This week I chat with storyteller, drama therapist, and Cork Yarn-Spinner Maria Gillen. We discussed strength from softness, the impact of technology on our social skills, and the passing down of wisdom from one generation to the next.

A conversation recorded in South Armagh with storyteller Steve Lally. We discussed how Steve became a storyteller, the writing of his latest book, 'Irish Gothic Fairy Stories', and the importance of folklore and storytelling in modern society.

This week is a solo run on making December a 'healing month' to finish the year on a positive note, which I started thinking about on the way back from a recent trip to Berlin. Every year has its challenges and highlights, and December seems to be as good a time as any to practice some self-love, looking after yourself going into the festive season, and doing the work up front to have a positive start to the new year, which can often be a challenging time in itself. Grá Mór, Ainle. x

A solo run on the merits and negatives of black Friday. Is it a good time to big a bargain, or a marketing campaign of manufactured desire and scarcity to make us part with our hard earned bills and fall over each other to accumulate more useless stuff?

This week I chat with Calvin James Sweeney who formed the SCOOP foundation with his brother Andy in 2009, and has been over and back from Syria 18 times to date.

https://scoopfoundation.org/about/

This week I sat down with recent All Ireland hurling championship winner and Tipperary hurler Seamus Kennedy.

This week is a recording of my rambling thoughs and self-chats as I made my way to Coumshingaun Lake in the Comeragh Mountains, Co Waterford.

This weeks marks 50 years since the British soldiers landed in Belfast and Derry, and 6 years since ACLAÍ opened its doors for business. In this episode I talk about checking in with my own mental and physical health, ACLAÍ, and share some chats that I had with my Granny about what it was like back in the 40s, 50s, and 60s during some of the most turbulent times in Belfast.

The full recording of an interview I did recently with the Middle East Monitor. Article interview can be read at link below. Short surprise at the very end after the outro music!

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190711-were-trying-to-find-a-gap-in-israels-walls/

This week we look at the stories behind 2 ballads. Joe McDonnell, and The Ballad of Mairéad Farrell. Links below for full songs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybcgc8BQlQQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik3P9-1SQ9U&t=130s

Mairéad Farrell interview clips:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2TyzlQVL4o