Episoder
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Topics covered : Connection, communication, boundaries, friendships, modelling, play dates, safety, brain development, true masculinity, the manosphere, porn, healthy eating, sleep.
This week psychotherapist Richard Hogan is back on the pod.
Originally from Douglas in Cork he lives in Dublin with his wife and their 3 daughters.
He specialises in working with families and he’s also written two brilliant books ‘Parenting the screenager’ and ‘Home is where the start is’.
During this conversation we talk about Adolescence on the back of the hit TV show. He talks about what to do in the preteen stage of life along with those challenging years during adolescence itself and he covers things like the importance of our kids having a wide friendship circle and why that is.
Cultivating a healthy home environment, one with good communication and boundaries.
He also discusses masculinity and what he has to say is well worth listening to.
There is so much in this episode!
If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.
And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
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Topics covered : the power of the mind, our inner critic, inner coach, affirmations, consistency.
Gerry Hussey is a performance psychologist who has been working in the fields of health and performance for almost twenty years.
He’s just released his 3rd book…‘I am, I can, I will. Silence your inner critic, wake up your inner coach and reclaim your confidence and power’ and in this conversation he tells us what it’s all about!
Gerry’s previous books are ‘Awaken your power within’ and ‘The Freedom Within’.
And you can catch up on previous conversations with him here on Ready to be Real.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Manglende episoder?
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Topics covered : Dancing with the Stars, life during lockdown, their relationship.
In this episode I speak to couple Jake Carter and Karen Byrne.
They live in Dublin with their dog Lenny and they started dating after they won series 2 of Dancing with the Stars in Ireland.
Jake is a singer songwriter whose brother Nathan is also in the business. He’s outgoing and optimistic and Karen is a professional dancer with her own dance studio who’s a straight shooter and naturally more introverted by nature.
In this conversation we talk about first impressions, what annoys them about each other and how friendship is the foundation of their relationship.
If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Topics covered : self-worth, being authentic, imposter syndrome, grief, plant medicine, healing.
This week I speak to Pat Divilly.
Originally from Limerick, Pat moved to Galway with his family when he was about 7 years old and for the past 15 years, he has been working in the areas of physical, mental and emotional wellness as a coach, facilitator and educator.
Currently living in Bali, we caught up when he was home recently to promote new book ‘Shadow work – a practical guide to embracing your shadow side, tackling shame and transforming pain into power’.
And in this conversation he explains what our shadow is, he speaks about how he used to suffer from imposter syndrome, the importance of self-compassion, his love of teaching and lots more.
If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.
And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Topics covered : Cancer, Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), control the controllables, shift in perspective, healthy body and mind, affirmations, positive self talk, appreciation.
Alannah Sheehan lives in Tipperary with her husband Martin and their 3 children, Finn (9), Luca (7) and Phoebe (5).
And 5 years ago when Phoebe was only a few months old, Alannah was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive type of brain cancer.
But today, 5 years on, she’s healthy and happy and even though she still has to go for regular scans and deal with the stress and anxiety that goes with that, ultimately, life is good.
We spoke 4 years ago but I wanted to chat to her again as she is so inspiring.
In this conversation she talks about the power of taking control over what you can control and nourishing your body and mind, every day.
Alannah was a chef before her diagnosis and food is her passion. Her go to juice is celery, cucumber and lemon and she drinks it every day.
You can subscribe to Alannah’s ‘Survive and Thrive’ membership to gain access to her delicious recipes, and you can also purchase her gorgeous wellness cards too.
Alannah Sheehan
Instagram
ALANNAH SHEEHAN (@worth_fighting4) • Instagram photos and videos
If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.
And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Topics covered : Friendships, fun, rest, boundaries, loneliness, over-thinking.
Alana Kirk is a coach, speaker and author who helps women find more balance, direction and joy in their lives.
She is a mother to 3 girls, is divorced and is in a certain phase in her life of juggling motherhood, along with her career and her social life, and she also helps to look after her Dad who is unwell at the moment.
In this episode she zones in on the importance of having a strong friend circle and having fun.
Her current book is 'Midlife, redefined: Better, Bolder, Brighter' a guide to help yourself through the magic and mayhem of life.
She can be found at www.themidlifecoach.org and on Instagram @midlifecoach.
And her next workshop is in March: The Overwhelm Breakthrough Session - Reclaim your time, energy and sanity.
Click here for more
https://www.themidlifecoach.org/overwhelm-session
I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Alana and if you haven’t heard our previous episodes I recommend you go back and listen to them!
Book mention : ‘Bird by Bird’ by Anne Lamott
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Topics covered : Overwhelm, ‘good girl’ conditioning, patriarchy, unlearning, importance of rest, empowerment.
This week I speak to an author and coach who helps women find more balance, direction and joy in their lives.
The wonderful Alana Kirk is back on the pod!
In this conversation Alana talks about the practical, invisible and emotional burden that women often carry and more importantly, how to change it!
Her current book is 'Midlife, redefined: Better, Bolder, Brighter' a guide to help yourself through the magic and mayhem of life.
She can be found at www.themidlifecoach.org and on Instagram @midlifecoach.
And her next workshop is in March: The Overwhelm Breakthrough Session - Reclaim your time, energy and sanity.
Click here for more
https://www.themidlifecoach.org/overwhelm-session
If you haven’t heard our first conversation together yet, I strongly recommend you listen to it.
Questions to ask ourselves…
Who are we doing it for?
Who is telling us to keep going?
If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.
And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Trigger warning : Disordered eating
A few years ago I spoke to Aoife O’Brien about life with and after an eating disorder. Aoife now lives in Co. Clare with her fiance Damian and their 2 little boys, Liam (5) and Samuel (2). She is a Nutritionist (MSc), Body Image and Wellbeing Coach with a specialist interest in disordered eating and through AOB Coaching, she helps women develop a healthy, balanced and peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.
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.
Helpful questions for journaling…
1. What did I do well today?
2. What did I learn?
3. What would I do differently?
To connect with Aoife...
Home
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.
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Topics covered : Anorexia, grief, shame, perfectionism, recovery, gratitude, the inner critic, CBT, social media, filters, boxing, meditation, femininity, spirituality, letting go.
In this episode I speak to one of the most impressive people I’ve ever met, boxer Mary Kate Slattery.
Originally from Dublin, Mary Kate spent parts of her childhood in Lahinch in Co. Clare.
She’s the eldest of three girls, a law graduate from Trinity College Dublin and when she was only 9 she developed anorexia. She spent time in and out of Crumlin children’s hospital in Dublin and eventually had to go to London to receive treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.
In this conversation we speak about her battle with anorexia, perfectionism, therapy, meditation, femininity, letting go and her love of boxing.
It’s such an inspiring yet challenging conversation in parts, so please be aware before you listen.
Also as you can hear in this episode, Mary Kate is very thankful to her psychiatrist Fiona McNicholas for helping her recover from anorexia and if you're worried about yourself or someone you love, you can reach out for help here...
Bodywhys | The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland
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Topics covered : Body acceptance, shedding shame, diet culture, disordered eating, body image, unlearning, motherhood, loss of identity, blended family, love, responding over reacting, self-talk, respect, bouncing forward, self-worth, stretch marks, regret, healing, empowerment.
In this episode I speak to the truly wonderful Sarah Nicole Landry. She’s a body acceptance advocate, a speaker, a writer, an occasional model and podcaster and she’s better known online as ‘The Birds Papaya’.
Sarah Nicole is married to Shane and she’s the mother of 4 kids, she has 3 teenagers from her previous marriage and their daughter Lemmie is 2.
She’s one of the most important voices right now on diet culture and body acceptance and her Instagram page alone has 2.3 million followers!
In this conversation she covers a multitude on the topic, so if you want a feel-good episode that will potentially give you goosebumps (as it did for me!) this is the pod for you.
If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.
And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Topics covered : Traumatic childhood, abandonment, disappointment, pain, breaking negative cycles, self-worth, sport, faith.
Last year I sat down to speak to my next guest and I’m finally releasing our conversation.
I spoke to Irish professional athlete and coach at Oberstown Children’s Detention Centre, Ger Redmond.
He’s married to Pauline, who he describes as his rock and they have 5 kids together, 4 girls and a boy.
A childhood of neglect and dysfunction led him on a destructive path in life which involved joining a gang for nearly 20 years.
He turned to a life of criminality when his dream of becoming a professional footballer came to a cruel end due to an event that had devastating consequences for his family and another.
He’s not comfortable talking through the details of it during our conversation, out of respect to all involved.
Many years later Ger himself spent a couple of years in prison but becoming a father to a son was the catalyst for change.
When his son Ross was born in 2016, he completely changed his life. He threw himself into sport and set about breaking the negative cycles of behaviour that had caused so much harm to him and his siblings and today, his life’s work is about helping and motivating others.
To connect with Ger, go to…
Ger Redmond
You can also scroll back and listen to my conversation with Ray Goggins (released 22nd of October 2021) who is mentioned during our chat.
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Topics covered : Feeling ignored and unheard, suffering, honouring how you feel, acceptance, expectation, disappointment, judgment, jealousy and envy, controlling what we can control, compassion.
This week I speak to chartered psychologist, Allison Keating.
We spoke on Monday and we wanted to record something that might help those who are in the thick of it right now, many are still without power around the country and suffering as a result of the damage caused by Storm Éowyn and this is also an episode for anyone who is experiencing difficulty in their lives at the moment.
During this conversation she covers the importance of truly honouring how we feel and how acceptance (as difficult as it can be) is so beneficial. She also talks about expectation and judgement, the difference between jealousy and envy and how important it is to have compassion for ourselves and others.
Find Allison on Instagram
Allison Keating | thepractical.psychologist (@thepractical.psychologist) • Instagram photos and videos
Book -
‘It’s all too much – practical ways to pause panic attacks, reduce anxiety and overwhelm and rediscover everyday joy’
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Topics covered : Imbolc and the symbolism and significance of Brigid.
In this episode, I speak to historian and artist Shelly Mooney who runs the brilliant Instagram page ‘Tales from the Wood’ which explores the history and mythology of Ireland.
She lives in the countryside in County Wexford with her husband Kev, their baby Ferdia and Lola their dog.
After several years of campaigning, St Brigid’s Day has finally become a public holiday in Ireland and it’s the first one to be named after a woman.
In this conversation Shelly talks about the ancient pagan festival heralding the beginning of Spring called ‘Imbolc’ and the significance of Brigid and her resurgence in recent times, including the story behind her cloak and the cross of St. Brigid.
If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Topics covered : Climate crisis, capitalism, activism, Gaza, LA wildfires, Iran, community care, resistance, joy.
Raeeka (they/she) is a British-Iranian social & climate justice activist and poet. They work for Parents For Future UK, a group focused on empowering parents and carers into the climate movement. Raeeka is also on the Stop Rosebank team, working to stop new oil and gas in the UK. Raeeka amplifies the feminist revolution of their Iranian siblings in the fight for a free Iran. They have a special focus on intersectional collective liberation as a framework for how we build the world we need. They have recently self-published a poetry book: BELOVED: Words for the new way.
In this conversation we talk about the climate crisis and how finding out what your skill is and leaning into that, is key with heart centered activism.
To connect with Raeeka…
Raeeka | climate justice & social justiceBritish Iranian (@raeekayassaie) • Instagram photos and videos
RaeekaYassaie.com | Poetry for collective liberation
Resources they mentioned…
ParentsForFuture Ireland instagram - great landing place for climate for any parents listening
ParentsForFuture UK
Stop Rosebank - learn about stopping new oil and gas in the UK
Climate Defiance
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Topics covered : Gaza, parenting, co-sleeping, attachment, worthiness, cancer, thyroid, compassion.
In my first episode of 2025, my guest is the one and only Dr. Gabor Maté.
He is a retired physician and bestselling author known and loved for his ground-breaking medical work and writings.
His most recent book, ‘The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture’, has been and continues to be a bestseller worldwide.
n this conversation we talk about Gaza and as a Holocaust survivor what he has to say is so valuable. We also explore parenting, we talk about illness and the lessons to be learnt through these often very difficult experiences and he also shares his insights regarding Ireland.
He has been top of my dream guest list for years now so to have him on the podcast really is as good as it gets.
A heartfelt thank you to Catherine for all her help in connecting me with Gabor.
Books
Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder 1999
When the Body Says No: The Cost of Hidden Stress 2003
Hold onto your kids : Why Parents need to matter more than Peers 2005
In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction 2007
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture 2022
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Topics covered : Life in Gaza, living under occupation, murder, grief, trauma, injustice.
In my final episode in 2024, I speak to Palestinian mother Hala Sourani.
In October 2023, Hala was married to Mohammad and they had 2 girls Shahd who was 6 and Rahaf who was 5 and they lived in Gaza.
In November of that year, they tried to flee but, in the process, both Mohammad and Rahaf were murdered by Israelis.
As you can imagine, this is a harrowing account of that time so please be aware before you listen but I really hope you do stay with this conversation as intense as it is and that you allow yourself to connect with Hala and the pain and injustice that she and so many have been, and continue to be, subjected to.
She came to Ireland with her daughter Shahd in February and has been working as a volunteer here and remarkably she completed a MBA last month too.
I wish we never had to have this conversation.
I wish she was still in Gaza with her husband and girls, but that is unfortunately not the case.
This is without a doubt one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had on Ready to be Real and I am honoured that she trusted me with it.
She’s not comfortable speaking about the Go Fund Me that has been set up to help her but I’m going to ask you to please consider donating what you can so that she and her daughter can try and rebuild their lives here in Ireland.
They need and deserve our support. Any and all donations would be gratefully received.
Fundraiser by Sarah Costello : Urgent Help For Halla & Chahd (Gazans in Ireland)
Go raibh mile maith agaibh.
A special word of thanks to the wonderful Kate O’Dwyer, the founder of 'Pals for Palestine' for all her help in connecting Hala and I and for all her love and guidance behind the scenes.
I’ll be back in the New Year with more episodes and thanks for your support as always.
Until then, tabhair aire agus Nollaig Shona dhaoibh go léir.
Saoirse don Phailistín.
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Topics covered : Motherhood, grief, loss of identity, birth trauma, breastfeeding, shedding shame, celebrity culture, awakening, humanity.
In this episode I speak to Matrescence coach Jacqueline Kelly.
She lives in Dublin with her husband Stuart and their two children Fionn and Molly.
And in this conversation she talks to us about Motherhood, her own personal experience of it, the loss of her own mother and coming to terms with her absence and the importance of recognising all mothers.
At times it’s a challenging conversation as we deal with topics such as birth trauma, breastfeeding and grief so please be aware before you listen.
Resources :
Alexandra Sacks on Matrescence…
A new way to think about the transition to motherhood | Alexandra Sacks - YouTube
The article I wrote sharing my own struggles with breastfeeding…
Síle Seoige: My first weeks with Cathal... and why I stopped breastfeeding - Her.ie
Pals for Palestine…
(@palsforpalestine_ireland) • Instagram photos and videos
And to connect with Jac, go to…
BRAVE Hearts - Our Brave Hearts
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Topics covered : Sleep, food, exercise, connection, sex, health appointments, past traumas.
This is the third episode with Menopause coach and author, Catherine O’Keeffe known online as Wellness Warrior and once again she covers a multitude! Topics like sleep, food and exercise are discussed. The importance of checking in with yourself and going for appointments like a DEXA scan or a visit to a women’s health physio; past traumas that can revisit you during your perimenopausal years and life after menopause.
Catherine's 6 M’s of Menopause – MOT, Menu, Movement, Mingle, Meaning, Minding you.
There are no quick fixes when it comes to treating symptoms of menopause and regarding vitamins, herbs etc, find what works for you personally and remember to always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.
If you want to reach out to Catherine, you can email her directly on [email protected]
Her book : ‘All You Need to Know About Menopause’ is available on her website Wellness Warrior
Find her our Instagram
Catherine O Keeffe (@wellnesswarrior.ie) • Instagram photos and videos
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Topics covered : HRT, early menopause, supplements.
This episode was recorded over 3.5 years ago but is still as relevant as ever.
I speak to Menopause coach and author, Catherine O’Keeffe, known online as Wellness Warrior.
When I recorded this conversation with Catherine, I was 41 and hoping to have another baby. Now, I’m 45 with very fortunate to have 2 young kids but I’m also now in perimenopause and listening to this chat once again, I took so much from it.
So I’ve been experiencing things like changes to my period and brain fog and a number of other typical symptoms for about 6-8 months now and this pod is full of information as Catherine delves into the physical, mental and emotional aspects of perimenopause and it’s a must listen!
The conversation is split 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.
This is the second part where talks about HRT, early menopause and she also answers a selection of your questions that were sent in on Instagram, including advice on supplements.
And Part 3 is coming next week!
Mentioned 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.
Supplements B 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'
If you want to reach out to Catherine, you can email her directly on [email protected]
Her book : ‘All You Need to Know About Menopause’ is available on her website Wellness Warrior
Find her our Instagram
Catherine O Keeffe (@wellnesswarrior.ie) • Instagram photos and videos
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Topics covered : Anxiety, brain fog, flooding, hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain, aches and pains, urinary incontinence, vaginal atrophy, pelvic physio, the impact of stress, sleep.
This episode was recorded over 3.5 years ago but it's still as relevant as ever.
I speak to Menopause coach and author, Catherine O’Keeffe, known online as Wellness Warrior.
When I recorded this conversation, I was 41 and hoping to have another baby. Now, I’m 45 and I'm very fortunate to have 2 young kids but I’m also now in perimenopause and listening to this chat once again, I took so much from it.
So I’ve been experiencing things like changes to my period and brain fog and a number of other typical symptoms for about 6-8 months now and this pod is full of information as Catherine delves into the physical, mental and emotional aspects of perimenopause and it’s a must listen!
Menopause is such a complicated and sensitive topic and the experience of it is so different for every woman.
If you want to reach out to Catherine, you can email her directly on [email protected]
Her book : ‘All You Need to Know About Menopause’ is available on her website Wellness Warrior
And find her on Instagram
Catherine O Keeffe (@wellnesswarrior.ie) • Instagram photos and videos
Mentioned during the conversation: Prof Myra Hunter & CBT Techniques:
02-WHC-FACTSHEET-CBT-WOMEN-FEB-2023-A.pdf
Products :
‘Yes organics’ Natural vaginal moisturiser
‘Olive & Bee’ Natural lubricant
* 24 patch testing is very important before applying any product internally
‘Vagifem’ – prescription only, from your GP
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