Better Than Life: A Red Dwarf Podcast

We wrap up series 4 with some great listener emails and reflections on our Red Dwarf journey so far. We also look ahead to series 5...Plus: will Fergus humble John with his surprise quiz? And we give you a special musical treat...SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson. FANCY SOME LINKS?If you enjoy You Are What You Eat by Holy Goats, check out the full album Word Of Your Situation Has Reached Us (free to stream). For more music and albums by Holy Goats, check the link at the bottom of these show notes. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com/ 

Tom Salinsky is our special guest to talk about his two volume book, Red Dwarf: Discovering The TV Series. Packed with history, trivia and insights, it's a comprehensive companion to the show across all media. Volume 1 covers the original BBC series and is due to be released on 30th August 2024. Have a listen to this week's ep to find out how much effort Tom has put into this epic work.SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson. FANCY SOME LINKS?Pre-order Red Dwarf: Discovering The TV Series Volume 1 from your favourite bookseller (this link happens to go to Amazon UK FYI, but it's not sponsored, so grab your copy wherever!).WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com/ 

Hear more from Andrew O’Neill and Bethany Black. As we drift through deep space towards series five, this is the third in a short series featuring extras from our series four guests.Andrew O’Neill talks about how much fans will forgive, misquoting music, and metalheads in Red Dwarf.Bethany Black shares some juicy TV insider knowledge, unexpected biographical details about Pythagoras, and a critique of a famous movie script placeholder.Plus: some smashing listener emails. SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com/

Exclusive extra content from Tom Neenan and Alice Fraser, to bridge the gap between series four and five. This is the second in a short series featuring more from our series four guests.Tom Neenan brings his brilliant brain to bear on continuity, the later series, Barbara Bellini, the Justice Field, Nicholas Ball, space mumps, and… just how clever is the Cat?Alice Fraser’s supermassive intelligence is, frankly, wasted on the Dave series, some book stuff, and a feline sex scene… but she’ll leave you with at least one indelible image in your head. Plus: some awesome listener emails. SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com/

Before we launch into series five, enjoy some more from Matt Kirshen and Garrett Millerick. This is the first in a short series of specials featuring extra content from our great series four guests.Matt Kirshen muses on the difference between US and UK comedy – specifically TV scheduling, stand-ups, stunt casting, sitcom scuzziness, and science.Garrett Millerick ponders why series 7 might not have lived up to fan expectations, how the later novels compare to the shows, the word ‘smeg’, embarrassing fans, quotes, misquotes, and his favourite episodes.Plus: some brilliant listener emails. SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com/ 

Top comedian, writer and actor Bethany Black was the first kid in her school to get into Red Dwarf. She spread the word and soon everyone was into it. So, you can expect a lifetime of wisdom and enthusiasm! We have an interesting chat about how the show relates to the Alternative Comedy movement and other sitcoms of the time. Bethany reveals how her favourite characters influenced the way she lived and dressed as a kid (spoiler: not Rimmer). And her recasting idea opens the door to a deep insight into the characters…and what they reveal about different aspects of human nature. Series 4 episode 6, Meltdown, was one of Bethany’s favourites back in the day. What does she think about it now? It’s so much fun! We discuss Risk and how it affects the psyche. Rimmer’s military madness. How well the cultural references and jokes have aged. And how much joy the lookalikes bring to the character mix. Plus: what’s up with those dino-bird-monsters?!SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson. FANCY SOME LINKS?Find Bethany Black on Tik Tok or Bluesky. Check out Bethany’s tour dates and more at https://www.bethanyblack.co.uk/Grab Bethany’s filmed shows from Go Faster Stripe. WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com/ 

The incredible Alice Fraser goes all-in on what makes Red Dwarf awesome. Cleverness! Silliness! Heart! Toast! An amazing parliament-based metaphor (don’t worry, not political). A very cool comparison with a Pixar classic. And a traumatic memory of Rimmerworld that lives forever in a dark corner of Alice’s mind. Onto series 4 episode 4, White Hole, and it’s all going on. Alice shines a light on the different types of humour Grant and Naylor flit between, and how this keeps the show dynamic and engaging for the viewer. We unpack ‘British university comedy writing’, trade favourite lines from the ep (so many!) and explore why they’re so great. We celebrate Hattie Hayridge.And, of course, we break down the iconic scene where Kryten explains the science of white holes. And, of course, we break down the iconic scene where Kryten explains the science of white holes. And, of course, we break down the iconic scene where Kryten explains the science of white holes.SO WHAT IS IT?Better Than Life is the pod where comedians talk Red Dwarf, the greatest sci-fi sitcom, one episode at a time. With a fresh guest every ep, we’re your perfect podcast companion for a first watch or a rewatch. Be warned: spoilers! Hosted by Fergus (huge fan) and John (lapsed fan). Production, artwork and insights by Alex Watson. FANCY SOME LINKS?Visit patreon.com/alicefraser for everything Alice, including writing masterclasses (free trial!). WHAT DO YOU THINK?Have a word on our socials: X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpodEMAIL USWe’d love to ask your questions on the pod – and to hear your feedback. Drop us a line: betterthanlifepod@gmail.com ENJOY OUR THEME TUNE?There’s more where that came from: https://holygoats.bandcamp.com/

Smashing comedian and lead writer of The Mash Report, Tom Neenan brings his giant comedy brain to bear on Red Dwarf. Unsurprisingly for such a seasoned comedy writer, he is super insightful on the special ingredients that make Red Dwarf so great - from its vivid nature, to Grant and Naylor’s knack for smuggling in psychology. Plus: the lessons kids can learn from the characters. And what’s the best episode to show a friend who’s never seen Red Dwarf before? We are right into Tom’s favourite era of the show. Series 4 episode 3, Justice, is a classic among classics - and we discover why. Among many, many other things, we assess how the narrative structure brings three disparate story elements together. How Ed Bye does a masterful job of directing. How Robert Llewelyn nails Grant and Naylor’s brilliant defence speech. And when we take Tom into Overthinking Corner, he really rises to the futile challenge. So, listen now and find out which bits make Tom’s inner comedy writer applaud! Follow @tpneenan on Instagram - where you can see his brilliant paintings. If you love Doctor Who, you should check out Tom Neenan’s gleefully silly pod, A Wheezing Groaning Sound.