Born Optimistic

DIY

Sue, not her real name, talks to us from Hong Kong to give an insight in life there right now from the perspective of a 21 year old. She talks about hope, pessimism and the need for trust and also calls for a boycott of Chinese goods, including Apple. A fascinating window into the daily realities of oppression.

A fascinating chat with the great Tolu Makay that touches on religion quite a bit and where it does and doesn't fit in. Tolu released two fantastic singles in 2019 - her debut single 'Ocean' and 'The Greatest Gift' with Delush.

A conversation 35 years in the making with a truly inspirational Irish singer now over 14 albums into an amazing career. From his debut single 'Religious Persuasion' to his brand new album 'Time Is A Buffalo In The Art Of War' his pace and passion have remained intense. From growing up in Belfast at the height of the troubles to live on the edge of culture in Melbourne to his 90s Dublin days we cover a lot in this special episode.

Artgirl turns the tables for a special edition of our podcast. We start off by getting to know her as we talk about FOMO, health and expectations. Then she asks the questions and gleams information relevant to where she's at. A very interesting view into the early stages of a career that spans Mundy, Boy George, Philip Treacy and DJ Sideral. The unifier is of course the importance of great headwear!

The Late David Turpin - a schooling in so many things from the singer and screenwriter with some quite controversial comments here. A wide ranging interview with goes from late night TV to the intertwining of sexual politics and socialism. Wonderful, insightful and incendiary.

Caoilian Sherlock - we speak to this Cork troubadour at a very auspicious time his life. A time when he sorta almost could possibly be moving to Dublin to launch the solo chapter of his musical adventure. Along the way we find out about why he does all the great things he does in the first place.

Modern classical and electronic artist Paddy Mulcahy in conversation to herald his brilliant second album 'How To Disappear'. Paddy's full of the joys that music brings and shares how he got to where he is. 

Kevin Murphy from Slow Moving Clouds joins us in advance of Songs From A Safe Harbour Festival in Cork and talks mixing music, academia and caring about climate change.

Saoirse McHugh - Green Party European Election sensation talks about how to unfeck the world and what she'd do with her time f the world wasn't fecked! Plus other stuff too about why coalitions with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are bad and what veg she grows.

Hazel Chu topped the poll in the recent local elections and is now a Dublin City Councillor for the Green Party. Even though I've known Hazel for years I wanted to know how politics became her way of responding to Climate Change. As she says 'You don't have to be perfect, you have to be willing to act."

Grace O'Sullivan - Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior turned Green Party M.E.P. who takes us back to how she became an environmentalist, how she feels about the French Govt trying to kill her and how she's optimistic about everything except our future if we don't stop burning fossil fuels.

Cry Monster Cry - two brothers who make music together explain the ins and outs of their wonderfully intertwined lives. Their adoration of Mic Christopher also features! They play two songs - one of their own and one of Mic's. Lovely times!

The Silken Same - Their debut album which is just out was a lifetime in the making but was worth the wait. It's an outstanding folk record made by two lifelong friends and this chat was a great chance to get the background and find out just what took them so long!

Strange Boy - the greatest ever rapper to come from Ireland in a very revealing chat that shows the value of talking about hard times. If you're going through hard times please find someone to talk to and don't keep it to yourself. Check him out on the new Delush track 'It's Alright'.

Mick Flannery - great to spend time with Mick Flannery as he muses on the nature of optimism in face of impending doom in honour of his new self titled album. 

Mark Boyle - A writer who has turned his back on the modern world to live off the land without any modern amenities including electricity, running water and a phone. For everything 'you lose you gain another', he tells me as we talk about Climate Change as a symptom, his vasectomy and missing David Bowie. Mark's new book, 'The Way Home' is out now.

Ultan Conlon - A gorgeous chat that is full of laughs despite centring on the ongoing trauma caused by losing a parent at a young age.

This week's Born Optimistic Podcast features Sorcha Richardson talking about the yearning at the core of her incredibly addictive songs and her view on Dublin as someone who debated internally for ages about whether to move back here or not.