Difficult Conversations Made Simple

Straight from the horse's mouth: National Hunt Jockey, Donagh Meyler speaks about his career, his mindset, his highs and lows. A really honest podcast episode with Donagh; from riding as young jockey to losing his claim on Anibale Fly to then go on and win the Galway Plate, and a Cheltenham winner on Blow by blow. Top guy, gives great insight to the life of a jockey and the infrastructure around the sport.

More than a footballer: Dean O'Halloran has had an interesting career from an early age jetting off to Fulham, England to pursuit his boyhood dream of being a professional footballer. Dean talks to us about his mindset, his coping mechanisms, and how he bounced back from injuries and set backs. Great footballer but top guy too. Dean really opens up and doesn't hold back, he says it as he sees it, one of his commendable traits! enjoy.

Level the playing field: Austin Gleeson comes on to speak to me about his mindset, his experiences, his coping mechanisms. Great athlete but an even better person. Austin speaks about his playing progression and gives his insight on men's mental health.

USA: Ross Fitzpatrick comes on to speak about his experiences of playing and coaching football at college-level in America. Ross speaks to me about the challenges of moving away to play football abroad and in-turn the rewards he has received as a result. Ross exhumes great positivity and is very open to men's mental health. He speaks about the cultural differences to the sport and mental health in American soccer's infrastructure. Ross speaks about selflessly trying to get more Irish players over to America to experience the great things he experienced. Enjoy!

Community and Mental Health: An honest, and insightful Dylan Ryan speaks about his academic studies of Social Care, professional work in community centres with young people. Dylan speaks about the early trends in boys that can be detrimental in later years for mental health. Dylan speaks of the importance of being open within his circle of friends and how helpful that can be. Community centres can play a fundamental role in communities to promote mental health from a young age in males and I am sure Dylan will help this trend continue through his studies and professionalism.

Discouraged but not Deterred: Richard Hurley is definitely the most positive person I know. Richard speaks about the negativity he received during second-level education, the loss of a close friend, putting on a brave face and being open. This was Richie's first-time speaking openly about mental health and you would never know. Richie exacerbates sheer positivity as his coping mechanism.

Science and Mental Health: Christopher is an incredible intellectual man who speaks about his journey through his studies of Psychology in UL and masters in Neuropsychology in the University of Edinburgh. Christopher has worked with the NHS, Anger Management program and currently Motus Learning. Christopher exclaims the sciences of the brain and its complexities in a relatable and comprehensive fashion. Christopher speaks about Emotional Hijacking, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and breaking down some stigmas around male's mental health.

Service Industry and Combat Sports: Ian Walsh is a lover of combat sports, and physical activity. Ian speaks about working in the service industry and its deep-rooted flaws and the lack of infrastructure within for mental health. Ian speaks to me about getting into a rut mentally and physically of a sedentary lifestyle. Ian recognised the issue and is now in a happier and healthier place both mentally and physically. This is a great podcast for pragmatism to men listening who can relate to Ian's situation.

GAA, Alcohol and The Community: Jim speaks about the relationship of alcohol and the GAA. Jim speaks about how a more mature and modern attitude taken by coaches unto athletes in the GAA can prevent excessive binge-drinking that has become a negative connotation of the GAA. Jim speaks about how impactful the GAA is in rural Ireland, referring back to its roots that originally captured the hearts of the Irish people. The GAA is a fundamental organisation in Ireland that is a community in itself for men young and old.

Healthy lifestyle, healthy mentality – An insightful and positive Dean Roche exhumes positivity and mental strength. He speaks about the generational stigmas among men that are outdated in today's generation of men. Dean speaks about the importance of being physically active and being well nourished for mental well-being. Dean has ventured into the entrepreneur side of the exercise world and strength and conditioning specifically. An abundance of information is given from a reputable source in Dean Roche. What a brain.

College and Flow-State: A great podcast with Daragh Morgan where we spoke about his wavering-journey through third level education, mental health, and finding his flow-state. An incredibly positive Daragh speaks about the difficulties of juggling friend circles in adolescence, and the journey of being true-to-self and doing what makes you truly content.

Y.N.W.A.: An ideal of a best friend, Craig O'Keeffe speaks about the loss of a close friend in Adam O'Connor. Craig's initiative of 12 stories of AOC is where he gathered 12 stories from 12 different friends to compile a book of reflective stories about his late best friend. Craig is totally succinct and honest in this podcast, giving a humbling reflection of how difficult it can be to cope with the loss of a best friend.

Knowledge of Life: A well composed Billy Hearne speaks with me about the generational trends in sports from the 70's to modern day. Billy speaks about his journey of being a coach, a father, and a professional. Billy has been lucky in life to come across some great mentors in his sporting journey and his professional journey. A brain of sheer experience and positive thinking gives an incredibly honest and inspiring reflection throughout this podcast.

Life is tough but Adrian is tougher: An honest, succinct and concise Adrian Flanagan speaks about his journey through life. Adrian is an inherently good man who speaks about his mental health, sexuality, journalism and outdated stigmas. Adrian is the A-typical man who loves sports, the craic and the odd drink with the lads. Adrian has overcome many barriers in life and is now in a great headspace to reflect and to move forward. Adrian is an exemplary man for men's mental health.

Living Abroad – DCMS podcast episode one with Adam Walsh. Adam is a friend of mine who is living in Vancouver currently. We speak about his active role in a recent Shave or Dye event. Adam is a great speaker and a very positive and pragmatic person. We speak about the journey of living abroad and positives and realities of that. First podcast of Difficult Conversations Made Simple and I could not have asked for a better guest to initiate with.