Shaun O’Boyle
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shaunoboyle.bsky.social
Shaun O’Boyle
@shaunoboyle.bsky.social
4.6K followers 1.8K following 1.3K posts
Biologist working in science communication (research: community involvement; practice: art-science and podcasts). Big fan of The X-Files and Star Trek.
#QueerinSTEM (he/him) 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
Work: shaunoboyle.org
X-Files Podcast: heydannyitsmulder.com
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shaunoboyle.bsky.social
Shaun O’Boyle @shaunoboyle.bsky.social · Jul 29
I have a podcast about the making of #TheXFiles, and in the latest episode I got to chat with the brilliant @annealiz1.bsky.social about her work as the science advisor on the show.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5tOdPoK...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/h...
Website: www.heydannyitsmulder.com
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
I'd also love to see podcasters turn their back on it - for cover art, editing, voiceover, all of it. Aside from *everything*, genAI by design will not give you anything original.
ciaraioch.bsky.social Ciara | Ciaraíoch 🎨 @ciaraioch.bsky.social · 4d
For 2026, would like to see genAI masquerading as "local and handmade" get the boot from craft/art fairs and anywhere working makers earn their living, and for progressive movements to stop using it - you didn't need it before, and 100% don't need it now. Walk the walk as well as talking the talk.
January 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
I’ve just watched Tangerine for the first time. It’s so beautiful, and I’m pretty sure I’ll watch it every Christmas from now on.
Still from the movie, Tangerine. Alexandra is standing on an LA street, with a golden sky in the background
December 28, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
adamtots.bsky.social
I love Selina Kyle’s apartment
December 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
vampiricaholyhell.bsky.social
Ok everyone, please head over to IG for @heydannyitsmulder’s excellent post offering #XFiles alternatives to elf on the shelf. Sneak peek image for you (by @heydannyitsmulder).
#TheXFiles

www.instagram.com/p/DSXebqIjPn...
December 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
shaneconneely.bsky.social
I think all my old mates emigrating because there were no jobs between 2008-2014, and then most of my new mates emigrating between 2018-2025 because there are no gaffs, has had a greater effect on social cohesion than migrants
I don't know what a tracker mortgage is meme
December 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
tarabush.bsky.social
Driving in the snow // #xfiles
Pencil and chalk pencil on moleskine
Xfiles Fan art. Pencil drawing of a scene from 'The Post-Modern Prometheus' an episode from the 5th season of X Files. Mulder and Scully are in a car, Mulder is driving, Scully is looking down at something. I have made it a bit festive and hinted at snow outside the car window.
December 14, 2025 at 3:54 PM
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
Bit of a dream interview. I got to chat with the props master from The X-Files (and Battlestar Galactica) www.heydannyitsmulder.com/episodes/epi...
9 Ken Hawryliw — Hey Danny, It's Mulder.
Ken Hawryliw is a props master who worked on the first five seasons of The X-Files, leading the design, fabrication, and sourcing of some of the most iconic props from the show. Ken was also the prop...
www.heydannyitsmulder.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
wendylyon.bsky.social
#speirgorm if you are in the Clonliffe Road area please keep an eye out for our lovely former foster boy Ernie
A grey cat with text: “Our beloved Ernie is missing. Richmond road/clonliffe road. Reward if found, call 0892533727 Please share”
December 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
wishusdonna.bsky.social
I just want to say @robinince.bsky.social is the very best of humans. How the BBC could have a problem with him is beyond me. The IMC will wither on the vine without the rich, nutritious value of Robin's brain. Go see him perform, and buy all his books. Your soul will feel like it has been hugged.
Robin Ince on stage and his book Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal.
December 13, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
thegmcconnachie.bsky.social
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
robinince.bsky.social
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 12:02 AM
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
We don't deserve Robin Ince 💜
robinince.bsky.social Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 24d
Very sad that I felt I had no choice but to resign from The Infinite Monkey Cage - a victory for the transphobes and other bigots - I did it because so much of the media has chosen to believe the kind and empathetic people are a fiction - they are real and so often unrepresented.
This is the saddest day of my professional life. Today is not only the final recording of the latest series of The Infinite Monkey Cage, it is my last ever Monkey Cage. I never thought that I would have to leave the show. I always imagined going on until | dropped dead under the studio lights due to a brain aneurysm caused by my final attempt to understand notions of quantum gravity or the shock of being told about fly maggot infestations in the sacks of macaque monkeys. I resigned in September, after sixteen years of dedication to the show, A show that I named and helped develop over all those years. Unfortunately, my opinions outside the BBC have been considered problematic for sometime, whether it has been voicing support for the trans community, criticism of Donald Trump, numerous other outlandish opinions, including once gently criticising Stephen Fry. These things were considered to conflict with being a freelance BBC science presenter In a recent meeting where BBC Studio executives again voiced problems with me, I realised my choices. Obedience and being quieter to remain making Monkey Cage, or 'Resign and have the freedom to speak out against what I believe are injustices'. • I chose the latter. It broke my heart. I love this show and I love the audience, and it is because of the audience in particular, that this decision was so difficult to make. I kept thinking about all the extremist voices promoting hate and division. They are being given so many platforms, while voices that represent kindness, open mindedness, empathy seem to be scarcer and scarcer. I felt I couldn't pamper myself with the luxury of silence. One of my many privileges is that I am able to resign and I can speak out even if it is to the detriment of my career. I have thought a lot about my heroes, Sinead O Connor, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, and so many more. I think of Sinead's words, "the job of an artist is to be themselves at any cost". James Baldwin said prejudice was really just a word for cowardice. Audre Lorde, viewing her life, wrote that her only regrets were her silences. I think of my father as I resign, he brought me up to believe in fairness , justice and kindness. Though my heart is broken, it is also full of fire. I apologise to our incredible listeners for my departure, your love of the show means a great deal. I am so sorry to let you down. I hope that you can understand my reasoning. I have to accept that I am not what the current BBC expects of their freelance presenters. Despite this I should add that I have always worked far more than my contracted hours to try and ensure the show was always the best it could be, as well as making myself accessible and responsive to the audience wherever and whenever I met them. Every night, we have recorded, I have been filled with determination to make the best show possible. This was not "just a job" I hope that with my departure I can be a better ally to the LGBTQ community, to the neurodivergent community, to activists fighting against those who aim to brutalise society, to those currently in prison on hunger strike, and to all those who fight for a more inclusive world. From many conversations, I know there are many Monkey Cage listeners who support these communities and activists too. The strawberry is dead. Long live the strawberry. B
December 13, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
chanda.blacksky.app
Maybe today is the day we also have a conversation about the word “genre” and how a lot of horror is better than the stuff that gets counted as “real cinema” and a lot of SFF writing is higher quality literature than some of the shit publishers call “literary fiction”

Stop being snobby shits
December 11, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
phillewis.bsky.social
McDonald's has taken down a Christmas ad made with AI following online backlash

The company said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI"
McDonald's pulls AI-generated Christmas advert following backlash
McDonald's said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI".
www.bbc.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
cinehistorians.bsky.social
#CineHistorians co-host @ckjsweeney.bsky.social discusses the Vito Russo test which evaluates LGBTQ+ representation in film.
December 9, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
cairdeeu.bsky.social
The Darkside Detective by @spookydoorway.bsky.social is available for free until December 11th on the Epic Games store.

Galway-based studio Spooky Doorway also released The Séance of Blake Manor earlier this year, which is a standout game of the year candidate.

store.epicgames.com/en-US/news/d...
The Darkside Detective is free this week on the Epic Games Store for mobile
McQueen and Dooley investigate pixelated paranormal chaos across the Twin Lakes in this comedic point-and-click adventure.
store.epicgames.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:45 PM
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
No cast or crew hired.
And the footage was created by stealing from people who did hire cast and crew.
These "studios" should be embarrassed.
culturecrave.co Culture Crave 🍿 @culturecrave.co · 28d
McDonald's has released an AI-generated Christmas ad

The studio behind it says they 'hardly slept' for several weeks while writing AI prompts and refining the shots — 'AI didn't make this film. We did'

Comments have been turned off on YouTube
December 9, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
robosullivan.bsky.social
The state keeps placing responsibilities for state functions on families. Until more people the depths of this failure we'll get nowhere.
This. Is. NOT. Normal.

Parents are not a substitute for a mortgage provider. They are not a substitute for providing disability supports. They are not landlords.
December 8, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
ianlynamcomedian.bsky.social
Wrote a new blog post about burnout and autistic adult people pleasing. Enjoy!
open.substack.com/pub/autistic...
Autistic burnout: why the pain?
I’ve been meaning to write this for a while.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
frankoconnor.bsky.social
This is f*cking disgusting
Rewarding property owners for letting their assets rot destroying our beautiful city

"it has been confirmed that this money (the €5m outstanding) will not be chased after the Revenue Commissioners take over its collection in 2027"

#DerelictIreland #speirgorm #corkcity
This is f*cking disgusting Rewarding property owners for letting their assets rot destroying our beautiful city "it has been confirmed that this money (the €5m outstanding) will not be chased after the Revenue Commissioners take over its collection in 2027" #DerelictIreland
December 8, 2025 at 10:46 AM
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
“Is that the-“
“The Star Trek Discovery scarf? Yes. Yes, it is.”
Selfie of me wearing a navy scarf with gold star fleet insignia.
December 8, 2025 at 12:10 PM
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
yeah, this is AI and doesn't exist, sadly
dystopian-fashion.bsky.social James Hughes @dystopian-fashion.bsky.social · Dec 6
Glentornan Fold – Bray Head, Ireland | Folded Sedimentary Rock | Layers of shale and sandstone dramatically contorted into a tight syncline by tectonic compression, revealing the immense power of mountain-building forces.
December 6, 2025 at 5:16 PM
shaunoboyle.bsky.social
Sometimes, community-based participatory research can be as simple as: Person with access gets funding, goes to the community and says "this isn't my money, help me spend it"
December 5, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
ashleynova.space
Transphobes will never be content with excluding trans people from public life, they demand that everyone hate us as much as they do, that everyone should be elated by our absence and furious at our presence. They are utterly obsessed with us.
flyingrodent.bsky.social flyingrodent @flyingrodent.bsky.social · Dec 4
Note how these awful people are getting exactly the exclusions of children that they demanded and *that still isn’t enough for them*: they demand everyone be delighted about it and kiss their arses for being brilliant.
Johann Lamont @JohannLamont• 1d X Girlguiding decision important yet it all makes me sad. The Guides meant so much to me but the announcement is so grudging, so reluctant, so concerned about the impact on boys, I wonder if it can ever again give girls the brilliant, confidence building space in which I thrived. • 93 {7 316 O3.1K I|41K •
December 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Shaun O’Boyle
marawilson.bsky.social
Hey! If you’ve ever liked my voice, now, before the end of the year, would be a really good time to hire me for any SAG-approved projects!

Asking as someone who loves VO, and also really loves having halfway decent health insurance
December 3, 2025 at 7:01 PM