Halloween is either already over or happening right now, depending on which part of the conversation you’re following. James negotiates a school disco timetable involving multiple pick-ups, drop-offs and an unexpectedly long wait outside a primary school.

Meanwhile, Ben takes issue with the “teacher voice” in staff training, and we explore the difference between letting someone finish and actually listening to them.

Eating out comes with a full medical briefing as Ben explains life with a third of a stomach, while James explains why Ben ordering food can become James’s problem. There’s also the never-ending supply of staffroom cake, the pressure to accept another helping, and a special evening with some unfortunate consequences.

A postcard promises whiskey, cigars and satisfaction guaranteed. James discovers that the other Ben and James combinations are all considerably more successful. And the site manager would quite like us to leave.

We can have ten more minutes. That should be plenty.

Got a question for Ask Ben? Whether it’s a genuine dilemma or something you’ve always wanted his questionable expertise on, email bandjcdb@gmail.com.

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This week, Ben and James return with oversized cans of Coca-Cola, questionable television habits and a surprising amount of discussion about people called Jill.

Ben reveals his latest obsession with Hunting Hitler, recalls his days on Why Don't You...? and discovers that he appears in Russell T Davies's latest book. James questions whether Hitler really needs hunting, considers the peculiar world of TikTok advertising and pays tribute to the man responsible for a legendary Swansea Leisure Centre slide.

Meanwhile, listener Penny asks some rather sensible questions about who the podcast is actually for and why nobody seems to know it exists. Naturally, Ben and James respond by arguing with each other.

And then there's Bill Rectangle. An unsolicited email from a mysterious media organisation leads James down an unexpected rabbit hole involving a memoir, an ambitious promotional campaign and a potential new direction for the podcast.

Also featuring a postcard from Cromer, a box of fudge, some frank feedback about conversational etiquette and 53 grams of sugar.

Ben and James Could Do Better. And occasionally, they do.

Find us at www.benandjamescoulddobetter.com

Email: bandjcdb@gmail.com

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There's tension in the studio this week. It begins with a disagreement about how to open the podcast, escalates into an argument about the cleanliness of James's car and reaches breaking point when Ben commits the apparently unforgivable offence of cleaning James's office fridge.

Along the way, we discuss questionable Christmas jumpers, dirty coffee mugs, the rights of fridge owners and whether doing somebody a favour is necessarily a good thing.

Postcard Corner returns with some distinctly unimpressed lemurs, while Ask Ben presents possibly its most challenging question yet: why should anybody actually listen to this podcast?

And finally, we bid an unexpectedly emotional farewell to Kensuke, a persistent but remarkably courteous correspondent whose promotional emails have brought us more joy than he could possibly have imagined.

Friendships are tested, grievances are aired, and somehow we emerge stronger. Or at least with a cleaner fridge.

Get in touch: bandjcdb@gmail.com

Website: www.benandjamescoulddobetter.com

Find us on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show