Empathic Exchange

Season 2 Episode 1
Join us for a thoughtful conversation as Dan chats with Judy, who reflects on her personal experience of ADHD and how it inspired a deeper path of learning and professional development. We discuss identity, diagnosis, self-understanding, and the insights gained through further study. This episode offers a candid look at ADHD from both the inside out and the therapy room in.

In this deeply moving episode, Dan sits down with Anne Marie who shares her experience of being an unmarried mother in Ireland over 40 years ago. She reflects on the societal pressures, stigma, and institutional forces that led to her baby being taken for adoption. Through her story, we explore a time when silence was expected, shame was imposed, and countless women were left to carry a lifelong loss in private.

This Episode is in honour of:
Alice and her Special Babies in the Sheridan & Hagan family.

For all the Women who felt Unseen, Unheard in their immeasurable loss, for you, your beautiful babies, and what should have been. 

Dan's Cousin, his wife and their daughter - Sydney Brennan - Born sleeping on the 30th of March 2026.

 

In this episode of Empathic Exchange, Dan sits with Alice as we follow her deeply personal story of loss, the quiet, enduring grief that has shaped a life long after the moments themselves. A story of a profound losses, trauma, and the crushing loneliness that followed when that loss was met by a world that did not want to listen. This is not a story of grief kept secret. It is the stories of grief that were shared, spoken, and brought into the open, only to be met with silence, discomfort, and emotional withdrawal. The loneliness of this loss was not just born from what was taken away, but from repeatedly encountering a society that could not bear to hear it.

This Episode is a deep conversation exploring what it means for men to feel lost, vulnerable, and burdened by shame, and why expressing emotions is not just healthy but essential for growth, connection, and identity. Dan sits down with Chris for a deep and honest conversation about male vulnerability, the feeling of being lost, and the quiet weight of shame many men carry. Together, they explore why emotional expression is often suppressed, how that silence impacts identity and connection, and why learning to speak openly is essential for growth, healing, and self-understanding.

In this moving and intimate episode, Chantelle shares the deeply personal story that shaped her life and guided her toward the work she does today. She opens up about growing up with a mother who lived with severe mental health challenges, spending long stretches in hospital and creating a childhood filled with uncertainty, fear, and emotional complexity. At just 15, Chantelle experienced the devastating loss of her mam Geraldine to suicide, a moment that forever changed the trajectory of her life. The episode explores how this loss impacted Chantelle’s own mental health, the silent battles that followed, and the long, winding journey of healing she embarked on. Through reflection, resilience, and support, Chantelle found meaning in her pain and eventually discovered a sense of purpose in helping others navigate their own struggles. This path led her to become a therapist, offering the understanding and compassion she once desperately needed herself. This episode is a story of grief, strength, transformation, and the power of turning personal hardship into a source of connection and healing for others.

In this episode, we dive into the emotional and psychological transformation that happens when a person becomes a mother. Joining me is Martina, who has not only studied this transition but lived it. Together, we explore the identity shifts, inner conflicts, and profound moments of reckoning that shape matrescence, the often‑unnamed journey into motherhood.
 This conversation is raw, compassionate, and deeply validating for anyone who has ever questioned who they were before motherhood… and who they’re becoming now.

In this episode, we are joined by Kevin as we explore why humans instinctively turn toward nature when life feels overwhelming. From the concept of biophilia—our innate pull toward the natural world, to the science that shows how nature restores our minds and calms our bodies, we break down what’s really happening when a walk outside suddenly helps everything feel a little lighter.

You’ll hear how theories like Attention Restoration Theory (nature as a “mental reset button”) and Stress Reduction Theory reveal that our connection to greenery isn’t just emotional—it’s biological. We even touch on studies showing that something as simple as a view of trees can speed up healing. Kevin generously shares two defining chapters of his own journey: losing a mother and finding unexpected comfort while studying horticulture in the Botanic Gardens, and later, working alone on a private chateau in France, where solitude, nature, and emotional release led to the realisation that counselling even existed. Looking back, it feels like nature held me until I found human support.

Kevin has kindly as another takeaway suggested,  3 houseplants that naturally clean the air. 

Spathiphyllum - Peace Lily

Sansiviera - Mother in Laws Tongue

Monstera Deliciosa-Swiss Cheese Plant. 

In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with someone who transformed their life by healing a dysregulated nervous system through body-led therapy. From living in a constant state of overwhelm and anxiety to finding peace, clarity, and resilience, our guest shares their raw and inspiring journey. We explore the emotional toll of nervous system dysregulation, the turning point that led them to somatic healing, and the practices that helped them reconnect with their body. Whether you're curious about body-led therapy or seeking hope on your own healing path, this conversation offers insight, compassion, and practical wisdom.

In this episode, we sit down with Lisa, who openly shares their journey through periods of depression and how it has shaped their outlook on life. From the early signs they didn’t recognise at first, to the challenges of seeking help, and the small but powerful steps that supported their healing, this conversation offers an honest and compassionate look at what it means to live with depression. Whether you’ve experienced it yourself or want to understand a loved one’s struggle better, this episode sheds light on resilience, vulnerability, and the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Tara, a survivor of narcissistic abuse to uncover what life is really like behind the facade. She shares her journey from the subtle beginnings of manipulation to the deep emotional toll of control and gaslighting. We discuss the struggles of breaking free, the challenges of healing, and the strength required to reclaim one’s voice and identity, as well as her continued support as a therapist who has worked with others in similar circumstances. This conversation sheds light on a form of abuse that often goes unseen, while offering hope and validation to anyone who has walked a similar path