Pop Filter: Best of 2016
inspireland podcast
There’s too much pop culture to possibly keep track of. There are so many podcasts, apps, boxsets, books, and movies clamouring for your attention that it’s hard to know which are worth exploring. That’s where Pop Filter comes in. The producer/editor behind the Inspireland Podcast, Wil McDermott, and Wil’s friend, Lorraine Harton, (and sometimes Dave from Inspireland), sit down every couple of weeks to discuss some of the latest popular culture. In this episode Wil & Dave discuss their favourite Pop Culture from 2017. Enjoy.
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E51 Kliph Nesteroff: History Of US Comedy
inspireland podcast
Kliph Nesteroff joins me on the show to discuss his bestselling book The Comedians; Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy. The Comedians chronicles the evolution of comedy from interval acts in burlesque shows, through its growth on radio and tv, to the glory days of Las Vegas and the comedy clubs, before finishing on the comedy of the new millenium. The Comedians expertly blends deep research, anecdotes, and gossip to give us the definitive history of comedy and comedians but it also a social history of the US since the early 20th century. Kliph...
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POP FILTER: BLACK MIRROR
inspireland podcast
***THERE WILL BE SPOLIERS*** In episode #3 of Pop Filter I join Wil and Lorraine to discuss the first few episodes of Netflix's bleak but brilliant Black Mirror. Black Mirror was written by the always excellent Charlie Brooker and the current 6 episodes are the first installment of a 12 part season 3 commissioned by Netflix. Black Mirror paints a pessimistic picture of a dystopian,technology driven, near-future that will make you want to smash all your connected devices. Dave
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E50 Dara O'Kearney: Poker Pro
inspireland podcast
In this episode of the podcast I was delighted to be joined in the studio by professional Irish poker player, Dara O'Kearney. Dara, or Doke as he's known in the poker world, gave a wide ranging and fascinating interview that's definitely one of my favourites to date. It's a long one but a good one! Enjoy, Dave. Some of the areas we spoke about were: Dara's late entry and rapid ascension in the professional poker world. His experience as an ultra runner, including representing Ireland, and completing a 24 hour race. We chat about Dara's unlikely online friendship with David Bowie from the...
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POP FILTER: WESTWORLD
inspireland podcast
In episode #2 of Pop Filter Wil and Lorraine discuss the first few episodes of HBO's Westworld. Westworld is based on a 1973 film of the same name that was written and directed by novelist, Michael Crichton. Westworld blends the Western and Sci-Fi genres and has a stellar cast. The reviews for the show have been overwhelmingly positive with IndieWire saying that it is: “Ambitious to the edge of a cliff." There will be SPOILERS! Enjoy. Dave
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E49 Virginia Heffernan: The Internet As Art
inspireland podcast
I've read books and think pieces about the internet but none have come close to describing the web's awesome yet terrifying power as well as Magic And Loss by Virginia Heffernan. Heffernan, who has been described as "...one of the mothers of the internet.", views the web as a massive work of art favouring speed, wit, and versatility. Virginia's work sidesteps the cliches rife in analysis of online life (decreased attention spans, trolls, obsession with appearance, etc) by taking a highly original, and at times searingly personal, account of the web's rules, aesthertics, and...
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POP FILTER: AMANDA KNOX
inspireland podcast
We break from the norm for this episode as Wil McDermott, editor of Inspireland Podcast, sits down with our mutual friend, Lorraine Harton to discuss something from popular culture. In this episode they discuss Netflix's Amanda Knox documentary. Enjoy. Dave
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E48 Easkey Britton: Soulful Surfer
inspireland podcast
In episode #48 I was joined by Ireland's first lady of surfing, Easkey Britton. Surfing is so deep in Easkey's DNA that she was named after a famous wave off Ireland's west coast. More recently, Easkey has shifted her focus from competitive big wave surfing to using her training and research to help bring surfing to communities with no experience of the sport. If all this wasn't enough Easkey also writes, paints, and speaks. During our conversation we discussed; The legendary story of Easkey's grandmother bringing the first surfboard to Ireland in the 1960s. Easkey's earliest memories of...
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E47 Constantin Gurdgiev: Economics As Art
inspireland podcast
For episode #47 I was joined by the economist Dr Constantin Gurdgiev. When the Irish economy crashed and everybody was desperately searching for answers and solutions I often heard Constantin on the radio and was instantly attracted to his knowledge of economics and his ability to communicate complex ideas in simple ways. When we met in June to record this episode I was delighted to find that his ability to explain economic ideas wasn't limited to the shorter bursts radio generally provides but easily transferred to the longer podcast format. During the episode we discussed: What it was...
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E46 James Bloodworth: Myth Of Meritocracy
inspireland podcast
In episode #46 I was joined by journalist and author, James Bloodworth. James's book, The Myth Of Meritocracy, is a detailed investigation of the inequalities at the heart of how society works. Bloodworth has found that if you're born poor you'll stay poor in spite of the widely-held belief that hard work and intelligence will see us rewarded with a better quality for ourselves and our family. Topics covered during the conversation: What Meritocracy is and why it's a myth. Why political parties have embraced it as an ideal worth pursuing (or at least talking about pursuing). Why there...
info_outlineIn episode 39 I was joined in the studio by adventurous Irish geography teacher Fearghal O'Nuallain. Fearghal trained as a chef in several exclusive restaurants before waking up hungover one morning to the serendipitous discovery that he had emptied his bank account to buy a touring bike and camping equipment.
Fearghal's experience on this bike inspired him to become the first Irishman to circumnavigate the world by bike between 2008-2010. Since then he has walked across Rwanda, hitched, biked, and tramped across Transylvania and the Balkan peninsula, before recently travelling the Bolivian high plains, a journey that was documented in soon to be released documentary, Altiplano.
Fearghal has the wild eyes and zen like physical presence I've come to recognise in adventurers and combat sportspeople. His love of adventure isn't limited to his travels but permeates all aspects of his life including his current career as a geography teacher in the tough south east London suburb of Abbey Wood.
My conversation with Fearghal included;
- His assertion that life can teach us far more than books.
- The importance of learning by experience, even if means learning things the hard way.
- Fearghal's experience as a student in Blackrock College, one of Ireland's most exclusive secondary schools.
- The contrast between Blackrock College and St Paul's, where he now works.
- How his adventures started accidentally, and almost stopped immediately, when he bought that bike in Melbourne, Australia.
- Ferghal's use of the joy of expectation of future adventures to temper his occasional depression.
- Fearghal's belief that endurance for Western adventurers is a hobby compared to the struggles faced by many.
- His description of the time he was attacked by 3 men with knives.
- What HTFU means.
Fearghal was an absolute gent and it was my pleasure to spend to a few rushed hours with him. Enjoy the episode. Dave
For full episode notes go to inspirelandpodcast.com