In Episode 34 of the Joe Irish and Sherin Podcast, Pat and Sherin sit down with Irish radio DJ and Spin 1038 presenter, Marty Guilfoyle. From his early days ringing up a community radio station as a teenager to becoming one of Ireland's most recognisable DJs, Marty shares how a chance encounter in a late-night club in Lanzarote completely changed the direction of his life. The lads talk friendship groups, growing up, social media comparisons, the perks of working in radio, and why Marty reckons the best part of the ladder might actually be where you're standing right now. There's also a pit stop in a very unexpected hotel in Tenerife, a near-miss with Calvin Harris at Electric Picnic, and a wild swingers hotel story that absolutely nobody saw coming.

Timecodes:

00:00:10 – Welcome & intro to Episode 34 with guest Marty Guilfoyle

00:00:50 – Marty on why being invited on podcasts means so much to him

00:01:34 – Are you a podcast listener? Marty admits he's not really

00:02:35 – Marty's 16 years at Spin 1038 — and the station's full history

00:03:15 – How Joe met Marty through his brother next door (the decks story)

00:03:57 – Living with a stranger during Covid & making a best friend for life

00:04:40 – Friendship groups, growing apart, and the friend group of 15/16

00:07:03 – Football, Liverpool, and the WhatsApp group drama

00:08:25 – Making friends in different circles across different jobs

00:09:42 – Marty's other half's girl gang, London hen surprise & Magic Mike

00:10:31 – Ladies nights in Dubai — how clubs make their money

00:11:37 – How Marty got into DJing: the radio show that started it all

00:12:34 – Ringing a community radio station as a teenager and getting let on air

00:13:50 – Getting a show on Fun Radio, sending a demo to Spin, and landing the job

00:14:41 – Working weekends for Spin and weekdays for Beat — and how they became one group under Bauer Media

00:17:01 – Gigging in Ibiza, Dubai, and Majorca — and the invitation to join as apprentice

00:17:35 – Playing Ultra festival on the same bill as Steve Aoki

00:18:08 – The Iceland trip with the gang and running into MK

00:19:14 – The Lanzarote moment that changed everything: DJ Coco Loco and a life-altering offer

00:20:14 – Ringing his mam from Lanzarote: "You are NOT staying"

00:21:15 – The kindness of strangers and how it shapes your career path

00:22:00 – Playing New York Rocks in the early days

00:23:10 – Upcoming gig at Oceans Beach, Majorca — and why Marty doesn't consider himself a "cool DJ"

00:24:45 – The viral fan comparison to Avicii at a 5,000-person gig in Limerick

00:25:57 – Booking Oceans Beach and hoping they know what they signed up for

00:27:03 – Electric Picnic: clashing with Calvin Harris and Hozier

00:29:23 – Festival lineup clashes and loving artists across all genres (Kylie Minogue, Hana Lang)

00:30:15 – The secret "Absolute Mood" playlist and holiday music chat

00:32:05 – Dubai: why Marty wasn't a huge fan and what felt off

00:33:16 – Favourite gig ever: Pasha in Macao, China, and a spontaneous trip to Hong Kong

00:36:43 – Moving to Roundwood, Wicklow, and learning to love the quiet life

00:38:20 – The M50 red flag test for dating — and gym etiquette

00:41:33 – What's next? Marty reflects on chasing the ladder in his 20s vs enjoying where he is now

00:43:30 – Playing a small bar in Killarney and realising that's the good stuff

00:44:09 – Social media, comparison culture, and finding contentment at 36

00:47:03 – The perks of working in radio: Katie Taylor, David Guetta, Dua Lipa, and more

00:49:05 – Favourite celebrity interviews: Pete Tong, Charlie Puth, MK, and Sean Penn (as an extra on a film!)

00:51:35 – Pete Tong coming straight from the airport to Marty's studio

00:52:13 – Holiday plans: two weeks off, Tenerife & the Canaries

00:53:04 – The accidental swingers hotel story in Tenerife 😂

00:57:17 – Wrap-up, thanks, and "Friends and Lovers" sign-off