Adam Buxton podcast and billy bragg

The following episode with Christie was pretty funny and a great conversation about the mental load and menopause. No mention of TWAW etc. this time. Don't be put off by the previous two episodes.

I thought so too. I’ve always loved his stuff, and listened consistently ever since the original Adam & Joe podcasts. I could still sing you loads of the jingles.

It’s a downer to realise that he would probably dismiss or misunderstand the genuine concerns of a lot of his listeners on this topic, the same way he seems to be doing with JKR’s.

It’s not looking good in terms of him supplying some balance. His next guest is Bridget Christie. Need I go on….?

I know I keep saying this but I feel massively let down by AB. I really thought he was one of the sensible ones.

AB is an extremely privileged male in the media. I would assume he is TWAW because they all are.

How anybody on the fence could not be peaked by the Witch Trials is beyond me.

I'm a big fan of Adam Buxton and I think I've listened to all his podcasts. I was pretty disappointed about the back-to-back podcasts which allowed unchallenged views on GC women, esp. given the size of the movement on the Left (which he is a member of). AB let BB say unchallenged that GC would go for gay marriage after trans rights, for example. With no examination, for example, of the GC position that medical intervention in young / troubled / neurodiverse children is quite diffident from two adults in love making a decision.
Anyway...
Upon reflection, AB never really challenges his guests - it's always more of a chat, so pretty consistent there. He also must be interested in listening to different opinions on the trans topic as he discovered Contrapoints whilst listening to "The Witch Trials of JK Rowling" podcast.
I have concluded that he's just another privileged man who hasn't given a huge amount of thought to a topic that doesn't really impact him that much. Which is the case of a lot of men with his background, in my experience.

I vaguely remember AB making some comment along the lines of "my wife says she wouldn't care if a trans woman uses the ladies loo so I don't see what all the fuss is about". Really quite dismissive.

He hasn't the imagination to see its not just the loos at john lewis, but if his wife and daughter ever need intimate care. Also, he may not realise not every women thinks the same way.

BB is on brand for him, and even without the outraged at the idea of women with opinions, i dont think i could listen to AB fawn over him. Contrapoints is an unexpected guest, though?

Thank you!

They’re on the Apple podcast page for the show but I had difficulty copying that - here’s a link to a different site that has them, though.

Podcast reviews

I couldn’t see where to access the reviews? Cab you link them here please @Zeugma ?

Well, out of curiosity I just went to see whether there are any reviews of the BB edition. And there are, on Apple. Several are extremely negative, as far as I can see. I suppose I ought not to quote without permission but it’s well worth checking them out.

The slurs against JKR are also highlighted.

I hope AB reads these.

I think I might have to rewatch that documentary as that’s not how I remember it (but my memory is shocking)! I honestly thought it only showed one side with a very happy ‘trans child’ of primary school age and nothing else.

This is quite a common attitude. It's a bit dispiriting to see the number of people who probably believe they're good, moral, upright people who react to someone acting out of principles and suffering some kind of backlash as foolishly damaging their commercial interests.

And lest we forget LT got a huge career boost from that savile documentary

He's definitely one of those broadcasters that I almost forget I don't know in real life

@MainlyOnThePlain agree, and I think this is why I (stupidly, I know) feel so personally disappointed.

@GrandmaMazur hang on, I thought the Theroux trans doc was his usual style of present it as is and let the people's own ridiculousness hang them?
The family he showed transing their young child ended with the child going, na actually I'm a boy. I thought the fact he went in very neutral made the family show him all the mad lengths they were going to which were then totally shown up by this ending.

He wants his guests to like him. He's not going to challenge them. I agree he does get into more serious discussions with some of his less frivolous guests, but even then he's generally trying to show that he can (or can't) keep up with them and would be dying at the awkwardness if they had a disagreement. He sits on some eps for years before releasing them if he thinks they didn't flow. Agree that he'd rely on his listeners to use their own intelligence rather than taking a guest's views as gospel. I get what you're objecting to, but think it's also legit to show what a guest's POV is and not be there to argue against it, which would hardly dissuade them or anyone else from their existing positions. BB was interesting on the history of skiffle, so just about worth the listen.

I've been a huge Adam and Joe fan since the late night C4 days. Won't be listening to this, as I dip in and out of his Rambles as it is, and the thought of being (effectively) trapped in a room with Billy Bragg, with no way to interrupt him, isn't something that appeals.

I loved Adam's book, and his thoughts about grief and the changing relationship you have with your parents in adulthood, especially as they approach the end. He's definitely one of those broadcasters that I almost forget I don't know in real life.

My wife doesn't mind sharing with transwomen = my wife isn't suffering PTSD from serious sexual assault and can afford private medical care anyway and neither of us have the inclination or humility to imagine what life is like for less privileged women.

I think believing that JKR is mad for getting involved is one thing. Allowing a guest on your podcast to say she's in league with the far right and not even challenge that is quite another.

Exactly that @Musomama1 - especially as the issue doesn't really affect him. Sure he still likes previous guest Graham Linehan and as per JKR just thinks he's a bit mad for sticking his neck out when he could keep his head down.

And schools-wise, pretty sure it's only AB that went to Westminster (with Theroux and Cornish) and he plays it very much as his parents' wishes and the privilege makes him uncomfortable etc etc etc. but course it shapes him.

Big fan of AB. But I think it just isn't in many people's interest to get right into this topic. It's far better for many to just have a vague idea of what is going on, demonstrate a little all round sympathy but have no strong (and potentially problematic) views.