Episode Discussion Points:

• Why can awaiting health results cause more anxiety than the results?
• Googling symptoms & confirmation bias.
• My recent stressful experience after a health check.
• How can we get in sync with our bodies and trust our intuition?
• Why a diagnosis shouldn't define your life.
• Can having too much information be a bad thing?
• Avoiding check-ups because of shame and fear.

Resources:

• Blog Post on health checks: https://agoodkindofscary.com/2022/08/25/do-you-have-a-translator/
• It's a Sin (TV Series): https://www.channel4.com/programmes/its-a-sin

Points of discussion:

• Should comedians joke about sensitive topics or can they take it 'too far'?
• How do we define 'too far'?
• The vulnerability of being an artist. What does 'artist' mean?
• Points in history when censorship was abused to dictate societies.
• Why laughing at our pain can be cathartic.
• Is excluding certain topics from comedy a form of ignorance?
• Examples of comedians who have received backlash.
• Does joking about sensitive topics increase awareness?
• Difference between laughing with people VS laughing at people.
• Belittling groups from a place of superiority: hate speech VS comedy.
• Taking jokes personally VS being personally ridiculed.

Resources:

• Kevin Harte & Seth Rogen Podcast Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3LAeIcSxDQYItdfj1JU8v6?si=3590343f044946f5
• Tommy Tiernan Backlash: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/comic-refuses-to-drop-down-syndrome-jokes-26334735.html
• My Blog: https://agoodkindofscary.com
• https://www.theschooloflife.com/
• https://rupikaur.com/

Points of discussion:

• One of my biggest fears (public speaking) and how I grew more confident in my abilities.
• Physical changes when feeling nervous: reddening, stuttering, heart racing & why they are normal.
• Secondary school: ducking the head down during readings, running to the toilet & avoiding speaking out.
• Cultural differences with vocalizing opinions.
• Liking the sound of your voice vs Expressing an opinion.
• Studying at university in Ireland vs Studying in America.
• Are children overly praised nowadays and is it a good thing?
• Have we normalized using alcohol as a social crutch / confidence booster?
• What teaching high school students taught me about public speaking.

Resources:

https://agoodkindofscary.com/2022/07/19/holding-a-microphone/

Episode Discussion Points:

- The culture shock that comes with moving abroad (less talked about elements of travel)

- 3 Advantages of Solo traveling (which can be applied to traveling in general)

- Is 'finding yourself' as easy as hopping on a plane?

- Personal stories from studying abroad in America & teaching English in Vietnam

- Advice on how to meet people when abroad

- Why is it important to speak to people from other cultures?

Resources Discussed:

'Deep Roots Podcast' by Damien Browne: https://damianbrowne.com/podcast/

Animal Sitting Website: trustedhousesitters.com

TEFL Internship Course: https://www.i-to-i.com/teaching-internships/

My Blog: https://agoodkindofscary.com/

Episode Discussion Points:

- What is 'the fear' in relation to drinking alcohol?

- Stigma of being 'Irish' linked to partying

- Personal anecdotes from nights out and having 'the fear'

- How to cope with overthinking: moving from inside your head --> outside world

- What could getting 'the fear' regularly be telling you?

- Why do we feel guilt and regret? Acknowledging feelings + learning from them without letting them consume U

- Finding alternative ways to have fun + be social

Resources Discussed:

'The Blindboy Podcast' Episode on class structure: https://open.spotify.com/episode/45TfMyvvXBKyHlhdOJZ7a3?si=ab5fc531ec184e93

Pat Divilly 'Fit Mind' book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fit-Mind-change-soundtrack-greatness/dp/071719132X

My Blog: https://agoodkindofscary.com/

Episode Discussion Points:

- Being a spoilt brat at Christmas & the expectations with gifts

- Comparing your life to other people's over the holidays: Instagram VS Reality

- How the drastic change of our lifestyle at XMAS can impact our emotions

- Being open to breaking traditions & trying new things

- Keeping in touch with loved ones throughout the year instead of meeting for one day

- When the dinner table is missing people you normally spend christmas with & how to cope

- How to make the most of living abroad over the holidays instead of focusing on homesickness

Resources Discussed:

My Blog: https://agoodkindofscary.com/

Episode Discussion Points:

• Benefits of being grateful everyday, especially when life feels really difficult.
• How using a gratitude journal for a year changed my perspective on life and helped time slow down.
• Why sharing compliments/words of appreciation works both ways and improves relationships (WHEN IT'S GENUINE!)
• Is it okay to allow yourself to fully accept compliments/rewards and say 'thank you'?
• Being aware of the 'five love languages' in your relationships and how this will help you become more grateful.
• Why we shouldn't be comparing our life to others when practicing gratitude.
• The ways practicing gratitude could benefit today's modern society.
• Simple exercises to practise gratitude and self love.

Resources Discussed:

• My Blog Post: https://wordpress.com/view/agoodkindofscary.com
• 'About Time': https://g.co/kgs/8pcLZk
• Five Love Languages (Click to discover yours): https://5lovelanguages.com/

Recommendation

• Listen to this podcast of Sinead Hegarty chatting with Conor Creighton about self love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVupDBFvgic

Episode Discussion Points:

• Why are male suicide rates in the UK and Ireland considerably higher than women?
• Does the language we use in our culture impact people's ability to open up?
• How can we respond to friends approaching us when feeling down? Or can we?
• The positive influence of letting your loved ones know you are thinking of them.
• Gender expectations placed on men and women from a young age.
• Why do certain people wait till they have a breakdown before they reach out?
• Are memes, tagged posts, likes and comments our new form of communication?

*FYI* I am not a qualified therapist or psychologist, but I have a degree in psychological studies. This podcast episode is based on my own life experience and research.

Resources Discussed:

1. - Happy Place Roman Kemp & Fearne Cotton Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2LbbN2N3hQy6qaFlrJtOVg?si=FT5iIo9eT7ymSdTHEL__Xw
2. - Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow by Yuval Noah Harari: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31138556-homo-deus
3. - How Not to Be A Boy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34661984-how-not-to-be-a-boy
4. - My Blog Post: https://wordpress.com/view/agoodkindofscary.com

Episode Discussion Points:

- How I used gratitude and hope during a year of uncertainty.

- Living in a state of anxiety vs living in the present: what's the difference and what are the benefits of both?

- Manifesting: what is it and does it work?

- Why we need to consider privilege when we talk about manifesting our dream life.

- Settling out of safety vs Waiting for what you deserve.

- Why do so many Irish people have a scarcity mindset?

- Tips on acting in line with your values and desires.

Resources Discussed:

- 'Manifest' by Roxie Nafousi

- The Sinead Says Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/57jugHtKhXL6uynTKOdBNv?si=7389d67e2ac9411b

- Happy Place Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1J6Ddy4dcXjFZDmWQs3Pu0?si=43317b716fbc4df5

- The Blindboy Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7HinkS0WZqDuMXYh02EUY1?si=3453a27975f049fc

- My Blog Posts: https://agoodkindofscary.com/

Episode Discussion Points:

- Introduction to the podcast and the inspiration behind the name.

- How do we measure fear & challenge our individual perception of fear?

- Why do we need to be more vulnerable and allow discomfort?

- My personal fears and how I learnt to embrace them.

- My personal interests & why I started a blog.

Resources Discussed:

Brene Brown's TedTalk: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=en

My Blog: https://agoodkindofscary.com/