We Can Be Weirdos

" And I went to the kitchen, I said out loud, If you're there, I don't want a message, I don't want you to do anything, because it's terrifying me."Cariad Lloyd is a British comedian, actor, and writer best known for her award-winning podcast Griefcast, exploring grief with humor and empathy. A versatile performer, she has appeared on TV shows like QI and Have I Got News for You. Lloyd is celebrated for her warmth, wit, and insightful storytelling.

"This show was basically invented so it could lead to this moment"Brian Blessed is a larger-than-life British actor, adventurer, and storyteller, renowned for his booming voice and exuberant personality. Born on October 9, 1936, in Yorkshire, his career spans decades, with standout roles in Flash Gordon, Blackadder, and I, Claudius. Beyond acting, Blessed is a passionate mountaineer, having attempted Everest multiple times, and an accomplished author. Known for his love of animals and zest for life, he’s a charismatic speaker and national treasure. Blessed’s unforgettable voice has also brought life to audiobooks, animations, and documentaries, making him a beloved figure in entertainment and beyond.

"When I was five, I saw a ghost of a woman clothed in blue walking across the room"Philip Carr-Gomm is an author, psychologist, and Druid leader known for his work in spirituality, nature connection, and personal growth. He served as the Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids (OBOD) for over 30 years, guiding one of the largest international Druid orders. Philip has written extensively on Druidry, mythology, and meditation, with notable books including The Druid Way and Sacred Places. He combines ancient wisdom with modern psychology, offering insights into living harmoniously with nature and fostering inner peace. Philip is also a speaker and educator, exploring topics like storytelling, ritual, and the intersection of spirituality and mental health.

"We’re all energy in some ways, so what happens to that after we die"Oliver Jeffers makes art and tells stories—fine art for (mostly) adults, and picture books for (mostly) children. As a visual artist and author working in painting, bookmaking, illustration, collage, performance, and sculpture, curiosity and humour are underlying themes throughout Oliver's practice as an artist and storyteller.

TW: This conversation contains reference to suicide."It's just never seemed like a good idea to spend a lot of time in the woods"Since his first UK comedy gig twenty-one years ago Georgia-born Reginald D Hunter’s searingly honest observations both onstage and on TV and Radio have garnered him a cross-generational fan base. During that time he has become one of the Comedy industry’s best-known performers for his distinctive take on the most diverse range of subjects. His work can be brutally honest and is often considered to be controversial but it is always meticulously thought out and he has never been afraid to face challenging issues head on even when the focus is on his own principles or beliefs.***LIVE SHOW NOVEMBER 21st FEATURING BRIAN BLESSED***We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 25th November 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. We are thrilled to announce that the live show will feature the KING of Weirdos Brian Blessed. Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdo

"I felt my dad's presence a lot after he had died. When my mother died, he went"Kate Mosse is the author of eleven novels & short story collections, including the No 1 bestselling The Joubert Family Chronicles – The Burning Chambers, The City of Tears, The Ghost Ship and The Map of Bones – as well as the multimillion selling Languedoc Trilogy - Labyrinth, Sepulchre and Citadel - and No 1 bestselling Gothic fiction including The Winter Ghosts and The Taxidermist's Daughter. Her books have been translated into 38 languages and published in more than 40 countries.For more Kate Mosse things, plus where to find her newest book, The Map of Bones, head to her website: https://www.katemosse.co.uk/ ***LIVE SHOW NOVEMBER 21st FEATURING BRIAN BLESSED***We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 25th November 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. We are thrilled to announce that the live show will feature the KING of Weirdos Brian Blessed. Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdo

Welcome to the first NON-explicit episode of We Can Be Weirdos featuring the Bananas list and a chat with author of the Mortal Engines series, Phillip Reeve. Check out his new book, a prequel to the Mortal Engines series, Thunder City - https://philipreeve.com/***LIVE SHOW NOVEMBER 21st FEATURING BRIAN BLESSED***We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 25th November 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. We are thrilled to announce that the live show will feature the KING of Weirdos Brian Blessed. Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdo

"I've been in the presence of ghosts on several occasions"Sandi Toksvig is an internationally renowned and much-loved comedian, broadcaster, writer and campaigner. Now, Sandi announces One Night Only, a new live theatrical comedy extravaganza, for two nights only on Wednesday 13th and and Thursday 14th November 2024 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London’s West End. The QI Elves, the researchers from the hit BBC2 show, will be delving into the theatrical archives to help Sandi unearth the funniest facts and anecdotes.Go see Sandi's show one night only: http://lwtheatres.co.ukRead her new book: https://www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/friends-of-dorothy-by-sandi-toksvig-signedGet tickets to Sandi Clause: https://www.royalalberthall.com

Just dropping by to say We Can Be Weirdos will be recorded LIVE on Monday 21st October 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. This time, it's a halloween special! Another wild and very silly night to ignite the suppressed bit of batsh*t in you. Listen in to hear which two incredible guests will be taking to the stage.Grab your tickets here: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/We Can Be Weirdos returns weekly, from October 31st.

"It made me laugh. So I did it."Stand up comedian, writer, director, and trained physiotherapist, Barry Ferns has written for the BBC, C4, Radio and has won awards for both stand up and directing short films. His films have been selected for The LA Comedy Film festival, Raindance, North by Northwest and he has won the Malcom Hardee Award for Comedy, as well as the Mervyn Stutter Spirit of the Fringe award and has been nominated as one of the 4 best MC’s in the entire country.***LIVE SHOW OCTOBER 21st***We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 21st October 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. Stay tuned for the guest announcement!Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

"Lava is almost sentient"Dr Robin George Andrews is an award-winning science journalist, who regularly writes about space and geosciences, and is a doctor of experimental volcanology. He has written for outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, Scientific American and Quanta Magazine. He has written two books, Super Volcanoes: What they reveal about Earth and the worlds beyond, and How to Kill an Asteroid, out October 1st 2024. ***LIVE SHOW OCTOBER 21st***We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 21st October 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. Keep listening to the podcast for the guest announcement!Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

"I'm a dangerous person to know..."Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is one of the godfathers of the world of weird. He's the only guest to have personally created one of the entries on the batsh*t list! In this live recording, hear Rupert take on the list, and tell Dan about his numerous experiments of the unexplained. Rupert Sheldrake is a biologist and author best known for his hypothesis of morphic resonance, and the sense of being started at. At Cambridge University he worked in developmental biology as a Fellow of Clare College. He was Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics in Hyderabad, India. From 2005 to 2010 he was Director of the Perrott-Warrick project for research on unexplained human and animal abilities, funded by Trinity College, Cambridge.***LIVE SHOW OCTOBER 21st***This episode is just a taster of a whole night of eclectic weirdness! To see it all for yourself, We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 21st October 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. Keep listening to the podcast for the guest announcement!Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

"There is no one in the world who can build a computer anymore"Tom Scott is a legendary Youtuber, who has over 6 million subscribers coming to his Youtube channel for videos about science, technology, and interesting curiosities around the world: everything from robotic warehouses and zero-gravity flights to remote outposts in the High Arctic. His videos have taken him across the world. `Among other projects, podcasts and shows, he presents the podcast Lateral, a hilarious comedy panel game about weird questions with wonderful answers. Find Lateral wherever you get your pods!***LIVE SHOW SEPTEMBER 16th***We Can Be Weirdos is recording an episode LIVE on Monday 16th September 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. This time featuring 'godfather of the batshit list', author and parapsychology researcher Rupert Sheldrake.Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

The rituals of the royals are quite magical, but how eccentric are our royals, past and present?Royal historian, author and broadcaster Prof Kate Williams is here to tell us just how kooky are favourite royals are. From the power of John Dee, an occultist and adviser to Elizabeth I, who used a mythical mirror to speak to ghosts to Charles II who apparently touched nearly 100,000 people believing he could cure disease. And we can’t forget Prince Philip’s obsession with UFOs.Kate is the host of Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things, hosted alongside fellow royal enthusiast and acclaimed writer, Robert Hartman. She studied at Somerville College, Oxford, and is now the Director of Life Writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. She’s the author of many historical biographies including England’s Mistress, Becoming Queen and Young Elizabeth.

"Now that's what I call a soft rock: 2!"Dan looks back at some of the strangest and silliest unexplainable experiences a.k.a. 'soft rocks' from guests past, including Josh Widdicombe, Dan Snow and Lucy Cooke. We'd love to hear about your unexplainable experiences! Join the We Can Be Weirdos Discord Server, where over 1,500 weirdos are sharing their experiences, thoughts and theories. You can find the link in Dan's Instagram bio, or the We Can be Weirdos instagram bio. See you there!

"I must have seen ten ghosts... but I don't think they're ghosts'Anthony Delaney is an actor, writer, historian, and podcaster originally from County Kilkenny, Ireland. He trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and obtained a PhD in 18th century social and cultural history from the University of Exeter. He co-hosts the hit podcast After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & The Paranormal, alongside Maddy Pelling. His first book, Queer Georgians: A Hidden History, will be published in 2025.

"Psychotherapists have experiences that we keep quiet about... because we sound bloody mad!"Live from the Underbelly Theatre, London! Psychotherapist and author Philippa Perry takes on the batshit list... and reveals some unexpected woo-woo of her own. Also featuring music by Emma-Lee Moss (F.K.A. Emmy The Great), and Bexy Cameron, author of Cult Following. Philippa Perry trained as a psychotherapist and worked in the mental health field for many years before writing her graphic novel, 'Couch Fiction' which lays bare the process of psychotherapy. This was followed by 'How to Stay Sane', 'The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)' and her latest book 'The Book You Want Everyone* You Love To Read *(and Maybe a Few You Don’t)'. She hosts 'Grayson’s Art Club' with her husband Grayson Perry, and has presented many documentaries including 'The Truth about Children Who Lie' , 'Being Bipolar'  and 'How To Be A Surrealist with Philippa Perry'.***LIVE SHOW SEPTEMBER GUEST ANNOUNCEMENT***This episode is just a taster of a whole night of eclectic weirdness! To see it all for yourself, We Can Be Weirdos is LIVE again on Monday 16th September 2024, at the Underbelly Boulevard, London. This time featuring 'godfather of the batshit list', author and parapsychology researcher Rupert Sheldrake. Head here for more info and to buy your tickets: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/we-can-be-weirdos-live/

Finally, a crow special! Dan chats with Dr Sarah Jelbert, a comparative psychologist at the University of Bristol, who is interested in the evolution of cognitive abilities in animals. She's mad about crows (because they're mysterious, super intelligent and majestic). Did you know they have their own woodland workshops? Stick your beak into this episode to find out more. Also, a heads up, this will be the last Rough Corner for a few weeks while Dan and Spooky Al head on holiday (not together). The main episodes will continue as (para)normal.

"The Now: More of it is coming!"What is consciousness? Are you the same you as 5 seconds ago? Can an AI mind replicate your own? Is the universe a simulation? Big questions, yes. But fear not, Lieven Scheire is here!Lieven Scheire is a Belgian comedian, physicist and science communicator on stage and on TV, in both Dutch and English. Lieven is the face and founder of ’Nerdland’, a popular brand in which he, alongside a group of geeky friends, brings science and technology closer to the broader public. He's also a prolific author, and has a new book called 'AI', a beginner's guide to the magic, possibilities and limitations of the Artificial Intelligence revolution.

"The Stephen Fry of Belgium", Lieven Scheire, joins Dan to talk about the weirdness of the insect world, why chickens have a vendetta against mice and how evolution is evolving. Lieven Scheire is a Belgian comedian, physicist and science communicator on stage and on TV, in both Dutch and English. Lieven is the face and founder of ’Nerdland’, a popular brand in which he, alongside a group of geeky friends, brings science and technology closer to the broader public. He's also a prolific author, and has a new book called 'AI', a beginner's guide to the magic, possibilities and limitations of the Artificial Intelligence revolution. This is part one of the chat with Lieven, part two will be available later this week!