Holly Cairns : Politics is Personal

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: One In Four 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.  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 snippet Irish actor 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 visit 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 Home - Makan Pals for Palestine - resources 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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.