Who Moved the Tortoise?

Who Moved the Tortoise?

By Mindless WitteringTV & FilmScienceArtsVisual Arts
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Who Moved the Tortoise? episodes

  • Great Britons: Brunel - with Simon Winchcombe
    This week the Tortoises are talking to series producer Simon Winchcombe about the show that kicked off his TV career - Jeremy's Clarkson's Great Britons episode on Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Along the way we talk about the genius of James Burke, changing careers in your 30s, and the cliche of presenters using a torch (trust me, it makes sense when you listen to it).

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  • Mythbusters - with Mariana Kneppers
    This week the Tortoises welcome location producer and friend of the pod Mariana Kneppers to talk about the science megaseries Mythbusters. Along the way we discuss the cultural minefield of being an American living in the UK: the challenges of starting out in TV; and ask whether productions are becoming more risk averse. With thanks to Talesmith for hosting this episode.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min
  • Life on Earth - with Baroness Freeman of Steventon
    This week the Tortoises are talking to cross-bench peer and science communicator Alex Freeman, Baroness Freeman of Steventon. On the menu - Sir David Attenborough's seminal 1979 series Life on Earth. We take our usual meandering conversational route, discussing early career missteps; the importance of Carol Vorderman (again... it's becoming a habit); and rubbing shoulders with the crew of Ocean's Eleven. We also talk about the series of events that set Alex on her path to the House of Lords.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 6 min
  • The Man Who Eats Badgers - with Will Millard
    This week the Tortoises are turning the tables, as the subject of one of our early episodes becomes a guest. Writer and presenter Will Millard joins us to talk about a quintessentially British piece of television - The Man Who Eats Badgers and Other Strange Tales from Bodmin Moor, a 2008 episode of BBC 2's Wonderland. Along the way, we discuss the parallels between this film and the films that Will went on to make, including My Year With the Tribe and Hunters of the South Seas. This episode contains bad language - don't say you haven't been warned!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min
  • Jurassic Park - with Mike Davis
    “They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should”. No, not a review of this podcast, but a quote from one of the greatest films of the 90s - Jurassic Park. The Tortoises are joined in the studio by BBC NHU Exec Producer Mike Davis, and they tear into this 1993 classic with all the appetite of a ravenous Dilophosaurus. It’s a deep dive into the world of VFX and beyond, but there’s time along the way to talk about Steven Spielberg, A-Ha and gatecrashing Robert Downey Jr at Shepperton Studios. With thanks to Talesmith for hosting this recording.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1 hr 1 min
  • Tomorrow's World - with Emma Kolasinska

    Welcome back to Who Moved The Tortoise? After a summer break at Tortoise HQ we’re kicking off series two in praise of Judith Hann with VFX Executive Producer Emma Kolasinska. On the menu, the BBC’s long-running tech series Tomorrow’s World. Along the way, we talk the language of VFX, the problem with hyenas’ semen and the joy of Findus Crispy Pancakes. Oh… and the rumbling you hear every three minutes isn’t Alex’s stomach, it’s the Northern Line.


    What was your favourite Tomorrow’s World moment and what were you having for tea while you watched it?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min
  • Series 2 Trailer
    After a summer break, the Tortoises are back! The first full episode of series 2 will be coming at the beginning of October, but for now here is a little teaser.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    3 min
  • From the Earth to the Moon - with Libby Jackson

    In the last episode of the series we strap on our space suits and launch into orbit with the the Head of UK Space Exploration at the UK Space Agency, Libby Jackson. Watching the 1998 HBO series From the Earth to the Moon was one small step in Libby’s high flying career which included emailing NASA for work experience at a time when the word spam had just made it into the dictionary. Our discussion gravitates around DVDs (if you don’t know what they are, Google it); the importance of asking for the things you want; and how choosing her favourite Apollo mission is like choosing a favourite child. 


    And don’t worry Tortoise lovers, we’ll be back in the autumn for more inspirational science and natural history film and TV chit chat.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  • Cosmos - with Nat Sharman
    In the penultimate episode of our first series, Team Tortoise welcomes writer, producer and director Nat Sharman to talk about possibly the biggest and most celebrated science series of all, Carl Sagan’s 1980 epic Cosmos. Along the way we chat about shitty sticks, brown corduroy jackets and whether bigger budgets are always better.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  • The Private Life of Plants - with Alice Jones
    Alice Jones joins the Tortoises this time for a mid-90s nostalgia-fest. On the menu, Sir David Attenborough’s 1995 series The Private Life of Plants. Our chat takes us via Rednex and Supergrass to How 2, Countdown, filming Will Smith in a submarine and why Carol Vorderman is great. If you’re in the UK, you can watch the episode of Private Life of Plants we’re discussing here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00780vh 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min

About Who Moved the Tortoise?

From the publisher's feed

Conversations with science and wildlife filmmakers about the films, TV shows - and other stuff - that inspired them to make films about science and nature. Presented and produced by Alex Hemingway and…