How's Your Ma Podcast

 Leanne and Orla, taking stock. After a run of powerful conversations, they sit down to reflect on the guests who've been on the show, the feedback that's poured in from listeners, and the things those stories stirred up in themselves. They talk about the family who show up every day despite everything stacked against them, the healer who divides opinion, and the guest whose story left grown men r...

In this deeply moving episode, Orla and Leanne sit down with Mandy — known to many as "Cher Mandy" — a shamanic healer whose extraordinary life journey has taken her from the flats of Inchicore to the housing estates of Clondalkin, through grief, fear, addiction, and profound spiritual awakening. Mandy opens up about growing up as the middle child in a family of nine, feeling unseen and at war wit...

In this raw and deeply moving second part of Jackie's story, Orla, Leanne and Jackie pick up where they left off — and what follows is one of the most honest and courageous conversations the pod has had. Jackie takes us through the moment she discovered she was pregnant with Abby, and the immediate unravelling of Tony's mask — from "that's what we always wanted" to "I don't believe you're pregnant...

In this powerful episode of How's Your Ma? , Orla and Leanne welcome Jackie — and from the very first minute, it's clear this is a story unlike any other. Jackie opens up about a lifetime shaped by survival: growing up in poverty and domestic violence, being placed in an orphanage as a young child, caring for her siblings well before she was old enough to care for herself, and eventually finding s...

This week, Orla and Leanne are joined by two very special guests — Ashling, a mum from Clane, Kildare, and her incredible 11-year-old daughter Georgia. What unfolds is one of the most honest, heartfelt and joyful conversations the girls have had in the studio. Ashling opens up about navigating life with not one, but two children with medical diagnoses — Jake, who was diagnosed with juvenile arthri...

In this episode, Leanne and Orla sit down with Keith Dixon — personal trainer, coach, and friend for 16 years — for one of the most open and honest conversations yet. Born and raised in Blanchardstown, Keith has spent 25+ years in the fitness industry, but his story goes far deeper than the gym floor. Keith opens up about growing up as the eldest of five in a tight-knit Dublin community, the lesso...

In this deeply moving episode, Leanne and Orla are joined in the studio by Anita — a 57-year-old mother of five, grandmother of six, and domestic violence support worker who reached out to share her extraordinary story. Growing up as the eldest of five in a home marked by domestic abuse, neglect, and emotional trauma, Anita became a little mother at nine years old and carried the weight of her fam...

Orla and Leanne are back for a heartfelt and hilarious reflection episode. They check in on the anonymous listener who bravely shared her story, share the beautiful message she sent back, and dig into the theme of feeling like you're "betraying" your mam by telling your story. From there, the girls get wonderfully side-tracked — covering generational gaps, social media anxiety, dopamine hits from...

Leanne and Orla are joined by Katie for a heartfelt and honest conversation about friendship, motherhood, love, and loss. What starts as a light introduction quickly unfolds into a deeper chat about women’s connections, navigating life’s challenges, and the realities behind the conversations we don’t always have out loud. Katie shares her personal experiences with warmth and openness, offering ins...

This week, Leanne and Orla share a raw and deeply moving story sent in by a listener — a woman who grew up in a home shaped by infidelity, neglect, and addiction, who became the caretaker of her younger siblings from childhood, and who is now, as an adult, looking after the very mother who failed her. The girls talk about what it means to carry that kind of weight, the guilt and shame that comes w...

In this very first episode of How’s Your Ma? , hosts Leanne and Orla introduce the heart behind the podcast — real, honest conversations about female relationships in all their forms. From mothers and daughters to friendships, loss, growth, and everything in between, they explore what it really means when someone asks, “How’s your ma?” — a simple question that can carry very different meanings dep...

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.