No Shame

On this weeks podcast Paddy breaks down UFC Fight Night 174 in a Hooligan Report edition of No Shame. In the last of our Fight Island mini series, we recap on the weekends events from Yas Island. Paddy breaks down the action from the card including Whittaker’s UD win over Darren Till, Shogun’s split decision over Nogueira, Francisco Trinaldo’s TKO over Jai Herbert & Chimaev’s stunning TKO over Rhys McKee. It has to be said its a very selective, quality over quantity, break down from the Hooligan, I guess that’s what you call No Shame analysis. Paddy gives an honourable mention to Rhys McKee on this weeks podcast. The Northern Irish fighter faced one to the toughest match up’s imaginable in a debut UFC fight few would have agreed to. Many are tipping Khamzat Chimaev to be the UFC’s next big superstar & after the Chechen Viking went 2-0 on the Island with an aggregate strike count of 192-2, its clear to see he’s the real deal. Take nothing away from Rhys, who at just 23 years of age still has a long career ahead of him in the UFC. McKee realised a dream this week on 6 days notice & nobody can ever take that away from the Ballymena man. We look forward to the comeback. This will be the last podcast for a while, we’ve decided to make a few tweaks & adjustments to the show. Paddy is using the time away as an opportunity take a break from all social media platforms. His digital detox is designed with the aim of spending more time living in the moment as opposed to trying to capture it on a phone. During the podcasts hiatus, the Hooligan plans to swim in the sea, work out three times a week & eat a bit better. If we eliminate the screen time, there is a whole wide world out there waiting to be re-discovered. We will return, rest assured for a new season, bigger & better than ever. Thank you as always for your amazing support, in the mean time look after yourself, stay positive & remember above all else to keep smiling. We will be talking to you all again very soon. The full episode #132 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Is available now across all the usual platforms.

UFC Ref Marc Goddard joins us on the line for episode 131of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Not only is Marc one of the top officials in the game but his incredible work with IMMAF has helped to make the sport of MMA safer as a whole. Goddard also officiates for other MMA promotions such as Bellator & Cage Warriors. In the latest instalment of our fight island series Marc gives us an update on what the whole experience has been like in Abu Dhabi from a referee’s perspective. Goddard has been officiating on the island over the last few weeks, he was ref for the main event at UFC 251 between Unman V Masvidal & took charge of the weekends action between Figueiredo & Benavidez 2. In a career stacked full of highlights, Marc admits that Fight Island will hold a special place in the memory vault. Goddard has been officiating in the UFC for over 16 years & speaks of his admiration for Dana White after seeing the work the UFC president has put in behind the scenes on fight island. Marc believes that the Abu Dhabi location will be a regular fixture on the calendar for the foreseeable future & discusses the positive energy on location between staff & athletes. Goddard is known for his control in the octagon & his level of professionalism has commanded the respect of some of the world’s top fighters. It’s no surprise given his previous career as a fighter with 14 professional fights under his belt. The BJJ black belt admits that refereeing & the feeling that comes with controlling high pressured situations is highly addictive. Despite being part some of the biggest moments in UFC history, Goddard gets the most satisfaction from his work with IMMAF. Marc has been an instrumental figure for the grass routes level of the game, helping to pave the way for a new generation of fighters. Also on this week’s episode Paddy & Marc discuss the 6th Anniversary of the legendary UFC Dublin Fight card at the Three Arena in 2014. Both men where present that night with Goddard officiating & Holohan kicking off events with a rear naked choke submission win over Josh Sampo. The UFC ref insists that in all his time in the sport, he’s never experienced an atmosphere like that night. He recalls Cathal Pendred’s comeback win over Mike King & the moment the crowd nearly lifted the roof off the building. By the time Conor delivered his iconic ‘We’re not here to take part’ speech after his dominant TKO stoppage over Diego Brandao, the event had already become MMA folklore. When it comest to reviewing his performance, Goddard insists that he’s his own biggest critic, based off his track record, he’s a bloody good one at that. “I’m married to this sport, I’m a human being, I’m not a robot, I’m not perfect, but I’ll give it all I’ve got every time you see me” The full episode #131 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast with Marc Goddard is available now across all the usual platforms.

It’s a Hooligan report edition of the No Shame Podcast as Paddy breaks down the long awaited UFC 251, Fight Island. Also on this weeks show Paddy pays a heart felt tribute to Jack Charlton, a man who brought so many happy memories to the English & Irish people in his lifetime. Jack was manager of the Republic of Ireland football team from 1985 -1995, during his time in charge he changed the culture of the game in this country & made us all dare to dream. Big jack touched so many lives on his journey with the Boys in green & some of the stories that have emerged over the past few days have given everybody a much needed lift, that’s true legacy right there. Paddy offers his views on the big fights from Saturday night including Kamaru Usman’s dominant title defence against Jorge Masvidal, Volkanovski’s controversial decision win over Holloway, Petr Yan’s impressive display over the great José Aldo along with the incredible rematch between Rose Namajunas & Jéssica Andrade. During the second half of this weeks show Paddy focuses on mindfulness & mental health. With everything that’s going on in the world at the minute it’s important to check in on those around us and make sure our friends & family are doing ok. In these difficult times we should always remember to breath when things seem to be getting on top of you. Given the week that’s in it we should remember how Jack Charlton lifted the country during some of the most challenging, darkest times this country has faced & take inspiration from that. There’s not a lot of hope in the air today but that doesn’t mean the wind won’t change tomorrow. Stay positive, stay strong but most importantly look after yourself. The full episode #130 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

UFC coach, James Doolan joins us all the way from Fight Island, for episode 129 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. James is the head coach & owner of Higher Level MMA in Bathgate, Scotland. The gym is home to multiple world champions & UFC talents such as Danny Henry & Stevie Ray. Danny is set to take on Makwan Amirkhani on the first of the eagerly anticipated UFC Fight Island card’s this Saturday & James is over on Yas Island making final preparations with his fighter. On this week’s podcast, James talks about Fight Island, coaching, BJJ, his career as a fighter & much more. “I don’t like attention, I don’t like cameras I’d rather listen to people than talk, attention’s not for me… I like to sit back & watch, study stuff. The same way we study martial arts, just study the game & the coaching side of it.” When it comes to coaching Doolan believes it should always be about the fighter first & foremost. James is one of the most down to earth people in the world of MMA & that’s certainly a quality he looks to instil in his own athletes. However, the Scotsman’s main focus is to create a fight style that suits the individual’s personality, one plan certainly doesn’t fit all when it comes to coaching a team. James also notes that a fighter will sometimes need to adjust their style depending on opponent & that’s when an understanding of the person can be extremely beneficial. “You’re trying to tailor a guy who’s not use to that type of fight. It’s about getting them to fight slightly different to how they want to fight sometimes...They’re fighting for their families at the end of the day" As things currently stand, Doolan has checked in to his hotel on Fight Island & has just completed the initial 24 hour quarantine, a mandatory procedure for every fighter & coach arriving on the island. James offers an incredibly thorough break down of his journey to the island detailing all the Covid-19 testing measures put in place to ensure the safety of everyone involved on the card. With staggered isolation phases & minimum contact throughout the journey to Abu Dhabi the UFC have left no stone unturned in their preparations. The Higher Level head coach also offers his views on how the fight will go between Danny & Makwan. Dolan believes no matter what the result it will be one of the most entertaining fights on the card. James had a formidable career as an MMA fighter with a record of 17-9-2, with his last fight coming in 2013. He retells the legendary story of a weight cut in Japan featuring Paul McVeigh. It was a very different time in MMA back then. Doolan admits he didn’t read the finer print of his fight contract which involved a severe penalty for missing weight, the opponents expense purse, costing anything in the region of £5,000, a fee the Scottish fighter didn’t have. McVeigh, who fas fighting on the same card found himself in a similar situation, panic ensued & the fighters challenged each other to make weight, after a drastic 18 hours of cutting both fighters reached their targets. A picture of the depleted duo on their way to make weight still exists online, despite multiple attempts to have the photo erased from history. MMA has taken Doolan across the globe, with stops in America, Japan, Thailand & most of Europe, not bad for a person who didn’t step foot on a plain until he was 22 years of age. His current hotel overlooks an F1 track with the beach in close proximity. Despite how it sometimes looks from the outside, James won’t get much of a holiday, there’s no such thing in the fight game. “People think I’m here on holiday but I’m here working, they don’t see the 20-30 years of training & hurt, helping guys make weight, fighting in clubs, community centres. Driving all the way down to England for guys to win in 30 seconds & then driving back up the road. They don’t see all that work. They think you’re flying all over the world & then they see you on the f**king telly but they miss all the shit that goes into it.” This Saturday's Fight Island card starts at 2.00 am local time with Danny setting to walk around 4.00am which involves it’s own challenges in preparation no doubt. Doolan explains how the island has been completely shut off from the rest of Abu Dhabi, making it one of the safest places to be in the world right now. Also on this weeks podcast Paddy & James discuss how Jiu-Jitsu has improved their overall problem solving skills in life. With the rate BJJ technique evolves at, James believes it should be a staple part of every coach’s arsenal. The mindset Doolan gained from BJJ improved his overall strike game. James has recently began the process of setting up IMMAF Scotland after being approached by Mark Goddard to get involved with the organisation. Doolan believes IMMAF offers the best route for any young fighter looking to break into the sport. This is a much watch for any fighter in MMA with buckets of wisdom from James, one of the very best coaches the game has to offer & we don't say that lightly. The full episode #129 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

Gareth Murray joins us on the line for episode #128 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Gareth is the owner of Sneaker Surgery, a store that specialises in many bespoke shoe services including repair, restoration & customisation. If you appreciate a good pair of Nike Air Max, if you’ve recently went on a ‘Last Dance’ Air Jordan spending spree or if you simply prefer the classic white Continental look then this is definitely the episode you’ve been waiting for. On this week’s podcast Gareth tells us how retro sneakers have recently surged in popularity, with huge sums of money being spent on vintage kicks. Although the scene isn’t massive in Ireland yet, it’s starting to take off & Murray believes he is ahead of the curve with his Sneaker Surgery brand. Gareth explains how he got into the shoe business. He was always a fan of decent pair of runners back in the day, however it wasn’t until he moved to Australia that he realised how big the footwear scene really was. After a visit to a Nike Outlet with friends, Murray rekindled his passion for trainers & began trawling eBay, Gumtree & various platforms to grow his collection. Later he moved back to Ireland, boasting the freshest kicks in town. By this stage some of his trainers became worn, when he dropped them into a repair store in Dublin he was horrified by the end result. Gareth believed he could do a better job himself. He began research & experimentation, buying old worn out shoes, cutting them up & restoring them to their former glory. After a while he realised that he had a talent for the restoration process & began taking on clients & the Sneaker Surgery was born. Anybody who knows Paddy will know how much he loves his runners, so much so he spent a chunk of his first UFC pay cheque on new kicks. However the Hooligan’s impressive collection is no match for Gareth who boasts a staggering 117 pairs of shoes, many being second hand purchases he restored himself. Murray sees it as a healthy obsession, or a steady investment depending on who’s asking. On the subject of most expensive sneaker in the world, Murray believes it has to be Nike’s 2016 edition of the Iconic Mag shoe. The Mag comes fully equipped with the self lacing technology made famous by Marty McFly in Back to the Future 2. Less than 100 pairs exist with a hefty price tag of 55-60,000 dollars per unit, ’60G’s BABY’ As things stand currently Gareth works a 9-5 job by day & operates the Sneaker Surgery by night. It’s perhaps a fitting parallel to Michael J Fox’s schedule for the first Back to the Future movie with the Hollywood legend also working two jobs during production of the film, rehearsing ’Family Ties’ from 10am - 6pm before rushing to the BTTF set to shoot through the night. Not only does Murray own an earlier version of the Nike Mag, but he also has a tattoo of the shoe on his leg, this man really loves shoes. The one piece of advice Gareth gives to potential customers is not to throw out their shoes, it’s the biggest regret for his existing clients who have seen stunning results from the shoe surgery. So if you have an old mucky, squashed pair of Predators that are set for the scrap heap, there is still hope yet. If Murray can’t save the shoe, or make it perfect, his guarantee is that he will always make them look better at the very least. Some of the custom designs are simply stunning & given the bespoke nature of his trade he is always open to developing new ideas with his clients. Ultimately Gareth’s main ambition is to create a legacy that one day he might be able to pass on to his 15 month old son. We’ll be rooting for him all the way. The full episode 128 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Spotify, iTunes & to watch on Youtube. Anyone else feel like ordering some retro AF1's?

MMA Hero Brad Pickett joins us on the line for episode #127 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Brad is a former UFC fighter, head coach of Great Britain Top Team & considered by many as a pioneer of British & European MMA. With an MMA record of 26-14, Pickett was one of the most entertaining fighters to grace the octagon. On this weeks episode Paddy talks about his admiration for Brad, explaining how he used to skip school as a youngster to watch ‘ One Punch’ fight on the former MMA promotion Cage Rage. Pickett had a hard hitting style that made him a fan favourite. Brad explains how he took inspiration from Mike Tyson’s fight game. Many of the boxing legend’s trademark moves such as the bob & weave, the over hand, & hook shots where all elements that Pickett adapted for his own game in the world of MMA. Amazingly throughout his entire fight career, Brad never broke a bone in his hands. He attributes this to developing good technique. Brad also had a versatile ground game to complement his stand up & admits he would have developed his wrestling more if started MMA at an earlier age. “I was trying to beat you from the first minute to the last minute.” Brad’s first MMA lesson was at 26 years of age when he was humbled by a 16 year old fighter. Growing up Pickett had a background in cricket & soccer before boxing from the age of 19-21 but admits that MMA was by far the toughest sport he’s ever competed in. His first fight was in November 2004 & less than a year later he became the Cage Rage British Featherweight Champion, defeating Ozzy Haluk via Submission. It was around that time he started travelling to the US to train with American Top Team, developing an excellent relationship with MMA coach Mike Brown, the pair remain close friends today. In 2009 Pickett signed for World Extreme Cage Fighting after years of knocking on the door. His first Fight at WEC 45 earned him a victory via submission along with the fight of the night bonus, enabling him to spend more time training in the US. It was the start of an incredible bonus streak that lasted 5 figths into his UFC career. In April 2010, Pickett claimed a dominant Unanimous Decision victory over Demetrious Johnson at WEC 48, one of only 3 fighters to defeat Mighty Mouse. The WEC merged with UFC in 2010 & Brad had his first fight for the premier MMA promotion in 2011 at UFC 138. “If you’re in it for the money you’re in it for the wrong reasons. Money comes with success” After going 3-3 in his first 6 UFC fights, Brad dropped down to the flyweight division defeating Neil Seery via Unanimous decision in 2014. Pickett regrets dropping down a division admitting that he was stylistically unsuited for the lower weight class. Despite having so many impressive victories throughout his career, ‘One Punch’ was unable to win multiple fight eliminator opportunities with many of his opponents going on to challenge for the belt. Brad’s final UFC victory came in 2016 against Francis Rivera, before retiring in 2017 in his home town at UFC London. His post fight interview is an absolute tear jerker. Also on this weeks episode, Brad offers plenty of career advice for up & coming fighters along with discussing the impact of social media on today’s generation. Since retiring from the UFC Octagon in 2017, Pickett has transitioned into coaching & will be in Nathaniel Wood’s corner at UFC Fight Island on July 15th. Brad talks about the importance of mindset above all else. Having made the walk himself he has the emotional intelligence to understand what his fighters need & how to get the best out of them as individuals. Brad’s legacy stretches far outside the Octagon having spent his entire career passing on his knowledge to future generations. The standard in the UK now compared to the early 2000’s is testament to trailblazers like Pickett who helped to pave the way. On the subject of making it to the UFC, Brad insists that Cage Warriors is still the best route for British & European fighters. However ‘One Punch’ adds that It’s not just about the the Ultimate Fighting Championship anymore. There are plenty of options for fighters to consider now with the expansion of Bellator in Europe, One Championship in Asia & other emerging promotions such as ACA (Absolute Championship Akhmat). For some of our younger audience if you haven’t checked out Brad’s career, the highlights are on Youtube, familiarise yourself with a true legend of the game. For the rest, no better excuse to relive some of those epic battles that brought every single one of us to our feet, even Dana White. The full episode #127 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, Spotify & iTunes.    

The incredible Dr. Rosi Sexton joins us on the line for episode 126 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Rosi is a former mixed martial artist, mathematician, osteopath, writer, politician, musician & was the UK’s first ever female UFC fighter. Is there anything this woman can’t do? On this week’s podcast Paddy & Rosie discuss everything that’s been happening over the last few weeks including the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Black Lives Matter campaign, the housing & homeless crisis, the impact of technology along with so much more. Rosie is a graduate of Cambridge University, having studied mathematics, she later went on to the University of Manchester to achieve a MSc before completing a PhD in Computer Science. As a musician she played in the Royal Albert Hall, with the Reading Youth Orchestra. During her MMA career, Rosie took on the likes of Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Gina Carano & Aisling Daly, all while being a mum to her son Lewis. The life of a fighter can be very individualistic by nature, requiring a degree of selfishness to succeed, however as a parent, kids always comes first, no matter what. Rosi tells Paddy about the challenge of finding a balance insisting it was her acceptance of always wanting to do more, across all areas of life, that enabled her to make it to the UFC. “With everything I’ve done, the thing that keeps me working at it is the feeling that I’m not quite as good as I want to be, I’m not quite there yet, for me that’s the thing that drives me.” During his own fight career, Paddy spent a week in camp training with Rosi at Next Generation Liverpool. Rosi was approaching the end of her MMA career by the time the UFC opened it’s doors to female fighters & the Hooligan firmly believes that Sexton could have been a UFC world champion if the call came during her prime. In May 2019, Sexton was elected Councillor to Shirley-West of the Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in the UK. At the exact same time in Ireland, Paddy was elected to Tallaght South. It’s quite possible that Rosi & Paddy are the only two former UFC athlete’s in the world to enter the political landscape. The Councillors swap notes on their experiences so far, with both experiencing highs & lows. “The last people you want in politics are the people who want to be in power for the sake of it” Rosi insists that she never planned on going into politics but after being approached by the Green Party, Sexton believed she could make a genuine difference to her community. Since then, the Councillor has become the Spokesperson for health & adult social care. It’s quite a challenging role given the fact social care workers in Solihull can’t afford to live there. The issue of housing & homelessness is never far from Paddy’s mind as he addresses multiple instances around Dublin over the past few weeks. Also on this weeks podcast, Rosi talks about the impact technology has had on our lives insisting there are both advantages & disadvantages. The dangers of social media have been well documented on the podcast over the past 2 years & Sexton believes certain media outlets should be held accountable for selective reporting of facts to form a narrative. However, Rosi believes Lockdown would have been a lot tougher without the very same technology that enabled loved ones to stay in touch over the past few months. “The skills that people have haven’t caught up with the technology that’s out there” Rosie’ has the mindset of a champion, despite all of her success to date, she still always strives to be better. Her approach & philosophy on life is a fundamental ingredient for anyone looking to make it to the top. The full episode #126 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spoity & to watch on Youtube.  

The king of cake, Ben Cullen joins us on the line for episode 125 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Known as the Bakeking, Ben is a multi award winning cake designer & a regular contributor on Channel 4’s ‘Extreme Cake Makers’. The Birmingham native produces weekly cake builds, topical cake sculptures & how to videos on his popular youtube channel Bakeking TV. Ben is arguably one of the most creative guests we’ve had on the show. Although he keeps his designs relevant to what’s going on the world, a new idea can spring to mind at any point or time. His instagram channel is a feast for the eyes with cakes in the shape of roast dinners, celebrities, sporting super stars, iconic film characters, musicians, coke cans & even bananas, ‘go banana!’ Ben studied Graphic design at Chester University before taking up a tattoo apprenticeship. While tattooing a customer in 2014, Cullen was shown an example of a decorated cake by his client, inspiring him to create his first super cake, for his dad’s birthday. One of his earlier cake sculptures was of the newly retired Champ Champ, Conor McGregor. Cullen discusses how the McGregor Cake was a real turning point in his career. It was a design that Conor’s official website, the Mac Life shared across all of their social media channels. It was the first time Cullen was exposed to large volumes of online feedback, with mixed reviews on his work. Ben admits that he felt out of his depth at the time, technically he would design it differently today, but he was still incredibly proud of his creation, it looked pretty epic to be fair. “Nobody cares until the Rest of the world cares” Paddy talks about the Similarities between creative minds & BJJ minds. It’s a sentiment Ben agrees with entirely, having a sporting background in soccer & boxing. In fact Ben never even liked baking growing up. Cullen, who is also a painter, attributes his success to mindset. He believes anyone can be anything if they’re willing to put the hours in. Bens cake production is widely accessible through his online platforms. His content is fun & exciting with a story behind every project he uploads. He attributes his success to dedication, graft, learning from failure & always focusing on being the best version of himself. He believes if you adopt that philosophy you’ll never need to worry about competition. The only person Ben challenges is himself. “I have to say that’s probably the first time I’ve ever been told ‘You’d look well as a cake Paddy!’” Just before coronavirus struck in the UK, Ben realised he was going to turn 30 in Lockdown. Rather than ruin the annual tradition of going for a few drinks, he built his own pub out the back garden. As-well as having functional beer taps, the bar is equipped with it’s own membership cards, an official sign above the door, tables, chairs, a dartboard & the footie of course, on loop. The only thing missing is the ever-present regular slumped in the corner, however Ben tells us that’s his role. When he’s not creating on youtube, or on our TV screens, Cullen teaches & demos around the world at some of the biggest cake expos. His plans for the future are to keep improving his skills & to continue growing his audience online. Not bad for a man that doesn’t even eat cake. Coming out of Lockdown, it’s refreshing to see people like Ben who think outside the box. Cullen used his talents to turn his passion into a living & thus became the King of Cake. We’ll all need to think a little bit more creatively going forward. Let’s not go back to normal, let’s be better. We’re not sure about you but all of this cake talk has got us in the mood for some sticky toffee pudding. The full episode #125 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including, iTunes, Spotify & to watch on Youtube.        

Darren Conway joins us on the line for episode #124 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Darren is a comedian who has taken the internet by storm with his satirical take on Irish life. The social media star has gained many fans in recent months with his dry humour earning praise from the likes of Michael Conlan, Blindboy, & Mary Lou McDonald. At the start of the show, Paddy addresses recent events in America surrounding the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last Monday. George died after a white police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes suffocating the 46 year old who repeatedly pleaded for his life. George’s death was captured on video & sparked outrage leading to world wide protests, with riots breaking out across the US. Many activists, actors, musicians, sports starts & social media influencers have since spoken out against the racism & police injustice that has re-surfaced over the past week. Paddy re-affirms that message by urging people not to stay quiet & to educate against prejudice that still exists in today’s society. Paddy also discusses matters closer to home regarding the homeless crisis in Dublin. Cllr. Anthony Flynn recently made us aware of situation involving a 70 year old man & woman being forced to sleep in their car after being evicted. Another situation involved a health worker being issued a ticket after sleeping in her car outside a Garda station. In these times it’s never been more important to stick together, Paddy urges people to unite together. On this week’s episode Darren tells us what he’s been up to during lockdown, using the period of isolation as an opportunity to write new material, produce more sketches & collaborate with the likes of PaddyPower. His most recent clip takes inspiration from Matt Damon’s time in Ireland during the pandemic, claiming the Hollywood A-lister wanted to stay for some lovely cans. Darren started creating sketches over 8 years ago & has been relentless ever since, continuously refining & perfecting his material . When he’s not entertaining the nation, Conway works full time as a barman, which is extremely impressive when you consider how often he posts new material. Over the past few months his content surrounding the Irish General Election & the Covid-19 pandemic has put Darren firmly on course to becoming a full time comedian sooner rather than later. Also on this weeks show Darren gives us his dream line up for Fight Island with Kenan & Kel a surprise addition to the card which also includes a showdown between Gerry Adams & Mattress Mick. Darren has big plans for the future with the recent announcement that he’ll be starting his own podcast show in the coming weeks. In Darren’s words he is ‘just normal bloke that goes to the shop’ which is perhaps that very reason his content is so appealing. His characters, scenarios & catchphrases represent people, places & moments that we’ve all come across at some point in time. That said, there is only one DJ Fresh Vibes. Yup Darren Conway. The full episode #124 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

Owen Colgan joins us on the line for episode #123 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. The comedian has recently launched his new chat show ‘ Around the Fire with Owen Colgan’, a three part series currently available on the RTE Player, fans of Colgan will not be disappointed. Owen, who rose to fame for his break out role as Buzz McDonnell in the hit TV series ‘Hardy Bucks’ has firmly established himself on the Irish comedy circuit as a name in his own right. The Mayo native has gained a huge online following for his unique style, when he’s not talking about jambons or crows, he’s featuring regularly for the likes of content kings Paddy Power, the sketch where he caddies for 2019 Open Champion, Shane Lowry is a particular favourite. Colgan’s humour has a universal appeal, particularly in the sporting world, he regularly works with household names across MMA, GAA, soccer & horse racing. We are perhaps a little bit biased but Owen's 2016 Eir Sport online mini series ‘Hard Men In Cars Getting Coffee’ featuring Paddy himself, is comedy gold. On this weeks show Owen gives us an update on what he’s been getting up to during lockdown, providing us with some useful tips & tricks to make it through the pandemic. It’s proven to be a very creative period for Owen as he’s been busy shooting new content, learning to play the flute, growing fresh vegetables, all while training to run a marathon around his village. Colgan offers his take on Fight Island, with his dream line-up being one absolutely nobody could have predicted. Owen also has his own podcast which is exclusively available on Patreon, the latest episode entitled ‘Basketball Dreams and hanging out in Woodies’ is everything we’ve come to know and love from the comedian. This is Owen’s second time on the No Shame Podcast, you can check out his first appearance on youtube for more weird & random insights on the great man. The self proclaimed hardest man in Ireland may not win a UFC title anytime soon, but there’s no doubt he’s a contender for one of Ireland’s funniest. The full episode #123 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all major platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify, this one’s a cracker.

Nucentz, an OG of Irish rap, joins us on the line for episode #122 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Nucentz, whose real name is Rob Byrne, was one of the leading figures of Irish hip-hop during the early 2000’s. The Tallaght native has collaborated with artists such as Lupe Fiasco, Maverick Sabre & opened for the likes of Public Enemy. His music has gained millions of views online with tracks such as ‘Had Enough’, ‘Do You Really Love Me’, & of course the2007 hit ’Sin City’ a Class A’z collaboration with Terawrizt & Redzer. Now after years away from the industry, He’s back & is here on the show to tell us why. Irish hip hop has never been more popular, with artists such as Versatile, Rejjie Snow, JyellowL, Rusangano Family, Kojaque, Leathal Dialect, Mango x MathMan & so much more on the scene, it truly is a golden age for the genre. Back in Rob’s time you could hardly even call it a scene,’ explains Nucentz, it was all about getting on the airwaves to gain much needed exposure. Thankfully with the rise of social media, that’s no longer the priority & artists can get their music out to millions, keeping their work intact in its truest form without the dreaded T’s & C’s of the radio Edit. From the age of 13 Rob was obsessed with making it in the music industry, at a time when the odds of an Irish rapper earning a salary were long at best. It’s something Paddy can relate to as no Irish fighter had ever made the UFC when he began fighting. Nucentz earned a reputation in the industry for doing things right, producing studio quality material when audio visual tech wasn’t anywhere near as accessible as it is now. Through his lyrics he captured the mood of a generation perfectly with a catchy social commentary & hard hitting punchlines. Listening back to ‘Sin City’ now there is a timeless quality to the song, with the outbreak of coronavirus, political turmoil & the impending recession, the lyrics have never been more relevant. Sin City was part of Byrne's work with Class A’z, an Irish rap collective. In 2011 Nucentz won ‘Ireland’s First Rap Superstar competition’ hosted by Spin 1038, which lead to a collaboration with Lupe Fiasco. The 2012 song ‘Had Enough’ was played reguarly across National radio, however Byrne reveals that he had little control over the single with the record label holding all the rights to the track. From day one, it was Rob’s aim to collaborate with star’s like Lupe Fiasco, however when he got there he realised he still wasn’t able to earn a sufficient salary from Rap. Despite further success with the song ‘Do You Really Love Me’, Rob was reaching burnout, having given everything for more than 10 years, coupled with the fact he had a young family to provide for, he made the difficult decision to walk away from the industry. Sometimes timing just doesn’t suit in life & for Rob it seemed as though his number was up. Now, almost 8 years later, Quarantine life has reignited the fire in his belly. What started off as a pet project has turned into a fully fledged comeback. He explains how a friend sent him a link to a microphone, which he went out and bought. Byrne started writing again, plugged the mic in & put a few tunes together. Incredibly, he is close to realising a new album, the lead single is being produced by DJ Flip, with actor & fellow Tallaght native Emmett Kirwan featuring in the official music video, a nice little No Shame Exclusive for you there. Rob believes there is a new maturity to his music while keeping the core essence of everything the fans loved the first time around. Nucentz is is looking forward to working with the new generation, with plans to collaborate with rap duo Versatile later in the year. The time of ‘making your own buzz’ has come, a time which has allowed the independent artists to thrive. Having helped pave the way for the modern Irish Hip-hop scene, there’s no doubt that Rob will be a massive asset to the current generation of talent. Everybody loves a comeback story & at just 33 years of age Byrne still has plenty of time on his side. In his own words 'the Coronavirus has awoken a sleeping giant', the second coming has arrived, Ladies & gentlemen, Nucentz is back. The full episode #122 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube.

On this week’s No Shame podcast, Top MMA journalist Petesy Carroll joins us on the line to discuss UFC #249. Saturday night marked a triumphant return for the Ultimate Fighting Championship in Jacksonville, Florida & we’re breaking down all the key talking points from a card that will never be forgotten. Peter currently writes for MMA Fighting, one the biggest MMA news outlets in the world. Alongside fellow broadcaster Niall McGrath, Carroll co-hosts the fantastic ‘Eurobash’, a weekly podcast that offers a definitive guide to MMA with interviews from the best in the business. It’s fair to say Petesy is on top of his game at the minute. The build up to UFC 249 has become infamous due the un-imaginable obstacles posed by the Coronavirus. However, the logistical nightmare of trying to host a major live event in the middle of a pandemic could not stop UFC president Dana White from putting MMA at the forefront of the sporting world on Saturday night. The PPV garnered massive traction online with an opening message from US President, Donald Trump spearheading the mainstream engagement across all social media platforms. The main event lived up to its billing with a stunning performance from Justin Gathje, who stopped Tony Ferguson in the 5th to claim the vacant interim Lightweight Belt. In the co-main event, Henry Cejudo defeated Dominick Cruz & after announced his immediate retirement from the sport of MMA. Petesy & Paddy offer their views on the announcement, predicting a return for Triple-C in the near future. Some of the other fights discussed during the podcast include Francis Ngannou’s demolition of Jairziho Rozenstruik, Anthony Pettis’ hard fought UD over Donald Cerrone & an honourable mention to Bryce Mitchell’s UD over Charles Rosa, most definitely one to watch back if you’re a technique fiend. We also talks about the prospect of the eagerly anticipated Fight Island, a UFC event currently in the works which will reportedly take place on a custom built Island tailored specifically to facilitate the participating fighters. The location of the island is currently unknown, all we know so far is that it’s definitely not Arranmore. This weeks podcast concludes with a conversation that centres around the future of MMA in Ireland & the need for the community to come together & be unified in it’s approach to re-opening gyms when safe to do-so. It’s alway a great pleasure to have Petesy on the show. The man is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to Irish MMA, having been there from the very start, pre Irish-Invasion era. His contribution to reporting on Mixed Martial Arts in this country has helped to set an exceptionally high standard of journalism. For over 10 years his consistent dedication, incredible level of professionalism & classic sense of humour have earned him the respect of the MMA world. If you’d like to know more about his back story, make sure you check out his first appearance on the No Shame podcast back on episode #037. The full episode #121 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify.

We’re joined on the line by Dr. Jérôme Fennell for episode #120 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Dr. Fennell is a consultant microbiologist & manages infection control operations for Tallaght University Hospital. During the podcast Jérôme gives us an update on how Ireland has been dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak along with his own personal & professional experiences with the virus. A few weeks ago, Jérôme contracted Covid-19 & tells Paddy of his experience. Dr. Fennell explains how it was different to any flu or cold he’s ever experienced previously. He suffered from severe headaches, gastroenteritis type symptoms & had a fever of 39º. It took him over 2 weeks to recover & after self isolating for the sufficient amount of time he returned to work. On top of the physical symptoms Dr. Fennell discusses the psychological connotations attached to contracting coronavirus, which can lead to extreme levels of stress & emotional turmoil. Jérôme expresses his concern at the lack of patients attending hospital for non Covid-19 related health issues. Over the past 2 months the number of reported heart attacks & strokes have fallen significantly. Dr.Fennell believes people are staying away from hospitals for fear of becoming infected, which may cause more damage in the long run. ‘This is like nothing else I’ve ever had to deal with’ Jérôme admits that there is still so much to learn when understanding the virus & it will take time before being able to give definitive answers surrounding topics such as immunity, infection & rate of transmission. However his existing knowledge on the subject is welcoming offering great insights while adding context to some of the numbers & theories that have been circulating online in recent weeks. Regarding PPE (personal protective equipment), Jérôme provides detail on the bidding war between countries to obtain sought after supplies with many shipments being redirected elsewhere at the 11th hour to those with the biggest pockets. Fennell urges Ireland to become self sufficient with PPE supply to combat the risk of a shortage. Furthermore when you consider that PPE needs to be changed anytime a health professional makes contact with a patient, it adds further testament to the doctor's calls for a local solution. Also on this weeks podcast Paddy runs through the governments 5 phase plan to get Ireland moving again in the coming weeks & months. Jérôme stresses that the plan is a best case scenario timeline & the risk of a 2nd or 3rd wave is still at large. There is hope that the warmer summer months may slow the spread of infection however Dr. Fennell reiterates that ‘The virus has never given us any breaks’ to date. Currently as things stand, it’s looking like late July/August before MMA gyms can return to a degree of normality. Paddy discusses some ideas with the doctor to safe guard the re-opening of gyms such as a ‘buddy system’ which would see a smaller group train together & monitor each other for symptoms. As a BJJ purple belt, Jérôme is one of many eagerly awaiting a return to the mats. Paddy signs off this weeks episode by saluting Doctor Fennell & all his colleagues on the frontline that have put their lives at risk to get the country into a position where finally there is light at the end of the tunnel. Jérôme returns the sentiment & insists that without the publics dedicated compliance we would not be in the situation we are in now. All in all, lives have been saved. It’s always reassuring to have a professional opinion on the podcast. Jerome’s honesty throughout is refreshing, reinvigorating our efforts to go the distance in this Lockdown marathon. We’d personally like to thank the doc for appearing on the podcast having come straight from a shift in the hospital to do the show. The full episode #120 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify.  

We welcome back John Connors as he joins us on the line for episode #119 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. This is John’s 3rd appearance on the show, with his first two episodes going down as instant No Shame classics, the latest instalment does not disappoint. John is an award winning actor, director, writer, documentary filmmaker & co-owner of Cluster Fox Films, a production company he founded with fellow filmmaker Tiernan Williams. Connors rose to prominence in 2011 with his critically acclaimed performance as Patrick Ward in ‘Love Hate’. In 2018 he received the best actor award at the IFTA’s for his performance as Jay Connolly in ‘Cardboard Gangsters’ a film, which he wrote, directed & starred in. John’s acceptance speech has become legendary amassing more views online than every other IFTA speech combined. A speech which prompted Conor McGregor to lend his support. On this weeks podcast John talks about his latest film, ‘Endless Sunshine on a Cloudy Day - The Jade McCann Story’, a beautiful documentary detailing Jade & her father Anthony’s incredibly brave fight against cancer. Despite the the heartbreaking subject matter of the movie, Endless Sunshine is funny, inspiring & thought provoking in equal measures. The story is told from Jade’s perspective, through many of her social media posts as an influencer. The movie captures the raw, terrifying, tender & intimate moments of family life during a serious illness. The film won the coveted Audience Award at this year’s Dublin film festival & was praised for addressing the darker side of social media. The documentary is available to watch on demand for a limited time on Clisterfoxfilms.com. Along with being available to rent on Vimeo Also on this week’s podcast John gives us an update on how he’s been dealing with life during the pandemic. Connors tells us how lockdown has made him appreciate what’s really important in life, family. John believes he may have contracted coronavirus near the start of the breakout when he showed flu like symptoms for a period of time. The Cardboard Gangsters star was not a high risk patient & was therefore refused a test like many others. John decided to self isolate for 14 days. He describes the symptoms he experienced including difficulty breathing.  Luckily Connors went on to make a full recovery. John & Paddy also discuss current events in the political world, the role of the media during lockdown & what it has resulted in. It’s Always a pleasure to have John on the podcast, a great friend of the show. The full episode #119 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available to watch now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube. As always with John & Paddy it’s an absolute cracker from start to finish.

The Ninja returns, we have Colin Byrne on the line for episode #118 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Colin is a martial artist, film maker, Conor McGregor’s soigneur, FAST conditioning coach & owner of Shinobi Academy Lagos, a full time MMA Dojo. This is Colin’s second appearance on the show, if you missed his epic 2 hour discussion with Paddy back on episode #040, it’s available on Youtube & will give you a good insight into the Serpico Ninja’s back story. On this weeks podcast Paddy & Colin swap burglar stories, one involving nudity & the other involving the kusari. Luckily, both men save the day in their respective accounts of heroism as the culprits are forced to flee the scene empty handed on each occasion. Based on their experiences, Colin & Paddy conclude that intruders can often find another gear through sheer desperation, making them a very dangerous opponent. It’s a sentiment UFC light heavy weight Anthony Smith will echo, having recently experienced a similar situation in his own home. Colin’s Shinobi Vlog has recently made a triumphant return to Youtube & Instagram TV after a short hiatus. The vlog which details the daily life of the Serpico Ninja is a beautiful blend of fitness, style & monologues. Colin begun vlogging long before it was cool, his youtube channel is a chest of hidden gems covering all aspects of his personal & professional life from Lagos to Vegas, including a very special video of Paddy getting his Black Belt back in December. His motivation for creating content is to capture his life while he’s living & to get his story down while it’s fresh in the memory. Byrne has also made a return to podcasting with his show ‘Himself & The Ninja Podcast’ co-hosted with Stephen Lowry. Colin discusses the importance of never underestimating someone, “You never know who you’re talking to. You could be talking to Jesus”. Colin talks about a recent experience where he had a former world champion in his gym, Chiu Kwong Man without ever realising or noticing who he was & laments the fact he didn’t pick up on the signs. It is a philosophy that has served him well in the past, having left a lasting impression on a young Conor McGregor after a brief encounter years before. Little did Colin know that he would end up becoming an integral part of his team. Colin gives us an update at how Conor’s getting on with his McGregor fast programme during quarantine & what he feels is next for the Notorious. So much more weird, random & wonderful stories from this weeks podcast. It’s always a pleasure to have the Ninja on the show. The man of many & endless talents, he even fixed his car on his latest vlog. The full episode #118 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including YouTube, iTunes & Spotify. Check it out now, it will give you a laugh.

Damian Browne joins us on the line for episode #117 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Damian is an adventurer, former professional rugby player, motivational speaker & mentally one of toughest people we know. If you needed a lift today, look no further, Auld Stock is at your service. Damian was our first ever guest on the No Shame Podcast, at the time he was setting out to row across The Atlantic Ocean on his own, a feat he would successfully accomplish in just 63 days. He returned to the No Shame studio on episode #024 to tell us about that incredible journey. His latest appearance marks his 3rd on the show & Damian true to character, has numerous challenges & adventures to tell us all about. During the podcast Browne talks to Paddy about the success of his 14 day burpee challenge. It was something he created at the start of Lockdown to set a daily goal, helping to keep the mind active. The challenge started with 1 minute of burpees on day 1 building all the way up to 14 minutes of burpees on day 14. It went viral on instagram with people of all ages, levels & creeds taking part, including many of his former professional rugby team mates. Damo also talks about his February cold water challenge, which started with 1 minute in ice cold water on 1st February culminating to 29 minutes in ice cold water on the 29th of February. Damian mixed it up throughout the month, plunging into the rivers, lakes & the Sea. Auld Stock attributes a lot of his success to his mindset & stresses the importance of staying in the present moment. He states how “it’s the only thing we can control”. We can’t control the past or the future, the more we think about the past & present, the higher anxiety levels will go. Control the controllable as Paddy likes to say. Fundamentally, on a day to day basis, It’s about finding something that keeps you in the present moment. That can be anything from Yoga, BJJ, lifting weights, whatever it is that suits you. Prior to the Covid-19 Global Pandemic, Damian was approaching the tail end of the mammoth, Seven summits challenge. The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven Continents. Climbing to the summit of all of them & reaching the North & South poles has been dubbed the Explorers Grand Slam. Damian had completed 5 summits, with Mount Everest the next one due to take place right around now. Browne had been 2 years into the seven Summit challenge & had been training over 6 months for his Everest bid. unfortunately the adventure came to an end due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus, however Damian intends to climb Everest at a later date in 2021. Damo touches on the challenges faced during the Seven Summits & contrasts them to his experiences rowing across The Atlantic Ocean. The king of isolation also gives us some useful tips to help counter the struggle of Lockdown. Solid advice from a man who spent 63 days alone at sea. Compared to all that he’s conquered, self isolation looks like a walk in park. Not content with the challenge of a global pandemic, Damian is weighing up the idea of 12 months of challenges next. The man knows no limits, he believes in facing adversity headfirst, “embrace it, because eventually it comes to us all one way or another.” Damian is a great friend of the show & never fails to lift our spirits. If you haven’t checked out episode #024 make sure to give it a watch, some proper motivational stories in there of his journey across The Atlantic Ocean. The full episode #117 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify, wherever you get your podcasts from.

We’re joined by Pro MMA Fighter Kiefer Crosbie & Lar Brennan, the posture Coach for episode #116 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. With the current lockdown restrictions in place It’s another No Shame first this week, Paddy is flying solo in the studio, leaving him in charge of everything technical & it has to be said the Hooligan can produce a podcast. Kiefer is our first guest on the line, marking his second appearance on the show. It’s not exactly how he’d planned his 30th birthday celebrations pre-pandemic, but Crosbie is taking the positives out of a difficult time. Not far from where he lives, homeless people young & old sleep on the streets. It adds perspective & a greater appreciation of a situation many of us find ourselves in currently. Kiefer explains how the time away from the gym is the first significant break he’s had since he took up the sport. The current limbo has confirmed his hunger for fighting & Crosbie cannot wait to get back to his normal everyday life, in the mean time he’ll stick to the social distancing guidelines, use this time as a period of reflection. “I was never a fan of normal, but normal seems appealing these days”. Lar is also marking his second appearance on the No Shame podcast. In his first episode last year, the posture coach talked all about living with cystic fibrosis, surviving a double lung transplant & opening his own gym, a truly remarkable story of will & mental strength. Lar is extremely high risk at the best of times. After developing mild symptoms, his GP ordered Brennan to take a test for Covid-19. It took 8 days to get tested & over two weeks to get a result. Luckily Lar’s results were negative. The delayed response to a patient with such high risk is perhaps an alarming cause for concern. Also on this week’s episode Lar & Paddy discuss the effects the crisis has had on many businesses & whether or not they’ll be able to survive the duration of the lockdown. Some incredibly interesting conversation from both men on this week’s podcast.There are some great stories on this weeks show surrounding Eminem & David Beckham, the former resulting in a signed photo & the later a 25 minute chat. The full episode #116 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, Spotify & iTunes.

Ian O’Connell joins us on the line for episode #115 of the No Shame Podcast, making him our first ever virtual guest to appear on the show. In 2017, a freak bike accident left Ian paralysed from the shoulders down, changing his life forever. In the immediate aftermath doctor’s warned that Ian’s paralysis was permanent & he’d never be able to breath on his own again. With incredible mental strength, determination & an unbreakable spirit, Ian fought back against all odds, earning International praise from far & wide. Today he continues to defy medical prognosis & wants his story to inspire people to appreciate the little things in life that we so often take for granted. Ian was only 16 when the accident occurred at Killarney National park. It was a spur of the moment, last minute decision to go cycling with some friends. The front wheel of Ian’s bike collided with an obscured log, throwing him to the ground. From the way that he landed, Ian knew straight away that something was wrong. His worst fears were confirmed when the ambulance crew arrived & failed to get stimulus from his body. The majority of us will never be able to understand what Ian was going through in that moment, with the flip of a coin, his life had changed forever. It’s a testament to his character that he can still see the funny side of it, lamenting the fact he had to be cut out of his brand new Calvin Klein boxers. Ian didn’t know ‘how strong he was until his only choice was to be strong’. After suffering a collapsed lung in hospital, he was placed on a ventilator that Doctor’s expected him to remain on for life. 80 days later he took his first breath of Dublin fresh air unassisted. His response to another doctor after being told he’d never regain movement in his body, ’Watch Me’. Today he has regained movement in his left hand, with his right hand not far behind. The success doesn’t come without hard work. If you follow Ian on Instagram you’ll see all the graft that goes into rehab. Ian’s appearance on the Late Late show in 2018, marked an iconic moment in his journey to recovery. It came just after his release from hospital. After spending more than 9 gruelling months in the Mater, his interview with Ryan Tubridy moved the entire nation with his now famous ’If you Can’t Stand Up, Stand Out’ catchphrase hitting the mainstream. The interview earned praise from Conor McGregor. Ian discusses the influence of the Notorious, & recalls the first time they met in at the Three Arena, there were tears. Paddy was also there that night & shares his memories of the Occassion. Conor was a key motivation for Ian in the aftermath of his accident, however he would not be where he is today without the constant support & care of both his parents & pays tribute to them both at the end of the podcast. With everyday that passes Ian’s body is growing stronger. At just 18 years of age he’s already been through more than many will go through in a lifetime. He tells Paddy that he wouldn’t be a fraction of the man he is today had it not been for the accident. When your body is broken & you have to start again, learn everything from scratch, you appreciate the simple things in life, things such as fresh air. In these unknown times, that’s possibly the message we all need right now, ’appreciate the simple things in life’. We look forward to following Ian’s journey going forward & speaking to him off camera he has many exciting projects planned for 2020. You can follow him on Instagram @ianoconnell321. What an incredibly inspirational young man. The full episode @115 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, Spotify, iTunes & wherever you get your podcasts from.

This week we’re bringing you the first Hooligan report of 2020. Over the last few day’s there’s been one story & one story only. The Coronavirus has dominated world news & if you, like us, can’t possibly think of anything else to talk about, then this is the episode is for you. On this week’s podcast we reflect on the mood of the population as we face into the great unknown. Sometimes it’s the little things that can highlight the severity of a situation, like not being able to hug your ma on Mother’s day. It’s important not to dwell, because there is a lot to dwell upon right now, a hell of a lot. For every person that goes to the pub there are 10 in his/her place helping the community, particularly those that need it the most. We’re all in the same boat & the only way to get back to a degree of normality is by listening to the professional advice, by washing our hands, staying at home, keeping a safe social distance, self isolating where required. Any other course of action will help the virus to spread, putting peoples lives in danger. Lots done more to do. Amidst all of the chaos there are silver linings. Pollution is down, Dolphins are swimming in a crystal clear Venice, the smog in China has lifted. On a personal level we're getting to spend extra time with our families. Many will joke that we're driving each other crazy, however for many kids they will look back on this time for the rest of their life & one day cherish these quality moments shared with their parent. Maybe in time We'll all look back with pride on these moments, how in the most challenging of times, we were still able to laugh, smile & help those that needed it. The most important message from this weeks podcast comes from a friend of the show, Niall o'Murchu, 'Wim Hof's mate'. No matter how stressful the situation, always remember to breath, just breath.

John Lally joins us in the studio for episode #113 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. On this week’s show we’re discussing Covid-19 & the consequences of a global pandemic that’s shook the world.   John is a close friend of Paddy, a regular on the show & marks his 3rd appearance on the podcast, making him our most capped guest to date. His sister, a nurse, has been working with Covid-19 patients for over a week now & has informed him that she, along with most front line medical & emergency services will most likely contract the Coronavirus in a desperate bid to save lives. John’s sister is currently staying in isolated accommodation to ensure her own family do not become infected with the virus. Also on this Podcast Paddy discusses his reasons for closing D24 during the outbreak.

Lex Griffin joins us in the studio for episode #112 of Paddy Holohan's No Shame Podcast. Lex is an instagram & youtube personality with a background in bodybuilding, fitness & health. Operating under the name of Lex Fitness, his social media channels have racked up hundreds of millions of views, thanks to a fresh approach to documenting fitness & health. Griffin's brand is a combination of humour, education & honesty blended together to produce highly engaging, informative content. Lex stopped by the studio during filming with SBG Charlestown & head Coach Owen Roddy for his Street Fight Survival series. The series takes elements from multiple disciplines in MMA & applies them to real world situations. So far the 'Street Fight Survival' episodes  have amassed 7 million views on Youtube. The mini series promotes self defence & anti bullying. Griffin covers a wide range of topics on his Youtube channel including bodybuilding, nutrition, functional training & dealing with pain. Lex was one of the very first Gymshark ambassadors, back then founders Ben Francis & Lewis Morgan were printing T-Shirts in their Garage at home, today they are one of the fastest growing companies in the UK. They approached Lex after he posted a video on Youtube where he ate a barbecue during weight cut one week out from Muscle Mania, a bodybuilding competition. The particular video went viral after Lex illustrated it was possible to cut weight without killing yourself, with the right education & controls around macronutrients. Griffin talks about taking a chance with Gymshark because he liked the people behind the brand. They where like minded & he enjoyed working with them. The word 'macro' is familiar to many without actually knowing what it means. Lex offers one of the best explanations we've heard on understanding macronutrients & how to control intake based on personal goals. Although he'll tell you himself of his dislike for the word, Lex is one of the leading fitness 'influencers' in the UK & talks of having a responsibility to only promote products that he believes in, no money should ever be enough to stand over a product that doesn't work. On this topic he talks about some of the myths & facts around creatine, protein, diet pills & many more supplements. Lex who began training MMA in his early 20's & indeed had success in a few amateur fights has not ruled out a return to the sport. It's important to say that there are some honourable mentions during the episode for cheese & pickle sandwiches, McDonald's & a €1 bag of chips, in no particular order. Ultimately this weeks message is all about success stemming from motivation. You have to fail to become successful but if you are doing something you love, you'll have the energy, discipline & mindset to succeed. Surround yourself with like minded people too & when you do eventually reach your goals, remember to give back, inform & educate the next wave. The full episode of Paddy Holohan's No Shame Podcast with Lex Griffin is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, YouTube & Spotify.

Michael Conlan joins us in the studio for episode #111 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Michael is an Irish Pro boxer (13-0-0), 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist, & former World & European champion.   Ahead of his St.Patrick’s Day fight against Belmar Preciado at MSG, Conlan stopped by to chat about the highs & lows of his career so far.   The full episode #111 of Paddy Holohan's No Shame Podcast with Michael Conlan is available now across all the usual channels, including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify.  

We’re joined by award winning director & animator Scott Altman for episode #108 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Scott is on the show to discuss some of his recent projects surrounding the homeless crisis in Ireland along with touching on his impressive career to date. This episode of the podcast is an extremely relevant discussion on the Ireland of today, encouraging plenty of discussion & debate, saddle up.In 2013, Scott Altman won the Wide Eye Media (formally Carlton Screen Advertising) Director of the Year award for his cinema advert to promote Hot Press magazine. That year Altman worked with Kanye West and soon after set-up Defunct Films where he has directed and executive-produced hit pop videos for Shift K3Y, Philip George & Anton Powers and Jax Jones, that have received millions of views online and been Top 20 most downloaded videos on iTunes. More recently Scott was commissioned by Saatchi & Saatchi to direct a series of adverts to promote new soft drink FreshBe, and directed a pilot involving actors Alan Ford (Snatch), Adam Fogerty (Legend), Natasha Byrne (Holby City) and new talents. Scott grew up with a talent for art & began working in Ardmore studios while still in school. He studied animation in Ballyfermot & upon graduation received funding from the Irish Film Board to complete his first film, about a rat who snorted crack- cocaine. Altman found it difficult to break onto the Irish animation scene & began working on the toll bridge beside the Three Arena, (the Point Depot). One night after completing a shift he wandered onto the movie set of ‘Evelyn’ in his uniform & was mistaken for security by the crew. Within 20 minutes he was guarding Pierce Brosnan, keeping the growing crowd at bay. This added fuel to the fire & encouraged Scott to follow his heart & pursue his dreams.Scott eventually got contract work in Ireland as an animator but when those projects where completed he went travelling with his friends on a world trip for a year. Altman’s first stop was in LA, he was staying near Skid Row, an area inhabited by thousands of homeless people. At 23 years of age this was Scott’s first real experience with homelessness. After a year of travelling with long spells in Australia & New Zealand Altman returned to Ireland. His time was brief however, with a lack of jobs & frustration mounting, he booked a one way ticket to Bangkok, Thailand had an excellent VFX scene. Within a week he’d landed the job he wanted, which would see him stay in Bangkok for year. Scott’s work in Bangkok didn’t go unnoticed & MTV came calling. Altman worked on the MTV awards & spent the next few weeks located in their Camden office in London. This was a milestone for Scott as he’d grown up admiring everything MTV created. He spent the next 2-3 years raising his profile with MTV while working on side projects too. Some of the music videos Scott created for Digitalism & Seasick Steve received widespread praise. Scott received representation soon after & his transition into the directing world was complete. As a young director Altman received a lot of rejection, which was gut wrenching at times, but he dug deep, never gave up & got stronger at his trade, eventually making him one of the strongest candidates for any project he pitched for. One particular music video from Shift K3Y put Altman on the map as the guy who created the Ibiza styled videos. This was a popular trend in the music industry at the time & everyone wanted Scott to recreated to same style, with a fraction of the budget. By this stage of his career the digital age was in full swing & declining budgets, along with unrealistic client expectations left Altman exhausted & drained mentally. Scott realised it was time for a change, stripped everything back & began working on his own projects independently. He reached out to Glen Hansard with an idea for his Christmas Eve busk on Grafton Street. The project ultimately led to the feature documentary ‘WE WILL SING’ which has just been released Independently this Christmas, with all proceedings going to charity.At the same time of filming ‘WE WILL SING’ the Apollo house movement was kicking off & Altman began documenting the whole story. Realising how bad the magnitude of homelessness had gotten in Ireland, Scott spent the next 6 months shooting around Dublin capturing the stories of the those who’ve fallen on rough times. This led to his new feature Documentary ‘HOME’ which has recently been screening at Irish film festivals & won best short documentary at the Dublin Independent Film Festival. Altman discusses the task of releasing projects of this nature independently & Paddy touches of the industry of Homelessness highlighting that many CEO’s of various charities are still on salaries in excess of 100k. A major problem with the homeless situation is the fact that it’s a profitable market for the government, with the monopoly of state funded charities housing homeless people in state owned land & accommodation.Scott is currently shooting a feature film in LA which he hopes to have completed by January 2020. Altman is also in talks with established producers in the UK,Ireland & America regarding film & TV projects. The future is bright for an Irish lad who worked his ass off, never gave up on his dream & is now ready to take full advantage of the opportunity he’s created for himself. We look forward to seeing where Scott’s career goes from here. If you haven’t checked out his work make sure you do, Scottaltman.com. His work on Kanye West’s ‘Blkkk skkn head’ is amazing & his documentary features on the homeless crisis capture the true essence of Dublin in 2019.The full episode #108 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube. Finally we’d like to sign off on our last post of  the decade by wishing you all a very Happy New Year. Your support is essential to the success of the show, we have some big plans for 2020 & can’t wait to share them with you all, No Shame.

It’s the Christmas episode of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast & we’re joined by the main man himself, the OG of the holiday season, Santa Claus. On this week’s show, jolly old Saint Nick talks to Paddy about the story of Christmas, the true meaning of the holiday season & why it’s a time for hope. Although he can make it look easy at times, it hasn’t always been plain sailing for Santa as he discusses some of the more difficult challenges that come with the job such as Sleigh insurance premiums, being chased by dogs & the logistical nightmare of having to start his Christmas Eve rounds from the South Pole side of the world. One of the big issues in Ireland around this time of year is the homeless crisis with the number of homeless families increasing by over 380% since October 2014. 1 in every 3 people in emergency accommodation is a child but Santa urges those kids not to give up hope as he has enlisted the help of various Irish homeless charities around the country to ensure that nobody is forgotten about. The homeless crisis is a topic that Father Christmas is extremely passionate about & lists it as one of the primary reasons for naming Leo Varadkar top of the 2019 Naughty list. Santa also reveals some of the strangest Christmas wish list requests he’s recieved over the years along with the requirements needed to become an ‘Elf on The Shelf’ (Paddy was just asking for a mate). During the podcast Santa also pays a heartfelt tribute to all the parents that go above and beyond every year to assist him in his role, insisting that he wouldn’t be able to do it without their support. It wouldn’t be the most wonderful time of the year without a good film & Santa tells us about some of his favourite Christmas movies, with an honourable mention for Will Ferrell’s portrayal of Buddy the Elf in the 2003 hit ‘Elf’. Father Christmas also weighs in on the ‘Is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?’ debate before officially declaring his opinion on the matter… maybe now we can all move on with our lives? Saint Nick completes his residency at Luggwoods Enchanted Forrest early today before setting off to the North Pole for final preparations ahead of the biggest night of year. The man in red gives some solid Christmas Eve advice to everyone listening at home with the recommendation of going to bed a bit earlier than usual. Although port is his drink of choice, Claus is flying a sleigh tonight, so Milk & cookies will do just fine. This week’s episode really is a Christmas Cracker & We’d like to thank Mr.Cringle for taking time out of his insanely busy schedule to stop by SBG D24. We hope you enjoy watching the show as much as we did filming it & we’d like to wish everyone a happy Christmas. Most importantly stay safe, remember to give your friends a big hug & tell your family you love them if they haven’t heard it in a while.   The full episode #107 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including, Youtube, iTunes & Spotify. Thank you for all of your support this year.

The incredibly stylish & extremley glamorous Imelda Duffy joins us in the studio for episode #106 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. The Duffy’s name has been associated with the Circus since the 1850’s & the family have been touring Ireland for generations. Imelda is on this weeks podcast reliving some of her fondest memories of growing up on the road & talks about the transition of Circus life from then to now.  

Richie Sadlier joins us in the studio for episode #105 of Paddy Holohan's No Shame Podcast. A former professional footballer & Irish International, Richie is currently a leading football pundit, panelist/presenter with Second Captains, author & full time therapist. Richie has recently released his autobiography, Recovering, with the book scooping the prestigious sports book of the year at the 2019 An Post Book Awards. Both men discuss the writing process of their respective autobiographies with both books being released just weeks apart. Paddy discusses the freedom of getting a book off his chest, getting the whole truth out there & giving his critics all the ammunition they need. Richie expresses a similar feeling with his book highlighting the power to disarm people by being open & honest. The logic being that if you've nothing to hide then people have nothing to hit you with. Richie tells Paddy of his love for playing football as a kid. From the moment he could walk, he was never without a ball to kick around. Being passionate about the sport fuelled the hard-work & dedication that would earn him a contract with Millwall FC in 1996. Sadlier had just completed his leaving cert & was 17 years of age. The probability of failure was extremely high with only 3-4 of the U18 squad making it to the first team. There really was no margin for error but Richie was spurred on by the fact he was living his dream on a daily basis. Sadlier flourished in the underage setup & was one of the few that made it to the first team at Millwall. Anyone that has met Richie knows what a nice, welcoming guy he is & although these are valuable attributes to have as a therapist, they certainly did not sit well with the senior players at the club. They took him under their wing, showed him some tough love on the field & Richie soon adapted to the Millwall way & became a regular in the starting line up. In the space of two years Richie had went from a being a kid without a penny to his name to having enough money to own his own house. He was the only one of his friends to live on his own & his home in England became a drop in centre for any of the native Irish passing through. Sadlier talks about feeling more Irish when abroad, with the Tri-colour & proclamation proudly hanging on the walls of his apartment. The pinnacle of Richie's football career came in the lead up to the 2002 World Cup when Sadlier was called up the the national team, earning his first & only cap for the Republic of Ireland. It was a moment he'd visualised since his teenage years when he'd picked up a blade of grass while on the pitch at the ill fated Ireland V England game in 1995 which was abandoned due to crowd trouble from the English. Richie reflects on the presence Roy Keane had to him as a team mate & Paddy likens it to the influence that Conor had on him as a fighter. Cruelly, a freak hip injury forced Richie to retire from the game at just 24 years of age. Despite trying everything to stay in the game, it was hopeless & Sadlier was force to hang up his boots for good. Putting the ball in the net was the only thing he ever knew & it had been taken away from him at a time when he was tipped for a place in the World Cup squad, along with a move to the Premier League. In the week of his retirement, Richie's cousin had tragically passed away from cystic fibrosis & he talks about the guilt of not being able to find solace in the knowledge that he still had his whole life ahead of him. It was a guilt that forced him to lock away his feelings, denying himself the chance to discuss his inner turmoil. This ties in with Paddy's own experience of retirement, as he  likens it to the death of a family member. Up until that point in his life, Richie had always worked towards an objective. As a professional footballer it was, the next goal, the next game, the next win. Becoming an outsider to the dressing room was a knock-out blow for Richie & he was overcome with an emptiness. With no consequences anymore, Sadlier fell off the rails, as drink, drugs & partying became the norm. Without ruining the book, (you're just gonna have to buy it) a realisation moment along with therapy sessions helped Richie on his road to recovery. It is a road that has come full circle for Sadlier as he has since become a fully qualified therapist. As a therapist Richie discusses the importance of developing a connection with his patients. After volunteering, unpaid, for nearly two years, he talks about the transition of charging patients for the first time & why it's essential to know what you're worth, a point reiterated by Paddy. Value what you know, value ability, talent & appreciate that you're worth something to someone. Thankfully Richie is at a happy place in his life, with a tight knit group of friends & family, Sadlier can look back fondly on his footballing career & use his experiences to help others that need it the most. Helping each other, after all, is one of the most important things in life. You can purchase Richie's autobiography ,Recovering in all good bookstores including Eason. The full episode #105 of Paddy Holohan's No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify.

Conor O’Keeffe joins us in the studio for episode #104 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Conor, an endurance athlete, is the 2019 Enduroman 200 Mile Ultra Winner & is currently in training for his greatest challenge yet, to run 32 Marathons, across the 32 counties of Ireland in just 32 days with 32 pounds on his back. Conor will lose a pound after each Marathon finishing up weightless on his final leg back to swords. The aim of the campaign is to raise €100k for Pieta house, a charity that provides a free, therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress & those who engage in self-harm. Not bad for someone who only took up running a year ago.

Gerry Adams, one of the most important figures in the history of the Irish State, joins us in the studio for episode #103 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. A man who needs little introduction on these shores, Gerry is an Irish Republican politician, current Louth TD, the former president of Sinn Féin & was an instrumental figure behind the Northern Ireland Peace process during the 1990’s. There are so many topics up for discussion on this week's show with Gerry & Paddy covering a lot of ground in a landmark episode for the No Shame Podcast. Some of the key areas during the 55 minute conversation include, the Ballymurphy massacres, internment, Gerry's friendship with Bobby Sands, the Hunger strikes, British Collusion, the assassination attempt on Gerry's life, Nelson Mandela, the peace process, Martin McGuinness, Brexit, Irish Unity, the cook book & so much more. In a standout moment, Gerry acknowledges that there were killings at the hands of the IRA during the Troubles & states that Republicans are trying to atone for what they did, something that can't be said for the British Government. In a powerful closing statement, Gerry discusses the prospect of Irish Unity & how it's finally achievable through peaceful means for the first time ever. This is an option that didn't exist for Patrick Pearse, Michael Collins or Bobby Sands. Having served as president of Sinn Féin for over 35 years, Adams will be calling time on a truly remarkable political career in 2020 when the next general election is announced. Until then he is still working actively in the community. He was on the doors in Tallaght last Tuesday canvasing for Sinn Féin candidate Mark Ward. It's quite fitting that the podcast finishes on the subject of the Presidential office. Where one beard bows out another one enters the fray with Paddy Holohan stepping up his bid to take the Áras next time out. We can't be sure but we think, on a technicality, Paddy got an unofficial, indirect but albeit solid endorsement from big GerryA #FairDig #SeenThemGiven #Paddy4Prez We'd like to finish by giving a very special thanks to Gerry & the party of Sinn Féin for appearing on the No Shame Podcast. This was one of Paddy's top three guests when he started the show over two years ago & we promise this one lives up to its billing. The full podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including Youtube, iTunes & Spotify, enjoy.  

We’re joined by Derek Cullen for episode #101 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast. Derek is an Irish adventurer who’s challenges include cycling across Africa, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail & Most recently navigating 3000km around the entire coast of Ireland in 78 days. During this weeks show, Derek discusses the tragic loss of his parents within two years of each other & how it led to a self destructive path of excessive drinking. After the parties dried up, Cullen was deeply depressed, unmotivated & exhausted from boozing hard. In a desperate bid to stop the spiral, Derek walked out of his job, sold all his belongings & booked a flight to Cape Town. It was there he purchased a bike for 150 dollars & began cycling across Africa. The first 3 weeks of his journey were tough, he almost gave up, the depression wasn’t going away & he was considering returning home. However he stook to his guns & having successfully crossed the Namibian desert, he realised he’d accomplished something big. For the first time in a long time, he felt good again. One year later he’d reached Cairo, on the same bike & completed his first major adventure. Since then, Derek has opted to walk rather than cycle as he prefers the journey to go as slow as possible so he can fully immerse himself in the experience. Cullen documents his adventures with a camera & you can check out all his amazing content across all of his social media platforms including Youtube, Facebook & Instagram under the banner of Derek Cullen outdoors. After spending time working as a tour guide, Cullen hiked 2,652 miles from Mexico to Canada across the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018. In May 2019, Derek walked the Camino de Santiago. Upon returning to Ireland he set himself the challenge of walking to Kerry. Setting off from his brothers home in Firhouse, armed only with a camping back & camera, Derek began to fall in love with the Irish country side. He enjoyed it so much that he ended up walking around the entire country in 78 days, returning to Dublin just last week. He tells Paddy of the places & people he met on his journey around Ireland & talks of the personal satisfaction he got from his most recent adventure in his home country. Derek has many more plans for 2019/2020 but for now he has relocated to the wilderness of the beautiful Donegal for a 2 month period of isolation, away from all of the day to day distractions. It’s quite fitting  & somewhat coincendental that our guest for episode #101 is an adventurer. Our very first guest way back on episode #001 of the No Shame Podcast, Damian Browne, was also an adventurer. Looking back at what Damian has achieved then is incredible & we’ve no doubt that in two years time we’ll be looking at all of Dereks achievements in a similar fashion. ar The full episode #101 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & YouTube.

We’ve finally reached episode 100 of the Podcast & to celebrate we're bringing you a No Shame exclusive, Paddy’s book launch recorded live from Dublin’s Twenty Two. ‘Hooligan’, the autobiography of Paddy Holohan, is now available worldwide & already the reaction to the book has been amazing. For the book launch, Holohan is Joined on stage by Co-writer Richie Barrett, both men discuss the story of Hooligan, offering the audience exclusive insights into many of the intricate moments the book has to offer. Richie Barrett is the Co-Founder & COO of the highly successful Pundit Arena, an Irish-based sports media publication that provide aspiring journalists and articulate fans with a platform to showcase their work. Many of the people that Paddy refers to in his book have appeared on the Podcast over the last two years & the character development during these episodes will give the No Shame fans a greater context when reading Hooligan, which only adds to the experience. Equally many of the stories in the book have also been talked about in depth in the show & for readers looking to know more, the No Shame Podcast is the perfect source. Paddy’s Journey is a rollercoaster of emotion, It has readers laughing & crying in all the wrong places, from start to finish. In the midst of some of the darkest moments of the book there are heartwarming nuggets of inspiration that offer readers incredible hope. Richie & Paddy digest some of the power moments in the book Fundamentally Hooligan is about never giving up, no matter how tough things can get, if you believe in yourself, stay through to yourself & if you are willing to put the work in, especially when times are bad, then you’ve always got a fighting chance. On behalf of Paddy himself, we’d like to say a special thank you to all of our loyal fans for sticking with us for the first 100 episodes of the podcast, we’re looking forward to the next 100 episodes, with some exciting plans in the works for 2020. We'd also like to thank the book publisher, Gill along with Eason for organising a brilliant night at Twenty Two. The full Episode 100 of Paddy Holohan’s No Shame Podcast is available now across all the usual platforms including iTunes, Spotify & Youtube, we hope you enjoy it, No Shame.