Blethered

Blethered

Glasgow & Barcelona based podcast, hosted by Sean McDonald. Sean interviews people from various segments of society, discussing serious topics with Scottish humour. From life stories, to social commentary and discussion on current topics, modern culture and more. Contact at seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

June 3, 2025 122 mins

This episode is about how justice and humanity can intersect, and what happens when you treat people like they can still be more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.


I’m viscerally aware of how serious crimes affect victims - I’ve felt that pain myself, but every conversation needs space for nuance.


And in this episode, you’ll hear former Barlinnie prison officer Frank and I have a very detailed one.


We discuss his expa...

Mark as Played

Author, producer and screenwriter Claire Duffy talks to me about The Glasgow Telly Festival, her interesting and unconventional formative years, the significance of accents and loads more!


Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark as Played

Dr Kevin is a writer and researcher whose work looks at where data meets identity - basically, where hard facts and statistics collide with the more personal, subjective sides of who we are.


Sexuality shouldn’t ever need to be a focus, but it 's relevant in the context of our conversation, because our identities shape how we see the world. 


Kevin and I are the same age, from the same country, working in similar fields - ...

Mark as Played

In Part 1, I got a good sense of John as a man, his connection to his family and how politics became his vocation. In Part 2, we get into the here and now, and some of the issues that are affecting people in Scotland, particularly young men and the concept of masculinity.


We consider the concept of radicalisation and extreme ideologies masquerading as benevolent influences...


We examine the disparity between the gravity of do...

Mark as Played

This is the start of an ongoing mini-series on the topic of masculinity in the modern world, and who better to launch it than the man at the highest position of political influence in our country.


This is part 1 of 2, and focuses on John Swinney the man, his formative years and how his family shaped him, and what inspired him to get involved in politics.


This whole topic is about being human, and how easy it is to be influenc...

Mark as Played

*WATCH ON YOUTUBE*


I love having expansive and unpredictable conversations and that’s exactly what this is.


This is probably the opposite of what you’d expect to hear based on your preconceptions about the guest, but as you’ll hear, those will prove to be quite inaccurate.


We discuss the congruity between materialism and spirituality, in pursuit of a happy and fulfilled existence…


We talk about Brian’s devotion to Islam...

Mark as Played

Dr Aisan Ghaemian is a Chartered Psychologist and accredited Cognitive Behavior Therapist, and has a PhD in the field of Health Psychology.


This was a fascinating conversation on a variety of topics, and I thoroughly enjoyed having such an expansive conversation with such an expert authority in her field.


We discuss the impact of social media - and I don’t mean the mealy-mouthed, surface level bullshit we hear on a regular ba...

Mark as Played

We recorded this conversation on the banks of Loch Lomond as the sun set in front of us, something I mention about 68 times. But my plan worked, the incredible backdrop cultivated some really profound and life affirming thoughts, as I hoped it would. 


You’ll hear about Roisin’s self-created journey in music, from making some tracks at home to singing in front of Tom Jones on The Voice…


Her life-changing cancer diagnosis,...

Mark as Played

Abbie Draper tells me about her years-long ordeal at the hands of registered sex offender and convicted stalker, Adele Rennie.


Rennie was jailed for the third time in September 2024, after a catalogue of serious repeated sexual and stalking crimes.


Judge's Sentencing Statement - 13th September 2024


Stalking Helpline


Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com

Instagram: @seantmcdonald

Twitter: @seanmcdonald01


Mark as Played

Here’s a wee bit of information about Michael. He’s a Scottish journalist and broadcaster who has a long list of notable achievements in his field. He’s written for The Scotsman, the Times, The National and The Barrhead News…


He’s featured frequently on BBC Scotland and BBC Radio Scotland, producing a notable documentary for the latter…


And he even created a short film back in 2009, that went on to receive critical acclaim an...

Mark as Played

There’s an upcoming parliamentary debate about the Tobacco & Vapes bill, which was first introduced in the House of Commons on the 5th of November, 2024. Its purpose is to significantly improve public health by reducing smoking rates and preventing nicotine addiction among young people.


Here to discuss that with me is Greig Fowler, a business director of Vape retailer VPZ. He says that vaping is an effective tool to get peop...

Mark as Played

Martin Geissler has had an incredible career on the front line of global news, from the Iraq War and the Boxing Day tsunami, to going undercover to report from Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwean regime.


You’ll hear some incredible stories and a fascinating insight into Martin’s profession, but also him as a man, something you’ll rarely get a glimpse of. His story about being adopted and the story that than ensues from that is something ...

Mark as Played
January 22, 2025 53 mins

It’s 2011. Novak Djokovic wins his first Wimbledon title, Rangers make it three league win in a row, while Celtic win another Scottish Cup in the rain against Motherwell. Osama bin Laden is killed, Adele tops the charts, and there’s earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan. 


The News of the World closes its doors for good, England burns after riots break out across the nation and the Iraq War finally comes to an end. 


But ...

Mark as Played

Here’s an introduction to Hayley, if you’re not familiar with her, as she has quite the profile.


• Model

• Miss Scotland Finalist

• Niece of Rangers legend Ally McCoist

• Love interest of various Scottish Premier League Footballers

• One time Girlfriend of Leicester City and England footballer Jamie Vardy

• Friend of the rich and famous


Oh, and one more detail. She never existed.


I’m joined by Gabrielle Livingstone as we dig in...

Mark as Played
December 19, 2024 66 mins

Ahead of a soon-to-be-released conversation with Tosh around the Lily Phillips / Bonnie Blue saga and its severe implications, here is a previously released episode to provide some insight into the world of adult-work and Only Fans.


Former ‘Babe-Show presenter / Only Fans creator Tosh worked on Adult TV shows while running other successful businesses in Scotland, alongside other content creation, online. 


We talk about h...

Mark as Played

Live panel discussion with guests Darren McGarvey, Anne Hughes and Zander Murray. The topic is masculinity and how it's perceived, misunderstood, maligned and misappropriated in the modern age.


We take a look at the term 'toxic masculinity' and what we think its true definition is, how young men are drawn in by people with negative intentions and how to counteract them.


And as always, there's plenty more.


Anne's Book


Co...

Mark as Played

Erica Roberts is a reality TV character and prominent social-media figure, and while she is very definitively both of those things, there's far more than meets the eye. She's funny, intelligent, philosophical, thoughtful and articulate - which you'll hear throughout.


Erica talks to me about a turbulent childhood, heading off to boarding school and then moving to London at a young age. You'll hear how much of that move south was ...

Mark as Played

See How Trust Deed Scotland Can Help You


This is an inspiring, no-holds-barred conversation about what it means to take control, seek help, and redirect your future. And it has a good few laughs throughout.


I'm joined by Senior Debt Expert Tommy Gallacher and Becky, a former client of Trust Deed Scotland. What you'll hear is a raw, honest and even funny story, that will be familiar to many.


Becky talks us through how she f...

Mark as Played

Scottish radio presenter Katy Johnston talks about going to school in Aberdeen before arriving in Glasgow for university...


We discuss her start in radio at Capital Scotland, before landing the presitgious Drivetime slot...


And we chat about big names, unpleasant celebrities and funny encounters.


Plus: In-depth chat about endometriosis, the signs and solid advice.


And as always, there's plenty more.



Endometriosis...

Mark as Played
October 29, 2024 70 mins

American Tik Tok star 'Kalani Ghost Hunter' talks to me about leaving his job in American politics to become a full-time content creator.


We share our thoughts on how time is worth more than money, when trying a Sunday Roast for the first time led to internet-stardom, Kalani's interest in Scottish history, and his genuine appreciation for Scottish & British 'cuisine'.


Plus: Ghostly encounters while chasing spirits, life i...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    True Crime Tonight

    If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.