Irish people are turning to podcasts as a form of entertainment more and more. According to the Irish Times, a Reuters Institute Digital News Report said “Across a 20-country sample, the Irish topped the podcast-listening leaderboard with 46 per cent saying they had listened to one in the past month, up from 41 per cent in 2021”. There are so many to choose from it’s difficult to know what podcasts to listen to. Here are some suggestions for Podcasts in Diversity and Inclusion in Ireland to listen to:
One of the longest running Irish Podcast host and Comedian Jarlath Regan began podcast when he moved to England in 2013 and wanted to connect back home. Since then Jarlath has had thousands of episodes, several with high-profile people in Diversity and Inclusion like Colm O’Gorman, Panti Bliss, Mick Finnegan and Sinead Burke. One of his most impactful episodes was when he donated a kidney to his brother, and after the MeToo movement began, he launched a series called Men Behaving Better, which looks at how men can improve their behaviour towards women, other men and themselves.
Advocate, teacher, academic, fashion icon, entrepreneur, there’s a lot of different titles you can apply to Sinead Burke. In 2019, Sinead launched As Me With Sinead Burke on Lemonada Media. Her series of interviews with the likes of Victoria Beckham, Samatha Power, and Florence Welch (from Florence and The Machine) looks at how different industries can be more inclusive and how by learning to bei compassionate to ourselves, we can then be compassionate towards others.
Produced by RTE, Beo Ar Éigean is an Irish language presented by Sinéad Ní Uallacháin, Áine Ní Bhreisleáin and Siún Ní Dhuinn. The podcast that looks at writing on the RTE website Siún said “The podcast I co host with two of my best friends and two talented broadcasters, Áine Ní Bhreisleáin and Sinéad Ní Uallacháin has become many learners and native speakers go-to podcast for good conversation and great craic. I enjoy explaining that one to people.”
According to their website “Black and Irish is an organisation that is here to highlight and celebrate the identity of black and mixed-race Irish people. We aim to spread awareness around the world of the experiences, struggles, and successes from within our community. Their mission is to engage with the wider Irish society. To come together, celebrate our black and mixed-race Irish identity, and to spread awareness by telling our stories”
As part of their communication strategy, they launched a podcast that features the lived experiences of black and mixed race people living in Ireland through conversations about culture, society and family. Hosts Femi Bankole, Leon Diop, Amanda Ade and Kenny Olaniyi have interviewed the likes of Dr Ebun Joseph, Emma Dabiri and Ole Majekodunmi to name a few.
Now in its fifth year, The Blindboy Podcast is hosted by Rubberbandits member Blindboy Boatclub and was originally created to launch as a way to promote his newly published book of short stories. However, it quickly began to be a place where Blindboy could talk openly about his mental health issues growing up and how they still affect him today. He has also looked at other areas of mental health, while also looking at “hot takes” about food, history, art and society. Now with over 50 million downloads, Blindboy and has interviewed the likes of PJ Gallagher and President Michael D Higgins, as well as discussing his recent autism diagnosis.
According to the Irish Examiner Newspaper “Independent senator Lynn Ruane recorded this nine-part series in Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison, seeking to humanise the people behind bars and explaining that she doesn’t know the crimes committed by the men she talks to. Ruane, as always, offers empathy to those who need it most, as the inmates tell their sorrowful tales.”
The association which advocates for people with issues reading and writing have a podcast called Dys & Dat where they speak to different people who have dyslexia or advocate for the condition. Guests include actress Jane McGrath, PhD candidate with dyslexia and a number of international guests who have come to Ireland to advocate for dyslexia.
The Podcasts bio says “Welcome to the strange world of dyslexia. This is a topic that can be very controversial. Dyslexia is something which you live with all your life. Talking about people’s journeys and their dyslexia. Supporting young people in Education, when they leave education and the many different career paths people take. The funny side of being dyslexic while talking is what embarrassing stories do you have. Finding out if there is still the same stigma around dyslexia, especially for adults.”
According to Image Magazine Éalú (meaning ‘escape’ in Irish) is a podcast centering on people of colour in Ireland. The first season is out now, with eight episodes available where mixed-race hosts Esther, Karen and Maïa and featured guests discuss their experiences. There are episodes on Africa Day about growth and self-care, the black and queer experience, what it’s like to travel abroad to predominantly white countries, the importance of seeing yourself represented in media and more. Listen to Éalú here.
FAIR GAME is a podcast with a firm focus on Irish sportswomen. Winner of ‘Best Podcast Series’ at the 2016 Web Awards, FAIR GAME has covered ground across many of the issues that impact women’s sports in Ireland – from grassroots development to media coverage, from dealing with injury to sport as a sustainable career – and lots more in between. An open forum for discussion with Ireland’s trailblazing athletes, journalists and leaders – almost 40 women have taken to the FAIR GAME hot-seat to date, including Annalise Murphy, Noelle Healy, Kellie Harrington, Nora Stapleton and Natalya Coyle
Ireland’s first person with Down Syndrome to become a CEO, Fionn Angus Crombie and his father Jonathan Angus are more vloggers than podcasters. On Their youtube Fionn has interviewed more than 600 people, including President Michael D. Higgins, Tim Shriver, CEO of Special Olympics International (JFK’s nephew) as well as a host of other people in the world of wildlife photography and music, both of which Fionn is passionate about.
They say on their website “Welcome to Good Day Cork’s podcast. Your one stop for an uplifting listening experience. We’re based in Cork, Ireland & publish essays, stories, local news and this audio treat. Please visit http://www.gooddaycork.com & get to know us.”
Grief Encounters is a weekly podcast series that looks at an issue that affects us all and yet remains so difficult to talk about: grief. Hosts Venetia Quick and Sasha Hamrogue hope to open up the conversation around loss and create a platform for people to share their own experiences, and start an open dialogue around the subject of death and all that comes with it.
59% of Irish people believe that the media should do more to promote female sport. So here we are.
None of this generic coverage. Sit back, relax and enjoy in-depth insight into the women’s game. With high-profile guests and taboo breaking discussion, we’re looking to pioneer the way forward – empowering women in sport.
A female takes on Ireland and the world. The weekly podcast is hosted by Kathy Sheridan and is packed full of feminism, humour, health, politics and sex. The most recent guests include Deirdre O’Kane, Rosie Holt and several female thought leaders in specific areas of topics the podcasts speak about, such as Afghan and Iranian women.
Over the last three years, NCBI (the National Council for the Blind of Ireland) developed two podcasts for people who are blind or visually impaired, but the wider audience will also find the topics discussed interesting and engaging.
NCBI Podcast meets monthly with different guests who share their stories of living with sight loss, covering topics from employment and education, to parenting, advocacy and more. You can listen to NCBI Podcast on Spotify, as well as on Apple Podcasts, or visit NCBI’s YouTube profile.
On the other hand, if you’re interested in innovation and tech tips, Talking Technology with NCBI Labs might be your podcast of choice. The show’s content ranges from chats and debates about the latest inclusive tech, “Meet the Team” interviews, as well as conversations with developers and NCBI service users about how technology has enabled them by breaking down barriers. You can visit the NCBI website to listen to new episodes live every second Tuesday at 2:30 PM, or you can listen through the archive of previous episodes here: Labs Events – NCBI. Talking Technology can also be found on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify Podcasts.
Produced and hosted by number 1 international bestselling Irish author Caroline Foran – shoots past the 1 MILLION download mark within its first year.
As journalist, author and podcast Caroline Foran brought season 2 of her hit podcast to a close, she also celebrated a major milestone for the series. Having launched the podcast in mid January 2019, the author – known for her signature BS free approach to mental health – steadily grew her loyal listenership from zero to over a million downloads in its first year.
The series has become a lifeline for those struggling with anxiety for its mixture of first-person experiences, shared by Caroline, expert input from those leading the pack in the mental health arena and lots of familiar voices sharing their stories of anxiety. Her solo ‘how-to’ style episodes are a particular hit, with listeners tuning in again and again to the likes of the panic attack rescue guide whenever they feel the need. Guests thus far have included Blindboy, Laura Whitmore, Bressie, Rozanna Purcell, Sarah Knight, Vogue Williams, Dermot, Dave of Today FM and more, while experts have included behavioural neuroscientists, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and dieticians. The series is often featured on best podcast lists across Ireland and the UK.
Presented by Pádraig O’Callaghan, Padraig’s Paudcast was launched during lockdown, as a way for Pádraig to increase his confidence and communication skills. Pádraig has Down Syndrome and started doing short motivational podcasts at the start of every Monday.
Now 12, in 2021 Pádraig won The Limerick Person of The Year, and he has been featured in the likes of RTE and on many of the top podcasts in Ireland.
Obviously being a freelancer for ThinkBusiness.ie, I’m a bit biassed. But host John Kennedy has done a fantastic job of interviewing a range of entrepreneurs, while also having a keen eye on diversity and inclusion. Interviewing the likes of Prof Tom Cooney, who created an entrepreneurial course for people with disabilities in TU Dublin, Foxes Bow co-founder Alice Carroll, who is creating a whiskey brand in an industry traditionally dominated by men, or Anthony Quigley of The Corporate Governance Institute on starting businesses with two co-founders in their 60’s and 70’s
Where is my Mind? is a podcast about how we can navigate the manic, always-on, and head-melting world we live in. Our lives are changing so quickly, it’s hard to keep up. Although a lot of this change is for the better, our culture is faster paced, more polarised, more narcissistic, and more disconnected than ever, and that’s having a massive effect on our stress levels. We’re overwhelmed, we’re too busy, we’re out of balance.
In this podcast, Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin talks about what impact this society has on us, and how we can deal with it by introducing the basics of mindfulness practice and meditation… and you’ll learn how to get off autopilot, how to navigate constant distraction, how to be a more skilful stress-head, how to focus on the parts of the world that are truly wonderful…. and even how to be deadly at Jenga.
The team at Where Is My Mind got in touch with me to recommend two podcasts of theirs that deal with the topic of Diversity and Inclusion directly:
Equality Is The Best Form Of Therapy With Thomas McCann & Mags Casey https://open.spotify.com/episode/56Xo0HavXj3BHnmxcWc0SQ?si=d0793495a6d24b5c
Black & Irish https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Pzutxl5HTqFmGqzRtUY8Z?si=38ebb9eb26cf41e8
In Cork, people from the northside of the city are known locally as ‘Norries’. James and Timmy are both from the northside of Cork city and their podcast covers themes across the social and health sphere with a particular focus on addiction, drug use, crime and recovery. Guests include people’s personal stories of overcoming adversity as well as professionals’ perspective on issues discussed in the podcast. The podcast is designed to be informative, sensitive and educational while having a laugh in the process. Tough issues are spoken about and explained with sensitivity and humour with the hope of reducing stigma and stereotypes.
Anna and Pavlo – Ukrainians and hosts of the podcast. We are here to bring you the latest updates on the war, providing key weekly insights based on firsthand information from the ground. We will connect with eyewitnesses and experts directly from Ukraine, giving you a firsthand account of the situation.
In addition to covering the war, we will also delve into the stories of those living through wartime conditions inside Ukraine and the experiences of temporarily displaced individuals. Our podcast will serve as a platform to share their stories, shedding light on the human aspect of the conflict.
Moreover, we will take you on a journey to uncover Ukraine – its rich culture, vibrant language, and fascinating history. Through interviews, discussions, and exploration of Ukrainian traditions, we aim to deepen your understanding of this diverse and resilient nation.
Join us on this podcast as we navigate through the complexities of the war, share personal narratives, and provide valuable insights into Ukraine’s past, present, and future. Together, let’s unravel the layers of this multifaceted country and stand in solidarity with its people.
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