Best Stuart McLean Podcasts (2025)

1
Glenn Moore's Almanac 28:46

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8m ago28:46

28:46

Comedian Glenn Moore looks in his almanac at world events and what he was doing at the time. In this episode, a deadly spy operation causes Glenn to suspect his completely innocent Russian flatmate who just happens to have a novelty cigarette lighter in the shape of a gun. And not a novelty gun in the shape of a cigarette lighter. Perhaps best-know…

1
Rodentia - Dave and the Mouse & Rat-a-tat-tat 51:13

1h ago51:13

51:13

“PPMS. Phantom peripheral mouse syndrome” Jess and Dave have something in common: rodent phobia! Jess shares how she got over hers. And in two hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories we’ll hear how Dave managed his. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Stephanie Pow: Why Paid Partner Leave Could Change Everything 42:29

12h ago42:29

42:29

In this episode, I chat with Stephanie Pow, founder of Crayon, a startup on a mission to reduce financial stress in the moments that matter most. Crayon is best known for creating the New Zealand Parental Leave Register, which brings transparency to over 300 verified parental leave policies nationwide. Stephanie shares the personal journey that ins…

1
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme: 2025 Special 44:36

21m ago44:36

44:36

2025's instalment of John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme is forty-five minutes of the funniest things John thought of in the last year, performed by John and his regular cast of Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin and Carrie Quinlan, with composer Susannah Pearse at the piano and Sally Stares on the cello. Please note that listening to …

1
Compromising Positions - The Bare Truth & Yoga Retreat 40:27

3d ago40:27

40:27

“Mary had never ever been downstairs with no clothes on. Never. Ever.” We’ve got some classic Dave and Mary Turlington adventures on this week’s episode – as they find themselves in some compromising positions! And Jess talks about how Stuart honed his onstage craft over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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It’s Good to Talk: Mental Load, Masculinity & The Power of Conversation with Aidan Kyrke-Smith 38:46

6d ago38:46

38:46

How often do dads get real about what’s going on in their heads? In this episode, I sit down with Aidan Kyrke-Smith, founder of Dadventure, to unpack the often-unspoken world of fatherhood, masculinity, and the invisible mental load that dads carry. From late-night worries to guilt around “who has it harder,” Aidan shares insights from years of wor…

1
Icklewick FM 28:49

1d ago28:49

28:49

We return to Icklewick one year after the explosive events of Mischief Night. With Amy’s whereabouts still unknown and the rest of the team scattered, Chris has been struggling to keep Icklewick FM on the air from his home studio. Things are deffo looking bleak until he receives a mysterious call from Mainland Europe... Icklewick FM is created and …

1
September - School Days 37:48

4d ago37:48

37:48

“Every year on the first day of school, to the great amazement of the kids in kindergarten…Miss MacNeal would burp the alphabet from A to Z.” Welcome back to Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! Our first episode is all about back to school. We’ve got a story about how Dave and Morley tried to recreate the magic of their own school days for Sam (spoiler: i…

1
Joe Consedine and Jess Stuart: Redefining Gender Roles in Work and Home 54:05

6d ago54:05

54:05

What would our workplaces and homes look like if caregiving was truly valued, shared, and supported? In this thought-provoking episode, I sit down with Joe Consedine and Jess Stuart from Mobilise to unpack the invisible labour of caregiving, the systemic barriers that keep gender norms in place, and the opportunities we have to innovate for equity.…

1
Room 101 with Paul Merton 28:20

8d ago28:20

28:20

Returning in its original one-to-one incarnation, Paul Merton interviews a variety of guests from the world of comedy and entertainment to find out what they would send to Room 101. This week Paul welcomes Richard Ayoade.By BBC Radio 4

1
Season 6 - Starting September 5th 1:03

22d ago1:03

1:03

We hope you'll join us next Friday for Season 6 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! We’ve got more Dave and Morley stories for you, more of Stuart McLean’s wonderful Vinyl Cafe essays and, of course, more behind the scenes stories from Jess Milton. Here's a taster of what's in store... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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It’s Good to Talk: The Power of Honest Conversations with Anna Johnstone 42:32

23d ago42:32

42:32

What are the conversations that truly make a difference for working parents? In this episode of It’s Good to Talk, I turn the tables on Anna Johnstone, executive coach, founder of The Female Career, and host of the podcast of the same name. Anna shares her journey from global corporate roles in Europe to returning home to New Zealand and building a…

1
It's Good To Talk | Trailer 2:41

14d ago2:41

2:41

Welcome to. It's Good to Talk. The podcast that equips working parents with the conversations they need to be having. My name's Emma McClain. I'm an executive coach and I work exclusively with working parents. I know for sure that working and having a family is hard. But I think the answer to real long-term sustainable change is talking. So in this…

1
The Edinburgh Comedy Awards Gala 2025 57:23

28d ago57:23

57:23

Comedy fans can catch the nominees for The Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025 in this showcase for BBC Radio 4. Guaranteed to be packed with laughs, this special will be hosted by last year’s Best Comedy Show winner, Amy Gledhill. The prestigious awards is celebrating its 45th year and is recognising a Best Newcomer and a Best Show. In this gala, hosted …

1
Victoria Crockford: Why women’s homelessness is on the rise in New Zealand 45:40

21d ago45:40

45:40

In this episode, I talk to Victoria Crockford, Project Director of the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness, to shine a light on an issue too often hidden from view: the growing housing insecurity faced by women in Aotearoa New Zealand. Victoria brings her wealth of experience across community housing, advocacy, the arts, and climate action to unp…

1
We Regret to Inform You: Rejecting Monty Python 24:20

26d ago24:20

24:20

This week, more from our Apostrophe Podcast Network family! We think you will enjoy, "We Regret to Inform You: The Rejection Podcast." Sidney O’Reilly shares the stories of successful people who have encountered rejection in their careers – and triumphed nonetheless. For this episode, we enter the wacky world of Monty Python and hear how risky it w…

1
Stuart Mitchell's Cost of Dying 14:31

22d ago14:31

14:31

This first episode takes a cheeky look at the costs of end of life care and you might be surprised to find out just how pricey it is to pop your clogs! When it seems like everything is getting more expensive; comedian, former banker and serial funeral-organiser Stuart Mitchell breaks down the true Cost of Dying. Using his own experience Stuart aims…

1
Dr Amanda Sterling: What’s really holding women back? 40:49

1M ago40:49

40:49

In this episode, I talk to Dr. Amanda Sterling, Principal Director, award-winning consultant, and proud mum, to unpack her groundbreaking PhD research to help organisations remove systemic barriers and close gender pay gaps. Amanda combines decades in corporate leadership development and culture change with work that is backed by data, driven by cu…

1
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Bloopers 19:33

1M ago19:33

19:33

Something special for you for our first bonus episode. From one of my absolute favourite Vinyl Cafe radio shows, from 2011, this is Stuart and I in studio talking about bloopers! We laughed so hard recording this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Oliver Callan Bins the Border 28:29

1M ago28:29

28:29

Oliver Callan hosts a panel show in which comedians from both sides of the Irish border and Britain imagine what a united Ireland would look like if it ever happened. This week, Oliver Callan is joined by Neil Delamere, Alison Spittle, John Meagher and Ashley Storrie to debate a new national flag, who the head of state might be and the official, na…

1
The Part Time Power Listers 40:50

2M ago40:50

40:50

In this episode, Emma sits down with two of New Zealand’s 2024 Part-Time Power Listers: Emma Thompson and Liz Blythe. Emma is a partner in PWC’s private business team and a chartered accountant with a passion for simplifying finance through technology. She supports privately owned businesses with virtual CFO services, finance function, transformati…

1
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Summertime – Mexican Climbing Mint & Summer of Stars 48:40

1M ago48:40

48:40

“There is nothing like a neighbour throwing money about their garden to make you feel bad about yours.” It's summer all the way on this week’s episode. In our first story, Mary Turlington unwittingly trips off a chain of events that get heated under the summer sun. And in the second, Sam and Murphy have the summer of a lifetime in Big Narrows, Cape…

1
Rob Rinder and Juno Dawson 27:33

1M ago27:33

27:33

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS by Augusten Burroughs, chosen by Rob RinderTHE ODD WOMAN AND THE CITY by Vivian Gornick, chosen by Harriett GilbertEARTHLINGS by Sayaka Murata, chosen by Juno Dawson The barrister, television presenter and writer Rob Rinder and author Juno Dawson talk books with Harriett Gilbert. Juno Dawson selects Sayaka Murata's Earthlings,…

1
Crybabies Present... 29:01

1M ago29:01

29:01

Jeremy Moleskine is the biggest writer in bawdy greetings cards. So when his car veers off the road, his number one fan is on hand to nurse him back to health. But when R&R turns into B&B (belittling and bludgeoning), Jeremy’s agent must track him down with the help of incarcerated lunatic, Clinton Scards. Brace yourself for a psychological thrille…

1
Dr Ellen Joan Ford: The overt and covert penalties of motherhood 49:27

1M ago49:27

49:27

In this powerful conversation, I talk to Dr Ellen Joan Ford, who is terrifyingly ambitious about improving the working world for people and for organisations. As a leader, researcher, military veteran, international speaker, TEDx speaker, facilitator, consultant and parent, Ellen draws on her research and practical experiences to drive organisation…

1
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Road Trip! – Cat in the Car 43:29

1M ago43:29

43:29

“Whenever the cat is around, things seem to go wrong.” This week, Dave discovers a stowaway on the family road trip, with hilarious consequences. And Jess shares two more of Stuart McLean’s Postcards from Canada: from St John’s, NFLD in the east and Powell River, B.C. in the west. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Zadie Smith and Colm Tóibín 30:03

1M ago30:03

30:03

OBLIVION by Héctor Abad, chosen by Colm TóibínFLESH by David Szalay, chosen by Zadie SmithCALL ME BY YOUR NAME by André Aciman, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Authors and good friends Zadie Smith and Colm Tóibín join Harriett Gilbert to share books they love. For a longer edition of this episode, check out the A Good Read podcast. Colm Tóibín chooses O…

1
The Lively Life of Lindsey Santoro 14:43

1M ago14:43

14:43

Today Lindsey is dragged to a rock climbing centre by her athletic friend Jenny which results in a life changing discovery about her over-zealous anatomy. She helps her mum rescue a missing rat and, with the help of Elton John, hosts an intimate funeral. Welcome to the life of the most beautiful princess in all of Birmingham and its surrounding are…

1
Kimberlee Sweeney: Divorce, co-parenting, and Degrees of Separation 31:10

2M ago31:10

31:10

In this powerful conversation, I am joined by Kimberlee Sweeney, certified divorce and co-parenting coach and founder of Degrees of Separation, to unpack how separation and divorce can amplify the motherhood penalty — and what you can do to protect yourself emotionally, legally and financially. Kimberlee shares her expert insight from a decade in t…

1
The Beatlology Interviews: Actor Mark Hamill 45:09

2M ago45:09

45:09

Something a little different this week that we think you’ll enjoy. From our friends at the Apostrophe Podcast Network: Terry O’Reilly’s “The Beatlology Interviews”. You may not know that Stuart McLean was a huge Beatles fan (though really, aren’t we all?) And he collected Beatles memorabilia. Another huge fan and collector is Terry O'Reilly. In thi…

1
Joanna Hardy-Susskind and Horatio Clare 27:49

2M ago27:49

27:49

THE TRUCE by Primo Levi, chosen by Horatio Clare THE SUN DOES SHINE by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin, chosen by Joanna Hardy-SusskindSULA by Toni Morrison, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Writer Horatio Clare joins criminal defence barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind to discuss favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. Horatio's choice is a book he …

1
Kat Sadler's Screen Time 28:29

2M ago28:29

28:29

Industry heartthrob and nation's sweetheart Kat is on her way to an exciting product launch in a long car, with long suffering sidekick Alex Macqueen. On the way, she shares the secrets of her success, and how series one of Screen Time made her the most famous woman to ever grace the UK. Now that she's the biggest influencer ever, Kat teaches you h…

1
Nicole Retter: The default parent dilemma (and how to fix it) 44:34

2M ago44:34

44:34

In this insightful conversation, I am joined by the brilliant Nicole Retter, founder of PAM, Personal Admin Manager, an app built to ease the mental load for overwhelmed parents. We unpack the invisible labour of parenthood and why the default parent trap isn’t just unfair, but completely unsustainable We talk about the emotional toll, the cognitiv…

1
REWIND WEDNESDAY: The Mistakes We Make – Petit Lac Noir & Dog Pills 46:06

2M ago46:06

46:06

Bonjour,” he said. “Je m’appelle Dave.” Yup, sometimes things go wrong. It happens to the best of us. Especially on the Vinyl Cafe, as you’ll hear in Stuart McLean’s Dave and Morley stories Dog Pills and Petit Lac Noir. Also on this week’s episode, Jess shares a surprising and funny backstory about the inspiration behind Dave’s mistake in Dog Pills…

1
Desiree Akhavan and Rosie Wilby 27:51

2M ago27:51

27:51

ALL FOURS by Miranda July, chosen by Desiree AkhavanUNTRUE by Wednesday Martin, chosen by Rosie WilbyDRAGON TALK by Fleur Adcock, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Filmmaker and writer Desiree Akhavan joins comedian, writer and podcaster Rosie Wilby as they discuss favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. Desiree's choice is All Fours by Miranda July, a nov…

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Ashley Blaker's Hyperfixations 28:26

2M ago28:26

28:26

"Americans have a long history of taking British things and ballsing them up. They took football and added helmets and cheerleaders; they took ice lollies and called them popsicles; and they took James Corden and then sent him back here." Among Ashley’s more unusual hyperfixations is a life-long love of professional wrestling. This special interest…

1
Rachel Carrell: The brutal reality of childcare systems around the world 30:19

2M ago30:19

30:19

In this powerful conversation, I am joined by the brilliant Rachel Carrell, CEO and Founder of Koru Kids, an innovative childcare provider operating in 10 cities in the UK. Rachel shares the story of how Koru Kids came to be (spoiler: it wasn’t built in 18 months), the brutal reality of childcare systems around the world, and why the motherhood pen…

1
REWIND WEDNESDAY: Summer – A Letter from Camp & The Waterslide 53:39

2M ago53:39

53:39

"This waterslide was the waterslide to end all waterslides” We are taking a break over the summer, so in honour of our final episode of Season 1 we’ve got two Vinyl Cafe stories for you about summer. If you listen carefully you’ll hear something unusual in the first, A Letter from Camp, when Stuart inserts a personal story from his own days at his …

1
James Rebanks and Kiri Pritchard-McLean at the Hay Festival 27:51

2M ago27:51

27:51

THE IRON AGE by Arja KajermoA SHORT STAY IN HELL by Steven L PeckSTONE YARD DEVOTIONAL by Charlotte Wood James Rebanks is a farmer from the Lake District as well as author of The Shepherd's Life. His new book The Place of Tides is about his time in Norway learning from an elderly woman who cared for eider ducks on a remote island. His book choice i…

1
Maisie Adam: Euros Fever 28:34

2M ago28:34

28:34

Are you excited to watch England and Wales this summer? Comedian and football obsessed Maisie Adam can’t wait for the Euros and wants to capture the magic you only get before a big international tournament. This is her ultimate guide to the Euros and guarantees to get you in the mood for the highs, the lows and the drama of the Women’s Euros 2025. …

1
Bonus Episode: Meet Greg! 1:03:52

2M ago1:03:52

1:03:52

For this summer bonus episode, my conversation with long-time Vinyl Cafe and Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe recording engineer, Greg DeClute. Greg has some great stories to share about working with Stuart McLean for so many years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
Budgie and Juhea Kim 27:52

2M ago27:52

27:52

NAUSEA by Jean-Paul SartreGO WENT GONE by Jenny ErpenbeckLAURUS by Evgeny Vodolazkin Budgie is best known as the drummer with Siouxsie & The Banshees and The Creatures, as well as The Slits. His memoir The Absence: Memoirs of A Banshee is published in July 2025. Together with the Korean novelist Juhea Kim he chooses his favourite book to discuss wi…

1
Your Mum 28:31

2M ago28:31

28:31

Janine tells us what happened when she was swapped at birth, why her brother has a bunker in Arizona and how her mum rules the roost with her ‘feminine guile’. Russell gives his hot take on childbirth, makes a case against toddler food and thanks his mum for putting up with his extraordinary amount of energy. In this series, Laura Smyth sits down w…

1
Xantoné Blacq and Harry Trevaldwyn 27:45

3M ago27:45

27:45

WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT by Sarah Winman, chosen by Harry TrevaldwynTHE ALCHEMIST by Paulo Coelho, chosen by Xantoné BlacqJAMES by Percival Everett, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Music producer and composer Xantoné Blacq joins actor and writer Harry Trevaldwyn to share the books they love with presenter Harriett Gilbert. First up, Harry brings to the tab…

1
Henry Normal: A Normal... Humanity 29:03

3M ago29:03

29:03

Join Henry Normal as he uses his unique blend of comedy and poetry to investigate what it truly means to be human. How are we different from other animals? Is there such a thing as a soul? Is it green or brown bin day today? These are just some of the unanswered questions Henry will be leaving unanswered in this new show, recorded live at the Hay-o…

1
Summer Trips - Canoe Trip & The Summer Cottage 42:08

3M ago42:08

42:08

“There is nothing like a 20th wedding anniversary to drive home the point that you are no longer 20 years old” For our final episode of this season, two entertaining stories about summer vacations. And Jess talks about the additional perspective going further afield can bring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

1
Haylee Killip: NOD: urgent, on-demand childcare 40:33

3M ago40:33

40:33

We love talking to people who are trying to smash the system and Haylee Killip is one of these people. A business that was born out of the struggle of a corporate career and the juggle of being a parent. And specifically finding childcare that was flexible. She tried everything when she was a new mum and could not find what she needed. Whether it w…

1
Josh Cohen and Nussaibah Younis 27:21

3M ago27:21

27:21

BIG SWISS by Jen Beagin, chosen by Nussaibah YounisA HEART SO WHITE by Javier Marías, chosen by Josh CohenTHE END OF EDDY by Edouard Louis, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Big Swiss is a 29-year-old gynecologist who has never had an orgasm. Greta Work is an audio transcriber for a sex therapist who is infatuated by one of his clients. After an encounter…

1
Live from the UK 28:53

3M ago28:53

28:53

Live from the UK brings you the best comedy talent from around the country, all from the comfort of your own headphones. Stand up legend Angela Barnes talks to Glasgow about their swearing, Newcastle about their love of getting starkers on holiday, and Manchester about the rude origins of their city's name. She brings you acts from all of these pla…

1
Childhood - The One and Only Murphy Kruger & The Great Train Adventure 52:02

3M ago52:02

52:02

“When are you supposed to let your children march off alone? When are you supposed to let them learn from their mistakes” On today’s episode, two stories about childhood. And Jess talks about how one of her own childhood dreams has recently come to fruition - with the making of the upcoming Vinyl Cafe: The Musical! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr…