The Laura Dowling Experience

Laura Dowling
  • 4.9 (7)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. See @fabulouspharmacist on instagram for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Dating When You’re Ready and When They’re Not | Mairead the Matchmaker

    6D AGO

    Dating When You’re Ready and When They’re Not | Mairead the Matchmaker

    🎧 Episode Description In 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 again and again, including men waiting until life feels secure before committing, women staying open to connection despite setbacks, and how early communication often sets the tone for what follows. Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode focuses on clarity and self understanding, recognising when a situation is not aligned with what you want, and trusting that dating should not require you to minimise yourself. It is a thoughtful, grounded conversation for anyone navigating modern dating with honesty and intention. 🔑 Key Points Readiness matters more than chemistry Strong attraction does not lead anywhere if two people are not emotionally or practically ready at the same time. Men and women often date differently Men often wait until life feels stable before committing, while women tend to stay open to connection. Communication sets the tone early How someone communicates at the beginning usually reflects how they will communicate long term. Dating is a numbers game, without being unkind Meeting the right person requires consistency while still treating people with respect. Not every relationship should last Staying in something unhealthy can be more damaging than leaving. The right relationship allows you to be yourself A healthy partnership feels supportive rather than constraining. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction and why dating feels difficult 03:30 – Why people are marrying later in Ireland 08:00 – Readiness and timing 12:00 – When one person is ready and the other is not 16:00 – Using dating apps properly 19:30 – Communication patterns and early red flags 26:00 – Dating as a numbers game 33:30 – Confidence built through action 39:30 – How the wrong relationship affects wellbeing 43:00 – Five questions to assess a relationship 49:30 – Knowing when to walk away 56:00 – Staying open without burnout 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.

    1h 30m
  2. What Your Mouth Reveals About Your Health with Eimear Mithen

    JAN 22

    What Your Mouth Reveals About Your Health with Eimear Mithen

    🎧 Episode Description Laura 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 for most people, how electric toothbrushes remove far more plaque than manual ones, and why soft brushes are better than hard ones. She also talks about mouth breathing, tongue scraping, night guards for grinding, and what happens when plaque is left to harden under the gums. The conversation then moves into some of the less expected links between oral health and things like menopause, pregnancy, arthritis, diabetes and cancer treatment. Throughout it all, Eimear keeps coming back to prevention, showing how small, realistic habits can reduce risk and protect your teeth and gums over the long term. 🔑 Key Points Most people are not cleaning where it matters most Bacteria sits along the gumline and between the teeth, which is why brushing only the visible surfaces leaves disease behind. Plaque becomes harmful when it is left too long Soft plaque hardens into tartar and creates a protected space where more aggressive bacteria can grow and damage gums and bone. Tools matter more than people realise Electric toothbrushes and interdental brushes remove far more bacteria than manual brushing and flossing. Saliva plays a major role in oral health Dry mouth, common during menopause, illness and medication use, changes the balance of bacteria and increases the risk of decay and gum disease. Gum disease is not just a mouth problem Inflammation and bacteria are linked with conditions like diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy complications and Alzheimer’s. Grinding and clenching cause real damage Night-time grinding can shorten teeth, irritate gums and strain the jaw. Consistency beats perfection Regular, simple habits protect the mouth better than occasional intense cleaning. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Why gum disease is linked to Alzheimer’s 01:00 – Porphyromonas gingivalis and how it damages the brain 02:00 – The vicious cycle between Alzheimer’s and oral health 03:00 – Why dentists avoid scaring patients with the 70% statistic 17:00 – Diabetes, arthritis and bidirectional gum disease 22:00 – Menopause, hormones and dry mouth 26:00 – Teeth grinding, night guards and jaw damage 28:00 – Mouth breathing and gingivitis 30:00 – Tongue scraping and bad breath bacteria 45:00 – Mouthwash, chlorhexidine and staining 56:00 – Adapting dental care for people with extra needs 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.

    1h 7m
  3. A Survivor’s Journey to Purpose: Ciara Mangan’s Story

    JAN 15

    A Survivor’s Journey to Purpose: Ciara Mangan’s Story

    🎧 Episode Description In 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 emotional toll of prolonged legal proceedings, and the ways trauma can ripple through families and relationships. Ciara also explores post-traumatic growth, describing how meaning, connection, and purpose became possible over time - without minimising the pain that came before. This episode centres on healing beyond crisis, the importance of survivor-led support, and the understanding that recovery is deeply personal and looks different for everyone. 🔑 Key Points Survival is often treated as the finish line Ciara reflects on how recovery is expected to be complete once immediate danger has passed, even though healing is only beginning for many survivors. The gap in long-term trauma support She speaks about feeling lost once formal services fell away, highlighting how many survivors are left without guidance or connection after crisis support ends. The emotional toll of the justice process Ciara shares the impact of navigating prolonged legal proceedings and how systems intended to protect can sometimes retraumatise survivors. How trauma ripples through families and relationships The conversation explores the long-term effects of trauma on trust, intimacy, and family dynamics. Post-traumatic growth without minimising pain Ciara discusses growth as something that can emerge slowly over time, without pressure to reframe trauma as a positive experience. The importance of being believed Validation from family, professionals, and the justice system is shown to be central to rebuilding self-worth and safety. Why survivor-led support matters Ciara explains the value of spaces shaped by lived experience, where understanding, safety, and choice are prioritised. Turning lived experience into purpose The episode closes on Ciara’s decision to found Beyond Surviving, using her experience to support others navigating life after trauma. 📚 Mentioned in this Episode Beyond Surviving – Survivor-led charity supporting healing beyond crisis. https://beyondsurviving.ie/  Beyond Surviving – Survivors Hub – Resources + community support. https://beyondsurviving.ie/survivors-hub/  Rape Crisis Ireland – 24-hour helpline + links to local support. https://www.rapecrisisireland.ie/  Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) – Support services and info. https://www.drcc.ie/  ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Opening reflections on survival and recovery 06:20 – Reaching the end of crisis support 12:40 – Workplace response and social fallout 18:00 – Telling her parents what happened 25:40 – Deciding to pursue justice 30:10 – The trial process 35:50 – Being believed and legal validation 38:40 – Why survivor-led spaces matter 44:10 – The origins of Beyond Surviving 45:20 – Exploring post-traumatic growth 50:30 – Relationships and rebuilding self-worth 57:00 – Closing reflections on healing 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.

    1h 7m
  4. The Hidden Cost of Mental Health Gatekeeping with Martin Daly

    JAN 8

    The Hidden Cost of Mental Health Gatekeeping with Martin Daly

    🎧 Episode Description This 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 overstretched, slow, and often unresponsive. Martin shares a deeply affecting account of a nine-year-old boy experiencing severe OCD, including the barriers faced when trying to access CAMHS - from repeat assessments, to letters being returned, to referrals being deemed “not appropriate”, even as the child’s distress escalates. The story becomes a window into the human cost of rigid thresholds and administrative dysfunction, where families are left carrying fear and uncertainty while clinicians try to push against closing doors. From there, the conversation widens into the bigger picture: the lack of digitisation in the HSE and how basic inefficiencies create real harm; why housing insecurity and “stuck” young adults ripple into mental health and relationships; and what Martin believes Ireland needs to do differently if it wants to protect wellbeing, not just respond to crisis. It’s warm, candid, and grounded in lived reality - ending with a reflective final stretch on kindness, purpose, and what it means to live a good life. ⸻ 🔑 Key Points Advocating for children inside broken systems Martin describes the emotional and professional strain of repeatedly trying to secure care for children while working within rigid, under-resourced structures. When mental health support depends on thresholds The conversation explores how eligibility criteria can exclude children who are clearly distressed but not yet deemed to be in crisis. A nine-year-old living with severe OCD A real case highlights how delayed intervention intensifies suffering for both the child and their family. The hidden burden placed on parents Families are left holding fear, responsibility, and risk while waiting for services that may never arrive. Housing insecurity and mental health Martin connects the housing crisis to rising anxiety, stalled independence, and a growing sense of hopelessness among young people and families. HSE digitisation and administrative failure Basic inefficiencies - from paper-based systems to disconnected services - are shown to cause real harm and delay care when timing matters most. Moral injury in clinical practice Martin reflects on the ethical toll of knowing what care is needed, but being unable to access it for patients. Social media and youth mental health Constant exposure and online pressure are discussed as compounding factors in rising anxiety and distress. ⸻ 📚 Mentioned in this Episode Martin Daly – Rural GP and TD (Teachta Dála), sharing frontline experience of Irish healthcare Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – Referral pathways, thresholds, and access issues Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Childhood presentation and impact when left untreated ADHD – Diagnosis pathways and pressures on assessment services Health Service Executive (HSE) – Structure, capacity issues, and lack of digitisation Housing crisis in Ireland – Links to anxiety, delayed independence, and mental wellbeing Social media and youth mental health – Ongoing exposure and rising emotional distress ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Martin’s opening reflections and background 04:45 – Life as a rural GP on the frontline 09:30 – Accessing child mental health services in Ireland 15:10 – How CAMHS thresholds work in practice 21:40 – A nine-year-old with severe OCD 28:30 – Referrals returned and care denied 35:20 – The emotional toll on families 41:50 – HSE digitisation and systemic inefficiency 48:10 – Housing insecurity and its impact on mental health 54:30 – Social media, anxiety, and young people 59:40 – Responsibility, kindness, and what a good life means 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.

    1h 6m
  5. Kathryn Thomas: Cancellation, Contradiction & Coming Back

    JAN 1

    Kathryn Thomas: Cancellation, Contradiction & Coming Back

    🎧 Episode Description In 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, identity, and self-trust. Much of the conversation centres on health and how our understanding of it has evolved. Kathryn speaks openly about her years on Operation Transformation, the backlash she faced, and why she felt compelled to explore the science and controversy around GLP-1 medications and Ozempic through documentary work. Together, they unpack how the obesity conversation has shifted, including the role of biology, food environments, and access in shaping long-term health. The episode also moves into ageing, menopause, sleep, aesthetics, and longevity. Kathryn reflects honestly on contradiction - wanting to age well while questioning the systems that profit from fear - and on the small, practical changes that have made the biggest difference to her wellbeing. Grounded, thoughtful, and deeply human, this is a conversation about agency, perspective, and learning when to let go of certainty. 🔑 Key Points Choosing change later in life Kathryn reflects on making major career decisions in her mid-40s and stepping outside long-established systems. The cost of visibility Public scrutiny, online criticism, and resilience are explored through Kathryn’s lived experience. Operation Transformation revisited A nuanced look back at the show’s evolution, cultural impact, and the stigma that surrounded it. Rethinking obesity The conversation moves beyond willpower, focusing on biology, metabolic adaptation, and prevention. Food deserts and ultra-processed foods Kathryn and Laura discuss how access, environment, and the dominance of ultra-processed food shape health outcomes, particularly for children, highlighting why individual choice alone is an incomplete explanation. GLP-1 medications and Ozempic Kathryn explains why open, responsible discussion around these treatments matters. Health, hormones, and sleep Menopause, exhaustion, and the underestimated power of routine and rest are discussed honestly. Ageing, aesthetics, and contradiction From Botox to longevity science, the episode holds space for complexity rather than judgement. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introductions and setting the tone 03:00 – Career longevity and public visibility 06:00 – Leaving RTÉ and taking a midlife leap 09:30 – Operation Transformation and public scrutiny 13:30 – How the weight conversation has changed 18:00 – GLP-1 medications and Ozempic 23:30 – Metabolic adaptation, food environments, and prevention 30:30 – Food deserts, inequality, and access 35:00 – Ageing, aesthetics, and contradiction 40:00 – Longevity, medicine, and living well 46:00 – Menopause, sleep, and routine 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.

    58 min
  6. GLP-1s, Menopause & the Future of Obesity Treatment with Donal O'Shea

    12/25/2025

    GLP-1s, Menopause & the Future of Obesity Treatment with Donal O'Shea

    🎧 Episode Description Donal 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 hormones, obesity, and the rise of GLP-1 medications, examining how new treatments exposed long-held misconceptions about appetite, behaviour, and responsibility. Along the way, they confront stigma, access to care, and the cultural tendency to reduce complex conditions to willpower. Thoughtful and grounded, this episode invites a more humane way of thinking about health- one led by evidence, humility, and compassion. 🔑 Key Points How diabetes care used to work - and why it didn’t Donal reflects on fear-based approaches from earlier in his career and contrasts them with today’s technology-driven, compassionate care. Hormones quietly run the show The episode unpacks how chemical messengers regulate appetite, mood, energy, and long-term health. GLP-1s changed more than blood sugar Originally developed for diabetes, these treatments revealed unexpected effects on appetite and behaviour. Why “eat less, move more” falls short Obesity is explored as a biologically regulated, chronic condition rather than a failure of willpower. When medicine collides with culture Laura and Donal discuss how effective treatments risk being misunderstood in a thinness-obsessed world. Access isn’t equal Cost and prescribing rules shape who receives care and who is left behind. Weight loss doesn’t erase identity The psychological impact of changing bodies is often overlooked. 📚 Mentioned in this Episode OSheaHoganLabs - Donal’s educational presence on TikTok and Instagram addressing medical misinformation ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - A lifetime inside changing medicine 04:10 - Diabetes before technology 07:30 - Why fear was never good healthcare 12:00 - GLP-1 and a shift in understanding obesity 17:45 - Appetite, behaviour, and biology 23:30 - Stigma, thinness, and misuse of treatment 30:15 - Identity after weight change 36:40 - Menopause, hormones, and long-term thinking 43:20 - Battling misinformation online 50:00 - Who gets treatment - and who doesn’t 57:00 - Looking to the next generation 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.

    1h 23m
  7. Seeing People: The Story Behind Eoin Cluskey and Bread 41

    12/18/2025

    Seeing People: The Story Behind Eoin Cluskey and Bread 41

    🎧 Episode Description This 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 reflects on the parts of his story that don’t get talked about as often- the pressure of building something from nothing, the moment his partner told him the work was breaking their family, and the shift that followed. His stories from his work in prisons, schools, and the community show a consistent thread of noticing people who are often overlooked, and making small interventions that can have big impact. 🔑 Key Points School never fit, but it pushed him to think differently Eoin explains how feeling behind in education stayed with him and later influenced how he approaches people who struggle in traditional systems. Finding belonging through craft Food became a place where he could build discipline, confidence, and a sense of identity. The personal cost of ambition Eoin names the moment he realised that relentless work was pulling him away from his family and needed to change. Understanding dignity through prison work His experiences with incarcerated men opened his eyes to circumstance, accountability, and the meaning of opportunity. What teachers experience behind the scenes Spending time with educators gave him a clearer picture of the pressures and expectations they carry. Encouragement as a turning point The schoolboy who doubted his own ability shows how a few honest words can change someone’s trajectory. 📚 Mentioned in this Episode Bread 41 / Breaducation Programme ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Eoin’s Background 04:10 – Growing Up Outside the System 08:20 – Finding Direction in Kitchens Abroad 14:25 – Lessons from Ballymaloe 18:40 – Starting Bread 41 from Scratch 24:30 – A Family Wake-Up Call 29:45 – Rethinking Ambition and Balance 32:10 – Experiences Inside Mountjoy Prison 42:30 – Teachers, Pressure & the Breaducation Programme 48:25 – A Small Moment That Changed a Young Person’s Path 54:10 – The Responsibility of Being a Business That “Sees” Peopl 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.

    1h 1m
  8. Unfiltered Motherhood: Sophie White's Story of Chaos, Connection & Compassion

    12/11/2025

    Unfiltered Motherhood: Sophie White's Story of Chaos, Connection & Compassion

    🎧 Episode Description This 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 reflected, often for the first time. Sophie also shares deeply personal experiences with mental illness, alcoholism and self-loathing, describing how shame can follow us from childhood into adulthood until compassion interrupts the pattern. Through laughter, vulnerability, and storytelling, she shows how honesty can become a form of healing. ⸻ 🔑 Key Points 🎙 Podcasting with No Blueprint- A movement born from instinct, not strategy. 👭 Friendship as Creative Foundation- Trust, humour, and emotional safety. 👶 Motherhood Without Filters- Breaking away from curated Instagram motherhood. 🧠 Postnatal Depression & Mental Health Struggles- Real emotional aftermath of motherhood. 🍷 Addiction & The First Drink at 13- Relief, identity, and survival. ✨ Compassion Through Seeing Children Clearly- Realising nothing was her fault. 📢 Women’s Voices & The Power of Being Heard - Solidarity and storytelling. ⸻ 📚 Mentioned in this Episode Mother of Pod / Stop the Madness Podcast ⸻ ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00- How the podcast unexpectedly began 05:10- “Be my pod wife” moment 08:40- Building Patreon & creative freedom 13:20- Irish storytelling culture 18:10- Postnatal depression & emotional reality 23:50- When listeners share their truth 30:20- Addiction & first drink story 33:00- Breastfeeding pressure & guilt 40:00- Addiction, breakdown & survival 52:30- Women’s safety & public space 59:00- Parenting, screens & doing our best 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.

    1h 52m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

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. See @fabulouspharmacist on instagram for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Dowling
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    160
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The Laura Dowling Experience
  • Show Website
    The Laura Dowling Experience

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