Best Loose Ends Podcasts (2024)

1
How Deep is Today? 26:13

1d ago26:13

26:13

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC shares a spoken word poem entitled How Deep is Today? which she published in 2017. We provide all sorts of transition time for children headed to bed--bath, books, quiet time--but for us adults? Not so much. So, CC wrote a bed-time story for adults about trust and courage. Hope you enjoy! (And an apology: we total…

1
Bobby Davro, Michelle McManus, Lara Ricote, Hamish Hawk, Virginia Gay, A Giant on the Bridge 35:17

3d ago35:17

35:17

From the Edinburgh Festivals, Clive Anderson and Michelle McManus talk to actor, comedian and family favourite Bobby Davro about his beginnings in TV entertainment, his acting journey and finding comedy through tough times – something he explores in his show Everything is Funny...If You Can Laugh at It. Lara Ricote, a former winner of the Edinburgh…

1
EP 9|"What Doesn't Kill You Makes Your Stronger..." 43:51

27d ago43:51

43:51

Shocking facts are shared about the buildup into the attempt on President Trump's life during his presidential rally on July 11th. Jack explains how God is directly and solely responsible for Trump's survival. Spencer shares some of his experience this year at Hume Lake.By Jack Swanson and Spencer Johnson

1
Ewan Mitchell, Jon Holmes, Julia Fordham and Kym Marsh. 36:05

10d ago36:05

36:05

This week Stuart is joined by Jon Holmes who's producing a new play at the Edinburgh Festival - which explores what happens when the camera moves on from a relationship forged on a Love Island-style reality show. And there are definitely some strained relationships in the second series of House of the Dragon - but they're more the kind that result …

1
Food Bits and Bites 28:45

15d ago28:45

28:45

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val talk food: its importance on a physical level, to be sure, but what about our emotions, our mind, our spirit? What does it mean to "eat healthy" and how does that affect our mood, our energy/frequency level? Val shares her own journey from chronic digestive issues to a clearer gut and calmer energy. A veri…

1
Damian Lewis; Elf Lyons; Gareth Malone; Rachel Ramsay; Gia Ford; Esme Emerson; Clive Anderson; Emma Freud 36:54

17d ago36:54

36:54

Clive Anderson and Emma Freud present Loose Ends from Latitude Festival in Suffolk. They'll talk to the actor-turned-musician Damian Lewis who will discuss his latest album Mission Creep and why he's chosen to go back to his musical roots when he could have rested on his Hollywood laurels as the star of Homeland and Billions. The UK's favourite cho…

1
P-R-A-D-A-? 29:22

24d ago29:22

29:22

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val discuss the six "bodies of speech" or "speech acts." CC offers an acronym to help remember them, as well as the origin of most communication disagreements: making assertions when they're really assessments. Stating opinions as facts mucks things up. If we want better relationships then improving quality co…

1
Nina Conti, Tom Kerridge, Samantha Spiro, Donna Leon, Clive Anderson, That Woman, Braimah Kanneh-Mason & Plínio Fernandes 38:39

24d ago38:39

38:39

Clive will talk monkeys, masks and improvisation with comic Nina Conti who is honing a brand new show Whose Face is it Anyway? and about to release her directing debut a feature film called Sunlight; Chef Tom Kerridge's been on a culinary tour of the UK for a new cookbook and TV show and has plenty to say about our food, farming and how to pronounc…

1
Is Violence Fear of Change? 36:55

1M ago36:55

36:55

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val discuss their reactions to, and reflections on the import of, the assassination attempt over the weekend on the former President of the United States. We've tried to stay away from politics and conspiracy theories and all things Trump, but this event marks a turning point and we felt compelled to respond t…

1
Griffin Dunne, Marc Almond, Ruth Ware, Sophie Duker, Nadine Shah, Stuart Maconie 36:36

1M ago36:36

36:36

The actor, producer and now memoirist Griffin Dunne on growing up in Hollywood in a family of literary stars including his aunt Joan Didion, on his own screen success opposite Madonna in Who's That Girl and in After Hours and the real-life tragedy that changed his life forever. Soft Cell front man Marc Almond on his early days as a subversive perfo…

1
Comfort Zone 34:30

1M ago34:30

34:30

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val discuss our comfort zones--because we all have many--where they come from and how they either protect us or prevent us from moving forward. Like a dog's electric collar, our "buried wires" delineate what's safe from what's not, at least as children. As adults, maybe it's time to dig up some of those electr…

1
Iwan Thomas, Chloe Petts, Lottie Gross, Raghu Dixit, Kiioto, Anna Ptaszynski 33:35

1M ago33:35

33:35

Stuart is joined in the Salford Loose Ends studio by the Welsh Sprinter Iwan Thomas, who held the UK 400m record for 25 years. His new memoir 'Brutal', tells his story - one of speed, the drive to succeed and an extremely high tolerance for pain. . Comedian Chloe Petts is gearing up for the Edinburgh Fringe, and in perhaps the ultimate highbrow/low…

1
"Oh Canada..." 28:37

1M ago28:37

28:37

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val take refuge from the heat dome and talk summer food, global warming, and the recent suggested warning for smart phone apps. They meander all the way to suggestions for staying cool as well as summer reading thoughts before veering into a flourishing finish with a spontaneous (and questionable) version of t…

1
David Baddiel, Richard Thompson, Abigail Cruttenden, Noorruddean Choudry, Amy Gledhill, Stuart Maconie 35:56

1M ago35:56

35:56

An eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedyBy BBC Radio 4

1
Stinking Thinking 30:24

2M ago30:24

30:24

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC details the 6 primary ways we distort incoming data - ranging from catastrophizing a particular event, to developing tunnel vision, to personalizing everything - and thereby slowing our growth and ability to move forward .By CC Barlow and Valerie Uhlin

1
Charlie Higson, Bilal Zafar, Pravesh Kumar, English Teacher and Alexandra Whittingham join Stuart Maconie. 37:28

2M ago37:28

37:28

Joining Stuart in our Salford studio are Charlie Higson. After writing several books in the bestselling 'Young Bond' series, Charlie has written his first Bond for Adults. Stand up Bilal Zafar's new show 'Imposter' is about a once harmonious house-share that goes very wrong and Pravesh Kumar has written 'Frankie Goes to Bollywood', a new musical ab…

1
EP 8|How Christians Should Respond to Their Calling... 42:58

2M ago42:58

42:58

We know it's old news by now --- but we immediately dive into President Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts... Jack tells a story of a man he recently met whose life should serve as an example for those questioning God's plan.By Jack Swanson and Spencer Johnson

1
Magical Moments 29:13

2M ago29:13

29:13

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val discuss the moments that lead to a change in our thinking, events or comments that shift our perspective - the "aha" moments. Things were going so well, and then CC has her own sort of moment remembering another moment of magical meaning. Who knew she'd go all soft and mushy?…

1
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Tara Fitzgerald, Paul Sinha, Bess Atwell, Jazz Emu, Clive Anderson 36:21

2M ago36:21

36:21

The comedian Paul Sinha is a man of many careers - from working GP to sucessful stand up to his role as "The Sinnerman" in ITV's quiz show The Chase. He joins Clive to talk about his new autobiogaphy - Once Sinha Lifetime - charting his extraordinary Bengali family background through the peaks and troughs of his own working life to his recent medic…

1
Sound Therapy 32:56

2M ago32:56

32:56

Send us a Text Message. Wherein Val schools CC on the difference between sound therapy and sound healing, including the 5 brain states and how they promote wellness. Sound can soothe; it can also heal and Val demonstrates the seven basic tones and explains their effects. Some of it is quantum physics... usually is.…

1
Laura Smyth, Caitlin Moran, John Hopkins and Alex Lowe join Stuart Maconie. With music from Dexys 35:37

2M ago35:37

35:37

After a series of best-selling books focussing on girls and women Caitlin Moran turns her attention to the lads in ‘What About Men?’. Find out if comedian Laura Smyth is indeed living her best life on the ‘Living My Best Life’ tour and Alex Lowe tells us what makes his Clinton Baptise character so popular. John Hopkins on playing Henry Higgins in M…

1
EQ and Why it Matters 29:40

2M ago29:40

29:40

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val - but mostly CC - lay out the basics of Emotional Intelligence: What it is, why it's important for long-term development and how it shows up in daily life. Using the analogy of going from learning how to drive a car to becoming a professional race car driver, EQ is twice as important as IQ in shaping one's…

1
Stephen Merchant, Plum Sykes, Adeel Akhtar, and Kate Bradbury join Clive Anderson with music by LYRA and Madeleine Peyroux 35:51

2M ago35:51

35:51

Stephen Merchant - the BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor, comedian and writer behind hits like The Office and Extras - joins Clive Anderson and Athena Kugblenu to talk about a new series of The Outlaws, a hugely popular crime caper set on a Bristol community service project; the Vogue journalist and author Plum Sykes will discuss her new n…

1
Small Pleasures... and a Big Rant 37:09

3M ago37:09

37:09

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val share their small pleasures in life, from clean sheets to the unexpected compliment. Even catching the perfect turn in the car. Things were going so well, and then... CC goes off... it happens...By CC Barlow and Valerie Uhlin

1
Jan Ravens, Viv Groskop and Tiff Murray with music from The Will Barnes Quartet and Aleighcia Scott 32:01

3M ago32:01

32:01

Clive is joined by impressionist Jan Ravens (who brings along Liz Truss and Theresa May) chatting about the challenge of developing an impersonation and what happens when the politician who forms part of your act gets the boot...Award-winning novelist Tiffany Murray describes her unusually starry childhood at the residential recording studio Rockfi…

1
Stonehenge and Glamping 30:10

3M ago30:10

30:10

Send us a Text Message. Wherein Val shares her journey to Stonehenge, enlightening CC with its origins and ancestry. Leaving a little bit of mom there, she escapes a police dog's nose, but otherwise has an unique experience in an otherworldly place.By CC Barlow and Valerie Uhlin

1
Frank Skinner, Maxine Peake, Kathryn Hughes, Rachel Fairburn join Stuart Maconie with music by Willy Vlautin and Phoebe Green 37:02

3M ago37:02

37:02

Joining Stuart Maconie in our Salford studio are the comedians Frank Skinner and Rachael Fairburn. In Frank's latest stand up show '30 years of Dirt' he has his comedic eye firmly on the dirty joke, while Rachel Fairburn's showgirl finds her moving away from boozing and towards crystals - will it last? Maxine Peake stars in Robin/Red/Breast at Manc…

1
Rapid Fire Away! 32:47

3M ago32:47

32:47

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val trade rapid-fire questions, like pin-ball wizards, bouncing from one fascinating piece of trivia to another. From M & M's to handle-bar moustaches, far too much personal information is shared between laughing fits.. Audience be forewarned.By CC Barlow and Valerie Uhlin

1
Julie Hesmondhalgh, Sacha Lord, Eddi Reader, Benji Waterhouse, Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand, Fairground Attraction 34:07

3M ago34:07

34:07

Stuart Maconie is joined by Sacha Lord who offers some Tales from the Dancefloor, Julie Hesmondhalgh talks about the impact of a single punch which is considered in a new play by James Graham at the Nottingham Playhouse. Dr Benji Waterhouse, a frontline NHS psychiatrist, discusses his new book You Don't Have to be Mad to Work Here and there's music…

1
EP 7|How Spreading The Gospel is Just Like Seeding Grass... 44:48

3M ago44:48

44:48

Spencer explains how seeding grass is similar to spreading the gospel and Christians being tested. Jack explains how Episode 5 got him called a heretic.By Jack Swanson and Spencer Johnson

1
The Two Sides of Anger... and Kangaroos? 29:44

3M ago29:44

29:44

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val look at a common ailment - anger, a smokescreen for fear. And it only blows one of two directions: inside, called guilt; or outside, called resentment. Either way, it's destructive long term. And you'll have to listen to find out how on earth kangaroos play into it all.…

1
The Zutons play for Stuart Maconie with Rhod Gilbert, Kathy Lette, Carla Henry, Luke Wright and Bryony Jarman Pinto 37:37

3M ago37:37

37:37

The comedian Rhod Gilbert gave up touring and TV appearances last year when he got cancer. Now he's back - a newly focussed man - with a show called 'Rhod Gilbert & The Giant Grapefruit', all about the big bitter diagnosis he had to swallow; the best-selling novelist Kathy Lette's latest book is called The Revenge Club and is based on a real life c…

1
Resilience and Double-sided Coins 29:52

4M ago29:52

29:52

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CCC and Val discuss resiliency: Why do some people bounce back after hardship, while others don't? CC offers up three key requirements for building resiliency, but what do coins have to do with anything?By CC Barlow and Valerie Uhlin

1
Stuart Maconie with Richard Herring, Adelayo Adedayo, Natalie Haynes, Nectar Woode 35:29

4M ago35:29

35:29

Stuart is joined by multi instrumentalist and singer of hits like Electric Avenue, Eddy Grant; comic-turned-author Natalie Haynes on putting the feminisim into Greek mythology; actress Adelayo Adedayo on her upcoming second series playing the rookie cop in the hit BBC police drama The Responder and Comedian Richard Herring on finding the humour in …

1
Happiness, Anyone? 29:58

4M ago29:58

29:58

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val look under the "happy" rock: What does it mean when we say we're happy? Can we generate happiness within? The experts say so. Yet, too many undermine themselves, sabotaging their own happiness. Maybe we best define the word: what's the difference between happiness, or joy, or bliss?…

1
Tim Peake, Helen Lederer, Phil Manzanera, Jess Fostekew, Michele Stodart and Geejay. 35:00

4M ago35:00

35:00

The astronaut Tim Peake joins Clive to talk about life on and off Earth, and he's joined by the acclaimed guitarist Phil Manzanera who tells us about the astonishing life he led en route to joining Roxy Music. Helen Lederer discusses her new memoir and recalls formative days in The Comedy Store and Jess Fostekew talks footie in her new podcast. We'…

1
Faux Apologies 33:26

4M ago33:26

33:26

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val extend last week's episode with one more pet peeve: faux apologies. The lack of an apology , or an empty one, can fracture a relationship, just as a sincere apology can mend one. With a detour on anger, Val, in honour of 4-20, sparks one up, while CC tries to stay on track.…

1
Bettany Hughes, Al Murray, Lesley Sharp, Nisha Katona, The Wandering Hearts, Guy Chambers, Amanny Mo and Clive Anderson 36:43

4M ago36:43

36:43

Stand up comic Al Murray on 30 years of his outspoken stage persona The Pub Landlord and his more recent side-hustle as a history podcaster; Actor Lesley Sharp on playing a spy in her high octane thriller set on a London to Beijing flight and called Red Eye; Historian Bettany Hughes on her new series of Treasures of the World, this time heading alo…

1
EP 6|Why A Better World Starts With Christian Accountability... 42:09

4M ago42:09

42:09

Jack and Spencer detail the continuity of earthquakes on Easter, Joe Biden's Christian hypocrisy, and how to show your fellow Christians you care through accountability.By Jack Swanson and Spencer Johnson

1
Pet Peeves 28:43

4M ago28:43

28:43

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val trade tirades on their pet peeves. from ignorant drivers to fools who don't shut cupboard doors. We all have pet peeves, but what about our reactions to them? What goes on inside your head when you see someone in the "under 12 items" grocery store check-out aisle and they're laying out 23 items?…

1
Ruby Wax, Anuvab Pal, Paul Hartnoll, Jessica Gunning, Tiger Braun-White and Nerina Pallot 34:30

4M ago34:30

34:30

Ruby Wax defined an interview style which many of us now take for granted. She discusses her hugely popular books on mindfulness and her new book which sees her undertake a series of journeys designed to aid her recovery from depression.Paul Hartnoll of the dance act Orbital is another genre definer, looking back at the history of electronic music …

1
How to Say No - 1/2 28:33

5M ago28:33

28:33

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val discuss the word 'no', why it's difficult to utter sometimes, and how to actually say no when you mean it. At least, CC does. Val listens a lot. And then they get sidetracked into intuition, so it becomes a "two-for" Monday episode drop.By CC Barlow and Valerie Uhlin

1
Intuition and Broken Glass -2/2 20:21

5M ago20:21

20:21

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val talk Teslas, and the message of a broken wall of glass. At least, Val does. And CC tries to tie it all into learning how to trust our gut. Good luck with that...By CC Barlow and Valerie Uhlin

1
Daniel Mays, Cush Jumbo, Janey Godley, Marc Wootton, Ride, Georgia, Emma Freud, Clive Anderson 36:51

5M ago36:51

36:51

Clive Anderson and Emma Freud are joined by Daniel Mays, Cush Jumbo, Janey Godley and Marc Wootton for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Ride and Georgia.By BBC Radio 4

1
"What Was I Made For....?" 39:33

5M ago39:33

39:33

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC talk about a big word: purpose. And the emotional needs that drive us, though we may not know it. What are they about? And how to we measure success - what yardstick do we use? Oh, and Val goes off on American royalty... because it's so salient to any discussion about purpose...…

1
EP 5|What the April 8th Solar Eclipse Could Mean Relating to The End Times... 46:52

5M ago46:52

46:52

Jack and Spencer dive into the world's current events, and how an upcoming Solar Eclipse across America on April 8th, could be a dire warning from God about the near future.By Jack Swanson and Spencer Johnson

1
Gemma Whelan, Mark Watson, Shaznay Lewis, Mr Motivator, The Mary Wallopers, Sahra, Sara Cox, Clive Anderson 37:03

5M ago37:03

37:03

Clive Anderson and Sara Cox are joined by Gemma Whelan, Mark Watson, Shaznay Lewis and Mr Motivator for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from The Mary Wallopers and Sahra.By BBC Radio 4

1
More What If's 28:23

5M ago28:23

28:23

Send us a Text Message. Wherein CC and Val pose more “what if” questions. From who would you like to be for one day, to if you could be any animal, to what if you woke up in an alternative universe the questions lead from the frivolous to deeper issues like waste, climate change and infrastructure. Say what? I mean, what would you do with 10 billio…

1
EP 4|How I Met The Editor and Chief of The Babylon Bee 19:35

5M ago19:35

19:35

Jack details his hilarious interaction with the Editor and Chief of the Babylon Bee. Spencer discusses what it truly means to be a brave and Strong Christian.By Jack Swanson and Spencer Johnson

1
Jonny Lee Miller, Ade Adepitan, Kimberley Chambers, Gary Stevenson, Kat Eaton, Bidisha Mamata, Clive Anderson 37:52

5M ago37:52

37:52

Clive Anderson and Bidisha Mamata are joined by Jonny Lee Miller, Ade Adepitan, Kimberley Chambers and Gary Stevenson for an eclectic mix of conversation, music and comedy. With music from Kat Eaton and Blondeting.By BBC Radio 4

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Loose Ends Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide