YouthPod Ireland

Are we capable of changing our opinions? As youth workers, are we obliged to revisit our long- held opinions, our values, our morals and how we see the world? And what has changed in the past couple of years for the lads, in their youth work journeys, in their lives beyond youth work and in their opinions about some of our most talked- about topics on the podcast? In this episode of YouthPod Ireland we reflect on the past and see if there has been any growth in our thinking. And we want you to not only listen but to do your own soul- searching and reflection as you join us for another episode of YouthPod Ireland.

After a covid- enforced year of absence, the lads are back with another season of YouthPod Ireland, where the conversations at the table are, as always, all about the young people. In this first episode of Season 07, we look at the changes that have occurred in our own lives over the last year, in the lives of young people and in the youth work sector. A long- awaited catch- up for three of the original YouthPod Ireland crew and the first of very many more to come as we continue to have those countless arguments, opinions, discussions, ideas and debates but as ever, as long as it is youth- relevant, we've got you covered. Big thanks to our silent sponsors for keeping the show on the road and to the many, many listeners, new and old who have continued to dip into our library of episodes over the past year... you've made this comeback all the more special and worthwhile.   We are delighted to be back... thank you for the continued support!

The final episode of Season 06 is an exclusive episode for the Connect Digital Youth Festival and in this episode we talk to Thomas McCarthy, a youth worker from Core YS who has shown great innovation and adaptability in connecting with young people in the spaces in which they most comfortably exist. We talk about the online world of gaming, street work, workshop skills and so much more in this fantastic episode with a really sound and very informed practitioner in the field of youth work. Enjoy the episode.

In light of the recent and tragic death of George Floyd, may young people took to social media to express their support with the anti racism movement that came as a result on this deplorable incident. In our own community, mother, teacher and Bray native, Emer O Neill posted her own account online and impacted so many in doing so. So we invited Emer on the podcast to share more of her journey and the result is a fantastic interview and an invaluable insight into her experiences as a person of colour who grew up in Ireland and lived in the US. We really hope you enjoy the episode and learn as much as we did.

Over the past 18 months, Adrian McCarthy has connected with young people in our youth project, community and beyond to capture their journeys and genera lives in his role as a documentary and film maker. Adrian's documentary will hit our screens in the Autumn but we caught up with him in advance to learn why he chose young people as the subject of his next documentary, what he learned about them, what value he saw in the youth work sector and so much more. We extend our sincerest thanks to Adrian for his participation in both the podcast and in capturing some of our stories in a youth work context and similarly, Adrian extended his gratitude to all of the young people who participated and to the staff of our three centres and Yvonne and Niamh in our management team, for the opportunity to capture this very unique journey.

Cian O' Neill is an inspiring young man living with cerebral palsy who has become a disability activist in his community, a youth ambassador for his local GAA club and won a Garda Youth Award for his dedication to volunteerism and community activism. He is a dear friend of ours in our local youth project so this week we took time to speak to Cian and capture his journey, on YouthPod Ireland Podcast.

He has travelled the world, seen the front line of war zones, learned Kung Fu with monks in monasteries and made international news as a prominent travel blogger and social media influencer but William Meara is also the co founder of one of the world's most rapidly rising International brands... the global phenomenon that is Bingo Loco. Check out this insane story of where it all began, what William has learned from his travels, the adversities of his formative years and how he came to pursue his passions rather than other people's expectations of him. One of our very best episodes to date!

This week we are joined by Bray native and prominent DJ and television host, Laura Whitmore. The former MTV presenter has become a household name hosting some of our favourite TV shows like 'Love Island' and 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Now' and Laura has also amassed huge social media followings with her loyal fan base. In this episode we explore the world of the media, pressures of celebrity, self care, women in the media and so much more. Big thanks to Laura for giving her time and energy to this great interview. Enjoy.

It has been a tough week for people across the globe and despite an international pandemic, there is still room for a media witch hunt in relation to young people. Is it justified? Is there a reason why young people are being targeted right now? Is their portrayal fair or are we acting according to human nature, finding blame in times of dramatic change and hardship? We discuss young people and the media in this week's YouthPod Ireland.

In a time of 'social distancing' it became immediately evident that the 'digital youth work' skill set was missing from our daily work. So in this episode we explore further, how we are responding to the corona virus pandemic, how are youth work has evolved to meet the needs of young people, what we have found useful and what future gaps we can identify and prepare for in the youth sector. We are joined by a full podcast team and another local young person, Sam Barron. All feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com 

These are uncertain times. But we as youth workers have a role to play. Listen to our take on the coronavirus and how we can respond in the youth sector.

It is Part 2 in our Children and Young People's Services Committee 'Youth Consultation Day' podcasts. The conversation around life online, relationships, climate and cannabis continue and we find some more fascinating insights in speaking to these inspiring young people. Have a listen and please send all feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com 

We kick off Season 06 capturing the voices of young people directly as we were invited to the Children and Young People Services Committee 'Youth Consultation Day' where young people from all over the county met to give their opinions and views on the four key themes of life online, climate change, cannabis and relationships. It was a great honour to be asked to such an important day and we cannot thank enough, the event organisers and facilitator Dermot 'Daisy' O' Brien, for the opportunity to bring our podcast directly to young people and provide them with a platform to capture their thoughts and opinions. We also cannot thank enough all of the young people who participated and gave such great interviews.The recordings exceeded our average episode length, so we have two parts to bring you. In this first episode, we talk about life online and climate change. Enjoy.

In the final episode of Season 05, we talk about the viral video 'Be A Lady' ( https://vimeo.com/393253445 ) fronted by 'Sex and the City' star Cynthia Nixon. The video explores sexism, patriarchy, body image, social expectations and much more and we do our very best to find the learning and youth narrative. This is a special extended episode as we have added a bonus twenty minute interview with three young ladies from our community who give their direct feedback on the episode.

After three incidents of bullying and trolling gripping the news over the past week, we delve into this difficult subject and talk about what bullying looks like, how we define it, how we respond to it and what we need to do next. The untimely passing of Caroline Flack, the bullying of Australian boy Quaden and another controversial Donald Trump tweet are all covered in this interesting conversation, full of strong opinions and interesting takes. Need support around bullying? Visit schooldays.ie or spunout.ie for support and guidance. Want to learn about the effects of bullying on one young boy living with dwarfism? Google search 'Quaden Bayles'. Is Trump a racist? Visit www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_views_of_Donald_Trump and decide for yourself.   All feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com

We are back with our third and final instalment of our pre- election conversations with political candidates and in this episode we chat to Independent candidate Joe Behan. We talk about party politics, environmental awareness, tough decisions and the importance of independent voices. Any feedback welcome at youthpod18@gmail.com 

We continue our build up to the General Elections with an interview with Seamus Connor of the Aontu party. We talk about pro life politics, Irish unionism, the environment and youth mental health. All feedback welcome at youthpod18@gmail.com Enjoy the episode.

It is the build up to the Irish General Election and we have reached out to any and all prospective TDs to join us in a political conversation specifically centred towards young people and helping them to understand why their vote is important and how they go about choosing who to vote for. In this episode we are joined by local activist and politician, John Brady from the Sinn Fein party. Enjoy the episode and please direct all feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com 

In researching and preparing for a Peer Leadership training programme, Adam  found himself focusing on three key words for new thinking and learning... 'Respect, Reciprocation and Resilience' and he brings these words to the podcast to see what his colleagues and co- presenters on the podcast think. Should young people respect their elders? Are young people shown respect? Do we reciprocate in our friendships and relationships? Are young people less resilient than ever before? These important questions and more covered in an intriguing episode of YouthPod Ireland.

After recently learning that our podcast had ranked 7th in the world in the category of 'youth podcasts', we decided to take a look at the seven key issues facing young people today and give our responses. We are joined in this episode by Kyle Byrne, a young man who we worked with for many years in the past and who has become a great friend of ours in adulthood. Kyle gives some really fascinating and honest insights in this episode, drawing on his own personal experiences, making this one of the most interesting and engaging episodes to date.

We are back to recap on an eventful 2019 and some of our favourite episodes from this year on YouthPod Ireland and we have some interesting new topics to discuss too. After a busy winter period prevented us from recording, we return to discuss Greta Thunberg becoming Time Magazine's first teenage 'Person of the Year', we talk about youth visibility, we revisit some of our favourite episodes including our recent epsiode on autism and guests from 2019 including youth work educator Mick O' Brien and former governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan and we also welcome a new colleague to the show, in Luke O' Connell. Thanks for all of the support throughout the year. We aim to make 2020 our best year to date. Merry Christmas to all of our listeners and supporters. It's good to be back. Ho ho ho

Season 5 of YouthPod Ireland has landed and in a YouthPod Ireland first, we are bringing the voice of young people directly onto the show. That's right, we have young people joining us all season as our guests and THEY are dictating the topics that we talk about. We kick things off with Kyle Walsh, a local young man who lives with autism. We chat to Kyle to capture his first hand account of living with autism, we discuss our understanding of autism, the stigmas, the misunderstandings, the definitions, the barriers and we also delve into the very human side of things as we talk about the very important relationships that have helped Kyle in his experience of living with autism. Kyle is currently studying to be a Special Needs Assistant and he brings a wealth of lived experience to the conversation and we discover how family, friends and community underpin the great young man that has developed before our eyes. Get involved in the conversation: youthpod18@gmail.com and as it is our first episode back after a busy summer, all of your LIKES, SHARES, COMMENTS and FEEDBACK are so important. Enjoy the episode. It's good to be back with more youth relevant conversations.

It's the final episode on Season 04 of YouthPod Ireland and this week we are talking about digital youth work. What is it? How can we use it to enhance our work? Is it of value? All of these questions and plenty more in another interesting and informative podcast episode. Enjoy.

According to a recent article published by The Irish Times in response to the findings of a piece of research conducted by Eurofound,  "Young Irish women suffer the highest levels of depression in Europe'. We explore this topic and the contributing factors, including body image, social media, societal expectations, self harm, eating disorders, internalisation, stigma and much more in a great episode with lots of important discussion points.

This episode gets HEATED!!!! And not just because we are talking about global warming but because there are some serious opinions of how climate change is/ isn't relevant to youth work and young people. Sometimes our episodes are very relaxed and sometimes a topic lights a match under us that gets the strongest opinions directly on the table. Have a listen and let us know what you think and more importantly, if you agree with us as we delve into one of the most frequent topics presenting in the youth work sector today - climate change, global warming, climate action and the environment. Enjoy and please send all feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com 

We have often concluded that parents have a role to play and responsibility for young people when it comes to the challenges that young people face. But how do the parents fill this role? Where do they learn to be good parents? Where does their responsibility start and end? Is it the easy option to place all of the expectations on the parents? This is our 'parenting' episode of YouthPod Ireland, we hope you find it useful and as ever, we are always here if you have any feedback, questions or need additional support or information. youthpod18@gmail.com 

It is International Men's Health Week and this week we are discussing one of the biggest threats to men's health- alcohol. Do we consume too much alcohol? Why is it different for men? How do we tackle the issue? Is our culture in Ireland the biggest hurdle? We cover a lot of questions, give a lot of insights and opinions and perhaps struggle a bit to find a natural conclusion in what is a very important but tricky topic. Please get involved and continue to support the conversations around young people and youth work and all feedback can be sent to youthpod18@gmail.com   Further reading at : www.drinkaware.ie/tools-resources/research and visit www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2623800920987671&id=111400652227723 for the original article from Joe.ie 

This week's episode is an absolute MUST for any/ all aspiring youth workers, for anyone interested in learning about the absolute essentials of youth work and for anyone with any interest in the grittier issues of our profession as we speak to Mick O' Brien, youth worker, educator and lecturer at Maynooth University, Ireland. We delve into the deeper issues of youth work with a man that has been facilitated our own learning over the past year and who himself has a lifetime of experience and a wealth of knowledge in the field. We cover so much in the hour including but not limited to equality and equity, politics, life long learning, upskilling, professionalisation, the core values and principles of youth work and so much more. We left this episode wanting to talk for hours longer, such is Mick's extensive knowledge, aptitude and experience in the field. A fantastic episode and a must for everyone studying or working in the area of youth work.

"Kids should be seen and not heard"... But we beg to differ. In fact, we would go so far as to say that it is the very fact that young people often lack a voice, visibility and value amongst their community that we encounter more problematic issues with this very age demographic. In this episode we talk about youth visibility, how young people are perceived, what cliches and stigmas are attached to young people, what the value is in revisiting our ideas and assumptions of young people and most importantly how we begin to starting to make positive changes in this regard. We consider this episode to be one of our most important and relevant to date and would love you to take the time to listen to it and perhaps get involved in the conversation and share it with everyone you consider it to be relevant to. Feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com or onto our social media channels

It is the moments in life where we encounter change that our mental resilience is tested the most and there is no bigger change in a person's life than when they suffer a bereavement. Unfortunately, in the area in which we work, there have been one too many bereavements and in this episode of YouthPod Ireland we discuss how young people might cope with these bereavements. We give some personal accounts of loss, share advice and opinions on the issue and we connect with each other over a sensitive but extremely relevant topic. Bereavement is just one issue that can impact our mental health and if we want to build more resilient communities and take away the stigmas of mental health, we absolutely MUST talk about losing those closest to us. Have a listen and share with anyone who might benefit from listening. Take care and please contact us if you need further support or information on this topic. YPI

Where does cannabis rate in relation to other drugs and the harm that they can cause? One study suggests that cannabis is the 8th most dangerous drug in the world. Too high (no pun attended)? Too low? Or do you agree? How dangerous is cannabis, why does society have the attitudes it does about cannabis and what needs to change, if anything? Another fascinating episode of YouthPod Ireland. Enjoy.

After a small but very busy break the YouthPod Ireland crew are back for our fourth season, talking all things youth related. We kick off our brand new season with a guest that we have aspired to bring to the show from day one - former Governor of Mountjoy Prison, John Lonergan.  John is a man with many fascinating stories and opinions that come from a career littered with incomparable insights into not just the prison system in Ireland but the very nature of human beings. We talk about compassion, humanity, honesty, integrity, punishment, perseverance, the difference between male and female prisoners, the role of youth work and schools in preventing early detention and so much more. John brings a wealth of experience, education and insight into a podcast episode that is packed to the brim with opportunities for learning. We are delighted to be back and thank every one of you for continued support. We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

Liam Neeson is at the centre of a controversial topic relating to race but we quickly expand and progress the conversation to talk and think about violence, environment, unconscious racism, young people and their emotions, the Irish travelling community and so much more. This is genuinely one of our favourite episodes to date and we are delighted to have found the youth narrative in a conversation that is on everyone's mind at the moment. Feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com 

This week we are walking about the idea of 'toxic masculinity' as captured in the recent Gillette advertisement, which instantly went viral and initiated conversation around masculinity and the toxic behaviours that have often come to redefine it. We have Becca back on the podcast to give a gender- balanced view on the topic and we ourselves differ in opinion throughout. But it's not our opinions that matter, it's yours. So please get involved on Facebook, Twitter or by emailing us at youthpod18@gmail.com Does youth work have a role to play in defining masculinity? Is this an issue for schools and parents? Is it an issue for just boys or both sexes? Lots of questions, we're exploring our potential answers in this important conversation and intriguing episode.

Our quest to speak openly about mental health and particularly the mental health of young Irish men, continues with a very open and honest, first hand account from our guest this week, Conor Moore. A young man himself who has had a very personal journey wit the mental health services in Ireland, Conor opens up about his own mental health, about self harm, self care, reaching out, the various levels of mental health and mental illness, his own advice and learning and so much more, in an episode that is an important listen for any person who may be suffering with how they feel and how they are coping with their feelings. If you need any help or direction in relation to your own mental health please reach out. We are always here to help you with the very first step and hopefully this episode will serve as a shining example that sometimes it's as simple as taking that first step. A problem shared is a problem halved and we care about each and every young person that we come into contact with. Enjoy the episode and please share, like, comment, recommend and get in touch at youthpod18@gmail.com 

In his darkest moment and a time of huge sorrow, loss and adversity, Rob Duff of Liberty Church, recounts his faith strengthening and religion becoming a key part of his life. We capture this story and more of his incredible journey in an episode of YouthPod Ireland dedicated to the topics of faith, religion and spirituality. Irrespective of your beliefs, this is an episode where we not only look at people first but also their opinions, morals and actions in the community and if religion plays a role in these. And rather than discovering the things that divide us or that we hold different opinions on, we look for what brings us together, in an emotional, open and very honest conversation. Enjoy.

We are joined by the godfather of Irish MMA, Coach John Kavanagh for our first episode in 2019. Widely regarded as one of the top coaches in the world of mixed martial arts, Coach Kavanagh's journey began with the uncertainty and confidence issues that affect many young people and a vicious assault that inspired him to seek out a way of defending himself. That one incident set in motion the journey that would lead John to great individual success as a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and eventually to a role of coaching others, right up to the dizzying heights of UFC Championship glory. One of the nicest, most open, honest, relatable and inspiring guests that we have had the pleasure of interviewing, this episode is a MUST LISTEN... not only for fans of MMA but for all people willing to learn how they can start their journey to becoming a better version of themselves!

Christmas is over but maybe that's a good thing! Have we become too 'materialistic'? Do we care more about having nice things than appreciating the important things? Do we drive ourselves into poverty based on what we think society wants us to own? 15 minutes, one hot topic. Get involved at youthpod18@gmail.com 

Ho ho ho!! We are sending the year out in a fun and festive way as we come together for our Christmas Special, recapping on best bits, favourite episodes, funniest topics and we even delve into the murky waters of past debates including a heated debate on gender. Thank you for all of you listens and downloads to dates, for your emails and tweets, your feedback and your time, we appreciate the amazing support we have enjoyed so far and we are shooting for the stars in 2019 so please keep listening, liking, sharing and getting involved. Have a very Merry Christmas everyone and we will talk to you all soon!

We continue our 'local issues' MiniFlash series by asking 'why is the local main street dying off?' and we look at potential solutions that may help rescue our local businesses from the same fate of the many that have fallen before them. Get involved, tell us your thoughts and opinions and share your own ideas. Who is responsible? Who should take action? And what will be left for the future generation in terms of local employment and enterprise? Solutions begin with simple, solution- based conversations. Be a part of it. Download FOR FREE now. 15 minutes. One hot topic. 

On December 1, 2018 we hosted our first ever 'Stronger Men' event promoting positive mental health. As a part of this event, we recorded this podcast about mental health and safeguards that we have found useful in our line of work. Key contributors in our mental health day included Suicide Or Survive and Be Well, who also part funded the day through their bursary grant scheme. In this episode we discuss little things, the power of choice, the 5 a day for positive mental health, cognitive behaviour therapy and more. A must listen for those interested or affected by mental health.

We are joined this week by a very popular, local young woman and jiu jitsu student and enthusiast, Fiona Hannon. We delve into the world of one of the most increasingly popular combat sports and examine how it changed the life of a young woman now dedicated to learning and refining the craft she has grown to love. We talk about Fiona's achievements in her jiu jitsu career including a national championship win and we also chat about her aspirations for the future. Throw into the mix some of our regular topics like mental health and well being, connecting with friends, social media, nutrition and self care, dedication and ambitions and we have what is one of our favourite episodes to date. We also argue about veganism and dogs and long walks for positive head space. A great episode, very much worthy of your time and attention!

YouthPod Ireland continues to be Ireland's leading podcast for and about young people but in this MiniFlash season we are turning our attention to LOCAL ISSUES. We are going to have structured and productive conversations addressing local issues and we are going to conduct these conversations with a solution- based approach. We are asking for people to continue these conversation and to take responsibility and ownership of them. It is a CALL TO ACTION. And we want YOU, our listeners to get involved. This week's episode is 'Dog Fouling', a pertinent local issue but perhaps one that has been experienced all over the world. What can we do to reduce the number of incidents of dog fouling in our community? Who should take ownership of this problem? What has worked well elsewhere? We talk about these questions and more in this short MiniFlash episode. All feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com 

WOW! Phenomenal feedback from last week's episode with Finn Balor and we are back this week with WWE Superstar and Smackdown Women's Champion Becky Lynch. Ireland's biggest ever female professional wrestler, Becky Lynch is arguably the biggest name in the world of sports entertainment now. She has amassed a huge following of loyal and dedicated supporters who are just waiting to see what is next for 'The Man', 'The Lass Kicker' and the undisputed top athlete in the female division right now. But our podcast doesn't just focus on the wrestling. We delve into conversation around injury, gender, health and mental health, body image and eating disorders, adversity, ambitions and goals, growing up, learning, personal growth and so much more, with some exclusive insights that even the most dedicated Becky Lynch and wrestling fans may never have heard. This is a fascinating episode worth every minute of your time and we extend our sincerest thanks to one of our long time friends of the industry. It's YouthPod Ireland with Becky Lynch, listen for free NOW!! Feedback can be mailed to us at youthpod18@gmail.com We reply to EVERY mail!

WWE Superstar Finn Balor joins the YouthPod Ireland crew for this fascinating first episode in Season 3 of Ireland's leading podcast for young people. We talk to our long- time friend about his incredible journey in his pursuit of his professional wrestling dream and we learn about the core values that underpin his successes in life. We talk childhood, travel, adversity and injury, dedication, life- long learning, physical and mental health and so much more as we gather a real insight into one of the most humble and inspiring athletes that the country has ever produced. And it's all the sweeter that he hails from our hometown of Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. We extend our sincerest thanks to Finn and WWE for accomodating us with the podcast and we know there are plenty of inspiring lesson within the conversation. Download now for free and let us know what you think by contacting us on Twitter @YouthPodIreland or on Facebook @YouthPod Ireland Podcast Enjoy the podcast everyone, it's good to be back!

Fancy a free holiday? Or how about doing the thing that you love in another country and doing it in a country you always wanted to visit but not having to spend your life savings doing it? "There's a catch" I hear you say. Yes, there is. You have to have an open mind! You have to maybe consider yourself in a European context. You have to think a little. And maybe fill in a bit of paper work. But the reality is, this week we are talking about 'youth mobilisation' and how 'Leargas' are supporting young people in moving out of their comfort zones and mobilising them in their thoughts, in their actions and in their ambitions, in a podcast that has challenged the YouthPod Ireland lads to consider how we can make a mark on a European level, beyond our podcast episodes. Join the lads and their special guests Leo and Suzanne as they answer all your questions about international exchanges and youth mobilisation. Who knows, you could be one hour away from getting all the information you need to make a life- changing life choice!! This episode is our last in Season 2 and we truly saved the best until last. Enjoy!

This episode of YouthPod Ireland comes on a very special day for the YouthPod Ireland crew as we host our first ever 'Wheelchair For A Day' Disability Awareness Day in our day jobs as youth workers in our hometown of Bray, Ireland. Joining us for a very special edition of the podcast is Graham Merrigan, a prominent podcaster, actor, athlete, social commentator and ambassador for wheelchair users. Graham discusses his own challenges as a wheelchair user and the many great things he has managed to achieve in his life, where disability simply wasn't an option for holding him back. This is a great episode, with a great bloke and is a must- listen as we discuss some rather controversial and thorny topics. Big thanks to Graham for the interview and for helping inform and direct our own actions as we begin to raise awareness for our local community living with disabilities. Please get involved by emailing us at youthpod18@gmail.com or on all of our social media challenges. Enjoy the episode. 

This week we return to the podcast with a slim, trim team of two as Adam and Paul chat to Darren Kelly, a local community Garda stationed in our hometown of Bray. The Gardai are the Irish police force and as a community Garda, Darren blends maintaining the law with maintaining a positive relationship with the community. A long- time friend of the youth workers, we look at the man behind the uniform and badge and ask Darren about what it takes to drive a positive image of the Garda Siochana. Darren looks back on his attitude as a teenager, his love of sport, his connection with local young people and what it takes to be held in high regard by the community. We also delve into the darker side of the job and the struggles and hardships that Gardai face and how they carry and deal with these experiences. From petty crime to devastating tragedies, Darren has seen it all. But are we quick to forget this and just see another Garda uniform and badge? We explore this and more in this week's episode of YouthPod Ireland.

After our most downloaded episode to date, the lads are back for some organised chaos as we argue some very thorny topics on this week's podcast. We are talking about drugs, dodgy boxes and immigration and there are plenty of strong opinions on either side of the table. Another episode sure to divide our audience but we are absolutely delighted with all of your positive feedback and interaction. We start the conversations and we invite YOU to get involved at youthpod18@gmail.com and across all of our social media platforms. Enjoy and thanks for listening! 

Welcome back to YouthPod Ireland. A thorny subject this week as UNICEF releases the findings of a worldwide study into safety, peer violence and bullying in schools. Nearly half the Irish teens surveyed reported that they had felt threatened or unsafe in school and we want to know why this is and how we begin to stop it. Alarmingly, nearly 700 million children of a school going age, live in countries where corporal punishment in schools is not illegal. There are some very strong opinions at the table in this one as our full cast of regular podcasters return for an episode that is not only close to home but relevant to all young people, across the country and indeed the world. Get involved by emailing us at youth18@gmail.com and across all of our social media platforms. Enjoy! 

In this week's episode of YouthPod Ireland we are talking about cocaine. We explore attitudes to the drug, talk openly about our observations of its use and we reach out to our podcast community to fill in the blanks, as we examine the highly addictive and dangerous substance. Cocaine use is not restricted to any one group or demographic of people and we talk about how people get started, how people get addicted, what this addiction looks like and what are the implications of cocaine addiction. We really appreciate all of your feedback and we are happy to be further informed or corrected in any of the opinions or observations shared in this episode, which are all our own and not representative of any agencies or groups to which we are attached in our working remits in the youth sector. Get involved by emailing us at youthpod18@gmail.com and please share, like, comment, tag and engage with us across all of our social media platforms! If you are affected by any of the content of this episode please connect with us and take the first step to getting to where you want to be!