Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna

Journalist Padraig O'Morain tells Clare how life took a different path when he stumbled across a book on Mindfulness. Erica Drum talks embracing home cooking, cast irons an in-season cooking. Cellist Gerald Peregrine and Professor Jim Lucey talk to Clare about healing power of music and a partnership with the HSE- the first of its kind funding access to the arts through care concerts.

This week on Alive & Kicking: Irish Freediver, Claire Walsh joins us to explore the lessons she learned as a freediver and how learning to hold her breath helped her to live a better life. Psychologist, Jen Martin on why she chose to specialise in vulnerability and how we can do it too. And Eimear Daly from 'Daly Wellbeing' helps us to go through all of the latest health and wellness news.

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Jennifer Carroll joins Clare to talk through her weight loss journey. Heather Dent aka 'The Lullaby Lady' joins Clare along with Shauna O’Reilly, who is mum to Finn. Heather is putting Finn on a two-week sleep plan in an effort to help with his disrupted sleep. And Dr. Mark Rowe takes us through the benefits of forest bathing.

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Sleep is one of the pillars of health but how many of us get the quality we need and what can we do to make that happen? Tom Coleman is a sleep expert - he joins Clare to chat about how we can go from the edge of burnout to peak performance all by focusing on getting good quality sleep Jennie Haire, a registered nutritionist and nutritional therapist Lisa Hu...

'Dublin Front Runners' is Ireland’s oldest LGBT+ running club, inviting gay men, women, and their friends to stay active and have fun in the process. They currently have 250 members with 60 identifying as women. Clare speaks with members, Gillian Callaghan and Mark Armstrong about why it's not just about running but about providing an inclusive space. Dr. Caren Hession is on a mission to help peop...

Joining Clare McKenna on this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Professor Francis Finucane, Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospital explores the changing ways we view and treat obesity. And Fiona Brennan, Clinical Hypnotherapist joins Clare to chat about retreats, why they are good for us, and how we can weave wha...

Joining Clare on this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast is Susan Coote, Exercise & Physiotherapy Coordinator with MS Ireland to discuss their 3,000-push-up challenge for the month of March. Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, Director of the Twins UK study, scientific co-founder at 'ZOE', and one of the world’s leading researchers on the microbiome - the large com...

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Dr. Harry Barry joins Sinead to talk about the Power of Connection; as February is 'Global Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Month', counselling psychologist, Dr. Liza Morton, who herself was born with a heart issue, will talk about the trauma of living with a life long illness and how to manage that. And, Ranae Von Meding, CEO and Co-Founder of 'Equality f...

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: 'Dublin Front Runners' is Ireland’s oldest LGBT+ running club, inviting gay men, women, and their friends to stay active and have fun in the process. They currently have 250 members with 60 identifying as women. Clare speaks with members, Gillian Callaghan and Mark Armstrong about why it's not just about running but about providing an inclusive space. Dr. Ca...

On the Alive & Kicking Podcast this week: Grow it Yourself supports people around the world to live healthier, happier, and more sustainable lives by growing some of their own food. Clare finds out all about it and what we can all be doing to grow our own. Clare is joined by Daniel Davey, performance nutritionist, and author of 'Eat Up: Raise Your Game' & 'Eat Up: The Next Level'.

Today, we mark the first day of the #StandStrong movement, a new campaign launched by Women’s Aid and Allianz Insurance. The movement aims to engage, educate and empower the people of Ireland to help end domestic abuse and raise much needed funds for the charity to support women and children in need. But what is the best way to stand strong with these women? What changes do we need to make as a so...

Joining Clare for this week's episode of Alive & Kicking is Professor Francis Finucane, Senior lecturer in the School of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospital two discuss how we view and treat obesity. And Fiona Brennan, Clinical Hypnotherapist discusses retreats, why they are good for us, and how we can weave what we learn from them into our...

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Jim Breen appeared on the RTE version of 'Secret Millionaire' back in 2012 and decided to speak publicly about his experience of depression throughout his life. He went on to raise thousands for charity through 'Cycle Against Suicide' and now works to tackle beliefs about mental health in the workplace with his organisation, 'I am Here'. He talks to Clare ab...

Dr Mary O’Kane joins Clare to discuss the challenges of getting decent family time and the importance of trying to grab those moments. Known for her humorous and down to earth approach, she is a lecturer in psychology and early childhood education, along with being the author of Perfectly Imperfect. And Hannah Daly tells Clare her story about having multiple college degrees despite being unable to...

This week on Alive & Kicking: Joe Cross joins Clare to chat about his new documentary 'Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead' in which he took hold of his health and travelled across America extolling the virtues of micronutrients. And Sarah Tobin found trauma after childbirth left her struggling to cope but having found 'EFT Tapping' and using it as a means of getting through it, she has gone on to share the p...

This week on the Alive & Kicking podcast: Clinical psychologist, Dr, Sean Foy, on the truth about addiction and how we need to question a society that criminalises addicts & and best-selling author Louise O'Neill on the teacher who changed her world.

In recent weeks, when it comes to healthcare, people have been urged to explore all other options before heading to a hospital for treatment; parents are urged to keep kids out of school if they develop any symptoms; and there wasn't a family in the country that didn't know somebody who spent Christmas sick in bed. To discuss the issues surrounding the Irish healthcare system, Clare is joined by S...

Clinical Hypnotherapist and best selling author of the Positive Habit Fiona Brennan chats about why we should set intentions not resolutions Olivia Kenna on what Grey Area Drinking is? And Festival Mna is taking place in Dun na Si in Westmeath next Saturday 7th – it's a wellness experience with Yoga, Breathwork, talks , Dancing, Fitness classes , Cacao Ceremonies, Music and much more. Clare speaks...

Today we take a look back at some of the interviews from the year which stayed with us long after we had pulled down the faders. Clare will be speaking to Dr Hazel Wallace about her mission to bring women's health front and centre with her book The Female Factor. Brother Richard speaks about a life with meaning and finding still points. And Conor Buckley and Paddy Smyth from Human Collective talk...

Sarah Shannon was a corporate lawyer spending years studying and then many working in Dublin law firms before following a urge to seek out something more which led to world travel and now working as a yoga and meditation teacher, leading others to find their own way in life. She joins Clare in studio to talk about what helped her find her path once she made the first jump. And Lydia Rolley is an o...

Two health topics that we tend to shy away from are on the show today. Elaine Crowley is probably best known for her work on Virgin Media television where she is currently presenting Ireland AM at the weekends. She joins Clare to talk about how she and her sister Maggie have recorded a series of you tube videos about Living with Depression and how to start small conversations that could make a mas...

Joining Clare this week is Dr. Clodagh Campbell, The Wellness Psychologist on helping you live your happiest life with some wellness tips, tricks, and strategies & Artist, Orla Walsh, on dealing with her husband’s life-limiting condition.

Nicola Connelly of Nunaia on what life in Peru taught her about wellness and ritual, Professor John Nolan on the clinical trial which has seen a breakthrough in treating Alzheimer's and how hiking can be more than just a walk

Clare speaks with Gerry Hussey about how to handle the overwhelm particularly as the Christmas machine ramps up and Brian Redmond on whether or not he's a better dancing with the stars judge now he's ditched the glasses and had his eyes done

This week Clare speaks with Jessica Cooke about Staying Fit over 40, Chris Sherlock on the personal story which had led to him being one of Ireland's biggest voices on bullying and Orla & Jeff Hopkins on the blood sweat and tears that led to them opening their leisure wear store on Grafton Street this week.