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Starspotting with Dr Sheila Kanani
Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
Tonight, we look up. But also down, and within! This episode is all about the stars — not just what they are, but what they’ve meant to us across time. From ancient myths and shared human stories to cutting-edge space science, Starspotting explores how looking skyward can reconnect us to something far greater than ourselves.
We begin our mission with planetary scientist, space educator, and Saturn super-fan Dr Sheila Kanani. Drawing on her book The Starspotter’s Guide, Sheila guides us through Saturn’s rings, its extraordinary moons, black holes, alien life, and the deep links between science, mythology, and imagination. From the Cassini mission to the shared star stories told by ancient cultures thousands of miles apart, this conversation reminds us that astronomy has always been a human pursuit.
When the city lights pull us back down to Earth, we head to the River Thames to meet our resident Mudlark Sean Clark. On the foreshore near Blackfriars, Sean shares one of his most remarkable finds yet: a near-complete medieval floor tile dating back over 700 years, bearing the unmistakable Three Lions of England. From royal symbolism to the strange objects history leaves behind, it’s a reminder that even the smallest discoveries can carry enormous stories.
After a good lark by the river, we pop into the local for a pint — and a Pub Quiz. This round: Aliens in Pop Culture. From Depression-era sci-fi panic to Hollywood classics, it’s a quickfire test of your extraterrestrial expertise.
And finally, we return to the skies with poet Rishi Rian, who delivers Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing — a surreal, funny, and quietly devastating meditation on mental health, modern distraction, and what happens when empathy runs wild at 30,000 feet.
So whether you’re stargazing, mudlarking, or simply trying to stay present on the journey — settle in, look up, and join us once again in The Big Smoke.
👽 Pub Quiz: Aliens in Pop Culture — Answers
1) The War of the Worlds — Answer: H. G. Wells
The legendary 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds was based on the novel by H. G. Wells — not to be confused with its director and narrator, Orson Welles.
2) Mars Attacks! — Answer: “We come in peace.”
In Mars Attacks!, the Martians’ repeated cry of “Ack! Ack! Ack!” is translated in the film as “We come in peace” — a hilariously ironic message given that they are actively destroying everything in sight.
3) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial — Answer: Reese’s Pieces
In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Elliott uses Reese’s Pieces to lure E.T. into his home. Fun fact: the filmmakers originally approached Mars (makers of M&M’s), who declined the product placement — a decision that reportedly led to a major sales boost for Reese’s Pieces after the film’s release.
—
Links
🪐 Learn more about Sheila Kanani
🔭 Order The Starspotter’s Guide
🦁 Learn more about Sean Clark
🪙 2026 Mudlarking events
—
Chapters
(00:00) Intro and Show Menu
(02:26) Dr Sheila Kanani Interview
(48:28) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find
(55:20) Pub Quiz: Aliens in Pop Culture
(57:04) Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing by Rishi Rian
(1:05:47) Outro
—
Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Original Music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
‘Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing’ written and performed by Rishi Rian
View all episodes
By Kevin BennettWelcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!
Tonight, we look up. But also down, and within! This episode is all about the stars — not just what they are, but what they’ve meant to us across time. From ancient myths and shared human stories to cutting-edge space science, Starspotting explores how looking skyward can reconnect us to something far greater than ourselves.
We begin our mission with planetary scientist, space educator, and Saturn super-fan Dr Sheila Kanani. Drawing on her book The Starspotter’s Guide, Sheila guides us through Saturn’s rings, its extraordinary moons, black holes, alien life, and the deep links between science, mythology, and imagination. From the Cassini mission to the shared star stories told by ancient cultures thousands of miles apart, this conversation reminds us that astronomy has always been a human pursuit.
When the city lights pull us back down to Earth, we head to the River Thames to meet our resident Mudlark Sean Clark. On the foreshore near Blackfriars, Sean shares one of his most remarkable finds yet: a near-complete medieval floor tile dating back over 700 years, bearing the unmistakable Three Lions of England. From royal symbolism to the strange objects history leaves behind, it’s a reminder that even the smallest discoveries can carry enormous stories.
After a good lark by the river, we pop into the local for a pint — and a Pub Quiz. This round: Aliens in Pop Culture. From Depression-era sci-fi panic to Hollywood classics, it’s a quickfire test of your extraterrestrial expertise.
And finally, we return to the skies with poet Rishi Rian, who delivers Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing — a surreal, funny, and quietly devastating meditation on mental health, modern distraction, and what happens when empathy runs wild at 30,000 feet.
So whether you’re stargazing, mudlarking, or simply trying to stay present on the journey — settle in, look up, and join us once again in The Big Smoke.
👽 Pub Quiz: Aliens in Pop Culture — Answers
1) The War of the Worlds — Answer: H. G. Wells
The legendary 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds was based on the novel by H. G. Wells — not to be confused with its director and narrator, Orson Welles.
2) Mars Attacks! — Answer: “We come in peace.”
In Mars Attacks!, the Martians’ repeated cry of “Ack! Ack! Ack!” is translated in the film as “We come in peace” — a hilariously ironic message given that they are actively destroying everything in sight.
3) E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial — Answer: Reese’s Pieces
In E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Elliott uses Reese’s Pieces to lure E.T. into his home. Fun fact: the filmmakers originally approached Mars (makers of M&M’s), who declined the product placement — a decision that reportedly led to a major sales boost for Reese’s Pieces after the film’s release.
—
Links
🪐 Learn more about Sheila Kanani
🔭 Order The Starspotter’s Guide
🦁 Learn more about Sean Clark
🪙 2026 Mudlarking events
—
Chapters
(00:00) Intro and Show Menu
(02:26) Dr Sheila Kanani Interview
(48:28) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find
(55:20) Pub Quiz: Aliens in Pop Culture
(57:04) Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing by Rishi Rian
(1:05:47) Outro
—
Credits
Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett
Produced & Edited by Alex Graham
Original Music by Giles Terera
Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
‘Cabin Crew, Prepare for Landing’ written and performed by Rishi Rian