Pod Save the UK – Details, episodes & analysis

In this special live episode from the Edinburgh Fringe, recorded on 07/08/24, Nish and Coco are joined by comedians Adam Hills and Kemah Bob to talk about how political comedy offers relief in dark times, while still holding power to account. 

The gang reflect on political flashpoints and what they learned from it, from dropping a spoonful of sugar to the unique lens that comedy can lend while reporting devastating events. Once again, Nish is confounded by Brat Summer. 

Later, in a special Q&A session with our live audience, we resurrect Pod Shag the UK and hear about some of the things bringing hope to our listeners, with a special appearance from Nish’s mum. 

Guests: 

Adam Hills - Comedian 

Kemah Bob - Comedian

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

In this special live episode from the Edinburgh Fringe, Nish and Coco bring two special guests to talk about the racist riots tearing Britain apart. 

**CORRECTION** This episode incorrectly states that the Baha Men's "Who Let The Dogs Out" has a sexist subtext, when it is in fact a song criticising misogyny. We regret the error. 

Nish, Coco and Ahir reflect on their personal feelings and experiences of racism in the UK in the wake of the violence, while sharing some advice for anyone feeling disturbed. Later, Tom Ballard jumps on stage to share how the UK took some of the worst possible inspiration from his home country of Australia. 

The gang turn to the audience - while sharing advice for wearing sunscreen… And burrito-based magic. 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests: 

Ahir Shah - Comedian 

Tom Ballard - Comedian 

Useful Links: 

ahirshah.com

tomballard.com.au

It’s been a horrendous campaign for the Conservatives so far, careening from disaster to catastrophe, but the Tories don't have the exclusive on political drama. This week Nish and Coco focus on the action in the devolved nations, with a particular focus on Wales and Northern Ireland. 

First, we check in with Welsh Journalist Will Hayward to learn about the recent vote of no confidence in First Minister Vaughan Gething and Labour’s manifesto pledge to tune up the current devolution agreements. Then, Coco chats to Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth, to learn more about Plaid’s ambitions for Wales and their plans to turn up the heat on Labour. 

Later, we check in to Northern Ireland, speaking to journalist Amanda Ferguson about the stakes of the next election and whether allegations about former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will have any bearing on the election. 

Finally, the gang break out some of Coco’s recently rebranded charming and quizzical moments.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected] 

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld
 

Guests:

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Leader of Plaid Cymru 

Will Hayward, Welsh Affairs Editor at Wales Online

Amanda Ferguson, freelance journalist

Audio credits:

Sky News

Blue Sky.mp3 by Sergmusic -- https://freesound.org/s/639933/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

TikTok/ Suella Braverman 

Useful links:

Jo Stevens interview with S4C https://x.com/NewyddionS4C/status/1802786241852707250

Constituencies and candidates: 

Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr: https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.montgomeryshire-and-glyndwr.2024-07-04/montgomeryshire-and-glyndwr/

Ynys Mon:

https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.ynys-mon.2024-07-04/ynys-mon/

Dudley:

https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.dudley.2024-07-04/dudley/

Fareham: 

https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/parl.fareham-and-waterlooville.2024-07-04/fareham-and-waterlooville/

Following a week of political manifestoes dropping from UK parties - Nish & Coco take a deep-dive investigation to see how they hold up against one another. With a focus on manifestoes that have left-wing approaches - they discuss what policies are the most realistic and which hold up the best under scrutiny.  Joined by political journalist Zoe Grünewald, Nish & Coco look closely at welfare policies, the NHS, taxes and social care.

Special guests Rebekah Pierre (author and social worker) and Helen Barnard (of the Trussell Trust) send the hosts their thoughts on which policies have the most potential for hope. 

And there’s a return of WTF moments featuring an iconic UK hit song and Starmer’s comeback to a surprise protest.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Zoe Grünewald, political journalist
 

Audio Clips:

BBC

Institute for Fiscal Studies

Times Radio

Sky News

Dawn Butler/Elson
 

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

The polls are indicating a landslide victory for Labour come the election on July 4th. But that hasn’t stopped the calls - from both the left and the right - for citizens to vote tactically. But what does that really mean in Britain’s broken electoral system?

Joining Nish and Coco on the PSUK sofa is Femi Oluwole, activist and campaigner, and Joe Twyman, a seasoned pollster covering his 9th election. Together they discuss whether this is an election for people to vote with their heart or if being “strategic” is more important and whether our new parliament has any hope of delivering long overdue reform to our electoral system.

We also hear from Jessica Garland from the Electoral Reform Society.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Femi Oluwole, YouTube Campaigner, Tactical Voting activist

Joe Twyman, Co-founder and director of Deltapoll

Audio Clips:

Sky News

BBC

ITV

Channel 5

PoliticsJoe

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

https://www.gov.uk/registertovote

https://www.getvoting.org

https://tactical.vote

https://stopthetories.vote/

https://www.sprintforpr.uk/

The UK’s sorry state of affairs when it comes to water and railways is both a massive problem and an opportunity for the incoming government. Water companies are teetering on the brink of collapse and it feels inevitable that they will soon fall back in to public ownership. But how can we pay for renationalised services? 

Cat Hobbs from We Own It talks to Nish and Coco about the history of privatisation and the opportunities that renationalised services present to the UK. 

And economist and activist Gary Stevenson explores how the public can rewrite the narrative on taxation - starting with a 1% tax on people with wealth of over £10,000,000. But why stop there? Coco and Nish ask about other potential boons to the state budget. 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Cat Hobbs, Director of We Own It

Gary Stevenson, the Activist and Economist behind Gary’s Economics
 

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

https://weownit.org.uk/

https://patrioticmillionaires.uk/

In week two of the campaigns for the upcoming General Election - the fight for the centre vote has become a focal point. But the crucial question remains - what will this do for the future of politics in the UK? Are we at risk of losing diversity across parties? And as Keir Starmer appears to be purging the left-wing factions of the Labour Party, Nish and Coco speak to former Labour leader and now independent candidate Jeremy Corbyn on whether he’s hopeful for a potential Labour government and what advice he has for Keir Starmer.

Nish and Coco also speak to Mhairi Black about the challenges facing the SNP when trying to capture the electorate. They also discuss whether we are at risk of losing the kind of representation that the Left and younger voters need to bring about hope and change in society.

There’s also a rundown of the first Sunak vs Starmer TV debate and a return of the best WTF moments from the week’s political campaigns.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Jeremy Corbyn, Independent Candidate for Islington North

Mhairi Black, former SNP Deputy Leader and MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South
 

Audio credits:

BBC 

ITV

Labour Party

Sky News

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

It’s week one of the campaign and after a comical series of false starts, Rishi Sunak and the Tories have fired the first shots in a campaign of generational warfare. 

Nish and Coco are joined by political correspondent Liz Bates to find out if there are votes to be won in these wedge politics. Later, they speak to Christine Jardine from the Liberal Democrats about their differences with Labour as well as the electoral battleground that is Scotland. And, as the campaign heats up - the WTF moments are multiplying. Nish, Coco and Liz dissect their favourites from the week.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

 

Guests:

Liz Bates, Sky News

Christine Jardine, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP

 

Audio credits:

BBC 

Sky News

Shrek - Paramount pictures
 

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

Nish and Coco are joined by Abigail Thorn (actress, writer and host of PhilosophyTube) and Freddy McConnell (writer and journalist) to examine the issues facing the trans and non-binary community in the UK today. 

In recent news, the current Tory government has proposed new guidelines for education in schools across England. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said that gender identity should not be taught in schools to students of any age. Abigail and Freddy respond to these news headlines and also discuss The Cass review, a proposed new approach from the Labour Party around the Gender Recognition Act,  and which individuals need highlighting for their work on trans rights in the UK. 

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guests:

Abigail Thorn, 

Freddy McConnell, journalist
 

Audio credits:

ITV

BBC
 

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!

https://transsafety.network/

Transactual Briefing on the Cass Review - https://transactual.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/TransActual-Briefing-on-Cass-Review.pdf

Nish and Coco bring you a hot off-the-press special look at the announcement of a UK general election.

On Wednesday 22nd May - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the next general election will be on Thursday 4th July 2024. It appeared to be a sudden decision that surprised even his own Conservative MPs. But this announcement brings a whole host of questions with it. What key issues will this election be fought on? Is the timing helpful to any party in particular? How will Sunak fare under the microscope? To answer those and many more - friend of the show Liz Bates makes an eager return. Alongside Nish and Coco - Liz discusses what drove Sunak to this announcement and whether Keir Starmer got something of a headstart on his campaign.

There’s also discussion of how other parties might fare in this race from Lib Dems to the SNPs. And co-leader of the Green Party Adrian Ramsay gives his point of view.

Pod Save the UK is a Reduced Listening production for Crooked Media.

Contact us via email: [email protected]

WhatsApp: 07494 933 444 (UK) or + 44 7494 933 444 (internationally)

Insta: https://instagram.com/podsavetheuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/podsavetheuk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@podsavetheuk

Facebook: https://facebook.com/podsavetheuk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podsavetheworld

Guest:

Liz Bates, Sky News

Adrian Ramsay, Co-leader, Green Party

Audio credits:

BBC

Sky News

Useful links:

Come to see Pod Save the UK live at Edinburgh Fringe!