Rambling Retro Nonsense

Boyd, Barkes & Hayes

A weekly podcast where Tommy Boyd, Duncan Barkes and Hayley Hayes unpack (sometimes) hilarious, ridiculous, and surprising memories—one story at a time. Filled with laughs, nostalgia, and great conversation, Rambling Retro Rambles offers a light-hearted trip down memory lane - or cycle lane - for anyone who loves to revisit the past with humour and heart.

  1. Rugs, Rituals, and Running Out of Petrol

    6d ago

    Rugs, Rituals, and Running Out of Petrol

    In this week's episode, it's a duo-act as Hayley and Tommy navigate a world of pure, unfiltered nostalgia. With no adult supervision, the conversation takes a sharp turn into the deep, plush, and frankly questionable territory of childhood home decor. From the questionable aesthetic choices of the 80s and 90s—think geometric pub-style carpets, avocado bathroom suites, and the mysterious, ever-present "good room"—to the lost art of the French window, the pair peels back the layers of memory. In this episode, we ramble through: The Carpet Chronicles: Why did our childhood homes look like bingo halls, and were those scratchy, beige monstrosities actually indestructible? The "Good Room" Paradox: Why was there always one room in the house that no one was allowed to breathe in, let alone sit in? The Great Parental Morph: At what age do you wake up and realize you've officially turned into your mother or father? (Tommy shares a touching story about his dad, while Hayley tackles the sudden, surprising need for smelling salts). Shoe Tales: From the "posh" ritual of the Clarks foot-measuring machine to the enduring agony of wearing shoes that are half a size too small, we relive the perils of high-street fashion. AI and Everything Else: Tommy reveals a slightly unsettling encounter with AI technology, plus a debate on the merits of school dinners and whether or not carrots are actually good for your eyes. Tune in for a chaotic, warm, and wandering journey through memories that smell faintly of polish and boiled vegetables. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    25 min
  2. Roll Up, Roll Up!

    Jun 22

    Roll Up, Roll Up!

    Roll up, roll up for a trip back to the days of travelling circuses, school fêtes, seaside amusements and all the wonderfully odd traditions we grew up with. This week, Tommy, Duncan and Hayley reminisce about giant striped circus tents appearing overnight, the smell of sawdust and candy floss, terrifying clowns, prize goldfish, and the excitement of winning a giant cuddly toy that your long-suffering parents then had to carry home. The conversation wanders through school tombolas, teachers in the stocks, smashing crockery for fun, opening fêtes as minor celebrities, greyhound racing, vintage train buffet cars and even the surprising world of maggot racing. Along the way, the team debate whether circuses were magical or just slightly disappointing, and share some wonderfully nostalgic memories of Britain's great days out. A cheerful mix of laughter, nostalgia and gloriously rambling stories from a bygone age. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    32 min
  3. Phone Book Carnage & Photo Booth Love

    Jun 15

    Phone Book Carnage & Photo Booth Love

    Remember when everyone's full name, address and phone number were printed in a giant book and nobody thought twice about it? This week, Hayley, Duncan and Tommy dive headfirst into the weird world of Yellow Pages, phone directories and the baffling journey from "here's all my personal information" to "don't even tag me on Facebook." Along the way, there's talk of prank calls, mysterious ex-directory households, rotary phones, celebrity phone numbers, and one very determined private detective who could apparently crack a telephone number just by listening to the dial clicks. The nostalgia doesn't stop there. The gang also revisit holiday photos before smartphones ruined the suspense, the joy (and heartbreak) of developing film, and squeezing far too many friends into photo booths that always seemed to produce at least one blinking disaster. Plus: Worthing gets unexpectedly roasted, Tommy reveals a circus strongman party trick involving a telephone directory, Duncan confesses to a photo booth romance, and everyone wonders how we ever survived dial-up internet. A rambling trip through forgotten technology, accidental oversharing, and the little rituals that somehow made life feel slower, sillier and a lot more fun. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    31 min
  4. Speak While You Still Can

    Jun 8

    Speak While You Still Can

    In this episode, the trio lament the quiet disappearance of everyday human interaction—those tiny, throwaway chats that used to come free with bus tickets, supermarket queues, and getting mildly lost on purpose. From tapping phones instead of speaking to bus drivers, to the eerie silence of self-checkouts (except for the occasional robotic scolding about "unexpected items"), the team wonder whether civilisation is slowly outsourcing all its small talk to machines. But it's not all dystopia—there's plenty of nostalgia too. We drift through childhood memories of hearing new accents for the first time, Sunday radio that filled the boredom void, and comedy so slow-paced it somehow made doing nothing an art form. Then things take a sharper turn into the future: AI that chats back, self-service tills that might one day flirt with you while you scan your milk, and the slightly unsettling idea that we're already starting to say "thank you" to algorithms. Funny, reflective, and just a little uneasy about where all this is heading—preferably with a human on hand to explain it. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    26 min
  5. Countryside Chaos

    Jun 1

    Countryside Chaos

    In this rambling coastal-to-countryside adventure, the team dive headfirst into the great British obsession with visitors, locals, and what on earth you're called depending on where you've wandered in from (Emmets, Grockles… or just "lost"). From Somerset sheep spotting to Cornwall tourism politics, things quickly escalate into a nostalgic love letter to old-school Britain: coach trips to theatrical oddities, forgotten compères who once held entire shows together, and the noble art of "warming up a crowd" before everyone had to just… sit through things cold. The conversation then veers delightfully off-course (as it should), into the lost world of continuity announcers, surreal pub signage, and the philosophical crisis of bins that insist they are not bins. Somewhere in there, beer towels are stolen, road signs are liberated "accidentally," and Duncan builds what can only be described as a mildly incriminating pub memorabilia archive. Naturally, no episode would be complete without a deep dive into transport chaos—coach toilets (avoid at all costs), A–Z maps the size of duvets, and the evolving etiquette of hailing black cabs, from polite "mate" diplomacy to full tactical taxi interception. It's nostalgic, mildly chaotic, and deeply British in the way only three people can be nostalgic about things they absolutely should not be nostalgic about. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    30 min
  6. Cod, Chips & Champagne

    May 25

    Cod, Chips & Champagne

    This week, things get deliciously nostalgic as the gang dives headfirst into the sacred institution that is the British chippy. From the surprisingly ancient origins of fish and chips (spoiler: not Blackpool) to fiercely defended opinions on what does and does not qualify as a "proper" chip shop—this one gets serious. Briefly. Expect passionate debates about menus that are too long, the tragedy of disappearing pickled eggs, and why fish and chips should never—ever—be ordered on a delivery app. There's also talk of chip butty technique (yes, it's an art), choosing your "final chip," and the simple joy of burning your fingers while walking home on a cold night. Along the way, we somehow detour into Elvis, novelty records, champagne-fuelled seaside romance, and a billionaire who committed the unforgivable sin of rejecting a perfectly good cod and chips. It's warm, salty, slightly chaotic—and guaranteed to leave you craving a chippy tea. As always: vinegar optional, strong opinions mandatory. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    30 min
  7. Where Have All the Streakers Gone?

    May 17

    Where Have All the Streakers Gone?

    This week, the gang tackles the hard-hitting questions no one else dares to ask… like: what happened to streakers? Remember when every major sporting event came with an unexpected nude cameo and a front-page follow-up? Yeah—us too. From the glory days of pitch invasions to the theory that today's exhibitionists have simply migrated to TikTok (and monetised it), things spiral—quickly. Expect detours into novelty songs, suspiciously dark lyrics, and why half the music you loved growing up might secretly be about drugs, death, or both. There's also a deep dive into questionable 60s songwriting, traumatic tales of chicken-in-a-basket, and a surprising amount of time spent discussing Luton. (Don't ask. Actually, do.) It's nostalgic, mildly chaotic, occasionally educational—and proof that give us five minutes, and we'll somehow end up back at nudity. As always, bring your theories… and maybe keep your clothes on. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405 341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    32 min
  8. Poo Bags & Paranormal Robins

    May 11

    Poo Bags & Paranormal Robins

    What do dog poo, haunted robins, and stolen hubcaps have in common? Absolutely nothing… and yet somehow, everything. This week, the gang take a nostalgic wander from the glory days of pixelated ping pong to the confusing modern world of YouTube "subscriptions" (don't worry—no actual money required). Along the way, things get delightfully weird. Expect: A suspiciously detailed deep dive into the art (and horror) of picking up dog poo Childhood memories of being mobbed by pigeons in Trafalgar Square The great debate: are robins just festive… or ghostly messengers from beyond? Scouts, sponges, and the lost ritual of Saturday morning car washing And a surprisingly entrepreneurial approach to… borrowing and reselling hubcaps Plus, there's talk of magpie salutes, rogue fake military officers, and why flies might—or might not—be your reincarnated relatives. Get in Touch with Us! WhatsApp: 07405341500 - leave us a voice note, go on you know you want too! Email: ramblingretrononsense@gmail.com Twitter (X): Retro Rambles Podcast Instagram: Rambling Retro Nonsense Facebook: Rambling Retro Nonsense Youtube: youtube.com/@RamblingRetroNonsense Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and leave a five-star review. It helps keep the retro nonsense rambling along.

    29 min
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Trailer

About

A weekly podcast where Tommy Boyd, Duncan Barkes and Hayley Hayes unpack (sometimes) hilarious, ridiculous, and surprising memories—one story at a time. Filled with laughs, nostalgia, and great conversation, Rambling Retro Rambles offers a light-hearted trip down memory lane - or cycle lane - for anyone who loves to revisit the past with humour and heart.

Information

  • Creator
    Boyd, Barkes & Hayes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Rambling Retro Nonsense

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