By The Smythes
The podcast currently has 6 episodes available.
It's been a long time...far too long. So much has changed, but one thing hasn't: Martha still insists on eating whilst we're recording.
Like many of you, we've found recent times pretty tough. We really haven't been up for recording over the past couple of months, and I wasn't going to push it. But as some semblance of normal has returned here at least, it felt like the time was right. We discuss how we've been, how bad I've been at home schooling, and how Martha has coped with being with us 24/7.
On a more positive note, Martha is now back at school; she is Year 6 so in that transition period between schools so was amongst the first to be recalled. It's something we thought long and hard about, whether it was the right thing to do for us and for others, but as we discuss, it's not a black and white situation. Early days, but it looks like it has been a positive step for Martha, at least, despite the strange environment.
We then talked Black Lives Matter and the recent protests; NB I left ft this section fairly unedited and I didn't want to interrupt too much as I genuinely wanted to hear M's thoughts and how she understands the situation. There are definitely some gaps in there which we'll address in future, but what comes across clear, and always has done, is that she and the majority of her friends, don't see race/sexuality/religious beliefs as reasons to treat people differently, and that's a start. But what's clear now is that all of us have to do more to redress the lack of equality in certain areas, and I've been educated recently, for sure. We had discussed the issues previously at home as I wasn't sure how much Martha knew as we've been restricting the news in the house mainly due to apocalyptic coronavirus coverage. Turns out TikTok, and influencers, have done their bit to spread the word; I'm not going to claim I'm comfortable with it as a news source but the message definitely got put across.
Martha's recommendation of the week is a strange but entertaining Boris mashup, and then, inexplicably, a gif, which doesn't really work for audio. But the message is relevant, at least.
So we're back, fingers crossed for a while, and we hope you enjoy listening!
NB in the light of current events we should mention that this was filmed two weeks ago. Life has changed hugely for us all since then so we’ll endeavour to bring you more regular pods now we’re spending more time together! In the meantime, here's how we were feeling before we went into isolation...
Martha introduces in the style of Rhett and Link whilst eating again (it’s not a professional podcast…ours, not theirs). Why do camels pee in holes? We have no idea and Dad doesn't care.
It has been a while. Safe to say life has got in the way.
Big news: we are now a dad and 11 year old daughter podcast…but it seems as if Martha’s birthday excitement has dwindled a little which is the problem with not being up to date on the edits!
Martha has a new school! Or will do in September…possibly! We’re happy as we got our first choice, and it means Martha will be reunited with bff Grace. Dad’s happy because the head sounds strict.
We give a hugely out of date take on the coronavirus situation, given that we filmed this about 10 days before isolation kicked in. Martha offers dubious advice to Dad’s boss involving Tik Tok (again), decrees that we can only discuss coronavirus for one minute and gives those stockpiling toilet roll a piece of her mind. We then got back to the subject of eating salmon, which we didn’t expect to revisit so quickly.
We’d advise anyone of a religious persuasion not to listen to this next section.
We split on mum who for the first time has given up on Lent, what with everything going on. Martha uses this as an opportunity to do a dubious impression of Jesus who sounds very much like her David Bowie.
Martha has started a new gymnastics club, but still flatly refuses to do cricket club where mum and dad could at least have a drink whilst watching.
Martha then finds Jesus via the medium of YouTube. Dad insists that if the second coming does happen, Jesus will most definitely not return as a YouTube influencer.
Isaac (Martha's cousin, more or less the same age) has just started an online book club (see link below) and joins us to discuss some of his favourite books. He’s from the north, in case you’re struggling to understand him or his dad. Martha also shares some of her tips as concisely as she can! Isaac plugs his website and is very keen to stress the www but the lack of apostrophe in the address.
This week’s Q and A as supplied by Harriet (of Channelbee fame) who last saw Martha when she was a baby. We learn that Dad is the most famous person on Martha’s mobile phone and that ghosts are sometimes real! According to Martha, parts of people linger on. She doesn’t mean fingers.
Out of the blue, Martha has come up with a new item involving funny noises. I’m only sorry I didn’t edit it out.
We end with a quotation from Wonder, Isaac’s favourite book.
LINKS
RHETT AND LINK:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4PooiX37Pld1T8J5SYT-SQ
ISAAC’S BOOK CLUB:
https://twitter.com/childrensbookc2
https://www.childrensbookclub.net/
Martha takes over today's welcome, but not before she makes herself a throne with pillows and gets her podcast snacks in. She really should have done this before we started. If she ate her packed lunch, perhaps she wouldn't be so hungry in the evening. Besides being hungry, she has a sore throat which feels like 50 hands are scraping down her neck, apparently.
Rabbit corner takes an unexpected and frankly embarrassing turn.
Dad gets a sales call about his Will and Martha appears keen to get all the non-existent family money. Turns out she's been stealing pennies from Dad's drawer for years which might be why he hasn't got any.
It's Mental Health Week at school, and mufti day is a chance to show your "brave" outfit. We also discuss digital footprints, and why we should be kind because it'll come back to haunt you if you don't.
Today we're mainly talking feminism and equality, or at least how Martha sees it. She reads her homework which lists some of her female icons, and discusses what the boys in her class would think of a female firefighter. Martha's more concerned about the right to wear trousers, and is thankful for Coco Chanel! She gets very animated about the equal pay debate, and insists that she deserves as much as Roman Kemp in her projected future as a breakfast DJ.
Dad's least favourite item returns - the impressions wheel/pencil - and is stumped by Martha's muppet impression. We attempt to answer a listener's question about where we'd like to live. Dad really wouldn't want to live in Legoland.
Recommendations for the week are Dean Windass (Dad) and Martha cheats by giving two (Dodie and Love Monsters). This sets up a potential new item for the future - Creepy kids tv shows of Dad's childhood - so watch this space!
We’re on Ep 3 (tres) and Dad has resorted to bribing Martha with pizza which arrives mid-record. He also cruelly bursts her bubble when she realises that the review we’ve had was left by a friend, and to make matters worse, Alexa and Google don’t seem to know who we are yet.
We get a poop update from Roger/Reggie the Rabbit, but despite our new pop shields, this is not a poop podcast. We also threaten to call Nanny Nita later in the show. Martha gives her impression of what a dull podcast is, and over-sells Dad’s ability to tell jokes.
School update this week talks supply teachers, tennis and pengate. Dad edited a lot of pengate out, to be honest, as he didn't really understand what the problem was.
In an attempt to be topical (even though we record in advance), we get Martha's views on Brexit. It involves kung fu, Hawaii and eventually Prince George.
Dad pays tribute to Nicholas Parsons by getting Martha to talk for a minute on Stranger Things. Strictly speaking, she should have been done for hesitation but she does pretty well.
Recommendations of the week are a book from Martha and food from Dad. Not sure how much the latter is going to enrich your life but it should make Mum feel good.
We get a BFF update and Dad is relieved to hear that Martha and Grace are still friends post sleepover.
The pizza arrives by our not sponsor Domino's and for the rest of the pod Martha is either eating or drinking.
We have our first ever guest on and she proceeds to tell us we're not planning the pod well enough.
We discuss Stampy's question on women’s football, which leads to Martha discussing who is stronger, Barty Crouch or female Gladiators. Feminists will be proud...and more of that next week!
Martha's tip of the week turns into an affirmation, and Dad is surprised to discover hidden depths in the lyrics of Little Mix.
Martha and Dad tackle the difficult second episode. It's slightly less rambly than the first but it's still far from professional, as Martha helpfully points out. On a plus point, we're recording in her bedroom with two mics this week, but not a pop shield because it got delivered over the road.
We may not have Billie Eilish as a guest this week, but we do have a rabbit update, Martha's take on what would happen if we had a total power failure (Dad has been watching Cobra), why it's acceptable to magpie creative ideas (but not to steal them), and why offering hot chocolate and comfy cushions at school has led to a breakdown in mindfulness etiquette. Martha also tackles some Q and A from the 20 people to follow us on Twitter and offers her impression of Donald Trump reading Dr Seuss.
Thanks for subscribing, and do remember to follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for behind the scenes photos and to throw us any questions for future episodes! We're still not on Tik Tok and if Dad has his way, that's the way it's going to stay.
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Episode 1 in the Smythe house. It's definitely a house, not a mansion, although from Martha's description you may be tempted to think it's the latter. We're recording in the kitchen, not Martha's bedroom, which is why there's an echo. She's going to need to tidy before next week's episode if she wants a rabbit, which adds a touch of drama to proceedings. This one's really about setting the scene, or at least it was supposed to be before we rambled and Martha got obsessed about sponsors. Who are we, why are we doing this, what do we have in common, and who's going to be our guests in the future?
Amidst the random rambles, Martha discusses life at school, her trip to visit Capital Radio and why she's a VSCO girl. That's something for Neil to research before next week.
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for behind the scenes photos and to throw us any questions for future episodes!
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thesmythespod
Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSmythesPod
The podcast currently has 6 episodes available.