The Bookshelf with Colm O’Regan
Summary
Comedian and author Colm O'Regan joins the show to discuss his new book, *Tipping Away*, which explores the etymology and hidden history of everyday Irish phrases. The conversation covers the power of word choice in comedy and the appeal of "competency porn" in science fiction, with O'Regan recommending Andy Weir's *Project Hail Mary*. The episode also features a lighthearted segment on memorable Christmas advertisements and a discussion of classic children's adventure stories about living in the wilderness.
Topics discussed
Intro and listener texts on Christmas ads
Discussion of specific Christmas and winter TV ads
Colm O'Regan joins and shares favorite ad
Origins of 'Does that bait Banneher' and new book intro
The title 'Tipping Away' and early Twitter writing
The power of word choice and resonance in comedy
Evolution of slang terms and the word 'dose'
Book launch, place names, and words as archaeology
Favorite genre: books about children running wild
Nostalgia for off-grid living and modern connectivity
Review of Project Hail Mary and 'competency porn'
Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go and dystopian themes
Closing remarks and book recommendations
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