Distraction Pieces Podcast With Scroobius Pip

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 280 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A beautiful talk this week about a subject which is still a tough one to talk openly about - well, thankfully Pip is joined by a true veteran podcaster on that very subject (as well as being a hilarious comedian, improviser and actor!) - it’s CARIAD LLOYD!Whether you’ve listened to Cariad’s ‘Griefcast’ podcast or not (if not, please do!), there’s a very, very high possibility that you’ve had an experience with death somewhere in your life. Everyone deals with it differently and it’s entirely unique to everyone, no matter who it involves, but the important fact to remember is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. This is something Cariad reinforces throughout the chat with Pip, and it’s so important to remember, as our brains will have us thinking we’re on our own and have to withdraw from the world to repair. It’s a fascinating chat, as she and Pip go on a voyage - in very upbeat and positive fashion - through the death zone, whi

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 279 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! One for the history heads and non-history heads alike right here as Pip sits down with Horrible Histories own (and more!), GREG JENNER!“We’re basically trying to inspire a love for history…”Name a more iconic public historian… I’ll wait……couldn’t resist, sorry! I mean he most certainly is a fully realised public historian (not, as autocorrect would have it, a ‘pubic’ historian), but so much more besides as you are about to find out in this very episode. It’s another one of those ‘long time coming’ episodes too, where Pip’s been lining everything up so the going’s good but with the forthcoming Horrible Histories film out on Friday 26th, the timing seems perfect! So of course this episode has a GOOD amount of chat about the film itself including cast, tone, all of that goodness you would expect, he and Pip also get down to business on being ‘edutaining’ on Twitter, being behind the scenes in the writers room, said ‘pu

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 278 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A proper brilliant one for you this week, as Pip is joined by the truly ace presenter, writer and podcaster KONNIE HUQ!The weather conditions at the time of podcasting (monsoon season) seem to make for a perfect sit down and chat session with Pip and Konnie, as the two hunker down and address a whole gang of pertinent issues and situations - which starts quite literally moments into the conversation. This all sets the tone for some extremely entertaining and very mind opening topic tackling, which includes such menu items as the smoking ban and how we all adapted, the issue of stuff and things and the accumulation of possessions, moving house to a shoebox (with kid in tow), social media and the multitude of attitudes towards it (including where they stand on it all), the idea of manners on social media and how people conduct themselves, minorities, sexual preference, change and evolution in society, being the first

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 277 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A true powerhouse of an episode this week as Pip catches up with an old pal from the spoken word and poetry scene who has an incredible tale or two to tell, it’s INUA ELLAMS!“I’ve always existed in the grey areas, I’ve always been between countries, always been between cultures...”You’d be well advised to either listen a few times or just keep a pen and paper by your side, as there are a LOT of gems and quotables in this one! An amazing chat with Inua, as he and Pip get acquainted again for the first time in around a decade. Inua’s tale is not only fascinating from start to present point, but you also get the benefit of milestones of wisdom from the man himself as he is now able to draw conclusions, extract lessons and offer context to the situations in which he found himself. From his beginnings in Nigeria and his subsequent journey out of there (which involves his father and a story worthy of a film premise), to h

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 276 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! In continuing with Pip’s stellar lineup of screenwriting and directing heavy hitters, he is joined this week by none other than the great DANNY BOYLE!Of course, you already know Danny through his past crowning glories including Trainspotting, T2, 28 Days Later, Slumdog Millionaire, and a good large handful of other classics. So as far as introductions go, you know who you’re here for! Danny is out and about right now putting in the good work in support of his new film ‘Yesterday’, which presents a world in which the Beatles don’t exist. It’s a premise which poses question upon question and kind of demands your viewing time, and you’ll hear all about it here, including the sheer importance of the band, the goal of fame in today’s world, how important rehearsal is (VERY!), the mechanics of recording on set and how live recordings were achieved, finding the right lead in Himesh Patel, the balance of melancholy and joy

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 275 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A very long awaited and very highly requested guest right here, as Pip is joined by the creator of Black Mirror and so much more - it’s CHARLIE BROOKER!…but don’t by any means think that Black Mirror is a one man show, as Charlie himself will ensure you know how important Annabel Jones is in the whole creative process! He and Pip get all the way into the whole Black Mirror phenomenon, how it works and what it is to be a showrunner, the rise of Black Mirror in the US, how Charlie is the Drake of TV according to Pip (you’ll enjoy this theory), how the auteur theory is bullshit, presenting the show to Netflix, having an exit strategy in a series and how there are less exits in a film as opposed to an episode, Bandersnatch and the three episode season, his older work including Dead Set, Nathan Barley and the various ‘-Wipes, his Screen Burn column and how haters could improve their hater game by reading some of his colu

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 274 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! FIRST QUESTION: Do you watch Line Of Duty? FOLLOW UP QUESTION: Do you watch Bodyguard? If the answer to one or more of these questions is YES then you are in for a pure treat, as Pip is joined this week by writer / director / showrunner JED MERCURIO!An immensely packed and awesome episode for fans of said shows as well as those unfamiliar, or what you could call ‘pre-fans’, as Jed goes in awfully deep into the backgrounds of both of them, as well his previous show ‘Bodies’. It’s all covered, including the slow build of his shows, the commissioning process, the ranking of seasons, being out of sync with friends in bingeing box-sets, his medical background and how it led to his work on Bodies, the rules of TV land, the mechanics of working behind the scenes, media reporting on medical accidents, the difference between negligence and error, what it is to be a showrunner (thanks for breaking that down Jed, as I don’t th

Welcome, welcome, welcome to a very special bonus episode of the Distraction Pieces Podcast, this time delivered to you on a Monday - fresh and ready for your beginning of the week podcast-hungry ears. This time round it’s a Distraction Pieces Flashback, and we’re going all the way back to episode 42…This bonus is entirely dedicated to the unique and very open story of Ramelle, when she was a guest all those years ago. Seeing as it’s currently Refugee Week, what better time to revisit the touching and heavy tale of Ramelle, as depicted by the woman herself in her own words. These subjects, occasions, causes and dedicated days and weeks are so important to keep the conversation moving and evolving, and as most of what we engage in on a daily basis revolves around what’s next, next, next, it’s so nice to actually go back and revisit. See where things left off and if the situation has indeed evolved or progressed since. So join us in going back a good couple of hundred episodes as we pick up with Ramelle and her

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 272 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A double guest lineup for your poetry, rapping and battling requirements as Pip is joined by MARK GRIST and ROSS SUTHERLAND!Chances are you already know these fellas already, be it through the battle scene, the poetry scene or maybe even as a video someone shared with you depicting a suited teacher battling a student (that’ll be Mark!), or indeed the time when Pip battled him - well, whatever the weather, you are about to become infinitely further acquainted with the two as Pip sits down with them to get all the background goods and how they started, progressed and evolved in their chosen lanes. The ground covered is vast, including Mark’s infamous Blizzard battle and how people misrepresented his opponent, the camaraderie of battlers and the vibrancy of the scene itself, the Don’t Flop platform, how a film of Mark’s battle times was almost made but - by the sounds of it - thankfully averted, the beauty of working w

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 272 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! BONUS TIME at that! Another Friday serving for you right here, as Pip sits down with Stu Whiffen (Hardcore Listing, Off The Beat & Track, Podbible) to discuss the forthcoming UFC 238! You can find out more over at UFC.com, but it’s CEJUDO vs MORAES! That’s the basics. It takes place on Sunday Jun 9th at 3:00 AM BST (at United Center, Chicago, US) so if you’re a UFC head you’ll know the best way to catch up on all of that. Sounds like a potential allnighter at any rate…This was recorded on location in a Dartford Greggs while Pip waited for his windscreen to be replaced. It is a touch noisy and perhaps not the most ideal recording situation, and probably a little more MMA based than most listeners might enjoy, but if you’re into that and are fiending to catch this weekend’s entertainment, this is for you.EPISODE LINKS:• UFC 238LINKS FOR SCROOBIUS PIP & SPEECH DEVELOPMENT:• SCROOBIUS PIP on TWITTER!• SCROO

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 271 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! It’s a full comedy get down this week as Pip is joined by comic, musician and writer NICK HELM!Recorded in the cavernous confines of the Hoxton Bar & Grill, Pip and Nick immediately get down to the business of East London clubs and the process of getting kicked out of them, which leads to a good healthy chunk of convo on the subject of Avengers: Endgame which, like the film - seen it or not, you’re sure to enjoy… We rapidly get back on the comedy track where Nick brings us up to speed on subjects including but not limited to merch table blues and the selling of wares as a comedian, having a real life connection with audience even if it’s a disagreement, being open about depression and how it lets people know their not alone, death, getting through to people via comedy, the writing process, the Edinburgh Fringe and a whole wealth of comedy goodness. Nick also gives us a background on his opera musical which sound

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 270 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! Prepare to make room for a new best mate, as this week the extra special guest is all round UK acting treasure and Shane Meadows homie - it’s JO HARTLEY!“FIND THE TRUTH!”The Shane Meadows mention is just to get you on the same page, as she played Cynth in every ramification of the film and series. But Jo has been on a mission since her early days, and has been carving her very own path in the acting game and making friends along the way. The buzz of cinema found its way into her bloodstream as a kid, and her journey into the world itself has been organic and honest, and here you will get to hear it all including her fears and prep-work, her wrestles with imposter syndrome, the simple art of not procrastinating, working with peoples’ energies, being able to listen as an actor, Paddy Considine, Ricky Gervais, Tom Turgoose and her days as a flight attendant in Japan. As if that wasn’t enough, you can be sure there’s a

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 268 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! Ladies and gentlemen, please set aside a nice chunk of time to get properly acquainted with superstar director and actor DEXTER FLETCHER!The man behind the blockbusting Elton John biopic ‘Rockteman’, the wonderful Proclaimers musical ‘Sunshine On Leith’ and one of the team behind the phenomenal ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, Deter has been doing more in the world of cinema than can be fully documented right here… Add to that his extensive work in front of the camera in a good handful of Guy Ritchie flicks, Bugsy Malone and of course, who could forget Press Gang, this is the guy to talk to about film and television. And this is exactly what Pip does, my friends. And it is a thorough scorcher. Everything from the ramping up of Dexter’s career, to his work on Wild Bill, walking before he could run with his film career, techniques behind Sunshine On Leith, learning on the job, how memory plays into biopics - reliable or not, the

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 268 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! Right about now… Right here, right now in fact… Ladies and gentlemen, this week Pip is joined by superstar DJ and producer NORMAN COOK aka FATBOY SLIM!“Fatboy Slim? Just a band…”It’s so great when these music based episodes come around, especially when Pip has had previous dealings with the guest in question which is exactly the case with Norman. In fact you will hear the evidence of which at the very end of the podcast so keep that in the treat bank for now eh! A truly great chat with the two down on the coast in Norman’s Brighton home, where they catch up on all sorts covering the past, the present and the future of his career. As you’ll hear, it’s really quite a monumental career at that - indeed, he goes decades deeper than a few hit singles. From an early start with his band The Housemartins, he’s had more pseudonyms than Kool Keith and played to more people than - well, you name em… The very definition of a su

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 267 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A very special Sunday appearance for Distraction Pieces as Pip is joined by chief of the Stop & Search podcast JASON REED, to talk all thing ME on this very special day of ME awareness.It’s a great day to stop and consider what you may know and not know about the condition, which goes by the much longer official name of ‘Myalgic Encephalomyelitis’. Allow Jason to take the stand and bring you up to speed on everything, and as a sufferer himself, he has the perfect viewpoint and a very interesting perspective on living with ME. It is often misunderstood by everyone from comedians to health specialists, and it’s tough to convey just how much of a burden it can be to a sufferer, but hopefully with this engaging and informative chat with Jason, and ME Awareness Day itself, understanding will grow and it won’t be such a mysterious and mis-read condition. Hear Pip and Jason cover everything from addiction and the

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 266 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! The purest, most refined clear blue waters of inspiration right here this week, as Pip is joined by author, poet and podcaster TIM CLARE!A perfect opportunity to get acquainted with Tim, in case you haven’t met him just yet. This one goes DEEP, people… While it may seem like the author’s lot is a merry one, Tim is here to tell you that looks are deceiving - but at the same time, while writing novels and just writing in general is tough, he found ways to crack his own brain’s coding and navigate those treacherous waters. That’s all well and good, but he’s also going to share those hard-earned nuggets with YOU! A truly fascinating natter which covers the whole lot, from cold showers (we may as well call them ‘Wim Hofs’), to beliefs and scaling them against our own, Pip’s clothing theory (what’s good enough for Einstein…), the science of panic attacks and how they can inform a performance, Freytag’s pyramid, the hell o

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 265 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A great one here with comedian, podcaster and metaler ED GAMBLE!You will most certainly have enjoyed Ed on his ‘Off Menu’ podcast with James Acaster (if not, see to it that you amend that post-haste!), or indeed on Mock The Week (and many more shows besides), but if you are yet unfamiliar with him this is a great chance to become acquainted! Get the full backstory right here, which - as you’ll hear, includes everything from the perfect simplicity of said podcast, his love of metal and the many strands within the genre, the complex relationship he and Pip share with nu-metal, the joy of Steve Coogan, glory days in Durham, what he thinks of ‘work in progress’ shows, pure Ben & Jerry’s madness including an offshoot podcast which will be along in the forthcoming months revolving entirely around the delicious foodstuff (and wine), the benefits of having no professional jealousy (for the most part) and the cyclical wo

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 264 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the microphone standup comedian, presenter and fun uncle of podcasting NISH KUMAR!Although they’ve been orbiting each other for a good while now, Pip and Nish haven’t yet met, let alone shared podcast time together - which is crazy considering how many mutual friends they have and podcasts they’ve each been on themselves! Well, the orbit has concluded its route and the circle may now be unbroken as Pip and Nish are finally here together! And what a lovely meeting it is too… Nish is the perfect guest too as he is deeply schooled in the trade of the podcast, having spent many an hour listening in and scheduling days around episodes - one of the topics that comes up in fact, how podcasts have changed the experience of the long car ride or the train journey. Enjoy the wide ranging chat which begins in films and rounds out nicely in the present and future, starting with their respe

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 263 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! A perfect conversation on all things theatre, art, culture, creation and all that these elements bring, with the powerful and awesome ZAWE ASHTON!“You cannot work for an audience, you have to work for the truth of what you’ve created, and just trust that the response you get will be the truthful response and the right response”This episode’s theme: HOLD YOUR NERVE.What an epic one this is… A great back and forth with Pip and Zawe, who have crossed paths on a number of occasions but now find over an hour to catch up and all for our benefit! It only took them four years to sort out… In a way that’s worked out perfectly though, as there is just more to talk about! With Zawe currently starring in Harold Pinter’s ‘Betrayal’ at the Harold Pinter Theatre, she is fully immersed in the Pinter world (this podcast was also recorded there), and as such has a lot to add about his universe and the many facets thereof, but not bef

Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 262 of the Distraction Pieces Podcast with Scroobius Pip! You are about to enjoy a very special in depth chat with acting king and all round total badass RON PERLMAN!“…The artform is being preserved by people who are living on the fringes…”Even the post-Friday night spirits of London Town can’t keep Ron down, as he joins Pip outside on a Saturday morning for a wonderful talk on all things film, be it behind the scenes, the acting process or the studio side. Ron has gems galore to offer from a very experienced vantage point in the acting game, having been doing just about the most solid job in the profession since his days in school, and you’ll hear it all in very down to earth and real (occasionally wry and sly) style, from his family’s drumming history, his lucky break auditioning at a young age, being scared away from the stage by the film process, glorious analogies, the lack of ‘foreplay’ in modern viewing, the marvel of modern day TV in every aspect, how ‘The Shield’