"It's your pace not a race"... Genius! Thank you for that Vinnie, I will have that in mind from now on! Great episode and it really reminds me of how growing up feeling like an outsider was actually a source of strength, although it didn't feel like that at the time, it has stuck with me. Now I have to fight wanting to be too outside, sometimes putting myself purposely in opposition to what is considered "fashionable". Many times if I see people go in a certain trend, I will intentionally go the other way. I think it has something to do with the old Groucho remark; "I would never want to be part of a club that would have me as a member".

This is a brilliant talk because there is a real story arc here with a call back! Natasha takes on her evolutionary journey through her own mental heath story and how her family helped her along the way. Natasha is refreshingly honest and open and will make you reflect on your own mental health story.

A wonderful and moving conversation. John, thank you for your candor and for opening up about such personal issues. David, thank you for creating this opportunity for all of us to hear John's story and reflect on our own journeys. I'm often prey to unwelcome, intrusive thoughts, and I do engage in quirky mental rituals, but what you both said about addressing those thoughts and examining how a desire to control plays a role really resonates with me. If I have regret it's that we, as a family, weren't better able to help our late father who would say he experienced "negative thoughts" but seemed unwilling or unable to articulate them. But, as you emphasized, one can only try to help (as we did) but that such things are ultimately beyond one's control. Both Really, 007! and Licence To Queer are very important to me as havens of positivity - I applaud you both for creating such welcoming, affirming spaces in the Bond community.

An absolutely brilliant conversation! I want to acknowledge John Kell not only for sharing his story here but for the bravery of becoming a counselor to help others in need.

Two brilliant people, bravo John

Two great guys. A super watch.

We need more of the two Davids in discussion.

Absolutely brilliant work! I used to be a professional illustrator as well but I gave it up. I can see it was a wise choice considering how skilled the competition is. 😉 I am now following Thomas on IG and his work is amazing.

Ian Fleming had his struggles in his early 20s: he was overshadowed by his elder brother; his mother, Eve, was very controlling, and there were all the expectations that came with being born into a rich family. He found his feet, so to speak, when he connected with a family in the Austrian Alps, and began to develop and flourish as a writer, and understand himself more.

Great discussion. So glad that the Bond community is getting into this. Another angle: we need heroes, and adventure, and there is a big aspect around mental health here. I think it is so easily to become listless and bored. Reading a wonderful novel, seeing a film, or understanding more about fascinating people, adds to the colour of life. And that's a big payoff for feeling better.

Kudos to you for talking about this.

Delightful! I grew up on the original Burningham art sketched over photos of his little cardboard model, but these new Gilbert illustrations are brilliant. I certainly wouldn’t mind a couple of prints for my office wall of the fabulous Art Deco / angular take on the book I learned to read with in the 1980s.

Loved listening to the eloquent way the two of you were able to talk about this, I also think, very important subject. One of my cats does want to suggest your cat to switch from plastic to cardboard and make beautiful artworks from that :-).

What a delightful conversation! Thanks to Ms. Sherwood for sharing so much about her grandfather, George Baker - so many entertaining, fascinating, and poignant memories. The story of his early life I found particularly affecting - how fortunate for us all that Mr. Baker, like designer Ken Adam managed to escape fascism, to lead such long, productive lives and to bring so much to the Bond series. I very much enjoyed the running commentary during the watch-along section - it was fun to see you both react to the on-screen action and dialog. The next time I watch "You Only Live Twice" I'll be keeping a sharp lookout for Mr. Baker's cameo role!

Great discussion, guys. Salient and searing points made.

Brilliant conversation and a very interesting topic that I never thought about but definitely can see where it comes into my life. It makes me reflect about when I feel relevant or more important, irrelevant, especially among my family and close friends. Some great work to done! Keep these coming DL-E!- Thanks to both Davids!

Great series! Really enjoying these videos. 🙂

My last read was one of the Horowitz books “A mind to kill”. Thanks for your video, the movie franchise had put me off buying these books thinking I’d know too much about these stories. but the books sound great. I will get stuck into Ian Fleming this summer break. 👍

Thank you for this. ❤

Will you ever post this conversation as one complete unedited video?

Lets hope the first draft gets through 🤞

I like the perspective blindness thing. I've tried to explain it to many people but they are fully convinced these books are just woke box ticking. On the flip side though. There is absolutely nothing wrong with straight white men. We are getting a lot of hate and abuse these days it's not on. Diversity and inclusion should also include us not just black or gay people

Wonder if they ever want to expand the books into a TV series on Amazon? A limited series on the Double 0 section itself, explore other agents that work for MI6.

The purple fibre appears in both my Harris brown jacket and my Harris blue coat

🤣😂🤣

Some reveal too 🤯

A double stud watch for a double oh. Very fitting.

Loving these

Fabulous background knowledge

Wasn't the question I was "expecting" 🤣

Never heard of perspective blindness! It does rather negate the whole 'woke' review in the creation of her team of 00s.

This trilogy has me so excited. And I’m loving the new characters. It really creates this wonderful complex world, and it keeps Bond fresh and fun!

I really wish I could have brought Kim Sherwood into CBn back in the day. I really tried hard to give women a space and place there.

Love it

Delightful conversation! I'm already working on my Instagram post for "Hilary Bray Day" - Ms. Sherwood's wonderful family anecdotes and her information about the fabric have made me all the more excited for the event.

Do we know when "Double or Nothing" takes place?

Great talk! Having only read the Fleming novels thus far, I decided to start with the Anthony Horowitz books because they directly follow all the Fleming novels and he purposely fashioned his writing style close to Fleming’s. I figured that’s a good place to start and ease my way out of Fleming’s novels into the wider Bond literary universe. so for I finished Trigger Mortis, loved it, and I just started Forever and a Day.

Amazing.

PLEASE do this for Die Another Day and Tomorrow Never Dies.

I just re-listened to this wonderful conversation (why on earth had I not already left a comment?). My partner and I LOVE "Heartstopper" and are eagerly awaiting Season 3. Thank you, Sam and David for all that you've shared - I won't see 59 again and it was very interesting to hear you describe your respective examples of queer characters in the media as you were growing up. This is very timely for me as I'll be giving a talk to a church congregation who are currently going through the United Church of Christ "Open & Affirming" process which (fingers crossed) will end with their adopting that designation as a community fully open to membership and leadership by LGBTQIA+ individuals. You have both given me some much-needed ideas and material to incorporate.

Your talking about Harry and the way he is and the other boys. Simply put Nick is the alpha male of the group. Harry has to make them laugh or throw things at people, but Nick does not have to, because nick is naturally alpha. Harry trying to play alpha

Greatness of amazing video ideal story different the world is not enough

Jeff? gladly its not cannon cause Robinson`s name ends up being Charles (Bond calls him by his name in Die Another Day to establish that they are friends beyond colleagues after Bonds return to MI6)

I am 45 years old and Heartstopper is the dream of people like Harry Hay, Harvey Milk, Cleve Jones, Armistead Maupin and Vito Russo who pushed hard for that representation for the fact that it GIVES HOPE.

Only half way through and already loving this discussion. Would love to hear your thoughts on the latest season. Thank you so much for sharing your response based on your own experiences.

I enjoyed this immensely. Stellar interview, David

Wow fantastic interview David! Raymond has such an amazing story.

Such a good interview, Raymond Benson is such a nice guy.

Wonderful conversation! I loved hearing your thoughts about the camp aspect to various elements of the films - characters, scenarios, music, etc., but it was your observation about Bond's entire image being camp that really struck me. Why would a spy, someone who would ideally blend in, be inconspicuous and able to work "below the radar" drive an Aston Martin, wear bespoke suits and expensive watches, stay in luxury hotels, and have a cartoonish muscular physique? The whole thing is preposterous - wonderfully so! I think it's why some of the more "serious" content of the Craig Era fell flat for me - within the larger context of absurdity, it felt out of place. Again, a delightful conversation!

Here’s a movie and filmmaker I consider camp. MAN OF STEEL and Zach Snyder. Hell, BATMAN V. SUPERMAN I find campy also. The stained attempt at seriousness. Pity it’s not actually fun.