The Recluse’s Cookbook Podcast

Welcome to episode 3 My guest this time is film director Richard Waters. On the 13th of October his latest feature film “Advent” will have its world premiere at the Newport beach Film festival. It will also have its Irish premier at the Richard Harris Film festival at the end of the same month. Richard first hit our screens with the Irish Indie cult film “The O’Briens”. Since then, he has explored the medium of film making through a number of independent features that have exceeded each other. In this episode Richard tells us where his passion for cinema began, his career to date and what his dream project or projects would be if he was given a budget to his suiting. For more information on Advent you can go to the links below: Instagram: Advent film Twitter: Advent film Facebook: Advent film Please like and share the podcast with anyone who may find this episode of interest.  Thanks V

Welcome to episode 2! My next guest is Aine Ryan.  Aine is a playwright, actor and film maker. Her play's "Kitty in the Lane" and "Paddy goes to Petra" have enraptured audiences around the world. She also co-authored "From out the land" with Jack Reardon which was presented at the Clonmel Junction festival. At the time of publishing this episode she has been nominated at the London Pub Theatre Awards. The nominations include Best Actor & Best Solo Show for "Kitty in the Lane" and Best Writing for "Paddy goes to Petra". Both productions have also secured nominations  for Best Actor for Brendan Dunlea for "Paddy goes to Petra" and Outstanding production values for "Kitty in the lane".  In this episode Aine discusses writing, inspiration and the realities of being an independent theatre producer today.  To find out more about Aine's upcoming and past projects you can go to the links below.  Official website: Studio perform  Instagram: Studio perform Facebook: Studio perform Please like and share the podcast with anyone who may find this episode of interest.  Thanks V

Welcome back to Series 2 of The Recluse's Cookbook! Have you ever wondered what to do in a survival situation? Have you ever dreamt of how you might cope? There are many answers that could be given in that event.  My first guest has the answers for that very occasion. Rob Faughnan runs Survivalist Ireland. Survivalist Ireland is Ireland's premier survival training company based in Leinster. People from all over the world come to them to see if they have what it takes to survive in the most extreme conditions.  In this episode Rob tells us the basics of what to look out for when you are hiking and in other extreme situations. Hypothermia and dehydration are common factors in any survival situation and Rob tells us the signs and symptoms. He also discusses the pros and cons of working together in a group and how it may be possible to overcome potential disaster in that scenario.  For more information on Survivalist Ireland you can go to the links below.  Website: Survivalist Ireland Facebook: Survivalist Ireland Please like and share the podcast with anyone who may find this episode of interest.  Thanks V

Episode 6 of the Recluse’s Cookbook and that means we are halfway through the first series. In this conversation I am joined by producer Victor McGowan and Actor Abe Smyth who are currently promoting their short film “Pogonophobia” which was recently longlisted for the IFTA award for Best Irish Short Film. Victor McGowan is the man behind Constant Motion Pictures and is responsible for some of Irelands acclaimed independent movies of the last decade, such as Zoe Kavanagh’s “Demon Hunter” and Thomas Andrew Quain’s “I’m talking to you”. Abe Smyth is a London based thespian, originally hailing from Northern Ireland. He starred in several RTE Productions inkling “Finding Joy” and” Can’t cope won’t cope”. In Pogonophobia he plays Cyril a very self-contained man with an intense fear of beards.   You can find out more about Pogonophobia here: http://www.constantmotion.ie/

Second City and Toronto's finest John Dawson is a writer, story consultant, script editor, dramaturge and improv teacher. In this episode we talk about, Jonathan Swift's gift to the Irish people, the benefits of watching MacGyver in the pub and the importance of  applying "Yes, and" but not "No but" to life. You can find out more about John here www.johndawsonwrites.com  

The latest episode of the Recluse's Cookbook drops. Jarlath Mc Hale​ is the CEO of Mayo Adventure Experience. Since 2014 he has been delivering activities on land and water to the public. In 2017 he undertook the Inca trail, not as a tourist but as a porter. In this episode he discusses changing careers in a recession, going for broke and how putting in the effort will pay off in the most unlikely places, like the car park in Lough Lannagh.

Our sophomore guest is Zoe Kavanagh. Zoe is a director, editor, and musician. In 2016 she released her award-winning feature film “Demon Hunter”. In this conversation we talk indie film making, her band Voxillary, and the everlasting appeal of horror. You can view the trailer for Demon Hunter here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8XYqc731GI

Our inaugural guest is Thomas Quain, a writer, director, documentarian, and animator. We discuss his debut feature film “I’m Talking to you”, the documentary series that covers the Irish general elections from 2011 to 2020 and his most recent project the animated series “Poxy Bleedin Shop”.  You can view Thomas' work here: www.thomasquainfilm.com

Welcome to episode 12. Our final episode of Series 2.  In this episode I talk to criminologist Ciaran McConnell whose blog is “Ireland’s Vanishing Triangle”. For the most part, Ireland is a safe country yet from 1987 – 2003 something happened on the Island that saw a dozen women vanish without trace from their homes or from the side of the road. In some cases, a body was recovered but most of them were never found. The commonality between cases is that all women at one point were missing and only by a stroke of luck that several of them were found. Ciaran McConnell has set up Ireland’ Vanishing Triangle which is a website and blog dedicated to correlating all the information and details of the cases of the individual women in one place. Over the course of the episode Ciaran defines what the term Ireland’s Vanishing Triangle means and he takes us through it, case by case to their present-day status. You can find out more information on these cases by clicking on the link below: Website: Ireland's Vanishing Triangle If you have any information pertaining to the whereabouts of any of the missing women included on this podcast or any missing person from Ireland, then please contact the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111. I must include a warning that the content in this episode some listeners may find distressing. Listeners caution is advised. Ladies and gentlemen without further a do…. Ciaran McConnell from Ireland’s Vanishing Triangle. 

Welcome to Episode 11 I am thrilled to have the wonderful Eugene O’Brien on this episode. Eugene is a legendary Irish writer of the stage and screen. His breakout hit Eden was first staged in the Peacock theatre in 2001. It transferred to London and since then it’s become a firm favourite of amateur dramatic theatre groups with frequent productions staged in town halls and arts centres up and down the country. In 2005 his tv series “Pure Mule” captured the cultural zeitgeist of Ireland’s Celtic Tiger in mid-lands Ireland and set tongues wagging. The past two years has seen Eugene produce a body of work over a wide variety of mediums, this includes a book, two stage plays, one of which “Heaven” won a fringe first ward at the Edinburgh Fringe festival and a feature film called "Tarrac". If you are interested in finding out about Eugene's work you can check out the link below: imdb: Eugene O'Brien If you like what you hear and please hit the like button and if you knew someone who would find the contents of this episode interesting, please send them the link. Thanks V

Welcome to Episode 10 My guest this week is Mick Rooney. Mick is an investigative journalist from Dublin. He is also the founder of Radio Espial. Mick has had an amazing career over the past three decades. Beginning as a court reporter he has published many books on several topics. He moved into self-publishing and is now the host of Radio Espial which is a talk radio channel that covers poetry, aviation, true crime and missing people cases. In this episode we discuss Mick’s start as a court reporter. Mick tells us how he moved from the world of self-publishing into world of youtube and the fascination of the public with cases of Missing people. If you are interested in finding out more then you can check out the links below in the podcast description. youtube: Mick Rooney - Radio Espial Official Radio Espial: Radio Espial Official Mick Rooney website: Official Mick Rooney Website If you like what you hear and please hit the like button and if you know someone who would find the contents of this episode interesting please send them the link. Thanks. V

Welcome to episode 9 This week my guest is Jessica Jeffrey. Following on from my conversation with Dave Sperling about the world of TEFL and TESOL teaching I speak with Jessica Jeffrey. Jessica is the Recruitment and Partnerships specialist with The TEFL Institute, which is based in Ireland. In this episode Jessica speaks about how she began in the world of TEFL teaching and how she ended up broadening out her career options through her experience teaching abroad. She tells us what the TEFL Institute offers and how they can help you. If you are interested in finding out more then you can check out the link in the podcast description. The TEFL Institute Official website: The TEFL Institute Instagram: @tefl.ie Twitter: TEFL Institute Linkedin: The TEFL Institute If you like what you hear and please hit the like button and if you know someone who would find the contents of this episode interesting please send them the link. Thanks V      

Welcome to Episode 8 My guest this week is Academy award nominee Tim Loane. Tim is an actor, writer and director whose career spans over three decades. He began his career with the legendary Tinderbox which he co-founded and with this he launched the careers of many of Northern Irelands finest playwrights. His own career reached international heights when his short film Dance Lexie Dance was nominated for an academy award, and it screened on British television just before main feature on Christmas night which was watched by an audience of millions. That’s not bad going for a little film from Northern Ireland. In this episode Tim tells us how he got started in the industry, the high and lows of being a television writer and really how the industry works for a writer. If you are interested in finding out more about Tim and his work you can check out the link below: IMDB If you like what you hear and please hit the like button and if you know someone who would find the contents of this episode interesting please send them the link. Thanks.  V    

Welcome to episode 7. It’s with great pleasure that I get to have a chat with Keith Fay from the legendary Irish heavy metal band Cruachan. For nearly 30 years now Keith has been the singer and principal songwriter with Cruachan. What started as a teenage passion in music has become an international success story with 9 studio album releases that has resulted in legions of fans across the globe. To this day Cruachan’s debut album”Tuatha Na Gael” is considered to be genre defining album in the folk metal scene. In this episode Keith discusses Cruachan’s humble beginnings on the Dublin music scene.  He also discusses the advantages of being able to write within the folk Metal genre and where the future may lie for Cruachan. You can find out more about Cruachan you can check the link below. Official website: Cruachan If you like what you hear please like it and if you know anyone who would be interested in anything in the episode, please send them a link. Thanks V

Welcome to Episode 6 My guest this week is Brian Matthews-Murphy. Brain is an Actor and film maker from Bray in Co. Wicklow. Brian is a legend of folk hero standards in the independent film industry in Ireland. He is a well-known face on our screens and over the years he has amassed an impressive cv of screen credits. He is also the founder of No Wifi. No Wifi is the North Wicklow Film makers which is a group for aspiring film makers of all levels who want to get involved in the magic of movie making. In this conversation Brian tells us the reasons why he left one career to put pursue acting. He also discusses the importance of No Wi-Fi and why he set it up. You can find out more about Brian is up to at these links Instagram: Brian Matthews-Murphy Twitter: Brian Matthews-Murphy If you like what you hear please like it and if you know anyone who would be interested in anything in the episode, please send them a link. Thanks V

Welcome to episode 5. My guest this week is Historian, story teller and author Jonathan Trigg. To date he has authored 14 history books. Most of the publications are based on the German experiences of World War 2 but his latest book “Death in the fields: The I.R.A and East Tyrone marks a departure in a very different direction. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am big History buff. I study whatever I can on the conflict in Northern Ireland from 1969 to 1998. I was only too thrilled earlier this year when I came across a Jonathan latest book “Death in the fields: The I.R.A and East Tyrone published by Merrion press. My intrigue lay in fact that too my knowledge that nobody has done a such deep dive in a book detailing the history and activities of the East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional I.R.A. What I enjoyed the most about Jonathan’s book is that it is grounded in fact. There are no half-cocked theories here it’s all fact and it’s laid out in tight timeline that leaves a lasting impression and mindful of knowledge. In this episode Jonathan discusses the reason why he wrote this book. He also speaks about his experience of serving in the East Tyrone area with the British army in the early 90’s. He also gives his views on Northern Ireland today and what has changed since he first arrived there 30 years ago. To find out more about Jonathan and his book, “Death in the fields: The I.R.A and East Tyrone you can do so by going to either of the links I have posted in the podcast description. Official Website: Jonathan Trigg Merrion press: Merrion Press Also if you like what you hear please like and share the podcast with anyone who may find this episode of interest.  Thanks V  

Welcome to Episode 4 Have you ever thought about teaching TEFL or Tesol? Are currently doing so? Then this is the episode for you.  In the world of TEFL Dave Sperling has been there and done that. In the 1990's he decided to use a new thing called the internet and from it sprung Dave's ESL Cafe. The website or webpage as it was called then has become one of the main go sites for recently qualified TEFL and TESOL teachers. In this episode Dave talks about his beginnings in teaching. He tells us about setting up the website and what has changed over the years.  For more information on you can go to the link below: Dave's ESL Cafe: Dave's ESL Cafe Please like and share the podcast with anyone who may find this episode of interest.  Thanks V

Eoghan Farren A.K.A Not that we know is a dance music producer and DJ from Inishowen in Co. Donegal. Back in 2012 he began writing and producing his own dance music but it wasn't until 2020 and the arrival of the lockdown that he began releasing his material to the public. Since then in August 2021 he released his first E.P. "Not that we know". Eoghan joins me on the podcast to discuss his beginnings as a DJ, his ultimate goals and favorite venues.  Eoghan's official website can be found here You can purchase the E.P. "Not that we know" here This episode marks the end of Series 1 of The Recluse's Cookbook". A big thank you to all our listeners. We will return again sometime in the 2022. Until then stay safe and look out for yourselves!!

Kevin Toolis is an BAFTA award winning & EMMY nominated writer and film maker. Born in Edinburgh the son of two Irish immigrants from Achill Island, he studied English and Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh before becoming a journalist. Over the past three decades he has contributed to the Guardian, New York times and the Daily Mirror.  He is also the author of several novels, the most recent being "Nine rules to conquer death" released in 2020. His first book "Rebel Hearts - Journey's within the I.R.A's soul was released in 1995 & was a bold departure from the norm. In it Kevin sought to gain an understanding as to why young men and women become embroiled in radical terrorist organizations such as the Provisional I.R.A. To this day Rebel Hearts is considered to be the finest factual book ever written on the conflict in Northern Ireland.  These day’s Kevin resides on Achill Island, off the west coast of Ireland. There he conducts walking tours of Edward Nangles Colony and produces bardic poems on the themes of the Irish wake and death and its relevance for us all. You can find out more here.    

Some would say Dave Byrne is a legend, however more would say he is an icon in the Irish independent film making scene. In the 12 years since he started the Underground Film Festival, he has created a space for film makers to have their work screened that otherwise may not have been shown.  He kindly came on to the show to chat about the Underground film festival and what it means to the independent directors, writers, producers, actors and many more of Ireland. He gives the background to it's conception and elaborates on the major changes that the industry has faced in the the intervening years. To find out more about the Underground Film Festival click here.