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PODCAST

The Grand Thunk

The Grand Thunk

The podcast in which Rhiannon Kearns and Alex Blanchard discuss what they"ve been reading, watching and listening to. Listen every Wednesday for your mid week top-up of culture and fun!

arts books

All Episodes

00:54:19

62 - Can you separate an artist from their art?

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/08/27

After reading Water by John Boyne, Rhiannon and Alex get into the meat of this question, talking about Boyne's recent comments about trans people, despite loving his books. How can we find nuance within cancel culture and does cancel culture have a powerful and useful role to play in our society? Alex has been reading the potently poetic Maud Martha by the astonishing writer Gwendolyn Brooks, whilst Rhiannon has been watching and loving Season Four of The Bear. Alex has also been reading the

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00:59:36

61 - Streaking, Unsupervised Play and Turberculosis...

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/08/20

Rhiannon has been fully immersed in the nudity at Wilderness, listening to Dan Wye’s brilliant comedy, whilst Alex has been bobbing on the sea, reading Zadie Smith’s On Beauty. What a book, exploring the mysteries of academic language, affirmative action and destructive middle aged men. Meanwhile, Rhiannon has been reading about the conflict between freedom on the internet and yet limited physical freedoms that modern children experience. Are they more anxious than ever and why? Alex has followed

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00:51:55

60 - Retractions, Operatics and the Dunning-Kruger...

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/08/13

Rhiannon and Alex begin this episode by eating their words and swapping a couple of TV recommendations for retractions (such grown ups). Alex has been absorbed in the moving world of Opera, thanks to Dorset’s Opera Festival, with stunning set design from her husband Rufus. Things turn medical as Rhiannon has been hooked and horrified by the second season of hit podcast The Retrievals, which leads to a discussion on the gender gap in healthcare, complimented by recommendations of Unwell Women and

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00:50:26

59 - Carnal Desire, Crime and Forgiveness, and Small...

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/08/06

On the pod this week, Rhiannon has been dressing as a dragonfly, meeting with Big Cats and going on a space adventure with Bridie Squire’s riveting radio drama. Alex is getting horny for the fleshy and carnal desire displayed in Lucy Rose’s cannibalistic book, The Lamb while Rhiannon is dissatisfied with The White Lotus. Alex and Rhiannon conclude this episode with shiny eyes, agreeing that they both take great pride and satisfaction with their ‘day jobs’, similarly agreeing that justice is too

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00:56:41

58 - Astronauts, Cowboys and Marmite Crumpets

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/07/30

During our break, Rhiannon has been totally immersed in Taylor Jenkins Reid's Atmosphere and Alex has been enjoying summer, and yet quoting Winter and Wintering. Rhiannon has been watching Code of Silence, a TV show about Alison, a deaf civilian whose lip reading skills aid the police with their investigations and Alex has been captivated by the absurdity of Terry Pratchett and his Discworld novels. Plus many more glorious nuggets of enjoyed pop culture, sponsored by Marmite Crumpets. Show

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00:58:47

57 - Self Esteem, Psychedelics and Women in Warfare

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/07/02

Alex and Rhiannon are very moved in today’s episode, stuffed with Glastonbury, the meaning of life, the universe and everything. Rhiannon explores the hidden role of women in warfare, specifically the Vietnam War in Kristin Hannah’s The Women. Alex dives into folklore and sapphic relationships in Song of the Huntress. Rhiannon is thinking about the abuse and use of psychedelics in treating trauma in Nine Perfect Strangers and Alex is crying about Hunter Gatherers. A great episode! Show NotesSelf

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00:57:16

56 - Interrogating Leaders, Summer Solstice and...

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/06/25

If like us, you've overdone it in the sun, come and hide in the shade and dive into this week's recommendations. Alex has been swept away in several dystopian worlds, and is suitably intrigued and enamoured by Torrey Peters' Stag Dance and Jacqueline Harpman's I Who Have Never Known Men. Rhiannon adds to this week's stack of sexy covers with Sarah Wynn-Williams' Careless People, a memoir detailing her experience of the murky leadership at Facebook. Luckily, Jacinda

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00:51:20

55 - Breastfeeding on Ultramarathons, Queer and the...

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/06/18

Rhiannon and Alex are setting up a WhatsApp group for listeners who want to share their thoughts and add nuance; we’re creating a community of Thunkers! Rhiannon tells Alex about a brilliant Radio 4 programme, mixing comedy with the brutal world of caring, in Mary Bourke: Who Cares? Alex has been exploring the murky world of postpartum psychosis in Catherine Cho’s Inferno. Rhiannon smooths things back down with two TV recommendations, The Bear and Clarkson’s Farm, while Alex shares her thoughts on

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00:55:11

54 - Memory Tricks, Tarot and Contranyms

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/06/11

Alex and Rhiannon dive into memory tricks before discussing the impact of being told your death, inspired by Liane Moriarty’s book Here One Moment. Alex is hooked, as ever, to the IV of Caroline O’ Donoghue’s words in her most recent mini-series, Magical Garbage, starting with an episode on Lord of the Rings. Rhiannon has been testing her knowledge with the Pub Quiz podcast and Alex has some word based Who’d a Thunks? for you!Show NotesHere One Moment by Liane MoriartyEleanor Oliphant is Completely

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00:56:38

53 - Resolving Conflict, Maternity Service and Decisions

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/06/04

Rhiannon and Alex delve into the poetry in dictionary definitions and the silences in films as Alex has been watching the yet-to-be-released adaption of Deborah Levy’s book Hot Milk. Rhiannon shares a beautiful poem that gives space for calm and organisation without imposing it. We discuss resolving conflict as demonstrated in the glorious and informative storytelling and debates of The Rest is History podcast. And finally we explore the labour of motherhood through Emma Barnett’s fantastic book

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00:47:43

52: Inclusive Feminism, Sigmund Freud and Cocaine

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/05/28

In this episode, Alex and Rhiannon delve into what it means to be a feminist, particularly in light of new rulings by the British government wand with the help of Aisling Bea’s Feminist Commandments. They dive back into the Heart’s Invisible Furies with new intel and input from Alex, and Rhiannon takes us on a journey through Holly Bourne’s So Thrilled For You, a book that explores four different women and their attitudes towards motherhood. We’re really proud of this episode!Show notes: London

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01:04:17

Episode 51 - From Nursery Rhymes to Toxic Masculinity

The Grand Thunk ·

2025/05/21

We’re back with season 6 and have a jam-packed episode for you to dive straight in to! Rhiannon’s reading has taken a baby book and nursery rhyme themed nose dive, but she was rescued by the brilliance of John Boyne in his stunning novel The Heart’s Invisible Furies. Alex was moved by the tender and tragic love story set against the brutality of World War II in Alice Winn’s In Memoriam. We both get our teeth stuck in to the somewhat unanswerable questions we were left with, after watching Netflix’s

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00:16:51

50 - 50 Book Questions from Best Written to Most...

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/12/19

Alex is joined by her husband, Rufus Martin, whilst Rhiannon is stunning the New Vic Theatre with her Mad Hatter adventures. Rufus asks Alex 50 (quite surprising) questions, including questions such as Best Book for Mowing the Lawn and Book You'd Wish People Would Shut Up About. A short but sweet episode about the books Alex has read over the last year (ish).We are an accessible podcast so find transcripts in our linktree in our bio on our instagram @thegrandthunk. (We're a little behind on our

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00:37:49

49 - Alex's New Book! Wander Women - Behind the Scenes

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/12/12

We have a very special guest this episode, Alex Howlett, who is currently a reporter with Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit but most importantly, she is Alex B's co-author for their newly released book, Wander Women: Tales of Transgression in a Bordered World - OUT NOW! In this episode, the Alexes natter about their writing processes, delving into the details of the book and what they're wearing for the launch party on 14th Dec in London. BUY THE BOOK HERE -

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00:45:30

48 - The Women Behind Fairy Tales, Dame Judi Dench’s...

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/12/05

Alex’s writing retreat antics spark a conversation about youth and creation while Rhiannon takes us on a journey through Dame Judi Dench’s garden and the special way in which she remembers those who have died with Louis Theroux. Alex has delved deep into the narrators behind fairy tales, from the women who inspired the Brothers Grimm to Artemisia Gentileschi, who was not only an extraordinary painter, but who gave perspective to the female characters in early versions of Cinderella and Rapunzel

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00:49:16

47 - SEASON FIVE - How to Dance at a Wedding,...

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/11/21

We’re back (again!) and this week we’re talking weddings, peak dancing outfits, Christmas recommendations and … what we’ve been reading, watching and listening to! Rhiannon has joined The Prosecco Express with the hilarious Joanne McNally on her comedy road trip. Alex has been learning about the history of art (without men) as well as reading an extraordinary book by Nawal El Saadawi. And finally, Rhiannon confesses her most guilty pleasure, that for 46 episodes, she has managed to keep a secret. We

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00:39:06

BICCY-BONUS EP! Holiday Recommendations!

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/08/06

SURPRISE! Rhiannon and Alex are popping up, out of the blue, with a Bonus episode! They have missed the podcast so much and are looking forward to starting a new season soon - but not just yet! In this episode Alex and Rhiannon discuss what they've been up to on their long poddy break, from pub crawls to getting married - and most importantly, what they've been enjoying! We are an accessible podcast so find transcripts on our linktree in our instagram bio @thegrandthunk. Follow us on social media

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00:53:41

45 - The Work of Wellness, Dog-Earing and Vacillating

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/03/14

We have MOVED the date of our Book Club, to 31st March! Alex and Rhiannon’s conversation meanders through eco-friendly baking, a whole host of new words and book characters living outside their books. Alex has been exploring the notion of ‘That Girl’, a woman who lives for wellness and productivity as an extension of The Beauty Myth. Rhiannon has been discovering an accessible guide to feminism that makes the history, theory and current discussion of the women’s rights movement less intimidating

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00:52:53

44 - When Saying ‘I Love You’ Isn’t Enough, Books by...

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/03/07

Alex and Rhiannon contemplate going back in time and having one conversation with someone after Alex’s recommendation Before the Coffee Gets Cold. Rhiannon has been thinking about toxic friendships with the gripping TV show Chloe. They sync up to coincidentally both recommend the same two articles to each other. And Alex has been branching out and reading literature by men. CN: Grief and loss We are an accessible podcast so find transcripts on our linktree in our instagram bio @thegrandthunk. Follow

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00:51:48

43 - ‘Hidey Hi, Tim Messenger here’ and How Our NHS...

The Grand Thunk ·

2022/02/28

In this light-hearted episode, we discuss rogue dreams, dinner ladies and cheese jokes as well as, more somberly, the feelings of our NHS staff whilst watching ‘This Is Going To Hurt’. Alex has broken her heart with this week’s book club book ‘The Song of Achilles’ and James’ Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room. Rhiannon has been mesmerised by Animal Farm’s puppetry whilst Alex has been debunking sleeping myths. This episode was recorded before recent world events. We are an accessible podcast so find

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62 results

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