The Awful Podcast

Episode 5 is a bit of everything — from questionable holiday tattoos and getting absolutely destroyed at paintball to a full-blown rant about Irish history, British imperialism and what Ireland might have become if we’d just been left alone.I talk about getting back into the gym, my upcoming 30th birthday, giving up the drink and figuring out what I actually want from life as I head into a new decade. We also get into the current state of the world, the riots in Paris, the decline of empires and why Oliver Cromwell remains one of history’s most satisfying examples of karma.It's an unfiltered chat about life, history, Ireland and everything in between.In this episode:Getting back into the gym and trying to enjoy it againHoliday tattoos, sentimental ink and an unforgettable story about a memorial tattooMy upcoming 30th birthday and the joys of getting olderThe time I got revenge on a paintball opponentGiving up alcohol and adjusting to nights outThe riots in Paris and the frustration behind public unrestWhat Ireland might look like if it had never been colonisedOliver Cromwell, Henry VIII and the destruction of Irish cultureBritish imperialism, class and the complicated relationship between Ireland and BritainThe rise and fall of empires — and what the future might holdThanks to everyone tuning in each week. You're all legends.Get in touch with your stories, questions or suggestions for future episodes.📩 Email: [email protected]:00 – Episode 5: A warm Dublin and a questionable whale-watching memory01:20 – Getting back into the gym and eating healthy02:10 – The holiday stories I forgot to tell03:07 – Holiday tattoos and reigniting the addiction05:01 – The story behind a memorial tattoo06:28 – Being tight with money and planning more tattoos07:08 – Turning 30 and planning a birthday celebration08:40 – Paintball memories and getting shot in the worst places10:25 – My first taste of paintball revenge12:00 – Leaving my twenties behind and figuring out life12:42 – Nights out, non-alcoholic Guinness and giving up drink13:22 – Looking ahead to the next ten years14:11 – Building the podcast and appreciating the listeners14:30 – Starting a new job and making more time for the podcast15:10 – Should I start doing topical episodes?15:51 – Another PC disaster threatens the podcast16:42 – The Paris riots and public frustration18:03 – Irish fans abroad and Ireland's international reputation19:57 – Watching a new series and thinking about Ireland's past21:06 – What if Ireland had been left alone?22:08 – Viking invasions and Ireland's lost cultural heritage23:40 – Henry VIII, Cromwell and the destruction of Irish culture24:32 – Oliver Cromwell's grim fate and historical karma25:00 – What could Ireland have achieved without colonisation?26:09 – British imperialism, identity and the meaning of being British27:36 – Greece, Rhodes and the fall of empires28:45 – Is Britain witnessing the decline of an empire?29:23 – Separating ordinary British people from the British establishment30:52 – Colonial history, education and confronting the past32:33 – The future of the UK and the changing world order33:39 – Ireland and England: Is the rivalry mostly pantomime?34:24 – Scotland, Ireland and the legacy of plantation35:14 – Historical guilt and judging today's generations35:52 – Leave people alone: wrapping up the episode36:16 – Next week's episode and signing off

I'm back from Rhodes, and honestly, it might be one of the best places I've ever visited. In this episode, I'm talking about my first holiday without alcohol, hitting 60 days sober, and how different life feels when I'm actually present enough to enjoy it.I get into giving up drink, discovering non-alcoholic beer, and why I'm starting to think Ireland's relationship with alcohol is finally changing. I also chat about spirituality, religion, the universe, and how a few things in my life have started to fall into place lately.Plus, I question whether the next generation might finally break away from Ireland's traditional drinking culture, reflect on how things have changed since my parents' generation, and seriously consider starting my own cult. All I need now is a name and 5% of your income.If you've any stories, questions or topics you'd like me to talk about, send them my way!📩 Email: [email protected] / Timestamps00:00 – Welcome back & the podcast inbox  00:30 – Rhodes: one of the best places I've ever visited  01:00 – The uphill battle to the Temple of Athena  02:35 – Was the temple even worth the climb?  03:05 – Crystal-clear water and getting over my fear of fish  03:40 – My first holiday without alcohol  04:15 – Waking up early and actually feeling rested  05:30 – How easy was it to enjoy a holiday sober?  06:20 – Not wanting to leave Rhodes  06:50 – Hitting 60 days without drinking  07:10 – Non-alcoholic beer and finding a new normal  08:30 – Why sobriety feels sustainable for me  08:50 – Understanding addiction and the cycle of relapse  09:45 – Telling friends and family I'm giving up drink  10:45 – When things finally start clicking in life  11:30 – Becoming more spiritual without becoming religious  11:50 – AA, the universe and asking for help  13:10 – A new job, positive changes and trusting the process  14:50 – Could I start my own cult?  15:25 – Discovering a life outside the pub  17:30 – What if sober socialising was normal growing up?  18:50 – Why I could never just have one or two drinks  19:50 – Is Ireland's drinking culture finally changing?  21:30 – Are the next generation doing things differently?  23:00 – Dublin, rural Ireland and the changing social scene  24:10 – Looking back at my relationship with alcohol  25:35 – Have younger generations been given a better start?  26:45 – Was buying a house ever really easy?  27:40 – Ireland's changing relationship with religion  30:00 – Should religion and education be kept separate?  31:15 – Are all religions looking for the same thing?  32:20 – Would a loving God condemn people for not believing?  32:45 – Could a new religion emerge in modern society?  33:40 – Christianity's resurgence and Ireland's complicated past  34:40 – Finding a more personal relationship with faith  35:40 – Wrapping up and thanking everyone for the support  36:15 – Send me your stories, questions and topics  36:45 – See you next week on The Awful Podcast

Episode 3 is a bit of a journey. I kick things off talking about Ireland’s recent match against Israel, the pressure placed on the players, Jack Moylan’s celebration and the reaction from Israeli supporters.I then get into the Garvaghy Road dispute and the history surrounding the Drumcree controversy, including the tragic deaths of the Quinn brothers. I also talk about how my own understanding of Northern Ireland has changed and why I think it’s important to listen to people from both nationalist and unionist backgrounds.After getting the heavy stuff out of the way, I have a few things that have been annoying me about social media, before talking about heading off to Rhodes for a holiday.Then things take a serious turn into nostalgia as I go down a massive gaming rabbit hole — from PlayStation 2 and FIFA, to Modern Warfare 2, Black Ops 2, Warzone and the friends I’ve made through gaming over the years. I also talk about losing an Xbox account to a scam, my history making gaming videos, why I consider myself a creator rather than an influencer, and whether GTA 6 could bring me back to gaming content.Basically, episode three is politics, holidays, food, social media, gaming nostalgia and a lot of waffle.TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Episode 3 begins & heading off on holiday00:22 – Ireland v Israel01:32 – The Israeli national anthem & Ireland’s response01:43 – Daryl refusing to shake hands01:50 – Ireland score three goals in 12 minutes02:03 – Jack Moylan’s celebration & reaction from Israeli supporters03:37 – Israel’s public image and the wider conflict03:49 – The Garvaghy Road dispute04:31 – The Quinn brothers tragedy04:56 – The house fire and the deaths of the three children05:06 – Garfield Gilmore and the prison sentence05:20 – Ballymoney, Drumcree and the connection to Garvaghy Road05:35 – Learning more about Northern Ireland06:03 – The protest on Garvaghy Road06:46 – Thoughts on a united Ireland & listening to different perspectives07:09 – Wanting to speak to nationalists and unionists07:43 – Moving on from the heavy topics08:00 – My biggest social media pet peeves09:14 – Heading to Rhodes09:53 – The best Eggs Benedict I’ve ever had10:23 – Trying to enjoy the holiday without going overboard12:17 – Why I’m giving the podcast 100 episodes to grow13:07 – My hatred of Apple and the new Mac setup14:03 – Growing up with gaming14:31 – PlayStation, Xbox and GTA16:34 – The nostalgia of old FIFA17:48 – FIFA releases, Ultimate Team & childhood memories18:16 – Match Attax and football card nostalgia19:00 – Gaming as an escape19:35 – The current drought of good games20:16 – Assassin’s Creed Odyssey & Valhalla20:58 – Warzone during lockdown21:33 – How gaming got me into making videos22:47 – Realising I’m a creator, not an influencer23:05 – Making money from content & brand deals24:19 – Why I stopped making Warzone content24:57 – Getting way too invested in simulator games25:35 – Could GTA 6 bring me back to gaming videos?25:54 – Not wanting to be pigeonholed by social media26:29 – Why I want to make long-form content27:01 – Modern Warfare 2 nostalgia27:54 – The traumatic experience of losing my Xbox account28:26 – Getting scammed over a Call of Duty hack lobby29:26 – Getting revenge on the scammer30:41 – Online friendships that last for years31:54 – Black Ops 2 and competitive gaming32:40 – Why GTA 6 could be a gaming renaissance32:54 – Fortnite, cross-platform gaming & battle passes33:36 – Minecraft nostalgia34:15 – Building the new gaming PC35:16 – What GTA 6 could mean for gaming36:23 – GTA 6’s delayed online mode36:58 – Preparing for GTA 6 on PC37:12 – Why PC gaming feels so different37:58 – Wrapping up Episode 338:16 – Final thoughts

Episode two of The Awful Podcast is here, and this week is a bit of everything.I kick things off with the latest Ireland–Israel football controversy and the fallout surrounding the upcoming match, before getting into the recent rape charge against Clavicular.Then it's time for the **Rant of the Week**, where I finally take on one of life's biggest scams: frozen food cooking times. Why does everything claim it'll be ready in 15 minutes when it absolutely fucking isn't?I also get properly personal and talk about being diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, discovering I was having around 70 events per hour, getting a CPAP machine and how much it has changed my life.From there, I get into why I think Irish culture is actually stronger than ever, Irish music, the obsession with pitting Kingfishr and Kneecap against each other, Irish culture in America, and a bit of mythology before completely losing the plot.It's episode two. I'm still figuring this podcast out. Enjoy.00:00 — Welcome back: Episode 201:11 — Ireland, Israel & the football controversy03:31 — Should the match be going ahead?04:17 — Clavicular & the rape charge05:19 — Rant of the Week: Frozen food cooking times06:48 — Big Packaging is out to get us07:08 — The story behind my CPAP machine08:20 — Realising something wasn't right08:51 — The GP visit & sleep apnea10:13 — The sleep study11:48 — Finding out I had severe sleep apnea12:26 — Getting the CPAP machine13:06 — How CPAP changed my life15:12 — Finding my creative spark again18:34 — My take on Americans and Irish culture20:16 — Irish-American identity & the diaspora21:02 — Why Irish culture feels stronger than ever22:25 — The Irish language, music & culture23:04 — Kingfishr vs Amble why pick a side?24:25 — The current boom in Irish creativity25:07 — Disney, Irish mythology & cultural preservation26:03 — Why mythology fascinates me27:55 — Am I getting better at this podcast thing?28:29 — Wrapping up Episode 228:49 — Send in your stories & topics29:45 — See you next week

The first episode of The Awful Podcast.This week I’m talking about a bit of everything. Getting back into the gym, losing weight, giving up drinking, trying to get my head right and generally figuring out what the fuck I’m doing with my life at 29.I also get into the housing crisis, living at home, my love for Dublin, why I don’t think I could ever properly leave Ireland, and the possibility of emigrating.There’s a bit of current affairs thrown in too, before I somehow end up telling the story of a trip to America that went completely sideways when COVID kicked off.Basically, just me talking absolute shite for almost 37 minutes and occasionally stumbling across a thought worth listening to.Timestamps00:00 Welcome to The Awful Podcast00:34 Making the podcast interactive01:08 Ed Sheeran, Aaron Rowe & Palestine03:13 Ireland, Scotland, Wales & self-determination04:06 Canada and the EU05:06 One month of the gym, diet & sobriety06:07 Losing 7kg and changing my relationship with food06:44 Why I actually enjoy going to the gym now07:56 The absolute madness of Pokémon card queues08:38 Sauna, cold baths & the gym buzz09:45 Learning to enjoy cardio10:09 Trying to rewire my brain for the long game12:16 Giving up drinking13:07 My first sober holiday13:37 Carl Jung, creativity & doing things you actually enjoy15:07 Running and getting back into it16:13 Turning 29 and thinking about the future16:26 The housing crisis & trying to save for a house17:35 What it’s like living at home at 2918:05 Moving out, relationships & having your own space18:27 Dublin, housing & how much the city has changed20:06 Could I actually raise a family in Dublin?20:52 Your 20s, travelling & putting off the serious stuff22:25 Moving on from your 20s23:05 Why young Irish people still emigrate23:46 Why I nearly moved to Canada24:30 Why I don’t think I could leave Ireland25:05 Why I fucking love Ireland26:19 The Lake Bled story27:08 Somehow finding a load of Irish people in Slovenia28:12 Living through another strange time30:18 The COVID trip that went completely wrong31:12 Boston, Kneecap & the Celtics31:57 Donald Trump ruins the trip32:17 Finding out we might not be getting home33:45 Somehow ending up in Canada35:27 When the podcast is coming out36:13 Send me your stories and questions

After years of making videos, I wanted to try something a bit different. Video takes a serious amount of time, and between work, overtime and trying to save for a house, it’s become harder to consistently make the stuff I actually enjoy.No real plan. No proper setup. No working PC. Just me talking shite into the first microphone I ever bought and hoping something comes of it.I want this to be more laid-back, longer-form and less dictated by whatever the social media algorithm wants me to make.And yes, I somehow managed to spend most of the first episode ranting about a fucking PC. 😂We'll figure the rest out as we go.New episode every week. No exceptions.Timestamps: 00:00 – Why I started a podcast 00:18 – Why making videos has become harder 00:50 – No idea what the future holds 01:01 – The absolute cowboy setup 01:12 – The saga of the broken PC 02:17 – Why I wanted to do longer-form content 03:14 – The first attempt at recording 03:37 – Getting back into the gym 03:58 – What the podcast is actually going to be about 04:32 – Why podcasts are easier to produce than videos 05:29 – Still ranting about the PC 06:08 – Gaming, lockdown and having less time 06:52 – Apparently this podcast is just a PC rant 07:07 – The chicken packaging investigation 08:25 – Realising I probably need some structure 09:13 – Wrapping up the “practice run” 09:43 – Figuring the show out together 10:14 – The plan: at least once a week 10:35 – Send in questions, recommendations & feedback