The Comfortable Spot

Today my guest is photographer Steven Xiao. Steven is based in San Francisco and picked up photography during the pandemic as a way of getting some fresh air. Steven was a finalist for fine art at the Creative Awards at the Siena International Photo Awards, in the professional category. His work has been published in Dodho Magazine, a professional photography magazine, and has been featured in the San Diego History Centre at Balboa Park and many outdoor galleries in the metropolitan Los Angeles area. In addition, his experimental short film "Whispers of the Conscience" was screened at AMC Empire theatres in Times Square, NYC for the All American High School Film Festival. All this while still a college student at seventeen years of age. I was delighted to have Steven on as a guest to get his perspective on the world of photography and also on the introduction of artificial intelligence in the arts, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is singer songwriter Phil BroiKos. Phil is currently working on a very unusual project called A Day in Music. Over the course of two decades Phil is planning to release twenty-four hours of music productions of one hour per year. Each hour of music is inspired by events that happened within a corresponding hour of the day. So far, Phil has released 4 albums in the series. As a musician, I found this project intriguing, and I was delighted when Phil agreed to join me as a guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney

Today my guest is musician Stella Bass. I've known Stella for over ten years and have always admired her professional approach to producing music and her new album, Look for the Silver Lining is no exception. The album is a collection of timeless jazz standards. Stella collaborates with The Johnny Taylor Trio to bring you a heady mix of delightful swing, intimate ballads, intoxicating Latin grooves, as well as, for the first time, some of Stella’s original songs. I met with Stella to chat about her career, her influences and the story behind the new album, so I hope you are sitting comfortable and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author and political scientist Dr. Tobias Endler. With over 20 years in academia, Tobias has published numerous books and articles on US politics, transatlantic relations, as well as democracy, media, populism, and current progressive movements. I have known Tobias for many years now and we often catch up online and in person to discuss political and social issues. It's a busy year for major elections across the world and in today's episode, we chat about the current state of democracy, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Rock Vocal Mastery: Graham Bonnett on Shaping a Music Legend

Today my guest is rock music vocalist Graham Bonnett. Since his early teens, Graham has become synonymous with his powerful voice which has been heard in many songs over the decades. Graham has recorded with some of the best rock acts in the world including Rainbow and Alcatrazz. Graham is super active and still tours with his own band nowadays. I was delighted to have Graham on as a guest and take the opportunity to ask how he manages to keep his amazing voice in perfect condition, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is graphic designer Simon Roche. Simon is a Product Design Director who builds products and design systems in education and tech. Simon has worked in many fields in the last 20+ years as a designer, and produced work for international clients from Denmark to Australia, as well as for many Irish businesses through cultural work, branding and editorial design. I was keen to chat with Simon about his career and the new concepts and tools being used in the graphic design industry, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is journalist and writer Ken Foxe. With over 30 years' experience in media, Ken has been at the forefront of investigative reporting and was the leading author of a long-running series of articles in 2009 regarding politicians' expenses that led to major changes in the way they were reimbursed. Ken is also a co-director of Right to Know, an Irish transparency organisation that campaigns for greater information access, and in his spare time, Ken is the author of a series of short stories. I was a long admirer of his work, especially around the issues of freedom of information, and I was keen to have him on The Comfortable Spot as a guest. We have an in-depth discussion on the media and access to information, so I hope you are sitting comfortable and happy to stay with us.

Everything is on schedule The Comfortable Spot podcast season six in early February. I’ve got some amazing guests and great conversations and as always, some of them you will know, some maybe not but I know you’ll find all of them intriguing.

In the meantime, here is a bonus mini episode featuring more from my recent chat with graphic designer Malcolm Garrett. We review of three iconic album covers and the importance of collaboration. As with the main episode, Malcolm is engaging, knowledgeable and funny so I hope you are sitting comfortable and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is Mary Ward. Mary is my aunt and has lived in Dublin all of her life. As a family, we have often discussed the idea of documenting our history and as part of that, I thought it would be a great opportunity to sit down with Mary and chat about her memories of living in Dublin over the last 70 years. From her childhood playing all day on the streets of South Dublin to her memory of the assassination of President John F Kennedy, Mary has quite a few stories to tell so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author and rugby historian James Stafford. A self confessed rugby fanatic, James is the founder of cult rugby website The East Terrace, and has written on rugby for publications such as The Daily Telegraph, Irish Independent, Metro, ESPN Scrum.com, and Rugby World. In 2017 his collection of short comics, The Sorrowful Putto of Prague, was published to critical acclaim in the Czech Republic and James now lives in Prague and coaches with Nyrsko RFC. I wanted to chat with James about his current opinion on the state of rugby worldwide, as well as his catalogue of books, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is graphic designer Malcom Garrett. For over forty years Malcom has been at the forefront of graphic design and has created iconic images for musicians and bands around the world. From the Rio album by Duran Duran to becoming a founder member of the 5D World Builders at 5D Institute at USC in California, Malcolm is noted for his collaborative approach to design and education and is an ambassador for the Manchester School of Art, and co-curator of the annual Design Manchester festival. When I was a teenager, Malcolm's work was a guide to me and allowed me to appreciate the importance of graphic design and how it is an integral part of making sound visible. I had no idea how our conversation was going to go, but from the very first minute I knew we were going to have a great chat. Malcolm is engaging, humble, and funny and it's an extended episode, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Kaila Gabriel. Kaila is a first year Masters student at Queens University, Ontario, Canada, studying Immunology and Cancer Therapeutics. In her spare time, Kalia is a contributing writer for The Average Scientist project whose goal it is to make science accessible to all. I invited Kaila to join me a guest to chat about her passion for molecular biology and discuss the field of medical science in general, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is musician and actor Flo McSweeney. Flo first came to prominence as a versatile vocalist on the Irish rock scene with stand out performances with acts such as Moving Hearts and Toy with Rhythm before embarking on a solo career alongside acting roles in theatres across Ireland. In 2018, Flo realised her debut solo album, Picture in a Frame to critical acclaim. A blend of coffee jazz and standards, the album was thirty years in the making and has allowed Flo to be in charge of her creativity. I was delighted to have Flo as guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author and historian Joseph Dragovich. Joe has recently published Hawkhurst: Murder, Corruption and Britian's Most Notorious Smuggling Gang. The story of the Hawkhurst Gang is an account of one of the first modern crime syndicates and provides the perfect opportunity to explore 1740s Britain, a time of profound political, economic and social transformation, through the stories of the people who lived it. I chat with Joe about the book, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Counselling Psychologist Niamh Delmar. Specialising in mental health and psychological distress, Niamh is involved with assessment, treatment and relapse prevention. She has over ten years' experience as a training consultant for major organisational settings and provides mental health talks and workshops. Niamh is also a freelance writer and has also been a guest on various radio shows and is a mental health educator. I was keen to explore how important mental health is in our societies and was delighted to have Niamh as a guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is writer, broadcaster and DJ Dave Haslam. Author of a number of influential books, Dave was a DJ at Manchester's Haçienda nightclub, and in 1999 he published a book about the Manchester music scene and, subsequently, books about superstar DJs called Adventures on the Wheels of Steel and Life After Dark; A History of British Nightclubs & Music Venues. His autobiography called Sonic Youth Slept On My Floor: Music, Manchester & More was published in 2018. In 2019 he published the first of a series of limited edition small format books - the series is dubbed Art Decades. The subjects of the books include vinyl record collecting, Courtney Love living in Liverpool in 1982, and the poet Sylvia Plath. It was a pleasure to chat with one of my music heroes, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Production note: there is slight clipping in the latter part of this episode so apologies for the sound quality.

Today my guest is contemporary artist Claire Murray. Based in West Yorkshire, Claire is internationally renowned for her wide range of artworks which evoke multiple reactions. Her concepts deal with light and colour as an open window and allow the viewer to draw their own conclusions while appreciating the simplicity of beauty. What drew me to Claire's work was that it seemed to be created from many different approaches and I wasn't surprised to find that Claire has experience with other forms including photography, stitching, and collage. We had an open and honest conversation about art and how it is perceived in an ever encroaching digital environment which can be daunting for those who seek originality. Claire was a wonderful guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author Mark Henry. Mark has spent a lifetime analysing trends, understanding what drives them, and explaining their implications. With a wealth of experience in market research and in applying psychology data to the world of business, Mark led the research and strategy function for Irish technology companies before turning to do the same for the tourism sector. His book, In Fact: An Optimist’s Guide to Ireland at 100 is an effort to prove beyond doubt that Ireland is a unique success story, and to explain how it has achieved that. The book explores 100 remarkable achievements of Ireland’s first 100 years as an independent nation and identifies factors that have accounted for Ireland’s extraordinary success. It’s a fascinating read that is both inspiring and surprising, and I was delighted to have Mark on the show for a chat, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author John Erickson. John is a journalist with over thirty years' experience working at daily newspapers in Illinois and Ohio. A prominent reporter in local news, John led the coverage in three stories that earned him a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize, including a series that won a Pulitzer for National Reporting in 1998. His recently published book, When Mortals Play God : Eugenics and One Family’s Story of Tragedy, Loss, and Perseverance is a story about four generations of his family that have been impacted by atrocious interference from local government, which resulted in his grandmother Rose DeChaine being a victim of a eugenics birth control programme. This is not a sad story, but one of triumph and happiness, despite the loss and tragedy that happens along the way. I had a great conversation with John, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is award winning author and journalist Clodagh Finn. Clodagh has worked for various Irish newspapers, including the Irish Examiner and the Irish Independent and she is known for her insightful writing on social issues, culture, and current affairs. Clodagh has recently written Through Her Eyes - A New History of Ireland in 21 Women which tells the story of twenty-one remarkable women who have helped shape Ireland's history. Clodagh's book is an inspiring read and I was keen to have her on as a guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is Alivia Brown. Alivia graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Evolutionary Medicine. During her time at UCLA, Alivia's research led her to find a passion for education and cross-cultural knowledge. In addition to her academic achievement, Alivia also has her own YouTube channel devoted to Anthropology. On this channel, Alivia hopes to make anthropology a more accessible topic for the global community and educate others on the importance of the field. I knew Alivia would be a wonderful guest so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is producer and musical director Simon Ellis. With over thirty years in the music business, Simon has worked with an incredible amount of artists including Britney Spears, Spice Girls and S Club 7. When he is not writing and producing music, Simon is on tour not only as a musician but also as a musical director. I first got to know Simon when he was part of Ellis, Beggs and Howard who were a pop trio in the late 80s. The band gained a cult following with their debut single, Big Bubbles, No Troubles which is considered one of the most unique pop tracks of its time. I was interested in chatting with Simon to catch up on his career, as well as in finding out what the role of a musical director is in the modern age of live pop music. He's a great guy to chat with, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is naturalist Donald Hobern. Donald is a lifelong naturalist with strong interests in Lepidoptera, DNA barcoding and metabarcoding, insect photography, and automation of species detection. I met Donald via the Mastodon platform as I was looking for someone with experience in Entomology which is the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment, and other organisms. Donald is a wonderful guest with a wealth of knowledge on the world of insects and we have an informative chat, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today my guest is author and historian Turtle Bunbury. Turtle has published a number of books such as the Vanishing Ireland series, Easter Dawn - The 1916 Rising, and The Glorious Madness. Described by the BBC History Magazine as "a skilled storyteller", Turtle has also produced a wonderful array of podcast series that focus on Irish history and provide the listener with wonderful interviews with locals. I was really looking forward to chatting with Turtle, especially about local history here in Ireland, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is racing driver and entrepreneur Shannon Tobin. At 18, Shannon and her sister set up Equissentials which specialises in importing Equestrian goods into the Irish market. As well as starting her own business, Shannon is one-third of Team Valkyrie Racing which is an all-female racing team creating a safe space for diversity and supporting women racing in motorsport. Shannon is also currently working in Alpine which is the sports and racing wing of Renault. Shannon is a great conversationalist and has such a varied career despite still being in her mid-twenties, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today I'm joined by the legendary guitarist Gerry Leonard. With a career spanning almost forty years, Gerry has been the go to guitarist for numerous rock artists, including being a member of David Bowie's band for almost ten years, and as a musical partner to Suzanne Vega. Gerry also has incredible solo work under the guise Spooky Ghost with two albums published. I was very excited to chat with Gerry about his career in music and I wasn't disappointed as he is a great conversationalist, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us. By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is broadcaster David Goldstrom. Over the past twenty years David's commentary and voiceover work has embraced Ski Sunday, the Commonwealth Games and numerous Summer and Winter Olympics, including Tokyo 2021 and Beijing 2022, David is presently a Senior Commentator for Discovery/Eurosport focusing on the Winter World Cup Ski and Ski Jumping season along with the major Canoeing, Rowing, Weightlifting and Equestrian Championships of the year. I was delighted to have David with me to chat about his career and winter sports in general, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and hope you will stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is broadcasting journalist Méabh McMahon. With almost twenty years experience, Méabh is currently one of the anchors at Euronews - a pan-European media broadcaster. I was interested in chatting with Méabh about her career which has mostly been based in Europe and about some of the highlights of her time in broadcasting journalism, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

Today I'm joined by Justin Middleton. Justin has had a deep love of rugby since his childhood, but unlike many he chose a different path to playing and moved into the world of commentating. With years of experience commentating on rugby games in South Africa, Justin is now based in Ireland and is a regular voiceover for many national and international games. Since he is such an excellent communicator, I invited Justin not just to talk about rugby, but also to lend his experience in his profession to other aspiring commentators, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Daniel Whiteson. Daniel is a Physics professor at UC Irvine, and a fellow of the American Physical Society. He does research using the Large Hadron Collider at CERN and together with his co-host Jorge Cham, he is also behind the popular science podcast Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe. Daniel is a wonderfully engaging guest and we had some laughs along the way, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today I'm joined by academic and author Professor Jennie Batchelor. Jennie has written and edited several books on women's writing, 18th century dress and early women's magazines, so I thought Jennie would be a wonderful guest to discover more about how women were perceived in 18th century media and fashion, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Robert (Bo) Jacobs. Robert is a historian of Science and Technology at the Hiroshima Peace Institute and Graduate School of Peace Studies at Hiroshima City University. He has published widely on the interface of nuclear technologies with human beings and communities. His book Nuclear Bodies: The Global Hibakusha was published by Yale University Press in 2022. Nuclear weapons have once again come into the spotlight with the ongoing war in Ukraine, and I thought it would be useful to get a wide picture of the history and future of these weapons, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is journalist Cristina Maza. Cristina has reported from countries such as Cambodia, India, Serbia and Turkey. Currently based in Washington DC, Cristina writes frequently about foreign policy, international affairs, national security and politics. I've always had a deep interest in the unique sphere of US politics and was delighted to have Cristina on to chat, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author and broadcaster Clare Mulley. Clare's work primarily focuses on female experience during the Second World War and in this episode, we chat about two of Clare's books, The Women Who Flew for Hitler, which tells the story of Nazi Germany’s only two female test pilots, Hanna Reitsch and Melitta von Stauffenberg, and The Spy Who Loved, which is the story of Polish-born British special agent Krystyna Skarbek aka Christine Granville. Clare is a wonderful storyteller and our chat is full of interesting talking points, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is motoring journalist Bob Flavin. Bob has a real passion for cars and with over 13 million viewers on his YouTube channel, Bob is one of the most popular motoring journalists in  Ireland. I have a great passion for automobiles and was looking forward to chatting with Bob, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Professor Pat O'Connor. Professor O'Connor is Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Limerick and Visiting Professor, Geary Institute, at the University College Dublin. She is an expert in gender studies and women's rights, which has made her a leading commentator on women's issues and society in general. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak with her, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is producer and presenter Martin Quibell. Martin presents Pods Like Us in which he chats with fellow independent podcasters about their shows. Having been a fan of podcasts for over a decade, Martin decided to produce his own series and blog that helps to promote podcasts that he not only likes, but thinks need valuable promotion. Martin was and is a great supporter of The Comfortable Spot and I was keen to have him as a guest to not only find out more about his show, but also to thank him on behalf of fellow independent podcasters around the world who benefit every week from his work, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to say with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is author Becky Holmes. Becky is an influencer who works tirelessly to expose online perpetrators of romance fraud. Romance fraud is when somebody uses the ruse of a relationship to extort money. Through social media Becky publishes her interactions with the perpetrators and exposes their false identities in an effort to raise awareness of this growing problem. I was really happy to have Becky on as a guest to discuss her campaign in detail and also to find out more about her forthcoming book Keanu Reeves Is NOT In Love With You. So I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Benjamin Chesterton. Benjamin is film director and producer with over twenty years experience in visual arts. Benjamin is currently one of the people behind Duckrabbit which is a film production and training company that specialises in heartfelt stories in film for commercial, charity and broadcast clients. Ben is also a strong advocate for improved human rights in visual arts and has been campaigning for stricter moral based guidelines in photo journalism. I met Benjamin as a result of his ceaseless work in highlighting ethical abuse by professional media journalists and  NGOs, and I was delighted to have time to chat with him in more detail about this continuing problem, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us. 

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is Suswati Basu. Suswati is an award-winning journalist, editor and podcast host, with ten years experience in working with various prestigious online and print media organisations, as well as with a number of publications. Suswati is also a strong advocate for women's and disabled rights and has been involved in this filed via work with numerous human rights organisations across the world. Her podcast How to Be is hugely informative and through its conversations with expert guests, acts as a lighthouse for those who are seeking help and advice for the many problems life throws at us today. There is an honesty throughout the entire podcast, with the listener being the focus, and the lack of hard sell tactics is refreshing. It was a real pleasure chatting with Suswati about her many achievements, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today my guest is professional racing driver Richard Jones. This is a recording I made last year as a pilot episode for a motor racing podcast series. The series didn’t come to fruition, but it did result in some excellent episodes including this one with Richard. Richard specialised in sportscar racing, in particular the Group C category which was extremely popular in the 1980s. Group C boasted huge crowds, popular teams and famous drivers. This is a little more specialised episode than usual, but I do hope you’ll stay with us, as Richard is a great conversationalist and a wonderful guest, so much so that since this chat, we’ve become great friends. So now, without further ado, let’s meet Richard and - as always, I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today I'm joined by author Nicola Pierce. A native of Dublin, Nicola has built up a reputation for high quality historical fiction. Since her first novel Spirit of the Titanic was published, Nicola has managed to create tales that blend beautifully between fact and fiction while keeping a firm eye on historical accuracy. Her most recent novel Chasing Ghosts is a tale of a doomed Arctic expedition and a child lost between the living and the dead who holds a secret that only her brothers and sisters believe. I was really looking forward to chatting with Nicola and we have a rich conversation that goes many places, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today I'm joined by Michael Palmer. Originally from Newtownards in Northern Ireland, Michael is a liberally minded Unionist and a member of the LGBT community. Michael is also an active member of the Ulster Unionist Party. I came across Michael on Twitter and admired his courage in standing up against the many ultra conservative factions in Northern Ireland who would see his views very negatively. I was keen to have him  as a guest as I was interested in hearing his views on the future of Northern Ireland and, more importantly, in listening to Michael away from the political sphere.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today I'm joined by historian Nadia Dobrianska. Originally from Ukraine, Nadia arrived in Ireland following the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022. Nadia and her immediate family are now settled in East Cork, but this is not the first time Nadia has travelled to the island of Ireland, as she completed her history studies at Queen's University in Belfast in 2018. Nadia has a keen interest in Irish culture and language, so I invited her on to the podcast to discuss her experiences living in Ireland now. I also wanted to chat with Nadia about the future of her native country and what, in her opinion, was the motivation behind the Russian invasion, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today I'm joined by author Kevin Meagher. Kevin is a commentator on Irish and British politics and has published books on Northern Ireland and the Irish unity question. His writing offers a frank opening point on the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom and their future as neighbours. Kevin is a strong proponent of Irish unity and in his recently updated book, A United Ireland: Why Unification Is Inevitable and How It Will Come About, Kevin lays out his set of proposals for a road map to a united island of Ireland. Having read his publications and having followed him on social media, I invited Kevin to join me a guest, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.

Today I'm joined by broadcaster Sandy Kaye. Sandy has built up an impressive reputation as a journalist in both radio and television in Australia and recently embarked on a new venture as a host of A Breath of Fresh Air which is a radio show featuring conversations with legends in pop and rock music. What started out as a Covid project is now a weekly, hour-long show that is broadcast on radio stations right across the world and as a podcast on all the leading podcast platforms. Sandy took some time out to chat with me about her life, her stories as a journalist in Australia, and her fast paced radio show, so I hope you are sitting comfortably and happy to stay with us.

By accessing this podcast, you acknowledge that the entire contents and design of this podcast are the property of Ken Sweeney, or used by Ken Sweeney with permission, and are protected under Irish and international copyright and trademark laws. Except as otherwise provided herein, users of this podcast may save and use information contained in the podcast only for personal or other non-commercial, educational purposes. No other use, including, without limitation, reproduction, retransmission or editing, of this podcast may be made without the prior written permission of Ken Sweeney.