Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

Topics covered : Anxiety, brain fog, flooding, hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, aches and pains, urinary incontinence, vaginal atrophy, pelvic physio, the impact of stress, sleep.

This episode was recorded over 3.5 years ago but it's still as relevant as ever.

I speak to Menopause coach and author, Catherine O’Keeffe, known online as Wellness Warrior.

When I recorded this conversation, I was 41 and hoping to have another baby. Now, I’m 45 and I'm very fortunate to have 2 young kids but I’m also now in perimenopause and listening to this chat once again, I took so much from it.

So I’ve been experiencing things like changes to my period and brain fog and a number of other typical symptoms for about 6-8 months now and this pod is full of information as Catherine delves into the physical, mental and emotional aspects of perimenopause and it’s a must listen!

Menopause is such a complicated and sensitive topic and the experience of it is so different for every woman.

If you want to reach out to Catherine, you can email her directly on catherine@wellnesswarrior.ie

Her book : ‘All You Need to Know About Menopause’ is available on her website Wellness Warrior

And find her on Instagram

Catherine O Keeffe (@wellnesswarrior.ie) • Instagram photos and videos

Mentioned during the conversation: Prof Myra Hunter & CBT Techniques:

02-WHC-FACTSHEET-CBT-WOMEN-FEB-2023-A.pdf

Products :

‘Yes organics’ Natural vaginal moisturiser

‘Olive & Bee’ Natural lubricant

* 24 patch testing is very important before applying any product internally

‘Vagifem’ – prescription only, from your GP

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Topics covered : Purpose, self and collective care, connection, values, non-negotiables, balance, legacy. 

Gerry Hussey otherwise known as 'The Soul Coach' is a performance psychologist who has been working in the fields of health and performance for almost twenty years. I have huge respect for him and am lucky enough to call him a friend.

Gerry and his wife Miriam are the founders of wellness platform ‘Soul Space’ and they are bringing their show ‘Coming Home’ to the National Concert Hall on the 10th of November and I know it will be an incredibly powerful day for all who attend.

In this conversation he invites us to ask ourselves some important questions to help us discover what our values are, he talks about the importance of dropping judgement and he shares practical tips on how to stay regulated during challenging times.   

Questions to ask ourselves :

What am I here to do?

Who am I here to be?

What’s the legacy I am going to dare leave behind?

What is the business I’m in?

What would love do?

Books :

‘The Hero’s Journey’ by Joseph Campbell

Gerry’s books ‘Awaken your power within’ and ‘The Freedom Within’

Coming Home, 10th November, NCH.

SOUL SPACE presents Coming Home with Gerry & Miriam Hussey| NCH | Live Music & Events | National Concert Hall

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Topics covered : Cancer, red flags, coercive control, faith, resilience.

This week I speak to the incredible Nicola Hanney.

Nicola lives in Dublin with her son and she’s been through hell and back. Her book, ‘Stronger -what didn’t kill me, made me’ is out now and in this conversation, we cover elements of her story.

She comes from a large family and works as a hairdresser, and 8 years ago, when she was 36 she was first diagnosed with cancer. She then went on to meet a man called Paul Moody, a former member of An Garda Síochána who terrorised her until he was convicted in 2022.

Over a 14 hour period in July 2018, she received 652 messages from him. That’s one roughly every 90 seconds. The mental, emotional and physical abuse he subjected Nicola to, led him to be one of the first people in Ireland to be convicted of coercive control. 

And she gave up her anonymity to share her harrowing story in the hope of empowering others who find themselves in similar situations, and to highlight the early signs of abuse.

If you have been affected by this episode, please go to Ireland helplines and hotlines (findahelpline.com) for a list of resources that might be beneficial.

Women's Aid - Listening. Believing. Supporting. Empowering. (womensaid.ie)

Home - Men's Aid (mensaid.ie)

‘Taking back control’ documentary available to watch on the RTÉ Player.

Taking Back Control - RTÉ Player (rte.ie)

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

Thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : Uncovering blind spots, racism, overwhelm, anxiety, panic attacks, burnout, regulation and dysregulation, consumerism, community and collective care, self-care, rupture and repair, glimmers. 

This week I speak to chartered psychologist, Allison Keating and it was wonderful to be in her company.

She is married to Thomas and they have 3 daughters, Alannah is 15, Hayley is 12 and Brooke is 9 and they live in Dublin.

And in this conversation, she talks about anxiety, overwhelm and panic attacks. How important cultivating a sense of community and connection is and how embracing ‘glimmers’ can be hugely beneficial to our lives.

Her new book ‘It’s all too much’ has just launched and it is full of brilliant, practical advice including how to disrupt a panic attack and it’s a gamechanger!

Find Allison on Instagram

Allison Keating | thepractical.psychologist (@thepractical.psychologist) • Instagram photos and videos

Book mentions -

'Man’s search for meaning' by Viktor E. Frankl

'White Women – everything you already know about your own racism and how to do better' by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao. 

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Topics covered : George Floyd, Black Lives Matter movement, trauma, racism, empathy, capitalism, celebrity culture, social media, privilege, colonialism, photography, power of film and music, Palestine, injustice, grief, social justice, community.

My guest this week is photographer, filmmaker, entrepreneur and social activist, the wonderful Misan Harriman.

He is married to Camilla and they have 2 young daughters and they live in Surrey.

He was born in Nigeria and came to England when he was a young boy to attend boarding school and the last few years in particular, have been transformative for him.

On his 40th birthday he picked up a camera and his gift behind the lens has led him to photograph some of the most influential people in the world from Harry and Megan, who are good friends of his; Kate Winslet, Harrison Ford and Angelina Jolie to name but a few.

He is also the chair of cultural hub, the Southbank Centre, and an ambassador for Save The Children and he was the first black man to shoot the cover of British Vogue in its 104 year history.

In this conversation, he talks about George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, celebrity culture, the power of the arts and his love of film and music, his debut short film ‘The After’ which is currently on Netflix, and how children everywhere, must be our priority.

Watch :

The After

Triangle of Sadness

White Nanny Black Child

Listen :

On the nature of daylight by Max Richter

Other podcasts to listen to are...

Farah Nabulsi : Award winning filmmaker

​Sarah Durham Wilson : Rebel with a cause

Róisín El Cherif : Palestinian pride

Caoimhe Butterly : Collective Care

Dr Myriam François : Speaking truth to power

Daniel Maté : Dismantling blindspots

Ruth Smith : Love and Justice

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Topics covered : Confidence, courage, anxiety, affirmations, bullshitting, self-talk.   

In this episode I speak to Professor Ian Robertson about confidence.

Ian is a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist and he is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading researchers in neuropsychology and he’s also the author of several best-selling books, including ‘How Confidence Works’.

In this conversation he tells us what confidence is, what makes someone confident, how we can improve it, the differences between men and women in terms of confidence and why that is; the art of bullshitting and the power of positive self-talk.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Poverty, heroin addiction, neglect, abuse, childhood rape, dysfunction, shame, positive influences, kindness, breaking negative cycles, therapy,  recovery, attachment, opportunities, motherhood, education, academia, love, compassion, forgiveness, healing.   

Please read the full list of topics covered before you listen.

I speak to the phenomenal Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan and it's an eye opening and challenging conversation at times but I highly recommend you stay with it until the end.

Katriona lives in Blanchardstown in Dublin and is married to Dave and she has 3 boys, John who’s 30, Seán who’s 18, and Tadhg who’s 15 and she’s also a proud grandmother.

She is a senior lecturer in Maynooth University in the department of Psychology and is the author of bestselling memoir ‘Poor’.

Katriona’s childhood growing up in Coventry was often chaotic; as one of 5 kids to Irish parents living in a home shaped by heroin addiction, she experienced extreme trauma from an early age, which included being raped as a 7 year old and being pregnant and homeless, as a teenager.

In this conversation she speaks about the extreme neglect she experienced in childhood, the people who were a positive force in her life, the importance of opportunities and education, and the power of healing.

Book – ‘Poor’ is available in all good bookshops and online and is also available as an audio book.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Childhood cancer, grief, perspective, gratitude. 

In this episode I speak to Roseanna Ruane about her wonderful daughter Saoírse who sadly passed away in March this year.

We spoke a few weeks ago and in this heart-breaking conversation she talks about Saoirse, the kind and wise girl that she was, from her first cancer diagnosis when she was only 7 years old and how devastating life has been since she passed away.

She talks about how much she believes in being grateful for what we have in life, and the importance in making memories.

Saoirse was only 12 years old when she left this world but she left her mark in the most beautiful way.

Roseanna lives in Galway with her husband Ollie, their daughter Farrah Rose and their much loved dog Willow.

If you have been affected by this episode, please go to Grief & loss helplines in Ireland (findahelpline.com) for a list of resources that might be beneficial.

And if you want to contact Roseanna, you can find her on Instagram (@saoirseandmamma) or if you want her to speak at an event, you can email her theruane4@gmail.com

Roseanna uses their page to spread awareness about childhood cancer, limb loss, fertility and grief and her wish is to continue to speak about their experience in the hope that it might give people perspective on what's important in life.

I’ll be taking a quick break from the pod but I'll be back again with more conversations in September. In the meantime, you can dive back into over 180 episodes and if you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Enjoy the rest of the summer agus tabhair aire.

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Topics covered : Resistance, solidarity, grief, finding purpose, empathy and selective empathy, creativity, racism, colonisation, injustice, double standards, hypocrisy, soft power.   

This week I speak to Oscar nominated and BAFTA Award winning Palestinian British filmmaker and human rights advocate, Farah Nabulsi.

She lives in London with her husband and their 3 children and we spoke when she was recently in Galway for the Film Fleadh.

Farah's work includes 'Today They Took My Son', endorsed by British Director Ken Loach and screened at the United Nations. 'The Present', her directorial debut, which she also co-wrote and produced, went on to win over 50 International Film Festival Jury and Audience Awards, a BAFTA® award, and it scored an Oscar® nomination.

Her feature length film ‘The Teacher’ (which is outstanding by the way) won Best International Film at the Galway Film Fleadh and it will be released in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from the 27th of September.

We sat down to speak about shooting it exclusively in the West Bank, she also talks about how her life changed after a trip to Palestine as an adult, finding purpose in life, double standards, her Palestinian parents and so much more.

For more information about this powerful film and cinema locations, go to...

Home - The Teacher

​And if you like this conversation, other episodes to listen to are...

Ruth Smith : Love and Justice

Daniel Mate : Dismantling blindspots

Dr Myriam François : Speaking truth to power

Caoimhe Butterly : Collective Care

Róisín El Cherif : Palestinian pride

​Sarah Durham Wilson : Rebel with a cause

Galway Film Fleadh

36th Galway Film Fleadh | 9 - 14 July 2024

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : Interior design, discovering your own style, trends.

In this bite-sized episode I chat to interior designer Tiffany Jones of Beach House Interiors.

Tiffany lives in Clare with her husband Wayne and their 3.5 year old son Guy.

If you’re following me on Instagram you might be aware that we recently moved into our forever home by the sea and Tiffany was, and still is, our interior designer and now friend.

In this conversation she talks about the role of an interior designer, how to figure out your personal style, the importance of budgeting and her expert opinion on trends!

To contact Tiffany...

Interior Designer | Beach House Interior Design | Ireland (beach-house.ie)

Beach House Interiors (@beachhouse.interiors) • Instagram photos and videos

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Women’s health – sex, miscarriage, perimenopause, incontinence, shedding shame; motherhood and Mum guilt, Gaza and social media censorship. 

This week I speak to business owner, podcaster and personality, Laura Dowling, known online as the Fabulous Pharmacist.

Laura lives in Dublin, with her husband Frank, their 3 boys who are 16, 13 and 11 and their dog Carlo.

She worked as a pharmacist for over 20 years and is the founder & CEO of fabÜ nutritional supplements.

In this conversation she talks about women’s health and the importance of shedding shame when it comes to our bodies, motherhood, the ongoing genocide in Gaza and social media censorship.

fabÜ nutritional supplements – fabuwellness

If you liked this episode, others to check out are...

Alana Kirk : Midlife coach

Jenny Keane : Sex Education

Dr. Hazel Wallace : The Food Medic

Deirdre O'Kane : It only gets better

Sexologist Emily Power Smith : Sex Part 1 & 2

Menopause Part 1 & 2

Helena Tubridy :All things Fertility

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Alopecia Universalas, positive birth story, empowerment, inequality, activism, allyship, grief, miscarriage, still birth, episiotomy, PRIDE, colonisation.

This week I speak to celebrant and director of Entheos Ireland, Karen Dempsey, also known as The Bald Priestess.

Karen lives in Dublin, with her husband Liam, their son Beineán (18), daughter Róisín (5) and their dog Milo.

In this conversation Karen talks about Alopecia Universalas; coming to terms with it and how she doesn't miss her hair at all anymore. She speaks about why she set up 'Entheos', an inclusive organisation founded to serve people outside traditional faith paths and her work as a celebrant, which she is so passionate about. She shares her extraordinary home birth experience with Róisín during the chat, her thoughts on taking part in ancient pilgrimage Lough Derg, and why activism and allyship are very important to her.

To connect with Karen go to….

Entheos | Community • Ceremony • Change

The article I mentioned during the chat…

Sile Seoige - My Lough Derg Diary: darkness before dawn | Irish Independent

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Fibre, relaxation, routine, sleep, gut-brain axis, impact of stress, IBS, microbiome, biotics.

Registered dietitian Lorraine Cooney has just released her book ‘Why you can’t go and what you can do to find life changing relief from constipation’ and this conversation is all about that!

She talks about the importance of fibre, relaxation and routine when it comes to a healthy digestive system.

Why supporting our microbiome is crucial and the differences between pro, pre and post biotics.

I learnt a lot listening to Lorraine and I feel that my own habits have improved since we spoke.

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Topics covered : Palestine, Sinéad O’Connor, patriarchy, patriarchal feminine, family dynamics, wellness industry, grief, activism, midlife, decolonisation, liberation for all.

This week I speak to author and teacher, Sarah Durham Wilson, known on Instagram as Sarah of Magdalene.

She lives in Maine with her young daughter Avalon, her cat Odin and dog Riley.

She previously worked as an Arts and music writer with the likes of Rolling Stone, GQ and Vanity Fair.

And in this conversation she talks about Palestine and the impact the devastation in Gaza has had on her, the patriarchy, patriarchal women, the wellness industry and the importance of decolonisation.

This conversation helped me enormously and I think it could for you too.

Books :

‘Maiden to Mother’ by Sarah Durham Wilson

‘The Great Cosmic Mother’ by Monica Sjöö and Barbara Mor

‘God is a Black Woman’ by Christena Cleveland

If you like this conversation, other episodes to listen to…

Ruth Smith : Love and Justice

Daniel Mate : Dismantling blindspots

Dr Myriam François : Speaking truth to power

Caoimhe Butterly : Collective Care

Róisín El Cherif : Palestinian pride

Alana Kirk : Midlife coach

Holly Cairns : Politics is Personal

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Politics, Gaza, threat of the Far-right, people power.

This week I speak to farmer, scientist, feminist and leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns.

She lives in West Cork on her family farm with her partner Barry, her dog Hei Hei and her cat Blaze.

And in this conversation she talks about growing up in a blended family, her bond with her mother, how she got into politics, her stance on the devastating situation in Gaza, the threat of the Far-right and the importance of unity, now, more than ever.

I have wanted to sit down and chat to Holly for a very long time as she's someone I really admire so I am delighted that we made it happen.

We met in 2019 for the first time and I liked her instantly.

She was genuine, down to earth and great company and I for one, am so glad that she decided to venture into politics, as her voice is so badly needed in the Dáil.

​Political quiz

2024 Political Quiz (isidewith.com)

checktheregister.ie

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Failure, faith, religion, awareness, meditation, death, compassion, love. 

This is a re-release of an episode I recorded with author, playwright, podcaster, poet and all-round wonderful human being, Michael Harding in December 2022.

Michael is someone I had wanted to speak to for years so it was an absolute pleasure to speak with him.

In this enlightening conversation we talk about his love of religion, the power of failure and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.

His latest book ‘All the things left unsaid – confessions of love and regret’ is a stunning collection of letters he wrote for the people who deeply affected him over the years and it’s available now in all good bookshops.

He's charmingly self-deprecating, reflective and his voice is one I could listen to forever. 

I hope you enjoy our conversation.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shelly Mooney is a historian and artist who lives in County Wexford with her husband Kev, their sonFerdia and Lola their dog and she runs the brilliant Instagram page ‘Tales from the Wood’ which explores the history and mythology of Ireland.

In this bite-sized episode she talks to us about the ancient Celtic festival of Bealtaine. She speaks of the importance of the Hill of Uisneach, the tradition of handfasting at this time, and the significance of the Hawthorn tree. 

The Hill of Uisneach - The Sacred Centre of Ireland.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : Illness, grief, miscarriage, motherhood, divorce, diet culture, overcoming challenges, self-regulation, thriving.  

This week I speak to author and midlife coach, Alana Kirk.

Originally from Belfast, Alana lives in Dublin with her three teenage daughters, Daisy (18), Poppy (16) and Ruby (13), their 2 cats, Tiggy and Puka and their rescue dog Mojo.

She works as a midlife coach and is in the process of writing her third book.

And in this conversation she shares her own story with us which is really powerful. We also talk about how much our lives have changed in the 16 years since we first met, and throughout our conversation she shares nuggets of wisdom and practical tips to bring into our own lives.

Alana is a gorgeous person, she’s compassionate and quick witted and I took so much from this chat.

Her current book is ‘Midlife, redefined: Better, Bolder Brighter’, a self-guided exploration of you and your midlife, with exercises so the reader ends up with her own bespoke midlife (wo)manual.

She can be found at www.themidlifecoach.org and on Instagram @midlifecoach and for Alana's next online workshop Revive & Thrive, which is focussing on overwhelm, click https://www.themidlifecoach.org/revive&thrive

If you like this pod, you might appreciate previous episodes like the one I recorded with visibility coach Kate O’Dwyer from October 2023, and the Menopause episodes with Catherine O’Keeffe from April 2021.

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : the factors that impact our sleep, the benefits of good sleep and how to improve it.

This week I speak to clinical hypnotherapist and bestselling author, Fiona Brennan.

She lives in Dublin with her husband and business partner Ciarán, teenage son Luca and their dog Rosie.

And in this conversation she explores some of the elements in her latest book ‘Sleep well - 8 habits to help you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up refreshed’,

our individual chronotypes, the power of napping and what to do if we’re in a negative feedback loop when it comes to our sleep.

For Fiona’s one day retreat on the 19th of May in Wicklow, click here…

https://thepositivehabit.com/the-sleep-well-experience-one-day-retreat-wicklow/

And if you enjoyed this episode, please search previous sleep episodes with sleep coach Tom Coleman, from August 2020 along with a 7 minute sleep meditation I recorded also back in 2020.

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Palestinian heritage, injustice, speaking up, Zionism, artwashing.

This week I speak to Irish Palestinian artist, Róisín El Cherif and it's a powerful conversation.

She lives in Galway with her parents, her Mom is Irish and her father is from Gaza and she has lived in Ireland for 18 years now.

She talks about growing up as an Irish-Palestinian and she shares her perspective on the past 6 months, in particular.

This month Róisín will also be releasing a very special song with all the proceeds going to Palestinians causes, so keep an eye out for that.

Book mention : Becoming Pro-Palestinian edited by Rosemary Sayigh

The song that Róisín sings at the end of the conversation :

Zahret El Madaen (Flower of cities ) Fairouz - 1967

‎لأجلك يا مدينة الصلاة أصلي

‎لأجلك يا بهية المساكن يا زهرة المدائن

‎يا قدس يا قدس يا مدينة الصلاة

‎عيوننا إليك ترحل كل يوم

‎تدور في أروقة المعابد

‎تعانق الكنائس القديمة

‎و تمسح الحزن عن المساجد

‎يا ليلة الأسراء يا درب من مروا إلى السماء

‎عيوننا إليك ترحل كل يوم و انني أصل​

​'It is for you O city of the prayer that I pray

It is for you O splendid home, O flower of the cities

O Jerusalem​, O Jerusalem​, O Jerusalem​, O city of the prayer

Our eyes are set out to you everyday

They walk through the porticos of the temples

Embrace of the old churches

And take the sadness away from the mosques

O night of Al asra O path of those who left for the sky

Our eyes are set out to you everyday and I pray​'

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : The power of play in building connection with kids, touch, secure attachment, body acceptance, positive modelling, rupture and repair, breaking negative behaviours, resilience building.

This week I speak to child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinane.

She lives in Mayo with her husband James and their two kids, Elsie and Freddie.  

And in this conversation, she talks about the power of play in building connection with our children and why positive modelling and apologising is so important.

It’s an episode full of practical advice. I loved it and I hope you will too!

To connect with Debbie…

Home - Debbie Cullinane

Debbie Cullinane Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist MA (@debbiecullinane_) • Instagram photos and videos

Book mention : Colleen Hoover ‘It ends with us’

If you like this episode, check out previous conversations with Richard Hogan and Sarah Nicole Landry (The Birds Papaya).

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Perfectionism, people pleasing, the impact of the Covid pandemic, anxiety, loneliness, marriage breakdown, grief, guilt, therapy, change, freedom, same-sex relationship, rumours, finding joy, childfree by choice.

This week I speak to Cat Lawlor, baker and owner of 'The Cake Cuppery' and it’s a gripping conversation.

Originally from Dublin, Cat now lives in Wexford with her girlfriend Louise and their two cats.

In this conversation we chat about listening to your gut instinct, overcoming challenges in life and ultimately finding joy.

Cat speaks openly about the end of her marriage, obviously from her perspective, and out of respect for her ex-husband, he is not named during the conversation as we fully appreciate how difficult hearing a conversation like this, might be for him.

To connect with Cat or Louise…

Cat L. Walsh (@thecakecuppery) • Instagram photos and videos

Email infothecakecuppery@gmail.com

Louise O Brien | Online Coach (@louise_badasscoaching) • Instagram photos and videos

Book mention : ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ by Susan Jeffers

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Palestine, protests, social justice, community, paradigm shift, hope.

This week, my guest is Caoimhe Butterly who is an educator, a human rights activist, filmmaker & trained therapist, who has worked as a volunteer ambulance worker in Gaza, alongside Palestinian paramedics, and has also spent years in the West Bank.

She was born in Ireland to Irish parents who migrated to Canada when she was a baby, where she spent the first 10 years of her life and then she lived in Mauritius and Zimbabwe for 8 years.

She has worked with refugee and displaced communities for over 25 years in Palestine, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Mexico, Guatemala, Haiti, Ukraine, Greece, Calais and elsewhere & currently works in psychosocial and trauma support work, with humanitarian responders and refugee communities.

In this conversation she shares her perspective on the now which includes the global shift in consciousness, the power and benefit of connecting to liked minded people, Palestinian joy and the importance of collective care.

If you enjoyed this episode you might appreciate previous conversations with Ruth Smith, Daniel Maté and Dr. Myriam François.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Betrayal, heartbreak, breakdown, trust, prevention, repair, connection, healing. 

Originally from Douglas in Cork, psychotherapist Richard Hogan lives in Dublin with his wife and their 3 daughters.

He writes a weekly column with the Irish Examiner and often appears on TV and radio and he specialises in working with families.

He’s also written two brilliant books ‘Parenting the screenager’ and ‘Home is where the start is’ and during this conversation he talks about affairs.

Why people have them, the heartbreaking impact of them on a relationship and if it’s possible to heal after betrayal.

If you connected with Richard during this conversation, you can check out his previous episodes from last summer and the one he recorded earlier this year about anxiety, especially in kids and teenagers.

Book mention : ‘The 5 love languages’ by Gary Chapman

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Palestine, people power, social justice, privilege, culture, indigenous languages, Gaeilge, patriarchy, oppression, being Muslim, Brené Brown, whiteness, female empowerment.   

This week, journalist, filmmaker, podcaster, presenter and writer, the remarkable Dr. Myriam François is my guest.

Myriam is a Londoner whose mother is Irish (she's from Leitrim), and her father is French. Her award-winning, directorial debut documentary is ‘Finding Alaa’ and her podcast is ‘We need to talk about whiteness’. She’s been a Muslim since she was 21 and when she was younger she also starred in a number of films, including acting alongside Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet in the Oscar winning ‘Sense and Sensibility’ when she played the role of younger sister Margaret.

In this conversation though, we talk about the recent Sky interview she did that went viral ('I'm so sorry your Amazon packages are delayed!'), the importance of indigenous languages, Palestine, Brené Brown’s recent statement on what’s happening there, and why she’s not really a fan of the word activist.

She’s a woman of integrity and intelligence and it was an absolute honour to speak to her.

Book mention : ‘Black faces, white masks’ by Frantz Fanon

And if you connected to this episode, other Ready to be Real podcast recommendations are :

'Daniel Maté : Dismantling blindspots', 19th January 2024 and 'Ruth Smith : Love and Justice', 15th December 2023.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Fear, regret, fertility journey, acceptance, career change, anxiety, toxic positivity, triggers, comparisons, peak performance.

Life coach Mark Fennell is back on the pod!

Mark is married to Fiona and has spent over 20 years helping people through his coaching business.

His online following has grown massively over the past few years too and on Instagram, he currently has 160K followers and is known for his video content.

We last spoke over 2 years ago and his episodes are still hugely popular with listeners.

In this conversation, he talks about his brand new book ‘Breakthrough - practical steps for moving from stuck to unstoppable’.

Mark is speaking of his own experience in this episode and is certainly not advising not going to therapy.

If you're struggling, reach out and speak to a professional.

Mentions:

Book ‘Man's search for meaning’ by Viktor Frankl

Men in Black movie reference : Neuralyzer

Nick Vujicic

Home - Nick Vujicic

To contact Mark, go to…

https://markfennell.ie/

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : TV presenting, change, leaving on her terms, her Mum Brenda, grief, parenting, family life, synchronicities and signs.

This week I speak to TV presenter Karen Koster who lives in Dublin with her husband John, a retired businessman and their 3 kids, Finn who is 9, JJ who is 8 and their daughter Eve who is 5, along with their dogs Brownie and Nidge!

She has a degree in English literature and French from Trinity and she has been working in TV for the past 20 years.

In this conversation she talks about her decision to step away from her much loved presenting job with Virgin media’s The Six O Clock show late last year to spend more time with her family and explore new career options.

And she also speaks about her Mum Brenda, who died suddenly 2 years ago this May and she shares how she is coming to terms with her passing.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Accountability, acceptance, action, hoarding, guilt, repetition, transformation. 

This week I speak to stylist Fiona Hayes who lives in Limerick with her husband Trevor, their 2 boys Matthew and Ross, along with her Dad Nick. 

She has been dressing people for over 15 years, many who are well known. She also runs her own bespoke retail events company, and she has appeared on TV from Channel 4’s Queen of Frocks to TV3 and most recently RTÉ’s Today show.

And in this conversation she shares a lot of style tips with us, along with the importance of doing a wardrobe detox, the benefit of upcycling and what to spend your money on when it comes to your clothes.

You can find out more on her Instagram page @fhstyle or email her fiona@fhstyle

Resources :

Online apps /stores for vintage

https://www.vestiairecollective.com/

https://www.depop.com/

https://linktr.ee/thriftify.com

https://whackvintage.ie

Instagram - @corkclothesswap

Bra fitting services  

www.peachesandcream.ie

www.arnotts.ie 

Vamp Lingerie Limerick 

Sheer Elegance Lingerie Nenagh 

Rental  

www.theivorycloset.com

www.soha.ie

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Overcorrection, parenthood, perfectionism, overwhelm, labelling, resilience, smart phones, porn, the importance of setting boundaries.

Originally from Douglas in Cork, psychotherapist Richard Hogan lives in Dublin with his wife and their 3 daughters.

He writes a weekly column with the Irish Examiner and often appears on TV and Radio and he specialises in working with families.

He’s also written two books ‘ Parenting the screenager’ and ‘Home is where the start is’ and during this conversation he talks about anxiety in kids and teenagers, the importance of building resilience in our kids, the impact of mobile phones and the prevalence of porn use and how that is affecting the lives of young people. 

He covered so much and as always, I learnt so much by listening to him, especially on the importance of asking your kid questions.

If you found this conversation useful, I recommend you check out Richard's previous episode from last summer, if you haven’t heard it already.

And he’ll be back again soon, next time with a totally different topic.

Richard is pushing for legislation around pornographic material and limiting access to children which is the unfortunate current reality.

I’ve signed my name, I hope you will too, thanks.

Please sign this petition

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : his relationship with his Dad Gabor, Zionism, privilege, Jewishness, Palestinians, heartbreak, perspective, purpose.

This week I speak to the brilliant Daniel Maté and it’s a conversation that has really helped me and I think you’ll feel the same when you listen to it.

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, he now lives in Brooklyn, New York and he’s an award-winning composer, lyricist, and playwright for musical theatre. Outside of music and theatre, he runs the world’s only “mental chiropractic” service, ‘Take a walk with Daniel’.

He also co-authored the New York Times bestselling book, ‘The Myth of Normal : Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture,’ with his father Dr. Gabor Maté and they have a second book in the works, ‘Hello Again: A Fresh Start for Parents and Their Adult Children’, based on their popular workshops of the same title.

For those who are not aware of Daniel's background, his great grandparents died in the Auschwitz concentration camp and his father Gabor was a holocaust survivor and a former Zionist.

He also went to a Zionist summer camp in childhood, so his perspective on what's currently happening, is really valuable.

In the first half of our conversation he talks about his work, his relationship with his father and how different they are as people.

And then later, we discuss Palestine and what he has to say is enlightening.

He talks about Zionism, privilege and what he learnt about himself during his time in a Mexican jail.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Cork, Sunday March 24th

The Myth of Normal with Daniel Maté - www.pcpsi.ie

Galway, Thursday 28th March

Daniel Maté – monroesgalway

To take a ‘walk with Daniel’…

WALK WITH DANIEL: a mental chiropractic service

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Topics covered : Money scripts - avoidance, vigilance, status seeker, worshipper; scarcity, self-sabotage, ancestral trauma, financial infidelity, secret spending, sales, marketing, dopamine, advice.

In my first episode of 2024, I speak to Loretta Kennedy about money.

She's an accredited trauma informed money coach with a background in business, psychology and counselling. 

Originally from Mayo, Loretta lives in Cork with Ruairí, her soon to be husband, and partner of 20 years and their 3 daughters.

And in this conversation she covers a multitude, from the different types of money scripts that we operate from and our behaviour around money, what happens to us when we spend, money issues in relationships and she also shares practical tips on how best to approach our finances.

Resources :

The Century of the Self: The rise of consumerism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnPmg0R1M04

Book mention - Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T Harv Eker

Money Script quiz:

https://www.bradklontz.com/moneyscriptstest

If you are in financial difficulty:

https://mabs.ie/

To contact Loretta https://loretta-kennedy.com/

https://www.instagram.com/itslorettakennedy/

Free masterclass she is running: Prosperity & Purpose Jan 18th

https://steep-cloud-220.myflodesk.com/l13w8flp8e

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : her childhood, the power of journaling, self-worth, being wronged, sitting with pain, authenticity, gaslighting, boundaries, growth, inner child, healing.  

Over the Christmas break, I’m re-releasing some powerful episodes from 2023 and in February, I spoke to Lebanese-Canadian author, poet, speaker, activist and educator, the incredible Najwa Zebian.

Najwa being a guest on ‘Ready to be Real’ is a dream come true for me as she is someone I have long admired.

She grew up in a conservative Muslim household and writing helped her process and heal from past pain.

Her voice is incredibly soothing, and she has a wonderful way of simplifying complex topics.

And in this conversation she speaks about being ‘wronged’ and how best to manage it, self-worth and sitting with your pain, gaslighting, the importance of boundaries and how to heal.

And at the end of the conversation, I ask her a question that has a profound impact on both of us.

You can find Najwa’s latest book ‘Trust Your Heart’ online and in audio form on her website Najwa Zebian | Author. Speaker. Creator | Author. Speaker. Creator

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Parents separating, trauma, guilt, alcoholism, addiction, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, success, rock bottom, hope, finding meaning, love, purpose.  

I’m on a break over the Christmas period so I am re-releasing a few episodes over the next few weeks that really connected with listeners from 2023.

In September I spoke to dog lover and activist Niall Harbison.

If you’re an animal lover and you’re on social media, there is a strong possibility that you already follow Niall.

Originally from Co. Tyrone, he grew up in Brussels but never lost his Irish accent.

And over the past 21 months he has been devoting his time to help save street dogs in Thailand.

And to fully understand the man he is today; we need to go back through some of the experiences that have shaped him in his life. When he was 13, his parents separated, and his mother then had a relationship with an abusive partner which had a massive impact on him. He has been a private chef of Billionaires, a successful and at times controversial entrepreneur, and at his lowest point he found himself in ICU after a drink and drug fuelled binge.

He's been sober for about 3 years now and his mission is to half the population of stray dogs in the world over the next 20-30 years.

His book – ‘Hope - how street dogs have taught me the meaning of life’ was released this Autumn and it’s an incredible read.

I hope you feel inspired by our conversation as Niall is the perfect example of how it’s never too late to change your life.

For more information on the work he’s doing and if you’d like to donate…

Click here

Resources :

If you need to talk to someone, you can contact a Samaritan on Freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Gaza and the occupied territories, Palestine, occupation, Gabor Maté, trauma, visibility, activism, grief, social media, compassion, truth, change.

In my final conversation of the year and one of the most important I’ve ever had, I speak to Ruth Smith.

Ruth is a multi-disciplinary artist, teacher and body worker who lives in Galway with her husband Fergal, her Mother-in-Love Marie and their pack of 3 schnauzer dogs and their 3 legged cat.

And during this topical conversation she speaks about her visit to the West Bank earlier this year and the impact it had on her, the importance of activism and visibility when it comes to the current situation in Gaza and the occupied territories, and how connecting with like-minded people is so important.

This is an episode for everyone and one I hope will be shared by those who listen.

We recorded it over 2 separate days, as so much had happened since our first chat, including the US vetoing a resolution calling for a ceasefire.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real, it really means so much to me.

Grá mór X

Some links and resources: 

Here's a link to the movie 1948 Creation and Catastrophe https://www.1948movie.com

Here's a link to Gabor Maté's Q&A with SAND - Science and Non Duality https://youtu.be/NFmJpzBYCvI?si=QWeG-M61lg14LBED

There is another Q&A with him on Friday 15th at 17:00GMT if anyone wants to join live or you can watch it back on YouTube. 

Here's the link to join live https://scienceandnonduality.com/event/roots-run-deep-2/

Follow 

@wizard_bisan1 a young female journalist on the ground in Gaza

wizard_bisan1

@motaz_azaiza a young male photographer and journalist on the ground in Gaza

motaz_azaiza

@_kateodwyer_ for somatic practices and calls to action

_kateodwyer_

@maggiemckeeveryoga for trauma informed and community care yoga practices

maggiemckeeveryoga

@kitty_maguire_menstrual_mentor for sacred activism

kitty_maguire_menstrual_mentor

@raeekayassaie for social justice content

raeekayassaie

Raeeka - British Iranian Activist on Instagram and her Grieve. Integrate. Act. Rest. 

@irish.artists.for.palestine for information on cultural events across all art form all over the Island of Ireland

irish.artists.for.palestine

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Topics covered : Gay Byrne, nostalgia and memories, the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s in Ireland, love and grief.

In the penultimate episode of the year, I speak to Suzy Byrne about her Dad, legendary broadcaster, Gay Byrne.

Suzy is married to Ronan and they have three children Cia, Sadhbh and Saoirse.

Being the daughter of one of our best-known broadcasters, this conversation gives us an insight into the man Gay Byrne was at home, from one of the people who knew him best.

She also talks about a book she has complied called

‘Dear Gay- letters to the Gay Byrne show, a handwritten history of Ireland’.

Available in all good bookshops.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Fame, trolling, overwhelm, mental health, faith, spirituality, pregnancy announcement, joy, self-care. 

Last Friday in Galway, I sat down with dynamic duo Tadhg and Derry Fleming and had this wonderfully open conversation.

Tadhg and his Dad, Derry are part of the Fleming family that we know and love from Kerry, who shot to fame when a bat flew into the family home 6 years ago and the video went viral.

Mother Maureen and sisters Sadhbh and Maryanne, along with Tadhg’s wife Alannah and their much-loved dogs complete the extended Fleming family…for now!

Tadhg is open and grounded and 2023 was a big year for him as he and Alannah married in May, but next year will be an even bigger year as they’ll become parents.

Derry works in the credit union and is a deep soul, who wears his heart on his sleeve and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the whole family and they are the real deal.

In this conversation we get a much better sense of who they really are, what matters to them, how important faith is in their lives and simply put ,what genuine, gorgeous people they are.

They don't do many podcasts, or interviews for that matter, so I felt incredibly lucky that they said yes to this chat.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Secrecy, shame, alcoholism, depression, anxiety, friendship, recovery, honesty, grief, love, polyamory, fatherhood. 

This week I caught up with comedian and radio presenter PJ Gallagher.

PJ lives in Clontarf in Dublin with his partner Kelly and their 12-week-old twins Milo and Stevie.

He presents the breakfast show on Nova with his friend Jim McCabe, he’s also currently working on a documentary for RTÉ and his book ‘Mad House – The naked truth about my chaotic childhood, losing my mind and finding a place to call home’ is out now and it’s a brilliant read.

We spoke back in the summer of 2021; and it was a chat that really resonated with listeners. (You can scroll back and listen if you’d like)

So this conversation picks up where we left off the last time, he speaks about his 3 month stay in St. Patricks Mental Health services, meeting his now partner Kelly, fatherhood, polyamory and knowing what works for his mental wellbeing.

If you like this podcast, please show your support by leaving a rating or a little comment on Apple and by clicking follow on Spotify, I’d be so thankful.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Poverty, heroin addiction, neglect, abuse, childhood rape, dysfunction, shame, positive influences, kindness, breaking negative cycles, therapy,  recovery, attachment, opportunities, motherhood, education, academia, love, compassion, forgiveness, healing.   

This week I speak to the phenomenal Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan.

She lives in Blanchardstown in Dublin and is married to Dave and she has 3 boys, John who’s 30, Seán who’s 18, and Tadhg who’s 15 and she’s also a proud grandmother.

She is a senior lecturer in Maynooth University in the department of Psychology and is the author of bestselling memoir ‘Poor’.

Katriona’s childhood growing up in Coventry was often chaotic; as one of 5 kids to Irish parents living in a home shaped by heroin addiction, she experienced extreme trauma from an early age, which included being raped as a 7 year old and being pregnant and homeless, as a teenager.

In this conversation she speaks about the extreme neglect she experienced in childhood, the people who were a positive force in her life, the importance of opportunities and education, and the power of healing.

It is an eye opening and challenging conversation at times but I highly recommend you stay with it until the end.

Book – ‘Poor’ is available in all good bookshops and online and is also available as an audio book.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Human emotions, family dynamics, emotional triggers, trauma, expectation, spirituality, parenthood, attachment, regulating emotions, the importance of repair, change, evolving, current situation in Gaza, shame, guilt, forgiveness.

Gerry Hussey otherwise known as 'The Soul Coach' is a performance psychologist who has been working in the fields of health and performance for almost twenty years.

He and his wife Miriam are the founders of wellness platform ‘Soul Space’ and along with their son Eli who’s 3.5 and their daughter Bethany who recently turned 1, they split their time between Ireland and Portugal and they’re simply wonderful people.

We spoke in Galway on the 1st of November, the day his latest book ‘The Freedom Within’ was released.

During our conversation, he delves into family dynamics and emotional triggers, parenthood and the importance of repair, the current situation in Palestine and the power of forgiveness.

It’s a thought provoking and comforting episode but make sure you’re aware of the content before you listen.

Gerry’s show ‘The Freedom Within’ is happening this Sunday the 12th of November in the National Concert Hall in Dublin and there may be a few tickets still left.

Click on the link to find out…

The Freedom Within | NCH | Live Music & Events | National Concert Hall

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Celtic calendar, Samhain, An Chailleach, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, The Hill of Tara.

Historian and artist Shelly Mooney is back on the pod once again, this time to tell us all about Samhain.

Shelly lives in County Wexford with her husband Kev, their son Ferdia and Lola their dog and she runs the brilliant Instagram page ‘Tales from the Wood’ which explores the history and mythology of Ireland.

And in this bite-sized episode she talks to us about the ancient festival of Samhain and its connection to The Hill of Tara.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Divine timing, hope, fear, trolling, homophobia, birth experience, surrogacy, legal process, parenthood, grief, social media, manifesting, destiny.  

In this episode I catch up with Brian and Arthur on the release of their book, ‘Modern Family’.

This is the third time I’ve recorded a conversation with them both, and if you fancy tuning into the earlier episodes (released 20th March 2020 and 25th June 2022) feel free to listen back.

We sat down to speak a few weeks ago on the 4th of October and this is by far the most emotional and vulnerable they have both been in any conversation I have ever heard with them, as their book reveals more than they ever have before; including Arthur’s upbringing and being a refugee, and the difficult news they received on their path to parenthood.

And we also pick up where we left off the last time we spoke, as they talk us through the day Blake was born, life now as Fathers and their hopes to expand their family.

Prepare to laugh and cry.

Book : ‘Modern Family – Births, marriages, deaths and everything in between’ is available online and in all good bookshops now.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Gut instinct, emotional unavailability, people pleasing, boundaries, toxic relationships, fear, conditioning, perimenopause, health concerns, parenting, breaking the cycle of dysfunction.

In this episode I speak to author and relationship expert, Natalie Lue.

She lives in Surrey with her husband Emmon and teenage daughters, Saria (16) and Nia (14) and I’ve been a fan of her work for many years now.

When she was 10 she came to live in Ireland and when she was 23 she moved to London to go to University and she has lived there since.

We sat down in the summer, and she spoke about her upbringing and breaking up with her mother, yes you heard that right! And she also spoke about her book ‘ The Joy of Saying No’ which is a fantastic read. 

And I started the conversation by asking her about her brilliant blog ‘Baggage reclaim’ which covers topics like emotional unavailability, people pleasing and boundaries.

Her book : ‘The Joy Of Saying No’

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Grief, trauma, legacy, divine timing, signs, menstruality, spirituality, shedding shame, woman wound, trauma resolution, healing, honouring the stages of life, power of retreat.

In this episode I speak to menstrual mentor Kitty Maguire.

Kitty lives in Dublin with her partner Sam, her two nephews, their dog Winnie Wagtail & Bertie the cat.

She has pioneered menstruality work in Ireland for almost 10 years, providing therapeutic sessions, rituals and circles for women, girls and people who want to nurture a healthier embodied connection to their womb and cycles.

She has held space for thousands of people through the years. Through her comprehensive training Red Alchemy, online or in schools she shares the wisdom of the cycle through the spirit, science and sacredness of menstruality and Irish spirituality.  

And she recently featured in Richie Sadlier’s brilliant documentary, ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’ on RTÉ.

Her Mother, playwright Jo Egan, was a highly respected and influential figure in the Northern Ireland arts scene. And last Christmas, she died, which came as a huge shock to all who knew and loved her.

At the time of her death, she had a project in development with the Abbey theatre in Dublin.

And during our conversation Kitty speaks about her Mam and shares how she’s been navigating life since her passing. She also speaks about her own work, the importance of healing and she gives us an overview of the menstrual cycle.

For more, go to 

http://www.kittymaguire.com

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Imposter syndrome, vulnerability, shedding shame, triggers, self-sabotage, apologising, blocks, boundaries, self-worth, ADHD, conditioning, reclaiming.  

In this episode I speak to body-based visibility and business coach, Kate O’Dwyer.

She lives in Dublin with her partner Jim and their 1.5 year old son, Ned.

She's been the senior guest booker on The Tommy Tiernan Show on RTE for the past 7 seasons and her passion is in supporting women to step into their fullest self-expression so that they can share their work, their words, and their wisdom.

She believes that our visibility can heal and embolden each other to build the world we all want to live in.

And in this conversation she shares her own experience with us, she speaks about visibility blocks and what they might look like and shows us how to step into our power.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Celtic calendar, Autumn equinox, Loughcrew cairns, equinox stone, Megalithic Ireland, Newgrange, An Chailleach.

Historian and artist Shelly Mooney is back on the pod once again, this time to tell us all about the Autumn equinox.

Shelly lives in County Wexford with her husband Kev, their son Ferdia and Lola their dog and she runs the brilliant Instagram page ‘Tales from the Wood’ which explores the history and mythology of Ireland.

This year, the Autumn equinox will begin tomorrow, September 23rd, and will last until the winter solstice on the 21st of December.

And in this bite-sized episode she talks to us about the significance of the Autumn equinox, the Loughcrew cairns in county Meath, Newgrange and the powerful and ancient Irish goddess, An Chailleach.  

For more :

Loughcrew Cairns | Heritage Ireland

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Topics covered : Mindful awareness, meditation, reframing distractions,depression, anxiety, long covid, recovery, technology, smart phones, overcoming suffering, spiritual growth, personal development, reflection, wisdom.

In this episode I speak to Buddhist monk, the wonderful Gelong Thubten.

Gelong is a title meaning monk and Thubten is hugely respected for his work in the area of spiritual growth and personal development.

His first book ‘A Monks Guide to Happiness’  was a global bestseller and his latest book has just been released ‘Handbook for Hard Times: A monk's guide to fearless living.’

In this conversation we learn about his path to becoming a monk, he speaks about the importance of relishing micro moments in our day, reframing distractions when meditating and he also guides us through a wonderful mindful practice towards the end of the chat too.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Parents separating, trauma, guilt, alcoholism, addiction, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, success, rock bottom, hope, finding meaning, love, purpose.  

It's great to be back after the summer break and what a perfect episode to kick off the new series!

If you’re an animal lover and you’re on social media, there is a strong possibility that you already follow Niall Harbison.

Originally from Co. Tyrone, he grew up in Brussels and over the past 18 months he has been devoting his time to helping to save street dogs in Thailand.

And to fully understand the man he is today; we need to go back through some of the experiences that have shaped him in his life. When he was 13, his parents separated, and his mother went on to have a relationship with an abusive partner which had a massive impact on him. He has been a private chef of billionaires, a successful and at times controversial entrepreneur, and at his lowest point he found himself in ICU after a drink and drug fuelled binge.

He has been sober for about 2 years and 9 months now and his mission is to half the population of stray dogs in the world over the next 20-30 years.

His book – ‘Hope - how street dogs taught me the meaning of life’ is just out and it’s an incredible read.

I hope you feel inspired by our conversation as Niall is the perfect example of how it’s never too late to change your life.

For more information on the work he’s doing and if you’d like to donate…

Click here

Resources :

If you need to talk to someone, you can contact a Samaritan on Freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Family dynamics, dyslexia, addiction, alcoholism, inner critic, secrecy, shame, labels, attachment styles, genogram, parenting, healthy boundaries, position in the family, breaking negative patterns, positive and negative family legacies, forgiveness.

In this episode I speak to psychotherapist Richard Hogan about family dynamics.

Originally from Douglas in Cork he lives in Dublin with his wife and their 3 daughters.

He writes a weekly column with the Irish Examiner and often appears on TV and Radio.

He specialises in working with families and he’s just released his second book ‘ Home is where the start is’ and I found this conversation illuminating.

During it he shares elements of his own upbringing with us and gives us plenty of tips on how best to navigate our own family dynamics and ultimately help us to live healthier and more authentic lives. I loved it and I hope you will too.

You can also dive back into over 130 episodes of Ready to be Real to keep you going over the summer as this is where I’ll take a break.

I’ll be back in the Autumn with a brand new selection of thought-provoking episodes and as always I am so grateful for all the love and support I get here.

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

Have a gorgeous summer and thanks for listening to Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : What is Human Design, understanding your chart, energy types, profile lines, centres.

In this conversation Human Design practitioner Nicole Crosbie explains what Human Design is and how to get your unique chart. She also gives us an overview of the chart which includes the energy types and the profile lines and she also touches on the centres…this is all stuff that will hopefully make sense once you listen to the episode.

And to get the most out of it, I’d recommend that you do your chart before you listen.

To get your chart, you’ll need the following information:

Your date, time and place of birth.

Click here for free or use one of the many free links found online to give you your own unique chart…

Get your chart here

* Nicole is giving all listeners of Ready to be Real, 30% off a reading with her until the end of August 2023

The code is SILE30

So if you’re interested, go to her website, www.nicolecrosbie.com or her Instagram page

or you can email her directly nicole@nicolecrosbie.com

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Psychotherapy, music, management, her relationship with her husband Tommy, motherhood, self-acceptance, social media. 

In this episode I speak to singer, manager, producer and psychotherapist, Yvonne Tiernan.

Originally from Dublin, Yvonne has lived in Galway with her husband Tommy for 20 years and they have 3 kids together.

She is such an impressive person (a label we unpack during the conversation) who is gifted in many different areas of life.

‘The Raines’, the folk trio she’s part of, have released their debut album ‘Reverie’ and are touring across the country this summer.

And during this conversation we get a sense of who she is and what’s important to her, as she speaks about her love of her work as a psychotherapist, her career in the entertainment industry, her relationship with her husband Tommy who she finds endlessly fascinating, and how minding others is really important to her.

The Raines play in Monroe’s as part of the Galway Folk Festival on the 17th of June and Matt Molloy’s in Westport on the 18th of June.

For a full list of tour dates and to buy tickets go to The Raines

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Best foods to eat and when to eat them, genetics, blue zones, impact of Covid, exercise, sleep, sex, connections, engagement, laughter.

Professor Rose Anne Kenny has 35 years of experience at the forefront of ageing medicine and in this conversation she shares some of the proven adjustments we can all make regardless of our age, to live longer and happier lives.

Her book is ‘Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life’ and it’s a fascinating read.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the pod wherever you listen. You can now rate it on Spotify and leave a little comment on Apple too.

Thanks a million!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Boundaries, burlesque, reclaiming the past, safety, art, nature, balance, grounding, facing fears, sensuality, purpose, movement meditation, hypermobility, fibromyalgia, selfcare.

In this episode I speak to dancer and choreographer, event organiser and producer and recently wedding celebrant, the brilliant Bonnie Boux.

Bonnie is a nature lover who lives in Waterford and in this conversation she tells us how dance was a big part of her healing journey, she talks about her path to Burlesque, being a wedding celebrant and how she doesn’t let a chronic health condition hold her back.

She’s one of a kind and I was thrilled to connect with her.

You can catch Bonnie as part of Jenny Keane’s tour this September and her own show happening in Waterford on Valentine’s day, is one not to be missed!

Go to her Instagram page for more info and subscribe to her mailing list to never miss her events.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Authenticity, vulnerability, hard work, leadership, purpose, reflection, communication, effort, preparation, emotional intelligence, true success, meditation, trust, re-invention, mental health, responding instead of reacting, self-care.

In this episode I speak to high performance coach and author Enda McNulty.

Enda is married to Julia and they live in Dublin and when he played football for Armagh, he won an All-Ireland medal and an All-star Award.

Now he’s regarded as one of the top performance coaches and leadership experts in the country having worked with a who’s who of business and sporting leaders over the past 25 years.

His second book ‘Commit 2 Lead’ is out now and in this conversation he talks about finding true success in life and how to become a leader; the power of re-invention…and how he and his family used to holiday in my home village of Spiddal in Connemara.

I took a lot away from this episode and I hope you will too.

Other book recommendation – ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’ by W. Timothy Gallwey

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Sister bond, Cancer, terminal diagnosis, freak accident, grief, perspective.

This week I am re-releasing one of the most listened to episodes ever of Ready to be Real.

Three years ago I spoke to someone who has since become a very good friend, the wonderful Kathie Stritch.

Kathie is from Cloonfad in Co. Roscommon but she lives in Galway with her soon to be husband Stephen and their little boy Freddie who’s 4.5 yrs.

9 years ago her world changed forever when her sister Elaine was diagnosed with a stage 4 brain tumour. Elaine was married to Pa and their two boys Adam and Jason were 1 and 4 at the time.

This episode will make you appreciate how precious being alive really is.

You’ll find Kathie on Instagram K A T H I E S T R I T C H (@kathiestritchpt) • Instagram photos and videos and she also runs the Grief Ireland page which hosts retreats and workshops. You’ll also find it on Instagram Grief Ireland - Support Community (@griefireland) • Instagram photos and videos

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Body acceptance, shedding shame, diet culture, disordered eating, body image, unlearning, motherhood, loss of identity, blended family, love, responding over reacting, self-talk, respect, bouncing forward, self-worth, stretch marks, regret, healing, empowerment. 

In this episode I speak to the truly wonderful Sarah Nicole Landry. She’s a body acceptance advocate, a speaker, a writer, an occasional model and podcaster and she’s better known online as ‘The Birds Papaya’.

Sarah Nicole is married to Shane and she’s the mother of 4 kids, she has 3 teenagers from her previous marriage and their daughter Lemmie is 2.

She’s one of the most important voices right now on diet culture and body acceptance and her Instagram page alone has 2.3 million followers!

In this conversation she covers a multitude on the topic, so if you want a feel-good episode that will potentially give you goosebumps (as it did for me!) this is the pod for you.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shelly Mooney is a historian and artist who lives in County Wexford with her husband Kev, their baby Ferdia and Lola their dog and she runs the brilliant Instagram page ‘Tales from the Wood’ which explores the history and mythology of Ireland.

In this bite-sized episode she talks to us about the ancient Celtic festival of Bealtaine. She speaks of the importance of the Hill of Uisneach, the tradition of handfasting at this time, and the significance of the Hawthorn tree. 

The Hill of Uisneach - The Sacred Centre of Ireland.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Mental health, shame, judgement, Irish psychiatric system, progression, early intervention, social media, education, TV show The Voice, panic attack, values, gaslighting, dealing with conflict, labelling, music, podcasting, therapy, meditation, breathwork, emotional intelligence.   

In this episode I speak to musician, podcaster, author, activist and all-round great human, Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin.

He lives in Wicklow with his girlfriend Louize and their new puppy Stevie and in this conversation we cover so much, it’s serious at times and lighter in other parts as he talks about things like emotional intelligence, shame, labelling, dealing with conflict, the benefits of meditation and embarking on a PHD. 

And if you want to go to Niall’s ‘Where is my mind’ podcast show next Friday, the 28th of April in the 3 Olympia, head to Ticketmaster to grab to last few tickets.

3Olympia Theatre, Dublin | Events & Tickets | Map, Travel & Seating Plan (ticketmaster.ie)

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Childhood, mother, alcoholism, complicated relationship, childbirth, loss of identity, suicide, numbness, grief, power of writing, compassion. 

In this episode I speak to author and mother, Anne Tiernan.

Anne is married to Matt and they have 3 kids, Molly who’s 17, Oscar who’s 14 and Jack who’s 13 and they’ve lived in New Zealand for the past 18 years.

Born in Zambia, she grew up in Navan from the age of 3 and is one of 4 kids and one of her brothers happens to be well known comedian and TV host Tommy Tiernan.

In this conversation, she talks about her childhood, her emotionally unavailable mother and the dramatic moment she found out that she had taken her own life.

Anne is a beautiful person and she’s just released her first book, a work of fiction called ‘The Last Days Of Joy’ which is available to buy in all good bookshops now.

Resources :

If you need to talk to someone, you can contact a Samaritan on Freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie

Pieta

Pieta | Preventing Suicide and Self-Harm since 2006

Or go to…

Mental health - HSE.ie

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Authenticity, people pleasing, boundaries, compromise, visualisation, freedom.

In this episode I speak to New York Times best-selling author, Sarah Knight.

With more than 3 million copies in print, Sarah Knight’s ‘No Fucks Given’ guides have been published in thirty-one languages worldwide and her TEDx Talk on "The Magic of Not Giving a Fuck" has over 10 million views.

In this conversation she talks us through how best to live an authentic and fulfilling life by embracing the power of saying NO and having boundaries.

And as is often the case with Ready to be Real chats, the language in this episode as you’d imagine, isn’t always suitable for young or sensitive ears so please be mindful as you listen.

* Her new book‘Grow the F*ck Up: How to be an adult and get treated like one’ is out on the 4th of April.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Patrick, historic and legendary; the myth of Síle and Sheela na Gigs.  

Shelly Mooney is a historian and artist who lives in County Wexford with her husband Kev, their baby Ferdia and Lola their dog and she runs the brilliant Instagram page ‘Tales from the Wood’ which explores the history and mythology of Ireland.

And in this conversation she talks to us about St. Patrick, the man he was before the title of Saint was bestowed upon him.

But even more interesting than that, she talks to us about Síle and her connection to Patrick and the often misunderstood symbol of ‘Sheela na Gig’.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Fertility, IVF, love, abnormalities, law in Ireland, disappointment, dilemma, termination, impact of covid restrictions, grief, loss, trauma, compassion, support, healing, acceptance. 

In this episode I speak to salon owner and entrepreneur Anna Hosty.

Anna is married to Dave and they live in Galway with their daughter Henrietta who is 6 next month and their dog Ozzie.

She’s also the co-owner of hairdressing group ‘Yourells’ and co-founder of the hair supplement for Mums called ‘The Hair Vitamin Company’.

And as you’ll hear at the beginning of our chat, I have known Anna for a long time but what I didn’t know until recently was what she had been through personally.

In this conversation she shares her experience of fertility and motherhood which includes the IVF process; joy, loss and trauma.

She is a brave and wonderful person and I am so grateful that she trusted me to help her tell her story.

It's an episode that will challenge some of you and I ask you to park your judgement and open your heart and mind to what you’re about to hear as unless you’ve experienced the same, you have no idea how you’d respond.

I am so grateful to Anna for speaking so honestly about her experience and I know it’ll help a lot of you who listen.

Resources :

If you need to talk to someone, you can contact a Samaritan on Freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie

Or go to…

Mental health - HSE.ie

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Motherhood, loss of identity, finding yourself again, modelling, eating disorder, social media.

In this episode I speak to online sensation Louise Boyce, better known as Mama Still Got It.

Louise is a Mum of 3 who’s online content on motherhood is hilarious and her book Mama Still Got It is coming out on the 8th of June.

During our conversation we naturally speak about motherhood, the loss of identity that can often happen when becoming a mother…and finding yourself again, but we also talk about modelling, her struggles with an eating disorder early in her career, social media and her closeness to her sister.

Enjoy and let me know what you think, thanks!

Resources : Bodywhys | The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : her childhood, the power of journaling, self-worth, being wronged, sitting with pain, authenticity, gaslighting, boundaries, growth, inner child, healing.  

In this episode I speak to Lebanese-Canadian author, poet, speaker, activist and educator, the incredible Najwa Zebian.

Najwa being a guest on ‘Ready to be Real’ is a dream come true for me as she is someone I have long admired.

She grew up in a conservative Muslim household and writing helped her process and heal from past pain.

Her voice is incredibly soothing, and she has a wonderful way of simplifying complex topics.

In this conversation she speaks about being ‘wronged’ and how best to manage it, self-worth, gaslighting, the importance of boundaries and how to heal.

And at the end of the conversation, I ask her a question that has a profound impact on both of us.

This was without a doubt one of the most powerful conversations that I’ve ever had and you can find Najwa’s latest book ‘Trust Your Heart’ online and in audio form on her website Najwa Zebian | Author. Speaker. Creator | Author. Speaker. Creator

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Fertility, miscarriage, IVF process, fear, the power of words, motherhood, parental anxiety, shift in perspective, stage of life, acting, integrity. 

In this episode I speak to actor and mother Caroline Morahan.

Caroline lives in LA with her husband Dáithí 0r Doc as he’s better known and their 2 kids, Rowan who’s 3 and Ava who’s 2.

They moved to LA 15 years ago and at the time she left a very successful TV in Ireland to pursue acting.

Last month when she was back in Dublin, we sat down and spoke about her path to motherhood, being a Mom, her career to date, her love of acting, the sage advice given to her by her own mother and how baby brain is real!

** This episode does not feature any medical guidance so please consult your doctor if you are looking for fertility advice.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Army life, body boarding accident, incomplete quadriplegia, recovery, controlling the controllables, perspective, gratitude, mindfulness.

Billy Hedderman is married to Rita and they have 2 girls, Lana who’s 5.5 and Isobel who’s 3.5 and they live in Australia.

Originally from Cork, he served in the Irish Defence Forces for 13 years which included successfully completing the Army Ranger Selection Process when he was only 20.

And his greatest challenge came in the form of a body boarding accident on New Years Eve in 2014, in which he suffered immediate spinal cord damage, paralysing him from the neck down.

But within 7.5 months he had ran a 10k and not too long after that he returned to one of his passions which is skydiving!

This conversation is an amazing story of psychological resilience and determination when faced with a life changing quadriplegic diagnosis and I think you are going to take so much from it.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Impressions, talent, hard work, brain tumour, health, relationship with his wife Fiona, learning, thinking ahead, manifesting, business savvy, tour. 

It's Friday and time for another real chat, this time with impressionist Conor Moore aka Conor Moore (@conor_sketches) • Instagram photos and videos on Instagram.

We sat down a couple of weeks ago and he spoke about something he rarely if ever speaks about...finding out he had a brain tumour 10 years ago, something that changed his outlook forever.

In this conversation he also talks impressions and working with Tiger Woods, his work in Golf and Formula 1, his wife Fiona and he gives us his take on manifesting.

He lives in Dublin with his wife Fiona and they’re currently in the process of building their forever home in his home town of Mullingar.

And in the past 6.5 years he went from working in a call centre to being one of the most in demand entertainers on the scene right now.

And along with his career in entertainment he also invested in a bar in New York a few years ago called ‘The Westbury’.

He's sound, incredibly grounded and it was a joy to talk to him.

And wait until you hear his impression of Roy Keane on the Tommy Tiernan show, so good!

His tour started last night in the Olympia and for the last remaining tickets for his nationwide tour through February and early March, go to https://www.conorsketches.com/

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Imbolc and the symbolism and significance of Brigid.

In this episode, I speak to historian and artist Shelly Mooney who runs the brilliant Instagram page ‘Tales from the Wood’ which explores the history and mythology of Ireland.

She lives in the countryside in County Wexford with her husband Kev, their baby Ferdia and Lola their dog.

After several years of campaigning, St Brigid’s Day has finally become a public holiday in Ireland and it’s the first one to be named after a woman.

In this conversation Shelly talks about the ancient pagan festival heralding the beginning of Spring called ‘Imbolc’ and the significance of Brigid and her resurgence in recent times, including the story behind her cloak and the cross of St. Brigid.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : authenticity, self-worth, the power of play, fear, love, relationships, family dynamics, anxiety, triggers, trauma, expectations, suicidal thoughts, purpose, forgiveness, change, personal responsibility, healing, being in flow.  

Gerry Hussey otherwise known as 'The Soul Coach' is a performance psychologist who has been working in the fields of health and performance for almost twenty years.

He and his wife Miriam are the founders of wellness platform ‘Soul Space’ and along with their wonderful children, Elijah who’s a toddler and their baby girl Bethany, they split their time between Ireland and Portugal and I’m proud to call them my friends.  

I spoke to both of them back in 2019 at the very beginning of Ready to be Real and recently I sat down with Gerry and hadthis heart opening conversation.

In it, he shares some of his darkest times with us and explains how used his past trauma to step into his power, he talks non-negotiables, triggers and the impact that a letter can have on someone.

He gives us so much to think about for the year ahead and I hope you take as much from it as I did.

Gerry’s book is ‘Awaken Your Power Within’ and it’s a powerful read. Another book mentioned during the conversation is ‘Man's Search For Meaning’ by Victor Frankl.

Gerry's questions to ask yourself :

Who am I?

What do I stand for?

What do I believe in?

What does the greatest version of me look like?

And if I truly loved myself, if I didn't worry about what other people thought and I backed myself, what would I do?

Am I being honest?

Am I being truthful?

Am I listening to my heart?

Am I stepping in the direction of my dreams?

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : The Law of Attraction, taking action, letting go, inner critic, inner cheerleader, victimhood, gratitude, self-talk, beliefs, power of intention, change, difficulty, ah-ha moments, persistence, growth, transformation, awareness, awakening.

I’m back with a brand-new episode and I speak to author, musician and wellness guru, Dr Joe. Vitale.

Once homeless, Joe is now one of the world’s best known personal development experts and was also one of the main contributors on the hit movie ‘The Secret’.

He's written over 80 books and in this conversation, we talk about The Law of Attraction and how important taking action is to achieve our goals, the beliefs we have about ourselves and how they impact us in our lives and he also gives great advice on how best to navigate challenging times too.

Dr. Joe will be one of the speakers at the Pendulum Summit in the Convention centre in Dublin on the 25th and 26th of January and there are some tickets still available, go to…

Tickets - PendulumSummit

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Sexual confidence, connection, shame, blame, self-pleasure, communication, fantasies, desire, dirty talk, sex toys, orgasm.

This episode with holistic sex educator Jenny Keane was a big hit with listeners in 2022 which is why I am sharing it again.

She talks about sexual confidence, the importance of connection, self-pleasure, shame, blame and dirty talk.

She also answers your questions on fantasises, sex toys and she gives us a fascinating insight into orgasm too.

She’s so knowledgeable and great craic and as you’d imagine this is a conversation for adult ears only, so something to be mindful of as you listen.

I loved it and I think you will too.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Anxiety, the inner critic, anorexia, bulimia, attempted suicide, cancer diagnosis, baking, starting a business, success, wellbeing. 

2022 was a massive year for Una Leonard.

She turned 30 on Christmas day and she used to joke to her family and say...

"I’ll have a cookbook before I’m 30!" 

...and she did exactly that! 

Her book 'Sweet Therapy – The Joy of Baking' released this September. 

We sat down and chatted in June this year and the episode was released 3 months later.

It was one of the most powerful conversations I've ever had on the podcast, not alone this year but since Ready to be Real started in 2019.

And I've re-released the episode today.

She has come such a long way since her darkest days and even since our conversation this summer...and it's fantastic to see her thrive.

Her wonderful Mam recently got some great news too so this Christmas really has been a time to celebrate in the Leonard household. 

This is what I said at the time of it's release....

Una Leonard is the owner and founder of 2210 Patisserie, a very successful bakery business and she has a gorgeous, upbeat personality that at one point, hid a deep unhappiness.

In this conversation we get a beautiful insight into her relationship with her Mam, the bond she also had with her Granny, fondly known as Dotie; and how baking and opening up her bakery, ultimately became her saviour. 

I learnt so much from listening to her….about the power our words can have on children in particular, and how our attitude to food can impact those around us.

It was one of the most moving conversations I have ever had and I’m so grateful to Una for her willingness to speak about such difficult times in her life and I know she’ll help so many who’ll listen.

But it’s an extremely challenging listen at times as we don’t shy away from the reality of her experience of attempted suicide, so please be aware before you play it.

Resources :

Bodywhys

Bodywhys | The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland

Pieta

Pieta | Preventing Suicide and Self Harm

Samaritans

Samaritans Ireland

Book: Sweet Therapy – The Joy of Baking

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Meditation, fears, regrets, acceptance, death, present moment awareness, compassion.

I hope you’re having a lovely Christmas break and I’ll be back with a brand new episode on the 13th of January but over the coming weeks I’m going to re-release some episodes that resonated with listeners.

Starting with this one…with Brother Richard Hendrick.

Brother Richard has been a priest-friar for over 20 years and during the Covid 19 pandemic he wrote a poem called ‘Lockdown’ which went viral.

In this conversation he gives us a fascinating insight into the life of a monk, he explains the difference between having purpose in life and finding meaning, he speaks of Celtic spirituality, the power of apologising…and death, in the most beautiful way.

It’s an episode that will make you reflect on your own life and hopefully enrich it, as it has for me.

Book mentions:

‘Still Points – A guide to living the mindful, meditative way’

‘The Top Five Regrets of The Dying’ by Bronnie Ware

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Failure, faith, religion, awareness, meditation, death, compassion, love. 

In this episode I speak to author, playwright, podcaster, poet and all-round wonderful human being, Michael Harding.

Michael is someone I’ve wanted to speak to for years and I’m so happy to be releasing this episode in time for the Christmas break.

In this enlightening conversation we talk about his love of religion, the power of failure and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.

His latest book ‘All the things left unsaid – confessions of love and regret’ is a stunning collection of letters he wrote for the people who deeply affected him over the years and it’s available now in all good bookshops.

He's charmingly self-deprecating, reflective and his voice is one I could listen to forever. 

I hope you enjoy our conversation.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Boundaries, the power of NO, core values, toxic relationships, gaslighting, red flags, people pleasing, narcissism, inner work, breaking a negative cycle of behaviour, positive change.    

In this episode I speak to life coach Jennifer Davy, about boundaries.

Jennifer is married to Wayne and they have two boys Oliver who’s 8 and Freddie who’s 5 and they live in County Waterford.

And in this conversation she breaks down what a boundary is and how to implement one, how to manage toxic relationships and how to spot gaslighting.

Hopefully it might help you to navigate the often tricky Christmas period with friends and family.

Some questions to ask yourself -

What does a boundary look like for me?

What are my core values, what matters to me?

What am I no longer going to tolerate?

What actions can I take that will protect my energy? 

You can find Jennifer on Instagram…

Intuitive Life Coach for Women | Jennifer (@wellbeingwarrior.ie) • Instagram photos and videos

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Space, childhood dreams, possessions, freedom, starting over.  

In this episode I speak to engineer, scientist, writer and performer, Niamh Shaw who is dedicating her life to fulfilling a 40 year old dream – to become an Irish space explorer on a real life mission.

Today, she divides her time between Strasbourg, home of the International Space University, Ireland and the US, where she is building up contacts in the space community.

You’ll find her on Instagram @dr_niamh_shaw and her book ‘Dream Big: An Irishwoman's Space Odyssey’ is available in all good book shops.

She is absolutely lovely and so inspiring and it’s an episode that will make you think and hopefully encourage you to follow your dreams.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : Drug use, teenage pregnancy, motherhood, death, grief, further education, stereotyping, privilege, creativity, authenticity, philosophy, visualisation, Miriam Margolyes.

Senator Lynn Ruane is my guest this week.

She lives in Killinarden in Tallaght with her two daughters, Jordanne who’s 22 and Jaelynne who’s 15.

And in this conversation she talks about her childhood; experimenting with drugs from the age of 12, finding out she was pregnant at 15 and how a community education initiative called ‘An Cosán’ developed by Katherine Zappone and the late Ann Louise Gilligan helped her massively in life.

She’s been a senator for 6 years now and recently completed a masters in creative writing and she was the dream to chat to.

She cares deeply, she’s inquisitive, authentic and refreshingly honest and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : Living without money, social media/technology, sustainability, being in flow, climate change, economy, marketing, community, vasectomy and toilets!

Originally from Donegal, Mark made a life changing decision to give up money entirely in 2008 and he lived completely without it for 3 years.

He's the author of four books including ‘The Moneyless Man’ and ‘The Way Home; Tales from a Life without technology’.

And this conversation is a fascinating insight into his life and the reasons why he decided on such a radical life change.

We talk about living sustainability and in tune with the seasons and why he decided to get a vasectomy when he was only 30!

It's an episode that will make you think about your own life and perhaps encourage us all, to make some positive changes.

Book mention -

‘The Shock Doctrine’ by Naomi Klein

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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In this bonus episode I speak to international numerologist Gráinne Tyndall about 1111.

It’s being released on Friday the 11th of November, the day that my baby girl Clíodhna turns one so obviously it means a lot to me personally, but I asked Grainne to share her thoughts on 1111.

If you’d like a personal reading with Gráinne, feel free to reach out to her.

HOME - Numbers 4 Success

And if you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Sexual confidence, connection, shame, blame, self-pleasure, communication, fantasies, desire, dirty talk, sex toys, orgasm.

Holistic sex educator Jenny Keane is my guest this week.

It's an episode I had been looking forward to recording for ages and it did not disappoint.

She talks about sexual confidence, the importance of connection, self-pleasure, shame, blame and dirty talk.

She also answers your questions on fantasises, sex toys and she gives us a fascinating insight into orgasm too.

She’s so knowledgeable and great craic and as you’d imagine this is a conversation for adult ears only, so something to be mindful of as you listen.

I loved it and I think you will too.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Childhood, starting a business/brand, taking chances, creating, success, failure, conflict, motherhood, gardening.

In this episode I speak to trailblazing entrepreneur Marissa Carter.

Marissa lives in Dublin with her husband Ronan and their kids; Charlie who’s 10 and Isabelle who’s 7 and their much loved dog Cherry.

Her brand ‘Cocoa Brown’ was born 10 years ago this month and like all successful entrepreneurs she’s not afraid of taking chances.

The past few years have been particularly challenging for her professionally and this is her first interview in 3 years.

She tells us about her upbringing and how she became the business woman she is today, the women who helped her along the way, meeting Kim Kardashian and conflict.

She’s a homebird who loves gardening and she’s also a great laugh to be around.

I hope you enjoy our conversation.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Confidence, courage, anxiety, affirmations, bullshitting, self-talk.   

In this episode I speak to Professor Ian Robertson about confidence.

Ian is a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist and he is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading researchers in neuropsychology and he’s also the author of several best-selling books, including ‘How Confidence Works’.

In this conversation he tells us what confidence is, what makes someone confident, how we can improve it, the differences between men and women in terms of confidence and why that is; the art of bullshitting and the power of positive self-talk.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Confidence, being in flow, authenticity, integrity, music, style, love, grief.

In this episode I speak to Cork powerhouse Lyra, who’s a singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice, striking outfits and electrifying live shows.

In this conversation we speak about confidence and staying true to yourself, the special bond she had with her Nan Kitty and the absolute joy she feels when she’s performing.

She’s independent, great craic and full of integrity and it was brilliant to chat to her.

Her new single ’29 box’ is out now and for a full list of tour dates, check out Lyra Singer | The Official Website Of Lyra

Check out my Instagram page for some photos that relate to this conversation.

𝗦í𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗼𝗶𝗴𝗲 (@sileseoige) • Instagram photos and videos

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : parental separation, abandonment, depression, violence, racism, homelessness, shame, teenage pregnancy, suicide, grief, independence, support, resilience, representation, forgiveness, compassion.

In this episode I speak to the phenomenal Deborah Somorin.

Deborah, or Debbie as she’s better known as, has experienced so much in her life; she was in and out of care homes from a very young age, at 13 she became homeless and at 14 she found out she was pregnant.  

In this conversation we hear about the complicated relationship she had with her mother and the reality of years spent in care in Ireland. But we also hear about the people who helped her along the way to achieve more in her life than she ever knew was possible.

Today she’s a management consultant, a qualified chartered accountant and the founder of ‘Empower the Family Ireland’, a charity that helps single parents further their education and she’s also mother to Liam, who’s now 13.

She’s just released two books, her memoir ‘Believing in Me’ and her children’s book ‘I Believe in You’.

Resources :

Samaritans

Samaritans Ireland

Books : Deborah Somorin – ‘Believing in Me’ and ‘I Believe in You’

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Anxiety, the inner critic, anorexia, bulimia, grief, attempted suicide, cancer diagnosis, baking, starting a business, success, wellbeing. 

Una Leonard is the owner and founder of 2210 Patisserie, a very successful bakery business and she has a gorgeous, upbeat personality that at one point, hid a deep unhappiness.

In this conversation we get a beautiful insight into her relationship with her Mam, the bond she also had with her Granny, fondly known as Dotie; and how baking and opening up her bakery, ultimately became her saviour. 

I learnt so much from listening to her….about the power our words can have on children in particular, and how our attitude to food can impact those around us.

It was one of the most moving conversations I have ever had and I’m so grateful to Una for her willingness to speak about such difficult times in her life and I know she’ll help so many who’ll listen.

But it’s an extremely challenging listen at times as we don’t shy away from the reality of her experience of attempted suicide, so please be aware before you play it.

Check out my Instagram post about the episode which includes photos that will make sense when you hear it.

𝗦í𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗼𝗶𝗴𝗲 (@sileseoige) • Instagram photos and videos

Resources :

Bodywhys

Bodywhys | The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland

Pieta

Pieta | Preventing Suicide and Self Harm

Samaritans

Samaritans Ireland

Book: Sweet Therapy – The Joy of Baking

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Meditation, fears, regrets, acceptance, death, present moment awareness, compassion.

Brother Richard Hendrick has been a priest-friar for over 20 years and during the Covid 19 pandemic he wrote a poem called ‘Lockdown’ which went viral.

In this conversation he gives us a fascinating insight into the life of a monk, he explains the difference between having purpose in life and finding meaning, he speaks of Celtic spirituality, the power of apologising…and death, in the most beautiful way.

It’s an episode that will make you reflect on your own life and hopefully enrich it, as it has for me.

Book mentions:

‘Still Points – A guide to living the mindful, meditative way’

‘The Top Five Regrets of The Dying’ by Bronnie Ware

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Menstrual cycle, pelvic floor, heart disease.

In this episode I speak to doctor, nutritionist and best-selling author Dr, Hazel Wallace, aka The Food Medic.

Originally from Dundalk, Hazel lives in London and currently has over half a million followers on Instagram.

Her third book – The Female Factor is a deep dive into women’s health and in this conversation she answers things like….why we crave chocolate before our period and what our pelvic floor is and why it’s so important?

Book :

‘The Female Factor - Making women’s health count – and what it means for you’

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Self-worth, the legal system in Ireland, rehabilitation.

In this episode I speak to one of Ireland’s first female judges; Gillian Hussey.

When she started out little did she know that she would deal with some of the most notorious criminals in Ireland, the likes of the Kinahans, the Cahills, ‘The Monk’ and John Gilligan.

In this conversation she gives us an insight into her courtroom, her reflections on the legal system in Ireland and the importance she places on rehabilitation.

We also talk about the relationship she had with her father and how she struggled with feeling worthy, especially early in her career.

Unsurprisingly, she made a big impression on viewers when she appeared on The Tommy Tiernan show last year on RTÉ and having a number of mutual friends, I always knew she’d be a wonderful guest for Ready to be Real.

Book :

’Lessons from the bench – reflections on a career spent in Ireland’s criminal courts’ and it’s out now.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Launching a brand, clothing sizes, vulnerability, body acceptance, confidence.

This week I speak to makeup artist and influencer, Aideen Kate.

Aideen lives in Dublin with her boyfriend Dave, she currently has 158 thousand followers on Instagram and is Stellar magazine’s cover girl for the month of July.

This conversation is an insight into the life of an influencer/content creator as we talk about her rise to fame and launching her own makeup brand earlier this year (True Beauty); and we also talk about her Instagram content on body acceptance which includes honest outfit try-on’s which I love!

* This chat is where I wrap up the conversations until September.

You can dive back into over 100 Ready to be Real episodes whenever you want and I’ll chat to you all again in the Autumn.

Have a gorgeous summer!

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Topics covered : Manifestation, embracing change, impact of the pandemic, surrogacy journey, pregnancy.

In this episode I catch up with powerhouse couple Brian Dowling Gourounlian and his husband Arthur.

They live in Kildare and will soon be parents for the very first time and this conversation picks up where we left off when we last spoke in January 2020 (released March 2020).

So much has happened in their lives since then and if you haven’t heard our earlier chat I highly recommend you check it out as you really get a good sense of them and their relationship.

In this conversation we follow on from where we left off the last time.

We hear all about their journey to parenthood, their bond with Brian’s sister Aoife (also their surrogate), Arthur packing up their home in LA at the height of pandemic restrictions to move to Ireland with their friends, chef Dónal Skehan and his wife Sofie and family, and then him going on to become a judge on hit TV show Dancing with the Stars.

We also talk rumours, the significance of an orange cup and how Aoife got the nickname Effidy!

It's an inspiring, heart-warming and often hilarious chat that I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

And if you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : animal welfare, conservation, having a baby during Covid restrictions, heart condition, major surgery, scar, healing. 

In this episode I speak to Killian and Katie McLaughlin who run a wildlife sanctuary in Donegal called ‘Wild Ireland’.

They met in college when they were both studying law and they’re now married and are parents to Rígan who’s almost 2.

In this conversation we talk about their love of animals, their passion for what they do and their plans for the future.

We also talk about the highs and lows of the past 2 years, including having a baby during Covid restrictions and Katie having to undergo heart surgery.

They’re an amazing couple who have had so much to deal with but are stronger than ever today.

* Series 2 of ‘Return of the Wild : The Bearman of Buncrana’ will be broadcast on RTE in the coming months so keep an eye out for it.

And to find out more about/ get tickets for Wild Ireland, click here...

Wild Ireland

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Anorexia, grief, shame, perfectionism, recovery, gratitude, the inner critic, CBT, social media, filters, boxing, meditation, femininity, spirituality, letting go.

In this episode I speak to one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met, boxer Mary Kate Slattery.

Originally from Dublin, Mary Kate spent parts of her childhood in Lahinch in Co. Clare.

She’s the eldest of three girls, a law graduate from Trinity College Dublin and when she was only 9 she developed anorexia. She spent time in and out of Crumlin children’s hospital in Dublin and eventually had to go to London to receive treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

In this conversation we speak about her battle with anorexia, perfectionism, therapy, meditation, femininity, letting go and her love of boxing.

It’s such an inspiring yet challenging conversation in parts, so please be aware before you listen.

Also as you can hear in this episode, Mary Kate is very thankful to her psychiatrist Fiona McNicholas for helping her recover from anorexia and if you're worried about yourself or someone you love, you can reach out for help here...

Bodywhys | The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland

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Topics covered : Dancing with the Stars, life during lockdown, their relationship.

In this episode I speak to couple Jake Carter and Karen Byrne.

They live in Dublin with their dog Lenny and they started dating after they won series 2 of Dancing with the Stars in Ireland.

Jake is a singer songwriter whose brother Nathan is also in the business. He’s outgoing and optimistic and Karen is a professional dancer with her own dance studio who’s a straight shooter and naturally more introverted by nature.

In this conversation we talk about first impressions, what annoys them about each other and how friendship is the foundation of their relationship.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Hurling, diversity, inclusion, religion.

In this episode I speak to Abood Al Jumaili who also goes by the name Bonnar O’Loinsigh.

He lives in Dublin and his nickname is based on two hurling greats, the Bonnar Maher from Tipperary and former player Colin Lynch from Clare.

He left his home in Baghdad when he was only 9 years old and came to Ireland with his family, five years after the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.

When he arrived here, he had no English but soon developed the distinctive accent he has today.

And in this conversation we talk about his passion for hurling, his deep faith, his role as a GAA ambassador promoting diversity and inclusion, the culture clashes he’s encountered over the years and his dream of becoming an Irish diplomat someday.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Drug trip, drug induced psychosis, suicidal thoughts, breakdown, mania, bi-polar disorder, shedding shame, early onset Alzheimer’s, grief, regrets, recovery, self care, power of movement, pole-dancing.

In this episode I speak to writer and podcaster, Sophie White.

She lives in Dublin with her husband Seb and their 3 sons who are 2, 5 and 8.

She graduated from the National College of Art and Design in Dublin with a first class honours degree in sculpture, she’s been a chef and she’s written 5 books so far.

And in this conversation we talk about mental breakdowns, regrets, the juggle of being a working mother, the unfixable pain of grief, her latest book ‘The Snag List’ and pole-dancing!

If you like this conversation, you might enjoy my episode with Alastair Campbell from January 2021 in which similar topics are explored.

And if you are a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. Thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Cancer, smear tests, holistic treatments, medical procedures, trauma, therapy, grief, healing, belief, trusting your gut instinct, health.

In this episode I speak to the inspirational Lynsey Bennett.

She lives in Longford with her daughters Zoë who’s 13 and Hailee who’s 8 and in 2019 she found out she was one of the women caught up in the cervical check scandal brought to public attention by Vicky Phelan.

In this conversation, we talk about the powerful bond she had and still has with her mother Lesley, undergoing a hysterectomy at just 28, dealing with a terminal diagnosis and arranging her own funeral and trusting her gut instinct.

She’s been getting alternative cancer treatment in Mexico and Germany over the past year and a half to help strengthen her immune system and support her mindset; and thankfully, it’s yielding good results so far despite being told a few years ago, that she probably wouldn’t live this long.

I was honoured to meet her and have this conversation.

Book mention : ‘Radical Remission, surviving cancer against all odds’ by Kelly A. Turner

And if you are a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. Thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : Motherhood, career, ageing, menopause. 

In this episode I speak to actor, comedian, TV presenter and podcaster, the multi-talented Deirdre O’Kane.

She lives in Dun Laoghaire in Dublin with her husband, writer and director Stephen Bradley and their teenage kids, Holly who’s 17 and Daniel who’s 13.

She describes herself as an optimist who can be competitive and self-critical.

And in this conversation we talk about motherhood, menopause, her fascinating career, the story behind the making of the film ‘Noble’ and the contentment she feels at this stage of her life.

Her latest stand up show called ‘Demented’ is currently on a nationwide tour so check out her site for a list of dates and locations and to buy a ticket!

And if you enjoyed this conversation, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places, thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Dancing with the Stars, her racing career, motherhood, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, fear of failure.

In this episode I speak to retired jockey and Dancing with the Stars champion Nina Carberry.

She’s regarded as one of the greatest amateur riders of all time and after an almost 17-year career in the saddle, she retired in 2018.

She’s married to Ted and they have 2 daughters, Rosie who’s 5 next month and Hollie who’s 2.5.

She is incredibly hard working, grounded and naturally shy, and in this conversation we talk all things DWTS….including her gruelling training schedule and being out of her comfort zone; her friendship with Rachael Blackmore, life at home with her family and her horses and all that it entails, and how winning DWTS compares to winning a Grand National or at Cheltenham!

* A special thanks to Barbara White for all her help with this episode.

And if you enjoyed this conversation, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places, thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : sex, porn, sexting, shedding shame, pushing boundaries, deepening understanding.

In this episode I speak to pundit, podcaster and psychotherapist, Richie Sadlier.

It's my second time sitting down to chat to Richie and as always he is such a brilliant guest.

He’s married to Fiona and when we spoke in 2019, his autobiography ‘Recovering’ had just been released and in it he revealed he had been sexually abused when he was 14 by a physio he had been attending for back pain.

2.5 years on, he’s just released his second book called ‘Let’s Talk’, written for teenage boys, and in it he covers everything they might need or want to know about sex, intimacy, relationships, breakups and everything else in between.

He also runs his own private psychotherapy practice and he has a passion for supporting adolescent development so he really knows his stuff in this area.

If you enjoyed this conversation you can go back and listen to our earlier chat if you missed it and why not check out the episodes I recorded with sexologist Emily Power Smith too.

Thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Best foods to eat and when to eat them, genetics, blue zones, impact of Covid, exercise, sleep, sex, connections, engagement, laughter.

Professor Rose Anne Kenny has 35 years of experience at the forefront of ageing medicine and in this conversation she shares some of the proven adjustments we can all make regardless of our age, to live longer and happier lives.

Her book is ‘Age Proof: The New Science of Living a Longer and Healthier Life’ and it’s a fascinating read.

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following the pod wherever you listen. You can now rate it on Spotify and leave a little comment on Apple too.

Thanks a million!

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