Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

Topics covered : Tragic accident, trauma, child loss, grief.Eileen Loughlin is a wonderful person and someone I’ve wanted to speak to for a long time.She lives in Delvin in County Westmeath with her husband Enda and their two sons, Senan who’s 16 and TJ who’s almost 9.And over 2.5 years ago her life changed forever when their 3.5 year old daughter Annabel, died in a freak accident in their home.Now at 22 weeks pregnant she shares how profound the grieving process is, especially with a new addition on the way; how keeping Annabel’s spirit alive is so important to her and how she feels her presence with her.This was an extremely challenging conversation for her but I really think that she honoured Annabel’s memory beautifully.You can follow Eileen on Instagram if you don’t already, you’ll find her @everything.eileenOther episodes on child loss on ‘Ready to be Real’Dr. Suzanne McClean April 2020Ian Lawton May 2021Irish Times article with current Taoiseach Micheál Martin on child loss…https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/miche%C3%A1l-martin-you-will-always-say-you-have-the-kids-you-lost-1.4582225And 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 : Long Covid, breathwork, freediving, mental illness, therapy, self-limiting beliefs, reinvention and overcoming.This week I speak to champion freediver Claire Walsh.Originally from Leixlip, she currently lives in Bray with her partner Boudy and she’s been freediving for 6 years now.She’s competitive and driven, but there’s also a beautiful gentleness about her that allows her to connect to her breath and to the water and achieve what she has already, which is incredible.She can hold her breath underwater for an impressive 5 minutes 59 seconds and she can dive to 59 meters on one breath alone.A fan of therapy and regular self-care habits like sea swimming, mindfulness and meditation, this is a fascinating listen as she covers so much from her love and respect of the water from an early age, to struggling with her mental health in her 20’s, and she also talks about her other passions in life; music, drama and performance.I was hanging onto her every word and I think you will too.Reference -Movie ‘Le Grand Bleu/The Big Blue’* Claire is sponsored by Timewise SystemsIf you like my 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 : Pregnancy, wedding during Covid restrictions, meningitis, Pride celebrations.This week I speak to brother and sister, James Patrice and Vanessa Butler.James is a TV presenter, performer and social media sensation and Vanessa is a classically trained singer, music teacher and has grown her own following on Instagram in recent times too.Proudly from Malahide, they have always been close, and in this conversation we learn things like 'what their favourite food is', 'who the biggest Diva is' and how their mother Fron, got her name.But we also discuss the damage of making assumptions about people or situations, a major health scare that shook the whole family when James was only 10, the recent Pride celebrations and how Vanessa is having an uber productive 2021; marrying in a pandemic and being 20 weeks pregnant.They’re utterly charming and it was a complete tonic to be in their company.Check out James’ new TV show ’Battle of the Food Trucks’ on the RTE Player now and make sure you follow them both on Instagram, if you don’t already! And 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 : Suicide, grief.This week I speak to counsellor and psychotherapist Peter Mahony who gives us a deeper insight into therapy; what it is and how we can benefit from it. We talk about the impact the pandemic has had on us and how important it is to mind ourselves and others, as we recover from the past year.There’s a particular focus on teens and those in their early twenties in this episode. We also tap into self-worth, family dynamics, how friendships have changed during Covid and he also gives practical parenting advice and shares tips on how to be a better friend to someone who needs support.Book mention…‘What happened to you? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing’ by Bruce D. Perry and Oprah WinfreyTo contact Peter, you’ll find him here…https://www.byyoursidetherapy.com/And for a full list of all accredited IACP Counsellors/Psychotherapists in Ireland, go to...https://www.iacp.ie/If you like my 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.

Trigger warning : Fertility, miscarriage, cancer, hysterectomy, IVF, surrogacy.This week I speak to Dublin woman Audrey O’Hagan who’s married to Dave and their son Hugh is almost a year and a half.She’s in her thirties and works as a communications officer with Dublin Airport, a job she loves and in this episode, she lets us in on the past four years of her life that have had their fair share of ups and downs. And even though the conversation is deeply emotional and challenging at times, it’s also an uplifting listen too.Follow Audrey on Instagram…https://www.instagram.com/audge3000/?hl=enIf you’re concerned about any health issue or if you haven’t had a check-up in a while, perhaps listening to Audrey will encourage you to call your GP or make that appointment you’ve been putting off, or to reach out and ask for help if you’re struggling.It really is so important to look after ourselves and if you need to talk to someone the Irish Cancer Society have a helpline open 9-5pm Monday to Friday Call and speak to a Nurse on the Cancer Nurseline onFREEPHONE 1800 200 700 Visit www.cancer.ie Or email [email protected] And 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.

Trigger warning : Disordered eating.This week I speak to Aoife O’Brien about life with and after an eating disorder.Originally from County Clare, Aoife now lives in Mayo with her fiancé Damian and their son Liam, who’s nearly 2. She works with the GAA/ Croke Park co-ordinating the Healthy Clubs project which promotes health and wellbeing within clubs.But for years she was controlled by an eating disorder which went unnoticed for a long time. Now having fully recovered she is passionate about getting the message out that life after disordered eating, is very much possible.In this conversation, we discuss diet culture, the signs of eating distress and how best to address it.Podcast mention…The Marino Therapy Centrehttps://www.marinotherapycentre.com/Helpful questions for journaling…1. What did I do well today?2. What did I learn?3. What would I do differently?Thanks to Ranae and Jacqueline for helping set up this conversation and of course to Aoife for all the effort she put in, to make it happen.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, thank you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Disordered eating, depression.This week I speak to former model and media personality, Holly Carpenter.She lives in Stoneybatter in Dublin with her dog Max, and has been in a relationship since October, but over the past 14 months she has had many ups and downs and she’s been very honest about her struggles with her mental health and the impact the pandemic had on her overall wellbeing.She’s genuine, sensitive and naturally funny and in this candid conversation she talks about the years she spent modelling, competing at the ‘Miss World pageant’, taking part in ‘Britain’s Next Top Model’ and the toll it took on her, she also talks about the damage of toxic positivity, being separated from her parents for over a year, dating in a pandemic, her new found love of sea swimming and how she’s not a fan of the ‘5 year plan!’.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, thank you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Infant loss, grief, depression, disordered eating, weight loss.This week I speak to father and ultra marathon runner, Ian Lawton.He lives in Navan in County Meath, is married to Jennifer, and is the father of two sons, Ike who’s 12 and Hank who passed away 10 years ago, the day after he was born.In this conversation he gives us a profound insight into infant loss, and the pain of a bereaved father. Not alone does he speak about loss and grief but also about rebirth and moving forward with a newfound purpose.In a year, he went from being morbidly obese to becoming an extreme runner, which lead to him running 10 marathons in 10 days finishing on what would’ve been Hank’s 10th birthday, this February.This September he turns 50, an age he wasn’t expected to live to see, and he’ll mark it by embracing the challenge of the 'Kerry Way Ultra', running the gruelling 200 kilometres through mountain passes, bogs, roads and trails.This was a deeply emotional and challenging conversation for him and I commend his rawness and willingness to be real.If you’d like to support Ian’s fundraiser, simply click on this link… https://www.gofundme.com/f/10TEN10 and his website is www.runningforhank.comIf 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.

Trigger warning : Tragic death, complex grief, severe injuries, PTSD.This is my conversation with the incredible Zoe Holohan.On the 23rd of July 2018, Zoe and her husband Brian were on their honeymoon when disaster struck. Wildfires swept through the seaside town of Mati in Greece where they were staying and claimed the lives of 102 people. She miraculously survived despite her extensive injuries, while Brian, unfortunately didn’t.In this conversation we hear how she and Brian met, what a wonderful man he was, their beautiful wedding day and how her life changed forever just a few days later, on their honeymoon.She also speaks about her Dad and the close friendship they had, and how his death 3 weeks after that terrible day in Greece was yet another trauma to have to come to terms with.This was by far one of the most moving conversations I’ve ever had, and I am in awe of Zoe’s courage, strength and resilience.Her book :‘As the smoke clears : The inspirational true story of surviving Greece’s deadly wildfires, overcoming devastating loss and discovering a path to renewal.’If you enjoyed this chat 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.

Trigger warning : Postnatal depression, anxiety, sudden death, grief.This week I speak to entrepreneur and mother, Sharon Keegan.She lives in Dublin with her partner Seán and their two boys, Liam who’s 5 and Bob who’s 2.As the founder of female empowerment clothing brand ‘Peachylean’, Shar’s USP is ‘being real’ so obviously she was the dream guest for this podcast.Last December we sat down to have a chat and it was powerful.2020 was a year with some wonderful highs but also some terrible lows for her.She fulfilled a personal dream when she took part in the BBC’s Dragons Den securing the support of 3 Dragon’s, and someone who was really excited for her was her brother Alan who she was incredibly close to.Unfortunately though, he was gone before it happened. In March 2020, he died suddenly, devastating her and the entire family.Sharon is someone I admire massively, she’s not afraid to be vulnerable, and believes in taking chances.In this conversation she talks about Alan and the pain his death has caused, the whirlwind of Dragon’s Den, the significance of certain numbers, and recognising signs, the benefits of movement and therapy, being body confident and the importance of silencing your inner critic.Book mention :The Celestine Prophecy by James RedfieldCatch Sharon's episode of Dragon's Den from the 29th April 2021 (Series 18, Episode 5) here...https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000vm01/dragons-den-series-18-episode-5If you enjoyed this chat 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.

Trigger warning : Multiple rounds of IVF, miscarriage.Denise Phillips lives in Newbridge, Co. Kildare with her husband Mark, their 6 year old daughter Beth and she’s also step mother to 16 year old Ellie.She’s hugely successful in her career as the owner of Pelo hairdressing and the co-owner of Irish hair brand Voduz and last week she got the surprise of her life when she found out she was over 6 months pregnant!For the past 10 years, she had lived with unexplained infertility, no periods, no ovulation and the lining of her womb was very thin.On their 9th cycle of IVF she went on to have their little girl and when Beth was a baby, she also took part in TV documentary ‘The Babymakers’, which followed the lives of couples for over a year, who were trying to conceive and showed the reality of IVF.This was one of my favourite chats ever on the podcast, it’s full of wisdom and practical advice, especially for those who are navigating the often-challenging road to parenthood. She speaks about acceptance and gratitude and the importance of staying in your own lane.And when we spoke on Tuesday when she had just come from all her pregnancy appointments in the Coombe hospital, where she found out she was almost 29 weeks pregnant!Book mentions:Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of SuccessVishen Lakhiani’s The Code of the Extraordinary MindIf you enjoyed this chat 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.

Trigger warning : Religion, IVF. I speak to writer, podcaster, activist and mother, Ranae von Meding this week.Ranae lives in Dublin city centre with her wife Audrey and their two daughters, Ava who is 4, and Arya who is 2. She spoke about so much during our chat…from growing up in an extremely religious household, the importance of having boundaries, her struggles with an eating disorder, how she met and fell in love with Audrey and their beautiful but challenging journey to Motherhood.She’s also the CEO of non-profit organisation ‘Equality for Children’ and I hope when you listen to this conversation that you’ll feel as strongly as I do, and want to support their efforts by signing the petition in the link below, as it would be wonderful to get it to 20,000 signatures. Thank you!https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/equality-for-children-nowRanae also has her own podcast called ‘Disordered’ which explores our relationship with food and our bodies and it’s really worth checking out.And if you enjoyed this chat please show your support by leaving a rating or a little comment on Apple, and by clicking follow on Spotify. Thanks so much for listening to Ready to be Real conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second part of the conversation I had with Menopause coach, Catherine O’Keeffe.And in this episode, she talks about HRT, early menopause and she also answers a selection of your questions that were sent in on Instagram, including, advice on supplements.Menopause is a complex topic, and the experience of it, is different for every woman so I do hope you find these episodes helpful.You can email her directly on [email protected] you can also sign up to her newsletter here : https://www.wellnesswarrior.ie/menopause-week-2020Mentioned during the conversation * None of the brands mentioned during the conversation are sponsored.And of course there are plenty of other brands on the market too. Find what works for you personally and remember to always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.SupplementsB Vitamins, Omega 3, Vitamin D, Magnesium, Maca, Camu Camu, Sage and Rhodiola.Brands'Cleanmarine MenoMin'Magnesium supplement 'MAG365'Maca capsules and powder 'Sarah's choice'Sage 'Menosan A.Vogel'Omega 3 & Vitamin D3 'MorEPA Platinum Elite'Vitamin D 'One Nutrition' or 'SOMEGA'Rhodiola 'Terranova'Camu Camu 'Sarah's Choice'Tulsi 'Pukka Tulsi Clarity Tea'This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with Irish kombucha brand, SynerChi, who offer a delicious range of 100% natural ingredients, organic and low in calorie sparkling drink varieties, containing all the amazing benefits of kombucha and available in supermarkets nationwide.For more go to http://www.synerchikombucha.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a conversation I’ve wanted to record for ages and I’m so glad it finally happened.I sat down with Menopause coach Catherine O’Keeffe, who goes by the name WellnessWarrior.ie and we spoke about so much that I’ve decided to split the conversation in two, to allow you to absorb the information as it’s such a complicated and sensitive topic and the experience of menopause is so different for every woman.Originally from Kilkenny, Catherine lives in Dublin with her husband Tom, their three boys and their dog Joy! In this conversation, she’ll discuss the physical, mental and emotional aspects of perimenopause and menopause and the impact of stress.Some symptoms which are discussed – Anxiety, brain fog, flooding, hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, aches and pains, urinary incontinence and vaginal atrophy.She’ll also talk about the importance of sleep, eating well, self-care practices and cognitive behavioural therapy in managing symptoms.You can email her directly on [email protected] you can also sign up to her newsletter here : https://www.wellnesswarrior.ie/menopause-week-2020Mentioned during the conversation:Prof Myra Hunter & CBT Techniques: https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/cognitive-behaviour-therapy-cbt-menopausal-symptoms/Pelvic Physio : https://pelvicphysiotherapy.com/about-maeve-whelan/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 GPThis episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with Irish kombucha brand, SynerChi, who offer a delicious range of 100% natural ingredients, organic and low in calorie sparkling drink varieties, containing all the amazing benefits of kombucha and available in supermarkets nationwide.For more go to http://www.synerchikombucha.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Proudly from Newry in Northern Ireland, Maeve lives in London with her fiancé and her Instagram following grew massively in the past year due to her virtual workouts which led to her creating her online community ‘Queens Don’t Quit’.In this conversation, she talks candidly about a whole load of topics…periods, fibroids and PCOS, her former dance career, having Covid 19, wedding plans, the downsides of Instagram filters and her dislike of cats!She’s hilarious, genuine and I absolutely loved chatting to her.To join her online community…https://maevemadden.co/Trigger warning : Cat lovers beware!This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with Irish kombucha brand, SynerChi, who offer a delicious range of 100% natural ingredients, organic and low in calorie sparkling drink varieties, containing all the amazing benefits of kombucha and available in supermarkets nationwide.For more go to http://www.synerchikombucha.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Religion, Catholic Church. This week my guest is Redemptorist priest and religious writer, Tony Flannery.Tony has gained a reputation for being a controversial figure within the Catholic Church but when you examine what he talks about, he is simply speaking the truth. In 2012 he was summoned to the Vatican and told that he would be allowed to return to ministry only if he agreed to sign a statement stating, among other things, that women could never be ordained priests and that he would adhere to church orthodoxy on matters like contraception and homosexuality. He went to Rome with his brother Frank, former Fine Gael strategist and unsurprisingly, he never signed the documents. In this conversation we hear how he ended up becoming a priest, Ireland in the 50’s and 60’s and the significance of the church at the time, the changes brought about by Vatican II and the impact it had, he shares his views on Pope John Paul II, Benedict XVI and the current Pontiff and he also speaks of some of the fundamental teachings of the Catholic church that he simply can’t accept.Tony is a man of real character and it was an absolute pleasure to talk to him.From approx 1 hour 5 mins, we discuss some of the most challenging teachings of the church especially in relation to women and sex.His latest book is ‘From the Outside: Rethinking Church Doctrine’http://www.tonyflannery.com/Religion and in particular the Catholic Church is a topic I have always had an interest in, as I have struggled since my teens with the church’s teachings and I have always believed it’s important to ask questions and do what feels right for you so this week's conversation was one I had massive curiosity about. This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with Irish kombucha brand, SynerChi, who offer a delicious range of 100% natural ingredients, organic and low in calorie sparkling drink varieties, containing all the amazing benefits of kombucha and available in supermarkets nationwide.For more go to http://www.synerchikombucha.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Knife attack, Murder, PTSD.Sinéad O’Leary was only 19 when her life changed forever.She and her friend Nichola Sweeney, were getting ready to go out, when a neighbour (Peter Whelan) broke into Nichola’s home and attacked them both.Sinéad was stabbed 20 times and managed to survive the onslaught, while her friend Nichola unfortunately died, due to her wounds. In this conversation, Sinéad speaks about her friendship with Nichola, the night itself, the court case and how 19 years on, she doesn't feel safe or respected by the state. It is without a doubt, the most affecting podcast I’ve ever recorded. * Further viewing - TG4 documentary Finné, Series 3 Episode 4 which is still available on the TG4 playerSome extra points from Sinéad….‘My overall experience is that there has been a lack of duty and care for victims throughout the process. A process which I have found to be inhumane and negligent. I was a State Witness in a murder trial but once I had testified against Peter Whelan, I felt completely disposable. When his numerous appeals were launched I would learn of same only through media outlets. I learned about his day releases, parole hearings and sentence remission from a journalist in 2019. Parole hearings which were unconstitutional, which he was not legally entitled to. These revelations shocked me to the core. Only now that I have made a concerted effort to seek the truth, have I been given the right to receive updates of parole hearings and upcoming day releases. It shouldn’t be this hard for victims. After Prime Time aired in 2019 no accountability was taken by the department of justice with regard to the gross mishandling of Peter Whelan's sentence management. I was assured by the then Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, that the new Parole Act would give much needed and increased rights to victims. That the minimum term for parole eligibility for lifers would be increased from 7 to 12 years. I was made to believe, time and time again, that the act would apply retrospectively to Peter Whelan. This would mean that he would only be entitled to a parole hearing when he had served the minimum of 12 years for Nichola's murder and therefore wouldn’t eligible for a parole hearing until 2025. Yet here we are today, the Parole Act is still not in place and another parole hearing is imminent for Whelan. Despite reassurances, I am yet again in limbo. Nicholas family and I have have been tremendously let down and neglected by the state again. As have many other families who have been thrust into the harrowing and frightening parole process a mere 7 years into the life sentences of their loved ones killers.I was invited to submit a Victim Impact Statement for the latest parole hearing; my first invitation after 19 years. This is welcome in written form only. I am not allowed to address the Parole Board in person nor is there someone to advocate on my behalf. My attacker will have full access to my statement; my fears and vulnerabilities will be fully exposed. When the new act is finally established there willbe a prisoners rights advocate from a non government body appointed to the board to advocate for him. I have been fighting for the introduction of a Victims Advocate to the Parole Board in order to address this imbalance. My attacker will have psychologists, prison staff, lawyers and others to speak on his behalf. My voice and the voices of Nicholas family members willbe constrained to a written statement There will be no one there to advocate for us.Victims should be involved in this process. Their ongoing pain and suffering needs to be acknowledged and addressed. It is those who are bereaved by homicide who serve the real life sentences. Their human rights need to be accounted for. I cannot emphasise this enough. The scales of justice need to be rebalanced.’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Tuesday I recorded a conversation with a woman I’ve admired for many years.Singer, musician and poet, Imelda May is my guest this week.She lives in London with her 8 year old daughter, Violet, and is now dating fellow musician Niall McNamee. Proudly from the Liberties in Dublin, she has lived in England for over 20 years and in this conversation we talk feminism and paganism, she talks about her wonderful parents and her upbringing. We also reminisce about the late Gerry Ryan, she talks about her involvement in this year’s Irish language festival, ‘Seachtain na Gaeilge’, the time she spent in Doolin where she learnt to play the bodhrán and we find out what her dream day is!I’m so grateful to her for making time to chat to me this week and her latest album ‘11 Past the Hour’ will be available to buy from the 16th of April.Book mention : 'Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions'by Chimamanda Ngozi AdichieYou'll find me on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/sileseoige/?hl=enThis episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with HCC.ie and supported by Irish Life Health. Whether you’re a family, an individual or employer, HCC.ie’s dedicated experts can provide you with the support you need to find health insurance that’s right for you, at a price that fits your budget. If you already have health insurance, the team at HCC.ie will help you compare your options to ensure you find a plan that balances the cover you need with what you can afford. Visit www.hcc.ie today or call them on 014980515 to speak with one of their experts for free. Eppione Limited trading as HealthCare Compare is Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : death by suicide, injury, sudden death, grief.Last December I travelled to Cork and spoke to the incredible Dessie Fitzgerald.His world was turned upside down on the 8th of August 2011, and he continued to face unimaginable difficulty over the 14 months that followed.But since then, he’s turned his pain into a positive and is now helping people every day in his role as a Life Coach.Dessie is married to Sarah and they have two sons, MJ and Jack and they live in Charleville, in North Co. Cork.This conversation is a masterclass in vulnerability, acceptance and in letting go as he talks about the importance of speaking from your pain to deal with trauma.I was in awe of him and I have a feeling you will be too.If this episode strikes a chord with you, please share it with friends or family or anyone you think will benefit from hearing it, thank you.And for more on Dessie, go to his website…https://www.dessiefitzgerald.com/about/And a big thanks to Maeve Dennehy (Love Cherish) for recommending that I connect with Dessie.This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with HCC.ie and supported by Irish Life Health. Whether you’re a family, an individual or employer, HCC.ie’s dedicated experts can provide you with the support you need to find health insurance that’s right for you, at a price that fits your budget. If you already have health insurance, the team at HCC.ie will help you compare your options to ensure you find a plan that balances the cover you need with what you can afford. Visit www.hcc.ie today or call them on 014980515 to speak with one of their experts for free. Eppione Limited trading as HealthCare Compare is Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former journalist and TV Producer, Yasmin Boland is now a best-selling author and is considered one of the most respected voices on the spiritual importance of the moon.In this conversation she talks through the phases of the moon (20 mins in approx), it’s historical significance, New Moon and Full Moon rituals (24 mins), manifesting (33 mins) and of course the divine feminine. And for more on Yasmin, simply go to her website…https://www.yasminboland.com/Moonology Manifesting Challenge...https://magic.moonology.com/7-day-moonology-challenge-yasminAnd you can find her on Instagram here…https://www.instagram.com/moonologydotcom/Book mentions – Yasmin’s Moonology Diary Moon Signs by Donna CunninghamNew Moon Astrology by Jan SpillerThis episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with HCC.ie and supported by Irish Life Health. Whether you’re a family, an individual or employer, HCC.ie’s dedicated experts can provide you with the support you need to find health insurance that’s right for you, at a price that fits your budget. If you already have health insurance, the team at HCC.ie will help you compare your options to ensure you find a plan that balances the cover you need with what you can afford. Visit www.hcc.ie today or call them on 014980515 to speak with one of their experts for free. Eppione Limited trading as HealthCare Compare is Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Seizures, cancer, terminal diagnosis. This week I chat to the incredible Alannah Sheehan who goes by the Instagram handle https://www.instagram.com/worth_fighting4/Alannah is married to Martin, they live in Tipperary and they have 3 kids; Finn who’s 5, Luca who’s 3 and Phoebe who’s 1 and has just started to walk.But last year her world changed forever when she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of brain cancer.In this conversation you’ll hear how tough it’s been for her, having brain surgery and undergoing 30 days of radiation and 6 months of chemotherapy but you’ll also hear how grateful she is for her life and how she really is living every single day with her family.I’ve wanted to talk to her for months now and I’m so thankful that we made it happen this week.She has the most beautiful voice and such a calm nature and it's a truly powerful conversation.Please show your support for Alannah if you can, by donating to her Go fund Me page...https://www.gofundme.com/f/z4xxfd-worthfighting4Thank you!This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with HCC.ie and supported by Irish Life Health. Whether you’re a family, an individual or employer, HCC.ie’s dedicated experts can provide you with the support you need to find health insurance that’s right for you, at a price that fits your budget. If you already have health insurance, the team at HCC.ie will help you compare your options to ensure you find a plan that balances the cover you need with what you can afford.Visit www.hcc.ie today or call them on 014980515 to speak with one of their experts for free. Eppione Limited trading as HealthCare Compare is Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Religion, depressionActor and comedian Mario Rosenstock is my guest this week.Best known for his Gift Grub impersonations on Today FM for the past 22 years, he's married to Bláthnaid and they have two kids, Dash who’s 13 and Bellamie who’s 8.He’s wonderfully eccentric and as you can imagine has plenty of hilarious stories but he’s also incredibly honest and reflective and I absolutely loved our chat.In this conversation, he talks about the night he met his wife for the first time, how he’s always seeing the best in people, he shares his views on religion, he talks about luck and lying, how he’s changed down through the years and that time our President Michael D bought pints for him and his pals!If you enjoy this episode please support it by doing any or all of the following; share it with friends or family, post it on social, click follow, give a rating or leave a little comment…whatever you do, I’d be so thankful!Thanks so much for listening to Ready to be Real Conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Childhood disability, breakdown. This week I chat to Sharon Myers, a warm and genuine woman who I absolutely loved chatting to.She’s married to Denis and they have two children, Sophie who’s a teenager and Noah who’ll be ten in March and they live in Mitchelstown in North Cork.Noah was born with a rare condition called Escobar syndrome and in this conversation she talks through the ups and downs of coming to terms with it but she also talks about that time they climbed the Galtee mountains together and that other time they went parasailing!It’s an inspiring and heart-warming episode that I hope you love as much as I do.To follow Sharon, Noah and the Myers family on Instagram, you’ll find them here….https://www.instagram.com/ourwheelybigjourney/And if you enjoyed this episode please support it by doing any or all of the following…share it with friends or family, post it on social, click follow, give a rating or leave a little comment…whatever you do, I’d be so thankful! X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning : Depression, grief, addiction.This week I chat to writer, communicator, strategist and mental health campaigner Alastair Campbell.He’s probably best known for his role as the official spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy for the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.Now splits his time between writing, speaking, charity work and consultancy.He lives with his partner Fiona and they have three children, Grace, Calum and Rory. A self-confessed atheist who’s obsessed with Burnley Football, Alastair had a well-documented mental breakdown in 1986 but instead of going into that time during this conversation, I wanted to talk to him about how he is doing today.His latest book ‘Living Better’ shares how he learned to survive depression and in this conversation he talks about the importance of family and friends; we discuss vulnerability, finding balance and he also shares practical tips on managing depression which I think many of you will find beneficial.If you like this podcast please click follow, give a rating or leave a little comment, thanks a million!And a word of thanks to my friend Barbara for helping to make this conversation happen X Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we all know, 2020 was a year like no other so I wanted to put together a sort of ‘look back' at the year gone by.I learnt so much from all of the guests I had the honour to chat to, throughout the year.I didn’t include every conversation from 2020 here but I’m so thankful to each and every one of my guests for giving their time so generously.We covered so much in the conversations from realising what really matters in life, the healing power of nature, believing change can happen, letting go of fear, the benefit of talking things out, being a good listener, overcoming obstacles, waking up, asking questions, being kind, having self-worth, embracing healthy habits, learning lessons, being thankful and as always...being real.A special mention for my bestie Siobhan who helped me with this and for Shane in Collaborative Studios for putting it all together for me.And thanks to you for all your support since this podcast started in October 2019, it really means the world to me.https://www.readytobereal.com/Leanne Moore Behan 1.10Baz Ashmawy 2.27Dermot Whelan 3.50Seán Boylan 6.06Nadine Reid 7.10Paul Byrom 8.14Kathryn Thomas 9.27Hector Ó hEochagáin 10.42Janet Devlin 11.11 Michael Healy-Rae 12.11Jamie and Georgie Crawford 12.56June Burke 14.01Rosanna Davison 14.56Brian Dowling and Arthur Gourounlian 15.51Joanne O'Riordan 17.13Professor Luke O'Neill 18.22Muireann O'Connell 19.48Brian Pennie 20.34Don O'Neill 21.38Tommy Tiernan 22.53Kathie Stritch 24.13 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV presenter and podcaster Hector Ó hEochagáin is my guest this week.Navan born and bred, Hector has been living in Galway for the past 26 years.He’s married to Dympna and they have two teenage sons, Rian and Shane.He’s been creating and presenting TV and radio shows for over 20 years and he’s filmed in over 60 countries worldwide so far, with many more on the horizon.In this conversation he talks about fatherhood, the pride he feels working for TG4, his brilliant podcast with friends Tommy Tiernan and Laurita Blewitt; why manners, laughter and passion are important in life and for the week that’s in it, we also talk about Christmas traditions.It’s an uplifting chat that serves up a generous dose of nostalgia and gives much needed perspective at times too. A massive thanks to each and every one of you who listened, followed, left a comment and send me messages this year; I’ve been really touched by the feedback and I hope you’ll continue to tune in and support 'Ready to be Real" next year. I’ll be back with another episode early in January so until then, go easy and stay safe.Nollaig Shona agus athbhliain faoi shéain agus faoi mhaoise dhaoibh ar fad.This episode was brought to you in partnership with with @drcoys who offer tasty nutritional chocolate and a range of free-from cooking ingredients.And to celebrate our partnership they’re offering 25% off their entire range of nutritional products.Simply go to their website, https://www.drcoys.ie/ and use the code Sile25 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning : references to miscarriage, grief. This week I chat to fitness trainer, gym owner and entrepreneur Leanne Moore Behan.Leanne lives in Kildare with her husband Dave and their adorable dogs, Toby and Ben.And in this conversation we reminisce about that time she won singing competition and hit TV show ‘You’re a Star’, her Mam and the beautiful legacy she left behind, the close bond with her sister, her new morning routine and how it’s improved her life, following her instincts and trusting in signs.Leanne is a gorgeous person and this is such an encouraging listen for anyone, but especially for those of you who are reassessing your careers.I took so much from it and I hope you do too.And if you want to join Leanne’s brilliant online community, go to her website to sign up… https://www.leannemoore.ie/ Book recommendations : Atomic Habits by James ClearThe Gifts of Imperfection by Brené BrownThis episode was brought to you in partnership with with @drcoys who offer tasty nutritional chocolate and a range of free-from cooking ingredients.And to celebrate our partnership they’re offering 25% off their entire range of nutritional products.Simply go to their website, https://www.drcoys.ie/ and use the code Sile25 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning : references to conception, pregnancy, IVF, grief.This week I chat to fertility coach and psychotherapist, Helena Tubridy.Helena is a Mother and Grandmother and she has been helping women and men to achieve pregnancy naturally and those who are preparing for IVF, for over 30 years.She also offers support to people experiencing the pain of miscarriage, stillbirth, birth trauma, and subfertility.She’s an independent professional and not affiliated with any brand or company so any mentions of products or clinics in this episode are simply to provide information which may be useful to you.She covers so much in this comprehensive conversation from the importance of having good sexual and reproductive health, the differences between Semen Analysis and DNA fragmentation, AMH levels and what they mean, the pros and cons of IVF and what we can do to boost our chances of conceiving naturally and having a healthy pregnancy. She also answers a selection of questions that were sent in on Instagram.And as much as this chat is a detailed look at all things fertility related, we both knew there was plenty more we could’ve spoken about so if you’d like to contact Helena directly, simply go to her website…https://www.helenatubridy.com/and you can follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/helenatubridy/This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with with Dr. Coy’s, who offer tasty nutritional chocolate and a range of free-from cooking ingredients.And to celebrate our partnership they’re offering 25% off their entire range of nutritional products.Simply go to their website, https://www.drcoys.ie/ and use the code Sile25. And if you enjoyed our conversation, please show your support by clicking follow, giving a rating and leaving a little comment, thanks a million.Helena’s recommendations…Fertility Supplements ‘My Fertility Box’ formally ‘pre-conceive’ https://pillarhealthcare.com/take-pre-conceive/‘Proceive’https://www.proceive.ie/Fertility Clinic ‘Neo Fertility’ https://neofertility.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning : references to drug use, addiction, childhood trauma, anxiety, alcoholism.Brian Pennie is a Neuroscience lecturer at Trinity College & UCD, a PHD student, radio presenter and author and he’s one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met.On the 8th of October 2013, Brian experienced his first day clean after 15 years of chronic heroin addiction and since that day he has radically turned his life around.Now at 42, life is good. This year he released his compelling memoir ‘Bonus Time’ and he also found love for the very first time.During our chat he talks about feeling anxious from an early age, his upbringing and his heroin addiction, but we also talk about what he has learned through years of study and self-reflection; we talk about the power of self-talk, the importance of routine, gratitude, mindfulness and most of all…connection. If you’re interested in joining any of Brian’s brilliant online courses, simply go to his website https://www.brianpennie.com/ and you can follow him on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brianpennie78/And if you, or someone you know is struggling right now, please know that there is help available.Pieta provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide.Freephone 1800 247 247Text Help to 51444https://www.pieta.ie/Or you can contact a SamaritanFreephone 116 123or email [email protected]://www.samaritans.org/ireland/samaritans-ireland/This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with with Dr. Coy’s, who offer tasty nutritional chocolate and a range of free-from cooking ingredients.And to celebrate our partnership they’re offering 25% off their entire range of nutritional products.Simply go to their website, https://www.drcoys.ie/ and use the code Sile25. And if you enjoyed our conversation, please show your support of the podcast by clicking follow, giving a rating and leaving a little comment, thanks a million. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I chat to TV presenter and podcaster Muireann O’Connell.A self-confessed insomniac and TV buff, she grew up in Limerick with her parents and her three siblings.And in this conversation we talk about the ups and downs of working in the media in Ireland, life with her ‘housemate’, the bond with her family and her recent health scare.She’s great craic and as smart as a tack, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. This episode was brought to you in partnership with Revive Active, your daily super supplement, made here in Ireland.Taking Revive Active is one of the ways you can support your immune system this winter and this year, they’ve chosen to support Breast Cancer Ireland with a bid to raise €100,000 through the sale of a thousand limited-edition Revive Active Immunity Support Gift Packs. Each pack contains two 30-day boxes and a shaker, for the discounted price of €100 with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Breast Cancer Ireland.So, if you want load up on the good stuff before Christmas and support cancer research in the process, the packs will be available exclusively online.Simply click on the link https://ie.reviveactive.com/products/breast-cancer-ireland-fundraiser Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Irish designer and proud Kerryman Don O’Neill is my guest this week.Don and his husband Pascal have been living in New York for 26 years and I am fortunate to call them my friends.As a designer, Don has dressed some of the most powerful women in the world; Oprah Winfrey, Khloe Kardashian and Meghan Markle to name but a few, with many Irish women also falling in love with his designs.My sister Gráinne and I have been lucky enough to wear many of his gúnas down through the years, with Don also designing her wedding dress last year.When we spoke earlier this week, I really wanted to talk to him about the mood in America especially after the recent events in the US election.We also speak about the pandemic, the past few years under Trump’s administration, his glittering fashion career, dressing Oprah, his relationship with Pascal and how life has radically changed for them both, in 2020.Don is a deeply spiritual man and this conversation proves that while life is full of ups and downs, the impact you have on others is more important than anything else in life.See my Instagram page for photos that relate to our chat.If you enjoy this podcast, please share it with friends and family and you can also support what I do, by clicking follow, giving a rating and leaving a little comment, thanks a million. This episode was brought to you in partnership with Revive Active, your daily super supplement, made here in Ireland.Taking Revive Active is one of the ways you can support your immune system this winter and they’re offering a 10% discount on all Revive Active products to all my podcast listeners.Simply click on the link https://ie.reviveactive.com/products/revive-active and use the code - Sile10 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Níall is a certified Level 3 Wim Hof Method instructor and in this episode we talk about the Ice Man himself, cold showers(from about 22mins) and swimming in the sea(from 39mins).He explains why the cold is good for us and how to do it effectively and carefully. Some of the benefits include strengthening the immune system, balancing hormones, lowering stress and anxiety and improving sleep quality.This podcast is suitable for complete beginners or the more experienced as Níall tells us how we can use nature, our breathing and the cold to improve our lives and our health.For more on Níall and his upcoming workshops and courses, go to https://www.breathewithniall.com/And for more on the Wim Hof Method go to,https://www.wimhofmethod.com/And if you enjoyed this conversation, why not check out the related Ready To Be Real episodes below…Seán Boylan : Heritage, Herbalism, Healing.June Burke : Kindness MattersDermot Whelan : Power of PlaySleep Part 1 & 2Breathing MeditationAnd please let me know what you think of this conversation by leaving a comment or rating and if you haven’t already subscribed to this podcast, why not click on the follow button now, I'd really appreciate it.This episode was brought to you in partnership with Revive Active, your daily super supplement, made here in Ireland.Taking Revive Active is one of the ways you can support your immune system this winter and they’re offering a 10% discount on all Revive Active products to all my podcast listeners.Simply click on the link https://ie.reviveactive.com/products/revive-active and use the code - Sile10 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger Warning : references to self-harm, suicide, alcoholism, drug use. Janet Devlin is a singer-songwriter who was catapulted to fame at the age of 16 when she was a contestant on reality talent show The X Factor.But behind her beautiful performances was a teenager who was really struggling.The youngest of four, Janet grew up in Tyrone and always had a desire to perform but a negative self-image from an early age proved destructive.She started self-harming at 12 and at 20, she was an alcoholic.Now at 25, she’s in a good place in her life and sharing her perspective on her experiences.As you can imagine, this is a tough listen at times, but it’s also an uplifting one.This summer she released her concept album ‘Confessional’ which is a deeply personal account of the past 10 years or so of her life.For more go to...https://www.janetdevlin.com/If you, or someone you know is struggling right now, please know that there is help available.Pieta provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide.Freephone 1800 247 247Text Help to 51444https://www.pieta.ie/Or you can contact a SamaritanFreephone 116 123or email [email protected]://www.samaritans.org/ireland/samaritans-ireland/This episode of Ready to Be Real Conversations was brought to you in partnership with Revive Active, your daily super supplement, made here in Ireland.Taking Revive Active is one of the ways you can support your immune system this winter and they’re offering a 10% discount on all Revive Active products to all my podcast listeners.Simply click on the link https://ie.reviveactive.com/products/revive-active and use the code - Sile10Please let me know what you think of this conversation by leaving a comment or rating and if you haven’t already subscribed to this podcast, why not click on the follow button now, I'd really appreciate it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Billy Mag Fhlionn is a folklorist, lecturer and musician and he lives in Dingle with his wife Muireann and their daughters Sadhbh and Líse.In this conversation he talks to me about the significance of Halloween, the stories of old and their meaning and we talk about the games and traditions associated with this mystical time of year. He talks through Halloween games like 'bobbing for apples', 'shave the fryer', 'snap apple', he tells me what was originally in the báirín breac (you may be surprised!) how turnips were used for lanterns and so much more.For more on Billy go to his website https://tradition.ieFor more on our folklore go to https://www.duchas.ie/en And for more on Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, an multi-award winning traditional singer and musician, go tohttps://www.muireann.ie/This episode was brought to you in partnership with Revive Active, your daily super supplement, made here in Ireland.Taking Revive Active is one of the ways you can support your immune system this winter and they’re offering a 10% discount on all Revive Active products to all my podcast listeners.Simply click on the link https://ie.reviveactive.com/products/revive-active and use the code - Sile10Please let me know what you think of this conversation by leaving a comment or rating and if you haven’t already subscribed to this podcast, why not click on the follow button now, I'd really appreciate it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanne O’Riordan is only one of seven people in the world living with a rare physical disability known as Total Amelia. This means she was born without all four limbs and even though there is no medical explanation as to why this happened, Joanne or indeed her family, has never allowed it to hold her back.During the week of her sixteenth birthday she made a speech at the United Nations and challenged the body to create technology to help disabled people.She’s the youngest in her family and at twenty four, she’s already achieved more than many of us will achieve in a lifetime.She’s a sports writer and podcaster and she’s by far one of the coolest and most interesting people I’ve ever met.Our paths have crossed numerous times down through the years, including interviewing her before, but last month I spoke to her in her home county of Cork and it was simply wonderful. You can follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/joanneor/?hl=enThis episode was brought to you in partnership with Revive Active, your daily super supplement, made here in Ireland.Taking Revive Active is one of the ways you can support your immune system this winter and they’re offering a 10% discount on all Revive Active products to all my podcast listeners.Simply click on the link https://ie.reviveactive.com/products/revive-active and use the code - Sile10Please let me know what you think of this conversation by leaving a comment or rating and if you haven’t already subscribed to this podcast, why not click on the follow button now, I'd really appreciate it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is the second part of the conversation I had with clinical psychologist, author, and psychology lecturer, Dr. Malie Coyne.In this podcast, she answers a selection of questions that were sent in on Instagram.For more on Malie, go to her website www.drmaliecoyne.ieAs always I’m very thankful for your feedback so if you can take a minute to rate this podcast, leave a little comment (I promise it only takes a minute!) and hit subscribe, I’d be so grateful.References * Podcast - The TED Interview with Elizabeth Gilbert* Books - ‘Man’s Search For Meaning’ by Viktor E. Frankl, ‘The Upside Of Stress’ by Kelly McGonigal and ‘The Four Agreements’ by Don Miguel Ruiz.* Cognitive Behavioural Therapy https://cbti.ie* https://www.yourmentalhealth.ie* Previous podcast episodes in this series, Miriam and Gerry Hussey, Kathie Stritch and Professor Luke O’NeillTriggers : hopelessness, depression, loneliness, grief.If you need to talk to someone, you can contact a SamaritanFreephone 116 123or email [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Malie Coyne is a clinical psychologist, author, and psychology lecturer.She also sits on the mental health advisory panel for the ‘A Lust for Life’ charity and she released her book,“Love in, Love out: A compassionate approach to parenting your anxious child” this summer.She lives in Galway with her husband Pete, and their two daughters, Jessica who’s 9 and Aimée who’s 7. On Tuesday we sat down to have a conversation and we covered a lot during the chat so instead of releasing one very long episode, I’ve split it. This is the first part and in the second part, coming next week, we’ll look at questions that were sent in by listeners.So we’re about 6 months into life with Covid 19 in Ireland. There was a degree of relaxation of restrictions during the summer but now we’re into the second wave of measures with Dublin and Donegal currently on Level 3 of the government’s 5 Level ‘living with Covid’ plan to tackle the virus over the next 6 months.There is a lot of stress and uncertainty to be felt amongst people, myself included, so I hope this conversation can help you realise that whatever you’re feeling is OK and that you’re not on your own.For more on Malie, go to her website www.drmaliecoyne.ieAs always I love to hear your feedback so if you can take a minute to rate this podcast, leave a little comment (I promise it only takes a minute!) and hit subscribe, I’d be so grateful.Thanks so much for listening.References(check the episode post on my Instagram page for some imagery)https://www.instagram.com/sileseoige/?hl=en* The TED Interview podcast with Elizabeth Gilbert* Lotus of self-care* Self Compassion Breakhttps://centerformsc.org/practice-msc/guided-meditations-and-exercises/* Habit Stackinghttps://www.brianpennie.com/how-to-get-over-that-first-hurdle-when-starting-a-new-habit/* ‘Do you often feel overwhelmed by worry’ by Susi Lodolahttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-you-often-feel-overwhelmed-worry-susi-lodola-miacp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV maestro Baz Ashmawy is one of my absolute favourite people in telly.What you see is what you get. He’s genuine, funny and decent to the core.Having had huge success in his career, it hasn’t always been a smooth road for him.9 years ago, life was really tough; he underwent double-lung surgery and around the same time Irish TV stations had no interest in even meeting with him to discuss ideas.But despite it all, he kept working and creating and knocking on doors and it certainly paid off in the end.He pitched his show ‘50 Ways To Kill Your Mammy’ with his adorable Mam Nancy to SKY TV. They went on to win an EMMY Award and the TV format has now been sold all around the world.He lives in Rathmines with his wife Tanja and their six kids.And in this conversation, we talk about the kids going back to school, imposter syndrome, the power of manifestation, faking an appendectomy and plenty more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Man of the moment, Professor Luke O'Neill is my guest this week.A renowned Immunologist, educator and author, Luke lives in Sandycove in Dublin with his wife Margaret and their sons, Stevie and Sam.He’s simply one of the most brilliant people I’ve ever met and in this conversation, we talk about Covid 19, but I also hope it gives you more of an insight into the man behind the science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is the second half of the conversation I had with Health Scientist and Sleep Consultant, Tom Coleman.Tom is married to Jeeny and their son Kai, is nearly two.He’s worked with professional athletes and elite teams on improving their sleep and nutrition for many years now, and in this conversation he covers a wide range of questions to help us get better sleep.Questions related to anxiety, waking up in the middle of the night, advice for shift workers, pandemic dreaming, supplements, sleep disorders, tech do’s and don’ts and lots more!To follow Tom on Instagram, you’ll find him https://www.instagram.com/tomcoleman.ie/And if you like this podcast series, please share it with friends and family and leave a rate and review on Apple and subscribe on the other podcast platforms, as it really helps to spread word about these conversations.Thanks so much for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we zone in on the topic of SLEEP with Health Scientist and Sleep Consultant, Tom Coleman.He is massively knowledgeable and has worked with elite teams and professional athletes in Sleep and Nutrition.In this conversation he talks us through the fundamentals of sleep, what happens when we sleep, why we need it, how much do you need and what we can do to improve it.You can follow him on Instagram, you'll find him https://www.instagram.com/tomcoleman.ie/?hl=en Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I sit down with Galway based Wellness coach Kathie Stritch.Originally from Cloonfad in Co. Roscommon, she lives in Galway with her partner Stephen andtheir little boy Freddie who’ll be 2 in November.She's one of the most impressive people I've ever met and brilliant at what she does but instead of talking to her about her career, in this conversation she shares some painful experiences that have shaped the woman she is today.6 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 is a phenomenal conversation that I will never forget.Triggers : cancer, death, grief.She runs online courses which are a combination of fitness, nutrition and wellbeing and they're great!If you’re interested in participating go to her Instagram page andsend her a direct message.https://www.instagram.com/kathiestritchpt/Thanks so much for listening, and if this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family and if you can please leave a review, give a rating and/or subscribe as it really helps to spread the word about these conversations.Mílle buíochas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is an introduction to Numerology with John Kenny, someone who’s been studying numbers and their meaning, for over 30 years now.He talks about the master numbers, what to look out for and what to avoid doing when it comes to numbers. He also tells us how to figure out our life path, personal year and inner need numbers, while also answering some questions I was sent on Instagram as well. As you’ll hear in our chat, it’s tricky to give a comprehensive run down of all the different elements in a single podcast, but if you’d like to contact him and book in a session, simply go to his website…https://www.thehealinghouse.ie/How to find out your Life Path Number…Take your date of birth’s numerical value, add all those digits together by category (day, month, year), and keep adding each of those digits together until you finally end up with a single digit.Let’s take my birthday for example: 13th April 1979The date, 13, is reduced to 1 + 3 = 4. The month is 4. The year, 1979, is reduced to 1 + 9 + 7 + 9. This equals 26. Then, 26 is reduced to 2 + 6 = 8Then, we add the reduced date, month and year numbers (4 + 4 + 8) and arrive at 16. Finally, we add 1 + 6, and reach 7.My life path number is 7.Exception - during the calculation process, if one of your groups totals 11 or 22, you do not reduce those values to a single digit until the final reduction. That’s because 11 and 22 are “master numbers,” according to numerology, which have their own special meanings. ** There have been a few edits to this episode as John often spoke to me about my own numbers and their meaning during our conversation and I took a lot of that out as I didn’t think many of you would be interested in hearing about me! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I chat to nutritionist, author and devoted new Mum, Rosanna Davison.She lives in Dublin with her husband Wes Quirke, and their baby daughter Sophia.And in this episode, she shares her journey to motherhood; from multiple miscarriages, years of tests, treatments and heartache to their decision to try surrogacy and the happiest moment of her life, when her baby girl was finally in her arms.Rosanna is strong, incredibly honest and full of compassion and her struggles are a reminder to all of us, that we never really know what’s going on in other people’s lives.I wish her and her family all the love in the world.Triggers: Fertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, tests and treatments, surrogacy.https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/birth_family_relationships/adoption_and_fostering/surrogacy.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie and Georgie Crawford are a couple who’ve been tested in many ways. From Jamie’s MS diagnosis in 2012 to Georgie discovering she had breast cancer five years later…they have been through more than most people experience in a lifetime but despite everything they have had to deal with, their relationship is stronger than ever and their appreciation for life is truly inspiring.Jamie made the decision to speak publicity about his MS diagnosis at the end of May on Georgie’s hugely popular podcast ‘The Good Glow’.They live in Dublin with their three year old daughter Pia and their dog Piper.And in this conversation, they give us an insight into their relationship, they talk about the healing power of nature, the importance of talking and their plans to expand their family.I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I speak to a relationship expert and we explore singledom, healthy and unhealthy relationships, dating in the time of Corona and the importance of acceptance wherever you are in life.Dating-relationship coach and relationship educator Annie Lavin, goes by the name "The Relationship Coach" and works with people far and wide to empower them to create and maintain, healthy, meaningful intimate relationships.Content being single herself, she has experienced the trials and tribulations it has taken to reach this point. When love and relationships begin to feel very confusing and out of control it can be hard to know who to turn to for support. This is one of the reasons Annie decided to combine her background in Psychology, Education, Coaching and Psychotherapy toempower clients to relate to themselves with compassion and skill.At the moment she works with clients remotely one to one, but is in the process of designing online programmes and if you'd like to work with her or you are simply interested in some dating or relationship advice, check out her Instagram pagehttps://www.instagram.com/therelationshipcoach.ie/Book recommendations during the conversation:Women who love too much : Robin NorwoodThe Body Keeps The Score: Basel van der KolkAttached: Levine and HellerThe Seven Spiritual Laws of Success : Deepak Chopra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian, TV and radio broadcaster and now meditation teacher too; Dermot Whelan is my guest this week.Dermot has been meditating for many years, but now, having trained as a teacher, he's passionate about breaking through some of the misconceptions people have about meditation to help bring it to a wider audience.He's married to Corrina, they have three kids and they live in Dublin.His colleague and friend is the equally brilliant Dave Moore who he's worked with for the past 18 years on award winning radio show 'Dermot and Dave'.And in this conversation, we talk about many things...his lessons from lockdown, his new found love of skateboarding, the importance of taking time out for yourself and he also guides us through a short but effective breathing exercise which I loved and I think you will too.https://www.dermotwhelan.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This short guided meditation will help you to calm your thoughts and bring your body to a sleepy, restful state; giving you the best chance to fall asleep or get back to sleep if you've woken up. So simply lie down, get as comfortable as you can and follow the sound of my voice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I chat to makeup artist turned TV presenter, Nadine Reid.Born to a Jamaican family, Nadine grew up in Handsworth, Birmingham.She came to live in Ireland 4 years ago and lives in Dublin with 94 year old Minnie and the new addition to the household, cockatiel Georgie.I asked her to be a guest on the podcast last summer as I’ve been a fan of hers since we met, but now felt like the right time to have a conversation.When we spoke last week about recording a podcast, she was apprehensive and I get why.She made it clear to me that unless I was prepared to read and educate myself on white privilege and her perspective as a black woman she would not be open to speaking to me and I fully respect and admire her position on this. She asked if I could read some books before we spoke and they are...Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race by Reni Eddo-LodgeAnd Me and White Supremacy by Layla F SaadI have been reading (or in my case listening!)and I know that these learnings or ‘unlearnings’ as the case may be won’t happen overnight.There is a long road ahead but I want to do better so I will keep reading and listening, having conversations and questioning myself and the world around me in the hope that change will happen for us all.Blaming or shaming will help no-one and every-one can play their part.In this episode we discuss white privilege, how colour-blindness isn’t helpful and what it actually means to be anti-racist.And I hope, like me, that you’ll listen to this podcast with an open mind and a willingness to explore yourself a little deeper.None of us are perfect or have all the answers but a desire to do better in our lives, will make a difference.You’ll find Nadine on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nadinereid/And please share this episode with friends or family if you enjoyed it; and if you can please take a moment to rate, review and hit subscribe, I’d really appreciate it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We often move through our day without asking ourselves what we truly want to achieve or what direction we want to go in.This meditation will help you to check in with yourself and allow you to bring focus and awareness to your day ahead.Why not try it and see if it makes a difference! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.