Sin Scéal Eile

Wayne chose to meet in Phibsborough because he's a very polite man and thought he would make it easier for me to be closer to town. What we both discover mid interview is that we live about 20 feet from each other. His back garden looks into mine, our dogs clocked each other months ago, but yet we were oblivious. We could have done this interview in our garden! 

I was interested in meeting Wayne because he describes himself as just an “ordinary” man. He loves Bohs and the community he’s found there. He’s also recently taken up photography just “trying to find a hobby outside of going to the pub.” There’s a refreshing honesty and self-awareness to this statement, which to me feels a little extra-ordinary.

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who knew hitting up a random swing dancing lesson could change your life? Christian fell in love, head over brogues, as soon as he laid eyes on the burlesque star, Sorcha. He swung her off her feet in the workmans, now, as a family, they cut a fine figure. They embrace a rockabilly/vintage kinda look that makes them truly unique at the school gates. 

Christian has lived a life and a half, from delivery driving, to becoming a master barber and now a master spray painter (of airplanes no less). He’s a storyteller at heart, bringing me on a journey with his tales, but what his story really comes down to is a lesson we all need to learn. When to slow down, reset, rest and mind your mental health. 

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Redundancy can be a blow to many. Some choose to spend their money on holidays, home improvements, fancy handbags even. Loretta spent it on herself, in the most life affirming and positive way possible. She invested in her dream career, she built herself a workshop out the back of her house (sacrificing what little garden they had). She went back to college, learned some new business skills and “returned to the bench”. 

The bench in question is a goldsmith's bench and it’s where she feels most creative and free. From her workshop she creates unique pieces of jewellery that tell beautiful stories.

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am absolutely fascinated by Lesley Bond’s story. We met in Woodstack Café, which is nestled away in the woods in Kildare and feels like you’ve been transported back in time, and after hearing Lesley’s story it makes total sense. 

Lesley once held one of the most coveted (and viral) jobs in Ireland. We’re all seen it, we’ve all dreamed of it. Herself and her (now) husband, got hired as the caretakers of the Great Blasket island in 2019. 

They lived for six months, without electricity, wifi, or even a fridge. They spent their evenings in the tiny cottage, reading books by candlelight. In the daytime they’d welcome visitors to the island, serving them cups of tea (heated by their wee gas stoves), having the chats and providing some rudimentary accommodation as well. 

Lesley’s new book explains it all (and is so beautifully written too).

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you remember the “guaranteed Irish” sign that you used to see on all the products, the little symbol that when you saw it, you knew the product was fairly sound and very Irish. A little mark you could trust. 

Well, Una Healy has developed a new mark, one that also helps consumers trust a product, service or brand. It’s the one that lets you know that a human has created the piece and that it hasn’t been AI generated.

This little mark could be a game changer for artists (like myself) whose work sometimes drowns in a sea of AI slop. AI is everywhere and a lot of times it’s being used for the wrong purposes i.e. deception. 

Una saw a need for an indicator that when used by an artist or company, would ensure the consumer that what they were investing in came from a real human. It's a celebration of human ingenuity. 

I was very proud to sign up to Una’s ever growing global community of human celebration. As you’re probably aware, Sin Scéal Eile is very human focused. We tell real stories, in real voices, face to face, every day. It’s the most anti-AI generated project possible! 

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dare I be so cringe as to say that meeting Emma was like a breath of fresh Éire? She’s a Kildare native who attended gaelscoil but never felt truly fluent until she arrived in college. The love of the Irish language hit her like a tsunami, suddenly she was attending Irish social clubs, ordering pints as Gaeilge, and even changing her entire course to study Irish more. 

She now runs Raidió Rí-Rá where she encourages all presenters to use their cúpla focal to deliver pop music to the masses. She also champions new bands to write and sing in Irish, putting on events around Ireland, including her own stage at Electric Picnic.

Emma is an Irish speaking force to be reckoned with. She’s passionate about two things, the Irish language and new Irish music and after a chat with her today I’m also buzzing about both. 

On a personal note, I’ve always regretted not being the type of student who grasped Irish in school. I grew up without it completely. However,  I try to make a conscious effort in my day to day to use the language more in the hopes that maybe it sticks, but I’m still seriously lacking the skills. This project (and all of my previous personal projects) have always been titled in Irish and English (with the Irish being first), I may not have the language, but I can certainly do my bit to promote and respect it. 

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerry has had a wonderfully varied life, and it’s still going strong. He started young, just 16 years old when he began his 30 year career in Aer Lingus. From there, he went on to work for many different companies, even finding himself in the Oireachtas at one stage. It was after a brief stint in Papua New Guinea that he decided to change direction completely and in his 50s, began studying to become a barrister.

In the other room is his partner Caroline, who hilariously likes to provide context and clarifications to Gerry’s stories, including how he managed to (somewhat accidentally) catfish her online! 

I have a feeling that I could have chatted to Gerry for hours more and still not got his whole story, as we were leaving he mentions that we didn’t even cover his love of physics or Depeche Mode!

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This project is somewhat reserved for people who don’t usually have a platform. It’s for sharing real stories, from real people, so I was a little bit trepidatious to interview a politician who would normally have their own audience and agenda. 

However, our podcast producer, Dee Reddy, assured me that her friend Hazel would give me her truly honest opinion and stories, and I was intrigued to meet an honest politician. 

Hazel charmed me from the get-go. Firstly, she suggested meeting in Dublin City Hall, one of my favourite venues and a place that I feel we should all have a bit more access to. Secondly, she turned up wearing a REPEAL jumper. Woman after my own heart. 

She’s not like politicians I’ve met before, the ones that crawl to my door and run away when I mention all the things they don’t want me to mention (housing crisis!).

We talk openly, which is refreshing. She’s funny, chatty, relaxed and genuine. She seems to have gone into politics for the right reasons, not just to be a politician like so many who occupy seats at the moment. 

She’s a young mother, a woman of colour, and very clued in on all the issues that I feel so affected by right now. She works her charm some more and leaves me feeling that maybe I too should get involved in local politics. 

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sometimes you meet people who just have it made. They don’t ask for much from the world and in turn, they’re happy with their lot. 

Lisa brought her 3 kids, husband and 2 dogs to live at the foot of the Dublin mountains not too long ago. She now cherishes the peace and stillness she has. The dark skies at night allow her to watch the stars and during the day, in true Disney Princess style, she’s visited by a herd of deer.

It seems idyllic but not without sacrifice either, like being snowed in and left without water when the power goes, but the pros far out weigh the cons.

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s not often that I hike anymore, I’m usually in the car, travelling around Ireland meeting folk for this project. When Cara suggested a walk & talk style of interview I was intrigued. 

That’s what she does professionally, she’s a psychotherapist who hikes with her clients. It’s a novel and unique idea. She finds that walking with her clients is a perfect distraction for those who might not be able to sit still and concentrate in an office setting (like the neurodivergent amongst us). It’s also a great way to introduce people to therapy who might be a bit sceptical about it. 

Not only do you feel better for chatting, but you also get your steps in and give your lungs some much needed fresh air (if you listen to the end you’ll hear me struggling to survive, proving that I really need to hike more!).

Rx

Sin Scéal Eile - That's Another Story was hosted and created by Ruth Medjber, with sound by Ronan Lally. The podcast is produced by Dee Reddy at Poddle Audio with original music by Elaine Mai.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.