Episode 265 – BLACK WIDOW

Runtime81 minutes Show Contents 0:00 Introduction 3:47 Know Your Enemy with Guest Nikhat Zahra 23:06 The New Slang: BLACK WIDOW 61:47The Other Side: Nik and Ryan talk further reading after Cate Shortlands film Thoughts From Your Host… Life has been a bit of a blur lately. So many changes have been coming at the same time after living such a big block of time where things seemed so very much the same. In the face of such change, this episode was a welcome tonic: a discussion of something familiar with a dear old friend. In the days before it, things were anxious. In the weeks that follow, things will be very busy. But for a second there, everything felt “normal”. Perhaps that’s why the introduction to this show was so touchy-feely. Talking to my guest reminded me of who I am – and who I used to be. If you know anything about this show, you know that we usually don’t dig into blockbusters – not because of any dislike, just because you can find such conversations on hundreds of other shows. It should be noted, that my first choice of film to discuss on this episode was something much more low-key. But a big-budget superhero yarn probably suits this moment best. It’s an escape, and lord knows I’ve needed a lot of escape over the last sixteen months. It’s an iconic character that transcends borders which allowed my guest and me a campfire to gather around despite being on opposite corners of the world. These things are what life was about “before”, and what I hope to find again when the winds of change finally settle. There’s a lot more to come in 2021 that I’m looking forward to – lots that excite me, and lots that intimidate me. For now, though, I’m just happy to feel a little bit more normal – happy to hear from my friends, to see the characters I’ve come to love, and happy to be rebuilding some of the old routines. Here’s to more of “this”. Links mentioned in Episode 265… DICK JOHNSON IS DEAD on Netflix Across the Universe Soundtracks episode 13 – “Give Life Back to Music“ Nik’s Twitter feed can be found here. Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank you very much for listening.  Enjoy!