In this week's bonus, the girls spread some Christmas cheer to all their fabulous listeners from across the world, Julie reveals why she is a 'walking ick' and Brenda gives an insight into her upcoming date. There's also talk of first Christmases and memorable gifts.
Julie's new fella might be a bit TOO into the festive season, as he reveals that he moonlights as Santa Claus to earn some extra cash. Julie won't be dressing up as Mrs. Claus anytime soon though, and is struggling to come to terms with his revelation. Brenda's also battling her own ick after being offered a ride.. on a motorbike. The girls send some Christmas wishes to listeners across the world and reminisce on their highlights from 2023 as the year draws to a close.
Listeners were treated to two very special guests on this week's bonus episode of Left on Read as Julie and Brenda were joined by Fionn and Erin Rose for a chat about all things nativities and school plays. Things have come a long way since the days of simply placing a Baby Born doll in a manager, with characters including paparazzi, radiators (or narrators as they're more commonly known!) and even the sun all making appearances.
There are all sorts of ways to become and to be a mother, and while Julie has shared her own story, today the girls heard from Tracy Shine who decided to have her lovely little twins via sperm donor. Tracy explained all about making the decision to go through the process alone and how her meeting her current partner didn't change her mind. She also told us about the different procedures she underwent, as well as the process of choosing a donor from 'baby tinder'.
Is there any reason to be concerned if your other half is overly friendly with your sibling? One listener has her worries about her boyfriend's blossoming friendship with her brother but the girls don't see why she's so bothered. They are much more understanding of the listener who is sick to death of her new fella's leather jacket which is old, musty and well worn. But is it ridiculous for her to dump him over his choice of coat? Send your dilemmas to LOR@GoLoudNow.com...
Brenda has been feeling very uncomfortable during a trip to the cinema, while Julie has been wondering why she isn’t her best friend’s best friend on snapchat. There's chat about burglaries, robberies and haphazard home defences – and your messages bring us a lot of intriguing stories about home security, from a well-hung coat to charging at the intruder in your underwear. Brenda is telling Julie she needs to try a bit of originality with her dog naming, and Julie is happy to admit that she’d ta...
One listener gets in touch to tell us about a deeply unpleasant experience while breastfeeding in public, and we hear from another who has found herself in a relationship with a man with a lot of red flags. Send your dilemmas to LOR@GoLoudNow.com
How big of an age gap is too big? Brenda reveals that she fancies a 65 year old, yet when it came to revealing her own age to Anton, she couldn't help but shave a few years off. Especially when she found out he was so much younger... Julie meanwhile tries to offer assistance to a listener who is very much in love, but at different life stages to her partner. The girls also chat about their big night out at the podcast awards and their difficulties sharing a hotel room - including their inability...
Is this listener overreacting to finding a new condom in her boyfriends wallet when they don't use them? And should she be concerned about the torn edge that suggests he was in a hurry ripping it off? Julie and Brenda discuss and even take a trip down memory lane to a time when Brenda was told that a cleaner took the condoms from her boyfriends room. They also hear from a new mom who is struggling to get along with her boyfriend who ignores her and keeps calling her cranky and a grumpy bitch. He...
Brenda thought her trip to Tenerife would be nice and relaxing - But little did she know what was to come! Her dreamy Italian Paulo turned into an entitled nightmare, but thankfully, one of the hotel workers, Anton, was there to lift her spirits and make sparks fly. Julie was feeling sparks too with her Tinder date, and won't make the same mistakes again so she was open with him that she'd rather he got to know her in person rather than through her online presence. All seemed to be going well un...
It's supposed to be the opportunity of a lifetime - But one listener got in touch as the friend she moved to Australia with seems to be finding fault with everything and having a terrible time. Julie and Brenda come up with ways to help her make her friend realise that she either needs to start enjoying her new life or head home. The girls also heard from another listener who's being used as an alibi for her cheating friend and is getting fed up! After 3 years of an affair - Is it time that she ...
Julie's back on the dating apps and this time she's not hiding her social media. Or at least she's not hiding it well as her latest match admits that he has seen her videos already! Meanwhile, Brenda returns from her trip to New York briefly before she jets off again to Tenerife. She won't be alone though with her Italian Bumble match, Paulo set to meet her there - In separate rooms of course! There's also talk of unpaid bills, wedding planning and Julie reveals who showed up at her door after h...
One listener has found out about her neighbour's second life dressing up as a woman and being intimate with other men online, and has reached out to Brenda and Julie for advice on telling his wife. As usual Brenda tries to balance her belief that the messenger always gets shot with her need to speak out when there's something on her mind. They also hear from a girl, who has recently noticed a whiff off her boyfriend of two years and is struggling to get him to understand that her subtle hints ab...
Brenda has landed safely in the Big Apple ahead of the New York marathon, but her flight wasn't without drama, as the reaction to her antics with her seatmate have herself and Julie wondering whether men and women can ever truly just be friends. And Brenda is not the only one with a grueling physical undertaking ahead of her, as Julie's performance in the local Strictly Come Dancing looms large. The two discuss the big night, and Julie reveals why she's dreading it even more than she had predict...
A listener is wondering if she should snoop on her boyfriend's phone after spotting that he's suddenly downloaded Snapchat and Instagram after 2 years. Julie offers some tips from her own experience while Brenda suggests playing it cool. The girls also hear from a listener left in a sticky situation after spotting two of her third cousins shifting on the dancefloor of a local pub and wonders if she should tell the rest of the family about what's going on. Send your dilemmas to LOR@GoLoudNow.com ...
Julie opens up about her life as a single mom as she explains why the twins don't know their dad and the heartbreak she feels when she thinks of what could have been. The girls discuss her decision to get a solicitor involved as Julie shares her struggles going through the family court system. They also hear from listeners who got in touch with their own tales of custody battles and having to fight deadbeat dads for maintenance.
One listener asks if she is in the wrong for sharing diet tips with her sister in law who has just had a baby? Julie reveals her own body insecurities after having the twins and the girls chat about the need for a light and gentle touch when discussing weight. Another listener wants the girls to give their opinions on her row with her husband - She wants him to correct his colleague's poor behaviour towards women, but he insists it won't change anything.
Just 2 weeks ago, 38 year old Lisa Dooley tragically passed away in her home. She had recently returned from Turkey where she had undergone a gastric sleeve surgery. Her brother Michael and sister Anna joined Julie and Brenda to share the story of a life cut tragically short - And to warn people of the very real consequences of undergoing this procedure, not only physically but mentally too. Anna herself underwent the same procedure a few months before her sister travelled and still feels the me...
It's only October but one listener is already thinking ahead to Christmas and wondering is a promise ring is too much for a girlfriend of just a year? The girls reckon they would be insulted by anything less than an engagement ring at their age but get Sean Haynes into studio too for a male perspective. Meanwhile Julie finds herself relating to a different listener's dilemma as she struggles to trust her boyfriend after having been hurt in the past. Together Brenda, Julie and Sean all work to fi...
One of the most requested guests yet - Julie's brother Sean Haynes joined the girls this week. He told them why he decided to get a hair transplant, how the whole process worked, and debates whether or not a perm should be the next hair transformation he undergoes! He also chats about the light at the end of the tunnel in his search for a house, goes head to head with Julie for 'Are you smarter than your 6 year olds?' and shares his own icks.
Regular listeners will know that Brenda is a staunch believer that the messenger always gets shot - And that's exactly what happened to one listener who's fallen out with her friend after dishing the dirt on a cheating boyfriend. Did she do the wrong thing in telling her? Or is the friend just protecting her heart? The girls also hear from a listener who is sick to the teeth of her overbearing father in law stopping by her new house all the time, and they ask how close is too close to your paren...
Brenda's back from Rome and reveals all the juicy details of her date with the Italian stallion, Paulo, including an attempted shift and why there was no chance of him coming up to her hotel room! Julie meanwhile was kept busy in Cork celebrating the twins' birthday with an expensive dinner in honour of their favourite YouTuber. She also throws down the gauntlet to Brenda to join her on her rescheduled skydive. The girls also hear from listeners who related to last week's episode about unwelcome...
Julie and Brenda offer advice to one woman whose new fella is still grieving the death of his previous partner, encouraging her not to read too much into the 5 week break in between their dates. And a man gets in touch after noticing that his wife has gained a lot of weight to ask if there is any way he can approach the topic with her without hurting her feelings?
Whether it's "You look pregnant" or "Stop exercising so much, you're too thin" it seems like everyone has something to say about your body these days, either online or in person. And while Brenda and Julie are no strangers to the hateful comments it doesn't mean they're immune to them. They girls talk about some of the hurtful things that have been said to them and about them, and ask what motivates people to say these things. They also hear from listeners who share their own stories of unwelcom...
One woman gets in touch looking for advice to deal with her husband who has become consumed by far right protests and spreading hate online. Brenda and Julie wonder if he can ever go back to being the man she married or if it's time for her to walk away? They also hear from another listener whose friend is cheating on her husband and debate whether or not the affair should be revealed.
Julie reveals she's back on the dating scene, but her date's screensaver has her concerned that he's not as single as he has let on. Meanwhile, Brenda's taking her panties off for a photoshoot and planning a trip to Rome with her 'best friend'. And following last week's episode on a neighbour turned stalker, the girls also share some unnerving stories from their own lives, and from the listeners, that go to show you never know who you're living beside.
A listener is looking for Julie and Brenda's advice when her confidence is knocked after seeing porn in her husbands search history, and Brenda insists that it's only natural and better than him lying to say he doesn't watch it at all! Meanwhile, another listener wonders if she should speak up and tell her friend that she deserves better than her boyfriend who makes no effort in their relationship. Send your dilemma's to LOR@GoLoudNow.com or drop Julie and Brenda a voice note on Instagram!...
Claire joined Brenda and Julie to share her harrowing story of being stalked by her next door neighbour. While at first Claire felt that their meetings were just coincidental, she soon realised that was not the case and learned that she was not the first person he had done this to. If you relate to Claire's story, you can get help by visiting www.stalkinginireland.ie .
After getting dumped via text, one listener looks to the girls for help moving on, while another asks for advice to stop her from feeling jealous of her boyfriends ex. Recording in front of a live audience aboard Aircoach's Cork to Dublin Direct route, the girls also heard from two listeners in person, who are struggling with office romances and a friend who reappeared after three years.
Julie and Brenda ask whether long distance relationships ever work and recount their own experiences, which include Brenda getting ghosted by a boyfriend of 3 years and Julie getting fed up seeing the twin's dad relaxing in Australia. They also ask whether you'd be upset to see your fella liking another girls pictures and wonder if you can still poke someone on Facebook? It's a very special episode of Left On Read - Recorded in front of a live audience on Aircoach's Cork to Dublin city and Airpo...
