5 Funny Things You Didn't Know About My Channel

Dec 19, 2024

Hitting one million subscribers last month had me feeling a touch reflective, and thinking back on the history of my channel and podcast, five moments came to mind that I thought it would be fun to share with you.

1. I spilled coffee over myself during my first episode with Bart Ehrman.

Take a look at my first interview with Bart Ehrman:

This was the first time I had met Dr. Ehrman. Before we starting recording, I asked if he would like a coffee. He said, “No thanks, I usually just spill it down myself.” I remember this distinctly because I thought to myself it was a slightly strange thing to say. But fair enough! Just me, then.

In a moment of comic poetry, at around 7 minutes and 30 seconds into the episode… I spilled my coffee down myself. Dr. Ehrman noticed, but I said nothing, and didn’t want to interrupt the episode, so we continued. Notice, then, viewer, that for the rest of the entire episode I am obscuring the middle of my shirt with my arm or notes.

2. I sent Peter Singer walking through town in the rain.

In 2019 I was excited to host distinguished utilitarian philosopher Peter Singer on what was then the “Cosmic Skeptic Podcast”.

We filmed at my old “studio” (former server room in an office block) in Oxford, with Dr. Singer only requesting that we cover his transport to the shoot, and then to the meeting he had with somebody afterwards somewhere else in the city.

In support of the local taxi trade, the City of Oxford does not licence Uber, and so if the services are too busy, you are not getting a ride. Novice as I was, and not knowing exactly when we would finish, I did not book a car in advance, and upon trying to order one for the professor, learned that the wait would be the better part of an hour or so.

“That’s no good for me,” said an understanding Dr. Singer, since he had an appointment to make. So, there was only one thing for it: I called my mum. “Hi mum, yes I’m well, how are you? Yes. Great. Mhmm. Don’t suppose you could come and give Peter Singer a lift?”

She could not, neither could my cameraman’s mum, and so our venerable guest decided he had better start walking. Fine, except not only would this require walking through a less than celebrated area of Oxford, but it was also raining. He was insistent, however, and after pointing him in roughly the right direction, we watched him disappear into the fog, on foot.

I’d never orchestrated quite this kind of professional blunder before. I stood there, stunned at my own incompetence, remarking to my friend that not only had we just sent an elderly man walking in the rain on his own through a bad part of an unfamiliar city, but that man happened to be Peter Singer.

I had also not yet paid him back for the taxi ride he had bought to the recording. The following day, though, he took part in a debate at the Oxford Union which I attended, providing my opportunity. After its conclusion, I got out of my seat, walked to the front of the chamber where all the speakers were getting ready to leave, approached the good doctor, and handed over some nine pounds or so, in cash.

(Can you spot me in the audience at 3:38?)

3. We used AI to expand Richard Dawkins’ living room.

Fast forward to 2024, and Richard Dawkins is appearing on my podcast for the second time.

We recorded in his home, setting up around the dining room table. This made for a comfortable vibe, but was quite limiting in terms of video production. Ultimately, the framing came out not quite to my liking, positioning me too far to the left of the frame.

We had already wrapped, and so I fatalistically accepted that there was nothing we could do, until my video editor suggested we simply use artificial intelligence to expand Richard’s living room.

I do not know if we ended up using this extension or not, but here is the real thing:

For a more noticeable example, take a look at the wide shot from my episode with Rory Stewart:

A gorgeous image, I hope you will agree, but unfortunately contaminated by two tripod legs unavoidably placed in the bottom corners of the frame.

Here is the shot that went out:

It was no accident: we knew the tripod legs were in the shot, but liked it where they were, and knew we could “fix it in post”.

4. Matty Healy was at the taping of my podcast with Jordan Peterson.

Earlier this year I was invited to appear on the Jordan B. Peterson Podcast. I received an email on Wednesday 15th May: “I know this is extremely last minute, but is there any chance you would be interested and available in being on the show this Friday 5/17 at 11:30 am PT in Los Angeles?”

Despite having just returned from the US one week prior, and due to return again later that same month, I emailed back and said that I could do it, but it would require me flying to the America.

It turns out his team thought I was there already. “You’re the best for this offer but that would be insane to have you do!” They offered to set up a virtual recording in a studio somewhere in London.

I don’t think so!

I told them that if we can absolutely confirm the time and date, I would be there. And there I was, two days later, sat in front of that glorious suit. I think the 21-hour round trip in basic economy was ultimately worth it.

I was in LA for some two or three days. I told my friend Matty Healy that I was doing the show, and he asked if he could come. He ended up giving me a lift there, and this is how I ended up introducing the frontman of the 1975 to the frontman of the American culture war.

I thought this would remain a fun unknown fact, but Matty ended up posting about it on his Instagram story, which led a fair few people to wonder what on Earth he was doing there. The answer? Just hanging out.

5. I balanced Neil deGrasse Tyson on top of my laundry.

I am the kind of person who does not replace something until it becomes absolutely necessary. You may have noticed that in all of my recent in-person events and conversations, my shoes (the only brogues I own) are practically falling apart.

This is not humility, nor frugality, but simple laziness. I do not care for shoe shopping, much less table shopping, and thus until just last year, when recording episodes of my podcast virtually over Skype, I used to balance my laptop on the most convenient nearby object of near-optimum height.

What was this object? My laundry basket, with a few books balanced on top for good measure. So, looking back at my episodes with the likes of Neil deGrasse Tyson, Peter Singer, and Destiny, it is strange to remember that they were all sitting atop my socks and underwear, until I finally decided it was time to purchase a dedicated laptop stand.