The Survival Project

In Episode 17, I sit down with Owen Lancelot , an ultra runner and ostomate whose story goes way beyond ulcerative colitis. Diagnosed at 16 , Owen shares what happens to your mind when your body starts betraying you: the anger, the loss of fear, the reckless coping, and the brutal cycle of meds, steroids, and hospital stays. He also opens up about the lesser-known “domino effects” of treatment and...

In this episode of The Survival Project , I sit down with Colm Collins , an IBD researcher with over 15 years of experience at the cutting edge of inflammatory bowel disease science. Colm unpacks some of the most misunderstood and debated topics in IBD today, including: Why cannabis may feel helpful short-term but can significantly worsen Crohn’s disease long-term The real science behind the gut–b...

Food used to be simple. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being. In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Kenneth Keavey , founder of Green Earth Organics, to uncover the hidden realities of modern food production and why an everyday orange might not be vegan. From chemical residues and food coatings to fake farm branding and soil destruction, this conversation reveals how disconnected we’ve bec...

Gut symptoms are never “just in your head” but your brain is absolutely involved. In this episode of The Survival Project , I’m joined by Lorraine Cooney , dietetics, gut-brain axis , the microbiome, and why stress, food fear, and nervous system dysregulation can intensify IBS and ongoing gut symptoms in IBD. Lorraine breaks down gut-directed hypnotherapy (what it is, what it targets, and why it’s...

In this episode of The Survival Project , I’m joined by Daniel Duckett . Daniel lives with an ostomy, is an award-winning pastry chef based in Belfast, and is an openly gay man who has rebuilt a full, confident, and creative life after years of chronic illness and complex surgery. Daniel’s journey begins in his teens with ulcerative colitis, evolving diagnoses, repeated hospitalisations, failed tr...

In this episode, I’m joined by TV and radio presenter Zoe Ryan, who shares her powerful journey of living with psoriasis. We explore the shock of diagnosis, identity struggles, the mental health impact of visible illness, and the gaps in dermatology that leave so many people feeling lost. Zoe explains how psoriasis reshaped her life, the stigma she faced, and why she created ItchingTo Tell You , (...

In episode 11 of The Survival Project, I slow things down and reflect on the first ten episodes and the lessons they have taught me. This is a solo episode, no guest, just me looking back at the stories we have shared and what they really mean when the microphones are off and real life kicks back in. I talk about why reflection matters, how insecurity nearly stopped me recording this episode, and...

In this episode of The Survival Project, Siobhán from Galway shares a powerful and deeply honest story of surviving a failed system. She has lived with stage 4 endometriosis for 16 years, survived a perforated womb, was misdiagnosed while developing myocarditis, and spent over a year bedbound while raising her young son alone. We talk about • Endometriosis, major surgery and a complete lack of aft...

At just 16, Ellie Howe’s life changed overnight. What began as stomach pain spiralled into years of misdiagnosis, disbelief, and unimaginable suffering — dismissed by doctors, labelled dramatic, and told to “man up.” By 19, she was bed bound, on artificial nutrition, and told her illness was “life-limiting.” But Ellie refused to let that be the end. With her mother’s relentless advocacy and a glim...

In this episode of The Survival Project, I sit down with fellow Galway native Ruth Gibney. Ruth shares her powerful journey through a whirlwind year, being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and then cancer at just 25, all in the middle of the 2020 lockdowns. Ruth opens up about: Ignoring early warning signs and learning to listen to her body Facing surgery, recovery, and a life-changing cancer diagno...

In this episode of The Survival Project, we sit down with Ronan O’Brien — founder of Breathwave Ireland — to talk about breathwork as more than a trend. This is about pain, anger, identity, stress, nervous system regulation, and the ability to actually come back to yourself. Ronan shares how chronic pain and the loss of his identity as an athlete pushed him into breathwork back in 2015/2016 — not...

In this powerful episode of The Survival Project , Jonathan speaks with his first international guest — Canadian athlete and Crohn’s warrior Alex MacInnis . Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 12, Alex spent years in and out of hospitals, battling severe illness and multiple failed medications before finally undergoing ostomy surgery — a decision that gave him his life back. Now, Alex lives fully, a...

At just 25, Louise Duffy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a life-changing moment that forced her to confront fear, uncertainty, and resilience head-on. In this episode of The Survival Project , Louise opens up about the early warning signs and the reality of living with a hidden illness that few truly understand. From navigating dismissive doctors to finding the right treatment, she shares h...

In this episode of The Survival Project , I sit down with Sean Francis. Diagnosed as a teenager, Sean battled years of misdiagnosis, recurring abscesses, and relentless pain before finally opting for life-changing stoma surgery. What followed was a story of resilience, recovery, and rebuilding — from regaining his health and returning to work and training, to finding confidence, love, and laughter...

In this episode of The Survival Project, I speak with Sarah O Connor, a powerful advocate living with both Crohn’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Sarah shares her personal journey with not just one but 2 chronic illnesses. We cover medication challenges, invisible illness, the genetic component for motherhood, and what it truly means to live with multiple diagnoses. She offers inspiring advi...

Nobody knows my journey better than the woman who has guided me through it all, my mother Rita. My mom joins me today to share her perspective and the wisdom she has gained from over 20 years of experience. In this conversation, we explore the emotional toll of raising a child with chronic illness, the resilience it takes to hold a family together, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. It’s...

The Survival Project begins.. The first episode will be a little bit about me, my experience with chronic illness from the age of 9 (Crohn's Disease & Ostomy Bag at 19), why I want to make a podcast, why I've gone with the name and most importantly, what I hope this podcast can become. Thank you for taking the time to listen. I hope you enjoy the podcast and stay with us for the journey. Speci...