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A Podcast by Jim & Pat Byrne about everything related to Glasgow West End. Interviews, what's on, reviews, guests and anything else you can think of.
Episodes
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Welcome to episode 106 of Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat
In this episode Pat chats with historian Florence Boyle
Florence is particularly interesting because she was born and brought up in Pat’s home village, Old Kilpatrick, West Dunbartonshire.
It was during the Covid lockdown that Florence took the opportunity to start researching and writing about topics she has long been interested in - and those are the stories about the amazing, ordinary people who lived in her part of the world.
Links
- Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
-
Undeservedly Forgotten – West Dunbartonshire Women by Florence Boyle
Music by Jim Byrne
Saturday Jul 19, 2025
Saturday Jul 19, 2025
Episode 105 of Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat – Pat chatting to author Liam McIlvanney
In this episode Pat chats to award winning author Liam McIlvanney about his latest novel, the psychological thriller, The Good Father. Which is by all accounts a gripping read.
Liam is the Stuart Professor of Scottish Studies and Director of the Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at University of Otago in New Zealand.
He has previously won The McIlvanney Prize at Bloody Scotland, an award named in honour of his father William McIlvanney – creator of Tartan Noir.
The Good Father has been selected for the Long List for 2025.
Links
- Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
- Contact Liam McIlvanney: liam.mcilvanney@otago.ac.nz
Music by Jim Byrne
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Welcome to episode 104 of Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat
Author Deedee Cuddihy chats with Pat Byrne – Scottish Funny Books
In this episode Pat chats with the Deedee Cuddihy - author of a series of very popular and Funny Scottish Books. You will get a sense of Deedee's unique oeuvre from some of her book titles. Here we go:
- I Love The West End of Glasgow
- I Love Scones
- The Wee Guide to Spooky Stuff
- Scottish Wedding Disasters
- Would Jesus Wear a Kilt
- How to Murder a Haggis
- The Wee Guide to Porridge
- I Love Irn Broo
There are many more and they are all great!
About Deedee Cuddihy
Deedee was born and brought up in New York but has lived in Glasgow since the 60s.
After graduating from Glasgow School of Art, instead of persuing a career as an artist - which she said was too difficult - she opted for journalism. Deedee started work with The West End News and Patrick Advertiser – before finding her real calling, writing about funny Scottish quirks.
You can buy Deedee Cuddihy's books directly from her website at www.funnyscottishbooks.co.uk I’m sure you will love them.
Links
Music by Jim Byrne
Saturday Aug 31, 2024
Saturday Aug 31, 2024
Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 103
Today I am chatting with Tim Rideout and Ian Stewart of the Scottish Currency Group. And, if you’re thinking, ‘Currency? Well, that doesn’t sound very interesting’, then stay tuned because Tim and Ian will have you convinced otherwise.
In fact after this podcast you’ll be telling your pals that currency is the most important subject to learn about if they want to live in a successful Scotland. And that would be true.
Tim and Ian chat about all things related to the upcoming Scottish Currency Group Conference. The conference will take place on the 21st of September, 2024, at the Carnegie Conference Centre in Dunfermline.
If I were to reduce the aim of the conference to a single phrase, that phrase would be: ‘why an independent Scotland has to have its own currency.’ That's not their description, that's one I made up - because that's the impression I got from reading the conference program.
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Tim Rideout and Ian Stewart of the Scottish Currency Group.
Links
- Tim Rideout on Twitter
- Ian Stewart - Bylines Scotland
- Tim Rideout videos
- Ian Stewart on Facebook
- Pat's Guide to Glasgow West End
Podcast music by Jim Byrne
Saturday May 04, 2024
Saturday May 04, 2024
Welcome to Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 102.
Today, Pat chats with Billy Kay – writer, broadcaster, multi-award-winning producer and promoter of the Scots language.
Billy has a new book called 'Born in Kyle: A Love Letter to an Ayrshire Childhood.' I recommend it wholeheartedly; we attended a recent event at Glasgow University where he read from it and regaled us with many hilarious tales from his childhood.
Check out Billy's website for his full biography, more great books, and details about upcoming events.
Links
Music by Jim Byrne
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Wednesday Apr 03, 2024
Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 101
Dr Elisa Segnini and Rodrigo Hernandez Gomez chat to Pat about the exhibition ‘Masks We Wear’
Today Pat chats to Dr Elisa Segnini from the University of Glasgow and Rodrigo Hernandez Gomez from Hyndland Secondary School’s, Art Department. Elisa and Rodrigo talk about their exhibition ‘Masks We Wear’ - currently on at at University of Glasgow, Advanced Research Centre - until the 6th of April 2024.
That’s where we came across the exhibition and it was so good that we just had to meet them - tell the world about their work and the work of the talented pupils. The masks were created by S3 and S5 pupils at the school. You can catch the exhibition until 6th April, 2024 at University of Glasgow, Advanced Research Centre. The couple came along with their lovely sons Icaro (7yrs) and Cosimo (4yrs) - they watched a cartoon - if you hear a noise in the background - that's them playing together in the next room.
Links
- Pat's Guide To Glasgow West End
- Read the feature on 'Masks We Wear'
- Advanced Research Centre at Glasgow University
Music by Jim Byrne
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Thursday Dec 28, 2023
Lesley Riddoch chats with Jim about her new film, Denmark - the State of Happiness
Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 100
Welcome to Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat. Remarkably, this is episode 100. Hurrah! Well done to us. :-)
This is the second half of my chat with the esteemed broadcaster, podcaster, journalist and filmmaker Lesley Riddoch. In part one, we learned about Lesley’s formative years and we learned about the background to the making of her latest film, Denmark - the State of Happiness. In this second part of our chat, Lesley talks about the film itself and explains exactly why you must go and see it. And I agree.
It's a fabulous film. If you get a chance to see it, grab a ticket and go along. You’ll enjoy it.
Links
Music by Jim Byrne
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Wednesday Dec 13, 2023
Lesley Riddoch talks to Jim Byrne about, ‘Denmark - the State of Happiness’. And more. Part 1 of 2
Episode 99 of Jim & Pat's Glasgow West End Chat
Lesley Riddoch is a tour de force. She is a political activist, pioneering publisher, writer, podcaster, independence and land-reform campaigner and, last but not least, a role model for women in Scotland and far beyond.
It was great to chat with Lesley about her student days at Oxford, her work in both the mainstream and independent media, the current state of Scottish politics and. of course, about the making of her latest film, 'Denmark - the State of Happiness'. It’s a brilliant, inspirational film that I recommend you seek out.
I guarantee you will enjoy this chat. Lesley is forthright, a natural storyteller and always speaks directly from her heart. Not only will you enjoy the podcast, it will be an education.
Links
Music by Jim Byrne
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Thursday Nov 02, 2023
Writer and writing tutor Dave Manderson Chats to Pat
Welcome to episode 98 of Jim and Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat. Today Pat will be chatting to writer and former creative writing tutor Dave Manderson.
Dave works with literary organisations such as Scottish PEN, he organises and runs literary events and has presented illustrated talks on a range of different topics - including topics as diverse as serial killers and Scottish identity.
He writes both fiction and non-fiction. He recently curated a series of films written by Alan Sharp called, ‘From Greenock to Hollywood’, and he has written a book about the same Scottish filmmaker called,’The Anti-hero’s Journey’.
At the moment Dave is working on a book of short stories and a new novel.
Links
Music by Jim Byrne
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Monday Oct 02, 2023
Donella Campbell chatting to Pat about her book, The Girl Who Invented Dusty Springfield
Jim & Pat’s Glasgow West End Chat - Episode 97
We have another great guest. Pat will be chatting with Glasgow West End’s own, Donella Campbell. Donella is the writer of the book, ‘The Girl Who Invented Dusty Springfield’.
Dusty Springfield, certainly one of my favourite singers of all time.
This is a meticulously researched book, which covers the singer’s early life, as Donella seeks to find the person behind the trademark mascara and blond beehive.
It is the story of her transformation into one of the 1960's most iconic and best singers.
Links
Music by Jim Byrne