Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

​Topics covered : Alcoholism, toxic family systems, boundaries, living grief, compassion, healing. This week I speak to author Josh Connolly about family dysfunction. Josh 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 powerful online following and years of lived experience behind his work, he speaks...

​For today’s Real Take, we’re dipping into the archive. Back in May 2020, during the height of COVID restrictions, I recorded a remote conversation with comedian, actor and broadcaster Tommy Tiernan...he was in Galway, I was in Dublin, ​but despite the distance, the connection was magic. He spoke about his fascination with religion and philosophy​, we learn more about what makes him tick...wh...

This episode is aimed at parents of young children through to preteens and I’m speaking with child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinane. Debbie lives in Mayo with her husband James and their two children, Elsie (10.5) and Freddie (9.5). For context, I have two children as well, Cathal (8.5) and Clíodhna (4), so this conversation felt particularly relevant. Debbie first joined me on the...

In today’s Real Take, Brother Richard speaks about death in a deeply comforting way​, drawn from his years of accompanying people at the end of their lives. If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you’d like to hear more from Brother Richard, the full conversation is available to listen to anytime now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Meditation, religion, spirituality, distractions, boredom and creativity, authenticity, discernment, validation, forgiveness, death, living fully, gratitude, compassion. This week I’m delighted to welcome back a ​true friend of the podcast​. Brother Richard​ is a Capuchin Franciscan priest-friar and he first joined me three and a half years ago ​for a conv...

In today’s Real Take, we step beyond the headlines with crime journalist Nicola Tallant and get a real sense of what makes her tick. ​If you’re enjoying these conversations, I’d love you to follow, rate and share​...it really helps Ready to be Real grow.  Míle buíochas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​Topics covered : Crimeworld, fraudsters, the Regency Hotel shooting, The Kinahans, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, being a mother, resilience. ​I'm joined by crime journalist, author and podcaster Nicola Tallant. Nicola is a ​Mum of two and has been working in journalism since she was just nineteen and over the years she’s become one of the most respected and trusted voices in Irish crime reporting,...

Topics covered: Addiction, porn, car accident, death, family dynamics, shame, guilt, grief, forgiveness, therapy, support, compassion, healing. In this episode, I’m joined by men’s coach and author Gavin Meenan. Originally from Donegal, Gavin has been living in Sligo for the past sixteen years and is a father of two. Ariana is fifteen and Mason is eight. In this conversation, Gavin speaks with rem...

In this snippet I speak to broadcaster and author Clare McKenna about wellness. If you enjoy this and you’d like to hear more, the full conversation with ​Clare is available to listen to anytime now. Announcement : I'm hosting a live podcast show on Saturday 31st of January at 2pm Abbey Presbyterian church as part of Brigit : Dublin City Celebrating Women pr...

Topics covered : Moving house, dementia, grief, diet culture, anxiety, privilege, breathwork. In this episode, I’m joined by broadcaster Clare McKenna for a conversation all about wellness. (Announcement : I'm hosting a live podcast show on Saturday 31st of January at 2pm as part of Brigit : Dublin City Celebrating Women presented in partnership with Acast. And I'm delight...

In this snippet comedian Aoife Dunne brings us back to her mothers funeral, 15 years ago. (Her Mum Maria died suddenly of a heart attack in December 2010) If you connect to this moment, I highly recommend you go back and listen to it in full.  It's a gorgeous conversation. Also I'm hosting a live podcast show on Saturday 31st of January at 2pm as part of Brigit : Dublin City Celebra...

​Topics covered : Grief, love, sudden death, comedy, trolling, ADHD, childfree by choice.  I cannot tell you how much I loved this conversation. It made me belly laugh…and it made me cry. ​I’m joined by comedian, poet, storyteller, and truth-teller​ - the absolute powerhouse that is Aoife Dunne. In this conversation ​we talk about her incredible rise over the past few years, the joy...

This is The Real Take​, a moment of honesty and wisdom from the heart of Ready to be Real. Content creator and Garda Fiona Morgan Coleman lives with an incurable form of cancer but thankfully she continues to live life fully, due to ongoing treatment. ​In this snippet she offers a powerful dose of perspective as we step into a new year And if you’d like to hear more, the full conversation wit...

Topics covered : Stage 3 aggressive breast cancer diagnosis, mastectomy, axillary clearance, chemotherapy, radiation, recurrence, ovaries and fallopian tubes removed, treatment, living well. For my first episode back in 2026, I’m joined by content creator, businesswoman, Garda and breast cancer survivor Fiona Morgan Coleman. Originally from Nenagh in Tipperary, she now lives in Shrule, Mayo with h...

This is The Real Take — a glimpse into the honesty and connection at the heart of every episode of Ready to be Real. In this snippet I speak to online sensation Garron Noone who shares powerful insights on how he navigates comments online, both the positive and the negative. We also reflect on the year gone by, look ahead to Christmas, and he offers genuinely solid advice for anyone who...

Topics covered : Anxiety, panic attacks, agoraphobia, family, music, fame.  In my final episode of 2025, I’m joined by the one and only Mr. Garron Noone. He has built an incredibly loyal — and ever-growing — online community, with 2.5 million followers on Instagram and 2.2 million on TikTok. But behind the viral videos is someone with real depth and in this conversation, we go far beyond the...

This is The Real Take — a glimpse into the honesty and connection at the heart of every episode of Ready to be Real. In this snippet I chat to sex educator, author and podcaster Grace Alice O'Shea about sexual compatibility and role play. And if you’d like to hear more, the full conversation with Grace Alice is available to listen to anytime now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

Topics covered : vaginismus, shame, libido, faking orgasm, sexual compatibility, body image, acceptance, masturbation, sexual confidence, sex toys, anal sex, role play, freedom, pleasure.   This week, I’m joined by sex educator, author and podcaster, the brilliant Grace Alice O’Shea. She lives in Limerick with her boyfriend Ivan and their two dogs, and in this episode she answe...

Topics covered : Life in Gaza, living under occupation, murder, grief, trauma, injustice. I am revisiting this conversation as the incredible Hala Sourani was honoured at the Shine Mental Health Media Awards today in Dublin. She won the Special Recognition award for th​is podcast and ​everyone in the room w​ere on their feet ​for her. A truly deserving standing ovation for...

​This is The Real Take — a glimpse into the honesty, wisdom and connection at the heart of every episode of Ready to be Real. I’m speaking with Vanessa Ogbonna, one of the winners of the very first series of The Traitors Ireland. She once chased a bright future in football until injury and illness forced a dramatic change of course. In this snippet she speaks about her experience of racism in Irel...

Topics covered : The Traitors, growing up in Direct Provision, football career, injury, grief, Lupus diagnosis, faith, 2023 Dublin riots, racism. This week, I’m joined by one of the winners of the very first series of The Traitors Ireland — Vanessa Ogbonna. But her story stretches far beyond reality TV. Vanessa once chased a bright future in football until injury and illness forced a dramatic chan...

Make sure little ears aren't listening! Topics covered : Unpacking 'calm' parenting, navigating meltdowns (for adults and kids)​, the power of play in building connection with kids, dropping the threats, slapping, resilience building, unlearning, rupture and repair, positive modelling. This week, I’m speaking with child and adolescent psychotherapist Debbie Cullinane. Debb...

This is The Real Take — a glimpse into the honesty, wisdom and connection at the heart of every episode of Ready to be Real. Today, I’m revisiting a conversation I recorded six years ago with the incredible Seán Boylan — a fifth-generation herbalist and a true sporting legend. During his 23 years as Meath Football Manager, he led the county to four All-Ireland titles and cemented his reputation as...

Topics covered : AI in today's world, awareness. In this episode, I speak to technology consultant and author Joanne Griffin. She's married to Mark, they have two teenage boys, and they live in Navan. She left the mainstream corporate world just before Covid to pursue a career in tech, and a few years later, she wrote a book called “Humology – How to Put Humans Back at the Heart of Technology.” In...

Topics covered : Leukaemia, blood transfusions, bone marrow transplant, pregnancy, birth story, positive mindset, exercise, faith, gratitude.   This episode is in partnership with  giveblood.ie  — a service that truly saves lives. I speak with Laura Murphy, whose husband Dave was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia eleven years ago. Throughout his treatment, he n...