Wasted Creatives

Michael Crilly
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Arts
  • Updated weekly

Join Michael Crilly as he speaks to musicians, comedians, artists, writers and creators who chose a different path, or who continue to balance creativity alongside everyday working life. Over a drink and a chat, Wasted Creatives explores what it means to be a creative person, what inspires people to create, and the realities behind building a creative life in today’s world.

  1. 13 hr ago

    Patricia McGinnis on Maven, Interior Design, Belfast Retail & BBC House of the Year

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with Patricia McGuinness, co-founder of Maven, to talk about interior design, Belfast retail, creativity, family business, and what makes a house feel like home. Patricia shares how Maven began in 2013 after she moved back from London and started exploring a more creative path alongside her sister Catherine. What began in a small memorial hall grew into one of Belfast’s most loved design and homeware stores, bringing carefully chosen furniture, interiors, brands and design-led pieces to a local audience. The conversation explores how Maven got its name, the importance of branding, how Patricia and Catherine built relationships with international design brands, and why retail has to be more than just a transaction. Patricia also talks about Maven Sessions, Coffee and Cactus, Neighborhood coffee pop-ups, and the importance of creating a space that feels welcoming, relaxed and community-led. Michael and Patricia also discuss finding your personal taste, using Pinterest and visual references, mixing new furniture with vintage pieces, the emotional value of family heirlooms, and why the most interesting homes often tell a story rather than looking perfect. Patricia also reflects on her own home renovation journey, sharing the honest reality of taking on a house that needs work, documenting the process online, and learning from the community as she goes. They also chat about Copenhagen’s Three Days of Design, changing tastes in Northern Ireland, the growth of design culture, and Patricia’s experience as a judge on BBC Northern Ireland’s House of the Year. A warm and thoughtful conversation about creativity, interiors, risk, family, home, Belfast, and building a business that helps people feel something in the spaces they live in.

  2. 3 Sept

    Ciaran McMenamin on Acting, Writing Skintown, Telling Stories From Home & Creative Identity

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with actor, author and screenwriter Ciaran McMenamin to talk about acting, writing, Northern Ireland, identity, creativity, and the stories that stay with us. Ciaran reflects on growing up in Enniskillen, the impact of school, religion, youth theatre, music, and the moments that first made him feel like acting and storytelling were where he belonged. He talks about finding his tribe through the Ardhowen Youth Theatre, going to drama school in Glasgow, landing early acting roles, and building a career across television, film, theatre and writing. The conversation explores Ciaran’s novel Skin Town, how a real teenage experience during the Troubles became the seed for the story, and what it was like adapting the book into a film. Michael and Ciaran also discuss Northern Irish identity, the importance of place, the influence of music, the “Derry Girls effect”, gallows humour, and why stories from here are now being received differently by wider audiences. Ciaran also opens up about writing from personal experience, grief, his new novel Fabric, developing The Sunken Road for screen, the challenges of TV writing, and how acting and writing continue to feed into each other. A brilliant and deeply thoughtful conversation about creativity, rebellion, storytelling, home, family, and why the best work often comes from the places and experiences that shaped you most.

  3. 27 Aug

    Michael Crilly on Why He Started Wasted Creatives & What He’s Learned So Far

    In this solo episode of Wasted Creatives, host Michael Crilly reflects on the first 12 episodes of the podcast and shares why he started it in the first place. Michael opens up about being a dentist by trade but a creative at heart, and how the podcast became a way to explore the creative side of himself that had been pushed aside for years. What began as an idea to interview people who had left traditional careers for creative ones soon became something bigger: a series of conversations about art, storytelling, community, risk, play, and the many ways creativity can exist in everyday life. Looking back on guests including Anna McKeever, Mark Bowen, Lola Petticrew, Sean Casey, Niall Conlon, Darren Matthews, Gareth Dunlop, Chris McClurg and others, Michael explores the themes that kept appearing across the series: the pressure of traditional success, the fear of embarrassment, the importance of taking the first step, and why creative people need other creative people. The episode also looks at Belfast’s growing creative energy, the value of Instagram and social media for connection, the role of music, food, art, comedy and storytelling, and why creativity does not have to mean quitting your job or going all in straight away. A reflective, honest and personal episode about starting late, following curiosity, building creative confidence, and why the goal of Wasted Creatives is to help listeners explore the parts of themselves they may have left behind.

  4. 20 Aug

    Niall Conlon: The Belfast Artist Who Left Finance to Follow Creativity

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with Belfast artist Niall Conlon to talk about creativity, risk, identity, and the journey from professional sport and finance into life as a full-time artist. Niall shares how creativity was a huge part of his childhood before slowly fading away through school, sport and the pressure to follow a more traditional path. He reflects on playing rugby at a high level, studying at Cambridge, working long hours in finance in London, and eventually realising that the life he had built was not making him happy. The conversation explores how painting returned during the pandemic, why Instagram became a major platform for getting his work seen, and how Niall began building a career around his own art without waiting for galleries or institutions to give him permission. Michael and Niall also discuss Belfast’s creative energy, the importance of community, the power of taking risks, how art can support mental health, and why being a full-time artist requires both creative freedom and business discipline. A thoughtful and inspiring conversation about leaving the safe path, finding your creative voice again, and building a life around the thing that makes you feel most alive.

  5. 13 Aug

    Dan Hoff: Gurriers, Song Writing and Making the Next Album

    Dan Hoff of Gurriers joins Michael Crilly to talk about the band’s rapid rise, touring America, SXSW, Inhaler and Kneecap, and the reality of life on the road. Dan breaks down how he writes lyrics and melodies, how he found his own Irish singing voice, and how a DM to IDLES guitarist Mark Bowen eventually led to Bowen helping make Gurriers’ second album. They also get into Nobody’s Coming To Save You, music videos, the Irish music scene, reading, therapy and mental health.

  6. 6 Aug

    Lola Petticrew: Say Nothing, Assassin's Creed, and the Surreal Life of an Actor

    Lola Petticrew joins Michael Crilly for an open, funny and thoughtful conversation about acting, creativity and the increasingly surreal direction their career has taken. Following acclaimed performances in Say Nothing and Trespasses, Lola discusses joining the live action Assassin’s Creed series, filming in Rome and the responsibility of entering a world with such a passionate audience. They reflect on playing Dolours Price in Say Nothing, representing West Belfast and approaching morally complicated characters without judging them. Lola also talks about I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, working with lifelong friend Anthony Boyle and portraying a working class community in Birmingham. They share the emotional experience of attending Cannes together after spending their childhood imagining a future in acting. The conversation explores the remarkable growth of film and television in Belfast, the strength of its local crews and why the people behind the camera deserve far more recognition. Lola also discusses the impact of Derry Girls and how it helped open the door for more voices, accents and stories from the north of Ireland. Beyond individual roles, Lola shares their love of acting as a collaborative art form and the excitement of creating characters alongside writers, directors, crews and other performers. They also talk about poetry, future ambitions to write and direct and a lifelong love of music, including The Cure, Blink 182 and the disappearing experience of listening to an album from beginning to end. An honest and entertaining conversation about acting, friendship, Belfast, music and what it feels like when the creative life you imagined begins to become real. Wasted Creatives is hosted by Michael Crilly, a dentist by trade but a creative at heart. Follow Wasted Creatives on Spotify and search WASTED CREATIVES on YouTube for the full video episode.

  7. 30 Jul

    Sean Casey: From Drugs and Anxiety to Fitness, Business & Social Media Success

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with fitness coach, content creator and entrepreneur Sean Casey to talk about transformation, business, social media, family and what it really takes to change your life. Sean opens up about his early years of drinking, drugs, anxiety and paranoia, and how reaching breaking point became the catalyst for rebuilding his life. What began as a personal fitness journey during lockdown grew into content creation, coaching, TikTok success, online programmes, recipe books, The Social Circle and Gleam, which now supports thousands of members. They discuss Sean’s instinct for spotting good ideas, building businesses quickly and creating content that connects. The conversation also explores criticism, social media burnout, family, giving back, travelling to Australia, helping clients transform their lives and why success does not have to follow a traditional academic route. A raw and motivating conversation about curiosity, chaos, self-improvement and using your own experiences to help others move forward. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Ideas, action and how Wasted Creatives began01:37 — Why overthinking stops people taking action02:20 — Drinking, drugs and Sean’s early years04:26 — Anxiety, paranoia and mental health06:35 — Reaching breaking point in 201908:23 — Rebuilding his life through fitness08:48 — The first YouTube video that changed everything10:03 — Early TikTok growth and learning content10:47 — From PT to coaching, ebooks, Gleam and The Social Circle12:20 — Turning his own problem into a way to help others13:04 — Building The Social Circle13:55 — Finding his online personality through humour15:25 — Being recognised and not feeling like a celebrity16:47 — Lisa Ann’s transformation18:31 — How helping one person creates a chain reaction19:20 — The emotional connection with clients21:01 — Family, his mum and showing real life online23:21 — Friendship with Battle With Chris25:16 — How running helped Chris rebuild his life26:54 — Running Ireland and the UK28:30 — Giving back and helping people financially30:55 — Fundraising, cancer and the impact of loss32:24 — Why life needs to be lived fully33:00 — Returning to Australia and overcoming anxiety35:11 — Travel, freedom and eventually returning to Ireland36:25 — Why Sean paused the sauna business37:16 — Creativity, instinct and building ideas quickly38:12 — Spotting what works commercially39:32 — Selling sweets in school40:03 — School, grades and non-traditional success41:28 — Leaning into your own strengths43:09 — His parents’ advice on work and happiness44:03 — Building a career he enjoyed45:31 — Learning from criticism47:00 — Useful feedback versus negativity48:54 — Social media anxiety and burnout49:37 — Breaks, landmarks and celebrating small wins51:06 — The future of social media and long-form content53:02 — What is next for The Social Circle54:10 — Brian’s 100kg transformation55:14 — Why content is personal55:57 — Closing the episode

  8. 23 Jul

    Darren Matthews: Stand-Up in Australia, Belfast Comedy and Life With a Day Job

    Comedian Darren Matthews joins Michael Crilly for a conversation about starting stand-up, surviving terrible gigs and learning that the only real way to improve is to keep doing the reps. Darren shares how a friend first encouraged him to try an open mic at The Pavilion in Belfast, why his second performance was a complete disaster and how moving to Australia unexpectedly accelerated his comedy career. They talk about performing across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Asia, supporting Paddy McDonnell in theatres and arenas, running comedy nights at The Sunflower, dealing with hecklers and helping to grow the comedy scene in Belfast and beyond. Darren also speaks honestly about balancing comedy with a full-time job, family life, constant driving, late nights and the occasional burnout that comes from trying to fit another creative career into an already busy life. A funny and honest conversation about creativity, persistence and why having a “normal job” doesn’t make you any less of a creative person. Search WASTED CREATIVES on Spotify and YouTube. Follow the podcast on Spotify, leave us a rating and subscribe on YouTube for the full video episodes and clips.

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About

Join Michael Crilly as he speaks to musicians, comedians, artists, writers and creators who chose a different path, or who continue to balance creativity alongside everyday working life. Over a drink and a chat, Wasted Creatives explores what it means to be a creative person, what inspires people to create, and the realities behind building a creative life in today’s world.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Crilly
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michael Crilly
  • Show Website
    Wasted Creatives