Infinite Prattle Podcast!

6.05 /// I Love Books, So Why Can’t I Finish One?

Send us a textA new year deserves a gentler start, so we swap a heavy story for a book‑soaked ramble about attention, joy and the strange guilt that creeps in when we sit down to read. I open the door to my shelves—Alien art books, Douglas Adams box sets, a beloved H. G. Wells collection—and admit what many of us feel but rarely say out loud: loving books doesn’t guarantee we can finish them, especially when burnout, screens and chores fight for the same slice of energy.We explore why film novelisations can be the perfect bridge back into reading, with draft‑era scenes and character details you won’t find on screen. I share how childhood habits of racing through library stacks hardened into adult expectations, why juggling three to five books used to work, and how that same habit now multiplies friction. There’s practical talk, too: setting a “too small to fail” reading unit, placing the book where doomscrolling usually wins, choosing one anchor title, and rotating formats between print, Kindle and audiobooks to suit your day. Memoirs read by the author on audio get a special nod—they carry a warmth the page can’t replicate.We also dip into cognitive tools that actually help. Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats gets a shout because separating modes of thought quiets the noise that makes leisure feel like work. If your job already demands constant reading, it’s no wonder the page feels heavy at night. The fix isn’t force; it’s design. Change the default, reduce switching, and let small starts stack into momentum. Along the way I ask for your wisdom: which book broke your slump, and how do you balance paper, Kindle and audio without losing the thread?If this resonates, tap follow, share it with a friend who misses reading, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Then tell me: what’s the one habit that brought you back to books?Support the showPlease remember to check out my website /social media, and support me if you feel you can.Subscribewww.infinite-prattle.comInstagram, Twitter, TikTok & Facebook Thanks!

6.04 /// Roasties, Lego, And The Devil’s Parsnip

Send us a textThe holidays can be both soft and sharp: twinkly lights and full plates on one side, memories of long shifts and missed days off on the other. We lean into that tension and make something honest from it—quiet routines, home cooking, and small rituals that turn a winter’s day into a warm one. From the joy of an Ulster fry with fresh soda and potato bread to the debate over parsnips and the triumphant mountain of sausage stuffing, we explore how food becomes a language of care when words fall short.We rewind to childhood: the Argos catalogue, the Mega Drive years, and learning what it took for parents to stretch a payslip into magic. Then we fast-forward to a world of online convenience, where shopping takes seconds but the high street grows quiet and our step counts shrink. It’s a candid look at what we’ve gained, what we’ve lost, and how a few intentional choices—like walking to buy something local or donating from an overfull cupboard—can restore a sense of place. Along the way, there’s Lego building, Die Hard on in the background, and those gloriously tacky foil garlands that make a room feel like 1995 in the best way.Hosting stays at the heart of it all. Cooking a joint ahead of time, glazing ham, crisping roasties, and laying out a table for family who’ve been working shifts—these are the moments that turn a holiday into a home. We talk about gratitude that moves beyond sentiment: giving to charities that show up at Christmas, sharing leftovers, and noticing the people who don’t get the day off. It’s a simple blueprint for a kinder season and a better year: less polish, more presence; fewer grand gestures, more everyday generosity.If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who loves a good roast potato, and leave a review telling us your non-negotiable holiday tradition. Your stories help shape the next one.Support the showPlease remember to check out my website /social media, and support me if you feel you can.Subscribewww.infinite-prattle.comInstagram, Twitter, TikTok & Facebook Thanks!

6.03 // The Xennial hybrid...

Send us a textEver felt too analogue for millennials and too online for Gen X? That strange middle ground has a name—Xennial—and we dig into what it actually feels like to grow up swapping cassettes, then end up editing videos on a phone. We open with some light studio chatter—hats, Lego lights, dual-phone camera angles—then slide into a deeper story about how economics, timing and technology shaped a micro-generation that learned to translate both worlds.We talk through the big pivot points: buying first homes right as markets swung, navigating wage stagnation and the cost of living, and finding stability in careers while the ground moved. It’s not doom and gloom; it’s the pragmatic mindset that formed when streams replaced discs and certainty went out the window. Expect a tour of format wars—VHS versus Betamax, HD DVD versus Blu-ray—the myths around why formats “win,” and how that churn trained us to migrate libraries, back up files and accept that no standard is permanent.From early IT classes that taught how to turn on a computer to today’s frictionless creator tools, the contrast is stark. We share how easy it is to make a podcast with a smartphone, why “good enough” editing beats perfectionism, and how being fluent in both analogue and digital makes us handy translators for parents and younger peers. There’s nostalgia for pre-YouTube internet—Flash animations, browser games—and a candid look at how attention shifted once the feed never ends.If you’ve ever wondered where you fit—Gen X, millennial, Gen Z—or if the Xennial label finally clicks, this is your lane. Press play, compare notes on your defining tech moment, and tell us your era: cassette, CD or cloud. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this with a friend who remembers dial-up but lives on Wi‑Fi.Support the showPlease remember to check out my website /social media, and support me if you feel you can.Subscribewww.infinite-prattle.comInstagram, Twitter, TikTok & Facebook Thanks!

6.02 /// Six Pounds For A Latte? My Wallet Needs Oxygen...

Send us a textA festive day out at a grand old house should feel simple: lights, stories, a bit of wonder. Instead, a £35 hour and a £6 machine-made latte opened a bigger conversation about value, habit, and where we draw the line. I share the joy of the visit, the sticker shock that followed, and the uneasy maths that now trails everyday treats—from parking to hot chocolate to the kind of concert tickets that used to be a splurge, not a mortgage payment.We break down what “worth it” really means when wages and inflation run a tug of war. I unpack why a handcrafted drink feels different from a button-press, how hidden costs stack up quietly, and where consumer power actually lives. We talk about boycotting without bitterness, choosing quality over hype, and the small acts that nudge pricing back toward sanity. There’s a detour through Northern Ireland’s shop culture, where communities still reward service and fairness, and a reflection on how younger generations swap late nights for lattes and gym passes—same budget, new priorities.If you’ve ever looked at a bill and thought, when did this become normal, you’re in the right place. Come for the Christmas charm, stay for the honest look at everyday spending, from £6 seasonal drinks to £250 stadium seats. I don’t claim to have the fix, but I do believe in voting with our feet, backing craft, and asking better questions about profit and price. Listen now, share your line in the sand, and help more people find the show—subscribe, leave a review, and tell a friend who loves a good value check.Support the showPlease remember to check out my website /social media, and support me if you feel you can.Subscribewww.infinite-prattle.comInstagram, Twitter, TikTok & Facebook Thanks!

6.01 /// I'm Back On the Air!

Send us a textIf you’ve ever stared at your passion project and felt the start button grow heavier by the day, you’ll recognise this comeback story. After nearly eleven months away, I’m back with a simpler, more human setup: two phones, a squeaky chair, and a promise to keep the edits light so the conversation stays real. I’m taking the podcast to video without losing what made the audio work—no jump cuts, no overproduction, just a clear voice and an honest rhythm you can trust.I open up about why the break stretched so long: stacked work stress, full weekends, and the creeping pressure to “launch video the right way.” The solution wasn’t more gear or a perfect set; it was choosing ease over perfection and protecting the fact this is a hobby. That shift unlocks consistency. I also share how the format is changing—less rushing to wrap every topic, more letting ideas spill into the next episode. Expect recurring threads, from music and 80s films to aliens and practical creativity, plus a few guests who bring good energy without turning the show into admin.Life kept moving while the feed was quiet. There were local trips, motorbike rides, and a major work project that drained and taught in equal measure. I’m considering an episode on IVF—handled with care and consent—because the process is harder and more complex than most people realise, and stories like that need space. Through it all, I’m reminded that the metric that matters is connection: a comment, a like, a suggestion that says someone is out there. If you’ve got a topic you want me to tackle or a question you want me to unpack, I’m listening.Watch or listen—your choice—and help shape what comes next let us build this show together.Support the showPlease remember to check out my website /social media, and support me if you feel you can.Subscribewww.infinite-prattle.comInstagram, Twitter, TikTok & Facebook Thanks!