The Following Through Podcast

The Pride Special – Guests: Peter Abraham and Madge Hooks – Ep10 S3

In the finale of the third season, Alex and Siobhan present the Pride Special. They are joined by Peter Abraham, a professional BSL interpreter, and comedian Madge Hooks.   Peter and Madge discuss their own experiences of being gay, coming out, how attitudes have changed throughout the decades, and the worrying political signs ahead.   In Sh*t or Miss, Madge shares a story about suffering the ill-effects of eating some spicy nuts the night before, only find the bathroom door locked as a housemate is in there and not responding to knocks on the wood.    Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

Becoming a Boccia Champion and Comedian – Guest: Gabby Rolls – Ep9 S3

Rising comedian Gabby Rolls joins Alex and Siobhan in this extended episode that is all about the challenges of becoming a champion in the sport of boccia and doing comedy. Aged 22, she is also the youngest guest so far to appear on the Following Through Podcast.   Gabby has cerebral palsy after being deprived of oxygen at birth and is a wheelchair-user. But that hasn't stopped her from launching successful careers in sport and as a comedian.    She describes how watching the London 2012 Paralympic Games inspired her as an eight-year-old, then took up the sport of boccia soon after the Rio games four years later when recovering from hip surgery.   Gabby won a bronze medal in her first-ever competition and made her debut for the England boccia team a year later, aged 15.    Winner of Disabled Comedian of the Year 2026, She talks about her experiences as a comedian and wheelchair-user, and how dark humour has helped get her through some difficult times.    In Sh*t or Miss, Gabby tells a story from her experiences in hospital when having an operation aged 12 years after being pumped full of bowel-loosening medication. After having an enema, she thought the worst was over when she was having her meal. But was it?    Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

A Career in Journalism – Ep8 S3

Journalism is a difficult profession to break into, but not so for Alex, who stumbled into it by chance and somehow built a career he still does alongside comedy.   In this episode, Siobhan speaks to Alex about his 18 years of journalism and editorial experience, starting out at a local paper aged 23 with no training or experience, learning on the job in a rural setting under a brutal editor. He recalls some of the articles he wrote, from the trivial about a pigeon to a big national story, as well as attending three or four parish council meetings every month.  Lasting just over a year in the role and burnt out, he decided to quit and move to London to pursue comedy, but ended up working regular shifts for a national publication for a couple of years. So, how does Noel Edmonds fit into this?  In Sh*t or Miss, Siobhan uses her growing reporter skills to extract another tale. The story involves someone on a coach trip in India with a weakened stomach, saved by a stop in a rural village and the urgent hunt for a toilet.  Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

Becoming a Property Owner – Ep7 S3

In this episode, Alex and Siobhan discuss their very different routes to becoming property owners in opposite parts of London.   Alex also recalls some of his house share horror stories and only wanting to buy a flat to avoid living with strangers again with their weird habits.   Siobhan explains how she arranged viewings for the majority of properties on sale in Morden, bringing her family and a ladder for second viewings.     In Sh*t or Miss, pro-wrestler Jerry Bakewell tells a tale about an incident in a German night club followed by a kebab.   Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

Starting a Fermented and Organic Food Business – Guest: Keir Boxshall from Wild and Cultured – Ep6 S3

Many dream of turning a hobby into a business, but hesitate to take the leap. In this episode, Alex and Siobhan are joined by Keir Boxshall, founder of Wild and Cultured, who turned his hobby into a thriving business. Keir, who makes organic fermented sauces and condiments, met Siobhan at a food festival in London after his stall caught the attention of her husband.   Keir had a high-level role for an international engineering company, but the stress from work was having a negative impact on his health. He started eating more fermented foods to improve his gut health and had been making his own sauces and condiments for years. The pandemic gave him a chance to have a rethink. Encouraged by his partner, he began his company three years ago and turned his hobby into a successful business. And Wild and Cultured was born.   Keir sells his unique spin on many well-known sauces and condiments, but uses fermentation techniques and organic ingredients to create live, non-ultra-processed products, which provide healthy bacteria to the gut and support the microbiome, providing positive health benefits.     He explains his business origins, challenges with perfecting recipes, and talks about the importance of a healthy microbiome. For more info, visit: https://wildandcultured.co.uk [https://wildandcultured.co.uk].   And in Sh*t or Miss, Alex provides Keir with a choice of four options from his personal archive. Keir selects a tale entitled Norovirus in the Woods.   Music is by Rich Shillitoe.