The Mic Drop

Ep32 - The Birthday Paradox

It's a Birthday Special! Ben took last week off because it was his birthday and he simply wasn't coming in, and Ed's turn was just around the corner. Things get philosophical via shuffleboard, balloon breath, and the maths that will ruin your next house party. Ben kicks things off with a birthday revelation that hits harder than expected: there will be a last time you pick up your kids, and he found out on his birthday, so naturally he immediately went and picked up his 14-year-old. From there the guys dig into the surprisingly deep history of birthdays, from pharaohs becoming gods in ancient Egypt to the Romans gatekeeping celebrations to adult men only, and the Germans finally letting kids join the party in the 19th century. Ed drops the copyright bombshell on Happy Birthday To You, a song that cost $25 million to acquire, earned Warner Music $2 million a year, and explains why every restaurant chain has their own weird version. It was also the first song ever sung in space, which almost (almost) changes Ben's mind about it. Ben introduces the birthday paradox and Ed doesn't believe it. Ben's maths teachers brother has the workings on a piece of paper somewhere. There's also: * why we celebrate the wrong person on birthdays * the Mexican cake face-slam tradition * birthday cards going straight to the junk drawer * and whether the Wigan Warriors "you want some?" bloke has a Cameo. Track of the Week: Ben - Dammit by Alexandra Kaye (originally Blink-182) - https://open.spotify.com/track/0fQIh3kxy3MeDDuHuJMEXN?si=f752665c144d4f7d Ed - Happy Birthday Ben! - EPIC Happy Birthday Song by Epic Happy Birthdays - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7zzD5q4YpU&list=RDZ7zzD5q4YpU&start_radio=1 BEN'S LINKS: The History of Birthdays - Article - https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/birthday [https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/birthday] Warner Music - Official Site - https://www.warnermusic.com [https://www.warnermusic.com/]

Ep31 - Trust Gaps, Attention Spans & the 2 Bike Splits

Ed and Ben are back, and this week things get philosophical - via afternoon tea, motorcycle mishaps, and the furthest humanity has ever travelled from Earth. Ben's suspension saga takes an unexpected turn when a moment of impatience leads him to buy a second motorbike he didn't need, which kicks off a brilliant conversation about how our shrinking attention spans are fundamentally changing the way we make decisions, consume content, and engage with brands. From the three-second rule for video to the F-shaped reading pattern, the guys dig into what it actually means to capture and keep someone's interest in 2026. Ed introduces his concept of the Trust Gap and explains why most franchise brands are essentially asking prospects to go on a blind date. Spoiler: they won't show up. There's also: subtitles vs. dubbing, why we love lawns (it's evolution), Artemis 2's broken toilet, a full bladder as a productivity tool, and Ben's son's name going around the moon. Tracks of the Week:Ed - Venom by Wind Waker https://open.spotify.com/track/6Yj0FdKYs2qgDunRV8AW3t?si=559c946693704454 Ben Masters of War by Grandson (originally Bob Dylan, 1963) https://open.spotify.com/track/0EJlSUNoYL931cYAQspN5i?si=e7173fc80f744e1b

Ep30 - Vibe Coding, Moral Narcolepsy & Angine De Poitrine

They're back! Three weeks late, zero apologies. The clocks have changed, Ben's been angry about it ever since, and Ed offloaded his kids on the in-laws and had a lovely time. We get into: * Ed's webinar on franchise recruitment in the AI era and why brands are losing prospects they don't even know they had * Ben's vibe-coded CRM that turned 10 leads into 4 meetings (and what that says about attention spans) * Why AI might be doing to music what cameras did to painting - hello cubism, goodbye chord shapes * Angine de Poitrine: microtonal alien jazz from Quebec that means "chest pain." Which tracks. * Enter Shikari's new album and the concept of "moral narcolepsy" (look it up, it's brilliant) * President live at the LCR, £45 merch, and a support act dressed like Squid Game * Snake jazz. Don't ask. Just listen. TRACKS OF THE WEEK Ed: SARNIEZZ by Angine de Poitrine - https://open.spotify.com/track/6iDKiCR13L8Ba6bkK6cqqt?si=0f636791bca146e9 [https://open.spotify.com/track/6iDKiCR13L8Ba6bkK6cqqt?si=0f636791bca146e9] Ben: The Flick of a Switch I. by Enter Shikari - https://open.spotify.com/track/6sZQXNlRl4GRKhopNSD3pO?si=3a5a77d2343c438d [https://open.spotify.com/track/6sZQXNlRl4GRKhopNSD3pO?si=3a5a77d2343c438d]

Ep29 - Dolphins Get High, Cars Get Bought & EF100 Chaos

Two cars in a month… dolphins getting high… and a franchise awards night that went exactly how you’d expect (i.e. sideways). This episode starts with a harmless catch-up and quickly spirals into: * The reality of buying “budget” cars (and why every dodgy one “just runs like that”) * Dolphins apparently getting high off puffer fish… and what that says about intelligence * Behind the scenes of the EF100 Awards – presenting, pressure, and post-event chaos * What actually happens after the awards (hint: sweat, dancing, and poor decisions) * Why metal music might actually help your brain focus * Pokémon cards, Cheeto Charizards, and accidental investments TRACKS OF THE WEEK Ben – Darwinism by Kubla Khan TX https://open.spotify.com/search/Kubla%20Khan%20TX%20Darwinism Ed – Colours by Black Pumas https://open.spotify.com/search/Black%20Pumas%20Colours 🔑 Takeaways * Sometimes you just need to lean in and enjoy the moment * Expect nothing… and you might end up loving it * Your brain works how it works—lean into what helps you focus * And somewhere out there… dolphins are having a better weekend than you

Pubcast 1 - Chaos, Content & Questionable Decisions

For the first time ever… we’re out in the wild. Recording from a swanky London hotel bar (pub rules still apply), this episode is what happens when you mix franchising, filming chaos, questionable teenage stories, and just enough alcohol to make things… unpredictable. We get into: * Behind the scenes of “Franchising’s Got Talent” – from “great idea” to full-blown production madness * Why filming is never as simple as “just get some footage” * Egos, logistics, and the reality of pulling together a multi-camera shoot * The first ever Mic Drop Pubcast (and why this might become a thing…) * Music, nostalgia, and how Skunk Anansie accidentally helped Ed pass English And: * Live mic drops * Guest appearances Takeaways * Filming always takes longer than you think… and involves more chaos than planned * Great ideas are easy… executing them is where the fun (and stress) begins * Community makes the madness worth it * And most importantly… make time for the fun stuff TRACKS OF THE WEEK: Ed - Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles - https://open.spotify.com/track/7o7E1nrHWncYY7PY94gCiX?si=4d273283977b4879 [https://open.spotify.com/track/7o7E1nrHWncYY7PY94gCiX?si=4d273283977b4879] Ben - Charlie Big Potato by Skunk Anansie - https://open.spotify.com/track/7FY6MkxmeSt6WSeC0XnY5m?si=a932368497534caa [https://open.spotify.com/track/7FY6MkxmeSt6WSeC0XnY5m?si=a932368497534caa] Special Guest Natalia - Find Home by Jenny Williams - https://open.spotify.com/track/09BGFqGyf9SdLSa7QZ23zC?si=39a33eb53f2a4d99 [https://open.spotify.com/track/09BGFqGyf9SdLSa7QZ23zC?si=39a33eb53f2a4d99] BEN's LINKS Coming soon???