Broxit

WEDNESDAYS, 1700-1800

It’s now 2020. The United Kingdom has Brexited, yet Brits and their government are still going mad as they try to chart a course for their future.  One American, Michelle Tran is in Oxford and on the edge of her seat. Michelle is studying Water and Sanitation with the School of Geography and is trying to figure out her own next steps long after Oxford.  Join her for investigative humor, music, and discussion with our guests about life in Oxford, student projects, professional perspectives, and what's next as Michelle and her guests plan their exits from Oxford and the UK.

SEason 2

Episode 11: “Pole, Sweat, and Tears” ft. Robin de Meyere and Laura Chamberlain

In the daytime Robin and Laura are just your average Oxford postgraduate students, but when the sun goes down… they hit the poles. In this fascinating episode of Broxit, Michelle interviews Robin de Meyere, a DPhil student who is also a nationally competitive pole dancer, and the founder and former president of the OU Pole Sports Society. Joining Michelle on the show is Laura Chamberlain, a first-year pole dancer who shares a day-in-the-life as a promising pole sports athlete. Together, we unpack the myths of this elusive and rapidly growing sport, while also exposing the challenges of seeking legitimacy and recognition in an antiquated university system. Robin’s determination, courage, and pride for the sport, paired with Laura’s eagerness to learn made this episode a joy to record. Don’t be shy, give this episode a listen! 

Track List 

-Yo Pago Lo Mio, Sharlene 

Episode 10: “Shelter Me” ft. Zach Jackman (Oxford Winter Night Shelter)

What image do you conjure up when you think of a “homeless person?” Maybe you think of a person sleeping on the street, maybe someone asking for spare change. That’s just the “tip of the iceberg” as you’ll find in this week’s episode. Zachary Jackman, a former humanitarian worker working in Iraq turned OWNS Project manager, helps navigate us through these critical distinctions. We also delve into the surprising politics of counting rough sleepers, the concept of “push and pull factors,” the cycle of dependency, and so much more. If you have always wanted to know about the challenges of “fixing” homelessness in Oxford and other cities around the UK, you definitely want to tune into this episode.

To learn more about OWNS, visit https://www.ownsoxford.org.uk/ !

Track List: 

-Long Time Traveller, The Wailn’ Jennys

EPISODE 9: “A DIFFERENT KIND OF ESSENTIAL WORKER” ft. Oxfordshire Lowland search and Rescue

What exactly happens when a person is reported missing in Oxford? This week, Michelle is joined by James Keatley and Peter Wylie, two members of OxSAR, who help answer that question. As search and rescue technicians, James and Peter talk about what it takes to be a part of this selective yet voluntary service organization (that is a charity!), why they love what they do, and how COVID-19 has impacted mental health and, therefore, their operations. You don’t want to miss this informative episode. If you want to donate to their charity and their operations, be sure to visit http://oxsar.org.uk/ and their Facebook page!

Track List: 

-Night Thoughts, Else

EPISODE 8: “THE STORY OF A SORT-OF-SECRET COMPANY” ft. Robin Wang

In the final episode of the term, Michelle attempts to pry as much information as she can from her stealthiest guest yet. Robin Wang, CEO of Living Optics, shares his fascinating story of how a stranger transformed his life as a quiet PhD student, and turned Robin into the CEO of a promising tech start-up. We talk about the applications of his revolutionary technology, his team, leadership, and what is next for Living Optics on this exciting episode of Broxit. Thanks for listening thus far, see you all next term (April 2020)! 

Track List: 

-Taro, Alt-J 

-Jasmine, Jai Paul

-Free, 6lack 

EPisode 7: “Boats, boats, boats!” ft. iona woodward

Finally! A water-themed episode! Iona Woodward, president of the Worcester College Boat Club and rowing enthusiast, sits down with Michelle to explain why rowing is such a big deal at the University of Oxford. Together, they unpack the history, the cultural significance, stereotypes, and recent controversies (!) of rowing. While Iona’s passion for the sport is extraordinary, they also offer some real and helpful comments on why everyone ought to take up this surprisingly approachable sport.  

Track List:

 -In a River, Rostam 

-Thunderclouds, Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo 

-River, Bishop Briggs 

episode 6: “Best bites with bitten Oxford” ft. jacqui thorndyke

This week, Michelle sits down with Jacqui Thorndyke, a local legend who has helped Oxford diners navigate the ever-changing food scene in Oxford. Since 2013, she founded Bitten Oxford, a comprehensive and candid food and drinks guide that covers postcodes OX1 to OX4. In this episode, Jacqui walks us through Bitten’s humble beginnings in a local burger joint to becoming one of the most cited food blogs in the city. We talk about the best plates in Oxford, how we define “good value” meals, and what's next for Jacqui. It looks like Bitten’s got a lot on their plate, and cannot wait to see what they do next!

Check out what Jacqui and her team do at http://bittenoxford.co.uk/, and be sure to follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!

Track List:

-I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye

-Don’t Go, Wretch 32

-Supersonic, Oasis

EPISODE 5: "The Oxford UOTC- A Student Life Less Ordinary" ft. Liam Hopson and Emily Hoyle

This week Michelle, 2nd Lieutenant Liam Hopson, and Officer Cadet Emily Hoyle talk about what it’s like to be a student affiliated with the UK military at the same time. In this episode, Liam and Emily discuss their lives as members of the University Officer Training Corps, dispel some common myths and misunderstandings about UOTC, and share memories of all the great adventures they’ve had while in the UOTC unit. UOTC is very active on social media, check out the unit’s Instagram (@OxfordUOTC) to see the unit’s latest achievements!

Track List:

-Work, Hozier

-Rollercoaster, Bleachers

-Six Weeks, Of Monsters and Men

EPISODE 4: “A TALE OF TWO COLLEGES” FT. JO HUYG

Michelle is joined by Jo Huyg, a spirited staff member of EMBS, a local sixth form college (and adult learning center) that teaches English, Math, vocational skills, and professional development to migrant students, first-time English speakers, and school refusers. Jo shares her thoughts about common risks vulnerable students face, how she balances emotional support with discipline, and her life in EMBS. Jo draws from her 23 years of experience in youth work to be a part of Broxit’s most heartfelt episode yet.

To get involved with or volunteer at EMBS, please see their website http://www.embs.ac.uk/ or contact Michelle (michelle.tran@ouce.ox.ac.uk) for more details!

Track List:

-Gonna Be an Engineer, Peggy Seeger

-Aisha, Africando

-Rebelión, Joe Arroyo

EPISODE 3: "A Normal, but Stateless Life" ft. si yee chan

This episode features Ms. Si Yee Chan, a totally chill graduate student who hails from a country that denies her citizenship. Crazy right? Join Michelle and Si Yee as they uncover what it means to be a stateless person in the country of Brunei. Interested in learning about Brunei's Sharia Law? What about Si Yee's nervous encounters at London Heathrow airport? If so, definitely tune in to this week's insightful episode of Broxit!

Track List:

-Only U, Miso

-I Wish I Never Met You, Oh Wonder

-Dancing with a Stranger, Sam Smith feat. Normani

EPISODE 2: "how to be a stand-up comedian, advice from a computer scientist" FT. hans Hanley

Can comedy thrive in today’s “cancel culture?” What’s the point of comedy? What makes a stand-up comic? In this episode of Broxit, Hans Hanley illuminates his journey through the comedy world (and even gives us a sneak peak into his upcoming shows!), all while being a full-time grad student! We discuss the spiciest comics like Bill Cosby and Louis C.K., but also geek out to Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart and so many more. By the end, we hope you share a few laughs and leave with a handy three-step plan to becoming a stand-up comedian. Be sure look out for Hans at the James Street Tavern every Thursday night!

Track List:

-State of Mind, Ady Suleiman

-Under, Jordan Mackampa

-Pockets, Easy Life

EPISODE 1: "Just Your Average Bomb Disabling, Bread Making, Bangladesh-Lovin Guy" FT. STEPHEN HONAN

Intern Michelle from Season 1, Episode 17 kicks off the new year as the brand new host of Broxit! This week, she invites Stephen Honan, an American Explosive Ordnance Officer with stories of Lebanon and beyond. From military deployments to gardening in Virginia Beach, Michelle and Stephen cover it all in the Season 2 premiere of Broxit.

Track List:
-You Get What You Give, New Radicals

-Welcome Home, Radical Face

-Thrift Shop, Macklemore

SEASON 1

EPISODE 17: "NOT DEFINED BY DISEASE” ft. Luke Grenfell-Shaw

From saltwater-cooled greenhouses in the Middle-East to teaching posts in Siberia and Kyrgyzstan, Andrew, Jeremy, and Michelle buckle up for a wide-ranging interview with fellow Oxford classmate Luke Grenfell-Shaw. On this episode, Luke shares the remarkable story of his journey through life with cancer and his next project: cycling from Bristol to Beijing on a tandem to show what is possible with a cancer diagnosis. Learn more and follow Luke on his 2020 expedition at http://www.Bristol2Beijing.org.

Track List:

-Don’t Feel Like Crying, Sigrid

-No Paris, Leningrad

-My Shot, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Episode 16: "Paysages and Potes in a Winnebago" ft. Marc Rougé

This week on Broxit, funny man Marc Rougé drops in from Paris to talk about launching into the unknown with a new career away from the office hamster wheel and into comedy and the arts as a humorist. He jumps right in by transforming into a fraudulent tour guide of Rome. Meanwhile, Andrew and Jeremy try, painfully, to tell jokes* and to speak French... and Marc helps save the day.

Track List:

-Les Hautes Lumières, Fauve

-Wagon Wheel, Old Crow Medicine Show

-Nous Deux Contre le Reste du Monde, Ben Mazué

*A dad joke, in French: “Pourquoi dit-on que Jésus a été tué par un chat? Car il est descendu parMI NOUs!” Hahaha…

Episode 15: “Military Waters and the Volta Dam Blues” ft. Michelle Tran and Sam Rob

This week on Broxit, fellow geography students Michelle Tran and Sam Rob team up for a discussion of their careers in the military and their recent completion of dissertation research on water management in two parts of Asia. Tune in for four “water jamz,” including Broxit's first live music performance about problems at Ghana’s Volta Dam (Gyau-Boake, 2001).

Track List:

-24/7, EXO

-I Follow Rivers, Lykke Li

-The Volta Dam Song, Michelle Tran (ft.Andrew Tabas on guitar)

-River, Leon Bridges

Episode 14: “Frisbee Throws and the XR” ft. Hannah Scott

Hannah Scott of Bioregional joins Andrew and Jeremy this week to talk about her music expertise, her extracurricular exploits in Oxford Ultimate (she is the runner-up for Best Bants), and shares insights into ways to lead a greener lifestyle.

Track List:

-Rêverie, Debussy

-Love It If We Made It, The 1975

-Shift, Henry Green

Episode 13: “All about the Risk” ft. Sergio guzmán

This week on Broxit, Sergio Guzmán of Colombia Risk Analysis joins Andrew and Jeremy in the studio to share insights on business, politics and risk in the Americas and also on executive education at Oxford’s Blavatnik School of Government.

Track List:

-Straight Up, Me First and the Gimme Gimmies

-Mi Saco, Los Rumberos

-Me Fui, Reymar Perdomo (see inspiring video!)

Episode 12: “Nubian Sandstone Aquifer Tourism” ft. Asma Bachick

In this episode, Andrew and Jeremy interview fellow geography student and World Bank water specialist Asma Bachikh to learn more about her experiences in Oxford, China, and around the world, including hearing about her research in North Africa on the politics of sharing and managing world’s largest aquifer.

Track List:

-Whatever It Takes, Imagine Dragons

-You’ve Got a Friend, Carole King

-SOS, Avicii

Episode 11: "Bus Me to the Proms" ft. Callum Rookes and Kasey Stone

This week, special guests Callum Rookes and Kasey Stone of the Thame Concert Band join Andrew and Jeremy in the studio to talk about tubas, military bands, and the Oxfordshire community of Thame’s concert band and its September concert.

>>21 September 2019 Update: Jeremy and friends attended the concert in Thame. They loved the music and the pomp, and can't wait for the Christmas concert!

Track List:

-The Liberty Bell, The Coldstream Guards

-Crown Imperial, The Coldstream Guards

-The Magnificent Seven, The Coldstream Guards

Episode 10: "Beetle Technology, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys" ft. Bob Boulware

In this episode, Jeremy and Andrew interview world rainwater expert and alternative water systems guru Bob Boulware about his water-focused career, his sailing and farm-keeping, and close encounters of the Beach Boy kind.

Track List:

-I Get Around, The Beach Boys

-A Pirate Looks at Forty, Jimmy Buffett

-Rain King, The Counting Crows

Episode 9: "Cycling along Rivers and through Water Markets" ft. Charles Wight

In this retake of our first interview with Charles (with studio sound quality) we explore the wild and wonderful world of rivers, water markets, and American politics.

Track List:

-Torn Apart, Enter Shikari

-Te Conecta, Pitty

-Chan Chan, Buena Vista Social Club

Episode 8: “Books, Beirut, and Billie” ft. Nadine Jawad

This week’s conversation with Rhodes Scholar Nadine Jawad explores Lebanon, fantastic food, and charitable organizations in Michigan that provide “Books for a Benefit.” See also: http://booksforabenefit.org/

Track List:

-Ocean Eyes, Billie Eilish

-All Night Long, Lionel Richie

-The Matrimony, Wale ft. Usher

-Establishment Blues, Sixto Rodriguez

Episode 7: “Sustainable Finance and the Wall of Sound“ ft. Marcel Metzner

In this week’s episode, join Andrew and Jeremy for a conversation with green finance wizard Marcel Metzner as we discuss environmental progress in business and in the EU, and also both German bread and good music.

Track List:

-Her, Her

-Harbour, SOHN

-Amerimacka, Thievery Corporation

Episode 6: “Sanitation and Sundaes (on a Wednesday)” ft. Kapil Yadav

This week on Broxit, Andrew and Jeremy talk to a fellow Geography student about biodiversity, water and sanitation in India, and ice cream.

Track List:

-Taki Taki, DJ Snake ft. Selina Gomez, Ozuna, and Cardi B

-Country Roads, John Denver

-Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel

Episode 5: “Blue Book, Yellow Book, Red Wine” ft. Edmund Penning-Rowsell

Flood risk management professor Edmund Penning-Rowsell shares the story of how he came to Oxford, his research interests, and his views on wine. This episode features a live wine tasting. See his new book with student essays on flood risk management:

Track List:

-Entre Dos Aguas, Paco de Lucia

-Hello Mr. Rain, The Velvet Underground

-Rolling on the River/Proud Mary, Tina Turner

Episode 4: “Green Entrepreneurship and Jammie Dodgers” ft. Arjun Bolangdy

This week on Broxit, MBA student Arjun Bolangdy talks about his belief in business as an engine for solving global problems, including energy poverty. Arjun, who is also writing a play this year, also talks about the Oxford Strategy Group, tap water in India and the UK, and his love of Wes Anderson films.

Track List:

-Guiding Light, Mumford & Sons

-Bruises, Chairlift

-Baba O’Riley, The Who

Episode 3: “The Hyacinth Hamsters” ft. June Samo

Andrew and Jeremy interview fellow water MSc student June Samo to learn about her first few months at Oxford, water management in Kenya, and some of her favorite dance moves.

Track List:

-Nowo, DJ Spinball and WizKid

-Disappear, Hoobastank

-Dreams, Fleetwood Mac

Episode 2: “Water Markets of the Americas” ft. Charles Wight (Part 2)

Episode 2 continues the conversation with Charles Wight, turning to his academic and research interests in water markets.

Track List:

-Te Conecta, Pitty

Episode 1: “Close Encounters of the Monkey Kind” ft. Charles Wight (Part 1)

In the first-ever episode of Broxit, Andrew and Jeremy sit down with Geography DPhil student Charles Wight to learn about his adventures across three continents and his interests in water.

Track List:

-Torn Apart, Enter Shikari

-Chan Chan, Buena Vista Social Club