Talking Bollox Podcast

Shauna Bannon is one of the lading faces of Irish MMA and her personal story is one of incredible determination in pursuing excellence, as she aims to reach the MMA by the age of 30. She joined us to talk through her journey to mixed martial arts, through a career in kickboxing that started age 3 and ended up with world titles. And to go with it all that she talked to us about what it's like chasing that dream while being a single mother, and handling the tough training schedule with raising her son.

We make Talking Bollox history this week, as we have the first ever guest hattrick, with Willa White making his third appearance. To mark the occasion we covered everything from Goldilocks going over bank counters for porridge, the greatest Dublin slang, Terence and Calvin's supernatural encounters, and Willa's choice for an alternative to a guide cat.

The Miami Showband Massacre is one of the most infamous atrocities of The Troubles. In the early hours of the morning The MiamI Showband - then one of Ireland's most famous groups - were stopped at what appeared to be a military checkpoint in County Down. It was in fact an ambush, planned as an attempt to frame the band as terrorists. Three of the band members were killed in the attack. Stephen Travers was one of the survivors of the attack and was left fighting for his life in the aftermath. Since then he has campaigned for the truth behind the attack, and also to help other victims of The Troubles unravel the dark cloud of secrets that hangs to this day. Despite the subject, ultimately this is a conversation full of hope and happiness. Stephen is an inspiring man and it was a pleasure to have him tell us his story.

On June 19th we played Vicar Street for the first time, and it was an incredible night with a sold out crowd lifting the roof off the place. The guests that joined us on stage were comedian Enya Martin, sex educator Jenny Keane, and musician and D1 native Gemma Dunleavy.

Tony Groves is the co-founder of the Tortoise Shack podcast publishing platform, a former banker and an active political commentator. In this episode, Tony speaks to us about the number of people who have died while in Garda custody, and some of his grievances with GSOC. He also discusses going viral online after his appearance on Claire Byrne Live, as well as the issues of housing and classism. He offers an insight into his days working in the banking sector before and during the financial crash and how that has impacted on his life now.

We go back to just the two boys in the studio this week. We want to discuss a few things on our mind and take your questions. You've given us some very interesting zingers and asked us about everything from how we approach and handle our deeper episodes, to why Terence keeps starting on everyone.

In 2019 Sarah Grace was violently sexually assaulted in her home by a man who broke into her bedroom. She told us the harrowing story of that night and the battle she then had to fight to ensure her attacker was brought to justice. What she went through made her determined to speak out to help others who might have to go through the same thing. It is an eye opening account of how a survivor of sexual violence can emerge on the far side, and the legal hurdles in their way. This episode contains discussions about violence, sexual assault and rape. If you have been impacted by any of the topics discussed in this week's episode, you can contact the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (no matter where you are in the country): National 24hr Helpline: 1800 77 8888 Email: [email protected] Instagram: @dublinrapecrisis Twitter: @DublinRCC

Keith Treacy's story is one of great hope, tragedy and ultimately redemption. He was a footballing prodigy from the flats on Dublin's Sheriff Street. Man Utd's assistant manager was calling the family home in Dublin to plead with Keith to sign at just 13 years old, at 15 he was training with Premier League first teams, he played for Ireland and before long he was lining up against the game's greats, like Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But all the while he fell deeper into the addictions he kept hidden from the world - gambling, sex and, most importantly, alcohol. Keith not only lost his career but he feared he was close to losing his life as he reached his darkest moments. Yet somehow he turned it all around in his late 20s, and now has a story that can give hope to anyone struggling through dark times.

John Kavanagh is known for becoming one of the most successful coaches in the MMA game - but his story was already a fascinating one long before he reached the UFC. John tells us about how he started a back alley gym in Dublin when almost nobody knew what MMA was and through years of hard graft turned that into an an international success story. And he tells us about how he turned a moment of adversity and pain into a new beginning, and why the lessons he learned from his own struggle can help anyone to transform their life. His outlook on life, from how we learn through our mistakes to how we can all chase excellence, is inspiring and one we can all take lessons from.

Iain Ward goes by the online name King of Chemo, and he has set himself the mission of breaking the world record for the most amount of money ever raised for charity by running a marathon. In just a few weeks he has racked up tens of thousands of followers trying to help him achieve his goal. Iain was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor at the age of 30 but his attitude to his illness, and life in general, is incredibly uplifting and inspiring. This one was much more about the laughs than sadness and it was a pleasure to have Iain share his story with us.

In a year of surreal moments for Talking Bollox, this is up there at the very top. We were joined in the studio by Coolio, the platinum selling, Grammy winning rapper who has created some of the most famous songs in hip hop history. We talked about his life growing up in Compton and he tells us about some extreme moments of violence he witnessed. We also go back to his early days in the music game, and then of course the massive global success he enjoyed with hits like "Gangsta's Paradise", and the legacy he enjoys today. And we talked about his love for Ireland, and why he likes to visit so often. Also joining us in the studio was Coolio's longtime collaborator and producer, DJ Wino, who was able to bring his own insight into the incredible stories, from the early days on the streets of LA, to the days of Grammy wins and platinum records.

It's the two boys this week, enjoying a nice relaxed chat ahead of the live show in Vicar Street on Sunday. We talk about what it's like going to festivals and concerts sober, if going on a date is leading someone on, the many uses of the words bollocks, and our ridiculous demands backstage at live shows.,

Ciaran is a singer/songwriter from Dublin's north inner city and a man whose music speaks about where he, and we, came from. He joined us to talk about life growing up in the area, his musical inspirations, what inspires him to make his music, and he has a very questionable zinger. There was plenty more in this episode too, including the biggest viral moment of the week - Terence's very public, and very embarrassing, fall. But as we learned, it isn't an isolated incident.

Lynsey Bennett is our guest this week. She was first diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2017 and endured three and a half years of hell while undergoing chemo She fills us in about life now after the most challenging 18 months, she updates us on how she has managed to keep her cancer stable using holistic treatments and gives us the results of her most recent trip to Germany. Lynsey is a very courages woman who has had to battle a lot over the last few years but she is now looking to move forward with her life and live in the present. She also spoke about how flirting on social media has evolved over the years, gave some relationship advice and talked a whole load more bollox.

This is one of the most incredible stories we've heard yet, and the first time we have taken a deep dive into the world of problem gambling. Tony stole €1.75m from his employer to fund a gambling habit that got so out of control he lost of €10m in total, including almost half a million in just 12 hours. This is a great insight into the grip gambling can take on people and how addicts can live a double life with what can be a totally secret addiction.

Eddie Mullins is the Governor of Mountjoy Prison. He came in to us to give us an insight into life in Irish prisons, from the perspective of the prisoners and the prison guards. His views on life, punishment, and rehabilitation are fascinating and it was a pleasure to sit down and get an incredible look into a world that almost everyone has an opinion on, but very few know.

Anna came in to us this week to tell us about her career on stage from Canada to the UK and back home again, to help us with some very tough zingers, and offer some valuable advice on dealing with stage fright ahead of our live show - including some of her own experiences of what it's lime to have a disaster on stage, and just keep going with it. And Anna was also able to bring a little more knowledge to our long running debate on the seagulls of Dublin.

We did an Ask Us Anything this week where we took your questions, and they're a mixed bag. We covered everything from choosing between if you would give up crisps or sweets for life, to our biggest influences in life, the growing pressure of social media to show wealth (whether its real or imagined) and misconceptions around ADHD. This one was a lot of fun and also threw us a few curveballs to really think about. Plus we have some big news about the next live show!

Christy Dignam is one of the legends of Irish life, and his experiences have given him an incredible insight into far more than just the music business. We've had Christy on the show back in the early days and we felt there was a lot more to talk about so we asked him to join us again. We talked about everything from his battles with addiction, to Aslan's plane crash, to the hoodie v jumper debate, and Christy weighs in on the Beatles V Oasis debate. And to wrap it all up, he belted out a couple of songs in the studio. This one was an experience from start to finish!

Karl is one of the boys, he's better known by his online persona Awful Gas. He started out streaming and making videos during the pandemic and has developed a large online community, with big followings on YouTube, TikTok and Twitch. This episode is a prime example of how a Talking Bollox episode can spiral far beyond the guest's story. We cover everything from conspiracy theories to ghosts and aliens.

Eric Donovan is a boxer and a person with a story unlike any other. He came in to tell us his incredible life story and talk about plenty besides that, including his favourite podcasts, the problems some kids face when school doesn't work for them, proving the doubters wrong, redemption in life and sport, and of course a bit about boxing! Above all Eric and the lads talk about how recovery is a journey with no destination, but the destination isn't the point.

One month ago we took a huge step and brought Talking Bollox out of the studio and to the people, playing our first ever live show at a sold out Liberty Hall. It was an unforgettable night, with guest Senator Lynn Ruane, Hughie Maughan and Al Foran all joining us for an incredible evening with a crazy crowd.

We go back to the two boys this week, and we're running through a few things listeners have asked us to speak about. We're talking about Terence's theory that the TV licence man doesn't exist; Calvin's eventful week on a ski holiday; Ireland's response to the Ukrainian refugee crisis; Terence's latest film reviews (controversial) and then the future of live shows for the pod - plus plenty more.

This week we welcome Suzanne Jackson to the Talking Bollox studio. Many of you will know her as SoSueMe, she is one of Ireland's most famous people. What not many will know is how hard she grafted to become one of the most successful businesswomen in the country. A brand builder and entrepreneur she was one of the first bloggers in Ireland, long before anyone knew what an influencer was. She used the online world to make connections and build an audience. Many people thought she was mad to pack in her job as a receptionist in a radio station to go full time working with her blog and online. Fast forward a few years later and Suzanne is the founder and CEO of SoSueMe, one of Ireland's biggest female lifestyle brands. We chat about her journey, her future plans and also discuss the term “influencer” and what it means in today's world.

We finally met our match in the Talking Bollox world. We thought we were able to talk some bollox until we met Enya. There’s some great chats in this one and some mad detours including Tinder, American sports, Ronaldo and sign language. Enya also tells us about how she got into comedy from her first sketch to eventually selling out Vicar Street. Selling out Vicar St sounds like good craic doesn't it? We might try that ourselves 👀. Enya also discusses what it’s like to be a female comedian and her big plans for the future. It's not all light laughs, we also talk about a hard hitting topic that’s close to home for the three of us and the effects it has.

Comedian Des Bishop has had a fascinating life and he came in to offer us some of the knowledge he's collected along the way - from dealing with imposter syndrome, to handling pressure, to the differences between choices and chances in all our lives.

We all remember Brian from his first appearance in episode 37, but while that chat was about his personal story, this is him bringing his incredible professional knowledge to the table. He explains to us what happens to the body and brain during periods of addiction and stress, and the scientific tactics that can help us all battle those things. He also explores why we end up in those states in the first place. Brian also tells us about his MAVIG system, a set of principles and techniques he keeps in his daily life to manage his physical and mental health. Brian brought a lot of fascinating information with this one and it was a real eye opener to hear about the things we can all do every day to improve our quality of life.

A short message from Terence and Calvin about a brand new true crime podcast coming from one of our team here at Talking Bollox. Unusual Suspects is the incredible story of a $7.4m armed heist in New York, and the FBI chasing an Irish priest and an ex-IRA man (turned comic book dealer) in connection with it. This story and the characters in it are incredible, it grips you right from the start and it is absolutely top notch. We've heard it and we love it and we think you will too, so we wanted to tell you a bit more about it.

This week it's the one and only Roddy Collins. There's nobody quite like him in football and it was a pleasure to sit down and hear some of the stories from a long career in the game, a lifetime around Dublin city, and watching his younger brother, Steve, rise to the top of the boxing game and become world champion.

At last we finally managed to get the three Power brothers in the studio together, as Terence's brothers Gavin and Ger join us to talk about life growing up with Terry Flower. You'll have heard Terence's story before, from both him and his ma, but his brothers have their own perspective and we wanted to hear that. There's a lot of laughs and funny stories in this one, but on a more serious side the lads talk about how so many kids are written off by society because of their circumstances, but there can be hope for anyone.

As it's Valentine's week we decided to bring in a sex educator. Absolutely nothing is off limits in this episode! Jenny has made her name talking about sex with an honesty and openness we don't often hear in Irish society. and this week she's taking all of your questions. You definitely don't want to miss this one!

Darren Lalor maybe isn't as well known as some of our guests, but his story is no less fascinating or inspirational. Darren grew up in Finglas and left school at 14. He went on to have a career managing many music acts, including Aslan. Later in life he was making a living as a taxi drive, and decided he wanted to train to become a barrister. It was a long, hard road that involved him studying at night while he sat in his car between fares, but he pulled it off. It's an incredible story of perseverance and never accepting it's too late to achieve great things.

This week it's just the two boys. It's been a while since we sat down with just the two of us, talked bollox and had a laugh - so this week we've got a lot of zingers, our quiz battle returns and we talk through a few topics listeners asked us to cover.

Pat Divilly is an expert on mental and physical wellness, with a wealth of insight into how we can improve our lives with simple steps. Pat is renowned for his books, seminars and workshops, and he came in to tell us his story about how struggles in his 20s set him on a new path in life, and share some of what he has learned on his journey.

This week we're joined by Irish comedy legend Ardal O'Hanlon. Ardal has some brilliant stories and tells us about going from life as a shy kid in County Monaghan, living in the shadow of The Troubles, to becoming one of the most recognisable faces in Irish comedy. We of course talk about being Father Dougal Maguire, but there's a lot more to this than just Father Ted.

This week we're joined by one of the hottest prospects in Irish boxing, WBA International Champion, Caoimhin Agyarko. Caoimhin talks to us about growing up in Belfast, how he got into boxing, and how he has dealt with racist abuse throughout his life. He also tells us about when he was stabbed on a night out in Belfast a few years ago. It was an attack that very nearly cost him his life and changed his whole perspective on the world.

Jim Sheridan is a giant of Irish cinema, and one of our own. From Sheriff Street, Jim has made some of Ireland's most famous and powerful films, including 'In the Name of the Father' and 'My Left Foot'. He's worked with some of the greats of cinema and he's been nominated for six Oscars. He tells us how a lad from Dublin 1 conquered the world, and about working with people like 50 Cent and Daniel Day Lewis. Jim is a living legend and it was an absolute pleasure and honour to have him come in for a chat and have the craic with us. And then there's his perfect rendition of Snoop Dogg's "Murder was the case". No, really. Flawless.

At just 20 years of age Ross Tierney has achieved a lot, establishing himself as a star of the Bohs first team, playing for Ireland under-21s and earning himself a transfer to Scottish Premiership side Motherwell. But what he has gone through off the pitch is on another level entirely. He suffered a deep personal tragedy when he lost his best friend to suicide, and faced one of the toughest situations imaginable for any new parent when his newborn son was born with serious complications. Ross tells us how it all took its toll on him and he then fell into his own serious struggle with his mental health, which led to him being hospitalised. But he told us how he now manages his battles, and wants to help others face into theirs Ross is an incredible guy and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to him. This conversation is very tough but also deeply inspiring. This episode discusses suicide and suicidal ideation, and some people might find it distressing. If you or someone you know is struggling, please, talk to a friend or family member about what you’re going through, call into your GP or hospital, or call the Samaritans on 116 123 free from any phone in Ireland. You’re never alone. Support is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Help is always on hand. Don’t suffer in silence.

This week marks one year of the Talking Bollox Podcast, so it was a time for our birthday celebration. And then Willa White announced the death of the zinger. But we bounced back for a chat that looked back on an incredible year, the Talking Bollox Awards, and a bumper quiz. On top of all that there were some powerful moments and a lot of laughs, courtesy of Willa.

Ireland international Jack Byrne comes in to talk to us about his journey in football, going from playing under Patrick Viera at Man City to playing in Holland, the Championship and eventually playing for Ireland. He talks about the personal struggles he faced as he moved between clubs, and why he finally decided he wanted to move home. He also talks to us about how Irish football can move to the next level and he tells us some of the best players he played with and against

Miriam is one of the biggest social media content creators in Ireland. She comes in to talk to us about how she built a massive global social media audience in a short space of time and her journey from lockdown to The Late Late Show, with a stop off in South Africa. We also talk about why social media is the new mainstream media, and much more.

Adrian Kennedy is the king of talk radio. He comes in off the bat with some very controversial zingers! He comes in to talk to us about growing up, getting in to radio, how big the phoneshow was and the impact it had. He tells us some of his most memorable phone calls it & behind the scenes about the days of the show when it was one of the biggest in the country.

We have a serious bit of craic in this one, but then we get in to why we got Joe in for a part 2, because a lot was left unsaid in Part 1. This is a very raw, gripping story about Joe's loss of his brother and father and the miracle birth of his son Ollie ‘Ice’ McGucken.

This week it's just the two boys with a few things to talk about. We talk about how Calvin caused murder with some comments on the law of attraction, and we talk about mindfulness/mindset and how big a role it plays in success and failure in life. We talk about travel and the new experiences it can bring you, and we did a bit of a quiz this week too, with the two boys going head to head.

We have a very different episode for you this week. We recorded a crossover episode with Darren Conway and Joe McGucken, the lads from the Stall It podcast, and it's a mad listen that gets hectic.This episode is 4 lads talking about anything, letting the conversation go anywhere, causing slaughter and having the craic. There's no structure to this one, but loads of laughs about haircuts and runners and Halloween memories, and plenty of real talk about fame and the work that goes into a podcast.

This week Sinead Kavanagh joins us in the GoLoud Studios. Sinead is on the cusp of becoming world champion with her upcoming fight against Cris Cyborg. Sinead comes in to talk to us about her road to this career defining moment, what life was like growing up, going from being homeless with her child living in B&B's to now preparing for one of the biggest fights in female MMA history.

We're joined this week by one of Ireland's most famous writers, Roddy Doyle, whose Barrytown books are arguably still Dublin city's favourite novels.Roddy joined us to talk about everything from his inspirations, his work writing novels and films, his life growing up in Kilbarrack, his view on how Dublin city is changing today & so much more.He even criticised how we spell “Talking Bollox”.

This week we have our first ever footballer on the pod! Graham Burke plays for Shamrock Rovers and has been capped for Ireland, is a D1 native and someone with a fascinating story about life in professional football. He tells us about achieving every boys dream of securing a move to a Premier League club. We talked about how politics and decisions can hamper your career in football. He also tells us how coming back to Ireland isn’t always a step down in football and why playing football in Ireland is starting to offer big opportunities to young players.

This week we talk to one of Ireland's rising stars and D1 native, Joe McGucken. The skinny fella is representing D1 on the comedy scene and as the host of 'Stall It', his own GoLoud podcast, alongside Darren Conway. We had some buzz with Joe but it’s not all laughs, he's gone through some struggles in his life and he told us about the highs and lows along the way and the life lessons he has taken from the tough times. This one left us all with a lot to think about, but we had a great laugh too!

This week we welcome back one of our most memorable interviewees, Glenn 'Sauso' Murray. Glenn talks to us about heartbreak, the reason why he hitch hiked around Ireland to raise awareness for mixing alcohol and drugs with your mental health. He touches on ADHD & OCD+ in detail and everything he’s done since he appeared on episode 9 at the start of the year.