KOmbat show

After a long hiatus from the podcast I am back and looking forward to having some great guests on with real conversations, this podcast delves into what I have been up to and what swim Eire will entail. Hope you enjoy and look forward to sitting down and having real, raw authentic conversations with people that have helped me get to where I am today. 

Delighted to return to the podcast with a great guest, Emmett Brennan joins me to talk about his journey to the Olympics, what is was like post Olympics, mindset and talking about the future. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, and if you did don't forget to leave a review and subscribe.

In this episode, I detail what I have been getting up to since I have last been on the mic. I go into detail maybe too much...about a half ironman that I completed recently and also a triathlon where I had to sleep out under the stars on both occasions. This is a glimpse into who I am and into the power of being yourself to me it is not about winning it is about the adventure the journey the stories the memories, happiness is in the moments, not the achievements. I also detail a track marathon that I completed recently and why I undertook this challenge. I am also back doing what I do best interviewing great people that hopefully both me and you can get something valuable from. Hope you enjoy it. legends!

In this episode, I sit down and discuss a 400km cycle that I completed from Dublin to Waterford and back. I also delve into my recent long-distance swim that did not go as planned and how I responded. There is also to unpack so hope you get something out of it and enjoy!

In this episode, I go solo going into detail about a recent marathon that I completed in under 3 hours. My finishing time was 2:58:36. I go into detail about my preparation before the race and race day. I talk through topics like visualization, nutrition, water, salt, mindset and much more. Hope you enjoy it and more importantly take something from it!

In this episode of the podcast I sit down with Conor Mcginn one of the founders of Trainm8, we talk about everything ranging from health and fitness to recent charitable events such as the #Gimme1000 challenged that was launched during the second lockdown. Hope you enjoy!

In this solo episode of the podcast, I go into the topic of consistency in training, nutrition and life in general. I also delve into subjects like meditation and purpose along with my planned swim from Dublin to Waterford and our plans. I also detail why we are doing the swim and hopefully what we would like to achieve by doing this. Hope you enjoy it!

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with professional boxer and entrepreneur Luke Keeler about his love for boxing, his mindset and lots more. Luke talks about juggling a 9-5 job alongside being a professional boxer and why it is so important to focus on a singular goal if you really want to succeed. We also discuss the highs including the Conrad Cummings fights and the lows such as hand injuries. Really hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

In this episode of the podcast, I am joined by Cillian Bonnar.  Cillian set up his own business Full Rotation Fitness and we discuss this within the podcast. What really connected me to Cillian was his emphasis on a fitness lifestyle and we delve into this in the podcast. Cillian completed a rope climb challenge where he climbed a 15ft rope for over fours hours amounting to the height of Mt Lebanon, we discuss his preparation for this event as well as his mindset during it. We also discuss topics such as non-negotiables, recovery, warm-ups and creativity within workouts.  

Just a quick recap on the 60km urban ultramarathon that I completed two weeks ago, I detail my prior preparations, nutrition tapering and much much more! Whether you are looking to do 5k, 10k, 20k, a marathon or 100k all these points apply across the board as to how we do one thing is how we do everything. 

In this episode I discuss the importance of tapering coming up to an event, race, swim, cycle match etc. I detail my own personal failures and experiences in order to convey how important a well-planned taper really is. Tapering is reducing training load coming up to an event and it can be done correctly or incorrectly, I have experience of both and I share my learnings that hopefully can provide you with some nuggets of information. 

On this episode of the podcast, I am joined by Shane Fitzgerald. Shane is a postgraduate researcher at DCU and an aspiring endurance athlete based in Dublin. Shane has run distances on trails and roads ranging from 10-100km. Shane recently won a 100km race across Dublin which we go into in detail. We also discuss Shane's training at the moment as he is clocking in impressive milage. We delve into topics such as the importance of consistency, recover, the microbiome and much more! To follow Shane on Instagram click here

In this episode, I detail a topic that came to me cycling home after a swim one day and that is intelligence. In the past I thought that I was not intelligent because I wasn't great at school was being refused jobs in various places because I could not pass an aptitude test.  I now realise that intelligence comes in all shapes and sizes like us we are all unique and our intelligence is no different. Someone who is not very academically intelligent but can be extremely creative build things etc they are also intelligent just in a different way. I think that our education system and culture focuses too much on this singular academic and soft skill approach to intelligence, which I discuss further in the podcast. I also outline a challenge that I attempted over the weekend and that was trying to complete an Olympic distance Triathlon. The weather did not work out in my favour at all and it turned into a torturous duathlon in the wind and rain. I outline how we all have days where everything seems to go against us but these matter the most. The key lesson which I try to take from each challenge I do here is that discomfort enables us to enjoy comforts. 

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Derek Ahearn. Derek is a Level 2 IABA  & 1-star AIBA Coach & an IABA / SPORTS Ireland Boxing Coaching Tutor. Derek was heavily involved in boxing from a young age and started coaching St Saviours in 2001 to 2016 travelling all over Ireland, France Russia Estonia & many trips to England with teams.  Since 2015 Derek has been the head coach at DCU BC & has travelled to Sweden & England with teams. In 2018  Derek coached the Irish student team in the AIBA WORLD Student Games.We delve into how boxing, although proclaimed to be our most successful Olympic sport, has been In decline due to various factors that we go into in the podcast such as the IABA's split with high-performance coach Billy Walsh and current issues with funding. One of boxing's most important functions is giving people from disadvantaged backgrounds an avenue to excel. We discuss how sports Ireland have negated the societal benefits of boxing and have focused just on tangible successes like medals at elite competitions. As a result, funding has decreased leading to the closure of clubs across the country. 

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Ian Keohan. Ian has his own online business and has set up his own gym Alpha Fitness recently. We delve into how Ian got into health/fitness and how his journey has shaped him into who he is today. We also delve into various topics such as obsessiveness, recovery and goal-setting. Really hope you enjoy it!Click here to follow Ian on Instagram or here to access his website. 

In this episode, I discuss how I set goals for myself and recap on how some of my guests such as Dean Roche set goals using the SMART principle. I give my own experience of setting, striving toward and achieving my own goals and how rolling goals are vital in order to keep momentum and to keeping improving. Now is a great time to set goals but it is important to apply different goal setting techniques and pick one or two that suit you and your lifestyle best. 

In this episode of the podcast, I talk with Ross Munnelly who is Director of alumni relations at DCU and currently plays inter-county football for Co. Laois. We discuss the mentorship programme that Ross has had a massive impact over, how to strike up a healthy work-life balance and much more. Enjoy!

In this episode of the podcast I sit down with Paulie Caroll founder and owner of BodyShake and an absoluteinspiration  in terms of where he was to where he is at now. In this episode we delve into how Paulie set up BodyShake and how to take the leap when setting up your own business.  We also discuss how running has impacted Paulie's life and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. Paulie also gives details of a recent Ironman in Cork he completed which he needed to dig down deep to finish. Hope you enjoy it!

In this episode of the podcast me and Anthony who I met whilst running 65km through the Dublin mountains, run through Dublin while having a great conversation. Anthony's story is a powerful one as he details how running has changed his life and how he struggled with addiction in the past and how he overcame this. We delve into recovery, S&C, mindset, goals and much more. I wanted to record this podcast while running because it really conveys both our passions and adds another element to the podcast, Hope you enjoy it. 

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Solomon Simon an MMA fighter based in Waterford. We delve into how Solomon got into combat sports, transitioning from team-based sports, sleep, nutrition, mindset and much more. Hope you enjoy it!

In this episode of the podcast, I delve into the GreenLight analogy introduced to me by Ken O'Driscoll. I discuss the Greenlight analogy in practical and real-life terms as you are your own best example. I also talk about controlling the controllable's, setting precedents and also a special cycling thoughts element at the end!

In this episode, I sit down with Robert Kavanagh who is a Growth Account Executive at InVision in London. Robert was also my mentor for the DCU mentorship programme ran at the university. We discuss the importance of mentorship, fear, goal setting, passions, management, taking control and much more. Hope you enjoy it!

About 3 years ago a doctor told me that I wouldn't be able to run over 5km after breaking my ankle. I fully respect medical professionals verdicts but I knew that she was wrong, I knew my body and I don't think she knew I was a bit nuts. Every time I do long runs like this I think of that moment it puts a fire under me and gets me through. It was very tough 105 laps of a track no music, just counting in my head lap after lap.I had a goal to do a marathon around a running track and that has been ticked off. It is amazing the dark places you go and again everything telling you to give up. But it is unbelievable when you push through this.In this podcast I discuss the importance of prep, clarity and breaking down goals, hope you enjoy it!

I sit down with Tony Sullivan who has a brilliant insight into both physical and psychological fitness as he has studied and completed degrees in both. We delve into many topics including pushing past giving up, the intensity of your training sessions, staying consistent, setting goals and we delve into the topic of FEAR.

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Ken O'Driscoll founder of Cherry Orchard Running Club. Ken had just completed a 192km race through the hills of Co. Kerry the week beforehand so we delved into this topic and how he completed the race which was fascinating. We also discuss sea swimming as we were both just out of a tough swim at Monkstown. 

In this solo episode, I discuss the topic of FEAR. This motivation for this podcast came when I was asked a great question asking " So what are you afraid of ?". This got me thinking, so I decided to record a podcast on the topic, how I handle fear, and what I am afraid of. 

330km later I arrived back home last night, I had to leave the trip to sort some things out and decided to cycle across Ireland as you do. I started the journey on Monday and arrived Tuesday at 7 pm. I want to document what happened during the two days so here it goes.Day 1 - I left Ballybunion at 11 am and my phone went out of battery, so basically I had no real clue of where to go so I decided to just follow the Shannon onto Limerick. The rain did not stop the whole day and I wasn't wearing the best cycling gear so I was sweating buckets from the inside and soaked from the outside. I cycled onto a town called Roscrea in Tipperary which was about 160km from my start point. When I arrived it was getting dark and I needed a place to stay then I seen an old man standing on the side of the road as I approached him he had a €50 note in his hand and asked me to get him a pack of fags. I thought jesus he has alot of trust in me because I could have done a runner and spent the €50. I came back with the fags and we got talking and I told him about the trip that I was on. He was a legend and loved what we were doing so offered me to camp in a field that he owned. Trust is massive and that's one thing that I learned, he placed his trust in me giving me that money, and I placed my trust in him with regards to accommodation.Day 2 - I got up at 6 am packed up all my stuff back onto the big rig ready to set off. I cycled across the field on my bike which was a big mistake as the tire fell off and the tube was ripped open by a stone. I had to walk 5km with the bike and was constantly falling over because it was so heavy. I tried to flag down cars for three hours eventually an absolute legend called Mickey stopped and got me a pump and helped me repair the bike. I started out the second leg of the journey at 9:30 am with my new wheel mended up. I cycled onto Kildare with a few stops along the way to make sure the wheel stayed intact. From Kildare, I added an extra 30km onto the journey as I went the wrong way then I had to cycle on the hard shoulder of the N7 into Dublin which I would not recommend. The last leg cycling through Dublin was unbelievable.I wanted to give up so many times during this journey especially when things did not go to plan i.e a wheel falling off my bike but I carried on battled through and I am so grateful that I did. I would not have experienced the jubilation of cycling through Dublin on the home stretch if I had given up. I also experienced how amazing people in this country are throughout each place I stopped, I was given food water etc. These lessons I will take with me forever, life like this journey has its ups and downs we need to stick out the hard times and enjoy the good ones. Someone asked me would you not just get the train or the bus, the comfortable journey back, I choose the uncomfortable journey and that made all the difference as I experienced so much and learned so much about myself.

This is a first for the podcast as it was recorded on top of the traditional horse and cart while we were traveling through Kerry towards Ballyduff. I ask Darragh what are his passions and we go from there. Sometimes you have conversations with people that stick with you and drive you for a long time this is one such conversation and I am so glad that I can share this with you also. Darragh details what it is like to work in a Michelin star restaurant, how to handle pressure, develop an understanding of ingredients and we also discuss fear among various other topics.   

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down and have a chat with Christy O'Connell who helped us out massively while we stayed in Cahersiveen. We chat about the troubles, drinking, racism, Gay Bryne and Enda Kenny.  

Myself and Johnny sat down over the fire with Joe of Valentia Ice Cream Parlour and Farmhouse Dairy. Joe talks about the impact of having kids and how it changes you. We also discuss our competitive natures, the importance of being fit as a farmer, the evolution of Mr. Olympia, and the over-complication of doing exercise today. If you are in Valentia Island drop into Joe's for one of the freshest Ice creams that you will ever have, straight from the source bai. Hope you enjoy it!

In this episode of the podcast me and Glen Murray @Livelifesexy sit down and have a chat with Ken O'Driscoll who set up Cherry Orchard Running Club. We discuss Ken's motivation behind setting up the running club and how he stays motivated. This episode was recorded in a ruin of a house at the start of our journey traveling across Ireland with a traditional horse and cart. Hope you enjoy it!

In this episode of the podcast, I discuss the importance of sleep and how it is one of the best legal performance-enhancing drugs out there for both physical and mental performance. I go into detail about how improving the quality of my sleep has impacted my ability to train, recover, be sharper, loose body fat, etc. The main parts of this podcast came from a podcast with Mathew Walker, author of "Why We Sleep". Click here to listen. In this podcast, I give my own tips on how I get good quality sleep. Hopefully, you can take some key nuggets of information from this podcast and apply them into your own life to unlock the power of sleep! 

In this episode of the podcast, I detail our upcoming journey where we will be traveling to the center of Ireland on horseback to raise awareness across three main fronts. Number 1 is to raise awareness and promote Irish agriculture & horticulture. Number 2 is to raise funds and awareness for the homeless in Ireland through the help of Inner City Helping Homelessness (ICHH), all funds from the go fund me will go toward this. Number 3 is to help raise awareness for mental health a topic that is close to my heart, one of the best remedies for many is to get out with nature get out of your head, etc and that is exactly what we are doing and trying to promote. I also touch on the idea of there being "nothing to do but drink in Ireland" which I have found to be untrue and you will hear why. In order to appreciate things of comfort more, we need to get uncomfortable more, that is why myself and Glen Murray slept rough in the Wicklow mountains, and I can tell you I have never appreciated a shower after more in my life!  Hope you can support our journey anyway you can. God Bless.      

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Waterford Rapper Pat Lagoon. We discuss how Pat took the leap to go and put his music first on SoundCloud then on Spotify. I love talking to people that follow their passions and that is why I loved talking to Pat as his passion for music came across in this podcast. We also discuss how to effectively take criticism on board, authenticity, messages of support, and much more! To listen to Pat's music click here. 

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with former two time all-star Waterford intercounty hurler Eoin McGrath. We discuss the evolution of hurling since he started senior in 2001 to the present day. We also discuss some of Eoin's favorite hurling memories like the 2002 Munster final win over Tipperary. Eoin talks through how he transitioned from playing at a high level to playing at club level and how he managed injuries over the years. Eoin and his brother Ken set up their own business called Mean Bean Coffee and we discuss the trials and tribulations of becoming an entrepreneur/running your own business. I am also very interested in how Eoin has managed to keep such a healthy work-life balance and we go into that also. We delve into topics such as mindset, nutrition, consistency, and much more! Enjoy!  

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with a good friend of mine Shayne Ryan. Shayne studied exercise and health in WIT, following on from this he did a master's in nutrition at Ulster University. Shayne's journey through the Irish education system is very interesting and will strike a chord with anyone who struggled in secondary school. Shayne is now working in a large nutriceutical firm in Vancouver and we discuss things like work-life balance, idea generation, etc. Shayne has recently set up his own podcast called Difficult Conversations Made Easy where he delves into the topic of mental health across topics such as the GAA, University, and in the local community. We discuss why it is hard for men to speak out and what techniques to employ to improve your mental health/mood. 

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Dean Roche, Head coach, and owner of Precision Health and Performance located in Waterford. Dean is highly educated and has worked for over 7 years in the fitness industry. Dean has an MSc by Research in Physiology, a BA(Hons) in Exercise & Health, CF L1 Trainer, Certified Strenght & Conditioning Specialist, and a Precision Nutrition L1 Certified Coach. In the podcast, we delve into what got dean into fitness in the first place, the difference or lack of between S&C and CrossFit, nutrition, Olympic lifts, and much more!

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Seamus Doyle who runs TRADE Coffee in Waterford.  I have a massive interest in entrepreneurship and supporting local businesses so I thought it would be great to get to know the personality behind this coffee shop by chatting to Seamus. The main theme of the podcast is around people, how we get energy from people, how we connect with people, and how conversations with people are vital for our mental wellness. We also discuss the use of coffee shops today as great places for people to sit down and have a chat which is great for our mental health. Seamus also delves into some of the countries that he has traveled and gives advice to anyone looking to set up their own business, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and adapt to change.    

I was due to do an interview with a good friend of mine but due to external factors, we coud not record it. So that got me thinking as I always ask people how they deal with failures and rejections so I decided to record a podcast on how I deal with failures and rejections from my perspective, from dealing with failures in boxing i.e losing fights to personal life, etc. I also discuss the transition going from boxing at a high level to a lower level and how that transition was for me. I also discuss how the lack of structure in college effected me and how I tried to regain structure in my life. This may resonate with others as many people stop playing sport when they go off to college or work for one reason or another. I also give details on my latest adventure as myself Glen Murray, Darragh Carroll, and some other great people are going from Limerick to Meath using horses as our means of transport to try to raise awareness for the promotion of Irish horticulture and agriculture, mental health and the issue of homelessness in Ireland today. In this episode of the podcast, I detail how this idea came about and how we will be documenting the journey.

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with Harley Barnes, who was voted Ireland's best fitness instructor in 2019. Harley is also a lecturer in personal training and nutrition at UCD, a gym owner, health & wellbeing speaker, hurler, and an all-round legend! We sit down and discuss the growth of the fitness industry, the unsexy side of nutrition, common fitness mistakes, and much more. If you are into fitness play sport and want information on recovery, how to stay consistent, sport-specific exercises, and mindset this podcast is for you! There is so much information here and I hope that you can take some on this information on board to improve your performance both in sport and in life. 

In this episode of the podcast, I sit down with James Kavanagh aka Jakadam who is a DJ from Wexford who worked under the likes of Sunil Sharpe before going out on his own. We talk about James's use of holistic therapies and his work as a spiritual life coach also. we talk about the contrast between James's passions and how he juggles this, the importance of mentors, and much more. Enjoy! 

In this episode, I talk to Dara Caroll a chef that has worked in many Michelin star restaurants and has traveled the world with some amazing stories as a result. I ask Dara about his recent voyage from Norway in November 2019 that took him to Dunmore-East Co. Waterford this Saturday. Dara explains the motivation behind the voyage and his plans to promote Irish horticulture, agriculture, and amazing foraging resources we have here in this country when he gets to land. I also speak to Glen Murray who is the man behind the camera documenting Dara's voyage. Glen shares his own tales which are amazing, for example, he worked as a chef in the cook islands. Glen also tells us how youtube also got him out of some tricky situations. We also delve into the topic of mental health our experiences, how we cope, and how our connection to nature is a vital component to a healthy mindset. Enjoy!

I sit down with Waterford professional boxer Rhys Moran who is 1-0 in the pros, a 2x National Irish Champion, a 2x Celtic Box Cup Champion, and a former Irish international boxer. We discuss how Rhys is coping with the current Covid-19 situation and how his training has adapted as a result. Rhys gives an in-depth view from the Celtic Warrior Gym where he is trained by Pascal Collins and trains alongside the likes of Gary Spike O'Sullivan. We also discuss the reasons behind the switch from amateur to professional and much more. Enjoy!

In this episode I delve into the sensitive subject of concussions in combat sports. I speak to two transition year students who have came up with a brilliant idea that will identify head trauma with a microchip that provides real time information onto an app. I also interview Kieran Kennedy who is a coach at St Pauls B.C Waterford and has been a ruby coach and player in the past. I also took to the streets of Waterford to see what was the strangest way people injured themselves. Enjoy!

In this episode I delve into the mentality of a fighter and how meditation techniques and mindfulness can play a vital role in the mental toughness of a fighter. I also sat down with Miriam Hussey who is a qualified pharmacist who intresting is very interested in holistic approaches like meditation and mindfulness. Enjoy! 

During lockdown I unearthed some old audio of my first episode of the KOmbat show on DCUfm. This episodes delves into the touchy subject of weight cuts in both boxing and MMA. I interview professional boxer Craig McCarthy about his switch for amature to pro and what its like to spar Chris Eubank Jnr. I also Interview Derek Ahern who is DCU boxing clubs head coach, we discuss how he got involved and how the club has grown in recent times. Enjoy!