September 2008 – Another World

Ahmad Seyar Zia is, as he has proclaimed himself to be, the King of Love. He is a young Afghan man, studying abroad in India now. Born in Kabul, raised in different places around Afghanistan and Pakistan, he has developed his own life philosophies that, he finds, hold him apart from most other young people around him.

In today’s interview, Ahmad talks about growing up in the tumultuous past decades of Aghanistan, of the religious and philosophical system he’s developed, of taking up Tae Kwan Do after his brother lost his leg in a mine explosion, and why he’s intent on returning to his country.

Ian Knox is one of Northern Ireland’s premier political cartoonists. After studying for a career in architecture, he made his way into the world of cartooning and now contributes to a whole array of outlets – including The Irish News, Hearts & Minds, Sky News, and The Guardian. He talks about why he likes to annoy people, how he knows if his cartoons succeed in their attempts to shove his opinions down the audience’s throats, which politicians he most likes to draw, and how he survives his daily threat of a heart attack.

Pittsburgh Polka Mass

Kebab Shops: After a Northern Ireland Match

Pirate Night

Interview No. 1

Ronan Visuals

Ronan Breathnach-Cashell

Ep. 34: Coffee + Teeth

Another World Episode 34

Today we begin with coffee and end up with teeth. First a Common Grounds barista-slash-waiter tells about his work in the cafe. Tucked away in the Holylands, the cafe is only a few years old, attached to City Church, and run with the help of volunteers and profits going to charities.

Then, up to the Lisburn Road to hear from Adam Jaffa of Gentle Dental Care, all about the dental practice — especially the increasingly popular cosmetic procedures it offers. Dentistry can be fun, he claims, and he explains how the practice ended up going beyond teeth, to move into the world of art (especially local work) and charity activities in Africa.

Ep. 33: Shauna Hair

Another World Episode 33

We go to Chameleon Hair Extensions in Smithfield Market to hear from shop owner Shauna Mullan all about hair. She’s been dong hair extensions and weaves since she was a young teenager and business has blossomed for her in the past decade, as more women in Belfast want hair extensions and many have bad experiences with home jobs or inexperienced stylists, resulting in bald spots, lumpy hair, matted clumps and other disasters.

Shauna discusses how she got into the hair extension business, where the hair comes from, what the concerns and preferences of the customers are, and why hair is so important.

Foreigners Belfast: Part 3

Ep. 32: Belfast Filmmaking

Another World Episode 32

It’s all about local independent filmmaking this week, with conversations with two young filmmakers, Michael MacBroom & Stuart Sloan. Michael wrote and directed a feature film, finished earlier this year, called I Wanted To Talk To You Last Night, and is now working on a second feature to begin shortly.

Stuart worked on the feature too, and has completed his own film recently, a short documentary on cranes and redevelopment in the city.

You can see Stuart’s crane film, Counterweight, at his YouTube site, http://www.youtube.com/ user/sloanowski, and there you can also find a short documentary with Michael MacBroom about the making of his first feature.