Sparking Change with Dil | Trailer
Dil Wickremasinghe shines a light on the latest social justice and mental health stories and hopes to inspire positive social change one conversation at time.
Listen to the trailer now, and make sure you subscribe to get new episodes of Sparking Change with Dil as soon as they come out!
A week after her decade long Newstalk show was abruptly cancelled, Dil Wickremasinghe will be returning to your ears, minds and hearts. She has joined The HeadStuff Podcast Network to create her brand new podcast, Sparking Change with Dil. This new podcast will shine a light on the latest social justice and mental health issues and hopes to spark positive social change one conversation at a time.
The weekly, hour long episodes will be released on Friday mornings and will comprise of three segments based on the latest stories.
Sparking Change with Dil will be available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and all other podcast apps, as well as HeadStuff.org/Dil
Dil is an award-winning broadcaster and journalist, but she is also a social entrepreneur, stand-up comedian and actor. In 2011 with her wife, Anne Marie, she Co-Founded Insight Matters, a mental health service. With a team of 45 therapists they support over 300 clients per week. In 2014, Dil was honoured with the Frederick Douglas Award as part of the Lord Mayor’s Awards for her outstanding contribution to Dublin civic life.
“It was like coming home” explains Dil when she describes her relationship with Ireland. “When I came to Ireland 17 years ago by pure coincidence my arrival coincided with Dublin Gay Pride and within 24 hours of arriving I found myself taking part in my first ever Pride March… I knew then I was finally home!”
Dil, was born in Italy and grew up in Sri Lanka, has experienced great adversity in her life. She was sexually abused by a teacher when she was 14, rejected by her religious parents when she came out at the age of 17 and was homeless for four years. At the age of 19 she began her career in Sri Lankan media only to be fired after a few months based on her sexuality.
“Like many migrants I started out as a kitchen porter washing pots and pans in a hotel and after a few years began a successful career in recruitment. Over time I became acutely aware that Ireland wasn’t as fair and equal as I first imagined as I met many marginalized people unable to live an authentic life or live life to their full potential because of who they were, what they experienced or where they came from.” Dil began her career in Irish media in 2006 to highlight the stories of the most vulnerable in the hope to raise awareness.
“My decade long show was axed just weeks after I publicly spoke out about a fellow presenter’s views on rape, I am determined more than ever to continue my work as a journalist and advocate for the voiceless in our society. It has always been my personal belief that equality for one person is equality for all and have always regarded my work more than just a job but my own civic duty to inspire positive social change one conversation at a time
Dil on Twitter: HERE
HeadStuff on Twitter: HERE
HeadStuff on Facebook: HERE
