‘What are your Hyperfixations? What’s your weird, niche area of expertise?’
Hyperfixations is an independent Irish podcast which operates under the premise that everyone in the world is an interesting person, and that we should all have a safe space to discuss the things we are passionate about. The show, which at present has released 44 episodes since its premiere on March 10th, 2021, invites a guest on each episode, accompanied by matching episode art done in the shows pink, blue, and white theme. The episodes each range anywhere in length from 46 minutes to 1 hour and 46 minutes, and the guests discuss a topic they are passionate or knowledgeable about.
What’s great about Hyperfixations episodes is that the guests don’t need to be experts on the subject they’re discussing, they just need to be passionate about their topic. This is why it’s such a fun show, anyone can come on to talk – judgement free – about something they really enjoy by simply contacting them through their Instagram or Twitter. Previous guests of the show have ranged from close personal friends of the hosts, members of the public that have gotten into contact with them, and celebrities including Vine star turned singer Leftatlondon, TodayFM Broadcaster Dave Moore, musician Will Wood, and Sinn Fein TD Eoin Ó Bróin.
The enthusiasm is easily felt while listening to Hyperfixations: the guests are quite clearly passionate about the topic they have brought to the show, and the hosts are obviously passionate about hosting the show, even developing running gags based on their interactions with guests which recur throughout the show. It’s entertaining and informative, covering a wide range of topics, including everything from the Irish island of Inishbofin, and the Klingon language to the scoring system for international figure skating. This variety is what I feel makes the show an interesting and engaging listen: finding episodes discussing something niche that you’re already interested in is an enjoyable experience allowing you to connect with like-minded individuals, but equally, listening to episodes you know nothing about means you can learn about topics you otherwise mightn’t have thought of or encountered. Although each episode deals with a new – often unrelated – topic, the core ideas of the podcast are clear; why people create and how they create things, the value of collaboration, love, and friendship, and why it’s necessary to allow people to express themselves fully and without judgement.
In a world where so many of the biggest podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience are overly self-indulgent shows peddling hate and misinformation, it’s refreshing to see a smaller-scale Irish podcast attempting to foster an environment of love, tolerance, and acceptance – with one guest, Conor Kinsella, going so far as to call the experience of guesting on the show as “therapeutic”. It’s simply a good sign to have shows made by queer Irish creators such as Hyperfixations exist while being created, edited, and released, independent of any larger network or sponsorship.
Hyperfixations releases weekly on Fridays at Midnight GMT and can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any podcast listening platform.