Ruthie - The Lockdown Sessions

Ruthie is dragged back to the mic for another lockdown session in which she stresses the importance of mattress toppers, and worries she's not committed enough to anything. 'What am I going to do for the rest of my life when I don't care about anything?' she asks. 'Well, there's always journalism,' replies dad. Musically, the Kinks take on Mahalia. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the latest lockdown session, an increasingly demotivated Ruth - with student life suspended - tackles Black Lives Matter, explains Tik Tok, and learns some new words from Dad and Suzie Dent, although Dad gives a totally misleading definition of the word 'anomie.' Also Ella Fitzgerald, mundane celebrity sightings, and the efforts of the French to keep their language pure. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

'When we establish the matriarchy,' says Ruth, 'The two men we'll save are Bill Gates and Richard Osman. And maybe Leonardo DiCaprio and Harry Styles.' This week Ruth and Dad talk Eurovision, and Iceland's superb entry. Also Ruth looks at Coronavirus as a class issue, and gets some support for her views on colonialism. She also bizarrely takes issue with Dad's pronunciation of the word 'California.' See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruthie and Dad remain locked down, and added to the hell of being stranded with aging parents, Ruth is also frustrated by the lack of progress in her Uni work. Online tuition is just not working, she says, and no-one seems to be thinking about a solution for Britain's students. Also, the 'New Normal' everybody's talking about - although Ruth was quite happy with the old Normal - should include a rebalancing of the nation's resources away from London to the North. Ruth also has a 400-year-old swipe at the Mayflower pilgrims of 1620. Popular culture references include Love Island, Grays Anatomy, Friends, Frazier, and Tootsie. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the first of a new series, 19-year-old Ruthie is feeling the generation gap particularly keenly, reluctantly furloughed from the Universtiy of York and trapped in lockdown with her ma and pa. In this first episode she delves into cinema history, explaining to her dad the 'cool girl' trope in modern movies, and luxuriating in 'comfort TV,' Gilmore Girls and How I Met Your Mother. Meanwhile, as Ruthie and dad swap music suggestions, there's a taste of Bob Dylan, Jeremy Zucker, and Kanye West. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We edited together some clips of Ruthie, Uni, Dad, and Me as our entry for the British Podcast Awards, but as it seems those awards will not happen we thought we'd share them anyway. The clips are from the podcasts we made around the time Ruth was starting at the University of York, and settling in See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The very last Ruthie - Uni, Dad & Me, for the time being at least, as University shuts & Ruth is isolated with parents. In the swansong podcast, we look at the economics of Coronavirus, the death of expectation, whether you want to be on the wagon or off, what Dame Harriett Walter would do if a lecherous male put his hand on her knee, and musically Isaac Hayes faces off against Childish Gambino. Thank you all for your support during all three seasons. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

...in which dad questions whether some young people view Coronavirus in some bizarre way as a payback for Brexit, and Ruthie laments losing what might have been the best summer of her life. She also offers free French lessons just to fill the yawning time chasm in front of her, and to keep in practice. And why it's not right to compare the current crisis to wartime - and Wakefield's dance of death, the Gas Mask disco in the city. Musically, Sly and the Family Stone take on British singer Emily Burns See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

...in which dad is confused when a leopardskin bowtie and comedy leopardskin ears arrive for him. AlsoRuthie and dad discuss what the effects of Coronavirus are likely to be on University life. Ruth, meanwhile, has discovered the American TV show Love Is Blind, which it turns out not to be, She explains the patriarchy to dad, and musically country singer Iris DeMent faces off against Tegan and Sara. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Family relationships are a major thread in the latest father-and-daughter podcast. With dad being a 'spooky' middle child, and Ruthie the baby of the family, birth order is discussed, as well as the parent-child dynamic with the calculation that once your child leaves for university, you have already spent 95 per cent of the time you will ever spend with them. One listener sends his sad story of losing touch with his daughter who is a student at York University, and other subjects covered include; no-platforming, Nandos, Selfridges, and Jeremy Thorpe. There are also a couple of 'mildly interesting' dad stories. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth says she'd definitely kiss a Tory, if necessary, and drink Yorkshire Tea. She reveals that students at the rival York St. John's University think Uni Students are all 'posh and up ourselves - which we sort of are,' and this week discusses students doing sex work to keep their heads above water, and, in the light of the Weinstein conviction returns to the subject of sexual consent. She also asks 'if you're a 30-something male and you're not doing a podcast with your mate, what are you doing?' Musically, Sarah Vaughan takes on Spanish singer Rosalia. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Serious Uni issues such as lecturers' strikes, Uni elections, and the future of the Erasmus programme after Brexit come to the fore, but Ruth also explains her urgent need for a sombrero, and defines what constitutes rock bottom after a night out. Also dad explains to Ruth the essential difference between Rod Stewart and Cliff Richard, and father and daughter have different views on the role of the media in the tragic suicide of Caroline Flack. Musically, Emmylou Harris takes on Australian dj duo, The Avalanches. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the latest generation gap podcast, Ruth and dad discuss extreme porn freely available on the Internet, Ruth reports on reactions in York to the early Coronavirus victims, and dad misinterprets 'Netflix and chill' to Ruth's huge amusement. Ruth fails to be outraged by a musical of Pretty Woman, and is unsure about the idea of boarding schools for eight year-olds. Musically, Duke Ellington takes on Declan McKenna See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, the story of the drunken/high student who wakes Ruth at 3am, goes into the shower and emerges with two cartons of chips that weren't there when he went in. Also Ruth reveals what frightens here, and what comforts her, dad and Ruth argue (again) about whether this is a racist country, and musically Johnny Cash takes on young Leicester group Easylife. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

...in which Ruth has low moments back at Uni, rejects pole dancing as a fitness regime - 'still feels a bit demeaning' - considers the problems of being posh in light of the Laurence Fox row, and musically Paul McCartney takes on Lorde. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruthie and Dad have a heated debate on whether Britain is a racist country, discuss campus sexual assault, youth slang, and how Ruth unwinds after a long day ('Just thinking about Leeds, because it gives her a calming pleasure.' And they play The Rutles, which Ruth says is 'more Penny Lane than Penny Lane.' See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a New Year/End of Decade special, father and daughter discuss how life has changed in the past ten years, chiefly through the prism of dating, given that Twitter didn't exist before 2012. Also why teenagers don't want to go to the movies any more - unlike Ruth who was brought up on Clifford The Big Red Dog - The Movie and Spirited Away. And why Viking Studies and comedy writing and performing are considered 'Mickey Mouse' degrees by some students. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruthie has finished her first term studying French and Spanish at the University of York, and is settling back in at home, enjoying the choice of crisps, but lamenting the death of Labour, and disagreeing quite strongly with dad about the uselessness or otherwise of Jeremy Corbyn. Also ungrammatical dating, the overuse of emojis, the withdrawal of trays from students at St Andrews, and the 'good, clean pop' of Harry Styles. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

....in which Ruth lists ten things she has learnt in her first term at the University of York, tries to decide whether she's a post-colonial feminist or not, discusses snobbery towards the North of England, and laments the scandal of students' rented accommodation. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From various phases of the Ruthie - Uni, Dad, and Me generation gap podcast, Martin forces a teenager to watch Fawlty Towers, while Ruthie gives her feminist angle on strip clubs, cheerleading, and darts walk-on girls, and expresses doubts about Chernobyl and Auschwitz tourism See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

...in which Ruth is not impressed by boy students weeing in the sink, prompting dad to reveal the secret of Butlin's bum. Ruth and dad discuss initiation rituals in Uni, the upcoming strike, and the class divide among students - if there is one. In the wider world, Ruth nominates Kate Garraway as the most annoying person in the world, and although the de-clutterer Marie Kondo has helped Ruth with sock storage, her latest initiative isn't de-cluttering anything. Musically Girl In Red takes on Billy Bragg. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

...in which Ruth falls asleep on a nightclub toilet at 2am, when she could have been in the University of York's 24-hour library. Also, despite Armistice Day and the season of remembrance, patriotism is not flavour of the month with Ruth. Meanwhile she is chosen as boxer of the week. Musically, youngster Matt Maltese takes on Arlo Guthrie. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

...in which Ruthie, now fully at home at the University of York, dresses up as Hugh Hefner, while her college chums pretend to be Playboy bunnies. Why going home for the first time feels strange, why house-hunting for next year has already started, and how her French teacher is, er, really French See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth is settling in at the University of York, coping with a demanding French and Spanish degree course. She's uncomfortable with the banning of a campaign against the crackdown on the Hong Kong protestors by the Chinese government, and wonders what it says about free speech on campus. With an election in the offing she's not sure she and her fellow students will dutifully march out and vote Labour as expected. Meanwhile, back on campus, Ruth reveals the horrors of Oriental Night in the cafeteria! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boy George once said of sex that he'd rather have a cup of tea, a metaphor taken up by York University, in their lectures on sexual consent. Ruth also talks of dating rituals and boxing training at Uni as she starts her degree in French and Spanish. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In which Ruth embarks on the difficult business of making friends at University, falls over drunk causing cuts and abrasions, stands up for Leeds in the face of kids from Surrey, a tribe she hadn't previously come across. She reveals that among the societies soliciting members at the Freshers' Fair was a fetish club, and asks dad if he went to University in California or Strathclyde. Musically, 87-year-old Petula Clark takes on 16-year-old Alfie Templeman See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A compilation of extracts of Ruthie Me & My Dad from the last year's episodes; includes Fiona Bruce taking over Question Time, Ruth's views on Piers Morgan, what is OK to make jokes about these days, with reference to Inbetweeners - could that even be made in #MeToo era? Liam Neeson's revenge story, Pride marches becoming too commercial, teenage boys' frightening thoughts on rape, and the Intelligence Trap. Musically, Toots & The Maytals take on Tom Misch. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Trepidation and excitement mingle as Ruth prepares to start university. Meanwhile, as someone who likes a chocolate Minstrel, she rejects sugar-free diets as recommended by influencers and bloggers. Dad picks out some dodgy lyrics in pop songs, and an emailer writes in to tell Ruth not to worry about student debt; 'it's a myth.' See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth talks about her uncertainty on the eve of her university career. Also how no-one wants to see a revival of Friends - fiftysomething Ross and Rachel would be in therapy after a toxic relationship and a bitter divorce, how Dolly Parton's doormat lyrics are OK for feminists, and how Ruth bought a newspaper for the first time ever in her life, and what a revelation it was. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth believes you can't tell the story of the Pope being stuck in a lift without doing a transubstantiation joke or something similar, she tries a Black Country accent in honour of hero Caitlin Moran, whose Wolverhampton childhood is being made into a movie, but mostly she insists her other hero Margaret Atwood, whose public appearance she went to see, has lots to tell us about the way we live now. Musically, Martin chooses 1950s doo wop, Ruthie a remake of 10CC's I'm Not In Love. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, Ruth reveals she follows the Gospel According to Tom Hanks, gives her views on sandwich toasters and ATM etiquette, and laments the ignorance about women's health issues displayed by the medical profession. Ruth and dad discuss the latest Harvey Weinstein documentary, and dad drops the bombshell that he finds most of Weinstein's highly lauded 'masterpieces' overhyped rubbish. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After her weekend at Leeds Music Festival, Ruth discusses the drugs death, and the misguided attitude to drugs of festival security. She's underwhelmed by Foo Fighters, and brands Matty Healy of The 1975, pretentious. She also discusses MacDonalds' cheese bite options, and reveals her Dragons' Den idea, while Ruthie and Dad clash over the so-called patriarchy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This generation gap podcast covers all the important issues; Boris Johnson's narcissism, supermarket pizzas, whether having children enhances your life or do you have to wait till they've left home, 'breadcrumbing,' Freshman flush, and New Yorker Billy Joel's ability to do an English accent. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On the eve of A-level results day, Ruth sympathises with fellow students who, unlike her, don't have an unconditional offer from a chosen university or college and have to sweat it out. She also looks ahead to next year, and doubts a survey indicating students are more responsible, and more often teetotal than previous eras. Dad reflects on how her young mind is being moulded by The Guardian, fears for Paul McCartney's musical version of It's A Wonderful Life, and suggests that the new direction for Ruthie Me and My Dad might be 'true crime.' See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth visits Leeds Pride and reports back, while dad questions its relevance beyond giving companies the chance to show how woke they are. He also has advice for the director of Downsizing, currently showing on Sky, and disagrees with Ruth on shoeless Prince Harry's comments on subconscious racism. The finale of Love Island shines a light on the way society is these days, both agree, and musically, Ruth and Dad visit Paul McCartney's wilderness years and Lily Allen's latest work. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

...is Ruth's assessment of our new Prime Minister, as dad brings her up to date with what's been happening while she's been away, where she outraged her parents by getting a tattoo. In this episode she explains to dad why we need three Spidermen, and why Tom Holland is the most Spiderman of the Spidermen. Father and daughter also discuss whether hormone blockers are handed out too freely to children who may wish to transition, and dad worries about the 'lad culture' on campuses as Ruthie prepares to leave for university. Musically, it's Andrew Gold v Sabrina Claudio, and the podcast concludes with some uncharacteristically '70s humour. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth and dad have a heated debate on transgender issues, Ruth is accused of anti-Scottish bias, and upbraided for yawning mid-podcast. Also, is Maura from Love Island a feminist icon, and will Boris Johnson do anything to correct the North-South divide? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sympathy for the parents of Jihadi Jack from Ruth and Dad, though Dad thinks over-indulgent parenting may have exacerbated the problem, the new digital Monopoly, and how the cashless society creates particular problems for the poor, especially street dwellers. Meanwhile, what's great about the Brits, says Ruth, is we don't really care about anything. Musically, the Kinks take on Bea Miller. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth celebrates the end of A-levels with a trip to the council tip, and in her first post-exam podcast she and dad discuss prom nights, accusations of racism in the Love Island villa, how Michael Gove could be a poster boy for a 'Say No To Drugs' campaign, and, dad says if there were a gift he could pass on to his 25-year-old self it would be dental floss. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Father and daughter literally discuss new speech patterns introduced by the young, dad complains about the feminisation of movies, and is unimpressed by Emma Thompson's latest, while Ruthie maintains comedy is still an all-boys club. Also, dad has good news for Ruth's,Soylent Green solution to overpopulation, Ruth says we romanticise pre-Internet life, and both exult in their discovery of salt and cracked black pepper crisps. All that, and manic pixie dream girls. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In a unique experiment in human understanding an 18-year-old girl dismantles Fawlty Towers to decide whether it has any relevance 40-odd years after it was first broadcast. We also examine Deliveroo's role in Britain's obesity crisis, and report on a hopeful development in tackling the mental health problems afflicting growing numbers of students. There's also the latest on Love Island, and a musical battle between British rock 'n' roller Vince Taylor and American pop rapper Lizzo See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the latest father/daughter podcast, Ruth reveals she's never used a phone box in her life. Phone boxes, like burning CDs, are now part of a bygone era. Also, should we have sympathy for Theresa May following her downfall, asks Ruth, and embarrassingly reveals the meaning of BDSM to her dad. Do Game Of Thrones fans need therapy to cope with the end of the saga, or is Made In Chelsea a suitable replacement, and musically, it's late country legend Guy Clark versus Northampton's Slowthai. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Louis CK is banned from appearing in Leeds right after dad buys tickets. Will he never do stand-up again? Ruth to miss the 25-year Mean Girls reunion for exam reasons, a pop-up shop in Lewisham aims to help people on the last lap of life, is it possible to drink a MacDonalds' milk shake with a paper straw, and how weird are other people's families? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruth unveils her grand plan for the future of the planet - bad news if you're approaching 80. Also the Midnight In Paris syndrome - we're all nostalgic about the era just before we were born (which explains the enduring appeal of Friends), the problem with being a student, Emma Thompson - supercilious or what, and will Ruth lose her Leeds accent when she starts mixing with students from Esher and Hemel Hempstead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruthie and Dad pledge never to go on for more than 45 minutes, and this episode comes in just under the bar. It's a TV special asking 'what's the point of sit-coms, is Naked Beach just a freak show, and is Goggle Box the best programme on TV? Also, Loyle Carner, giving hip-hop a bad name, 16-year-old Greta Thunber's speech to MPs, and the Coachella music festival. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hey, what's the matter with the kids? Nothing, it turns out. Gen Z are the most socially conscious bunch for a while. Also, lady shavers, colourism, exam stress, Cardi B and her rolling 'r's, what's the point of grammar - and musically, the great Ry Cooder takes on Rejjie Snow. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruthie spans generations of entertainment as she mounts a spirited defence both of Game Of Thrones and the French boulevardier and cabaret artist Maurice Chevalier, suspected of being a wartime collaborator. Also, the governments proposed clampdown on pornography, feminism as a class issue, and actor Martin Freeman exploits his children for commercial gain. Imagine. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following the Love Island suicides, Ruth and Dad ask if enjoyment of the show makes you complicit in the tragedies; and Ruth gets a tiny taste of what public disapproval feels like with her second hate mail in two weeks. Also, conspiracy theories - whether it's Princess Diana, Madeleine McCann, or the moon landing, they remain irresistible to young people. It might have something to do with the teenage brain, which Ruth and Dad also discuss, and musically, Kenny Rogers takes on Subculture Sage. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ruthie gets her first experience of hate mail in the latest father/daughter podcast, as a correspondent calls her 'supercilious and whining.' In this episode, they discuss transgender participation in women's sport, pro-life campaigners, gaslighting, alternative lifestyles for the future, and father explains blaxploitation movies to Ruth. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Powdered milk, Dolly Parton, Michael Jackson, and Louis Theroux are among topics in the latest father-daughter podcast. Also, if you're feeling charitable, is the best policy to give money to the homeless in the street, and is dad OK to call them hobos? And have our universities become intolerant of views that veer from the mainstream? Musically, Willie Nelson takes on Tyler The Creator. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this week's father-and-daughter podcast, Ruth shocks dad by revealing some of the things teenage boys routinely say, sex education - completely absent in Ruth's Catholic high school - is discussed, and Ruth takes an intelligence test. Also, communism, avocados, and what's the deal with Monty Python? Musically, it's Little Richard versus Oscar Jerome. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.