Pricey Talks Real Life

On this week's episode Pricey chats with Brian "Kegs" Kerrigan. Two and a half years ago Brian was on the podcast and told us his story for the first time. This included his struggles and challenges with gambling, drinking,  drugs, and the complications this brought to his life. Today we do a short recap but also see what is happening in his life over the past few years. The story begins as a teenager in Dublin and follows his life in London, Australia, and the USA. Brian was also in the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City on  September 11th, 2001 (9/11) when the first plane hit. He chats about that day and what it felt like to be in the North Tower, how he got out and life after 9/11. We hear about difficult times, happy times, finishing college, and having a great relationship with his son. We also hear about film and media companies interested in documenting his story. A truly inspirational chat that may be on the big screen some day.

Last year in Season 1, I had the pleasure to speak to serial Irish adventurer Jim Schofield about his proposed trip to sail solo across the Atlantic. When we spoke Jim was building a 19-foot wooden boat in this garage in Blessington Co Wicklow. Jim named the boat Molly Claire after his wife and daughter. It was hand-made from plywood and made with blood, sweat, and tears. Jim had no engine, no satellite communications, basic supplies, and very limited solo sailing experience when he set off on Nov 17th, 2021. The great news is that Jim did it. He started the marathon 3000-mile solo voyage on Nov 17th and arrived in Martinique on Dec 25th - Christmas day. In this episode, we hear all about Jim's adventure on the high seas. Enjoy

There are over 18,000 shipwrecks around the Irish coast. Bill O'Brien has been diving around the coast of Ireland and abroad all his life. He has vast knowledge and experience of many of the shipwrecks around the coast and shares some stories in this episode. During the 1st and 2nd, World Wars German U-boats constantly patrolled the Irish coast hunting for Allied shipping targets. Incredibly Donegal has the largest amount of U-Boats sunk anywhere in the world. Bill has dived these U-Boats and tells us about them. He has also dived the Aud off the Cork coast. The Aud was carrying a cargo of 20,000 rifles, 1,000,000 rounds of ammunition, 10 machine guns, and some explosives. These munitions were to aid the Irish rebels in the planned Rising set for Easter Sunday 23rd April 1916.  Rodger Casement procured these arms and ammunition for the proposed 1916 Easter rebellion in Ireland. We hear the story of the Aud and its importance in Irish history. Bill has dived the Auld and tells us what he has seen, found, and more. We also hear great stories from Dublin Bay, Hook Head, Egypt, and many more. Enjoy.

Brian and Jim Stynes were prominent Irish footballers known for their GAA  and Aussie rules achievements. This week Brian chats about his young life in Dublin, his early influences, and the opportunity to play professionally in Melbourne. He tells us why he returned to Dublin in 1994 to play for the Dublin senior team and achieved a personal goal of winning an All-Ireland medal in 1995. This proved to be the highlight of his football career and he shares this story with us.  Brian and Jim were best friends as well as brothers. We chat about how Jim became the gold standard in the AFL, recording 264 appearances for Melbourne. Brian had his own stint with Melbourne and he talks about being drafted by Melbourne, playing professionally for 4 years, and what that meant to him.  His whole family including his mother, father, brother, and sisters now live in Melbourne which has become their home. Sadly Jim passed away in 2012 from cancer., Brian talks to us about this, his legacy, and how much Jim meant to him.

Will Jimeno was a police officer with the Port Authority of NY & NJ who survived the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001. His day started like any other day would when he went to work.  However, at  8.45 am on 9/11 everything changed. He talks frankly and honestly and gives a detailed account of his horrific experience when both towers fell on him and his fellow officers. Somehow he survived both towers collapsing on him and was trapped under concrete 30 feet below the rubble for 13 hours. Today, we hear his story. This is an incredible story about bravery, survival, comradery, recovery, mental trauma, inspiration, faith, hope, and love.  Ever 9/11  since he's dedicated his life to lifting others up and helping them deal with trauma.  Enjoy this great chat with Will Jimeno

Louise Quinn chats about her life as a professional footballer. Louise currently has 99 international caps and has scored 14 goals for the Republic of Ireland. She has represented the Republic of Ireland at under 17, under 19, and Senior levels. As a professional footballer, she has played in Ireland, Sweden, Italy, and England. Her current club is Birmingham City WFC. Louise talks about her young life in Ireland, her passion for football,  the road she took to become a professional footballer, and living in Sweden, Italy, and England.  Louise was part of the women's national football team that was forced to confront the FAI in 2017 to request basic entitlements and improvements for the women's national football team. Their courage and bravery have helped develop women's football in Ireland which is in a better place today.  On Oct 12th, 2022 Louise was part of the victorious Irish team that beat Scotland at Hampden Park making history to secure Ireland’s qualification for next year's World Cup Finals in Australia and New Zealand. This was another exciting first for Louise and she chats about her preparation for this game. Her story is inspirational and motivational. Enjoy.

Frank Meeink chats about his former life as a Skinhead and Neo Nazi.  He tells his story with clarity, starting with his abusive childhood that made him a candidate to join the Neo-Nazi world. Frank was filled with hate and anger and carried out countless acts of violence. He was a racist who became one of the most notorious Skinhead Neo-Nazi leaders in the USA. After kidnapping and torturing a rival gang member Frank was sent to prison for 3 years. His time in prison and meeting other ethnic groups was the start of his exit from the Skinhead Neo-Nazi world. After the Oklahoma bombing in 1995, Frank knew he was done and went to talk to the FBI and tell them his story. Since then he has been active in the community speaking out loudly about racism. Today he is a Civil Rights and Police Reform Activist. His story is brutally honest but shows that from deep darkness there is hope and empathy in humanity.

In this episode, I speak to Joanne McConville an incredible woman who amazingly survived a 6,500-foot skydiving accident. On April 1st, 1995 Joanne went skydiving and her parachute malfunctioned, she plummeted to the ground at 100 mph eventually hitting the ground with nothing to break her fall.  How she survived is beyond belief. She speaks honestly about her life, the day of the accident, her husband Joe, her near-death experience, and a lot more. It took Joanne over 25 years to confront the trauma in the aftermath of the accident and talks about how it affected her life and family. Today she is an amazing, strong, determined woman in full control of her life and leading by example. Her story is one not to miss.

This is the story of two best friends from Dublin, Michael O'Sullivan and Matt Murphy who decided to get married to avoid inheritance tax. At the time this story caused an uproar in Ireland and soon became an international story.
They had known each other for 30 years. Michael needed a place to stay and Matt needed someone to care for him as his health was failing. They agreed that Michael would move in and care for Matt in his home in Stoneybatter Dublin. Matt offered to leave his modest home to Michael however realised Michael would have to sell the house to pay the inheritance tax. Matt had the solution he proposed to Michael and they got married. The story was documented by Donal Maloney in a documentary called "Let the rest of the world go by". 
Today we get to know Michael and talk about their friendship, complex pasts, struggles, and happiness. It's a compelling chat.