Advertise on podcast: Unscripted with Niamh O'Connor

It’s Episode 90 (technically 102) and it’s the last Unscripted for a little while because we’re taking a summer siesta! So obviously, we finally made her do it: the infamous tuna taste test. After TWO YEARS of build-up… what is the final verdict?? Niamh fully spirals into germs, nose-picking truths, and even eating a Dreamie before tuna. Then things get a bit emosh and Niamh and Lauren recap the last two years: buying houses, the cats, the live show stress, Electric Picnic madness, burnout, growth, and what’s next. See you again soon, Love You Mwah!

This week on Unscripted, Alex is back on the podcast, and there’s plenty to catch up on. Fresh off turning 30, he shares the story of the surprise birthday party Niamh threw for him - complete with all the details of how she managed to keep it a secret and why he had absolutely no idea it was coming. The conversation also turns to one of Alex’s favorite subjects: his cats. He explains why he loves them so much and how hes going to cope as a single cat dad while Niamh is away. Plus, Alex takes us behind the scenes of his latest music video, including the unforgettable decision to rent a goat for the shoot. He talks about where the idea came from, what it was like having a goat on set, and whether the goat was the goat of the video. And finally, we have a little announcement at the end of the episode, a kinda sad, but kinda exciting one!

Episode 89 is a proper catch-up because Niamh and Lauren have loads to unpack — from Niamh’s imposter syndrome at Welfest to why doing the whole weekend solo (and sober) ended up being one of the best experiences of her life. Then it’s birthday chaos: Alex is turning 30 and Niamh has gone fully overboard — Tenerife in a fancy suite, Florida booked, and a massive surprise party with the full works… if she can actually pull it off without giving the game away. Plus: all-inclusive holidays being a scam, pizza cut into strips, and a pop culture deep dive on Venezuela Fury’s wedding, Molly-Mae discourse, and an unexpected Aran Islands tax rant.

This week on Tangent Time, Niamh’s asking the only question that matters: where the f**k is Lee Andrews? The Katie Price “husband” saga has her and Lauren in bits — the PhD stamps, the AI pics with Kim K and Elon, the “kidnapped” messages… it’s giving scam artist and Tinder Swindler vibes. They get into how people are still getting robbed online, why internet safety needs to be taken way more seriously, and how anyone is sending random men in Dubai thousands. Plus: a quick rant about Facebook fossils and the chaos of those anonymous groups.

Episode 88 is pure chaos in the best way because Dylan Lee Kenny (aka “Kris Jenner” himself) is back in studio with Niamh — and he’s just hit a YEAR sober. They chat about the brutal first few months, cravings, addictive personalities, and the mad stuff Dylan got up to when drink/drugs had him in a chokehold — from blackout stories to full-on paranoia and “what was I even doing for 11 years?” realisations. Plus: Barbados as a “warm hug”, nearly turning into a Rihanna stalker, first-class flights, melatonin madness, gym hate, and a Tiny Tangent rant about bus drivers, zig-zag walkers, and missing McDonald’s fries.

In true Niamh fashion, she is back with a proper Tangent Time rant — because she went to the dentist for a “quick clean” and ended up fully convinced she had periodontal disease and was about to lose all her teeth. She talks bleeding gums after quitting smoking, family fears around gum disease, and the absolute panic spiral (yes, the camera roll was ALL gums). Plus: crowns that are joined together, water flossers vs interdental brushes, periokin gel, and the most traumatic “it’s gonna hurt but it’s good” dentist pep talk. And then… the hate comments. The unoriginal tooth jokes. The drama queen allegations. And why she’s not apologising for crying on the internet.

Episode 87 is a proper chatty one because Faye Short joins Niamh in studio — Spin 103.8 girlie, drama school grad, TikTok/Instagram sketch queen, and currently on tour with her dad (yes, Pat Shortt). They get into carving your own path when your parent is famous, why comedy is way scarier than “serious acting”, and what touring is really like: the non-stop weekends, the loneliness, the adrenaline high… and the brutal low after. Plus: radio vs stage vs social media, being told you’re “too much”, and the “Tiny Tangent” where Faye goes IN on angry (and slow) drivers.

Tangent Time #7 is fuelled by pure rage after Niamh sees a clip online basically saying Irish people have terrible food… and she’s not letting it slide. From “ratatouille” to the West Brit vibes of shitting on your own country, she breaks down why that whole take is just not true — especially when Irish meat, dairy and butter are literally top tier. There’s also a surprising detour into coddle chat, Spain’s awful butter, and a mini defence of the humble potato. She clocks herself too though: no dogpiling, just a passionate tangent.

Episode 86 is for the fellow space-obsessed girlies (and anyone who’s curious) because Dr Niamh Shaw joins Niamh in studio to talk all things space — from finding your passion in your 40s to reporting on NASA launches. Niamh takes us right into the atmosphere of the Artemis launch, what it felt like watching the crew walk out, and why this mission grabbed so many of us in real time. We also get into the overview effect, anxiety, why Earth is the only real home we have, Ireland’s role in space, and her wild zero-gravity + “pretending to live on Mars” adventures. Plus: space movie picks and a heads-up about the August 12th eclipse.

Tangent Time is back with episode 6, and Niamh is not holding back — today she’s ripping into the Daily Mail’s “Irish Influencer Rich List” and calling it exactly what she thinks it is: a load of bollocks. She gets into why publishing dodgy income estimates is so unfair in a cost-of-living crisis, how it puts a target on people’s backs, and why it just fuels more hate towards influencers. Plus, the girls chat who actually should be on a real rich list, why the whole thing reeks of clickbait, and why Niamh is delighted she didn’t make the cut.

In episode 85, John Sweetman from GoLoud’s true crime podcast Lines of Enquiry joins Niamh in studio. John talks about his unexpected path from art and animation (yes, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) to 25 years in Garda forensic work. They unpack what people don’t realise about investigations, why tiny mistakes can collapse a case, how true crime can shape public perception, and why staying respectful to victims always has to come first. And in a turn of events, Niamh and John bond over the playstation of all things! Season 3 of Lines of Enquiry is out now, and you can get it in the same place you get this podcast!

Episode 5 of Tangent Time is a full Electric Picnic debrief — the line-up, the internet outrage, and why no one is ever happy no matter who’s headlining.Niamh breaks down why EP’s always been more than the music anyway (be so for real) and why Longitude is just not the vibe once you’re out of the teen TikTok trenches.Plus: the real reason she might skip EP this year — going (nearly) sober, the pressure to drink in Ireland, and why festival camping is actually a form of torture. Should Unscripted do EP? Let us know!

Episode 84 is basically meant to be about Coachella… and somehow turns into a full-on pop culture yap session (with a few brutal truths thrown in). Niamhs chats about why Coachella never appealed before, but this year has her ready to save 5 grand, hire stylists and go all out. She breaks down the influencer “outfit reveal” pressure, give flowers to Charlene Murphy’s insane content grind, and shout out the best looks (Lucinda, Ami Charlize, Eabha O’Donoghue, and more). Then it’s Bieberchella tears, Selena vs Hailey opinions, Alex Cooper vs Alex Earle “beef”, Molly-Mae x Adidas… and a rant about Americans car-camping like it’s a luxury Airbnb.

Episode 83 is with James Doyle (aka Protein Bar Papi) in studio — and it’s equal parts funny, honest and a little bit unhinged James chats about how he actually started on TikTok, the body dysmorphia that pushed him into the gym, and why chasing the “perfect” physique can get unhealthy fast. We get into bulking/cutting fear, steroids pressure, and the whole “looksmaxxing / tiptoe maxxing” madness online. Then we pivot to Japan: convenience stores on every corner, insane public transport rules, Mount Fuji, Universal, and why you absolutely cannot be jaywalking over there. Plus: Tiny Tangent on the worst part of adulthood… having to feed yourself constantly.

It’s Tangent Time #4 and Niamh is not holding back — today’s topic is horse racing and greyhound racing, and after one question box, it’s clear people feel VERY strongly about it. Niamh breaks down what she learned from an RTÉ deep dive: ex-racehorses being slaughtered, turned into dog food, exported as horse meat, and the huge amount of state support going into the industry. Then it gets even darker with greyhound racing: overcrowded rescues, discarded dogs, malnourishment, and why Niamh thinks you cannot rationalise it.