Well ‘ello ‘ello from London! Welcome to our first Shameless Takes interview for 2025 – and what better way to kick things off than with the incredible James Acaster.
In today’s chat, we discussed James’ ever-changing relationship to fame, how he decides how much of his personal life to include in his stand-up performances, why he pivoted from music to comedy (and back again, a few times over) and what he loves the most about making Off Menu with Ed Gamble.
This episode of Shameless is brought to you by Samsung. Fold or Flip the new Galaxy Z series today.
Shameless Podcast is hosted by Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews, produced by Annabelle Lee and Eilish Gilligan, executive-produced by Lucy Hunt and audio-edited by Eilish Gilligan. Our social media team consists of Naima Fatema, Charlotte White, Emily Li and Eilish Gilligan, and our partnerships manager is Cindy Luu. Also, an extra special thank you to Lucy Hunt and Jonathan Last for their help with this episode.
Finally, a really, really massive thankyou to James Acaster for chatting with us. If you want to know what James is up to, and where you can see him live next, check out www.jamesacaster.com. You can listen to the Off Menu podcast on Apple and Spotify.
Want to support our show? Clicking ‘follow’ on Apple and Spotify is the best way to do that, and we're super grateful to anyone who leaves a five-star review while they're at it. Also! An old-fashioned 'Tell a Friend In Real Life' is equally appreciated.
Want more? We've got more…
Subscribe to our newsletter Smart, Dumb Stuff: https://tinyurl.com/4yasjphn
Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/2mf557ux
Aaaand we’re on TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2hchchrp
Everything else your heart could ever desire is here: https://linktr.ee/shamelesspodcast
Thanks for listening! We’re huge fans of yours.
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53:33
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53:33
A Man's Best Friend review and why Cardi B is getting sued
Hello!
Coming up on today’s show: Sabrina Carpenter drops her newest album, Man’s Best Friend, an explainer on why this Cardi B trial is everywhere, Mr Beast has beef with Rolling Stones, lol, Kris Jenner wants you to feel empowered enough to get a facelift too, Pamela and Liam Neeson was a stunt all along and welcome to my algorithm -a man stole a hat.
This week, Zara recommended watching The Gilded Age. Mich recommended her brother Tom’s phone hack! Listen to find out what it is, hehe.
Thanks so much to CeraVe’s SPF50 for making this episode possible. Combining broad-spectrum sun protection with a daily lightweight moisturiser, fall in love with wearing CeraVe SPF50 every day. Shop it now at your nearest pharmacy.
Shameless Podcast is produced by Annabelle Lee and Eilish Gilligan, executive-produced by Lucy Hunt and audio-edited by Mike Liberale. Our social media team consists of Naima Fatema and Emily Li, and our partnerships manager is Cindy Luu.
Want to support our show? Clicking ‘follow’ on Apple and Spotify is the best way to do that, and we're super grateful to anyone who leaves a five-star review while they're at it. Also! An old-fashioned 'Tell a Friend In Real Life' is equally appreciated.
Want more? We've got more…
Subscribe to our newsletter Smart, Dumb Stuff: https://tinyurl.com/4yasjphn Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/2mf557uxAaaand we’re on TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2hchchrp
Everything else your heart could ever desire is here: https://linktr.ee/shamelesspodcast
Thanks for listening! We’re huge fans of yours.
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50:14
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50:14
Millennials love The Summer I Turned Pretty!
Hello hello!!
On today’s show: The Summer I Turned Pretty is EVERYWHERE. We wanted to explore the appeal of this show and why it seems to have taken off with millennial women in particular – how did it cut through when so many other shows have tried and failed? Also, The Summer I Turned Pretty has a reputation for being warm and fuzzy… so why has the show had to issue a request to viewers to please stop bullying its cast members? Or, should we say, one cast member in particular…
This episode of Shameless is brought to you by Samsung. Fold or Flip the new Galaxy Z series today. Also – huge shoutout to OnePass and their Big Brands Bonanza!
On today’s show, Mich recommended Weiner on Apple TV.
Listen to Cheating The New York Times Best Seller List.
Your hosts are Zara McDonald (@zamcdonald) and Michelle Andrews (@michelleandrews1).
Shameless Podcast is produced by Annabelle Lee and Eilish Gilligan, executive-produced by Lucy Hunt and audio-edited by Eilish Gilligan. Our social media team consists of Naima Fatema, Emily Li and Eilish Gilligan, and our partnerships manager is Cindy Luu.
Want to support our show? Clicking ‘follow’ on Apple and Spotify is the best way to do that, and we're super grateful to anyone who leaves a five-star review while they're at it. Also! An old-fashioned 'Tell a Friend In Real Life' is equally appreciated.
Want more? We've got more…
Subscribe to our newsletter Smart, Dumb Stuff: https://tinyurl.com/4yasjphn
Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/2mf557ux
Aaaand we’re on TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2hchchrp
Everything else your heart could ever desire is here: https://linktr.ee/shamelesspodcast
Thanks for listening! We’re huge fans of yours.
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45:43
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45:43
Taylor Swift is engaged; Tom Sandoval sings
Hello!
On today’s show: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are getting married, Millie Bobby Brown is officially a mum, Serena Williams wants you to know she’s using weightloss injections, what’s up with the Zoe Kravits/Harry Styles/Austin Butler “love triangle?”, Snoop Dogg keeps running his mouth, Zara’s insisting we talk about The Beach Boys’ feud, and remember that guy from Scandoval? Yeah. We’re talking about him again…
This week, Zara recommended My Oxford Year on Netflix and The Map That Leads to You on Amazon Prime.
Listen to the first episode of Annabelle’s new project, The Confessional, right here!
Thanks so much to Samsung for making this episode possible. The Galaxy Z Flip7 is the most fashionable Flip phone, and you can now get your hands on it at samsung.com.
Shameless Podcast is produced by Annabelle Lee and Eilish Gilligan, executive-produced by Lucy Hunt and audio-edited by Mike Liberale. Our social media team consists of Naima Fatema and Emily Li, and our partnerships manager is Cindy Luu.
Want to support our show? Clicking ‘follow’ on Apple and Spotify is the best way to do that, and we're super grateful to anyone who leaves a five-star review while they're at it. Also! An old-fashioned 'Tell a Friend In Real Life' is equally appreciated.
Want more? We've got more…
Subscribe to our newsletter Smart, Dumb Stuff: https://tinyurl.com/4yasjphn Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/2mf557uxAaaand we’re on TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2hchchrp
Everything else your heart could ever desire is here: https://linktr.ee/shamelesspodcast
Thanks for listening! We’re huge fans of yours.
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49:45
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49:45
Unpacking the legacy of The Biggest Loser
Hi!
On today’s show, Netflix just dropped a three-part documentary about one of the most successful reality TV shows of our time: The Biggest Loser. We’ve known for a while that the methods used on this show were incredibly damaging, both physically and psychologically, but this doco has brought this conversation back into the mainstream at a very interesting time in our culture…
Your hosts are Zara McDonald (@zamcdonald) and Michelle Andrews (@michelleandrews1).
Big thanks to Elite Eleven’s Omni collection for making this episode of Shameless possible. Ultra-soft, ultra-elevated loungewear – shop it now online, in-store or on the app.
On today’s show, Gil recommended WWE: UnReal on Netflix.
Sources:
The Biggest Loser by Maintenance Phase
Supersize Me by Maintenance Phase
The Biggest Loser P1 and P2 by Fad Camp
What We Don’t Talk About When We Talk About Fat by Aubrey Gordon
‘You Just Need To Lose Weight’ by Aubrey Gordon
Fat Is Not A Bad Word by Hunter Ashleigh Shackelford
Shameless Podcast is produced by Annabelle Lee and Eilish Gilligan, executive-produced by Lucy Hunt and audio-edited by Eilish Gilligan. Our social media team consists of Naima Fatema, Emily Li and Eilish Gilligan, and our partnerships manager is Cindy Luu.
Want to support our show? Clicking ‘follow’ on Apple and Spotify is the best way to do that, and we're super grateful to anyone who leaves a five-star review while they're at it. Also! An old-fashioned 'Tell a Friend In Real Life' is equally appreciated.
Want more? We've got more…
Subscribe to our newsletter Smart, Dumb Stuff: https://tinyurl.com/4yasjphn
Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/2mf557ux
Aaaand we’re on TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2hchchrp
Everything else your heart could ever desire is here: https://linktr.ee/shamelesspodcast
Thanks for listening! We’re huge fans of yours.
Canada - english