Hello 2026, goodbye duality

Born Again | Infinite Onion, Rebirth & Why Growth Feels Like Going Backwards

It’s New Year’s Day — but are we really starting again, or just uncovering another layer?

In Episode 62 of the Temple Barred Podcast, Jim and Philip explore the idea of being “born again” — not as a once-a-year reset, but as something that happens constantly, moment by moment. Through stories of Christmas chaos, repeating patterns, dopamine, ADHD traits and self-reflection, the lads unpack why personal growth can feel frustrating, circular and unfinished — even when real progress is happening.

At the heart of the episode is the idea of the Infinite Onion:

Every time we think we’ve “figured it out,” another layer appears — and that doesn’t mean we’ve failed. It means we’re evolving.

This episode explores:

• Rebirth beyond New Year’s resolutions

• Why self-improvement feels repetitive

• Patterns, self-judgement and awareness

• Dopamine, conflict and unconscious behaviour

• Letting go instead of trying to control

• Duality, perception and the illusion of separation

• Consciousness, identity and choosing love over fear

• How algorithms, media and attention shape reality

• Finding growth in everyday moments

Honest, reflective and often hilarious, this episode is for anyone feeling stuck, tired of “reset culture,” or wondering why growth doesn’t look the way it’s supposed to.

🎧 You haven’t gone backwards.

You’re just peeling the next layer.

🎄 Christmas 2025 Special | Temple Barred Podcast 🎄

The lads sit down for a raw, funny, and deeply human Christmas special that captures everything this time of year brings — grief, gratitude, chaos, connection, and plenty of laughs along the way.

Jim and Philip reflect on the true meaning of Christmas after a year marked by loss, sharing a heartfelt tribute to a loved one gone far too soon and offering compassion to anyone finding the season difficult. From the loneliness that can creep in during the holidays to the small lights that help us through dark moments, this episode is an honest reminder that this too shall pass.

As ever, the heavy moments are balanced with classic Temple Barred storytelling:

🎤 a painfully funny tale of Philip’s “big break” acting role that lasted less than a second

🎶 life as a working musician — gigs gone wrong, sound disasters, horse arenas in Belgium, and Irish pub madness

📻 conversations on music, autotune, Spotify vs YouTube, modern fame, and why authenticity still matters

🌍 shoutouts to listeners tuning in from Germany, Canada, Vietnam, and beyond

This episode is a love letter to listeners around the world who use podcasts as company, comfort, and craic — whether you’re freezing, sweating, celebrating, or just getting through the day.

Pull up a chair, pour a drink, and spend Christmas with the Temple Barred Podcast.

✨ Themes: Christmas reflections, grief & healing, Irish humour, music industry stories, mental health, creativity, community

🎧 Perfect for: fans of long-form conversation, Irish podcasts, honest Christmas episodes, and unfiltered storytelling

Merry Christmas from Temple Barred — you’re not alone. 🎄💛

Episode 61: Cults, Consciousness & the Illusion of Reality

What isn’t a cult anymore?

In Episode 61 of The Temple Bar Podcast, Jim and Philip dive headfirst into one of the most provocative conversations yet — from religious cults and modern fandoms to consciousness, duality, fame, belief systems, and the nature of reality itself.

Starting with David Koresh, Jim Jones, Scientology, and the origins of cult behaviour, the conversation expands into religion, Sikhism, Jesus as a reformer, and how messages rooted in love and unity can become distorted over time. Are cults simply belief systems taken to extremes — and if so, are governments, corporations, football clubs, and pop fandoms just more socially acceptable cults?

The episode moves fluidly between:

• Cults & cult leaders (Waco, Jonestown, Scientology)
• Religion vs belief (Christianity, Sikhism, Jesus, Nanak)
• Modern “cult” culture (Taylor Swift, Kanye, Bono, football fandom)
• Fame & power — why every public figure eventually faces backlash
• The Law of One, free will, manipulation, and service to self vs service to others
• Consciousness, duality, dimensions & reality as a simulation
• Why nothing can exist without contrast — light and dark, good and bad
• Christmas parties, chaos, human nature, and the joy of losing control 🍻

Along the way, there are laugh-out-loud tangents, grounded Irish storytelling, deep philosophical reflections, and plenty of moments that will make you question what you think you know — without ever telling you what to believe.

This is a conversation about mankind, belief, identity, and why — in the end — everything might actually be okay.

🎙️ Listen now and decide for yourself what resonates — and what doesn’t.

Keywords / SEO tags:

Cults podcast, Temple Bar Podcast, consciousness podcast, cult psychology, belief systems, religion vs cults, David Koresh, Jim Jones, Scientology, Sikhism explained, Law of One, simulation theory, fame and power, Irish podcast, philosophy podcast, spirituality discussion, modern cults, fandom culture, free will, duality, Christmas party stories

Welcome to Episode 60 of the Temple Bar Podcast with Jim Wynne and Philip Noone — and we’re officially in the run up.

🎄 The run up to Christmas.

⚽ The run up to the playoffs.

💸 And the run up to Black Friday chaos.

Fresh back from Budapest, Jim shares the mad scenes from Hungary vs Ireland, the last-minute winner, the concourse mayhem, and why he suddenly became the chillest man in the stadium. Philip tries to price a taxi to Mayo, and we discuss the honour, horror and responsibility of becoming a “delicious” celebrity after meeting Garron Noone himself.

We also dive into:

🧁 Why Americans have pumpkin pie for Christmas

🔐 The real meaning behind “Black Friday”

💥 Hungarian ultras vs. Irish manners

🍺 “Black Eye Friday” on the border

🎸 Paul Mescal learning Blackbird from Paul McCartney

😳 Private concerts worth €6 million

🧘 A spicy rant about yoga rules, meat, and spirituality

💰 What celebrities really get paid for private gigs

👀 And how the fourth wall of media is collapsing live in front of us

Plus: the Mick Foley saga, who might be avoiding us, and why we might be flying to Prague just to sit in a pub and watch football anyway. 🇮🇪🍻

🔔 Subscribe, leave a comment and let us know:

Would YOU pay JLo €6 million to sing at your birthday?

Or would you get Post Malone instead?

🎧 Follow Temple Bar Podcast on:

Instagram | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

In this episode of Temple Barred, the lads dive head-first into the chaos, heartbreak, joy, and pure madness that comes with following the Irish football team — at home, away, and everywhere in between. From last-minute equalisers to long-haul trips, from the electric atmosphere of Lansdowne Road to the camaraderie (and carnage) of Irish fans travelling across Europe, this episode captures what makes supporting Ireland a way of life.

Packed with hilarious stories, emotional moments, and sharp insights into Irish fan culture, the conversation explores why following the Boys in Green is about far more than results — it’s about identity, community, friendship, nostalgia, and the kind of loyalty only Irish supporters understand. Whether it’s dissecting the team’s form, reliving iconic matches, or sharing the unforgettable characters met along the way, this episode is a love letter to the Ireland faithful.

If you’re an Ireland fan — or just love football, travel, and good storytelling — this is a must-listen.

Keywords: Ireland football podcast, Irish football team, Republic of Ireland fans, COYBIG, Irish supporter culture, Ireland away days, Lansdowne Road, Euro qualifiers, Irish soccer stories, Temple Barred podcast.

Episode Title: “King of the Road: Eddie Sherlock on the Irish Music Scene”

Episode Description:

Join us this week on The Temple Barred Podcast as we welcome Eddie Sherlock — singer-songwriter, guitarist and percussionist, and frontman of The Rattling Kind. Born and raised on the north side of Dublin, Eddie discovered his vocal gift in his twenties, then hit the Dublin pub and session scene before forming the band. 

In this wide-ranging conversation we delve into:

• ​ The making of the band’s breakout song King of the Road, a lockdown-era project that has amassed millions of streams. 
• ​ Eddie’s reflections on growing up in Dublin’s vibrant musical culture and how traditional Irish balladry still informs his songwriting. 
• ​ What life on the Irish contemporary music scene looks like — the joys, the obstacles, the role of places like pubs and session gigs in building careers.
• ​ The inspiration and story behind the band’s standout single All Around the Town, an anti-violence anthem featuring guest vocals by the late Christy Dignam and Damien Dempsey. 
• ​ A deep dive into what “making it” means in Ireland today, from streaming numbers to gig life, and how Eddie and The Rattling Kind are preparing for their upcoming album scheduled for early 2024. 
• ​ Practical tips and encouragement for emerging Irish artists: how to stay true to heritage while building a sound for the modern world.

Whether you’re a fan of Irish folk-rock, curious about the behind-the-scenes of a working Dublin artist, or you’re an aspiring musician yourself, this episode is full of rich stories, insightful perspectives and a fair bit of honest talk about the gig-circuit grind.

Tune in, grab your drink, and join us as we explore the road less travelled in Irish music with Eddie Sherlock.

🎃 The Temple Barred Podcast — Halloween Special: The Masks We Wear 👻

In this Halloween Special of The Temple Barred Podcast, we dive deep into the origins, meaning, and modern symbolism of Halloween, tracing it all the way back to ancient Irish Samhain rituals — the Celtic festival that marked the New Year, harvest, and thinning of the veil between the living and the dead.

We explore the evolution of Samhain into modern Halloween, from Irish pagan traditions and folklore to how these customs crossed the Atlantic and transformed within American history and culture.

Alongside the history, we reflect on the philosophical and psychological sides of Halloween — the masks we wear every day as fathers, sons, friends, and coworkers, and how these roles reveal the duality of human nature: light and shadow, life and death, fear and love.

Tune in for a thought-provoking mix of ancient mythology, modern spirituality, cultural evolution, and personal reflection — a journey through the mystery and meaning of Halloween, from old Irish Samhain fires to the global celebration of today.

The Booalities are collapsing

Happy Halloween 🎃

In this episode of The Temple Bar Podcast, “Pretty Patterns,” we explore how the routines, habits, and social cycles we follow can be both comforting and hypnotic. From personal behaviours to cultural norms, we discuss why humans are drawn to familiar patterns — even when they hold us back — and what it really takes to wake up, break the spell, and create new ones that serve us better. Join us as we uncover the beauty and the trap of life’s pretty patterns.