Podcast Archives - Page 5 of 21

If You’ve Nothing Good to Say, Maybe Think About Shutting Up! – Episode 161

In this hot and bothered episode, Dara tries to address the issue of racism in Ireland in the wake of the hate and racist abuse directed at Rhadisat Adeleke last week after her triumphant performances at the European Athletics Championships. A topic covered on the show before around the Emer O'Neill/Tommy Tiernan story, it seems to need speaking about again.

Character Identification and a New Short Story: David Has Been Great – Episode 160

In this episode, Dara reads a short story that is new to the listener but not to him. The story has a female protagonist and when he shared it with a female friend a few years ago, he was told that not all women felt the same way as the character he'd written. In reply he said he'd never thought that would be the case.

What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 5 – Episode 159

In this final part of his series on masculinity, Dara tries to bring things to a reasonable end. He talks about his lifelong attempt to embody a particular type of masculinity that was a direct response to sexist and reductive attitudes to men that he was exposed to in youth and early adulthood.

What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 4 – Episode 158

In the fourth part of his series on masculinity, Dara tries to point out the hierarchical nature of masculinity when the idea of manhood is being discussed. The legacy of Western European colonial domination has resulted in the idealisation of white, straight, middle class masculinity. In other words, for many people when they're asked to consider men and masculinity, they will default to the aforementioned model. But where does that leave other iterations and expressions of masculinity?

What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 3 – Episode 157

In this lachrymose episode and further exploration of masculinity, Dara is talking about the benefits of crying. He confesses to being a crier anyway, easily shedding tears over any number of things, but goes on to share an extremely recent loss that knocked him sideways with the tears it provoked. He argues that there is a ranking system that qualifies the when and how much of crying.

What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 2 – Episode 156

Continuing his exploration of masculinity and maleness, Dara turns his gaze to movies and how men's stories, especially but not exclusively, straight men's stories have played out on screen. He looks at three totems of masculinity as the main discussion points - potency, violence, and morality.

What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 1 – Episode 155

Dara knew when he started recording this one that one episode was never going to cut it. So it is only the beginning of a conversation about being a man and trying to unpack what constitutes a man.

Caring Enough to Act, or Do I Really Need to Laugh at That? – Episode 154

In this episode, Dara has an update on the fox situation at Hashtag Blessed and admits he views the surviving chickens differently since last week’s attack. Is it just him, or do they seem to be grieving?

Life Interrupted, the Comfort of the Familiar, and the Dangerous Habits of Avoidance – Episode 153

In this episode, Dara is reflecting on the overnight passing of two of the animal members of the Hashtag Blessed family. It reminds him of a key moment from the iconic TV show The Sopranos which centred on the idea of a changing world that couldn't be controlled. The idea of chaos and disorder prompting a desire for control feels like a very present concern.

How To Make a Raspberry Cheesecake – From the Kitchen to a Religious Sect to 90s Hollywood Misogyny – Episode 152

Dara begins this episode by sharing his go-to recipe for making cheesecake, raspberry cheesecake, specifically. Don't ask why - it just felt like the right thing to do. Perhaps he was trying to flaunt his 'new man' credentials in advance of discussing male attitudes to high-profile, successful women in the not-so-distant past.

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If You’ve Nothing Good to Say, Maybe Think About Shutting Up! – Episode 161

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Character Identification and a New Short Story: David Has Been Great – Episode 160

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What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 5 – Episode 159

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What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 4 – Episode 158

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What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 3 – Episode 157

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What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 2 – Episode 156

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What Is a Man, Anyway? Part 1 – Episode 155

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Caring Enough to Act, or Do I Really Need to Laugh at That? – Episode 154

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Life Interrupted, the Comfort of the Familiar, and the Dangerous Habits of Avoidance – Episode 153

Read More »

How To Make a Raspberry Cheesecake – From the Kitchen to a Religious Sect to 90s Hollywood Misogyny – Episode 152

Read More »

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