You should listen to this... My Dad Wrote A Porno

If you see someone covering their mouth, trying to stifle laughter on the Monday morning commute, chances are they're listening to My Dad Wrote a Porno

This now worldwide hit is in its second series and has only gotten better with age. Jamie Morton has the (no doubt skin crawling) task of reading out his dad’s self-published erotica (‘Self-published erotica’ should not be a thing, but it is) to his friends James Cooper and Alice Levine (BBC Radio 1). Each episode they delve into another chapter and follow the adventures of 'Pots and Pans' buisness lady Belina Blumenthal. Picking it apart, line by line, comma by misused comma with hilarious effect. 

The things that make this podcast a must listen are:

The dynamic between Jamie, James and Alice is very real, they have known each other for years and you can tell that by listning to them. A lot of double or triple headed podcasts could learn a lot from their on-mic relationship.

Simple format, strong content. The layout of each episode is formulaic and easy to follow. The brief recap is a good icebreaker and warm up for the coming episode. The content (Belinda Blinked) is a gift to us all, but mostly this podcast. You can’t predict where it is going and worryingly, become invested in the characters (‘Characters' is to be read with a question mark).

They give you just enough of the drug to keep you addicted. Each episode is very well edited. Never too long, and always packed with the best bits. The commonplace thing for a lot of podcasts of this style to do is to keep in the ramblings of conversations, when they don’t need to.

A lot of what the trio do each episode is very basic. I mean that in the nicest way. Radio as a medium is at its most powerful when;

You talk to one person.

Have core values and themes but move the narrative along.

Welcome the listener like a friend

Make them feel like they are ‘in on the joke’.

My Dad Wrote A Porno does all of the above, and it works. It works so well, it’s a regular at the top of the Itunes chart. I guarantee you’ll be laughing your pomegranate’s off at this smutty hit. 

Here is a good place to start:

BEST OF BOOK ONE

Good Faith. The pillars on which most blogs stand.

I've been thinking of different ways I could do something interesting here and have concluded that I’m not that interesting. No really I’m not Interesting.

I've mused and googled many potential blog challenges and since I don't think I can come up with a 'wannabe Buzfeed article' every day I’ve settled on the following. 

I'm going to try and write (at least) 100 words a day and commit to have it published by the end of every day. Ideally 8PM but midnight is the final cut off. 

You may think this sounds pi** easy... you haven't met me have you? 

21 Aye?

In many ways i'm lazy, bus sometimes im just too busy to do things. I turned 21 on Sunday and it was the first day in the last 2 weeks that I actually stopped and looked around. I didnt smell the roses because that's the last thing my hayfever needs.

I don't feel older and I'm certainly not wiser, but 2016 so far has been a big year, not withstanding the news and events. I've been more aware of what I don't know and my own inexperience. For me that is half the battle to becoming more (stand by for wan*y blogger lingo) self aware and confident.

Someone said to me today 'It's weird to think of you as just 21 because you're mature" to which I usually reply "Ahh code for 'you look old'"

Free Tea, Dundee, Serial and Me.

As I write this I’m on a train, camped in the quiet coach taking advantage of the free tea and wi-fi. The journey is sunny; I can see my own reflection in the laptop. I've had a sort of half day today, went up to Dundee for a few hours now I’m heading home.

I have so far enjoyed the ‘100 a day’ challenge I’ve set myself and up until this post I haven’t really struggled to come up with something to write. 

So, i’ll leave you with this, an article by Sarah Koenig, one of the creators of Serial, the podcast that took over the world.

In this piece she breaks down how she managed to tell a story without having the material she wanted.

It’s a great insight into the amount of work and research they go into to make Serial.  It’s also a lesson on recording everything and throwing none of it away.  

====YOU CAN FIND THE ARTICLE HERE====