The Earthly Delights Podcast

Our guest this time is Dr. Sula Windgassen. Having experienced recurring UTIs and chronic pain in her early twenties, she felt a strong urge to learn more about human health and, in particular, women's health, which is significantly under-researched. Since she made this conscious decision, she has become a health psychologist, cognitive behavioural therapist, EMDR therapist, and mindfulness teacher with over 10 years of experience working with people who have chronic illness in the NHS, academia, and private practice. She is one of the wisest voices on the internet when it comes to mental and physical health and is a much-needed figure in a world filled with health misinformation, oversimplifications, and massive extrapolations from the truth. I invited Sula to the podcast to talk about a range of topics related to mental health, physical health, and wellness. She knows all too well what many chronic sufferers are going through. The big motive behind her work is to prevent people with health issues from feeling as isolated and unheard as she did, and a key aspect of her success (in my opinion) is that she doesn't necessarily push the practices and tools that helped her recover from her health issues onto her patients. She knows that just because things worked for her, it doesn't mean that they will work for you, and this is rare in the world of health and wellness. In this podcast, we cover a lot. We hear about the profound role EMDR has played in influencing Sula's understanding of recovery, and we break down the common myth that certain physical health symptoms are all in your head, or that it's all trauma, or that it's all your nervous system. We unpack how the market and targeted online marketing are taking advantage of the eroding trust people have in public healthcare and the dangers attached to this. We talk about the healing power of being with our difficult emotions. We also discuss the role of connection and feeling heard on the road to recovery as well as the nuances around the benefits of mental imagery (see show notes for the referenced studies). If you want more from Sula, please see the links below. https://www.healthpsychologist.co.uk/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4974856/ https://www.instagram.com/the_health_psychologist_/?hl=en

Welcome back friends! You might remember Ciara Sherlock from an episode that I recorded with her in back in 2022. In that episode, we discussed the significance of psychedelic integration along with the growing popularity of women's circles. In this episode, we cover other aspects of Ciara's work; namely Bodywork and Doula work. In the current climate, where more and more people are accepting of the body's capacity to store our deeper psychological and emotional weight – we chat about how massage therapy can help many who are looking to deepen their connection to their body and the variety of symptoms that this process can assist with. We then move onto discuss Doula work- which could be summarised as holistic support for women throughout their entire pregnancy journey- which can begin when a couple are considering the possibility of having a child, and can move up until postpartum, with guidance and emotional support around feeding along with naming ceremony facilitations. Doula work has played an integral role in our culture over hundreds of years and we unpack this as well as how Doulas can work alongside as well as outside the mainstream maternity services. Unfortunately, there are women who feel rushed, unherd, isolated and unsupported during their pregnancy and after birth and for women who desire deep support for the incredibly challenging and enriching process of bringing a child into this world, Doula work is an additional option. Doulas also work with women who have experienced pregnancy loss. If you would like to learn more about the topics covered in this podcast and/or contact Ciara please see the link to her website below. Happy New Year! https://ciarasherlock.com/

Welcome back to the Earthly Delights Podcast!Our guest this time around is writer, coach and podcaster, Erick Godsey. I have been following his work since 2020 and found him to be an inspiring, insightful voice in a wellbeing and spirituality media landscape that often promotes dangerous, wild content. His weekly newsletter is regular thought-provoker for me and I would highly recommend subscribing to it if this conversation moves you.After exchanging pleasantries, we start the podcast by unpacking his fascinating project called The Shimmer which aims to help people understand the degree to which modern life has left us deeply distracted and provides a helpful roadmap of practices to assist individuals to get their attention back. This has helped me a lot and I have a feeling that many listeners will appreciate this project so I wanted to share it with those who might not have come across Erick and his work.We then move into chatting about the impact meditation can have on emotional sensitivity, the individualistic rhetoric of influencers in the spirituality space and the significance of delving into a relationship with our shadow.I tried something new with this podcast and guest, precisely because I trusted Erick's capacity to hear a differing perspective without feeling attacked as I wanted to be able to have a respectful discussion about our differing perspectives without falling into common argumentative traps. I feel that there is a deep need for people to respectfully disagree with each other and I'm grateful for getting to try this with him.https://www.erickgodsey.com

Lucy O' Hagan is a very inspirational person. She has been on a fascinating journey, a journey that we couldn't do justice to in one hour. However, we did cover a lot. I primarily asked Lucy onto the podcast to talk about her work with WildAwake – a fantastic organisation designed to help people connect to themselves, their communities and the non-human life on earth in a deeper way. Wildawake through Ancestral Skills, Ethnobotany, Wildlife Tracking and Trailing as well as Rites of Passage Training invite people to relate to the natural world in a way we have forgotten. Part of this Rites of Passage training with Wildawake includes a process which is often described as a Wildness Fast or Vision Quest which is an ancient ceremony involving several days of fasting in the natural world with little to no human company nor modern distraction. This conversation attempts to delve deeper into this rich process, why Lucy felt the call to Wilderness fasting and how it deepened her relationship with the land and inspired her work in Donegal with Wildawake. We also talk about the rise of ethno-nationalism in Ireland and consider how combined with economic precarity and misinformation online, this racism might be seen as a symptom of the significant disconnection many Irish people feel to their language, to their tradition, to their stories, to their land. Lucy also shares some of her observations facilitating ceremonies and from her extended time on the land, including the ‘inherent queerness of the natural world'. This was a beautiful chat which I think might serve as necessary nutrition for many given the disconnection, polarisation and violence going on close to home at the moment. Lucy's story reminds me of our collective need to listen to the natural world, to learn about the ways of our ancestors and to pay homage to these practices and worldviews. You can find more information about Wildawake and Lucy through the link below. As always, thanks for making the time to listen and thanks to Lucy for getting up early for our call https://www.wildawake.ie/

This week's guest is Evelyn Van Winden, a Therapist with expertise in attachment, behavioural and parenting-related challenges surrounding child development. We talk to Evelyn about the importance of those foundational relationships during childhood and how they affect us as we grow into adulthood. We also talk about the challenges of parenting and getting the balance between supporting and caring for your child and taking a step back to allow them to learn important lessons on their own. We could have spoken to Evelyn for hours and hours and will be sure to get her back on soon, but we hope you enjoy this first very illuminating conversation. Thankshttps://evelynevanwinden.nl

This podcast is a conversation with Declan Hammond, the co-founder and former director of the Irish School of Homeopathy. Declan's array of skills are vast but with this podcast, we focus in on homoeopathy. Most people, at least in Ireland, disregard homeopathy as woo-woo or pseudoscience but my hope with this podcast is that the listener becomes more open to this approach to healing. In this full episode, we cover how Declan came across homoeopathy and eventually established a school in Ireland, the philosophy behind homoeopathy and how it can serve as a catalyst for you to change your life. We talk about the need for balanced practicality in the world of medicine reflecting on what can homeopathy aid and it's limitations (in the words of Declan- sometimes a gentle approach doesn't do it). We also cover some memorable transformations it inspired in people over the course of his career, misconceptions about homoeopathy and much more. https://declanhammond.com

James Cussen is a philosopher, video creator and the first Limerick man we've had on the podcast. He runs a very successful and useful YouTube channel titled “The Living Philosophy” through which he unpacks long-standing philosophical arguments with modern-day application. A good friend put me on to his stuff and I've been dipping in ever since. In this conversation, we cover what philosophy has done for James, and how exactly it can help us in a very real way in our daily lives while acknowledging the dangers of overthinking and overanalysing. We also critique some heralded figures in the mainstream and what their success might reflect about our current society. Are we running away from feeling? This was a long, very fun conversation and I know you'll take something significant from this. If you'd like to learn more about James and his work, check out his website.https://www.thelivingphilosophy.com or his YouTube channel https://m.youtube.com/@TheLivingPhilosophyAs always, thanks for taking time to listen to us.

Part 3 of our mini-series about direction and purpose in life! Writing an introduction for our guest this week is an impossible task, but I'll try. Martín Prechtel is an artist, writer, musician, storyteller, teacher, healer and leading thinker..he's also one of the funniest guests we've ever had on The Earthly Delights. He has lived an incredibly full life and has some profound lessons to share with whoever is open to learning. I was first introduced to the work of Martin by My dear friend Matt who shared with me “The Smell of Rain on Dust: Grief and Praise”. In this book, he speaks of the inherent interconnection between grief and praise in a truly life-affirming manner. It is one of the most influential books on how I view life and I would encourage anyone to give it a read if they are struggling with grief and joy in their own lives. To be brutally honest, I would recommend the work of Martin Prechtel to you all listening. Why do I say that? Well, if you are listening to The Earthly Delights Podcast, chances are that you are finding navigating the modern world very challenging. I don't need to go into the many ways as to how life in 2023 is sucking our life force but I know that many of us are left today feeling blocked, numb, hopeless and even apathetic. Martin's work addresses the maladies of our current situation but still manages to instil a deep sense of hope, love, meaning and gratitude in the people who listen to him talk and read his books. His core messages are simple but profoundly countercultural and I invited him on because I think we all need to hear his words until they sink into our bones. In this conversation we speak about some of the crucial lessons in his book “The Unlikely Peace at Cuchumaquic: The Parallel Lives of People as Plants: Keeping the Seeds Alive” namely the nature of our collective disconnection or what he calls un-intactness, the importance of giving energy towards something beautiful that we will never see fully blossom in our lifetime as well as the significance of attempting something even if it feels impossible. These areas of discussion are so relevant now and it was an absolute delight and honour to spend this time with Martin. Thank you all for listening and I left links to his website and soul-sparking music in the show notes if you want more for Martin. The new album ‘The Sun's Gonna Melt Your Gun' is a really touching, powerful piece of art and you will hear a little snippet of it at the end of the podcast. All the best friends, https://floweringmountain.com/https://open.spotify.com/album/6N96PXRbD4WVDAbGiClvDM?si=z6FfW-RfS42Brqwg-2VVDw

Part 2 of our mini-series about direction and purpose in life! Brother Richard Hendrick is a priest-friar of the Irish Capuchin Franciscan Province, now based in Dublin. He was director of Youth Ministry for the Irish Capuchins for over ten years and has worked at both secondary and third level as a retreat giver and chaplain. He is deeply knowledgeable about ritual and initiation within several wisdom traditions and his work highlights the significance they play in our development as humans. With the Sanctuary Mindfulness and Spirituality Centre in Dublin, he has created many youth and teacher training programs around this perspective – the perspective being that young people need elders along with ritual and healthy forms of initiation to help them progress through the stages of human development. In this conversation, we unpack this further with Brother Richard, along with essential components of initiation, the precise role of the elder, and why our parents cannot be our elders. We also hear his critique around the confirmation, the common form of initiation for young people associated with the Catholic Church. This was a special chat with a man deeply committed to spreading insights from many wisdom traditions, not just the Christian tradition. If you would like some more from Brother Richard, he has a fantastic book out called Still Points: A Guide to Living the Mindful, Meditative Way which is available in all good bookshops.

Part 1 of our mini-series about direction and purpose in life! Welcome out -- Barry Dillon is the Programme Manager at Venture Out Wilderness Project, a registered charity and social enterprise based in the West of Ireland. Barry spent many years teaching adventure sports in places such as Honduras, Mexico, Asia and South America and returned to Ireland 10 years ago to spread the expertise and wisdom he learned to the young people of Ireland. In this podcast, we unpack his experience with the natural world, working with young people outdoors and the specific programmes Venture Out provide. Some of these programmes have helped people that haven't yielded much benefit from traditional talk therapy and I hope this serves as some inspiration for those who feel that nothing is working to help their mental health, their relationship with themselves and the wider world. I invited Barry on because, as a Youth Worker myself, I see first-hand the lack of time many young people spend outdoors and I sense that this has broader repercussions than we are quite aware of right now, so I strongly support the work he and his team are doing at Venture Out. Please see the links below for more information on their upcoming events and as always, thanks for listening!https://www.venture-out.ie/

Manchán Magan is a writer, traveller, documentary maker, Gaeilgeoir and polyglot. He is a very necessary presence in Irish culture right now as interest in the Irish language and Pre-Christian Ireland grows and grows. I was introduced to his work by my girlfriend late last year and was pulled by his incredible passion for the Irish language and myth. He describes in powerful detail how the language provides us with a much more rich, more mystical and interconnected perspective on the world compared to the English language that was forced onto us. His recent work can be seen as a plea to ponder the significance of an island losing its native language and as a rising call to explore the Irish language and myth with greater curiosity if one feels the call. This podcast covers all of this in more detail and insightfully highlights how the Portal of language and mythology can push us to feel a tighter connection to our ancestors and to our land. This conversation was an absolute pleasure for me and I hope it was just as powerful for you. https://www.manchan.com

Melissa Kramer is the founder of LIVE UTI FREE. An organization established to help support people struggling with long-term Urinary Tract Infections. They also advocate for the need for more research in this somewhat neglected area of women's health. Why arrange this podcast? Well, I think our majority male audience could brush up on their knowledge on UTIs as it has and will impact a large percentage of the women in their lives. I have also seen the crushing impact of a Chronic or long-term UTI on my girlfriend and her mental health. She and many others in a similar situation feel alone and often dip into periods of despair- wondering if they will always experience this pain. Melissa is keenly aware of this, having suffered with this condition for many years. Her own experience of frustration and anguish encouraged her to set up LIVEUTIFREE; in order to push the situation forward and to help others who have UTI issues significantly affect their lives. We cover a lot in these 42 mins; from Melissa's personal story, misconceptions around UTIs, where the research is lacking and why curing long-term UTIs can be so complex. We also acknowledge the mental health impact of this condition. I hope this conversation proves helpful to listeners and don't hesitate to get in touch with LIVEUTIFREE below for more information. https://liveutifree.comSign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

It's easy to forget that we once had the skills, resources and sense of community to feel confident in addressing these kinds of challenges – perhaps easier to believe that we have lost them forever. Common Knowledge is a non-profit organisation, based in Co. Clare committed to helping people familiarise themselves with such skills while empowering the community to play a more hands-on role in their living arrangements. Spider Hickman is a Co-founder of Common Knowledge and programme director. Originally thinking that architecture was her path, she diverted to contemporary art, then residential development before finding her happy place back on site, this time with tools in hand. As well as teaching as part of our core crew, Spider manages course development and communications. This conversation covers Spider's journey (which is a real journey) to ending up with Common Knowledge, what exactly Common Knowledge do, to Tiny houses - I'm confident I'm not the only one that has considered a Tiny Home over the last few years. We also spend some time reflecting on the collective shift towards wanting a sustainable living situation that we can contribute towards. As someone who is far from handy, this served as an uplifting and inspiring discussion which reshaped my belief on what I could do, in the midst of a cost of living and housing crisis to aid my living situation. I truly hope it does the same for you. Common Knowledge is running courses almost non-stop over the next 5 months or so. Please see the link below for more information about their courses and dates etc also, if you are somewhat handy interested in volunteering with the guys, please drop them an email which you'll find through the link below. https://www.ourcommonknowledge.org/volunteeringSign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Moe Aloha is a facilitator, DJ, writer and a man who's devoting a lot of his time to improving relationships; people's relationships with themselves, their loved ones and their relationship with the universe around them. The initial intention of this podcast was to discuss grief, and we did. Still, this podcast also turned out to be a healthy conversation between men who experience the world quite differently. I found it to be a wide-ranging reflection on where we are collectively with our felt sense of pain, grief, loss and trauma. This isn't one of the episodes where an expert gives us the answers, this is an episode where 3 men listen to each other and respectfully express their thoughts. We need more of it. I commend Moe for his compassionate, genuine and warm presence. It is very rare that people hold differing perspectives with such respect and sincerity and as a result, I believe we all left the chat a little wiser than starting it. I hope you do too. We intend to have him on again soon to further explore our human need for ritual. If you want to learn more about Moe, read his article or buy his game, I've left some links below: https://moealoha.substack.com https://curiositycuredthecat.co/products/curiositySign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

In a world of everything, everywhere, all the time it can be very challenging to have time to pin down what's really important to us and keep the focus on these aspects of ourselves and our lives, in the midst of omnipresent content and distraction. Ronit Herzfeld is a woman who cares deeply about helping people reach an intimate connection with themselves, their deepest selves. She is a social worker specializing in psychiatric crisis and trauma, and a social activist devoted to alleviating human suffering by guiding people to live a conscious, open-hearted life. In 2014, she began co-creating a community of diverse individuals who are deeply committed to authenticity, and to consciously transforming our relationships toward ourselves, each other and our planet. This community is called Leap Forward and I have left a link below for anyone who is interested in learning more about their work. This conversation begins to unpack the key processes and perspectives that have aided Ronit's and Leap Forward's growth towards a richer, more trusting and more connected life experience. I thank Ronit and the Leap Forward community for the kindness they have shown me over the last few months and As always, thanks to you for listening! https://leapforward.us/Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Dr Jacqui Dillon is an activist, trainer, writer, and speaker specialising in hearing voices, dissociation, trauma, abuse, and recovery. She is the Chair of the Hearing Voices Network in England and a key figure in the international Hearing Voices Movement. Her survival of childhood abuse and subsequent experiences of using psychiatric services inform her work. She is an outspoken advocate and campaigner for trauma-informed approaches to madness and distress. Jacqui is part of a collective voice demanding a radical shift in how we understand and respond to experiences currently defined as psychiatric illnesses. In this episode, Jacqui talks about her experience with hearing voices, her relationship to the voices and the power of community and support in aiding her healing and the healing of many across the world. I think this can be a huge turning point for those listening who are not too knowledgeable about the phenomenon of hearing voices. Jacqui is a really inspiring human and a guest I have wanted for a very long time. Thanks to Jacqui for her courageous work, her time chatting with us, and for listening. Until next time!https://hearingvoicesdu.org/Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Robbie Tomkins is a remarkable person who has overcome all manner of hurdles. We spoke to him about his struggles with binge eating and his honesty, transparency and clarity regarding the subject made this podcast one to remember. If you believe you suffer from binge eating or just have an unhealthy relationship with food then this one is for you! https://pierabriganti.com/ Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Dr Piera Briganti is a trilingual therapist and a trained EMDR therapist. Life led Dr Piera to face different adversities, but also to develop an interest in the influence of events on the mind and personality. She chose to graduate in clinical psychology and become a psychotherapist because she wanted to teach people how to stop suffering and learn to overcome difficult moments. Thanks to EMDR, Dr Piera has managed to overcome past experiences and realised that it could really help a lot of people to overcome their traumas quickly and deeply. https://pierabriganti.com/ Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Ciara Sherlock is a hard woman to put in a box, but she can be definitely described as someone who is deeply invested in helping people improve their relationships with themselves and the world around them. You might find her holding space for a woman becoming a mother, supporting a person through an altered state of consciousness or working with someone with pain or trauma manifesting physically. She weaves her knowledge and experience of bodywork, altered states of consciousness and shamanism (or spirituality) to create a holistic process that encompasses mind, body and spirit. In this podcast, I speak with Ciara about the importance of what is referred to as integration work after a psychedelic journey, in essence how we can derive meaning from the experience and how this meaning can help us in our everyday lives. We discuss what psychedelic integration can entail and what can happen if one moves from trip to trip without attempting to bring these experiences into the day-to-day. We also talk about the Women's Circles that Ciara facilitates and the healing power of being held by a group of people as you reveal the layers of your soul (yes, that is a Kanye West lyric). But sincerely, I have benefitted hugely from men's circles and it was lovely to hear Ciara describe similar uplifting shifts and deeper connections occurring for women too. I thoroughly enjoyed this chat as I moved from a tired man to a very engaged, excited child towards the end of the podcast. I have left a link to Ciara's website if you would like to learn more about her and her work. https://ciarasherlock.com/Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

This week we chatted with Environmental activist Manuel Salazar who has been associated with the organisation Extinction Rebellion in Ireland since its inception in 2018. Extinction Rebellion is a global environmental movement, with the aim of using nonviolent civil disobedience to compel government action to avoid tipping points in the climate system, biodiversity loss, and the risk of social and ecological collapse. The media I consume often depict Extinction Rebellion as quite extreme and lacking a clear structure to achieve its aims. I invited Manuel on to talk about this and much more. For anyone frustrated at the lack of large-scale environmental response or who feels heavily judged by environmentalists for not living a carbon-conscious lifestyle – this is the podcast for you. This is a well-rounded chat with someone who deeply cares about the state of our planet and who is willing to sacrifice a lot to demonstrate this passion. If you want to learn more about Manuel and/or Extinction Rebellion, check out the links below. Thanks to Manuel for this time, all the best friends!Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Ronni Abergel is an author and founder of the Human Library Organization, where real people with real stories are on loan to readers instead of books. At the Human Library, people have the opportunity to talk with others who are often discriminated against to find out about their lives and to get a better idea of what's it like to be them. A man who is deeply committed to facilitating communication and making our society a less judgemental place, Ronni started the Human Library at a festival in Denmark 20 years ago and it is now located in 85 countries across the world. This conversation covers a lot, including the collective intolerance of the intolerant, our lack of curiosity and the power of conversation. We also discuss the process of changing people's opinions and perspectives on issues and how this usually takes an extended period of time. This serves as inspiration for having conversations with people we disagree strongly. We won't change their mind immediately and vice versa but if there is curiosity and respect, greater understanding can be achieved. If you want to learn more about Ronni and The Human Library, check the link below in the show notes. Finally, thanks to Ronni for his time. Seb and I really enjoyed this. https://humanlibrary.org/Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Our guest this week is Dr Iseult Twamley, who is a Clinical Psychologist and Open Dialogue Trainer/Supervisor. She is Clinical Lead of the Irish Open Dialogue implementation in West Cork, which she initiated with a successful implementation grant. Since 2012 she and the team there have been implementing Open Dialogue as part of the Adult Mental Health Service. This project has been very well received by service users and families and described as “transformative” by staff involved. Put succinctly, Open Dialogue is an innovative, network-based approach to psychiatric care. It could well be a future model of care in Ireland and beyond in the coming years. We invited Iseult on to discuss Open Dialogue more thoroughly, how it came about, how does it work, who can it potentially help and much more. For anyone who has been frustrated by the mainstream medical model, this will be a very important listen. There are alternative approaches out there helping people with a wide array of conditions. I've left a link of Iseult's bio below for those who want to learn more about her and open dialogue. I've also left the link for a great documentary about Open Dialogue for anyone interested. Thanks to Iseult for her time and thank you for listening! https://dialoguerevolution.com/about-us/dr-iseult-twamley-bio/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDVhZHJagfQ&t=84sSign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Sarri Gilman is a psychotherapist, author, and speaker and has over 35 years of experience as a marriage and family therapist. She also has decades of experience as a community worker starting organisations such as Cocoon House and One Childhood lasts a lifetime before deciding to focus totally on people's development. Her 2014 book ‘Transform Your Boundaries' highlighted how acknowledging, setting and clearly articulating our boundaries can deepen our relationship with ourselves. Sarri is widely regarded as a leading world expert on boundaries so it was an absolute honour to have her own to talk about her area of expertise. So what exactly are boundaries? Sarri describes it simply as our yeses and our nos. What we feel comfortable doing and what we do not. So why are we talking about boundaries? Well, Sarri tells me that as a psychotherapist, she believes that boundaries are at the heart of why most people end up in therapy. These can be boundaries between ourselves and our partners, our parents or guardians, our jobs and even our use of technology. I have benefited hugely from Sarri's work and I am delighted I can share this conversation with you.https://www.sarrigilman.com/Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

This week our guest is Lee Teresa Moore who is an advocate for raising awareness about dissociative disorders and complex PTSD. We are also joined by her lovely partner Paul. In this podcast, Lee discusses some of the major events in her life that now, can be viewed retrospectively as trauma resurfacing. As our previous guest Dr Mike Lloyd mentioned in our conversation a few months ago, some brains in a response to incredibly shocking and traumatic events can eradicate the event or events from conscious memory or create several personalities to help process the trauma. This episode hopes to shed light on what it is like for someone in this position, such as Lee who after decades of misdiagnosis was diagnosed with dissociative amnesia several years ago. We also hear from her partner, Paul on the challenges of this condition as someone on the outside looking in. This may be a difficult listen for some as harrowing events are mentioned. We thank you for your curiosity in learning more about dissociative disorders and we thank Lee and Paul for their time and kindness. @leemoorewalesSign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Milo O'Shea had a very significant impact on my development in my teenage years and beyond. He was a unique figure in my secondary school who never shied away from showing his students how he really felt. This wasn't always pretty but it was human. This aspect of humanity is crucial to the growth of young people, in my opinion. Milo was one of the few teachers in my life that really demonstrated an interest in the student's development, as a person – not just academically. I specifically remember him telling my class one day that it will be our attitude and perspective out there that will dictate our experience of life rather than the results of upcoming exams. As the years have passed by, these words have never veered too far away from my regular thought rotation. I wanted to record a conversation with him to talk about how he cultivated that perspective in himself, the need for deep internal questioning, how he views teaching, the power of music and poetry to evoke inspiration and much more. This was a special chat for me and I'm very grateful he agreed to come on. I'm very confident that anyone who has a fond memory of an early teacher or mentor will take something from this.Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Matthew Thompson is an entrepreneur, host of two podcasts, a father, a husband and a friend. You might remember our interview last year with Dr Steve Ilardi, who is the author of the mega-famous book “The Depression Cure, the 6 step programme to beat depression without drugs- Well, Dr Steve linked myself and Matt together and since then I've learned a lot from him. This is a long conversation but I truly believe there's so much in it. In this podcast, we cover dopamine (Matt has recently interviewed Dopamine expert Dr Anna Lembke), what is in our control and what is not and how delineating this is huge for our mental health. We discuss non-violent communication. We also talk about the need for compassion and confrontation in our relationships and the lifelong work of learning the different combinations of the two we need for the situations we find ourselves in (yes, we allude to the recent Will Smith/ Chris Rick incident). Matt also emphasises the importance of creating a programme for ourselves to help our mental health and committing to the programme as much as we can. This man has come from some very dark lows of depression and addiction and it's fantastic to see him doing so well but for everyone listening, including myself, we can only go one step at a time.Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Jill Vialet is the founder of Playworks, the leading American non-profit leveraging the power of safe, fun, and healthy play at school every day. Playworks creates a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills. Playworks partners with schools, districts, and after-school programs to provide a service or mix of services including on-site coaches, professional training for school staff who support recess, and consultative partnerships. In this conversation, Jill informs us of the significance of play for children, adolescents and adults and its relationship to a more engaged, communicative society. I asked Jill on as I have been thinking about the lack of play and fun in our jam-packed lives. Jill speaks with a wise nuance and with a passion that is truly uplifting. I hope this podcast might encourage you to look at the less serious aspects of life such as play with more reverence and crucial to our personal and collective wellbeing. If you would like to learn more about Jill or the work of Playworks, please see the link below. Thanks a mill friends! https://www.playworks.org/Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Our recent conversation with Valentina Auliso is not the easiest to concisely describe. Perhaps the best way is to indirectly start with the fact that myself and Seb see and experience the world quite differently. This can be difficult for both of us but I also think it helps us generate an intriguing conversation for a wider group of people. Seb is often sceptical of people who work in the world of things that can't be measured whereas I am closer to a default ‘could be' because of the experiences I've had that can't be bluntly explained or measured. Enter Valentina, a woman who is incredibly passionate about the world of energetic healing. She combines her experience with yoga and chi kung, which is a Korean system using breathing, movement and meditation to aid mind, body and spirit. For those who question the sincerity of those working with an emphasis on the soul, this conversation is a pretty unique opportunity to hear dialogue between two people who see the world differently in a respectful and fruitful manner. To me, Valentina's life is a testament to the strength of the heart and the soul in a world which can feel like an endless onslaught on everything and everyone we hold dear. A quote from WB Yeats comes to mind which is, 'The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.' Emerging from early family trauma, Valentina left home to study and to travel and like many of us had a deep desire to change the world. Somewhere along the way, she began deepening her own relationship with herself and laying down the foundations for her own healing. There's a lot in here and I'm sure you'll take something for this chat. Valentina holds private online classes to help people with a variety of challenges they may be experiencing and if you are attracted to Valentina's perspective and how she speaks, please contact her using the link left below. Thanks to Valentina and thanks for listening, all the best!https://healingpractices.eu/Sign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspod

Elisa and I first bonded over our love of Gabor Mate. Yes, it happened like that. I met her during my summer trip to Italy and have kept in touch ever since. I wanted to have her on the podcast to discuss the practice of yoga's potential to calm our nervous system and help us reduce the impact trauma might have on our life. Trauma is a heavy, complicated and multi-faceted concept but amongst top trauma experts in the world such as Bessel Van De Kolk, Gabor Mate, Janina Fisher, and Steven Porges to name a few; trauma is something pretty much every human deals with both physically and mentally on some level. In this podcast, we talk a bit about trauma but really, we need a whole series of podcasts to unpack trauma and so we hope that this podcast opened you up to a new understanding of trauma and how often trauma lies in the body. Trauma-informed yoga is a practice designed to facilitate more options and possibilities for those in a yoga class, which is something as Elisa points out traumatised people have rarely had in their life, or at least that's how their nervous system and body perceives it. This was one of the most challenging podcasts I've been a part of because of its intricate nature but I really enjoyed it and I hope you take something from it. If you would like to learn more about Elisa and her work, below are her accreditations in relation to yoga along with her website and Instagram - Certified Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher 200hrs RYS, Thailand 'Sacred Journey into Yoga for Women', a modified version of the traditional Ashtanga yoga- Certified Level 1 Intensive at "Agama Campus", that incorporates the fundamentals of Yogic philosophy and chakra system's relationship to asana practice (150-hours Alliance registered).- Certified Trauma-Informed teacher (YACEP), by the Trauma Conscious Yoga Institute, Auxtin Texas- "Applied polyvagal theory in yoga: Embodiment Strategies for Trauma Recovery" certificate level 1&2 (full training) with Dr. Arielle Schwartz.Instagram: Trauma_yoga_sevaElisa's website: https://elysunrise.com/Some recommended videos on trauma, how it gets stored in the body and how yoga helpshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_0EthqJfv0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmKfzbHzm_shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pxp9958_EoSign up to our Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/earthlydelightspodhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoZT8-HqI64

Before I started recording this powerful conversation Rosaleen McDonagh, she rightly bashed me for not reading her book ‘Unsettled' which was published last year. I can now say that I have read it and I'm blown away. Commenting on a piece of work like this is so hard because so often I was left speechless but the manner in which she describes the injustices she experienced as a traveller woman with cerebral palsy is profound, even more profound is her pride and love of herself and her family and community. I can't think of a book that forced me to pause and contemplate after each chapter quite like this. I don't think it's hyperbole to say that it's a miracle she's still here and I'm so glad she is.For those unfamiliar, Rosaleen is an Irish playwright, performer and columnist for the Irish Times. She holds a BA, two Masters in Philosophy from Trinity College and a PHD from Northumbria University. She is a board member of Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre and was appointed a Human Rights Commissioner in 2020. This intense podcast covers grief, the shadow side of activism, the role James Baldwin's work played in her development as a human and a writer. We also discuss Rosaleen's relationship with her Cerebral Palsy, the hierarchy present within the mental health discussion, the impact of othering that travellers experience on their mental health and more. She also gave perhaps the most touching combination of ways she takes care of her mental health that we've had on this podcast. This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable conversations I've had over the last few years, and I thank Rosaleen a lot for her time and kindness. Her book ‘Unsettled' is in all good bookstores and you can find her on twitter with the link below. Thanks for listening!https://twitter.com/paveebeoir

When I first moved to Belfast, my housemate mentioned The Belfast Friendship Club to me. He told me this club hosted a weekly event where the sole purpose was the connection with other people in the room. No registration fee, no data collecting – just your first name and where you are from and you're away. I finally got to visit The Belfast Friendship Club a few months ago and I was struck by how ‘exactly what it says on the tin' the experience was. A room of people from all over the world, from a wide range of diverse backgrounds who are all currently living in Belfast looking to connect over tea and coffee. In 2022, such a setup is beyond rare. I personally have never come across such a club. I was so impressed by the simplicity and genuineness of it all that I recently asked the co-founder of the Belfast Friendship Club, Stephanie Mitchell and Engagement Officer Trevor to come onto the podcast and talk about the club in more detail. This chat covers the initial starting of the Club, the two rules of the Club, why the gathering provides something different and how it has helped people who have been touched by the club. We also discuss Small Worlds, a project that provides a safe space for participants to meet and engage with people from different parts of the world and to learn about the challenges of being new in Northern Ireland. This is all carefully managed by an experienced facilitator. If you are in the Belfast area and interested in seeing what the Belfast Friendship Club is all about (they meet 7-9 pm every Thursday at Aleksander's/Common Grounds Cafe, 12-24 University Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1GY). If you are not in the Belfast area but inspired by the project, feel free to reach out to Stephanie through the contact details below. All the best, Belfast Friendship Club websitehttp://www.belfastfriendshipclub.orgSmall Worlds workshop Open Democracy filmhttps://opendemocracy.net/build-bridgesBe the change: a guide to creating safe and inclusive space http://www.belfastfriendshipclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Be-the-change-December-2014.pdfContact detailsStephanie Mitchell (coordinator/co-founder)07548 938508stephanie.mitchell@sbrtr.org.uk (in use until June 2022)

Dr Mike Lloyd is a Clinical Psychologist, specialising in dissociative disorders and trauma. He is also the Chairman of the Complex Trauma and Dissociation Clinic based in Cheshire As well as running this clinic, Mike recently left his NHS post in a community adult mental health team in Cheshire to begin work as a consultant for the Ministry of Defence, offering mental health support to serving military personnel. Prior to this, Mike spent five years working in child & adolescent / paediatric mental health. He is also a comic book fan, lover of wrestling and Ru Paul's Drag race and expressing his playful side. You can hear the passion, care and curiosity coming from Mike from the first minute of this podcast. It was an absolute joy to chat with him about dissociative identity disorder (DID) which was formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder. We cover how this condition is less a ‘disorder' and more a natural reaction to complex trauma for certain brains. Mike describes in great detail the causes of this condition, how the brain responds and how it can be treated. We also discuss common symptoms of DID, the importance of support in the healing process and what can people do now to learn more. We have left the necessary links below including Mike's clinic's website which includes recommended reading and helpful videos featuring Mike. We've also left the link to the Dissociative Experiences Scale document below. Thanks for listening and as always if you think this may prove useful for others, please pass it on. http://www.ctadclinic.co.uk/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhfB4afydhw&feature=youtu.behttps://www.hebpsy.net/files/ruZXkl5YGeKcvt6dBZpS.pdf

Hello Friends, our guest this week is Florence Scialom. Flo is a mother, speaker of Dutch as a second language (Not many of those out there) and Communications and Events Manager for the organisation Network of Wellbeing (NOW). Flo's core passions lie in connecting people and communities and supporting others to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the wider world. In this podcast, we talk about compassion and its relationship to our well-being and our society's well-being. We cover self-compassion, compassion for others and distinguish the difference between empathy and compassion. We discuss the radical nature of compassion in a world that is congested with judgment, othering and dehumanising. This is an area I'm particularly passionate about so it was a delight to have Flo on. If you want to learn more about Flo and her work, please check out the links below to her Twitter page and the Network of Wellbeing (NOW) website. https://networkofwellbeing.org/https://twitter.com/Flo_Sci

We start this year with the wonderful guest that is Dr Cassie McVeigh. Cassie is a mother of 4, a freshwater swimmer, and an experienced female GP. Originally from Co. Fermanagh, she went to Trinity and UCD and undertook her GP specialist training in Sligo. She has a special interest in women's health issues and has undertaken additional training in menopause care. This podcast provides a lot of information on menopause which is rarely spoken about in the public domain. Cassie talks about the range of symptoms that can come along with menopause, ways in which symptoms can be reduced along with much more. In 2019, Seb and I started this project with the aim of de-stigmatising discussions that are on our minds but often neglected in conversation. In 2022, we are committed as ever to this aim. Thanks to Dr Cassie McVeigh for her time, knowledge and humour and if you'd like to learn more about her practice, check out the link in the show notes. http://www.drumkeeranhealthcentre.com/This will be our final podcast of the year - we are taking a well-needed pause. Thanks for your support and we'll be back in the new year with new vitality!

Janette Beetham is the Founding Director of Right Resources - an organization striving for a thriving and productive neurodiverse workforce. Having struggled with certain tasks without knowing why, Janette discovered she had dyslexia in her 30's. This inspired her to learn more about the neurodivergent world and to support those with neurodivergent conditions (I.e. those that process information differently compared to the neurotypical population). This conversation covers a brief definition of the most common neurodivergent conditions before discussing why many go undiagnosed and why many do not inform their employers about their condition. We then move on to the crucial work that Janette and Right Resources are doing regarding neurodiversity in the workforce, including the training and accreditation programme titled Dyslexia Champions. We learned so much from this episode and I'm sure you will too! Janette is a very kind soul and we were very grateful to have her on! This will be our final podcast of the year - we are taking a well-needed pause. Thanks for your support and we'll be back in the new year with new vitality!

Rakesh Rootsman Rak is an activist, reggae DJ and bona fide permaculture expert. This conversation covers Rakesh's definition of permaculture and how we might go about implementing it as part of our daily lives. At its essence, permaculture is a holistic approach to living in accordance to our needs and I'm sure by now, you guys know I'm pulled by holistic perspectives. This podcast is a light intro into a way of living that is becoming more and more popular as people search for ways their deeper needs can be met. I had the pleasure of taking part in one of Rakesh's workshops two years ago and it was a special,special time- a true bonding experience that went far beyond horticulture tips.To learn more about Rakesh and his upcoming workshops in Ireland check out the links below Thanks to Rakesh and thank you for listening! https://campsite.bio/rakeshrakeshaji@gmail.com

For thirty years he was a Scottish police officer and Chief Investigator specialising in criminal investigation, drug investigation, training and crime prevention. For the last eight years of his policing career, he was a Chief Inspector and a key member of the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit. Respected across the world for its work in reducing violence and has taken this mantra to tackle domestic and sexual violence. https://grahamgoulden.com/https://that-guy.co.uk/

Frank Mullane MBE set up AAFDA in 2008 following the murders of his sister Julia and nephew William in 2003. Frank helped ensure Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) became law and helped develop the Home Office DHR Guidance. He is a Home Office appointed reader of DHRs and a member of the national Victims' Panel chaired by the Justice Minister. He was on the assessment panel for the recruitment of the first-ever (designated) Domestic Abuse Commissioner and is a published author on the subject of domestic homicide. https://aafda.org.uk/

This week we talk to Jim's good friend, Darragh Potts about male pattern baldness and hair transplants. Darragh started to notice his hair loss in his early twenties and by his mid-twenties, he had got a hair transplant! Darragh was really open about the insecurities caused by hair loss and talks us through the hair transplant procedure, step by step. This podcast is a really valuable source of information for anyone struggling with their hair loss, as I am (Seb speaking), so please pass it on to anyone who might find it useful.

Adam Starr. What a man. I know this person means a lot to Seb and me. Our first guest to appear 3 times on the podcast and if we're lucky we'll get a 4th next year. Adam guides us towards a perspective that can open us up. When I say this I mean, your mind may disagree with some of the ideas he's putting forward and that's absolutely fine. But I'm confident that will facilitate an internal dialogue that has the potential to give you more peace in your life. We cover having difficult conversations, the heavily weighted concept of advice as well as the difficulty of working in a job that doesn't satisfy you. Adam's response here is perhaps one of the most crucial few mins we've had in our 75 episodes to date.

This week we talk to Dolapo, Seb's old school friend about cultural heritage and racism in the US and U.K. Dolapo explains how pride in his Nigerian heritage has helped him feel centred and given him a sense of belonging amongst all the turmoil. We talk about the realities of life as a Black man and what can be done to improve the current situation and that of the future!

Dr Kailas Roberts is a psychiatrist with over ten years of experience in the field of old-age psychiatry. His recent book ‘Mind Your Brain' takes a deep look at what we know concerning Dementia. Dr Roberts stresses the importance of exercise to brain health, minimising alcohol and sugar consumption in order to prevent or delay the onset of this debilitating condition. We also talk about the impact dementia can have on loved ones and carers who have people with dementia in their lives. Dr Roberts is doing fantastic work and it was an honour to get him onto The Earthly Delights Podcast. His book is available online and in selected book stores.

Fiona Bowman is a successful businesswoman who has spoken publically about overcoming domestic abuse. Fiona was in an abusive relationship in Scotland and it took her years and the help of her colleagues to flee her abusive partner and start a new life down south. Ever since she has taken every opportunity to speak about domestic abuse and inspire others who may be suffering to believe that things can be better and there is always a way out.

Roisin Kiberd is an author, journalist and internet traveller. This year her book “The Disconnect: A Personal Journey through the internet” was published to widespread acclaim. We asked her on the podcast to discuss some of the big issues we face collectively with the internet and to learn more about Roisin's personal relationship with the internet and its impact on her physical and mental health. I feel like I say this almost every week but we truly covered a lot in these 90 mins! I hope it flows somewhat coherently and you enjoy the unplanned yet viral Kanye West detour. Roisin's enthusiasm made this a real pleasure for Seb and me. Be sure to check out Roisin's book at all good book stores!https://twitter.com/roisinkiberd?s=20

In this episode, we talk to Emma Swan, Tom Swan's childhood sweetheart and now tragically widow. Emma talks openly about her own struggles watching Tom's battle with terminal brain cancer, how it affected their relationship for better or worse, her own moments of doubt and fear and what life without Tom looks like going forward. Emma's bravery, strength and compassion are just some of the reasons why Tom fell in love with her and those characteristics are there for all to see in the podcast! Thank you, Emma.

In this episode, we talk about Italy and Italian culture and why we are so fond of it all (even if we do recognise that it's not all rosy). Hopefully, you guys enjoy this podcast that has a slightly different rhythm to our usual ones! Grazie!

In this episode, Seb talks to Rick Yount, the founder and creator of the Warrior Canine Connection which is is a pioneering organization that utilizes its Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to help wounded Warriors reconnect with life, their families, their communities, and each other.https://warriorcanineconnection.org/

This week I was honoured to get my good friend John Tougher back in the hot seat, almost 18 months after his last appearance. A lot has changed since then, and we try to break down what were the key lessons during the emotional time for everyone. We focus on working from home, relationships and difficult conversations which I'm sure will resonate with every listener in one way or another. This conversation was cathartic for both of us and we'd love to hear what you thought.

Kiana Fitzgerald is an American journalist, podcaster, DJ, and mental health awareness, advocate. I actually linked with her nearly a year ago after I read her fantastic piece on Kanye West's public statements surrounding his bipolar diagnosis and how his unveiling of this was important for her own development. Kiana has a very active social media presence which she uses to share her personal experience of bipolar and de-stigmatise non-ordinary states of consciousness. Hearing her take on episodes of mania is something I find fascinating and beautiful and I think many of you will also! She describes these episodes as portals towards a deeper truth, and touching this truth has made her feel closer to God while eradicating a fear of death. Kiana's honesty around this still misunderstood condition will certainly help expand one's understanding.https://www.kianafitz.com/p/about.html?m=1https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/kanye-west-jesus-is-king-and-the-unspoken-bipolarism-in-between-663718/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Finally, after over a year of rescheduling thanks to COVID we got to sit down and talk to the wonderful Rose Yavneh Taylor about her book “365 days past the traffic lights” and her relationship with grief after her dad passed suddenly due to cancer. Rose has had time to reflect on her father's passing and what she felt in the moment and subsequently as well as how her feelings have evolved over time. Her book is a great help for anyone going through something similar as it is honest and raw and clearly written by someone who knows grief intimately. If you are interested you can buy the book from the link below!https://rb.gy/pz6pcu

Paul and Jim come from similar stock, in the sense that a big chunk of their perspective was cultivated over 4 years with the help of the same few lecturers in IADT Dun Laoghaire. Paul is now a practicing counsellor, who holds the majority of his sessions online. During this conversation, we cover the state of Irish mental health services, what Paul would recommend if one is struggling in the midst of these services, along with some of his favourite modes of inquiry and practices that have worked for him and his clients. Paul is a warm soul and it was a true delight having him on. If you'd like to learn more about Paul and his work, please see the link below.https://www.bacp.co.uk/profile/a7d2bf4d-07e6-ea11-a817-000d3ab85666