Welcome back to Podcast Episodes That Changed My Life! Every other week we will discuss a different show and episode!

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 find hilarious and came to very late as I was initially not a fan of the duo…

Podcast Episodes That Changed My Life –
Episode: Pete Makes A Formal Complaint About Sam
Podcast: Staying Relevant

Before we start I have to admit something outright for years I could not stand Pete Wicks. I knew nothing about him but he was on everything reality, always in the press and he was someone I just had no time to really bother to understand. As for Sam Thompson I just knew him as a winner of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and everyone always kept calling him “golden retriever energy.” That’s all I knew, that’s all I wanted to know and didn’t want anything to do with them.

The end of last year that changed.

I watched the last season of Strictly mainly because I am a fan of Chris McCausland and I was fascinated to see how he was going to do. The fact Pete was on it I just rolled my eyes metaphorically but over time he grew on me and at times felt the show was very unfair on him and felt some of the dances and themes he was given were mocking him and sexualising him deliberately which wasn’t fair on him. By the end of strictly and after watching the show he did for Dog Trust and witnessing a vulnerable side you don’t usually see of him in the limelight it sort of humanised him and I started to be “team Wickes”. It was clear a persona in the media was just that a persona.

“…when you listen to the early episodes they are still having major issues getting to where they want to be in the media. It’s so weird to think where they are now and that is what makes this show gold...”

As for Sam, I still didn’t know a lot just someone who was incredibly jolly, bouncy and full of this electric energy whenever he was on the screen.

In December I decided to follow Still Relevant on Instagram. I had no intention to listen I was just enjoying the odd video that came up in my feed. I would watch these random videos on and off for a couple of months then in March 2025 I decided ‘screw it’ I am going to listen to it.

I am so glad I did.

“…The thing that makes this podcast fantastic is the comedy gold, the banter between the two hosts is hilarious….”

Even though it’s a few years since the podcast started I think it was the perfect time to start – when you listen to the early episodes they are still having major issues getting to where they want to be in the media. It’s so weird to think where they are now and that is what makes this show gold.

The whole concept of the podcast is about what they do each week to stay relevant with the media and the public. It initially comes across as fame hungry (especially Sam) but it is really interesting and fascinating to listen to. I work in television but never really thought about this angle of the industry before and that is why I really enjoy it there is so much to enjoy as it’s crazy to hear what people have to do to keep relevant.

The thing that makes this podcast fantastic is the comedy gold, the banter between the two hosts is hilarious. It may be the workings of the way two best friends work together but the way that Sam has all these crazy big dreams and Pete keeps putting his feet firmly on the ground with reality makes it gold. It is so funny. The fact that they even take the Mick out of themselves is also what makes this show great.

I think this is the particular episode where I started to embrace the fact that I was really enjoying what I was listening to. There are so many great episodes but I remember laughing a lot to this one.

It is a podcast that you should give a try, if you aren’t a fan of either ignore that and still give it a listen as this podcast deserves to be heard.

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