Shows
The Antenna PodcastEp 10: Self-Interference in IoT Devices: Why Antenna Performance Isn’t the Root CauseIn this episode of The Antenna Podcast, Dermot O’Shea speaks with Dr. Peter Nevermann, a wireless industry veteran with extensive experience in antenna design, RF testing, certification, and system performance. Peter shares his journey from semiconductor physics and RF noise research into senior roles at Siemens Mobile Phones, Vodafone Global, and leading test laboratories in Germany and Silicon Valley. A key focus is self-interference and noise management, which Peter explains is often misattributed to the antenna rather than system-level design, placement, and unshielded electronics. The conversation highlights why early RF decisions are critical to su...
2026-02-1628 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 9: The Antenna Podcast Ep 9: I Had No Plan - Then the First Million-Dollar Order ArrivedIn this episode, Dermot sits down with Andre Fourie - whose career began with a search for meaningful work and evolved into decades of real-world antenna innovation. Andre shares the turning points and technical hard lessons behind holistic antenna design, the evolution from academia to product, and what really matters when antennas must perform beyond the lab. From early research and military projects to building and exporting technology globally, this conversation pulls back the curtain on career risk, engineering intuition, and the ideas that shaped wireless solutions used around the world. Whe...
2026-01-2831 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 8: Hidden in Plain Sight: The Antennas Powering 5G (and Why You Never Notice Them)How do you add more spectrum, more bandwidth, and more performance without adding more towers?In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, host Dermot O’Shea sits down with Fergal Lawlor, Founder and CEO of Alpha Wireless, to unpack the hidden engineering behind modern cellular networks. Fergal shares his journey from military radio technician to building a global antenna company, along with stories from designing Olympic stadium antennas to solving some of the toughest challenges in 5G infrastructure.The conversation dives into multi-band base station antenna design, frequency-transparent elements, remote electrical ti...
2026-01-2126 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 7: Where RF Meets Reality: Antenna Design from Coffee Cups to Massive MIMOAntennas are often overlooked—until they fail. In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, host Dermot O’Shea sits down with Ben Culver, CEO of Southwest Antennas, to explore why antenna design is one of the most critical—and misunderstood—elements of any RF system.Ben shares his journey from U.S. Navy fire control electronics to leading a $25M antenna company, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to design antennas that perform in real-world, mission-critical environments. From embedded surveillance antennas hidden in everyday objects to massive, high-performance MIMO arrays mounted on tower...
2026-01-1628 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 6: Defying Antenna Physics: How Dielectrics Changed EverythingIn this episode of the Antenna Podcast, host Dermot O’Shea speaks with Oliver Leisten, CTO of Helix Geospace, about his journey from GPS pioneer to antenna innovator. Oliver shares how his work with dielectric-loaded antennas transformed performance for satellite and IoT applications, improving efficiency, reducing detuning near the human body, and enabling compact, high-performing designs. He explores the challenges of achieving low gain ripple, the importance of manufacturing precision, and how his technology supports Iridium systems and advanced beamforming arrays. The conversation offers an inspiring look at innovation, persistence, and the future of smarter, more efficient wi...
2026-01-1232 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 5: The Wireless Revolution: How MIMO Supercharged Global ConnectivityThis episode pulls back the curtain on the wireless technology that powers everything around us. From Wi-Fi and 5G to long-range links connecting entire communities. In this Episode Dermot chats with Dr. John Sanford, Professor of Practice at UC San Diego where he dives into the breakthroughs that changed the industry: how MIMO went from a wild academic idea to a capacity-boosting superpower, how multipath (normally a problem) became a tool to create 12 independent channels at once, and why smart antenna design can make or break real-world performance.You’ll hear stories from the front li...
2026-01-0937 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 4: Beyond the Lab: Why Your Antenna Works on Paper but Fails in the FieldWhy does your antenna design pass every simulation—but fall apart when the device powers on? In this episode, Dermot O’Shea chats with Dr. Argy Petros, VP of Engineering at Taoglas, about bridging the brutal gap between theory and practice in RF design. From his early work at Motorola and XM Satellite Radio to launching his own antenna business, Argy shares lessons learned over decades of designing antennas that actually perform in the wild. They cover efficiency vs. gain, the dangers of ignoring real-world interference, and why black magic and persistence still matter. If you’...
2026-01-0729 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 3: Submarines, SAR, and the Sexy Side of RFWhat do submarines, smartphones, and vending machines have in common? Antennas – and according to Olivier Robin, they can be pretty damn sexy. In this episode, Olivier, CEO at Taoglas, joins Dermot O’Shea to share how storytelling, creativity, and design flair turn invisible tech into unforgettable products. From his early days working on French Navy submarines to optimizing antennas for today’s toughest RF environments, Olivier reveals why theory alone won’t cut it and how blending mechanical smarts with RF experience is the real secret sauce. Packed with insights for engineers, designers, and anyone obsessed...
2026-01-0233 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 2: Antenna Engineering at 100,000 Feet: What Really Happens Up ThereIn this episode, Professor Satish K. Sharma of San Diego State University shares his remarkable journey from adjusting rooftop TV antennas in India to designing advanced RF systems for NASA, defense agencies, and next-generation wireless networks. He discusses his most memorable antenna projects including high-altitude balloon missions, phased-array innovations, and space-qualified antenna designs, while breaking down what makes beam-steering technology so transformative. Prof. Sharma also talks about the future of antenna engineering, the skills students need, and why demand for RF expertise continues to explode across aerospace, defense, and 5G applications.Visit the Website https...
2025-12-1528 min
Forestry NowFalling Timber, Falling Prices - Windblow and Timber Export with Victor BarberThe fall out from Storm Darragh and Eowyn has been monumental for the Irish Forestry Industry. To get an overview of this I speak with Victor Barber - Victor's a qualified forester who began his career with Western Forestry Co Op and is now their Harvesting Manager based out of Sligo. He also farms and is a regular contributor to the Farmers Journal on all things forestry. We speak about Storm Éoywn, we try to make sense of why some sites blew down and some sites didn't, we discuss the challenge harvesting windblown sites and the arrival of international h...
2025-12-0837 minForestry NowResilient Family Forests - CCF in Westmeath with Olive LeavyIn this interview I speak with Olive Leavy a forest owner from Co Westmeath who currently works with Pro Silva ireland. Olive has chosen to manage her forest using the continuous cover forestry method and in this interview we cover all aspects of this including windblow, ash dieback, challenges with harvesting, getting to know your forest, a firewood business, how forestry has enabled her to remain in rural ireland, advice for forest owners and much more.Olive Leavy on LinkedinPro Silva Ireland at https://prosilvaireland.com/Forestry advice available at Teagasc Forestry...
2025-12-0854 minForestry NowAfforestation in the 1990's, Forest Fires, Forest Prices and carbon with Paul LaffertyToday I spoke with Paul Lafferty. Paul qualified as a forester in 1989 but now runs his own Auctioneering firm selling residential and commercial property from his office in Castlerea Roscommon.In addition he runs forestsales.ie which specialises in the sale of forests, reforestation land and standing timber. In this interview we speak about his 11 years with Greenbelt when afforestation rules were very different, we discussed how he manages his own forests and then Paul gave me a feel for the typical prices that are being paid for forests in Ireland right now and how an existing owner...
2025-12-0342 minThe Antenna PodcastEp 1: Black Magic & Solid Gold: Inside the World of Antenna EngineeringWhy do engineers call antenna design “black magic”? Because getting wireless right is harder than it looks. In this episode, Dermot O’Shea talks with Baha Badran, Global Head of Engineering at Taoglas, about designing antennas for everything from ultra-luxury phones made of solid gold to today’s most complex connected devices. Packed with hard-earned insights, real-world challenges, and advice every hardware team needs to hear — this is your behind-the-scenes look at what really makes wireless work.Visit The Website : https://www.theantennapodcast.comWelcome to...
2025-12-0125 min
Forestry NowWelcome to Forestry Now (Coming Soon...)This podcast explores the forces impacting the profitable and sustainable management of commercial forests and natural woodlands. I speak with forest owners, forestry professionals and industry stakeholders on the biggest operational, environmental and economic challenges affecting the sector. I'll interview people involved in the harvesting and processing side of the forestry business as well as those who are trying to maximise carbon sequestration and general ecosystem services.Finally I'll investigate political and legislative changes that are coming down the track as well as highlight new technologies and big opportunities that are around the corner. Subscribe to...
2025-11-2401 min
Veil + Armour: Holiness in Motherhood and Daily Life42. How to hold on to your Christian beliefs, despite opposition to pro-life beliefs: The Battle over Abortion Pill Reversal - Dr. Dermot Kearney of the UK tells his storySend us a textChristian doctor Dermot Kearney shares his harrowing experience of being targeted by abortion providers and medical authorities for offering Abortion Pill Reversal (APR) treatment to women who changed their minds after taking the first abortion pill (mifepristone). His case highlights the intersection of religious discrimination and medical freedom in healthcare.• Dr. Kearney and colleague Dr. Eileen Riley were investigated by the General Medical Council for providing progesterone treatment to women who regretted taking the abortion pill• The complaint specifically cited their Catholic faith, claiming Catholics "could not be trusted" to prov...
2025-05-2353 min
The Mind Full PodcastSeason 3 Teaser Episode: Superstar Singer Tom GrennanWelcome to a very special pop-up episode of the Mind Full Podcast with special guest and music sensation Tom Grennan!Tom is a phenomenal singer songwriter from the UK with proud Irish roots - and he has a brand new single out right now which he is dying to tell you all about. His breakthrough UK #1 and BRIT-certified GOLD album ‘Evering Road’ included platinum-selling anthems ‘Little Bit Of Love’ and ‘By Your Side’ — both of which scored in the Top Three most played songs of 2021. Tom already counts four UK Top 10 singles to his name. And a...
2025-02-1720 min
The Mind Full PodcastGood Grief with Jason ByrneThis week’s episode is Good Grief with award-winning and record-breaking comedian Jason Byrne & psychotherapist Dr. Richard Hogan. The fear you have when you say you’ve got an episode about grief is that people will think it’s super depressing but actually it’s not. It’s the opposite. It is poignant, at times hilarious and really really special.Irish comedian Jason Byrne is the biggest selling comedian in history at the world famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival and has appeared on the biggest TV comedy shows across the UK including BBC’s Live at the Apollo. He h...
2024-12-161h 22
The Mind Full PodcastEmbracing Change with Ryan TubridyThis week’s topic is Embracing Change and it’s fair to say my special guest for this week has seen his fair share over the last year. He was host of RTÉ’s flagship chat show The Late Late Show for 14 years and he has also worked in RTÉ as a radio presenter for over 20 years, speaking to the nation every weekday morning at 9am for his hugely popular Tubridy Show. Following some very well publicized upheavals in RTÉ last year, he found himself across the Irish Sea and taking on a major role in UK broadcasting. Currently hosting h...
2024-12-091h 15
The Mind Full PodcastParenting Special with Rosanna DavisonThis week on the show it’s our Parenting Special! We have two incredible guests for you. To talk about her heartbreaking and heartwarming journey to parenthood, I’m joined by author, model, entrepreneur, nutritionist, surrogacy advocate and former Miss World Rosanna Davison for a powerful conversation about the transformative power of becoming a parent.Our technical expert this week is social media sensation and practicing GP, Dr. Doireann O’Leary to look at the stresses and pressures facing modern parents. If you have humans in your house that look like you or you like the idea o...
2024-12-021h 30
The Mind Full PodcastThe Power of Music with Danny O'Reilly of The Coronas (Live)This week on the show we have another amazing guest - and another amazing Mind Full Live recording! Earlier this month we put on a live show in the beautiful Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Dublin with Danny O’Reilly, the frontman for one of Ireland’s most successful bands - The Coronas - to discuss the power of music, while also treating us to a couple of stunning live performances in this very special show.Danny has also been part of my musical memory for nearly 20 years. I first came across the Coronas when they burs...
2024-11-251h 39
The Mind Full PodcastMental Wealth with Niall "Bressie" BreslinThis week on the show we have another amazing guest - a former professional rugby player with European giants Leinster, lead singer with one of Ireland’s best known bands, The Blizzards, star of TV’s The Voice, mindfulness expert, mental health advocate, award-winning podcaster, philanthropist, best-selling author - Niall “Bressie” Breslin is my very special guest for today. It has been a long time coming but I think the timing for our chat is just perfect and I know you’re going to love it. In this fascinatingly informative and insightful conversation, Niall speaks about the crucial...
2024-11-181h 29
The Mind Full PodcastReal Manifesting with WHOOP Founder & CEO Will AhmedThis week on the show we look at Real Manifesting with entrepreneur American CEO & Founder of the global fitness and health brand WHOOP, Will Ahmed. WHOOP, a company that Will founded as a young man at Harvard, has become a worldwide success with the company valued at nearly 4 billion dollars. It is worn by elite athletes from footballer Christiano Ronaldo to golfer Rory McIlroy and basketball star Lebron James. I chat to Will at his company headquarters right in the heart of Boston and we talk about loads of fascinating stuff like never giving up on your dreams, overcoming a...
2024-11-111h 25
The Mind Full PodcastMental Toughness with Ex-Special Forces Ray GogginsThis week is all about mental toughness – without having to jump out of a helicopter or survive in the jungle! Ray Goggins is a Former Army Ranger & Tier 1 Special Operations unit leader. Ray is as tough as they come and is also known from hit TV show Ultimate Hell Week on RTÉ where he has regularly made regular Joe Soaps and some celebs regret ever going on the show. He is author of the best-selling and fascinating book Ranger 22 – Lessons from the Front. From the hills of south Lebanon to the monsoon jungles of Southern Asia, Ray has operated in a...
2024-11-041h 32
The Mind Full PodcastThe World According to Blindboy (Live from Electric Picnic)This week on the Mind Full Podcast I am so excited to bring you a very special guest. He’s an artist, writer, podcaster, comedian, musician, philosopher and is known to wear a plastic bag on his head from time to time. He is one half of the incredible musical duo the Rubberbandits and a man I first came across when we worked together on the TV show The Republic of Telly. The unique, funny and always creative Blindboy Boatclub is my guest this week.Blindboy is eloquent, open, honest and refreshingly funny about his neurodiversity an...
2024-10-281h 00
The Mind Full PodcastOverwhelm with Emma DoranEver find yourself a bit frazzled? If so, then this episode is for you!Emma Doran is a stand-up comic, podcaster, author & sketch comedian who you may have seen recently on Amazon Prime’s LOL – Last One Laughing Ireland. Emma has appeared on comedy shows like The Republic of Telly and the No Worries if Not sketch show on RTÉ TV. Her online sketches are just brilliant and have earned her a loyal and fanatical following who pack theatres on her live tours. Emma’s brand new book Mad Isn’t It? is insightful and hilarious and tells...
2024-10-211h 30
The Mind Full PodcastHealing with Glen Power of The ScriptThis week on The Mind Full Podcast we are so excited to bring you an incredible guest - Glen Power from worldwide powerhouse band The Script. Glen has an incredible mind, is such a lovely fella and as well as being part of a band that has seen 10 billion streams, 12 million album sales and 6 UK no.1s, he is also a profound thinker, an exceptionally wise teacher and has taken time out from a US stadium tour to chat to us all.We look at the impact of losing his best friend and bandmate Mark Sheehan...
2024-10-141h 11
The Mind Full PodcastThe Strengths of Neurodiversity with Cian TwomeyThis week on The Mind Full Podcast we are so excited to bring you an incredible guest in the form of one of social media’s content pioneers. For the last 12 years, Cork man Cian Twomey has been a comedy content creator, focusing mainly on character sketches depicting hilarious real-life scenarios. Over all social media platforms, Cian has gathered over 9 million followers, with his videos exceeding a total of 4 billion views. That is mind boggling! Despite his enormous audience, Cian does not do many interviews. This is only his second ever long form interview and the very first time he...
2024-10-071h 29
The Mind Full PodcastSelling Sunshine with Selling Sunset's Mary BonnetHello everybody! We’re back! I’m so excited to bring you a brand-new season of The Mind Full Podcast! This week we are so delighted to bring you Hollywood’s most high profile, most glamorous and most genuine real estate agent, star of the huge and award-winning Netflix hit show Selling Sunset, Mary Bonnet. Mary has been named as one of Variety’s 40 Most Powerful Women on Reality TV and as Vice President at the famous Oppenheim Group, she has established herself as a top-tier agent in the competitive Los Angeles market with total sales of +140M...
2024-09-301h 29
The Mind Full PodcastDoes Gratitude Really Work? With Angela ScanlonWhat?? Our last episode of the season?? I can’t believe we’ve reached episode 12 already! I have had so much fun making this podcast and sharing it all with you. I’ve learned tonnes and hope you have too. Before I tell you about our fabulous guests this week, I have to let you in on my latest and greatest news!Dermot Whelan Live – The Busy and Wrecked Tour is coming to a theatre near you! Tickets go on sale from Friday 24th May so check out www.dermotwhelan.com for all the details and I can’t...
2024-05-201h 35
The Mind Full PodcastNavigating Relationships with Dave MooreCan friends have break ups? Do men handle break ups differently to women? What do you do if you fall out with a sibling? In this episode we explore the tricky topic of relationships – how best to navigate them, appreciate them, change them and, if required, end them! The people we spend time with shape who we are and how we feel so get ready for a deep dive into relationships in all their forms.This week’s guest is none other than my former radio co-host for over two decades, Dave Moore. Dave and I live...
2024-03-111h 27
The Mind Full PodcastIn The Zone with Cillian MurphyIn this episode, Dermot welcomes Oscar nominee Cillian Murphy to the podcast. Dermot sits down with his old friend of over twenty years for an in-depth and wonderfully revealing chat about his life, his craft, and just what it takes to get to the top of the Hollywood elite. With the focus of this first episode on the fascinating world of performance and flow state, the Golden Globe and BAFTA winner shares his unique perspective on what it takes to get into the zone and to produce award-winning performances in hit productions like Peaky Blinders and, of course, Oppenheimer...
2024-03-041h 28
Literally The Worst People in the World.These Christians....are atheists.*Christians who do harm in service of their religion...
....do they even believe in the faith they practice?
Or anything at all?
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2023-06-0717 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.The purpose of Gay Pride, definitively, for anyone who doesn't "get it" Straight people constantly ask, what's the point of gay pride? WHY have these events? What's The point of all the rainbow logos on consumer product packaging and corporate logos? Why don't lgbtq people care that Corporations aren't sincere in their support for lgbtq rights?
(That's right, by the way, we don't care whether any Corporation is sincere about their support for lgbtq rights or not as long as they get as many rainbows out there as possible!)
WHY WHY WHY WHY WHYYYYYYYY?!
Answering all...
2023-06-0322 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Will Christianity adapt? Or go the way of the dodo?The scientifically proven reality of LGBTQ people is butting heads with Christian dogma. And (finally) winning.
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2023-05-2942 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.What it REALLY means when the GQP says "Republic" without the "Democratic" modifier"Republics" come in two flavors: democratic and non-democratic. In a democratic republic, representatives are elected to represent portions of the population and every citizen gets to vote on who those representatives will be. A non-democratic republic is the same, except only the elite "first class" or "voting class" citizens have the right to vote. The rest are "second class" citizens with no voice in how their lives are governed and posses only the rights and freedoms that the voting class decides to allow. When Republicans refer to America as a "Republic" without the "Democratic" modifier, they do so inte...
2023-05-1527 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.The reason for the 533 NEW anti trans laws so far in 2023The reasons are obvious. And you can track the ongoing campaign by Republicans to legislate trans people out of existence by going to http://translegislation.com
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2023-05-1039 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Republicans don't have the b***s to answer this question about drag queens.Republicans don't have the huevos, the cojones, the intestinal fortitude, the nerve, the testicular fortitude, the courage, the ovaries, the guts, the stones, or the spine to even make an attempt at answering this question about drag queens
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2023-04-2420 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Why outlawing gender affirming care for trans teens is an ATROCITY the world won't soon forget.Being transgender doesn't wait until you're 18 to happen. Not even close. If you don't understand HOW criminalizing gender affirming care and forcing transgender kids to conform to their birth sex severely f*cks up the most developmentally important 8-10 years of their lives, I've explained it here.
And it's not that complicated.
This is more of the same sh*t: Keeping red states red by driving out everyone who isn't a straight, white, christian bigot. And every red state gets them TWO SENATE SEATS, no matter how small of a st...
2023-04-2338 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.A conversation with a transphobe.After passing 238 ANTI-LGBTQ laws in just the first 119 days of 2022, the Republicans who passed them were almost universally reelected. Clearly the practice of pandering to hate is working in red states. So I picked a transphobe out of the crowd and asked him a question.An overwhelming majority of transgender people report immediate and significant improvements to their overall happiness and well-being after transitioning. Why is that such a bad thing?What followed was a twisted, yet predictable conversation.
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2023-04-1751 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.GQP vs Trans People: the sequel to Nazis vs Jewish Peoplewanna UNITE THE RIGHT? You're gonna have to give them something to HATE. But that can be tricky, especially when your right wing faction is horrendously lacking in both fortitude and strength of character. If you want to mobilize weak people, you have to give them the softest possible target, preferably one that most people aren't inclined to stand up for.
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2023-04-0957 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Our party's anti-gun stance has driven 21 MILLION VOTERS TO MAGA without reducing mass shootings. You've sacrificed the rest of our platform for NOTHING.The first step in solving any entrenched societal problem is to give a f*ck. That means being invested in every aspect of the problem and empathizing .with everyone involved. It doesn't matter what Step 2 is when you're failing at step 1. I'm going to talk to you anti-gun folks about that, everything else you're doing wrong, and how you could do better.
It is noble and honorable to want to address the problems of gun violence and mass shootings, but the only way you'll succeed is to stop focusing on merely plastering bandaids over the symptoms and shi...
2023-02-011h 28Literally The Worst People in the World.You 2A/gun community people are pissing away OUR gun rights. (Gun Fight Pt 1)I'm a gun owner. I'm a concealed carrier. But I refuse to count myself as part of such a selfish, ignorant, myopic community as the one that has formed around guns and gun ownership.
This is part 1 of a 2 part episode, where I holler at the gun folks about where and how they're f*ckin up.
In part 2, I'll be hollerin at the anti-gun folks, because they're f*ckin up too.
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2023-02-012h 49Literally The Worst People in the World.It's okay If you're a racist. No, really, I mean it!We can still get along.
My friend and I were talking politics and a question arose:
What can Republicans do to help repair the bridges they've burned? How could they reestablish the lines of communication and cooperation that they've deliberately cut by treating everyone who doesn't share their ideology as their MORTAL ENEMY?
I've made a list of a few simple things Republicans can do that would very quickly get the country and the relationship between our two parties fully back on track.
(Not that they'd ever actually d...
2023-01-191h 31Literally The Worst People in the World.ENEMIES: Boebert Believers Vs. McCarthy ModeratesCorporate crooks like Kevin McCarthy pander to the prejudices of people like Lauren Boebert in order to use them as both their attack dogs and as a distraction. That's a dangerous game to play, especially when someone like McCarthy forgets that while the bigotry and hatred is just an act for him, people like Lauren Boebert truly believe in the their twisted MAGA ideology.
When he spoke out against Trump's insurrection on 1/6, his mask slipped. And the True Believers, like Lauren Boebert....they noticed.
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2023-01-0940 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Lauren Boebert's cringe Tweet on the faked "QUEERS BASH BACK" church graffiti"Hurt people hurt people. Praying that those who committed this hate crime can one day accept the love of Jesus."
Let's break this hilariously cringe Tweet down!
My favorite parts:
1) "Hurt people hurt people," meaning that "queers" are somehow damaged and mentally ill.
2) Her laughable declaration that this was a hate crime, when in reality, in the extremely unlikely event that it wasn't staged, it was a response to CENTURIES OF HATE CRIMES against the LGBTQ community by Christians, which they have always justified by referring to Leviticus 18:22, "If a Man L...
2023-01-021h 29
Literally The Worst People in the World.Kyle Rittenhouse supporters continue to LIE about Gaige Grosskreutz and Anthony Huber.Anthony Huber's only brush with the law came as a result of getting in a fight with his brother when he was 18 years old. Kyle Rittenhouse's supporters have twisted that event into a series of charges that make him look like Hannibal Lecter.
The truth: after that one spot of trouble he had as a teenager, he became a productive citizen, charismatic, energetic, and a passionate civil rights activist.
Gaige Grosskreutz, a trained EMT, was briefly held for burglary and released in light of additional evidence and suspects emerging. He also once paid a small...
2022-12-311h 27Literally The Worst People in the World.Drag Story Hour isn't grooming anyone. I'm proof of thatLike every lgbtq kid raised in a fundamentalist Christian/Catholic household, I was relentlessly, brutally GROOMED to be straight.
The disingenuous, red pilled, craven, spineless, pathetic cowards spreading LIES about the drag Story Hour don't want you to think about what I and every other gay kid who I grew up fundamentalist Christian or Catholic went through when our parents, churches, and communities pulled out all the stops pressure, shame, threatening, and beat the gay out of us.
They don't want you to think about all of the SHAME, FEAR, and PAIN they all put us...
2022-12-2745 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Midterm losses will not wake up the Republican Nazis, so stop with that already. It's naive.No one has switched off of trump or trumpism. We're just seeing greater turnout on the anti-trump side in the first national election since the attack on January 6th. Everyone who was a Nazi before is it Nazi now. Everyone who was against Nazis before is against Nazis now. Every single campaign Dollar on these midterms was wasted. Everyone loaded exactly the way they were going to vote before any of the rally's, ads, debates, and everything else campaigns ran to try to convince people to vote for their candidates. If you look at Social media, you will see...
2022-11-1636 min
The Counsellor and the CoachThe Karpman Drama Triangle - Victim, Rescuer or Persecutor?In this episode Peter and Dermot discuss Stephen Karpman's "Drama Triangle" which describes three patterned roles we can fall into in interpersonal relationships particular when in conflict. These roles are,
The Victim: The Victim is not intended to represent an actual victim, but rather someone feeling or acting like one. The Victim feels helpless, hopeless, powerless, and seems unable to make decisions or take responsibility for their own, feelings, thoughts or actions. The Victim, if not being persecuted, will set someone else up in the role of Persecutor. They will also seek help, creating one or more R...
2022-10-2942 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.We Democrats are FAILING TO EMPATHIZE with non-MAGA gun owners and losing CRUCIAL votes because of it.We (rightfully) accuse Republicans of failing to empathize with us on every issue, all the time. But when it comes to this issue, guns, we are failing in exactly the same way to empathize with people for whom guns are inextricably linked with their identities not just as americans, but as human beings. People who would not have protein in their diet if they couldn't HUNT for it. People who put their life on the line in military service and came away with no skills other than firearms and have used those skills to make a living. People who...
2022-10-1723 min
Literally The Worst People in the World.Christianity is ENTIRELY fake. Here's the evidence. Are you MAN enough to FACE it?
This means that for almost the entire time during which the Old Testament took place, the Israelites didn't even worship the one God that was the main character at the center of every story in the Old testament.
Remember the story about the Israelites losing faith in God and instead worshiping Baal, the golden calf?
The fact that they were polytheists from the beginning all the way up to their arrival in Jerusalem completely invalidates the entire narrative thrust of this event and every other event in the Old Testament whose moral...
2022-10-1348 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Republicans fat shamers hate Lizzo, but LOVE BBW PORN.In one browser tab, they fat shame anyone with a larger size body and anyone who promotes body positivity and fat acceptance. Their other browser tabs are occupied by a whole lot of big girl porn.
Out of all those browser tabs, the only one they should be ashamed of is the one where they are pouring a disturbing amount of energy into their effort to make people with larger bodies feel as bad about themselves as possible.
Yet the other tabs are the ones they would never confess to opening.
The should be...
2022-10-1015 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.GQP racists- too timid to claim their own beliefs: "It's not racism, it's realism!"Republicans make blanket generalizations about entire races of people being prone to violence and criminality.
Then they throw a screaming fit about being called out as racists while claiming,
"The numbers said it, not me! I'm just pointing out what the data PROVES!"
Their data is ALWAYS laughably narrow, out of context, incomplete, irrelevant, or fabricated entirely.
But even in the unlikely event that they someday might make such a claim and support it with accurate data, crime stats don't even come close to being sufficient evidence to suggest, let alone PRO...
2022-10-0628 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Republicans are the personification of weakness as Operation #GOATSE continues in earnestNot a single Republican has responded to any of the responses to their drive-by tweets they've been fire-hosing out of their asses as part of Operation GOATSE. Anyone with true strength of character would be willing to back up the things they say, except it's so much for his being said in these drive-by tweets is so patently absurd that it's not even worth responding to. They don't even have the courage to read those responses.
They used to respond, back in the earlier years of the Trump movement, but given that the basis for all the ideological Hills they...
2022-10-0539 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Republicans are the personification of weakness as Operation #GOATSE continuesNot a single Republican has responded to any of the responses to their drive-by tweets they've been fire-hosing out of their asses as part of Operation GOATSE. Anyone with true strength of character would be willing to back up the things they say, except it's so much for his being said in these drive-by tweets is so patently absurd that it's not even worth responding to. They don't even have the courage to read those responses.
They used to respond, back in the earlier years of the Trump movement, but given that the basis for all the ide...
2022-10-051h 12Literally The Worst People in the World.Republicans have launched OPERATION GOATSEOver the past month, ELECTED Republican trolling on social media has skyrocketed. They're spreading their big white Christian butt cheeks, gripping the edges of that sphincter, and BLAST-FOUNTAINING antagonistic diarrhea all over the internet in an attempt to repeat Steve Bannon's 2016 election strategy of flooding The Zone with s***. During the work day, that 9:00 to 5:00 period when most ADULTS are getting on with the business of keeping America running, ELECTED Republicans are tweeting out demonstrably false, antagonistic tweets directed at their Democrat colleagues every 10 to 15 minutes.
The desperation is palpable. It's clear that they are starting to re...
2022-09-3013 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.The GQP's Soft Secession Part 1 - driving Dems out of Red States by making them unlivableThe Republican effort to drive Democrats out of red States with laws like the 238 anti-lgbtq laws they passed in just the first four months of 2022 has been mostly toothless, but if they can reverse the next three Supreme Court decisions they have their eyes on, they might be able to successfully make red States unlivable for lgbtq people, black people, and Democrats all together.
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2022-07-2528 minThe Counsellor and the CoachOn Being a CounselorThis is a special episode where we focus specifically on Dermot's experience of being a counselor for over twenty years. Dermot shares some of his background, education and his approach in dealing with the various challenges that a counselor is confronted with. We also discuss where counselling can be helpful, methods and metaphors and what someone might expect from counselling as well as some of the darker aspects of counselling.
2022-07-1056 min
Literally The Worst People in the World.Income inequality drives mass shootings more than any other single factor.Easy access to guns sin certainly exacerbating the problem and common sense gun control is definitely a worthwhile effort, but we will not eliminate the driving force behind these shootings until we address the one problem that increases the severity and impact of all others: INCOME INEQUALITY.
Republicans have intentionally inflicted a state of poverty on America that has the vast majority of us living paycheck-to-paycheck.
Staring down the barrel of a life barren of any real prospects for a better future, more and more people are driven to a state of hopeless rage that...
2022-05-3117 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.How the gun community lost its voiceJust as a courtesy to you gun folks, I'm going to expllain why no one seeks or listens to what you have to say about guns and gun control anymore.
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2022-05-2715 min
The Counsellor and the CoachExam Preparation, Preparing mind and body for upcoming exams.In this episode Peter and Dermot discuss the challenge of getting ready for upcoming exams with a focus on the leaving cert but most of the topics, concepts and techniques could apply to any exams.
Things covered include,
Breathing techniques
Inner critic versus inner coach
Managing distractions
Procrastination
Retrieval
and more
2022-05-1047 minThe Counsellor and the CoachOn managing difficult emotionsIn this episode Dermot Coonan and Peter Connolly discuss the challenge of managing deepfelt emotions with an initial focus on anger and then broadening out to managing frustrations in relationships, forgiveness and self compassion.
2022-05-0841 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Colluding with corporations to keep us living paycheck-to-paycheck - is this the worst thing the GOP has ever done?Yes, this is the GQP's worst crime. Ever.
Keeping people poor KILLS them. It takes years off their lives and degrades the life they have left.
The GQP and corporate America have been collaborating on an effort to make sure most Americans are paid as little as possible.
Since the year 2000, cost of living in America has increased by approximately 400%. Yet, starting pay rates for every position below the corporate upper management level have only increased by about 8%.
WHY DO THEY DO THIS?
- in exchange for financial compensation fro...
2022-04-1637 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.The GQP used Ketanji Brown Jackson's confirmation hearings to normalize the influence of religion on governmentLindsey Graham and Marjorie Taylor Green shoved a nauseating amount of discussion of the particulars of Christianity into judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's Supreme Court confirmation hearings for two reasons. They didn't think that they would be able to directly violate the first amendment by denying her the seat based on her religious beliefs, but they decided to give it a try. But what they were primarily trying to do was normalize religious influence on government processes and appointments. Well, mainly Lindsey Graham was trying to do that. All Marjorie Taylor Greene knew was that her handlers told her to go...
2022-04-1014 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Reading GQP tweets under the NotMyPresident hashtag - letting them tell you who they are, in their own wordsWhat do you call it when Republicans tweet the same thing every single day, tweet absolute Fabrications, and obsessively go after people for their age, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation?
I call it a surrender. A confession. An admission that they have nothing to offer.
Except, of course, hate, lies, and pettiness.
But I'll let them tell you that themselves.
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2022-04-0955 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.How America (accidentally) broke Mexico. And JD Vance is a liar who panders to racists.Cartels murder over 30,000 Mexican citizens in a year and suffer zero consequences for it. Cartels control the vast majority of the illicit drug Market in America. Cartels have the Mexican Government under their thumb. And we made all that possible.
And Republicans would prefer that America
NOT
have the decency to help clean up the mess it has made in Mexico.
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2022-04-0724 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Hunter Biden's addictions came from PTSD, seeing his mother and sister killed in front of him. And NOBODY talks about that. EVER.Hunter Biden's addictions are a symptom of his post-traumatic stress disorder from the accident that killed his mother and baby sister This is not someone who was doing drugs for fun and got carried away.
Hunter Biden was trapped in the horrific moment that half his family was crushed and obliterated, two feet in front of his face. A part of him will always be that age. A part of him will always be in that car.
Since then, he has struggled in a variety of ways, with his lowest moments unfolding in the public eye...
2022-04-0526 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.They attack Hunter Biden and you don't say a damn thingHunter Biden's addictions are a symptom of his post-traumatic stress disorder. Joking about it and calling him a crkhead is reductive and pathetic, and those who do it are human garbage.
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2022-04-0530 minLiterally The Worst People in the World."First they came"We're about to find out how many Americans will let the Republican party slowly disenfranchise,arginine, and in some cases exterminate everyone who is, in any way, "other."
That number is what will determine whether we ever get to talk about this fight against #GQP fascism in the past tense.
Father Martin Niemöller understood that all too well.
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2022-04-0313 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.In the circus of politics, Marjorie Taylor Greene is The Geek" Pete Buttigieg can take his electric vehicles and his bicycles and he and he and his husband can stay out of our girls bathrooms."
-Kevin McCarthy, via the mouth of Marjorie Taylor Greene. If you've seen Nightmare Alley, you know what a circus Geek is. Marjorie Taylor Greene is the #GQP's Geek. The train wreck you can't look away from. The distraction that pulls your attention away from what the #GQP is really up to.
As long as the #GQP is constantly lying, cheating, and stealing, they will always need a Geek to distract us from...
2022-03-2923 minLiterally The Worst People in the World."After slavery ended, everything was just peachy for blacks in America," the grownups told me. They lied.The grownups in my life told me that after slavery, there were no "real" problems for black people.
That was the narrative I was fed as a kid. And now the #GQP wants to go back to that model of education. You know-
-the REVISIONIST one.
Some of the kids I grew up with are actual loud and proud Nazis now.
I wonder why.
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2022-03-2823 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.Is the #GQP ignoring the ACTUAL Voice of God, betting their souls, and losing?Wouldn't it be ironic if the #GQP, in creating the #DontSayGay bill (which will result in the deaths of many #LGBTQ kids), was ignoring the literal Voice of God?
You know, that little Voice deep inside - the one that tells you not to hurt people.
Your conscience.
(Worst quality so far - I'm still getting over a really bad cold. Sorry about that.
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2022-03-2525 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.#DontSayGay, why K-3rd is NOT too early, why the bill is so damaging, and why the #GQP is REALLY doing this.1) Ages 6-9, or K-3rd grade, is not too early to learn about sexual orientation and identity
2) The other reasons #DontSayGay is so damaging to EVERYONE
3) Why the #GQP is REALLY creating laws like the #DontSayGay bill (it's not homophobia)
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2022-03-2334 minLiterally The Worst People in the World.How MUCH Republicans lie and why this is NOT normal.The constant dishonesty that we are seeing from the Republican Party is not normal. It falls far outside the normal range of human imperfection.
Why do they lie so much? It really doesn't matter why. What we should really be concerning ourselves with is it what this level of dishonesty says about their intentions.
The fact that they are lying this much indicates that they are no longer interested in having a meaningful dialogue with the rest of us. They made a conscious decision to terminate that relationship and move on to th...
2022-03-2025 min
Standing idly byThe Community is the expertEpisode 1 of a 12 part mini-series exploring the emerging insights from the political experience of Cllr Dermot 'Daisy' O'Brien.This episode unpacks the statement,"I believe that the quality of political decision making at local level is directly linked to the quality of consultation with local people".
2022-01-0706 min
Riffin RadioEp 5: Season 7 Maxi Priest part 2This week Dermot continues his conversation with Maxi Priest. Maxi talks about being related to Jacob Miller.
2021-12-2411 min
Riffin RadioEp 4: Season 7 Maxi PriestThis week Dermot talks to Maxi Priest about how he got into music.
2021-12-1726 min
Riffin RadioEp 3: Season 7 Baaba MaalThis week Dermot talked to Baaba Maal about career, his traveling and how important it was to his music.
2021-12-1036 min
Riffin RadioEp 2: Season 7 David RudderThis week Dermot talks with David Rudder about his career as the successor to the traditional calypsonians. Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener.
2021-12-0325 min
2021-11-2625 min
Riffin RadioEp 6: Season 6 Branford MarsalisThis week Dermot talks with Branford Marsalis about his album "Buckshot LeFonque" which is a fusion of jazz and hip hop.
2021-11-1917 min
Riffin RadioEp 5: Season 6 George BensonThis week Dermot talks with George Benson. Benson talks about how he developed his guitar style and he became established as a singer.
2021-11-1212 min
Riffin RadioEp 4: Season 6 Ernest RanglinThis week Dermot talks with Ernest Ranglin. He talks about how he learned the guitar and his early work, with producers Clement Dodd and Chris Blackwell.
2021-11-0529 min
Riffin RadioEp 3: Season 6 Horace AndyThis week Dermot talks with Horace Andy about his unique vocal style. And how he became a star with Massive Attack.
2021-10-2928 min
Riffin RadioEp 2: Season 6 Monty AlexanderIn this weeks episode Dermot talks with Jamaican jazz pianist Monty Alexander.
2021-10-2222 min
Riffin RadioEp 1: Season 6 Randy WestonThis week Dermot talks with Randy Weston about music and spirituality.
2021-10-1532 min
Riffin RadioEp 7: Season 5 Harvey FuquaThis week on Riffin Radio podcast. Dermot talks to Harvey Fuqua. Check out this last interview in the Motown series. Harvey talks about his career and being a Motown artist.
2021-10-0834 min
Riffin RadioEp 6: Season 5 Junior WalkerThis week on Riffin Radio podcast. Dermot talks with Junior Walker. He talks about how he discovered the saxophone. He also talks about working with Johnny Bristol and becoming a Motown artist.
2021-10-0118 min
Riffin RadioEp 5: Season 5 Johnny BristolDermot talks with Johnny Bristol about being a producer, song writer and Motown artist. He spoke about writing songs for The Supremes, Junior Walker, and producing Johnny Mathis.
2021-09-2421 min
Riffin RadioEp 4: Season 5 Mighty SparrowThis week Dermot talks with the great Mighty Sparrow. He talks about his success as a famous calypsonian. He talks about his work and his role. Check out Riffin Radio on YouTube. This week Dermot talks with Eddy Grant about The Mighty Sparrow. https://youtube.com/channel/UCzuCdwaP8RT455Tfm9h5wEQ
2021-09-1726 min
Riffin RadioEp 3: Season 5 Bob AndyThis week Dermot talks with Bob Andy. Bob talks about his song writing and his process. He also talks about his album "Hanging Tough" And some of the emotional things he has been through.
2021-09-1044 min
Riffin RadioEp 2: Season 5 Peter Tosh part 2This week Dermot continues his conversation with Peter Tosh. He talks about the break up of the Wailers. He also talks about revolution.
2021-09-0342 min
Riffin RadioEp 1: Season 5 Peter ToshThis week Dermot talks with Peter Tosh. This is part one of a two part interview. Peter talks about challenges of getting his first solo album and his first tour North America tour as a solo artist.
2021-08-2739 min
Riffin RadioEp 8: Season 4 Garnett SilkThis week Dermot talks with Garnett Silk in a short interview. After Garnet passed Dermot interviewed Anthony Rochester and late producer Bobby Digital. Anthony co-wrote songs with Garnett and Bobby produced Garnett's first album "It's Growing".Check out Riffin Radio YouTube channel for an interview with Tony Rebel who tells the story of Garnett Silk's life and musical journey. https://youtube.com/channel/UCzuCdwaP8RT455Tfm9h5wEQ
2021-08-2022 min