Ruth

Start with the truth: a teenage girl cried for a year after the “good first day back” and a mum climbed in beside her with Harry Styles on the stereo, late‑night drives, and a plan to let light in. That’s how Just Two Girls was born—out of burnout, misdiagnosis, and the stubborn belief that honesty saves lives. We open up about the early years—meltdowns in supermarkets, running and hiding, sensory pain around showers and hair brushing—and how a neat dyspraxia label hid what was really going on. School called Kate “a pleasure to teach” while she masked so hard she wrote “help” on sheets of paper in class. We dig into the system ping‑pong between disability teams and CAMHS, why girls are so often missed, and how a late autism diagnosis at 17 changed everything. The shift is immediate: permission to be herself, language for needs, and the confidence to say “autistic and proud” even when someone stares at curled hair and says the quiet part out loud. There’s humour in the grit—airport assistance in pink cowboy hats, the learning hub that couldn’t compute “autistic” with “put‑together,” and the moment we asked a school to take down puzzle‑piece imagery. There’s also a practical spine for anyone navigating similar terrain: why medication became a bridge out of despair, how to design routines that regulate, what ARFID looks like beyond “picky eating,” and how sensory‑friendly hours and apartments can make travel survivable. We don’t accept “just stay home.” Access isn’t a perk; it’s parity. And advocacy isn’t branding; it’s letting someone else breathe easier because you spoke first. If you’re a parent searching for hope, a teacher trying to help the “quiet” student, or a teenager wondering why you feel like an alien in a crowded room, pull up a chair. We’re building the thing we needed: clear language, small wins, and the courage to be seen on the bad days as much as the good ones. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and tell us: what would make public spaces kinder for you? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tracy Metcalfe raw conversation takes us through the remarkable highs and devastating lows of her life journey. From her humble beginnings in Darndale where "we had nothing but we had everything," to becoming a single mother navigating life's hardest challenges without consistent support, Tracy's story is one of extraordinary resilience. The emotional centerpiece of Tracy's journey revolves around her father's passing and her spiritual interpretation of this profound loss. What began as overwhelming grief evolved through faith into an unexpected peace as she realized: "My dad went out on top." This revelation—that his death spared him from witnessing her mother's decline into dementia—provided a theological framework that transformed her understanding of loss. Her viral video featuring her father's humorous reaction to a fake designer bag purchase stands as a treasured memory that unexpectedly connected with thousands. Tracy speaks candidly about her physical transformation journey, including weight loss surgery and subsequent reconstructive procedures. Her harrowing experience traveling to Turkey for dental work only to discover all her teeth needed extraction resulted in four months without teeth while continuing to raise her teenage daughter and work in a detention center. Despite these external changes, she reveals the persistent internal struggle with body dysmorphia—the inability to recognize her transformed appearance despite objective evidence. The conversation culminates in Tracy's faith journey, which she carefully distinguishes from "religion." Finding community in non-denominational Christianity has provided meaning amid suffering. "I hate the word religion," she explains, "we focus on a relationship." This distinction forms the cornerstone of her spiritual practice and emerging peace. For anyone navigating grief, physical transformation, or questioning their purpose, Tracy's story demonstrates how finding meaning in suffering doesn't eliminate pain but can transform how we carry it. Listen and discover how resilience can emerge from even the darkest places when we're open to unexpected sources of light. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two sisters bravely share the heartbreaking story of how they lost their father to domestic violence, revealing a devastating truth about male victims that's rarely discussed in our society. Growing up in Dublin with a father they describe as strict but loving, Karen and Lynn never imagined they'd one day be fighting for justice in a system that failed to protect him. Their father's relationship with a younger woman from the Czech Republic raised concerns from the beginning – strange behaviour, inconsistent stories, and troubling incidents involving their children. But what started as uncomfortable family dynamics gradually revealed itself as something far more sinister. The sisters recount the mounting evidence they witnessed: unexplained bruises their father would dismiss, disturbing late-night phone calls from his partner, and incidents where police were called to their home. Despite their growing suspicions, they struggled to believe their proud, strong father could be a victim of domestic abuse. When confronted, he would change the subject or become defensive – a response they now recognize as common among male victims trapped in abusive relationships. What makes this story particularly powerful is how it challenges our assumptions about domestic violence. The sisters describe their shock at discovering their father had taken out safety orders he never followed through with, and how authorities missed critical warning signs. When tragedy finally struck – captured on CCTV as his partner pushed him with fatal force – the justice system compounded their grief by minimizing the pattern of abuse during sentencing and redacting their victim impact statements. Now caring for their father's teenage daughter, the sisters have transformed their pain into purpose, advocating for legal reforms and greater awareness of male victims who often suffer in silence until it's too late. Their message is urgent and clear: domestic abuse affects people of all genders, and society must do better at recognizing and protecting all victims before more lives are lost. Have you noticed warning signs of abuse in someone you care about? Don't wait to reach out – resources are available regardless of gender, and your concern could save a life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a troubled teenager from a Dublin council estate discovers faith in the midst of chaos? Des Curtis' story is nothing short of miraculous. Growing up in Whitechurch during the 1980s, Des experienced firsthand the devastating impact of family breakdown when his parents separated due to his father's alcoholism. At just seven years old, he found himself packing his toys into black bin bags as his mother fled with her children to a women's refuge. The years that followed were marked by profound instability – his mother's struggles with depression and suicide attempts, Des's own descent into substance abuse beginning at age eleven, and his eventual expulsion from two secondary schools. By fifteen, Des appeared destined to become another statistic, until an unexpected path emerged through carpentry. Yet even this hope was shattered when a devastating motorbike accident left him with metal plates in his arms and ended his career dreams. Isolated, depressed, and smoking cannabis alone in his garden shed, Des reluctantly agreed to join a church football team – a decision that would transform his life forever. The transformation wasn't immediate or magical. It came through authentic relationships with teammates who talked about God as if He were real and present in their lives. When Des finally made the decision to embrace faith for himself at nineteen, he experienced a profound emotional release as years of accumulated trauma began to heal. That very evening, when offered drugs by former friends, he found himself declining – something fundamental had shifted within him. Des's journey continued through Bible college where he met his future wife, Judith, and discovered his calling to ministry – something he never would have predicted. Today, as a pastor at St. Mark's Church, Des reflects on the power of forgiveness, particularly regarding his father, and the joy he's found through his relationship with God. Whether you're struggling with your own past or simply curious about faith, Des's story reminds us that transformation is possible even from the most unlikely beginnings. As he puts it, "People ask me if I believe in miracles. I say I do, because I am one." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The raw, harrowing account of losing a child to reckless driving collides with a mother's fierce determination to seek justice in this powerful conversation with Catherine Killalee. Catherine takes us through the life of her son Dylan – a football-loving, energetic young man who was just six weeks away from completing his electrical apprenticeship when tragedy struck. With disarming honesty, she recounts the night she received the devastating phone call, rushing to the scene at the Red Cow intersection where Dylan had been fatally hit by a speeding driver going more than twice the legal limit. What follows is a gut-wrenching journey through Ireland's justice system that leaves more questions than answers. Catherine details the agonizing process of identifying her son's body, being prevented from touching him, telling his younger twin siblings what happened, and organizing a funeral where Dylan's football teammates formed a guard of honor despite the bitter cold. The most infuriating part of Catherine's story emerges when she describes the court proceedings. Despite the driver's excessive speed and fleeing the scene, he received just four years and four months – effectively serving around three years with standard reductions. Meanwhile, Catherine discovered her son suffered 65 fatal injuries, including amputated legs, only when it was read aloud in court, with the perpetrator sitting just feet away. Catherine's passionate call for reform resonates throughout as she fights to appeal what she sees as a grossly inadequate sentence. Her description of grief as "sneaky" and the ripple effect through her entire family creates a portrait of loss that's both universal and achingly specific. Through tears and determination, she represents countless families who feel betrayed by a system meant to deliver justice but instead compounds their pain. Ready to support change in how dangerous driving cases are handled? Share this episode and join the conversation about meaningful justice reform that truly values human life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.