Blethered

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 and awards nominations.He also has cerebral palsy.You’ll get a good idea about Michael as a man, as a professional, how he sees the world, and how the world sometimes sees him. This isn’t a sob story, it’s absolutely anything but.This is a story of someone who’s had his challenges and has faced up to them, and proved the point that disability is a label that we should all see beyond, and that people deserve to be seen beyond. There’s a very fine line between admiring someone and patronising them, but I’m in complete admiration of Michael’s tenacity, ambition and ability. A self taught self-starter who has carved his own space in a very competitive, and often ruthless, industry.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 people away from smoking, with Public Health England saying it’s at least 95% safer than smoking. We look at the proposed law changes and what they hope to achieve…We talk about the dangers of driving an already unregulated, £2.4 billion per year market, into increased black market activity…And you’ll hear the viewpoint of Caitlin Notley, professor of addiction at the University of East Anglia, on whether these measures will see a decrease in the number of smokers in the UK…And from Christopher Snowdon of the Institute for Economic Affairs, on potential ramifications of pushing the market into the hands of nefarious figures.Regulation and restriction of tobacco products are undoubtedly a net positive for society, including but not limited to, the NHS and people’s bank accounts. However, we’re entitled to demand transparency and proper application from our politicians. I hope this conversation goes some way to filling you in on a subject that maybe hasn’t grabbed your attention. It affects us all, whether we realise it or not.Read the Bill, have your say: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/the-tobacco-and-vapes-bill-2024Take part in the survey: https://www.vpz.co.uk/blog Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 that Hollywood scriptwriters would struggle to replicate.Martin’s a first class man and accomplished and respected at what he does, and you’ll very quickly get a sense of that. Once your interest in him has really piqued, you can hear more of him on Scotcast, a new daily news podcast available on TV and wherever you get your podcasts, so make sure you give that a listen. The Lockerbie episode is a great one to get a feel for what is a genuinely good show.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 the explosiveness is only just about to begin.Young men across the city of Glasgow start to receive friend requests from an attractive young woman named Hayley McKay.She says she’s a model and the niece of Rangers legend Ally McCoist. She says she met them in a club, or they’d chatted while drunk, but nobody can recall meeting her. All of a sudden, Hayley is everywhere. In the papers as a Miss Scotland finalist, flirting online with Celtic & Rangers players and even tagged in Jamie Vardy’s Twitter bio as his girlfriend. Before you know it, she’s writing blogs about having life saving surgery, prompting other women to confide in her with their own stories.Eventually her hoax unravels when a woman in Wales discovers that her pictures are being used in a twisted scam. The Scottish Sun run an article on it, only for it to mysteriously disappear.So, was this a harmless fantasist, or a dangerous criminal?Let’s find out.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comInstagram: @seantmcdonaldTwitter: @seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 famousOh, and one more detail. She never existed.I’m joined by Gabrielle Livingstone as we dig into the bizarre and unbelievable existence of the girl that never was. You’ll hear me tell the story of how I crossed paths online with Hayley, what went on in her imaginary world, and how it all began to unravel.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comInstagram: @seantmcdonaldTwitter: @seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 how Tosh ended up in the adult entertainment industry, and some of the misconceptions around the business itself...We reflect on her journey and how she worked to gain complete control and autonomy in a very unpredictable industry...And we chat about therapy, and how it can benefit you even when you maybe don’t realise it’s taking place.And as always, there's plenty more.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 BookContact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comInstagram: @seantmcdonaldTwitter: @seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 fuelled by pursuit of her dreams, and how much of it was fuelled by a need to create distance between herself and the aforementioned turbulence.We soon get to Married at First Sight, the rollercoaster that followed, and the hopes and aspirations for the future.People rarely have the background and life-story that we assume, and this is a prime example of how those suppositions are rarely accurate. So come and join us for a conversation full of laughs, surprises and stories of tormenting teachers just for the fun of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See How Trust Deed Scotland Can Help YouThis 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 fell into serious debt without making any extravagant purchases, and the misery and panic it caused...You'll hear about how she realised she needed help, and the different forms that help came in, from herself, from friends and from professionals...And we end on an uplifting note, as Becky explains how she went from financial instability to complete security, and buying her own home.https://www.trustdeedscotland.net/adtermshttps://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/dealing-with-debtThis Podcast is a paid for advert from Trust Deed Scotland, a trading name of Harper McDermott Limited. Any of the debt solutions that are spoken about today may not be suitable in all circumstances. Fees apply and your credit rating may be affected. More information on this can be found on Trust Deed Scotland’s homepage or by visiting www.TrustDeedScotland.net/adterms.Free debt counselling, debt adjusting and providing of credit information services is available to customers by contacting www.MoneyHelper.org.uk.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comInstagram: @seantmcdonaldTwitter: @seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Letter TemplateContact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comInstagram: @seantmcdonaldTwitter: @seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.