Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

Topics covered: island life, ​living without modern comforts, heritage, community, ​postnatal depression, writing and healing. This week, I’m joined by public historian and author Lesley Bond. In 2019, Lesley and her then-boyfriend, ​(now husband​) Gordon, left their busy lives behind to spend six months as caretakers on the Great Blasket Island, off the coast of Kerry. With no electricity or hot...

​Topics covered : her upbringing, her late husband, grief, mourning, rebuilding her life, fostering, community, belonging and public service.  This week, I'm joined by Helen Ogbu​ - Labour councillor, the newly elected Mayor of Galway, foster carer, life coach and PhD student. Helen made history this year by becoming Galway's first Mayor from a migrant background. But long before politics, he...

In this weeks Real Take from my conversation with musician, performer and storyteller Aindrias de Staic...he talks about the ancient Irish bardic storytelling tradition and why play is so good for our mental health. If you enjoyed this conversation, I'd really encourage you to listen to the full episode, where Aindrias speaks openly about his childhood, his relationship with his father, addiction...

Topics covered : ADHD, addiction, recovery, nature, bardic storytelling, performing. My guest this week is musician, performer and storyteller Aindrias de Staic, who many of you will know online as 'Smalltown Seanchaí'. The son of the late writer and folklorist Eddie Stack, Aindrias grew up immersed in stories. But this conversation isn't simply about where he comes from, it's about the life he's...

In this week's Real Take, Tara Rafter reflects on her mother's final days living with COPD​ and the heartbreak of saying goodbye to the woman who had been her anchor throughout life. ​If this excerpt resonates with you, I highly recommend listening to the full episode: Tara Rafter: Hypervigilance to Healing ​Growing up in a home impacted by alcoholism and domestic violence, she learned from a youn...

​Topics covered include:​ Alcoholism​, domestic violence​, hypervigilance​, compassion​, motherhood​, self-abandonment​, being a carer​, death and loss​, grief​, faith​, spirituality​, forgiveness​, love​, safety​, self-worth​, self-sabotage​, overwhelm​, healing​. This week I'm joined by Master Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner, Executive Coach and founder of The Navigation Coach, Tara Ra...

Topics covered : Multiple sclerosis, childfree by choice, travel, freedom, simple living.  This week, I sit down with author Susan Bennett to chat about her memoir, One Year. Susan and her husband Chris live in Antrim. After both receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis just three days apart, they made a decision that would change the course of their lives.  Years later, they packed u...

In this snippet I speak to online fitness coach and content creator Siobhán O'Hagan about being pregnant with her second child and her decision to become become a solo parent through IVF. Siobhán lives in Dublin with her daughter Cadhla, who will be 3 in August. At the time of recording, she was 15 weeks pregnant and she shares how she has found the experience so far and why she felt confident mak...

​Topics covered : Building a career in the fitness industry​, solo travel and the search for freedom​, holotropic breathwork​, solo motherhood through IVF​, ​pregnancy and preparing for baby number two​, navigating criticism and online trolling​, the importance of family support​ and creating a life on your own terms​. A quick note : If you're considering fertility treatment or have any questions...

Former Navy Captain Marie Gleeson speaks about the most profound and heartbreaking experience of her life. During her pregnancy with her son Ciarán, Marie and her husband John received devastating news about his health. What followed was a journey marked by immense love and, ultimately, deep grief. If you'd like to hear the full conversation, Marie also speaks about life in the Navy and what the s...

​Topics covered : life in the Irish Navy, leadership, being a woman in a male-dominated environment, drug interdiction operations, UN peacekeeping missions, traumatic pregnancy, child loss, grief, motherhood, mental health and emotional wellbeing. ​(Please take care while listening, particularly if any of these topics feel sensitive or close to home.​) This week, I speak to former Navy Captain Mar...

This week’s Real Take, is a powerful moment from my recent conversation with Professor of Psychology and bestselling author Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan. Katriona speaks about growing up feeling deeply unloved and the many ways she felt hungry in childhood. Despite experiencing extreme poverty, addiction, abuse and homelessness growing up, Katriona went on to completely transform her life. Today, she u...

Topics covered: Body image, diet culture, good girl conditioning, life under patriarchy, poverty, trauma, hypervigilance, affirmations, self-belief, healing, ageing, motherhood, connection​, privilege. In this episode I sit down once again with Professor of Psychology and bestselling author​, the extraordinary Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan. When Katriona first joined the podcast in November 2023, her me...

Today’s Real Take comes from a powerful conversation I recorded in October 2024 with photographer, filmmaker and activist Misan Harriman. Misan is Chair of ​cultural hub, the Southbank Centre, an ambassador for Save the Children, and one of the most compassionate and courageous voices speaking up about injustice and inequality in the world today. Through his photography, filmmaking and activism, h...

Topics covered : Addiction, shame, awareness, compassion, recovery. In this week’s episode of Ready to Be Real, I speak to Dr. Brian Pennie - neuroscientist, podcast host and former heroin addict. I first met Brian back in 2020 when his memoir Bonus Time was released, and I remember being completely blown away by his honesty and insight. Since then, life has continued to evolve for Brian. He’s now...

This is The Real Take and in this snippet, Tony O’Reilly — co-author of the bestselling book  'Tony 10: The Astonishing Story of the Postman Who Gambled €10,000,000…and Lost It All'  — speaks about the point where his gambling addiction escalated into stealing €1.75 million from An Post while working as a branch manager. It’s a shocking and deeply heartbreaking insight into the reality o...

​Topics covered: insecurities, psychology of addiction, secrecy, manipulation, shame, suicide ideation, finding meaning. My first guest of this brand new season of Ready to be Real is someone I’ve wanted to sit down with since the podcast launched back in 2019. Tony O’Reilly is the co-author of the bestselling book  Tony 10: The Astonishing Story of the Postman Who Gambled €10,000,000…and Los...

Topics covered : Mother and Baby home, adoption, grief, faith, taboo, shedding shame, transgenerational trauma, therapy, holotropic breathwork, motherhood, inner child healing, compassion.   In the final episode of this season, I speak to psychotherapist Deirdre Nicole Hegarty, who shares her adoption story​ with us. Deirdre lives in Donegal with her husband Noel and their baby boy,...

In this snippet, business mentor and change coach Niamh Ennis speaks about the power of change​, whether it arrives suddenly in our lives or is something we choose and how both can lead us closer to the life we truly want, if we’re willing to ask ourselves the right questions…and really listen to the answers. If you enjoyed this snippet, you can listen to my full conversation with Niamh Ennis...

​Topics covered : Pancreatic cancer, grief, sympathy, therapy, good girl conditioning, life changes, intuition, journaling.  This week, business mentor and change coach Niamh Ennis is my guest. She lives in Galway with her husband Michael and their rescue dog Bella. She’s the author of 'Get Unstuck: Ditch Your Drama and Move from Pain to Power' but long before the work she does now, Niam...

In this week's Real Take, I'm sharing a short snippet of my recent conversation with Celtic wisdom teacher and guide Mari Kennedy. Here she talks to us about the coming days, Síle's day on the 18th and later in the week, we'll be celebrating the Spring Equinox. I highly recommend you listen to the full conversation with Mari anytime now, it's a beaut! To connect with her : https://www.mariken...

Topics covered : The dark feminine/An Chailleach, infertility, grief, good girl conditioning, masculine and feminine forces, patriarchy, menopause, 4 (not 3) stages of womanhood - Maiden, Mother, Sovereign Queen and Crone, Friday the 13th, Síle's day, year of the Fire Horse, Spring Equinox, Sinéad O'Connor, rebellion, new age wellness, Síle na gig, feminine rising.  For this special Frid...

I'm dipping into the Ready to be Real archive for this week's Real Take. In this snippet, I speak with the wonderfully reflective Michael Harding, as he shares his love of religion and spirituality...from Buddhism to Christianity...with the philosophical curiosity and earthy wisdom he’s so well known for. And if you enjoy this, I highly recommend you listen to the full conversation with Micha...

This week I'm joined by personal trainer and online coach Iza Clarke. Originally from Poland, Iza has been living in Ireland for the past 18 years. She’s married to Odhran and they have two tween daughters, Lanah and Keira. I recently started training with ​her and I love how encouraging and knowledgeable she is​, so I wanted to sit down with her for an honest and informative conversatio...

​Topics covered : toxic family systems, boundaries, living grief, healing. For this week's Real Take, Josh Connolly talks about the unspoken truth of family dysfunction and how toxic systems are often invisible to the outside world. ​He is a father of six and his book​  ​'It’s Them, Not You: How to Break Free from Toxic Parents and Reclaim Your Story' is a bestseller. With a powerfu...