Best Irvine Welsh Podcasts (2025)

1
Irvine Welsh: We’re More Addicted Now Than in Trainspotting 1:01:43

3d ago1:01:43

1:01:43

From the high-rises of Muirhouse to the heart of countercultural Britain, Irvine Welsh has built a literary universe fuelled by punk energy, dancefloor euphoria, and radical empathy. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien meets the novelist and cultural icon to trace a life shaped by rebellion, recovery, and relentless storytelling. They…

1
S10, Ep4: Irvine Welsh, writer 35:45

6d ago35:45

35:45

Scottish writer Irvine Welsh joins Grace to share his ultimate comfort food. Irvine has been a towering figure in our cultural galaxy for 30 years. His bestselling novels include Porno, The Acid House, Filth and, of course, Trainspotting. Trainspotting – famously autobiographical – follows a group of heroin addicts in a deprived area of Edinburgh. …

1
Men In Love by Irvine Welsh with Irvine Welsh 44:06

11d ago44:06

44:06

This week's book guest is Men In Love by Irvine Welsh. Sara and Cariad are joined by the multi-bestselling author of Trainspotting, and cultural icon - Irvine Welsh. In this episode they discuss success, capitalism, house music and DMT. Trigger warning: In this episode we discuss drug usage. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! …

1
Renton Returns, Sick Boy in Love: Irvine Welsh Reimagines His Antiheroes 1:04:03

19d ago1:04:03

1:04:03

In this electric conversation, Irvine Welsh joins Adam Biles at Shakespeare and Company to discuss Men in Love, the long-awaited sequel to Trainspotting. Picking up moments after Renton's betrayal, Welsh dives deep into the aftermath—friendship, love, addiction, class, and the cultural hangover of 1980s Thatcherism. The pair explore writing authent…

1
The Book Club: Irvine Welsh on the new Trainspotting sequel 34:18

19d ago34:18

34:18

My guest this week is Irvine Welsh – who, three decades after his era-defining hit Trainspotting, returns with a direct sequel, Men In Love. Irvine tells me what Sick Boy, Renton, Spud and Begbie mean to him, why his new book hopes to encourage a new generation to discover Romantic verse and shagging, and why MDMA deserves more credit for the Good …

1
Irvine Welsh: Men In Love – Trainspotting Sequel 34:18

19d ago34:18

34:18

My guest this week is Irvine Welsh – who, three decades after his era-defining hit Trainspotting, returns with a direct sequel, Men In Love. Irvine tells me what Sick Boy, Renton, Spud and Begbie mean to him, why his new book hopes to encourage a new generation to discover Romantic verse and shagging, and why MDMA deserves more credit for the Good …

1
Resolution 1:24:19

24d ago1:24:19

1:24:19

We're back to finish the Crime trilogy, as Ray Lennox finally catches up with the monsters that have haunted and shaped him for decades. It's our review of Resolution (2024)

1
Americano: Trump, MAGA and US foreign policy 23:53

26m ago23:53

23:53

Trump, MAGA, and US foreign policy Kate Andrews speaks to Damir Marusic, assignment editor at The Washington Post and co-founder of Wisdom of Crowds. They examine Donald Trump’s surprising foreign policy moves in his second term: his position on the Israel-Gaza conflict, why he's armed Ukraine despite MAGA frustration, and whether his instincts are…

1
Coffee House Shots: why can't we agree on data? 11:13

5h ago11:13

11:13

John O’Neill and Sam McPhail, the Spectator’s research and data team, join economics editor Michael Simmons to re-introduce listeners to the Spectator’s data hub. They take us through the process between the data hub and how their work feeds into the weekly magazine. From crime to migration, which statistics are the most controversial? Why can’t we…

1
Rob Rinder and Juno Dawson 27:33

2h ago27:33

27:33

RUNNING WITH SCISSORS by Augusten Burroughs, chosen by Rob RinderTHE ODD WOMAN AND THE CITY by Vivian Gornick, chosen by Harriett GilbertEARTHLINGS by Sayaka Murata, chosen by Juno Dawson The barrister, television presenter and writer Rob Rinder and author Juno Dawson talk books with Harriett Gilbert. Juno Dawson selects Sayaka Murata's Earthlings,…

1
Spectator Out Loud: Michael Simmons, Kapil Komireddi, Margaret Mitchell, David Abulafia and Melissa Kite 26:30

5h ago26:30

26:30

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Michael Simmons argues that Trump is winning the tariff war with China; Kapil Komireddi reviews Robert Ivermee’s Glorious Failure: The Forgotten History of French Imperialism in India; Margaret Mitchell watches a Channel 4 documentary on Bonnie Blue and provides a warning to parents; David Abulafia provides his no…

1
Holy Smoke: Massacres in Syria and the Congo 27:25

1d ago27:25

27:25

Massacres in Syria and the Congo: why aren't Western elites, including the Churches, drawing attention to religious persecution? After the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, many people voiced fears that the religious minorities in the country could face increased persecution. This could be at the hands of the new government’s supporters, or simply…

1
Joseph O'Connor 48:58

3d ago48:58

48:58

One of our greatest novelists, Joseph O'Connor has broken bones for his art, but can he tackle his way to the top of the table at this early stage of the competition?By RTÉ Radio 1

1
Coffee House Shots: the Online Safety Act vs free speech 26:13

3d ago26:13

26:13

Is the Online Safety Act protecting children – or threatening free speech? Michael Simmons hosts John Power, who writes the Spectator's cover piece this week on how the Act has inadvertently created online censorship. Implemented and defended by the current Labour government, it is actually the result of legislation passed by the Conservatives in 2…

1
Americano: Lionel Shriver on Trump’s second term 35:37

3d ago35:37

35:37

Lionel Shriver on Trump’s vendetta, Mamdani’s ‘stupid’ ideas & sentimental immigration Deputy US editor Kate Andrews is joined by author and Spectator columnist Lionel Shriver to assess Donald Trump’s turbulent second term. They discuss the rise of socialism in New York, why fairness is warping immigration policy, and whether Trump’s obsession with…

1
The Edition: Under CTRL, the Epping migrant protests & why is ‘romantasy’ so popular? 38:32

4d ago38:32

38:32

First: the new era of censorship A year ago, John Power notes, the UK was consumed by race riots precipitated by online rumours about the perpetrator of the Southport atrocity. This summer, there have been protests, but ‘something is different’. With the introduction of the Online Safety Act, ‘the government is exerting far greater control over wha…

1
The Readers Talk Writing Part 1 33:10

4d ago33:10

33:10

In part one of these special episodes on writing Sara and Cariad (the readers) talk about their own paths to books, writing and writing processes. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Tickets for Sara's tour show I Am A Strange Gloop are available to buy from sarapascoe.co.uk Where Did She Go? by Cariad Lloyd is available to buy…

1
The Shape of Survival: Eimear McBride on Love, Art, and the City 1:02:49

5d ago1:02:49

1:02:49

In this textured conversation, author Eimear McBride joins Adam Biles at Shakespeare and Company to discuss her latest novel The City Changes Its Face. Set in Camden Town in the 1990s, the book revisits characters from The Lesser Bohemians as they navigate the complexities of love, art, aging, trauma, and parenthood. McBride explores the enduring i…

1
Gary Shteyngart: Vera, or Faith 34:38

5d ago34:38

34:38

Sam Leith is joined for this week's Book Club podcast by Gary Shteyngart — whose new novel Vera, or Faith is set in a near-future America whose politics seems to be less science-fictional by the day. It tells the unexpectedly tender story of a bright but lonely ten-year-old girl contending with her parents' failing marriage and navigating the begin…

1
Book Club: Gary Shteyngart 34:38

5d ago34:38

34:38

Sam Leith is joined for this week's Book Club podcast by Gary Shteyngart — whose new novel Vera, or Faith is set in a near-future America whose politics seems to be less science-fictional by the day. It tells the unexpectedly tender story of a bright but lonely ten-year-old girl contending with her parents' failing marriage and navigating the begin…

1
Americano: what should we make of Trump's trip to the UK? 26:30

7d ago26:30

26:30

Donald Trump is in Scotland, holding court at Turnberry. He's welcomed Sir Keir and Lady Victoria Starmer to his golf course, and had a long discussion with reporters at a wide ranging press conference, that covered Russia, Gaza, and his long running feud with London mayor Sadiq Khan. To unpack it all, Freddy is joined by political editor Tim Shipm…

1
Zadie Smith and Colm Tóibín 30:03

6d ago30:03

30:03

OBLIVION by Héctor Abad, chosen by Colm TóibínFLESH by David Szalay, chosen by Zadie SmithCALL ME BY YOUR NAME by André Aciman, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Authors and good friends Zadie Smith and Colm Tóibín join Harriett Gilbert to share books they love. For a longer edition of this episode, check out the A Good Read podcast. Colm Tóibín chooses O…

1
Table Talk: Charlotte Ivers 34:26

7d ago34:26

34:26

Charlotte Ivers is the restaurant critic for the Sunday Times; most recently she reviewed Lupa, Fenix and Home SW15. Charlotte started her career as a media adviser in Theresa May’s Number 10, before she moved into the world of radio. She was a political correspondent at talkRADIO and Wireless Group before joining Times Radio. On the podcast, Charl…

1
Americano: Douglas Murray on conspiracy America, Epstein & the new age of suspicion 30:28

8d ago30:28

30:28

Douglas Murray on conspiracy America, lawfare & the new age of suspicion Donald Trump promised to release the Epstein files – so why hasn't he? Spectator columnist Douglas Murray joins Kate Andrews to discuss the scandal that won't go away, what it says about trust in institutions, and why even Trump’s most loyal supporters are starting to turn on …

1
Spectator Out Loud: Ian Thomson, Patrick Kidd, Mike Cormack, Ursula Buchan and Richard Bratby 35:54

9d ago35:54

35:54

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Ian Thomson on what the destruction of the Hotel Oloffson means for Haiti (00:54); Patrick Kidd analyses Donald Trump and the art of golf diplomacy (06:43); Mike Cormack reviews Irvine Welsh’s Men In Love (16:49); Ursula Buchan provides her notes on the Palm House at Kew (20:38); and, Richard Bratby argues that Jo…

1
Spider Stacy 47:19

10d ago47:19

47:19

One of the most hotly contested competitions of the summer is back, and first to step up to the plate is one of the founding members of The Pogues, Spider Stacy.By RTÉ Radio 1

1
Coffee House Shots: Katie Lam on immigration, benefits and the border 24:00

10d ago24:00

24:00

Katie Lam became an MP in 2024 after a career in finance. She's also an accomplished scriptwriter, having co-written five musicals. She's one of the most exciting new intake MPs, and she's ruffling feathers in Westminster and beyond. She joins political editor Tim Shipman to discuss everything from her vision for the country to the ECHR, and shares…

1
Americano: did Condé Nast shape the world? 34:33

11d ago34:33

34:33

Did Condé Nast shape the world? In this episode of Americano, Freddy Gray speaks with New York Times writer and debut author Michael Grynbaum about his new book Empire of the Elite, a sweeping history of Condé Nast – the media empire that once dictated American taste, fashion, and celebrity. From Anna Wintour’s carefully staged exit to the vanished…

1
David Lammy: I’ve had imposter syndrome my whole life- until now 54:57

11d ago54:57

54:57

From a working-class childhood in Tottenham to the Cabinet table, David Lammy’s path to becoming Foreign Secretary was anything but straightforward. Raised by a single mother after his father disappeared when he was twelve, David’s early life was shaped by absence, ambition and a fierce sense of justice. In this deeply personal conversation with Ja…

1
Katie Kitamura on Fiction’s Shifting Realities 55:22

11d ago55:22

55:22

Katie Kitamura joins Adam Biles to discuss her remarkable novel Audition. Centred on a middle-aged actress whose settled life is upended by a young man claiming to be her son, Audition blurs the lines between performance, identity, and narrative certainty. Kitamura reflects on the novel’s dual structure—a “rabbit-duck” ambiguity—and her fascination…

1
The Edition: soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein & are literary sequels ‘lazy’? 44:02

11d ago44:02

44:02

The soul suckers of private equity, Douglas Murray on Epstein and MAGA & are literary sequels ‘lazy’? First up: how private equity is ruining Britain Gus Carter writes in the magazine this week about how foreign private equity (PE) is hollowing out Britain – PE now owns everything from a Pret a Manger to a Dorset village, and even the number of chi…

1
Book Club: Frances Wilson 44:01

13d ago44:01

44:01

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is the biographer Frances Wilson, whose new book Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark was recently lauded in these pages as "mesmerising" and "a revolutionary book". She tells me how she immersed herself in the spooky life and peerless art of the great novelist, and why a conventional biographical tre…

1
Frances Wilson: Electric Spark – The Enigma of Muriel Spark 44:01

13d ago44:01

44:01

My guest in this week's Book Club podcast is the biographer Frances Wilson, whose new book Electric Spark: The Enigma of Muriel Spark was recently lauded in these pages as "mesmerising" and "a revolutionary book". She tells me how she immersed herself in the spooky life and peerless art of the great novelist, and why a conventional biographical tre…

1
Coffee House Shots: what's left of the Tories? with Michael Gove and Tim Shipman 15:15

13d ago15:15

15:15

What's left of the Tories? The Commons is closing down for the summer, but Kemi Badenoch has treated us to a shadow cabinet reshuffle. At the beginning of the year, Badenoch’s team were keen to stress stability, dismissing talk of an early reshuffle. But, as so often in politics, events have forced her hand. Ed Argar, the shadow health secretary, h…

1
Americano: is Epstein the new Russiagate? 27:37

14d ago27:37

27:37

Is Epstein the new Russiagate? Freddy Gray is joined by Spectator writer Roger Kimball. They delve into the Epstein claims, the media's handling of the story, Trump’s economic agenda, and whether the MAGA movement is holding strong or starting to splinter.

1
S10, Ep3: Samson Kayo, actor 43:34

13d ago43:34

43:34

This week on Comfort Eating, Grace is joined by Bafta-nominated actor, writer and producer Samson Kayo. Samson has been gracing our screens for more than a decade, starring in shows such as Channel 4’s Youngers, Sky’s sitcom Bloods and HBO’s Our Flag Means Death. Now, he’s currently celebrating the release of two blockbusters, Voltron and F1, in wh…

1
Joanna Hardy-Susskind and Horatio Clare 27:49

14d ago27:49

27:49

THE TRUCE by Primo Levi, chosen by Horatio Clare THE SUN DOES SHINE by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin, chosen by Joanna Hardy-SusskindSULA by Toni Morrison, chosen by Harriett Gilbert Writer Horatio Clare joins criminal defence barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind to discuss favourite books with Harriett Gilbert. Horatio's choice is a book he …

1
Americano: will AI have rights? 17:51

15d ago17:51

17:51

Will AI have rights? Freddy Gray speaks to Spectator writer Paul Wood about his piece this the latest edition of Spectator World on AI and whether it will soon have rights. This first came about when Paul went to live in Rome and discovered some of the work the Vatican has been doing in AI.

1
Spectator Out Loud: Mark Mason, Mary Wakefield, Matthew Parris and Philip Patrick 25:05

16d ago25:05

25:05

On this week’s Spectator Out Loud: Mark Mason reminisces about old English bank notes (00:33), Philip Patrick wonders whether AI will replace politicians in Japan (04:04), Matthew Parris wonders why you would ever trust a travel writer (10:34) and Mary Wakefield looks at the weird world of cults (17:42).…

1
Coffee House Shots Live: are the Tories toast? 1:13:02

17d ago1:13:02

1:13:02

The strange death of Tory England has been predicted before. But never has the ‘natural party of government’ faced a greater challenge to survive. The Conservatives are facing attacks on all fronts from Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. Kemi Badenoch’s six-month anniversary as leader was marked by the loss of nearly 700 councillors, with…

1
Americano: Trump – the conventional foreign policy President? 27:49

18d ago27:49

27:49

Trump has said he's "very, very unhappy" with Russia, and threatened severe tariffs against them if there's no deal on Ukraine within 50 days. He's also sending more weapons to Ukraine in coordination with NATO. What's behind his change of heart on foreign policy, and how's his MAGA base responding? Freddy Gray is joined by deputy US editor Kate An…

1
Grace Dent: Almost Everything I’ve Done, I’ve Been Told No First 1:02:35

18d ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Before she was a MasterChef judge and one of Britain’s most distinctive food writers, Grace Dent was a Carlisle kid eating crispy pancakes and dreaming of life beyond beige dinners. In this episode of Full Disclosure, she joins James O’Brien to talk about blagging her way into London media, finding her voice through food, and why she still can’t be…

1
The Edition: how the Bank broke Britain, Zelensky’s choice & the joys of mudlarking 49:07

19d ago49:07

49:07

First up: how the Bank of England wrecked the economy Britain’s economy is teetering on the brink of a deep fiscal hole, created by billions of pounds of unfunded spending – never-ending health promises, a spiralling welfare bill and a triple lock on the state pension, which will cost three times as much as originally estimated. Although politician…

1
Where Did She Go? by Cariad Lloyd with Nadia Shireen 1:04:57

18d ago1:04:57

1:04:57

This week's book guest is Where Did She Go? by Cariad Lloyd. Sara and Cariad are joined by award-winning children's book illustrator and author Nadia Shireen. In this episode they discuss career changes, illustrators, child development and Daniel Bedingfield. Thank you for reading with us. We like reading with you! Where Did She Go? by Cariad Lloyd…

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