What's The Story?

Heather Hardy is a professional boxer and MMA fighter from Brooklyn, New York. She is one of the biggest names in women's boxing and boasts a 22-0 record with a world title or two thrown in for good measure.  The lads caught up with The Heat to discuss her career, boxing, unifying the women's featherweight championships, fighting in the Bellator cage again (and maybe in Ireland), and the possibility of facing off against Katie Taylor.     

This week the lads caught up with friend of the show, Stephanie Roche.  It's been three years since Steph first appeared on WTSpod and a lot has changed for the Irish striker. Following a year of highs and lows, Steph recently made the move to Italy where she is applying her trade with CF Florentia in Florence.  Steph tells us how the move to Florentia came to be, the frustration of being injured, covering the 2018 World Cup with RTÉ, the heartbreak of Club 92 in Dublin closing its doors, and loads more.       

Following a festive fiesta the lads have returned to podcasting with a little warm-up ahead of 2019's real launch. There was some 'ring rust' as the lads try to adjust to normality and the dread of holiday season being well and truly over. 

Our guests this week really need no introduction, which is why the lads made absolutely no effort with the this week's intro.  Phil O'Connor made his WTS debut earlier this year and warmed the hearts and minds of the lads and their listeners. You can get your fill of Phil by checking out 'Our Man in Stolkholm' on Patreon.  Petesy Carroll is Europe's best (and most handsome) MMA journalist. He has done wonders to improve Blanchardstown's reputation in light of it being part of Leo Varadkar's constituency. You can hear more of north Dublin's sexiest man (2015) by checking out Eurobash Podcast.  Mero attempted to make this show a year in review but that went out the window very early and was exchanged for general waffle, craic and what may turn out to be the first movements towards an official Ken Early fan club. 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas if the lads didn't invite their great friend Paul Howard to the fabulous and famous Fitzpatrick Castle, to record their annual festive podcast.  It's been another great year Paul, Ross O'Carroll Kelly continues to have a place in Irish hearts, and Copper Face Jacks the musical was one of the most popular stage shows of the year - so popular it will return in 2019 for its second outing.  This episode of WTSpod is brought to you by Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, go to www.fitzpatrickcastle.com for more. 

Off the New York's Bronx coastline is an island that is home to the remains of over 1 million people.There are no gravestones, no memorial services and you cannot attend funerals there. Each grave contains 150 people, pine box caskets are stacked three-high and two-deep as they fill the giant holes with little room to spare. Hart Island is the world's largest publicly funded cemetery, and for years it has been shrouded in secrecy and associated with the poor, criminals, insane, and diseased. But is the more Hart Island and is it as dark and sinister as some press reports have portrayed it?  Since 1994, The Hart Island Project has independently assisted families in obtaining copies of public burial records. The group also helps people track down loved ones and negotiate visits. The Hart Island Project was founded by New York artist Melinda Hunt in an effort to aid the loved ones of the dead buried on Hart Island. 

Alan Gernon is a comedian and author. His first book, "Retired: What happens to footballers when the game is up?", was released to rave reviews in 2016.  Two and half years later Alan is back, and this time he's had a little look into the transfer market. His book, "The Transfer Market: The inside stories" will be available from December 1st, you can pre-order it ahead of the Christmas rush to be guaranteed your copy. 

This week the lads take questions from Instagram and Mero is currently on a world tour of podcasts which hasn't made Danny jealous at all. 

Ewan MacKenna is an award winning Irish journalist based in Brazil. We spoke to Ewan about Brazil's president elect, Jair Bolsonaro, and how he came to power. Bolsonaro has hit headlines internationally for his controversial policies and comments about members of the black community, immigrants, Brazil's LGBTQ population, political opponents and climate change.  We also talk about the Irish presidential campaign, drugs in sport and loads more.   

Mero returns from two weeks of working on his all over tan and resumes his role as fan favourite. Danny, resenting Mero's rising popularity, turns the heat up on his heel run and continues to be The Macho Man Randy Savage to Mero's Hulk Hogan.  The lads finally catch up on Khabib v McGregor, Danny didn't bother watching the build up and gets it wrong, before taking a look at what next for the current and former UFC lightweight champions. There's a brief stint on the Presedential election which annoys Danny and Mero doesn't want to talk about football. 

Christy Moore is one of the greatest recording artists Ireland has ever produced. A career spanning six decades, songs as famous as Ireland itself, and a following that is unrivalled, it was an honour to welcome Christy to Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel for a chat and some tunes. Enjoy.  WTSpod is brought to you by Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, go to www.fitzpatrickcastle.com for more. 

WTS' official correspondent, Gary Mackle, returns to the show for the first time since helping our listeners with their love lives back in February.  Gary gives us his home decorating tips, thoughts on Trump, Roy Keane and Gardai in balaclavas. 

BACK TO THE BRACK!  The 600 has returned to celebrate the launch of Ian Versey's "Welcome to Ballybrack".  10 minutes, 600 seconds (give or take) of Mero & Danny talking, waffling, slagging and having the craic - sure what else do you need? 

Philp O'Connor is an irish journalist based in the Swedish capital of Stolkholm.  Having spent 20 years in Sweden, Phil's work has brought him around the world to cover everything from World Cups to Conor McGregor, politics and more.  You can keep up with Our Man in Stockholm here. 

Vivian Rath is an activist and advocate from county Wexford, Ireland. He is currently undertaking PhD research at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin. Viv has campaigned for the disabled community for many years, and has opinion pieces and articles published across several media outlets including The Irish Times and thejournal.ie. 

This week we welcome back an old friend in the shape and form of MMAfighting.com's Petesy Carroll.  We talked a lot about why Khabib v Connor is so important to The UFC and MMA - We wonder if Petesy will ever get to write *THAT* book and is the future looking a little bit dim for MMA?   

With Danny still trying to make his new house a home, and scheduling conflicts that make booking a guest harder than climbing Everest - the lads got cosy on Skype to record an episode that basically turned The 600 into The 6000.  (We know, we havent recorded an episode of The 600 in a while, but it'll be back - promise.)  This week we talk Khabib v McGregor, Ballybrack the music video, Transfer deadline day is a pile of sh*te and loads more besides. 

This week the lads catch up after cancelling last week's recording. Danny said goodbye to an old friend, moved house and is an emotional mess. Mero hates Tommy Robinson and sees through Danny's attempt to wind him up over the national anthem.  *Audio this week isn't as good as we'd like, we're trying new recording software and should have the hang of it soon.     

Our guest this week is the brilliant Amy O'Connor. One of Ireland's favourite journalists, Amy's writing has covered everything from Volleyball and The MLS to Ireland's political elite and their love (or lack of) for Beyonce, bags of cans, and Love Actually.  WTSpod is brought to you by Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, go to www.fitzpatrickcastle.com for more.

This week we are joined by a man with arms almost as big as his big bag of cans, Don Marnell.  Don joined us to talk about his time with Ireland's OTT Wrestling, and how he came to be the voice of all the action inside Ireland's leading wrestling promotion.  Check out OTT on Demand to see some of Europe's and the World's top wrestling.   WTSpod is brought to you by Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, go to www.fitzpatrickcastle.com for more.