Colm Flynn Podcast

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Melody Herzfeld, the drama teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who bravely hid and protected her students during the 2018 Parkland shooting, where 17 lives were tragically lost. She shares her harrowing story from that day, the split-second decisions that saved lives, and how she has helped her students heal through music and art. This conversation is about courage in the face of terror, the resilience of young people, and the enduring power of storytelling to process grief and inspire change.instagram.com/colmflynnire

Plane crashes and aviation accidents stir up some of our greatest fears. The idea of being trapped inside a machine 30,000 feet in the air, traveling at hundreds of miles an hour, when something goes wrong and it's completely out of our power to fix it. And even though flying is one of the safest forms of travel today, people have a fascination with what happens when disaster strikes and a pilot has to try and save the lives of hundreds of people on board. Emmet Feerick is the founder of the hugely successful Youtube channel Green Dot Aviation, and in this interview he talks to Colm about why he is so interested in studying the psychology behind some of the worst aviation disasters in history. He talks about how humans react when under immense pressure, and how in some cases they can rise to the occasion to save the day. instagram.com/colmflynnire

While almost every other aircraft in the United States was being grounded, Colonel Mark Tillman was pushing his throttles full force ahead to get Air Force One into the air as quick as possible. Behind him, inside the flying White House, was President George W. Bush - coming to terms with the fact that America was under attack, the deadliest hit since Pearl Harbor. Captain Mark Tillman had one of the most important jobs in America on September 11th 2001, to ensure the safety of the United States president and the continuity of government. As they flew through the air, racing back to Washington DC, they heard the news that a third plane had hit the Pentagon and there were an unknown number of other hijackings in the sky. Air Force One banked at a sharp angle and headed to a secret military base instead. In this one-on-one exclusive interview, Colonel Mark Tillman tells Colm Flynn about his memories of that horrific day, and accounts how the crew felt flying through the air knowing their country was under attack. instagram.com/colmflynnire

Growing up in the projects in New Jersey, Steven Allbright knew his father was involved in the mafia. From FBI agents spying through their windows, to his dad asking him to take mysterious bags down to the local bar. And as they say, like father, like son, and when Steven grew up he copied many of his father's habits with alcohol, drugs, and women. Struggling with alcohol addiction, Steven managed to hold down a good job, and worked as private security for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. He was married, had a child, a nice house and car. But when he took his first shot of cocaine, little did he know it would lead him on a journey that would ultimately end up in prison. After six years in jail, Steven says he would have been thrilled if someone gave him a chance just to wash the dishes in a kitchen, but today he is the executive chef of a multi-million dollar kitchen in a top-restaurant in Washington DC. And in this podcast interview, Steven tells Colm how he turned his life around after finding himself behind bars, and how he comes to terms with his past and the life that he lived. This podcast is brought to you by The Last Lions. (www.thelastlions.net)instagram.com/colmflynnire

The idea of death is something most of us never like to talk about. It can be so heartbreaking to be at a funeral and watch a family grieving over a lost loved one. And because of the pain we feel when we think about those we know someday dying, we normally avoid the topic. But for Irishman Ronan Conneely, he is surrounded by death everyday. At 22-year-old, he is one of Ireland's youngest embalmers. And in this podcast interview, he tells Colm about how he started working in the family business at a young age, helping his father collect people who had died and bring them to the funeral home. He also talks about the toll the job takes on his personal life and how the work has affected his attitude towards life and death. instagram.com/colmflynnire

Can you imagine growing up blind and being bullied in school, and thinking you were the problem because you were blind? That was Ollie Cantos' life. But it was thanks to some tough love from his parents that made him realise his full potential, leading to him working as an Associate Director for Domestic Policy at the White House, and then a civil rights attorney for the Department of Education.Career success aside, he focused on his personal life and deeply wanted a family. But he never imagined how it could come about. And today, has adopted triplet boys from Columbia who are also blind. Here is their incredible story. instagram.com/colmflynnire

Mountain Butorac was working in IT in Atlanta, Georgia, but wasn't passionate about his job. Growing in his faith, he knew he wanted to do something connected with his Catholicism but wasn't sure what. That was until one day when he took a trip to Italy and fell in love! He fell in love with the ancient architecture and history, delicious pasta and pizza, and the slower pace of life. When he returned to the USA he quit his job, started a tour company, and eventually moved his family to Italy. Today, Mountain runs a successful tour group called 'The Catholic Traveller' where he brings pilgrims and tourists around Italy's most iconic spots, and further afield to places like Ireland, France, Poland and the Holy Land. He's also built up a large following on social media, giving his fans a unique insight into what life is like for an American living in Rome. In this interview, Mountain tells Colm about what it was like growing up in the music industry in Atlanta, and how he changed from one job to another before eventually having the courage to quit and follow his heart. He also talks about the challenges of running a tour company and the things that can go wrong, but ultimately how he wouldn't change it for anything else.In this episode of the Colm Flynn Podcast the guest is 'The Catholic Traveler', Mountain Butorac. instagram.com/colmflynnire

Tighe Dixon is originally from Dublin in Ireland, and growing up didn't always have it easy. He came from a family that, although loving, had problems with alcohol and drug addiction. As a child he would go in and out of prison visiting his father and other relatives, often wondering why life was like this. When it came time for him to forge his own path in life he looked around and wondered would his fate be the same. But instead, he decided he was going to be the one to make a change and break the cycle. With mounting frustration and anger, he knew he needed to get away and make a fresh start. So with that, he packed his bags and moved to Dubai where he lives today, selling and renting real estate in a booming market. But on top of this, Tighe wanted to do something to encourage others who find themselves in family or community situations that are unhealthy, and so started uploading videos about his life to social media. Already he has over 17,000 followers on Instagram where he tries to spread hope and positivity. Here is his story.  instagram.com/colmflynnire

Alan Clarke is an Irish social media influencer and podcast host who has built an impressive following over the past number of years. His live podcast stage shows, 'Big News Coming Soon', has been filling venues right around Ireland, not just in his home county of Mayo. And in this episode of the Colm Flynn Podcast, Alan talks about the reality behind why he started the live shows, and how much work goes into each episode. He also opens up about his personal life and the fact he dropped out of school before his Leaving Cert exams, the teachers telling him he wouldn't amount to much. Hear Alan Clarke's inspiring story of not waiting for anyone to give him a break, but instead doing it for himself! Colm Flynn Podcast Season 3 Episode 1instagram.com/colmflynnire

Diana Bunici is a talented Irish journalist and broadcaster who made a name for herself presenting a popular children's TV show on RTÈ, the national broadcaster. From the outset it seemed like she had it all; a dream job, on the cover of magazines, and a great boyfriend. But when you hear her story of how she got to where she is today, it's much more impressive and interesting. Diana grew up in rural Moldova in Eastern Europe. Money was scare, life was simple, and opportunities were few and far between. But thanks to her parent's sacrifice and determination, they moved to Ireland and embarked on a new life. In this podcast Diana talks about what it was like starting life in a new country, and trying to fit in with your school mates. She speaks about her time working in television and the insecurity she was feeling around that time, always afraid of how others would perceive her. And we talk about her engagement to Kodaline singer, Steve Garrigan.Here is Diana Bunici's story. instagram.com/colmflynnire

Finn Boylan is an Irish filmmaker from Bray in Co. Wicklow. He has always had a strong interest in the history of wars and conflicts around the world, feeling a fascination with places of unrest. When the war broke out in Ukraine in 2022 he had just started filmmaking and felt a strong urge that he had to travel to Ukraine and capture what was happening. Finn realised history was being made and he wanted to play his part. But nothing could have prepared him for what he would witness over the next five months as his camera brought him right into the middle of the tragedy that was unfolding. The footage he captured is real, is raw, and tells the story of a country fighting to survive amidst such heartache and devastation. Now, for the first time in an extended interview, the man behind the camera, Finn Boylan, tells his story.

David Harper is a broadcaster from the UK, working with networks like the BBC World Service. In fact, his voice can often be heard reading news live to millions of people around the world. He also covers a wide range of stories for other TV and radio networks in the UK. He has a passion for what he does!But his job can be very demanding and high-pressured at times, and being a freelancer the work can be unstable. But what makes David's situation a bit more difficult, is that he suffers from Bipolar Disorder. He kept his condition a secret for many years, fearing what others would think, and the possibility of losing work as looking unstable. But recently he uploaded a video to X (formerly Twitter) where he talked about his diagnoses and how that affected his life. In this podcast, David tells me about what it's like living with extreme lows, and manic highs, and how it affects his life every day. He also talks openly about the problems bipolar disorder can have on his family and friends, and those closest to him. We discuss the medication he has tried, and what he says eventually worked for him in terms of coping with it.

The name Lucy Letby has now become a name associated with pure evil.  The story that has shocked and horrified England, and people all over the world is something you wouldn't find in even the worst horror movies. A young nurse murdering tiny babies while working in the neonatal unit of a UK hospital. Instead of caring for the most vulnerable, she was injecting them with air, milk, and insulin.. And in one case, even inserting a sharp instrument into a baby's throat to try and make it bleed to death….  But yet, a UK court has just ruled that this is exactly what Lucy Letby did between 2015 and 2015 when she was just 25 years old. She killed infant babies while on duty and then pretend to the heartbroken parents that she had done everything she could to try and save their child. In some cases she even look up the parents on facebook after, and wrote messages of sympathy to them.We now know the where, when, and how of these horrific crimes, but we do not know the why. Dr. David Holmes is one of the UK's leading criminal psychologist and joins Colm Flynn on this podcast to try and give an insight into the mind of someone like Lucy Letby, and why someone with psychopathic tendencies can be driven to do acts of pure evil.  They also discuss the public's fascination with the case, and serial killers in general, and whether or not people like Lucy Letby should be named in public, given the attention their narcissistic personality so badly craves, or if they should be simply ignored and left to die in prison. 

Growing up in a dysfunctional family in the UK, Lucy Barnes felt lost and unloved as a child. Her mother wasn't able to be the kind of mother a child needs, and Lucy had five siblings from five different fathers. So the concept of a solid loving family was something she never experienced from a young age. Men were constantly coming and going in their home, and Lucy often found herself in difficult and dangerous situations. Eventually things got so bad, when she was 13 she kicked out of her home by her mother, and then a social worker got her into foster care. With the foster family, for once in her life she experienced love and acceptance, but didn't know how to handle it and so rebelled. Throughout her teenage years she battled with shame and guilt, thinking of her childhood and where she had come from. When she was 16 she was kicked out of foster care and returned back to her mother's house. But rather than letting the cycle continue, Lucy realised that the only way she would break it would be through education and she set herself an ambitious task - to study law. This is Lucy's amazing story of how, against the odds, she pursued her dream and went to law school, and now is on her way to becoming a barrister. Lucy Barnes had to mature at a younger age than most, and experienced obstacles in life that has made her stronger and more determined. In this podcast she shares her amazing story, and the valuable insights she has learned throughout her life. 

Jordan Pulmano is a filmmaker from California who specialises in shooting music videos and festivals. His work has brought him all over the United States, and to other parts of the world. But back in 2017 he got a call to film a music festival that would go down in history, but for all the wrong reasons. 'Fyre Festival' was billed as a glamorous, exclusive, and one-of-a-kind music festival which was to be held on an island in the Bahamas. Jordan was really excited to go and film with his team who would be documenting everything over the course of the festival. Their job was to produce a highlights video at the end that would be used to promote the festival the following year. But as they landed on the tropical island, straight away it was apparent that things were not going according to plan, and over the next couple of days things quickly fell apart. The man who organised the festival, Billy McFarland, was jailed for four years.Here is Jordan's story of being hired to film the infamous Fyre Festival.

Emily Mais is a writer and an author who, after losing her mother to cancer, decided to reevaluate her life and change the things that didn't make her happy. Like so many other people her age, she was at a point in life with a steady long-term boyfriend, a good job, and a nice apartment in Toronto, but ultimately wasn't happy. It took losing her mother to help her realise that life is short, and you only get one chance at things. So, with no real plan or agenda, she left her home in Canada, changed careers, and moved to Rome in Italy where she now lives. In this podcast, Emily talks to Colm about what those final months with her mother were like, and how it inspired her to become a writer focusing on love, loss and grief. The three things she says we all experience but never plan for. You can follow Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emaisy/

All his life Tanner Charles has been running towards the very thing that people most people run away from, Tornadoes! Since he was a teenager he has been a passionate storm chaser, constantly trying to get closer and closer to the danger.  From Minnesota, Tanner now produces Youtube videos where he follows violent and destructive storms, sometimes driving for hours just to see one. In this podcast interview, Tanner tells Colm about his love of seeing Tornadoes hit land and experiencing their sheer power. He also opens up about the most emotional storm chase ever where he found himself helping an elderly couple whose home was completely destroyed. Colm and Tanner also talk about the ethics behind the videos he makes, and whether promoting and filming storm chasing is responsible, especially when they cause so much destruction, and sometimes even death.Finally, in a surprising twist to the interview, Tanner reveals he is a Christian and talks about how he sees tornadoes as part of God's plan. 

Louise Cooney is one of Ireland's most successful social media stars, with almost a quarter of a million followers on Instagram alone. But behind the seemingly always glamorous lifestyle online, in this episode of the Colm Flynn podcast, Louise talks about the hard work that goes into building a brand and business. She talks about the pros and cons of being self employed and the kind of challenges she faced when launching a new clothing band, Cloo Active. In this interview Louise also opens up about her big move to New York city and how the experience wasn't quite what she expected or hoped it would be. But as you'll hear Louise reveal, she believes everything happens for a reason, and has never been happier to be back in Ireland now where she has found love, happiness and appreciation for everything she has.Follow Louise on social media @louisecooney_

In this episode of the Colm Flynn Podcast, I chat to Irish social media influencer and reality TV star, Cormac Murphy. Living in New York City, Cormac featured in the first season of 'Love Island' on CBS and also appeared on the E4 show of 'Celebs Go Dating' in the UK. But behind the chiselled instagram pictures and seemingly perfect life in the US, Cormac was secretary battling with addiction and depression. His addiction to alcohol and drugs became so bad that his family eventually had to intervene and bring him back to Ireland and to rehab. Cormac claims he believes he would always have ended up in rehab, but thinks the party lifestyle that came with recognition from his TV work accelerated that. Now, Cormac is back in New York City and living a new life. He's sober, healthy, happy, and running a successful fitness company called Macc Fitness. 

In this edition of the podcast I cannot reveal the name of my guest or what part of Europe she is in, so as to protect her and her family's safety.  She is from Iran and when she was 20 years of age, she was arrested by the country's so-called 'morality police'. She was locked into the coffee shop where she was sitting with her friends, verbally berated and humiliated, and threatened with whipping. What was her crime? She dared to show some of her hair from behind her hijab and wear red lipstick. In September of 2022, a 20-year-old girl named Mahsa Amini was arrested by the morality police in Iran. She was reportedly beaten around the head. Her crime? Showing a small bit of her hair from behind her hijab. She went into a coma and died three days later. Her death sparked widespread protests in Iran, with government forces killing over 400 people, including 58 children. They say, they are maintaining law and order, and that these people are not protestors, but 'rioters' and 'terrorists'. As the horror in Iran continues to unfold, my guest has agreed to share her personal story of dealing with the morality police in the help of us understanding how the system works in Iran, and what kind of future the country could be facing. It's a unique insight into a way of life that is so unfamiliar to most of us, and frightening to think it is real.This is an issue that needs to be highlighted across the world. Please help raise awareness. 

Bláithín Ennis is an incredibly talented Irish fashion designer, specialising in jewellery and accessories. Her work is sold in some of Ireland's top retail outlets, and has been worn by celebrities around the world. From Wexford in the south east of Ireland, in this episode, Bláithín tells Colm about where her love of fashion and creating came from, and how she landed a dream internship working with Diane von Furstenberg in New York. She also talks about what it's like running her own fashion business and brand in Ireland and the challenges that poses. Finally, her advice to anyone considering turning their passion into a business. 

Welcome to season 2 of the Colm Flynn Podcast! Dara Tah is an Irish Youtuber and Ticktocker who has shot to internet fame in recent months. But overnight success has come after years of hard work, and in this interview Dara tells Colm about some of the more daring parts of his YouTube videos including what goes in to making a viral hit. Dara has perfomed stunts like visiting Area 51, being buried alive, and staying the night in Ireland's most haunted house! All in the name of his YouTube channel.

Kevin Briggs has stood, sometimes for hours late at night, in the freezing cold mist on the Golden Gate Bridge. The routine became all-too familiar for Kevin. Talking to someone who had climbed the barrier of San Francisco's iconic bridge and who was about to jump to the choppy waters below. With no formal training in negotiation, or how to handle depression or suicide, he would carefully navigate conversations with these individuals who stood there in the wind at the lowest point in their life. What's remarkable about Kevin story, is how effective him just listening to these people was. Over his career he talked approximately 600 people down from the bridge, and sadly lost two.  In this interview, Kevin tells me about the people he encountered and what brought them to the bridge. We also talk about the effect this kind of work has had on him, and what advice he has to others who are feeling suicidal, or know someone who is. In this interview, we talk about people who were suffering in the depths of depression, and some people may find parts upsetting. If you are affected by depression or suicide, please talk to someone. You can start by checking out one of these links below. There will be someone like Kevin there to listen to you, and help you with what you are going through. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/help-for-suicidal-thoughts/https://mentalhealth.org.nz/conditions/condition/suicide-coping-with-suicidal-thoughts

Shaun Doherty was, for 30 years, a hugely successful broadcaster in Donegal, Ireland. Every day he presented the main talk show on Highland Radio. Over three decades he became a household name in the region and won multiple awards for his work. But one day, he announced live on air, that he would be leaving his job in radio, and pursuing something else. Now, in this exclusive interview, Shaun talks to Colm Flynn about why he decided to walk away from the success he had, and move to Rome in Italy, to start a new life studying for the priesthood, and how he hopes to find fulfilment in his new role. 

Brooke Brodack was once the most subscribed YouTuber in the world but suddenly deleted her channel and disappeared from all social media. It was 2005 and YouTube was still a new website. Then a 19 year old girl from Holden, Massachusetts, created a channel called 'Brookers' where she uploaded videos of herself hanging around the house, doing funny sketches, and just being creative. Her channel took off and gained over 60,000 subscribers, at one point being the most-subscribed channel on YouTube. She was offered a gig by NBC and moved to Hollywood... But then deleted her channel, and all social media, and moved to India. She tells Colm Flynn her story.

Marty Cooper is nothing more than a living legend. Back in the early 70's, he and a small team of engineers at Motorola changed the course of history forever when they developed the first every handheld portable cellphone. Motorola wasn't a big company at the time and was up against the biggest company in the world, AT&T, who were pushing their own invention that was a car phone. It was really a case of David and Goliath as the two companies went head to head for the future of the telephone.Marty Cooper and his invention of cellphone beat all the odds and in 1973 Marty made history by making the first-ever cellphone call in history on 6th Avenue in New York City. Who did he call? His rival Joel Engle, the head of AT&T.In this short podcast I chat to Marty Cooper about that incredible time and how his invention went on to change the world! 

Can you imagine living on a tropical island in the south Pacific Ocean? A paradise on Earth where life moves at a slower rate. That's where my guest for this episode lives and works. Sanya Ruggiero is a consultant communications advisor who works with the UN and other organisations. She is now working on a UN project to provide Covid relief to small business and freelancers in Fiji and neighbouring islands. She is also working on a project to clear radioactive waste left on the Marshall Islands following nuclear weapons testing by the US government. Recently she was has written articles for AlJazeera and worked on projects with ABC, the Australian national broadcaster. Sanya also has a strong Catholic faith, which she says has helped her in life, despite it been sometimes seen as unpopular by some of her colleagues. In this interview I chat to Sanya about her fascinating family story, the history of the Figi islands, and the work she is doing today. Thanks for listening, and follow Sanya on Twitter: @Sanya_Ruggiero

Lisa Murphy is 31 and from Cork in the south of Ireland, and if you met her you would be taken by her warm and bubbly personality. On the face of it she looks like a 'normal' happy young woman, living in Ireland's capital, Dublin, and having recently started a new job. But under the surface Lisa has been battling a debilitating and life-threatening condition for the last twelve years, bulimia. This condition leaves no marks on her body, or makes her look a certain way, and so most of the time it is impossible for others to tell something is wrong. But every day Lisa goes through an uncontrollable cycle of binge eating, and then purging.. over and over again. What started when she was 19  years of age, making herself get sick so she could look 'sexy' like other girls, spiralled out of control in the years that followed and Lisa found herself doing things she would never thought she was capable of. Lisa hit rock bottom earlier this year when she attempted to commit suicide as her eating disorder was so out of control. Now she is looking for help, and has started a GoFundMe to raise money to pay for treatment at a specialised centre. In this interview, Lisa is so honest and open about her condition and the effect it is having on her life. But please be warned, some parts of the interview are graphic and may be difficult for some listeners to hear, especially if you have been affected by an eating disorder or have felt suicidal. I want to really thank Lisa for being so generous with her time and willingness to share her story. The insight she offers into the life of a person with an eating disorder is unique and very raw, and I know that I learned an incredible amount about a condition I knew very little of before.Please share this interview with those you know, and support Lisa and her GoFundMe, here:https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-help-our-friend-lisa?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

After the catastrophic disaster at the Chernobyl  Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine in 1986, around 50,000 people were evacuated from the nearby city of Pripyat. The residents were told to take just the clothes they were wearing along with their passports, and reassured they would be allowed to return soon after. However as radiation levels were so high, the decision was made to create a 30km 'exclusion zone' around the Chernobyl power station and for the past 35 years the city of Pripyat has become a ghost town, frozen in time in Soviet 1986, and now giving way to nature. Philip Grossman is a scientist, engineer and filmmaker, who has visited the city of Pripyat and the Chernobyl exclusion zone 14 times. He explored the abandoned buildings which are still highly radioactive in parts still today. Colm Flynn talks to Philip Grossman about his experiences exploring the exclusion zone, as well some of the misconceptions around the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. They also talk about the overall safety of nuclear energy today. 

On Easter Sunday in 1964, one of the strongest earthquakes in North American history struck Alaska with the city of Anchorage being horst hit. Amidst the destruction and despair, a voice emerged over the crackling airwaves that would go on to become one of the unlikely heroes of the disaster.  Genie Chance was a local radio journalist who rushed to the station when the earthquake struck. For the next few days, she broadcast around the clock helping the dazed and confused locals find their loved ones and relayed messages of hope and encouragement. I speak with author and journalist Jon Mooallem, who just published a new book, ‘This Is Chance! The Shaking of an All-American City, A Voice That Held It Together', about this remarkable woman and how she helped to hold the community together during their darkest hour. 

Stephen began to realize something wasn't right when noticed parts of his memory was missing. He would go for a walk with his girlfriend during the day and then realize he couldn't recall the last ten minutes - anything. He put it down to stress. But when it continued and became more frequent, added with severe headaches, he went to the doctor. After a brain scan, his doctor called him, "Stephen, you have a brain tumor."... This is the reality that is facing a friend of mine.Stephen and I went to college together and he was always such a vibrant and fun person to be around. As we say in Ireland he was a 'character'. Always well dressed, always talking cigars, movies, and fashion.  A few years after leaving college Stephen was struck with tragedy when his mother passed away. Soon after this, he was diagnosed with having a brain tumor. Now, after two surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Stephen is sharing his experience of how he was able to remain strong and stable throughout his life-changing ordeal.

Imagine being paid to lie? Imagine having to live a lie for most of your professional career? If you forget your lies, or get them mixed up, you could be killed. This was the life that Marc Ruskin lived as a secret undercover FBI agent for almost 20 years.The FBI generally has about 100 UC agents working full-time in the field. In the 1990s and 2000s, Marc Ruskin had the most diverse, and notorious, case list of all, and the broadest experience within the bureaucracy, including overseas. He worked ops targeting public corruption, corporate fraud, Wall Street scams, narcotics trafficking, La Cosa Nostra, counterfeiting―and gritty street-level scams and schemes.Sometimes working three or four cases simultaneously, Ruskin switched identities by the day: Each morning he had to walk out the door with the correct ID, clothes, accessories and frame of mind for that day's mission. Meet Alex Perez, Alejandro Marconi, and Sal Morelli, just a few of Ruskin's undercover personas.But what about the psychology of doing undercover work? Did Marc ever feel guilty about turning in his subjects, after getting to know them quite well over a period of time? Does he ever think he provoked them to carry out more crime in order to build his case? Do elements of these characters he had to act and live out stay with him? Listen to find out more. 

Paddy Slattery is an Irish filmmaker and director who has just been named by IFTA (Irish version of the Oscars) as one of Ireland's top emerging talents. But growing up, it was never his plan to pursue a career in cinema. He comes from a village in the countryside west of Dublin and in 1996 when he was just 17 years of age, Paddy was the passenger of a car that was involved in a serious accident, flying off a country road and flipping a number of times. The driver and other passengers walked away with little injuries, but as Paddy was not wearing a seatbelt he was left paralyzed from the chest down. "I don't care what they say, I will walk again.",  were the words he told doctors as he sat in a new wheelchair. 25 years later, Paddy says he can now fly. Colm Flynn talks to Paddy Slattery about his incredible story, who says that when his "body switched off, my mind switched on."

Mario Salerno is a landlord like no other. After first meeting him you may think this hard-talking, body-building, tracksuit-wearing, Italian American would be as tough as nails, but as hundreds of his tenants discovered when New York was in the grip of the Coronavirus, he has a heart of gold. In April of 2020 New Yorkers were devastated when their city became the global epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic. The city that once never slumbered overnight became like a ghost town as people fled the city. For many of those who remained, life was tough as people started losing their jobs and income. In the neighborhood of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, Mario Salerno runs an auto body repair shop and garage. He is also a very successful landlord with over 200 tenants and noticing how much some of them were hurting, he decided to do what most landlords would never dream of doing. He waived the rent for all 200 tenants for the entire month of April. Conservative maths put Mario at a loss of over a quarter of a million dollars. Colm Flynn heard about his story and immediately went to interview him at his garage. After the report was broadcast it went viral and Mario became known as the 'Angel Landlord' of Brooklyn. He was invited on to the Ellen Show, mentioned on Saturday Night Live, and even invited to the White House by President Trump! One year after his incredibly generous gesture, Colm travels to New York to meet Mario Salerno to find out more about him and the story of Brooklyn's 'Angel Landlord'.

Hannah Alderman is a young aspiring model who recently moved to New York City from Oklahoma. Moving to one of the most exciting cities in the world was a big step for Hannah towards her dream of becoming a professional model. However, when Covid-19 hit, she found herself locked into her apartment building in Brooklyn. It wasn't all bad as on her rooftop many of the building's tenants would meet in the evenings and throw parties. Hannah would go up to the roof every night and have a glass of wine... the only problem is she would not know when to stop. She soon released that she had a problem with alcohol and struggled to try and get it under control, eventually resulting in her checking into rehab back in Oklahoma. In this podcast, Hannah talks to Colm Flynn about her relationship with alcohol and the toll it took on her life, and how, with the help of others she has been able to battle the addiction and fight for a brighter future.