List Envy

Mark Steadman
List Envy

What's the most-used emoji? Who's the best Bond villain? Does anyone care that an olive is technically a fruit?Discover hidden gems from pop culture to pasta, hip-hop to history, and meet the creatives, enthusiasts, and experts who love them.Each week, host Mark collaborates with a guest to build a top-5 list on a topic they choose. If you want to know what your next TV binge should be, or where to go on your next trip abroad, List Envy has you covered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Top 5 ways to tame your brain gremlins

    AUG 13

    Top 5 ways to tame your brain gremlins

    Hands up who overthinks stuff? Did you really put your hand up? Is anyone else putting theirs up? Did you put yours up too quickly? Maybe you were too slow? And what is a hand meant to do once it’s up in the air, anyway? I mean, we’re always being told to wave them like we just don’t care… how does a person do that? And breathe. Kim Witten helps people turn their overthinking into expert thinking, and she joins Mark to build a top-5 list of ways to tame the gremlins in our brain. (00:00) - You are in charge(00:40) - Introduction(01:21) - Why the brain?(03:30) - The vice of advice(06:13) - Kim’s pick: Make a top-5 list of you(11:33) - Mark’s pick: Walk for a 10-song playlist(15:06) - Kim’s pick: Get some perspective(18:52) - Mark’s pick: Occupy your chimp(22:26) - Kim’s pick: Treat feelings as feedback(25:20) - Mark’s pick: Make the right thing the easy thing(28:28) - Kim’s pick: Get stuff out of your head(32:04) - Mark’s pick: Dance like nobody’s watching(34:33) - Kim’s pick: Be like Alice(39:00) - Mark’s pick: Meditate for 15 minutes(45:31) - Midamble(46:42) - Building the final list(48:00) - Honourable mentions(54:01) - Hold That ThoughtFind Kim via her website, and make sure to sign up for her newsletter to keep the journey of gremlin-taming going. PS: Mark doesn’t usually have coaches or coachy-type conversations on this podcast. But Kim’s one of the good’ns, and what she has to say is sound. Take my domain knowledge quizFind out if your knowledge and experience can get you paid or put you on-stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  2. Top 5 Weird Al songs that aren’t parodies

    AUG 6

    Top 5 Weird Al songs that aren’t parodies

    Staple a jelly doughnut to your ear, set your spleen to channel 27 and ask your favourite albino squirrel to a dance. Lex Friedman joins Mark to discuss their top-5 songs by “Weird” Al Yankovic that aren’t parodies. Lex is, among many things (musician, improviser, podcaster, game developer and consultant), a turbo Yankovic fan, and it’s quite possible that even Al himself might struggle to come up with a better list. (00:00) - Stay weird, Al(00:40) - Introduction(01:04) - Getting into Weird Al(05:52) - Weird: The Al Yankovic Story(08:02) - Lex’s pick: Word Crimes(11:06) - Mark’s pick: Everything You Know is Wrong(14:26) - Lex’s pick: Trapped in the Drive-Thru(18:16) - Mark’s pick: Albuquerque(21:41) - Lex’s pick: Hardware Store(24:04) - Mark’s pick: Christmas at Ground Zero(26:49) - Lex’s pick: Skipper Dan(28:33) - Mark’s pick: Your Horoscope for Today(31:04) - Lex’s pick: Frank's 2000" TV(32:49) - Mark’s pick: The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota(37:27) - Midamble(39:40) - Building the final list(40:55) - Honourable mentions(45:17) - The music of Liam & Lex(48:00) - More of Lex FriedmanFind Lex online on his website, play one of his many word games, hang out with him on Mastodon, or buy one or all of Liam & Lex’s albums. Take my domain knowledge quizFind out if your knowledge and experience can get you paid or put you on-stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    48 min
  3. Top 5 James Bond gadgets

    JUL 9

    Top 5 James Bond gadgets

    Nothing is ever quite as it seems in the world of spies. A watch isn’t just a watch – it’s a deadly weapon. That phonebooth? Also a weapon. Bag pipes? Weapon. This sandwich though, that’s just Q’s lunch. Don’t touch it. Valerie Paris rejoins Mark to discuss their top-5 Bond gadgets. Like Valerie’s previous appearance, it’s funny and charming. Unlike Mark’s previous Bond episode, it’s accurate and researched. (00:00) - Cold open(00:26) - Introduction(00:54) - Welcome to Bond(03:29) - Valerie’s pick: The rebreather from Thunderball(05:00) - Mark’s pick: Garrote watch from From Russia with Love(11:51) - Valerie’s pick: The Felix lighter from License to Kill(14:00) - Mark’s pick: Mini rocket cigarette from You Only Live Twice(17:03) - Valerie’s pick: Crocodile suit from Octopussy(18:54) - Mark’s pick: Ericsson JB988 from Tomorrow Never Dies(21:37) - Flip phone nostalgia(23:22) - Valerie’s pick: Grenade pen from GoldenEye(26:36) - Mark’s pick: Single digit sonic agitator from Day Another Day(31:33) - Valerie’s pick: The golden gun from The Man with the Golden Gun(33:38) - Mark’s pick: Smart blood from Spectre(36:54) - Bring back romantic Bond(43:33) - Midamble(45:32) - Building the final list(47:53) - Honourable mentions(50:56) - If Bond gadgets were real(51:46) - Bond’s silliest gadgets(54:58) - More of ValerieFind Valerie’s interactive novel and video games on her itch.io page, and follow her on Twitter. Take my domain knowledge quizFind out if your knowledge and experience can get you paid or put you on-stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  4. Top 5 ways we can actually make a difference

    JUL 2

    Top 5 ways we can actually make a difference

    The world faces a host of very real and serious dangers. But if you believe there’s nothing little ol’ us can do, it’s probably because that’s what certain people want you to think. No, this isn’t a conspiracy episode – just a collation of ways you can actually make a difference in your home, your street, your local area, and maybe a little further afield. Rebecca Bratspies, environment expert and law professor joins Mark to discuss their top-5 ways we can actually make a difference. (00:00) - Cold open(00:28) - Introduction(01:03) - More than trees and bunnies(03:06) - What’s the world’s problem?(04:51) - Mark rationalises his list(06:01) - Rebecca’s pick: Vote(08:05) - Mark’s pick: Ask before you judge(11:36) - Rebecca’s pick: Get involved locally(18:24) - Mark’s pick: Teach empathy(21:53) - Rebecca’s pick: Eat less meat(27:38) - Mark’s pick: Watch the Monty Python Argument Sketch(28:58) - Rebecca’s pick: Rethink your use of plastic(33:10) - Mark’s pick: Stop othering people(37:59) - Rebecca’s pick: Be a lifelong learner(41:22) - Mark’s pick: Spend time with people, not systems(46:02) - Midamble(50:36) - Building the final list(52:19) - Honourable mentions(54:04) - Keep up with RebeccaFind Rebecca’s work via her website, and follow @RBratspies on Twitter. Take my domain knowledge quizFind out if your knowledge and experience can get you paid or put you on-stage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

About

What's the most-used emoji? Who's the best Bond villain? Does anyone care that an olive is technically a fruit?Discover hidden gems from pop culture to pasta, hip-hop to history, and meet the creatives, enthusiasts, and experts who love them.Each week, host Mark collaborates with a guest to build a top-5 list on a topic they choose. If you want to know what your next TV binge should be, or where to go on your next trip abroad, List Envy has you covered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.

Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada