Ramble with Joe McGucken

Episod

• 
  Ramble On: The Top Of Ireland 11.08.2026 12min

  In this bonus episode of Ramble On, recorded straight from the driver's seat, Joe broadcasts from the stunning backdrop of Donegal while on location filming. Taking a quick breather from the trad music echoing from the house, he reflects on a brilliant, whirlwind weekend taking in the very best of the country. From soaking up the breathtaking landscapes on a mountain walk with alpacas (and fending off his son’s determined attempts to buy one) to stopping in for a quiet pint at Ireland’s most northerly pub. The adventure continues with a visit to the fascinating Doagh Famine Village, complete with local lore, traditional “cures”, and a taste of authentic local spirit. Captivated by the incredible warmth, hospitality, and vibrant local culture. From the country music energy at the Clonmaney Festival to the genuine friendliness of the people, this episode is a funny, heartfelt celebration of Donegal’s unique charm.  Explicit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with Jay the Furry 06.08.2026 35min

  Ever wondered what actually goes on inside Ireland’s underground furry community? Well Joe did. So he sat down with Jay, a chemistry PhD student by day and a yellow furry by night. Joe tries to make sense of a world he knows absolutely nothing about. But before getting into the mystery, Joe kicks off the episode reflecting on his childhood obsession with dogs in the flat, dodging neighborhood pack attacks, and the weird reality of modern pet culture. Once he finally tracks Jay down after being shut out of private meetups, the chat quickly spirals into fursonas, anthropomorphism, non-profit conventions, adult play, cartoon crushes, and Joe reluctantly trying on a leather pup hood while wondering how on earth he ended up here. Pup hoods, cartoon rides, secret meetups, and a Dog Batman side quest. All in this episode of Ramble. Explicit..See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with an Irish Cowboy 30.07.2026 38min

  Joe heads for the Wild West in search of an Irish cowboy and grapples with his fear of horses, the smell of slurry and getting stuck behind a tractor on the way. He makes it as far as Laois where he meets Mick LaCumbre of Fossey Mountain Springs Ranch in the hills of Timahoe. Mick tells him about the special gift he has with horses and his profound respect for them. Mick’s career began as a 12 year old when he left school and started working with racehorses, breaking them in and ending up in a training programme at Goodwood Racecourse. He wanted to become a jockey and even tried to stunt his growth by sleeping in a box and also slept in stables with horses out of necessity and to learn. Now Mick’s son Cody is a barrel racer, who shares his father’s passion for horses and competes at a high level in Western riding. When Joe hears how Mick makes people’s dreams come true on the ranch by helping them learn to ride, he begins to see the magic of the cowboy way of life. Land healers, mountain springs, cowboy dreams and a Yellowstone side quest. All in this episode of Ramble. Explicit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble On: Typhoid Mary 28.07.2026 14min

  Joe called the D-doc about an earache, and when he was asked a question about Covid this somehow sent him down a rabbit hole about a woman dubbed Typhoid Mary.  Mary Mallon was an Irish teenager who emigrated to New York in the late 1800s. She worked her way up through the ranks to become a top cook for wealthy families. She then unknowingly started making people sick wherever she went and she found herself spending most of her life locked away on a tiny island. There's a sanitary engineer playing detective, a meat cleaver chase through a kitchen, five police officers needed to restrain one Irish woman, and a life sentence of isolation on a tiny island in the East River, all without a single criminal conviction. Explicit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with Magic Mushrooms 24.07.2026 42min

  In the middle of nowhere down the Irish countryside, there’s a woman who holds magic mushroom retreats out of her house, and Joe went down to meet her. She lives as off-the-grid as you can get and runs illegal psychedelic weekends to heal people living with trauma. For the sake of anonymity we'll call her Liberty. Joe opens up a little bit about his experience dealing with his mental health in the past. But after hitting a brick wall with traditional therapy, and one of his councillors literally falling asleep during one of their sessions, Joe sits down with Liberty to talk about how her retreats actually work, while opening up about his own personal journey with grief, guilt, and the surprisingly profound trip that helped him find a bit of peace. But knowing Joe, he'll probably still find something to complain about. Fermented cucumbers, white sage, cosmic energy, and a quick lesson on how to see through walls. All in this episode of Ramble. Explicit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble On: No Country For E-Scooters 21.07.2026 13min

  As the rest of the country supports some sort of ban on e-scooters, Joe swims against the tide. Despite being hospitalized after being run over by a car on his scooter, Joe still thinks it’s the best way to navigate the Viking built streets of Dublin. He even gave broadcast royalty Claire Byrne a spin around Stephen’s Green on his scooter to prove how safe they are. Explicit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with An Elvis Tribute Artist 16.07.2026 40min

  Joe is back from a sun-soaked holiday in Tenerife, and while most people return with souvenirs and a tan, Joe came home with a massive appreciation for cheap, tacky, and absolutely glorious live entertainment.  Driven by a tip from an Instagram follower, Joe tracks down Leslie "Elvis" Moore, who moved to the island 16 years ago to become one of Tenerife's most recognizable Elvis Tribute Artists. Les is an old-school professional who thinks a podcast is a radio show, and spends thousands of Euros on custom jumpsuits, only to occasionally rip them open while attempting a dramatic karate kick.After the interview at a local pub, Joe tags along as Elvis’s roadie for a private gig at a Scottish family's rented villa in the mountains.  From wardrobe malfunctions and aggressive chest-grabbing to Elvis literally walking into a swimming pool mid-song, it’s a chaotic, sweet, and strangely beautiful look at the realities of the life of a tribute artist. Explicit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble On: Fear And Loathing In Tenerife 14.07.2026 18min

  Joe is back from his Holiday in Tenerife, and to the surprise of absolutely nobody, he didn't exactly have a relaxing time. Between peeling like a snake after five minutes in the sun and panicking over an Irish heatwave of 22 degrees, he’s got plenty to complain about. From a resort with perpetually broken lifts to inventing a tragic, backstory for a random da and toddler by the pool, Joe’s holiday was less of a vacation and more of a series of highly dramatic misunderstandings. Joe recounts his run-ins with an incredibly angry tour guide and a waiter who clearly didn't have time for Joe. But it’s not all doom and gloom, there’s a Viking boat, some dolphins, and, oh yeah, he casually mentions that his short film just won a major award and might be headed to the Oscars. Explicit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with Ex-Prisoners 09.07.2026 31min

  Stressed out by a mountain of work and an upcoming family holiday, Joe jokingly wishes for a short prison sentence just to escape his responsibilities. This thought leads him into a deep look at the reality of the Irish penal system, starting with a wild story about the time he unknowingly gave a lift to a fugitive on his way to hand himself in.Joe talks to Robert and Damien, who both served significant time behind bars. Damien tells Joe about his tough upbringing, how he tried to stay away from a life of crime, and the time he hit a garda so he could speed up his passage into jail. Robert talks about the harsh reality of the Garda vetting process and how even a small time in prison can ruin someone's life.Joe also speaks with Philip Larragy, CEO of the charity Release, which helps prisoners integrate back into society when they get out of jail. Explicit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble On: Rise Of The Machines 07.07.2026 22min

  In this bonus episode of Ramble, Joe follows up on the chaotic aftermath of his interview with Grace and Jeff. He shares behind-the-scenes insights into their remote Minnesota Homesteading lifestyle and details the heartbreaking reality of Jeff's ultimatum.Joe is also joined by AI researcher Bella, who shares her ongoing studies into why companionship and therapy have become the number one uses for AI globally. They discuss the bizarre 1960s origin of chatbot therapy, the frustrating modern phenomenon of "phubbing," and what an AI-driven future means for the next generation. Explicit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with the woman leaving her family for an AI boyfriend   02.07.2026 40min

  Joe's fascination with artificial intelligence led him down a rabbit hole and he came across a woman who is in love with her AI companion. Based in Minnesota, Grace created an AI companion over a year ago called Max. It didn't take long for her to fall in love with Max after intense sexual encounters with it. The only problem is, Grace is married to her husband Jeff and they have a 5 year old daughter together. Now Grace is faced with an ultimatum: Leave Max or Leave her family.  Explicit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with The Irish Lad Doxxing ICE agents 25.06.2026 45min

  In this episode of Ramble Joe took a covert trip to Barcelona to meet an Irish guy who goes by the name Dominick Skinner (not his real name). After an online Twitter spat with The Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, he launched a database exposing the identities of ICE agents in the USA.Since then the operation has grown, with hundreds of volunteers running a ship that's fueled by whistleblowers and data-leaks. Joe talks to Dominick about how it all started, what he hopes to achieve, and how he went from being a homeless teenager to being a thorn in the side of the biggest super-power in the world, with new laws being proposed based on his actions and the threat of financial sanctions looming over him. (Explicit) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with a Bare Knuckle Boxer 25.06.2026 36min

  In this episode of Ramble, Joe went to Crumlin Boxing Club to chew the fat with Johnny Jawbreaker, a Bare Knuckle fighter. Formerly an MMA fighter with Bellator and Cage Warriors, John Redmond is now competing in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC). This episode skips the standard sports chat for a blunt look at the brutal realities of fighting for a living. Redmond quotes surprising data showing that fighting without gloves actually results in lower concussion rates than traditional boxing.  He also opens up about the dark side of retirement after sport, discussing his personal battles with severe post-career depression before finding a new purpose. From stepping up to a world-champion fight on a day’s notice, to the commercial explosion of the sport under controversial BKFC co-owner Conor McGregor, John tells it all with raw honesty. (Explicit)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• 
  Ramble with Joe McGucken: Introduction 23.06.2026 10min

  Welcome to Ramble, a brand new podcast with Joe McGucken. Before the madness begins and the first full episodes drop, Joe is checking in to give you an idea of what’s to come. A series of interesting conversations with interesting people.Ramble is a mix of on-location conversations from fascinating, weird, and wonderful people in society, that usually get overlooked, and Joe’s unique perspective on it all chopped in back at Ramble HQ. No judgment, no credentials, just pure curiosity. Subscribe, follow, rate, get involved, and welcome to the Ramble podcast. (Explicit)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.