Talking Bollox Podcast

We welcome comedian Neil Delamere back to the pod this week and he's brought along his own podcast co-host, Dave Moore, of Today FM, to give us a general knowledge workout. We talked about everything from Mastermind specialist subjects, to collecting runners, the baffling number of molecules in a glass of water, swimming with sharks, and even a quickfire quiz.

This week, the lads sit down together to catch up and run through some of your questions. They offer up their opinions on everything from crows and water slides to rugby fans and the middle class and debate how much money they would need to send their mams to jail for a year. Calvin also shares some advice for new dads and ruins Terence's dream of becoming a father to twins.

Eve is a stalking victim, who has used her personal experience to campaign for the introduction of laws against stalking in Ireland. She was followed relentlessly from first thing in the morning to last thing at night by a man with a fixation on her. He was eventually jailed for breaking into her home and attacking her housemate with a hammer and was released earlier this month. Eve told us about her experience and her ongoing fight for dedicated laws against stalking in Ireland to protect those going through similar situations. If you have been impacted by any of the topics discussed in this week's episode, you can contact Women's Aid: National 24hr Helpline: 1800 341 900 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Womens_Aid

Darren is a youth worker who has worked in Dublin's inner city for many years, including with Terence as a young man. Darren told us about growing up in Ballymun and how that environment gave him the tools to help young people later in life. He spoke to us about the seismic changes youth workers can quietly do to turn around the lives of people that others might have given up on, why the greatest successes aren't the loudest ones in life, and he also has some cracking stories for us.

This week we talked to one of the biggest names in men's fashion, the one and only Tommy Mallet. We talk about everything from his childhood in London, the earliest days of Mallet clothing, Tommy's new view on life since receiving a diagnosis for ADD, and his Pearse Street roots (and his ma's coddle).

The lads take your questions and try to help out with your requests for advice, and this week there are some strange, disturbing and hilarious submissions from listeners. Everything from bomb disposal on a push bike, to managing Valentine's disasters, to how to unravel the mystery of a suspiciously locked room in a rented house. And to go with that, Terence has found his old school journal, and it offers a glimpse into the chaotic world of teenage Terry.

Ray Lane is a veteran bomb disposal expert from Dublin. His career began by working to defuse IRA bombs and trying to outsmart and track down the bombers, some of whom he got to know personally. When the NATO forces in Afghanistan were facing a daily onslaught of Taliban bombs, it was Ray who they sent for, as his experience from Ireland gave him an insight unlike anyone else. He also worked as a diplomat in Bosnia during the civil war there, and witnessed horrific acts committed by people against their own neighbours. The horrors of that war left a deep, permanent mark on him and he would later go on testify about what he saw in war crimes trials. Ray has led an incredible life and he spoke to us about all of it, including why he loved his work and what it takes to be the person who walks towards a 1000kg bomb - and why Hollywood movies can never truly show the craft of defusing a bomb.

Conor Moore, AKA Conor Sketches, has achieved global fame and success with his comedy and impressions. He tells us the incredible story of how he went from making a video about his local GAA club, just for his close friends, to working with superstars like Tiger Woods and Jose Mourinho - and even having Justin Timberlake steal his punchlines.

Sharon is a psychologist who has been working on mental health, addiction and trauma throughout her career. She spoke to us about her work, about 'social capital' and how it impacts all of our lives, and why no matter how hard someone works the likelihood is that without social capital you can't beat the system.

The two boys sit down to take your questions and talk about everything from what they'd put in a Dublin time capsule, to Terence's chances of outwitting and out-running a silverback gorilla in the Ilac Centre, and the one mystery they would love to know the truth behind.

Aoife Moore is a journalist covering Irish politics. She was a guest at our last live show and since then we've been hounded by requests to get her on for a full episode. We talked about everything from how the murder of her uncle on Bloody Sunday inspired Aoife to want to be a journalist, the online abuse she has faced, what it's like covering Irish politics, the protests around refugee centres, the prospects for a united Ireland, and how trauma rooted in The Troubles lives on today.

This one goes as you might expect - a bit of everything and all over the place in the best way possible. We talk a little about men and their health (and why old habits die hard), Jason's heart troubles, Terence's mystery lump, UFOs, the speed of sound, and why it's never a good idea to start a fight with a celebrity.

Roddy Collins, Aoife Moore and James Kavanagh were our guests for talking Bollox Live at Vicar Street on the 19th of November... and this might be our favourite live show so far. There was an incredible atmosphere in the crowd that night and the guests gave us big laughs and powerful conversations.

We take a moment this week to sit down and look back on some of our favourite moments and guests from the past 12 months. It has been an incredible year for Talking Bollox and we wanted to take a bit of time to thank the listeners and give you some insight into the biggest moments of the year, and give you a few stories from behind the scenes. We've got music, comedy and incredible personal stories in this episode.

It's a Talking Bollox Christmas special this week, with the two lads sitting down to talk about their Christmas traditions and a few other things that come to mind over the festive season. Plus there's plenty of questions from listeners answered, and Terence reveals his newfound dream to become a star of the big screen.

Kenneth was once stuck in the trap of a vicious cycle of drug addiction and crime, which stemmed from trauma in his early years. It was the birth of his daughter that motivated him to change his life, and since then he has gone on an incredible road to recovery ad redemption and now dedicates himself to helping others. This episode brings us back to our roots and it was an inspiring story to hear.

This week the 2 lads are joined by 2 of the biggest DJs not only in Dublin but in Ireland, Belters Only. They chat about how they came together and found the incredible success they've had, how dark periods left them stronger and better able to handle the pitfalls of the music industry, and why timing is everything in life.

Charles Self, an RTE set designer, was brutally murdered in his own home on an icy night in January 1982. 40 years later the case remains clouded in mystery. The investigation that followed saw 1500 gay men interviewed around Dublin, with many feeling the gardai used the investigation as cover to carry out a witch hunt against the gay community, at a time when homosexual acts were outlawed in Ireland. The murder happened in a very different Ireland to today's society - gay people were hunted by vicious gangs and got little protection from the police or courts, who more than once allowed killers to walk free because their victims were gay. We're joined by Frank Greaney, who has investigated the Charles Self case in his new podcast 'Inside the Crime', and Bill Foley, a gay rights activist who tells us about the hate and danger the LGBT community faced in the Ireland of the 1980s.

It's our 100th episode so we're having a bit of party. Dublin rappers Versatile - Casper Walsh and Eskimo Supreme - join us for their first ever in-depth interview. They tell their story for the first time, from breaking new ground in Irish music with the incredible heights of their 3 Arena show, to dark days when they faced calls for their cancellation amid allegations of racism and misogyny. And of course we couldn't have our 100th episode without the legend that is Willa White. He drops in and adds to the chaos the way only he can.

Maverick Sabre is one of the most talented and successful Irish artists of recent years and he joins the lads to talk about his rise in the music industry, struggling with identity between his Irish and English roots, and how sage advice and making the right moves at the right times helped him avoid potential pitfalls on the road to fame.

This week the lads answer your questions. Everything from how to set up your own podcast; the one musical artist they could listen to forever, and what would be your death row meal?

Neil Delamare is one of Ireland's best known and most successful stand up comedians and he joined us for what turned out to be a hilarious, interesting chat that covered everything from Ireland's greatest moments, to mysteries around the pyramids, Terence's obsession with JFK, and a very tricky zinger about time travel.

Missed the lads at EP?? No bother as in this episode we hear Talking Bollox live from Electric Picnic. Listen as the lads talk all about being backstage, the artists, the energy and a special guest makes an appearance too.

This week on the podcast, the lads are joined by the stars of The Two Norries Podcast, James Leonard & Timmy Long. They discuss what it was like growing up in Cork City, addiction, crime, mental health and how their podcast is their way of releasing stress and getting things off their chest.

With the week that’s in it, after selling out two nights at Vicar St faster than any other podcast in history, we’re putting out our most recent live show at the iconic venue. What a night this was! Recorded in front of a capacity crowd in August 19, 2022, the place was electric as always! We want to say a huge thanks to our guests on the night Marc O'Neill, John Connors, Dylan Moran and Ciaran Moran.

This week the lads are joined by Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Enda Murphy. His firsthand experience of having ADHD has given Enda a unique insight into the difficulties children and adolescence face in growing up. This insight has enabled him to translate complex psychodynamics into easily understood programmes for parents, teachers and health professionals. His understanding and ability to communicate is astounding and we learn a few things about Calvin and Terence too.

One of Ireland's greatest songwriters and one of Dublin's finest ambassadors joins us this week. Damo talks to us about everything from growing up in Donaghmede to making his break into music, his outlook and philosophy on life, his legendary gigs and cult following - and he has a zinger that leaves the lads completely stumped. And, of course, Damo plays a few tunes for us - and he nearly takes the roof off the place.

The two lads sit down for a catch up and to take questions from listeners. We cover everything from why the Garth Brooks gigs have Terence living in a state of fear, the potential to run away forever to Sweden, our dream superhero powers, and what advice we would give to our 15-year-old selves. Plus there is some quiet reflection on addiction and recovery, as a big month passes.

John is one of Ireland's most famous actors and he's never been scared of voicing his opinion, which has often led to controversy. He came in to chat with us and for the first ever he talks about it all - from politics to cancel culture, to suicide, career success and personal breakdowns - and how acting saved his life more than once. Above all though this one was a great laugh, and we made sure to ask what it was like to kill Nidge.

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.