Wasted Creatives

Michael Crilly

Join Michael Crilly as he speaks to musicians, comedians, artists, writers and creators who chose a different path, or who continue to balance creativity alongside everyday working life.

Over a drink and a chat, Wasted Creatives explores what it means to be a creative person, what inspires people to create, and the realities behind building a creative life in today’s world.

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17 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 2 min
English

Episodes 17

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S1 · E16
Thursday · 1 hr 20 min
Bad Bridget: Elaine Farrell & Leanne McCormick on Irish Emigration, Crime & Forgotten Women
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with historians and authors Professor Elaine Farrell and Professor Leanne McCormick, the researchers behind Bad Bridget, to explore the forgotten stories of Irish women who emigrated to North America in search of a better life. What began as an academic research project became the bestselling book Bad Bridget: Crime, Mayhem and the Lives of Irish Emigrant Women, a podcast and an exhibition. Elaine and Leanne explain how they uncovered thousands of women through historical court records, prison registers, newspapers and personal letters, revealing lives that rarely appear in traditional accounts of Irish emigration. The conversation explores the stories of Marion Canning, who received a seven-year prison sentence after being accused of stealing a watch, and Maud Merrill, whose life ended tragically after her family tried to persuade her to leave sex work. They also discuss why so many young Irish women travelled alone to America, the pressure to send money home, and how poverty, exploitation, pregnancy and social stigma shaped their experiences. Michael also asks about the extraordinary prison records showing that Irish women made up 86% of a female prison population in 1860s New York, the discrimination Irish immigrants faced, and the striking parallels between their experiences and conversations about immigration today. Elaine and Leanne reflect on the responsibility of telling these women's stories, the descendants who have contacted them, and how collaborating with writers, illustrators and other creatives helped transform their historical research into an immersive exhibition. A fascinating conversation about Irish history, emigration, crime, survival and the importance of looking beyond the official records to understand the real people behind them.
S1 · E16
September 17 · 54 min
Taylor Johnson on BBC Introducing, Brand New Friend, TikTok & Discovering New Music
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with musician and broadcaster Taylor Johnson, host and producer of BBC Introducing, to talk about discovering new music, radio, social media, songwriting and building a life around the thing you love. Taylor explains what actually goes into BBC Introducing, from listening through huge numbers of submissions and scouting artists at gigs to working with the team to decide which new music makes it onto the show. He also shares why artists shouldn’t be put off by rough recordings, and why a brilliant song can still stand out even if it was recorded in a bedroom or on GarageBand. The conversation goes back to Taylor being 16, busking in Belfast and deciding to walk into the BBC pretending he had a meeting with Mike Edgar. That moment started a journey through different roles across BBC Northern Ireland, including work with Connor Phillips and Stephen Nolan, before eventually landing the BBC Introducing job he had wanted for years. Taylor also talks about his band Brand New Friend, making music alongside his brother and sister, and the bizarre story of Matty Healy from The 1975 reaching out with an offer to sign the band to Dirty Hit, only for things not to quite work out as expected. He also reveals that Brand New Friend recorded an unreleased third album before the band came to an end, while the members are now preparing to make music together under a new name. Michael and Taylor discuss how TikTok helped change Taylor’s career, why social media has become such an important tool for musicians, the strength of the current Northern Irish and Irish music scene, his opportunities at BBC Radio 6 Music, and why live music can turn someone into a lifelong fan. They also get into Taylor’s own songwriting process, his fascination with history and people, and why stories about overlooked figures can become the starting point for new songs. A conversation with someone whose life, as a musician, broadcaster and fan, revolves almost entirely around music, and who is now in the unique position of helping the next generation of artists get heard.
S2 · E2
September 10 · 56 min
Patricia McGinnis on Maven, Interior Design, Belfast Retail & BBC House of the Year
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with Patricia McGuinness, co-founder of Maven, to talk about interior design, Belfast retail, creativity, family business, and what makes a house feel like home. Patricia shares how Maven began in 2013 after she moved back from London and started exploring a more creative path alongside her sister Catherine. What began in a small memorial hall grew into one of Belfast’s most loved design and homeware stores, bringing carefully chosen furniture, interiors, brands and design-led pieces to a local audience. The conversation explores how Maven got its name, the importance of branding, how Patricia and Catherine built relationships with international design brands, and why retail has to be more than just a transaction. Patricia also talks about Maven Sessions, Coffee and Cactus, Neighborhood coffee pop-ups, and the importance of creating a space that feels welcoming, relaxed and community-led. Michael and Patricia also discuss finding your personal taste, using Pinterest and visual references, mixing new furniture with vintage pieces, the emotional value of family heirlooms, and why the most interesting homes often tell a story rather than looking perfect. Patricia also reflects on her own home renovation journey, sharing the honest reality of taking on a house that needs work, documenting the process online, and learning from the community as she goes. They also chat about Copenhagen’s Three Days of Design, changing tastes in Northern Ireland, the growth of design culture, and Patricia’s experience as a judge on BBC Northern Ireland’s House of the Year. A warm and thoughtful conversation about creativity, interiors, risk, family, home, Belfast, and building a business that helps people feel something in the spaces they live in.
S2 · E1
September 3 · 1 hr 25 min
Ciaran McMenamin on Acting, Writing Skintown, Telling Stories From Home & Creative Identity
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with actor, author and screenwriter Ciaran McMenamin to talk about acting, writing, Northern Ireland, identity, creativity, and the stories that stay with us. Ciaran reflects on growing up in Enniskillen, the impact of school, religion, youth theatre, music, and the moments that first made him feel like acting and storytelling were where he belonged. He talks about finding his tribe through the Ardhowen Youth Theatre, going to drama school in Glasgow, landing early acting roles, and building a career across television, film, theatre and writing. The conversation explores Ciaran’s novel Skin Town, how a real teenage experience during the Troubles became the seed for the story, and what it was like adapting the book into a film. Michael and Ciaran also discuss Northern Irish identity, the importance of place, the influence of music, the “Derry Girls effect”, gallows humour, and why stories from here are now being received differently by wider audiences. Ciaran also opens up about writing from personal experience, grief, his new novel Fabric, developing The Sunken Road for screen, the challenges of TV writing, and how acting and writing continue to feed into each other. A brilliant and deeply thoughtful conversation about creativity, rebellion, storytelling, home, family, and why the best work often comes from the places and experiences that shaped you most.
S1 · E13
August 27 · 40 min
Michael Crilly on Why He Started Wasted Creatives & What He’s Learned So Far
In this solo episode of Wasted Creatives, host Michael Crilly reflects on the first 12 episodes of the podcast and shares why he started it in the first place. Michael opens up about being a dentist by trade but a creative at heart, and how the podcast became a way to explore the creative side of himself that had been pushed aside for years. What began as an idea to interview people who had left traditional careers for creative ones soon became something bigger: a series of conversations about art, storytelling, community, risk, play, and the many ways creativity can exist in everyday life. Looking back on guests including Anna McKeever, Mark Bowen, Lola Petticrew, Sean Casey, Niall Conlon, Darren Matthews, Gareth Dunlop, Chris McClurg and others, Michael explores the themes that kept appearing across the series: the pressure of traditional success, the fear of embarrassment, the importance of taking the first step, and why creative people need other creative people. The episode also looks at Belfast’s growing creative energy, the value of Instagram and social media for connection, the role of music, food, art, comedy and storytelling, and why creativity does not have to mean quitting your job or going all in straight away. A reflective, honest and personal episode about starting late, following curiosity, building creative confidence, and why the goal of Wasted Creatives is to help listeners explore the parts of themselves they may have left behind.
S1 · E12
August 20 · 1 hr 1 min
Niall Conlon: The Belfast Artist Who Left Finance to Follow Creativity
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with Belfast artist Niall Conlon to talk about creativity, risk, identity, and the journey from professional sport and finance into life as a full-time artist. Niall shares how creativity was a huge part of his childhood before slowly fading away through school, sport and the pressure to follow a more traditional path. He reflects on playing rugby at a high level, studying at Cambridge, working long hours in finance in London, and eventually realising that the life he had built was not making him happy. The conversation explores how painting returned during the pandemic, why Instagram became a major platform for getting his work seen, and how Niall began building a career around his own art without waiting for galleries or institutions to give him permission. Michael and Niall also discuss Belfast’s creative energy, the importance of community, the power of taking risks, how art can support mental health, and why being a full-time artist requires both creative freedom and business discipline. A thoughtful and inspiring conversation about leaving the safe path, finding your creative voice again, and building a life around the thing that makes you feel most alive.
S1 · E11
August 13 · 57 min
Dan Hoff: Gurriers, Song Writing and Making the Next Album
Dan Hoff of Gurriers joins Michael Crilly to talk about the band’s rapid rise, touring America, SXSW, Inhaler and Kneecap, and the reality of life on the road. Dan breaks down how he writes lyrics and melodies, how he found his own Irish singing voice, and how a DM to IDLES guitarist Mark Bowen eventually led to Bowen helping make Gurriers’ second album. They also get into Nobody’s Coming To Save You, music videos, the Irish music scene, reading, therapy and mental health.
S1 · E9
August 6 · 1 hr 11 min
Lola Petticrew: Say Nothing, Assassin's Creed, and the Surreal Life of an Actor
Lola Petticrew joins Michael Crilly for an open, funny and thoughtful conversation about acting, creativity and the increasingly surreal direction their career has taken. Following acclaimed performances in Say Nothing and Trespasses, Lola discusses joining the live action Assassin’s Creed series, filming in Rome and the responsibility of entering a world with such a passionate audience. They reflect on playing Dolours Price in Say Nothing, representing West Belfast and approaching morally complicated characters without judging them. Lola also talks about I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning, working with lifelong friend Anthony Boyle and portraying a working class community in Birmingham. They share the emotional experience of attending Cannes together after spending their childhood imagining a future in acting. The conversation explores the remarkable growth of film and television in Belfast, the strength of its local crews and why the people behind the camera deserve far more recognition. Lola also discusses the impact of Derry Girls and how it helped open the door for more voices, accents and stories from the north of Ireland. Beyond individual roles, Lola shares their love of acting as a collaborative art form and the excitement of creating characters alongside writers, directors, crews and other performers. They also talk about poetry, future ambitions to write and direct and a lifelong love of music, including The Cure, Blink 182 and the disappearing experience of listening to an album from beginning to end. An honest and entertaining conversation about acting, friendship, Belfast, music and what it feels like when the creative life you imagined begins to become real. Wasted Creatives is hosted by Michael Crilly, a dentist by trade but a creative at heart. Follow Wasted Creatives on Spotify and search WASTED CREATIVES on YouTube for the full video episode.
S1 · E9
July 30 · 56 min
Sean Casey: From Drugs and Anxiety to Fitness, Business & Social Media Success
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with fitness coach, content creator and entrepreneur Sean Casey to talk about transformation, business, social media, family and what it really takes to change your life. Sean opens up about his early years of drinking, drugs, anxiety and paranoia, and how reaching breaking point became the catalyst for rebuilding his life. What began as a personal fitness journey during lockdown grew into content creation, coaching, TikTok success, online programmes, recipe books, The Social Circle and Gleam, which now supports thousands of members. They discuss Sean’s instinct for spotting good ideas, building businesses quickly and creating content that connects. The conversation also explores criticism, social media burnout, family, giving back, travelling to Australia, helping clients transform their lives and why success does not have to follow a traditional academic route. A raw and motivating conversation about curiosity, chaos, self-improvement and using your own experiences to help others move forward. CHAPTERS 00:00 — Ideas, action and how Wasted Creatives began 01:37 — Why overthinking stops people taking action 02:20 — Drinking, drugs and Sean’s early years 04:26 — Anxiety, paranoia and mental health 06:35 — Reaching breaking point in 2019 08:23 — Rebuilding his life through fitness 08:48 — The first YouTube video that changed everything 10:03 — Early TikTok growth and learning content 10:47 — From PT to coaching, ebooks, Gleam and The Social Circle 12:20 — Turning his own problem into a way to help others 13:04 — Building The Social Circle 13:55 — Finding his online personality through humour 15:25 — Being recognised and not feeling like a celebrity 16:47 — Lisa Ann’s transformation 18:31 — How helping one person creates a chain reaction 19:20 — The emotional connection with clients 21:01 — Family, his mum and showing real life online 23:21 — Friendship with Battle With Chris 25:16 — How running helped Chris rebuild his life 26:54 — Running Ireland and the UK 28:30 — Giving back and helping people financially 30:55 — Fundraising, cancer and the impact of loss 32:24 — Why life needs to be lived fully 33:00 — Returning to Australia and overcoming anxiety 35:11 — Travel, freedom and eventually returning to Ireland 36:25 — Why Sean paused the sauna business 37:16 — Creativity, instinct and building ideas quickly 38:12 — Spotting what works commercially 39:32 — Selling sweets in school 40:03 — School, grades and non-traditional success 41:28 — Leaning into your own strengths 43:09 — His parents’ advice on work and happiness 44:03 — Building a career he enjoyed 45:31 — Learning from criticism 47:00 — Useful feedback versus negativity 48:54 — Social media anxiety and burnout 49:37 — Breaks, landmarks and celebrating small wins 51:06 — The future of social media and long-form content 53:02 — What is next for The Social Circle 54:10 — Brian’s 100kg transformation 55:14 — Why content is personal 55:57 — Closing the episode
S1 · E8
July 23 · 56 min
Darren Matthews: Stand-Up in Australia, Belfast Comedy and Life With a Day Job
Comedian Darren Matthews joins Michael Crilly for a conversation about starting stand-up, surviving terrible gigs and learning that the only real way to improve is to keep doing the reps. Darren shares how a friend first encouraged him to try an open mic at The Pavilion in Belfast, why his second performance was a complete disaster and how moving to Australia unexpectedly accelerated his comedy career. They talk about performing across Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Asia, supporting Paddy McDonnell in theatres and arenas, running comedy nights at The Sunflower, dealing with hecklers and helping to grow the comedy scene in Belfast and beyond. Darren also speaks honestly about balancing comedy with a full-time job, family life, constant driving, late nights and the occasional burnout that comes from trying to fit another creative career into an already busy life. A funny and honest conversation about creativity, persistence and why having a “normal job” doesn’t make you any less of a creative person. Search WASTED CREATIVES on Spotify and YouTube. Follow the podcast on Spotify, leave us a rating and subscribe on YouTube for the full video episodes and clips.
S1 · E7
July 16 · 1 hr 8 min
Ciaran Lavery on Spotify Success, Record Labels & Finding His Own Creative Path
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery to talk about the unexpected journey from working in a leisure centre to building a full-time life in music. Ciaran shares how his self-funded album quietly found a huge audience on Spotify, why early streaming success felt both exciting and confusing, and how that momentum eventually led him into the world of record labels, touring, creative compromise and industry pressure. The conversation explores what happens when success does not look the way you imagined, the difficulty of staying creatively honest inside commercial systems, and why Ciaran eventually found more freedom by returning to making music on his own terms. Michael and Ciaran also discuss songwriting, poetry, collaboration, nostalgia, live performance, the importance of creative limitations, and the story behind Soft Gut Song Camp, a project built to connect and support artists, producers and songwriters across Northern Ireland and beyond. A brilliant conversation about music, identity, creative control, collaboration, and what it really takes to build a sustainable life around the work you love.
S1 · E6
July 9 · 54 min
Chris McClurg: Great British Menu, Michelin Kitchens & Coming Home to Belfast
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, I sit down with chef Chris McClurg to talk about his journey through food, restaurants, creativity and hospitality. Chris shares how a teenage summer at Shanks helped shape the direction of his life, why restaurants became the place where he found his tribe, and how his career took him from Belfast to London, Cornwall and the world of Michelin-starred cooking. We talk about working with Paul Ainsworth at No.6, the pressure and reality of competing on Great British Menu, the difference between cooking great food and creating a great hospitality experience, and what it means to build a restaurant culture where both guests and staff feel valued. Chris also speaks about returning home to Belfast, pop-ups at Neighbourhood, and the new chapter he and Alice are building at Regency House. A brilliant conversation about food, ambition, creativity, pressure, leadership and the emotional side of hospitality.
S1 · E5
July 2 · 53 min
Improv, Stand-Up and Belfast’s Alternative Comedy Scene with Frazer Robb & Laura Conlon
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, I’m joined by comedians Frazer Robb and Laura Conlon for a conversation about improv, stand-up and the growing alternative comedy scene in Belfast. Frazer talks about how he first got into improv, travelling to Chicago to train and bringing those skills back to Belfast at a time when improv comedy was still finding its feet here. We discuss his improv group Wonder Frog, his journey as a stand-up comedian, and even how teaching improv led to him meeting his wife. Laura shares her own route into stand-up and improv, the difference between performing prepared material and creating comedy live in front of an audience, and how different audiences respond to each style. We also talk about Turnstyle, the alternative comedy night she runs in Belfast, and how different styles of improv are being explored locally. There are stories about corporate improv gigs, including one Wonder Frog performance that had to be shut down after the audience got a little too crude with their suggestions, as well as a wider chat about how online clips and crowd work have changed the dynamic between comedians and audiences. I talk about my own experience of getting into improv through classes taught by Frazer, and the creative release it has given me outside of my day-to-day life. We also talk about what it means to follow your creative talents while still working 9–5 jobs, and the reality of trying to juggle work, life, comedy and creativity when there are only so many hours in the week. A conversation about comedy, creativity, risk, audience dynamics and the strange joy of making things up in the moment.
S1 · E4
June 18 · 1 hr 32 min
Mark Bowen on IDLES, Leaving Dentistry, Creativity & Florence + The Machine
This week on Wasted Creatives, I sit down with Mark Bowen from IDLES. Mark’s story goes from dentistry to Glastonbury, from working in dental practice to becoming part of one of the most distinctive and important bands in modern music. We talk about his early love of music, studying dentistry, working as a dentist while IDLES were beginning to grow, and what it was like trying to balance a professional career with life on tour. Mark also shares how IDLES approach creativity, why intention sits at the centre of every project, and how the band think about their albums, live shows, visuals, audience and identity. We also get into Glastonbury, Grammy nominations, staying grounded, family life, success, and his recent creative work connected with Florence + The Machine. Topics include: • Growing up with music • Choosing dentistry • Working as a dentist while touring • Leaving dentistry for IDLES • Building the band’s sound and identity • The creative process behind IDLES • Why intention matters • Glastonbury and major live shows • Grammy nominations and success • Florence + The Machine • Family life and staying grounded • Building a creative life outside the traditional path Wasted Creatives is hosted by Michael Crilly
S1 · E3
June 11 · 49 min
Big Daddy Slims / Andrew McSparran: Food, Mental Health & Building a Creative Life Online
In this episode of Wasted Creatives, I’m joined by Andrew McSparron, better known online as Big Daddy Slims. Andrew is a food content creator from Northern Ireland whose account started as a personal accountability page after becoming a dad and wanting to make a change. What began as a way to lose weight slowly became something much bigger; a creative outlet, a love of cooking, and eventually a recognisable food page followed by thousands of people. We talk about where the name Big Daddy Slims came from, how cooking helped Andrew through a really difficult period with stress and mental health, and how making a simple spaghetti Bolognese became the start of something he never expected. We also chat about social media, food content, family life, creativity, marketing, and what the future might look like for Big Daddy Slims. A really honest conversation about food, identity, creativity, and finding something that helps you feel like yourself again.
S1 · E2
June 4 · 43 min
Gareth Dunlop: Songwriting,Belfast to Nashville & Music for TV and Film
Michael sits down with Belfast singer-songwriter and producer Gareth Dunlop to talk about songwriting, Nashville, co-writing, touring and the strange world of writing music for TV and film. Gareth shares how an early trip to Nashville helped shape his career, what actually happens in a co-writing room, why writing a song with someone can reveal more than a week of normal conversation, and how one of his songs ended up being used by T.I. They also chat about TV and film sync, creativity, touring with musicians he admires, supporting Bonnie Raitt, social media, bread making, voice notes, and the reality of trying to build a creative life from Northern Ireland. A great listen for anyone interested in songwriting, music, sync licensing, Nashville, creativity, or the behind-the-scenes reality of being a working musician.
S1 · E1
May 27 · 1 hr 16 min
From Medicine to Art: Anna McKeever on Leaving Psychiatry, Irish Identity & Children of Lir
In the first episode of Wasted Creatives, Michael Crilly sits down with Belfast-based contemporary artist Anna McKeever to explore her journey from medicine and psychiatry into life as a full-time artist. Anna shares how painting was part of her life from childhood, why she first chose the more traditional path of medicine, and how the pressure and burnout of the Covid years helped push her back towards the creative life she had always been drawn to. This conversation explores creativity, confidence, motherhood, Irish identity, emotional connection, landscape, memory, and the deeper meaning behind Anna’s work. Anna also discusses her palette knife technique, her sell-out Full Beam collection, and her upcoming work inspired by Children of Lir. A thoughtful and honest conversation about what it means to follow creativity seriously, leave behind certainty, and build a life around the thing that has always been calling you.

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