Dermot Whelan: The world is set up for busyness like never before — that's dangerous

When it comes to educating the public on the dangers of constant busyness, Dermot Whelan has certainly earned his credentials. The former breakfast radio host talks to Gemma Fullam about the road to a calmer life

Dermot Whelan: Self-compassion is one of those kind of airy-fairy terms, but I think it’s the greatest roadblock for a lot of us. Pictures: Nina Val @nvksocial. Location: Moxy, Dublin.

When Dermot Whelan tells me that 67% of men would rather electrocute themselves than sit with their own thoughts, I believe him. Probably because I’d be part of the 25% of women who’d do the same. Stand-up comedian may be one of multihyphenate Whelan’s many hats, but this is no joke. He’s quoting stats from a 2015 study at the University of Virginia in which scientists found that quietly entertaining our own thoughts is shockingly difficult for many of us.

The former Dermot & Dave Show co-host didn’t let those stark percentages throw him off his mission to bring meditation to the masses, though. Aware of the practice’s perception as “very serious” and “deep” and marketed more towards women, he came up with the genius hack of combining it with comedy to make it more palatable to all.