In this podcast series, Síle Seoige chats to people of all walks of life; those who are well known, along with those who have extraordinary stories to tell and she also features topic lead conversations with a particular expert in their field.
A skilled interviewer and avid listener, Síle’s warm approach encourages her guests to be as open and honest about their lived experiences as possible. This refreshing approach has made for some truly special conversations that she hopes will at times inspire, challenge, educate, comfort or simply entertain her listener.
Please rate, review and subscribe if you like what you hear, thanks so much!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this podcast series, Síle Seoige chats to people of all walks of life; those who are well known, along with those who have extraordinary stories to tell and she also features topic lead conversations with a particular expert in their field.
A skilled interviewer and avid listener, Síle’s warm approach encourages her guests to be as open and honest about their lived experiences as possible. This refreshing approach has made for some truly special conversations that she hopes will at times inspire, challenge, educate, comfort or simply entertain her listener.
Please rate, review and subscribe if you like what you hear, thanks so much!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Topics covered : rape, living in fear, trauma, self harm, PTSD, reclaiming.
Bláthnaid Raleigh is from Mullingar, and her world changed forever after a night out in Galway in July 2019, when she was attacked and raped by a man from her hometown, Johnny Moran.
As you can imagine, this conversation is intense at times, so please take care while listening.
For five long years, as Bláthnaid tried to rebuild her life, he continued to live his, as normal — while she and her family were left in limbo, waiting for justice.
Finally, in July 2024, he was sentenced to eight years in prison, without ever showing an ounce of remorse.
Bláthnaid’s book Aftermath is a powerful and devastating account of what it means to survive — and of the failings of a system that left her feeling forgotten and silenced. But it’s also a story of extraordinary strength, courage, and the slow process of reclaiming herself.
If you’ve been affected by what you’ve heard, please know that you’re not alone and there is help available.
Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs) - Rape Crisis Ireland
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This is a Ready to be Real revisit from 2020 — recorded during the height of the Covid restrictions.
In it, I speak to folklorist, artist and musician Dr. Billy Mag Fhlionn (Pagan Rave) about Samhain and the old Irish traditions that still shape how we celebrate Halloween today.
Billy lives in Dingle with his wife Muireann and their daughters, Sadhbh and Líse.
In this conversation, he shares the deeper meaning behind our Halloween customs — the stories of old, the sense of connection to our ancestors, and the games that have stood the test of time.
We talk about trick or treating, 'bobbing for apples', 'shave the fryer' (the flour mountain), and 'snap apple' and he reveals what was originally hidden inside the báirín breac (you might be surprised!).
Resources :
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Topics covered: Gaeilge, music, heritage, culture, shame, colonisation, Irish Americans, Samhain, An Chailleach.
In this special Oíche Shamhna episode, I speak with musician, broadcaster, academic and podcaster Doireann Ní Ghlacáin.
Doireann is the daughter of TG4 political correspondent Sorcha Ní Riada (and granddaughter of legendary Irish composer Seán Ó Riada) and fiddle player and retired Garda Kevin Glackin of the renowned Glackin musical family.
Between podcasting (How to Gael), TV presenting, MC'ing, playing music, having a string of live shows and being awarded a PhD in oral Irish poetry recently, she is an incredibly impressive and productive woman.
She currently splits her time between New York and Ireland, and we spoke last week, the day after I saw her perform on stage in An Taibhdhearc, the National Irish Language Theatre, with her show The Cailleach.
In our chat, we talk about the rich heritage she has on both sides of her family, and about An Chailleach — and this reflective, liminal time of year.
We also discuss the moment on Virgin Media’s Six O’Clock Show in February 2024, when former TD Ivan Yates said he “couldn’t be arsed” in reference to the Irish language — and one of the presenters stood up to shake his hand in agreement.
We explore how deeply insulting that was to Irish speakers, how it reflects a colonised mindset, and how passionately Doireann feels about being a Gael.
A self-confessed girls’ girl, she describes herself as introspective — and simply put, I loved chatting to her.
Bainigí sult as!
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Topics covered : Fertility, multiple rounds of IVF, miscarriage, acceptance, magic.
This is a re-release of a conversation I recorded with business woman Denise Phillips back in April 2021 when she had just come from an appointment in the Coombe hospital where she found out she was 29 weeks pregnant!
It's the most incredible story.
Now 4.5 years on, her daughter Beth is 10 and her son Jude is 4 and she just announced that she is pregnant again!
So I thought it was the perfect time to reshare this gorgeous conversation that is sure to resonate with a lot of you.
Original shownotes...
Denise Phillips lives in Newbridge, Co. Kildare with her husband Mark, their 6 year old daughter Beth and she’s also step mother to 16 year old Ellie.
She’s hugely successful in her career as the owner of Pelo hairdressing and the co-owner of Irish hair brand Voduz and last week she got the surprise of her life when she found out she was over 6 months pregnant!
For the past 10 years, she had lived with unexplained infertility, no periods, no ovulation and the lining of her womb was very thin.
On their 9th cycle of IVF she went on to have their little girl and when Beth was a baby, she also took part in TV documentary ‘The Babymakers’, which followed the lives of couples for over a year, who were trying to conceive and showed the reality of IVF.
This was one of my favourite chats ever on the podcast, it’s full of wisdom and practical advice, especially for those who are navigating the often-challenging road to parenthood. She speaks about acceptance and gratitude and the importance of staying in your own lane.
And when we spoke on Tuesday when she had just come from all her pregnancy appointments in the Coombe hospital, where she found out she was almost 29 weeks pregnant!
Book mentions:
Deepak Chopra’s The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Vishen Lakhiani’s The Code of the Extraordinary Mind
If you enjoyed this chat please show your support by leaving a rating or a little comment on Apple and by clicking follow on Spotify, I’d be so thankful.
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Topics covered : Grooming, childhood sexual abuse, shame, addiction, survival, recovery, therapy, healing, acting, Palestine, censorship, collective care, Andor.
This is the second part of my conversation with multi award-winning Irish actor — and all-round gorgeous human — Denise Gough.
In this episode, Denise speaks openly about the painful experiences of grooming and abuse in her childhood — experiences that led to her being homeless in London as a teenager, addicted to drugs and alcohol.
Since getting sober at 27, she’s gone on to thrive — both in her acting career and in life.
She's an incredibly strong, open-hearted woman, and her story is one of survival, strength, and deep healing.
If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1, I really encourage you to go back and do so.
You might also want to hear my conversations with Gabor and Daniel Maté, Róisín El Cherif, Farah Nabulsi, and Hala Sourani, as well as the episode I released in May with Jack Fitzgerald, where he speaks so bravely about surviving childhood sexual abuse.
These stories aren’t easy to hear, but they are necessary and they remind us of the strength of the human spirit.
Book mentions:
'Perfect Victims' (and the Politics of Appeal) by Mohammed El-Kurd
'The Message' and 'Between the World and Me' by Ta-Nehisi Coates
If you need support, please reach out — you are not alone, and help is available:
Support – Mental Health Ireland
And if you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate, and review Ready to Be Real wherever you listen.
Míle buíochas, as always, for your support.
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This is The Real Take — a glimpse of the honesty, wisdom and connection you’ll find in every episode of Ready to be Real.
In this snippet Irish actor and activist Denise Gough speaks about her recent visit to The West Bank...she speaks about what she saw and how it has deepened her commitment to Palestine.
- you can hear the full episode with Denise anytime now.
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Topics covered : Acting, celebrity culture, Palestine, grief, Zionism, solidarity.
This week, I’m honoured to speak with award-winning Irish actor Denise Gough, who has gained a whole new audience thanks to her chilling and complex portrayal of the fascist officer Dedra Meero in the acclaimed Star Wars series Andor.
But Denise is so much more than a brilliant actor — she’s a deeply compassionate and courageous human being.
She has spoken openly about painful chapters of her life — including experiences of grooming and childhood abuse, and her struggle with addiction.
Now, almost two decades sober, she has built a career defined not by glamour, but by emotional truth, talent and integrity.
In this first part of our conversation (part two coming next week), Denise reflects on her recent trip to the West Bank — how witnessing life there challenged her, changed her, and deepened her commitment to the cause.
She also shares her thoughts on celebrity culture, the importance of connecting with like-minded people, and how she strives to use her public profile for good.
We also talk about the time she filmed a movie in Jordan — 'The Shooting of Thomas Hurndall' — which tells the story of a young British peace activist killed by the Israeli army, and how, even as a child, she was deeply affected by the Holocaust and wrote to world leaders like Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War.
These moments reveal a restless compassion and a lifelong instinct to speak up — even when it’s not easy.
If this episode resonates with you, please follow, subscribe, or share it with someone who might appreciate it.
Part 2 coming next week.
Míle buíochas agus Saoirse don Phalaistín.
Makan - Education for liberation
Pals for Palestine - resources
* You can also listen to other conversations exploring Palestine on Ready to Be Real from December 2023 onwards, with guests including Ruth Smith, Daniel Maté, Dr Myriam François, Caoimhe Butterly, Róisín El Cherif, Sarah Durham Wilson, Farah Nabulsi, Misan Harriman, Hala Sourani, Dr Gabor Maté, Raeeka Yassaie, Fintan Drury, Catherine Connolly, and more.
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In this short clip, I revisit the powerful words of Dr. Gabor Maté — words that are resonating so deeply with me right now, especially in light of the devastating news of the murder of Palestinian journalist Salah Al Jafarawi yesterday.
Gabor’s words are a reminder to us to stay human — to stay connected, compassionate, and awake — even when the world feels overwhelming.
If you’d like to hear more, you can listen back to my full conversation with him anytime here on Ready to be Real.
* Dr. Gabor Maté is a retired physician and bestselling author known and loved for his ground-breaking medical work and writings.
In our full conversation we also explore parenting, we talk about illness and the lessons to be learnt through these often very difficult experiences and he also shares his insights regarding Ireland.
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Topics covered : Shedding shame, pubic hair, pelvic floor muscles, UTI's, periods, STI's, birth, constipation and the importance of fibre.
This week, I sit down with the brilliant Laura Dowling — better known online as The Fabulous Pharmacist!
It’s Laura’s second time joining me on the pod, and I’m delighted to have her back. She lives in Dublin with her husband Frank and their three boys, and after working as a pharmacist for over 20 years, she’s now the founder and CEO of fabÜ nutritional supplements.
I absolutely love her — she’s smart, funny, and refreshingly honest — and in this chat we talk all things vulvas, as her brilliant new book 'Love Your Vulva' has just been released. It’s a celebration of women, our bodies, and the importance of understanding and embracing them.
A fun, empowering, and educational conversation about women’s health, body confidence, and breaking taboos.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this snippet I speak to Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly about how she feels about politics, what matters to her and what kind of President she hopes to be if elected.
You can hear the full conversation with Catherine anytime now and make sure you're registered to vote —tomorrow the 7th of October is the deadline.
It takes just 2 minutes to register :
Agus caith do vóta ar an 24ú!
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This is a conversation I recorded on the 3rd of September with Independent TD and Presidential candidate, Catherine Connolly.
She lives in the Claddagh in Galway with her husband Brian, and they have two adult children.
Her life and work have been shaped by a deep sense of social justice, compassion, and conviction.
Before entering politics, Catherine worked as a cleaner, a nurse’s aide, a psychologist, a teacher, and a barrister — a truly diverse path that reflects her deep-rooted commitment to public service.
She’s one of 14 siblings, and in this episode, she speaks about losing her mother at the age of nine — a loss that shaped the rest of her life.
We talk about: the power of listening, her love for Gaeilge, her long-standing advocacy for equality, Palestine and the kind of President she hopes to be if elected.
It’s honest and grounded— very much like Catherine herself.
Make sure you're registered to vote — you still have a few days left:
Agus caith do vóta ar an 24ú!
If you enjoy Ready to be Real, please consider following, rating, and reviewing the podcast — it really helps!
And thank you, as always, for your support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is The Real Take — a glimpse of the honesty, wisdom, and connection you’ll find in every episode of Ready to be Real.
In this mini-pod, I revisit my April 2024 conversation with Irish-Palestinian artist Róisín El Cherif. Here, she speaks about Zionism, the birth of Israel, and why solidarity and meaningful action matter now more than ever.
You can listen back to the full conversation with Róisín anytime — agus mar is iondúil…Saoirse don Phalaistín!
There are also many other episodes on Ready to be Real from December 2023 onwards that explore Palestine and its ongoing struggle, with guests including Ruth Smith, Daniel Maté, Dr. Myriam François, Caoimhe Butterly, Sarah Durham Wilson, Farah Nabulsi, Misan Harriman, Hala Sourani, Dr. Gabor Maté, Raeeka Yassaie, and most recently, author and activist Fintan Drury.
If you enjoy Ready to be Real, please consider following, rating, and reviewing the podcast — it really helps others find the show.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Topics covered : a brief history of Palestine, Israeli mindset, racism, dehumanisation, solidarity.
I sat down with author and activist Fintan Drury in mid August to speak about Palestine.
In this conversation he takes us through a brief history of Palestine and the relentless injustices that Palestinians have endured for decades.
Book : 'Catastrophe : Nakba II'
You can listen to other conversations that discuss Palestine on Ready to be Real from December 2023 onwards, episodes with guests like Ruth Smith, Daniel Maté, Dr Myriam François, Caoimhe Butterly, Róisín El Cherif, Sarah Durham Wilson, Farah Nabulsi, Misan Harriman, Hala Sourani, Dr Gabor Maté, Raeeka Yassaie and more.
Links :
B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
Louis Theroux - The Settlers
If you enjoy Ready to be Real, please consider following, rating, and reviewing the podcast — it really helps!
And thank you, as always, for your support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is The Real Take — a glimpse of the honesty, wisdom and connection you’ll find in every episode of Ready to be Real.
In this mini pod I speak to Miriam Hussey about regulating our nervous systems especially in these turbulent times, spiritual bypassing and the power of collective care.
If you found this snippet helpful, you can hear the full conversation with Miriam anytime now and her book 'Light Up' will be available to buy from the 25th of September — and it’s definitely one to get!
Thanks so much for listening to Ready to be Real.
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Topics covered : Nervous system responses to stress, chakras, spiritual bypassing, self and collective care, motherhood, gratitude.
In this episode, I speak to integrative health coach and co-founder of wellness platform 'Soul Space', Miriam Hussey.
She was a guest on one of my very first episodes of Ready to be Real back in 2019, alongside her husband Gerry — I love being in her company and I always take so much from listening to her speak.
She’s a mother of two, she spent 10 years working as a pharmacist, and she’s just written her first book: 'Light Up — Energise Your Body, Awaken Your Mind, Supercharge Your Soul.'
In this conversation, we explore what true wellness really means — from how our nervous systems respond to stress, to the importance of honouring the full range of emotions we experience as humans.
If you enjoy Ready to be Real, please consider following, rating, and reviewing the podcast — it really helps!
And thank you, as always, for your support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Topics covered: Early-onset Parkinson’s disease, anger, grief, acceptance, adapting.
This is The Real Take — a glimpse of the honesty, wisdom and connection you’ll find in every episode of Ready to be Real.
In this snippet I speak to Irish Examiner fashion editor and author, Annmarie O’Connor, about life with early-onset Parkinson’s disease.
The youngest of five girls, Annmarie grew up on Long Island, New York, before moving to Ireland at the age of twelve. With strong family roots here — her mother’s side is from Inishbofin — many of her childhood summers were spent on the island.
She went on to build a successful career in fashion styling, working in the industry for almost two decades, and has already published two books: The Happy Closet and The Happy Medium.
But in December 2021, her world changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease — a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, mood, motivation, and much more.
Annmarie's memoir 'Twitch – My Life with Parkinson’s', is out now and you can hear the full conversation anytime!
Any mention of medication is Annmarie’s personal experience only and should not be taken as medical advice.
The Michael J. Fox article referenced during our chat can be found here:
'Pity is another form of abuse' - Michael J Fox on Parkinson's
If you enjoy Ready to be Real, please consider following, rating, and reviewing the podcast — it really makes a difference.
And thank you, as always, for your support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Topics covered: Early-onset Parkinson’s disease, symptoms, pain, denial, grief, acceptance, adapting.
In this episode, I speak with Irish Examiner fashion editor and author, Annmarie O’Connor, about her experience of living with Parkinson’s disease.
The youngest of five girls, Annmarie grew up on Long Island, New York, before moving to Ireland at the age of twelve. With strong family roots here — her mother’s side is from Inishbofin — many of her childhood summers were spent on the island.
She went on to build a successful career in fashion styling, working in the industry for almost two decades, and has already published two books: The Happy Closet and The Happy Medium.
But in December 2021, her world changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease — a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, mood, motivation, and much more.
Her memoir, 'Twitch – My Life with Parkinson’s', has just been released, and in this conversation Annmarie speaks openly about the past few years, what the condition has taught her, and the realities of life now.
Any mention of medication in this episode is Annmarie’s personal experience only and should not be taken as medical advice.
The Michael J. Fox article referenced in our chat can be found here:
'Pity is another form of abuse' - Michael J Fox on Parkinson's
If you enjoy Ready to be Real, please consider following, rating, and reviewing the podcast — it really makes a difference.
And thank you, as always, for your support.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is The Real Take — a glimpse of the honesty, wisdom and connection you’ll find in every episode of Ready to be Real.
In this bonus episode I speak to health food advocate and Instagram sensation Sophie Morris about food labels and what to be aware of when doing our food shop, health halos and how she deals with criticism.
You can hear the full conversation with Sophie Morris now.
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Topics covered : Understanding food labels, ultra processed food, the psychology of supermarket shopping, clever food swaps, health halos and handling criticism.
Welcome to my first episode back after the summer break, I’m joined by health food advocate and Instagram sensation, Sophie Morris.
She lives in Greystones, in Wicklow with her husband Robbie and their two boys, Wrio and Max.
And over the past year, her following online has skyrocketed thanks to her no-nonsense food videos — breaking down the tricks of the food industry and showing us how to make smarter choices.
She learned so much about the business of food when she ran her own cookie-dough company (Kooky Dough) back in 2009, and she’s now channelling all of that experience into her brand-new book 'Sophie’s Swaps' — a must-have for anyone who wants to shop and eat with more awareness.
In this conversation, Sophie explains how the food system really works, how we’re being manipulated in the supermarket aisles, what to watch out for on labels, and the clever swaps that can make a big difference.
If you’re a fan of what I do, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.
And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.
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A quick update about Ready to be Real...I'm taking a break for the summer, but I’ll be back again in the autumn.
Thanks so much for your continued support, it means so much to me and thanks also to my amazing guests who made these conversations possible.
The past ten months have been intense — full of meaningful work (I've been working on a documentary series) and the juggle of modern life — so I haven’t been as consistent with the pod as I would’ve liked. That said, the episodes I have released have been powerful.
With over 200 conversations available, there’s plenty to revisit — from thought-provoking, emotional discussions to unforgettable chats with incredible guests like photographer and activist Misan Harriman and the one and only Dr. Gabor Maté.
We’ve tackled everything from grief, addiction, and coercive control, to menopause, adolescence, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
These are honest, human conversations — some might challenge you, and many will stay with you long after you’ve listened to them.
If you have any feedback for me, guest suggestions, or topics you'd love me to explore when I'm back, please do get in touch — DM me on Instagram 𝗦í𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗼𝗶𝗴𝗲 (@sileseoige) • Instagram photos and videos or drop an email to hello@readytobereal.com
Have a lovely summer, and I’ll chat to you again in September — more organised than ever, with weekly episodes you can rely on.
And as always...Saoirse don Phalaistín.
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