Talking Bollox Podcast

Our good friend Katriona O'Sullivan came back into us this week to update us on life since the release of her best selling book 'Poor', which has included giving a speech at the UN. She showed us how there's so much more to her than poverty and spoke about the importance of education and ensuring equality of opportunity for people from working class communities. She spoke openly about the need to forgive yourself for the less palatable acts committed during addiction and the need for society as a whole to be more understanding. Katriona now runs a programme encouraging girls from DEIS schools to get involved in coding and technology, and explained how important women are to improve the lives of the working class. This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.

For the past 14 years, the Coca Cola Thank You Fund has supported projects around Ireland that provide vital programmes for young people aged 16-25, in communities just like ours. This year, the fund is allocating €200,000 in grants to community-based projects that are focussed on learning and sustainable development in Ireland & Northern Ireland. And we’re delighted to have been asked to be ambassadors for the fund this year. We recorded this special episode in front of a live audience at the Bradóg Youth Service in Dublin 1 (where Terence spent a lot of time in his younger years) to hear about the fund, and what it offers communities like ours - and to places like the Bradóg, who make a massive difference to so many young lives. We were joined by two very special guests – Darren Kenny, a D1 native and Director of JustAsk, and Hilary Copeland, from Fighting Words NI, who are each doing brilliant work supporting young people to become more engaged and involved in the world around them.

Terence auditions the world's best and brightest to tell his story, from Bruce Buffer to Dolly Parton, and Booker T. Calvin goes on the warpath against the creeping influence of golf on working class communities. Terence aims high and dreams of becoming the Olympic champion of having a knock. There's more going on to Terry's list of films to watch and podcasts to listen to, but there's fading hope he'll ever find the time.

Dwayne Edgars from Inner City Running Club joined us this week and told us all about setting up the club to get more people in his community active. The club has grown rapidly and has members running everything from Couch to 5ks to Ironmans. He defended the club’s decision to introduce a membership fee and spoke about the community they've built. No stranger to a microphone, Dwayne also told us about his time on X-Factor and how close he came to making it into One Direction. And he even signed Calvin up to 10K, despite his vow to never run again after his marathon. This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.

Calvin is on the attack against a particular takeaway cuisine, but Terry isn’t sure he’s quite ready to join him. A listener wants to know what films Terence got to watch during his recent 28 hours spent on a plane, and the answer might be considered a bit underwhelming. Unless you like Guess Who? We also hear about stairs on planes, the invention of sparkling water and rashers, and a record-breaking headless chicken. There’s some disputed facts around David Attenborough and the history of tennis, and a rogue clock is disturbing the peace in the studio.

Change how you think forever, thanks for the ultimate lesson in maximising our brain power from psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Sabina Brennan who joined us this week to explain what's really going on inside our heads. The former Fair City actress talked us through the various parts of the brain and their function, and told us about the importance of relaxation, sleep, diet, and laughter, as well as how we form memories, and why we can be so forgetful. She also gave Calvin some bad news, your brain starts to shrink once you're 30, but thankfully she has great advice for how to keep our minds active and healthy at any age. And she explained how stress and trauma impact the brain, and why it's so important that we have a balance between routine and new experiences. Everybody will be able to take something useful from this episode about how powerful their mind is and how we can take care of our brain. We have various questions for Sabina in this episode including how to get rid of brain fog and how to reduce the risk of dementia. Sabina gives tips on how to shape your brain, she dispels some myths about the brain and tells us how to develop a super brain. Sabina's book 'The Neuroscience of Manifesting' is available for pre order now - www.orionbooks.co.uk/titles/sabina-brennan/the-neuroscience-of-manifesting/9781398716254/ This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.

Slating someone for having a surname for a first name is a bit rich coming from Calvin of all people, and he justifiably gets called out. Despite threatening violence in almost every previous bonus episode, Terence can't pick out a celebrity he would like to punch. Calvin is adamant that the industry of dirty magazines has been ruined by the internet and in Eoin's absence it's left to Terence to be the voice of reason and logic. There's also talk of Tallaght house parties, analysis of some strange dreams and a debate on toast versus coffee.

Andrew McGinley lost his three children when they were killed by their mother in 2020. Since then he has fought to keep their memories alive through various projects, and to bring happiness to the world through a charity he founded in their honour. He told us all about his wonderful children, Conor, Darragh and Carla and shared his heartbreaking story, as well as telling us what life has been like for him since then. We heard about how he continues to fight for answers and change to ensure this can’t happen again to any other families. Andrew is an inspiration and while the tragic parts of his story left us in tears, seeing his determination and resilience left us in awe. To support Andrew’s charity work, including the As Darragh Did charity walk on April 20th and 21st visit asdarraghdid.ie or donate directly on idonate.ie/cause/AsDarraghDid. Please follow @conorsclips.andrew, @asdarraghdid & Snowman For Carla to support Andrew and the memory of his children. Please be aware this conversation includes distressing moments. If you have been effected in the issue we speak about in this episode you can call The Samaritans on 116 123.

Listener questions are parked for this episode as Terence talks Thailand. It was an eventful month off on holiday with a distinctly Final Destination feel to it. Calvin explains why March 2024 was the busiest month of his life.

Comedian Joe Dowlin aka the self proclaimed 'Jobstown Joe' joined us for a chat about his life growing up in Tallaght, developing a ruthless sense of humour, and getting hung out to dry by every member of his family. it wasn't all laughs though either, Joe's been through a difficult time and he opened up about his time in emergency accommodation and how he struggled to balance the chaos of his life with work and stand up gigs. This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.

Persecution complexes, sentimental art and dropping into the quantum realm (on a swivel chair) occupy Terence and Calvin’s minds this week. There’s talk of if Terence and Calvin are some of the hardest to work with in the business, and how high stakes, pressure cooker moments can bring out everything but the best in people. We also push back on the culture of over sensitive spoiler patrol, and discuss one time meaningful, but now just shite, tattoos.

Caroline Foran is one of Ireland’s most prominent, and successful, voices speaking about anxiety. She is a number 1 best selling author and has helped many people understand their own anxiety, by sharing her own experience living with anxiety and the knowledge she’s picked up on her journey. She also has some great stories for us from her days as a reporter, meeting global stars like Justin Timberlake to Hugh Jackman – and finding out who the truly sound superstars are, and who just turn it on for the cameras. We talk about the trend of “hate-following” someone on social media, and Terence gets some education - ranging from ancient Roman history, to modern day Hollywood trivia. If you have been affected by some of the mental health issues we talk about in this episode, and feel you would like to talk to someone, you can call the Samaritans 24/7, on 116123.

In this week's bonus episode a particular brand of sweets is dramatically named the worst smell of all time by Terence, while Calvin shakes up the greatest film of all time charts with some uncomfortable history lessons. We hear a surprisingly detailed discussion of dog morning breath, make an attempt at designing a new religion, and get bogged down in major matters of pronunciation.

We were joined by Cork comedian Chris Kent this week to chat about life in the supposed 'real capital' and how coming from an area with a bad reputation impacted him growing up. Chris qualified as an electrician but worked full time in comedy instead for 12 years until he had to go back to building sites when all his gigs were cancelled due to Covid. With his comedy career now back on track, Chris revealed the one honour he is still working towards - The elusive Nando's black card, and told us about what happened when he last came close. He also filled us in about not one but two arson incidents he was victim to, not to mention the horror he endured being investigated by the social welfare. This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.

Do cows in different counties have regional accents? Does any know where Calvin's budgie is? Is being in a submarine visiting the Titanic the best alibi you can have? The lads take on some truly burning questions this week. Terence's vocabulary continues to expand, although he may need to brush up on some definitions before he accidentally defames someone less forgiving of the misunderstanding. Calvin puts together his apocalypse survival team, but won't be including Terence after learning he can't even put air in a tire let alone light a fire.

With the Paralympic Games just a few months away, Irish table tennis hopeful Colin Judge took a some time away from his training to talk to us about his journey so far. Colin has one arm and no legs and he told us about growing up with a disability, and how his parents instilled independence in him from a young age. He's now ranked 9th in the world but Colin opened up about his losses at big tournaments, including missing out on qualifying for the Olympic Games in Rio, as well as his struggle to regain his position when he was told he would be moved to a new classification group. We talked about his ability to persevere and where that comes from. This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.

Calvin admits to breaking his New Years resolution and buying a pair of runners, but his admission doesn't save him from Terence's intervention after a family member reaches out concerned that Calvin's simply swapped one bad shopping habit for another. Although, Calvin claims his fear of not looking fresh could be tied to the inter-generational trauma of the Famine. Terence reveals that he still cringes thinking about his interactions with Coolio, although the two did bond over their shared fear of heights. There's also a chat about the Talking Bollox effect which has seen a number of guests go on to have a very successful period in their careers shortly after appearing on the podcast - Or well, it's happened twice at least.

Comedian Emma Doran joined us for an episode filled with laughs about everything from dogs in heat to the confusing commands when skydiving. She also threw Calvin's day off by introducing him to the word - "Faff". She also told us about having her daughter less than two weeks before she had to sit her Leaving Cert and how she brought books with her into Hollis Street to study while in labour. However, the unexpected pregnancy didn’t hold Emma back and she’s gone on to have a hugely successful comedy career including taking part in the recent Amazon Prime series LOL: Last One Laughing Ireland and a nationwide tour. This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.

Terence makes a claim to be Ireland’s healthiest man, eating Ireland’s healthiest breakfast – and a stroll in Howth has left him armed with a vastly expanded vocabulary. Calvin masters the pun game with one deft turn of phrase, and he strikes back at some outrageous claims made against him in the public arena. Terry admits that, despite his previous big claims, he actually does know someone who plays rugby, while the lads weigh up life with a friendly ghost, and life spent with an irrational fear of buildings. Plus, the latest entry in Terence’s chart of the greatest films ever made – and this week the results will shock many.

When he first talked to us three years ago - heavyweight boxer Thomas Carty had big plans. Now, his world has exploded with fights in some of the worlds biggest arenas under his belt and his position as a go to sparring partner for sporting superstars like Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury cemented. He told us about the impact boxing has taken on his body, including passing blood in his urine and explained why he wants people to know that he's more than just a boxer. And his biggest opponent yet also got a mention - Ryanair! This podcast includes a paid advertisement by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/BOLLOX and get on your way to being your best self.