‘Smash or Grab’: Insights from a nine year old broadcaster.

Those of you who have been paying attention to my social media or the SmartPonders website, you’ll have seen (hopefully) that there is now a podcast area. Not only that, at the time of writing this blog, it has two podcasts on it!

It was never really an intention to start a podcast, however, it was through building the website that the option was flagged as a possibility. Several thoughts crossed my mind here.

• I thought to myself, how hard could it be? I have some experience of audio and recording but certainly do not claim expert status by any manner of means.
• It’s the chance to learn something new.
• The opportunity was presented so clearly that it would feel daft to not have a bash.
• It’s better to try and fail, that to never have tried at all.
• Did my nine-year-old self know something I didn’t?

Let me provide some context.

When I was nine, my parents got me a Goodman’s BoogieBox karaoke machine for my Christmas. I was that child that was always singing, always chatting nonsense, and playing make-believe. Okay, I still am that child. See my previous blog/podcast on ‘adulting’ for evidence!

If you’re not familiar with a BoogieBox it was a large double cassette playing machine with microphones. Like a modern-day portable PA system. You could connect it to the TV, play the accompanying video tapes for music and words, and record directly into the machine on to your own blank cassettes. This music star was born, producing smash hit re-releases such as Phil Collin’s Groovy Kind of Love, Elton John’s I’m Still Standing and ABBA’s Super Trouper to name a few.

When my cousin would come to play, we would spend hours on it, recording utter nonsense. One of my favourite memories is the radio show my cousin and I created. The opening music was none other than Karma Chameleon by Culture Club. Something we still laugh about. It’s our jam.

As part of our radio show we role played as different guests and played various game shows and discussed various topics – usually taken from Disney Adventures or Girl talk magazines. Those were the days.

One of the games my cousin created was called ‘Smash or Grab’. The premise was five singles were provided to the guest. They had to decide if they would smash the single (as in smash the tape cassette or record with a hammer Yzma style!) or grab it to add to the guest’s musical collection.

With that in mind, here is your chance to play ‘Smash or Grab’.

• Chumbawamba with Tubthumping
• Backstreet Boys with Everybody
• The Verve with Bittersweet Symphony
• Spice Girls with Spice up your Life
• LeAnn Rimes with How Do I Live

So, tell me, which ones do you smash? And which ones will you grab? Let me know in the comments! Disclaimer: sorry to any artists offended by responses to their singles.

I guess by now you’re wondering why I’m telling you any of this. It’s because it’s relevant! When first embarking on the process of recording the first podcast I was transported back into my childhood bedroom, with that microphone, with the karaoke machine in front of me, ready to make a noise. I was nine years old all over again.

It’s funny how things turn out. In some ways I do think life is mapped out for you. In the sense that we have the autonomy of the choices, but that you’ll end up on the path you’re supposed to. As my mum always says, ‘what’s for you will not go by you.’ That’s maybe a deeper chat for another time.

Do you think my nine-year-old self knew something I didn’t? Do we across our lives foreshadow things to come? I don’t have the answers to these but will continue to ponder.

Thanks for reading and happy pondering!

Steph x