Born Optimistic

Larry Beau Bonus Song

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

John Spillane

Caoilian Sherlock - we speak to this Cork troubadour at a very auspicious time his life. A time when he sorta almost could possibly be moving to Dublin to launch the solo chapter of his musical adventure. Along the way we find out about why he does all the great things he does in the first place.

Mark Boyle - A writer who has turned his back on the modern world to live off the land without any modern amenities including electricity, running water and a phone. For everything 'you lose you gain another', he tells me as we talk about Climate Change as a symptom, his vasectomy and missing David Bowie. Mark's new book, 'The Way Home' is out now.

Ultan Conlon - A gorgeous chat that is full of laughs despite centring on the ongoing trauma caused by losing a parent at a young age.

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

Anna Mieke - on the cusp of releasing her superb debut album 'Idle Mind', a great conversation which went from bicycle travels to escaping the lab to climate change to being willing to be arrested as part of Extinction Rebellion - on tour really soon - don't miss the chance to hear her debut album live!

Saoirse McHugh - Green Party European Election sensation talks about how to unfeck the world and what she'd do with her time f the world wasn't fecked! Plus other stuff too about why coalitions with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are bad and what veg she grows.

Sorcha Richardson talks about the yearning at the core of her incredibly addictive songs and her view on Dublin as someone who debated internally for ages about whether to move here or not. Great news is that she's here for the foreseeable future!

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

Jim Page - amazing voice, tunes and lyrics that are both emotional and though provoking - Jim's touring Ireland right now!

Saoirse Casey joins us just as she releases her debut album Lunaria which joins the ranks of 2019 albums you must hear - it's is an amazing piece of work. You'll get to hear a couple of songs here in our show which will hopefully lead you to listening to the whole album.

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

Kevin Murphy from Slow Moving Clouds joins us in advance of Songs From A Safe Harbour Festival in Cork and talks mixing music, academia and caring about climate change.

Mick Flannery - great to spend time with Mick Flannery as he muses on the nature of optimism in face of impending doom in honour of his new self titled album.

Mark Geary

Davy Lyons

Grace O'Sullivan - Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior turned Green Party M.E.P. who takes us back to how she became an environmentalist, how she feels about the French Govt trying to kill her and how she's optimistic about everything except our future if we don't stop burning fossil fuels.

Cry Monster Cry - two brothers who make music together explain the ins and outs of their wonderfully intertwined lives. Their adoration of Mic Christopher also features! They play two songs - one of their own and one of Mic's. Lovely times!