Fern Britton: “I Never Wanted to Be Famous”

Full Disclosure: back soon!

Jul 3, 20261 minSummary

In this brief update, James O'Brien announces that his podcast, Full Disclosure, is taking a short hiatus for the summer season. While new episodes are currently on pause, O'Brien encourages listeners to utilize this break as the perfect opportunity to explore the extensive archives of the show. He highlights the wealth of deep and engaging conversations that have been recorded over the years, noting that the back catalog features a diverse range of high-profile guests. Listeners are invited to revisit classic episodes featuring notable figures such as Dawn French, Brian Cox, Gary Lineker, Hugh Laurie, and Grace Dent, among many others. By curating a selection of past interviews, O'Brien ensures that his audience remains entertained while he is away. He concludes by confirming his return with brand-new, insightful discussions in the near future and expresses his sincere gratitude to his dedicated listeners for their ongoing support and interest in the series. It is an ideal time for fans to catch up on any missed episodes or enjoy their favorite interviews once again.

Baroness Beeban Kidron: “Democracy is no longer representative. It is bought.”

Jun 26, 20261h 5mSummary

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with Baroness Beeban Kidron to discuss her evolution from an acclaimed filmmaker to a powerful political advocate for digital safety. The conversation explores her long-standing mission to hold big tech companies accountable for their impact on children and society, a cause she has championed for over a decade. Kidron reflects on how her early life—raised in a household shaped by intellectual rigor and political activism—instilled in her a deep-seated belief that one must live in the world as if it were the better place one wishes it to be. She shares personal stories from her youth, including her experiences as an outsider in various communities and the pivotal moment a speech impediment led her to pick up a camera, which became her lifelong tool for observing power and social structures. The discussion highlights the urgent need for democratic control over digital spaces, with Kidron arguing that the "private square" created by technology giants has eroded public discourse. She emphasizes that technical solutions are often unnecessary; instead, what is required is political will and legislation to compel companies to prioritize human wellbeing over profit.

Cressida Cowell: It wasn’t cool to be enthusiastic about books!

Jun 19, 20261h 6mSummary

In this episode of Full Disclosure with James O’Brien, acclaimed author and illustrator Cressida Cowell reflects on her childhood, her creative journey, and her lifelong passion for literacy. Best known for the How to Train Your Dragon series, Cowell discusses how her upbringing—a dichotomy between city life in London and summers spent on a wild, uninhabited Scottish island—deeply shaped her imagination and her understanding of human vulnerability. Cowell shares her experiences as a child who often felt like an outsider, struggling with organization and traditional school settings. These personal challenges of not fitting into a cookie-cutter mold became central themes in her writing, where her heroes are often misfits navigating a world of injustice. Beyond her own creative process, Cowell speaks with conviction about the importance of books, advocating for universal access to school libraries. She highlights how reading for pleasure fosters empathy, intelligence, and creativity—essential tools for the next generation to tackle the challenges of the future. The conversation explores the intersection of high and low culture in her work and the enduring, hopeful power of storytelling to act as a bridge for young readers.

From The Vault: Andy Burnham, MP for Makerfield and Mayor of Greater Manchester

Jun 18, 202657 minSummary

In this reflective episode, James O'Brien sits down with Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to trace his personal and political journey. The conversation moves beyond the standard political interview, beginning with Burnham’s upbringing in an Irish Catholic family in the Northwest. He discusses how his early environment—marked by both the comfort of a tight-knit family and the challenges of the 1980s—shaped his outlook on life and his eventual entry into politics. A significant portion of the discussion centers on Burnham's experience at Cambridge University, where he grappled with imposter syndrome and an intense awareness of class divisions. He shares how his realization that many of his peers were performing a specific type of establishment confidence prompted him to challenge the status quo. The dialogue also touches upon the formative impact of the Hillsborough disaster, which Burnham identifies as a key moment of radicalization that sparked his lifelong commitment to fighting institutional injustice and addressing the profound inequalities within the British system. Throughout the episode, Burnham articulates his vision of aspirational socialism, emphasizing that background and geography should not dictate one's potential in life.

DJ Fat Tony: “I had one tooth left in my head - I wasn’t sane”

Jun 12, 20261h 12mSummary

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien sits down with legendary DJ Fat Tony for a candid and deeply personal conversation about trauma, recovery, and the chaotic evolution of London’s club culture. Tony discusses his early life in Wandsworth and Battersea, describing how a history of childhood abuse led him to build a defensive "castle" around himself, first through weight gain and later through the creation of a loud, unapologetic persona. The discussion highlights Tony’s early immersion in the vibrant King's Road fashion scene, where he learned to navigate adult environments by lying about his age and manipulating situations to secure a sense of belonging. He reflects on his complicated relationship with his parents—his mother’s bohemian influence versus his father’s protective, often violent, attempts to keep him safe—and how those conflicting dynamics shaped his path. Tony speaks openly about his long-standing struggles with addiction and the realization that his early "survival" tactics eventually became destructive learned behaviors. The episode provides a raw look at his journey toward sobriety, the importance of addressing past trauma, and his transition from being a self-described "un-teachable" kid to finding his identity within the inclusive, transformative power of early house music and club culture.

Nina Conti: The Ventriloquist Who Found Her Voice

Jun 5, 20261h 2mSummary

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien interviews the renowned ventriloquist Nina Conti about her unique path into the performing arts. Conti, known for her extraordinary ability to improvise high-tech ventriloquism and interactive audience mask work, reflects on the unconventional journey that led her to this discipline. She discusses how her early career, marked by a struggle with shyness and a desire to avoid the pitfalls of nepotism despite her famous parents, eventually brought her into the orbit of maverick director Ken Campbell. The conversation highlights the transformative influence of Campbell, who encouraged Conti to embrace ventriloquism as a tool for artistic liberation and subversion. Conti explains how the medium allows her to bypass traditional acting constraints, enabling her to access deeper truths through her puppets and masks. She shares insights into the alchemy of live performance, the importance of maintaining an open mind, and the necessity of discarding expectations to foster genuine connection with an audience. Through this engaging dialogue, Conti reveals how she carved out a distinctive, self-governed space in comedy, ultimately finding a voice that is entirely her own.

Russell T Davies: Doctor Who Was There From the Very Start

May 29, 20261h 1mSummary

In this episode of Full Disclosure with James O’Brien, acclaimed writer and creator Russell T. Davies reflects on his creative journey and the formative experiences that shaped his career. Davies discusses his upbringing in Swansea, describing a warm, intellectually stimulating household that fostered his deep-seated love for television and storytelling. He challenges the notion that television is detrimental to children, comparing it to reading as a vital medium for absorbing culture and understanding the world. A central theme of the conversation is the intersection of Davies’s personal identity and his professional work. He explores how being a young gay man in the 1970s influenced his observational nature, essentially training him to be a writer as he sat on the sidelines watching others. Davies also touches on his enduring connection to Doctor Who, framing it as a unique, optimistic narrative that welcomes everyone. Throughout the discussion, he emphasizes the importance of arts funding, reflecting on the youth theater programs that provided him with a crucial creative sanctuary and questioning why creative pursuits often lack the societal validation afforded to sports.