Christmas is the theme for the finale of Season 2 of Following Through and the last episode of 2025.   To celebrate, Alex and Siobhan are having a Christmas party and recording together in person for the first time. There is also very strong language from the start.   This episode is a bit experimental. The tech isn’t quite as smooth as previous episodes. There is some background noise as they’re recording in some sort of fancy cafe in Soho. But they make up for this with the fun they're having while drinking beer and cocktails, and eating cake.   They talk about Christmas plans, the traditions, stresses, and joys, as well as looking back on the year that was 2025.   And in Sh*t or Miss, Toby Williams is back to contemplate what happened when a teenager felt the rumbles of doom on the school bus home after eating too much cereal.   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, dear listener. Following Through will return in 2026.   Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

Farting is the theme of this episode, as the guest has written a book all about it.   Alex and Siobhan are joined by actor, comedian, and now children’s author, Toby Williams. Toby has written and illustrated a children’s book about the beloved bodily function.   Titled Fart, Fart, Fart, Fart, FART, Toby explains how his book highlights the objections some parents have to their children using the word and celebrates the freedom to use it. Because, as medical research confirms, suppressing a fart is actually very bad for you.   The conversation covers the process of writing and illustrating a children’s book, along with some memorable fart stories from all three. Toby also takes a keen interest in Alex’s stalled project, Ross Kemp: The Musical.   The episode begins with Siobhan sharing some big news with Alex regarding this year’s school nativity.    And in Sh*t or Miss, Toby shares a childhood tale of an emergency night poo while trying to avoid soiling his parents’ new hallway carpet on the way to the bathroom. But did he make it?    Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

This is part two of the chat with comedian Lizzy Lenco, who has had to adapt to using a wheelchair after suffering life-changing injuries in a road traffic collision almost six years ago.   Alex and Siobhan hear about the challenges of getting around the cobbled, hilly streets of Edinburgh in a wheelchair, booked to perform in inaccessible venues, and the sheer frustrations of trying to get to gigs as a disabled person on poorly equipped public transport. Lizzy also details more on the obnoxious and ignorant attitudes of fellow passengers while travelling, and the awkward reactions people have when they see someone in a wheelchair.   On a more positive note, Lizzy tells how well she is treated by the heavy metal community and bikers, as well as the performing opportunities she provides to other comedians who use a wheelchair.   The episode begins with Alex and Siobhan having a catch-up since the last episode. This includes Siobhan getting very drunk at a hen do in Portugal, and Alex dressing up as a vampire for a Creeper gig at Halloween. The conversation with Lizzy begins at 17.19.   In Sh*t or Miss, Lizzy tells a tale of suffering a severe illness while living in Papa New Guinea and consequences in the bowel region. But will she make it to the hospital in time? Before that, Alex introduces a new bite-sized poo feature for the show based on audience submissions.   Music is by Rich Shillitoe.   

Comedians Alex Love and Siobhan Dodd are joined by fellow comic Lizzy Lenco in this episode, which explores the challenges of rebuilding your life after experiencing life-changing injuries.   Early one Sunday evening, Lizzy’s life changed forever when she was involved in a serious car crash. After living a fully active life up to this point, she suffered severe spinal injuries and broke several bones. Ultimately, she had to adapt to using a wheelchair.We learn about her life and career before the crash, including her achievements of four degrees, getting an MBE, and her work as an archaeologist. And she also tells of her experiences as a user of a wheelchair and the awful attitudes of people on public transport. This is part one.   Plus in Sh*t or Miss, Alex tells Siobhan and Lizzy about what happened in Glasgow when a burrito had unintended consequences, and he had a gig later that evening. Did he make it through unscathed?   Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

This topic in this episode is one that affects everyone in some way, and we appreciate that it is a rather sensitive one. We are talking about surviving cancer.  Our guest is comedian Geoff Alderman, who made a cameo appearance in the previous episode.   In 2020, Geoff found a golf-ball-sized lump in his neck that turned out to be cancerous. Known for his dark one-liners, Geoff, understandably, doesn’t like to talk about his cancer experience on stage.   In this episode, Geoff shares his story about undergoing cancer treatment during the peak of the global pandemic and is now in remission. He also shares the effect radiotherapy and chemo have on your body, including your bowels. Basically, keep a pencil in the bathroom.   In Sh*t or Miss, Geoff tells his tale of how eating a green egg on a flight home came back to haunt him while out for a run in Bethnal Green. But did he make it home before disaster struck?   To learn more about the different varieties of head and neck cancer, and the symptoms to look out for, visit this site: Head and neck cancer | NHS inform.

This episode takes a nostalgic look at the global pandemic of 2020, with Alex and Siobhan reminiscing about how they spent their respective lockdowns after lifestyles changed overnight. And yes, Tiger King does get mentioned a couple of times.    They start by travelling back in time to March 2020. When it all kicked off, Siobhan was hit by anxiety of the unknown, while Alex was trying to find his way home from New Zealand. The conversation covers how they both spent those crazy couple of years. Siobhan was in South London with a small child and another soon-to-be on the way, with Alex back home in the countryside going for dog walks on those long sunny days that now seem all the more bittersweet. They also talk about their creative projects while they stayed at home.    In Sh*t or Miss, comedian Geoff Alderman makes a cameo appearance to share a terrifying tale of breaking into a psychiatric hospital as a 13 year old to look for a mythological adventure playground, only to be chased by very angry health workers.    Music by Rich Shillitoe. 

Alex and Siobhan are back after taking August off for very different reasons. Alex was performing every day at Edinburgh Fringe, while Siobhan had to cope with the school holidays and two young children. Expect very strong language from the start.   Edinburgh Fringe was a tough one this year, with Oasis looming over the festival. Before the fringe began, Alex was concerned about his low ticket sales. But how did the run actually go? And does he have anything new to be smug about?   Meanwhile, Siobhan talks about the family holiday she went on to Greece. She also discusses the challenges of keeping her kids occupied for six whole weeks and marital disputes around tidying the house.   In Sh*t or Miss, we hear about what happened when a fast food meal from a service station caused a potentially disastrous dash through a village during the festive season when everything was closed.    Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

Edinburgh Fringe is the ultimate challenge for any comedian, where agony and ecstasy are intertwined (and not just because of drugs). Once you’ve escaped the clutches of Edinburgh Fringe, why would you go back? Well, that is exactly what the guest in this episode is doing this year – and Alex did last year. Alex and Siobhan speak with comedian Catie Wilkins, who is returning with a show to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time in 12 years. Catie is co-creator of the successful podcast series, Drunk Women Solving Crime, and is also an award-winning children’s author. The discussion covers tales of Edinburgh past, the highs and lows, as well as the challenges of juggling parenting and doing a fringe show. And in Sh*t or Miss, Catie puts her solving crime skills to good use in a tale about the destroyed go-kart of a child in Thailand that goes from bad to worse – in the best possible way. Catie’s show is called We’ll See and is at Stand 2 every day from 1-10 August at 4.45pm. Tickets and more info are here: https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2430/catie-wilkins-well-see Alex is less sensible and is doing a longer run. How To Win A Pub Quiz 2025 runs from 1-25 August (not 11th) at 11.45am. Tickets and more info are here: https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2427/alex-love-how-to-win-a-pub-quiz-2025 Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

The route to becoming a professional British Sign Language interpreter is a long one with many challenges on the way. It can take more than a decade to get enough experience to turn pro, making it an ideal topic for an episode of Following Through. Alex Love and Siobhan Dodd welcome Hayley Brown to the show. Hayley is a podcaster (her series is called Inadequate Mothers) and creates video content that incorporates BSL. She tells her story and unconventional pathway into BSL, being a single mother at the time with no experience of sign language. Hayley and Siobhan (also a pro-BSL interpeter) share their experiences of the effort required to reach a professional standard of BSL. There will also be an accompanying video episode, signed by pro BSL interpreters, Paula Cox and Peter Abraham. Peter shares his story in Sh*t or Miss, involving an emergency in a bookshop.  Music is by Rich Shillitoe.  

Homelessness affects hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and many millions worldwide. And this is the subject of this episode. Alex Love and Siobhan Dodd speak with comedian David Ferguson from the Believe podcast. He tells the story of how he ended up homeless for more than seven months and shares his experiences. David also explains how, thanks to the support he received, he's turned his life around and gotten things back on track.  If you'd like to donate to one of the charities that really helped David in north-east London, visit: www.forestnightshelter.org.uk This episode also features two of the most different anecdotes involving Kate Moss you are ever likely to hear in quick succession.  Plus in Sh*t or Miss, there is a driving story with long delays and a twist.  Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

Learning languages is the topic for this episode, and it certainly gets harder with age.  Alex and Siobhan discuss their experiences of learning languages at school and later as an adult. They cover learning Spanish, German, and French, as well as how Duolingo can give you a false sense of security with your language abilities.  Warning: This episode will feature very bad pronunciations of words and phrases in different languages.  Siobhan also speaks about her challenges with learning British Sign Language to qualify as an interpreter, and Alex recounts learning shorthand as a trainee reporter.  Plus in Sh*t or Miss, we hear about what happens when a French exchange experience with a family turns increasingly hostile and there is a locked door in the moment of need.  Music is by Rich Shillitoe.   

University is the theme of this episode, with Alex and Siobhan travelling back in time to reminisce about their student days.  Although anyone expecting a constructive discussion about academia will be sorely disappointed, as Alex and Siobhan talk at length about undergraduate bowel movements. They also cover their experiences of campus life, moving away from home for the first time, stupid diets, and too much drinking. They do talk a bit about their courses.  In Sh*t or Miss, we hear about what happens after a meal at a restaurant goes wrong and your housemate is in the shower when you desperately need to get in there.  Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

The podcast about poo and perseverance is back. Comedians Alex Love and Siobhan Dodd discuss travelling in this first episode of season number two.

Dating is the theme for this season finale, and the experience doesn’t get any better in your 30s and 40s. Alex and Siobhan are joined by Irish rising comedy star, Aideen McQueen. They discuss awkward dating stories, the issues with apps, sober dates, and the more philosophical aspects of this necessary evil of modern life. Plus Siobhan sets Alex a speed-dating challenge. Will he accept? (I mean, probably). In Sh*t or Miss, Siobhan tells a submitted story that involves a rugby night out and a bed. That surely won't get messy.  Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

They say you never forget how to ride a bike, but what if you get to adulthood having never learned? Siobhan is one such adult, who never learned to ride a bike as a child and had to do so when she was in her 20s. Before they get to the cycling discussion, there are about 18 minutes of preamble chat where they discuss comedy gong shows, actual Shakespeare, and listener numbers. Later on, Alex tells a tale about a horrible holiday in Madeira that involved a 30km mountain bike trek that he thought would be easy when he signed up. How wrong he was. The terrible trip away was capped off with Alex getting a norovirus the day before he flew home. This then leads nicely into a Sh*t or Miss story on a plane. Although perhaps “nicely” doesn’t describe it very well. Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

Grief and screen addiction are two areas covered in this second part of Alex and Siobhan’s discussion about social media, as they delve a little deeper into this fascinating subject.  Warning: This episode features open discussions about death and giving CPR to a parent that some may find distressing. Although perhaps not as distressing who was actually there and administering it.  Siobhan tells how social media has helped her deal with grief, while reluctant-sharer Alex remembers how much nonsense he has in fact shared on his blog over the years as a coping mechanism for the harsh realities of comedy.  The discussion also covers managing screen time and gaming. Alex recalls some worrying changes to his bowel movements caused by gaming, and how Siobhan tries to manage her son’s time on games.  Both also have a related challenge set. Will they follow through with it this time? Finally, Sh*t or Miss is brought to you courtesy of some Kiwi ingenuity amid a morning bathroom battle with a housemate.

Social media is an integral aspect of daily life these days, but how do you manage your use of it properly? Be warned, this episode features some very strong language. Siobhan describes herself as a social media addict, whereas Alex tries to keep a healthy distance. But doing comedy increasingly requires a social media presence for admin and promo (hello there). How do you strike the right balance for mental health? And when did it stop being fun? They also discuss their history of social media, all the way back to MySpace (shout out to Tom from MySpace), then Facebook, and that former bird site that Alex used to really like before the dark times.  There is also the first Sh*t or Miss from the bedroom and the subsequent fallout. But was it literal?   Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

Ross Kemp: The Musical? Yes, it is a real thing that exists - at least partially. In this episode, Alex tells Siobhan how he developed this ridiculous project with his old musician mate from school, Rich Shillitoe, who is the guest of this episode.Alex had the idea for the musical in 2018 during the Edinburgh Fringe. But it wasn’t until lockdown that Rich got in touch with Alex to see if he wanted to develop it further. We learn about the storyline and the songs that were written, with some played in this episode. In 2024, the project did technically become part of an sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe and was played at a packed London theatre. How does this all connect with Justin Hawkins becoming aware of the project? All will be revealed.Alex and Siobhan also talk with Rich about his experience as a professional musician and what got him started. The three also agree to collaborate on a future Christmas number one. Plus you'll never think about a Pringles tube the same way ever again. Music is by Rich Shillitoe.

Dr Nadia Kamil is the guest in this episode. In her 30s, Nadia decided to leave her successful comedy career behind to enrol in medical school and become a doctor with no scientific background. She speaks with Alex and Siobhan about the challenges of adjusting to a totally new culture and industry that was very different to anything she was used to. Nadia and Siobhan have known each other since they met as students aged 18, when Siobhan used to go around campus disguised as her twin sister. And if becoming a medical doctor wasn’t enough of a challenge to follow through with, Nadia also moved to Australia recently and has just started working shifts again after maternity leave. Expect discussions about the crisp packets being the wrong colours. Also, who is the best fictional doctor?  Plus, can you guess the surprise cameo? Music is by Rich Shillitoe. 

Crohn’s disease or colitis affects an estimated one in 100 people. One of the consequences of the inflammatory bowel condition is the need to make multiple visits to the toilet to go for a poo, often with minimal warning. In this episode, Alex and Siobhan chat with comedian Kelly Ford, who has Crohn’s disease. They hear all about Kelly’s experiences of managing the condition and her overwhelming determination to not let it hold her back. Kelly is also a keen runner, which can be challenging with Crohn’s. *** Warning: This episode features by far the most poo stories and descriptions go into some detail. Consider yourself duly warned. *** Also, Siobhan tells Alex about her trip to a fancy restaurant with even fancier toilets. Plus, Alex shares one of his poo stories, which involves yet another dog walk gone wrong. Has he learned nothing? To learn more about Crohn’s and its symptoms, click this link or copy and paste it into your browser: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/crohns-disease Music is by Rich Shillitoe.