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Better Than Life: A Red Dwarf Podcast
27 - "Terrorform" with Travis McElroy
Season 5, Ep. 3
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American podcaster, writer and comedian Travis McElroy has been a fan of Red Dwarf since it started airing on PBS. He has such a unique take on the boys from the Dwarf as a surrogate family, he really made us see the show in a different light. He gently challenges easy assumptions about how the crew relate to each other and why they say the things they do. Travis also reveals why Rimmer is his favourite - and a much better person than you might think. He’s super insightful on chameleon Lister, too - listener, you’re in for a treat!
When we get into series 5 episode 3, Terrorform, Travis is right inside all the best bits. Like… Why Robert Llewelyn is the best at Krytening. The “taranshula”. Lister’s oscillating intelligence. The psi moon and Doctor Who logic. How much value is added by the canoe. Starbug’s caterpillar treads - what, how, why, why not? Cat’s undermined plans. And how do the crew really feel about Rimmer?
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 mcelroy.family for tons of Travis content.
Get advice from Travis and two of his siblings in the comedy podcast My Brother, My Brother and Me.
Hear the McElroy brothers and their dad play tabletop role playing games in The Adventure Zone podcast.
And check out Shmanners - Travis and his wife Teresa’s podcast about the history of etiquette (which probably dictates we shouldn’t have started this sentence with ‘and’).
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Have a word on our socials:
X/Instagram/Facebook - @itsBTLpod
EMAIL US
We’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
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6. 30 - "Back To Reality" with Alexis Dubus
01:03:39||Season 5, Ep. 6Alexis Dubus tells us what it’s like to be in Red Dwarf! He’s an award winning stand-up and character comic (you may know his alter ego, Marcel Lucont) and his childhood fandom of Red Dwarf was a formative influence on his comedy. So imagine his delight when he was asked to guest star in series 11! It’s very cool to hear his behind-the-scenes stories. What’s more, having performed his own standup show, A R*ddy Brief History Of Swearing, all around the world, Alexis has an expert insight into just why “smeg” is such a smegging good made-up cuss word. The lucky devil also gets to unpick a true classic with us: series 5 episode 6, Back To Reality. In a quest to discover why it’s such a blatantly good bit of telly, we cover: Timothy Spall’s perfect performance. The cruelty of the Despair Squid. Audacious plotting. Extraordinary world-building. Rule-breaking editing. Living in a simulation. And… Duane Dibbley?!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?Enjoy all things Alexis Dubus at alexisdubus.com Follow Alexis on Instagram @alexisdubuscomedyGet tweeted at (if that’s still a thing) by Alexis on X (a thing) @AlexisDubusWHAT 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.com5. 29 - "Demons and Angels" with Alasdair Beckett-King
59:52||Season 5, Ep. 5Acclaimed standup, animator, filmmaker and children’s author Alasdair Beckett-King cannot overstate how much of a Red Dwarf fan he was back in the day. Case in point: he was angered by CGI Starbug in the way only a true fan can be. The show even influenced his taste in food… and his accent! He loved rekindling his youthful obsession for the podcast. Turning our focus to series 5 episode 5, Demons and Angels, we cover all the ‘highs’ and ‘lows’, including: hilarious high Kryten, evil horny Rimmer, grotesque comic violence, fantastic miniatures, absent audiences, action hero Lister, that laugh, those fangs, and the rock n roll comedy swagger of Grant and Naylor. 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?To out what Alasdair Beckett-King has done and will be doing, visit https://www.abeckettking.com/.Laugh yourself silly at Alasdair’s YouTube channel. 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.com4. 28 - "Quarantine" with Matthew Highton
01:05:40||Season 5, Ep. 4Filmmaker and comedian Matthew Highton remembers when Red Dwarf set the agenda for all playground conversations. And he certainly brings his A game to this chat, sharing so much of what he loves about the show - from the fantastic model work, to the endlessly entertaining relationship between Lister and Rimmer. What’s more, he gives us not one but three approaches to a fantasy re-cast. His insight into the links between comedy and horror is also on point… which leads us neatly to…Our discussion of series 5 episode 4 - which happens to be Matt’s favourite episode! It is, as he says, a densely packed, incredible piece of work. We shine our hex vision onto so much great stuff - from very special effects, to the iconic Mr Flibble, and from amazing sci-fi ideas to beautifully crafted punchlines. Is it peak Dwarf? It may well be. We’re certainly quite, quite madly in love with Quarantine. 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?Check out Matt’s films on YouTube, starting with Norman Lovett’s Holly starring in Moon with Sam Rockwell!Follow @MattHighton on X.Follow @itsmatthighton on Instagram. 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.com2. 26 - "The Inquisitor" with Tom Salinsky
56:17||Season 5, Ep. 2Tom Salinsky wrote the book on Red Dwarf. Two books, actually. We tap into his awesome knowledge - from the show’s alternative comedy roots, to a fascinating idea Grant and Naylor had for the pilot episode, which would have been very different… and very legendary. Tom also gives us the last word on continuity (who are we kidding?). We discuss Tom’s five star ratings… and Fergus judges Tom’s take on Justice. Speaking of judgement, we go to town on series 5 episode 2, The Inquisitor (in a good way). Tom talks sitcom pinball, comedy versus philosophy, and capitalism. We also explore the Inquisitor himself - from the unusual casting, to voice choices, and the character’s evolving methods. Plus: more Trojan Horse theories than you might expect. 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?Follow @tomsalisky on X. Check out Tom’s podcast about best picture Oscar winners, Best Pick.Visit Tom’s blog for musings worth your time. Buy the perfect companion book for the Better Than Life podcast, Red Dwarf: Discovering The TV Series (this is not an affiliate link, other book retailers are available). 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.com1. 25 - "Holoship" with Cariad Lloyd
01:01:46||Season 5, Ep. 1Podcast royalty - and phenomenal comedian, actor and writer - Cariad Lloyd joins us to say some of the geekiest things she’s ever said on a pod. It all begins with the reveal of a teenage Christmas present, which will have you wishing this was a visual medium. Cariad also confesses the enduring influence of Kristine Kochanski in her life. Moving on to series 5 episode 4, Holoship, we leave no stone unturned. You’ll wonder if we’ve all had a mind patch as we explore misogyny, Brief Encounter, hologram afterlife choices, Jane Horrocks’ accent and some serious hairspray. Plus: what are Grant and Naylor trying to tell us about humanity?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?Follow @cariadlloyd on Instagram. Check out Cariad’s podcast with Sara Pascoe, Weirdos Book Club.Be like Captain Hollister and catch a performance of Austentatious. Make a child’s day on 25th December by giving them The Christmas Wish-tastrophe. 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/Series 5 Trailer
02:00||Season 5, Ep. 0Find out which awesome comedians are joining us to talk Red Dwarf Series 5… and when we’re launching! 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/11. Series 4 - Bonus Episode 4
42:52||Season 4, Ep. 11We 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/10. New Red Dwarf Books: Interview Special
18:53||Season 4, Ep. 10Tom 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/