouragement.  Her Instagram — @marathon_maxx — is full of smart advice delivered with warmth and humour, and she’s not one for gatekeeping her expertise. Look, she got our Mick through a Hyrox, so she’s pretty much Wonder Woman. As ever, there’s extra chat for our £5 and above Patreons, which you can access by visiting patreon.com/standardissue.  Here are Max's tips for marathon events suitable for those who hate crowds and / or love a MASSIVE medal. Phoenix Running - Dotted around the UK Enigma Running - Milton Keynes Saturn Running -  North East and London based And here's a link to Jen's marathon fundraising for the Samaritans: https://2027tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/jennifer-offord Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After her debut Edinburgh show sold out, writer and performer Hannah Reilly has brought it to the Soho Theatre. Roleplay is a darkly funny and disturbing look at influencer culture, the commodification of feminism, male violence against women and girls and much more besides. Jen jumped on the Zoom with Hannah to chat about all of this and the “wild ride” of her first time at the Fringe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s well done US electorate, who gave Trump’s Republicans a thorough drubbing in the midterms. All eyes on the Democrats: the 2028 presidential race starts now. Still behind the times are the UK’s justice system: Mick and Jen are looking at you, Ian Winter KC, and you, *spins chair* former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, seemingly both stuck in the 1800s. And in JOTB, place your bets and get your slurs ready for wildcards Offord and Noonan, potentially coming to a tennis tournament near you.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Mark Herman's tale of a struggling mining community unappreciated? Does it give women a short shift? Does everyone love Pete Postlethwaite? And who is blowing their own *checks notes* Tom Jones? Make yourself a cup of tea, pull up a tuba and find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a major new exhibition - A Call To Art: William Morris and The Pre-Raphaelites - opens at Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum, Hannah went to take a look and met the museum's deputy director (Masterplan, Exhibitions and Design), Karen Livingstone. They chat about the contrast between Morris's political views and the wealth of his customers, the enduring appeal of the Arts and Craft movement, and how Karen is shining a new light on the women responsible for much of William Morris & Co's work. More information on A Call To Art can be found here: https://fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/exhibitions/a-call-to-art-william-morris-and-the-pre-raphaelites Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kiri Pritchard-McLean is one of standup’s most sparkling stars. She’s also a vegan farmer, and Kiri’s Farm, her new five-part series for Radio 4, is a total delight, following Kiri and her brother Ali’s journey transforming their land into a permaculture farm. In this episode, Mick finds out more. And also about Kiri’s new tour, a brand new show called Josgin, coming next year.  You can check out everything Kiri’s up to at kiripritchardmclean.co.uk. As ever, there’s more craic, including Kiri and Mick talking veganism and climate change – but, y’know, in a fun way – for our £5 and above Patreons, so get over to patreon.com/standardissue and get involved.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Nicki Minaj about to take over press briefings in the White House? Can a wind-up radio be enough to see us through the impending apocalypse, and just how impending is it? And will we ever get to the end of this row of messy toilet cubicles? Questions Hannah and Jen attempt to answer in this week’s rummage through the newsbins. Meanwhile, Billy Corgan’s had some thoughts about women born a decade either side of 1979, and we’ve had some thoughts on Billy Corgan. Plus, there’s football and tennis in Jenny off the Blocks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Hallowe’en, so Mick’s picked a film considered a classic of the horror genre. But has Brian De Palma’s take on Stephen King’s debut novel stood the test of 50 whole years? Who’s most hysterical: the women in the film or the men who made it? How many tits is too many tits? Why doesn’t every local library have that section? And does Hannah agree Sissy Spacek looks like an axolotl? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices