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PODCAST · music

Desert Isolation Discs

by ShadowPlay

Desert Isolation Discs aims to capture the essence of the people we interview through their music choices in a cheekily familiar format. We talk to creative types and music lovers about what eight songs they couldn't live without if stranded in a desert. The show is hosted by London-based journalist and ShadowPlay fanzine editor Alex Lawson. Tweet him @MrAlexLawson and more on the show at http://desertisolationdiscs.blogspot.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Apr 12, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Podcaster Luke Moore (The Football Ramble)

    Luke Moore of the acclaimed Football Ramble podcast tells us the eight songs he couldn’t live without. In a fusion of two pods - world football and music show Rabonas & Rhythms and cheeky parody pod Desert Isolation Discs - we talk music, football and #travel with one of podcasting’s biggest...

  2. Author and lecturer: Toby Litt

    Toby Litt is a writer of impressive breadth and daring. Over two decades as a published author Litt has spanned crime, romance and the down right weird in his novels and short stories. Famed for naming his novels in order, from A to Z, his writing is anything but predictable. As well as his...

  3. Musician and frontman: MJ Hibbett

    Mark "MJ" Hibbett is one of the most unique, funny and intelligent figures on the British indie pop scene. The man knows how to write a tune and, what's more, get a crowd going. He's been making music since forming his first band on the way home from a school art trip in 1981 and, along with his...

  4. Comedian and musician: Nick Helm

    Nick Helm is a man so rock'n'roll the discipline is not even big enough for him. A fine musician - in fact his latest album, Nick Helm is Fucking Amazing is out this month - he's also made his name as a comedian and actor, providing heavy entertainment to the masses. His star has shone brightest…

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  5. Pianist and Ninja Tune champion: James Heather

    Whether it's tinkling the ivories or tapping the keyboard, James Heather is a master in his endeavours. By day, he promotes some of Britain's most innovative artists as head of communications at record label Ninja Tune. By night he works on his own fantastic compositions. It's a pleasure to turn...

  6. Pop pioneer and radio queen: Ruth Barnes

    Broadcaster Ruth Barnes is a certified selector. After a career spent largely in music radio – she knows how to pick a tracklist. With an all-female playlist on her Amazing Radio show The Other Woman and through work with everyone from BBC 6Music to Resonance FM, Ruth has adeptly curated choice...

  7. Desert Isolation Discs: Musician Rob Yunioshi

    As the frontman of caketronica starlets Yunioshi, Mr Rob Garner has toured everywhere from festivals in Canada and Iceland to local gigs when he's been living in Nottingham or London, where he's from. A designer by day and an axe wielder by night, he's also played in other bands including...

  8. Desert Isolation Discs: Radio boss Gordon Mac

    Gordon ‘Mac’ McNamee has played a crucial role in the way the UK has consumed soulful music - from reggae to house - over the last four decades. As founder of Kiss FM, he helped bring black music to London’s rapidly evolving 80s club scene. He took the pirate station on to FM and continued to...

  9. Desert Isolation Discs: Journalist Simon Read

    Simon Read is one of a kind: comfortable sipping Sidecars and talking shop or banging in the goals on a pre-season European footy tour. Known as The People’s Champion, he’s a fire fighter of personal finance - solving the problems of his readers in The Independent and Evening Standard. The...

  10. Desert Isolation Discs: Author and professor Teal Triggs

    As author of Fanzines: The DIY Revolution, Teal Triggs has been on the Desert Isolation Discs wish list for some time. Her study of publishing’s finest form is an excellent examination of their loudmouth birth (titles included Crap Hound and Beer Can Fanzine) and cultural influence. The American...

  11. Desert Isolation Discs: BBC 6 music producer Tom Whalley

    Mr Tom Whalley is used to making difficult choices where music is concerned. As producer of The Huey Show, fronted by Huey Morgan of the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, on BBC Radio 6 Music, Nottingham’s finest flatcap wearer is a master selector. The London resident is also known for lecturing in radio at...

  12. Desert Isolation Discs: Journalist and recipe developer Liz O’Keefe

    The Hats of Liz O’Keefe is a musical that has never been written. But it if had, it would’ve doubtless have gone a little like this. This show has the variety to switch from Trilby chic to peak cap capriciousness. Which of course means nothing, but here, Liz in typically colourful manner…

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  13. Desert Isolation Discs: Answer Me This podcaster Helen Zaltzman

    One half of the podcasting world’s most amusing, esoteric and silly duo, Helen Zaltzman is our guest. Her question and answer podcast, launched in 2007 and presented in tandem with Olly Mann, has won an armful of gongs, a world full of followers and imparted important knowledge in response to...

  14. Desert Isolation Discs: Artist and Agony Aunt Piney Gir

    Angela Penhaligon, aka country-folktronica songstress Piney Gir, is my latest guest on Desert Isolation Discs as she tells me the eight tunes she couldn’t live without in a desert. Piney is an acclaimed artist who has released five albums, toured the globe including playing Glastonbury festival…

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  15. Desert Isolation Discs: ShadowPlayboy and Hunglow Psycho James Lambert

    Mr James Lambert tells me the eight songs he’d save from the wreckage if stranded in the desert after a freak extreme air ironing accident. A sports and music fanatic and one half of Sheffield’s finest radio duo, the ShadowPlayboys, Lambert lets us into his world to talk attitudes to punk music…

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  16. Desert Isolation Discs: Hello Thor co-founder Anders Knight

    Barcelona-based record label head honcho and talented marketer Anders Knight is my latest guest on Desert Isolation Discs. He became the lynchpin in the arts and culture scene of Nottingham when based there through his excellent stewardship of craft night Jumpers for Goalposts as co-host of the...

  17. Desert Isolation Discs: Designer and mother Heather Lawson

    It is an absolute pleasure to welcome a very special guest to Desert Isolation Discs… my mother! Part of the reason I began recording these missives was as an excuse to quiz mum on her choices. She is an avid listener to a certain similar show and has also hosted DiD parties. Here, Heather tells…

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  18. Desert Isolation Discs: ShadowPlay editor Alex Lawson

    As vanity projects go, recording your own Desert Isolation Discs podcast is right up there. But nonetheless, here’s your blogging host Alex Lawson’s eight tunes he would save from the wreckage after a freak sky diving accident. Tom Bonnett manfully steps in as host. More details and full songs…

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  19. Desert Isolation Discs: Journalist, DJ and broadcaster Tom Bonnett

    Anoraks presenter and long-time ShadowPlay collaborator Tom Bonnett is our guest on Desert Isolation Discs - a podcast presented by Alex Lawson. Tom he tells us which eight tracks he would save from the wreckage when stranded in the desert after a freak hang gliding accident. A journalist, DJ and...

  20. The Anoraks on the joy of tapes

    Anoraks Tom Bonnett and Alex Lawson discuss the beauty of the tape ahead of Cassette Store Day. Alex explains why a handmade cover and a curated collection of songs can make a couple of magnetic reels in a plastic case come to life and why tapes may be making a comeback. For a blog on Cassette...

  21. The Anoraks: Moozar and Amoosement

    The Anoraks put listeners out of their misery by revealing the winners of the British cheese awards, discussing the bizarre sport of horse boarding and pondering what David Attenborough keeps in his pockets. The eclectic musical nerds discuss the benefits of putting music online for free with the...

  22. Ninja Tune Special w/Grasscut

    Anoraks Tom Bonnett and Alex Lawson meet experimental Ninja Tune artists Grasscut in a special edition of the fortnightly Shoreditch Radio show. Grasscut’s Marcus O’Dair and Andrew Phillips discuss the south London label’s progression, their involvement in it and playing live across Europe. The...

  23. The Anoraks meet Piney Gir

    The Anorak’s cope with a week without Tom Bonnett by replacing him with the very lovely indie pop star and ShadowPlay agony aunt Piney Gir. Piney tells Alex Lawson and Alex Burnard about her new album, school uniformed recording playing ladies and answers listeners’ agony aunt questions. She also...

  24. The Anoraks: Crate stashing and musical innovation

    This time out The Anoraks take you on a car journey with silly games (Alphabeat), scenes from afar (with our Adventuring Anorak Cyril) and music to make you bellow (with Horse Meat Disco’s Wham remix). We’ll be discussing DJ Shadow’s latest charitable act stashing his new release in unlikely…

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  25. The Anoraks: Voodoo on Vinyl

    The nerDJs hone in on voodoo in this edition of Shoreditch Radio’s more incisive and, more importantly, fun music show. Tom Bonnett, Alex Burnard and Alex Lawson chew the fat on new app WahWah.fm which allows you to make an radio station from your smartphone and we find out where Cyril’s arrive...

  26. Supergroups, Sure Ditch and a certain Fela

    The Anoraks find themselves with an Alex-imbalance as Mr Tom Bonnett hides under his hood this time out. But never fear, some very special guests in the form of fellow station DJs the Sure Ditch Stars’ Talia and Becks step up to the plate in guessing whether Mr Burnard is a phoney in Real Fake....

  27. The Anoraks: European Adventures and Tenacious Tunes

    The Anoraks return with a show more packed than your auntie’s suitcase before a week in Marbella. The trio examine perceptions of a mainland European music in the UK, where next for Battles and why sailing a boat named Titanic Two might just be ill-advised. Great music from the likes of La…

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Desert Isolation Discs aims to capture the essence of the people we interview through their music choices in a cheekily familiar format. We talk to creative types and music lovers about what eight songs they couldn't live without if stranded in a desert. The show is hosted by London-based journalist and ShadowPlay fanzine editor Alex Lawson. Tweet him @MrAlexLawson and more on the show at http://desertisolationdiscs.blogspot.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HOSTED BY

ShadowPlay

CATEGORIES

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Desert Isolation Discs have?

Desert Isolation Discs currently has 27 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Desert Isolation Discs about?

Desert Isolation Discs aims to capture the essence of the people we interview through their music choices in a cheekily familiar format. We talk to creative types and music lovers about what eight songs they couldn't live without if stranded in a desert. The show is hosted by London-based...

How often does Desert Isolation Discs release new episodes?

Desert Isolation Discs has 27 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Desert Isolation Discs?

You can listen to Desert Isolation Discs on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Desert Isolation Discs?

Desert Isolation Discs is created and hosted by ShadowPlay.
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