The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast

In this inspiring episode, I’m joined by the high-energy and deeply insightful Alison Kelly — affectionately known as The Enter-Trainer — whose mission is to help people create careers that align with their values, aspirations, and authentic selves.With a rich background in Human Resources, recruitment, and quality management, Alison brings both practical expertise and personal wisdom to the conversation. Having reinvented her own career several times, she shares how resilience, creativity, and inner alignment have been key to rebuilding a livelihood that not only supports her but truly fulfils her.Alison’s story is one of transformation, courage, and clarity — a reminder that no matter where we are on our journey, we can always choose a path that feels right in our soul. Whether you're feeling stuck in your career or ready to embrace a new chapter, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered, seen, and inspired.

🎧 Tune in for:

Insights on navigating career transitions with grace

How to align your work with your personal values

The power of reinvention and self-trust

Why energy, purpose, and joy belong in your professional life

Let Alison’s journey light the way for your next step forward

A beautiful conversation with my guest this week Eilish O'Rourke, like many of us, Eilish had experienced anxiety throughout her life. She started to look after herself and it led her to mindfulness and Reiki, she is now offering the same to others in a harmonious fusion to elevate self-awareness and foster profound healing. Her mission is to support ladies who are ready to break the cycle of only existing, allowing them to feel love, joy, fun and peace in their hearts and minds. The peace certainly flows from Eilish's energy as we share our experiences. She has taken a new step in her career direction and has recently taken to the stage to speak, she offers classes in person and online, as well as Reiki sessions in person and distantly. You can find Eilish on

My guest this week is Brenda Cormican, a business coach who empowers wellness professionals to build thriving, scalable businesses with purpose and impact. After spending over a decade in the hospitality industry, a career she eventually outgrew, she found herself feeling stuck and uncertain about her next steps. The birth of her first child in 2021 became a turning point, inspiring her to create a business that aligned with her passion and values. Now Brenda helps others do the same - through her signature ELEVATE program - turning their expertise and passion into profitable, fullfilling business. Through her strategic, hands-on-coaching, she guides wellness entrepreneurs to gain clarity, build confidence, and implement the right structures for long-term success.

My guest this week is Gina Dermody - Director of Adolessence, a beyond Psychotherapy clinic that specialises in support adolescents and families. As a child, Adolescent & Family Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor, Gina leads a team of three therapists who provide therapy to adolescents, parents, adults and couples. Established in 2011,the clinic is located in Tuam, Co. Galway, and serves the local community, surrounding schools, the greater Connacht region, and offers online services to clients in other areas.

In this episode Gina talks about what anxiety is and how it may show up in our children's lives and what we can do about it as parents. Anxiety is something to be understood.

The development of the adolescent's brain and the changes in their behaviours that parents can understand what is normal and what is temporary.

The impact of social media on our young people and how as parents we need to be the gatekeepers of their safety by keeping the lines of communication open.

In this deeply moving and inspiring episode, I sit down with the incredible Ruth Owen, a woman whose life has been woven with experiences of adoption, adventure, loss, and transformation. I first connected with Ruth through a heartfelt LinkedIn post she shared about the devastating loss of her 22-year-old daughter, Charlotte, just six months ago. Her words resonated with over 141,000 people, reflecting a universal longing for community, connection, and belonging.

Ruth’s journey began with adoption at just 16 days old, shaping the trajectory of her life in ways she could never have imagined. From working in radio and television, an expedition to Antarctica, becoming a certified Mindvalley trainer, and coaching others in confidence and personal growth, Ruth has embraced life with an adventurous spirit. But alongside the highs, she has faced deep sorrow and needed time to reconnect with herself. Now, she returns with renewed purpose, ready to bring more magic into the world.

Ruth’s infectious enthusiasm and wisdom will leave you feeling uplifted, motivated, and reminded that even in life’s darkest moments, there is always the potential for new beginnings.

Tune in for a conversation filled with heart, hope, and the power of true connection.

In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Calodagh McCumiskey from Wexford, Ireland. We first connected through LinkedIn and immediately resonated with each other on both a personal and professional level.

Calodagh has lived a truly global life, growing up in different countries before dedicating 14 years to aid work, leading teams and managing projects in high-stress environments following man-made and natural disasters. Her time in crisis zones shaped her practical, results-driven approach to wellbeing, but the transition back to everyday life was not immediate.

After returning to Ireland, it took her several years to process everything she had experienced during her aid work across the world. To reconnect with herself, she turned to meditation, mindfulness, and the power of being present, allowing her to grow deeper roots and find acceptance. This journey led her into the field of personal development, where she now integrates the 12 key pillars of wellbeing—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative, financial, community, relationships, work, digital, purpose, and environment—ensuring a holistic and impactful experience tailored to each person’s needs.

This deep understanding of whole-person wellbeing is why Calodagh and I felt so aligned, and together, we have created a transformative programme:

🌿 The Wellness Blueprint – Live Online Event | Saturday, April 12th 🌿

This event is designed to help you create a personalised wellness plan, with actionable tools for mindfulness, vitality, and growth—helping you find clarity, balance, and motivation in your life.

My guest this week is Trevor O'Donoghue from Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland -Photographer & co- founder of Focus on Happiness.

Trevor talks about growing up under the fear of his life being cut short due to his cystic fibrosis - which had taken his Sister Karen when She was only 12 years of age. He grew up in a family that were grieving and believed the same fate awaited him.

He speaks about his anxiety and fear as a child, not being able to focus at school and he didn't form friendships very easily. Discovering photography changed his life and he found ways to express his creativity, look at life from a different perspective and saying yes to every opportunity.

Trevor created a life where is present, fully alive and exploring new ways to be creative in his life and in his work as a photographer. One of those ways is in his community - Focus on Happiness which he and his fiancee Ciara started together and it grew in huge numbers during the pandemic. They now have a growing global community that offers picture challenges, mindful check ins, workshops, a supportive community plus online and offline meetups.

The community focuses on:

Growth and reflecting in fun and creative ways.

Use picture-taking as a simple mindfulness & meditation practise.

Use social media & smart devices in healthier ways.

Join a tribe of like-minded people with positive intentions.

Trevor says "photography is not just about cameras, it is art, psychology, light, composition and storytelling."

To find out more about Trevor please connect to him on

In this powerful episode, I sit down with 43 year old Sean Blake from Dublin, Ireland, as he bravely shares his lived experience of recovering from anorexia. Sean takes us through his journey—how it all began with running, strict food choices, and pushing himself to the limits, both physically and mentally. Trapped in a cycle of self-punishment, he eventually opened up to his wife, Edel, leading him to seek support from his GP, therapist, and eventually St. Patrick's Mental Health Services.

Sean speaks openly about his time as an inpatient, the surrender of control, and the deep realisation that he was not alone. He found healing through group therapy, where he learned to cultivate self-compassion and understand that his eating disorder was a symptom of deeper struggles, dating back to childhood anxiety and low self-worth.

Today, Sean is a passionate advocate for mental health and eating disorder awareness. He has shared his story through the RTÉ documentary "Anorexia, My Family and Me", social media, and various mental health platforms, including Shine See Change, Voice Platform, BodyWhys Media Panel, and St. Patrick's SUAS Council. His mission is clear: to fight stigma, normalise conversations around mental health, and remind others that recovery is possible.

Join us for this honest, insightful, and deeply inspiring conversation. 💙

🎧 Listen now and be part of the movement to break the silence around mental health.

Another powerful and open conversation this week with my guest Daragh Fleming from Cork in Ireland.

Daragh lost his best friend through suicide at the age of 17 and he shares how he got lost in himself, not being able to feel any emotion. He started to heal through writing and connected back to his vulnerability and truth. In doing so, he wrote his first book - Lonely Boy which in turn would help him to connect to others and become an advocate for breaking the stigma of mental health.

This week, I’m joined by the inspiring Lucy Cronly, a life coach and author of The Right Shoes – A Journey of Self-Discovery and Meaningful Connections.

Lucy’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and the power of meaningful connections.

💫 In this episode, we explore:

✔️ How losing her mother at the age of 6 shaped her journey and how she still feels the gift of her mother’s love.

✔️ Her 29-year career as a Social Care Manager and how an injury led her to a new path of learning and self-discovery.

✔️ The incredible journey of writing The Right Shoes—from an academic paper to a published book.

✔️ How her book helps readers understand their choices, embrace their personal stories, and become their own best friend during difficult times.

🎁 BONUS: A workbook to help guide your personal reflection while reading the book! Get yours by emailing Lucy.Cronly@gmail.com

This week, I sit down with Cormac Noonan, a transpersonal therapist, men’s work facilitator, and author of two books for young men: Discover Your Destination and Craft Your Character. 🌿

✨ He is also the founder of Wolf Academy, an organisation integrating practical well-being solutions into education.💬

In This Episode, We Explore:

🔹 Reclaiming Personal Power – Healing from past trauma & finding strength

🔹 Masculinity & Emotional Well-being – Why embracing feminine energy brings balance

🔹 The Role of Nature – How presence in nature reconnects us to ourselves

🔹 Creating Safe Spaces – The power of men’s work & emotional release

🔹 Bringing Well-being into Schools – Cormac’s mission with Wolf Academy

🎙️ Cormac’s Journey: Cormac opens up about losing his power through abuse, how it led to toxic patterns of manipulation, and how he found healing through safe spaces where he could release rage and grief. Now, he is dedicated to empowering others to reclaim their own strength through authenticity and presence.

🌍 Learn More About Cormac & Wolf Academy:

My guest this week is the remarkable Conor Nolan, a 26 year old from Co. Cavan in Ireland who was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa when he was just 12 years of age.

Conor speaks so openly about how his interest in sport and exercise led him to comparing himself to older sports people and as a child believed if he worked harder, lost weight that he would feel or perform better.

He shares how counselling helped him and he went on to later write his own story in detail - his book 'Normal' was published in 2020. He now is an advocate for mental health and speaks regularly to young people in schools and colleges about normal mental health wellbeing.

Along with his business partier Tiernan Harris, they are co-funded by the European Commission through the European Solidarity Corps for a year long project during which they collect surveys from students to gather their outlooks on mental health both before and after their talks.

Conor's story is one of lived experiences and he shares tips and tools that have worked for him in his recovery.

My guest Dr. Andrea LaFountain joins me this week as we discuss the deeper questions about our connection to God.

We discuss how neuroscience, theology and behaviour are combined in her work and in her life.

We discuss spirituality and the soul.

Returning to love

Free will and choice

Finding answers to our questions

Andrea always had a desire to help people understand themselves and went onto earn her PhD in Neuroscience and completed her Masters in Theology.

She recently came back to her roots in the Catholic Faith after 36 years of Protestantism. She is the founder of Truth First, a non profit group purposed to prosper sanctification in believers and leadership excellence in the church.

She writes and speaks on a variety of Christian issues that get to the heart, soul and mind of the matter.

Danielle Serpico is the founder of The BlackBelt MasterMind ACADEMY (est. 2011) Danielle started her entrepreneurial journey at 16yrs of age and by 19 she had already established her first of three Restaurants. In 2009 life threw her a curveball and she pivoted with it deep into self development and mastering the art of self sovereignty - studying hypnosis, psychology, Neuro - Linguistic Programming (NLP) and the influence and affect that subconscious communication has on us, on others, our business and our lives. As a BlackBelt and European Champion Martial Artist, Danielle knows what it means to focus, have tenacity and succeed -  and her favourite quote “A blackbelt is simply a white belt that never gave up,” was the inspiration for the foundation of The BBMM ACADEMY. Over the past 15 years she has helped countless start-ups establish themselves, businesses to grow and individuals to thrive. She is a seasoned Radio Broadcaster and had her own shows Radio MasterMind on Charity Radio and MindMatters on 103.2 FM for many years. Danielle’s passion is in words and communication so it is no surprise that she has also studied Script Writing with the Gaiety Theatre as well as being the Author of two books - the acclaimed self development book‘The BlackBelt MasterMind’, and recently this year, the Number 1 Best Seller ’TerraNova’ a young adult fantasy novel.And as founder of "The BlackBeltMasterMind ACADEMY" thousands of students have trained and qualified under her guidance and tutelage, becoming Certified NLP Practitioners and MasterMind Coaches and discovering how when we know how and where to direct our energy, focus and words … our world can truly expand.Now its your turn to learn from the best in the field of Psychology, Hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)!

My guest this week is South African born Janine Schuller - a Sangoma (African Medicine Women) & Prophet, initiated traditionally in the townships of Cape Town, by both the Zulu and Xhosa Tribes.

Although she lives in Ireland with her Irish husband, she returns to the townships most years to meet her Tata (African Father) and enter into ceremony with her Ancestors.

Janine shares how She was called to be a Sangoma and the ceremonies that took place in the townships were not always welcoming, but She formed a new family and tribe.

She also shares her personal challenges through miscarriages and how accepting She would not be a Mother has brought her peace in her life now.

Janine is most passionate about helping people build a relationship with themselves (to trust their intuition); their Ancestors (to know where their messages are coming from and trust them) and with others (to be of service in their own unique way).  She shares her own experiences in hope that those listening find their own inner Gentle Warrior and lead their own way.

Janine is qualified as a Creative Mindfulness Kids Practitioner, has a Major Award in Early Childhood and Care Education and is currently upgrading her Special Needs Assistance training.  Although she isn’t 100% sure where this training is taking her and the additional training she may be taking on, she is confident she is stepping firmly into an Advocator Role.

My guest today is the amazing talented Julie Burke or known on social media as JulesRulesIrl. A social media sensation with over 40k followers across facebook, Instagram and TikTok, in just 4 years Julie has taken the digital world by storm, selling out speaking events, mentoring women in business growth, and even headlining her own stand up gigs.

In this episode Julie talks about showing up as yourself and standing out in your own unique way.

Finding an outlet for your creativity to share joy and insights that we can all relate to.

Being mindful of your own needs as a Mother.

Accepting accolades as women and being proud of your achievements.

Moving into your forties with confidence.

Share what you know and stop letting perfection be a thief of your dreams and goals.

Women supporting women.

Finding a balance in your role as a Mother in your career and home.

Such a wonderful conversation with Julie and She has so much wisdom to share.

Please follow her on

The last episode of 2024 and in this episode I share with you a little bit more about my work, the people I have had the honour of working with and how we can all support and encourage each other to build connections, relationships and communities whilst honouring what we value about ourselves, our time and energy.

I will also bring you on a guided self-awareness practice using breath, mindfulness and inquiry into your current values and self-perception.

I want to thank all my guests that have shared so much of themselves on my show and to you the listeners who make every moment of it so worthwhile.

Thank you for your support this year. I look forward to sharing more inspirational stories in 2025

My guest this week is Jan Brierton, a mam, a fashion stylist, and a poet.

Her first collection What Day Is It? Who Gives a F*ck was published in 2021

after Jan’s first ever poem went viral during lockdown.

Everybody Is a Poem: Midlife in Rhymes is Jan’s second collection published by New Island.

In this pocket-sized book Jan riffs on menopause, midlife, the mental load, friendships,

relationships, loss, and self-acceptance.

On its release, Jan’s second collection made the top 10 paperback non-fiction book charts.

Plain-speaking and completely relatable, each of these 52 poems are served with Jan’s signature combination of humour, wit, and poignancy.

This is poetry for everybody.

Since the publication of her debut book, Jan has appeared on RTE Nationwide, TV3’s Six O Clock show, RTE Radio 1’s Brendan O Connor Show, Ray Darcy Show, 2Fm, 98FM, The Irish Times Women’s podcast and Mamia & Me with Amy Huberman. Jan’s poems have been shared on social media by Jo Whiley and Emma Barnett (BBC Women’s Hour) with over 30K views. Jan is the resident poet on the Ray Darcy Show on RTE Radio 1.

With her passion for keeping poetry accessible, Jan’s poems come to life with her engaging live performances. In May 2024 Jan opened with her hero Dr John Cooper Clark in Dublin’s 3Olympia Theatre, where she debuted her homage to his world famous ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ with her modern love poem ‘You’ll Always Be For Me’

She has read her poems on The Word and Manifesto stages at Electric Picnic, The London Irish Centre, The Mutiny Theatre, St Annes Park Rose Festival, Five Lamps Arts Festival, Drogheda Arts Festival, Dublin City Libraries and the Liberties Festival.

Jan’s poems ‘But’ and ‘Sound Body’ have featured in both of Aoibhin Garrihy’s poetry anthologies.

Jan brought her live show Wild Words to Dublin’s Ambassador Theatre in November 2024, celebrating the power of poetry and prose with Donna Ashworth, PJ Gallagher and Emmet Kirwan.

2025 will see Jan open for John Cooper Clark in The London Palladium, The Nottingham Royal Concert Hall and the Manchester Co-Op Arena.

Jan continues to write and perform alongside her mam duties and her career as a creative director and fashion stylist.

Empowering voices against Sexual Violence - TRIGGER WARNING

Please follow & Share - Thank you for listening.

My guest this week is Annie O'Dea, a model and content creator from the west of Ireland.  

Annie has built an impressive career, with features in British Vogue and collaborations with numerous Irish brands. She was the second runner-up in Miss Universe Ireland

But Annie’s journey goes far beyond fashion and beauty. 

She entered Miss Universe with a powerful purpose: to raise awareness about sexual assault and advocate for survivors. 

As someone who lives with PTSD, she understands first hand the importance of openly discussing these experiences, the triggers that can arise, and the lasting effects that follow.

Annie’s passion is to support those affected by trauma and help educate others on these crucial issues. 

Her ultimate goal is to create safe spaces for survivors to share their stories, fostering understanding and empathy in communities everywhere.

The why of anything you do is the question we keep coming back to when we are struggling or feeling challenged whether that is in our relationships, careers or businesses.

My guest this week is Samantha Kelly an Award Winning Twitter(X) and LinkedIn Expert, Social Media Trainer, Author & Tedx Speaker.

Samantha shares very honestly the reason She started out on her own entrepreneurial journey with an appearance on Dragon's Den and how She wanted something better for herself and her daughters.

She has suffered with alcohol addiction, marriage breakdown and finding it hard to make ends meet financially, She wanted more and She found a way to make it happen.

This was the start of an amazing journey into who Samantha is today and the thousands of people She helps globally online and in person.

She offers so much to others and I have seen proof of that not only in the years knowing her online but even on my podcast today, She continues to inspire and support small businesses with valuable and real tips to help and support others reach their full potential.

She has many programmes, masterclasses, training events online and in person that can help you find your why and put yourself out there so that others know who you are and what you are offering.

An innate capacity to stay alive and to stay safe during huge devastation.

My guest this week Rachel Gotto has come through some of the worst experiences in her life, her instinct for survival took over in those moments to keep her safe and functioning.

Rachel lost her husband Nick in a diving accident when She was only 29 and 6 months pregnant with her daughter. Becoming a sole parent, to battling a brain tumour that left her temporarily paralysed. Her journey of recovery is a testament to the power of resilience and a strong mindset. Now She inspires others to overcome their own obstacles and build unshakeable resilience in their lives and workplaces through her work as a Crisis Coach, Transformational Speaker, Best selling Author, TEDx Speaker and Radio Guest.

A powerful conversation with my guest this week.

We talked about

Checking in with yourself

What is important to you

What your values are

Having a beginner mind

Having empathy with action

Realising that your inner wisdom is always available to you if you take the time to listen and learn to trust yourself.

Hilary Connor is a Spiritual Well-Being Coach and Author. A natural intuitive with a depth of

expertise in coaching and mindfulness teaching, Hilary combines her skills to help her clients awaken

awareness of their own natural intelligence and live a life of meaning, purpose and flourishing.

She opened her Wellbeing practice in 1999 in Gorey, Co Wexford and has built an international

client base. In addition to one-to-one spiritual therapy and coaching sessions, Hilary regularly

teaches the MBSR programme, mindfulness classes and spiritual development groups online and in

person. In the community, she also shares her skills to help people build sustainable wellbeing

practices into the fibre their lives through partnerships with the Irish Cancer Society, corporate

organisations and in her teaching role with the education and training boards across Dublin and

Wexford.

Hilary holds an MSc in Mindfulness-based well-being and an H Dip in Coaching Psychology, both

from UCC. She is highly trained in building Workplace Well-Being through mindfulness and coaching

interventions. Hilary is also a Certified Hypnotherapist and has qualifications in counselling and

Did you ever think of writing your book?

Well my next guest will help you every step of the way.

Orla Kelly, an accomplished Irish book publisher and founder of Orla Kelly Publishing, has guided hundreds of clients through the self-publishing journey over the past 10 years, helping them craft professional, high-quality books that resonate with their readers. Orla’s passion for her work and personalised approach ensures that every book she publishes reflects the unique voice and vision of its author, making her a trusted ally for anyone considering writing and publishing their book. Whether looking to share your message to attract more clients and grow your business, or have your book as a memoir, sharing your story and leaving  a lasting legacy, Orla has your back. Through her innovative programs, including 1:1 support, Orla publishes books that make a real difference in people’s lives.   Orla is my publisher and has helped me to get my message out to the world in 3 of published books.

Don't hesitate and contact her today for a free consultation call and explore your ideas with her, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Orla has kindly offered a discount on her one to one or 10 week program starting in January 2025 for anyone that tells her they have come through my recommendation.

Week 4 in my Irish Abroad series and my guest this week is Sinead Naughton from New Inn, Co. Galway who has lived in New York for the past 30 years. Sinead is a retired History teacher who now operates bars restaurants in NYC and NJ with her husband Scott.  Sinead is involved with various networks in NYC and is a long time volunteer with Concern Worldwide.  

This was a wonderful chat and a chance to reconnect, as myself and Sinead had been school mates from 1983 to 1988 in the Mercy Convent in Tuam, Co. Galway, this is the first time we have spoken since then! We shared memories of our time in secondary school and the teachers that had an impact on us growing up and in later years as adults.

Sinead shared how her family in Ireland are such a big part of her life and the memories of her late Father still flow through her words today.

Sinead shared how the pandemic changed so much in the hospitality industry and how businesses have had to adapt since then.

We also spoke about creating opportunities for ourselves and sometimes that is by putting ourselves out there, even when we feel like we are out of our comfort zones.

Sinéad and Scott enjoy traveling, exploring the outdoors, and having fun with their lovely English bulldog. Sinéad gets back to Ireland pretty often and treasures spending time with her family and young nieces and nephews.

Week 3 of my Irish Abroad series and this week my guest is David Ryan, originally from Mayo in the West of Ireland and now living in Canada.

From the decision to immigrate to Canada, David and his Fiancee Shauna were hit by obstacles that were out of their control, but that didn't stop them from moving forward and setting up life in Canada.

Once there, David shared how they went from having all their belongings stolen to a near fatal car accident, PTSD and severe online abuse followed but they never gave up.

I told David that their story would make for a great movie!

Now David works as a mortgage broker and his intention is to help fellow Irish in Canada with educating and guiding them in mortgages and home ownership in Canada.

An inspirational story, David leans into the challenges as he learns more about himself and that you can change direction anytime you wish to follow your goals.

This is the second in my series of Irish Abroad and my guest this week is Katie Boyle an Irish Comedian in New York City who is originally from Kildare.

She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts from Dun Laoighaire Institute of Art, Design & Technology, after graduation She moved to New York city where She began to perform her stand up comedy acts. She now performs all across America and Ireland.

In this episode Katies shares how stand up is a form of therapy, as you get to say what you want without anyone interrupting you!

Katie did actual therapy for over a year in America and it helped her to understand and identify what was conditioning from her childhood and where She was projecting her negative patterns in her life, friendships and relationships.

A great chat with this amazing young lady who in July 2023 was named a JFL International New Face at the largest international comedy festival in the world, which is called Just For Laughs in Montreal.

Katie has headlined clubs across the United States and Ireland, and brought her hour to Dublin and Cork earlier this year to sold-out shows. She has featured in the Hollywood Reporter, Irish Independent and The Irish Times and her work has featured in Laughing Skull, Women in Comedy, Kansas City Irish Fest and on SiriusXM.

Katie also hosts The Shift Podcast which She and guests discuss sex and dating from an Irish perspective. She is currently touring her new hour Terapy and will play Liberty Hall in Dublin on the 18th October.

So lovely to connect with my guest Paulyne Brown again in our chat on this week's episode.

We chat about connecting years ago at a James Van Praagh training week in Dublin and how we were eased out of our comfort zones in demonstrating in front of crowd.

Paulyne shares how her faith bonded her family in life and in death through the loss of her brother over 30 years ago.

She shares how her daughter starting sensing Spirit when She was quite young and Paulyne found herself learning more and awakening her connection to Spirit and leading her on a path that finds her working and demonstrating the connection of life after physical death.

We actually spoke so much about our own personal experiences of standing in the power, trusting and allowing and remembering that we are always being guided.

What a beautiful conversation with Orlaith Sheill in this episode as we discuss grief and loss.

Orlaith is a registered clinical counsellor and accredited supervisor in Sydney, Australia with over 20 years of experience inclusive of group facilitation, education and speaking.

Orlaith is originally from Ireland and shares why She loves working and living in Australia now. Seeking adventure Orlaith went there as a backpacker and loves the lifestyle and opportunities.

She now works a lot with the Irish in Australia through the many transitions we all experience in life.

We chat about what Grief and Loss means and that it is not just about the physical loss of our loved ones, but also the loss of relationships, loss of identify, children leaving home and living in a different way after the loss of anything or anyone in your life.

Orlaith shares how the loss of her brother in her twenties affected her and how it has helped her to empathise with her clients in holding space for all feelings.

We also spoke about

The importance of speaking about our loss and grief

Life after loss

Being heard

Support & Counselling

Our identity after loss

Continued bonds

Opening the conversation around death while you are alive

As a trained Family Systems Therapist and Specialist in Grief, Fertility and Perinatal work, Orlaith supports individuals, couples and families. Her career spans across a variety of settings such as Not for Profit, private practice, education, corporate, and with fertility clinics. Orlaith has extensive experience in grief, loss, and trauma having worked in Post Adoption, grieving sudden unexpected death in babies and children, stillbirth, pregnancy loss, termination and neonatal death. Orlaith provides support in perinatal period, and the adjustment to parenthood. Orlaith has a strong academic and clinical background, is an experienced educator, teaching for many years in the field of counselling.

My guest this week is Vanessa Mooney from Tullamore in Co. Offaly in Ireland. Vanessa was diagnosed with breast cancer aged 40, only two months after her Sister Veronica's diagnosis, and around the same time their brother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. They had already lost their Mother to cancer in 2015.

Vanessa felt very isolated during her treatment and it not only affected her physical health, but also her mental health, which She speaks openly about in our chat. The changes to her body, her femininity and how She saw or felt about herself has dramatically changed. She is learning to love herself again and is very mindful of listening to her body and her own needs.

As a result of the rollercoaster of emotions She experienced during her diagnosis and treatment, Vanessa is developing an app called Someone Like Me to create a supportive space for cancer patients, survivors, friends and families. This app is aimed at helping others navigate resources which connects users by age and location, allowing them to share experiences, join private chats, and access resources like Marie Keating Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society. It offers tools such as local meetups, live podcasts and information on services like physiotherapy, yoga, fitness classes, diet and nutrition, wig specialists and many more supports. The app also includes a separate section for spouses, family and friends of cancer patients, offering guidance on how to provide support.

Vanessa shared that it was difficult to talk about her feelings with loved ones during her treatment, and she frequently turned to the internet, which often worsened her anxiety. Her goal is to offer a trusted space for others going through similar experiences. She emphasised that the app is part of her healing journey, and her mission is to ease the struggle of others.