Martina Tierney Podcast

What happens when care focuses only on keeping someone safe, but forgets about the life they still want to live? In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina speaks with Occupational Therapist and founder of Sunday Care Therapy, Derek Sleater, about the future of care, the power of Occupational Therapy and why autonomy must remain at the heart of every care plan. Derek shares the powerf...

What if keeping critically ill patients awake, upright and moving could completely change their recovery? In this episode of the Martina Tierney Podcast, I’m joined by Kali Dayton, a nurse practitioner, critical care consultant and host of Walking Home From The ICU, along with my son Jonathan Tierney. Kali shares how her early experience in an ICU where intubated patients were routinely awake, com...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina is joined by Mike Farrar, Permanent Secretary for Health in Northern Ireland, for a conversation about the future of health and social care and what it will take to create meaningful, lasting change. Following a visit to Seating Matters, Mike reflects on the culture of continuous improvement he witnessed and considers how similar principles c...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina speaks with Michelle Tennyson, Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for Northern Ireland, about leadership, improvement and the enormous potential of Allied Health Professionals to shape the future of health and social care. Michelle represents 14 Allied Health Professions and shares her ambition to ensure their skills, talents and ability...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina is joined by executive coach, speaker and author Caroline McKenna for an honest and inspiring conversation about self-leadership, confidence and sustainable growth. Caroline shares the personal story behind her book, Lead Self First: 7 Inspired Steps to Unlock Next Level Growth, including the moment her young daughter told her, “You’d rather...

What happens when postural care is treated as a full 24-hour responsibility - not just something we think about when someone is sitting? In this special episode, recorded straight after our first 24-Hour Postural Care Conference, I sit down with sisters Anna Goldsmith and Sarah Clayton of Simple Stuff Works Associates Ltd. Their parents, Liz and John Goldsmith, pioneered supported lying. Anna and...

This 3-episode mini-series of the Martina Tierney Podcast was filmed during the 2026 Tierco Healthcare Postural Care Conference held at St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. The series features three speakers from the day of quality clinical education which focused on the importance of maintaining body shape, posture and mobility. In this heartfelt episode, recorded live from the 24...

This 3-episode mini-series of the Martina Tierney Podcast was filmed during the 2026 Tierco Healthcare Postural Care Conference held at St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne in England. The series features three speakers from the day of quality clinical education which focused on the importance of maintaining body shape, posture and mobility. In this episode of the Postural Care Conference Mini-Seri...

What happens when a young woman from Brooklyn challenges expectations, pursues her dream of becoming an Occupational Therapist, and spends a lifetime transforming the lives of older adults? In this inspiring episode, Martina speaks with Susanne Giannitti, Occupational Therapist, educator, mentor, advocate and lifelong learner from Connecticut, USA. Susanne shares her remarkable OT journey, from wo...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina is joined by Occupational Therapist Kirsty Ryan for a powerful conversation on dementia care, therapeutic seating, postural management and the future of clinical education. Kirsty shares her journey from mental health nursing into Occupational Therapy, her work with Seating Matters and A1 Momentum, and the research she is carrying out on the...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina speaks with Eileen Burns, Professional Lead Occupational Therapist in Wheelchair Services for Northern Ireland and former Commonwealth Games cyclist. Eileen shares her remarkable journey from taking up cycling in her twenties to representing Northern Ireland on the international stage, all while building a career in Occupational Therapy. Toge...

In this episode of the  Martina Tierney Podcast , Martina is joined by Sharon McNulty, founder of Joyful Spaces, for a deeply honest and insightful conversation about the connection between our homes, our habits, and our mental health. Sharon’s journey began in healthcare, working closely with families in their own homes. Over time, she noticed a common thread - overwhelm. Busy lives, constant dem...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina speaks with Norma Findlay, Head of Clinical Operations at Tierco Healthcare, to explore the true importance of 24-hour postural care. Norma shares her clinical experience and insights into why posture cannot be considered in isolation, but must be supported across the full 24-hour period, from lying and sitting to transfers and personal care....

In this episode of  The Martina Tierney Podcast , Martina speaks with Claire Bowes for a deeply personal and inspiring conversation about resilience, trauma, and rebuilding a life with purpose. Claire shares her experience of losing her sight at just 15 years old following the Omagh bombing - and how, in an instant, everything changed. She reflects on the emotional and physical challenges that fol...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina speaks with Occupational Therapist Ciara Duffy and country music star Lisa McHugh for an open and deeply personal conversation about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), burnout, and recovery.  Lisa shares her experience of how quickly life can change. At the height of a demanding career, the pressure and exhaustion of constant work began...

World Obesity Day Special – Equity, Language and Dignity in Bariatric Care with Tracey Carr Released on World Obesity Day, this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast explores what equitable healthcare truly looks like for people living with obesity. Martina speaks with Tracey Carr, advocate, educator and founder of Fat Lot She Knows. Through her consultancy, Tracey works internationally with heal...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Dr Melanie Stephens, Tissue Viability Nurse and Associate Professor, to explore a topic that belongs to all of us in healthcare. Tissue viability is not just about mattresses or dressings. It is about posture, pressure, advocacy and the responsibility we carry every single day to protect dignity. This is a powerful and honest conversa...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I’m joined by Shane Elliott, Housing and Health Lead for Northern Ireland and occupational therapist by background, alongside Dean Cooke, Global Product Manager at Seating Matters. This conversation goes deep into the intersection of health, housing and responsibility, and what happens when systems either support or fail the people they are meant to...

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Martin Tierney, Managing Director of the Tierco Group, and my son. This is a deeply personal conversation about leadership, values and responsibility, and what it means to grow a business without losing sight of the people at the heart of it. We reflect on the journey from a family idea rooted in clinical need to a global healthcare g...

In this week’s episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Helen Hughes, Chief Executive of Patient Safety Learning, alongside our own Dearbhaile Mulholland, whose passion for safer care sparked this powerful conversation. Helen’s work shines a light on something many of us feel deeply but rarely articulate, that patient safety is everyone’s responsibility, and that real change only ha...

In this week’s episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Bel Youngson, Chief Operating Officer at Hertfordshire Independent Living Service (HILS), whose story beautifully illustrates what it means to lead with both heart and purpose. From supporting vulnerable adults to transforming community services across the UK, Bel has spent her career turning compassion into action. Her journey...

In this week’s episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Rachel Brimblecombe - founder of both Better Rehab and Better Days, to uncover an inspiring story of turning frustration into meaningful impact. Rachel had a dream: to reshape how we see and deliver occupational therapy and rehab internationally. What started as a small idea in her living room grew into a global mission, suppor...

Dee Christie OBE has been an Occupational Therapist for over 51 years - a career defined by leadership, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the power of meaningful occupation. In this episode, Dee reflects on her extraordinary journey - from her early days in community OT in 1970s London, to chairing the Council of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, to leading the Elizabeth Casson T...

Kate Sheehan ⁠ has been an Occupational Therapist for nearly four decades, and her passion for housing as a cornerstone of health and wellbeing shines through every part of her career. In this episode, Kate shares remarkable stories - from her early days in London where she encountered homes without indoor plumbing, to powerful cultural lessons like supporting a grandmother who was trying to use a...

The latest episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast is live — and it’s a special one. I sat down with my son, Ryan Tierney , the driving force behind Lean at Seating Matters.   From the chaos of our early factory days, to discovering Lean, to building a culture that improves outcomes for patients worldwide - Ryan shares how passion, purpose, and small daily improvements transformed not only our busi...