Mind the Gap

We’ve all done it — assumed the worst about someone else’s actions. The colleague who doesn’t reply, the driver who cuts across, the friend who forgets. It’s easy to think they meant to hurt or ignore us. But what if most of it isn’t personal at all? This week, Michael Comyn explores Hanlon’s Razor , the simple rule that reminds us not to attribute to malice what can be explained by misunderstandi...

There is a moment on every journey when the light fades and the world outside disappears. The train slips into a tunnel, and for a few seconds, it feels as if everything has stopped. Yet even in the dark, the train keeps moving. In this episode of Mind the Gap , Michael Comyn delves into the quiet power of limiting beliefs, those inner convictions that tell us what we cannot do or who we cannot be...

In this episode of Mind the Gap , Michael Comyn continues the journey through his book The Next Station Is… — turning from the tickets we carry to the masks we wear. At any given moment, each of us plays a role: the Hero chasing the next challenge, the Caregiver holding everything together, the Ruler keeping control, or the Seeker searching for something just beyond reach. Drawing on Carl Jung’s c...

In the opening episode of Season 3, Michael Comyn introduces The Next Station Is… — a new season of Mind the Gap inspired by his latest book. Standing on a railway platform one winter morning, Michael reflects on how so many of us travel through life on tickets written long before we learn to choose our own destinations. Drawing on the work of psychiatrist Eric Berne and the Stoic wisdom of Epicte...

Why do so many people start their working lives with energy and enthusiasm, only to end up doing the bare minimum? Cabin crew once said they loved meeting people. Nurses spoke of healing. Teachers dreamed of inspiring. Yet, years later, many are drained, disengaged, and doing what appears to be half-hearted work. In this episode of Echoes from the Margin , Michael Comyn asks what really happened....

Even the sharpest minds can be fooled — not because we are careless, but because con artists know how to pull the emotional levers that make us human. In this episode of Mind the Gap , Michael explores how scams old and new trick us into lowering our guard, from the classic infomercials that promised six-packs in six weeks to today’s deepfakes that use familiar faces and voices to convince us to c...

In a world that demands you choose sides, what happens when you no longer recognise the middle ground? In this month’s Echoes from the Margins , the monthly companion to Mind the Gap (now in its second season), Michael Comyn reflects on life when the centre no longer holds — in politics, in community, and within ourselves. From Yeats’ haunting words to ancient Chinese philosophy, from Arabic wisdo...

Betrayal cuts deep, whether it’s a colleague taking credit for your work, a promised promotion that never arrives, or the quiet exclusion from a team. Inspired by the hit television series The Traitors , this episode of Mind the Gap explores how we respond when trust is broken. Michael Comyn unpacks the sting of betrayal in both personal and professional life, weaving together insights from philos...

In this special bonus edition of Mind the Gap , you’ll hear Michael Comyn in conversation with Gerry Kelly on LMFM’s The Late Lunch . Together, they discuss the book that now accompanies the podcast, how it came to life, and the ideas it explores. The book Mind the Gap gathers many of the themes shared here each week, blending philosophy, emotional intelligence, and personal reflection in a way th...

Why do we ease off the accelerator when we spot a Garda car, but never dream of driving home after a few pints? One is the fear of punishment. The other is a shift in values. That contrast is the difference between power and influence. In this episode of Mind the Gap , Michael Comyn explores why power bends behaviour only in the moment, while influence reshapes belief for the long term. From speed...

Episode Summary: Every workplace has its masks. For some, it’s the “work face” we put on each morning to look confident or composed. For others, it’s much deeper — hiding a class background, a sexual orientation, or a neurodiverse identity to feel safe. In this episode, Michael Comyn explores the hidden cost of wearing masks at work. Drawing on the idea of emotional labour from sociologist Arlie H...

Your emotions are real, but they are not you. In this episode, Michael Comyn explores the difference between what we feel and who we are, and how to notice emotions without letting them take over. Drawing on emotional intelligence, psychology, and coaching insights, Michael reflects on the brain’s tendency to react before we think, and how to step back, see the bigger picture, and remember that mo...

Episode Summary: There’s a certain kind of silence that lives in a classical music studio — not the absence of sound, but the presence of feeling. In this episode, Michael reflects on his years as a classical music presenter and the quiet, emotional truths that lie within music. From the grief and beauty of Barber’s Adagio for Strings to the joy of Mozart’s Horn Concerto , the cosmic uplift of Hol...

In this episode of Mind the Gap , Michael Comyn explores the often misunderstood virtue of kindness, not as a soft option but as a core leadership skill. Drawing on emotional intelligence and real-world leadership experience, Michael challenges the notion that kindness is a sign of weakness. Whether it means offering honest feedback with compassion, setting boundaries without hostility, or treatin...

In this pivotal episode of Mind the Gap , host Michael Comyn marks the beginning of Season Two with a thoughtful shift in focus, from the ancient wisdom of the Stoics to the modern science of Emotional Intelligence. Why pivot now? Because life is constantly changing, so should our perspective. Stoicism offered a powerful foundation, emphasising perception, control, and resilience. Emotional Intell...

Known as the teacher of Epictetus, Musonius Rufus was much more than a footnote in Stoic history. In this bonus Stoic Portrait , we meet a voice of quiet rebellion. Exiled more than once by emperors, Musonius insisted that philosophy must be lived, not just spoken. He taught that self-discipline builds strength, that discomfort trains the soul, and that women deserve an equal education in reason a...

He carried water by night and wisdom by day. In this bonus Stoic Portrait , we meet Cleanthes, the second head of the Stoic school and a man who believed action mattered more than eloquence. A former boxer and labourer, Cleanthes lived the Stoic life long before he taught it. His quiet endurance, devotion to learning, and hymn to the rational order of the universe offer a reminder that Stoicism is...

How do you live wisely in a world that rewards ambition but punishes honesty? In this five-minute reflection, Michael Comyn explores the contradictions and clarity of Seneca, the Roman statesman who advised emperors, amassed wealth, and still warned us not to waste a single moment. Through his letters, Seneca teaches not perfection, but progress. Not isolation, but inward retreat. His message is c...

Is Stoicism just a cold refusal to feel? A productivity trend for tech bros? A philosophy of passive acceptance? In this thoughtful and personal episode of Mind the Gap , Michael Comyn tackles the most common criticisms of Stoicism and shares the story of how he first discovered it while helping people overcome their fear of flying. From the turbulence of anxious minds to the quiet clarity of Epic...

Mind the Gap: Stoic Portraits – Season One What does a Roman emperor write to himself when no one else is meant to read it? In this five-minute episode, Michael Comyn reflects on the inner world of Marcus Aurelius—Stoic philosopher, reluctant ruler, and author of Meditations , a private diary that became a timeless guide to clarity, calm, and self-command. As the world around him unravelled, Marcu...

Mind the Gap: Stoic Portraits – Season One What can a man born into slavery teach us about inner freedom? In this five-minute reflection, Michael Comyn explores the life and legacy of Epictetus—the Stoic philosopher who had no control over his body, his birthplace, or his master… but refused to surrender his mind. From radical acceptance to the discipline of emotional clarity, this episode distils...

We live in a world of constant pings, notifications, and endless scrolls. Yet for many, the phone doesn’t ring, the inbox is quiet, and the silence can feel heavy. In this episode of Mind the Gap , Michael explores the difference between contact and connection, weaving in Stoic philosophy, emotional intelligence, and modern psychology to understand why so many feel lonely even while surrounded by...

In this special bonus episode, we share the debut of Echoes from the Margin here on Mind the Gap . We turn down the noise to tune in more deeply, exploring the quiet strength found in humility, restraint, and presence. Drawing from Stoic thought, Indigenous wisdom, and timeless traditions from East and West, we reflect on what it means to lead, to influence, and to live—not through force, but thro...

Have you ever felt chained to your phone, answering every message, every call, every ping—immediately? Michael shares a personal revelation on how the demand for instant replies has become a modern tyranny, shaping our anxiety, our relationships, and even our sense of self-worth. From missed calls that led to €300 fines to the quiet fear of being unreachable when someone needs us, this episode exp...

In this Mind the Gap bonus episode, we share a reflective conversation from our companion series, Echoes from the Margins . Have you ever drafted a message you never sent, or replayed words you never spoke aloud? This episode, Letters Never Sent , explores the unspoken truths we carry: the letters tucked away, the messages deleted, the conversations rehearsed but left unspoken. Through gentle stor...