Today, my guest is writer and historian Clare Mulley. Clare is an award-winning author known for her compelling biographies of remarkable women whose stories have often been overlooked by history.

I was eager to welcome Clare back to The Comfortable Spot to discuss her latest book, Agent Zo: The Untold Story of Elżbieta Zawacka, the Woman Who Fought the Nazis. With her deep expertise in World War II history and a passion for uncovering hidden heroes, Clare brings to life the extraordinary journey of Zawacka — a member of the Polish resistance and the only woman to parachute back into occupied Poland as part of the silent unseen so I hope you're sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today, my guest is Jack Pegoraro, the creator and host of the popular YouTube channel Number 27, where he shares professionally crafted, down-to-earth videos exploring the quirks, stories, and soul of classic and obscure cars. Jack has built a loyal following by documenting his own journey through car ownership and restoration—most notably his now-legendary Ferrari 308 project.

As a longtime classic car enthusiast myself, I was drawn to Jack’s honest, often humorous take on what it really means to love cars—not just the polished supercars, but the everyday heroes, the forgotten gems, and the oddities that make car culture so rich. In this episode, we delve into Jack’s transition from a conventional career to full-time content creator, his views on modern motoring, the future of classic cars, and the wonderfully weird world of YouTube so I hope you're sitting comfortably, and happy to stay with us.

Today, my guest is writer Briana Lawrence. Briana is the Senior Features Editor at Crunchyroll—an industry-leading, award-winning online platform that brings fans the latest news and features from across the anime world.

I was eager to explore the world of Japanese animation, or "anime," which has experienced a remarkable surge in global popularity over the past decade. With the enthusiastic support of my daughter Lidia—an avid fan of all things Japanese—I invited Briana onto the podcast for a conversation about her book, The Essential Manga Guide: 50 Series Every Manga Fan Should Know, and the broader evolution of anime and manga culture.

This episode also marks a first for The Comfortable Spot, as Lidia joined me in co-hosting our conversation with Briana so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today, my guest is podcast and documentary host Don Wildman. He is the current host of American History Hit on the History Hit platform, and also serves as the host and narrator of Mysteries at the Museum, Beyond the Unknown, Dark Tales with Don Wildman, and Buried Worlds with Don Wildman on the Travel Channel.

I’ve been a keen listener of American History Hit since its launch in 2022 and have always enjoyed how Don engages with each expert guest. His topics explore not only the vast history of the United States, but also the broader history of the American continent.

Don’s style is to play the role of the curious listener—just like me—often asking the very questions we’re thinking ourselves. I was excited to have him as a guest, and in this conversation, we explore a wide range of topics about America so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today, my guest is Karen Sugrue. Karen is a psychotherapist, sociology lecturer, activist, lobbyist, and campaign manager. She is an intersectional feminist who advocates for reproductive rights, trans rights, and greater representation of women in Irish politics.

I got to know Karen through her role as campaign manager for Elisa O'Donovan in the 2024 Irish General Election. I’ve long believed that campaign managers play one of the most crucial—yet often unsung—roles in politics, so I was eager to learn more about what the job entails.

In our conversation, we also discuss the challenges women face in politics and what it will take to encourage more women to get involved. So, I hope you're sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

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Today, my guest is blogger and podcast producer Jason Stershic. Since 2011, Jason has been roaming the internet as Agent Palmer. He has appeared on many podcasts and is a producer of several shows. In 2019, Jason expanded the Palmer brand by launching The Palmer Files podcast. He is an editor of self-published books, and a digital consultant to many.

In 2024, I had the opportunity to be a guest on The Palmer Files podcast, where we had a great conversation about podcasting and mental health in the digital age. I invited Jason to The Comfortable Spot to continue exploring these themes, so I hope you're sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today, I’m joined by author and academic Brian Milne. Brian is a social anthropologist who specializes in the human rights of children. His work has taken him to around 40 countries, most of them developing nations; at least four have been in a state of conflict or war, bringing him to the front line in two. Brian’s theoretical work began with migration.

He has worked on, written about, and published research on citizenship and is generally best known as an 'expert' on the human rights of children. In this episode, we discuss the rights of children in conflict and ask whether our modern societies have become desensitized to their suffering. Brian was an excellent guest, so I hope you’re sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today, my guest is author and peace activist Sanam Naraghi Anderlini. As Founder and CEO of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), Sanam has spent over two decades advancing peace, security, and women's rights worldwide. She leads the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership, supporting women-led organizations in over 40 countries, and spearheaded ICAN’s Innovative Peace Fund, channelling millions to grassroots peacebuilders. A key architect of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, she has shaped global policy on peace and security while advising the UN, governments, and academia. She is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University and a Mellon Fellow at UMass Amherst. Sanam’s expertise and advocacy continue to shape the future of inclusive peacebuilding. I was delighted to have her as a guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and are happy to stay with us.