Podcast Archives - Page 3 of 20

Too Old for This S**t, or Try Harder, You Silver Foxes! – Episode 175

In this episode, Dara shares his gripes about the utterly mediocre buddy movie Wolfs, starring George Clooney and Brad Pitt as two fixers reluctantly obliged to work together through a night of yuk-filled capers (SPOILER: THERE ARE NO YUKS!). The film is an ode to laziness, self-satisfaction, complacency and vanity, and has the gall to pay tribute in its final shot to a truly great buddy movie of yesteryear, the inference clearly being that Clooney and Pitt are a contemporary equivalent of two past greats. No such luck.

How Does That Sound? – Testing Opposing Belief Systems – Episode 174

In this episode, Dara reflects on a weekend spent with an old friend and his resultant fatigue, both psychological and intellectual. It prompts an interrogation of his belief and value systems and whether they are more or less valid than those of his friend's. He argues that it is healthy, and perhaps even necessary, to have someone you regard challenge you with love.

What Do You Do If You See a Space, Man? – Episode 173

This episode is all about the presence of absence. How are your comfort levels with empty space and dead air? Do you struggle when the void isn't filled with something to stimulate? And more importantly, with what do you fill empty spaces and awkward silences?

Things Living and Dead, or The Strange Inertia of Nicole Kidman’s Upper Lip – Episode 172

In this episode, Dara is looking for a pulse. After he and his daughter watched Adam Sandler's 2004 romcom, 50 First Dates, Dara was reminded why he wasn't a fan of the comedian's factory line movies - there were too many moments and gags that were completely devoid of life.

Readings from Brando and Durcan – Slimy Slugs and Penile Compasses! – Episode 171

A very simple and straightforward episode this week - Dara reads a lengthy unabridged extract from Marlon Brando's autobiography - Songs My Mother Taught Me, published in 1994. Brando's voice is frank and accessible and he shares his thoughts on acting, fame, and various female lovers during the time of his emergence as America's most captivating actor. He also speaks about being a damaged child and the difficulty he had trying to shake off feelings of worthlessness.

Assembling the Broke Existentialist Army, or Who I Am is Who my Child Is! – Episode 170

In this episode, prompted by his cat and dog, Dara is considering the idea of essentialism. He talks about core dispositions and the perennial pitching of nature against nurture. He argues that there is very little that is not in the mix when it comes to how our identities emerge. He shares his thoughts about his daughter on this stage of her journey and wonders about her essential leaning.

What’s So Great About It? – The Dubious Value of Nostalgia – Episode 169

For the second time in the show's history, Dara is considering the questionable value of nostalgia. While allowing that there are wellness benefits to understanding the connection between nostalgia and loss, and the stark reality of nostalgia's relationship to ageing, there is something offensive about a particular brand of generalised nostalgia that regularly raises its unoriginal head on social media.

Yes, Chef! – The Brilliance of The Bear – Episode 168

In this episode, Dara doesn't know whether to eat the food or make love to it. He talks about all three seasons of The Bear, the brilliant TV show depicting the trials and tribulations of genius chef Carmen Berzatto and the colourful people who populate his messy, damaged world. Like the extraordinary food that leaves viewers in a state of mouthwatering wonder, the other elements of the show are beautifully sourced, prepped and composed.

Set Down Your Honourable Load – Finding the Clear Path Ahead – Episode 167

In this episode, Dara is reflecting on the good fortune of finding a new place to live, but he is wondering how to refer to The ClearOut's new home. His daughter has rejected his suggestions so far as being 'too cringe'. Hashtag Blessed is no more! What to call the new abode...?

Horizon, Other Recent Movie Turkeys, and Recommended Alternatives – Episode 166

In this episode Dara is giving out about recent bad movies, and not the 'so bad they're good' kind. Kevin Costner's Western opus Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 starts the party with its bloated scale, turgid pacing, and on-the-nose representations of archetypal stories and characters. Far too earnest and self-serious, Dara recommends at least half a dozen alternatives, including Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate and Costner's own Open Range.

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Latest Episodes

Too Old for This S**t, or Try Harder, You Silver Foxes! – Episode 175

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How Does That Sound? – Testing Opposing Belief Systems – Episode 174

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What Do You Do If You See a Space, Man? – Episode 173

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Things Living and Dead, or The Strange Inertia of Nicole Kidman’s Upper Lip – Episode 172

Read More »

Readings from Brando and Durcan – Slimy Slugs and Penile Compasses! – Episode 171

Read More »

Assembling the Broke Existentialist Army, or Who I Am is Who my Child Is! – Episode 170

Read More »

What’s So Great About It? – The Dubious Value of Nostalgia – Episode 169

Read More »

Yes, Chef! – The Brilliance of The Bear – Episode 168

Read More »

Set Down Your Honourable Load – Finding the Clear Path Ahead – Episode 167

Read More »

Horizon, Other Recent Movie Turkeys, and Recommended Alternatives – Episode 166

Read More »

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