The Following Through Podcast

This episode takes a nostalgic look at the global pandemic of 2020, with Alex and Siobhan reminiscing about how they spent their respective lockdowns after lifestyles changed overnight. And yes, Tiger King does get mentioned a couple of times. 
 
They start by travelling back in time to March 2020. When it all kicked off, Siobhan was hit by anxiety of the unknown, while Alex was trying to find his way home from New Zealand. The conversation covers how they both spent those crazy couple of years. Siobhan was in South London with a small child and another soon-to-be on the way, with Alex back home in the countryside going for dog walks on those long sunny days that now seem all the more bittersweet. They also talk about their creative projects while they stayed at home. 
 
In Sh*t or Miss, comedian Geoff Alderman makes a cameo appearance to share a terrifying tale of breaking into a psychiatric hospital as a 13 year old to look for a mythological adventure playground, only to be chased by very angry health workers. 
 
Music by Rich Shillitoe. 

This topic in this episode is one that affects everyone in some way, and we appreciate that it is a rather sensitive one. We are talking about surviving cancer.  Our guest is comedian Geoff Alderman, who made a cameo appearance in the previous episode.
 
In 2020, Geoff found a golf-ball-sized lump in his neck that turned out to be cancerous. Known for his dark one-liners, Geoff, understandably, doesn’t like to talk about his cancer experience on stage.
 
In this episode, Geoff shares his story about undergoing cancer treatment during the peak of the global pandemic and is now in remission. He also shares the effect radiotherapy and chemo have on your body, including your bowels. Basically, keep a pencil in the bathroom.
 
In Sh*t or Miss, Geoff tells his tale of how eating a green egg on a flight home came back to haunt him while out for a run in Bethnal Green. But did he make it home before disaster struck?
 
To learn more about the different varieties of head and neck cancer, and the symptoms to look out for, visit this site: Head and neck cancer | NHS inform.

Comedians Alex Love and Siobhan Dodd are joined by fellow comic Lizzy Lenco in this episode, which explores the challenges of rebuilding your life after experiencing life-changing injuries.
 
Early one Sunday evening, Lizzy’s life changed forever when she was involved in a serious car crash. After living a fully active life up to this point, she suffered serious injury. Ultimately, she had to adapt to using a wheelchair.
 
We learn about her life and career before the crash, including her achievements of four degrees, getting an MBE, and her work as an archaeologist. And she also tells of her experiences as a user of a wheelchair and the awful attitudes of people on public transport. This is part one.
 
Plus in Sh*t or Miss, Alex tells Siobhan and Lizzy about what happened in Glasgow when a burrito had unintended consequences, and he had a gig later that evening. Did he make it through unscathed?
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

This is part two of the chat with comedian Lizzy Lenco, who has had to adapt to using a wheelchair after suffering life-changing injuries in a road traffic collision almost six years ago.
 
Alex and Siobhan hear about the challenges of getting around the cobbled, hilly streets of Edinburgh in a wheelchair, booked to perform in inaccessible venues, and the sheer frustrations of trying to get to gigs as a disabled person on poorly equipped public transport. Lizzy also details more on the obnoxious and ignorant attitudes of fellow passengers while travelling, and the awkward reactions people have when they see someone in a wheelchair.
 
On a more positive note, Lizzy tells how well she is treated by the heavy metal community and bikers, as well as the performing opportunities she provides to other comedians who use a wheelchair.
 
The episode begins with Alex and Siobhan having a catch-up since the last episode. This includes Siobhan getting very drunk at a hen do in Portugal, and Alex dressing up as a vampire for a Creeper gig at Halloween. The conversation with Lizzy begins at 17.19.
 
In Sh*t or Miss, Lizzy tells a tale of suffering a severe illness while living in Papa New Guinea and consequences in the bowel region. But will she make it to the hospital in time? Before that, Alex introduces a new bite-sized poo feature for the show based on audience submissions.
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 
 

Farting is the theme of this episode, as the guest has written a book all about it.
 
Alex and Siobhan are joined by actor, comedian, and now children’s author, Toby Williams. Toby has written and illustrated a children’s book about the beloved bodily function.
 
Titled Fart, Fart, Fart, Fart, FART, Toby explains how his book highlights the objections some parents have to their children using the word and celebrates the freedom to use it. Because, as medical research confirms, suppressing a fart is actually very bad for you.
 
The conversation covers the process of writing and illustrating a children’s book, along with some memorable fart stories from all three. Toby also takes a keen interest in Alex’s stalled project, Ross Kemp: The Musical.
 
The episode begins with Siobhan sharing some big news with Alex regarding this year’s school nativity. 
 
And in Sh*t or Miss, Toby shares a childhood tale of an emergency night poo while trying to avoid soiling his parents’ new hallway carpet on the way to the bathroom. But did he make it? 
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

Christmas is the theme for the finale of Season 2 of Following Through and the last episode of 2025.
 
To celebrate, Alex and Siobhan are having a Christmas party and recording together in person for the first time. There is also very strong language from the start.
 
This episode is a bit experimental. The tech isn’t quite as smooth as previous episodes. There is some background noise as they’re recording in some sort of fancy cafe in Soho. But they make up for this with the fun they're having while drinking beer and cocktails, and eating cake.
 
They talk about Christmas plans, the traditions, stresses, and joys, as well as looking back on the year that was 2025.
 
And in Sh*t or Miss, Toby Williams is back to contemplate what happened when a teenager felt the rumbles of doom on the school bus home after eating too much cereal.
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, dear listener. Following Through will return in 2026.
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

The anti-lifestyle podcast is back for its third season as comedians Alex Love and Siobhan Dodd catch up about what they've been up to in the last two months.
 
Siobhan has joined a gym, while Alex developed a full-body rash after an allergic reaction to some shampoo. Both poo in some capacity. They discuss their plans for the year ahead, with Edinburgh Fringe featuring prominently for both. Alex also has an update to one of his challenges that Siobhan set in series one, but what challenge could it be?
 
Plus in Sh*t or Miss, which Siobhan called is "Sh*t or Miss Live" despite it being recorded, they are joined by comedian Ben Summers of Ginger Giggle Club. Ben has multiple stories that involve pooing, and he now has a safe place he can tell them. This first tale features a desperate search for a toilet on the way to work for an important meeting.
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

Writing new comedy material is the theme for this episode, where Alex and Siobhan discuss how they write – or at least try to. 
 
They chat about the inspiration behind established material and other ideas that have not yet quite clicked on stage. Unsurprisingly, Alex talks about squid. And will Siobhan understand what a punchline is by the end of the episode?
 
Plus in Sh*t or Miss, Ben Summers from the Ginger Giggle Club is back for another tale that involves trouble brewing at a quiz followed by an urgent dash to make it to a toilet before a major fall-out, only for the Rumbles of Doom to chime in his car.
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

Autism is the theme for this episode as Alex and Siobhan are joined by comedian Mark Nicholas, who is autistic.
 
The conversation covers when Mark was first diagnosed, his difficulties at school, and how much drama lessons helped him grow in confidence.
 
Mark later started doing stand-up comedy, which has boosted his confidence further, allowing him to meet like-minded people on the circuit and raise awareness of autism through his material.
 
Mark also co-hosts the UnmedOKAYted podcast, where they discuss neurodivergent experiences. Check it out on all podcast platforms. 
 
In Sh*t or Miss, Mark shares a story about overdoing it on caffeine at work and how that and a delayed bus disrupted his afterwork poo routine. But did he make it to the toilet on time?
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe.  

After doing nothing fitness-related since 2011, Siobhan has acquired a gym membership after her brother-in-law won it in a raffle and passed it on. She tells Alex all about the programme a trainer has designed for her and the double struggles of fitness and boredom from cardio. 
 
Her initial goal was to not be out of breathe after dancing enthusiastically to Footloose, but Siobhan has now set her sights on becoming a fully fledged gym w*nker.
 
While Alex proudly explains how he has never held a gym membership in his life, but did dabble briefly in gyms as a teenager to play rugby or become a pro-wrestler. In other Alex news, he gives an update on how his flat sale is going and a potential geographical change in the pipeline. 
 
In Sh*t or Miss, there is a tale of a camping trip in the Australian bush from a familiar contributor. What do you do when nature calls, and the nature happens to be full of scary things?
 
Music is by Rich Shillitoe.