I have always been a huge fan of podcasts, I have listened to podcasts as far back at 2008 I think it was although I never really listened to them until a few years later. My first real introduction to the world of podcasts was when I was in my last year of university and had to spend hours in the classroom with two of my friends working on our coursework into the very early hours of the morning. It would just be the three of us, myself, Matt and Tom and whilst we were working, the podcasts of The Ricky Gervais show was blasting out into the room. It was in the moment I realised that podcasts can create so much comedy and can really sort of act like a ‘best friend.’ It also sort of created a special bonding moment between the three of us and I am still very much close friends with them today.

Over the years, I have learnt that podcasts can really be so much more then the ‘laugh’ and whilst I do listen to a lot of podcasts to help get me through the tough days, the good days and the times I have to work through the night, I also have found that it can be so much more.

Over the years, the idea of what a podcast is has obviously developed, especially with the pandemic and so many more have arisen and so much more content is now available and in a saturated market it can be hard to find really good shows. I have learnt that sometimes episodes of certain podcasts can really have an effect and over time I have shown my appreciation for these episodes on my social media channels.

I have previously spoken about the podcast episode that inspired me to start writing this feature, and you can read more about it here. This week we are talking about a podcast that I found incredible refreshing to listen to when it comes to relationships.

Podcast Episodes That Changed My Life –
Episode: Ep 6. Joel Dommett
Podcast: Off Menu With Ed Gamble And James Acaster

I have always been a fan of both Ed Gamble and James Acaster – I came across them through the Josh Widdicombe show that used to be on XFM (Radio X) around 2013 / 2014 as they were regular guests. I used to really like the comedy that they used to create and from then I used to make sure I followed everything that they did. One of my favourite things that the duo did together was a Youtube show via Turtle Canyon Comedy called Just Puddings.

The show is focussed on the fact that Ed Gamble has Diabetes and James Acaster had to try all the desserts that he gets forced to eat to describe them to Ed and the taste experience that he would of got if he had been able to eat them. There are not many episodes but it is a great watch and I highly recommend it.

When I heard that the duo were set to release a podcast, I was incredibly excited as it was about food and knowing these two comics, I had a feeling that Off Menu was going to be completely different to anything else out there – and it was. I was there on my Spotify account on the first day it was released and I haven’t gone away.

It is a podcast that can make me laugh in the most random places in public as it is a fantastic show. Each week they have a different celebrity and they ask them their dream meal – starter, main, side, dessert, drink and of course poppadom’s or bread (usually shouted at them by James at really random moments) . There are some truly fantastic episodes and I could write about literally hundreds on this article as there are so many that I have thoroughly enjoyed. However, I decided to talk about an episode that was the first celebrity that made a menu that was pretty horrible and went down in Off Menu history as a really bad dream list.

Right from the start this episode is hilarious – I think because it is only six episode into season one that it comes as such a shock this menu as there are some great guests before that when you listen the show you actually want to eat or try what they are talking about. On Joel’s episode, you always question his choices and that is what makes it funny.

“…It is a podcast that can make me laugh in the most random places in public as it is a fantastic show.…”

Off Menu is a fantastic show and there are so many episodes I could talk about in this article and I aim to do so in the future as it is such a great conversation. James and Ed have a way of getting the best out of their guests and I think that it why it is pretty special.

Podcast Episodes That Changed My Life is taking a break over August and will return in September