Alright, I concede. I too am drawn towards a charmed rural existence. I envision a companion whipping up a gooseberry tart in the kitchen as I admire the mountain sunset while crafting pottery. Alternatively, I might be creating internet content, should the occasion rise.
Could it merely be the result of watching too many episodes of The Simpler Life? featuring James and William. This fresh podcast is the charming duo’s latest venture following their successful Currabinny Cookbook and food truck, previously located on Dublin’s Chatham Row. James Kavanagh is a man who knows how to deliver enticing content, with his Instagram attracting fans with its mix of influencer charisma, lush brocade coats, and twinkling smiles. He also had his podcast What Did You Eat This Week? airing for two seasons. If you’re one of his 166,000 Instagram followers or you’ve tuned into the Great Inspo Home Adventure on Virgin Media, you’re probably already familiar with the fact that Kavanagh and his partner, esteemed chef and artist William Murray, had been contemplating leaving Dublin behind.
Throughout their television series, they toured houses all over the nation, and it’s hardly a secret at this juncture that they eventually discovered their dream home in a remote corner of County Kilkenny by the river Barrow, offering coveted views of the Blackstairs mountains. Their recent podcast, presented in a candid and mostly unscripted format, gives us some insight into their city departure journey as well as the quest for their rustic haven. They speak of their dreams of settling in East Cork or West Waterford, only to be deterred by the harsh truth of property prices. Consequently, they found themselves in Kilkenny, nestled along the Carlow border by the riverside, boasting a verdant garden a stone’s throw away from the bustling city of Kilkenny.
Kavanagh and Murray guide us on their journey, allowing us a glimpse into their novel existence of polytunnels and elderflower cordial, presented through their candid discussions and a lax methodology that permits distractions about, among other topics, Murray’s evasion of organised gatherings and Kavanagh’s aversion to the canine odour. Certainly, there’s the obligatory reference to rustic living: the initial quartet of episodes from The Simpler Life has already enlightened us about hive baiting, the risk associated with consuming hemlock, and the upside of a buffet spread. Through the hosts’ narration, we’ve taken part in episodes of regret post-purchase and local outings, and have acquired considerable knowledge about community relations and the frailties of wisteria.
The Simpler Life? tales spun by James Kavanagh and William Murray of a bourgeois country existence that provoke envy.
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However, viewing this as an individual enterprise proves challenging: the podcast shines when enjoyed in tandem with the attractive visuals from the hosts’ vibrant Instagram feeds illustrating the topics of discussions. This pair utilise multiple forms of media, displaying skills in facilitating uninhibited chats that ultimately make them popular because of their genuine presentation of the medium and their narrative. The Simpler Life? may lack a cohesive storyline, but that’s not the crux: if Kavanagh and Murray are indeed endearing – which is quite likely, especially when their candid quarrels reveal some of the strain that altering their lifestyle is bound to generate – this podcast is an intriguing, envy-provoking addition to their platform.