18 MARCH 2026

Hello, imps.

Chris Mead here.

I’m in my last week before flying out to the Manila Improv Festival. I can’t wait to meet a new community and watch some amazing improv shows.

But before I go, there’s the little matter of putting on another Pretend Night and recommending some things to you fine folks.

PS - looks like AI has finally come for us.

Rule of three

[Online] Odd Animal Specimens
I love this YouTube channel because it’s so simple - minimal advertising, no filler - just interesting animal facts presented with real flair and attention to detail. What’s inside a rattlesnake’s rattle? How our insects were infected by a zombie fungus. Everything you didn’t know about caterpillars. Adore the retro sound design too. Bong!

[Music] Listening to a whole album
I threw in a recommendation last week to try listening to an album from start to finish, rather than relying on algorithmically generated playlists. You never quite know which recommendations are going to hit, but this one elicited some wonderful suggestions of albums I might try. I haven’t managed to listen to them all yet (although they are all saved on my phone for the flight to Manila) but here’s what you, dear readers, recommended in return.

Getting Killed - Geese
Igor - Tyler, The Creator
choke enough - Oklou
how i’m feeling now - Charli xcx
I’m in your Mind Fuzz - King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard
Living for the Other Side - The Hillybilly Thomists
Blue Weekend - Wolf Alice
End Titles … Stories for Film - UNKLE
The Sun is Often Out - Longpigs
The Romantic - Bruno Mars
Things to Make and Do - Moloko
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Tapestry - Carol King
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
Something/ Anything - Todd Rundgren
Salesmen & Racists - Ike Reilly
Lux - ROSALÍA
Jagged Little Pill - Alanis Morissette

[TV] The Pitt
This is not normally my kind of show. Gritty, medical and not shy about showing injury detail. But if you can get past the bodily fluids, it’s a truly wonderful ensemble piece and the core idea, one shift at a Pittsburgh ER told in near real time, is richly compelling. The stunt casting of Noah Wyle completely works too, due to him being so good.

Spotlight

Pretend Night is upon us once again this Friday. And ticket sales suggest it’s going to be a busy one (although, there are definitely still places available if you want to join us).

Here are our acts, along with some words to describe them, like they were tasting notes at a posh restaurant.

Dust figures
Poignant, physical, connected, embodied.

The Pretend Company
Mischievous, full-bodied, eccentric, sharp.

Origami Swan (imported from Spain/ France)
Beautiful, romantic, smart, deep.

A veritable feast of improv.

You can book tickets here. Show starts at 8pm.

If you’d like to learn from Dan (of Origami Swan fame) - there’s a couple of chances on the Pretend Workshops page.

Radio contact

Radio looks into your very soul (and finds you to be delightful).