January 24, 2022
In this episode, recorded at Bristol Con 2021, our Hannah chats to a host of wonderful science fiction authors. We'll let you listen to find out exactly who. It feels more like a Bristol Con that way - you're never quite sure who you'll bump into.
Hannah at Bristol Con 2021
One thing we will tell you though is that you'll hear from Arthur C. Clarke award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky.
Download and listen now.
show notes
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
![Rosie Miles - Girl of the Wild]()
October 14, 2021
Rosie Miles is truly the Girl of the Wild and her first book tells some of the stories of the last 10 years of her life working with wild animals in Africa. We read of encounters with snakes, big cats, elephants and so much more in this riveting book and Rosie joins Andrew for this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
Rosie Miles (Girl of the Wild) @safari_smiles on Instagram
Rosie and Andrew met several years ago when Rosie was studying science communication at UWE Bristol and the book is just the latest in Rosie's adventures. In this episode, you will hear about a potential second book which we all believe needs to become a reality...
Rosie and colleagues hard at work @safari_smiles on Instagram
You can buy the book here and, while you wait for it to arrive, you can listen to this spoiler free episode of The Cosmic Shed.
show notes
Buy Girl of the Wild: Misadventures in the African Bush here
Apply to study Science Communication at UWE Bristol here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
![Samantha Baines - The Night the Moon Went Out]()
August 19, 2021
Samantha Baines joins Andrew for this episode of The Cosmic Shed and has a new book out called The Night the Moon Went Out. She's also an award-winning comedian, actress, broadcaster, hearing aid wearer and the author of Harriet Versus the Galaxy. As an actress, Samantha has appeared in Netflix’s The Crown, Call the Midwife, Silent Witness or Magic Mike Live (directed by Channing Tatum).
Samantha Baines and her books with a spacey theme
You can also hear Samantha on BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Kent, Virgin Radio, hosting Q and A's at the BFI or hosting her award nominated podcast The Divorce Social.
In this episode of The Cosmic Shed, Samantha and Andrew discuss a host of things including The Crown (does anyone know if Prince Andrew appears in it?), Sound of Metal starring Riz Ahmed and, of course, The Night The Moon Went Out which you can buy here.
show notes
Samantha and Andrew are also on the Physics World Stories podcast
You can hear our episode with Marina Sirtis here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
July 1, 2021
Catriona Silvey is an author whose new book Meet Me in Another Life has been optioned for a new film starring Gal Gadot...even before the book came out... Catriona joins Dr. Hannah Little for this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
Gal (left) will produce and star in the film of the novel by Catriona's (right)
Meet Me in Another Life is a story of love and connection in every possible form that will captivate fans of Stuart Turton, Claire North, and Audrey Niffenegger. Gal Gadot says it is "Beautifully explored and deeply complex".
The book is released on July 8th 2021. You can get it here but you can listen to Catriona right now on this episode. Download to your favourite podcast app or simply press play.
show notes
Dr Hannah Little is a Senior Lecturer in Science Communication at UWE Bristol
Catriona Silvey has a website here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
May 10, 2021
We're joined by Andy Weir to talk about his latest, and quite possibly greatest (so far) novel Project Hail Mary. One lone astronaut holds the future of humanity in his hands. If you've read it, you know what happens next. Either way, download and listen now to this interview with, friend of The Cosmic Shed podcast, Andy Weir.
Andy Weir, Andrew, Ti and Steve chat about Project Hail Mary
There are some spoilers later in the episode so do feel free to read the book first. You won't regret it and you can buy it from all good book shops including here.
show notes
Project Hail Mary is published by Penguin Random House
You can listen to our live event with Andy Weir here
You can listen to our episode on the Martian (book) here
You can listen to our episode on the Martian (film) here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
![Chaos Walking]()
May 4, 2021
May the Fourth be with you. It's Star Wars Day and we have something of a special guest for you today. You'll have to listen to find out who it is.
This episode is all about Chaos Walking, the new film starring Daisy Ridley, who you may know as Rey from Star Wars.
We've got a surprise guest for you this May 4th...
Andrew, Steve, Tushna and Russell are joined by Hannah Little, a senior lecturer at UWE Bristol with a PhD in linguistics. In the film, everyone can hear all the men's thoughts and conversation in the podcast swiftly moves to discuss the science behind such ideas. Ti also pops in to tell us about the chaos of making Chaos Walking.
What is the dog thinking?
The film also stars Spiderman himself, Tom Holland, and is based on the books by Patrick Ness. Download and listen now and find out who that surprise guest is this May 4th...
show notes
You can find out more about Neuralink here
You can find out more about how people think here
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
![Seaspiracy]()
April 7, 2021
Seaspiracy is, sadly, not about Seas Piracy but about an alleged conspiracy in the fisheries sector which is trying to conceal the damage done to our oceans by fisheries. It's available on Netflix and is a film by Ali Tabrizi, following on from Cowspiracy.
Conspirasea?
Andrew is joined in "the shed" by Marine Cusa, Natalie Dyer, Emma Brisdion and Russell Arnott to discuss the film, the science of the film and the film making practices employed. Just how much can we trust it?
Andrew, Marine, Natalie, Emma and Russell.
Scientists involved in the protection of our oceans, even those interviewed for the film have spoken out against the film's accuracy.
Prof Christina Hicks speaking out on Twitter
Marine has dived even deeper into the science in her two part YouTube review of Seaspiracy which we urge you all to watch here but, before you do, download and listen to this episode of The Cosmic Shed podcast.
Marine Cusa's review is excellent and on YouTube.
show notes
You can follow Marine, Natalie, Emma and Russell on Twitter.
Marine is speaking in her own capacity and her opinions do not necessarily reflect that of her employers.
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
The Marine Conservation Society provide a useful document on fish to avoid
![ESA Astronaut Selection with Jennifer Ngo-Anh]()
March 30, 2021
ESA are looking for new astronauts and you can apply. Dr Jennifer Ngo-Anh is Team Leader in the Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency and joins Andrew for this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
Jennifer Ngo-Anh tells us about the science done in Space
Jennifer, a medical doctor with a PhD in neuroscience, joined ESA in 2006, and tells Andrew what ESA are looking for in the new astronaut candidates and what the new space faring recruits will have to look forward to...including ESA's plans to return people to the Moon.
ESA's missions for robots and humans in the near future
Jennifer and Andrew discuss the Lunar Gateway, a space station planned to go in orbit around the Moon, which the successful candidates for this round of astronaut recruitment may well find themselves on one day.
Strap in and download this episode of The Cosmic Shed.
show notes
You can apply to become one of the new crop of astronauts here
Image credits ESA/NASA and pictured is Luca Parmitano
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
March 9, 2021
Jon Boden has won 11 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. His new album Last Mile Home, from Hudson Records, is the final instalment in his trilogy of concept albums set in a post-climate change future. You might also know him as the lead singer and arranger of the legendary folk band Bellowhead. He joins Andrew for this special episode of The Cosmic Shed podcast.
Jon Boden, in his Potting Shed, talking to Andrew of The Cosmic Shed
Jon's trilogy of post-apocalyptic albums began with Songs from the Floodplain in 2009, followed by Afterglow in 2017 and, this month, Last Mile Home. You can get your own copies of them here.
Jon and Andrew talk about science in folk music, the process of songwriting, quite how you make a concept album that is actually really brilliant and a whole lot more besides.
Download and listen now.
show notes
Jon Boden's Last Mile Home is available from Hudson Records
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
![The Midnight Sky]()
February 9, 2021
George Clooney's The Midnight Sky, currently showing on Netflix, comes to The Cosmic Shed podcast.
We're joined by legendary production designer Jim Bissell to discuss his work on The Midnight Sky. You might know his work from E.T.
Jim Bissell, Production Designer of The Midnight Sky and our Steve
Our Steve got a teensy bit excited about the engineering in the film and we've indulged him big time in this episode. Happily, he's the kind of guy you want to indulge and he's come up with something rather special.
Not only does he bring you an interview with Jim Bissell, who designed the spacecraft (the Aether) in The Midnight Sky, but he got in touch with Professor Ben Hicks of the Design and Manufacturing Futures Lab at the University of Bristol.
Steve and Prof Ben hatch a plan to work out the engineering of the Aether if it were a real life space craft...You can see a video of what Prof Ben and colleagues came up with on our Twitter account here
Prof Ben Hicks found that the optimum design for the booms is actually straight hollow tubes as in this image: 
The Aether - could it really work? Prof Ben Hicks worked it out
Meanwhile, in "the shed" opinions are mixed but all found something to love in The Midnight Sky.
Download and listen now.
show notes
The Cosmic Shed is part of the Stimulus Network
You can subscribe to The Cosmic Shed podcast
Robin Ince and Hannah in Bookhaus for The Cosmic Shed
Evie and Anya from Mary Anning Rocks
