The Mind Full Podcast

This week on The Mind Full Podcast, I sit down with the soul-sparking duo that is Miriam and Gerry Hussey - the couple who somehow manage to leave you feeling both totally inspired and weirdly unfit! But, don’t be fooled by their calm glow, they’ve walked through burnout, anxiety, panic attacks, and the chaos of modern life just like many of us. We chat about leaving the tick-box life behind, why your soul needs breathing space, and how to manage your inner madness without having to drink celery juice or move to the jungle. Miriam’s powerful new book Light Up has just been released, and Gerry continues to help thousands through his own bestselling books and life-changing work. They’re Founders of Soul Space, champions of inner transformation, and best of all, they’re really nice down-to-earth people. This episode is full of heart, humour, and practical wisdom. You're going to love it.For more information on Miriam and Gerry’s work, visit www.soulspace.ie where you’ll get all the info on their books, including Miriam’s latest release Light Up and Gerry’s I Am, I Can, I Will and all of their wonderful retreats and live events too.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is a man many of us have quietly adopted as Ireland’s national therapist - Dr David Coleman. With over 20 years’ experience as a Clinical Psychologist working with children, teens and families, David joins me to chat about all things anxiety: why it’s on the rise, how to help our kids cope, and how not to panic when they panic. We cover everything from tantrums to tech, praise to panic attacks, and why self-regulation is a skill we can all learn. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just trying to keep your own head straight, this episode is packed with gold. David is warm, wise, wonderfully relatable and he’ll leave you feeling reassured, not judged. You can get tickets for Dr David Coleman’s talk ‘Helping Children and Teenagers Cope With Anxiety’ (which is followed by a live Q&A) at The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Dublin on Thur 23rd Oct 2025 at the link below:https://thelark.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173659570If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve had some unique guests on this podcast—but never one like this. I don’t even know his real name. He goes by the name of Art Riddler, he wears a mask, and until now, no one knew the story behind it. This is the first time he’s shared his personal journey and wow, what a journey it is. It’s one of grief, heartbreak, and despair, but also hope, creativity, and a deep desire to help others. You might know him as the anonymous philanthropist supporting emerging Irish artists with generous prizes and exhibitions but behind that mystery is a man who lost the love of his life, and somehow turned that pain into something truly beautiful. We talk about grief, healing, the power of art, and why Irish people still get weird about kindness. It’s raw, real, and one of the most moving conversations I’ve had on The Mind Full Podcast.As discussed in this episode, Art Riddler’s Exhibition is taking place from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th of October at 1 Charlemont Square, Dublin and I highly recommend it!If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, my incredible guest is the warm, wise, and wonderfully relatable Dr Clodagh Campbell - psychologist, bestselling author, podcast host, and proud Irish woman on a mission to help us all quiet that nagging inner critic. You know the one, the voice that tells you you’re not enough, you’ve messed it all up, or you’re getting notions.Clodagh is the brilliant mind behind The Steps, a book that breaks down big therapy ideas into 10 simple, powerful tools you can actually use: like when you’ve just roared at your kid or inhaled a pile of KitKats because you “had a feeling.”We chat about Irish shame, inner critics, World Book Day panic, and why self-compassion isn’t soft fluff,it’s essential psychological first aid. She’s open, honest, hilarious, and so reassuring for anyone who’s ever forgotten the school costume. (bin bags can be magic.)Find out more about Clodagh at thewellnesspsychologist.ieIf you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pat Shortt’s laugh is one of the most famous in Ireland, and you’re in for a treat in this episode as you’ll hear plenty of it! From his legendary double act D'Unbelievables alongside the late Jon Kenny to his role as the bumbling Garda in Killinaskully, Pat has been a constant in Irish comedy for decades as both a writer and performer. Pat has tackled everything from playing a saxophonist in a pub band to a lonely petrol station worker in Garage, a performance that earned him an IFTA and international acclaim. In this conversation, Pat opens up about the joy and the pressure of being funny, the power of the stage, and the way laughter can coexist with pain.We talk nerves, nostalgia, and the weight that comes with making people laugh. This episode is full of insight, heart, and, of course, plenty of laughs. Pat and Faye are on the road with their new nationwide tour ‘Shortt Stuff’ from October 3rd and tickets are available from www.patshortt.com If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this season finale of The Mind Full Podcast, we dive deep into one of my all-time favourite topics: relationships - how they shape us, challenge us, and ultimately help us grow. From romantic bonds to work dynamics and the tricky relationship we have with ourselves, it’s all on the table. And who better to explore this rich terrain with than psychologist, leadership coach, and literal rock star, Louize Carroll!Louize makes a welcome return to The Mind Full Podcast to discuss her powerful 12-week course Wisely Attached, which helps people rewire unhelpful relationship patterns. Together, we talk about the big questions: Why do we keep repeating the same arguments? Why doesn’t passive-aggressive self-help book placement work? And when is it time to walk away?This warm, honest, and often hilarious conversation offers real insights for anyone who’s ever loved, lost, or just wondered why people can’t say what they’re bloody well feeling! Strap in, it’s a brilliant way to wrap up the season!If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s guest is absolutely flying, but it’s been one hell of a ride getting here. Mark Mehigan is a comedian, author, podcaster, and former BBC social media guru, with a backstory that reads like six lifetimes packed into one. From writing songs with Westlife’s Mark Feehily to late-night benders in London, Mark’s journey has been anything but dull.These days, he hosts Mark Mehigan’s Weekly Roast, one of Ireland’s top comedy podcasts. But behind the laughs is a deeply honest story of addiction, anxiety, ADHD, and the kind of quiet desperation that can hide behind a smile. We talk about how his Monday-night wine habit spiraled, why hitting rock bottom might be the best thing that ever happened to him, and what he calls “the silence between the ears.”Mark’s chasing what so many of us are - peace of mind. In this funny, vulnerable, and no-nonsense conversation, we explore the messy path to clarity, recovery, and self-acceptance - with plenty of laughs along the way.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode, we ask ‘how do we handle that person who seems to have a knack for getting under our skin at work?’I'm joined by Dr Richard Hogan, a Psychotherapist who sees this kind of thing all the time. He’s a bestselling author, the star of RTÉ’s Raised by The Village, and co-host of the hit podcast They F**k You Up with Dr Ciara Kelly. In this conversation, we explore how to navigate challenging relationships at work (but, of course, this can be applied in many environments!). We talk about managing stress, setting boundaries, and avoiding burnout - all while keeping your cool and doing your best.Richard helps us rethink those difficult people in our lives, encouraging us to view them not as tyrants, but as potential teachers. Whether you're dealing with a work bully or just someone who causes you stress, this conversation offers practical advice for surviving and thriving in challenging relationships.You can find Richard on www.therapyinstitute.ie. Pick up his books Parenting the Screenager & Home is Where the Start is and don’t forget to check out his podcast with Dr Ciara Kelly They F**k You Up.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Please note: This episode contains references to sexual abuse, which some listeners may find triggering.My guest this week is the best-selling author & psychologist Katriona O’Sullivan. Not only does Katriona have a life-story that is nothing short of exceptionally powerful, she is the author of the phenomenal book Poor, which spent over 40 weeks at No.1 on the Irish non-fiction charts, won Biography of the Year and the Listeners' Choice Award at the Irish Book Awards, and is now being adapted for the stage at the Gate Theatre during the Dublin Theatre Festival from Sep 26.Katriona speaks openly about her childhood journey, which was marked by extreme poverty, neglect, and abuse, to becoming a respected academic and advocate for educational equity. In this fascinating conversation we look at healing from trauma (with a big and little ‘t’) , how mindfulness can be harmful if not approached correctly, and Katriona shares her own healing journey through therapy and much more. This is a powerful conversation about compassion, purpose, and how just surviving isn’t enough - we need to build a world where more people don’t have to.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chat Shows, Donald Trump & Unruly Roommates!This week I’m joined by comedy legend, bestselling author, and mindfulness teacher Ruby Wax.From HBO to Oxford, chat shows to silent retreats, Ruby has done it all and brought her razor-sharp wit with her. She’s faced down depression (or her “unruly roommate,” as she calls it), taken on fame, and even once roasted Donald Trump at 33,000 feet!Ruby’s no stranger to the chaos of the mind, and in this episode we dive into how she’s learned to manage hers with humour, honesty, and a Master’s Degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy from Oxford. We chat about mental breakdowns, people-pleasing, 30-day silent retreats and much more.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m joined by Sexologist, Educator and quite possibly Ireland’s most joyful advocate for pleasure - Jenny Keane.Having first featured on The Mind Full Podcast last year in Season One, Jenny is making a welcomed return to the series. Jenny communicates the topic of pleasure in a wonderfully accessible and articulate way. So it’s no wonder why her workshops are so popular and why her live shows always sell out in an instant!This week, we’re talking about why pleasure has fallen off of the To-Do List and how to bring it firmly back. Jenny and her creation Oh! Moment has a commitment to enhancing sexual wellbeing through holistic sex education workshops, events, body-safe sex toys and more. Jenny uses a trauma-informed approach and, with her PhD studies in clinical sexology, enriches the content and practices she shares with such delightful ease and humour.So, if your libido has gone into hibernation or your idea of foreplay is syncing Google Calendars, this episode is for you - it’s about making time for what matters, starting with ourselves!If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this extra special bonus-length live episode, I’m joined by Comedians and Actors Willa White and Eric Lalor. The lads sit down with me on stage at the fantastic Púca Festival in Trim, Co. Meath to talk about their very unique experiences with mental struggles, the power of friendship, life lessons and a home birth that went very very weird!Willa White is living proof that you can come back from anything — with a bit of reflection, a lot of humour, and the kind of honesty that stops you in your tracks. He’s battled addiction, transformed his life, and now uses laughter and his award-winning acting chops— not just as punchlines, but as a path to healing. His hugely successful and powerful one man show the Examination has played in theatres across the world and, in recent times, he sold out both the 3Olympia Theatre and The Gaiety Theatre (the first comedian to do so in over 10 years), making him the first Irish man to play the venue since it was built back in 1939.Eric is a multi award-winning comedian and his latest one man show, Lol’er By Nature was a sell out success at Dublin’s Liberty Hall Theatre. You also might know him as the loveable rogue Cathal Spillane from Fair City but off-screen and stage he’s one of the funniest, soundest, and most razor-sharp comedians in the country.Check out one of Willa’s Work in Progress shows on the 18th & 19th June in the Axis Theatre in Ballymun, in the National Stadium in Dublin on Aug 2nd, or on Oct 1st in the TLT, Drogheda. Make sure you tune into the lads’ award-winning You Must Be Jokin’ podcast and follow @ericlalor and @willawhitecomedy on Instagram.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My incredible guest this week has got a heart the size of a Great Dane, the determination of a Jack Russell, and the Instagram account that’s made millions ugly cry before breakfast!Niall Harbison is a Tyrone man but later moved to Dublin where he became a chef with a career that saw him cooking for the likes of rock stars and business moguls often on luxury yachts! But beneath all of this lay troublesome deep seated mental health issues that culminated in chronic addiction and a traumatic breakdown in Thailand in 2020.Niall’s journey since then is nothing short of fascinating and inspiring. Niall dedicates his time to rescuing dogs and is the author of not one but two wonderful books. First, there was ‘ - how street dogs taught me the meaning of life” and now—he’s back with a brand new book ‘Tina: The Dog Who Changed The World’, a follow-up that proves our greatest teachers can appear in the unlikeliest places. And they may love tennis balls.In this lovely conversation you’ll hear how the high-adrenaline chef culture enabled his addiction, what he identified as his 3 drinking triggers, the pressures of a global online following, the celebs whose hearts his work has touched and how special dogs Tina, Hank the Tank & Cindy Crawford all carry stories that mirror his own healing journey.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My special guest today to talk about ‘balancing the busy’ is a travel show trailblazer, a fitness warrior, and the friendly face behind Operation Transformation, Kathryn Thomas. Now she’s the voice getting you up, out, and dancing around your kitchen before 9am on Dublin’s Q102!But beneath the energy and the epic playlists is a woman who’s done some serious life homework—stepping back, rethinking success, navigating the chaos of perimenopause, burnout and much more. Kathryn has so many brilliant relatable insights I just know you’re going to get so much from this week’s episode. Aside from raising two kids and wrangling a peeing dog, Kathryn is the founder of Pure Results, a successful fitness retreat business helping people get strong and reset their lives. She’s hosted travel shows, documentaries, lifestyle series, and fronted Operation Transformation for a decade—changing lives one emotional weigh-in at a time.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I’m joined by world record endurance athlete, entrepreneur, TV star, podcaster and all-round reformed rogue - Spencer Matthews. Spencer is living proof that you can go from Made in Chelsea, to made for greatness. His adventures have seen him travel to the furthest reaches of the globe including on a journey to find the body of his brother Michael who perished at age 22 after reaching the summit of Everest, an expedition outlined in the award-winning documentary Finding Michael.While you might know Spencer from reality TV, but these days he’s less ‘Pimm's o’clock’ and more 'get up at 5am, meditate, then casually run 26 miles before breakfast.' He’s just smashed a world record by running 30 marathons in 30 days through sand dunes and searing heat—raising over half a million euro for mental health charities, which is incredible. He also ran around a track for 24 hours straight and what’s more is he’s following that up by doing 7 full Ironman triathlons on 7 continents in 4 weeks. Because apparently one Ironman just wasn’t stressful enough!If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today on the show, we’re diving headfirst into the wonderful, wild world of psychedelics. No, not the type that leads to hugging trees and marrying your toaster! I’m talking about real, science-backed, brain-rewiring, potentially life-changing therapy.And helping us navigate this trippy territory are two absolute legends - Kathryn and Mick Ledden, siblings who through their individual work and partnership are helping to redefine our understanding of mental health and treatment in Ireland. Kathryn (a medical doctor) and Mick (a psychotherapist) co-created PsyCare Ireland, a pioneering non-profit that provides essential psychological care and education at events and festivals nationwide. Their trained volunteers hold space for people in need of support for any reason, including after ingesting substances such as psychedelics.They’ve got the science, they’ve got the soul, and—thankfully for us—they’ve got beautiful way of making all this stuff understandable, accessible and exciting. Kathryn, a clinical research fellow at TCD, is engaged in groundbreaking clinical trials using psilocybin and 5-MeO-DMT to treat various mental health conditions. Meanwhile, Mick facilitates psilocybin retreats in the Netherlands with Inwardbound, whose vision is in their own words “to provide to a platform to facilitate people’s self-exploration: a safe and legal container for this process, in a supportive, non-judgemental and transparent way. To promote inner transformation, personal breakthroughs, self-growth, creativity and inner healing.” So stick the kettle on, open your mind (and maybe your chakras, if they’re handy), and get ready to chat about mushrooms, mental health, and how Ireland might be about to lead the world in psychedelic therapy.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s fascinating guest is ornithologist and birdsong enthusiast Seán Ronayne. Seán is on a mission to record every single one of the 200 birdsongs in Ireland and his journey to do so has been nothing short of incredible. Seán’s work is proof that nature is something that we can truly connect to through the simple act of listening.Seán’s wonderful book Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging was the winner of the Dubray Books biography of the year and when you hear him speak you’ll understand exactly why. Seán invites us to slow down and truly listen - not just to ourselves, but to the world around us. Through his work, Sean reminds us of the deep connection between nature and presence, showing how the simple act of listening can ground us in the moment and open our hearts to wonder. In this conversation we also look at the role his neurodivergence diagnosis has played in unlocking his passions and self discovery, how love has opened up his world and how a near fatal illness transformed the way he sees the world.If you want to catch Seán on his nationwide tour of theatres in which he discusses his fascinating work, visit www.irishwildlifesounds.com for all tour dates.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my new book Busy and Wrecked is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My special guest this week is leadership entrepreneur, best-selling author and podcast host Mory Fontanez. Mory joins me from the US to talk about the unmistakable power of intuition - how to connect with it, how to listen to it and how to distinguish our intuition from that fearful voice that can be holding us back.Mory has spent almost 20 years managing crisis and global strategy for Fortune 500 companies and public personalities. Having become disillusioned with the system that chose fear over inner wisdom, in 2018 she founded 822 Group with the aim of realigning leaders with their untapped potentials. In doing this work, Mory began to see a deep desire from people around the world for a deeper connection to purpose and to their intuitive wisdom.This conversation is a true gem and one that I'm so glad to be bringing to you.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, my special guest is hilarious American-Irish comedian Des Bishop. Des opens up about his early struggles with addiction, his first AA meeting at 17 (with his Dad!), and how the world of wellness found him by accident! In this conversation we chat about his first experiences in AA as a teenager, his beautiful relationship with his wife Hannah, finding Buddhism with Cork accents, going viral and more. We also create pure musical genius with AI during the interview!This really is a fun, fascinating and enlightening conversation that I really can’t wait for you to hear.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back for Season 3 of the Mind Full Podcast! We are opening this season with a very special guest and music sensation Tom Grennan!Tom is a phenomenal singer songwriter from the UK with proud Irish roots - and he has a brand new single out right now which he is dying to tell you all about. His breakthrough UK #1 and BRIT-certified GOLD album ‘Evering Road’ included platinum-selling anthems ‘Little Bit Of Love’ and ‘By Your Side’ — both of which scored in the Top Three most played songs of 2021. Tom already counts four UK Top 10 singles to his name. And a hat-trick of his 2022 songs, ‘Remind Me’, ‘Not Over Yet’ with KSI and ‘Lionheart (Fearless)’ with Joel Corry, were all named in The Biggest Songs of 2022 by The Official Big Top 40.After the incredible success of his 2023 album 'What Ifs and Maybes', he is back with a brand new single, 'Shadowboxing', out right now, a brand new album “Everywhere I went Led Me to Where I didn’t Want to Be” due for release next August and he has just announced his biggest ever UK and Ireland Arena Tour Grennan 25 which includes a Dublin date at the 3 Arena on Sep 13th.In this fascinating conversation, Tom speaks about his creative process, self-care and much, much more.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.