We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson
The most powerful conversations are the ones we usually avoid. Hosted by Paul C. Brunson, We Need To Talk is a show that empowers people to have the conversations they avoid by creating a safe, supportive, and insightful space that encourages vulnerability, self-discovery, and real-world connection. From breakups to breakthroughs, conflict to connection, we go beyond the headlines to uncover the human experiences and relationships that define us. Instagram: @needtotalk TikTok: @weneedtotalkpod
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Episodes
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Nadiya Hussain: What Bake Off Really Cost Me "I had a panic button in my house"
Thursday, 8 October 2026
Nadiya Hussain opens up about the reality behind her extraordinary rise from home baker to one of Britain’s most recognisable TV personalities, and why success came with challenges she never expected. She reflects on winning The Great British Bake Off, facing death threats, feeling like an outsider in the television industry, and the pressure to shrink or filter herself to make others comfortable. Nadiya also shares why she is finally choosing to take up space, live more authentically and embrace her “elbows out” mentality, even if that means walking away from an industry that no longer f...
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Jay Sean: Everyone Knew The Song, Nobody Knew Me “I Broke The Stereotype”
Tuesday, 6 October 2026
Jay Sean reveals the untold story behind “Down” with Lil Wayne, signing to Cash Money Records and walking away from Virgin Records after three Top 10 hits. From medical school in London to becoming one of the most recognisable South Asian artists in global pop, he reflects on the risks, reinventions and decisions that defined his career. Jay revisits meeting Birdman, hearing Lil Wayne unexpectedly appear on “Down” and breaking America at a time when many fans didn’t even realise he was Indian. He also looks back at Drake before his rise to superstardom, and why he eventually chose to walk ...
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The Untold Stories Behind the Songs That Changed Everything
Thursday, 1 October 2026
For Black History Month, we revisit Paul’s conversations with Estelle and Akon, exploring the stories behind their biggest songs, career-defining moments and lasting impact on music. From Estelle creating “American Boy” in a Miami studio to Akon writing “Locked Up” while in prison, they share the stories behind some of their biggest records and the moments that changed their careers. They also reflect on the work behind so-called overnight success, Akon’s 10-year plan for his future, the business opportunities he spotted early in digital music, and why both artists have always focused on m...
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Coleen Rooney: What Was Really Happening Behind The Headlines
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Coleen Rooney opens up about her marriage to Wayne Rooney, growing up in the public eye and the private experiences that have shaped her life behind the headlines. In this deeply personal conversation, she reflects on being photographed from just 16, becoming known as one of Britain’s most recognisable WAGs, losing confidence as the scrutiny intensified, and why she now wishes she had owned her place in the public eye more. Coleen revisits the Wagatha Christie case, discovering that information from her private circle was reaching the press, and the years of legal proceedings that followed...
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Sam Vanderpump: Why I’m Fighting For Organ Donation
Thursday, 24 September 2026
For Organ Donation Week, Sam Vanderpump's shares his life-changing health battle that began with a liver disease he was diagnosed with at just 4 years old. Sam opens up about the moment he was confronted with the possibility of dying, the fear of not seeing his future child, and why understanding the signs of sepsis could save lives. He also explains why he is campaigning for greater awareness around organ donation and shares the story of his friend Daniel, whose decision to donate his organs saved four lives. NHS Organ Donation Register - https://linkly.link/2tqu7 (00:00) Intro (...
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He Quit His Job at 37: Now He DJ's with Will Smith, Skepta & Burna Boy
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
DJ AG became one of the internet’s most recognisable street DJs through his viral TikTok LIVE performances, hosting stars including Will Smith, Skepta and Ne-Yo. But long before the millions of views, Ash was growing up in Tottenham, working at McDonald’s, building a corporate career and only taking the leap into full-time DJing at 37. Ash opens up about a health scare that led him to get his prostate checked, and why fear and stigma still stop some men from doing the same. He explains why the issue is especially important for Black men, and how speaking publicly about his own experience e...
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"The audition went horribly wrong!" Shirley Ballas & Ore Oduba on Strictly Come Dancing
Thursday, 17 September 2026
Strictly Come Dancing legends Shirley Ballas and Ore Oduba reveal what really happens behind the scenes of television’s biggest show. From surviving severe online hate and high-stakes audition blunders to navigating intense imposter syndrome, Shirley and Ore share the emotional lows, career pivots, and life-changing moments that come with performing in front of 14 million people. We're Talking Strictly Come Dancing! (00:00) Intro(01:13) Ore's Strictly Journey and Finding Himself Through Dance (12:13) How Shirley Became a Strictly Judge (17:42) Why Strictly Became a National Phenomenon ...
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Kelly Osbourne on Ozzy’s Final Words and Choosing Herself “I Didn’t Know What I Looked Like”
Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Kelly Osbourne opens up about Ozzy Osbourne’s final days, growing up in The Osbournes and the reality of becoming famous as a teenager in her first sit-down since her father’s passing. She reflects on her father’s death, why she believes he was preparing her for his passing, and her complicated relationship with her sister Aimee. Kelly looks back at the overnight success of The Osbournes, being followed by paparazzi and relentlessly scrutinised for her appearance. She also revisits the backlash she received after the BRITs, when comments about her body overshadowed her father’s lifetime ac...
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The Conversations That Could Save Lives: We’re Talking Suicide Prevention
Thursday, 10 September 2026
TW: This episode discusses suicide and mental health. Nadiya Hussain and Tyler West open up about their experiences with mental health, from childhood trauma, bullying and the pressure of identity to depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Nadiya opens up about the bullying she experienced throughout her childhood, how it shaped her relationship with her identity, self-worth and trust, and the impact of growing up in a home where difficult emotions were rarely spoken about. She also reflects on her faith, motherhood and the importance of creating a space where her children can talk open...
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Dr Terry Dubrow on Botched, Ozempic And Plastic Surgery “They Put Concrete In Her Face!”
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
Star of Botched and The Swan, Dr Terry Dubrow became one of reality TV’s most recognisable surgeons, but this conversation reveals what was really happening behind the shows that made him famous. Terry looks back at the shows that made him famous, from the backlash surrounding The Swan and Bridalplasty to why he initially thought Botched was a terrible idea. He reflects on what producers pushed for behind the scenes, the moments he refused to cross a line with patients, and why surgical training can create the confidence - and “God complex” - needed to make life-or-death decisions. He al...
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Why Chemistry Isn’t Always Love! Dr Tara Swart
Thursday, 3 September 2026
Dr Tara Swart reveals the surprising neuroscience behind love, attraction and relationships - from the hormones that drive bonding to the hidden signals our brains use when choosing a partner. She explains why oxytocin is so important for love and trust, how stress can affect our relationships, why smell can be a powerful attraction signal, and what happens in the brain when a new relationship becomes sexual. Tara also explores why delaying sex may help create stronger bonds, and how evolution continues to influence who we find attractive. We're Talking Relationship Neuroscience! (00:...
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GK Barry: I’m Finally Ready To Tell My Story
Tuesday, 1 September 2026
GK Barry became one of the internet’s biggest personalities, but this conversation reveals the Grace Keeling behind the fame, the jokes and the confidence. She reflects on being bullied at school, feeling desperate to fit in, and learning to make people laugh before anyone could laugh at her. Grace opens up about her relationship with her body, becoming obsessed with being thin, and how the attention that came with changing her appearance reinforced everything she believed about herself. She also speaks about witnessing racism through her dad Andrew, discovering her sexuality, and falling...
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Why Happy Couples Still Fight & “69% Of Problems Never Go Away”
Thursday, 27 August 2026
Paul sits down with world-renowned relationship experts John and Julie Gottman to uncover the science behind love, marriage and lasting connection. They reveal why happy couples still argue, why 69% of relationship problems never truly go away, and why conflict itself isn’t what destroys relationships. From the small daily behaviours that strengthen intimacy to the habits that can slowly damage a partnership, the Gottmans share decades of research into what makes relationships thrive. A fascinating conversation about love, trust, communication and the secrets behind couples who stay togeth...
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Love Island’s Simba & Angelista: He Had Options, I Had None
Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Love Island 2026 finalists Simba and Angelista reveal what really happened in the Love Island villa, from their relationship and the “villain edit” to the moments viewers never saw. The Love Island couple open up about falling in love on the show, exploring other connections, public pressure and Angelista’s experience as a Black woman in the villa. Simba also opens up about growing up with his mother’s motor neurone disease, becoming one of her carers and how that responsibility shaped his ambition, emotions and the man he became. Together, Simba and Angelista revisit the private conversat...
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“I Had No Confidence” Perrie Edwards: The Shy Girl Who Became a Pop Star
Thursday, 20 August 2026
Perrie Edwards sits down with Paul to reveal how a painfully shy girl with no confidence was pushed into auditioning for The X Factor and became one quarter of Little Mix. (00:00) Intro (00:24) Perrie's Childhood and Moving Around Growing Up (04:07) Perrie Opens Up About Her Childhood Health Issues (08:13) How Perrie's Childhood Shaped Her as an Adult (11:20) Perrie on Living Without a Sense of Smell (17:57) When Perrie Realised She Wanted to Become a Singer (24:17) The Story Behind Perrie's X Factor Audition Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Farrah Abraham: What Fame Did To Me After 16 & Pregnant
Tuesday, 18 August 2026
Farrah Abraham opens up about MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, becoming pregnant at 16, and losing the father of her daughter while she was still carrying Sophia. Farrah revisits being pregnant as she stood at Derek’s casket, the last words they exchanged, and the grief that followed while millions watched her become one of reality TV’s most controversial stars. Farrah also reveals the reality behind Teen Mom, from the period she says she was living in her car while filming to the pressure of processing Derek’s death in the public eye. She reflects on fame, money, plastic surgery, her sex ...
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"Real Housewives Was The Downfall Of Our Marriage" PK Paul Kemsley
Thursday, 13 August 2026
Paul Kemsley sits down with Paul to reveal the reality of filming The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills with ex-wife Dorit. (00:00) Intro (00:39) How PK Joined The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (07:08) PK's Life Before The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (09:07) How RHOBH Impacted PK's Family Life (12:00) The Behind-the-Scenes Politics of RHOBH (14:44) Why PK Left The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (17:57) Does PK Love Himself Today? (20:29) PK Opens Up About Online Trolls and Reality TV Fame Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Vikkstar: What It Really Took to Build The Sidemen (we didn’t plan for anyone to leave)
Tuesday, 11 August 2026
Vikkstar opens up about the extraordinary rise of the Sidemen, the relentless work that built his YouTube career, and what happens when the group you built your life around begins to change. He reflects on KSI’s departure, the future of the Sidemen, and why they never really had an exit plan. Vik looks back on going from a quiet teenager who never felt like he fitted in to turning down a place at UCL and spending up to 16 hours a day making videos. He reveals how YouTube became his entire identity, why he sometimes went days without speaking to anyone in real life, and how seven gamers acc...
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What Everyone Should Know Before Ending a Marriage: We're Talking Divorce withJames Sexton
Thursday, 6 August 2026
Divorce lawyer James Sexton breaks down what divorce really means, what you need to know before leaving a marriage, and why the smartest decisions are often made long before the legal paperwork begins. James explains how divorce works, what happens when a marriage is legally terminated, and the key questions people should consider before starting the process. From dividing assets to preparing for what comes next, this episode offers clear guidance for anyone considering divorce or trying to understand it. We're Talking Divorce (00:00) Intro (00:30) James' Definition of Divorce (02:...
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Trewley Precious: The Real Cost of Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives
Tuesday, 4 August 2026
Reality TV star Trewley Precious opens up about the strict family rules that shaped her childhood, the freedoms her brothers had that she did not, and the personal cost of sharing her life publicly. The Secret Lives of Gypsy Wives star and TikTok creator reflects on growing up with both Gypsy and non-Gypsy heritage, and the criticism she received after telling her family’s story. Raised on a council estate by a Gypsy father and non-Gypsy mother, Trewley explains why her estate became her safe space and how fear, loyalty and survival shaped her understanding of love and freedom. She also s...
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The Hear’Say And Liberty X Feud That Changed British Pop
Thursday, 30 July 2026
Before The X Factor, there was Popstars - the reality show that created Hear’Say, led to Liberty X and changed British pop culture overnight. Myleene Klass and Michelle Heaton share what really happened behind the scenes, from being thrown into overnight fame and branded winners and losers, to the press-fuelled rivalry between the two groups, the money they never saw and the mismanagement that helped bring it all crashing down. We're Talking Popstars! (00:00) Intro (00:30) How Michelle Was Cast on Popstars (03:41) What Happened After Popstars Ended? (06:33) How Liberty X Was F...
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Big Brother’s Chantelle Houghton Finally Speaks Out "I Don't Want To Hide Anymore"
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Celebrity Big Brother winner Chantelle Houghton opens up about overnight fame, her relationship with Preston, the loneliness behind the headlines, and the years she spent staying silent about what she was going through. 20 years after entering the Big Brother house as the only non-celebrity, Chantelle reflects on going from 80p in her bank account to earning £1 million in six months. She revisits the pressure of becoming one of the most recognisable women in Britain, losing friends, struggling with her identity, and realising that having everything did not stop her from feeling completely ...
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Blake Remembers The Real Amy Winehouse "She Was My Best Mate”
Thursday, 23 July 2026
15 years after Amy Winehouse’s passing, Blake Fielder-Civil reflects on one of music’s most talked-about and misunderstood love stories. From meeting Amy in Camden to the intensity of their relationship and the heartbreak that helped shape Back to Black, this conversation looks beyond the headlines at love, fame, addiction, and the complexity of remembering someone the world thought it knew. (00:00) Intro (00:31) How Blake and Amy Winehouse First Met (03:21) What First Attracted Blake to Amy Winehouse? (07:09) Blake Addresses Rumours About Dating Other People During Their Relat...
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Joey Graceffa On The Life He Hid Behind YouTube: I Lost The Mum I Knew
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Joey Graceffa opens up about YouTube fame, Escape The Night, coming out online, love, family, and the private experiences behind the life millions of viewers grew up watching. In this deeply honest conversation, Joey reflects on the reality of becoming one of YouTube’s earliest stars while still trying to understand who he was away from the camera. Joey looks back on the childhood that shaped him, the complicated family dynamics he grew up around, and the moments that made him feel different before he had the language to explain why. He also reflects on building a life online, the pressure...
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Who Is The Real Dami Hope?
Thursday, 16 July 2026
Love Island’s Dami Hope opens up about his life before reality TV, from his Nigerian roots to growing up in Ireland and the moments that shaped his identity. Dami reflects on his family’s move from Nigeria, being one of the only Black children in his town, changing his name, facing racism at school, and learning how to fight for himself and his siblings. This is a personal conversation about belonging, identity, family, resilience, and the man behind the public image. (00:00) Intro (00:27) Dami's Nigerian Roots and Growing Up in Ireland (06:22) The Realities of Being Black in Ireland ...
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Olivia Bowen: I Lost Myself After Giving Birth & What Love Island Never Showed
Tuesday, 14 July 2026
Love Island star Olivia Bowen opens up about the show, Alex Bowen, motherhood, body image, mental health and the private experiences that shaped the woman she is today. In this deeply honest conversation, Olivia reflects on growing up after her parents’ divorce, the emotional patterns she carried into her teenage years, and the relationship that changed how she saw herself before entering the Love Island villa. She revisits the overnight fame that followed, the scrutiny surrounding her relationship with Alex, and the moments that helped her understand she was loved in a way she had struggl...
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We're Talking The Cost of Alcoholism
Thursday, 9 July 2026
For Alcohol Awareness Week, Backstreet Boys star AJ McLean, and performer Louie Spence, open up about the impact alcohol addiction has had on their lives and families. In this shorter cut from We Need To Talk, AJ reflects on his own journey with alcohol addiction, recovery and the turning point that forced him to confront the double life he was living. Louie shares the heartbreaking reality of growing up with a mother who struggled with alcoholism, the impact her death had on him and his family, and the grief that followed. (00:00) Intro (00:39) What's the Difference Between Alex and...
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Jo Frost: “I Was Bullied!” Her Breaking Point, and the Parenting Emergency
Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Jo Frost, the world-renowned parenting expert and Supernanny, returns to We Need To Talk to discuss the parenting crisis, teen takeovers, phone addiction, bullying, cyberbullying, corporal punishment and the emotional needs children are missing today. After her first conversation reached millions around the world, Jo reflects on the overwhelming response, the families who felt seen by her words, and why she believes parents and children are facing one of the most urgent crises of our time. Jo opens up about being bullied for three years at school, the moment she finally fought back, and w...
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Who Is The REAL Rose McGowan? I Was Raised In A Cult
Thursday, 2 July 2026
Rose McGowan opens up about her extraordinary life before the headlines, from growing up in Italy around Children of God to being sent to America as a child and trying to understand where she belonged. Rose reflects on her complicated relationship with her father, the absence of safety in her early life, changing her name, legally emancipating herself at 15, and finding her way into Hollywood. This is a rare, deeply personal conversation about identity, survival, fame, and the woman behind the public image. (00:00) Intro (01:00) Rose Breaks Down Her Childhood in Italy and the Childre...
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Jake Hall’s Ex On Sudden Death: “I Wish He Called Me” | Missé Beqiri
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
Missé Beqiri, model and former Real Housewives of Cheshire star, opens up following the recent passing of her former partner Jake Hall. In this deeply emotional conversation, Missé reflects on grief, love, motherhood, and the unanswered questions that still follow her. She speaks about the night everything changed, the guilt she continues to carry, and the reality of trying to stay strong for her daughter while grieving someone she once loved. Missé also opens up about the loss of her brother, the childhood wounds that shaped her need for validation, and the impact reality TV had on her m...
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