21 | Kirsten & Tim O' Brien

Actor Stephen Mangan and his little sister - the illustrator Anita Mangan - had an Irish upbringing in London, with Uncle Paddy and the cousins always just around the corner. Along with their other sister, Lisa, the trio navigated separation and - later in life - the grief of losing both of their parents. They remained a close knit gang who love and support one another still. We talk about: the smell of cow pats, nicknames, inappropriate 70s song lyrics and what it meant to be the only boy in a family of girls. Stephen and Anita Mangan work together as adults, writing books for children.. So we talk about Escape the Rooms and The Fart that Changed the World and their new book, The Unlikely Rise of Harry Sponge. The episode ends with burping and ceremonial beaver hats, which is exactly as it should be. This is a one-off bank holiday special edition of Relatively. We hope you enjoy it! We hope to be back later in 2023 with a new series. In the meantime, Catherine's new podcast Where Are You Going? has launched. Is a bite-size and original storytelling podcast, in which she talks to strangers and asks them that one simple question. The trailer for the podcast is at the end of this episode. Please do subscribe, rate and review if you like the sound of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tatty and India Macleod are two of four sisters. Standup comedian Tatty describes their happy childhood as like " little women with emotional volatility and periods." Their mother moved them to rural Brittany when Tatty was 4 and India was 12. Big disruption for big sister India, while Tatty couldn't really remember England at all. "It all began in France." 'Les Anglaises' as the Macleod sisters were known always felt a little bit separate from the secluded community around them and as such, their time in France was a bit intense. The experience has provided rich material for Tatty's career. The pair ended up living together during lockdown, after Tatty had a break-up but the experience brought made them very close. Tatty and India talk about that, about growing up in an all female household, craving English food and Family Hold Back. Relatively is brought to you in partnership with leading family history website, Findmypast. With family records you won’t find anywhere else and easy-to-use tools to help your family tree bloom, Findmypast is the perfect place to explore your ancestors’ amazing stories. Start building your family tree for free at Findmypast today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

JJ Chalmers is a former Royal Marine who was profoundly wounded by and IED during a tour of Afghanistan in 2011. His older sister Ruth is a nurse and knew too much when he was flown back to start his gruelling recovery which would take years. Now registered disabled, JJ works as a TV presenter and has won medals in cycling and sprinting at the Invictus Games. It's a crazy whirlwind of an existence and one Ruth and JJ could not have dreamed of when JJ was in hospital being treated for his many, many injuries. In this episode we talk about how their relationship was tested by the effects of that bomb - as well as what it's like when your brother is mates with Prince Harry, growing up as vicar's children and the need the siblings share for everything to be very, very organised.Relatively is brought to you in partnership with leading family history website, Findmypast. With family records you won’t find anywhere else and easy-to-use tools to help your family tree bloom, Findmypast is the perfect place to explore your ancestors’ amazing stories. Start building your family tree for free at Findmypast today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Benjamin Zephaniah describes himself as a "Poet, writer, lyricist, musician and naughty boy." He is the son of a Barbadian postman and a Jamaican nurse and was born in Handsworth the 'Jamaican capital of England'. Benjamin attended over 15 schools as a child, moving regularly with his mother to evade his father, who was abusive. Unusually, Benjamin grew up separately from his siblings, who stayed with their dad. This means that the brothers and sisters are not close, and have almost the opposite story to tell about their childhoods. In this episode we talk about that, about what brotherhood means, about being the 'cock of the school' and how community organising after the death of Benjamin's cousin did something to repair the sibling bonds. ** Keep listening to after the music for a poetry treat!**Relatively is brought to you in partnership with leading family history website, Findmypast. With family records you won’t find anywhere else and easy-to-use tools to help your family tree bloom, Findmypast is the perfect place to explore your ancestors’ amazing stories. Start building your family tree for free at Findmypast today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pastor Mick Fleming ("aka El Bish") runs the Church on the Street in Burnley, which does incredible work helping those living in poverty. But it's a far cry from where Mick began. In this episode, Mick and his sister Sarah (collectively known as 'Flembos') talk about their sibling journey from playing out happily on the backstreets, to sudden tragedy and trauma to a life marred by violence and crime, before finding faith and freedom together. It's a rollercoaster of a tale which has attracted interest from the Prince and Princess of Wales - who wrote a foreword to Mick's book 'Blown Away' - and now Netflix, who are reportedly talking about adapting his life story for the screen. The episode also talks about the power of a mother's love and the value of a good old practical joke. TW: contains account of sexual assault and death. It also mentions guns and violence and references drug use. Relatively is brought to you in partnership with leading family history website, Findmypast. With family records you won’t find anywhere else and easy-to-use tools to help your family tree bloom, Findmypast is the perfect place to explore your ancestors’ amazing stories. Start building your family tree for free at Findmypast today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manni and Reuben (Booba) Coe are two of four brothers. Reuben is the baby of the family and was born with Downs Syndrome (or Up Syndrome as he would like to rebrand it.) The pair lived together for years and are exceptionally close. However, a spell apart during the pandemic was bad for Reuben as you will hear - and he doesn't speak very much at the moment. We talk about all that, about having a sibling with additional needs and about the book that Manni and Reuben have written together: brother. do. you. love. me.  Relatively is brought to you in partnership with leading family history website, Findmypast. With family records you won’t find anywhere else and easy-to-use tools to help your family tree bloom, Findmypast is the perfect place to explore your ancestors’ amazing stories. Start building your family tree for free at Findmypast today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Happy Pear brothers David and Stephen Flynn were joined at the hip until they were 18. Active happy lads, they grew up in Ireland in a culture they described as sporty and masculine - with lots of drinking. As identical twins they played plenty of tricks: sharing teenage jobs and one on occasion trying to nick the other’s girlfriend! Voyages of self discovery taken in their 20s led the boys to give up alcohol, meat and begin a movement back in Ireland together. We talk about that, about trying to attract attention as a twin, about identity and how a place can shape you and about having a soul-mate for life.Relatively is brought to you in partnership with leading family history website, Findmypast. With family records you won’t find anywhere else and easy-to-use tools to help your family tree bloom, Findmypast is the perfect place to explore your ancestors’ amazing stories. Start building your family tree for free at Findmypast today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer, broadcaster and journalist Caitlin Moran is one of 8 siblings. Her sister Caz Moran is a comedy writer and together they wrote ‘Raised By Wolves’ about their unconventional childhood in Wolverhampton. In this episode they talk about that and about: feminism, wet towels, boobs, libraries, homeschooling, being cheerful and optimistic when you have no right to be and escaping your home town.Relatively is brought to you in partnership with leading family history website, Findmypast. With family records you won’t find anywhere else and easy-to-use tools to help your family tree bloom, Findmypast is the perfect place to explore your ancestors’ amazing stories. Start building your family tree for free at Findmypast today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Relatively is BACK for a brand new season. Download and listen over the holidays: the PERFECT excuse to escape from your *own* brothers and sisters.....Relatively is the podcast which takes grown up siblings back to their shared childhood before returning them to their present day relationship. Expect: nostalgia, honesty, teasing and fun. Relatively is in partnership with Find My Past, which is offering you the chance to start your family tree for FREE! Head to www.findmypast.co.uk Happy Christmas and lots of love for 2023, Catherine x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award winning comedian Tom Ward and his sister Charlie (Char-Lart) share a lot of things: a belief that we should take climate change more seriously; an ability to hold a tune and the traumas that surviving a childhood in a fundamental church (and for a short but damaging time a cult) left behind. The bond created by that experience is a 'gift' of sorts. The pair are incredibly close and despite living 200 miles apart are in constant contact. We talk about that but also about Harold and Madge from 'Neighbours', teenage kicks and a brush with the law. PS Listen *right* to the end .... Tickets for Tom's excellent Edinburgh festival show 'Anthem' are HEREOur sponsor for this third season of Relatively is Findmypast, the exclusive online home of the 1921 Census. Joining Findmypast gives you access to a unique snapshot of life one hundred years ago. Plus, with extensive British and Irish records and fascinating newspaper archives, you can answer those burning questions you have about your family, your past and yourself. Where will your past take you? Join Findmypast to find out.25% off any subscription on findmypast.co.uk using the discount code: RELATIVELY25Simply enter the code at checkout and the discount will be applied. Offer ends 31st July Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.