Avsnitt
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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 through the full range of treatment options — from physiotherapy and pessaries to urethral bulking, Botox, sacral neuromodulation, robotic surgery, and the mesh procedures paused in Ireland since 2018.
The conversation also takes in interstitial cystitis, vaginal oestrogen, the impact of long inductions on older mothers, and the trade-offs women now weigh up between a vaginal delivery and a caesarean section. Dr Fadi closes with a reflection on his time working with Syrian refugees, where he met 13-year-old mothers and a 26-year-old grandmother.
🔑 Key Points1. Pelvic floor problems are common and treatable — Stress incontinence, prolapse and faecal incontinence are usually linked to childbirth, not an inevitable part of being a woman.
2. Mesh for incontinence has been paused in Ireland since 2018 — Ireland is the only country in the world where this procedure is currently unavailable, and patients are being sent to Spain to access it.
3. There is no single fix for incontinence — Treatment depends on the type, from physiotherapy and urethral bulking to mesh slings, Botox into the bladder wall, and sacral neuromodulators.
4. Prolapse is not just the womb — Bladder, womb and rectum can all prolapse, each with their own grade and treatment pathway.
5. Pessaries give women back some control — Different types of pessary can hold a prolapse in place, and many women can learn to manage their own at home.
6. Faecal incontinence is more common than women admit — Third and fourth degree tears at delivery can damage the anal sphincter, and primary repair at the time of birth gives the best outcome.
7. Vaginal oestrogen is a low-risk, high-impact tool — It can ease overactive bladder, recurrent UTIs, dryness, and slow the progression of prolapse after menopause.
8. Older mothers face different trade-offs — Long inductions, instrumental deliveries and unplanned caesareans are more common, which is why some women are now actively asking for a planned section.
📚 ResourcesLove Your Vulva — Laura Dowling
fabÜ Hello Healing
Continence Foundation of Ireland
⏱️ Timestamps01:46 — Introducing Dr Fadi and urogynaecology
02:49 — Why pelvic floor problems happen
04:14 — Assessing pelvis and baby size before delivery
05:09 — Robotic surgery and vault prolapse
06:34 — Stress incontinence and mesh as the gold standard
09:01 — Why mesh has been paused in Ireland
12:31 — Sending Irish patients to Spain for mesh
14:25 — Botox for overactive bladder and Interstim
15:43 — Faecal incontinence and tears at delivery
19:17 — Interstitial cystitis and hyaluronic acid
21:21 — Types and grades of prolapse
24:25 — How a pessary works
28:01 — Surgery for prolapse
34:18 — Vaginal oestrogen and pelvic floor
36:08 — Epidurals and instrumental delivery
37:25 — Why more women are asking for caesareans
45:00 — Working with Syrian refugees
48:32 — 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 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, perfectionism, and a quiet erosion of confidence. It's a clip that gives language to something a lot of women have silently carried for years.
🔑 Key PointsWhy girls are diagnosed much later than boys — and what gets missedMasking, and how it shows up as perfectionism, daydreaming, or "just being quiet"The link between unrecognised ADHD and anxiety, panic and exhaustionHow girls end up labelling themselves as "stupid", "lazy" or "not academic" — and why that's so far from the truthWhy the right diagnosis can change a person's whole self-story🎧 Listen to the full episode here.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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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 they have missed the boat on HRT, and those who have come through breast cancer and are still struggling with symptoms. Caoimhe explains where the evidence actually sits on bones, blood vessels and brain, why so much of what gets repeated still comes from the Women's Health Initiative, and how modern HRT differs from the older oral preparations.
The conversation moves through midlife weight gain and changing body shape, the rise in adult ADHD diagnoses, and the link between oestrogen and dopamine. They also dig into osteoporosis screening in Ireland, why there is no national DEXA programme, dietary calcium, and the histamine flare some women notice on HRT.
Throughout, Caoimhe keeps coming back to the same point - care should be personal, joined up and built around the woman in front of you.
🔑 Key PointsGuidelines are broad, not personal
They are starting points, not prescriptions, and individual risk-benefit has to lead the conversation.
Women over 60 are not automatically locked out of HRT
There is no longer evidence that starting later raises heart attack risk, and bone benefit is available at any age.
The WHI still shapes the conversation
A flawed 1990s study using Premarin and older progestins is still behind fears that do not map onto modern HRT.
The brain adapts after menopause
Hot flushes, night sweats and brain fog are not designed to last forever, and most women in their 70s and 80s are not symptomatic.
Breast cancer survivors deserve a real menopause conversation
Vaginal oestrogen is generally safe, complex menopause clinics exist for a reason, and non-hormonal options matter.
Body shape change is real and largely hormonal
Central weight gain is one of the top three things women raise, and no specific HRT fixes it, though better sleep and mood help.
ADHD is being unmasked in midlife
As oestrogen falls, dopamine regulation shifts and previously well-managed traits can come to the surface.
Ireland has no national DEXA screening
Despite international guidance over 65, screening here is opportunistic and goes through your GP.
80% of bone density is genetic
Peak bone density is in your 30s, with the remaining fifth shaped by vitamin D, calcium, weight-bearing exercise and not smoking.
📚 ResourcesMenopause Health Clinic, Dalkey
BlackRock Health Women's Health Centre
Women's Health Initiative (WHI)
Danish Osteoporosis Prevention Study (DOPS)
International Osteoporosis Foundation calcium calculator
British Menopause Society
National BreastCheck
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 — Why joined-up midlife care matters
03:20 — Women over 60 and HRT
05:10 — Bones, brain and the limits of the 60 cut-off
07:50 — Why the WHI still shapes the conversation
13:00 — The brain adapts after menopause
16:00 — Breast cancer and complex menopause care
20:30 — Cardiovascular health and nitric oxide
23:00 — Body shape change and central weight gain
27:00 — Ozempic and oral progesterone
28:30 — ADHD, oestrogen and dopamine
33:00 — Osteoporosis and DEXA screening in Ireland
41:00 — Histamine, HRT and hay fever
43:00 — Later motherhood and perimenopause overlap
54:30 — Advice for younger women
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 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 a strong family history, why outdated fears around HRT and breast cancer have cost women years of their lives, and why surviving cancer shouldn't mean accepting a wrecked quality of life with no support.
🔑 Key PointsWhat "strong family history" really means — and why it isn't a blanket noHow specialists balance risk versus quality of life in real clinic conversationsWhy so many women have been wrongly told HRT is off the tableThe wider point: survivorship deserves more than "you should be grateful"What to ask for if you've been refused HRT and want a second look🎧 Listen to the full episode here.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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, Pamela sits down with Laura to walk through what happened next: the chemotherapy that made her legs turn to jelly, the five and a half weeks of daily radiotherapy that put her on her back in hospital, and the Whipple surgery that took out the head of her pancreas, part of her stomach, part of her intestine, her gallbladder and her spleen. Then the slower, quieter battle that came after — the seven and a half stone she lost, the survivor guilt nobody warned her about, the Survive and Thrive programme that helped her step back into the world, and the small camping toilet she now keeps in her car because that is the honest reality of life after Whipple surgery.
Pamela also shares why she co-founded Pancreatic Cancer Ireland, what the signs of pancreatic cancer actually look like, and why "listen to your gut and keep going back" might be the most important sentence you hear this week.
🔑 Key PointsWhy fatigue was Pamela's only consistent symptom — and how easy it was to put down to a busy life, perimenopause and then depressionThe signs of pancreatic cancer worth knowing: persistent tiredness, pain in the tummy that radiates to the back, floaty stools, dark urine, jaundice, an itch with no rash, new pre-diabetesWhat Whipple surgery actually involves, and why it is described as life-saving but life-alteringThe realities of life after a rewired digestive system, from packing a change of clothes to always knowing where the toilet isThe chemotherapy side effects that have lingered for years — neuropathy, Raynaud's, cold intoleranceSurvivor guilt, the drop-off in support after the "all clear", and finding her way back through the Survive and Thrive programmeWhy pancreatic cancer is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030Pamela's everyday philosophy: advocate for yourself, listen to your gut, and treasure the ordinary days📚 ResourcesPancreatic Cancer Ireland
Survive and Thrive
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 — Welcome
00:27 — Blackrock Health Women's Health Centre
01:34 — Introducing Pamela and trusting your gut
02:13 — 2018: fatigue, busy work and the RNLI
03:04 — Going back to the GP again and again
05:01 — A kidney scan and "the good news is there's no cancer"
06:00 — Being told she might be depressed
06:16 — A kinesiologist who pointed at her pancreas
07:17 — Jaundice and the alarm bell
08:51 — Friday 7th December: into hospital in Cork
09:22 — "You have a tumour in your pancreas"
12:02 — What Whipple surgery actually is
13:00 — Six rounds of chemotherapy
13:30 — Side effects: falling, neuropathy, Raynaud's
17:48 — Radiotherapy, gemcitabine and six weeks in hospital
21:51 — Whipple surgery on 15 August 2019
23:20 — What was removed during Whipple
24:17 — Losing seven and a half stone and severe cachexia
26:14 — Ascites and the slow road back
29:48 — From patient to survivor
30:23 — Survivor guilt and finding therapy
31:11 — The Survive and Thrive programme
31:38 — Life after a rewired digestive system
34:55 — Pancreatic cancer statistics in Ireland
36:00 — The signs and symptoms worth knowing
42:00 — Setting up Pancreatic Cancer Ireland
47:58 — Where to find Pamela
49:25 — Advice for younger people, and the meaning of life
51:38 — Blackrock Health Women's Health Centre
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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: leaning into bonding routines with her kids, accepting help from family, friends and even her own patients, and letting people in when every part of her wanted to push them away.
🔑 Key PointsWhy grief, in her experience, takes around two years — and why the second Christmas is often the hardestThe "dark hole" she fell into, and what slowly pulled her outHow she kept life moving day-to-day for three young childrenThe quiet role of family, friends and patients in keeping her goingA gentle, honest take on how you don't really "get over" loss — you come through it🎧 Listen to the full episode here.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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 — actually looks like day to day, why traditional approaches can make things worse, and the social pressure of being seen to "manage" a child whose nervous system is set on high alert.
She also shares her own anxiety story, from a frightening breakdown at sixteen in Italy through to the severe physical anxiety that took over her twenties. Caroline talks about medication, CBT, and the years of work behind her new book Everything I Wish I'd Known About Anxiety, and why so much of recovery came from showing her body safety rather than trying to outthink her own mind.
🔑 Key PointsDiscovering a PDA profile — Caroline explains Pervasive Drive for Autonomy and what it means for her son's nervous system day to day.
Why traditional parenting backfires — Holding firm boundaries can push a PDA child straight into fight or flight, even at five.
Lowering the demands — A low-demand, declarative-language approach has reshaped everyday life at home.
Performative parenting — The urge to respond to her son for the benefit of onlookers, even with close friends.
The years before the diagnosis — A bumpy COVID start, severe separation anxiety and two preschool attempts that left him distressed.
Caroline's anxiety story — A breakdown at sixteen in Italy and a severe physical episode at twenty-five.
Medication, CBT and self-compassion — Prozac, behavioural therapy and learning to respond to anxiety with kindness rather than self-attack.
Showing the body safety — Why walking, rhythm and bottom-up regulation worked better than trying to master her thoughts.
The cost of constant stimulation — Social media, the pleasure–pain balance and collective anxiety since COVID.
📚 ResourcesEverything I Wish I'd Known About Anxiety
Owning It
PDA Society
Casey Ehrlich (Peace Parents)
Dr Anna Lembke — Dopamine Nation
⏱️ Timestamps02:00 — "Is he non-verbal?" introducing her son
02:30 — Autism with a PDA profile
03:00 — What PDA stands for
04:30 — Nervous system disability and perceived demand
06:00 — Why traditional parenting can backfire
08:00 — Performative parenting in public
10:00 — A pillow on the grass and what dysregulation looks like
13:00 — Blaming herself before the diagnosis
17:00 — Sensory overwhelm and rethinking exposure
20:00 — Preschool, school and what comes next
30:00 — Family life, marriage and never a date night
33:30 — Caroline's anxiety story begins in Italy
39:00 — A severe breakdown at twenty-five
45:00 — Starting medication and what Prozac actually did
51:00 — CBT, behavioural experiments and getting her life back
56:00 — Showing the body safety
59:00 — Social media and the pleasure–pain balance
01:04:00 — Caroline's new book
01:05:30 — Advice 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 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 cracked the whole thing open. What started as a simple challenge ended in withdrawal, therapy, AA, and a completely new relationship with fear, nerves, and joy on stage.
🔑 Key PointsHow "high-functioning" drinking can hide a much bigger problemThe cycle of running, gigging, free drinks — and waking up groggy every single morningWhat withdrawal actually felt like by day two of Dry JanuaryWhy it was never about the red wine — it was about wanting to feel differentPerforming sober for the first time, and learning to feel everything instead of numbing it🎧 Listen to the full episode here.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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 prescription and rebuild her strength in the gym. She also shares her type 2 diabetes diagnosis in her mid-50s and the two years of remission she achieved through diet and exercise before her mother died and life became harder again.
The conversation moves into menopause, brain fog, mood swings and the language used about older women. Barbara reframes brain fog as an information retrieval slowdown, makes the case that women's anger after menopause is real and warranted, and argues that being underestimated as you get older is closer to a superpower than to invisibility.
There is also room for the story behind it all. Growing up tall in a male-dominated house. Becoming an unmarried mother in 1987 and listening to politicians and clergy describe women like her as a scourge on the radio. The close, unconventional friendship she had with her mother, who set up her own business teaching women word processing in the late 1980s. And the comedy career she fell into in her 60s, now touring with her one-woman show Older Bolder Wiser. Her best-selling book ‘Wise Up’ is available now in Irish bookstores nationwide & on Amazon.ie 📚
🔑 Key PointsTrusting your gut with healthcare
After months of MRIs and a hip replacement referral, Barbara declined the surgery and rebuilt her strength through physio and the gym.
A diabetes diagnosis as a wake-up call
A type 2 diagnosis in her mid-50s pushed her into healthier habits and into remission for two years.
Brain fog reframed
Women in their 60s have decades more information stored than younger people; what is labelled brain fog is information retrieval slowdown.
Anger after menopause is real
As life pressures lift, you have the headspace to notice ongoing inequalities, and that anger is not a hormonal mood swing.
Underestimated, not invisible
Being overlooked as an older woman gives you the element of surprise and the freedom to take risks without caring what people think.
The cost of conformity
A senior CEO told Barbara she would love to let her hair go grey but feared not being taken seriously at work.
Becoming an unmarried mother in 1987
Barbara remembers her father going upstairs to be sick, three weeks of silence, then a quiet "we'll stand by you" on a snowy morning.
A friendship with her mother
Her mother bought her her first baby cham at 12, set up her own business in her 50s and was a collaborator throughout Barbara's life.
📚 ResourcesWise Up — Barbara Scully
Memoir reflecting on the years after menopause.
Older Bolder Wiser
Barbara's one-woman comedy show currently touring Irish theatres.
Funny Women Ireland
Set up by Orla Doherty and Val Troy to promote women in comedy.
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 — Hip pain and the MRI run-around
03:00 — Stepping off the treadmill of tests
07:30 — Type 2 diabetes and remission
09:30 — Why brain fog is not what we are told
11:00 — Anger after menopause is real
13:00 — Underestimated rather than invisible
17:00 — Letting the hair go grey
22:00 — The freedom of getting older
28:00 — A first smear test in the 80s
36:00 — Growing up tall and the slow set
44:00 — Giving up red wine and finding gin
48:00 — Her mother as collaborator
56:00 — Losing her mother in 2022
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 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 who mistake their perimenopause for postnatal anxiety, burnout, grief, or "just life". It's a powerful reframe: if something feels off, you deserve more than "just cope".
🔑 Key PointsWhy perimenopause symptoms rarely arrive all at once — and why that mattersThe fluctuating, "good week / bad week" pattern that makes women doubt themselvesCommon mislabels: postnatal anxiety, stress, grief, COVID, burnoutThe "I just don't feel like myself" phrase she hears in clinic over and overWhy you don't need to be in crisis to ask for help — even a 20–30% drop in functioning is worth investigating🎧 Listen to the full episode here.
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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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 circulating in Irish secondary schools, conversion therapy, and the website created about her during the 2019 election that is still live today. Alongside that, she opens up about internalised homophobia, the loneliness of political life, and growing up as the gay Rose of Tralee at a time when Ireland was shifting on marriage equality.
The conversation also moves through period poverty, FGM, the underfunding of women's healthcare, the pink tax, and what it would take to close the gap on cardiovascular care, menopause and reproductive health. It is a frank look at the work still ahead and the toll it takes on the women trying to do it.
🔑 Key PointsThe UN couldn't agree on access to justice for women — For the first time in seventy years the Commission on the Status of Women failed to find consensus, after the US tabled eight late amendments including the definition of a woman.
Deepfakes are already in Irish secondary schools — 99% of generated deepfakes are pornographic and 96% of victims are women and young girls, with nudification apps making explicit content from a single photo.
Online attacks follow women in politics
A website created during the 2019 election is still live, and Coco's Law catches those who share content but not those who build or host the apps.
Conversion therapy is still legal in most of the EU
Only eight EU countries have banned it, and Ireland's commitment sits inside the programme for government.
Women's healthcare is underfunded
More research funding has gone into male baldness than endometriosis, and there are only six menopause clinics across Ireland.
Cardiovascular care is still built around men
Heart attack symptoms are taught through male presentation, leaving women under-treated when it matters.
The pink tax keeps quietly costing women
Razors, dry cleaning and a 23% VAT rate on sunscreen all add up across a lifetime.
Politics takes a real personal toll
Maria speaks openly about loneliness, comfort eating, and learning to take up space in Brussels.
📚 ResourcesUN Commission on the Status of Women
Coco's Law
ILGA-Europe
Belong To
Women for Election
See Her Elected
Riley
Hope Foundation
Ruhama
Esker House
Her Last Search (Croí)
⏱️ Timestamps03:39 — Back from the UN Commission on the Status of Women
07:33 — Why the US tabled eight amendments at the eleventh hour
12:37 — Deepfakes, disinformation and the 90% statistic
15:04 — Conversion therapy and the EU debate
19:23 — The Burke website that is still live
27:38 — Deepfakes in Irish secondary schools
35:43 — What policy needs to do, and Ireland's chance to lead
40:53 — Cardiovascular care and Her Last Search
45:06 — Pink tax, menopause clinics and the funding gap
49:29 — Why women are still underrepresented in politics
53:01 — Period poverty, Riley and Any Time of the Month
58:25 — Loneliness and learning to take up space
59:30 — Calcutta, Hope Foundation and human trafficking
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
In 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. From hypervigilance and intrusive thoughts to sensory triggers that bring the body straight back into the experience, she breaks down why these reactions happen and what they actually mean.
Together, Michelle and Laura unpack the importance of feeling safe, seen and supported, both for patients and for healthcare professionals. This really comes back to understanding your body and how trauma can show up differently for each of us.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodePostnatal Depression
A type of depression that can occur after childbirth, affecting mood, energy, and ability to care for yourself or your baby.
Postnatal Anxiety
A condition involving excessive worry, fear, or intrusive thoughts during the postpartum period.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A mental health condition involving intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours, which can present during pregnancy or postpartum.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, including childbirth.
Perinatal Mental Health
Mental health during pregnancy and the early years after birth, typically up until a child is around two years old, when individuals may be more vulnerable to anxiety and mood disorders.
Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine)
A body-based trauma therapy focused on how the nervous system stores and processes traumatic experiences.
The Body Keeps the Score - Dr Bessel van der Kolk
A widely recognised book exploring how trauma is stored in the body and how it can be treated.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
A psychotherapy approach used to help people process and recover from traumatic memories.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
A structured therapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns.
MBRRACE-UK Report
A UK report examining maternal deaths and inequalities, including higher risks among Black and ethnic minority women.
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - What is birth trauma
02:00 - Michelle’s personal pregnancy experience
04:00 - Pregnancy anxiety and early fears
07:30 - Feeling dismissed and unsupported
10:30 - Who is more vulnerable to trauma
20:00 - PTSD in healthcare professionals
24:00 - Communication and consent in care
28:00 - Can trauma be prevented
36:00 - The lemon experiment and body response
45:00 - Understanding somatic therapy
50:00 - Why CBT may not work for trauma
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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🎧 Episode Description
How 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 can spend years feeling exhausted, run down, or unwell without ever realising the root cause. These symptoms are normalised, when in reality they need to be recognised and supported much earlier.
Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Mary shares how early intervention can prevent long-term conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. The discussion also expands into menopause, hormone therapy, and the importance of lifestyle - from nutrition and sleep to stress and daily habits - in supporting the body.
Alongside the science, the episode reflects on modern life - the pressure to do too much, the importance of boundaries, and the need to delegate and share the load.
At its core, this episode is about listening to your body, questioning what doesn’t feel right, and giving yourself permission to take your health seriously.
🔑 Key PointsYour period is a vital sign
Your menstrual cycle reflects overall health, yet many women are never taught what is normal and what isn’t.
Severe pain and heavy bleeding aren’t normal
Symptoms like prolonged periods, extreme pain, or vomiting are often dismissed, but they signal underlying imbalance that should be investigated.
Early intervention changes everything
Addressing irregular periods in teenage years can prevent long-term conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.
Hormones affect the whole body
Imbalances don’t just impact periods - they influence energy, mood, weight, skin, and long-term health outcomes.
Lifestyle is the foundation of hormone health
Nutrition, sleep, exercise, and gut health all play a key role in regulating hormones and supporting the body.
Conditions like PCOS are often missed
Weight gain, acne, and irregular cycles are common early signs, yet many women go undiagnosed for years.
Hormonal support can restore balance
Treatments like progesterone and metformin can help regulate cycles and improve symptoms when used appropriately.
Women are doing too much
Chronic stress, over-responsibility, and lack of boundaries can impact hormone health and overall wellbeing.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeIt’s Probably Your Period by Mary Ryan
Mary’s book focused on understanding menstrual health and early intervention
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
A hormonal condition that can affect periods, weight, skin, and fertility
Endometriosis
A condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, often causing severe pain
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause by replacing hormones
Progesterone
A hormone involved in regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting pregnancy
Metformin
A medication commonly used for type 2 diabetes, also used in managing PCOS
Insulin Resistance
A condition where the body doesn’t respond properly to insulin, often linked to PCOS
Prostaglandins
Hormone-like substances that can cause inflammation and menstrual cramps
⏱️ Timestamps01:00 – Periods as a vital sign
02:30 – What a normal period looks like
04:00 – Severe pain and inflammation
06:30 – Early intervention and prevention
08:30 – PCOS, weight gain and acne
11:30 – Treatment and metformin
14:30 – Hormone balance and long-term health
16:30 – Menopause and progesterone
18:30 – Spotting, flooding and hormone changes
20:30 – HRT and hormone therapy
22:30 – Testosterone and brain fog
24:00 – Fibroids and prevention
25:30 – Women doing too much
27:00 – Delegation and sharing the load
28:30 – Relationships, stress and health impact
30:00 – Raising resilient children
31:30 – Loss, grief and perspective
33:30 – Life lessons and self-worth
35:00 – Final advice for young people
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
Hannah 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. As her ability to cope and mask began to unravel, it led her to seek answers - and eventually to diagnoses of ADHD and autism. What follows is a process of looking back, reinterpreting her life, and starting to understand herself in a completely different way.
🔑 Key PointsGrowing up feeling different without the language for it
Hannah describes always experiencing the world differently, but early diagnoses of dyslexia and dyspraxia seemed to explain enough at the time.
Masking and the effort of trying to fit in
Much of her life was shaped by adapting to environments and expectations, often suppressing her own needs.
Perimenopause as a turning point
A sudden wave of physical and cognitive symptoms made it harder to cope and brought everything to the surface.
The link between hormones and neurodivergence
Hormonal changes intensified underlying ADHD and autistic traits, including memory issues, overwhelm, and sensory sensitivity.
Late diagnosis of ADHD and autism
Through seeking answers, Hannah went through an assessment process and received both diagnoses.
Looking back with new understanding
She began to reinterpret her life, recognising patterns that had always been there but previously misunderstood.
Unmasking and redefining identity
Diagnosis allowed her to move away from people-pleasing and start living more in line with who she is.
Understanding your brain as self-compassion
Learning how her brain works helped her develop better strategies and a more supportive way of living.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention, impulse control, and energy regulation.
Autism (Autism Spectrum Condition)
A lifelong condition affecting communication, sensory processing, and social interaction.
Perimenopause
A hormonal transition phase that can impact mood, cognition, and physical wellbeing.
ADHD, Autism, and Hormones (Emerging Research Area)
Growing research explores how hormonal changes can intensify neurodivergent traits.
ADHD Ireland - Support & U-Map Programme
Resources and support for ADHD in Ireland.
Autism and Menopause (Further Reading)
Explores how menopause can affect autistic individuals.
Odd Girl Out - Laura James (Book)
A memoir about late autism diagnosis.
Dr Mary Doherty - Autistic Doctors International
Advocate and founder supporting autistic professionals.
Wim Hof Method
Breathing and cold exposure techniques.
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Asking for accommodations and sensory needs
02:30 – What masking looks like in everyday life
04:00 – Growing up feeling “othered”
07:00 – Finding purpose through occupational therapy
10:30 – Writing her book and sharing her story
11:30 – Sudden health episode and onset of symptoms
14:30 – Perimenopause, HRT, and turning point
17:00 – ADHD and autism diagnosis
19:00 – Reframing her life after diagnosis
23:00 – Sensory needs, routines, and daily coping
27:00 – ADHD traits, focus, and conversation style
31:00 – Energy, burnout, and pacing
36:00 – Managing overwhelm and regulation strategies
42:00 – Sleep, routines, and nervous system support
47:00 – Parenting, relationships, and support systems
52:00 – Medication, exercise, and what helps
56:00 – Final reflections and helping other women
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
This 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. Trust from parents who want reassurance their child will eat. Trust from children learning to try new things. And trust in a system that is still evolving, trying to balance immediate needs with long-term impact.
This episode gently challenges assumptions, reminding us that meaningful change takes time. It invites us to think more deeply about how we support children - not just nutritionally, but emotionally and socially too.
🔑 Key PointsWhy “safe foods” matter
Removing familiar foods like chicken goujons revealed how important predictable meals are for children, especially those under stress.
The complexity of feeding children at scale
Delivering meals involves logistics, cost pressures, regulations, and nutritional standards that most people never see.
The unintended consequences of a welfare model
Targeting meals at certain children can create stigma and affect how children engage with food in school.
The role of culture in what children eat
Historical and cultural influences shape how children respond to unfamiliar foods and new meals.
Parental instinct and food security
Parents often send extra lunches not out of distrust, but from a deep instinct to ensure their child is fed.
The importance of education around food
Without teaching children what they are eating, meals can feel unfamiliar and disengaging rather than supportive.
A long-term opportunity for change
School meals have the potential to improve not just nutrition, but equality, behaviour, and future outcomes.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Lunch Bag
A leading Irish school meal provider delivering fresh, nutritionally balanced lunches to schools nationwide.
Website - https://www.thelunchbag.ie/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelunchbag_/
Healthy Ireland Guidelines
National nutritional standards that define what a balanced school meal should include in terms of protein, vegetables, and overall health.
World Food Programme
A global organisation that highlights how access to school meals, particularly for girls, can improve education and long-term outcomes.
EU Child Guarantee
A European initiative focused on ensuring children have access to essential services, including nutritious food and education.
Ballymaloe
An Irish food producer and cookery school that supported the development of nutritious sauces for school meals.
Spice of Life (Cork)
A food supplier that helped create large-scale, nutritionally balanced sauces for school meal programmes.
Willowbrook (Belfast)
A supplier providing fresh fruit and vegetables used in school meals across Ireland.
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to Ger and The Lunch Bag
03:00 - Building a school meal service from scratch
07:00 - The rollout of free school meals
10:00 - Welfare vs progressive school meal models
13:00 - Why children disengage from meals over time
18:30 - How school meals are produced and delivered
27:00 - Food culture and food neophobia in Ireland
32:00 - The chicken goujon controversy
36:00 - Reformulating “safe foods” for children
40:00 - Nutrition, lentils, and hidden improvements
48:00 - Food waste and misunderstanding the system
54:00 - What needs to change moving forward
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
This 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 against illness, but as something deeply involved in everyday health. He explores how obesity, ageing, and chronic inflammation affect immune function, and how these links connect to conditions like diabetes, cancer, and infection.
There’s also reflection on COVID-19, vaccines, and the future of medicine - from why pandemics were expected to how immunity develops over time. It’s a conversation that blends scientific insight with real-world impact.
🔑 Key PointsA single opportunity can reshape a future
The Access Programme gave Andy a pathway into higher education.
A childhood moment led to a scientific career
Early curiosity about genetics sparked a lifelong interest in biology.
The immune system shapes everyday health
It regulates metabolism, tissue health, and overall balance - not just infection.
Obesity and immune ageing are linked
Obesity can accelerate immune decline and affect disease response.
COVID-19 exposed immune vulnerabilities
The pandemic showed how differently populations respond to new threats.
Medical research is opening new possibilities
Immunology is unlocking new treatments for complex diseases.
Vaccines protect communities, not just individuals
They play a key role in protecting the most vulnerable.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeAccess Programme – Supports students from underrepresented backgrounds into higher education.Donal O’Shea – Endocrinologist focused on obesity and metabolic health.Fiona Walsh – Researcher in antibiotic resistance and global health.GLP-1 medications – Drugs that regulate appetite and blood sugar.NK cells & macrophages – Immune cells that destroy threats and clear debris.CAR-T therapy & CRISPR – Technologies advancing cancer treatment and gene editing.HPV – Virus linked to several cancers; preventable through vaccination.Spanish flu, SARS, MERS, H1N1 – Major outbreaks shaping our understanding of pandemics.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Andy’s work in immunology
01:30 – Obesity and immune health
02:30 – GLP-1 therapies
04:00 – Early life and biology
06:00 – Access Programme
10:30 – Finding immunology
14:30 – Immune system basics
18:30 – COVID-19 insights
21:00 – Age and immune response
24:00 – Vaccines
28:00 – Future of medicine
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
Occupational 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, compassion and respect. In this conversation, she explains how posture affects breathing, swallowing, pressure injuries, cognition and even a person’s sense of self.
From the woman who could finally lift her head and make eye contact, to the man who believed he would die in bed until he was helped into a supportive chair and wheeled outside, this episode is a powerful reminder that dignity is often found in the smallest details.
🔑 Key PointsFrom Frustration to Innovation
Martina recognised that people were being sold expensive equipment without proper assessment, sparking the creation of Seating Matters.
The Woman Who Could Finally Lift Her Head
A properly fitted chair restored eye contact, safety and dignity to someone previously slumped and disengaged.
“I Thought I Was Going to Die in Bed”
A hospice patient’s simple wish to sit outside highlighted how seating can transform end of life experience.
The Psychological Power of Sitting Upright
Being out of bed shifts someone from passive patient to active participant in their own care.
Reframing Dementia Behaviours
What is labelled as aggression may be sensory disorientation. Understanding this changes how we respond.
Health Consequences We Overlook
Poor seating can contribute to pressure injuries, swallowing difficulties and recurrent urinary infections.
Equity in Equipment
People of size deserve equipment that fits them properly and respectfully.
Family, Loss and Perspective
Martina reflects on building the business with her husband and the importance of not postponing life.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeSeating Matters - A global seating and posture company founded by occupational therapist Martina Tierney, focused on improving dignity, independence and clinical outcomes through proper supportive seating.
https://seatingmatters.com/gb-ie
Pressure Injuries - National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP) - Also known as bed sores, pressure injuries occur when prolonged pressure reduces blood flow to skin and underlying tissue, most commonly around bony areas such as the sacrum and coccyx.
https://npiap.com/page/PressureInjuryStages
World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) - The international body representing occupational therapists worldwide, promoting the role of OT in enabling independence, participation and meaningful daily life.
https://wfot.org/
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 - From Frustrated OT to Founder
06:00 - “What Matters to You?” The OT Philosophy
12:00 - A Family Business Is Born
15:10 - The Man Who Thought He Would Never See Outside Again
18:45 - The Woman Who Could Finally Lift Her Head
21:10 - Why Getting Out of Bed Changes Everything
27:20 - Understanding Dementia Differently
33:00 - Designing Chairs for People of Size
40:45 - Losing James and Rethinking Work
51:10 - What Really Matters in 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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
What 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 how they each found their way into politics and why there is no single blueprint for women who want to lead. The conversation explores the growing issue of online misogyny, the importance of representation in shaping policy on issues such as domestic violence, and the role Irish political parties must play in supporting more women to participate and progress into leadership positions.
Together, they reflect on the resilience required to remain in public life and why creating a more inclusive political culture matters not only for women, but for democracy itself.
🔑 Key PointsThe reality of online misogyny in politics
Both guests speak openly about the misogynistic abuse female politicians face online and how social media harassment has become a serious barrier discouraging women from entering public life.
There is no single path into politics
Kathleen Funchion and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú reflect on their personal journeys into politics, showing that women often arrive through very different life experiences and career paths.
Why representation in politics matters
The conversation highlights how having more women in political leadership influences the issues that receive attention, including policies that directly affect women’s lives.
The impact of abuse on families and future candidates
Online harassment does not only affect politicians themselves - many women hesitate to run for office because they worry about the impact on their families and children.
Turning experience into political action
Rather than ignoring abuse, the guests discuss how they channel these experiences into advocacy and policy work aimed at addressing misogyny and harassment.
The role of political parties in supporting women
Irish political parties, they argue, must do more to actively encourage and support women who want to enter politics and progress into leadership roles.
Domestic violence and policy responsibility
The discussion touches on how political representation can shape legislation and awareness around issues such as domestic violence and safety for women.
Resilience in public life
Remaining in politics often requires resilience and support networks, especially for women navigating hostility in public spaces.
⏱️ Timestamps05:10 - Kathleen and Cynthia share how they first entered politics
11:40 - Why there is no single blueprint for women entering political life
14:10 - Confidence, opportunity, and why women hesitate to run
19:20 - Online misogyny and the abuse women face on social media
28:10 - The impact of online harassment on families and future candidates
36:50 - The importance of representation in politics and policymaking
49:00 - Domestic violence and the role of policy leadership
55:00 - Encouraging more women to participate in political leadership
59:20 - Resilience, public service, and the future of women in politics
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
Laura 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 carried, she eventually travelled to Brazil and took part in an ayahuasca ceremony with the hope of letting go of something she felt was holding her back.
Alongside moments of humour, Aoife speaks candidly about fear, self-doubt, and what can happen when we stop trying to control every step of the journey. She shares how her unusual route into comedy emerged from years of searching, reflection, and gradually learning to trust where life might lead her.
🔑 Key PointsLosing her mum while travelling
Aoife reflects on receiving the news of her mother’s death while backpacking in her twenties and the shock of navigating grief far from home.
Learning to live with loss
Aoife talks about how grief shaped her twenties and how it continued to influence the way she approached life and relationships.
The fear that held her back
Aoife talks about the deep sense of fear she carried for many years - something she felt stopped her from fully pursuing the things she wanted in life.
Travelling to Brazil for an ayahuasca ceremony
Aoife explains why she eventually chose to take part in the ceremony and what she hoped to release.
An unusual route into comedy
Aoife reflects on how she ended up performing comedy despite never initially seeing it as her path.
A new perspective on what matters
Aoife reflects on how grief and reflection helped her appreciate the deeper value of love, relationships and everyday life.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeAoife Dunne – Official Website & Tour Dates
Find Aoife’s upcoming shows, including her stand-up show Good Grief, and buy tickets here:
https://aoifedunnecomedy.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGncw1_OANO5trgzPuPL8lgOyBgmPgZt5OmJPMsxM0zj5P22v0kv5jsSqtynaw_aem_CrTmYABNtRBRDzzKsiU62g
Aoife Dunne on Instagram
Follow Aoife for updates, clips and tour announcements:
https://www.instagram.com/aoife_is_never_dunne/
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Introduction and meeting Aoife Dunne
06:00 – Growing up, family stories and humour
12:30 – “Aoife Dunne is a slut”
18:40 – Losing her mum while travelling in South America
27:00 – The lasting impact of grief
33:10 – Argentinian men vs Irish men
44:00 – Deciding to try ayahuasca in Brazil
50:30 – The emotional experience during the ceremony
58:20 – A new way of seeing her life
01:11:40 – An unusual path into comedy
01:28:00 – Not needing a perfect life plan
01:45:30 – The pressure of expectations in your thirties
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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🎧 Episode Description
Arriving 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 BMW after a disappointing dealer offer gradually turned into something bigger. From selling cars on her drive to leasing a yard just before the pandemic, Nadia shares the discipline, doubt, criticism and resilience behind building Ashford Motors.
🔑 Key PointsDisplacement and Determination
Nadia shares how early instability and migration shaped her resilience.
The Weight of Expectation
Growing up with a mother who sacrificed everything created both pressure and motivation.
Success That Didn’t Feel Like Success
Despite qualifying as a stockbroker, something felt missing.
An Accidental Entrepreneurial Spark
Selling her own BMW revealed a different path.
Building From Her Own Drive
Before Ashford Motors, she was learning, reinvesting, and doing everything herself.
The Shock of the Pandemic
Opening a yard just before lockdown threatened the business before it had momentum.
Visibility Through Social Media
Turning to TikTok became a lifeline when no one knew who she was.
Choosing Belief Over Approval
Receiving SIMI accreditation marked a turning point in confidence.
📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeAshford Motors – Founded by Nadia, a luxury and premium car dealership.
https://www.ashfordmotors.ie/
Ashford Approved (AM Approved) – Nadia’s second garage, offering more affordable and accessible vehicles alongside her premium range.
https://www.amapproved.ie/
SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) – The official representative body for the motor industry in Ireland, providing accreditation and governance standards for dealerships and motor businesses.
https://www.simi.ie/
⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – From Somalia to Ireland
06:30 – Education and the Path Into Finance
13:00 – Inside the High-Pressure Trading Floor
21:00 – Reselling the 08 BMW
29:00 – Reinvesting Profits and Learning the Trade
36:00 – Opening Ashford Motors
41:00 – Lockdown Shock
46:00 – Marketing Through Social Media
54:00 – Reputation, Criticism and Credibility
01:01:00 – SIMI Accreditation
01:08:00 – Building a Business With Discipline
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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Visa fler
