British Culture: Albion Never Dies

Don't be shy, send me a message!The UK is famously polite, but is the reputation well-deserved? I check out the Hugh Dennis book, ‘Britty Britty Bang Bang’, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Micheal Portillo’s Great British Railway Journeys, and a range of other sources. I also draw on my own experience in the US, China, Turkish Cyprus, and elsewhere. Most of all, I ask you for your experience, so do get in touch! Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDiesE-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Support the showPsst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Your questions answered, whether sent via Instagram, Chinese social media, or in a comment on Youtube! The questions were:How do you feel being in the UK after 2 years?  - Instagram: @BondUpNorth (Sam)How is your Bond fitness challenge going?  - Instagram: LicensetoliftWhat is your favourite British sitcom from the 1980s? – [an old friend who will remain anonymous]Why are Vikings so popular? – Instagram: @BritishBondFan (a different Sam!)Could you talk about Narnia? - Instagram: @Francisco_Trevelyan Could you talk about British food? - Instagram: @BondUpNorthWhat is it you love about the Bond films the most? - Instagram: @MrHarris00794Which Bond outfit would you love to have made for you? Which one is your favourite? - Instagram: @BritishBondFanPredictions for Bond 26? 2028-2030?  - Jason Kim If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me using any of the methods below! Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!"Amazon MGM Studios, Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli today announced that they have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights, and those parties will remain co-owners of the franchise. Under the terms of the new venture, Amazon MGM Studios will gain creative control of the James Bond franchise following closing of the transaction.” - 20/02/2025This news has gained sufficient traction that even my wonderful vicar asked me about in on Sunday, before the service. Of course, the Broccoli family is American, although based in the UK. But, seeing creative control of a very British film icon passing from a family firm to a US corporation has raised many questions for many people. I give my take, which is that this is not the first turning point for 007, and that a third-generation business would be very unusual, both in movie making and in the UK generally.Naturally, I can't resist looking at the counter examples! According to the Campden Family Business news website, the oldest twenty family firms in the UK have collectively traded for 7013 years, and traded on average for 350 years each. I take a quick look into these, along with a couple of famous UK artisans, who each came from a family of famous creators, but who did not leave a business to be handed down to grandchildren, either.Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!I’ve just read all 7 Harry Potter books, plus the three supplementary books, for the first time. I’ve also visited some of the movie locations in the UK (including Durham Cathedral and King’s Cross Station), tried Butterbeer and Fizzing Wizzbees (plus Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans and Chocolate Frogs), worn my house colours (having been sorted by the official Sorting Hat), and played the video game Hogwarts Legacy. I’m slowly re-watching the movies as well, having not watched any of them for well over a decade, and most of them since the year they first came out. Finally, I’m now checking out all the J.K. Rowling writings originally hosted on the Pottermore website.Was it all worth it? Listen to the episode to find out.  The books in order:Year #1: Philosopher's Stone (1997)Year #2: Chamber of Secrets (1998)Year #3: Prisoner of Azkaban (1999)Year #4: Goblet of Fire (2000)Year #5: Order of the Phoenix (2003)Year #6: Half-Blood Prince (2005)Year #7: Deathly Hallows (2007)The three supplementary books:Hogwarts textbook: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001)Harry’s free time reading: Quidditch Through the Ages (2001)Bedtime stories for witches and wizards: The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2007)Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!5 very special guests join me for this episode from 4 continents:David Zaritsky @TheBondExperienceDonnie Waldron @Quantum of HistoryPete Brooker @LondonBondMapGabriel Rabenales @TheStyleisNotEnoughLincoln McConnell-Brown @DressingLikeMcQueenWe talk about places, themes, and values shown in this film from our vantage points in London, the USA, Chile, and Australia. Is this film truly British? If so, what makes it so? Listen to the episode to find out!Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Raymond Benson is the author of over forty published titles. He is most well-known as being the first American to write continuation James Bond novels (six original titles and three film novelizations, between 1996-2002), and for the best-selling and acclaimed five-book serial, THE BLACK STILETTO (2011-2014). I also mention in the episode that he wrote, JETHRO TULL (POCKET ESSENTIAL SERIES) There's a lot more, so if you want the full story please visit the author at his website: https://raymondbenson.com/ and also his Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRaymondBensonI previously reviewed his first two 007 continuation books on my Youtube channel:https://www.youtube.com/britishculture"James Bond Book Review | Zero Minus Ten | I've visited these Chinese locations!"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD_kKtQsZlo"James Bond Book Review | The Facts of DEATH | Someone I know appears in the book!"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow_WnHuU_bYBenson's newest original novel, THE MAD, MAD MURDERS OF MARIGOLD WAY, was published in 2022. His most recent works also include the suspense novels, THE SECRETS ON CHICORY LANE, IN THE HUSH OF THE NIGHT, BLUES IN THE DARK, and HOTEL DESTINY--A GHOST NOIR.His backlist of original thrillers (EVIL HOURS, TORMENT--A LOVE STORY, ARTIFACT OF EVIL, A HARD DAY'S DEATH, DARK SIDE OF THE MORGUE, and others) as well as his classic reference book from 1984, THE JAMES BOND BEDSIDE COMPANION, are much loved.Raymond is also a prolific tie-in writer: the first two best-selling TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL novels (for the latter he used the pseudonym of "David Michaels"), and with John Milius he wrote HOMEFRONT: THE VOICE OF FREEDOM. He also produced novelizations of other popular videogames--METAL GEAR SOLID and METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY, HITMAN (HITMAN: DAMNATION, and DYING LIGHT (DYING LIGHT--NIGHTMARE ROW).Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Introduced by Joe Darlington (Being James Bond), I investigate the uniquely British aspects of this 007 film, with 6 special  interviews from China thanks to my previous guest Max James Joy (A Brit Abroad... in China - Celebrating a 'British Day' in Guangzhou).  We talk about:What makes this film so special?British submarinesBritish-Greek RelationsThe King's MedalAncient Chinese SayingsElektraSaint CyrilThe Most Famous British GreekBritish Winter OlympicsI draw on a range of books, including but not limited to:Bond on Bond, by Roger MooreSome Kind of Hero, by Matthew Field and Ajay ChowdhuryFor My Eyes Only, by John GlenThe Return of Heroic Failures, by Stephen PileThe Complete James Bond Short Stories, by Ian FlemingOperation Mincemeat, by Ben MacintyreIan Fleming's Commandos, by Nicholas RankinIan Fleming, by Nicholas ShakespeareA Bond Odyssey, by Adam Muckle30 Hot Days, M.A. Birant  For Greece during the Second World War, I do draw on Winston Churchill's 6 volume account, and recommend the following novel and TV drama:Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de BernièresSword of Honour (2001) starring Daniel CraigIf this podcast prompts any thoughts you would like to share, please do message me at the contact details below.Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!What makes the 007 films so uniquely British? In this episode, I take a deep (1-hour) dive into 2012's 'Skyfall' starring Daniel Craig. If you haven’t seen the film ‘Skyfall’ since it came out in 2012, don’t worry, there is plenty for you. In fact, if you’ve never seen this film, I hope you’ll still enjoy this podcast, and indeed can still enjoy watching the film afterwards without too many plot or character spoilers beyond the usual shape of a Bond / action film... but I will comment on locations a great deal. I’m looking at what stands out to me in this film as a UK cultural icon, pondering what adds to my enjoyment, and delving into cultural touchpoints along the way. Bond reviews are my most requested topic, but this is something hopefully satisfying for Bond fans and for non-Bond fans alike.Topics include:An Englishman in TurkeyThe Reichenbach FallsObituaries in the TimesNew Digs: Churchill's Bunker The National Gallery China: Shanghai and MacaoBBC News: Hostage KillingsLord Tennyson Is James Bond Scottish?The final 5 minutes is me explaining why I like this film so much. I largely avoid topics covered in other podcasts I listen to, especially film reviews of Skyfall. I even avoid repeating what I previously said on 'The Bond Experience' Youtube channel on this topic (which has full spoilers). So, if 1 hour is not enough, do check out: 'Queen Elizabeth II & James Bond | ON THEIR MAJESTIES’ SECRET SERVICE | King, Queen, Bond' over on Youtube. Thank you to everyone who has kindly encouraged me over the last 6-months especially. I am glad to be able to release my first newly recorded monologue since April 2024. Your messages have made all the difference at a personally very difficult time. Again, thank you. Correction: near the end, I state that Sean Connery was brought up in Glasgow. In fact, his hometown is Edinburgh. If this podcast prompts any thoughts you would like to share, please do message me at the contact details below.Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616 Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!Every year, on October 21st, the Royal Navy celebrates Admiral Nelson’s most famous victory, near Trafalgar in 1805 when 27 British Royal Naval ships defeated a combined French and Spanish fleet of 33 warships. But, what if Nelson had lost? And how can we celebrate this night?I draw upon three books:‘The Rise and Fall of the British Empire’ by Lawrence James ‘Empire of the Seas: How the Navy Forged the Modern World’ by Brian Lavery‘HMS Victory’ by Peter GoodwinI also recommend the movie ‘Master and Commander’ (2003), the TV show Hornblower (1998-2003), and the classic clip (on Youtube) of John Noakes cleaning Nelson’s Column for the children’s TV show ‘Blue Peter’. My ‘Recommended Rabbit Hole’: Lord Cochrane.  Just start with Google, see where it takes you, and let me know if you found it as fascinating as I do. This is an annual celebration and commemoration, so this episode is a rerelease from October 21st, last year. You can e-mail me: AlbionNeverDies@Gmail.comYou can find me on Instagram: @FlemingNeverDies***Subscribe to my newsletter: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Check out my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my online shop: https://www.redbubble.com/people/British-culture/shopSupport the showPsst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show

Don't be shy, send me a message!What is it like to be a Brit in China, before, during, and after the pandemic? Today's special guest, Max James Joy, shed some light on how being a Brit in China has changed over the last few years (since I left). He also talks about the different cultures found *within* China, and even within the same city.Max is a UOI (Unit of Inquiry) teacher, helping students from a range of cultures develop an wholistic view of the world. His school will play a key role in the 'British Day' event in Guangzhou that will be held on the 2nd of November, 2024, at Canton Place. If you're interested, just send me a message.   If this podcast prompts any thoughts you would like to share, please do message me at the contact details below.Message me anytime on Instagram, @FlemingNeverDies, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.comCheck out my https://www.youtube.com/britishcultureCheck out my Red Bubble shopSubscribe to my newsletter for update e-mails, random postcards, and stickers: https://youtube.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b3afdae99897eebbf8ca022c8&id=5165536616Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the show