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.

The Man Whom aka Ian Doyle explains how a full-time job in local government turned him into a pessimist. Now that he's gone freelance and makes gorgeous albums like his new one 'The Dancer From The Dance' he's beginning to look on the brighter side - but just a little bit!

Gavin Harte - a musician, environmental activist and educator recalls how a favourite forest being cut down when he was a child set him on his path. He talks realistically and incredibly informatively about the options open to us if regarding climate change.

Gabriel Kahane - a fascinating conversation with a singer who's current Book Of Travelers album centres around stories he collected on a phone free train odyssey around America just after Trump was elected. He urges us to switch off social media and engage with each other. He makes his Irish debut at NCH Studio on April 9th.

Clare Sands - fiddle player, singer, guitarist, jiu jitsu champion and surfer from Cork who is melding styles from left, right and centre to full effect. From Morocco to Clare she's collaborating with all she meets from Susan O'Neill, to The Hothouse Flowers to Steve Cooney.

Ye Vagabonds - Brothers from Carlow singing songs inspired by what sounds like a pretty fun upbringing in an interview with elements that could easily be stirred up as something controversial. Or Not. Either way, a very valid lesson in the fallacy of preconceptions.

Inni-K - '‘The Hare and the Line’ is an album you must hear. Inni-K's second album, just out. From start to finish a joy. Inni-K popped into Born Optimistic HQ to share some time which yielded a great chat that covered many topics.

Luke Howard - reknowned modern classical composer and pianist who plays Dublin on March 23rd.

Lean in close and listen to Davy Lyon's tale of what quiet determination can achieve. Hear his story of turning his back on a lucrative legal job to go travelling and working on farms. A woman who ran a vineyard told him that if he wanted to be a singer he had to sing. Two and a half years ago he moved to Barcelona to become a musician full time. She's then he's recruited a band, signed a record deal and now he's just about to release his debut album.

After our extended holidays, Born Optimistic podcast is back with season three. What an artist we have to restart with. Beautiful words, music and melodies flow so naturally from Jim Page that being in the same room as him is a rare treat. He's from Seattle but has been visiting Ireland for a while. He's on an extensive tour of Ireland right so check out his live dates at JimPage.net and get to one of his shows.

Nina Hynes kicks off Born Optimistic season three. Interviewed in her Berlin home on the occasion of her return to Ireland to play her first shows in five years.

Our last episode of season two features a singer who does not lay claim to being an optimist and shares some very interesting views on embracing disappointment. A riveting interview.

Eternally smiling through life's ups and downs, Dermot shares tales of his illustrious times to date from Blink to Garageland. An inspiring chat what a man adept at climbing back into saddles with a smile.

A delightfully circular conversation with a troubadour who point blank refuses to be pinned down regarding anything. With such a terrific way with words it's no surprise he's written so many amazing songs.

Larry Beau Bonus this holiday Monday to remind you Larry joins Steve & Joe Wall this Saturday June 9th in the Unitarian church Dublin.

The beginnings of getting to learn more about the great Mik Pyro. Known to many as the lead singer of Republic Of Loose, now embarking on a solo journey with an amazing new song called 'Very Strange' just about to come out.

An incredible artist who draws his inspiration from the Galway landscape he grew up surrounded by and the people he encounters on his travels.

The enthralling Patrick O'Laoghaire aka I Have A Tribe talks about his muse and how he channels it. Methinks he's being overly humble but he takes zero credit for the amazing music he makes and insists that he just finds it hidden in various places.

What if you had been born 500 years ago? Would you feel the same emotions? Junior Brother confronts you with these thoughts. There are few examples of an artist weaving a world as complete as Junior Brother.

An amazing tale of how insurance sales and Guns & Roses led to a career steeped in the truth and honesty of Americana. That's Gavin's dog Danko in the photo named after a member of The Band, one of his biggest inspirations.

Our 50th show and who better man to share it with than David Gray! Some jaw-dropping moments in this incredibly personal and revealing interview.

This troubadour has written over a thousand songs that he's been keeping from us all. He delivers a very fresh, open and honest account of how music has helped him keep depression at bay. Fascinating.

A sharp mind with a real sense of purpose, David is instantly likeable. He's full of passion about the power of music and he shares what formed that.

Former Toasted Heretic frontman and now author, Julian shares some great stories as he prepares for the release of his novel 'Connect' on May 3rd.

A chance meeting at the funeral of the great Martin Thomas brought this interview about. Mike sang a wonderful song and I asked him if he wrote it. I didn't realise he was lead singer of band I loved as a teen!

A big believer in 'The Secret' and the laws of attraction. Aoife is very focused on her aims but completely relaxed with it. Couple that with an amazing voice and great lyrics and you have one of the most exciting new acts ever.

A fresh and thoughtful voice. A man of many aliases who makes music without a grand plan. Latest album 'When You Get Caught Between The Moon and Dublin City' is a concept album par excellence.

A deep thinker with a humble exterior, Matt has done great things already with his songs. A refreshing reminder of what songs can be used for, from politics to healing.

The tale of two people who met at a Lady Gaga gig and formed their dream band together years later.