Bonus: The Arrogance of Birds

As they prepare to take Stall It to the stage on Friday, Darren and Joe reveal what listeners can expect, before getting distracted by custom bowling balls and the rules of playing marbles. Joe longs for just a sip of the original Coca Cola recipe, the two ponder on the origins of TK Red Lemonade. Darren then reveals one of Joe's more confusing tendencies and it leads into a deep exploration of the inner workings of Joe's mind.

The lads have been signing autographs on charge sheets and drinking full fat Coke at such a rate that they're struggling to get through the bonus episode. Your questions this week give a new perspective on one of Joe's childhood tales; and even give Joe a chance to gloat about being proven right. There is also an attempt to reignite the chicken soup debate (with pictures kindly included) and Darren's Nice Guy image is shattered by a listener. There are some interesting nicknames sent in by a listener, and Joe is thrown by having Eoin come to his aid on a quiz question.

We take our deepest dive yet, as Joe's recent experience of being hypnotised (or not being hypnotised, as he claims) leads us to explore the fascinating story of the CIA's secretive mind control programme, MK Ultra. We hear tales of secret brothels, bogus medical studies, fake hippie houses, and an awful lot of LSD; and we cross paths with the JFK assassination and Charles Manson - all as part of a secretive, bizarre mission to find ways to take control of the human mind. Along with that there's the completely separate matter of Darren's FIFA 23 addiction (and Joe's total inability to understand it), and Darren's hopes that he can someday turn it into a lucrative streaming career.

A listener's email about a small religious community in the south east sets off a wave of confusion, with Darren struggling to grasp the characteristics of cults and skin heads, and why none of those things are relevant to the discussion. There are also brain busters on swivel chairs vs tricycles, and a chance to insert some Air Jordans into iconic moments in Irish history.

We set off on an odyssey through the world of petty crime, and crime prevention, this week. Joe has been picking locks but doing it at all the wrong times, while Darren is wondering about the process of career progression for an up-and-coming gangster, and what life must be like wearing a Canada Goose puffer jacket in 26 degree heat. The lads wonder about the decline of the post office raid, and marvel at the sheer effort involved in an ATM heist. Joe wants to stop banning things just because they can hurt us, while Darren is reflecting on the legacy of Dublin hash – which leads Joe to contemplate the decline of the humble hot rock. And Joe accidentally finds himself cycling on a motorway, where he is almost killed by a bus with Darren’s face on the side.