Best Irvine Welsh Podcasts (2025)

From the Aye Write Book Festival 2025 in Glasgow at the Royal Concert Hall – a live conversation with Scottish authors Irvine Welsh and John Niven. We get into their latest books and dive deep into the big stuff: existential questions, the chaos of the digital age, addiction, love, masculinity, and plenty more in between. contact: seanmcdonald.podc…

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Jan Ravens: “I lived with a nameless dread” 1:02:00

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3h ago1:02:00

1:02:00

Jan Ravens, the acclaimed impressionist at the heart of Dead Ringers, grew up learning to change the mood of a room long before she ever changed her voice on stage. In this conversation with James O Brien, she reflects on a childhood shaped by humour, instability and her father’s illness, and how those early pressures sharpened the instincts that l…

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What makes a setting feel so vivid it becomes a character? With Paula Hawkins 50:39

1d ago50:39

50:39

Which novels are truly unputdownable and what should you read on a dark winter's night? We’re joined by best-selling author, Paula Hawkins, who discusses art, love and remote islands in her latest thriller, The Blue Hour. She also helps us tackle your listener questions with a stack of gripping recommendations to guide you to your next great read. …

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Ross Greer on Why Improving People’s Lives Must Come Before Climate Policy 1:13:47

6d ago1:13:47

1:13:47

Scotland heads into an election while housing, public services and the cost of living pile pressure onto people’s lives. In that climate, the Greens are trying to set out what they stand for – after time in government and time out of it – and explain the role they believe they can play in Scotland’s future. Against the rise of the far right across …

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[195] Adam Richman 1:13:59

3d ago1:13:59

1:13:59

Adam Richman, culinary maverick and TV legend, joins The Michael Anthony Show for a raw, no-holds-barred conversation in Episode 195. Richman takes us behind the scenes of his life and career. He opens up about his complex relationship with Anthony Bourdain (and the truth about forgiveness), life after the Man v Food whirlwind, and candid reflectio…

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Hal Cruttenden: Divorce blew my mind- it hits harder than losing parents 1:04:43

7d ago1:04:43

1:04:43

Before he became one of the most recognisable storytellers on the comedy circuit, Hal Cruttenden was a shy kid from West London who spent years trying to be what he thought others wanted him to be. He trained as an actor, chased approval, and tried to outrun a gnawing sense that something in his life was not quite aligned. It took heartbreak, thera…

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What’s Pulling Men & Boys Into the Internet’s Dark Corners – And Into Andrew Tate’s Orbit? 1:01:41

8d ago1:01:41

1:01:41

Recorded live at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for Aye Write 2025 book festival This episode digs into why so many young men are being drawn into the darker corners of the internet, and what’s actually happening inside those spaces. I sit down with journalist James Bloodworth and author Chris McQueer, whose new books approach the same world from d…

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Don't Gamble With Your Life // with Gambling Campaigner Colin Brown 1:23:35

14d ago1:23:35

1:23:35

Colin Brown is the founder of Gambling LEAP, which stands for Lived Experience, Education, Awareness and Prevention. Colin lived with gambling addiction for over 25 years, eventually finding the strength and resolve to turn things around, but not before a number of intense challenges and setbacks throughout his life. He now hopes to use his experie…

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Stephen Mangan: When Mum died, I knew I couldn’t waste life being a lawyer- I had to act 1:00:18

18d ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Before he became one of Britain’s most familiar faces, Stephen Mangan was a bookish North London boy from an Irish working-class family- the son of a builder and a barmaid- who won a scholarship to a boarding school his parents didn’t want him to attend. From there to Cambridge, to RADA, and to the West End, his path looks polished. But behind it l…

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Peter James and Sophie Hannah 45:30

15d ago45:30

45:30

Bestselling authors Peter James and Sophie Hannah join Joe Haddow for a right royal Book Off! They discuss Poirot, Christie, Greene and many other writers they love - and give us some great book recommendations too. Peter and Sophie also chat about their new novels. Queen Camilla is a huge fan of Peter James' Roy Grace books - so much so that she i…

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What is the best translated fiction to read? With Karl Ove Knausgaard 51:30

16d ago51:30

51:30

What are the best new books in Korean fiction? What is the process of translating a book into English? And how do you evoke a sense of place you haven't visited? This week we sat down with award-winning and internationally best-selling author, Karl Ove Knausgaard to discuss his latest novel, The School of Night. The School of Night is a Faustian-in…

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Laughing In The Dark // with Dr Benji Waterhouse: Live in Glasgow 1:06:31

17d ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Dr Benji Waterhouse sits at an intersection of acute psychiatry and stand-up comedy. A consultant psychiatrist and comic, his book You Don't Have To Be Mad To Work Here offers a sharp, humane account of what really happens inside our mental-health system – and the toll it takes on those working within it. In this episode, recorded live at the Aye W…

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Toby Jones: I never wanted to feel desperate about acting 1:04:28

25d ago1:04:28

1:04:28

From Truman Capote to Mr Bates, Toby Jones has built a career on disappearing- an actor whose transformations are so complete they can seem alchemical. But behind that versatility lies a story of inheritance, self-doubt and quiet rebellion. The son of two actors, Toby grew up watching his father’s unpredictable career and vowing never to feel so ex…

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John Lloyd: Blackadder, Spitting Image, QI and a life in search of meaning 1:03:46

28d ago1:03:46

1:03:46

As the creative mind behind Blackadder, Spitting Image, Not the Nine O’Clock News and QI, John Lloyd has quietly shaped British comedy for more than forty years. In this episode of Full Disclosure, he sits down with James O’Brien to look back on the work that defined his career-and the questions that have driven him ever since. Lloyd reflects on hi…

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Tim Burgess and Tom Sheehan 38:12

1M ago38:12

38:12

Charlatans lead singer, Tim Burgess, and music photographer, Tom Sheehan, join Joe Haddow for a war of the words. Tim and Tom have worked together on and off for over 30 years - and during that time, Tom has captured some of the most iconic images of Tim's band. They chat about their new collaboration 'How High: A Portrait Of The Charlatans' as wel…

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Why are generations at war with each other? With Zadie Smith 56:01

1M ago56:01

56:01

Which multi-generational novels inspired White Teeth? Where does Zadie Smith turn for her next great read? And our Penguin team is back to solve your reading dilemmas - whether you're after fascinating memoirs, this year's pick of prize-winning books, or stories perfect for Autumn. Discover all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here Zadie …

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{194} A Muse (ft. Kieran Saint Leonard) 1:01:56

1M ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Novelist and musician Kieran Saint Leonard joins The Michael Anthony Show for Episode 194 in a wide-ranging discussion covering music, philosophy, magic, modern technology, and his own creative journey. Author of the novel A Muse, Leonard also dives deep into his literary work and his music (as Saint Leonard), in a fascinating and thought-provoking…

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Two Men Talking About Miscarriage (Plus Radio Voices, Tourette’s, and Wind-Ups) // with Heart FM Presenter Jonny Campbell 2:20:37

1M ago2:20:37

2:20:37

Radio presenterJonny Campbell looks back on his early days in commercial radio, starting out at West FM and then Clyde 1, before making the jump from Clyde 1 to Capital Scotland. There’s funny chat and some discussion around accents, Tourette’s syndrome, the 90’s radio voice, and men dressing up in dresses for Beyonce tickets. The main reason for t…

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Jimmy Wales: The man who built Wikipedia 1:05:34

1M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

Long before it became one of the most visited websites on Earth, Wikipedia began as a radical idea from a curious boy in Huntsville, Alabama. Raised by a father who managed a grocery store and a mother and grandmother who ran a tiny, Montessori-inspired school where “each one teach one” was the guiding principle, Wales grew up surrounded by early c…

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Lisa Smith and Marcia Hutchinson 44:03

1M ago44:03

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This week Joe welcomes two debut authors - Lisa Smith and Marcia Hutchinson - who get head to head in a war of the words. They chat about their writing journeys, black voices in literature, coming to writing later in life and why sometimes, you can just use books as a way of getting back at people! THE BOOK OFF 'Beloved' by Toni Morrison VS 'Small …

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Is never growing up the secret to great storytelling? With Philip Pullman 42:11

1M ago42:11

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What was the inspiration behind Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights series? How does he want readers to feel on Lyra’s final adventure in The Rose Field? Has his demon changed now that he has got to the end of this writing journey, and how do you say goodbye to characters you love? In this special edition of Ask Penguin, host Rhianna Dhillon visits Ph…

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Charles Dance: From builder’s labourer with a stammer to Tywin Lannister 58:58

1M ago58:58

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Before he was Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones or the commanding presence of The Jewel in the Crown, Charles Dance was a boy from Worcestershire whose father died when he was three and whose mother built a new life for the family, remarried to their lodger. A childhood marked by loss, a stammer and humble beginnings gave little hint of the comman…

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Joe Hill and Joe Abercrombie 1:09:59

1M ago1:09:59

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Bestselling authors Joe Hill and Joe Abercrombie join another Joe (the host) for a natter about books, films, horror, fantasy and much more. They discuss their brilliant new novels, 'King Sorrow' and 'The Devils', their writing processes and routines, Stephen King, James Cameron, film adaptations, comics - and - give us some brilliant book recommen…

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Part 2: From al-Qaeda to MI6 — Aimen Dean LIVE 1:20:58

2M ago1:20:58

1:20:58

How Aimen Dean went from al-Qaeda member to undercover MI6 operative — his full account of recruitment, betrayal and escape. Aimen tells a never-before-told story about his haunting interaction with the lead-hijacker of the September 11th attacks in New York City... We hear about Aimen's decision to join MI6 as an undercover spy, and the extensive …

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Alexander Armstrong: My default setting is fear- I expect the worst of people 53:58

2M ago53:58

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Before Pointless, Classic FM and comedy stardom, Alexander Armstrong was a restless kid growing up in rural Northumberland- lonely at boarding school, obsessed with music, and quietly desperate to perform. In this revealing conversation with James O’Brien, he opens up about the bruises and eccentricities of his childhood, the teachers who changed e…

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Callie Hart and Saara El-Arifi 44:36

2M ago44:36

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This week we welcome bestselling authors Saara El-Arifi and Callie Hart to the podcast, who go head to head in a war of the words. We chat fantasy, romantasy, maps, sexy fairies - and also learn a new word 'Chussy' (don't google it!) Callie and Saara also give us some brilliant book recommendations and some top writing tips! (oh, and di we mention …

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Is Jane Austen's legacy more than just romantic love? With Andrew Hunter Murray and Gill Hornby 50:10

2M ago50:10

50:10

Why do we still love Jane Austen’s novels 250 years later? What makes her stories continue to inspire readers and creators today? And if Jane were alive now, which book would you recommend she read? In this special episode, recorded at Jane Austen’s family home in Alton, host Rhianna Dhillon is joined by Miss Austen author and president of the Jane…

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Harsh Reality: Let's Talk About Alcohol // with Liam Conlan 1:17:06

2M ago1:17:06

1:17:06

First published in January 2024, but it’s worth a share for those who may benefit from it. I speak to men's sobriety coach Liam about the relationship that society - especially in Scotland - has with drinking… We reflect on our own personal dynamic with booze and the heavy effects of drinking too much, too frequently... And we get into some uncomfo…

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Jack Thorne: “I was allergic to moving - the doctor said, ‘This might be forever.’” 1:06:24

2M ago1:06:24

1:06:24

Growing up in Bristol, acclaimed playwright and screenwriter Jack Thorne was a shy, politically driven kid who believed he could change the world- first through politics, then acting, before discovering that storytelling was where his voice truly belonged. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the Emmy and BAFTA-winning c…

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'My Time With al-Qaeda, MI6 & Osama bin Laden' // Former MI6 Spy Aimen Dean (LIVE) - Part 1 1:02:08

2M ago1:02:08

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Men in Love part 2 57:46

2M ago57:46

57:46

Wake up, it's time for your next love injection. Men in Love part 2 is ready now for insertion into your welcoming ears.

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Cor Hutton: The Quadruple Amputee Who Found Her Feet 51:59

2M ago51:59

51:59

In 2013, businesswoman and mum Cor Hutton was given just a five percent chance of survival after contracting pneumonia that developed into sepsis. She pulled through, but lost both hands and her legs below the knee. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien speaks to Cor about her extraordinary journey- from relearning how to live as a quad…

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Jamie Oliver: “I’d gone from being skint to having a lot of money, I felt like a fake.” 1:03:22

2M ago1:03:22

1:03:22

Before he became one of the world’s best-known chefs, Jamie Oliver was a dyslexic kid growing up in his parents’ pub in rural Essex, learning the value of hard work, fresh food, and family. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Jamie to trace his journey from peeling veg at his parents’ pub to fronting The Naked Chef, res…

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Why Are There Flags Hanging From Lampposts? // with Aarti Joshi 1:27:27

2M ago1:27:27

1:27:27

The pervasive, mendacious and downright malevolent diatribe directed towards immigrants in the UK – or those wrongly categorised as such – irrespective of their social, economic or citizenship status, is at what feels like an all time high. So who better to hear from than someone who’s experiencing this continuing embarrassment to Britain. Step for…