Episode 31 | Adam Burke

Comedian, Bingo Loco host, and all-round force of nature, Adam Burke. Joe and Sherin sit down with Adam for one of their best episodes yet, covering everything from his wild origins as a pro wrestler (yes, really — Ireland's first heavyweight champion, who trained alongside Finn Bálor and Becky Lynch) to carving out a career in stand-up comedy.But this one goes well beyond the laughs. Adam opens up about his day job working with Jigsaw, the youth mental health service, and the pair share deeply personal stories about parenting, anxiety, school refusal, and the shrinking safe spaces for young people in Ireland. Sherin shares her own experience getting help for her daughter, and the conversation gets real fast.There's also a brilliant segment on performing comedy inside Mountjoy Prison — including the legendary moment a supermarket roof joke landed a little too well — plus the full story of how Adam went from small Irish comedy clubs to hosting Bingo Loco in the 3Arena and across the globe.A funny, honest, and genuinely moving episode. Don't miss it.Timecodes:00:00 — Intro & welcoming Adam Burke to the show00:45 — Banter about hair, waxing, and getting straight to business02:18 — Adam explains why mental health professionals need to engage with community media and "get their hands dirty"03:48 — How did Adam get into comedy? It started with pro wrestling04:01 — Ireland's first heavyweight wrestling champion — training with Finn Bálor & Becky Lynch06:14 — Why Adam fell out of love with wrestling (injuries, his wife's concern, and chasing something new)07:44 — The secrets of pro wrestling revealed: blades, blood, and performing as the villain ("the heel")10:19 — Winning the belt: the crowd stands and applauds the bad guy11:42 — Six hours of training every Sunday for 7–8 years; sacrificing football for the craft13:14 — Transition to stand-up comedy and wanting to be one of the nicest people in the game29:44 — The Echo in Ballymun and the importance of creative spaces for young people30:31 — The "shrinking social spaces" for youth in Ireland and what adults get wrong31:51 — Community parks, antisocial behaviour, and how we judge teenagers unfairly32:10 — Growing up with autonomy and what that privilege means for parenting33:28 — Helicopter parenting, letting go, and the village mentality that's disappeared37:42 — Competitive parenting vs. supportive parenting38:12 — Adam's work with Jigsaw (youth mental health service, ages 12–25)39:18 — Sherin shares her daughter's experience with anxiety and how Jigsaw helped40:06 — The gap in mental health supports for children under 12 — a real problem41:21 — What young people are presenting with most: anxiety, depression, school refusal, body image, ADHD, autism50:46 — Bingo Loco: how Adam got involved and what makes it unlike anything else52:34 — How Bingo Loco opened doors — from the same old circuit to the 3Arena and beyond54:26 — Staying in your lane, gratitude, and not comparing yourself to other comedians55:49 — Family as the real anchor: meeting his wife Sandra and what really matters57:18 — The 3Arena gig vs. 13 people at Ha'penny Bridge — every gig is just a gig59:36 — Mountjoy Prison gig: how it came about through the school of education programme1:00:42 — The moral question: should comedians entertain prisoners?1:01:42 — The supermarket roof joke that accidentally called out the guy who actually did it1:03:09 — Getting stuck behind Enoch Burke's family at the prison gates1:03:47 — A prisoner recognising Adam's dad, and the surreal moments only Mountjoy can deliver1:04:34 — The lads shaking hands at the door: the most respectful end to any gig1:06:05 — Adam eating a full Irish breakfast with the prisoners at 9am (while Joe watched in horror)1:07:26 — Rival gangs, a warden's warning, and sniffer dog panic1:11:28 — Wrapping up: well-wishes, genuine compliments, and what's next for Adam1:12:02 — What's coming up: summer gigs, Bingo Loco, festivals, and a new sketch show in the works1:12:54 — Sign-off, shout-outs,