The Grand Thunk

After reading Water by John Boyne, Rhiannon and Alex get into the meat of this question, talking about Boyne's recent comments about trans people, despite loving his books. How can we find nuance within cancel culture and does cancel culture have a powerful and useful role to play in our society? Alex has been reading the potently poetic Maud Martha by the astonishing writer Gwendolyn Brooks, whilst Rhiannon has been watching and loving Season Four of The Bear. Alex has also been reading the heat-mad story of five eighteenth century sisters plagued by rumours in The Hounding. Show notesFriendsWater by John BoyneMy Brother's Name is Jessica by John Boynehttps://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/17/john-boyne-people-were-criticising-my-book-when-they-hadnt-read-itWhat We Don't Talk About: Sex And the Mess of Life by JoAnn WypijewskiMaud Martha by Gwendolyn BrooksThe Bear, Season FourThe Hounding by Xenobe PurvisThe Lamb by Lucy Rose

Rhiannon has been fully immersed in the nudity at Wilderness, listening to Dan Wye’s brilliant comedy, whilst Alex has been bobbing on the sea, reading Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. What a book, exploring the mysteries of academic language, affirmative action and destructive middle aged men. Meanwhile, Rhiannon has been reading about the conflict between freedom on the internet and yet limited physical freedoms that modern children experience. Are they more anxious than ever and why? Alex has followed John Green down his turberculosis tunnel, exploring the history - from Keats to Cowboys, why it connects to everything, and why it is a disease that reveals injustice wherever it goes. An exciting, sun-filled episode!Show notesDan Wye Am I Sam Smith? at Wilderness Festival Late to the Party, Grace CampbellFootball, Feminism and Everything In BetweenOn Beauty by Zadie Smith Intimations by Zadie Smith North-West by Zadie Smith The Anxious Generation by Jonathan HaidtThe Fault in Our Stars by John GreenEverything is Turberculosis by John GreenThe Happiness Lab podcastTraitors, Destination X, Race Across the WorldMade in ChelseaGreat Company - Jamie Laing’s podcast

Rhiannon and Alex begin this episode by eating their words and swapping a couple of TV recommendations for retractions (such grown ups). Alex has been absorbed in the moving world of Opera, thanks to Dorset’s Opera Festival, with stunning set design from her husband Rufus. Things turn medical as Rhiannon has been hooked and horrified by the second season of hit podcast The Retrievals, which leads to a discussion on the gender gap in healthcare, complimented by recommendations of Unwell Women and Unheard from Alex. ShownotesThe White Lotus, Apple TV/Amazon Prime/Sky Clarkson’s Farm, Amazon PrimeRigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi at Dorset Opera Festival Cavalleria rusticana by Pietro Mascagni & Suor Angelica by Giacomo Puccini at Dorset Opera Festival Everything is Tuberculosis by John GreenThe Retrievals by The New York Times and Serial Productions The Food Medic podcast, Dr Hazel WallaceThe Female Actor by Dr Hazel WallaceNot Just a Period by Dr Hazel WallaceUnwell Women by Elinor CleghornUnheard by Rageshri DhairyawanMaternal mortality 2020-2022 statistic - https://www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/mbrrace-uk/data-brief/maternal-mortality-2020-2022 Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Built for Men by Caroline Criado PerezFrozen on stage, Disney+

On the pod this week, Rhiannon has been dressing as a dragonfly, meeting with Big Cats and going on a space adventure with Bridie Squire’s riveting radio drama. Alex is getting horny for the fleshy and carnal desire displayed in Lucy Rose’s cannibalistic book, The Lamb while Rhiannon is dissatisfied with The White Lotus. Alex and Rhiannon conclude this episode with shiny eyes, agreeing that they both take great pride and satisfaction with their ‘day jobs’, similarly agreeing that justice is too black and white. Self-satisfied handshakes all round.ShownotesTerry Pratchett audiobooksNew Creatives Dramas BBC Radio 4 - Self-Checkout by Bridie SquiresThe Lamb by Lucy RosePerfume by Patrick SüskindDeath In Her Hands by Ottessa MoshfeghThe White LotusRomesh Ranganathan on Desert Island Discs

During our break, Rhiannon has been totally immersed in Taylor Jenkins Reid's Atmosphere and Alex has been enjoying summer, and yet quoting Winter and Wintering. Rhiannon has been watching Code of Silence, a TV show about Alison, a deaf civilian whose lip reading skills aid the police with their investigations and Alex has been captivated by the absurdity of Terry Pratchett and his Discworld novels. Plus many more glorious nuggets of enjoyed pop culture, sponsored by Marmite Crumpets. Show notes Wintering by by Katherine MaySkipshock by Caroline O’DonoghueThe Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett A Hat Full of Sky by Terry PratchettAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins ReidDaisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (book and TV adaptation) When Harry Met Sally Off Menu - Carey MulliganThe Ballad of Wallis Island The Bear, Season 4 Code of Silence, ITVYellowstone, NetflixTess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 1883, Netflix1923, NetflixHis Dark Materials by Phillip PullmanLa Belle Sauvage, The Book of Dust trilogy by Phillip PullmanThe Secret Commonwealth, The Book of Dust trilogy by Phillip PullmanThe Golden Compass

Alex and Rhiannon are very moved in today’s episode, stuffed with Glastonbury, the meaning of life, the universe and everything. Rhiannon explores the hidden role of women in warfare, specifically the Vietnam War in Kristin Hannah’s The Women. Alex dives into folklore and sapphic relationships in Song of the Huntress. Rhiannon is thinking about the abuse and use of psychedelics in treating trauma in Nine Perfect Strangers and Alex is crying about Hunter Gatherers. A great episode! Show NotesSelf Esteem at Glastonbury and Truck FestSelf Esteem on Off Menu PodcastThe Falmouth BooksellerRubicund BooksSong of the Huntress by Lucy HollandBreaking the Glass SlipperThe Buried Giant by Kazuo IshiguroThe Women by Kristin HannahThis Is UsThe Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction by Ursula Le GuinNine Perfect Strangers by Liane MoriartyThe Goop LabDouglas Adam’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

If like us, you've overdone it in the sun, come and hide in the shade and dive into this week's recommendations. Alex has been swept away in several dystopian worlds, and is suitably intrigued and enamoured by Torrey Peters' Stag Dance and Jacqueline Harpman's I Who Have Never Known Men. Rhiannon adds to this week's stack of sexy covers with Sarah Wynn-Williams' Careless People, a memoir detailing her experience of the murky leadership at Facebook. Luckily, Jacinda Ardern's episode on Parenting Hell reinstated Rhiannon's belief in empathetic leaders and she's now super keen to read A Different Kind of Power. Join the conversation in our Thunkers WhatsApp Group, just comment or slide into our DMs to join. Show NotesStag Dance by Torrey Peters Careless People by Sarah Wynn-WilliamsParenting Hell with Jacinda Ardern A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda ArderaI Who Have Never Known Men by  Jacqueline HarpmanWe Live in Time starring Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield

Rhiannon and Alex are setting up a WhatsApp group for listeners who want to share their thoughts and add nuance; we’re creating a community of Thunkers! Rhiannon tells Alex about a brilliant Radio 4 programme, mixing comedy with the brutal world of caring, in Mary Bourke: Who Cares? Alex has been exploring the murky world of postpartum psychosis in Catherine Cho’s Inferno. Rhiannon smooths things back down with two TV recommendations, The Bear and Clarkson’s Farm, while Alex shares her thoughts on the film Queer, starring Daniel Craig. Show notesMary Bourke: Who Cares? Radio 4 (BBC Sounds)Joy Chose You by Donna Ashworth Doing It Right with Pandora SykesInferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness by Catherine Cho The Missing, Pandora Sykes How Do We Know We're Doing It Right: & Other Essays on Modern Life by Pandora Sykes Clarkson’s Farm The Bear Queer directed by Luca GuadagninoCall me By Your Name directed by Luca GuadagninoQueer by William S Boroughs Stephanie Case, ultrarunning whilst breast feeding champion - https://run.outsideonline.com/trail/stephanie-case-wins-ultra-trail-snowdonia-while-breastfeeding/ 

Alex and Rhiannon dive into memory tricks before discussing the impact of being told your death, inspired by Liane Moriarty’s book Here One Moment. Alex is hooked, as ever, to the IV of Caroline O’ Donoghue’s words in her most recent mini-series, Magical Garbage, starting with an episode on Lord of the Rings. Rhiannon has been testing her knowledge with the Pub Quiz podcast and Alex has some word based Who’d a Thunks? for you!Show NotesHere One Moment by Liane MoriartyEleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail HoneymanLessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus Room, starring Brie Larson and Jacob TremblayMagic Garbage (limited series within Sentimental Garbage) hosted by Caroline O'DonoghuePromising Young Women by Caroline O'DonoghueScenes of a Graphic Nature by Caroline O'DonoghueAll Our Hidden Gifts Trilogy by Caroline O'DonoghueThe Rachel Incident by by Caroline O'DonoghueSkipshock by Caroline O'Donoghue - out now!Wild Card by Jen Cownie and Fiona LensveltJake Bhardwaj SquidVidsPub Quiz Podcast  Down the Drain by Julia FoxThe Phrontistery: The Dictionary of Obscure Words - https://phrontistery.info/

Rhiannon and Alex delve into the poetry in dictionary definitions and the silences in films as Alex has been watching the yet-to-be-released adaption of Deborah Levy’s book Hot Milk. Rhiannon shares a beautiful poem that gives space for calm and organisation without imposing it. We discuss resolving conflict as demonstrated in the glorious and informative storytelling and debates of The Rest is History podcast. And finally we explore the labour of motherhood through Emma Barnett’s fantastic book Maternity Service.Show NotesThe Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows by John KoenigHot Milk by Deborah LevyHer Naked Skin by Rebecca LenkiewiczHot Milk Film Directed and screenplay by Rebecca LenkiewiczThe Banshees of Inisherin by Martin McDonaghThe Cost of Living by Deborah LevyThings I Don’t want to Know by Deborah LevyReal Estate by Deborah LevyDucks in a Row by Donna AshworthThe Rest is History Podcast with Tom Holland & Dominic SandbrookMaternity Service: A Love Letter to Mothers from the Front Line of Maternity Leave by Emma BarnettNeuroscientist, TJ Power's tips on calming your anxiety https://www.instagram.com/p/DIg4rI5I2wh/?img_index=1