In this episode of the Joe Irish & Shirin Podcast, the guys are joined by the one and only El Paco for a proper rollercoaster of a conversation - packed with laughs, madness, brutally honest stories and some seriously powerful moments.
From growing up in Darndale and experiencing violence and discrimination from a young age, to finding boxing, discovering his passion for media and entertainment, and ultimately deciding to chase something bigger - El Paco opens up about the experiences that shaped him.
The lads get into Traveller culture, community, discrimination, family, grief and the importance of standing together - including the heartbreaking story of El Paco losing his mother and how that loss became the fuel behind his determination to achieve greatness.
There's serious emotion, plenty of devilment, some very dark humour and a whole lot of honesty.
This is one you won't want to miss.
[00:00] — Welcome to the Joe Irish & Shirin Podcast! Introducing special guest El Paco
[01:30] — How Joe first met El Paco and the story behind their friendship
[02:00] — Traveller banter, comedy and why El Paco encouraged Joe to go all in with the jokes
[05:00] — El Paco opens up about his childhood and growing up in Darndale
[06:00] — His earliest memories of violence and gunfire around the community
[08:30] — Growing up around danger, getting older and how those experiences became normal
[09:30] — Boxing, bullying and discrimination at school
[11:30] — Why people from disadvantaged backgrounds can become products of their environment
[12:30] — Traveller history, survival and the lack of support from wider society
[13:00] — Discrimination against Travellers and memories of being blocked from communities
[14:00] — Family, community and the people who helped each other survive
[15:30] — The story of El Paco's great-grandfather Patty Ward and a shocking chapter of family history
[17:00] — Traveller culture, family names and why there are "bad apples" in every community
[18:00] — A hilarious Traveller story involving a pub, a hatchet and one very specific threat 😂
[20:00] — The origins of the name "El Paco" and how the nickname came about
[22:00] — Cinco de Mayo, social media and creating a name that would stand out
[23:30] — Where El Paco's drive for greatness really comes from
[24:30] — Violence, survival, family and the experiences that shaped him
[25:30] — El Paco talks about his mother and the incredible woman she was
[26:00] — Caring for his mother through her illness and putting his own life on hold for her
[27:00] — The heartbreaking reality of watching his mother battle cancer
[28:30] — Her final days, faith and the strength she showed throughout her illness
[29:00] — Losing his mother and the six months that followed
[29:30] — Turning grief into motivation: "I've got to be great"
[30:30] — Joe opens up about grief, pain and the importance of finding passion
[31:00] — Dark humour, family and finding laughter during the hardest moments
[36:00] — Finesse Game Promotions: how the idea came about
[37:00] — Why El Paco believes fighters deserve to be treated better
[38:00] — "The fighters come first" — the philosophy behind Finesse Game Promotions
[39:30] — Where the name "Finesse the Game" came from
[40:00] — The upcoming boxing event and bringing the team together
[42:00] — Double Trouble join the Finesse Game team 🎤🥊
[43:30] — The future of Finesse Game Promotions and the plans for upcoming shows
[45:00] — Why El Paco walked away from a good-paying job to follow his passion
[46:00] — Financial sacrifice, believing in yourself and taking a chance on your dreams
[47:00] — Why following your passion can mean giving up security
[48:30] — Family support, his wife Megan and the people behind his journey
[50:00] — The importance of having someone who believes in you
[51:00] — Acting, ambition and the story of El Paco's brother John
[52:30] — John Connor's incredible drive and determination
[53:00] — What it takes to keep chasing your dream when nobody else sees it yet