248 Is Project Hail Mary the best science fiction film in years? Jon and Alex think it just might be - and they give it a full 5 out of 5.

In this episode of the Tailoring Talk Magazine Podcast, Jon and Alex sit down to review Project Hail Mary, the big-screen adaptation of Andy Weir's beloved novel, starring Ryan Gosling as reluctant hero Ryland Grace. Jon went in completely fresh with no trailers watched, while Alex had just listened to the audiobook for the second time - making this a brilliant dual-perspective review for both book fans and film-first listeners.

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING: This episode is split into two clear sections. The first half is completely spoiler-free - ideal if you haven't seen the film yet. We'll give you a clear verbal warning before we move into full spoilers.

🎬 IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:

• Spoiler-free first impressions — book fan vs. going in fresh

• Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace — does he pull off the everyman scientist?

• Tone and balance — comedy, emotion, hard science and heart

• Is it accessible to non-sci-fi fans? (The "normie test")

• Comparing it to Interstellar, The Martian and Arrival

• [SPOILERS] The amnesia and flashback structure

• [SPOILERS] The fate of the crew — coma, the gene question, and ambiguity

• [SPOILERS] Rocky the alien — puppet vs CGI, and why it works

• [SPOILERS] The Ryland and Rocky friendship — the emotional core of the film

• [SPOILERS] Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt and that karaoke scene

• [SPOILERS] The science — how accurate is it really?

• [SPOILERS] Cinematography, aspect ratio, IMAX and practical sets

• [SPOILERS] The mature decision NOT to force a romance

• Book vs. film — which is better?

• Where does it rank in modern sci-fi?

• Final scores — both hosts give it 5/5 ⭐

💬 We want to hear from you:

Did Rocky work for you? Book fan or film-first - which do you prefer? And where does it sit alongside Interstellar, The Martian and Arrival?

🎥 Watch the full video version on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/UADjxbcxDb0

📌 Subscribe so you never miss an episode of the Tailoring Talk Magazine.

🎬 TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 – Introduction

01:42 – Spoiler-Free First Impressions (Alex – Book Fan's View)

03:40 – Spoiler-Free First Impressions (Jon – Going in Fresh)

04:40 – Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace – Does He Work?

06:01 – Tone: Balancing Comedy, Emotion & Science

08:57 – Is It Accessible for Non-Sci-Fi Fans?

10:23 – Comparing Project Hail Mary to Interstellar

10:38 – ⚠️ SPOILER WARNING – Full Spoilers Begin Here ⚠️

11:49 – The Amnesia / Flashback Structure

13:01 – The Fate of the Crew (Coma & the Gene Question)

14:50 – Ambiguous Endings in Modern Cinema

16:19 – Ryland Grace as a Character – The Reluctant Hero

17:14 – Ryan Gosling's Casting – Right for the Role?

19:00 – Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt

22:02 – Eva Stratt's Karaoke Scene

23:35 – Rocky the Alien – Look, Puppetry & CGI

25:30 – First Contact & Comparing to Arrival

26:08 – The Ryland & Rocky Friendship (Emotional Heart of the Film)

29:41 – The Audiobook Experience

30:28 – The Science of the Film – How Accurate Is It?

33:48 – Ryan Gosling's Performance Challenges (Talking to a Puppet)

35:12 – Did the Film Capture What Book Fans Love?

37:42 – Cinematography: Film Grain, Aspect Ratio & IMAX

40:32 – The Film's Mature Decision (No Forced Romance)

42:32 – Book vs Film: Which Is Better?

43:48 – Where Does It Rank in Modern Sci-Fi?

44:49 – Box Office & The Future of Hard Sci-Fi

46:36 – Final Scores & Verdict (Both Give It 5/5 ⭐)

47:32 – Outro & Call to Action

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247 Another unscripted Sunday catch-up, and this time Roberto is behind the wheel of his new Mini Electric - loving every second of it - while Jon is still waiting for his Nissan to be returned after nine months in a dealership. Life is unfair. We cover a lot of ground this week, from a film you absolutely need to see to a battery technology that could change EVs forever.

Today’s conversation covers:

•Jon’s Nissan saga update - nine months since the car was towed for repairs and still no resolution; a surprise service appointment, a head mechanic who said things he definitely shouldn’t have, and how filing a Financial Ombudsman case suddenly made Nissan very interested in picking up the phone

•Mini Electric vs BMW M2 - Roberto drove the M2 to Sussex mid-week for speed and efficiency, but the car he keeps finding excuses to drive is the Mini; real-world range (150–170 miles), motorway behaviour, remote parking via phone, and why driving silently past school parents in idling Range Rovers is deeply satisfying

•Project Hail Mary - both Roberto and Jon are evangelical about the Ryan Gosling sci-fi film; practical effects, an emotionally hopeful story, and why it might deserve a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar nomination; Roberto’s slightly dodgy viewing arrangement and why he booked Odeon tickets anyway to clear his conscience

•Solid-state battery breakthrough - Finnish startup Donut Lab claims the holy grail: a battery with 400Wh/kg energy density (roughly double current lithium-ion), a potential 5–8 minute full charge, unlimited lifespan, and performance unaffected by heat or cold; if it works, this is the tipping point that makes petrol cars obsolete

•Cheshire road trip in the Mini - Roberto is planning to drive the Mini Electric up to Rookery Hall and the Bentley factory visit on 18th May and film the whole thing as a road trip vlog; expect at least two charging stops and a revisit of the earlier road trip format

•Books & tech - Jon has finished the Walter Isaacson Steve Jobs biography (spoiler: sad ending) and moved on to Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Shards of Earth; the Lego Game Boy gets a playable upgrade via the BrickBoy Kickstarter mod; Jon is deep into Final Fantasy VII Integrade on the Nintendo Switch 2

•James Bond - First Light & casting rumours - the IO Interactive Bond game (007: First Light) is roughly six weeks away and Roberto cannot wait, given IO’s pedigree on the Hitman series; Louis Partridge (22) is being linked to the role of a younger, prequel-era Bond, and the lads debate whether the whole franchise is heading in a prequel direction while waiting for Denis Villeneuve to wrap Dune

•Cinema vs streaming - films are leaving cinemas faster than ever, screens can’t fit as many runs of longer films, and both agree Project Hail Mary deserves to be seen again on IMAX - which may well return later in the year

🎧 If you enjoy eavesdropping on these Sunday catch-ups, please leave a rating and review on your podcast app - it makes a huge difference to how many people discover us.

📺 Head to YouTube @TailoringTalkMagazine for video content on lifestyle, gadgets, menswear and more - and stay tuned for the upcoming three-way Project Hail Mary deep-dive with Alex.

Chapters:

00:00 Mini Electric vs BMW M2 - Roberto’s Surprising Verdict


02:46 Jon’s Nine-Month Nissan Nightmare & the Financial Ombudsman Case


03:45 Project Hail Mary Review: Ryan Gosling, Practical Effects & Oscar Chances


05:32 Shards of Earth, Steve Jobs Biography & Sci-Fi Book Recommendations


08:13 Real-World EV Range: Mini Electric, IONIQ 6 & the Joy of Silent Driving


10:18 Cheshire Road Trip: Mini Electric to Rookery Hall & Bentley Factory Visit


13:20 Donut Lab Solid-State Battery: The Holy Grail of EV Charging?


16:45 Lego Game Boy BrickBoy Mod & Nintendo Switch 2 Final Fantasy VII


21:14 007 First Light Game, IO Interactive & Louis Partridge as the Next Bond


25:08 Cinema vs Streaming: Why Project Hail Mary Deserves an IMAX Return

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246 Roberto is on his final morning in Madrid - soaking in the city’s effortless elegance one last time - while Jon is freshly back from an Easter break in the New Forest. In this episode of our Candid Conversations series, we picked up the phone and just… talked. No agenda, no script, no edits. Exactly as it happened.

This week’s unscripted conversation covers:

•Madrid vs. London living - what Roberto keeps coming back to the Spanish capital for, the food culture, the street energy, and why the fashion just hits differently

•Easter in the New Forest - Jon’s family catch-up, a delightful 22-month-old second cousin, and the very real pain of UK bank holiday traffic

•Electric vehicles deep-dive - the state of public EV charging in Britain, Jon’s VW ID4 and its genuinely bizarre “unlock seven times” cable trick, Roberto’s new Mini Electric, route planning for a potential Cheshire road trip, and why Top Gear’s 50 Best Family EVs list is pure clickbait

•Tech on the road - Roberto’s real-world verdict on the M5 MacBook Air after editing video on it in Madrid (spoiler: it might be the MacBook for most people), plus speculation about the upcoming Apple Mac Studio M5

•Reading & culture - Jon is deep into Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography; Roberto has cracked open Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale and is discovering Bond on the page is considerably more swarthy - and considerably more chain-smoking - than on screen

•A style epiphany - sitting alone in an elegant Madrid hotel bar, Roberto quietly resolves to start dressing with genuine sophistication: suits, winter blazers, and leaving the “late forties dressing like mid-twenties” era firmly behind

•Coming up - a potential Fleming novel vs. film review mini-series, the new Bond video game dropping 27th May, and plans to get Alex involved in a future three-way episode

Whether you’re a long-time listener or discovering Tailoring Talk Magazine for the first time, this is the kind of honest, rambling, genuinely fun conversation that reminds you why podcasts exist.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 Roberto's Last Morning in Madrid & the iPhone Volume Button Fix

02:36 New Forest Easter Break, Bank Holiday Traffic & UK EV Charging Infrastructure

05:32 Top Gear's 50 Best Family EVs, VW ID4 Tips & Mini Electric Road Trip Plans

08:08 M5 MacBook Air Real-World Review & Apple Mac Studio M5 Rumours

10:49 Ian Fleming's Casino Royale Novel vs Film, James Bond's Lifestyle & a Wardrobe Epiphany

13:29 Bond Video Game May 2026, Future Episodes & Listener Shoutout

🎧 If you enjoy these candid episodes, please leave us a rating and review on whatever app you’re listening on - it genuinely helps more people find us.

📺 On YouTube? Head over to @TailoringTalkMagazine for video content covering lifestyle, gadgets, menswear and more.

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245 On April 1, 1976, Apple was founded. Fifty years later, Bobby and Jon jump on the phone for a candid, unfiltered conversation about the company that shaped so much of their tech lives.

This isn’t a polished keynote-style retrospective. It’s two Apple fans talking honestly about the products, moments and memories that stuck with them most.

They get into their earliest encounters with Apple, from old Macs and the first iPods to the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone X and the original iPad. They also talk about why Apple still has such a hold on people, how certain products changed the wider tech industry, and what might come next as rumours continue around foldables, AR glasses and future Apple Watch upgrades.

There’s nostalgia here, but there’s also scepticism. Bobby and Jon also touch on Apple in 2026, Tim Cook’s legacy, privacy, product strategy and whether the company can still deliver the next truly era-defining device.

If you’ve ever owned an iPod, queued mentally for an iPhone, or wondered whether Apple still has the magic, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• Apple’s 50th anniversary and why it still matters
• The first Apple devices that pulled us in
• Why the iPod changed everything
• The iPhone models that felt genuinely revolutionary
• The original iPad and how opinions changed
• Foldables, AR glasses and Apple’s future
• Apple Watch Ultra, Vision Pro and what we’d actually buy next
• Tim Cook, ethics and the harder questions around Apple today

Listen now and tell us: what was your first Apple device, and what’s your all-time favourite?

Timestamps

00:00 Intro and setting the scene

01:10 Travel chat, hand luggage and taking tech away

06:22 MacBook vs iPad and the convenience debate

09:58 Apple’s 50th anniversary and current Apple books

12:27 Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Apple’s founding story

15:53 Ronald Wayne, the early Apple story and what might have been

20:08 Jon’s first Apple experience using an old Macintosh

22:02 The first iPod and the moment Apple became irresistible

26:56 First iPhones, networks and early Apple buying memories

27:52 Why the iPhone 4 was such a landmark device

30:11 The iPhone X and the jump to Face ID

31:44 The original iPad and how different it felt

35:55 What Apple might do next - foldables or AR glasses?

41:37 Apple Watch Ultra, future upgrades and rumours

44:08 Meta glasses, privacy and waiting for Apple’s version

46:53 Tim Cook, politics and the more complicated side of Apple

49:18 Final thoughts at the 50-minute mark

Apple 50th anniversary, Apple podcast, Apple history, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, first iPod, first iPhone, iPhone 4, iPhone X, original iPad, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple foldable, Apple AR glasses, Tim Cook, Apple nostalgia, tech podcast, Apple fans

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244 In this weekend unfiltered chat, Bobby and Jon do exactly what listeners have come to enjoy most from these candid catch-ups: hit record and let the conversation go where it wants.

This time, Bobby is speaking from inside his brand new MINI Cooper Electric and, despite previously saying he’d never own an EV, he’s already completely won over. From the remote parking features and Apple-like build quality to the OLED display, voice controls and overall personality of the car, he shares why this MINI feels special almost immediately.

Jon then talks through his recent Ford Explorer EV test drive, including the biggest surprise of all: just how much better it felt to be back in an electric car. The pair get into real-world range, battery pre-warming, charging practicality, interior design, trim choices, safety systems and how different buyers prioritise different things depending on where and how they drive.

It’s a relaxed but genuinely useful conversation about what makes a modern EV appealing, what still causes hesitation and why range, tech and ease of use matter so much in the real world.

Timestamps

00:00 - Another weekend unfiltered chat begins

00:33 - Bobby records from his new MINI Cooper Electric

01:00 - The surprise remote control parking feature

02:09 - MINI app tech and daily manoeuvre memory

03:19 - Why these features don’t always come across on a test drive

04:24 - Jon’s early thoughts on the Countryman EV and range worries

04:45 - Bobby on the MINI’s OLED screen and infotainment

06:20 - Voice controls, assistants and living without physical buttons

07:44 - Apple Watch access, personality and why the MINI feels special

09:24 - Build quality, trim level and how premium the car feels

10:43 - Sound system, user profiles and day-to-day usability

12:00 - Cars and phones are converging

12:56 - Security, remote control and keyless access

14:13 - Jon’s Ford Explorer EV test drive begins

15:00 - Why going back to an EV immediately felt better

15:20 - Range, charge limits and battery pre-warming

16:21 - Explorer interior, practicality and driving impressions

17:47 - Roof bars, tyre costs and EV ownership considerations

18:58 - Weight, stability and the square steering wheel

19:46 - Ford trim flexibility vs MINI pack structure

21:28 - Why Jon is prioritising range above all else

22:45 - Real-world MINI range vs Explorer range

24:22 - Home charging and the reality of EV ownership

25:48 - Bentley test track day and a possible MINI road trip to Cheshire

26:45 - Wrap up and subscribe reminder

Tags

MINI Cooper Electric, MINI Cooper SE, Ford Explorer EV, electric cars podcast, EV range, EV charging, car tech podcast, MINI review, Ford Explorer review, electric vehicle buying advice, OLED car screen, EV test drive, Bentley Continental GTS, weekend unfiltered chat

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243 Apple dropped a lot of hardware in a very short space of time, so in this episode I’m cutting through the launch-week noise and getting to the only question that really matters: what’s actually new, what are the real benefits, and do you genuinely need to bother upgrading? We cover iPhone 17e, iPad Air with M4, MacBook Air with M5, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max, MacBook Neo, the refreshed Studio Display and the new Studio Display XDR, all through the lens of whether you should stick with what you’ve got or twist and make the jump.

There’s a proper look at why iPhone 17e could be the smartest iPhone in the range for normal people, why iPad Air with M4 remains the sweet spot for most users, and why MacBook Air with M5 may be the easiest laptop recommendation in the whole lineup. I also get into the new MacBook Pro for serious creative and professional users, why MacBook Neo might quietly be one of Apple’s most important launches because it opens the door to the Mac world without feeling cheap, and why the new Studio Display XDR is the sort of product that makes creative pros start mentally selling organs.

The overall verdict is simple: this wasn’t a week of reinvention, it was a week of refinement, smarter product positioning and some genuinely sensible upgrade paths for people on older gear. So if you’ve been wondering whether Apple’s latest announcements are must-buy upgrades or just very polished reasons to keep what you’ve already got, this episode is for you.

Timestamps

00:00 Apple’s launch week in one sentence

00:24 What this episode is about

00:53 iPhone 17e - key specs, benefits and who should upgrade

03:04 iPad Air M4 - the sweet spot iPad?

04:20 MacBook Air M5 - the easiest laptop recommendation

05:29 MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max - who it’s really for

07:50 MacBook Neo - Apple’s most interesting strategic launch?

10:03 Studio Display and Studio Display XDR - what’s new and who they’re for

12:22 Final verdict - what’s worth upgrading and what isn’t

14:42 Outro

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242 In this first proper unscripted phone-call episode, Bobby and Jon do something a bit different.

Rather than sitting down for a formal studio recording, they hit record on one of their regular catch-up calls and let the conversation go wherever it wants. The result is exactly what you’d expect from two friends who spend a lot of time talking tech, cars and life: a candid, funny, slightly chaotic deep dive into the things they’re obsessing over right now.

They start with Bobby’s trip to the Apple Store after losing his AirPods Pro 3, which quickly turns into a broader conversation about whether the new AirPods Pro 3 are really that much better than the Pro 2, whether the updated AirPods Max 2 are worth considering, and how easily Apple still manages to tempt even the most self-aware buyer. From there, they get into the new MacBook Neo, why it’s such an interesting entry point into the Mac lineup, who it’s actually for, and whether either of them really needs one or just badly wants one.

The conversation then widens into the current Apple lineup more broadly, including the MacBook Air, Studio Display XDR, the iPhone 17 range and the prospect of a foldable iPhone. Is Apple about to create another must-have category, or is this one of those products that sounds exciting until you actually imagine carrying it around every day?

To round things off, Bobby and Jon switch gears and talk cars, EVs and the ongoing internal battle between rational decision-making and emotional attachment. Jon shares where he is with the EV search, while Bobby opens up about the reality of owning the BMW M2, the costs, the joy, the dilemma, and why saying goodbye to a car you love is rarely as straightforward as it sounds.

If you enjoy relaxed long-form conversations that feel like you’re eavesdropping on a real call between mates, this one’s for you.

Timestamps

00:00 - This call will be recorded: introducing the new unscripted format

01:24 - Why Bobby and Jon are trying candid phone-call episodes

02:22 - Bobby’s trip to the Apple Store after losing his AirPods Pro 3

04:05 - AirPods Pro 2 vs AirPods Pro 3: ANC, fit, call quality and why Bobby can’t go back

05:54 - AirPods Pro 3 comfort tips: why sizing down the ear tips matters

07:44 - AirPods Max 2 and whether they’re worth the upgrade

09:17 - From headphones to hardware: first impressions of the new Apple lineup

11:03 - MacBook Neo first thoughts: is it brilliant value or pure gadget lust?

12:48 - Neo pricing, colours, who it’s for and why it feels like a gateway Mac

16:08 - iPad vs Neo: where each one wins in real life

19:58 - Who should actually buy the MacBook Neo?

21:29 - Could Apple ever let iPads run MacOS properly?

24:04 - Replacing an ageing iMac: could a Neo make sense long-term?

25:37 - Studio Display XDR impressions: overpriced or worth it?

28:56 - MacBook Air temptation and the difference between wanting and needing

31:06 - The iPhone 17 range and whether anyone still really needs the Pro

32:31 - iPhone Fold speculation: exciting future or expensive compromise?

37:19 - Jon’s EV search and what matters most when choosing the right electric car

39:16 - Bobby’s BMW M2 dilemma: joy, cost and knowing when to let go

42:07 - Why the M2 might stay a little longer

43:27 - MINI handover plans and wrapping up the call

Apple, MacBook Neo, AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Max 2, iPhone Fold, EVs, MINI, BMW M2, tech podcast, car podcast, lifestyle podcast.

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