Episode 24 | Stephen Cowboy Kelly

In this episode of the Joe Irish Podcast, Joe sits down with comedian and content creator Stephen “Cowboy” Kelly for a hilarious and honest conversation about comedy, social media fame, controversy, and life behind the camera.

Stephen shares the story of how Three Bucks Left started, his connection to the cult Irish series The Hardy Bucks, and how his viral “creamy pints” videos took off online. He talks about dealing with social media backlash, navigating cancel culture, and why sometimes the best response to controversy is to stand your ground.

They also dive into touring internationally, appearing on reality TV, performing comedy across the world, and Stephen’s charity marathon challenges supporting mental health and community causes.

From comedy and politics to Irish culture and viral content, this episode is packed with laughs, stories from the road, and a real look at the life of one of Ireland’s most talked-about online comedians.

Timecodes

00:00 – Podcast intro
00:10 – Welcoming Stephen “Cowboy” Kelly
01:50 – The story behind Three Bucks Left
03:10 – Moving on from The Hardy Bucks
04:30 – Irish influencers and online creators
06:00 – Viral videos and social media controversies
07:20 – Handling backlash online
08:40 – Refusing to apologise and doubling down
10:00 – Starting a podcast and creating content
11:30 – Viral comedy sketches and audience reactions
12:00 – The “Dry January” viral video
13:20 – Family life and kids
14:00 – Appearing on Dinner With The Enemy
16:00 – Reality TV debates and controversial moments
18:00 – Comedy boundaries and offending people
19:00 – The challenge of filming content regularly
20:00 – How the “Creamy Pints” series started
21:00 – Going viral internationally
22:00 – Guinness jokes and Irish humour
23:00 – Talking politics and world events
25:00 – Social media and attention spans
26:00 – Touring and live comedy shows
27:00 – The origin of “French Toast”
28:00 – The early days of The Hardy Bucks
30:00 – Working in TV vs online content
31:00 – Theatre acting and stage performances
32:00 – Comedy tours and hair transplant jokes
34:00 – Travel stories from gigs abroad
35:00 – Marathon training and running challenges
36:00 – Charity runs and fundraising
37:00 – Supporting mental health charities
39:00 – Healthcare struggles in Ireland
41:00 – Running across Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way
44:00 – Irish tourism and hidden gems
45:00 – Travelling the world as a comedian
47:00 – Performing in Australia and the US
49:00 – Politics and public opinion
50:00 – Running for politics?
51:00 – Comedy around the world
52:00 – Conspiracy theories and random debates