In this episode, Dara confesses to having had a very teary twenty-four hours. But what could have caused him to weep like a baby?
Hand Me a Tissue, Somebody Just Scored a Goal! – Episode 229 Read More »
Embattled by consecutive migraines, Dara is reckoning with a system under pressure. He attempts to own the state he’s in while advocating for a deeper connection with what lies beneath all the turbulence. This line of enquiry leads to thoughts on observing a month’s mind for Pepper, the family dog. A phrase used by the Venerable Bede in relation to that tradition inspired a new poem, which is shared.
What Are We Looking For? Warm Blood and Sensory Connection! – Episode 220 Read More »
In this episode, Dara admits to being a bit exhausted after moving house for the fifth time since the pandemic. It is not the most fun he has ever had and the ongoing grief ripples over Pepper the dog are adding to the load. However, the glass is (probably) half-full and at least the nickname for the new home has come very quickly and easily.
Reaching for the Tourniquet, or How to Stop the Bleeding – Episode 218 Read More »
In this episode Dara is stepping carefully as he negotiates a painfully recent family tragedy – the sudden death of Pepper, the beloved family dog. Still too soon to fully unpack the depth of his grief, he nonetheless attempts to convey Pepper’s importance and unique brand of loveliness.
Puppy Love – A Good Time, Not a Long Time – Episode 216 Read More »
This year’s Christmas story is about a father who finds himself incapable of giving up on his missing child, even though it feels like a lost cause. You can hear my reading of the story on the Christmas Special episode of the podcast.
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.
What’s So Great About It? – The Dubious Value of Nostalgia – Episode 169 Read More »
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.
In this episode Dara shares his experience of a recent family funeral that seemed to succeed in channelling a profound communal expression of love and grief. Because of his role in the service, he had to wait to express his own feelings.
Notes From a Funeral, or The Power of the Collective Experience – Episode 86 Read More »
You’re There It is dark but I feel your hand on me. I hear you breathing as your fingers rest gently on my arm. I lie beside you and do not want to move. This nothing touch is nothing you are capable of any other time. Its rarity moves me. Sometimes I chase this flicker
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