Secret Phone Notes

About Secret Phone Notes

Ready to play roulette with your notes app? We scroll, we stop, we reveal. What we discover is what we discuss –– film reccs to situation-ship break-up texts. Oh, and hi. I am Barry and you are very welcome. New episodes every Tuesday.

Publisher

Barry Taylor

Category

comedy · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Mar 2026

Latest episode

11 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Ep 17: Molly's Secret Phone Notes / Dirty Girl Fridays, Mongolian massage, dreamy Sligo

   Episode 17 and I'm joined by Molly Keane: 00:25 — Intro / meet Molly / Sligo, photography, trail running, sourdough donut discourse 03:22 — Note 1: Barry / Something overheard on the Crete flight home between a creepy guy and his seat partner 12:44 — Note 2: Molly / Oldest note: a shopping list that reveals a decision she made about herself → Dirty Girl Fridays → pineapple pizza → candied pineapple toasty on the Tour de Mont Blanc 27:05 — Note 3: Molly / A dream from April 2022 involving someone unlikely being fearless → recurring childhood nightmare → Tenet, Inception, and why Molly is a serial rewatcher of Little Miss Sunshine 36:40 — Note 4: Molly / A New Year's Eve note that asks one big question and leaves it completely blank → Paris Marathon, strength training, running podcast recs 44:45 — The Mongolian massage: a forty-five minute education, a gas station inflatable man, a lit rollie, and €50 Barry didn't see coming 51:37 — Mongolian throat singing, Tilly the dog's review of it, and Barry's DART claim that didn't survive five seconds of scrutiny Molly is a photographer, trail runner, and all-round outdoor enthusiast based in Sligo. But that's only a small portion of our convo. We'd met exactly once before this. You can find Molly at @mollykeane_photo on Instagram and @molly_wanders on TikTok, where she documents everything about the northwest of Ireland with her rescue dog, Tilly, and her wonderful fiance Garth. We cover...A note I took on the flight home from Crete that I probably shouldn't publish but absolutely am. Molly's oldest note — a shopping list from 2021 that brings us onto Monty Python. A dream she wrote down in April 2022, which opens up into a proper conversation about recurring nightmares, Christopher Nolan, and Little Miss Sunshine. And a single question jotted down on New Year's Eve with absolutely zero follow-up — which then leads to the most honest conversation about marathon training, patience, and why runners hate hearing about strength training. That bit was written by AI. So sue me. It's really late. And then at the end, because we went about twenty minutes over and I couldn't stop myself, I told Molly about the time I booked a Mongolian massage in Berlin through ClassPass. Forty-five minutes of massage history. A scarecrow. A gas station inflatable man. A lit rollie. A calcium deficit diagnosis. And a €50 surcharge on what I thought was a free session. I don't have many regrets in life, but. The podcast's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) My website + contact: https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Cheers!

2. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Ep 16: Daniel's Secret Phone Notes / 4,200 (!), the SNL of sustainability, Philip Seymour Hoffman

   This week Barry is joined by Danny, an Ecuadorian musician-turned-entrepreneur based in Guayaquil, Ecuador for a roulette through his notes apps. Daniel spent eight years as a musician in Germany, fronting Ponte Pilas. Now he's back in Ecuador running Pulso Verde, a sustainability startup that communicates climate action through comedy and sketches - their self-declared moonshot: to become the SNL of sustainability. They get into the challenge of building a green business in a country where sustainability is, in Daniel's words, still in nappies, and what it actually looks like when individual impact becomes measurable. Also: a 2014 note about an album cover involving two blocks of ice, a one-line note on human conviction that doubles as a perfect summary of climate inaction and gastritis pizza relapses, the Ecuadorian expression "el mundo de los sin zapatos" (the world of the shoeless), the Philip Seymour Hoffman hair-pulling story from the set of The Master, Jake Gyllenhaal's eyebrows in Nightcrawler, and Barry's 35 before 35 list. (I'm sorry, AI summarised this. I am too too tired). 00:23 — Introduction 04:57 — Note 1: Barry / Camino hiking shopping list → peach loops, sweaty Camembert, and morale management on long trails 11:06 — Note 2: Daniel / oldest note (2014, Bremen) → "You and I, we're gonna live some more" → Ponte Pilas origin, music background, parents who wanted to be musicians ~18:00 — Note 3: Daniel / "El mundo de los sin zapatos" → creativity and discipline → the Berlin park "temple" → Bismillah album, Peter Kat Recording Company 31:31 — Note 4: Daniel / "The condemnation is that we know what to do and we don't do it" → sustainability parallels → gastritis and the pizza relapse 36:09 — Pulso Verde deep dive: the SNL of sustainability, the talk show, team of 13, no greenwashing 41:01 — The man who brought his reusable cup / what measurable impact actually feels like 43:37 — The Studio (Seth Rogen) / Hollywood making fun of Hollywood / the actors who said no and are now calling back 45:10 — Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Thomas Anderson, and the hair-pulling story / Jesse Plemons / Jake Gyllenhaal's eyebrows in Nightcrawler 50:20 — Barry's 35 before 35 list / acting class as the litmus test of fear / sign-off / "el mundo de los sin zapatos" Practicing your Spanish? Listen here: Pulso Verde: https://www.instagram.com/pulso__verde/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/pulso__verde/?hl=en) Pulshow: https://www.instagram.com/pulshowww/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/pulshowww/?hl=en) More episodes etc: Secret Phone Notes: https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/?hl=en (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/?hl=en)

3. 

   21 Jul 2026

   Ep 15: Sara's Secret Phone Notes / Grandma's IRA medals, Abbey Road sessions, Japan at Christmas

   This week Barry is joined by Sara Louise — Sydney-based brand strategist, singer, musician, and author — for a roulette through her notes app. In the last thirteen months, Sara has recorded an album at Abbey Road Studios, written and released her debut single "Buen Hombre", and self-published May the Road Rise, a book tracing her Irish family roots back to the Cork flying columns and the War of Independence. Her grandmother was a member of Cumann na mBan, awarded IRA medals, and was involved in printing illegal propaganda with Erskine Childers in a cottage outside Kilnamatra, Macroom. Also: working in Tokyo and why KFC is Japan's Christmas tradition, singing "My Way" in Spanish at a Bolivian celebration of life, Barry's overheard Bray prom conversation that doubled as a commentary on Ireland's cocaine statistics, and what it means to carry your grandmother's DNA a hundred years after she left Cork. Links: https://www.saralouise.me/ (https://www.saralouise.me/) https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Email: barrytaylor1993@gmail.com (mailto:barrytaylor1993@gmail.com) 00:00 — Intro / meet Sara 04:57 — GUEST RANDOM NOTE 08:18 — Japan: KFC Christmas and NYE traditions: Shinto New Year, Yoroshiku Negaishimasu 14:14 — RANDOM HOST NOTE: Ireland's cocaine stats → Jameson whiskey → the Boston deathbed story 22:51 — GUEST RANDOM NOTE singing at a Bolivian funeral → Irish songs and grief → dream of singing in Irish 37:54 — GUEST RANDOM NOTE Coke for Vinnie → Sri Lankan food in the Hunter Valley → what is jaggery 46:17 — Irish family history: the flying columns, 8th Battalion, Cork ambush sites 52:20 — Cumann na mBan → grandma's IRA medals 56:41 — Erskine Childers, illegal propaganda, TB, and leaving Cork in 1925 1:00:09 — Wrap-up: May the Road Rise book, the album

4. 

   7 Jul 2026

   Ep14: Niamh's Secret Phone Notes / Oklahoma storm chasing, shooting boygenius, queer representation

   This week I sit down with Niamh Barry a Cork-born, Dublin-based photographer and documentary filmmaker and we roulette her phone notes app. Niamh's debut documentary Something in the Air, officially selected for Galway Film Fleadh 2026 and GazeFest, follows Raychel Sanner, a storm chaser and trans woman living between Oklahoma and New Mexico. Just last month it won Best Short Documentary at the BAFTA-qualifying Manchester Film Festival. https://www.filmsomethingintheair.com/donate (https://www.filmsomethingintheair.com/donate) https://www.niamh-barry.com/189a7061fd-content (https://www.niamh-barry.com/189a7061fd-content) We get into Tornado Alley, anti-trans legislation, what surprised Niamh about the LGBT community in Oklahoma, and what it took to finally photograph boygenius, including a last-minute visa scramble and a flight to Philadelphia. Amongst other things, we kick off with Barry's (me, host) (not Niamh) awkward opener involving a dermatology appointment and the SH:24 free STI testing service (get checked, folks). Chapter list is below. as well as other links! Chapter list: 00:00 – Welcome & introducing photographer and filmmaker Niamh Barry 03:40 - FIRST HOST NOTE (RANDOM) 04:20 – An awkward first phone note: skin checks, STI tests & Irish healthcare 09:40 - FIRST GUEST NOTE (RANDOM) 10:20 – The notes behind working with Irish band Sprints 15:45 – Flying to Philadelphia to photograph Boygenius 20:45 – Queer representation in music photography 24:45 – SECOND GUEST NOTE (RANDOM) 26:20 – Making Something in the Air 30:10 – Storm chasing, Oklahoma & meeting Raychel 33:45 – What Hollywood gets wrong about tornadoes 36:50 – Will & Harper, empathy & travelling across America 44:00 - THIRD GUEST NOTE (RANDOM) 44:50 – The Irish Photography Prize & photographing community 50:30 – Barry's accidental photography exhibition 55:20 – Wrap-up Social links: https://www.instagram.com/narryphotographyvids/ (https://www.instagram.com/narryphotographyvids/) https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Thanks!

5. 

   1 Jul 2026

   Ep 13: Chris's Secret Phone Notes / Biomimicry, Irish polar bears, Tom Crean

   Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Chris Barrett, an adventurer who is known for sharing stories of Irish and Arctic nature. He's also a woodworker, conservationist, designer, and many other things. He's worth a listen. It's one of my fave chats so far. Anyway, let's see what we find in his notes app. Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Chris Barrett's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chris_barrett_photo/ (https://www.instagram.com/chris_barrett_photo/) Rough overview and chapter list below: A citizen science Arctic expedition off Svalbard, a year bike packing through Patagonia, Bolivia's salt flats and the Atacama Desert, and a near-miss on Bolivia's death road all come up through the notes. So does an autonomous fertilizer ball, a gecko-inspired glove built for his college thesis, and the Trinity College research linking polar bears back to the Irish brown bear. Plus: Tom Crean, translucent polar bear fur, and why biomimicry has 3.5 billion years of R&D behind it. 00:00 – Welcome & introducing Chris Barrett 01:20 – RANDOM HOST NOTE 02:00 – Colour blindness, whiskey ads & Coca-Cola myths 04:50 – Coca leaves, altitude sickness & hiking in Peru 06:50 – Bikepacking Patagonia, Bolivia & traveling light 09:15 – The Pacific Crest Trail & ultralight hiking culture 12:30 – RANDOM GUEST NOTE: the autonomous fertiliser ball 16:55 – Nature restoration, farming & rural Ireland 20:05 – Biomimicry: how nature inspires better design 24:55 – Gecko gloves, shark skin & everyday invention 28:10 – RANDOM GUEST NOTE 31:20 – Cycling the Bolivian salt flats & drunken drivers 36:20 – RANDOM GUEST NOTE Boxing inventions → Arctic photography 37:30 – Polar bears, climate change & photographing the Arctic 41:55 – Svalbard expeditions & a life-long obsession with the poles 44:20 – Tom Crean, Shackleton & Ireland's greatest explorer 48:35 – Wrap-up Thank you for listening!

6. 

   23 Jun 2026

   Ep 12: Maureen's Secret Phone Notes / Death is inevitable, slam poetry, ambassador of Milton Keynes

   Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Maureen Onwunali, a Dublin-born Nigerian poet who is a lot of fun. And national slam poetry champion twice! We scroll, we stop, and we reveal what's hidden away in the swamp that is our notes app. Let's listen! Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Maureen Onwunali's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/monwunali_poetry/ (https://www.instagram.com/monwunali_poetry/) You'll find the chapter list below but tl;dr - Maureen was dscovered on stage (ish) at 14 by poet Joelle Taylor, Maureen talks growing up between Dublin, London and Milton Keynes, performing at the Irish Embassy for Bloomsday, and what her name actually means. Plus: a viral puffer jacket poem, 1,776 phone notes, and the ongoing campaign to dethrone Maureen O'Hara on Google. Stay tuned. Chapter list: 00:25 Introduction to Secret Phone Notes 04:01 Exploring the Roulette of Notes 05:22 RANDOM HOST NOTE 06:19 Diving into Maureen's Oldest Note 07:46 OLDEST GUEST NOTE 08:58 The Impact of Lockdown on Creativity 10:26 Maureen's poetry beginnings, aged 12 17:42 GUEST'S NEWEST NOTE 22:15 An Ambassador to Milton Keynes 25:10 Which city has shaped Maureen's writing the most? 28:10 The mandem don't cry enough poem 32:10 What is slam poetry? 35:00 Building a university poetry team from scratch 43:30 Nigerian heritage, language & oral storytelling 49:24 Maureen performs a poem 55:50 Closing notes

7. 

   17 Jun 2026

   Ep 11: Oisín's Secret Phone Notes / Cycling around the world, 4297 notes, where's home?

   Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Adrien for the 10th (official) episode of Secret Phone Notes. We scroll, we stop, and we reveal what's hidden away in the swamp that is our notes app. Let's listen! Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Oisín's amazing videos and prose - https://www.instagram.com/prendio2/ (https://www.instagram.com/prendio2/) 00:00 Introduction to the Secret Phone Notes Podcast 04:08 RANDOM HOST NOTE 05:08 Oisín's ludicrous way of keeping notes 08:13 Creative Processes and Cycling Adventures 08:34 GUEST RANDOM NOTE 09:56 Life Lessons from Cycling around the World 14:47 SECOND RANDOM GUEST NOTE 22:06 The Journey Begins: Starting at Granny's House 25:15 Facing Challenges: The Reality of Long-Distance Cycling 28:59 WhatsApp group of Irish cyclists around the world 29:06 Dervla Murphy, cycling solo from Ireland to India in 1965 31:12 When do you feel most alive? 33:57 Cycling around the world: What has surprised you the most 34:16 Biggest surprises along the Way:? 39:58 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 44:44 Bikepacking accommodation: Where do you stay? 46:13 The Cycling Community and Female Bikepackers 47:40 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 47:47 Reflections on Home and Belonging 55:21 Final Thoughts and Reflections If you liked this, please send it to a friend/enemy or rate it or follow on Instagram or anything really that'll help push it to one more individual haha. Am I desperate? Yes. Additional notes: Bikepacking around the world, cycling trips

8. 

   10 Jun 2026

   Ep 10: Adrien's Secret Phone Notes / Making a Mandalorian x Burger King menu, Kevin Spacey crisis, trolling Nigeria

   Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Adrien for the 10th (official) episode of Secret Phone Notes. We scroll, we stop, and we reveal what's hidden away in the swamp that is our notes app. Let's listen! Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) 00:00 Introduction to Adrien 01:37 How we met, Barry's winning final goal 03:58 How the format works 05:23 RANDOM HOST NOTE 07:46 Experiences in Business Class and Celebrity Encounters 08:00 Barry's sole premium airline experience 08:33 Jameson First Shot and Barry in LA 10:20 The Kevin Spacey crisis 13:20 Superstitions and Personal Rituals 20:48 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 21:55 Adrien's Random thoughts: Bad whistlers 22:57 Adrien's Random thoughts: Americans and Their Cars 24:37 Designing Burger King menus 28:29 American vs. Italian Pizza 30:49 Warm shower thougths 33:56 Swiss Lifestyle and Swimming Culture 37:16 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 37:34 The Burger Boy and Culinary memories 40:08 Nostalgic Fast Food Memories 45:07 Cultural Roots and Family Background 51:23 Trolling England fans in a bar 53:35 Exploring Ivory Coast: A Cultural Perspective Links and stufff! The Burger Boy - https://www.instagram.com/the_burgerboy_/ (https://www.instagram.com/the_burgerboy_/) The Burger Boy hiking the Alps for the ultimate burger - https://youtu.be/Y6KmqoU5jdE?si=ydH8DcS4ndDRr5GC (https://youtu.be/Y6KmqoU5jdE?si=ydH8DcS4ndDRr5GC) Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Barry's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) Barry's Website - https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Barry's email - barrytaylor1993@gmail.com (mailto:barrytaylor1993@gmail.com) Thanks so much!

9. 

   2 Jun 2026

   Ep 9: Lara's Secret Phone Notes / Marking a monk, Lebanese humour, personal growth goals

   Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Lara for the 9th (official) episode of Secret Phone Notes. We scroll, we stop, and we reveal what's hidden away in the swamp that is our notes app. Let's listen! Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) 00:00 Introduction to Lara 03:29 HOST NOTE - SECOND OLDEST 03:30 Barry's Personal Growth Goals 09:10 Language and Cultural Identity 11:29 The Beauty of Arabic Dialects 19:03 FIRST GUEST NOTE 21:49 Letterboxd Favourite Four 22:33 Top Four Films Discussion 24:20 The Impact of 'The Tree of Life' 25:41 Terrence Malick's 'The Thin Red Line' Lore 31:00 Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk' 34:14 Reflections on Personal Growth and Experiences 38:04 Cultural Insights and Humor 39:25 Exploring Lebanon: A Journey Beyond the Cities 40:03 Beirut's Vibrant Nightlife 41:41 The Perfect Night Out in Beirut 42:25 GUEST NOTE - RANDOM 43:11 The Transition to Berlin: Parks and Public Spaces 45:35 Navigating Visa Challenges and Opportunities 45:35 Visa issues for non-EU citizens 47:20 Reflections on Privilege and Opportunity 48:10 Playing football with an angry monk 52:47 Final Thoughts Links and stufff! Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Barry's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) Barry's Website - https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Barry's email - barrytaylor1993@gmail.com (mailto:barrytaylor1993@gmail.com) Thanks so much!

10. 

    26 May 2026

    Special Episode - Secret Phone Notes / Anonymous listener notes

    Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today is a special (and very brief) episode. Join me in the jazz corner where I read aloud the secret notes sent in by listeners. 00:00 Introduction 00:40 First listener phone note 01:20 Second listener phone note 02:40 Third listener phone note 03:40 Fourth listener phone note 05:10 Fifth listener phone note 06:10 Sixth listener phone note Want to get something off your chest? Send it in. We can keep it anonymous, both between you and I, too! Links and stufff! Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Barry's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) Barry's Website - https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Barry's email - barrytaylor1993@gmail.com (mailto:barrytaylor1993@gmail.com) Thanks so much!

11. 

    19 May 2026

    Ep 8: Phil's Secret Phone Notes / Living in Senegal, scooter trips in Mauritania, Mali's jihadist situation

    Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Phil Paoletta for the 8th episode of Secret Phone Notes. We scroll, we stop, and we reveal what's hidden away in the swamp that is our notes app. Phil leads a fascinating life and I'd urge you to get past my note and listen to our conversation. 00:00 Introduction 02:37 How did Phil end up in West Africa? 05:07 RANDOM HOST NOTE 07:07 OLDEST GUEST NOTE 08:49 Mali: A Creative Hub? 09:26 Why move to Mali? The music 11:30 Highlife vs. Malian Music 12:17 Highlife music (Afrobeat) 16:57 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 18:16 Exploring Unique Travel Experiences 18:36 What is Scoot West Africa? 21:32 How Reddit led Barry to scooting 2,000km in West Africa 22:29 A very small world story 26:57 Barry's scooter trip to Senegal / Mauritania 31:48 The world becomes even smaller (!!) 35:14 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 39:52 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 40:31 An unexpected odyssey in Cabo Verde 46:53 Phil's hotel bar in Mali. It's current situation. 47:56 Mali's current situation 55:39 Postcards from Timbuktu: A Unique Project 59:20 Closing notes and links Links and stufff! Scoot West Africa's Instagram - https://scootwestafrica.com/ (https://scootwestafrica.com/) Phil's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/philinthe_/ (https://www.instagram.com/philinthe_/) Phil's Website - https://philintheblank.net/ (https://philintheblank.net/) Barry's write-up and film photos of his African scooter trip': https://barrytaylor.co/travel-writing (https://barrytaylor.co/travel-writing)--- Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Barry's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) Barry's Website - https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Barry's email - barrytaylor1993@gmail.com (mailto:barrytaylor1993@gmail.com) Thanks so much!

12. 

    12 May 2026

    Ep 7: Katie's Secret Phone Notes / Train windows, a terrorist-turned-kindergarten teacher, our tattoo stories

    Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Katie Edwards for the 7th episode of Secret Phone Notes. We scroll, we stop, and we reveal what's hidden away in the swamp that is our notes app. Katie Edwards captures the world through train windows and she's one of the most unique creatives who constantly leaves me floored. Listen and then check her out! 00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections 03:04 Creative Decisions and Life Choices 06:47 Exploring the Notes App 06:58 RANDOM PHONE NOTE (HOST) 07:05 Music and Artistic Inspirations 09:09 OLDEST PHONE NOTE (GUEST) 09:50 Theatre and Creative Background 11:52 Katie's time in Uni 12:23 Influences and Creative Growth 15:00 Street Photography and Storytelling 20:09 Exploring Juxtapositions in Photography 23:34 Katie Edward's Train Window Project 24:19 RANDOM PHONE NOTE (GUEST) 24:43 The Journey Across America 26:44 The Art of Train Photography 28:41 Production Techniques in Photography 29:36 Editing: The Heart of the Work 31:54 Crafting a Deeper Narrative 33:15 RANDOM PHONE NOTE (GUEST) 34:42 Pitching projects to go Guardian 36:24 The Third Gender of Fiji 38:07 Terrorist to Kindergarten Owner in Indonesia 41:14 The Challenges of Journalism 42:04 Personal Reflections on Creative Expression 43:20 Katie's tattoo: its reason 45:25 Barry's tattoo: its reason Links and stufff! Katie Edward's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katiedwards/ (https://www.instagram.com/katiedwards/) Katie Edward's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@katie3dwards (https://www.tiktok.com/@katie3dwards) Katie Edward's Website - https://katie-edwards.com/ (https://katie-edwards.com/) 'I was a terrorist, now I run a kindegarten': https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/jul/25/i-was-a-terrorist-now-i-run-a-kindergarten-video (https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2023/jul/25/i-was-a-terrorist-now-i-run-a-kindergarten-video) 'The trans ‘queen mother’ reclaiming Fiji’s third gender' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/20/the-trans-queen-mother-reclaiming-fijis-third-gender-photo-essay (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/20/the-trans-queen-mother-reclaiming-fijis-third-gender-photo-essay) --- Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Barry's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) Barry's Website - https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Barry's email - barrytaylor1993@gmail.com (mailto:barrytaylor1993@gmail.com) Thanks so much!

13. 

    5 May 2026

    Ep 6: Mathieu's Secret Phone Notes / Fake gay jobs, Spanish insults, wine and whiskey lore

    Ready to roulette a stranger's notes app? Today I'm joined by Mathieu Couret for the 6th episode of Secret Phone Notes. We scroll, we stop, and we reveal what's hidden away in the swamp that is our notes app. Or his. 00:00 Introduction and Background 04:30 RANDOM HOST NOTE 07:20 RANDOM GUEST NOTE 10:26 The Nature of Celebrity Collaborations 13:00 GUEST'S OLDEST NOTE 15:05 Language Learning Journey 19:10 Personality change in different languages? 20:32 Insults across different languages 25:00 Catholic church, the gayest institution? 27:30 GUEST'S NEWEST NOTE 28:00 A Japanese wine masterclass 32:58 Understanding Orange Wine 34:48 Connections between Japanese wine and whisky? 38:40 The worldly whiskey barrel sharing 41:54 The inventions of wine - Georgia / Moldova 44:00 How Mat's partner influences him 47:27 Closing remarks and appreciation Links and stufff! Mathieu's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mathieucouret/ (https://www.instagram.com/mathieucouret/) Mathieu's TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mathieucrt (https://www.tiktok.com/@mathieucrt) --- Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Barry's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) Barry's Website/email - https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Thanks so much!

14. 

    29 Apr 2026

    Ep 5: KK Lewis's Secret Phone Notes / How to write songs, Reddit explained, WWII pigeons

    EDIT: Notes are now timestamped below. Ready to roulette your notes app? Today I'm joined by singer-songwriter KK Lewis. Together we scroll and then reveal whatever we land on. Welcome to the 5th episode of Secret Phone Notes! Rough timestamps can be found below: 00:00 Introduction 04:21 RANDOM HOST NOTE 05:41 Language Learning and Cultural Insights 08:30 KK'S FIRST NOTE (OLDEST) 10:49 Leaving cert -> Music 14:13 Living in Spain for a year as a teen 14:14 Breaking ankles in Spain as a teen 15:16 Barry's embarrassing bone break 16:53 Personal Stories of Injury and Resilience 19:59 Karaoke song choice 23:04 Moving to Berlin for romance (kinda) 24:07 Nomadland and Barry in therapy in Berlin 26:23 KK'S SECOND NOTE (NEWEST) 26:43 The Creative Process of Songwriting? 28:01 How to write a song 29:42 The Evolution of Lyricism 32:42 KK's biggest influence 35:18 The Journey of an Artist 38:07 KK's Listener Engagement and random Global Reach 41:11 RANDOM HOST NOTE 46:31 Snakes and badgers in Poland 49:00 Reddit: What is it? (Me pushing Reddit) 50:31 Reddit Secret Santa: Host's Experience 54:03 The Impact of Social Media on Personal Life 54:06 KK'S THIRD NOTE (RANDOM) 55:42 The Unique Experience of Live Music Events 56:46 Playing gigs in Dublin 58:00 The Pigeon Man: A Story of Connection 59:14 Why does Barry love pigeons? 01:00:00 A riveting pigeon WWII story 01:04:11 The Pigeon Man Song: Inspiration and Meaning 01:06:00 Outro Links and stufff! KK Lewis's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kkloowis/ (https://www.instagram.com/kkloowis/) KK Lewis's Linktree (including music) - linktr.ee/kklewis (http://linktr.ee/kklewis) Sunflower Sessions - https://www.instagram.com/sunflowersessions_/ (https://www.instagram.com/sunflowersessions_/) Secret Phone Notes Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) Barry's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) Barry's Website/email - https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Thanks so much!

15. 

    21 Apr 2026

    Ep 4: Paula's Secret Phone Notes / Sea monkeys, Soviet spies, and the life of a 5 euro note

    This is Russian roulette with our notes app. Today I'm joined by Paula MacSweeney. Together we scroll and then reveal whatever we land on. Welcome to the 4th episode of Secret Phone Notes! Rough timestamps can be found below. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 01:16 Phone Note Roulette Explained 03:45 First host note: What do I do for work 06:20 Voiceover Work and Client Interactions 09:26 Whiskey Marketing and Personal Anecdotes 12:24 First guest note: The Life of a Five Euro Note 15:22 The Role of a Librarian 18:38 AI's Impact on Research and Creativity 21:16 Parenting Challenges and Food Preferences 29:01 Fun Facts and Color Perception Second guest note 31:51 Haircut Anxiety and Language Barriers 35:24 Family Traditions and Takeaway Choices Third guest note 39:11 Simple Cooking and Marathon Training 39:29 Charity Marathons and Personal Goals 44:38 Nutrition Lessons from Marathon Running 44:38 Podcasting Insights and Future Plans

16. 

    14 Apr 2026

    Ep 3: El's Secret Phone Notes / Mt. Kilimanjaro, Animal warfare strategies, and El's Big Juicy Balls

    This is Russian roulette with our notes app. A guest and I scroll our phone notes, say “stop”, and then we reveal whatever comes up. Welcome to the 3rd episode of Secret Phone Notes! Today I'm joined by El. Rough timestamps can be found below. 00:00 ?/10 Mood Check?04:42 Secret Phone Notes Concept05:11 Adventurous Memories from Peru07:34 Animal Defense Strategies10:40 Reflections on Kilimanjaro12:48 Lessons from Local Porters17:34 Experiencing Altitude and Physical Challenges18:50 The Journey of Starting a Business / Creating El's Big Juicy Balls22:34 Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship28:55 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs38:35 The Joy and Frustration of Film Photography42:17 The Evolution of Observational Skills Through Photography43:57 The Journey of Running: From Hiking to Racing48:31 The Power of Community in Running56:14 The Emotional Experience of Marathons Okaaay. This is the very 3rd episode of an idea I jotted down in my notes app back in 2021. I would be eternallllly grateful if you gave it a follow / rating and/or shared it someone who also hoards their life in their notes app. And if you'd like to be a guest, that can be arranged too! Thank you <3 Barry El's Big Juicy Balls: https://elsbigjuicyballs.ie/ (https://elsbigjuicyballs.ie/) El's Big Juicy Balls Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/els_big_juicy_balls/ (https://www.instagram.com/els_big_juicy_balls/) El's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eleanor__89/ (https://www.instagram.com/eleanor__89/) FORUS Endurance running club: https://www.instagram.com/forus_endurance/ (https://www.instagram.com/forus_endurance/) ---- Podcast's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) My website: https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Thanks again!

17. 

    7 Apr 2026

    Ep 2: Chris's Secret Phone Notes / Cheese mafia, first memories, and a 'living' bioluminescent dress

    The idea: Russian roulette with our notes app. A guest and I scroll our phone notes, say “stop”, and then we reveal whatever comes up. Welcome to the 2nd episode of Secret Phone Notes! Today I'm joined by Chris Bellamy. We had never met nor spoken, but I think this conversation flows in very interesting ways! He has a fascinating mind and we have a good laugh. Rough timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Secret Notes Podcast00:47 - The Importance of Openness and Transparency04:23 - Exploring Personal Notes and Vulnerability06:31 - Culinary Adventures in France13:47 - Cultural Exchange and Indigenous Knowledge in French Polynesia21:53 - Cultural Fusion and Personal Value23:45 - Intergenerational Connections and Memory27:18 - Exploring Core Memories29:20 - When do you feel most alive? 33:39 - The Brush Up Podcast Concept38:27 - Yana: Real Food Sports Nutrition41:41 - The Marathon in Flip-Flops: Sub-3!!!46:47 Navigating Life: Lessons from Polynesian Culture48:53 The Power of Oral Tradition: Keeping Knowledge Alive51:18 Interdisciplinary Thinking: Blending Art and Science52:17 Bioluminescence in Fashion: A Unique Collaboration56:08 Finding Meaning: Reflections on Creativity and Purpose Amongst many other projects, Chris is currently focusing on Yanaa, savoury real food sports nutrition for endurance athletes. Though only a small snippet of this ep focuses on it. Yanaa website: https://yanaa.food/en (https://yanaa.food/en) Yanaa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youarenotanastronaut/ (https://www.instagram.com/youarenotanastronaut/) Chris's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bio.crafted/ (https://www.instagram.com/bio.crafted/) Chris's website: https://biocrafted.com/ (https://biocrafted.com/) Okaaay. This is the very 2nd episode of an idea I jotted down in my notes app back in 2021. I would be eternallllly grateful if you gave it a follow / rating and/or shared it someone who also hoards their life in their notes app. And if you'd like to be a guest, that can be arranged too! Thank you <3 Barry Podcast's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) My website: https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Thanks again!

18. 

    29 Mar 2026

    Ep 1: Elina's Secret Phone Notes / Cults, coincidences, and first boyfriends

    Right, here we go. The idea: A guest and I scroll through our notes app, say “stop”, and reveal whatever comes up. It's essentially Russian Roulette but without death. Welcome to the first episode of Secret Phone Notes! Today I'm joined by Elina, a filmmaker from New Zealand who now lives in Japan. We've never met before but I guess that fits the spontaneity. As it turns out, years ago, we were only 2 weeks apart as we both hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. One made it, one didn't. This pops up as does growing up in the cult of Korean Jesus. Rough timestamps: 00:00 – What this podcast actually is 06:00 – A very small world story in Sweden's arctic circle 15:00 – Elina’s oldest note (it’s a lot) 27:00 – What it's like growing up in a cult 45:00 – Identity, independence & long walks 53:00 – Realising how small the Pacific Crest Trail world is Elina is a filmmaker and long-distance hiker and a generally wonderful soul. She made a film about walking the Pacific Crest Trail called It’s the People, which is genuinely class and well worth a watch. Elina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elinasborne/ (https://www.instagram.com/elinasborne/) Elina's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/elinaosborne (https://www.youtube.com/elinaosborne) Elina's Website: https://www.elinaosborne.com/ (https://www.elinaosborne.com/) Okaaay. This is the very first episode of an idea I jotted down in my notes app back in 2021. I would be eternallllly grateful if you gave it a follow / rating and/or shared it someone who also hoards their life in their notes app. And if you'd like to be a guest, that can be arranged too! Thank you <3 Barry Podcast's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/ (https://www.instagram.com/secretphonenotes/) My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/ (https://www.instagram.com/barrison_ford/) My website: https://barrytaylor.co/ (https://barrytaylor.co/) Thanks again!

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

24 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.