Best Fandom Nonsense Podcasts (2025)

1
The End of the Full Stop? 27:53

6d ago27:53

27:53

The use of punctuation is rapidly changing within the quickfire back-and-forth of instant messaging. Are these changes causing misunderstandings? Presenter Michael Rosen and his guest Dr Christian Ilbury discuss. Is the full stop on the way out? What about capital letters? Exclamation marks and question marks seem to be holding their ground, but wh…

1
Street Names 27:10

13d ago27:10

27:10

Michael Rosen talks to sociolinguist Philip Seargeant from the Open University about where our street names come from, including Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate in York, and Michael's old address, Love Lane. Also, have you ever thought about the difference between a street and a road? Are there regional differences in the names given to streets? And why are s…

1
Old English, New English 27:38

3M ago27:38

27:38

Michael Rosen explores the evocative Old English words used in daily life a thousand years ago, many of which are still in use now. He's joined by the linguist author of The Wordhord, Hana Videen. Hana has been hoarding words from Old English (450 AD to 1150 AD) for a decade, when she began tweeting one a day. Now she has lots of people following h…

1
Talking Cockney 27:35

3M ago27:35

27:35

Michael Rosen's parents both grew up in the East End, and now he talks cockney with Andy Green and Saif Osmani from the Modern Cockney Festival. Including some mythbusting about rhyming slang, a discussion about how cockney has evolved, and of course a mention of Dick van Dyke. The Modern Cockney Festival takes place from March 1st to 31st with a m…

1
Creating Languages for Film and Television with Professor David Adger 27:52

3M ago27:52

27:52

David Adger is Professor of Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London. He's created new languages for TV series and films and he explains to Michael Rosen how he goes about it. For his latest language he used existing Creole languages for his 'conlang', or constructed (artificial) natural language. He talks Michael through the grammar and lang…

1
Politeness with Louise Mullany 27:40

4M ago27:40

27:40

Professor Louise Mullany talks to Michael Rosen about politeness, and how it governs our lives, from the behaviour of football managers to the different ways children can embarrass us. Why, in this country at least, is it so mortifying to mistakenly assume someone is pregnant, when in other cultures it's simply thoughtful to book two seats on a pla…

1
Jackie Kay on the Scots language 27:29

4M ago27:29

27:29

Poet Jackie Kay has written a book in Scots: Coorie Doon: A Scottish Lullaby Story. She joins presenter Michael Rosen to talk about her love of the language and what it meant to her growing up. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea.Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never miss an episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/b006qtnz…

1
The Language of Genetics 27:56

4M ago27:56

27:56

Adam Rutherford joins Michael Rosen to make sense of the heavily-loaded and often unscientific language that we use to talk about genetics, inheritance, ancestry and race. Adam is a geneticist, science writer, and lecturer in Biology and Society at University College London. His work tries to make sense of what our genes do (or don't) tell us about…

1
Susie Dent's World of Words 27:55

4M ago27:55

27:55

Susie Dent joins Michael Rosen to talk about her lifelong fascination with words and their origins. It's a programme bringing some apricity, which is one of Susie's favourite words. Her love of language began when she was a child, then found expression in her passion for French and German and now in her work as a lexicographer, writer and language …

1
Social media language 27:59

8M ago27:59

27:59

Michael talks to linguist Dr Andreea Calude about her research into how language is used on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter/X. And he asks if we're witnessing the death of email. Dr Andreea Calude is the author of The Linguistics of Social Media: An Introduction. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea.Subscribe to the Word of …

1
How Animals Talk 27:39

8M ago27:39

27:39

Michael hears from zoologist Arik Kershenbaum about the latest research on how and why different types of animals communicate, from wolves howling to dolphins whistling: a world of soundscapes. He also explains how animal communication can help to shed light on the human variety. Dr. Arik Kershenbaum is a zoologist and the author of: Why Animals Ta…

1
A Poet Writing in Three Languages 27:44

8M ago27:44

27:44

How best to write about love and other things. Nabeela Ahmed talks about writing in a second language and how her early life in Kashmir shaped the language she uses to express different aspects of her life. She is also a champion for the Pahari language in her home city of Bradford. Pahari is a language spoken by people in Northern areas of India, …

1
Fine Distinctions 27:37

8M ago27:37

27:37

Eli Burnstein talks about fine distinctions between words, including Michael's personal bugbear of forewords, prefaces and introductions, some clarity on clementines, satsumas, tangerines and mandarins, and of course the lunch, dinner and tea debate. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally Heaven.Subscribe to the Word of Mouth podcast and never mis…

1
Former astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield on the language of Space exploration 27:46

9M ago27:46

27:46

Colonel Chris Hadfield is a veteran of three spaceflights. He crewed the US space shuttle twice, piloted the Russian Soyuz, helped build space station Mir and served as Commander of the International Space Station. Getting words and language right in as clear and a concise way is a matter of life and death for astronauts. Crews are traditionally ma…

1
The words we use about getting older and why they matter 27:43

9M ago27:43

27:43

How we talk about getting older can affect how we age, both mentally and physically. Michael asks Dr Lucy Pollock for her advice on ageing well and happily. Dr Lucy Pollock has been an NHS consultant geriatrician, a doctor specialising in the care of older people, for over 30 years. She is the author of The Book About Getting Older, and her new boo…

1
How babies learn language 27:46

9M ago27:46

27:46

Recently a video went viral of a baby talking - or babbling - with a Liverpool accent. Professor Julian Pine from Liverpool University explains how babies and young children learn language, including the rules we take for granted. Including the surprising reasons who children make mistakes like saying "nana" instead of banana, or "I play football y…

1
Little Green Men: the secret rules of word order 28:03

11M ago28:03

28:03

Michael explores the mysterious rules of word order with linguist Dr Laura Bailey. We all know them instinctively, without knowing that we know them. Contains the truth about killer whales and also why Yoda sounds like an alien. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Beth O'Dea.By BBC Radio 4

1
Word of Mouth with Michael Morpurgo at the Hay Festival 43:40

12M ago43:40

43:40

Michael meets fellow children's author Michael Morpurgo - author of over 150 books - including Kensuke's Kingdom, Private Peaceful and Warhorse. They talk words, writing, books and language and why it's so important that children learn to love reading at an early age. Producer: Maggie AyreBy BBC Radio 4

1
Language When There Are No Words 27:31

12M ago27:31

27:31

Joshua Reno talks about how Charlie, his non-verbal son who is on the autism spectrum, communicates with him very effectively using gestures known as "home signs". Joshua is the author of Home Signs: An Ethnography of Life beyond and beside Language. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally HeavenBy BBC Radio 4

1
The Irish Language 35:02

12M ago35:02

35:02

In conversation with Michael about his book "32 Words For Field" Manchán Magan reveals Ireland's deep connection with the landscape expressed through the Irish language. The author traces his country's relationship with the natural world and its corresponding belief system that encompasses the 'otherworld'. He lists many similarities between Irish …

1
Disaster Dialogue 27:35

1y ago27:35

27:35

Professor Lucy Easthope explains why language is important in the aftermath of a disaster, why some words are useful and some can be damaging. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally HeavenBy BBC Radio 4

1
Podmon Horizons: Forest Fires for the Trees (Eps 10-12) 19:54

1y ago19:54

19:54

Didn't mean to LEAVE you, but it's time for more Pokémon Horizons!

1
Football Club Names 27:34

1y ago27:34

27:34

Dominic Fifield explains how football clubs got their names, uncovering a fascinating social history behind the Wanderers, Wednesdays and Villas. Produced for BBC Audio Bristol by Sally HeavenBy BBC Radio 4

1
Podmon Horizons: Shut Outs and Shut-Ins (eps 07-09) 22:58

1y ago22:58

22:58

Let's watch more Pokémon Horizons!

1
Podmon Horizons: A Song of Croc and Fire (eps 04-06) 28:47

1y ago28:47

28:47

Screw it, let's watch some more Pokémon Horizons

1
Podmon Horizons: That Darn Weed Kitty (eps 01-03) 31:35

1y ago31:35

31:35

Another week off from the main show, so we brought you something special. Let's talk about Liko, Sprigattito, The Rising Volt Tacklers, and everything else about the first three episodes of Pokémon Horizons!

1
Card Captor Sakura (Patreon Version) UNLOCKED 1:00:54

1y ago1:00:54

1:00:54

Sadly, there's no new episode of Podmon this week, so instead we are (finally) unlocking the full version of Card Captor Sakura for you guys!

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 19 Going For Gold, pt. I: TKO 22:45

1y ago22:45

22:45

Get ready for a real knockout, because it's time for another episode of Podmon Adventure!Who does God hate more, Davis or June? Why did it take so long for someone to punch Ken? And why does it need hair? Let's watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two Episode 19 An Old Enemy Returns and find out!

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 18 Way Off Base 38:29

1y ago38:29

38:29

It's a bird! It's...the Digimon Emperor's base? No, it's a new episode of Podmon Adventure!What is Ken "collecting" Digimon for? How nice is it to finally have stakes this season? And why does everyone have to be so mean to June? Let's watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 18 Run Yolei Run, and find out!…

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 17 Haunted By A Memory 23:29

1y ago23:29

23:29

It's like an old friend back from the dead, because it's time for another episode of Podmon Adventure!Is the history lesson necessary?Does anyone care about Davis? And what the hell is Wizardmon talking about? Let's watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 17 Ghost of a Chance and find out!

1
This Week in Fandom Nonsense (February 2024) 35:39

1y ago35:39

35:39

Fantastic Four cast announcement! X-Men 97 trailer! Deadpool and Wolverine trailer! Plus, is media literacy dead? Or was it always?

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 16 The Lie Aquatic 1:01:48

1y ago1:01:48

1:01:48

Hold your breath, because we're diving in to another episode of Podmon Adventure!Are we really watching these kids cope with suffocating to death? Is Davis ever aware of what's going on around him? And is this the most environmentally specific digivolution yet? Find out, as we watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 16, 20,000 Digi-Leagues Under T…

1
How to Think Like an Anthropologist, with Gillian Tett 27:46

1y ago27:46

27:46

"If you want to hide something in the 21st century world, you don't need to create a James Bond style plot. Just cover it in acronyms". Gillian Tett is a columnist at the Financial Times, but she initially trained as a cultural anthropologist, studying marriage rituals in Tajikistan. She joins Michael Rosen to discuss how the study of language has …

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 15 The Not So Silent Swordsman 40:14

1y ago40:14

40:14

Don't sleep through this one, it's time for another episode of Podmon Adventure!Is TK's memory failing him? Will anything come of this fierce rivalry? And does Yolei have it bad for anyone or anything on two legs? Let's find out, as we watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 15, Big Trouble in Little Edo!…

1
End of Evangelion: A CouchLock Podcast Valentine's Special 1:48:56

1+ y ago1:48:56

1:48:56

Happy Valentine's Day! Here's a very special treat for you all. Love you

1
Family Sayings 27:43

1+ y ago27:43

27:43

Michael shares listeners' stories about the words and phrases passed down in their families that they keep using, and what they mean to them. With Rob Drummond, Professor of Sociolinguistics at Manchester Met University, and author of You’re All Talk: why we are what we speak. Producer Beth O'Dea, BBC Audio Bristol…

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 14 Egg Foo Young Woman 20:50

1+ y ago20:50

20:50

Get out your forks and chopsticks, because we're serving up another episode of Podmon Adventure!Who the hell is this Not Willis kid? Is Mimi naively pure, or purely naive? And who keeps all their eggs in one basket? Find out, as we Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 14, Samurai of Sincerity!

1
Are you different in another language? 27:47

1+ y ago27:47

27:47

Michael Rosen talks to neuroscientist Dr Julia Ravey about whether we think and act differently when speaking a non-native language. More and more people are finding themselves speaking multiple languages in our cross-cultural societies. But when we communicate in a different tongue, do we become a different person? From the decisions we make to th…

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two episode 13 Lovecraft in the Dark 29:54

1+ y ago29:54

29:54

Did someone drain all the color from my face? Because it's another episode of Podmon Adventure!So where is Kari anyway? Did the nurse just make a pass at TK? And will any of this come back up again? Let's watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 13, His Master's Voice, and talk about it!

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 12 How The West Was Mon 25:27

1+ y ago25:27

25:27

Saddle up, pardner, because we're riding into another episode of Podmon Adventure!Why does Biyomon have no respect for Airdramon? Do boys cheat at cards? And what is John Wayne doing here? Let's watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 12 The Good, The Bad, and The Digi and find out!

1
Words for Sale! 27:49

1+ y ago27:49

27:49

Michael Rosen explores how language has become an online commodity, with Dr Pip Thornton, Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. Dr Thornton explains, with the help of auction props and a receipt machine, what happens to the words that we put into an online search and how the engines make money from our words and phrases. We discover w…

1
Fandom Nonsense Classic Episode 09 $4 Gumballs 1:08:06

1+ y ago1:08:06

1:08:06

Sorry, we should be back next week. And I have no idea why there's no episode 8

1
Unequal English 27:51

1+ y ago27:51

27:51

Michael Rosen is joined by language scholar Ruanni Tupas, to discuss Unequal English - how native English is perceived differently, depending on where you come from. Ruanni, who's from the Philippines and also spent two decades in Singapore, has spent his career thinking about what it means to be a native English speaker when you come from somewher…

1
A Life in Lexicography 27:39

1+ y ago27:39

27:39

Grant Barrett is a lexicographer, linguist, author, editor, founder of Wordnik and Head of Lexicography at Dictionary.com. He also co-hosts A Way With Words, a phone in show about language, which airs coast to coast across the United States.He and Michael discuss the joy of flicking through a dictionary with friends vs the fast return of an online …

1
Fandom Nonsense Classic 107 Special Chemical Build-Up 1:01:54

1+ y ago1:01:54

1:01:54

Bad weather and busy schedules delayed this week's podmon, so here's a throwback for you. Hopefully we're back on schedule next week

1
Writing Comedy with Isy Suttie 27:50

1+ y ago27:50

27:50

Isy Suttie is an actor and comedian best known for her role in Peepshow and her one woman show Love Letters on Radio 4 as well as many other shows and podcasts. Here she talks to Michael Rosen about writing her comedy and what informs it. She grew up in Matlock in Derbyshire and a deep love as well of knowledge of the place and its people find thei…

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 11 Friendship and Other Grey Areas pt. 3 45:04

1+ y ago45:04

45:04

From one friend to another, it's time for another episode of Podmon Adventure!Why does anyone think Matt can lift the egg? Are you really gonna make me defend Davis? And how freaking cool is Raidramon? Let's watch Digimon Adventure episode 11, The Storm of Friendship, and find out!

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 10 Friendship and Other Grey Areas, pt. 2 36:15

1+ y ago36:15

36:15

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and days of A BRAND NEW EPISODE OF PODMON ADVENTURE!So uh, what's wrong with Yolei again? What's the story with this sick (and sickly looking) MetalGreymon? And will somebody find Wormmon a therapist? Let's find out together, as we watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 10, The Captive Digimon!…

1
Podmon: The Movie: The Podcast 1:06:43

1+ y ago1:06:43

1:06:43

Merry Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year, and what better film to watch than The Digimon Movie?! That's right, there isn't one! Head over to the patreon.com/indicarnival to hear our audio commentary on the movie as well!

1
Podmon Adventure Zero Two Episode 09 Friendship and Other Grey Areas, Part One 46:03

1+ y ago46:03

46:03

We're making a list and checking it twice, we're gonna find out who is listening to Podmon Adventure!Is Yolei still down bad? Does Izzy have to kill a punk? Does Ken not know what ring toss is? Let's watch Digimon Adventure Zero Two episode 09, The Emperor's New Home, and find out!

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