Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of depression, grief and suicide.

Words have the power to heal, connect and help us make sense of emotions we often struggle to name. In this episode of Live Wild, writer and spoken word artist Daragh Fleming joins Hilary Rose for a thoughtful and deeply honest conversation about creativity, vulnerability and modern life.

Daragh shares how writing first became part of his life through reading as a child and later through journaling while navigating depression in his late teens and early twenties. What began as a private way to process emotions gradually evolved into poetry that resonates with thousands of people online and on stage.

Together, Hilary and Daragh explore the role creativity plays in healing, the emotional courage it takes to share personal work publicly, and why every human being is creative.

The episode also includes a powerful live performance of Daragh’s poem If I Ever Have Girls, a reflection on raising strong daughters in today’s world.

Key topics we discuss:

• Using writing and journaling to process mental health
• Why feeling emotions - even difficult ones - is part of healing
• Creativity as a tool for wellbeing and self-expression
• Irish identity, storytelling and creative community
• The myth of the “tortured artist”
• Sharing personal stories while protecting loved ones
• Daragh’s upcoming poetry collection and novel exploring grief and masculinity

You can find Daragh here: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Support & helplines:

If anything in this episode brings up difficult feelings, please consider reaching out for support.

• Pieta House: 1800 247 247
• Crisis Helpline: Text ‘HELP’ to 50808
• Samaritans: 116 123
• Aware: 1800 80 48 48
• Parentline: 1890 92 72 77

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Key Links

Watch Hilary’s TEDx Talk here.

Follow Hilary here: @thehilaryrose

You can contact Hilary on LinkedIn here

Follow Live Wild here: @livewildpodcast

You can read more about us or contact us at www.livewild.ie

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As always the Live Wild podcast, its CEO and host Hilary Rose emphasise that this podcast is for entertainment purposes only.

Thank you! Xxx

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