What Makes You Tick?

29 years old entrepreneur and founder of NewsFix Hillary McGann speaks to me about her career in journalism and how she's found a niche in the market to help inform people on the news around the world.Hillary is a remarkable person who faced numerous challenges in her young life with health issues popping up just as she was about to move to the next level in her career at CNN one of the worlds powerhouses in news.This podcast is a great reflection on a wonderful career, how NewsFix is helping so many people especially young people who find consuming news daunting. The goal of NewsFix is to give you a foundation of knowledge so you can take part in a conversation.Hillary shares her career with me and it is clear to see she has a passion for news, passion for life and a wonderful way with words. Hillary shares some advice and believes that it is important to know what you don't know and don't be afraid to ask questions and for help.For anyone interested in subscribing to NewsFix head to https://www.news-fix.com or go to the instagram page and take time to see what news fix is all about newsfix_Hillary's book recommendation is Tim Marshall's Prisoner of Geography

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Today's guest is Commandant Brian Cahil who is currently serving in the Irish Army and stationed in Syria as part of a UN mission. Brian is a father of two young girls and married to my cousin Sarah who is a previous guest on the show. Brian speaks to me about his experience in the Irish army with over 20 years experience working through the ranks. Brian's biggest challenge as a young 22 year was commanding troops on his first ever mission, where people of all ages, older and younger were looking to him for leadership and direction. The safety of his troops was in his hands and it was there he found that leaders are those who take action and responsibilities for their actions - while others follow and implement what is required of them.Normally on tours Brian is gone for 6 months however this tour is a 12 month stint and he found this tour the hardest, his kids are that bit older, they are more in-tune with their emotions and how to express them. What's more, Brian shares his unquestionable desire to learn and grow, as you'll hear from the books and leadership quotes he recommends in the episode. While he makes some fantastic points, he walks away with a few key points of note such as - looking in the mirror and asking yourself, are you proud of what you've done. That is his litmus test of his day and his approach to life.A wonderful friend with countless tales and unquestionable desire to learn and grow. Here are some of the links to the books and quotes he spoke aboutInvictus by William Ernest HenleyThe Mission, the men and me - Lessons from a Former Delta Force Commander - Pete Blaber"Steel My Soldiers' Hearts: Hopeless to Harcore Transformation US Army, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry ": The Hopeless to Hardcore Transformation of U.S. Army, 4th Battalion, 39th Infantry, Vietnam. Col (Retd) David HackworthAbout Face - Odyssey of an American Warrior. Col (Retd) David HackworthBeyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major (Retd) Dick WintersNever Let Go: A Philosophy of Lifting, Living and Learning. Dan JohnGates Of Fire. An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae. Steven Pressfield

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Today is a very exciting episode, where I sit down and chat to a super friend and confidant of mine Gareth Logan who is an entrepreneur owner of Taxifair.ie.What's so interesting about this episode is how Gareth aka Logi opens up about his challenges with dyslexia growing up, how he found at 13 he was going to experience the toughest time in his life following the loss of his Dad. In a moment, he had to grow up.Life for everyone is challenging and while there are hard times in our lives, remember that people care for you and he's blessed to now have a family with four fantastic kids who help him appreciate every day.What I learned from this even more so is how lucky I am with the friendship circle I have and how I take inspiration from those who are closest to me.To find Gareth online head to @garethtlogan and he's open to sharing his experiences or even answer questions you may have.

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Todays guest is the first person in Ireland to own the look and feel of iconic comic hero Superman. Cian Tormey speaks to me about his journey from Art Director in a creative agency to comic artist and living in a world where he loves his job. Cian shares learnings along the way, the challenges he faced when a close friend of his died while Cian was finding his way through college and life. He speaks about the lack of support he received from those who's role is to look after and support young adults. Cian has a beautiful outlook on life now that he has gotten to understand himself and what he wants, who we surrounds himself with and facing challenges head on. Cian loves helping others and sharing his experiences with others, especially those who are young and in fairly informative times of their lives. The big learning from this conversation is to work on opening yourself to opportunities because they may lead you on a journey of brilliant possibilities. Cian is happy to share his knowledge of being a comic artist, equally to speak about how he manages his mental health and can be reached on all social channels @ciantormey

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Hannah Saunders is a remarkable person, entrepreneur, influencer, business woman, daughter, wife and someone I am happy to call friend.On this episode Hannah speaks about her path into the PR industry and her determination to pave her own path in a world she fell in love with as young girl.Influenced by her father's work ethic, Hannah made a decision to enter into the PR world, starting as an office manager and working her way up, patiently and steadily. Hannah gained international experience during her time in New York and finally moved to London where nobody knew her name or her relationship with her father.It was in London where Hannah found out how cruel the professional world can be to people. How some businesses treat people as numbers and value them only by the invoices that have beside their names.Hannah learned the hard way, while traversing through the trials and tribulations of her own life, the haunting memories of experiences past, she needed an employer who had empathy and understanding, not ignorance and disrespect.With Hannah's work ethic and commitment to her career she gained the respect of her clients, she built a network of professional contacts who admired her passion and focus.To help Hannah through dark times she found courage and spoke to a therapist who guided her and supported her as she gained further understanding about the reasons she was having constant panic attacks and sleepless nights.Hannah is an inspiring person, see's the brightness even in dark times, she is motivated by family and friendships, she leads a business that is founded on empathy, honesty and understanding. Hannah is a refreshing voice who genuinely sees the best in people.To some, Hannah is an influencer who seems to have it all sorted and a perfect life. Hannah's substance is far deeper than what people see on Instagram. In our conversation you can hear that Hannah is more like you and me than is perceived. She too has her worries, her fears and uncertainties like us all. Her strength is that she doesn't sweep those emotions under the rug, Hannah has learned to take those feelings and turn them into strengths that fuel her purpose which seems to be the best leader, wife, friend and daughter she can possibly be to those she loves dearly.Hannah supports Ireland charity One in Four provide professional counselling to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. For anyone who has suffered and wants to know more or requires support visit oneinfour.ieAlso if you wish to reach out to Hannah if her story has resonated with you, her instagram handle is @hannahsaunderspr

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Caelan Doris is the present and future of Irish Rugby. At 23 years old he is wise beyond his years, yet commands a warmth and understanding that is unexpected for such a young man in the prime of his life.Caelan spoke to me about his how he found his way into rugby and what life was like growing up. He shares some keen insights of life in the west of Ireland as son of parents who are qualified therapists. After bursting onto the scenes for Leinster at an early age, Caelan was propelled into the Irish squad and made his anticipated debut against Scotland. A debut that lasted 4 minutes as a result of a knock to the head which left Caelan concussed. little did we know that concussions would become prevalent in the coming year or so. Caelan's main concern was his long term health and if he was causing some longstanding damage. In a year where he was a strong favourite to play for the British and Irish Lions, Caelan made a very mature decision to take a step back from rugby and do whatever it took to ensure his brain and body were healthy and able to play the game he loves. With an undergrad in psychology from UCD and considering his experience with his family along with the latest documentation of previous world cup winners diagnosed wtih dementia Caelan knows all too well how important it is to protect his brain.This discussion is a reminder of how important it is to do what is right for you and your life. What's more, to share any issues or worries you may have with others, and to remember that a problem shared is a problem halved.Caelan is working closely with Childline and looking ahead to an awareness campaign in the coming months.An inspiration to all, this is Caelan Doris story

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It's rare someone gets to meet such a dedicated and focused person like Aoife Doyle.For me, my first memory of Aoife was in the Rosary Church in Limerick. Our families used to go to mass every Sunday and Aoife's father John managed the church choir. At the time Aoife was a little rascal running around the church in and out of the benches, up and down to John while he tried his best to conduct a group of people who ranged from tone deaf to pitch perfect. It was an all inclusive choir and the most impressive act of the day each Sunday.Aoife was a bright eyed, curious and full of life 5 or 6 year old character. No one knew what Aoife was going to do but we knew whatever it would be she'd be great at it.Aoife has always loved sports and from a young age competed against all the boys young and old. Her love for sport was unquestionable and it was in Shannon RFC that Aoife found her adoration for rugby.This is where Aoife and I pick up the conversation, she has become a role model for men and women. Rugby shared some good times and challenging times of Aoife. The ups of being capt for Ireland at the tender age of 18, to relentless injuries plaguing her 7s and 15s career. Ever challenging her to find a way back, and with all challenges Aoife's true character was tested.Safe to safe Aoife patiently found what works for her as an athlete and a person. In a career that includes accolades in the 15s and 7s games Aoife shares her story with me. She unlocks the mindset she had when injured, the support she received from her family and her new found love for the sport again.Aoife tells us about her affirmation 'Let it Be' and where that came from, how rugby helped her realise the person she is today, and we talk about her future, what lies ahead.Follow Aoife on https://www.instagram.com/aoifedoyle95/

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July 2020, mid pandemic, the world was in turmoil and Nick Heather was about to receive news that would test his spirit, his character and his fight for life.Picture this, you're early 30s, prime of your life, no prior health issues and told by a doctor, you have a form of blood cancer, CML,  chronic myeloid leukaemia. Managing that news was one thing but then shortly afterwards having run a few tests, the result comes back saying you also have ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and if you didn't present yourself to hospital when you did, you would have been be gone in 2 or 3 weeks.It is over a year since that diagnosis and I had a chance to sit with Nick over zoom and listen to his story in the hope to understand and learn more. Nick is known to his friends and colleagues as Mr. Positive and you'll hear how a positive and optimistic mindset helped him and his wife Cat navigate through a life changing journey of healing.He talks about surrounding himself with only positivity, he didn't allow any negativity in because for Nick, he was going to beat his cancer.But Nick needed help from others. He required bone marrow transplant, and little did he know that his wonderful sister Sarah-Jane would be a 100% match.On top of that what was unearth in the story is the power of kindness and being a good person to others. You'll hear how a remarkable act of kindness helped save Nick's life.Nick's love for his wife Cat is so evident and he describes how she is the most influential and inspiring person in his life.Through his long lasting friendships Nick's sign off through his treatment he continued to revert to one phrase"Keep your pecker up"This became the go to phrase and so much so, #KYPU is trending online and now Nick and his wife Cat have created a clothing brand where all proceeds go to charities.You can find out more about Nick and his clothing company KYPU at https://kypu.com.au/ or visit their Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/kypuclothing/

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This discussion is with Phillip 'Flipper' Caldwell.   In 2020 Philly was living life to its fullest. A speedy scrum-half/winger in his rugby playing days at 38, Philly like most ex-rugby players found tag rugby as a nice distraction.   However, Philly's world changed in nanoseconds. From a man with speed like Flipper the dolphin, he suffered a freak accident. Philly describes the moment he started losing feeling in his body and brings us through the aftermath.   That day, not only his body changed but his mindset shifted drastically. IT was a close friend of Philly's that helped him realize he was in the biggest fight of his life and in every challenge rises opportunity.   This is Philly Caldwell's story and a snapshot of his road to recovery. The support from his family, friends, and the rugby community has been second to none. The Philly Caldwell trust was created and it managed to source donations that sold virtual tickets to fill the Aviva Stadium. This money is being used to help Philly's recovery as he puts his body through enormous work on a daily basis.   To donate and show any support you can head to https://fta4philly.com or follow Philly's progress on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook @phillipcaldwelltrust

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My guest on this episode is Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland ambassador, Emma Hempton. Emma is a vibrant young woman who adores music and has a lust for life and lives it to the best of her ability. On this platform, she shares what it is like living with CF, the challenges she faced throughout her life, with memories of her childhood, adolescent years, and also the times she and her family were close to saying their goodbyes. Yet as you listen to Emma, her story is one of strength, of determination, of resilience and I believe it will encourage you to take another look at your life and ask yourself are living every moment and making the best of what is in front of you? Emma has an ability to tell a story and hook the listener on every word with her soft tones. Her calmness and serenity ring through. Today is April 9th otherwise known as 65 roses day. A day created to help raise awareness and funds for the people of Ireland who battle live with Cystic Fibrosis. There are 1400 people in Ireland living with this genetic, chronic, terminal lung disease and to date, there's no cure. CF Having an ambassador like Emma Hempton, I’m certain that Cystic Fibrosis Ireland will raise the much-needed funds. While you’re listening, head over to www.65rosesday.ie and donate what you can. At 21 years old, Emma has a grip on life and a passion for living. That passion is there in us all, we just have to start looking in the right places and finding out what living really means to us. Please do one thing today, head to 65rosesday.ie and donate to help Emma and the people affected by CF. Your support matters. Thank you for listening. For anyone who wants to find out more about Cystic Fibrosis please head to https://www.cfireland.ie/ Also, check out their Instagram page cf_ireland #65rosesday #cysticfibrosis #cfireland

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