Mark Diacono's Imperfect Umbrella Podcast

With Chelsea Flower Show almost upon us, I thought it would be the perfect time to chat with James Alexander-Sinclair. Among many things, he is a long serving judge at the show: I thought it might be interesting to understand how the judges go about their work and how a garden might get a Gold medal - apparently a paper bag of used oncers is not the most effective route.So if you are heading to the show or intending on more of a sofa spectacle, I hope this will give you a different view in. If you've ever watched a sport and wished they'd do a start-of-season programme where they go through the rules and subtleties so that the game might be more accessible to the uninitiated, think of this as the Chelsea Flower Show version of that. There is also talk of fudge, being a wedding celebrant, outstanding hugs and much more. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markdiacono.substack.com/subscribe

I spent my childhood summers in Lancashire with my cousins, getting sunburnt, catching sticklebacks in the beck, drinking dandelion and burdock, and eating Snowball ice creams. I'd go back to school to a classroom of piss-takers mocking my newly acquired Burn-leh accent: even now, three stops in a taxi and I'm all ‘stay lucky treacle'. Psychologists will tell you a dispensation for taking on accents is driven by the desire to be liked. Isn't that all of us. Anyway, whenever I chat with Adam Frost, I come over all Wilko Johnson. Apologies in advance for any missing tees and aitches.I've got to know Adam well over the last however many years and he's not ploughed any of the familiar furrows to our TV screens. Typically open and engaging, knowledgable and popular, he's never short of a word: I hope you enjoy our conversation.Thanks for tuning in - it is much appreciated. MarkPS If you felt moved to leave a comment/review over on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen if not here, it would help encourage others here and be very welcome. Thank you.A couple of things that sprung from our chatThere were a few things that came up in our conversation that you might not be familiar with, that I thought it would be good to share in case you were interested. The songs Adam mentioned, in case you fancy an accidentally curated playlist from the man himself.Adam's new book - available here and pretty much everywhere you'd expect it to be. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markdiacono.substack.com/subscribe

I fell into the new year with many things I wanted to do, and this is one I am really excited about.Once a month, give or take, I'll be talking with people I find fascinating. They are quite likely to be connected to food, gardening or writing but - as we are all metaphorically sheltered under this Imperfect Umbrella - they might well be differently interesting.Of course, we are likely to discuss what they are up to - the latest book, a garden, a big move, etc - but I'm at least as interested in what we don't know about them, in what they do away from the familiar they are known for. I suspect you might be too.I hope you'll listen and I hope you'll enjoy it. In the meantime, please do take the chance to suggest anyone you'd to be on the podcast. I am - as I hope you will be - all ears.The first podcast will be with you very shortly. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markdiacono.substack.com/subscribe