Smart Welsh People with Dean Burnett

Nicki Grierson is an acclaimed Welsh food blogger with both French and Italian ancestry, so she’s clearly well disposed to discuss all things cuisine. In this episode, we cover Nicki’s family history and interesting genesis of European multiculturalism in the melting pot of Port Talbot, Nicki’s entry into food blogging and how the medium has evolved (for better and for worse), what it’s like to be in the centre of a social media meltdown, the best Cardiff restaurants to go to and how to find them, the confusing nature of Welsh cuisine, and express scepticism that A-list diva Mariah Carey is really a fan of salt and vinegar crisps. You can support the CSN at patreon.com/bookshambles and don't forget to check out our Stay At Home Festival (featuring Dean) at cosmicshambles.com/stayathome

Dan Thomas is a brilliant comedian and a prominent member of the burgeoning Welsh language stand up scene. He was also born in the same room as Christian Bale, although not at the same time, and their careers subsequently went in different directions. In this episode, we discuss the pitfalls of performing comedy with a more satirical slant when audiences aren’t up for, translating material into Welsh when the language structure is markedly different, how Dan did a degree in American Studies largely by accident, the nature of voices and accents and how they influence the perception of someone’s intelligence, and whether we’ll ever again see the likes of the Bender in a Bun again Support the show, and the CSN at patreon.com/bookshambles and be sure to catch Dean, and many more, on the Stay at Home Festival at cosmicshambles.com/stayathome

Dr Matt Morgan was born and raised in Neath, South Wales, and is now a consultant Intensive Care doctor, so is right on the frontline of the battle against the Coronavirus pandemic.

In this episode, recorded several weeks before the Coronavirus situation really kicked off (although it is flagged up during the discussion) we hear about why Matt became a public advocate for better understanding of Intensive Care practices, how it felt to go to a patient’s funeral, the Welsh origins of the theory of evolution, his experiences with a real-life ‘Breaking Bad’ situation, and how life-saving respirator technology, something in the news constantly at present, owes a great deal to giraffes. Support the show, and the CSN at patreon.com/bookshambles

Mat Troy is a stalwart of the South Wales spoken word and creative writing scene, but also dabbles in stand-up, screenwriting, broadcasting, and more. He is also a ‘valley boy’ like host Dean Burnett, hailing from the Rhondda, so they obviously have a lot of overlapping experiences.

In this episode, we hear about how Mat was disciplined in school for writing a poem that was too good, the bizarre semi-genocidal qualities of many Welsh myths and legends, how the working class base of Welsh culture may have led to many quirks of the national psyche, the importance of libraries and reading, how podcasts have proven a boon for the modern individual who enjoys learning, and just who would win in a fight between a fictional train and fifty lions.

To support this podcast, and everything at The Cosmic Shambles Network you can pledge at patreon.com/bookshambles

Carys Eleri is an actor, singer, entertainer, composer, writer, and more. She is known for prominent Welsh language TV roles, but is currently touring her award-winning self-penned neuroscience-infused solo comedy musical show. It was a conversation between Carys and host Dean that sparked the idea for this very podcast, so Carys gets to go first.

In this episode, we hear about the surreal challenges of a rural Welsh school education, how the non-conformist religious culture in Wales potentially led to some major scientific advancements, the practical hurdles of creating a ground-breaking solo show from scratch, the challenges of bi-lingual performing and coping with stress, the surprising dearth of support and recognition for Welsh literary history and culture, and some delightfully archaic terms for human genitalia.

To support this podcast, and everything at The Cosmic Shambles Network you can pledge at patreon.com/bookshambles

The Welsh are a varied and interesting people, with a unique culture steeped in numerous ancient traditions and a language that goes back over 4000 years. Not that you’d know this, based how they’re usually represented in the mainstream. The podcast is about, and called, Smart Welsh People just to show that such people do exist, and have much to offer. Neuroscientist, best selling author and Welsh person Dr Dean Burnett sits down with other Welsh people to talk about what they know, what they do, why they do it, and what their experiences and perspectives are regarding Welsh culture, Welsh identity, Wales’s place in the world, and anything else they feel is important. This podcast is part of The Cosmic Shambles Network. Support the show, and everything at the Cosmic Shambles Network, by visiting and pledging to our Patreon at patreon.com/bookshambles