John is well-read, Alison played a game, and Liz needs an Allen key. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on Bluesky or on Mastodon ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None One hour of Mon Mothma dancing Letters of comment Andreas Davour ( Mastodon and Mastodon ) Andy Openshaw Jez Lowe Ang Rosin David Bamford ( ...
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 137
John is ambivalent, Alison is against, and Liz is hangry. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks ( Facebook ) Chris Garcia (email) 2008 Worldcon site selection Farah Mendlesohn (email) Dream Foundry The o...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 136
Alison describes her perfect almond croissant. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Idea, ed. Geri Sullivan Lune Croissanterie Chocolatine Blondies Ado Campeol died in 2021 Pink Lane Bakery Credits Cover art: “Almond Croissant Engineering...
May 22, 2025•15 min•Ep. 135
John has shortlisted, Alison has worked in large organisations, and Liz has done a spot-the-difference. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: LLMs Letters of comment Chris Garcia Clarrie Maguire Colette Reap Roseanna Pendlebury Her Death of Sta...
May 15, 2025•59 min•Ep. 134
John, Alison, and Liz are live from the Belfast Eastercon! An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: It’s a live recording! Eastercon 2026: Iridescence in Birmingham Guests of Honour R J Barker Karen Lord Emma Newman John Wilson and Serena Culfeath...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 133
John, Alison and Liz discuss this year’s Hugo Awards finalists. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None A note from John: I’ve done my level best to find useful URLs and link them below. Please let me know if there are better links or things...
Apr 06, 2025•42 min•Ep. 132
John is moderating, Alison is auctioning, and Liz is lecturing. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: The situation in the USA Letters of comment Handwriting guesses! John, Alison, Liz: Ed Morland Alison, John, Liz: Chris Garcia Alison, Liz, Jo...
Mar 27, 2025•52 min•Ep. 131
John is working, Alison is plugging and Liz is ghosting. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Capitalism, death (Chapter 8: Picks) Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks ( F...
Mar 13, 2025•55 min•Ep. 130
John thought of something, Alison is educational, and Liz reads contracts. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Money (chapter 3) Please remember that we have recused from consideration for the 2025 Hugo Awards Letters of comment Chris Garcia DC On Bl...
Feb 27, 2025•49 min•Ep. 129
John picks too soon, Alison is fully paid-up, and Liz found the comment. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 7) Letters of comment Andreas Davour ( toot ) Bridget Bradshaw ( skeet ) Chris Garcia David Bamford ( skeet ) DC ( ske...
Feb 13, 2025•44 min•Ep. 128
John is incoherent, Alison is excited, and Liz is romantic. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Claire Brialey David Salter Ed Morland Farah Mendlesohn Irwin...
Jan 30, 2025•45 min•Ep. 127
John is a thief, Alison plays games, and Liz is bullied. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Andreas Davour Bella Garcia Constanze Hoffman Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Cowie June Young Mike Scott Neil Ottenstein Raj Tammy...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 126
John is travelling, Alison is coding, and Liz is faithful. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (chapter 6) Letters of comment Chris Garcia The Beef and Dairy Network Podcast Jt Raj Rotsler Award España Sheriff is this year’s winner Seat...
Dec 20, 2024•54 min•Ep. 125
John is horrified, Alison is spelunking, and Liz is detecting. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Andrew Hogg 4D Golf Braid Archipelacon 2 Caroline Mullan Chris Garcia Some accusations against Ekpeki have ...
Dec 05, 2024•48 min•Ep. 124
John is going to Seattle, Alison is going to the Åland Islands, and Liz is going to Belfast. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Money, grim darkness Belfast Eastercon Seattle 2025 Archipelacon 2 Back to Our Futures The Dark Room Liz’s Adrian...
Nov 21, 2024•48 min•Ep. 123
John is on the periphery, Alison is carving, and Liz went to Japan. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: con artistry, privilege, racism Letters of comment Jake Casella Brookins Sankey diagrams on the Ancillary Review of Books Ali Baker Brooks...
Nov 07, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 122
John, Alison and Liz read Grass by Sheri S Tepper. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Rape, consensual interspecies sex, murder, classism, plague/disease Adam Roberts’ review of Grass Credits Cover art: “Three Little Hippae” by Alison Scott ...
Oct 24, 2024•42 min•Ep. 121
John does a funny voice, Alison recoils, and Liz loves big stats and she cannot lie. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Death (chapter 5) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Chris Garcia Alison closing a parenthesis Emily January España Sher...
Oct 10, 2024•46 min•Ep. 120
John is not assigning blame, Alison is someone, and Liz is bludgeoning. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky or on Instagram ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Sexual assault (Neil Gaiman allegations, at 39:28 to 42:02). Letters of comment Niall Harrison On our Hugo win/recusin...
Sep 26, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 119
John is savage, Alison hates paper, and Liz likes stationery. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: harsh criticism (Publications), racism (Picks) Glasgow wants your feedback on Facebook Worldcon photography Glasgow 2024 photographs on Flickr A...
Sep 12, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 118
John liked the entertainment, Alison didn’t queue, and Liz wanted soup. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Doug Faunt Renay We are recusing for at least the 2025 Hugos Renay is known for Lady Business and the Hugo Awa...
Aug 29, 2024•57 min•Ep. 117
John, Alison and Liz have won Hugo Awards. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: It’s a live recording! Credits Cover art: “Octothorpe and Others” by Simon Bubb (CC BY-NC 2.0) Alt text: John, Liz and Alison (I know, listener, I know) are lookin...
Aug 15, 2024•50 min•Ep. 116
John is a busy bee, something’s bugging Alison, and Liz meets a wasp. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Vote rigging and bureaucracy. Glasgow programme Saturday, 11:30: “Table talk: Octothorpe Podcast” Monday, 11:30: “Live Podcast: Octothor...
Aug 01, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 115
John, Alison, and Liz discuss what they’re voting for in the Hugo Awards. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Letters of comment Ali Baker Brooks Bridget Bradshaw Chris Garcia Colette Reap Duncan MacGregor Edward Morlund Farah Mendlesohn Mike...
Jul 18, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 114
John is doing Discord, Liz is doing programme, and Alison isn’t working on the Worldcon. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: None Letters of comment Karen Schaffer Peach and bourbon pie Chris Garcia Peter Sullivan Kat Kourbeti Facebook Farah ...
Jul 04, 2024•54 min•Ep. 113
John was gaming, Alison was dancing, and Liz was batty. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , join our Facebook group , or tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Wealth privilege (chapter 3) Letters of comment Chris Garcia Curt Phillips Starter Villain review David Ian Salter Ersatz Culture Peter Sullivan Sandra...
Jun 20, 2024•59 min•Ep. 112
John, Alison, and Liz read the 2024 Hugo Award finalists for Best Novel. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Rape and murder during a brief discussion of historically accurate piracy in Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, discussion of billionaires during Starter Villain J...
Jun 06, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 111
John is a professor, Alison doesn’t have a bucket list, and Liz is the country’s foremost fan historian. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: More wealth privilege (chapter 2) Letters of comment Bridget Bradshaw Christopher J Garcia Farah Mendlesohn Jonathan Cowie Jonn...
May 24, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 110
John is middle, Alison is even sadder, and Liz is sorry. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: Discussion of access issues (chapter 2), wealth privilege (chapter 6) Letters of comment Abigail Nussbaum Ali Baker Brooks Andrew January The Eastercon members’ portal Carolin...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 109
John is ignorant, Alison is first, and Liz is a trendsetter. An uncorrected transcript of this episode is available here. Please email your letters of comment to comment@octothorpecast.uk , and tag @OctothorpeCast ( on X or on Mastodon or on Bluesky ) when you post about the show on social media. Content warnings this episode: COVID (chapter 8). Letters of comment Andy Openshaw Chris Garcia Maundy Thursday DC’s loc Meg MacDonald Nuala on Bluesky : sorry! Raj recommends pizza crunch Mono Raj on M...
Apr 25, 2024•59 min•Ep. 108
