Blethered

*****ORIGINALLY RELEASED AUGUST 2019***** Capital FM Producer James tells me about his life and how gambling addiction took a severe grip on him. He explains the stresses and pressures in detail, and how the disease impacted and infected every inch of his life. We talk about the spiralling problem, the debt issues incurred as a result, and how suicide became the most viable option in his eyes. As with every episode of Blethered, we reach the light at the end of the tunnel. With the help of Gamblers Anonymous, James fought back and took control and has turned things around. This is an honest, raw, dark and inspiring account of the affliction - and we even laughed the whole way through the conversation - even when it got really dark. James doesn't hold back and this can stand as an example to anyone else suffering in a similar situation. Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01 [https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01] Money Advice Groups https://www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/ [https://www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/] https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en [https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en] Gamblers Anonymous https://gascotland.org/ [https://gascotland.org/] https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/ [https://www.gamblersanonymous.org.uk/] Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/?nation=scotland [https://www.samaritans.org/?nation=scotland] https://www.samaritans.org [https://www.samaritans.org/]   See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for privacy and opt-out information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Donna was at work in Glasgow one summer’s day in 2014, when she decided to look at her ‘Message Requests’ folder on Facebook. What happened next sent her in to a wee bit of a spiral. She had a long, long list of messages from a man in Bulgaria, explaining that he had been deceived into sending cash and expensive gifts to a Bulgarian woman, who had been using Donna’s photos. Heartbroken and distraught, his romantic dreams had collapsed when he realised he had been Catfished. This was a lot for Donna to take in, and she was understandably shocked to her core. Especially when she saw photos of herself on a mug, in this Bulgarian stranger’s home. In this episode, Donna tells me this story in detail, including the shock of finding out this information… We call the Bulgarian guy LIVE on mic…  And we reflect on the human impact, and the fact that behind every screen, is a person. There’s catharsis, life-lessons, reflections on personal responsibility, and a lot of laughs. Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seantmcdonald [https://www.instagram.com/seantmcdonald/] Twitter: @seanmcdonald01 [https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

James - by his own definition - is a journeyman. He’s been a DJ, a TV producer, a TV presenter, a footballer in the Philippines, a double glazing salesman and now - one of Scotlands best stand up comedians. Born in Glasgow to an Indian mother and Glaswegian father, he had a unique and distinct perspective on life from the very outset. You’ll hear about his upbringing, his younger sister Lauren and older brother Alexander. Alexander has complex additional needs and requires 24 hour care - something James unravelled in great detail in one of his previous stand up shows. You’ll hear James talk about comedy and what makes things funny, regardless of how dark the subject matter is… We talk about his genuinely fascinating career path and how it’s led him to where he is today, with a good few funny stories for good measure… And James talks me through what he describes as a breakdown, and the clarity of vision and purpose that followed as a result. Edinburgh Fringe Show Tickets [https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/james-gardner-journeyman] Health Booster Salt Caves [https://www.instagram.com/healthboosterltd/] Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seantmcdonald [https://www.instagram.com/seantmcdonald/] Twitter: @seanmcdonald01 [https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Kim is hilarious, intelligent and thoughtful, and I really like her. I think you will too, which is why her debut Edinburgh Fringe show ‘Might as Well’ is well worth going to see. She’s likeable, observant, and funny. Which you’ll hear throughout this chat. We talk about how the UK began to suspect that Reform were fielding Catfish candidates, people that didn’t even exist… Kim tells me about how she decided to just go for it in comedy, after amassing a huge online following… And we chat orange walks, private schools and how difficult it can be to be in creative industries when you don’t have some for of wealthy benefactor. Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seantmcdonald [https://www.instagram.com/seantmcdonald/] Twitter: @seanmcdonald01 [https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01] Tickets to The Fringe show [https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/kim-blythe-might-as-well] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Living standards are through the floor, while living costs are through the roof. 14 years of a Conservative government have culminated in record numbers of people living in poverty - and a now gargantuan disparity between those who are rich and those who aren’t. However, no one is immune from debt, and certainly not from the shame, embarrassment, stigma and difficulty that accompanies it.  Joining me on Blethered at the Ballot to talk through those issues is senior debt adviser Tommy Gallacher, a name many returning listeners will be well acquainted with. Tommy has featured on Blethered five times, offering his expert insight and human approach to one of society’s biggest killers: financial debt.  You can go back and listen to our previous conversations where we dismantle the notion that debt is anything to be embarrassed about, while Tommy offers advice and solutions on government-backed and protected initiatives that can help you gain control of any spiralling financial issues.  In this conversation, we continue the discussion and Dismantling of the shame and embarrassment attached to debt… We talk about the stark reality that suicides will be linked to financial pressure, and that everything in life can be fixed, while expanding on the Government-protected schemes that exist to help you… And we hear a bit about what Tommy would like to see from an incoming government order to help people feeling the strain   If you take only one thing away from this episode, I hope that it’s these four words: Everything Can Be Fixed. It does not matter what it is. So talk to someone, and let’s fix it.  While Tommy is a trusted expert who offers terrific advice and invaluable professional help, this episode is not an advertisement for the company Tommy works for, or any other company. As stated in the conversation, there are many different options out there for you, including free advice from impartial charity stepchange.org [https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/debt-advice-scotland.aspx?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwjqWzBhAqEiwAQmtgT6sa-4LS0eyD6xm-TuDPv3wwrfG8Lnqhs68V7ZkXZB42wB6dJ-LFnhoCS34QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds] and mygov.scot/support [https://www.mygov.scot/support-money-debt]. Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com Instagram: @seantmcdonald [https://www.instagram.com/seantmcdonald/] Twitter: @seanmcdonald01 [https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.