The Sam Handwich Show

This week on The Sam Handwich Show, Matt returns from a stag do with a voice like a cursed accordion, a Ben Nevis climb in his legs, and several unanswered medical questions in his throat.James has a brush with Hollywood royalty — if you use the phrase “brush with” very generously — before the boys tackle one of science’s greatest debates: can a rat survive yeeting itself off a high rise?There’s also chat about the heat wave slowly killing the planet while making parenting weirdly easier, some World Cup predictions featuring an alarming amount of ECUADOR!, and the return of Quick Fire Fun and Desert Island Bisk.Plus, in the first ever Humboldt Hall of Fame, we celebrate Dolly Shepard — balloonist, parachutist, aerial lunatic, and exactly the sort of person history should have made a much bigger deal of. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit samhandwichpodcast.substack.com

The Original Influencer: Alexander von Humboldt, fame, chaos, and complete nonsenseAlexander von Humboldt basically invented modern exploration, interconnected science, and arguably being an interesting bloke. In this episode, we dive into the wild life of the original science rockstar — from South American expeditions to global fame, weird legacy moments, and why being world-famous has apparently always been a bit lonely.Also: awkward celebrity encounters, online pedants, absurd stories from our week, desert island picks, celebrations, pet peeves, and the usual beautifully unhinged detours.In this episode: Alexander von Humboldt’s ridiculous life of exploration and discovery Why he may have been the world’s first celebrity scientist Fame, loneliness, and what hasn’t changed David Beckham / Guy Ritchie encounters (yes, somehow relevant) Weird stories from our week and questionable life decisions Top threes: celebrations, pet hates, desert island picksA Person Called: translating Humboldt into modern terms Internet pedantry, trolls, and the joy of being corrected by strangers Sports heroics, storytelling, and nerd facts no one asked for This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit samhandwichpodcast.substack.com

This week on The Sam Handwich Show, Matt and James reunite to discuss the important things in life: getting drunk accidentally, sustaining humiliating middle-aged injuries, and quietly avoiding social commitments until people stop asking.James reports back from Provence, France — land of lavender, wine, and suspiciously relaxed people — while Matt continues his war against his own skeleton.Elsewhere:* Quick-fire questions return.* Listener emails spiral into discussions about OJ Simpson, Oscar Pistorius, and Eric Cantona.* Desert Island Miscs begins with the greatest twists in film, TV, and literature — including Fight Club, Game of Thrones, and The Sixth Sense.* Plus: “Top Sam Handy”, and a developing crisis as Zoe has mysteriously disappeared.A deeply important cultural document. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit samhandwichpodcast.substack.com

How much caffeine is too much? Does winning one football match mean you’ve made it? And more importantly… is it Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat?In episode three, momentum builds (slightly). James gets a long-awaited football win, Matt levels up with a new stripe in BJJ, and both immediately start acting like elite athletes. Naturally.Elsewhere, things get competitive—debating the greatest sportspeople of all time, deciding which fighting game truly matters, and attempting to look tough in photos (with mixed results). Listener emails—now officially from the Sam Handies—continue to roll in, ranging from supportive to questionable.In this episode: The fine line between productive caffeine use and complete overkill Football wins, BJJ progress, and why small victories feel massiveStreet Fighter vs Mortal Kombat—a completely serious debate The art of looking tough in photos (and why it rarely works) Listener emails, quick fire rounds, and top three sportspeopleNo structure, no experts—just opinions, tangents, and the kind of chat that usually stays off-mic.Hit play, subscribe, and welcome back to the podcast about nothing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit samhandwichpodcast.substack.com