Where theatrical people play roleplaying games. Each season our players part-improvise a story in a new genre, with roleplaying game rules providing surprising twists and turns. Jump in at the start of any season! The story continues every other Tuesday; on the Tuesdays in between, Backstage episodes shed light on the game and storytelling mechanics behind the scenes.
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On the Catholic Herald's weekly podcast, Gavin Ashenden and guests will reflect on what's happening in the Christian world; and shed some light on the most important cultural, spiritual and moral issues of the day.
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Assad tells Belgian reporter Belgium & EU merely obey 'US master' on Syria audio English Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently told Belgian media that their country and the EU merely obey ‘the American master’ when it comes to Syria and political decision-making in general. Source: Syrian Arab News Agency Date: 7 February, 2017
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"Merely Misunderstood" is your new go-to weekly podcast, unpacking the massive pile of misconceptions that mess with our view of the world and each other. Each episode dives into the real talk behind everything from self-reflection and personal growth to blended families and societal norms. We're here to break down the misinformed voids around mental health, decode cultural misunderstandings, and call out the frequent misjudgments that trip up even the best of us. With a mix of expert insigh ...
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Act Four of Five: Test your smoke alarms and check your boiler regularly. Otherwise your home can really hurt you. Coming next on 26 November – Vigil: Tailor Made, Act 5 Programme notes This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence. Meet actual play podcasters and see some live recordings at the Dragonmeet P…
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89: Re-enchanted Christianity, with Rod Dreher
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55:21
In this 89th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald, Rod Dreher talks to Dr Gavin Ashenden about his new book, Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age. With increasing numbers of young people in the West seeking spirituality in esoteric religions or the Occult, Mr Dreher argues that the Church …
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Act Three of Five: As the innocents evacuate, hostilities escalate. The walls are closing in. Coming next on 12 November – Vigil: Tailor Made, Act 4 Programme notes This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence. Nominate your favourite podcasts for the 2024 Discover Pods Awards. Merely Roleplayers is eligibl…
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88: Our right to be protected from suicide, with Professor David Albert Jones
59:51
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59:51
Professor David Albert Jones, the director of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, Oxford, joins Dr Gavin Ashenden for this 88th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald. They discuss the rush to assisted suicide ahead of a crucial vote to legalise the practice in the House of Commons on November 29 and the horrible realitie…
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Peggy, the Crooked (Vigil Backstage)
1:08:38
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1:08:38
Meet Peggy: grifter, scion, Crooked. Ellie builds her new character along with an identity parade of supernatural villains. Coming next on 29 October – Vigil: Tailor Made, Act 3 Programme notes This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence. Dramatis personae and other definitions Peggy Tailor: The prodigal d…
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Act Two of Five: Search this house from bottom to top! Coming next on 22 October – Peggy, the Crooked (Vigil Backstage) Programme notes This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence. Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to The Thorne Files, a fellow Monster of the Week actual play podcast detailing the…
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Woven together (Vigil Backstage)
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The cast work out how everyone’s connected to Ellie’s new character. Coming next on 15 October – Vigil: Tailor Made, Act 2 Programme notes This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence. Dramatis personae and other definitions Calistarius Softbinding: A local horror writer with a cult following, who sponsored…
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Act One of Five: Welcome to Tailors’ Haunt. Everyone who should live here is gone, and everyone you might want gone can’t leave. Coming next on 8 October – Woven together (Vigil Backstage) Programme notes This production contains strong language, drug use, gunfire, and gory fantasy violence. Dramatis personae and other definitions Calistarius Softb…
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87: The irresistible power of truth, with Andrew Jacoby
1:06:41
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Dr Gavin Ashenden is joined for this 87th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald, by Andrew Jacoby, an American businessman and entrepreneur. Mr Jacoby, who converted to the Catholic faith from the Judaism of his youth and the “hedonistic lifestyle” of his later years when he travelled the world as a musician, explai…
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Retracing our steps (Labyrinth Backstage)
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What chambers of the Queen’s Labyrinth did we leave unexplored? Join us backstage for a look back at this production. Coming next on 1 October – Vigil: Tailor Made, Act 1 Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Credits GOBLIN QUEEN: Natalie Winter STARRING: Helen Stratton as Linda Ellie Pitkin as Sir Barold von Branwi…
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Act 5 of 5: The Goblin Queen’s Castle. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, we have fought our way here to take back what was stolen. Coming next on 17 September – Retracing our steps (Labyrinth Untold) Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Goblin Queen Natalie Winter also plays Dungeons & Dragons and ot…
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Clangers untold (Labyrinth Backstage)
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20:02
Follow us around a few of the wrong turns, blind alleys and dead ends that we cut from this production. Coming next on 10 September – Labyrinth Untold, Act 5 Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Credits GOBLIN QUEEN: Natalie Winter STARRING: Helen Stratton as Linda Ellie Pitkin as Sir Barold von Branwick Strat as W…
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86: The case for sound liturgy, with Dom Alcuin Reid
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53:11
Dom Alcuin Reid, the distinguished Australian Benedictine who founded the Monastère Saint-Benoît in Fréjus-Toulon, France, joins Dr Gavin Ashenden for this 86th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald. Dom Alcuin is an internationally-recognised expert on the liturgy, having published and lectured on the subject exten…
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Act 4 of 5: The Goblin City. Shadows are illegal and opera is mandatory. Just don’t make a scene. Coming next on 3 September – Clangers untold (Labyrinth Backstage) Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Matt wrote a new show called I Need A Miracle, where each episode is a prayer, some prayers are answered, and a pr…
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85: The idea of a university, with Dr Derry Connolly
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54:33
Dr Gavin Ashenden is joined on Merely Catholic this week by Dr Derry Connolly, the founding president of John Paul the Great Catholic University, California. Dr Connolly charts his journey from his youth in rural County Cork, Ireland, and a career in engineering and technology in Los Angeles to the moment when “God put it in my heart” to establish …
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Can any world survive a benevolent god? I Need A Miracle premieres on 29 August. Coming next on 27 August – Labyrinth Untold, Act 4 Programme notes Every episode is a prayer. Some prayers are answered. And a prayer granted can upend the world. I Need A Miracle is the first scripted podcast series from Foggy Outline, created and written by Merely Ro…
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Act 3 of 5: The Land of Yore. Between a pot and a fart place. Stink forever or stay forever. Coming next on 20 August – I Need A Miracle Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Goblin Queen Natalie Winter also plays Dungeons & Dragons and other games on Twitch with Roll Together! Find her as the Dungeon Master of Nexu…
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Traits and flaws (Labyrinth Backstage)
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Character creation continues: what about each of our denizens could help or hinder us on our journey? Coming next on 13 August – Labyrinth Untold, Act 3 Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Credits GOBLIN QUEEN: Natalie Winter STARRING: Helen Stratton as Linda Ellie Pitkin as Sir Barold von Branwick Strat as Winkle…
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84: The splendour of the truth, with Bishop Joseph Strickland
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The Rt Rev. Joseph Strickland, the former Bishop of Tyler, Texas, who was “relieved” of his duties by Pope Francis last year, joins Dr Gavin Ashenden for this 84th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald They discuss his removal from office and the post-modern assault on truth in the Church and in the world, and other…
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Act 2 of 5: The Hedge Maze. This topiary can only be described as wild. Coming next on 6 August – Traits and flaws (Labyrinth Backstage) Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Goblin Queen Natalie Winter also plays Dungeons & Dragons and other games on Twitch with Roll Together! Find her as the Dungeon Master of Nexu…
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Kicking off character creation with the important question: what flavour of Labyrinth Muppet do we all want to be? Coming next on 30 July – Labyrinth Untold, Act 2 Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Credits GOBLIN QUEEN: Natalie Winter STARRING: Helen Stratton as Linda Ellie Pitkin as Sir Barold von Branwick Stra…
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83: Why CS Lewis matters to Catholics, with Fr Michael Ward
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1:07:01
Our guest for this 83rd episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald, is Fr Michael Ward, the English literary critic and theologian and an internationally recognised expert on the writings of CS Lewis. Perhaps best known for his 2010 book Planet Narnia, Fr Ward is an associate member of the Faculty of Theology and Religio…
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Labyrinth Untold, Act 1
1:04:36
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1:04:36
Act 1 of 5: The Stone Walls. The Goblin Queen is displeased to find four of her denizens outside the Labyrinth. Coming next on 23 July – Kin (Labyrinth Backstage) Programme notes This production contains memory loss and dead animals. Goblin Queen Natalie Winter also plays Dungeons & Dragons and other games on Twitch with Roll Together! Find her as …
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82: The Catholic faith of JRR Tolkien with Holly Ordway
1:03:09
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1:03:09
Holly Ordway joins Dr Gavin Ashenden for the 82nd episode of Merely Catholic to discuss the Catholicism of JRR Tolkien, the author of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. She is the Cardinal Francis George Professor of Faith and Culture at the Word on Fire Institute and Visiting Professor of Apologetics at Houston Christian University. Her book Tolkien’s…
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Dream diary (Vigil Backstage)
33:01
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33:01
The cast look back at the fever dream that was Dream Big and consider the consequences they’ve inflicted on the next set of players. Coming next – Labyrinth Untold, an odyssey in 5 acts Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Luvvie alert! We simply m…
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81: Safeguarding in the Church, with Father Hans Zollner
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49:37
Father Hans Zollner, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, theologian, psychologist, and professor at the Gregorian University. He is also one of the leading experts on safeguarding and the prevention of sexual abuse. In March 2023, Father Zollner resigned from the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, criticizing the leadership of the body in a pu…
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Act Four of Four: Who should inherit the power of giants? The giant of ambition or the giant of heart? Coming next on 25 June – Dream diary (Vigil Backstage) Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to Of Dice…
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80: The Faith of the Fathers, with George Farmer
1:05:33
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1:05:33
George Farmer, the Oxford-educated investment banker, social media wizard and GB News board member, is our guest for this 80th episode of Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald. Mr Farmer, husband to the American social media influencer and author Candace Owens and the son of Conservative Party peer Lord Farmer, tells Dr Gavin …
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Persephone Byron is gone from this time, but her words to her friends remain. Coming next on 18 June – Vigil: Dream Big, Act 4 Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to Realms of Peril & Glory. Journey throu…
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Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of "Merely Misunderstood." In this episode, your hosts Brian and Vanessa Washington dive into the unsettling and often painful process of life's transitions. Why do we hate change so much? What makes navigating new seasons so difficult? Join us as we explore the fears, challenges, and unexpected realitie…
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Act Three of Four: Mick has a new rival for the giant’s favour, and she’s got something shocking planned. Coming next on 11 June – Dear Mick & co (Vigil Backstage) Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to R…
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79: The vision of a Catholic Hollywood, with James Crowell
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50:26
This week Dr Gavin Ashenden is joined from California by author James Crowell to discuss the work and vision of John Paul the Great Catholic University, an institute founded to harness the power of beauty to transform culture. They discuss the ambition of the university to shape “the next generation of artists and innovators with academic excellenc…
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Accountability Demands Vulnerability
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47:55
In this episode of "Merely Misunderstood," we dive deep into the intricate relationship between vulnerability and accountability. Join us as we explore personal stories of growth, reflection, and the hard truths we've faced along the way. Discover how admitting our mistakes and owning our actions can lead to genuine reconciliation and personal tran…
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Mick, the Mundane Chosen (Vigil Backstage)
40:23
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40:23
Meet Mick: bricklayer, neighbour, Mundane … and now Chosen. Mick started life as an everybloke; can he stay down-to-earth as the champion of giant-kind? Coming next on 4 June – Vigil: Dream Big, Act 3 Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Luvvie ale…
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78: The Problems Posed by Private Revelations, with Simon Caldwell
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43:34
Dr Gavin Ashenden this week speaks to fellow Catholic Herald associate editor and novelist Simon Caldwell about the recently published norms from the Vatican governing the discernment and handling of private revelations and associated mystical and supernatural phenomena.They discuss what the new norms represent and what has prompted the overhaul, t…
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Act Two of Four: The owner of the severed arm is in town hoping to witness something earth-shattering. Coming next on 28 May – Mick, the Mundane Chosen (Vigil Backstage) Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Nominations are open for the CRIT Awards …
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77: The Ratzinger Generation with Father Paschal Uche
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42:07
When Pope Benedict XVI visited Britain in 2010 he was welcomed on behalf of the youth of country by Paschal Uche, then a 22-year-old from Stratford, East London. Ten years later Father Pascal was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brentwood.In this 77th episode of Merely Catholic, Father Pascal talks to Dr Gavin Ashenden about how he answered his…
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What to expect when expecting the unexpected
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47:26
Join us in this episode as we delve into a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening amidst life’s unpredictability. Our host shares their personal narrative of identity evolution. This story is a vivid illustration of how personal symbols and choices shape our paths. This episode also explores the importance of isolation in perso…
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Dream team (Vigil Backstage)
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18:20
Brier’s new crew gatecrashes the usual chat about how the main characters know each other. Coming next on 21 May – Vigil: Dream Big, Act 2 Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Luvvie alert! We simply must introduce you to The Thorne Files, a fellow…
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Act One of Four: Mick struggles to wake from a nightmare, and the earth under Sherrydown shakes. Coming next on 14 May – Dream team (Vigil Backstage) Programme notes This production includes a natural disaster, fantasy violence, blood, and dismemberment (the dismemberment is not bloody). Nominations are open for the CRIT Awards 2024! Merely Rolepla…
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It’s only going to take one song to get everyone to stand up and take notice, and then your career will open wide in front of you. You all work so perfectly together. How hard can it be? Coming next on 7 May – Vigil: Dream Big, Act 1 Programme notes This episode contains strong language, underage drinking, references to drugs, and friend group infi…
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Before getting thrown face-first into school, cling to your final summer break with family and defend your childhood fort from dangers that are definitely not allegories for adulthood! Coming next on 23 April – Wonders, a microgame Programme notes This episode contains child endangerment and harm to children (not described in detail), themes of gro…
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Go inside the writers’ room of your favourite canine adventure show, then join four lost dogs as they trick, trial and treat their way home. Coming next on 16 April – Summer Break!, a microgame Programme notes This episode contains strong language, animal endangerment, and animal attacks. Credits FACILITATOR: Strat STARRING: Ellie Pitkin as Kevin J…
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76: Catholic thought and the crisis of the West, with Michael J. Knowles
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50:45
Michael J. Knowles, the American broadcaster, political commentator, actor and author, is the guest of Dr Gavin Ashenden for this 75th episode for Merely Catholic, the podcast series for the Catholic Herald. They discuss the many “diverse and eccentric” identities of American conservativism in the twilight of the Biden presidency and Mr Knowles’ wo…
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Event Planning in Zero G, a microgame
38:28
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38:28
Some of the galaxy’s (best?) event planners have gathered to plan the celebration for the Gantrofax’s final moulting. Of course, we have limited time and budget. Everything is fine, though. Happy moulting! Coming next on 9 April – Good Dogs, a microgame duo Programme notes This episode contains strong language, workplace burnout, and speculation ab…
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75: Banning conversion therapy, with Dr Patricia Morgan
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38:29
Dr Gavin Ashenden is joined this week by Dr Patricia Morgan, the distinguished sociologist and author of the 2023 book Banning Conversion Therapy: The Missing Evidence, amid impending legislation to criminalise counselling, discussion, prayer and teaching based on orthodox Christian doctrine in spite of such changes representing a serious attack up…
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It’s time to push the boundaries of modern medicine, and maybe to make out with a bitter rival in the on-call room! Coming next on 2 April – Event Planning in Zero G, a microgame Programme notes This episode contains medical situations, medical malpractice, gross medical mouth noises, drug misuse, gun violence, and bawdy British humour of the knick…
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Fan Fic Mish Mash, Act 2 (live at Dragonmeet 2023)
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46:37
The staff and customers pool their talents to rid the Coffee Shop Hey, You! of the rowdy Suits. Coming next on 26 March – Heartbeats, a microgame Programme notes Interstitial, 2nd edition is on Kickstarter Credits COMPERE: Matt Boothman STARRING: Alexander Pankhurst as Morgana Le Fay Natalie Winter as Jemima Puddle-Duck Strat as Tom Thumb ROLEPLAYI…
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Fan Fic Mish Mash, Act 1 (live at Dragonmeet 2023)
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42:11
Some badly behaved new customers are ruining the vibe at the Coffee Shop Hey, You! Coming next on 19 March – Fan Fic Mish Mash, Act 2 (live at Dragonmeet 2023) Programme notes Interstitial, 2nd edition is on Kickstarter Book to play Spindlewheel or The Hunted with Matt at Airecon on 15 and 16 March Catch up on the two-part game of Heart: The City B…
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74: University lynch mobs and the right to life, with Madeline Page
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36:35
Madeline Page of Right to Life UK joins Dr Gavin Ashenden this week to discuss shocking scenes at Manchester University when a violent mob descended on a meeting of the students’ pro-life group with the aim of closing it down. Hundreds converged on the venue where a group of students met peacefully to spit at the women taking part and to shout “get…
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