Irvine Welsh: We’re More Addicted Now Than in Trainspotting

Irvine Welsh: We’re More Addicted Now Than in Trainspotting

Author: Global August 1, 2025 Duration: 1:01:43

From the high-rises of Muirhouse to the heart of countercultural Britain, Irvine Welsh has built a literary universe fuelled by punk energy, dancefloor euphoria, and radical empathy. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien meets the novelist and cultural icon to trace a life shaped by rebellion, recovery, and relentless storytelling.

They discuss Irvine’s early years in working class Edinburgh, his brushes with heroin and grief, and the accidental discipline learned on a council computer that helped turn his chaotic brilliance into a career. The pair unpack the emotional weight behind his new book Men in Love, why he believes we’re living in a post-cultural age, and the creative lessons of rave, romance, and rock bottom.

Sharp, soulful, and defiantly untamed, Irvine reflects on belonging, addiction, and the mad joy of letting characters run the show.

Find out more about Irvine Welsh’s book, Men in Love here


You know that feeling when a conversation goes deeper than you expected, moving past the headlines and soundbites into something more real? That’s the space where Full Disclosure with James O'Brien lives. Hosted by the award-winning LBC presenter and author, this podcast is built on a simple but powerful premise: a genuinely curious interviewer meeting fascinating people from politics, news, and entertainment. James O’Brien brings his thoughtful perspective to each discussion, not to debate, but to understand. The result is a series of compelling dialogues that feel more like eavesdropping on a great chat between insightful minds than a formal interview. You’ll hear guests reveal layers of their experiences and opinions in a way that only happens when the questions are interested, not just interesting. It’s a refreshing take in a crowded field, focusing on the substance and the story behind the public persona. For anyone interested in the forces shaping our society, arts, and culture, this podcast offers a nuanced and engaging listen. Each episode is a chance to step away from the noise and into a conversation that prioritizes depth and disclosure, all delivered with the intelligence and clarity listeners have come to expect from James O’Brien.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
Podcast Episodes
Nick Lowles: Why I've spent the last 35 years fighting Nazis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:02
Nick Lowles is chief executive of HOPE not hate, the UK's largest anti-racism and anti-extremism movement. For the last 35 years, he has tirelessly fought against those who try to exploit frustrations, create divisions a…
Sally Lindsay: Fighting for working-class women in telly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:55
Actor and writer Sally Lindsay has always loved the spotlight. She made her TV debut aged 7 when her school choir performed their No.1 single There’s No One Quite Like Grandma on Top of the Pops. But it wasn’t until univ…
Helen Lederer: "I've never been on the winning team when it matters" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:34
Helen Lederer is a writer, actress and comedian. She began her career on the alternative comedy circuit, performing alongside many of today’s household names, and quickly landed roles in iconic sitcoms such as Absolutely…
Danny Wallace: How I got sucked into the conspiracy rabbit hole... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:40
Danny Wallace is a bestselling author and broadcaster who loves nothing more than thinking up fun ideas and seeing how far he can take them. His first book, Join Me, tells the true story of how he he accidentally started…
Frank Skinner: "People will forgive you for anything but success" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:51
Comedy legend Frank Skinner returns to Full Disclosure just days after he signed off his final Absolute Radio show, wrapping up an incredible 15 years. He tells James why he will always love radio, reveals the one regret…
Salman Rushdie: When I die, I know there will be nothing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:06
One of the world’s most acclaimed, award-winning authors Salman Rushdie has spent the last thirty years with a death threat attached to his head. A threat that almost became a reality two years ago when he brutally stabb…
Zeinab Badawi: Setting the record straight on African history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:43
Zeinab Badawi is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and the President of SOAS University of London. Born in Sudan, she has worked in the British media for several decades. She has recently published her first book…
Julie Hesmondhalgh: How good telly and theatre can change the world [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:58
Lancaster legend Julie Hesmondhalgh is an actor, writer and activist. She's best known for playing Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street in what started as a short-term punchline and turned into a 16 year career. Since lea…

«1...678910