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octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe
@octothorpecast.bsky.social
620 followers 200 following 60 posts
A podcast about science fiction and science fiction fandom, hosted by @johncoxon.bsky.social, @bohemiancoast.bsky.social, and @lizbatty.bsky.social. 2024 Hugo Award winner, big Weetabix fans. https://octothorpe.podbean.com/
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octothorpecast.bsky.social
Good morning! Octothorpe 147 is here with an episode that was described by my two cohosts during the editing process as “discursive” and “rambly”. STRAP IN, LISTENERS. octothorpe.podbean.com/e/147-what-w...
A photograph of the mountains of Nepal with text overlaid, reading “Octothorpe 147 Official Octothorpe Nepal Identification Guide* (*apparently never gets old)** (** Liz might like to go to a comics con there)”.
November 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Liz is back! We discuss a variety of topics including Worldcon finances and the fact that Alison is definitely doing the T-shirts for @easterconuk.bsky.social like, any day now. Really. No, YOU’RE overcommitted. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/146-it-win...
The Torrijos Ceiling at the Victoria & Albert East Storehouse. An elaborate, gilded and octagonal ceiling. Why yes, Alison has a new phone, how could you tell?
October 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 145 is here! This episode we talk to Tommy Ferguson, chair of Reconnect, about conrunning with a Northern Irish slant. We record 146 in 4.5 hours at the time this post goes up, so listen quickly so you can loc 😉 octothorpe.podbean.com/e/145-james-...
John, Alison and Tommy are weaving ropes of fate as norns. The ropes lead to little spools, above their heads, reminiscent of a sculpture called Umbilical by Conrad Shawcross which Alison will explain in more detail in Octothorpe 146. The words “Octothorpe 145” appear at the top, and “Looking forward to Norncon” at the bottom.
October 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
OCTOTHORPE 144 IS THE LAW. As well as a pleasing rhyme, listeners will know this heralds the episode on 2012’s DREDD! We hope you enjoy the episode, and remember: until your assessment is formally over, you’re still entitled to dispense justice. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/144-i-have...
Six cartoons of John as a Judge from MegaCity One with the Clarke Award logo on his helmet, all of which are identical. Beneath them follows text. 0: NO HURT. 1: HURTS A LITTLE. 2: JUST A FLESH WOUND. 3: MINOR GUNSHOT. 4: BULLET THROUGH GUT. 5: FALL OFF SKYSCRAPER. The JUDGE COXON Pain Scale™. The words “Octothorpe 144” appear at the top of the cover.
September 25, 2025 at 9:12 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 143 is slightly late! We welcome Alison back to the podcast and read a bumper mailbag before getting into discussion of @seattlein2025.org, @laworldcon.bsky.social, and @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social. Our artwork is by Atom! Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/143-a-majo...
An abstract, geometric figure stands, their torso through a panel which has various trailing wires. There is a radio or walkie talkie on the floor and a textured background which is also geometric. The words “Octothorpe 143” appear at the top, “Walt Willis” appear at the right, and “Inside Coverage” appear at the bottom.
September 11, 2025 at 11:47 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 142 is here with stunt Alison, Lori Anderson of @hugogirlpodcast.bsky.social! We discuss some of the pronunciation snafus at the Hugo Awards Ceremony before getting into a happier discussion of panels, the winners themselves, and books. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/142-a-lot-...
A picture of a book entitled “Hugo Award Pronunciation Guide” written by George R R Martin. The cover design is in the style of the A Song of Ice and Fire series, with an Iron Throne made of Hugo Awards. The words “Octothorpe 142” are at the top in a Game of Thrones-y typeface.
August 28, 2025 at 10:47 AM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
The title of this episode is a barefaced lie, as we read your letters and then dive into discussion of the Business Meeting. But fear not! We also do mention science fiction! Well, John does; Alison and Liz hadn’t read any this week. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/141-a-whol...
A photograph of a cocktail bar at Battersea Power Station. The words “Control Room B” are above the cocktail bar, and the words “Octothorpe 141” overlaid in similar style.
August 14, 2025 at 7:00 AM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
This is another bumper episode, as we do a deep dive into the WSFS Business Meetings and then an almost equally deep dive into a little indie comic known as Superman. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/140-nerdie...
Three Miis in the style of John, Alison and Liz on a background reminiscent of the Everybody Votes Channel from the Nintendo Wii. The words “Octothorpe 140” appear at the top and “WSFS Everybody Votes Channel” at the bottom.
July 31, 2025 at 9:46 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
This episode, we welcome @tammylc.bsky.social to the podcast as our Stunt Liz! We discuss @montreal2027.bsky.social and whether they can step up to the plate, before talking about the virtual Business Meeting at @seattlein2025.org. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/139-mostly...
The words “Octothorpe 139” appear at the top and the words “…our tiny bottles…” appear at the bottom. Three bottles are drawn in the middle. The left-hand bottle is a Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Coca-Cola bottle. The middle bottle is a bottle that looks a bit like a moose. The right-hand bottle is Bottle #18, “The Original Canton Delicate Ginger Liqueur”.
July 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 138 is here, in which we discuss the recent changing of the @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social chair, before turning our sights to the @seattlein2025.org Business Meeting agenda. That’s right, listeners. It's Bat-Liz time.

Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/138-a-tedi...
A famous photograph of Margaret Hamilton standing beside printed outputs of the code that took the Apollo spacecraft to the Moon, overlaid with the words “Octothorpe 138” and “Whizz-Fizz Agenda Time!”.
July 3, 2025 at 3:48 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
It’s Thursday somewhere, as episode 137 makes its debut! We read your lovely letters and then discuss in some detail how an award for Best Translated Work might be conducted. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/137-my-bra...
An image of the well-known fantasy hero Ahmon Kwasson, holding his trusty croissant-shaped sword and his trusty croissant-adorned shield, with his trusty croissant-coloured hair, which obscures the words “Octothorpe 137”. At the bottom is text: “Ahmon’s Quest: Your perfect cosy breakfast listen”.
June 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 136 is now arriving! We finally have time to discuss Eastercon 2025 (Reconnect in Belfast) in more detail, and then we also discuss @seattlein2025.org, particularly the consultative votes. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/136-when-d...
Liz, depicted as the Incredible Hulk, comes across a table on which lie many items of food (sketched in black and white) including John (a sausage roll) and Alison (an almond croissant), rendered in colour. The words “Octothorpe 136” appear at the top and “You won't like Liz when she's hangry” appear at the bottom.
June 5, 2025 at 10:01 AM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Episode 135 is here! If you like almond croissants, boy is this the episode for you. And if you don’t, well, there might be another episode eventually, eh? Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/135-very-s...
A blueprint of an almond croissant with “Octothorpe 135” written at the top and “almond croissant engineering” at the bottom.
May 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Episode 134 is here! We discuss the recent @seattlein2025.org controversy, and also read out some letters of comment from various listeners, before getting into the real meat of the podcast: roguelikes.

Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/134-in-the...
A photograph of a yellow square on a mantlepiece. On the yellow square is black text and a red shape with yellow text. The text reads “Corflu 42. 2025 FAAn Awards. Best Immutable Object: Octothorpe”. Text overlaid on the photograph reads ‘Octothorpe 134. “Don’t believe everything you read on ChatGPT.”’
May 15, 2025 at 10:51 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Episode 133, live from Reconnect, the 2025 Eastercon in Belfast, is here! We discuss the fun we’ve had at the convention, and also discuss other forthcoming Eastercons through to 2030. It's possibly more coherent than some other live episodes?

Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/133-i-unde...
John, Alison and Liz are sat behind a table at Reconnect doing a live podcast. The words “Octothorpe 133” appear at the bottom.
April 24, 2025 at 10:11 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 132 is here early, because we are discussing this year’s Hugo Awards finalists! It’s almost as if our fingers are on the pulse, or something. Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/132-almost...
A black background. Text in purple reads “Octothorpe 132” while text MADE OF FIRE says “Scorching hot takes on the Hugo finalists”.
April 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 131 is here! We discuss @seattlein2025.org, Eastercon, the BSFA Awards (@bsfa.bsky.social), and then we talk about the fan funds and handwriting. Also, John actually had a pick in advance this episode. Listen here! octothorpe.podbean.com/e/131-we-re-...
A birthday cake with six layers, from purple to a dark orange, and then a red 5 and five red candles on top, with fireworks overhead. The words “Octothorpe 131” are at the top.
March 27, 2025 at 10:19 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 130 is here, in which we discuss consumer law much less and discuss other things much more! Listen here: octothorpe.podbean.com/e/130-i-am-s...

#ScienceFiction #Podcast #HugoAwards
The words “Octothorpe 130: Handwriting Analysis Special” appear three times in the three hosts’ handwriting.
March 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 117 is here! We discuss the recent Worldcon, Glasgow 2024, talking about registration, attendance, and programme. Spoiler: we quite liked it, listeners. https://octothorpe.podbean.com/e/117-you-made-that-joke-last-time-john/

#ScienceFiction #Podcast #HugoAwards #Worldcon #Glasgow2024
Three photographs dominate the centre of the image. The left-hand photograph is of a prototype Hugo made of rough wood and cardboard; the centre photograph is of a rough-ish wood base and tin foil rocket but with the actual acrylic and etching, and the right-hand photograph is of the finished Hugo Award. Text below the photos reads “protoprototype”, “prototype”, and “2024 Hugo”. Above, the words “Octothorpe 117” appear.
August 29, 2024 at 8:00 AM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Now I've had a little sleep, a big thankyou to all our listeners old and new and to everyone who voted in the Hugos, came to our recording, or otherwise caught us at Worldcon to tell us how much they enjoy the pod. We'll be back with some post-Worldcon thoughts soon!
August 13, 2024 at 12:05 PM
octothorpecast.bsky.social
Octothorpe 103 is out! In which John is a year behind, Alison is opening nominations, and Liz is Elizabeth (!). Featuring more Hugo chat, some fan funds, discussion of good titles for the Hugo administrator, and so on. octothorpe.podbean.com/e/103-just-t...
Cover art, a sign says HUGO REGALIA SHOP with images of mannequins dressed as the Pope, Jesus, a mob boss, and Zaphod Beeblebrox.
February 15, 2024 at 12:35 PM