Not so Christian Brothers

Are you actually addicted to your phone, or is that just how the algorithm was "discovered" to work?. This week, Justin and Colm explore the high-stakes legal battle happening in LA where tech giants are facing scrutiny over user dependency.

But it’s not all digital gloom. Justin shares a "magic number" algorithm for anyone looking to escape the rat race through the "FIRE" (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. We also get into:

The Library Thief: Why Colm might technically owe a house to the RTE Sound Library for a record he took in 1989.
Crypto Winter vs. Gold: Why the world is flocking back to physical assets as digital currencies fluctuate.
Literary Sabotage: Justin’s "incandescent" rant on why the new Withering Heights adaptation is a "sex run" that ignores the actual plot.

⏱️ Chapter Timings
00:00 – Intro: The 1989 RTE Library Record "Heist"
02:30 – Justin’s Rage: Why he won't watch Wuthering Heights
03:30 – Review: Train Dreams (A must-watch on Netflix)
06:00 – The Dopamine Trap: How they engineered addiction
11:30 – Financial Crisis: Why young men are turning to betting apps
14:03 – The Gold Standard: Why the "Big Money" is moving to bullion
20:35 – The FIRE Formula: How to retire early
28:30 – Protecting the Classics: The problem with modern remakes

🎤 New Show Schedule:
Main Show: Every Thursday @ 6:00 PM
After Show: Every Sunday @ 8:00 AM

📌 Important Listener Notes
🚨 NEW TIME: We are now moving our release time for THURSDAYS to 6:00 PM to better suit your evening commute!
Support: Follow us on Spotify/Apple and leave a review to help the "Truth" reach more people.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this candid After Show, the Not So Christian Brothers dive into the shifting dynamics of modern society. From the "death of the icebreaker" to a global demographic shift, no topic is off-limits.

This week we explore:
Sports as Therapy: Terry and the brothers discuss how men use sports as a "shield" and a conversational gateway to check in on friends and brothers without the awkwardness of direct emotional talk.

The Birth Rate Crisis: Why are birth rates plummeting across Europe? We debate whether it’s purely economic or if the rise of female independence means marriage and children are no longer the "default" setting for the modern woman

Only Child Syndrome: The team reflects on how growing up as an only child (or being an "independent soul") fosters a unique comfort with solitude—and why that might be a superpower in 2026

Digital Overload: Justin and Colm admit to "disastrous" screen time levels and discuss the psychological toll of being constantly "on".

📅 New episodes every Thursday & Sunday
🗓️ Release Date: Sunday, 15/02/2026

⏱️ Chapter Timings
00:00 – Intro: Being Men, Sports, and Breaking the Ice
03:45 – Can you be a "Sports Therapist"? Using scores to gauge mental health
07:12 – The Demographic Shift: Why women are choosing independence over kids
10:30 – Economic Pressures vs. Changing Ambitions: The cost of raising a family
12:55 – Only Child Independence: Why we like being alone
14:35 – "Dying is expensive": A dark turn on the cost of living
15:00 – Outro: Terry’s Cowboy Hat & Baseball Caps

📌 Important Listener Notes
Join the Community: We want to hear from our female listeners—is the decline in birth rates down to money, or is it a lifestyle choice?
Follow Us: Find us on Instagram @notsochristianbrothers for clips from the studio.
Subscribe: If you enjoy the banter and the deep dives, please hit Follow or Subscribe!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this hard-hitting main show, the Not So Christian Brothers dive into the "Digital Opioid Crisis." A landmark court case against Meta reveals how social media algorithms were allegedly designed to be as addictive as tobacco and opioids, specifically targeting children's mental health. Justin breaks down why a $100 million fine means nothing to a trillion-dollar company and why we are living through a "public health crisis" of the mind.

We also discuss:
The "Sports" Shield: Why do men use football and rugby scores as a way to check in on each other? We explore male tribalism and the indirect way men communicate their well-being.
Tribalism & Belonging: How the "tribal bond" of being a sports fan replaces the communities we’ve lost in modern society.
The Dependency Question: In a rare personal moment, Colm and Justin answer whether they actually depend on each other or if they are just two individuals "stepping up" during a crisis.
Crypto & Castrated Rams: A look back at the start-of-year predictions—from collapsing crypto to the strange reality of farming—and how the world is actually turning out.

📅 New episodes every Thursday & Sunday
🗓️ Release Date: Thursday, 12/02/2026

⏱️ Timings
00:00 – Intro: "Legendary Broadcaster" vs. Just a Human
03:15 – The Secret Language of Men: Why we talk about sports
08:40 – Male Tribalism: Finding your pack in the modern world
14:50 – The Digital Opioid: The landmark lawsuit against Meta
21:13 – Social Media & The US Election: Why the algorithms win
24:56 – Big Tech vs. Big Tobacco: A history of deceptive marketing
31:20 – The Brothers' Bond: Do Colm and Justin depend on each other?
36:25 – Family Dynamics: How brothers vs. sisters communicate
37:00 – Predictions Check: Crypto, Economy, and Castrated Rams

📌 Important Listener Notes
Join the Conversation: Are you addicted to your phone? Does your "tribe" involve sports or something else? Let us know on socials!
Support: Please like, subscribe, and follow on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to support the show.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this revealing After Show, Producer Rebecca puts the brothers on the spot with a "Secret Question" that threatens to tear the podcast apart: "What is the trait you dislike most about each other?" .

The gloves come off as Colm accuses Justin of using "silence as a weapon" to verbally ambush people, while Justin hits back by calling out Colm’s inflated "media ego" and inability to see past himself .

We also discuss:
Sun-bed Traumas: Colm recalls the 90s danger of owning a home sunbed and the fear of getting locked inside one .
Finding Your Wild Side: Colm is desperate to visit a specific Berlin nightclub where they tape over your phone cameras (Rebecca is convinced it’s a (cough) club), while Justin says he has "rinsed" all the wildness out of his system in his 20s .
Tough Love: A raw moment where the brothers discuss navigating grief, with Colm thanking Justin for his "tough love" and support after Anne’s passing .

📅 New episodes every Thursday & Sunday
🗓️ Release Date: Sunday, 08/02/2026

⏱️ Timings
00:00 – Intro: Getting stuck in a Sun-bed in the 90s
01:50 – Wild Side: Colm’s Berlin Nightclub Plan (Is it a (cough) club?)
03:29 – Justin: "I've Rinsed the Wildness Out"
07:19 – The Secret Question: What do you dislike about your brother?
08:11 – Colm on Justin: "You Use Silence as a Weapon"
10:00 – Deep Dive: Grief, Brotherly Love & Tough Love
13:00 – Justin on Colm: "You Have a Media Ego"
14:14 – The Brotherly Verdict: "I Idolised You As A Child"

📌 Important Listener Notes
Context: Listen back to Thursday's main show for the deep dive on Men's Mental Health referenced at the start .
Support: Please like, subscribe, and follow to help us keep these honest conversations going.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode, the Not So Christian Brothers tackle the silent crisis in men's mental health. A shocking new statistic reveals that 71% of men won't tell their employer about a mental health issue for fear of being stigmatized . Colm argues that the workplace is still a hostile environment for honesty, while Justin insists that employers aren't therapists—and shouldn't be expected to be.

We also discuss:
Finding Your Wild Side: From walking barefoot in forests to "wild workouts," the lads debate how to reclaim spontaneity in middle age .
Truffle Hunting: Justin’s bizarre trip to Luxembourg involving foraging pigs (and why Colm thinks you can smoke a truffle) .
The "Wobble" Day: Colm opens up about needing days where he just shuts down to handle his "wobbles" alone, and why that’s okay.
Suicide Stats: A look at the rising suicide rates among men aged 70-74 and the misconceptions about talking to someone in crisis.

📅 New episodes every Thursday & Sunday
🗓️ Release Date: Wednesday, 05/02/2026

⏱️ Timings
00:00 – Intro: Colm’s "Lesbian" Shirt & Gynecology Visit
02:30 – Finding Your Wild Side (Spontaneity vs. Stupidity)
06:40 – Justin’s Truffle Hunting Trip (With Pigs)
10:00 – Facing Your Fears Weekly
12:14 – Colm’s "Wobble" Days & Being Alone
15:30 – Mental Health Deep Dive: Suicide Statistics & Sleep Hygiene
20:12 – The 71% Stat: Why men won't talk to their bosses
24:39 – Justin vs. Colm: Should employers manage mental health?
33:39 – Why asking "How are you?" matters

📌 Important Listener Notes
Support Services: If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please contact Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
Socials: Follow us on Instagram @notsochristianbrothers for clips and updates.
Subscribe: Please like, subscribe, and follow to help us keep these important conversations going.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.