Standard Issue Podcast

Richard Benjamin’s coming-of-age comedy-drama has a (sort of) dream cast, but how much will Jen, Hannah and Mick love central character Mrs Flax? Does the character even matter when she’s played by Cher? And can we get over a ropey age-gap and a real lack of DIY prep to allow Mermaids to shoop-shoop into our hearts? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Padel might well be one of the fastest growing sports in the world, right now, but what exactly is it? And how is it different to tennis, squash, or pickleball? Jen wanted to find out more, so she got on the Zoom with Alex Brodie, PR and sponsorship manager at UK Padel, one of the UK’s leading tournament organisers in the sport, to chat about the who, what and where of the game – and why it’s so good for women and girls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let’s bring some cheer to the end of the year with Dr Suze Kundu – that’s right NASA’s Dr Suze Kundu. She and Mick* debunk some bad science, celebrate some impactful and robust research and tech, and create some positive associations with the work of millions. With added Katy Perry and a plea to outer space-related height restrictions.  *mostly Suze, to be fair Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just five per cent of people with a learning difference are in paid work, something highlighted by the recent case of Tom Boyd, who was let go by Morrisons after his family asked that he be paid for his work. That case spurred Liz Warner, a former CEO of Comic Relief, into action. Because the same thing had happened to her son and, we can all agree, needs to stop happening. Liz is launching a new initiative in the new year aimed to double the amount of people with a learning difference in paid work, so Hannah got on the Zoom to find out more. You can find out more about The Different Kind here: https://thedifferentkind.com More information on how to support Standard Issue is here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reaction to Wes Streeting’s independent review on mental health, ADHD and autism might divide opinion, but surely we can all agree to be pleased about changes to the law around social media use in Australia. And if not, at least we’ll always have emotional support dogs. Hannah and Jen take a rootle through the news and sport this week to discuss all of the above.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Watching 9 to 5, what a way to earn a living. Mick, Hannah and Jen revisit Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and – people’s favourite – Dolly Parton in this classic comedy about sexism in the workplace that everyone knows inside out. Don’t they?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Given we’re deep into pantomime season, it seemed only right that Mick got on the Zoom with Vikki Stone, the woman behind some of the best pantos in the UK. Vikki tells us about comedy, getting kids into the theatre, toddler raves, prime-time telly and why pantos remain one of the most enduring of British Christmastime traditions. Mama Goose is at Stratford East until Jan 3 Beauty and the Beast is at New Wolsey Theatre until Jan 17 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the Wild West that is dating apps, women are increasingly turning to novel ways of protecting themselves. Online groups such as Are We Dating The Same Guy, offer women a platform to share bad and even criminal experiences of dating. Broadcaster and journalist Mary Mandefield investigates the groups in a new Channel 4 documentary, Red Flags: Are We Dating the Same Guy? UNTOLD. So, Jen caught up with Mary to chat about the film, the groups, why women are using them, and if they themselves are entirely ethical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bollywood star Radhika Apte is unhappy new bride Uma in writer/director Karan Kandhari’s feature debut, which Hannah’s picked for the last Flicking of 2025. The critics loved it, audiences weren’t so sure. Hannah, Yosra and Mick went in blind with no expectations and were all surprised. But in a good or bad way?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are abuses of power all over the shop, as Mick talks us through the second phase of Lady Elish Angiolini’s inquiry into the prevention of sexually motivated crimes against women in public, and a truly horrific case in France. Meanwhile, Jen’s looking at more crises in public services, this time in teaching staff. But at least we’ve got Polly. And periods. No, really. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices