Cork podcaster interviews Ireland's top 'creatives'

WHEN Daniel Heaphy was inspired to make a podcast interviewing everyone from film directors to writers and photographers, he “politely stalked” various creatives that he follows on social media, looking for their agents and email addresses.

It has paid off, although Daniel, 24, admits it was “a bit strange at the beginning because I was emailing people who I felt would definitely not take part in the podcast. But I had the attitude that if I don’t try, I’ll never know. I had nothing to lose.”

His dream guest is Graham Norton. However, the former Bandon-based celebrity TV presenter and novelist hasn’t come back to him yet. Another dream guest is Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame – a band that Daniel loves.

“It would be great to speak to someone older like her as she has so much experience in the arts. It would be one hell of a conversation. You never know. If the podcast goes well, I can be a bit more ambitious. As it is, I have some really good people on.”

They include filmmaker Sinead O’Loughlin, director of Lamb, which was on this year’s long list for the Oscars. It stars Éanna Hardwicke who was in the TV drama series, Normal People, based on Sally Rooney’s book.

“It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, which is an amazing platform,” says Daniel.

He is full of admiration for Sinead.

"To see the level she has reached, not necessarily Hollywood, but just doing it herself, telling stories set in Ireland, is really inspiring. It inspired me,” says Daniel who, is also a filmmaker and actor.

Another podcast guest was Will Sliney, the East-Cork based comic books artist.

“He did the same BA degree as me, creative digital media at MTU, a few years before me.

It was nice to see where people go after doing that course. Will works with various franchises such as Marvel comics and Star Wars. And he’s from Cork.

The Irish children’s author, Marita Conlon-McKenna, best known for her book Under the Hawthorn Tree, was another guest.

“It was a big moment for me to speak to Marita as I was a fan of hers growing up. I read several of her books as a child. Sitting down to talk to her felt weirdly like going full circle. She was great to talk to.”

Other guests include photographer Charles Moriarty, who photographed Amy Winehouse when she was starting out on her career. The Dublin-born photographer took shots of the tragic singer for her debut Frank album.

“I love his photography. Much has been made of Amy Winehouse’s personal struggles. But Charles captured her as I think she should be remembered.”

Daniel has spoken to the Cork-based poet Daragh Fleming too.

He’s quite young. It’s nice to get a youthful insight into creativity.

There will be ten to 12 episodes per season in the podcast entitled Creatively Me. It started in early February.

“My goal is to have a different guest each week to discuss their creative process and journey. Essentially, I want to create a podcast that inspires listeners in their own creative pursuits and gives an insight into some amazing creators.”

Daniel, from Douglas, has a day job as a children’s book seller for Dubray book shop. He has a Master’s degree in film and screen media from UCC. Always interested in the creative arts, Daniel says his family and friends were not surprised at the route he has taken. He was a bit of a daydreamer at Douglas Community School and had no interest in sports.

This productive young man has a novel coming out in the summer called Breanna 1975. It is being published by UK-based Olympia, a small independent publisher. It’s a fantasy adventure story aimed at young people aged 11 and over.

I wrote the book that I think my 11-year old self would have absolutely adored. I’ve taken elements from stories that I’ve loved from a very young age and put them in my book. 

"Because I’m with a small publisher, it’s up to me to do the promotional work, getting the book out there. There will be a lot of work involved and I’m looking forward to it.”

When Daniel is being creative, he tends to go back to his childhood interests.

“I think a lot of creative people keep their childhood selves with them. You have to be very imaginative to create. That’s something that can be lost.

“I like to go back to my childhood for younger audiences. If I want to tell a more adult and mature story, I have the short film option. I act as well and that is one of the reasons I started making my own short films. I had been putting my name up for auditions, for things that I wasn’t that excited about. I thought short films would be a good opportunity to get myself out there. The fact that I can write my own stuff and act in it is nice. I write roles that are suited to me. It’s very rare that you get to write your own roles.”

A film of Daniel’s, One Night in Cork, was screened at Indie Cork in 2021. His new film, Graduation Day, is being sent to film festivals and he plans to put it online after it gets screenings.

The different strands in Daniel’s career mean that he can choose the medium through which to tell his stories. It gives him agency and independence. All that daydreaming has clearly paid off.

Creatively Me is on Spotify.