Love and Courage
The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Ruairí McKiernan is a multi award winning Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a constitutional advisory body whose members include all former leaders of...
Tue, March 11, 2025
Martin Hayes - Musician and Composer
Martin Hayes is a world-renowned Irish fiddler from Feakle in east Clare, a place steeped in music and tradition. Martin is well known for his distinctive and soulful style of playing that blends traditional Irish music with innovative contemporary interpretations. He’s an iconic figure in Irish music. From his early years winning multiple All-Ireland Fiddle Championships to his celebrated work with the late Dennis Cahill and The Gloaming, Martin is a man who brings great depth, expression and beauty to all that he does. It was a joy to have this chat with him and to hear about his early influences, his years in the US, his thoughts on mediation, music and culture, and his new life in Spain. This episode is also part of my Creative Souls of Clare podcast series, where you can find lots of great conversations with some of County Clare’s leading creative lights. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, September 24, 2024
Adi Roche - Founder of Chernobyl Children International
Adi Roche is the Founder and voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI). Adi is a globally recognized humanitarian and activist who has dedicated nearly 50 years of her life to advocating for peace, social justice, and environmental causes. A native of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Adi’s commitment to helping others was ignited at a young age, inspired by her family's dedication to social justice. She began her journey as a passionate advocate for nuclear disarmament in the 1970s, leaving her job at Aer Lingus to work full-time with the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Her activism took a transformative turn in 1986, following the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Moved by the plight of the children suffering from the aftermath, she went on to found Chernobyl Children International. Under her leadership, CCI has delivered over €108 million in aid and imacted the lives of thousands across Belarus, Ukraine, and Western Russia. This work has included innovative programs like the Rest and Recuperation Program, which has provided sanctuary to over 26,500 children, In addition to her humanitarian work, Adi is a prolific writer and documentary producer. She’s written 2 books and worked on numerous documentaries including working on the Chernobyl Heart documentary and consulting on the acclaimed HBO/Sky Chernobyl series . Her advocacy has also reached the halls of the United Nations, where she has addressed the General Assembly and played a pivotal role in establishing the United Nations International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honorary doctorates, including Irish Person of the Year and European Person of the Year. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Wed, August 21, 2024
Lee Keylock - On Gun Violence, Division, Empathy and Kindness
Lee Keylock is the Director of Global Programs with Narrative 4. Originally from England, Lee has lived in the US for over 30 years. He is a former night club manager turned high school teacher who has a lot to say about social division and why we need to talk about empathy and human connection. A major turning point in Lee’s life was his experience working as a teacher in Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut at the time of the 2012 mass school shooting in which 26 people were shot and killed, 20 of whom were children aged between 6 and 7 years old. The other six were adult staff members. This was a major turning point for Lee that sparked a remarkable journey which eventually led him to become one of the founding figures behind Narrative 4. Lee is recognized internationally as an inspirational leader in championing understanding, education and conversations that have the power to heal and transform our fractured world. www.narrative4.ie and www.narrative4.com Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Wed, July 31, 2024
Mary Lawlor - Human Rights Leader
Dubliner Mary Lawlor is a veteran human rights champion with a fascinating backstory, including a stint in her youth selling encyclopaedias in Canada. After a meeting with Amnesty International co-founder Sean MacBride, Mary got involved in the early days of Amnesty International Ireland, becoming one of their first volunteers while she was running a Montessori school. She served as a board member for several years, including as Chairperson, before serving as the Director of the organization for 12 years. In 2001 Mary founded Frontline Defenders, an internationally respected organisation that supports the security and protection needs of human rights defenders at risk worldwide. In 2015, Mary was appointed Adjunct Professor in the School of Business Trinity College Dublin, and in 2020 she was named the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the French government’s National Order of the Legion of Honour and an honorary doctorate of Laws from Trinity College Dublin. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, July 09, 2024
John Evoy - On Men's Sheds, Bereavement, Addiction, Counselling, Remote Work & More
My guest in this podcast is John Evoy. John is someone I've connected with at different times in the past due through my work in the community. I’ve always found him to be a deep thinker with a big heart. John lives in County Wexford, Ireland, and works as the General Manager of Grow Remote Ireland. He previously worked with social innovation funding body Rethink Ireland, and before that, he was the founder of the Irish Men’s Sheds movement. In this conversation, we talk about his work as well as his rural upbringing, bereavement, the importance of community, the challenges of addiction, the benefits of counselling, men’s mental health, and lots more. Thanks to Love and Courage podcast patrons for your support. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Fri, May 31, 2024
Áine Tyrrell - Australia-based Irish Singer, Songwriter and Musician
Áine Tyrell is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician who grew up in counties Galway and Clare. She’s been living in Australia for over a decade now where she has toured extensively and developed a reputation as a fiercely grassroots and independent artist who is a powerhouse live performer and I highly recommend going to see if you get a chance. Áine’s music connects with so many aspects of our humanity, heartache, loss and suffering, and also resilience, hope, recovery, survival, and overcoming. Aine also courageously shares about her experiences as a single mother, dealing with abuse and gender-based violence and she’s an advocate on these and so many issues including Indigenous rights and solidarity with the people of Palestine. She’s also an important voice for women in music and the challenges of existing and thriving as an independent artist in today’s world. We talk about these issues and more in this conversation which is part of my Creative Souls of Clare podcast series, supported by Creative Ireland Clare. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sat, March 30, 2024
Ann Marie Flanagan - Disability Rights Champion
Ann Marie Flanagan is a disabled human rights activist from County Clare in the west of Ireland. Growing up in a tight-knit, supportive community, she says attitudes towards her physical impairment were generally inclusive. However, that changed when Ann Marie hit the age of 12 and entered secondary school. She says the environment was hostile and exclusionary. Despite the challenges, she went on to flourish, completing an IT degree and getting involved in student activism. She has also completed a Master's in partnership studies and public administration and an advanced diploma in human services management. She has trained as a family systems and person-centred therapist and is completing a Master's in international and comparative disability law and policy at Galway University. Ann Marie is known for her work in co-founding Disabled People of Clare. Her activism and interests have taken her all over the world, including spending time in Ethiopia at the Centre for Independent Living. She is very much tuned into the importance of politics to create change, having run for local elections twice and been nominated as a candidate for the Irish senate, the Seanad, in 2020. Recently, she has been focused on leading research, co-writing, and editing the publication "We Are Human Too," alongside spearheading the "Equality Not Care" referendum campaign. Ann Marie is married to Derek and is a proud mother to 12-year-old Robert. She’s also a former self-described ‘wild child’ who has enjoyed her fair share of raves and parties, and while she works hard, she believes passionately in enjoying life too. Thanks to all podcast patrons and supporters for spreading the word. Chip in here to support www.loveandcourage.org Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, February 20, 2024
John Seed - Legendary 78 year old Australian environmental activist
John Seed is a 78-year-old world-renowned Australian environmental educator, author, activist, artist and filmmaker. A recipient of the Australian government’s Order of Australia medal, John is the founder and director of the Rainforest Information Centre and, since 1979, has been involved in 100s of campaigns and education initiatives that have protected remaining rainforests and helped humanity rethink our relationship with nature. John and his family first came to Australia as Jewish refugees who experienced incredible hardship and devastating loss during the Nazi occupation of Hungary. They went on to create a new life in Australia, where John’s mother, Judy Cassab, went on to become one of Australia’s most celebrated painters. John also has an artistic flair, and he and his mother had an exhibition together during the final years of Judy’s life. John has had a fascinating and adventurous path in life. After a short career in computing with IBM, John joined the hippy trail, travelling overland through Afghanistan and onto India, where he studied meditation before arriving back in Australia and co-founding an intentional community in Bundjalung Country, and the Northern Rivers ‘rainbow region’ of Northern NSW at Bodhi farm, which still exists to this day. It was here that John found his true calling, or it found him. As you’re about to hear, at the time, outside of Indigenous culture, there was little respect or appreciation for the value of rainforests, and they were being destroyed at an alarming rate. John joined locals in blockading the site at Terania Creek and said the experience at the time was as if nature was speaking to him. The protesters succeeded, and John went on to found the Rainforest Information Centre, a pioneering global organisation that has been instrumental in rainforest protection and conversation throughout Latin America, Cambodia, India, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the South Pacific. His work also helped initiate the creation of the US Rainforest Action Network. John has written and lectured extensively on the concept of deep ecology. With Joanna Macy, Pat Fleming and Professor Arne Naess, he wrote "Thinking Like a Mountain - Towards a Council of All Beings" which has been translated into 12 languages including Korean and Tibetan. In 1987 he co-produced a television documentary, "EARTH FIRST!" for Australian national television about the struggle for the rainforests. In 2003 he spearheaded RIC's endangered species campaign and made the film "On The Brink" with David Attenborough, David Suzuki, Olivia Newton-John and Jack Thompson. You can find that via the Rainforest Information Centre online, as well as lots of other great videos, including one of John in conversation with Ram Dass in 1992. In 2021 – after an arduous and prolonged struggle with life-threatening cancer, John got back in the saddle and jumped straight into action. Some of his ca
Wed, May 03, 2023
Rev Tim Costello - Renowned Australian Humanitarian
Tim Costello is one of Australia's most well-known and respected community leaders. In recent times he was voted one of Australia’s 100 national living treasures. A recipient of Victorian of the Year and Victoria's Australian of the Year accolades, as well as an Officer of the Order of Australia, he is an influential leader on a range of social issues, including the huge harm caused by the scourge of gambling in Australia. Tim is a previous longtime CEO of World Vision Australia and has helped lead the response to some of the greatest humanitarian disasters of recent times, including the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. A former Lawyer, Tim is a man with many hats. He’s the Director of Ethical Voice, Executive Director of Micah Australia, Chair of the Community Council of Australia, Senior Fellow for the Centre for Public Christianity, and Chief Advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform. He is also the Chief Advocate of the Thriving Communities Partnership and Patron of the National Youth Commission. He’s also the author of several books, including his excellent memoir, A Lot with a Little, which I highly recommend. I particularly enjoyed the section of that book that describes Tim and his wife Merridie’s journey in building a congregation at St Kilda Baptist Church and an accompanying drop-in centre and outreach program. It was from here that Tim’s advocacy grew and he later went on to become the Mayor of St Kilda, where he developed a reputation as an outspoken social and political voice for change, a voice that is very much a voice of love and courage. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sat, December 31, 2022
Don O'Leary - Director of Cork Life Centre
This episode features a conversation with Cork man Don O'Leary. Don is the Director of the Cork Life Centre, which is a voluntary organization established over 20 years ago to offer an alternative learning environment to young people aged 12-18 who have not thrived or coped in a mainstream educational setting. I have visited the centre as a guest speaker in the past and witnessed first-hand the loving and creative environment in which young people can flourish. The centre has struggled to receive state support and recognition and the first few minutes of the podcast include some updates and insights from Don concerning the battle to stay open in recent months despite the centre winning widespread acclaim, and being the feature of a major TV documentary, among other accolades, which has included Don receiving an honorary doctorate from University College Cork. There's lots more in this conversation including Don's reflections on a lifetime of youth and community work and social activism, his thoughts on the recent tribute concert for him by folk music legend and previous podcast guest Christy Moore, and lots on his critiques of social, economic and education inequalities. Don also shares openly about his experience of living with a terminal illness and how he has responded to that challenge with great grace, strength and dignity. There's so much we didn't get to talk about including his overland visit to Ukraine as part of an Irish community fundraising and war relief effort. At the heart of the conversation is a passionate appeal for greater care, support, love and investment in children and young people, especially those that are on the margins. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, November 28, 2022
Wallis Bird - Musician and Songwriter
Wallis Bird is one of my favourite artists and perhaps my favourite all-time performer. Originally from Wexford Ireland, Wallis has been based in Berlin Germany for over a decade. She has 7 albums to her name including her latest called Hands, which is in many ways is a celebration of uniqueness and difference. The origin story goes back to when Wallis was 18 months old 5 of her fingers were severed in a lawnmower accident. 4 were sown back on meaning she ended up losing one and from then on was forced to do things differently to many people, including how she learned to play the guitar. And for anyone that has seen her play, she truly is a force of nature. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sat, November 26, 2022
Wallis Bird - Musician and Songwriter
Wallis Bird is one of my favourite artists and perhaps my favourite all-time performer. Originally from Wexford Ireland, Wallis has been based in Berlin Germany for over a decade. She has 7 albums to her name including her latest called Hands, which is in many ways is a celebration of uniqueness and difference. The origin story goes back to when Wallis was 18 months old 5 of her hands were lost in a lawnmower accident. 4 were sown back on meaning she ended up losing one and from then on was forced to do things differently to many people, including how she learned to play the guitar. And for anyone that has seen her play, she truly is a force of nature.
Wed, October 12, 2022
Michael Barron - Human Rights Activist, Founding Director of BelongTo (LGBTI+ org)
My guest in this episode I Michael Barron. Michael is a well-known Irish human rights activist originally from rural Co Kilkenny where he grew up as a young gay man dancing to Madonna while many of the other boys focused on hurling and sports. He shares some fascinating stories and insights from that time in his life and his coming of age in Dublin and New York. Michael is currently working as the Executive Director of the Rowan Trust, which is an important independent foundation that funds important social movements, campaigns and initiatives. Since the 1990s Michael has worked with communities pushed to the margins - as a front-line youth and community worker, an executive director of a number of national organisations, a researcher, a grantmaker and a campaigner. As well as being an activist, hes also a great thinker and a bit of a scholar – he has a PhD in the social sciences and he tells me he’s also working on a book. I first met Michael when he was working as the founder and Executive Director of the BeLonG To, a pioneering LGBTI+ organisation that does amazing work with young people in Ireland. Michael went on to play a leading role in the Marriage Equality referendum he also headed up a campaign to remove the so-called Catholic baptism barrier from Irish public schools in 2018 - both major milestones in our recent history. As you’ll hear now, Michael doesn't shy away from taking on important issues such as the separation of church and state, Trans rights, and the rise of the far right. We also reflect a lot in this on our shared experiences of working in the non-profit sector, some of the trials and tribulations, and the importance of authenticity, creativity, and self-care. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, August 28, 2022
Eugene O'Brien - Playwright, Screenwriter, Former Actor
Eugene O'Brien is a playwright, screenwriter, and former actor originally from County Offaly in the Irish midlands. He has written for the stage, screen and radio. His work includes the critically acclaimed TV drama Pure Mule , winner of five IFTA Awards, and which, according to the Irish Times , ‘spectacularly raised the bar for Irish TV drama’. The show was inspired by his play Eden , which debuted at the Abbey Theatre and has since played the West End and Off-Broadway. At the time of recording, Eugene is on the cusp of a creative wave with a new play called Heaven, a film called Tarrac, and a new book, his first novel, which is called Going Back. Eugene is someone hugely dedicated to his craft and to the role of the artist in exploring ideas and understanding in society and we cover this and so much more in this conversation. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, July 24, 2022
Grace Dyas - Artist, Activist, Director, & Performer
My friend Grace Dyas is still relatively young but she’s already something of an Irish legend. Grace is an artist, activist, writer, director, producer, and performer. Originally from south inner-city Dublin, she now lives on the Inis Oirr, one of the beautiful Aran Islands off the coast of County Galway. Grace has an incredible portfolio of work and award-winning achievements to her name. She has created films, plays, live performances and large-scale projects with people who had never done art before. She has made art about all facets of addiction, and topics such as sex work, social housing, political conflict and corruption, abortion, and the legacy of Church and State abuse in Ireland, mostly with survivors of Magdalene Laundries. Grace writes on her website, “I make art because I know it changes lives for the better”. We’re going to dive into some of these areas and more in this rich conversation. We also talk a good bit about emotional health and some of the challenges Grace has been through and I want to say if you find yourself in need of help or support, please do reach out to a friend, a GP, a relevant helpline, or support service in whatever country you are in. It’s also important that we look out for each other these days when so many people are under pressure. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Wed, June 08, 2022
John Connell (returns) - writer, producer, farmer
I’m delighted to welcome John Connell back to the podcast. This is his second time on the podcast and it was great to catch-up with him. John is a multi award winning bestselling author, journalist, producer and farmer. He writes a weekly column for the Irish Independent newspaper and lives and works in Longford in the Irish midlands. His newest book is called the Stream of Everything and it’s a bestseller, as were his previous 2 books – The Running Book and the Cow Book. John is a deep thinking man with plenty of insightful stories and reflections to share and I’d also encourage you to check out the previous episode with John from September 2020. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, May 10, 2022
Kindred Motes - Social Justice Advocate and Entrepreneur from Alabama
Kindred Motes is an award-winning social impact entrepreneur and an inspirational voice for change from working-class, rural Alabama in the southern United States. After approximately a decade working with some of the world’s leading social justice organizations, Kindred recently established the Washington DC based KM Strategies Group to support organizations working for social impact and positive change. I first encountered Kindred when he was working with Wallace Global Fund and I was struck by his intellect, passion, and drive, and his deep commitment to change on many issues such as LGBTQI+ rights, which has been informed by his own experiences growing up gay in the Deep South. Kindred is also passionate about mental health supports, immigration reform, democracy, participation, and amplifying citizen voices in general. He also has a lot to say on the topic of burnout and wellbeing, and how we can create healthier and more appealing workplace cultures. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, April 11, 2022
Noeline Blackwell - Human Rights Lawyer and CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
Noeline Blackwell is the CEO of Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. Noeline has worked for several decades as a solicitor and previously as Director General of FLAC, the Free Legal Advice Centres, She’s a powerful voice for change in so many areas of society, not least sexual violence. Website E-newsletter | Twitter Instagram Facebook LinkedIn Book Patron Love and Courage Podcast Creative Souls of Clare Podcast | My No.1 bestselling book available direct or from main retailers. Info 'Hitching for Hope - a Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ireland' Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sat, March 12, 2022
Tara Flynn - Actor and Writer
My guest is this episode is someone I’m been keen to talk to for white a white. Tara Flynn is much loved Irish actor and writer and is well known for her leadership in the campaign to repeal the 8 th amendment in Ireland, as well as her various books, articles and creative productions. Tara is the co-host of a popular BBC podcast called Now You’re Asking with Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn, something to add to your podcast radar if you haven’t come across it yet. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, February 01, 2022
Johann Hari - Bestselling Author of Stolen Focus, Lost Connections, Chasing the Scream
Johann Hari is well known as the author of international bestsellers Chasing the Scream about the failure of the so-called war on drugs and Lost Connections, which explores depression, anxiety and the importance of social connection in our lives. Lost Connections was described by the British Journal of General Practice as “one of the most important texts of recent years”, and shortlisted for an award by the British Medical Association. Johann’s latest book Stolen Focus ‘why you can’t pay attention’ uncovers the reasons behind our shortening attention spans and how we can start to reclaim our focus, our minds, and our humanity. The book is creating a huge stir globally and has attracted praise from reviewers and people such as Eve Ensler, Stephen Fry, Susan Cain, Emma Thompson, and Gabor Mate. Johann has had tens of millions views of his two TED talks ‘Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong’ and ‘This Could Be Why You Are Depressed or Anxious’ . He is also an award-winning journalist and he has written over the past decade for some of the world’s leading newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, the Spectator, Le Monde, the Melbourne Age, and Politico. He is a regular panellist on HBO’s Realtime With Bill Maher. I first met Johann back in November 2018 in Dublin when he was on tour with Lost Connections. You can listen to my conversation with him in the archives of this podcast so consider that as a listen for after you listen to this one. It was great to talk to Johann again recently and I was really struck by his clarity of thought and his passion for change is one of the most important issues of our time. I’d encourage you to give this episode your full attention, and indeed your full focus, and please share this episode far and wide. Also please consider rating and reviewing the Love and Courage podcast, subscribing through your app to receive updates, and chipping in as a once off or monthly patron at LoveandCourage.org. You support helps me bring important voices like Johann’s to the world. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Wed, December 22, 2021
Keith Walsh - Writer and Broadcaster
Keith Walsh is a popular writer and broadcaster. Keith is also the host of the popular Keith Walsh podcast and at the time of recording he had just completed a tour of his debut play, titled Pure Mental, which you’ll hear about shortly. We also get talking Keith’s 20-year career in radio, his thoughts on success, therapy, relationships, parenting, alcohol, masculinity, and lots lots more. A huge thanks as always to all you wonderful patrons and supporters who chip in to support the podcast over at LoveandCourage.org. As always, your support in promoting, sharing, rating and reviewing the podcast is hugely appreciated, especially as it helps get voices like Keith’s out into the world. If you're new to the podcast, please be sure to hit subscribe in your app to be notified of upcoming episodes and have a look through the archive of great conversations once you finish this one. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, November 21, 2021
Sarah Clancy - Poet and Activist
Sarah Clancy is a well-known poet, activist and commentator who works in community development in County Clare where she now lives. Sarah grew up in Galway immersed in the world of ponies and horses which led her to working all over Ireland and later in Australia and New Zealand. Although she dabbled in poetry in her youth, it wasn’t until her 30s that she really found her poetic voice. And when she did, things really took off. It wasn’t long before she was winning awards, performing on major stages and on radio. She also released 3 separate poetry collections, published by Lapwing Press and Salmon Poetry. During this same period Sarah delved deeper into the world of social justice, both through academia, and through community organising and campaigning. This is when I first met Sarah. I was running the SpunOut youth organisation which was based in Galway at the time. We ended up involved in different campaigns together and over the years I always found her to have one of the sharpest and most insightful minds I’ve ever encountered. This conversation covers a lot of ground and although it’s a long one, it’s worth going the distance and listening to the end, or perhaps in different sittings. In it, we talk about Sarah’s early years, her travels, some of the campaigns she has been involved in, as well as her courageous and difficult personal journey of reporting the man who abused her. Sarah also talks about how poetry helped her navigate this particularly turbulent period, as well as discover an unexpected platform for social and political expression. I had a couple of minor issues with the online sound recording which resulted in me turning my microphone down but in general the quality should be okay. I’m working on improving the overall sound recording for remote recordings and appreciate your support and patience while I work on this. As always, your support in promoting, sharing, subscribing, rating and reviewing the podcast is hugely appreciated, especially as it helps get voices like Sarah’s out into the world. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, October 19, 2021
Anne Rynne - Singer, Songwriter, Community Stalwart
Anne is a singer, songwriter and community stalwart living in Miltown Malbay not too far away from me here in County Clare on the wild west coast of Ireland. Anne took up the guitar in her 60s and since then has created and released 2 albums. It might be no surprise that music was calling Anne given her family background. She grew up in Co Kildare in the same household as two famous Irish folk musicians, Luka Bloom and Christy Moore. Anne is hugely respected in her community as a real force for love and courage. This episode was originally created for my other podcast, the Creative Souls of Clare podcast, and it got a great response so I thought Love and Courage listeners might enjoy it too. It was recorded over Zoom during one of the lockdown periods so the video version is also available if you just look up Anne Rynne Creative Souls of Clare. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, September 12, 2021
Declan O'Rourke - Singer-songwriter and author
Declan O’Rourke is one of Ireland’s finest singer-songwriters and musicians and is respected and loved by music lovers around the world. He has received praise from the likes of John Prine, Paul Weller and other luminaries. Declan has created 7 excellent albums, including the latest Arrivals, which I have to say is one of my favourite albums of recent years. A truly stunning piece of art for your ears. Do check that out. Declan is also wise and informed voice when it comes to history and social issues, as evidenced in his 2017 album Chronicles of the Great Irish Famine. Continuing with the theme of An Gorta Mór, the great hunger, and showing he is a man of many talents, Declan is about to release his first book, a novel of historical fiction called The Pawnbroker’s Reward. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Thu, July 29, 2021
Colm O'Gorman - Author, Activist, Amnesty Director, Charity founder
Colm O’Gorman is an author, activist, cook, charity founder, and lots more. Colm is one of Ireland’s best known activists. Colm O’Gorman was born in Wexford, Ireland in 1966. He’s from a farming background and spent the first eleven years of his life in the village of Adamstown before moving with his family to Wexford town in 1977. He left Wexford in 1984, living in Dublin for a few years before moving to London in 1986. He has had an impressive list of jobs and careers to date. He previously worked as a waiter, a barman, a charity fundraiser, a hair salon manager, a security guard, a coat check attendant, a radio dj, a cook, a restaurant manager and a mini cab driver before he finally decided to get serious about a single career and train as a therapist. He qualified as a physical therapist in 1994, and as a psychotherapist in 1996. He worked initially in private practice before founding the organisation One in Four in 1999 to support women and men who have experienced sexual violence. In 1998 he launched a legal case against the Roman Catholic Church as a result of his experiences of sexual abuse at the hands of one of its priests when he was a teenager. He went on to sue the Bishop of his home diocese of Ferns and the Pope. In 2002 he took part in a BBC documentary, which told the story of his battle with the Roman Catholic Church. The film, Suing the Pope aired in March 2002 and resulted in the resignation of the Bishop of Ferns Dr Brendan Comiskey. Colm returned to live in Ireland in 2003 to found One in Four Ireland. In his role as Director of One in Four, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Ferns Inquiry, the first state investigation into clerical sexual abuse in Ireland. The inquiry investigated the management of child sexual abuse concerns and allegations by the Catholic Church and by State authorities. In 2005 he helped to establish Gorey Educate Together National School ; a multi-denominational, co-educational, child centred and democratically run primary school. Colm is a regular media commentator and contributor, has written extensively on social justice and human rights. He has made a number of documentary films, including the BAFTA awarding winning A Family Affair (2000), Suing the Pope (2002) and Sex Crimes and The Vatican which he presented for BBC Panorama in 2006. Colm’s work as a human rights defender is driven by a deep commitment to human rights and social justice and an abiding belief in the power of advocacy and activism, which challenges all of us to use our individual and collective voices to demand change where it is most needed. Colm served briefly as a member of Seanan Éireann, the upper house of the Irish parliament. He unsuccessfully contested the 2007 Irish general election and discovered that electoral politics was most definitely not his thing. In February 2008, Colm was appointed Executive Director of Amnesty Internation
Sun, June 27, 2021
Razan Ibraheem - Irish-Syrian journalist and activist
Razan Ibraheem is an Irish-Syrian journalist and activist. She first came to Ireland to do her MA at the University of Limerick and ending up unable to return home after the war started in her native Syria. Razan worked for several years with the Storyful news agency and recently joined Kinzen as a senior editorial analyst researching misinformation on social media. Part of her past work has included contributing additional research to The New York Times visual investigations team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2020. Razan’s deeply personal connection to the tragic situation in Syria prompted her to volunteer on two occasions to help refugees arriving in the Greek islands. Razan is increasingly recognised as a trailblazing force for change and is a recipient of an International Woman of the Year award by Irish Tatler. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, May 09, 2021
Joe Murray - Veteran Human Rights Champion
Joe Murray is the coordinator with Afri – Action from Ireland, which is a small but significant national and independent Irish organisation working for human rights, global justice and environmental action since 1975. Afri’s patron is none other than Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Originally from Ballyglasson, Carrickboy in County Longford, Joe has been with Afri for over 40 years. Not one for the limelight, Joe is highly regarded a humble leader, often quietly working behind the scenes. He has however been recognised in the past with an unsung hero award from Desmond Tutu and a humanitarian award from the Dalai Lama. I’ve known Joe a long time and as you’re about to hear, he’s often reluctant to speak about himself and his work so it was a great honour that he finally accepted my invitation to come on the Love and Courage podcast. This podcast is also available as a video version on YouTube and Facebook. I want to say a big thanks as always to all who chip in to support the podcast, either on a once off or a monthly basis. It helps us reach listeners in over 50 countries and share important voices like Joe’s. If you want to chip in please make a note to head over to www.LoveandCourage.org , it takes just a minute. If you’re new to the podcast, do check out the archive of great conversations, and be sure to hit subscribe on your podcast app. Ratings and reviews are also appreciated, as is recommending the podcast to friends and family and on social media. Thanks also to everyone who continues to support my book Hitching for Hope and for all the support with my wife Susan Quirke’s album launch. Her debut album into the Sea is out about 2 weeks now and it’s been a great success so far with lots of national and regional radio play, features and reviews in the media, and musician lovers buying digital and signed CD copies direct from her via her Bandcamp page www.susanquirke.bandcamp.com. That support matters greatly so thank you all and please do have a listen to the album. It’s Into the Sea by Susan Quirke and you can find out more about Susan, her music, and online learn to meditate classes, over at www.SusanQuirke.com. I end this episode with a song from the album, a track called Home which is about the global refugee crisis. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn an
Thu, April 22, 2021
Colm Mac Con Iomaire - Violinist and Composer
Colm Mac Con Iomaire is an acclaimed Irish violinist and composer. He was a founding member of renowned folk fusion band Kila and, at the age of 19 became a founding member of legendary indie rock band The Frames, which led him to tour the world for up on 30 years. He was also a member of The Swell Season. In recent times Colm has been focused on his solo career and has released three albums to great acclaim. Colm has also performed on albums by numerous other artists including on the White Ladder by David Gray and on O by Damien Rice. He has also written music for several movies, TV, theatre, and dance productions. Colm is a passionate champion of the Irish language and very politically engaged when it comes to cultural, environmental, and social justice issues. He’s a guy who oozes wit and wisdom while staying grounded with a great sense of fun and zest for life. Just to say, this podcast is also available as a video version on the Love and Courage YouTube channel and on my Facebook page, just look up Ruairi McKiernan Hitching for Hope on Facebook. And a heads up. We have a surprise special guest half way through the podcast. Colm’s son Darach makes an impromptu appearance and things go a bit off script for a couple of minutes in case you’re wondering what’s going on. It’s a bit more obvious on the video version. It’s only a couple of minutes but it might be confusing. I chose to not to edit this out as we get talking about Darach soon afterwards and Darach makes another fun reappearance later on. So, back to Colm. I first met Colm 10 years ago when he performed at the POSSIBILITIES summit, which I was involved in organising. The Dalai Lama was the keynote speaker that day, and Colm joined Kila on stage for a musical celebration. A day I’ll never forget. We stayed in touch, and over the years, Colm performed and my and Susan’s wedding, which was an incredible honour, he features in my book Hitching for Hope. In recent times he played on Susan’s debut album Into the Sea alongside some other musical luminaries, including Colm Quearney, Justin Carroll, Graham Hopkins, and Robbie Malone. That’s the big focus for me these days, supporting Susan as her album makes its way into the world. It’s an exciting adventure after several years of working on it. I’m including one of her tracks HOLD ON at the end of the podcast for you to enjoy, you’ll hear Colm working his magic on it, so consider hanging back to listen after the conversation with Colm. I’m pleased to say things are shaping up nicely with national and regional airplay for recent singles and people getting behind her by buying digital and signed CD copies of the album via Bandcamp. It’s so important to support independent musicians like Colm and Susan. These days we listen to so much fantastic music, but it’s not always easy for the artist to make money to pay for the costs of recording, production, and album releases, especially now during Covid times when there are no g
Thu, March 25, 2021
Noelle Brown - Actor, Playwright, Campaigner on Mother and Baby Homes
Noelle Brown is a well-known Irish actor, playwright, and activist. Noelle was born in the Bessborough Mother and Baby Home in Cork and much of our conversation centres around her campaign work to advance the rights and voices of Mother and Baby home survivors. Mother and Baby Homes were institutions mostly run by the Catholic church where pregnant women who were unmarried were sent to have their babies. These institutions were established in 1922, the same time as the foundation of the state, and the last one didn’t close until as recently as 1998. In that time, tens of thousands of women were sent to these institutions. Many of the women, incarcerated against their will in often cold and cruel conditions, were under the age of 18. Some were as young as 12. Some were the victims of rape. The Irish state, which in many ways modelled itself as a catholic state, had the world’s highest proportion of women sent to such institutions in the 20th century. At the heart of this regime was a dominant moral and religious code which deemed these women to be somehow impure and lesser, and their children, for some reason, were to be seen as illegitimate, despite the creed that we’re all God’s children. It is estimated that 15% of babies born in these homes died. At one point an inspection of the Bessborough home revealed a 82% infant mortality rate. These children were often buried in unmarked mass graves such as that discovered in Tuam, Co. Galway. One of those buried there was a relative of mine by the name of Peter Malone, someone my family only recently found out about thanks to the campaigning of historian Catherine Corless. Large numbers of children were sold to foreign couples, often in secret deals and against their parents’ wishes. Many of those born in the homes are unable to access their birth certificates, despite years of trying. Many, like Noelle, never got to meet their birth parents, and were often blocked by the authorities and the relevant institutions from doing so. Another guest on this podcast, Joseph Farrell, talks about his story in a previous episode that is worth checking out. At the time of recording this episode Noelle was fresh from running a powerful St Patrick’s Day production at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin called Home where the testimonies of survivors were given voice on the stage of the national theatre. This was in the wake of a controversial report from the Mother and Baby Home commission. Noelle is a hugely important voice on all of this and brings great depth, passion, insight and humanity to her work and her activism. We also talk about her life as an actor and a playwright. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: <a href='http://www.ruairimckier
Mon, February 22, 2021
Tony Griffin - Writer, Charity founder, Former Sports Star
Tony Griffin is a writer, speaker, co-founder of the Soar Foundation which does amazing youth empowerment work throughout Ireland, and he’s a former sports star who played hurling for his native County Clare and he is the recipient of a prestigious all-star award. I talk to Tony on the day his new book The Teenagers Book of Life is released into the world and we explore his own childhood, his days playing for Clare, his charity cycle across Canada, his views on what it means to live a good life, and so much more. Video version of this conversation available on YouTube. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, February 15, 2021
Syrian refugee campaign and life during lockdown - My interview on the United Ireland podcast
This is a crosspost of an interview I did on Una Mullally and Andrea Horan's United Ireland podcast. In it, I talk about a campaign I lead concerning Syrian refugees in Longford and other topics such as life during lockdown. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sat, January 30, 2021
Michael McCaughan - Writer
Michael McCaughan is a former Irish Times Latin America correspondent and has spent three decades working and writing in places like Mexico, Cuba and Colombia. He’s the author of several books and his most recent book Coming Home explores his journey to reconnect with the Irish language. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Fri, November 20, 2020
Fr Peter McVerry - renowned homelessness campaigner
My guest in this epsisode is Fr Peter McVerry, a Belfast born Jesuit priest who grew up in Newry, County Down before moving to Dublin. After his ordination in 1975 he lived and worked in summerhill in North Dublin and came face to face with homelessness, poverty and deprivation. He went on to set up a trust to help struggling young people, including those facing addiction. This work started life in a 3 bedroom apartment in Ballymun and later became the Peter McVerry Trust which grew to include hostels, apartments, a detox centre and other services for people affected by addiction and homelessness. It is now one of the largest and most important organisations of its kind in Ireland. Fr McVerry has consistently been one of the most outspoken critics of government policy on housing and homelessness and is one of Ireland’s most respected campaigners and activists, a man who is very much walking his talk. It was great to get the time with Peter over Zoom and you can see the video version of this episode over on the Love and Courage YouTube channel or on my Facebook page, just look up Ruairi McKiernan – Hitching for Hope. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, October 20, 2020
Bronagh Gallagher - Renowned actress, singer, songwriter
Bronagh Gallagher is one of Ireland’s best-known actors and musicians. Originally from Derry city, she famously starred in the classic Irish movie the Commitments and has had roles in films such as Pulp Fiction, Star Wars and Sherlock Holmes, in numerous TV shows including Holby City and Moone Boy, and in stage in productions such as War Horse. A prolific singer, songwriter and musician, she has several albums to her name and has collaborated with the likes of Brian Eno. Thanks to all Love and Courage podcast patrons for supporting this episode. You can support over at www.loveandcourage.org . Please share this episode if you like it. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, September 15, 2020
John Connell - author, journalist, playwright, film producer
John Connell is an award-winning Irish author, playwright, journalist, and film producer. A native of County Longford in the midlands, John is from a rural farming background, something that has greatly influenced his work and thinking, as you'll hear in this conversation. John spent several years living and working in Australia where he was a university lecturer, the founder of a media production company, and an investigative journalist. His last book, the Cow Book (called the Farmers Son in the US) was a number 1 bestseller and spent over 6 months in the charts. At the time of speaking to him John was busy working on his first TV drama, featuring BAFTA winner Stephen Rae, while preparing for the release of his new book The Running Book, which you're about to hear more about. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Fri, July 31, 2020
Easkey Britton - surfer, scientist, author & film-maker
Easkey Britton is a scientist, surfer, writer, artist and film-maker with a PhD in Environment and Society. Her work explores the relationship between people and nature, especially the sea. A life-long surfer, her parents taught her to surf when she was four years old and she channels her passion for surfing and the sea into social change. Her work is deeply influenced by the ocean and the lessons learned pioneering women’s big-wave surfing in Ireland and introducing the sport of surfing to women in Iran, which led her to be invited to give an inspiring TEDx talk: Just Add Surf. Passionate about facilitating creative & collaborative processes, she founded Like Water , a platform to explore innovative ways to reconnect people and nature, especially through water and she also designs and organizes a variety of leadership retreats, summits and programmes, including the annual wavemaker retreat in Portugal. Easkey currently lives in County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland and is working on her next book after just finishing her memoir, which we talk about in this conversation. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, June 30, 2020
Ibrahim Halawa - Finding hope after 4 years in an Egyptian Prison
Ibrahim Halawa is a 25-year-old law student from Tallaght in Dublin, Ireland. Between the ages of 17 and 21 he was wrongfully imprisoned in an Egyptian prison after being arrested during a visit to Cairo in 2013. The trip coincided with pro-democracy protests which had swept the country and led to hundreds of civilians being killed by the forces of the military-led government of General el-Sisi. I was involved in campaigning to free Ibrahim from prison and it was great to finally get the chance to talk with him about his experiences, his insights, and his incredible story. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Ibrahim Halawa. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Fri, May 29, 2020
Mary Reynolds - Environmentalist, Author, Activist
Mary Reynolds is an Irish author, former landscape designer and nature activist, known for being the youngest contestant to win a gold medal at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. She became highly sought after in the world of garden design but later gave it up to explore new ways of looking at life and work in relation to ecology. A film inspired by her story was released in 2015 and in 2016 her book The Garden Awakening was published. Her work has attracted praise by Jane Goodall and other major figures. More recently Mary is the founder of the We Are The Ark movement which promotes rewilding land by returning gardens to nature in order to increase biodiversity. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, May 10, 2020
'Make life beautiful' - an interview with Ruairí
Ruairí McKiernan interview with Dave Fanning on RTÉ 2fm Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, April 20, 2020
Andrew Boyd - trailblazing author, humorist & campaigner
Andrew Boyd is an American author, humorist and veteran of creative campaigns for social change. He led the decade-long satirical media campaign Billionaires for Bush. He co-founded Agit-Pop Communications, an award-winning “subvertising” agency, as well as the netroots social justice movement The Other 98%. He's the author of four books: Beautiful Trouble , Daily Afflictions , Life’s Little Deconstruction Book and the Activist Cookbook , and the forthcoming I Want a Better Catastrophe: Hope, Hopelessness and Climate Reality . He lives in New York City. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, March 30, 2020
Hope and healing in troubled times
A short interviewed with podcast host Ruairí McKiernan recorded on the Today FM Last Word show with Matt Cooper. Discussing community, connection, resilience and hope in the context of the release of Ruairí's book Hitching for Hope - a Journey into the Heart and Soul of Ireland. www.hitchingforhope.com Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, March 02, 2020
Joe Farrell - from Irish mother & baby home to New York playwright
Joe Farrell on the Love and Courage podcast. Joe Farrell was born in an Irish mother and baby home in Ireland in 1960 where he lived with his mother who had been sent there as an unmarried mother. He lived there for the first 2 years of his life before being adopted by an Irish American family and brought to the United States. This is the remarkable story of his life and his quest for identity, understanding, and peace. Joe is a writer who supports his work by working in the New York city restaurant business. His forthcoming play is about his time as a student in an all-boys Jesuit High School. It is titled ‘Now, and At The Hour’. He also has another upcoming stage play titled ‘The Original’ about his search for an original photo of his birth mother and subsequent discovery and meeting of her surviving nephews and nieces in County Clare and London. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Thu, January 30, 2020
Tom Prendergast - artist, DJ, ex record label owner
Limerick man Tom Prendergast is an artist, a DJ, a former record store owner, former successful record label co-founder, a passionate community volunteer and so much more. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, December 22, 2019
A story and a song
A few words of reflection followed by a special song. Find links to the song and video by Susan Quirke, newsletter links, donation info etc. via this link: http://linktr.ee/ruairi Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Wed, November 13, 2019
Dearbhla Glynn - Documentary Filmmaker, Photojournalist, Yoga Teacher
Love and Courage podcast with Ruairí McKiernan. Originally from County Cork, Dearbhla Glynn is a multi-award winning documentary filmmaker, photo-journalist, artist, writer and yoga teacher. Her films explore themes of culture, human rights and conflict and have seen her travel to conflict zones around the world including Palestine, DR Congo, Iraq, and Haiti and she has also made films based around the Burning Man festival in Nevada and the Festival in the Desert in Malai. In recent times she has been focusing more on her work as an advanced yoga teacher although at the time of recording this podcast she wasn’t long home from a trip to the Greek island of Lesbos, where people from Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere remain stranded in search of sanctuary. Our conversation explores Dearbhla’s fascinating life journey and I found it really insightful and inspiring to hear how she first found her path and has stayed true to it since. I do want to mention that part of Dearbhla’s work has involved looking at the theme of trauma and in the part of our conversation about Eastern Congo she talks about the devastating reality surrounding sexual violence there. Overall Dearbhla’s story is one of shining a light on the darkness and it’s one I hope many people get to hear. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Thu, October 17, 2019
Mari Kennedy - Meditation, Yoga, & Wisdom Teacher
Originally from Sligo in the north-west of Ireland, Mari is an organisational wellbeing and leadership consultant, an integral facilitator, a mindfulness and meditation teacher, a social entrepreneur, a yoga teacher, and I might add she’s quite a stunning singer too. Mari has worked with former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, with leading companies such as Microsoft and Ernst And Young, and more recently she launched the Celtic Wheel – Radical Wisdom for Contemporary Women, a year-long online programme that has attracted huge interest from women from around the world. www.thecelticwheel.com Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, September 17, 2019
Luka Bloom - folk singer
Luka Bloom is one of Ireland’s best known and most respected contemporary folk artists. Originally from County Kildare, Luka Bloom has been singing and performing since the age of 14. He released his debut album Treaty Stone in 1978 and soon after moved to the Netherlands, where he remains hugely popular. He also previously lived in Washington DC and in New York, where he was signed by Reprise records, the iconic label that signed Tom Petty, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac and so many other greats. Over 20 albums on, Luka Bloom is living not to far from me on the west coast of County Clare while continuing to tour the world. His brother is the folk musician and previous guest of this podcast Christy Moore and his sister Anne Rynne is also a singer, songwriter and musician. I’ve seen Luka perform a number of times now and have always been struck by his unique sound and a real sense of social and ecological consciousness that ripples through his songs. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, August 12, 2019
Peggy Seeger - legendary folk singer & activist
At the time of this interview, the 84-year-old folk singer is still songwriting, touring, entertaining, informing, educating and inspiring as part of the great folk tradition that she embodies so well. Born in 1935 to a folklorist and musicologist father and a mother who was an accomplished composer and music scholar, Peggy has lived her life surrounded by music and the great folk tradition. She learned to transcribe music at just 11 years old and the likes of Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly were visitors to her childhood home in Washington DC. Her brother was the world-renowned singer and activist Pete Seeger who was famously attacked under the 1950s era of McCarthyism that fostered the so-called ‘red scare’ by the U.S government of the time. Peggy has been on the road from a young age, hitchhiking around Europe at age 20, and being invited to perform in places like Russia, China and Denmark in her youth. In 1956 London, at the age of 21, she met her future husband, the legendary folk musician Ewan MacColl and they played a leading role in the British folk revival. The classic song The First Time Ever I saw Your Face was written by Ewan for Peggy.The pair remained together for over 30 years, until MacColl’s death in 1989. In the period that followed, Peggy found love again and formed a civil partnership with Belfast-born New Zealand based singer Irene Pyper Scott and they have been a couple ever since. Peggy plays 5-string banjo, guitar, Appalachian dulcimer, autoharp, English concertina and piano. She has written several hundred songs, covering everything from drugs, to war, hormones, politicians, unions, women, love and ecology. Perhaps her best-known songs include Gonna Be an Engineer (which has become one of the anthems of the women's' movement) and The Ballad of Springhill (about the 1958 Springhill, Nova Scotia, mining disaster, a song famously sung here in Ireland by Luke Kelly. 149 of her songs appear in her songbook, The Peggy Seeger Songbook, Warts and All. Overall, Peggy has made 24 solo records and collaborated with Ewan MacColl and others on countless more. She tells her fascinating life story in her award-winning memoir ‘First Time Ever’ published by Faber and Faber. Peggy is a mother of 3 and grandmother of 9. Now 84, she is still living in England, writing songs and performing. She often plays alongside one of her two sons, Neill and Calum MacColl, who have been playing music with her since their teens. Her daughter Kitty, a graphic designer creates the artwork for her albums. Her daughter-in-law, co-founder of Red Grape Music, Kerry Harvey-Piper, is her manager. Her other daughter-in-law is the musician and member of Dream Academy, Kate St. John, with whom she co-wrote a track on her most recent album, ‘Everything Changes’. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known so
Mon, July 08, 2019
Hugh O'Brien - Legendary Cootehill historian, author, activist & actor
Live public interview with the legendary Hugh O’Brien, or ‘Hugh Barney’ as he’s often known. It was recorded in the Darly School Hall as part of a full house at the Cootehill Arts Festival in my hometown of Cootehill Co. Cavan. Hugh Barney is a 79-year-old historian, educator, actor and community activist. He taught me history and English at secondary school and left a lasting impression on me, as he did so many others. Topics Hugh discusses in this conversation include his childhood and upbringing, his 39 years as a teacher, his views on education, history, politics, religion, spirituality, alcohol, community involvement, and his love for cinema and drama. This is a man who has clearly lived a full life and as you’re about to hear, he continues to do so. Hugh has inspired countless people to think differently and to believe in themselves and so it’s great to be able to share this voice with more people through this podcast, especially international listeners and Cootehill people living and listening all over the world, including my brother Sean Og in China. As well as being the author of 3 books and 3 booklets, Hugh is an accomplished actor, appearing in countless theatre productions, in the acclaimed TV show Fr Ted, and in several movies and documentaries including The Escapist, Ordinary Decent Criminal, Korea, and the Run of the Country. It’s amazing that the one thing we never really got around to talking about was Hugh’s visual impairment. In recent years he has lost his eyesight but that hasn’t held him back. He now uses a stick to get around and he has also mastered phone and computer technology that allows him to stay connected and to keep up with his various projects. Hugh’s wife Noeleen was also an amazing person and she passed away in 2012. I’m a big advocate of listening to and learning from our elders and it was a real privilege to have been chosen by Hugh Barney as his interviewer for this event, which attracted rave reviews. I want to say I feel particularly fortunate that Hugh is in good health and was able to do this interview given that back in 2017 he spent several months in hospital, including a few weeks in intensive care. Hugh was on flying form on the night of the interview and as you’ll hear shortly, it was a real rollercoaster ride that was peppered with some questions from the audience. There was also an interval on the night and I have edited that out. There’s no shortage of laughs throughout the interview and there’s also a good few swear words, particularly in the first part, so keep that in mind if there are sensitive ears listening. It was particularly inspiring to learn more about Hugh’s role in the setting up of Drumlin House. Established by a group of volunteers in 1982, Drumlin House is a pioneering training centre that provides opportunities for young people with special needs to enhance their rights and aspirations. As well as being a traini
Mon, June 03, 2019
Vicky Phelan - cervical cancer campaigner
Originally from County Kilkenny in the South East of Ireland, Vicky is a Limerick based married mother of two who has been at the forefront of exposing the Cervical Check screening scandal in Ireland after being told that she had been given incorrect smear test results. In early 2019 she settled a high profile case with no admission of liability on the part of the laboratory or the health services involved but refused to sign a non-disclosure agreement that sought to silence her. The scandal has affected hundreds of woman and many of those who have been affected have died. This is, without doubt, one of the greatest scandals of modern Irish history and a tragic case study into truth, transparency, power and healthcare. At the time of doing this interview with Vicky, recorded in Doonbeg, Co. Clare on the west coast of Ireland, she had just recovered from a particularly difficult period of bad health but was very much still in treatment and facing a very challenging future. Despite this she took time out to share her life story in the hope that it will lead to much-needed change in the health services and in wider society. The first half of this interview focuses on Vicky’s early life which will give you much deeper insight into her courageous campaigning efforts in the face of huge adversity. Vicky really is a true beacon of love and courage as you’re about to hear in this interview. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, April 02, 2019
David Jan Jurasek - former child refugee, author, therapist, martial arts instructor
David Jan Jurasek is a former child refugee from the former Czechoslovakia. His family escaped the regime there and eventually ended up in Canada where he grew up struggling to make sense of loss and trauma. He eventually turned to creative expression and martial arts to help him channel his emotions before later training as a child and family therapist. He has since become a husband, a father, and co-author of a series of children’s books, and he has helped developed a therapeutic martial arts program called Young Warriors that has been expanding into more than 15 schools. As if that wasn’t enough he also runs an improve company called Inspired Playback Theatre, which focuses on reflecting back, with compassion and empathy, the true stories of diverse audience members who are often not listened to. Recently, David also had a brush with cancer, which he says he has thankfully healed from but it helped him to see more clearly what his life is all about. www.powerfulandloving.com Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, February 19, 2019
Christy Moore
Rare and revealing interview with legendary Irish folk musician Christy Moore exploring his personal life, his music and his politics. Published on Ruairí McKiernan's Love and Courage podcast. ---------- I grew up listening to Christy Moore, as did many Irish people, and indeed people all over the world. He’s a folk singer and musician in the tradition of Woodie Guthrie and so many other greats who write, collect and interpret songs that capture and communicate the struggles and emotions that many of us face. Christy’s songs gave me an education and an insight into areas of life and events in history that I otherwise may not have known about. He also brings great warmth, depth and fun to the mix, offered with a real sense of humanity and connection with the listener. Christy Moore has been singing and performing now for over 5 decades. Think about that, over 50 years making and sharing music. Christy has been named Ireland’s greatest living musician and has recorded almost 30 solo albums and as well as many others as a founder member of legendary groups Planxty and Moving Hearts. Never shying away from the issues of the day, he has had songs banned and faced criticism along the way, but he continues to speak out and stand in solidarity with people, issues and causes that need support. Christy was my number 1 choice of guest when I first started this podcast. He rarely gives interview or discusses his personal life but he nonetheless generously agreed to do an interview with me. As with all of my interviews, this was totally unscripted. I didn’t prepare any questions in advance, preferring to take the approach of this being a conversation based on presence and connection in the moment so what you’re about to hear is very much a free flowing conversation. It was so free flowing that the interview started slightly unexpectedly with Christy announcing to me that he was going to sing a song straight away. I was slightly taken aback as I hadn’t my microphones full set-up and was searching in my bag for something but the moment just took off and pulled me in to the most incredible experience to have Christy sitting there in front of me singing accapella. The song was such a powerful one that you’ll hear by my reaction that I was literally lost for words for a few seconds. This is a really rare and special interview and I hope you enjoy it. I put a lot of work into these podcasts so if you enjoy it please be sure to rate and review the Love and Courage podcast, subscribe to it if you haven’t already, donate if you can, and please please spread the word of this great episode far and wide including on social media where you can tag me. Just search for my name, Ruairi McKiernan, on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter etc. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator,
Tue, February 05, 2019
A short interview with Ruairí
Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Wed, December 12, 2018
Live episode: Caoimhe Butterly, Dr Ursula Barry & Codie Preston
This was a live recording that took place at University College Dublin as part of the UCD Volunteers Overseas annual forum. The theme of the event was The Age of Activism – making space for intergenerational learning and it was sponsored by Concern Worldwide, Comhlamh and UCD international. This wide-ranging conversation featured 3 inspirational voices for change. CAOIMHE BUTTERLY Caoimhe Butterly is, without doubt, one of the most impressive activists I have ever met. She has lived in solidarity with communities in Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti, Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon for over 15 years. She has spent the past five years involved in refugee, undocumented and asylum-seeker support networks in Greece, Lebanon, the Balkans, Calais and Ireland. Now living in Dublin, she is also studying and working in the area of Systemic Psychotherapy, with a focus on collectively experienced trauma. She also makes short documentary films, one of which, ‘The Border’ won the 2016 ICCL Human Rights Film Awards. CODIE PRESTON Codie Preston is from Jobstown in Tallaght and is a past UCDVO volunteer. He studied science in UCD and travelled to Haiti and India with UCDVO. As a young person, he attended Citywise Education, an organisation that promotes education in a fun and engaging way. He continued to stay involved as a volunteer and now sits on the Board of the charity. He has worked as a secondary school teacher for the last 10 years and was involved in the campaign to release Ibrahim Halawa, a former student of his, from prison in Egypt. He is also a recipient of a Youth Award, in the Tallaght Person of the Year awards and has been involved in various other campaigns and believes in young people, education and social justice DR URSULA BARRY Ursula Barry is Associate Professor in social economics and gender studies in the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice in UCD. Ursula has wide-ranging experience as a researcher and policy analyst in the area of gender equality in Ireland, the EU and globally. She has been a committed activist and writer on reproductive justice, gender equality, LGBT issues and human rights in Ireland since the early 1970s and has written extensively on the economic and social situation of women in Ireland. The conversation started with me asking the panel to reflect on the previous speaker at the conference, who was Michael Doorley, who is the Head of Active citizenship at Concern Worldwide. Michael’s talk was a hope-filled speech about his many decades of work for social justice and he’s someone I hope to interview in a future episode. The conversation really gets going after that where each of the guests reflects on their early influences, their journey in creating change, and their hopes for the future. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known
Sun, November 11, 2018
Johann Hari - on depression, happiness & social connection
Ruairí McKiernan interviews Johann Hari, a British writer and journalist whose books have been international bestsellers. Chasing the Scream explored the failure of the global war on drugs and the follow-up book Lost Connections looks at depression and the social links to our mental health and wellbeing. Johan’s TED talk Everything You Think You Know about Addiction is Wrong has been seen by millions of people and he has attracted the support of people like Naomi Klein, Elton John, Glenn Greenwald, Russel Brand and Brian Eno as well as leading voices in the medical field. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, September 18, 2018
Chuck Collins (live) - on inequality, Trump, trees & people power
Chuck is one of America’s leading economic equality campaigners, a Senior Scholar at the Institute of Policy Studies, a co-editor of Inequality.org, an author of several books including his autobiography Born on Third Base, and a longtime advisor to Senator Bernie Sanders. Chuck is also well known for his incredible story of growing up in a life of huge wealth and privilege and how he ended up giving away his fortune. This is something he talks about in this interview as well as discussing topics ranging from Donald Trump and populism, philanthropy, the potential and prospects of people power, and his particular interest in the world of trees. Just to say the main interview was approximately 60 minutes and this is then followed by a questions and answers session with the audience. Some of the questions from the audience didn’t get picked up by the microphones but they should make sense when you hear Chuck respond. It was a great experience doing the live interview from Wynn’s Hotel in Dublin and to meet so many Love and Courage listeners there. We had great music from one of my favourite musicians, Enda Reilly, and it was an added bonus that so many people stayed behind to chat and connect with each other. The live format is something I hope to explore again in the future. You can also watch a video of the event via a link on LoveandCourage.org and on the LoveandCourage.org youtube channel. Thanks as always for your support for the Love and Courage podcast, especially those of you who have been spreading the word and chipping in online at LoveandCourage.org. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, May 22, 2018
Amanda Palmer - musician, author, crowdfunding sensation
Amanda Palmer is a punk rock and cabaret musical legend, a member of the Dresden Dolls, bestselling author of The Art of Asking, and force behind the popular TED talk of the same name. She has made numerous albums, toured the world several times, been a global trailblazer in the world of crowdfunding, and helped shine the light for D.I.Y music success in the modern age. Amanda is married to well-known author Neil Gaiman and they recently had a child together, something we discussed as part of our fascinating conversation. Amanda is a force of nature, a true visionary and rebel and it was a real treat to spend time with her in New York City. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Mon, May 14, 2018
Sr Teresa Forcades - 'Europe's most radical nun'
Sr Teresa Forcades is a Catalonian medical doctor and Benedictine nun. She is an outspoken feminist, a fierce critic of capitalism, pro-choice on abortion, and an influential leader for Catalan independence from Spain. A BBC profile of Sr Forcades referred to her as 'Europe's most radical nun'. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organisation, and co-founded the Uplift organisation. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Spotify , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. ................. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: www.facebook.com/hopehitching Instagram: ww.instagram.com/ruairimc/ Linkedin: <a title='http://www.linkedin.com/i
Sun, February 04, 2018
Luke Concannon - Ed Sheeran's childhood hero
Luke Concannon is a fiercely passionate English singer-songwriter who, with his own record label, has sold millions of records across the world while keeping his feet firmly on the ground. Like so many English artists including Ed Sheeran, Oasis, Morrissey, Lennon and McCartney, Luke grew up in an English household rooted in Irish heritage and the traditions of family gatherings and sing-songs. His band Nizlopi achieved mass fame with their no.1 hit the JCB song which is written as a beautiful ode from a young Luke to his father. Nizlopi had a famously D.I.Y approach and their raw energy inspired a young Ed Sheeran to become one of their biggest fans. Ed cites them as a major influence on him and once spent 2 weeks on the road with the band learning the ropes. He has also recently recorded a song with Luke. After Nizlopi ended, Luke went through a period of reflection and discovery including what he calls a hitch-hiking vision quest to Palestine where he worked a peace worker. Now a solo artist living in Boston, he continues to invest in his music and is a powerful voice for love and justice with his words, his approach to life and his music. Luke and I have some mutual friends and it destined that we would end up meeting. What was originally intended to be an interview in Boston ended up in a random series of events that led us to the home of French artist Veronique Castellanos in Gort in Co. Galway, Ireland. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Tue, January 02, 2018
Marianne Williamson - spiritual teacher, author, activist
World renowned spiritual teacher, author and lecturer Marianne Williamson has for the past 35 years been a popular voice in American public life, featuring extensively on television shows such as Oprah, Larry King Live, Good Morning America and Bill Maher. Originally from Houston, Texas, she is the author of 12 books, four of which have been no. 1 bestsellers, including A Return To Love, a book which led Oprah to become an important champion of her work. Marianne has always had a practical side to her writing, speaking and teaching. In 1989 she founded a meals-on-wheels programme that served homebound people with AIDS and she also co-founded the Peace Alliance. In 2014 she ran for congress but was unsuccessful. However, as you’ll hear in this interview, this hasn’t stopped her political campaigning and by the sounds of it we may not have seen the last of her political ambitions. It was fascinating to learn about her remarkable life story when I sat down with her in her home near central park in Manhattan. I hope you enjoy the interview. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, November 19, 2017
Gara LaMarche - philanthropy for social justice
My guest in this episode is Gara LaMarche who is one of the world’s leading voices on funding and philanthropy for social justice. Originally from Rhode island, Gara was the first in his family to go to college and he became the youngest person ever to serve on an ACLU policy committee. During his college years at Colombia he says he was a reluctant student and spent much of his time teaching at a nursery school in Harlem which he credits as being one of the most formative experiences of his distinguished career. As a former CEO of the Atlantic Philanthropies, a former director of U.S programs for the Open Society Institute, and now the President of the Democracy Alliance, Gara has overseen the investment of tens of millions of dollars into social justice programs around the world. He has also worked with Pen America and Human Rights Watch, and is currently the chair of StoryCorps. I first met Gara several years ago when he was visiting Dublin as part of his work with Atlantic Philanthropies and it was great to catch-up with him again during my recent trip to New York where I interviewed him in the StoryCorp offices in Brooklyn. ........ ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates
Sat, October 14, 2017
Siobhan O'Donoghue - veteran community innovator and activist
Siobhán O’Donoghue is one of Ireland’s leading community change makers. For over twenty years she has been blazing a trail to help improve the lives of others. Originally from County Clare in the West of Ireland, Siobhán is a former nurse who eventually got involved in youth and community work and in advocating for Travellers rights. She is a founding director of the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland which she built up over 11 years, and more recently she has become the founding director of the Uplift campaigning organisation which has become one of Ireland’s most influential forces for people power. I’ve been part Uplift’s founding journey over the past few years and I currently sit on the board and in the course of this I’ve had the good fortune to get to know Siobhan and to learn a lot from her. She constantly amazes me with her endless energy, enthusiasm, and dedication, and what I really love about her is that she manages to keep smiling and have fun in the midst of taking on so many big campaigns and struggles. The sound quality in this interview isn’t great so forgive me for this but I can assure you that you won’t regret listening to this fascinating chat with the wonderful Siobhan O’Donoghue. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. D
Fri, September 29, 2017
Robert Shetterly - artist & Vietnam War draft resister
Robert is an acclaimed artist and draft resister who risked prison for his conscientious objection to the Vietnam War. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1946, Robert is best known for his portrait series “Americans Who Tell The Truth” which he began as a personal response to the U.S war against Iraq. He has painted 100s of Americans who he sees as beacons for truth. People like Amy Goodman, Edward Snowden, Joanna Macy, Noam Chomsky and Pete Seeger. Robert has travelled the world as part of the Americans Who Tell The Truth project and he has now started a non-profit organization that encourages students to explore models of courageous citizenship. I met Robert at the World Fellowship Center, a renowned social justice retreat and conference center in New Hampshire that was founded in 1941 as a place of sanctuary and recreation for people of all religions and races. Robert, who now lives in Maine, shared his fascinating life story with me including incredible stories of the pressures he faced resisting the Vietnam war, the death threats he received as a young teacher in rural West Virginia, his decision to join the back to the land movement and how he became a self-taught artist. Robert spends his time highlighting the courage of others and it was a privilege for me to make time to highlight his courageous journey. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issu
Sun, September 17, 2017
Chas Jewett - Native American Standing Rock activist
Chaz Jewett, or Red Morning Star Woman, a native American woman from the Lakota tribe in central South Dakota. She has been active in the environmental movement since a young age and during her youth she had to overcome abuse and huge suffering in her community. Chas has been a leading light in the Standing Rock movement that inspired the world with its dignified native led resistance to the Dakota access oil pipeline. Chas is a community organiser who is passionate about reclaiming and honouring indigenous rights and traditions and ensuring her community finally starts to be heard. I met up with her during her tour of Ireland organised by Donal O’Kelly, Afri and various human rights and environmental groups. Her visit took place on the eve of the republic’s historic ban on fracking. This was a fascinating conversation with a remarkable woman who I think you’re going to enjoy hearing from. ---------------------- ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. ................. Web: <a title='http://www.loveandcourage.org' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.loveandcourage.org' target='_blank' rel='nofol
Fri, September 01, 2017
Ciaron O'Reilly - veteran peace campaigner & 'Martin Sheen's hero'
Irish-Australian peace activist Ciaron O'Reilly was once described by Martin Sheen as his personal hero. Ciaron grew up in Australia and has spent his life in the Christian anarchist pacifist Catholic Worker movement. Ciaron was mentored by the renowned anti-war priests Frs. Daniel and Philip Berrigan and for over 40 years now he has focused on supporting homeless communities and campaigning on Aboriginal, East Timorese, prisoner and refugee struggles. Part of this campaigning is explored in his book Remembering Forgetting: A Journey of Non-violent Resistance to the War in East Timor. Ciaron has participated in numerous often controversial acts of civil disobedience – including the disabling of a B52 Bomber in New York on the eve of the 1991 Gulf War for which he served 13 months in U.S prisons. His actions also included disabling uranium mining equipment at the Australian Jabiluka mine site in 1998 and a U. S. Navy war plane at Shannon Airport during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. In recent years he has been a friend, bodyguard and solidarity organiser for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and has been a leading light in organising support for US army whistleblower Chelsea Manning. Now in his late 50s, Ciaron shows no sign of slowing down in his activism. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for '
Sat, August 12, 2017
With love from Ruairí : thank you from New York
A few words of reflection from podcast host Ruairí McKiernan. http://www.loveandcourage.org ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairà is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes.  ................. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope . He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.
Sun, August 06, 2017
Kathy Kelly - renowned U.S. humanitarian & peace campaigner
Kathy Kelly is a renowned U.S peace activist, author, a founder member of Voices in the Wilderness and now Coordinator for Voices for Creative Non Violence. Kathy is a long-time resident Chicago where she is heavily involved in community organizing. She has travelled to Iraq over twenty five times, including during the early days of the Iraq war and she has spent time in war torn Afghanistan and Palestine. In the course of her activism Kathy has been arrested over 60 times for her non-violent actions and has served several prison sentences. Now in her mid sixties she continues to travel the world as a courageous voice for peace and a justice. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. ................. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: www.facebook.com/hopehitching Instagram: <a t
Fri, July 28, 2017
Eamon Stack - ex priest turned tech social entrepreneur
Eamon Stack is a former priest who has a background in peace and justice work, including during the northern Ireland conflict. In 2006 he co-founded a charity and social enterprise called Enclude and as chief executive he has led it become the largest IT charity consultancy in Europe and they have now started working in Venezuela and elsewhere. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. ................. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: www.facebook.com/hopehitching Instagram: ww.instagram.com/ruairimc/ Linkedin: <a title='http://www.linkedin.com/in/ruairimckiernan' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%
Fri, July 21, 2017
Ellen Dorsey - Trump, philanthropy and climate change
Ellen Dorsey is the Executive Director of the Wallace Global Fund, a private foundation focused on progressive social change in the fields of environment, democracy, human rights and corporate accountability. It was set up by Henry A. Wallace, a former visionary vice President of the United States who championed what he called the ‘common man’ in the struggle to prevent financial elites attempts to control politics and the planet’s resources. Wallace once said the following words: “I am committed and do renounce the support of those who practice hate and preach prejudice; of those who would limit the civil rights of others; of those who would restrict the use of the ballot.” The world needs this type of leadership more than ever and as you’ll hear now, Ellen is a worthy torchbearer of Wallace’s legacy. A former political science professor, she is a leading campaigner in the movement for divestment from fossil fuels and has helped steer over 155 foundations to divest from coal, oil and gas. She previously worked for Amnesty International and at one stage was Chairperson of Amnesty International USA. She also served on the board of Greenpeace USA and various other leading progressive organisations. Based in Washington DC, Ellen is a powerful voice of hope and justice and I found her take on politics, philanthropy and people power to be refreshing and uplifting. I hope you enjoy this interview with Ellen Dorsey. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phon
Sun, July 16, 2017
Senator Lynn Ruane & Joe Caslin (teacher/artist)
My guests in this episode are Senator Lynne Ruane and Joe Caslin, recorded at the Body&Soul music and arts festival in front of a live audience. Senator Lynn Ruane From Tallaght in Dublin, Lynn is a senator and campaigner for drug reform and other social justice issues, as well as being a powerful voice for many of those unrepresented in our political system. An early school leaver and single mother of two, she got away from a life of drugs and went on to set up addiction programmes before becoming a mature student, a student union leader, and more recently, entering the world of politics as an independent senator. Now in her early 30s Lynne is a passionate force for change. Joe Caslin Also in his early 30s, Roscommon born Joe Caslin is a street artist and school teacher who lives in Tullamore. He made international news with the Claddagh Embrace, a giant street art work featuring two men embracing, which he launched during Ireland’s 2015 marriage equality referendum. Joe is a tireless educator who goes above and beyond for his students. The loss of several of his students to suicide motivated him to create works for a project he called Our Nations Sons. His latest project, The Volunteers, uses large scale provocative street art to draw attention to drug addiction, mental health and the issues affecting Asylum Seekers in the Direct Provision system. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the
Sun, July 09, 2017
Hyeonseo Lee - Escape from North Korea
Hyeonseo Lee was born in 1980 in North Korea, a country she thought was the best on the planet’ until she witnessed great suffering and starvation. At the age of 17, she left her family behind and escaped alone to China. Hiding her identity for ten years, her life in China was far from easy and she eventually decided to flee for South Korea. There she faced further challenges when the authorities initially didn’t believe she was North Korean. Some time later she returned to China where she met her family and travelled to Laos in order to bring them to join her in South Korea. However the family were caught and imprisoned in Laos until an Australian backpacker helped pay for their release. Hyeonseo is the author of an acclaimed book, the Girl with Seven Names, and her TED talk has reached well over 10 million people. While still struggling to adapt to her new freedoms, she travels extensively sharing her story and telling the world about what is happening in North Korea. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. ................. Web: <a title='http://www.loveandcourage.org' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.loveandcourage.org' target='_blank' rel=
Thu, June 29, 2017
Alastair McIntosh - Scottish writer on Trump, Gaelic, ecology & culture
Alastair McIntosh is a well-known Scottish author, Quaker, environmental activist and visiting professor at the University of Glasgow. Born and raised on the isle of Lewis of the west coast of Scotland, the birth place of Donald Trump’s mother, Alastair is a passionate voice for change on land reform, cultural renewal, climate change and global peace and justice. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. ................. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: www.facebook.com/hopehitching Instagram: ww.instagram.com/ruairimc/ Linkedin: <a title='http://www.linkedin.com/in/ruairimckiernan' href='https://exit.sc/?url
Sun, June 25, 2017
Dil Wickremasinghe - overcoming abuse, LGBT rights, & success as a social entrepreneur
Dil Wickremasingheis a broadcaster, comedian, journalist and social entrepreneur who grew up in Italy and Sri Lanka before moving to Ireland 16 years ago. Dil’s incredible journey has involved struggles with her Jehovah’s Witness parents who disowned her in her youth because of her sexuality. Dil is a courageous survivor of childhood abuse and has overcome depression and thoughts of suicide to transform her life in amazing ways. She has been a flight attendant, a dish washer, a recruitment consultant and lots more. Dil arrived in Ireland in June 2000 with little savings and no plan of what she was going to do. Since then she has become a national figure championing social inclusion, love, and justice in a world that so badly needs it. Part of this work is her award winning Global Village national radio show on Newstalk. As if all that wasn’t enough Dil is also the co-founder of the Insight Matters counselling centre which reaches 100s of people on a weekly basis. ........... About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. ................. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. ................. Web: www
Fri, June 16, 2017
John Lillis - amazing journey to hip hop success (Rusangano Family)
John Lillis is a DJ, producer and teacher, based in the West of Ireland. He is one third of the Rusangano Family, a high powered hip hop act who in 2017 won the Choice Music Prize, Ireland’s biggest music award. Growing up in rural County Clare, John immersed himself in music culture - collecting records and entering radio competitions daily. His approach has always been a D.I.Y one and he has been a major part of growing the hip hop movement in Ireland. A passion for community music and event management led him into the field of youth work, an area that has deeply inspired his creative work and thinking. When not touring the world, supporting Snoop Dogg or hanging out with Ed Sheeran, John is back in his beloved Clare helping empower the next generation of musicians. About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: <a title='http://www.facebook.com/hopehitching' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhopehitching' target='_blank' rel='nofoll
Fri, June 09, 2017
Senator Frances Black - singer, campaigner, addiction counsellor
Frances Black is a well known Irish singer, campaigner, politician, addiction counsellor, and social entrepreneur. She achieved fame early in her life as part of Irish folk super group Arcady and then later with her family in the band the Black Family. She featured on the renowned Woman’s Heart album which became the biggest selling Irish album of all time. Frances has recorded a total of 10 solo albums to date and has toured the world including the U.S, New Zealand and Iraq. Frances battled with alcohol dependency in her twenties and went on to become an addiction counsellor before setting up the Rise Foundation in 2009 to support families affected by various forms of addiction. In 2016 Frances surprised many people when she entered the world of politics and was elected as independent Senator. About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: <a title='http://www.facebook.com/hopehitching' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhopehitchi
Fri, June 02, 2017
Ray McGovern - ex CIA analyst reveals all
77 year old New Yorker Ray McGovern is a veteran CIA officer turned peace activist. He was a CIA analyst from 1963 to 1990, including during the administrations of John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and George Bush senior. Ray’s duties included chairing National Intelligence Estimates and preparing the President’s Daily Brief. He received the Intelligence Commendation Medal on his retirement, returning it in 2006 in protest at U.S involvement in torture. In 2011, during a speech at George Washington University by Hillary Clinton, McGovern, stood silently with his back turned during her remarks. This led to him being arrested and badly beaten while the secretary of state continued her speech about the need for freedom of expression in Egypt and Iran. Ray was later added to the State Department's Diplomatic Security list of potential threats. In 2013, McGovern, along with three former winners, gave the Sam Adams Award for integrity in intelligence to Edward Snowden. .................... The Love and Courage podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. www.loveandcourage.org .................... Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review via iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. .................... Direct iTunes link: https://itunes.apple.com/…/po…/love-and-courage/id1235541955 w
Thu, May 25, 2017
Sr. Stan - visionary activist, innovator, mindfulness advocate
Sister Stan is one of Ireland’s most well known and respected social visionaries. She is a founder of four leading Irish organisations - Focus Ireland, the Sanctuary, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and Young Social Innovators. Now in her mid seventies, she has been a tireless voice for justice for over fifty years and has been a huge champion for the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. A former member of the Council of State, a keynote speaker, and an author of numerous books, there is no end to Sr Stan’s achievements and talents. In 2014 Sr. Stan was voted Ireland's greatest woman in a major Irish national newspaper poll. About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: www.facebook.com/hopehitching Instagram: <a title='http://www.instagram.com/ruairimc/' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.i
Sun, May 21, 2017
Chuck Collins - on giving away his fortune and working with millionaires
Chuck Collins is one of America's leading economic equality campaigners. He grew up in Detroit and went to school alongside some of the elite the United States including former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Chuck could perhaps be known as the man who gave away all his money after he chose to give away a massive inheritance in his twenties. Chuck is a powerful voice for justice, he is a Senior Scholar at the Institute of Policy Studies, he's a co-founder of several organisations and projects, an author of several books including his new autobiography: Born on third base. Part of Chuck’s work involves works with millionaires and billionaires to encourage them to share their wealth and he co-wrote a book on this topic alongside Bill Gates' father, William H Gates. I interviewed Chuck at his home in Boston in the run up to the 2016 US Presidential election. Transcript: http://www.ruairimckiernan.com/podcast-episodes/love-and-courage-podcast-chuck-collins8270800 About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. Web: <a title='http://www.loveandcourage.org' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3
Thu, May 11, 2017
Ivor Browne - psychiatry, LSD, spirituality & more
Ivor Browne is an 88 year old retired Irish psychiatrist, author, former Chief Psychiatrist, jazz musician and Professor emeritus of psychiatry at University College Dublin. Educated in Harvard, he is known for his opposition to traditional psychiatry, and his scepticism about psychiatric drugs. Browne has experimented with LSD as part of therapeutic process. Well known friends and supporters include Colm Tóibín, Sebastian Barry, Mary Coughlan. In 1993 he had a famous run in with the Catholic Church when he spoke out in support of Phyllis Hamilton and her children after the Catholic Church denied that her two children were fathered by Fr. Michael Cleary. Ivor’s life is the subject of the 2017 documentary film ‘Meetings with Ivor’ directed by Alan Gilsenan and produced by Tómas Hardiman. About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: <a title='http://www.facebook.com/hopehitching' href='https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.co
Thu, May 11, 2017
Sunny Jacobs - forgiveness and freedom after death row
Sonia 'Sunny' Jacobs spent 17 years in prison, including 5 in solitary confinement, for a crime she didn’t commit. Sentenced to death at the age of 28 for the murder of two police officers in Florida. When she was imprisoned, her two young children were cast into the foster care system. Nearly 17 years after her arrest, Sunny’s conviction was overturned on appeal. Her story, along with those of five other wrongfully convicted death row inmates, became The Exonerated , a play put on by the nonprofit theater, The Culture Project. Sunny is the author of Stolen Time: One Woman’s Inspiring Story as an Innocent Condemned to Death . www.sunnyandpeter.com About the interview: I have been friends with Sunny for several years now and was honoured to be interview her at a Cruinnu Na Casca public event in Newman church Dublin on Easter Monday 2017 as part of a series of events on the theme of freedom organised by Kathy Scott and the team at the Trailblazery. Transcript: http://www.ruairimckiernan.com/podcast-episodes/love-and-courage-podcast-sunny-jacobs-interview About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email ann
Thu, May 11, 2017
A few words of welcome from Ruairí
A short introduction episode where you can find out more about host Ruairí McKiernan, his motivations behind the podcast and what you can expect to hear. About the podcast The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Host Ruairí McKiernan is leading Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut.ie youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a national constitutional advisory body whose members include all current and former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues. Subscribe, download, rate and review v ia iTunes , Stitcher , SoundCloud , YouTube and please spread the word. If you are new to podcasts and have an iPhone, simply use the podcast app on your phone. On Android phones, using the Google Play App download an podcast app such as Podcast Republic and search for 'Love and Courage' and then click subscribe. Download each episode individually, subscribe for updates and sign-up for email announcements about new guests and episodes. Web: www.loveandcourage.org Twitter: @loveandcourage Facebook: www.facebook.com/hopehitching Instagram: www.instagram.com/ruairimc/ Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ruairimckiernan Donate: https://www.ifundraise.ie/998_ruairi-mckiernan
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