Blethered

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 online clicks?

Well we’re cutting through the conjecture, the marketing, and the media noise to get to the facts — the good, the bad, and the in-between.

These drugs are being hailed as a miracle by some, dismissed as dangerous by others, and quietly used by a rapidly growing number of people across the UK — including those who don’t technically “need” them.

So what are they? How do they work? Who are they for? And what are the long-term consequences — physically, psychologically, and socially?

This conversation isn’t about judgement or snide condemnation, it’s about understanding what’s happening, why it matters, and what it tells us about modern life, medicine, and body image. I also reflect on my own very personal issues with my own body image, and the discomfort it causes me on a regular basis.

And most importantly, we want to make sure that if you are going to use the drug, that you’re equipped with the necessary information to ensure that you do so as safely as possible.

Watch on YouTube

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https://www.instagram.com/24hrpharmacy.co.uk/

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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, Jamie’s political journey has already seen him involved with Labour, and now Reform—two parties that many would see as ideologically incompatible.

I've taken the time to sit down and understand why, and scrutinise some of the main talking points, centred around Reform's ideology.

Tune in and decide for yourself.

Contact: [email protected] 

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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 all makes perfect sense.

Nicola is a survivor of child sex abuse, and at a young age, decided that she wanted to go after people who cause harm.

And she did exactly that — but over time, the way she was treated in the job pushed her to breaking point. Then, during Covid, things got even tougher.

She walked away and started again. Completely on her own terms.

Nicola’s now thriving, doing work she loves and surrounded by people who value her. But there’s a deeper story that deserves to be told properly.

This is a story of resilience, a refusal to be defined by what happens to you, and complete and victory against the odds.

24 HR Pharmacy

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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 kind of abuse can cast into adulthood, and how the damage often goes unseen or unspoken, for decades.

We also explore the idea of therapy - when it works, when it doesn’t, and the lessons that can be learned across the board. Satinder’s book, When Therapy Goes Wrong, deals with this in detail - and it opens up space for the sort of honest conversations that are badly needed in her field.

We examine how men are less likely to engage in therapy, and the enormous benefits that I’ve personally felt…

And we speak about the different forms that healing can take - whether that’s traditional therapy, or informal methods of healing and processing, such as speaking to those we trust, and leaning in to positive, personal rituals such as meditation or exercise, in times of personal challenge.

And as always, there's loads more.

Contact: [email protected]

Survivors Trust

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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!

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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 it 's relevant in the context of our conversation, because our identities shape how we see the world. 

Kevin and I are the same age, from the same country, working in similar fields - but our life experiences have been vasty different. 

As we talk, we realise we experience a lot of the same dynamics, feelings, and reactions when it comes to identity - they just happen to be about different aspects of it. 

This episode is about coming together, listening closely, and exploring how two guys with similar backgrounds experience life in their own ways, and how that relates to the notion of masculinity and how it’s been predefined.

Pre-Order Dr Kevin's Book: Rainbow Trap

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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 men and the concept of masculinity.

We consider the concept of radicalisation and extreme ideologies masquerading as benevolent influences...

We examine the disparity between the gravity of domestic and sexual crimes, and the sentences handed out in the Scottish judicial system...

And we discuss the rapidly rising crime of ‘sextortion’, something covered in extensive detail on previous episodes of Blethered. An alarming number of cases in Scotland alone have resulted in catastrophic and devastating outcomes, with one being publicly addressed by the First Minister in Parliament last May.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bz0EWOiBANA

Contact: [email protected]

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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 Swinney the man, his formative years and how his family shaped him, and what inspired him to get involved in politics.

This whole topic is about being human, and how easy it is to be influenced by what we see and hear in popular culture, and John is no different in that respect. 

You’ll hear the First Minister tell the story of his uncle, a world war 2 hero killed tragically close to the end of the war…

He explains how defeat in the 1992 General Election served as the catalyst for what would go on to become a lifelong commitment to his vocation…

And we talk about the importance of civility and respect in politics, and how the public are influenced by what they hear in parliament…

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eBDDYzYjVdE

Contact: [email protected]

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*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 will prove to be quite inaccurate.

We discuss the congruity between materialism and spirituality, in pursuit of a happy and fulfilled existence…

We talk about Brian’s devotion to Islam, and about religion in general, in the 21st century…

And we chat travel, learning languages, meditation, gratitude, recognising PTSD, and so much more…

This episode is brought to you by Piranha - creators of custom sports gumshields.

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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: [email protected]

Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01

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