Meet Courtney - my former teaching colleague who took me under her wing when I was a brand new teacher in the UK with a thick Kerry accent nobody could understand.
Years later, she reached out stuck in the cycle so many teachers know: nailing it during the week, completely falling apart at weekends.
This conversation was recorded in November 2023, about 8 months into working together. At this point, Courtney had lost over 3 stone and had only missed ONE session since starting.
What I didn’t know then was how her story would end.
Courtney stayed with me for over 2 years. She left in July 2025, down 26 kilograms total. Six months later, she’s kept it all off - still running consistently, still training consistently.
She learned the system. She didn’t need me anymore. That was always the goal.
In this episode, Courtney shares:
• Why structure (not motivation) changed everything
• How she discovered she was massively undereating (not overeating)
• Why she can have ice cream for dinner and still make progress
• The mindset shift that made consistency effortless
• How she went from avoiding the gym to actually enjoying it
This is proof that sustainable transformation is possible for teachers - not through 90-day quick fixes, but through learning a system that works with your life.

In this episode, Paudie breaks down why so many teachers fall into the “all-or-nothing” trap with their health  chasing motivation, setting unrealistic standards, and treating fitness like a short-term project instead of a long-term lifestyle.

You’ll learn why perfectionism keeps you stuck, why shortcuts always end up being the longest route to success, and how small, sustainable habits can help you thrive through every term not just the easy ones.

By the end, you’ll see exactly why your routine doesn’t need to be perfect… it just needs to fit your life.

From Burnout to Half-Marathon: Deirdre’s Comeback as a Principal and a Person
In this episode, we sit down with Deirdre Bourke, a Mum, a principal of a brand-new special school, who shares how she turned a chaotic, high-pressure year into her healthiest and most fulfilling one yet. From feeling stuck and sceptical to running a half-marathon and leading by example, Deirdre’s story is a powerful reminder of what can change in 13 months when you finally put yourself on the to-do list.