ASK (Attain Secret Knowledge): Recent Episodes
Jenni Summers
ASK is the podcast where we hope to help you 'Attain Secret Knowledge' with the assistance of our fantastically knowledgeable teachers from John Hampden Grammar School. Each episode we'll have three of our brightest sixth formers as panellists, along with a brilliantly knowledgeable guest teacher, to explore a topic that they love and hopefully you will too.
Please follow us at @JHGSEnglish to stay up to date with all our podcast news.
Welcome back to the ASK podcast, where we take to the stage with Mr Durrant, English and Drama teacher extraordinaire and former professional actor! We're attaining fascinating and secret knowledge this time on the life and works of theatre practitioner Stanislavski. It turns out, we have a lot of misconceptions about his 'System', so tune in to find out about this and much more. Also listen to find out some A list actors who Mr Durrant definitely doesn't rate!
Mr Durrant is expertly questioned by our rigorous panellists, Josh M and Matthew B from Y12 - thanks gentlemen! Thanks to our wonderful producers too - especially the genius that is Tomas H in Year 12.
Quiz questions - house points to earn. Just email mtill@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk with your answers! 1. Which famous playwright did Stanslavski help 're-launch' after an initial disaster in the first performance of his play? 2. Tell us what piece of acting in his career was Mr Durrant is most proud of?
As ever, please share this podcast with friends and family, follow us via Jenni Summers on YouTube and follow @JHGSEnglish for regular updates on the pod and more. Thanks for listening. Mrs Summers, Mr Till and Miss Mitchell.
Welcome back to a new series of ASK, featuring our first returning guest: Head of History, Mr Andrew Sawdon. This time we're attaining dark and secret knowledge on the world of nuclear, ranging from the history of nuclear power, through to the very real threat of nuclear weapons today, via Russia's Vladimir Putin. It's certainly not a light episode, but characteristically, Mr Sawdon gives us a whole range of fascinating insights. He's ably questioned by our rigorous panellists, Josh M and Matthew B from Y12 - thanks gentlemen!
Quiz questions - house points to earn! 1. Which former Labour party leader said he would never use nuclear weapons as a retaliatory strike? 2. In the quick fire section, what was Mr Sawdon's favourite takeaway?
As ever, please share this podcast with friends and family, follow us via Jenni Summers on YouTube and follow @JHGSEnglish for regular updates on the pod and more. Thanks for listening. Mrs Summers and Mr Till.
Welcome back to a brand new series of the ASK podcast, which this week features the dulcet tones of our very own Mr Khan. As both English Teacher and Head of Year 10, you'd think he'd have his hands full, but he spared us a lunch time to talk all things Malcolm X. For some an inspiration, for others a figure of controversy, we really delve into the life and ideas of Malcolm X, so strap in and get listening. Thank you to our fabulous panellists: Harry W (Y11), Josh M (Y11) and Adi J (Y10) who ask perceptive, probing questions that really helped make this a fascinating episode.
As per usual, give us a follow on @JHGSEnglish and via the 'Jenni Summers' YouTube account, to ensure you get all of the latest updates.
House point questions (2 points for 2 correct answers): 1) Why did Malcolm want to be known as 'Malcolm X' rather than 'Malcolm Little'? 2) After his conversion to orthodox Islam, what did he change his name to? Send your entries to mtill@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk or smitchell@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk.
**1. Apologies for any sound issues - this was produced using a laptop, rather than being left in the capable hands of Tomas and the recording studio team.
- Yes, we're releasing episode 2 first. Episodes 1 and 3 should be with you very soon - they'll be properly edited!**
Welcome back to a special bonus ASK podcast, to whet your appetites before the new series returns very soon.
We were lucky to lure in with former JHGS Teacher of Art* Mrs Forge to talk about her not-so-secret passion about wood engraving. Thanks to Mrs Forge for responding in great and fascinating detail and to our fabulous panellists, Jack (now Y13) and Harry (now Y11) for their brilliant questions and observations.
As ever, follow us @JHGSEnglish on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel if you haven't already.
*She's gone to teach in Cairo, Egypt. We wish her the very best in her exciting new chapter!
Welcome to our second incredibly special edition of the ASK podcast, with more nuggets for the Year 11s getting ready for their GCSEs - with both Language and Literature focused discussion!
Thank you to the wonderful Olly, Matthew, Sarvang and James for posing such a great questions to Mr Till and Mrs Summers for this episode.
As ever, follow us @JHGSEnglish on Twitter, subscribe on Spotify and YouTube and spread the word far and wide! Thank you for listening!
Welcome to a really, very special edition of the ASK podcast, specifically aimed at Year 11 getting ready for their GCSEs!
Thank you to the wonderful Olly, Matthew, Sarvang and James for posing such a great questions to Mr Till and Mrs Summers for this episode.
Even better: we've broken it in two form time-sized chunks that your form tutors can play to you, so look out for part two very soon.
As ever, follow us @JHGSEnglish on Twitter, subscribe on Spotify and YouTube and spread the word far and wide!
Welcome to a really, very special edition of the ASK podcast, specifically aimed at Year 11 getting ready for their GCSEs!
Thank you to the wonderful Olly, Matthew, Sarvang and James for posing such a great questions to Mr Till and Mrs Summers for this episode.
Even better: we've broken it in two form time-sized chunks that your form tutors can play to you, so look out for part two very soon.
As ever, follow us @JHGSEnglish on Twitter, subscribe on Spotify and YouTube and spread the word far and wide!
Welcome back to an enthralling new episode of the ASK podcast, where we face up to daunting challenges posed by climate change, and the reasons to be hopeful, with Mr Moussavi (Head of Geography at John Hampden Grammar School.) Thanks to Mr Moussavi for responding with panache to our fabulously knowledgeable panellists, Shane M (Y13), Daniel P (Y13) and Ben E (Y12).
Remember to follow us on @JHGSEnglish @JHGSHW and to subscribe to this channel to make sure you get all of the latest updates.
House Point Challenge: What is Mr Moussavi's answer to the question 'What is your favourite musical?' in the quick fire round? (Email your answer to jsummers@jhgs.bucks.sch.uk)
Open the curtains this week to be serenaded by Mrs Bingham who's sharing with us her great passion for musical theatre... and her controversial dislike of Les Miserables.
Many thanks to Zeke (Y13), Tom (Y13) and Shane (Y13) for being such enthusiastic panellists with far more knowledge of the topic than the hosts!
As ever, follow us Twitter on @JHGSEnglish for speedy updates; leave us a comment and like on YouTube or give us a follow on Spotify if you can. Otherwise, just get the word out by telling your friends! (If you're a student look out for our quiz question emails too!)
Let us whisk you away to meet some 19th century rebels this week in our episode with the English department's Miss Mitchell, where she tells us all about the mysterious-sounding Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
Many thanks to Kian (Y12), Kai (Y13) and Nik (Y13) for being such inquisitive panellists with excellent probing questions!
Follow us Twitter on @JHGSEnglish for speedy updates; leave us a comment and like on YouTube or give us a follow on Spotify if you can. Otherwise, just get the word out by telling your friends! (If you're a student look out for our quiz question emails too!)
Welcome back for season 2 of the ASK podcast, where once again we're hoping to help you 'Attain Secret Knowledge.'
This episode fits that description perfectly: we learn about a different side to Niccolò Machiavelli, less 'Machiavellian' than one might expect, AND we learn some inside information about our Assistant Head in our new 'quick fire questions' segment. For one thing, he doesn't like crisps!
Thanks to Dan A, Xavier A and Finn B of Year 13 for being excellent questioners and to our very distinguished guest, Mr Sammels for coming on to be interrogated. As per usual, Mr Mark Till and I (Mrs Jenni Summers) had a fabulous time creating this podcast, so we hope that you enjoy it. Finally, thanks to our brilliant tech team, including Tom H, Aman S and Barnaby M-S.
Remember to follow us @JHGSEnglish @JHGSHW and, of course, please subscribe to our YouTube channel! Pop us an email to jsummers@jhgs.bucksc.sch.uk if you have thoughts on future topics, teachers or to put yourself forward as a questioner.
Ever thought about diving headfirst into a topic that fills you with excitement and intrigue? This week, four of our brightest year 12s do just that on a diversity of topics: dark matter research; whether we should teach Shakespeare in schools; the 2008 financial crash and the safety of rollercoasters.
Once you've 'attained secret knowledge' with us, make sure you subscribe to the channel; follow us @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSHW for updates; follow us on Spotify and share the podcast with as many of your friends and family as you can!
This week, look through the lens of a microscope and into the world of the research laboratory with our esteemed guest and Head of Science, Dr Anthony Bullard. There's certainly plenty of secret knowledge to attain with us this week, including plenty of hints and tips for those applying to university in the near future.
Follow us @JHGSEnglish , @JHGS_Science and @JHGSHW for regular podcast updates and please give us a comment below to let us know your ideas for topics, panellists, guests and perhaps even new segments! Why not subscribe to our YouTube Channel too?
This week is a special bonus recording of the JHGS Pratchett's Society's debate on the function of religion. Chaired by Aman, it's a passionate discussion between Year 12s Joe, Luke and Dan on the 'proposition' and Felix, Finn and Nik of the 'opposition'. It's a feisty affair and well worth a listen!
As ever, please subscribe to the channel and follow @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSHW for instant updates on this and future episodes.
DISCLAIMER: Apologies for the sound quality here; we had to record with windows and the door open in the debating classroom, which meant you've got the lovely ambient sounds of lunch time joy in the background!
Coming up next are mathematics and science-themed episodes, so watch this space!
Feel transported to the sunny idylls of Italy this week on the ASK podcast as Mr Langridge talks fascinatingly about his theory that Shakespeare spent some of his 'lost years' exploring the country and absorbing the culture.
Remember to follow us @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSHW for regular podcast updates and give us a comment below to let us know your ideas for topics, panellists, guests and perhaps even new segments!
Dear listeners, Mr Till and I couldn't resist having another wide-ranging discussion, this time about the intersections between science and literature. We cover quite an expanse of writers here, from Richard Dawkins, Bill Bryson and Sir Stephen Hawking to George Eliot, H.G. Wells and Mary Shelley, to name but a few.
There is also the announcement of the winner of our inaugural competition to win a Blackwell's book shop voucher, so listen out for that!
As ever, we hope you enjoy listening and encourage you to subscribe, follow and review us whenever and wherever you can. On Twitter, receive updates via @JHGSEnglish and follow our brilliant science colleagues at @JHGS_Science.
Note: Please excuse any dodgy sound levels in the audio: we recorded this remotely and it's safe to say that I am no expert at editing!
We've gone rogue! Having had podcast withdrawal symptoms, Mr Till and I decided to record our independent chat about all things cross-curricular in the bonus ASK podcast thing week. As ever, we hope you attain some secret knowledge with us, perhaps gaining insight into the idea of the glass bead game, the importance of understanding how the life of women in Northern Ireland was impacted by the Troubles or even why Shakespeare really explored mental health long before it's become common practice. Not to mention, Mr Till mentions prizes...
As ever, please do follow @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSHW for the latest podcast updates; subscribe to us on YouTube (under Jenni Summers) and give us a rating or a review. Have a lovely half term... Look out for (hopefully) another bonus podcast during the half term break.
Welcome back to the ASK podcast, where we hope you'll attain yet more secret knowledge with our fantastic staff and teachers and John Hampden Grammar School, High Wycombe.
Things take a dark, reflective turn this week as we look at Jewish resistance during the Holocaust in WW2, particularly centring around life in the ghettos. We also explore the topic of Anti-Semitism, which seems to be rearing its ugly head in modern political discourse.
Our brilliant history teacher Miss Beth Labonte is our guest this week, with knowledgeable panellists Aman of Y12, James of Y13 and Classroom Assistant, Mr James Hoggett.
Make sure that you sign up to @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSHistory for updates and new episodes of the podcast. And subscribe to get immediate notification of when the next episode will drop.
Dreaming of a sandy beach in the sun? Mrs Fiona Tremelling is on the ASK podcast this week to challenge us all to set our imaginations towards adventure and the creation incredible memories at the same time, whether that be a walk with your dog in the woods or exploring the beauteous wilds of Antarctica.
Be sure to follow us on @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSGeog and pop us a comment too. Suggestions for future topics and guests, as well as responses to Mr Till's quiz clues, are most welcome!
You've made it to episode two of the ASK (Attain Secret Knowledge) podcast. Congratulations!
This week, we have the incredibly talented and knowledgeable Mrs Helen Livingstone taking us into the gruesome and frankly bizarre stories of the history of witchcraft. She's joined by our panel of three wizards from Year 12, Dan, Ewan and Tom.
Follow us for updates on @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSHistory and subscribe to our YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/kdgxB_acNAM) to receive the episodes as soon as they're published.
Welcome to very first episode of the ASK podcast, where we hope to help you 'Attain Secret Knowledge' with the assistance of our fantastically knowledgeable teachers from John Hampden Grammar School. This week, along with our three erudite sixth form panellists, Téo, Dan and James, the wonderful Mr Andy Sawdon joins for an enthralling discussion of the Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton.
Please follow us at @JHGSEnglish and @JHGSHistory to keep up to date with everything we're doing.