Ready To Be Real by Síle Seoige

Topics covered : AI in today's world, awareness. In this episode, I speak to technology consultant and author Joanne Griffin. She's married to Mark, they have two teenage boys, and they live in Navan. She left the mainstream corporate world just before Covid to pursue a career in tech, and a few years later, she wrote a book called “Humology – How to Put Humans Back at the Heart of Technology.” In our conversation, we talk about the reality of living in an increasingly tech-reliant world, the overwhelm that can often come with it, the importance of being mindful of our AI use, and why technology itself isn’t the enemy — if we use it with intention. Human-Centric Technology Design | Humology Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Leukaemia, blood transfusions, bone marrow transplant, pregnancy, birth story, positive mindset, exercise, faith, gratitude.   This episode is in partnership with giveblood.ie — a service that truly saves lives. I speak with Laura Murphy, whose husband Dave was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia eleven years ago. Throughout his treatment, he needed multiple blood transfusions and a bone marrow transplant — and the most difficult time of all came when Laura was pregnant with their son. Together, they’ve faced enormous challenges, but today, Dave is thriving, and they’re soaking up family life with their three-year-old, Joshua. Their story is one of resilience and deep gratitude for the donors who made his recovery possible. If this conversation resonates with you, please rate it, leave a comment, or share with a friend who needs to hear it. Míle buíochas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : rape, trauma, living in fear, 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 : https://tradition.ie https://www.duchas.ie/en https://www.muireann.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.