Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

Matt Forde is an eternal optimist. From growing up on a council estate to a single mother on benefits, to playing sold out nights at the London Palladium, he's a comedian and broadcaster with a very different story to most.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien takes a tour of Matt's formative years from the industrial city of Nottingham in the 1980s, his time working for the Labour party in Stoke-on-Trent to moving to the countries capital to begin his journey in stand-up Comedy. At the age of 9 he fell in love with politics and became obsessed with equality and justice, which led him on the journey of joining the SWP before finding his policial home in Labour. After finding his funny bones he took his time in politics to the stage and started performing in comedy clubs up and down the country, mixing political activism and jokes.Funny, moving and honest, Matt has lived a varied life that was tested massively in 2023 when he was diagnosed with cancer and told he would never walk again. In the open conversation, he shares how hard the last 18-months have really been.You can see Matt on tour or buy tickets to his Party Political Podcast here

Zoe Lyons is a comedian that has graced our screens for over two decades, being a regular panelist on Mock the Week as well as numerous appearances on Have I Got News For You and Live at the Apollo. She grew up in rural Ireland, with a peripatetic childhood that would see her move to England, America and Scotland all by the time she reached 10-years-old. In this episode, James O'Brien takes a tour through Zoe's adolescence and hatred of school & school bullies, her parents divorce and her love of the Peter Sellers & Dick Emery. The pair navigate Zoe's slow-burn career and delve deep into why it takes her three years achieve her goals and what the future looks like for her too. You can see Zoe Lyons tour dates here

Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, a British physician and wellness advocate, shares insights on his journey from traditional medicine to holistic health approaches. He discusses the influence of his upbringing on his career and how cultural expectations shape our views on wellbeing. The conversation dives into transformative practices for managing chronic pain and the significance of understanding emotional stress in breaking harmful habits. Chatterjee also emphasizes the value of blending ancient medical philosophies with modern science for a more rounded perspective on health.

Full Disclosure is taking a short break over Christmas but don't worry, we'll be back at the end of January with a line up of exceptional guests.If you can't wait until then, why not catch up on some of the episodes you might have missed. It's been a vintage year with incredible guests including Rob Brydon, Sir David Jason, Sally Lindsay and lots more.Every episode of Full Disclosure is available on Global Player. Download it from the App Store or go to globalplayer.com.See you soon.

As we take short break for Christmas – here's a selection of some of our favourite conversations from 2024.Full Disclosure will be back in the new year with more brilliant guests. In the meantime, why not listen back to your favourite episodes or catch up on the ones you might have missed. You can find them all on Global Player or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks, as always, for listening.

Rob Brydon has done pretty much everything you can. From radio DJ & Voice over artists, hosting one of the UKs most loved panel shows to being the star of Gavin & Stacey and acting alongside Margot Robbie in smash-hit Barbie. Rob is a comic that has never lacked ambition, but his success came later in life, during one of his darkest personal moments. In this episode, James O'Brien goes back in time to Rob's school days, charting his self-taping and repeated rejection from acting agents and discovering how he teamed up with Steve Coogan to finally land his big break.

Shaun Keaveny is one of the UKs most beloved broadcasters, having spent 11 years presenting one of the countries biggest music breakfast radio shows. His journey began upon leaving college, where he knew he wanted to work in a creative industry with a passion for writing skits, listening to the radio and playing music. Shaun soon got his first break at XFM London, presenting overnights to a miniscule audience where he could flex his creative flair before moving with the times and fronting a digital only breakfast show at the newly formed 6 Music.In this episode James sits down to explore Shaun's childhood and the close bond he has with his family, his late diagnosis of ADD, how Terry Wogan took him under his wing and how leaving the BBC had a heavy impact on him.You can listen to Shaun's excellent Community Garden Radio show and become a fully fledged member here

Alex James is the bass player in one of Britain's biggest bands, Blur. With millions of record sales and 2 sold-out nights at Wembley in 2023, he sits down with James O'Brien to discuss his early childhood, the emergence of Blur, cheese making and his brilliant new book 'Over the Rainbow'.With a self-confessed short attention span, Alex failed his A-Levels and was worrying what was next to for him. All that changed when he met his soon to be bandmates. From touring America to going on a health kick after lockdown, in this episode we find out what Alex's gateway to music was? How he kept the secret of Blur's comeback from his own kids? And what's in store for him in the future. 'Over the Rainbow' is out now.

Baroness Lola Young, a pioneering Member of the House of Lords and author of 'Eight Weeks: Looking Back, Moving Forwards, Defying the Odds', shares her inspiring journey from foster care to a life of purpose. She discusses the emotional challenges of navigating her identity amid complex family dynamics and trauma. Lola reflects on her school experiences, the impact of race, and the struggle for acceptance. Now a mentor and advocate, she emphasizes the importance of empathy and the quest for societal change through her work in the arts and politics.

Dan Snow makes history exciting. Whether it’s through his award-winning documentaries, bestselling books, or popular podcast History Hit, he has a gift for bringing the past to life and showing us why it still matters today.Coming from a family of celebrated journalists—his father is broadcaster Peter Snow and his mother is Canadian journalist Ann MacMillan - Dan was immersed in storytelling from an early age. But what sets him apart isn’t just his passion for history, it’s his ability to look ahead. Spotting how storytelling and broadcasting were changing, he launched History Hit, a streaming platform that’s redefined how we engage with history. In this episode, Dan talks about growing up in a journalist household, his dad’s attempt to steer him away from broadcasting and why he decided to break away from traditional media. Dan’s new book The Story of England: The Making of a Nation is out now.