Feckology

With the upcoming nuptials of Ferg, this week he and The Big Mouse discuss the topic of weddings and all of the fanfare and complexities involved in preparing for one.   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

This week, The Big Mouse and Ferg reflect on times they have been bitter in their own personal lives. Success of friends, old grudges, school teachers, times of injustice - all get a look-in and an examination during this chat. They then move on to a character study of professional wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a man so bitter he could open a lemonade stand. In the final act, the pair turn their attention to another public figure, exploring the roots of that person’s bitterness and what may have shaped it.   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

This week, the Big Mouse and Ferg share their previous experiences with gambling and how they both lost the run of themselves, and lots of money!   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

This week, in the wake of the new four-part documentary series about his life, The Big Mouse and Ferg reflect on their childhood memories of Hulk Hogan, but also delve into the man behind the gimmick. Hulk Hogan was a wrestler, a hero to many, a notorious liar, and by his own admission, a racist. Bearing all this in mind, your hosts discuss and dissect the complex legacy of arguably the most famous professional wrestler of all time.   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology   

This week the Big Mouse and Ferg delve into the practice of (unintentionally or intentionally) using other people as a crutch to make oneself feel more comfortable in social situations, and other people doing the same.   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology   

This week, The Big Mouse and Ferg respond to quite a bit of listener feedback, then literally talk shit for the remainder of the episode!   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology   

Ferg and the Big Mouse return with Season 4, Episode 2 of Feckology to rant about cultural institutions that have lost their proverbial spark. They make a perverse attempt to link declining chocolate and Easter egg quality, with the fading buzz of cinema, fragmented music culture, and sport becoming over-analysed and formulaic. Is this just part of the changing wind? Is it written in the stars? And how should old farts cope with this perverse new world?   Let us know, Listener, what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

The Big Mouse and his co-host (under a new moniker, as is tradition) return with Season 4 of Feckology! On this episode we discuss turning 40, a topic which was touched upon and danced around quite a lot during Season 3.  We examine how we both felt in the lead up to our respective 40th birthdays late last year, talk about the events themselves and associated celebrations, and reflect on how we feel now that it is in the proverbial rear-view mirror. A lot of quite personal discussion in this one! We would love to hear from The Listener about this topic.   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology   

The Big Mouse and A-train reflect on the never-ending nature of household chores! These chores never end - did you realise that would happen when you were a child? The Big Mouse finds it hard to accept - one of the world's great injustices! We also wrap up the season and reflect on what went well. See you for season 4! Merry Christmas, Listener!   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

On this episode, The Big Mouse and The A-Train discuss know-it-alls. For a fun game, try to count how many times the c-word is uttered. And we're not talking about Christmas! Answers on Speakpipe!   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

This week on Feckology, The Big Mouse and The A-Train dive head-first into the big, unanswerable questions of existence: topics people whisper about late at night and pretend not to believe in the next morning. From ghosts that linger in the corner of your eye to the uneasy mysteries of death, we explore what might (or might not) be waiting beyond the veil. Is Heaven a place, a feeling, or a story we tell ourselves? Is Hell a load of old codswallop? Of course, it wouldn’t be Feckology without a spirited detour, so we wander off the path and into the world of Irish folklore - the long-standing mystery of Fairy Rings, and crossing paths with the ominous Púca Dubh.    Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

The Big Mouse and A-Train discuss the perverse relationship that Irish people have with money, covering topics such as the taboo of discussing salary, social awkwardness over paying for things, and the strong urge to avoid thinking about investing money, pensions and all that stuff!   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

This week, The Big Mouse and The A-Train delve into the topic of passive-aggression. From petty household habits, to narky neighbours, via virtual reality get-togethers - your hosts examine how these apathetic, sulky, and snarky behaviours evolve - and how they can be handled better.   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

On the latest episode of Feckology, The Big Mouse and The A-Train discuss the concept of loyalty across numerous different areas of their lives. - Loyalty in friendships - Loyalty to bands, musicians, comedians - Loyalty to podcasters (touching on the concept of "content guilt") - Loyalty to sports teams (the social faux pas of changing teams + comparisons to religion)   Let us know what you think by leaving us a voice message:   https://www.speakpipe.com/Feckology   Follow us on X:   https://x.com/feckology 

In this episode, The Big Mouse and The A-Train discuss their relationships with their neighbours, including sub-topics, such as: - Experiences with growing up in the 1980s and 1990s - Relationships with current neighbours - Quarrels with neighbours and how to resolve them - Community WhatsApp goups This one should be relatable to everyone!

How is your relationship with your ego? How much is too much? Do you take pride in your accomplishments? What about receiving compliments? Egos are running wild on this week's Feckology, brother!

In Episode 2 of Season 3, The Big Mouse and The A-Train attempt to tie in a conversation about not connecting to Irish Culture with a dilemma The Big Mouse is facing about which type of school to send his child to. Does this ham-fisted attempt to make a cohesive discussion about two semi-related points work? The Listener can decide.   Get in touch on X @feckology

Season 3 of Feckology kicks off with The Big Mouse and The A-Train (new season, new moniker) alleging to talk about people management - but mostly taking swipes at Gen Z and overgeneralising wildly. Business as usual.

Join the BM and Prof T for the ultimate episode of season 2. In this bonanza special, we reflect on the highs and lows of season two, a mysterious and important revelation from the BM, and we respond to the fabulous feedback from the listening community. Thank you, listener. That's a proverbial wrap for Season 2!

In the penultimate episode of Season 2, The Big Mouse and Professor T share their own cautionary tales of mentorship gone horribly wrong. From misguided professional guidance, to brotherly-figures living dangerously, to academic mentors who seemed more interested in their own research than their students' success, they reveal how their own experiences as mentees turned into unforgettable disasters. Get ready for a rollercoaster of misadventures, as The Big Mouse and Professor T offer laughs, lessons, and the hard truths they learned the hard way.

Based on listener suggestions, we discuss St Paddy's Day, Play, Seasons and other topical claptrap! Thank you, listener - this made us "giddy" (in-joke that you will only get if you listen to the proverbial episode).

This week, The Big Mouse and Professor T discuss the theme of the popular television show "Severance", where one's workplace memories are separated from one's primary, external memories. Your hosts apply this concept to their own professional and personal lives and examine how the balance has shifted over the tears.   For people who haven't watched Severance, there are no spoilers here that you wouldn't find in a couple of sentences online that explain the show.

Prof T helps the Big Mouse get over his (overly) negative narrative of his heavy drinking days - by leading an exploration of the good times we had whilst drinking! We also reflect on our personal journeys with drinking and where we are today with it. Absolutely!

On this episode, The Big Mouse and Professor T pick up where they left off with Boyzone at the height of their success. Cracks, however, were starting to form within the structure of the band, and their greatest collective tragedy was about to befall them.    We also reflect on The Goose Model™, which we employed on our previous podcast, The Feckin' Checkin', as a means to grow in popularity. Will The Goose Model™ make a return in 2025? That remains to be seen.

In this episode, The Big Mouse and Professor T address quite a bit of listener feedback on the "Tipping" episode, then delve into this weeks topic: the recently-released and much spoken-about Boyzone documentary, No Matter What. We discuss the early parts of the band's career, with a particular focus on the role of manager Louis Walsh, and his ruthless approach to the music business.

We discuss the extreme awkwardness of tipping for services in a mostly cashless society, citing various personal examples from the Big Mouse and Prof T!

The Big Mouse and Professor T dial back the years to 1990, as they present their real origin story. 

Join us for a chat about the fake origin stories behind EMDR Therapy, Volkswagen, & Nike. We also chat briefly about the non-fake origins of Feckology and reflect on recent listener interactions. Absolutely!

On this week's Feckology, The Big Mouse and Professor T address some listener feedback, then delve into the topic of people who walk around in public places while looking at their phones. As a semi-regular jogger, The Big Mouse finds this practice quite irritating, and feel the offenders act like NPCs from Grand Theft Auto. As an offender himself, Professor T examines why he is the way he is. Join in the chat on Twitter @feckology 

Join the proverbial Big Mouse and Professor T for an analysis of the declining quality of Netflix, and the accompanying rise of the Typical Netflix Movie. All based on the below excellent article by @wtavlin https://www.nplusonemag.com/issue-49/essays/casual-viewing/  Let us know what you think, dear listener. Are you content with Netflix's substandard content? 

Does travel narrow the mind? Do you always take yourself with you on holidays? Wherever you go, there we are. Professor T and The Big Mouse discuss "The Case Against Travel". https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-weekend-essay/the-case-against-travel

Join the Big Mouse and Prof T for an analysis of two popular love songs - from the perspective of the creeped-out recipient of the lyrics.

Traynor, now reverting to his previous persona of "Professor T" (we'll have to change the theme song), and The Big Mouse, return for Season 2 of Feckology. Discussing new year's resolutions, losing the ability to read books, lacking enthusiasm for podcasting, different types of creative fulfilment, and Gen Z phrases. This one is as loose and rusty as you might expect after a long hiatus!

Sorry Listener, we could not do an episode as intended due to Life - Again. Instead, please enjoy this new song by the Big Mouse using an AI created beat. See you soon!

In this episode, Traynor and The Big Mouse discuss the topic of AI-generated music, the implications this may have on the music industry, and generate some AI songs in real time (and play them)!

On the latest episode of Feckology, we address listener feedback to the last few episodes and also discuss The Human Centipede that is the housing market in Ireland!

We discuss how people are listening to music through snippets, reviews, memes, and mimes. Do songs matter anymore? Does connection with the artist matter anymore? Is music on the decline, or is this weird shit just a natural evolution enabled by technology?

Traynor reflects on a recent run-in with an estate agent where he lost his temper and asks: am I the asshole? The Big Mouse shares a story from a recent football match where things also got heated. We both ponder: is it better to express anger in the moment, or to wait, and let cooler heads prevail?

We chat about how strong preferences in art and music dwindle as you get older. This can free you up to like things you previously would have despised. We also discuss running out of podcast material and the Golden Goose Model!

When will the CPCC ever let us be? When will be free? Can we just pop in for a metaphorical cuppa tea, or do we need to always listen intently? Join us as we attempt to answer these questions. Thank you, Listener!

On the latest episode of Feckology, Traynor and The Big Mouse discuss things that have occurred in society/technology/their personal lives in the last 20 - 30 years, that would have surprised younger versions of their selves. Featuring Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Demolition Man, Jedward, and Dustin The Turkey!

We chat about "one-sided" social media relationships, and our experiences with how we present our personalities to others, online and offline.

In today's episode, the Big Mouse and @feckinmetalcast reflect on the Decline of Drinking Culture including changes in how we socialize, consume entertainment, pursue fringe hobbies, and of course, meet people of our chosen sexual orientation (less caution to the wind, more safety, more online dating). Are things better or worse for young people - we don't know, do you, Listener? Do write into us!

We chat about live stage performance in the wake of @feckinmetalcast's live stage performance, where he performed live, on stage.

On this episode, Traynor and The Big Mouse reflect on growing up attending single-sex primary and secondary schools in Ireland, and how it affected their abilities to interact with the opposite sex.

A cynical and disdainful critique of the "living in the moment" life coaches and their kernels of truth.

We discuss our relationships with advice, including unsolicited advice, and our good and bad experiences with advice. We advise you to listen, and if you take our advice, you won't think twice about biting your tongue or something else that finishes this sentence...

What is a shit friendship? When is it time to call it quits/pull the plug/put it out of its misery? We discuss a couple of examples of shit friendships from our lives, and how they eventually played out.   Follow us on Twitter:   @feckology

On Episode 3 of Feckology, we discuss the concept of over-friendly waiting staff, who in their efforts to make you feel at ease, can conversely make you feel ill-at-ease. We also cover off other ostensibly customer-friendly measures introduced in recent years in Irish pubs, which only detract from the customer experience.   Follow us on Twitter: @feckology

How do you feel when someone in a pub/cafe/food court/saloon asks you to watch their coat/bag/seats/anvil while they disappear for an indeterminate amount of time?   Placing importance on the unimportant, your hosts Traynor and The Big Mouse chew the fat over this frustrating situation.