Welcome to Have I Heard This One Before? Where comedy podcasters answer classic questions from other comedy podcasts, with a few sensible RGM thrown in to the mix. This month guest is the brilliant Poppy Hillstead.
Poppy is an English artist, comedian, director, actor and podcaster (Poppy Hillstead Has Entered The Chat, Gossipmongers). Brainwash Me with Poppy Hillstead was released in September 2024 and saw her win Comedy Podcast Devotee’s Most Original Comedy Podcast. Poppy has also written, directed and stared in POPPY, a web series based on her formative years, set in her home town.
All questions are from RGM unless mentioned. If you haven’t heard of any of the podcasts that we have borrowed the questions from, please check them out.
Welcome to the chat Poppy Hillstead.
Off Menu: Still or sparkling water?
Still. I really can’t cope with sparkling. It has a depressing aftertaste. Liquid gravel. Who likes sparkling? Psychopaths.
Your new podcast Brainwash Me is where you invite a guest to sell you their hobby. Have you actually taken up anything new since the podcast began or plan to?
Mark Silcox told me that if I ate a granny smith apple before bed, it’d help my bowel movements. I think it is helping, although I’m avoiding the pips because apparently they have cyanide in them.
My Time Capsule: What’s something you would put in a time capsule?
I’ve got about 100 beanie babies at home that are worth BUGGER ALL.. If I leave them in a time capsule until 2080 maybe robots can like sell them to each other for…whatever kind of crypto they’ll be faffing about with.
We hear you are starting a new podcast, can you let us know what it’s all about?
Me and Alison Spittle are looking through trashy mags, we’re talking Take a Break, That’s Life, Pick Me Up! Me and Alison have had trashy mag lives so I think it works well. I’m excited about it. Listen anywhere you get your pods. It’s coming out in the not too distant future. People can also send their own stories into 07717414539, Yeeeeeah.
Elis James & John Robins: What’s your favourite service station?
There’s a service station on the way back to Lincolnshire that’s been converted into a sex shop. I kind of like that one. I mean, not to buy from, I just get stuff off Dildo’s R Us, but I like the confidence and the boldness of it just plonked there at the side of the motorway.
You are performing at Mach fest, how were your previous experiences of live podcasting. Do you prefer it?
I love it. I like to see who listens to my pods. My usual set of listeners are surgeons, urologists and I got messages from two different teams of people who clean up murder scenes. Like they listen to my pod as they scoop up crime scenes. I don’t know why I’ve struck a chord with these people but I have.
Crushed by Margaret Cabourn-Smith: Who was your first celeb crush?
Brendan Fraser in George of the Jungle. I like that he’s a complete Himbo. He’s thick. I like that. Thick and ripped. I don’t want anyone reading me James Joyce, I want oiled up arm candy, I don’t even mind if he spends most the day flinging his dung around. I’m into it.
What’s your proudest podcast moment?
When I was at A Lovely Time Festival in Manchester, doing Poppy Hillstead Has Entered the Chat Live. I found two clones of myself in the audience. Never been happier.
Castival: Who would you like to headline your dream music festival?
Ignacio Lopez has just brainwashed me into liking Nine Inch Nails. I was aware of them but had no idea they’d be so up my street. I like it when people are passionate in their lyrics. In one of the song’s he just randomly screams ‘fist fuck’, I LIKE THAT, well not fist fucking cause my fists are so small they won’t cause any affect, but I like that Mr Nine Inch Nails is unashamedly himself…. So Nine Inch Nails as headliners. Oh, and I’m also into folk, so if they could share the slot with Loudon Wainwright III, that would be nice.
Which podcasts are you listening to at the moment?
Rural Concerns and Single Ladies In Your Area. CHECK THEM OUT.
I’m So Not Over It: Where were you when Princess Diana died?
I used to get up very, very early as a child. I’d gone downstairs to watch Fireman Sam or something, saw the news, went upstairs to say ‘the princess has died’ and got told to shut up by mother Hillstead. I’ve never forgotten that. Do you know how much therapy I’ve had to work through this kind of stuff? Please join my patreon.
Comedian’s Comedian: Are you happy?
It’s took me to this point in my life to realise I can be happy from small things. Which is getting a mild high from eating three packs of Lockets within the space of five minutes, fiddling with myself and playing darts on my phone. Ta ra.
A big thank you to Poppy for being this months guest!
You can find Poppy’s podcasts including Brainwash Me on Acast or wherever you get your podcasts from.
Tickets for Brainwash Me With Poppy Hillstead live at the Machynlleth Comedy Festival are available here
Follow her on social media for news on any future projects, including her new podcast with Alison Spittle.
@poppyhillstead
And you can follow Brainwash Me with Poppy Hillstead.
@brainwashmepodcast
Follow @comedypodcastdevottees for more comedy podcast recommendations