Posts Tagged ‘gardening’

Answer Us Back: the knees (don’t) have eyes

September 10, 2026

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Welcome to this month’s Answer Us Back, full of your feedback and questions provoked by previous episodes of Answer Me This. Today we have:

  • Look, we recorded AMT421 the day before Tim Curry died, and it was pure chance that we appeared to pay tribute to him by slagging off two of his most beloved films. He’s very good in them! He’s even very good in Olly’s pick for the worst film ever made!
  • We all want Olly to write a memoir, right? Full of anecdotes about the many times when he almost met celebrities?
  • Sally has a tip for silencing those musical washing machines before they launch into the full symphony.
  • Should Olly satisfy his anthropological curiosity about what it’s like to go to a Roy Chubby Brown gig, or does that just make him someone who willingly attends a Roy Chubby Brown gig?
  • Helena in Aotearoa New Zealand informs us that some of the washing machines of Aotearoa New Zealand play a selection of national anthems. And/or Crazy Frog.
  • The bidet chat continues to flow: Molly in London asks if it’s ok to wash her bum with the water from her dehumidifier. Erm, best not. But what can you do with that water?
  • Annie asks the question on behalf of all of you who have been desperate to know since last Answer Us Back: what is Olly’s system for displaying souvenir magnets on his fridge?
  • After AMT421’s question about the dangers of orchestra conductors’ podiums, Laura from Ottawa, who is a professional violinist, tells us tales of other perils of the orchestra.
  • In episode we-forget-which-number-but-fairly-recent, Olly spoke of convincing himself not to be annoyed by his father’s snoring. Lola in Seattle can even turn horrible misophonia into delectable ASMR. (And if you are looking for help in navigating misophonia in yourself or people close to you, check out friend-of-the-pod Jane Gregory’s work and book at soundslikemisophonia.com.)

If AMTs 1-421 left you with lingering questions and opinions, share them with us for future episodes of Answer Us Back. And as always, send in your questions, in voicenote or written form, to answermethispodcast@googlemail.com. All new AMT422 will be in your podfeed on 24 September 2026.

Help keep AMT going by signing up at patreon.com/answermethis, where you can get an ad-free version of the show, monthly bonus bits, our video livestream Petty Problems, AND access to our ENTIRE back catalogue, including all our paywalled episodes, our special albums, and all the Retro AMT episodes. 

Answer Me This is sponsored by: 

Cozy Earth, luxurious bedding, sleepwear, loungewear, and towels for bath and beach. Shop at cozyearth.com and get 30% off using our code ANSWER. Also, their Labor Day sale runs 25 August till September 8th!
Quooker, the the tap that does it all, from instant 100-degree boiling water to chilled, filtered, and sparkling water. Shop at quooker.co.uk and until the end of August, you can use our code ANSWER to get free installation and your free Quooker glassware set.
Taskrabbit, the online and mobile marketplace, available in the UK, that connects you with skilled, reliable local freelancers to help with everything from furniture assembly and home repairs to moving, gardening, and more. Get ahead of your to-do list with £10 off your first task at taskrabbit.co.uk or on the Taskrabbit app using our promo code ANSWER

Answer Us Back: Nelly Tagliatelle

July 16, 2026

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Every edition of Answer Us Back features your responses to/observations upon previous episodes of AMT, some of them many many years old – but today’s episode is packed to the rafters with what you had to say about our most recent episode, AMT419!

  • Detta has baked a version of the Tom Cruise coconut-white chocolate bundt cake – “A lot of faff, but worth it.” Here’s a recipe similar to the one Detta tried.
  • Anonymous from the Allusioverse has actually eaten a cake gifted by Tom Cruise! Not the coconut bundt though – a lemon one, strong enough to taste “remarkably like having your taste buds bashed out”. Mmm, great.
    Also, if you want to buy yourself the standard Olly Mann Baby Gift, here you go.
  • A different Anonymous writes about the practice of film stars buying end-of-shoot gifts for all the crewmembers.
    Also, if you want to get yourself some Olly Mann-endorsed Podcast Notes, here you go!
  • Alastair in Kilmarnock gives some fun Scottish examples of stadiums being corporately renamed…
  • …and Mark tells us some of the creative approaches that stadiums have taken to cover up their usual corporate logos during the World Cup.
  • Meagan in Oakland CA wonders when, if ever, it would be OK to wear her Houston Astros shirt from 25ish years ago which has the Enron logo on it?
  • On the topic of which fun British vegetables Dan in Pennsylvania could grow on his farm, Emily in Canada is screaming, “King Edward potatoes!!!”
  • Dan himself writes back, supplying the cuke pic below – no, I said ‘CUKE’ – and noting the ladybird fuckfest that was mentioned in AMT419.
  • As well as buying ladybirds to sort out her garden’s aphids, Isabel treats herself to a few praying mantis egg sacs, to enjoy a miniature horror show when they hatch.
  • And Erica responds to the previous Answer Us Back, where we mused upon the potential disappointment of seeing one of us audio podcasters in the flesh.

If AMTs 1-419 left you with lingering questions and opinions, share them with us for future episodes of Answer Us Back. And as always, send in your questions, in voicenote or written form, to answermethispodcast@googlemail.com. All new AMT420 will be in your podfeed on 30 July 2026.

Help keep AMT going by signing up at patreon.com/answermethis, where you can get an ad-free version of the show, monthly bonus bits, our video livestream Petty Problems, AND access to our ENTIRE back catalogue, including all our paywalled episodes, our special albums, and all the Retro AMT episodes.

Now, feast your eyes on Daniel in Pennsylvania’s white cucumber (not a euphemism):

above some abundantly leafy cucumber vines, the hand of questioneer Daniel holds up a white cucumber, curved in the middle like a smile or a boomerang

AMT is sponsored by:

EPISODE 293 – horny warlords

July 3, 2014

Hello listeners,

When you’re trying to make new friends, what’s the best icebreaker? One of today’s questioneers thinks talking about death is the way to go. See if you agree in Answer Me This! Episode 293:

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We also consider less morbid topics, such as:

Viagra calorie content
I Love Lucy
Wayne Rooney’s new hair vs Kyle Beckerman’s old hair
Vancouver vs Pinner
chocolate vs chocolate flavoured chocolate-esque solids
fire hazard fiances
Jason Biggs
jetlagged hamsters
Crystal Creams
Russian Roulette
giving references
borrowing a cup of sugar
and
fucking a pork pie.

Plus: Olly explains the difference between Jewish front gardens and gentile front gardens; Helen will be hibernating all summer (correct term: ‘aestivating‘); and Martin the Sound Man has a restaurant ratings system that will render Michelin stars obsolete.

Since this episode kicks off (yes I went there) with football, one of our least favourite topics, we address another in today’s Bit of Crap on the App: zombies. We could scarcely feel more ambivalent, but since so many of you love them, do your special zombie walk over to the app store in order to listen on your iDevice, Android or Windows toy.

If your brain hasn’t been eaten, please send us QUESTIONS: call the Question Line on 0208 123 5877 or Skype ID answermethis, or email answermethispodcast@googlemail.com. And be our imaginary friend at facebook.com/answermethis and twitter.com/HelenAndOlly.

TTFN!

Helen & Olly

••• AMT293 Child-Friendly Rating: Squeaky-clean first third, then a question about Viagra. This is alright, until around 19 minutes into the episode the conversation turns to American Pie, whence it degenerates horribly. The rest of the episode is fine aside from a few swears, but realistically you’ll already have had to switch over to Fun Kids, so overall we have to rate this episode as 27%. •••

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EPISODE 200 – Bicentennial Bonanza!!!!11!!!1!!

December 8, 2011

Yeah! We’re celebrating big-style, because against all our expectations (and common sense), we bloody well made it to Answer Me This! Episode 200. As befits such a landmark, today’s podcast is a bumper edition, featuring some of our favourite people in the world. Hear:

This classic episode is available to BUY NOW for just 79p at the Answer Me This! Store, through a secure server, without DRM restriction. CLICK HERE to find out more and support our podcast. (This helps keep our most recent episodes free)

On the agenda of this special edition are subjects including:

World of Warcraft
bro code
Toadie from Neighbours
glühwein
giant peppermills
Dean Martin: boob man
La Roux: lazy
Pamela Anderson
the Beavis and Butthead reboot
A Child Called It
AMTfans vs. puberty
paramedic studies vs. media studies
Lassie vs. Bagpuss
Olly’s junior business cards
Switzerland 4eva
Armand Assante
Cadbury’s Chocolate Eclairs
Malibu’n’barbecue sauce
The Three Musketeers panto
and
hot tubs.

Plus: Olly measures himself on the Frasier yardstick; Helen impeded her mother’s career (look, she never ASKED to be born, OK?); and at last we discover multitalented Martin the Sound Man’s weak spot – deficiency at Warhammer.

This week there’s an especially Big Bit of Crap on the App, wherein we learn: how to make a fake G&T; where dolls store their Christmas decorations; at what age you should not accept gifts of pants from your mother; what the hell DFS stands for; the benefits of child labour for a wedding reception; finding love at the kosher butcher’s; the perils of a brown rice diet; and seeing the PG Tips chimps live.

The app is available for iDevices or Android, but on this occasion, the Bonus Bit is available to all of you, smartphone or not; click here to download the MP3, or play this player:

There’s more! If you require some borderline-horrific visuals to accompany this episode, check out the Gallery of Munt.

We couldn’t have made it to 200 episodes without the affection and support of you listeners, so please give yourselves a pat on the back from us, especially if you are one of the legion who supplied us with QUESTIONS. If you aren’t, what are you waiting for? Send emails to answermethispodcast@googlemail.com or leave voicemails on the Question Line (dial 0208 123 5877, Skype answermethis).

We’ll be back next week with the Best of AMT2011, part 1,

Helen & Olly

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EPISODE 171 – Playdate with Bob Dylan

March 17, 2011

Dear Team AMT,

We hope you are all safe and sound wherever you are in the world, and that this year’s trend for End of Days-style disasters has left you unscathed. We can’t stave off the apocalypse, but we can offer you 29 minutes of distraction while you wait, in the form of Answer Me This! Episode 171:

This classic episode is available to BUY NOW for just 79p at the Answer Me This! Store, through a secure server, without DRM restriction. CLICK HERE to find out more and support our podcast. (This helps keep our most recent episodes free)

On today’s conversational dance-card are topics including:

Brian Wilson
broken teapots
Kafka
5ive vs. Jesus Lizard
Dorothy Wordsworth vs. Macaulay Culkin
William Wordsworth vs. Jade Goody
stupid shoe-shaped planters
fairy codmothers
Kate Middleton’s genetically modified footmen
Harold Wilson’s lying wife
Pandaemonium
Fifteen to One

Christ’s comeback tour
and
flesh-trampolining.

Plus: Olly suggests that Cinderella be a bit more nonconformist in her eveningwear style if she wants to make a splash in society; Helen’s green brogues make her an outcast in the Apple Store; and Martin the Sound Man’s dainty guts could bring in the win if any of us decided to go on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Major Charles Ingram, eat your heartfart out!

Today’s Bit of Crap on the App is a discussion upon whether sentimental idiots like Olly should cook peas for their cats, or whether said beasts should learn to tough it out. You can get that app for iPhone or Android for mere pence; but remember, it costs nothing to send us your QUESTIONS, so squander a load of no-money by leaving voicemails on the Question Line (dial 0208 123 5877 or findanswermethis on Skype) or emailing answermethispodcast@googlemail.com. We may not be rich, but a wealth of questions is all the wealth we need. (Well, it isn’t, but that’s hardly your problem, is it? And as soon as we get our Playdate with the Stars agency off the ground, we’ll be rolling in the good stuff.)

See you next week!

Helen & Olly

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