The High Low

By Pandora Sykes and Dolly Alderton

A weekly conversation between writers Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes, that covers highbrow and lowbrow culture.

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· Society & Culture

4.8

795795 ratings

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FAQs about The High Low:

How many episodes does The High Low have?

The podcast currently has 152 episodes available.

The High Low episodes:

June 16, 2020 Lockdown Sex, I May Destroy You, and Rhik Samadder's I Never Said I Loved You
In today's episode, we discuss the findings on Sex In Lockdown: Keep Shagging And Carry On; the astounding work that is Michaela Coel's I May Destroy You and in light of JK Rowling's comments last week, some recommendations for understanding the trans experience. We also feature an exclusive extract from the writer Rhik Samadder's memoir about mental health, love and family, I Never Said I Loved You and lots more podcast recs from Dolly. Plus! Ask The High Low is back.

E-mail [email protected]
Tweet@thehighlowshow
Shop thehighlowshop - 100% profits go to charity (Show Racism The Red Card and Women's Aid)

Links
Reading
I Never Said I Loved You, by Rhik Samadder
Amateur: A True Story About What Makes a Man, by Thomas Page McBee
The Gender Games, by Juno Dawson
Consider The Greenland Shark by Katherine Rundell
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n09/katherine-rundell/consider-the-greenland-shark?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.co.uk%2F
Brit-ish by Afua Hirsch

Watching and Listening
Sex In Lockdown: Keep Shagging and Carry On, on Channel 4
I May Destroy You, on BBC iPlayer
Seahorse, on Vimeo
Laura Marling on Song Exploder
Radio 4’s The Food Programme - Food On Film
Jerry Seinfeld on WTF
Afua Hirsch on Fortunately

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1h 8min
June 09, 2020 After The Hashtags
We discuss online vs offline behaviour, when it comes to social change; and why historical progress has long relied on the removal of monuments. Also today, tons of podcast recommendations, an homage to Gogglebox and the size 75 shoes made especially for social distancing.

E-mail [email protected]
Tweet @thehighlowshow

Links
Social media
@multiculturalkidsbooks on IG
@diverse_kids_books on IG
@novelallure on IG

Reading
Knights Of bookshop http://knightsof.media
Anti-Racist Baby, by Ibram X. Kendi
Little Leaders: Bold Women In Black History
Superior by Angela Saini
Stolen Legacy by George James
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
You're Silence Will Not Protect you by Audre Lorde
Here For It by R. Eric Thomas
Candice Brathwaite interview by Johanna Thomas-Corr for Observer https://bit.ly/37hGPKa
Bernadine Evaristo on inclusive publishing for British Vogue https://bit.ly/2XOoaCX
Yomi Adegoke on the "pics or it didn't happen approach" for British Vogue https://bit.ly/2znzRac
8 Books by Black authors that aren't about Black pain by Natalie Morris for Metro https://bit.ly/2MLU8Ju
Fighting racism requires more than hashtags by Nesrine Malik for The Guardian https://bit.ly/2BTpoUT
Why You Should Say Black Lives Matter by Bob and Peppermint https://bit.ly/2Ur97g3
The Resilience of Marga Griesbach by Rebecca Traister for New York mag https://bit.ly/3dKzKnY

Watching & Listening
Sabrina Cohen-Hatton on Rangan Chatterjee's podcast, Feel Better, Live More
Ibram X Kendi interview with Brene Brown for Unlocking Us
Celebrity Gogglebox
Days of the Bagnold Summer
Douglas by Hannah Gadsby on Netflix
Fresh Air: Hannah Gadsby
The C Word: Paula Yates
Jay Rayner’s Out To Lunch
Desert Island Discs: Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu
Grounded with Louis Theroux: Miriam Margolyes
Nick Cave: The Red Hand Files

Petitions
Healthcare for black women in the U.K. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/301079
Paul Stephenson statue https://www.change.org/p/bristol-city-council-replace-the-colston-statue-with-paul-stephenson
Donate to Black Minds Matter https://uk.gofundme.com/f/black-minds-matter-uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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58min
June 02, 2020 Anti-Racism Resources & An Author Special with Candice Brathwaite
This week’s episode is focused on the resources we can access to educate ourselves on racism. These lists are not exhaustive but may provide a starting point. We also interview the creator of Make Motherhood Diverse, Candice Brathwaite, about her searing new book I Am Not Your Baby Mother.

[email protected]

Non-Fiction
Why I Am No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite
White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
How To Be Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
The Good Immigrant compiled by Nikesh Shukla
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
Women Race and Class by Angela Davis
White Rage by Carol Anderson
Brit-ish by Afua Hirsch
My Name Is Why by Lemn Sissay
Slay In Your Lane by Elizabeth Uviebinené & Yomi Adegoke
A Burst of Light by Audre Lorde
Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri
Taking Up Space: The Black Girls Manifesto For Change by Chelsea Kwakye & Ore Ogunbiyi
Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall
Natives: Race & Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
Aint I a Woman: Black Women & Feminism by bell hooks
Why You Need To Stop Saying “All Lives Matter” by Rachel Elizabeth Cargle for Harper’s Bazaar https://bit.ly/3gG8rgq
Ibram X. Kendi’s reading list for The New York Times https://nyti.ms/3gKL8lH

Fiction
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie
Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
On Beauty and White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Citizen: An American Life by Claudia Rankine

Social media
@theconsciouskid
@taranaburke
@galdemzine
@tamikadmallory
@privtoprog
@blklivesmatter

Donate
George Floyd’s Memorial Fund
Black Lives Matter
Black Protest Legal Support UK
Liberty
Stop Hate UK
The Stephen Lawrence Trust
The Innocence Project
Show Racism The Red Card
Black Visions Collective

Mentorship
Routes
Girls Out Loud
Fluid

Kids resources
diversebooks.org
Raising White Kids by Jennifer Harvey
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
Brad Meltzer’s Ordinary People Can Change The World series on Rosa Parks & Harriet Tubman
A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Other links
Petition to update GCSE reading list https://bit.ly/2U6foOl
1619 podcast by The NY Times

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52min
May 26, 2020 Why Moments of Insanity Are Part of Keeping Sane; And The Worrying Increase in Lockdown Mullets
Did you know there is a word in German for 'social distancing whilst wearing swimming pool noodles as a hat'? We're sceptical, but charmed.

As the heaviness weighs on many of you, we have a batch of podcasts, books, articles and surprising lockdown stats to cheer and distract you.

Please do e-mail any questions or issues to [email protected]
Or you can tweet us @thehighlowshow
Shop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity (Women's Aid and NHS Charities urgent cover relief fund)

Links
Book a goat for Zoom (yes) at www.cronkshawfoldfarm.co.uk/goatsonzoom
Volunteer during furlough at www.furlonteer.com
Find @_lockdownstories on Instagram

Reading
Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernadine Evaristo
Ramble Book: Musings on Childhood, Friendship, Family and 80s Pop Culture, by Adam Buxton, available on audio book now (and in print in September)
Insanity Can Keep You Sane, by Molly Young for The New York Times Mag www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/11/magazine/quarantine-insanity.html
Where to start in Joni Mitchell's back catalogue, by Hannah Stevens for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/20/joni-mitchell-where-to-start-in-her-back-catalogue

Listening and watching
Sir Lenny Henry interview with Louis Theroux's Grounded podcast
Grayson Perry's Art Club, on Channel 4
Gemma Collins: Diva on Lockdown, on ITV Player
Love, Loss and What I Wore by Nora and Delia Ephron https://www.92y.org/love-loss-and-what-i-wore

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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54min
May 19, 2020 'Seksbuddies', Robert Pattinson's pasta & information overload
It's a pot noodle of an episode this week. From our favourite pandemic stories around the globe - selected especially to cheer you up - to a bunch of recommendations, a deep-dive into the way we metabolise information now, and a compulsory dwell on Stanley Tucci.

E-mail: [email protected]
Tweet: @thehighlowshow
Shop: thehighlowshop.com where 100% of profits go to charity (Women's Aid and Covid-19 NHS Urgent Appeal)

Links
Book a Migrateful cookery class at migrateful.org
The Vanishing Half, by Brit Bennett - out 2nd June
Brit Bennett and Emma Cline in conversation for Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/books/author-interviews/brit-bennett-emma-cline-in-conversation/
Robert Pattinson interview by Zach Baron for GQ, US edition https://www.gq.com/story/robert-pattinson-on-batman-tenet-isolation-june-cover
Lockdown with My Gen Z nieces, by Sathnam Sanghera for The Times magazine https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sathnam-sanghera-lockdown-with-my-gen-z-nieces-8bcm9qxcx
Dating After Coronavirus, by Nayeema Raza for The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/opinion/coronavirus-dating.html
Here’s how time works now by Eli Grober for McSweeney's: https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/heres-how-time-works-now
A Love In Verse: https://www.aloveinverse.com/
Stanley Tucci's Life in Quarantine, for The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/05/stanley-tuccis-life-quarantine/611557/
Sinéad Burke interview on Desert Island Discs https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000j7q5
Dissect podcast https://dissectpodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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56min
May 12, 2020 Cottagecore, Covidism & Other Lockdown Theories; Plus, An Author Special with Samantha Irby
Today we discuss the surprising lockdown sales boom, an animal fact and a few new pandemic lifestyle theories. Just another episode of The High Low, then.

We also ring up Samatha Irby in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to discuss her hilarious new essay collection (a joy for anxiety-ridden times) wow, no thank you.

E-mail [email protected]
Tweet @thehighlowshow
Shop at www.thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity (currently Women's Aid and the COVID-19 NHS Urgent Appeal)

Links
wow, no thank you, by Samantha Irby - out now
I've craved a slower pace of life - and want to make it permanent, a Dear Mariella column for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/10/i-have-craved-a-slower-pace-of-life-and-want-to-make-it-permanent-mariella-frostrup
The lockdown dick margin, by Lauren Bravo for Refinery29 https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/bad-temper-lockdown
The buzz of big cities is losing out to cottagecore, by India Knight for The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/coronavirus-what-is-the-point-of-cities-with-no-buzz-h532fgnjd
My sister died of coronavirus. She needed care, but her life was not disposable. By Rory Kinnear for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/12/rory-kinnearsister-protect-vulnerable-coronavirus-rory-kinnear
Things need me, by Charles Simic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_-gZk4jkFP/?igshid=cerd2jisw0n4
As isolation drags on, I've found myself wanting to be a friend to myself, by Emma Jane Unsworth for Grazia, issue published May 5th
Tayari Jones on Open Book https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/books-and-authors/id331296649?i=1000474155261
Cate Blanchett on WTF https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast/id329875043?i=1000474214665
Laura Marling on The Adam Buxton podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-adam-buxton-podcast/id1040481893?i=1000474168608
Steve Martin on Fresh Air https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fresh-air/id214089682?i=1000474020262
Run, on Sky Atlantic and Now TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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53min
May 05, 2020 Are Your Book Shelves A Reflection of Your Character - Or Your Curiosity?
This week we discuss what your books on your bookshelf say about you, the new lockdown lingo (are you drinking furlough merlot?), whether lockdown telly might have reached its apex, and the concept of heteropessimism.

You can e-mail [email protected] and shop at thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity.

Links
Apply here for Penguin's WriteNow scheme: https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/creative-responsibility/writenow.html
If I Had Your Face, by Frances Cha
Culture Call, a podcast by The Financial Times
Louis Theroux on Adam Buxton podcast
A Manual For Heartache: How To Feel Better, by Cathy Rentzenbrink
Exploding the myths behind K-Pop, by Crystal Tai for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/mar/29/behind-k-pops-perfect-smiles-and-dance-routines-are-tales-of-sexism-and-abuse
Marian Keyes interview with The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/feb/28/marian-keyes-books-that-made-me
Indiana Seresin on heteropessimism for The New Inquiry https://thenewinquiry.com/on-heteropessimism/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 17min
April 28, 2020 The Micro-Trends of Lockdown & The Wonder That Is The Quarantucci
Thank you for bearing with us. We weren't able to bring you an episode last week for personal reasons, but we will try and make it up to you today - starting with a BIG apology to Lizzo for saying it wasn't possible to jam on a flute. It bloody well is. Mea culpa.

Today we discuss the micro-trends of lockdown (are you a lockdown cliche?) and a Dolls Polls about what we're all apparently buying. You will never guess the top billing (no - it's not loo roll. Or pasta.) Also today, a new podcast from Louis Theroux, a discussion of the adaptation of Normal People, the wonder that is Quiz and lots more reading, audio reccs and daft stories.

E-mail [email protected]
Tweet @thehighlowshow
Shop online at www.thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity (currently Women's Aid and the NHS Charities Covid-19 Urgent Appeal)

Links

booksinstations.co.uk
Breathing Lessons, by Anne Tyler
The Wonder Spot, by Melissa Banks
Grounded, by Louis Theroux for BBC Radio 4
Sentimental Garbage: Eat Pray Love https://sentimentalgarbage.substack.com/p/eat-pray-love-with-abigail-bergstrom-cdf
Tash Demetriou on The Adam Buxton Podcast https://play.acast.com/s/adambuxton/d71a3ce3-6de0-4707-8ddb-3d5e8f1b4ea7
Difficult To Buy For, by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff for Tortoise https://members.tortoisemedia.com/2020/04/15/letters-from-lockdown-charlie-brinkhurst-cuff-transcript/content.html
My dad said I wasn't black enough. At least, I know what he meant, by Raven Smith for The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/apr/26/my-dad-said-i-wasnt-black-enough-at-last-i-know-what-he-meant
Quiz on ITV Player
Normal People on BBC iPlayer
All or Nothing at All on BBC
What Kinda Music, by Tom Misch
Sentimental Garbage: Eat Pray Love https://sentimentalgarbage.substack.com/p/eat-pray-love-with-abigail-bergstrom-cdf
Tash Demetriou on The Adam Buxton Podcast https://play.acast.com/s/adambuxton/d71a3ce3-6de0-4707-8ddb-3d5e8f1b4ea7

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 27min
April 14, 2020 An Author Special with Holly Bourne & The Problem With Tiger King
It's Week 4 of lockdown and we hope all you cats and kittens are doing okay. Sorry - blame Carole Baskin. We've been watching Tiger King and eesh, do we feel icky. We discuss why that is and why streamed content is becoming increasingly crass. What does the flatpacking of problematic people into entertainment, reveal about us?

Also today, Dolly interviews the YA and contemporary novelist, Holly Bourne, about her new book, Pretending. They discuss sexual violence, the cultural expectations of sex and romance and why porn is doing women a disservice. And we discuss some podcasts that will help us all navigate what Brene Brown calls "the collective weary".

E-mail [email protected]
Tweet @thehighlowshow

Reading
House of Glass by Hadley Freeman
Pretending, by Holly Bourne
Sense and Sensibility: The Screenplay and Diaries, by Emma Thompson
Coming Undone, by Terri White, out July and avail online for pre-order
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones

Watching & Listening
Alain de Botton on How To Fail with Elizabeth Day https://howtofail.podbean.com/e/how-to-fail-alain-de-botton/
Unlocking Us, with Brene Brown https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-on-comparative-suffering-the-50-50-myth-and-settling-the-ball/
Save Me Too, on Sky Atlantic
Tiger King, on Netflix
Nothing Like A Dame, available to buy or rent on Amazon prime
Song For Our Daughter by Laura Marling

Retro Sweat - the 80s aerobics class online https://www.instagram.com/retrosweat/?hl=en

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 38min
April 10, 2020 An Extra Easter Treat & The Return of Ask The High Low
It's been a rough few weeks so we thought we'd bring you an extra episode for the long Easter weekend. Lots more culture reccs and more thoughts on lockdown life (with a belated shout out to Madonna's Instagram page.)

We've also bought back Ask The High Low! You can e-mail us with your question at [email protected] and we will be answering a few every week.

You can shop our merchandise at www.thehighlowshop.com and 100% of profits go to charity - 10% to Women's Aid and 90% to the NHS Charities Urgent Appeal for COVID-19.

Watching
Little Women - available on Amazon Prime on 11th May
Cheer, Love is Blind, Sex Education and Don't Fuck With Cats, and Marriage Story - all on Netflix

Listening to
Guys We Fucked on Luminary https://luminarypodcasts.com/listen/corinne-fisher-and-krystyna-hutchinson-465/guys-we-f-d-luminary-exclusive/drunk-v-day-special-he-used-your-duvet-as-a-diaphragm/d5dfed7c-f10c-41ed-bbb3-03c5573f8a35
Greta Gerwig on Scriptnotes https://johnaugust.com/2020/the-one-with-greta-gerwig
Pandemic at the Disco playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dW4ddgwOxj4q7XVvbOa7w?si=o15nzeS0QVKzf_tFxJTd_w

Reading
Your Voice in My Head, by Emma Forrest - out now
Exciting Times, by Naoise Dolan - out April 16th and available now for pre-order
Scenes of a Graphic Nature, by Caroline O'Donoghue - out 18th June and available now for pre-order
Glorious Rock Bottom, by Bryony Gordon - *new publication date* 6th August and available now for pre-order
Hadley Freeman on the death of FOMO, for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/04/bye-bye-fomo-now-the-party-is-being-zoomed-to-my-laptop
Ann Patchett interviews Reese Witherspoon, for Vanity Fair https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/03/the-book-of-reese
Mark Seal interviews James Stunt, for Vanity Fair https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/02/the-prince-charles-art-forgeries-royal-scandal

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 19min

FAQs about The High Low:

How many episodes does The High Low have?

The podcast currently has 152 episodes available.

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