Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

Topics covered : Mother and Baby home, adoption, grief, faith, taboo, shedding shame, transgenerational trauma, therapy, holotropic breathwork, motherhood, inner child healing, compassion.  In the final episode of this season, I speak to psychotherapist Deirdre Nicole Hegarty, who shares her adoption story​ with us.Deirdre lives in Donegal with her husband Noel and their baby boy, Con​all.She was adopted at three months old from a mother and baby home, into a loving family where her adoption was always known and spoken about openly.But as she grew older​, and especially when she began searching for her birth parents​, her story became more complex.What she discovered challenged her sense of identity in a profound way. Her birth parents were ​first cousins​...something that carried deep layers of secrecy and shame.In this conversation, Deirdre speaks with great honesty about reconnecting with her birth parents, the emotional impact of those connections, and the confusion and trauma that unfolded.She also shares the work that has helped her make sense of her experience​, particularly inner child healing​, and how she’s come to understand the impact of transgenerational trauma, and the importance of breaking patterns and releasing shame.This is a deeply personal conversation, and I’m really grateful to her for sharing it so openly.​​T​o connect with Deirdre : Email: [email protected]: @slanu_deirdrehegarty​* This is the final episode of this season, but I’ll be back with a new batch of conversations on the 8th of May.In the meantime, you can dive into the archive and listen to over 200 episodes anytime and thanks so much for listening to Ready to be Real.Tá mé fíor-bhuíoch! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this snippet, business mentor and change coach Niamh Ennis speaks about the power of change​, whether it arrives suddenly in our lives or is something we choose and how both can lead us closer to the life we truly want, if we’re willing to ask ourselves the right questions…and really listen to the answers.If you enjoyed this snippet, you can listen to my full conversation with Niamh Ennis now, wherever you get your podcasts.To connect with Niamh:www.niamhennis.comShe is the founder of The ChangeMakers Mastermind where she supports ambitious, heart led business founders.More here...www.niamhennis.com/tcmmastermind Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​Topics covered : Pancreatic cancer, grief, sympathy, therapy, good girl conditioning, life changes, intuition, journaling. This week, business mentor and change coach Niamh Ennis is my guest.She lives in Galway with her husband Michael and their rescue dog Bella.She’s the author of 'Get Unstuck: Ditch Your Drama and Move from Pain to Power' but long before the work she does now, Niamh went through an incredibly difficult period in her life.In her late 30s and early 40s, she experienced profound loss; her fiancé Tony died just nine days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and only 6 months before they were due to be married. Not long after, she also lost her dad…and then, a number of years later, her Mum passed away.In this conversation, Niamh shares what that time was like, how it changed her, and how it ultimately led her to completely rethink her life and her career.We also talk about what it really means to feel stuck…and how to begin finding your way back to yourself ​, especially in midlife, when so many of us are questioning what we want and what comes next.To connect with Niamh:www.niamhennis.comShe is the founder of The ChangeMakers Mastermind where she supports ambitious, heart led business founders.More here...www.niamhennis.com/tcmmastermindIf you enjoyed this episode, please do share it, rate it or leave a review...it really helps the podcast to grow.And you can find the pod on Instagram ​@readytoberealpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's Real Take, I'm sharing a short snippet of my recent conversation with Celtic wisdom teacher and guide Mari Kennedy.Here she talks to us about the coming days, Síle's day on the 18th and later in the week, we'll be celebrating the Spring Equinox.I highly recommend you listen to the full conversation with Mari anytime now, it's a beaut!To connect with her :https://www.marikennedy.com/https://www.instagram.com/marikennedywisdom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : The dark feminine/An Chailleach, infertility, grief, good girl conditioning, masculine and feminine forces, patriarchy, menopause, 4 (not 3) stages of womanhood - Maiden, Mother, Sovereign Queen and Crone, Friday the 13th, Síle's day, year of the Fire Horse, Spring Equinox, Sinéad O'Connor, rebellion, new age wellness, Síle na gig, feminine rising. For this special Friday the 13th episode, I’m joined by a teacher and guide in the Celtic Wisdom tradition, ​the wonderful Mari Kennedy.Mari lives in her home county of Sligo with her partner ​writer Eugene​ O'Brien, and she works with the Celtic Wheel of the Year​, an ancient framework that invites us to live in deeper alignment with nature​, cyclical wisdom​ and the cycles of life.Her work centres on women’s relationship to power, wisdom and remembering who we truly are.​The question she keeps returning to, and that runs through everything she does, is: how do we respond wisely and powerfully to the chaos and collapse of this time?In this conversation we cover a lot​...from Mari’s own personal story​ that is so powerful, to conversations around feminine and masculine energies, the impact of living under patriarchy​ and unlearning the 'good girl' conditioning, along with the different stages of womanhood.We also explore the magic of Friday the 13th, ​Síle's day and the ​Spring ​Equinox​.I adored this conversation and I hope you do too.The magic of Friday the 13th - 46 mins approxSíle's Day, Spring Equinox, the balance of the masculine and feminine - 1 hour 11 mins approx​To connect with Mari :https://www.marikennedy.com/​Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marikennedywisdom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm dipping into the Ready to be Real archive for this week's Real Take.In this snippet, I speak with the wonderfully reflective Michael Harding, as he shares his love of religion and spirituality...from Buddhism to Christianity...with the philosophical curiosity and earthy wisdom he’s so well known for.And if you enjoy this, I highly recommend you listen to the full conversation with Michael from December 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm joined by personal trainer and online coach Iza Clarke.Originally from Poland, Iza has been living in Ireland for the past 18 years. She’s married to Odhran and they have two tween daughters, Lanah and Keira.I recently started training with ​her and I love how encouraging and knowledgeable she is​, so I wanted to sit down with her for an honest and informative conversation about strength training, nutrition, and how our approach to fitness needs to change as we move through different decades of life.​* To be clear, this isn’t an ad, I’m a very happy paying client who thought this conversation might resonate with ​listeners.​C​onnect with Iza​Izabela Clarke PT (@iza.clarke)​You can sign up to her monthly program and she’s also launching a perimenopause p​lan on the 16th of March, with a particular focus on training, nutrition and education during this often challenging stage of life.​I would highly recommend connecting with her, she is fab! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​Topics covered : toxic family systems, boundaries, living grief, healing.For this week's Real Take, Josh Connolly talks about the unspoken truth of family dysfunction and how toxic systems are often invisible to the outside world.​He is a father of six and his book​ ​'It’s Them, Not You: How to Break Free from Toxic Parents and Reclaim Your Story' is a bestseller.With a powerful online following and years of lived experience behind his work, he speaks openly about growing up with an alcoholic and abusive parent​.And in the wake of recent public conversations around family estrangement, due to Brooklyn Beckham’s revelations, I wanted to explore what dysfunction in a family system actually looks like. The roles people can fall into​, the patterns that follow on into adulthood​, and why boundaries can feel so difficult and yet are so necessary.​Josh on Instagram​His Dublin workshop on Sunday April 26th 2026​Tics here​​You can listen to the full conversation anytime now​ and if you're struggling right now, there is help available...Ireland helplines and hotlines Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​Topics covered : Alcoholism, toxic family systems, boundaries, living grief, compassion, healing.This week I speak to author Josh Connolly about family dysfunction.Josh is a father of six and his book​ ​'It’s Them, Not You: How to Break Free from Toxic Parents and Reclaim Your Story' is a bestseller.With a powerful online following and years of lived experience behind his work, he speaks openly about growing up with an alcoholic and abusive parent​.And in the wake of recent public conversations around family estrangement, due to Brooklyn Beckham’s revelations, I wanted to explore what dysfunction in a family system actually looks like. The roles people can fall into​, the patterns that follow on into adulthood​, and why boundaries can feel so difficult and yet are so necessary.​Josh on Instagram​His Dublin workshop on Sunday April 26th 2026​Tics here​If you're struggling right now, there is help available...Ireland helplines and hotlines Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​For today’s Real Take, we’re dipping into the archive. Back in May 2020, during the height of COVID restrictions, I recorded a remote conversation with comedian, actor and broadcaster Tommy Tiernan...he was in Galway, I was in Dublin, ​but despite the distance, the connection was magic. He spoke about his fascination with religion and philosophy​, we learn more about what makes him tick...which includes his love of strong coffee and cigars, his brilliant TV show and of his experience ​on a silent retreat. ​You can also listen t0 the full conversation anytime now.And if you liked this chat you might appreciate others here with the likes of Brother Richard and Gelong Thubten. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is aimed at parents of young children through to preteens and I’m speaking with child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinane.Debbie lives in Mayo with her husband James and their two children, Elsie (10.5) and Freddie (9.5). For context, I have two children as well, Cathal (8.5) and Clíodhna (4), so this conversation felt particularly relevant.Debbie first joined me on the podcast back in March 2024, and that episode resonated deeply, for me personally and for so many listeners. If you haven’t heard it yet, I highly recommend giving it a listen.This is Debbie’s third time on the pod, and in this episode we delve into all things kids and toys. What supports healthy development, the importance of aggressive play in childhood, which toys need clear boundaries around them…and one personal rule she stands firmly by: no unsupervised YouTube.Debbie, along with fellow psychotherapist Hayley Rice, created the F.I.R.M.™ (Firm, Intentional, Regulated, Modelling) Parenting Approach, a therapist-designed, research-driven framework that supports parents in raising emotionally healthy, resilient children.You can join their parenting hub, you’ll find more information on both of their Instagram pages.If you enjoy what I do, please follow, rate and review the podcast in all the usual places.Go raibh míle maith agat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s Real Take, Brother Richard speaks about death in a deeply comforting way​, drawn from his years of accompanying people at the end of their lives.If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you’d like to hear more from Brother Richard, the full conversation is available to listen to anytime now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Meditation, religion, spirituality, distractions, boredom and creativity, authenticity, discernment, validation, forgiveness, death, living fully, gratitude, compassion. This week I’m delighted to welcome back a ​true friend of the podcast​.Brother Richard​ is a Capuchin Franciscan priest-friar and he first joined me three and a half years ago ​for a conversation that resonated so deeply with a lot of us and if you haven’t heard it yet, I’d highly recommend going back and listening to it.In today’s episode, he shares so much wisdom once again​; from the importance of allowing boredom into our lives in a world that constantly distracts and overstimulates us, especially important for younger people....to what true forgiveness really looks like, and how it can free us in ways we might not expect and the latter part of the conversation will comfort so many of you too.​Check out his latest book 'Calming the Storms - Meditation as a path to inner peace and happiness' and you can also listen to his podcast 'The Daily Meditation', which is really beautiful.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​, tá mé fíor-bhuíoch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s Real Take, we step beyond the headlines with crime journalist Nicola Tallant and get a real sense of what makes her tick.​If you’re enjoying these conversations, I’d love you to follow, rate and share​...it really helps Ready to be Real grow. Míle buíochas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​Topics covered : Crimeworld, fraudsters, the Regency Hotel shooting, The Kinahans, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, being a mother, resilience.​I'm joined by crime journalist, author and podcaster Nicola Tallant.Nicola is a ​Mum of two and has been working in journalism since she was just nineteen and over the years she’s become one of the most respected and trusted voices in Irish crime reporting, as well as the host of the chart topping podcast Crime World.This week marks ten years since the Regency Hotel shooting ​a period that was particularly intense for Nicola​, and in this conversation we reflect on that time, what it was like covering organised crime up close, and the pressure and responsibility that comes with telling these stories.But beyond all of that, what really stood out to me was Nicola herself.She’s relaxed, compassionate​ and great craic.Honestly, the perfect guest​ and I think you’re going to enjoy this one.​Another podcast to listen to (mentioned during the chat) : Ger Redmond : Being a good role model It's a powerful listen about turning your life around.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered: Addiction, porn, car accident, death, family dynamics, shame, guilt, grief, forgiveness, therapy, support, compassion, healing.In this episode, I’m joined by men’s coach and author Gavin Meenan.Originally from Donegal, Gavin has been living in Sligo for the past sixteen years and is a father of two. Ariana is fifteen and Mason is eight.In this conversation, Gavin speaks with remarkable honesty about some of the most challenging and painful experiences of his life. When he was just eighteen, he was involved in a fatal car accident. He was driving too fast, and the person in the other car died at the scene.What followed, particularly the response of the woman’s family, is extraordinary. Their capacity for compassion, forgiveness and humanity is deeply moving, and it is a story that will genuinely take your breath away.Gavin also opens up about his struggle with porn addiction in the first half of the conversation. He speaks about the moment webcam footage of him was exposed, the shame and fear he experienced, and the long road towards facing himself and moving beyond it.This is a conversation about responsibility and consequence, but it is also about healing, forgiveness, and learning how to step out of shame and guilt in order to truly own your life.To connect with Gavin:​Click hereIf you or someone you know is struggling, please know you are not alone.Help is available...​​Ireland helplines and hotlinesLive Podcast AnnouncementI’m hosting a live Ready to be Real podcast on Saturday 31st January at 2pm as part of Brigit: Dublin City Celebrating Women, presented in partnership with Acast.I’m delighted to say my special guest will be poet, activist and healer Laura Murphy. Laura featured in RTÉ’s documentary Finding Brigid and campaigned successfully to make Brigid’s Day a national holiday.Together, we’ll explore themes rooted in the spirit of Brigid, and we’d love to see you there.​Buy tickets here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this snippet I speak to broadcaster and author Clare McKenna about wellness.If you enjoy this and you’d like to hear more, the full conversation with ​Clare is available to listen to anytime now.Announcement : I'm hosting a live podcast show on Saturday 31st of January at 2pm Abbey Presbyterian church as part of Brigit : Dublin City Celebrating Women presented in partnership with Acast and I'm delighted to say that my special guest is poet, activist, and healer Laura Murphy.Our conversation will be rooted in the spirit of Brigid and we'd love to see you so bigí linn!Buy tickets here(Laura featured in RTÉ's documentary Finding Brigid and campaigned successfully to make Brigid’s Day a national holiday.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.