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The Trawl

The Trawl

By: Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss
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About this listen

The Trawl is the podcast that dives headfirst into the political chaos, media spin, and social media absurdity of the week - so you don’t have to.


Hosted by broadcasters and political commentators, Jemma Forte and Marina Purkiss, it’s part therapy, part takedown, and always unfiltered.


Each episode, Jemma and Marina trawl through the week’s most viral tweets, jaw-dropping headlines, and rage-inducing soundbites - offering sharp analysis, dark humour, and the occasional expletive. From Westminster to world affairs, they call out hypocrisy, amplify truth, and remind you that you’re not losing your mind - just living through it.


If you’ve ever shouted at the news or laughed through the tears, The Trawl is your people.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marina Purkiss & Jemma Forte
Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Royal Bants in DC & A Gifted Bell
    May 1 2026

    Jemma and Marina are back in full chaotic form, slightly sleep-deprived, deeply opinionated, and absolutely not holding back.


    They unpack the horror of a North London stabbing and the questions it raises, before diving headfirst into the surreal spectacle of Donald Trump hosting King Charles III, a meeting that somehow involved Magna Carta shade, a gifted bell, and a lot of very British side-eye.


    Along the way there's a meltdown over Melania Trump vs Jimmy Kimmel, a rant about media bias (hello Ed Balls), and why Americans calling London a “hellscape” might want to take a long, hard look at their own backyard.


    Plus hypocrisy klaxons, accidental near-scandals in the Good Morning Britain green room, and one very satisfying doorbell moment.


    It’s messy, it’s funny, it’s slightly unhinged, it’s The Trawl.


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast


    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
  • Botox Bollox, Boozy MPs & a Five Million Pound 'Gift'
    Apr 30 2026

    In this Trawl, Jemma and Marina take on everything from outdated beauty standards to the increasingly surreal state of UK politics.


    There’s fury over a jaw-dropping tabloid takedown of Cameron Diaz, a debate about whether Westminster has a drinking problem, and a deep dive into political messaging that raises more questions than it answers.


    Plus: claims, counterclaims and confusion around campaign tactics, viral clips that feel almost too bizarre to be real, and yet more examples of how modern politics often blurs the line between serious and absurd.


    Throw in AI-generated oddities, questionable adverts, and some truly baffling public reactions, and you’ve got an episode that’s equal parts funny, frustrating and hard to look away from.


    As ever, they scroll so you don’t have to.



    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • Shots Fired at The White House & Marathon Heroes
    Apr 29 2026

    Jemma and Marina start with the emotional highs of the London Marathon: stories of resilience, community and the kind of humanity that restores your faith in people. Then they take a sharp hand brake turn into the chaos of global politics.


    From a dramatic incident at a White House event to the online reaction that followed, Jemma and Marina wade through fact, speculation and the sheer pace of modern news. There’s talk of late-night posting sprees, political theatre, and how quickly serious moments risk becoming just another scroll.


    Plus: a headline-grabbing interview moment, a viral TV appearance that has to be heard to be believed, and a reminder that in 2026, the line between reality and absurdity feels thinner than ever.


    It’s funny, unsettling, occasionally baffling and very much the world we’re living in.


    Enjoy!


    Thank you for sharing and please do follow us @MarinaPurkiss @jemmaforte @TheTrawlPodcast

    Patreon

    https://patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    Youtube

    https://www.youtube.com/@TheTrawl

    Twitter

    https://twitter.com/TheTrawlPodcast

    If you’ve even mildly enjoyed The Trawl, you’ll love the unfiltered, no-holds-barred extras from Jemma & Marina over on Patreon, including:


    • Exclusive episodes of The Trawl Goss – where Jemma and Marina spill backstage gossip, dive into their personal lives, and often forget the mic is on

    • Early access to The Trawl Meets…

    • Glorious ad-free episodes


    Plus, there’s a bell-free community of over 3,300 legends sparking brilliant chat.


    And it’s your way to support the pod which the ladies pour their hearts, souls (and occasional anxiety) into. All for your listening pleasure and reassurance that through this geopolitical s**tstorm… you’re not alone.


    Come join the fun:


    https://www.patreon.com/TheTrawlPodcast?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Show More Show Less
    41 mins
All stars
Most relevant
I mean at this point all we've got left is laughter or tears, I'll take the laughs, thanks.

Review

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I feel so helpless. I listened to your podcast and cried. It is unbearable.
Little Max in the end gave me a bit of hope.

Thank you for your compassionate podcast.

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Fun with facts. No BS. It's like a comical version of Rest in Politics.

Love it

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First podcast I go to; highly recommended.
Joined late but liked it so much went back to the beginning

Fantastic

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I love The Trawl, it’s a good laugh and a brilliant way to keep updated on what is going on without feeling doomed.

Brilliant podcast

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