Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

LBC
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien

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. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Steven Frayne: I Had To Kill Dynamo To Be Steven

    Steven Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, takes us on an extraordinary journey from the tough streets of Bradford to becoming one of the world’s most celebrated magicians. In this revealing episode of Full Disclosure, Steven opens up about his transformative life experiences- growing up in a single-parent household, dealing with adversity, and finding magic in the most unexpected places. From overcoming bullying and a challenging childhood to battling a life-threatening illness, Steven shares how these personal struggles led him to redefine what magic truly means. James O'Brien speaks with Steven about his path to success, the emotional complexities of his public persona, and his decision to step away from the Dynamo name to embrace his true self. Touching on themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of reinvention, Steven reflects on how magic has helped him navigate life's obstacles and find purpose. Engaging, introspective, and filled with wisdom, Steven’s journey offers a poignant look at how embracing one’s vulnerabilities can lead to extraordinary transformations. You can buy tickets to Steven Frayne’s Up Close and Magical show here

    1h 8m

  2. 4 APR

    Carol Vorderman LIVE! Numbers, Politics, and Finding Her Voice

    Carol Vorderman is best known as the queen of Countdown, but there’s far more to her than just numbers. From growing up in a single-parent household to becoming one of the most recognisable women in British television, her journey has been anything but ordinary. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien explores Carol’s path from excelling in mathematics to navigating the world of television, her deep passion for education, and her outspoken activism in politics. With strong views on social justice and a fearless approach to calling out inequality, she shares how she found her voice. Unfiltered, passionate, and refreshingly honest, Carol opens up about the power of speaking out and the causes closest to her heart. This episode was recorded at Leicester Square Theatre to raise money for charity Make Some Noise. You can find more information about the charity here

    1h 12m

  3. 28 MAR

    Jon Ronson: “It's good training for a journalist, being bullied at school.”

    From investigating the minds of psychopaths to examining the impact of public shaming in the digital age, Jon Ronson is a journalist and author who has built a career exploring stories that reveal the complexities of human nature. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien sits down with Jon to unpack the experiences that shaped his unique outlook- from growing up in Cardiff to embedding himself with fringe groups and conspiracy theorists around the world. They discuss the emotional weight of documenting turbulence and the personal moments that led Jon to seek out the humanity in the most unexpected places. Insightful, sharp, and deeply empathetic, Jon reflects on life at the margins, the characters he’s encountered, and what it truly means to understand those who challenge the norm. You can buy tickets to Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night here

    58 min

  4. 21 MAR

    David Harewood: "I was not 'black' enough, I didn't know where I fit in"

    David Harewood is one of Britain's finest actors, but fame found him late in life after he was cast as CIA Director David Estes in smash-hit show Homeland. In this fascinating episode of Full Disclosure, join James O'Brien as he takes a tour around David's life, from his early childhood, racist abuse from theatre reviewers, his psychosis diagnosis and how he's become first black president of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada). This episode deals with issues of race and racism and strong language is used from the outset and throughout.

    1h 3m

  5. 14 MAR

    Alistair McGowan: My friends laughed when I said I was doing comedy

    Alistair McGowan is a man of many talents, as well as being one of the UKs most beloved impressionists. From award winning performances on the West End Stage, sell-out pianist shows and dominating the 90s and 00s sketch TV scene, he is a man that never disappoints to entertain. In this episode, James O'Brien goes back in time to Alistair's school days, his warm upbringing in Evesham and to the moment where he got his big break at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The pair discuss the nuance of a great impression, why Gen-Z may struggle to understand the humour and what 2025 and beyond has in store for Alistair too. We will give you a hint, it's busy, very busy. You can book tickets for on of Alistair's many ventures here

    1h 8m

  6. 7 MAR

    KT Tunstall: “I lost my hearing, it didn’t come back.”

    From busking on the streets to topping the charts, KT Tunstall has carved a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and raw talent.  In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien dives into KT’s journey from growing up in Scotland in a family with no musical background, to discovering her biological father’s Irish singing roots, and ultimately shaping her own unmistakable sound. KT shares the story of her breakout Later… with Jools Holland performance, the moment that catapulted her to stardom, and how she has navigated the challenges of hearing loss and living with tinnitus as a musician. She also talks about her latest passion- musical theatre, including composing the original score for the West End musical Clueless. Funny, inspiring, and deeply honest, this conversation explores how KT Tunstall keeps pushing creative boundaries, proving that reinvention isn’t just possible, it’s essential. You can buy tickets to Clueless The Musical here

    59 min

  7. 28 FEB

    Matt Forde: Doctors said I would never walk again

    Matt Forde is an eternal optimist. From growing up on a council estate to a single mother on benefits, to playing sold out nights at the London Palladium, he's a comedian and broadcaster with a very different story to most. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O'Brien takes a tour of Matt's formative years from the industrial city of Nottingham in the 1980s, his time working for the Labour party in Stoke-on-Trent to moving to the countries capital to begin his journey in stand-up Comedy. At the age of 9 he fell in love with politics and became obsessed with equality and justice, which led him on the journey of joining the SWP before finding his policial home in Labour. After finding his funny bones he took his time in politics to the stage and started performing in comedy clubs up and down the country, mixing political activism and jokes. Funny, moving and honest, Matt has lived a varied life that was tested massively in 2023 when he was diagnosed with cancer and told he would never walk again. In the open conversation, he shares how hard the last 18-months have really been. You can see Matt on tour or buy tickets to his Party Political Podcast here

    1h 8m

  8. 21 FEB

    Zoe Lyons: My mum screamed about me..."I can't cope anymore"

    Zoe Lyons is a comedian that has graced our screens for over two decades, being a regular panelist on Mock the Week as well as numerous appearances on Have I Got News For You and Live at the Apollo. She grew up in rural Ireland, with a peripatetic childhood that would see her move to England, America and Scotland all by the time she reached 10-years-old. In this episode, James O'Brien takes a tour through Zoe's adolescence and hatred of school & school bullies, her parents divorce and her love of the Peter Sellers & Dick Emery. The pair navigate Zoe's slow-burn career and delve deep into why it takes her three years achieve her goals and what the future looks like for her too. You can see Zoe Lyons tour dates here

    1h 2m
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    3,402 Ratings

    About

    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. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com

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