In this deeply moving and human conversation, Tammy Darcy opens up about the defining experiences that shaped her life- from the powerful bond with her sister Shona, her traumatic teenage years, bullying, and becoming a single mother at 18, to transforming pain into purpose by founding The Shona Project. She shares how her sister’s brain tumour, family breakdown, and years of emotional isolation shaped her desire to create a community of support for young girls- one rooted in courage, authenticity, and belonging.

With tenderness and honesty, Tammy reflects on self-worth, shame, resilience, and why young people don't just need motivation- they need community, compassion, and a strong sense of who they are. At its core, this episode is about showing up for one another, embracing vulnerability, and believing that our greatest pain may one day serve a greater purpose.

Trauma, Loss & a Sister’s Legacy

Tammy shares the life-changing impact of her sister’s brain tumour, the emotional fallout, and how the loss shaped her outlook on compassion, purpose, and human connection.

Turning Pain into Purpose

Instead of being defined by tragedy, Tammy built The Shona Project- a nationwide movement supporting young girls through workshops, festivals, and leadership programmes.

Bullying and Its Lifelong Effects

She describes years of bullying, hiding in school toilets, and losing trust in other girls, realising that relational harm can sometimes take longer to heal than trauma itself.

Courage Over Confidence

Tammy explains why we should focus on building courage rather than confidence because courage is what allows us to act even when we're unsure.

Why Values Matter More Than Achievements

She explores how helping teenagers identify their personal values gives them a lasting compass for decision-making, identity, and self-worth.

Authenticity as Freedom

Tammy reflects on how embracing her authentic self, rather than trying to be “perfect”, has been liberating and transformative in both life and leadership.

Creating Safe, Supportive Communities

She shares how The Shona Project helps girls recognise that they can both harm and heal and that change begins with accountability, compassion, and kindness.

• The Shona Project - https://shona.ie/
• Shine Festival - https://shinefestival.ie/
• 500x500 campaign https://shona.ie/500x500/

00:00 – Introduction & Early Confidence

08:10 – Shona’s Diagnosis & Family Breakdown

13:00 – Trauma, Grief & Feeling Lost

16:00 – Becoming Pregnant at 18

23:00 – Bullying, Isolation & Self-Worth

30:00 – How The Shona Project Was Born

45:00 – 500 by 500 Vision & Community

51:00 – Talking to Young People About Values

57:00 – Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Breda O'Toole shares her extraordinary journey of trauma, survival, and ultimately, healing. Her life was marked by poverty, abuse, war-related family trauma, institutional mistreatment, and years of being misdiagnosed within psychiatric care. For 23 years, she was prescribed heavy medication, underwent 29 shock treatments, and spent time in psychiatric institutions — including being restrained in a straitjacket for 11 days. Yet none of it treated the real wound: trauma.

Breda explains how no professional ever asked about her life or experiences — only symptoms. She felt unseen, unheard, and misunderstood. The turning point came when a priest told her: “Take back control of your life.” That moment sparked her recovery journey — off medication, back to herself, and finally into true healing.

This episode is painful, inspiring, and illuminating — a moving reminder that trauma is not mental illness, and recovery is possible when we are truly seen, heard, and believed.

Trauma vs. Mental Illness

Her suffering was rooted in trauma, not a disorder.

Misdiagnosis & Overmedication

She lived under 8+ incorrect diagnoses and was on up to 15 tablets daily.

Electric Shock Therapy (ECT)

29 ECT sessions — each followed in her records by: “Still depressed.”

The Straitjacket

She was involuntarily restrained for 11 days — until her father rescued her.

Loss & Grief

She lost three baby boys — through negligence, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

The Words That Changed Everything

“Take back control of your life” — the moment her recovery truly began.

Recovery Begins With Being Heard

One doctor finally asked: “What happened to you?” — not “What’s wrong with you?”

• Unseen — Breda’s memoir

• St. Patrick’s Institution, St. Brigid’s, St. Vincent’s

• Valium, Lithium, Optimax

• Straitjacket institutional practices

• Father Walsh, Father Pat

• Tommy — Breda’s husband

00:00 – Introducing Breda & her story

01:00 – Childhood trauma: war, poverty, abuse

08:00 – First Valium prescription & addiction

10:00 – Misdiagnosis & medication spiral

13:00 – Shock therapy and lost identity

16:00 – Being detained & rescued by her father

24:00 – Loss of her babies & emotional impact

33:00 – Straitjacket and institutional trauma

40:00 – “What happened to you?” — turning point

46:00 – Coming off medication & reclaiming life

52:00 – Real recovery, healing, and hope

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Miriam O’Callaghan opens up about the defining moments that shaped her life — from navigating high-pressure live television, to facing unimaginable personal loss, to raising eight children while working in the public eye.

Miriam speaks candidly about the ups and downs of her pregnancies and births, the chaos of live political debates, grief, resilience, menopause, and what it’s really like to live so much of her life under intense public scrutiny. She shares the heartbreaking story of losing her sister and father within weeks of each other, her legal fight against an online scam using her name, and the grounding philosophies that have kept her centred through it all.

This episode is raw, emotional and filled with wisdom — a rare look at one of Ireland’s most beloved broadcasters, beyond the headlines and beyond the studio lights.

Why Miriam avoided writing her book, the emotional weight of telling her own story, and what finally pushed her to begin.

Behind the scenes of major political debates, on-air confrontations, and the mental load of broadcasting to millions.

Losing her sister at 33, losing her father shortly after, and how grief reshaped her perspective on life and motherhood.

Candid reflections on secondary infertility, complex pregnancies, motherhood, and letting go of perfection.

Why she advocates openly for hormone therapy, vaginal oestrogen, and breaking the silence around women’s health.

How scammers used her name for years, how it affected her family, and what happened when she took Facebook to court — and won.

The philosophies that guide her relationships and keep her anchored through chaos.

• Life, Work, Everything — Miriam’s memoir (print & audiobook)

• Paul Read — the solicitor who represented Miriam in her Facebook/Meta scam case

• Holles Street Maternity Hospital & The Coombe

• Prof. Caher & Dr. Colm (Miriam’s obstetricians)

• Evorel Conti Patch & Vagifem (HRT mentioned)

• John Hume, Pantibliss (Rory O’Neill), Leo Varadkar, Tommy Tiernan, Roy Keane

• Ireland’s Marriage Equality referendum & key cultural moments

• “Implacable courtesy” — Seamus Heaney’s advice

00:00 – Introduction & Miriam’s Early Career

06:50 – The Loss of Her Sister & Father

12:30 – Navigating Motherhood & Raising Eight Children

16:45 – Pregnancy Complications & Birth Stories

22:10 – Handling Pressure in Live Broadcasting

27:55 – The Haemorrhage During Pregnancy

34:40 – Surviving Public Scrutiny & Balancing Family

38:10 – The Facebook Scam & Taking Meta to Court

43:30 – Gratitude, Faith & Daily Grounding Rituals

48:20 – Reflections on Resilience & What Truly Matters

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this fascinating and refreshingly honest conversation, Laura Dowling sits down with physiotherapist Siobhan O'Donovan, better known as The Boobie Physio, to unpack the hidden physical and emotional impact of breast weight on women’s lives.

From posture and pain to sport, confidence, and hormonal changes, Siobhan reveals why so many women — regardless of cup size — are living with discomfort that’s completely preventable. She explains the science behind breast support, the myths around bra sizing, and how simple changes in alignment can boost everything from performance to self-esteem.

This episode is part education, part revelation — and it might just change how you think about your body forever.

00:00 – Introduction: Who is The Booby Physio?

02:00 – Why posture still matters (and how gravity works against us)

06:00 – Bone health, hormones, and how movement can prevent osteoporosis

09:00 – The hidden weight women carry: breast movement in three planes

13:00 – How breast pain and embarrassment push teenage girls out of sport

17:00 – The psychology of confidence and body awareness

23:00 – Why so many women are wearing the wrong bra size

29:00 – How outdated measuring methods are still being used

35:00 – The physics of breast support: posture, shape, and comfort

43:00 – How to actually fit a bra properly — and why black ones feel tighter

49:00 – Caring for your bras: resting elastic, avoiding fabric softener

55:00 – Asymmetry, teabag tits, and why most lingerie models are wrong

1:00:00 – Why wired bras aren’t the enemy

1:05:00 – The link between back pain, confidence, and breast support

1:10:00 – How the right bra can literally improve your performance

1:15:00 – Final takeaways: lifting women up — physically and emotionally

• Reassess your posture daily — small adjustments make a big difference.
• Get properly fitted for a bra (and don’t add those extra inches!).
• Rotate your bras to let the elastic recover and last longer.
• Think of breast support as part of overall musculoskeletal health.
• Educate daughters, nieces, and teens early — prevention starts young.

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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Deirdre O’Kane joins Laura for a funny, honest and wide-ranging conversation about what it was really like being one of the few women in stand-up when she started out.

She talks about the early days of breaking through in a male-dominated industry, finding her own voice, the reality of long-term relationships, raising kids in the age of WhatsApp chaos, and using humour to get through tough times.

This is a brilliant mix of personal stories, cultural insight and big laughs.

00:00 — Pre-chat & setup: A warm, relaxed start as Laura and Deirdre banter about microphones, lighting, and jawlines.

04:00 — Wild beginnings: Boarding school, being part of “the bold gang,” and discovering performance through impersonating teachers and nuns.

06:00 — Acting vs. stand-up: Early love-hate relationship with stand-up and what made it so tough starting out.

08:20 — Women in comedy: Audience groans, breaking barriers, and how social media helped shift the landscape.

11:00 — Self-censorship: Why she avoided certain topics early on — and how that’s changed.

14:00 — Touring life: What it’s really like on the road as a comic, from long drives to late nights.

17:00 — Irish vs. UK audiences: How humour translates across borders and why Irish audiences are special.

20:00 — Long-term relationships: Honest reflections on discomfort, denial, and doing the work over decades together.

23:00 — Expectations in love: Balancing domestic reality with romantic ideals — and keeping individuality.

27:30 — The Magdalene Laundries bit: Taking on a taboo topic and walking a fine line between darkness and humour.

30:00 — Phone bans and stand-up: How comics protect their material from leaking online.

33:00 — Comedy as a lifeline: How stand-up kept her family afloat when her husband was ill.

36:00 — Motherhood & identity: Returning to stand-up after kids and why motherhood fuelled her next show.

43:00 — Modern motherhood rant: Emails, WhatsApp groups, class reps, and why it’s all too much.

48:00 — Quick fire: Worst gig ever, sharing the stage, favourite punchlines, and industry reflections.

53:00 — Politics & culture: A candid take on the current Irish political climate and cultural shifts.

• Women in comedy & gender barriers
• Finding your comedic voice
• Long-term relationships & emotional honesty
• Modern motherhood and social pressures
• Comedy as both art and survival
• Cultural change in Ireland & beyond

• Courage comes with craft — pushing boundaries can create powerful cultural moments.
• Honesty in relationships matters — even the uncomfortable parts.
• Women’s voices in comedy are no longer the exception.
• Modern motherhood comes with too many expectations — and laughter helps cut through the noise.

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this powerful episode of The Laura Dowling Experience, Laura sits down with advanced nurse practitioner and child psychotherapist Deirdre Mellet to unpack what’s really going on for teenagers today.

From self-harm and emotional dysregulation to ADHD, anxiety, and the pressure of living in an overwhelming world, Dearbhla brings deep professional insight — and a lot of heart — to the conversation.

This episode is essential listening for parents, caregivers, teachers, and anyone who wants to better understand and support young people.

• Why there’s no such thing as “normal” in mental health
• Why teens are feeling increasingly lost and overwhelmed
• Understanding self-harm and emotional dysregulation
• How to help teens regulate their emotions
• ADHD medication: what parents should know
• The impact of global stress and social media on teen mental health
• How to find qualified therapists and build trust with young people
• 
  

• Lead with empathy, not solutions — acknowledge feelings before fixing.
• Watch for triggers and early signs of overwhelm in teens.
• Use metaphor (like “being a lighthouse”) to reframe parenting approaches.
• Explore practical supports such as Jigsaw, CAMHS, and occupational therapy.
• Prioritise finding the right therapist, not just the first available one.

00:00 — “There’s no such thing as normal” — Why we need to rethink mental health

02:05 — Why so many young people are struggling today

03:30 — Understanding self-harm and emotional overwhelm

05:45 — Getting into CAMHS: criteria, challenges & real experiences

08:00 — Girls vs boys: how ADHD can present differently

10:00 — What anxiety really feels like for young people

12:00 — Accessing services: what parents can do while waiting for support

13:45 — How to teach emotional regulation (and why “fixing” doesn’t work)

17:00 — What’s really behind teen anger and emotional outbursts

23:00 — “Be the lighthouse, not the anchor” — A powerful parenting metaphor

29:00 — Why ADHD medication isn’t a quick fix (finding the sweet spot)

36:00 — Tools like ear loops & OT support that can make a difference

40:00 — Motivation struggles in teens with ADD/ADHD

42:00 — How to respond if your child shares or writes about dark thoughts

44:00 — The emotional weight of the world on young people

47:00 — How to find a qualified therapist you can trust

50:00 — Why therapist fit matters more than people think

53:00 — Misconceptions around “lack of empathy” in young people

55:00 — Sextortion & online risks: what parents need to know

58:00 — Final reflections: why connection is everything

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this podcast episode, host Laura Dowling interviews Andrew Dunne, a former professional rugby player turned physiotherapist and founder of a clinic in Rathmines, Dublin. Andy discusses his transition from rugby to physiotherapy, driven by his own injury experiences and a pivotal conversation with a team doctor. He shares insights into his clinic's work, which focuses on helping patients, particularly those with cancer and other serious health conditions, improve their quality of life through tailored exercise regimens and lifestyle changes. They also explore the broader healthcare system's challenges, the importance of attitude and connection in life, and the need for a holistic approach to patient care.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:19 From Rugby to Physiotherapy: Andy's Journey

01:21 Dealing with Injuries and Rehabilitation

02:47 Life After Rugby: Personal Reflections

07:08 Challenges in the Healthcare System

11:56 The Importance of Lifestyle Medicine

32:44 Exercise as a Standard of Cancer Care

36:14 Addressing Lifestyle in Cancer Treatment

36:45 Baseline Assessment and Fitness Trials

39:32 Understanding VO2 Max and Fitness Measurement

41:09 The Importance of Compassion in Healthcare

42:18 Role of Occupational Therapy

44:15 Health Coaching and Sustainable Change

46:26 Heart Rate Zones and Exercise Prescription

52:10 Challenges in Managing a Healthcare Clinic

55:15 Increasing Cancer Diagnoses in Younger Populations

57:50 Exercise and Neuroplasticity in Parkinson's

01:00:13 Sexual Dysfunction and Quality of Life

01:01:24 The Paving Wheel: A Tool for Wellness

01:03:25 Clinic Information and Social Media Presence

01:05:07 Advice for Young People and the Meaning of Life

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this episode, Eileen shares her powerful story of overcoming a challenging upbringing in Ballymun, Dublin, during the heroin epidemic of the 1980s and 90s. She discusses her 14-year struggle with drug addiction, her journey to recovery, and how she found solace and a new path in hairdressing. Eileen is now the founder of 'Hair Together,' an award-winning social enterprise that teaches hairdressing and barbering with integrated personal development and well-being programs to young people from challenging backgrounds and women exiting the prison service. Eileen talks about the impact of her programs, the importance of community and support, and her ongoing mission to help the next generation. She also touches on the challenges of running a social enterprise and her hopes for further expansion and community support.

Timestamps

00:00 – Opening Poem & Introduction

00:38 – Meeting at the PWC Women in Business Awards

00:48 – Eileen’s Work: Hair Together & Social Enterprise

01:21 – Focus on Young People & Women Exiting Prison

02:01 – Eileen’s Background: Growing Up in Ballymun

02:25 – Struggles with Addiction & Finding Hairdressing

03:47 – Recovery, Fashion Weeks, and Giving Back

04:50 – Starting Hair Together: The Early Days

06:09 – How the Program Works & Impact

08:41 – Staying Connected with Graduates

10:15 – Opening the New Salon & Academy

12:14 – Age Range & Types of Participants

13:12 – The Impact on Young People’s Lives

15:54 – Social Enterprise Model & Funding

18:39 – Eileen’s Childhood & First Experiences with Drugs

24:25 – Selling Drugs & Addiction Deepens

31:35 – Family Intervention & Going to Greece

34:00 – Detox, Rehab, and Recovery Journey

41:14 – Life After Rehab: Moving to Waterford

44:07 – Motherhood, Relapse, and Final Recovery

48:41 – Mental Health, Therapy, and Spirituality

54:46 – Advice for Young People

55:53 – The Meaning of Life & Closing Thoughts

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this engaging podcast episode, Miriam Hussey, a former pharmacist who transitioned from traditional pharmacy to holistic health, discusses her transformative journey. Miriam shares her 'aha moment' that led her to realise that true health goes beyond prescriptions and requires addressing lifestyle and preventative measures.

Highlighting the interconnectedness of the mind, body, and soul, Miriam elaborates on the concept of dis-ease, emphasising the need to look beyond mere symptoms to find the root causes of health issues. She outlines her approach through key pillars: physical health, mental well-being, and soul nourishment. She also offers insights into overcoming emotional eating, achieving balance in modern life, and the importance of self-love and care.

This episode underscores the necessity of holistic wellness in achieving a balanced, fulfilling life, and it encourages listeners to make meaningful changes to align with their true selves.

04:00 Introduction to Miriam Hussy's Journey

04:35 The Aha Moment: Realising the Need for Change

05:51 The Concept of Dis-ease and Its Roots

07:59 Exploring the Three Pillars of Wellness

09:20 The Importance of the Soul in Modern Wellness

13:19 Personal Struggles and Overcoming Challenges

14:14 The Impact of Early Life Experiences

16:31 The Role of Energy and Ancestral Trauma

17:48 Navigating Life's Difficult Decisions

18:59 The Butterfly Analogy: Embracing Transformation

19:47 The Power of Listening to Your Soul

21:57 Balancing Practicality and Passion

24:17 The Interconnectedness of Mind, Body, and Soul

35:40 Finding Joy and Regulating Your Nervous System

36:20 Choosing Your Path: Following Your Passion

37:11 Understanding Emotional Eating

39:22 The Vicious Cycle of Overeating

44:32 Healing Through Mirror Work

48:25 Balancing Primary and Secondary Foods

01:04:32 Advice for Young People: Staying True to Yourself

01:06:30 The Meaning of Life: Joy and Peace

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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In this episode of the Laura Dowling Experience, Matt Kaeberlein, a global leader in ageing science, discusses his mission to help people and animals live longer and healthier lives by modifying the biological mechanisms of ageing. Matt, CEO of Optisan, a healthcare technology company, talks about his transition from academia to entrepreneurship and highlights the importance of lifestyle factors—nutrition, exercise, sleep, and social connection—in maximising health span. The conversation explores emerging approaches to longevity, including hormone therapy, therapeutic plasma exchange, and the use of drugs such as rapamycin and SGLT2 inhibitors. Matt shares personal experiences with ageing-related health strategies and offers valuable insights into the role of love and altruism in achieving a fulfilling life.

02:48 – Introduction: Meet Matt Kaeberlein, global leader in ageing science

03:13 – What does Matt Kaeberlein do? Biological mechanisms of ageing

04:40 – The concept of health span vs. lifespan

06:55 – Four pillars of health span: Eat, Move, Sleep, Connect

09:04 – The importance of human and animal connection

11:06 – Beyond lifestyle: Hormones and health span

16:06 – Menopause, HRT, and women’s health

24:55 – Testosterone therapy for men: Risks and benefits

31:35 – Alcohol, lifestyle, and longevity

34:34 – Environmental exposures: Heavy metals, microplastics, and health

39:44 – Therapeutic plasma exchange and ageing research

47:09 – Rapamycin: The science, trials, and potential for longevity

59:46 – Diet, fasting, and inflammation: What Matt Kaeberlein eats

1:07:32 – Continuous glucose monitoring and behaviour change

1:14:07 – SGLT2 inhibitors and other promising drugs

1:19:07 – Final advice: Choose love, not fear; the meaning of life

Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

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