In this episode Dara reviews some recently watched movies, including William Friedkin’s To Live and Die in LA (1985), and Sidney Lumet’s Prince of the City (1981), two much-lauded cop thrillers that each have their strengths and weaknesses and are very much products of their time.
July Miscellany! Movies, Weddings, and Reading the Signs – Episode 114 Read More »
In this episode, Dara’s aged cat has gone to the toilet in the wrong place, and the cause is not feline terrorism but dementia and disorientation. The loss of bearings is a very difficult thing to negotiate because it can result in dislocation. Dara argues that as fundamentally relational beings, we need landmarks and touchstones to position ourselves in the world.
The Importance of Orientation, or Why the Loss of Bearings is No Joke! – Episode 113 Read More »
In this episode, Dara talks about the affection for survival narratives and considers the respective legacies of the recently deceased singers and songwriters Tina Turner and Christy Dignam. He wonders whether we should be defined by what we’ve overcome in life. He also questions the value of legacy and argues for the need to be more concerned with our present-tense impact.
Survival, Transcendence, and the Myth of Whatever Doesn’t Kill You – Episode 108 Read More »
In this episode, Dara shares the realisation that he is not goal-oriented. He is all about the process. It’s not the destination, it’s the journey, man! He argues for the stabilising properties of having a process in place and tries to understand why it is that stability appeals so much.
The Process Before The Prize: The Qualitative Approach to Life – Episode 106 Read More »
In this episode Dara looks at the idea of safety as a keystone of wellness. In particular he concentrates on environmental and interpersonal safety. This pertains to the places we live and the people we share our lives with. Are they safe? How do we understand and recognise safety? And why is it so important, anyway?
Safety First! – The Benefits of Safe Places, Safe People, and a Safe You – Episode 105 Read More »
In this, the 100th episode of the show, Dara permits himself a stocktake. He reaffirms the recurring themes he has continued to weave through the podcast and examines what wellness with attitude means.
In this episode, prompted by Spike Lee’s He Got Game (1998), Dara examines his convictions as a parent, and recalls how an ill-fated Irish journalist helped him get comfortable with the idea of becoming a father to a daughter. He identifies a pillar of his parenting approach that he hopes he will manage to keep intact. He also looks at the idea of gender-neutral parenting, something he tries to adopt with his daughter.
In this episode, Dara examines the centrality of heart to his own personal philosophy. He recognises that his concept of the metaphorical heart is suffused with his natural idealism, and how that can lead him into situations where he can be easily wounded. He argues against the interpretation of open-heartedness being equal to naivete.
In this episode Dara finds himself concerned about the upcoming FIFA world cup in Qatar. What blind eyes were turned and what palms greased to award the tournament to such an unlikely host nation? Footballers heading to the competition want to express their reservations about human rights abuses and the exploitation of workers, but FIFA wants them to ‘stick to football’.
Speaking From the Heart: Three Righteous Preacher Men – Episode 78 Read More »
A mental health-focused episode partly inspired by Blindboy Boatclub’s ongoing commitment to sharing his own mental health and wellness journey.
Heading Fear Off at the Pass, or Oh No, Not Another Catastrophe! – Episode 77 Read More »
Copyright © 2024 The ClearOut, All rights reserved.