The TV That Changed Me

Christmas Special: Christmas Specials

We could all do with a bit of Christmas cheer at the moment and this episode has it by the bucket loads! In a special Christmas edition of The TV That Changed Me, Beth is joined by the musician Iora as they discuss all the Christmas specials that have made their Christmases over the years. Expect chocolate fountains, a naked Alan Davies and a whole load of reasons we've gone off James Corden. 

Content warning

This episode contains discussion of homophobic slurs.

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

 

Euphoria

With Euphoria's second season dropping in early 2022, Beth sits down with her pal Alice to discuss the show's controversial first series. Expect honest chats about identity and addiction as well as fun diversions including femidoms, Gunwharf Quays and Ammonite. They also hear from a real-life Gen Zer about what the show gets right (and wrong) about being a teen in 2021.

Eagle-eared listeners will also notice this is our first ever studio recording! We hope you enjoy the sexy sound quality.

Further reading 

It’s time to stop talking about generations - Louis Menand

Sam Levinson and Zendaya on the Hopefulness of Euphoria

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

 

Bonus Episode: And Just Like That

With the world and her wife catching covid this week, we've been indoors watching And Just Like That and catching up with the Twitter discourse. In this special bonus episode, Beth is joined once again by her best mate Immy to chat the SATC reboot and the controversies that followed.

Further reading 

Sex and the City sequel has a mouthful of teething troubles

Could Carrie Have Saved Mr. Big on ‘And Just Like That…’?

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

Queer as Folk

Earlier this year, the Channel 4 show It’s a Sin gripped the nation with its heart-breaking portrayal of a group of queer friends living through the HIV/Aids crisis of the early 1980s.

But 20 years earlier, its creator Russel T Davis sent shockwaves through British television with a very different portrayal of an LGBTQ+ friendship group. Queer as Folk was released in 1999 and was an unapologetic portrayal of three gay men living in and around Manchester's Canal Street. The show was ground-breaking for the time and its impact was felt all over the world.

Today on the show we're hearing from Ben and Benja from Bear Back Podcast about the effect it had on their very own coming out stories. Diversions include Kate Bush, Will & Grace and Sam Smith's cover of 'I feel love.'

About Bear Back Podcast 

Bear Back is hosted by same-name, transnational couple Ben and Benja who deliver a weekly comedy podcast that explores the cultural quirks of their respective homelands – the UK and Argentina. As two larger gay males, known as bears, both looking back on their life experiences to date, the podcast’s title – ‘Bear Back’ – seems apt. 

 

The duo discuss everything from LGBTQ+ culture, food and drink, citizenship, language and public transport – via The Cheeky Girls and the history of the ballpoint pen – all why they navigate their life together in Warwickshire, England. 

 

New episodes drop every Friday across all major podcast platforms or you can listen direct via the show's website: https://shows.acast.com/bear-back  

 

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

History Special: Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

How did TV shape Britain's relationship with the EU? And where do our preconceptions about European countries come from?

Today on the show Beth is talking to historian David Lawton about German stereotypes, World War II references and British Nationalism in the eighties sitcom Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. 

About David

David is a PhD student at Queen Mary University working on Euroscepticism in Britain from 1970-2000. He has written on culture in the 1980s and has worked on the history of television in the 20th century. He is also a musician in the band Preen. 

More on Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

What Auf Wiedersehen, Pet teaches us about Britain and Europe by Tom Draper

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter 

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

 

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

What would you do if you found out you had a doppelganger? Someone with the same name, hobbies, sexuality and even love for 90s TV as you? Would you totally freak out? Or would you send them a DM and invite them on your podcast? 

In a spooky season special of The TV That Changed Me, Beth is joined by her doppelganger Beth Watson (yes, really) to discuss doppelgangers and queer icons in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

About the other Beth Watson

Beth Watson is a theatre-maker, performer & drag king, writer and performer of upcoming Hasbian, and host of Queer Diary: the night which invites LGBTQ+ adults to delve back into their teenage diaries in front of a live audience. 

Beth is also a member of The Family Jewels Drag Kings (under the name Dan Load), and co-director of Bechdel Theatre, a grassroots community organization which supports, connects and amplifies people of marginalized genders in and through theatre and performance.

More on Buffy

A complete timeline of every Joss Whedon controversy- Gabrielle Sanchez

Revisiting “Buffy’s” First Lesbian Kiss 20 Years Later- Ely Belle

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter 

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

Skins

What came first? The British teenage experience or Skins? Today Beth is answering that very question with writer, performer and binge-watching connoisseur Eleanor Rattenbury. The two also reminisce on sixth-form life, Glen’s vodka and Eleanor’s very own Skins audition. 

About Eleanor 

Eleanor is a writer and performer from London. In April 2021 she launched the blog Midnight Culture (midnightculture.co.uk) a place for the binge watchers, revenge bedtime procrastinators and anyone who loves film, TV, games or literature. When Eleanor isn’t writing about the culture we consume in the early hours, she is working on her first novel and cramming in as many references to food as possible! As a performer Eleanor specialises in physical, immersive, and interactive performance and has worked as a collaborative artist with a number of theatre companies in the West Midlands. You can currently find Eleanor on tour with Quick Duck Theatre in Fashion Spies, a family-friendly, choose-your-own adventure show!

Spoilers

This episode contains spoilers for series 1 & 2 of Skins from around 48 minutes. 

More on this

How we made Skins interview with Father/Son co-creators

How a Show About Sex, Drugs, and Teens Changed British Culture - Hannah Ewens

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter 

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

 

Veronica Mars

What makes a person brave? Can TV characters help us step out of our comfort zones? Can you be tough and vulnerable at the same time?

This week Beth is joined by comedian Mariana Feijó to discuss bravery in the iconic teen detective show- Veronica Mars. The two also unpack love triangles, polyamory and being an indie kid.

As you might expect there's big time Veronica Mars spoilers throughout... so proceed with caution!

Content warning: This episode contains references to sexual assault.

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Mariana Feijó: @Marianasbits

Doughty podcast: https://shows.acast.com/doughtypod

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter 

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

Peep Show

Today Beth is joined by comedian Matt Hoss. The two discuss everything Matt did learn (and probably shouldn't have learned) about morality, masculinity and being an outsider from Mark and Jeremy on Peep Show.

Content note: this episode contains references to self-harm at 20 minutes.

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Matt Hoss: @matthosscomedy

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter 

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter

The L Word

It's Pride month every month on The TV That Changed Me podcast, but since it is June we thought we'd do something super gay to celebrate. And what could be gayer than spending an hour processing our feelings about The L Word?

On this week's episode we're discussing the iconic queer TV show with Radio Presenter & Producer, Shivani Dave. And, as The L Word means so much to so many, we start off by hearing from a gaggle of queers about what the show means to them. 

Credits

Produced by: Beth Watson

Edited by: Beth Watson

Music by: Iora

Find us on the interweb

Shivani Dave: @ShivaniDave on Twitter 

Beth Watson: @b.wott on Instagram & @bwatson19 on Twitter 

The TV That Changed Me: @tvchangedme on Instagram & @tvchangedmepod on Twitter