Miss Me? - FIRE HORSE S**T

Episode Date: February 19, 2026

Miquita Oliver catches up with Jordan Stephens in Thailand to discuss the blurred lines of reality TV, the emotional pull of teen drama nostalgia and the ancient origins of the Olympics. Credits: Pr...oducer: Jonathan O’Sullivan Technical Producer: Oliver Geraghty Assistant Producer: Caillin McDaid Production Coordinator: Rose Wilcox Executive Producer: Dino Sofos Commissioning Producer for BBC: Jake Williams Commissioners: Dylan Haskins & Lorraine OkuefunaMiss Me? is a Persephonica production for BBC Sounds

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. If there was a big rent button that would just demolish the internet, I would smash that button with my forehead. From the BBC, this is the interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work, your politics, your everyday life. And all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode of Miss Me contains very strong language, adult themes,
Starting point is 00:00:44 and that sweet, sweet heat of Thailand. Hello and welcome to Miss Me. Good old Miss Me. Always there when you need it. Like an old friend that you can rely on. Because you know what? The other day I was like, how can people still? Be interested in any shit, I have to say.
Starting point is 00:01:17 And then I listened to something that's been on for a really long time. I can't even remember what it was. And I was like, oh, I'm not listening to this hoping for some big exciting change or something new. It's like the familiarity of just hearing these two people talk. And I was like, I guess maybe that's why people might miss me. A hundred percent. Well, that's odd that you've only just concluded that. It's like a home comfort.
Starting point is 00:01:43 Oh, yeah. Yeah, I get it. We don't even really have to talk about anything. We've got so much, so much to discuss after this turbulent weekend and week. I mean, I doubt it was that turbulent in Thailand. What's going on? In Thailand. Yeah. What's wrong?
Starting point is 00:01:58 No, no, it's nothing wrong at all. It's just like, it's like, it's just the whole experience for me. It's been a lot emotionally, I think. Oh. It's just been, yeah, a little bit. Like, is it obvious? Yeah, a little bit. I don't know how I'm appearing.
Starting point is 00:02:13 You seem like you're blissed out, but probably it's not just that. Yeah, it's bliss, but it's bliss that, you know, it's conflicting just because I've had like various experiences in a lot. I mean, literally, yeah, literally since we last recorded where I just have been left with like thoughts and feelings that are like both wonderful and sometimes sad. So I've been confronting. Yeah, so. Yeah, I had a very confronting week last week.
Starting point is 00:02:41 And also people have been saying that there's a lot of acceleration. I will not, I will not talk about the firehorse on a podcast because it has been taken from me and bastardised by the gods. When I say the gods, I mean social media. What do you mean? It's already basic to talk about it now. The fact that it's going to be the year of the horse. I literally saw Tommy from Tawi talking about it.
Starting point is 00:03:06 He's like, think about the fire horse, yeah? I was like, okay, I think I'm done. What, that's too far? Yeah, it wasn't an expected spiritual guru for me, but I've actually been watching him quite a lot, really listening to what he's saying. He's understanding numerology here, and I'm listening. My mum, my mum's just sent me a thing about a fire horse.
Starting point is 00:03:28 I told you, it's everywhere. I told you, it's everywhere. It has been, let's just be honest, the fire horse has been bastardised and somewhat sodomized by the internet. So much so that Jordan's mom is even upsetting him. Why, oh shit, I told you. It's gone too far.
Starting point is 00:03:47 She just sent me how powerful the cyclist every 60 years. Oh, mate. Told you. I want to try and be, like, balanced and say, like, obviously it's okay if you have spiritual members of Love Island. However, the last clip I saw of Love Island was literally somebody trying to convince another person that Earth was flat still. And I just, I just can't.
Starting point is 00:04:06 Children, do not get your reality shows mixed up. I'm talking about Tawi. The only way is Essex. Oh, it's the same thing. It's not. I mean, isn't it? Okay, one's scripted. Scripted reality.
Starting point is 00:04:22 Yeah. Yeah, so they have to say, they have to say before some of the scenes have been scripted for dramatic purposes, but they don't say that in Love Island. Do you know what I sometimes think, though, when I watch their shows, I think, are they really good actors then? Because sometimes it's really natural. What? What are you talking about?
Starting point is 00:04:39 Sometimes it is actually like Sorry, okay, wait, hold on not No, sorry, okay, so this is so much They shouldn't be talking about this. They don't have lines. No, no, no. So I'm assuming what you mean, like the reactions that they have on it are real. Yes, yes. Yeah, I know a fake laugh
Starting point is 00:04:55 when I see one. So if you're in the show, right? You're with like what, 10 other people. I learned this because I hung out of a load of made in Chelsea people when I was younger. Oh, yeah. You know, there's 10, 15 people basically competing for screen time, right? So if you go out in Chelsea and you meet one of these other members of the cast and there's a vibe where you ring the producer and say, I fancy this person.
Starting point is 00:05:16 And then they will facilitate the actual first time that you'll tell them that. So the moment in itself is arguably real, but the way in which they've got there is what's constructed. And what's mad is people will then, because you're in that world, you will prevent yourself from having an authentic experience if it's not on camera. That's the most mind-blowing thing about it. Well, exactly, because what happens is it's not life-imitating art. It's like life-eating its own self because your intention, which, as we all know, is the most important way to live, what is your intention, is that being swayed by your ego, which is need for air time.
Starting point is 00:05:52 So it's like you're going to be making emotional decisions based on that Spencer. Okay. Which I definitely think he was for a lot of seasons. And by the way, I also hung out of Made in Chelsea people, and I think it's a lot of, for the same reason that we both did. What, drugs? No, Professor Green. Oh.
Starting point is 00:06:14 No, actually. That was, that happened. I was hanging out with them before. They were just about at the time. Oh, you're a loser. Oh, you're a total loser. Okay. No, it was the biggest reality show at the time.
Starting point is 00:06:24 So I'd always be out with these, and they're like, oh, we're going to this club and then you'd go to the club. You know what's interesting is, the fascinating thing about I find about reality television is that even though things are encouraged, formulated and set up, up, ultimately I think why people are fascinated by it, including myself, I'm obsessed of reaction videos on YouTube. I love watching videos of people watching videos, right? Gogglebox, a video of people watching television, right? But I think the reason why people love it is because it's the nearest thing we actually have to truth. Yes. For so long, you'd have to be an exceptional actor. For example,
Starting point is 00:06:59 we spoke about this in our previous listen bits, you know, in order to be able to break through that kind of veil. But in these moments, like, even if it's been... Constructed. Yeah, even if producers have been, like, go and talk to that person, if that person gets rejected, they're filming someone's heartbreak or they're filming someone kiss another person. And that's actually real.
Starting point is 00:07:18 That's like, that is... Yeah. That's true. Yeah, and that is addictive. And it's addictive. Yeah, and also that's why, because I'm just... This is all coming together now. So, like, because Spencer always broke up with girls on bridges.
Starting point is 00:07:29 It was quite weird. All the breakups were always on bridges. So now I know Spencer or whatever, we're going. go to the producer, I think I want to break up to Louise. And then they go, right, so we're filming on the bridge tonight, right? Yeah, stick it on a bridge. Stick it on the bridge. Him being a villain got him screen time, like, you know.
Starting point is 00:07:43 Exactly. It's just simple. It's not that deep. I just remembered that I'm hosting something tomorrow and literally interviewing Jamie Lang on the panel. So let's just pick up him quickly and severate him from when I said losers earlier. Again, Keats, obviously we've spoken about this previously, perhaps with other presenters present and I've spoken about it in my life.
Starting point is 00:08:04 It is, there's a transition that's happened, basically, where people who have made the name in reality are now given the opportunity to present, and sometimes that's awful, and sometimes it's great. I heard Vicki Patterson on Radio One other day. You know, like that, for me, that's confirmation that, you know, if you grasp you up to opportunity,
Starting point is 00:08:22 you can get there. As you honest, I didn't listen to enough to know, but she's got personality. She's got ban her, do I mean? She's, she's lovely. There you've got me. There you got me. Yeah, she is lovely.
Starting point is 00:08:32 I've met her, but there you go. personality times banter wasn't what used to make up a great broadcaster. It did used to be about other things. And that's fine. That's fine. Because I remember when I was younger, I saw pop stars do it as well. Pop career didn't work out. Everyone's suddenly a TV presenter.
Starting point is 00:08:47 Cool. It's not about. I like watching people go for opportunities and live their lives as big as big as they can. But if this is what broadcasting is about, which is less about skill and more about banter, I'm just not interested in being a broadcaster anymore. That's my point. Fuck sake. I miss woe.
Starting point is 00:09:03 Okay, sorry I miss Wogan. Terry Wogan. One of our greatest broadcasters ever. Why are the things intertwined? I can't have this conversation with you again. I can't believe that it's not just you feel that way and I feel this way. We'll just beg to differ. It's not about difference.
Starting point is 00:09:19 It's just that like some people are good broadcasters and some people are just like presenters who are just getting by. No, I disagree. I'm sorry, I disagree. It's not about good or bad. So the presenters are getting... It's about what is being made because of what's happening. Like from the inside out TV shows are mirroring what the presenters are bringing, which is banter. So everything is infantilised.
Starting point is 00:09:41 Okay, okay. Now, understand what you're saying. And I agree. However, for example, and I said this before, on Miss Me, Olivia Atwood's documentary series is genuinely amazing. We just don't agree. I don't think. Have you seen it? No.
Starting point is 00:09:57 Exactly. Watch. Watch. No, I'm being serious. No, I'll watch it. Watch her show. She's good. I don't think she's bad.
Starting point is 00:10:04 I'm not doing a huge generalisation. I don't know about her podcast. I don't know about however silly game shows. But when she investigates sex work, investigates money and investigates these things, she asks good questions. She puts herself in unhelpful positions. It reminds me of Louis Theroux. I'm being dead serious. Fucking hell.
Starting point is 00:10:23 I'm being, yes. I really mean that. I've watched every episode. All right. I see your point. This is what I mean about the evolution of how we engage with. the internet, reactions, Goggle, but all this stuff is because performance-based presenting,
Starting point is 00:10:37 I don't think it's as appealing anymore. You're real. Thank you. Thank you. But that was the appeal. And you know who made me real? A young man called Simon Amstall. Yeah, Simon fucking Amstall.
Starting point is 00:10:48 Who I went to see this weekend. I went to see stand-up. From his last show, it was almost reductive to call it stand-up. Thank you for saying that. Next-level shit, bro. That's right. Jordan, it was like enlightening and impactful. and kind of mind expanding and fucking hilarious.
Starting point is 00:11:08 And you know what? Because I've been doing all this work about receiving, like being really open to receive properly, that really mean that. And so I sat there and was like this, like arms crossed. And I was like, okay, all right, let's fucking hope this is funny. And then the first thing he says is, please welcome my, da-da-da.
Starting point is 00:11:24 And I was like, fuck, there's a, what's it called support act? And I was like, I wasn't prepared for him. What if he's not funny? Simon, I know. What if he's not funny? And I was like, open your arms up and receive. And he was hilarious. I can't remember his name, but I need to say it.
Starting point is 00:11:39 What does he look like? Why, do you know Stanlock comedians that well? Yeah. He was blonde and quite home counties, quite posh, and was very like, do you know what I mean? Ivo Graham? No, but I do know how that is and good guess. His name was John Tolkien or Tonkin. I saw Simon when I was doing this weird job.
Starting point is 00:11:59 I was doing like a weird money job. I saw him in Camden. I just love his energy so much. And I also saw him at my friend's birthday, but he's just like, I know, he's just like a special person. Obviously, I don't know what I'm saying this to you. You fucking know, you know what I mean? Some people have very special energies.
Starting point is 00:12:15 And when I watched his last show, plant medicine for me is like an incredibly intriguing and, like, fascinating space. And, you know, he did an entire show about the complex he had with himself about being considered special. And being a person who became famous at 19, a man, I was like, yes, I need to fucking hear this. I too have the same ridiculous fucking complex about being some kind of fucking special being.
Starting point is 00:12:43 And this is the guy who's, you know, this is the guy who's popular because he already transcended all of the fucking ego bullshit that was on telly and everyone loved him for it. And I just, I loved seeing that show. That's how I felt when I was watching the show Jordan. And I was like, what is it? What is it? What's the simple thing that he taught me that I still do that he does now? And it's what you were saying for. It's the truth.
Starting point is 00:13:06 Just like, just like Maine and Chelsea. It's the truth. The form of it, yeah. Yeah, definitely. And I don't know, I guess it's interesting for me because I watched him get, not better, but move and progress in himself through so many different processes. He wasn't like that when I first met him. He's been on like a whole fucking life journey, as we all have.
Starting point is 00:13:25 Yeah, I bet. And it's just amazing to watch. him shine like that. You were so excellent, my dear friend Simon, and I just wanted him to know that. It was great. I was really proud of myself. I went to see stand-up. I thought about you. I was like, Jordan would be proud of me right now, sitting here about to watch the comedy. Oh, yeah. I forgot that you don't find things about it. Yeah. Cynicism at as great as the extent. But the truth made me think about that part of television that I was part of with Pop World. And then I saw that James Vanderbeat from Dawson's Creek had died. And it really upset me. He's only 48.
Starting point is 00:13:59 That's about your era. That's right in your era that. So if I sing something, you join in. I don't want to wait for our last to be over. I want to know right now. Yeah? Yeah, of course. Keigh Holmes.
Starting point is 00:14:13 Come on. What are we talking about? Ozzie Fancy Joey. I actually didn't fancy Joey. Joey was so fanciable. I don't think I'd reached sexual maturity at that point. I was just like watching humans. Oh, yeah, because Dawson's Creek was on when I was like 14.
Starting point is 00:14:26 I just didn't know what the fuck was going on. I just remember being entranced by his curtains. Entrance by his curtains. Okay. So this is what was going on. This guy called Kevin Williamson. Are you about to explain Dawson's Creek to me? I'm going to explain what I think it was so impactful.
Starting point is 00:14:41 Great. Because everyone's suddenly like, I don't want to wear. I just sang it with Natty and Beth in hair and makeup and they both did exactly what you did. I'm like, why is it so impactful? Because there's been loads of young teen television shows. And this guy called Kevin Williamson wrote these teenagers. like they were kind of narky therapists from like New York. Grownups.
Starting point is 00:15:02 He basically wrote them like they were grownups. Yeah, it wasn't patronizing. And they said things like, Darsen, your conspiracy theory is flawed. I said things like that. Really? Yeah, it was very like New Yorkie, back and forth dialogue, kind of not patronizing.
Starting point is 00:15:18 Sharp. Sharp is a good word. It was sharp. And he always says that he wrote himself. Kevin Williamson was Darson. And I think that's why it really Although for me, my so-called life actually was the first That was written brilliantly, first kind of teen show
Starting point is 00:15:35 But Dawson's Creek, I think that's what made it so big And then, of course, open the doors for someone like Josh Schwartz To make the OC. I loved the OC. So Rachel Bilsson, Summer. That's your crush. That was my first. That's so good.
Starting point is 00:15:51 She's a lyric and done with the trumpets. Shut up. I make a record like Wilson tracks in a summer like Rachel Billson. And you know what's so mad is she's got her own podcast now. And when we came back, I thought, I should just hit her up. Like, and just be like, yo, our biggest song for the last 15 years, you're the second lyric. But I never got around to it.
Starting point is 00:16:09 Why did you fancy her so much? I know she was beautiful, but did you like that she was like a bit of a bitch to Seth? No, it was, I was just, I was just reflective of the environment I was in. It was, you know, like I was forming a type to overcompensate for my low self-esteem. All right, Jordan, fucking. I'm going to fucking hell. I'm trying to have a nice time. Summer, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:16:30 Firstly, I love the name Summer. That's actually a big, that's a big part of it. Did I like she was a bit of a bitch? Yeah, maybe. I don't know. She was good. I think Melissa. Marissa.
Starting point is 00:16:40 Oh, Marissa was hot. And then actually when Olivia Wilde came in, I was like, all right, cool. She was hot too. That was my era. OC. 902 or no remake. That was my. Yes.
Starting point is 00:16:52 For Shaw, 902 or no remake. I like that. That was my show. shit, but which is, what the craziest part of 90210 remake is that the black guy in it, his original role is playing a kid in The Wire and the contrast of characters is out of this world. And I saw, I saw 902101 first and then when I watched The Wire, and for anybody who, I really confidently do not want to ruin anything, but for anybody who watched, his name in the wire
Starting point is 00:17:17 is Michael, I don't even know what the fuck his name is a 90210, but his character is fucking sick. What is it? The Wire. Yeah, well, like, what? What is it about it that makes us still having to try that. See how you feel about Dawson's Creek? This is how I feel. This is your Dawson's Creek.
Starting point is 00:17:35 I'll try and concisely explain what I think is so revolutionary about the wire. Please. So why the wire for me is the best series of all time, people say Sopranos, I haven't finished it yet, but Spronos is good. But the wire is that, like, firstly, if you pitched the wire now, ironically, people would complain that it was too woke. That's what I find so funny. because you're essentially following a incredibly flawed white male detective who is not that good at his job
Starting point is 00:18:03 and he has a black lesbian police colleague who's good at her job you have like the best lawyer in the show is a woman the head of the police station is a is a black man and also in the show half of the show is you following the police who you kind of care about but the other half of the show is you're following the criminals that the police are trying to capture So the whole time, you're actually split as to who it is that you are aligning with. Right. And the best gangster in the show, the most legendary gangster, is called Omar, RIP, the actor, he died actually recently. And he's gay. Wow.
Starting point is 00:18:40 Shit. Okay. He's like, like, and that time in early 90s would have been like, he's like a bad boy. He used to, he does this whistle before he shows up and everyone runs and he's got this shotgun and he's this long leather jet. And then in like the second series or something, you just see him and his boyfriend. And you're just like, okay. You know, and then and you're like, what? What?
Starting point is 00:19:01 Because you've already established the masculine coding. So men watching it would, anyway, I love it. But so the point is, it's, no, no, I hear you. It's brilliant. And the quick thing I got to say about the wire is there's a thing that happens to the wire where people stop watching after season two. Because the main character of the wire is Baltimore. That's the main character is the city.
Starting point is 00:19:20 So the first season, you meet the police and the gangsters. and then the second season you go to the docks and you see where the drugs come in. But because these are new characters, sometimes it gets a bit like, and it's very slow and people just drop off. If you go from three to five, like when the show ended, I honestly grieved.
Starting point is 00:19:38 It's literally like I'd lost the close friends. Okay, maybe, I mean, I remember people being very into it and very upset when it ended, so maybe there's something there for me. But times change, but the thing that's different about it now is that, like, the way we watch television is different.
Starting point is 00:19:51 It's very slow. they don't try and make it easy for you to understand. They speak with thick, bottom more accents. They use coding and there's no like exposition. Good, Jordan. I'm not here to be pacified. I'm down. No, I know, but we are being pacified.
Starting point is 00:20:06 Do you know what I mean? There's no exposition. There's barely any exposition. And there's so many classic scenes. Oh, it's just that and like the leftovers, which is another bit of a niche series. It's like, I love shows that just push people's concept of morality and ethics. Like, yes, you're rooting for a drug deal.
Starting point is 00:20:23 Yeah, but that's important, I think, to try and, I hate when people say play the devil's advocate, but just like test yourself. I was listening to something the other day about how when humans do terrible things, the reason it scares us so much is because something that is us did something that we know we are capable of. Yeah. And I was like, yeah, that's why we like to get so close to it, I think, and dissect it. And I think we fuck with ourselves when we find ourselves, for instance, backing the baddie or going, like, you know, supporting the drug dealer. It's like, why, there is something in all of us. I think as a society, we're starting to be done with this shit. To be honest, I think that's why Penguin was such a successful series.
Starting point is 00:20:59 Last year, you know, a popular Batman villain. Where does Penguins pain come from? Well, yeah, because it's just like, I just feel like the hero stories are just a load of shit. I wanted to do heroes for Listen, bitch. Do it. Like, I think people are done, bro. These people are fucking lame. Think about it.
Starting point is 00:21:15 We're in the world right now, yeah. We're growing wealth inequality all over the world, right? More and more billionaires popping up every day, every year, whatever. Not one vigilante. Not one. Like all the films. There's so many films where these people are like, we need to protect justice in this world.
Starting point is 00:21:34 I will use my resources. Like, in truth, it should be Elon Musk, and he's literally the worst one. Welcome to the real wild children. Put a suit on and fight for what's right, you know? Like everyone's, oh, the Avengers got fight aliens. No, Rubei, like, if I was a billionaire, trust me, I'll be in the mountains of Tibet, seven years minimum.
Starting point is 00:21:52 I'm coming back. I'm dressed as a ninja. I can move silently at night. You know? The nearest we've had to vigilante in London is people spraying Ulaz cameras. We did the terrifying rise of what men do with their power last week. So let's have a little break.
Starting point is 00:22:09 Let's have a little break. And let's not repeat ourselves. Doesn't have to be a man. No. What do we all do with our power? Could be Rihanna. I've been talking about this all week. What do you do with your power?
Starting point is 00:22:19 and how do you learn to harness it in the right way. But let's have a break, and then we'll come back and talk about the Winter Olympics. Have you even seen it? I watched about 45 seconds of curling. That'll do! If there was a big rent button that would just demolish the internet, I would smash that button with my forehead. From the BBC, this is the interface,
Starting point is 00:22:47 the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about 10. tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work, your politics, your everyday life, and all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, welcome back. Hello, guys. Winter Olympics. I do not seem to be that bothered. Do you know what? I didn't really care either, but if you're here right now, at home, it's huge. What, in the UK? Everyone's watching it. Yeah. Feels really uniting.
Starting point is 00:23:30 Well, sports were cool, I guess. Yeah, but people are like watching figure skating. Oh, to be fair, that is quite cool. I think I'm not proactively interested, but now you say it, I was going along a, like a, I guess I called a strip near by my hotel, and the curling was on. Curling's fascinating. In fact, I thought it would be a cool opportunity for you to do history,
Starting point is 00:23:50 McKee, I here because literally why is curling invented? Street of curling. There's something that's so. meditational about watching these men and women avidly brush ice. Oh my God, it's Scottish. It's Scourbbing Ice. 1511. It's wild, man. Originated in the 16th century, played on frozen ponds and locks. Brilliant. That I find quite exciting to watch just because it's the intensity of the scrubbing. Jesus, it was an official Winter Olympics sport in 1924. I mean, that's something that's something I love about the Olympics. I love the sort of historical feeling within it. The Olympics as a concept is incredible.
Starting point is 00:24:32 Incredible. Can you imagine them getting this together in the 20s? When was the first Olympics? I'm sure the history, wait, I'm going to try and, if I get this, I'll be buzzing. I feel like. Okay, you tell me. No, no, no. I don't know when the first Olympics was, but I'm sure the beginning of the Olympics is to do with a, I want to say, like a Greek person delivering a message like that. And it was like a certain distance, like they had to run or walk, like a certain distance, to deliver a message, which is why Olympics begins with like a torch procession. Oh, wow. I wish I knew all this. I don't know if that's true.
Starting point is 00:25:08 How old do you think it is, though? Because I was way off. Like literally like 400 AD or something. 776 BC. Oh, B. Before Christ. Oh, sorry. I meant B.C.
Starting point is 00:25:19 So, yeah. Before Christ. Isn't that a little early? No. Honestly, Keith, how programmed do we have to be? I feel like that's still just a little early for the rest. They don't even know what I love about Thailand. They don't even have the same years as us here.
Starting point is 00:25:34 It's over 500 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar, which I find quite relaxing and relieving. Remember when we were talking, though, in Sri Lanka? We were talking about like, you know, the Gregorian calendar. Naiman was really talking to me about the other day, and she was like, it's a construct. I was like, yeah, no, I know. But it's like, when you really think about it.
Starting point is 00:25:51 It's like, God, it really is just something someone decided. Well, there is, I thought that too as well with the days, but there's also like beneath that, like, quite incredible calculations to make the year as close. You know, the fact that we have leap years is basically, it's nearly perfect. How we have time things is nearly perfect. However, the greater question is, does it fucking matter?
Starting point is 00:26:13 That's the actual other question. It's like, yes, there are seasons and there are years. Yeah, even a bit of a time as a construct kind of emotional place. No, no, but I literally mean it. Like the reasons as to why we have those days and times. Like the sunrise is, the sunsets and then seasons change. Yeah, but that's what they do say about the Gregorian calendar. They're like, you shouldn't say we shouldn't force ourselves to start the year in January.
Starting point is 00:26:38 Maybe that's why everyone's so hyped about this fucking firehorse, because it has been a tricky beginning of year for a lot of people, a lot of shedding, a lot. And I don't want to get into snake versus horse because every, I imagine every podcast in the world. Well, you need to let it go. because you're the horse. Sorry, I'm just trying to now see when the Chinese calendar originated. But let's just quickly go back to the first Olympics
Starting point is 00:26:58 because it is wind on Olympics time. It is absolutely the time. Okay, so it started as a religious festival dedicated to Zeus featuring a single 192 metre foot race. That was it. It was a race. Oh, yeah. So maybe that gifting was part of that race.
Starting point is 00:27:15 No, no, no, no. Can you look up origins of the Olympic torch, please? Okay. I've held it, by the way. Why? I did part of the Olympic, the eastborn leg of the Olympic torch run when we were, when... What, in 2012? Yeah, in 2012.
Starting point is 00:27:29 I've got an Olympic torch at home. No, the torch thing is slightly different. 1936, Berlin Summer Games introduced the tradition of transporting a flame kindled in Olympia. I refer yours. You'll love this. I'm doing a Keats right now. I found out what I meant. Okay.
Starting point is 00:27:44 What I was talking about was the history of the marathon. Which was introduced at the first ever Olympic Games. So according to legends, after the Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, in 490 BC, a Greek messenger named P.D.S. Was tasked with running from the battlefield to Athens to announce the victory. He reportedly ran about 26 miles to Athens without stopping. Upon reaching the city, he famously shouted, we've won, we conquer. And then in the story, apparently, he collapsed and died from exhaustion. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:28:19 Whoa. It's not explicitly linked to the ancient Olympic Games but was the direct inspiration for the marathon race introduced at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Wow, this is the shit. That was like being sung a lullaby. That's a bit of you that. Okay, maybe we're being naive,
Starting point is 00:28:36 but that's mind-blowing and very exciting. As someone who ran the London Marathon. That's really cool. Completed it when I was 30 years old. I love that. So it's called Marathon because, it was at the battle of marathon. Yes.
Starting point is 00:28:51 I think we're done today, you know. We're done. We're absolutely, that's some good shit to end on. I love you. I'm really happy that you're on this adventure. You're really happy that were? That you're on this adventure. Well, we can talk about it more in depth.
Starting point is 00:29:05 Privately? Off the podcast. Should we do that? Should we have a private conversation? Well, no, I don't want to listen to feel like I wouldn't share, I would share everything, but we know it depends on the questions that are asked, and I'm sure this will be with me for a long time. but I also do want to finish where we began
Starting point is 00:29:21 reminding you that we've just provided how many people with a home comfort and that's really lovely I hope so we 100% have and I have friends who really listen to this every time it drops So do I
Starting point is 00:29:32 shout out to all of you, thank you Big up all you and for every person that ever stops me and says I'm listening to Miss Me right now I love that, I love when people do that feel free to always do that to me Okay we must go We have Listen Bitch on Monday
Starting point is 00:29:45 The theme is love part do. Double love. And I really want to find, I'm going to probably say part two in lots of different languages just to keep it spicy. We'll see for listen bitch.
Starting point is 00:29:57 Bye! Thanks for listening to Miss Me. This is a Pasofonica production for BBC Sounds. Hello, I'm Jack. And I'm Rosie. And we are two of the hosts of Lunchbox envy,
Starting point is 00:30:15 a food podcast from the makers of QI and no such thing as a fish. Each week we dive into a different dish or ingredient and uncovered tons of fabulous foody facts about the history, science and culture behind food and drink. For example, did you know that the Aztecs enjoyed a dollop of peanut butter on their roasted grasshoppers? Or that it was a 12-year-old boy who figured out how to grow vanilla on farms. So if you want to find out how avocado trees are bisexual or what the first ever meal eaten on the moon was, then Lunchbox, NB, is the podcast for you.
Starting point is 00:30:47 Listen now on BBC Sounds. If there was a big rent button that would just demolish the internet, I would smash that button with my forehead. From the BBC, this is the interface, the show that explores how tech is rewiring your week and your world. This isn't about quarterly earnings or about tech reviews. It's about what technology is actually doing to your work, your politics, your everyday life, and all the bizarre ways people are using the internet. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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