Dream In Public

Caolan Kelly

Dream In Public is not a a podcast. It's a philosophy. A stage for shameless dreamers to share what they’ve kept hidden. Here we explore courage, creativity, and the cost of chasing what matters. I sit down with founders, creators, and contrarians who dared to risk it all... So you’ll be inspired to risk it too.

  1. 10/22/2025

    # 21 Brian Downes: 1,000+ Stages Later, The Hardest One Was His Own Mind

    👉 Follow the show + leave a 5-star rating to help more people become shameless dreamers and turn vision into reality. He’s delivered over a thousand talks across Ireland and Europe - but the hardest stage he ever faced was inside his own mind. Brian Downes built a career helping others lead, perform, and speak with power - all while wrestling with ADHD, anxiety, and the kind of silence that doesn’t show on camera. This isn’t a story about public speaking.It’s a story about being seen - about turning chaos into clarity and learning that the bravest thing you can ever say on stage… is the truth. In this episode, we dive into: 🟧 The misunderstood gift of ADHD - and how to use it as a superpower 🟧 Panic attacks, Lexapro, and the two-year war nobody saw 🟧 The “F**k It Switch”: how to kill perfectionism in real time 🟧 Why therapy isn’t for the broken - it’s for the brave 🟧 Doing hard things on purpose: how pressure builds peace 🟧 Why audiences don’t want polish - they want presence Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to lead yourself through the noise, this one’s proof that courage isn’t found in the spotlight — it’s forged in the shadows. Follow Brian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianpdownes/ https://briandownes.com/ https://www.performancenerds.com/ Follow Caolan: https://www.instagram.com/kelly_caolan/ https://open.spotify.com/show/1jMeGl3yO3JJYfPWQATbSD https://www.linkedin.com/in/caolankelly55/

    48 min
  2. 09/25/2025

    # 19 Gary Allen: You’re Not Broken, So You Don’t Need Fixing

    👉 Follow the show + leave a 5-star rating to help more people become shameless dreamers and turn vision into reality. What if the thing you can’t control becomes the reason you double down on the thing you can? Gary was born with Spina Bifida and been a wheelchair user most of his life. On paper, he did everything right: degree, 30-year career in IT, stability, the life most people chase. But purpose doesn’t live on paper. At 45, he asked: “Is this it?” He gave up alcohol in 2018, unlocked energy and clarity he’d never felt before, and by 2023 had left corporate behind to become a full-time coach. Now he helps people in midlife rebuild self-trust, shift habits, and discover it’s never too late to change. In this episode, we dive into: 🟧 Why self-belief started at home, with parents who never treated him differently 🟧 The hidden cost of 30 years in corporate (and why security can be a trap) 🟧 Giving up alcohol → energy + clarity → a new chapter 🟧 Why “burn the boats” is the worst advice for most people🟧 Awareness → action → acknowledgement: the real system for rebuilding self-trust 🟧 Why ordinary days well-lived matter more than chasing peak moments 🟧 The lie of “I’m an all-or-nothing person” — and how to flip it Whether you’re 25, 45, or 65 — this one’s proof that reinvention doesn’t have an expiry date. Follow Gary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachgaryallen/https://thelifedesigner.substack.com/ Follow Caolan: https://www.instagram.com/kelly_caolan/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/caolankelly55/

    46 min

About

Dream In Public is not a a podcast. It's a philosophy. A stage for shameless dreamers to share what they’ve kept hidden. Here we explore courage, creativity, and the cost of chasing what matters. I sit down with founders, creators, and contrarians who dared to risk it all... So you’ll be inspired to risk it too.