life's too short

Christmas can intensify grief in ways you don’t expect. For many people, the festive season brings memories, longing, and a deep sense of absence - especially if you’re facing your first Christmas without someone you love. In this solo episode of Life’s Too Short , I talk honestly about Christmas grief and what it’s really like to cope with loss during the holidays. I share a personal story about...

This week’s episode is one I’ll carry with me for a long, long time. Marina joined me to talk about a different kind of grief - the grief that comes before loss. The kind that lives inside uncertainty, scans, treatments, watching your child grow, and holding both hope and heartbreak in the same breath. At 34, Marina was living her dream life in the west of Ireland - painting, teaching, growing a g...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Annabelle Reynolds for an incredibly honest conversation about complex grief - the kind of grief we don’t often talk about publicly. Annabelle shares the story of her father, a deeply kind and vibrant man whose life changed dramatically after the 2008 recession. Over the years, addiction, shame, and difficult family dynamics reshaped their relationship long before...

In this solo episode, I reflect on the idea of signs; the small, sometimes strange ways we feel our loved ones near after they’re gone. A song on the radio. A robin in the garden. A moment that feels too precise to be coincidence. Why do we look for them? What do they mean? And do they actually matter, or is the meaning in how they make us feel? Through honest reflection and gentle storytelling, I...

In this week’s episode of Life’s Too Short , I speak with Morgan Cummins; an executive coach and recruiter who lost his dad suddenly more than 20 years ago. What began as an unimaginable shock became, over time, one of his greatest teachers. We talk about what it means to live with loss, how grief can reappear in the body years later, and how to let go of anger without letting go of love. Morgan s...

In this solo episode, I explore one of the hardest questions we face after loss, will it always hurt this much? When someone dies, people often say that time heals. But the truth is, time doesn’t erase grief, it just changes our relationship with it. The pain softens, reshapes, hides in quieter moments. Sometimes it returns without warning. I'm speaking honestly about how grief evolves, how we lea...

In this episode of Life’s Too Short , I’m joined by Feebee Foran - founder of Forager.ie, nature educator, herbalist, and all-round powerhouse. Feebee lost her Dad suddenly in just 11 days. What followed was a grief she hadn’t expected - intense, physical, and deeply disorienting. She talks about how she kept pushing forward in her corporate job until one day, she couldn’t anymore. This conversati...

This episode looks at the version of you that disappears when someone you love dies. The humour, confidence, or calm they brought out in you - gone with them, at least for a while. It’s about who we were in their presence, and how to reconnect with that person again, even after they’re gone. If this episode resonates, share it with someone who might need it - or join the conversation on Substack o...

In this episode of Life’s Too Short , I’m joined by Mark Legge , who shares his story of love, loss, and how grief continues to shape his life. We talk about fatherhood, the way grief changes how you see yourself, and the difficult truths you only discover when the life you imagined disappears. Mark’s honesty is both raw and grounding - a reminder that there is no one way to grieve, and no timelin...

In this first solo episode of Life’s Too Short , I share some of my own reflections on grief. The loneliness of loss, the moments when silence feels louder than words, and what it means to try and rebuild a life that looks nothing like the one you imagined. This isn’t a tidy story or a list of lessons. It’s an honest reflection from the middle of it all. 🔗 Stay connected: 📸 Follow Life’s Too Sho...

What happens when there’s nobody left? In the first episode of Season 4, journalist Deirdre O’Shaughnessy talks about grief, losing both her parents, and what it means to rebuild life as an only child. We explore the strange mix of survival and strength, the isolation of carrying memories alone, and how loss reshapes identity, relationships, and perspective. Deirdre has also just launched her own...

Hi everyone, it’s Sarah here. Just popping into your feed to say hello and let you know I haven’t disappeared! I’m quietly working away in the background to bring you Season 4 of Life’s Too Short . In this short update, I share a little about what’s happening behind the scenes, why these conversations take time, and how special the first interviews for the new season have already been - including...

In this deeply moving episode of Life’s Too Short , Aoife Gillespie courageously shares her experience of preparing for the death of her husband after receiving a terminal diagnosis. Aoife opens up about the complex emotions of navigating grief, raising children while coping with the looming loss, and finding hope in the face of overwhelming sorrow. Through her powerful words, Aoife offers valuabl...

Anticipatory Grief – Aoife Gillespie’s Story (Part 1) In this powerful first part of a two-part episode, I sit down with Aoife Gillespie as she shares her deeply personal journey of love, loss, and resilience. Aoife’s husband, Jason, is in the final stages of his life, and she reflects on their relationship—the highs and lows, the struggles with mental health and addiction, and the challenges they...

In the second episode of Life’s Too Short Season 3, I sit down with musician and mental health advocate Arlene Bailey. Arlene opens up about the sudden death of her father and how she has navigated her grief and her life in the years since. Her story is one of heartbreak, resilience, and the ongoing journey of healing. Through her work and advocacy, Arlene sheds light on the importance of mental h...

On the first episode of season 3 I speak with holistic health healer, Amber Doyle of Amber Moon Holistic. We speak about her journey into holistic health healing, and how the sudden loss of her Dad when she was only 6 years old shaped her life. Her passion and knowledge on the work that she does is so illuminating, and this episode is part personal journey, part advice and healing information for...

On the final episode of season two I speak with the inspiring Sports Broadcaster, Author and Mum, Jacqui Hurley. We talk about the tragic and sudden death of her brother Seán. The gift he left in his bucket list and how the family completed it in his honour. And how much our perspective on life changes when we experience grief. Jacqui has an incredible way of discussing her journey and sharing her...

On today's episode I speak with the the absolutley lovely Alex Lawson of CasaLawson . She tells me about her lovely Dad who sadly passed away over 5 years ago. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, he faced a 7 month battle before passing away. We speak about the agony of watching a loved one dissapear before your eyes. How short life really is and that we shouldn't be putting our plans off, because the...

On today's episode I speak with mental health advocate and life coach, Jack Costello. Jack takes me through the devastating loss of his Mum when he was only a child. He talks to me about how he has lived longer now without her than with her. The importance of emotional resilience, and how navigating his grief has had many challenges throughout the years. Jack has some really incredible insights on...

On today's episode I speak with the incredible Sinead Hinston Green. She speaks to me about the tragic, and sudden, death of her husband Geoff on holidays back in 2011. At the time Sinead was pregnant with their daughter, Lily. She speaks about the realities of loss, death and grief. How her life changed in an instant. And how she views life so differently now. She navigates her story of loss with...

In Grief Moments you can look back and listen to the key moments from my guests. Discussing the changes, the loss, the insights behind the emotions of losing a loved one. On this moment, Sinead takes us through how she feels connected to spirit, how much guilt can come with grief, and the best €50 she's ever spent in her journey. I hope you can take comfort from these moments. If you would like to...

On today's episode I speak with the inspiring Jess Roberts of Little Santi Designs . She speaks to me about the loss of her baby, Santi, and how her grief drove her to set up hernew business that focuses on commemorating and honoring baby loss. We speak about the misunderstood side of miscarriage, the loneliness we feel when we experience it, and how she is managing her grief now a year on. Jess s...

On today's episode I speak with the incredible Meghann Scully, presenter, producer and author. Meghann tells me about the loss of both her brother, when she was only a teenager, and her father, only a year and a half later. The grief from these losses has made a massive impact on her and her life over the past 20 years, shaping who she is now. It's a very powerful listen. Meghann has written two b...

In Grief Moments you can look back and listen to the key moments from my guests. Discussing the changes, the loss, the insights behind the emotions of losing a loved one. On this moment, Yvonne takes us through how she changed her mindset during her grieving journey, how she doesn't want to live with regrets, and how you have to own your grief. I hope you can take comfort from these moments. If yo...

On today's episode I speak with the incredible Mark Talbot, photographer and director of Crow Street Collective . He tells me today about living after the loss of his beloved partner, Darren Lacken. Darren's sudden passing in November 2021 sent Mark into a complete shock and overwhelming sadness. He also tells me about how he didn't know there was an inquest into Darren's death until it was releas...