Walking The Dog with Emily Dean

Emily and Raymond are on Hampstead Heath with Bella Mackie and her labrador, Barney (who we can all agree is a bit of a national treasure) Bella tells us about her love story with Greg James and how a childhood obsession with Victorian true crime started her on the journey to writing her million-selling first novel How To Kill Your Family. We also chat about being direct - and whether that can be considered as a compliment and unfortunately, one of Barney’s toys meets a watery grave… Listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Barney (and Greg James) from September 2022 here Follow Bella on Instagram @mackie_bella Bella’s new novel What A Way To Go is a gloriously funny and dark story about dysfunctional families in the shiny but cruel world of the extremely wealthy - you can get your copy here! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re on Hampstead Heath with the brilliant author Bella Mackie - and her labrador, Barney! Barney (aka Banana Head) is no stranger to Walking The Dog - he has previously appeared on this podcast with Bella’s husband Greg James! He’s a pretty special dog - and we were thrilled to take him out again. Bella’s always had dogs throughout her life and Barney came into her life after she and Greg went to Battersea with the intention of getting a small dog… he may not have been what she wanted to get but it’s clear Bella loves Barney a hell of a lot. Bella tells about her childhood in North London, how moderating an online comment board led to her to changing her name, and how running helped her to manage her anxiety and OCD. Listen to Emily and Ray’s first walk with Barney (and Greg James) from September 2022 here Follow Bella on Instagram @mackie_bella Bella’s new novel What A Way To Go is a gloriously funny and dark story about dysfunctional families in the shiny but cruel world of the extremely wealthy - you can get your copy here! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Emily, Mabel, Isla, Luna, Inca and Nala for the second part of our walk with James Middleton in Berkshire! James tells us about how his dog Ella helped him in the hardest time of his life and how she also led him to meet his wife Alizée. We also chat about that time which we all dread - losing a pet. James tells us how he coped with losing his beloved Ella and the gifts that she gave him throughout her life. … and we got to meet James’ tractor! To be honest, we never wanted to leave the farm! As a content warning, this podcast contains discussion of suicidal feelings. If you need support with you mental heath you can find support and resources with Samaritans and Mind. Follow James on Instagram @jmidy James' brilliant new book about the dog who changed his life is out now. Buy your copy of Meet Ella here! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re in Berkshire this week with the brilliant James Middleton and five of his dogs: Mabel, Isla, Luna, Inca and Nala. James *actually* has six dogs - but Zulu is currently staying with James’ parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, because Mabel is in season. But we had a lovely time with the fabulous five! We met on Bucklebury Farm - which is run by James’ family - and it was animal heaven. We met sheep, ginea pigs and even a friendly beehive at one point! James tells us about his lifelong pining for a dog - and then his unconventional decision to get a cocker spaniel called Ella while he was studying at Edinburgh University - and then how she went on to change his life immessurably. He also tells us the story of doing a reading at his sister Catherine’s wedding to Prince William - and how Ella helped him to overcome his anxiety. Follow James on Instagram @jmidy James' brilliant new book about the dog who changed his life is out now. Buy your copy of Meet Ella here! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yorkshire’s Pontefract Racecourse is the backdrop today for Emily and Ray’s walk with the brilliant Ed Balls. Ed tells us about how his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, encouraged him to go on Strictly Come Dancing - and the piece of advice that changed his atttiude towards the show. We also find out how he came to host a podast with his former political opponent George Osborne - we discover if they are friends, and whether or not George would be invited over to the Balls-Cooper household for lasagne. Political Currency is availble on all podcast platforms! Follow Ed on instagram @edballs You can buy your copy of Ed’s brilliant book Appetite: a memoir in recipes of family and food here! Thank you to Handpicked Hotels for hosting us at their dog friendly hotel Wood Hall during our trip to Yorkshire. Raymond was throughly spoiled and he loved his mini break! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve taken a trip to West Yorkshire this week to meet broadcaster and former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls for a stroll around the beautiful Pontefract Racecourse. Ed doesn't have a dog at the moment - but he's very much a dog person. He tells us how he was replaced by a dog when he went to university, and a dog has helped his family cope with his mother’s dementia. We also find out about Ed’s experience at Harvard (once he had worked out where it was located on a map) and whether he cried when he lost his seat in the 2015 General Election. Political Currency is availble on all podcast platforms! Follow Ed on instagram @edballs You can buy your copy of Ed’s brilliant book Appetite: a memoir in recipes of family and food here! Thank you to Handpicked Hotels for hosting us at their dog friendly hotel Wood Hall during our trip to Yorkshire. Raymond was throughly spoiled and he loved his mini break! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re in Buckinghamshire with Gabby Logan and her dogs Milo, Maggie and Maverick! In this part of the chat, Gabby tells us about her career as a rhythmic gymnast, reluctantly competing in the Rose of Tralee - and she reminds us of some of her pre-Kenny romances. Gabby also tells us about her brilliant podcast The Midpoint - and how the podcast has helped her to navigate this point in her life, and some of the lessons she has learned from her guests. Listen to Emily and Ray's first walk with Gabby from April 2017 Follow Gabby on Instagram @gabbylogan Gabby’s podcasts The Midpoint and The Sports Agents are available wherever you get your podcasts! You can get your copy Gabby's autobiography of The First Half here! You can get your copy of The Midpoint Plan here Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining us on our dog walk this week is legendary broadcaster Gabby Logan! We met Gabby at home in Buckinghamshire and we then took a lovely walk around the woods with her three dogs Milo, Maggie and Maverick. Maverick is a new addition to the Logan household since Gabby was last on the podcast - he’s an absolutely delightful standard poodle, who is VERY enthusiastic about catching tennis balls. Gabby tells us about growing up in a family whose love language was sport and how being the daughter of a professional footballer in the 1980s wasn’t as glamorous as it might be today. We also chat about how Gabby has dealt with tragedies in her life and how she stays calm when life is chaotic. She also tells us a rather brilliant story about an incident with George Clooney and a moth-eaten coat… Listen to Emily and Ray's first walk with Gabby from April 2017 Follow Gabby on Instagram @gabbylogan Gabby’s podcasts The Midpoint and The Sports Agents are available wherever you get your podcasts! You can get your copy Gabby's autobiography of The First Half here! You can get your copy of The Midpoint Plan here Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Raymond, Emily, Janette and Lyra for the second part of our walk around London’s Burgess Park! Janette tells us about some of the challenges of Strictly Come Dancing and how devastated she felt about being voted out on her first series. She also reveals what happened when she got the call to present It Takes Two… We also chat about Janette’s brilliant new book Tiny Dancer, Big World. Janette tells us about how Covid gave her a passion for wellbeing - and how writing the book with her sister helped her to share some of the lessons she has learned in life with the world. Tiny Dancer, Big World: How to find fulfilment from the inside out - is out now. You can buy your copy here! Follow Janette on Instagram @JManara Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re in South London’s Burgess Park with television presenter, choreographer and professional dancer Janette Manrara - and we have a very special bonus guest - her daughter Lyra! Janette is best known for appearing as a professional dance on Strictly Come Dancing - and since 2021 she has co-hosted Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two! Janette is married to her Strictly co-star Aljaž Škorjanec and their daughter Lyra was born in July 2023 - we think she was pretty taken by Raymond (and the geese!) Janette has a history with dogs back at home in Miami - but life as a performing family means that she doesn’t have a dog at the moment… but there may be one in the future! After her family immigrated from Cuba to Miami, Janette tells us about being a happy child in a happy household and how that gave her a positive outlook on life. She tells the story of how she went from working in a bank to becoming a professional dancer - and what happened when she met Aljaž for the first time… was it love at first sight?! Tiny Dancer, Big World: How to Find Fulfilment from the Inside Out is out on Thursday 12th September - you can buy your copy here Follow Janette on Instagram @JManara Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily and Ray take a walk with Phil Wang in Peckham Rye Park for the second part of this week’s Walking The Dog! Phil tells us about being the president of the Cambridge Footlights, how he feels about celebrating his successes and making the decision to spend more money on his haircut. He also tells us what it was like to record his new Netflix special by candlelight... Phil’s absolutely hilarious new special Wang In There, Baby! is available on Netflix now Order Phil’s book Sidesplitter: How To Be From Two Worlds At Once here BudPod with Phil Wang and Pierre Novellie is available wherever you get your podcasts! Follow Phil on Instagram @wangpix Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Emily and Ray met the brilliant comedian Phil Wang for a stroll round Peckham Rye Park! Phil is a former dog-hater, but he and Raymond got on very well. Phil even offered to carry Ray and gave him a whole new perspective on the world. After being born in the same hospital as Robbie Williams - Phil spent what he describes as a ‘nice but boring’ childhood growing up in Malaysia, before moving back to the UK for school and university. Phil tells us about how he embraces otherness and being an escapist - and he reveals why he is very cautious about long grass. Phil’s absolutely hilarious new special Wang In There, Baby! is available on Netflix now Order Phil’s book Sidesplitter: How To Be From Two Worlds At Once here BudPod with Phil Wang and Pierre Novellie is available wherever you get your podcasts! Follow Phil on Instagram @wangpix Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Emily and Ray for the second part of our chat with the brilliant chef, author and social media sensation Poppy O’Toole - and her dogs Crypto and Red. We discuss Poppy’s worst ever mistake in the kitchen, how she has accidentally gained a reputation for innuendo, and Emily takes the opportunity to get some potato advice from the Potato Queen herself. The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook is out on 12th September - featuring 90 mouth-watering recipes that focus on ease and convenience without breaking the bank or sacrificing flavour, this is the book you need to get great food on the table at the end of a busy day. You can pre-order your copy here! Follow Poppy on Instagram @Poppy_Cooks Follow Poppy on TikTok @poppycooks Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily and Ray have taken a trip up to Worcestershire this week for a walk with professional chef, TikTok star and Sunday Times bestselling author Poppy O’Toole - who is better known as Poppy Cooks. Poppy has two dogs: a pug called Crypto and a German Shepherd called Red. Together with Ray - they make a very unlikely gang of dog pals! Poppy tells us about how losing her job as a chef in the pandemic led her to becoming a social media sensation with over 5 million total followers. She shares some of the difficult experiences she has had as a young female chef, and she tells us about a surprisingly delicious frozen supermarket paella. The Actually Delicious Slow Cooker Cookbook is out on 12th September - featuring 90 mouth-watering recipes that focus on ease and convenience without breaking the bank or sacrificing flavour, it is the book you need to get great food on the table at the end of a busy day. You can pre-order your copy here! Follow Poppy on Instagram @Poppy_Cooks Follow Poppy on TikTok @poppycooks Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The wonderful Louise Minchin joins Emily and Raymond from home in Cheshire this week, with her lovely labradors Waffle and Ruby! In this part of our chat, Louise tells us about her time presenting BBC Breakfast, her fight for equal pay and then why she ultimately made the decision to leave (much to Emily's dismay!) We also chat about Louise’s brilliant new book Isolation Island - and how her love for reality tv and going on I’m A Celebrity inspired her to write such a gripping thriller. Isolation Island will be out on 12th September - you can pre-order your copy here, or you can buy a signed copy here! Follow Louise on Instagram @louiseminchin Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Walking The Dog, we’re joined by the fabulous journalist, television presenter and author Louise Minchin! Louise joins us from home in Cheshire with her two gorgeous labradors Waffle and Ruby and she tells us all about growing up Hong Kong, and the family legend surrounding her birth. We also chat about Louise's positive attitude, a life changing trip to Argentina, and what happened when she realised she was going to get a D in A-Level economics… Louise's new book Isolation Island is a tense, addictive thriller set within the world of hidden cameras and celebrity egos. On a remote island off the coast of Scotland, ten celebrities have arrived in the depths of winter to take part in the most gruelling – and lucrative – reality survival show ever devised. With a production team that seems incapable of keeping them safe, a gathering storm and the unrelenting gaze of hidden cameras, the contestants are pushed to the edge as they try and outshine their fellow competitors and hide their darkest secrets. But when a contestant winds up dead, it soon becomes clear that they’re not just fighting for the prize, but for their lives… Isolation Island is out on 12th September - You can pre-order your copy here! Follow Louise on Instagram @louiseminchin Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily and Raymond are in Walthamstow this week with the comedian Ed Gamble! Ed has been podcasting since 2006 - so he’s a real OG! We chat to him about the huge success of his podcast Off Menu. Is he the McCartney to James Acaster’s Lennon? And how does he feel about Emily's starter, main and dessert choice? We also chat about Ed’s proposal, how he feels about staying up late and his attitude towards small plates. Get your tickets for Ed’s 2024 tour Hot Diggity Dog at https://edgamble.co.uk/ Listen to Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster wherever you get your podcasts! Ed’s brilliant book Glutton is available in paperback and audiobook now - and we highly recommend it! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a gloriously sunny day in East London - join Emily and Raymond for a stroll with the brilliant Ed Gamble. Ed is loved for his stand-up, as well as being a bit of a podcast king - he hosts Off Menu with fellow comic James Acaster, as well as The Taskmaster Podcast and The Traitors Uncloaked! He also is a judge on The Great British Menu. Is there anything this man can’t do? Ed and his wife Charlie have a cat - but he really got on well with Ray and even found us a (slightly unconventional) shady spot to escape the heat. We chat about Ed's changing relationship with food and how that has affected his life, we find out about the celebrity diabetes community and whether Ed has a ‘Dad At The Airport’ personality. Get your tickets for Ed’s 2024 tour Hot Diggity Dog at https://edgamble.co.uk/ Listen to Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster wherever you get your podcasts! Ed’s brilliant book Glutton is available in paperback and audiobook now - and we highly recommend it! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re in the fabulously royal St James’s Park with the wonderful historian Kate Williams. Kate reacts to Emily’s controversial historical crush, she reveals what goes down in the historians WhatsApp chat and then explains why we have such an enduring love for The Tudors. We also try to find out who is Kate’s favourite person in history - but it’s a tough decision! You can follow Kate on Instagram @Katewilliamsme You can also listen to Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things - a brand new history podcast hosted by Kate and Robert Hartman - wherever you get your podcasts! Kate’s most recent book The Royal Palace: Secrets and Scandals is available now! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Emily and Raymond this week is the brilliant historian, author and presenter Professor Kate Williams - who took us for a very royal walk in London’s St James’s Park. Kate has two cats at home - but she was VERY taken by Raymond. She actually asked if she could take him home - as well as comparing him to Anne Boleyn (which we’re taking as a compliment!) Our chat with Kate covers everything from red hair, to her childhood time machine and how she went from the shy girl at school to one of the country's most loved historians. You can follow Kate on Instagram @Katewilliamsme You can also listen to Queens, Kings and Dastardly Things - a brand new history podcast hosted by Kate and Robert Hartman - wherever you get your podcasts! Kate’s most recent book The Royal Palace: Secrets and Scandals is available now! Follow Emily: Instagram - @emilyrebeccadean X - @divine_miss_em Walking The Dog is produced by Faye Lawrence Music: Rich Jarman Artwork: Alice Ludlam Photography: Karla Gowlett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.