An Irishman Abroad

After week one on the road to the Antrim Coast Half Marathon Sonia asks us to review and adjust based on what we have learned. We dial in our team captains and a few squad members to get their takes on how the plan felt. Then coach Trevor Cummins jumps on the Irishman Abroad LiveLive (00447543122330) to advise us on what to do with the cross-training days within the plan. Sitting on the deck of her team house in Oregon, Sonia breaks down how to assess if your paces are accurate and why erring on the side of caution will always benefit you in a training block such as this. Scheduling the runs was a concern for both of our captains Neil and Aisling last week but in the end it was Sonia who struggled to fit in her Sunday long-run while coaching at the US National Track Championships. We get a little update on how Union Athletic Club faired over the weekend. Over the last few weeks Sonia has drilled home the importance of the easy run and the need for a stark differential between these runs and our hard session e

Irish swimming legend and campaigner for justice, Dr. Gary O'Toole sits down with to talk on the podcast this week. Gary explains his complicated relationship with the sport of swimming and how it has changed over the years. We look into George Gibney's efforts to preempt Gary's attempt to gather a case against him and the grotesque way in which Irish swimming turned a blind eye when presented with the cold hard facts of the abuse inflicted upon young swimmers in their ranks. Special thanks to Mark Horgan for making this interview possible. We of course get the opportunity in the exclusive members content to discuss the lasting impact of "Where Is George Gibney" and Gary's views on the conspiracy theories surrounding the bizarre verdict that allowed Gibney to skip the country. Hear the whole conversation? Get Sonia’s full training plan? Go to www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad & get access to tonnes of bonus content, weekly episodes, mini series and interviews from the Irishman Abroad. Want to submit a questi

Joe Biden says yesterday's ruling ‘should trouble us all’ as the conservative Supreme Court majority struck down laws requiring ‘proper cause’ to carry guns in public. Marion unpicks what just happened and explains why these rogue judges are intent on bringing America back to the 50s. It's a bombshell piece of news that makes it hard to talk about anything else on the podcast this week but so much is happening. We take a look at the key take aways from the January 6th hearing, the imminent sentencing of Ghislaine Maxwell, Bill Cosby latest guilty verdict and why his legal team are taking it as a win. Marion even makes time to talk about Amber Heard's "dig up" method of getting out of an 8 million dollar hole and why Elon Musk is so starved for attention. Hear the entire episode - a further 30 minutes each week via Irishman Abroad Premium. Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic? There's all manner of easy options. 1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our

Sonia sets out the plan for week one of her ten-week-half-marathon training block. (Full plans available to download and print in the episode notes) Why is calculating paces at the centre of this week and why do so many people struggle to accept the pace they should be running at? We get a detailed look at the theory behind the training Sonia has designed and a walk through of how to get the most out of each session, long run and rest day. With listeners taking part in the training across the world we meet the two team captains once again. Neil and Aisling dial into the live line to reveal their biggest fears heading into the ten-week-challenge. How can we hope to fit all this training into already busy lives? Let Sonia explain. Finally the Irish sports icon speaks candidly about adjusting to US humour while working at Nike’s Union Athletic Club. There’s  also a final kick montage designed to take you home and put the wind in your sales no matter how tired you might be.   Hear the whole conversation? Get Soni

Padraig Harrington comes back to Jarlath and the Irishman Abroad podcast after 6 tumultuous years to talk about alternative sports psychology, getting your mojo back, coaching your kids, farmers with messages for other golfers and of course the LIV Golf tour.   In the extended bumper cut of this episode (available via patreon.com/irishmanabroad ) we get to hear the raw unfiltered opinion of one of Ireland's greatest sportsman at a time when golf's future hangs in the balance. How has the controversial Saudi backed tour strained relationships among the players? Why is the sport of golf the biggest sporting whipping boy? Is it possible that this won't be the only breakaway tour that springs up? Jar asks Padraig if coaching our own children is a good idea in any sport and why "getting good" at whatever you're doing is not the key. Why do "funky swingers" prosper on the tour? Padraig has a few theories to say the least. After recently turning 50 we look back at the changes that have come over him in recent yea

Can a direct link be established between Donald Trump and the storming of the Capitol? The next two weeks of evidence might be the closest Democrats will ever get. Just one week ago we asked if there was any point to the public hearings by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. After just one sitting we got a definitive, "Yes!" Marion McKeone is on the ground and watching every single minute so you don't have to. She gives us her "take aways" from week one, the moments that matter and what to expect from here. The nonsense of Mike Pence being elevated to a hero gets laughed out of the podcast studio and the lost takes of the "we love you" message Donald sent to the rioters may never see the light of day. In the full-size Patreon exclusive extended cut (available at Patreon.com/irishmanabroad), Marion delves deeper into some of the "revelations" that aren't really revelations and then turns her sights to the 2024 election. Questions over whether Joe Biden will be too ol

There are no half measures when it comes to training for a half marathon but your enthusiasm to give it your best might be the thing that prevents you from seeing it through. Sonia explains the biggest potential trip wires that lie ahead if you're trying to train for a half or full marathon. Sports scientist and athletics coach Dominic Munnelly jumps on the Live Line to talk about the mistakes he sees many of his clients make and how best to avoid the road blocks that a lot of people seem to hit. The 80/20 theory (the splitting of training between low intensity and high intensity) goes way way back in the history of coaching Olympians but it takes an eternity for most people to catch on to its benefits (this includes me!). Dominic explains the the three S's and why a mobility test is a great idea for everyone heading into a big training block. We go round the parishes to see how your running is going and to check in with some of the Half Marathon Challenge squad. Captain Neil Fusco drops us a voice note and

This week Jarlath sat down with one of the fastest rising stars of Irish comedy, Tony Cantwell. Given Tony's meteoric rise to Vicar Street filling, social media comedy star, you might be surprised by what went before. We get to hear about the life he had before one video about a private rugby school changed his career and life trajectory forever. It's not the normal route to cult comedy hero status but the entire comedy world has been flipped on its head in recent years. Nobody is better positioned to explain exactly what has happened and what is involved in churning out great online comedy content than this man. Each and every month his "Tony Horror" Instagram account, podcast and YouTube channel rake in millions of downloads. The work involved and the stress that comes with it are like nothing a club comic can ever understand. It's no wonder so many are being left behind. In the Patreon XL edition of this conversation with Tony Cantwell you get some never before heard stories from his first attempts at liv

No matter how much the tv networks hype these public hearings by the January 6th committee Marion McKeone tells us why a lot of the general public just don’t seem to care. With gas prices soaring to record highs worldwide who can blame them. What is the point of these public events? Is it to set the record straight or deal with a clear and present danger to democracy? As yet another “inside the White House” book threatens to reveal more about Jarred Kushner's swift exit, Marion asks why this book is said to be different from the others. Is it the authors Susan Glasser and Peter Baker? The one book everyone seems to want to read is Jarred's memoir “Breaking History”. Marion delves into the LA Mayoral race, the Saudi LIV golf controversy and what you should watch on Netflix this weekend. Hear the whole conversation by supporting us on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad & get access to tonnes of bonus content, weekly episodes, mini series and interviews from the Irishman Abroad. Want to submit a question or su

The strange power of doing less is the focus of this conversation with the great Sonia O'Sullivan. A "down week" isn't just essential to big race preparation, it's the central pillar of any training plan. Sonia reveals her team captains for the "Irishman Running Abroad Half Marathon Challenge" and we hear the names of some of the individuals who have been called up to the squad. Together they will train under the watchful Strava eye of the former world champ in the hope of running their best in Larne on August 28th at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon.   In the exclusive Patreon extended cut (available now via www.returnofthecraic.compatreon.com/irishmanabroad ) Sonia gives us her "Ranaldo Strides" workout, explains the benefits of being late for your Park Run and takes to her home county to shoutout some incredible performances in the rain at the Cork City Marathon. Don't forget the new fully "clickable" episode notes are attached to the episode on Patreon. They feature the bananas gym circuit courtesy to

Alexandra Ryan’s life as an entrepreneur, writer and journalist was flipped on its head when a caller from out of the blue threatened to release footage of her involved in intimate acts online. Despite the fact that this footage was obtained without her consent, the lack of any legal framework or laws to deal with such things meant she could do nothing but carry this dread for almost 5 years. Ever since she has made it her business to change the law, obtain her legal qualifications and be a voice for those in a similar situations. This week I had a chance to sit and talk to her about the journey towards justice and the role bullying has played in her life to this day. We discuss the unseen graft needed to forge her company and website goss.ie, why some people, no matter what she does, will never come on board and why she is totally fine with that.   To access the full interview (a further 40 minutes) visit Patreon.com/irishmanabroad - for as a small monthly fee you can support the creation of the podcast and

US correspondent Marion McKeone picks the through the difficult truths facing America and the world following Johnny Depp's victory over Amber Heard, the blame game of the Uvalde shootings, Sheryl Sandberg's resignation from Facebook and President Biden's latest change in policy for arming Ukraine. Together with host Jarlath Regan, Marion unpicks what the Depp verdict means for the Me Too movement.   Hear the whole conversation by supporting us on www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad & get access to tonnes of bonus content, weekly episodes, mini series and interviews from the Irishman Abroad. Want to submit a question or suggest a guest/topic? There's all manner of easy options. 1. Irishman Abroad Live Line: You can now get in touch with us and feature on our shows by sending your WhatsApp voice note to 00447543122330. 2. Email Jar and Marion directly on irishmanabroadpodcast@gmail.com. For updates on future episodes and live shows follow Jar here on Twitter, visit www.jigser.com or subscribe to the YouTube c

The Irishman Running Abroad Half Marathon Challenge is your chance to be coached directly by the great Sonia O'Sullivan. Today on the show we reveal how it's all going to work and how two lucky listeners will win the prize of becoming the legend's apprentice. Even if you don't win, we want as many people as possible to come with us on this journey to the Antrim Coast Half Marathon on August 28th. Sonia had her own journey this week as she took on a run / hike like no other: The Grand Canyon. In the extended cut of our conversation, Sonia explains how this run came about. How difficult it was to summon the will power to do it, the hoops she had to jump through to get there and the ultimate benefits of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone to do something like this. We go around the parishes on Strava to see what you have been running around the world. One listener in Edinburgh had a breakthrough by simply increasing his cadence, he ran a sub 3 hour marathon last weekend. We get him on the live line to expl

John Connell and Aaron Rogan join me this week to talk about their new books, The Stream Of Everything & Punters: How Paddy Power Bet Billions And Changed Gambling Forever. These two are masters of their crafts. It just so happens those crafts occupy very different places on the literary spectrum. I stumbled across Aaron's book when preparing for the Paddy Power interview that we released last weekend. It's a one of a kind look into the origin of the betting giant and the man who walked away from unimaginable wealth because his conscience wouldn't let him stay. John Connell's book, tells the story of his journey as he attempts to canoe down his local river during lockdown and let all of his regrets float out to sea. Both books suck you in from the first page. Both books couldn't be more different. Both books are my recommendations for this month. In the extended cut I get to ask them both about the work that went into creating these books, the reaction they have received and we even get an exclusive extra

Marion McKeone (Sunday Business Post US Correspondent & regular contributor to NPR, BBC, RTE & Today FM) reflects on another grim week in America and asks whether all the outcry, political statements, thoughts and prayers will bring about any change in gun laws across America. Jarlath asks about the bizarre suggestion that arming teachers is the answer to this problem and whether this idea is now gaining ground. Later in the show Marion looks at a story coming out of San Francisco this week. While House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to the announcement by the Catholic archbishop of San Francisco that she can no longer receive communion because of her stance on abortion access, could the Vatican get involved? We look at the midterm election in Georgia. Has the "king making" power of Donald Trump finally cracked? As Brian Kemp, the Republican governor of Georgia, defeated former senator David Perdue, who had been endorsed by the Donald. Hear the whole conversation by supporting us on www.patreon.com/ir

Sonia O'Sullivan selects her Irish athletes to watch this summer. She also casts a critical eye over the structures and methods of funding these talented young sports people back home. The current crop of 19 year old phenoms is rich and full of great characters competing across multiple events. Sonia gives us an insight into the FOMO that the World Championships in Oregon might throw up for a few Irish stars hoping to conquer Europe in August. Jarlath asks Sonia about his next running challenge and a new plan forms for a listener meet up run during the summer that you won't want to miss. From Rhasidat Adeleke to Louise Shanahan, Tom Barr to Eric Favors, Sonia has a lot of talented Irish athletes to get through in this jam packed episode. To access the second half of this episode, hear all of Sonia's picks for the season and get the chance to be coached directly by the Olympic legend herself head to www,patreon.com/irishmanabroad - Supporters on Patreon get detailed episode notes and "the final kick" - Irishma

There’s “Paddy Power”, the Irish bookmakers known for revolutionising the gambling business and their outlandish marketing campaigns; and then there’s Paddy Power the man. In recent years he has come to embody the brand and take centre stage in their advertising but who is Paddy Power? How does he feel about the journey of this humble family business to the global force that is today. In this candid interview with comedian Jarlath Regan he gives us a rare and personal insight into his journey with his father, the business and the dark shadow of addiction that comes with it. There’s a further 40 minutes to this conversation that examines Paddy’s views on regulation, advertising standards, regrets and whether all things were better ten years ago. To access the full interview visit Patreon.com/irishmanabroad - for a small monthly fee you can support the creation of the podcast and gain access to every Irishman Abroad podcast created since 2013 including AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Richard Hughes, Keith Gillespie, Soni

After an unbroken run of episodes spanning nearly 2 years Marion McKeone was unavailable to record An Irishman In America this week due to personal reasons. So we went into the archives and found Jarlath's original interview with her from on An Irishman Abroad (Originally released November 2019). In a rare and personal conversation, Marion opens up about her early life, Dublin in the 1980s, her urge to leave the country and one particularly hilarious tale of going AWOL from a summer job as the world's least qualified tennis instructor following a prank involving the Soviet flag. It's fascinating to look back and hear Marion mourn the loss of carefree America after 9/11 and how at the time of recording she believed there was every chance Donald Trump would be re-elected. It's also a time capsule from the final months before the pandemic and a rare insight into this brilliant Irish journalist, broadcaster and writer. Normal service will of course resume next week but for now, sit back and enjoy this gem from th

Sonia O'Sullivan answers all manner of questions on the pressing issues of nutrition, motivation and the wearing of denim jean shorts while running. Jarlath delves deep into the mailbag to present Sonia with the best emails and letters received from the Irish runners around the world trying their best to eat right and stay on track with their running goals. Whether you struggle to know what to eat before or after a race, need an answer to chafing or want to know how best to resume training after having a baby; you will find the answers to nearly all your questions in this week's fun chat with the greatest of all time. There's also a review of the Diamond league event n Doha, news on Irish success at the PAC 12 NCAA event in Oregon and a tip of the week on running etitquette that you might not expect. There's two halves to this chat and trust me, the juicy good stuff is always in the second half over on Patreon.com/irishmanabroad.  To grab an Irishman Running Abroad Singlet for the runner in your life, click h

Julie Garland is an Irish entrepreneur unlike any other and the woman leading Ireland’s charge in the new age of aviation. Not only is she the founder and CEO of Avtrain (Europe's leading drone Pilot and Operator training and certification body) but she travelled the world working in every aspect of the flying industry. From engineer to pilot, compliance and management, Julie's life took a twist one day when a nephew put a drone controller in her hands at Christmas. The rest as they say history. Jarlath asks the former barrister about the new frontier of drone use and how it is expected to feature in the 2027 Ryder Cup. Can the public's preconceived ideas of autonomous flight be overcome? Julie Garland knows every angle of this remarkable business and machinery.   To hear every episode in full and to gain access to the entire back-catalogue of over 600 Irishman Abroad episodes that are not available on iTunes for just the price of a pint every month visit www.patreon.com/irishmanabroad   Supplementary resea