How Was This A Thing?

How Was This A Thing?

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Looking back fondly on trends and events in the last thirty years and questioning how any of them actually happened.

howwasthisathing


    • Sep 5, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 58m AVG DURATION
    • 16 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from How Was This A Thing?

    S1E2: Film Directors: Quentin Tarantino | Overrated/Underrated?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2020 48:07


    Pulp Friction! In the second episode of the new-look podcast, James and Alex argue over the films of Quentin Tarantino. Which is his most overrated/underrated film? Why is Alex always unimpressed with everything? Just how wrong can one man be? Featuring Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill and more.Follow us on Twitter @OverOrUnderPod Season one of Overrated/Underrated? focuses on film directors. In future seasons, we'll be becoming more films as well as TV shows, video games and music. Follow us for the latest episodes! 

    S1E1: Film Directors: Christopher Nolan | Overrated/Underrated?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2020 60:33


    We've changed! How Was This A Thing? has shifted focus and changed our name to become Overrated/Underrated?, a podcast all about our opinions on films, TV show, music and video games. Still presented by Alex and James, in season one we're going to be focussing on film directors and in our inaugural edition will be looking at the films of Christopher Nolan. Follow us on Twitter @OverOrUnderPod

    Leadership | Donald Trump, Dominic Cummings, George Floyd, #BlackLivesMatter and more

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2020 58:54


    Leadership; how on Earth the Trump presidency has ever become a thing, what happens when an unelected official appears to have more control over a government than its Prime Minister, and how the fires of racial tensions have been stoked once again.We promise we'll do a fun one again soon. 

    Football Finance Madness [Part Two] | Record Transfer Failures, How TV Is Ruining The Game and How We Fix This

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2020 55:54


    In the second part of our football finance episode, we take a look at the good and bad of record transfers, the impact of massive TV deals, look ahead to post-COVID-19 sport and give our 'ideal world' scenarios of how we fix this financially broken game.

    Football Finance Madness [Part One] | Bury, Bolton and the Premier League's Billions

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2020 57:26


    Alex and James discuss the crazy world of football finance. In part one, we look at how one man ripped the footballing heart out of a northern town, the potentially devastating snowball effect of a Premier League relegation, the laws that govern the game, and the good and bad amongst the record transfer fees.

    Coronavirus III | Where Do We Go From Here? [Special]

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 64:00


    In the third of our COVID-19 specials, we talk about; our experiences of a month of lockdown, peoples reaction to being told to remain indoors, criticism of the UK government, Donald Trump and the disaster zone that is America, what out idea of an exit strategy should be, and the lighter topic of how and when we think the football season should return.

    Coronavirus II | Remain Indoors - The UK Lockdown [Special]

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2020 79:32


    Remain indoors and listen to Alex and James reflect on the first two weeks of UK lockdown as the nation fights back against the coronavirus pandemic. We discuss peoples selfish inability to obey the rules, the horrifying death toll, and the Trump/American response to the crisis, as well as looking cautiously into the future and to a world where hugging is not a crime. We also reveal what we've been doing to pass the time and give you our recommendations.Please, please, please, please remain indoors and help save lives. 

    Coronavirus I | The Rise of COVID-19 [Special]

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2020 54:40


    In yet another special edition of the podcast, Alex and James discuss the global COVID-19 pandemic. In part one, we look at the origins of the virus, discuss the idiocy in display from many members of the UK public, muse over the potential economic collapse of civilisation and posit our solutions to the crisis. We've haven't done a podcast this gravely topical in at least a month.

    Films | The Mystery of Star Wars and the Resurgence of Genres

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2020 60:02


    In the first of probably many episodes on films, Alex and James look back at the resurgence of genres and franchises like fantasy and Star Wars, and in the case of the latter try to figure out what possibly made a franchise with so many disappointing films so immensely popular. PLUS: Nearly blowing yourself up in a car, boring horror films, terrible career moves and much more. 

    Video Killed The Radio Star | Outdated Technology

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2020 56:19


    Alex and James discuss the technological trends that have been and gone over the last couple of decades - from the humble beginnings of the iPod to a hilarious failed attempt at adding an extra dimension to the film-watching experience.PLUS! Rubbish art, 50 mile diversions and the awkward moment when you realise the hit song you've just written is 12 years old... 

    Chunder, Google Glasses and the Goat Simulator | The 2010-2019 Decade Digression Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2020 51:38


    A little later than originally billed due to an unforeseen emergency tribute podcast, we bring you our End of Decade Special, a glance back over the last ten years of topical stories, trends and events that we recorded at the start of January. Featuring - chunder, planking, misguided promises and a semi-drunken digression on the nature of the universe. Ever keen to push forwards and expand, we also tease our upcoming second podcasting adventure to our growing listener base (hi both!) 

    Neil Peart Tribute | The RUSH Retrospective - Part Two (1981 - 2015)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2020 64:11


    In the second episode of a two-part special, we take a break to remember the late drummer Neil Peart - one of our favourite musicians - after his untimely passing from brain cancer aged 67. Join us as we discuss the work of progressive rock geniuses RUSH.In part two, we Exit Stage Left and cover the bands output from 1981 to their final album, looking at their move into the world of synths and their re-emergence as a guitar-led force via rap sections, personal tragedies and one massive-little victory.Plus, our favourite lyrical and drumming moments from Neil's output and reflections on a non-too-subtle, heartfelt goodbye.Thank you, Rush. Thank you Neil Peart... and rest in peace. 

    Neil Peart Tribute | The RUSH Retrospective - Part One (1974 - 1981)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2020 54:40


    In the first of a two-part special, we take a break to remember the late drummer Neil Peart - one of our favourite musicians - after his untimely passing from brain cancer aged 67. Join us as we discuss the musical highs and lows of the progressive rock geniuses RUSH. In part one, we look at the bands first 8 albums - from their ballsy self-titled debut to the seminal masterpiece Moving Pictures - as they assume control over a generation of aspiring musicians.

    The Rockstar From Mars - The Ultimate Celebrity Meltdowns

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2020 48:11


    In episode three, James and Alex bang 7 gram rocks and finish them as we look back at the ultimate celebrity meltdowns. Featuring Tiger Blood, doing it live and Alex Jones. Bi-winning! 

    Outrageous Wealth and The Richest Man In The History of the World

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2020 64:27


    In episode two of How Was This A Thing? we discuss the obscenely wealthy, a financial crash that bought the world to its knees and the richest man to walk the face of the earth. Plus, a brewing company opens a hotel, prank phone calls and a handy guide for avoiding the one thing worth doing in Munich that isn't drinking.

    Born Slippy and the Trial of the Century

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2020 61:39


    In our debut edition of the podcast, we find out how playing the theme from a classic '90s film almost landed a man in jail... whilst a legal masterwork in the 1990's managed to keep a very guilty man out of jail! Just how was the trial of O J Simpson a thing?Plus, we look back at what was going on in music and football at the time and what weird and wonderful events have been happening across the country. 

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