Old Mates New Laughs Podcast

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're back in the world of Fighting Fantasy!

This time, we're tackling book number 13, Freeway Fighter, where civilisation has collapsed, the roads are dangerous and survival depends on keeping your wits about you — and your heavily armed car in one piece! We're swapping swords and sorcery for a post-apocalyptic wasteland, taking the wheel of the mighty Dodge Interceptor and setting off on a mission where every decision could be our last.

Expect dangerous encounters, tough choices, dice rolls and the usual debate over whether we've got a...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're heading to Haddonfield to revisit one of horror's most iconic franchises: Halloween! From John Carpenter's original 1978 classic to the sequels, the Rob Zombie remakes and the recent trilogy, we're looking at how Michael Myers became one of the biggest names in horror — and whether the franchise has managed to keep the fear alive.

We're debating the best and worst films in the series, picking our favourite kills, discussing the Rob Zombie remakes and deciding what we really thought of the newer trilogy. Which films deserve their legendary status, wh...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs it's time for the final instalment of our Fighting Fantasy - Space Assassin adventure!

We've made it through the first parts of the Vandervekken, survived a donut planet, faced a number of challenges along the way and now we're heading into the final stretch.

With the adventure reaching its conclusion, every decision counts. Will our experience and questionable adventuring instincts finally pay off, or will one last encounter bring the whole thing crashing down? There's only one way to find out!

Join us...

This week on OMNL we're back aboard our Fighting Fantasy adventure as Space Assassin continues!

In Part One, we set off on our mission, and now it's time to discover what lies ahead as we venture further into this sci-fi world. The dice are ready, the decisions are ours to make, and the consequences are entirely our own fault. Will we make clever choices now that we have already died once in the vacuum of space, and stay one step ahead of danger from now on, or will we find another spectacular way to sabotage our...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're back with another Fighting Fantasy adventure! This time we're tackling Space Assassin, Book 12 in the legendary Fighting Fantasy gamebook series. We're leaving the dungeons and fantasy worlds behind and heading into a science-fiction adventure packed with danger, mystery and some very questionable decisions.

In the first instalment of this adventure, we'll be rolling our stats, getting our head around some new combat rules, making mountains out of molehills, and trying to survive whatever the book throws at us. Will our experience from previous adventures help us out, or...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're looking back at our adventures through the first five Fighting Fantasy books! From The Warlock of Firetop Mountain and Citadel of Chaos to Forest of Doom, Starship Traveller and City of Thieves, we're revisiting the adventures we've tackled together.

We're talking about our favourite moments, biggest disasters, dodgy decisions, memorable encounters and, of course, the deaths that probably could have been avoided if we'd just made slightly better choices! Which adventure gave us the most trouble? Which decisions turned out to be genius? And which ones were absolutely...

It's time for the final instalment of our Fighting Fantasy adventure! After two episodes of dice rolls, dangerous encounters, questionable decisions and somehow managing to stay alive, we're finally reaching the conclusion of Talisman of Death.

Everything has been building towards this moment, and now there's only one question left to answer: can we actually make it to the end? With the adventure reaching its climax, every decision matters and there is absolutely no guarantee that we'll get the heroic ending we're hoping for!

So join us for the final chapter of Talisman...

We're back with the second instalment of our Fighting Fantasy adventure through Talisman of Death.

After everything that happened in Part One, there's no turning back now — we're deeper into the adventure, the danger is increasing and every decision could have serious consequences.

Once again, we'll be rolling the dice, facing strange encounters and trying to work out which choices are going to keep us alive. Because when you're relying on a book, a few dice rolls and three decades of questionable decision-making, what could possibly go wrong?

The adventure co...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're picking up the dice and heading back into the world of Fighting Fantasy with Talisman of Death, the eleventh book in the legendary series.

This time, we're stepping into a dangerous new adventure where a mysterious talisman, deadly enemies and some seriously questionable decisions are waiting for us.

As always, we'll be making our way through the adventure one decision at a time, battling whatever gets thrown at us and desperately hoping the dice are feeling generous. And with Fighting Fantasy, there's always the possibility...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're heading back to the 1980s to celebrate the movie soundtracks that became just as memorable as the films themselves. From Eye of the Tiger and Danger Zone to The Power of Love, Footloose and Don't You (Forget About Me), we're taking a trip down memory lane and remembering the songs that defined our childhood.

We're discussing our favourite '80s soundtracks, the best original songs, our first soundtrack memories, the most iconic music moments, the ultimate songs to blast in the car and, of course, the cheesiest songs...

Thunder... Thunder... ThunderCats... Ho!

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're taking a trip back to Third Earth as we celebrate one of the defining cartoons of the 1980s.

We chat about our first memories of watching ThunderCats, our favourite heroes, villains and episodes, the unforgettable weapons and gadgets, and why the series has remained so popular more than forty years after it first aired.

We'll also discuss the 2011 reboot, whether it's time for another revival, and end with a bit of fun by casting our dream live-action ThunderCats...

The Premier League is back... and so are our annual predictions!

In this week's episode of Old Mates New Laughs, we're putting our football knowledge—and our reputations—on the line as we predict how the 2026/27 Premier League season will finish.

We'll be working our way through all 20 clubs, discussing the biggest summer transfers, new managers, title contenders, European hopefuls, relegation candidates, and the teams we think could surprise everyone this season.

Can Arsenal defend their crown? Will Liverpool mount any challenge under Iraola? Is this the year Tottenham finally claw...

Everything has led to this!

In the final chapter of our Fighting Fantasy House of Hell adventure, the secrets of the mansion begin to reveal themselves and every decision carries real consequences.

Will we finally escape the nightmare we've stumbled into? Or will the house claim yet another victim?

Join Brendan, Andy and Mike as they face the final challenges of one of Fighting Fantasy's most iconic adventures. Expect tension, laughs, a few questionable choices, and an ending that proves why House of Hell remains a fan favourite more than...

Welcome back to another episode of Old Mates New Laughs!, and to Part two of our Fighting Fantasy adventure... House of Hell.

After seeking shelter from the storm, we've quickly realised that this house is hiding far more than dusty furniture and creaky floorboards. Every room raises new questions, every corridor seems more unsettling than the last, and escaping is proving much harder than getting in.

As we continue exploring the mansion, strange encounters, unsettling discoveries and difficult decisions begin to pile up. Can we uncover the truth behind the house before it's...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're dusting off another classic Fighting Fantasy adventure, and this time we're taking on one of the most infamous books in the series—House of Hell.

Caught in the middle of a violent storm, we seek refuge in a lonely old mansion. It looks abandoned, it feels unsettling, and every instinct tells us to keep walking... but with nowhere else to go, we step inside.

As fans of horror films, we know exactly what happens when someone enters the creepy old house. The only difference this ti...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we're heading back to Elm Street to take a deep dive into one of the most influential horror franchises of all time.

From the groundbreaking original in 1984 through its many sequels, the controversial second film, the dream-powered Dream Warriors, the ambitious New Nightmare, and even the divisive 2010 remake, we're discussing everything that made Freddy Krueger a true horror icon.

We chat about our first experiences watching the films, the unforgettable moments that genuinely scared us, our favourite and least favourite sequels, the most inventive kills, and...

Remember when a sleepover wasn't just a night at your mate's house—it was an event?

This week, the lads take a trip back to the days of staying up until the early hours, surviving on crisps, sweets and fizzy drinks, and making the all-important pilgrimage to the local video shop. The hardest decision of the night? Picking the perfect films.

From horror classics that tried to terrify us to films that promised nightmares but turned out to be unintentionally hilarious, we're revisiting the movies that defined our teenage sleepovers. We also chat ab...

It all comes down to this.

In the final part of our Caverns of the Snow Witch adventure, we face whatever lies at the heart of the caverns—and deal with the consequences of every decision we’ve made along the way.

Will we survive?

Will we completely mess it up?

Will Andy do an accent that sounds the same as every other accent he's done on other episodes? (Yes)

Expect tension, chaos, and a very Old Mates ending to a very dangerous journey.

If...

We’re back with Part 2 of our Fighting Fantasy Adventure play through of book number 9 - Caverns of the Snow Witch—and things are already spiralling.

After making our way into the caverns (against all better judgement), we now find ourselves deeper underground, facing tougher choices, stranger encounters, and increasing danger at every turn. The stakes are rising, the path forward is unclear, and it’s becoming very obvious that we might not all make it out of this one, and if that's true... it is purely based on our own decisions and Mike's awful dice rolls...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re diving back into another classic Fighting Fantasy adventure—Caverns of the Snow Witch.

Three mates, one story, and a series of decisions that will almost certainly come back to haunt us. In Part 1, we begin our journey into the frozen north, tracking a dangerous enemy and finding ourselves at the mercy of a massive snow beast, and it already feels like a terrible idea!!

Expect chaos, questionable choices, and the usual Old Mates energy as we try to survive what lies ahead…

If y...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we raise our swords and shout “BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL!” as we dive headfirst into the world of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

We kick things off with the classic cartoon — our memories of it, whether it was actually any good, and how much of it is just pure nostalgia doing the heavy lifting. From iconic villains (yes, Skeletor is the GOAT, but who else deserves a shout?) to the best sidekicks, standout episodes, and those incredibly on-the-nose moral lessons at the end of each show… we cover...

It all comes down to this!!

In the final part of our Scorpion Swamp adventure, we attempt to survive the last stretch of one of the strangest Fighting Fantasy books ever made. Between deadly encounters, confusing pathways, and our increasingly desperate attempts to remember where we’ve already been, the swamp has officially broken our brains.

The tension is high. The dice, at times have been cruel. And the urgency to just get out of the swamp alive has reached dangerous panic levels!

Can we finally complete one of these ad...

We’re back in Scorpion Swamp… and somehow still alive.

After choosing our spells and quest in part one, we continue our journey through the swamp’s tangled paths, mysterious encounters, and increasingly suspicious characters. The map is becoming a mess, the dice are rarely turning against us, and we’re starting to realise this swamp might actually be trying to kill us... with kindness.

This week brings more monsters, more laughs, and several moments where we confidently make choices that feel obviously... but are they actually terrible in hindsight?

With mul...

This week on the Old Mates New Laughs Podcast, we kick off our latest Fighting Fantasy adventure with one of the most unique gamebooks in the series — Scorpion Swamp. Known for its open-world style exploration, magical gems, and multiple quest paths, this swamp is packed with danger, confusion, and absolutely no clear sense of direction whatsoever.

Armed with questionable instincts and a magic ring we barely understand, we head deep into the murky wilderness in search of adventure… and probably an early death.

Expect suspicious strangers, terrible navigation, swamp creatures that definitely shouldn’t exis...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, it’s time for another Ask Us Anything — and as always, things get a little... chaotic.

We’ve got a fresh batch of questions covering everything from the hilarious and nostalgic to the slightly spicy and brutally honest. Nothing is off-limits… which might have been a mistake.

Expect:

It’s unfiltered, unpredictable, and exactly what you’d expect from an Ask Us Anything episode.

Got a questi...

This is it — the final part of our journey through The Island of the Lizard King.

After battling through swamps, creatures, and some of our own questionable choices, it all comes down to this. One final push to see if we can complete the adventure… or fall at the last hurdle.

The stakes are high, the danger is real, and every decision could be our last. Will we succeed? Or has this been building towards a very predictable ending?

Join us for the dramatic conclusion 🎙️

If you're enjoying...

We’re back in The Island of the Lizard King… and somehow, we’re still alive.

In Part 2, we head deeper into the adventure — where the dangers increase, the stakes get higher, and our decision-making continues to be questionable at best.

After making it through the early stages, we now face tougher challenges, stranger encounters, and the growing feeling that this might not end well.

Will we turn things around? Or are we heading straight for disaster? There's only one way to find out!!

If you'r...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re back in the world of Fighting Fantasy — and this time we’re taking on The Island of the Lizard King.

In Part 1, we begin our journey into a dangerous land of swamps, strange creatures, and very questionable decisions. As always, we set off into the unknown, and immediately start making choices that may or may not come back to haunt us.

Will we survive the early stages?

Will we learn from past adventures?

Or are we already heading for disaster?

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re heading back to the 80s for one of the most unique (and stressful) kids TV shows ever made — Knightmare.

If you’ve never seen it, imagine this: one kid wearing a helmet so they can’t see anything, wandering through a fantasy dungeon… while their mates shout instructions at them in a panic... Simple.

We’re diving into everything that made Knightmare so memorable:

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re having a bit of a moan… because we’re talking about the pettiest things that make us irrationally angry.

Not the big stuff — oh no. We’re diving into the little things. The everyday annoyances that shouldn’t bother us… but absolutely do. From slow walkers and supermarket etiquette meltdowns to football commentators and Facebook Residents groups, we’re airing our grievances and embracing the chaos.

It’s relatable, it’s slightly unhinged, and it might make you realise you’re not the only one getting annoyed at...

This is it… the final part of our journey through Deathtrap Dungeon.

After battling through traps, monsters, and our own questionable decision-making, it all comes down to this. One last push to see if we can actually make it out of the dungeon alive… or fall at the final hurdle.

In Part 3, the stakes are higher, the dangers are deadlier, and every choice feels like it could be our last.

Will we finally pull it off and complete an adventure for the first time?

Will we make it out...

We’re back in Deathtrap Dungeon… and somehow, the guys still alive!

In Part 2 of our Fighting Fantasy adventure, we head deeper into the dungeon — where the traps get deadlier, the monsters get nastier, and our decision-making somehow gets even worse.

After just about surviving the opening stages, we now find ourselves facing tougher choices, higher stakes, and the growing realisation that this dungeon might actually live up to its name.

Will we start making smarter decisions?

Will we learn from our mistakes?

Or are we headin...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re back in the world of Fighting Fantasy — and this time we’re taking on one of the most infamous adventures of them all… Deathtrap Dungeon.

A deadly competition. A dungeon filled with traps, monsters, and questionable design choices. And two idiots who think they’ve got a chance. (Brendan reads the book so is obviously not an idiot!) In Part 1, Andy & Mike enter the dungeon, and immediately start making decisions that may or may not come back to haunt them.

Will they survive the opening st...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re stepping into the world of horror as we take a deep dive into the Scream franchise.

With the latest instalment hitting cinemas, we thought it was the perfect time to go back to where it all began and revisit one of the most influential horror series of the last few decades.

We’re talking:

Fro...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re talking about jobs — specifically the ones that came before anything resembling a “career”.

We’re going right back to where it all started: first jobs, weekend shifts, part-time work, and the strange collection of roles that somehow paid us real money to do questionable things. From retail nightmares and awkward customer interactions to terrible managers and moments that probably should have got us fired, we’re sharing some of the funniest stories from our early working lives.

If you’ve ever hidden in a stockroom, pre...

We’re back in Central Perk for Part 2 of our Friends deep dive.

Last time we looked at why Friends became such a cultural phenomenon and some of the most iconic episodes and moments. This week, we’re getting into the debates...

Who was actually the worst friend?

Which character feels the most relatable now we’re older?

What’s the best running gag?

And which guest appearance completely stole the show?

We’re also talking emotional moments, underrated episodes, behind-the-scenes drama, and whether Friends tr...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re diving into one of the biggest TV shows of all time — Friends.

From its rise in the '90s to becoming a global phenomenon that defined an entire generation, we’re taking a nostalgic look back at why Friends captured the world’s attention the way it did.

In Part 1, we chat about:

Whether you watched...

This week on Old Mates New Laughs, we’re heading back to the 1980s — a time when action heroes had biceps bigger than their dialogue, explosions were mandatory, and nobody ever reloaded their gun.

We’re diving into the golden age of action films to chat about:

From sci-fi action to fantasy adventures, buddy cop chaos to one...

Valentine’s Day — the most romantic day of the year… or the most awkward?

This week, the lads take a nostalgic wander through Valentine’s growing up: school crushes, badly written cards, and the pressure to suddenly become romantic at about 13 years old. From grand gestures that missed the mark to moments that still make us cringe years later, we look at how our ideas of love have changed (and how some things absolutely haven’t).

Whether you love Valentine’s, hate it, or just remember panicking in the card aisle, this one’s full of laug...

We’re back, for a final time, in the lawless streets of Port Blacksand as our City of Thieves adventure continues… and things are getting messy.

In Part 3, the dice are cruel, the choices questionable, and trust is in very short supply. From shady characters and back-alley danger to moments where we probably should’ve just walked away (but obviously didn’t), this episode is peak Fighting Fantasy chaos.

If you like nostalgia, roleplaying, and listening to three grown men repeatedly ignore sensible options, you’re in exactly the right place.

If you e...