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The High Low
An Author Special With Drag Queen Amrou Al-Kadhi
Greta Thunberg gave an emotional speech at the UN Climate Summit in NYC, Sally Challen did her first video interview about emotional abuse and coercive control to Sky News since she was cleared of murdering her husband in July and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry became Dolly's new hero after her vibey turn at the Labour party conference.
In shocking news, the inventor of the labradoodle has admitted that he regrets creating the hybrid dog and Demi Moore has released a sizzling autobiography about her marriage to Ashton Kutcher.
This week we have an author special with Amrou Al-Kadhi. The Iraqi-Brit drag queen known as Glamrou of the drag troupe Denim, they are the author of a new coming-of-age memoir, Unicorn, about navigating a queer identity within a religion that considers homosexuality a crime. They talk about intersectionality, family, the act of transforming pain into pleasure via drag, discovering Sufism and seeking acceptance.
The High Low Experience starts next week - and while London, Dublin and Glasgow are sold out, we have a few tickets left for the Manchester show! Go to faneproductions.com/highlow to book.
E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.com
Tweet @thehighlowshow
Links
Unicorn, by Amrou Al-Kadhi https://www.waterstones.com/book/unicorn/amrou-al-kadhi/9780008306069
The Opposite of Loneliness, by Marina Keegan
In praise of autumn dawns by Nell Frizzell:
An Unbelievable Story of Rape, by T.Christian Miller and Ken Armstrong, for ProPublica, 2015 https://www.propublica.org/article/false-rape-accusations-an-unbelievable-story
Unbelievable, on Netflix
The Rewatchables podcast series https://www.theringer.com/the-rewatchables
The Open Ears Project with Eddie Izzard:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/17-on-elevation/id1477850699?i=1000451298008
The Open Ears Project with Aminatou Sow:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-open-ears-project/id1477850699?i=1000449737238
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THE HIGH LOW FINALE
02:14:31|It’s here! Expect many tears, intense nostalgia, beautiful letters from our listeners and a big ole dose of DJ CJ to celebrate the last four glorious years of The High Low. Book tickets to the last ever High Low live show, streaming next week and raising money for Blood Cancer UK https://www.fane.co.uk/high-lowRecommendations:Michaela Coel on Grounded with Louis Theroux Billy Crystal on Awards Chatter Pandemic at the disco playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dW4ddgwOxj4q7XVvbOa7w?si=-xXJ81SkTLS0ZU2w9v-v3gConnect, by School of Life https://www.theschooloflife.com/shop/catalog/product/view/id/27526/s/connect-game/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAk53-BRD0ARIsAJuNhpu_l3AxJ_EvOq7t-mOqmwSdz2UPQc28f8ksuBh7CBf7g5bvn4t7lAAaAjScEALw_wcBBig Ideas for Curious Minds, by School of Life https://www.theschooloflife.com/shop/big-ideas-for-curious-minds/A Promised Land by Barack Obama Tiny Lungs - 28 poems by Joanna Bennett Small Axe by Steve McQueen, on BBC iPlayerMangrove, on BBC iPlayerAn Author Special with Graham Norton - And Some News
01:19:16|We are so thrilled to have the one and only Graham Norton on today's episode, talking all about his new novel, Home Stretch, his favourite celebrities to interview on his chat show, and the weird wonderfulness that is Eurovision. Graham is The High Low's last ever author special - because the High Low will be coming to a close next week, after 4 joyous, life-changing years for us both. But before we go, we have one last LIVE show for you: the High Low Christmas LIVE will be live streamed on Vimeo at 7pm on December 8th, with all proceeds going to Blood Cancer UK, a charity that is very close to both of our hearts, in memory of Florence Kleiner and Enzo Saunt. We promise a festive extravaganza featuring a VERY special musical performance. Tickets start at £10, please book yourself a ticket at: https://www.fane.co.uk/high-low.With special thanks to Fane Productions, and our sponsor, the eco-friendly brand Method (and their delicious pink grapefruit cleaning spray) for making this live show possibleWe will see you next week for our last ever podcast!E-mail (while the inbox is still open!) thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com where 100% profits go to Fare ShareLinksHome Stretch, by Graham NortonWintering, by Katherine MayLaurence Llewelyn-Bowen inteview by Chris Godfrey for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/nov/23/laurence-llewelyn-bowen-ive-been-trying-to-get-sacked-from-television-for-yearsMaggi's Mary Wollstonecraft, Princess Diana and A Plunge Into The Christmas Ads
01:11:16|Brace yourself: Emily in Paris is back for a second series. More importantly: the Christmas ads have dropped! We discuss some of them, and why a great Christmas ad doesn't actually.... have to have anything to do with Christmas.Also today, we discuss Maggi Hambling's controversial nude statue of founding feminist Mary Wollstonecraft, Rupert Everett's new autobiography, a documentary about Vivienne Westwood and the punk movement, and we deep dive into the Princess Diana content of the last week: the two-parter on ITV, with staggering allegations made against Martin Bashir, and the new series of The Crown, starring the magnificent Emma Corrin as Diana. E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits for November go to Fare Share LinksTo The End Of The World, by Rupert EverettThe Crown series 4 now on NetflixThe Diana Interview: Revenge of a Princess, on ITV PlayerWhat I've learned from 7 years of being single, by Camille Charriere for Harper's Bazaar https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/a34587107/camille-charriere-love-in-your-30s/How long Covid forced me to confront my past and my identity, by Kathryn Bromwich for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/08/how-long-covid-forced-me-to-confront-my-past-and-my-identityVivienne Westwood: Punk, Icon, Activist Candice Carty-Williams on The Adam Buxton Podcast, Glenn Close on WTF, Keir Starmer on Desert Island Discs and What Trump Might Do In His Remaining Weeks in Office on Fresh AirElection Gaffes, Celebrity Truth-Tellers & The Undoing
01:04:13|What a week to be alive! We discuss some of the many ridiculous things that have happened, mainly on the television, during this last monumental week, plus the riveting revelating that Dr Fauci of the Coronavirus task force in the US, had a celebrity zoom to help stop the spread of misinformation during the pandemic. Plus, swans in love and what we'd call our pet tortoise. And we talk telly: The Undoing, The Queen's Gambit, Emily in Paris (again) and Been So Long, an ambitious, upifting musical rom-com starring Michaela Coel.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com, 100% of profits for November go to Fare ShareLinksYou're Wrong About podcastBeen So Long on NetflixThe Queens Gambit on NetflixThe Undoing, on SkyMaking Love With The Paint, on BBC iPlayer Octavia Bright on her father being in a care home during lockdown, for The Sunday Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-can-speak-to-dad-but-i-may-never-hold-him-again-gtnq27p5sModern Love in The New York Times Buy There's Something About Wallace: Lockdown Love on Hampstead Heath by Louisa Green: https://www.deemclean.co.uk/swan-story/No Nut November, National Sandwich Day, and an Author Special with Otegha Uwagba on Whites
01:05:26|Are you familiar with No Nut November? Move over Movember, there's a slightly queasy new internet challenge in town. Also today, we discuss whether a burger is a sandwich, the concerning omission from the Sean Connery obituaries, and the new YouTube record-breaker. And we have an author special today with Otegha Uwagba, who came on to discuss her new long-form essay, Whites.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet@thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com where 100% of profits go to Fare ShareLinksWhites, by Otegha Uwagba, out 12th NovemberSacha Baron Cohen on Fresh Air: https://www.npr.org/2012/05/21/153204627/sacha-baron-cohen-the-fresh-air-interview?t=1604443983616The Undoing, on SkyYou're Wrong About, on all podcast platformsGhosting stories at hardtoforget.comThe Southern Charm of Matthew McConaughey; Free School Meals; & The Web Server That Slows Down Information Overload
01:05:49|From a naturally green puppy called Pistachio, to a charming and surprising memoir by Matthew McConaughey, this week is your usual mixed bag -- including discussion of the government's abhorrent decision to stop funding free school meals for vulnerable children outside of term time (see a petition you can sign and charities you can donate to, below) and some television that has moved us. Also! A book that made Dolly's week, and Pandora's new favourite podcast.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% profits go to charity, 50% to Black Minds Matter and 50% to The Freedom Charity. For November, all profits will be going to Fare ShareLinks ReadingElle Hunt on Matthew McConaughey's memoir, Greenlights, for The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/oct/26/greenlights-matthew-mcconaugheys-guide-to-life-livin-hollywood-starWhat happened when me and Kim Kardashian both turned 40? By Eva Wiseman, for The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/oct/25/what-happened-when-both-me-and-kim-kardashian-turned-40-joint-partyHelp Yourself, by Curtis Sittenfeld Quite, by Claudia WinklemanWatchingEnslaved on BBC iPlayerMaggi Hambling on BBC iPlayerOut Of Her Mind, on BBC iPlayerListeningYou're Wrong About podcastDawn French on Table Manners podcastElvis Costello on The New Yorker Radio Hour podcastTimothy Leary on Fresh Air podcastSign and donate for free school mealsSign Marcus Rashford's petition for free school meals for vulnerable children, here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554276Charities to donate to:Fare Share fareshare.org Feeding Britain feedingbritain.orgKitchen Social mayorsfundforlondon.org.uk/kitchen-social/The Trussell Trust trusselltrust.orgMagic Breakfast magicbreakfast.comCow Hugging, Daddy by Emma Cline & An Exclusive Clip from Joan & Jericha
57:51|Today we discuss a love story in Venice, the new "wellness" trend of cow hugging, Matt Hancock's personal app (???) and listeners tell us what they think makes "a good deed". And some things we've been loving, including the feel good Love Life on Netflix. Plus! An exclusive, filthy extract from Joan and Jericha's new book, out on the 29th October.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% of profits go to charity, 50% to Black Minds Matter and 50% to Freedom CharityLinksMax Woosey's fundraising page for North Devon hospice https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/max-woosey1Daddy, by Emma Cline, out nowLuster, by Raven Leilani, out in January 2021 and available for pre-order nowLove Life, on BBC iPlayerNigella Lawson on the fallacy of guilty pleasures for The Guardian: https://amp.theguardian.com/food/2020/oct/10/peanut-butter-chocolate-cake-and-vegan-gingerbread-five-new-sweet-recipes-from-nigella-lawson?__twitter_impression=trueThe role of food in Jewish celebration for Radio 4’s The Food Programme: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-food-programme/id342927791?i=1000495160731How My Mother and I Became Chinese Propaganda, by Jiayang Fan for The New Yorker (listen to the audio on the same link) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/14/how-my-mother-and-i-became-chinese-propagandaDear Joan and Jericha: Why He Turns Away, Do’s and Don’ts from Dating to Death, out on the 29th OctoberProgressive Penguins, Emily in Paris, & What Makes A Good Deed?
52:18|We continue our conversation about sharing grief in the aftermath of a still birth or miscarriage, with a special contribution from the grief psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE. We also discuss penguin and seahorse reproduction, a delicious piece of Hollywood gossip involving Cary Grant and Clark Gable, and - mais bien sûr - we plunge into Emily and Paris aka 2020's answer to Sex And The City and all its associated controversy.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet@thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshow.com - 100% profits go to charity, 50% Black Minds Matter and 50% to Freedom CharityLinks10 Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, by Jaron Lanier summarised on BlinkistWhat to say to women going through miscarriage and baby loss, by Alexandra King for CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/09/health/miscarriage-what-to-say-wellness/index.htmlI find myself apologising for the complex nature of my motherhood, by Sophie Beresiner for The Sunday Times Style https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sophie-beresiner-i-find-myself-apologising-for-the-complex-nature-of-my-motherhood-thqdl0b92Follow Sophie @motherprojectofficial and pre-order her book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mother-Project-Sophie-Beresiner/dp/0008456860Titting About, an Audible podcast series by French and SaundersEmily in Paris, on NetflixEverything that's wrong with Emily in Paris by an actual French person, by Marie Telling for Buzzfeed https://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/emily-in-paris-reviewed-by-french-personWould Emily's Bot actually go viral? By Rachel Handler for Vulture https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/emily-in-paris-instagram-influencers.htmlOn The Rocks, at cinemas nowSamantha Morton on Desert Island Discs, Radio 4Floella Benjamin on Desert Island Discs, Radio 4Grief Around Miscarriage, The Social Dilemma & The Phrases Dying Out With Gen Z
01:02:14|We discuss Chrissy Teigen's social media posts about the death of her baby Jack, and the judgement around public grief. Also today, we dissect a list of words and phrases facing expiration (40% of under 30s don't know what "getting sozzled" means) and the fascinating docu-drama, The Social Dilemma. Plus, Pandora falls in love with a film called Rocks, and Dolly has a(nother) Springsteen moment.E-mail thehighlowshow@gmail.comTweet @thehighlowshowShop thehighlowshop.com - 100% proceeds go to charity (50% to Black Minds Matter, and 50% to The Freedom Charity)LinksIf Chrissy Teigen wants to share the agony of losing her baby, let her, by Barbara Ellen for The Observer https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/03/if-chrissy-teigen-wants-to-share-the-agony-of-losing-her-baby-let-herWhy Chrissy Teigen's story is so helpful to other women, by Jennifer Handt for WBUR https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2020/10/06/miscarriage-pregnancy-loss-chrissy-teigen-jennifer-handt The Social Dilemma, on NetflixRocks, on general release and now on NetflixTen Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now, by Jaron Lanier (2018)A Life in The Day interview with Tom Hollander for The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tom-hollander-on-sleeping-pills-and-hugging-pillows-jrg892zl9Bruce Springsteen: From My Home To Yours, on BBC Sounds Once Were Brothers on Amazon Video Robbie Williams on The Adam Buxton Podcast The Duchess on NetflixCheltenham Literature Festival 2020 on demand https://cheltenhamliteraturefestival.com/box-office/