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Have You Ever Thought About Killing Yourself? // with Romana Dalglish
Romana recently shared a very thoughtful and introspective Instagram post about a suicide attempt in April last year. I found it to be very profound, so I asked her if she fancied sitting down and having a chat with me.
‘Have you ever thought about killing yourself?’ might seem like a really shocking and insensitive question to ask out loud, let alone have as the title for an episode of a podcast. It could quite reasonably be interpreted as an unsuitably nonchalant and flippant way to ask something so serious.
And to be fair, when considered out of context, it’s probably all of the above.
I find that lighthearted conversations are a very good way of getting really heavy things out in the open, and it’s sometimes the only way to cut through them.
These types of conversations on podcasts can very quickly become overkill. Over-done, over-cooked, under achieving, but every now and then, it’s a conversation worth having, and worth sharing.
Everyone, no matter how successful, rich, loved, famous, has absolutely lost themselves at least once in their lives.
Money worries, identity worries, job worries, worries about the future, sadness about the past, panic about your career progression or where your life should or shouldn’t be. Families falling apart, friends drifting away.
It gets to us all and it’s very easy to then think you’re the only one, and Jesus does that make it feel a hundred times lonelier. Well, you’re not the only one, and when you realise that, it somehow makes it that bit more manageable.
We don’t have the answers, if we did, we wouldn’t be having this conversation in the first place. But not every question has a definitive answer, and not every issue has an exact solution. But just talking about them can answer some of it, and solve part of it. And sometimes that’s enough.
If you can laugh the whole way through, like we did, then that’s even better.
If you’re just here for the patter, then I hope you enjoy it. If you’re here because you’re looking for a lifeline, then I hope this provides it. Stay tuned to the end for some perfect insight into why we should always hold on for tomorrow.
If you enjoy this episode, share it somewhere. You never know who it might reach.
Love ye.
Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
Instagram: @seantmcdonald
Twitter: @seanmcdonald01
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58. Class War, Collaborating with Ken Loach & Celtic's George Connelly // with Filmmaker Ged Fitzsimmons
01:41:03||Season 5, Ep. 58Download Coachly on The App StoreFilmmaker and Cosmic Cat Films founder Ged Fitzsimmons joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about filmmaking, creativity and finding your way into an industry that can be notoriously difficult to navigate.Ged talks about his unconventional route into film, building Cosmic Cat Films, and becoming an impact producer, using cinema as a vehicle for social change. We discuss his work with Ken Loach, including I, Daniel Blake, and the experiences that shaped his approach to making and distributing films.We also get into the realities of Scotland’s film industry, class, opportunity, rejection, the value of life experience, and what separates work that simply entertains from work that can leave a lasting impact.Later, the conversation turns to one of Ged’s most personal projects: a new documentary about former Celtic player George Connelly.We explore George’s remarkable career, the mystery surrounding his early departure from football, and the anxiety, addiction and mental-health struggles behind a story too often reduced to one of wasted potential. The film aims to celebrate what George achieved while finally exploring the question that has followed him for decades: what happened to George Connelly?geGed also explains the crowdfunding campaign helping bring the documentary to cinemas, and his ambition to give George, his family and the supporters a long-overdue testimonial on the big screen.Support The CrowdfunderContact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
27. Catfishing: Sextortion, Blackmail & Suicide
53:21||Season 5, Ep. 27First published in June 2024Imagine this: You're scrolling through Instagram, TikTok or even Facebook, and suddenly you get a message from someone who seems genuinely interested in you. The conversation quickly turns flirtatious, and before you know it, you've shared personal photos and information. And then, the unthinkable happens. The person on the other end reveals their true intentions, and threaten to send it on to your friends and family unless you pay up, or do something equally distressing.This isn't an urban myth or something that only happens thousands of miles away, this is the reality for many people who fall victim to ‘sextortion’ and blackmail by catfish accounts, and it’s happening where you live.These twisted predators use fake identities to build trust and manipulate their victims, leading to devastating consequences, both emotionally and financially.In this episode I’m joined by Debbie MacPhee whose teenage son was targeted, even without engaging with anyone, and we’re shining a light on the tactics and methods used by these criminals. You’ll hear a number of stories about people who were targeted, with some horrifying outcomes, and steps you can take to ensure that you and your loved ones can stay safe in an online setting that’s becoming increasingly dangerous.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
57. 'Being On The Front Page Of The Papers Made Me Money' // with Jodie Marsh
01:55:03||Season 5, Ep. 57Coachly: Your Personal Trainer on the App StoreJodie Marsh joins me at Fripps Farm for a biographical interview spanning severe school bullying, London nightlife, Stringfellows, Essex Wives, Page 3 and the height of Britain’s 2000s tabloid culture.She explains how she negotiated £30,000 from The Sun, why she deliberately kept herself on the front pages, what made Celebrity Big Brother such a brutal experience, and how much of her public feud with Katie Price was genuine. We also discuss grief, depression, competitive bodybuilding and the private life behind the public character.The final part of our conversation focuses on Fripps Farm, the animal sanctuary Jodie founded in Essex, as well as online abuse, disputes surrounding the sanctuary and her plans to expand its work.Jodie Marsh, in her own words.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
56. The Voice of Dr Hook // Dennis Locorriere
01:13:43||Season 5, Ep. 56Dennis Locorriere - 1949 / 2026Dennis Locorriere has been the voice of Dr Hook for over 50 years, achieving number 1’s in 42 countries and countless gold and platinum records.We talk about Dennis’ early days in New Jersey and the formation of Dr Hook, and how Sylvia’s Mother put them on the map… plus the true story of the REAL Sylvia and her mother…We discuss Dr Hook’s stratospheric success and what’s kept their music in people’s hearts for over five decades…And there are incredible tales about Shel Silverstein, Billy Connolly, Elvis Costello and more, over an illustrious and phenomenal life and career, that’s still going strong.And as always, there’s plenty more.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/seanmcdonald01Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
55. Live in Conversation With Zack Polanski
01:28:58||Season 5, Ep. 55I was joined live on stage in Glasgow by Zack Polanski, Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, Holly Bruce MSP, and comedian Amanda Dwyer.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
54. "We're Open To A Coalition With The SNP" // with Scottish Greens Co-Leader Gillian Mackay
01:06:44||Season 5, Ep. 54I sit down wirth Gillian Mackay, as we look to a new era in Scottish politics.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
53. California Schemin’: Billy Boyd on the Story, the Myths, and What Really Happened
01:15:10||Season 5, Ep. 53Billy Boyd was one half of Silibil n Brains, the Scottish duo behind one of the most notorious bluffs in music industry history. But according to him, the version you know isn’t quite the truth.Italian Language Exchange Laungh Night Party At Amore, Glasgow!contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
52. Rehabilitation or Repetition? // Inside Barlinnie: With Former Prison Guard Frank
02:02:36||Season 5, Ep. 52This episode is about how justice and humanity can intersect, and what happens when you treat people like they can still be more than the worst thing they’ve ever done.I’m viscerally aware of how serious crimes affect victims - I’ve felt that pain myself, but every conversation needs space for nuance.And in this episode, you’ll hear former Barlinnie prison officer Frank and I have a very detailed one.We discuss his expansive work history and his view of life inside Barlinnie, how modern innovations in rule-breaking make it tough to stop drugs getting in, plus the blackmail methods used against guards…We take a look at the social factors behind crime and why so many end up in a cycle of prison, addiction, and reoffending…And we explore why, in some cases, investing in rehabilitation makes more sense than a never-ending, expensive spiral.And as always, there’s loads more.Contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com
82. When The Modern World Gets Too Much, What’s The Answer? // with Angela Landers
01:34:33||Season 5, Ep. 82Angela Landers is a teacher of transcendental meditation at the TM Centre in Glasgow, recently displaced following the vape-shop fire on Union Street.In this conversation, we explore what transcendental meditation actually is, what it does to the mind and body, and why more people are turning inwards in a world that feels increasingly loud, constant, and overwhelming.We get into the crossover between science and long-standing spiritual practices, how attention and awareness shape our experience, and whether looking inward offers something that modern life doesn’t.I’m not offering a neat solution, because there isn’t one. I’m just asking the right questions.If life feels like too much at times, and you find yourself constantly looking outward for something to settle that, this might shift your perspective.contact: seanmcdonald.podcast@gmail.com TM Glasgow