Lead Well with Mark O'Reilly

Mark O'Reilly

The Lead Well Podcast, hosted by Mark O'Reilly, explores the intersection of leadership, performance, and well-being. Through engaging conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts across industries, the podcast delves into how leaders can thrive in high-pressure environments while maintaining balance and resilience. Each episode offers practical insights, personal stories, and actionable strategies to help listeners enhance their leadership skills, boost performance, and prioritise mental and physical well-being.

  1. What Does a Healthy Place to Work Actually Look Like? | John Ryan - Healthy Place to Work

    1 DAY AGO

    What Does a Healthy Place to Work Actually Look Like? | John Ryan - Healthy Place to Work

    What does a truly healthy workplace look like—and how can you spot issues before they turn into problems? In this episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O’Reilly sits down with John Ryan from Healthy Place to Work to unpack what really drives sustainable performance inside organisations. They dig into the difference between lead vs lag indicators, why traditional employee surveys often miss the real story, and how companies can measure the early warning signs of burnout, cultural drift, and declining performance before they become crises. The conversation explores psychological safety, values that are actually lived, the line between normal stress and chronic stress, and why a genuine culture of care isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s a strategic advantage.

    49 min
  2. How Do You Build a Culture Where People Thrive? | Lorraine Heskin – Gourmet Food Parlour

    29 JAN

    How Do You Build a Culture Where People Thrive? | Lorraine Heskin – Gourmet Food Parlour

    How do you build a culture where people thrive? In this episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O’Reilly sits down with Lorraine Heskin, CEO and Founder of Gourmet Food Parlour, to explore leadership, culture, and sustainable business growth. Lorraine shares her journey from corporate life and working in the US to building one of Ireland’s best-known hospitality brands over nearly two decades. They discuss mentorship and peer networks, imposter syndrome, founder wellbeing, and how to build a culture that drives retention, pride, and long-term performance. The conversation also covers diversification, using data and intuition to make decisions, protecting brand identity, and the turning points that helped Gourmet Food Parlour scale sustainably. This episode is ideal for founders, leaders, and professionals looking to grow their businesses without sacrificing wellbeing or culture.

    48 min
  3. How can internal communications drive employee engagement, trust, and performance at work?

    15 JAN

    How can internal communications drive employee engagement, trust, and performance at work?

    How can internal communications drive employee engagement, trust, and performance at work? In this episode of The Lead Well Podcast, Mark O’Reilly speaks with Kate Fitzmaurice, Head of Internal Communications & Employee Engagement at Vodafone, and Paul Cauley, Communications at Boots Ireland. They discuss leadership communication, employee engagement, building trust at work, and how effective internal communications supports performance and wellbeing in large organisations.

    53 min
  4. Robert Kelly - Cardiologist and Author of The Heart Book

    30/12/2025

    Robert Kelly - Cardiologist and Author of The Heart Book

    In this episode of the Lead Well Podcast, I’m joined by Professor Robert Kelly, a consultant cardiologist who’s become one of the clearest voices in Ireland on heart health. Robert trained in cardiology in Ireland and the UK, before completing specialist training in the US in interventional cardiology, the world of stents and emergency treatment. But years in clinic showed him something uncomfortable: many patients were getting “fixed” medically, then returning with the same symptoms because the behaviours that drove the problem never really changed. That insight led him into lifestyle medicine and coaching, where the focus shifts from “here’s your prescription” to “how do we actually make change stick?” He’s since built a reputation for a more human, whole-person approach to cardiovascular health, one that includes sleep, stress, movement, nutrition, and social connection, not as nice-to-haves, but as core treatment. In our conversation, we unpack: Why 15-minute appointments aren’t designed for lasting behaviour change The executive trap: sacrificing health to climb, then paying for it later How “small steps” outperform big goals (and why January plans often collapse) Stress, sleep quality, and the hidden risk of always-on work culture A simple but powerful practice Robert has adopted: embodying gratitude as a daily habit to support emotional health Practical, straight-talking, and especially timely if you’re heading into the New Year wanting change that actually lasts. You can learn more about Robert and his work at drrobertkelly.com.

    51 min
  5. Dan Campion - Prymal Productions

    17/12/2025

    Dan Campion - Prymal Productions

    In this episode I sit down with Dan Campion, director and founder of Prymal Productions, a podcast and media-growth studio helping businesses and creators get their message heard through strategic audio and video content. Dan is also the host of The Prymal Podcast, where he explores the human side of performance, business and personal development, and shares real-world lessons on content, connection and community building. prymal.ie We dive into how you can leverage social media tools and platforms to get your company message out there, the right ways to build a personal brand that resonates, and the types of content that actually engage your audience. Dan brings both strategy and mindset to the conversation, from practical tactics you can use this week, to the deeper why behind building trust online. Whether you’re a coach, business leader or creator, this episode breaks down the how and why behind content that converts and communities that stick.

    56 min
  6. How to Navigate Difficult Conversations

    18/08/2025

    How to Navigate Difficult Conversations

    In this solo episode, I explore one of the biggest barriers to leadership and team performance: avoiding tough conversations. The truth is, the biggest problem in communication is often the illusion that it is happening. When difficult conversations are handled poorly, or not at all, we see misunderstandings, low morale, stalled innovation, and a breakdown of trust. I share insights from psychology and neuroscience on why people shut down or get defensive under stress, and how leaders can shift conversations from threat to trust. We look at the difference between healthy debate and destructive conflict, and why creating psychological safety is the foundation of open dialogue and collaboration.

    10 min

  7. 21/07/2025

    The Power of Storytelling in Leadership

    Why do some leaders inspire action, while others struggle to get their message across? In this solo episode, Mark O’Reilly unpacks the real reason: stories beat stats every time. Drawing from the science of memory, the psychology of influence, and years of hands-on experience, Mark explores why even the best ideas get lost in translation unless they’re wrapped in a compelling narrative. He breaks down: The What–So What–Now What framework: a simple way to structure your message so it actually lands How to use presence—voice, body language, and energy—to become instantly more engaging The pitfalls of jargon, data-dumping, and assuming you’ve been understood How the “Hero’s Journey” applies to everyday leadership (and customer conversations) Using SCARF and the STATE model to handle resistance, objections, and tough conversations Practical ways to hook any audience—whether you’re presenting to your team, your board, or that one stakeholder who never listens If you want to influence, not just inform, this episode will help you rethink the way you communicate—so your ideas actually make an impact.

    9 min

  8. 14/07/2025

    Barbara Brennan - Mental Health Matters & Mentis One

    Today on Lead Well, I’m joined by Barbara Louise Brennan a seasoned mental health advocate, trainer, speaker, and consultant who has spent close to two decades leading the charge on stigma reduction and inclusion across Ireland. Barbara has led Ireland’s national programme to reduce mental health-related stigma, worked with major organisations like An Post, Boots, IBEC, and the HSE, and lectured in leading universities including Trinity, UCC, Maynooth, and DCU. She’s also the founder of Mentis One—a platform focused on helping companies move beyond one-off wellbeing initiatives and embed meaningful, lasting cultural change. In today’s conversation, we’re going to explore the current state of workplace mental health and the gap that inspired Barbara's entrepreneurial journey. We also dive into Barbara's lived experience with mental health, having been a suicide survivor herself, she delves into the daily non negotiables for managing our mental health.

    59 min
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About

The Lead Well Podcast, hosted by Mark O'Reilly, explores the intersection of leadership, performance, and well-being. Through engaging conversations with business leaders, entrepreneurs, and experts across industries, the podcast delves into how leaders can thrive in high-pressure environments while maintaining balance and resilience. Each episode offers practical insights, personal stories, and actionable strategies to help listeners enhance their leadership skills, boost performance, and prioritise mental and physical well-being.

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