Extra Life

Geneticist, writer and broadcaster Dr Adam Rutherford talks about his love of Mortal Kombat finishing moves, the joy of Spider-Man, and shares his research on the effects of video games on our kids, and ourselves. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Star of Horrible Histories, Ghosts and Sex Education Jim Howick talks about making unexpected friends through gaming in lockdown, and how all he ever really wants is to sit in a virtual cockpit (Formula One or Star Wars, either will do.) .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedy writer Athena Kugblenu (Mock The Week, The Lenny Henry Show) celebrates the greatness of Goldeneye on the N64, and remembers the days when playing with friends required loads of beanbags, not a broadband connection. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and "Dancing On Ice" star Rufus Hound shares some hilariously strong opinions on what makes a proper gamer, and talks honestly and movingly about how games and play can be therapy when we need it most. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week best-selling author Jenny Colgan (of The Summer Seaside Kitchen, Dr Who and more) joins Keza and Ellie. They speak about Colgan leaving her only “real job” in the hospital, which was preceded by her non-stop playing Theme Hospital for five months. There's also plenty of chat about Tetris, the Tomytronic 3D, and a whole lot more! .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Award winning comedian Sooz Kempner (Funny Women Awards, Musical Comedy Awards) talks about becoming a Sonic The Hedgehog speed runner and the historic marginalisation of women in video game culture, while the tone of the show is lowered possibly forever by Ellie insisting on doing her video game animal penis quiz. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Writer Charlie Brooker (Black Mirror, Screenwipe) talks about growing up with the ZX Spectrum, playing Mario with his kids, and how anyone who doesn't flip the Y-axis controls before starting a game is basically a psychopath. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Sophie Duker (Frankie Boyle's New World Order, 8 Out Of 10 Cats) has a Saddest Pokemon Anecdote contest with Keza and Ellie, and talks candidly about her passion for pigeon-dating simulators. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Dara O'Briain (Mock The Week) talks about the ludicrous cover art of 1980s Atari games, and how his children live mainly in Fortnite now. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian Jamali Maddix (Frankie Boyle's New World Order, Hate Thy Neighbour) talks about his love for obscure Japanese wrestling simulators, and a childhood of game shop bargain bins and bootleg Playstation games. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Comedian and presenter Bec Hill (Comicon, Amazing World Of Gumball) talks about her dangerous Guitar Hero addiction, the incredible school Nintendo, and surviving lockdown by hiding in VR. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Actor Tony Way (Game of Thrones, Ricky Gervais' After Life) talks about trying to play games as a new dad, the joy of Monkey Island, and a childhood of ever-so-slightly-shonky consoles. .......................................... Extra Life is an original Great Big Owl Production for Auddy #extralifepod Hosts: Keza Macdonald & Ellie Gibson Producer: Joel Morris Assistant Producer: Alex Hardy Music: Waen Shepherd Album Art: Nicole Stewart Auddy Executive Producer, Andrew Sampson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EXTRA LIFE is a podcast about people's life in gaming, and the games in their lives.Journalist Keza Macdonald (video games editor of The Guardian) and comedian Ellie Gibson (from TV's Go 8Bit and hit podcast Scummy Mummies), talk to guests from the worlds of comedy (and beyond) about the games they grew up with and the games they love now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices