WHO REMEMBERS? The UK Nostalgia Podcast

Andrew and Liam

A nostalgia trip for anyone in the UK who grew up on dial-up Internet, Findus Crispy Pancakes, and playground rumours that couldn’t be fact-checked online. We’re not historians — we don’t do dates, and we barely do facts — but science says reminiscing gives your brain a dopamine hit, so think of us as your weekly dose of hazy memories, childhood flashbacks, and confidently misremembered events. Expect frequent arguments about who remembers things properly as we rummage through the UK’s collective memory box.

  1. FEB 11

    Who Remembers........The Things That Scared Us As Children?

    What spooked you most as a kid — the thing you still feel in your chest even though you know better now? We go deep into the odd and unforgettable fears that shaped our UK childhoods: the icy prickle of the World In Action theme, the way Doctor Who’s opening could send you behind the sofa, and why the BBC Test Card felt like it might blink if you stared too long. From there, we unravel the pop-culture logic that made quicksand seem like a weekly threat and how public information films turned lakes and canals into silent traps. We also take on the fears that were people-shaped. Jimmy Savile’s omnipresence felt wrong even before the truth surfaced; we talk about that instinct, and how certain performers carried an aura that kids picked up on. Dogs, both real and animated — from the local German shepherd to Cardinal Richelieu in Dogtanian — made streets and screens feel riskier than they were. And then the existential stuff: the Bermuda Triangle, a one-line warning about Ouija boards, and the mind-bending vastness of infinity that made “forever” sound more frightening than hellfire. If you ever lay awake trying to imagine the edge of the universe, you’ll recognise the chill. Music and media leave their marks too. Queen’s I’m Going Slightly Mad video — black-and-white, theatrical, and threaded with the knowledge of Freddie’s illness — blurred humour and horror in a way that got under our skin. We round things out with everyday hazards that grew into legends: escalators that “suck you under,” showers that turn treacherous, and late-night Medium Wave radio drifting into unfamiliar languages that sounded like secret codes in the dark. It’s a funny, candid, and oddly comforting tour of the myths we swallowed, the truths we learned, and the shivers that never quite left. Enjoyed the ride? Follow the show, share it with a friend who loved the Beano and dreaded quicksand, and leave a review with your most irrational childhood fear — we’ll read our favourites on a future episode.

    45 min
  2. FEB 4

    Who Remembers........Playground Games?

    The bell rings, the gates swing, and suddenly it’s a world of Bulldog sprints, Tig debates, and the kind of slap that stings your pride more than your cheek. We rewind to the 80s and 90s schoolyard to unpack the games that shaped our reactions, our friendships, and our appetite for chaotic fun. From the disputed rules of British Bulldog to the gentler but no less intense What’s the Time, Mr Wolf?, we compare versions, call out the bans, and laugh at how every school invented its own lawbook. We get tactical with Tig: no tig back stalemates, Tiggy Lamppost rescues, and the nostalgia lightning bolt that is Tiggy Bob Down. Then it’s football spin-offs: the glory and grief of Wembley singles and doubles, Spot battles with “dog’s life” revivals, and heads and volleys with house rules that bordered on combat. Conkers bring the lore—stringing techniques, legendary “20-ers,” and the surprising scale of world championships—while skipping and Double Dutch remind us how rhythm and teamwork brought crowds even without a ball. There’s the soft power of paper fortune tellers, the collecting craze of Pogs and Top Trumps, and the pain Olympics of Slaps and Peanuts. And yes, we plant a flag for Kirby: two kerbs, one ball, perfect timing, and street diplomacy as cars interrupt your hot streak. Through it all, we swap stories—some daft, some painful, all vivid—about the unrefereed education those games delivered: bluffing, courage, fairness, and knowing when to argue and when to run. If rough-and-ready playground culture shaped your childhood, you’ll recognise the rules, the rows, and the joy baked into every bell. Listen, reminisce, then tell us your house rules and banned classics. If you laughed or shouted “that’s not how we played it,” follow, share with a mate, and leave a quick review—what game ruled your break time?

    52 min
  3. JAN 28

    Who Remembers........Saipan 2002? Keane v McCarthy

    A World Cup camp with no footballs, a chewed‑up pitch, and a captain who refused to accept the circus—Saipan 2002 is the moment Ireland’s ambitions met its identity. We rewind to the week that split a squad and a country, unpacking how Roy Keane’s demand for basic professionalism clashed with Mick McCarthy’s authority and approach to team culture. From the missing kit and late‑night sessions to the infamous no‑goalkeeper game, we track the small details that signalled big problems and pushed a world‑class midfielder to the brink. We walk through the Irish Times interview that lit the fuse, the charged team meeting where Keane unleashed a devastating tirade, and the immediate fallout that turned training ground gripes into national theatre. Phone‑ins, headlines, even political interventions—everyone took a side. Inside the camp, teammates mostly kept their heads down as Keane departed and McCarthy doubled down. Then came the twist: Ireland rallied to the last sixteen, losing to Spain on penalties, a result that raises a question still worth asking—did unity through avoidance help, or did missing their best player cap the ceiling? With a clear-eyed look at the aftermath—McCarthy’s resignation, Keane’s regrets and return under Brian Kerr, and later management journeys—we examine what Saipan teaches about leadership, standards, and communication. Was Keane right about the shambles? Largely, yes. Was his delivery self-defeating? Also yes. Could McCarthy have defused the bomb with a private conversation instead of a public showdown? Almost certainly. If you care about high-performance culture, football history, and the thin line between principle and pride, this one’s for you. Enjoy the dive? Follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find the show. Then tell us: Team Roy or Team Mick?

    44 min

Trailer

About

A nostalgia trip for anyone in the UK who grew up on dial-up Internet, Findus Crispy Pancakes, and playground rumours that couldn’t be fact-checked online. We’re not historians — we don’t do dates, and we barely do facts — but science says reminiscing gives your brain a dopamine hit, so think of us as your weekly dose of hazy memories, childhood flashbacks, and confidently misremembered events. Expect frequent arguments about who remembers things properly as we rummage through the UK’s collective memory box.

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