The Cure Podcast

Hello lovely listeners, in this episode we tackle a subject we have been getting loads of requests to cover: yoga. We are joined by Kate McNamara, owner and teacher at Hot Yoga Cork (hotyogacork.ie) who tells us how she fell in love with yoga as a twenty something year old in a new city, and what it has brought to her life since. She tells us about setting up her own studio in Cork and all of the challenges and successes since then. She also describes why yoga is still so important to her and how she incorporates it into her daily life and her fitness routine.Kate also discusses the origins of yoga and explains the many different manifestations of this discipline. She talks us through the particular yoga practice she teaches, hot yoga. Like many of the topics we have covered on the show, this exposes our bodies to hormetic stress (an intentional physiologic stress such as cold or heat exposure, challenging exercise etc), increasing physical and mental resilience.Plus if goat yoga is a thing what about kid yoga, and will Con  ever learn to pronounce pilates correctly??

In the second episode of our two parter with Conor Hammersley, he tells us about his research in Ireland and the United States on rural masculinity. Conor describes the challenges facing male farmers and farming families today. He helps us to understand complex concepts like social reproduction, masculine and feminine hegemony in clear terms. He also explains the uniquely Irish historical and cultural influences which reinforce gender norms here. Plus why does Ireland have so many single sex schools, how do the All Blacks get things right, and how does the rodeo relate to Irish farmers?!We could have talked all night to Conor, he is just so passionate about his subject. We enjoyed it a lot, and hope you do too!

This episode sets a new record for the Cure Podcast, as for the first time we interview a sibling of a previous guest. We loved our conversation about stammering and resilience with Timmy Hammersley way back in series 1. This week we talk to his brother, researcher Conor Hammersley. Conor is a Fulbright scholar currently undertaking a PhD on identities and masculinities among Irish men with a specific focus on the farming community. As part of his Fulbright scholarship award at Columbia-Bassett Medical School in New York, Conor is extending his research by comparing and contrasting the evolving socio-cultural and economic challenges faced by US farmers in relation to their health to those encountered by farmers in Ireland. In the first episode of this two parter, Conor talks about the challenges and changes encountered by men in modern Ireland and gives us a historical and cultural backdrop. Next week he will fill us in on his research in the farming community.Plus, is that a head cold Dinny is showcasing, despite his recent forays into the world of cold exposure...?Please note, this episode has mature themes and content.

Hello friends of the Cure Podcast! After an unexpectedly long break we are delighted to be back talking all things related to health and wellbeing, and learning from our wonderful guests. We have a super episode to open Season 3. We  talk to Richard Hogan, pyschotherapist, columnist and author of Parenting the Screenager. He tells us all about the challenges of parenting and  how to navigate those tricky teenage years. He explains the difference between digital natives and digital immigrants (or old people as teenagers would call them). He talks about encouraging the development of resilience and skills to manage adversity in our young people. He describes how to recognise our own negative thought processes which lead to self-destructive behaviour and how to avoid passing on intergenerational trauma. He also speaks very movingly about his own experiences of family life and the lessons he has learned.Plus: the transformative power of a summer job, and Dinny updates us on his ongoing quest to hold back time with his recent adventures in cold exposure therapy.We hope you enjoy it!

In this weeks show we chat to Stefan Okunbor.Stefan is currently a member of the Kerry Senior football panel. He speaks very openly about his experiences of growing up black in Ireland, racism, his travels to Australia to peruse an AFL career, injury set backs and much more.  Please be aware there is some strong language in this episode.We hope you enjoy the show.

In this episode we are talking about the psychology of online dating with Cyber psychologist Dr Nicola Fox Hamilton.Nicola is a lecturer in applied psychology and cyberpsychology in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT). Her research focuses on communication through technology, particularly in the areas of online dating and relationships, and attraction. She is currently researching how the COVID pandemic impacted online dating.She talks us through the biases that we bring to encounters in cyberspace and why people can behave differently in a virtual setting than in real life. Plus the different approaches that men and women take to swiping and screening potential partners which might explain those frustrations when people behave in ways we don't expect.Nicola is so knowledgeable and engaging, we loved talking to her and hope you like the episode.

We are back after a short break. In this episode we chat all things poetry with the wonderful Mary Kennelly. Mary shares her journey through poetry and why she has written her most recent book. It is a lovely personal story about life, illness, caring for loved ones and finding peace after their death.We hope you enjoy the show.

In this weeks episode we talk all things the brain and alzheimer's disease.Professor Marina Lynch is a leading expert in the area of brain health and the role inflammation has on the brain. She discusses her work and gives some simple tips on how we can live better and help reduce inflammation in the brain.We hope you enjoy the show.

In this episode we talk to Dr Susanna Soeberg who talks us through her research on hot and cold exposure and why this approach is beneficial.Susanna describes the impact of this practice on physical and mental well-being, and discuss the key role of brown fat in this process. For those of us who don't have a sauna at home she explains some good workarounds!Susanna's book ‘Winter Swimming - the Nordic way towards a healthier and happier life' is available to order at https://is.gd/4GKlr0 and for those of you who really want to get into the science her recent paper is available at https://is.gd/L5Btk2We hope you enjoy the show.

In this weeks show we talk all things Artificial intelligence with Professor Barry O Sullivan.Barry  is an award-winning academic working in the fields of artificial intelligence, constraint programming, prescriptive analytics (operations research), ethics, and public policy. He contributes to global Track II diplomacy related to disruptive emerging technologies. He recently was elected as a fellow of The Association for the Advancement of Artificial intelligence and is president of the European Association for AI.We hope you enjoy the show. 

We are joined in this episode by the wonderful Prof Rose Anne Kenny from St James Hospital. Prof Kenny is a leading doctor in the medicine of aging and a founding investigator of the influential Irish study on aging, TILDA. She is also the author of the bestselling new book, Age Proof.She tells us about the secrets of the world's blue zones, where more people live to 100 than anywhere else. She gives us practical tips for how we can make our older years healthy and happy ones. She talks about how we need as a society to recognise that the quality of older years may be more important to focus on than the number.Also, an important victory is won in Con and Dinny's Battle of the Supplements, but does Con or Dinny come out on top in this particular skirmish? Let's just say the loser is left licking his  wounds… listen now to find out!We hope you enjoy the show.

After a little R&R we are back to chat all about the lost art of Convalescence.We tend to talk a lot about treatment of illness and injuries, but as a society have we forgotten the importance of recovery? Convalescence used to be a common concept but we don't hear a lot about it today. We are joined in this episode by Dr Gavin Francis, doctor and author. He talks about his book Recovery: the Lost Art of Convalescence, and why it is important to remember this aspect of management of illness and injury. He tells us how recovery can still be relevant even for people with long term illnesses and what it might be like to value it more in society. He also shares his experiences on recovery from COVID.We hope you enjoy this weeks conversation.

Today's episode is all about the benefits of time spent in green spaces (such as woodlands, parks and gardens) for our physical health, mental health and even for our society. We speak to Dr Eoin Lettice: plant scientist, lecturer and environmental blogger. He talks about his work with the Open Arboretum Project at University College Cork (UCC), educating children and adults about the incredible collection of trees on the campus. He describes the ideal city with access to nature for everyone. He also speaks about his recent trip to COP26 in Glasgow and his thoughts on how to make agriculture sustainable for our planet's future. We discuss whether a hurling pitch constitutes a green space. Plus: what is the correct dress code for forest bathing, and why are less bugs hitting our windscreens on car journeys than in the golden age of the 1980s???We hope you enjoy the show.

In our latest episode we talk to Diarmuid Duggan, dietitian manager at Bon Secours Hospital Cork. Diarmuid specialises in the areas of cancer and obesity disease and he shares his unique insights into these two disease areas and how diet can impact their management. Diarmuid also has a masters in cognitive and behavioural therapy and he talks about how we need to understand the unique emotional and social background each person brings to their interaction with food. He explains why weight and diet are such emotionally charged areas and why he believes in a non judgemental, person-centred approach. Along the way we cover such hot topics as superfoods, supplements (yes Dinny!) and moving away from weight-based targets to performance and health targets. We hope you enjoy the show.

Today's episode is a story of true grit, resilience in the face of adversity, and the importance of human connections. We chat to rugby player Ian McKinley, who suffered a devastating eye injury forcing him to retire from rugby at the age of 21. He takes us through the twists and turns of his life since then, first as a coach in Italy and then following the adoption of specially modified goggles, as a player in the Italian league from third division to Pro-12. He then went on to play at the highest level for the Italian National team. He tells us about the experience of living with an acquired disability. He also speaks movingly about the support he received from his loving family throughout his journey. We loved hearing his incredible story and hope you do too!

In this episode we take a deep dive into unfamiliar territory for us guys: the menopause. Luckily we have an expert to guide us in the form of Dr Caoimhe Hartley. Caoimhe is an expert in women's health and founder of the Menopause Health clinic. She is accredited by both the North American Menopause Society and the British Menopause Society. She explains what menopause is, how it varies from woman to woman, and the many and various symptoms women can experience at this time. This is always a unique experience with the duration of peri menopause and the extent and severity of symptoms varying from woman to woman. She talks about potential ways to manage symptoms, depending on the manifestation of menopause in the individual woman. We also look at a couple of specific challenges including menopause after a breast cancer diagnosis, and premature ovarian insufficiency, or ‘early menopause'. We hope you like it.

Type 2 Diabetes is a global health problem, on the rise not just in adults but in children also. In this episode we talk to Professor Roy Taylor, one of the world's leading experts in this disease. Roy clarifies that whole type 2 Diabetes is seen with obesity it can also develop in people in the “healthy” weight range who are ‘too heavy for their own body'. The good news is that a large proportion of these cases can be reversed with diet, avoiding medication, health complications and hospitalisations. He explains how, and busts some myths about this topic. Also, if you've held on to those jeans from your early twenties, try them on… Roy explains why it's important that they should still fit!We hope you enjoy the show.

In this weeks show we chat all things parenting with Colman Noctor. Colman has loads of tips and advice to share on how we can aspire to be better parents.We discuss everything from when to allow kids on devices to their participation in sport.We hope you enjoy the show.

Season 2 starts where we left off in season one. More debates, conversation and chats with really interesting guests.We open up the season with the wonderful Josh Jackson who started his own supplement company, Hakamount, during Covid. Josh talks to us about the ups and downs of his journey and the benefits of taking a multivitamin.We hope you enjoy the show.

It is the last episode of season 1. We look back on our personal highlights of the season and reveal what changes we have made in our own lives based on our chats with our wonderful guests, from diet, sleep, exercise, teamwork and learning to enjoy the journey.  Also we reveal does Con finally break and start taking creatine and has Dinny cleaned out his supplement press. We look forward to season 2 and hope you will join us again.

In the second part of our chat with exercise physiologist and all round nice guy Ciarán Fairman, we talk about his own experiences moving to the US, the challenges he faced around body image and self care. How  endlessly scrolling through social media has a negative effect on us. Ciarán attempts to mediate our long standing argument on supplements for well - being...ok so Dinny might win this one but the war is not over.We hope you enjoy the show.

In this weeks show we speak with Ciarán Fairman. We spoke to Ciarán way back in February and he was so kind to take the time to chat to us. Ciarán is an exercise physiologist and Assistant Professor in the University of South Carolina where he specialises in designing exercise programs for people with cancer.  He also examines the impact of  exercise, nutrition and supplementation after cancer treatments.We chat how he ended up in this area and how one size does not fit all when it comes to training.  We also chat about how we can age better and the role exercise and training play in this process.This is the first of a two part show with Ciarán.We hope you enjoy our chat.

In this weeks show we chat to Dr Catherine Kelly. Catherine is the author of a new book called Blue Spaces - why time near water is the secret to happiness. She talks to us about her personal journey towards water and how it helped her cope with the death of her mother. Catherine gives great insights into the healing power of water and why we should all try a dip in the sea. We hope you enjoy the show.

In this weeks show we have a chat with the brilliant Liam Moggan. Liam is known as the coaches coach and has a huge amount of knowledge and insight into the world of coaching and how to get the best out of people. We chat about how to be a good team player and how to best give and receive feedback. Liam has gained huge wisdom in his life and we are delighted he shared some of it with us on this weeks episode.We hope you enjoy the show.

Can art make medicine better, and can it help us in our everyday lives? In our new episode we talk to Sioban Murphy who is the program director of Visual Thinking Strategies in UCC. This program is used to teach skills like observation, empathy, collaboration and critical thinking to trainee healthcare professionals. In a VTS session small groups are shown a painting and are drawn into conversation by the facilitator about their interpretation of the image. Sioban talks passionately about how this process can help build skills essential for healthcare, why the humanities have a place in science, and how we may not be as visually literate as we think we are despite the images bombarding us every day!

This week we chat to all round nice guy Barry Murphy. Barry plays music with the band Hermitage Green and tells us about the journey he and the band have been on.We chat about the music writing process, life , laughter and much more. Packed full of positive energy, Barry shares his story from how he retired from rugby and began playing and writing music. We hope you enjoy the show.

On this weeks show we chat to Psychologist and author Niamh Fitzpatrick about death and loss. This episode moved us beyond words. Niamh talks to us about living with grief and loss. She speaks from her own perspective both personally and professionally. Niamh tells us about the the loss of her beloved sister and best friend Dara. We hope you enjoy the show.

On this weeks show we chat to performance coach and breathing specialist Leo Ryan. Leo is founder of Innate-Strength.com and has spent almost 20 years studying breathing and how it can improve human performance and mental health. He is also a Wim Hof instructor and gives us some insights into cold therapy and its many benefits. Leo is a fountain of knowledge and kindly shares really useful tips for people who want to start doing some breathe work or who want to try cold therapy.  We hope you enjoy the show.

"Try again. Fail again. Fail better"In this weeks episode we delve into the world of nutrition with none other than performance nutritionist Daniel Davey. During our chat we discuss everything from what is performance nutrition? Our personal relationship with food. How we can make better food choices. How to try remove any negative feelings or emotions we have when we make poor choices. It is a fascinating chat where Daniel shares his simple tips and advice. He also shares a personal story about how he is helping his dad battle illness by using his knowledge and expertise of performance nutrition.We hope you enjoy the show.

In this weeks episode we chat about all things gut related with leading expert Professor John Cryan.  We chat how exactly the bacteria in our gut can affect our mind. Prof Cryan explains the term "Psychobiotic" and how we are what we eat. John gives good advice on what foods to include in our diets to help our gut bacteria. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

In this weeks episode we chat all things social media and social media influencers with Dr Kevina Cody.Dr Kevina Cody, Lecturer in Consumer Culture at Technological University Dublin. Her main area of interest is the interaction between consumption, the marketplace, brands, advertising and our everyday lives, identities & relationships. 'Why do we buy what we buy and how can we make sense of the place consumption has in our society" is the focus of the modules Kevina teaches and the research projects she pursues.We chat about how wellness has become a billion dollar industry and the rise of social media influencers who are looking to capitalise on this. Kevina offers tips and advice about how we can navigate this industry in a safer manner.We hope you enjoy our conversation.

We have an amazing chat with Timmy Hammersly. Timmy is better know for his hurling abilities but what some people don't know is that Timmy has lived his life with a stammer. He speaks very openly about his stammer and how it has shaped him as a person. Timmy gives a great insight into how he managed to turn a weakness into a strength and why he loves a challenge. He shares some tips that have helped him and he is a great example of what resilience looks like. If you have been through or are going through challenging times in your life we hope Timmy's story gives you hope and shows you that even the toughest of obstacles can be turned into a positive.We hope you enjoy the show.

The second part of our amazing chat with Professor Giles Warrington on all things sleep.We talk about optimal sleep routine. What to do if you can't fall asleep. Sleep supplements and devices. How poor sleep negatively impacts your diet and well being.Giles shares his own sleeping routine and his personal experience with mindfulness. We hope you enjoy the show. 

The first of a two part show where we chat to Professor Giles Warrington on all things sleep. In the first episode we talk about what sleep is, why we sleep at night, the stages of sleep and how they impact us. Con chats about how his sleep has been impacted in the last year even though he managed to sleep through an earthquake.We hope you enjoy the show.

A little background to who we are and why we started the podcast. It is our first effort so bare with us. We promise it gets better.Check us out on instagram and twitter @curepodcast.We would love to hear from you.Con & Dinny.