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From Woolies to Wi-Fi: How the High Street Vanished & Shopping Went Digital
As Woolworths, Wilko, Debenhams and now even high-street restaurants disappear, Raging Rich and T.A. Shelano explore how life in the UK has shifted from Woolies to Wi-Fi. In this nostalgic midlife catch-up, we dig into why our shopping habits have changed, how online culture has reshaped daily life, and what we lose when the high street fades away.
There's plenty of classic Bodcast humour as we reminisce about VHS tapes, CD players, Pokémon cards suddenly taking over Wolverhampton, and the strange speed at which modern tech has overtaken everything.
Plus, we reflect on Season 5 so far, tease our upcoming cooking special, and celebrate the launch of T.A.'s new thriller "Escape from Batechu Island".
In this episode:
🏬 The decline of the British high street (Woolworths, Wilko, BHS, Debenhams & more)
🛒 Why online shopping and subscription culture changed everything
📱 How technology has snowballed from iPads to 3D printers
🍔 The rise of food delivery vs. restaurants
🎙️ Season reflections + upcoming guest previews
🍳 A dash of cooking chat and book-release excitement
Perfect for listeners who love nostalgia, midlife humour, and honest conversation about how fast the world is changing.
📚 T.A.'s new novel Escape from Batechu Island is out now!
The Hunger Games meets Castaway as a group of disenfranchised teens are pushed to their limits by a deadly dystopian conspiracy to avoid a terrifying fate as detainees of Batechu Island.
The mysterious disappearance of teenagers from across the UK sparks Catherine Watson in Hartlepool (the distraught mother of one of the missing teens), London based detective Patrick Laker, Cardiff based Police Community Support Officer Jill Weathers, and her unlikely sidekick, Shopkeeper Pal Johal into action. Ably assisted by social media savvy teenager Jess Smith and intrepid trainee reporter Melanie Corrigan they seek to unravel the pieces of the puzzle. Set in 2027, Escape from Batechu Island, is a fast-paced voice led thriller with heart-stopping action, nail biting suspense, and more than its fair share of laughs.
Available in paperback and ebook on Amazon:
➡️ Paperback: https://amzn.eu/d/03TG9RY
➡️ eBook: https://amzn.eu/d/io45cLx
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11. Home Alone at 35: Nostalgia, Chaos & Christmas Laughs - with Dan from Casting Views | The Middle-aged Bodcast Christmas Special
01:06:15||Season 5, Ep. 11It's Christmas here at The Middle-aged Bodcast, and Raging Rich & T.A. Shelano are joined by returning favourite Dan P from Casting Views and Gaming Views for a festive deep-dive into one of the greatest Christmas films of all time: Home Alone.We unpack why Home Alone still hits 35 years later: the slapstick chaos, the heartfelt moments, the brilliant performances from Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Catherine O'Hara, and the iconic lines that shaped every 90s childhood.This is the perfect episode to listen to while wrapping presents, eating cheese pizza... or defending your home with improvised booby traps.In This Episode:🎄 Why Home Alone still works for modern audiences🎁 Hidden facts, bloopers & behind-the-scenes stories🏠 The Home Alone sequels: and whether anything after Lost In New York should exist👀 A wild Home Alone sequel pitch you'll never unhearWhether you're Team Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animal or Team Wet Bandits, you'll want to listen to this.Check out Dan P on his podcasts🎙️ Casting Views: Spotify | Apple🎮 Gaming Views: Spotify | Apple📱 Follow The Middle-aged Bodcast Online!📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midagedbodcast📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/middleagedbodcast🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/MidagedBodcast🔵 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/middleagedbodcast.bsky.social🌐 Website: https://middleagedbodcast.co.uk🎅 Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals - and a big thanks to Dan for joining us! Hit follow and share the episode with a mate who loves Home Alone as much as we do.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/home-for-christmas
10. Sarah R. New: The Kangaroo Girl Who Broke the Internet
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Repost: Is Die Hard a Christmas film? 2024 Christmas Special
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9. From Takeaways to Triumphs: Our Midlife Cooking Reset
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8. Hypnosis, Calm & Common Sense: With Cindy from Hypno Wellness
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6. Gaming Views' Dan H on Indie Games, Microtransactions, Interviewing Iain Lee & Midlife Weight Loss
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4. Turtle Power & Pop Culture Passion | Stacey's Pop Culture Parlour x The Middle-aged Bodcast
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