Episodes
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The Useless Arts: First Date
We are doing Clarkson’s Farm meets Startup Podcast for the arts. But it sounds like two writers having a drink in the pub and me having to fetch my own damned sauce for my korean fried chicken wrap (£5.95 incl alcoholic beverage). Then the waitress inexplicably delivers us a bag of nuts. Was she...
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The Future Perfect - Trailer
I’ll be building it on the page and on the stage over the next few months. It’s going to be wack. It’s hosted by Peak Arthur Meek - the inorganic sentience (he prefers that to ‘AI’) that my descendents will upload to the feed before travelling back in time to colonize history at the helm of the...
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The Book in the Mall
I’m doing my Masters in Creative Writing at the very cool University of East Anglia part-time, a delightful day a week. It gets me thinking in different ways. Here is a short story I wrote pretty quickly after overdosing on Kafka and Borges. I performed it as part of the New Writing Live! series...
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Raise Hell
A verbatim account of a former client of mine at Pitch Gym - a successful serial entrepreneur who's appeared on Shark Tank. I interviewed him about his next venture capital raise - the one that I helped him on. It didn't go well. It reveals a lot about his noble character. I transcribe our...
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Voices of Gallipoli: Hartley Palmer
Voices of Gallipoli is a remembrance project. Its purpose is to remember the experiences of kiwis at war by speaking their words out loud at Anzac commemorations and events. This is the voice of Hartley Palmer, spoken aloud by Stuart Devenie. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...
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🗞️Hear All About It! My local news live.
Join me for my next live video in the app This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arthurmeek.substack.com
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🗞️ Cold off the Press: Best of the North Norfolk News
Join me for my next live video in the app This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arthurmeek.substack.com
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🎤 Santa King of the Jews
An unsolicited Christmas present to the world. Absolutely no one has ever asked me for the lyrics and guitar tablature for the Lonesome Buckwhips Christmas song. But that’s what you’re getting as my gift to you. You lucky, lucky subscribers. The Tab is better formatted in the Substack article at...
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Feedback: the grand finalé
I’ll write more about how this one-season wonder came to be. But for now, just enjoy it. Context free. Though I will say I got to make it with my hero, and now fellow Substacker - Matt Heath. And/or RESTACK this thing. Restacking is a new and better commenting, because it goes into the Substack...
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What is Profit & Delight?
I’ve always had a way with words. Today, Substack is my way. You’ll find a great variety of things here. They’re all connected by my generative curiosity, and two short, clear and actionable ways of thinking. Poets wish either to profit or to delight; or to deliver at once both the pleasures and...
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Mammon and its discontents
I met Justin Welby, the now or soon-to-be former Archbishop of Canterbury, at Methodist Playgroup a few weeks ago. Not in person. Much more intimately. I found one of his books and read it. He introduced me to the true nature and character of Mammon. And the anti-dote. Hear all about it. This is…
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Voices of Gallipoli: Henry Lewis
Arthur Meek lends his voice to Henry Lewis. An ANZAC soldier who fought at Gallipoli during World War I. Henry Joined from Wellington. He fought for Otago Regiment. He told his story to New Zealand novelist Maurice Shadbolt in the 1980s, more than 60 years after the events he recalls. Recorded…
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Lottocracy Now!
“Many forms of government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. no one pretends that democracy is perfect or all wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time....”...
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China, three ways.
Reading has become increasingly difficult for me since becoming a father. Gone are the days (for now) when I could literarily lose my self in a book, sailing the Black Sea as an argonaut with Jason; investing the profits of my smash-hit plays in ill-fated brick and mortar broadway ventures...
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Watch me eat a complement sandwich at Paris Fashion Week
I often find myself having an incredible conversation in the middle of a banging party, and wishing there were some way to capture the juiciness of the interaction then and there. The main problem is that it hasn't been possible to make it work technically, soundwise. Until now. When music is...
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Nomenclature
This is an adapted transcript of what I say in the vid. A live broadcast apropos of nothing to show you why I've changed the name of my Substack - back really to Profit and Delight. That was the name that I gave my first ever blog, which I started about 2014 and I really like it it comes from...
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How to Teleprompt Yourself in Substack Native Video
1. Duplicate your tab. 2. Press record in one tab 3. Click to the the other tab to teleprompt yourself. * Don’t edit your post while doing this or you’ll screw up the recording. * Feel free to digress, or summarise rather than reading it out loud word for word. * If you feel that your post is…
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Paid subscribers: your first real letter is about to be composed, and sent to you
Trigger warning. You’re going to get a handwritten letter in a few weeks. It’ll be addressed to you. It’ll be from me! Though I might write as a character. I might address you in terms of familiarity and describe events that did not occur. Be in good cheer. Have your pinch of salt ready. I don’t...
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Mary & Martha & Alison & Arthur.
I’ve wanted to have this conversation with Alison Acheson, in this way, for more than a year. We’ve overcome timezones, timetables and wildfires to make it happen, and I’m so glad we did. It’s the kind of conversation that I’m privileged to experience regularly in private, with generative...
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Hot August Nights Flash Sale!
Some really great news from me. I’ve gone to four days a week now with Substack which is effectively full-time in my life – the rest of my time is parenting and writing stuff and I've also figured out what I am doing and what I want to do with Cursive Discursive And I'd love you to be a part of…
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Darwin Among the Machines
I've seen several articles pop up in my Substack Notes about the evolution of AI and referring to Samuel Butler's short essay that originally appeared as a letter to the editor of the Christchurch Press in 1863. It's called Darwin Among the Machines. It's cited as one of the first (if not the...
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Once on Chunuk Bair.
The voice of Vic Nicolson, spoken aloud by Arthur Meek. Today is the 109th anniversary of the Battle of Chunuk Bair. It was fought on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and began on August 8, 1915. Vic Nicholson was there. I speak aloud his account of his experience of Gallipoli in general, and…
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Into the Mystic
I’ve gone down a particularly delightful rabbit hole. Julian of Norwich lead me there. She’s always leading me to interesting new people and places. I was googling her and came upon an episode about her in this podcast. I’ve now listened to every single one. It’s the perfect style and tone for…
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I won the insurance lottery.
I walk away from an unusual accident without a scratch, and with a satisfying payout. My car insurance costs a fortune. About £1200 a year. Maybe more, actually. I can’t bear to look. I get it. My 2 cars are worth my home?). 8 weeks into my trip, I got a message from Cousin T- who came to...
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A Woman in Berlin
My first book report. I want to do these things differently. No hot takes. I'll only talk about books I've read twice (or more). No preprepared readings - I flick to a couple of sections and read aloud. If it's a good enough book, those sections should hold up... and these ones do! This is a…
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8_Site Design - The Basics
* Do it for Free * If you have all this stuff already, just load it up * Or, here's the Canva Substack template bundle - I have a paid subscription to Canva that makes everything a bit easier, but apparently you can do it all for free * And here's a free place to derive colour codes from an image...
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7_ Personalise your email banner, header, and footer settings
* I recommend you say more to free subscribers and keep it briefer for paid/founding members. * It's a good idea to push them towards reading in the Substack app - because then you won't have to contend with email inbox overwhelm. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with...
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6_Personalise your 'Set and Forget' Welcome Emails to New Subscribers
Here’s Farrah’s email to Free Subscribers See how she’s affirming their decision - and nudging them to go paid! BEGINS It’s so good to have you here! Seriously, the world (and probably your inbox) is a busy place, so Im super grateful you’ve found your way here. I don’t know how much you know…
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5_Draft Your About Page
You can see how all the work you did before on subscription tiers, publication name, description and category makes this about page clearer and easier eh? And remember… you can change any of the stuff you’ve written before if this exercise gives you fresh brainwaves! Really useful reference...
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4_Choose Your Publication Name, Short Description and Categories
Really useful (but optional) reference stuff. * Farrah's welcome page shows you how this is the first thing people see when they're deciding whether to check out your Substack * Here's a leaderboard so you can see how choosing a category can help you get discovered * Official Substack guff about...
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3_Set your subscription tiers & enable payments
Really useful, but completely optional stuff to look at. * Here's Jeff Tweedy's subscription tier page for reference * Here's the official written how-to * Here's a back-end view how people pay you and what it costs you when they do Your VALUE PROPOSITION - are you more comfortable in…
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2_Set up Stripe so you can get paid 💸
You'll need to have the bank details and IDs you'd need to set up a bank account. You can follow the official written version if you find that easier here You can do it in-app too Arthur This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus...
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1_How to claim your Substack in 2 minutes 👀
NOTE: Do this on a laptop or desktop. Not on your phone.... (too fiddly) Let's help you to claim your Substack and set it to private mode so we can play around. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...
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On the Conditions and Possibilities of Hillary Clinton Taking Me as Her Young Lover
Joe Biden steps down. He doesn't endorse his VP. The coast is clear for a demented comedy-satire about a delightfully earnest Kiwi academic who enters the US with an oddly plausible plan to save the Free World by winning the heart of America's Next Top Mama. Only one thing stands in his way: the...
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The Taste of Tap Water: San Francisco
The pilot of an innovative new (occasional) series in which I sample municipal tap water from interesting places around the world and propose its relative pros and cons. This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit arthurmeek.substack.com
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Suffering & Grace
I go too hard at Dad's 5-a-side soccer. It causes a splitting headache, and invites me to ponder the paradoxical unities of suffering and grace, convenience and death. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit...
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All the gear and no idea
After 5 weeks of playing Dad's League 5-a-side soccer it's time to get serious and buy some proper soccer boots. This sends me on a reverie to Thailand, then the Basin Reserve cricket ground, then to the doctor to get a tetanus shot. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this…
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World Series of Poker
A God's eye view of everyone's cards makes for smug binge-watching of the Main Event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arthurmeek.substack.com
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Watch Party
I stay up way past my bedtime to witness UK democracy in action, and reflect on US democracy on an auspicious date - July fourth - that gathers both streams of democracy in unusual confluence. Discursions beyond what's on the Cursive page include a reverie on Chesterton's Fence. Vote for me! This...
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Rough Magic
I'll read my handwriting for those of you who can't or prefer to hear. You'll also get me speaking some Shakespeare and additional thoughts on life and Substack. All spoken in the early morning, against the clock while my kids sleep in bed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss...
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News, news, news!
I’m working for Substack to build a new economic engine for culture It’s a big job. Perhaps my life’s work. Everything I’ve done and witnessed up to now in theatre, film, television and early-stage ventures has placed me in a unique position to make the world a better place for culture makers and...
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De/Re/Me Colonising Shakespeare
I read The Tempest for the first time in yonks. I find a literary spanner. I'm obliged to hurl it into the works of those who would use Caliban to decolonize Shakespeare. I'm also obliged to read this out loud and add some context because my groundbreaking image composition may render this one...
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My new friend.
Like, you know, an actual FLESH AND BLOOD friend! Who exists contemporaneously in my time and space. It's a giddy feeling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arthurmeek.substack.com
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Tempests
One of the most extraordinary weeks of my life. I'm invited to perform with my favourite Shakespeare company for a one-off show in Wales and it's only the SECOND best thing that happens to me... This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to...
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Handheld Flamethrower
Great British manufacturing is alive and well. It lives a short walk from my house. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arthurmeek.substack.com
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That Don't Impress Me Much
The nicest thing you can do for me is to Thanks for reading Cursive Discursive! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arthurmeek.substack.com
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Crito: a dialogue by Plato
Some words aren’t written to be read. They’re written to be heard. I’ll write more, later about why I’m doing this. But it boils down to taking things back to the primary source. Out loud. Minimal context or interpretation. Enjoy. Crito a dialogue by Plato (360BC) Persons of the Dialogue SOCRATES...
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Zoo Story
Zoo Story. Performed by David Meyer and Arthur Meek So what’s it all about? What’s the meaning of life? 42. Or something like that, eh. Ask a silly question, get a silly answer etc. But how can you decide whether to spend your limited time and attention listening to this play? I get it. My…
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The Lonesome Buckwhips - Aftermath
In the finale of our multi-part series we hear live recordings from the Lonesome Buckwhips' astoundingly successful world tour - a tour that should have seen them set for life, but their journey was less a highway and more a game of snakes and ladders. So what went wrong? Produced and directed by...
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The Lonesome Buckwhips - Live at the Gold Guitars
The Lonesome Buckwhips' notorious performance at the Gold Guitars in Gore, and their confrontation with iconic Kiwi singer/songwriter Barry Saunders - an event that was to have a long-lasting effect on the band. Justin Gregory also investigates the circumstances around the arrest and imprisonment...
About this show
Cool play scripts spoken out loud by cool actors.
arthurmeek.substack.com
Hosted by
Wrangled by Arthur Meek
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