The Stranger Times

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A podcast featuring short stories and news from the world of The Stranger Times - a newspaper based in Manchester reporting the weird and wonderful from around the world. Based on the novel The Stranger Times by C.K. McDonnell - out Jan 14th 2021.

C.K. McDonnell


    • Jan 31, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 45 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Stranger Times podcast is an absolute delight for anyone who enjoys short stories brought to life by talented narrators. With its diverse range of stories and unique narrators, this podcast offers a wonderful listening experience. One standout episode, in particular, is the Beauty and the Beast episode which captivates listeners with its exceptional storytelling.

    One of the best aspects of The Stranger Times podcast is the incredible talent of the narrators featured on each episode. These individuals bring such depth and emotion to their readings, truly breathing life into the characters and stories. It's a pleasure to hear the different styles and interpretations of each narrator, making every episode a fresh and exciting experience.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the selection of stories presented. Ranging from humorous to thought-provoking, these stories offer a wide variety of genres and themes to suit all tastes. Whether it's a funny tale or a mysterious one, each story hooks you from beginning to end, leaving you eager for more.

    However, like any podcast, there are some potential drawbacks. One possible downside is that not every story may resonate with every listener. While the diversity in genres can be seen as a positive aspect, it also means that not every episode will cater to everyone's preferences. However, given the wide range of stories available, this minor issue is easily overlooked.

    In conclusion, The Stranger Times podcast is a true gem in the world of storytelling podcasts. With its talented narrators and captivating selection of stories, it provides hours of entertainment for listeners seeking something truly special. Whether you're looking for humor or mystery, this podcast delivers it all with flair and creativity. Highly recommended for anyone in need of engaging narratives that transport them into another world.



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    Latest episodes from The Stranger Times

    New: Paint by Numbers Ruth Cockburn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2024 46:39


    This week's episode sees the return of the the magnificent Ruth E Cockburn reading a new Stranger Times short story, Paint by Numbers, Caimh gives you an insight into his hobbies and an update on Diller's reading abilities. 

    numbers paint cockburn diller paint by numbers caimh
    New: Launch Week, Baby! Relight My Fire Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 28:42


    This week's episode sees Brendan McDonald's caressing your ears with a cheeky preview of Relight My Fire (Chapter 2). Caimh's also out in the wild this week signing books and doing events. Find out where you can pick up signed books or meet him/listen to his chatting nonsense. 

    babies launch week brendan mcdonald relight my fire caimh
    New: A Good Book - Brand new story read by Mark Stay

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 33:05


    The legend that is Mark Stay is here to narrate a brand new Stranger Times story written by Caimh called A Good Book. 

    Happy New Year, Events, Prologues, previews!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 24:30


    Caimh does his trademark rambling about God know's what before the episode is mercifully saved by the ever effervescent Brendan McDonald reading the Prologue of Relight My Fire. 

    god happy new year events prologue prologues brendan mcdonald relight my fire caimh
    New: Christmas Special read by Brendan McDonald!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 35:02


    Finishing the year off in style, we've got the unsurpassable Brendan McDonald, narrator of The Stranger Times audiobooks, reading a brand new short story featuring a well-loved character from one of the previous books. Relight My Fire out Jan 25th - Preorder now and a merry Christmas to one and all!

    Christmas Trilogy Part 2 with Jason Manford

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 32:40


    Join Caimh as he reveals exciting details about events (including the correct dates), gets very excited about meeting one of his heroes and then the incredible Jason Manford reads the podcast's most popular story ever. 

    Christmas Trilogy: Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 32:35


    Ahead of the upcoming brand new Stranger Times Christmas special, we're going to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past. Also, the ghost of foggy brain as Caimh gets the dates of events wrong - see the Waterstones website for correct dates!

    Spooktacular - Brand new short story!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 44:06


    In this ep, Caimh reads a brand new short story that he read LIVE on the first annual Stranger times Spooktacular. As if that wasn't enough, he also reveals the exciting goodies available to you if you preorder Relight My Fire, Stranger Times book 4 in hardback. And for the first time, info on events happening next year - plus, we edit out his diatribe about firework misuse so you don't have to hear it. 

    Random Gold Part 2 - Awards, afflictions and Barry Castagnola

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2023 48:12


    Join Caimh for some exciting news, an update on big events coming up and a slice of Stranger Times gold .

    gold awards afflictions barry castagnola
    Random Gold - Deals, Feels and Janice Connolly

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2023 46:00


    Caimh drops a surprise ep, like one of them Beyonce Knowles albums - only this has no singles but it does have a deal, an update and a slice of pure Stranger Times GOLD!

    Episode 7: We are ready for launch!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 56:28


    Re-live the highlights, the lowlights and the big fights of the online launch event for Love Will Tear Us apart as Caimh, author Mark Stay and narrator extraordinaire Brendan McDonald talk mostly nonsense. You should hear the crap we cut out! Also, there's a fun quiz which you can not now win as it was an on-the-night sort of thing. You had to be there! 

    launch mark stay brendan mcdonald caimh
    Series 3, Episode 6: The Beautiful Game with Charlie Baker

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2023 30:41


    This week's episode of The Stranger Times is the last to be broadcast from Caimh's writing shed as it's move day! Caimh reminisces about book launch week and laments on the woes of moving. The uber multi-talented Charlie Baker narrates the short story The Beautiful Game.

    Season 3, Episode 5: Love Will Tear Us Apart Preview – Stanley's back!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2023 24:42


    In this episode, Caimh talks about being a consultant on a film  and launch week rituals.The brilliant Brendan McDonnell takes it home in the last preview where we get reacquainted with Stanley Roker, the worst of the worst of tabloid journalists.

    tear caimh
    Series 3, ep 4: How May I Direct Your Call? with Laura Lexx

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 39:07


    The brilliant Laura Lexx makes a triumphant return to the pod to narrate a brand new Stranger Times story.  The story is based extremely loosely on a real person, or rather a real person's collection of skulls. Everything else is entirely made up! 

    Series 3, Ep 3: Love Will Tear Us apart Preview - say hello to Betty!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2023 31:41


    Caimh presents another preview of Love Will Tear Us Apart, explains how you can help out authors and then Brendan McDonald (no relation) takes it home! 

    tear series 3 say hello love will tear us apart brendan mcdonald caimh
    Series 3, Ep 2: The Thing About The Future with Ruth Cockburn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2023 33:24


    A brand new Stranger Times short story read by the brilliant Ruth E Cockburn and a very exciting bit of news about Caimh doing an event with the legend that is Ben Aaronovitch doing an event down in that fancy London. 

    Season 3, Episode 1: We Back Baby!

    Play Episode Play 60 sec Highlight Listen Later Jan 9, 2023 19:16


    The Stranger Times podcast returns with a preview of Love Will Tear Us Apart, book three of the series is out on 9th February. No animals or Brendan McDonald's were harmed in the making of this podcast.

    babies back baby love will tear us apart brendan mcdonald
    Serie 2: Ep 12 - A fond farewell for now and hello Brendan McDonald - No relation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 26:28


    In this, the final episode of series two of the pod, Caimh does a lot of thanking, reveals a bit of exciting news and an idea for a unique way to write a short story for series 3 that might be a total car crash but you'll get to watch. Then - he chats with narration legend and all-round top man Brendan McDonald about his career and narrating The Stranger Times audiobooks.

    serie fond farewell no relation brendan mcdonald caimh
    Series 2: Ep 11 - Phil Nichol - What Is and What Should Never Be

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 28:35


    This week's episode sees Caimh give his shortest ever introduction (yay!) before the smashing Phil Nichol's provides you with an aural sensation narrating the new short story, What Is and What Should Never Be. This Stranger Times story features Led Zeppelin, Scrabble, a musical quest and the Avenger's Emma Peel.

    led zeppelin series 2 avenger scrabble emma peel phil nichol caimh
    Series 2: Ep 10 – Danny Buckler – Before Your Very Eyes

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2022 44:32


    This week's episode sees the magnificent Danny Buckler bringing a touch of magic to Before Your Very Eyes. This short story reveals how stage magic works in the world of The Stranger Times.Caimh also discusses his fascination with magic and how he kind of ruined Darren Brown for himself.

    Series 2: Ep 9 - Ben Van Der Velde - The Keeper of The Dead

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2022 38:45


    In this episode, Caimh talks about launch week for This Charming Man, explains why he thinks it is important to have a diverse bunch of characters in his stories and how being 'politically correct' actually just means being correct. Then, the wonderful Ben Van Der Velde reads The Keeper of The Dead short story. 

    dead keeper vander series 2 this charming man ben van der velde caimh
    Series 2: Ep 8 - The swearing episode!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2022 17:04


    In this ep Caimh discusses swearing and how n This Charming Man Vincent Banecroft invents a whole new way of doing it. The on-line launch of which book btw happens at 8PM GMT on Wednesday Feb 16th - find it on the Caimh McDonnell facebook page or Youtube channel. All welcome - the superb narrator of  The Stranger Times books Brendan McDonald (No relation) as star guest and Mary Stay as MC extraordinaire. 

    series 2 swearing caimh mcdonnell caimh
    Series 2: Ep 7- Ian Cognito, a tribute and an Homage

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 31:51


    In this ep Caimh explains for the uninitiated who the late great Ian Cognito was and how he came to name the character Cogs after him as a homage to a legendary figure of the British comedy circuit. 

    Series 2: Ep 6 - This Charming Man - Preview - Charmless Stanley Roker

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2022 12:51


    The wonderful Brendan McDonald (No relation) joins us to read a preview of This Charming Man - out Feb 17th. You'll love it so much, you'll preorder it on the spot, and you've already done that six times already. You can't have too many copies.

    series 2 charming roker this charming man
    Series 2: Ep 5 - Toby Hadoke - Everybody Kills Hitler

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 25:36


    The man, the myth, the legend Toby Hadoke returns to read one of Caimh's timey wimey stories about how even when given the entire history of the planet to choose from, most people still go to the same place on holiday.  Bonus disgusting dog in intro. 

    Ep 4: Michael Legge - The Trouble With Me Last Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 41:25


    This week Light Entertainer Michael Legge joins us to read a story called The Trouble With Me Last Week. He shows incredible range by playing an angry man from Northern Ireland who makes a fool of himself while rewriting the laws of physics. 

    Series 2: Ep 3 - Dame Janice Connolly - Beauty and the Beast

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 39:02


    This week we've got the absolute treat of national treasure Dame Janice Connolly reading Beauty and the Beast. This Charming Man, book 2 in The Stranger Times series,  is available to preorder now - out Feb 17th. Treat yourself to a hardback. It's a good size and makes an excellent door stop/murder weapon. 

    Series 2: Ep 2 - Angela Barnes - Do The Research

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2022 22:26


    The wonderful Angela Barnes narrates a brand new Stranger Times story and Caimh for some reason does an introduction where he talks about toilet rolls, women marrying buildings and JFK deserving a better memorial than Caimh using a chemical toilet. 

    Christmas Special: Fire In The Skies read by Jason Manford

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 28:34


    The brilliant Jason Manford reads a very special Stranger Times short story set in the Manchester Blitz, which took place on December 22nd 1940. 

    Halloween Special: The Owl and The Pussycat read by Eddy Brimson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2021 58:53


    That's right, we back baby! It's a one-off Halloween special that was supposed to come out after Halloween but thanks to Rob the sound wizard pulling an all-nighter it's now out on Halloween. The man is a legend!The wonderful Eddy Brimson reads a story written by C.K./ Caimh called The Owl and The Pussycat and Caimh reveals exciting details about the new Stranger Times book, This Charming Man (available now for preorder) and about Season Two of The Stranger Times podcast. 

    Ep 14: Ain't no party like an online book launch party!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2021 43:56


    This week, Caimh makes an announcement! He also unnecessarily says the words 'penis pump' a lot and then we have edited highlights of the online launch event for Caimh's new book The Stranger Times where the brilliant author Mark Stay battles to get a clearly inebriated Caimh to answer questions in a coherent manner.

    Ep 13: Sacrifice with Al Barrie

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 50:41


    A brand new short story called Sacrifice written by CK McDonnell and read by Alistair Barrie. NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ELTON JOHN SONG.

    sacrifice alistair barrie
    Ep 12: Stranger Times Preview Part 3 – Meet a Monster

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 24:06


    This episode, which is the second in a launch week special, is the final preview of the audiobook. Caimh gets you acquainted with one of the monsters roaming the street of Manchester. And don't forget The Stranger Times book is out now! It's available everywhere! 

    Ep 11: Stranger Times Preview Part 2 - Meet The New Boss

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2021 30:50


    in this launch week special episode - the first of two, Caimh introduces you to the tyrant that is Vincent Banecroft while managing to entirely forget to plug the facebook live launch event on the Caimh McDonnell Facebook page, Thursday 14th Jan, 8PM Irish time. The man is an idiot! Signed, his wife

    Ep 10: Stranger Times Preview Part 1 - Meet the family

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2021 39:49


    In this episode, Caimh wishes you a happy new year and gives you a disturbing analogy about being a sheep farmer. There's also a sneak peek at chapters 1 and 2 of The Stranger Times  and you'll get to meet the staff behind the paper. Fun fact: You'll notice that he refers to chapter 2 and 3 several times in the intro. He only realised this when it was too late to change. Enjoy!

    Ep 9: The Light with Alex Boardman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2020 30:56


    This week, the brilliant Alex Boardman reads a story about choice and consequence. 

    alex boardman
    Ep 8: Christmas Special! A Christmas Carol with Jonathan Mayor

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 26:05


    Join us for the most special of Christmas specials as everyone's fav Fairy Godmother, Jonathan Mayor, gives a uniquely Stranger Times take on  A Christmas Carol. Warning: Not Safe for work, children or operating heavy machinery. 

    Ep 7: The Other Side With Barry Castagnola

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2020 40:02


    Barry Castagnola reads a story that explains, sort of, why the world is so full of lies and misinformation. 

    barry castagnola
    Ep 6: A Dog's Life with Lou Conran

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 39:25


    The splendiferous Lou Conran reads a story about what happens when a good doggie eats a very very bad thingie. 

    dogs lou conran
    Ep 5: The Blitz Spirits with Hal Cruttenden

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2020 33:38


    This week we're lucky enough to have Caimh's old mate Hal Cruttenden reading the story The Blitz Spirits. 

    spirits blitz hal cruttenden caimh
    Ep 4: Love and Death with Joanna Neary

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2020 42:36


    This week the brilliant Joanna Neary narrates Love and Death in the Time of Necessary Track Maintenance. The story isn't as longwinded as the name, we promise!

    Ep 3: Yes, Prime Minister with Toby Hadoke

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2020 37:47


    This week Toby Hadoke narrates a story that is weirdly prescient and Caimh explains what he thinks and why he doesn't mind what you think, and how everyone should think like this.

    toby hadoke yes prime minister caimh
    Ep 1: The Rain and The One with Laura Lexx and Ben Crompton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 37:11


    Ben Crompton reads a scary tale about the rain in Manchester and Laura Lexx reads a story about love, which is not the same things as a love story. All that, plus C.K. (Caimh) explains the pod and the ever-present James Cook brings us up-to-date on The Stranger Times news. 

    Ep 2: Dance With The Devil With Matt Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 58:28


    In this episode the wonderful Matt Green reads the story Dance With The Devil, which introduces us to the thoroughly objectionable Stanley Roker and will very probably put you off low-price chicken wings for life. 

    Welcome to The Stranger Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2020 3:28


    The Stranger Times is a newspaper based in Manchester dedicated to reporting the weird and wonderful from around the world. This pod is based on the book of the same name written by C.K. (Caimh) McDonnell and each episode will feature news and a short story from the Stranger Times world, written by C.K. and narrated by one of his uber-talented friends from the comedy circuit. Subscribe now for a weekly slice of paranormal pandemonium. 

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