Topics covered : Mental health, homophobia, same-sex marriage referendum in Ireland, rejecting shame. 

This week marks 10 years of the marriage equality referendum in Ireland when the country overwhelmingly voted 'yes' and in doing so became the first country in the world to grant equal marriage rights to same-sex couples by popular vote.

3 years ago I spoke to bar owner, drag queen and activist, Rory O’Neill aka Panti Bliss.

Originally from Ballinrobe in Mayo, Rory lives in Dublin city with his husband Anderson and their dog Penny.

We spoke in late February 2022 and at times there is an eerie poignancy to our conversation as it happened as Covid restrictions were being lifted here in Ireland, but before the invasion of Ukraine.

In this conversation we speak about his now iconic Noble call in the Abbey Theatre and the events which led to it, he speaks about the impact the pandemic had on him, the freedom his alter ego Panti gives him, how he rejects shame of any kind and how he would like to be remembered. 

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Topics covered : Hurling career, All Ireland Finals (2017 & 2018), growing up, learning from failure, resilience, criticism, coping with fame, love, loss, proposal story, becoming a Dad.

This week, I’m joined by All-Ireland winning hurler and businessman Joe Canning.

He’s a proud Galway man who now lives in Limerick with his wife Meg and their baby daughter Josie.

In the first part of our conversation, we dive into his hurling career — focusing on the highs and lows of All-Ireland finals, especially those unforgettable matches in 2017 and 2018.

Later, we move into more personal territory.

Joe opens up about family — the loss of his much-loved Mam, proposing to Meg, and what fatherhood means to him.

Naturally more introverted as a person, he’s honest about how he sees the world — from having no time for people-pleasing to how he turns criticism into motivation.

Joe’s book : ‘Joe Canning: My Story’ is available online and in all good bookshops.

And keep an eye out for his upcoming episode of ‘Unchartered’ with Ray Goggins — airing in the coming weeks time — where he and Olympic athlete Thomas Barr will embark on a gruelling adventure through Colombia.

If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with friends, family, or on social media.

And if you’d like to support what I do, you can follow the podcast, leave a rating, or drop a comment — it all makes a big difference.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : Sexual abuse, grooming, domestic violence, rape, incest, sexual assault, coercive control, manipulation, gaslighting, guilt, shame, recovery.

Charlene Masterson was subjected to horrific sexual abuse at the hands of her father, David, for over 7.5 years.

The abuse started at 18 and the details of which are truly shocking, but her ability to talk about what she went through, is remarkable.

This summer, she made the brave decision to waive her right to anonymity in the hope of helping others who find themselves in controlling, abusive situations.

Now in her early 30’s she is getting back to what she loves to do and is finding herself again.

And in this conversation we talk about so much, including the bond she has with her mother, the damage of pity and the importance of friendships.

She is a gorgeous person, inside and out and deserves all the best that life can bring her.

To support her, please consider donating here...

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-charlene-masterson

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Topics covered : Childhood sexual abuse, grooming, secrecy, shame, self-harm, intense flashbacks, suicide attempts, therapy, consent.

Jack is an extraordinary person who bravely shares his experience of surviving childhood sexual abuse. The abuse lasted for five years during his early life and left lasting scars that led to self-harm and multiple suicide attempts.

While he chooses not to disclose the identity of his abuser, his insights offer a rare and important glimpse into the lasting effects of trauma.

In this episode, he speaks with incredible honesty about the impact it had on him — the shame he carried, the ways he tried to hide his pain, and the long road to healing.

He also shares important reflections on the need to teach young people about consent and body safety.

This conversation is raw and inspiring and I’m truly honoured that Jack chose to speak to me.

Support :

One In Four

Support – Mental Health Ireland

And if you’d like to support Jack’s brilliant "Mountains of Change" fundraiser — a seven-day hike in aid of One in Four, you can sign up to hike on Sunday May 25th or donate to help support survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Mountains of Change | Home - Mountains of Change

Book mention :

'Respect : Consent, Boundaries and Being in Charge of YOU' by Rachel Brian

I am adding this in as there have been so many questions about the book I mention during our chat.

I bought it here...

Respect: Consent, Boundaries and Being in Charge of YOU – Genius Juniors Children's Books and Educational Resources

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.

Topics covered : Betrayal, heartbreak, breakdown, trust, prevention, repair, connection, healing. 

Originally from Douglas in Cork, psychotherapist Richard Hogan lives in Dublin with his wife and their 3 daughters.

He writes a weekly column with the Irish Examiner and often appears on TV and radio and he specialises in working with families.

He’s also written two brilliant books ‘Parenting the screenager’ and ‘Home is where the start is’ and during this conversation he talks about affairs.

Why people have them, the heart-breaking impact of them on a relationship and if it’s possible to heal after betrayal.

Book mention : ‘The 5 love languages’ by Gary Chapman

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.

Topics covered : Connection, communication, boundaries, friendships, modelling, play dates, safety, brain development, true masculinity, the manosphere, porn, healthy eating, sleep.

This week psychotherapist Richard Hogan is back on the pod.

Originally from Douglas in Cork he lives in Dublin with his wife and their 3 daughters.

He specialises in working with families and he’s also written two brilliant books ‘Parenting the screenager’ and ‘Home is where the start is’.

During this conversation we talk about Adolescence on the back of the hit TV show. He talks about what to do in the preteen stage of life along with those challenging years during adolescence itself and he covers things like the importance of our kids having a wide friendship circle and why that is.

Cultivating a healthy home environment, one with good communication and boundaries.

He also discusses masculinity and what he has to say is well worth listening to.

There is so much in this episode!

Please sign Richard's petition calling on the government to act and implement legislation around pornographic material. Children should not be able to easily access it.

Petition · Protect Children from Pornographic Material - United States · Change.org

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.

Topics covered : the power of the mind, our inner critic, inner coach, affirmations, consistency.

Gerry Hussey is a performance psychologist who has been working in the fields of health and performance for almost twenty years.

He’s just released his 3rd book…‘I am, I can, I will. Silence your inner critic, wake up your inner coach and reclaim your confidence and power’ and in this conversation he tells us what it’s all about!

Gerry’s previous books are ‘Awaken your power within’ and ‘The Freedom Within’.

And you can catch up on previous conversations with him here on Ready to be Real.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support.

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Topics covered : Dancing with the Stars, life during lockdown, their relationship.

In this episode I speak to couple Jake Carter and Karen Byrne.

They live in Dublin with their dog Lenny and they started dating after they won series 2 of Dancing with the Stars in Ireland.

Jake is a singer songwriter whose brother Nathan is also in the business. He’s outgoing and optimistic and Karen is a professional dancer with her own dance studio who’s a straight shooter and naturally more introverted by nature.

In this conversation we talk about first impressions, what annoys them about each other and how friendship is the foundation of their relationship.

If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places. And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.

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Topics covered : self-worth, being authentic, imposter syndrome, grief, plant medicine, healing.

This week I speak to Pat Divilly.

Originally from Limerick, Pat moved to Galway with his family when he was about 7 years old and for the past 15 years, he has been working in the areas of physical, mental and emotional wellness as a coach, facilitator and educator.

Currently living in Bali, we caught up when he was home recently to promote new book ‘Shadow work – a practical guide to embracing your shadow side, tackling shame and transforming pain into power’.

And in this conversation he explains what our shadow is, he speaks about how he used to suffer from imposter syndrome, the importance of self-compassion, his love of teaching and lots more.

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.

Topics covered : Cancer, Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), control the controllables, shift in perspective, healthy body and mind, affirmations, positive self talk, appreciation. 

Alannah Sheehan lives in Tipperary with her husband Martin and their 3 children, Finn (9), Luca (7) and Phoebe (5).

And 5 years ago when Phoebe was only a few months old, Alannah was diagnosed with Glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive type of brain cancer.

But today, 5 years on, she’s healthy and happy and even though she still has to go for regular scans and deal with the stress and anxiety that goes with that, ultimately, life is good.

We spoke 4 years ago but I wanted to chat to her again as she is so inspiring.

In this conversation she talks about the power of taking control over what you can control and nourishing your body and mind, every day.

Alannah was a chef before her diagnosis and food is her passion. Her go to juice is celery, cucumber and lemon and she drinks it every day.

You can subscribe to Alannah’s ‘Survive and Thrive’ membership to gain access to her delicious recipes, and you can also purchase her gorgeous wellness cards too.

Alannah Sheehan

Instagram

ALANNAH SHEEHAN (@worth_fighting4) • Instagram photos and videos

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.