Show Notes
Before I started recording this powerful conversation Rosaleen McDonagh, she rightly bashed me for not reading her book ‘Unsettled’ which was published last year. I can now say that I have read it and I’m blown away. Commenting on a piece of work like this is so hard because so often I was left speechless but the manner in which she describes the injustices she experienced as a traveller woman with cerebral palsy is profound, even more profound is her pride and love of herself and her family and community. I can’t think of a book that forced me to pause and contemplate after each chapter quite like this. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that it's a miracle she’s still here and I’m so glad she is. For those unfamiliar, Rosaleen is an Irish playwright, performer and columnist for the Irish Times. She holds a BA, two Masters in Philosophy from Trinity College and a PHD from Northumbria University. She is a board member of Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre and was appointed a Human Rights Commissioner in 2020. This intense podcast covers grief, the shadow side of activism, the role James Baldwin’s work played in her development as a human and a writer. We also discuss Rosaleen’s relationship with her Cerebral Palsy, the hierarchy present within the mental health discussion, the impact of othering that travellers experience on their mental health and more. She also gave perhaps the most touching combination of ways she takes care of her mental health that we’ve had on this podcast. This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable conversations I’ve had over the last few years, and I thank Rosaleen a lot for her time and kindness. Her book ‘Unsettled’ is in all good bookstores and you can find her on twitter with the link below. Thanks for listening! https://twitter.com/paveebeoir
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Rob Doyle is an Irish author of four internationally acclaimed books: Threshold, This Is the Ritual, Here Are the Young Men, which has been adapted for film, and his recently published Cameo. He has written for The New York Times, The Guardian, The Irish Times, to name a few. He was one of the first guests on the Earthly Delights Podcast back in 2020, yes, 6 years ago, and I was very grateful to sit down with him again and explore several themes that arise in his new book, Cameo, and his recent writing elsewhere. Rob has a gift for exploring the shadow of society through his work while also illuminating some of the most beautiful experiences of humanity. In this chat, we unpack weighty topics such as lust, post-psychedelic appreciation of religion and spirituality, addiction, as well as one of my favourite questions: what do we do with beauty? Cameo is incredible, and I’d highly recommend anyone who’s a little intrigued to grab a copy. If you want to stay connected to Rob, check out his Insta and Substack below: https://www.instagram.com/skullhotel/ https://substack.com/@robdoyle Thanks to Rob for making time, and thanks to you all for listening.