Sparking Change with Dil
Dil Wickremasinghe shines a light on the latest social justice and mental health stories and hopes to inspire positive social change one conversation at time. Follow Dil on Twitter (https://twitter.com/dilw) , Sparking Change with Dil's Twitter (https://twitter.com/sparkingchange1?lang=en) , Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sparkingchangewithdil/) , the Podcast's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sparkingchangewithdil/) and Dil's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/dilwickremasinghe/)
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33: #33 | Emma and Andrew Magee: Psychs for Choice
**Emma and Andrew Magee: Psychs for Choice**
This week on Sparking Change, Dil is joined by Andrew and Emma McGee of Psychs4Choice.
Psychs (or Psychologists) for Choice is a pro-repeal group that informs people about the research evidence about h...
48 min
27
32: #32 | Philippa Ryder and Dermot McCarthy: T...
**Philippa Ryder and Dermot McCarthy: The Gay Games**
This episode is an exciting first for Sparking Change, as Dil talks sport! Dil is joined by the hilarious, and extremely impressive (not to mention inspiring) Philippa Ryder and Dermot McCarthy, to...
37 min
28
31: #31 | Karl Callan and Emma Fagan: on the ‘R...
**Karl Callan and Emma Fagan: on the ‘Repeal’ Short Film and its Intended Message**
In this hugely relevant and important episode of Sparking Change, Dil speaks to Karl Callan and Emma Fagan about the short film, ‘Repeal’, in the lead-up to the refere...
38 min
29
30: #30 | Dr. Thamil Venthan Ananthavinayagan: ...
In this captivating and moving episode of Sparking Change, Dil speaks with fellow Sri Lankan (more on that in the episode), Dr. Thamil Venthan Ananthavinayagan (don’t feel bad, even Dil has some difficulty pronouncing it!).
Since finishing his PhD in ...
55 min
30
29: #29 | Dress Good, Feel Good: Chelsea Barry ...
In this episode of Sparking Change, Dil speaks to Irish cosplayer, Chelsea Barry - aka War Panda Cosplay about cosplay, and the power of dressing up — as a character from manga, TV or anything you like — in helping us to feel better about ourselves.
...
25 min
31
28: #28 | Video Games for Anxiety, with Owen Ha...
On this episode of Sparking Change, Dil speaks to Owen Harris – game and Virtual Reality designer – about his VR experience, ‘DEEP’, and how ordinary board games also help him to take care of his mental health.
Owen has dealt regularly with anxiety a...
27 min
32
27: #27 | How to Handle Work, with Aoife McElwain
This week on Sparking Change, Aoife McElwain, food writer for The Irish Times and Totally Dublin, talks to Dil about her new book Slow to Work, and the importance of learning to slow down and manage your anxiety.
Dill hears all about Aoife’s Aunt Lind...
46 min
33
26: #26 | Rachel Moore, of Express your Gender
On this week’s Sparking Change Dil talks to Rachel Moore, a speech and language therapist at Insight Matters, and founder of Express Your Gender (xYg).
Rachel is passionate about gender diversity and expression and works with many people in the transg...
48 min
34
25: #25 | Síofra Dempsey: On Being Non-Binary i...
On this week’s episode of Sparking Change, we talk to Síofra Dempsey about the power of pronouns, and the importance (and difficulty) of challenging society’s ideas of what gender identity means.
Síofra began using the ‘they’ pronoun two and a half ye...
47 min
35
24: #24 | A Very Special St. Patrick’s Day Loca...
In this week’s Sparking Change, Dil records from a very special St Patrick’s Day location – The Honest2Goodness Market in Glasnevin. We hear from producers and regular visitors about the importance of real food, community, and hen-dog friendship.
2:2...
162 min
36
23: #23 | Aoife Martin
In this episode of Sparking Change, Dil speaks to Aoife Martin about her experience of returning to work following her transition, and her concerns about the issues faced by young transgender people today, and the inextricable bond between feminism, tr...
43 min
37
22: #22 | Yemi Azamosa
In this episode of Sparking Change, we are joined by the effervescent Yemi Azamosa – spoken word artist, activist and charismatic human – about her upcoming show The Mouth of a Shark, and the experience of queer migrants in Ireland. Yemi is originally ...
40 min
38
21: #21 | June Tinsley of Bernardos Ireland
In this episode of Sparking Change, we speak to June Tinsley, Head of Advocacy and Support Engagement at Bernardos Ireland, about the charity’s new LOST CHILDHOOD campaign, highlighting that 1 in 7 children are lost to homelessness – a shocking statist...
28 min
39
20: #20 | Let’s Talk About Sex – And Rogue Cris...
In this week’s Sparking Change we’re talking about ‘The Talk’ – or how to discuss sex with your children. Scary? Yes, but it doesn’t need to be. We also discuss a petition for mandatory consent classes in UCC, started by the UCC Feminist Society, and w...
85 min
40
19: #19 | Smashing the Glass Ceiling, the Right...
**Smashing the Glass Ceiling, the Right to Work, and a new Name for the Children’s Hospital**
This week on Sparking Change we’re talking about some of the true-blue rebels in Irish history – Dr Kathleen Lynn, and Hannah Sheehy-Skeffington – and the wo...
97 min
41
18: #18 | Empowerment: on Racism, Post-Partum C...
On this week’s Sparking Change, we look at the shocking increase in racist incidents in Ireland, discuss an emerging support network for young girls in Ireland, and learn all about post-partum care on our brand-new women’s health feature.
In her edito...
125 min
42
17: #17 | LBGT Parenting, Stories of the 8th, a...
Talking to children about adult issues can be a minefield. On this week’s Sparking change, we talk LGBT issues and families in the classroom, and how it’s not just about sex. We shoot the breeze with the seriously funny hosts of the Echo Chamber podcas...
125 min
43
16: #16 | #MeToo and #Timesup: Speaking Out – A...
#MeToo and #Timesup: Speaking Out – At Your Own Pace.
On this week’s Sparking Change, we look at the growing impact of the #MeToo movement, and why survivors of abuse of power can find it difficult to speak out.
In her editorial, Dil discusses ...
79 min
44
15: #15 | Trust Women and Repeal the 8th Amendm...
"Trust Women and Repeal the 8th Amendment!"
In this week’s Sparking Change With Dil, we are discussing the Repeal of the 8th Amendment: What we know; what we don’t know and (Spoiler Alert!) The 8th Amendment is not just about Abortion!
We are joi...
107 min
45
14: #14 | Who Will Water the Olive Trees?
Every day we are inundated with breaking news about the refugee crisis around the world, and closer to home, of the tragedy surrounding the Tuam Babies case. For many, it can be difficult to know where to look, or what to think.
Luckily, on this wee...
110 min
46
#13 | Breastfeeding: Any Boob In A Storm
On Sparking Change this week we highlight Breastfeeding! According to the World Health Organization, if every child was breastfed within an hour of birth, given only breast milk for their first six months of life, and continued up to the age of two yea...
69 min
47
#12 | A New Year's Mental Health Message
On a New Year’s day Sparking Change Dil talks about how we need to view mental health being much more than just an illness but a natural part of the human experience.
Let’s be honest being a young person these days can be hard especially when you ar...
65 min
48
#11 | Christmas and Parenting
On a very festive Sparking Change this week Dil shares what Christmas means to her and how it can be a bittersweet time of the year for many.
Stand Up Comedian Steve Cummins joins us for a bit of a festive laugh in his very Christmasy jumper and share...
102 min
49
10: #10 | Behind the Scenes at Songs And Words ...
On a very special episode of Sparking Change, Dil and her team were given full access to all areas at the Songs And Words - A Home For All protest concert, featuring Glen Hansard, Frances Black, Ryan O’Shaughnessy and more, held outside the Dáil on Tue...
113 min
50
#9 | Perinatal Mental Health
In her weekly editorial Dil talks about the importance of nurturing a sense of spirituality as part of enhancing wellbeing and mental health. We focus on Perinatal Mental Health as Ireland launched its first perinatal mental health strategy and hear ho...
58 min