Darren Matthews And Sometimes Friends

I sat down for a zoom call with Kimberly McLoughlin (_Kimberlymcloughlin on Instagram) as we chat about one year with no booze and drugs and how to recover loudly and with an online presence. We go through figuring out there's a problem, small town boredom and alcohol in modern society. Have a listen and don't feel uncomfortable when we make jokes, because Kimmy and myself didn't. Like, share and subscribe.

Amy Magee, DJ and content creator for harboursideradio.com/ joins me this week on a chat of how to start your own radio station that broadcasts worldwide in the hopes of creating an entertainment and arts space in a building that has been an indoor playground, a gym and a night club. Sounds complicated? You should try being Amy and organising local DJs, content and the occasional 24hr broadcast. check out the station and give Amy herself on Instagram at therockshowwithamy 

This episode is with Colm G Doran who tells you how to go from a drama degree to working in the theatre after a few years off. We discuss immersive theatre, inspiration and creativity while stuck in house and having a non traditional Irish father who pushes you in to the arts. Colm was also one of the first people who helped me get stage time as a new comedian with open mics at the Bookfinders cafe in Belfast so we have a good laugh about that also. Check out his socials and Instagram at Colmg1 to see what he is working on this weather.

I chat with Toronto born Stephanie Bukovec who I was lucky enough to work with during my time in Canada and learn a thing or two from regarding football and thankfully for it as she has been plying her trade for a number of years now across Europe from Sweden to Iceland to Croatia to Ajax in the Netherlands and finally back to Croatia where she is first team goalie and now National team goalkeeper through the wonders o the grandmother rule. Have a listen to Stephanie talk about starting in Canada as a freestyler and showing the boys how it was done back in the day. Check out her Instagram at scbukovec and follow what she has been up to.

I chat to one half of the "Deckchair and Yumz" podcast and the other half of the "Best of the Best Podcast" Conor Keys about how to accidentally start a successful podcast amid the world shutting up shop. We delve into the vanilla Podcast and the Patreon version wheres Keys and co go down the rabbit hole of whats going on in the world. Check out the main mans podcasts on all your favourite Podcasty places. We talk missing gigs and Keys first gig which I also performed at. Good times and looking forward to sharing the stage with Conor again soon.

I sat down with the very entertaining Bruce Fummey and promised him I'd only take an hour of his day and ended up taking years off his life. Bruce and myself talk how a teaching career leads to being a tour guide via a stand up comedy career. We chat Scottish history, it's ties to Ireland, Scots language and Scots Gaelic, kings, queens, battles, the intricacies of how I've been pronouncing Alba wrong for years. Basically. We talk... a lot. Check out Bruce's fantastic website at https://www.scotlandhistorytours.co.uk/ give him a subscribe on Youtube and find his Facebook page. God forbid you learn something while being entertained.

Canks joins me for a chat about his own Podcast and the hows and whys of home schooling and staying sane while trapped in the house for Lock down 3. Check out the FELLASHIP PODCAST Out Every Sunday where all good Podcasts are found.

I finally get semi professional drinker and fully qualified Strabane person Sean O'Neill on the ups and downs of drinking for free, home brewing and the beer and bugs taste pairing we filmed a few months ago. Check out Seans content at Canacrosstheworld.com

I catch up with long time comedy buddy and all round busy man Sean Hegarty. We talk why Zoom gigs are the devil, home schooling 3 boys and IVF stigmas in todays world. Search Sean Hegarty Podcasts to check out Seans new and existing work.

I chat with Linda Ervine on her thoughts about teaching Irish for everyone at Turas in East Belfast and how the language belongs to everyone, going from taking a 6 week taster course to doing a degree in Irish in 8 short years and how to get a job as president of a GAA club without ever having seen a match. Check out https://www.ebm.org.uk/turas/ for more if you want to learn some Irish also.

I sat down for a 10 hour time difference of a chat with the very talented and learned Craig Quartermaine. We chatted about Covid being good to the big man and how he ended up in Queensland after a life time as a Perth boy. We talk indigenous Australian culture and the present situation of allegations within our respective comedy scenes. Like, Share and subscribe and check out Craigs Podcast 'Somethin Clever' and material. It's clever stuff. Always a pleasure catching up and he didn't even give me shit for supporting the rival footy team. 

I got Comedian, writer and performer Leo Kearse on to chat with some one I don't agree with politically but can't fault the man as a great joke writer. We talk people trying to cancel him and how he ended up as a right wing comedian. We cover why comedians shouldn't behave like a politician and how to say terrible things in a smart and funny way. Check out Leos Youtube channel for more videos of his material. Like, share and subscribe and drop a review where ever possible. Do what Leos political heroes do. Lie if you have to.

Continuing on from Andy's own Podcast interview with Ruairi Creaney I decided to pick the big mans brains all the way from how to invite unionism to the table of a United Ireland to him telling me his family almost ended up in Australia instead of Lurgan only his mother took a liking to the new houses being built. Give an Armagh man a cold beer and he'll give you a hot take on anything. 

I chatted with Andy McGibbon from Lurgan bluesy bastards the Bonnevilles and we ended up making it an epic podcast. Part one is the realities of being in a touring band and literally keeping the show on the road. We talk tour stories and being music nerds with the romantic notions about reading album liner notes and why drummers never own a car big enough to fit their kit in.  I learned about the genesis of the Bonnevilles and how much noise 2 lads from Lurgan can really make.

Great chat today with Diona Doherty. She's that lady you've seen in that thing but can't quite place her face. You know the one. I think it was on BBC. As a career actor with a CV that includes, TV, film, voice over and writing shows of her own and all that was before she decided to dip her toe into stand up comedy also. We chat the reality of the jobbing actor from being recognizable worldwide on Netflix to advertising local supermarkets to Irish language  movies when you aren't fluent. I always learn how to make a self tape. Check out Diona's work on Twitter and Instagram at dionadoherty. Like. Share. Subscribe and enjoy our chat.

This episode I'm joined by the very funny and excellent dancer Aaron Butler to talk starting comedy with a gig at the Edinburgh Festival and the shared trauma of things that just weren't right about Catholic school musicals at the turn of the century among other things. Check out Aarons own work at Aaronbutler.online and that will link you to all his appropriate channels. He can link you to the inappropriate ones from there. Like. Share. Subscribe and enjoy Aaron's stuff also.

It's my first returning guest with Stevo Timothy of farmer Michael and Kathleen fame coming back to talk about raising over 60,000 euro for the Irish Wheelchair association in memory of his mother Evelyn. We touch on training during Covid 19, celebrity friends making videos of support and being escorted to the finish line by a group of bikers. We also delve into the sad state of affairs as to why charities exist in Ireland and beyond and I chat with Steve about how to make smart social commentary satire after the release of his most recent video referencing the civil unrest in America.

I chatted with my former boss and current Vice President of Challenger Sports Alex Green. From Glasgow to Rhode island and after 20 years of coaching soccer in America Greeno has done more miles than me down the highways and byways of North America. We chatted coaching football in America, the adventures of staying with host families who party with 50 cent and why I call him the unicorn after working together for a week in Shania Twains home town in Canada. Enjoy the madness and we are looking into subtitles for our two accents. check out challengersports.com to know more.

I go back into my murky past as a rocker and Zoom called with very talented Brian Cranley who once was the singer in my band The Scream which we later changed to Soviet Flares when we found out that name was taken by a band Dave Grohl used to drum for. We chat about life in Vancouver, being in a band with family and friends and how marrying someone abroad doesn't guarantee you that sweet visa and future Canadian Prime Minister Bryan Adams. Like, share and subscribe and check out Low Kamouraska on Spotify for a taste of the talents of Brian Cranley.

Lucky enough this episode I got chatting to Golden contract finalist and all round entertainer and professional fighter Tyrone McKenna. Determined to be Belfast's most entertaining boxer while learning bass guitar and being part of a comedy duo with another guy called Tyrone. No seriously... Check out the big man on Instagram @ Tyrone_mc_kenna and get on the band wagon. This fighter is going big time. Oh and don't ask him for a free T shirt. What the hell Am I talking about? Give the episode a listen as we compare fight records and have a great oul chat.

I Zoom called this week all the way to... back where I'm from to chat with recently qualified nurse and professional throwing herself down trails on a mountain biker Nicole O'Hagan. We chat the best the way to get started, handlebar flips and I learn new words like hard tail and enduro race. Check Nicole out @nicole_ohagan on Instagram for more info and exciting trail trekking adventures.

I sat down for a lengthy chat with Perth based comedian and former Queenslander via Adelaide Sian Choyce. We talk comedy, Australian accents and culture and why living in the most isolated City in the world is finally paying off for the people in Western Australia. You'll make the smart Choyce by listening to this lovely episode... I'm sorry, I'll get my own coat after that pun. Check out Sian on twitter at Sian_Choyce and Instagram @siananabread . Sian has opened for Chris D’Elia, Ari Shaffir, Bert Kreischer and Doug Stanhope, TWICE.

I zoom called in with creator of the Life of Sharks and trainee guitar building, screen printing funny man Christian Talbot (quite the CV) about how comedy leads to a life working with your hands and writing a comic about sharks with a merchandise line. I know this seems like a lot of random things but just listen and enjoy. Like, subscribe and share with your friends and family. I think we both managed not to swear in this one.

The episode is a podcast about a podcast with creator of the Instant Feedback Podcast ( I'll stop saying Podcast now) Marcus Keeley and how he came about the idea of interviewing performers immediately after they came off stage be they comedian, poet or comedian who just died on their arse. We talk running comedy nights, made up comedians adventures in France for a one hour show. Check out The Instant Feedback podcast on all your favourite places to listen to ... I've said Podcast again haven't I?

I chat this week with documentarian and a man who was raised in my village even though he arrived from Scotland. We chatted music in the good old days, film making, travelling with a camera and how to turn your passion in to your work by making a documentary about your favourite football team. Ally is on Twitter @allymckenzie91 and keep an eye out for some upcoming film projects with BBC from his production company Sideline Films.

I chat with the lady who helped me pass my Level 2 gym instructor course (no really, I'm a qualified gym instructor) Emma Brennan, about what it's like to open a brand new state of the art gym and then have to close it in present times. We chat home workouts, producing the next generation of fitness professionals and my sweet Incredible Hulk/ Leonardo DaVinci mashup T shirt. Like, share, subscribe and drop and give me 20!

I talk comedy and lock down in the middle of nowhere with North Belfast comic and long suffering retail warrior Terry McHugh. Check out his facebook page Terry McHugh comedy for some free one man shows and give me a wee follow sure, he's good people. Also good look finding his house if you ever need him.

I give some podcast recommendations on lock down and talk about the lack of anything that I've been doing. All while having a beer.

St Paul's Belfast are the club that welcomed me in when I moved back to the city.

I guest star and also simulcast with my partner in comedy Lianne McCooey as she launches her new podcast 'modern life is rubbish'

I chat with writer, freelance journalist and all round lovely North Belfast person Amanda about the glamour of journalism as your own boss and not making social plans incase a big story comes up. A great chat over a pint from the Sunflower bar in Belfast.

I'm joined by London based Newry man John Meagher as we talk comedy as a business. The illusion of great gigs and our deep personal yet hilarious trauma of growing up in Newry. Check the man out online and enjoy the chat. Like share and subscribe lovely people.

I chat with creator of Nigel the BT9er and West Belfast comedian Paddy Raff about selling out arenas within 2 years of starting comedy and being so successful you own a caravan in Donegal. Enjoy.

I chat with touring comic and the most week travelled Lurganite in history. Micky Bartlett about comedy as a full time job and weird places for a gig.

I chat with Newry Reporter sports editor and long time champion of the entertainments in the local area about labours of love and getting paid to watch your favourite football team.

I chat with the pride of South Tipperary about how many miles it takes to make a good comedian, life before comedy and the intricacies of a county with two license registrations.

I chat with one half of he string ninjas about being a professional fiddler (steady on), musical upbringings and supporting a football team far far away.

I chat with comedian, dancer and artsy all rounder Leonie Mcdonagh about how a Galway girl ends up in Belfast and the finer points of stand up as an art form and how to host a world audience from your kitchen.

I chat with comedy writer, lighting technician and old school mate Gino Lynch about his writing, producing and starring as Taxi Jo while working in TV and movies. We talk comedy and the real life characters in the old home town.

I chat with Newry native now Sydney resident Cormac Lamb about the wild fires currently ravaging Australia and what's being done.

I chat with radio personality, all round presenter and award winning cat breeder Cate Conway about how to get started in broadcasting. Sky diving and fancy advent calenders amongst other things. Check out her Instagram @ Radio.Cate

I chat with comedian/improvisor Jordan Robinson about 100 gigs in his first year, opening for bigger boys and what's next after open heart surgery and his debut solo show Pig Heart.

This week I recap the first 10 episodes of the podcast and talk about upcoming gigs and plans for the new year in Belfast and beyond. Voting gets a mention also so please don't fall asleep there.

I chat with Scarlet Belles burlesque dancer and fellow hospitality survivor Caitlín Fearon about arts in Newry, dance and weird shape bananas. No... Really.

I chat with Barrick boy creator and west Belfast stand up comic Cormac about the origins of the online page, the madness of the wild west and how he ended up on stage between writing movie scripts and skits.

I chat with Belfast based DJ Darren Craig about DJing, when rock was king, ice hockey and his beloved Liverpool FC. Share it if you like it and subscribe wherever podcasts may be found.

I chat with fellow Bessbrook native and now Adelaide resident Sean Quinn about stand up, travel and the land down under. Australia. Not the republic.

I chat with creator and internet sensation Stevo Timothy about his farmer Michael character and what comes next after talking to your phone in your car.

I chat with comedian, writer, horse enthusiast and long suffering Everton fan Sinead Nora about her role as writer and creater of Kathleen, wife of Galway's own farmer Michael.

I chat with Chris. Former Antrim county goalkeeper and at Galls net minder turned mental health advocate in Belfast about sports and keeping your mind and your body right in the modern world.

I chat with Gerry Norman about his new musical project Tour Alaska, flaming vans and how to release music in today's age of the internet.