The Laura Dowling Experience

🎧 Episode Description

Laura sits down with comedian Aoife Dunne for an honest and humorous conversation about everything from grief and fear to the unexpected turns life can take.

Aoife opens up about the sudden loss of her mum while she was backpacking in her early twenties - a moment that changed the course of her life. After spending time in therapy and trying to make sense of the fear she carried, she eventually travelled to Brazil and took part in an ayahuasca ceremony with the hope of letting go of something she felt was holding her back.

Alongside moments of humour, Aoife speaks candidly about fear, self-doubt, and what can happen when we stop trying to control every step of the journey. She shares how her unusual route into comedy emerged from years of searching, reflection, and gradually learning to trust where life might lead her.

🔑 Key Points

Losing her mum while travelling
Aoife reflects on receiving the news of her mother’s death while backpacking in her twenties and the shock of navigating grief far from home.

Learning to live with loss
Aoife talks about how grief shaped her twenties and how it continued to influence the way she approached life and relationships.

The fear that held her back
Aoife talks about the deep sense of fear she carried for many years - something she felt stopped her from fully pursuing the things she wanted in life.

Travelling to Brazil for an ayahuasca ceremony
Aoife explains why she eventually chose to take part in the ceremony and what she hoped to release.

An unusual route into comedy
Aoife reflects on how she ended up performing comedy despite never initially seeing it as her path.

A new perspective on what matters
Aoife reflects on how grief and reflection helped her appreciate the deeper value of love, relationships and everyday life.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

Aoife Dunne – Official Website & Tour Dates
Find Aoife’s upcoming shows, including her stand-up show Good Grief, and buy tickets here:
https://aoifedunnecomedy.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGncw1_OANO5trgzPuPL8lgOyBgmPgZt5OmJPMsxM0zj5P22v0kv5jsSqtynaw_aem_CrTmYABNtRBRDzzKsiU62g

Aoife Dunne on Instagram
Follow Aoife for updates, clips and tour announcements:
https://www.instagram.com/aoife_is_never_dunne/

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and meeting Aoife Dunne
06:00 – Growing up, family stories and humour
12:30 – “Aoife Dunne is a slut”
18:40 – Losing her mum while travelling in South America
27:00 – The lasting impact of grief
33:10 – Argentinian men vs Irish men
44:00 – Deciding to try ayahuasca in Brazil
50:30 – The emotional experience during the ceremony
58:20 – A new way of seeing her life
01:11:40 – An unusual path into comedy
01:28:00 – Not needing a perfect life plan
01:45:30 – The pressure of expectations in your thirties
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

Arriving in Ireland from Somalia as a child after years of displacement, Nadia grew up watching her mother sacrifice everything to create stability through education. That path led her into finance and onto a trading floor surrounded by high earners and high pressure — a version of success that looked impressive but never fully felt aligned.

What began with selling her own 08 BMW after a disappointing dealer offer gradually turned into something bigger. From selling cars on her drive to leasing a yard just before the pandemic, Nadia shares the discipline, doubt, criticism and resilience behind building Ashford Motors.

🔑 Key Points

Displacement and Determination
Nadia shares how early instability and migration shaped her resilience.

The Weight of Expectation
Growing up with a mother who sacrificed everything created both pressure and motivation.

Success That Didn’t Feel Like Success
Despite qualifying as a stockbroker, something felt missing.

An Accidental Entrepreneurial Spark
Selling her own BMW revealed a different path.

Building From Her Own Drive
Before Ashford Motors, she was learning, reinvesting, and doing everything herself.

The Shock of the Pandemic
Opening a yard just before lockdown threatened the business before it had momentum.

Visibility Through Social Media
Turning to TikTok became a lifeline when no one knew who she was.

Choosing Belief Over Approval
Receiving SIMI accreditation marked a turning point in confidence.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

Ashford Motors – Founded by Nadia, a luxury and premium car dealership.
https://www.ashfordmotors.ie/

Ashford Approved (AM Approved) – Nadia’s second garage, offering more affordable and accessible vehicles alongside her premium range.
https://www.amapproved.ie/

SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) – The official representative body for the motor industry in Ireland, providing accreditation and governance standards for dealerships and motor businesses.
https://www.simi.ie/

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – From Somalia to Ireland
06:30 – Education and the Path Into Finance
13:00 – Inside the High-Pressure Trading Floor
21:00 – Reselling the 08 BMW
29:00 – Reinvesting Profits and Learning the Trade
36:00 – Opening Ashford Motors
41:00 – Lockdown Shock
46:00 – Marketing Through Social Media
54:00 – Reputation, Criticism and Credibility
01:01:00 – SIMI Accreditation
01:08:00 – Building a Business With Discipline
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

Eating disorders are complex, layered, and often hidden in plain sight. In this episode, psychiatric nurse Laura Casey helps us understand the difference between disordered eating and a clinically diagnosed eating disorder - and why that distinction matters.

Drawing on years of frontline experience, Laura explores the psychological roots of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and ARFID. She explains how these illnesses are not about vanity, but instead are coping mechanisms linked to trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, grief, and the need for control. She also sheds light on the physical risks - from refeeding syndrome to bone density loss - and why early intervention dramatically improves the chances of full recovery.

Alongside clinical insight, this episode gives voice to the lived experience of those struggling in silence. It addresses stigma within healthcare, the pressure of social media, the rise in cases during COVID, and the heartbreaking reality that Ireland currently has only three public adult inpatient beds.

🔑 Key Points

1. When Food Becomes an Internal Battle

Eating disorders often involve a powerful internal voice that overrides rational thinking and drives secrecy, rigidity, and isolation.

2. ARFID and Neurodivergence

Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is increasingly recognised, particularly in neurodivergent individuals, and deserves equal seriousness and support.

3. The Role of Trauma and Anxiety

Experiences such as grief, bullying, family breakdown, or suppressed emotions can contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours.

4. The Hidden Physical Toll

Malnourishment affects cognition, heart function, bone health, sleep, fertility, and digestion - and purging behaviours can cause serious internal damage.

5. Why Families Matter

Family dynamics can influence recovery - both positively and negatively - and family therapy can play a crucial role in long-term progress.

6. Relapse Is a Blip, Not a Failure

Recovery can include setbacks. Early warning signs and relapse prevention planning are key to sustaining progress.

7. Stigma Within Healthcare

Many people feel dismissed or reduced to their diagnosis when seeking treatment - highlighting the need for holistic, compassionate care.

📚 Mentioned in This Episode

DSM-5 - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

ICD Codes - International Classification of Diseases

Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa/Bulimia nervosa/Binge Eating Disorder/Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder - ARFID
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/anorexia-nervosa/

Refeeding Syndrome

CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

DBT - Dialectical Behaviour Therapy

Bodywhys - The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland
https://bodywhys.ie/
+353 01 210 7906

Samaritans Ireland
[email protected]
Freephone: 116 123

Pieta House
Freephone: 1800 247 247
0818 111 126

HSE Eating Disorder Teams (Public Health)
1800 111 888
(Referral must be made through GP)

Lois Bridges (Private/Self pay/HSE funding)
[email protected]
www.loisbridges.ie
+353 87 653 9747

CARED Ireland
(Caring About Recovery from an Eating Disorder)
[email protected]

Supporting Families
[email protected]

Family Therapist
Lana Galkovskaja
[email protected]

⏱️ Timestamps

03:00 – Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorders
07:00 – ARFID and Sensory Restriction
13:00 – Trauma, Perfectionism and Control
18:30 – Medical Risks and Refeeding
24:00 – Specialist Therapies and Medication
29:30 – The Gap in Irish Services
34:00 – What Parents and Friends Can Do
40:00 – Relapse Prevention and WRAP Planning
46:00 – Hope at Any Stage of Life
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

Liz Dwyer joins the podcast to discuss what life looks like when separation doesn’t bring closure. Still legally married six years on, she reflects on the gaps in Ireland’s divorce process and the contradictions of being asked to co-parent calmly while fighting legal battles behind the scenes.

Beyond the courtroom, Liz talks about the coping tools that kept her going, from the books that helped her make sense of what she was living through to the unexpected fun of dating again.

Liz also speaks about later marriage and family-building in Ireland, and her work on the Future Fertility Show, which focuses on education, access, and support around fertility and reproductive health.

Key Points

Honest discussion about cosmetic and pelvic health treatments — what works and what doesn’t
Why pelvic floor strength matters more than cosmetic procedures
How Ireland’s divorce system is slow, opaque, and outdated
The emotional and financial toll of being stuck in long-term legal limbo
Lack of transparency and consistency in family court decisions
Being forced to co-parent while legally positioned as adversaries
Total absence of structured support for people going through divorce
Comparison with faster, more straightforward divorce systems abroad
Dating after separation as an unexpected source of healing and perspective
The need for real support networks around divorce, fertility, and family change

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

Broken Open – Elizabeth Lesser
A reflective book about how major life upheavals such as divorce, loss, or illness can break familiar structures and open the door to growth, meaning, and change. It explores resilience, identity, and rebuilding after rupture.

Future Fertility Show
A fertility-focused event covering education, clinics, talks, and support services.
📍 Location: RDS, Dublin
📅 Dates: March 21–22
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.futurefertilityshow.com/

Future Beauty Show
A medical-led beauty and health event focused on hormones, wellbeing, and evidence-based education.
📍 Location: RDS, Dublin
📅 Dates: March 21–22
🎟️ Tickets: https://futurebeautyshow.com/

Future Men’s Health Show
An event dedicated to men’s health, hormones, longevity, and wellbeing, developed in response to growing demand for accessible expert-led information.
📍 Location: RDS, Dublin
📅 Dates: March 21–22
🎟️ Tickets: https://www.futuremenshealth.com/

⏱️ Timestamps

03:10 – Trying beauty treatments to give honest advice
06:05 – Why divorce in Ireland is so difficult
14:10 – Court delays and legal limbo
17:45 – Co-parenting pressures
26:30 – Psychological toll of uncertainty
31:10 – Lack of support structures
36:45 – Books and coping tools
45:50 – Dating after separation
50:40 – Future Fertility Show
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

This conversation brings together Eimear McCrann, Director EY Entrepreneur Of The Year and Anne Heraty, EOY Judge and Founder CPL Resourced, to unpack the realities of entrepreneurship from two deeply experienced perspectives – one from building and leading a business over decades, and the other from supporting hundreds of founders through every stage of growth.

Anne reflects on the long arc of her entrepreneurial journey, from early beginnings to international expansion, public markets, and ultimately stepping back from the business she built. She shares honest insights into resilience, leadership under scrutiny, and the personal trade-offs that come with responsibility.

Eimear shares what she has learned from working at the heart of the Entrepreneur of the Year programme, including why women often hesitate to put themselves forward despite strong businesses. Together, they explore how community, shared learning, and trusted relationships can make entrepreneurship more sustainable – especially during periods of uncertainty and change.

🔑 Key Points

Leadership Requires Comfort With Uncertainty
Entrepreneurs must make decisions without full information, learning to respond rather than react when things change.

Building Through Cycles of Change
Businesses move through booms, crashes, and reinvention, requiring resilience and adaptability at every stage.

Confidence Gaps Still Affect Female Founders
Women tend to underestimate their readiness, particularly when recognition or visibility is involved.

Peer Networks Accelerate Better Decisions
Access to founders with lived experience helps entrepreneurs navigate challenges more effectively.

Letting Go Is a Leadership Skill
Stepping back from a business requires trust, planning, and an identity shift, not just financial readiness.

Entrepreneurship Is Ultimately About People
Teams, trust, and shared values shape sustainable businesses.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

CPL
Founded by Anne Heraty in 1990, CPL grew from a small recruitment firm into a large international recruitment and outsourcing group employing thousands of people across multiple countries.

EY Entrepreneur of the Year
Ireland’s flagship entrepreneurship programme supporting founders through a year-long process focused on community, learning, and long-term impact.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and Focus on Female Entrepreneurship
03:10 – What the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Programme Really Is
06:20 – Anne Heraty’s Early Business Beginnings
10:15 – Scaling, Market Crashes, and Reinvention
15:30 – Confidence, Timing, and Women Putting Themselves Forward
20:10 – The Value of Entrepreneurial Community
24:40 – Expanding Into New Markets and Cultural Differences
29:30 – Leadership, Uncertainty, and Decision-Making
33:45 – Letting Go of a Business and Life After Exit
38:10 – Advice for Young People and Building Relationships
42:30 – Reflections on Meaning, Legacy, and Impact
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.