The Boring Talks

The Boring Talks episodes:

• 04.28.2021

  #55 -Farts

  The colorectal surgeon and comedian Jenan Younis wants to get to the bottom of a taboo subject, that everyone has struggled with at some stage. Farts. James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but...

  
• 07.06.2020

  Jigsaws

  It started with 'regency wedding scene' puzzle purchased for £2 in a charity shop. Now Anya Driscoll is a jigsaw junkie. In this edition of The Boring Talks, she discussions her obsession, and pieces together the history of jigsaws,...

  
• 06.01.2020

  #53 - Car Boots

  From Anglo-American differences, to escaping kidnappers and celebrating the classic car boot sale. In this Boring Talk, Auto Express journalist Hugo Griffiths climbs inside the 'space of temporariness' that is the car boot. James Ward introduces another curious talk about...

  
• 05.04.2020

  #52 - Breakfast Cereals

  Family holidays for the artist Louise Ashcroft meant one thing - variety pack cereals. Would it be Cornflakes? Or Frosties? Coco Pops or Ricicles? Through this multi-grain multiple choice Louise realised she could be anyone..... kind of. Join her for a...

  
• 04.20.2020

  #51 - Oboe Reeds

  Gouging, scraping and chopping. The reporter Chloe Veltman shows us the painstaking art of making an oboe reed, and how it can be the difference between sounding like a singing nightingale, or a belligerent duck. James Ward introduces another curious...

  
• 04.06.2020

  #50 - Windows

  Where does the word 'Window' derive from? And what does it have to do with a Norwegian architectural historian and a bohemian Austrian poet? On a lyrical journey from death to inspiration, Anne Ulrikke Andersen takes a look through the...

  
• 03.30.2020

  #49 - Coal Holes

  They are either 12, 14 or 16 inches wide, they live just outside our doors, and they come in a variety of striking designs. So why has no one heard of coal holes? Local historian Amir Dotan explores the streets of...

  
• 03.23.2020

  Data Centres

  What do we all use, but never visit? The sound artist Matt Parker takes us inside the bizarre world of remote Data Centres, where our wireless world is powered by rows and rows of computers running all day, everyday....

  
• 03.16.2020

  #47 - Crinoline Ladies

  It began as an image of Victorian femininity, became a 1920s style icon, and perhaps ended as a 1970s toilet roll cover. Dr Kathryn Ferry looks at the curious history of the Crinoline Lady, exploring the growth of suburbia, Gone...

  
• 03.09.2020

  # 46 - Teletext

  James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. From Bamboozle, to being switched off, and now being salvaged for the digital age. James O'Malley looks at the life, death...

  
• 03.02.2020

  #45 - Box Certificates

  One day while breaking down a box in a corridor, Joyce Smith noticed a box certificate. Quickly followed by a second one. Now Joyce had 2 of them, and 2 of anything is the start of a collection. James Ward...

  
• 02.24.2020

  # 44 - Swearing: a personal cross-cultural comparative study of Hindi and English

  If you hit your thumb with a hammer, what swear word would you immediately scream? Charvy Narain asked her friends and family this question, which lead to a personal journey from the 'buffalo's eye' to New York City cops and...

  
• 02.17.2020

  The Sounds Of Computer Games Loading

  James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. The clunk and click of the datasette machine. The white noise of the tape loading. The strange and compelling soundtrack of...

  
• 02.10.2020

  #42 - The Lexicon Of Breakups

  James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. In 2011, comedian Rosie Wilby was dumped by email. (Though she did feel better about it after correcting her ex’s spelling...

  
• 02.10.2020

  #41 - Pencils

  James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. Brian Mackenwells is passionate about pencils. In this Boring Talk he shares his passion for good pencils. He talks us through their...

  
• 02.27.2019

  #40 - Thank You (again)

  James Ward says thank you for listening to series two and chooses the best numbers from each of the talks. Presenter: James Ward Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 02.25.2019

  #39 - Doormats

  Can a doormat actually increase the value of your property by £30k? Alex Baxevanis explains all in his study of the doormats from his block of flats. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Alex Baxevanis Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 02.18.2019

  #38 - Markham Moor Roof

  Just off the Markham Exit on the A1 motorway lies an architectural wonder. Ed Carter shares his love for an unusual roadside roof, with help from a whistle or two. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Ed Carter Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 02.11.2019

  #37 - Watergate Tape 'Silence'

  The neuroscientist Sophie Scott takes a close listen to the long 'silent' gap on the Watergate Tapes. Buzz. Click. Buzz. Click. Buzz. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Sophie Scott Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 02.04.2019

  #36 - Shanghai Architecture

  From the 'eye of Sauron' building, to a deserted London town. The designer Hannah Cameron takes a walk back through the buildings that shaped her time living in China's biggest city. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Hannah Cameron Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 01.28.2019

  #35 - How Tall Are Celebrities?

  Who is taller, Robbie Williams, David Duchovny or the chef James Martin? And what does being ‘solid tall’ actually mean? The writer Greg Stekelman (same height as Emilio Estevez) explores the world of online celebrity measurements. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Greg Stekelman Producer:...

  
• 01.21.2019

  #34 - Sounds of Grassroots Football

  The squelch of the white line marking machine, the crack of the ball against the crossbar, the shrill cry of the full time whistle. Sound researcher Paul Whitty captures the sounds of grassroots football. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Paul Whitty Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 01.14.2019

  #33 - Change

  Are you sick of getting too many coins in your change at the supermarket? Can British coins be better? Fear not people, Adam Townsend has the fix. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Adam Townsend Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 01.07.2019

  #32 - Roads That Don't Exist

  A Brixton block of flats, an oddly-angled building in Piccadilly and a park that 'smells like bins'. Road enthusiast Chris Marshall explores how London has been quietly shaped by roads that don't actually exist. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Chris Marshall Producer: Clara...

  
• 12.31.2018

  #31 - Happy New Year

  James Ward says 'Happy New Year', and that's about it really.

  
• 12.24.2018

  #30 - An Underwhelming Christmas

  Are you dreaming of a white Christmas, or maybe a magical trip through a Winter Wonderland? Well forget it. Rhodri Marsden explores the disappointing realities of the festive period. Ho ho ho. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Rhodri Marsden Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 12.17.2018

  #29 - Animal Vaginas

  Science has historically studied penises more often than vaginas, but why? Florence Schechter and Emma Parkin attempt to redress the balance by examining some curious genitalia from the female of the species, including those of the two-legged, four-legged, and even eight-legged...

  
• 12.10.2018

  #28 - Asterix Puns

  Tracy King, with the help of the Asterix comic books, proves that puns definitely are not 'the lowest form of wit'. Warning: this podcast may contain some Latin jokes. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Tracy King Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 12.03.2018

  #27 - Dutch Landscape Paintings

  A windmill. Two hunched countrymen. Lots of drab sky. 17th Century Dutch landscape paintings can be very dull, but is there something more exciting going on? Maybe. The writer Andrew Male takes a closer look at these works of art, and...

  
• 11.26.2018

  #26 - Call Centres

  How many days of our lives do we spend 'on hold'? What does 'business in the front, party out back' actually refer to? Has God been replaced by salad? The artist Louise Ashcroft explores the uncertain future of the Call Centre...

  
• 11.19.2018

  Jeremy Bentham's 'Auto-Icon'

  James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe. Did Bentham leave his body to University College London? Does he still attend council meetings there? Has anyone played football with...

  
• 11.12.2018

  #24 - The Taxonomy Of Cornflakes

  From lollipop sticks, to batteries and used car headlight bulbs, the collectaholic Anne Griffiths has always made art from the 'accumulations of the bricolage of everyday life'. But how did Anne get 84 mounted cornflakes accepted in to the Royal...

  
• 11.05.2018

  #23 - NATO Phonetic Alphabet

  Charvy Narain is fed up with people mispronouncing her name, especially when trying to book a taxi down the phone. Could the NATO phonetic alphabet help clarify things? Or will it just add to the confusion? And what does this...

  
• 11.05.2018

  #22 - Toilet Graffiti

  Declarations of love, offers of sex, messages of hope and even film reviews. The graffiti we leave behind in toilets is strange, personal and anonymous. But is there a difference between what is written in male and female bathrooms? Scott...

  
• 06.07.2018

  #21 - Thank You

  James Ward says thank you for listening to series one and chooses the best word from each of the twenty talks. Presenter: James Ward Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 06.04.2018

  #20 - Carry On Shakespeare

  Infamy! Infamy! The writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed explains just why the Carry On films are actually better than Shakespeare. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Samira Ahmed Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 05.28.2018

  #19 - Ice Cream Vans

  Good maths, a strong bladder and the ability to hold eight '99s' in one hand. Ali Coote remembers the important lessons she learned as an Ice Cream Van driver. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Ali Coote Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 05.21.2018

  #18 - Kinder Egg Linguistics

  What's 119mm long & 55 mm wide, and contains a world of linguistic pleasure? Keith Kahn-Harris explores the wonders of the Kinder Surprise warning label. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Keith Kahn-Harris Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 05.14.2018

  #17 - Gasometers

  Tall rusting skeletal relics of our industrial past. Why would anyone care about London's Gasometers? Sarah O'Carroll explains. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Sarah O'Carroll Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 05.07.2018

  #16 - Toilet Roll Serial Numbers

  'Do you recall the fogged beef, mate?'. The writer Nicholas Tufnell proves that poetic inspiration can be found in the most unlikely places, including a toilet roll. But what is 'fogged beef'? Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Nicholas Tufnell Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 04.30.2018

  #15 - Smell Walks

  The artist and designer Kate McLean leads us, nose first, on a smell walk across the world. This podcast may include the odours of cooking sausages, carbolic soap, shattered dreams and bins. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Kate McLean Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 04.23.2018

  #14 - Name Change

  Can you change your name to your existing name? And, more importantly, why would you bother? James Michael Ward explains what happened when he tried to become James Michael Ward. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: James Ward (the same one) Contributor: Anya Driscoll Producer:...

  
• 04.16.2018

  #13 - Basalt

  Is basalt really the most boring type of rock in the world? Not according to Dr Anne Jay. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Dr Anne Jay Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 04.09.2018

  #12 - British Earthquakes

  Rhodri Marsden is underwhelmed by British earthquakes. He thinks it's time to reassess how we report these 'tremors'. Is he right? Maybe. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Rhodri Marsden Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 04.02.2018

  #11 - Sneezing

  Since 2007 Peter Fletcher has been counting and documenting all of his sneezes. Every single one. Now he tells us why, and what he has learned along the way. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Peter Fletcher Producer: Luke Doran

  
• 03.26.2018

  #10 - Lampposts

  Are you for or against lampposts? The author and design historian Dr Eleanor Herring looks at the controversial history of the lamppost, and those that have railed against them. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Eleanor Herring Producer: Luke Doran Editor: Moy McGowan

  
• 03.19.2018

  #9 - Sounding Gestalts

  What exactly is a 'Sounding Gestalt'? And how can you make music from a Gentleman's cravat or E. coli? The artist Laurence Jordan will explain. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Laurence Jordan Producer: Luke Doran Editor: Moy McGowan

  
• 03.12.2018

  #8 - Danish Public Information Films

  From brick making to motorbikes, Dr Claire Thomson celebrates the golden age of Danish Public Information Films (that's 1935 to 1965, in case you were wondering). Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Claire Thomson Producer: Luke Doran Editor: Moy McGowan

  
• 03.05.2018

  #7 - Green Belt Land

  Once called 'Green Girdles', today's Green belts are strange and relatively unknown places. Follow the writer John Grindrod on his guided tour through a world of naturists, cavemen and rancid pies. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: John Grindrod Producer: Luke Doran Editor: Moy McGowan

  
• 02.26.2018

  #6 - The Argos Catalogue

  The artist Louise Ashcroft takes us inside the mysterious portal that is the Argos catalogue, and examines what it reveals about people’s desires and aspirations. Presenter: James Ward Contributor: Louise Ashcroft Producer: Luke Doran Editor: Moy McGowan