Should we be worried about AI? Mathematician and presenter Hannah Fry joins Romesh to talk about her new show 'AI Confidential with Hannah Fry' and the surprising ways maths and technology shape our lives.

From Hannah’s work explaining science to wider audiences, her podcast The Rest Is Science, to Grief Tech. This episode explores the strange questions maths can actually answer, from whether you could theoretically be bored to death to how to cool down your car. The conversation moves from teaching maths and traumatising students with numbers to the bigger questions around AI, technology and the future.

Plus: maths jokes, a question from Shanthi, some genuinely useful science-based life tips and the team catch some strays.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform Media.

00:00 Intro

03:19 Gift giving

07:34 Some maths jokes

10:01 On teaching maths

14:55 Traumatising people with maths

17:40 The Rest Is Science

20:39 Can you be bored to death?

26:09 On making a difference

29:28 Hannah’s ultimate tip

31:25 A question from Shanthi about tech

37:41 Hannah’s new show on AI

41:25 On Grief Tech

43:12 Do we know what we want with AI relationships?

45:03 Should we be worried?

48:45 Working with Dara O'Briain

49:40 Misquoted

00:01:47 An exclusive tip

00:02:33 Outro

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How much do you really want to know about your parents' holiday antics? Shanthi shares far too much, leaving Romesh desperate to "edit" certain images out of his brain. They also talk about this week’s guest, legendary documentary maker Louis Theroux, as Shanthi reveals the surprisingly dark topics she’d cover if she followed in his footsteps.

Plus, Romesh hits back at criticism of his glasses – and Shanthi recalls the moment he rang her to say he’d "made it" in comedy.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Platform Media.

00:00 Intro

01:30 Glasses criticism

04:28 Louis Theroux

07:48 Embarrassing name mispronunciation

14:27 Cake

19:12 Listener holiday story

24:14 Shanthi’s Thailand story

28:42 Staying in touch with family

31:10 Outro

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What do toxic masculinity, a lasagne obsession, and a Seat Alhambra have in common? Louis Theroux joins Romesh to draw the line between his on-camera persona and life at home. They revisit some of Louis’ most infamous documentary moments, the craft behind them, and the interview regrets he has looking back.

Louis also explains why he’s drawn to spending time with people who hold extreme views, including in his latest film Inside the Manosphere, exploring misogyny and the lure of wealth in the post-Andrew Tate world with figures like HSTikkyTokky.

Along the way he reflects on memorable encounters with Armie Hammer and Boris Becker – plus an uncanny King Charles impression, being “cooked” by the internet, and why he “deserved” his gold record after his viral music hit Jiggle Jiggle.

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How many times can you trick your mum into saying the F-word? Romesh annoys Shanthi with terrible impressions of kids' film characters and makes his case for why the Toy Story trilogy is one of the greatest in cinematic history. They role-play a listener’s plea about how to kindly deal with smelly colleagues — and how to cope with a spoilt hen-do surprise (do you fake it?). Plus, an uncomfortably long conversation about the specifics of going to the toilet.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen.

00:00 Intro

01:27 Shanthi loves Tom Davis

03:22 Paddington

04:37 Kids films impressions

12:15 Advice from Shanthi & Romesh

13:40 Role playing the problem

18:51 Advice continued

23:24 Toilet talk

33:15 Outro

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Comedian and actor Tom Davis joins Romesh for a proper deep dive into comedy, his working-class roots to his success and building his career long term.

They talk about Tom’s route into stand-up, creating and starring in Murder in Successville and King Gary, and what it takes to survive rejection, hyper-criticism and projects going wrong. There’s rare praise from Romesh, chaos behind the production cenes, doing his own stunts, pranks, and a BIG announcement. Plus an ever important question from Shanthi.

They also get into luck in the industry, being a dad, and how success changes your perspective over time.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen.

00:00 Intro

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Cooking advice, dieting disasters and impressions that probably shouldn’t happen... Romesh is joined once again by mum Shanthi Ranganathan for another episode of unfiltered family chat.

00:00 Intro

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Comedian Josh Widdicombe joins Romesh to explain why he might actually prefer podcasts to television.

They chat about his stand-up tour Not My Cup of Tea, appearing in more than 30 series of The Last Leg, and co-hosting the hugely successful Parenting Hell. Josh also talks about his move to Devon after being pushed out of London, rediscovering photography as a hobby, and launching his new series, Josh Widdicombe’s Museum of Pop Culture – covering everything from Mr Blobby to David Hasselhoff and the Berlin Wall.

00:00 Intro

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It’s snacks, arguments and family drama as Romesh is joined by mum Shanthi for another episode of strong opinions and zero agreement.

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From comedy beginnings to renowned actor and West End star, Sheridan Smith joins Romesh for a wide-ranging chat about confidence, acting and carving out a career that spans stage and screen.

They talk about imposter syndrome, developing characters and working together on the West End show Woman In Mind. Plus, a hip hop gift and a rather disappointing 50 Cent impression from Romesh.

A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen.

00:00 Intro

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Romesh is joined by mum Shanthi Ranganathan for another episode of strong opinions, unexpected confessions and classic family chaos. From learning Spanish and declaring her love for Take That, to unpacking fan obsessions and answering listener questions, Shanthi once again proves she’s the star of the show.

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