We Are The People Podcast

The world is made up of characters, that’s what makes it so interesting. We all approach life in slightly different ways leading to experiences and stories that help us to stay connected with one another. 

Rebecca Proctor has always been sure of who she was and where she was going… she may not necessarily have known how it was going to turn out but she wasn’t going to shrink to the shadows.

Whether that was on the stage bringing joy to her heart, in the turbulent school corridors or as a mother finding her way… Rebecca gives life her all.

Rebecca talks honestly about feeling lost in school, acting both on and off stage and how she reacted when she found out she was pregnant, five months into her pregnancy… this is Rebecca Proctor!

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Paraic Keenan has always done things his way, he made his choices and he saw them through, having the courage to pivot if required. Be that asking for help when stuck in a ditch, building his career instead of going to college or abandoning his corporate lifestyle in favour of sea swimming and self discovery, he trusted things would work out and they did.

His experiences have made him the man he is today as he discusses identity, introspection, listening and plenty more.

This is Paraic Keenan.

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John Clendennen is a local councillor from the small village of Kinnitty in Offaly. 

At one stage the world was his oyster but today John is more likely to bring oysters to Kinnitty.

He grew up surrounded by people in the family pub and it is no wonder that he has gone on to follow in his father’s footsteps… taking over the family business and making a name for himself in politics.

John has an interest in life that is infectious, he is energetic and thoughtful, innovative and open… This is John Clendennen.

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A footballer and a writer are at two very different ends of the career spectrum. For a footballer their end product is based on split second, instinctive decisions, whereas a writer is contemplative and reasoned in their approach.

Or are they?

Gavin Colton’s story challenges these potential misconceptions. He grew up in Leixlip, just outside Dublin and dreamed of being a footballer. He became a TV star, signed autographs, flirted with supermodels and eventually moved to America on a soccer scholarship. 

Today he is on the verge of publishing his first collection of short stories. How did he go from soccer star to college lecturer? How much do the narratives he created in his dreams impact his writing now? How important is identity?

Gavin Colton is thoughtful, insightful, brave, funny and engaging… This is Gavin Colton!

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Pallavi Pande had an idea based on childhood nostalgia. She grew up in India and now lives with her husband and two kids in Portland, Oregon. Her company, Dtocs, creates tableware from naturally fallen palm leaves and has won a NEXTY at the Natural Food Expo for the most innovative new sustainable product on the market.

Pallavi tells me about being a mompreneur, raising brand ambassadors, supporting her female workers, how paying it forward is essential to her being and how America has changed… this is Pallavi Pande!

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Usually, when we think about people and their stories it is the older generations that spring to mind as the gold mines. However, my next guest has seen and done so much and is only 28.

Kieran Walsh is married with two kids, he works in a local hospital and dreamed of buying his own home. So far so straight forward.

I came across Kieran on Twitter when I followed his podcast “Reeling in your ears”, a clever watch along of the TV show Reeling in the Years.

Like a lot of people, his life hasn’t been straight forward. He talks about growing up as the baby of the family when most of his siblings were more than halfway through their childhoods, the pain of losing his mum, the pressure to succeed in a big family and how attempting to become a recognized stand up comedian has negatively impacted his mental health.

You’ll hear the pain, smile at the laughter and be struck by Kieran’s sense of gratitude… This is Kieran Walsh.

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Teegan Maguire is a friend of mine. She has an extremely successful career, she is 35, she owns her own flat, she is single, she lives in London, she is from Clones, a small village in Ireland. 

Teegan takes on societal norms and faces them down, choosing the route that is right for her rather than the one offered up as the path most trodden. She speaks openly about children, societal pressure, how reaching her thirties has changed her attitude to life and what she learned from creating a plan for her life until she is 100.

This is a story about a woman making decisions that are right for her, this is a story told with eloquence and honesty… this is Teegan Maguire.

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Episode Summary

Virginie Laveau shares a deeply personal story of early independence, debilitating anxiety, and healing through service and travel. From living alone as a teenager to leaving her dream job due to panic attacks, Virginie reflects on how India, chosen family, and working with autistic children helped her reconnect with life and purpose.

Virginie talks about: 

• Growing up too fast and early independence
• Living with severe anxiety and panic attacks
• Leaving a dream career due to mental health
• Finding presence and grounding in India
• Healing through service and community
• Redefining success and identity

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Dean Clarke dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and he lived that dream for over 10 years in Ireland. However, the realities of his dream life are a far cry from the fame and fortune you would associate with being a professional footballer.

If I offered you a job, your dream job, and told you the salary would make it hard to get by and your contract would only last for 10 months of the year… would you accept my offer? And if you did, how long would you stick at it?

This is the reality of being a professional footballer in Ireland and this is the power of those two words “Professional Footballer”.

This is Dean Clarke.

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Jill Godsil created an idyllic life for herself and her family before divorce, bankruptcy and home repossession shattered that life. 

She was down but not out and somehow found the fight within to strike back and change Ireland's legislation while she was at it.

Jill Godsil has an inspiring story that is overflowing with enthusiasm, life lessons and plenty of unexpected twists.

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