Off The Lead
402 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago -This podcast is my attempt to push back against what I call 'The Domestication of Our Species'. Over the years I've become increasingly convinced that we [humans] have in recent decades become 'Bred to Consume'.The podcast is called, "Off The Lead" and it's main purpose is to have and spread open and frank conversations with different people from all walks of life.Please feel free to comment [publicly or privately] with thoughts/recommendations etc to [email protected] in advance for listening,Fran.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes
D'ya miss me?
March 20, 2023 07:03 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep#42 Aidan Carolan
October 12, 2022 19:56 - 2 hours - 83 MBI love the idea of people who have listened to my conversations {or that have just heard that I'm doing podcasts} and then deciding to reach out to me asking to come on. However, this practically never happens, ever. So bareing this in mind I was bowled over when Aidan text me explaining that he had a stammer and thought that it would be a great challenge for him to come on. What a legend! We all suffer some form of anxiety around speaking publicly and can only imagine that this is masssiv...
Ep#41 Graham Macken 3
August 10, 2022 21:42 - 2 hours - 83.6 MBEndurance athlete Graham Macken joins me again to walk us through his most recent epic challange, a 5,000km coast to coast 'Race Across America' or Raam for short, otherwise known as the toughest race in the world. We talk death, psychedelics, near death experiences, depression, mortality, Rhabdomyolosis, sleeping in dodgey motels and a whole lot more. We also cover his hallucinations during the race and what they might mean and also delve into the realitites of cycling non stop from coast...
Looking Forward, Not Back Ss8Ep#42
April 13, 2022 05:46 - 18 minutes - 17.5 MBInstead of doing a 'season in review' episode I decided to have a think about what's next and do what I can to exorcise some ideas that have been rattling around the auld head. I'm also completely starved of conversation around the types of topics that I tend to talk about on the solos so if this is something you might be interested in (for publication or otherwise) let me know on [email protected] It's been emotional! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Volume Over Time Ss8Ep#41
April 12, 2022 05:46 - 17 minutes - 16 MBThe thumbnail that accompanies this episode (@offtheleadofficial on Instagram) is a graph depicting someone's weight loss. I use this graph as an analogy for visualisations generally. I also speak of the importance of volume when it comes to creative output. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Institutional Inbreeding And Temple Grandin Ss8Ep#40
April 11, 2022 01:24 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBI finally added a girl to my list of boyfriends! 'Human centric' viewpoints, the autistic spectrum, real world applications, jiu jitsu, taeqwondo, sharks, bears and antidepressants, just your usual 15 or so minutes of madness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Being Beside Yourself In Pain Ss8Ep#39
April 10, 2022 05:19 - 17 minutes - 16.8 MBI begin by explaining how a sneeze just happens and 'you' are just along for the ride as it takes place. Which reminds me of when I left a puddle of tears on the floor of Drogheda A&E. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Organising (or going out of) My Mind Ss8Ep#38
April 09, 2022 06:26 - 13 minutes - 12.2 MBToday's episode is essentially an attempt to organise what's bubbling around the old noggin. I cover the physiological, psychological, behavioural, turmeric, placebo, attention, multitasking, consciousness, Pat Macnamara, Terence Mckenna, cultural, natural, spiritual, cortisol, hemispheric specialisation and William Shakespear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Scratching The Surface Of The Tip Of The Iceberg Ss8Ep#37
April 08, 2022 05:29 - 14 minutes - 14 MBDon't underestimate the extent to which we create our own realities, outside of objective facts. The stories we tell ourselves (and others) are of the utmost importance, how we frame our experiences is of the utmost importance, the 'labels' and language we use are of the utmost importance. I get into my social media use and reframe the trinity of 'Body, Mind and Soul' from the perspective of 'nourishment'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Horse and Cart Analogy Ss8Ep#36
April 07, 2022 05:42 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBBy viewing my current conundrum from a few different perspectives I feel like I've inched closer to knowing what my next steps are in relation to the whole Off The Lead 'thing' and by proximity if nothing else, my own next steps personally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Specifying Your Terms For Success Ss8Ep#35
April 06, 2022 01:21 - 12 minutes - 12.1 MBI open this episode with a quote from one of my boyfriends, a guy that's been hugely influential on my life, Jordan Peterson. The episode is essentially about defining your terms for success and managing your motivation to achieve said goals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Knowing Where You're Going Ss8Ep#34
April 05, 2022 01:37 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBI start off by talking about visualisations and end up with somewhat of a dilemma. In some sense it's as though I'm tirelessly striving to become something but I haven't yet identified exactly what that 'something' is. Food for thought! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In The Age Of Information Ignorance Is A Choice Ss8Ep#33
April 04, 2022 07:22 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBI give myself a bit of a pat on the head in this episode (something I'm not exactly prone to do) and appreciate the feeling of (to some small degree at least) that I might be on to something. I also flesh out a little more of Ian Mcgilchrists viewpoint that we have become 'left brain dominant' in our modern world. Or to use my own terminology, "soulless". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Defining My Terms With Help From Phineas Gage Ss8Ep#32
April 03, 2022 13:53 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBThis is an episode whereby I try and outline the difficulty I have in determining which words to use in relation to 'the soul' and 'the mind'. I mention a landmark case that blew open our understanding of how the brain functions and how we can literally have 2 separate and independent consciousnessess. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Loaded Words and Defining Your Terms Ss8Ep#31
April 02, 2022 11:21 - 15 minutes - 14.9 MBThis episode should probably come with the trigger warning of, "if you're black, autistic or German then brace yourself". Having endlessly used the words soul, ego, mind, spirit etc, what has come out of the wash of this episode is the idea that I should probably work towards concretising them and picking words that best describe what I'm talking about once and for all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Improving, Perfecting and Creating Your Enviornment Ss8Ep#30
April 01, 2022 12:14 - 15 minutes - 15 MBMuch is made of the idea that we are products of our enviornment. This episode is an exploration of the idea that not only can you change your enviornment, but you can also create it. And in keeping with the idea of creating an enviornment, would anybody have any interest in a live version of an Off The Lead solo podcast? A live version of an Off The Lead conversation? Or perhaps just a meet and greet of people who are into this sort of thing? If so, do let me know by reaching out to me on...
Your Body Is Not Just A Container Ss8Ep#29
March 31, 2022 14:17 - 15 minutes - 14.3 MBIn a previous episode I feel as though I may have demoted the body to a container and this episode is an effort to clarify my thoughts on the roles of all 3 compoment parts of us, namely Mind Body and Soul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Swimming In Perversions Ss8Ep#28
March 30, 2022 08:09 - 14 minutes - 13.7 MBHaving spoken about how fame has been corrupted I now make the analogy that our politics have suffered the same fate. The principle has remained the same, those in power are serving those who put them there, but increasingly it's corporate interests that have put the politicians in place and therefore it's corporate interests that our politicians now serve. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why The Irish Drink So Much Ss8Ep#27
March 29, 2022 06:38 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBI MISPOKE IN THIS EPISODE; I said that the way music effects us on an emotional level is a perversion of 'real' soulful experiences. I meant 'manufactured music'. The kind of music that is created by industry experts, unlike music that is created by genuine artists, which absolutely 'is' soulful and not in any way a perversion of anything. This episode is essentially about how 'industry heads' have hijacked our 'psychological machinery'. They've figured out what induces soulful experiences...
Kokoro - Mind Body Spirit Ss8Ep#26
March 28, 2022 08:04 - 15 minutes - 14.7 MBI've spoken a lot before about the distinction between our ego and our soul and today I explore the idea that there is a container that encapsulates both, our body, our 'meat vehicle'. 'Mind, body and soul', a trinity if you will. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Difference Ss8Ep#25
March 27, 2022 07:13 - 15 minutes - 15 MBI often if not mostly talk about what makes us different and today I explore the fact that we are more more alike than different. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
You can't maintain a peak Ss8Ep#25
March 26, 2022 11:36 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBToday's episode is an effort to further quantify my idea of setting a new standard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
'The New Standard' Ss8Ep#24
March 25, 2022 20:30 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBI've doubled up on a few of the episodes so that's why it 'appears' that I've 'jumped' to 24, I haven't, count'em! It's the 25th of March so our new years resolutions are well fucked. But, perhaps (in Irealand at least) January 1st is possibly one of the worst times to try and initiate some change. This episode explores the idea that all may not be lost and that in fact (with mearly a change in perspective) NOW is the best time to get our shit together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
The New Standard Ss8Ep#24
March 25, 2022 15:42 - 18 minutes - 17.4 MBI've doubled up on a few of the episodes so that's why it 'appears' that I've 'jumped' to 24, I haven't, count'em! It's the 25th of March so our new years resolutions are well fucked. But, perhaps (in Irealand at least) January 1st is possibly one of the worst times to try and initiate some change. This episode explores the idea that all may not be lost and that in fact (with mearly a change in perspective) NOW is the best time to get our shit together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Obsolescence Ss8Ep#22
March 24, 2022 15:47 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBThis is a topic I'd like to revisit as there's a lot left unsaid. I essentially compare how the legal profession has been decimated by the advent of the internet in a way that the medical profession hasn't, but should. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Psychological Maintenance 'Ss8Ep#22
March 23, 2022 07:52 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBHedges, lawns and growrooms. 3 things in my life that are a proxy for my psychological wellbeing. This episode trys to underpin some of the ways that we can ensure we don't drown when the inevitable flood comes. It also trys to explain how we have an unconscious 'counter' of sorts that is keeping track of all the things we do right, but also and equally as importantly, do wrong. The episode ends with the exploration of the idea that purely soulful experiences (out of ego experiences) is on...
Metrics for Experience Ss8Ep#20
March 22, 2022 14:18 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBWhat do pilots, martial artists, stand up comedians and podcasters have in common? Time spent perfecting their craft. This episode is an exploration into the idea that just because you've been 'doing something 10 years' doesn't necessarily mean that you've been doing it for 10 years. It delves into self reports about our accomplishments and our ability to both overplay and downplay our expertise and/Or experience in a specific domain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...
Emotional Stock Ss8Ep#19
March 21, 2022 12:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBFor the most part we find it easy to know how well we're doing financially. But when it comes to our 'emotional bank ballance' we don't have anything like the black and white figure at the end of our statement. This episode is an exploration of the idea that how well you're doing/feeling emotionally or psychologically will go a long ways to predict how well you're doing/feeling in future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
My Recent Anxiety Attack Ss8Ep#18
March 21, 2022 11:30 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBFor the record, I don't suffer from anxiety per se. At least no more than most of us. However, I also don't suffer from brittle bones but that hasn't stopped me breaking a few over the years. In this episode I explain how I've recently had an anxiety attack, thankfully the first one I've had in years and years. I did what I could to explain what it was like at the time and and how I dealt with it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
If you haven't found what you're looking for, keep looking.
March 20, 2022 13:10 - 14 minutes - 13.9 MBMark my words the day will come that I'll do a deep dive episode on Christopher Hitchens, Tom Mac Donald, Airsoft and Mixed Martial Arts, but untill then this 'blend' will have to suffice. In hindsight this episode is about the idea that you should never think you know anything, let alone everything! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Identifying Your Problems Ss8Ep#16
March 19, 2022 09:18 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBWe all know that there are 1, 2, maybe 20 things we'd like to change about ourselves. But we often fail to formally identify them. Because of this we are doomed to never formally even start rectifying any of them. Which leaves us destined (to some degree at least) to keep making the same mistakes over and over and be miserable. Don't be miserable. Identity what you would like to change and make a pivot however small in a better direction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
Tom Mac Donald is My Spirit Animal Ss8Ep#15
March 17, 2022 10:59 - 8 minutes - 8.31 MBHaven't done a 'getting out of my own way' episode in ages. Inspired by Blindboy Boatclubs advise of taking the fear of failure out of any creative endeavour, I said fuck it, I'll just do it for the sake of doing it and not bother about making it 'good'. This is essentially getting rid of the fear of failure and is the key component in any creative endeavour as far as I'm concerned. If I had any advice for any 'wannabe creative' it would be to do it. Whatever it is that you've in your hea...
Understanding Yourself Ss8Ep#14
March 16, 2022 12:10 - 16 minutes - 15.7 MBFor the most part we've all ended up in jobs that we hated. Jobs that we just couldn't make work. Jobs that just 'weren't for me'. And hidden amongst all the stress related to this phenomenon is your personality. We are largely the same but are differences matter, enormously. This episode essentially makes the point that we could avoid years of stress by simply understanding what makes us, us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Out of Ego Experience
March 15, 2022 12:26 - 17 minutes - 16.1 MBI'm both claiming to have coined the phrase 'Out Of Ego Experience' and claiming that I'm most likely not the first to do so. This episode essentially turned out to be my attempt to define 'soulful experiences' and to highlight some of the differences between creative and non creative people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Running And The Creative Process
March 14, 2022 09:37 - 16 minutes - 15.9 MBWe generally don't care if our running times aren't at a high level but when it comes to creativity we seem to have been convinced that if it's not very good them you shouldn't bother. You could probably imagine someone wondering why you bother painting/singing/writing/podcasting etc if they're not that good at it, but you wouldn't think that about someone out running. When we see 'bad runners' out on the road we generally say, "fair play" and not, "what are they at?". We have an appreciat...
Off The Lead And On Your Tobler Ss8Ep#11
March 13, 2022 08:29 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBCreative people like creative things and non creative people don't like creative things (BSGA). My guess is that my audience is disproportionately creative, as this whole Off The Lead 'thing' is nothing if it's not creative. No pre or post production, just raw unfiltered content. Not for everyone but that's kind of the point. The obvious downside of being outside of cultural norms is that it can be isolating, however (and increasingly these days) there are ways for isolated people to find ...
Let Them Buy Teslas Ss8Ep#10
March 12, 2022 10:22 - 13 minutes - 12.8 MBIn continuation from yesterday's episode I expand on what we are to do in order to ween ourselves off being fed a narrative. The fist step being to notice that we are. I touch on education, fake news, narrative, echo chambers, "parroting", the staus quo and the elites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
War Profiteering In A Moral Vacuum Ss8Ep#9
March 11, 2022 14:09 - 17 minutes - 16.9 MBHo boy. I went from talking about 'flow states' to the difference between an internal and external loci of evaluation to how pervasive immorality has become and is increasingly becoming. And then topped it all off by comparing war profiteers with child molesters and rapists. What came out of the wash here was essentially the idea that evil will continue to thrive as long as we allow it to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Identity Ss8Ep#9
March 10, 2022 12:38 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBBack onto the whole personality/identity 'thing'. I also end up talking about where I get my news from, internal and external loci of evaluations, Blindboy Boatclub, being an asshole, pidgeon holes, mainstream media aka 'corporate press' and much much more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Reinventing or Just Changing Yourself
March 09, 2022 10:01 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBToday I try to remind myself that to a large degree we are who we say we are. And who we say we are over time, can often determine who and what we are or are at least becoming. This is summed up in the quote, "whether or not you think you can or can't do something, you're right". We create our own reality. In hindsight, this episode is essentially an introduction to the idea of epigenetics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rebaptising The Worst In Us, As The Best In Us.
March 08, 2022 15:36 - 14 minutes - 13.3 MBImpromptu roadside recording which had me talking about Jimmy Carr, wishing wells, prayer, envy Vs jealousy, being a jack of all trades and rebaptising the worst of us as the best of us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Practice and Flow States Ss8Ep#6
March 07, 2022 11:20 - 17 minutes - 16.7 MBWhat do you want to be when you grow up?........ Well?........Did anything come to mind? Were you surprised that it did, or didn't? It's a sad state of affairs that this is typically only ever asked of children. As if everyone over the age of 18 has it already figured out. I touch on flow states and practice, being in the moment and the benefits of not knowing exactly what you are doing but being happy with just getting on with it. Essentially because you have faith that if you keep practic...
Competency Ss8Ep#5
March 06, 2022 11:57 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBI'm rough as a badgers arse today folks so apologies if I meandered even more than usual on this one. I started out talking about 'Warrior Training' and ended up with the realisation that what I've essentially been teaching kids every Monday evening for the past 6 months is competency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dave's Turning Fortaaay! Ss8Ep#4 (tay)
March 05, 2022 10:55 - 16 minutes - 15.8 MBIt's because he looks like John Barnes. Ps. Today I compare myself and PGAFOTS Dave Webster along 2 dimensions of personality, namely introversion and extraversion and end up saying what is the defining point of the episode, that your personality shouldn't be at odds with your life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ss8Ep# 3 Relativity And Personality
March 04, 2022 09:47 - 15 minutes - 14.5 MBPapers cuts, patience, compassion and Einstein oh my!A classic solo with me trying to get my head 'round my personality from the perspective of relativity.As a wise Greek once said, "Know thy self bitches". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Solo Season 8 Ep#2 Chicken Shits.
March 03, 2022 13:32 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBI don't always do what I say I'm going to do but I'm happy to report that after years of talking about it, I finally have chickens and it's high time I spoke about their shits and their photo periods. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Solo Season 8 Ep#1 D'ya Miss Me?
March 02, 2022 13:37 - 10 minutes - 9.69 MB"The General Malaise" by 'A Few Shapes', check it out on Spotify. EDIT; I mentioned how PGAFOTS Peadar Reilly recently ran his 300th 10km run, apologies, it was only 200. Lazy fuck.Today being the first day of lent I said I'd pull my big fat finger out of my big fat hole and start shouting into the abyss again. This episode is the first of 42 to be uploaded over the next 42 days so buckle up bitches! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
'Solo Ep No. 294, It's Been Emotional'
August 20, 2021 09:48 - 18 minutes - 17.7 MBIt's over and out for me for a while folks. For how long remains to be seen but I'll most definitely be back, bigger and better than ever before!Stay off the lead, and on that note, I'll chat to you soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
'Phantom Limbs And A Bit Of A Recap' Ss7Ep#41
August 20, 2021 08:42 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBNeurology is fucking amazeballs!Today I briefly discuss "motor neurons" and "mirror neurons" and the phenomenon of "phantom limbs".If you want to know more about this check out anything by V.S. Ramachandran on youtube, the mans a genius!Second last episode of the season folks and I'll be taking a well earned break from Podcastland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
'Midwits' Ss7Ep#40
August 16, 2021 16:34 - 12 minutes - 12.1 MBThey're are far too many words to mention, but that doesn't mean we don't need any new ones!A new word can be incredibly helpful and 'midwit'(for me at least) is a great word to know because it perfectly encapsulates a particular type of person. And once you've pidgeon holed something it aids in further organising your mind. Now all that's left to do is start filling up my midwit box with people's names.292 solos down, 2 to go! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.