Suggestible - The Rings of Power

Episode Date: October 13, 2022

Suggestible things to watch, read and listen to. Hosted by James Clement @mrsundaymovies and Claire Tonti @clairetonti.This week’s Suggestibles:04:39 Hot Department: Dark Web09:02 Light & Magic16:25 TONTS. Podcast20:15 Ben Ingvarson bingsbeats24:22 My Mind (cover) by Priscilla Stanley26:20 Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power57:50 Hasan Minhaj: The King's JesterSend your recommendations to [e-mail], we’d love to hear them.You can also follow the show on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook @suggestiblepod and join our ‘Planet Broadcasting Great Mates OFFICIAL’ Facebook Group. So many things. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Uber Teen Accounts. Invite your teen to join your Uber account today. Available in select locations. See app for details. Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing. That fly that you thought you killed is back. Oh, no. It's circling.

It's got a knife. Should we stop? No, it's fine. It's the killer fly. We've got to get on with it, Claire. What else are we, you know? You've just cracked open a drink's the killer fly. We've got to get on with it, Claire. What else are we, you know? You've just cracked open a drink. That's right.

I've got a cool beverage. You've personified. Is that the right word for it? A fly. I don't know what you're going to say. Oh, yeah, sorry. Hello. This is Suggestible, a podcast where we recommend you things to watch,

read, and listen to. My name is Claire Tonti. James Clement is here also. We are married. I always sing bing bong at the start inexplicably. And then we get cracking with some recommendations. I think it's very inexplicable. Is it?

You've gone mad. I've gone mad. I have. I remember last week. I love holding your feet to the fire, Claire, for a thing that you haven't done. I'm not consistent ever. I know.

So I like doing that. That's what I like doing. So last week we ended Sub Turtles on a real low when you were asked to bring in something. I feel like maybe it was actually real high. And you disrespected everybody who listens to this show. You disrespected me. And worst of all, you disrespected yourself.

Okay. I disagree. Did you or did you not ask me to bring in something Ninja Turtles? You said anything. Unbelievable. And I think that I actually was very in the vein and brand of Claire Totti by bringing in a rap and then rapping. That's like going to somebody's birthday and forgetting

and then you're like, oh, what do I have? And you open and you go into your pockets and you pull out a receipt. How long have you known me? A million years. Like 17 years or something. You know I am a last-minute loosey-goosey woman, but inexplicably, as the word seems to be of this episode, I tend to usually pull everything together at the last minute

and it's awesome. That's funny you should say that because last week, and we have it on record, so Colleen hopefully, who edits this, can put in a clip. We got a letter, a lovely email from somebody who said you should, about Project Hail Mary, a lovely email from somebody who said you should about Project Hail Mary, a book that I've read. You said.

You forgot to remind me. Oh, I forgot to remind you. And you said I'm going to read that this week. And I said, no, you're not. And you said, no, I will. Anyway, colleagues, here's the clip. Put it in here. You couldn't handle a book like this, Claire.

I can handle it. It's too intellectual for you. Oh, goodness gracious. All right. You couldn't handle a book like this, Claire. I can handle it. It's too intellectual for you. Oh, goodness gracious me. All right. You homework task. Read this book before next week. Fine. I will.

I actually will. Don't say that, Claire. Don't say that. I will. Yes, I will. And anyway, so now it's next week. Our time has moved forward. It is Lydia.

And how was the book that you definitely read, Claire? Oh, no. Let's see you ninja rap your way out of this one. My name is Claire and I love to share many things about gardening. There's no rap. There's no rap. Oh, I haven't read the book. Oh, this is real cooked.

I'm really sorry. Do you know what is so crazy about this is that not only did I not read the book, I did not remember anything about what you were going to say until the end of the statement where you reminded me. Oh, I know. And you knew. Yeah. And at no point during the week did you even remotely suggest it. Well, no, actually I was listening to last week's episode today

because I thought at some point because you were going to recommend something that you didn't do, so I was going to remind you of, hey, you've got a thing left over. That's why I thought you were going to remind me because I've got that and I was going to be like, sweet, sweet, sweet. But as I was listening, I heard that part and I'm like, oh, I said to myself like this. You're always laughing like that just weirdly alone in a room.

I'm going to give you an out, okay? Oh, by shaming me publicly on a podcast first. Yes, that's right. So you can double down and say you're going to read it by next week. Yes. Or you could say I will not read this book. God damn it, I'm going to read the bloody book. I'm going to do it. I have to do it. You're so busy. It's my book. God damn it. I'm going to read the bloody book. I'm going to do it.

I have to do it. You're so busy. It's my pride. Just say no. No, I have to read it now. I say no to so much shit. I say no to literally everything. I know, but that's because you're a miserable son of a bitch.

Yeah, I know. And I am a positive person. I am time hopeful. I always think I can do more than I can. Do you feel positive? I'm always like. Do you feel good now? Yes. No, I feel shackled. I feel shackled can do more than I can. Do you feel positive? I'm always like. Do you feel good now? Yes.

No, I feel shackled. I feel shackled. You feel good making a declaration. I don't even remember what the bloody book is called. Exactly. Well, I'm going to leave that up to you. No. It's called Project Hail Mary.

Oh, Lord. This is a Project Hail Mary. It certainly is. But there's a Hail Mary pass happening. I can tell I'm going to save it. You're not even going to like it. Project Hail Mary. Luckily for you, I read very quickly. Yeah, that's very lucky for me. I feel so

fortunate. You should. In all of this. You should. Anyways, let's get on with it. Let's get on with your actual suggestion. Can I actually talk about the thing I was going to talk about last week that I didn't talk about? I mean, it doesn't seem fair. This is right up your alley. Really? It's right up your hush little hands. Okay. I don't know if that makes any sense. My goodness. This is called Hup Department, Dark Web. Hup Department?

Hot Department. Oh, okay. You've heard of these dudes, haven't you? I don't think so. And women, actually, these two together. So Hot Department, Dark Web is an eight-part Australian sketch comedy web series made by Melbourne comedy duo Hot Department, Honor Wolf and Patrick Dernan-Silva with Liam Fitzgibbon. I know this because I'm subscribed to this YouTube channel because it's the Grouse House, it's Aunty Donna's production company,

and they're currently producing Finding Yeezus, which is an incredible documentary series we've talked about on the Weekly Planet, and those guys also did Finding Drago previously in another podcast. Anyway, yeah, I know I know this but I haven't watched it so please. It's so good. So it's mixing sketch with, and this is a little awkward, spoiler, warning alert, not spoiler, warning alert if you have little ears, maybe this isn't appropriate.

It's a little rude. It's ruder than my usual suggestions. My goodness. Mixing sketch with mutual masturbation. What? I don't know why I couldn't say that word. Anyway, and musical theatre. Hot department is a sexually dysfunctional comedy duo

with deep trauma and a validation addiction. Oh, I love a validation addiction. The series also features, as you mentioned, our favourite Broden Kelly from Aunty Donna. Big fan. Mark Bonanno. I don't know why I say it like Mark. Mark.

I said it like, hey, Mark. Mark. Mark. Mark. Anyway, Mark Bonanno. I don't know how I say it like Mark. I said it like, hey, Mark. Mark. Mark. Mark. Anyway, Mark Bonanno. Zachary Ruin, also from Auntie Donna. Ruin. It's Ruin.

Ruin. You've met him. He's been to our house. I know. I know. There's something wrong with my brain. Michelle Brazier and Reese Nicholson as well, who I also love. So it's just, it's so great.

I wanted to talk briefly about the very first episode because I just think it's my favourite. It's just, I love it so much because Honor Wolf and Patrick Durnham are in it as sort of Durnham Silver, are the two leads. It basically opens like an episode of Call the Midwife and it just is a reminder of like sad, sad women in history. I love sad women in history.

But it is also very funny. Rhys Nicholson plays the nun and they're two like kind of friends. Like I don't know if you've watched a lot of Call the Midwife, but basically there's a lot of them being in a boarding house together and they're all like in their 90s, in the 1940s I'd say, so maybe the 1930s. And they're always like smoking their 90s, in the 1940s I'd say, so maybe the 1930s. And they're always like smoking a cigarette and listening to records and saying things like, oh, darling, will you put that on?

I'm going to put my curlers in now. Oh, we better not let the nuns see us. And, you know, that kind of vibe. And skipping around the room. So that's the sort of like vibe of the sketch. But it very quickly kind of descends into sort of this like sort of like queer relationship between the two women and then Reese Nixon keeps coming in as this like omnipresent sort

of like authority figure. And it kind of has juxtaposition with them like writing letters and stuff. It doesn't sound funny but it's so hilarious. I mean everybody involved in that is incredible. It's absurd and weird and dark and it's just it manages to walk this really fine line of being really hilarious and weird and unsettling and kind of sexually charged and a bit about masturbation and commentary about like being queer and not being able to articulate your

own feelings and nostalgia for like being young and kind of exploring your sexuality and not really sure even what that is at that point. And so there's a bit of innocence in it too. And then it also weirdly, I was really moved because it just reminded me of how bloody trapped women are in history overall as, um, you know. Good thing everything's all are in history. Sure. Overall. Good thing everything's all right now though. Yeah, correct. Exactly.

So anyway, I recommend it. It is quite weird and absurdist which makes me think you will love it particularly. Yeah. So that's called Hot Department Dark Web. I'm going to check that out 100 times, Claire. And I know because it's weird and awful and you will love it. I love a weird, awful thing. But those guys are so clever. I agree.

I'm glad Auntie Donna are producing stuff. It's really cool. So they're using their powers to do more stuff. They are correct. It's awesome. They're cool people. Alright, over to you. Well, I love recommending things. I come to the show and I say, here's something that I want to recommend. And this week, Claire. Oh, God. Can you just get on with things?

I'm just spinning my wheels. You're talking about flies and opening soft drinks. Weird. You brought that up. Anyway, this is a docu-series, six episodes on Disney+. It's called Light and Magic. Color. Magic.

Claire. Sound. What's it called? Light and Magic. Oh, it is called Light and Magic. This is weird. You're bringing in the light and magic and I'm bringing in the dark, weird, absurdist stuff.

It's true. Academy Award winning filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan, who you might know as one of the key writers on Empire Strikes Back and some of the more new Star Wars movies, he's also directed the movie Dreamcatcher. There you go. I absolutely did not know any of that, but thank you. He's great.

He takes viewers on an adventure behind the curtains of industrial light and magic, the special visual effects, animation, and virtual production division of Lucasfilm. So it recognizes a bunch of key players from across the decades of this company, including Phil Tippett, who's known for his amazing stop motion Claire, among other things. Joe Johnston, who started, he designed Boba Fett but ended up as a director.

He did, I think he did Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and he also did one Captain America, first one. Patricia Rose, sorry, Patricia. Oh, God. Patricia Rose Dugan. Is your brain broken? I don't know. What's happening?

Dugan, it's a hard name to say. Steve Williams, a bunch of other names in there that if you know anything about like special effects industry, like people will hear those names and go, oh, my God, incredible. So this company was founded in 1975 by George Lucas, and the reason he founded Industrial Light and Magic Claire and kicked it off is because when he went to make Star Wars, he needed special effects, and nobody really did special effects.

Like there wasn't like an in-house kind of team to do it you know like they'd done some space stuff in the past but it was pretty shonky there was some like 2001 a space odyssey did some but he needed like fast movement and lasers and puppets and you know creatures and stop motion and you know i mean all of these different things and they and so that's how this company started And it starts with like a group of students and oddbods who we kind of got together and they do things like they made like the Death Star, you know, like the surface of the Death Star and then to get the shots of like, you know, things flying past,

they would drive past it in a ute with like a camera on the back and just like film the top of the Death Star as they like sped past it. So it starts off again, yeah, with things like stop motion. You know what stop motion is, right? Stop motion animation. I do know. Yes, yes, yes. And like puppets and like rear screen projection and very early blue screen

and things like that. Is that why those special effects actually kind of look better in a way because they're more grounded? It depends. Like there's a lot of stuff from that era that is like not good. It's really about the time, generally the special effects that you put into it. In the artistry, obviously, but often if you see like a bad special effect, it's usually down to budget and time.

It's not normally the person's fault who made it generally. There's exceptions to that. And then it moves up from like the 70s and the 80s into the digital era, like the first digital character on screen, which is a stained glass man who like jumps off the wall into like morphing, you know, like Terminator 2, like the first digital character on screen, which is a stained glass man who like jumps off the wall into like morphing, you know, like Terminator 2, like the liquid metal effect. And then up through dinosaurs doing like a physical, like breathing creature, which had never been done before.

And then into like mocap and digital people and characters, which is obviously really difficult to do, but they pioneered a lot of that. And then like the volume, which is kind of goes back to like the early days of free screen projection, where you basically stand with a huge screen behind you and it like – it's like standing in front of a big TV and the background is behind you. Does that make sense? Yeah.

So it's all of that. So I like all the old like practical stuff. Like that's the stuff that I find more interesting. That's not to say that there's more artistry in that because it's all like – all of this is like takes incredible skill. It's incredible what they can do now, honestly. Oh, amazing. Really.

But I love seeing like the physical props and sets and like the pre-digital kind of stuff of like how do you make a spaceship if you don't have like a computer? You know what I mean? Yeah. How do you make it convincing? Like I love all of that stuff and make like miniatures and blow them up so they look really big and, you know,

and all of these different things I really like. And, you know, what are they called? I can't remember what's the name of it. I've completely blanked on the name. But basically if you needed a background of a shot, like you needed like in a set, look like a set would extend forever, matte paintings. They'd paint a matte painting which they then lay over the film

so it looks like there's a futuristic city in the background. Does that make sense? Yeah. I have to show you. Yeah, it's like Wizard of Oz. Yeah, exactly. It's exactly like Wizard of Oz. The Emerald City.

Yeah, exactly. It's really great. It's really cool because I was researching a thing that I'm – a video I'm going to put out in a while. The stuff I was looking for, that wasn't – Something you're making now? No, no. This is a different thing.

Oh, a different thing. Am I allowed to mention that? No. I have an idea for a short film that I'm like I think I might be able to do this but I'm also like I don't know if I've got the time or if I even want to do it. It's really great and you had it in kind of a dream and then just came into me while I was getting ready for bed

and was just like this is it. And it terrified me. I think I've got an idea and I told ready for bed and was just like, this is it. And it terrified me. I think I've got an idea and I told you the idea and you were like, ah. The whole way through I was like terrified, which obviously means I think it's a really great idea. Also, I would probably never watch it because it's too scary for me. Yeah. So I don't know whether I'm going to do it or not,

but I think I could do it. I don't know. I don't know whether it would be good, but I could do it. I think it would be excellent. Yeah. But if people want me to do it, send me money. Send me a bunch of money. No think I could do it. I don't know. I don't know whether it would be good, but I could do it. I think it would be excellent. Yeah, but if people want me to do it, send me money. Send me a bunch of money. No, I'm just joking. But no, Light and Magic, it's really good.

If you like any of that stuff, if you have an interest in even any of those movies, like the look that they've worked on, you know, from Star Wars through the 80s of like, you know, and basically every tentpole film that you kind of know they've worked on, like Jurassic Park, Avatar, you know, Indiana Jones, all of these things, they worked on all of them. That would be so fascinating actually. And now there's like a thousand of these companies

and they're all like underpaid and overworked and it's really terrible, you know, because it's like the whole thing is like unions and pay disputes. And like, for example, the company that made The Tiger in Life of Pi and did the special effects, they accepted the Oscar. I think that was like the day after they got shut down. They got bankrupt by this thing. And that's not uncommon.

Because that tiger is insane. It looks good. You'd look at it and you'd go, that's a real tiger. And I don't like seizure animals, but that one was a good one. It's a good one. So, yeah, I just think it's even if, you know, if you've got an interest in filmmaking but I wouldn't even say that. I just think it's really.

Just a regular Joe blog. Just a regular Joe blog. Hey, I know I'm going to recommend something else now but just before I do, I have to say I really think you should make this idea. I really, really do. And because as I've talked to you before, I feel like ideas visit people and if they don't get made by that person, they'll like chuff along somewhere else. And it's such a cool idea that I really think it's got legs and it'll walk along. So I think you are the person to make

it and I think it'd be really fun and cool. I mean, at the very least I could make it and make a bad version of it. So if somebody else tries to make it later, they can't because they're like, oh, some idiot already did this idea. Don't put that in the universe. You have to tell the idea. You have to welcome it in and you have to tell it. You're going to give it your best shot. I have 100% faith in the idea. I really do. And I would give it to somebody good and be like, hey,

I think this is an idea. I think you could make this. I don't have these ideas often, by the way. But, yeah, I don't know. We'll see. It is so interesting like that. I love this discussion because I was talking to a poet, Tim Loveday, on the show.

Yes. And he had this thing with poetry. Your show taunts you talking about your wonderful interview show. Oh, gosh, yes, this interview show. Yes, the one that I do, shameless promotion, clang. Anyway, Tim was saying that he doesn't believe in lightning strikes. He thinks they're very rare and that actually art is mostly just slog. Like you just sit there and you're just slogging it out.

I'd agree. And that it very rarely happens with a lightning strike. But I feel like, I sort of feel like it's a bit more magical than that. I feel like maybe the lightning strike happens and then you have to work really hard to pull it out. Yeah, this one was like I woke up with an idea and then I went, I should write that down. I went, oh, shit, I'm tired, and I went back to sleep.

And then when you wake up and you think you either can't remember it or you remember the thing and you're like, that's actually bad. Yeah, it's usually bad, yeah. And then I'm like, no, I think this one actually might be something. Like it was just like a nugget of an idea. And then like the next couple of days I didn't like write anything down. I just kind of like mulled it over. You didn't tell me that.

And I was like, and then I'd already like mapped out most of it except for the ending, which you helped me with. Yeah. When you say helped, came up with the genius idea that will win you the Oscar for the short film. For the shortest film. 43 seconds. It fascinates me so much because I think the thing that you're really good at is storytelling.

Like one of the reasons I reckon The Weekly Planet and all the things do pretty well is because you have this ability to retell a story in a way that's really compelling but also very straight up. Like you don't put too much waffle into it, but it's somehow you're just a really good storyteller. And your mum has that same skill, I've noticed, because she will retell a book she's reading or a TV show and she just really gets you in on it.

And maybe partly because of your enthusiasm for a story because you love a story. Who wants a boring story? Yeah, but even stories from your life, I feel like you tell them really well and I think you get that from your mum because she will retell a story really well. Whereas my dad will be like, yeah, one time I was driving a ute when I was eight.

He tells a great story too. Yeah, I know, but it's like my grandpa, like, and I, and I, and I went and he was a real bastard and I went over a bump in the ute and he like, and he flew out of the ute and landed in a ditch. And I'm like, what? What do you mean? That, when? Why, how do I not know this? That's the funniest story I've ever heard. He's like, oh yeah, I don't know. I love that story. No, both your parents actually are really great storytellers and I think that's where you get it from. Anyway, you should totally make this idea. Unlike me that came in here, just before I go on,

I am crippling with fear over this music album thing that I decided that I could do and be really lighthearted about. I'm like, let's just, you only live once. Let's just make something. That's true, you only live once. And now I'm in that horrible space in the middle of a thing where it's like, you know, that cycle. No, you're in that bad point of making a thing where you're like, this is the worst thing

that's ever happened. And it's embarrassing and awful. And also because a lot of the themes of it are about motherhood and my experience of motherhood, all of which was not rosy. And so I suddenly was like, I'm a terrible mother. I should be like, why can't I be like all the women on Instagram and other friends who are just like braiding their daughter's hair and like loving being a mother at like daycare.

And I'm like, it's so full of torture and pain. Yeah, that's fun though, isn't it? Is it fun, James? Yeah, it's fun. Is it? I don't know. Anyway, it's fine. It's going to be all right, Claire.

You've just got to push through it, unfortunately. You've got to grit your teeth and just make it. And there's so much good stuff in there that, you know, you can't see because you've looked at it a thousand times. And you spent a whole day listening to a bunch of music from amazing artists and you're like, I'll never be this particular type of artist. And it's like, well, no, because this person's like,

they do different music than we make. It's a really fine line. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about this very briefly. Well, I don't want to talk about it at all. Okay, well, it's a really fine line between watching a whole lot of content and absorbing a whole lot of stuff to then be able to make something because I do think that's a part of it. Sure.

But also watching stuff that's too similar to your own and then being influenced too much by that that you then lose your own kind of uniqueness or approach. Yeah. And I just feel like maybe today I tipped over. Tipped right over, yeah. Because now you're like, I want to remake everything I've ever done. Exactly.

And I'm like, I don't know if that's a good idea. It seems like a bad idea. And also I guess at some point Exactly. And I'm like, I don't know if that's a good idea. It sounds like a bad idea. And also I guess at some point you have to go, well, this is a time capsule of this point. And I'll make another one. And you can always put it out and then, yeah, and make another one and try to improve or never reach those heights again. Who knows?

Who knows? Who knows? Anyway, my recommendation is actually along this line. Oh, wow. So it's actually an Instagram account called Bing's Beats. Bing's Beats. Bing's Beats. Bing's Beats.

Got nothing to do with either of the creepy, the white, the creepy Bing or the other Bing. None of the Bings. The Bing and the Bong? The Bing and the Bong. So no, Bing's Beats. It's created by a guy called Ben Ingvesen. Ben Ingvesen. And he plays the kalimba.

Are you familiar with the kalimba? So it's kind of similar to, I guess, a xylophone in some ways. It has like a similar sound. Let me, hang on, I'll Google one and show you. See that thing? Oh, yeah. Everyone at home, Google a kalimba. It's like a little flickety thing.

Looks like a tiny little piano. Correct, yeah. It's got like long metal bars and you kind of play it. What's it called? A bing of play it. What's it called? A bing de blong. What's it called? It's called a kalimba. A fling de bing.

Kalimba. It's called a flittle de de. A flittle de de. It kind of sounds like this. Oh, no. Whoops. Oh. It sounds like a YouTube ad, doesn't it?

Sorry, Colleen. It's really interesting. Colleen, just leave that in. It's authentic. People love authenticity. They say, wow, I love your show because it's the realest and it's also the stupidest. That's what people say. Leave it in, Colleen. No, no, no. People love authenticity. They say, wow, I love your show because it's the realest and it's also the stupidest. That's what people say.

I don't like you saying Colleen. No, no, no. Leave it in. Let me just put it on. I'll just play a tiny bit of it on the Instagram account. Do I have to do anything? No. Just let me find it because that will be the easiest.

You know what I love about you, Claire? You always come prepared. Jeez, look. I'm an artist. Don't. Don't. Just don't be so mean. Just don't? Just don't be mean. I'm an artist. Don't. Just don't be so mean. Just don't? Just don't be mean.

So this is what it sounds like. Okay. See that kind of sound? Yeah, it sounds like Zelda's trapped in a water cave or whatever. Yeah, I get it. Anyway. So that's a kalimba. I think it's really beautiful.

Anyway, he's doing a video series where he performs duets of covers with different singers. They're all women. I watched one today. I mean, they're all really good. There's one by a singer called Maggie Rose who covers a song called Pinpoint by Hayfitts, which is stunning. And then my favorite one was a cover of My Mind by Yeba. Now, I don't know if you have heard of the song singer Yeba. You probably haven't. She is utterly unbelievable as a vocalist. I bet you've got like a clip ready to go.

You're so mean. Anyway, I don't have a clip ready to go. Oh, really? Copyright and all the things. Anyway, but she has her vocal quality. I can't explain it other than that. it just goes every place you can imagine. And it's a little bit like there's a band called George I used to listen to. I know George, yeah.

Yeah, like Katie Noonan. She has that sort of sound but it's kind of richer and she's so clever with the way that she manages to create so many different vocal sounds and kind of vocal gymnastics but it's not overdone I find. I don't really listen to a lot of singers who would do a lot of like woo stuff. Yeah, okay.

It's not your thing. It's not really my vibe. Yeah, that's okay. But she manages to kind of walk in both parts and it's just a little bluesy and just so beautiful. Would you say it's a little schmoozy? Schmoozy, yeah. Anyway, she has this song called My Mind. Anyway, Ben and this singer called Priscilla Stanley. Now,

if you love really amazing, incredible vocalists like me at the moment, you should go and follow Priscilla Stanley because her vocal quality is just otherworldly. And she does this cover of Yebba's My Mind with the kalimba that is just so utterly beautiful. And if you do nothing else after this episode, I know most people don't follow recommendations all the time. I would just go and listen to these, find them on Instagram and just walk, go for a little walk and listen because it's just stunning and just totally floored me. And I've listened to it about 50 times. Oh, wow. And then fallen into a pit of despair because she's such a beautiful vocalist

and I was like, what is the point of me doing anything? It's never too late to shoehorn in a bad version of whatever this is into what you're making. It's never too late to just go, I know it's going to hit like track seven and it's just like, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, amazing, Claire, is what I'm saying. And the good thing about your music as well is it speaks to people, I feel. Like literally they're listening and they're like, oh, I get it. This is me. You know what I should do?

Emotions. I should put on the album that cover of Frozen that I did for your brother. Oh, yeah, I do. What was that for again? It was so awful. Was it for a school project? It was for a school project. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

No, it was fine. It was great. Look, let's be real. It was so awful. Was it for a school project? It was for a school project. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, it was fine. It was great. Look, let's be real. It was no My Mind by Yeba. Let's be honest. Anyway, thank you. I really appreciate that. It was no Idina Menzel.

Let's put that out there. I would go and follow Priscilla Stanley and also Bing's Beats. And go buy yourself a Kalimba. I have now fallen down a rabbit hole. I might be buying myself And go buy yourself a Kalimba. I have now fallen down a rabbit hole. I might be buying myself one. You should buy a Kalimba. Maybe I will. You could call yourself Kalimbiana Jones.

Done. That would be me. I mean, we could talk about Rings of Power. Let's do it. I'm prepared. Let's jack it in, mate. I haven't read the book, but I did prepare that. Okay, what have you got then for Rings of Power?

We're putting it for next week, but I'm happy to do it now. Do you have the names but i did prepare that okay what do you got then for rings of power we're putting for next week but i'm happy to do it now do you have the names of anybody associated with it i do i have them i have all you go you got some preparing this i did i'm just like scrolling up in my little dock introducing uber teen accounts an uber account for your teen with always on enhanced safety features your teen can request a ride when you can't take them. You'll get real-time notifications along the way. Your teen feels the sense of independence. You can follow their entire route on a live tracking map.

Your teen will get assigned a top-rated driver. You'll get peace of mind. Uber Teen Accounts. Invite your teen to join your Uber account today. Available in select locations. See app for details. Okay, so let's move right along to Rings of Power, Lord of the Rings. Of Power. Of Power. So what did you think of it? I really enjoyed it. Well, I quite like it. It's also because I started watching it off the back of the Hobbit trilogy, which is bad and long and goes forever.

And there is this bit, there's like a discord around this in terms of like there's a competition between it and the new Games of Thrones show, like which is the better show and whatever. And I think they both have their strengths and weaknesses, Claire, I would also say. But what I like about Rings of Power is that it's kind of it does feel more like like Game of Thrones is like a grotty horrible universe you know what I mean where you watch somebody get their tongue cut out and then a dragon eats them

in half or whatever you know correct and they're like oh and you're like oh that was my favorite character I think oh but also maybe they killed a child in the previous episode I don't know whatever it's really hard to know you know there's a lot of that kind of going on, whereas Rings of Power, it is kind of more like a classic, you know, Tolkien kind of fairytale fantasy epic. Not that there aren't elements of darkness in it, Claire, because there's certainly. It gets very dark.

It's set in the second age of Lord of the Rings universe. First age, so much magic and elves and shit and people are like, oh, everything's fun and magic. Second age, drama, big time drama, Claire. Big time drama. So it's set thousands of years before the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Yes.

Thousands of years. But it's also leading up to the introduction of the first Lord of the Rings movie, you know, when they cut the hand off the finger, the ring off Sauron and then they go to throw the ring in the whatever. Like there's some people, some actual like not elves, some like human characters who will make appearances at that particular battle.

Even though it's thousands of years later. I really love that. I love the costuming of this. Yeah, well, it's a very expensive show. Oh, my God. It feels expensive. Like everything, the world of it, I was immediately swept away. There's not a single frame of this that doesn't look like real or incredible.

It is absolutely like it's probably the best looking show ever made. I totally agree with that. I was so amazed. You can say like artistically I don't agree with like particular choices, but I'm just talking like the money and the artistry and the time, it's clearly you can see why it's the most expensive show ever made. What's so interesting about it though, right, is that sometimes that kind of budget, and I don't really know,

but I'm assuming budget can be spent and not like really nail it and sometimes budget cannot be that big and sometimes they do really nail it. There's a show called Foundation that went to Apple, which is a sci-fi epic set in the future and whatever, nail it and sometimes budget cannot be that big and sometimes they do really nail it. There's a show called Foundation that went to Apple, which is a sci-fi epic set in the future and whatever, and it's this whole series of books and things and whatever. And it was propped up as like this is the new kind of Game of Thrones

when in reality the new Game of Thrones is Game of Thrones again. And it's just not hitting. I haven't watched it but it's just, you know, sometimes, yeah, you put all this money in and it just doesn't quite land. I don't know whether that's watched it but it's just, you know, sometimes, yeah, you put all this money in and it just doesn't quite land. I don't know whether that's a story thing as well because, you know, I haven't watched it but for me I like the story of this and I like the characters and like you, like it really sucked me in like straight away.

And I don't care if it's like, well, this person couldn't be alive because they were at a different mountain at this time. Like I don't give a shit. They took out Tom Bombadil from the original Lord of the Rings movie. I didn't care then. I don't care now, Claire. I don't give a shit. They took out Tom Bombadil from the original Lord of the Rings movie. I didn't care then. I don't care now, Claire. I don't care at all. Fuck that guy.

It was annoying. I really like how there's all these interweaving stories and I feel like each story has someone in it that I want to know what's happening. True. Sometimes that happens and you're like, you remember in like. This narrative. Yeah, the one with like, what's that guy with the crow in Game of Thrones

and I was like, oh, he's back, the crow kid. And they're like, oh, they cut to like, oh, is that freak living in a tree talking to a boy about the future? Yeah, boring. No, don't want to listen to that. But Bran, Bran, Bran, Bran. Is that his name? I think his name is Nutri-Grain.

Anyway, I was always like, oh, come on, hurry up. Where's Jon Snow? Yeah, when the zombies got in, I'm like, fuck yeah, kill this kid. Whereas I feel like in this there's someone in each of the moving parts that I'm following. I'm really invested in each part of the story. Yeah. Which I think is really cool.

And you like the Hobbit stuff the most. Oh, the Harpoots. That's probably the least interesting part of it. I love that. Because you love a weird roaming caravan and weird hills and flowers and shit. Yes. Oh, my goodness. I just love the world building of it.

It's so beautiful. It feels like the way that we should be living, like really connected in with nature. And I just think it's absolutely gorgeous. And I really am impressed too. I just think it's absolutely gorgeous. And I really am impressed too. Yeah, so one of my favourite characters is actually Nori Brandyfoot,

who's one of the half-oats. And actually the hobbits in this are not technically hobbits yet. No. They're half-oats because they're kind of travellers. They haven't, yeah, they become. They haven't settled yet. They haven't settled and they haven't found kind of safety and security and kind of a lot of people don't even know that they exist in this particular era. Yeah,'t found kind of safety and security and kind of a lot of people don't even know that they exist in this particular era.

Yeah, which I kind of really like and I like she I guess is kind of what you would say would be the lead character of The Half-Words. Yeah, she's your Frodo or whatever. Yeah, correct, exactly. But I just love that actress. I think she does a really incredible job. I also love Morfydd Clarke who plays Gladriel. I think she's great.

I know there's people who are like, oh, she's too invincible and whatever. And look, I don't, that's just like, I think that is like, there's definitely a faction of the internet that's all about that. But I think as Gladriel, I think she's terrific. Like genuinely like everything with her in this I love really. So compelling. And she's so cool and so compelling and does cool action stuff and whatever and she's got like a darkness to her

and she hates herself. And you really believe because I think what they've done such a good job of in depicting the elves, you really believe that they are centuries old. Yeah. Like thousands and thousands of years. And they do a really great job of showing you the arc of her story and how much time is meaningless to them because they live for so long. And I think you can see that even though she's got that really ethereal

Cate Blanchett kind of stunning beauty, she's got, yeah, you're right, such a darkness to her and such an old soul. Yeah. I find her so great. I think there's one elf that's not, it's like the head of the elves that you see. Oh, yeah. And I'm like, this is like a guy. Like he's the only one who doesn't look like.

He looks like a guy with his stuff. Yeah, this is a guy. And you don't believe that he's a leader in a lot of ways. Because Galadriel is technically one of the oldest elves who has been part of some of the most historical moments in Middle-earth. Sure, but not the oldest in this because there's like there are people older. Yeah, correct, exactly. And she's also known as Lady Lotharian.

And so but in the period that we're following, she's a warrior who is intent on hunting Sauron in honour of her fallen brother. Who do you think Sauron is? That's a big mystery. Yes, I don't know. I think I know. I won't spoil it. Because there is a mysterious man that falls from the sky.

There's a bunch of mysterious people. Yeah. And he's kind of magical and he helps out the half-foots and then he's also being followed by three kind of witchy, wizardy vibes. Yeah, and maybe one of them. So I think I know who it is, but I don't want to, like if you haven't watched it yet, I think you should watch it or at least try it, give it a go.

It might not be for everybody. No, you think you know who it is? I think I know who it is. I was talking to my brother about it, the one that Mason doesn't like. He knows a lot of rings. He does. And you know who else I really like? There's a guy who's like the king of the orcs who played Ned Stark's brother

called Joseph Morwell and there's a guy called Ismael Cruz Cordova who plays one of the like woodland elven warriors. He's the guy with the short hair. Yes. And he's like in love with the woman in the town and whatever. Yes. What I love about that guy is like. So great.

To an elf, he's like standard. He's like a foot soldier. He's like bog standard. But to like a regular person, like he's spectacular, right? Because they all are. But even then he's not like, he's an okay elf, which makes him, you know, good but not great. You know what? I like that because he's kind like he's an okay elf which makes him, you know, good but not great. You know what I like that because he's kind of like, oh, God,

like he's not special and that's what I like about him. Yeah, but also he's got a lot of like bravery and kind of heart to him too. Big fan of that character. I like that a lot. And I like how deadpan he kind of plays it. He's quite internal but you can somehow, even though he's really quiet and unassuming, you kind of plays it. He's quite internal. But you can somehow, even though he's really quiet and unassuming, you kind of see him like he's really in love with a woman

that lives in the village. Yeah. And I love the way that he, you can see that in his face. Yeah. But so much of that is done without any dialogue at all. And I love the story, I haven't even talked about it, the stuff set in Moria with the dwarves and they've recast as well. Elrond.

Oh, yeah, he's really great too. And his wife is really great as well. Oh, and she's so great. She's been in one other thing, I think. She's amazing. So there's Elrond is played by. Robert Armao. Yes.

He was young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. I knew he looked familiar. He's really great. And then Owen Arthur plays Prince Durin, the dwarf, and their chemistry is really cool. That's like a Gimli Legolas thing kind of if you, you know. Yeah, it's very funny and sort of brotherly and really cool. There's also, yeah, so who you're talking about,

his wife is played by Sophia Nomvet and she's Princess Dissa and she is just so funny as well, funny and kind of this big character who's also got a lot of fire to her, which I really love. And you can see she's really intelligent and a great match for him. And she also is kind of really warm as well. I love the distinctions they make between the different, like, races and cultures and places. And you haven't really seen like we saw Moria in Lord of the Rings.

It's a place they visit where the Balrog is and it's just like it's ruined by that point. And so just seeing it like in its prime and seeing like this whole underground city, it's amazing. It looks incredible. And look also like, yeah, this is an Amazon show and Amazon are a terrible company and all those things. Yeah, but, I mean, it's, I don't know, I'm really enjoying it. I think the second, so it'll be the last episode this Friday.

The last one I didn't love, but the one before that I really, really liked where everything culminates and then kicks off. Yeah. And there's, like, a battle and then there's, like, a series of events that, like, culminate to the end. And all unexpected. Oh, my God. And I don't usually like battles and and then there's like a series of events that like culminate to the end. And all unexpected. Oh, my God. And I don't usually like battles and some of it I had to kind of turn

the sound off. It's not super battle-y though, is it? It's pretty battle-y. It's pretty battle. It's not all battle. What's interesting is there is a lot of strategy within it and then there's also kind of people that come to save the day but then that kind of turns in on itself.

I won't spoil it but there's lots of kind of plot twists within it. And then you find out like what's really happening at the end and you're like, oh, okay. But even like, even the way that episode opens because you think the whole thing is going to be set like in this tower and this like, this kind of castle kind of set up where the elves are protecting and then it's not like quickly moves to like a different thing. Like they set off like a series of traps.

I thought it was amazing. Last episode, again, I didn't love. I thought that was like one of the weaker ones, but I'm hoping this week it ends really well. See, I quite liked this episode. I thought it was quite dramatic and kind of reminiscent of like World War II or something. Yeah, sure.

Also, I love that the orcs are British. They're like, oi, eh, bleh. Yeah, they're always really British, aren't they? Because there's also like if you like the Peter Jackson stuff, there's a lot of, it's not, I wouldn't say it's like directly linked, but it's very similar in like tone and there's a lot of things they've borrowed from that. And I was actually reading this this week.

So the Tolkien estate, they were shopping around what to do and they went to Netflix and Netflix actually offered up more money to make it, to make something for the rights. But Amazon, they got over the line by doing a story in the second age that they wanted to see and they wanted the estate's involvement, so that's why they ended up going with Amazon. But Netflix pitched initially to redo the Lord of the Rings trilogy and then do like spin-off shows for like Gandalf and Aragorn

and basically like Marvelify everything and it just like freaked them out. So they went with Amazon for much less money to make something that's set in a different era. So I think because apparently there's some like Christopher Tolkien who's regular Tolkien's, J.R.R. Tolkien's son, he spent his years and I've got a video actually coming out this Friday about all this. Was it Friday? I don't know.

But he spent all of his years, the rest of his life went after his father died, like compiling all these notes and everything. And he never liked the original Lord of the Rings trilogy. And so I think Netflix approached that estate, and Chris Faulkner's daddy died in 2020, I think to be like, let's do it right. Let's redo Lord of the Rings. And they were like, what are you talking about?

Like why would you? Redo something that was so iconic. And why would you? Like that's crazy. It would be terrible. I could already see it being terrible. It's like redoing Star Wars. Exactly.

And that's like I was so surprised by how much I loved this because I really was so reticent to watch it because I remember so fondly Lord of the Rings. I'm like they can't remake that. Yeah. Like they just can't. And I was worried they were just going to hash over something. And like The Hobbit was so terrible because I love that book

and I just thought they're going to. And instead this was like just all these other characters they created because they're not all based on actually Tolkien's characters, are they? They're new. So a lot of them are new. No, a lot of them are from. Yeah, but a lot of them are new too.

Do you know who I thought was really great too? Cynthia Adai-Robinson plays Queen Regent Muriel. Yes, she's great. She's from Spartacus I think as well. She does a really good job of kind of being very royal but then kind of compassionate but also conflicted because her father obviously didn't want, like was an elf sympathiser. Yeah.

And for the kingdom they really didn't like that and so she sort of stuck. And then I think her storyline at the end of this episode, the most recent one, I just really liked that and I like the relationship between her and Cladriel. I think that's a really cool friendship to see. Yes. And like a relationship of two women who are in leadership,

which I don't think you always get to see because you might have like a Queen Armadala or I don't know, one woman in leadership, but it's very rare to see a friendship form between two different women who are both leaders and very competent leaders as well. Like Princess Leia and Mon Mothma, would you say? Yes, I'm going to say. Correct, that's right. Yeah, you're right.

Is that the right answer? Yeah, that is the right answer. Correct. All right, excellent. I've really nailed that. There's something I wanted to ask you about in particular. Tristan Gravel plays Farazon, who is kind of like the Queen Regent's advisor and you feel like maybe not such a bad guy.

But really I just wanted to ask you, is this the look that if you could pull off you would want to pull off? Oh, I would love that look. Also, I'm pretty sure that that guy is not a good guy from the show. That's what I mean. I think he's not going to be a good guy. I think he's bad news. He does have luxurious salt and pepper hair though.

And beautiful eyebrows. Yes, beautiful eyebrows. He really does. So, you know, you've always got. Actually, you know who else I really love? Lenny Henry plays Saddle Burrows. Oh, Lenny Henry's good in this as well. He's really cute.

He's like kind of I guess the sort of leader of the half-woods. Yeah. He's a bit magical. He's got a little cane. He's quite funny. He's got a little I guess the sort of leader of the half-foots. Yeah. And he's a bit magical. He's got a little cane. He's quite funny. Got a little walk going on. Yeah. I mean, look, I bloody just want to go live in Hobbitville.

That's what I want to do. I don't because you break your foot and they leave you behind apparently. Apparently. Yeah, that is a bit brutal. But I kind of love that. I love the kind of dark elements. I mean, it's kind of you could believe that. What I find fascinating is thinking about what life would be like,

not obviously we didn't live in the land with like magic things, but our ancestors lived like that on the land in that way and there was a lot more emphasis on spirits and belief systems and having to live with the seasons and it's brutal as well. So that kind of element of it I like. I believe that. You could have both. You know what I mean?

We could make both. So basically, and I think this is going to happen at some point, and this is what my video is about this week. I think it's out this week. Matt's editing it. Christopher Tolkien came across some writings from his father that was a sequel to Lord of the Rings that he started and then threw away.

Wow. And it's like 13 pages. So this video basically talks about like the estate and like – and just like – and, you know, and what this story would have been. And I thought it was fascinating. And Tolkien like – and I think rightfully because he didn't think he could tell the story in a way that was compelling, like threw it out. But I think there's a lot of stuff in there.

I think they'll probably end up making it, to be honest. But, yeah, I think there's – I just thought it was really, really interesting, like what he wanted to do with it. It's kind of this magical-less world because it's like 100 or so years after the Lord of the Rings. So people have kind of forgotten and not like – and, you know, every kind of all the creatures have disappeared and it's just men and then it's just like an evil like rears its head again.

But it's just from people because these things like manifest in like different ways because the Middle Earth is supposed to be our history. Like that's what it's supposed to be. I think we're in like the seventh age or something. And that one's the sequel set in the fourth. So it's basically like it's supposed to be like a mythological history. That's so interesting.

I didn't realize that. Because I thought it was had a lot of themes of world wars. It does. It does. It's totally, it's got a lot of like, he's got, he, you know, talks about like a lot of the stuff of like, you know, destroying nature and, and, and warfare and all of these different things. And like, these are things that he experienced in World War I and he was against.

And he, like, there's even, I think there was something about they wanted to, I read this incredible thing this week, and I'm pretty sure it's true, where they wanted to publish Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit in Nazi Germany in, like, the 30s. And they were, like, they wrote to him and they said, are there any Jewish people in them? And he basically was just, like, hey, get fucked. Like, that was, like, not like that like that, but like in a more eloquent way of like, well, I think

it's something like, well, there isn't, but what would it matter if there was, if like these wonderful people were in this books, like you just like threw it in their face. It was like, nah, get fucked. I'm not engaging with any of this. And because, you know, Nazi sympathizers now and in the thirties, they were everywhere. It wasn't just in Germany, you know, they were all over the world the 30s, they were everywhere. It wasn't just in Germany. You know, they were all over the world. Parties sprung up in nations all over everywhere.

So strange. So, yeah, what a time. And he just seemed like a really good dude, it seemed. Yeah, he just had like a real respect and like fondness for nature and creatures and also obviously mythology and language and all these different things. And I think that's why I love it so much because it just makes so much sense to me. It's so grounded in love of nature.

It feels so lived in, like all of his worlds, you know. And I think this show does a good job of showing that. It doesn't feel like, you know, sometimes in shows it just feels like either sets or people are talking and it's just, it feels like reading lines or like you feel like the history in this, you know? You do. You really do. I don't think it's for everybody also.

Like I've seen like a lot of, a lot of saying criticisms, but like very valid criticisms of, you know, of the show. Things that I don't agree with, but. That's so interesting, isn't it? Because I've just loved it. And I actually, yeah, some people have been a bit left cold by it or not that into it, but maybe it's for me that. It's the dialogue is excellent and the world building to me.

You're absolutely right. You go into the house of the dwarves and you just feel like it's a family home of people who've lived in a mountain, you know. That's what's so interesting. And then the elven kingdom and that is stunning. And there's a little moment I remember pointing this out to you when we were watching it. Because when a dwarf is talking to an elf, they're different heights.

You know, there's like a two-foot difference. But those guys in real life are like the same size. And so one of them is holding a goblet and it's smaller and it's like this beautiful like ornate like hexagonal kind of goblet. You know, it's got that kind of dwarven architecture and then the the smaller guys holding the same goblet but they would have had to make the exact thing but bigger so it makes him look smaller and it's and they do they do this in for movies and tv shows and they did it for original lot of the rings but it's amazing like and just

like looking at being like they had to design that and then make it twice to scale. And it's just a little thing. But if it was wrong, you would know, you know. But you don't notice because it's so seamless. You don't notice because it's seamless, yeah. And really it's like for a second. Yeah, it's second. Probably on screen for a couple of seconds or whatever.

And that's so fascinating in and of itself, isn't it? But that I guess that attention to detail is what makes it feel lived in. Yeah. Because there's so much about each character and each world that is completely unique to that particular race of people. The architecture, it's just. I also like, and again, it's Amazon, so like the worst company in the world. And, you know, at Omidose I understand why you wouldn't support

something like this but I think there is a lot of diversity, not only in the cast but in like the people writing it as well, it seems. I think that comes through. I agree. And the director too, three of the episodes are directed by a woman. Yeah, that's what I mean. Like it's not, it doesn't feel, yeah, it feels kind of, I don't know, like multifaceted.

It feels inclusive and interesting and cast well and not cast. Yeah, it feels kind of, I don't know, like multifaceted. It feels inclusive and interesting and cast well and not cast. And I think there's a way that you can do inclusive and it's bad and obvious or obvious token that exists. Yeah, but I guess what I was going to say is it's inclusive and diverse in casting but by no means tokenistic. I don't think so, yeah. I don't think it is at all. I think each character is just really well cast and really well acted.

I would argue that that's not true but there's a lot of insane people who also think. think it is at all. I think each character is just really well cast and really well acted. And some people argue that that's not true, but there's a lot of insane people who also think. I just think, I feel like it's so well done that I just don't even think that's an issue. I was so shocked when that became an issue. I thought, what? No, I wasn't shocked at all. What I hate about talking about, and I don't think we don't get it as much here, but like if, you know, you talk about this, you talk about She-Hulk, And I don't think we don't get it as much here, but like if, you know, you talk about this, you talk about She-Hulk, you talk about, you know, shows with women or people of colour or whatever, you know what I mean? Like minorities, I don't know.

There's always this thing of like, oh, this is woke and this is whatever. And, again, there is times when like it's obviously done as like, you know, they've done it in a way that's really like distasteful or like obvious and bad or whatever. But so much of it is just not. It's just people just telling stories, you know. done it in a way that's really like distasteful or like obvious and bad or whatever. But there's so much of it is just not, it's just people just telling stories, you know? And that's, and that's the only reason people notice it because it's not like the norm, which was just like a bunch of white dudes. Yeah. And so that's the baseline for a lot of people. Like this is

normal. And when we say a lot of people, we're talking about other white dudes. Yeah, exactly. I actually, there's this really interesting commentary I listen to about being white and male means that you're used to being the center of stories. Yes. And the baseline. You're used to like seeing your image and people that look like you being the standard. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Most things.

Yeah. And so it's very kind of abrasive and shocking sometimes when you're shown things, things that you love that no longer center you in the narrative. Yeah. And what's so interesting about it is that I've grown up and so, and I can't even speak for people of color and minorities and, you know, people who are queer and just like, you know, I mean, I'm mean I'm a woman and even I feel like that. Like I see narratives where women who are more like Sharon Horgan's writing, where women are actually depicted as real and their boobs hurt

and they fart and they tell stupid jokes and they're flawed. And I think. Yeah, I know, but to me that's so refreshing. But even I hadn't realised that I was just watching so much content even as a kid. That was the baseline was so in my head when you think of a human you think white dude. Yeah.

Which is like ridiculous when you look at like however many billion, is it 7 billion we're at now of people on the planet, they're not the majority white dudes on any level. So I think that's part of it too, right? It must be strange having. I'm sure it is. But also we're not hard up for like white dude content.

Oh, no. Let's be realistic. Not at all. That's why I think it's ridiculous where like if you just wait, there will be a character or a show around the corner that you can relate to. And there are still a lot of white dudes in this show. That's what I'm saying.

Exactly. It's like mostly white dudes probably. Oh, maybe. I don't know. I don saying, exactly. It's like mostly white dudes probably. Oh, maybe. I don't know. I don't count them. It's not a priority for me. But also I know a lot of other people feel this way and it's like a lot of voices who are against this are people who either don't understand

narrative or don't understand anything that's not from their perspective or a perspective that they relate to. I like seeing different stories and different faces and different ideas. Like why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you want that? And even if you don't like it, maybe this one isn't for you or maybe it's bad but maybe it's bad for you and not somebody else.

Because, yeah, objectively from an art perspective, and I spoke about this on the podcast this week, I interviewed the head of the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, David Martin Harris, and then on Binary and we were discussing this exact thing, that it's just you're going to get better art because you're going to get art from more different people with different stories to tell. And, you know, we can't keep telling the same stories over and over and over in different ways.

Yeah. And I think that's really exciting. I also just, and I know this, I just honestly didn't notice. No. The cast was diverse until I went to like talk about this episode and then I noticed the backlash, which I don't know if people will believe me when I say that, but I really genuinely didn't. You're above it all.

No, and I'm not. That's not true at all. It's not true at all. It's not true at all. And I also thought maybe that's because things have shifted. The content that I watch tends to be quite diverse anyway. I don't know, but I just really, it didn't even occur to me until I saw the articles. But a lot of the outrage and things that you see in articles

and videos and all these things on YouTube, these are like they're manufacturing, you know, content because it gets clicks, you know, and it riles people up. So a lot of the time this is happening because people make money off it. Like Mason and I will talk about SheHulk, which I quite like, and I know there are people who will be like, you know, you got paid by Disney and whatever, which is obviously I wish. I fucking wish.

I wish. I did, yeah. But because what a story because i would just tell everybody like if it happened like i wait for the indiana but like if i just say things like if i wanted to make money though if i actually wanted to make real money i could just turn and just be like everything's too work and i could just i could i don't know whether it would last me long term necessarily but that's where the money and views are right now. Wow.

Yeah. That is so interesting. We operate in such different universes online. But I think the next part of like creating art, not the next part, but an element of creating art, and I'm talking all art, is wealth because a lot of the art, and that goes down to even podcasts, comes down to having money to be able to do it. That is the exact conversation I had with David on the show

because they came from a very tiny remote country town where there was no one else who was queer or non-binary and so they left when they were 16 and went to the big city to study and then ended up in a career in the arts and at very kind of upper echelon, like, you know, West Australian ballet and symphony orchestra. It's obviously like talent got them up so far. Super smart, super smart person, but also operating in these really wealthy communities and they were saying

that they hated it because there was so much snobbery. Like to be a ballet dancer you might for the most part unless you get a scholarship you have to come from a wealthy family because in order to spend that amount of time on your art you have to basically have a giant safety net yes and he's and i think it's the same with a lot of sport as well you know not always and this is not strictly true but if you look at like a lot of the people who are writers, creators, podcasters, actors, directors, they all are from, if not an industry, a similar industry, they're from money. Yeah. Yeah.

And that's, I hadn't ever really thought deeply about that before. And I actually think making what I'm doing at the moment has made me think about it a lot because I'm at a point in my life where I have got some, I'm doing at the moment has made me think about it a lot because I'm at a point in my life where I have got some, I'm financially comfortable and it's a real privilege that I can then take some time out to devote to making some music because I want to do it. And it made me really think I have this massive luxury. I don't have to make it be my living. And then I thought to myself, how many women and people of colour and people from minorities are we not hearing from because of that reason? Because financially they can't spend that amount of time.

Yeah. And the stories that we're missing out on, you know, because of that. Absolutely. And it's boring. It is boring. It's so boring. So it's so interesting you bring that up. I'm really obsessed with that too because I think.

Because like if you're a painter and people get it, you need time to paint. So much time. Someone has to pay for that, you know. Yeah. You know what I mean? There's nothing like being mediocre musician and starting on a thing and realizing how far you've got to go and how many hours you have to put in to get to something that you're happy with, you know? And that's just, it's so, it's like

depressing, but also it's so in awe of someone. It's very rare that people are just naturally talented at that point. There's so much work that has to go in. But I think David's point was interesting too about wealth because they were saying that there's a snobbery around what constitutes good art. And actually just because someone hasn't had the university education and uses correct grammar and spelling, all of those things, doesn't mean that what they're making isn't wonderful.

I completely agree. And moving and sometimes more authentic and more powerful. And that's why working as they do at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival, I think, has been really inspiring because they're just seeing a different, you know, a really diverse range of art and film made from their community. So anyway, that interview is on Tons if you want to listen to it. Anyway, I feel validated that everything I've ever got is pure talent and nobody's ever helped me, not even for a single second.

Claire, we've got to wrap up the show. But before we wrap up the show, I say to you, do I have a review? Do you? And then I say to you, I do, and then I say to you, did you know you can review just in-app? And I read out the reviews. It's true. I read a review every week.

So people put in reviews. Again, I'm near the end of reviews. If people want in, I'll almost certainly read it. Okay. This one is from HGNY23 who says, magnificent duo, five stars as well. You can do it in any app. Incredible. Gotta love Claire and James.

They're hysterical as well as insightful. Also, we love Claire's bing bongs. Oh, thanks, mate. Does she mean or he mean breasts? Yeah. Oh, gosh. That's what the bing bongs have always been about. No, they haven't been.

Don't know how they started, but I love them too. Great. You can also write into the show at suggestivepod at gmail.com. Just like Debra Shish has. Hi, Claire and James. Let's go. Hope you're doing well. I love your show and love hearing about parenting and domestic stuff,

but only from you guys. That's why I want to recommend The King's Jester by Hasan Minhaj. He's one of my favorite creators and I love Patriot Act and Homecoming King. This one is a lot more personal than those two. He shares the difficulty of conceiving and raising a child while also trying to become famous in a way that antagonises horrible people. My goodness.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Well, I have many thoughts on that. I haven't seen it. You have not. That's my number one thought. Second thought, maybe this is something I should look into. I think you should. It's on Netflix.

There it is, The King's Jester. I like him a lot actually. Yeah, he's cool. Yeah, yeah. Thank you so much. All right. Okay. I never know with Netflix comedy specials anymore as well because like often it's like, oh, this sucks.

Yeah, but I quite like a comedy special. Yeah, me too. Because you can kind of, you don't, it's a one-off thing. And also reviews don't help because I like comedy subjective. So like I need to, you know, you need to start it. You know what I mean? You do. You really do.

Yeah, but there's so much just like, oh, there's too much cancel culture. I can't say anything. It just fascinates me so much because, you know, because I've curated my feed but also it's just a different world that I operate in and I look mainly on Instagram. Everything I follow and watch tends to be really quite like open and diverse. You're in a bad algorithm, Claire. I'm in the bad algorithm.

I'm in the bad place. Yeah, but I just find that so interesting because in my universe, everything is becoming more diverse and more open and created by, you know, different types of people. No, it is also what I hope so, at least with the stuff that I'm engaged with but I'm also in like circles and where you see like the backlash to that as well. Yeah, see, I never see that.

It's interesting. But I guess that's just because I probably should diversify who I follow. No, don't. But I don't really want to. I don't follow these people that I like hate. Like not hate but, you know what I mean, I'm letting their shitty opinions. Yeah, I don't even disagree. I'm just like this is a bad opinion actually.

But, you know, you just see it. It filters through, you know. Or someone will be like actually you should check out this person's review because they know. And I'm like that's the worst person on the internet. So I'm not going to watch that. So the moral of the story is be kind. Yeah, sure.

Curate your feeds. Well, Claire, I can't wait to see that. So the moral of the story is be kind. Yeah, sure. Curate your feeds. Well, Claire, I can't wait to see you reading that book next week so we can come back. What was it called? Hail Mary Pass. Project Hail Mary. It's a Project Hail Mary. I am going to do it.

I'm going to smash it out. Have you got it? Kindle. No, I already have booked it. Oh, no, I'm just going to read it. All right. All right, thanks, everyone. Thanks, bye. have booked it. Oh, no, I'm just going to read it. All right. All right, thanks, everyone. Thanks, bye.

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