Talk Media

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by author, A.L. Kennedy. This week - controversy surrounding Boris Johnson’s No. 10 refurbishment and reported remarks about lockdown, the Scotland/England border and a new report on the BBC’s economic contribution to the UK economy. At the end of the show, Stuart, Eamonn and Alison share their personal media recommendations. A.L. Kennedy’s new paperback, We Are...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by Allan Rennie - former newspaper editor and honorary Professor of Media Studies at the University of Stirling. This week - Holyrood election and indyref2 coverage, the trial of Derek Chauvin in the USA, media reactions to the Super League and Channel 4 v the Conservative Party. At the end of the discussion, Stuart, Eamonn and Allan share their media recommendations....

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by former BBC Scotland journalist and broadcaster, Isabel Fraser! This week - media coverage of Prince Philip’s death, David Cameron and the lobbying scandal and issues related to the upcoming Holyrood election. At the end of the show, Stuart, Eamonn and Isabel go on to share their personal media recommendations. Stuart: ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ - series on Netfli...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by former MP and author, Stephen Gethins. This week - debates surrounding digital vaccine passports in Scotland, the Alba Party’s media conference, coverage of Northern Ireland and the recasting of the Biden family. At the end of the episode, Stuart, Eamonn and Stephen share their media recommendations. Stephen’s book, Nation to Nation: www.luath.co.uk/product/nation-t...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by journalist, Shona Craven. This week - reactions to the launch of Alba Party and the Holyrood leaders’ debate on Tuesday evening, the purdah period and Jennifer Arcuri’s claims of an affair with Boris Johnson. At the end of the show, Stuart, Eamonn and Shona share their media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: 'Word Up!' podcast on BBC Sounds - www.bbc.co.uk/s...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by journalist and Times Radio presenter, Calum Macdonald. This week - reactions to the publication of the Holyrood reports, news that the BBC is moving key departments and staff away from London and the slow death of the newsroom. At the end of the episode, Stuart, Eamonn and Calum share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: ‘Revealed: the trut...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by mezzo-soprano, Andrea Baker. This week - policing and the media, reports that The Daily Telegraph plans to link journalists’ pay with article popularity and Julie Burchill’s apology to Ash Sarkar. At the end of the show, Stuart, Eamonn and Andrea go on to share their personal media recommendations. Listen to Scotland's Street Orchestra: www.thebiglight.com/sco...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by Joyce McMillan (theatre critic and political journalist). This week - media reactions to Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview, controversy surrounding celebrations by Rangers FC fans and reforms to defamation law in Scotland. At the end of the episode, Stuart, Eamonn and Joyce go on to share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: 'The Ali...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by writer and performer, A.L. Kennedy. This week - media apologies, the election of Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader and the return of BBC3 as a broadcast channel. At the end of the show, Stuart, Eamonn and Alison share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: 'The time is right to cancel Dr. Seuss’s racist books' - Washington Post arti...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by podcaster and media personality, Sean McDonald (host and producer of Blethered). This week - the First Minister’s roadmap for easing lockdown in Scotland, the latest twists and turns of the ‘Salmond Inquiry’ and Facebook’s clash with the Australian Government. At the end of the discussion, Stuart, Eamonn and Sean go on to share their personal media recommendations. ...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by Mandy Rhodes - Managing Director of Holyrood Communications and editor of the flagship title, Holyrood Magazine. This week - an ‘accountability crisis’ in Scotland, efforts to save the arts and ongoing controversy surrounding the Sussexes and their relationship with the media. Stuart, Eamonn and Mandy go on to share their personal media recommendations. Mandy's arti...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by TV & radio producer, and Round Britain Quiz contestant, Paddy Duffy. This week - The Sunday Show on BBC Scotland, the Salmond Inquiry and what the Obamas did next. At the end of the discussion, Stuart, Eamonn and Paddy go on to share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: Mary Wilson - listen to The Supremes - (BBC News report following her d...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by journalist, Shona Craven. This week - Joanna Cherry and the SNP, the EU vaccine row, anonymity online and the GameStop/Reddit controversy. At the end of the episode, Stuart, Eamonn and Shona go on to share their media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: ‘Presidents come and go, but these curtains are forever’ - Washington Post article - www.washingtonpos...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by actor and comedian Omid Djalili! This week - the vaccine (combatting fake news), stand-up comedy and Boris Johnson’s proposed trip to Scotland. At the end of the show, Stuart, Eamonn and Omid go on to share their media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: ‘Call My Agent’ - Netflix series - www.netflix.com/title/80133335 Omid: ‘Cobra Kai’ - Netflix series - www....

It’s inauguration week in the USA and Stuart and Eamonn are re-joined by mezzo-soprano Andrea Baker to discuss issues at home and abroad. This week - the inauguration of President Biden and Vice-President Harris, Celtic FC’s trip to Dubai, media coverage of Scottish politics and controversy surrounding the reporting of Phil Spector’s death. At the end of the extended episode, Stuart, Eamonn and An...

We’re back! Stuart and Eamonn are joined by Catriona MacPhee (co-chair of Women in Journalism Scotland). This week - the media and political fallout from the Capitol riot in the USA, the findings of a new Women in Journalism Scotland survey and online abuse of women using Scots language. At the end of the episode, Stuart, Eamonn and Catriona share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATI...

'Media Memories' - a bonus episode, recorded at the beginning of 2020 (published on Patreon). We've re-released the audio, making it available to all of our weekly listeners (a new year treat). Stuart and Eamonn discuss their earliest media memories. Note: Talk Media series 2 starts on Wednesday 13th January 2021. For more information about Talk Media, visit: www.thebiglight.com/talkmedia

Thank you for listening to Talk Media in 2020. We have been publishing weekly episodes since February. To mark the end of the first year of the podcast, we are pleased to share a short selection of previous stand-out discussions. Previous recommendations (from episode 1 with Marianne Taylor): Marianne: 'Unfree Speech' - book by Joshua Wong and Jason Y. Ng - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Unfree-Spee...

Stuart and Eamonn answer your media questions! We’re taking a short break over the Christmas holidays but we will be back with weekly topical media discussions on Wednesday 13th January 2021. In the meantime, keep an eye on your pod feeds for two special bonus episodes over the next two weeks. Please continue to spread the word about the show online and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. We’ll s...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by writer and critic, Hannah McGill (former director of the Edinburgh Film Festival). This week - the drugs crisis in Scotland, the Scottish film industry (in light of continued discussions about on a new Filmhouse building in Edinburgh) and updates on Christmas and COVID. At the end of the episode, Stuart, Eamonn and Hannah share their personal media recommendat...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by broadcaster, political columnist and podcaster (‘The Rock N Roll Politics Podcast’) Steve Richards. This week - media scrutiny of Brexit, the findings of a new Reuters report on trust in the news, Holyrood 2021 campaign ads and a new review into gambling. Stuart, Eamonn and Steve end the show with their personal media recommendations. Listen to ‘The Rock N Rol...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by crime writing superstar, Val McDermid. This week’s discussion includes: the SNP conference and internal divisions, Rupert Murdoch’s new UK television station (News UK TV) and pantomimes in Scotland. Stuart, Eamonn and Val go on to share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: ‘The Trials of Oscar Pistorius’ - documentary series on BBC iP...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by Lesley Riddoch (broadcaster, journalist and fellow podcaster). This week - the Scottish Government’s response to COVID-19 and Christmas, the refugee crisis and, in the week a Scot wins the Booker Prize, the Scottish Book of the Year Awards are shelved. Stuart, Eamonn and Lesley go on to share their personal media recommendations. The Lesley Riddoch Podcast: https://...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined by international mezzo-soprano, Andrea Baker, to discuss Boris Johnson's devolution comments, issues related to music ownership (following the sale of Taylor Swift's master tapes) and the publication of Barack Obama's memoir, A Promised Land. Stuart, Eamonn and Andrea go on to share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Stuart: 'The Queen's Gambit' - N...

Stuart and Eamonn are joined again by Ahmed Baba (co-founder of Rantt Media) to analyse and discuss the US election and its aftermath. In part 2, Stuart and Eamonn go on to discuss John Major’s comments about IndyRef2 and reports of a ‘culture of racism’ at Fettes College in Edinburgh. As always, Ahmed, Stuart and Eamonn share their personal media recommendations. RECOMMENDATIONS: Ahmed: 'Why Trum...