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The title says it all, really.   I took a little extra time before recording this week's episode, opting to do a poll on Instagram around some of the issues brought to the forefront in the past few weeks.   The disappearance and subsequent investigation of Sarah Everard's murder brought renewed attention to women's experiences.   In particular, the concept of safety, the issues around victim-blaming and general discourse around misogyny and everything that comes with it.   So... that's what I talk about.   Also discussed:   - Why it's so common for women to take extra steps to feel 'safe'. - The societal impact of conditioning women to feel as though they are likely to, at some point, be a victim. - The results of the Instagram poll and how opinions vary due to a shift in attitudes. - Why the responsibility shouldn't be on women to take steps to avoid being attacked, and should be with men to... you know, not attack women.   Long story short? #NotAllMen invalidates the issues women have been facing for decades, the attitudes forced onto us since childhood and the anguish we feel every single time another story hits the media about a woman who's gone missing and all men can say is 'Why was she out at night by herself?'.

This episode has been a long time coming....   We're going to talk about the (wo)man, the myth, the legend - Margaret Thatcher.   From her vendetta against Soviet communism and trade unions, to the IRA assassination attempt with the Falklands war in-between, we're going to take a whirlwind tour of her career as the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century. Also discussed:   - Her early beginnings in politics and first taste of media opposition (milk snatcher, of course) - How the Falklands war boosted public opinion of her and helped her to get re-elected - Trade unions, blue collar workers and the decimating of the 'working class' as we knew it - Thatcherism, privatisation and the expansion of the middle class - The role of 'the winter of discontent' in Thatcher's hardline opposition to trade unions - The inevitable end of her tenure as Prime Minister    I hope this is as entertaining as it is informative, as this episode was one of the first on my mind when I started this podcast.   Enjoy!   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0    

Fair warning, this episode contains rampant, ranting stupidity - you've been warned.   In this week's episode, I opt to discuss some of the things that send my head into a bit of a spin, because since being in lockdown 3.0, I've found that I can sometimes slip into ruminating over the strangest things. Such as:   - Who milked a cow and decided to drink it? Exactly what was he trying to achieve?  - Do caterpillars know that they're going to become butterflies? - How did Cinderella's shoe slip off if it's meant to fit only her foot, and what size shoe is she that nobody else could fit into it? - Why I've gone into a bottomless pit of stupidity because of the never-ending month of January and sudden emergence of mid-February.   I hope this episode can give you a bit of a laugh, and I hope to be bringing you another 'history lesson'-type episode soon on Margaret Thatcher, so....need I say more?   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Whether it's Bob Ross or an Ikea advert, a lot of us have experienced ASMR without even knowing it.   With close to 13 million Youtube videos with ASMR in the title, how do you even begin to describe what it is, what it involves and how you experience it? I'm going to try (and possibly fail) to softly speak whilst explaining the ins and outs of ASMR.   (I say softly speak, what I mean is, I'll put you to sleep by sounding hungover...)   Also discussed:   - How I discovered ASMR and how different it was in 2011 - The way ASMR has become more mainstream, being seen in adverts from big brands and spoken about by celebrities, such as Cardi B - Ways in which you may have experienced ASMR without knowing (Bob Ross, I'm looking at you) - The (very early days) studies into ASMR & what they mean - How ASMR is more mainstream than ever due to apps such as TikTok also promoting ASMR content    I hope that, even if this episode was boring, you could still technically benefit from the ASMR element by falling asleep because of it....   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

How many times do we have to say 'I'll start on Monday' before we realise that our resolutions for the New Year aren't going to stick?   I've never been one to plan far ahead generally, and I know that resolutions are a waste of time for me, because unless the intention is there, it won't change anything.   With that in mind, I've decided to round up 5 anti-resolutions, if you will - 5 things I'm planning on moving away from, rather than towards.   1 - I'm not about to change my entire diet - diet culture and diet companies thrive on this time of year, when people feel self-conscious about indulging themselves over the holiday period. Fuck that! Food isn't bad or good, you shouldn't 'walk off' one bloody mince pie & enjoying things in moderation should be key. (Don't let a middle-aged white man tell you that a 'summer body' is a thing, and don't believe influencers who use the word 'detox')   2 - I will not waste my time on things I don't enjoy - we've all done it at some point, whether out of guilt or obligation, but 2021 will not be the year of doing things we don't enjoy for the sake of other people!   3 - I will say 'no' more often, and apologise less - there is so much beauty in saying no and not feeling guilty for doing it, and along with that comes a requirement to apologise less to break the cycle.   4 - I am not going to feel obligated to live up to other people's expectations of what I should do - whether it's productivity shaming, or telling people that they need to do fifty things in order to 'prioritise their wellbeing', people need to stop holding others to their standards and let them move at their own pace.   5 - I am not going to begin the year by comparison - goals usually require reflection, but sometimes comparing yourself in order to reach a higher goal means diminishing your past achievements. Congratulations on reaching 2021, you don't need to write half a diss track on yourself to move forwards (you can't sell your mixtape in Manchester's Market Street right now anyway).   Do you have any resolutions or anti-resolutions? I'd love to know!    Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Brussel sprouts? Bucks Fizz? Presents before or after breakfast?   Christmas traditions can vary a lot household to household, so I decided to have a poll on my Instagram account (@justdontgetmestarted) asking about certain traditions, including whether people are pro-brussel sprout or not, whether Bucks Fizz is a Christmas staple and whether Elf or Home Alone reign supreme.   (I also originally asked whether people wore pyjamas on Christmas day or actual clothes, but the screenshot didn't save properly...)   Also discussed: - Why people always want to open the bigger presents first - The reasoning behind a Christmas dinner before 3pm versus after (and why it'll always be breakfast, dinner and tea, end of story) - How every household tends to have one person who wakes up everyone else every single Christmas, and why it's never me (clue: it's because I hate waking up early) - Why Christmas traditions are so funny, and talking about answers I got to the question 'what are your Christmas traditions?'   I hope that everyone can still have a great Christmas, and perhaps we'll all create some new Christmas traditions!    Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0  

The rise of Only Fans, slut-shaming, and the "I'm not like the other girls!" phenomenon.... In this week's episode (or attempt at feminist discourse) I walk through a number of topics related to misogyny, due to an increased influx in misogyny online. *Warning: contains a brief discussion around the culture surrounding sexual assault, so if this topic isn't comfortable for you, please don't listen!*   Also discussed: - What internalised misogyny is, why it's so detrimental to us and why we partake in it - The "I'm not like the other girls" phenomenon and how it relates to internalised misogyny - Slut-shaming, Only Fans, and rape culture - and how it all comes back to misogynistic attitudes - How feminism has come to be viewed negatively in recent years, but how it is meant to be a movement towards equality - Why and how misogyny affects the way that we, particularly women, move throughout our lives and feel unsafe    Special shoutout to @degraceomari (Instagram) for giving some special thoughts over DM when I asked people for their insights/opinions on internalised misogyny!    Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

There’s a LOT to ruminate over at the minute....   (Hello darkness my old friend....)   T’is the season to be anxious, fa la la la la, la la la laaaa! In this episode I walk through why we’re ruminating more than ever and attempt to impart some advice.   Also discussed:   Why it’s good to challenge yourself Using a ‘drunk girl in the toilets on a night out’ approach to questioning your negative thoughts How working from home is one of the contributing factors to an increase in us ruminating Advice that I find to be useless towards my own anxiety & why   There’s an endless list of things to ruminate over and get anxious about, but you don’t have to do it all alone (or without my monotonous voice!)   I should have some more directional (aka – not aimless) episodes coming up soon, but recently I’ve found myself just sitting down without a major theme to get me going so....bear with me!   Perhaps I really ought to get round to that ASMR episode I’ve been debating, since we could all use some relaxation....   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

This year has certainly had some memorable moments. (Memorable being a nice word for horrific.) When MPs think it's acceptable to flout covid-19 restrictions, blatantly brag about their nepotism and vote against children being given free school meals....memorable doesn't begin to cut it. In this episode, I get particularly wound up about the state of the government, the free school meals debacle and why nobody listens to politicians. Also discussed: - The sorry state of affairs when Nigel Farage can tell someone that THEY are being a dick - Why politicians have had a direct impact on peoples willingness to follow restrictions - How the places this government have put their spending and emphasis show their priorities  - Why denying free school meals is indicative of how out of touch MPs are - The reason why MPs are so out of touch with reality - Seemingly, why I thought Guy Fawkes had the right idea   (If I do in fact, have someone tracking my every move online....sorry.....)   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0  

I don't even think Ned Stark would envy us right now...   With local lockdowns changing every time Boris blinks, a new Nando's-esque 'medium' to 'very high' tier being implemented and Christmas looming - everything seems uncertain at best and catastrophic at worst.   The winter months usually bring a fair amount of apprehension around money and mental health, and now, it seems even more prominent than ever.   In this episode, I talk about: - The uncertainty that usually occurs in the winter months and how it might change due to the pandemic - The mental health impact of the pandemic (briefly) and how rampant feelings of anxiety currently are - Why it's a great time to be writing a manifesto and reconsidering your impact on politics  - Boris Johnson's resemblance to a scarecrow & why Nigel Farage doesn't have room to speak on anything with legitimacy (much like many politicians)   This was a very non-sensical one, but with everything going on....can you blame me?   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

There's a lot of sayings and phrases we'll hear in our lifetime.   A little secret? Most of them are absolute bullshit!   Whether it's phrases perpetuating toxic masculinity and rape culture, or phrases that completely invalidate people needlessly.   So in this episode I completely lose it and go off on one about some of the phrases that crossed my mind as being completely ridiculous (I'm sure there are many more I could bring up...)   Also ranted about:   - Why being 'the bigger man' is a load of bollocks designed to push the myth that forgiveness is the only route to moral superiority and closure - 'Boys will be boys' and 'boys don't cry' as contributors to a toxic culture that continues because of these narratives - 'Beauty is pain' and 'boys who pick on you like you' as ridiculous phrases that make young girls assume that pain is an inevitable part of becoming beautiful and being loved (waxing might be painful but that doesn't mean beauty is...) - Why 'I'm sorry you felt that way' is one of the biggest crocks of shit in the world of pointless apologies and lacks any accountability.   If you don't like the episode, I'm sorry you FELT that way.... (I am genuinely sorry if you actually made it through this episode, though!)   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

We've all been there.   Whether you're looking down at a text, glaring at an email or standing in front of someone who's managed to get you a level of angry you didn't think was possible to reach - we've all avoided confrontation at some point.   It might seem like the easier thing to do, but over time small annoyances will eventually culminate in a confrontation nobody wants.    (You know, the group chat messages that get ridiculously personal, or the in-person insults that digress into the fact you were given Soap & Glory for Christmas?)   Often, confrontation is the end results of boundaries being crossed, or boundaries not being enforced properly.....   So, here's what I ramble about in this week's episode:   - How not liking confrontation doesn't mean you can't stand up for yourself - Setting boundaries and how not to enforce them - Putting your foot down properly when it comes to boundaries - Why confrontation often doesn't serve any purpose in most cases (hence why I think it's a load of bollocks) - Why, sometimes, you just need to use the block button and tell someone to fuck off   Now I'm not encouraging you all to email your boss and tell him he's always been a prick and smells of Lynx Africa, but if that's what you feel encouraged to do after this episode, that's your prerogative.... I take no responsibility.   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

After the recent passing of phenomenal actor, Chadwick Boseman, I started to think about a topic that crosses my mind every time a public figure passes away. Why does it affect a lot of the general public so much? Though our relation to and sometimes, obsession with, those in the public eye can be described as superficial and vapid, we often see the visceral reactions to the sudden passing of celebrities. I think that people are often being too removed when they imply we can't/shouldn't feel a certain way about this when it happens, as we all have a point of relation to which we look up to certain celebrities with.   Also discussed:   Why the passing of celebrities hits us so hard, including having a point of relation and their contributions to social change and humanitarianism How this can also apply to negative feelings, such as with the passing of political figures The detrimental effects of celebrity culture and 24/7 news access, and why we need to sometimes step away from the gossip and mind our own business Why we should protect Ian McKellen at all costs    (And a random rant about Margaret Thatcher. Click the link below for the great angry Scottish lady!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUlj48Rvp1c   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Having turned 22 recently, I’ve elected to reflect on my 22 years of being an idiot by giving my younger self some advice. Whether it’s trying to please everyone or an inability to say no to friends, we’ve all had moments in adulthood where we wish we’d known better when we were younger. So, why not listen as I walk myself through things I wish I’d taken on board when I was younger? There are some beautiful ASMR sounds in the background such as heavy rain and, of course, due to being in Salford, sirens. Also discussed: Why viewing things as temporary can be beneficial rather than ‘morbid’, particularly when it comes to friendships that can still be meaningful even when they don’t last Not giving in to societal expectations and assuming because you fit certain ‘categories’ you have to assimilate The power of saying NO (it’s fucking fantastic!) How your mum is always correct when she tells you certain relationships in your life won’t last (seriously) Why we should stop trying to please everyone else and focus on ourselves instead What advice would you give your younger self?   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

What do you mean I can’t work in my pyjamas? With more people having been working from home, there’s been an all-time emphasis on just how productive we can be. Well, speaking personally, I can say it certainly comes and goes! In this rather aimless, ranty episode, I talk about how working remotely has changed a lot of our ideas around our own productivity, and how this might change even further once we’re all expected to go back into offices and workspaces. Also discussed: Productivity when working remotely The role of technology in inhibiting productivity How our idea on what helps and hinders our productivity can change The major changes that have come and are about to occur due to shifting working habits Why we don’t need to be so harsh about our output at a time like this Rambling aimlessly about beer gardens (Due to my own issues with technology, this episode may seem a little all over the place…but it’s better than nothing!)   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Get summer ready with our Top 10 Bikini Body Tips!!!!   Fuck off, Chelsea. Your flat tummy tea sponsorship isn’t fooling anyone.   Sadly, when summer rolls around, there are a lot of people eyeing up their summer clothes with disdain, anxiety and immense sadness. Whether it’s struggling to fit into clothes after lockdown, or staring down at the size of your jeans and wondering why you can’t fit into them – body image issues are prevalent.   Summer seems to be the biggest breeding ground for these feelings, with ‘bikini body’ narratives plastered everywhere, and the assumption that any skin you show has to be tanned, unblemished and toned into oblivion.   Well, we’re human.   Some humans have stretch marks, cellulite, acne and jiggly bits. And that’s fine.   Also discussed in this episode: How our emotionality ties into eating behaviours and the way we should approach discussions around body image, disordered eating and health Why the ‘I’m saying it for their health’ argument for speaking on other people’s bodies is bullshit Body dysmorphia and how it can affect your perception of yourself and others How our childhood perception of food can later affect our relationship with eating behaviours and our body image (reward/punishment) Why you should wear whatever the fuck you want in summer I could’ve spent about three hours tying disordered eating, body image, body perception and societal expectations of beauty all together but…this quick stop tour will have to suffice.   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Have you tried exercising?   Well, fuck me, Susan, I didn’t realise a deadlift would cure my anxiety, clear my skin and cleanse my soul!   As discussions around mental health become normalised and mainstream, the concept of wellbeing does, too.   Whilst this means more people are gaining an awareness of what works for them and what doesn’t, it also means that commercialised wellbeing is taking over with a ‘one size fits all’ approach that people are paying good money to hear.   If there’s one thing nobody likes, it’s unsolicited advice, which tends to come hand in hand with the concept of wellbeing strategies.   In this episode, I talk about why I hate the concept of commercialised wellbeing quotas, toxic positivity and the narrative that mental health can be ‘cured’. Also discussed: Why wellbeing becoming mainstream has filled the space with commercialised bullshit How those speaking the loudest about their wellbeing and mental health are often unqualified to do so, and profiting on the concept that people can be ‘cured’ How no two people’s wellbeing strategies will or should be the same The changes that happen in our lives that mean wellbeing will never be a static thing Why having one cup of green tea and banging on an essential oil candle won’t solve the mess that is your life   (Look, I wish a good face mask and some cucumbers over my life would solve my problems, but it doesn’t!)   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little).   Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter.   If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

“Sorry, I forgot to respond to the email you sent me out of hours!” We all lie. Whether you’re embezzling a boring story to make it funny, blatantly fabricating excuses for ignoring annoying colleagues or doing it without realising, research has shown adults lie a minimum of 2x a day. (That’s not even accounting for the tiny white lies!) So, why do we lie? There’s no definitive technique or technology to deduce lies, and if there was, we’d probably all be in BIG trouble. However, there are a multitude of reasons why we are so bad at detecting lies, why we lie and how lying can change even our neuropsychology. Also discussed: How lying is a fundamental part of child development Why we’re so bad at detecting lies, particularly because we want and expect the truth from others The bullshit ‘cues’ people cite as signs of lying and why they are flawed Our capacity for dishonesty, including the primary categories of lies and why we use them A bit of research mingled with my own moronic musings on lying, and why lying isn’t necessarily always a bad thing   Food for thought… If you say you’re not a liar, you’ve even tricked yourself….   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little). Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter. If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Not that empire! In a new (hopefully) series of episodes, I’m going to be taking you through a period of history, since we all know that our knowledge from high school is about as valuable as GCSE French. In today’s episode, I talk about the beginnings of the British Empire, starting in 1497, where we start the old British tradition of continually fucking things up. From voyages to the Americas to England versus Spain, let me guide you horribly through a period in history that saw the beginnings of England deciding it was a good idea to impose their presence on every other piece of land they could navigate to! Also discussed: Henry VIII and his fantastic choices, including creating the Church of England and the monarch tradition of pissing off Ireland Philip 2nd of Spain, protector of Catholicism and King of several places…and his quest to truly stick it to England Elizabeth 1st and her use of Dutch Privateers, hatred of Catholicism and general dislike of Spain (and love for stealing their silver) The beginnings of Colonialism and slavery (briefly)   It’s a quick tour, but I’m certain it’s more valuable than GCSE History…but perhaps less valuable than a Horrible History book. Oh well!   A great video resource (and channel): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQktE-YKlJg   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little). Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter. If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

#GraceHallIsOverParty Seriously. How many people are going to get ‘cancelled’? Lockdown has proven that we can’t go a week without someone being cancelled. Whether it’s Youtube Creators, celebrities or your next door neighbour- we’re all #cancelled. It’s an internet phenomenon that seems to have come from nowhere, based on the assumption that if someone does wrong, we can cut them from their profit and platform permanently by airing their dirty laundry, or, in most cases, simple mistakes. (This is not in reference to those who do blackface and use racial slurs, because that will always be fucking stupid and unacceptable). Also discussed: How cancel culture arose in Youtube’s beauty community (I’ve not got the time to do an entire timeline of events, though, so it’s very brief) Accountability and how it plays into cancel culture The importance of education in avoiding future mistakes Differences between genuine issues that deserve addressing and repercussions (such as use of racial slurs and black face) and those that require education The psychology of ‘cancellation’, using Lerner’s ‘Just World Hypothesis’     A quick link to update you on the ‘beauty community’ drama, and cancellation in general: https://www.insider.com/why-some-celebrities-seem-bulletproof-to-being-canceled-2020-7   Lucky you, you’ve landed on Just Don’t Get Me Started, the podcast that is taking on society one rant at a time. Laugh at or with host, Grace Hall, as she attempts to battle through Salford’s intense background noise, her own procrastination and her tendency to pick up new hobbies and drop them immediately to entertain you (a little). Just Don’t Get Me Started is sometimes informed, always humorous, and is centred around bringing entertainment through topics that matter. If you want to receive a very loving message to your inbox, please do forward the podcast on social media, subscribe on whichever platform it is you love to listen on or just shout from the rooftops about it, because your neighbours should be as annoyed with you as you are with them.   Harass me on social media: My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace_r_hall/ Just Don’t Get Me Started’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justdontgetmestarted/ My LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/   Intro and outro music: Hall of the Mountain King Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 2.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0