🎙️ 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

In this episode of the Joe Irish Podcast, Joe sits down with comedian and content creator Stephen “Cowboy” Kelly for a hilarious and honest conversation about comedy, social media fame, controversy, and life behind the camera.

Stephen shares the story of how Three Bucks Left started, his connection to the cult Irish series The Hardy Bucks, and how his viral “creamy pints” videos took off online. He talks about dealing with social media backlash, navigating cancel culture, and why sometimes the best response to controversy is to stand your ground.

They also dive into touring internationally, appearing on reality TV, performing comedy across the world, and Stephen’s charity marathon challenges supporting mental health and community causes.

From comedy and politics to Irish culture and viral content, this episode is packed with laughs, stories from the road, and a real look at the life of one of Ireland’s most talked-about online comedians.

Timecodes

00:00 – Podcast intro
00:10 – Welcoming Stephen “Cowboy” Kelly
01:50 – The story behind Three Bucks Left
03:10 – Moving on from The Hardy Bucks
04:30 – Irish influencers and online creators
06:00 – Viral videos and social media controversies
07:20 – Handling backlash online
08:40 – Refusing to apologise and doubling down
10:00 – Starting a podcast and creating content
11:30 – Viral comedy sketches and audience reactions
12:00 – The “Dry January” viral video
13:20 – Family life and kids
14:00 – Appearing on Dinner With The Enemy
16:00 – Reality TV debates and controversial moments
18:00 – Comedy boundaries and offending people
19:00 – The challenge of filming content regularly
20:00 – How the “Creamy Pints” series started
21:00 – Going viral internationally
22:00 – Guinness jokes and Irish humour
23:00 – Talking politics and world events
25:00 – Social media and attention spans
26:00 – Touring and live comedy shows
27:00 – The origin of “French Toast”
28:00 – The early days of The Hardy Bucks
30:00 – Working in TV vs online content
31:00 – Theatre acting and stage performances
32:00 – Comedy tours and hair transplant jokes
34:00 – Travel stories from gigs abroad
35:00 – Marathon training and running challenges
36:00 – Charity runs and fundraising
37:00 – Supporting mental health charities
39:00 – Healthcare struggles in Ireland
41:00 – Running across Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way
44:00 – Irish tourism and hidden gems
45:00 – Travelling the world as a comedian
47:00 – Performing in Australia and the US
49:00 – Politics and public opinion
50:00 – Running for politics?
51:00 – Comedy around the world
52:00 – Conspiracy theories and random debates

This week on the Joe Irish Podcast, Joe sits down with legendary Irish DJ and radio presenter Al Gibbs for a brilliantly chaotic, funny, and inspiring conversation.

From pirate radio days to prime-time slots, from carrying crates of vinyl to playing alongside global dance icons, Al opens up about his journey through decades in the music industry. He shares behind-the-scenes radio stories, festival moments, Ibiza memories, and how a brutal hangover sparked the creation of his electrolyte drink brand, Electro Wave.

The episode also dives into cancel culture, generational differences in comedy, balancing family life with a demanding career, DJing in the digital era, and what it really takes to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry.

Expect nostalgia, motivation, laugh-out-loud stories, and plenty of classic Joe & Al banter.

⏱️ Timecodes

00:00 – Chaotic intro & calendar confusion
01:07 – Sleep struggles & hair transplant chat
02:07 – Remote working & escaping Ireland for a month
03:21 – Balancing gigs, radio & family life
04:54 – “Am I being kidnapped?” – arriving at the studio
07:11 – Cancel culture & comedy in 2025
10:21 – The Ibiza hangover that led to Electro Wave
12:22 – Creating an electrolyte drink from scratch
14:30 – Retail deals, festivals & scaling the brand
16:29 – DJ Academy & mentoring beginners
19:43 – Vinyl vs USB: how DJing has changed
21:36 – How live radio actually works behind the scenes
26:05 – Playing alongside Roger Sanchez
27:24 – Space Ibiza memories & dance music legacy
30:27 – Fame, guest lists & industry politics
35:05 – Winning Young Entrepreneur at 16
36:00 – Pirate radio beginnings
38:18 – Prime-time radio & longevity in broadcasting
40:03 – Finding your “radio voice”
44:02 – Festival season plans & Beyond The Pale