Do I detect a problem?
Novice detectorist James Deacon goes metal detecting with a guest and has a chat. Each episode follows James as he takes his metal detector out into the field and sees what he can find. Along the way, he talks with his guest about the hobby, the surprises that turn up, and what it’s like to be new to detecting. The show is a relaxed mix of outdoor exploration and casual conversation.
Episodes
Sam Tompkins
Singer, songwriter and all round lovely bloke Sam Tompkins joins me for my first EVER bit of beach detecting! I met Sam on the south coast for a bit of metal detecting and to chat about his brand new album 'Are We Gonna Sing?' - I really enjoyed this one, hope you do too!
Also, last night the podcast won Best New Podcast at the British Podcast Awards 2026 and I am absolutely made up. I'm so proud
Katy Young (Tenderness/Peggy Sue)
Well WHAT an episode we have this week! I'm joined by Katy Young to discuss starting the group Peggy Sue and the Pirates with her best mate, coming through the whirlwind that was the mid-00s indie-folk scene and evolving into a solo artist for her most recent project Tenderness. Her beautiful debut album True is OUT NOW - go and listen to it.
ALSO - we make the most incredible find on the podcast
Shanne Bradley (The Nips/The Men They Couldn't Hang)
Punk rock legend, Shanne Bradley joins me in the field for some metal detecting and a chat!
After befriending the Sex Pistols and The Damned in her late teens, Shanne moved to London and became a prominent name in the Punk scene. Going on to meet a young Shane MacGowan and form The Nipple Erectors with him (pre-Pogues) and then have further success later with The Men They Couldn't Hang! Shanne's
Mez (LIFE) - LIVE from Deer Shed Festival
Recorded LIVE at Deer Shed Festival 2026 - this is our very first live podcast!
Honoured to be joined by the brilliant Mez from the band LIFE. Mez and I led an audience of festival goers from the festival site and into the fields for a bit of detecting and a chat!
As our crew search the site, Mez tells me all about the band's roots in Hull, their brand new album Abstract Natural and how he balan
Clio & Emmie-Mae (Man/Woman/Chainsaw) at Deer Shed Festival
Something very different and exciting this week! I recorded the podcast at the incredible Deer Shed Festival. It's such a fun festival with a beautiful site - which you'll see in this video.
What's also very exciting is that I'm joined by Clio Starwood and Emmie-Mae Avery of the band Man/Woman/Chainsaw - the band it brilliant and they were the perfect guests. We had a lot of fun searching the fi
Westerman
This week on Do I detect a problem? I'm joined by incredible musician and songwriter, Westerman. His music is so unique and interesting - and so is he! Throughly enjoyed our chat - after you've listened, go check out his music.
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Joey Page
A first for the podcast! This week I'm joined by comedian Joey Page! Joey has been a comedian for over 20 years now - apart from him being hilarious throughout - we talk about his journey in comedy, his rapid success... and what came next and he shares with me the gold he's found in his life.
Joey's special is out mid September for free on his YouTube channel - go subscribe and follow him on soci
Holly Habitat
Birding meets Metal Detecting! Slightly different episode of the podcast this week, I'm joined in the field by Holly Morton AKA Holly Habitat. Holly has a passion for nature and is a keen bird watcher and so we go Metal Detecting an then head over to a bird hide to do a bit of bird watching - so much fun!
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Will White (The Maccabees/86 TVs)
Songwriter, musician, producer - Will White is on the podcast this week!
We talk about his wonderful debut album 'It's Easy To Let The Thoughts Gain Ground', we discuss his song writing process, being in The Maccabees, being in 86 TVs and becoming comfortable with who you are. It's a really fun episode - and things get BIBLICAL!
Make sure you've followed on your favourite podcast platform so yo
Austin Williams (Swim Deep)
With their brand new album 'Hum' out today - I'm joined by Swim Deep's Austin Williams to discuss the album, fatherhood, band dynamics, surviving in the music industry and working with Bill Ryder-Jones.
Go and purchase the album NOW and go see the band live on tour! Also, make sure you've followed the podcast so you never miss an episode.
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Felix White (The Maccabees)
Felix White from The Maccabees is on this week's episode of Do I detect a problem?(!)
An honour and a privilege to have Felix on the podcast. In between me fan-boying, we talk about music scene's of the mid-00s, we talk about the fear of getting older, the end of The Maccabees... and their triumphant return! AND Felix tells me the fascinating story behind his brilliant book 'Whatever Will Be Will
Roman Found
I had the pleasure of interviewing Ellie and Lucie, metal detectorists and creators of the brilliant Roman Found. Their debut book 'Things We Found In The Ground' is out now! They tell me the story of their journey in detecting, how the book was created and what's next for Roman Found!
Big thank you to Harper North for the invite and to Minelab and LP Metal
Detecting for hosting an amazing day a
James Emmanuel
Soul singer, songwriter and wonderful human being, James Emmanuel joins me in the field for bit of metal detecting and a chat.
James' story is incredible - growing up in Nigeria, losing his father at a young age and leaving home, traveling abroad to earn money to send his sisters to school. He arrived in Edinburgh where he found his way from cleaning toilets to singing for a living... to getting
Lucy Spraggan
I think this might be my favourite episode of anything I've ever made - this week on Do I Detect A Problem, I'm joined by singer, songwriter Lucy Spraggan!
This episode is particularly special because aside from making music, Lucy is a keen detectorist and she invited me to one of her favourite fields to go detecting AND we may have found some coinage...
She's led an incredible life; from going
Eddie Argos (Art Brut)
Joining me this week for some metal detecting and chatting is the brilliant Eddie Argos from the band Art Brut!
We have a lovely chat about the music scene of the mid-00s, forming a band/being in a band for over 20 years now AND some insight into those infamous indie feuds he found himself in...
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Lewis Maynard (Dry Cleaning)
Lewis Maynard is the bassist and founding member of the band Dry Cleaning. Lewis joins me in the field to discuss the band's unique approach to writing music, working with Cate Le Bon to produce their latest record and what it's like when the people you look up to - Elton John, Grace Jones, Iggy Pop, David Byrne - show some love for your music.
I've got some more excellent guests coming up so ple
Alice Costelloe
This week I'm joined in the field by musician and songwriter, Alice Costelloe - Alice has been making music her whole life, she started gigging in London at the age of 12 but somehow it's taken he until now to release her debut album, Move On With The Year.
She joins me to search the field for hidden treasure...
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Ethan Ramon (The Sophs)
The Sophs' Ethan Ramon has left LA and finds himself chatting to me in the Hertfordshire countryside. We chat about his commitment to creating music, chasing the dream and the Pokemon card that paid his rent.
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Jason Williamson (Sleaford Mods)
Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson, opens-up about therapy, killing his ego and new perspectives on old rivalries (specifically with Idles frontman Joe Talbot). We also discuss Sleaford Mods' new album (The Demise of Planet X) and how it came to feature Gwendoline Christie, as well as Jason’s on-screen career.
Did we find anything? We'll leave that up to you to decide...
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Welcome to 'Do I detect a problem?'
Welcome to my brand new podcast 'Do I detect a problem?' where I go metal detecting with a guest and have a chat.
The first episode is out on Friday the 16th of January and my guest is the brilliant Jason Williamson from the band Sleaford Mods
Make sure you followed so you don't miss it
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