Love and Courage

Ruairí McKiernan
  • 5.0 (12)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED MONTHLY
Love and Courage

The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Ruairí McKiernan is a multi award winning Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a constitutional advisory body whose members include all former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues.

  1. Martin Hayes - Musician and Composer

    MAR 11

    Martin Hayes - Musician and Composer

    Martin Hayes is a world-renowned Irish fiddler from Feakle in east Clare, a place steeped in music and tradition. Martin is well known for his distinctive and soulful style of playing that blends traditional Irish music with innovative contemporary interpretations. He’s an iconic figure in Irish music. From his early years winning multiple All-Ireland Fiddle Championships to his celebrated work with the late Dennis Cahill and The Gloaming, Martin is a man who brings great depth, expression and beauty to all that he does.  It was a joy to have this chat with him and to hear about his early influences, his years in the US, his thoughts on mediation, music and culture, and his new life in Spain.  This episode is also part of my Creative Souls of Clare podcast series, where you can find lots of great conversations with some of County Clare’s leading creative lights.  Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    1h 2m
  2. Adi Roche - Founder of Chernobyl Children International

    09/24/2024

    Adi Roche - Founder of Chernobyl Children International

    Adi Roche is the Founder and voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI). Adi is a globally recognized humanitarian and activist who has dedicated nearly 50 years of her life to advocating for peace, social justice, and environmental causes. A native of Clonmel, County Tipperary, Adi’s commitment to helping others was ignited at a young age, inspired by her family's dedication to social justice. She began her journey as a passionate advocate for nuclear disarmament in the 1970s, leaving her job at Aer Lingus to work full-time with the Irish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Her activism took a transformative turn in 1986, following the catastrophic Chernobyl nuclear disaster.  Moved by the plight of the children suffering from the aftermath, she went on to found Chernobyl Children International. Under her leadership, CCI has delivered over €108 million in aid and imacted the lives of thousands across Belarus, Ukraine, and Western Russia. This work has included innovative programs like the Rest and Recuperation Program, which has provided sanctuary to over 26,500 children, In addition to her humanitarian work, Adi is a prolific writer and documentary producer. She’s written 2 books and worked on numerous documentaries including working on the Chernobyl Heart documentary and consulting on the acclaimed HBO/Sky Chernobyl series . Her advocacy has also reached the halls of the United Nations, where she has addressed the General Assembly and played a pivotal role in establishing the United Nations International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honorary doctorates, including Irish Person of the Year and European Person of the Year. Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    1h 9m
  3. Lee Keylock - On Gun Violence, Division, Empathy and Kindness

    08/21/2024

    Lee Keylock - On Gun Violence, Division, Empathy and Kindness

    Lee Keylock is the Director of Global Programs with Narrative 4. Originally from England, Lee has lived in the US for over 30 years. He is a former night club manager turned high school teacher who has a lot to say about social division and why we need to talk about empathy and human connection. A major turning point in Lee’s life was his experience working as a teacher in Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut at the time of the 2012 mass school shooting in which 26 people were shot and killed, 20 of whom were children aged between 6 and 7 years old. The other six were adult staff members. This was a major turning point for Lee that sparked a remarkable journey which eventually led him to become one of the founding figures behind Narrative 4. Lee is recognized internationally as an inspirational leader in championing understanding, education and conversations that have the power to heal and transform our fractured world. www.narrative4.ie and www.narrative4.com  Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    1h 18m
  4. Mary Lawlor - Human Rights Leader

    07/31/2024

    Mary Lawlor - Human Rights Leader

    Dubliner Mary Lawlor is a veteran human rights champion with a fascinating backstory, including a stint in her youth selling encyclopaedias in Canada. After a meeting with Amnesty International co-founder Sean MacBride, Mary got involved in the early days of Amnesty International Ireland, becoming one of their first volunteers while she was running a Montessori school.  She served as a board member for several years, including as Chairperson, before serving as the Director of the organization for 12 years.  In 2001 Mary founded Frontline Defenders, an internationally respected organisation that supports the security and protection needs of human rights defenders at risk worldwide. In 2015, Mary was appointed Adjunct Professor in the School of Business Trinity College Dublin, and in 2020 she was named the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the French government’s National Order of the Legion of Honour and an honorary doctorate of Laws from Trinity College Dublin.  Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    56 min
  5. John Evoy - On Men's Sheds, Bereavement, Addiction, Counselling, Remote Work & More

    07/09/2024

    John Evoy - On Men's Sheds, Bereavement, Addiction, Counselling, Remote Work & More

    My guest in this podcast is John Evoy. John is someone I've connected with at different times in the past due through my work in the community. I’ve always found him to be a deep thinker with a big heart. John lives in County Wexford, Ireland, and works as the General Manager of Grow Remote Ireland. He previously worked with social innovation funding body Rethink Ireland, and before that, he was the founder of the Irish Men’s Sheds movement. In this conversation, we talk about his work as well as his rural upbringing, bereavement, the importance of community, the challenges of addiction, the benefits of counselling, men’s mental health, and lots more. Thanks to Love and Courage podcast patrons for your support.  Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    1h 3m
  6. Áine Tyrrell - Australia-based Irish Singer, Songwriter and Musician

    05/31/2024

    Áine Tyrrell - Australia-based Irish Singer, Songwriter and Musician

    Áine Tyrell is an Irish singer, songwriter and musician who grew up in counties Galway and Clare. She’s been living in Australia for over a decade now where she has toured extensively and developed a reputation as a fiercely grassroots and independent artist who is a powerhouse live performer and I highly recommend going to see if you get a chance.  Áine’s music connects with so many aspects of our humanity, heartache, loss and suffering, and also resilience, hope, recovery, survival, and overcoming. Aine also courageously shares about her experiences as a single mother, dealing with abuse and gender-based violence and she’s an advocate on these and so many issues including Indigenous rights and solidarity with the people of Palestine. She’s also an important voice for women in music and the challenges of existing and thriving as an independent artist in today’s world.  We talk about these issues and more in this conversation which is part of my Creative Souls of Clare podcast series, supported by Creative Ireland Clare.   Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    1h 7m
  7. Ann Marie Flanagan - Disability Rights Champion

    03/30/2024

    Ann Marie Flanagan - Disability Rights Champion

    Ann Marie Flanagan is a disabled human rights activist from County Clare in the west of Ireland. Growing up in a tight-knit, supportive community, she says attitudes towards her physical impairment were generally inclusive. However, that changed when Ann Marie hit the age of 12 and entered secondary school. She says the environment was hostile and exclusionary.  Despite the challenges, she went on to flourish, completing an IT degree and getting involved in student activism. She has also completed a Master's in partnership studies and public administration and an advanced diploma in human services management. She has trained as a family systems and person-centred therapist and is completing a Master's in international and comparative disability law and policy at Galway University.  Ann Marie is known for her work in co-founding Disabled People of Clare. Her activism and interests have taken her all over the world, including spending time in Ethiopia at the Centre for Independent Living. She is very much tuned into the importance of politics to create change, having run for local elections twice and been nominated as a candidate for the Irish senate, the Seanad, in 2020.  Recently, she has been focused on leading research, co-writing, and editing the publication "We Are Human Too," alongside spearheading the "Equality Not Care" referendum campaign. Ann Marie is married to Derek and is a proud mother to 12-year-old Robert. She’s also a former self-described ‘wild child’ who has enjoyed her fair share of raves and parties, and while she works hard, she believes passionately in enjoying life too.  Thanks to all podcast patrons and supporters for spreading the word. Chip in here to support www.loveandcourage.org Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    1h 1m
  8. John Seed - Legendary 78 year old Australian environmental activist

    02/20/2024

    John Seed - Legendary 78 year old Australian environmental activist

    John Seed is a 78-year-old world-renowned Australian environmental educator, author, activist, artist and filmmaker. A recipient of the Australian government’s Order of Australia medal, John is the founder and director of the Rainforest Information Centre and, since 1979, has been involved in 100s of campaigns and education initiatives that have protected remaining rainforests and helped humanity rethink our relationship with nature.  John and his family first came to Australia as Jewish refugees who experienced incredible hardship and devastating loss during the Nazi occupation of Hungary. They went on to create a new life in Australia, where John’s mother, Judy Cassab, went on to become one of Australia’s most celebrated painters.  John also has an artistic flair, and he and his mother had an exhibition together during the final years of Judy’s life.  John has had a fascinating and adventurous path in life. After a short career in computing with IBM, John joined the hippy trail, travelling overland through Afghanistan and onto India, where he studied meditation before arriving back in Australia and co-founding an intentional community in Bundjalung Country,  and the Northern Rivers ‘rainbow region’ of Northern NSW at Bodhi farm, which still exists to this day.  It was here that John found his true calling, or it found him. As you’re about to hear, at the time, outside of Indigenous culture, there was little respect or appreciation for the value of rainforests, and they were being destroyed at an alarming rate. John joined locals in blockading the site at Terania Creek and said the experience at the time was as if nature was speaking to him. The protesters succeeded, and John went on to found the Rainforest Information Centre, a pioneering global organisation that has been instrumental in rainforest protection and conversation throughout Latin America, Cambodia, India, Papua New Guinea, Australia, and the South Pacific. His work also helped initiate the creation of the US Rainforest Action Network. John has written and lectured extensively on the concept of deep ecology. With Joanna Macy, Pat Fleming and Professor Arne Naess, he wrote "Thinking Like a Mountain - Towards a Council of All Beings" which has been translated into 12 languages including Korean and Tibetan. In 1987 he co-produced a television documentary, "EARTH FIRST!" for Australian national television about the struggle for the rainforests. In 2003 he spearheaded RIC's endangered species campaign and made the film "On The Brink" with David Attenborough, David Suzuki, Olivia Newton-John and Jack Thompson. You can find that via the Rainforest Information Centre online, as well as lots of other great videos, including one of John in conversation with Ram Dass in 1992. In 2021 – after an arduous and prolonged struggle with life-threatening cancer, John got back in the saddle and jumped straight into action. Some of his campaigning at this time helped lead to Ecuador's Constitutional Court ruling that mining in the Los Cedros Protected Forest is a violation of the constitutional rights of nature and is therefore prohibited in the forest. This has created an important nati Subscribe, share, rate, review and donate to support this podcast. Thanks to patrons who chip in at www.loveandcourage.org Host Ruairí McKiernan is a well-known social innovator, charity founder, campaigner, counsellor, consultant, and author. Find out more via: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn and check out his book Hitching for Hope. He also has another podcast called Creative Souls of Clare.

    1h 6m
See All (80)

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Love and Courage podcast features interviews with inspirational people who are making a real difference in the world today. Guests are typically people passionate about social justice, and who have demonstrated courage and conviction in their lives. Ruairí McKiernan is a multi award winning Irish social innovator, campaigner, writer and public speaker. He is the founder of the pioneering SpunOut youth organization, and helped set-up the Uplift and the A Lust For Life non-profits. In 2012 the President of Ireland Michael D Higgins appointed Ruairí to the Council of State, a constitutional advisory body whose members include all former leaders of the country. Ruairí is the recipient of numerous awards, including a Fulbright fellowship, and he contributes regularly to the media on youth, health, community and social justice issues.

Information

  • Creator
    Ruairí McKiernan
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Love and Courage
  • Show Website
    Love and Courage

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