Scratching The Surface

Local woman Ciara McLaughlin is very open and honest about having many times of dark thoughts and depression throughout her life as she faced with many traumatic events. We Scratch the Surface of Ciara’s late father having a serious accident in her early life, which paved the way for ‘feeling different’, ‘isolated’, and unfortunately bullying. Ciara very bravely tells us about the lead up to her s...

I connected with Lovely Ciara from Wee Care Packages after a mutual friend sent me her page on Instagram just in time for Brain Cancer Awareness Month. Although we have been diagnosed with different types of terminal brain cancer, our story and journey over recent years has been freaky similar! It was so cathartic and humbling to have this open conversation with someone who really gets it.. Ciara...

Joanna O’Neill is sure to brighten your day- she openly tells us her story of trials and tribulations throughout adulthood life since we met in school. We Scratch the Surface of living in the countryside; our mum’s diagnosis of MS; and overcoming self-doubt. I was interested to know if Joanna still had a big passion for singing and drama, and to learn about The Young Farmers Community, in which Jo...

This was live on Instagram, and the recording is on my grid @lifebehindtherainbow for better sound recording. I chat with the lovely Shannon Traphagen, host of Game on Glio podcast, who lost her lovely husband to this deadly, incurable disease Glioblastoma that I was diagnosed with in 2020. Shannon feels like supporting awareness, fundraising, and research in the field is her life purpose- it was...

Joan’s life story of many up’s and down’s is captured here in an open, lighthearted chat. I bet you can feel the positivity oozing from Joan’s bubbly voice as we Scratch the Surface of growing up with eleven siblings; nursing in Iran when war broke out; losing her beloved husband; and overcoming a terrifying home break-in. You won’t want this one to end! If you are in or around Ballycastle area, b...

Brianna is an inspiration for anyone struggling with cravings; their relationship with food; or body image. We Scratch the Surface of getting in tune with our body, our hormones, and the root cause of ‘feeling stuck’. Brianna is very open about her personal story of transformation, which is now helping so many others. You can find Brianna on Instagram @brianna.mcateer.coaching, where you will also...

This episode concludes my three-part re-introduction to ‘Scratching the Surface of the life behind the podcaster’. I couldn’t have done it without the talented and very patient John Ralph encouraging me to go into more detail. This episode deep-dives into my cancer journey, with some potentially triggering content, but we try to keep it lighthearted. We conclude the episode with my hopes and aspir...

We continue to Scratch the Surface of religion in Ireland, which leads onto an open discussion about the Troubles, spirituality, and my belief in angels. In this episode I share my personal experience of loss, coping with mum’s MS diagnosis, mental health, concluding with another cliffhanger as I link these early-adulthood events to my almost-fatal delayed diagnosis of cancer. *Trigger warning* Pl...

A very warm welcome back to Scratching the Surface, where I like to keep things real and authentic. I’ve been M.I.A for a while as I was moving house, travelling, and figuring out my next steps in life. I thought it was appropriate to reintroduce myself, and my lovely, talented friend John suggested he interviews me in order to squeeze everything out of my conscious that listeners might want to kn...

An old school friend, Owen Turner, informs us about the amazing voluntary work of First Responders in our local Moyle area. We just scratch the surface of the training they complete with N.I.A.S, the fatal calls they receive, the community spirit, and how vital this service is, especially in rural areas. The message of ‘Giving back’, ‘learning something new’, ‘being able to help’, emanates living...

I love talking to Yan, a Cancer Health Coach from Singapore (@therealyanhuang)- it feels so resonating. Although I have been given a terminal prognosis by my oncology team, talking with Yan, a fifteen year survivor, makes me feel hopeful and optimistic for the future. Yan talks about 'pillars' to health referring to her 'toolkit for wellbeing', which translates for me to into the seven steps to ge...

John Ralph is here with me to Scratch the Surface of Vancouver living; being part of the LGBTQI+ global community; changing careers by using transferable skills; working in ‘Hollywood North’ Film Industry; and sharing some foresight into his upcoming podcast content. John is one of those friends that I don’t see often, but when I do we pick up exactly where we left off- his voice and mannerisms ar...

Shauna Corr, who currently works in the corporate world, found a passion for holistic healing when her baby daughter was very unsettled and she started to seek alternatives to lifetime medication. Shauna has been a qualified EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner for seven years and hopes to share this simple, clinically proven, non-invasive well-being tool with the masses. I for one am a...

Deirdre Maguire is one of greatest teachers, as when I first heard her on a podcast while on chemotherapy, my ears pricked up and I resonated so much with her heart-wrenching story. I have followed her inspiring videos and stories on instagram @deirdre.maguire, watched youtube 'Deirdre Maguire' for healing techniques, and listen to her therapy sessions on U105 radio. Today I had the honour of chat...

Lauren, on Instagram as @laurensaramc, is sure to inspire listeners to try something new, to never give up, and to listen intuitively to your own body. We Scratch the Surface of competitive power-lifting; the ups and downs of dedicated training; the equality found in this sport; and how finding purpose and confidence in a chosen hobby really can start a ripple effect for everything else in your li...

Simon Byrne, an engineer by trade, found a passion for good, quality coffee when living in Australia. He shares with me how a fun, personal challenge of ‘Something New for Fifty-Two’ became his current successful coffee business. We Scratch the Surface of starting a brand new business as a couple in lockdown, the ups and downs that cannot be predicted, and the power of community support. Simon wil...

A beautiful, raw, emotional, real-talk, informative, and sooo bubbly and warm conversation with the fabulous Grainne Ashe. What a woman for one woman! Grainne talks about her life as a mum of three, two of which have Autism. Somehow in her already super-busy life, Grainne started up a camp for kids with Autism here in Northern Ireland @adamscampni , seeing the AMAZING benefit and progress her beau...

Samara is on a mission to empower people GLOBALLY to be their authentic, vibrant, confident self- which she instils in her clients as their ‘future self’. We Scratch the Surface of dressing intuitively; dressing for your mood; dressing for the season; colour psychology; and EVOLVING after even the hardest of times. Samara has some tips for minimalising your wardrobe; she will inspire you to dress...

Yvonne Smyth @thisparentingadventure is a ray of refreshing sunshine for all parents, caregivers, teachers and childcare workers. You will hear our genuine joy to connect and share our vision for a different narrative for our children- the adults of tomorrow. Yvonne, a parent of two teenage boys, takes us on her very honest journey from "Motherhood as Martyrdom" to Conscious Parenting with mutual...

Ciara O’ Malley, author of ‘Miracles appear when Loved Ones are Near’; Qualified Reiki Healer and Spiritual Guide; and Host of Mind. Less. Full podcast, shares her heart-breaking experience of losing her love in a drowning accident while living abroad. Ciara outlines how she turned her pain and suffering into surrendering and trusting in something much bigger by going on a spiritual journey of wel...

I chat with Sarah AKA @farmgirlgoesvegan about her journey from growing up on a dairy farm which goes back generations in the family, to actively advocating and educating on the topic of Veganism from watching the shocking Documentary 'Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret'. We Scratch the Surface of tasty alternatives; vegan-cooking essentials; doing a vegan Christmas dinner for the whole family,...

Caolán McCaughan, the brains in our family, is working as an ecologist and is as clued in about the climate crisis as he is about the local farming crisis. We Scratch the Surface of his relevant higher education, his Hedgehog project, his knowledge on making farms more wildlife friendly. Farmers are at a “crunch point”, having to make changes to lower their carbon footprint, so Caolán explains how...

Barrie, my old housemate, talks openly and honestly with me about his longterm battle with depression. Barrie is comfortable talking about mental health, as it was never a taboo topic in his family, instilled with the belief "being open about your emotions is actually a strength". Trigger warning: We Scratch the Surface of men's mental health, inter-generational stigma, and suicide. We discuss wha...

I have a chat with Monica Curran, my real-life angel, who I was blessed to have working on the ward when I went in for a cranionomy, removing a cancerous brain tumour the size of a golf ball from my brain in April 2020. We just Scratch the Surface of the reality of Monica's nine year career as a neuro-nurse in the biggest, busiest hospital in Northern Ireland. Monica shares with us how she had to...

We hope to make you feel like you are sat in the room with us- a raw, impromptu, open, anything-goes, chat during one of my many visits down home for a dose of home comfort. My mum was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis back in 2009 when I had just started University in England. We Scratch the Surface of life over the years: the many ups and downs; the degeneration that is certa...