Desert Island Discs - Episode 270

 

Image: BBC.co.uk (CC BY 2.0)

Desert Island Discs is a program that's been running on BBC Radio for nearly 70 years. Today, we both decide to list our castaway music selections, books and luxury items for all of you and if you want to join in, please list your eight recordings, one book and one luxury item in the comments below. In this podcast episode, we discuss the history of the radio program and then talk about the reasons behind our choices! 

What would be your luxury item on a desert island?

10 Things The Romans Did For Britain - Episode 269

 

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The Roman Empire was one of the most influential empires in Earth history, and when they conquered Britain, they brought some ideas that were subsequently lost and re-discovered through time. The Romans impact on western civilization really cannot be understated. You owe basic plumbing, sanitation and roads to them and even your fast food too!

What is your favourite thing about what the Romans did?

Footpaths of The UK - Epsode 268

 

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Footpaths are quite common all over the UK, especially in England and Wales where Ramblers have a legal right to pass on them even if they cross a private property or land. As this is a peculiarity in the US, particularly in Texas where walking isn't as common, Dominic and Erica talk about the varied problems that ramblers and landowners face when dealing with these common law paths.

Have you ever been on a public footpath?

Blue Plaques - Episode 267

 

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 The Blue Plaque is something reserved for a group of unique people; the famous dead. If you've been dead for a number of years and contributed to the happiness of society or were a person of significance, any place you lived or worked at is eligible for a Blue Plaque. They are found all over the UK but the greatest concentration of them is in London, where they were originally conceived of back in 1866. We think it would be rather fun to go on an adventure and see how many we can find!

Who is your favourite recipient of a Blue Plaque?

London's Changing Skyline - Episode 266

 

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London is a city that's changed a lot over the years. It's iconic skyline is one that's seen an empire fall and glass skyscrapers rise. We explore the changing skyline of London over the course of a century, from the Oxo Tower in 1900, to the Gherkin in 2003, London has seen a lot of changes, some for better, some for worse.

What is your favourite thing about the London Skyline?

Football Hooliganism - Episode 265

 

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English Football, or Soccer, has always suffered from hooliganism since it was invented, however, since the winning of the World Cup in 1966, hooliganism took a sharp upturn and the media descended and the government cracked down hard. However, it's failed to tackle the problem effectively. After England's 2020 European Championship Cup hopes were dashed by Italy on Sunday, more of these non-fans began to hurl abuse at players on the England team. In this episode, we explore the events of Sunday and the effects and causes of hooliganism in the English fans.

Have you ever witnessed hooliganism?

Texan Things A Brit Refuses To Do - Episode 264

 

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Brits, when they become expats, start to do things they never did back home because not being able to do them as freely remind them of home. Dominic, being a British person in Texas for a decade now, has decided to reveal the aspects of Texan, and indeed American culture he is shying away from and outright refusing to adopt. He also gives his views of other aspects of the culture, which are all mostly in jest!

What is an aspect of British culture you'd refuse to do?

The European Championships - Episode 263

 

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Soccer, it's never been hugely popular in the USA. The rest of the world, definitely much more popular. European Football is currently in the twilight of the UEFA European Championships, or "Euros" as its informally known. Dominic tells us in this episode about the history and Britain's, or more specifically England's, obsession with the sport and the culture that surrounds it.

Who are you rooting for in the Euros?

Small Towns Of The UK and USA - Episode 262

 

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Small towns are amazing. They're also quite small. But a lot of people like that about them. In fact, that's possibly their draw for people moving. People want to get out of the big city, but there are plenty of people who have lived in small towns that yearn to get out. In this episode, we compare our experiences of growing up in small towns in the UK and US and also the similarities between both. 

What is your favourite small town in the US or UK?