The Brass Neck Podcast

What gives you anxiety? Heights? Spiders? Commitment? Public speaking? Me? It’s getting a fright. And my next guest knows exactly how to hand those out.She went from being a shy kid who stayed quiet to hide a speech impediment, to becoming a full-blown horror film legend who’s basically made a career out of nearly giving me heart failure. She’s worked with Billy Connolly. She’s fought monsters in a cave. And she buried her placenta on a golf course in South Africa. I mean… that’s a life. Joining me, Jack Jester, on The Brass Neck Podcast… She is, of course, Shauna MacDonald. Recorded for No Mean Radio.

They say good things come in small packages, and my next guest proves that to me on a very regular basis. We first found each other in The Garage nightclub, right in the middle of the chaos of a sold-out wrestling show. We bonded there and then… a true love story, really. Little did I know — excuse the pun — that over a decade later he’d become my main and only supplier of little people erotica. Life takes strange turns. From A Pint and Two Shots to The Brass Neck Podcast, he’s been there for the nonsense, the chaos, and all the bad ideas in between. A legend of the game, a long-time partner in crime, and one of the funniest men I know. He is Chris Toal. Recorded For No Mean Radio.

In my twenty-plus years as a professional wrestler, I’ve worked with my fair share of weirdos, chancers, and absolute characters. But my next guest took one look at that world and decided it wasn’t nearly weird enough… so he made nonsense his actual profession. From signing up for a comedy course on a whim to marching through the streets of New York, he’s built a career out of quick wit, glorious chaos, and a voice that’s become instantly recognisable across stages, radios, and podcasts alike. A comedian, writer, broadcaster, and one of Scotland’s most relentlessly inventive performers, he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t just tell jokes — he builds entire worlds of absurdity around them. My third guest on The Brass Neck Podcast is none other than Mr Billy “F**king” Kirkwood! Recorded for No Mean Radio.

The Brass Neck Podcast: Episode 2 - If The Guns Don’t Kill You The Sausages Will From a mysterious figure created my over active teenage imagination to one of my oldest pals in the game…We’ve seen it aw! There are a handful of Scots who have ever been signed to WWE and he is one of them.There are even less Scots who have trained The Rock for Wrestlemania…he’s still one of them! I am Jack Jester and my guest this week is Wolfgang.Recorded for No Mean Radio.

“Episode 1…The first yin…"The one that sets the tone and grabs attention…Needs to be good…Canny be shite…Make the right choice…Find the right guest…Don’t drop the ball…The pressure is on…DO NOT FUCK THIS! Starting a podcast is hard and stressful but I found a solution for all of my dilemmas What the solution you ask? Louise McCarthy is the solution!The lassie can do it all and she agreed to be my first guest and I can’t thank her enough Get it watched!”00:00 - Unexpected Musical Choices and Performance Challenges01:20 - Nostalgia and Cultural References04:45 - Family Support and Online Interactions06:28 - Supportive Parents and Pursuing Dreams07:21 - Career Aspirations and School Memories09:16 - Belief in Achieving the Impossible09:49 - Perseverance and Overcoming Challenges11:48 - Unconventional Path to Acting13:44 - The Joy and Challenges of Pantomime15:39 - The Emotional Farewell to Junior Ensembles17:34 - Drama as a Community and Personal Growth18:57 - Technological Hesitations and Lifestyle Choices21:24 - The Chocolate Abstinence Journey23:06 - Unusual Eating Habits24:59 - The Parma Violets Challenge25:35 - Childhood Fixations and Religious Habits27:10 - Journey to Acting and Drama School Reflections29:37 - Childhood Movies and Early Curiosities30:59 - Nostalgia and Awkward Memories31:39 - Admiration for Barbara and Strong Women33:27 - Audition Experiences and the Value of Boldness36:46 - A Wrestling Journey and Unexpected Acting Opportunity38:04 - First Acting Experience and On-Set Challenges41:11 - Overcoming Doubts and Pursuing Dreams42:50 - Family Traits and Generational Differences44:10 - Pregnancy and Cultural Superstitions46:00 - Cultural Observations and Humour47:00 - Humorous Observations of Local Culture49:25 - Reflections on Personal and Social Norms50:09 - Cultural Differences and Self-Acceptance52:04 - Reflections on Exam Pressure and Relevance53:06 - Tights, Wrestling, and Hygiene Rants55:14 - Halloween Memories and Costume Mishaps56:34 - Childhood Embarrassment and Unique Experiences57:18 - Halloween Costumes and Social Commentary01:00:15 - Acting and Observations on Behaviour01:00:46 - Reflections on Acting and Improvisation01:01:45 - Support and Encouragement in Creative Work01:02:46 - Overcoming Claustrophobia and Stress on Set01:04:29 - Recollections of a Cheeky Assistant Director01:05:11 - Overcoming Personal Struggles on Set01:06:40 - A Day of Loss and Resilience01:10:11 - Family Stories and Unconventional Choices01:12:07 - A Safari Park Adventure01:12:53 - The Monkey Incident01:16:16 - Absurd Family Stories and Animal Antics01:17:02 - The Tortoise Smuggling Tale01:19:50 - Closing Thoughts and LaughterRecorded for No Mean Radio

TBC