Getting Better Acquainted

In GBA 141 we get better acquainted with Christmas (again). It's the 2013 Christmas Special: A festive curiosity once again full of intimacy, doubt, shared history, music & cheer.

This year we join the GBA house band and A Room Full of Friends to sing some Christmas songs and talk some Christmas talk. This year's Christmas special is designed to be:

"Like an episode of Killroy where the issue being discussed is Christmas. With songs."

As part of the house band I am joined by:

Asia - (GBA not yet aired)

Sam - https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-99-sam

George - https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-6-george

https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-106-jack-and-george

With special guest Harv who shared a song and recorded the room: https://twitter.com/SteveHSoundtech

The rest of the room full of friends are:

Jen: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-jen-episodes/

Dad: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-dad-episodes/

Tony: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-35-tony

Liz: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-4-liz

Chris: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-25-chris

Nina: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-132-nina

Natti: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-98-natti

Alex: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-80-alex

Charities plugged at the end of the episode are:

Crisis at Christmas: http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/christmas.html

Core Arts: http://www.corearts.co.uk/

Arts Emergency: http://www.arts-emergency.org/

St Mungos: http://www.mungos.org/

Self Determination: http://developmentforafrica.org/selfdetermination.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/charity/against_1.shtml

Red and Black social club: http://www.soundthealarm.org.uk/red-black-social-club-septembe/

GBC Legal: http://greenandblackcross.org/legal

Previous incarnations of A Room Full of Friends:

https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-live-2-a-room-full-of

https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/gba100-1

For other GBA takes on Christmas:

The first GBA Christmas special focused on how I learned to love (albeit a highly neurotic and ambiguous love) the season despite its past crimes against my childhood. Here it is: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-christmas-special

The second was a longform true story of the trip I took to Amsterdam with my mum in 2005. Warning it could be described as NSFW: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-91-getting-better

I made this for Christmas this year: https://soundcloud.com/the-dave/time-to-be-nice

I made this for a Christmas a few years back: Ghosts of... youtu.be/XqCKfOwA9vE

This is a true story I told at Spark London that focuses on an incident that is touched on as back story in this episode: http://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/two-cathedrals-david-pickering/

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

(There will be no GBA next week. It will return on the 2nd of January 2013.)

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 141 we get better acquainted with Christmas (again). It's the 2013 Christmas Special: A festive curiosity once again full of intimacy, doubt, shared history, music & cheer.

This year we join the GBA house band and A Room Full of Friends to sing some Christmas songs and talk some Christmas talk. This year's Christmas special is designed to be:

"Like an episode of Killroy where the issue being discussed is Christmas. With songs."

As part of the house band I am joined by:

Asia - (GBA not yet aired)

Sam - https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-99-sam

George - https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-6-george

https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-106-jack-and-george

With special guest Harv who shared a song and recorded the room: https://twitter.com/SteveHSoundtech

The rest of the room full of friends are:

Jen: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-jen-episodes/

Dad: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-dad-episodes/

Tony: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-35-tony

Liz: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-4-liz

Chris: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-25-chris

Nina: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-132-nina

Natti: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-98-natti

Alex: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-80-alex

Charities plugged at the end of the episode are:

Crisis at Christmas: http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/christmas.html

Core Arts: http://www.corearts.co.uk/

Arts Emergency: http://www.arts-emergency.org/

St Mungos: http://www.mungos.org/

Self Determination: http://developmentforafrica.org/selfdetermination.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/charity/against_1.shtml

Red and Black social club: http://www.soundthealarm.org.uk/red-black-social-club-septembe/

GBC Legal: http://greenandblackcross.org/legal

Previous incarnations of A Room Full of Friends:

https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-live-2-a-room-full-of

https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/gba100-1

For other GBA takes on Christmas:

The first GBA Christmas special focused on how I learned to love (albeit a highly neurotic and ambiguous love) the season despite its past crimes against my childhood. Here it is: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-christmas-special

The second was a longform true story of the trip I took to Amsterdam with my mum in 2005. Warning it could be described as NSFW: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-91-getting-better

I made this for Christmas this year: https://soundcloud.com/the-dave/time-to-be-nice

I made this for a Christmas a few years back: Ghosts of... youtu.be/XqCKfOwA9vE

This is a true story I told at Spark London that focuses on an incident that is touched on as back story in this episode: http://www.mixcloud.com/sparklondon/two-cathedrals-david-pickering/

Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!

(There will be no GBA next week. It will return on the 2nd of January 2013.)

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

Follow @GBApodcast on Twitter. Like Getting Better Acquainted on facebook. Tell your friends. Spread the word!

In GBA 140 we get better acquainted with Ewa. She talks about Polish political and religious history and relates it the present & the personal. We also get into the experience of being a student, working as a waiter in the UK when you are perceived as an "Eastern European" immigrant, studying PR, friendship and lots more.

This is the second time (and first that has aired) in GBA history where I recorded a conversation, lost the recording and then had to record a second one!

Ewa plugs:

The art of Liam Willday: http://cargocollective.com/LiamWillday

Her boyfriends (ex)band:

https://soundcloud.com/the-angry-lesbians

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nikita-The-Angry-Lesbians/125129054330569

I plug:

Tragic Christmas: 12th December @ The Dogstar in Brixton: www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

We mention:

Volunteer Centre Westminster: http://www.volunteer.co.uk/

Warsaw Uprising: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Uprising

Women's Party in Poland: http://www.partiakobiet.org.pl/

Brave New World: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_New_World

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

In GBA 140 we get better acquainted with Ewa. She talks about Polish political and religious history and relates it the present & the personal. We also get into the experience of being a student, working as a waiter in the UK when you are perceived as an "Eastern European" immigrant, studying PR, friendship and lots more.

This is the second time (and first that has aired) in GBA history where I recorded a conversation, lost the recording and then had to record a second one!

Ewa plugs:

The art of Liam Willday: http://cargocollective.com/LiamWillday

Her boyfriends (ex)band:

https://soundcloud.com/the-angry-lesbians

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nikita-The-Angry-Lesbians/125129054330569

I plug:

Tragic Christmas: 12th December @ The Dogstar in Brixton: www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

We mention:

Volunteer Centre Westminster: http://www.volunteer.co.uk/

Warsaw Uprising: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw_Uprising

Women's Party in Poland: http://www.partiakobiet.org.pl/

Brave New World: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_New_World

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

This Getting Better Acquainted extra brings together two true stories that are in some ways about time and space. They deal with memory, with family, with childhood and with relationship between different generations and cultures.

Both stories in some way relate to each other and to this weeks main GBA episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-139-patricia

The first is very directly related as it expands on some of the conversation that takes place in Episode 139. Patricia told this story live on stage at a Spark London night.

http://www.sparklondon.com/

The second story was written and performed by me at my night Stand Up Tragedy.

http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk

It's about my gran who passed away less than 2 weeks ago. In some ways this extra episode is meant as a tribute to her, she is someone I will never be able to get better acquainted with.

It's a different version of the story featured in this previous GBA episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-119-mum-3

Stand Up Tragedy are having a Tragic Christmas next Thursday at the Dogstar. Come and join us: https://www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

This Getting Better Acquainted extra brings together two true stories that are in some ways about time and space. They deal with memory, with family, with childhood and with relationship between different generations and cultures.

Both stories in some way relate to each other and to this weeks main GBA episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-139-patricia

The first is very directly related as it expands on some of the conversation that takes place in Episode 139. Patricia told this story live on stage at a Spark London night.

http://www.sparklondon.com/

The second story was written and performed by me at my night Stand Up Tragedy.

http://www.standuptragedy.co.uk

It's about my gran who passed away less than 2 weeks ago. In some ways this extra episode is meant as a tribute to her, she is someone I will never be able to get better acquainted with.

It's a different version of the story featured in this previous GBA episode: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/gba-119-mum-3

Stand Up Tragedy are having a Tragic Christmas next Thursday at the Dogstar. Come and join us: https://www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

In GBA 139 we get better acquainted with Patricia. She talks about childhood, dead bodies, displacement, childhood, The European Union, storytelling, bereavement, Law School and more.

On Friday a GBA extra will come out featuring a story Patricia told at Spark London which builds on many of the things she touches on in this conversation.

Patricia plugs or perhaps negotiates with: her writing

I plug:

Tragic Christmas: 12th December @ The Dogstar in Brixton: www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

We mention:

Spark London: http://www.sparklondon.com/

Radcliffe Royds: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-radcliffe-episodes/

Appellate Law: http://www.appellatelaw.net/g-appellatelaw.htm

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

In GBA 139 we get better acquainted with Patricia. She talks about childhood, dead bodies, displacement, childhood, The European Union, storytelling, bereavement, Law School and more.

On Friday a GBA extra will come out featuring a story Patricia told at Spark London which builds on many of the things she touches on in this conversation.

Patricia plugs or perhaps negotiates with: her writing

I plug:

Tragic Christmas: 12th December @ The Dogstar in Brixton: www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

We mention:

Spark London: http://www.sparklondon.com/

Radcliffe Royds: https://soundcloud.com/gettingbetteracquainted/sets/the-radcliffe-episodes/

Appellate Law: http://www.appellatelaw.net/g-appellatelaw.htm

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

In this special GBA Live recorded at the Idea Store Whitechapel as part of the Write Idea Festival Fringe I get better acquainted with Helen Zaltzman.

http://www.helenzaltzman.com/

We talk adapting Answer Me This! into a book, badger taxidermy, old gods, Sound Women and books.

Helen does a pretty excellent job of counter-interviewing me, getting a surprising amount out of as yet unrevealed Dave related info. In return I talk to her about her oddest editing jobs, how her artist father has influenced what she does, ghost writing and lots more.

Helen plugs:

Answer Me This!: http://www.answermethispodcast.com/

Sound Women Podcast: http://www.soundwomen.co.uk/podcast/

The Answer Me This! Christmas Album: http://answermethispodcast.com/albums

I plug:

Tragic Christmas: 12th December @ The Dogstar in Brixton: https://www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

We mention:

Write Idea Festival: http://writeideafestival.org/

Unfortunatalie: https://twitter.com/unfortunatalie

JJ Abrams: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams

Stephen King: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King

Chvrches: http://chvrch.es/

Fun.: http://www.ournameisfun.com/

Olly Mann: http://ollymann.com/

Martin Zaltz Austwick: http://www.martinzaltzaustwick.com/

Jen Adamthwaite: jadamthwaite.co.uk

cardboard box tree funerals: http://www.beatree.com/

Answer Me This book: http://answermethis.wordpress.com/book/

JK Rowling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling

Harry Potter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter

Tolkien: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien

Upper Norwood Library: http://uppernorwoodlibrary.org/

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?

In this special GBA Live recorded at the Idea Store Whitechapel as part of the Write Idea Festival Fringe I get better acquainted with Helen Zaltzman.

http://www.helenzaltzman.com/

We talk adapting Answer Me This! into a book, badger taxidermy, old gods, Sound Women and books.

Helen does a pretty excellent job of counter-interviewing me, getting a surprising amount out of as yet unrevealed Dave related info. In return I talk to her about her oddest editing jobs, how her artist father has influenced what she does, ghost writing and lots more.

Helen plugs:

Answer Me This!: http://www.answermethispodcast.com/

Sound Women Podcast: http://www.soundwomen.co.uk/podcast/

The Answer Me This! Christmas Album: http://answermethispodcast.com/albums

I plug:

Tragic Christmas: 12th December @ The Dogstar in Brixton: https://www.facebook.com/events/215735955261699/

We mention:

Write Idea Festival: http://writeideafestival.org/

Unfortunatalie: https://twitter.com/unfortunatalie

JJ Abrams: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._J._Abrams

Stephen King: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_King

Chvrches: http://chvrch.es/

Fun.: http://www.ournameisfun.com/

Olly Mann: http://ollymann.com/

Martin Zaltz Austwick: http://www.martinzaltzaustwick.com/

Jen Adamthwaite: jadamthwaite.co.uk

cardboard box tree funerals: http://www.beatree.com/

Answer Me This book: http://answermethis.wordpress.com/book/

JK Rowling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._K._Rowling

Harry Potter: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter

Tolkien: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien

Upper Norwood Library: http://uppernorwoodlibrary.org/

You can hear Getting Better Acquainted on Stitcher SmartRadio, Stitcher allows you to listen to your favourite shows directly from your iPhone, Android Phone, Kindle Fire and beyond.

On-demand and on the go!

Don’t have Stitcher? Download it for free today at www.stitcher.com or in the app stores.

Help more people get better acquainted. If you like what you hear why not write an iTunes review?