Episodes

  • Unfiltered Banter, Celebrity Stories & Real Talk | Episode 27
    Apr 15 2026

    From the start, the energy is high with laughs, stories, and excitement about upcoming guests — including a big name from Mrs. Brown’s Boys. The conversation quickly moves into hilarious encounters with celebrities, awkward photo moments, and what it’s really like behind the scenes in entertainment.

    Sherin then gets real about confidence, appearance, and the pressure of social media, opening up on how it affects mindset — especially in a world where everything is on camera. The episode blends humor with honesty as the pair dive into podcasting, content creation, and how social media has completely changed the game for comedians and creators.

    As things progress, the chat shifts deeper — covering identity, professionalism, and the different “hats” people wear in life. There’s also plenty of raw discussion on current issues, from rising costs and daily stress to media influence and the constant noise of modern life.

    It’s funny, real, and unpredictable — a mix of banter, personal insight, and genuine moments that capture exactly what this podcast is all about.

    00:00 – Intro & Chaos Opening
    High-energy start, jokes, and introduction to Episode 27.

    00:10 – Podcast Welcome & Hosts Intro
    Welcoming listeners and introducing the crew.

    00:35 – Teasing Upcoming Guest
    Discussion about a long-awaited guest and excitement around it.

    01:00 – Mrs. Brown’s Boys Story
    Behind-the-scenes chat about how the show started and its success.

    04:00 – Celebrity Encounter Story
    Joe shares a story about meeting an actor from a major film/TV production.

    06:40 – Networking & Guests
    Talking about reaching out to potential guests and growing the podcast.

    07:40 – Social Media & Appearance Pressure
    Sherin opens up about insecurities, filters, and how podcasts expose reality.

    10:40 – Photo Culture & Vanity
    Funny discussion about how everyone only checks themselves in group photos.

    11:50 – Awkward Selfies with Celebrities
    Relatable stories about bad photos with famous people.

    13:20 – Meeting Comedians Story
    A hilarious story about meeting a well-known comedian and taking photos.

    15:30 – VIP Party with Coldplay
    Story about attending an exclusive event and phone restrictions.

    16:30 – Empowerment Speaking & Career Talk
    Sherin talks about her work and public speaking.

    17:40 – Comedy Career & Industry Changes
    How social media has changed the comedy scene and opportunities.

    19:30 – Purpose of the Podcast
    Why they moved beyond just comedy guests to broader conversations.

    21:00 – Professional vs Personal Identity
    Balancing different “roles” in life and being yourself in different spaces.

    24:00 – Content Creation Reality
    Honest talk about likes, followers, and why people care.

    26:00 – Consistency & Growth on Social Media
    Challenges of maintaining content while juggling life.

    30:00 – Audience Engagement Debate
    Discussion about asking people to follow/subscribe.

    32:00 – Traffic & Fuel Crisis Talk
    Real-life frustrations and current issues affecting daily life.

    36:00 – Cost of Living & Taxes
    Deep dive into fuel prices and financial pressure.

    38:30 – Conspiracies & Media Influence
    Debate around news, perception, and “scaremongering.”

    42:00 – Mental Health & Avoiding News Overload
    Choosing peace over constant negative information.

    45:00 – Favourite Podcast Guests
    Reflecting on past guests and standout moments.

    49:00 – Emotional Guest Story
    Discussion about a powerful and emotional previous episode.

    51:00 – Future Plans & Podcast Growth
    Ideas for improving content, clips, and bringing guests back.

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Episode 26 | Matthew Stevens
    Apr 8 2026

    In this episode, Joe sits down with shamanic practitioner Matthew Stevens for a deep, raw, and eye-opening conversation about spirituality, healing, and altered states of consciousness.

    Matthew shares his personal journey from corporate life and deep grief into the world of shamanism, including powerful experiences with ayahuasca in Ireland and Peru. The lads dive into everything from DMT, mushrooms, and plant medicine to meditation, soul retrieval, and the idea of multiple spiritual realms.

    This episode balances curiosity, skepticism, and real-life experience—covering both the potential benefits and serious risks of these practices. It’s a fascinating listen for anyone interested in mental health, spirituality, or exploring consciousness beyond the everyday.

    ⏱️ Timecodes

    00:00 – Intro & Welcome Back
    High-energy intro, Joe sets the tone and introduces Episode 26.

    00:10 – Meet Matthew Stevens
    Introduction to Matthew, his work as a shamanic practitioner, and how Joe discovered him.

    01:00 – Joe’s Curiosity About Ayahuasca
    Joe talks about learning from YouTube and his fascination with plant medicine.

    02:30 – What Ayahuasca Actually Is
    Matthew explains ayahuasca, DMT, and how the brew works in the body.

    04:00 – Matthew’s Origin Story
    Losing both parents, depression, and the start of his spiritual journey.

    05:30 – The “Calling” & First Ceremony
    How a chance encounter led Matthew to his first ayahuasca experience.

    06:45 – First Ayahuasca Experience (Intense Story)
    Fear, “splitting,” and being guided through the experience by a shaman.

    08:15 – Other Realms Explained
    Introduction to shamanic journeying, drumming, and altered states without drugs.

    09:30 – Life Transformation After Ayahuasca
    How that one experience changed Matthew’s direction completely.

    10:30 – Training & Peru Experience
    Trips to the Amazon, working with shamans, and differences between traditions.

    12:00 – What Is Shamanism Really?
    Breaking down misconceptions—spiritual practice vs religion.

    13:00 – Do You Need Plant Medicine?
    Why most shamans don’t actually rely on psychedelics.

    14:00 – The Three Worlds (Shamanic Cosmology)
    Middle world, lower world, upper world explained.

    16:00 – Joe on Wanting the Experience
    Joe opens up about wanting to try ayahuasca himself.

    17:30 – Real-Life Transformation Stories
    Stories of people healing relationships and addictions through ceremonies.

    19:00 – Risks & Warnings
    Matthew discusses bad experiences and why guidance is crucial.

    20:30 – Different Types of DMT Experiences
    Ayahuasca vs smoked DMT vs frog medicine.

    22:00 – Set, Setting & Safety
    Why environment and intention matter massively.

    23:30 – Meditation & Daily Practice
    How meditation can reach similar states over time.

    25:00 – Stress, Health & Modern Life
    Discussion on stress, illness, and disconnect from nature.

    27:00 – Matthew’s Background
    Growing up in Ballyfermot, early spiritual experiences as a child.

    29:00 – Corporate Life vs Spiritual Calling
    Balancing a pharma career with shamanic work.

    30:00 – Leaving the Job & Taking the Leap
    Matthew opens up about walking away from corporate life.

    31:30 – Why More People Are Getting Sick
    Stress, diet, modern lifestyle discussion.

    33:00 – Psychedelics & Society
    Why substances like LSD were suppressed historically.

    35:00 – Death, DMT & the Afterlife Concept
    Deep discussion on death, consciousness, and crossing over.

    37:00 – Shared DMT Experiences
    Why so many people report seeing the same entities.

    40:00 – Retreats & Real-Life Practice
    What actually happens on Matthew’s retreats.

    41:30 – Shamanic Tools (Hapé Explained)
    Breakdown of the tobacco snuff and how it’s used.

    44:00 – Soul Retrieval Explained
    One of the most powerful concepts—recovering lost parts of yourself.

    47:30 – Healing, Grief & Letting Go
    Emotional healing and processing trauma.

    48:30+ – Death, Dying & Spiritual Support
    Working with people at end-of-life and emotional closure.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Episode 25 | Shane Mcarthy
    Apr 1 2026


    🎙️ 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

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Episode 24 | Stephen Cowboy Kelly
    Mar 11 2026

    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

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    57 mins
  • Episode 23 | Al Gibbs
    Feb 25 2026

    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

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Episode 22 | Lynn Ruane
    Feb 18 2026

    In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Joe Irish Podcast, Joe and the crew sit down with Independent Senator Lynn Ruane for an unfiltered conversation about authenticity, addiction, violence, and the real meaning of community.

    Lynn opens up about staying true to herself in politics — from wearing runners into Leinster House to refusing to adopt a “politician persona.” The conversation moves into her groundbreaking work on drug policy reform, decriminalisation, and violence intervention strategies inspired by work in Newark and LA.

    From stories about growing up in Dublin communities to tackling intergenerational trauma and challenging “tough on crime” narratives, this episode blends humour, honesty, and hard truths. It’s a conversation about healing, prevention, and building safer communities from the inside out.

    Raw. Insightful. Necessary listening.

    ⏱️ Timecodes

    00:00 – 02:30
    Intro chaos, laughs & welcoming Lynn Ruane – why authenticity matters in politics.

    02:30 – 06:30
    Staying true to yourself in Leinster House – resisting the “politician uniform” and representing your community honestly.

    06:30 – 11:30
    Drug policy explained: Decriminalisation vs legalisation – why criminalising addiction doesn’t work.

    11:30 – 14:30
    The history of prohibition – America’s influence, racism, and how drug laws evolved.

    14:30 – 18:00
    Poverty, drug dealing & systemic drivers – Lynn’s early research into exit strategies for dealers.

    18:00 – 21:00
    Trips to Newark & New York – learning from violence intervention programmes in the US.

    21:00 – 24:00
    Perception vs reality of safety – understanding community fear and media narratives.

    24:00 – 28:30
    Growing up in Dublin communities – loyalty, friendship, and what “community” really means.

    28:30 – 31:30
    Can community events reduce violence? Reimagining prevention beyond policing.

    31:30 – 36:00
    Victim assistance & intergenerational trauma – why healing must be part of justice.

    36:00 – 39:30
    Reducing retaliation & stopping the rumour mill – lessons from US intervention models.

    39:30 – 42:00
    “Hard on crime” politics vs real solutions – what actually reduces violence?

    42:00 – 45:30
    Carb funding, pilot programmes & building real change in Irish communities.

    45:30 – End
    Leadership, listening, and why real change starts inside the community.

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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • Episode 21 | Dany Swanton and Jazzy
    Feb 11 2026

    This week on The Joe Irish Podcast (Episode 21), Joe and Sheree sit down with viral TikTok creators Danny Swanton and Jazzy (Josh Norton) for a wild, unfiltered conversation.

    The lads break down how they built massive followings online, the chaos of TikTok fame, accents, alter egos, getting recognised in public, and trying to turn short-form content into long-term careers. From scabies horror stories and prison gigs to tattoo regrets, travel plans, comedy ambitions, and the reality of being “on” all the time — nothing is off limits.

    Expect brutal honesty, Dublin humour, absolute nonsense, and plenty of laughs.

    🎙️ Guests: Danny Swanton & Jazzy (Josh Norton)
    📱 Topics: TikTok fame, comedy, content creation, live shows, travel, tattoos, mental health, Irish humour

    Timecodes / Chapters

    00:00 – Intro & hype
    Chaotic opening, podcast intro, welcoming Danny & Jazzy

    01:00 – Stage names & online personas
    Why Jazzy became Jazzy, changing names for recognisability

    03:00 – Accents, Dublin stereotypes & being judged online
    Posh accents, class assumptions, internet perception

    05:00 – Egypt trip & tourist scams
    Travelling stories, getting scammed abroad

    06:30 – Quitting jobs & early work struggles
    Day jobs, getting fired, landscaping, money mistakes

    08:00 – TikTok lives & viral growth
    How Danny & Jazzy blew up, follower numbers, lives going viral

    10:00 – Meeting comedians & media recognition
    Oliver Callan, radio, TV exposure

    12:00 – Long-form content & YouTube plans
    Vlogging, cameras, trying to move beyond TikTok

    13:30 – Live shows & learning limits on stage
    Crowds, saying the wrong thing, finding boundaries

    15:00 – Scabies horror stories
    Boxing gyms, paranoia, absolute trauma

    17:00 – Performing in Mountjoy Prison
    Prison gig stories, toughest crowds, dark humour

    18:30 – “No jocks” story
    Forgetting underwear, borrowing jocks, podcast embarrassment

    21:00 – Relationships & tattoos
    Getting names tattooed, bad decisions, internet dares

    24:00 – Joke segment
    Pub jokes, poo jokes, grandad humour

    27:30 – Family stories & growing up
    Parents, dropping out of college, living with siblings

    29:30 – Jamaican & knock-knock jokes
    More chaos, accents, terrible jokes

    32:00 – Travel deals & influencer holidays
    Free trips, party travel, influencer life

    34:00 – Social awkwardness vs stage confidence
    Anxiety, being misunderstood, switching personalities

    36:00 – Hate comments & public reactions
    Getting abuse in public, dealing with trolls

    38:00 – Content vs stand-up comedy
    Why not everyone can make the jump

    40:00 – What’s next for Danny & Jazzy
    Future plans, travel, vlogs, growth

    42:00 – Final thoughts & wrap-up
    Shoutouts, socials, closing the episode

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    55 mins
  • Episode 20 | Black Paddy
    Jan 21 2026

    Welcome to Episode 20 of The Joe Irish Podcast! In this special episode, host Joe Irish sits down with the one and only Black Paddy (Fabio David) for an incredibly candid and hilarious conversation about life, comedy, immigration, and everything in between.

    Black Paddy, a Nigerian-Irish content creator with over 700,000 TikTok followers and half a million Facebook followers, opens up about his journey from arriving in Ireland at age 14 to becoming one of the country's most beloved social media personalities. The conversation covers his recent charity cycle around Ireland for Jigsaw mental health, navigating online trolls and controversy, and his transition from viral videos to stand-up comedy.

    This episode doesn't shy away from tough topics - racism, immigration debates, online bullying, and the reality of being a public figure in modern Ireland. But through it all, Black Paddy's infectious humour and genuine warmth shine through, along with some absolutely hilarious stories from his early days in Blanchardstown.

    Plus, get the exclusive announcement about Black Paddy's upcoming solo comedy show "How Did I End Up Here?" at The Laughter Lounge on March 12th!

    Follow Black Paddy on social media and grab your tickets when they go on sale!


    Timecodes

    00:00 - Introduction & Welcome
    01:10 - The Origin of "Black Paddy" vs "Fabio David"
    02:00 - Black Paddy's rap career origins
    06:00 - Comedy vs social media content
    07:37 - Cycling around Ireland for charity
    11:34 - Getting stranded in the dark in Kerry
    13:53 - The business of being an influencer
    15:15 - Political protests and being caught in the middle
    18:39 - Black Paddy's philosophy on racism
    21:22 - Dealing with online hate and being "the poster boy for racism"
    24:13 - The mental health impact of online bullying
    26:18 - Learning to ignore trolls and negative energy
    30:48 - TikTok going downhill
    32:25 - Arriving in Ireland at age 14
    33:17 - The accent shock and moving to Blanchardstown
    35:11 - His father's death in Nigeria
    36:14 - Feeling at home in Ireland
    38:40 - First comedy gigs and finding the Irish sense of humor
    41:23 - Plans to bring Irish audiences to Nigeria
    44:08 - Egyptian family connections
    48:56 - ANNOUNCEMENT: "How Did I End Up Here?" comedy show - March 12th at The Laughter Lounge
    49:28 - Discipline differences between Nigeria and Ireland
    51:03 - HILARIOUS STORY: The "This is not f*cking Nigeria" story
    58:13 - Year of the Horse - prosperity ahead
    59:24 - Call for podcast sponsors & episode wrap-up

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    1 hr