The Mario Rosenstock Podcast

I’m pretty sure that you will not have heard an interview with Tánaiste Micheál Martin quite like this one before. The man is great craic, full of funny stories and banter – it’s a side to him that we rarely get to see in the Dail and on current affairs shows, but we certainly get a taste of it in this episode. We talk about his love of impressions, and he even does a few for us! He tells me what he thinks of my Gift Grub caricature of him, he also talks about his relationship with Leo Varadkar behind the scenes, time he spent in the north trying to understand the unionist perspective, the return of Bertie and his rumoured bid for the Presidency, getting into bed with Sinn Fein, and and lots more. We actually stayed in studio chatting for over an hour and a half and so we’ve decided to break the conversation up into two parts, the first of which you’re about to press play - and if you'd like to hear part 2 afterwards, jump back to Oct 2023 on this menu. I hope you enjoy what I think is a very different kind of interview with one of Ireland best-known politicians. Comedy – Eamon Dunphy and John Giles discuss the massive cocaine haul off the Irish coast this week. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

This is one of my favourite interviews from last year. I’ve always noticed that rugby players, in particular retired rugby players, have brilliant stories to tell. There’s so much craic and mischief going on behind the scenes in the changing room and when they’re off on tour and then you and I are lucky enough to hear all about it, when a sufficient amount of time has passed and its safe to share the stories!Tommy Bowe is one of those great former rugby internationals who also happens to be a brilliant storyteller, so I was delighted when he agreed to join me as special guest here on the Mario Rosenstock Podcast. I got some juicy behind-the-scenes stories and gossip which I think you’ll enjoy, but we also talk about his childhood growing up in a border county when the British army very much still a presence there, how he very nearly did not become a professional rugby player, his new career as a TV presenter (known for regular hilarious gaffes – 10 siblings, anybody?), and his successful clothing company XV Kings which has just turned 10 years old.COMEDY - David McWilliams reminisces about causing trouble on ‘culchies shopping day’ on 8th December in his youthProduced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride a motorbike alone from the bottom of South America to the very top of North America? My guest on this episode did just that. Peter Murtagh, having retired from the Irish Times after decades of doing the work he loved to do, hopped on his motorbike, and spent eight months travelling 45,000 kms alone through deserts, mountains, jungles and cities, and he joins me to tell me about the places he saw, the people he met, and what he has learned about himself and the world.Check out Peter’s book about the whole experience: 'Tip to Top: The Journey of a Lifetime, From Chile to Alaska'.COMEDY – whats the story with the Irish ‘Summer’ this year? The Mario Rosenstock Podcast hotline has been hopping with messages from well-known voices.Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

In the 12 months since Tony Kelly was on this podcast, his life has completely transformed. The comedy character that he created at a house party over ten years ago, is now the central character in a feature film that has gone global, streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. So Tony is back on the pod to tell me all about how it all happened and where to next. We also talk about his personal struggles with alcohol and drugs and how that side of his life has been going for him since the very dark times he went through not so long ago. COMEDY – Tony gets voicemails from Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Brendan O’Connor, and the great John Mullane!!

I am a tennis nut. I have been playing and loving the sport since I was ten years old and continue to love it to this day. So I’m delighted to be joined on this episode by the best tennis player ever to come out of Ireland. Conor Niland played for many years at a professional level, he was coached at the tennis academy run by legendary coach Nick Bollettieri, and he even qualified for Wimbledon, one of the only Irish players ever to do so.He has also met and played some of the tennis greats and on this episode he takes me behind the scenes of this fascinating world. Conor has just published a fascinating book called ‘The Racket: On Tour with Tennis’s Golden Generation – and the other 99%’, and he tells me all about it in this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast.COMEDY – Taylor Swift is in Ireland and her phone is hopping! We got exclusive access to her voicemailsProduced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Professor John Crown is one of Ireland’s best-known and accomplished cancer experts. He has spent his entire career trying to improve outcomes for patients and fighting to improve the way Ireland’s health system works, so it was no surprise that, recently, John was crowned with the Outstanding Contribution to Cancer Medicine and Research Award from the Irish Association for Cancer Research.In this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast we talk about John’s fascinating background, what inspired him to become a cancer specialist, what we all need to do (and stop doing) to live longer, healthier lives, where the health system has gone wrong and how John believes it can be fixed.COMEDY – we throw back to one of my favourites: RTE boss Kevin Bakhurst has just introduced a salary cap for RTE presenters – his voicemail box is hopping!Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Brendan Ogle is one of Ireland’s best-known activists and trade unionists. Having fought Margaret Thatcher and her plans to privatise the railways in the UK, Brendan returned home to Ireland in the early 90s and has been fighting for workers’ rights and social justice ever since.He has now decided that its time to move from protest to politics, and to try to effect change as a member of the European Parliament. Brendan is always a compelling podcast guest – he’s a real character, he’s got loads of war stories from the decades he has spent in the trade union movement, and its clear that he has plenty of fight left in him yet.COMEDY – Donald Trump’s phone has been hopping ever since he was found guilty of falsifying his business records. Check out the messages he has been getting from some well-known Irish peopleProduced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Laura and Rob are from very different worlds. Laura is a stand-up comedian and actress, best known The School and Bridget and Eamon on RTE. Rob is one of Ireland’s most successful Olympians, competing in five different Olympic games, and winning a gold medal at the Moscow World Championships.But together they present a very successful podcast called Red Raw where they talk very openly about their lives and share stories about body image, trying to conceive, Rob not hitting puberty until he was 17, and Laura being a virgin into her mid 20sNothing is off the table when it comes to their podcast – and nothing was off the table when it came to our chat too.COMEDY – with 2fm losing some of its biggest stars, some of Ireland’s favourite podcasters audition for their roles…Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

When Niall Boylan joined me here a couple of years ago we had a fascinating conversation about his 30-yearr career in radio, his reputation as a so-called ‘shock jock’, and his incredible life story. But recently Niall decided to put his lifelong radio career on hold so that he can run as a candidate in the Dublin constituency in the upcoming European elections.  Having spent so many years as a phone-in radio presenter Niall believes that he has a unique  understanding of Irish voters and the kind of representation they need at a European political level. In this very open and honest conversation about some of the big issues facing this country right now, Niall explains why he’s the man for the job and what he plans to do.COMEDY – Niall’s hosting a phone-in about OnlyFans, and some very familiar voices call in to express their opinions..The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

A story like Israel’s war on Gaza naturally gets wall to wall news coverage. But sometimes blanket coverage over a prolonged period of time can start to lose its power, we start to get inured to it and its impact decreases. So in order to keep getting the message out there, you need a new angle - and comedian and writer Tadhg Hickey certainly has that angle. Tadhg has become very well-known over the last few years for unique brand of comedy, which highlights  global political issues in a very fresh and accessible way. He has always covered the Israel / Gaza conflict but over the last few months he has doubled down on it. Tadhg joined me earlier this week for a very interesting conversation about this terrible conflict, how and why it all started, why it might sound the death knell for Zionism, and how he’s trying to do some good through comedy.Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

We hadn’t planned to talk about it, but the tragic situation in Gaza and the failure of well-known people in the wellness industry to speak out about it, was one of the highlights of my chat with broadcaster and podcaster Sile Seoige. It’s a subject about which Sile feels incredibly passionate right now and she explains why in this episode.But of course we talked about all sorts of other things in the hour we spent together, like Sile’s hugely successful podcast Ready to be Real, some of the tough personal episodes she has been through , and what she has learned from them , and that recent controversy about the Irish language, stirred up by Sile’s former Newstalk colleague Ivan Yates! Comedy – Daithi O’Se, Ivan and Matt, and Blindboy leave voicemails for Sile on the Mario Rosenstock Podcast Hotline. Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand.NEWS: GIft Grub Live 25 (Brand new show celebrating 25 years of Gift Grub on the radio) @3ARENADUBLIN - ON SALE HEREhttps://www.ticketmaster.ie/mario-rosenstock-tickets/artist/2188743

Something that has always fascinated me about former State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy  is how she could have one of the toughest, most serious and emotionally impactful jobs in the country and yet be so upbeat and positive outside of the job. In a way maybe that’s the only way one can successfully do it. Marie and I get in to all of that in our chat, as well as what its like being a pathologist, why she wanted to become one, the famous case that made her decide it was time to go, and lots more.Check out Marie's GoLoud Podcast HEREThe Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrandNEWS: GIft Grub Live 25 (Brand new show celebrating 25 years of Gift Grub on the radio) @3ARENADUBLIN - ON SALE HEREhttps://www.ticketmaster.ie/mario-rosenstock-tickets/artist/2188743

Lots of people THINK about running for election, lots of people TALK about it, but very few actually do it. Having spent many years loosely involved in politics, Cormac Lucey has now decided to go all the way, and he has just thrown his hat into the ring of the local elections in June.Cormac is a Sunday Times columnist, a lecturer in Finance in Trinity College, and a very familiar face and voice on media. I wanted to know what makes somebody like him, after years on the fringes of politics, decide to enter the fray – and he had a lot to say about it.Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrandNEWS: GIft Grub Live 25 (Brand new show celebrating 25 years of Gift Grub on the radio) @3ARENADUBLIN - ON SALE HEREhttps://www.ticketmaster.ie/mario-rosenstock-tickets/artist/2188743

What a story we have for you on this episode. Nadia Adan was born in Somalia but had to flee when the war broke out, and after years of travel, refugee camps, and time in prison, she and her mum found refuge in Ireland, where they have lived happily for over 20yrs. Her passion for hard work and business have made Nadia very successful and she’s now Ireland’s only female car showroom owner, known for her unique approach to marketing on social media and her controversial stance on electric cars. In this chat, Nadia shares her amazing backstory, her entrepreneurial journey, and her opinions on electric cars, social media, and immigration.Comedy – Simon Harris’s phone has been hopping since he became Taoiseach, check out the voicemails!Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrandNEWS: GIft Grub Live 25 (Brand new show celebrating 25 years of Gift Grub on the radio) @3ARENADUBLIN - ON SALE HEREhttps://www.ticketmaster.ie/mario-rosenstock-tickets/artist/2188743

Anna Geary has a lot of strings to her bow: All Ireland-winning camogie captain, coach on RTE’s Ireland’s Fittest Family, radio presenter, former contestant on Dancing With The Stars… the list goes on. She’s also now an author, having just published her first book. It’s called Anna’s Game Plan and it's a practical toolkit to help people become more confident and be more in control. Achieving everything that Anna has achieved so far has taken courage, confidence, resilience, and the ability to handle that inner voice that can sometimes seem to work against us, and in this chat she talks about how she has done that, and how we can do it too. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrandNEWS: GIft Grub Live 25 (Brand new show celebrating 25 years of Gift Grub on the radio) @3ARENADUBLIN - ON SALE HEREhttps://www.ticketmaster.ie/mario-rosenstock-tickets/artist/2188743

With all the recent talk and speculation about politics, the next government and the future Fine Gael, we thought it was timely to repost this fascinating interview with Minister Paschal Donohoe. Published a few months ago, this is probably one of the most open, honest and personal interviews he has done, covering how and why he got into politics, what drives him to stay in a very demanding and often thankless job, his love of football and music, and what does to unwind on a Friday night!COMEDY  - Kevin Bakhurst, RTE Director General, has just introduced a salary cap for presenters – and they’re not happy. We got exclusive access to his voicemails.Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Pat Sheedy was released from prison just last August. He was there because of all of the scams he pulled to make money to feed his all-consuming gambling addiction – it ruined his life. And he travelled from Limerick to Dublin to join me here in the studio to tell his story. We talked about how and why he started gambling -  and why he couldn’t stop -  the crimes he committed in order to feed his habit, his opinions on gambling companies, and life during and after  prison, and lots more… COMEDY - There’s only one story this week – Leo’s shock resignation .Check out who has been leaving voicemails for him… Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

As Liam Neeson would say, Kayleigh Trappe has a very particular set of skills.  She takes clips from TV shows and podcasts that have gone viral, and recreates them perfectly on camera. And her ‘victims’ are paying attention, earning her name checks from the likes of Peter Crouch, Louis Walsh, Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally and a few more leading lights.If you’ve never seen Kayleigh’s work, check it out on Instagram right now. And then come back and listen to this great conversation where she reveals how she does it, why she does it, how celebs have reacted to her sketches, and her decision to give up her full time job to dedicate everything to her unique talent.Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Cathy Kelly is one of Ireland’s best loved and most prolific authors, with a very impressive 23 novels under her belt! Her latest one is called Sisterhood and Cathy joined me in studio to chat about her lifelong love of books and her writing process. She has also been receiving treatment for a very serious type of cancer over the past few months, and it has had a very big impact, leaving her very sick and very tired. However, Cathy is remarkably positive about everything, and during out chat she was full of energy, chatty, sparky, reflective, and a whole lot of fun.Cathy was a very popular guest with the callers this week - none other than Bertie Ahern, Roy Keane, Fintan O’Toole and Paul Williams phoned in to chat with herCOMEDY – Cillian Murphy has been getting calls from the good and the great of Hollywood ahead of this weekend’s Oscars and, yes you guessed it, we got exclusive access to his voicemail! Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand  

There’s a big referendum coming up this week, but how many of us actually understand what we’re being asked to vote on? Award-winning journalist Larissa Nolan has spent weeks studying this proposed change to the constitution and not only does she break it down for me in this episode of the Mario Rosenstock Podcast, she also lets fly about her very strong opinions about it. Larissa is always so interesting to listen to no matter what subject she’s talking about, so here’s a bonus episode that we hope will help make a bit of sense of this whole referendum business.

Not only is Donal Lenihan a true legend of Irish rugby and a much-loved commentator and pundit, he’s also a master storyteller. In this episode he shares so many great behind-the-scenes stories about antics on and off the pitch during his playing days, insights in to the modern game, management and current squad, and why he loves using his position as a commentator to make the game accessible to everyone. He also lets rip about my regular impressions of him on Gift Grub!Comedy – President Michael D Higgins had a bit of a health scare but thankfully we are assured that there is nothing to be concerned about. He’s been getting some interesting voicemails, and we got exclusive access...The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand   

You might recognise Paddy Cullivan as the frontman of the wonderful Camembert Quartet, which was the house band for the Late Late show for over ten years. But Paddy is also a very successful  ‘historical entertainer’, bringing together history, music, comedy and the visual arts and combining them into stage shows where he takes big historical stories and makes them accessible and entertaining, sometimes ruffling a few feathers along the way.Paddy’s new show, ‘I can’t believe it’s not Ireland’  is set in the Ireland of 2032, and we’re now living in a brand new 32-county Ireland. There's a new flag. A new anthem. There's even a new capital! As Unionists holiday in the south, discovering the imperial joys of 'Royal' Dublin - southerners discover the ancient landscape of Ulster beyond the retail outlets of Newry and Titanic Belfast. Magical things happen when you create a new country - where EVERYTHING is on the table - and its exciting. ‘I can't believe Its not Ireland’ is described as an  hilariously insightful journey through the history of partition and the Ireland of the future...and Paddy Cullivan is here to tell me all about it, and we get stuck in to a few other very interesting areas too. https://www.paddycullivan.com/ Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Last year we had Marion McKeown and Cal Thomas (they of Matt Cooper’s Last Word fame) on the pod (on separate episodes). I’m a massive fan of their slot on Matt’s show and, as you might expect, they both had such interesting and prescient things to say about Trump and politics in America. So we thought, given everything happening in the US right now, we would pick out some of the best bits from those interviews and bring them together into one episode this weekHaving spent the last couple of decades in America and having travelled around every part of that country, Marion has some fantastic stories to share and Cal Thomas is as clear and courageous as ever in his opinions.COMEDY – Its another tough week for RTE, but Bertie Ahern, John Delaney, and Eddie Hobbs have some helpful advice… Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Award-winning journalist Larissa Nolan spent many years living with her young son in rented accommodation. But ten years ago, she decided that enough was enough and it was time to do everything she had to do, to buy a home for them to call their own. And so began a fascinating story that involved a radical approach to how she approached her career, unexpected support from other women who empathised with her situation, and a whole lot of grit and determination. Its rare that we hear a story about the housing crisis that has a happy ending, but we’re glad to be able to share one in this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast.COMEDY – with the rumours that Boyzone is in talks to buy Chorley FC, Ronan Keating's voicemail box has been hopping, and we get exclusive access.Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

He was one of my very first guests on The Mario Rosenstock Podcast – that was almost three years ago and things have just gone from strength to strength for Conor Moore. He has continued to build his repertoire of impressions, including characters from the world of Formula one, he has shared a stage with Roy Keane on The Overlap live show, performed across Ireland on his very own tour, and the list goes on. You’ll hear all the great stories in this episode. COMEDY – As the Six Nations rugby kicks off, David McWilliams comes up with one of his trademark rugby / economics analogies, and he00 also reminisces about leaving the mean streets of Dalkey to take the Blackrock boys on in a fight. Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Phil Cawley and I were colleagues in Today Fm for over 20 years. During his time in the station, Phil presented one of the most listened-to Weekend radio shows in the country. We also got to work together on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show a few times.Phil is a genuine legend of Irish radio and he's also a great character and storyteller.  On this episode we chat about the early days of Today FM, the present and future of radio, the rise and rise of cocaine at gigs and weddings, meeting Elton john in Las Vegas, why he thinks he might be on the spectrum, and lots more.COMEDY – Brian Dobson has announced his retirement from RTE and his phone has been hopping ever since. We got exclusive access to his voicemail inbox.The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand  

Ive always admired Matt Cooper’s work ethic. He presents a two and a half hour radio show every day on Today FM, writes two newspaper columns, presents not one but two podcasts, he writes books, he’s a father of 5 and lord knows what else he packs in to his day.In our chat on this episode of the Mario Rosenstock podcast, Matt opens up about what drives him to work so hard, how he plans his day in order to get everything done, and the times when he came very close to burnout and the impact that this has had on his health. We also talk about the importance of really listening to radio and podcast guests, keeping fit and healthy after 50, and his latest book ‘Who really owns Ireland?’.COMEDY – Its awards season and Eamon Dunphy and John Giles discuss the Irish interest, and also ask why there’s so much ‘todger’ on sceen these days.Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Luke O’Neill was a very well-known scientist before the covid pandemic but he pretty much took on celebrity status during it, such was the demand for his expertise on TV, radio, print, and podcasts. He even became a very popular Gift Grub character on the Ian Dempsey Breakfast show on Today FM.On this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast we chat about all sorts of topics like his love of music - including his recent trip to vegas to watch U2’s first show in Sphere, how he felt about his near-celebrity status during Covid and how conscious he was of becoming over exposed, and I also throw a few of my trademark ‘talk to me like I’m a 2-yr old’ questions at Luke which I think you’ll enjoy. COMEDY - When we announced that Luke was going to be on the show, his phone started to hop...check out the messages Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

We’re dipping back into the archives this week and bringing you one of our most popular interviews of 2023. Ciara Kelly co-presents the Newstalk breakfast show with Shane Coleman and in this no holds barred conversation from Feb 2023, we get stuck right into so many topics from women in media and twitter users versus radio show texters, to pronouns, gender identity, and the right to hold an opinion that may not be too popular. I also learn about what Ciara was like in school and how she ended up as a GP. This episode, if I say so myself, is podcast gold!COMEDY - The Mario Rosenstock Podcast hotline started  buzzing as soon as we announced that Ciara was to be my special guest.The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

As you walk / run / work off all of those lovely turkey sandwiches and mince pies, why not jump in here and take a listen to some of my favourite interview highlights from over the last few months? They include great moments and stories from Keith Duffy, Louis Walsh, Rachel Allen, Al Porter, and Terry Prone.The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

If you're in the mood for a little bit of comedy, then you've come to the right place. Here are just a few of my favourite comedy sketches and moments from the last few months, including:Rachel Allen gets a call from Roy KeaneTerry Prone gets calls from George Lee and Enda KennyShane Byrne gets a call from Rob Kearney We hack in to the voicemails of Tucker Carlson and RTE's Kevin BakhurstEamon Dunphy and John Giles preview Patrick Kielty's first ever Late Late Toy ShowThe Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

On this episode I meet the man behind the brilliant satirical news site Waterford Whispers News, Colm Williamson. Since launch, WWN has garnered international attention and viral popularity many times over. Some of the stories are just plain fun, but some are doing their bit to hold people and institutions in powerful positions to account, when Colm and the team feel it’s needed.In out chat, Colm shares the fascinating story of how an idea he had just after he found himself unemployed back in the recession of 2009, has grown into a comedy institution , and all the highs and lows along the way. Make sure to check out the team's 10th annual - Waterford Whispers News 2023COMEDY – we revisit a David McWilliams classic as he reminisces on his trouble-making school days in the ‘Dalkey Tech’.   The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

I’ve always noticed that rugby players, in particular retired rugby players, have brilliant stories to tell. There’s so much craic and mischief going on behind the scenes in the changing room and when they’re off on tour and then you and I are lucky enough to hear all about it, when a sufficient amount of time has passed and its safe to share the stories!Tommy Bowe is one of those great former rugby internationals who also happens to be a brilliant storyteller, so I was delighted when he agreed to join me as special guest here on the Mario Rosenstock Podcast. I got some juicy behind-the-scenes stories and gossip which I think you’ll enjoy, but we also talk about his childhood growing up in a border county when the British army very much still a presence there, how he very nearly did not become a professional rugby player, his new career as a TV presenter (known for regular hilarious gaffes – 10 siblings, anybody?), and his successful clothing company XV Kings which has just turned 10 years old.COMEDY - David McWilliams reminisces about causing trouble on ‘culchies shopping day’ on 8th December in his youthProduced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

We continue the fascinating conversation that I had with leading psychotherapist and author Tony Bates. We covered so much ground in part 1 (and if you haven’t heard it yet I strongly encourage you to do so) and in this episode we chat about many more very interesting and important things, including family trauma and therapy,  the scourge of over-prescription of medication worldwide, particularly for young kids, his experience with patients who use a lot of cannabis, and also why we should all embrace pain.   COMEDYTucker Carlson has had quite the week, have you heard the things he’s saying about Ireland? Well, we got access to his voicemails and there are some interesting messages from people you may know…For more info about Tony's new book, click https://www.gillbooks.ie/biography/biography/breaking-the-heart-openThe Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Tony Bates is one of Ireland’s leading psychologists. He has worked with thousands of patients throughout his many decades in practise, most notably as head of the Department of Psychology at St James’s Hospital, a position he held for over 30 years. He also created Jigsaw, The National Centre for Youth Mental Health. And if you’re a fan of Bressie’s podcast, Where is my Mind?, you’re probably very familiar with Tony from his regular appearances on that great show.But having spent his career seeking to understand the lives of others, Tony has now turned his therapeutic eye on himself and describes the events and people in his own life that have made him the insightful thinker and teacher that he is today.His new book is called Breaking the Heart Open: The Shaping of a Psychologist. And In it, he recalls the traumatic events in his own childhood that brought him to a very low point in his 30s ,the years he spent building himself back up, from which he spent years, and what he has learned from the many people in his care over the years. Tony shares that story with me, but this whole area of trauma, recovery, family relationships, therapy, and learning about ourselves and who we are is one that fascinates me, so we talked a lot about all these things too. COMEDY – Patrick Kielty is about to present his very first Late Late Toy Show: Eamon Dunphy and John Giles look ahead to his debut performance Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

You have probably heard a lot of interviews with Minister Paschal Donoghue on radio and on TV, but I’m pretty sure you will not have heard one quite like this. My plan is going into this particular interview was, not to talk about all the usual topics you’ll hear the minister talk about in the media and in the Dail, but rather to get behind all of that, to learn about the person, not the politician. And thankfully, Paschal was well up for having that kind of conversation. You are about to hear a whole different side to Paschal Donoghue in this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast.COMEDY  - Kevin Bakhurst, RTE Director General, has just introduced a salary cap for presenters – and they’re not happy. We got exclusive access to his voicemails. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

This chat with Al Porter was genuinely one of the most enjoyable conversations I have had on this podcast series to date. Not only is Al totally hilarious, he is also deeply intelligent, self aware, and has a very powerful personal story to tell. He has just come out the other side of an incredibly difficult few years where he was, by his own doing, completely out of the public eye, having been very much in it for many years. But now he’s back on tour, selling out venues again,  and he joined me in studio to share his story and tell me about how it feels to be back in action.This is part two of that conversation, and just like part 1, we have a real treat in store for you. For details about Al’s new tour, check out alporter.ie COMEDY – Bruce Springsteen is back again and tickets are pretty hefty! Produced by Patrick Haughey,  AudioBrand

A few years ago Al Porter was one of Ireland’s most rapidly rising stars in the entertainment world. He had become the youngest headliner in Vicar Street’s history at 21, his award-winning stand up was receiving rave reviews from critics, he had his own TV and radio shows, and big plans in motion for the USA. And then, as he says himself,  it “all fell apart”. For reasons that we cover in this episode, Al suddenly stepped back from all of his public work and spent the next few years living at home, eating and drinking heavily, and mentally not in a good place. But now, after several years of self-reflection and analysis, and some serious work on himself to get sober, Al is back. He’s selling out venues with his new stand up show, supporting great comedians like Reginald D Hunter, and he’s off the booze and looking and feeling great. We met up in the studio earlier this week and over the course of almost two hours, Al told me the full story about the last few years he has spent out of the public eye and how he has got himself back on track. This is part 1 of that conversation.  COMEDY – Johnny Sexton has hung up his boots but his career is far from over- we get exclusive access to his voicemails and hear who’s been getting in touch Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Rachel Allen needs very little introduction. A very familiar face on our screens and a best-selling author, Rachel has carved out a highly successful career for herself in the culinary world both in Ireland and abroad. But did you know that her grandfather escaped from a concentration camp? Or that she has very strong views on veganism that might surprise you? Or are you aware of what her favourite curse words are?! Rachel and I get into all that and more on this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast.COMEDY - Michael D Higgins is in hot water again for his outspoken views on topical issue. He's been getting some very interesting voicemails, and we got exclusive access!Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

It’s not easy being a TV weather forecaster in Ireland, and Joanna Donnelly knows this first-hand. She regularly gets blamed for actually creating bad weather, not just forecasting it. But despite all this, Joanna loves what she does. Having studied Mathematics and Meteorology, Joanna has worked with Met Éireann and RTE for over 28 years, and has just published her latest book, From Malin Head to Mizen Head, A Journey Around the Sea Area ForecastWe chat about all sorts of stuff, including why she loves her job, life in the public eye, her views on climate change, and challenging times she has gone through in her own family life.  COMEDY – David McWilliams reminisces about childhood Halloweens on ‘the mean streets of Dalkey’ Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

I have heard some fascinating life stories in my time, but Terry Prone’s is up there with one of the best. Terry is a writer, an actor, a journalist, a broadcaster, an advisor to successive governments, a communications expert, a PR pioneer, the list goes on and on - and after already writing 30 books, she has finally written the one that tells her own life story.Its called Caution to the Wind: A Memoir - and it is simply a fascinating read. Terry talks as well as she writes and in our chat she shares some brilliant stories about the love of her life, the late Tom Savage, who was a priest when they first met; her close working relationship with Gay Byrne, coaching politicians,  the secret to powerful communications, and lots more.COMEDY – The Mario Rosenstock Podcast hotline has been busy this week, we've got messages from Leo V, Brian O'Driscoll, and the government's money men, Paschal and Michael. Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Have you ever hear a Tánaiste and former Taoiseach doing an impression of Muhammad Ali? Well, you're just about to. In this second and final part of my interview with Micheál Martin he nails an impression of his sporting hero, and we also talk about freedom of speech, violent protests, the housing crisis, the presidency, Murphy’s vs Beamish, and which Irish politician he’d most like to get in to the boxing ring with!Comedy -With the Budget just around the corner, I can only imagine just how in demand Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath are right now, getting lobbied from all directions. We got exclusive access to their voicemails…

I’m pretty sure that you will not have heard an interview with Tánaiste Micheál Martin quite like this one before. The man is great craic, full of funny stories and banter – it’s a side to him that we rarely get to see in the Dail and on current affairs shows, but we certainly get a taste of it in this episode. We talk about his love of impressions, and he even does a few for us! He tells me what he thinks of my Gift Grub caricature of him, he also talks about his relationship with Leo Varadkar behind the scenes, time he spent in the north trying to understand the unionist perspective, the return of Bertie and his rumoured bid for the Presidency, getting into bed with Sinn Fein, and and lots more. We actually stayed in studio chatting for over an hour and a half and so we’ve decided to break the conversation up into two parts, the first of which you’re about to press play on. I hope you enjoy what I think is a very different kind of interview with one of Ireland best-known politicians. Comedy – Eamon Dunphy and John Giles discuss the massive cocaine haul off the Irish coast this week. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Senator Michael McDowell has been a TD, Tanaiste, Minster for Justice, and the country's Attorney General; he’s currently a barrister, a senator, and a columnist for the Irish Times. How he found the time to join me for an hour-long chat for this podcast I’ll never know, but Im very glad he did because we got through some great topics, including how broken a state Ireland once was when the tax rate was at 77% and the state owned absolutely everything, why the UK legal system allows for people like Russell Brand to be splashed all over the papers before being found guilty, his distrust of Sinn Fein, and why he knows the words to several Wolfe Tones songs!

 2023 has been a year of wildfires, extreme weather, and record temperatures – is it all down to climate change? To answer that question we invited climate commentator John Gibbons back to the studio for a conversation that I think you’re going to find very interesting ( and probably alarming). John Gibbons has been researching, campaigning and consistently appearing in the media about the climate crisis for over 20 years and even though it’s often a thankless job, his passion and resolve are stronger than ever.  This episode probably isn’t typical of the series, its not exactly a barrel of laughs, but it’s a topic I strongly believe needs to be out there more and John is one of the clearest and most passionate climate commentators in this country and is well worth paying attention to. COMEDY - We’ve managed to get access to Patrick Kielty’s voicemails. He’s going to be presenting his very first Late Late show this week, and so as you can imagine, his phone has been hopping… Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

At one stage during our chat, Shane Coleman broke into a quite excellent impression of former finance minister Charlie McCreevy. Unfortunately I couldn't convince him to do a few more, but we did get stuck into a few political topics, as you might expect. Shane was one of Ireland’s leading political correspondents in print media for many years before joining Newstalk as political editor followed by his current position of presenter of Newstalk breakfast with co-host Ciara Kelly. So of course in our chat we talk about politics but Shane is a man with many interests so we also chat about things like League of Ireland football, the Ryan Tubridy / RTE affair and his passion for fashion! COMEDY:David McWilliams reminisces about his school days during a recent episode of his podcast – and as usual, producer and co-host John is not happy with the direction things take. Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Watching the Rose of Tralee this week reminded me of the brilliant episode we recorded last year with Daithi O’Se. Daithi was in top form when we met, the Rose was back after a two-year hiatus and he was raring to go. We chatted about what its like hosting the festival (and how he gets in shape in advance), what makes Kerry people so unique, his new cottage renovation project, and he even teaches me a few cheeky words in Irish! COMEDYDaithi and I weren’t the only ones talking about the Rose of Tralee - my colleagues in the podcast world were too, including Vogue and Joanne of My Therapist Ghosted Me, and Eamon Dunphy of The Stand. Enjoy! Mario The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

It's hard to describe Roddy Collins. Footballer, football manager, boxer, brother of a boxing world champion, practical joker, social commentator, author..the list goes on. Not only does Roddy have great stories to tell, he also tells them so well. We talk about life in football’s lower divisions, settling local disputes in the ring, practical jokes that went too far, and walking the streets of Dublin chatting to homeless people and hearing their stories. Roddy joined me on the show last October – he had just published a book called The Rodfather: Inside the Beautiful (Ugly, Ridiculous, Hilarious) Game. It’s a great read! COMEDY: What’s going on the UK? Replacing Prime Ministers every five weeks, it’s like they’re coming off a conveyor belt! GET IN TOUCH: https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/ https://twitter.com/giftgrubmario [email protected] The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of www.AudioBrand.ie

While we’re on our short summer break, I’m playing some of my favourite episodes from the series so far. This one is from May 2021, its with my friend and colleague Dermot Whelan, who has just announced that he’s leaving the Dermot and Dave Show on Today FM to focus on his mindfulness business. When we record this episode, Dermot had just released his bestselling book Mind Full. He told me all about the book, the business and how and why it all started. Dermot is also a very talented impressionist. Diarmuid Gavin, Rory McIlroy, Professor Snape from Harry Potter and even the late great Terry Wogan all make an appearance in this interview. Enjoy the chat and don’t forget to follow the series for free, and drop us a rating and review if you’re feeling generous! Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

We’re on a short summer break at the moment and so we’re resurfacing some of our favourite and most popular episodes from the last few months. This episode first aired in November 2022 - its a fascinating chat with Frank Greaney, Courts Correspondent with Newstalk and Today FM, and also podcast host, author, and restaurateur! I love Frank’s on-air appearances with Matt Cooper and they have been inspiring quite a few Gift Grub sketches recently. When you hear Frank talk about what he does, why he does it and the cases that have made the most impact on him, you’ll understand why he is so compelling to listen to. Frank reveals what inspired him to get into the field of crime, it's impact on him and his thoughts on judicial sentencing in Ireland. We also explore how far Ireland has come in the last 40 years as Frank speaks about his hit podcast Inside The Crime, Season 2. Listen here: https://link.goloudplayer.com/s/sGka1zw21OAF As you can imagine, many callers phoned in to speak to Frank but it was Michael D Higgins of all people that Frank had a bone to pick with! Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand