Southbank Centre

In this episode, Harriet Fitch Little talks comedy and brings you the secrets and what do you do if nobody laughs.

She talks to comedian Dave Gorman about why comedians can't lie and what the qualities are of the genre 'Gormanesque'.

Her co-presenter is Ken Cheng, Chinese Comedian. She brings up his joke 'geek student' video and how it went down, they realise they went to uni together and Harriet finds out why Antigua and Barbuda have the funniest flag in the world.

Along with that, comedian Holly Walsh answers the question that all stand ups fear - what do you do if nobody laughs..?

You can hear more podcasts at: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/blog/podcasts

Ahead of EFG London Jazz Festival, self-confessed jazz amateur Harriet interviews eminent musician Orphy Robinson and David Jones, a director and programmer of the festival. They talk about where jazz can be misunderstood, how it defies the limitations of the 'genre', the vibraphone, and which type of music you should be listening to on a date.

Finally, they answer the question 'is it the end of jazz?'

(spoiler: no)

In preparation for this year's Unlimited, Southbank Centre's festival celebrating extraordinary work by disabled artists, this episode features talks with some of the performers who will be appearing.

Presenter Harriet Fitch Little talks to Jackie Hagan about how amputation spurred her on to make comedy, whilst blind musician, Baluji Shrivastav explains the background of the Inner Vision orchestra.

And, 'potentially a superhero in disguise', Jess Thom tells us about her Tourette syndrome, how we should talk about disability, and how she has no strong feelings towards cats.

What does it take for a novel to win over a reader? What does it take for a novel to win a prize?

In this episode, journalist and Think Aloud presenter Harriet Fitch Little is joined in conversation by Debo Amon, Southbank Centre’s Literature Programmer, to discuss how the way in which we read novels has changed, why 'shameful' literature is so popular, and whether the novel will stand the test of time.

Journalist and author Caitlin Moran talks about a woman’s approach to literature and finding her ‘place’ as a writer, in a clip from her recent appearance at Southbank Centre.

"This is why I love writing about being a woman; most of what we do hasn't been written yet."

CAITLIN MORAN

And, we answer the burning question: 'how do books win prizes?’, with Ted Hodgkinson - Southbank Centre’s Head of Literature and Spoken Word - who talks us through the secrets and the realities of judging a book prize. All this, whilst being serenaded by a fork-lift truck.

What does it take to get 82 bands and performers onto six stages over the course of only ten days?

In this episode, journalist and Think Aloud presenter Harriet Fitch Little goes behind the scenes at the 25th edition of the Southbank Centre's prestigious Meltdown festival, which this year is curated by lead singer of The Cure - and all-round musical legend - Robert Smith.

Harriet is joined in conversation by Bengi Unsal, Southbank Centre’s Senior Contemporary Music Programmer, and the festival’s producer, Rhodri Jones. They reveal the musical links between The Cure and contemporary cello, what it really means to "curate" a festival - and the surprise reason why The Libertines almost didn't make it to the stage.

This episode also includes interviews with members of Death Cab for Cutie, Vex Red and Jo Quail.

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