The Big Story

By Midlands 103

Real People. Real Stories.

There are stories that rarely get told — but need to be. Each episode features a candid interview with individuals navigating serious challenges — from health crises to pers... more

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FAQs about The Big Story:

How many episodes does The Big Story have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.

The Big Story episodes:

January 27, 2026 People In The West Bank Still Have Hope
A midlands woman, who spent two months volunteering in the West Bank, says there's still hope among Palestinians despite the war.
Mieke Scholte is originally from the Netherlands but has been living in Tullamore for nearly four decades.
She decided to volunteer at the Tent of Nations project on Daher's Vineyard, owned by the Nassar family since 1916.
The farm is surrounded by all sides by illegal Israeli settlements.
Ms Scholte has been speaking with Will Faulkner and says they've endured many attacks over the years:
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17min
January 26, 2026 Would You Like To Own Mel Gibson's Bed?
How would you like to hop into Mel Gibson's bed?
The four poster bed where the Braveheart star slept during the filming of the movie in Trim in 1994 is going up for auction tomorrow.
There are also 500 other items from the house going under the hammer.
Mr Gibson returned last year to mark the film’s anniversary, meeting fans and revisiting the house he stayed in.
Auctioneer and Oldcastle's Niall Mullen has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Today and says the pieces are going up for sale as the home owner is downsizing:
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6min
January 23, 2026 Midlands Songwriter Aiming To Have Second Song In The Eurovision
A Westmeath songwriter is hoping her song will make it to the Eurovision for a second year in a row.
Larissa Tormey, who wrote ‘Laika Party’ for Ireland last year, has co written ‘Uninterrupted’, which will hopefully be Croatia's entry this year.
She has been speaking with Midlands 103's Claire O Brien on Encore and has music has always been part of her life.
...more
16min
January 22, 2026 Divorce Mediator Sees Surge In Couples Splitting Up After Christmas
It's 30 years since the Divorce Act (1996) came into effect in Ireland.
Michelle Browne, Divorce Mediator and family mediation specialist deals with hundreds of individuals and couples every year, and she is currently seeing a significant surge in couples splitting after Christmas, a trend she can speak about with real-life examples.
She has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands 103 and says the divorce process can be very difficult.
...more
10min
January 22, 2026 Young Designer Of The Year Plans To Make Her Own Communion Dress
An eight-year-old Offaly girl is planning to make her own Communion dress after being crowned Young Designer of the Year at the Project Fashion Irish Young Designer Awards.
Mucklagh’s Lillian Cully, created a self-made 'Neon Jungle' themed dress for the competition and modelled it herself on the day.
There was over 400 entries nationwide and the winning design will be displayed at Pavilions Shopping Centre, Dundrum Town Centre and on the Project Fashion website.
Lillian, along with her mum and dad Mandy and Bernard, have been speaking with David Hollywood on Midlands 103 and says the design process took a few months:

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10min
January 21, 2026 Is It Ever OK To Put A Kiss On A Work Email?
Is it ever ok for colleagues and clients to sign off emails with kisses?
Can you use emojis in your professional correspondence?
Jasmine Elkhershi, Marketing Manager, AllPro Recruitment has been speaking with David Hollywood on Midlands Today about the do's and don'ts when it comes to communicating electronically.
...more
10min
January 21, 2026 "We Watched Our Daughter Die In Front Of Us"
A midlands hospital has issued "sincere and unreserved apology" to the family of a young woman who died following failures in care given to her.
Bryonny Sainsbury was admitted to the Regional Hospital Mullingar after she was crushed by a horse in August 2021.
A 2024 inquest found that she could have been saved if she was transferred to Beaumont Hospital sooner.
Her parents Alison and Chris Sainsbury and the family's solicitor Karen Clabby have been speaking with Will Faulkner on the Midlands Today Show.
...more
20min
January 20, 2026 Over 30m People Vote Yes To Elon Musk's Online Poll About Buying Ryanair
Over 30 million people have voted 'yes' in a poll launched by Elon Musk asking if he should buy Ryanair.
The tech billionaire is involved in a public spat with Michael O'Leary, who last week called him a 'wealthy idiot'.
He also ruled out offering Starlink wifi on Ryanair planes, as it would lead to bigger fuel costs and higher fares for passengers.
Peter Campbell, Global Transport Correspondent, with the Financial Times has been speaking with David Hollywood on Midlands Today and says Mr. Musk has form as he previously joked about buying Twitter in 2022:
...more
7min
January 19, 2026 People Are Looking For A Normal Life In Iran
Iran's President has taken to social media to warn any aggression against the country's supreme leader would be tantamount to "all-out war".

Masoud Pezeshkian's comment comes as an Iranian official claims at least five thousand people were killed in recent nationwide protests - including 500 security personnel.

Initial economic grievances quickly turned political.
Halo Ahmadi O'Sullivan, who is from Iran and working in Athlone, has been speaking with Will Faulkner and says people there don't even basic human rights.
...more
16min
January 19, 2026 How To Survive Blue Monday
It's 'Blue Monday' today - a day which is often described as the most challenging day of the year.
It's the third Monday in January - with the restart of normal routines after the holidays, resolutions beginning to slip, waiting for longer days to return, and paying the bills from Christmas and the sales.
Shirley McKay, Inner Therapy, Portlaoise and Naas has been speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands Today and says moving, eating and sleeping can help boost your mood:
...more
7min

FAQs about The Big Story:

How many episodes does The Big Story have?

The podcast currently has 51 episodes available.