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 we ask the guys at Rural Concerns.
Hosted by the talented comedian Chris Cantrill and Sunil Patel , the weekly comedy podcast deliver a unique blend of humour and insight. Each episode features Chris and Sunil and producer James Shakeshaft as they navigate the quirks of rural life, long-distance friendships, and the oddities of modern living. The podcast also we won an award this year for Best New Podcast from Comedy Podcast Devotees!
Off Menu | Poppadoms or Bread?
We’ll choose neither and propose a third way; Marks and Spencer’s Nutty Clouds. You were too focused on the pawns that you didn’t see our big bastard horse creeping up on you!
How did you get into podcasting?
Like most male comedians in our 40s, we didn’t have a choice. We were dragged out of bed by men in balaclavas and taken to a warehouse on a bleak industrial estate where we were issued Shure MV7b microphones and told to, “just have a laugh and don’t worry about sticking to a rigid format”. They said if we didn’t ‘have a laugh’ then we’d be shot with a sniper rifle. And thus Rural Concerns was born.
What can we expect from your live shows?
Our show in Manchester on the 22nd November will be only our 3rd live edition, so we’re still very new to it. Our ambition is to make the best live podcast shows that have ever been made. We want to give listeners an idea of what it’s like behind the scenes so they realise just how much slander we have to cut out.
We also like to make Sunil play a choice-based roleplaying game which is designed to teach him about the rural world. In Manchester we’ll be debuting our newest adventure; The Secrets of Pitch 49’. Grab a ticket and a D12 and come on down!
My Mate Bought a Toaster | What was the first thing you bought on Amazon?
Having a look back, I can confirm that my first Amazon purchase was The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. I paid £4.67 for it in 2007. Halcyon days.
Producer James bought a Spanish Batman graphic novel. He can’t speak Spanish but it was the cheapest, thus confirming his status as the thinking man’s thicko. Sunil refused to answer this question, but it was almost certainly an early Anker power bank.
What would be the best episode to listen to for a new listener?
It’s probably best to skip the first 10 or so as Chris was medically very sad during this period. For a good introduction to the vibe, check out ‘The £34 haircut, lambing season & basement secrets’. If you don’t like that, then we’re not for you.
Believe? | What’s your favourite conspiracy theory or myth?
We once read on a message board that the whole village of Lower Titley conspired to murder a disgraced anthropologist in order to honour an ancient agricultural god. That surely can’t be true, can it?!
Who would be your dream guest on the podcast?
Denis Villeneuve, the director of Dune 2. We’d like to ask him what he thinks about mushrooms and cow tipping.
Elis & John | What’s your favourite service station?
For me, it has to be Forton Services on the M6. Most people would say Tebay is the jewel in the crown but I’d argue it’s a victim of its own success. Forton is a brutalist cathedral and well worth a pilgrimage.
Do you have any ideas for merchandise in the future?
There’s a strong focus on mycology in Rural Concerns and apparently there are these mushroom suits you can be buried in which convert your decomposing matter into fungi.
In summary; Rural Concerns branded mushroom suits and limited edition mouse mats.
What Did You Do Yesterday? | What was the best thing you did yesterday?
We did what we always do and that is, mind our own business. Only messing. Two of our three are parents, so our days largely rotate around the social calendar of our children.
As London’s most feared bachelor, Sunil Patel is out every single evening ingesting a rich diet of fried foods and high culture. He watches lots of acclaimed cinema but is most happy when there’s a new fast and furious out.
What are the future plans for the podcast?
We’re keen to keep growing our understanding of the rural world. As with all vibe-based podcasts we are inevitably heading for a cage match showdown with Joe Rogan. Producer James is going to use his height to distract him so that Chris and Sunil can batter him with a chair.
Comedians Comedian Podcast | Are you happy?
We’re just three old friends drinking Radlers whilst we celebrate our marginal gains. That certainly sounds a lot like happiness, doesn’t it?
A big thank you to Rural Concerns for taking part in this Q&A.
If you are near Manchester in November you can see the guys live at the Fairfield Social Club on the 22nd November. Tickets available here
If you are after another comedy podcast why not check out producer James’ podcast he co-hosts with Alasdair Beckett-King called Loremen
Follow Rural Concerns on the socials @ruralconcerns