Normal Not Normal

Happy New Year!

In this episode we talk about what really happened behind the scenes of the Potter 20th anniversary reunion, share our dating disasters and reveal what it's like having your own stunt double.

This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue to explore what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you!

Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’. Send in your most extraordinary stories via video, voice note or old fashioned email to [email protected]

New episodes every Friday. You can also find us on YouTube!

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production

Produced by Alice Homewood

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode's guest is Sophie Skelton! She is best known for her role as Brianna Fraser in hit Starz series Outlander.

We find out how she discovered she'd landed her Outlander role, discuss trigger warnings on screen and ask why so many Harry Potter fans want Sophie to play Lily Potter!

In this episode we do touch on some tough issues, including how sexual violence is depicted on screen and other subjects like suicide. While we don't go into too much detail, we understand that this might be difficult for some listeners who might choose to skip this episode. For support, please visit RAINN.org

Sophie's ‘3am Questions’:

Favourite book - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Favourite film - Good Will Hunting

Favourite song - Wash Away by Joe Purdy

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

@SkeltonSophie

Sophie supports Crohn's & Colitis UK, a leading UK-based charity battling against Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and other forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Keep sending your storytimes, questions and Did-You-Knows to [email protected]

New episodes every Friday! Find Normal Not Normal on YouTube too.

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production.

Produced by Alice Homewood and Kate White

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, or you’ve just celebrated Hanukkah, Diwali or any other festive holiday - welcome to the Normal Not Normal Holiday special!

In this episode we hear all about your festive traditions. We find out how Hungarians get rid of witches at Christmas (it involves carpentry and poppy seeds), which monsters are prowling around at Chinese New Year and why you might find a fish in the bath during a Polish Christmas party!

Send in your most extraordinary storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’ via video, voice note or old fashioned email to [email protected]

We'll be back next week with a very special guest. You can also find us on YouTube!

We want to say a thank you to listener Lucy Courtois for sending us her wonderful book Miracle: Endless Possibilities which is all about growing up with a visual impairment. Find it now on Amazon!

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production

Produced by Alice Homewood and Kate White

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're back with your 'not normal' storytimes, questions and did-you-knows!

In this episode of Normal Not Normal we share what birthdays were like on the Harry Potter set, find out what James' 'dog-voice' sounds like and discover why you can never trust a donkey.

This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue to explore what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you!

Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’. Send in your most extraordinary stories via video, voice note or old fashioned email to [email protected]

New episodes every Friday. You can also find us on YouTube!

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production

Produced by Alice Homewood and Kate White

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tracy Beaker author Jacqueline Wilson has never shied away from the difficult parts of life in her books. She's tackled alcoholism, mental health issues, divorce, domestic abuse and growing up in care, but always manages to make her creations warm, witty and child-friendly.

Her books inspired the long-running Tracy Beaker TV series, which has recently been reimagined as 'My Mum Tracy Beaker', featuring Dani Harmer as a grown-up Tracy with a daughter of her own.

In this episode we talk about casting Tracy Beaker, coming out in later life and the sad story that inspired James' favourite Jacqueline Wilson book, 'The Suitcase Kid'.

Jacqueline's ‘3am Questions’:

Favourite book - The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Favourite film - Thelma and Louise

Favourite songs - Mythical Kings and Iguanas by Dory Previn

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production.

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to Normal Not Normal! 

In our first episode of season three we talk about the time we nearly got a fan fired, find out how James ruined a carpet and share some of our most awkward moments.

This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue our collective journey exploring what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you! 

Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’. Send in your most extraordinary stories via video, voice note or old fashioned email to [email protected]

You can also find us on YouTube! New episodes every Friday.

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production

Produced by Alice Homewood

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special bonus episode we take a break from our break to welcome Ed Sheeran and his manager Stuart Camp onto the podcast!

We were honoured to host the first interview with both Ed and Stuart together. Over the years the pair have developed a unique friendship, and Stuart and his wife are even godparents to Ed’s daughter Lyra. They still disagree on one big thing, however. Ed is a huge Potter superfan. Stuart isn’t. 

We ask why Ed makes Stuart carry a photo of the Weasley twins in his wallet at all times, which ridiculous purchase Stuart had to talk Ed out of, and why Ed asked Rupert Grint to play him in the music video for 'Lego House'.

We’d like to thank HelloFresh, our sponsors for this episode. Go to hellofresh.com/normal14 and use the code normal14 for up to 14 free meals, plus free shipping!

Ed’s ‘3am Questions’:

Favourite book - His Dark Materials series by Phillip Pullman

Favourite film - The Harry Potter series

Favourite songs - Mama’s Eyes by Justin Townes Ear - Jealous by Labrinth - American Pie by Don McLean

Stuart’s ‘3am Questions’:

Favourite book - Captain Coreli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières

Favourite film - Alien

Favourite song - Bad Habits by Ed Sheeran! 

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

@edsheeran

We'll see you later this year for the next season!

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production.

Produced by Alice Homewood.

YouTube version edited by Oliver and James Phelps.

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund and 'Pretty Carolina' by Jontha Links.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we chat to graphic design duo MinaLima. Throughout the Harry Potter films, Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima worked together to concoct the style at the heart of the films, from the intricately detailed Marauder’s Map, the wonderfully bonkers Daily Prophet and our favourite, the fantastical Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes inventions.

We find out why the first attempt at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes wasn’t ‘vulgar’ enough, what Mira and Eduardo think about seeing their designs as tattoos and how the duo snuck their names into so many of their Potter designs.

Since the last Potter film came out, MinaLima have been busy designing Diagon Alley at the Universal Orlando Resort and creating the graphic props for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, as well as for films outside the Potter world including Sweeney Todd and The Golden Compass. They’ve also illustrated a beautiful collection of classic novels for Harper Collins and opened stores in London, Osaka and New York. Find out more at minalima.com

We’re sad to say that this is the last episode of the season, but don’t worry we’ll be back later this year with more wonderful guests!

MinaLima’s '3am Questions':

Favourite book: Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman (Eduardo); Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (Mira)

Favourite film/TV: Cinema Paradiso (Eduardo) and Mad Men (Mira)

Favourite song: Anything by Madonna (Eduardo) and Space Oddity by David Bowie (Mira)

Normal not Normal merchandise is now available from https://represent.com/store/normalnotnormal

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

@minalima

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production.

Produced by Alice Homewood.

YouTube version edited by Oliver and James Phelps.

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund and 'Bobby Swing' by The Bladwerk Band

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we chat to British Paralympian and self-described javelin queen Hollie Arnold MBE.

Hollie, who was born without a right forearm, became a household name in 2016 when she won gold at the Rio Paralympics, smashing the world record in the process. But things haven't always been plain sailing for Hollie.

We find out how Hollie coped when her mum was hospitalised with severe depression, why internet trolls turned on her when she shared her 'MBE' title on UK reality TV show 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here' and how sibling rivalry got her onto the athletics field in the first place.

If you or someone close to you is finding life difficult, don’t suffer in silence. Contact the Suicide Prevention Hotline or The Samaritans for support.

Hollie's '3am Questions':

Favourite book: Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding

Favourite film: The Grinch (2000)

Favourite song: Rise Up by Andra Day

Follow us on Twitter:

@OliverPhelps

@James_Phelps

@HollieA2012

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production.

Produced by Alice Homewood.

YouTube version edited by Oliver and James Phelps.

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund, 'Let Go' by Conditional and 'Bobby Swing' by The Bladwerk Band

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode we talk to Cameo app co-founder Martin Blencowe.

Martin’s story is sure to inspire you, although his journey to success was not smooth. We hear about his struggle with steroids as a teenage athlete in the UK, his pursuit of the American Dream in LA and how the Harry Potter films helped him through his father’s last weeks. 

Cameo is an app that allows users to order personalised video messages from their favourite actors, singers and sportspeople. The app’s success did not happen overnight, however. We hear about Martin’s career struggles (he’s a self-confessed failed Olympic athlete, failed sports agent, and failed film producer) and find out why it’s so hard for him to sit back and enjoy his success. 

Listen out for behind-the-scenes celebrity stories, and Martin’s favourite Cameo moment.

Martin’s ‘3am Questions’: 

Favourite book - Lucky Man - Michael J. Fox

Favourite song - An Englishman in New York - Sting 

Favourite film - The Harry Potter series and Terminator 2 

We want to hear from you. If you have a brilliant 'Did You Know?' fact, a question for us, a jingle you’ve written or a voice note you want to share, get in touch. We’ll choose a few messages and include them in the audio version of every podcast. You can tweet us your message using the hashtag #normalnotnormal and #didyouknow or email us at [email protected] 

Remember, if you’re sending us a voice note or jingle and you’re under eighteen, please get permission from a parent or guardian. 

Follow us on Twitter: 

@OliverPhelps 

@James_Phelps 

@martinblencowe

Normal Not Normal is a Stabl production. 

Produced by Alice Homewood. 

YouTube version edited by Oliver and James Phelps. 

Music: 'Not Normal' by Sebastian Forslund and 'Bobby Swing' by The Bladwerk Band

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices