life Archives - The ClearOut

The Anticlimax of Megalopolis, or What Would You Do With Coppola’s Money? – Episode 182

In this episode, Dara is spurred to reflect on Francis Ford Coppola’s latest film, ‘Megalopolis’. In the great master’s wild and not-so-wonderful saga, one brilliant man carries the burden of saving society from itself, but must contend with a rival who epitomises more mundane aspirations. Is the film about Coppola himself, or is it his thesis statement of whose visions are worth following? Whatever about its intention, the execution is an unwieldy mess.

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The Humble Art of Reading the Room, or It’s Not All About You! – Episode 181

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In this episode, Dara shares final thoughts on the US presidential election and speculates that the Democrats still haven’t shaken the patronising habit of belittling those who disagree with them. He argues that if you take this attitude in the world of martial arts, you are setting yourself up to fail – the assumption of superiority is a dangerous flex of ego that can result in complacency and abdicated diligence.

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You Have It So Easy! Resentment, Ease, and Reaching for the Good – Episode 176

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In this episode, Dara considers the elements that contribute to our resentment buckets and shoulder chips. He believes time and the ease of others are two key ingredients in the mix. He confesses to giving voice to some very uncharitable resentfulness around the time he became a father. He also speaks carefully around a significant source of resentment in his marriage.

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

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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.

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

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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?

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

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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.

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

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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.

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

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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…?

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Unifying Events, Sensible Ripples, and What If Trump Had Been Taken Out? – Episode 165

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In this episode Dara is looking at two significant news stories from the big nations to Ireland’s east and west. At the weekend just gone, Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate and bete noire of liberals and humane humans everywhere, survived an assassination attempt. In Germany not long afterwards, England’s national football team contested the final of the EURO 2024 tournament, and lost.

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The Existential Toolkit to Approaching the Unknown – Episode 164

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In this episode, Dara is wondering about what comes next. We can never truly know what lies in the future so how do we cope with that uncertainty? Are we willing to step into the unknown without the security of a plan? Do we trust we have the resources to deal with what we find?

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life

The Anticlimax of Megalopolis, or What Would You Do With Coppola’s Money? – Episode 182

The Humble Art of Reading the Room, or It’s Not All About You! – Episode 181

You Have It So Easy! Resentment, Ease, and Reaching for the Good – Episode 176

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

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

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

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

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

Unifying Events, Sensible Ripples, and What If Trump Had Been Taken Out? – Episode 165

The Existential Toolkit to Approaching the Unknown – Episode 164

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