Studio 7 Fitness Podcast

On the latest episode of the “Lean into Life” Podcast I was delighted to welcome on Banker turned Bard Paul Byrne. Paul has recently published his 2nd collection of poems called “For the love of Kerry” This is a must see book and it also includes some wonderful photographs of the Kingdom of Kerry which mostly have been captured by Paul himself. Paul is definitely someone who has leant into his own life and we talked about his early childhood in Listowel, Kerry and then moving up the country before finding his way back to the Kingdom years later and turning away from the corporate world and turning into his creative side and becoming a published poet. Paul has been on an amazing journey and we all now can benefit from his creative writings and his musing about the county he loves so much. I think you are going to get so much from this episode. Please share, like and subscribe if you like the episode and want to support the channel. Enjoy  Click the link below to take a listen. Thanks Michael

Welcome to Episode 54 of the “Lean into Life” Podcast and episode 1 of my new series and what better way to kick off the series than Irelands leading Health & Performance Coach Gerry Hussey. This was Gerry's 3rd appearance on the podcast and I was so excited to have him back on to talk about his brand new book “I Am, I Can, I Will”. Gerry was already a number 1 bestselling author after releasing his other 2 books, “Awaken your Power Within” and “The Freedom Within” Gerry's latest book is all about that “Inner Voice” which is inside all of us and how we can firstly become aware of the inner voice which may not be serving us very well currently, then how we can rewrite your story and reconnect with your dreams and then build practices to help you take action towards those dreams. I know you are going to love this book and this powerful conversation I had with Gerry on this episode. Please subscribe to the podcast and like, share and comment because i passionately believe this conversation and this book can literally change your inner voice from one of inner critic to one of inner empowerment thus changing your entire life. Below is a link to buy the book off Easons and also a link to an special Soul Sunday event at Johnstown estate on 6th April where Gerry will be expanding on the learning in the book and as Gerry states “Don't miss this opportunity to break free from limiting beliefs and step into your greatness” Book link: https://www.easons.com/i-am-i-can-i-will-gerry-hussey-9781804582152?srsltid=AfmBOoqQJzzZCyG8PE-lg8g6VZFBIQIQudLQesUBDaQeCsDBmSZYMMIa Soul Sunday link: https://ti.to/procomm/i-can-i-am-i-will I hope you enjoy this episode, thanks guys Michael

On Episode 53 of the "Lean into Life" podcast, I was delighted to welcome back on Psychotherapist Sheila Ryan on for a chat. This was Sheilas 4th appearance on the podcast and this time we discussed Christmas, and how its a time of the year which obviously can be fun and joyous but can also be a very tough, sad and stressful time for people. So we talk about the overwhelm that can happen and how we can best navigate through this time with as little stress as possible. It was a really interesting and much needed discussion about this topic and it's covers some really important topics which i'm sure a lot of people will benefit from. Please share with those you think would benefit, tag and rate also if you can, let us know if this episode lands with you. Wishing you all a very Happy and stress free Christmas and wishing you a magical 2024 :) Thanks Michael

On Episode 52 of the podcast, I was delighted to welcome on Nerissa Shea for a chat. Nerissa is a Sport & Exercise Psychology Consultant, Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, EIQ Certified Nutritionist and a Professional Irish Dancer. After a successful competitive career in Irish Dance, claiming seven All-Ireland & International Champion Titles, she then went on to work as a Professional Irish Dancer traveling around the world with an array of prestigious dance shows. Dance has played a huge part in her life and heavily influences the approach she takes to health & fitness, 'there needs to be some sort of element you enjoy'. Combining her love of training with the intricacies of the mind is a passion of hers. Coming from a Sport Psychology background she truly believes that mindset is key and her goal is through her content and guidance, people can gain inspiration, motivation and knowledge which enables them to make positive changes in their daily lives. Since launching her business in 2021, she has successfully coached over 150 women on their fat loss journey and has amassed over 200 yoga students, both online and in-person. She feels in order to be the best coach possible for her clients, it is so important to encompass all areas of health – physical, mental, emotional & spiritual. I have been following Nerisaa for a couple of years and was always taken with her enthusiasm, humour and just her passion for what she does and the clients she trains. This was such a great conversation which I am sure you will all benefit so much from. If you like it, please share, tag, rate etc. and let's get this to as many people as possible. Thanks Michael

*** NEW Podcast episode **** Welcome to episode 51 of the “Lean into Life” Podcast, I was delighted to welcome on comedian Bernard Casey for a chat, Bernard is also an actor, personalised video creator, he goes into schools and runs drama workshops as well as speaking at corporate events. Bernard is from the beautiful fishing village of Portmagee in the wonderful South Kerry. We will talk a bit about growing up here and the influence that had on him. Bernard has grown a huge online following with his videos getting over 15 million views and has also performed his live shows all around the country including the famous Vicar street as well as the INEC in Killarney and the Everyman theatre in Cork, he has also performed in London,, Boston and New York. Bernard is performing in the INEC again this Christmas on the 23rd December with his new Christmas show “Around for Christmas” so we talked a bit about that on this episode too and what you can expect to see. I have seen Bernard there a couple of times and it's truly amazing show so you should definitely see him live if you haven't already. I have been really excited for this conversation and I am sure you the listeners will get a lot from it as well. The theme running through this series of the podcast is one of connection and it will be interesting to hear how important this is for Bernard in his live shows and workshops. As Tommy Tiernan quoted about Bernard “A wonderfully well-crafted comedian with a great old school style of storytelling” I couldn't agree more, and he is a fabulous storyteller, I hope you enjoy this episode and if you do, please share, tag, rate etc. I think a lot of people will get so much from this episode. Thanks to Bernard for giving up his time as we went over time but it just flowed so well that it didn't seem like it was that long, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks Michael

*** NEW PODCAST EPISODE *** Welcome to episode no. 50 of the Lean into Life podcast and to mark the half century I was delighted to welcome on Nicole Lonergan for a chat. Nicole is a professional musician and her main instrument is the fiddle. Nicole's professional career began at the age of 16, her vast experience on stage provides her a unique skill set, making her one of the most sought after performers of her kind. Nicole achieved and honours degree in music and Irish from University College Cork. She has performed as a resident musician and Irish dancer in Disney world and has appeared on various TV broadcast including RTE here in Ireland and the Fox Network in America. Nicole joined Michael Flatelys “Lord of the Dance” in 2016 and in 2020 went on to become the solo violinist in the Grammy award winning sow “Riverdance”. Nicole has performed in the most prestigious theatres and arenas all over the world visiting 45 countries across 5 continents and has performed for Presidents and members of the royal family. We delve into her musical influences as a child including her amazing Granny Biddy and how she overcame the severe lows of Covid, from losing her passion and income and having to start again to reaching the heights she has since then and as she said herself, she is getting her spark back again for playing. I have seen her play numerous times and she is truly a remarkable musician and performer. If you are in Killarney at any stage, head to Café du Parc in the Plaza hotel at the weekends and you can see her perform for yourself. I really enjoyed this conversation and was great to learn more about how music can transport you to a different place and connect people and audiences together. I am sure you will get so much from this episode. Enjoy :) Please share, rate and comment if you can, think this will inspire a lot of people. Thanks Michael

In episode 49 of the "Lean into Life" Podcast and episode 1 of the new series, i wanted to record a short solo episode on the theme running through this series and that theme being connection and the importance of it especially post pandemic. I talk about the importance of connection not just with others but ourselves as well as discussing he different between loneliness and being alone. I have lots of amazing guests lined up for this series and am really looking forward to having more deep and powerful conversations with people which is something i just have a great passion for. I cant wait for you to hear them. Thanks guys, I hope you enjoy this solo episode and please, share, comment, like and rate. I really appreciate the support. Thanks so much, Michael

Welcome to episode no. 48 of the “Lean into Life” Podcast. I was delighted to welcome for his 4th appearance on the podcast, Mr. Alan Devane from Alan Devane Fitness. Alan is a face to face and online PT, a team and athlete Strength & Conditioning coach and a general all round lovely human being and the most positive person I know  and most importantly a very close friend. A lot has happened in Alan's life since he was on the podcast last. He has become fully self-employed, he has become a 1st time dad with the birth of his baby Grace and unfortunately he suffered a very bad knee injury only fairly recently so we delve deep into all of those things and how his recovery is going and how the recovery is fueled and sped up by his winning mentality. It was a hugely inspiring conversation of hope amidst challenge and joy from despair. I know you are really going to enjoy it . Thanks a million Michael

New Podcast On Episode no. 47 of the “Lean into Life” Podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming on Kevin Leahy to the podcast. Kevin is firstly a very inspiring individual which you will see and hear in the next hour or so, he is also a business owner and an Ultra Marathon runner having conquered some amazing physical and mental feats over the last few years which we delves into on the episode. I was hugely inspired after talking to Kevin and his drive and zest to achieve his goals is so powerful and we can all learn from his outlook on life. From being a civil engineer in Australia to thinking there must be more to life and headed off on his travels around South America and finding his purpose which turned into opening up his eco-friendly adventure “Black Sheep” hostel in his home town of Killarney in County Kerry. These adventures whilst travelling started him on the running path and ultimately to the ultra-marathons testing his physical capabilities but much more his mental strength which was tested on many occasions during his Yukon 500km Ultra race in Canada and his 500km race in Sweden which we unpack too. A quote that Kevin stated on the podcast from Henry ford sums him up. And it goes “Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right”. Read that gain for a second, if you think you can't do something, its more than likely not going to happen but like Kevin does in every area of his life, business wise and in his running, he thinks he can 100% achieve what he sets out to do and when you are in that mind-set, there's no stopping you. A Documentary which is currently being edited by Adrian from Grand View Media will show Kevins journey to reach the challenge he set for himself of 1000km in total racing completed in a short period of time. The documentary will be called 1000km of chaos and you can see a teaser trailer for it on www.1000kmofchaos.com . It is going to be amazing and plenty of highs but also lows of cancelled races during Covid which affected Kevin mentally plus the added stress of his business closing but again showed his resilience and creative mind-set when he opened the coffee Shack at his hostel which has grown and grown in the last couple of years during the lock downs and beyond. You have to listen to this episode guys and please share it everywhere, we all can learn from Kevins outlook in life and I was hugely inspired myself just listening to him speak. Enjoy and thanks to Kevin again for coming in to share his story. Thanks Michael

I was absolutely delighted to welcome John Lenihan to the podcast. John's story from growing up in rural Kerry which has been quoted as being Munsters "Sherwood Forest" to years later standing on top of the winners podium in 1991 in Switzerland winning the gold medal for Ireland in the Wold Mountain running championships is a story that needs to be made into a film. John had an amazing athletic career where he ran on the track getting on the panel for the 1984 Irish Olympic Team, then onto road racing and then onto the mountains. His achievements have been nothing short of outstanding. John won races all over Europe and also at home, winning the coveted annual Carauntoohill Mountain race on 19 separate occasions which is just mind blowing. In his career John ran over 140,000 miles (equivalent to 6 x around the world) , he ran 170 million footsteps and burned through 280 pairs of running shoes :) A feat of athleticism which is so underrated. Decorated Kerry Journalist Con Dennehy wrote a book about john which is published in 2015 called "Tough as Leather" The Story of Sporting Legend John Lenihan, and that is exactly what he is, a legend and please please listen to this story. It will change your life literally. We go though his many highs but also some deep lows especially when he was forced to retire due to a hip injury and wasn't able to compete at that level again and do what he loved. It is a raw and honest portrayal of an athlete who was so gifted and driven to succeed, it will give change your outlook not just on running but on life in general. Thanks John for coming on and sharing your story with my listeners. You have inspired me from our conversation and I am sure it will inspire many others. Enjoy guys Thanks Michael

*** NEW PODCAST EPISODE *** Hey guys, welcome to episode no.44 of the “Lean into Life” Podcast and on this episode I was delighted to welcome Life and Executive Mindset Coach Stephanie Doherty on for a conversation. It turned into 1hr 20 minutes of amazing nuggets and takeaways on various topics including what life coaching really is and what it isn't, how Steph overcame her own fears to start her own business and Instagram page and how important it is to bet on yourself. We delved into how people live other people's dreams are not their own sometimes. We go into the topic of confidence and Steph gave some good tips on how we can improve this and how even just making the decision to change can have massive repercussions and stepping outside your comfort zone is the key to self-improvement. Steph is also very passionate about people learning self-compassion and self-love as so many of us talk negatively to ourselves far too much, we wouldn't speak to anyone else like that so why do we do that to ourselves? It was such a powerful conversation and I really hope you get as much from it as I did. Please share with people in your own circle who you think would benefit. Thanks guys, Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year  Michael

*** NEW PODCAST EPISODE*** IN episode no.45 of the podcast, I was delighted to welcome Gavin Leane to the podcast. I had worked with Gavin a few years ago in a Life Coaching capacity and was intrigued to see how he was. I had heard about his love for Jujitsu and grappling and being part of the SBG Killarney gym. I did not realize however how being part of this “tribe” has had a huge influence on Gavin's Physical & Mental Health. We talked about how this has saved him really and given him focus and confidence to step outside of his comfort zone in his life away from the gym which is truly amazing to see. It was an immensely powerful conversation which I think everyone could benefit from listening and how finding your own “tribe” who have your back and want you to succeed is massive in life, not just talking about a gym but your inner circle of friends who are your tribe and how important it is to have a positive and helpful tribe which can literally save you. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did listening to it first hand, some very powerful moments in there too. Please share this episode with people you think may have gone through similar trials in their own lives. It is a reminder how you can turn your life around if you find the correct group to surround yourself with  Thanks Michael

Hi guys Welcome to Episode 42 of the Podcast and I was delighted to have chat with Ultimate Frisbee player Dylan Ryan. Dylan has represented Ireland and participated in European and World Championships in the sport. It is a sport that may not be familiar with a lot of people but you should check it out, it's a very interesting and athletic sport which also looks like a lot of fun too. Dylan is one of the top 64 mixed players in the country and gave me an insight into the popularity of the sport especially at college level and also the type of training that goes into competing at the top level and how that differs from your more common played sports in Ireland such as your GAA, Soccer, Basketball etc. We touched on the benefits of Sport Psychology at the top level and the fact it can be played as a mix between men and women which is fairly unique and the players themselves govern the rules and fouls etc I learnt a lot about Ultimate Frisbee and the passion people like Dylan have about the sport and about promoting Ultimate Frisbee around the country with some secondary schools trying it out and hopefully it will increase participation and gives those kids who are not into your usual or common sports an outlet to make friends, play in a friendly and fun atmosphere whilst gaining the benefits of being part of a team which I think has many positive attributes which we also discussed during the podcast. It made me want to pick up a Frisbee and create a Killarney Team called the “Killarney Flyers” I am currently the only player but I welcome some more  I hope you enjoy this episode and you learn something new as I did. Type it into YouTube and you will see how athletic and skilful the sport is and you will be hooked. Thanks Michael

On the 40th episode of the podcast, I was delighted to welcome back on for her 3rd appearance, Psychotherapist Sheila Ryan. Sheila had previously talked about Confidence and Resilience and was one of the most listened to podcasts out of all the ones recorded so far so I was delighted she agreed to come back on. The topic of conversation this time was one of Gratitude, Kindfullness & self-compassion. It was such a powerful discussion explained only as Sheila can in beautifully broken down ways with very manageable tasks and tips which can help all of us including myself ways in which we can practice more gratitude in our lives as well as Kindfulness and self-compassion for ourselves firstly which then allows us to have compassion for others :) Please please give this one a listen and forward it onto people you know who would benefit from hearing Sheila's words of wisdom and also the science behind some of these concepts. Thanks guys Chat soon Michael

Welcome to Episode 39 of the Podcast. On this episode I was delighted to welcome Physical Therapist and Strength Coach, Andy Fitzgerald or Andy Fitz Move PT as he is know online. It was a great conversation on various topics including how after suffering a lot of injuries himself when he was younger, Andy decided he wanted to understand more about the body and how he could try to make himself more resilient to injuries happening in the 1st place. This led him to study Physical Therapy and Strength & Conditioning but also he tells the story of a chance meeting with some street performers opened his mind to the bodies capabilities given the right training. We discuss the current coaching styles and the pressure on the body is being put under, especially in young athletes and how we should be coaching more sport and also more position specific drills instead of generic training with no real set plan or model. It was a fascinating conversation with a very knowledgeable coach who thinks more laterally which I love. I have had a good few sessions with Andy myself and his approach is really impressive and backs that up with science and research which is great to see. I hope you enjoy the chat as much as I did, there are plenty of take aways in there. Thanks guys Michael

Hey guys, Welcome to episode no. 3 of the revamped podcast and no.38 overall. In this weeks episode I was more than delighted to welcome on Life Coach Thomas McCormack on for a chat. We delved deep into various topics which I am sure you are going to love listening too. And as Thomas stated at the start, the art of conversation is the "Fuel for Life" itself :) love that We discussed the Journey he has been on since he felt stuck and lost in the job he was doing and was wandering if this is all life was?? he talks a lot about looking "inwards" in order to find sustainable change rather than looking externally. We delve into what Life coaching is and how he works with his clients to unearth their connection to the themselves. Thomas goes deep into talking about our Spiritual beings being far more powerful than we realise which was really interesting conversation to have. He breaks down one of his mantra's - the 3 C's - Clarity, Confidence and Connection and how important they are for growth and learning to be more as Thomas said "Inside/Out" rather than Outside/in. You will have to take a listen to hear the rest :) I really enjoyed digging deep with Thomas on this one and I learnt a lot as I am sure you will too. Click the link below to take a listen. Thanks Michael

on Episode 2 of the "Lean into Life" Podcast and 37 overall, I was delighted to welcome back on for his hattrick appearance on the podcast, Personal Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach, Alan Devane. He is the epitome of leaning into life and that's something we talk about during this very interesting 40 mins chat. We went deep on this one and talked about what Alan believes is his greatest gift that he brings to his clients and the world. If you follow Alan on his social media he is full of energy and his optimism and drive is infectious, however we can't be up all the time and Alan discusses his struggles but also his "toolbox" of go to habits that help him daily to be more mindful and flip his mindset. We discuss how as we grow older that we are more aware of ourselves, our bodies and our direction and I suppose our life's mission statement compared to when we were in our 20's. We also talked about his passion and empathy for his clients and how his clients invest in him because they can feel that he genuinely cares for them and their progress which can be rare these days to find a trainer like him. Alan recently started working with the Kerry GAA minor hurlers which has pushed him outside of his comfort zone after mostly working with footballers but he is loving it and enjoying working within a new sport and is having amazing results with the team already. Alan also discussed his tips and golden nuggets of information for people wanting to make changes in their lives whether that be diet wise or exercise wise and how people can succeed in their lives. It was an amazing chat with an amazing trainer but more importantly a fantastic human being who I am delighted to call a very good friend and glad that he is in my own inner circle because I know that anytime spent is his company raises my own mood and positivity. Please share and rate the podcast on apple podcast, tag it on your Instagram story and tag myself, I think a lot of people need to hear this conversation Enjoy guys Thanks Michael

Welcome guys to Episode no. 36 overall but no.1 of my new rebranded Podcast “Lean into Life” I was delighted to be able to welcome on a buddy of mine and former professional Soccer player and Irish Youth International Ryan Casey to the podcast. Galway native Ryan was scouted by Swansea City FC at the age of 13 and never looked back. He player for the Swans from 1996-2002 and his time there was cut short by a couple of bad injuries. Ryan returned to Ireland to play for a number of League of Ireland Clubs such as St. Pats, Cork City, Galway United, Longford and Athlone as well as a stint playing in Australia. Since retiring, Ryan is has been heavily involved in coaching especially at Academy and youth level and has also worked for the FAI as a Development Officer. He currently is coaching at Sligo Rovers as the U17 coach. We had a brilliant conversation about Ryan's childhood as his passion for Soccer coming heavily from his hero, his own Dad who as Case said is still his hero today. We discussed his journey in youth football locally in Galway to playing for Belvedere FC in Dublin and was then noticed by a Swansea scout. It was a very different environment to the academies of today and he had to work hard and be driven to make it through which he succeeded in doing. Ryan went on to play in the winning Irish European U18 Championships under Brian Kerr in 1998 where they beat Germany on penalties to win the cup. A massive achievement with what was deemed by the press to be the “Golden Generation” of Irish youth football with some of his teammates including the likes of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Stephen McPhail and Richard Dunne to name a few. We discussed the pitfalls of a career in soccer as well as some great stories on some fanatical fan bases and rivalries he came across in is playing days over the water. We also talked about the interesting topic of talent selection and development of young players which is a bit of minefield and how he sculpted his own coaching habits and skills from his years of playing and from some of the top coaches he played under. A quote that stood out for me from the podcast was “It's good to be open to advice but to be really good at anything, you have to believe in what you are doing and believe in your own style and keep refining it” I loved that quote from Case, believe in you and your own style and then refine as you go on your journey. I thoroughly enjoyed the chat and I am sure you will too. Please share, tag and rate. I think you will get a lot from it and what it takes to become a high performance professional player. Enjoy guys Thanks Michael

Welcome to Episode 35 of the podcast. I was delighted to welcome Jack Kavanagh on for a chat. Jack is a Pharmacist, A Speaker, A Coach and first and foremost an amazing human being. He strives to help people, teams and groups to appreciate their potential to grow and help them reframe adversities for possibilities which is truly inspiring. Jack has had to overcome a huge adversity in his own life when in 2012 at the age of just 20, he broke his neck while on holiday witch left him paralysed from the armpits down with only minimal movement left in his shoulders, biceps and wrists and only 15% muscle function altogether. We discussed the moments of despair and isolation but more powerfully his mindset shift from asking himself “Why me?” to “Why not me?” Within 13 months of the accident, Jack was back at Trinity and completed his undergraduate in Pharmacy and is now studying for his Masters. He went on to make an award winning documentary called “Breaking Boundaries” about his story and his adventure to America. He has got stronger and more independent as the years have gone by and is now inspiring others to reach their own potential which is amazing. Jack is a truly inspiring individual who I am sure will have a great impact on you the listener as it did on me. I was so happy we were able to connect and can’t wait for you to hear his message of overcoming limitations. Jack was keen to state that everyone has their own crap to deal with and that your problems are relevant to you and they are no less important than his. He said “My story is just your story written in different words” .. Wow :) I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did recording it. Please share it and let’s get it heard by as many people as possible. It is a message of hope and overcoming adversity, a story of new beginnings and new possibilities. Thanks Michael

Hi guys, Welcome to episode no. 34 of the podcast. I was delighted to welcome back Psychotherapist Sheila Ryan back onto the podcast. Myself and Sheila got an amazing response to the 1st conversation we had on Resilience, in fact it was 2nd in the all time listened to pod :) So we decided to have another chat and this time I picked Sheila's brains on the subject of "Confidence" which in one way shape or form, we have all struggled with in some area of our lives. In the discussion, we talk about what Confidence is, how we can develop it, the Confidence Toolkit, the relationship between self-esteem and confidence and the role the Therapist or Life Coach can have with helping people improve their own confidence levels. It is a must listen too guys, make sure you share it with people you know who you think may benefit and please please please rate the podcast on Apple podcast and post a review. Tag the gym on your story on Instagram and I will share it. Let's get this one trending as we all could benefit greatly :) Thanks guys, enjoy!! Michael x

on Episode 33 of the podcast, I was delighted to welcome former professional football Brendan Moloney on for a chat. What happened next was a very insightful chat about how a teenager from the small town of Killarney in the south west of Ireland found his way over to one of the biggest and most historic clubs in the UK, Nottingham Forest FC. A club stepped in history, double European Cup winners, leagues and FA Cups and of course one of the best managers in English football history, Brian Clough. We discuss that journey and his time at some other league clubs in his 234 appearances in the English Football which is an amazing career. He has played under some top managers including Colin Calderwood who gave him his debut at Forest and Chris Wilder who managed him at Northampton Town before he went on to do heroics with Sheffield United and get them to the premiership. We also talk about how he rubbed shoulders during his career with Sven Goran Eriksson, Sol Campbell, Kasper Schmeichel and Jimmy Floyd and played against players you may have heard of like Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Marcus Rashford and Zlatan Ibrahimovich :) Unfortunately Brendans playing career was cut short due to a recurring injury and since retirement he has moved home and got into coaching locally for his boyhood club (and my last club) Killarney Athletic FC and also Kerry U17's which he will be starting with again soon all going well. Brendan got his UEFA B license and is about to embark on his UEFA A one and is showing the same passion he had for playing into coaching and from 1st hand experience watching him operate, I just know he's going to be a huge success. A very down to earth and driven individual from an early age was fascinating to me and how he adapted to being a young professional football which led to him graduating form the academy and reserves at Forest to play in the 1st team. A wonderful listen guys, take that hour, sit down, relax and take a listen to not just somebody who was a top professional but Brendan is a top human being too. Enjoy it guys and if you do please, share, tag and rate the podcast on apple podcast, lets get this to as many people as we can. Thanks Michael

Hey guys, on this solo podcast I decided to discuss my top tips from shifting your life from Average to Brilliant and ways you can turn your dreams into reality. It's tips that I have used over the last 4 years to help me achieve goals that I had. It took me a while though, as in a number of years before that to make the decision to change my way of thinking and to start "Doing" instead of just "Wishing" it would happen. I hope you enjoy this short 20 minute episode, if you do, please please comment and share and tag and rate. Tag it on your story on Instagram and Facebook and I will share it too. Thanks so much guys, Chat to you soon. Michael x

Hi guys, For Episode number 32 of the podcast I was delighted to welcome Dan Glynn on for a chat. Dan is a Holistic Health & Performance Coach who helps clients with both their physical and mental needs. Dan’s coaching business is award winning and I just love his mentality around the Fitness Industry currently and how he wasn’t been nourished by where it was heading so decided to take his own detour which re lit his passion and he just loves to help people summon their own potential to reach for their dreams which is amazing. Dan works with clients on a one to one basis, Group Coaching, Online Coaching and Corporate Coaching as well as working within the Soulspace community with recent podcast guests Gerry and Miriam Hussey. We went deep into some pivotal moments in Dan’s life which left a long lasting effect on him and helped guide him to where he is now. I also loved Dan’s acronym for L.I.F.E – Live It Fully Everyday  Other topics we discussed was how we spend too much energy fighting the old instead of building the new, good old Socrates helped us out with the quote  (Dan loves the quotes as much as me) We discussed in depth failure and being given the permission to fail by our parents, coaches etc is a huge positive in growing and succeeding because we realise then it’s ok to fail, you won’t be loved any less and it’s part of life which is so true. We talk about self-care and the power of connecting to our inner child if we are in the habit of being over self critical. There is so much more but the synopsis would be too long as there was so many amazing takeaways, you just have to listen to it yourself. Dan is fantastic guy and his journey is very similar to mine so I was over the moon that we have connected. I hope you enjoy it, please please share, tag, send it to people who you think need to hear what Dan has to say because I think we all do  Enjoy guys, Michael

In Episode 30 of the podcast I was delighted to welcome Psychotherapist & Counsellor Sheila Ryan on for a chat. The main topic that Sheila discussed which is very important in the current situation is “Resilience” Sheila discusses what Resilience is?, Why is it important?, What are resilience skills?, What is a resilient person? and how do we build resilience into our lives?. It was an amazingly insightful 50 minutes with Sheila breaking down in simple terms what people are currently going through and how we can surrender to the fact that s she quotes from Scott Pecks book “The Road Less Travelled” that “Life is difficult, once we truly realise that life is difficult and once we understand and accept this, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters” She also sees the word Resilience as a verb as it’s an “Active” thing; you DO something to become more resilient rather than letting life happen TO you. Sheila goes onto to discuss hope, and that life is a gift and we have the “Choice” to engage in life or not and that we should live by the ethos “The serenity to accept the things I cannot change” We need action to happen which will give us hope that we will come out the other end of this. I want reveal anymore because it’s best just to listen to her profound words yourself. Please send it to at least one other person you think may benefit from it, I was blown away by the conversation and I’m sure you will be too. Enjoy, Thanks Michael

During Episode 29 of the podcast I was delighted to be joined by integrative Health & Wellness Coach Miriam Kerins Hussey. You will find so many amazing takeaways from these 60 mins. Miriam discusses the Nervous system and how important it is and impact if has if we let our “flight or fight” take control too much and how we can re balance ourselves by stimulating out “rest and digest” part of the system as well but simply focus on our breath. In the current climate we might be over stressed so this is even more important. Miriam also discusses hoe Meditation and breath work in the morning can set us up for a more productive day and life if we continue to practice daily. Miriam became a first time mum during the 1st lock-down so we discuss all things postpartum including maintaining social interactions as much as possible in our own house but also with other mums online and become more playful at home to keep our feel good Oxytocin hormone levels up especially in the current stressful climate. Miriam talks about how important the age 0-8 years old for a child in regards to their motor abilities but also their emotional development and asked a great question “What is the energy like in your house currently” As this is what the child will feed off and learn so make it a place of love, fun and laughter instead of one of anger and stress. Other topics we discussed included “professional pivots” which happen and which is health as you are “meeting your soul as it grows and evolves” love that  Everything in life is changing all the time so we can embrace that sometimes. Do what nourishes your soul and you won’t go far wrong. Another great takeaway I took was instead of stacking all these negative thoughts on top of each other until it blows, Miriam recommended doing a “Ctrl Alt Delete” and reframe the situation, take a pause, create space and go into your heart and remind yourself that these thoughts are not serving me so let’s take a different course of action and affirm that “you are enough” and flip that mind-set. A truly inspiring human being who I learnt so much form as I am sure you will too, we need more people like Miriam in this world that is for sure. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did recording it. Please share, tag and rate... We need to get this one trending for sure as it will serve so many people. Thanks Michael

In Episode 28 of the Podcast I was delighted to welcome back Ireland's leading Health & Performance Coach Gerry Hussey. Myself and Gerry received so much positive feedback on Part 1 that Gerry came to me and asked whether we would do a Part 2 Questions and answers podcast based on the 1st on. So I put that out to the masses and I received many questions on various topics such as Gut Health, overcoming Fear, working through Covid anxiety, starting each day with a clean slate, help with Meditation, The power of Visualization and many more. Gerry has a way of delivering and connecting to people which is unrivaled in the industry of coaching and personal development. It was so amazing to have Gerry on the 1st time but to have him back on the podcast for a second time was truly humbling. I hope you enjoy the episode as much as I did :) (Apologies for one or 2 audio problems during the podcast, i am living and learning with this tech stuff) :) Thanks guys Michael

In episode 27 of the Podcast I was delighted to welcome a very special guest, Mrs. Rosie Farrell for a chat. Rosie is a Designer and Sub-Editor for Irish Daily living in the Irish Farmers Journal. Rosie is an inspirational woman who has shown amazing courage and strength after being diagnosed as with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 20’s which was a bombshell to say the least, especially being in the middle of training for the Dublin Half Marathon at the time. Rosie takes us on a journey of her mind-set to overcome adversity of her diagnosis and having to live with periods of chronic pain which has sometimes left her crying on the floor not being able to move with the pain. She has periods of relapse and periods of feeling relief and uses a cane and a wheelchair if she will be out of the house for long periods as she can tire easily. She also featured in RTE Televisions “Big Life Fix” Program earlier this year where she was helped carry on her passion for Art and painting by engineering equipment to help her ergonomically carry on painting which plays such an important part of Rosie’s life. I was blown away by her positive attitude to her diagnosis and how she has become an ambassador for MS Ireland and educates other sufferers and their families on what has helped her and to support them anyway she can. She has recently painted some amazing Christmas cards which are currently on sale and can be found on the MS Ireland online shop with all proceeds going to MS Ireland. I am very proud to say that Rosie is also my 2nd cousin and she is such an amazing human being and I know you are all going to be as inspired by her as I am. Enjoy guys. Click the link below to take a listen, please share and Tag and lets get this episode heard by as many people as possible.

on Episode 26 of the podcast I talk about the cycle of stress & fatigue and how we can easily find ourselves heading toward dependent or sometimes even chronic physical & mental health conditions due to unhealthy coping mechanisms of stress. I talk about the bodies stress response and the part of the nervous system that we tend to focus on the least which is our Parasympathetic nervous system which is the bodies natural state of relaxation, I then go onto talk about the more healthy coping mechanisms which include things like Meditation, Better sleep, Healthier eating habits, improving exercise levels and Journaling. I hope you enjoy this short solo podcast, please review, share and tag. I think in the current situation we find ourselves in, we need these tips to help us through this second lockdown. Thanks Michael

On Episode 25 of the podcast I was delighted to welcome Ireland's leading Health & Performance Coach, Gerry Hussey. If you have 45 minutes spare today, please listen to this podcast. Every time I have heard Gerry speak, he leaves a lasting impression on me and this time was no different. Having Gerry on my podcast was on my 2020 Vision board and luckily that came true this week :) Gerry is a truly inspirational human being who you just have to hear speak, so i was so happy when he agreed to come on. We discuss his early work with the Irish Olympic Team and how he helped transform the teams achievements by working not just on the physical but the mental side of the boxers as well. He talked about how as human beings we are far more than just our physical being which is so true. This was then followed by the birth of their company Soulspace with his wife Miriam where their matra is "Change Your Thinking/Change Your World" . Soulspace is an empowering movement founded by Gerry and his wife Miriam that focuses on raising consciousness, awakening inner potential and inspiring greater health and performance through integrative Mind, Body and Soul Programs. Gerry then goes on to talk about various topics including harnessing your inner child, overcoming fear, the power of the heart and the emotion of love, having the power to choose your response in any given moment a long with many many more. Please please please give this a listen and a share, i hope you enjoy listening to Gerry as much as I had interviewing him. Enjoy Michael :)

on Episode no.24 of the podcast I welcomed Founder of the Kenya Education Project Eddie Sheehy to the Studio 7 Podcast. It was both a fascinating and inspiring chat about what inspired Eddie to start the charity in 2003 and the amazing work the project a long with the sterling work of its volunteers and donors has achieved in providing sponsorship to both primary and secondary pupils and also helping to fund a feeding station at the school plus bringing over clothes, boots, footballs and gear to the children every year. It is truly a remarkable achievement and success story of a man from East Kerry making a huge difference to thousands of children in East Kenya. :) I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Please share this episode as much as you can. Thanks guys and thanks to Eddie for coming in for a chat. Enjoy, Michael

in Episode 23 of the Podcast I talk to the legend that is Ger Keane. I got an insight into how Ger got into the Physical Therapy Industry relatively later in life and the impact he has had since has been massive. From his start in the world renown Ger Hartmann Clinic where he worked with Elite athletes all around the world including former UK athlete Paula Radcliff a long with many more. We discuss the level someone like Paula trained at and what the difference is between a really good athlete and player to a top level athlete. Honestly guys you need to listen to some of the stories, they gave me goosebumps anyways. Ger went onto talk about his experience with the Kerry Team and working with players and how satisfying it is to see the players succeed. Ger is a very humble and modest human and states that he is merely the "bus driver" leading the guys and ladies to their destination and that they do all the hard work. He mentions a lovely story about his relationship with Kieran Donaghy which you have to listen out for too after he was on the brink of retiring to come back to All Ireland glory. Spin tingling stuff guys. He talks about how witnessing and working 1st hand with an Olympic Kenyan runner in a Sauna helped him use similar methods with Colm "Gooch" Cooper in his rehab from his torn ACL and knee fracture. It was fascinating stuff guys so jump on and have a listen. Ger doesn't just work with athletes, he works wightith the general public and anybody who needs him. He is inspired by his clients who arrive into him every day and his passion for his work is infectious. An amazing episode from an amazing human being. I have been treated by Ger myself and his positivity during my injury and rehab helped me massively. Enjoy guys, please share an tag and drop a review on Apple podcasts as well so we can get this out to as many people as possible. :) Thanks Michael

in Episode 22 of the podcast I am joined by Physical Therapist Julia Buest who partners with Ger Keane in the Ger Keane Physical Therapy Clinic here in Kerry. We had a fascinating discussion on how she got into the industry after suffering a very serious knee injury herself which halted her sporting career which included being an underage Waterford County footballer and Athletic star to not being able to play or compete again. This inspired her to help others to rehabilitate themselves and has gone on to be a leading figure in physical Therapy in Kerry. We also discuss the trends in injuries in the young and older people and how rehabilitation has changed and improved over the last decade from where it was which wasn't a great place before. We talk about her holistic approach to injury recovery utilizing strength an conditioning coaches into the treatment chain to recover the client back to normal functioning or back to playing with a higher degree of injury resilience in the future and more knowledge of how to work with weights properly and with sound technique. I hope you enjoyed it, I certainly did :) Thanks Michael

in Episode 21 of the Podcast I discuss the Power of Adaptation and this has been even more important recently during lock-down. I talk about how we both humans and animals adapt to their environment to stay alive. I also talk about how we need to be able to tap into the 5% of our conscious minds to be able to create the life we want rather than floating through life in the other 95% subconscious programs we mostly live by. We are currently living in a "New Reality" and we have to adapt because we cant change it. The pandemic has affected the whole world which has caused some people to adapt well to being home with heir thoughts and emotions whereas others have not done so well, so I will be discussing that too. I hope you enjoy the episode, please share and rate etc Thanks so much, Michael click the link below for a listen

Confidence is the "Belief in ones ability to succeed" and it is something we have all struggled with or are struggling with on a day to day basis. In episode 20 of the podcast I discuss my top 5 tips which have helped me build my own confidence which is something i have struggled with my whole life in various ways. Theses tips include: Making Your Move, Visualization, Talking nicely to yourself, Affirmations and Doing something New. When we start changing our inner dialogue, we can make huge strides forward to reach our goals because we are 100% the story we tell ourselves. I am a big believer in the life we want is literally staring us in the face, it's right there in front of us but are we in the correct mindset or head space to see it???. Take a listen to hear me go into more depth on these points and give you examples from myself and others about how they have helped build confidence. Thanks Michael

The - (dash) is a very important symbol after your birth date. It is what we do in the dash that defines us and what we ultimately contribute to the world when we are gone. Hopefully for us all, that wont be for a long time but that's what we do not know and cannot predict but what we can do is make the most out of that time and to live the dreams that we have burning inside of all of us. During episode 19 of the podcast I discuss the concept of how we are conditioned as children and adolescents to be a certain way, to follow a certain religion, to be a particular type of person, to live by a set of rules laid down to us from our parents, grandparents, teachers etc. We were not given a choice in the matter. What we have to realize is that this becomes our pre-recorded tape that we bring into our adult lives but we can change that narrative for sure and we can create the life we actually want rather than what is pushed onto us by others and society in general. Give a listen if you have a spare half an hour :) Thanks guys Michael

In Episode 18 of the podcast I discuss how our health is a lot of the time being compromised even though its normally in the top 2 answers when people are asked what they want to be in life. Are we making the right decisions each day to give our health the best chance to be optimal and to live a life without the onset of disease they we could avoid due to our lifestyle. I talk about my own life where i picked up a serious injury by neglecting my own recovery to an extent and working too much. I go onto discuss the importance of adding recovery and relaxation into our day like you would book in a dentists appointment, we need to slot in a time to recover not just after the work day is completed but during the work day and tap into the "Principle of Oscillation" where we go from periods of energy expenditure on a task and then energy recovery. This is essential in order for you to have the energy to interact with your partner/children etc when you get home instead of crashing out on the couch exhausted. I finish with 10 points for mastering a Mindful day at work. I hope you enjoy the podcast. Please share and comment to those you think will benefit. Thanks Michael

in Episode 17 of the Podcast I talk about nourishing the relationships in your life with friends, family, partners, whoever. I ask questions about your current inner and outer circle (you have to take a listen to see what the outer circle means). I get you to take an audit of yourself and your current relationships and whether you need to tweak and work a bit more on nourishing and nurturing these connections that may have been lost with some people. I also go on to talk about the "Be-ing Mode" and how we need to be more in this mode than the "Do-ing" Mode where we spend most our time. Our connections our so important to our well-being so hopefully you can gain something from listening in. Thanks a million guys, Please comment, share, like, rate etc I would really appreciate it and send on the link to a friend you think will benefit. Have a great weekend. Michael

In Episode 16 of the podcast I discuss how sometimes adversity in our lives can lead to a time of reflection about parts of your life that maybe you have been neglecting. I have recently experienced a bad physical injury which has affected me mentally a lot as well as the physical aftermath. Sometimes through pain and anguish, we can find growth in ourselves and regain some focus. I also talk about Anxiety and how this affects us all in some degree but sometimes people think they are anxious people all the time when in fact they sporadically suffer from anxious moments so we need to be careful about labeling ourselves and the words we use are important in this. Hopefully this may help people who have been in a similar situation. Thanks guys. Michael

Episode 15 of the Podcast is all about the pitfalls of being a Perfectionist. Perfectionism can be described as striving and striving to reach what is ultimately unobtainable and then feeling miserable and disappointed as a result of this "failure". Perfectionists set impossibly high standards for themselves and others and are extremely self critical which we will delve into more over the course of the podcast. I also discuss things like the common Myths around perfectionism, the differences between being highly motivated and a perfectionist, plus the Vicious Cycle of being a perfectionist and common thinking errors around it. I will also discuss more importantly, how you can free yourself from this negative cycle. I hope you enjoy this solo episode. I look forward to hearing your feedback. Please tag and share and rate :) Thanks guys Michael

In Episode 15 of the podcast, I sat down again with Alan Devane for a part 2 chat. For those of you who don't know Alan, he is a qualified Personal Trainer and Strength & Conditioning Coach plus an Online Personal Trainer. In this episode we discussed what has happened since we recorded the last episode which included Alan competing in his first Men's Physique show where he ended up placing which was amazing since he had zero experience in competing and we discussed the after effects of such a long cut and his next goal going forward. We also went on to talk in depth about mental health and the troubles that we all face from time to time and the strategies we can implement to help come through those dark times. We discussed lots of other things too including the power of the mind and the importance of having a growth mindset. I loved getting him back in and hope you all enjoy part 2 with Alan Devane Fitness. Thanks Michael

in Episode 14 of the podcast I discuss the importance of not just resilience but recognizing how resilient you are. Resilience is the "human capacity to endure, to overcome and be transformed from life's adversities" We all go through many adversities in our lives and we build up our resilience muscle just like a anatomical muscle overtime and it gets stronger sometimes without us knowing it but that muscle is there to tap into when we face stresses and adversity. So lets see how resilient you currently are? :) I hope you enjoy this solo podcast. Thanks Michael

in Episode 13 of the podcast I had the privilege to sit down with national and international award winning hair stylist Sean Taaffe. Sean has been in the business for 30 years and we discussed lots of things including his growth from a 16 yer old opening his first 2 chair Salon on his own to now running 3 salons, employing over 60 people and having his own education brand. We chatted about his journey over those 30 years and how his hugely positive mindset led him to make some key life decisions when other people thought he was mad at the time. We also discuss methods that Sean uses like mind mapping, vision boards and listening to audible books to keep his mind full of positiveness and forward thinking. I really enjoyed sitting down and picking Seans brains. He is a very inspiring and hardworking individual with an amazing story. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did :) Thanks Michael

in Episode 12 of the podcast I discuss the importance of speaking from the heart instead of the head and how we need to tap into that more than we do. I also talk about compliments and how we aren't great at giving or receiving them and how we can change this. I then go onto discuss the topic of Higher Psychological Functioning (HPF) which is something we are all born with but some of us don't realize what it is or how to access this state more often. Thanks for taking the time to listen, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks Michael

in Episode 11 of the podcast I had the pleasure of sitting down with world renowned adventurer Pat Falvey for a very insightful conversation on his life which took him from the north side of Cork City to standing literally on top of the world on the summit of Mount Everest. He also went onto to be the first Irish person in history to have scaled the 7 highest summits in the world not once but twice. Pat is also an accomplished Author, Key note speaker and his company organizes trips around the world for ordinary people who want to complete their own individual goals. A hugely motivational individual so I am sure you will gain a lot from this episode as I did and have done over the years I have know him. He has been a friend and a mentor to me for several years now and it was great to finally get him into record the episode as he must be the busiest man I know :) Enjoy it guys Michael

In Episode 11 of the podcast I discuss that it's not a bad thing to be a dreamer, most of the people who shape our current world were and still are dreamers. They didn't let anybody externally talk them out of turning these dreams into reality. I also talk about challenging our thinking and our negative thought processes and realizing that sometimes what you thought was impossible is in fact possible. I hope you enjoy it guys :) Thanks for listening Michael

So in Episode 10 of the podcast I discussed mindfulness which is a bit of a buzzword at the moment. I talked about what it really is, some common myths surrounding it, how to be more mindful at work plus I recorded a body scan mediation practice at the end to make us a little more aware of our bodies and its sensations. I hope you enjoy it :)

In Episode 9 I have recorded a solo podcast on Stress, which we all suffer from in some degree. We need a relative amount if it to get things done but its how we balance the scale which is the problem. I talk about what stress is, the stress response and the unhealthy versus the healthy coping mechanisms for stress giving some very practical resources and content you can introduce straight away to start managing the negative stress better. Happy Listening Michael

In Episode 8 of the podcast I sat down with former Kerry GAA Goalkeeper and All-star Brendan Kealy. We talked all things GAA and Soccer and how he ended up in goals in the first place plus we discussed the controversial new proposed back pass rule. I also also learnt a bit more about the man behind the gloves and his own journey both professionally and personally. A great listen. Thanks guys.

Episode 7 of the podcast is another solo one, in this one I have decided to do a Q&A of frequently asked questions that I have received over the last couple of years and give you my insights on how to solve these particular issues. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks Michael

I was delighted to have my good friend and Online Fitness Coach Alan Devane of Alan Devane Fitness in to record Episode 6 of the podcast. It was a very interesting chat and was great to find out a bit more about the man behind the big smile :) We talked all things Fitness and Mindset and about his own personal journey around family loss to finding where his passion lay to launching a thriving online fitness business. Enjoy

In Episode 5, I had the pleasure to have a chat with my first guest on the Podcast in the form of Shane Finn. The Dingle native sat down with me to discuss his background in Fitness and Mindset and we also discussed his charity work for Spina Bifida Ireland from which he has a close connection with. This has included running 24 marathons in 24 consecutive days and more recently, running and cycling across America in only 36 days. A very inspirational person so was delighted to have him on, enjoy :)