Taranoia

In show thirty-two, aptly enough in time for April Fools Day, Tara wonders who can be tricked and how. A look at how loneliness and vulnerability gets exploited. Close-up magic. Poison apples. Pseudo-science men. And lots and lot of emotion (sorrynotsorry). Brought to you in association with Snake Oil. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram ...

In show thirty-one, Tara asks who feels safe? Not her, that’s for sure. And maybe that’s all right. But what can we do to feel a bit better when the world seems grim and everyone’s in pain? That’s right: meditate. Just for you, Tara improvises an incredibly beautiful and life-changing guided meditation to do wherever you are, right now. It will change your life.* (*Might not change your life.) ...

In show thirty, Tara sets out her Thirteen Rules for Life. “Finally!” says you. Well, everyone else is doing it and we can’t let Taranoia stop us from living our best selves in a Flynnspiring way. So here’s a list of wisdoms she’s sure to be touring soon. Also this week, a chat with St. Patrick, recovering after his recent festivities. Brought to you by the new smash hit Schwarzenegger movie Em...

In show twenty-nine, Tara considers fame, minor to mega. What’s good about it? What’s not? Perks vs privacy. What happens when friends gets superstar famous? Is being famous a viable job in itself? Also, old Hollywood icons, making it, rudeness to and from servers and being human in the public eye. (NB no server has ever gone un-tipped on Tara’s watch, no matter how snotty the service or her ow...

In show twenty-eight, Tara thinks hard about cancel culture, accountability, slip-ups vs major transgressions, celebrity passes, forgiveness, constructive criticism, trolling, consequences and what, in reality, deserves immediate cancelling. Brought to you by Rental Floss. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tara...

In show twenty-seven, historian Fin Dwyer tells Tara whether there’s any weight to her notion that historical witches have a through-line to online swarms. Are shocking events of the past too serious to correlate to today’s stresses? Is there a modern-day equivalent to stocks and what’s a scold’s bridle? Uppity women. Shame as a silencing tool. Fear and power. The tragedy of Bridget Cleary. How...

In show twenty-six, award-winning author Emilie Pine helps Tara to do a deep dive on periods. Tara and Emilie aren’t doctors, instead, they jump the chat off from Emilie’s essay Notes on Bleeding and Other Crimes from her bestseller Notes to Self (Tramp Press). Why are we still so reluctant to talk about periods? What if you’re not having them? And what’s the deal with disgust?  Also: to hair o...

In show twenty-five, Tara wonders if she’s a feminist at all, she’s often so bad at it. There’s so much to take in and Tara, the eejit, hasn’t always been paying attention. What’s a feminist in the first place and how do you surf those waves? Can someone be anti-choice and feminist? What about lads? Why does intersectionality matter? Internalised misogyny is one hell of a tricky fecker - she at...

In show twenty-four, Kate McGrew (aka Lady Grew) award-winning rapper singer dancer comic, sex worker and Director of Sex Workers Alliance (SWAI) drops in to drop Tara in it with a surprise challenge. Before that, they manage to chat about sex work in Ireland, changing attitudes, Irish law, shamelessness, fearlessness, safety, autonomy, theatre and Kate’s brilliant show Hookers Do It Standing U...

In show twenty-three, Evie Nevin visits Headstuff HQ to tell Tara all about disability, accessiblity and visibility. How does Dublin fare in terms of getting around? Evie has gone over to the dark side recently and gone into politics. Can Tara dissuade her in time and get her to follow her true calling, solving crimes? Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflyn...

In show twenty-two Tara shows how a Good Girl becomes a Difficult Woman and when being ‘nice’ can be gross. Rightness: which is better - correct, or just? Should you always give in and play Twister? Tara has a back and forth with herself - and she doesn’t always agree - on whether being difficult is actually worth it or not. If you’re sick of going “tee hee”, this might be the episode for you. ...

In show twenty-one, Ellie Kisyombe comes in to studio. She tells Tara about the wonderful Our Table project (www.ourtable.ie) that shows how food can connect people, and what we all need to do to end Direct Provision. There’s also matchmaking, an Ellie-inspired energy drink, and we find out which animal could be the one to put an end to Ellie’s political career. Website http://www.taraflynn.i...

CW: abortion. Last year, the Republic of Ireland voted to repeal the 8th amendment to its constitution. For the first time there is now (like this-week-now, January-2019-now) access to abortion for some here at home. But misinformation and stigma remain. Tara had to travel for an abortion in 2006. What’s it like to realise you’re pregnant when you don’t want to be, when you can’t be? And how do...

Look, it’s that time of the year again and there’s nothing we can do about it. Here’s a bumper, annual-size Taranoia to help you through. What have we learned this year? What’s been banned and who’s the boss of you? Also features Tara being a dick (shock), listeners’ conspiracy theories, a random act of kindness and a query about pubes. Merry Winterval, fellow eejits! Website http://www.taraf...

In show eighteen, Tara asks historian Dr. Mary McAuliffe why the past is so important to the present. Where are all the women in the books, and were historians telling us where they were all along? What do we really mean when we talk about ‘patriarchy’? And what have zombies got to do with it? Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://w...

In show seventeen, High Horse, Tara shares the English language’s three most powerful words. She digs deeper into her own privilege and explains the concept of the subterranean horse. Why does asking for kindness get read as preachy? What’s the deal with ‘woke’? Why are some discussion panels just mad? And what’s going on with toasters? Sponsored by Freese. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Pa...

In show sixteen, Tara has her old mate Michelle Read in to chat about improv, comedy, and Michelle’s award-winning plays. How did they get into a dog-suit together? What was comedy like in the 90s? How do you turg? And bonus content: has #MeToo gone too far? Selina Totty asks Jennifer Mandible - a contrarian dying to be on the radio. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patre...

In show fifteen, it’s 10 years since Tara and Carl went on their first date. TEN YEARS. That’s given Tara time to think about all the time she was single, often happily, but then sometimes loneliness dicked with her brain. Includes dick pics, hooking up and the secret to love and relationships. The answer may surprise you! (Yeah, right.) Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.p...

In show fourteen, traveller woman activist Eileen Flynn comes in to studio to school Tara. It’s a tough time for the travelling community, but Tara and Eileen do their best to have a laugh, although Tara doesn’t always get it right (nothing new there, then). WARNING: includes frank C-word discussion. NSFW. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagr...

In show thirteen Tara reflects on anger, and where and when it might be more polite than being polite. Sometimes you have to say ‘Raaar’ and take Angtion. What’s ‘angtion’? And is there hope? Tune in and see. Sponsored by Thunderpants. (If you experience a racist incident in Ireland, even as a witness, please consider logging it at www.ireport.ie) Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon ht...

In show twelve Tara shares some unusual things that scare her and three short, weird stories for the week that’s in it. Happy Oíche Shamhna to you all. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://www.instagram.com/taraflynnirl/

In show eleven, Tara temporarily separates Dermot Whelan of Today FM’s Dermot and Dave from Dave. They talk about how improv improves your life, meditation, closet hippies, gnus, always having to be ‘on’ and what happens when you’re not. Also, find out what Dermot can do in sixteen seconds and how to be a Sky News reporter. (That’s Sky news, not Sky gnus.) Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patr...

In show ten, Human Things, Tara expands on the idea that people aren’t just objects or avatars. There’s also nutty pronunciation, some ludicrous statements and (sorry sorry sorry sorry CW) poop. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://www.instagram.com/taraflynnirl/

In show nine, Pride and Privilege (with Carl Austin), Tara risks her marriage by bringing her husband, Carl, in to the studio. They talk race, culture shock, steep learning curves, defensiveness, and ways in which Tara is a big old racist. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://www.instagram.com/taraflynnirl/

In show eight, Childfree, Tara has a look at what it’s like to not be a parent in a buggy-driven world. She takes some revenge, but is it on the right person? She also deals with some of the suggestions you’ve sent in (thank you). Featuring the return of both rain and Buffy the Podcat. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://www.instagra...

In show seven, the wonderful Aoife Martin comes in to studio to help Tara understand all the current chat about transgender people and their rights. Are genitals the most interesting bit of us, or could it be there's more to us all than that? And why are people always generalising about brown-haired people from Co. Cork? Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflyn...

In show six, Can Anybody Smell Me?, Tara chats sound quality and shares a secret about her nose. Or is it her head? Why edge-signalling can get in the sea. And ageism: what happens when you start to go invisible? (Adapted from her contribution to the Headstuff Lecture series.) And what happens when it goes two ways? And can anybody smell her, and would she even know? Website http://www.tarafly...

In show five, Tara reflects on the powerful gathering that was Stand 4 Truth on August 26th. Many gathered in central Dublin in solidarity with victims of Church abuse while the Pope said Mass up the road in the Phoenix Park. What does it mean for Catholicism in Ireland today? Is Tara anti-Catholic? NO! Some of her best parents are Catholics. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://ww...

In show four, Tara is joined by her first guest! In the studio and everything! It's executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, suer of the Pope, intimidating cook, Stand4Truth organiser and stone-cold hero Colm O'Gorman. Most importantly, though, he's an ABBA fan. Let's get our disco on. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://...

In show three, Popularity Contest, Tara talks about her ridiculous accent, her path to the business called 'show', competition and just keeping the hell going. Should you only put your best side out on social media? Why viral jealousy is pointless. This and a little bit more. Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tara...

In show two, Free Speech and Conspiracy Theories, Tara muses on the world's obsession with debate and who owes who whose time. Is it rugby balls? What does sneering sound like? She also shares her made-up conspiracy theories (which she made up, so chill). Website http://www.taraflynn.ie Patreon https://www.patreon.com/taraflynnirl Instagram https://www.instagram.com/taraflynnirl/ Network...

In show one, Intro, Tara introduces herself and her Taranoia (her own special brand of fear and insecurity) and catches up on what's been happening since Ireland repealed the 8th amendment (the constitutional restriction on reproductive rights) on May 25th. She left Twitter around then, too. How is she coping? What is she wearing? And what the hell has she done with the the duvet? Let's find ou...

Tara Flynn has Taranoia - her own special brand of fear and insecurity - which she battles to get stuff done. Join her for Taranoia, the Tara Flynn Podcast: 30-odd minutes of craic, chat, interviews and lessons learned. Music: Peggy Gou - It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)