The Grounded Way Podcast

In this episode we sit down with three time wako kickboxing gold medalist Amy Wall. A native of Bray, Amy began training at an early age and went on to represent Ireland at European level and is Irelands first ever gold medalist at the European Games. We chat to Amy about how she got into kickboxing, her toughest fights and injuries in her career. Amy speaks on the challenge that is required both physically and mentally and how important each fight is for her, not only to win every match but what it teaches her when she loses a fight and how she works on getting over those obstacles in the sport. We speak on how kickboxing is not being recognized in the 2024 Olympics and the disappointment behind it. Amy touches on her time training with world champion Katie Taylor and how she balances her life as an athlete and a teacher while representing women in combat sports. Amy is a wonderful and admirable sportswoman who we really enjoyed chatting with, learning about the world of kickboxing with while also having a laugh together about her stories so far from her career. Tune in for an in-depth conversation filled with inspiration and laughter.

In this episode, we discuss the Irish Police Force An Garda Síochana and if they should be armed. We share each of our views on this matter and openly discuss what could happen in Ireland if the general Force were armed like other countries around the world, especially America. With everything happening in Ireland regarding the uprising of protests due to the influx of refugees centres around the country increased crime, and gardai abusing their power, this is an important topic for us to share and speak about and we hope you enjoy listening.

In this captivating episode, we embark on a profound exploration of a topic that resonates with every soul: social class. As we gather around the table, we delve deep into the heart of societal dynamics, where class has ascended to the very forefront of our collective consciousness. With unwavering honesty and insight, we navigate through the intricate tapestry of diverse backgrounds, uncovering the profound impact that social class exerts on the fabric of our relationships and daily lives. With a discerning eye, we dissect the subtle nuances that differentiate us in the realm of mannerisms, appearances, and even the codes of dress—a reflection of the intricate dance between privilege and adversity that defines our interactions with one another. Moreover, we fearlessly confront the stark realities of educational access, laying bare the stark contrasts between those who effortlessly glide into college and those who must navigate treacherous paths fraught with obstacles. But it is in the depths of our own vulnerability that this episode truly shines. With courage and authenticity, we bare our souls, recounting the raw emotions that accompanied our journeys through college—a labyrinth of pressures, loneliness, and the relentless pursuit of acceptance in a world that often seems determined to keep us apart. As we peel back the layers of our experiences, we confront the weight of familial expectations, the silent judgments that linger in the air, and the profound sense of isolation that accompanies walking a path less traveled. This, dear listeners, is not merely a podcast episode—it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, a beacon of hope amidst the darkness, and a reminder that our shared struggles unite us in ways that transcend the boundaries of social class. We invite you to join us on this transformative journey—one that promises to challenge your perceptions, ignite your empathy, and leave an indelible imprint on your heart. For within the depths of our vulnerability lies the power to heal, to connect, and to ultimately, emerge stronger than ever before.

In this St Patricks Day special episode join Conor and Rich as they discuss leprechauns, Tayto sandwiches, the "craic", Guinness abroad, Irish bars, bacon and cabbage, their love of Ireland and all its known to be and compare the Irish way of life to those across the pond in the states and across the Irish Sea in England. Tune in to the the two lads as they banter about all that is great about Ireland, especially how Rich discusses his grandmothers cooking - not to be missed!

In this episode, Conor and Richard tear back the dating world from online dating apps to how dating has changed in the modern day compared to older generations. They discuss how dating has become and the pressures we face as men when starting out on a new relationship. Conor and Richard discuss their own experiences and share their views on love, dating, and what a lot of women seem to only want or value now days and how a lot of the dating scene is all smoke and mirrors and superficial materialism.

In this episode Rich and Con discuss their views on alcohol and drugs and the implications that come with consuming and taking them. They discuss the peer pressure involved in being socialable and how alcohol tends to be a huge part of society. They discuss how alcohol can ruin relationships, how it can come between partners and also speak about the health benefits of giving up alcohol for a period of time. Richard and Conor touch on drug use and speak on their views of how marijuana should be legalised for medicinal use.

In this episode Conor and Richard discuss how important it is to travel and experience life outside of your own comforts, outside of your own country and outside what you are used to. Rich shares some of his experiences he had on his trip to Thailand and Cambodia and discusses how starkly different life is there compared to Ireland and the west while also disclosing some funny moments he had on his travels through the Thai culture and Asian lands.

In this episode back on The Grounded Way Podcast, Rich and Con discuss the refugee situation in Ireland. We discuss: - The impact that the influx of refugees are having on our country, both nationally and locally. - The direct provision centres in Ireland and how the government has a lot to play in this. -The costs associated with accommodating undocumented asylum seekers to the state, along with the number of protests that have happened since this situation, began in Ireland.

In this week's episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with ex-Irish international rugby legend, Jack McGrath. Jack shares with us how he started playing rugby from the early days and how his career grew from playing for Leinster to playing on the international stage for his home country, Ireland. We talk about Jack's time on the Irish squad and key moments that stand out to him in memory, one being when Ireland won against The All Blacks. During the episode, we dive into the world surrounding rugby, what's involved to be successful with the physical and the mentality aspect that is required to stay on top of your game. On a side note, we learn about Jack's side project of Bee Keeping with Open Hive Honey and how priorities have changed for him as a new father. We had such a laugh with Jack and hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed recording.

This weeks podcast dives into the world of breath work with the wonderful, soulfilling and absolute gentleman, Matt Duffy. Having a breath work session before recording, Conor and Richard explored with Matt what breath work is really all about and the amazing benefits it has to our bodies, minds, and souls. During the breath work session, we learned how much energy we all possess inside us, feeling it flowing through us like waves of electricity. With his passion for breath work, Matt shares with us his journey of becoming a breath work facilitator, how he is pursuing a mission to help others out there release buried emotions from everyday life stresses, traumatic events to even becoming whole and content with oneself. Matt shares why breath work is so important for mental health and lifestyle where it helps us to let go of past events, as we are told that during breath work sessions people have been known to have had extreme emotional outbursts from stressful or sad past experiences that they may have forced themselves to forget. This episode is definitely worth a listen if this fascinates you as much as it does for us or if you're curious about breath work and improving your breathing.

In this week's episode, we discuss the Law of Attraction and its effect it has in relationships. We discuss that it's important to be happy in yourself and invest in yourself rather than depending on exterior forces to make you happy. We also raise the question that disney and other tv shows have us thinking we need to find a prince or princess in order to be content with ourselves. The three of us talk about how different energy can affect us in different ways and how it is transferred onto others. This episode was very enjoyable where we discussed this topic while being live on Instagram and have a lot of amazing contributions from our audience members on the show.

In this special addition episode we speak about several topics in the one episode but focus mainly how we manage our time and find us struggling to make time for other people and things outside of our busy schedules. We speak of the controversy surrounding the Qatar World Cup and voice our opinions on what has become of the only hotel in our local town.

In this week's episode we sit down for a beautiful conversation with local Wicklow Man Tim Kavanagh about his love for the Irish language and how his passion for it originated. Tim shares with us some Irish folklore facts with us relating to the Great Famine and the truth behind it in regards to how it really started. We speak about our own experiences of being forced to learn the Irish language in school and why a lot of Ireland rarely speak it in today's society and we are treated to a beautiful performance of Tim's own music live on the show.

In this week's episode we sit down with Alex O Leary, one of Wicklows youngest entrepreneurs who shares with us why and how she started her dog grooming business in Wicklow Town. Alex shares her love for dogs and cats with us and the experiences she has had since starting on her entrepreneurial journey and her plan for the future.

In this week's episode we sit down with the graceful and wonderful Cristíona Aston, who is a health coach, personal trainer and model. Cristíona shares with us her journey she has taken to become a health coach and how important eating a whole food diet is to her. We learn about her past eating disorders that had lead her to become a health coach and helping others become the best version of themselves possible. Cristíona tells us how after studying in the UK to become a health coach she then focused in more on plant based nutrition and her fascination for food and how the right foods can benefit us in our daily lives. Touching on mental health, Cristíona highlights how important exercise is to us to increase our confidence or how simply getting out into nature can help improve our moods but also how we must be kinder to ourselves.

In this week's episode we sit and chat with Troy Sutton, 5 time gold medal winning bodybuilder and personal trainer who is highly respected in the fitness world. Troy blows the lid off the lifestyle in today's society and discusses the critique he faces on social media. Troy talks us through his day from starting at 4am highlighting his own ambitions and drive to succeed.

In this episode we have the pleasure of sitting down with the wonderfully charming and beautiful Lauren Archer. Lauren takes some time out of her busy schedule to share with us her journey of being a casting coordinator in RTE studios, to being a student and while modelling on the side. We learn how tough the modelling industry really is, the extremes behind the scenes but also how fun and opportunistic it can be for models in the industry or anyone looking to enter it. This is worth a listen to anyone who is interested in becoming a model or even to gain some insight on how it works.

In this week's episode we sit down to chat with the wonderful and talented actor and acting tutor David Scott. David shares with us about his acting journey from Australia in 2004 to Ireland and where he is to date in his career and what he wishes to further pursue. He speaks fondly of his experience in the production of Vikings Valhalla along with The Game of Thrones to name a few. We learn David has his own acting courses where upon he teaches new actors right up to professional actors who have gone on to star in major productions. David shares his teachings with us and the techniques he uses to tutor and help fellow actors succeed in landing the roles they dream of having. In the acting industry rejection is something every actor faces and David is no stranger to rejection himself as he speaks so eloquently on how to overcome rejection and perservere in achieving the role you want. On a completely different topic, we present to David an opportunity to speak briefly about the current state of the country, the cost of living and how its affecting him and fellow actors. We gain an insight into David's perspective on what he thinks of our government and what we should be doing to make Ireland a better place for its own. We really had a laugh chatting to David and think you will too!

In this Halloween special episode we sit down with paranormal investigator and ghost hunter, Kara O'Reilly. Kara shares with us her journey and how she started being a paranormal investigator and some of the most haunted places she has and would love to investigate which include, Loftus Hall in Wexford and the Hellfire Club in Dublin where it is said that the devil had visited both places. We shed light on a local landmark which is one of the most haunted places in Europe, that being Wicklow's Historic Gaol. We learn about the equipment that Kara uses to detect spirit activity, discuss a secret tunnel that runs beneath Wicklow Town used in ancient times by nuns to evade capture by Vikings and share some of our own paranormal experiences we have had in our own lives. Tune in for a spooky eerie and goosebump episode. If the paranormal world is your thing then we recommend a listen.

In this episode we confront the harsh reality we are all facing and enduring, a topic that is constantly in the headlines, a topic that each and everyone of us can relate to and that is The Cost Of Living. We speak out about the greed of the housing market, building developers, the private rental sector and the lack or social and affordable housing which is the main cause of homelessness in Ireland. We discuss how high inflation is affecting everyone which is forcing the closure of some amazing businesses, both locally and nationally and how its affecting our society. Comparing Ireland to other countries we together conclude that the our generation would need to leave Ireland in order to afford to buy a home. We also highlight that because of the high cost of living in Ireland our intellectual and intelligent citizens in many fields such as medicine and science to name a couple, are now seeking places abroad for better pay, better conditions and most of all, a better quality of life. This episode is one where we hold nothing back and we urge you to have a listen if you are also struggling due to the high cost of living, if you know someone who is or you are tired of the constant inflation happening around us.