Best Ringostarr Podcasts (2026)

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Episode 115: John Lennon In 1975 (Part 2 of 2) 2:09:28

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23d ago2:09:28

2:09:28

And so we bring to an end Glass Onion's 7th year… John Lennon's 1975 is mostly remembered for being the year that he became a father for the second time and dropped out of the music biz for 5 years, apparently to become the most famous househusband in the world (the jury's still out on that one). Before he did that though, he front-loaded the year …

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NIR Reissue: Kevin Godley Talks Anthology 10:30

1M ago10:30

10:30

To close out out Anthology Reissue week celebrating the reissue of the Anthology, here's polymath Kevin Godley telling us about his involvement with the project. Taken from an episode originally released in October 2020. Listen to the full thing here: https://play.acast.com/s/nothing-is-real-a-beatles-podcast/nothingisreal-season3episode5-thekeving…

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NIR Reissue: The Beatles Anthology - The Aftermath, 1995 and beyond 1:17:18

1M ago1:17:18

1:17:18

Originally Released October 2020 The Beatles Anthology - The Aftermath, 1995 and beyond In November 1995 The Beatles Anthology was born into the world in record stores and on tv screens. In the aftermath of its release were the Beatles back together, or had they spilt up again, or was it something in between? Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’…

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NIR Reissue: The Beatles Anthology: The Making Of, 1992-1995 1:19:08

1M ago1:19:08

1:19:08

Originally released August 2020 The Beatles Anthology: The Making Of, 1992-1995 After 25 year long & winding road of The Long & Winding Road documentary, The Beatles Anthology starts to become a real thing at the end of 1992. But there are mountains to climb, decisions to be made, egos to soothe... this long & winding road remains a bumpy one. Live…

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NIR Reissue: The Road To Anthology 1968-1992 50:46

1M ago50:46

50:46

First Released June 2020 The Road to Anthology 1968-1993 By the time The Beatles Anthology finally appeared in 1995, it had taken over 25 years to produce. To celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2020, Nothing Is Real made three episodes looking at the acclaimed documentary. In this episode Steven and Jason navigate the years from 1968, when the idea …

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NIR Reissue: Mark Lewisohn Talks Beatles Anthology 23:51

2M ago23:51

23:51

Look outside and you'll find it's Beatles Anthology Reissue week. The records, the book, and the tv show are getting all dressed up for their 30th anniversary. Never wanting to feel left out, we will be reissuing some Anthology-adjacent NIR content this week to get you in the mood. Here's an edit of Mark Lewisohn chatting to us back in 2019 discuss…

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Episode 114: John Lennon In 1975 (Part 1 of 2) 1:13:08

2M ago1:13:08

1:13:08

For our final offerings of the year, we present a 2-part look at 1975, the year of Antony's birth. As is traditional, we first cover the year itself in terms of world events, births & deaths, films and (non-Lennon) music, before turning to the John Lennon events of the year. The Vietnam War is finally winding down, and there are numerous other exam…

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Episode 113: Lennon Naked with David 'Ghosty' Wills 1:39:04

3M ago1:39:04

1:39:04

David 'Ghosty' Wills is back once more to look at another biopic that's not really very good (we'll do something classic next time, I promise!), though our levels of (non-)appreciation of 2010's 'Lennon Naked' differ slightly Christoper Eccleston gives something of a powerhouse performance as a very brutal and cutting version of John Lennon, starti…

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Episode 112: Birth of the Beatles (Part 2 of 2) 1:25:21

5M ago1:25:21

1:25:21

We complete our look at 'Birth of the Beatles', the 1979 biopic which holds a unique place as the only one of its kind made while all 4 Beatles were still alive. The timeline goes somewhat awry but we go from the boys having departed Hamburg in late-1960 to the tragic death of one of their band members and then the arrival in the story of their wel…

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Episode 111: Birth of the Beatles (Part 1 of 2) 1:13:40

6M ago1:13:40

1:13:40

Following our last exploration of a biopic of dubious quality, Antony flies solo this time to explore another one which, despite having some sense of time and place, is also somewhat lacking and to some extent unintentionally comedic. 'Birth of the Beatles', which came out in 1979, will always hold a unique place as the only Beatles biopic made whi…

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Episode 110- John & Yoko: A Love Story and more... with David 'Ghosty' Wills (Part 2 of 2) 1:29:49

8M ago1:29:49

1:29:49

Ghosty joins Antony once again to wrap up our dissection of 'John & Yoko: A Love Story', and there is also some discussion of two other presentations from 1985. 'John Lennon: A Journey In The Life' is a 'cheap and cheerful' trawl through the Lennon story, with another Liverpudlian Bernard Hill portraying our hero in John's own words, and 'John Lenn…

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Episode 109- John & Yoko: A Love Story with David 'Ghosty' Wills (Part 1 of 2) 1:22:57

9M ago1:22:57

1:22:57

We're happy to welcome back David 'Ghosty' Wills to discuss John & Yoko: A Love Story, a 1985 biopic starring Mark McGann and Kim Miyori that was very dear to our hearts, at least until we rewatched it! We discuss some of the better scenes and also the unintentional comedy and 'TV movie tropes' of others. We cover about two thirds of the film here,…

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Episode 108: The Gospel According To John Lennon (Part 4 of 4) 1:21:04

10M ago1:21:04

1:21:04

Another podcast journey comes to an end as we conclude our look at John Lennon (and The Beatles') religious, spiritual and philosophical journey by use of Steve Turner's excellent book 'The Gospel According To The Beatles' After a brief recap of the previous episodes, Part 4 picks up from the formation of Apple in 1967, our four favourite rock gods…

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Episode 107: The Gospel According To John Lennon (Part 3 of 4) 1:31:49

11M ago1:31:49

1:31:49

Continuing our lengthy exploration of John Lennon's religious, spiritual and philosophical journey by use of Steve Turner's excellent book 'The Gospel According To The Beatles', Part 3 covers some fascinating chapters spanning the years 1964 to 1968 in the book's rough chronology. John starts to consider the limitations of fame, is influenced by Bo…

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Episode 106: The Gospel According To John Lennon (Part 2 of 4) 1:20:23

1y ago1:20:23

1:20:23

We kick off 2025 with the continuation of our lengthy exploration of John Lennon's religious, spiritual and philosophical journey. Part 2 starts with more of John and the Beatles' general beliefs about the world before starting a chronology of the Beatle years from the particular perspective of Steve Turner's book 'The Gospel According To The Beatl…

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Episode 105: The Gospel According To John Lennon (Part 1 of 4) 1:21:30

1y ago1:21:30

1:21:30

We end Glass Onion's 6th year with the start of another multi-part series, the first 4-parter in the history of the podcast. Using (mostly) the John Lennon parts from Steve Turner's excellent 2006 book 'The Gospel According To The Beatles', we trace our hero's religious, spiritual and philosophical journey through its many twists and turns in his i…

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Episode 104: John Lennon The Actor with Ross Marshall (Part 2 of 2) 1:21:42

1y ago1:21:42

1:21:42

We conclude our look at John Lennon as an actor, starting from 1965's 'Help!' and with particular emphasis on what was arguably his only 'serious' role, albeit in an anti-war satire 'How I Won The War'. He also voices a famously sprawling Beatles TV film about a bus, and there's a film cameo and brief comedy sketch in amongst it all as well. Antony…

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Episode 103: John Lennon The Actor with Ross Marshall (Part 1 of 2) 1:13:40

1y ago1:13:40

1:13:40

The show keeps rolling with a look at John Lennon as an actor, both in films and TV sketches and also in his persona as Beatle John with the press and on stage. Antony is joined in this endeavour by professional actor Ross Marshall, and the conversation also looks at the craft of acting itself in terms of styles and John Lennon's (un)suitability fo…

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Bonus Episode #15- Antony interviewed by James Jarman in 2016 1:24:04

1y ago1:24:04

1:24:04

For our latest bonus episode, we offer a diversion and a trip back to the past as your humble host is interviewed about his and other people's music by a friend in Madrid in 2016. Topics touched upon include songwriting, creativity, performance, recording and (no surprise) The Beatles and John Lennon. Preceding the interview are Antony's thoughts a…

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Episode 102- Toronto 1969 Part 2: Sweet Toronto with Dave Thurmaier 1:36:24

1+ y ago1:36:24

1:36:24

We complete our 2-part look at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival concert of September 1969 and the 'white-suited apostle' John Lennon's involvement in it with the highly flexible Plastic Ono Band. Following 'Revival '69', Antony and Dave Thurmaier turn their attention to a 1971 film that should be in every Lennon fan's video collection, namely D.A.…

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Episode 101- Toronto 1969 Part 1: Revival '69 with Dave Thurmaier 1:36:10

1+ y ago1:36:10

1:36:10

And so the next century of Glass Onion begins. We've got another fine 2-parter for you, with Antony joined by Dave Thurmaier, the co-host of the 'I've Got A Beatles Podcast' and former guest of the show way back in 2019 and 2020. The Toronto Rock and Roll Revival concert of September 1969 yielded a live album for John & Yoko plus D.A. Pennebaker's …

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LIVE with Mark Lewisohn - 60 Years of Hard Day's Night - Part Two 40:29

1+ y ago40:29

40:29

Live with Mark Lewisohn: 60 Years of A Hard Day’s Night - Part Two We are concluding our May 2024 live chat with Mr Mark Lewisohn. Will A Hard Day’s Night get released? Will it be a hit? What will the reviews say? Tune in to find out… Live in Person from Dun Laoghaire, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com/ X: @BeatlesPod Facebook Gro…

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Live with Mark Lewisohn: 60 Years of A Hard Day’s Night - Part One 45:06

1+ y ago45:06

45:06

S08 Live with Mark Lewisohn: 60 Years of A Hard Day’s Night - Part One It’s been 60 years since A Hard Day’s Night hit the silver screen. In the intervening years, many myths have risen about how this film came together, and who better to bust those myths than Mr Mark Lewisohn. Live in Person from Dun Laoghaire, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothi…

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Bonus Episode # 14- Revolution 9 Revisited (Antony on 'Pop Goes The 60s') 1:51:45

1+ y ago1:51:45

1:51:45

Over 4 years on from our original episode about 'Revolution 9' (episode 25, in the show notes), we return to the topic with an audio version (including multiple sound clips) of a discussion that originally went out on video on Matt Williamson's excellent you tube channel 'Pop Goes The 60s' back in March. We discuss our origin stories with the track…

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Episode 100b- John Lennon In The 1960s (Part 2 of 2) 1:34:35

1+ y ago1:34:35

1:34:35

And so we complete the milestone! Scott Phipps once again joins Antony to complete their whistle-stop, greatest hits tour through John Lennon and the 1960s. Scott gives us a brief sketch of each year through a few news events (some extremely random but no less interesting) before our two intrepid heroes each pick a Beatles/Lennon talking point, thi…

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Episode 100a- John Lennon In The 1960s (Part 1 of 2) 1:15:52

1+ y ago1:15:52

1:15:52

What better way to mark Glass Onion's century than with a traditional multi-parter? In the first of two shows to celebrate our milestone, Antony is joined again by Scott Phipps to take a whistle-stop, greatest hits tour through John Lennon and the decade that made him and which he helped propel into history. Scott puts on his 'Rainbow Valley' trous…

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Episode 99.5- Paul Is Dead 32:13

2y ago32:13

32:13

We felt it in poor taste to add show notes at such a sad time for the world...

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Nothing Is Real Live 2023 - The Q&A Sessions 44:02

2y ago44:02

44:02

Nothing Is Real Live 2023 - The Q&A Sessions At each of the Nothing Is Real live shows in 2023 we had a Q&A session. As a taster for the whole event, here are the sessions for Belfast on October 23rd (Before Now & Then) and Dublin on November 9th (After Now & Then). Live in Person from Belfast & Dublin, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealp…

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The Beatles Last Tour - NIR Live 2023 Part Two 1:06:00

2y ago1:06:00

1:06:00

S08 Bonus: The Beatles Last Tour NIR Live 2023 Part Two When The Beatles landed for their North American tour in August 1966 only the innermost of inner circles knew that the last gig was nigh. What was the environment that the group was performing in, and was it really the end? Live in Person from London, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisre…

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The Beatles First Tour - NIR Live 2023 Part One 53:55

2y ago53:55

53:55

The Beatles First Tour (NIR Live 2023 Part One) NIR went on tour in 2023, so it seems fitting to tell the story of The Beatles’ first and last tours. In the beginning there was Johnny Gentle, a singing star with enough capital to play venues in the rural highlands of Scotland with the untested Beatles. What could possibly go right? Live in Person f…

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Episode 99- Gimme Some (More) Truth 2:01:49

2y ago2:01:49

2:01:49

In the last episode before we notch up our century, Antony flies solo to muse on and discuss various items of Lennon interest. In order, these are the 40th anniversary of the 'Milk And Honey' album, the cancelling and virtues of the Lennon-penned Beatles song 'Run For Your Life', May Pang's 2022 documentary 'The Lost Weekend: A Love Story', the wor…

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Review of 2023 2:06:10

2y ago2:06:10

2:06:10

Review of 2023 You boy! What day is it? Ending the year in the NIR log cabin looking back at 2023 - our fifth annual review. Did anything to do with the Beatles happen this year? That’s right, the third anniversary of McCartney III. Oh, and a little tune called Now & Then. Includes a special Christmas guest! Live on tape from Lapland, it’s Nothing …

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The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame 1:07:02

2y ago1:07:02

1:07:02

The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame 1988 was an unusual time: The biggest Beatle was George, rock stars were dealing with the unthinkable (their forties), people were paying attention to Mike Love, and the rebellion of rock & roll had been replaced by a gentlemen’s club. Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod…

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Episode 98- John Lennon And Me 1:12:01

2y ago1:12:01

1:12:01

We round off Glass Onion's 5th year with a personal episode. Antony explores further his origin story with John Lennon and the ongoing relationship and fascination with the subject of our show (yes, it's our show). You will also hear some writing that didn't quite culminate in a book this year, and there's some discussion of childhood, both Antony'…

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Live At The Roundhouse - Part Two 59:40

2y ago59:40

59:40

Live at the Roundhouse - Part Two In December 1968, Michael Lindsay-Hogg directed a TV special where the kings of British rock gathered to play their new material. Unfortunately, it was with the Rolling Stones. Whither The Roundhouse? What happened next and what could have happened? Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website:…

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Episode 97- John Lennon in 1967 with Tony Green (Part 3 of 3) 1:54:42

2y ago1:54:42

1:54:42

We conclude our 1967 odyssey by picking up from mid-June and detailing all the main Lennon and Beatles events for the rest of 1967. The Beatles are linked by satellite to hundreds of millions, they almost buy a Greek island, the Maharishi enters their lives and they make their own TV special just in time for it to be shown in black-and-white among …

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Live At The Roundhouse - Part One 42:15

2y ago42:15

42:15

Live at the Roundhouse - Part One After filming the Hey Jude promo, and in the midst of recording the White Album, somehow The Beatles decide to eye up a return to the stage in the heart of London. So where should that be, and how will they pull it off? Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com/ X: @Bea…

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George Harrison - Gig In Japan 1:27:35

2y ago1:27:35

1:27:35

In 1991, when so many acts from the 60s were lucratively touring, George Harrison decided to dip his toes in the water. Why? Money. Where? Japan. Who? Clapton. What…could possibly go wrong? Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com/ X: @BeatlesPod Facebook Group: tiny.cc/NIRFBG Mastodon: @nothingisreal@…

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Press to Play - Part Two 1:13:02

2y ago1:13:02

1:13:02

The plan for a quick live-in-the-studio album gradually morphs into something more 80s, more produced. Hello to Hugh Padgham. Warning: Contains Spies Like Us. Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com X: @BeatlesPod Facebook Group: tiny.cc/NIRFBG Mastodon: @[email protected] Instagram: instagram…

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Press To Play 58:19

2y ago58:19

58:19

Or…. Press to Play After the huge success* of Give My Regards to Broad Street, Paul McCartney wants to get back to basics. Kicking back in a small band with Eric (not that one) this is a broth that attracts many cooks… Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com X: @BeatlesPod Facebook Group: tiny.cc/NIRF…

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November 63 - Part Two 41:06

2y ago41:06

41:06

November 63 - Part Two As the Beatles move through the month, beyond the Royal Variety Performance they continue to pack houses up and down the UK. What recordings are waiting in the wings? I Want To Hold Your Hand and With The Beatles. Not too shabby. Live on tape from Dublin, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com X: @BeatlesPod Face…

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Episode 96- John Lennon in 1967 with Tony Green (Part 2 of 3) 1:41:40

2y ago1:41:40

1:41:40

In this episode we start to work our merry way through the Lennon/Beatles events events of this most swinging of Beatleyears, reaching mid-June. The Fabs start off by releasing what could be their greatest single ever and then turn their full attention to creating what is surely at least their most famous album, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band…

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November 63 - Part One 57:34

2y ago57:34

57:34

Between October 31st and December 1st 1963, the Beatles pushed the envelope from being the biggest pop group in the country to something even… bigger. In a year when they just kept getting more extraordinary, by the end of November 63, the world was theirs for the taking. Live on tape from Dublin, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com…

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Harrison/Starkey 1:06:55

2y ago1:06:55

1:06:55

Harrison/Starkey George and Ringo always had a special bond. As the sixties became the seventies, was there an opportunity for the Beatles to give the world a second magnificent song-writing partnership? Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.com X: @BeatlesPod Facebook Group: tiny.cc/NIRFBG Mastodon: @n…

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Talking Mal Evans with Ken Womack 1:05:11

2y ago1:05:11

1:05:11

Bonus Episode! Talking Mal Evans with Ken Womack Kenneth Womack is a writer, historian, and critic, who has written some of the best books about The Beatles and their inner circle. To this list, he is about to add Living The Beatles Legend, The Untold Story of Mal Evans, the first of two books about big Mal, which comes out in November 2023. Live o…

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Mal Evans 1:24:14

2y ago1:24:14

1:24:14

Mal Evans Mal Evans had a front-row seat to the entire Beatles experience, and the Beatles were happy to have him there. Whether it was as an extra in A Hard Day’s Night or co-writing a song on the Ringo album, he remains an indelible part of their landscape. Contains anvils. Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothin…

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Episode 95: John Lennon In 1967 with Tony Green (Part 1 of 3) 1:49:33

2y ago1:49:33

1:49:33

1967 is a year that has gone into legend for various reasons. Was it the year of peace and love? Was there any real love in it at all? Or was it just like any other year, a heady mix of everything good and bad about the human race and society? Before looking at what was undoubtedly a ground-breaking and life-changing year for John Lennon and The Be…

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Bigger Than Jesus - Part Two 1:14:02

2y ago1:14:02

1:14:02

Bigger Than Jesus - Part Two Four months passed between John Lennon free-associating about Christianity to a trusted journalist, and touching down in the US for a North American tour. The “Bigger Than Jesus” controversy hung over the tour, but was it really that big of a deal? Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: http:…

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Bigger Than Jesus - Part One 48:50

2+ y ago48:50

48:50

Bigger Than Jesus - Part One John Lennon never actually said that the Beatles were “bigger than Jesus”, but that wasn’t the point. When you’re free-associating to a trusted journalist, what’s to stop your words being lost in translation as they cross the Atlantic? Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: nothingisrealpod.c…

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Welcome to Season Eight 27:37

2+ y ago27:37

27:37

Welcome to Season Eight Full steam ahead for the eighth(!) season of Nothing is Real. We need to tell you about live shows, the new season, the world’s most difficult Beatles quiz, and ask the burning question of “Where’s that new Beatles single?” Live on tape from Dublin & Belfast, it’s Nothing Is Real. Website: http://www.nothingisrealpod.com X: …