Stall It with Darren and Joe

Darren’s been schmoozing on the celebrity circuit again, and he’s had a style upgrade to better blend in among the beautiful people.

Not forgetting his roots though, he’s too shy to make any introductions to the powerful movers and shakers in his midst, and is more comfortable considering getting into some pool hall hustling.

Joe attempt a historical deep dive and trips himself up with some highly dubious claims about aliens meddling in Earth’s political affairs, and how the drive to cover up that shady carry on led to arguably the most consequential geopolitical events of the 21st century.

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Joe has got one big claim right, so now the masses have come to say he can never be wrong. There is obviously major concern about this among the wider Stall It family, who see this as the terrifying new dawn of the age of spoof.

And the choice between a life of all out spice, or one of none, has our heads scrambling for logic amid the nonsense. Is a spicy bowl for cereal each morning better or worse than a flavourless life?

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We interrupt our regular broadcast (briefly) for a long overdue celebration that has left at least one of us feeling very emotional.

That's before Joe returns us to normal service with a rundown on his latest series of mishaps, poor decisions and public humiliations - everything from DIY haircuts, to consternation over a restaurant bill, and memories of being trapped in tunnels.

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We consider which TV ads live rent free in our heads, Joe rumbles the con of disguised Guinness trucks, and a discussion on needless specialised clothing sees Darren tap into his inner Joe as he rails against eyeglasses and knee pads for skateboarders.

And Joe, the restaurateur (of sorts) passes his eye over the gimmick eatery scene, and has little hope for it, but he suddenly finds interest in a very specific themed restaurant of his own.

Well, he did it. Against all odds, and in the face of much doubt and mocking, Joe McGucken has run the Dublin Marathon without (he says) a second of training.

He comes into the studio, wearing his medal and on very stiff legs, to reject all praise and tell us what he did is absolutely unimpressive.

There’s also a chat about our recent live show, possibly our strangest one yet, including Darren becoming possessed live on stage and some very unexpected musical guests joining us - and we argue over the changing face of Halloween.

Ever wondered what reaility tv show the lads would go on? Well thanks to a listener question you're about to find out and the answers will enthrall/apall you and Eoin gets the perfect The Chaser nickname.

In what Darren claims is the best listener question EVER! they get to fantasise about opening their own pub, what's getting served and who's immediately barred.

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As Joe struggles with the painful realities of being a homeowner, he fondly remembers the Dublin Corporation or Corpo for those in the know.

 As they look ahead to a night a the Irish Pod Awards (vote here), hosted in the Stella Cinema, both lads think back on other memorable times spent at the cinema when people were smoking and partaking in other private activities while the film played.

 There’s also talk of the black market for coins, and they discuss the dangers of passing through another market – George’s St Arcade to be exact.

 Darren wants to know what the back of your hand is called and with a confidence normally seen in Joe, insists that he could pull the head off a robot bouncer trying to kick him out of a pub.

 Get your tickets to this Sunday’s live show on Ticketmaster now.

One listener return us to an old area of debate - the strict technical requirements for something to be considered a sandwich. We previously debated the merits of the humble burger, but what of the pizza?

We also have a warning about the dangers of undertaking a previously mooted Stall It challenge, and we witness an unfolding drama this week as Joe’s race to the marathon start line quickens.

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In the final episode of our Manson series (really, this is the end), Joe goes for a space walk as we try to keep him tethered to reality, with a closing chapter of conspiracy theories, conclusions and some confirmation bias.

We look at top-secret FBI and CIA programmes enacted to counter the growing number of groups opposing the establishment, including the Black Panthers and the counterculture movement. We also explore the curiously close proximity of Charles Manson and the architect of the CIA’s efforts to control minds, during the years Manson transformed himself into a cult leader.

Could the wider picture that could offer some darker explanations? Or could it be no more than coincidence, in a strange, turbulent period of history?

And with all of this swirling around, we do our best to offer our own conclusions on the entire story.

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The sources mentioned in this episode are: "You Must Remember Manson" (Podcast) by Karina Longworth;" Helter Skelter: An American Myth" by Lesley Chilcott; "Manson", by Jeff Guinn; "Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders", by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry, "Chaos: The Truth Behind the Manson Murders", by Tom O'Neill, and CieloDrive.com.

With our odyssey through the tale of the Manson Family nearing its end, we veer off into the world of doubts and suspicions over the official version of events, and wander into the realm of alternative theories – some bizarre, some conspiratorial, and several that case serious doubt over key parts of the original story.

Following one journalist’s 20-year mission (and obsession) to uncover new truths, we travel through Los Angeles in the late 60s, where it seems everyone’s potentially a spy and absolutely nobody is above suspicion.

There's also a discussion about a piano jacket that nearly details everything.

We find mysterious shadowy figures at the fringes of the Tate murders, sinister rumours and long hidden secrets – and all of it adds startling new angles and questions to the history of Charles Manson, his followers, and their crimes.

Note: The book referenced in this episode is “Chaos: The Truth Behind the Manson Murders” by Tom O’Neill