For almost a decade, Steph lived in silence with depression, anxiety, and severe OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

Her life became smaller and smaller - until one day, she found herself confined to her room, unable to touch, eat, or even sit with the people she loved most.

In this episode, Steph opens up about the terrifying cycle of intrusive thoughts, hand-washing rituals, and anxiety disorder that controlled her every move. She talks about what it was really like to live with OCD, the breaking point that made her ask for help, and how she began her journey through therapy, to rebuild her life.

This is a story about survival, courage, and healing - and about a young woman who refused to let her illness define her.

We also speak about the impact on her family, how grief and caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease shaped her recovery, and what it truly means to find freedom after years of fear.

Steph’s comeback is one of the most honest, emotional, and inspiring stories we’ve ever shared. 

This episode is sponsored by Pharma Plus - expert supplements created by Pharmacists. Evidence-based, science-backed, and made with only what your body truly needs. Follow @pharmaplusireland and visit pharmaplus.ie to learn more.

00:02:15 — Early Signs of OCD  

00:05:40 — Intrusive Thoughts Take Over  

00:10:25 — When Handwashing Became Compulsion  

00:14:55 — Hitting Rock Bottom  

00:19:30 — Finding Help Through CBT  

00:24:10 — EMDR and Facing Trauma  

00:30:05 — Living With Grief and Alzheimer’s  

00:36:20 — Family Support and Recovery  

00:41:50 — Returning to Work and Independence  

00:47:15 — A Message of Hope

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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

This bonus episode is a little different.

After receiving a flood of messages about the women ghosting women phenomenon, I asked Lauren Golden, a psychotherapist, to join me in studio to unpack what’s really going on.

We dive into the psychology behind why women ghost each other - from friendships that suddenly end to connections that quietly fade away. We also touch on men ghosting women and women ghosting men, exploring the emotional dynamics behind it all.

Lauren is a total breath of fresh air and brings such compassion and insight to this conversation. I genuinely loved this chat and I think you will too.

If you’d like to check out Lauren and her work, you can follow her on Instagram at @laurengoldenpsychotherapy

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

At just 36, eight months married, Orlagh Winters was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer - with no lump, only pain in her breast. Her story is a powerful reminder to always get checked and trust your instincts when it comes to your health.

In this episode, Orlagh opens up about her breast cancer diagnosis, the gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and the side effects that came with it - from hair loss to being put into early menopause, which shattered her dreams of having a family. She also shares the emotional fallout of discovering her husband’s affair while grieving her dad, and how she eventually found strength and self-worth through it all.

Now married to the love of her life, Luke O’Hea, Orlagh talks about finding happiness again. She’s also raised thousands for charities and continues to be a voice for awareness, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Orlagh says she lives by one motto that keeps her grounded:

“If they’re not in your head, or the heart of your bed - their opinion doesn’t matter.”

From coping with grief to finding hope after heartbreak, this is a story about courage, survival, and choosing to live life on your own terms.

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.

00:00 – Intro & Setting the Scene

01:00 – Early Life & Family

08:23 – Cancer Diagnosis & Chemotherapy Journey

10:24 – Medical Menopause & Infertility

11:46 – Egg Donation & Divorce

12:21 – Family Court & Misogyny in the Irish System

15:44 – Journaling, Fundraising & Finding Purpose

17:54 – Meeting Luke

25:26 – Ghosting, Boundaries & Self-Worth

29:05 – Motherhood, Regret & Reflection

31:08 – Irish Family Courts & Lockdown Impact

33:14 – Cancer Awareness & Getting Checked

35:31 – Life Before & After Cancer

37:00 – The Little Things & Love with Luke

38:28 – The Three Questions Finale

39:33 – Closing & Sign-Off

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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

At seventeen, Andrew Desmond picked up his first drink - and from that moment, his life spiralled into years of alcohol addiction, problem gambling, and self-destruction. By his own words, he was a fall-down drunk, trapped in a cycle of chaos and shame.

But this is not a story about defeat. It’s about recovery, personal growth, and the courage to start again.

Now sixteen years sober, Andrew is a husband, a dad, and the founder of Be Undeniable - a movement helping men connect through functional fitness, cold-water therapy, and community. He’s building a new culture of men’s mental health in Ireland - one based on honesty, strength, and showing up.

In this raw and powerful conversation, we talk about:

Life before and after alcoholism recovery

Overcoming gambling addiction and shame

The loneliness epidemic and why men need connection

How fitness, community, and mindset shifts can transform your life

From rock bottom to recovery, Andrew shares how he rebuilt everything he lost - and why he now dedicates his life to helping other men do the same.

🎧 Sponsored by ADHD Now - the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care in Ireland. Access expert clinicians and personalised support, all from home. If you’re considering an ADHD assessment or need guidance, visit adhdnow.com

 today.

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

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of eating disorders, suicidal ideation and self-harm. Please take care while listening.

Lauren Edwards’ story is one of struggle, survival, and ultimately, transformation. What began as a search to fit in led to years of addiction, self-destruction, and heartbreak - but also to recovery, healing, and purpose.

After reaching her lowest point, Lauren made the decision to fight for her life. Through treatment, courage, and sheer determination, she began the long road to sobriety and self-acceptance.

She also opens up about living with addiction, experiences of self-harm, the impact of an eating disorder, and how finding the right support helped her rebuild her confidence and her life.

Today, Lauren is a mum, a writer, and a life coach - navigating grief while embracing recovery and growth.

This is a conversation about survival, accountability, and hope - about what it means to rebuild your life and believe in the possibility of change.

This episode is proudly supported by Den Joe’s Family Restaurant - serving families for over 45 years.

00:00 – Introduction  

01:25 – Early Life & Struggles  

02:50 – First Drink at 12  

06:00 – Chaos and Violence  

10:20 – Escalating Addiction  

14:34 – Trauma in Australia  

19:00 – Seeking Help  

25:00 – Relapse and Recovery  

29:49 – Grief and Growth  

40:35 – Healing and Purpose

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health struggles. Please take care while listening.

This week, I sit down with Aidan Loughnane to talk about his journey through anxiety, depression, crippling panic attacks, and the frightening panic attack symptoms that began in his teenage years. He opens up about living with an eating disorder that developed into bulimia, the intrusive thoughts that convinced him life wasn’t worth living, and the devastating grief and trauma of losing his brother.

Aidan shares honestly about his lowest points - and how faith, prayer, and running gave him a lifeline. Through courage, movement, and eventually therapy, he found purpose. Now, he speaks out on men’s mental health, suicide prevention, and the hidden struggles so many face.

Now preparing for fatherhood, Aidan reflects on how far he’s come - and how he found a way not just to survive, but to truly live. His story is raw, powerful, and full of hope - a reminder that even in the darkest times, healing is possible.

I’m bringing The Comeback Live to the Metropole Hotel, Cork on Saturday, November 22nd – my very first live podcast show! Tickets go on sale this Friday at 9am on Eventbrite. I can’t wait to see you there for what promises to be an unforgettable night.

This episode is proudly sponsored by The Recovery Room, Ballincollig - where physical recovery and mental clarity combine.

📞 083 335 2939 | 📧

[email protected]

01:50 – Introduction & Aidan’s story begins  

06:25 – First panic attack on holiday  

11:02 – Anxiety before pregnancy scan  

17:38 – Panic attack symptoms & fear of dying  

23:20 – Grief after losing his brother  

35:10 – MDMA, cardiac arrest & survival  

42:55 – Faith and prayer in recovery  

53:60 – Therapy, trust, and accountability  

1:07:30 – Porn, phones & loneliness in men  

1:19:05 – Fatherhood, resilience & final message

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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

When his sister Sarah died in a car accident in 2010, Dave Kennedy turned to food for comfort - food he describes as his poison. Grief pushed him into emotional eating and unhealthy habits until he decided to turn his life around, beginning a weight loss journey that saw him shed eight stone and rebuild his confidence.

Now a farmer and personal coach, Dave helps others find their own strength and resilience. But life tested him again when, just last December, his mother passed away suddenly. As Dave says, “the whole bond in the house is gone - your mother is the foundation of the home.”

In this raw and honest conversation on The Comeback, Dave talks about:

* His weight loss journey, gym transformation and nutrition coaching

* Grief and loss - coping with bereavement after losing a sibling and a parent

* Men’s mental health and why it’s so important to “do the work on yourself”

* Self-love, self-compassion and becoming your own best friend

* Mindset coaching, personal growth and building awareness through tough times

* How relationships change when you stop seeking outside validation

This episode is a powerful reminder that even through heartbreak, transformation is possible.

Sponsored by Cork Podcast Studio - Cork’s home for podcasting, film and photography. You can connect with them at www.corkpodcaststudio.ie/

3:55 – Farming roots in Cork & Tipperary

8:40 – Losing his sister and grief

13:17 – Comfort eating and weight gain

18:32 – Returning to the gym

23:57 – From lecturer to coaching in Dubai

29:47 – Creating The Lifestyle Blueprint

35:22 – Life after quitting alcohol

42:10 – Self-love and validation

50:30 – Lessons from loss and growth

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. Please take care while listening.

Four years ago, Kim Nolan lost the love of her life, Thomas, to suicide. In an instant, her world was shattered. She was left to raise their children, Kaidyn and Aria, and faced the unbearable task of telling them their dad was gone - before having to break the same devastating news to Thomas’s mother, his brothers, and his sister.

As if that loss wasn’t enough, Kim was struck by another devastating tragedy when her mam died suddenly in her sleep at just 58. She describes the shock of telling her grandparents their daughter was gone and how it forced her to question everything she thought she knew about grief.

And yet, through all this pain, Kim has found a way to keep living. She speaks about the darkest moments, the panic attacks, the silence of grief - and how she has fought her way back to gratitude, holding on to the ten years of love she shared with Thomas.

This is a story of heartbreak, survival, and resilience. 

✨ Thank you to our sponsor, Brow Bar Boutiques - your ultimate walk-in brow bars. Step in and experience the transformation for yourself, because when it comes to gorgeous brows, the proof is in the plucking! Find them on Instagram at @browbarboutiques.

00:00 – Introduction to Kim’s story and sudden loss

03:15 – The day everything changed: receiving the devastating call

07:40 – First panic attack experience during the funeral

12:25 – Explaining death to young children in an honest way

18:50 – Facing guilt and the “what ifs” after suicide

24:30 – Realising there were no clear signs beforehand

30:05 – Coping with grief during COVID restrictions

36:20 – Choosing resilience: deciding to keep living fully

42:10 – The shift in mindset: stopping people-pleasing

48:35 – Looking ahead: parenting, career change, and life after loss

Samaritans Ireland – Free, confidential support, 24/7

📞 116 123

🌐 www.samaritans.ie

Pieta House – Suicide and self-harm crisis support

📞 1800 247 247

📱 Text HELP to 51444

🌐 www.pieta.ie

Aware – Support for depression, anxiety, and mood-related issues

📞 1800 80 48 48

🌐 www.aware.ie

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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

Most people know her online as Crazy Caroline - full of energy and fun. But in this episode of The Comeback, Caroline Rushe reveals the woman behind the Instagram account.

She talks about growing up in poverty, being bullied at school and beaten at home, and how those experiences shaped her. Caroline shares with raw honesty her battles with grief, suicide, and mental health - and how she has found strength through therapy, support, and the love of her family.

Her husband Colm stood by her through the darkest days, while her two IVF sons, Callum and Cullen, gave her life new meaning. She also tells the story of Cassie, her rescue dog - a bond Caroline describes as two souls rescued, and finally loved.

This is a conversation about survival, resilience, and why it’s okay not to be okay. And yes, we even clear up the drama about why she never made it to my Opera House show - with a few laughs along the way.

This episode is kindly sponsored by The Howliday Inn – a purpose-built doggie daycare and boarding kennels with trampolines, couches, paddling pools and toys. A true haven for dogs of all sizes.📞 +353 87 334 5702📧 [email protected]

00:00 – Intro

01:16 – Childhood poverty & struggles

03:31 – Alcohol triggers & marriage impact

07:06 – Anxiety, paranoia & breakdown

13:54 – Psychiatric hospital & recovery

20:03 – Losing her mother

26:23 – Rescuing animals & healing bond

29:41 – Social media journey

42:07 – Finding authenticity in her 40s

44:20 – Cold water dips & gratitude

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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

After fifteen amazing episodes of The Comeback with Brenda Dennehy, I’m taking a little break. When I put out episode one just twelve weeks ago, I never thought it would reach and connect with so many of you.

I can’t thank you enough for all the love, messages, and support. Season Two is already recorded, and I’ll be back very soon - kicking off with an absolute banger!

Instagram: @thecomebackwithbrenda @brendasbits

Contact: [email protected]

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