Today, we talk about Luke O'Neill's first steps towards his career in science. He explains how he moved from an all-consuming interest in science at large to a more specific interest in biology, how his secondary school teacher influenced that journey, and his time as an undergraduate at Trinity and PhD student in London.

Dr. O'Neill talks about the transition from pure learning in scientific fields to performing novel research of one’s own. We talk about the development and deployment of the COVID-19 vaccines, and whether human challenge trials could have sped up development even more. We discuss animal testing, misinformation, and the status quo of scientific funding in Europe, and whether the best ideas are truly getting funded, or if progress is being slowed due to bureaucratic or conservative inertia.

Of course, we also discuss his music, a love of Dr. O'Neill's, some of his musical influences, the legacy of The Pogues, and even a bit on Irish film.

Dr. O'Neill is also the author of multiple books, including "Show Me the Science," "Humanology," and most recently, "To Boldly Go Where No Book Has Gone Before: A Joyous Journey Through All of Science."

He also hosts a podcast of his own with Newstalk, called "Show Me the Science”, he is a singer and guitarist in his band “The Metabolix”, and he writes a weekly column in the Irish Independent.

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Tosóimid lena scéal féin. Is as an Albain é Alan ó dhúchas, agus insíonn sé dúinn cathain agus cén fáth ar fhoghlaim sé Gaeilge na hÉireann, agus phléimid a thuras chuig an bpost atá aige faoi láthair mar an Ard-Stiúrthóir atá i gceannas ar TG4.

Sular fhoghlaim sé Gaeilge na hÉireann, chaith sé am sa Fhrainc agus ar Oileán Mhanann ag foghlaim Fraincis agus ansin Gàidhlig na hAlban. Labhraímid mar gheall ar bhunú TG4 i 1996, na haidhmeanna a bhain leis an chéad stáisiún teilifíse Gaeilge in Éirinn. An t-am a chaith sé roimhe sin ag obair le BBC na hAlba, cainéal don Ghàidhlig in Albain, agus ina dhiaidh sin nuair a tháinig sé ar ais mar Ard-Stiúrthóir sa bhliain 2016.

Phléimid an smaoineamh gur tháinig TG4 amach as COVID níos láidre, toisc nach raibh na míbhuntáistí geografacha a bhaineann le ceanncheathrú nach bhfuil i mBaile Átha Cliath in ann nuair a bhí gach rud déanta ar líne, nó ar Zoom. Chríochnaímid le cad a déarfadh Alan le duine atá fostaithe in Éirinn, gan aon Ghaeilge acu, a bhfuil spéis acu an teanga a fhoghlaim.

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise

with Rob W

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Richard O’Rawe is a bestselling author of several books on the Troubles in Northern Ireland and two fiction novels. His writing is informed by, and in some cases the story of, his previous life as a member of the Provisional IRA.

O’Rawe’s first book, Blanketmen, recounted own life, how he joined the IRA, and his time on the Blanket and No Wash Protests Inside The H Blocks. It culminates in the story of the 1980 Hungerstrikrs as told from his perspective as their Spokesman. The book sent shockwaves across Ireland, and challenged the prevailing narrative on the hunger strikes. O’Rawe wrote that after the deaths of the first four hunger strikers, an offer had been made by the British government, through an agent codenamed ‘Mountain Climber’, that acquiesced to four of the five hunger strikers demands, including that to let prisoners wear their own clothes. This, O’Rawe writes, was thought sufficient to end the strike by leadership inside the prison, but was rejected by IRA leadership outside the prison, and a further six men would die before the strike was ended. 

HIs most recent book, “Stakeknifes dirty war”, tells the story of Freddie Scappaticci, the highest ranked known british informer within the IRA. In charge of the Internal security unit, known as the nutting squad, Scapaticci’s role was to root out and kill informers within the IRA. All the while, while he was an informer himself. The book investigates the life and crimes of scapaticci, it explores the british intelligence forces complicity in the murder and torture he dealt out, and it tells the story of some of the unfortunate men who endured, and survived, interrogation by the nutting squad.

Today, we discuss both “Stakeknifes dirty war” and Richard’s own life and perspective, and he leaves us with what he would say to a young Irishman or woman that thinks they too would like to take up arms, and who think they are willing to die for their country. 

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Today we’re joined by Ed Moloney. Ed Moloney is an award-winning journalist and author, and one of the most authoritative writers on the troubles in Northern Ireland.

Covering the region since 1978, he served as northern editor of the irish times from 1981-85, and northern editor of the sunday tribune from 1987-2001. He was awarded Irish journalist of the year in 1999. After the good friday agreement, Ed moloney, Aaong with Dr. Anthony McIntyre, started the Belfast project , otherwise known as the boston college tapes, an oral history archive of interviews with former Paramilitary members in Northern Ireland. 

His book “Voices from The Grave, Two Mens War in Ireland”, was based on interviews from this archive, and told the stories of IRA commander Brendan Hughes and UVF member and subsequent PUP politician, David Irvine, in a manner that they could not tell to the broader public while living. 

He has also written a biography of Ian Paisley, “Paisley, from Demagogue to Democrat”, and produced two documentary films, “Voices from The Grave”, on the same topic as the book, and “I, Dolores”, a film about the life of the late Dolores Price, also completed with interviews while she was alive. Today, we discuss his book, “A Secret History of the IRA”, which has been described as the best history of the paramilitary organisation ever written.

We talk about the genesis of the Provisional IRA, and the causes of their split from the Official IRA in 1969. We delve into the early days of the Provos, the 1974 ceasefire, and Gerry Adams’ swift ascent to the top of the organisation. Was Adams ever ideological? How did he hold such sway over the organisation from inside Long Kesh? How, and why, did he move the IRA towards electoral politics and ceasefires when he had launched scathing attacks on the early Provo leadership for doing much the same things?

These are all questions Ed and I discuss. We close on what Ed would add to the third edition of “A secret history of the IRA”, were he to release one, and what he would say to the a generation of people that have grown up without any memory of the troubles. 

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Dr. Lembke is a professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Stanford School of Medicine and is chief of the Stanford addiction medicine dual diagnosis clinic. In addition to her academic appointments, Dr. Lembke is also a practicing clinician and a New York Times bestselling author. In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD: How Doctors were duped, patients got hooked, and why its so hard to stop. More recently, she released Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence:

Today, we discuss addiction. Dr. Lembke explains why, in today’s world, we are all vulnerable to addiction. and how the unprecedented amount of free time in the modern age offers a new risk factor for addiction. We discuss the link between pleasure and pain, how dopamine can dictate the two, the role of abstinence in treating addiction, and Dr. Lembke tells us that it’s normal not to feel great all the time, it’s normal, to feel bad sometimes. 

We then pivot to a college-oriented discussion. Dr. Lembke speaks to the usage of unprescribed amphetamines for study enhancement, the dangers that brings, and how it may undermine the neurological process of learning. Dr. Lembke talks about the viability of raising ones baseline levels of dopamine, how one can foster mental resilience for hard study tasks. Finally, Dr. Lembke offers a word of caution and skepticism about hallucinogenic drugs, amid recent hype around their potential use in treating addiction. 

You can learn more about Dr. Lembke on her website, here.

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise

with Rob W

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A professor of kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton, Dr. Galpin is one of the leading minds in sports science and works at the cutting edge of research into human performance, with his him name on over 100-peer reviewed publications and presentations.

Dr. Galpin is the founder and director of the biochemistry and molecular exercise physiology lab at his university, and also director for the centre for sport performance there. He is a co-founder of multiple private companies, including Absolute, Rest, BioMolecular Athlete, and RAPID Health and performance. Not to mention the dozens of elite athletes he has worked with, among them Olympic gold medallists, world champions in boxing and MMA, and NBA and NFL All-Stars.

In today’s episode, Dr. Galpin talks about the effect of sleep on physical performance. We delve into strategies and methods to optimise sleep, the reliability and utility of wearables, the most important metrics of health, and what VO2 max is, why its such an important indicator of health, and how to improve it.

We close with a broader discussion on the state of innovation and pace of scientific research in the realm of human performance, what the limit of elite human performance is, and what Dr. Galpin would say to athletes who find themselves absconding from personal responsibility for their performance because of the mountains of health data now available to us.

Check out his website and socials here:

https://www.andygalpin.com/

https://twitter.com/DrAndyGalpin

https://www.instagram.com/drandygalpin/?hl=en

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise

with Rob W

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From his early days writing with Nusight in the North to his retirement from his late night political talk show, Vincent has been a constant presence in Irish media for the last 60 years, whether in print, on the radio, or on TV.

His establishment of the Magazine Magill redefined investigative journalism in Ireland, publishing deep stories such as the Berry Diaries, which documented new evidence on what really happened during the Arms crisis of 1970. He also set up and edited “Village Magazine”, served as editor of the Sunday Tribune, hosted TV and Radio shows with RTE, and questioned politicians with a fervour most had never known, on “Tonight with Vincent Browne”. 

Today, Vincent talks about his time in college, and whether college is actually the best times of one’s life. We discuss the troubles, his thoughts on the conflict & it’s early days, about the Sunningdale agreement, John Hume, and how history will view Gerry Adams. We talk about Charlie Haughey, the arms trial, and separating politics from the person. Finally, Vincent shares his thoughts on the present and future of Irish journalism, on the changes that he has seen over the years, and whether it is possible to give a reasonable answer to the question : “are you optimistic for the future”.

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise

with Rob W

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

Justine has been at the forefront of Irish journalism for four decades. Today, she writes a weekly column in the Irish Times, and has just released a new book, “An Eye on Ireland”, new and selected journalism, with highlights from her many pieces of writing over the years.

Through that writing, in papers including the Irish Independent, the Sunday Tribune, and the Sunday Times, Justine has given voice to victims of sexual abuse, questioned the perpetrators & peacemakers of the Troubles, held politicians to their word, and altogether kept the Irish people informed of the ever-changing story of Ireland. 

We explore that story today. First, through her own childhood. Justine explains the origin of her love of writing, her experience of fear and loneliness, the impact of losing her father at a young age, and how her mother managed to perservere thereafter.

We talk about her unlikely entry to Rathmines College of Commerce to study journalism, about her early experiences in the field, and we delve into some of the most consequential stories of her career. From her first published article about discrimination against women in this very college, to her most recent column on the crisis in Gaza, Justine leaves us with her thoughts on justice, compromise, and how the mix of the two can bring about peace. 

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

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Cody Keenan is a former speech writer and political advisor to US President Barack Obama. He is the author of the New York Times Bestseller: “Grace; President Obama and Ten Days in the fight for America". 

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

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Dr. Hansen is an associate professor of history at Furman University, South Carolina, as well as the host of “History off the Page”, a podcast series that explores the history of Europe.

In this episode, we touch on the October Revolution of 1917, the nascent Bolshevik state’s consolidation of power, and Stalin's early days in power. We also touch on the Yugoslav wars of the 1990’s, how the Balkan states developed the borders we know today, and Dr. Hansen defends his profession from the accusation that “history is a set of lies agreed upon by men”.

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

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Dr O’Malley is an associate professor in political science at the school of law and government, DCU. He is the author of “Contemporary Ireland”, a university textbook on Irish politics, and writes a regular column with the Irish Independent. 

Today, of course, we talked Irish politics. The discussion ranged from the IRA and the Blueshirts, to the Progressive Democrats and John Bruton. Dr. O’Malley provides an explanation for why Ireland never swung to the far left or right in the 20th century, and he shares his thoughts on the rise of Sinn Fein and their likely place in the next coalition. We talk about Freedom of Speech, his favourite political heaves, and much more.

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

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A parliamentarian for over twenty years, Ms. Fitzgerald has has served as a TD, a senator, Minister for Business, Enterprise & Innovation, for Justice and Equality, and was the first minister for Children and youth Affairs. Prior to her entry into politics, Frances Fitzgerald served as Chair of the National Women’s Council, and Vice President of the European Women’s Lobby.

In this episode, we discuss Ms. Fitzgerald’s time in University, the impact it had on her worldview, how she entered politics, and how her career as a social worker influenced her political outlook. 

We talk about some of the defining political issues of her career, her current efforts in the European Parliamant, and delve into the effects of the controversy that led to her resignation as Tánaiste, and her subsequent vindication of any wrongdoing. 

We also touch on the history of women in Irish politics, Ms. Fitzgerald’s political mentors, the most underrated figure in Irish political history, and much more. 

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

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Róisín was born and reared in New York to an Irish family hailing from county Limerick. After being selected to represent New York in the competition in June, she would win the Rose of Tralee outright this past August. A graduate of Fairfield University, Róisin is currently serving as Vice President of Neptune Retail Solutions, a consumer marketing company based in the US. 

Today, we discuss Róisíns life story and what brought her to enter to the Rose of Tralee. Roisin explains what the Rose of Tralee is, what it means to her and the other Roses, and she esponds to criticism of the competition and festival as antiquated and pushes back on the “beauty pageant” label so often applied to the festival. We delve into what Róisín would change about the Rose of Tralee, what makes New York Irish different from Irish America at large, the most influential figures in her life, and even an account of her first visit to the Ploughing Championships. 

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

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Ambassador Byrne Nason has led a distinguished career as a Public servant for many years now. Prior to her appointment as Ambassador to the US, she held the title of second Secretary General in the department of the Taoiseach from 2011 to 2014, as Ambassador to France from 2014 to 2017, and Ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2022. It was during this time that she led Ireland to a seat on the UN Security Council, the organ of the United Nations charged with promotion and maintenance of international peace and security.

Today, we explore the ambassador’s entry into diplomacy, the abolition of the marriage ban and how it opened up Ireland’s diplomatic service, the role of the United Nations, the shortcomings of the VETO power held by permanent UN Security Council members, Ireland’s disproportionate influence in the halls of American power, and the Ambassador offers advice to Irish Diplomats of future years.

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

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

John has been one of Ireland’s preeminent film and TV producers for many years. After studying law in UCD and doing a master's in Drama in the US, John returned to work as a producer, director, and ultimately as the controller of programs at RTE. Subsequently, he would serve as the editor of the Sunday Tribune and set up his own production company, Fastnet Films.

In 2003, after public consultation, John was appointed as the nation’s Film Censor. Since its establishment soon after the birth of the state, this office held and exercised the power to cut, ban, and otherwise censor films in the republic if they were found to be “contrary to public morality” or otherwise “deprave or corrupt” - usually, this constituted anything contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Though it had liberalised somewhat in the years preceding his tenure, John’s monumental efforts brought about the modernisation of the office for the 21st century. Changing the office, in his words, from “guard dog to guide dog,” IFCO was renamed from the “Irish Film Censor’s Office” to the “Irish Film Classification Office.” In effect, banning films was out of the question. IFCO went from deciding what content was morally pure for the population to watch - and censoring accordingly - to simply assigning age classifications to movies, allowing citizens to exercise their own discretion as to what content was fit for their personal consumption.

Today, John is as active as ever in the film and TV industries. Recent productions of his company, John Kelleher Media, include “The Guarantee,” “Mammal,” and “The Sparrow.” He is currently working on a new film with Charlie Bird, “Ransom 79.”

We discuss that film in today’s episode. We talk about the history of IFCO, some of the more absurd examples of historical censorship, his own experience growing up in Ireland under that censorship, and about his own time at the helm of the IFCO, his reforms during that time, and his career in production. Finally, John shares parting words with a generation of Irish that have never known film censorship.

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

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

Noel began his career in the arts as band manager of the Dubliners. He then moved onto the theatre industry, producing shows in Dublin, Broadway and the West End and serving as director of the Abbey theatre in the 1980’s. Noel then moved into film production. His first Movie, My left Foot, was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two. 

He would go onto produce other contemporary classics, such as the Field and Dancing at Lughnasa, and remains fiercely active in the industry despite a low media presence.

In this episode, we discuss his unlikely career in the arts. We talk about the role of a producer, their relationship with actors and directors, about the influence of published critics, the legacy of the Dubliners, of my left foot, and his other works. We delve into the difference between the music, film and theatre industries, how financiers impact art, and Noel offers some advice for the next generation of Irish artists. 

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

Timestamps:

1:20 The Role of a Producer

1:50 The Producer’s Relationship with Actors and Directors

2:20 Richard Harris’ Casting in The Field

3:15 The Role of The Bull McCabe

4:52 Director Relationship in Theatre vs Film

4:35 The Power of Published Critics

7:08 The Cultural Impact of My Left Foot

8:20 Lack of Experience in Film and it’s Advantages

9:35 The Renaissance of Irish Art

11:42 Financing Film

13:17 Picking the Team that made My Left Foot

14:50 Daniel Day Lewis as Christy Brown

16:04 Acting on the stage vs on the screen

17:15 Advice to the next Generation of artists

17:50 Young Noel’s Ambitions and The Dubliners

20:57 Difficult Projects

20:40 Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa

23:20 The Achievement of Writing a Play

23:50 Most Underrated of Noel’s Works

25:00 Future Projects

25:50 Samuel Beckett

26:58 On Regret

27:35 Required Consumption for Young Irish People

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Mick Clifford is special correspondent with the Irish Examiner. Awarded NewsBrands Journalist of the year in 2016 and Journalist of the year by Tonight with Vincent Browne in 2014, he was at the vanguard of breaking the Maurice McCabe whistleblower story. He has authored several fiction and non-fiction books, including “A Force For Justice: The Maurice McCabe Story”, “Bertie Ahern and The Dromcondra Mafia”, and “Unlocked: An Irish Prison Officer’s Story”. He hosts his own podcast weekly, “The Mick Clifford Podcast”, with the Irish Examiner.

This episode delves into how he got his start in journalism, the status and credibility of Newspapers in the age of Social Media, Ireland’s libel laws, the far-right, corruption and an Garda Síochána, the Irish prison system, the centenary of the Civil War, Bertie Ahern in a new decade, and much more. 

Thank you to EY for their sponsorship and support. 

Timestamps:

0:57 Starting in Journalism

3:36 Newspaper Credibility in the Age of Social Media

8:17 Ireland’s Libel Laws

11:48 News, Opinion, and the blurring thereof 

12:13 The Far-Right in Ireland

22:28 Twitter

25:08 Maurice McCabe & An Garda Síochána

35:11 Reporting in Fearful Conditions

36:27 Prisons in Ireland

42:00 The Civil War Centenary 

48:44 Returning Ministers to their Seats

50:07 Bertie Ahern in a New Decade

54:11 The Effect of Upbringing on Journalism

55:34 Influential Books, Authors and Journalists

57:22 Stories Mick Regrets not Pursuing

58:43 Story Mick is Proudest of

1:00:16 Seeking Out Stories

1:01:07 Favourite Crime Novels

1:01:36 Book Recommendations 

1:03:23 Advice to the Next Generation of Journalists

Introduction Music Credit: Eastern Blokhedz Live at Barbes for WFMU's Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob W

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