Revisiting one of Ireland's great broadcasters, a comedy podcast that everyone should be listening to, an inspiring documentary and article and music one of the most talented Irish singer-songwriters around, here's what you need to check out today.
A look back at one of Ireland's most celebrated broadcasters:
To celebrate that RTÉ 2FM has been in existence for 40 years, it has decided to throw itself a little celebration. Though, rather than contenting itself with celebrating its birthday in the traditional manner - by throwing a party where the station would initially be overly-gregarious, in a slightly concerning way, before it would drink the entirety of two bottles of high-strength Chardonnay, and go really quiet for a couple of hours, just staring into the middle-distance, pondering on where the years have gone - they have gone down a slightly different route. They have released a podcast featuring some of the best moments from one of the station's most popular programmes, The Gerry Ryan Show.
Despite the slightly bizarre tagline, they've used for the podcast on their Soundcloud page, 'Gerry's back - but how is this possible ? Once again - the Ryan Line is open' making it sound as if they have communed with the spirit of the late broadcaster to create the show, it is well worth checking out.
An article showing the origins of a manager's career:
With the Champions League final to be played out tomorrow at 8pm between Liverpool and Tottenham, The Guardian's Andy Hunter wrote a piece detailing Jurgen Klopp's extraordinary ascent as a manager.
Having struggled to make it as a player, only turning professional at 23 with Mainz 05, he was asked to become the team's manager on a whim by the club's director in the middle of their 2000/01 season while they were languishing at the bottom of 2. Bundesliga. With just eight weeks remaining, he oversaw a turn in fortunes which ensured the team avoid relegation. The article depicts a man who, even while managing in the German second division, has long shown the qualities to become a world-class manager; and someone who's greatest skill perhaps lies in embracing and accepting defeat as a part of success.
The return of one of the greatest radio double acts:
Elis James and John Robins are two UK based comedians, who may not be household names, but have gained a massive online following over the past several years through the radio show and podcast they did for Radio X. Whether it's asking the hot questions like, 'Are you on email?' or helping listeners come to terms with the hot molten sense of shame that courses through us all over our past wrongdoings, their weekly show is one of the finest comedy podcasts available.
Today however marks a change. It was recently announced that they had been poached by the BBC and are now taking their show to 5Live, airing Fridays 1-3pm. With their first show having aired today, the first podcast of their new show will soon be available here and will be well worth checking out. Their whole back catalogue of podcasts from their show on Radio X are available on the Radio X website and Spotify.
A Dublin musician's whose star is on the rise:
Drumcondra native Orla Gartland's third EP, titled 'Why Am I Like This?', is an enjoyable next step in the singer-songwriter's career as she continues her path to self-discovery. It's this search for an unique identity which permeates through the four-track release, whose cover features Gartland sporting a number of alter-egos in the style of an American yearbook.
The chorus of the title song - a beautiful but melancholic tale of anxiety and frustration - sees Gartland repeatedly ask "Why am I like this?", an all too familiar refrain for anyone who has struggled with feelings of insecurity and isolation.
An amazing documentary about changes in American politics:
While most of the changes that have been taking place in democracies around the world, will make you want to hold a pillow against your voice and scream into it, there are some causes for hope. Netflix's Knock Down The House, follows four women running as outsider Democrat candidates across the United States. They are united in their progressive ideology, demanding improved worker's rights and, primarily, the provision of free healthcare for all American citizens. The star of the show ends up being Alexdria Ocasio-Cortez who famously usurped a long-established and high-ranking Democrat, Joe Crowley, to be elected as Congresswoman for New York's 14th Congressional district in 2018. It is an amazing insight into the power of grassroots activism and really brings into focus how insane it is that the dominant political news story in Ireland, even during a local and European election period, was that someone fell off a swing.
