Soul Sessions with Emma

In this episode of Soul Sessions with Emma, I’m joined by Marian Ní Chonghaile, wellbeing specialist, life coach, breathwork facilitator and educator.

Born in London and raised in the Connemara Gaeltacht, Marian shares how Gaeilge, nature, community and Seán-Nós dancing shaped her sense of identity and connection from an early age.

We explore some of the defining moments of her life, including her father’s serious accident, her own health challenges and a later car accident that became another major turning point. Marian speaks openly about spending years overthinking, analysing and pushing forward before learning that understanding ourselves intellectually is not always enough.

We talk about grief, resilience, breathwork, suppressed emotions, movement and why Marian now believes that real change happens in the body.

She also shares the precious final chapter she spent with her father, the simple moments that taught her about presence, and why learning to listen to our bodies and treat ourselves with kindness can profoundly change the way we live.

Marian’s work today brings together breathwork, coaching, movement and Gaeilge through Thrive Within - Filleadh ort féin, meaning returning to yourself.

A conversation about slowing down, listening inward and remembering that sometimes the journey forward is really a journey back to ourselves.

What does it really mean to be a strong man?

In this episode of Soul Sessions with Emma, I welcome Steve Dawe back to the podcast for an open and thought-provoking conversation about masculinity, vulnerability, responsibility and what it means to become the man you actually want to be.

Steve shares the story behind The Warrior Within, a 12-week men’s personal development programme inspired by the work of author and BAFTA winner Jeff Thompson. But this conversation goes far beyond the programme itself.

We explore why so many men can appear successful on the outside while quietly feeling disconnected, stuck or unfulfilled. We talk about the masks men wear, the power of male community, pornography, alcohol, social media and other forms of distraction, and why radical honesty is often the first step towards real change.

Steve also opens up about his own journey over the past year, including leaving education, building a new career and supporting his wife through breast cancer treatment. He shares what this experience has taught him about staying centred, asking for support and living according to your values when life becomes difficult.

At the heart of this conversation is a simple question:

Are you the person you say you want to be?

Because real strength isn’t about looking like a warrior on the outside. It’s about how you show up for yourself and the people around you when it matters most.

An honest conversation about men, relationships, vulnerability, self-mastery and doing the work.

In this episode of Soul Sessions with Emma, Michelle A. Hardwick returns to share what has happened since her first appearance on the podcast and the journey behind her now-published book, Menopause Wingman: The Emotional Handbook for Partners.

Michelle talks openly about why menopause is not just an individual experience, but something that can deeply affect relationships, communication, intimacy and connection. Drawing on conversations with men from different backgrounds, she shares what partners often misunderstand, why so many relationships struggle during this stage of life, and how greater awareness, compassion and communication can help couples move through it together.

We also talk about Michelle’s own journey of reinvention, the unexpected opportunities that followed the book, and what can happen when you trust an idea before you know exactly where it will lead.

A conversation about relationships, change, intuition, and the courage to begin again.

To explore more of Michelle's work go to https://michellehardwick.com/

and find her on instagram @menopausewingman.com.

Don't forget to check out episode 8 of the podcast to hear Michelle's complete life journey.

In this short reflection episode of Soul Sessions with Emma, Emma explores Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and the question at the heart of Mark Antony’s famous speech: what does it really mean to be honourable?

Using the repeated line, “Brutus is an honourable man,” Emma reflects on how easily we can confuse status with wisdom, confidence with character, and influence with integrity.

Short reflection episode inspired by William Shakespeare's play. 'Juilius Caesar'

This episode is an invitation to think more critically about who we admire, who we trust, and what real success might look like. Perhaps, in a world that encourages us to build influence, the greater challenge is to build character.

Image credits: included image from a modern edition of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, located via Goodreads. Additional Roman scene is a contemporary digital illustration inspired by Mark Antony’s funeral speech. Original creators could not be independently verified.

In this episode of Soul Sessions with Emma, actor and comedian Owen Colgan, best known as Buzz McDonnell from Hardy Bucks, joins Emma for a relaxed, funny and refreshingly honest conversation.

Owen shares how his career began almost by accident, from joining a small online comedy project with friends to becoming part of one of Ireland’s best-known cult comedy shows. He reflects on stand-up, acting, writing and the pressure that can come with being recognised as the funny character people already know.

The conversation also explores Owen’s life beyond Hardy Bucks, including his time living in Mexico, his love of travel, his hopes to create more personal vlogs and his ambition to take on more serious acting roles in the future.

Along the way, they talk about creativity, identity, improvisation, gardening, birdwatching, crisp sandwiches and the importance of continuing to try things that challenge you.

A warm and entertaining conversation with the man behind Buzz.

What happens when life changes in an instant?

In this episode of Soul Sessions, I sit down with capacity coach and breathwork facilitator Kieron Sauboorah to explore the accident that transformed his life, and the man he became because of it.

We talk about resilience, rebuilding after trauma, healthy masculinity, nervous system awareness, purpose, spirituality and why true strength has less to do with performance and more to do with presence.

If you've ever questioned who you are after life knocked you down, this conversation is for you.

From bedtime stories made up by her father to creating one of Ireland's bestselling children's book series, Emma Jane Leeson's journey is a reminder that our biggest dreams often begin quietly.

In this episode of Soul Sessions, Emma shares how the Irish Times best seller, Johnny Magory books grew from handwritten stories tucked away in a biscuit tin into a publishing success enjoyed by families around the world.

We explore:

• How creativity often begins in childhood
• Overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome
• The courage to back your own ideas
• Self-publishing versus traditional publishing
• Why Irish folklore and storytelling still matter
• Writing for children's wellbeing and grief
• Building a meaningful business from a passion project

Whether you've dreamed of writing a book, starting a business, or simply following an idea that won't leave you alone, this conversation will remind you that you don't need permission to begin.

Sometimes all it takes is writing down the first page.

Find her books here and more info on Emma:

https://johnnymagory.com/

For this special 30th episode of Soul Sessions with Emma, I'm reflecting on an ancient Irish legend that has quietly followed me throughout my life: the story of Oisín and Tir na nÓg.

Like many of us, Oisín believed that happiness existed somewhere beyond the horizon. But when he finally returned home, he discovered something heartbreaking and deeply human: the place he longed for no longer existed.

As I look back on my own journey of living abroad, starting over, searching for purpose, love, and belonging, I explore how this ancient tale mirrors the modern experience of always chasing the next thing. The next relationship. The next career. The next version of ourselves.

Along the way, I reflect on lessons from 30 conversations with guests who have faced heartbreak, illness, self doubt, loss, reinvention, and extraordinary growth.

This episode is about the search for belonging, the illusion of "somewhere better," and the possibility that what we're really looking for has been within us all along.

If you've ever wondered where you belong, felt behind in life, or found yourself searching for something just out of reach, this conversation is for you.

Thank you for being part of these first 30 episodes.

Until next time, take care of yourself and take care of each other.

In this episode of Soul Sessions with Emma, I sit down with positive psychology practitioner, wellbeing consultant and speaker Siobhán Connolly Hogan to explore the powerful connection between self-awareness, self-compassion and personal growth.

Together we discuss:

✨ Why self-awareness is the foundation for change
✨ Understanding and managing the inner critic
✨ The role of self-compassion in emotional wellbeing
✨ Rewriting the stories we tell ourselves
✨ Letting go of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations
✨ Why acceptance can be more powerful than happiness
✨ Finding growth through life's challenges and transitions

This conversation is full of wisdom, warmth and practical insights for anyone navigating self-doubt, change, or the messy middle of life.

If you've ever been hard on yourself, questioned your path, or felt stuck between who you were and who you're becoming, this episode is for you.

Have you ever known exactly what you wanted to do, only to find yourself talking yourself out of it?

In this episode, I explore the role of the ego and how it often disguises fear as logic, caution, and realism. I share my own experience of leaving a career in teaching after nearly 20 years, questioning my decisions, comparing myself to others, and feeling like I was moving backwards while everyone else seemed to be moving forward.

Together we'll explore:

✨ Why the ego cares more about safety than happiness
✨ How comparison can pull us away from our authentic path
✨ The difference between the "ego timeline" and the "soul timeline"
✨ Why confidence is built through action, not before it
✨ How breathwork, nature and self-awareness can help quiet the noise
✨ The courage it takes to choose possibility over familiarity

If you've been standing at a crossroads, questioning a decision, or feeling stuck between who you've been and who you're becoming, this episode is for you.

Because perhaps the life you're longing for isn't waiting somewhere in the future. Perhaps it's waiting on the other side of a decision you're scared to make today.