Episode 36 | Latifa Jawadi

Episode 36 | Latifa Jawadi

This week on the Joe and Sherin Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Latifa Jawadi, an Afghan lawyer and human rights advocate whose life changed overnight when the Taliban seized Kabul in August 2021. Latifa shares her journey from working as a lawyer and anti-corruption investigator in the Afghan government, to fleeing the country for Ireland with nothing but the clothes on her back — leaving her young son behind in the chaos. She opens up about hiding from the Taliban, the terrifying scramble to Kabul airport, two days sleeping on the floor of a military transport plane, and finally rebuilding her life in Ireland. We talk about her brother's imprisonment by the Taliban, her sister's incredible work running an underground online school for Afghan girls, and what it means to find safety, community, and a new home in Ireland. A powerful, honest, and moving conversation you won't want to miss. 🇦🇫🇮🇪 Timecodes: 00:00 – Intro & episode banter 02:56 – Meet Latifa Jawadi: lawyer, activist, guest 04:52 – Growing up in Afghanistan & Iran 05:47 – Studying law in Kabul & becoming a lawyer 06:38 – Working for the Vice President's office 07:39 – Fighting corruption in the Afghan government 08:56 – Being a woman in a traditional society 11:10 – The day the Taliban took Kabul 14:18 – Escaping the office, abandoning the government car 15:17 – Hiding from the Taliban for a week 16:05 – Sending her young son to safety 17:20 – Forced marriage & the reality for women under Taliban rule 19:19 – Getting the offer of an Irish visa 21:10 – The hardest decision: leaving her son behind 23:20 – The explosion at Kabul airport 25:26 – Two days on the floor of a US military plane 27:03 – Arriving in Qatar with no shoes 27:40 – Landing in Ireland, September 2021 28:32 – Reunited with her son Benjamin 29:21 – Life as an immigrant in Iran vs. Ireland 31:07 – Learning English & starting over 32:07 – Volunteering with Transparency International Ireland 32:42 – Her brother's arrest by the Taliban 35:11 – Finding out he's alive 37:14 – Her sister's secret online school for Afghan girls 39:26 – Will she ever go back to Afghanistan? 40:13 – Women protesting in the streets of Kabul 43:22 – Understanding Taliban culture vs. Islam 48:08 – Reflections on culture, borders & humanity 50:07 – Wrap-up & thanks to Latifa

Episode 35 | Dan Stevens

This week Joe and Sherin are joined by comedian Dan Stevens for an episode that swings from pure chaos to real heart. It kicks off with a new sponsor segment on sober holidays, spirals into one of the wildest DUI-arrest-in-America stories you'll hear (hillbilly house parties, a night in a Florida county jail, and negotiating for meatloaf with a fellow inmate), and then takes a hard turn into something much deeper — Dan opens up for the first time about his brother Dylan's battle with psychosis and schizophrenia, and the devastating loss of Dylan to suicide. It's a raw, honest conversation about mental illness, grief, and how Dan has chosen to frame and carry that loss forward. The episode closes out lighter, talking comedy, solo podcasting, and Dan's own show. Content warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of mental illness, psychosis, and suicide (from ~28:10 onward). Timestamps 00:00 – Cold open / intro chaos, Joe's birthday banter 02:22 – Welcoming comedian Dan Stevens to the show 03:26 – New sponsor: Connect Travel — sober holidays & travel packages 08:05 – Dan sets up the story: his time doing comedy in Florida 08:46 – Meeting a grieving stranger at a comedy club, heading to a bar 11:01 – The karaoke bar, strong beers, and meeting two women 11:44 – Going back to the women's house — things get weird 13:11 – The "last hillbilly" and the confrontation with her son 13:29 – Driving off, pulling over, police lights in the rear-view 14:07 – Getting pulled over and the sobriety test 15:24 – Arrest, handcuffs, and the ride to county jail 17:14 – Inside Brevard County Jail — the jumpsuit, the shackles, the cell 18:11 – Making "friends" in prison 21:12 – The meatloaf negotiation story 23:11 – Meeting "Shane" — a fellow inmate with a violent past 24:11 – Getting released, court process, and probation in the US 26:07 – The victim impact panel — Dan's real takeaway from the experience 28:10 – Turning to a heavier topic: Dan's brother Dylan 28:36 – Dylan's early signs of mental health issues and psychosis 30:25 – What it was like living alongside someone in psychosis 33:19 – Explaining the reality of psychosis and delusions 34:29 – Dylan's hospitalization and temporary recovery 35:19 – The importance of sleep and routine for mental health 36:38 – The day Dylan went missing 37:22 – Finding Dylan 38:47 – Confirming Dylan died by suicide 39:05 – How Dan chooses to frame his brother's death 41:26 – Dylan's own words: "If it is happening, I'm fucked. If it's not happening, I'm fucked." 42:56 – How Dan has processed and carries the grief today 44:17 – Comedy as a healthy distraction, not an avoidance 46:56 – Talking about Dan's own podcast, "The Dan Stevens Show" 49:04 – What Dan's solo episodes are like 50:15 – Fan warning / callback to an old viral clip 50:51 – Wrap-up, thanks, and sponsor shoutout (Connect Travel)

Episode 34 | Marty Guilfoyle

In Episode 34 of the Joe Irish and Sherin Podcast, Pat and Sherin sit down with Irish radio DJ and Spin 1038 presenter, Marty Guilfoyle. From his early days ringing up a community radio station as a teenager to becoming one of Ireland's most recognisable DJs, Marty shares how a chance encounter in a late-night club in Lanzarote completely changed the direction of his life. The lads talk friendship groups, growing up, social media comparisons, the perks of working in radio, and why Marty reckons the best part of the ladder might actually be where you're standing right now. There's also a pit stop in a very unexpected hotel in Tenerife, a near-miss with Calvin Harris at Electric Picnic, and a wild swingers hotel story that absolutely nobody saw coming. Timecodes: 00:00:10 – Welcome & intro to Episode 34 with guest Marty Guilfoyle 00:00:50 – Marty on why being invited on podcasts means so much to him 00:01:34 – Are you a podcast listener? Marty admits he's not really 00:02:35 – Marty's 16 years at Spin 1038 — and the station's full history 00:03:15 – How Joe met Marty through his brother next door (the decks story) 00:03:57 – Living with a stranger during Covid & making a best friend for life 00:04:40 – Friendship groups, growing apart, and the friend group of 15/16 00:07:03 – Football, Liverpool, and the WhatsApp group drama 00:08:25 – Making friends in different circles across different jobs 00:09:42 – Marty's other half's girl gang, London hen surprise & Magic Mike 00:10:31 – Ladies nights in Dubai — how clubs make their money 00:11:37 – How Marty got into DJing: the radio show that started it all 00:12:34 – Ringing a community radio station as a teenager and getting let on air 00:13:50 – Getting a show on Fun Radio, sending a demo to Spin, and landing the job 00:14:41 – Working weekends for Spin and weekdays for Beat — and how they became one group under Bauer Media 00:17:01 – Gigging in Ibiza, Dubai, and Majorca — and the invitation to join as apprentice 00:17:35 – Playing Ultra festival on the same bill as Steve Aoki 00:18:08 – The Iceland trip with the gang and running into MK 00:19:14 – The Lanzarote moment that changed everything: DJ Coco Loco and a life-altering offer 00:20:14 – Ringing his mam from Lanzarote: "You are NOT staying" 00:21:15 – The kindness of strangers and how it shapes your career path 00:22:00 – Playing New York Rocks in the early days 00:23:10 – Upcoming gig at Oceans Beach, Majorca — and why Marty doesn't consider himself a "cool DJ" 00:24:45 – The viral fan comparison to Avicii at a 5,000-person gig in Limerick 00:25:57 – Booking Oceans Beach and hoping they know what they signed up for 00:27:03 – Electric Picnic: clashing with Calvin Harris and Hozier 00:29:23 – Festival lineup clashes and loving artists across all genres (Kylie Minogue, Hana Lang) 00:30:15 – The secret "Absolute Mood" playlist and holiday music chat 00:32:05 – Dubai: why Marty wasn't a huge fan and what felt off 00:33:16 – Favourite gig ever: Pasha in Macao, China, and a spontaneous trip to Hong Kong 00:36:43 – Moving to Roundwood, Wicklow, and learning to love the quiet life 00:38:20 – The M50 red flag test for dating — and gym etiquette 00:41:33 – What's next? Marty reflects on chasing the ladder in his 20s vs enjoying where he is now 00:43:30 – Playing a small bar in Killarney and realising that's the good stuff 00:44:09 – Social media, comparison culture, and finding contentment at 36 00:47:03 – The perks of working in radio: Katie Taylor, David Guetta, Dua Lipa, and more 00:49:05 – Favourite celebrity interviews: Pete Tong, Charlie Puth, MK, and Sean Penn (as an extra on a film!) 00:51:35 – Pete Tong coming straight from the airport to Marty's studio 00:52:13 – Holiday plans: two weeks off, Tenerife & the Canaries 00:53:04 – The accidental swingers hotel story in Tenerife 😂 00:57:17 – Wrap-up, thanks, and "Friends and Lovers" sign-off

Episode 33 | Farmer Joe

"Farmer Joe, Fasting & the Truth They Don't Want You to Know" Joe and Sherin sit down with the one and only Joe "Farmajo" — health advocate, content creator, and walking experiment in natural wellness. Joe takes us on his incredible journey from fatty liver, 5 stone overweight, and struggling to climb a hill without stopping for breath, to hiking the highest peaks in Ireland, reversing his own health markers, and helping four people reverse Type 2 diabetes. No filters, no pharmaceutical sponsors — just real talk about food, fasting, and taking back control of your health. This one gets deep, gets funny, and might just change the way you look at your breakfast cornflakes. 🌾⚡ ⏱️ TIMECODES 00:00 — Intro / Hands in the air, welcome to Episode 33! 00:43 — Introducing Joe "Farmajo" — how Joe & Sherin first spotted him on TikTok 01:19 — What is Farmajo? Kids TV, animations & the board game getting kids off screens 02:18 — Joe's viral video hit 325K views… then got shut down. Why health content gets suppressed 03:13 — The steam facial remedy & soaking your feet — Joe's nightly self-care routine 05:11 — Attention spans, dopamine hits & why nobody can sit still anymore 06:15 — The best energy drink in the world (hint: it's not Red Bull) 07:11 — Celtic sea salt, morning routines & 50 press-ups before breakfast 07:51 — Intermittent fasting explained — why skipping breakfast might be the best thing you do 09:03 — How to do your first fast without losing your mind (sea salt is the secret weapon) 09:41 — Salt vs. sugar: which one ACTUALLY raises your blood pressure? 10:38 — The sleeping tablet scandal — a woman on pills for 14 years & what Joe did about it 11:31 — Joe opens up: 3 years probation for speaking out. His book is coming. 13:25 — Sherin's personal experience with sleeping aids after losing her mum 15:17 — Joe's major bowel scare, giving up coffee & sugar — and what came out the other side 👀 16:55 — June 2024: diagnosed with severe fatty liver. Doctor wants to put him on tablets. Joe says no. 17:47 — How Joe lost 5 stone in 6 months through intermittent fasting alone 18:15 — The Kellogg brothers & how "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" was invented to sell cornflakes 20:35 — Helping 4 people reverse Type 2 diabetes & the insulin resistance conversation 22:40 — Sugar, cancer & the body only needing 4 grams of sugar a day 24:00 — Why protein powder is just dried waste milk — and eggs are the real superfood 25:12 — Eggs and ADHD: the overlooked superpower food 28:12 — Calisthenics explained: why press-ups and squats are the two best exercises on earth 29:05 — Social media addiction, dopamine loops & how to actually cut back 33:26 — From nearly collapsing hiking Clinch Hill to conquering the highest peak in Leinster 35:36 — How to quit vaping using sea salt (Joe's 50% mindset theory) 40:12 — The coffee debate — Joe & Sherin admit to their caffeine habits, Farmajo issues a challenge 43:08 — 9 teaspoons of sugar in a bowl of cornflakes. Cocoa Puffs = cocaine puffs 🤯 44:21 — Autism rates: from 1 in 25,000 to 1 in 25 — what's really going on? 46:44 — Gestational diabetes, processed food during pregnancy & the link to childhood conditions 51:10 — Parasites, pig meat & Joe's monthly parasite cleanse (yes, really) 53:27 — Sherin's recent breast check & how it made her rethink her diet 54:24 — CBD, cannabis & multiple sclerosis — Joe's brother and a powerful family story 57:42 — Autophagy: what happens to your body after 48 hours of fasting 🔥 58:55 — Jared from Ballymore — 60 marathons in 60 days, world record broken 59:49 — Wrapping up, follow Joe @farmajo_1.64 on Instagram, and the hosts issue themselves a live challenge on air 1:01:11 — Sign off, shoutout to Jamie the producer & see you next week!

Episode 32 | Eilish O'Carroll

Joe and Sherin are joined by the brilliant Eilish O'Carroll — best known as the loveable Winnie McGee from the smash-hit Mrs. Brown's Boys — for a hilarious and heartfelt episode 32. Before they even get into the interview, Joe has to come clean about being left standing in the freezing cold at the wrong City West Luas stop while waiting for Eilish to collect him — a mix-up that had been weeks in the making. Once they get past that, the conversation flows beautifully. Eilish opens up about her journey into theatre, her work directing and mentoring a community women's show, and what it's really like to play Winnie alongside her real-life brother Brendan O'Carroll for over 26 years. She reveals the private backstory she wrote for Winnie in her own head — never shared with Brendan — that helped her stay in character through all the on-screen abuse. She also talks candidly about filming the Mrs. Brown's Boys mini-series while going through chemotherapy, growing up in Finglas and Stoneybatter, her mother's remarkable career as the first female Labour TD, her own one-woman show Do Level of Laugh, and her deep admiration for Brendan's late-bloomer success story. Funny, warm, honest, and full of great craic. Timecodes: * 00:00:00 – Intro / cold open * 00:00:10 – Joe welcomes listeners to Episode 32 and introduces Eilish O'Carroll (aka Winnie McGee) * 00:01:00 – The mix-up that almost never was: Sherin's scheduling chaos and dual alter egos * 00:02:00 – Joe's Luas adventure — wrong City West stop, freezing cold, 30+ minutes waiting * 00:05:00 – Eilish finally arrives (kind of) — the full story unravels * 00:08:00 – Eilish talks about her ADHD and how she relates to Joe * 00:09:00 – The Sister Sheds community show: how it started and how Eilish got roped in * 00:11:30 – Directing the women's show, rehearsals in kitchens, and the chaos of putting it together * 00:14:25 – The show's standing ovation and Eilish's impact as a director and mentor * 00:22:00 – Eilish's theatre background and love of performing * 00:35:30 – The chemistry between Eilish and Brendan on stage and the art of reading your scene partner * 00:37:30 – Playing Winnie: the private backstory Eilish invented that Brendan never knew about * 00:40:30 – What she loves most about Mrs. Brown's Boys and the power of making people laugh * 00:41:00 – Filming the mini-series during chemotherapy: flying Glasgow–Dublin and straight back into chemo * 00:42:00 – Brendan on Strictly Come Dancing and the real family bonds on the show * 00:44:00 – Fan encounters: Australian fans, being "mobbed," and staying grounded despite fame * 00:47:00 – Never really feeling "famous" — and why that's a good thing * 00:48:30 – How Eilish joined Mrs. Brown's Boys: starting as wardrobe, coming back from England * 00:49:20 – Her one-woman show Do Level of Laugh and its personal, emotional content * 01:11:35 – Brendan's Christmas routines and life between Dublin and Florida * 01:12:10 – Returning to Finglas: community spirit, Coronation Street vibes, and going home on TV * 01:14:45 – Emotional visit to the family home and memories of her mother dancing in the lounge * 01:15:30 – Her mother: the first female Labour TD, the Ballymun house, and moving to Finglas in the night * 01:17:40 – Other O'Carroll family members and why Brendan didn't find success until his 40s * 01:19:00 – Brendan's early struggles: debt, running a pub in Finglas, and finding comedy as a way out * 01:20:00 – Brendan's legendary first Late Late Show appearance with Gay Byrne * 01:23:00 – What's next for Eilish: The Circle writing group and a trip to Lourdes * 01:25:00 – Wrap-up, big shout out to Pat Sullivan, and Joe's promise to have Eilish back on