Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett
Society & Culture
About
Experiences that have reshaped lives. Bold questions, unexpected truths, lots of tea... Emma Barnett invites you into her world for deeply human conversations.
Episodes
- Sobriety, Shame and Singledom with John Robins
In this episode of Ready to Talk, comedian John Robins shares his experiences with sobriety, his decision to quit drinking, and his preference for being alone. He talks about his book, which details his relationship with alcohol.
- News: Why is Middle Class Britain on the rob?
This episode of Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett discusses middle-class Britain and shoplifting, examining perspectives on corporate profits and crime. It also features a segment on Britney Spears and the #FreeBritney movement.
- Coming soon: Ready to Talk News
A new spin-off series, Ready to Talk News, hosted by Emma Barnett, will be released on Thursdays over the next three weeks. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe so they do not miss an episode.
- Prescription Drugs Made Me a Shopping Addict with Sally Gardner
Sally Gardner, an award-winning author, reveals how 20 years of taking dopamine agonists for Restless Legs Syndrome led to a £700k shopping addiction, a side effect she only recently discovered through a BBC investigation.
- I Was My Hero Husband’s Carer with Lindsey Burrow
Lindsey Burrow shares her experience caring for her husband, Rob Burrow, after his motor neurone disease diagnosis. She details her life as a carer, physiotherapist, and mother of three, drawing from her book 'Take Care'.
- I Don’t Speak to My Family with Shaheen Hashmat
Shaheen Hashmat discusses her decision to become estranged from her family at age 12, initially due to fears of a forced marriage. She details the profound impact of cutting contact, leading her to question her identity and trust, and her…
- Life, Love and Sex in an Open Marriage with Deepa Paul
Deepa Paul discusses her transition from a life expected to be monogamous in the Philippines to exploring an open marriage after exposure to different lifestyles in the Netherlands. She and her husband navigated challenges like jealousy to…
- Escaping the Manosphere with Will Adolphy
Will Adolphy discusses his personal experience with the manosphere, detailing his isolation, depression, and eventual recovery. He now works as a psychotherapist, running workshops to help men and boys understand and avoid the negative imp…
- AI Stripped My Clothes Off with Jess Davies
Jess Davies shares her journey from glamour modelling to campaigning against online image abuse after an AI-generated image of her was posted online. She recounts her first experience with image abuse at 15 and her current work as a writer…
- From Prison to Playwriting with Ric Renton
Ric Renton describes how reading a dictionary in prison helped launch his writing and acting career, leading to roles in plays and the BBC drama 'Waiting For The Out'. He shares his experiences with the criminal justice system on 'Ready to…
- My Husband Died Alone at Dignitas with Lottie Clarke
Lottie Clarke shares her husband James's experience with motor neurone disease and his decision to die at Dignitas in Switzerland, as assisted dying is illegal in the UK. She advocates for a law change so other couples don't face separatio…
- Fatphobia and Weight Loss Jabs with Billie Bhatia
Fashion writer Billie Bhatia shares her experiences with fatphobia and the cultural impact of weight loss jabs on "Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett." The episode also touches on dating, the fashion industry, body positivity, and a UCL study…
- Art, Pain, Womanhood with Tracey Emin
Tracey Emin shares her experiences with love, feminism, and creating art after undergoing significant surgery for bladder cancer. The discussion occurs ahead of her largest exhibition, as featured on the podcast Ready to Talk with Emma Bar…
- My Breast Cancer Surgeon Mutilated Me with Deborah Douglas
Deborah Douglas recounts her ordeal of undergoing unnecessary mastectomy, reconstructive surgery, and chemotherapy at the hands of disgraced surgeon Ian Paterson. She has since campaigned for victims and published her story, 'The Cost of T…
- My Brain Surgery with Maribou State’s Chris Davids
Chris Davids of Maribou State shares his journey with a Chiari malformation, a rare brain condition that caused severe headaches and affected his music creation. He discusses the experimental surgery that led to his recovery and subsequent…
- Postpartum Psychosis with Laura Dockrill
Writer Laura Dockrill discusses her experience with postpartum psychosis, including delusions and a psychotic breakdown following her son's birth. She shares her recovery journey and her memoir about the illness.
- Surviving a Daughter's Death with Jason Watkins
Actor Jason Watkins shares his experience of his two-year-old daughter Maude dying from undiagnosed sepsis in 2011. He discusses his grief, how his family survived, and their subsequent campaign for better understanding of the condition.
- I was Strip Searched by the Police with Dr Koshka Duff
Dr Koshka Duff discusses her arrest and strip search by Metropolitan police in 2013, the police apology and compensation she received, and how the experience influences her work on police abolition.
- I Lost My Voice on Live TV with Polly Evans
Polly Evans, a BBC local news anchor, shares her experience of losing her voice on live TV after a virus and the underlying neurological disorder she discovered. She discusses how coming to terms with this condition has profoundly impacted…
- Life Without Children with Caroline Stafford
Caroline Stafford shares her journey of trying to conceive, undergoing unsuccessful IVF, and ultimately deciding to create a fulfilling life without children. The episode is part of the 'Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett' series.
- I Was Dead for 40 Minutes with Patrick Charnley
Patrick Charnley recounts his experience of clinical death for 40 minutes due to a cardiac arrest, the subsequent brain injury affecting his sight and stamina, and how he embraces his new life despite impairments. He has written a novel, '…
- My Baby Stopped Breathing with Archie Bland
Journalist Archie Bland shares the story of his son Max's near-fatal health crisis at seven weeks old, an event that profoundly changed his family's life and his perspective on disability and existence.
- I Survived a Witch Hunt with Tulisa Contostavlos
In this episode, Tulisa Contostavlos discusses her experience with tabloid scrutiny, legal battles, and the personal challenges she faced after rising to fame in N-Dubz and as an X Factor judge. She shares insights into how she has process…
- Shot in the Manchester Synagogue Attack with Yoni Finlay
Yoni Finlay shares his experience of being shot during an attack at his Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur 2025. He discusses the profound effects of the event on himself, his family, and his community, and pays tribute to the two fataliti…
- My Best Friend Had My Baby with Georgia Barrington and Daisy Hope
Georgia Barrington and Daisy Hope discuss their journey with surrogacy, which saw Daisy carry a baby for her best friend Georgia after Georgia was diagnosed with a rare condition. Host Emma Barnett speaks with the pair about this life-chan…
- Being Unlikeable with Katherine Ryan
Katherine Ryan shares her journey from poverty as a single mother to becoming a successful UK comedian. In a conversation with Emma Barnett, she discusses her public persona, plastic surgery, and past jobs.
- Strictly Changed Me with Chris McCausland
Comedian Chris McCausland discusses his experiences with gradual sight loss and overcoming perfectionism to compete on Strictly Come Dancing, describing it as the scariest thing he has ever done.
- Perimenopause is a Thief with Kate Thornton
Emma Barnett speaks with journalist and presenter Kate Thornton about the experience of perimenopause. They discuss the challenges of finding information and share advice for navigating this life stage.
- Introducing… Ready to Talk with Emma Barnett
Broadcaster Emma Barnett introduces her new series, featuring deep, honest conversations with a variety of guests. Weekly episodes begin on 7 November.