The Comfortable Spot

Today my guest is graphic designer Malcom Garrett. For over forty years Malcom has been at the forefront of graphic design and has created iconic images for musicians and bands around the world. From the Rio album by Duran Duran to becoming a founder member of the 5D World Builders at 5D Institute at USC in California, Malcolm is noted for his collaborative approach to design and education and is an ambassador for the Manchester School of Art, and co-curator of the annual Design Manchester festival. When I was a teenager, Malcolm's work was a guide to me and allowed me to appreciate the importance of graphic design and how it is an integral part of making sound visible. I had no idea how our conversation was going to go, but from the very first minute I knew we were going to have a great chat. Malcolm is engaging, humble, and funny and it's an extended episode, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Kaila Gabriel. Kaila is a first year Masters student at Queens University, Ontario, Canada, studying Immunology and Cancer Therapeutics. In her spare time, Kalia is a contributing writer for The Average Scientist project whose goal it is to make science accessible to all. I invited Kaila to join me a guest to chat about her passion for molecular biology and discuss the field of medical science in general, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is musician and actor Flo McSweeney. Flo first came to prominence as a versatile vocalist on the Irish rock scene with stand out performances with acts such as Moving Hearts and Toy with Rhythm before embarking on a solo career alongside acting roles in theatres across Ireland. In 2018, Flo realised her debut solo album, Picture in a Frame to critical acclaim. A blend of coffee jazz and standards, the album was thirty years in the making and has allowed Flo to be in charge of her creativity. I was delighted to have Flo as guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author and historian Joseph Dragovich. Joe has recently published Hawkhurst: Murder, Corruption and Britian's Most Notorious Smuggling Gang. The story of the Hawkhurst Gang is an account of one of the first modern crime syndicates and provides the perfect opportunity to explore 1740s Britain, a time of profound political, economic and social transformation, through the stories of the people who lived it. I chat with Joe about the book, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Counselling Psychologist Niamh Delmar. Specialising in mental health and psychological distress, Niamh is involved with assessment, treatment and relapse prevention. She has over ten years' experience as a training consultant for major organisational settings and provides mental health talks and workshops. Niamh is also a freelance writer and has also been a guest on various radio shows and is a mental health educator. I was keen to explore how important mental health is in our societies and was delighted to have Niamh as a guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is writer, broadcaster and DJ Dave Haslam. Author of a number of influential books, Dave was a DJ at Manchester's Haçienda nightclub, and in 1999 he published a book about the Manchester music scene and, subsequently, books about superstar DJs called Adventures on the Wheels of Steel and Life After Dark; A History of British Nightclubs & Music Venues. His autobiography called Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor: Music, Manchester & More was published in 2018. In 2019 he published the first of a series of limited edition small format books - the series is dubbed Art Decades. The subjects of the books include vinyl record collecting, Courtney Love living in Liverpool in 1982, and the poet Sylvia Plath. It was a pleasure to chat with one of my music heroes, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Production note: there is slight clipping in the latter part of this episode so apologies for the sound quality.

Today my guest is contemporary artist Claire Murray. Based in West Yorkshire, Claire is internationally renowned for her wide range of artworks which evoke multiple reactions. Her concepts deal with light and colour as an open window and allow the viewer to draw their own conclusions while appreciating the simplicity of beauty. What drew me to Claire's work was that it seemed to be created from many different approaches and I wasn't surprised to find that Claire has experience with other forms including photography, stitching, and collage. We had an open and honest conversation about art and how it is perceived in an ever encroaching digital environment which can be daunting for those who seek originality. Claire was a wonderful guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author Mark Henry. Mark has spent a lifetime analysing trends, understanding what drives them, and explaining their implications. With a wealth of experience in market research and in applying psychology data to the world of business, Mark led the research and strategy function for Irish technology companies before turning to do the same for the tourism sector. His book, In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100 is an effort to prove beyond doubt that Ireland is a unique success story, and to explain how it has achieved that. The book explores 100 remarkable achievements of Ireland’s first 100 years as an independent nation and identifies factors that have accounted for Ireland’s extraordinary success. It’s a fascinating read that is both inspiring and surprising, and I was delighted to have Mark on the show for a chat, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author John Erickson. John is a journalist with over thirty years' experience working at daily newspapers in Illinois and Ohio. A prominent reporter in local news, John led the coverage in three stories that earned him a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize, including a series that won a Pulitzer for National Reporting in 1998. His recently published book, When Mortals Play God : Eugenics and One Family’s Story of Tragedy, Loss, and Perseverance is a story about four generations of his family that have been impacted by atrocious interference from local government, which resulted in his grandmother Rose DeChaine being a victim of a eugenics birth control programme. This is not a sad story, but one of triumph and happiness, despite the loss and tragedy that happens along the way. I had a great conversation with John, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is environmentalist and sustainability expert Kaj Embren. With over 25 years’ leadership and consultancy experience, Kaj has a track record of promoting sustainable solutions in fields such as industry, governance and civil society. Kaj firmly believes that we already have the tools to obtain sustainability and prosperity, but we still need to unite networks, communities and governments. I have been following Kaj for quite a while and was keen to address the concept of a sustained environment that is a benefit for communities across the world. I was delighted to have Kaj as a guest to discuss this topic, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

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