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PODCAST

Mind the Gap

You already know my voice. For twenty-five years, I"ve been telling you to mind the gap on trains across Ireland. This is the same instruction. The gap is just different now. Mind the Gap is a podcast about the space between what we think we"re doing and what we"re actually doing. Between intention and impact. Between the behaviour we display and the one we"d choose if we were paying attention. Each episode is a short reflection — drawn from psychology, philosophy, and the texture of everyday

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All Episodes

00:11:09

The Faces We Wear

Mind the Gap ·

2025/10/25

In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn continues the journey through his book The Next Station Is… — turning from the tickets we carry to the masks we wear.At any given moment, each of us plays a role: the Hero chasing the next challenge, the Caregiver holding everything together, the Ruler keeping control, or the Seeker searching for something just beyond reach. Drawing on Carl Jung’s concept of archetypes, Stoic philosophy, and emotional intelligence, Michael explores how these

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00:10:25

Season 3, Episode 1: “The Ticket We Carry”

Mind the Gap ·

2025/10/18

In the opening episode of Season 3, Michael Comyn introduces The Next Station Is… — a new season of Mind the Gap inspired by his latest book.Standing on a railway platform one winter morning, Michael reflects on how so many of us travel through life on tickets written long before we learn to choose our own destinations. Drawing on the work of psychiatrist Eric Berne and the Stoic wisdom of Epictetus, he explores the “life scripts” we inherit — the quiet rules and expectations that shape our

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00:11:59

From Half-Arsed to Whole-Hearted

Mind the Gap ·

2025/09/14

Why do so many people start their working lives with energy and enthusiasm, only to end up doing the bare minimum? Cabin crew once said they loved meeting people. Nurses spoke of healing. Teachers dreamed of inspiring. Yet, years later, many are drained, disengaged, and doing what appears to be half-hearted work.In this episode of Echoes from the Margin, Michael Comyn asks what really happened. Is it laziness, or is it the natural response to poor leadership, lack of psychological safety, and

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00:10:12

“When Trust Becomes a Trap”

Mind the Gap ·

2025/09/13

Even the sharpest minds can be fooled — not because we are careless, but because con artists know how to pull the emotional levers that make us human. In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael explores how scams old and new trick us into lowering our guard, from the classic infomercials that promised six-packs in six weeks to today’s deepfakes that use familiar faces and voices to convince us to click. You’ll hear why trust can become a trap, how urgency, flattery, and hope can override logic,

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00:11:51

Faithful or Traitor? Understanding Betrayal in Work...

Mind the Gap ·

2025/09/06

Betrayal cuts deep, whether it’s a colleague taking credit for your work, a promised promotion that never arrives, or the quiet exclusion from a team. Inspired by the hit television series The Traitors, this episode of Mind the Gap explores how we respond when trust is broken. Michael Comyn unpacks the sting of betrayal in both personal and professional life, weaving together insights from philosophy, modern psychology, and emotional intelligence. Are we too quick to label others as traitors

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00:19:43

Bonus Episode: Michael Comyn on The Late Lunch with...

Mind the Gap ·

2025/08/31

In this special bonus edition of Mind the Gap, you’ll hear Michael Comyn in conversation with Gerry Kelly on LMFM’s The Late Lunch. Together, they discuss the book that now accompanies the podcast, how it came to life, and the ideas it explores.The book Mind the Gap gathers many of the themes shared here each week, blending philosophy, emotional intelligence, and personal reflection in a way that invites you to pause and think differently. Tune in to this behind-the-scenes conversation and

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00:13:08

Why We Slow for Blue Lights but Stop for Our Values

Mind the Gap ·

2025/08/30

Why do we ease off the accelerator when we spot a Garda car, but never dream of driving home after a few pints? One is the fear of punishment. The other is a shift in values. That contrast is the difference between power and influence. In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn explores why power bends behaviour only in the moment, while influence reshapes belief for the long term. From speed limits to the cultural transformation around drink driving, the discussion weaves together Robert

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00:11:05

The Mask We Wear at Work

Mind the Gap ·

2025/08/23

Episode Summary: Every workplace has its masks. For some, it’s the “work face” we put on each morning to look confident or composed. For others, it’s much deeper — hiding a class background, a sexual orientation, or a neurodiverse identity to feel safe. In this episode, Michael Comyn explores the hidden cost of wearing masks at work. Drawing on the idea of emotional labour from sociologist Arlie Hochschild, he reflects on the difference between surface acting and deep acting, the pressures

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00:08:07

You’re Not the Weather

Mind the Gap ·

2025/08/16

Your emotions are real, but they are not you. In this episode, Michael Comyn explores the difference between what we feel and who we are, and how to notice emotions without letting them take over. Drawing on emotional intelligence, psychology, and coaching insights, Michael reflects on the brain’s tendency to react before we think, and how to step back, see the bigger picture, and remember that moods pass — like weather across the sky. It’s a conversation about presence, perspective, and the

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00:08:04

When the Centre Doesn’t Hold: Finding Steadiness in a...

Mind the Gap ·

2025/08/10

In a world that demands you choose sides, what happens when you no longer recognise the middle ground?In this month’s Echoes from the Margins, the monthly companion to Mind the Gap (now in its second season), Michael Comyn reflects on life when the centre no longer holds — in politics, in community, and within ourselves. From Yeats’ haunting words to ancient Chinese philosophy, from Arabic wisdom to modern psychology, this episode explores how binary thinking has pushed us apart, and why

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00:09:12

Mind the Gap – A Minor Mood

Mind the Gap ·

2025/08/09

Episode Summary: There’s a certain kind of silence that lives in a classical music studio — not the absence of sound, but the presence of feeling. In this episode, Michael reflects on his years as a classical music presenter and the quiet, emotional truths that lie within music. From the grief and beauty of Barber’s Adagio for Strings to the joy of Mozart’s Horn Concerto, the cosmic uplift of Holst’s The Planets, and the playful delight of Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, this episode

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00:11:11

Kindness Is a Leadership Skill

Mind the Gap ·

2025/08/02

In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn explores the often misunderstood virtue of kindness, not as a soft option but as a core leadership skill. Drawing on emotional intelligence and real-world leadership experience, Michael challenges the notion that kindness is a sign of weakness. Whether it means offering honest feedback with compassion, setting boundaries without hostility, or treating ourselves with gentleness during difficult times, kindness reveals strength, not fragility. It

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00:08:56

Season Two Begins: From the Stoics to Emotional...

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/26

In this pivotal episode of Mind the Gap, host Michael Comyn marks the beginning of Season Two with a thoughtful shift in focus, from the ancient wisdom of the Stoics to the modern science of Emotional Intelligence.Why pivot now? Because life is constantly changing, so should our perspective. Stoicism offered a powerful foundation, emphasising perception, control, and resilience. Emotional Intelligence builds on that with tools for navigating today’s fast-paced, emotionally complex

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00:02:51

Stoic Portraits: Musonius Rufus, the Practical...

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/25

Known as the teacher of Epictetus, Musonius Rufus was much more than a footnote in Stoic history. In this bonus Stoic Portrait, we meet a voice of quiet rebellion. Exiled more than once by emperors, Musonius insisted that philosophy must be lived, not just spoken. He taught that self-discipline builds strength, that discomfort trains the soul, and that women deserve an equal education in reason and virtue. This five-minute reflection examines how Musonius applied Stoic principles to everyday

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00:03:04

Stoic Portraits: Cleanthes, the Boxer Philosopher

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/25

He carried water by night and wisdom by day. In this bonus Stoic Portrait, we meet Cleanthes, the second head of the Stoic school and a man who believed action mattered more than eloquence. A former boxer and labourer, Cleanthes lived the Stoic life long before he taught it. His quiet endurance, devotion to learning, and hymn to the rational order of the universe offer a reminder that Stoicism is not about prestige, but persistence. This short episode offers a reflection on how discipline,

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00:03:57

Bonus Episode: Letters to the Living – Seneca

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/20

How do you live wisely in a world that rewards ambition but punishes honesty?In this five-minute reflection, Michael Comyn explores the contradictions and clarity of Seneca, the Roman statesman who advised emperors, amassed wealth, and still warned us not to waste a single moment. Through his letters, Seneca teaches not perfection, but progress. Not isolation, but inward retreat. His message is clear: life is short, not because of time, but because of how we spend it. If you’ve ever told

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00:11:43

The Case for Stoicism: Beyond the Stereotypes

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/19

Is Stoicism just a cold refusal to feel? A productivity trend for tech bros? A philosophy of passive acceptance? In this thoughtful and personal episode of Mind the Gap, Michael Comyn tackles the most common criticisms of Stoicism and shares the story of how he first discovered it while helping people overcome their fear of flying. From the turbulence of anxious minds to the quiet clarity of Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, Michael explores what Stoicism offers: not detachment, but steadiness

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00:03:50

Bonus Episode: The Emperor’s Journal – Marcus Aurelius

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/18

Mind the Gap: Stoic Portraits – Season OneWhat does a Roman emperor write to himself when no one else is meant to read it? In this five-minute episode, Michael Comyn reflects on the inner world of Marcus Aurelius—Stoic philosopher, reluctant ruler, and author of Meditations, a private diary that became a timeless guide to clarity, calm, and self-command. As the world around him unravelled, Marcus turned inward, not to escape, but to anchor. This portrait reveals how his quiet discipline

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00:04:40

Bonus Episode: Stillness in Shackles – Who was...

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/15

Mind the Gap: Stoic Portraits – Season OneWhat can a man born into slavery teach us about inner freedom? In this five-minute reflection, Michael Comyn explores the life and legacy of Epictetus—the Stoic philosopher who had no control over his body, his birthplace, or his master… but refused to surrender his mind. From radical acceptance to the discipline of emotional clarity, this episode distils Epictetus’ most powerful ideas and shows how they apply to the noise, stress, and uncertainty

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00:09:55

Contact Isn’t Connection

Mind the Gap ·

2025/07/12

We live in a world of constant pings, notifications, and endless scrolls. Yet for many, the phone doesn’t ring, the inbox is quiet, and the silence can feel heavy. In this episode of Mind the Gap, Michael explores the difference between contact and connection, weaving in Stoic philosophy, emotional intelligence, and modern psychology to understand why so many feel lonely even while surrounded by people or devices. Michael shares reflections on why he rarely feels lonely, the difference

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