Intermezzo: Behind the Blood Veil

Damn its really been a year huh. Its crazy I started to listen to you because Tom mentioned it in LLBD and I wanted to hear more from him. But then Greg just mesmerized me in a Way that not many have before. Its so refreshing to hear such a refined opinion on topics I didn’t even know I had an opinion on. Sorry if this is a bit rambly.

I've been thinking alot about sincerity and how a biproduct of the onlineification of everyone is that we're not just in an irony soked mode of talking but we default often to incinserity and quips, often sandwiching a genuinely sincere moment between two "bits" to try to preemptively sheild ourselves from an Omni present threat of mockery and attack. With that said: [gun joke] I would like to (actually sincerely) thank you both for the show and say I'm so very glad you're still with us Gregk. It has been a key pillar in my own philosophical journey and question aaking phase I've been in the past few years and has expanded the perspectives and language I have available to understand the world and ask those questions so thanks for that [gun joke].

Please do some episodes about violence against nature

Please do an episode on violence against trans people

I would gladly listen to a podcast about the experience of tenants in the tone of bloodwork

Gregk and Tom, I truly appreciate the work you guys put in to this podcast, it has really shifted the way I think and made me think more

on a serious note: bloodwork is a really special show. the aim to ask questions rather than answer them is really evident and you do it incredibly effectively. i’m an academic (here’s part of your answer to ‘who does this appeal to?’) and the way you discuss complex knotty questions through carefully written scripts and incredibly and surprising production reminds me of both the best scholarship and the best teaching i’ve encountered. i also really admire your willingness to (as thomas said) commit to the fact that a podcast can be anything — the music and sound design on the last couple of episodes was so effective and so original and i really hope you both get recognition for that. you hopefully know all of this but in the spirit of earnest care (as the opposite of mindless cruelty), you’re doing really good work and i’m glad to get to listen to it.

a single unifying fact of humanity is this: None of us asked to be here. Which always leads me back to: So we should probably make the most of it, for all of us. Thank you for sharing your story, taking care of yourself, and all the work you do.

Greg's comments made this episode reminded, in part, of these lines written by Kathleen Hanna: "Resist the temptation to view those around you as objects & use them. Recognize empathy and vulnerability as positive forms of strength. Resist the internalization of capitalism, the reducing of people & oneself to commodities, meant to be consumed. Resist psychic death." (From "Riot Grrrl Manifesto." Bikini Kill Zine #2. 1991.)

re UK newbuilt housing chat: i recently renovated a bungalow built in the 1960s and while asbestos removal is expensive, i’d rather that + all the weird mystery carpets and scented textured wallpaper i had to remove than a paper-mache newbuilt

This might be one of the best hosted podcasts ever.

Im always suprised just how shitty the renting situation is in Britian. Makes dealing with landlords in the DC area seem like a friendly hostage negotiation

i love bloodwork! more warren zevon drops please every time i listen to this show i get a different warren zevon song stuck in my head and i want everyone to join me

Embrace Gregk Thingk

Tom, your pride in the How It's Made drop is totally deserved, I genuinely started laughing out loud mid-run, I'm pretty sure the people around me thought I was having a manic episode. Kudos from a fellow opera nerd👍 and both of you enjoy your well earned break!

"I am evil [...] I am a fascist" -- Thomas O'Mahony, October 2026