Episode 189 w/ Oisín McConville

Boyzone's Keith Duffy and Westlife's Brian McFadden joined us this week and took us back to their beginnings and their meteoric rise to fame in the 90's as boybands took over the radios and music charts. Brian told us all about his decision to leave Westlife at the height of their success, and why there's no chance of a reunion. And Keith took us back to a sad time for Boyzone after the passing of Stephen Gately, and how the lads came together to grieve.The two ex-boyband members have now joined forces to create Boyzlife and are heading off on a world tour soon, kicking off in Ireland next January.

We’re pitting Dublin’s areas against each other in the ultimate game of Top Trumps.Terence has made an overdue apology, and found himself (in an unrelated incident) surrounded by cowboy boots.There’s yet more censorship, as crisps join animals on the banned list, even as the banned list is breached.We hear speculation about strange superstitions, Calvin throws a tantrum, and Terry imagines being thrown from an upstairs window while stuck to a sofa.

This episode is as chaotic as you can imagine! Joining us this week are hosts of You Must be Jokin', Eric Lalor and Willa White. From Oasis, to impressions, and of course some of Willa's classic stories - This episode has it all.Willa and Eric take us back to the beginning of their friendship and recall some of their funniest times together in the past 18 years working in comedy.Eric is doing his biggest solo show to date, on the 19th of September in Liberty Hall. Head over to Ticketmaster and get your tickets now, it’s going to be a brilliant night and we’ll see yous there!

It’s a week of friction and foolishness, as everything from the content of the bonus episodes, to the ranking of our top questioners, causes heated debate.A heartfelt query about the chance to measure moments of love in life ends up with a foolhardy attempt to gauge how many stairs it would take to reach the moon.A question about suspicious owls in Ireland almost sparks a war.Terence returns from yet another holiday and he’s got a mixed review of Tenerife for us, ranging from mixing with giants of the ocean to being too smart to accept an offer of a lift on a submarine.We attempt to break down a very select invite list for time on a desert island, with potential knock on problems for everyone involved.And Terry makes some big and very controversial statements about the ranking of our favourite question askers.Send your questions, comments, debates and recipes to [email protected]

All Ireland winner and Gambling Awareness Trust spokesperson Oisín McConville joined us this week. Growing up in Crossmaglen during The Troubles meant Oisín was used to bombs and army presence – His only escape was football and he threw himself into the sport with great success at both county and club level.When he was just 14 Oisín placed his first bet for 50p. By 17, he was being warned by his local bookie that he would develop a problem if he didn’t stop betting. Oisín didn’t take the advice and gambled for years more, borrowing, stealing and scamming to pay his way, until he realised he needed help after losing a £20,000 loan for a new business in one bet. A new show “The 3:30 at Cheltenham” which explores the issues of gambling addiction opens on the 16th of September in the Civic Theatre Tallaght before going on a national tour of all gambling addiction treatment centres in Ireland throughout October. Tickets are available here: https://www.civictheatre.ie/whats-on/the-330-at-cheltenham/

Could smelling like spoiled milk verge on a war crime? It’s a surprisingly complicated question.The lads consider who would be their final boss if their lives were a computer game.The extended Power family get in touch to distance themselves from Terence’s never ending devotion to one particularly divisive film.There are stories of odd characters with shady pasts, and a triggered house alarm causing paranoia.Terry escapes the 27 club and wonders who could replace him in the event of his untimely demise; convinced as he is that Calvin wouldn’t pass up the payday of bravely carrying on without his co-host.There’s some questions about potential sponsor deals off the back of Terence’s newly controversial height measurement, and a question about t-shirts has Calvin wondering why he’s spending his time explaining dimensions to Terence.

Damien Hernon is the director of Oberstown Children's Detention Campus. He joined us to discuss what a day in Oberstown looks like for the children and for the staff. From education to victim empathy, Damien describes the programmes available, their hands on approach and the challenges of working in the centre.We discuss the progressive mindset the staff take, the negative portrayal of Oberstown in the media as well as some of the success stories of the past occupants.

We fend off a borderline juice fit as Terry rages against accusations he's been doping his height, and a question about picking a Hollywood celebrity sidekick almost costs us a studio (and a lawsuit).Terry is fuming to learn that nuking the moon was once considered, and left reeling by the high stakes strategies of the nuclear powers.A listener question sends us down the road of learning about some very clever tricks to fool some very bad spies, and we have a very disappointing trawl through Calvin’s phone book.

Irish Mauy Thai fighter Craig Coakley joined us this week to explain how being a 'soft child' led him to become the world class scrapper he is today.Craig could have gone down the wrong road like so many from the flats, but once he had his daughter he knew he had to take fighting more seriously and give it all his focus.He told us why he thinks Mauy Thai will be the next big combat sport and why it's so important to be able to release aggression in a healthy way.One of Craig influence's growing up was Ryan 'Chaos' Curtis another Irish pro fighter who was badly injured and is fundraising for his recovery. If you can, please donate to Ryan at the following link: https://gofund.me/bcda5314

Your zingers present us some head scratchers, including a very selective crystal ball, giving you a very specific view into the future; and the choice of rollerblading through life or becoming Kerry’s premier space man.Terence explains his habit of inadvertent intermittent fasting.We find ourselves exploring the world of militarised animals, including robot zombie pigeons, spying cows and bugged cats.There’s the return of the church sex noise anecdote. And Terry’s haphazard film club returns, with some scathing reviews to be dished out.