Summary
Overview
In this heartfelt episode, Zoe and Jo reflect on the emotional week following the deaths of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, sharing personal memories and tributes to these cultural icons. They discuss festival experiences as their daughters attended Reading Festival, marking generational milestones. The conversation touches on grief, autumn intentions, and the small moments that catch you off guard when dealing with loss, all while maintaining their warm, honest chemistry.
Festival Season and Parenting Milestones
Zoe recounts the surreal experience of dropping her daughter Coco off at Reading Festival, experiencing nostalgic flashbacks to attending the same festival in 1989. She reflects on the generational shift of now being the parent rather than the festival-goer, observing the uniform of 17-year-olds in cowboy boots and feeling decidedly too old to join in. Both hosts discuss how modern festivals provide better safety measures and communication compared to their youth, when Zoe attended Glastonbury at 17 with no phone contact.
- Coco attended Reading Festival independently, marking a significant milestone for Zoe as a parent
- Zoe had flashbacks to attending Reading in 1989 with acts like Sugar Cubes and New Order
- The festival uniform was remarkably consistent: cowboy boots, shorts, and cami tops for girls
- Modern festivals have much better welfare provisions and safety measures than in the past
- Nell also attended Reading, making it a shared experience for both families
" I felt like I was 20 or something. And I had all these flashbacks as I drove down the road to drop her off at Reading Festival of myself many, many decades ago going. "
" I was looking at all the kids. It was like this tidal wave of 17 year olds. I swear there was nobody who was 18. There was no one who was 16. They were all 17-year-olds heading to Reading Festival. "
Remembering Dolly Parton: A Cultural Icon
The hosts share their profound grief over Dolly Parton's death, discussing her incredible legacy as a trailblazer for women in music, business, and philanthropy. Jo was on air when the news broke and dedicated the show to playing Dolly's music and sharing listeners' memories. They reflect on Dolly's remarkable business acumen, particularly her decision to retain rights to 'I Will Always Love You,' her literacy charity work, and her generous, quotable nature in interviews.
- Dolly had been caring for her husband Carl before his recent death and was dealing with her own cancer diagnosis
- She famously refused to let Elvis record 'I Will Always Love You' to retain publishing rights, later benefiting when Whitney Houston recorded it
- Dolly founded a reading charity that provides books to children from all backgrounds
- Jo interviewed Dolly at Glastonbury, where she was generous with her time despite handlers trying to move her along
- Zoe interviewed Dolly multiple times, most recently just a couple of years ago
" She just showed young musicians, young people that they could make it if they had a little bit of talent and they were prepared to work incredibly hard. "
" You'll never do a whole lot unless you're brave enough to try. "
" She was so quotable Dolly because she has such great philosophy didn't she about life and how to do life. "
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