Podcast Summary
Movember's work for men's health: Movember is more than just growing moustaches in November, it's a global organization advocating for men's health and creating a healthier society, conducting research and encouraging support through movember.com.
Movember is not just about growing moustaches during November, but a global men's health organization working all year round to advocate for men's health and create a healthier society. Men's health affects everyone, and too many men are dying too young from preventable causes. Movember's work includes advocating for change during events like Men's Health Week, and conducting research through their Global Director of Men's Health Research. We can all help support men's health by visiting movember.com and making our voices heard. Additionally, we bid farewell to our colleague Kate Lee, who has produced the podcast and made valuable contributions to the team. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors. A previous correspondent, Faye, also made a surprise appearance in the studio, having written to us about having an 11-pound baby. It was a pleasure to finally meet her in person.
Industrial accommodations: Transforming industrial buildings into unique accommodations can offer a luxurious experience with high-end amenities and unique design, but may lack conventional comforts.
Transforming industrial buildings into unique accommodations can offer a luxurious experience, despite the challenges. Marie shared her experience of staying at a fog horn testing station in Dungeness, which was converted into a holiday home. The high-end amenities and unique design made it a memorable stay, but the lack of conventional comforts like toilet paper and soap left her and her companion amused. The fog horn testing itself remains a mystery, with Marie expressing her curiosity about its purpose and the logistics of testing it on land. Overall, the transformation of industrial structures into unique accommodations provides a glimpse into luxury that may not be to everyone's taste but is definitely worth exploring.
Railway experiences: Railway experiences evoke fond memories but also present challenges such as unsanitary train toilets and lack of bins, making the railway system a mix of joys and issues.
While the re-nationalization of Britain's rail network is a topic of contention, there are fond memories of past railway experiences, such as the breakfast special from Euston to Birmingham in the 80s with Cooper's old-style thick-cut marmalade. However, there are also issues with the logistics of the railway network, including unsanitary train toilets and lack of bins. Despite these challenges, some aspects of train travel, like watching a country zoom by, are still preferred over flying. Personal experiences, like caring for a loved one, can also bring unexpected outcomes and challenges. Overall, the railway system presents a mix of memories, issues, and joys.
Caring for a loved one: Honesty and gratitude are vital during challenging times while caring for a loved one. Acknowledge the emotional burden and financial strain, and recognize the privilege of being able to provide care. Women's success should not be defined by their male connections.
Honesty and gratitude are crucial during challenging times, especially when caring for a loved one. Tiggy's openness about her experiences resonated with many listeners, and it's essential to acknowledge the emotional burden that comes with being a full-time carer. Additionally, the discussion highlighted the financial strain that caregiving can bring, and the importance of acknowledging the privilege of being able to provide care. The interview also touched upon the complex issue of how women are often identified through their male connections, and the need to consider how we introduce and recognize successful women. Lastly, Lisa shared her thoughts on the sense of pride and emotion felt during graduations.
Student experience at Newcastle University: Newcastle University offers a warm student experience, but the graduation ceremony feels rushed and overwhelming for some, with limited time for celebrations.
Newcastle University provides a great student experience with a warm relationship between students and residents, despite graduation ceremonies feeling like a conveyor belt with limited time for celebrations. The speaker also shared their personal sign-off preferences and expressed feelings of being gaslit by the ongoing presence and success of Donald Trump in politics. The university was praised for its friendly atmosphere and the relationship between students and residents, but the graduation ceremony was criticized for feeling rushed. Personal anecdotes about missed opportunities and preferred email sign-offs were shared, and a request for a tote bag was granted. The speaker acknowledged the divided opinions on the change of government in Britain but expressed feelings of being overwhelmed by Trump's resurgence in politics.
Political Violence and Accountability: The attempted assassination of a public figure should not exonerate them from past actions or criminal convictions. Accountability and responsibility are crucial for public figures, and political discourse should be reset with calm and condemnation of violence.
The attempted assassination of a public figure, such as Donald Trump, should never be used to exonerate them from their past actions or criminal convictions. The speaker expresses her outrage and disbelief over the idea that Trump could gain heroic status from the incident, and emphasizes the importance of condemning violence and resetting political discourses. However, she also acknowledges the complexity of the American political landscape and expresses her own feelings of disconnection from it. A key moment in the conversation was the mention of Joe Biden's apology for using a metaphor that some might have interpreted as a call to violence, highlighting the need for caution with language on such a large platform. Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of accountability and responsibility in public figures, and the need for calm and condemnation of violence in political discourse.
Roman emperors succession: The Romans didn't follow a strict primogeniture system for choosing their emperors, leading to flexibility and diversity but also uncertainty and instability.
The Romans didn't have a system of primogeniture for choosing their emperors, which gave them more flexibility but also led to uncertainty and suspicion. This is illustrated in Mary Beard's new book "Emperor of Rome," where she discusses the case of Elagabalus, a Syrian teenager who became emperor despite being an outsider to the Roman ruling family. This unconventional method of succession allowed for a more diverse range of leaders but also led to instability and power struggles. In everyday life, this flexibility can be seen in the unexpected uses for dishwasher tablets, such as heating an oven to remove tough stains.
Roman Diversity and Imperial Power: The Roman Empire was more diverse than commonly thought, with emperors originating from different territories, and Roman women wielding significant influence despite not being emperors.
The Roman Empire was much more diverse than commonly portrayed, with emperors coming from various imperial territories, including Septimius Severus from modern Libya and Trajan from Spain. Elagabalus, an extreme example of a Roman Emperor, serves as an intriguing starting point for understanding the complexities of imperial power, as people's perceptions of emperors were shaped by gossip and imagery, often distorting the reality. The Romans were the first branded PR operation, and their use of imagery and coins helped establish the association between rulers' heads and monetary systems that continues today. Roman women, though not emperors themselves, held significant influence during the period of one-man rule due to their access to the emperor's ear.
Historical figure's influence: Historical figures' impacts are often overestimated and romanticized; emperors' consorts might have had more agency than assumed, and Marcus Aurelius' 'Meditations' may contain cliche self-help advice.
The influence and impact of historical figures, such as Roman emperors or philosophers like Marcus Aurelius, can be overestimated and romanticized. Mary Beard challenges the notion that emperors' consorts were mere puppets, manipulated by powerful relatives. She suggests that the image of them as manipulative figures might be tainted with misogyny. Regarding Marcus Aurelius, Beard calls his "Meditations" jottings instead of the grand title used today. She points out that the text can come across as cliche self-help advice. In the present context, Beard expresses cautious optimism about the current political situation in Britain, while expressing her disdain for certain public figures like JD Vance and her intention not to engage with his work.
High Country drama: The Australian TV drama 'High Country' offers an engaging and suspenseful viewing experience with its spooky high country landscape and numerous characters, despite an uncertain ending.
The Australian TV drama "High Country," also known as "The Alps," is an engaging and binge-worthy show set in a spooky and literal high country landscape. The protagonist's solo adventures in the woods have viewers on edge, but the twisty-turny plot and numerous characters keep viewers hooked despite the uncertainty of the ending. It's a must-watch, available on Times Radio, DAB, or the free Times Radio app. However, it's important to note that referring to certain countries as "low" or "high" countries can be seen as patronizing. So, while enjoying this drama, remember to appreciate the diversity and uniqueness of all countries and their landscapes.