Stay ConnectedThe 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.
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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 Relationship
(11:13) Amy Winehouse's Relationship With Fame
(13:57) Paul Shows Blake a Photo of Him and Amy Together
(16:44) The Huge Success of Back to Black
(21:42) How Blake and Amy Rekindled Their Relationship
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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 of being watched by millions, and the fear of what might happen if his audience saw the parts of him he was still learning to accept.
Joey also opens up about his relationship with his mum, the pain of loving someone you can no longer save, and the boundaries he eventually had to set to protect himself. He speaks about shame, identity, first love, and the coming out video that changed everything.
Joey Graceffa, We Need To Talk
This episode includes discussion of mental health and addiction. If you’re struggling with these themes or your own mental health, remember you’re not alone. You can find help and resources at the links below:
MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b
Samaritans: https://linkly.link/2dx7Z
CALM: https://linkly.link/2dx8H
Follow us here:
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Follow Joey here:
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(00:00) Intro
(01:49) Joey's Childhood in Marlborough, Massachusetts
(03:48) Joey's Family Life Growing Up
(08:15) How Joey's Parents' Divorce Affected Him
(11:25) Paul Shows Joey Childhood Photos
(13:53) Joey Opens Up About His Mother's Mental Health Struggles
(27:40) Huel Ad
(29:02) How Joey Started His YouTube Career
(31:45) Joey on Navigating His Sexuality as a Teenager
(34:00) Joey's Experience at Maker Studios
(36:18) Joey's Coming Out Journey
(45:07) Behind the Scenes of Joey's Coming Out Video
(49:21) Joey's YouTube Success and Advice for Creators
(56:45) Joey's Thoughts on Rising Negativity Online
(01:01:55) Joey's Career as an Author
(01:04:21) Joey Opens Up About His Relationship With His Ex-Boyfriend
(01:11:55) Joey's Relationship With His Sister Today
(01:13:28) Joey Reads an Emotional Letter From His Sister
(01:16:32) Most Memorable Conversation
(01:18:38) Paul's Takeaways
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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
(10:20) Dami Opens Up About Bullying and Fighting at School
(20:57) How and Why Dami Changed His Name as a Teenager
(23:10) Dami's Career as a Microbiologist
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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 struggled to believe.
Olivia also speaks about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, loss, and the realities of becoming a mother while still learning how to care for herself.
Raw, emotional and unfiltered, this is Olivia Bowen ready to tell the truth behind the life everyone thought they knew.
Olivia Bowen, We Need To Talk
(00:00) Intro
(01:34) Olivia's Childhood in Essex and Essex Stereotypes
(03:03) How Olivia's Parents' Divorce Affected Her
(08:09) Olivia's Relationship With Her Father During Childhood
(13:37) Olivia Reads an Emotional Letter From Her Father
(19:52) Olivia Opens Up About Her Teenage Mental Health Struggles
(30:09) Huel Ad
(31:23) Olivia's Modelling Aspirations After Leaving School
(33:14) Olivia Opens Up About Her Toxic Relationship Before Love Island
(36:32) How and Why Olivia Joined Love Island
(39:03) Olivia's Mental Health Struggles in the Love Island Villa
(42:18) How Love Island Season 2 Compares to the Show Today
(44:49) Did Olivia Fall in Love With Alex in the Love Island Villa?
(47:09) Paul Shows Olivia a Photo of Her and Alex on Love Island
(51:00) How Olivia Handled the Huge Success of Love Island Season 2
(56:23) How Olivia and Alex Stayed Together After Love Island
(58:59) Olivia Receives a Surprise Message From Love Island's Tina
(01:02:04) Olivia's Biggest Highlights After Love Island
(01:05:01) The Story of Alex's Proposal to Olivia
(01:08:33) Olivia Reads an Emotional Letter From Alex
(01:11:26) Saily Ad
(01:12:45) Olivia Opens Up About Pregnancy and Postnatal Depression
(01:24:53) Olivia's Experience of Vanishing Twin Syndrome
(01:31:33) Paul Shows Olivia a Photo of Her Family
(01:39:30) Most Memorable Conversation
(01:41:40) Paul's Takeaways
This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, mental health, and baby loss. If you’re struggling with these themes or your own mental health, remember you’re not alone. You can find help and resources at the links below:
MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b
Beat Eating Disorders: https://linkly.link/2dx8y
Harmless: https://linkly.link/2lcoq
Tommys: https://linkly.link/2feiZ
Follow us here:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
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Follow Olivia here:
https://www.instagram.com/oliviadbowen
https://www.tiktok.com/@thebowens
Olivia’s Book, Lost Until Love:
TG Jones: https://www.tgjonesonline.co.uk/product/olivia-bowen/lost-until-love--learning-to-find-myself-again---as-featured-on-olivias-itv2-show-olivia--alex-parenthood/15998524 Audiobook: https://open.spotify.com/show/17bItR7WBfaN1EE7F7yLZD?si=d3b67a7511fc437b
Sponsored by:
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Huel - https://uk.huel.com/WNTT - Try Huel Black Edition ramen , use code WNTT for £10 off
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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 AJ?
(05:07) AJ Recounts His Rock Bottom Moment With Alcohol
(11:00) Louie Talks About His Mother's Alcoholism and the Impact of Her Death on Him and His Family
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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 why she still feels conflicted about what happened. She and Paul also discuss Big Tech, cry-it-out sleep training and the emotional hunger so many children are living with today.
Raw, practical and deeply emotional, Jo Frost returns for the conversation parents have been asking for.
Jo Frost, We Need To Talk
(00:00) Intro
(01:42) Jo Frost on the Impact of Her First We Need To Talk Interview
(06:07) Jo Frost Reacts to Viewer Comments From Supernanny
(12:19) Jo Frost Explains Teen Takeovers and Modern Parenting Challenges
(24:20) How Smartphones Affect Children and Teenagers
(38:29) ID Mobile Ad
(41:04) Cyberbullying Statistics and the Impact on Children
(44:11) Jo Frost Opens Up About Being Bullied at School
(54:19) Shopify Ad
(55:36) Jo Frost on Corporal Punishment and Child Discipline
(01:07:18) Parenting Advice Online and the Rise of Misinformation
(01:12:55) Jo Frost Debunks the Cry It Out Method for Babies
(01:15:59) Jo Frost Reunites With the Browns From Supernanny
(01:17:59) The Browns Send Jo Frost a Surprise Video Message
(01:19:55) Audience Questions for Jo Frost
(01:36:08) The Most Important Conversation Parents Can Have With Their Child
(01:39:49) Paul’s Takeaways
This episode includes discussion of mental health. If you’re struggling with these themes or your own mental health, remember you’re not alone. You can find help and resources at the links below:
CALM: https://linkly.link/2dx8H
MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b
Follow us here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX
Follow Jo here:
https://www.instagram.com/jofrost/
https://www.tiktok.com/@jofrost
Sponsored by:
iD Mobile: Ditch the texts and ‘Make it a Call’ — your voice is more powerful than you think. https://www.idmobile.co.uk/make-it-a-call?affiliate=marketing%7CYouTube_Display%7CMakeItACall_Brand&utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Display&utm_campaign=MakeItACall&utm_content=Brand
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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 Children of God
(07:01) Rose's Experience of Moving to America
(11:44) Rose's Early Love of Performing
(12:35) How and Why Rose Moved to Hollywood
(14:38) Rose's First Experience on a Hollywood Set
(15:41) Living With Her Mother in Hollywood
(20:14) Why Rose Emancipated Herself at 15 Years Old
(21:42) Rose's First Role in The Doom Generation
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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 marriage and family life.
Raw, honest and deeply human, this is Missé like you’ve never seen her before.
Missé Beqiri, We Need To Talk
This episode includes discussion of grief. If you’re struggling with these themes or your own mental health, remember you’re not alone. You can find help and resources at the links below:
CALM: https://linkly.link/2dx8H
MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b
Follow us here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX
Follow Missé here:
https://www.instagram.com/missebeqiri/
https://www.tiktok.com/@misse.beqiri
(00:00) Intro
(01:46) Paul and Misse Acknowledge the Passing of Jake Hall
(04:57) Growing Up Albanian in Sweden
(09:12) Complicated Relationship With Her Parents
(14:47) Auditioning for Sweden's Next Top Model
(22:35) The Dark Side of Modelling
(28:48) Huel Ad
(30:01) Missé’s Relationship With Her Brother
(33:45) Missé Explains the Circumstances of Her Brother's Passing
(40:52) Dating Anders Lindegaard
(46:20) Marrying Anders Lindegaard
(50:58) The Real Housewives of Cheshire and How It Led to Her Divorce From Anders
(01:00:56) Meeting Jake Hall
(01:08:36) Breaking Up With Jake
(01:10:44) Jake's Struggle With Mental Health
(01:15:33) Ladies of London
(01:22:10) Grief And The Tragic Passing of Jake Hall
(01:43:58) Paul Shows Missé a Photo of Jake and River
(01:45:30) What Does the Future Hold for Missé?
(01:49:59) Most Memorable Conversation
(01:52:10) Paul's Takeaways
Sponsored by:
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Under 230 calories, 25g protein, ready in 5 minutes.
Use code WNTT for £10 off at https://www.uk.huel.com/wntt
New customers only. Minimum spend required. Offer valid until 30 days after June 30th.
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Paul looks back at The Only Way Is Essex with TOWIE cast members Georgia Harrison, Georgia Kousoulou and Chloe Sims. Together, they explore how the show turned Essex culture into one of Britain’s biggest reality TV phenomena, and what it was really like to be inside the show as it exploded.
From glamorous first entrances and overnight fame to low pay, public scrutiny, press criticism and learning how to build a career beyond the cameras, this episode is an inside look at the reality TV show that changed their lives. We're Talking TOWIE
(00:00) Intro
(00:33) Georgia Explains Essex Culture to Paul
(02:50) How Georgia Was Cast in TOWIE
(03:55) What It Was Like Filming TOWIE in the Early Days
(07:00) How Georgia Went From Side Character to Series Regular on TOWIE
(08:55) How Georgia Handled Fame From Being on TOWIE
(13:07) What Does Georgia Think Made Her Watchable on TOWIE?
(16:04) How Does Chloe Look Back on Her Time on TOWIE?
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Briel Adams-Wheatley, content creator and advocate, opens up about being born with no arms and no legs, being left in hospital by her birth mother, and growing up in a large Mormon family where her story was often treated as a miracle.
She reflects on the pressure to be strong from a young age, being bullied, pushed harder than her siblings, and learning to perform happiness while privately struggling. Briel also shares how she was set up to inspire others through public speaking, even when the words she delivered were written by someone else.
In this conversation, Briel speaks candidly about coming out, feeling used by the church, the conflict between faith and identity, and the moment she told her family: “You’re not God, you don’t get to damn me.” She also opens up about dating after trauma, finding safety with her husband Adam, and why they are getting married again after her transition.
Honest, emotional and deeply human, this is Briel Adams-Wheatley like you’ve never seen her before.
Briel Adams-Wheatley, We Need To Talk
This conversation includes discussion of sexual assault. Please take care while watching. We’ve included links to support resources below:
MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b
The Survivor’s Trust: https://linkly.link/2kE8q
Follow us here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
Sign up to our newsletter https://linkly.link/2eXHX
Follow Briel here:
https://www.instagram.com/no_limbs_
https://www.tiktok.com/@no_limbs_
(00:00) Intro (01:46) Briel’s Birth and Adoption (04:39) Statistics Around Hand Heart Syndrome (10:49) Forced To Be Independent (14:26) Bullying At Home And School (21:29) “I Think I Like Boys” (25:42) Raised To Be The Mormon Miracle (28:17) The Good Parts of Briel’s Childhood (30:06) How Briel’s Parents Taught Her to Swim (32:34) How Briel Got Into Dancing (35:47) Briel’s Relationship With Her Mother Today (37:04) Paul Surprises Briel With A Letter (40:23) Huel Ad (41:34) Coming Out To Everyone At Once (47:18) Briel’s Experience Giving Motivational Speeches (54:07) How Makeup Changed Everything (58:43) Shopify Ad (59:54) Coming Out as Trans (01:06:01) Briel’s Dating History (01:10:47) The First Relationship That Felt Safe (01:18:25) Adam’s Letter To Briel (01:22:49) Why Briel Stepped Away From Mormonism (01:23:57) What Briel Wants Next (01:25:47) Being Trans In America Today (01:28:41) Advice For Anyone Questioning Their Gender Identity (01:30:57) Most Memorable Conversation (01:34:37) Paul’s Takeaways
Huel - Try Huel Lite Ramen - the new lighter instant noodle. Under 230 calories, 25g protein, ready in 5 minutes.
Use code WNTT for £10 off at https://www.uk.huel.com/wntt
New customers only. Minimum spend required. Offer valid until 30 days after June 30th.
Shopify: www.shopify.co.uk/needtotalk
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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