The Pebble Girl: Interview with Author, Artist, and Abuse Survivor, Aisling Creegan Part 1 – Episode 58
Dara presents the first of two parts of an in-depth interview with author, artist, and abuse survivor, Aisling Creegan.
identity
Dispensable White Men, or Who’s Coming to Replace Me? – Episode 52
In this episode Dara thought he was going to keep it light and stay firmly in the positive psychology territory of inspirational quotes and personal motivation, but he ended up being led by the recent mass shooting in Buffalo to look at the ideologies of hate and division that are currently enjoying a disturbing level of popularity amongst certain demographics.
Dispensable White Men, or Who’s Coming to Replace Me? – Episode 52 Read More »
The Attraction of Protagonists: Three Singular Selves on Screen – Episode 46
In this episode Dara reflects on a recent conversation he had about where and in what way the self should feature in the pursuit of happiness. One argument emphasises total immersion in self as a mode of psychic excavation and rebuilding, whereas an alternative, more Eastern approach, is a wilful eradication of self as the pathway to radical acceptance of what is. Neither is easily achieved, but the discussion is worth having.
The Attraction of Protagonists: Three Singular Selves on Screen – Episode 46 Read More »
The Fallible Smotherboard and the Fear of Being Seen – Episode 24
In this episode, Dara discovers the word ‘haecceity’, which stems from the Latin word for ‘thisness’, and is used to describe the quality that makes a thing or a person uniquely themselves. He argues that this is something we cannot hide, no matter what we do.
The Fallible Smotherboard and the Fear of Being Seen – Episode 24 Read More »
The Unloved Child, or Wielding the Blade of Creation – Episode 23
In this episode, Dara is inspired by Denis Villeneuve’s Bladerunner 2049 to go on a wide-ranging exploration of identity, consciousness and origin. He wonders if the leaders of Big Tech inspired Jared Leto’s portrayal of the designer in the Villeneuve movie before asking what level of thought and feeling is possible for AI entities.
The Unloved Child, or Wielding the Blade of Creation – Episode 23 Read More »
Walking in the Shadow and Keeping her Light – Episode 21
In this episode Dara stays firmly in mental health territory and discusses at length our fear of the dark side of ourselves. He talks about the unexpressed and the uncomfortable and argues for disciplined, non-hysterical acceptance of the parts of ourselves that make us turn away.
Walking in the Shadow and Keeping her Light – Episode 21 Read More »
Big Bad Daddies! From Tony Soprano to My Father in Several Easy Steps – Episode 20
In this episode Dara explores the American father as captured in TV sensations The Sopranos and Breaking Bad. He also looks at Arthur Miller’s theatre masterworks Death of a Salesman and All My Sons before briefly visiting old Hollywood depictions of idealised fathers, both with and without collars!
Big Bad Daddies! From Tony Soprano to My Father in Several Easy Steps – Episode 20 Read More »
The Thrum of the Machine, or The Beautiful Irreducibility of Character – Episode 19
In this episode Dara explores the concept of character and how its uncovering might lie at the heart of true strength, happiness and resilience. He places it in firm counterpoint to the litany of reductive names, labels and titles and other identifiers we have put on us. That prompts a reflection on the tyranny of the word ‘Mother’.
The Thrum of the Machine, or The Beautiful Irreducibility of Character – Episode 19 Read More »
Such big feelings!, or Learning masculinity from the movies – Episode 18
In this episode Dara asks the question – what movies really do it for you? Before giving his own answer, he explores the types of masculinity that he has been attracted to on the big screen since he was a child. From the days of Spencer Tracy, through the Star Wars and Indiana Jones era, to the modern emotional landscape of ‘men’s movies’, he covers a lot of ground and a lot of movies that all capture a certain type of bruised masculinity.
Such big feelings!, or Learning masculinity from the movies – Episode 18 Read More »
Wake up and smell the Rousseaus – Episode 07
In this week’s episode, I wade into the murky waters of identity politics and woke culture. The stepping off point is a lovely podcast I was listening to that raised a few different points of discussion in my head. Movies and casting are discussed, as well as giving offence, protecting ourselves, identity and representation, and
Wake up and smell the Rousseaus – Episode 07 Read More »