Don‘t Ignore the Elephant

How do we talk more openly about divorce? In the final episode of season one, veteran broadcaster Jane Garvey talks to me about her own experience of splitting up in the spotlight, why you should get on with your ex for the sake of your children, and how to kickstart your career when you reach ‘middle age', whatever that might be.   Jane almost needs no introduction. After launching Radio 5 Live she spent 13 years at the helm of Woman's Hour on Radio 4.  She now spends her days chatting about the chuff of life with her co-host Fi Glover on the soul-warming podcast Fortunately. She's shown that there is a demand for simple, honest, female conversation and friendship. Jane went through her divorce in the spotlight and she describes adjusting to life as a single parent with humour and honesty in her and Fi's new book, Did I Say That Out Loud?.   You can listen to Jane and Fi Glover's podcast ‘Fortunately' here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04x5pd7/episodes/downloads / https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fortunately-with-fi-and-jane/id1220808096   And their book ‘Did I say that out Loud?' is available here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Fi-Glover/Did-I-Say-That-Out-Loud--Notes-on-the-Chuff-of-Life/25632880 The audiobook has some added extras!    Social media Jane Garvey Twitter @janegarvey1  IG @janegarvey23    Liz O'Riordan Twitter @Liz_Oriordan  IG @oriordanliz  Website: www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.  

Do you ever talk openly and honestly about money? Do you feel guilty or ashamed over how much you spend? Do you know how much is in your bank account at any given time? Does your partner know about your debts? Do your children know how to save for the future?   Davinia Tomlinson is founder of RainChq, an organisation promoting financial inclusion to women. She talked to me about when we should spend, when we should save, how we can talk more openly about money and why women need to feel more confident with things like investing in stocks and shares. She showed me that budgeting can be the ultimate freedom and that a pension is a must, not a maybe.   To find out more about RainChq visit https://www.rainchq.com/   You can also hear Davinia on her own podcast ‘Let's Make it Rain' - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lets-make-it-rain-the-podcast/id1591463088   Here are some of the budgeting apps that Davinia says are a good place to start:  Chip - https://www.getchip.uk/ Plum - https://withplum.com/ Emma- https://emma-app.com/ And for investing, the app Moneybox helps you invest your spare change - https://www.moneyboxapp.com/   Social media Davinia Tomlinson Twitter @iamdavinia @rainchq  IG @rainchq  Website: https://www.rainchq.com/   Liz O'Riordan Twitter @Liz_Oriordan IG @oriordanliz  Website: www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.  

Clara Swedlund is a physique coach and sports psychologist who overcame bulimia and binge-eating in her teens and early twenties. She competes in bikini bodybuilding competitions and helps clients like me train to get strong and fit for life. She's only too aware of the impact of social media when it comes to defining what a perfect body looks like, and how important it is to be kind to yourself.   If you've been affected by an eating disorder or know someone who might be, these are some helpful resources BEAT charity  NHS Advice - How to help someone with an eating disorder MIND - Eating problems   Social media: Clara Swedlund Twitter @ceswedlund  IG @claritasw_vwphysique Website: https://linktr.ee/claritasw_vwphysique   Liz O'Riordan Twitter @Liz_Oriordan  IG @oriordanliz  Website: www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Orla Chennaoui began her career as a news journalist but moved over to sports for the London 2012 Olympics. In 2019 she joined Eurosport as the lead presenter for cycling events, in a very male-dominated field. She was diagnosed with post-natal depression after the birth of her first child, and lives with anxiety on a daily basis. Orla spoke to me about how she's learnt to reframe anxiety into something positive, and how grateful she is to be more bad-ass because of it.   Orla talks about breathing techniques that help her cope when she starts to feel anxious. For more information, see below: Wim Hof Breathing Method Box Breathing   We touched on some pretty heavy subjects in this episode. If you've been affected and need someone to talk to, remember you can always reach out to the Samaritans - call 116 123 for free. More info here. Social media Orla Chennaoui Twitter @SportsOrla   IG @sportsorla  Belfast Telegraph weekend column   Liz O'Riordan Twitter @Liz_Oriordan  IG @oriordanliz  Website: www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Kathryn Mannix is one of the UK's leading palliative care specialists who carefully and tenderly encourages us to talk and learn more about the ultimate elephant in the room - death.   Kathryn's written two brilliant books on the subject - With the End in Mind And her latest book - Listen   Kathryn is also a patron of End of Life Doula UK, an invaluable resource if you're looking after someone who's dying.   Kathryn and I would love to know if this episode helped you have a difficult conversation. Let us know using the hashtag #DITE.   Kathryn's entry for the Jar of Joy was celebrating her dad's 90th birthday.  What are you putting in the jar this week?   Social media: Kathryn Mannix Twitter @drkathrynmannix  IG @drkathrynmannix   Liz O'Riordan Twitter @Liz_Oriordan  IG @oriordanliz  Website: www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.  

Have you ever wondered what it's like when a doctor becomes a patient? I thought I was unlucky when I got breast cancer but then I spoke to my next guest, the American ophthalmologist Dr Will Flanary. He had testicular cancer twice - first  a med student and then as a junior doctor. But that's not all. In 2020 Will had a cardiac arrest and his amazing wife did CPR for ten minutes to bring him back to life. We spoke about how he's used his comedy alter-ego Doctor Glaucomflecken to cope with everything life has thrown at him.    Will is fund-raising for First Descents, a charity that provides free outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. He donates all his speaking fees to the organisation in aim to raise $50,000.   You can read more about Will's story here: https://www.drgcomedy.com/bio and watch his hilarious videos here.   Will's entry for the Jar of Joy was his new puppy. What are you putting in the jar this week?   Social media: Will Flanary Twitter @DGlaucomflecken  Website: https://www.drgcomedy.com/bio   Liz O'Riordan Twitter @Liz_Oriordan  IG @oriordanliz  Website: www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

For anyone with an interest in sex, intimacy and love - this show is for you.  Sex after illness, cancer, the menopause, bereavement and when you're older. Sex expert and retired nurse Sam Evans founder of Jo Divine and who's personally helped me - joins me to talk about sex, more sex, lube and more lube and how embracing experimentation and making it fun can really help!     There's a wealth of information on the Jo Divine Website https://www.jodivine.com/ Don't forget to use the DISCOUNT CODE for any purchases -  #DITE2021 - valid for 6 weeks from 18th October 2021.    Sam's entry for the Jar of Joy was freshly baked bread. What are you putting the jar this week?   Social media   Sam Evans    Twitter @SamTalksSex   IG @samtalkssex    Jo Divine Twitter  @jodivineuk  IG @jo.divine  Website https://www.jodivine.com   Liz O'Riordan Twitter @Liz_Oriordan  IG @oriordanliz  Website: www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

My first guest is the wonderful actor, writer and producer Greg Wise. He's appeared on stage and screen as well as getting behind the lens to produce documentaries. At the moment he's starring in Strictly Come Dancing, inspired by his sister Clare. Greg looked after her as she was dying from breast cancer. He picked up her blog when she was too unwell to write, which became a beautiful book.   He joins me to talk about the privilege of being her carer and how it changed his perception of death. I was blown away by his reflections on dying and it's certainly changed how I think about the future. We also talked a little bit about fake tan and sequins on the dance floor, and what he would put in the podcast ‘Jar of Joy'.   We touched on some pretty heavy subjects in this episode. If you've been affected and need someone to talk to, remember you can always reach out to the Samaritans - call 116 123 for free. More info here: www.samaritans.org    Greg's book, Not That Kind of Love can be bought here.   For more information about the charity End of Life Doula UK, see here.    Greg's entry for the podcast ‘Jar of Joy' was a random act of kindness. Let me know what you'd put in the jar this week.   Social Media Links: Greg Wise: Instagram @gregwiseofficial Twitter @strictlygreg Liz O'Riordan: Instagram @oriordanliz        Twitter @Liz_ORiordan Website www.liz.oriordan.co.uk   Don't Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.  

Don't Ignore the Elephant is a brand new podcast hosted by Dr Liz O'Riordan, the breast surgeon with breast cancer. For too long we've been scared to be open and honest about things that embarrass us or scare us. Things like depression, grief, and losing your sex drive. The elephants in the room. Liz will be getting them out in the open and asking the questions that everyone else is too afraid to.