Anglotopia Podcast Anglotopia LLC

Summary
The UK is having an election! In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan and Jackie discuss the British election system and how it works from a non-party political perspective. They provide an overview of the parties involved, the role of the monarch, the campaign season, election day, and the counting and results process. They also touch on the concept of party manifestos and the importance of constituency-level vote counting. The conversation explores various British political TV shows and their relevance to the British political system. The hosts discuss shows like Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, and more. They also mention books that provide a crash course in British politics. The conversation concludes with recommendations for viewers who want to learn more about British politics or enjoy political dramas.
Links
Non-sugar Sweetener Books:
UK Explained The British Polity Yes Minister History The Shortest History of England How Britain Really Works British TV Shows Discussed:
Yes Minister and Yes, Prime Minister The Thick of It House of Cards A Very British Coup The Politician’s Husband  The Diplomat A Very English Scandal Stonehouse Anatomy of a Scandal The Amazing Mrs Pritchard Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years The Gathering Storm Relevant Clips to Watch:
Michael Portillo Loses the Count Election 2019 BBC Coverage Politics Unboringed by Jay Foreman Yes Minister Funniest Moments The Definitive Malcolm Tucker Rant Anthology | The Thick Of It - BBC
Keywords
British election system, parties, monarch, campaign season, election day, party manifestos, constituency-level vote counting, British politics, TV shows, Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, political dramas
Takeaways
The British election system operates on five-year terms, with the Prime Minister having the power to call an election within that timeframe. The main parties in the UK are the Conservative and Union Party (right-wing), the Labour Party (left-wing), and the Liberal Democrats (middle of the road). The Scottish National Party and Northern Irish parties also play significant roles in elections. Manifestos are a major part of the election process, with each party outlining their policies and commitments if they come into power. Election day in the UK is not a national holiday, and media coverage is limited until the polls close at 10 p.m. Vote counting takes place at the constituency level, with a race to see which constituency can count the votes first. British political TV shows like Yes Minister, The Thick of It, and House of Cards provide an entertaining and insightful look into the British political system. These shows often highlight the power struggles, backroom deals, and comedic elements of British politics. Books like 'Britain Explained' and 'The British Polity' offer a crash course in British politics and provide a deeper understanding of the political system. Viewers interested in British politics or political dramas can find these shows on platforms like Britbox and Netflix. The shows mentioned in the conversation are Yes Minister, The Thick of It, House of Cards, A Very British Coup, The Diplomat, A Very English Scandal, Stonehouse, The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard, The Politician's Husband, Anatomy of a Scandal, and Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years, and The Gathering Storm. Sound Bites
"A party manifesto is like a contract with the voters" "This usually leads to some very wonderful political clips for later on of candidates being embarrassed that they lost in 'Portillo Moments' or like people surprised that they won an outburst." "So Michael Portillo is now known for his colorful pants and doing train tours around Britain on like your favorite show." "He lost his seat. He was a government minister and he didn't even win like, he's just standing there. Like he could see the soul drain from his body as he lost." Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the British Election S

Summary
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan and Jackie discuss British children's literature that influenced them and their own children. They talk about their favorite books, including The Velveteen Rabbit, Roald Dahl's works, Beatrix Potter's stories, Peter Pan, and Harry Potter. They also mention the impact of Disney adaptations and the cultural significance of British literature worldwide. In this conversation, Jonathan and Jackie discuss their experiences with British children's literature and the impact it had on their lives. They talk about their love for Harry Potter and the different ways they engaged with the series. They also discuss C.S. Lewis and the Chronicles of Narnia, as well as their experiences with other British children's books and shows like Mog the Cat, Peppa Pig, and Bluey. They reflect on the influence of British culture in their childhoods and the enduring popularity of British children's literature.
Show Links:
Christ Church Twist Tea Non-Sugar Sweetener The Great British Dream Factory Book Let Us Entertain You (Documentary based on the above book). Let Us Entertain You BBC Link The Rest is History Podcast Roald Dahl Collection 16 Books Box Set Takeaways
British children's literature has had a significant impact worldwide and is beloved by people of all ages. Books like The Velveteen Rabbit, Roald Dahl's works, and Beatrix Potter's stories have influenced generations of readers. Disney adaptations have introduced many children to British literature, although they often differ from the original stories. Peter Pan and Harry Potter are iconic British stories that have captivated audiences around the world. British literature reflects a rich cultural heritage and continues to inspire imagination and creativity. British children's literature, such as Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, had a significant impact on Jonathan and Jackie's childhoods. They engaged with these books and shows in different ways, with Jonathan being a big fan of Harry Potter and Jackie enjoying other British children's media like Peppa Pig and Bluey. The influence of British culture in their childhoods led to their love for all things British, including literature. Children's literature often tackles complex themes and can have a lasting impact on both children and adults. Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Excitement for the Podcast
02:43 Tea Time and Favorite Childhood Stories
06:43 Roald Dahl's Impact on British Childhood Media
09:34 Beatrix Potter: Whimsical Tales and Global Recognition
12:45 The Beloved Characters of Paddington Bear and Winnie the Pooh
14:38 Exploring the Vastness of British Literature
20:28 The Disney Influence on Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan
23:48 The Beloved Film 'Hook' and its British-American Fusion
26:35 The Phenomenon of Harry Potter
29:24 Engaging with Harry Potter and Other British Children's Media
37:43 The Importance of Lord of the Rings
41:33 The Popularity of Peppa Pig
43:19 Children's Media: Bluey and Mog the Cat
45:10 Mixed Feelings About Thomas the Tank Engine
47:02 The Appeal of Narnia
51:34 The Dark and Delightful World of Roald Dahl

Summary
In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan and Jackie Thomas discuss new updates to Anglotopia, including website changes, contests, and new books. They also talk about their new email newsletter design and the release of the Anglotopia book 'Great British Houses.' They mention the release of the 'Londontopia Dictionary of Cockney Slang' and the upcoming book 'The Anglotopia Guide to Bridgerton.' They also mention the announcement of a third Downton Abbey film. The episode concludes with a discussion on British television shows. In this conversation, Jonathan and Jackie discuss various British TV shows and movies, including the upcoming Downton Abbey film, Masters of the Air, The Three-Body Problem, The Gentlemen, Clarkson's Farm, and more. They also mention the plans for the Inglotopia podcast, including bringing in guest speakers and covering a range of topics related to British travel, history, and culture.
Links
Londontopia Lego Contest Great British Houses Book Londontopia's Dictionary of Cockney Slang Downton Abbey Film News Masters of the Air on AppleTV Three Body Problem on Netflix The Gentlemen on Netflix Clarkson's Farm on Amazon Takeaways
Anglotopia has made changes to their website and released a new design to optimize the reading experience on mobile devices. They have also launched a new email newsletter with a new design and added features, including a weekly post and a free desktop wallpaper. Anglotopia has released the book 'Great British Houses,' which is a compilation of articles on Britain's stately homes. They have also released the 'London Topia Dictionary of Cockney Slang' and are working on a book called 'The Anglotopia Guide to Bridgerton.' A third Downton Abbey film has been announced and is currently in production. Jonathan and Jackie discuss their love for British television shows and the abundance of great British movies and TV series. The upcoming Downton Abbey film will likely feature a mix of settings in the U.S. and England, potentially exploring 1920s America. Masters of the Air is a new TV show on Apple TV that focuses on the air war during World War II, with a majority of the scenes set in England. The Three-Body Problem is a hard science fiction show on Netflix that takes place in a parallel world, with a significant portion of the story set in the UK. Clarkson's Farm is a popular Amazon Prime show that follows Jeremy Clarkson's journey as a farmer in the Cotswolds, showcasing the challenges and beauty of British farming. The Inglotopia podcast is being rebooted with plans to bring in guest speakers and cover a range of topics related to British travel, history, and culture. Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back
00:30 Updates to Anglotopia: Website Changes and Contests
07:26 The New Anglotopia Email Newsletter
10:42 Introducing 'Great British Houses'
12:51 The 'Londontopia Dictionary of Cockney Slang'
23:15 Exciting News: A Third Downton Abbey Film
25:35 The Abundance of Great British Movies and TV Series
26:33 The Upcoming Downton Abbey Film
30:23 Masters of the Air
35:12 The Three-Body Problem
39:26 Clarkson's Farm
49:19 Rebooting the Anglotopia Podcast
 

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, I talk about three great experiences from my trip last July that I haven’t had the chance to talk about yet. After we give some big operational updates about Anglotopia, I talk about my visit to Blenheim Palace. There are a ton of new exhibitions and things to see at Britain’s only non-royal, non-ecclesiastical palace. Thinking of visiting HMS Victory in Portsmouth? Listen to this first, as it’s in a major state of restoration right now. And I finish with a visit to Rousham Park (pictured in the thumbnail), a small private stately home and gardens not normally open to the public. Bonus, we also have new music because we didn’t realize we were using the same music as another British-themed podcast (sorry!). 
Show Notes:
Royaltopia sign-up
Anglotopia Store
Queen Commemorative Timelines
Christmas Cards and Advent Calendars
Queen Salt & Pepper Shakers
Blenheim Palace Website
Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Website
Rousham Park Website
Rousham Park Image Library

In the next installment of podcasts about my trip to Britain this past July, I talk about my final days in Oxford and what I did after. I rented a car and visited Dyrham Park and the next day went on an incredible steam train journey. I give some insight into the special place I stayed in the Cotswolds. I also talk about the state of renting cars in Britain, which is a challenge post-COVID. 
Producer's Note: This podcast was recorded in August, but we delayed the release due to the death of the Queen. 
Show Notes:
Oxford Experience Information
Dyrham Park
The Angel Sherston
Railway Touring Company

In this special memorial podcast, we discuss the death of the Queen, how the week played out, the first days of the reign of Charles III, we explore why some Americans love the Royal Family so much, where we go from here, and what to expect in the coming days and months. 
Producer's Note: We still have more podcasts coming about my trip in July, but they've been delayed for a few weeks until the mourning period has passed.
Show Notes:
Crown & Glory Commemorative
DEATH OF A QUEEN: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? DAY BY DAY AFTER THE QUEEN’S DEATH
KATHERINE JENKINS SINGS GOD SAVE THE KING FOR BBC RADIO 4
KING CHARLES III ADDRESSES THE WORLD – WILLIAM NOW PRINCE OF WALES, KATE PRINCESS OF WALES – FULL SPEECH
HOW THE ROYAL FAMILY’S TITLES HAVE NOW CHANGED AFTER THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN
A THOUSAND MINOR BUT SIGNIFICANT CHANGES – ALL CHANGE FOR NEW KING’S COINS, STAMPS AND POSTBOXES