Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

Síle Seoige

In this podcast series, Síle Seoige chats to people of all walks of life; those who are well known, along with those who have extraordinary stories to tell and she also features topic lead conversations with a particular expert in their field. A skilled interviewer and avid listener, Síle’s warm approach encourages her guests to be as open and honest about their lived experiences as possible. This refreshing approach has made for some truly special conversations that she hopes will at times inspire, challenge, educate, comfort or simply entertain her listener. Please rate, review and subscribe if you like what you hear, thanks so much! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 1D AGO

    Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan​ : The many meanings of hunger

    Topics covered: Body image, diet culture, good girl conditioning, life under patriarchy, poverty, trauma, hypervigilance, affirmations, self-belief, healing, ageing, motherhood, connection​, privilege. In this episode I sit down once again with Professor of Psychology and bestselling author​, the extraordinary Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan. When Katriona first joined the podcast in November 2023, her memoir Poor had been released and since then, the book has become a phenomenon; winning Biography of the Year and Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards, remaining in Ireland’s top-ten nonfiction chart for two years, being translated into seven languages and adapted into a sold-out stage production at Dublin’s Gate Theatre. Now Katriona is back to talk about her powerful new book 'Hungry: A Biography of my Body.' In this deeply honest conversation, Katriona reflects on growing up in the 80s and 90s​ and the culture of shame around women’s bodies​ and the lasting impact of ​extreme poverty​. ​She also speaks about hypervigilance, self-worth, privilege and learning how to exist in your body with greater compassion. About Katriona: Born in Coventry to Irish parents, ​her early life was marked by poverty, addiction, teenage pregnancy and homelessness. In 1998 she moved to Dublin, where she entered Trinity College through the access programme and went on to earn a PhD in psychology. She is now a professor at Maynooth University and is a passionate advocate for inclusion and opportunity through education. She ​is married to Dave and has 3 sons: John​, Seán and Tadhg​ and she​'s also a proud grandmother. Books: 'Poor' and  'Hungry: A Biography of my Body' Other related episodes include conversations with Sarah Nicole Landry and Mary Kate Slattery. Follow Ready to be Real on Instagram: @readytoberealpodcast Ready to be Real (@readytoberealpodcast) • Instagram photos and videos Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 15m
  2. MAY 14

    Brian Pennie : The neuroscience of addiction

    Topics covered : Addiction, shame, awareness, compassion, recovery. In this week’s episode of Ready to Be Real, I speak to Dr. Brian Pennie - neuroscientist, podcast host and former heroin addict. I first met Brian back in 2020 when his memoir Bonus Time was released, and I remember being completely blown away by his honesty and insight. Since then, life has continued to evolve for Brian. He’s now living a very fulfilled life with his partner Natalie, continuing his work in neuroscience, delivering talks, hosting his own podcast and helping people better understand addiction, behaviour and recovery. Brian spent 15 years addicted to heroin before getting clean in October 2013. In this conversation, we explore addiction from both a neuroscience point of view and through Brian’s lived experience - what happens in the brain when addiction takes hold, why recovery can be so difficult, and what can genuinely help somebody who is struggling. Following on from last week’s conversation with Tony O’Reilly about gambling addiction, this feels like a really important companion episode. You can find Brian online BrianPennie.com – Change is Possible and through his podcast Change is Possible. And as always, thank you so much for supporting the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate and review Ready to Be Real wherever you get your podcasts - it really helps. Watch Brian's documentaries : Hooked: How Addiction Hijacks Your Brain - RTE Player Other episodes to listen to on addiction : Tony O'Reilly, Nikki Hayes and Gavin Meenan. Books : Bonus Time - A true story of surviving the worst and discovering the magic of every moment by Brian Pennie In the realm of hungry ghosts by Dr. Gabor Maté Dopamine Nation by Dr. Anna Lembke Tony 10: The Astonishing Story of the Postman Who Gambled €10,000,000…and Lost It All Resources & Support If you’re concerned about yourself or someone you love, please know that support is available and you are not alone. Support links: Samaritans Ireland ​Ireland helplines and hotlines Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    43 min
  3. MAY 11

    Tony 10 : Real Take

    This is The Real Take and in this snippet, Tony O’Reilly — co-author of the bestselling book 'Tony 10: The Astonishing Story of the Postman Who Gambled €10,000,000…and Lost It All' — speaks about the point where his gambling addiction escalated into stealing €1.75 million from An Post while working as a branch manager. It’s a shocking and deeply heartbreaking insight into the reality of gambling addiction and the lengths a person can go to when completely consumed by it. Tony now works as a gambling addiction counsellor and psychotherapist, helping people whose lives have been impacted by gambling harm.​ You can connect with him here:  Tony O' Reilly - Gambling Addiction Counselling & Workshops Ireland is in the grip of a gambling crisis that many people still don’t fully recognise. Gambling addiction is insidious because it can remain hidden for years, devastating lives behind closed doors. If you or someone you know is struggling, please know that help is available and you are not alone. Resources & Support If you’re concerned about yourself or someone you love, please know that support is available and you are not alone. Support links: Extern Problem Gambling - Free Counselling for Problem Gambling Gamblers Anonymous Ireland Home - Cuan Mhuire Samaritans Ireland ​Ireland helplines and hotlines Follow the pod on Instagram @readytoberealpodcast To hear the full two-hour conversation with Tony O’Reilly, listen anytime now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min
  4. MAY 7

    Tony O'Reilly : Gambling €10 million and losing everything

    ​Topics covered: insecurities, psychology of addiction, secrecy, manipulation, shame, suicide ideation, finding meaning. My first guest of this brand new season of Ready to be Real is someone I’ve wanted to sit down with since the podcast launched back in 2019. Tony O’Reilly is the co-author of the bestselling book Tony 10: The Astonishing Story of the Postman Who Gambled €10,000,000…and Lost It All ​ - the extraordinary true story of how a one pound bet in his early twenties spiralled into a devastating online gambling addiction that completely consumed his life. Over time, Tony gambled more than €10 million and stole €1.75 million from An Post while working as a branch manage​r and ultimately losing almost everything: his job, his marriage, his peace of mind and very nearly, his life. But behind the sensational headlines is a​ real story. In this conversation, Tony speaks with extraordinary honesty about the psychology of addiction - the secrecy of online gambling, the lies, ​the manipulation, ​the fear and ​the chaos happening quietly behind closed doors ​- and the moments that still haunt him today. We also discuss recovery, accountability and understanding the “why” behind addiction, along with the enormous amount of work Tony has done on himself in recent years. He also shares how his teenage daughter has become his greatest motivation to stay on track and keep moving forward. This is a powerful and deeply important conversation about addiction, shame, and healing. Tony now works as a gambling addiction counsellor and psychotherapist, helping people whose lives have been impacted by gambling harm.​ You can connect with him here:  Tony O' Reilly - Gambling Addiction Counselling & Workshops Resources & Support If you’re concerned about yourself or someone you love, please know that support is available and you are not alone. Support links: Extern Problem Gambling - Free Counselling for Problem Gambling Gamblers Anonymous Ireland Home - Cuan Mhuire Samaritans Ireland ​Ireland helplines and hotlines Book : Tony 10: The Astonishing Story of the Postman Who Gambled €10,000,000…and Lost It All Documentaries​ : ​​All bets are off​/RTÉ All Bets Are Off Baz and Tony   ​Finné/TG4  ​Finné Sr 2 Ep 2 Tony O'Reilly | TG4 | Súil Eile | Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2h 5m
  5. MAR 27

    ​Deirdre Nicole Hegarty : An adoption story

    Topics covered : Mother and Baby home, adoption, grief, faith, taboo, shedding shame, transgenerational trauma, therapy, holotropic breathwork, motherhood, inner child healing, compassion.   In the final episode of this season, I speak to psychotherapist Deirdre Nicole Hegarty, who shares her adoption story​ with us. Deirdre lives in Donegal with her husband Noel and their baby boy, Con​all. She was adopted at three months old from a mother and baby home, into a loving family where her adoption was always known and spoken about openly. But as she grew older​, and especially when she began searching for her birth parents​, her story became more complex. What she discovered challenged her sense of identity in a profound way. Her birth parents were ​first cousins​...something that carried deep layers of secrecy and shame. In this conversation, Deirdre speaks with great honesty about reconnecting with her birth parents, the emotional impact of those connections, and the confusion and trauma that unfolded. She also shares the work that has helped her make sense of her experience​, particularly inner child healing​, and how she’s come to understand the impact of transgenerational trauma, and the importance of breaking patterns and releasing shame. This is a deeply personal conversation, and I’m really grateful to her for sharing it so openly. ​​T​o connect with Deirdre :  Email: slanudeirdrehegarty@gmail.com Instagram: @slanu_deirdrehegarty ​* This is the final episode of this season, but I’ll be back with a new batch of conversations on the 8th of May. In the meantime, you can dive into the archive and listen to over 200 episodes anytime and thanks so much for listening to Ready to be Real. Tá mé fíor-bhuíoch! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 20m
  6. MAR 20

    Niamh Ennis : How grief changes you

    ​Topics covered : Pancreatic cancer, grief, sympathy, therapy, good girl conditioning, life changes, intuition, journaling.  This week, business mentor and change coach Niamh Ennis is my guest. She lives in Galway with her husband Michael and their rescue dog Bella. She’s the author of 'Get Unstuck: Ditch Your Drama and Move from Pain to Power' but long before the work she does now, Niamh went through an incredibly difficult period in her life. In her late 30s and early 40s, she experienced profound loss; her fiancé Tony died just nine days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and only 6 months before they were due to be married. Not long after, she also lost her dad…and then, a number of years later, her Mum passed away. In this conversation, Niamh shares what that time was like, how it changed her, and how it ultimately led her to completely rethink her life and her career. We also talk about what it really means to feel stuck…and how to begin finding your way back to yourself ​, especially in midlife, when so many of us are questioning what we want and what comes next. To connect with Niamh: www.niamhennis.com She is the founder of The ChangeMakers Mastermind where she supports ambitious, heart led business founders. More here... www.niamhennis.com/tcmmastermind If you enjoyed this episode, please do share it, rate it or leave a review...it really helps the podcast to grow. And you can find the pod on Instagram ​@readytoberealpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m

Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

In this podcast series, Síle Seoige chats to people of all walks of life; those who are well known, along with those who have extraordinary stories to tell and she also features topic lead conversations with a particular expert in their field. A skilled interviewer and avid listener, Síle’s warm approach encourages her guests to be as open and honest about their lived experiences as possible. This refreshing approach has made for some truly special conversations that she hopes will at times inspire, challenge, educate, comfort or simply entertain her listener. Please rate, review and subscribe if you like what you hear, thanks so much! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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