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mad our conversations tend to get, but while each recording is structured (meaning we have discussions about potential topics), it’s completely unscripted, which leads us off on to beautifully wacky tangents all the time. “Throughout the week we have a bit of backand-forth with ideas of what we want to chat about, but we save the actual talking for recording so we don’t miss out on any gold.” How long does it take to edit and is there much cut out? T: “Recording the podcast is the easy bit. We usually have double the amount of content that we need for an hour show, so I spend one to two days editing it all together, cutting out the bits that don’t quite work or aren’t quite as funny as the rest.”
STUPID BOYS CLUB Gscene catches up with Toby Lawrence, Jonesy and Alex Ryan, hosts of the new comedy podcast. ) Three Brighton ‘z-listers’ – Jonesy, Toby Lawrence and Alex Ryan – take listeners through their personal therapy journeys, largely avoiding any issues of importance, and instead opting to talk about childhood embarrassments, teenage faux pas and a complete lack of anything that could be referred to as ‘adult behaviour’.
How did it all start? Alex: “We’ve always felt a kind of ‘calling’ towards podcast creation – much like Jonesy’s calling to puppy-fatherhood, or Toby’s calling to a Big Mac. Given our various failed radio and DJ careers, we thought it was about time we tried out a medium where no one can force you to stop. Like most people, we’ve got some pretty ridiculous tales from our collective pasts that were just asking to be relived and documented, but one of the key things with podcasting is that you need to have an overarching reason to exist – something that potential listeners can grasp on to when deciding whether or not to get involved. “Jonesy’s insane spreadsheet and research approach to dog ownership was just the reason we needed to gather round a microphone and start recording and, while we’ve now descended more into the ‘talking nonsense’ realm, it’s great to have that dog/pet theme to come back to – it’s our safe port in some very stormy seas.” Tell us more about Jonesy’s dog, Cookie – is all the prep working? Jonesy: “Cookie is doing really well. She’s developed a remarkable ability to shift from
‘world’s cutest teddy bear’ to ‘demon bitey jack-in-the-box’ in the blink of an eye. Puppyhood has been a very beautiful, albeit sleep-deprived experience. “I spent months before her arrival reading puppy-based books and blogs, or watching YouTube videos, but nothing prepares you for the real thing. I think there’s actually a gap in the market for a ‘warts n’ all’ puppy book. None of the authors I came across divulged the joys of trimming your puppy’s fanny and/or bum hair, particularly doing so without scarring the poor pooch, psychologically or literally. And who knew anal glands were a thing, eh? Witness the cute side of Cookie on her Instagram @CookietheCavapooUK, which she most definitely manages and posts to herself, using a totally authentic ‘dog voice’.” A: “It’s worth pointing out that, while Cookie can ‘do no wrong’ in Jonesy’s eyes, Toby and I have definitely come to the conclusion that almost everything Jonesy has read about in these puppy books is wrong – but you can decide for yourself; • Does Cookie really need the sounds of the sea broadcast to her overnight, every night? • Is it OK that she rejects any water that people put down for her because she has her own Brita water filter back at home? • Is it really that important to forcibly socialise Cookie to things like bins, ironing boards, deodorant and people with big hats?” Does it all flow naturally or are there scripted/rehearsed bits? Toby: “It’s probably quite hard to believe how
A: “There are also a lot of bits we couldn’t possibly air, even when they’re jaw-droppingly funny, due to knowing that family and colleagues are listening - some banter is best kept between friends.” T: “Yeah, maybe one day we’ll do a special episode where I open up the Stupid Boys Club’s secret vault and show you all the stuff that didn’t quite make the cut. “Aside from cutting out bits, as all three of us have some background in radio I try to add in production here and there to make the podcast sound as polished as I possibly can.” How real is all the content? Some of it sounds fantastical. A: “It’s 100% real - simple as that. I mean, I guess that, as with everyone, stories from our youth may have ‘evolved’ over years of telling them, but I can promise that we don’t consciously exaggerate or embellish anything. One of the things that’s brought us together as friends is our willingness to do stupid things, never say no to a challenge, and, of course, our love of an adventure combined with a drinkypoo… these things are just a breeding ground for stupid and embarrassing stories.” J: “This podcast is probably the first time I’ve reflected on some of the weird things that have happened in my life. Based on the episodes so far, most of these things involve embarrassing poo stories and falling in love with inanimate objects. Mother would call me ‘eccentric’. Everyone else would probably settle on ‘strange’.” What’s your favourite bit so far? A: “Ooh it’s difficult to choose as we’ve found ourselves in uncontrollable giggles all over the place, but one particular joke at the end of episode six had us on the floor – we had to cut out about a minute of us trying to regain control, and a fair few of our listeners got in contact to relay similar experiences, so that’s certainly worth checking out. “Interviewing our first ever guest, Drag With No Name, is definitely a highlight for me. I’d felt so grateful for her incredible lockdown shows
