🎙️ Joe Irish & Shirin Podcast — Episode Description

Guest: Shane McCarty aka "takelife.back"

In this brilliant first episode of the Joe Irish and Shirin podcast, the lads are joined by the one and only Shane McCarty — better known as the takelife.back — for a rollercoaster of a chat that goes from hair transplants and toupees to heartbreaking stories of the care system, addiction, loss, and community advocacy. Shane opens up like never before, sharing raw, emotional and at times hilarious stories from his life. This one has it all — laughs, tears, and real talk. Don't miss it.

⏱️ Timecodes

00:00 — Welcome to the Joe Irish & Shirin Podcast! Introducing special guest Shane McCarty aka "takelife.back"

01:30 — Hair chat begins — Joe's hair transplant, Shane's toupee ("hair replacement system"), and the lads comparing their follicle journeys

05:00 — Shane's toupee revealed: what it is, how it works, and why it looks so good ("20 years younger!")

08:00 — The feedback and trolls after going public with the hair system; why Shane did it

10:30 — Joe talks about his own hair transplant and the reaction from people around him

11:20 — Mushrooms, mental health, and medicinal conversations — Joe opens up about struggling with anxiety before the podcast

13:00 — Shane talks about his work with the Red Door Project and how he found a way out of the cycle of drink and drugs

16:00 — Shane's proposal story: getting down on one knee in Bosnia (hungover!) and the video that only caught the last two seconds

24:00 — Shane & Shirin discuss what it means for men to speak openly about trauma — and why it matters

28:00 — The care system: Shane shares he went into a boys' home at 15, the last stop after foster homes didn't work out

31:00 — The heartbreaking moment Shane found out his sister had passed while he was in care — and the fear that he might have the same illness

34:00 — Shane on turning pain into power: why he speaks out and what keeps him going

35:00 — Generational trauma, coping mechanisms, and creating an "alternative reality" to survive

36:00 — Shane talks about his mother and forgiving without always getting answers

38:00 — Life inside the boys' home: the abuse, the punishments, sitting upright for hours, and standing up to authority as a teenager

41:00 — The school incident: being grabbed by the throat in front of his entire class and told to say he fell down the stairs

49:00 — Shane's relationship with his dad and visiting him in the nursing home in later years

54:00 — Community, politics, and why people from disadvantaged backgrounds make the best advocates for change

56:00 — Could Shane run for councillor? The lads debate politics and accountability in government

57:00 — What is Shane's vision? His dream of an aftercare project for young adults leaving the care system

59:30 — The lack of community and role models in today's society vs. growing up on the streets with neighbours looking out for each other

01:01:30 — Respect, devilment, and the difference between generations — Shane gets emotional reflecting on how far he's come

01:03:00 — Wrapping up: Shane reflects on his mental health journey and what he's achieved against all the odds

01:04:10 — Shoutouts, future plans for the podcast, and a mention of their first sponsor Sister Sheds 🎉

01:07:15 — Follow Shane! Find him as "Take Back Your Life" on Instagram and TikTok

01:08:40 — Sign off with co-host Jamie and a big thank you from the whole crew