Blethered
Society & Culture
About
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
- Live in Conversation With Zack Polanski
This episode features a live on-stage conversation with Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, alongside Holly Bruce MSP and comedian Amanda Dwyer.
- "We're Open To A Coalition With The SNP" // with Scottish Greens Co-Leader Gillian Mackay
Gillian Mackay, Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens, sat down to discuss a new era in Scottish politics.
- California Schemin’: Billy Boyd on the Story, the Myths, and What Really Happened
Billy Boyd, one half of the duo Silibil n Brains, clarifies the true events behind their infamous music industry bluff, presenting his version of the story.
- Rehabilitation or Repetition? // Inside Barlinnie: With Former Prison Guard Frank
In this episode, former Barlinnie prison officer Frank and the host explore the intersection of justice and humanity, discussing life inside the prison, the challenges of contraband, and the cycle of reoffending. They examine social factor…
- When The Modern World Gets Too Much, What’s The Answer? // with Angela Landers
Angela Landers, a transcendental meditation teacher, explains the practice and its impact on the mind and body. The episode delves into why people are seeking inner peace amidst a constantly demanding modern world, examining the connection…
- Six Marathons in Six Days Across the Sahara // with Derek McEwan
Derek McEwan details his preparation for the Marathon des Sables, a six-day, 250km Sahara ultra-marathon. He is raising funds for the Catherine McEwan Foundation, established in memory of his mother, to aid individuals with IBD. McEwan des…
- 90s Boyband Fame, Football TV & A Near-Death Experience // with Ally Begg
Ally Begg’s life has taken some extraordinary turns. From growing up in Aberdeen dreaming of playing for Aberdeen FC, to becoming a member of 90s boyband Bad Boys Inc , his journey then moved into the world of football broadcasting. From M…
- Inside the World of a £500 Million Investment Firm // with Edward Kelly & Stephen Wright
In this episode I’m joined by Stephen Wright and Edward Kelly , partners at KPW Investments , a Glasgow-based firm managing over £500 million in assets on behalf of clients. I’ve always been interested in impressive and inspiring people, a…
- "They Told Me I’d Never Walk Again. I Did." // with Tylan Williams
Brought to you by Sports Therapy Scotland Born in South Africa and living in Dubai, sports fanatic Tylan left behind a life on the corporate ladder and co-founded Dead Man’s Clique - a brand centred around adrenaline-based activities, comb…
- 'Life in Barcelona, Starting A Podcast & Where It Took Me' // with Sean McDonald
Michael McEwan is a journalist and broadcaster from Glasgow, with a unique perspective on the world. A former Blethered guest, Michael has cerebral palsy, but has never defined himself by that. After some chats back and forth, Michael expr…
- 'And I Would Walk Three Thousand Miles' // with Craig Ferguson
Craig first gained attention by walking from Hampden to Munich for Scotland’s Euros campaign. He’s now taking on a far bigger challenge, a 3,000-mile walk across the US, raising funds for SAMH ahead of the World Cup. We talk about how the…
- The Trial & Conviction of Serial Killer Lucy Letby
Published ahead of the Netflix documentary on the Lucy Letby case, available to stream from February 4th. I'm joined by lawyer and registered midwife Jaimie McGready to discuss the trial and conviction of serial killer Lucy Letby. Letby wa…
- "For Years, Everyone Was Laughing, Except Me" // with Comedian Billy Porter
Billy Porter's name is synonymous with Glasgow in the 1980s and 90s, where he was a hugely popular comedian in the pubs, clubs and venues of Glasgow and the west of Scotland. Known for his quick thinking, sharp wit and on-the-edge humour,…
- "Reject the False Gods of the Far Right" | Class, Anger and Modern Scotland with Roz Foyer
Roz Foyer is the General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and one of the most influential voices in the Scottish labour movement. With decades of experience representing workers across public and private sectors, she is a le…
- The Greatest Hip-Hop Hoax of All Time // with Gavin Bain
This is the story of two Scottish rappers who pretended to be American, signed to the biggest record label on earth, made a fortune, toured with Eminem and D12, appeared on MTV, recorded multiple albums, before eventually being rumbled.&nb…
- Spanish Language Exchange at Ziques in Glasgow
Spanish language exchange at Ziques in Hyndland, Glasgow 6th January 2026 5-7pm & 7-9pm Unlimited pintxos! Enjoy a relaxed setting with native speakers and learners of all levels Open to all TICKETS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f…
- Ross Greer on Why Improving People’s Lives Must Come Before Climate Policy
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 –…
- What’s Pulling Men & Boys Into the Internet’s Dark Corners – And Into Andrew Tate’s Orbit?
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…
- Don't Gamble With Your Life // with Gambling Campaigner Colin Brown
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 ar…
- Laughing In The Dark // with Dr Benji Waterhouse: Live in Glasgow
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 menta…
- Irvine Welsh & John Niven: Live in Glasgow
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, th…
- Two Men Talking About Miscarriage (Plus Radio Voices, Tourette’s, and Wind-Ups) // with Heart FM Presenter Jonny Campbell
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, Toure…
- Part 2: From al-Qaeda to MI6 — Aimen Dean LIVE
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 Septembe…
- Harsh Reality: Let's Talk About Alcohol // with Liam Conlan
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 p…
- 'My Time With al-Qaeda, MI6 & Osama bin Laden' // Former MI6 Spy Aimen Dean (LIVE) - Part 1
Part 1 of Blethered Live at SWG3 in Glasgow, with former MI6 Spy Aimen Dean. Aimen talks about his early life in Saudi Arabia and how religious clerics shaped his young mindset... His decision to go and fight in Bosnia at 16 years old, in…
- Why Are There Flags Hanging From Lampposts? // with Aarti Joshi
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…
- Burnout: Your Body Keeps The Score // with Dr Aisan Ghaemian
We all know someone who brags about never stopping, but what looks like productivity is often burnout – and it quietly erodes health, relationships, and enjoyment of life. Dr Aisan joins me to explain what burnout really is, how to recogni…
- Cheap Weight Loss Injections, Deadly Consequences: The Fatal Risk of the Black Market // with Sehar Shahid
In this follow up episode, I chat with expert pharmacist Sehar Shahid about the recent UK price increase of weight-loss drug Mounjaro, the consequences of turning to the black market, and how she aims to help people in the way that's best…
- Carol Looks Like Ken Dodd // with Comedian Lee Peart
Lee’s star in the world of comedy is rapidly rising and has been for quite a while. If you haven’t seen him on stage, then you’re very likely to have seen one of his many viral videos, online. To quote the man himself: Only Slags Use Plast…
- Belfast, Bombs & A Better Future // with Paddy 'The Dagger' McDonnell
Paddy’s sold out the SSE Arena in Belfast multiple times, and he’s back again in October to the same level of demand. The SSE’s about the same capacity as the Hydro in Glasgow – so that’s a good gauge of where he’s at. He’s got that acerbi…
- Football’s Dark Side: From Chelsea’s Youth System to Edinburgh’s Stage // Alfie Cain's Story
Alfie’s Edinburgh Fringe Show ‘Dropped’ intimately tells his very personal tale of being picked up by Chelsea Football Club’s prestigious academy, before being unceremoniously discarded after a routine medical uncovered a congenital heart…
- Skinny by Injection: Miracle Cure or Dangerous Shortcut? // with Pharmacist Sehar Shahid
Expert pharmacist Sehar Shahid talks to me about weight-loss injections. Their existence and use generates headlines nationwide, but how many of those are accurate, and how many are misrepresented in the name of generating ad-revenue, via…
- From Labour to Reform // Councillor Jamie McGuire
This conversation is with Jamie McGuire, a councillor for Renfrew North and Braehead, who made headlines recently after leaving the Labour Party and joining Reform UK—becoming the first Labour councillor in Scotland to do so. At just 24, J…
- Surviving Abuse and Working As An Undercover Police Officer // with Nicola Campbell
Nicola used to be a police detective. Now she’s one of Scotland’s most sought after wedding photographers. It’s not the kind of career change you hear every day — but once you know what she’s lived through, and what drove her decisions, it…
- The Scars We Can't See: Child Abuse, Burying Trauma & How Therapy Helps // with Psychotherapist Satinder Panesar
Satinder is an integrative psychotherapist, clinical supervisor and author who specialises in working with trauma, particularly in the aftermath of child sexual abuse. In this conversation, we discuss the long and debilitating shadow that…
- Bringing TV Back To Where It Started // with Claire Duffy
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…
- Similar Worlds, Through A Different Lens // with Dr Kevin Guyan
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…
- Radicalisation, Sextortion & Domestic Violence // Part 2 with John Swinney
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 me…
- First Minister John Swinney // Part 1
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 S…
- Islam, Spirituality & Fighting For Money // with MMA Fighter Brian Hyslop
*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…
- Less Hashtags, More Action, Please // with Psychologist Dr Aisan Ghaemian
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…
- No One Lives Forever, So You Might As Well Live Today // with Singer Róisín McCarney
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 hope…
- Scottish Woman Jailed After Elaborate Catfishing & Stalking Campaign For The THIRD Time
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 stalkin…
- 'Disability Doesn't Define Me' // With Journalist Michael McEwan
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…
- Should The UK Government Ban All Vapes? with Greig Fowler
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 p…
- Being Adopted, Working in Warzones & Going Undercover in Zimbabwe // BBC Broadcaster Martin Geissler
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 fa…
- The Catfish WAG - Part 2: Hayley McKay
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 earthq…
- The Story of Hayley McKay - Part 1: The Original Catfish
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 t…
- Adult Entertainer 'Tosh'
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…
- Live at Kelvin Hall: Discussing Masculinity In 2024
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…