"I Just Want My Kid To Be Happy" We’re Talking Transgender Awareness
To mark Transgender Awareness Week, Paul sits down with Married At First Sight’s Ella Morgan and her dad Chris for an honest conversation about identity, acceptance and family.
From navigating misunderstanding to rebuilding their relationship with love and empathy, they share what it means to live authentically and to stand by one another through change.
This episode is about courage and connection - reminding us that everyone deserves to feel safe in who they are.
We’re Talking: Transgender Awareness
(00:00) Intro
(00:44) How Paul and Ella Met
(03:05) What Is 'Dead-Naming'?
(04:56) Ella's Relationship History Before MAFS
(07:08) Safety as a Trans Person
(09:47) Ella's Dad Joins the Conversation
(10:42) How Did Chris Find Out About Ella's True Identity?
(14:34) Paul Shows Chris a Picture of Him and Ella from 2001
(16:57) How Chris Handled the Terminology After Learning Ella's True Identity
(18:00) Public Reaction to Ella Presenting as a Woman
(19:25) Ella's Experience with Gender Reassignment Surgery
(20:48) Chris' Experience of Ella's Transition Surgery
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Anna Saccone on The SACCONEJOLYs, Motherhood And Raising Her Trans Daughter in the Public Eye
In her first ever solo interview, YouTube creator and mum of four Anna Saccone opens up about the truth behind The SACCONEJOLYs, the hidden pain behind her picture-perfect life, and the moments that almost broke her.
Content warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders and miscarriage.
For the first time, Anna shares the real story behind her marriage, her relationship with Jonathan, and the intense pressure of raising a family online while facing constant criticism and scrutiny. She also speaks candidly about her struggles with bulimia, body image, and identity - and how she’s finally learning to live life on her own terms.
Anna shares:
◽ Why she wasn’t truly happy on her wedding day
◽ How her father’s obsession with appearance impacted her
◽ How she built a family-vlog channel that earned tens of thousands a month
◽ What it’s really like raising a trans child in the public eye
◽ How she feels about the negative comments
◽ How returning to school became her way of reclaiming her voice
This conversation includes discussion of eating disorders and baby loss. We’ve included support links below, along with the organisation Anna mentions in the episode, which provides resources for transgender healthcare:
Beat Eating Disorders - https://g2ul0.app.link/gHK6cjr3ZRb
Tommy’s: https://g2ul0.app.link/yiLgVePdnVb
Sands: https://g2ul0.app.link/1c7K7WVdnVb
Anne Healthcare - https://g2ul0.app.link/BWEMiCQBbYb
Follow me here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
(00:00) Intro
(01:31) Why Anna Decided to Do This Podcast Without Jonathan
(02:39) Anna's Experience Growing Up in Baltimore
(05:46) How That Affected Anna's Relationship With Her Dad
(05:47) Moving From Baltimore to Cork
(12:15) The Beginnings of Anna's Eating Disorder
(14:28) Meeting Jonathan & Quitting University
(17:05) What Anna Initially Saw in Jonathan
(23:43) How Anna and Jonathan Started on YouTube
(28:05) Surprise Message From Jonathan
(30:01) Anna's Struggle With Bulimia
(32:48) Anna's Advice for Anyone Going Through an Eating Disorder
(36:24) How the Growth of the YouTube Channel Affected Anna
(42:44) Why Anna Thinks They’ve Been So Popular on YouTube
(47:14) How Anna Deals With Online Criticism
(58:03) Transgender Statistics in the UK and Anna’s View on the Current Climate
(1:03:13) Shopify Ad
(1:04:11) Adobe Express Ad
(1:05:13) Anna’s Perspective on Featuring Her Children on Social Media
(1:16:03) How Motherhood Impacted Anna
(1:17:54) Struggling to Connect With Other Mums
(1:22:57) Jonathan’s Gender Identity
(1:25:54) How Anna Feels About the Negativity Directed Toward Jonathan
(1:31:00) Dealing With Online Hate
(1:33:30) Quick Fire Questions for Anna
(1:39:05) Final Question: Anna’s Decision to Retrain in Nutrition
(1:41:15) Most Memorable Conversation
(1:45:32) Paul’s Takeaways
Sponsored by:
Shopify: https://www.shopify.co.uk/needtotalk
Adobe Express: https://ADOBE.LY/PAUL
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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"Bullying Made School A Living Hell" Megan Barton-Hanson, Nadiya Hussain & Calum Scott Open Up
In honour of Anti-Bullying Week, we sit down with Nadiya Hussain, Megan Barton-Hanson, and Calum Scott to discuss their personal experiences with bullying and the profound impact it’s had on their lives. From childhood trauma to online harassment, these three open up about the struggles they faced and how they found strength in their vulnerability.
We're Talking Bullying.
(00:00) Intro
(00:39) Nadiya's experience of bullying growing up
(07:54) Megan's experience of bullying at school
(12:21) Love Better Tour Ad
(13:38) Calum's experience of coming out and the subsequent bullying
Get Your Tickets to the Love Better Tour: https://bit.ly/lovebetter-YT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The Shame That Silenced Me For 30 Years: Strictly’s Ore Oduba “I’m Sharing This To Save My Children”
Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore Oduba opens up about addiction for the first time - and the secret he’s carried for over 30 years.Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide and addiction.
In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Ore shares how he was first exposed at just nine years old - and the lifelong impact it had on his identity, confidence, and relationships. He also reflects on the emotional scars of growing up in fear, the silence he carried into adulthood, and the private battles behind his public success.
Ore shares:
◽ Why he lived in fear of his father for years
◽ How his upbringing shaped his confidence, his career - and his silence
◽ The grief of losing his father and sister in such a short space of time
◽ How he felt like he was dying inside - while living what looked like a “perfect” life
◽ How Strictly Come Dancing became his awakening
◽ Why the West End reignited his joy and love for performing
◽ Why he struggled to open up, even to those closest to him
◽ How he’s learning to rewrite the story for himself, and for his children
Ore Oduba, We Need To Talk.
If you’re struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. We’ve included support charities below:
Samaritans - call on 116 123 or visit https://g2ul0.app.link/xghDmmYV4Wb
Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): https://g2ul0.app.link/npaQKXUV4Wb
Naked Truth Project: https://g2ul0.app.link/JPSkS5mNZXb
Follow me here:
https://www.instagram.com/needtotalk
https://www.tiktok.com/@weneedtotalkpod
(00:00) Intro
(03:03) Growing Up in Dorset
(06:11) Black Identity in 1990s Dorset
(11:18) Childhood and Family Dynamics
(14:08) Did Ore Feel Loved?
(16:35) Early Love for Performing
(20:48) Starting Out in TV Presenting
(28:17) Ore on Newsround
(32:38) Handling Media Scrutiny
(34:22) Winning Strictly Come Dancing
(45:22) Life After Strictly
(47:41) Hiding Behind a Facade
(53:43) Relationship With His Brother
(1:03:30) Losing His Sister
(1:07:47) Mental Health and Identity
(1:12:35) Learning of His Father’s Death
(1:15:32) Ore’s 30-Year Addiction Struggle
(1:32:43) Adult Content Use Among Young People
(1:45:05) Message From Strictly’s Joanne Clifton
(1:47:25) Childhood Photo Surprise
(1:51:33) Most Memorable Moment
(1:55:33) Paul’s Takeaways
Sponsored by:
Adobe Express: https://ADOBE.LY/PAUL
Get Your Tickets to the Love Better Tour: https://bit.ly/lovebetter-YT
Birmingham - https://g2ul0.app.link/pJIj4XShrXb
Manchester - https://g2ul0.app.link/4SQwKDXhrXb
Brighton - https://g2ul0.app.link/BO71HSZhrXb
London - https://g2ul0.app.link/gm6iB91hrXb
Sync-ID MB01SOP0ZYTDXBS
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Teacher Shamed Me For Wearing Nail Varnish! YUNGBLUD from Doncaster to Record Deal
YUNGBLUD’s journey from growing up in Doncaster to securing a major record deal with Interscope Records is a story of defying expectations and embracing individuality. In this conversation, the boundary-pushing artist opens up about overcoming childhood struggles, breaking through perceptions, and how his unique style and unapologetic approach led to his big break in the music industry.
This rare glimpse into YUNGBLUD's rise to fame reveals the challenges he’s faced and the lessons he’s learned about staying true to himself in a world that’s always trying to define him.
We’re Talking YUNGBLUD.
(00:00) Intro
(00:41) Growing Up in Doncaster: Yungblud’s Early Years
(03:29) People’s Perceptions of Yungblud: From Childhood to Adulthood
(12:26) Love Better Tour Announcement
(13:23) How Yungblud Was Signed to Interscope Records
Get Your Tickets to the Love Better Tour: https://bit.ly/lovebetter-YT
Glasgow - https://g2ul0.app.link/FMk3N4PhrXb
Birmingham - https://g2ul0.app.link/pJIj4XShrXb
Manchester - https://g2ul0.app.link/4SQwKDXhrXb
Brighton - https://g2ul0.app.link/BO71HSZhrXb
London - https://g2ul0.app.link/gm6iB91hrXb
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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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