The Mario Rosenstock Podcast

What kind of person voluntarily walks into a Venezuelan prison run by armed inmates, travels to the front line of a war without a flak jacket, or goes looking for drug cartels while supposedly on holiday?Meet Jeff Farrell, an Irish journalist and author whose extraordinary career has taken him into some of the most dangerous places on earth. And as I quickly discover, Jeff has an almost unnerving ability to recount terrifying experiences as though they were just another day at the office.Jeff tells me about being held at gunpoint in Caracas, gaining access to a notorious Venezuelan prison, and the remarkable chance encounter that led him to co-write the bestselling The Cocaine Diaries.He also reveals what it was like working for a fiercely pro-Brexit British newspaper, following Nigel Farage around the campaign trail, and the rather colourful response Farage gave him when asked about the future of Irish people living in Britain.And there's plenty more: reporting from the front line in Ukraine, a frightening encounter with a Mexican drug cartel, and Jeff's new crime thriller, Bad Blood in Caracas, inspired by his years reporting in South America.COMEDY - There are new houses being built near the home of Michael D Higgins – and he is NOT happy about it.My brand new live stage show ‘BOOM’ is going Nationwide from early 2027 -book your tickets now on Ticketmaster or Venue box officesProduced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

You’ve probably seen that iconic black and white photo of Marco Pierre White – long hair, cigarette in mouth, in his chefs whites, and serious attitude in his expression. He was one of the first so-called 'rock star' chefs. But it was all backed up with serious talent -  his restaurants were legendary and he even became the youngest chef ever to win three Michelin stars.Marco and I caught up in the studio while he was in Dublin for his Supper Club at the Courtyard Bar and Grill in Donnybrook, and we had the most fascinating and wildly unpredictable conversation!We chat about food, his love of long lingering lunches (we share that in common), dealing rude customers in restaurants, the working-class world he grew up in, losing his mother when he was just six, and why he thinks that experience still affects the way he relates to people today.He also shares brilliant stories about his extraordinary collection of friends and acquaintances. Margaret Thatcher, Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, Keith Floyd and the wonderful Oliver Reed - one of life’s great characters.COMEDY – Neven Maguire, Michael O’Leary and Roy Keane leave messages for Marco on The Mario Rosenstock Podcast HotlineProduced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand

Donald Trump’s visit to Ireland last weekend certainly gave us plenty to talk about. In the space of 48 hours, he backed a united Ireland, promised to remove tariffs on Irish whiskey, met President Catherine Connolly, and reignited all the familiar arguments about Trump and his presidency.So I invited two people with very different perspectives into the GoLoud studio to thrash out a few of the big talking points - Journalist Marion McKeone, who lived and worked in the US for many years, and American-born entrepreneur and commentator Karl Deeter.  What follows is a lively debate about Trump’s Irish visit, Catherine Connolly, Gaza and Iran, MAGA, tariffs, Canada, American power, 9/11, and whether Donald Trump actually understands economics. I enjoyed chairing it and I hope you enjoy listening!COMEDY – Michael D Higgins, Paschal Donohoe, and Michael O’Leary have a few things to get off their chests about Trump’s visit.Produced by Patrick Haughey, AudioBrand