Worst Foot Forward-logo

Worst Foot Forward

Comedy

An encyclopaedia of heroic failure Join Ben Van der Velde, Barry McStay and their guests as they brandish their wooden spoons of destiny and celebrate the losers, heroic failures and spectacular mis-steps that pockmark human endeavour. If you ever want to feel better about your progress in life, take a listen and enjoy a lovely schadenfreude bubble bath. Music by Max Perryment (www.maxperryment.co.uk) Donate to us via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Location:

United Kingdom

Description:

An encyclopaedia of heroic failure Join Ben Van der Velde, Barry McStay and their guests as they brandish their wooden spoons of destiny and celebrate the losers, heroic failures and spectacular mis-steps that pockmark human endeavour. If you ever want to feel better about your progress in life, take a listen and enjoy a lovely schadenfreude bubble bath. Music by Max Perryment (www.maxperryment.co.uk) Donate to us via Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Twitter:

@WorstFoot

Language:

English

Contact:

07764745261


Episodes

Ep 293b: Best of the Worst of the Best 23

3/17/2024
*Barry's play BREEDING runs from March 21st to April 14th 2024 at the King's Head Theatre in London - get tickets here! https://kingsheadtheatre.com/whats-on/breeding * It's one of our occasional trips down memory lane, and we are revisiting episodes 111 to 115 to discuss not the worst but the World's Best Smell, Algorithm, Manager, Design Flaw and Saint. This episode sees Barry try to convince Ben that he is scientifically disposed to vanilla and Ben trying to convince Barry that Portuguese nonuplet renegades are better than Oscar Wilde's favourite sexy martyr. So, more of the same guff then. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:01:03:24

Ep 293: Mara Joy - World's Worst Improvisation

3/4/2024
We're saying "Yes And..." to everything this week as we're joined by tremendous Scottish improviser Mara Joy to discover quite how bad things can get when you start making things up. John Cage goes on for centuries, B-movie mistakes get creepy and Ben finds an unlikely nadir from the jazz world. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @Marajoyloves| Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Duration:01:06:02

The Third Foot: Leap Days & Calendars

2/25/2024
We're jumping for joy as it's a leap year, and no better time to examine all things calendrical and February 29th-ical. Ben dips into a grab-bag of facts including famous people born on that most uncommon of days, the difficulty of switching from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, and why a positivist calendar from post-Revolutionary France could really be more trouble than it's worth. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:00:25:08

Ep 292: Shelf - World's Worst Mistaken Identity

2/18/2024
This week we do a double take at doppelgangers everywhere as we reveal the worst cases of mistaken identity in history. Joined by award-winning comedy double act Shelf, we reveal the stories of the wrongfully imprisoned, the wrongfully buried and the wrongfully genderpigeon-holed. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @shelfcomedy Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Duration:01:07:31

Ep 291: Andrew McMillan - World's Worst Exercise

2/4/2024
This week we're lifting, cleaning and jerking, squatting, pressing, pushing, sweating and gaining as we discuss the World's Worst Exercise with acclaimed queer poet and fitness fan Andrew McMillan. Andrew gives us an insight into why gyms feature so much in his writing, Ben talks about the world's strongest men and their various stones, and Barry goes to yoga with a Noah's Ark-worth of animals. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @AMcMillanPoet Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:01:10:43

The Third Foot: Janus

1/28/2024
We're facing the facts in this January's bonus episode which is all about Janus and double-faced things. You have so many glorious bits of trivia to look forward (and backward) to as Barry turns his many eyes to things as varied as Cerberus's brother, grumpy cats, scientific studies into whether two heads are better than one and the history of two-headed coins. Oh, and there's also a bit about why genes have weird names! Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:00:28:12

Ep 290: Steven Healer - World's Worst Industry

1/21/2024
We're heading to factories full of gross ingredients and heavy munitions this week as we talk to Steven Healer, an old school friend of Ben's, with experience in the MoD about the world's worst industries. Ben reveals the repellent world of beauty, the horrific world of the military-industrial complex and the claustrophobic world of mining. Find out more about Steven's NPO supporting artists in conflict zones here: https://conflictcomics.org/ Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show, and especially as we work on our book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Duration:01:25:32

Ep 289: Ken Cheng - World's Worst Bet

1/7/2024
Happy new year folks, and we're starting it off with our eyes on the prize hoping for big money at long odds - it's the World's Worst Bet. Comedian and professional poker player Ken Cheng is with us to cast his eye over the runners and riders as he brings stories of the bets professional gamblers place when away from the cosy environs of a casino. Barry has stories of Russian authors, English rakes and tasers, while Ben walks around Blackheath, dodging geese and brothels every step of the way. What a normal, Worst Foot Forward way to start 2024! Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @kenchengcomedy Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show, and especially as we work on our book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:01:13:11

The Third Foot: Mulling

12/28/2023
Merry Crimbletide folks. To celebrate this festive time of year we're diving into a cauldron of piping hot mulled wine to discuss all things Mull. The little island that could off the coast of Scotland is a surprising nexus for a few favourite characters from the show's vaults, plus a few other bits of entertaining historical daftness. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:00:19:38

Ep 288: World's Worst Best Of 2023 Episode

12/24/2023
Christmas Day is here, and it’s not just under your tree that you’ll find delightful gifts. Here too, at Worst Foot Forward, we come laden with treats in the form of our annual round-up of our favourite moments from the past 12 months. Join us for a jaunt through highlights such as our two live shows which featured sibling rivalry and Adventure Bombs, Ben’s wife teaching us about taxes, Caimh O’Donnell barely scratching the surface of Florida Man’s insanity, Rosie Holt’s fear of dancing, Ivan “from The Traitors” critiquing actual traitors from history, and Ed Byrne wishing to say farewell to “an Irish Goodbye”. Merry Christmas to all our listeners, and here’s to a wonderful 2024. This episode features: Ed Byrne, Sam See, Carrie Quinlan, Silvana Van der Velde, Matt Kirshen, Rosie Holt, Caimh O’Donnell, Lexx Education, Jon Gracey, Matt Green, Joshua Tonks, Daisy Earl, Rob Manuel, Chris Grace, Ivan Brett, Johnny Chiodini and Ellie Gibson. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show - especially at this time of year, if you can help us out, it makes all the difference as we look forward to another 12 months of podcasting! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Duration:01:25:34

Ep 287: Tom Toal - World's Worst Messenger

12/10/2023
This podcast always rings twice, then knocks three times, then peers through the window, then climbs over a gate to check around the back before just shoving the parcel through the cat-flap. It's an episode with comedian and postal worker Tom Toal all about the World's Worst Messenger, in which Tom charges into the Valley of Death with the Light Brigade after a miscommunication. Meanwhile, Barry explains how shooting the messenger can have global ramifications and Ben enlightens us as to why his package seems to be crying. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @tomtoalcomedy Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:01:05:50

The Third Foot: Doctor Who

11/28/2023
Allons-y, companions! This week we are jumping into our TARDIS and exploring the Whoniverse, as Barry takes Ben on an adventure through space and time to talk all things Doctor Who. With the iconic BBC show's 60th anniversary being marked, we whizz through everything from Hartnell to Gatwa. There are the show's humble beginnings and how it was nearly ruined by Lee Harvey Oswald. There are mishaps galore, from flooded studios to visible tattoos, lost episodes to bootleg erotica. And there are the tales of the weird and wonderful design choices, from the Daleks' near-miss with Hollywood royalty to K9's near-miss with a cheap dog costume. All this and more in this bonus episode which is definitely bigger on the inside. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:00:46:16

Ep 286b: Best of the Worst of the Best 22

11/27/2023
We're drinking from the half full part of the podcast this week as we revisit episodes 106-110 - and look for the positive stories on show. Ben and Barry sooth you with the finest lullabies, bamboozle you with puzzles, salute the finest military tactics (and, with less enthusiasm evil geniuses) and end with the finest experiments ever concocted. In between there's the usual mix of Beatles chat, oddball trivia and, for a change, very little harm to dogs. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:01:07:38

Ep 286: LIVE SHOW - World's Worst Sibling

11/12/2023
We love a live show here at Worst Foot Forward and this one was no different! We were joined by the team from Lexx Education - Laura Lexx and her brother Ron - for an episode about the World's Worst Sibling as part of the Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival in London. Brothers-in-arms Ben and Barry presented a combination of Hollywood and Washington high-flyers, while Laura went back to Ancient Egypt and Rob discovered a third, less-good Attenborough brother down the back of the genealogical sofa. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @LexxEducation Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan more live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:00:52:54

Ep 285: Jon Gracey - World's Worst Werewolf

10/29/2023
* BUY TICKETS FOR OUR NEXT LIVE SHOW! WHAT: Worst Foot Forward Live - World's Worst Sibling with guests Laura Lexx & Ron WHEN: 5th November 2023 @ 12.00pm WHERE: Bedford Pub, London SW12 9HD TIX: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/ We're howling at the moon, growing our hair and nails, and gaining American citizenship before travelling to London and then Paris as we transform into the World's Worst Werewolf. We are joined by comedian, gamer and master of Werewolf Live, Jon Gracey, for this monstrous Hallowe'en special, where Barry journeys through the south of France, Jon shares his favourite Thai film with us and Ben teaches us why tomatoes are not to be trusted. Oh, and to enjoy the scary werewolf transformation Jon references in the episode, watch it here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H3PRSg8ReM To join Jon and a bunch of other nerds (including past WFF guests like Ivan Brett and Grubby Little Mitts) playing social deduction game BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER in a country house this November, check out this link! Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @benvandervelde @JonGracey Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing… https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:01:12:01

The Third Fooot: Tea time!

10/22/2023
* BUY TICKETS FOR OUR NEXT LIVE SHOW! WHAT: Worst Foot Forward Live - World's Worst Sibling with guests Laura Lexx & Ron WHEN: 5th November 2023 @ 12.00pm WHERE: Bedford Pub, London SW12 9HD TIX: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/ To celebrate our returning guest Laura Lexx we're going back to the topic she talked about when she first appeared on the show: tea! We uncover a colonial hero/villain from the Twining dynasty, why teapots are an essential component in computing and one of the stupdiest scientific experiments ever carried out. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @LauraLexx Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot @Vanderlaugh @LexxLaura @LexxEducation Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan more live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Duration:00:37:52

Ep 284: Joshua Tonks - World's Worst Candy

10/15/2023
* BUY TICKETS FOR OUR NEXT LIVE SHOW! WHAT: Worst Foot Forward Live - World's Worst Sibling with guests Laura Lexx & Ron WHEN: 5th November 2023 @ 12.00pm WHERE: Bedford Pub, London SW12 9HD TIX: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/ Hallowe'en is coming fast and, for that one night, trick-or-treating will be everyone's nocturnal activity of choice. So we are joined by actor and writer Josh Tonks to talk about what's going in those bags and pumpkin-head buckets as we chew through the World's Worst Candy. There is WW2 military chocolate which was designed NOT to be too tasty, there are origin stories for names from Milk Duds to lollipops, and Josh has even created a candy-themed playlist for you all to enjoy - check it out! JOSH'S CANDY PLAYLIST ON YOUTUBE: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD_CqeUh0-5jie6Vn8b-AhF_fYiWa8ID1 JOSH'S CANDY PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY: https://spotify.link/Nt2EA7dfRDb Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @JoshuaTonks Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan more live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:01:15:03

LIVE SHOW KLAXON! Worst Foot Forward meets Lexx Education!

10/13/2023
* TICKETS HERE: https://www.designmynight.com/london/pubs/balham/the-bedford/cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-day-6?t=tickets * WHAT: Worst Foot Forward Live - World's Worst Sibling with guests Laura Lexx & Ron WHEN: 5th November 2023 @ 12.00pm WHERE: Bedford Pub, London SW12 9HD We love a live show here at Worst Foot Forward and, with winter drawing on, we have one coming along to brighten these chilly days! On November 5th at midday, as part of the Cheerful Earful Podcast Festival in London, you can join us for a show about the World's Worst Siblings! Our guests will be real-life siblings and hosts of the Lexx Education podcast, comedian Laura Lexx and her cleverer brother Ron. Relationships will be challenged, scores will be settled. So whether you're a middle-child, an only-child or a problem-child, all are welcome. Tickets are available at the link above, or through the festival website: https://www.cheerfulearful.co.uk/ Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh @LexxEducation Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan more live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:00:03:12

Ep 283: James Dowdeswell - World's Worst Beer

10/1/2023
BUY TICKETS TO OUR LIVE SHOW ON NOVEMBER 5TH HERE: https://www.designmynight.com/london/pubs/balham/the-bedford/cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-day-6?t=tickets Join us as we pump out a pint of the worst brews on the planet in the company of comic, author and beer impresario James Dowdeswell. We discover the rickety secret of Churchill's wartime grog, Roald Dahl's most disgusting secret and what makes Carlsberg Special Brew not that special after all. Buy James' Lazy EyePA: https://www.lazyeyepa.co.uk/ Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @jamesdowdeswell Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot @dowdeswell_drinks_well Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward

Duration:01:14:02

The Third Foot: Political Animals

9/29/2023
From the doghouse to the White House, we've got a menagerie of prime ministerial wannabes, woofing would-be world leaders and purring political animals. Yes, in this bonus episode we explore the curious history of animals running for elected office. On the ballot are the likes of Pigasus The Immortal, Limberbutt McCubbins and Crawfish T. Crawfish, with a special guest appearance by half-squid elder horror, Cthulu himself. Follow us on Twitter: @worstfoot @bazmcstay @VanderLaugh Follow us on Instagram: @worstfoot Join us on our Discord server! https://discord.gg/9buWKthgfx Visit www.worstfootforwardpodcast.com for all previous episodes and you can donate to us on Patreon if you’d like to support the show during this whole pandemic thing, and especially as we work on our first book and plan some live shows! https://www.patreon.com/WorstFootForward Worst Foot Forward is part of Podnose: www.podnose.com

Duration:00:34:16