RHLSTP with Richard Herring

RHLSTP Book Club 134 - The Invisible Doctrine - Recorded in front of an audience at the prestigious Royal Geographical Society, Richard talks to journalist George Monbiot about his very readable investigation into Neo-Liberalism (co-authored with Peter Hutchinson) The Invisible Doctrine. George does most of the talking, which is probably for the best and reveals what he considers to the be the starting point of capitalism, why capitalism and commerce are not the same thing, the roots of Neo Liberalism in the closing stages of World War II, why it took 30 years to come to prominence, conspiracy theories versus conspiracy fictions, why the left has missed opportunities to defeat Neo-liberalism, what happened when Liz Truss tried to institute its policies all in one go, why Starmer is wrong to try and legitimise Reform and whether there is hope for the future and what we can do to stand up to a political system that threatens our planet. Rousing and fascinating stuff.Event hosted by How To Academy - check out their podcast, the How To Academy Podcast, exploring big ideas with distinguished leaders, artists, and thinkers, available wherever you listen.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-invisible-doctrine-understanding-neoliberalism-peter-hutchinson/7402463Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-backTo see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour

#555 Welsh Freddie Mercury - Richard has found out the true lyrics of a 1990s pop classic and is going to tell you them in detail. His guests are internet satirists Larry and Paul. They talk about which one is which, the long genesis of their online sketch content, the BBC’s reluctance to promote podcasts in 2008 or understand why radio shows needed video, why a Labour government (especially this one) does not mean the end of political satire, impressing Jeremy Vine and potentially insulting Matt Lucas and David Walliams, how Self Esteem being on a delayed train almost led to an embarrassing situation with Carol Vorderman, whether TV is a worthwhile ambition for people making their own content, is it a good idea to have children and Paul (or is it Larry) has come in with some of his own emergency questions, one of which is a little spicy.Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-backFor Richard’s remaining live stand up gigs http://richardherring.com/ballback/tourCome and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpFor Larry and Paul’s videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSrVr5o27krtcuNgjR5RgdwSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE

#355 Mind Your Language -  Richard is excited by the upcoming film Wonka and has some other ideas for origin story films. His guest is the Sidesplitting Phil Wang. They discuss how straddling two cultures can give you a humorous perspective on both, but leave you feeling rejected by both, 1970s television and how harshly we should judge it, racist nursery rhymes, Richard’s Asian hair, John Lewis’s 150 year old gametes, what box Phil needs to tick on the ethnicity questionnaire, how to get away with pooing yourself at school and why comedians are often introverts.Phil’s book - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sidesplitter-How-Two-Worlds-Once/dp/B08ZFN35WSPhil’s Netflix special - https://www.netflix.com/title/81161806Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-backTo see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tourCome and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE

Book Club #133 - A Room Above a Shop - A Room Above A Shop - Richard talks to debut novelist Anthony Shapland about his hit short novel/long poem A Room Above A Shop. They chat about growing up gay in a small town in the Welsh valleys in the late 80s and how that inspired this story, about how simplicity in writing can be incredibly complex, swirling around in cesspits of your own making, the tabloid reaction to homosexuality and how that is mirrored in today’s world, how a room above a shop becomes an escape and a place of freedom and how to stop the author intruding on the story. Excellent book, really interesting chat.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-room-above-a-shop-anthony-shapland/7774516?ean=9781803511603Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-backTo see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour

#554 Philip Schofield’s Diabolic Pitchfork - Philip Schofield’s Diabolic Pitchfork - It’s been snow day this week and Rich muses unsuccessfully on whether there’s a place when snow is neither exciting or banal for children and how snow promises much but always delivers tears. His guest is musician and actor (no, I am not doing it) Chesney Hawkes. They talk about growing up in a musical household, kissing Julia Sawalha, becoming a pop sensation at 19 and being bullied by adults who should have known better, the choice between leaning into his most famous hit or backing away from it, how love saved him from self-destruction, what Chesney’s autobiography might be called, whether his early success is a curse or a blessing, appearing in an advert with an orangutang, dancing nude in a stately home and Rich’s plans for Chesney’s grave.Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-backTo see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tourCome and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE

#354 Rufus Arenque -  Richard can’t stop thinking about a man he walked past 30 years ago but is somehow walking taller. His guest can answer the question “Are you Dave Gorman?” in the affirmative, as he is Dave Gorman. They talk about moving to Bournemouth being newsworthy, how to become a crossword millionaire, how Ted Rogered the cryptic crossword, whether logs are sentient, why Covid was a positive (as long as you ignore the negatives), how an Ian Dury song provided the key to Dave’s stand up, the shortest lived street performance career, scary Coventry Jesus and the pair try to work out when the last time they will ever be mentioned or thought of might occur (hello people of 2521).Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-backTo see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tourCome and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE

#553 Penis Seam - Rich has come up with a scheme where all his listeners can live in central London and make money - or one of us gets £20 million. His guest is Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Amy Gledhill. It starts out pretty gross and doesn’t get much better, as Rich removes some clothes and part of his body (be glad it’s audio only). They chat about how winning the award wasn’t the immediate celebration/elevation that you might expect, all the amazing comedians who have never been nominated (mainly Rich, but how he came close), working with Dave Spikey on the fantastic Alma’s Not Normal and getting very drunk with Sophie Willan, the terrific podcast Single Ladies In Your Area and why women need a show about dating going wrong, but maybe men need their own version too and how Richard became a master of dating (largely because of the low bar set by other men).To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tourCome and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE

#353 It Was The 90s! - Richard has been tossing logs and that’s literally it for this week, so he talks to his audience for the first time in ages. His guest is author and comedian Shaparak “Shappi” Khorsandi. They discuss why she has chosen to use her birth name, the responsibilities of being a dog owner, the life of Emma Hamilton, I’m a Celebrity, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe of 2021, the moon on a stick, why Shaparak’s comedy is better now that she has been diagnosed with ADHD and what happens if you don’t know you are writing a book for 12 year olds.Buy Richard’s “Would You Rather?” Book here https://www.gofasterstripe.com/cgi-bin/w.cgi?showfull=47646Buy Shappi’s book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kissing-Emma/dp/B098CDL6YCTo see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tourCome and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITESee details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATESBuy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE

Book Club #132 - Cafe Chaos -  Richard interviews award winning children’s author Catherine Wilkins who has made the long journey into his annexe (who knows what he gets up to in there) to talk about her new eighth book Cafe Chaos - My Life is Not a Piece of Cake! They chat about where she got the inspiration for the situation and the characters, Richard’s modest and realistic hopes for the success of the series, why comedians write such good kids books, the importance of getting a brilliant illustrator and audiobook reader, covering serious topics in a comedy book and how Catie avoided doing a cartwheel at the Lollies Awards.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/cafe-chaos-my-family-is-not-a-piece-of-cake-catherine-wilkins/7764360?ean=9781805132660Come to a RHLSTP live! - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp