What’s the Story? Podcast

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod 300th EPISODE It's WTS 300 and who better to mark the milestone than Messrs Mackle and Howard! This week the lads talk about BAFTA wins and Kate Winslett, mid-life crises, Howie's surgery recovery, their shared love of the great Vincent Browne, Bruce Springsteen and Paul paying the Boss, Gary's cooking, AI, football woes, and lots more besides. From Mero and Danny, we just want to say thank you. Whether you have been here for all 300 episodes or just 3 minutes, thanks for listening xoxox.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod We're back... This week we're talking to Karim Zidan an investigative journalist and writer who specialises in the intersection of sport, power, and politics. Karim chats to us about the rise of Saudi Arabian influence in sports and how the term sportwashing doesn't go far enough to capture all that is happening. Is what's good for the goose good for the gander and will we see France called out for its authoritarian decisions and actions ahead of the Olympic games in 2024? Mero asks Danny about Ireland and the Rugby World Cup so Danny rants for a few minutes about Ireland falling short in a quarter-final... again.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by singer-songwriter Steo Wall. As the finishing touches are being put on his new album, Steo tells us about what's been going on for him and what fans can look forward to when the album comes out later this year. We talk about inspiration and nerves before a big gig and Steo tells us about working with the great Damien Dempsey on his popular hit 'What's Wrong with the World, Ma?"

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we are joined by Brent Lee and Neil Sanders from Some Dare Call it Conspiracy Podcast. Brent Lee is a former conspiracist who spent 15 years down the rabbit hole between 2003 and 2018, believing every event from 9/11 to mass shootings was being orchestrated by a "satanic, paedophilic elite". Brent now fights disinformation and helps to explain and unravel the web of lies constructed through conspiracy. Neil Sanders is an author covering True Crime and Psychology with a particular interest in the history of mind manipulation techniques. Neil was also part of the "Truther" movement for a number of years before exiting and joining forces with Brent to give people a guided tour of the rabbit hole and reveal the reality of the conspiracy mindset.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Michael Finkel is a journalist and best-selling author and his new book, The Art Thief, is out now. We first spoke to Michael six years ago on WTS 118 and we were delighted to welcome him back to tell us the true story of Stephane Breitweiser, a man who stole over 200 pieces of art from museums worth billions of euro and he did it all in broad daylight. The Art Thief is available online and in bookshops now, check out https://www.michaelfinkel.com/ for more.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod After four long years, the artist formerly known as Stephanie Roche is back on WTSpod. We catch up with Steph about what's been happening since we last spoke, including marrying Dean, her decision to return to Ireland, signing for Shamrock Rovers, and progress in the women's game. We get Stephanie's thoughts on the upcoming World Cup, Ireland's squad and she predicts a winner... kind of! Steph will be in Australia covering the Girls in Green for this historic tournament and will be part of the commentary team for the tournament. The Women's World Cup kicks off on Thursday, 20 July and Ireland takes on tournament hosts in a sold-out Stadium Australia.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Ireland's best MMA journalist and proud son of Blanchardstown, the great one, Peter Carroll. Petesy joined us to talk about the latest goings on in the world of mixed martial arts* and reveals the cringing trauma behind why he can't watch Love Island. You can check out some of Petesy's brilliant work by listening to or watching his podcasts The Craic and The Ringer MMA Show. *This episode was recorded on Wednesday, June 14th.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by journalist and broadcaster Elaine Burke. Elaine is a technology and science specialist who can be found contributing to national media regularly. She is also the co-host of For Tech's Sake podcast. Elaine joined us to wind up Mero and talk all things tech as we hear about AI and if the hype is driving the fear, Apple's latest announcement and the world of virtual reality, Fast- tech and consuming way more than we need to, and we ask Elaine if our devices are really listening to us...

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we go back to the Borough and speak to Sean Mari and Jack Marley from Monkstown Boxing Club. Jack is a European Heavyweight Champion and Sean is an Irish Elite Champion who has medaled in European competition. Both men are Team Ireland representatives who tell us about their hopes ahead of Paris 2024.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by social historian Donal Fallon. His history podcast Three Castles Burning brings the city of Dublin to life, telling its story through its streets and the people who lived there.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week Mero asks Danny about three of his favourite things: Bruce Springsteen, Eurovision, and doing the big shop.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Thomas Crosse - AKA Crossy. Crossy has been soothing the airwaves since he was a teenager and in recent years has become a staple of Irish radio for many people looking to get their morning off to a flyer. Crossy tells us about how he got started in radio, dealing with social media, loving nostalgia, and why Bruce Springsteen concerts are such a special occasion for him and his Mam. You can hear more of Crossy every day by tuning in to Dublin's FM104.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Bob Carley - a counselor, advocate, pastor, and motivationalist. We got to know Bob a few years ago through his work with the mental health charity Suicide or Survive and when we sat down to speak with him this week we were not expecting the conversation to flow how it did. Bob speaks openly, and passionately about his life, relationships, work, and faith. His message is simple; Love never fails.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're learning about the science of ageing and some simple things we can all do to help ourselves be younger, and healthier, for longer. Rose Anne Kenny is Professor of Medical Gerontology, at Trinity College Dublin. Professor Kenny was appointed in 2005, to Trinity College and St. James's Hospital, as Head of the Academic Department of Medical Gerontology and holds the Chair of Medical Gerontology. Rose Anne is the founding Principal Investigator of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing TILDA : www.tilda.ie), Ireland's flagship research project in ageing - where she leads a team of multidisciplinary researchers focusing on psychology, nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, economics, bio-engineering, social sciences and health economics as aspects of the ageing process in Ireland.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Adam Drummond is an Irish athlete who has represented his country in basketball on several occasions. In 2021, following an accident, Adam was left paralyzed from the waist down. He tells us about life after the accident and how, after years of playing basketball for Ireland and on scholarships in the US, he has found the switch to wheelchair sports and life at Cork-based Rebel Wheelers Wheelchair Basketball Club.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Fionnuala Moran for a chat about sustainable living, dropping fast fashion, and a bit of showbiz. Fionnuala is a broadcaster and journalist who has regularly featured on RTÉ, Virgin Media, and a host of print publications. She recently completed a Master's degree in Climate Change: Policy, Media & Society. You can follow Fionnuala on Instagram to get lots of great and simple tips to live more sustainably.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Football journalist and writer David Sneyd joined us to talk all things football and Ireland's upcoming Euro qualifiers. David is a writer with the42.ie and has been featured in the Irish Times, Mirror, Independent, RTÉ, and many more.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we are joined by Patrick Harding, a Performance Coach with over 12 years of experience working in the elite sporting environment. Patrick has worked with Arsenal Football Club, Team GB at the Olympics, Michael Conlon, and over the last few years he was been responsible for helping Formula 1 driver Alex Albon get race fit and mentally sharp. We spoke to Patrick ahead of the new F1 season and just days before Williams Racing launch their 2023 car which Alex will compete in.

Welcome back to What's the Story? Kicking off the new year is journalist and author John Ludden. John tells us about his love for the great Diego Maradonna and how his book, 'Once Upon a Time in Naples' became the blueprint for the Diego Maradonna documentary released in 2019. We also talk about Eric Ten Haag at Man United, and reasons to be optimistic after a decade of delusion at Old Trafford. To hear more from John and check out his work, pop over to his Twitter, @JohnLudds

What's Christmas without traditions? The annual WTS Christmas Special featuring Paul Howard and Gary Mackle is back once again. Over two hours of giddy messing to keep you company, just in time for your last-minute festive shopping or dreaded holiday traffic. Thank you for listening in 2022, we'll see you in the next one. Until then, Merry Christmas, and have a very, Happy New Year.

Our man in Stockholm Philip O'Connor joins us once again to tell us about his experience at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. While FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described this tournament as the greatest World Cup ever, not many would agree. Phillip breaks down the reality of a global tournament in a country that has no free speech and democracy is a pipe dream. We discuss the plight of migrant workers, the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community, and what the lasting legacy of Qatar 2022 will really be, despite what FIFA might claim.

Gearoid Farrelly returns to WTSpod to talk all things comedy, his new show Glamour Hammer, boots the cat, and irrational feelings about beans.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Graham Gartland is a coach, media contributor, and former professional footballer. His decorated playing career saw him compete in Ireland, Scotland, and Europe over 12 years. Since hanging up his boots, he has found a new home in the world of coaching, helping to develop some of Ireland's future stars.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Dr Rory Hearne is one of Ireland's leading voices for action on housing, homelessness, and social justice. He is an Assistant Professor and Lecturer at Maynooth University and the host of Reboot Republic. His new book "Gaffs: Why no one can get a house and what we can do about it" is out now and available in all good bookshops and some rubbish ones too.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we are joined by author and analyst Aoife Gallagher. Her new book Web of Lies is out now and takes a look at the world of misinformation, conspiracy, and the threat of a rising far right. We chat to Aoife about the book and how easy it is for people to fall down the rabbit hole of a dangerous ideology. Web of lies is available online, in all good bookshops and some rubbish ones too. It is brilliant. This podcast was brought to you by Bill Gates, George Soros, The Illuminati, Lizzard People, Q, and the fellas what faked the moon landing in '69.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're talking to Miriam Burke, author and editor at RollerCoaster.ie - Ireland's leading pregnancy and parenting website. Miriam is the co-host of the parenting podcast "A little birdie told me" which brings listeners insights and advice on the ups and downs of all things pregnancy and parenting.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Returning to the podcast this week is the wonderful Aisling Daly. Ais remains the only Irish woman to have competed in the UFC and to non-MMA fans, they may know her simply as "Number 6" from the latest season of RTÉ's Ultimate Hell Week - The Professionals. Having retired from MMA in 2017, we hear how Ais "The Bash" is getting on as she transitions from the UFC octagon to the primary school classroom. We talk about Ais finding her passion for coaching and teaching and of course, we get the low down on life inside Ultimate Hell Week. Aisling took part in Ultimate Hell Week in aid of the mental health charity, Jigsaw.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we welcome Philip O'Connor back to WTSpod and, as always, it leads to an hour or so of conversational bliss covering everything from sportwashing to Churchill and lots more besides. Check out Our Man in Stockholm for more of Philip's great work including his brilliant Irish in Sweden podcast.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod After a busy few weeks away from the podcast, we're back to blow off some cobwebs and (sort of) get back into the swing of things. The great air-fryer debate rages on with Mero remaining skeptical but Danny being fully converted. Is there a need for any monarchy in this day and age? We've watched on in bewilderment as Queen Elizabeth is laid to rest. And the lads chat about Garth Brooks in Croke Park and if stadiums in Ireland are actually any use for big concerts?

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Professor Helen Heneghan, Consultant Bariatric Surgeon with St. Vincent's Hospital and lead surgeon with the National Weight Management Service. Helen talks to us about the reality of weight loss surgeries like gastric bypass and gastric sleeve and explains where Ireland is with our attempts to help people who have obesity - explaining the health benefits go far beyond just weight loss. From waiting lists to medications that help weight loss and people traveling abroad for surgery but not always getting the best care - bariatric surgery is an increasingly popular and important tool in helping people with obesity but is surgery always the right choice? Danny shares a little bit of his experience having gone through the surgery with Professor Heneghan and the National Weight Management Service, and we take some questions from listeners who want to know more about the life-changing surgery. If you'd like to learn more, there is a detailed video, which Professor Heneghan mentions in our chat, available here.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by BBC journalist, Tranmere Rovers fan, and hand-cycling enthusiast Ellis Palmer. Ellis, who has cerebral palsy, visited Ireland earlier this year and toured the east coast by hand cycling along greenways, bus lanes, cycle lanes, and everything in between. We talk about accessible cities and hear about Ellis' time studying in Barcelona - a city Mero holds in high esteem for its planning and legacy from the '92 Paralympic games.

Subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Paddy Cullivan. Paddy is a musician and entertainer who many will know as the front man from the Camembert Quartet who were the soundtrack to Tubridy Tonight and the Late Late Show for over a decade. As we come to the 100th anniversary of the death of Michael Collins, we spoke to Paddy about his current show, The Murder of Michael Collins. While giving a laugh or two along the way, Paddy helps his audience get closer to the truth about what happened on August 22nd, 1922 in Beal na Blath, pointing out some of the myths and madness surrounding Ireland's version of the JFK assassination. Our chat with Paddy about his show and lots more starts at the 9-minute mark on this episode. Tickets to The Murder of Michael Collins are available through https://www.paddycullivan.com/ with shows taking place in Dublin, Cork, and all over the country.

Remember to hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by motoring journalist Bob Flavin to talk about motoring in Ireland, Electric Vehicles, what Ireland is doing wrong when it comes to electric vehicles, petrol prices, and lots more besides. If you're on the TikTok, head over to Bob Flavin to see what he gets up to, and check out his YouTube for car content. *Apologies for Danny's audio this week, he'll have a shiny new mic for next week.

WE'RE BACK! After a summer of weddings, international tournaments, surgical interventions, and a lot of naps the WTS boys are back in the podcast game. Joining us this week is the brilliant Brianna Parkins. Brianna is a journalist and broadcaster currently with The Journal. She is the resident fact checker and is setting the record straight on what is true and not true. Jump to 18:20 to get straight into our chat with Brianna. This week, as well as chatting to our favourite Aussie, we take a long intro as Mero asks Danny about his recent surgery and we use the word flute too many times for one episode. Remember to hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Philip O'Connor, AKA Our Man in Stolkholm, returns to the podcast to chat through a heaping number of topics which include marriage advice for Danny, the NBA, the Champions League final and Phil's experience on the ground in Paris, Stephen Kenny's Ireland team and why romance is sport will not die, Swedengate, Mero and Irish Wheelchair Basketball team in Europe, and lots more besides. You can check out more of Philip's great work by tuning into the Irish in Sweden podcast and heading over to Our Man in Stockholm. We'll be back later this summer but for now, Danny is off to get married and Mero is off to Bosnia for European Glory. We'll see yas soon xoxo Clear Eyes, Full Hearts...

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Social historian and fountain of knowledge Donal Fallon joins us to let us know what he's been up to over the last while share some great stories about the Hibernian metropolis that is Dublin City.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Ahead of hosting a wild Bingo Loco Show at Dublin's 3 Arena, Adam Burke returns to WTSpod to chat comedy and changing perspectives. Look out for Adam's comedy nights in Bray's brilliant Hardy Har Comedy Club and at festivals around the country this summer.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Blanchardstown's best and brightest - Petesy Carroll. Fresh off the plane from NYC, Petesy gives us the low down on the fight of the year between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano. We talk Taylor, Jake Paul, MMA, New York sandwiches, and Petesy shares a story about a trip to Macey's. To hear more from Petesy, tune into the Ringer MMA Show on Spotify where you'll find him alongside Ariel Helwani and the great Chuck Mindenhall.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod Our guest this week is Dublin's own Kevin Patrick Egan. Kevin will be familiar to fans of WWE has onscreen personality Kevin Patrick and he has been the voice of the Sunday Game on RTÉ as well as covering the Champions League, La Liga, and other top European football leagues. We spoke to Kevin about getting his start in RTÉ before deciding to venture across the Atlantic and crack the US, landing his first role in unfamiliar territory, and what happens when WWE comes calling.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by Ireland's podfather, Tony Groves. Tony is a driving force for the Tortoise Shack podcast network and co-host of the Echo Chamber podcast. Check out the great work Tony and the Tortoise team do by visiting https://tortoiseshack.ie/

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we spoke with our dear friend Dr Tom Clonan. Tom is a retired Irish Army Captain, security analyst, media lecturer, and equality activist. He is an Independent Candidate Trinity Senate 2022. We spoke to Tom about his senate campaign and the task of breaking the status quo in Irish politics. We also take an indepth look at Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine - what's happening, what could happen and what it all means for Irish security.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by two time (two time!), F1 E-sports World Champion, Brendon Leigh. Brendon is currently part of the Ferrari Driver Academy Esports Team and is based in Moderna, Italy - the home of the famed prancing horse. After Danny banging on about E-sports for months now and plugging his own exploits in Ireland's biggest F1 E-sports league (LOI F1), it was recently announced that the Commonwealth Games will trial E-sports in 2022. Sky Sports have been broadcasting gaming for a couple of years and the growth of online leagues has been huge. Brendon spoke to us while in the off-season for the E-sports F1 championship and told us all about how he got into the sport and what a typical day is for someone at the pinnacle of this digital sporting revolution.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we welcome our dear friend Tom O'Mahony back to WTSpod. One of Ireland's top comedians, Tom has been gracing comedy stages for over a decade and his new show 'Clattered' is hitting the road with dates across the country soon to be announced. Tom will be in the Wild Duck Comedy Club in Dublin on 5 May 2022, performing his new show and tickets are available here.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're joined by the brilliant Richard Chambers. Richard is a journalist who can be found regularly on TV screens with Virgin Media and was one of the most sought-after sources of information throughout the pandemic. Most importantly for this podcast though, Richard is a Bohs fan. His book, "A State of Emergency: Ireland's Covid Crisis", was released in 2021 and gives a behind-the-scenes look at what was happening during one of the most difficult years the country will ever face. Away from the pandemic talk, we chat football, journalism, politics, and when job interviews go bad... really bad.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod This week we're talking football with journalist Daniel McDonnell. Dan is a writer with the Irish Independent, hosts the League of Ireland Central podcast, and can be heard regularly on Newstalk's Off the Ball. Before we get into the football chatter Mero and Danny go on a bit of a meander about food and there is division in the ranks over ketchup. When the lads eventually get past the food chat, Dan comes along and shares his take on a week of multiple announcements from the FAI. Bidding to host the Euros, a new strategy, and a new season kicking off - there's a lot going on in Irish football so sit back and have a listen as we get to grips with all that's going on.

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod A short burst of WTS goodness to get you over a hump as the lads struggle to understand how Boris Johnson is still going, Mero tells us about the return of the Bulls and Danny explains why you're allegedly seeing fewer birds in the sky than usual...

Hit subscribe to hear all of our new episodes free and first and head over to Twitter where you'll find us - @WTSpod On this week's podcast... Returning for her hat-trick and with some heavy silverware now in tow, Irish Journalist of the year Aoife Moore joined us to talk a little bit about a lot of things. Aoife is one of the brilliant team of journalists currently propelling the Irish Examiner and is a regular contributor to national and international broadcast media. In this episode, we spoke with Aoife about her recent experience at a Chisty Moore concert, writing a book, wondering about accountability in politics, the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and much more besides.

So, here it is merry Christmas... It just wouldn't be Christmas on What's the Story? Podcast without catching up with our old friends Paul Howard and Gary Mackle. This Christmas, we go on a two-hour meander through pondering religion and when exactly should Jesus go in the crib in your Christmas nativity display? Problems are caused by pineapples, Danny isn't happy with Mero and Gary makes an interesting bet with Paul... It's weird. It's wonderful. It's the WTSpod Christmas special for 2021. We'll be back in January - Happy Christmas, stay safe.

This week we are joined by Nicky Woolf, a journalist and the man behind the Audible podcast, Finding Q: My journey into QAnon. Nicky is a QAnon expert, and his Finding Q podcast brings you through the start of this internet madhouse right to modern-day. The anonymous internet prophet known only as Q, has taken people in from all over the world. This cult conspiracy with little to no truth in any of its bluster resulted in thousands of Americans storming their nation's Capitol on January 6 2021 - spurred on by then-president Donald Trump and others. But do Trump and his ilk actually believe in Q too, or do they see it as nothing more than a convenient tool that brings them more support? We chat to Nicky about his journey into the Q madhouse and his interactions with some of its most important players and those who have lost so much to QAnon. To discover the truth about this conspiracy and who may be behind 'Q', head over to Audible and subscribe to Finding Q: My Journey into QAnon.

This week we are joined by one of Ireland's greatest rugby players turned childrens' author, Gordon D'Arcy. After hanging up his boots in 2015, Gordon has moved on to new adventures including an Irish Times column and co-authoring the brilliant "Gordon's Game" book series with Paul Howard. In our chat, Gordon tells us about retirement and the mindset of a professional athlete, how the book series came to be, and life as a father of 3 with 110kg of dog roaming around the house.