About No Holds Barred Pod

About Us

No Holds Barred Pod is a weekly UK politics podcast for people who are tired of being spun. Hosted by Sal Dodgson and Don McGowan, we cut through the noise, challenge the narrative, and talk about what’s actually going on — without fear or favour.

We’re not left. We’re not right. We’re just honest.

Since launching, we’ve been recognised by Spotify as a 2025 Instant Hit Show, a 2025 Talked About Show, and a 2025 Marathon Show — placing us in the top 6% of all new podcasts in our debut season. We also run a Discussions series featuring in-depth conversations with expert guests across politics, journalism, and public life.

You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Pocket Casts — or watch full video episodes on YouTube.

MEET YOUR HOSTS

Sal DODGSON

Sally is a 'woman of a certain age', mother to an adolescent, slave to several cats [who all hate each other] and a recently bereft dog lover. She is, after a lifetime of chronic illness, now invisibly disabled and spends much of her time online campaigning for underdog issues, predominately poverty and disability rights [to be treated as human by the government].

 

After checking out of school prematurely, Sally left school with very little and mastered a few careers as a Vet Nursing, Croupier and Executive PA's. Eventually landing a thankfully short-lived experience at the Spectator magazine. Sally was also the first female professional Rugby Union manager in the country. These days she has far less capacity and energy, so puts her efforts into self-improvement, education and understanding. Sally is a humanistic and nature focused campaigner with interests in sociology, psychology, epigenetics, neurology and geopolitics.

Contact

@dodgson_sally
Signal: Badassmutha.28

Don McGowan

 

Don is a political journalist with particular focus on the far-right, Reform UK and history but can turn his hand to most topics and has also written about crypto, political science, fascism, media bias and potholes!

 

You can find all of his articles on Substack — Playground Politics with Don McGowan, and across social media. Don is currently writing a book about the rise and fall of Reform UK which he is hopeful to have published soon.

 

Don also co-hosts, designs and produces a weekly political podcast called No Holds Barred Pod and is working with a team to help produce a bias-free news app called News Agency.

 

You can find his published work online for West England Bylines and Byline Times. 

 

BYLINE TIMES ARTICLES

WEST ENGLAND BYLINES ARTICLES

SUBSTACK

Contact

@donmcgowan
donmcgowan@pm.me
Signal: donmcgowan.333