Comedian, Bingo Loco host, and all-round force of nature, Adam Burke. Joe and Sherin sit down with Adam for one of their best episodes yet, covering everything from his wild origins as a pro wrestler (yes, really — Ireland's first heavyweight champion, who trained alongside Finn Bálor and Becky Lynch) to carving out a career in stand-up comedy.

But this one goes well beyond the laughs. Adam opens up about his day job working with Jigsaw, the youth mental health service, and the pair share deeply personal stories about parenting, anxiety, school refusal, and the shrinking safe spaces for young people in Ireland. Sherin shares her own experience getting help for her daughter, and the conversation gets real fast.

There's also a brilliant segment on performing comedy inside Mountjoy Prison — including the legendary moment a supermarket roof joke landed a little too well — plus the full story of how Adam went from small Irish comedy clubs to hosting Bingo Loco in the 3Arena and across the globe.

A funny, honest, and genuinely moving episode. Don't miss it.

Timecodes:

00:00 — Intro & welcoming Adam Burke to the show

00:45 — Banter about hair, waxing, and getting straight to business

02:18 — Adam explains why mental health professionals need to engage with community media and "get their hands dirty"

03:48 — How did Adam get into comedy? It started with pro wrestling

04:01 — Ireland's first heavyweight wrestling champion — training with Finn Bálor & Becky Lynch

06:14 — Why Adam fell out of love with wrestling (injuries, his wife's concern, and chasing something new)

07:44 — The secrets of pro wrestling revealed: blades, blood, and performing as the villain ("the heel")

10:19 — Winning the belt: the crowd stands and applauds the bad guy

11:42 — Six hours of training every Sunday for 7–8 years; sacrificing football for the craft

13:14 — Transition to stand-up comedy and wanting to be one of the nicest people in the game

29:44 — The Echo in Ballymun and the importance of creative spaces for young people

30:31 — The "shrinking social spaces" for youth in Ireland and what adults get wrong

31:51 — Community parks, antisocial behaviour, and how we judge teenagers unfairly

32:10 — Growing up with autonomy and what that privilege means for parenting

33:28 — Helicopter parenting, letting go, and the village mentality that's disappeared

37:42 — Competitive parenting vs. supportive parenting

38:12 — Adam's work with Jigsaw (youth mental health service, ages 12–25)

39:18 — Sherin shares her daughter's experience with anxiety and how Jigsaw helped

40:06 — The gap in mental health supports for children under 12 — a real problem

41:21 — What young people are presenting with most: anxiety, depression, school refusal, body image, ADHD, autism

50:46 — Bingo Loco: how Adam got involved and what makes it unlike anything else

52:34 — How Bingo Loco opened doors — from the same old circuit to the 3Arena and beyond

54:26 — Staying in your lane, gratitude, and not comparing yourself to other comedians

55:49 — Family as the real anchor: meeting his wife Sandra and what really matters

57:18 — The 3Arena gig vs. 13 people at Ha'penny Bridge — every gig is just a gig

59:36 — Mountjoy Prison gig: how it came about through the school of education programme

1:00:42 — The moral question: should comedians entertain prisoners?

1:01:42 — The supermarket roof joke that accidentally called out the guy who actually did it

1:03:09 — Getting stuck behind Enoch Burke's family at the prison gates

1:03:47 — A prisoner recognising Adam's dad, and the surreal moments only Mountjoy can deliver

1:04:34 — The lads shaking hands at the door: the most respectful end to any gig

1:06:05 — Adam eating a full Irish breakfast with the prisoners at 9am (while Joe watched in horror)

1:07:26 — Rival gangs, a warden's warning, and sniffer dog panic

1:11:28 — Wrapping up: well-wishes, genuine compliments, and what's next for Adam

1:12:02 — What's coming up: summer gigs, Bingo Loco, festivals, and a new sketch show in the works

1:12:54 — Sign-off, shout-outs,

Susan Morris, paranormal investigator and psychic medium. Susan opens up about how her abilities emerged out of nowhere at 46, just after losing her mother, and the wild journey of going from seeing energy blobs over people's heads to becoming a fully trained medium who has travelled to England's famous "Hogwarts" of mediumship, Stansted College.

Susan gives a live reading to the hosts, explains the difference between psychic and mediumship work, reads auras, and shares some absolutely spine-tingling paranormal investigation stories — including being dragged from a bed by a spirit in France that turned out to be a Nazi soldier.

The conversation also takes a touching and honest turn, with Susan and the hosts speaking openly about grief, losing a parent, and mental health — including suicide — with real compassion and no filter.

Buckle up. This one goes everywhere.

Timecodes:

00:00 — Welcome to episode 31 — introducing Susan Morris, paranormal investigator & psychic medium

00:36 — Susan's story: how her abilities switched on at 46 after her mother passed, while pregnant

01:17 — Seeing energy blobs, doctor visits, brain scans & thinking she was losing her mind

02:37 — Learning to enjoy and lean into the experience

03:55 — Telling her partner — and still getting married after

04:35 — Losing friends and evolving on a different path

05:49 — Finding medium circles "bitchy as hell" and going it alone to Stansted College, England

06:12 — How spirits try to get your attention when your abilities are developing

07:05 — "I'm a sceptic — you're going to have to really show me"

07:50 — Stansted College — the "Hogwarts" of mediumship, locally nicknamed "Spook School"

09:22 — Susan's first solo trip to England — nearly running out the door

10:33 — A day in the life at Stansted — lectures, horses, and getting pushed out of your comfort zone

12:46 — The tutor who kept calling her out in class — and the thank you email she sent a year later

16:33 — Can anyone become a psychic? Breaking down psychic vs. mediumship

18:24 — How Susan tunes in to read someone's aura and what the colours mean

21:15 — The clairs explained: clairvoyance, clairsentience, clairaudience & more

21:53 — Susan gives a live reading to Joe — a dark-haired man behind him holding a precious photograph

23:40 — "Make sure you're spending time with your mother"

23:59 — Reading Sharon's aura — a little green powerhouse pulling in red

25:30 — Jo's big yellow aura — all new journeys and manifestation energy

27:33 — Going public as a medium: "I just rented an office and said — I do this now"

28:52 — What really happens when spirits hug or try to make contact with the living

29:52 — Susan's most powerful experience — feeling her mother sit on the bed and hold her

32:31 — Grief, emotional waves, and the energy drain of psychic work

38:35 — A wave of grief that hit out of nowhere on a normal day in Sandyford

39:30 — Death isn't death — it's just another dimension, another journey

40:41 — What happens to those who die by suicide? A compassionate and honest conversation

44:52 — Grieving while also being gifted — the pain of knowing too much

47:26 — Paranormal investigations — castles, spirit tables and groups of sensitives

49:08 — The Castle in Galway — a shapeshifter, a screaming bathroom incident, and surveillance cameras

52:16 — The spirit table: "it's basically a Ouija board, but I refuse to call it that"

54:04 — The night a spirit tried to drag Susan out of bed in France

56:36 — Researching the area: Nazi camps, a curfew and an angry, earthbound soldier

58:37 — Angelic energy, Archangel Michael, and working with different entities

59:00 — Tarot, a psychic medium on a balcony in Mallorca, and a prediction that came true

01:03:07 — The spirit table in action — Gorilla Glue, dancing spirits and a table leg snapping off

01:07:16 — Do you take calls from people with spirits in their house? Yes — but she screens them first

01:09:17 — The pendulum: anyone can do it, but be very strict with yourself

01:11:20 — Where to find Susan: Lavender Hills Spiritual Connections on Instagram

01:12:02 — Outro — shoutouts, plugs and signing off

In Episode 29, Joe and Sherin sit down with the brilliant Dean Kenny — a Dublin man originally from Ballymun who has one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring stories you'll hear. From growing up in the flats of Ballymun and Finglas, to falling deep into cocaine addiction in his teens and twenties, Dean holds nothing back. He opens up about the chaos addiction brought into his life — the paranoia, the broken relationships, the falling off and climbing back on the wagon — and the turning point that changed everything.

Dean is now on an incredible mission — running 5K every single day and raising money for Our Lady's Children's Hospital. With over 700 days of consecutive runs clocked, he talks about how running became his recovery, his mental health lifeline, and his purpose. He also shares the deeply personal story of his son's serious illness and the operation that shook his world, and how that fuelled everything he's doing today.

This one is honest, funny, emotional, and motivating in equal measure. If you're going through something tough or just need a reminder that it's never too late to turn things around — this is the episode for you.

⏱ Timecodes

00:00 | Intro & banter — welcome to Episode 29
01:00 | Introducing Dean Kenny
02:00 | Denture stories & classic craic
05:00 | Getting the full background — where Dean is from
05:40 | Born in 1988 — growing up in Ballymun & Finglas
06:45 | Life in the flats — tight-knit community memories
08:00 | Family life — four kids, relationships
09:00 | The addiction story begins — first experiences with cocaine
10:30 | Addiction escalating — everyday use
11:40 | Leaving school at 16 & deeper into addiction
12:30 | Paranoia, money problems, relationships falling apart
13:10 | Moving to England — trying to escape it all
13:50 | Coming back to Dublin, getting his first apartment
27:20 | Dean's son's illness — the operation and the fear
28:30 | Shout out to the surgeons & the child's mother
29:40 | The 5K a day challenge begins — running for Our Lady's Hospital
30:35 | 714 days in — the numbers don't lie
31:30 | Relapse — falling off the wagon and being honest about it
33:00 | Recovery isn't linear — guilt, shame, and getting back up
34:20 | What "falling off" actually looked like — missed days, letting people down
35:20 | Getting back on track — accountability and the mission
36:10 | Responsibilities as an anchor in recovery
37:00 | Social media accountability — how posting keeps you honest
39:40 | 714 days, 5K a day = raising funds for Our Lady's
48:15 | Rise Above It boxing & the finger snap story 😬
50:00 | Where Dean is now — PT course, lifeguard training, college
52:00 | What keeps Dean in recovery — running & mental health
52:40 | "Recovered" vs "in recovery" — a real honest debate
53:15 | Sherin on manifestation and the Law of Attraction
55:10 | Cold water/sea swimming as part of the routine
57:00 | Advice to anyone struggling — reach out, take accountability
58:30 | Come join a run — Saturday mornings!
01:00:00 | Belfast trip chat & signing off
01:01:50 | Final shoutouts — crew, family, fans & barbers union!

Conor and Jeff — the lads from U Havin Us On — join Joe Irish and Sherin as guests for one of the most unhinged episodes yet — car crash stories, dodgy decisions, stand-up comedy chat, and pure Dublin humour throughout.

From robbing a car "for the laugh" to near-death driving stories and the reality of starting out in comedy, this episode swings between madness and genuinely real moments.

Expect dark humour, wild tangents, and zero structure… just how we like it.

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⏱️ TIMECODES
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00:00 – Podcast kicks off (pure chaos immediately)
00:40 – Joe's mad "car robbery" story
02:30 – Discombobulated chaos & nonsense chat
05:00 – Sponsor shoutout + crash story
06:00 – Nursing home crash incident
08:00 – Car crash stories (it gets worse)
11:30 – Wild teenage crash story (car flips 😳)
15:30 – More crash talk + close calls
17:00 – Emotional story turns dark
20:30 – Back to chaos & random tangents
21:00 – Joe & Sherin background / how they met
24:00 – Starting the podcast journey
25:00 – Stand-up vs podcasting
27:00 – Comedy scene chat (sketches vs stand-up)
33:00 – Guests, comedy influences & favourites
38:00 – Viral moments & wild guest stories
46:00 – Growing the podcast & audience insights
50:00 – Social media strategy & TikTok growth
54:00 – Comedy mindset & different "versions" of yourself

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.

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.

🎙️ 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