Trigger warning : Infant loss, grief, depression, disordered eating, weight loss.
This week I speak to father and ultra marathon runner, Ian Lawton. He lives in Navan in County Meath, is married to Jennifer, and is the father of two sons, Ike who’s 12 and Hank who passed away 10 years ago, the day after he was born. In this conversation he gives us a profound insight into infant loss, and the pain of a bereaved father. Not alone does he speak about loss and grief but also about rebirth and moving forward with a newfound purpose. In a year, he went from being morbidly obese to becoming an extreme runner, which lead to him running 10 marathons in 10 days finishing on what would’ve been Hank’s 10th birthday, this February. This September he turns 50, an age he wasn’t expected to live to see, and he’ll mark it by embracing the challenge of the 'Kerry Way Ultra', running the gruelling 200 kilometres through mountain passes, bogs, roads and trails. This was a deeply emotional and challenging conversation for him and I commend his rawness and willingness to be real.
If you’d like to support Ian’s fundraiser, simply click on this link… https://www.gofundme.com/f/10TEN10 and his website is www.runningforhank.com
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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Lawton : Running for Hank

In this podcast series, Síle Seoige chats to people of all walks of life; those who are well known, along with those who have extraordinary stories to tell and she also features topic lead conversations with a particular expert in their field. A skilled interviewer and avid listener, Síle’s warm approach encourages her guests to be as open and honest about their lived experiences as possible. This refreshing approach has made for some truly special conversations that she hopes will at times inspire, challenge, educate, comfort or simply entertain her listener. Please rate, review and subscribe if you like what you hear, thanks so much! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health & Fitness

Topics covered : Illness, grief, miscarriage, motherhood, divorce, diet culture, overcoming challenges, self-regulation, thriving.  
This week I speak to author and midlife coach, Alana Kirk. Originally from Belfast, Alana lives in Dublin with her three teenage daughters, Daisy (18), Poppy (16) and Ruby (13), their 2 cats, Tiggy and Puka and their rescue dog Mojo.
She works as a midlife coach and is in the process of writing her third book. And in this conversation she shares her own story with us which is really powerful. We also talk about how much our lives have changed in the 16 years since we first met, and throughout our conversation she shares nuggets of wisdom and practical tips to bring into our own lives. Alana is a gorgeous person, she’s compassionate and quick witted and I took so much from this chat. Her current book is ‘Midlife, redefined: Better, Bolder Brighter’, a self-guided exploration of you and your midlife, with exercises so the reader ends up with her own bespoke midlife (wo)manual. She can be found at www.themidlifecoach.org and on Instagram @midlifecoach and for Alana's next online workshop Revive & Thrive, which is focussing on overwhelm, click https://www.themidlifecoach.org/revive&thrive;
If you like this pod, you might appreciate previous episodes like the one I recorded with visibility coach Kate O’Dwyer from October 2023, and the Menopause episodes with Catherine O’Keeffe from April 2021.
If you’re a fan of what I do, 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.

Alana Kirk : Midlife coach

Topics covered : the factors that impact our sleep, the benefits of good sleep and how to improve it.
This week I speak to clinical hypnotherapist and bestselling author, Fiona Brennan. She lives in Dublin with her husband and business partner Ciarán, teenage son Luca and their dog Rosie. And in this conversation she explores some of the elements in her latest book ‘Sleep well - 8 habits to help you fall asleep, stay asleep and wake up refreshed’, our individual chronotypes, the power of napping and what to do if we’re in a negative feedback loop when it comes to our sleep.   For Fiona’s one day retreat on the 19th of May in Wicklow, click here… https://thepositivehabit.com/the-sleep-well-experience-one-day-retreat-wicklow/   And if you enjoyed this episode, please search previous sleep episodes with sleep coach Tom Coleman, from August 2020 along with a 7 minute sleep meditation I recorded also back in 2020.   If you’re a fan of what I do, 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.

Fiona Brennan - Sleep well

Topics covered : Palestinian heritage, injustice, speaking up, Zionism, artwashing.
This week I speak to Irish Palestinian artist, Róisín El Cherif and it's a powerful conversation. She lives in Galway with her parents, her Mom is Irish and her father is from Gaza and she has lived in Ireland for 18 years now. She talks about growing up as an Irish-Palestinian and she shares her perspective on the past 6 months, in particular. This month Róisín will also be releasing a very special song with all the proceeds going to Palestinians causes, so keep an eye out for that.
Book mention : Becoming Pro-Palestinian edited by Rosemary Sayigh
The song that Róisín sings at the end of the conversation : Zahret El Madaen (Flower of cities ) Fairouz - 1967
‎لأجلك يا مدينة الصلاة أصلي ‎لأجلك يا بهية المساكن يا زهرة المدائن ‎يا قدس يا قدس يا مدينة الصلاة ‎عيوننا إليك ترحل كل يوم ‎تدور في أروقة المعابد ‎تعانق الكنائس القديمة ‎و تمسح الحزن عن المساجد ‎يا ليلة الأسراء يا درب من مروا إلى السماء ‎عيوننا إليك ترحل كل يوم و انني أصل​
​'It is for you O city of the prayer that I pray It is for you O splendid home, O flower of the cities O Jerusalem​, O Jerusalem​, O Jerusalem​, O city of the prayer Our eyes are set out to you everyday They walk through the porticos of the temples Embrace of the old churches And take the sadness away from the mosques O night of Al asra O path of those who left for the sky Our eyes are set out to you everyday and I pray​'
If you’re a fan of what I do, 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.

Róisín El Cherif : Palestinian pride

Topics covered : The power of play in building connection with kids, touch, secure attachment, body acceptance, positive modelling, rupture and repair, breaking negative behaviours, resilience building.
This week I speak to child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinane. She lives in Mayo with her husband James and their two kids, Elsie and Freddie.   And in this conversation, she talks about the power of play in building connection with our children and why positive modelling and apologising is so important. It’s an episode full of practical advice. I loved it and I hope you will too!
To connect with Debbie… Home - Debbie Cullinane Debbie Cullinane Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist MA (@debbiecullinane_) • Instagram photos and videos Book mention : Colleen Hoover ‘It ends with us’ If you like this episode, check out previous conversations with Richard Hogan and Sarah Nicole Landry (The Birds Papaya). If you’re a fan of what I do, 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.

Debbie Cullinane : Child and adolescent psychotherapist

Topics covered : Perfectionism, people pleasing, the impact of the Covid pandemic, anxiety, loneliness, marriage breakdown, grief, guilt, therapy, change, freedom, same-sex relationship, rumours, finding joy, childfree by choice.
This week I speak to Cat Lawlor, baker and owner of 'The Cake Cuppery' and it’s a gripping conversation. Originally from Dublin, Cat now lives in Wexford with her girlfriend Louise and their two cats.  In this conversation we chat about listening to your gut instinct, overcoming challenges in life and ultimately finding joy. Cat speaks openly about the end of her marriage, obviously from her perspective, and out of respect for her ex-husband, he is not named during the conversation as we fully appreciate how difficult hearing a conversation like this, might be for him.
To connect with Cat or Louise…
Cat L. Walsh (@thecakecuppery) • Instagram photos and videos Email infothecakecuppery@gmail.com
Louise O Brien | Online Coach (@louise_badasscoaching) • Instagram photos and videos   Book mention : ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ by Susan Jeffers
If you’re a fan of what I do, 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.

Ian Lawton : Running for Hank

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