Podcast
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
Hosted by Global · EN
Award-winning LBC presenter and best-selling author James O’Brien hosts a series of compelling conversations with fascinating people from the worlds of politics, news and entertainment. These are thoughtful conversations with a curious and interested interviewer.
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien is a Global Production
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34episodes
Episodes
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Russell Kane: “Today’s the Day I Change My Life”
6d ago01:08:01Tap to summarizeHe is one of Britain’s most high-energy comics, but Russell Kane’s story begins far from the world he now inhabits: on a council estate, in a home shaped by discipline, class tension and a rigid idea of masculinity. What followed was not a straight line to success, but a series of reinventions powered by anger, ambition and the discovery that books could open doors his upbringing never knew existed.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Russell to explore how a bright, restless boy from Enfield became a comic, writer, broadcaster and storyteller with an insatiable appetite for reinvention.Russell looks back on a childhood dominated by his father’s force of personality, a school life in which fitting in often mattered more than applying himself, and the moment everything changed: a late awakening to education that sent him hurtling towards A-levels, university and a career in advertising. He explains how that same momentum eventually pulled him towards stand-up, where the risk of failure became part of the thrill.They discuss class, reading and the seductive force of self-improvement; the emotional legacy of being loved but not always understood; the tension between public success and private insecurity; and why children’s books, biohacking and Shakespeare all make sense within Russell Kane’s ever-expanding world.Funny, frank and full of nervous energy, this is a conversation about family, class, ambition and the lifelong process of working out who you are.Find out more about When Brian Met Terry by Russell Kane hereFull Disclosure is a Global ProductionListen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Philippa Perry: “I could not wait to grow up.”
2w ago01:02:25Tap to summarizeBefore she became one of Britain’s most trusted psychotherapists and writers, Philippa Perry had already lived many different lives: boarding school child, dyslexic misfit, debt collector, McDonald’s manager, art student, Samaritan volunteer and a blooming therapist.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Philippa to trace the winding path behind her public voice on relationships, parenting and emotional life - from a childhood shaped by emotional restraint, class anxiety and the sense of never quite being seen, to the books, ideas and experiences that helped her begin to understand herself.Philippa reflects on growing up in a materially comfortable but emotionally limited world, being sent away to boarding school, and the long-lasting effects of feeling misunderstood both at home and at school. She describes how reading, work and sheer curiosity opened up new ways of seeing people- and how her early jobs, from tracing debtors in Oxford to managing staff at McDonald’s, taught her as much about human nature as any formal training.They discuss class, confidence and social mobility; the hidden damage of criticism and the transformative power of kindness; why so many therapists are trying to make sense of their own lives; and how motherhood changed Philippa’s understanding of what a child needs in order to feel safe, known and loved.Funny, searching and deeply moving, this is a conversation about childhood, reinvention, emotional survival and the lifelong work of becoming yourself.Find out more about Shrink Solves Murder by Philippa Perry hereFull Disclosure is a Global ProductionListen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcastsEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Emma Grede: What it really takes to build a brand with the Kardashians
3w ago01:10:58Tap to summarizeBefore she became the entrepreneur behind Kardashian-founded brands Good American and Skims, Emma Grede was a kid from Plaistow with severe dyslexia, few qualifications, and a fierce belief that she could build a bigger life for herself.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Emma to trace the story behind her remarkable rise- from helping raise her younger sisters in East London and struggling in a school system that never seemed to fit, to building a career in fashion through sheer audacity, instinct and relentless hard work.Emma reflects on the work ethic she inherited from her mother, the unpaid placements and early setbacks that taught her how business really worked, and the confidence that drove her to knock on doors others were too intimidated to approach. She explains how she discovered her gift for negotiation, why relationships became the foundation of her success, and how those instincts helped her build businesses alongside the Kardashians that would go on to reshape modern fashion and culture.They discuss class, ambition and social mobility; the difference between talent and opportunity; the myths we tell about success; and why Emma believes women need a more honest conversation about work, money and power.Sharp, funny and full of hard-won insight, this is a conversation about ambition, reinvention and what it really takes to get to the top.Find out more about START WITH YOURSELF: A New Vision for Work & Life by Emma Grede hereFull Disclosure is a Global ProductionListen or watch every Friday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Michael Whitehall: My mother couldn’t accept who we really were
4w ago01:01:20Tap to summarizeBefore he became known to millions as Jack Whitehall’s gloriously dry and impeccably mannered father, Michael Whitehall had already lived several lives: socially ambitious schoolboy, drifting young journalist, unlikely prep school teacher, theatrical agent and producer to some of the biggest names in British entertainment.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Michael to uncover the family story behind the public persona- a mother determined to climb the social ladder, a childhood shaped by love, embarrassment and aspiration, and the “disputable” mythology that surrounded the Whitehall name.Michael reflects on being sent away to boarding school, the clever and comic ways he learned to survive there, and the early signs of the charm, wit and adaptability that would later define his career. He also looks back on a series of improbable early jobs, and the extraordinary good fortune that eventually led him into the world of agents, actors and television production.They discuss class, performance and social mobility; the strange gap between being adjacent to fame and becoming famous yourself; and the warmth at the centre of Michael’s life, from his parents to Hillary, his children, and the now-beloved on-screen relationship with Jack.Funny, perceptive and full of brilliant stories, this is a conversation about family, class, luck and a life spent moving between worlds.Listen to The Wittering Whitehall’s podcast hereFind out more about Shark Infested Waters by Michael Whitehall here EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Marcus Brigstocke: I was fourteen when they threatened to wire my jaw shut
Apr 1701:06:02Tap to summarizeThis episode includes discussion of sensitive topics, including addiction, that some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening, and feel free to pause or step away if you need to.From a privileged childhood in Surrey to the chaos of addiction, expulsion and eventual recovery, Marcus Brigstocke’s early life was far more turbulent than his public persona might suggest.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the comedian, writer and performer to explore the experiences that shaped him: boarding school at seven, a damaging relationship with food from childhood, and the compulsive behaviours that would later give way to alcohol, drugs and despair while he was still in his teens.Marcus speaks with extraordinary candour about shame, survival and the long road to recovery, reflecting on the pain of being sent away so young, the sense of being trapped inside patterns he could neither control nor explain, and the intervention that ultimately saved his life before adulthood had properly begun.They discuss the strange overlap between addiction and comedy, the instant feedback of making people laugh, and the role performance played in helping him endure what was happening offstage. Marcus also reflects on class, masculinity, recovery, parenthood and the double life of a stand-up- thick-skinned and vulnerable, commanding and needy, all at once.Funny, forensic and deeply moving, this is a conversation about trauma, reinvention and the hard-won joy of becoming the person you might not have lived long enough to meet.Additional support:If you've been affected by anything you've heard in this episode, please take a moment to read the resources listed: We Are With You, Change Grow Live, Turning PointEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Full Disclosure: back soon!
Apr 1000:00:55Tap to summarizeFull Disclosure is taking a short break over the Easter holidays, but we’ll be back very soon with a brand new episodes!Until then, why not dip back into the archive and catch up on some of this year’s standout episodes, with guests including Jonathan Pryce, Sadiq Khan, Gary Lineker, Naz Shah and more.Listen now on Global Player, or wherever you get your podcasts.EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Natalie Cassidy: I grew up on EastEnders before I knew what fame was
Apr 300:56:55Tap to summarizeFrom a childhood in Islington to more than three decades on one of Britain’s biggest television shows, Natalie Cassidy’s life has unfolded in public for almost as long as she can remember.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the actor to trace a journey that began in a close-knit working-class family, took shape at the Anna Scher Theatre, and changed forever when she was cast in EastEnders at just ten years old.Natalie reflects on growing up surrounded by adults, losing the privacy her parents had valued, and navigating fame before she was old enough to understand what it meant. She speaks movingly about family, grief and guilt, the loss of her mother at nineteen, and the grounding influence of the women who helped shape her, from Wendy Richard and Barbara Windsor to the incomparable June Brown.They discuss the strange psychology of child stardom, the realities of soap acting, and the courage it took to step away from a role that had defined her for so long. Along the way, Natalie talks with warmth and honesty about money, motherhood, class, friendship, ambition and the need, now, to be brave enough to try something new.Funny, candid and deeply perceptive, this is a conversation about identity, resilience and what it means to build a life when the whole country thinks it already knows who you are.EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Eric Schlosser: The Shocking Truth Behind Fast Food and Corporate America
Mar 2700:58:48Tap to summarizeFor 25 years, Fast Food Nation has shaped the way we think about what we eat, how it is made, and who pays the price. Its author, Eric Schlosser, did more than expose the hidden realities behind the fast food industry. He revealed a much bigger story about corporate power, political influence and the human cost of profit.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the acclaimed investigative writer to mark the anniversary of the book that changed the conversation around food. Schlosser reflects on a childhood shaped by privilege, culture and intellectual curiosity, before explaining how early ambitions as a playwright and screenwriter eventually gave way to a career in long-form journalism.They discuss the reporting behind Fast Food Nation, from slaughterhouses and meatpacking plants to boardrooms and lobbying operations, and why Schlosser came to see the industry as a lens through which to understand modern America. He explains how the story of fast food became a story about labour, inequality, deregulation and the alliance between government and big business.The conversation also ranges across his wider body of work, including prisons, nuclear weapons and the enduring appeal of investigative writing that challenges power rather than flatters it. Thoughtful, unsparing and deeply timely, this is a conversation about journalism, capitalism and why the systems shaping our lives deserve much closer scrutiny.Find out more about the 25th anniversary edition of Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser hereEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Jeremy King: The Restaurateur Behind The Ivy, Le Caprice and The Wolseley
Mar 2001:03:05Tap to summarizeFrom Le Caprice and The Ivy to The Wolseley and Brasserie Zédel, Jeremy King has helped define the way London eats, drinks and sees itself. His restaurants became institutions, attracting everyone from Princess Diana and Lucian Freud to generations of actors, artists, politicians and power players.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the legendary restaurateur to trace an extraordinary life behind some of the capital’s most iconic dining rooms. Jeremy reflects on a childhood shaped by shyness, social awkwardness and a lasting sense of being an outsider, before explaining how an early fascination with risk led him to make major life decisions according to the throw of a dice, including the choice that pulled him away from Cambridge University and into hospitality.They discuss his first jobs in the restaurant world, the formative partnership with Chris Corbin, and the instincts that helped create some of London’s most celebrated establishments. Jeremy reveals why great restaurants are about far more than food, how atmosphere and service can transform a room, and why making people feel they belong matters just as much as what is on the plate.From celebrity diners and royal visits to business setbacks, reinvention and the long-awaited reopening of Simpson’s, the conversation moves through the highs, the risks and the resilience behind a singular career. Warm, candid and full of hard won insight, this is a conversation about ambition, instinct and the subtle art of creating places people never forget.Simpson's in The Strand EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
Transcribe →Billy Idol: The Punk Rock Icon who "Should Be Dead"
Mar 1300:57:39Tap to summarizeFrom suburban England to the front lines of the punk revolution and the stadium stages of MTV era rock, Billy Idol has spent a lifetime reinventing what rebellion looks like.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the singer to trace an extraordinary life that began in a childhood split between England and the United States, moving between places and possibilities before music gave him a sense of direction. Idol reflects on growing up in a close knit family, the influence of his parents, and the early restlessness that would eventually pull him towards London at the moment punk was beginning to erupt.They discuss the raw energy of the mid seventies scene and the formation of Generation X, when a group of young musicians with little formal training suddenly found themselves at the centre of a cultural explosion. Idol recalls the excitement of those early days, when punk felt less like a genre and more like a declaration that a new generation had something to say.From there the conversation moves to New York, reinvention and the birth of the unmistakable Billy Idol persona that would come to dominate the early years of MTV. He reflects on fame, excess and survival, the uneasy balance between punk credibility and global success, and how rock and roll changed as the movement he came from entered the mainstream.Frank, reflective and full of energy, this is a conversation about rebellion, reinvention and the enduring power of rock and roll.Billy Idol Should Be Dead documentary, coming to Sky Arts on 26th MarchEXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal -> https://nordvpn.com/fulldisclosure Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee
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