Naoise and I talk wellness, the Irish language, nurturing our inner world and bringing that light to our communities. Naoise is a certified yoga teacher who brings techno, togetherness and technique to her practice and is developing her strengths through various exciting projects like Tabhair Aire - which means "Give care" or "Take care". Since recording, Naoise has also become an Image Magazine columnist! Her energy and eagerness to teach is truly beautiful. I was lucky enough to be invited to join in on one of her classes recently and it was a pleasure to stretch, breathe and laugh together. Her words weave in the Irish wisdom into everything she does. Gach rath ort, a chara - Every success on you, friend! I am so excited to see where else your passion will take you, and I'm thrilled to be collaborating with you in future magic :)

Find @YogaleNaoise and @TabhairAire.ie on instagram to find out more about events, workshops and opportunities to learn with Naoise.

Colm was born and raised in Clondalkin, Dublin, and attended Naíonra Chrónáin, Scoil Chrónáin & Coláiste Chillian. Colm's love for the language grew after spending time in East Timor, teaching English. East Timor is a multilingual country and experiencing that got him asking why we make such a song and dance about bilingualism in Ireland! When he came home he studied communications and worked with the Irish language newspapers Lá and Gaelscéal. He now works in the non-profit  sector. While he was working in journalism he started writing about myths we often hear about the Irish language, that it's a dead language, etc. He later developed that into a Mythbusting campaign with Conradh na Gaeilge which has included a TedX Talk and other public talks, articles in the Irish Times and Journal.ie, interviews on Raidió na Gaeltachta, Raidió na Life, Raidió Fáilte, RTÉ Radio 1 and BBC Radio and YouTube videos. He believes these myths have a real, negative effect on the Irish language and that is the main reason for the campaign. 

Deconstructing Myths about the Irish Language | Colm Ó Broin | TEDxBallyroanLibrary

Dr. Mamobo Ogoro is a Social Psychologist, Scholar, Broadcaster and multi-award winning social entrepreneur. Mamobo’s PhD research focused on migrant identity and how systems of inclusion and exclusion impact belonging for migrant communities. As a result, she founded, and acts as the CEO of GORM, an award winning social enterprise on a mission to unify across differences and advance belonging for marginalised communities through intercultural media and education. Mamobo is an avid conversationalist and sits as the youngest presenter on NewstalkFM , hosting the show ‘Younified’. Mamobo has been heralded for her work with GORM on countless occasions. In 2024 she was listed as the first Echoing Green Fellow in Ireland (Previous fellows include Michelle Obama and Van Jones), and most recently won “Female Entrepreneur of the Year” Award in the South Dublin Local Enterprise Office Award 2025. Mamobo spends most of her time working with organisations around the world, helping them develop intercultural leaders.

Bainigí taitneamh as an eipeasóid iontach seo - Enjoy this excellent episode!

Find Mamobo on instagram and

check out her project, Gorm:

@mamobo96

@gormmedia

“It’s starts with you”

“It’s a dial, not a lightswitch”

We talk about the power of positivity in integration and the spark that comes from within - of curiosity to change.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara

Thanks a million, friend

Blue Niall (@blue_niall_) is a rapper, music producer, artist and designer from Dublin. His work has been featured by DUMMY Magazine, District Magazine, Nialler9, Polyester Magazine, Hot Press and RTÉ. Niall’s work uses Celtic Mythology to explore modern Ireland and point to a future for a country in flux. His new project Oisín is focused on the experience of a returning emigrant to Ireland, and involves a retelling of the legend of Tír na nÓg. The first single “New Celtic Flow”, was premiered on Dearfxch TV Youtube channel and featured Celaviedmai. He runs a fortnightly show called Athbheochan on Dublin Digital Radio and music fundraising events of the same name. Niall's memes are also a cutting commentary on modern-day Ireland, weaving culture, history, language and music with his signature humourous, clever, original style.

Bainigí taitneamh as an eipeasóid iontach seo - Enjoy this excellent episode! Grma, a chara - Thank you, friend!

Episode 32:

Daragh Fleming is a poet, writer, and mental health advocate from Cork, Ireland. With a background in psychology and linguistics, his work explores themes of identity, vulnerability, and resilience. He has published multiple poetry collections—including Notes For A Mid-Youth Crisis and Enigmatic—alongside fiction and non-fiction titles such as Lonely Boy. His writing has appeared in journals like Southword, Crannóg, and Paris Lit Up, and he’s received several accolades, including the From The Well Short Story Prize. A passionate mental health advocate, Daragh is the founder of the blog Thoughts Too Big, works with charities like A Lust For Life and See Change, and is a powerful TEDx speaker.

Exploring different media, Daragh continues to use creativity as a tool for connection and change.

Find Daragh on instagram:

@daraghfleming

We talk about the loss and recall of our sense of home, our connection with our language, and Daragh’s journey from pain to purpose.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara

Thanks a million, friend

Brinsley takes us through whimsical, wild, weird stories and happenings around our island of Ireland. Thanks a million, Brinsley - it was an absolute pleasure to talk to you! Highly recommend Brinsley's book which you can find here linktr.ee/weirdireland or celebrate and support McNamara's work here buymeacoffee.com/weirdireland

Míle buíochas, a chara - A thousand gratitude, friend

Dane Buckley is the world’s only Irish, Indian, gay comedian… probably! An award-winning comedian and writer, he delivers his comedy effortlessly with cheeky charm and camp mischief.

Dane burst onto the comedy circuit in 2022, after a fulfilling career in charity work and social care, making a name for himself by winning Gong Shows and was a finalist in LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year (2022), British Comedian of the Year (2024) and BBC New Comedy Awards (2024).

Whether it’s stories of his early years – Irish mammies, Indian grannies, and rebel priests – or his career in social care – chasing pensioners through Paris or delivering a baby impromptu – audiences across the UK are enjoying Dane’s hilarious and heart-warming tales.

Dane has supported Deirdre Kane, My Therapist Ghosted Me, Tom Allen and Rosie Jones on Tour, has been featured on Comedy Central, BBC THREE and BBC ONE and is a regular on the club and festival circuit.

Dane co-hosts the podcast Welcome to Hell which debuted in the top 10 charts of both Apple and Spotify and has gained a loyal following. Together with Daniel Foxx, the Infernal Aunties judge outrageous confessions, celebrate the salacious and revel in a good old-fashioned gossip.

In this conversation, we touch on the pilgrimage it takes to get closer to the heart of Ireland, and what it means to be Irish, learn Irish and speak Irish. Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara! Thanks a million, friend! Ba phleisiúr ollmhór é! It was a huge pleasure :)

Find Dane's podcast and shows on instagram page:

@danecomedian

Aoife Lowden is a guide and facilitator of courses, ceremonies, and gatherings which aim to support in building relationship rooted in land-based ancestral wisdom.

Aoife works as a voice for the more-than-human world. Through story, song and healing ceremony, she weaves together ancestral wisdom and lived-mythology to bring forth an embodied experience of ancient druidic spirituality in the present moment today.

Weaving the old with the new - Aoife creates spaces rooted in wild & ancient wisdom, whilst allowing the space for our emerging culture to come through and evolve.

Aoife founded Leigheas Dé Danann where she weaves offerings inspired by the ancient lands of Éire and Alba, often in collaboration with her community.

Aoife's own journey began with being born into a sick society, born into a council estate on the foothills of the Dublin mountains - never too far from the land but also deeply disconnected and surrounded by depression, desolation, poverty, addiction - and as a result, and a very sick community. Through this environment like a flower through the crack in the concrete, she grew to become resilient and hyper-aware of the change needed in this world - being directly impacted by the very sick and traumatised culture we have all inherited.

Living in a Tír na nÓg dimension, on a pure mission, Aoife talks about repairing this world by being a guide, a catalyst for remembering who we are and how we all have this fire inside us.

Onóir ollmhór caint leat, a chara - Huge honour to talk to you, friend.

Go raibh míle maith agat - Thanks a million

Míle buíochas, mo laoch! Many thanks, my hero.

Dian weaves together her experience and research from an illustrious career in Nonviolent Communication (NVC) & Transformative Coaching, an academic vocation focused on Classical Rhetoric, Applied Linguistics and Critical/Narrative Theory, and a lifelong passion for Irish Studies. Dian's Master of Philosophy degree at Trinity College, Dublin was in Anglo-Irish Literature in Cultural-Historical Contexts. Her PhD culminated in research on The Nation’s Other: The Construction of Irish National Identity in the Context of British Colonialism and Emigration. Dian has been an NVC trainer for 20 years, working with organisations such as Americorp, Cornell University, and the U.N. Development program. She co/wrote two popular NVC books, including Connecting across Differences and Urban Empathy: True Life Adventures of Compassion on the Streets of New York. She is also an award-winning writer, musician, and singer-songwriter who loves visual art and has a great talent for photography, drawing and print-making.The Irish language continues to surprise, inspire and delight Dian. Join Dian and her growing, visionary community at The Gaelic Effect where she explores

• Language and how it impacts how we see and relate to the world

• Beauty and draíocht (magic, wonder and awe)

• Solace, inspiration and companionship) in these liminal, uncertain times

• Hope for what’s possible: what we are truly capable of as human beings—at our best

  Find The Gaelic Effect: How the Irish language can save the world, and the GaelStack here: https://diankillian.substack.com/

Enjoy the conversation! Beir bua! (Grab victory)

Breandán is an inspirational, rising TikTok star in the Gaeltok, who is ensuring that Gaeilge has its place on the global app. My favourite creator on Tiktok by far! He believes that the accessibility of TikTok and its high usage among our youth is key to the revitalisation of our beautiful language. He brings us right back to his school days in Athenry where he was immersed in the language in his youth and how that has had such a positive effect on his love for the language today. Breandán's energy is refreshing as he avidly believes that Irish should be spoken as a living, thriving language as opposed to getting caught up on "cruinneas" or rigid accuracy. This bilingual conversation includes acúpla focal (a couple of words) as they naturally weave through our conversation. This effortless shift between the languages is representative of Breandán's relaxed, innate approach to Irish. He speaks to me about his complicated relationship with An Caighdeán (The Standard) and how it was something he had to learn to navigate during his time in DCU studying Irish at university level. Breandán is a fun, practical advocate for Irish language but he is adamant that he is not a Garda na Gaeilge (language guard) and rather, a person who is speaking and living our language by choice. Breandán warmly reminds us, "remember - it doesn't have to be cruinn, it just has to be Irish!" Absolutely loved chatting to you, a chara! Míle buíochas! Many thanks! I encourage you all to check out Breandán on Tiktok @gaelscoilis

Aislinn and I talk about the genre of horror and its social purpose, cultural trauma that is hard to articulate, her work, her interests and the future of filmmaking in Irish. We explore the fun-loving outward face of the Irish and the inward heart which is thwarted with pain.

“A good story will always carry anyway - regardless of the language. It wasn’t a barrier to me that people would have to read subtitles”

Aislinn has just been nominated as an IFTA Rising Star! Comhghairdeas agus tuillte go maith agat! Congratulations and well-deserved.

Go raibh míle maith agat as an gcomhrá! Thanks a million for the conversation!

Find Aislinn on instagram: @thewirelessgirl

Go raibh míle, a Sheáin - Thanks a million, Seán. It was brilliant to explore these themes with you. We touch on the enlightening and awakening Gaeilge Revival in all things music, language, culture, and dúchas - a deep sense of respect and honour for heritage.

Seán Mulrooney’s shift into solo artistry represents a deeply personal evolution, blending his Irish psychedelic folk roots with universal themes of justice, empathy, and healing. Known as the frontman of Tau & the Drones of Praise, he now steps forward with his debut solo album, This Is My Prayer.  Mulrooney’s artistic achievements include winning the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe Lustrum Award with his sister, Dee Mulrooney (another podcast guest I was privileged to host), for their acclaimed performance of Growler.

This new chapter began with the release of "No Two Sides" in December 2023, a haunting track addressing the Palestinian genocide. The song resonated widely, reaching No. 7 on the iTunes charts and sparking a shift in Mulrooney’s creative direction. Alongside this, he founded Ómós Records in 2023, based in Ireland, with the label’s first release being This Is My Prayer, due out February 2025. Launching his album at Whelan's in one month! 15th February

The album emerged from a transformative period of solitude in early 2024 when Mulrooney, following a breakup, retreated to a cabin in Wicklow and wrote six songs in February. Exploring themes of love, heartache, and personal power, the album blends dense Irish folk elements with worldly and otherworldly influences, including a whimsical track about dolphins getting high on pufferfish tetrodotoxin. Recorded with longtime collaborator Earl Harvin of Tindersticks, This Is My Prayer is a spiritually charged, raw, and heartfelt embodiment of Mulrooney’s artistic growth. As he puts it, “If not now, when?”

Find Seán on instagram:

@seanmulrooneymusic

@tauandthedronesofpraise

https://www.omosrecords.com/

Tau & the Drones of Praisehttps://linktr.ee/tauandthedronesofpraise

Episode 24: Meet Ross - tour guide, culture and history content creator, podcaster This conversation will propel you into the new year with curiosity, inspiration and pride. Ross’s generous and upbeat attitude is a breath of fresh air. “One of the originals” as I call him, he brings aspects of Irish culture and history to his global audience, fuelling his feed with clever, quirky facts about our island’s culture, our language and our heritage. Ross has a huge interest in local history and shares it with passion and a palpable excitement which simultaneously informs and impresses us. Ross, your voice is an important one in our cultural revival.

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara! Thanks a million, friend! Bhain mé an-taitneamh as ár gcomhrá - I really enjoyed our conversation. Is laoch thú - You're a legend. Find Ross on instagram @talktoross

Episode 23: David Keoghan - Stone Lifter "It started off as just lifting a stone but now it has lifted a whole part of our culture! It's not just a stone, it's a story."

My esteemed guest, David Keoghan, is the proud Waterford man, a world-champion kettle bell athlete, rediscovering his pride and passion in the Irish language, and leading a revival of bringing back a whole culture of Celtic stone lifting. This is a fascinating story connected to Irish mythology, an ancient important ritual, such an integral part of Irish life which was practically deserted. David's message of "Fill ar do dhúchas" - Return to your heritage, is resonating with people who are becoming aware of this connection. It's back and it's alive! David is leading groups who are keen to connect with the land, the ancestry, sacred sites, and their Gaelic soul. David is also relearning the bodhrán and the banjo, and his inspiring energy will give you an ardú croí heart lift!

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara! Thanks a million, friend! Bhain mé an-taitneamh as ár gcomhrá - I really enjoyed our conversation. Is laoch thú - You're a legend. Find David on instagram @_indiana_stones_ Support David and the movement here: patreon.com/Irishstoneliftingandresearch

Abi and I touch on the hilarious, haunting and heartwarming aspects of growing a creative business online, and her chaotic but highly productive capacity to generate ideas and transform them into sellable art and viral videos, which works seamlessly thanks to her organised, efficient other half, Audrey.

There is an increased consciousness of buying Irish, and buying from small family-run businesses and Abi and Audrey are a wonderful example of a hard-working, values-driven, compatible partners who clearly care about what they do, as do their loyal and growing customer base.

We are not only enjoying Abi's artistic output, but she is also a rising comedic star, displaying some hard and painful truths about the Irish psyche, giving the simple advice:

"The best remedy comes from the harsh Irish mother to make you pull your pants up".

Their well-known Jesus Christ calendar, which was embroiled in a scurrilous scandal (!) is a comment on vernacular. We discuss the concept of blasphemy, and the unique relationship the Irish have with humour and laughter being a gift from God.

Absolutely loved chatting to you, a chara (friend).

Míle buíochas! Many thanks :)

I encourage you all to check out www.weirdwatercolours.com for beautiful quality, funny Christmas gifts :)

@weird_watercolours on Instagram

My guest this week, Caoimhín, is a talented musician, an Irish Language advocate, a creative storyteller and a gentle soul, as his name "Caoimhín" suggests. In this soothing episode, Caoimhín takes us from his childhood all the way into his adult life where the common denominator was, and still is, music. He is a gifted traditional musician and plays various instruments including the banjo, flute and fiddle. Caoimhín adores traditional Irish music and he claims he enjoyed it even when it wasn't as cool as it is today! Despite his love and respect for the music in its traditional form, he has been known to add a kick drum or a sub base to ancient Irish songs as seen in his latest single, Bímse féin ag iascaireacht. The complex layer of trance and dance which he adds to the music has allowed him to preserve Irish music while adding to it, which he believes is a beautiful way to modernise and have fun with traditional components of our music. Caoimhín is a Gaeilgeoir but highlights the importance of lifelong learning and even shares some innovative tips and tricks on how to practise and incorporate the language into everyday life. This episode is not to be missed - I thoroughly enjoyed my chat with Caoimhín. Be sure to follow Caoimhín on Instagram at @caoimhinceol to keep up to date with his latest projects. Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara - Thank you, friend. Ba mhór an pléisiúr é - It was a great pleasure!

#20 Ryan Dixon - Lakota Name: Taṡuƞka Wakiƞyaƞ Watogla (Wild Thunder Horse) is an inspiring Native American Educator and Indigenous Language Activist who has been teaching and coaching the Dakota Language since 2012. He has co-founded C̣aƞṡayapi Waḳaƞyeża Owayawa Oti- Lower Sioux Headstart and Early Headstart and drives the language movement forward with his community projects, leadership teams, competitions and innovative educational development. We talk about language loss, the revitalisation projects underway, the current status of Lakota and Dakota, colonisation, decolonisation, and hope for the future. Find Ryan on instagram @tasunka.wakinyan to learn more

Eimear is Chosen Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. She is a Storyteller and a Psychologist. She has a deep love of the ancient Irish tales and has a passion for storytelling. In this conversation we talk about the healing power of nature, Eimear's earth-based exploration, her growing community, thin places and thin times.

Eimear loves to weave in song and the harp into her stories. She particularly enjoys showing people the sacred sites of Ireland and telling the ancient tales right where they happened.

Eimear has private practice as a Counselling Psychologist and her interests in Druidry and psychology have led her to act as a Celebrant, helping people to design and enact meaningful rites of passage.

She is licensed to perform legal weddings in the Republic of Ireland and can also offer non legal ceremonies.

Eimear is also a Priestess dedicated to Danú in the Fellowship of Isis. She is an Arch Druidess in the Druid Clan of Dana and a member of the Noble Order of Tara.

Enjoy! Bain taitneamh as :)

Thanks a million, Eimear - Go raibh míle maith agat, a Eimear!

www.kilkennydruidry.com

www.druidry.org/

eimear_burke_druid on instagram

Kevin Whelan is one of Ireland's most widely published scholars, and a professor at the University of Notre Dame Dublin, having lectured at top universities all over the world and worked on over 20 books.

Kevin was also the historical advisor to the Irish Government on the Famine and the 1798 Rebellion.

His articulate and expansive reflections on the ecocidal agenda of the Irish Famine are illuminating and sobering. We discuss the project of imperalism and globalisation, and how Ireland was an early ethnocidal experiment, which has affected Ireland to such an extent we could have talked for days.

"We live with a degree of post traumatic disorder. And what kind of country is it that some people think it's totally fine to denigrate the national langauge, or even think that being monolingual is superior to being bilingual!?"

Go raibh míle maith agat, a chara - Thanks a million, friend. It was such an honour to talk to you and learn from you, Kevin.

What a pleasure, what lark! Talking to Barbara Scully about becoming more ourselves, knowing the privilege of ageing, cultivating a habit of gratitude, and making decisions on our own attitude... uáu! I loved our conversation, a chara!

Barbara is an accomplished writer, columnist, and broadcaster, comedian, and BANLAOCH (female warrior). She is frequently published in the national press and magazines. Her first book, ‘Wise Up, Power, Wisdom and the Older Woman’ was published in summer 2022 and has been widely well-received. Marian Keyes described it as “a warm, accessible, personal account of what it is to be a woman - and the unexpected courage and freedom we get as we age”.

Barbara is a familiar voice on radio and TV, contributing to talk shows on both local and national radio (including RTE Radio One) and she is one half of the very popular So You Think You’re An Adult slot every week on the Moncrieff Show on Newstalk with Declan Buckley.

She is an experienced MC and public speaker and her popular talk, entitled “What If The Best Is Yet To Come” has been delivered to both corporate and public audiences.

In 2023 Barbara inadvertently dipped her toes into stand-up comedy. It went better than she expected and so she did it again at the Funny Women show in Whelans in May 2024. As a result she is now working on her own one woman show which she hopes to perform later this year.

Follow Barbara on Instagram @barbarascully111 and on X @barbarascully.

Wise Up is available from www.barbarascully.com and also on Amazon.