After living in China for eight years, Fender Jackson returns for the first time since leaving during COVID.

In this personal episode of The Ireland Podcast, he reflects on life in Kunming and Shanghai, raising children in China, cultural differences, the emotional impact of the pandemic, grief, identity, Irish voices abroad, and the strange feeling of returning to a place that once felt like home.

This episode also sets up a new series of travelogue and vlog-style episodes recorded during a recent return trip through Kunming, Xishuangbanna and Shanghai - including street food, Irish bars in China, random encounters and reflections on modern Chinese life.

Featuring:

• Life in China during COVID
• Returning to Kunming after four years away
• Chinese culture and daily life
• Teaching in China
• Irish identity abroad
• Prince: The Musical on Banjo
• The origins of The Ireland Podcast

New China travel episodes coming over the next few days.

A quick note - some of the audio from this episode came out rougher than intended while testing a new recording setup. We decided to publish it anyway because the story itself felt important to tell.

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In this special episode of The Ireland Podcast -which is really a continuation of Ep. 213 - Fender Jackson breaks down the harmony and emotional architecture of “Sensitize” by That Petrol Emotion through live piano demonstrations, storytelling and performance.

Drawing connections to David Bowie, The Beach Boys, Queen and jazz harmony, the episode explores:

• split chords and slash chords
• borrowed harmony
• add9 chords
• major vs minor movement
• emotional tension in songwriting
• Mingus and hard bop influences
• Twin Peaks-style harmony
• arranging music for piano
• and the relationship between music theory, emotion and intuition.

The episode concludes with a live performance-inspired arrangement of “Sensitize.”

Spotify Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/38Eohpgg54xtkHWscjxHc2?si=02db29285e534bef

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In Part 1 of this two-part music special from The Ireland Podcast, Fender Jackson explores the emotional power of slash chords - also known as split chords - and how artists such as The Beatles, The Beach Boys and David Bowie used them to create richer and more dramatic harmony.

Along the way, he discusses:

• “God Only Knows”
• “The Long and Winding Road”
• “Life on Mars?”
• “Where Are We Now?”

as well as:

• four-track recording in the 1960s
• Brian Wilson and The Beatles
• recording technology

Featuring live piano demonstrations throughout the episode.

A video version of this episode with chords on the screen is on Spotify and YouTube.

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Jonathan Kemp joins The Ireland Podcast to discuss his extraordinary 4,200km Finding Peace of Mind Walk 2026 - a journey across the UK and Ireland in support of mental health awareness and recovery.

Starting in the Shetland Islands on January 1st and finishing in Galway later this year, Jonathan shares the deeply personal experiences that led him to undertake the walk, including his lifelong struggles with bipolar disorder, depression, dyslexia, addiction, and suicidal ideation during COVID.

Jonathan speaks openly about diagnosis, medication, recovery, neurodiversity, addiction, and the importance of seeking help. He also reflects on the physical and emotional realities of walking thousands of kilometres while raising funds and awareness for mental health charities across Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Ireland.

This is Leg 1, Part 1 of an ongoing series following Jonathan’s journey toward Galway.

Relevant Links

https://www.gofundme.com/f/Jonathansupporting4mentalhealthcharities

https://linktr.ee/jonathankemplondon

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Part 2 of conversation with Steve Mack of That Petrol Emotion.

In this episode, Steve goes deep on what really makes a great record - not just what you hear, but the space between the notes. From the genius of the Stayin' Alive to the importance of restraint in music, this is a masterclass in listening differently.

We also explore the evolution of That Petrol Emotion - how Brendan Kelly joined the band, the albums that defined their sound, and ultimately how the band began to come apart after years of getting close without breaking through to that next level. It’s an honest look at ambition, pressure, and the reality behind life in a band.

Along the way, Steve shares stories about fans, legacy, and the unexpected ways music travels through generations - including the moment he discovered his biological father was connected to Dion and the Belmonts.

This is a conversation about music, identity, and the ripple effect of songs that never really go away.

Relevant Links

https://linktr.ee/smack206

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lEmb06zxltC0M1TMDfLXd?si=179a45e302864e50

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A wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation with the lead singer of one of Ireland’s most seminal bands, looking back on origins, identity, and the winding path of a life in music. He reflects on early influences, the experience of being adopted, and the sense of instinct that shaped both his voice and his direction.

There are vivid stories from Belfast - including the surreal reality of playing gigs while staying in the Europa Hotel, known as the most bombed hotel in Europe - alongside moments that capture both the humour and tension of the time. Throughout, he returns to a simple but firm belief: that the song always comes first.

The conversation moves through the highs and the missteps - from early promise to periods where production and expectation began to overshadow the music itself. There’s an honest look at the excesses of 80s sound, and a clear philosophy that great songs should stand on their own, without being buried under layers of production.

It’s also a story of rediscovery - of finding the groove again, reconnecting with what matters, and trusting instinct over noise. Along the way, he shares insights into creativity, influence, and the fine line between sound and substance, offering a candid perspective on what it really means to make music that lasts.

Relevant Links

https://linktr.ee/smack206

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7lEmb06zxltC0M1TMDfLXd?si=179a45e302864e50

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

In this episode of The Ireland Podcast, writer Graham Linehan joins for a wide-ranging, long-form conversation.

The discussion covers a career in comedy, including the creation of Father Ted, along with how life and work have evolved in recent years. Broader cultural and societal topics are also explored, including the role of media and institutions, and the challenges of discussing difficult issues in today’s climate.

This is Part 2 of a two-part conversation.

The Ireland Podcast aims to create space for open, respectful dialogue and to present a range of perspectives, allowing listeners to make up their own minds.

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

Part 1 of a long-form conversation with Graham Linehan on The Ireland Podcast.

The conversation moves quickly into the activism and controversies that have come to define Graham Linehan’s public life in recent years, before touching at points on his career - from Father Ted, Black Books and The IT Crowd.

The discussion covers public backlash, media narratives, free speech, Gaza, comedy, the early internet, and the personal and professional consequences of speaking out.

A wide-ranging and, at times, unpredictable conversation on one of the most contested areas in public life.

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

In this long-form conversation, producer and musician Bill Laswell reflects on the making of Album, the 1986 record by Public Image Ltd.

Laswell discusses how the project came together in New York, recording early tracks with legendary drummer Tony Williams, and later bringing in musicians including Ginger Baker, Steve Vai, Bernie Worrell, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

He describes the recording process, the use of first takes, and the production philosophy behind the album’s distinctive sound. The conversation also explores how the music was constructed, the role of improvisation in the studio, and how different musicians helped shape the final record.

Laswell also addresses a long-circulating story that Miles Davis once appeared at the sessions. In the interview he explains that the visitor was actually Ornette Coleman, who briefly stopped by the studio but did not record. The anecdote has circulated in different forms over the years, and John Lydon also revisits the story in his memoir Anger Is an Energy: My Life Uncensored, where he reflects on the same period from his own perspective.

The result is a detailed look at one of the most unusual recording sessions of the 1980s and the creative decisions that shaped the album.

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Steve Vai returns for Part Two of this special conversation marking the 40th anniversary of Public Image Ltd’s Album.

Because we don’t have a licence to play the record in the episode itself, listeners are encouraged to line up their own copy of Album and press play at the countdowns as Steve and Fender listen through the tracks in real time.

Vai reflects on what he played, how the sessions unfolded from inside the control room, and why Album remains one of the most enjoyable and creatively free guest projects he ever jumped into - minimal direction, total space, and a sound that still feels unique forty years on.

Along the way, he recalls dinner with John Lydon, being asked about joining PiL, and the gear he used at the time:

Guitar: Charvel Custom (“The Green Meanie”)

Amp: Carvin X100B (“ice pick” sharp tone)

Delay: Roland SDE-3000 rack delay

Setup: two SDE-3000s - one for mono delay, one used as chorus via chaining

Overdrive: amp set with drive + a kick-in pedal for solos

Sitar: Choral sitar (electric)

Play-along track cues and full notes are included below.

00:40 - Track 1: FFF (countdown and play)

06:15 - Track 2: Rise

12:20 - Track 3: Fishing

17:39 - Track 4: Round

28:40 - Side Two begins - Bags (countdown and play)

34:11 - Track 6: Home

40:03 - Track 7: Ease

Thanks / credit:

Shout-out and thanks to Ned Evett for connecting the conversation and for the Galway link-up. Honourable mention to drummer, Colin McMahon.

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