We Can Be Weirdos

In this intro to our new monthly bonus show Lazy Code, Dan welcomes longtime weird-theory believer Leon ‘Buttons’ Kirkbeck and Halina Brooke back and his daughter Halina Brooke. We explain simulation theory, meet the hosts, tease the kinds of glitches and guests to expect (from UFOs to scientific perspectives), and explore what it’s like growing up with a dad who thinks the universe might be broken. Decide for yourself: fascinating deep dive, or evidence the Matrix is leaking?

Sam Moran is an Australian entertainer born on April 4, 1978, in Sydney. He is best known as the Yellow Wiggle in the children's music group The Wiggles, a role he held from 2006 to 2012. Before joining the group full-time, he was an understudy for original member Greg Page and performed over 150 times in his place.Moran studied classical voice and music education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, originally intending to become a high school music teacher. His background in musical theatre brought a new dynamic to The Wiggles, influencing their sound and performance style.After leaving The Wiggles, he launched a solo career with albums like Colour of Love and hosted the children's TV show Play Along with Sam on Nick Jr. from 2013 to 2021. He has won multiple ARIA Awards and was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame with The Wiggles in 2011

Dylan Jones OBE (born 1960) is a British journalist, author, and former long-time editor of GQ (1999–2021). He previously held senior roles at i-D, Arena, and The Face, later serving briefly as editor-in-chief of the Evening Standard. Author of books including David Bowie: A Life and his memoir These Foolish Things, he has won multiple editor of the year awards and remains an influential voice in culture, fashion, and media.

Rhys James is a British stand-up comedian, writer, and podcaster known for his sharp wit, slick delivery, and clever wordplay. Born in 1991, he studied politics and international relations at the University of Manchester before establishing himself on the UK comedy circuit. He has performed multiple acclaimed solo shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, including Begins, Remains, Forgives, and Snitch, and has appeared on TV programmes such as Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo.

Joe Kent-Walters is a UK-based comedian, writer, and performer known for his surreal, character-driven comedy. He gained recognition for his outlandish alter ego "Frankie Monroe," a grotesque, washed-up cabaret singer with a twisted charm. A graduate of the University of Leeds, Joe blends clowning, drag, and absurdist theatre into unforgettable live shows. He’s a key figure in the alternative comedy scene, often performing at festivals like Edinburgh Fringe, where he has earned acclaim for his bold and bizarre storytelling. Joe is part of comedy collective The Duncan Brothers and continues pushing boundaries with his unique, anarchic performance style.

Tom Ough is a British writer, journalist, and researcher. He is currently a Senior Editor at UnHerd, where he writes about global-scale challenges including climate risk, geoengineering, and existential threats to humanity.He is the author of The Anti‑Catastrophe League, a nonfiction book published in July 2025, which explores the people and ideas working to prevent human extinction. Tom also co-hosts the podcast Anglofuturism, which looks at Britain's place in the future of the world.Earlier in his career, he worked as a journalist at The Telegraph and contributed research to organizations such as the Institute for Progress and Blueprint Biosecurity.

John Niven is a Scottish author and screenwriter known for his darkly comic, satirical novels. Born in Ayrshire in 1966, he studied English Literature at the University of Glasgow before spending a decade in the music industry. This experience inspired his breakout novel, Kill Your Friends (2008), a biting satire of the late-1990s music business. The book earned widespread acclaim for its brutal honesty and sharp wit, and was later adapted into a film for which Niven co-wrote the screenplay. His other works include The Amateurs, The Second Coming, Straight White Male, and O Brother, showcasing his distinctive blend of humour, cynicism, and moral insight. In addition to novels, Niven has written for film and journalism, often exploring themes of fame, failure, and modern hypocrisy. Known for his outspoken political views, Niven remains a provocative and influential voice in contemporary British literature and culture.

Harriet Dyer is a Cornish comedian, writer and mental health advocate known for her quirky, original and offbeat brand of comedy. She has gigged all over the world and is resident MC at ROFL Comedy Club, Sheffield and at the multi award-winning mental health comedy night she founded, ‘Barking Tales’ in Manchester.She recently won the the Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award for 2024, designed to showcase talented new writers and performers who embody the alternative comedic spirit of Sean and Channel 4.2025 is a major year as she embarks on a huge UK live tour named 'Easily Distra...', which kicks off in September taking in 18 towns and cities, including Brighton, Sheffield, Edinburgh and Birmingham. The start of the year saw her make her Live at the Apollo debut on BBC Two.

Cheryl The Queen and Nikki Druce are two incredible people in their own right. You might know Cheryl from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and “UK vs. the World” and generally being hilarious and being ‘The Queen Of Essex’. And you might know Nikki Druce as ‘London’s Spooky Specialist’. Nikki hosts “Macabre London” and is an expert on Haunted History and True Crime and has so much incredible (and very interesting) knowledge on the subject. Which you’ll definitely hear some of throughout this episode. Together, they make the podcast Killers, Cults and Queens, and they spend their time looking into some of the craziest true crime cases in history, spine-tingling spooky paranormal activities, the weirdest corners of the internet, and the freakiest cults. 

James Goss (born 1974) is an English writer and producer renowned for his extensive work in the Doctor Who and Torchwood universes. Initially part of the BBC, he managed the official Doctor Who website from 2000, expanding its scope before transitioning to TV tie‑in media .He wrote multiple Torchwood novels—Almost Perfect, Risk Assessment, First Born—and crafted acclaimed Doctor Who audiobooks and novels, including Dead Air (Best Audiobook 2010), Dead of Winter, and novelisations of Douglas Adams’ scripts like City of Death and The Pirate Planet .