003 - Noble Rot: The Art of Speaking

·1 hr 16 min·5 clips

James Earl Jones's death sparks a conversation about why voice matters more than ever in the podcast era.

The episode begins with a discussion of technical difficulties and backup habits before transitioning to the main theme: the art of speaking. The hosts reflect on James Earl Jones's iconic voice and his EGOT achievements, setting the stage for a broader conversation about vocal delivery in modern media. They critique contemporary podcasters like Joe Rogan and Lex Fridman for lacking vocal artistry, despite their popularity. Chas Smith argues that substance can overcome poor vocal delivery, as seen with Fridman. The hosts then ponder whether vocal training can improve one's voice or if unique flaws, like those of Bob Dylan or Janis Joplin, are what make voices memorable. They share personal experiences with voice adjustment through podcasting. The conversation expands to include favorite accents, with preferences for French female and South African accents, and least favorite ones like Brooklyn or Chicago. A tangent on parenting reveals David's struggle to teach his daughter math, a subject he once failed, and his desire to learn piano despite past failures. Chas discusses his son's natural inclinations and the balance between nurturing talents and pushing through weaknesses. The hosts then share hero and zero picks: Chas highlights a tragic drunk driving incident involving Sean Higgins that killed two hockey players, while David complains about flies. David's hero is Antonio, a restaurant worker who helped him skip a long line, illustrating the benefits of tipping. Chas praises Tyreek Hill for turning a police arrest into comedic theater during a football game. The episode wraps with musings on aging gracefully, the importance of voice in the podcast era, and a humorous sign-off referencing Spinal Tap's Jazz Odyssey.

As heard by us

A parent's old quarrel with maths turns into a lively rethink of learning, usefulness and second chances.

Chas returns to maths as an adult and finds that a few old principles finally begin to make sense. That modest breakthrough leads into a sharper question: what should a parent expect a child to get from the subject?

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Why you'd press play

You'll hear a long struggle with maths wobble under the pressure of adult understanding.

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