Topics covered : vaginismus, shame, libido, faking orgasm, sexual compatibility, body image, acceptance, masturbation, sexual confidence, sex toys, anal sex, role play, freedom, pleasure.  

This week, I’m joined by sex educator, author and podcaster, the brilliant Grace Alice O’Shea.

She lives in Limerick with her boyfriend Ivan and their two dogs, and in this episode she answers your questions (I put up a question box on Instagram)— on everything from libido, gaining sexual confidence, sex toys, role play, and so much more.

But before we got into all of that, she began by sharing her own story and her past struggles with vaginismus.

There is so much in this episode and as always with the topic of sex we easily could have talked for another hour.

The first 20 minutes - her own story and we discuss THAT Kylie tweet of mine from 14 years ago.

Don't worry if you know nothing about it, I explain it. Wild!

Grace answering questions from 20 mins onwards -

We spent a long time on libido.

50 mins onwards - sexual confidence, faking orgasm, sex toys, anal sex, role play, sexual compatibility, dirty talk.

If you'd like to hear more conversations about sex here on Ready to be Real check out the following episodes :

Sex educator Jenny Keane ​(2022) and Sexologist Emily Power Smith (2021​).

And definitely listen to Grace's pod 'The G spot' too. 

Please listen, like, follow, share and all the other stuff...I really appreciate the support.

Next week will be my last episode of 2025!

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Topics covered : Life in Gaza, living under occupation, murder, grief, trauma, injustice.

I am revisiting this conversation as the incredible Hala Sourani was honoured at the Shine Mental Health Media Awards today in Dublin.

She won the Special Recognition award for th​is podcast and ​everyone in the room w​ere on their feet ​for her.

A truly deserving standing ovation for her courage, her dignity and her truth.

This conversation was my last of 2024 and yet heartbreakingly, a year on, Gaza is still being attacked.

(Her mother and her sister and her children are still in Gaza.)

In October 2023, Hala was married to Mohammad and they had 2 girls, Shahd who was 6 and Rahaf who was 5 and they lived in Gaza.

In November of that year, they tried to flee but, in the process, both Mohammad and Rahaf were murdered by Israelis.

As you can imagine, this is a harrowing account of that time so please be aware before you listen but I really hope you do stay with this conversation as intense as it is and that you allow yourself to connect with Hala and the pain and injustice that she and so many have been, and continue to be, subjected to.

She came to Ireland with her daughter Shahd in February​ 2024 and has been working as a volunteer here and remarkably she completed a MBA ​that year too.

I wish we never had to have this conversation.

I wish she was still in Gaza with her husband and girls, but that is unfortunately not the case.

This is without a doubt one of the most important conversations I’ve ever had on Ready to be Real and I am honoured that she trusted me with it.

She’s not comfortable speaking about the Go Fund Me that has been set up to help her but I’m going to ask you to please consider donating what you can so that she and her daughter can try and rebuild their lives here in Ireland.

They need and deserve our support. Any and all donations would be gratefully received.

Fundraiser by Sarah Costello : Urgent Help For Halla & Chahd (Gazans in Ireland)

Go raibh mile maith agaibh.

A special word of thanks to the wonderful Kate O’Dwyer, the founder of 'Pals for Palestine' for all her help in connecting Hala and I and for all her love and guidance behind the scenes.

Saoirse don Phailistín.

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​This is The Real Take — a glimpse into the honesty, wisdom and connection at the heart of every episode of Ready to be Real.

I’m speaking with Vanessa Ogbonna, one of the winners of the very first series of The Traitors Ireland.

She once chased a bright future in football until injury and illness forced a dramatic change of course.

In this snippet she speaks about her experience of racism in Ireland — starting with how she felt during the Dublin riots in 2023.

If you’d like to hear more, the full conversation with Vanessa is available to listen to anytime now.

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

Topics covered : The Traitors, growing up in Direct Provision, football career, injury, grief, Lupus diagnosis, faith, 2023 Dublin riots, racism.

This week, I’m joined by one of the winners of the very first series of The Traitors Ireland — Vanessa Ogbonna.

But her story stretches far beyond reality TV.

Vanessa once chased a bright future in football until injury and illness forced a dramatic change of course.

In this conversation, while she touches briefly on her time on The Traitors, she mainly opens up about the moments that shaped her life: navigating a lupus diagnosis that altered everything, losing her father, growing up in Direct Provision, and her experience of racism in Ireland.

You can catch her every week on United FC on RTÉ alongside Jordan Conroy, and you can also catch up with episodes on the RTÉ Player.

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

Make sure little ears aren't listening!

Topics covered : Unpacking 'calm' parenting, navigating meltdowns (for adults and kids)​, the power of play in building connection with kids, dropping the threats, slapping, resilience building, unlearning, rupture and repair, positive modelling.

This week, I’m speaking with child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinane.

Debbie lives in Mayo with her husband James and their two children, Elsie (10.5) and Freddie (9.5). She joined me on the podcast back in March 2024, and that episode resonated deeply — for me personally, and for so many listeners. If you haven’t heard it yet, I highly recommend giving it a listen.

In today’s conversation, Debbie shares practical, compassionate guidance on becoming as regulated as we can as parents; what our children truly need to thrive (it may surprise you); how to navigate stressful moments with more ease; the power of play in building connection; and why unlearning certain old habits is such vital work.

Debbie, along with fellow psychotherapist Hayley Rice, created the F.I.R.M.™(Firm, Intentional, Regulated, Modelling) Parenting Approach — a therapist-designed, research-driven framework that supports parents in raising emotionally healthy, resilient kids.

You can join their parenting hub - you’ll find more information on both of their Instagram pages.

If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review the podcast in all the usual places.

And thank you, as always, for supporting Ready to be Real.

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This is The Real Take — a glimpse into the honesty, wisdom and connection at the heart of every episode of Ready to be Real.

Today, I’m revisiting a conversation I recorded six years ago with the incredible Seán Boylan — a fifth-generation herbalist and a true sporting legend.

During his 23 years as Meath Football Manager, he led the county to four All-Ireland titles and cemented his reputation as an iconic leader.

In this clip, he reflects on holding training sessions at the ancient and sacred Hill of Tara — the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

​If you’d like to hear more, the full conversation with the truly brilliant Seán Boylan is available to listen to anytime now.

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Topics covered : AI in today's world, awareness.

In this episode, I speak to technology consultant and author Joanne Griffin.

She's married to Mark, they have two teenage boys, and they live in Navan.

She left the mainstream corporate world just before Covid to pursue a career in tech, and a few years later, she wrote a book called “Humology – How to Put Humans Back at the Heart of Technology.”

In our conversation, we talk about the reality of living in an increasingly tech-reliant world, the overwhelm that can often come with it, the importance of being mindful of our AI use, and why technology itself isn’t the enemy — if we use it with intention.

Human-Centric Technology Design | Humology

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Topics covered : Leukaemia, blood transfusions, bone marrow transplant, pregnancy, birth story, positive mindset, exercise, faith, gratitude.  

This episode is in partnership with giveblood.ie — a service that truly saves lives.

I speak with Laura Murphy, whose husband Dave was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia eleven years ago.

Throughout his treatment, he needed multiple blood transfusions and a bone marrow transplant — and the most difficult time of all came when Laura was pregnant with their son.

Together, they’ve faced enormous challenges, but today, Dave is thriving, and they’re soaking up family life with their three-year-old, Joshua.

Their story is one of resilience and deep gratitude for the donors who made his recovery possible.

If this conversation resonates with you, please rate it, leave a comment, or share with a friend who needs to hear it.

Míle buíochas.

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Topics covered : rape, trauma, living in fear, self harm, PTSD, reclaiming. 

Bláthnaid Raleigh is from Mullingar, and her world changed forever after a night out in Galway in July 2019, when she was attacked and raped by a man from her hometown, Johnny Moran.

As you can imagine, this conversation is intense at times, so please take care while listening.

For five long years, as Bláthnaid tried to rebuild her life, he continued to live his, as normal — while she and her family were left in limbo, waiting for justice.

Finally, in July 2024, he was sentenced to eight years in prison, without ever showing an ounce of remorse.

Bláthnaid’s book Aftermath is a powerful and devastating account of what it means to survive — and of the failings of a system that left her feeling forgotten and silenced. But it’s also a story of extraordinary strength, courage, and the slow process of reclaiming herself.

If you’ve been affected by what you’ve heard, please know that you’re not alone and there is help available.

Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) - Rape Crisis Ireland

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This is a Ready to be Real revisit from 2020 — recorded during the height of the Covid restrictions.

In it, I speak to folklorist, artist and musician Dr. Billy Mag Fhlionn (Pagan Rave) about Samhain and the old Irish traditions that still shape how we celebrate Halloween today.

Billy lives in Dingle with his wife Muireann and their daughters, Sadhbh and Líse.

In this conversation, he shares the deeper meaning behind our Halloween customs — the stories of old, the sense of connection to our ancestors, and the games that have stood the test of time.

We talk about trick or treating, 'bobbing for apples', 'shave the fryer' (the flour mountain), and 'snap apple' and he reveals what was originally hidden inside the báirín breac (you might be surprised!).

Resources :

https://tradition.ie

https://www.duchas.ie/en

https://www.muireann.ie/

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