Best Sophie McDermott Podcasts (2024)

1
Katy Perry’s ‘comeback’, Zara McDermott and PR relationships exposed 55:47

16h ago55:47

55:47

What was Katy Perry thinking making a female empowerment anthem with one of music’s most problematic men, Dr Luke? We discuss the absolute flop that is the pop star’s comeback song Woman’s World. Much more inspiring is Zara McDermott’s courageous statement following the shocking abuse she endured on last year’s Strictly from her dance partner Grazi…

1
The dark side of celebrity: from Armie Hammer to Jay Shetty 1:07:49

10d ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Why have we normalised celebrities abusing their power? This week we are joined by fellow journo and fab friend Olivia Petter to talk about celebrity narcissism, manipulation, power trips and industry open secrets. It's right on theme with her excellent debut novel Gold Rush, which explores the dark consequences of when Rose, a 20-something single …

1
House of the Dragon, A Family Affair and the year of the cougar 1:01:33

20d ago1:01:33

1:01:33

House of the Dragon is the biggest show on TV right now huns, but how does it compare to Game of Thrones? Kathleen is a huge fan of both so gives us her verdict. And hot on the heels of The Idea of You, we now have Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron playing out a hefty on-screen age gap in a new Netflix rom-com A Family Affair. Are critics right to say Ho…

1
Taylor Swift’s killer strategy, Miley Cyrus and Kevin Spacey’s tears 57:11

24d ago57:11

57:11

Taylor Swift’s tour has hit the UK and so of course we’re kicking things off with a debate on the queen of pop herself, most notably the recent suggestions that she is employing a calculated release strategy that keeps other artists like Billie Eilish and Charli XCX off the top spot. Is her Ed Sheeran-style obsession with having the best numbers ad…

1
Sabrina Carpenter, Hit Man and the Queenie adaptation 1:09:20

1M ago1:09:20

1:09:20

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter’s relationship is top of our hit-list today hunnies, since the singer released a music video all about an embarrassing boyfriend with a cameo from none other than… her 'embarrassing' boyfriend, Barry. Is he a secret scumbag, or is this all a PR ploy? Next, we revisit Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver’s podcast, Miss …

1
From Firm to In-House: Legal Career Transitions with Jennifer O'Sullivan 41:44

1M ago41:44

41:44

Ep 4: From Firm to In-House: Legal Career Transitions with Jennifer O'Sullivan In this episode, we'll delve into Jen's career path, her decision to move in-house, and what that transition entailed. She'll share insights on job applications, the nature of her current role, and how it compares to her previous experience in a law firm. We'll also disc…

1
Ozempic, ‘nepo baby’ North West and Netflix’s Eric 1:04:58

1M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

Ethical non-monogamy, platonic friendships and TikTok dating coaches: we get into all manner of divisive topics this week, huns, before a big old debate on North West, who has recently reignited the nepo-baby conversation with her controversial performance as Simba in the Lion King. Should adults be critiquing a child on the internet? And how does …

1
The Bennifer drama, AI gone wrong and Ryan Gosling’s rom-com 42:28

2M ago42:28

42:28

Jennifer Lopez’s latest film has arrived on Netflix and, phew, do we have thoughts! From its botched messaging around AI, to J.Lo’s absurd (if admirable) commitment to her role as a serious scientist, we review Atlas in all its ridiculousness before debriefing on the latest Bennifer drama. Are the reports suggesting that Jen and Ben are separating …

1
Sophie Turner, ‘sluts’ and the sexiest film of 2024 1:07:44

2M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Sophie Turner has given a tell-all interview to Vogue all about her explosive divorce from Joe Jonas, her experience of mum-shaming, her mental health, and becoming friends with Taylor Swift. We have MANY thoughts (and a few hot takes), which prompted a look at how so much mum-shaming online in the UK is linked to classism and slut-shaming. Plus, E…

1
Piers Morgan’s Baby Reindeer interview, Kate Moss and celebrating singledom 47:27

2M ago47:27

47:27

Fiona Harvey, the woman unearthed as 'the real-life Martha' by internet sleuths following the wild success of Baby Reindeer, gave a highly controversial interview to Piers Morgan on his YouTube channel last week, so of course we had to debrief. Was she lying? Was Piers wrong to interview her? What are the ethics of all this? Plus, since we love an …

1
The Idea Of You, Dua Lipa and Pandora Sykes’ podcast 1:19:51

2M ago1:19:51

1:19:51

Dua Lipa’s third album came out last week, huns, and we had such high hopes. So why has Radical Optimism fallen a little flat for us? This got us discussing the general ‘mood’ around the superstar: is she reaching her potential? And how authentic is her media empire, Service95, At Your Service podcast and her new production company Radical22? Plus,…

1
Billie Eilish’s erotic advice, Zendaya and Bridget Jones 4 1:08:00

3M ago1:08:00

1:08:00

Bridge will soon be back on our screens with a new love interest we are VERY excited to see: young Leo Woodall. Do we like this 28 year age gap for our fave clumsy hun? We discuss! Plus, why everyone is talking about the steamy new psychosexual film Challengers, and why its star Zendaya is becoming one of the most powerful people in Hollywood. Also…

1
In the Thick of It: An Inside Look at Trainee Life with Emma O'Hara 44:55

3M ago44:55

44:55

Ep 3: In the Thick of It: An Inside Look at Trainee Life with Emma O'Hara Join us in this episode of That Very Bad Law Podcast as we delve into the world of trainee solicitors with our guest, Emma O'Hara. Emma, a trainee solicitor at a top 10 Irish law firm, shares her journey from academia to the legal profession, offering invaluable insights into…

1
Baby Reindeer, Nicola Peltz Beckham’s mortifying movie and The Tortured Poets Department 1:16:23

3M ago1:16:23

1:16:23

Baby Reindeer is of course our main talking point this week, huns, as we debate the deeply ironic investigation undertaken by internet sleuths trying to uncover Martha and Darrien’s real identities. Sure, to uncover the ‘truth’ behind the chilling story of stalking is tempting, but is it fair to speculate when Richard Gadd has asked us not to? Elli…

1
Amy Winehouse, celeb booking and Prince Andrew’s teddies in Scoop 1:05:35

3M ago1:05:35

1:05:35

The new Amy Winehouse biopic is finally out, but Back to Black has bitterly divided critics and fans. Some are disgusted by the ‘sanitisation’ of key figures such as her dad Mitch Winehouse and former husband Blake Fielder-Civil, while others are delighted to see a film that doesn’t revel in the sordid details of her drug addiction. We get into the…

1
First Strides in Law: Mastering Firm Applications with Sophie Ward 40:17

3M ago40:17

40:17

EP 2: First Strides in Law: Mastering Firm Applications with Sophie Ward, Early Careers Lead for Mason Hayes & Curran In this episode of That Very Bad Law Podcast, we dive into the world of internship and training contract applications with Sophie Ward, Early Careers Lead at Mason Hayes & Curran. Building on our previous discussion about pursuing a…

1
Mind games, Sacha Baron Cohen and gold digging intellectualised 1:08:03

3M ago1:08:03

1:08:03

There’s yet another headline-grabbing ‘feminist’ debate raging on the internet, angels, so we give you the lowdown on The Cut’s viral piece The Case for Marrying an Older Man, from the intellectualization of gold digging (lol) to the persistent cultural misinterpretations of Lolita. Next, we debrief on the exposé on Andrew Huberman, the world’s big…

1
Katie Price, Netflix’s The Gentlemen and where the Skins actors are now 58:50

4M ago58:50

58:50

Why do the tabloids write about Katie Price nearly every day? The former glamour model better known as Jordan has said in a recent interview that her relationship with the media has changed from a ‘game’ to ‘mental health abuse’, so we get into what has prompted such a media frenzy. And, is it hypocritical of Price to say women in their 20s shouldn…

1
Charting the Course: Navigating Your Law Degree with Dr Cliona Kelly 54:18

4M ago54:18

54:18

Ep 1: Charting the Course: Navigating Your Law Degree with Dr Cliona Kelly, Associate Dean UCD Sutherland School of Law In Episode One of That Very Bad Law Podcast, join Sophie McDermott (That Very Bad Law Student) for an illuminating conversation featuring Dr. Cliona Kelly, the Associate Dean of UCD Law School. Delve into the myriad ways to pursue…

1
Cults, Kate Middleton and the monarchy vs the media 1:14:32

4M ago1:14:32

1:14:32

In light of Kate Middleton’s recent announcement (and the prior ‘where’s Kate’ internet circus), this week we debate the fraught but symbiotic relationship between media and monarchy, from what ‘right’ we as the public have to access to the royal family, to previous privacy breaches like tampongate, Kate’s topless holiday pics and the hounding of H…

1
Introduction to That Very Bad Law Podcast 0:43

4M ago0:43

0:43

About The Host: Sophie McDermott completed her undergraduate degree in History and Politics at Newcastle University in 2018, after which the embarked on a somewhat diverse early career path. From serving as a Sabbatical Officer at Newcastle University, to joining a graduate program at a design engineering firm in London in 2019, Sophie's experience…

1
The Big Kids Question pt II: fertility, pop culture parenthood and unspeakable truths 1:36:27

4M ago1:36:27

1:36:27

Male infertility accounts for half of all IVF cases, so why does society so often consider it a ‘women’s issue’? We get into the taboo around fertility and masculinity, as well as the thorny topics of egg freezing, the 'queer tax' and the commodification of reproduction in this second part of our exploration of why more and more people are putting …

1
The Big Kids Question: does anyone want to be a parent anymore? 1:19:16

4M ago1:19:16

1:19:16

The startling new data revealing the sharply declining fertility rate in the UK taps into the fraught and personal conversations that we’ve been having since turning 30: are we ready to have kids, financially and emotionally? How has everything from increased gender equality and the thriving child free movement to social media and the pandemic skip…

1
The Poor Things controversy, Paul Mescal’s antics and a night at the Brits 54:28

4M ago54:28

54:28

Have there ever been so many women divided by a film as Poor Things? We get into the controversy ahead of the Oscars, and report on all the BTS gossip from our gals night at the Brit Awards (which is why we went live a little early this week! ). Plus, we dissect some seriously juicy gossip surrounding Leonardo DiCaprio and Paul Mescal, and, followi…

1
Taylor Swift, The List and the dangers of a life lived online 1:08:35

5M ago1:08:35

1:08:35

After months of her dominating the news cycle, we’re finally getting down to it and talking about Taylor Swift. From her embodiment of girlhood to the problematic PR moments she’s generated over the years, we dissect Swiftie mania and interrogate our own feelings towards pop’s brightest star. Next up is a review of debut novel The List by Yomi Adek…

1
Sydney Sweeney’s rom com, EmRata and dressing for the male gaze 59:16

5M ago59:16

59:16

Who is it that you’re really dressing for? That’s the Q we’re debating this week in light of Emily Ratajkowski’s recent Glamour interview, where she says she “kind of feels like everybody’s bullshitting when people say, ‘Oh, no, I’m doing this for the girlies.’” Also: Sydney Sweeney’s Anyone But You, the ‘rom com with an edge’ that was one of the m…

1
J.Lo: heartbreak, divadom and the Ben Affleck curse 1:12:00

5M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

How did J.Lo become one of the most iconic celebrities of all time? In honour of her ninth album, which is an ode to her fourth husband Ben Affleck, we look back at Jennifer Lopez’s extraordinary life and career, from the horrific fall out from her 2003 film Gigli (which broke her and Ben up the first time and left her ‘eviscerated’ by the press), …

1
One Day, Mr and Mrs Smith and why everyone’s a sellout now 1:12:34

5M ago1:12:34

1:12:34

The Mr and Mrs Smith reboot has landed on Amazon Prime and is already being dubbed the sexiest series on TV, starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine as spies trying to save their marriage. We get into why this show is a million times better than the iconic Noughties film, covering everything from the Brangelina curse, to why original co-writer/ Mrs…

1
Nicole Kidman’s Expats, All of Us Strangers and every woman’s worst nightmare 1:07:17

6M ago1:07:17

1:07:17

Ofc The Traitors finale fall out had to quickly be discussed prior to kicking off proceedings today, huns, followed by an analysis of the off-the-charts chemistry between Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers. Plus, Paul Mescal has been on the Louis Theroux podcast and, shocker, we’re still finding Louis’s narcissistic interview style…

1
Priscilla, reframing Elvis and embracing Jacob Elordi mania 1:00:56

6M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

You asked and so we’ve delivered huns, with a deepdive into Sofia Coppola’s new film Priscilla, starring none other than the internet’s new boyfriend Jacob Elordi. We discuss how the film sits uncomfortably within the grey area between love and coercive control, and whether it would have been described as grooming in our current era. Plus, everythi…

1
Lessons in sex, Barry Keoghan and unlikely leading men 1:09:05

6M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

Sex is at the top of the agenda today hunnies, with Ellie having watched Emma Stone’s insane, Oscar-tipped bonkbuster Poor Things, as well as the amazingly realistic How to Have Sex, about a girls rite of passage trip to Malia. Cue discussions about everything from sexual taboos to consensual grey areas. Meanwhile Kathleen has been paying *particul…

1
Bianca Censori, Michelle Keegan's moment and the 'hell' of personal branding 1:34:57

6M ago1:34:57

1:34:57

Kanye’s wife Bianca Censori is allegedly not allowed to speak in public, but how many of the disturbing rumours swirling around the couple are actually true? We dive into the very strange world of Ye and Bianca, Head of Architecture at Yeezy, in light of the recent slew of semi-nude images posted by Ye in ‘honour’ of his wife’s 29th birthday. Kathl…

1
Age gaps, 'tradwife' Nara Smith and the ethics of true crime reporting 1:09:00

7M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

*TW: themes of child sexual abuse and infertility* How could a female teacher in her mid-thirties ever think it acceptable to sleep with her 12-year-old student? That’s the question at the heart of provocative new film May December, starring Julianne Moore as said teacher, Gracie, who we find living married with the former student she raped, 20 yea…

1
Dawn O’Porter and Josie Naughton: freeze-dried cats and the celeb secrets behind Choose Love 1:15:26

7M ago1:15:26

1:15:26

The three most shocking sex scenes of 2023? They’re all in one buzzy new film: class satire Saltburn, which Ellie went to see last week and reports back with all the gory details in this episode. A little less sexy but equally entertaining was Kathleen’s culture pick this week: Leave the World Behind, the apocalyptic thriller starring Julia Roberts…

1
Noughties ‘it girls’ part II: from Paris and Nicole’s feud to Lindsay Lohan’s fall 1:16:56

7M ago1:16:56

1:16:56

Prison, feuds, fake rumours, sex tape scandals, rehab stints and car chases: it’s all kicking off in part two of our investigation into Hollywood’s hottest noughties 'it girls’, gang, starting with the strange story of Nicole Richie’s adoption and subsequent route to fame via reality TV trailblazer the Simple Life. Then, we continue to chart the to…

1
Noughties ‘it girls’: Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and the power of the paparazzi 1:12:33

8M ago1:12:33

1:12:33

A picture is worth a thousand words… quite literally, in the case of the infamous ‘Bimbo Summit’ picture of 2006, which saw Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan crammed into a car together after a drunken night out, at the height of Paris and Lindsay’s tabloid-fuelled feud. The picture, which was plastered on the cover of the New York Pos…

1
Billy Porter on courting the press, finding fame at 49 and dating British men 1:01:44

8M ago1:01:44

1:01:44

When US megastar Billy Porter invited us for champagne at his five-star London hotel, we knew we were in for a treat, and boy, did he deliver. The Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winning actor and musician got straight up about pretty much everything, including, of course, his relationship with the press. He tells us exactly how he managed his decision to go…

1
The J.Lo and P. Diddy scandal, prison on screen and Pete Doherty’s tragic past 1:10:38

8M ago1:10:38

1:10:38

Jennifer Lopez was arrested with then-boyfriend P Diddy back in 1999, a scandal that had almost slipped from public view until earlier this week, when singer Cassie filed a lawsuit with a slew of disturbing allegations against the music mogul. We revisit exactly what went down on that fateful night in New York, which culminated in 14 hours in polic…

1
Dolly Alderton's Good Material: Heartbreak, humour and the impossible weight of a 'generational voice' 1:42:10

8M ago1:42:10

1:42:10

Dolly Alderton’s second novel Good Material came out last week huns, so as promised we give you our verdict, and deepdive on the fabulous career of our millennial literary queen. We analyse everything from the savvy personal brand building she began as young as her teens to why, after her memoir, she stepped away from the first-person writing that …

1
Georgia ‘Toff’ Toffolo: the reality TV queen talks media misconceptions, celeb besties and skin struggles 1:11:56

9M ago1:11:56

1:11:56

Made in Chelsea and I'm a Celeb star Georgia Toffolo was all set to study law until she appeared on the reality TV show as an extra, becoming such a beloved cast member that she didn't end up leaving for years. The show helped her launch a VERY successful career (she's won I'm a Celeb, written four novels and launched three businesses) and so we we…

1
Wagatha Christie, James Blunt's wild humour and the new Harry Potter doc 1:09:51

9M ago1:09:51

1:09:51

We come armed with BTS goss on a huge range of pop culture talking points this week gang, from the newly announced Harry Potter documentary about Daniel Radcliffe’s paralysed stunt-double (with juicy tangents on Emma Watson, Rita Skeeter and more) to the hilarious, hard-to-believe celebrity stories from James Blunt’s new memoir – including the time…

1
Britney Spears: the brutal media shaming of America’s teen dream 1:46:51

9M ago1:46:51

1:46:51

A forensic analysis of Britney’s memoir is top of the agenda this week, as The Woman In Me’s many bombshell revelations make headlines everywhere. From childhood she was constantly sexualised by the media and after releasing her hit single Baby One More Time in 1998, aged just 16, the world was divided over what she represented: good American role …

1
Jada Pinkett Smith's 'truth', the wild life of Julia Fox and erotic professional rivalry 1:16:34

9M ago1:16:34

1:16:34

Do we have a right to tell our stories if they involve the private lives of others? It’s the ethical conundrum we’re discussing this week following the explosive revelations in Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir about her 'husband' Will Smith. And, on the same theme, the very dark stories ‘Kanye’s muse’ Julia Fox has revealed in her brilliant memoir Down …

1
The Beckhams: ambition, betrayal and our insider secrets 1:27:55

9M ago1:27:55

1:27:55

This week there’s only one pop culture topic on everyone’s lips: the Beckhams. The four-part Beckham documentary dropped on Netflix to rave reviews, but what were the juiciest revelations and what did brand Beckham conveniently leave out? We get stuck into everything from the tabloid shaming of Victoria’s weight and the disturbing quotes about Beck…

1
Anya Taylor-Joy's beige wedding dress, Jorja Smith and the fall of Glossier 1:07:23

10M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

Hiii huns, we had such a fun afternoon catching up about everything from the latest celeb divorce (it never ends!) to Anya Taylor-Joy's beige wedding dress, featuring some reminiscing from Ellie on the time she had brunch with Anya and left her "devastated" (whoops). Then, Kathleen gives the latest on the never-ending Kim and Kourtney fallout, incl…

1
Emma Gannon on chronic burnout, the success myth and the joys of being child-free by choice 1:30:21

10M ago1:30:21

1:30:21

This week we are so excited to welcome Emma Gannon on the pod, ahead of her speaking at the fantastic Wimbledon Bookfest, which runs 12-22 October. Emma is the author of six books and creator of hit Substack newsletter, The Hyphen. Having published The Success Myth earlier this year, which explains why our obsession with achievement is a trap and h…

1
Russell Brand: Misogyny, manipulation and the mainstream media 'agenda' 1:24:19

10M ago1:24:19

1:24:19

Hi everyone, we’re all aware of the horrific rape and sexual assault allegations against Russell Brand - which he vehemently denies, maintaining all sexual relations have been consensual - so in this episode we analyse what this means for the media (TW). Why is it that so many Brand supporters think this is a media conspiracy? What does ‘the media …

1
Joe Jonas, Sophie Turner and being a 20-something divorcée 1:12:51

10M ago1:12:51

1:12:51

We’ve said it before huns, this is the year of the chaotic celebrity divorce, but the Joe Jonas vs Sophie Turner divorce drama has left us REELING. From Joe’s PR team playing what appears to many as a misogynistic smear-campaign against Sophie — who he married in 2019, when she was just 23 — to wild rumours involving partying and ‘ring cameras’, th…

1
Maya and Stormzy, ‘bad boy’ literature and the cheek of Kanye’s bottom 1:04:26

11M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

Poor Els got mugged last week huns, so today’s episode starts with the download on her enforced digital detox, before taking a sunnier towards perhaps the best news we’ve heard all year – Maya Jama and Stormzy are back together!! – and our slightly tragic obsession with this ultimate modern day love story. Then, more summer reading recommendations,…

1
Cover girl Coleen Rooney, Britney’s bitter divorce and the downfall of Scooter Braun 1:07:26

11M ago1:07:26

1:07:26

All the celebs are on holiday this week, angels, so we’ve got another jam-packed pop culture debrief for you, starting with Coleen Rooney’s fabulous – but divisive – Vogue cover for the September issue, the most important of the year! We get into all her explosive Wagatha Christie revelations and backstory with Wayne, as well as the criticisms of t…

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