Talk Media

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Broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove and Professor Eamonn O’Neill host Talk Media: a forensic analysis of how the media works, and who works the media. Packed full of candid commentary and informed opinion, Talk Media features a weekly guest commentator from the worlds of journalism, entertainment and politics.

The Big Light


    • Feb 19, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 28m AVG DURATION
    • 315 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Talk Media

    Labour Together, BBC Clawback and Bella Caledonia

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 49:58


    Stuart and Eamonn are back to dissect the happenings in the media! Labour Together have been up to some suspicious stuff, bringing Keir Starmer's position into more doubt, the BBC are looking to claw back £600 million in lost licence fee payments, and Bella Caledonia believes that Scotland has a “one-dimensional media class that all says the same thing and all agrees about everything” - are they right? The guys also answer a listeners' question and offer up their recommendations (links below!) Stuart Cosgrove recommends… HH: Helenio Herrera - Football's Original Master of the Dark Arts by Richard Fitzpatrick - https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/hh-9781399425087/ Eamonn O'Neill recommends… Small prophets (BBC) - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002q765/small-prophets The Great Santini, starring the late Robert Duvall - https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/great_santini

    That Mandelson Front Page & What Next For Anas Sarwar (with Laura Webster from The National)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 31:11


    We're delighted to welcome Laura Webster, Editor of The National to the show. Unfortunately Laura is suffering with a really bad cold and had to record from home, which shows a little in the quality of the audio but her contributions are wonderful as always and I'm sure that all of our listeners will take a lot from the show. Stuart and Laura pick over the fallout from that front page of The National and discuss what's next for Anas Sarwar, as well as answering questions from our patrons in the main show. For our Patreon supporters, look out tomorrow for our extended Listeners' Questions edition! Support us on Patreon

    Talk Media Take On The Epstein Files

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 43:13


    This week Stuart and Eamonn return as they dissect the Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice and ask what they mean for some of the major names implicated in the convicted paedophile's crimes.  This is the big story of the week, for obvious reasons, but the guys also touched on the mass layoffs at The Washington Post and Jeff Bezos' role in that. Alex MacDonald asked a great question about Reform's latest tactics which Eamonn covered off about halfway through the show too - we hope it answered your question on Farage's next steps Alex! For our Patreon supporters, look out tomorrow for our extended Listeners' Questions edition! Support us on Patreon

    In Conversation with John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 26:53


    This week it's a very special episode of Talk Media as we welcome the First Minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP, John Swinney MSP, to the programme.  In conversation with broadcaster Stuart Cosgrove, the First Minister chats about his media tastes, his takes on his portrayal by the media, and Stuart even manages to get some fresh insight into some stories that he was recently a major part of. He also shares his thoughts on Nigel Farage and the rise of Reform UK in Scotland. Support Talk Media on Patreon for great bonus content and to have your questions answered on the show by Stuart and his guests: patreon.com/talkmedia

    This week Stuart is in conversation with Laura Webster, editor of The National. ‘The BBC under attack as Trump Threatens a Billion Dollar Lawsuit' and ‘Listener Questions for Laura.'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2025 65:10


    We hope you enjoy this free full episode of Talk Media from Wednesday 12th November. If you would like to hear the show on the day of recording and support the making of this podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia Our pricing of 99p per episode helps us cover some of the costs of producing this independent look at the big stories hitting our media every week.

    ‘Hurricane aftermath in Jamaica - are we numb to images of destruction?', ‘Israel arrests Army commander who released film of prisoner abuse' and finally, ‘Carnegie report finds Scottish wellbeing ahead of rUK'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2025 19:17


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Plaid Cymru win historic by-election', ‘Follow the Money' and finally, ‘Keir Starmer the Northern Soul fan'.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025 19:18


    For the full episode go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Starmer defends Israeli football thugs', ‘Sarkozy in jail and things get worse for the dodgy Prince' and finally, ‘Kaye Adams Pulled from Radio Scotland'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2025 60:38


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full episode with Listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Gaza', ‘The SNP Conference' and ‘Prince Andrew' with David Pratt

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2025 25:21


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full episode with Listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Labour MSP brings scandal to Holyrood', ‘Hat Swipe CEO' and ‘The Media and the Nearly Men of Sport'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 19:17


    To hear the whole show, go to www.talkmedia.com/talkmedia

    ‘Why is our media promoting Farage?', ‘Israel double tap live on air' and ‘Drama of the Week' with the Dynamic Duo of Stuart Cosgrove and Prof. Eamonn O'Neill

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 19:17


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full episode with Listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Oxygen given to anti-immigration groups', ‘Why is the Scottish media reluctant to report ‘Secret State' stories?' and ‘The Lord Advocate reaffirms support for protest here in Scotland within legal boundaries'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2025 29:08


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full episode with Listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    America Special with David Pratt

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 27:17


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full Gaza Special with Listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘From the Front Line to the Fringe' and our main topic, 'Ukraine'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2025 22:18


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full Gaza Special with Listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    Gaza Special with David Pratt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 22:59


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full Gaza Special with Listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Greens at War', ‘Wetransfer's A.I. Harvest' and ‘70% of Scottish Businesses back a Scots Visa'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 23:11


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full 3 topic podcast with listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Super Injunctions are back!', ‘Fake News Travels Fast' and ‘Trump's Coming to Scotland'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 18:31


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full 3 topic podcast with listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Gregg Wallace', ‘Jeremy Corbyn's new political party' and ‘Raynor Winn's Salt Path memoir'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2025 16:27


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Glastonbury', ‘Labour's Welfare Bill' and ‘Crime in Scotland'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 17:55


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Palestine Action', ‘You've Had Your Democracy' and ‘Mind Your Language'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2025 21:21


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Bad News for The News', ‘Union Jack Stooshie' and ‘What a Lot of Rubbish'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 22:14


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘By-Election Coverage - how did our media do?', ‘The Freedom Flotilla' and ‘The BBC to Serve the Reform Audience'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 23:11


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Organised Crime Reporting', ‘Forget Independence, Prepare for War' and ‘Gerry Adams wins Libel Case'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 20:03


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Racism and Sectarianism - Farage Style', ‘The Centralisation of the Scottish Media' and an extended Listener's questions.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 17:52


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘The UK makes a fishy deal', ‘Lineker leaves the BBC' and ‘Who actually took that photograph?'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 14:00


    Here's the first topic from today's Talk Media Episode. To hear the full hour long podcast, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Enoch Starmer', ‘Hamas Hostage Release' and ‘Assisted Dying Vote In Holyrood'

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 21:22


    Here's a 20 min listen to this week's Talk Media. To hear the full 3 topics, Listener questions and recommendations, go to https://www.patreon.com/posts/enoch-starmer-in-128938550?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

    The Media under a Global Threat - Part 2 Ukraine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 21:19


    This week, in the second of our series of deep dives, we are talking about Ukraine with Talk Media pal David Pratt. We are really grateful to David for bringing his real life experiences and insights to the podcast and listeners. This podcast was recorded in advance of release.

    The Media under a Global Threat - Part 1 Palestine

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 21:19


    We've taken this opportunity to welcome Talk Media regular David Pratt in to the studio to record this 2 part series starting with Palestine. With Trump taking up so much of the news space, this gives us a chance to do a deep dive into this horrific conflict that seems to have dropped down the news cycle. A huge thanks to David for taking the time to come in and give us the benefit of his experience and expertise. Part 2 Ukraine will be available next week.

    ‘Le Pen Held to Account', ‘Documentary Power' and an extended Listener Questions.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025 21:23


    This week we've gone for 2 topics and 7 listener questions. Get the kettle on! We made the 6 part podcast Hunting The Whisky Bandits with BBC Disclosure. Check itnout here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0029kxz

    https://pod.co/talk-media/farewell-to-nicola-bbc-news-head-leaves-the-building-and-us-defend-signal-leaks

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 21:20


    The boys are in great form this week as they chat through the topics that hit their media radar. Listener questions from Lorraine Kerr, Roger Hyam and Thomas Devlin.

    ‘Labour's disability crisis', ‘Lost in Space' and ‘Culture or Cringe' with Stuart Cosgrove and Prof. Eamonn O'Neill

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 21:21


    This week the boys are on good form as they chew over the week's topics. Listener questions come from Alex MacDonald and Kevin Rinchey. Apologies for not getting the shout out for questions earlier. If you want to submit a question for the boys, please fire us a question in by 2pm on a Wednesday in the comments areas or messaging areas of Patreon and we will do our best to get it discussed. To hear the full episode, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    ‘Kransov - Agent Orange Baby or Conspiracy Theory', ‘More SNP lifers to stand down' and ‘Michael Sheen - Man of the People' / with the dynamic duo of Stuart and Eamonn

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 21:19


    This week the dynamic duo return to talk the week's big media stories with listener questions from Iain Campbell, Gordon Cuthbertson, Alex MacDonald and Michael Mackinnon.

    Today, as Talk Media moves into its 5th year, the boys take a look at the changes in the media landscape as we all come to terms with news and communication in 2025.

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 10:09


    This week we welcome Stuart back to the podcast as we start our 5th year of Talk Media on The Big Light. Thank you to all of you who support us - every penny you give us goes towards the costs of making the podcast. To hear the full episode, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    Labour Defence Announcement, Public Prayer and Sunset Song and book banning / with Lesley Riddoch and John Nicolson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 21:06


    Here's the first topic of today's Talk Media. To hear the full episode go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    'Trump to the Rescue' and 'Arts for Arts Sake' / with Catriona Stewart and Angela Haggerty

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 23:00


    Here's the first topic of today's Talk Media. To hear the full episode go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia

    "Let Hell Break Out" and 'Farage sets sights on Scotland' / with Ruth Wishart and David Pratt

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 21:32


    Here's the first topic of today's Talk Media. To hear the full episode go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia An extended listener questions this week featuring questions from Alex MacDonald, Bill White and Colin Bone.

    Starmer in a Spin, The Scottish Government Budget and They're Banning Cats / with Angela Haggerty and John Nicolson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 30:21


    Here's the first topic of today's Talk Media. To hear the full episode go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia We are delighted to welcome John Nicolson to the show today for the first time. Thanks to John for joining us remotely, hopefully next time we will have him in for some tea and biscuits! Listen question this week is from John Nichol. Recommendations: Angela Severance - Apple TV Eamonn The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson John The Plot Against America - Philip Roth Brian and Maggie - The real interview CH4

    budget cats banning starmer scottish government ch4 john nichol power the years john nicolson angela haggerty
    “Clearing out Gaza,” the UK media reacts to Reeves' ‘runway to growth' and an extended listener questions / with David Pratt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 33:29


    Here's the first topic of today's Talk Media. To hear the full episode go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia Today's show was recorded before Israel announced their delay in releasing Palestinian prisoners. Listen questions from Jim Hunter, James Ross and Linda. Recommendations: Eamonn The Rose of Tibet - Lionel Davidson David War was my comfort zone, until I had to walk away - BBC Outlook

    ‘Ceasefire in Gaza'; ‘Trump 2.0 Speaks' and ‘When the Media Solves the Mystery' / with Catriona Stewart and David Pratt

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 23:53


    Here's a free listen to the first topic from this week's show. If you want to hear the other two topics, listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia and help us to continue our independent look at the stories hitting the news and the media behind them.

    ‘UK's First Drug Consumption Opens' ‘Can Artificial Intelligence Save Labour?' and ‘Sturgeon Splits as Ferry Sails' / with Alison Thewliss and Angela Haggerty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 37:41


    Happy New Year to you all from everyone at The Big Light. Here's a free listen to the first topic from this week's show. If you want to hear the other two topics, listener questions and recommendations, go to www.patreon.com/talkmedia and help us to continue our independent look at the stories hitting the news and the media behind them. We're really happy to be back in the studio and delighted to have such a packed first episode.

    ‘City Centre Cup Chaos' ‘The Prince's Spy' and ‘Our top stories of 2024' / with Catriona Stewart, Angela Haggerty and David Pratt

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 6:04


    A bumper show today full of energy and great debate. We'll be back with our first show of 2025 on 8th January. Wishing all of you a peaceful and happy Christmas and New Year. Recommendations: Catriona Swiped - CH4 Emma and Matt Willis challenge a group of Year 8 pupils at the Stanway School in Colchester to give up their smartphones completely for 21 days Angela Irresistible -BBC2 Why are ultra-processed foods so irresistible, and how they have come to dominate food culture? This documentary by medical doctor and academic Dr Chris van Tulleken features interviews with former food industry insiders who talk openly about the way in which popular foods have been designed to be irresistible. Food companies go to extraordinary lengths to ensure their products connect with consumers - from using brain scans to assess the deliciousness of ice cream to carefully engineering the sound of a crunch. Ultra-processed foods are hyper-delicious and super-convenient, have long shelf lives and are extremely cheap. But a growing body of evidence is linking these products to our declining health. David A Quiet Evening: The Travels of Norman Lewis Collected here, from a period of nearly five decades, are thirty-six of Norman Lewis's best articles. In each, his writing crackles with poker-faced wit and stylistic brilliance. As a witness to his times – the good, the bad and the absurd – he was unmatched, and his instinct for important events, and moments, was infallible. His range here includes Ibizan fishermen, an interview with Castro's executioner, the genocide of the South American Indian tribes, a paean to Seville and his meeting with a tragic Ernest Hemingway. That meeting was ‘a shattering experience,' Norman wrote to Ian Fleming who had commissioned him, ‘of the kind likely to sabotage ambition.'Fortunately it didn't, and the articles assembled between these covers are compulsive, hilarious, tender and beautifully written, at times deeply upsetting, and always unforgettable. The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World  With a mind-boggling mastery of sources, Dalrymple weaves a thrilling tale of India's cultural hegemony, not forgetting its invention of mathematics and related disciplines still in use today - Andrew Lycett, Spectator Eamonn Comfort and Joy Alan Bird (Bill Paterson, Outlander, Dad's Army) thinks he has life pretty well organised. Glasgow's top DJ, with a nice apartment, and the only red BMW Cabriolet north of Manchester, he has little to worry about until his kleptomaniac girlfriend Maddy ditches him just before Christmas.

    ‘Syria - who saw that coming?' ‘Scottish Independence Poll Shocker' and ‘Does the UK press follow an unwritten code in murder reporting?' / with David Pratt and Angela Haggerty

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 6:02


    Listener questions from Kay Springham and Iain Campbell. Recommendations: Eamonn The Only Girl In the Orchestra - Netflix This short documentary celebrates trailblazing double bassist Orin O'Brien, the first woman to become a full-time member of the New York Philharmonic. Angela Cover - BBC Sounds The man tasked with finding and killing alleged IRA informers was an informer all along. Reporter Mark Horgan traces the story of the secret British Army Agent known as Stakeknife. David My Silent War - The Autobiography of a Spy - Kim Philby In the annals of espionage, one name towers above all others: that of H. A. R. "Kim" Philby, the ringleader of the legendary Cambridge spies. A member of the British establishment, Philby joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1940, rose to the head of Soviet counterintelligence, and, as M16's liaison with the CIA and the FBI, betrayed every secret of Allied operations to the Russians, fatally compromising covert actions to roll back the Iron Curtain in the early years of the Cold War. Written from Moscow in 1967, My Silent War shook the world and introduced a new archetype in fiction: the unrepentant spy. It inspired John Le Carre's Smiley novels and the later espionage novels of Graham Greene. Kim Philby was history's most successful spy. He was also an exceptional writer who gave us the great iconic story of the Cold War and revolutionized, in the process, the art of espionage writing.

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