The Infinite Creators - Ryan McDaid

Dean Blackwood grew up “reared on the River Faughan” – now he’s one of the most persistent voices fighting to stop it being poisoned. From childhood mornings fishing with his great‑uncle Albert to uncovering one of Europe’s biggest illegal landfills at Mobuoy, his life tracks the story of how Northern Ireland treats its rivers and lakes. In this episode we walk through the Mobuoy illegal dump scan...

Ireland has a national park called *Glenveagh* – “Glen of the Birches” – where most visitors never notice there are almost no birch trees. Emmett Johnston thinks that gap between language and landscape says a lot about how *Ireland* lost, and is slowly rebuilding, its relationship with nature. In this episode we talk about basking sharks, rewilding in Glenveagh, native woodland, colonisation, Iris...

Most farmers are taught to fight weeds, feed the soil with chemicals and maximise yield. Paul Moorhead went the opposite direction – and the land responded. This conversation explores how regenerative farming, soil biology and biodynamic principles are quietly reshaping how some Irish farmers think about their land, their food and their role in the wider ecosystem. If you grow food, eat food or ju...

Fungi, mycelium, floods, fire and food systems – what if the quiet stuff under our feet is holding far more together than we realise? Life & Depth – Season 2: Nature, Seeds & Growth: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp2syVpW_daYjm6lY9I_qG0WuEm0K0e6C Big Questions, Real Stories: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLp2syVpW_daYHYo8sp7kF-LrwJJEU26VkWhen Life Knocks You Sideways: http...

Natural immune shots, turmeric, garlic, cholesterol and arthritis – why did nobody tell us this at 25? Paddy Diver went from a 20‑something in construction who thought he just had a “bad back” to barely bending down to put on his socks – then built Pat’s Powerful Bottle out of desperation. If you’re living with inflammation, fatigue or “I’ll sort my health later” thinking, this one’s for you. *Wha...

Welcome to Life & Depth with Ryan McDaid – the place where surface‑level conversations go to die. Most people walk past nettles, dandelions and docks and see nothing but *weeds* , herbalist, forager and soil advocate Claire Thompson sees *nutrition* , *medicine* and allies that can help us thrive. In this episode we explore how *wild plants* , living soil and a different approach to home and e...

What would the land say about how we live today? In this episode of Life & Depth, Ryan sits down with writer, ecologist and indigenous‑Irish thinker Lorcan to explore what our hills, rivers and old stories remember – and what we’ve tried to forget. Lorcan led the reintroduction of golden eagles to Glenveagh National Park and has spent decades at the intersection of wildlife, archaeology, myth...

In this episode, Ryan sits down with regenerative farmer, artist and holistic management practitioner Clive Bright to explore what it really means to live “of nature” – not just on the land, but in how we think, farm, eat and make decisions. Clive runs a 120‑acre organic, 100% pasture‑fed beef farm in County Sligo, selling his meat directly through his Rare Ruminair beef boxes, and designing his l...

In this episode, Ryan sits down with learning and development consultant, author, and founder Marie McLaughlin to explore *what really happens in the body* when life becomes too much. Marie shares how her childhood on a small farm in Donegal shaped her resilience, work ethic and connection to nature, and how losing her 17‑year‑old brother overnight shattered the “perfect family life” she once knew...

Bees notice the changes in nature long before we do. In this episode, I sit down with Mick the Beekeeper, a lifelong keeper of native Irish bees, to explore what these animals reveal about the world around us. Mick shares how years of observing his bees taught him to slow down and see patterns most people overlook. His experiences with hive behavior and shifting seasons changed the way he understa...

Burnout can creep in long before you realise something is wrong. In this episode, I sit down with John Duffy, an engineer-turned-regenerative farmer, to explore why high achievement, constant pressure, and disconnect from nature silently push people toward physical and emotional collapse. He shares how years in the oil and gas industry, chronic stress cycles, and a life-altering moment in a woodla...

Being fit doesn’t always mean being healthy. In this episode, I sit down with Bosco Reid, an osteopath and lifelong athlete, to explore why serious health issues can develop even in active, disciplined people. Bosco shares how surviving meningitis, a prostate cancer diagnosis caught early through routine checks, and a later heart scare reshaped how he thinks about health, prevention, and longevity...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Anne McCloskey, a retired GP from Derry who has been suspended by the General Medical Council for challenging the official narrative regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Anne opens up about her transition from a respected physician to a whistleblower, detailing the alleged vaccine injuries she witnessed in her practice and the aggressive legal battles she has f...

In this episode, I sit down with computing researcher, lecturer and expert Eoghan Furey to discuss the chaotic world of information overload and the alarming rise of artificial intelligence. We explore how social media algorithms secretly manipulate our worldviews, the hidden dangers of intrusive data tracking, and why we are rapidly losing our ability to think independently. Eoghan explains the c...

Ryan sits down with John McCarron, a local historian, artist, and storyteller from Buncrana, Donegal, to explore the fascinating story of the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Railway — once the lifeline of the northwest. John brings to life the rise and fall of the Donegal railways, from their ambitious beginnings in the 1800s to their quiet disappearance in the 1950s. He traces how the rail lines sha...

Ryan sits down with Jenna McCusker, host of My Life and Me and founder of House of Sense. Jenna shares her extraordinary story of resilience — from the pain of divorce and emotional abuse to the unimaginable challenge of being told she would never walk again after a spinal injury. What began as tragedy became transformation. Through faith, humour, and an unbreakable love for her son, Jenna rebuilt...

Ryan sits down with Seamus McDaid, the fourth-generation Irish entrepreneur behind McDaid’s Football Special, the craft soda from Donegal that’s been part of local celebrations for decades. The McDaid family turned a small family business into one of Irelands most iconic drinks, poured into trophy cups across generations and forever linked with Donegal heritage and community pride. Seamus shares w...

It was an honour to sit down with Terry Crossan, a man whose life is deeply entwined with the modern history of Derry and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Born on William Street in 1952, Terry grew up at what would later be dubbed “Agro Corner” by the British Army, a hotspot during the Battle of the Bogside. As a young man, he found himself on the frontlines of the civil rights movement, navigati...

In this honest and down-to-earth conversation, Ryan talks with Barbara Doherty about travel, healing, and figuring out life along the way. Barbara shares her journey from the chaos of Rio’s Carnival to quiet moments in the Amazon jungle — where she explored plant medicine, nature, and the idea of finding balance. She opens up about how these experiences changed the way she sees herself and the wor...

In this powerful conversation, Ryan sits down with Darragh Kelly, one of Ireland’s most exciting rising stars in MMA. Known for his grit, humility, and undefeated record, Darragh opens up about the sacrifices, struggles, and breakthroughs that have shaped his journey from a small town in Donegal to fighting on the world stage. Darragh reflects on how he discovered MMA as a teenager with no martial...

Ryan sits down with Stephen McLaughlin, Director of Clinical Services at White Oaks, a residential rehab center in Donegal. With decades of experience — and a past life as a Catholic priest — Stephen brings wisdom, compassion, and honesty to the difficult but vital topic of addiction and recovery. Stephen shares his perspective on what addiction truly looks like — not just for the individual, but...

In this thought-provoking conversation, Ryan sits down with Lee Tedstone, a global business leader, entrepreneur, and investor whose journey has been shaped by both personal loss and professional triumphs. Lee opens up about losing his father at just nine years old, an event that profoundly shaped how he approaches life, leadership, and resilience. He reflects on how only in recent years he has be...

Ryan sits down with George Houston, a rising folk-rock artist from Burt, Donegal whose music blends storytelling, genre-bending experimentation, and unapologetic honesty. George opens up about his journey into music — from picking up instruments as a child, to secretly combining poetry with melodies, to finally finding the courage to share his songs with the world. He reflects on the struggle of s...

A Global Award Winning Chef with his book “Donegal Table”, a broadcaster, and a proud Donegal man Brian McDermott takes us far beyond the kitchen, sharing the stories, struggles, and lessons that have shaped his life. From a childhood in a three-bedroom council house with 14 family members, to nearly losing his big toe in a farmyard accident, to finding his way into professional kitchens through a...

In this raw and uplifting conversation, Ryan sits down with Glenda Dowling from Buncrana, Donegal. Glenda is a holistic practitioner blending spinal energetics, kinesiology, breathwork, and nutrition to help people reconnect with their body’s innate ability to heal. Glenda shares her powerful personal journey — from being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her 20s to refusing medication and instead...