My Dad Wrote A Porno - Rocky Flintstone Revealed
Episode Date: December 12, 2022Hold on to your pomegranates! In a world exclusive, Rocky Flintstone joins Jamie, Alice and James on mic for the very first time. Expect laughs, revelations and a lot of chat about cement. Hosted on A...cast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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The following podcast contains adult themes, sexual content, and strong language.
Basically, all the good stuff. Hello and welcome to the last ever episode of My Dad Wrote a Porno.
Guys, we've made it.
That will never not sound weird.
I know, but you know, we're fine with it. It's great.
And we couldn't be luckier today because we do have a guest with us we couldn't not really we couldn't end the series without this exclusive
yeah i can't believe he's here i know i'm not looking at him he's just right there um and he
obviously requires no introduction however i have prepared a little something okay yeah just to fluff
him up a bit he deserves the headline headline. He does, he does.
Yeah, we are so... It's actually an honour for me to introduce to the mic,
for the first time ever,
the Banksy of pornography himself.
The brilliantly bonkers genius that is Rocky Flintstone.
Hi, Dad.
Hi, guys.
This is a world exclusive. This is your first interview ever on Mike. Correct. Wow. I'm personally very excited to have you here. I'm just gonna say
we should have had him on sooner. Yeah I'm so so glad that we're finally doing this.
It feels like a full circle moment. Yeah well when Jamie said that we were going to read your books on a podcast what was your reaction what's a podcast yeah that was the first question because they were so new
right well we never thought it would have the success of being probably the biggest podcast
in the world but um mic drop but no happy fine use it you. Let's get on with it. And you've never minded our constant,
we like to say critique.
Some people will be saying,
ripping to shreds, taking the piss.
You've never minded any of that?
No, because my turn will come.
Hang on, what, you're going to do a podcast
where you critique our critiques?
It's a damn good idea.
It's all got a bit Escher, hasn't it?
Somebody's got to do it, I tell you,
because you miss so many lovely little gold eggs,
you call them.
Do we?
Oh, God, it's unbelievable how much you miss.
Actually, the punters, the fans, do get it
because they're listening to this maybe 10 times now,
which is wonderful.
I mean, I listened to it once and that's enough for me.
Put it on the poster.
We've got a quote.
Can we go way back to the beginning and just ask a question, which is a question that we started the very first episode with, I think, which is why?
Basically, I'd moved to this lovely place just outside London and we'd finished renovating the property
which hadn't been renovated for 90 years
and after the pavilion was built
I sat down and started writing this
Belinda blinked
You were inspired
Oh yes
Well I had nothing else to do you see
I needed something to start doing
But why porn?
Well why not James
But there is a story to that
and you can answer me in a second
No we were driving one day and of of course, as you all know,
Wilma and I have written 62 books before this,
like How to Buy a House in Brazil,
How to Survive the Brazilian World Cup,
back in 1916, I think.
No, 2016, sorry.
During the war.
Yes, and Buying a House in Ireland, all these little travel books.
And of course, they were selling absolutely zero.
So as we were in the car going somewhere, Wilma says to me, book sales are terrible.
And I said, well, Wilma, as you know, the only thing that sells these days is sex.
And Wilma says to me, yeah, I can't write it.
And I said, yes, I can.
And I did.
I see.
So actually Wilma was the inspiration for you to write porn?
Correct.
Wow.
That is a revelation.
Yeah, but I don't think she actually thought you'd genuinely write porn, Dad.
No.
We've always been a little bit worried about Wilma
because I know in the early days when we first started doing the podcast,
she wasn't overly keen. She didn't know where it was going to lead to. No do you think she's okay now? No. She makes out like she is when I see her. She's a very good actress. Right okay a lot of
people ask why you shared it with Jamie and not with your daughters. Because Jamie's a male he
can stand this rigorous entertainment. Is that really why?
Absolutely.
This is not for the faint-hearted, this stuff, you know.
Oh, you knew that when you were sending it to him,
that this was raunchy stuff?
I am the biggest wind-up merchant in the world.
Well, the Irish world.
And I sent it to him to see, A, would he read it?
Because he doesn't read anything I send him.
Right.
B, which is true, isn't it?
Not anymore, I read everything now.
Meticulously.
I have a lawyer on speed dial.
B, would he get past the first page?
Because Blinda blinked.
It wasn't a dream.
Someone had just asked her to remove her blouse.
It sort of attracts your attention and you think,
well, I've got to read the next sentence.
So you might say you were writing those words with Jamie in mind.
And then did you get really into it? So you might say you were writing those words with Jamie in mind.
And then did you get really into it?
Did you think, I've just got a natural flair for this?
I have no natural flair for this.
I would agree, but I just wonder what you thought. I can put fireplaces onto walls. That's a flair. I can do that.
But not writing. No, I'm rubbish.
Well, at least he admits it.
I don't think you are, though, because actually, having been able to take a step back,
Belinda blinked.
It wasn't a dream.
The job interviewer had just asked her to read.
Like, that's actually a really good opening to a book.
Yeah.
And people have said that.
Yeah.
Oh, very compelling.
Kept us reading for eight years.
Well, when we visited the...
You guys played the New York City Radio Music Hall venue.
Those words in a different order, yeah. Yeah, whatever. I mean, I was lucky to get even that long. We had the New York City Radio Music Hall venue.
Those words in a different order, yeah?
Yeah, whatever.
I mean, I was lucky to get even that lot.
I can tell you.
I got the right city, did I?
They sent us around this big book because we were in the dressing rooms
and this big book was full of all the people
who'd played there over this past three years.
It was a guest book, wasn't it?
It was a kind of visitor's book.
And they wanted us to each put in a sentence
of what we wanted to say.
And then what I put in was,
Belinda Blinkett wasn't a dream.
She just arrived at the Radio City Music Hall playhouse.
Can we just have a whole episode
where I'm fucking trying to say the name
of Radio City Music Hall?
Playhouse.
That was good, wasn't it?
Yeah, you were like,
for the end of the day,
it wasn't a dream.
We just played Radio City.
Yeah.
That was a good quote.
It was a kind of Rocky remix,
wasn't it?
And I did sign it Rocky
and give her two kisses.
Of course.
I mean, Dad,
there's nothing that you haven't signed.
I mean, if you can find something
in the world that Dad hasn't signed,
it's worth a fortune.
He does love giving out
those business cards, signing books. He really does. He really does. And so, like, obviously, thing in the world that dad hasn't signed it's worth a fortune he does love giving out those
business cards he really does he really does and so like obviously you started writing you got into
the writing and also like you just retired so you're kind of bored as well i'd imagine yes that's
correct yeah and it's a good thing to do though of course nobody ever retires really and aren't
you the living proof of that dad because the day you retire is the day you die you understand that
oh 100 so you must never stop doing your thing because that's the thing like I think what is really
great about you and your kind of story is that you were a builder you had many jobs actually
throughout your life you were in sales back in the 80s you know you've done a lot of things
and maybe would I say is it fair to say that your most successful work has come later in life I've
matured like a good cheese.
Absolutely.
And like, it's a good thing to say, never give up, right?
Never count yourself out.
Book 65 was Belinda Blinked.
I don't understand what that means.
We've written 62, 64 books previously,
and none of them were doing anything great.
I mean, we were selling three or four a year.
But once Belinda Blinked came along
and then you guys got the podcast, we started to sell
eight a week. It was really big stuff.
Not eight a week. I'm dizzy.
It's big stuff.
It really is big stuff. I tell you,
the money coming in from Amazon is really good
stuff. Eight a week. I can take Wilma out
for a meal once a year. Wow.
But that's what's nice about this whole kind of
thing is that you've been able to spoil mum
and like take her.
Like, you bought the car and named it Belinda.
Was the blue number called Belinda?
I hadn't appreciated that.
I do love that mum has been riding Belinda for the past eight years.
It's kind of fitting.
How's she served you, old Belinda?
Oh, brilliantly. Very, very good.
You've been all over the world with her?
She's been flat tyres.
We've been down to Spain four times, you know.
Flat tyres?
I mean, I just immediately think of that from the books.
I just always think of that scene.
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Out on the road.
That's right.
That's where it came from.
Oh, really?
Oh, yeah.
Everything's related in Belinda Blinked,
apart from the sexual activities.
I was going to say, not everything.
Please do.
Hang on.
So it's autobiographical?
Some of it.
I'm 60 plus now,
and all my life has been put into these books
in some way or another. Give us another example. I'm trying to now and all my life has been put into these books in some way or another
give us another example
I'm trying to think
of something else
when Jim Sterling
meets Belinda
in his hotel in USA
next to his offices
yes
and he shows her
his monster dick
and she sucks it
she has to
floss her teeth
afterwards
right
this happened to me
many times
which bit?
her teeth
to get rid of
the flaky skin
I'm sorry what?
you've had to floss your teeth to get rid of flaky skin?
Many times.
From eating meat?
Fish.
Chicken.
But not the same scenario as is written in the book.
Oh, no, no.
Give it a little bit of lateral tolerance.
Hang on.
That's the first example you give us of how it relates to your life.
I also have just...
It's been eight years.
Turns out reading it and actually looking at my father
and hearing him say...
Suck.
Suck dick.
Yeah.
Is actually one of the most...
I'm so glad that we're ending this.
I think...
No, I think we've got a new podcast.
My dad reads the porno to me.
His own porno to me.
I chose that example because
All the fans
When they do a poll or whatever
Reddit, Twitter
That's the scene they all hate the most
What? Because it's so gross
Flossing of the teeth
To get the flaky skin out of it
So you're all over the
The Reddits and the Twitters
I watch everything
I watch everything
I'm watching you all
If you've ever listened to the show
Rocky has your details
And he's watching you He sounds like Liam ever listened to the show rocky has your details and
he's watching you he sounds like liam neeson doesn't he's like i have a particular set of
skills and i'm watching you at every turn well let's go more into your writing process so
when you're planning the books because obviously a lot of thought goes into them huge amount i mean
minutes of work james my writing style is I sit down and write. I don't fuck about.
Right. It keeps the fucking
for the pages. Correct.
So sorry, so you literally just
as we thought, you literally just sit down
and go. That lovely girl we met
in Los Angeles. Rachel Bloom.
Rachel Bloom. I had the pleasure of speaking
to Rachel for ten minutes. Many hours
I think, yeah. And I said to her, you are
the only person who has got my writing talent
completely correct.
You see, I'm a cipher from God,
or the Norse gods, as I like to put it.
I'm a cipher from God.
Can you imagine?
And it's like our great friend from Wales.
Michael Sheen.
Michael Sheen.
Our great friend from Wales.
So many name drops.
And he said his grandfather was a preacher.
Right. And as he said, great. So many name drops. And he said his grandfather was a preacher. Right.
And as he said, he didn't make any preparation.
He just spoke the Lord's name in one full sweep to all the people.
Okay.
That's how I get my writing.
My writing comes from a divine source or perhaps it's an alien source somewhere.
So God is telling you to write Belinda Blink?
Not God.
Could it be the devil?
Could it be the devil?
Well, as you had that Baptist preacher from the USA
on footnotes once
and she said she does great works with
Belinda Blinked and her postalising.
Yeah. So just
to kind of clarify that. So
Emma Thompson called you a fucking genius.
Yes. Michael Sheen, your great friend from Wales.
He compared you to Shakespeare.
Yes. Lin-Manuel Miranda
said that you had mad libs
That could put Tupac to shame
But you're saying that Rachel Bloom
Thinking that you are getting your books
From an alien life form is the most accurate
Correct
Okay
Just clarifying
I tend to agree actually at this point
Do you go into the pavilion to write?
Is it always the pavilion?
Have you done it when you're on holiday?
Where do you find is your kind of ideal set to write i write best in the sun james yes
paint a picture you're so good with words paint a picture what if we wandered in and saw you
writing what would we see well you'd have to avert your eyes because i tend to write with not many
clothes on because it's nice and warm but i tend to write in the afternoons around about 2 o'clock to 4 o'clock. I can push out about 1,200 words in two hours.
Wow.
That's frantic.
Yeah, but the story's coming down the line.
So in 120 minutes, you can do 1,200 words.
What's that, like 10 words a minute?
But with also just no deleting.
No, no, no.
It's all pretty rough stuff, and I'd have to go back and do lots of it.
I agree, yeah. Also, it is edited.
Well, yes.
Because I'm very keen on good spelling
and punctuation.
I love the semicolon. It's a fantastic little
beast. I think you've really
single-handedly brought back the semicolon.
I've started using the semicolon way more
in my writing because of Dad. Can I ask
actually, because I am genuinely intrigued. What is the correct usage of a semicolon it's a pause really it's longer
than it's not quite as long as a full stop which the americans the americans call periods and also
it's a breathing point and then you can continue without okay so it's a breathing point yes okay
it's a posh comma in it yeah okay a breathing point. Yes. Okay. It's a posh comma, isn't it? Yeah. Okay, fine. A breathing point is
certainly how Rocky uses it. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So if you're taking a breath while you're writing,
whilst you take that breath, you'll just pop a little semicolon
in. Exactly, because I
can't stop the flow, so I've got to
keep getting the words on. Once I get going,
I can't stop. Okay. Until that
1,200 words is written. We used to joke
that you did your writing on a typewriter,
but you do have a computer, don't you? Oh, yes, yes, yes.
So what computer do you do it on?
What do you recommend? The cheapest possible. Great, okay.
That's a good tip for young writers.
It's an
Asus.
It's an Anus. Something like that.
An Anus computer, yeah.
The other one is a Lenovo
because I have two. What do you mean the other one?
He's got two computers.
Jeez, you're flashy these days.
Well, when one breaks down because I've spilt some Chardonnay on it,
you've got to have a standby.
This is true.
It's the golden rule.
This is the moneymaker. You've got to have your equipment.
I don't use the brain of the computer.
I have an SD card that I slip in.
The brain.
The brain of the computer.
Slip in. God, it's just too much.
Don't trust the brain.
Never trust the brain.
When I have to move to the other computer
because I've spent chardonnay in this one,
I have to turn it upside down
and let it drain for two months.
I take the card out, the SD card out,
and I put it into the other computer.
And bingo, I'm up and running.
Fantastic.
I'm writing all this down.
So at any given time,
there's a computer in a sack of rice.
There's one.
Yeah, I was going to say,
Rocky, can I film you using your computer?
In a plastic bag in the freezer
that's what you do
isn't that what you do
with like
murder evidence
and chewing gum
on clothes
yeah I don't think
that's a solution
to spilling wine
on a keyboard
you've mentioned before
about your timeline
and how you've actually
because you know
we've obviously
ribbed you a little bit
but there's been things
that have kind of
paid off
like the whole
special one thing
East Berlin
being seeded early
so you do have like a rough idea of where these books are going is that right yes Things that have kind of paid off, like the whole special one thing, East Berlin being seeded early.
So you do have like a rough idea of where these books are going.
Is that right?
Yes.
Do you want to elaborate on that?
No.
Okay.
Listen, I'm not here as a tutorial guide for you three people,
because I know you all want to take over my place in life and write all these fantastic books like James Junked, Jamie Jibbed and Alice Half-A-Bedded.
They sound great.
So what you're saying is, you know, some stuff has to go to the grave because otherwise, you know, that's your magic sauce that you're not giving away.
A magician doesn't give away his tricks.
This is true.
I want to talk a little bit about the business aspect of the books.
Yeah.
Because famously, these books aren't just erotica.
That's a mere portion of what they are.
They're also business manuals.
And that was always something that you kind of wanted to merge together.
Do you feel like you've really lived up to the business aspect in these books?
I think so.
I mean, actually, Belinda, I met Belinda when I was selling ready-mix concrete
in Manchester many, many, many, many, many years ago. And Belinda was selling me
cleaning materials. Now, this girl wasn't called Belinda, but...
But she's the inspiration? She's one of the inspirations, yes.
She had long black hair, flowing, wore large black leather boots, had fantastic breasts.
Okay.
Great.
She sold me a lot of stuff.
I bet she did.
I bet she did.
Because she kept coming back every week for another order, and I would give her an order.
Of cleaning products?
Yes.
Oh, wow.
You were the cleanest ready-mix concrete depot in the whole of the UK.
So why did the world of Belinda end up being pots and pans?
Because pots and pans are something that we need to use every single day of our life.
Sort of something that everybody can get their heads around.
Everybody knows what it is.
At first I think she was selling Titanic jet condensers.
It wouldn't have been relatable.
It's true.
Because do you feel like people who listen
kind of learn business from the book?
Of course they do.
I do get the odd email that's saying,
or if you read the Amazon reviews, actually,
some of them do say,
having read this book,
I have now been promoted to managing director.
Wow.
You're changing the world.
You're changing lives.
That's what it's all about, education.
I want to verify those.
I wanted to ask you about Jamie education. I want to verify those.
I wanted to ask you about Jamie's interpretation of some of your characters and some of the voices he's given.
Did you mean the Duchess?
Very good.
It runs in the family.
What do you think of them?
Do you think it's enhanced the books?
Are there some you don't agree with?
What's your take on the voices?
I enjoy them very, very much.
I think his Irish accent is absolutely crap.
Awful.
But never mind.
Bella, for example.
Yes, very, very good.
I mean, that was Mr Middleditch who brought that on initially
for the inspiration for the voices.
I truly feel it came from.
100%.
And it was very good because he did this,
yacky, yacky, yacky, going down the high street.
He said, oh, you've lost your back, seal shoes, how dare.
I remember it well.
It was perfect for Bella, absolutely perfect for Bella,
because Bella is that sort of person.
I mean, Bella is one of my favourite characters, to be honest with you.
And she's just such a...
If I wanted a night out, I would go out with Bella.
Oh, yeah, I agree.
So much fun.
By gum, you are not going to be...
Picture that.
Rocky and Bella on a night out.
I don't know who'd drink who under the table.
Well, the champagne would be flowing, that's for sure,
because she doesn't drink anything else these days.
Yeah, Bella's one of my favourite characters as well.
There was one voice as well that really stood out.
Jamie did a German accent for Petra.
Yes.
What did you think of that?
Yeah, very good, yeah.
I mean, the fans love Petra.
I mean, for some reason, which beats me,
because she's really a nasty little git.
They love her.
They love her, they do.
They love all the characters.
You've really created some indelible kind of characters for the world
that you hear them for like a sentence
and then you just fall in love with them.
Well, James Spooner, I was really sorry to write James Spooner out of it
because you never kill your real goodies
and you never kill your real baddies.
So Bish will live on forever.
I mean, you probably have a few hot bypasses and all this sort of business, but you don't get rid of your big baddies. So Bish will live on forever. I mean, you probably have a few heart bypasses
and all this sort of business,
but you don't get rid of your big baddies
and your big goodies in show business.
In show business.
So it's important that you keep these people on sleep.
Where did you learn that pearl of wisdom?
How do you know that about killing off your goodies and baddies?
Oh, you just watch all the big TV screen plays
and watching Lord of the Rings prequel at the moment. Oh, you just watch all the big TV screen plays. I'm
watching Lord of the Rings prequel
at the moment. Oh, the Rings of Power.
And they should have killed
that bloody elf when they had the chance.
There you go. But then we
wouldn't have had a story, though, to your point.
That's exactly the point.
A bit like James Bond and Blofeld.
Like, Blofeld never died.
He always came back.
He's always a threat.
Oh, my God.
And the one thing we know about Blofeld is he doesn't have asthma.
Right.
Right, OK.
Good.
And do you know how we can deduce that?
Because he's always stroking bloody cats.
He's not allergic to cats.
And if you have cats...
Which is different to asthma, famously.
Cats shed hair, which means if you're asthmatic,
it gives you a problem because the hair is very short.
It's lovely.
But, OK, you have cats with long hair
and they're better for asthmatics.
Perhaps Blofeld's got a long hair.
We were talking about one thing and then it's...
The ear change, he's literally pulled the handbrake on
and we've gone full 180.
I thought we were somewhere
and the tone of voice suggests that we're still on that topic.
But we have taken a very hard left-hand turn. But that answers your question Oz. It doesn't but
but it certainly was a ride an absolute ride. I also love that we now have a headline
Rocky slams rings with power. They should have killed the elf. Can I ask a really basic question
which is do you think the books are sexy?
Some of them, yes.
I think the job interview one in the first chapter of the first book is pretty sexy.
And suggestive, because nothing actually really happens.
Yeah.
But she slips off the seat.
I mean, it's more than suggestive.
Private pussy area is quite intense, as is labial pinkness.
Yes, yes, yes. labial pinkness yes yes yes
labial pinkness
you need these words like salt and pepper in your food
you need to sprinkle these words in now and again
to keep the taste buds going
right I see
he knows how to pull in a reader
well also we should talk about like your
your kind of iconic phrases
things like
her tits hung freely like pomegranates
the rivets on the titanic
the flesh of mankind
how do you come up
i mean amazing metaphors yes um they are thank you very much you're welcome i've been wanting
to do the rivets on the titanic ever since i grew up in northern ireland where the titanic was
actually built and of course i had a relative who went down with the Titanic. I think she was actually one of the few who got saved.
So nipples and rivets are very, very similar things.
And you've been sitting on that metaphor since you were a child, you said?
Oh, maybe about 18.
18, okay.
Wow, just waiting for the right time to use it.
You can't bring it into buying a house in Brazil very easily.
True.
Or shifting cement.
Correct.
As he mixed his cement, his nipples
shrunk and became as hard as rivets. Doesn't work. I like that he knows what doesn't work.
And also that is writing erotica that isn't selling cement. So it does work there.
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Zensurance, mind your business.
Really basic question for you.
Rocky Flintstone, where did that come from?
That's been dealt with many times before, I do feel.
But for one more time, yes.
Oh, sorry.
It came from Rocky.
Actually, I'm a geologist by training,
by my background in high school.
So rock and geology.
High school geology.
Yeah, I did geology in high school.
Did you really?
Yeah, I did, yeah.
And then I went on to university to read it further.
Yes, Rocky.
So rocks, Rocky.
Yeah, right.
In Brazil, we have this friend of ours
who's still a very good friend.
And he had a dog
called Rocky, a big black
Labrador, beautiful thing
Flintstone comes from that
lovely cartoon called The Flintstones
of course Wilma comes from
The Flintstones and I do love the
scene where Rocky, no
Fred gets left outside
at the end of everything and he's hammering on the door to Wilma.
Wilma!
Met me in because the dog shut the door on him.
And it all came together very nicely.
Yeah, they really tie up together lovely.
They do.
I mean, I think it's a great name.
I have to say.
So many people say, why was that not taken?
And in fact, Hannah Barber have taken it
because I did try for copyright on Rocky Flintstone.
They wouldn't let you have it?
I got a five page letter.
Did you really?
I did indeed.
It's a cracker.
I've kept it.
Someday I might publish it with their permission.
What's funny about it is that they sent this letter to dad and they thought that they'd
found his real name, I guess on the internet or something.
But it wasn't his name.
And I think they're being really, really clever, don't they? i think they called me jim actually which is another one yeah and we're
both like literally not his name where have you even found that was there a world where you would
ever have not written under a pen name and would have written as your real name never why is that
um you do want to keep a small amount of privacy. I mean, they've got very nice neighbours.
Do they know they live next door to Rocky Flintstone?
Not many of them. Oh.
I mean, the postman knows who I am, but he never
says anything. They're very discreet, postmen.
Very discreet. Absolutely fantastic people.
Oh, because you get mail saying Rocky Flintstone.
Yeah. Oh. I think that's what's
been so nice as well, is that everyone's kind of
been respectful of that. Yes, and I
thank you all for that, because you've been really champion fantastic fan base out there thank you guys yeah they're the
best we've all got to know each other pretty well now so i feel like we've done a lot of of critiquing
of you over the years which you've taken very well i wondered what your impressions are of us
how would you describe each of us to somebody else i think you're a very good
cement i mean very good if you look at a ready mix concrete product right or cement as you guys
in the states call it um and in the states you're really genius because you don't believe in messing
about with the stuff you put so much water into it and it's really really runny but you compensate
to make it hard by adding extra cement which of course is an environmental disaster because you're utilising more...
Sorry, guys, I won't get on that route.
Anyway, I was going to say, what did we ask?
What is this metaphor?
Your cement, or concrete is runny,
or concrete in the UK and Europe,
is much tougher, much thicker.
I'm dying.
So it comes out of the barrel of the machine, of the truck,
and forms a nice little cone as it spills onto the thing.
Now, I make a lot of ready mix
concrete in my life.
This is just about concrete now.
And I would say that, Alice,
you're the rocks. The aggregate.
The aggregate. James is the
sand and Jamie is the
cement. And put the three of you together
and you get a really hard mixture after
28 days. Oh!
Lovely! I like that. But it wouldn't work without the water which is you, days. Oh, lovely. I like that.
But it wouldn't work without the water, which is you, Dad.
No, I'm the steel.
Of what?
We want to make reinforced concrete.
Right.
Oh.
So who's the water?
We need water, Dad.
Us, Wilma.
Oh, Mum's the water.
Of course she is.
Oh, well, that's very flattering.
Oh, so there we go.
Because I've always felt that,
because you've known Alison James for years, ever, yeah. but i always feel like you kind of prefer james to me
like he's definitely the favorite yay coming around for christmas right rocky yeah when christmas
the other christmas 25th of december like like always yeah james i think is definitely your
favorite then alice then me but that's fine i don't know i'm like i'm in and out of favor aren't Christmas. 25th of December, like always. Yeah, James, I think, is definitely your favourite.
Then Alice, then me.
But that's fine.
I don't know.
I'm like,
I'm in and out of favour,
aren't I?
No, Alice,
you're the pretty one.
You're the,
perhaps you should be the steel in the
bloody concrete.
Yeah, damn right.
Why am I the sand?
I'm not sure I'm happy
being the sand.
You know what I mean, man?
No, sand is great.
If people are sick
on the playground,
you pour sand on it.
Exactly. like sand for
sand makes glass
sand makes glass
that's true
you should be the steel
because dad
you can be the rocks
being rocky
yes that's true
yes well let's make it
around a bit
yeah
I've got it around
yeah it's rather a shame
so really
doesn't matter what order
as long as we're making
you're still the cement
concrete
I'm still the cement
you're the cement
regardless
whatever happens
you're the cement
okay thanks which you are actually in this whole team because you're actually the cement. Concrete. I'm still the cement. You're the cement regardless. Whatever happens, you're the cement. Okay, thanks.
But you are actually in this whole team because you're actually the...
The glue.
Yes, same thing.
You're the question master and the reader.
Those guys comment with their witticisms and stuff.
It's purely functional.
I just write the original material and that's it.
That's it.
Such a modest man.
Oh my God.
Honestly, couldn't have expected a better answer to that question.
We are reinforced concrete as like a gang.
I kind of like that.
Yeah, people have tuned into this podcast and all they're getting is concrete doors.
Cement to you guys in the States.
A lot of people actually worry about you having your right to reply.
They think we're really, really mean to you.
You are.
No, we're not.
No, we're not.
Look at his little grin.
And he knows it won't be picked up on the mic.
Do you think we are
who do you think is the meanest to you
Alice Levine
yep
I would say so
this is a
this is a stitch up
it's too sharp isn't it
it's when she doesn't add a laugh afterwards
it sounds like a real
she asks all the interrogative questions
oh so the smartest is what he's saying
well James Cooper is my friend
we're good mates aren aren't we, Rocky?
Yes.
We email each other about...
You're such a fucking sucker.
Such a teacher's pet.
I can't believe it.
Excuse me, Rocky?
Yes, James.
Who keeps this project on course?
James, you're the PR man.
You're brilliant.
Thank you.
Social media, whatever.
Whatever!
I think that's a compliment.
I know that this is uncomfortable,
which is my favourite part of doing this show.
I'm just going to ask it, and I just want you to...
Do you promise to be truthful?
I try my best.
Okay.
Are the scenes depicted in the book
ever taken from your sexual experiences?
Or your fantasies?
Every single one of them.
Oh!
Rocky!
I keep going back to the flossing the teeth
bit. It's so true. Let's do the
other one where the blue cum sprinkles
over the wedding cake. Do you know how that came about?
Oh, how?
One of our big supermarket chains
produced some hair conditioner
which was light blue coloured or medium blue coloured.
And as I was squirting it over my head to do my hair,
it spattered down onto my torso.
I thought, good God, what a fantastic...
Oh, my God.
I'm going to explode.
Oh, my God.
It splattered onto my torso.
It splattered onto my torso.
And you thought, oh, that would make lovely jizz.
That is rough, Dad.
Oh, my God.
Shall we?
Let's move on to lighter topics.
I just wanted to ask you, obviously, we've done some incredible things on the journey of this podcast.
We've done live tours.
We did a physical book of your book.
We did the HBO special.
I was just wondering what some of your
best memories or highlights of the project
have been. There have been so many James
I mean I think sitting down and writing that first
set of words, Belinda blinked
it wasn't a dream, the job interviewer
had just asked her to remove her blouse
must be the highlight of the whole thing for me
so right at the beginning, nothing else since
yes yes
and seeing what that produced
is phenomenal.
I mean, it's absolutely unbelievable.
Yeah, you couldn't have expected where it would go.
No way. No, no.
So beyond the writing of the actual first chapter,
which obviously without that we wouldn't have a show,
what are some other kind of highlights along the way for you?
I certainly enjoyed Australia.
That was good touring in Australia because they're very friendly out there.
And that's not to say that the UK or the USA aren't
it's just different because
I think we were there, was it
springtime?
We unfortunately had those fires which is a real
real shame but
Because you're never in the audience are you?
You always sit in a very special secret
side of stage bits but at Sydney Opera House
you don't always have the best view
but I feel like what you get to do is watch the audience yeah i really know i sit behind a big
thick curtain and just listen so it's really like a podcast for you every night it is absolutely
and is it true that mum like on this last tour mum would sit with you and you'd listen to it
together and then at a certain point mum would just slink off and go downstairs to the dressing
room because she didn't want to listen to them.
She has never, thank God, heard the last five words of the latest...
Okay.
Live show.
Live show.
It's quite blue.
Yeah, it was quite blue.
But, you know, that's what's interesting about these books.
They are about women, though.
They're about the Glee team, they're about Belinda.
Why did you write pornography from a woman's perspective?
Well, you've told me about the Bechter
factor. The Bechtel test, yeah.
Bechtel test, yes. The Bechter
factor. Yeah, well, I prefer to call these
things, because I always change things a bit
just to stop the lawyers from getting
too anxious. Yeah, absolutely, got you.
Wise. Yes. So,
I'm a very big feminist. I mean, I
really should have been born a woman, but I wasn't. So there you go. It had to be about women.
Do you feel like Belinda Blinked is a feminist novel?
Yes.
And did you ever have creative ambitions? Because obviously you've always worked in quite labour intensive jobs. Like, had you always wanted to be creative?
always wanted to be creative well i think um i've always been creative in my private life by doing gardens and all this sort of seemingly i'm wilma says i'm one of the best landscape
gardeners around you are you've done mine do you do you do a beautiful job yes and that's
just basically i mean i get all the people who do the heavy work now wilma does all the lifting of
the soil it's just better at all that, yeah Whereas I do the technical type
Direction of the walls
Those little hands
They're good at digging earth
Aren't they?
Absolutely fantastic
Not to turn this into
A family counselling session
But we've been doing this
For a long time together now
The four of us
And I sense
A little change
In your relationship with Jamie
I feel like having a project together
Has been a nice thing
Absolutely The last
project we had together was when he
plastered or pointed the walls of our house
in France, which was a three-year job.
Yeah. And quite a different job
to reading your pornography letter. Still artistic.
Very artistic. I mean, I tell you,
you think building is not artistic.
It's one of the most artistic things in the world you can do.
That's what this episode's about, mainly. Because you are creating something
for a long time in the future.
Yeah.
Which is what we've done with these books and this podcast
and all the live shows and all the rest of the stuff
that you guys will be doing in the future.
Oh, that was very restrained of you.
Very good.
So do you think that, because a lot of people I hear
think it's kind of laughable that a son reading his dad's pornography out loud
would be something that would bring you closer together.
But I think it has.
I mean, how would you describe how your relationship is now, eight years on?
Jamie is a very complex individual.
Oh my goodness, could not agree more.
Could not. Preach, preach.
And as a result, he has to be approached gently about many things.
I give you the analogy of walking over eggshells without trying to make a noise.
Wow.
Diva.
Diva, you're talking about.
I mean, just before you arrived this morning, I would say he was having a bit of one of those moments.
You should have been here last night when we were putting the gate on.
My God.
Oh, I was telling him about that fucking gate then.
So, yeah, he's a complex character.
But at the end of the day, he has a very, very, very attuned sense of humour.
Yes, he does.
Yes.
And that's what brings him his genius in putting all this lot together and delivering it to our fans.
There you go.
That's very nice.
So, you're hard work, but you're funny.
You're a diva,
but you have a kind of superpower.
He never said diva.
I said complex eggshells.
Complex eggshells.
You're a complex egg.
You're a complex Humpty Dumpty.
Okay.
I suppose that's fair.
And if I am that way,
there's only one place I got it from,
and that's you.
Yeah.
And very complex.
Indeed. I mean, everyone's
complex. I think that's the thing that, yeah, we've
learned so much more about each other in
every way imaginable during this show.
Like you say, Al, we've been travelling the world together,
we're business partners, I read your porn.
There's many levels that we're working at here.
But I'm really glad
that we did it. Are you glad that you wrote these books?
Absolutely, and, you know,
Belinda Blinked is cathartic. I had
to get all this stuff written down that I had experienced
in my lifetime before I forgot it all.
So it's essentially a diary, is what you say?
It's an autobiography. Autobiography, yes.
No, it's not, Dad. Don't be
silly. But some of it is autobiographical.
It's all true, Alice. Yeah.
Even the Hump and Skunk.
Absolutely, that one more than most.
I mean, poor old Des Martin.
He doesn't stand a chance in the real world, that guy.
And he's my favourite RSM, by the way,
if you want to ask that question.
Okay, good to know.
Ken Dews was a close second.
I love his cellar in Leeds.
That was a real story, actually.
We actually lived above that cellar.
We lived in Leeds.
Fucking hell.
Well, thanks for telling the authorities. Turned out the guy actually. We actually lived above that cellar. We lived in Leeds. Well thanks for telling the
authorities. Turned out the guy below was actually a
copper. Twist.
Got him sacked.
Really? Oh God.
Is there anything you'd like to say? Obviously
everyone's going to be listening to this episode.
Everyone finally wants to hear Rocky Flintstone's
voice. What would you like to say
to all the readers, the listeners out
there? This is your platform. It's been a privilege, to be honest with you, to help people through
the sadder times of their lives. The pandemic, of course, wrought havoc with people. They didn't
get to see any of their friends for maybe two years because they couldn't leave the building
because they're one way or another affected by this horrible thing. So no, it's been a privilege
to be of service to mankind in that.
And you guys have helped
spread the message really, really good.
I agree with you, though.
Privilege is a good word.
I think we've sort of accidentally,
I don't think we could necessarily
have predicted it,
created a community,
created a big gang
and people come to us for escape.
And that feels like something
really special that we can offer,
doesn't it?
Yeah. And one of the things
about the podcast
coming to a conclusion is you can't keep going forever.
It's a fantastic time to bring the podcast to an end
because Belinda has succeeded beyond her wildest dreams.
She's now in charge of this mega maniac business corporation.
You said it.
Yeah, and it's amazing. And I don't
want the fandom to think that's the end.
It's not the end. Something else will happen in a different,
slightly different way. Exactly.
And whilst we may
not release the podcast anymore
because it's a really good place
to end, I don't see any
reason why I should stop doing what I do.
Absolutely not. Well, we've tried stopping
you. If we haven't stopped you by now, we're not going to stop you from
here on in, are we? So,
watch this space, guys. There you go.
There's a tease.
Do you feel like as a writer
you're going to leave a legacy behind?
Yes, because anyone
who writes anything will leave it behind
because you... We're not
staying in this earth forever. I've got another ten years
approximately before I lose my marbles.
I think that happened a while ago.
Well, exactly.
Got to find them first.
So that's an inevitable situation.
But in the meantime, I can do a lot of stuff.
What an adventure though, hey, Rocky?
Hasn't it been amazing?
It's been amazing.
Because toice's point
so many people around the world have read your books and been inspired by belinda whether it's
through artwork people have recorded their own songs remember that pomegranates and
what does it feel like to kind of have created a piece of work that has inspired other people
and not just people that you know people that you you'll never meet. I think it's your duty.
I think it's all our duties to inspire other people.
We're lucky we've been rewarded financially
in a small way by doing it.
But the bigger goal is to bring people love and laughter,
which is what I think we've done.
Absolutely.
Couldn't agree more.
And hope that one day they too will rise above.
Life is shit, but we all move on.
There's another Blinda Blink reference.
That's true.
I've got that in my toilet.
It's a big inspiration.
And also, because it's like, you know,
you were in your 60s when this all happened.
What would you say to people
whose lives maybe hadn't panned out the way they'd hoped
and that they think that their time's passed?
No, you have to have supreme confidence in yourself.
There's no doubt about it.
And you guys have it
because you do other things outside of this podcast which you have to have supreme confidence in yourself. There's no doubt about it. And you guys have it because you do other things outside of this podcast, which you have to stick your neck
above the parapet and do every day of your lives. So it's all about being confident in what you do.
Now, you will never be 100% successful at anything you do, but if you can get that 1%
grain of success and challenge it correctly and guide it and make it work for you be it buying your retirement home in the countryside or buying yourself a horse that
you can love and ride and all this sort of achieving your small goals which might then
lead to bigger goals you might decide you buy your horse then you've got to buy a little field for to
live in so you buy a little field then you think live in. So you buy a little field. Then you think, oh, I'm enjoying this. I'll do a podcast on riding horses in my field.
I'm going to become a multi-million dollar YouTuber.
There you go.
I'm going to buy a horse.
It's decided.
Toffee apple chew.
Yes.
So never give up, basically.
Never give up.
The message from Robert Flintstone.
And buy a horse.
And buy a horse.
And never bank on where you think the answer's going.
I mean, never.
I hope that this has really given context to the book.
You can almost see the moment it starts to go off the tracks, can't you?
Yeah.
What's it called?
Is it called aquaplaning?
You know, when the car is just sort of like, it hits the skids.
Runaway train.
Runaway, for sure.
You are a runaway train in human form.
Now, Dad, have you brought your harmonica with you?
I have.
I never go anywhere without the old harmonica.
Because we can't end the episode
without a blast from Rocky.
All right.
I might be a bit rusty.
That's all right.
I asked you earlier,
have you ever played
the theme tune
and you don't think you have
but you thought you might be able
to have a crack at it?
Yeah, but I don't know
the theme tune.
I only listened to the podcast once
so I don't know the theme tune
very well at all.
Rocky Flintstone is going to
play us out with his harmonica.
I thought it was the only way.
And he can play an old favourite to warm up with, maybe.
Oh, that's brilliant.
Oh, he's back.
He's got it.
It's so shiny.
What's in the repertoire?
Lots of Irish stuff.
Lots of Australian Irish stuff.
A bit of French stuff.
Anything with names or just...
No, just stuff.
Okay, okay.
Stuff, because you won't recognise it if I do stuff it.
Well, because it's a famous song from the books.
I don't suppose you can play Will You Go, Lassie Go?
I could try and do that sort of stuff.
Okay.
Ish.
Oh, wow. Beautiful.
He's really good.
And sort of the right level of kind of melancholy as well.
Bittersweet.
It is.
Okay.
I mean, I guess that brings us to the end then, right?
Yeah.
We've asked the questions.
We've done the harmonica.
That's everything.
You can't top that.
So, yeah, Dad,
I just want to say...
Have you prepared some words?
I have, of course.
Speech, speech.
I just want to say
a massive thank you, Dad,
for coming and joining us today,
but also a massive thank you
for Belinda.
And thank you for letting us
do this show.
You know,
from the first time
I mentioned the
possibility of maybe reading your interesting erotica to the world, you've been nothing but
supportive. And Emma Thompson said when she met you that you had a great generosity of spirit.
And Daymem pretty much nailed it, I think. You've always been so gracious and an incredible sport,
no matter how much we've ribbed you and taken a piss a little bit. And I think you've always been so gracious and an incredible sport no matter how much we've ribbed you
and taken a piss
a little bit
and I think what
maybe people don't
know out there
is that we're a family
you know
it's not just me and you
but these two as well
we've shared some
incredible experiences
together from playing
Yahtzee on a balcony
in Boston
to getting quite drunk
in the dressing rooms
of the Sydney Opera House
remember that
and it has just been
the greatest adventure.
So I'm so proud of you, Dad.
I've loved working with you and getting to know you even better over the past eight years.
It really has been an incredible privilege to travel the world with you and Mum
and to see you being adored by millions of people all over the globe.
You really do deserve it.
And you've shown that it's never too late to make an impact on the world and the amount of
joy that you've brought so many people is
pretty inspiring
and I'm really proud that I get to call you my dad
and with
that try and do
the theme tune dad do your best
Wow that was terrible to rocky flintstone everybody cheers cheers rocky thank you so much
it's been a pleasure no it's been our pleasure um and so that's it we've reached the end uh so
for me jamie alice james and rocky thank, so much for listening. And that is the end of My Dad
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