What Makes You Tick?

In this part we delve into his battle with getting back to playing rugby. What his catalyst was to motivate him to make the most of what he has and the people he has around him.We talk about mental struggles, having a strong family unit and ultimately what drives him to be the best he can be.We speak about him pioneering the way for goggles to be worn while playing rugby, how he needed people in his life to help him through very difficult times. If you would like to follow Ian and his story, check out his documentary Look Beyond on Amazon PrimeOr follow Ian’s instagram page Ianmck7

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My guest today is an international rugby player, Ian McKinley. Ian’s journey is not straight forward. Like most of my guests, Ian has had to face a number of challenges throughout his life.He speaks openly and honestly to me about a life changing injury that shattered a boyhood dream to play for Ireland one day. He shares some of his darkest moments and how he managed to fight through them to turn his life around.Through resilience and an unwavering determination, Ian found his way back onto the rugby pitch, this time in Italy where he managed to work his way back to professional status, and play international rugby.There is so much to take away from this conversation, never give up, always push forward and the bravest thing of all, is asking for help.I know for one that my pride sometimes gets in my way, when I need help the most, and it is something I work on regularly.Ian reminded me how important it is to share your struggles with people especially when they overwhelm you. We speak about him pioneering the way for goggles to be worn while playing rugby, how he needed people in his life to help him through very difficult times. If you would like to follow Ian and his story, check out his documentary Look Beyond on Amazon PrimeOr follow Ian’s instagram page Ianmck7

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In the second part of this episode, Will and I discuss how he manages his anxiety through his music and writing and he delves into what makes him tick, the reasons behind his love for music. Will also reminisces on a time when he was heartbroken and how music helped to soothe his soul in time of need. Will's journey is only beginning but his passion for music is unquestionable and his approach to life, is balanced and realistic. He epitomises what it means to be a gentleman and it was my absolute pleasure having him on board.Follow all of Will's shenanigans on Instagram or willpurdue.com

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My guest today is a singer-songwriter, Will Purdue. Will is a gentleman and a deep thinker.The music you’ve just heard is a recent single he wrote for Riona Kelly who suffered a horrendous accident and as a result, was paralysed.This single was released to help fund Riona’s rehabilitation as she and her partner Keith Mason aim to complete 100miles. Keith will pull Riona 99miles and Riona will then fight to walk the final mile. You can find out more about their journey at the Keith and Riona FoundationThe song highlights their journey together and Will speaks to me about the challenge he faced and the pressure he put on himself to create something he is proud of.In the first part of this conversation Will and discuss the effects music can have on our emotions, our thinking, and the way it puts into words, feelings we find so difficult to express.I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and I hope you do too.https://youtu.be/R26DvkvfmUIMore to follow in part 2.If you would like to download Will’s single and support Riona and Keith’s journey, head to willpurdue.bandcamp.comFollow WIll @willpurdue on Instagram.Here are Riona and Keith's handles on Instagram too@rionakelly_offical@keithmason_official

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In part 2 of my conversation with the crew from Project Empower, Damian and Gussie talk about the greatest challenge on earth for two people, rowing across the Atlantic from New York to Galway Bay. One of the biggest challenges for them is making sure they have the courage to say exactly what they are thinking and not bottle it up. It takes courage to be honest and that is exactly what they will count on when they take on this world record.The guys are trying to raise money to help build the boat that will take them all the way across the Atlantic. It costs roughly €85,000 to build and they need help. With their crowdfunding page running until the end of Oct 2020, any support you can give the crew would be hugely appreciated.Head to https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/project-empower#/ if you'd like to make a donation.These conversations are open and honest and in that comes an opportunity to learn and grow. What I’ve learned from this episode is to embrace the challenge and not shy away from it because it is when we chip away at the challenging moments we begin to sculpt a stronger version of ourselves.I’d love to hear what you took away from this episode as I do with all my conversations. So, if you’d like to stay up to date with the various conversations I’m having don’t forget to subscribe. Thank you so much for listening. Until next time, keep searching to find What Makes You Tick.Follow this podcast on Instagram @whatmakesyoutickpod and follow the crew from this conversation @projectempower2022@auld_stock@farrell_fergus

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Project Empower sees two Irish men attempt to break a 124-year-old world record, of rowing from New York to Galway. Damian Browne and Fergus Gussy Farrell will set off on the challenge of a lifetime.These men have faced many challenges already. Damian is an adventurer and explorer who began a lifetime of exploration which has seen him summit 5 of 7 peaks, complete the Race De Sables and he was a guest of mine in Season 1 where we spoke about his solo Atlantic row and how challenging environments create the greatest opportunities for growth. Gussy was given a 5% chance to walk again following a work accident, now he is attempting to break a world record having walked across Ireland from his home town in Athenry to the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire a year to the day after his injury. Part 1 of this 2 part episode highlights how powerful the mind can be when focused and given purpose. Gussy's story may not be as well known as Damian, yet it is truly miraculous how he went from moving his big toe to walking cross country. The learning I took from this is never to give in, and to fuel your mind with purpose so it can heal you and your body. The guys require your support to make this world record attempt possible. Head to projectempower.ie or visit Instagram @projectempower2022

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Jade Jordan is an Irish actress, born and bred in Dublin. Jade’s approach to life is one with empathy, honesty, and have fun along the way.Jade and I sat down to speak about her career, how she became an actress, but also, more importantly, what it was like for her growing up in Ireland when racism was alive and well and is to this day.Jade comes from a mixed-race Irish and she speaks to me about the racism her grandmother and mother faced after her grandmother returned from England having married a Jamaican man. Jade has soared to prominence having shared her family's experience on her Instagram page. A story that was sparked to life following the death of an African American man, George Floyd lost his life to the hands of a police officer in 2020.  This for Jade and many the world over was the catalyst for change in a global society that requires systemic change.His death sparked a pain in Jade that she has only ever experienced once in her life, and it motivated her to share the stories of her grandmother and her mum.Jade speaks openly about traits of old Ireland and how stories get pushed under the carpet, however, she believes that the recent protests and on movement relating to Black Lives Matter are now moments in history that began the erosion of systemic racism.I asked Jade to join me to help educate myself and others on what racism is on a local level, among friends and peers, and if it's possible to remove racism once and for all from people's minds. We discuss the importance of removing a preface before words we use to describe others and the importance of educating people at a young age that people are people, not black, white, or mixed race, leaders are leaders not female, transgender, or gay. Is it possible to remove racism, by first removing words that cause subtle divisions in society and business? In doing so, encouraging respect, kindness, and empathy around the way we speak and treat others.If you'd like to reach out to Jade you can find her on Instagram @jadejordan_88

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This is episode 15 and my guests today are Greg and Sarah McWilliamsWe had was a lot of fun to record. Initially, over a video call, I sat down with Greg to speak to him about his career as a rugby coach, the challenges of moving abroad to a different country and the journey he and his wife Sarah embarked upon to bring their son Archie and daughter Lana Rose into this world.What sets this episode apart for me, is when Sarah joined in the discussion she lit up the room, and it was wonderful to see the way both Greg and Sarah were open and honest about how tough life can be.Sarah and Greg speak openly about how focused they were on having babies, how Sarah wasn’t going to let ectopic pregnancies and failed IVF treatments stop her, and how surrogacy became an option.Following the challenge of having a baby, Sarah received another curveball from life and was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2020. At the time of the recording, Sarah was down to complete her final chemotherapy the following day. I’m glad to say she smashed it.Being positive and optimistic when times are good is definitely easier. It is in times of hardship and difficulty when real optimism and positivity shines through. That is the challenge and opportunity for us all.For me, listening to Sarah and Greg’s story as they interact with one another, painted a clear picture of a foundation cemented by understanding, communication, and unconditional love for each other.I’m grateful for the time they’ve shared with me to tell their story, and I hope this gives you the reassurance that whatever it is you are going through today, to stay optimistic.Optimism is knowing that even though the tunnel is dark, and the path may be challenging, there is light at the end of the tunnel, stay the course, one step at a time and you’ll eventually get there.If you'd like to reach out to Sarah or Greg, you can do so on Instagram @irish_in_america_ or @mcwilliams.gregIf you are finding that you're going through some similar situations please do reach out for help as it may be the point that changes your life.

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June is the month to build awareness about a debilitating disorder known as Scoliosis that causes an abnormal curve of the spine, or backbone. It leads me to my next guest, Elaine Sullivan who is an entrepreneur, running a successful salon business in Dublin called Aviary Lane. Elaine shares stories with me about her passion for hairdressing and why her approach goes far beyond styling someone's hair. What sets Elaine apart from the rest is that she cares about her clients, she cares about providing a service that makes people feel good about themselves, that builds them up and makes them feel welcome.Elaine shares her view about the industry and where it is going, but the real learning from this episode is how not to give up when times are tough. Because for Elaine, times physically and mentally became difficult for her at the age of 13 where she underwent her first operation to try to counteract the effects of scoliosis. What Elaine didn't know at the time, was the challenges she was going to face, the sacrifices she would have to make, and what tools she needed to help her take on each day.As I mentioned earlier, Elaine is an entrepreneur, and she made sure that her challenge with scoliosis would not define her. Elaine followed her passion and grew a business while managing to deal with this disorder and being a single mum. Over time, and numerous operations, Elaine eventually found a gym called Fitter Faster Stronger, otherwise known as FFS Gyms. It was here that her journey started to change, and she started to add to her a support group, strength, and conditioning training. Elaine describes how FFS helped her and how her life has improved ever since. Having spoken to Elaine, I learned that there is always hope even in the darkest times, and it is in those dark times that you truly understand who you are and what you are made of. Elaine's 'can do' attitude and a real, honest approach to life is revitalising and inspiring. I hope you enjoy this episode and if you would like any information about scoliosis, you can reach Elaine at [email protected] or visit http://www.scoliosis-ireland.ie/

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This episode I speak to rugby international, board director, leader of people, all-round great human Sene Naoupu. We spoke about Sene's journey from New Zealand to Ireland, her roots in Samoan culture, and how her mum helped her understand the power of community in a person's life.Sene opens up to me about a challenging time in her life when she realised she had an eating disorder. We talk about how she has become self-aware to understand what she needs to do to ensure she stays on top of it. From our discussion it is obvious why Sene is respected so much, her kindness shines bright and I am grateful to have had the chance to speak to Sene, learn from her the challenges she faced. I'm inspired by her attitude to life and people,  She is a role model for all people.  We talk about:Sene's journey to Irelandrelationship with food and managing an eating disorderrugby and representing Irelandembracing cultureunderstanding racismboard director, advisor and her visionMost importantly Sene reflects on something her mum said to her many years ago which she lives by to this day. To reach Sene, follow her on Instagram @senenaoupuThank you for reading and listening. as always.

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