Fiona Taaffe and her daughter Karinann Cosgrave joined us this week and opened up about how Fiona's struggle with drug addiction affected their family.

Fiona never realised she had a problem with drugs, but Karinann told us how she knew what was happening in their home, waking up to parties, putting her own mother to bed and finding drugs in her pockets. When Karinann was taken out of the home, Fiona was free to do as she pleased and her addiction grew. It was only when her family intervened that she realised the scale of her problem and got the help she needed.

The mother and daughter told us how they have had to work on a lot of issues together, including recovery and overcoming resentment, but they have a great relationship now and go out running together, keeping each other motivated.

Tickets available to our biggest live show to date in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on July 11th here: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/talking-bollox-live-tickets/artist/5381757

In this special bonus episode of Talking Bollox, Terry and Calvin are coming to you live from TU Dublin – proudly sponsored by the National Tertiary Office.

They’re diving into the transformative Tertiary Bachelor’s Degree Programme, a game-changing initiative that’s making higher education accessible and affordable for all. You don’t need points and you won’t pay college fees for the first one to two years while you study locally at your nearest Education and Training Board (ETB).

Hear inspiring real-life stories from guests Maria, Grace, and Tracey, who share their powerful journeys through the programme – overcoming challenges, chasing ambitions, and proving that there’s more than one path to a fully recognised degree.

With nearly 40 career-focused Bachelors’ Degree courses available across the country for the 2025/26 academic year, this programme is unlocking opportunities for students who may have felt left out in the past. Smaller class sizes, local learning, and full access to college supports from day one – graduating with the same degree as anyone who followed the traditional points route.

If you or someone you know is exploring college options, this episode is a must-listen. Learn more at www.nto.ie

If Terry and Calvin think they can pull the Leitrim wool over the listener's ears, they were proven VERY wrong this week.

Having both claimed to never having been to the fair county in last week's bonus, listeners were quick to point out these outrageous lies and a grovelling apology is duly issued.

Calvin 'Sherlock' O'Brien blows Terry's mind by guessing his middle name and as ever they tackle the tough questions like how long can you live in your car and we hear about how Terry got on in his driver theory test.  

Send all of your questions to [email protected]

In the first half of this episode, we heard all about Sam’s upbringing in the north, joining the IRA, and his brutal treatment in the H Blocks. But that’s not the end of Sam’s story, after being released from prison he headed off to the US where he undertook one of the biggest thefts in US history - Robbing $7.4 million!

Sam told us about his decision to steal the money after seeing it laying all around the Brinks and how they had to unload millions from their van before making their escape after it was too weighed down with cash to start. He also told us about getting a priest involved, how they got caught and how they avoided life in prison.

Tickets available to our biggest live show to date in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on July 11th here: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/talking-bollox-live-tickets/artist/5381757

If you listened to Part 1 of our interview with Sam Millar, you know that we first heard his story from our producer Eoin, who was working on a documentary called Unusual Suspects.

That series won Silver at the New York Festival Radio Awards and we think it's worth giving you all a chance to listen to it before the rest of the interview is out tomorrow so here it is!

**

On an icy night in January, 1993, masked gunmen walk into a Brinks vault in Rochester, New York. They leave with $7.4m in cash and a hostage. It was one of the largest heists in American history. But was this the work of criminal masterminds, or something very different? As police arrive on the scene they find some interesting clues, and an early hunch for investigators could prove critical.

**

Listen to more of Unusual Suspects now: https://link.goloudplayer.com/s/sGRWX45FDGAP

We went all the way to Belfast for this episode and nearly missed our train home because we couldn't stop talking to Sam.

Sam Millar is a former member of the IRA, having joined when he was just 15 after Bloody Sunday and seeing the brutal murder of his best friend for being Catholic. Sam spent 8 years in the H Blocks on the blanket and no wash protests and he told us what it was like to live those conditions and why he didn't want to come off the protest in the end. The torture Sam endured at the hands of the prison guards was horrific and it's hard to understand why he kept fighting until you hear him explain it.

Sam's story doesn't stop there though, after his time in prison, Sam snuck into the US where he was involved in one of the biggest heists in US history, stealing nearly $8 million. We'll get into all that later this week!

Tickets available to our biggest live show to date in the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on July 11th here: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/talking-bollox-live-tickets/artist/5381757

We've made a trip outside Dublin to record a podcast for the first time ever and it's gone very well. So well we weren't back in time to send it to you at the usual time.

BUT fear not!

To make up for it we bring you next week's bonus episode early so sit back and enjoy Calvin's game changing revelation about traffic lights.

We hear their Spice Girl names and if you're listening in Leitrim, you might want to take a comfortable seat for the fact they are about to drop.

Things get competitive as Terence announces he will never, and could never, lose a spelling bee – and is quickly forced into backing up his big talk. We end up in a sudden death spelling scenario, with deceptions, threats and ice cream.

Calvin has been waving at gardai – or maybe it was the other way around – but either way Terry isn’t letting him away with it.

Terry wears out his battery while out on the road with the rest of the TB team, as the excitement of a big day out proves too much for him to handle.

And we ask if life would be better  lived permanently stinking, or permanently revolted by the odour of the world.

Send all of your questions to [email protected]

Comedian and self proclaimed 'culchie' Tom O'Mahoney joined us this week for a few laughs. We got distracted right off the bat by Tom's moustache and Terence's concern that his wet jacket was a result of a leak rather than the rain he'd been outside in.

Tom told us about his experience in the world of posh Dub's, having both famously played one on hit show Damo and Ivor and marring a woman from Dalkey.

Tom's comedy journey started with a burst blood vessel and has led him to opening for the 2 Johnnies, Tom Green and shows of his own. And he told us about the funniest moments he's had on stage, and why people shouldn't get offended at comedy.

Sponsored by FBT Gyms

We have a special bonus episode for you this week, with a lot of it recorded from the stage in Vicar Street as we prepared to begin our live show on Sunday.

There's a lot of chaos around us as we try to answer a few listener questions, from superstitions to trademarked catchphrases and an unfortunate fall.

We then bring some unreleased classics from the archives, including the options of supreme intelligence or global respect.

Send all of your questions and comments to [email protected]