The Laura Dowling Experience

🎧 Episode DescriptionThis conversation with Ger Killian offers a thoughtful and honest look at what it really means to feed children in today’s world. As co-founder of The Lunch Bag, Ger has spent years navigating the realities of school meals - from supply chains and budgets to the emotional responses of parents and children alike.What emerges is a story not just about food, but about trust. Trust from parents who want reassurance their child will eat. Trust from children learning to try new things. And trust in a system that is still evolving, trying to balance immediate needs with long-term impact.This episode gently challenges assumptions, reminding us that meaningful change takes time. It invites us to think more deeply about how we support children - not just nutritionally, but emotionally and socially too.🔑 Key PointsWhy “safe foods” matterRemoving familiar foods like chicken goujons revealed how important predictable meals are for children, especially those under stress.The complexity of feeding children at scaleDelivering meals involves logistics, cost pressures, regulations, and nutritional standards that most people never see.The unintended consequences of a welfare modelTargeting meals at certain children can create stigma and affect how children engage with food in school.The role of culture in what children eatHistorical and cultural influences shape how children respond to unfamiliar foods and new meals.Parental instinct and food securityParents often send extra lunches not out of distrust, but from a deep instinct to ensure their child is fed.The importance of education around foodWithout teaching children what they are eating, meals can feel unfamiliar and disengaging rather than supportive.A long-term opportunity for changeSchool meals have the potential to improve not just nutrition, but equality, behaviour, and future outcomes.📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Lunch BagA leading Irish school meal provider delivering fresh, nutritionally balanced lunches to schools nationwide.Website - https://www.thelunchbag.ie/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelunchbag_/Healthy Ireland GuidelinesNational nutritional standards that define what a balanced school meal should include in terms of protein, vegetables, and overall health.World Food ProgrammeA global organisation that highlights how access to school meals, particularly for girls, can improve education and long-term outcomes.EU Child GuaranteeA European initiative focused on ensuring children have access to essential services, including nutritious food and education.BallymaloeAn Irish food producer and cookery school that supported the development of nutritious sauces for school meals.Spice of Life (Cork)A food supplier that helped create large-scale, nutritionally balanced sauces for school meal programmes.Willowbrook (Belfast)A supplier providing fresh fruit and vegetables used in school meals across Ireland.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to Ger and The Lunch Bag03:00 - Building a school meal service from scratch07:00 - The rollout of free school meals10:00 - Welfare vs progressive school meal models13:00 - Why children disengage from meals over time18:30 - How school meals are produced and delivered27:00 - Food culture and food neophobia in Ireland32:00 - The chicken goujon controversy36:00 - Reformulating “safe foods” for children40:00 - Nutrition, lentils, and hidden improvements48:00 - Food waste and misunderstanding the system54:00 - What needs to change moving forwardThanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode DescriptionThis episode traces Dr Andy Hogan’s path into immunology, from a childhood curiosity to a career exploring how the immune system shapes our health. Growing up in a challenging environment, the Access Programme gave him a route into higher education - highlighting the impact of support and opportunity.Alongside his story, Andy explains the immune system not just as a defence against illness, but as something deeply involved in everyday health. He explores how obesity, ageing, and chronic inflammation affect immune function, and how these links connect to conditions like diabetes, cancer, and infection.There’s also reflection on COVID-19, vaccines, and the future of medicine - from why pandemics were expected to how immunity develops over time. It’s a conversation that blends scientific insight with real-world impact.🔑 Key PointsA single opportunity can reshape a futureThe Access Programme gave Andy a pathway into higher education.A childhood moment led to a scientific careerEarly curiosity about genetics sparked a lifelong interest in biology.The immune system shapes everyday healthIt regulates metabolism, tissue health, and overall balance - not just infection.Obesity and immune ageing are linkedObesity can accelerate immune decline and affect disease response.COVID-19 exposed immune vulnerabilitiesThe pandemic showed how differently populations respond to new threats.Medical research is opening new possibilitiesImmunology is unlocking new treatments for complex diseases.Vaccines protect communities, not just individualsThey play a key role in protecting the most vulnerable.📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeAccess Programme – Supports students from underrepresented backgrounds into higher education.Donal O’Shea – Endocrinologist focused on obesity and metabolic health.Fiona Walsh – Researcher in antibiotic resistance and global health.GLP-1 medications – Drugs that regulate appetite and blood sugar.NK cells & macrophages – Immune cells that destroy threats and clear debris.CAR-T therapy & CRISPR – Technologies advancing cancer treatment and gene editing.HPV – Virus linked to several cancers; preventable through vaccination.Spanish flu, SARS, MERS, H1N1 – Major outbreaks shaping our understanding of pandemics.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Andy’s work in immunology01:30 – Obesity and immune health02:30 – GLP-1 therapies04:00 – Early life and biology06:00 – Access Programme10:30 – Finding immunology14:30 – Immune system basics18:30 – COVID-19 insights21:00 – Age and immune response24:00 – Vaccines28:00 – Future of medicineThanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode DescriptionOccupational therapist Martina Tierney joins the podcast to share how something as ordinary as a chair can profoundly shape a person’s health, independence and dignity.After witnessing older people being sold expensive but inappropriate equipment, Martina set out to change the system. What followed was the creation of Seating Matters, a company grounded in clinical evidence, compassion and respect. In this conversation, she explains how posture affects breathing, swallowing, pressure injuries, cognition and even a person’s sense of self.From the woman who could finally lift her head and make eye contact, to the man who believed he would die in bed until he was helped into a supportive chair and wheeled outside, this episode is a powerful reminder that dignity is often found in the smallest details.🔑 Key PointsFrom Frustration to InnovationMartina recognised that people were being sold expensive equipment without proper assessment, sparking the creation of Seating Matters.The Woman Who Could Finally Lift Her HeadA properly fitted chair restored eye contact, safety and dignity to someone previously slumped and disengaged.“I Thought I Was Going to Die in Bed”A hospice patient’s simple wish to sit outside highlighted how seating can transform end of life experience.The Psychological Power of Sitting UprightBeing out of bed shifts someone from passive patient to active participant in their own care.Reframing Dementia BehavioursWhat is labelled as aggression may be sensory disorientation. Understanding this changes how we respond.Health Consequences We OverlookPoor seating can contribute to pressure injuries, swallowing difficulties and recurrent urinary infections.Equity in EquipmentPeople of size deserve equipment that fits them properly and respectfully.Family, Loss and PerspectiveMartina reflects on building the business with her husband and the importance of not postponing life.📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeSeating Matters - A global seating and posture company founded by occupational therapist Martina Tierney, focused on improving dignity, independence and clinical outcomes through proper supportive seating.https://seatingmatters.com/gb-iePressure Injuries - National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) - Also known as bed sores, pressure injuries occur when prolonged pressure reduces blood flow to skin and underlying tissue, most commonly around bony areas such as the sacrum and coccyx.https://npiap.com/page/PressureInjuryStagesWorld Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) - The international body representing occupational therapists worldwide, promoting the role of OT in enabling independence, participation and meaningful daily life.https://wfot.org/⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - From Frustrated OT to Founder06:00 - “What Matters to You?” The OT Philosophy12:00 - A Family Business Is Born15:10 - The Man Who Thought He Would Never See Outside Again18:45 - The Woman Who Could Finally Lift Her Head21:10 - Why Getting Out of Bed Changes Everything27:20 - Understanding Dementia Differently33:00 - Designing Chairs for People of Size40:45 - Losing James and Rethinking Work51:10 - What Really Matters in LifeThanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode DescriptionWhat does it really take for women to enter politics today?In this special edition from the European Parliament, Laura Dowling speaks with MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú on International Women’s Day about their experiences of political life and the wider landscape for women entering leadership roles.Through personal stories and candid reflections, they discuss how they each found their way into politics and why there is no single blueprint for women who want to lead. The conversation explores the growing issue of online misogyny, the importance of representation in shaping policy on issues such as domestic violence, and the role Irish political parties must play in supporting more women to participate and progress into leadership positions.Together, they reflect on the resilience required to remain in public life and why creating a more inclusive political culture matters not only for women, but for democracy itself.🔑 Key PointsThe reality of online misogyny in politicsBoth guests speak openly about the misogynistic abuse female politicians face online and how social media harassment has become a serious barrier discouraging women from entering public life.There is no single path into politicsKathleen Funchion and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú reflect on their personal journeys into politics, showing that women often arrive through very different life experiences and career paths.Why representation in politics mattersThe conversation highlights how having more women in political leadership influences the issues that receive attention, including policies that directly affect women’s lives.The impact of abuse on families and future candidatesOnline harassment does not only affect politicians themselves - many women hesitate to run for office because they worry about the impact on their families and children.Turning experience into political actionRather than ignoring abuse, the guests discuss how they channel these experiences into advocacy and policy work aimed at addressing misogyny and harassment.The role of political parties in supporting womenIrish political parties, they argue, must do more to actively encourage and support women who want to enter politics and progress into leadership roles.Domestic violence and policy responsibilityThe discussion touches on how political representation can shape legislation and awareness around issues such as domestic violence and safety for women.Resilience in public lifeRemaining in politics often requires resilience and support networks, especially for women navigating hostility in public spaces.⏱️ Timestamps05:10 - Kathleen and Cynthia share how they first entered politics11:40 - Why there is no single blueprint for women entering political life14:10 - Confidence, opportunity, and why women hesitate to run19:20 - Online misogyny and the abuse women face on social media28:10 - The impact of online harassment on families and future candidates36:50 - The importance of representation in politics and policymaking49:00 - Domestic violence and the role of policy leadership55:00 - Encouraging more women to participate in political leadership59:20 - Resilience, public service, and the future of women in politicsThanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.