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Colm Flynn Podcast

Storytelling Podcasts

Amazing stories from ordinary people that will make you laugh, learn, and feel inspired. Presented by Colm Flynn.

Location:

Ireland

Description:

Amazing stories from ordinary people that will make you laugh, learn, and feel inspired. Presented by Colm Flynn.

Language:

English

Contact:

+393519682107


Episodes

Filming The War in Ukraine: Finn Boylan

11/24/2023
Finn Boylan is an Irish filmmaker from Bray in Co. Wicklow. He has always had a strong interest in the history of wars and conflicts around the world, feeling a fascination with places of unrest. When the war broke out in Ukraine in 2022 he had just started filmmaking and felt a strong urge that he had to travel to Ukraine and capture what was happening. Finn realised history was being made and he wanted to play his part. But nothing could have prepared him for what he would witness over the next five months as his camera brought him right into the middle of the tragedy that was unfolding. The footage he captured is real, is raw, and tells the story of a country fighting to survive amidst such heartache and devastation. Now, for the first time in an extended interview, the man behind the camera, Finn Boylan, tells his story.

Duration:00:51:45

Living With Bipolar Disorder: David Harper

9/11/2023
David Harper is a broadcaster from the UK, working with networks like the BBC World Service. In fact, his voice can often be heard reading news live to millions of people around the world. He also covers a wide range of stories for other TV and radio networks in the UK. He has a passion for what he does! But his job can be very demanding and high-pressured at times, and being a freelancer the work can be unstable. But what makes David's situation a bit more difficult, is that he suffers from Bipolar Disorder. He kept his condition a secret for many years, fearing what others would think, and the possibility of losing work as looking unstable. But recently he uploaded a video to X (formerly Twitter) where he talked about his diagnoses and how that affected his life. In this podcast, David tells me about what it's like living with extreme lows, and manic highs, and how it affects his life every day. He also talks openly about the problems bipolar disorder can have on his family and friends, and those closest to him. We discuss the medication he has tried, and what he says eventually worked for him in terms of coping with it.

Duration:00:45:04

Inside the Mind of Baby Killer Lucy Letby: A Criminal Psychologist Explains

8/22/2023
The name Lucy Letby has now become a name associated with pure evil. The story that has shocked and horrified England, and people all over the world is something you wouldn’t find in even the worst horror movies. A young nurse murdering tiny babies while working in the neonatal unit of a UK hospital. Instead of caring for the most vulnerable, she was injecting them with air, milk, and insulin.. And in one case, even inserting a sharp instrument into a baby’s throat to try and make it bleed to death…. But yet, a UK court has just ruled that this is exactly what Lucy Letby did between 2015 and 2015 when she was just 25 years old. She killed infant babies while on duty and then pretend to the heartbroken parents that she had done everything she could to try and save their child. In some cases she even look up the parents on facebook after, and wrote messages of sympathy to them. We now know the where, when, and how of these horrific crimes, but we do not know the why. Dr. David Holmes is one of the UK's leading criminal psychologist and joins Colm Flynn on this podcast to try and give an insight into the mind of someone like Lucy Letby, and why someone with psychopathic tendencies can be driven to do acts of pure evil. They also discuss the public's fascination with the case, and serial killers in general, and whether or not people like Lucy Letby should be named in public, given the attention their narcissistic personality so badly craves, or if they should be simply ignored and left to die in prison.

Duration:00:43:46

From Foster Care to Law School: Lucy Barnes

7/9/2023
Growing up in a dysfunctional family in the UK, Lucy Barnes felt lost and unloved as a child. Her mother wasn't able to be the kind of mother a child needs, and Lucy had five siblings from five different fathers. So the concept of a solid loving family was something she never experienced from a young age. Men were constantly coming and going in their home, and Lucy often found herself in difficult and dangerous situations. Eventually things got so bad, when she was 13 she kicked out of her home by her mother, and then a social worker got her into foster care. With the foster family, for once in her life she experienced love and acceptance, but didn't know how to handle it and so rebelled. Throughout her teenage years she battled with shame and guilt, thinking of her childhood and where she had come from. When she was 16 she was kicked out of foster care and returned back to her mother's house. But rather than letting the cycle continue, Lucy realised that the only way she would break it would be through education and she set herself an ambitious task - to study law. This is Lucy's amazing story of how, against the odds, she pursued her dream and went to law school, and now is on her way to becoming a barrister. Lucy Barnes had to mature at a younger age than most, and experienced obstacles in life that has made her stronger and more determined. In this podcast she shares her amazing story, and the valuable insights she has learned throughout her life.

Duration:00:50:29

I was hired to film Fyre Festival: Jordan Pulmano!

6/25/2023
Jordan Pulmano is a filmmaker from California who specialises in shooting music videos and festivals. His work has brought him all over the United States, and to other parts of the world. But back in 2017 he got a call to film a music festival that would go down in history, but for all the wrong reasons. 'Fyre Festival' was billed as a glamorous, exclusive, and one-of-a-kind music festival which was to be held on an island in the Bahamas. Jordan was really excited to go and film with his team who would be documenting everything over the course of the festival. Their job was to produce a highlights video at the end that would be used to promote the festival the following year. But as they landed on the tropical island, straight away it was apparent that things were not going according to plan, and over the next couple of days things quickly fell apart. The man who organised the festival, Billy McFarland, was jailed for four years. Here is Jordan's story of being hired to film the infamous Fyre Festival.

Duration:00:39:53

Changing Life And Moving To Rome: Emily Mais

5/30/2023
Emily Mais is a writer and an author who, after losing her mother to cancer, decided to reevaluate her life and change the things that didn't make her happy. Like so many other people her age, she was at a point in life with a steady long-term boyfriend, a good job, and a nice apartment in Toronto, but ultimately wasn't happy. It took losing her mother to help her realise that life is short, and you only get one chance at things. So, with no real plan or agenda, she left her home in Canada, changed careers, and moved to Rome in Italy where she now lives. In this podcast, Emily talks to Colm about what those final months with her mother were like, and how it inspired her to become a writer focusing on love, loss and grief. The three things she says we all experience but never plan for. You can follow Emily on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emaisy/

Duration:00:36:32

Chasing Tornadoes: Tanner Charles

5/16/2023
All his life Tanner Charles has been running towards the very thing that people most people run away from, Tornadoes! Since he was a teenager he has been a passionate storm chaser, constantly trying to get closer and closer to the danger. From Minnesota, Tanner now produces Youtube videos where he follows violent and destructive storms, sometimes driving for hours just to see one. In this podcast interview, Tanner tells Colm about his love of seeing Tornadoes hit land and experiencing their sheer power. He also opens up about the most emotional storm chase ever where he found himself helping an elderly couple whose home was completely destroyed. Colm and Tanner also talk about the ethics behind the videos he makes, and whether promoting and filming storm chasing is responsible, especially when they cause so much destruction, and sometimes even death. Finally, in a surprising twist to the interview, Tanner reveals he is a Christian and talks about how he sees tornadoes as part of God's plan.

Duration:00:31:00

Building a Brand, Trying NYC, and Finding Happiness: Louise Cooney

5/2/2023
Louise Cooney is one of Ireland's most successful social media stars, with almost a quarter of a million followers on Instagram alone. But behind the seemingly always glamorous lifestyle online, in this episode of the Colm Flynn podcast, Louise talks about the hard work that goes into building a brand and business. She talks about the pros and cons of being self employed and the kind of challenges she faced when launching a new clothing band, Cloo Active. In this interview Louise also opens up about her big move to New York city and how the experience wasn't quite what she expected or hoped it would be. But as you'll hear Louise reveal, she believes everything happens for a reason, and has never been happier to be back in Ireland now where she has found love, happiness and appreciation for everything she has. Follow Louise on social media @louisecooney_

Duration:00:58:10

Love Island and Recovering From Addiction: Cormac Murphy

4/23/2023
In this episode of the Colm Flynn Podcast, I chat to Irish social media influencer and reality TV star, Cormac Murphy. Living in New York City, Cormac featured in the first season of 'Love Island' on CBS and also appeared on the E4 show of 'Celebs Go Dating' in the UK. But behind the chiselled instagram pictures and seemingly perfect life in the US, Cormac was secretary battling with addiction and depression. His addiction to alcohol and drugs became so bad that his family eventually had to intervene and bring him back to Ireland and to rehab. Cormac claims he believes he would always have ended up in rehab, but thinks the party lifestyle that came with recognition from his TV work accelerated that. Now, Cormac is back in New York City and living a new life. He's sober, healthy, happy, and running a successful fitness company called Macc Fitness.

Duration:00:56:29

Arrested by Iran's Morality Police: My Story

11/22/2022
In this edition of the podcast I cannot reveal the name of my guest or what part of Europe she is in, so as to protect her and her family's safety. She is from Iran and when she was 20 years of age, she was arrested by the country's so-called 'morality police'. She was locked into the coffee shop where she was sitting with her friends, verbally berated and humiliated, and threatened with whipping. What was her crime? She dared to show some of her hair from behind her hijab and wear red lipstick. In September of 2022, a 20-year-old girl named Mahsa Amini was arrested by the morality police in Iran. She was reportedly beaten around the head. Her crime? Showing a small bit of her hair from behind her hijab. She went into a coma and died three days later. Her death sparked widespread protests in Iran, with government forces killing over 400 people, including 58 children. They say, they are maintaining law and order, and that these people are not protestors, but 'rioters' and 'terrorists'. As the horror in Iran continues to unfold, my guest has agreed to share her personal story of dealing with the morality police in the help of us understanding how the system works in Iran, and what kind of future the country could be facing. It's a unique insight into a way of life that is so unfamiliar to most of us, and frightening to think it is real. This is an issue that needs to be highlighted across the world. Please help raise awareness.

Duration:00:42:00

Irish Jewellery Designer: Bláithín Ennis

10/3/2022
Bláithín Ennis is an incredibly talented Irish fashion designer, specialising in jewellery and accessories. Her work is sold in some of Ireland's top retail outlets, and has been worn by celebrities around the world. From Wexford in the south east of Ireland, in this episode, Bláithín tells Colm about where her love of fashion and creating came from, and how she landed a dream internship working with Diane von Furstenberg in New York. She also talks about what it's like running her own fashion business and brand in Ireland and the challenges that poses. Finally, her advice to anyone considering turning their passion into a business.

Duration:00:59:42

Confessions of a top Youtuber: Dara Tah

9/6/2022
Welcome to season 2 of the Colm Flynn Podcast! Dara Tah is an Irish Youtuber and Ticktocker who has shot to internet fame in recent months. But overnight success has come after years of hard work, and in this interview Dara tells Colm about some of his more daring YouTube videos like visiting Area 51, staying the night in a haunted castle, being buried alive, and gives an honest account of what goes in to making a viral hit.

Duration:01:47:08

Guardian of the Golden Gate Bridge: Kevin Briggs

5/25/2022
Kevin Briggs has stood, sometimes for hours late at night, in the freezing cold mist on the Golden Gate Bridge. The routine became all-too familiar for Kevin. Talking to someone who had climbed the barrier of San Francisco's iconic bridge and who was about to jump to the choppy waters below. With no formal training in negotiation, or how to handle depression or suicide, he would carefully navigate conversations with these individuals who stood there in the wind at the lowest point in their life. What's remarkable about Kevin story, is how effective him just listening to these people was. Over his career he talked approximately 600 people down from the bridge, and sadly lost two. In this interview, Kevin tells me about the people he encountered and what brought them to the bridge. We also talk about the effect this kind of work has had on him, and what advice he has to others who are feeling suicidal, or know someone who is. In this interview, we talk about people who were suffering in the depths of depression, and some people may find parts upsetting. If you are affected by depression or suicide, please talk to someone. You can start by checking out one of these links below. There will be someone like Kevin there to listen to you, and help you with what you are going through. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/behaviours/help-for-suicidal-thoughts/ https://mentalhealth.org.nz/conditions/condition/suicide-coping-with-suicidal-thoughts

Duration:00:48:29

Pursuing A More Meaningful Life: Shaun Doherty

4/10/2022
Shaun Doherty was, for 30 years, a hugely successful broadcaster in Donegal, Ireland. Every day he presented the main talk show on Highland Radio. Over three decades he became a household name in the region and won multiple awards for his work. But one day, he announced live on air, that he would be leaving his job in radio, and pursuing something else. Now, in this exclusive interview, Shaun talks to Colm Flynn about why he decided to walk away from the success he had, and move to Rome in Italy, to start a new life studying for the priesthood, and how he hopes to find fulfilment in his new role.

Duration:01:03:14

I was the world's first Youtube star: Brooke Brodack

2/8/2022
Brooke Brodack was once the most subscribed YouTuber in the world but suddenly deleted her channel and disappeared from all social media. It was 2005 and YouTube was still a new website. Then a 19 year old girl from Holden, Massachusetts, created a channel called 'Brookers' where she uploaded videos of herself hanging around the house, doing funny sketches, and just being creative. Her channel took off and gained over 60,000 subscribers, at one point being the most-subscribed channel on YouTube. She was offered a gig by NBC and moved to Hollywood... But then deleted her channel, and all social media, and moved to India. She tells Colm Flynn her story.

Duration:00:53:02

SHORTS: An Interview With The Man Who Invented The Cellphone!

1/8/2022
BONUS MATERIAL Marty Cooper is nothing more than a living legend. Back in the early 70's, he and a small team of engineers at Motorola changed the course of history forever when they developed the first every handheld portable cellphone. Motorola wasn’t a big company at the time and was up against the biggest company in the world, AT&T, who were pushing their own invention that was a car phone. It was really a case of David and Goliath as the two companies went head to head for the future of the telephone. Marty Cooper and his invention of cellphone beat all the odds and in 1973 Marty made history by making the first-ever cellphone call in history on 6th Avenue in New York City. Who did he call? His rival Joel Engle, the head of AT&T. In this short podcast I chat to Marty Cooper about that incredible time and how his invention went on to change the world!

Duration:00:14:33

Living in a paradise, life on the Fiji islands: Sanya Ruggiero

12/5/2021
Can you imagine living on a tropical island in the south Pacific Ocean? A paradise on Earth where life moves at a slower rate. That's where my guest for this episode lives and works. Sanya Ruggiero is a consultant communications advisor who works with the UN and other organisations. She is now working on a UN project to provide Covid relief to small business and freelancers in Fiji and neighbouring islands. She is also working on a project to clear radioactive waste left on the Marshall Islands following nuclear weapons testing by the US government. Recently she was has written articles for AlJazeera and worked on projects with ABC, the Australian national broadcaster. Sanya also has a strong Catholic faith, which she says has helped her in life, despite it been sometimes seen as unpopular by some of her colleagues. In this interview I chat to Sanya about her fascinating family story, the history of the Figi islands, and the work she is doing today. Thanks for listening, and follow Sanya on Twitter: @Sanya_Ruggiero

Duration:01:19:01

Fighting An Extreme Eating Disorder, Bulimia: Lisa Murphy

11/10/2021
Lisa Murphy is 31 and from Cork in the south of Ireland, and if you met her you would be taken by her warm and bubbly personality. On the face of it she looks like a 'normal' happy young woman, living in Ireland's capital, Dublin, and having recently started a new job. But under the surface Lisa has been battling a debilitating and life-threatening condition for the last twelve years, bulimia. This condition leaves no marks on her body, or makes her look a certain way, and so most of the time it is impossible for others to tell something is wrong. But every day Lisa goes through an uncontrollable cycle of binge eating, and then purging.. over and over again. What started when she was 19 years of age, making herself get sick so she could look 'sexy' like other girls, spiralled out of control in the years that followed and Lisa found herself doing things she would never thought she was capable of. Lisa hit rock bottom earlier this year when she attempted to commit suicide as her eating disorder was so out of control. Now she is looking for help, and has started a GoFundMe to raise money to pay for treatment at a specialised centre. In this interview, Lisa is so honest and open about her condition and the effect it is having on her life. But please be warned, some parts of the interview are graphic and may be difficult for some listeners to hear, especially if you have been affected by an eating disorder or have felt suicidal. I want to really thank Lisa for being so generous with her time and willingness to share her story. The insight she offers into the life of a person with an eating disorder is unique and very raw, and I know that I learned an incredible amount about a condition I knew very little of before. Please share this interview with those you know, and support Lisa and her GoFundMe, here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-help-our-friend-lisa?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Duration:01:28:39

Exploring Ghostly Radioactive Chernobyl: Philip Grossman

10/31/2021
After the catastrophic disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine in 1986, around 50,000 people were evacuated from the nearby city of Pripyat. The residents were told to take just the clothes they were wearing along with their passports, and reassured they would be allowed to return soon after. However as radiation levels were so high, the decision was made to create a 30km 'exclusion zone' around the Chernobyl power station and for the past 35 years the city of Pripyat has become a ghost town, frozen in time in Soviet 1986, and now giving way to nature. Philip Grossman is a scientist, engineer and filmmaker, who has visited the city of Pripyat and the Chernobyl exclusion zone 14 times. He explored the abandoned buildings which are still highly radioactive in parts still today. Colm Flynn talks to Philip Grossman about his experiences exploring the exclusion zone, as well some of the misconceptions around the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. They also talk about the overall safety of nuclear energy today.

Duration:01:00:50

SHORTS: The Amazing Story of Genie Chance!

10/17/2021
BONUS MATERIAL On Easter Sunday in 1964, one of the strongest earthquakes in North American history struck Alaska with the city of Anchorage being horst hit. Amidst the destruction and despair, a voice emerged over the crackling airwaves that would go on to become one of the unlikely heroes of the disaster. Genie Chance was a local radio journalist who rushed to the station when the earthquake struck. For the next few days, she broadcast around the clock helping the dazed and confused locals find their loved ones and relayed messages of hope and encouragement. I speak with author and journalist Jon Mooallem, who just published a new book, ‘This Is Chance! The Shaking of an All-American City, A Voice That Held It Together’, about this remarkable woman and how she helped to hold the community together during their darkest hour.

Duration:00:12:04