Irish Times Off Topic

What do we talk about when we talk about whiteness? Are ideas of race fluid? Are some Irish people still happy to think of themselves as "the blacks of Europe", as Jimmy Rabbitte put it? Irish Times resident philosopher Joe Humphreys visits the studio to grasp this nettle and a few other uncomfortable ideas we really should more think about. In part two: Linda Doyle of Trinity College wants the arts and the language of arts to play a bigger role in science, technology, engineering and maths. She bats the idea about with Fionn and Laurence in the face of some opposition. Plus, what to expect from the new season of hit podcast Serial. ‘Unthinkable: Great Ideas for Now’ by Joe Humphreys is available from Irish Times Books: www.irishtimes.com/irishtimesbooks

Irish Times film critic Donald Clarke is in studio to talk with Hugh and Fionn about Star Wars, the oddities of the all-time highest grossing list and why The Force Awakens probably won't make it to the top. They also discuss the Darth of other releases this Christmas - why could that possibly be? - and what makes a good Christmas movie (copying Dickens, essentially). Later on the show: people feel the need to approach journalist and wheelchair user Louise Bruton to ask her about her disability. It's something she is not very pleased about. Her article about it this week in The Irish Times provoked some comment, so she's come to studio to explain a little more.

Fast food doesn't have to be unhealthy or unethical says Michelin-starred chef JP McMahon, who wants to establish a chain of high-quality fast food restaurants. Is such a thing possible? Consumer Affairs correspondent Conor Pope joins Fionn and Hugh to ask JP some questions about his lofty ambition. Later in the show Irish Times TV critic Bernice Harrison pops in to discuss the passionate reaction inspired by Diarmaid Ferriter's scathing review of Tim Pat Coogan's latest book in The Irish Times last Saturday, and how hard it is to be a critic on this small island. Finally there's time for some quick praise of the Brand New Retro book and Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs biopic.

Last week's terrorist attacks in Paris targeted civilians in the streets, in cafes and most infamously in the Bataclan Theatre. Irish Times Paris Correspondent Lara Marlowe and journalist Jeremy Allen are on the line to speak with Fionn about the terrible events that took place there, the history of the theatre, and the challenge for Parisians to resume normal life in their shared spaces. Today's show also features blogger Nialler9 and Aoife Barry of the journal.ie, who discuss and dissect the long awaited new Adele album and consider who deserves this year's Mercury Music award.

In this week's Off Topic podcast Fionn Davenport and Hugh Linehan discuss the proposed rental reforms and the perils of the Irish attitude to property. They're joined by Kitty Holland and DIT lecturer Lorcan Sirr. Later in the podcast they hear more about the Waking the Feminists event in the Abbey Theatre this week with Roise Goan and Sara Keating. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

Technology reporter Karlin Lillington joins Hugh and Laurence for a look back at Web Summit 2015 in an attempt to find middle ground between the cynics and Paddy Cosgrove-bashers on one hand and the everything-is-awesome boosterism on the other. In part two Dr Linda O'Keeffe of Lancaster University has studied the effect of sound on life in our shared spaces. The study has produced some surprising insights, among them the reason Smithfield Square is a teenage wasteland. Plus, Laurence has been reading about a mean trick our reptilian brain plays on us at our most vulnerable moment - after we've been dumped.

In this edition of Off Topic Fionn Davenport and Hugh Linehan interview Prof Roy Foster and Prof Ciaran Brady on the preparations and potency of the 1916 commemoration. Later in the podcast film critic Tara Brady discuss the tedium of Bond and its marketing machine with Hugh and Laurence Mackin. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this week's Off Topic Fionn Davenport and Hugh Linehan meet some of the team behind The Queen of Ireland, director Conor Horgan and its star Rory O'Neill aka Panti. They discuss the making of the project and the challenges and excitement of being Panti now. Later in the podcast Fionn and Hugh are joined by writer and former Le Cool Dublin editor Kate Coleman to discuss the recent campaign to re-brand Dublin as a 'breath of fresh air.' Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this week's edition of Off Topic Fionn Davenport and Laurence Mackin discuss Playboy's decision to remove nudity from its magazine and what this means for the worlds of pornography and publishing. They are joined in studio by Shawna Scott from Sex Siopa.ie Later in the podcast Laurence plays back his public interview with Jamie Bartlett, author of The Dark Net and examines the creativity, scope and danger of unregulated internet use. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this episode of Off Topic Hugh Linehan and Fionn Davenport explore hispter foods and their discontents with food writer Catherine Cleary and DIT lecturer in Culinary Arts Dr. Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire. Later in the podcast they discuss the place of philosophy in Irish life with Joe Humphreys and Cathy Barry from NUI Maynooth and whether Irish people are more comfortable to engage more deeply with issues within an artistic context only. Finally Fionn and Hugh celebrate the launch of Facebook's Impressions and Nobel Prize for Literature Winner Svetlana Alexievich. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this week's Off Topic podcast Hugh Linehan and Fionn Davenport discuss microaggressions and triggering, issues which are starting to make a serious impact on academic and public discourse. They're joined by UCD academic Mary McAuliffe and writer Roe McDermott. Later in the podcast they're joined by Tonie Walsh, independent curator of the Irish Queer Archive to discuss the comments made by Matt Damon regarding gay actors and their private lives. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this special edition of Off Topic Hugh Linehan celebrates and remembers the work of playwright Brian Friel who has died at the age of 86. He is joined by Fintan O'Toole, Peter Crawley and Emilie Pine. Off Topic is a weekly ideas and culture podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this week's Off Topic Fionn Davenport, Hugh Linehan and Laurence Mackin discuss the Volkswagen scandal with Marketing and Branding lecturer John Fanning and Motoring Editor Michael McAleer. Later in the podcast the Dublin Theatre Festival is previewed by Peter Crawley and UCD lecturer Emilie Pine. Finally the Off Topic team present their cultural highlights of the week including the 'solid ascent' of Irish film and the drumming genius of John Bonham. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this week's Off Topic Fionn Davenport and Laurence Mackin debate the future of rock music with Angela Dorgan and Aoife Barry. Later in the podcast Hugh Linehan examines the idea that the world of rugby is somehow warmer and more egalitarian than it was in the past. He's joined by sports analyst Andy McGready and Ross O'Carroll Kelly creator Paul Howard. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

‘I am a maximalist … I want more of everything'. Before the fall of his business empire, Tony O'Reilly was one of the most powerful and influential figures in Irish life. On this week's podcast Last Word presenter and former Sunday Tribune editor Matt Cooper talks about his new biography of the erstwhile Lions rugby player, Heinz CEO and media magnate. Extracts from the book, The Maximalist, will be published this weekend in The Irish Times. Later in the show, Fionn and Hugh discuss Google's new look and the nuances of the migrant/refugee debate.

In part one Irish Times film critic Donald Clarke and Lighthouse Cinema manager Helen Hutton join Fionn and Hugh to talk about the latest threat to bricks and mortar cinemas: Netflix's foray into the movie business. Plus, Laurence reports from Stradbally, where he's covering Electric Picnic. In part two, Fintan O'Toole explains his opposition to the shooting of Star Wars on Skellig Micheal. Finally, Fionn and Hugh discuss a difficult dilemma faced by the media in a week of terrible tragedy in Europe.

In this week's Off Topic special Fintan O'Toole interviews Van Morrison. Off Topic is a weekly cultures and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

In this week's podcast Hugh Linehan and Laurence Mackin discuss the Edinburgh Festival with Peter Crawley and "How to keep an Alien" creater Sonya Kelly. Later in the podcast they interview Tadhg O'Sullivan, director of the new documentary The Great Wall. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.

Irish Times writers and telly fans Patrick Freyne and Laura Slattery join Hugh and Laurence to look at RTÉ One's autumn schedule, the station's uncertain approach to arts coverage and how it can survive in the age of Netflix. In part two, New Yorker writer and psychologist Maria Konnikova is on the line to explain her theories on envy, and why being a nation of begrudgers might not be as bad as we thought - it all depends on the type of begrudgery you're talking about.

In this week's Off Topic Fionn Davenport and Hugh Linehan discuss the role of women in modern filmmaking with film writer Tara Brady and Pat Murphy, Ireland's foremost feminist filmmaker and NYU lecturer. Later in the podcast Laura Slattery and Ben Wilson analyse advances in adblocking software and what it means for culture. The show concludes with a consideration of Jon Stewart's legacy as he concludes his role with The Daily Show and a brief look at the life of Esther Phillips. Off Topic is a weekly culture and ideas podcast. It is researched by Declan Conlon and produced by Sinead O'Shea.