Inside the Mind, Beyond the Desk

In this episode, Karen speaks with Dr. Sarah Cassidy, President of the Psychological Society of Ireland, who brings extensive clinical experience of working with autistic people and people with ADHD, alongside her own experience of being identified as autistic, ADHD and dyspraxic later in life.Together, they explore what it means to discover your neurotype, how this can reshape your understanding of yourself and your place in the world, and the emotions that can accompany a later diagnosis. From grief for the years spent without that understanding to finding compassion for yourself, this conversation considers how we make sense of the past and begin to move forward.

What happens when you spend years trying to understand why everyday life feels harder or different for you?In this episode, Karen and Áine explore the psychological impact of undiagnosed neurodivergence and what it can mean to receive a diagnosis in adulthood. They discuss how years of misunderstanding your own needs can shape confidence, relationships and mental health, alongside the relief, grief and questions that recognition can bring. A conversation about making sense of your experiences, reconsidering old beliefs about yourself and finding greater self-compassion.

Why are some tasks easy to start while others feel almost impossible?In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore the neuroscience of productivity and what is actually happening in the brain when we plan, start, focus and follow through.We look at motivation, attention, executive functioning, reward and energy, and why productivity is about much more than willpower or better time management. We also explore practical ways to work with your brain, rather than constantly trying to force it to work differently.

What happens when hormone health, brain health and everyday life collide?In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, Dr Áine O’Dea, Occupational Therapist, joins Professor Mary Ryan, Consultant Endocrinologist, for a fascinating conversation about hormones, menopause, the busy brain, and how changes in our bodies can affect how we think, feel, and function.They explore brain fog and executive functioning, ADHD and neurodivergence, sleep, sensory regulation, energy, stress and cognitive fatigue and why supporting women through perimenopause and menopause needs to go beyond medication alone.From pacing and prioritising to nutrition, rest, boundaries and everyday routines, Professor Mary Ryan and Áine discuss the small, practical changes that can make a meaningful difference to performance, wellbeing and daily life.Because sometimes improving our health starts with stepping back and analysing the ordinary.Don't miss the upcoming event with Professor Mary RyanEmpower Her - October 18th 2026https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/empower-her-tickets-1992882152164Professor Mary Ryan's bookIt's Probably Your Hormoneshttps://www.kennys.ie/shop/it-s-probably-your-hormones-from-appetite-to-sleep-periods-to-sex-drive-balance-your-hormones-to-unlock-better-health-ryan-dr-mary-9781529434866

Dyspraxia is often talked about in terms of coordination, but its impact can reach far beyond movement.In this episode of Inside the Mind: Beyond the Desk, we explore dyspraxia, also known as Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), and what it can look like in everyday life.We discuss coordination, organisation, planning, fatigue, confidence and the extra effort that can go into tasks other people may barely think about, while also considering the strengths and experiences that are often missed when we focus only on difficulties.