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PODCAST

Richardson"s Rubicon

John Richardson

Richardson’s Rubicon explores the craft and chaos of speculative fiction. Each episode dives into worldbuilding, strange ideas, creative failures, surprising successes, and the deeper questions behind imagined worlds. Writers, worldbuilders, and curious listeners will find honest conversation, dark humour, and thoughtful insight into how stories take shape. Season Five focuses on the art of speculative storytelling and the minds that create it.

fiction

All Episodes

00:10:30

Episode 1: The Reset

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/12/07

In this season opener, John strips the podcast back to its core purpose. The show drops the scattered topics and shifts hard toward speculative fiction, worldbuilding, and the craft behind imagined futures. John explains why the old format was unfocused, why this reset is necessary, and why writers must confront their own blind spots if they want their stories to work. He outlines the new plan for the season, including interviews with speculative fiction writers, honest discussions about his own

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00:49:27

Tears, Bikes & Trauma Goo

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/07/16

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I had a fascinating and often funny conversation with Bill Pautler, author of the book Awakening to Ourselves, The Practical Art of Building A Spiritually Aware Life. Bill’s had quite an adventurous life, he’s done everything from hot-air ballooning and motorcycling to scuba diving, along with raising a family (twice!). But what stood out most was his unexpected spiritual journey, especially a quirky experience he shared: Liberally cussing and then spending

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00:50:34

When Porn Gives You A Plot Twist

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/07/12

In this week’s Richardson’s Rubicon, I sat down with Hannah Ashwell mental health whizz, PTSD specialist, and all-round change-maker to tackle two of the sneakiest modern addictions: porn and gambling. Trust me, these things fly under the radar far more than booze or smack, and Hannah’s got the stats to prove it.We kicked off by digging into her story. She’s not just another talking head, she’s a counsellor, psychologist and entrepreneur who helps people flip their lives around. But the real

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00:47:03

Freeports: They're Not Free, and They're Not Ports!

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/07/07

Welcome to this episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where I dive into a topic that might not be on your radar, but will certainly grab your attention. Today, we're welcoming John Forbes from the Freeport Campaign Group, which is part of Salvo. John joins us for an eye-opening discussion about Freeports and Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in Scotland. Despite their promising names, these zones come with complexities and concerns that many are unaware of, including secretive dealings, potential for

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00:57:05

The Path to Independence

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/06/27

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, John Richardson talks with Colette Walker, leader of the Independence for Scotland Party, about the launch of Liberate Scotland and how it all links in with the UN decolonisation case. Colette shares how she has always felt Scottish rather than British and how class divisions in period dramas first sparked her distaste for the Union. She explains the founding of ISP in 2020 as a way to capture regional list seats under the D’Hondt system and boost

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00:27:20

Still Better Than Question Time 🤡

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/06/20

In this solo episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, I navigate a chaotic evening after my guest cancels last minute. Probably not my best episode, sorry! I reflect on the previous week's well-received interview with Alex Thorburn of Liberation Scotland and Salvo and share listener feedback.I go into current affairs, questioning the BBC's framing of Scotland's performance, have a go at John Swinney's vague 2050 independence vision, and unpack the failure of wealth tax proposals. I also lays

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00:46:06

Claim of Right, Act of Wrong: Is the Union a Fiction?

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/06/13

This week, we're discussing Scottish independence with researcher Alex Thorburn from Salvo and Liberation Scotland, two civic movements developing their own strategy without waiting for approval from Westminster.We explore Scotland's claim to nationhood through the Claim of Right, the Treaty of Union, and their significance in the 21st century. Alex walks us through a potential route to the UN via the Decolonisation Committee (C24), and makes the case that Scotland could assert its

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00:01:00

Trailer: Is Scotland ready for independence? Are the...

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/06/08

We’re going live Thursday at 9pm (UK time) to talk it out — and you’re invited.Book a guest slot or just hop in on the night.👉 Take part: https://rubipod.link/liveSmart chat, real voices, and big questions.Only on Richardson’s Rubicon.

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00:24:49

Rugby Goals and Political Holes

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/06/06

Welcome to another episode of Richardson's Rubicon, where we dive into the absurd, tackle the unpredictable, and poke fun at the political circus! This time around, I'm kicking off with the sport you never knew existed - underwater rugby. Flippers and salty balls! But that's not all! We'll swim out of the pool and into the political kiddie pool where Nigel Farage is making waves by not showing up - classic Farage. And as if politics couldn't get crazier, we've got Elon Musk

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00:45:53

Can We Fix Britain by Taxing Billionaires?

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/05/30

In this episode of Richardson’s Rubicon, we dive head-first into the idea of a UK wealth tax on the super rich. Inspired by campaigners like Gary Stevenson and supported by groups like Tax Justice UK, we explore why this idea is gaining momentum – and why some people still think it won’t work. Also, we’re diving into why this might be the key for Labour to outdo Reform UK. It’s all about rethinking the social contract and coming up with a way to tax the super-rich to make it work. It's a

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00:28:26

British Fish? Let's look at the truth of this UK-EU deal

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/05/23

In this episode, I talk about Keir Starmer’s new deal with the EU and what it really means for the UK, especially for fishing, food exports, and everyday workers.I start with fishing. For years, we were told that leaving the EU would give us back full control of our waters. But the truth is, a lot of our fishing rights are still in foreign hands. Over half of England’s quota is owned by companies from places like the Netherlands, Spain, and Iceland. These firms often run UK-registered boats, but the

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00:50:20

Richardson's Rubicon Talk Show: Riffin' the Rubicon....

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/05/17

This is the first real episode of the new call-in format. I go through all the emails sent to the show, where clearly my back catalogue is being fully explored! ITIL, Bees, AppSumo and the recent cyber attacks on Harrods, M&S, and the Co-op are explored. Remember, kids, use an authentication app like Authy or Google Authenticator wherever you can! Be on the next show, call in! https://richardsonsrubicon.com/be-on-the-show/#liveshow

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00:14:34

VE Day, Germans, and don't mention the war!

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/05/09

Hey there, and welcome to the very first episode of Riffin' the Rubicon! I'm John Richardson, and I'm diving headfirst into this new live show adventure. Funny enough, it was VE Day when I did the recording. We'll talk about how folks sometimes overlook the true meaning of the day, all while I try to shake off this feeling that I'm stuck in an episode of Fawlty Towers! Plus, I'll let you in on a day in my life, juggling B&B mishaps and bee-keeping adventures. And you

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00:28:04

Will a 5% Visitor Levy Hurt Scotland's Tourist...

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/05/06

Welcome to a new episode of Richardson's Rubicon hosted by me, John Richardson. In this episode, I dive into the economic principle of price elasticity of demand (PED) and its potential implications for the tourist sector, focusing especially on the controversial topic of visitor levies, or tourist taxes.I explore recent trends and data indicating a shift from serviced accommodations like hotels to more affordable, nonserviced options such as self-catering sites and campsites from 2022 to 2023

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00:15:03

Misunderstanding or misinformation?

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/02/28

Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon! In today's episode, I delve into the heated topic of the visitor levy, often misconceived as a mere tourist tax. PLUS!!!! NEWSFLASH AT THE BEGINNING! Join me, John Richardson, as I navigate through bizarre social media reactions and comments on this contentious issue. I discuss the misconceptions surrounding the tax, how it affects everyone staying in accommodations in Scotland, and the overlooked impact on council budgets and inflation. Discuss in the

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00:17:38

The Ugly Truth about the Visitor Levy in Scotland

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/02/25

Right, let’s cut to the chase. On the latest Richardson’s Rubicon, I tore into this new Visitor Levy Scotland’s rolled out. Frankly, it’s infuriating, and I won’t sugarcoat it.First things first: don’t let them spin this as a “tourist tax.” It’s a charge on everyone staying in accommodation—yes, even your cousin from Manchester here for a weekend. And mark my words, every council in Scotland will slap this on, padding their budgets with CoSLA, the SNP, and local authorities nodding it

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00:05:48

Debunking the Myth of Scotland's Visitor Levy

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2025/01/26

In this episode of Richardson's Rubicon podcast, host John Richardson dives into the hot topic of Scotland's new Visitor Levy, often mislabeled as a 'tourist tax.' John clarifies that the levy is an accommodation tax, impacting both locals and visitors, and outlines its implications on small businesses like his own B&B. He compares the progressive percentage-based levy in Scotland with flat fee systems in Manchester and Wales, highlighting potential negative economic effects

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00:17:55

Ensuring Bee Colony Survival: Tips for Winter Beekeeping

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2024/11/21

Hello there, I'm John Richardson, your host on the Richardson's Rubicon Podcast. In this episode, we'll explore the tasks beekeepers should focus on in November and December, especially for those in the Northern Hemisphere, like in Scotland. We'll discuss the importance of providing sugar syrup and treating for varroa mites in the months leading up to winter. We'll examine how bees adapt their physiology for winter, enabling them to survive longer and produce royal jelly for the next spring and

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00:14:09

Insights into the New Verification Process on Bluesky

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2024/11/18

Welcome to a new, quick episode of Richardson's Rubicon podcast titled "Bluesky Verification." I'm your host, John Richardson. In this episode, we explore security protocols, identity verification, and user experience on social platforms.We kick off with an analysis of different social media verification methods, with an emphasis on Bluesky's unique approach. I dissect the transition from Twitter's celebrity-focused paradigm to the pay-to-verify model of "X". The issue of fake accounts is

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00:10:10

How ITIL Could Improve Assurant's Customer Service

Richardson"s Rubicon ·

2024/11/04

Welcome back to Richardson's Rubicon, I'm your host, John Richardson, and today we're delving into something a little different. It's going to relate to my IT expertise, but resonates in everyday life, specifically dealing with service desks. What's making today's episode worth your listen is an exasperating experience I recently encountered with my teen son's mobile phone insurance claim. This ordeal with Assurant - the company in question - highlighted some crucial lessons on customer service,

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40 results

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