​Topics covered : her upbringing, her late husband, grief, mourning, rebuilding her life, fostering, community, belonging and public service. 

This week, I'm joined by Helen Ogbu​ - Labour councillor, the newly elected Mayor of Galway, foster carer, life coach and PhD student.

Helen made history this year by becoming Galway's first Mayor from a migrant background. But long before politics, her life had already taken her on an extraordinary journey.

Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, Helen was one of eight children in a home where kindness, generosity and caring for others were simply part of everyday life. Those early experiences would later inspire her to become a foster carer, opening her home in Ireland to around 30 children over the years.

Helen also shares the deeply personal story of meeting her late husband, Sunny Orji-Ogbu, a principled Nigerian politician who believed passionately that his country deserved honest, accountable leadership. As political tensions intensified, Helen became increasingly fearful for his safety. She moved to Ireland with their young daughter, ChiChi, hoping he would follow. Tragically, in 2010, Sunny was assassinated while returning home from a political meeting. Helen speaks with extraordinary honesty about navigating unimaginable grief, raising her daughter as a young widow, and slowly rebuilding her life in Galway.

Today, alongside her work in public service, Helen holds a Master's degree in History and Diplomacy, is currently completing a PhD, and continues to champion community, inclusion and belonging in everything she does​.

​C​onnect with Helen:

Instagram: ​Helen Ogbu (@iamhelenogbu) • Instagram photos and videos

Labour Party profile: Helen Ogbu

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

In this weeks Real Take from my conversation with musician, performer and storyteller Aindrias de Staic...he talks about the ancient Irish bardic storytelling tradition and why play is so good for our mental health.

If you enjoyed this conversation, I'd really encourage you to listen to the full episode, where Aindrias speaks openly about his childhood, his relationship with his father, addiction and recovery, receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, reconnecting with nature and finding his way back to himself.

Find Aindrias

Website: https://www.aindrias.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smalltownseanchai

By the Light of the Silvery Moon tours Ireland from August. 

For tour dates and tickets, visit Aindrias' website or reach out to him on Instagram.

If you're enjoying Ready to be Real, I'd be so grateful if you'd follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who might enjoy it too...it really helps the podcast reach more people.

Go raibh míle!

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

Topics covered : ADHD, addiction, recovery, nature, bardic storytelling, performing.

My guest this week is musician, performer and storyteller Aindrias de Staic, who many of you will know online as 'Smalltown Seanchaí'.

The son of the late writer and folklorist Eddie Stack, Aindrias grew up immersed in stories. But this conversation isn't simply about where he comes from, it's about the life he's lived.

We talk about his childhood, his parents' separation, his struggles with alcohol and addiction, and what it has taken to reach 20 years of sobriety. He speaks openly about receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life, his mental health, and how gardening, growing his own food and reconnecting with nature have become central to his wellbeing.

And along the way, we explore the ancient Irish bardic storytelling tradition, the importance of play, creativity and finding flow.

Please note: This episode contains personal experiences and opinions relating to ADHD, mental health, addiction and recovery. Any discussion around medication, herbs or other approaches reflects Aindrias' personal experience and should not be taken as medical advice.

To connect with Aindrias :

Aindrias de Staic | Ireland's Musical Storyteller

And on Instagram :

Aindrias de Staic (@smalltownseanchai) • Instagram photos and videos

Support :

If anything discussed in this episode has affected you, or if you're struggling with your mental health or addiction, support is available.

Ireland

• Samaritans – Call 116 123 (free, 24 hours a day) or visit www.samaritans.ie

• Pieta – Call 1800 247 247, text HELP to 51444, or visit www.pieta.ie

• Alcoholics Anonymous Ireland – www.alcoholicsanonymous.ie

• HSE Mental Health Services – www.yourmentalhealth.ie

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

In this week's Real Take, Tara Rafter reflects on her mother's final days living with COPD​ and the heartbreak of saying goodbye to the woman who had been her anchor throughout life.

​If this excerpt resonates with you, I highly recommend listening to the full episode:

Tara Rafter: Hypervigilance to Healing

​Growing up in a home impacted by alcoholism and domestic violence, she learned from a young age how to navigate uncertainty. Despite the difficulties her family faced, she speaks with remarkable compassion about both of her parents, who died far too young.

A​nd alongside her personal story, Tara brings the perspective of a Master Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner and Executive Coach.

Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.

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

​Topics covered include:​ Alcoholism​, domestic violence​, hypervigilance​, compassion​, motherhood​, self-abandonment​, being a carer​, death and loss​, grief​, faith​, spirituality​, forgiveness​, love​, safety​, self-worth​, self-sabotage​, overwhelm​, healing​.

This week I'm joined by Master Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner, Executive Coach and founder of The Navigation Coach, Tara Rafter.

Tara lives in Mayo with her husband Kevin and their son Kai.

In this deeply honest conversation, Tara shares the story of her childhood growing up in a home impacted by alcoholism and domestic violence. She speaks candidly about the hypervigilance she developed from a young age, the lasting impact those experiences had on her life, and the remarkable compassion she holds for her father despite the challenges her family faced.

Tara's story is one of resilience, but also of love, forgiveness and understanding. She reflects on her relationship with both of her parents, who died far too young. Her father passed away at the age of 58, while her beloved mother​, who was her anchor throughout life​, lived with COPD for several years before she died.

We also explore motherhood, self-abandonment, self-worth, self-sabotage, overwhelm​ and what it means to truly feel safe in yourself.

Alongside the more difficult chapters, this conversation is full of warmth and humour. Tara talks about her love of music​ and heading off to gigs on her own, her deep faith and the practices that have helped her navigate life's challenges.

You can connect with Tara here:

Website: thenavigationcoach.com

Email: [email protected]

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

Topics covered : Multiple sclerosis, childfree by choice, travel, freedom, simple living. 

This week, I sit down with author Susan Bennett to chat about her memoir, One Year.

Susan and her husband Chris live in Antrim.

After both receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis just three days apart, they made a decision that would change the course of their lives. 

Years later, they packed up their much loved campervan, fondly known as Hans, and set off on an unforgettable journey through 17 countries across Europe.

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

In this snippet I speak to online fitness coach and content creator Siobhán O'Hagan about being pregnant with her second child and her decision to become become a solo parent through IVF.

Siobhán lives in Dublin with her daughter Cadhla, who will be 3 in August.

At the time of recording, she was 15 weeks pregnant and she shares how she has found the experience so far and why she felt confident making such a significant life decision on her own.

* If you're considering fertility treatment or have any questions about your own circumstances, please speak with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.

To connect with Siobhán :

Siobhan O'Hagan (@siobh.ohagan) • Instagram photos and videos

The Self-Improvement Project | fitness

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

​Topics covered : Building a career in the fitness industry​, solo travel and the search for freedom​, holotropic breathwork​, solo motherhood through IVF​, ​pregnancy and preparing for baby number two​, navigating criticism and online trolling​, the importance of family support​ and creating a life on your own terms​.

A quick note : If you're considering fertility treatment or have any questions about your own circumstances, please speak with your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional.

This week on Ready to be Real, I'm joined by online fitness coach and content creator Siobh​án O'Hagan.

For more than a decade, Siobh​án has worked in the fitness industry, building a successful online coaching business and sharing her life with a large audience online. But this conversation goes far beyond fitness.

S​he speaks openly about her love of travel and adventure, living in places like Thailand​ and Bali and the importance of freedom and independence in her life. She reflects on discovering she was pregnant with her daughter Cadhla, becoming a single mother, and more recently making the decision to have a second child through IVF as a solo parent.

At the time of recording, Siobh​án was 15 weeks pregnant and shares how she has found the experience so far, the reactions she has received, and why she felt confident making such a significant life decision on her own.

We also discuss the realities of sharing your life online, dealing with criticism and trolling, the role her parents play in supporting her, and the lessons she has learned through motherhood.

This is an empowering conversation about trusting yourself, creating a life that feels right for you, and having the courage to make unconventional choices.

​We talk about : her career in fitness, pregnancy and early motherhood with Cadhla, solo pregnancy and IVF, trolling.

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

Former Navy Captain Marie Gleeson speaks about the most profound and heartbreaking experience of her life. During her pregnancy with her son Ciarán, Marie and her husband John received devastating news about his health. What followed was a journey marked by immense love and, ultimately, deep grief.

If you'd like to hear the full conversation, Marie also speaks about life in the Navy and what the sea taught her about navigating life.  

It's available to listen to anytime now.

​And if anything discussed in this episode feels difficult or brings up emotions for you, please know that you are not alone.

Support Links – Pregnancy & Infant Loss Ireland

​​Ireland helplines and hotlines

​Marie’s memoir, ​'Be Like the Sea​ - Life, Learnings and Leadership from an Irish Navy Captain', is out now, and it's brilliant.

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

​Topics covered : life in the Irish Navy, leadership, being a woman in a male-dominated environment, drug interdiction operations, UN peacekeeping missions, traumatic pregnancy, child loss, grief, motherhood, mental health and emotional wellbeing.

​(Please take care while listening, particularly if any of these topics feel sensitive or close to home.​)

This week, I speak to former Navy Captain Marie Gleeson.

Marie lives in Tipperary with her husband John and their two daughters, Laoise and Muireann. Raised on a dairy farm as the eldest of six children, she went on to become one of the first women commissioned into the Irish Navy at a time when women had only recently been allowed into the service.

Over a 21-year career, Marie served at sea and ashore in senior leadership roles and eventually became Commanding Officer of the LE Aoife. She was involved in major operations including a UN peacekeeping mission in Chad, the rescue of a Canadian submarine and a seven hundred and fifty million euro cocaine seizure during a high-stakes drug interdiction mission at sea.

But behind the extraordinary career was profound personal heartbreak.

In this conversation, Marie speaks openly and honestly about the devastating loss of her baby son Ciarán​ and how grief completely altered her understanding of strength and leadership.

Marie’s memoir, ​'Be Like the Sea​ - Life, Learnings and Leadership from an Irish Navy Captain', is out now​ and it's fantastic. 

Helplines​ :

​Ireland helplines and hotlines

Support Links – Pregnancy & Infant Loss Ireland

You can ​connect with Marie ​on LinkedIn, Instagram or you can email her :

[email protected]

​And if this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone you think might connect with it and don’t forget to follow Ready to be Real ​s​o you don't miss an episode.

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