Majella O’Donnell: Completely Herself

In this week's Real Take, Majella O'Donnell shares her personal experience of the ten weeks she spent as an inpatient in St John of God Hospital in 2024, when she became seriously unwell with depression. She speaks about the fear and vulnerability she experienced, and she also discusses medication, treatment and the practical tools she learned during her time in hospital, including recognising anxiety, understanding her body's fight-or-flight response and finding ways to support herself. This is just one part of a much wider conversation. In the full episode....Majella O'Donnell: Completely Herself, we also explore her childhood, her first marriage, motherhood, meeting Daniel and their life together, and how she continues to manage her mental health today. Support and resources If you're struggling with your mental health, please reach out. You don't have to face it alone. Your GP is a good place to start, and the following organisations offer support in Ireland. Aware Support and information for people experiencing depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder, and for their loved ones. Freephone: 1800 80 48 48 Available daily, 10am–10pm www.aware.ie Samaritans Confidential, non-judgemental emotional support, available 24 hours a day. Freephone: 116 123 www.samaritans.ie Text About It Free, confidential text support, available 24/7. Text HELLO to 50808 www.textaboutit.ie Pieta Support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm, and those affected by suicide. 24-hour crisis helpline: 1800 247 247 Text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply) www.pieta.ie HSE Mental Health Services Information about mental health difficulties, treatment options and accessing support. www2.hse.ie/mental-health/ If you need urgent help : Contact your GP or out-of-hours GP service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 112 or 999 or attend your nearest Emergency Department. A note about medication and treatment : Majella shares her own experience of psychiatric care, including changes to medication during her hospital stay. This conversation reflects her personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. Please speak to your GP or treating clinician before making any changes to prescribed medication. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this short extract from my conversation with eco-builder and author Harrison Gardner, he talks about the systems we rely on every day, why convenience so often wins, and the value of having a backup when the systems we take for granted, don't work as expected. The full conversation,​ Harrison Gardner: How Prepared Are You?, is available now wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Housing, shelter, self-building, self-sufficiency, security, agency, sustainability, consumerism, capitalism, convenience, our reliance on systems, power cuts, extreme weather, energy, practical skills, DIY, community, climate change, preparedness​ and taking back control. Harrison Gardner is an eco-builder, author and broadcaster who lives in Co. Clare with his wife Erin and their two daughters, Inari (6) and Islita (3). Having spent more than 15 years designing and building conventional, sustainable and off-grid homes around the world, Harrison's work now centre​s on helping people develop the skills and confidence to become more capable and self-sufficient. He is the co-founder of Common Knowledge, a non-profit social enterprise based in the Burren that teaches practical skills for sustainable living, from building and DIY to growing food, making furniture and mending clothes. His latest book, ​Heat, Shelter, Water, Food: How to Be Ready for the Unexpected, looks at the basic systems we rely on every day and asks a simple but increasingly important question: what happens when those systems stop working? From storms and power cuts to food and water security, this conversation is ultimately about knowledge, skills and agency, and why becoming a little more capable can help us feel a lot more secure. Harrison also authored ​Build Your Own and ​Our Homes and presents ​RTÉ's Build Your Own Home. Find out more about Harrison and his work: ​HARRISON GARDNER And if this conversation resonated with you, you might also enjoy these episodes from the Ready to Be Real archive: Mark Boyle: The Moneyless Man Kenneth Keavey of Green Earth Organics: The True Cost of Cheap Food Raeeka Yassaie: Climate in Crisis You'll find all three in the Ready to Be Real archive wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you enjoy this snippet, check out the full conversation with Kyla, anytime now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Topics covered : Gratitude, self-belief, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, mother-daughter bond, coercive control, patriarchy, beauty standards, ageing, women’s cycles, strength training, healthy love, taking up space. This week’s guest is comedian and now author Kyla Cobbler. Kyla and I sat down in Galway just as her first book, 'Happy, Thank You, More, Please' was released. We talk about the five-word mantra that has stayed with her since she was 21, her difficult experience of school, the unwavering support of her ​Mom, and her journey towards trusting herself and taking up space. We also talk about coercive control, finding healthy love with her husband Simon, life under the patriarchy, beauty standards, ageing, honouring women’s cycles, strength training, and learning to appreciate the life you have while still being brave enough to ask for more. 'Happy, Thank You, More, Please' is out now, available in all good bookshops and as an audiobook and it is brilliant! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.