What’s the Story? Podcast

This week we welcome a true Irish legend to WTSpod as we catch up with the one and only Aisling Daly.  Ais is one of Ireland's most recognised MMA stars and recently announced her retirement from competitive action. A brazillian jiu jitsu blackbelt, a world champion, a UFC fighter and one of the nicest people out there, it's always a pleasure to sit down and chat with Ais.  We catch up with The Ba...

It's been a while since Danny & Mero just sat down together and had a chat so this week they correct that. Mero tries accents, the lads talk about Spanish students coming to Ireland and the Liverpool football star who hung around the tunnell at Tesco Ballybrack.  There's talk of the cringe factor in football today as clubs try to embrace social media to announce players coming and going - Liverpoo...

This week we welcome back an old friend in director and writer, Mark O'Connor. When we spoke to Mark in 2016 (chapter 48) and John Connors (Chapter 43) we heard about a project called "Cardboard Gangsters". Fastforward to today and Cardboard Gangsters is the highest grossing Irish film of 2017 and is entering its 6th week in Cinemas across the country.  Mark tells us about the project and what goe...

Damian Darker is an Elite Martial Arts athlete, a professional kickboxer, a personal trainer, an all round gent and of course, a Borough legend.  Besides just having the craic we spoke to Damo about his highlight reel knockout which went viral and put his name on everyone's lips in Irish K1. Damo talks about turning professional in Ireland, the difficulty in finding opponents and even when he does...

This week the lads set up camp in Ballybrack's Igo Inn and welcomed back one of their favourite guests, Al Foran.  It's been an incredible year for Al which has seen his stock rise internationally with his videos racking up millions of views, and a memorable encounter with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather.  Al's impressions have earned him a massive following and he brought them to table when he sat...

Colm Hayes is an award winning broadcaster and mental health advocate. He was recently announced as the new Programme Director for Radio Nova and has been involved in Irish radio since the 1980s. Colm is regarded as one of the thought leaders in Irish Broadcasting, his work with FM104, particularly with the Strawberry Alarm Clock, established them as Dublin's leading radio station. Colm has also e...

This week the lads reunite with their favourite climate scientist, Dr. Cara Augustenborg.  The Paris Agreement was thrust into the world's attention recently when President Trump announced the United States would be exiting the agreement. So the lads asked someone who actually knows something to come in and tell us what's what. Cara first joined the lads last year and now, nearly a year on she's c...

Dil Wickremasinghe is a broadcaster, journalist. mental health advocate and campaigner for social justice. She hosts "Global Village" on Newstalk Radio and is a regular contributor to national TV and press. She has actively contributed to seeking equality for the LGBTQ communities in Ireland and as it is Pride week in Dublin, you'll hear why Dublin Pride has a significant meaning to Dil.  Dil's st...

This week the lads welcome current BAMMA welterweight contendor Richard Kiely to Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel.  With BAMMA 30 in Dublin's 3 Arena just a few weeks away, Richie came in and told the lads his plan to become the Bamma Welterweight Champion once he disposes of his BAMMA 30 opponent.  A vetran Kickboxer and with multiple titles, Kiely transitioned to MMA under the watchful eye of Coach John...

Ellen Coyne is one of Ireland's brightest and best journalists. In a short space of time she has earned herself the respect of audiences and peers alike, as well providing investigative pieces that have shocked, angered and educated many.  We we spoke to Ellen about Women's Rights in Ireland, the Repeal the 8th campaign, communicating with emojis, online dating and loads more besides. Ellen curren...

To celebrate the 100th episode of WTSpod we had our first ever live show all in aid of Suicide or Survive.  Recorded from a sold out Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, the lads were joined by Al Foran, Aisling Daly, Colm Hayes, Paul Howard, Steve Gunn and Caroline McGuigan for a live quiz that at times was beautiful mayhem. Thankfully, WTSpod special correspondent Gary Mackle was there to keep track of wha...

Tom O'Mahony is one Ireland's busiest comedians. A regular in comedy clubs across the country, Tom has also been a regular across Irish TV with parts in Bridget & Eamon, Damo & Ivor, Republic of Telly and TV3's Uploaded Uncut.  Tom is also familiar to the podcasting world with his own podcasts. The Tom & Gerry show which he records with fellow comedian and Waterford Whispers writer Gerry McBride,...

Clelia Murphy is a screenwriter, director, producer and actress. She is best known for her work on the RTE's flagship drama series, Fair City, where she plays the fiesty Naimh Cassidy. She is also due to star in the up coming comedy series "Nowhere Fast" alongside her daughter Clarabelle and Alisson Spittle.  On top of being one of Ireland's most recognised TV stars, Clelia also happens to be Mero...

Cian Cowley is one of the Borough's most well known talents. Still in his 20's and considered a Muay Thai vetran, Cian has moved into the world of MMA where last summer he took home a bronze medal at the IMMAF World Championships in Las Vegas.  Following the success of this, Cian is turning pro and joined us just days away from his professional MMA debut at BAMMA 29 in Birmingham.  We spoke to Cia...

This week the lads have been left to their own devices and are guestless - which as usual results in childish giggles and ridiculous comments.  This week Danny and Mero talk about the upcoming live show WTS100 - which is almost sold out - and the problem they've been having with the show.  Football bans and The Lions tour also make the grade and the lads get a fit of the giggles.  WTSpod is brough...

Ruairí McKiernan is an award winning social innovater from Cavan, Ireland. He has made incredible contributions across Irish society with his work on social justice, youth and communities and wellbeing. He is the founder of spunout.ie and the co-founder of uplift.ie.  Ruairí has also been a key member of team Lust for Life and in 2012 President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, appointed him to the...

Every so often the lads like to invite friends of the Borough into the studio at Fitzpatrick Castle and solve the world's problems.  This week Ian Mahon came to sit down and give us his take on how to look after everything inb the world, however, we got sidetracked early and often, solved nothing and instead ended up with Ian and Mero giving Danny a run through of how Tinder works.  Mero discusses...

This week the lads are joined by Dr. Tom Clonan - a retired Irish Army Captain who served on active duty both home and abroad. Tom is now a media lecturer and security analyist for some of Ireland's leading publications including The Irish Times. He is the author of two best selling books (Blood, Sweat & Tears and Whistleblower, Soldier, Spy). Tom's research into sexual harrassment, assualt and bu...

It's Wrestlemania week so to mark the occassion we brought in one Ireland's brightest and best, Joe Cabray.  With over a decade of experience in the wrestling industry Joe is currently one of the driving forces of the incredible Over The Top Wrestling. OTT has developed a massive following in Ireland and has brought a pro wrestling scene to the masses, evident in them selling out their flagship Sc...

Colonel Randall Larsen is a retired US Air Force Colonel and is the national security advisor at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and a senior fellow at the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University. He formerly served as a professor and department chair at the National War College, the founding director of the Institute for Homeland Security, the executive dir...

This week the lads are joined by one of Ireland's greatest messers, PJ Gallagher.  PJ came to a lot of people's attention over 10 years ago thanks to his part on the much loved "Naked Camera" tv show. Since then he's gone on to be one of Ireland's favourite comedians and continues to be a leading light in the entertainment industry.  From gicknas to manscaping, a pitbull named Sharon and how passi...

This week the lads go from being jovial and happy, to angry and ranty, to having a full blown deep and meaningful conversation like a couple of teenage girls at a sleep over.  The state of the nation has angered both the lads, the Tuam Mother & Baby home, Grace, and the treatment of Sgt. Maurice McCabe are just some of the issues that are plaguing Ireland right now. The lads question the motives o...

This week the lads are joined by one of Ireland's modern treasures. Emmet Kirwan recently captured the hearts and minds of Ireland with his incredible poem "Heartbreak". The video that accompanied the poem has been viewed over 1.3 million times and has been shared over 20,000 times on Facebook alone.   As one of the nation's most recognisable voices, Emmet has continually produced work that connec...

A special edition of the podcast this week as we took WTSpod on the road and travelled to Bray (Bré) for the 2017 Bray Comedy Festival. We caught up with some of the comedians who performed across the week including Chris Kent, Karl Spain, Danny O'Brien and friend of the show/comedy Don, Adam Burke. 

David Moore is Ireland's best known astronomer. Having set up Astronomy Ireland in 1990, he has been gazing into space and looking beyond our own planet for over three decades.  He has discussed space with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Sir Patrick Moore and now the two lads on WTSpod. You can learn more about the world beyond our world by going to www.astronomy.ie  and joining the club.  We also gi...