This week on Mad About Herself, I’m joined by social media coach and entrepreneur Lana Kearney for a brilliantly honest conversation about business, motherhood, mental health and everything that happens when those worlds collide.Lana shares how her social media business absolutely exploded, with thousands of people signing up to learn from her, and why she always knew she had the ability to make brands go viral.But behind the success was a different story.We talk openly about Lana’s experience with maternal mental health, having up to 10 panic attacks a day, the anger and dread she didn’t initially recognise as signs that she needed help, and why her experience the second time around made her realise just how unkind she had been to herself the first time.We also get into the reality of being a working mum, the astronomical cost of childcare, the difficult decision of whether returning to work even makes financial sense, and the pressure women face trying to make motherhood and a career coexist.There are plenty of laughs along the way too, including why I’ll happily follow Lana when most social media coaches annoy the life out of me.An incredibly open conversation about success, identity, motherhood and recognising when “not feeling like yourself” has become something more.

Christopher Ferry is the man behind one of Derry's most recognisable brands - Ferry Clever - and in this episode, we're getting to know the man behind the cards, the comedy and the controversy.

Christopher joins Alannah for a funny, honest and at times deeply personal conversation about building Ferry Clever, his love of Derry and Derry humour, supporting local businesses and causes, and why he isn't afraid to stand up for what he believes in.

He also speaks openly about the devastating loss of his first child, Christian, to stillbirth, fatherhood, his decision to give up alcohol and his determination to become the healthiest and best version of himself.

And then, of course, there are the controversies.

Christopher talks about the cease-and-desist letters he's collected along the way, his feelings about Conor McGregor, and, for the first time in a long-form interview, tells his side of the story behind the controversial Ferry Clever Christmas video featuring Gerry Adams.

He reflects on the backlash and intense media attention that followed, the mistakes he believes he made, and why he regrets the hurt the video caused.

From accidental business names and Derry humour to grief, sobriety, controversy, community and getting things spectacularly wrong sometimes, this is the story of Christopher Ferry beyond Ferry Clever.

Mad About Herself with Alannah Kerrigan - Season 2, Episode 3.

Hosted by Alannah Kerrigan.

Produced by Simon Dobbins.

Jingle composed by Chipzel.

Title Animation by Korie Campbell.

From daydreaming and drama class at Thornhill to appearing on our screens in Derry Girls and Blue Lights, Dearbháile McKinney knows what it means to have a dream - and what it takes to keep chasing it.

In this episode of Mad About Herself, Dearbháile swaps the Blue Lights for the pink lights of the studio for an open and honest conversation about acting, ambition, rejection and mental health.

We talk about where her love of acting began, the reality of trying to build a career in an industry where hearing “no” is part of the job, and learning how to keep believing in yourself when things don’t go according to plan.

Dearbháile opens up about the highs and lows that have come with pursuing the career she always wanted, dealing with rejection and the impact mental illness can have while you’re trying to keep moving forward.

We also chat about Derry Girls, Blue Lights, chasing the opportunities that once felt like daydreams, and why success doesn’t necessarily make the difficult parts of life disappear.

It’s a conversation about dreaming big, getting knocked back, looking after your mental health and finding the resilience to keep going anyway.

Season 2, Episode 2 of Mad About Herself.

Hosted by Alannah Kerrigan.

Produced by Simon Dobbins.

Jingle composed by Chipzel.

Title Animation by Korie Campbell.

The day I decided I was going to start Mad About Herself, I saw a post from Aisling Gallagher - aka GalsGoss - sharing her “Fab and Free at 33” goal list. One of the things on that list was to be a guest on a podcast.

I messaged her that day.

So there feels like something pretty special about Aisling opening Season 2.

Long before cancer entered her story, Aisling was a girl who loved fashion. She started a fashion blog while working in a Tesco bakery, went on to work for Topshop and eventually landed her dream job as a personal stylist in Topshop Knightsbridge in London.

Then, during lockdown in 2020, her life changed completely when she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

In this episode, Aisling speaks incredibly openly about her diagnosis, treatment and the lasting impact cancer has had on her life - including treatment-induced infertility and coming to terms with a future that suddenly looked very different from the one she had imagined.

Going through cancer during lockdown also meant many of the usual forms of support simply weren't available. Unable to attend support groups, Aisling found comfort in opening up to the online community she had already built. We talk about the connection she found through sharing the reality of what she was going through, the support she received in return and why continuing to share her journey online has become so important to her.

That leads us into a really interesting conversation about our relationship with the online world more generally. We talk about dopamine addiction, screen-time boundaries and becoming more intentional about the content we consume - and how Aisling navigates that balance when being online is also such a huge part of her community and her work.

Aisling also talks about the importance of therapy in helping her process everything that happened, rebuild her life and, crucially, allow herself to start making plans for the future again.

Despite everything she's been through, Aisling's positivity and brilliant sense of humour shine through this conversation.

One thing she said has really stayed with me: “It's taken enough away from me. I can't let it take the rest of my life too.” And I think that sums up this episode beautifully.

Season 2 starts here. 🎙️

What was meant to be just another episode became something rather different. After a serious road traffic accident forced me to cancel upcoming recordings, we unexpectedly found ourselves recording a season finale.

This week, the tables are turned as my good friend, comedian and creative genius Joseph Carlin takes over hosting duties, Producer Simon finally gets his own microphone, and for the first time ever I’m outnumbered by male voices and in the hot seat on Mad About Herself.

We answer your questions, read your hilarious confessions, reflect on everything we’ve learned during the first season, and chat about what’s next for the podcast.

This isn’t goodbye. It’s just see you soon.

In the meantime, you can find me over on Instagram at @madaboutherself or @alannahkerrigan_.

And if you’d like to keep up with the fellas and their antics, be sure to give @josephofireland and @filmbysimon a follow too. 🩷

This week on Mad About Herself, I’m joined by Naiomi Kelly, better known as Mama Nomes, herbalist, aromatherapist, community builder, and founder of The Herbal Hub, a pioneering health and wellbeing practice in Derry.

From dreaming of becoming the Potions Master at Hogwarts (or a farmer!) to creating a career rooted in nature, healing, and community, Naiomi’s story is a beautiful reminder that the things we’re drawn to as children often point us towards our true calling.

In this episode, we explore her journey into herbal medicine and aromatherapy, the inspiration behind The Herbal Hub, and her mission to make natural health and wellbeing support accessible to her local community. We talk about the power of reconnecting with nature, building meaningful community, and how Naiomi has woven together her love of plants, people, and natural healing to create a life and business that feels deeply aligned.

This conversation is full of wisdom, warmth, and wonder, and might just inspire you to follow the path that’s been calling you all along.

Grab a cuppa and join us for a chat about herbs, healing, purpose, community, and what it really means to live out your childhood dreams.

Connect with Naiomi on Instagram: @mama_nomes_ @theherbalhubderry

In this episode of The Mad About Herself Podcast, I sit down with Registered Nutritionist and Female Health Coach Jade Bradley to explore her inspiring journey into the world of women's health and nutrition.

Jade shares the 10-year path that led her to become a registered nutritionist and female health coach, the lessons she learned along the way, and the passion that drives her to help women feel their best. We dive into the importance of the small daily habits that can have a big impact on our energy levels, hormone health, and overall wellbeing as women.

We also tackle some of the most common myths surrounding food and supplements, separating fact from fiction and offering practical, realistic advice for busy mums and women navigating everyday life.

Jade takes on our quickfire "Hot or Not" round, sharing her thoughts on popular health and wellness trends.

Whether you're looking to improve your energy, better understand your hormones, or cut through the confusion around nutrition, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable takeaways.

Connect with Jade Bradley:

Website: www.restorenutrition.co.uk

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jade_bradley_

A special thank you to Stable Lane Boutique for providing my outfit for this episode.

www.stablelaneboutique.com

Enjoyed the episode? Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who would love these conversations.

Trigger warning: This episode includes conversations around birth trauma and birth experiences that some listeners may find difficult. Please take care while listening.Jessica Ireland joins Alannah to talk about home birth, homemaking, motherhood, and building a career online through TikTok.

Jessica has built a successful career online, growing from her viral drawing account on TikTok to sharing her life, home, family, and love of food across TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

In this episode, Alannah and Jessica talk about everything from heading off to America to study at just 18, meeting her “short king” Trent, and getting married at 20, to creating content, building an online community, and sharing family life in a way that feels authentic.

They also share their personal birth stories, including their experiences of hypnobirthing, birth trauma, home birth, and the power of feeling informed, supported and confident during pregnancy and labour.The conversation also moves into the beautiful and emotional realities of motherhood, from breastfeeding and weaning to the bittersweet feeling of watching your last baby reach new milestones.

Enjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow the podcast and leave a review to help others discover the Mad About Herself Podcast.

Alannah’s outfit for this episode was kindly gifted by Stable Lane:www.stablelaneboutique.comMad About Herself jingle composed by Chipzel:

www.chipzel.co.uk

Title Animation by Korie Campbell

Recorded and Edited by Simon Dobbins: www.filmbysimon.com

Aoife Bonner, founder of Sass & Halo, joins Alannah to talk about building a business in the wake of her father’s sudden passing, celebrating 10 years of entrepreneurship, navigating motherhood, and co-founding GIRL, a creative space championing female-led businesses.Aoife is the definition of a girl’s girl. This conversation is honest, frank, and full of laughs as we chat about loss, resilience, creativity, community, and the realities of running a business while raising a family.Aoife shares how losing her dad suddenly shaped her outlook on life, helping her develop a positive attitude and a deep sense of gratitude for the good things around her.Aoife’s business, Sass & Halo:www.sassandhalo.comAlannah’s outfit for this episode was kindly gifted by Stable Lane:www.stablelaneboutique.comMad About Herself jingle composed by Chipzel:www.chipzel.co.ukEnjoyed this episode? Please subscribe or follow the podcast and leave a review to help others discover the Mad About Herself Podcast.

In Episode 5 of the Mad About Herself podcast, I sit down with self-professed hot mom of one (very soon to be two) and TikTok creator, Anna Crawford.

We chat about pregnancy, motherhood, relationships, body confidence, social media, and the reality of navigating life online while trying to stay true to yourself.

Anna also opens up about struggling with postnatal depression after the birth of her first baby, the importance of asking for help, being unapologetically medicated for her mental health, and just how important having a supportive partner can be through it all.

From meeting her husband on Hinge to their first date in McDonald’s, it’s a funny, honest and heartfelt conversation about love, motherhood, mental health, and learning to embrace every version of yourself along the way.

If you enjoy the Mad About Herself Podcast, please hit 'follow' for a brand new episode every Tuesday.