Dr Naoisé O'Reilly

Purple Psychology

News EN ↓ 595 episodes

I’m a writer and researcher exploring human behavior, hidden patterns, and societal dynamics. I love connecting ideas across disciplines to help people think critically, live authentically, and better understand themselves and the world. My work includes poetry, books, essays, a podcast called Purple Psychology, and more—I have a heart for anyone seeking guidance, and I’ve spent my adult life helping students who don’t feel like they “fit” the mold. If that’s you, or you simply feel drawn to the space, I hope you’ll visit and stay for a time with me.©️Dr Naoisé O’Reilly 2026

Author

Dr Naoisé O'Reilly

Category

News

Podcast website

www.podomatic.com

Latest episode

Jul 3, 2026

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Episodes

Episode 174: What do I do? 27.08.2020

Why do I find it so difficult to explain what I do? What has changed for me over the years? A follow on to what inspires me. Why I'm not a fan of learning assessments and educational development plans.

Episode 173: Back to education - what could possibly go wrong? 25.08.2020

What concerns do I have with the back to school model? How do I feel we have lost value for education? What are some practical tips to look out for students? Why do I feel we have a system based on bullying - why is this not ok.

Episode 172: Generational patterns in education - how we see where we are losing values 24.08.2020

I don't have all the answers in this podcast but I'd like to talk out the patterns I have seen between 1st and 2nd generation to university in families. What are we losing? Why is a 2nd generation so lost? Unfulfilled?

Episode 171: Gaslighting in election campaigns - American presidential election 24.08.2020

What is gaslighting and narcissism? Why are they so effective currently during the American election? This can be used for all relationships but I thought a practical example of the election would be a good context.

Episode 170: Who and what inspires me? My own evolution of learning 20.08.2020

The full list from my website - I have skipped some just because this is the longest podcats I have ever recorded and I wanted you to get the end! But I think maybe it's a good way to see the sheer diversity that goes into my thinking and writing. *Note - slight slip where I called it the 'Progressive' Democrats Convention this week - But that has been because it's been so Progressive to me! I thi...

Episode 169: Purple Learning Educational Manifesto -Total Education Reform 19.08.2020

A complete overhaul of the education system presented for every stage of learning. Why we are not developing balance, responsible well-adjusted people. What needs to change. What possibilities are available to us now because of the pandemic. Link to Manifesto on drnaoiseoreilly dot org. Just above the image, 'Personality is an inconvenience in school'

Episode 168: Voting Code Calling - how to win support in the American Election 15.08.2020

How to turn this around so you don't just hit a wall. How to have a political debate without it being a debate. What matters right now? What is a date beyond the 3rd November which everyone cares about? - Thanksgiving. I promised to still focus at least one episode on the American election in the run up to November. This has huge implications for the whole world as I have already recorded in previ...

Episode 167: The balance of the individual and the big picture 14.08.2020

How do we create new majorities? Should it be our focus or should we focus on the individual? Why do some people continue the balance of working between the individual and the big message of why they started creating? Why I have had multiple projects since the start. Essays in Awareness on (drnaoiseoreilly dot org) Majorities don't change

Episode 166: Why I’m not a fan of continuous assessment 10.08.2020

Why do I feel this is the greatest inequality in education? Why does it not build learning goals or character? Who is affected by our constant pressure system? Why does this feed inequality in education?

Episode 165: Distance learning is difficult- why? 10.08.2020

Why are we viewing distance learning as difficult? Possibly because we have lost the purpose of education in the mix. Why can't we look at other models such as the Open University in the UK which have had a blended learning model since 1969? Will we finally decide to look at inequality in education?

Episode 164: The differences between action and reactionary politics 04.08.2020

In a context to Ireland and America. Why I have never got involved in Irish politics despite starting out in student politics both national and within my own university. Why we are still banning tampon ads in Ireland and what route thinking needs to change. Why I focus my energy on the core of each individual.

Episode 163: Charting your own growth 01.08.2020

How do we chart our own growth? Why do we tend to count up the 'young' achievements of famous people so much more easily than their later achievements? Why is reflection so important in a world of external validation? “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” James Baldwin Essay in awareness - 'Journeys' on drnaoiseoreilly dot org

Episode 162: The ways we hold trauma 27.07.2020

A journey into my thoughts from the legendary Rep. John Lewis, non-violent workshops of CORE and the legacy of Alvin Ailey. The dance shows from Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Green Wood and Lazarus. My own trauma and my challenges of not being able to dance. My final understanding of how much it takes for us to be physically secure in order to be vulnerable. We can only be vulnerable from the inside...

Episode 161: Taking intelligence and literacy out of the same sentence 27.07.2020

Where it all began for me - my goal starting my own school. To take literacy and intelligence out of the same sentence. But what I have realised how we need to build others up in order to achieve this goal. Everyone needs to feel secure and whole in order to meet others as equals. I'm very worried about the legacy of our associations of literacy and intelligence in the mass media for the last few...

Episode 160: What is the purpose of education? 23.07.2020

How has this changed now that we look to go back to normal? Or has it? Should it? Have we really learnt the difference between education, school and learning? What are my wishes for a new tapestry of education? Can you still find yourself without college? Writing at drnaosieoreilly dot org Essays in Awareness

Episode 159: Critical thinking versus overthinking - Expression Devlopist 21.07.2020

Why do I can myself an Expression Developist? What is the difference between overthinking and critical thinking? Why I don't like the idea of overthinking. What are the concerns of not having a generation who can critically think and express their opinions? Essays In Awareness pieces 'developist' and 'writing up 11 years' can be found on drnaoiseoreilly dot org

Episode 158: Special survival guide for INFJs during COVID19 19.07.2020

What do INFJs need to know during COVID19? What parts our personality make this a mire intense time? How to get through? How to find the positives? How to be the best version who are contributing to a better humanity. Companion writing can be found in essays in awareness at drnaoiseoreilly dot org

Episode 157: To tell students that they have dyslexia or not? The personality differences present in the reaction. 14.07.2020

A journey through the personality traits that matter when telling a student if they have dyslexia or not? Why labels can be limiting. A how lack of expectation is the real enemy. A listen requested podcats email purple at purplelearning dot ie to send requests!

Podcast 156: Surviving the pandemic(covid19) in good mental health - what we can learn from Dr Jane Goodall 14.07.2020

Today marks the incredible feat of 60 years since Dr Jane Goodall (0ne of my heroes) first went to Gombe. What can we learn from her? What do mentally strong people really do to survive this pandemic (Covid19)? What can we learn as a society? Companion writing at drnaoiseoreilly dot org (essay in awareness - Developist)

Episode 155: What boys need from their fathers? How does this matter in terms of radicalisation, domestic violence and idenity 12.07.2020

A follow on to the podcats around what girls need from their fathers which I recorded around fathers day. What boys need is slightly more complex as it is more role driven both in their own identity and how they treat women.

Episode 154: Honesty of communication through social media - Freedom of Speech 08.07.2020

Why are we now seeing open letters asking for the right to speech? I always worried about the powerful legacy of insinuation that the '#MeToo' campaign highlighted. I've seen how teens struggle in this world - I know the complex layers to communication, especially those through a text-based world. It's taken me years to find the people to exchange communication with so openly on these platforms in...

Episode 153: Exiting the Matrix 06.07.2020

I wrote a companion piece on exiting the Matrix (drnaosieoreilly dot org) Is there only the option to stay or go? How does having a core help you to stay in the madness? Why is it a journey? Why do I have to live in the grit and not on top of a mountain? Why do I look for a healthy amount of insecurity on others? Why do I sometimes take a step away and what are the origins of my need to understand...

Episode 152: Dancing and my core 06.07.2020

How dance theatre represents my core. Inspiration from Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Pina Bausch. I wrote a companion piece called Individual Voice (drnaosieoreilly dot org) The origins of my own fears of dancing. Could you imagine if we were taught to swagger down the street with our unique voice? To not all learn to march to someone else’s shape?

Episode 151: Generational patterns of colonialism and interracial relationships 06.07.2020

Inspired by Lorraine Hansberry's play Les Blancs. What are the scars? What are the generational patterns you are trying to overcome in any mixed relationship? Regardless of backgrounds, cultures or religions? What are the scars all around us in our cities? You can be in an interracial relationship and still be racist.

Podcast 150: The differences between American and European racism - the scale of hate origins 30.06.2020

This is an idea I first saw/heard Music by Loah talk about - the hate scale. How small acts of racism add up to the maximum end of the scale where your life is in danger. I introduce the origins of European racism and American. The cultural experiences which allow us to absorb these; Alvin Ailey's Greenwood, Small Island by Andrea Levy, A Rasin in the sun by Lorrain Hansberry, Barracoon by Zora Ne...

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