The Mario Rosenstock Podcast

Every episode of my podcast features a brand new and exclusive comedy sketch. If you want to hear a few of my favourites funnies from the last few months, just click play and enjoy!! Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

It's never easy to pick easy to pick highlights from the series because there genuinely is far too much to choose from. So I’ve tried to find a few clips that represent the wide range of guests, topics, and laughs that we tend to have on this show every week. So what’s coming up? Jarlath Regan of the brilliant ‘Irishman Abroad’ podcast will be talking about why he took up running during Covid, how beneficial it has been for his mental health, and teaming up with Sonia O’Sullivan to make a whole podcast series dedicated to running! Newstalk’s Ciara Kelly will talk about some of the obstacles that she faced being a woman trying to carve out a career as a broadcaster. And we also talk about the perilous nature of expressing opinions these days. MEP Maria Walsh talks about coming out publicly right after winning the rose of Tralee and the journey she went on afterwards. And Keith Duffy talks about the very early days of Boyzone, why he has an issue with Irish audiences, and that infamous Late Late show appearance when Gay Byrne was a little bit rude to them, to put it mildly. I hope you enjoy the show Mario Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Tadhg Hickey is a comedian, a singer, an actor, an author, and he is also a long-time friend of the Mario Rosenstock Podcast. Tadhg was also a regular guest on the radio show I used to present on Today FM on Sundays before we started this podcast. On one of those Sunday shows Tadhg joined me for a long and fascinating chat about his recovery from alcohol addiction. What was particularly interesting was that he didn’t just talk about how awful it was (and of course so much of it was), but he also talked about some of the funny sides to that life, the kind of trouble he’d get into, the wild parties he was at, and the people he met. The way he talked about his story was so different to how we generally hear topics like alcoholism discussed in the media, and it obviously caught people’s ears. Because soon after that chat, he was contacted by someone in the publishing industry and invited to write a book about his life and recovery. That book is coming out very soon – it’s called A Portrait of the Piss Artist as a Young Man and you’ll find all the info you need about that and his upcoming stand up comedy tour here https://www.tadhghickey.com/home In this episode, Tadhg joins me on this episode to talk all about the book, comedy, addiction, drink and ecstasy, twitter spats, doom scrolling, colonialism and independence! COMEDY A few famous faces phone into the Mario Rosenstock hotline to leave messages for Tadhg, including Brendan O’Connor, Micheal Martin, and Boris Johnson. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Alison Curtis and I have been close friends and colleagues for over two decades. We worked on the same show for many years (The Ian Dempsey breakfast show, where I still work) and to say there are a few very entertaining stories from that period would be an understatement – and yes, you’ll get to hear a couple of them in this conversation (the ones the lawyers said were ok to share!). Alison has also presented her own weekend breakfast show on Today FM for ten years now and in that time she has grown the audience at an incredible rate and it is now one of the most-listened to shows on the station. But how much do you really know about the lady behind the mic? In this chat we talk about Alison’s early life, growing up on a ranch in the Canadian countryside, losing her parents at a young age, what brought her to Ireland and why she fell in love with the place, and lots more. COMEDY – a few well-known people left messages on the Mario Rosenstock hotline for Alison, including Leo Varadkar, Matt Cooper, and Ray Darcy. Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

My special guest on this episode is not only brilliantly talented, but such great craic too. Lyra is one of Ireland’s fastest rising stars - her music has featured on Love Island, Grey’s Anatomy, X-Factor and RTE’s Striking Out, she has performed on TV shows such as Dancing with the Stars and Ireland’s Got Talent and, get this, she’s just back from London having opened for Pink in Hyde Park! Lyra is also hilariously funny and we had so much fun together in the studio. COMEDY – In a week dominated by analysis of broadcaster salaries, RTE’s Primetime featured three well-known presenters talking about their own terms and conditions. Warning: some of you might find their stories emotional to listen to. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

This is a very open, honest and compelling conversation with a man you will probably be very familiar with through the many public-facing roles he has had over the years – Senator, Minister, author and high profile newspaper editor among them – but in this conversation you will learn a lot more about the other side of Shane Ross. We chat about growing up between Ireland and England, being both a political insider and outsider at the same time, his tumultuous relationship with his father and his close friend Eamon Dunphy, and a destructive drinking habit that he had to knock on the head. COMEDY – Ryan Tubridy’s phone has been HOPPING ever since revelations about his salary came out. Jump in and take a listen to his voicemails… Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan is not your average politician. He looks different, he acts differently, and since his very first day in politics he has been tirelessly campaigning for the decriminalisation of cannabis. And because of that, he has often not been taken seriously by other politicians many of whom have either overlooked him or made fun of him. But Ming has certainly been taken seriously by voters , climbing the ranks from local councillor to TD, to the MEP position he holds today. We covered all sorts of topics in our chat – how and why he smokes cannabis, what laws he would like to see changed, his life in politics, and what he thinks of my impressions of him! COMEDY - There has been a lot of excitement on the Mario Rosenstock podcast hotline after I dropped the news earlier in the week that Ming was coming on the show. We’ve been getting all sorts of voicemails from his colleagues in politics and beyond.. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

I've always been fascinated by the lives of crime journalists. It’s a career that involves exposing criminals and crime gangs, putting yourself in dangerous situations, and often being at the receiving end of death threats. What’s it like to live a life like that and why would anyone want to do it? These are just some of the questions that I wanted to ask Paul Williams, one of Ireland’s best-known and most experienced crime journalists. Paul has spent decades profiling Ireland’s most dangerous criminals and, in many cases, they have hit back, to the extent that Paul ended up with 24-hour Garda protection after a hoax bomb was planted outside his family home. In this fascinating conversation Paul tells me all about what life at the coalface of crime journalism. Paul’s book “The Monk - the life and crimes of Ireland’s most enigmatic gang boss” is back in the shops at the end of June. COMEDY – Rory McIlroy’s phone has been hopping all week since the announcement that the PGA tour and LIV Golf are to merge. We got exclusive access to his voice mails… Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

There was a time in Ireland where honest communication about personal issues or potentially controversial subjects was not our strong suit. As my special guest on this episode, comedian Anne Gildea, says – “Nothing was said about anything – it was all mystery.” Little by little we became more open and liberal about these things however one of the issues that stayed very much buried under the carpet up until very recently was something that affects over 51% of the population! That’s the menopause. Anne Gildea wanted to do something about this, so she wrote a whole stand-up comedy show about it called ‘How to get the menopause and enjoy it’. In our chat she tells me all about it, and we also chat about loads more, like Anne being a founding member of the smash hit comedy Trio 'The Nualas', old Ireland versus modern Ireland, and why she thinks Joanne McNally is simply a legend.. Anne is currently touring this great show - check out her website for upcoming dates https://www.annegildea.com/shows COMEDY - Love Island is back and the contestants have been revealed. Jump in and hear them introduce themselves - you might hear a few familiar voices.. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

A lot of people come up with great ideas for businesses or creative projects, but only a few of them actually make it happen. Tony Kelly is one of those rare people. An actor and comedian, Tony created a comedy character many years ago call Gar Campion who is a very talented but deeply flawed hurler. He started putting Gar in sketches on YouTube and in the years since he has fought tooth and nail to turn The Hurler into a feature film, set in his native Waterford City. And, against all the odds, he has just made that happen In our chat, Tony tells me the fascinating story of how he did it (and it was not easy folks); we also talk about stand up comedy, the uniqueness of Waterford (Tony’s home town) and the power of sheer grit and determination COMEDY – David McWilliams has big plans for taking Tom Hanks out on the tear at the Dalkey Book Festival, and Eamon Dunphy and John Giles analyse the big tv breakup of Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Just like tens of thousands of people across Ireland, Ciaran Mulqueen spent a long, long time trying to buy a home. As he searched through property listings online, he was taken aback by some of the tiny, poor quality properties for sale and rent at ridiculously high prices. Not only that, but so many of the photos of various properties were clearly photoshopped, and many of them claimed to be in salubrious locations that were actually many miles away! Ciaran was moved to call out some of these adverts, and so he started posting them on an instagram page he called Crazy House Prices. The channel now has tens of thousands of followers, it has grown into other equally popular social channels, and Ciaran has even just published a best-selling book called How to buy a home in Ireland. In this episode Ciaran shares his home hunting story, the good the bad and the ugly of property adverts, and a few thoughts on where it has all gone wrong COMEDY – We get exclusive access to Ronan O’Gara’s voicemails ahead of the big showdown between La Rochelle and Leinster in the Aviva Stadium. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

A lot of people with amazing stories have sat in front of me in studio since we started The Mario Rosenstock Podcast, but Georgie Crawford must be right up there as having one of the most dramatic and compelling stories of them all. It’s a story about a cancer diagnosis at a young age, a surrogacy interrupted by war, deep self-doubt, and more. But Georgie turned all of this negativity in to something so positive and impactful when she created The Good Glow podcast, which has grown into a highly successful health and wellness brand. In this episode, Georgie tells her story and tells me about her new book called Glow: Five Steps To Create The Life You Dream About. COMEDY The radio listenership figures are out this week – some shows went up, some went down…check out the voicemails to the Mario Rosenstock Podcast hotline this week, some of the country’s biggest broadcasters left messages for you! Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand.

We got a huge response to the first part of my chat with economist and podcaster Chris Johns. Thanks for all your emails, tweets and Instagram messages about it – I read a few of them out at the start of this episode. In this, part 2 of my interview with Chris I continue to ask him to ‘talk to me like a 2 year old’ and answer some of my simple questions that can have complex answers. Questions like can Sinn Fein really solve the housing crisis, why Artificial Intelligence has the potential to be so incredibly dangerous, and are bankers paid far too much money? Chris, as ever, has plenty to say. In comedy, my podcast colleagues are talking about the coronation of King Charles, including Eamon Dunphy on The Stand and Tommy and Hector on the Tommy, Hector and Laurita podcast. Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand.

Chris Johns is a regular contributor to Eamon Dunphy’s The Stand podcast and he also writes regularly about politics and economics. More recently he has launched his own podcast with fellow economist Jim Power, called ‘The Other Hand’. I read and listen to his work regularly and always find him to be highly intelligent, wonderful with words, and very insightful about a lot of the issues I find fascinating – like who or what is ‘the markets’ and why do they seem to exert so much control over all of us? How did the UK become such a basket case so quickly? Why do economists get paid so much to make predictions that 90% of the time turn out to be wrong? There was so much I wanted to ask Chris that we ended up talking for almost 2 hours, so we’ve decided to chop it up into two parts for you. This is part 1 in which we learn about Chris early life and how he was the first of his family to go to University, how he ended up being able to semi-retire at 55, his brilliant take on Boris Johnson and UK politics, why economists should never get paid to make predictions, why Facebook should never have been allowed to get so big, and lots more. COMEDY – Boris Johnson, David McWilliams, and Michael O’Leary leave voicemails for Chris on the Mario Rosenstock Podcast hotline Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

These days it can be a dangerous thing to hold an opinion. It’s a bit like holding a firework, it has the potential to blow up in your face. The whole subject of opinions, freedom of speech, and discussion is one that fascinates me so I was delighted that one of Ireland‘s foremost opinion writers agreed to join me on the podcast this week to chat all about it. Brenda Power has been writing opinions columns regularly for decades, she’s a pro at it, and she has attracted her fair share of controversy over some of the things she has written. So as you can imagine, we had plenty to talk about. COMEDY - Its all about the Good Friday Agreement lately and my podcaster colleagues have been all over it – tune to hear the unique takes of David McWilliams and My Therapist Ghosted Me on this hot button issue Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Ronan Collins is one of Ireland’s most loved and respected broadcasters. He has spent over 43 years in front of the mic and has the distinction of presenting Ireland’s longest-running and most listened-to music radio show – a role that he has only recently retired from. Ronan and I chat about music radio and how it has changed (and why he’s not a fan), the great radio presenters and producers, Ryan Tubridy’s future, that spat with Louis Walsh, his trips to Africa, and loads more. COMEDY - Ronan is a popular guy so it was a busy week on the Mario Rosenstock Podcast hotline…jump in and take a listen to the messages. Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand. www.audiobrand.ie

It’s not every day that we have a guest on the podcast that has played drinking games with Joe Strummer of The Clash, shared double brandies with Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays, hung out with Amy Winehouse, and was part of the foundation of Irish radio as we know it today. You’ll often hear Stuart Clarke of Hotpress on the radio – but he's generally talking about the lives and music other people. But in this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast it’s all about Stuart, and he has some really cracking stories to tell. COMEDY - the phone lines started hopping once word went out that Stuart was going to be on the pod. Check out the messages from a few famous voices, including...Donald J Trump?? Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand (www.audiobrand.ie)

Enda McNulty played football for Armagh, winning an All-Ireland medal and an All-Star award while he was at it. He has taken everything he learned on the pitch, combined it with deep study in to the human brain, and has now become one of Ireland’s top performance, leadership, and mental toughness coaches. He has worked with so many of the greats in sport and business. Enda has just published his second book, ‘Commit 2 Lead’ in which he shows us how we can ALL become great leaders. Roy Keane and Michael O’Leary aren’t so sure – and they make that very clear when they phone into talk to Enda – but after over an hour in the studio with Enda, I was convinced! COMEDY One of the big stories of the week was the news that Ryan Tubridy will soon be vacating the Late Late Show presenter’s chair, and the speculation about who is going to take over. Which horse will win the race for the chair? The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Shane Byrne spent many years playing rugby at the highest level, with 41 caps for Ireland and over 100 for Leinster. He also spent a couple of years at Saracens. But all of that was probably a doddle after the gruelling few weeks he has just spent being hurled around the Dancing with the Stars dance floor! Shane was voted out just a couple of weeks ago and he has kindly taken the time to join me in the studio to chat about his DWTS experience, his rugby career and adjusting to life after it, Andy Farrell and Ireland’s grand slam hopes, the fascinating story of his grandfather … and loads more Check out the Ireland vs England Legends game that Shane is organising this St Patrick's weekend https://www.planetrugby.com/news/ireland-and-england-legends-to-face-off-in-st-patricks-day-game-in-dublin COMEDY It’s one of the biggest weeks of the year for people that love a punt – yes, its Cheltenham time again. However, it also means it’s one of the biggest weeks of the year for gambling companies and those awful adverts that we’re subjected to ad nauseum… Produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

When you think back to your formative years, what albums spring to mind? What music marked the major milestones? What songs made you – and still make you – laugh, cry or get lost in nostalgia? In this episode, my Today FM colleague Ed Smith joins me to talk about the three albums that helped shape him into the person he is today. And this is also the theme of Ed’s new podcast – it’s called Recorded History and in each episode Ed chats to musicians, writers, artists and creatives about the three records that have defined important or personal moments in their life. I love nothing more than a great, deep chat about music, so I’m in my element in this one. We have a throwback comedy sketch for you on this episode – it has just been announced that Ronan O’Gara is on the shortlist for the role of Head Coach of the England rugby team. Some people are delighted, others are devasted – we got exclusive access to his voicemails. The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand.

My guest on this episode was crowned Rose of Tralee in 2014 and she has pretty much been in the public eye ever since. She came out publicly for the first time just days after winning the contest, making her the first ever openly gay Rose of Tralee. Then in 2019 Maria was elected as an MEP for Midlands–North-West constituency at the European Parliament elections, and in doing so she became the youngest Irish MEP in the European Parliament. We chat about Maria's experience growing up between the US and Ireland, the whirlwind that was the rose of Tralee, the opposition she experienced when running for election, right wing politics, and lots more. COMEDY – Maria’s phone was buzzing in advance of this episode going live, check out the voicemails from well-known personalities…

Singer and songwriter Brian Kennedy is one of the most open, honest, heart-on-the-sleeve people you will ever meet, and he has such a powerful story to share. Brian has had a lot of health issues over the last few years and we do briefly touch on this part of his story, but we spend most of our time together chatting about the things you may not know about him - how he grew up in a pretty dysfunctional home during a very dysfunctional time in Belfast, how a teacher in his school discovered his voice and set him on the path he follows to this day, reconciling with a brother he didn’t talk to for years, and so many other very personal and poignant stories. But we also have such great craic and of course he gets a few celebs phoning in that want to chat to him live on the podcast, including David Norris, Van Morrison, and Professor Luke O’Neill. Brian's new album is called Folkie - https://www.briankennedy.co.uk/ COMEDY We cross over live to Leopardstown Racecourse for commentary on the RTE Top Salaries Steeplechase. The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

After seeing Billy Connolly perform on stage in Limerick , Karl Spain knew that he wanted to be a comedian. But it wasn’t going to be easy. He spent many nights in tiny comedy clubs, sometimes getting heckled, sometimes performing to just a handful of people. But he kept showing up and his tenacity has certainly paid off - Karl has carved out a successful career as a stand up, a writer for other comedians and for TV shows like RTE’s The Republic of Telly, and he's is just back from a massive UK tour supporting none other than the great Kevin Bridges! In this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast, Karl tells his story and we have a good old natter about all things comedy too Karl’s tour dates: Thu 23rd Feb - Kavanagh’s, Portlaoise Fri 24th Feb - Dolans Warehouse, Limerick Sat 25th Feb - The Prop Room @ The TLT, Drogheda Fri 3rd Mar - Liberty Hall, Dublin Fri 10th Mar - Riverside Coleraine Sat 11th Mar - Nerve Centre, Derry Sun 12th Mar - Limelight 1, Belfast COMEDY – Bertie Ahern is back! His phone has been hopping and we managed to get exclusive access to his voicemails The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand.

As you’d expect, Louis Walsh does not hold back in our conversation for this week’s episode – he dishes out the detail on everything and everyone, from his relationship with Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy, to negotiating his X-Factor salary with Simon Cowell, and also what he thought of Britney Spears after spending a couple of days with her on America's Got Talent. But we also find out about the young Louis Walsh, what his parents did for a living, what he was like in school and even how, if he hadn’t become a pop music mogul, he might have become a priest! COMEDY As the Six Nations gets under way, David McWilliams reflects on his hooligan behaviour at international rugby matches in his youth The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of Audiobrand. www.audiobrand.ie

Ciara Kelly co-presents the Newstalk breakfast show with Shane Coleman and it is her job to have a clear and comprehensive opinion on pretty much anything that can crop up in the news, and she certainly does that job very well. In this no holds barred conversation, 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 has been buzzing this week when we announced that Ciara was to be my special guest. Press play to hear the messages. The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Are all calories created equal? Why is that last half stone so hard to lose? What’s the healthiest evening snack you can eat? These are just some of the questions that Karl Henry, he of Operation Transformation fame, has the answer to in this episode. Karl and I also tackle a couple of trickier subjects, like should we really be telling people its ok to be obese if that’s what they want to be, or is it now taboo to call someone fat, and should the word be banned? The callers were lining up to chat to Karl, he hears from Dr Eva Orsmond, Keith Duffy, Miriam O’Callaghan, and even George Hook. You can watch Karl on Operation Transformation every Wednesday at 21:30 on RTÉ One and on the RTÉ Player. COMEDY: The phone line of The Oscars’ judging committee has been hopping this week, we got exclusive access to the voice messages… The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand.

If you’re looking for behind-the-scenes, no holds barred stories of how Ireland’s original boyband got started, what it was like in very early days playing in tiny venues to hostile crowds, and the role Louis Walsh played in it all, then you’ve come to the right podcast. Keith Duffy of Boyzone fame joins me on this episode and reveals all. We also chat about the new band he has formed with Brian McFadden of Westlife, called Boyzlife, and what he thinks of my Gift Grub character of him! COMEDY Poor Paschal Donohoe – will this story about his election expenses ever end? We got exclusive access to his voicemails – jump in and take a listen. The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand.

Jarlath Regan, comedian and host of the highly successful Irishman Abroad podcast has spent the last 10 year living in London – he has raised a family and built his career there but his goal from day one was always to get back home again. And that’s exactly what he did just a couple of months ago. I think if you’ve ever lived abroad for a period of time, you’re really going to connect with Jarlath’s story – he talks about why he moved away in the first place, , the difficulties of settling into a new culture, and how it feels to return to a very different Ireland than the one he left. Jarlath also has a lot to say about Irish culture, British culture, comedy, podcasting, and even how running has transformed his life and saved him a fortune in therapy bills! To keep up with Jarlath's gigs and projects visit https://www.jigser.com/ COMEDY It's all about Prince Harry’s explosive new book this week. Eamon Dunphy and John Giles have been analysing the fallout on The Stand, and Vogue and Joanne also give their own unique take on Harry in My Therapist Ghosted Me. The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand.

We had another fantastic line up of guests in 2022 – we shared funny moments, deep and meaningful conversations, and just downright mad times too. When it comes to picking the best bits of the year, there is simply too much to choose from. But we gave it a shot, so press play to hear just a few of the guests and moments we enjoyed the most. They include: • Daithi O’Se – RTE TV • Mairead Ronan - TV presenter & entrepreneur • David McWilliams – Economist • Glenda Gilson – TV presenter & entrepreneur • Roddy Collins – Football manager, author • Muireann O’Connell – Virgin Media TV • Rory Hearne – author of Gaffs • Dave Moore – Dermot and Davie, Today FM • Lynn Ruane – Senator & Podcaster. Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand.

Here's a little comedy selection box for you, packed full of my favourite comedy sketches from over the last few months of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast. I hope you enjoy – and if you do, subscribe, follow and tell a friend!

One of my big highlights of 2022 was winning the award for Best Comedy Podcast at the Irish Podcast Awards. When we set out to make this show one of the things we wanted to do was have brand new and exclusive comedy sketches in every episode and also to weave in little bits of ad-lib comedy into every interview on the show to make it different and to surprise you and my guest. We want this show to be unique, to offer you something that you’re not going to get on any other podcast, and that’s what we’re trying to do every week through comedy. So we were delighted that the judges at the Irish Podcast Awards recognised this and awarded us the gold gong! In order to enter the awards, we had to submit a short selection of some of our favourite bits of comedy from the previous year. Hit that play button if you'd like to hear it! Produced by Patrick Haughey of www.audiobrand.ie

So have you ever fretted about using your diesel car to get closer to nature, eating your ethical food off a plastic plate, or just simply existing on the earth! Then my guest on this episode has the very book for you. Colm O’Regan is a stand up comedian, broadcaster, podcaster, and best-selling author – his new book is called Climate Worrier: a hypocrite’s guide to saving the planet. This is a great book for people who aren’t hardcore environmentalists but at the same time really do care about the environment and who would like to do what they can, in the time they have. Which is probably most people really. In my chat with Colm he tells me all about it, why he wrote it, and we get through a lot more besides.. Comedy - a classic Gift Grub from during the week, a parody on the old classic Barry's Tea advert. Produced by Patrick Haughey of www.audiobrand.ie

Its fair to say that Lynn Ruane not your “typical” Irish politician – she’s from a very working class background in Dublin, developed a drug addiction in her teens, became a mother at 15, and has generally had a life that might be called ‘unconventional’ in the context of politics in Ireland. And yet that’s what makes Lynn such an interesting and effective politician – she represents a huge yet traditionally under-represented part of Ireland, shakes things up in government building and shines a light on some long-standing and accepted injustices that have arguably have been allowed to last for far too long. Lynn is also so much fun; she’s insightful, open and honest and we chat about all sorts of interesting stuff, including how her passion can be judged as aggression, the classist politician that inspired the title of her book ‘People Like Me’, and why Ireland’s drug laws are now so outdated and in need of reform. We also had a lot of the regulars phoning in to speak to Senator Ruane, including ‘Ballymun Paschal’, The Two Norries, and her fellow Senator, David Norris. COMEDY: In the week that Leo Varadkar becomes Taoiseach once again, we get exclusive access to his voicemails…drop in for a listen GET IN TOUCH: https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/ https://twitter.com/giftgrubmario [email protected] The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

As presenter of TV shows such as Home of the Year, The Great House Revival and My Bungalow Bliss, architect Hugh Wallace has become a regular fixture on our TV screens. He has also been very outspoken about the housing crisis and the need for more creativity on the part of the government when it comes to address it. And yes we do touch on this topic in our chat, but I actually wanted to spend most of my time with Hugh getting to know him better – how he got in to architecture, what it was like growing up as a gay man in a very conservative Ireland, his struggles with alcohol, his dyslexia and even the time he got to dance with Freddy Mercury in Studio 54! COMEDY: Michael O’Leary is set to hold the reins of Ryanair for a further six years – the media and other world leaders are all about the story! 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

Michael O’Toole has been one of Ireland’s leading crime journalists for over two decades. As crime correspondent at the Irish Daily Star, he has covered all of the big stories about major criminals, knocked on so many doors that many of us wouldn’t dream of approaching, and he has now entered the world of crime fiction with his new novel, Black Light. We covered so much in our chat, from female fascination of True Crime, the question of Evil, the skill involved in tabloid journalism, to how his career has shaped him as a person. COMEDY: David McWilliams sets out to deliver an economic review of the year, but descends into painful memories of Christmases past. 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

Bill Whelan was NOT expecting to get a call from Michael Flatley during our conversation for this week’s episode. But despite the fact that they haven’t always seen eye to eye, it all seemed to go pretty well. The two men of course worked together on Riverdance – Bill composed the iconic score, and Flatley was his lead dancer, along with Jean Butler. Arguably, it was a piece of music and dance that helped changed the face and perception of Ireland forever. Bill has just published his memoirs – The Road to Riverdance – and he gives me so many fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from its creation and success, including revealing the inspiration for the music's unique time signatures which still compel me to this day. But its not all about Riverdance. Bill has written and produced music for all the greats, including U2, Kate Bush and Van Morrison. In this conversation, which I loved every minute of, he shares so many stories from a career working at the highest levels of the music industry. COMEDY: Ronan O'Gara is on the shortlist for the job of England team Head Coach - this has caused quite a stir - we get exclusive access to his voicemails.. The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of www.audiobrand.ie

If you listen to Today FM, Newstalk or that great Inside the Crime podcast, you will be familiar with Frank Greaney. He is fast becoming one of Ireland’s most respected and listened-to courts correspondents. I love his 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 And if he doesn't have enough stings to his bow, Frank also has a Burger Restaurant in Galway. An idea that originated over a few pints in the pub is now a thriving success. As you can imagine, many callers phoned in to speak to Frank but it was, Michael D. of all people, that Frank had a bone to pick with!

Like a lot of people in Ireland I have recently become fascinated by UK politics. It has just gone mad in Westminster, and some of the characters at the centre of the drama are stranger than fiction. My guest on this episode captures this craziness better than anyone I know – Marina Hyde of The Guardian newspaper. I have been reading Marina's columns religiously for years now and when she accepted our invitation to be a guest on this humble oul podcast I was blown away. Marina speaks just as well as she writes, and we get stuck right into all the madness that going on across the pond in this chat. Details of Marina’s new book are here https://guardianbookshop.com/what-just-happened-9781783352593?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgribBhDkARIsAASA5bv4fRSQy23vcyc2r5dn1k_zm0PF4VWtabQnSxtHaiP9h_qLn-gJ7EgaArZuEALw_wcB COMEDY We’re going to stay on the topic of international politics, this time to the west of us. Because the midterm elections are in full swing in the states, and a few of my podcasting colleagues have been keeping a close on them. Including, David McWilliams and My Therapist Ghosted Me. Enjoy!

I love music. There are few things I love more than a deep and detailed conversation about music. Im just fascinated about how songs are written, what drives the people who write them, what makes one song a worldwide hit and another a flop. There’s just so much to learn and discover. So for this episode I invited my old friend Tom Dunne back into the studio to continue the chat we started a few months ago here on the pod. In this one, we talk the greats, both past and present. From The Beatles, Dylan and Bowie to Al Green, Don McLean, Harry Styles and Lizzo. He also shares his experience of seeing Paul McCartney at Glastonbury and his opinions on whether Harry Styles fits the typical bill for headlining Slane. Even if you are not obsessive about music like I am, you’re still going to love Tom’s brilliant stories, told in his own inimitable way. In this week's comedy sketch, some famous musicians leave messages about the best gigs they have ever been to. Produced by Patrick Haughey - www.audiobrand.ie

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’s new book is called The Rodfather: Inside the Beautiful (Ugly, Ridiculous, Hilarious) Game 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

If you’re a fan of The Restaurant on Virgin Media Television, you’ll be familiar with Gary O’Hanlon. He’s one of the chefs in the kitchen helping the celebrities to cook their menus - you can’t miss him: huge mohawk, big smile, and an even bigger personality. He has had a very successful career in the fascinating world of restaurants and he’s also very involved in radio, podcasts and TV. On this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast, Gary and I talk about the cult of the celebrity chef, working with Marco Pierre White, why some people turn in to complete divas when they’re out in a restaurant and treat the waiting staff like crap, his love of Man Utd, and some very personal topics that might resonate with you or someone you know. COMEDY We don’t often do this on the podcast but there is a breaking news story that we need to cover. Just when you thought the controversy about the Irish women’s football team and ‘that song’ had all blown over, the team is right back in the middle of an even bigger scandal. Press play for the latest. 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

If you’re a fan of RTE’s Hell Week series, you’ll be very familiar with Ray Goggins – a former Irish army Ranger (basically our version of the SAS or Navy Seals), now chief instructor on this incredibly popular TV series. Ray joined me for a fascinating chat a couple of episodes ago, but we chopped out a part of that conversation and held it back for this special bonus episode. Because that shocking video of the repeated ramming of a Garda car in Cherry Orchard had just emerged and I was very interested in what Ray thought about it, given his background. He had some pretty strong views, which you’re about to hear. I also asked Ray him about war movies and if any of them really capture the reality of what happens on the ground in a conflict. I hope you enjoy this one.

I work with Dave Moore every day. We sit mere yards from each other in Today FM, have done for years. We’ve shared studios and the odd night out. So naturally I thought I knew Dave well, but it turns out that there is SO much to this man that I had no idea about. Like his successful career as a songwriter and music producer before he ever started to work in radio. Like the totally random and unexpected way he ended up working with Dermot Whelan over 20 years ago now. Or like the recent hit Netflix series that featured Dave’s reworking of a Radiohead classic. And so much more besides. So in this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast, you’re going to learn a lot more about Dave Moore, and I think you’ll get a good laugh too. COMEDY: What a week it has been for Irish sport, as the women’s football team beat Scotland to qualify for the World Cup in Australia. The phone of manager Vera Pauw has been hopping, everyone’s leaving her voicemails. We got exclusive access to those messages, and I think you’re going to want to hear them… Enjoy! Mario GET IN TOUCH: https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/ https://twitter.com/giftgrubmario [email protected] The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

Renting, eviction, living with parents, pensions and politics. Rory Hearne joins me to talk about a subject I am both fascinated by and very angry about, the Irish Housing Crisis. From the difficulty of living at home with parents, to how our pensions are feeding the vulture funds and how we can start to take action for change. Turns out that Rory and I have quite a bit in common - we're both 'blaa-heads' (ie from Waterford!) and we both spent a few years living in private rented accommodation during childhood. Press play to hear our stories, opinions and solutions about this major issue of our times. Rory's book is called "GAFFS: Why No One Can Get a House, and What We Can Do About" COMEDY Sticking with the topic of housing, it’s also one that economist David McWilliams is very interested in. He was talking about it in a recent episode of his podcast, and you’ll never guess who dropped into the studio mid-recording… 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

For 22 years Clelia Murphy played Niamh Cassidy in Fair City – what a rollercoaster ride that was. The storylines in Ireland’s most famous soap are the stuff of legend, and Clelia / Niamh got her fair share of them. I used to get some great material for Gift Grub from Fair City. In this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast, Clelia opens up about life in Fair City, why she left, and the great roles she now enjoys on the BBC and beyond. She also vents about poor etiquette amongst her fellow electric car owners, reveals the reactions she used to get from Fair City fans when out in public, and Clelia also gets calls from Leo Varadkar, Paschal Donohoe, and her former Fair City colleagues. COMEDY This is one of the time of the year when radio and tv presenters get very, very excited. Because it’s the big budget broadcast bonanza…broadcasters are all trying to go bigger and better than their competing shows, and this week was no different. Pat Kenny, Matt Cooper, and Miriam O’Callaghan were all trying to outdo each other, jump in to a take a listen… GET IN TOUCH: https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/ https://twitter.com/giftgrubmario [email protected] The Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand

True story: as Ultimate Hell Week chief instructor, Ray Goggins, was climbing the stairs up to the studio for our chat, he was scoping out all of the entry and exit points, and working out the fastest escape route from the building if he were to need one. Thankfully he didn’t need to make a quick escape, but as he explains, you can take the man out of the Rangers, but you can’t take the Rangers out of the man. Ray served in the Irish Army for 26 years, including 17 years in the Army Ranger Wing as an operator and leader in a Tier 1 Special Operations Unit – he has been in incredibly dangerous situations, seen awful sights, and learned so much about himself and others along the way. He shares so many great stories in this episode of The Mario Rosenstock Podcast, and he even gets a few interesting callers, including fellow Cork man Roy Keane, Christy Moore, Ray Darcy, and even Francis Brennan!Ultimate Hell Week: The Professionals – RTE 1 https://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/1244359-ultimate-hell-week-the-professionals/Ray’s training and development company https://coreskilltraining.org/Ray’s book: Ranger 22 – Lessons from the front https://www.gillbooks.ie/biography/biography/ranger-22 COMEDY: The Ploughing Championships are finally back! There’s a great buzz about it all and some of my podcast friends have grabbed their mics and headed on down to Ratheniska to record their shows live from the event, including Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally, and Crime World’s Nicola Tallant. GET IN TOUCH:https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/https://twitter.com/[email protected] Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I just love getting a great recommendation for a podcast guest that really, really works out. When The Two Norries joined me for a chat a few months ago, they told me that I should really interview this guy called Willa White , an actor and a comedian. I had heard of Willa before but didn’t know too much about him - so we checked him out , and my goodness does this man have an incredible story to tell - from an abusive childhood to drug abuse and how his road to recovery led him to find comedy and acting (in roles including Love/Hate and The Savage Eye). In a humbling and honest conversation, Willa opens up about his upbringing, escapism, jail time, performance and forgiveness.Between laughs and tears, this is one story that you won't want to miss. COMEDY: It's an exciting week for us here at the Mario Rosenstock Podcast as we’re up for ‘Best Comedy’ at the Irish Podcast Awards! Of course, loads of my podcasting colleagues have been shortlisted too in their own categories – lets tune into Blindboy, who has his eye on Bressie, and David McWilliams, who’s  planning a mad night out. GET IN TOUCH:https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/https://twitter.com/[email protected] Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I love a good conspiracy theory. But even more, I love to hear them stripped down, analysed, and debunked. On this episode of the Mario Rosenstock Podcast, Ireland’s best known environmental journalist and campaigner, John Gibbons, joins me to look at some of the most prevalent and popular ‘myths’ about climate change, and prove them wrong. John is very passionate about this subject and he’s not afraid to tell it like it is and ruffle a few feathers here and there, and he does so in very plain, accessible English - which isn’t always the case when it comes to the topic of climate change. Have a listen and if you don’t agree with something or would like to have your say on the topic, drop me a line to [email protected] COMEDY: The ‘hot’ topic of the week has been spiralling energy costs and how we’re going to go about reducing our consumption of energy. I hit the streets during the week to ask people how they plan to cut energy use, and I bumped into some familiar faces... GET IN TOUCH:https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/https://twitter.com/[email protected] Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand  LINKS TO SOME OF THE RESEARCH JOHN REFERENCES https://leadthechange.bard.edu/blog/5-myths-about-the-environment-that-explain-the-need-for-environmental-educators https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/five-myths/five-myths-about-climate-change/2018/11/30/9fba233a-f428-11e8-bc79-68604ed88993_story.html https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/journey-to-net-zero-stories/6-myths-about-climate-change-busted https://skepticalscience.com/argument.php Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We got an incredible reaction to this episode so we thought it only fair to pop it up to the top of the page! Marion - one half of Cal and Marion's US Slot on Matt Cooper's Last Word - is a legend in the world of journalism, in particular her coverage of US politics and culture. If you didn't hear this the first time around I hope you enjoy it - and if you did, enjoy it again! Original show notes:Marion McKeone is in a league of her own when it comes to reporting the big stories from the States. Marion is US Correspondent at the Business Post, has a weekly slot along with Cal Thomas on Matt Cooper’s Last Word on Today FM, and appears regularly on RTE, BBC, NPR and many more stations. And boy has she lived an interesting life – she has worked on the front lines in war torn countries,  travelled around every corner of the US and seen some pretty disturbing sights, and spent time with some of Donald Trump’s most extremist supporters.  Marion shares some of her most interesting experiences here in this episode.COMEDYAre you giving dry January a go? Joanne McNally is, and its not going well. Also, David McWilliams talks about the economic implications of raising the price of alcohol, or at least that’s the plan…Enjoy!Mariohttps://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/https://twitter.com/[email protected] Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that there are around 2million single people in Ireland? In a country of five million, that’s a pretty big number compared to most other countries around the world.So what is it about us Irish that has these numbers so high, and what can we do about it? Feargal Harrington runs a well-known matchmaking company called Intro matchmaking where he and his team help people to meet their perfect partner. Feargal has seen it all, heard it all, and he tells me all the stories and shares all the advice on this episode of the Mario Rosenstock podcast. GET IN TOUCH:https://www.instagram.com/mariorosenstockofficial/https://twitter.com/[email protected] Mario Rosenstock Podcast is produced by Patrick Haughey of AudioBrand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.