Standard Issue Podcast

Hannah and Mick can’t say FFS loud enough as The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill returns from the dead for another round in Parliament. And just how good an idea is the blanket banning of social media for under 16s? Or indeed the blanket banning of anything? Still, in good news, reading is up, the Wombles are back, and women get two personality choices courtesy of The Times. How generous. 

The kids, they be reading more. Here's that article Hannah mentions: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cze93wggw74o

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The second film in Jim Henson’s much-beloved franchise, contemporary critics said 1981’s The Great Muppet Caper failed to live up to the expectations set by its predecessor, The Muppet Movie. But were those reviewers mad? Can it top Hannah’s love for The Muppet Christmas Carol? What has Jen’s daughter written in her notes? And what has Mickey got on her feet?

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Set in Trinidad in 1956, Driftwood is the debut play of actress Martina Laird. She chats to Hannah about why Trinidad's history is England's history too, The Little Mermaid, and the night they sat really near each other in a theatre.

* Driftwood is on at the Kiln Theatre in London. More here: https://kilntheatre.com/whats-on/driftwood/

* Details on how to become a member of the supporters' club here:  Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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When Roberto De Zerbi was made Spurs' new manager, his previous public support for player Mason Greenwood – who was in the past accused of various sexual assaults, although all charges were dropped – made the headlines.

As a Spurs fan, journalist and broadcaster Kate Mason wrote about her take on this for The Athletic. She chats to Jen about how clubs deal with accusations of misconduct, the options legally available to them, alienation of female fans, and whether misogyny really is rife in the men’s game.

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Actor Liv Hill made her TV debut in the BBC’s remarkable Three Girls back in 2017, aged just 16. She’s currently playing Jane in Ava Pickett’s astonishing play 1536, in which three Tudor friends face the echoes of Ann Boleyn’s trial and beheading in their own rural lives. It’s a sharp and powerful portrayal of misogyny that also crackles with humour and the joy of female friendship. Mick chats to Liv about female friendships, trickle down politics, ugly choices, powerful roles, and playing a young Glenda Jackson. 

1536 is at the Ambassadors in London’s West End until August 1. Visit theambassadorstheatre.co.uk for tickets.

More of this chat? But of course: patreon.com/standardissue

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Thick as mince headlines, more body ‘correcting’ jabs, World Cup qualifying nonsense, online child sex abuse and women being harassed by drunk men on trains: no wonder British women are fuming. And yet, Mick and Jen are also bringing good news – some of it even relating to that long list of bleak. 

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Would we want to live in a Utopia where everyone is killed at 30? Would we run? Would we dress like we were in Pan's People? Would we find wrinkles fascinating? Find out as we watch the classic dystopian sci-fi that begs these questions and many, many more.

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Actress and writer Sofia Barclay's love for the Bard shines through her book Shakespeare's Heartbeat: 40 Sonnets for Navigating Big Feelings. She talks to Hannah about big feelings, Desdemona, filming in a heatwave, Sam Rockwell playing a baby and Ted Lasso.

* You can listen to Shakespeare's Heartbeat: 40 Sonnets for Navigating Big Feelings on Audible here

* Find out more about the Standard Issue supporters' club here:

Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon

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An estimated one million under-18s in the UK help to look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition or drug and alcohol problems. Inspired by her experience of providing end-of-life care for her own mum, director Rosie Morris's short documentary Is Mum OK launches on The Guardian this week. In it, Rosie meets with some of Britain's young

Jen chats to Rosie about the incredible young people in the film, recognising their achievements and their struggles, and combating the shame that comes from caring as, or being cared for by, a child.

The Carer’s Trust provides help and support for carers. You can find out more by visiting their website: https://carers.org/

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Like women all over the world, writer and director Rebecca Lenkiewicz found herself in a state of disbelief, horror and rage when the naming of huge numbers of well-known, powerful associates of convicted child sex offender Jeffry Epstein, failed to trigger any meaningful legal action. Wanting to recognise the Epstein victims, and to give women feeling this collective pain a voice, Rebecca invited writers to join her in creating All The Rage: A Theatrical Response to the Epstein Files.

Jen chats to Rebecca, along with writer and producer Anoushka Warden, about the production, the endemic nature of male sexual violence against women and girls, and the rage women feel as we grapple with our treatment within modern society.

All The Rage is showing at London's Theatre Deli from June 11-13.

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