How's Your Ma Podcast

Leanne Ryan & Orla Lynch
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Our podcast explores women’s relationships—from mother-daughter to leadership—and how they shape lives, aiming to support and empower women across all relationship experiences.

  1. 17h ago

    Laura | Episode 26

    This week we’re joined by Laura, owner of With Love and Dreams and a self-taught preservation artist. Laura turns wedding and funeral flowers, ashes, hair, clothing and breast milk into resin keepsakes and jewellery, and has become one of the people grieving families in Ireland trust with their most precious things. She tells us how a lockdown resin kit became an award-winning business. She also shares the story of how she practised with ashes before her first real piece, and it involves the family dog, a heatwave and a lot of ashtrays. Laura talks about leaving a job where she was bullied, what it’s like to hold space for people on the worst days of their lives, the year she lost five family members in under six months, and why she won’t hand the personal side of her work to anyone else. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: meet Laura from With Love and Dreams 01:10 What a preservation artist does 02:00 From lockdown hobby to self-taught resin artist 03:28 Her first ever ashes piece 04:35 Tyson the boxer and the great ashtray hunt 08:26 Working with grief and keeping it together for clients 11:36 Loving the work, and leaving a job over bullying 15:30 Starting out alone and finding her networking group 21:00 Creative childhood, Billie Barry and the Bugsy Malone audition 23:48 What is resin, and why it takes so long 25:42 How you choose your keepsake piece 27:18 Why flower preservation can take up to nine months 28:13 Why she’s staying a one-woman business 32:12 From the front room to her own studio 35:04 Preserving clothes, fabrics and baby shoes 36:12 Pricing and keeping it affordable 37:16 A new jewellery collaboration coming soon 38:09 The weirdest things she’s been asked to preserve 40:23 Award wins and nominations 43:45 Her hardest time in business 48:28 Her highest high: the new studio, windows and all 50:50 Did she ever see herself as an entrepreneur? 54:19 Advice for young women thinking of taking the leap 56:43 Running a business means you never switch off 58:09 Well-known clients and the order that never arrived 59:50 Alan’s dog walking and pet taxi business 01:01:50 Wrap-up

  2. Oct 15

    Amy Miller (Hippy Hun) | Episode 25

    This week on How's Your Ma, we're joined by Amy Miller — Hippy Hun, one of Dublin's most recognisable DJs. Amy takes us through her life growing up in the flats, coming out as gay, finding her identity, becoming a DJ and going from practicing on decks in the flats to playing Electric Picnic and gigs in Australia. We also chat about how Dublin's nightlife and drug scene has changed, why Amy stepped away from DJing every weekend, becoming a mum, her relationship, her lifelong friendship with her best friend and the spiritual journey that led to the Hippy Hun we know today. It's funny, honest, chaotic and full of Dublin stories. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Meet Amy Miller aka Hippy Hun01:01 – Why Amy stepped away from the DJ scene02:11 – Amy's experience on TV03:21 – Growing up in the flats03:42 – Coming out as gay04:28 – Being a tomboy and fighting back05:32 – Coming out to her friends06:11 – Growing up with a single mum07:21 – Looking back on childhood08:15 – Music as Amy's escape09:01 – How Amy started DJing09:44 – Amy's first DJ gig10:06 – From empty dance floors to Electric Picnic10:59 – DJing in Australia11:23 – Manifesting her dream gig12:06 – How Dublin's nightlife has changed12:52 – The changing drug scene14:19 – Drugs, danger and modern nightlife16:32 – Drug use in Dublin today17:16 – Addiction and recovery18:05 – The clubs Dublin has lost19:17 – Where can older people go out now?20:00 – Bringing back the old-school party21:17 – The death of Dublin's free festivals22:02 – Why Amy wants to DJ again23:19 – Why she took a break from DJing24:24 – How Amy met her partner25:39 – When Amy finally met her26:23 – Their first kiss27:31 – Becoming a mum28:23 – “She'll heal me”29:27 – The Dublin accent30:08 – Growing into yourself31:13 – Amy's lifelong best friend32:14 – Hangovers aren't what they used to be33:19 – Can you still enjoy a night out without drinking?34:19 – Finding her own style35:34 – How Amy became Hippy Hun35:58 – Spirituality, 11:11 & her nanny36:18 – Tattoos, dreads and finding herself37:18 – Learning not to care what people think38:04 – Hormones, motherhood & mental health40:24 – Life as a mum41:49 – Advice for new mums42:28 – The reality of parenthood43:51 – Balancing family and work45:41 – What does the future look like?46:22 – Manifestation, faith & karma48:07 – Getting back behind the decks48:44 – Travel plans & family holidays49:25 – Amy's dream of owning a mobile home50:20 – Childhood holiday memories51:41 – Stories from growing up in Dublin How's Your Ma brings real people into the room for honest, funny and sometimes chaotic conversations about life. If you enjoyed the episode, like, subscribe and share. #HowsYourMa #AmyMiller #HippyHun #IrishPodcast #Dublin #DublinDJ #ElectricPicnic #IrishDJ #Motherhood #LGBTQ

  3. Oct 8

    Callie & Bella | Episode 24

    In this powerful episode of How's Your Ma, we sit down with Callie and her mum Bella as they openly share their experiences with addiction, alcohol, drugs, homelessness, toxic relationships and recovery. Their stories are deeply connected, but both women had to find their own way out of addiction. Bella speaks about years of alcohol addiction, how it affected her family and the moment she finally realised she needed help. Callie shares her experience with addiction, abusive relationships, homelessness and becoming a mother while struggling with substance abuse. Most importantly, they talk about what happened after recovery — rebuilding their lives, rebuilding their relationship with each other, and breaking the cycle for the next generation. This is an incredibly honest conversation about addiction, family, trauma, recovery and finding yourself again. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Callie & Bella01:11 – Callie opens up about addiction02:29 – Drinking from a young age04:07 – Callie's addiction gets worse05:34 – Becoming a young mother08:47 – Bella's story begins10:35 – Moving to Tallaght and starting a family11:45 – Bella's relationship with alcohol13:07 – “I wanted to die”14:35 – The moment everything started to change16:17 – The friend who was one year sober18:19 – Bella decides to go to AA20:47 – When drinking became antisocial22:15 – Trying to hide addiction from the kids23:42 – Trying to control drinking25:14 – Drinking, money and addiction26:05 – Callie's journey into recovery27:44 – Addiction, pregnancy and motherhood28:30 – Homelessness and drinking30:00 – Living in a family hub31:35 – Choosing sobriety32:22 – Toxic relationships and abuse34:08 – Leaving addiction and rebuilding her life34:47 – Two years sober and a new relationship35:30 – Mother and daughter finally reconnect36:29 – Breaking the family cycle39:00 – Addiction affects the whole family40:13 – When drinking takes over your life41:12 – The financial impact of addiction43:17 – Losing friends and finding new ones45:08 – Getting professional help47:18 – Finding yourself in recovery48:30 – New friendships and healthy relationships49:13 – The importance of sponsors50:37 – What does the future look like?51:01 – Discovering a new passion53:06 – Finding a career later in life55:21 – Callie's future after recovery57:19 – “What if I can?”57:46 – Breaking the cycle58:13 – Final thoughts & seven years of recovery How's Your Ma brings real people into the room to tell their stories, in their own words. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, subscribe and share the podcast. #HowsYourMa #AddictionRecovery #Recovery #Sobriety #IrishPodcast #MentalHealth #Addiction #Family #MotherAndDaughter

  4. Oct 1

    Emma & Bala | Episode 23

    In Episode 23 of How's Your Ma?, we’re joined by Emma and Bala, two social workers originally from India who now live and work in Dublin. They share their experiences of moving to Ireland, finding their feet in a completely different country, building friendships, dealing with the cost of living and working in social care. We also get into their lives back in India, growing up in close-knit families and communities, education, migration, arranged marriage and how their experiences growing up shaped the people they are today. Emma and Bala also talk about the kindness they've experienced since arriving in Ireland, the importance of paying that kindness forward, and what the future might look like for them. A fascinating conversation about family, culture, migration, social work and finding your place in a new country. Timestamps: 00:00 – Meet Emma & Bala 01:04 – Finding their feet in Ireland 02:12 – Growing up in India and moving abroad 03:42 – Emma's journey to Ireland 05:19 – Why Dublin? 06:31 – Experiences of kindness and discrimination 08:16 – The challenges of starting over in Ireland 09:04 – Similarities between Irish and Indian culture 09:51 – Bala's arranged marriage 11:12 – How arranged marriage works today 13:20 – Meeting a potential partner 15:14 – Finding the right person 17:25 – The "Tinder" of arranged marriage 18:12 – What happens on a matrimonial website? 19:12 – What they looked for in a partner 21:00 – Bala's husband and the journey to marriage 23:09 – Long-distance relationships and communication 24:37 – Studying social work in India 25:17 – Getting social work qualifications recognised in Ireland 27:22 – Education in India 30:08 – Learning through practical experience 31:23 – Growing up speaking different languages 33:21 – Migration and the "brain drain" 34:09 – Why professionals leave India 37:09 – Why there are Indians all over the world 38:14 – Sending money home and supporting family 38:59 – The reality of the cost of living in Dublin 40:41 – What they love about social work 41:39 – Why Emma became a social worker 42:57 – Bala's experience of receiving help growing up 44:02 – Paying kindness forward 46:08 – The impact of social work 47:29 – The challenges of social work in Ireland 48:11 – What does the future hold? 49:04 – Could they settle in Ireland? 50:14 – Growing up in big Indian families 52:19 – Life skills learned from living abroad 52:45 – Breaking generational patterns 53:23 – Gender expectations growing up 55:03 – Challenging traditional expectations 56:26 – Family, community and the importance of kindness 57:12 – The legacy of people who helped them 59:05 – Family back home in India 01:00:36 – The importance of family 01:02:41 – Final thoughts

  5. Sep 24

    How's Your Ma: Episode 22

    This week on the How’s Your Ma Podcast, Leanne and Orla are joined by Jack Swift for a very open and honest chat about growing up, finding confidence, social media, self-expression, friendships and learning to be comfortable with who you are. Jack talks about his experience growing up in Dublin, dealing with bullying, coming out, becoming known on TikTok and the reality of putting your life online. They also chat about confidence, accepting compliments, relationships, doing things on your own and why you shouldn’t feel pressured to have your life figured out by a certain age. There’s plenty of laughs along the way too, including some very honest conversations about fashion, cinema, dating and what the future might look like. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Welcome to How’s Your Ma Podcast01:40 - Jack’s upbringing and family03:27 - Bullying, coming out and finding himself05:20 - Family support and dealing with online comments06:00 - Discrimination and being judged for sexuality08:44 - Finding confidence through fashion and self-expression12:08 - Learning from mistakes and growing through your 20s14:54 - The reality of putting your life on social media16:58 - Mental health, online criticism and alcohol21:00 - Jack Swift the person vs Jack Swift the online character23:34 - Family, education and the importance of kindness25:36 - Success, jealousy and confidence27:27 - Harassment, safety and being yourself in public30:09 - Pride, LGBTQ+ spaces and why they matter32:22 - Being yourself without needing everyone’s approval35:21 - How Jack Swift started on TikTok36:37 - Confidence and learning to acknowledge your achievements38:10 - You don’t have to please everyone39:20 - Apologising less and building self-confidence41:40 - Learning to accept a compliment45:01 - Your 20s, growing up and doing things in your own time48:28 - Being your own role model49:08 - Coming out, friendships and losing people along the way51:29 - Friendships, relationships and compromise52:03 - Learning to enjoy your own company54:42 - Going to the cinema alone and favourite films57:12 - What does the future hold for Jack?57:40 - Dating and keeping parts of life private59:26 - Fashion and possible plans for the future1:00:00 - Jack reaches 100,000+ TikTok followers1:01:11 - Learning to be kinder to yourself1:02:09 - Outro Thanks for watching How’s Your Ma Podcast ❤️ Make sure to like, comment and subscribe for more from Leanne, Orla and their guests. #HowsYourMa #JackSwift #Podcast #IrishPodcast #Ireland #TikTok

  6. Sep 17

    How's Your Ma: Episode 21

    This week, Orla and Leanne sit down for a very personal conversation about women, family, motherhood, resilience and the people who shape us throughout our lives. From reflecting on the incredible achievements of Katie Taylor and what it means to be a strong female role model, to recognising the everyday women quietly holding families together, they talk about strength in all its different forms. They also open up about raising children, friendships changing throughout life, making sacrifices for family, supporting young men, financial struggles, racism, difficult experiences from the past and finally reaching a point where you can start doing things for yourself. At the heart of the conversation is a simple message - everyone has a story, and sometimes hearing somebody else’s can remind you that you’re not alone ❤️ **Content note:** This episode includes discussion of domestic abuse, racism, physical assault, homelessness, financial hardship and mental health. Timecodes [00:00] – Sponsor message: Kitchens by Act Fast[01:17] – Reflecting on the women who have shared their stories[02:03] – Katie Taylor, history and female role models[05:12] – Celebrating the everyday “powerhouse” woman[07:25] – Friendship, support and finding your people[13:46] – The lessons we pass on to our children[16:00] – Fear, growth and believing you can do more[18:06] – School friendships and reconnecting later in life[19:00] – Why sharing people’s stories matters[24:10] – The strong women in Leanne’s family[27:21] – Raising young men and keeping children safe[28:19] – Men’s mental health and changing roles at home[32:12] – Family, siblings and looking after one another[34:31] – Orla shares her experience of a racist assault[40:24] – Family support after difficult experiences[43:53] – Being strong when life gives you no choice[44:10] – Motherhood, childcare and stepping away from work[49:10] – Money, sacrifice and building a more comfortable life[51:00] – Finally allowing yourself to enjoy life[52:19] – Orla reflects on homelessness and financial hardship[53:20] – How difficult experiences can build resilience[55:20] – Women supporting women[58:08] – How the idea for the podcast began[59:14] – Why hearing other people’s stories matters[59:35] – Final thoughts and thanks to Kitchens by Act Fast

  7. Sep 10

    How's Your Ma: Episode 20

    This week, Orla and Leanne are joined by two women from the Handmaids of Ireland for a powerful conversation about domestic abuse, child protection and their experiences of the Irish family court system. Remaining anonymous as Handmaid One and Handmaid Two, they share their experiences of leaving abusive relationships, trying to protect their children, navigating Gardaí, Tusla and the courts, and why they believe major changes are needed within the system. They also discuss coercive control, children’s voices, access and custody, the impact of not being believed, and why the Handmaids of Ireland movement was formed to support survivors and campaign for greater transparency and reform. Content note: This episode includes discussion of domestic abuse, coercive control, rape and sexual violence, child sexual abuse allegations, suicidal thoughts, threats and attempted murder. Timecodes [00:00] – Sponsor message: Kitchens by Act Fast[01:17] – Introducing the Handmaids of Ireland[02:04] – Handmaid One shares her story[03:18] – Concerns around possible child sexual abuse[05:39] – Reporting concerns to Tusla and Gardaí[07:20] – Children making disclosures[08:18] – Safety orders, harassment and family court[10:13] – Section 20 reports and children’s voices[11:10] – Child protection case conferences[13:19] – The court assessor becomes involved[14:07] – When the case begins to turn against Handmaid One[16:46] – Handmaid Two shares her experience[17:10] – Why survivors feel unheard in family court[19:18] – Domestic abuse versus “high conflict”[20:55] – Coercive control and parenting[22:16] – Recognising sexual violence and rape[24:10] – When trauma is used against victims[26:20] – “Do I have to die for my children to be protected?”[28:30] – Court-ordered access and protecting children[30:44] – Why protection should come first[32:48] – The Handmaids as a support network[35:33] – When abuse is weaponised against survivors[38:45] – Why the Handmaids of Ireland was formed[40:47] – Children growing up and speaking for themselves[43:50] – Calls for wider family law reform[45:50] – Handmaid One returns to her court assessor experience[47:12] – The impact on her daughter[50:59] – Feeling that asking for help caused further trauma[53:49] – The financial cost of fighting a family court case[55:19] – Asking the public to start asking questions[57:32] – How to support the Handmaids of Ireland[59:19] – Final thoughts and thanks

  8. Sep 3

    How's Your Ma: Episode 19

    This week, Orla and Leanne sit down for an honest conversation about friendship, childhood, parenting and how much life has changed. After reconnecting with childhood friend Jill, they reflect on old friendships, growing up, the loss of community, and how childhood today compares with their own. From funny memories to heavier conversations around the Magdalene laundries, social media, parenting pressures and loneliness, the episode ultimately comes back to one thing: connection. **Content note:** This episode includes discussion of the Magdalene laundries, violence, child protection concerns, discrimination against Traveller families and a brief reference to self-harm. Timecodes[00:00] – Intro: Friendship, childhood and memories from last week’s episode[01:24] – Reconnecting with old friends[02:14] – How easily years can pass without seeing people[03:24] – Nights out, friendship and mam guilt[04:40] – Childhood expectations then versus now[05:12] – Electric Picnic and time with friends[06:11] – How friendship groups change over time[07:09] – Growing up beside a Magdalene laundry[08:19] – Remembering the women who lived and worked there[09:11] – Looking back and understanding it differently as adults[10:24] – What happened after the laundries closed?[11:57] – Growing up near a convicted murderer[13:27] – Dark realities in the background of childhood[14:19] – Connolly Station and childhood adventures[15:07] – Rainbow Rapids and getting stranded without train fare[17:11] – Childhood independence then versus now[18:06] – The dangerous games they somehow survived[19:48] – Why children text instead of knocking on doors[20:49] – Read receipts, anxiety and instant replies[21:46] – Putting the phone away and being present[22:34] – Watching concerts through phone screens[23:22] – Social media versus reality[24:12] – When being grounded actually felt like punishment[24:57] – Youth clubs, summer projects and community[26:06] – How youth workers supported vulnerable children[26:54] – Teaching basic life skills[28:00] – Childhood school mornings and family routines[29:27] – Creating positive mornings for your own children[30:14] – Children arriving at school after chaos at home[31:39] – The importance of emotional regulation before school[33:10] – Mitching school before apps and notifications[34:38] – Pressure on parents, teachers and schools[35:08] – Traveller families and the realities children faced[36:18] – Discrimination within the education system[37:16] – Why many problems facing children are systemic[38:21] – Housing, overcrowding and loss of community space[39:06] – Remembering community life in Ballymun[40:03] – Planning decisions and listening to communities[42:01] – Building spaces without asking what families need[42:25] – Expensive experiences versus simple childhood fun[44:34] – Cousins, summer projects and family days out[45:19] – Simple days out and sharing a bag of chips[46:00] – Electric Picnic bringing back old memories[47:16] – Recreating childhood memories with the next generation[49:04] – Busy lives, loneliness and lost connection[49:31] – Has social media changed friendship?[50:38] – Thinking of an old friend? Send the text[51:22] – Not wanting funerals to be the only reunion[52:18] – Friendship as chosen family[53:35] – Social media and young people[54:17] – Entitlement, expectations and family pressures[55:48] – “Kids have forgotten how to be kids”[56:49] – How birthdays have changed[57:34] – Christmas Eve boxes, Halloween boxes and more[58:27] – Remembering old Halloween traditions[59:05] – Bring back fun, friendship and connection[59:30] – Final thoughts: make time for real human connection

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About

Our podcast explores women’s relationships—from mother-daughter to leadership—and how they shape lives, aiming to support and empower women across all relationship experiences.

Information

  • Creator
    Leanne Ryan & Orla Lynch
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Leanne Ryan & Orla Lynch

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