Podcast
A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail
Hosted by Festival of the Spoken Nerd · EN
Looking for a science comedy podcast that doesn't skimp on the details? We've got you. Join us once a month as three different science stories are dissected every month by the trio behind comedy phenomenon Festival of the Spoken Nerd.
Stand-up mathematician Matt Parker, experiments maestro Steve Mould and geek songstress Helen Arney are experts at investigating things that might not seem particularly interesting on the surface, but become fascinating when you get down to the nitty and / or gritty.
Check out festivalofthespokennerd.com/tickets for details of our live shows in the UK and streamed across the world.
Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
3.6 - Running Up That Hill
Nov 19, 202400:50:51Tap to summarizeAfter a long and unexpected break, the podcast that keeps talking until stuff gets interesting returns with a new episode! This time, Steve tries to solve a long-running problem, Matt gets vexed about triangles and Helen introduces Hertha Ayrton and the Cambridge First All-Ladies Fire Brigade.- Steve's bit (00:44)- Matt's bit (15:08)- Helen's bit (36:13)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- none, so far.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. To download songs from the series visit Helen's Bandcamp Page.Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →3.5 - Twelve Pentagons
Apr 2, 202400:52:23Tap to summarizeAnother episode of the podcast that fears no detail, where Matt talks balls, Steve talks fiery rings and Helen sings a tortoise into space.- Matt's bit (00:55) - pre-order "Love Triangle" here!- Steve's bit (19:30)- Helen's bit (35:44)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- Jared, listening in New Hampshire, sent us this video of Poplar Fluff Fire.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. To download songs from the series visit Helen's Bandcamp Page.Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →3.4 - Keep Your Trousers on, Archimedes
Feb 27, 202401:02:07Tap to summarizeBack once again after a seasonal break, Series 3 continues with some Ingenuity from Steve, some DOOM from Matt, and a song about the man, the myth, the mathematician Archimedes from Helen:- Steve's bit (00:55)- Matt's bit (18:36)- Helen's bit (39:56)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. To download songs from the series visit Helen's Bandcamp Page.Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →
3.3 - "You'll Log"
Dec 15, 202300:35:46Tap to summarizeSeries 3 brings 2023 to a close with a festive special that reaches the parts that other festive specials don't reach... 3D programmable tree lights, the real reason people kiss under the mistletoe and a disappointingly bleak Laboratory Christmas Party take us into the new year with more detail than anyone could possibly need or want. Thank you, as ever, for listening!- Steve's bit (00:56)- Matt's bit (08:38)- Helen's bit (28:21)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- Helen has re-found her binary advent calendar, and it has only 5 doors! 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 are enough to get every number up to the magical 24. Unfortunately the physical calendar is long gone, but you can find a photo in the show notes on our episode page. - On twitter, James Cooper has added some helpful etymology! In a great example of language reflecting nature, the Saxon words that make up mistletoe, 'Mistel' and 'tan' can be translated into 'poo on a stick'. More Mistletoe facts here. For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Download songs from the series from Helen's Bandcamp Page.Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →3.2 - That’s Not What A UFO Looks Like
Nov 17, 202301:00:49Tap to summarizeAgainst all odds, Series 3 continues with a complicated automotive engineer from Helen, a complicated visual processing system from Steve, and a complicated restaurant triangulation problem from Matt:- Helen's bit (00:55)- Steve's bit (22:35)- Matt's bit (41:45)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. To download songs from the series visit Helen's Bandcamp Page.Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →3.1 - For Your Local Definition Of "Down"
Oct 10, 202300:57:18Tap to summarizeIn a surprise first episode of Series 3 (truly, no-one is more surprised than us to be popping up in your feed right now...) Steve tells the truth about the Prime Meridian, Helen brings a song from her new musical "Almost Astronauts", and Matt attempts to divert an apocalyptic future scenario - with maths:- Steve's bit (00:48)- Helen's bit (17:01)- Matt's bit (34:06)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. This series is sponsored by Brilliant.org, the place to learn maths and science through interactive online lessons. Start your free trial at Brilliant.org/apoud, and the first 200 Unnecessary Detail listeners who sign up for annual membership will get 20% off on the same link.Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →To Infinity And Beyond
Jun 14, 202200:50:52Tap to summarizeIn the final episode of this series, Steve gives faint stars the side-eye, Helen sings a relatively short song about relativity and Matt gives a standing ovation to the desktop calculator that rerouted a space probe. Up, up and away!- Steve's bit (01:54)- Helen's bit (16:13)- Matt's bit (36:07)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Live And Kicking Part 3
Jun 7, 202200:46:22Tap to summarizeSteve, Helen and Matt introduce the final installment of their live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With sets from astrophysicist and emo kid Jen Gupta, NATO alphabet innovator (in-NATO-vator) Ted Hill, stand-up medic Matt Hutchinson and Rock ‘n’ Roll IT consultants Foxdog Studios. Also contains extra details from Steve talking about tastebuds, and Helen singing about radioactive bananas:- Steve's bit (01:29)- Jen's bit (12:08)- Ted's bit (21:32)- Foxdog Studio's bit (27:26)- Matt H's bit (31:14)- Helen's bit (38:43)We'd like to add a special thanks to everyone who made these live shows possible! Our co-producer Hana Ayoob; production assistant Nicole Jacobus; sound recordist Robert Wells; Chris, Lou, Ellen, Joan, Frank and all the team at Bloomsbury Theatre; and our series producer and editor for these episodes, Lyndsay Fenner. Plus every fantastic performer, and all the brilliant audience who turned up on both nights to holler, cheer and laugh. High fives to all of you!SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- None, so far.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Lock And Key
May 31, 202200:59:42Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Matt exposes false advertising in the Jigsaw Puzzle industry, Steve matches up what we know about the immune system, and Helen writes a new tune that fits an old song. If you like detail, have a listen. You’ll fit right in: - Matt's bit (01:28)- Steve's bit (19:23)- Helen's bit (32:56)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- Harlekintiger on twitter has recommended this video by Howard Ho about "We Don't Talk About Bruno" for another analysis of how it works and why it's so catchy. We didn't have time to go into as much detail as we would have liked, and this episode was already the longest of this series. Enjoy!For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Live And Kicking Part 2
May 24, 202200:51:54Tap to summarizeMatt, Helen and Steve introduce more favourite moments from their recent live shows, performed at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre. With comedian Rachel Wheeley talking about the Greenwich Time Signal, biochemical engineer Michael Sulu on the potentially fatal difference between tubes and pipes, and zoologist Hana Ayoob sharing the Honey Badger love. Plus Matt on fast food, bad maths and McCombinations, and Helen with a song about losing love at the circus:- Matt's bit (1:27)- Rachel's bit (15:09)- Michael's bit (24:02)- Hana's bit (34:45)- Helen's bit (44:00)SHOW NOTES: Unfortunately our show notes are too big for Acast's margins to contain... head to the episode page to see everything.Corrections and clarifications:- The original version of this episode contained a naughty word that wasn't beeped out - oops! We've fixed it now.For tickets to live shows, nerd merch, our mailing list and more, visit: festivalofthespokennerd.com. Want to get in touch? We’re on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email podcast@festivalofthespokennerd.com. Come for the Unnecessary Detail. Stay for the A Podcast Of. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →