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

This week on the Joe Irish Podcast, Joe sits down with legendary Irish DJ and radio presenter Al Gibbs for a brilliantly chaotic, funny, and inspiring conversation.

From pirate radio days to prime-time slots, from carrying crates of vinyl to playing alongside global dance icons, Al opens up about his journey through decades in the music industry. He shares behind-the-scenes radio stories, festival moments, Ibiza memories, and how a brutal hangover sparked the creation of his electrolyte drink brand, Electro Wave.

The episode also dives into cancel culture, generational differences in comedy, balancing family life with a demanding career, DJing in the digital era, and what it really takes to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry.

Expect nostalgia, motivation, laugh-out-loud stories, and plenty of classic Joe & Al banter.

⏱️ Timecodes

00:00 – Chaotic intro & calendar confusion
01:07 – Sleep struggles & hair transplant chat
02:07 – Remote working & escaping Ireland for a month
03:21 – Balancing gigs, radio & family life
04:54 – “Am I being kidnapped?” – arriving at the studio
07:11 – Cancel culture & comedy in 2025
10:21 – The Ibiza hangover that led to Electro Wave
12:22 – Creating an electrolyte drink from scratch
14:30 – Retail deals, festivals & scaling the brand
16:29 – DJ Academy & mentoring beginners
19:43 – Vinyl vs USB: how DJing has changed
21:36 – How live radio actually works behind the scenes
26:05 – Playing alongside Roger Sanchez
27:24 – Space Ibiza memories & dance music legacy
30:27 – Fame, guest lists & industry politics
35:05 – Winning Young Entrepreneur at 16
36:00 – Pirate radio beginnings
38:18 – Prime-time radio & longevity in broadcasting
40:03 – Finding your “radio voice”
44:02 – Festival season plans & Beyond The Pale

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the Joe Irish Podcast, Joe and the crew sit down with Independent Senator Lynn Ruane for an unfiltered conversation about authenticity, addiction, violence, and the real meaning of community.

Lynn opens up about staying true to herself in politics — from wearing runners into Leinster House to refusing to adopt a “politician persona.” The conversation moves into her groundbreaking work on drug policy reform, decriminalisation, and violence intervention strategies inspired by work in Newark and LA.

From stories about growing up in Dublin communities to tackling intergenerational trauma and challenging “tough on crime” narratives, this episode blends humour, honesty, and hard truths. It’s a conversation about healing, prevention, and building safer communities from the inside out.

Raw. Insightful. Necessary listening.

⏱️ Timecodes

00:00 – 02:30
Intro chaos, laughs & welcoming Lynn Ruane – why authenticity matters in politics.

02:30 – 06:30
Staying true to yourself in Leinster House – resisting the “politician uniform” and representing your community honestly.

06:30 – 11:30
Drug policy explained: Decriminalisation vs legalisation – why criminalising addiction doesn’t work.

11:30 – 14:30
The history of prohibition – America’s influence, racism, and how drug laws evolved.

14:30 – 18:00
Poverty, drug dealing & systemic drivers – Lynn’s early research into exit strategies for dealers.

18:00 – 21:00
Trips to Newark & New York – learning from violence intervention programmes in the US.

21:00 – 24:00
Perception vs reality of safety – understanding community fear and media narratives.

24:00 – 28:30
Growing up in Dublin communities – loyalty, friendship, and what “community” really means.

28:30 – 31:30
Can community events reduce violence? Reimagining prevention beyond policing.

31:30 – 36:00
Victim assistance & intergenerational trauma – why healing must be part of justice.

36:00 – 39:30
Reducing retaliation & stopping the rumour mill – lessons from US intervention models.

39:30 – 42:00
“Hard on crime” politics vs real solutions – what actually reduces violence?

42:00 – 45:30
Carb funding, pilot programmes & building real change in Irish communities.

45:30 – End
Leadership, listening, and why real change starts inside the community.