I’ve just listened to the premier of the latest series of my favourite show – it’s called Radio Lab and comes from New York Public Radio. All day I’ve been building up to it. I made sure I had eaten before hand, I adjusted the lighting, I turned off my phone, and I closed my eyes to enjoy it. This was heightened by my choosing to hear it as soon as possible, by hearing the live streaming (of a pre-recorded programme).

I have a ton of Goon show episodes on iTunes too and yes this felt a bit similar, to that image of gathering round the valve set – almost like a time machine.

But I’m an exception, right? Over the past year I have been shutting the door and sealing off an hour when the housemates would be away, to listen to Radio Lab – podcasts, going back three years or more.

I’ll come back to podcasts.

Digital technology has somewhat tied my radio listening down – oky so maybe no more than before but it *feels* more so, because listening on a Freeview box or a laptop, in spite of/because of their small size, you need extra speakers or headphones, and you’re stuck in a room. PocketDAB, just like mediumwave, you’re left finding a park or avoiding certain streets to be sure you have a signal!

And podcasts – if you love the show, you know you’re missing out by using tiny earbuds – though of course in years gone by, there were evil tight headphones, maybe patchy AM reception…

Sorry, no answers! Maybe I’ll come back after re-reading and mulling some more.

Good luck!