A County Down Under

Today on the podcast I had the pleasure of speaking with Annette Kelly on her adventures in Australia and how a little seed planted from a Facebook page of positive quotes in 2015 by Annette is still going strong five years on with nearly half million followers across her social media platforms.

Everyday Little Penny Thoughts share uplifting quotes and inspiring mantras with an aim to encourage confidence and promote wellbeing within others. 

They believe in taking it “One day at a time”  and that we all need a little sparkle of positivity daily in order to survive and thrive.

This podcast is sponsored by  Gym+Coffee 

Gym+Coffee is Ireland’s leading athleisure brand and community. They believe in socialising around exercise and have built a passionate global community who are committed to their Make Life Richer philosophy.

They believe in:

Awesome things to do

An amazing crew to do things with

High quality gear to do things in

Their values and beliefs are everything I stand for and work towards building here in the A County Down Under Podcast, Events and Community here in Australia and internationally.

Listen in to the episode for a  discount code and shop online at www.gympluscoffee.com.au if you’re in Australia or if you’re elsewhere in the world, check out gympluscoffee.com to find your online store!

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

This was an episode I recorded a few months ago. I had a lot of requests from people to do this episode. I hesitated releasing it, I hate going back to that place when I struggled, it opens up wounds that have only just healed. But it is something I wish I had to help me when I was going through a tough time and I want to help anyone who is struggling right now.

I chose this picture as my episode cover (head to @acountydownunder to see ). At first glance it looks like paradise. What you can’t see is how heartbroken I am. My Dad took this picture when they came over to visit my Sister and I last year in Australia. I struggled to get out of bed, or care about anything in life anymore. My mum did my hair for me like a little girl and that is how I felt, so lost and reliant on my parents at 28.

I am so glad to have come out the other end and be the happiest I have ever been.

If you are going through a difficult time, reach out for help. Don’t suffer alone.



Parting Glass sung by the talented: Amy O'Riordan 

Sponsored by Tourism Ireland

Tourism Ireland wants to let you know that the Island of Ireland is waiting.

Waiting to see you again when the time is right, and it’s safe to travel once more.

Waiting for the time when we can enjoy feasts with family and friends, see the beautiful rolling green hills, and hear that soul stirring trad music in the famous Irish pub.

They say good things come to those who wait and those legendary 100,000 welcomes will be waiting especially for you


https://www.tourismireland.com/

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

My guest today on the podcast is a great friend of mine from County Down, Natasha. She is well known as the Gym Guru.


This is a raw insight into how Tash found Australia to be very isolating. She struggled to find work in the fitness industry and even though she is such a bubbly and outgoing person, she struggled to make friends too. Tash discusses the highs and lows of her time in Australia, finding herself battling anxiety . She discovered that living back home is where she is happiest and there is happiness wherever you choose to settle.

To learn more about how to get fit with Tash head to https://thegymguruonline.com/

Parting Glass sung by the talented: Amy O'Riordan 

Sponsored by Tourism Ireland

Tourism Ireland wants to let you know that the Island of Ireland is waiting.

Waiting to see you again when the time is right, and it’s safe to travel once more.

Waiting for the time when we can enjoy feasts with family and friends, see the beautiful rolling green hills, and hear that soul stirring trad music in the famous Irish pub.

They say good things come to those who wait and those legendary 100,000 welcomes will be waiting especially for you


https://www.tourismireland.com/

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

Deirdre Maguire helps people get happier.

She eliminates burnout for stressed out over achievers and fast-tracks them so they easily claim back their lives for good.

She’s known for radically transforming people’s lives in 20 minutes.

Deirdre is a World Class Mind Wellness Expert, Life Coach, Author and Master Change Agent.

She has worked with people all over the world and facilitates transformation at the deepest level using her Stress Solution System.

Sponsored by Tourism Ireland

Tourism Ireland wants to let you know that the Island of Ireland is waiting.

Waiting to see you again when the time is right, and it’s safe to travel once more.

Waiting for the time when we can enjoy feasts with family and friends, see the beautiful rolling green hills, and hear that soul stirring trad music in the famous Irish pub.

They say good things come to those who wait and those legendary 100,000 welcomes will be waiting especially for you


https://www.tourismireland.com/

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

Today I am joined by the talented Tom Brandon. Tom grew up in Rostrevor,  County Down and has travelled the world as a singer and actor. He is currently performing in the iconic Sydney Opera House with The Choir Of Man. 
Tom and I discuss all things from how he got to where he has in his career, what life was like when his industry shut down during COVID, being the first international show to come to Australia to perform after the pandemic, quarantine in Australia and what to expect at the amazing show Choir Of Man, that he invited me to go to watch last week.

The Choir of Man is a unique musical group who first emerged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2017. The original group has expanded into three franchised acts – one in Europe, one in Australia and the other in the Americas.

Recreating a dark wood pub with leadlight features and a working beer tap, it feels like you have stepped into your local pub at home. Prior to the show,  free brews are passed around to audience members. The men in the current cast are drawn from Ireland, England, Wales and the Channel Islands.

It is a show not to be missed.

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

Today on the show I have the owners of the successful Railway Street Cafe in County Down, Stephen and Hannah Barker.

The couple set out on a working holiday visa to Melbourne a few years ago and it changed their life forever. They found a love for the Australian coffee, also known as the best coffee in the world.

They decided that Ireland needed to be in on the secret, and when they returned from Australia, they opened up Railway Street Cafe at the young age of 24. They have created a mini Australia right in the heart of Newcastle, County Down, with a menu filled with Australian classic dishes,  coffee and now supplying their own clothing range 'No more bad days.'

This is a fantastic story on how your time in Australia can change your whole life and career path for the better.

Follow them @railwaystcoffee

Head over to my page @acountydownunder for more tips and tricks on living abroad and don't forget to rate the podcast :)

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

On today’s episode I am joined by the fantastic and funny Terence and Roisin from the Irish Support Agency. Since 1995 The Irish Support Agency have provided front-line support, to anyone in the Irish Australian community who finds themselves in circumstances of crisis or distress. They also run programs to help promote mental health and well-being, social inclusion and a sense of connection in our community. 

But so many people abroad do not know about them. So listen to this and educate yourself on their support, you never know when you will need their help.

 HELP US TO CONTINUE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR THE IRISH AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY. 

 If you need assistance contact them on: 1800 186 966 

or  visit the website https://www.irishsupportagency.org.au/

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

My lovely friend Amber joins me today on the podcast.  She talks about the reality of moving home from Australia during the pandemic and how hard it can be watching all of her friends living the high life in Oz  through social media, while she deals with lockdown at home.

She discusses the highs and lows about moving home and how she has managed to find peace with her decision of leaving Sydney.


We had a lot of technical difficulties with this episode, so Amber can be hard to hear at times. So go into a quiet room and listen to the beautiful Amber discuss the realities of going home from Australia. Because it was too good to scrap this one!


Don't forget to rate the podcast  and follow @acountydowunder on instagram

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

So many of you have asked for this podcast, so here it is.

My top tips on how to become a teacher in Australia


Check out @acountydownunder for more information and see what it's really like to live the life abroad

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.

Today on the podcast I had the honour of speaking with Brian Keane.

Over the past seven years, Brian has gone from working full-time as a primary school teacher and playing GAA to one of the most recognised faces in the Irish health and fitness industry.

In this episode, Brian delves into the importance of failure, changing your environmental circumstances to improve your mental health, fitness being a coping mechanism and how to stay headstrong during the pandemic.


Check out his amazing podcast:The Brian Keane Podcast, available on Spotify and Apple.

And purchase his books: The Fitness Mindset and Rewire Your Mindset on Amazon 


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fitness-Mindset-tension-mindset-results/dp/1781332525/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1515416707&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=the+fitness+mndset


Make sure to rate the podcast and head over to @acountydownunder for more tips on living abroad.

The podcast is proudly sponsored by Gym+Coffee: Discount code: DOWNUNDER

Follow @acountydownunder on Instagram and TikTok and visit www.acountydownunder.com for all you need to know about life abroad .
Join Caroline's amazing weekly Sunrise Social clubs across the world.