an ADEQUATE podcast
A podcast about speaking and performance, hosted by John-Paul Flintoff, author of seven books. It explores the idea of being 'adequate' rather than perfect, often drawing from the host's personal experiences with mental health. The show offers insights on public speaking and storytelling in a down-to-earth manner.
Episodes
Multitudes across a life
A therapist once told me about the Integrated Self - a vast room of chairs for every version of a person - and warned that you can never assemble the whole. The idea has kept coming back. It surfaced in an improvisation scene with Keith Johnstone, where Steve Chapman played me at sixteen and asked what lay ahead. It surfaced again in psychiatric hospital, where I made hundreds of pictures of mysel
How a reporter's notebook gave way to a sketch pad: the arc behind this show
The story behind Contain Multitudes, my portrait show at Burgh House, Hampstead, 18-23 August 2026. It begins with a drawing exercise at The School of Life, then a commission from a priest in Hampstead, then Zoom portraits during lockdown (including Olivia Colman), then a run of visits to independent publishers, lawyers, teachers and writers in the rooms where they work. In January 2024 I drew The
The jumper she knitted herself – Mary Ann Sieghart, journalist and author
Portrait of Mary Ann Sieghart, journalist, broadcaster and author of The Authority Gap, in her Wiltshire office, from Contain Multitudes at Burgh House.The pictures in the show come from a run of visits I’ve made over the past few years to people in the places where they work: writers at their desks, lawyers in their offices, publishers among the books they’ve made, a priest in the room where she
A book of liturgies - Ayla Lepine, priest and art historian, caught reading
Portrait of Revd Dr Ayla Lepine, priest and art historian at St James's Piccadilly, from Contain Multitudes at Burgh House, London, by John-Paul Flintoff.The pictures in the show come from a run of visits I’ve made over the past few years to people in the places where they work: writers at their desks, lawyers in their offices, publishers among the books they’ve made, a priest in the room where sh
The man who talks to everyone
Patrick McCann, days from retiring at Linklaters, drawn three times in an emptying office. Then he took another job. From Contain Multitudes, a series of portraits I'm showing in a gallery in Hampstead. The pictures in the show come from a run of visits I’ve made over the past few years to people in the places where they work: writers at their desks, lawyers in their offices, publishers among the
"Making My Own Clothes (and Making Up Quotes)" | Through the Eye of a Needle #1
In this first episode of a new series, John-Paul Flintoff introduces his book "Through the Eye of a Needle" - a memoir about discovering meaning through making his own clothes. He reads from the book's cover, reveals a slightly embarrassing secret about one of the cover quotes, and shares the prologue featuring a pivotal moment on the London Underground with a crochet hook in his pocket. Along the
Post on Your Own Site First: A Small Act of Digital Independence.
In this return episode, John-Paul reflects on a year spent stepping back from big social platforms and returning to first principles. He talks about the simple, transformative habit of posting to his own website first—not for clicks, but for a sense of ownership. He explains the POSSE method, shares the joys of his "Outstagram" project, and makes a heartfelt case for why everyone should have a blo
The Convosphere (Part 1)
This is the first in a special mini-series on an ADEQUATE podcast, and I'm really excited about it.
I'm working on a new book project called The Convosphere, and in this introductory episode, I wanted to give you a bit of background on what that's all about.
Basically, I've been thinking a lot about how conversations - whether it's interviews, chats with friends, or even overheard exchanges - can
53. Writers overcome imposter syndrome
John-Paul Flintoff introduces a new podcast mini-series on writing book proposals, motivated by his recent work with aspiring writers.- He discusses the common issue of self-doubt that many writers face.- He recounts a meeting with a woman in a cafe who expressed a desire to write and publish a book, but was held back by self-criticism.- Flintoff provides examples of famous writers like Shakespear
52. Give voice to silence | what to make of getting no reply
John-Paul Flintoff discusses the challenges of editing audio for his podcast and shares insights from listeners working on family heirloom stories. He highlights Charmian's project involving her father's censored WWII letters and her own censored correspondence from Spain during General Franco's regime. Flintoff emphasizes the importance of describing and indexing letters and the value of adding c
51. Lost bag of letters | Charmian speaks
In this episode, we meet Charmian as she recounts the panic she felt when she couldn't find her father’s wartime letters and the bittersweet emotions that surfaced as she carefully read through her father's words. From the physical descriptions of the letters to the personal reflections on her family's history, this conversation offers a glimpse into a moving personal journey.This is a story of lo
50. Unlocking Family Histories | JPF reads his emails
John-Paul Flintoff introduces this episode as a reading of his latest newsletter, hinting at the intriguing family history contained within.- The newsletter delves into a "bag of letters" written by a reader’s father during World War II in West Africa.- Flintoff shares his plans to potentially offer a special course or "extravaganza" on preserving and sharing family stories like these. - Listeners
49: Turn your family story into an heirloom
John-Paul Flintoff explains how to combine family histories with artefacts to make cherished heirlooms. Drawing inspiration from a request by "Special Projects member X" to help share a collection of wartime letters written by her father, Flintoff discusses:- The value of heirlooms, both obvious ones (like photo archives or antiques) and more subtle ones (like the hands that have held them through
48. Unlock your family story | A step-by-step guide (join me!)
John-Paul Flintoff received a request from a patron to help turn a bag of WWII letters written by her father into a story.Flintoff is excited by the coincidence of this request coming in mid-November, when he often thinks of offering a month-long project on family stories.He proposes to turn this into a public project for podcast listeners, where they can also work on turning their own family arti
47. Crashing Boris Johnson’s party
John-Paul Flintoff tells a friend he once went undercover at a fundraising event for Boris Johnson. Flintoff explains how newspapers and media outlets often try to get stories from events in this way, even (or especially) if the event organisers don't want certain topics discussed.His friend, connected to an author with a big book launch coming up, could consider inviting a gossip columnist, to ge
46. "Conversations That Changed Everything" | JPF Reads His Emails 06-11-2024
John-Paul Flintoff reflects on conversations that can change everything, by reading aloud his November newsletter to make the content more accessible.
The newsletter reflects on conversations that have significantly impacted people's lives, featuring interviews with various individuals, including well-known and less-known personalities.
He describes the black-and-white photos of these individual
"I seriously thought of leaving", he told me...
One of the participants on a week-long residential course for writers got in touch with me afterwards...
How Making Your Introductory Video Is Easier With Help
A bit of a change in tone, today
A mile of steam
Using a podcast to make things visible.
As It Happens, on the BBC
Andy Kershaw blew my mind.
Just a human on Earth
Inspired by Carl on Behaviour Gap Radio I am going to do higher frequency, shorter episodes, without ever striving to be more than adequate
Epic: Dark Arts of Politics + Heroic Victory
How Keir Starmer engineered (?) a standing ovation.
And how Emma Raducanu fell over, and got up again.
Plus, an assortment of unexpected rhymes.
If you read this after listening, you may like to know that you can get your own fix of Gavin Ewart.
So So So So So Beautiful
How To Write. In this episode, I bring you the sound of three authors writing - Tony McGowan, Jay Heinrichs and Ian Sansom - then bring them together with the two you may already have heard in what I call A Symphony For Five Writers.
Then there's a message from one of my sponsors (as we say on podcasts).
And finally, a chunk from work in progress on a new book proposal, looking back te
Pilita Clark Writing Her Column For The Financial Times
Pilita Clark is a columnist at The Financial Times. I used to sit next to Pilita when we both worked on the FT's Saturday magazine.
I don't suppose it's really possible that the sound of her typing, which you hear in this episode, can really have reminded me of that time - because one person's typing isn't all that different from another's, surely. But listening to it did take me right back,
Type Along With... Times Columnist X
In this episode, you can hear X writing one of his weekly columns for The Times.
You can download the published column, and and "feel" the writing as you read it, on this page:
flintoff.org/columnist-what-it-feels-like
The Sound of Blogging
M.S. said, why not record yourself typing? I did.
Wedding Speech: Real-Life Coaching Example
A confident writer. Even fairly confident at speaking. But this is the first wedding speech.
In this short conversation, you'll hear us take on the key areas of concern, and find a way forward.
As ever, I hope it's useful. Take what you like, and leave the rest.
Interview With My Psychiatrist, Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE
I first met Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones OBE at the Nightingale Psychiatric Hospital, where I came to see her as a patient.
As you will hear in this conversation, I had previously seen her website, https://henriettabowdenjones.com/media/, and I had listened to her on Private Passions, BBC Radio 3.
I'm not aware of any other podcast in which somebody interviews his own psychiatrist - mind
Show Your Process 4/5
Feedback, and what I did with it. Plus, why I’m wearing an orange bracelet with today’s date on it.
Show Your Process 3/5
The Best Man Speech idea takes shape. The pop-up newsletter gets interest from Whizzers. Plus: What Jeff Walker did to sustain energy and impact.
Show The Process When You Launch 2/5
In this mini-series, I talk about how much I have gained by showing my work in progress.
Part 2 of 5. You should listen to part 1 first, if you haven't already.
Show The Process When You Launch. Part 1 of 5
Putting something into the world can be a lot easier if you share the process, even or especially when it’s a bit messy. In this episode, I share the process of launching something new, but related to my latest book. The episode is interrupted by a schnauzer, followed by a rainstorm. More tomorrow.
Finding Your Own Style, and Sticking With It | Interview with James Mayhew
In this episode, James Mayhew talks about the process of finding his own style as a young man - initially, by copying others. If you're a regular listener, you'll know this is a regular theme: there's a real liberation in setting constraints for your artistic practice.
In this particular case, the practice is visual art, but what James describes is relevant to any other kind of creative work
How to pull off a month-long creative project.
I failed to do it last year. I was determined to do it this year. In this episode I look back on it, in hope that it might inspire you to do something like it - or even not obviously like it. You can find out more about this particular project here: https://flintoff.org/dp21-day-1
26. "Everybody needs a good listening to". Author Wendy Jones on putting other people's voices first
Why would a writer put themselves into the background? Wendy Jones has written many kinds of books - fiction, and for children - but in this episode we focus on how and why she likes to tell people's stories in their own words. She did this in her biography of Grayson Perry, and in The Sex Lives Of English Women. In this conversation, we talk about what drew her to use this technique, and ho
25. Step inside: 10 Downing Street
Storytelling, companionship, holy places...
It's all happening in this year's virtual, online pilgrimage from North London (where I live) to Canterbury.
It takes place entirely on Google Streetview, with Zoom, so you can join from anywhere.
2.30pm to 3.15pm, every weekday in April 2021.
As the first week ends, we're in London.
24. "I Thought I Didn't Need Supervision" | Interview with Jenny Rogers
Jenny Rogers stumbled into it, years ago. She didn't even know it had a name - not till she found a handful of others were doing it too. It's not therapy. It's not being a priest. But it's got something in common with them both. It's coaching.
I discovered coaching after many years as a journalist, and saw many similarities. I found it helpful myself to have a coach, and I trained to coach others.
23. On being a journalist x blogs, podcasts and broadsheets
I met some journalists who fled their homeland, and it got me thinking.
22. How playing with formats creates entirely new content
In one hand you have content, and in the other hand you have formats. Mix them up!
21. "When I'm On My Deathbed, I'll Remember This."
This episode covers so much, in one interview. Dr Nic Hooper talks to me about what it's like to prepare to publish his first book; about mental health (good and bad, his own, mine, other people's); about how illustrations can complement words, without being cheap; about the physiological effect of watching Tom Cruise hanging off a skyscraper with one glove; what Nic will remember when he's dying;
20. On the pleasure of copying out great writing by hand
Every great writer learns by copying the great writers of the past. For centuries, this involved collecting verbal wonders in a “commonplace book“. In this episode I share something I’ve written for The Idler about my own commonplace book.
19. What Happened to Joel's Artwork?
In which we hear again from Joel Levack, who featured in episode 11.
17. My First Wedding Speech: blow by blow, by Rebecca Twomey
Rebecca Twomey is good with words. As a journalist, she knows a lot about dating, having written about it for several years. As an interviewer, she’s used to being recorded. But until recently she had never given a wedding speech – and felt all the pressure that comes with it.
In this interview, recorded as research when I was writing A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech, Rebecca r
16. A Guide To Being A Coachy Friendy Agenty Kind Of Person
Steve Chapman was working with somebody a bit wooden, who wanted to be more natural. But how? You can't just say, "Be more natural". What Steve did was utterly unexpected (it involved dandelions).
The interview with Steve in this episode was recorded as part of the research for my book, back in the days when you could meet a friend and sit in the park together, beneath noisy planes and near laugh
15. How To Talk About Something Delicate: a few suggestions
If you're talking about something delicate, it's important to set up expectations from the start.
This episode contains the beginning of a workshop I delivered to an audience of speakers and would-be speakers, courtesy of a charity, Illuminate, which helps people to overcome their mental health problems, then talk publicly about their experiences.
In other words, what you're going to h
14. "It's A Sin To Bore For Jesus" + A lesson from impro
Ron Boyd-MacMillan wrote a remarkably useful and entertaining book, Explosive Preaching, which I picked up while researching my own book. His insights, intended to aid religious preachers, are useful to anybody who intends to make a speech, whether at a wedding or for work.
In this interview, Ron tells me why the great early preacher St Augustine used to improvise; says he's been disappointe
13. Talking As Therapy, and Just Talking
Hannah Murray of Talk Radio Europe interviewed me about public speaking and mental health. She started with a welcome question about my breakdown.
Audio courtesy of Hannah, and Talk Radio Europe.
12. "Read it aloud" | Interview with Kris Dyer, voice wiz
I had hoped to record the audiobook myself. But Covid stopped that. After a few hours feeling sorry for myself, I came to see how much better it is that the book was narrated by Kris Dyer.
He's narrated 200 audiobooks, and in this episode he shares how he started; why this kind of "public speaking" suits an introvert; how he aims to "channel" each author, what he did when a character he'd voiced a
11. What Happened To Brendan? + Joel chops up the bar
In which I reveal what happened to Brendan Barns, after he put his home up as collateral to pay for his quirky dream. Plus, a real life example of someone wondering how to make best use of material that may not, initially, seem entirely promising. And some animal sounds, just because.
10. "Do I Have Sleepless Nights? I Do" | Brendan Barns + Guy Hayward
In this episode, I tell you about a man I interviewed (in real life) a while ago, because I interviewed him again more recently (on Zoom, in lockdown) and I think you might like to know his backstory first. He's Brendan Barns.
Plus... I share a short highlight from an interview with Dr Guy Hayward, an all-round entertainer and polymath who inspired me to do last year's Virtual Pilgrimage (and this
9. How I Tried To Understand My Audience | Real-life example, with people I didn't know
Creative Conscience helps young people focus on using their talents to share things that matter. In this episode I tell a group of people I don’t know the crucial importance of focusing on your audience...
That focus, and a clear sense of purpose, is much more important than anything else...
Find out more about Creative Conscience here.
8. How To Write A Book Proposal | Interview with agent Jaime Marshall
My new book is out. I just got hold of my first copies. It feels like I'm back on my feet as a writer.
In this episode, I interview my agent Jaime Marshall about how A Modest Book About How To Make An Adequate Speech came into being - with particular reference to the title, and the book proposal Jaime submitted to my publisher, Short Books.
You can see the photo of me waving my book at Jaime on m
7. Rejection Game | highlight from a demo
Training in theatrical impro with Keith Johnstone, I learned to play The Rejection Game, in which one of the four people on stage must be rejected by the other three.
Playing the game teaches how to exclude - but also how to include. And it teaches us that we can't focus on everybody all the time. Someone, somewhere, is liable to feel left out at times.
Plainly, this has important consequences in
6. "You were almost painfully honest" | Jo Gubbay interview
I met Jo Gubbay when I was in a very dark place, on the Talk For Health training course that was the subject of the previous episode.
Despite seeing me in a bad way - or, in fact, because of that - Jo invited me to speak to hundreds of people at her workplace, one of the most prestigious law firms in the world.
Jo is highly regarded in her field, as a lawyer herself with oodles of experience at th
5. An Apology + Nicky Forsythe interview
I shouldn't have done it, but in this episode I do it again - one last time - then I apologise. Later in the episode, as part of my research for an article about how public speaking helped in my recovery, I talk to a psychotherapist who discovered that lay people, given a bit of training, could be just as helpful as - well, psychotherapists.
One of the people she trained, as you will hear, was me.
4. How to do "eye contact" on Zoom?
Audiences on Zoom, like audiences anywhere else, like to be acknowledged. They like to be "seen". If you can't literally see into their eyes, there are other ways to acknowledge them.
This episode features a short highlight from a recent online workshop in which I challenged individuals to "see" each other. I'm indebted to Keith Johnstone, author of Impro, who first taught me this exer
3. On American Speakers | Jay Heinrichs
Presidential Inauguration speeches are rare: just one every four years. To mark the special occasion, here's a bonus episode, featuring an interview with Jay Heinrichs, author of the New York Times bestseller Thank You For Arguing.
We touch on the differences between British and American speaking styles, and Jay shares a remarkable discovery he made when he researched the differences between Democ
2. “All wrong, still good” | Helen Bagnall interview
In this episode, festival organiser Helen Bagnall says that speakers who have something worthwhile to say can do it "all wrong" and still be good - adding that the TED style talk isn't always right.
Later in the episode, I share with you what I got back from the magazine after submitting the story I read aloud in Episode 1 - and what I did about it.
Read about Helen by clicking here: Salon London.
1. My speaking disasters + Martin Pistorius interview
"Most of us dread speaking, even to a small gathering of friends and family. I certainly did, until I had spoken publicly often enough for all my greatest fears to have come true..."
I've written and submitted a story to a magazine about my greatest humiliations as a public speaker. I've read it aloud for this first episode, along with a short interview I did with an incredible man who lived trapp
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