Wasted Creatives

Michael Crilly
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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. 1d ago

    Emer Maguire on Going Viral, Musical Comedy, Autism & Building a Creative Career

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with musical comedian Emer Maguire ahead of her Perfectly Chaotic tour to talk about comedy, songwriting, social media, autism and the unexpected journey that eventually allowed her to make creativity her full-time career. Emer reflects on spending years performing without being widely known before finally deciding to take social media seriously. Within months, her audience began growing rapidly as songs and comedy clips reached people far beyond her existing crowd. She explains why giving away some of her actual material online has worked, how her “North of Ireland, Northern Ireland or Just Ireland” song connected with people, and what it feels like suddenly being recognised after years of quietly building a career. The conversation goes back to Emer’s original career in speech and language therapy, her lifelong ambition to be a singer-songwriter, considering medicine, and the communication competition that unexpectedly pushed her towards performing. What began with talks combining science, humour and music eventually led to someone offering to pay her for her first comedy gig — before she gradually reduced her clinical work and decided to give comedy a proper chance. Emer also opens up about experiencing extreme performance anxiety from childhood, later discovering that what she thought was stage fright was connected to OCD, and how treatment completely changed her experience of performing. She discusses being autistic, why standing on stage can actually feel more comfortable than everyday social interaction, and why she has never felt a need to change herself simply because other people found her different. Michael and Emer also get into growing up with a funeral director for a dad and how being surrounded by death gave her a stronger appreciation for life and family; working with Shane Todd on Extra Sip; her obsession with true crime; her sold-out tour; and why she refuses to complain about being busy when this is exactly the career she once hoped to have. Towards the end, Emer talks about her assistance dog Dougal, using her platform to raise awareness of assistance dogs in Northern Ireland, and moving further into writing. She reveals more about Socially Awkward, her semi-autobiographical sitcom project being developed with Channel 4 and production partners, as well as joining the writing team of the autistic children’s series Pablo. The episode finishes with Emer performing her song “Family Group Chat.” A funny and genuinely thoughtful conversation about confidence, identity, family, neurodivergence and what can happen when the creative things you’ve always loved finally become the work you get to do every day.

  2. Oct 1

    Declan Lawn on Blue Lights, Leaving Journalism & Becoming a BAFTA-Winning Screenwriter

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with Declan Lawn, the journalist-turned-screenwriter behind The Salisbury Poisonings, Rogue Agent and BBC’s Blue Lights, to talk about creativity, career change, rejection and what happens when you finally take the risk you’ve been thinking about for years. Declan reflects on growing up in Northern Ireland, becoming fascinated with journalism from a young age, and building a career across programmes including Spotlight and Panorama. But in his 30s, a handful of seemingly small conversations began to change the direction of his life and eventually pushed him towards screenwriting. He talks about starting to write alongside Adam Patterson, spending years developing scripts around their journalism careers, and why following a creative ambition doesn’t necessarily mean immediately quitting your job. Declan also opens up about leaving the BBC, being fired from what he thought was his first major break in screenwriting, and how that setback unexpectedly helped lead to The Salisbury Poisonings. The conversation then goes deep into Blue Lights. Declan talks about how the characters were created, the importance of research and collaboration, rewriting episodes more than 20 times, and why Gerry’s story eventually made him realise he had subconsciously been writing about the death of his own father. They also discuss the challenge of writing about contemporary Belfast, why different and opposing perspectives need space within drama, and the BAFTA win that completely caught the Blue Lights team by surprise. Declan reflects on the idea that creative careers don’t always follow a conventional timeline, and why many successful screenwriters only really find their stride in their 40s or 50s. Towards the end, they look ahead to D-Notice, Declan and Adam’s new political conspiracy thriller drawing on their experiences in investigative journalism. And the conversation returns to one of the biggest ideas running through the episode: sometimes a ten-minute conversation can completely change the trajectory of your life.

  3. Sep 24

    Bad Bridget: Elaine Farrell & Leanne McCormick on Irish Emigration, Crime & Forgotten Women

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with historians and authors Professor Elaine Farrell and Professor Leanne McCormick, the researchers behind Bad Bridget, to explore the forgotten stories of Irish women who emigrated to North America in search of a better life. What began as an academic research project became the bestselling book Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women, a podcast and an exhibition. Elaine and Leanne explain how they uncovered thousands of women through historical court records, prison registers, newspapers and personal letters, revealing lives that rarely appear in traditional accounts of Irish emigration. The conversation explores the stories of Marion Canning, who received a seven-year prison sentence after being accused of stealing a watch, and Maud Merrill, whose life ended tragically after her family tried to persuade her to leave sex work. They also discuss why so many young Irish women travelled alone to America, the pressure to send money home, and how poverty, exploitation, pregnancy and social stigma shaped their experiences. Michael also asks about the extraordinary prison records showing that Irish women made up 86% of a female prison population in 1860s New York, the discrimination Irish immigrants faced, and the striking parallels between their experiences and conversations about immigration today. Elaine and Leanne reflect on the responsibility of telling these women's stories, the descendants who have contacted them, and how collaborating with writers, illustrators and other creatives helped transform their historical research into an immersive exhibition. A fascinating conversation about Irish history, emigration, crime, survival and the importance of looking beyond the official records to understand the real people behind them.

  4. Sep 17

    Taylor Johnson on BBC Introducing, Brand New Friend, TikTok & Discovering New Music

    In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with musician and broadcaster Taylor Johnson, host and producer of BBC Introducing, to talk about discovering new music, radio, social media, songwriting and building a life around the thing you love. Taylor explains what actually goes into BBC Introducing, from listening through huge numbers of submissions and scouting artists at gigs to working with the team to decide which new music makes it onto the show. He also shares why artists shouldn’t be put off by rough recordings, and why a brilliant song can still stand out even if it was recorded in a bedroom or on GarageBand. The conversation goes back to Taylor being 16, busking in Belfast and deciding to walk into the BBC pretending he had a meeting with Mike Edgar. That moment started a journey through different roles across BBC Northern Ireland, including work with Connor Phillips and Stephen Nolan, before eventually landing the BBC Introducing job he had wanted for years. Taylor also talks about his band Brand New Friend, making music alongside his brother and sister, and the bizarre story of Matty Healy from The 1975 reaching out with an offer to sign the band to Dirty Hit, only for things not to quite work out as expected. He also reveals that Brand New Friend recorded an unreleased third album before the band came to an end, while the members are now preparing to make music together under a new name. Michael and Taylor discuss how TikTok helped change Taylor’s career, why social media has become such an important tool for musicians, the strength of the current Northern Irish and Irish music scene, his opportunities at BBC Radio 6 Music, and why live music can turn someone into a lifelong fan. They also get into Taylor’s own songwriting process, his fascination with history and people, and why stories about overlooked figures can become the starting point for new songs. A conversation with someone whose life, as a musician, broadcaster and fan, revolves almost entirely around music, and who is now in the unique position of helping the next generation of artists get heard.

  5. Sep 10

    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.

  6. Sep 3

    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.

  7. Aug 27

    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.

  8. Aug 20

    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.

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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
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michael Crilly
  • Show Website
    Wasted Creatives

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