On this week’s Ramble, Joe wanders into Dublin's Museum of Curiosities to speak with the curator Paul about his collection of… weird things.

Joe reflects on his own failed collections, like the fact that he threw away his million dollar Pokémon cards, and comes face-to-face with a literal room of nightmare fuel. Think mummified cats, a two-headed cow, and a 19th-century witch's conjuring box.  Naturally, he gets easily spooked by a supposedly haunted clown shaped sleeping bag named Buttons, and ultimately runs away from a creaking cupboard. Explicit. 

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Joe is finally back at Ramble HQ after four weeks of filming up in Donegal, and naturally, he immediately fell down a rabbit hole of absolute madness. 

In this episode, he dives into the bizarre world of turning absolute historical tragedies into children’s entertainment. From a viral English fruit farm with a Titanic slide on the back of a lorry to the fever dream that is Europa-Park's "Ireland" section. Complete with questionable history, kilted barstools, and the infamous "Titanic" lifeboat ride. Plus, Titanic dinner theatre disasters in Australia, selfie sticks in Pompeii, and how much time actually needs to pass before something horrific just becomes a novelty gift shop.  Explicit. 

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In this episode of Ramble On, Joe has somehow convinced himself he is a maritime historian. 

This week our intrepid host attempts to connect the dots between modern Inishowen road signs and the origins of Amazing Grace. The Iconic Hymn. What follows is Joe’s slightly unhinged, deep dive into the chaotic life of John Newton featuring 18th-century teenage melodrama, disastrous career choices, near-fatal North Atlantic storms, and Newton's eventual pivot from slave ship captain to abolitionist. 

Listen to Joe Ramble On through two centuries of history, miraculously managing not to lose the plot entirely, and explains why a shipwreck off the coast of Buncrana gave us one of the world's most famous hymns. Explicit.

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This is just a quick update to let listeners know the podcast is taking a short break this week. Normal programming will resume next week with a bonus episode on Tuesday and full regular episode as scheduled on Thursday. Thank you for listening, and we will be back next week. 

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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.

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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..

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Joe is in Malin Head, the most northerly point of mainland Ireland, and feeling as far away from home as a city boy could be. Despite playing the lead role in a TV show filming in Donegal, Joe finds himself living in less than ideal accommodation, sleeping in his clothes, and he’s raging - to put it mildly. But all is not lost, and after a series of unfortunate events, Joe finally finds a home to call his own.

Crab claws, Union Jacks, Israeli flags and sheep standing on benches, it’s this week’s Ramble On. Explicit. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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