In this episode Dara is looking into the void and trying not to feel frightened. Thinking about the construction of identity and personality, he is curious about how comfortable or not we are with what lies beneath. He asks if you can handle being left alone with yourself.
A Hat is Not a Personality, or The Fear of Not Being There – Episode 123 Read More »
In this episode, Dara goes on a deep dive into Peter Ustinov’s 1962 film of Herman Melville’s Billy Budd. He recalls being struck by Terence Stamp’s remarkable performance and beauty when he first saw it over 25 years ago. A naval setting provides the battleground for innocence vs evil, but what was most memorable to Dara was the gay subtext and the grim denouement that it provoked.
Billy Budd, Russell Brand, and the Dark Corners of Male Desire – Episode 122 Read More »
In this episode, Dara argues that in the process of ‘othering’, many are guilty of thinking only in monolithic terms, i.e. attributing unchanging characteristics to all members of the othered party. This reduces people to stereotypes and cliches, and robs them of both their individuality and the presumption of no bias. He wonders if this isn’t a huge part of the problem with discourse around identity politics, woke culture and gender wars.
Why You Shouldn’t Bring an Axe to a Party, or How to Sit Down with Others – Episode 121 Read More »
In this episode, Dara responds to a confronting conversation about the podcast that raised issues of self-worth, purpose, and the validity of the podcast itself. He looks at the specific criticism levelled at the show and what he does on it and makes a case for the defence. In a broader sense he looks at situations of personal conflict and how to remove emotion from the equation in order to view things more dispassionately.
Critical Reaction and the Bestowal of Credibility – Episode 120 Read More »
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