Life Stories
556 - DOMINIC MILTON TROTT - Meet The Man Who Has Tried 182 Different Drugs (Part 2)
Dominic Milton Trott isn’t your stereotypical drug taker, but having self-administered 182 different drugs, he is without a doubt the most experienced. Author of ‘The Drug User’s Bible’, Dominic has turned his substance taking adventures into a mission to promote safety and knowledge.
555 - DOMINIC MILTON TROTT - Meet The Man Who Has Tried 182 Different Drugs (PART 1)
In Part 1 of his interview, we discover how a well-spoken computer nerd made his fortune and first dabbled in drugs. We learn what a psychonaut is, how to access the dark web, ways to ensure your drug purchase is safe, and tricks to get yourself out of a bad trip.
Dominic shares which common kitchen-cupboard substance can produce an intense high, how a milkshake once triggered a bad trip, and the one drug he would NEVER touch again.
He also tells us about his decade-long project: a book that chronicles his personal drug experiments—from ayahuasca to DMT to spice. And we hear what his wife thinks of his drug-fuelled escapades, and how a flight back from Colombia landed him in a spot of trouble…
547 - LUKE TARRANT - Adventurer Turned Amputee On The Mysterious Accident That Lost Him His Leg
Despite the unlucky chain of events, the incredibly optimistic Luke still refers to himself as ‘lucky’. Luke’s sheer determination and beautiful outlook on life is not only inspirational, but humorous and self deprecating. Jaack and Stevie ask Luke questions they would normally be too scared to ask a recent amputee. What does phantom pain feel like? What are the benefits of having one leg? Where did your amputated limb end up? Luke doesn’t shy away from a single question.
514 - THE KING OF CHEMO - 1 Year Left To Live After Accidental Brain Cancer Diagnosis
From the initial diagnosis, to being kept awake during actual brain surgery, Iain has shown nothing but unrelenting grit to not only personally make the most of what time he has left - but to help inspire millions of others along the way too as he discusses his phenomenal fitness feats with Jaack & Stevie. Terminal cancer might have dramatically cut Iain’s life expectancy down, but it won’t stop him as he aims to break the world record for most money raised through running marathons.
Does Iain want a girlfriend? To get married? To have kids? Has his relationship with material things changed? Does he value money more or less? Has he planned his funeral? The boys ask questions they’d usually be too scared to ask somebody with terminal cancer, but Iain’s openness, warmth and jovial outlook lends itself to a raw honesty that made for an incredibly open interview.
We hope that this episode is not only a testament to Iain Ward's personal journey but also serves as a beacon of hope and action for listeners who are experiencing similar struggles. Through his story, we learn about the unpredictability of life, the importance of giving back, and the unexpected curveballs that life can throw at us. Iain’s online alias may be The King Of Chemo, but all of us at Happy Hour think he might actually just be The King.
492 - DEAN STOTT - 16 Years As A British Special Forces Operator
Not content with just being a real life Action Man, Dean set up his own security company providing protection during the Libyan War, single handedly evacuated the Canadian embassy, and has broken TWO World Records since leaving the special forces.
463 - HARDEST GEEZER II - Exclusive First Podcast Since Running The Length Of Africa
We caught up with Russ in our first ever out-of-studio podcast, just hours after Russ became the first human being in history to run from the most southernly point in Africa, to the most northern tip.
From being robbed at gunpoint in Angola, to cooking an untraditional Christmas dinner in the Guinean rainforest, to crossing the finish line on a Tunisian beach, Russ Cook’s story is truly awe inspiring. From injuries to sickness, not even the worst bouts of crippling blisters and explosive diarrhoea could derail Russ and his team’s mission. From deadly wildlife, to police escorts, to army raids, to Saharan hallucinations... if it wasn’t already absolutely clear, then today’s episode should help clarify exactly why Russ chose the alias Hardest Geezer.
448 - MICHAEL FRANZESE - How This Mafia Boss Scammed $10 Million A Week From US Govenment
Very few mobsters successfully manage to leave the mob life behind unscathed but Franzese did, and over the next 90 minutes we’ll get to ask him all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask a real life mafioso. From literally being name-dropped in arguably the greatest gangster movie of all time ‘Goodfellas’ (Martin Scorsese), to ending up in solitary confinement , Michael has lived through enough to fill 100 lives.
This is one you’re going to want to tell your friends about. So sit back, pour yourself a glass of scotch (or equally cool non-alcoholic beverage if under the age of 18) and enjoy what is destined to be one of Happy Hour’s greatest guest interviews to date. Capeesh?
433 - RUAIRI MCSORLEY (Frostbit Boy) - Our Most Requested Guest Ever!
Ruairi, dressed in his soon-to-be iconic green suit, reveals the ins and outs of his extremely bizarre life. From accidentally becoming an online phenomenon whilst on his way to school, Ruairi explains how 'Frostbit Boy' became a viral hit.
Ruairi goes into detail about how dolphins saved his life during an impromptu 14km swim, how he was kept captive on a boat for 2 months, and exactly how he plans to become the king of Ireland. This episode is weirdly wonderful and Jaack can probably die happy now he has met the man who has alluded him for so long!
429 - VANESSA FRAKE-HARRIS - The Woman In Charge Of Britain's Worst Prison!
Vanessa speaks openly about how she believes prisons don't reform offenders as they claim to, how inmates can manipulate officers to smuggle in drugs, and how prisoners are recruited by staff as informants. Plus what happens when someone dies in prison, and how an inmate got their revenge on Vanessa...
380 - BLINDTOBES - Asking A Blind Person Questions You're Too Afraid To Ask
Toby explains the full timeline of his eyesight deterioration and how his parents realised that something wasn't quite right. He also talks about the common misconceptions about blind people, the times being blind has landed him in hot water, as well as how MrBeast's "1,000 Blind People See For The First Time" video potentially damaged the blind community...
Since Toby plays for Brighton's blind football team, we also asked him to delve into the fascinating world of blind football and how he could make the England squad after playing for just 1 year!
316 - RAPHAEL ROWE RETURNS - World's Toughest Prisons, Prison Football & The Reality Of Life Behind Bars
TW: Please be aware this episode contains a conversation about rape.
282 - JAMIE HULL - The Pilot Who Survived A Plane Crash Shares His Story
He also tells us how his life was changed by the incident and why he wants to inspire other people with life changing injuries.
274 - CHRIS RYAN - SAS Soldier On His Escape From Iraq
Please be aware this episode contains conversation about war and PTSD.
263 - PETER BLEKSLEY III - Undercover Cop Shares His Craziest Stories Yet
Fan favourite Peter Bleksley is BACK with even crazier stories than ever… There’s one about catching Scotland’s most wanted criminal, one about waking up naked on someone’s doorstep and even one about sleeping with a criminal whilst working undercover! The return of Bleksley did not disappoint! Make sure you check out our previous episodes with Peter (episodes #064 and #123) and have a listen to his podcast ‘Manhunt’ which follows his hunt for Kevin Parle.
223 - FABRICE MUAMBA - His Most Open Interview Ever (Arsenal, Cardiac Arrest & Jeremy Lynch)
Fabrice was really open and answered a whole load of questions about his experiences and also shared his incredible insight on life. You don’t want to miss this one!
190 - BEN PEARSON - Ex Police Officer Shares Cop Secrets & Worst Criminal Cases
Ben shares some of the worst cases he dealt with, including murders, road traffic collisions, guns and drugs. He’s also giving us the lowdown on police training, crazy bribes he’s been offered and what it’s like to interview a suspect.
Please be aware Ben also opens up about his experiences with grief, PTSD and depression.
123 - PETER BLEKSLEY II - Undercover Cop RETURNS - Police Investigations, Drug Offers & Italian Mafia
Guns, babies, drugs, buckets of piss, the BAFTAS and the Italian Mafia… Peter’s one of the best story tellers around.
If you haven’t already heard it, make sure you check out our first episode with Peter:
064 - PETER BLEKSLEY - Undercover Police Officer on Being Taken Hostage, Witness Protection & Drug Busts!
119 - RAPHAEL ROWE - Sentenced To Life In Prison For A Murder He DID NOT Commit & World's Toughest Prisons
He also shared what it’s like being an innocent man in one of the UK’s highest security prisons, where he got to know some of the country’s most notorious criminals, including Reggie Kray and Charles Bronson. If that wasn't enough, in the second half of the show, we got to hear exclusive stories from Raphael’s time filming Netflix’s docuseries ‘Inside World’s Toughest Prisons’, which has seem him travel to some of the most dangerous prisons on the planet, in countries such as Paraguay, Brazil and the Philippines. He spoke about some of the horrific conditions he’s seen and told us what it’s like speaking to the people incarcerated there. Some of the stuff he’s seen left us speechless. This is one episode you definitely do not want to miss!
064 - PETER BLEKSLEY - Undercover Police Officer On Being Taken Hostage, Witness Protection & Drug Busts
We're joined by ex Met Police Officer Peter Bleksley as he opens up about the moment he was taken hostage by one of London's top gang members. Peter, star of Channel 4's Hunted, is refreshingly honest in this almost 2 hour long bumper special. Series 3 is back with a bang - sit back and enjoy.
047 - JAACK'S DAD - Life In Prison, Getting Stabbed & Raising JaackMaate
The boys return! This week Jaack's Dad pops by the Happy Hour studio to reveal all from his past, including life in prison, what it's like to get stabbed, and how he raised Jaack to be better. A truly eye-opening interview.