The Shelley Tasker Show

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

On tonight’s show, I was joined by Mr Scott for one of our usual lively rambles before welcoming returning guest Monika Schafer back to the programme. We started with a wonderfully offbeat chat about wasp stings, bees, hornets and all the strange bits of knowledge Mr Scott seems to keep tucked away for just the right moment. From there, we drifted into a deeper conversation about homeopathy, prescription medicine, HRT, menopause, anxiety, and the way our thoughts can shape how we experience life. It was one of those shows that moved naturally from the everyday to the profound, with plenty of honesty, humour and reflection along the way.

In the second half, Monica joined us for a powerful and thought-provoking conversation about her brother Alfred’s prison sentence in Germany, the wider issue of free speech, political dissent, and the consequences people can face for challenging official narratives. Monica also spoke movingly about her own experience, why she has no regrets about speaking out, and how adversity can strengthen conviction rather than break it. We also heard the remarkable story of her father’s life, from surviving one of Eisenhower’s post-war camps to later being vilified in modern Canada despite a lifetime of medical service. It was a passionate, challenging and deeply human discussion about truth, courage, memory and the price some people pay for refusing to stay silent.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this episode, I’m joined by Mr Scott as we wrap up the third and final part of our addiction trilogy with returning guests Alex and David G. Before we dive in, we have a light-hearted catch-up about work, back pain, AI, and one very pressing household dilemma: whether a home should be shoes-off or shoes-on. Then the conversation turns serious as Alex and David share powerful reflections on addiction, recovery, stigma, and the lived reality behind the label of “addict”. We explore how addiction affects people from every background, why trauma and life circumstances can play such a major role, and how public attitudes often fail to match the complexity of what people are actually going through.

We also examine the systems around recovery, from NHS and private rehabilitation to the role of free support networks such as AA and NA. Alex speaks candidly about his own experience of paying for rehab and discovering that the most valuable support often came from community-based meetings already available at no cost. David brings historical and social context, touching on prohibition, the war on drugs, prescribed medication, and the contradictions in how society judges different substances. Together, we ask difficult but important questions about whether people are truly doing the best they can with what they’ve got, what meaningful recovery support should look like, and whether more effective treatments are being overlooked.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this anniversary edition of the Shelley Tasker Show, Mr Scott and I reflected on four years of broadcasting together before wandering through a lively mix of stories from the week, from council spending and restoration funding to technology, camping comforts, care work, and the strange ways modern life seems to pull us further from the natural pace we probably need. We also shared some lighter moments about performing for tough crowds, old photographs and wartime memories, film sensitivities, and the way fear, media and convenience shape so much of everyday life.

Later, we were joined by David Exo for a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation on addiction, recovery and social change, picking up from our recent discussion with Alex. We explored the differences between private rehabilitation and free support groups such as AA and NA, the challenges of physical dependency, and the bigger questions around why addiction takes hold in the first place. The discussion ranged from the NHS approach to treatment and detox, to the pressures of modern society, the legacy of rave culture, and how despair, conformity and disconnection can leave people searching for escape. It was a candid, compassionate and at times challenging conversation about pain, control, recovery and what it means to heal in a world that often feels upside down.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this lively episode of The Shelley Tasker Show, Mal and I catch up on the week before diving into a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation with returning guest Dave Lanyon. We chat about everything from Gen Z still living at home and the pressures of modern life, to local community events, family life, and the small joys and frustrations of everyday living. As ever, there’s plenty of humour along the way, but also a real sense of wanting to make sense of the world around us.

The heart of the episode is our frank discussion with Dave, who shares his anger and frustration at the way ordinary people are treated by political systems, the media, and those in power. Together, we explore public apathy, fear-based messaging, social division, immigration, war, taxation, banking, education, and the steady erosion of community life. It’s an honest, passionate exchange about why so many people feel powerless, why asking questions matters, and what it means to stand up for what you believe in, even when it puts you at odds with the crowd.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

On this week’s show, Mr Scott and I began with a lively catch-up on the week, from community projects in Camborne and the joy of telling local people’s stories, to reflections on history, technology and the changing world around us. We talked about the powerful impact ordinary people can have, especially after I visited a church-led food project feeding local children and families, and we also touched on everything from D-Day weather forecasting to concerns around facial recognition, self-service culture and the steady loss of human interaction in everyday life.

The heart of the episode was a deeply honest conversation with returning guest Alex about the nature of addiction. Alex shared his personal journey through cannabis and alcohol dependency, his rock-bottom moment, rehab, and the life-changing support he found through 12-step recovery meetings. Together we explored addiction not simply as substance misuse, but as a wider human struggle around control, pain, validation, habit and coping. We discussed sponsorship, gratitude practices, spirituality, self-awareness, boredom, relapse, and the idea that many of us may sit somewhere on the spectrum of addictive behaviour. It was a thoughtful, compassionate and eye-opening discussion about recovery, resilience and what it really means to be supported by other people.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this episode, Scott and I began with a lively catch-up that somehow took in tree pollarding, social media-fuelled politics and the latest protests around small boats, face coverings and the steady creep of facial recognition. We reflected on how quickly public debate is being pushed into ever more polarised camps, touching on immigration, the media narrative, protest movements in Britain and Germany, and the broader concern that division is being used to justify more surveillance and control. We also marked a personal milestone as I looked back on six years of broadcasting.

The heart of the show was a fascinating conversation with political commentator and broadcaster Heiko Khoo about Palantir: what it is, where it came from, and why ordinary people should care. Heiko unpacked the company’s deep ties to intelligence, data integration, AI and state power, and we explored the wider implications for privacy, digital identity, mobile phones, social behaviour and the future of human agency. From Speaker’s Corner activism to the dangers of technological dependence, this was a wide-ranging discussion about surveillance, control and whether people can still reclaim real community in an increasingly managed world.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

On this week’s show, I was joined by my co-host Scott as we caught up on everything from the end of summer and family life to the return of school routines, teenagers, technology and the comforts of autumn. We also reflected on last week’s guest and the importance of having more faith in ourselves, before turning to the evening’s main discussion.

The heart of the episode was a thoughtful roundtable with our guests Alex and Patrick on the pros and cons of living in a multicultural society. Together, we explored identity, assimilation, heritage, migration, nationhood, culture, community and the forces that shape social change. It was a lively but good-faith conversation, with different perspectives on whether multiculturalism strengthens society, risks diluting local culture, or simply reflects a reality of human history. Throughout, we kept returning to big questions about belonging, preserving heritage, responsibility, and how communities can live together without losing what makes them distinct.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

In this episode, I was joined by my co-host, Mr Scott, for a lively opening chat covering everything from the changing season and homegrown produce to fasting, sleep, cutting back on alcohol, and the curious little habits we all fall into at home. We also shared a few odd facts, listener moments and plenty of laughs before turning to the heart of the programme: a deeply personal and powerful conversation with Melissa Louise.

Melissa joined us to share her extraordinary story of being diagnosed with breast cancer, later being told she had stage four cancer and just weeks to live, and yet refusing to give up. She spoke candidly about trauma, mindset, natural healing, fasting, diet, herbs, visualisation and the determination that carried her through paralysis, hospice care and being told she would not recover. We also talked about her concerns around end-of-life medication, the emotional impact of prognosis, and how her experience has inspired her to support others through her Roseway Project. It was an emotional, thought-provoking and ultimately uplifting conversation about resilience, belief and finding hope in the darkest of places.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

This week on The Shelley Tasker Show, Mallificus Scott and I caught up on everything from the much-hyped eclipse to wildfire warnings, hosepipe bans, extreme weather and the way these stories are framed in the media. We also had a laugh about my never-ending decorating mission and camping woes before turning to some bigger questions about public narratives, government priorities and the pressures ordinary people are feeling across the UK.

For the main conversation, we were joined by activist and campaigner Jo Wood for a frank discussion about the farming movement, political change, food security, land use, automation in agriculture and growing public concern over immigration, taxation and national policy. Jo shared what she has been hearing directly from farmers, why many still feel ready to mobilise again, and why so many people are questioning who government decisions are really serving. We rounded off with more listener interaction and a wider conversation about Cornwall, culture, community and the importance of protecting local identity in changing times.

Broadcasts live every Wednesday at 7:00p.m. uk time on Radio Soapbox: http://radiosoapbox.com

On this episode of The Shelley Tasker Show, I was joined by my brilliant co-host Malefica Scott for a lively catch-up covering everything from the much-hyped eclipse and wildfire alerts to hosepipe bans, flooding, and the wider climate narrative. We also touched on housing, homelessness, water quality, AI and aviation, and the way public debate is so often shaped by media framing. As ever, it was a wide-ranging conversation with plenty of humour, frustration, and honest reflections on what ordinary people are really seeing and feeling.

In the second half, we welcomed activist and blogger Jo Wood, who gave us a powerful update on the farmers’ movement, her experiences around Parliament, and her concerns about food security, land use, taxation, migration, and the direction of government policy. After Jo’s interview, we opened things up further with a thoughtful discussion on Cornwall, community, culture, immigration, and preserving identity in changing times, rounded off by a listener call highlighting the unique spirit of Cornwall and the importance of local connection.