In Episode 29, Joe and Sherin sit down with the brilliant Dean Kenny — a Dublin man originally from Ballymun who has one of the most raw, honest, and inspiring stories you'll hear. From growing up in the flats of Ballymun and Finglas, to falling deep into cocaine addiction in his teens and twenties, Dean holds nothing back. He opens up about the chaos addiction brought into his life — the paranoia, the broken relationships, the falling off and climbing back on the wagon — and the turning point that changed everything.

Dean is now on an incredible mission — running 5K every single day and raising money for Our Lady's Children's Hospital. With over 700 days of consecutive runs clocked, he talks about how running became his recovery, his mental health lifeline, and his purpose. He also shares the deeply personal story of his son's serious illness and the operation that shook his world, and how that fuelled everything he's doing today.

This one is honest, funny, emotional, and motivating in equal measure. If you're going through something tough or just need a reminder that it's never too late to turn things around — this is the episode for you.

⏱ Timecodes

00:00 | Intro & banter — welcome to Episode 29
01:00 | Introducing Dean Kenny
02:00 | Denture stories & classic craic
05:00 | Getting the full background — where Dean is from
05:40 | Born in 1988 — growing up in Ballymun & Finglas
06:45 | Life in the flats — tight-knit community memories
08:00 | Family life — four kids, relationships
09:00 | The addiction story begins — first experiences with cocaine
10:30 | Addiction escalating — everyday use
11:40 | Leaving school at 16 & deeper into addiction
12:30 | Paranoia, money problems, relationships falling apart
13:10 | Moving to England — trying to escape it all
13:50 | Coming back to Dublin, getting his first apartment
27:20 | Dean's son's illness — the operation and the fear
28:30 | Shout out to the surgeons & the child's mother
29:40 | The 5K a day challenge begins — running for Our Lady's Hospital
30:35 | 714 days in — the numbers don't lie
31:30 | Relapse — falling off the wagon and being honest about it
33:00 | Recovery isn't linear — guilt, shame, and getting back up
34:20 | What "falling off" actually looked like — missed days, letting people down
35:20 | Getting back on track — accountability and the mission
36:10 | Responsibilities as an anchor in recovery
37:00 | Social media accountability — how posting keeps you honest
39:40 | 714 days, 5K a day = raising funds for Our Lady's
48:15 | Rise Above It boxing & the finger snap story 😬
50:00 | Where Dean is now — PT course, lifeguard training, college
52:00 | What keeps Dean in recovery — running & mental health
52:40 | "Recovered" vs "in recovery" — a real honest debate
53:15 | Sherin on manifestation and the Law of Attraction
55:10 | Cold water/sea swimming as part of the routine
57:00 | Advice to anyone struggling — reach out, take accountability
58:30 | Come join a run — Saturday mornings!
01:00:00 | Belfast trip chat & signing off
01:01:50 | Final shoutouts — crew, family, fans & barbers union!