The Laura Dowling Experience
Conversations about health, science, wellness, life, love, sex and everything in-between. Laura is a Pharmacist who loves to talk to interesting people about their unique life and work experiences.
Episodes
From Moving One Toe to 6 Million Steps with Fergus Farrell #187
In this episode, former Connacht rugby player Fergus Farrell tells Laura what happened after he lifted a metal bench in his own yard in October 2018 — and severed his spinal cord by ninety per cent.He was paralysed from the ribcage down and told he had a five per cent chance of walking again, on the condition he moved within seventy-two hours. He didn’t move. Instead he lay in a bed for twenty-one
World Bodhrán Champion on Music, Belonging and Motherhood with Aimée Farrell-Courtney #186
Aimée Farrell-Courtney was six years old when she saw three girls playing the bodhrán in her school yard, the sun behind them and the sound going round the walls. She went home and announced she wanted to learn. Her mother's reply - "Oh my God, smelly pub" - is the first clue that this instrument arrived with a reputation attached, and with assumptions about who gets to hold one.She learned anyway
Bitesize Moment: "It Comes From a Place of Love." — Dr Anne Doherty on a kinder way to see people
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, consultant anaesthetist Dr Anne Doherty offers two simple, evergreen pieces of wisdom from the close of her conversation with Laura.Nothing is as permanent as you think — the good times and the bad both pass — and almost every hard choice people make, even the ones you disagree with, comes from a place of love.🔑Key Po
ADHD, Marriage & Growth with Daniel Buckley #185
Daniel Buckley was thirty-two before he had a name for what was going on in his head. For as long as he could remember he had been restless, discontented, unable to sit still or hold his focus on anything that didn’t grip him - and he had simply assumed that was him. That was the way he was, and the way life was.His wife Simone saw it long before he did. For more than a decade she told him somethi
Bitesize Moment: "Laughter in the Darkest Room." — Dympna Little on carrying grief with humour
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, comedian and content creator Dympna Little shares how humour helped her family carry her mother's terminal illness and final days.She describes laughing together even in the palliative care room, the moment her mother noticed and said "it's lovely," and the voice message her mother recorded that became her legacy. Ten
How Non-Speakers Are Finally Being Heard with Anna Lechleiter #184
Anna Lechleiter works with people who have never been able to speak, and who have spent their lives being treated as though they had nothing to say. She is a Spelling to Communicate practitioner, and her job is to give non-speakers a way to tell the world what has been going on in their heads all along.She explains why speech is a motor problem rather than a thinking one: the words are there, but
Bitesize Moment: "I'd Climbed the Wrong Mountain." — Dr Paddy Barrett on what health really means
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, preventive cardiologist Dr Paddy Barrett argues that most people chase health without ever defining it — like a blindfolded archer aiming at a target they can't see.He lays out three things actually worth optimising, and tells the story of walking away from the peak of his career when he realised he'd climbed the wron
Agony Aunt Confessions, PMDD and Life Off the Timeline with Vicki Notaro #183
Vicki Notaro is back! Her new novel, Anywhere but Here, follows three friends all hovering around 40 and living completely different lives. As Vicki puts it, you can be 40 and you can be a granny, or trying to conceive, or single, or divorced. She and Laura talk about the pressure women feel to have everything sorted by a certain age, and why marriage or a mortgage was never meant to be a finish l
Bitesize Moment: "You're Not a Tree." — Brian Keane on getting unstuck and changing your life
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, fitness coach, author and speaker Brian Keane tells the story of hating his first career as a teacher — and the line from his mum that changed everything.He's honest that reinvention isn't instant (he went broke twice before it worked) and lands on a reframe anyone can use: it's not being stuck that traps you, it's th
How to Get Unstuck in Any Area of Your Life with Mark Fennell #182
What do you do when you feel stuck - in a job you hate, a relationship that has gone flat, or a version of yourself you no longer recognise? Life and business coach Mark Fennell joins Laura for a warm, practical conversation about how people actually get moving again - starting not with a grand plan, but with a single next step.A qualified electrician who began as a youth volunteer worker, Mark sh
Bitesize Moment: "It's a Slow Erosion." — Nikki Dwyer on reclaiming yourself after control
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, former lawyer turned businesswoman Nikki Dwyer explains why coercive, narcissistic abuse rarely looks the way people expect — it's a slow erosion of confidence through criticism, gaslighting and isolation.She speaks candidly about how losing nearly everything became the moment she could stop drifting and consciously c
A Bariatric Surgeon Explains Weight-Loss Surgery with Dr John Loy #181
This week Laura sits down with Dr John Loy, one of the busiest weight-loss surgeons working between Ireland and the UK. He grew up behind the bar of a family pub in County Down, which he says was the best training in medicine he ever had, before a chance meeting in New York changed how he thinks about the whole job.It's a warm, funny and genuinely eye-opening conversation about obesity as a diseas
Bitesize Moment: "I Thought I Was Just a Bad Friend." — Keith Walsh on a late ADHD diagnosis
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, broadcaster and mental health advocate Keith Walsh shares what it was like to be diagnosed with ADHD in his late forties — and how going through his son's assessment led to his own.He's honest and funny about what undiagnosed ADHD looked like day to day, the small systems he built to cope, and why a diagnosis can feel
National Sisters Day | Sisters, Slagging and One Live Revelation #180
Ahead of National Sisters Day on Sunday 2 August, Laura hands the mic to the one guest who has known her longest - her younger sister Rachel, making her podcast debut. What follows is less an interview than a lifetime of shared history: the smear tests they were both booked in for that morning, Laura's abandoned marathon training, the running mishap Rachel has never been allowed to live down, and
Bitesize Moment: "Reject the Diet Mentality." — Sinéad Crowe on making peace with food
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, psychiatric nurse and intuitive eating counsellor Sinéad Crowe explains what intuitive eating really is — a way of caring for yourself, not another set of rules.She shares why letting go of the diet mentality comes first, and how making peace with food can quiet years of guilt and reconnect you with your body's own si
Where Violence Comes From with Bob Cullen #179
Bob Cullen isn't a doctor or a traditional academic — he's a man who spent his early life around violence and addiction, spent years in prison, and has spent the time since trying to understand where that violence actually comes from. Now finishing a master's and preparing to start a PhD, he leads the Success Stories Programme, running workshops with men — including in prisons and on probation — a
Bitesize Moment: "We've Demonised Average." — Dr Coleman Noctor on why we're all so anxious
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, child and adolescent psychotherapist Dr Coleman Noctor explains why so many of us feel anxious and "behind," even when life is objectively fine.He shows how the gap between expectation and reality fuels anxiety, why chasing "exceptional" leaves us discontent, and how aiming for his "four to seven zone" can bring us ba
Nobody Tells You How Hard Motherhood Is with Becca Maberly #178
Becca Maberly did everything "right." An A-grade student with an obstetrician father, she got to the hospital, had her baby with no pain relief, and was home for lunch - certain she was going to be brilliant at motherhood. Then the postnatal period arrived, and she went, in her words, straight to the bottom of the class.In this honest, funny and disarming conversation, Becca and Laura pull apart t
Bitesize Moment: "Entertained, Not Educated." — Jennifer Rock on spotting advice you can trust
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, skin expert and Skin Nerd founder Jennifer Rock explains why so much health and skincare advice online is built to entertain rather than educate — and how to tell the difference.She makes a straight-talking case for checking qualifications, standards and the source behind any advice before you act on it, so the next v
Darragh Connolly | Penis Pumps, Prostate Health and Sex After Surgery #177
Laura sits down with community pharmacist Darragh Connolly, who has built a men's health service — Men's Health Downunder — around something most clinics rush past: helping men get their sexual function back after prostate surgery. It's a candid, frequently very funny conversation about a subject usually wrapped in silence and shame.Darragh explains the male anatomy in plain (and memorable) terms,
Bitesize Moment: "This Isn't Your Fault." — Dr Mick Crotty on the biology of weight
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, GP Dr Mick Crotty explains why weight is far less within our conscious control than we are led to believe — and why so many people carry a load of self-blame they never deserved.He walks Laura through the genetics of appetite, the brain's reward response to food, and the "set point" it quietly defends, which is why we
Heavy Bleeding, the Mirena Coil and Speaking Up with Dr Áine Dempsey #176
How many women quietly put up with heavy bleeding, painful periods or a difficult coil fitting, telling themselves it is just part of being a woman?In this episode, Laura sits down with obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Áine Dempsey, who works at BlackRock Women's Health and at the Rotunda, for an honest, practical conversation about the things women are so often told to live with - and what can a
A Generational Story Behind Women & Dieting with Aimee Donnellan #175
Aimee Donnellan joins Laura to talk about her new book Off the Scales: The Inside Story of Ozempic and the Race to Cure Obesity, and the much bigger story sitting underneath it - how generations of women learned to live with food.Through interviews with women across the world, Aimee found the same pattern repeating. A trip to a dietitian around the age of seven. A mother quietly carrying her own d
Grief, Poetry and a New Kind of Masculinity with Darragh Fleming #174
Darragh Fleming went viral last year for a poem — but this conversation is about everything that came before it. The Cork writer talks to Laura about a childhood spent lost in books, a long detour through sport and self-doubt, and the years he spent convinced he wasn't creative at all.At seventeen, Darragh lost his close friend Irby to suicide, and the grief changed him profoundly. For years after
Why So Many Women Suffer in Silence with Dr Fadi #173
In this episode, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Fadi joins Laura for an open, practical conversation about pelvic floor health, incontinence, prolapse and the realities of modern obstetrics.Dr Fadi explains how childbirth, ageing and menopause affect the pelvic floor, and why so many women end up living with stress incontinence, prolapse and faecal incontinence in silence. He walks t
Bitesize Moment: "She Wasn't Lazy. She Was Drowning." — Dr Sarah Carty on ADHD in girls
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, GP Dr Sarah Carty explains why ADHD looks so different in girls and women — and why so many only recognise it years, sometimes decades, after it first showed up.She tells Laura how the "quiet" presentation — daydreaming, internal restlessness, working twice as hard to look fine — slowly turns into anxiety, perfectioni
What Menopause Care Should Really Look Like with Dr Caoimhe Hartley #172
What does proper midlife care actually look like, and who keeps getting left out of it?In this episode, Laura sits down with Dr Caoimhe Hartley - founder of Menopause Health in Dalkey, clinical lead of the Complex Menopause Clinic in the Rotunda, and clinical lead for women's medicine at the new BlackRock Health Women's Health Centre.They talk about the women being told no - those over 60 who feel
Bitesize Moment: "We Cured Your Cancer. You Should Be Grateful." — Dr Deirdre Lundy on HRT after breast cancer
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, menopause specialist Dr Deirdre Lundy walks Laura through how decisions about HRT and family history of breast cancer actually get made in clinic — and why a blanket "no" rarely tells the full story. If you've ever been handed that flat refusal, this is for you.She unpacks the difference between "a family history" and
Pamela Deasy | Trusting Her Gut: A Pancreatic Cancer Survivor Story #171
Pamela Deasy was in her early 40s, working full time and volunteering with the RNLI, when fatigue started dragging her back into bed in the middle of the day. Her bloods were clear. She was told it was perimenopause, then depression. Months passed before a kinesiologist, of all people, pointed at her pancreas — and within days she was in a Cork hospital being told she had a tumour.In this episode,
Bitesize Moment: "The Second Christmas Nearly Broke Me." — Dr Mary Ryan on grief
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, endocrinologist Dr Mary Ryan opens up about losing her husband unexpectedly while raising three small children, and what grief actually looked like for her in the years that followed.She tells Laura about the shock, the anger, and the long fog of those first two years — and the small, practical things that helped: lea
Caroline Foran | The Nervous System, Anxiety & PDA Parenting #170
Anxiety author Caroline Foran joins Laura for a deeply personal conversation about parenting a young son recently diagnosed as autistic with a PDA profile, alongside her own long history with anxiety.Caroline talks openly about the years before the diagnosis, the blame she turned inward, and everything she has had to unlearn about parenting. She explains what PDA — Pervasive Drive for Autonomy — a
Bitesize Moment: "I Thought I Was Fine. I Wasn't." — Kyla Cobbler on getting sober
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, comedian Kyla Cobbler shares an honest, no-frills account of how her drinking quietly turned into dependency — while she was still training, working, and gigging five nights a week.She tells Laura how being a regular performer in Barcelona blurred the lines between socialising and self-medicating, and how Dry January
Barbara Scully | The Things They Don't Tell You About Getting Older #169
Barbara Scully sits down with Laura for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with her own recent run-in with the medical system and opens out into what it actually means to age as a woman in Ireland today.Barbara talks about months of hip pain, a string of MRIs, a suspected stroke that turned out to be nothing, and the moment she decided to step off the treadmill of tests, hand back the prescri
Bitesize Moment: "I Haven't Felt Right in Three Years." — Dr Sarah Callaghan on how perimenopause sneaks up
In this bitesize moment pulled from the Laura Dowling Experience back catalogue, GP and menopause specialist Dr Sarah Callaghan explains why perimenopause so rarely arrives with a bang — and why so many women spend years "muddling through" before they realise what's actually going on.She tells Laura about the slow, sneaky creep of symptoms, the patterns she sees most often in clinic, and the women
Maria Walsh | Deepfakes, Politics and Women's Health #168
Laura sits down with MEP Maria Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about women, power and what is shifting in Europe right now. Maria has just returned from the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, where for the first time in seventy years member states could not agree a final text on access to justice for women.She talks honestly about online misogyny, the deepfakes already circula
Michelle Flynn on Why Some Experiences Stay With Us #167
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Michelle Flynn shares her deeply personal and professional insight into birth trauma, and why it’s not always about what happens, but how it’s experienced.Drawing on her own journey through pregnancy anxiety and her work as a perinatal psychotherapist, Michelle explains how trauma can live in the nervous system, showing up long after the moment has passed. Fro
Mary Ryan | The Things We Ignore About Women’s Health #166
🎧 Episode DescriptionHow many women have been told that pain is just part of being a woman?For many women, painful or heavy periods become something they learn to live with. In this conversation, periods are reframed as something far more important - a vital sign that reflects what’s happening across the whole body, not just a monthly inconvenience.Through real clinical stories, we hear how women
Hannah Daly | ADHD, Autism, and Being Diagnosed Later in Life #165
🎧 Episode DescriptionHannah Daly talks openly about the long path to understanding her brain. Growing up, she knew she experienced the world differently, but dyslexia and dyspraxia seemed to explain enough at the time. It wasn’t until much later that she began to question whether there was more to it.A period of intense physical and cognitive symptoms during perimenopause became a turning point. A
The Reality of School Meals in Ireland Today with Ger Killian #164
🎧 Episode DescriptionThis conversation with Ger Killian offers a thoughtful and honest look at what it really means to feed children in today’s world. As co-founder of The Lunch Bag, Ger has spent years navigating the realities of school meals - from supply chains and budgets to the emotional responses of parents and children alike.What emerges is a story not just about food, but about trust. Trus
Dr Andy Hogan on How the Immune System Shapes Your Health #163
🎧 Episode DescriptionThis episode traces Dr Andy Hogan’s path into immunology, from a childhood curiosity to a career exploring how the immune system shapes our health. Growing up in a challenging environment, the Access Programme gave him a route into higher education - highlighting the impact of support and opportunity.Alongside his story, Andy explains the immune system not just as a defence ag
The Power of Posture: Dignity in Later Life #162
🎧 Episode DescriptionOccupational therapist Martina Tierney joins the podcast to share how something as ordinary as a chair can profoundly shape a person’s health, independence and dignity.After witnessing older people being sold expensive but inappropriate equipment, Martina set out to change the system. What followed was the creation of Seating Matters, a company grounded in clinical evidence, c
Women in Politics: Online Misogyny and the Fight to Be Heard #161
🎧 Episode DescriptionWhat does it really take for women to enter politics today?In this special edition from the European Parliament, Laura Dowling speaks with MEPs Kathleen Funchion and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú on International Women’s Day about their experiences of political life and the wider landscape for women entering leadership roles.Through personal stories and candid reflections, they discuss h
Aoife Dunne: Ayahuasca, Grief and an Unexpected Route into Comedy #160
🎧 Episode DescriptionLaura sits down with comedian Aoife Dunne for an honest and humorous conversation about everything from grief and fear to the unexpected turns life can take.Aoife opens up about the sudden loss of her mum while she was backpacking in her early twenties - a moment that changed the course of her life. After spending time in therapy and trying to make sense of the fear she carrie
Why I Left Stockbroking to Sell Cars From My Drive with Nadia Adan #159
🎧 Episode DescriptionArriving in Ireland from Somalia as a child after years of displacement, Nadia grew up watching her mother sacrifice everything to create stability through education. That path led her into finance and onto a trading floor surrounded by high earners and high pressure — a version of success that looked impressive but never fully felt aligned.What began with selling her own 08 B
Understanding Eating Disorders - Control, Shame, and Recovery with Laura Casey #158
🎧 Episode DescriptionEating disorders are complex, layered, and often hidden in plain sight. In this episode, psychiatric nurse Laura Casey helps us understand the difference between disordered eating and a clinically diagnosed eating disorder - and why that distinction matters.Drawing on years of frontline experience, Laura explores the psychological roots of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disor
Liz Dwyer on When the System Keeps You Married #157
🎧 Episode DescriptionLiz Dwyer joins the podcast to discuss what life looks like when separation doesn’t bring closure. Still legally married six years on, she reflects on the gaps in Ireland’s divorce process and the contradictions of being asked to co-parent calmly while fighting legal battles behind the scenes.Beyond the courtroom, Liz talks about the coping tools that kept her going, from the
Building, Leading & Letting Go With Anne Heraty & Eimear McCrann #156
🎧 Episode DescriptionThis conversation brings together Eimear McCrann, Director EY Entrepreneur Of The Year and Anne Heraty, EOY Judge and Founder CPL Resourced, to unpack the realities of entrepreneurship from two deeply experienced perspectives – one from building and leading a business over decades, and the other from supporting hundreds of founders through every stage of growth.Anne reflects o
Síle Seoige: The Year Everything Changed #155
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Laura sits down with Síle Seoige to talk about a period in her early thirties when everything changed at once. Síle speaks about being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, the impact that had on her work and personal life, and how it forced her to stop and reassess in a way she hadn’t before.She talks about anxiety from the inside, not recognising it at the time, on
Dating When You’re Ready and When They’re Not | Mairead the Matchmaker #154
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Laura explores why dating so often feels exhausting, confusing, or discouraging, particularly when one person is ready for commitment and the other is not in the same place.Drawing on insight from Mairead the Matchmaker, the conversation looks at how timing, life stage, and emotional readiness shape modern relationships. It reflects on patterns that come up ag
What Your Mouth Reveals About Your Health with Eimear Mithen #153
🎧 Episode DescriptionLaura is joined by dental hygienist Eimear for a clear, practical conversation about oral health and why it connects to the rest of the body, not just your teeth. They talk about plaque, tartar and gum disease, what causes bleeding gums, and why brushing your teeth without brushing your gums misses half the problem.Eimear explains why interdental brushes work better than floss
A Survivor’s Journey to Purpose: Ciara Mangan’s Story #152
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn this episode of The Laura Dowling Experience, Laura is joined by Ciara Mangan, founder of Beyond Surviving. Ciara reflects on the gaps in long-term trauma support, the challenges survivors face once formal services fall away, and why survival is so often treated as the endpoint rather than the beginning of healing.She speaks about navigating the justice process, the emotion
The Hidden Cost of Mental Health Gatekeeping with Martin Daly #151
🎧 Episode DescriptionThis episode offers an unflinching look at the realities of Irish healthcare - especially child and adolescent mental health - through the eyes of someone who’s been on the front line for decades. Laura is joined by Martin Daly, a rural GP in County Galway and a TD (Teachta Dála), to explore what it feels like to advocate for children and families inside systems that are overs
Kathryn Thomas: Cancellation, Contradiction & Coming Back #150
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn this reflective episode, Laura sits down with Kathryn Thomas to talk about change - the kind you choose, the kind that’s forced upon you, and the kind that quietly reshapes you over time. Kathryn shares her journey through career transitions, from national broadcasting to creative independence, and what it’s like to make bold decisions in midlife while balancing motherhood,
GLP-1s, Menopause & the Future of Obesity Treatment with Donal O'Shea #149
🎧 Episode DescriptionDonal O’Shea has spent a lifetime working at the sharp end of endocrinology- and in this conversation, he brings that perspective with clarity and honesty. Laura and Donal explore how dramatically medicine has changed, from early diabetes care rooted in fear and compliance to modern treatments that prioritise quality of life and long-term health.The discussion moves through ho
Seeing People: The Story Behind Eoin Cluskey and Bread 41 #148
🎧 Episode DescriptionThis conversation traces the path that brought Eoin Cluskey to where he is today- not only as the founder of Bread 41, but as someone who thinks deeply about community, responsibility, and the kind of impact a business can have. He talks openly about struggling through school, finding his footing in kitchens abroad, and eventually discovering purpose through business.Eoin also
Unfiltered Motherhood: Sophie White's Story of Chaos, Connection & Compassion #147
🎧 Episode DescriptionThis episode is an emotionally rich, thoughtful exploration of motherhood, storytelling, friendship, and addiction. Sophie reflects on how her podcast began long before podcasting was popular- born out of frustration and a desire for honesty. Instead of curated perfection, she and co-host Jen offered chaos, humour, truth, and community and thousands of women saw themselves ref
The Power of Clever Swaps: Food Truths, Mental Health & Consumer Freedom #146
🎧 Episode DescriptionWhat started as a simple moment in Lidl — noticing the word “style” on a yogurt label — turned into a viral movement. In this heartfelt conversation, Sophie Morris shares how her honest, practical videos helped people understand not just what’s in their food, but how to shop with confidence, protect their health, and even support small producers.Sophie explains how clever swap
Losing My Sister, Finding My Voice: The Story Behind The Shona Project #145
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn 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
Trauma Is Not Mental Illness: Breda’s Journey Through Misdiagnosis, Institutions & Recovery #144
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn 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 s
Miriam O’Callaghan: Fertility, Family, Tragedy & the Reality of Live Broadcasting #143
🎧 Episode DescriptionIn 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 deba
The Boobie Physio: The Truth About Breast Weight, Posture & Women’s Health #142
📝 Episode Description: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 — regardles
“They Groaned When a Woman Was Announced” — Deirdre O’Kane on Women in Comedy #141
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.Th
Why Teens Feel Lost | Psychotherapist Deirdre Mellet Explains #140
📝 Episode DescriptionIn 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 —
From Rugby to Rehabilitation: Andrew Dunne's Journey into Physiotherapy #139
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, partic
Breaking Barriers: Eileen's Journey from Addiction to Social Impact #138
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 hairdress
Supercharge Your Soul: A Deep Dive into Holistic Wellness with Miriam Hussey #137
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
Healthspan Over Lifespan: Longevity Lessons for People and Pets with Matt Kaeberlein #136
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—n
Raising Awareness for Down Syndrome and the Purple Run #135
In this episode, Laura welcomes Melissah, whose daughter Evie has Down Syndrome. Melissa shares her personal journey from pregnancy and the unexpected postnatal Down Syndrome diagnosis, to raising Evie and balancing life as a mother of three. The conversation highlights the importance of awareness and education about Down Syndrome, including Melissah's efforts through the annual Purple Run fundrai
Keith Walsh - ADHD, autism, mental health, drugs and childhood trauma #134
Keith Walsh is a broadcaster, writer, actor and mental heath advocate. We discuss how he self medicated with drugs, alcohol, exercise and food restriction until a diagnosis in his late forties of ADHD and autism.We chat about his childhood trauma his mental health struggles and advocacy and how he is ok with having no friends.This is a podcast for anyone who has ADHD or suspects that the
Podcast Break and Upcoming Book Release 'Love Your Vulva'
I’m taking a two-week break from the podcast to complete my new book, 'Love Your Vulva', and its audiobook, which will be released on September 23rd. In the meantime, explore the podcast archives with 133 episodes on topics like menopause, ADHD, sexual wellness, cardiology, physiotherapy, and more. For new listeners, I encourage you to start from the beginning to catch some great episodes. I'll be
Breaking Barriers: Adam Harris on Autism Awareness and Advocacy #133
Adam Harris, an influential autism advocate from Ireland, shares his personal journey from childhood through to establishing the organisation 'As I Am'. The discussion touches on his early life, the challenges he faced as a child with autism, his education experience, and the development of his advocacy to promote autism awareness and inclusion. Adam highlights the significant progress made in Ire
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Nicola Culloty - Anxiety, Stress & Resilience Techniques #132
Episode Description:In this inspiring episode, Nicola shares her personal journey from being an anxious child and teacher to becoming a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) therapist. She explains the core principles of CBT and how it can help with anxiety, stress, low mood, menopause symptoms, parenting challenges, and more.Nicola also discusses the power of self-compassion, mindfulness, and resil
The Episode: Mary Ann Kenny's Story of Grief, Psychosis, and Recovery #131
What happens when grief collides with a broken mental health system? In this raw and powerful conversation, Mary Ann Kenny shares the devastating journey that began when her husband died suddenly, leaving her alone with two young children. What followed was unimaginable - a psychotic episode triggered by medication side effects that led to her hospitalisation and a harrowing fight to keep her chil
Owning My Body: Body Image, Aging & Self-Acceptance with Edwina Ings-Chambers #130
Journalist and beauty editor Edwina Ings-Chambers shares her refreshingly honest take on body image and the concept of body ownership rather than confidence. She opens up about feeling she's never had full agency over her body, even when slim, and how menopause has brought both new challenges and unexpected freedom.Key Points:Why Edwina rejects “body neutrality” in favour of body ownershipGro
Numbers Behind the Diagnosis: How Cancer Data Shapes Our Future #129
Send us a textCancer has overtaken cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in Ireland, yet our mortality rates are falling faster than anywhere else in Europe. What's driving this paradox? Professor Deirdre Murray, Director of the National Cancer Registry of Ireland, pulls back the curtain on how cancer data is transforming healthcare in this country.Every year, the Registry capt
Reclaiming Intimacy: ADHD, Sexual Trauma and the Right to Pleasure with Dr Natasha Langan #128
Send us a textDr Natasha Langan, a chartered clinical psychologist and accredited psychosexual therapist, explores how childhood sexual abuse impacts intimacy, and how ADHD in women can increase vulnerability to traumatic relationships and sexual exploitation.• Women with ADHD face higher rates of sexual victimization, unplanned pregnancies, and relationship dissatisfaction• Trauma includes both m
Navigating Separation and Divorce with Family Law Solicitor Hilary O'Connor #127
Send us a textNavigating separation and divorce is emotionally charged and legally complex, requiring careful consideration of finances, children’s needs, and your own well-being throughout the process. Family law solicitor Hilary O’Connor offers clear guidance on managing this challenging life transition.Mediation should be the initial step in separation proceedings as it is free and enables coup
Navigating Adolescence in the Digital Age: Insights on Masculinity, Social Media, and Mental Health #126
Send us a textDr. Darragh McCashin joins us to explore how the online world affects our boys' mental, emotional and social development, offering insights on navigating digital challenges while supporting healthy masculinity.• Different responses to toxic online content: some boys consume and ignore, others parrot without understanding, some believe and embody, and some gradually adopt beliefs
Sex, STIs, and Breaking Taboos: Demystifying Genital Health with Dr. Aisling Loy #125
Send us a textRereleasing this podcast as it was so popular and really demystified genital health!Dr. Aisling Loy, consultant in genitourinary medicine, debunks common misconceptions about sexual health and provides practical advice on addressing genital concerns with compassion and expertise.In this episode, we explore some of the most common myths and overlooked truths in vaginal and sexual heal
Scoring Equal Opportunity: Closing the Gender Gap in Sport #124
Send us a textNiamh Tallon, founder of Her Sport, is on a mission to change how we see women in sport through media coverage, education, and challenging the gender gap that exists across all levels of sport.• One in five girls drop out of sport between primary and secondary school compared to one in twenty boys• 94% of women in executive managerial positions have a background in sport, showing the
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