x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

The ClearOut

Welcome to the turbulence!Join Dara Clear, a domesticated Irishman who is trying to work out the best ways to cope with what life throws at him.Husband, father, actor, writer, teacher, karate instructor and sea swimmer, Dara wants to take the wuss out of wellness.Mixing storytelling, philosophy, humour, psychology, and emotional honesty as a recipe for increased wellness, positivity, and resilience.Become a Patreon! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

health & fitness mental health

All Episodes

1:13:35

Survival, Transcendence, and the Myth of Whatever...

The ClearOut ·

2023/06/14

In this episode, Dara talks about the affection for survival narratives and considers the respective legacies of the recently deceased singers and songwriters Tina Turner and Christy Dignam. He wonders whether we should be defined by what we've overcome in life. He also questions the value of legacy and argues for the need to be more concerned with our present-tense impact.Is surviving enough, or should we aspire to thrive? Dara argues for the pursuit, or recognition, of momentary joy as a viable

en

1:10:13

Retreat! The Places We Escape To, For Better or Worse

The ClearOut ·

2023/06/07

In this hazy episode, Dara seeks solace in mindful summer moments and solitary swims. He discusses the idea of retreat and running away to the places we find most comforting and tries to identify which ones might be better for us.He shares memories of summers past and realises that most of his recollections are located in the Irish countryside, with special mention given to summers working for his father as a teenager.Dara also talks about the fetishisation of alcohol in Ireland, a famous row in a

en

1:09:27

The Process Before The Prize: The Qualitative...

The ClearOut ·

2023/05/31

In this episode, Dara shares the realisation that he is not goal-oriented. He is all about the process. It's not the destination, it's the journey, man! He argues for the stabilising properties of having a process in place and tries to understand why it is that stability appeals so much.After being on the receiving end of someone's anger, Dara takes a moment to consider reactions, responses, and patterns. He argues that the ongoing examination of one's beliefs and habitual framings is extremely

en

1:06:41

Safety First! - The Benefits of Safe Places, Safe...

The ClearOut ·

2023/05/24

In this episode Dara looks at the idea of safety as a keystone of wellness. In particular he concentrates on environmental and interpersonal safety. This pertains to the places we live and the people we share our lives with. Are they safe? How do we understand and recognise safety? And why is it so important, anyway?Dara argues that the presence of safety allows trust to be built, and from trust friendship and love can follow. He explains why, above all, he prefers the unique conditions of a

en

1:07:34

Hugs, Threats, Non-Transferable Skill Sets, and a Day...

The ClearOut ·

2023/05/17

This week's episode begins and ends with a hug, because we all need a hug sometimes, right? Dara thinks so, and he looks at the idea of self-soothing in a wellness context, arguing that it is a particularly useful practice when aligned with mindfulness.A group that Dara suspects are not feeling particularly well are those that are protesting the arrival of asylum seekers in their community in rural Ireland. It raises the question of perceived threats and how we deal better with such things when our

en

1:20:21

We've Been Waiting Such a Long Time, and It's Still...

The ClearOut ·

2023/05/10

In this week's episode, Dara looks at Ireland's storied relationship with the Eurovision Song Contest, a competition in which Ireland were once utterly dominant but has long since become an arena in which they are serial losers. He recalls his own experiences of watching the event as a child and how it was a source of great national pride and fascination. Ireland was a different country then, a different entity in a very different stage of its development and one that was about to change beyond all

en

1:11:30

May the Nerd be With You!, or Is That a Literal...

The ClearOut ·

2023/05/03

It's been 40 years since Star Wars was the most important thing in Dara's universe. He recalls his relationship with the original Star Wars trilogy and says why he thinks it was so successful - clean storytelling and clear characters. He argues that those two things got lost in the subsequent movies.Dara compares Star Trek with Star Wars and concludes one was far sexier than the other. Having listened to a recent conversation with William Shatner, he is amazed at how young he sounds. Despite his

en

1:18:38

The Cost of Neglect, or For Whom Will You Wear a...

The ClearOut ·

2023/04/26

In this episode Dara moves from very light to very dark. Recorded on his 20th wedding anniversary, Dara feels duty bound to reflect on that special day in 2003, and he revisits some of the standout moments, including an unlikely mode of transport for the first night of his honeymoon.Not prompted by those memories, Dara speaks about the impact of neglect and how being overlooked is more painful than being ignored. Something his daughter said to him reinforced his conviction that there is a real

en

1:14:43

The 100th Episode Stocktake, or Stick Your Teachable...

The ClearOut ·

2023/04/19

In this, the 100th episode of the show, Dara permits himself a stocktake. He reaffirms the recurring themes he has continued to weave through the podcast and examines what wellness with attitude means. He shoots down 'teachable moments' and what he calls the 'cutesification' of our lives. He leans into messiness and uncertainty and unknowability. He surmises that the podcast is offering a vibe and a non-pressurised space to hang out in once a week. And what's wrong with that?Ultimately, Dara doubles

en

1:07:43

Foundational Beliefs of Identity and Gender-Neutral...

The ClearOut ·

2023/04/12

In this episode, prompted by Spike Lee's He Got Game (1998), Dara examines his convictions as a parent, and recalls how an ill-fated Irish journalist helped him get comfortable with the idea of becoming a father to a daughter. He identifies a pillar of his parenting approach that he hopes he will manage to keep intact. He also looks at the idea of gender-neutral parenting, something he tries to adopt with his daughter.Talking about peculiar sources of inspiration, Dara argues that there is much to

en

1:12:38

Embedding Gratitude, Controlling Sensitivity, and a...

The ClearOut ·

2023/04/05

In this episode, Dara starts off with thoughts on what defines us as individuals. Is it a higher power? Or is it just what wins the battle for our identity? He believes it is strongly connected to nature, nurture and genetic legacy.After acquiring a new patron for the podcast, Dara feels it is necessary to express gratitude. He recalls a former workplace being surprised and impressed by a message of thanks he left. He concludes that it is not only good manners, but also excellent karmic practice.A

en

1:18:01

Curiosity, Aesthetic Engagement, and the Expression...

The ClearOut ·

2023/03/29

In this episode Dara wrangles with the purpose and direction of the podcast. He wonders if he's doing the pod all right or all wrong. Before he makes any radical changes though, he remains clear that he doesn't want it to be perfectly curated content that becomes bland and generic. He tries to work out who the podcast is for so he can better understand his target audience.A clip from a George Orwell documentary gets Dara thinking about fascism and oppressive regimes and the influence of Orwell's

en

1:20:54

The Vulnerable Idealism of Living With an Open Heart,...

The ClearOut ·

2023/03/23

In this episode, Dara examines the centrality of heart to his own personal philosophy. He recognises that his concept of the metaphorical heart is suffused with his natural idealism, and how that can lead him into situations where he can be easily wounded. He argues against the interpretation of open-heartedness being equal to naivete.He talks about a recent incident that he believes was the catalyst for this line of enquiry, and then realises his subconscious had been directing him to things

en

1:20:12

The Cost of the Great Internet Giveaway and Why We...

The ClearOut ·

2023/03/16

This episode looks at the problem of having access to too much information, material and opinion in the online space. So much content, and so much for free, and such ease of access, creates an imbalanced relationship that offers dubious benefits. Dara looks at his own internet consumption habits and questions the merits of unearned offerings.Connected to that theme is Dara's experience of movies that have unearned climaxes which founder on the poverty of the character development and story arcs that

en

1:08:41

Singular Cinematic Visions - The Darkness of Polanski...

The ClearOut ·

2023/03/09

In this episode Dara shares his thoughts and responses after a movie mini-binge. He is struck by the hackneyed plotline of CODA (2021) but thinks the film is saved by the acting and warmth of the main cast. He compares it to a couple of other movies that didn't take flight, including the risible Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), and the glorified Apple commercial that was Ben Stiller's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013).Bouncing to the other end of the artistic spectrum, Dara discusses the two other

en

1:12:08

Elastic Time and the Love of Two Cities

The ClearOut ·

2023/03/02

In this episode, Dara is brushing up against his past and walking the fine line between nostalgia and sentimentality. Spending a lot of time in Dublin recently has provoked a host of memories from over 20 years ago and Dara feels like he keeps bumping into his younger self around every street corner.He talks about being able to really appreciate Dublin's architecture for the first time and how he used to consider Trinity College students sworn enemies. He recalls his own university experience and

en

1:27:35

Assassination Fascination and the Gun as Symbol of...

The ClearOut ·

2023/02/23

Inspired by a podcast about Julius Caesar, Dara realises he has long had a fascination with assassinations, particularly those that have played out in movies. In this episode he looks closely at the celluloid executions that most impacted him, paying close attention to Arthur Penn's Bonnie and Clyde and Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, amongst others.Warming to the theme, he considers Mark David Chapman and John Hinckley Jr. and their attachment to the works of art spurred their actions. Dara

en

1:52:37

Bent On Being Happy: Interview with Musician, Singer,...

The ClearOut ·

2023/02/16

In this episode, Dara finally achieves a long-term goal of the podcast - he gets his wife to sit down for an interview at Hashtag Blessed!Chiara Clear (nee Browne) is an Australian who fell in love with music almost as soon as she first heard it. She didn't know then that it would become and remain a defining force in her life. From school through university to being an in-demand session singer in 90s Sydney, Chiara was led by her fixation on improving her craft as a singer and getting instruments

en

1:06:27

Pillars, Pathfinders, and Dodging Space Trash

The ClearOut ·

2023/02/09

Dara is not in the mood for this week's episode. He simply doesn't have the headspace. But he talks himself into it and soon warms up as he mentions how a recent football podcast planted the seed for what he wants to talk about - touchstones. What are the reference points that help us negotiate the world in which we find ourselves? Who are the pillar-like figures that we feel we can lean on? Who remains unchanged?Talking about change leads Dara to reflect on his belief in essentialism, that is, the

en

58:15

Stirring the Masculinity Pot and Countering Dubious...

The ClearOut ·

2023/02/02

In this episode, Dara is all stirred up as a result of the theatre production he is currently working on. The subject of the work is masculinity and the nurturing and shaping of boys into men. Dara admits that the process of examining this subject closely is leaving him exhausted but also inspired and full of almost uncontrollable thought processes and emotional impulses around what masculinity means to him.He slows things down to calm himself and revisits his adolescence and the attitudes towards

en

228 results

Similar Podcasts

Доктор Тройняшкин

Доктор Тройняшкин

The Dry Eye Treatment PODCAST

Dry Eye Treatment

Différent et alors ?

PATRICK SULAY

Kyle Kingsbury Podcast

Kyle Kingsbury

The Real Weight Loss Coach

Matty Lansdown