What’s the Story? Podcast

WTS 259: Tom O’Mahony

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This week we welcome our dear friend Tom O'Mahony back to WTSpod. 

One of Ireland's top comedians, Tom has been gracing comedy stages for over a decade and his new show 'Clattered' is hitting the road with dates across the country soon to be announced. Tom will be in the Wild Duck Comedy Club in Dublin on 5 May 2022, performing his new show and tickets are available here. 

WTS 258: Richard Chambers

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This week we're joined by the brilliant Richard Chambers. Richard is a journalist who can be found regularly on TV screens with Virgin Media and was one of the most sought-after sources of information throughout the pandemic. Most importantly for this podcast though, Richard is a Bohs fan. 

His book, "A State of Emergency: Ireland's Covid Crisis", was released in 2021 and gives a behind-the-scenes look at what was happening during one of the most difficult years the country will ever face. 

Away from the pandemic talk, we chat football, journalism, politics, and when job interviews go bad... really bad. 

 

WTS 257: Dan McDonnell

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This week we're talking football with journalist Daniel McDonnell. Dan is a writer with the Irish Independent, hosts the League of Ireland Central podcast, and can be heard regularly on Newstalk's Off the Ball.

Before we get into the football chatter Mero and Danny go on a bit of a meander about food and there is division in the ranks over ketchup. 

When the lads eventually get past the food chat, Dan comes along and shares his take on a week of multiple announcements from the FAI. Bidding to host the Euros, a new strategy, and a new season kicking off - there's a lot going on in Irish football so sit back and have a listen as we get to grips with all that's going on. 

WTS 256: Just the two of us...again

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A short burst of WTS goodness to get you over a hump as the lads struggle to understand how Boris Johnson is still going, Mero tells us about the return of the Bulls and Danny explains why you're allegedly seeing fewer birds in the sky than usual...

 

WTS 255: Aoife Moore

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On this week's podcast...

Returning for her hat-trick and with some heavy silverware now in tow, Irish Journalist of the year Aoife Moore joined us to talk a little bit about a lot of things.

Aoife is one of the brilliant team of journalists currently propelling the Irish Examiner and is a regular contributor to national and international broadcast media. 

In this episode, we spoke with Aoife about her recent experience at a Chisty Moore concert, writing a book, wondering about accountability in politics, the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, and much more besides. 

 

WTS Christmas Special 2021

So, here it is merry Christmas... 

It just wouldn't be Christmas on What's the Story? Podcast without catching up with our old friends Paul Howard and Gary Mackle. 

This Christmas, we go on a two-hour meander through pondering religion and when exactly should Jesus go in the crib in your Christmas nativity display? Problems are caused by pineapples, Danny isn't happy with Mero and Gary makes an interesting bet with Paul... 

It's weird. It's wonderful. It's the WTSpod Christmas special for 2021.

We'll be back in January - Happy Christmas, stay safe. 

 

WTS 254: Nicky Woolf

This week we are joined by Nicky Woolf, a journalist and the man behind the Audible podcast, Finding Q: My journey into QAnon. 

Nicky is a QAnon expert, and his Finding Q podcast brings you through the start of this internet madhouse right to modern-day. The anonymous internet prophet known only as Q, has taken people in from all over the world.

This cult conspiracy with little to no truth in any of its bluster resulted in thousands of Americans storming their nation's Capitol on January 6 2021 - spurred on by then-president Donald Trump and others. But do Trump and his ilk actually believe in Q too, or do they see it as nothing more than a convenient tool that brings them more support? 

We chat to Nicky about his journey into the Q madhouse and his interactions with some of its most important players and those who have lost so much to QAnon. 

To discover the truth about this conspiracy and who may be behind 'Q', head over to Audible and subscribe to Finding Q: My Journey into QAnon. 

 

WTS 253: Gordon D‘Arcy

This week we are joined by one of Ireland's greatest rugby players turned childrens' author, Gordon D'Arcy. 

After hanging up his boots in 2015, Gordon has moved on to new adventures including an Irish Times column and co-authoring the brilliant "Gordon's Game" book series with Paul Howard. 

In our chat, Gordon tells us about retirement and the mindset of a professional athlete, how the book series came to be, and life as a father of 3 with 110kg of dog roaming around the house. 

 

WTS 252: Colm O‘Gorman

This week we're joined by the great Colm O'Gorman. He is the executive director of Amnesty International Ireland and the founder of One in Four. 

You can follow Colm on Twitter - @Colmogorman

WTS 251: Jade Jordan

This week we are joined by Jade Jordan. Jade is an actor and author whose book "Nanny, Ma, and Me" was released earlier this year and has been nominated for an Irish Book Award. The book spans three generations of an Irish family of colour and their experience of Ireland. 

 

WTS 250: Anne Marie McNally

This week we're joined by Anne Marie McNally who has been at the heart of community activism since writing a letter to the Evening Herald has a child and has built a career around that activism, politics and sport. 

WTS 249: Keith Kelly

This week we're talking mental health with the brilliant and humble Keith Kelly. 

Keith is a mental health activist and the founder of Jumpers for Goalposts, the volunteer-run movement that encourages men of different ages, races, backgrounds and abilities to come together for an old-fashioned game of football using ‘jumpers for goalposts’. 

If you're near Ballybrack on Sunday, 10th of October pop along for a special get together of Jumpers for Goalposts supported by Mental Health Ireland, kicking off at 11am beside Ballybrack Boys Football Club. 

To learn more about J4G and future events, visit and like the facebook page today. 

WTS 248: Gearoid Farrelly

This week comedian and podcaster Gearoid Farrelly joins us and we get nostalgic for the nineties and have some craic. 

Check out Gearoid's podcast Fascinated to hear some of the great chats he has with guests that range from Chesney Hawks to Carol Decker, Bosco to Rachel Allen and so many more. 

Visit https://gearoidfarrelly.com/ for tour dates and more. 

WTS 247: Ariel Helwani & Petesy Carroll

WE ARE BACK!!! 

After a little summer break we're back and back with a bang. Joining us to kick off our latest run of episodes are two of the best combat sports journalists on the planet. Ariel Helwani and Petesy Carrol are two thirds of the brilliant Ringer MMA Show which is exclusively available on Spotify. 

This week we hear how the Mega Powers of MMA journalism joined forces and we talk Nick Diaz's return to the Octagon, Conor McGregor and Irish Media, Ariel and Bret 'The Hitman' Hart and lots more besides. 

Tune into the Ringer MMA Show live on Spotify Greenroom. 

 

WTS 246: Ciaran Mulqueen - Crazy House Prices Ireland

This week we welcome Ciaran Mulqueen back to the podcast. 

Ciaran is the driving force behind the Instagram page that is calling out the insanity in the Irish housing market today, Crazy House Prices. Ciaran first joined us six months ago to talk to us about the mayhem we're seeing around the country and there are no signs of that mayhem stopping. 

WTS 245: Philip O'Connor

It's been a marathon summer for Our Man in Stockholm Philip O'Connor having covered both Euro 2020 and the Tokyo Olympics back to back. So, with Philip home less than 48 hours from Tokyo we decided to not let him rest and tell us all about his summer of sport. 

From working at the games with Covid restrictions to the interesting sandwiches you can get in Tokyo Phil gives us a behind the scenes run through of what it's like covering the games as a journalist. 

Danny tries to squeeze in some NBA talk and Mero talks to Phil about the brilliant piece he wrote about the Pride of Portland Row Kellie Harrington. If you've not read it you can find it here.  

WTS 244: Dr Cara Augustenborg

This week we welcome Dr Cara Augustenborg back to the podcast to chat about billionaires in space, charging an EV in Ireland and all things climate change. 

Danny tries to keep up with the youth by dropping a Tik Tok reference, Mero had an unpleasant experience while out with the stunning Suggsy and Cara tells us why Bezos and the lads need to pull up their socks on earth before heading off into outer space. 

 

WTS243: Paul Howard & Gary Mackle

On this week's episode Paul and Gary announce their new arts centre in Wicklow. We talk about the Olympics and Paul shares his experience of reporting from Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, the Celtic Tiger and the biggest hangover the country has ever had and the problem with social media. 

WTS 242: Dave Rooney - The Black Donnellys

After a summer holiday the lads return to hear the amazing story of the Black Donnellys - an Emmy award winning Irish Duo who have found success in the US and Las Vegas. 

Dave Rooney, originally from Ballybrack, joins the lads to discuss winning the Emmy for the documentary "An Irish Story: This is my home". The film took the coveted NATAS (National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences) prize in the “Outstanding Achievement” Documentry; Category. 

If you manage to get to fabulous Las Vegas in the future, make sure to pay a visit to the Mandalay Bay where you'll find the Black Donnellys lighting up the stage in Ri Ra's Irish Pub. 

WTS 241: Eve McDowell

Eve McDowell is a co-founder of stalking.ie which she set up with Una Ring as there is currently no specific stalking legislation in Ireland. Eve joined us to share her story as a victim of stalking and told us about her experience, how it happened and the lack of support available to victims even as they go through the courts process in Ireland. 

Eve and Una are actively campaigning to introduce specific stalking legislation in Ireland and to provide support to those experiencing stalking. You can sign the petition by visiting the website above or clicking here. At the time this podcast goes live, less than 400 signatures are needed. If everyone listening signed it, the petition would reach its goal within 24 hours. 

WTS 240: PJ Gallagher

Joining us this week is one of the most popular and requested guests we've ever had on the podcast, PJ Gallagher. A national treasure and a man responsible for bringing laughter to millions of people, we're always delighted to catch up the man himself. 

We talk about dogs, Sex and the City, what makes a dickhead, and we take an unexpected and deep turn when talking about PJ's childhood. 

Don't forget you hear PJ on Radio Nova, weekdays from 6-10am and you can subscribe to the hilarious Dubland Podcast which he hosts along side the amazing Suzanne Kane. 

WTS 239: Larry Mahony

Larry Mahony is a former FAI UEFA ‘A’ Licence instructor with over 30 years of coaching experience. He has provided expert coaching for players at every level of football in Ireland, from the youngest beginners all the way up to the professionals of Ireland’s National League.

We spoke to Larry about his career in football from his trials with clubs like Manchester United and Preston North End to his return home and four decades of success in the Irish game and in Europe. 

His new book, 'Let the players play' is available now and has won the praise of Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kennedy and Ireland internationals like Stephanie Roche and Aine O'Gorman. 

WTS:238 Richard Boyd Barrett

This week we're joined by People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett who spoke to us live from the Dail which is currently sitting in Dublin's Convention Centre due to Covid-19. 

Our chat with the Dun Laoghaire TD covered issues like Israel Palestine, the Debenhams workers, housing and loads more besides. 

 

WTS Bonus Pod - Alan McLoughlin

***On 4 May 2021 Alan McLoughlin passed away. He will always be remembered by Irish football fans and we are truly thankful that he joined us on this podcast in 2018. We've republished this episode in his memory. Shine on, Alan McLoughlin.***

 

In November of 1993 Alan McLoughlin wrote his name into Irish football history. His left foot providing the strike that ultimately sent the Republic of Ireland into a frenzy, packing their bags for the 1994 World Cup in the US, after securing a draw against Northern Ireland. 

On this bonus podcast, Alan joined us just hours after the FAI parted ways with Martin O'Neill, Roy Keane and the rest of O'Neill's backroom staff. Following a disappointing run of games, the Republic of Ireland are struggling to see a bright future for their football fortunes. 

We also spoke to Alan about his days in the green jersey and the legendary strike in Windsor Park back in '93. 

 

WTS 237: David McWilliams

This week we're joined by the brilliant and always fascinating David McWilliams. 

A broadcaster, author, economist and now podcaster, David is one of the most respected voices in Ireland and beyond. This week the chats go from Vespas to the rejuvenation of main streets in Ireland and from the lack of new council housing ruining football to the increasingly asked question of 'what next for Northern Ireland?' 

Make sure to click subscribe for all future episodes and check out the David McWilliams Podcast too.