It was a great pleasure for this week’s Nostalgia Interviews podcast to meet fellow podcaster Harry Bowles. Harry has been running his Nerds Against Normality over the last few months.

We talk about how the podcast has evolved, and the reason for looking at the relevant algorithms. We find out about its reach, the prime time for podcasts and the right time to send them out. We find out what the format is for each podcast which will e.g. include a review of a film, and we discuss whether a film can be ruined by the way the film is dissected.

We discuss too the concept of secret screenings and the films that Harry is looking forward to watching over Christmas, including Sonic the Hedgehog 3.

We find out why Sonic is so important to him, with Sonic the mascot of Megadrive consuls. We find out how Harry’s love of gaming is now his main job selling retro video games. Covid kickstarted this adventure, and he gave up his secure job for the video game world, and he extols the virtues.

Harry talks about why video games were his escapism when growing up, and how it led to him doing art. He even learned to read through Final Fantasy.

We talk about the way gaming is so big, the role of obsession and what happens when we are told not to play the things we love.

Then, at the end of the interview, we find out about Harry and Stacey’s Dragonball Z-themed wedding.

About my podcast

I have been running my Nostalgia Interviews podcast since 2018. Through over 200 one-to-one interviews with guests from a range of backgrounds and professions – some of the guests are people I went to school or university with, others are leading figures in broadcasting, journalism, politics, film, music and education – the aim is to find out what it is that inspires our interests and passions.

What is it that shapes us? How did we end up where we are today in terms of the music, books, films, sporting events, fantasies, tragedies and the relationships and family members that brought us to where we are now?

These interviews are unscripted and are inspired by the great radio interviews I grew up listening to when I was in my teens and early twenties.

Click here to access all the episodes since May 2018: Nostalgia Interviews with Chris Deacy (audioboom.com).