Now We’re Talking Podcast: Exploring the work of Michael J. Murphy & Sam Hanna Bell

About Now We’re Talking Podcast: Exploring the work of Michael J. Murphy & Sam Hanna Bell

Nerve Centre and PRONI brought together a group of people keen to learn about MichaelJ. Murphy through the medium of podcasting. Over three weeks and five sessions, We explored the archive of Michael J. Murphy at PRONI Freelance producer Alan Meban took them through the process of creating a podcast. The group learned about interviewing, selecting sources - both by using the works of MJM and by talking to people who know his work, with a final session pulling it all together.

Publisher

Nerve

Category

arts · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Apr 2026

Latest episode

10 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Sam Hanna Bell: The Writer

   Welcome to the Now We’re Talking podcast. We’re back looking at the archive and legacy of another big figure. This time it’s writer and broadcaster Sam Hanna Bell. If you enjoyed our earlier episodes examining folklorist Michael J. Murphy, then keep listening as there are plenty of overlaps. Both of their personal archives are now held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Episode 3 - The Writer Presented by Carol A look at what led Sam Hanna Bell to write in the first place, and the other artists around him who inspired him. The podcasters are amazed by how methodical and tidy his novel drafts are. We hear Sam Hanna Bell himself (from a BBC Northern Ireland Archive interview) explain the inspiration behind his most well-known work, December Bride. They also talk to his grandsons and academics about the importance of his other novels within the wider Northern Irish literary scene of the time, and what they think his legacy should be going forward. Thanks to our guests Ed Bell, Phil Bell, Dr Emily DeDakis, Sean Hayes, and Dr Connall Parr. Thanks to our podcasters Carol, Heather, Nuala, Kim and Kirsty. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

2. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Sam Hanna Bell: The Broadcaster

   Welcome to the Now We’re Talking podcast. We’re back looking at the archive and legacy of another big figure. This time it’s writer and broadcaster Sam Hanna Bell. If you enjoyed our earlier episodes examining folklorist Michael J. Murphy, then keep listening as there are plenty of overlaps. Both of their personal archives are now held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Episode 2- The Broadcaster Presented by Heather We take a deep dive into Sam Hanna’s Bell’s pioneering career as a broadcaster - creating radio programmes in a very different era -from lost scripts to coffee and alcohol fuelled conversations with the prolific group of creatives who ended up working for Sam and working with the BBC in the post-war period. Ahead of his time, we hear about his efforts to ensure that there was a diverse range of voices on the radio, celebrated regional culture and brought history to life with dramatised scenes in otherwise factual feature programmes. Thanks to our guests Ed Bell, Phil Bell, Dr Emily DeDakis, Sean Hayes, and Dr Connall Parr. Thanks to our podcasters Carol, Heather, Nuala, Kim and Kirsty. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

3. 

   10 Aug 2026

   Sam Hanna Bell: The Man Himself

   Welcome to the Now We’re Talking podcast. We’re back looking at the archive and legacy of another big figure. This time it’s writer and broadcaster Sam Hanna Bell. If you enjoyed our earlier episodes examining folklorist Michael J. Murphy, then keep listening as there are plenty of overlaps. Both of their personal archives are now held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland. Episode 1 - The Man himself Presented by Nuala An introduction to Sam Hanna Bell - who was he and why is he in PRONI”s archive? We talk to PRONI”s Sean Hayes as well as Sam Hanna Bell’s grandsons Phil and Ed, writer and Dramaturg Dr Emily DeDakis (mailto:emilydedakis@gmail.com) and academic Connal Parr. And our podcast participants talk about what it was like to see and touch some of Sam Hanna Bell’s Archive in the Reading Room at the Public Records Office in Belfast. Thanks to our guests Ed Bell, Phil Bell, Dr Emily DeDakis, Sean Hayes, and Dr Connall Parr. Thanks to our podcasters Carol, Heather, Nuala, Kim and Kirsty. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

4. 

   10 Apr 2026

   Michael J. Murphy: A Man Ahead Of His Time

   Presented by Lois We learn about the crucial role that Michael’s wife, Alice, played in collecting stories for her husband. The podcasters also talk to historian and filmmaker Una Walsh about the depiction of women in his work and how he was one of the few folklorists making women visible in his journeys around the province of Ulster. Thanks to our guests Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay Thanks to our podcasters Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

5. 

   10 Apr 2026

   Michael J. Murphy: Pisthogues!

   Presented by Kirsty The podcasters explore some of the superstitions that Michael J. Murphy collected, and find out from local historians if the communities he visited still remember his visits. They also hear about one of his most famous stories, The Goat Men of South Armagh. Thanks to our guests Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay Thanks to our podcasters Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

6. 

   10 Apr 2026

   Michael J. Murphy: Men On The Wall

   Presented by Archie The podcasters dip into one of Michael J. Murphy’s plays, Men On The Wall with actor Mary Lindsay, as well as hearing from local historian Kevin Murphy about the sometimes contentious subjects he wrote about, and the reaction when they were performed. The podcasters discuss the language and imagery of the work, and whether or not it’s relevant today. Thanks to our guests Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay Thanks to our podcasters Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

7. 

   10 Apr 2026

   Michael J. Murphy: Legacy

   Presented by Scotta We speak to historians Una Walsh and Kevin Murphy as well as PRONI’s Grace Gordon about Michael J. Murphy’s innovative thinking, the use of language, and how important Michael’s collection of folklore is for us today. Our podcasters discuss his legacy and the importance of PRONI’s work in archiving his work. Thanks to our guests Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay Thanks to our podcasters Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

8. 

   10 Apr 2026

   Michael J. Murphy: A visit to the archive

   Presented by Kim Moylan We hear from PRONI’s Sean Hayes, who was tasked with archiving a massive amount of Micahel J Murphy’s work. As well as getting to browse through some of the archive in the reading room at PRONI, the podcasters learn what was in the 60 boxes of papers and how the archivists began to build a parasocial relationship with their subject during the course of cataloguing Michael J. Murphy’s work. Thanks to our guests Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay Thanks to our podcasters Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

9. 

   10 Apr 2026

   Michael J. Murphy: An Introduction

   Presented by Jen Our podcasters learn about Michael J. Murphy, a writer and folklorist who lived in South Armagh. We speak to Kevin Murphy, a friend of Michael’s (but no relation!) and historian Una Walsh who give the podcasters a crucial insight into the man, his work and how the slopes of Slieve Gullion were such an inspiration in his work. Thanks to our guests Grace Gordon, Sean Hayes, Kevin Murphy and Una Walsh, and actor Mary Lindsay Thanks to our podcasters Scotta, Archie, Lois, Kirsty, Jen, Kim and Fiona. This podcast was produced by Nerve Centre in partnership with the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland for the Now We're Talking project. The project was made possible through a grant from Archives Revealed, a partnership programme between The National Archives, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Additional thanks to Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive and BBC Northern Ireland for archive content. This content is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)

Contact Now We’re Talking Podcast: Exploring the work of Michael J. Murphy & Sam Hanna Bell

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.