BOOKED IN

Donald Trump is on his way back to the White House, and I thought it warranted a special overview.Normally I chat to an author on this podcast about the book they've written - but I felt there is so much content, and so much information out there since Donald Trump was announced the winner of the election - that I felt the best use of an episode today would be to almost filter through the most helpful information I've come across.It looks at where the latest developments, historical context, where Trump's legal challenges currently stand, Biden's legacy, and an insight into what diplomacy might look like for a second Trump term. No matter how you feel about this election, let's be real - it's going to be discussed at your work, with your friends, in social settings etc over the coming days and weeks.I have no interest in telling anyone how to feel today, I only care that I'm a helpful source of impartial analysis and context - so I hope you find today's episode helpful. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rashid Khalidi is the author of a bestselling book called 'The Hundred Years' War on Palestine' - looking at the tumultuous century from the Balfour declaration in 1917 up until 2017. This book is not just a historical overview - it is also a deeply personal look at the author's family roots in the region. We spoke about his perspectives - as a Palestinian, an American, and a historian - on everything from the establishment of Israel, the unwavering bond it shares with America, and the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lord Mountbatten was a great grandson of Queen Victoria and an uncle of Prince Philip. During his marriage to Countess Edwina, he famously said they spent all their married lives "getting into other people's beds". In 1979, he was murdered by the IRA off the coast of Sligo in one of the most significant moments of The Troubles. Yet, decades after his death, he made headlines once again in 2022, when a man accused him of sexually abusing him when was an 11-year-old boy. Author Andrew Lownie has written the most comprehensive biography of this complex figure, and was generous enough to chat with me about his research. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last weekend marked 40 years since an IRA bomb very nearly killed the British Prime Minister at the time, Margaret Thatcher. The bombing of a hotel in Brighton during the 1984 Conservative Party Conference was one of the most significant moments during the Troubles. In a chilling line while taking responsibility for the attack, the IRA said "today we were unlucky, but remember we have only to be lucky once, you will have to be lucky always". Rory Carroll, author of 'Killing Thatcher', sat down with me to talk about the significance of this moment, and its unintended consequences. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For eight seasons, Mary Bonnet has been one of the most popular members cast on the hit show, Selling Sunset. Always the one to stay out of the drama, it came as no surprise to me that she decided to name her newly published memoir, 'Selling Sunshine'. However, what I had not appreciated nor understood from the show, was just how many challenges Mary has faced throughout her life. She has a tattoo on her arm that reads 'but the fighter still remains', and in a twisted sense of irony - she never knew how much the day she got the tattoo would test that fighting spirit. Please note: this episode touches on grief, miscarriage, abuse, rape and teenage pregnancy.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump is arguably the most famous person - and most polarising political figure - on the planet. Few people know him more personally, or understand his upbringing better than his nephew, Fred Trump III. Fred was kind enough to chat with me about his bestselling book, All In The Family, an intimate look at the Trump clan, and his own evolution of opinions towards his uncle. While having a president in the family is not something most can relate to, the topics explored in the book are understood and experienced across the globe - from addiction to inheritance and family fallouts. In a way, so much of the family's dynamic can be understood while learning about William, Fred's youngest son - who is non-verbal and in need of around the clock care. As you'll hear throughout our conversation, Fred always grappled with the fact he didn't vote for his uncle in either election - and doesn't plan on doing so this year either - but he attended the inauguration, feeling it could provide a platform for his advocacy work for others like William. He has asked me to share two links for Irish organisations that advocate for intellectual disability rights in Ireland - where most of my listeners are. According to Social Justice Ireland, the 2022 census showed 13.5% of the population - more than 600,000 people - are living with a disability. The first link is for Inclusion Ireland, and the second is for Advocacy.ie. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've all heard the famous saying, that at one point in time the sun never set on the British Empire. But, what is its lasting impact and complex legacy? How much does reflecting back on the past assist in understanding the present? Author Sathnam Sanghera has explored the impact of Britain's colonial past - both within the UK through his book 'Empireland', and further afield assessing its global influence in his latest book, Empireworld. It was an absolute joy chatting to Sathnam about his books - I hope you find the conversation as interesting as I did! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is a gripping story of family dynasties, abuse of power, corruption, cover ups and murder. While on trial for the 2021 murders of his wife and son - Maggie and Paul - Alex Murdaugh spoke of the 'tangled web we weave'. Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie Bauerlein has masterfully untangled that web in her new book, The Devil at His Elbow, and - as someone who followed every detail of this case - I could not get over just how much I learned reading this book.I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I appreciated chatting with Valerie. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David McWilliams hosts one of the most successful podcasts in Ireland - and it also happens to be my favourite. I had the privilege and pleasure of chatting to him this week about his new book called Money - A Story of Humanity. It is not a book about how to become an economist (I'm relieved to report), but rather a fascinating history book, exploring the idea of money and its impact on society. If you've any interest in the underlying message of The Wizard of Oz, where the name for The Dixie Chicks comes from, or just how close Hitler came to destabilising the British economy, this might just be the episode for you!  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Out of 7,000 people who participated in my recent Instagram polls - 83% do not believe Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide, just under half (49%) feel Diana, Princess of Wales, could have been murdered, and a third think it is possible JFK was killed by the CIA. I spoke with Jesselyn Cook about her book, 'The Quiet Damage', which takes a look at the world of Q Anon and conspiracy theories, and the impact they have had on American families and US politics in particular.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in 2021, reporter Alex Thompson signed a deal with Simon & Schuster to write a book about President Biden, which was expected to be published ahead of the election in November.Not busy enough, he was also a journalist covering the White House for Axios - and one of the few reporting on the growing concerns about the president's age and ability, particularly when it came to a possible second term.But then, back in March - and long before the infamous June debate - Simon & Schuster announced the book deal was off.While his research is yet to be published, I spoke with Alex about this extraordinary chapter in his career. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 2014, the world was shocked and appalled by the brutal murder of James Foley. An American journalist, Foley was captured by ISIS in 2012 and ultimately beheaded on camera - with the barbaric execution uploaded to the internet. Ten years on, I spoke with his mother Diane about her extraordinary strength and compassion, even towards those who inflicted so much pain on her family.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Back in 2018 and during the throes of his addiction, Hunter Biden fathered a child with a woman from Arkansas, called Lunden Roberts. Despite a DNA test unequivocally confirming he was the father, the Biden family are yet to meet her in person - and the president and first lady only acknowledged their granddaughter last year following criticism in the mainstream media. Roberts has a new book coming out later this month, and spoke to me about her experience of the pregnancy that was politicised the moment it became public.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pornhub has been one of the top 10 most popular websites in the world - with as many as 130 million daily visitors. At least 6.8 million videos are uploaded to the site annually - but what if I told you that amongst that content there were thousands of trafficking and underage victims?Laila Mickelwait's recently published book, Takedown, breaks down the cost of profit in porn, and is already on the bestseller list - after listening to our chat I hope you'll understand why. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In November 2015, Jessica Waite's life was turned upside down when her husband Sean died suddenly. They shared a son together and had been life partners for twenty years.But within days of his passing her life was turned upside down once again, when she learned she was not just mourning his loss, but the loss of the marriage she thought they had shared.Jessica's newly released memoir, The Widow's Guide to Dead Bastards, is witty, candid, and deeply personal. We had a wonderful chat about her journey through paralysing grief, anger, despair and betrayal. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most quoted lines in American history is from President John F Kennedy's inauguration in 1961. 'Ask not, what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'In this explosive new book, 'Ask Not', Maureen Callahan examines the legacy of the Kennedy family through the lens of numerous women - both in and out of the family - and tells their harrowing tales. This book has raised eyebrows, divided opinion and sparked debate about America's most famous political dynasty.Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Carolyn Bassett - the late wife of JFK Jr - are the famous faces that grace the cover of this book, but in our conversation we also explored the experiences of women whose names you might not be as familiar with. Of course, in this current political climate, I couldn't miss the opportunity to also speak with her about the complex impact of the family's legacy today, including RFK Jr bid for the presidency. Though it was a wide ranging conversation, and Maureen answered EVERYTHING I put to her, our chat barely scratches the surface on the allegations brought forward in this book. I hope you'll have a listen to this episode, and as always, decide for yourself what to think. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few weeks ago, I asked on Instagram what people's favourite memoir was and an extraordinary number of people mentioned a book called 'Poor' by Katriona O'Sullivan.The book made me laugh, it made me cry, and most of all it made me think everyone - EVERYONE - should read it.After listening to my chat with Katriona, I think you'll see why. Enjoy.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the death of Osama bin Laden, an Irish-American criminal called James 'Whitey' Bulger became number 1 on the FBI's most wanted list. The myth of Whitey Bulger even loosely inspired Jack Nicholson's character in the classic movie, The Departed. I spoke with author and journalist Dick Lehr about the stunning story he broke about Bulger while working on The Boston Globe's 'Spotlight' team, and the book 'Black Mass' which he wrote about the notorious criminal. PLEASE NOTE: Apologies about the echo at times. Hope you can forget it is even there! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conor Niland is a former tennis professional whose new book, The Racket, documents in raw detail his experience as a player ranked 129 in the world. With Wimbledon back on our screens, it's that time of year again where everyone loves tennis - but this book provides rare insight into the realities of the sport far from centre court. Niland is brutally honest, funny and real throughout, never afraid to poke fun at himself or reflect honestly on his mistakes. Those familiar with my page know I'm no sporty spice, but I thoroughly enjoyed our chat and hope you enjoy listening! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sara Glass is the author of a newly published and powerful memoir called 'Kissing Girls on Shabbat'. Born and raised in a devout Hasidic community in Brooklyn, Glass knew for sure by the age of 32 that she was gay. For those who might be skeptical about listening, thinking 'how can I relate to a gay, Jewish woman?' Trust me. While this book documents her journey through religious identity and sexual orientation, it also takes a deeply personal look at other universal topics - such as family trauma, grief, divorce and mental health. There's even a comparison drawn to how Hasidic women and Irish women - during the height of the Catholic Church's influence - were treated at vulnerable moments, such as after childbirth. Give it a listen, and let us know what you think! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Scheck is an investigative reporter and the co-author of the best selling book, Blood & Oil. We spoke all about his research on Saudi Arabia and the country's crown prince and de facto leader, Mohammed bin Salman. Blood & Oil was the first book I read this year, and I absolutely adored it. With at least 7,000 Saudi princes and a de facto leader who could potentially rule the country for decades, this book is not one to be missed! Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Browder is the best selling author of two books, Red Notice and Freezing Order. In them, he documents his time in Russia, the killing of his lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, and what led to him becoming one of President Putin's most outspoken critics. We spoke about all of this, plus the war in Ukraine and the impact of sanctions. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emeritus Professor at Oxford University and renowned historian Avi Shlaim has written many books over the years about the Middle East. His most recent release is much more personal. 'Three Worlds, Memoirs of an Arab Jew' is an intimate look at the Shlaim family's journey from upper class Jews in Baghdad to their reluctant move to Israel two years after the state was established in 1948. We had a timely conversation about division in Israeli society, his own journey of disenchantment, and his views on the unfolding situation in Gaza.  Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.