Jim Clarken's Podcast Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:31:13 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1977371 en-us © 2026 Jim Clarken's Podcast yes 177169ee-a1bb-5790-ba6c-871eedc9b2ec Jim episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Jim https://storage.buzzsprout.com/49g6mc2uw2jw38sw5hjhvbys4gix?.jpg Jim Clarken's Podcast Pedal Power Pedal Power Bikes come in all shapes and sizes, but few are as unique at my first bicycle. 

]]> Bikes come in all shapes and sizes, but few are as unique at my first bicycle. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-19064818 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400 808 full false The Gap The Gap A visit to the dentist got me thinking, never a good idea. 

]]> A visit to the dentist got me thinking, never a good idea. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-18823485 Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:00:00 -0400 650 full false Novel Fallout Novel Fallout With my second novel Death Watch out, how can I stop my brother-in-law from reading it and deciding that anyone who can imagine all this is not a danger to the community?

]]> With my second novel Death Watch out, how can I stop my brother-in-law from reading it and deciding that anyone who can imagine all this is not a danger to the community?

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-18250594 Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500 454 full false Death Watch by Jim Clarken Chapter 1 Death Watch by Jim Clarken Chapter 1 This is a extract from the second Nova Winterborne novel by Jim Clarken. 

Nova may regard recent experiences as a karmic blip. But Karma has not finished with her yet. Soon, Nova’s new life is shaken to its foundations. She discovers cameras hidden throughout her apartment. Her private life has been streamed onto a voyeur website. Worse yet, she has caught the attention of a serial killer.

]]> This is a extract from the second Nova Winterborne novel by Jim Clarken. 

Nova may regard recent experiences as a karmic blip. But Karma has not finished with her yet. Soon, Nova’s new life is shaken to its foundations. She discovers cameras hidden throughout her apartment. Her private life has been streamed onto a voyeur website. Worse yet, she has caught the attention of a serial killer.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-18184740 Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:00:00 -0500 1457 full false Adventures in Reading Adventures in Reading Nobody, who doesn't want to learn, has ever learned anything in a classroom. To ask a non-reader to read and digest a two hundred year old novel is like force feeding a vegan bun burgers by the ton; it is both loud and painful for all involved. Being a reader, in a class of non-readers, is to write off hours of your life, time you never get back, time that in measured, not in minutes, but in the emotionally charged microseconds.     

]]> Nobody, who doesn't want to learn, has ever learned anything in a classroom. To ask a non-reader to read and digest a two hundred year old novel is like force feeding a vegan bun burgers by the ton; it is both loud and painful for all involved. Being a reader, in a class of non-readers, is to write off hours of your life, time you never get back, time that in measured, not in minutes, but in the emotionally charged microseconds.     

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-17771871 Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:00:00 -0400 983 full false Respite Respite When my mother went in for a week’s respite care, I stumbled around, figuring out the rules of this alien world.

]]> When my mother went in for a week’s respite care, I stumbled around, figuring out the rules of this alien world.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-17540849 Mon, 21 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0400 696 full false Last Rites Last Rites At my age, Death takes a keener interest in me than when I was a mere twenty-years-old; how much more interested must He take in my mother. 

]]> At my age, Death takes a keener interest in me than when I was a mere twenty-years-old; how much more interested must He take in my mother. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-16603987 Tue, 11 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500 827 3 5 full false The Situation Room The Situation Room What happens when you get dragged into your mother's political campaign against a future president of the united states? If you are unlucky, you might wind up writing limericks.

]]> What happens when you get dragged into your mother's political campaign against a future president of the united states? If you are unlucky, you might wind up writing limericks.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-16227873 Thu, 05 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0500 602 3 4 full false A Non-Covid Event A Non-Covid Event Covid is no longer novel, but it is still here. Of course, you have to test before you can prove this fact. Jim Clarken’s mother is not a fan of being tested.

]]> Covid is no longer novel, but it is still here. Of course, you have to test before you can prove this fact. Jim Clarken’s mother is not a fan of being tested.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-15578175 Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0400 414 3 3 full false Sharing Your Thoughts Sharing Your Thoughts My mother has spent a lifetime being discreet, but lately she has changed and predicting her next public utterance has become impossible. And all the more worrying for that.    

]]> My mother has spent a lifetime being discreet, but lately she has changed and predicting her next public utterance has become impossible. And all the more worrying for that.    

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-14849294 Mon, 08 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0400 417 3 2 full false Crank Calls Crank Calls Prompted by a telephone call on the landline recently, my mind took off down a rabbit hole, me racing after in in the hope of catching it quickly and getting back to more mundane musings.

You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie 

]]> Prompted by a telephone call on the landline recently, my mind took off down a rabbit hole, me racing after in in the hope of catching it quickly and getting back to more mundane musings.

You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-14269603 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0500 731 3 1 full false Toxic Love, Chapter One Toxic Love, Chapter One Instead of reading my blog as I usually would, I am reading the first chapter of my novel Toxic Love which has just been published on Amazon as a paperback and on Kindle. 

]]> Instead of reading my blog as I usually would, I am reading the first chapter of my novel Toxic Love which has just been published on Amazon as a paperback and on Kindle. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-13827701 Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400 511 full false Gambling & Blackberries Gambling & Blackberries An Irish, Indian Summer, brought Jim Clarken out into the light of day where Blackberry bushes caught his eye and brought on  memories and reflection of hunting down berries as a child. You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> An Irish, Indian Summer, brought Jim Clarken out into the light of day where Blackberry bushes caught his eye and brought on  memories and reflection of hunting down berries as a child. You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-13559067 Sat, 09 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400 437 full false Blooming Yes! Blooming Yes! When Ireland’s national broadcaster promotes Bloom’s Day (The 16th of June) with a reading from a very famous scene in the book, it awakens the critic in my 93-year-old mother. As a result, I find myself contemplating commodes and my grandmother’s use of them. This leads back to Molly Bloom’s famous potty scene. You have been warned. You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> When Ireland’s national broadcaster promotes Bloom’s Day (The 16th of June) with a reading from a very famous scene in the book, it awakens the critic in my 93-year-old mother. As a result, I find myself contemplating commodes and my grandmother’s use of them. This leads back to Molly Bloom’s famous potty scene. You have been warned. You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-13052566 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 10:00:00 -0400 531 full false Fish & Tips Fish & Tips Jim Clarken reflects on his mother’s gambling habit, does the maths, and realizes that her Fish & Tip Man, not only has the freshest fish in town, but he also has the best tips. 

]]> Jim Clarken reflects on his mother’s gambling habit, does the maths, and realizes that her Fish & Tip Man, not only has the freshest fish in town, but he also has the best tips. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-12835385 Fri, 12 May 2023 06:00:00 -0400 490 full false Giving Voice To A Blog Giving Voice To A Blog Jim Clarken reflects on the difficulty of recording a podcast in an airing cupboard and on overcoming his fear of public reading while being chased by the ghosts of teachers past. 

]]> Jim Clarken reflects on the difficulty of recording a podcast in an airing cupboard and on overcoming his fear of public reading while being chased by the ghosts of teachers past. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-12599897 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400 723 2 12 full false Nom De Plume Nom De Plume Jim Clarken reflects on Nom De Plumes and how so many of them are forced on the writer. To have or not to have one, that is the question bothering him in this reading from his blog, as he faces into the publication of his first crime novel. Satisfied with his surname, he wonders which of his middle names would have the most shelf appeal for fans of crime fiction.

]]> Jim Clarken reflects on Nom De Plumes and how so many of them are forced on the writer. To have or not to have one, that is the question bothering him in this reading from his blog, as he faces into the publication of his first crime novel. Satisfied with his surname, he wonders which of his middle names would have the most shelf appeal for fans of crime fiction.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-12352635 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 06:00:00 -0500 574 2 11 full false The Jump The Jump  When my mother said jump, I should have been more careful about answering. As it was, I said yes without thinking, and soon found a parachute tied to my back.

]]>  When my mother said jump, I should have been more careful about answering. As it was, I said yes without thinking, and soon found a parachute tied to my back.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-12107324 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0500 709 1 10 full false Testing Positive Testing Positive I got through Covid without incident. It was well after my first booster shot before the dreaded illness struck. It could have chosen a better time to strike, a day when my mother did not need to be taxied to A&E. You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> I got through Covid without incident. It was well after my first booster shot before the dreaded illness struck. It could have chosen a better time to strike, a day when my mother did not need to be taxied to A&E. You can read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-11822980 Tue, 06 Dec 2022 06:00:00 -0500 815 full false Shady Colours Shady Colours When I heard the colour name ‘Spanked Bottom,’ I felt that the days of subtext were well and truly over in the world of marketing. But mostly I was saddened that any colour could be so muddied by such a name. Rosy cheeks would be an equally valid, without even a whiff of brimstone attached to it. Read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> When I heard the colour name ‘Spanked Bottom,’ I felt that the days of subtext were well and truly over in the world of marketing. But mostly I was saddened that any colour could be so muddied by such a name. Rosy cheeks would be an equally valid, without even a whiff of brimstone attached to it. Read this and other blogs on www.jimclarken.ie

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-11399289 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0400 533 1 8 full false The Humble Potato Dessert The Humble Potato Dessert The humble potato has often elevated to a highest tables in the land by addition of exotic ingredients. But to remove it from the vegetable platter and hide it among the desserts, might be pushing the taste buts beyond the point of madness.

]]> The humble potato has often elevated to a highest tables in the land by addition of exotic ingredients. But to remove it from the vegetable platter and hide it among the desserts, might be pushing the taste buts beyond the point of madness.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-11293702 Sat, 10 Sep 2022 06:00:00 -0400 580 1 7 full false Sinister Boy Sinister Boy I grew with one hand, at a time when everybody felt they had a right to bring this to your attention; every time they met you. But there was an even bigger challenge, I was left-handed in a right-handed world. This made me truly sinister. Read this blog and others on www.jimclarken.ie 

]]> I grew with one hand, at a time when everybody felt they had a right to bring this to your attention; every time they met you. But there was an even bigger challenge, I was left-handed in a right-handed world. This made me truly sinister. Read this blog and others on www.jimclarken.ie 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-10913793 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0400 741 1 6 full false Passports & Mugshots Passports & Mugshots When Jim Clarken heard that the Passport office was overwhelmed and there were huge delays is getting new passports, he checked his own, only to discover that in was out of date. 

]]> When Jim Clarken heard that the Passport office was overwhelmed and there were huge delays is getting new passports, he checked his own, only to discover that in was out of date. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-10852173 Sat, 25 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0400 490 1 5 full false The Sacred Coffee Bean The Sacred Coffee Bean Jim Clarken sings the praises of the coffee bean. He is so enamoured of it that he wrote a blog about his coffee adventures and even felt strongly enough to enter the kitchen and share a coffee moment with you on YouTube. 

]]> Jim Clarken sings the praises of the coffee bean. He is so enamoured of it that he wrote a blog about his coffee adventures and even felt strongly enough to enter the kitchen and share a coffee moment with you on YouTube. 

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-10790827 Tue, 14 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400 466 1 4 full false The Friday Night Philosophers' Club The Friday Night Philosophers' Club Jim Clarken reflectes on inspiration in this blog. He concludes that, just as soldiers must keep their powder dry, it pays a writer to keep his inspiration close. It does not get any closer than your own home.

]]> Jim Clarken reflectes on inspiration in this blog. He concludes that, just as soldiers must keep their powder dry, it pays a writer to keep his inspiration close. It does not get any closer than your own home.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-10731540 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0400 398 1 3 full false The Accidental Aga Man The Accidental Aga Man Jim Clarken found it difficult to adjust to living with an old cooker when forced to lock-down in his old family home. This are his thoughts and this is his blog.

]]> Jim Clarken found it difficult to adjust to living with an old cooker when forced to lock-down in his old family home. This are his thoughts and this is his blog.

]]> Jim Buzzsprout-10638789 Wed, 18 May 2022 06:00:00 -0400 456 1 2 full false The Writer's Desk The Writer's Desk Jim Clarken reached into his closet when he needed a better view from his desk. These are his thoughts and this is his blog.



]]> Jim Clarken reached into his closet when he needed a better view from his desk. These are his thoughts and this is his blog.



]]> Jim Buzzsprout-10479124 Thu, 21 Apr 2022 11:00:00 -0400 384 1 1 full false