Pockets of Joy with Niamh O'Connell

Today on Pockets of Joy my guest is Jody O’Neill, writer of the award-winning play “What I don’t know about Autism”.

Dive into this pocket of Joy as we discuss our shared neurodivergence, our experiences of labour and birth as women on the spectrum, how Jody makes time for self-care, her writing process, creating accessible experiences in the arts, and the social model of disability. The video version of this podcast is available on YouTube.

Make sure to catch her play Grace in the Dublin Theatre Festival. I have set up a Resources page on The Wellness Clinic’s website with all my favourite neurodivergent content creators, so check that out if you need some support, or you can email me through my website.

See Jody’s play “Grace” in Dublin theatre festival. https://dublintheatrefestival.ie/event/grace/

See “Grace” in Galway https://tht.ie/4359/baboro-2024

Follow Jody on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneill.jody

You might like to join my Inner Circle Members Club for a free monthly Zoom designed to help reconnect you with yourself, your joys and set realistic goals for your self-care. More information on my webpage here: https://thewellnessclinic.ie/inner-circle/

Niamh's links:

https://www.linktr.ee/thewellnessclinicireland/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:20 Where we sit on the spectrum

05:50 Flawed model of diagnosis / labels

08:30 Birthing and pregnancy on the spectrum

12:30 Learning to listen to our intuition

14:00 Jody's self-care

15:50 Self-care is not selfish

17:30 Burnout

20:00 The little moments

20:30 In an ideal world

21:30 Accessible theatre experiences

23:00 WFH during the pandemic

25:10 Social media

29:38 Relaxed performances

40:49 Identifying as "disabled"

45:55 Where to find Jody

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I speak to Dr. Anthony Delaney, historian, broadcaster and actor about his upcoming book Queer Georgians, queer Irish history, trans rights, gender identity and Ireland's same sex marriage referendum. Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss the Georgian period of Enlightenment, some fascinating characters from Irish history and our shared love of pizza! His book will be published worldwide with Penguin in 2025.

You can follow Anthony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonydelaneyhistory/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anthonydelaneyhistory

After Dark podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/after-dark-myths-misdeeds-the-paranormal/id1705694900

You might like to join my Inner Circle Members Club for a free monthly Zoom designed to help reconnect you with yourself, your joys and set realistic goals for your self-care. More information on my webpage here: https://thewellnessclinic.ie/inner-circle/

Niamh's links:

https://www.linktr.ee/thewellnessclinicireland/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:00 Queer Georgians book (Penguin 2025)

02:05 The Georgian Period

04:10 Queer Irish Georgians

07:10 Dr James Barry

12:00 The Ladies of Llangollen

16:10 Polarising and labelling our attractions

19:30 Trans rights being regulated

23:00 Gender identity

26:00 The role of parents

27:15 Being in a minority

28:10 Safety for minorities in public

29:30 Children with gender identity questions

30:45 Jen Mannion "Female Husbands" book

31:30 Debating other people's validity

33:10 The "increase" in neurodivergence / queerness

35:20 The definition of "family" in the 18th Century

37:30 Seeing a repeat of Georgian values nowadays

38:30 Modern day Ireland

40:40 Older generations' attitudes

42:10 A New Ireland

45:10 Anthony's social media and podcast "After Dark"

45:44 Queer Georgians book

46:18 Alice in Wonderland

47:10 Anthony's book that made a big impression

48:50 Favourite food

49:48 Motto for life

50:58 Anthony's idea of perfect happiness

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I speak to award-winning Irish comedian, Shane Daniel Byrne about his career to date. You might know his podcast Young Hot Guys.

Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss his sell-out success at Edinburgh, his self-care routine during show season and his visions for the future. 

Follow Shane here:

https://aviarytalent.com/shane-daniel-byrne

https://www.tiktok.com/@shanedanbyrne_?lang=en

https://www.instagram.com/shanedanbyrne/?hl=en

You might like to join my Inner Circle Members Club for a free monthly Zoom designed to help reconnect you with yourself, your joys and set realistic goals for your self-care. More information on my webpage here: https://thewellnessclinic.ie/inner-circle/

Niamh's links:

https://www.linktr.ee/thewellnessclinicireland/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

02:10 Singing as a vocal warm up

03:00 Self-belief

04:30 Writing his shows

05:45 Having a discipline with writing

09:10 Shane having a week off

09:40 Pre-show routine: food

10:40 Pre-show routine: connection with others

11:40 Paying for reviews

12:30 Post-show wind-down

15:15 Other comedians being cool

15:50 Being sober on stage

18:20 Eating food late at night

21:07 Pre-show routine for Edinburgh

23:00 Pre-show nerves / rituals

23:30 Bouquet of flowers

24:50 Not having a "persona"

26:40 Shane's characters

28:35 Processing the Pandemic

36:20 Shane's upcoming shows

37:05 Demand avoidance / admin work

40:00 Future goals and plans

43:30 Shane's idea of perfect happiness

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode I speak to the multitalented Clare O'Malley, Irish actor, singer and songwriter who has worked transatlantically for most of her career. After decades of bringing other people's work to life, Clare is writing her own material now.

Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss her career off-Broadway, having confidence and courage in the performance industry, songwriting, creative expression and my own dreams of the stage!

Follow Clare here:

https://www.clareomalley.com/

https://www.facebook.com/clare.omalley.75

You might like to join my Inner Circle Members Club for a free monthly Zoom designed to help reconnect you with yourself, your joys and set realistic goals for your self-care. More information on my webpage here: https://thewellnessclinic.ie/inner-circle/

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:30 Writing her own material

03:05 Watching yourself on camera

03:48 Handcrafting for relaxation

04:40 Clare's EP and Christmas album

06:10 The theatre scene and AI

07:25 Station 11

07:55 Feeling isolated since the pandemic

12:20 Clare's work in the US

15:30 Originating a rôle

21:00 Making money in the music industry

25:30 Claire's own Broadway show

26:00 Stating our ambitions

27:27 Accepting compliments

29:10 Niamh's nerves in starting the podcast

29:35 Healing our relationship with our bodies

31:50 Worrying about others opinions

33:20 Auditions and rejection

34:55 Niamh's auditioning in her 20s

36:10 How Niamh met her husband Barry O'Connor

37:40 How Clare manages rejection

40:25 Clare's advice to aspiring performers

42:20 Growing and evolving as we age

44:25 Book/Movie that made a big impression

46:38 Favourite meal

47:40 Motto for life

49:27 Clare's idea of perfect happiness

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode my guest is Dublin native, actor and writer Lauren Larkin, whose short film One More Round just premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh last month. This film deals with a young couples struggles during IVF treatments, showing their emotional and financial strain with beautiful depth. 

Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss family dynamics, juggling careers and motherhood, the Sandwich Generation, how the pandemic affected us all and my low-demand lifestyle. 

Follow Lauren on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlarkin10?igsh=MXI5OHg0eWRodXJueQ==

Follow One More Round film on Instagram here:

https://www.instagram.com/onemoreroundfilm?igsh=MWE0YXNjYXJoOTc2ZQ==

Timestamps

00:00 Niamh accommodating her neurodivergence on camera!

02:10 Lauren’s entry into acting

04:00 Having a baby and a career

05:10 Lauren’s writing career

07:45 Touring with Lauren’s first baby 

08:36 Breastfeeding while working

10:50 Lauren having her second baby during the pandemic

11:35 Lauren leaving social media for 11 months

13:05 How different life was during the pandemic

14:50 Juggling her career with motherhood

16:30 Living on adrenaline

17:47 One More Round short film about infertility

22:06 Representing her community of Cabra

23:22 Having a strong vision to get a project made

24:25 Shooting on real film

24:44 Barry O’Connor’s approach directing the film

26:00 Appreciating the present moment

26:58 Writing the play “Mr Moran” about family dynamics/grief

28:46 The Sandwich generation (caring for children and elderly parents)

30:32 Future projects for Lauren

31:27 Managing a home plus working

38:12 Niamh’s low-demand lifestyle

38:48 Routine/Anchors in your day

39:24 Lauren’s gym habit

41:00 Book/movie that made a big impression

42:02 Favourite meal

42:48 Motto for life

43:04 Lauren’s idea of perfect happiness

If you love my approach you might enjoy my Inner Circle members club, a free monthly meetup to support your personal growth and goals. Open to all genders and neurotypes, this is a supportive space to learn self-care practises, managing stress and busy schedules while still supporting your own needs. More details at https://thewellnessclinic.ie/inner-circle/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mari Kennedy, a Wise Woman in the Celtic Tradition, joins me to discuss her Next Stage Celtic Wheel, drawing on the ancient wheel of the year, a framework for working within the changing seasons to get the best use of our natural energy and rhythms.

Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss the Celtic festival of Lughnasadh this August, having the "wild craic", insights about our perception of time, rebalancing our energies from the linear masculine mode which causes burnout and feelings of failure to leaning back into our feminine energy and learning to just "be". Restoring our balance, reclaiming our sovereignty as women and so much more. I share some insights I have been having recently and we both are moved to tears. A really special episode with lots of nuggets of wisdom for you to takeaway.

Subscribe to my channel so you don't miss an episode! Please share with someone who would love this episode. Pockets of Joy is also available on your favourite podcast platforms.

Mari's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/marikennedywisdom?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=1739848e-31f2-41c2-9c2a-1f6d5d2dfdfb

Niamh’s Linktree: https://www.instagram.com/andiemichellek?igsh=MWNhcHdkOGlxdXVodg==

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#wheeloftheyear #celticrituals #feminineenergy #balance #spirit #spirituality #nextstage #lughnasadh #samhain #halloween #gaelic #wisewoman #nature #innerpeace #innerstrength #natural #naturalwoman #imbolc #bealtaine

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

04:45 Mari's work

06:30 Winter is for hibernation

08:40 The Wheel teaches us to go with our rhythms

09:19 Menstrual cycles

10:30 Stress & Infertility, Burnout

13:10 Menopausal women in the workplace

13:30 Overview of the Celtic Wheel: 8 festivals

15:30 Lughnasadh

17:50 Overriding masculine energy in the world today

19:10 The feminine energy

20:30 Showing up for ourselves

24:20 Modern life separating us from our feminine energy

26:20 Relationship to time

29:35 Healing ourselves and past traumas

30:54 Self-care is not selfish

34:05 Niamh's relationship with time

35:25 Slowing down for our children

36:15 Slowing down for ourselves

39:45 Unravelling old patterns

41:25 The Sea as medicine

41:55 Addiction to distraction

43:44 Niamh's revelations this year

45:00 Let things have their own rhythm

47:40 The Wheel is more like a labyrinth

49:00 Mari's courses

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting off Season 2 with one of my greatest joys: Disney!! Nerding out with Disney Expert Andrea McLeod, who goes to Florida x3 per year to get her Disney fix!

Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss tips and tricks to get the most from your Disneyland holiday, the magic and music of the movies, our favourite characters, Pixar, Loungefly collectables, home decor, Disney weddings and more!!

Share this episode with the Disney lovers in your life! Are you a Disney Adult like us? Ever tried Disneybounding? Hopefully this will inspire you to get creative with your OOTDs!

Please rate this podcast and thanks for tuning in!

Andrea’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andiemichellek?igsh=MWNhcHdkOGlxdXVodg==

Niamh’s Linktree: https://www.instagram.com/andiemichellek?igsh=MWNhcHdkOGlxdXVodg==

Songs mentioned:

Happily Ever After

https://youtu.be/24IyGNpIhys?si=ClKV3AzR34VTrWS5

This one is the Disneyland Paris parade song for the 30th anniversary: 

https://youtu.be/kdJmnolEVzk?si=juAOfJqCyIeinFkg

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:28 What Disney means to us

02:55 Niamh's collection and wedding inspo

03:55 Disneyland Paris

05:00 Walt Disney World Florida

06:00 Rides: Lightning Lanes / Fast Pass

09:30 Scheduling your day in the park

11:10 Eating in the parks

12:45 Accommodation

14:25 Character breakfast

15:30 Andrea's favourite Disney parks moments

15:55 Happily Ever After song

16:30 Disney music

17:30 Disney wedding

18:30 Disney Adults

19:00 (Loungefly collection)

21:10 Disney Adults

23:03 Disneybounding

28:38 Favourite characters

31:00 Meeting characters

35:00 The magic of Disney is worth the money to us!

36:20 Favourite movies

37:50 Enchanted

38:34 Visiting the set of Disenchanted

40:15 Modern day classics

40:48 Pixar

42:12 Quoting from the movies

42:42 Home decor

43:50 Souvenirs: Ears, Christmas decorations, Mugs

44:40 Best time of year to visit the parks

46:18 Behind the curtain

47:30 Keys to the Kingdom tour in Florida

49:10 Security in the parks

51:10 Book/Movie that made a big impression

51:35 Favourite meal

52:00 Motto for life

52:50 Andrea's idea of perfect happiness

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rounding off Season 1 is the multi-talented creatrix Lucy H. Pearce. Her books "Burning Woman", "Moon Time", "The Kitchen Witch Companion" are regulars on my bookshelves and I recommend her work to everyone I know. Her books are life-changing, transformational and inspirational. She opened Womancraft Publishing house to give voice to the oft-silenced works that traditional publishers were ignoring. She is a force of nature and I was so happy to finally get to chat to her after almost two decades of admiring her work.

Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss how Lucy manages her heavy workload around her chronic migraines, how we view ourselves as Autistic and ADHD (AuDHD) women, dismantling capitalism and patriarchy, crochet and her online courses.

Have you caught up with the previous episodes? There’s something for everyone this season, Don’t forget to rate this podcast and share it with your friends. Thank you so much for tuning in!

Lucy's website: https://dreamingaloud.net/

Lucy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyhpearce/

Lucy's publishing house: https://womancraftpublishing.com/

Womancraft Publishing Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womancraft_publishing/

Niamh’s Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/thewellnessclinicireland

Timestamps:

0:00:00 Intro

0:00:40 Migraines

0:03:48 Writing a book using dictation

0:05:10 Managing multiple income streams

0:06:20 Autism vs ADHD and working

0:09:25 Being an author

0:10:20 Energetic Editing

0:13:40 Being a teacher

0:16:10 Peaceful Pattern online course

0:23:38 Handcrafts for mental health

0:30:10 Neurodivergence classifications

0:41:00 Neurodivergents in a group

0:43:22 Neuroadjacent

0:47:10 Disorder/disability labels

0:50:10 Benefits of diagnosis

0:52:15 Capitalism and patriarchy

0:57:45 AI

1:03:50 Lucy’s book Moon Time about menstruation

1:07:50 The 9-5 work culture only suits men

1:13:05 Book/movie that made a big impression

1:15:00 Motto for life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am delighted to introduce my guest for this episode: Dublin-based actor and writer Mags McAuliffe who wrote and toured her one-woman show The Humours of Bandon for the last eight years. This play explores what happens when we leave behind a childhood passion that was our everything.

Dive into this pocket of joy as we discuss beginning a career as an "older" graduate, motherhood, Mags' writing process, touring the world with her play, and her clever #backstagesnax on Instagram.

Have you caught up with the previous episodes? There’s something for everyone this season, Don’t forget to rate this podcast and share it with your friends. Help me spread the joy by sharing this podcast with a friend, click on the “like” button and subscribe to my channel for more. Thank you!!

Mags' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moi_mags/

Mags' Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/moi_mags/

Niamh’s Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/thewellnessclinicireland

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

01:50 Being an "older" acting graduate

02:35 Being a woman in the acting industry

04:10 Being a woman in your prime in your 40s

04:50 Breastfeeding and slow weight gain

06:20 Niamh's autism diagnosis (ADHD too!)

07:00 Theatregoing as ND person

(mention Jody O'Neill's play "What I (Don't) Know About Autism")

08:30 The Humours of Bandon show

09:50 Mags' Irish Dancing School

13:00 Writing process for The Humours of Bandon

16:18 Claire McKenna, Mags' Irish dancing teacher

17:35 Touring with The Humours of Bandon

19:40 Wellbeing while touring

22:15 Motherhood

23:45 Next project

25:22 Cancel culture

28:20 Using Social media for self-promotion

29:00 #backstagesnax

32:20 Book/movie that made a big impression

34:10 Favourite meal

35:33 Motto for life

36:40 Losing things

38:14 Idea of perfect happiness

39:35 Being a working mom

43:30 Where to find Mags

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciarán McCarthy of Eyeful Things Optical in New Brunswick, Canada has built a sustainable business with an “underground / speakeasy” vibe. In this episode he talks about the “adventure” of entrepreneurship and the organic, intuitive way he is building his business. 

Ciarán sources vintage deadstock and fine eyewear for his business. He has followed his intuition and created a career path that suits his strengths, with a kind of "underground" and very unique way of getting his products out there. For anyone who wants something different to the 9 to 5, this episode is for you. 

I think his method of "babysteps" really frees us up from getting overwhelmed about the bigger picture. The result is a really successful business model where his passion and integrity shine through. 

Have you caught up with the previous episodes? There’s something for everyone this season, Don’t forget to rate this podcast and share it with your friends. Thanks for sharing the joy!

Ciarán’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyefulthings.optical

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciaran.mccarthy/

Niamh’s Linktree: https://www.linktr.ee/thewellnessclinicireland 

Timestamps:

00.00 Intro

01:45 Ciarán’s Irish connection

04:40 His unique business

05:30 How he built up his business

09:00 Word of mouth / social media

12:32 Sustainability in younger generations

13:30 The adventure of thrifting

15:12 Changes in glasses manufacturing in the last few decades

18:00 Eye changes as you age

20:00 Helping people choose frames

23:00 Becoming an entrepreneur

24:20 Keeping up the day job

26:00 Keeping the business mobile 

26:40 Having a brick and mortar office

30:40 Finding his core target market

34:15 How Entrepreneurship suits Ciarán

35:20 Being an introvert

38:25 Being self-employed

40:00 Challenges of “putting yourself out there”

43:40 "Scaling up" doesn't appeal

44:50 Being an "underground" retailer

46:05 Fine eyewear

47:40 Book/movie that made a big impression

49:40 Favourite meal

50:45 Motto for life

51:35 Idea of perfect happiness

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.