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


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

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

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


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

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


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


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


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

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

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


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

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

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


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


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


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

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


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

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


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

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

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


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

    Click on the link to find out…

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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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

    Prepare to laugh and cry.

     

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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


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


    Her book : ‘The Joy Of Saying No’


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

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


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

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


    In this episode I speak to menstrual mentor Kitty Maguire.

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


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

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

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


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

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


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


    For more, go to 

    http://www.kittymaguire.com


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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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


    For more :

    Loughcrew Cairns | Heritage Ireland


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

    Click here


    Resources :


    If you need to talk to someone, you can contact a Samaritan on Freephone 116 123 or email [email protected]


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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

    Your date, time and place of birth.

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

    Get your chart here

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

    The code is SILE30

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

    or you can email her directly [email protected]

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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


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


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


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

    Thanks a million!


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


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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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


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


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


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

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


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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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


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


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


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


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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.

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


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


    The Hill of Uisneach - The Sacred Centre of Ireland.


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

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


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