This week on The Comeback, I sit down with Jason Byrne.

Jason grew up in Ballymun, Dublin, and first encountered drugs at 16. What began as curiosity escalated and shaped many years of his life. Now almost three years sober, he reflects honestly on addiction, recovery, and change.

Jason is the founder of Rise Above It, a community built around movement, connection, and support through running, hiking, and sea dips. We talk about why recovery is something you do together, not alone.

Despite the seriousness of the topic, there is warmth, humour, and real joy throughout this episode.

The Comeback Live comes to the Cork Podcast Festival on March 21st at St Luke’s. Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-comeback-with-brenda-dennehy-tickets-1977022103331

This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com.

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This week on The Comeback, I am joined by my good friend Alan Clarke.

Many of you will know Alan from his social media sketches and his hugely successful podcast Big News Coming Soon, but for the first time, he shares his full story on a podcast.

In this episode, Alan speaks openly about the breakdown he faced, the weeks he spent unable to leave the house with the blinds closed, and the role therapy played in helping him find his way back. It is an honest conversation about mental health, resilience, and the work that happens long before a comeback is visible.

And of course, we also speak about the true love of his life, his Springer Spaniel, Kookie, who was never actually meant to be Alan’s dog, yet was always meant to find her way to him.

Alan reflects on the many paths that shaped his journey, from washing cars and filling petrol as a teenager, to working as a carpenter, DJ, and social media manager, before becoming the voice so many people recognise today.

Sponsor

This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. Visit adhdnow.com for support and assessment.

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All good things, in time.

Some returns look different than departures.

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This week’s episode is a more relaxed and honest conversation recorded in Tenerife. I am joined by my friend Chris, who called over for a chat about his story and the role he has played in supporting me through recovery. There are plenty of laughs, alongside some very real moments.

I also answer the most asked question of the last three weeks, have I moved to Tenerife.

There are some changes coming to the podcast, which I will explain next week, along with an exciting new venture.

🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland.

For ADHD assessments and support, visit adhdnow.com.

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New Year can be a difficult time.

In this special episode, I revisit the final three questions I ask every guest on the podcast. Not the polished answers, but the honest ones. The words shaped by grief, addiction, illness, loss, recovery, and survival.

This episode opens with a tribute to Natasha O’Byrne, who passed away last week. Natasha was one of the very first people to reach out when this podcast launched, and her words felt especially important to share at the start of a new year.

What follows are reflections from guests across the year, offering perspective, resilience, and hope. This episode is a reminder that no matter how heavy things feel, there is always a comeback.

This episode contains themes of mental health, addiction, suicide, and grief. Please listen with care.

This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. For ADHD assessment or support, visit

adhdnow.com

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This episode captures my live show, and quite honestly, the best night of my life.

As this final episode of 2025 goes out, I want to thank every single person who has supported the podcast over the past six months. What this show has become is beyond anything I could have imagined, and that is entirely down to you, the listeners, and the incredible guests who shared their stories so openly and the sponsors.

The live show took place in November and truly exceeded all expectations. Huge thanks to Nicola Fitzgerald, Joe McCaul, Nicola Guilfoyle, Andy Goulding, and our mystery guest Timmy Long for making it such a special night along with his brother Tommy.

My deepest thanks go to my mother, Nora. There would be no comeback without her.

A massive and heartfelt thank you as well to Autism Care, who so generously sponsored the show. This night simply could not have happened without their support. Autism Care is an Irish organisation offering neuroaffirming assessments and lifelong supports, co designed with Autistic individuals. Their work is grounded in lived experience, compassion, and genuine inclusion. You can find out more at autismcare.ie.

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This week, I sit down with Timmy Long, whose story of addiction and recovery left the room in silence when he shared it at my live show in November.

Timmy grew up in poverty on the north side of Cork City and experienced trauma from a young age. Years later, he fell into addiction and soon after served time in prison. While incarcerated, he received devastating news that his mother had died, a moment that became the turning point in his recovery journey.

What followed were years of hard work and healing. Timmy learned to read and write in his thirties, committed to sobriety, and rebuilt his life. Today, he is a father, a husband, and a man deeply proud of who he has become.

This is a raw, honest conversation about addiction, trauma, prison, recovery, and hope.

This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now - the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you’re seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

The Comeback Live returns on Saturday, March 21st, 2026 at St Luke’s following the success of my sold out show in November. It will be another night of honest conversations, powerful stories, and real hope. 

Tickets are available via Eventbrite and the link in my social media bio.

01:44 - Welcome & The Impact of Timmy's Live Show Appearance

04:42 - Growing Up in Holly Hill: Poverty, Violence & No Father Figure

09:57 - The Moment I Emotionally Shut Down as a Child

11:37 - Wanting to Die at Six Years Old

15:45 - Finding Drugs & Alcohol: Feeling Alive for the First Time

23:15 - Relapse at 19 & Years of Chaotic Addiction

32:40 - My Mother's Death While I Was in Prison

38:52 - The Breakthrough: When I Stopped Fighting My Thoughts

46:16 - Learning to Read & Write in Prison at 36

58:58 - Final Questions: Advice for Anyone Who Feels They'll Never Make It Out

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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This week, Brenda sits down with her dear friend Joe Byrne for a raw and honest conversation about identity, addiction and healing. Joe talks about growing up gay, dealing with homophobia and Catholic guilt, and the long road toward self acceptance.

He opens up about his struggles with alcohol addiction and Xanax addiction, his journey through addiction recovery, and the resilience that helped him rebuild his life.

Joe also reflects on his decades of kindness. From giving free haircuts to the homeless to supporting struggling families in Cork, his compassion has touched countless lives and made him a pillar of the community.

A powerful story of courage, generosity and hope.

Sponsored by Fettle. Life gets messy, and Fettle makes getting support simple. Connect with accredited therapists online at fettle.ie.

19:48 — Joe Builds a Life in Cork & Finds Community

21:05 — The Party Years & Early Signs of Addiction

21:50 — Loneliness, Vodka & the Emotional Spiral

22:59 — Xanax Enters the Picture & the Secret Double Life

25:09 — Meeting Darren & the Rollercoaster of Early Love

26:53 — The Pain of Being Unreliable in the Relationship

27:42 — Hidden Drinking, Secret Bottles & Denial

28:54 — When Darren Begins to Struggle with Joe’s Drinking

29:52 — The Fall in Douglas & Nearly Losing His Life

31:10 — Choosing Help & Entering Rehab at St. John of God’s

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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Most of you will know her as Sarah Burke, now Sarah O’Connor after marrying the love of her life, Keith. Her road to happiness was anything but simple.

In this episode, Sarah opens up about calling off her wedding six weeks before the date, going through IVF, and experiencing a devastating miscarriage. She also talks about the horrific trolling she faced and, for the first time, reads the threatening letter that was sent to her sister’s salon.

Sarah reflects on her mental health journey, counselling, grief after losing Nana Betty, and the fear that came with her father Kieran’s end of life heart failure diagnosis. Today, she is happily married and a mum to three beautiful children, including her miracle babies Isabella and Gabbie.

This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you’re seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] – Introduction & first meeting Sarah on 96 FM

[00:01:40] – Weight loss journey & "Fat to Fab" Facebook page in Australia

[00:05:13] – How social media culture around weight has changed

[00:05:59] – Growing up on Cork's North side

[00:08:01] – Moving to Australia & ending long-term relationship

[00:10:49] – Learning self-worth through therapy

[00:13:27] – Falling pregnant with Luke & starting Slimming World business

[00:14:11] – Calling off wedding 6 weeks before the date

[00:17:54] – Meeting Keith on Tinder during lockdown

[00:21:52] – Online trolling & forum posts nearly ending relationship

[00:26:36] – Starting IVF journey for second child

[00:29:17] – Discovering miscarriage at 14-week scan

[00:30:48] – Losing baby Jack & burying him at Nanny Betty's grave

[00:35:10] – Dealing with cruel comments about miscarriage

[00:37:50] – D&C procedure leading to miracle pregnancy with Isabella

[00:41:22] – Pregnancy news leaked before telling family

[00:44:51] – Nanny Betty's final days in Marymount hospice

[00:49:29] – Getting married in Lanzarote with 101 guests

[00:51:10] – Receiving threatening letter 8 weeks before wedding

[00:59:45] – How Keith dealt with the harassment

[01:02:46] – Why giving up isn't an option (for the kids)

[01:03:21] – Surprise pregnancy with Gabby

[01:06:47] – Dad's cancer diagnosis & heart failure

[01:11:30] – Living with dad's end-of-life prognosis

[01:13:24] – Final reflections on happiness & self-worth

Connect With Me:

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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Taking a tiny break this week… because my live show absolutely took over my life, in the best possible way. It turned out to be one of the greatest nights I have ever had - I am still floating. Thank you to everyone who showed up and supported me.

Missed it? The full live show episode lands before Christmas.

Back next Monday with an amazing guest.

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