Blethered

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 basis - we REALLY discuss it, and I express some uncomfortable truths about my personal involuntary reactions to it…Dr Aisan and I have a bit of back and forth about the veracity and sincerity of the predominant discussions on the nation’s collective mental-state. Are they performative and without any discernible positive outcome, or should we just be satisfied with hashtags and fluffy social media posts?We’re in an undeniable mental health crisis, that worsens year on year. Is that just a random occurrence that’s exacerbated by Instagram and seeing everyone else having a good time? Or is it a direct consequence of communities being deliberately under-funded, wages NOT rising in relative teams for 18 years, despite prices spiralling out of control to the immense profit of opportunistic and callous companies, little sign of hope for hard-working, honest people and a constantly impending sense of doom? We already know the answer to that one...And I listen intently as Dr Aisan talks to me about therapy and what it does for us.And as always, there’s plenty more. https://www.instagram.com/aysan_ghaemian/Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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, turning her world upside down and forcing her to stand face to face with her own mortality, and that feeling of liberation when she realised that we’re really not here forever…And we discuss our love for the Beatson Cancer Centre and Ardgowan Hospice - places close to both of our hearts.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 2024Stalking HelplineContact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comInstagram: @seantmcdonaldTwitter: @seanmcdonald01 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.