The Laura Dowling Experience

Laura sits down with MEP Maria Walsh for a wide-ranging conversation about women, power and what is shifting in Europe right now. Maria has just returned from the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York, where for the first time in seventy years member states could not agree a final text on access to justice for women.
She talks honestly about online misogyny, the deepfakes already circulating in Irish secondary schools, conversion therapy, and the website created about her during the 2019 election that is still live today. Alongside that, she opens up about internalised homophobia, the loneliness of political life, and growing up as the gay Rose of Tralee at a time when Ireland was shifting on marriage equality.
The conversation also moves through period poverty, FGM, the underfunding of women's healthcare, the pink tax, and what it would take to close the gap on cardiovascular care, menopause and reproductive health. It is a frank look at the work still ahead and the toll it takes on the women trying to do it.

🔑 Key Points

The UN couldn't agree on access to justice for women — For the first time in seventy years the Commission on the Status of Women failed to find consensus, after the US tabled eight late amendments including the definition of a woman.

Deepfakes are already in Irish secondary schools — 99% of generated deepfakes are pornographic and 96% of victims are women and young girls, with nudification apps making explicit content from a single photo.

Online attacks follow women in politics
A website created during the 2019 election is still live, and Coco's Law catches those who share content but not those who build or host the apps.

Conversion therapy is still legal in most of the EU
Only eight EU countries have banned it, and Ireland's commitment sits inside the programme for government.

Women's healthcare is underfunded
More research funding has gone into male baldness than endometriosis, and there are only six menopause clinics across Ireland.

Cardiovascular care is still built around men
Heart attack symptoms are taught through male presentation, leaving women under-treated when it matters.

The pink tax keeps quietly costing women
Razors, dry cleaning and a 23% VAT rate on sunscreen all add up across a lifetime.

Politics takes a real personal toll
Maria speaks openly about loneliness, comfort eating, and learning to take up space in Brussels.

📚 Resources

UN Commission on the Status of Women

Coco's Law

ILGA-Europe

Belong To

Women for Election

See Her Elected

Riley

Hope Foundation

Ruhama

Esker House

Her Last Search (Croí)

⏱️ Timestamps

03:39 — Back from the UN Commission on the Status of Women
07:33 — Why the US tabled eight amendments at the eleventh hour
12:37 — Deepfakes, disinformation and the 90% statistic
15:04 — Conversion therapy and the EU debate
19:23 — The Burke website that is still live
27:38 — Deepfakes in Irish secondary schools
35:43 — What policy needs to do, and Ireland's chance to lead
40:53 — Cardiovascular care and Her Last Search
45:06 — Pink tax, menopause clinics and the funding gap
49:29 — Why women are still underrepresented in politics
53:01 — Period poverty, Riley and Any Time of the Month
58:25 — Loneliness and learning to take up space
59:30 — Calcutta, Hope Foundation and human trafficking
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

In this episode, Michelle Flynn shares her deeply personal and professional insight into birth trauma, and why it’s not always about what happens, but how it’s experienced.

Drawing on her own journey through pregnancy anxiety and her work as a perinatal psychotherapist, Michelle explains how trauma can live in the nervous system, showing up long after the moment has passed. From hypervigilance and intrusive thoughts to sensory triggers that bring the body straight back into the experience, she breaks down why these reactions happen and what they actually mean.

Together, Michelle and Laura unpack the importance of feeling safe, seen and supported, both for patients and for healthcare professionals. This really comes back to understanding your body and how trauma can show up differently for each of us.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

Postnatal Depression
A type of depression that can occur after childbirth, affecting mood, energy, and ability to care for yourself or your baby.

Postnatal Anxiety
A condition involving excessive worry, fear, or intrusive thoughts during the postpartum period.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
A mental health condition involving intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours, which can present during pregnancy or postpartum.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
A condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, including childbirth.

Perinatal Mental Health
Mental health during pregnancy and the early years after birth, typically up until a child is around two years old, when individuals may be more vulnerable to anxiety and mood disorders.

Somatic Experiencing (Peter Levine)
A body-based trauma therapy focused on how the nervous system stores and processes traumatic experiences.

The Body Keeps the Score - Dr Bessel van der Kolk
A widely recognised book exploring how trauma is stored in the body and how it can be treated.

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
A psychotherapy approach used to help people process and recover from traumatic memories.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
A structured therapy that focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought and behaviour patterns.

MBRRACE-UK Report
A UK report examining maternal deaths and inequalities, including higher risks among Black and ethnic minority women.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 - What is birth trauma
02:00 - Michelle’s personal pregnancy experience
04:00 - Pregnancy anxiety and early fears
07:30 - Feeling dismissed and unsupported
10:30 - Who is more vulnerable to trauma
20:00 - PTSD in healthcare professionals
24:00 - Communication and consent in care
28:00 - Can trauma be prevented
36:00 - The lemon experiment and body response
45:00 - Understanding somatic therapy
50:00 - Why CBT may not work for trauma
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

How many women have been told that pain is just part of being a woman?

For many women, painful or heavy periods become something they learn to live with. In this conversation, periods are reframed as something far more important - a vital sign that reflects what’s happening across the whole body, not just a monthly inconvenience.

Through real clinical stories, we hear how women can spend years feeling exhausted, run down, or unwell without ever realising the root cause. These symptoms are normalised, when in reality they need to be recognised and supported much earlier.

Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Mary shares how early intervention can prevent long-term conditions like PCOS and endometriosis. The discussion also expands into menopause, hormone therapy, and the importance of lifestyle - from nutrition and sleep to stress and daily habits - in supporting the body.

Alongside the science, the episode reflects on modern life - the pressure to do too much, the importance of boundaries, and the need to delegate and share the load.

At its core, this episode is about listening to your body, questioning what doesn’t feel right, and giving yourself permission to take your health seriously.

🔑 Key Points

Your period is a vital sign
Your menstrual cycle reflects overall health, yet many women are never taught what is normal and what isn’t.

Severe pain and heavy bleeding aren’t normal
Symptoms like prolonged periods, extreme pain, or vomiting are often dismissed, but they signal underlying imbalance that should be investigated.

Early intervention changes everything
Addressing irregular periods in teenage years can prevent long-term conditions like PCOS and endometriosis.

Hormones affect the whole body
Imbalances don’t just impact periods - they influence energy, mood, weight, skin, and long-term health outcomes.

Lifestyle is the foundation of hormone health
Nutrition, sleep, exercise, and gut health all play a key role in regulating hormones and supporting the body.

Conditions like PCOS are often missed
Weight gain, acne, and irregular cycles are common early signs, yet many women go undiagnosed for years.

Hormonal support can restore balance
Treatments like progesterone and metformin can help regulate cycles and improve symptoms when used appropriately.

Women are doing too much
Chronic stress, over-responsibility, and lack of boundaries can impact hormone health and overall wellbeing.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

It’s Probably Your Period by Mary Ryan
Mary’s book focused on understanding menstrual health and early intervention

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
A hormonal condition that can affect periods, weight, skin, and fertility

Endometriosis
A condition where tissue similar to the womb lining grows outside the uterus, often causing severe pain

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Treatment used to relieve symptoms of menopause by replacing hormones

Progesterone
A hormone involved in regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting pregnancy

Metformin
A medication commonly used for type 2 diabetes, also used in managing PCOS

Insulin Resistance
A condition where the body doesn’t respond properly to insulin, often linked to PCOS

Prostaglandins
Hormone-like substances that can cause inflammation and menstrual cramps

⏱️ Timestamps

01:00 – Periods as a vital sign
02:30 – What a normal period looks like
04:00 – Severe pain and inflammation
06:30 – Early intervention and prevention
08:30 – PCOS, weight gain and acne
11:30 – Treatment and metformin
14:30 – Hormone balance and long-term health
16:30 – Menopause and progesterone
18:30 – Spotting, flooding and hormone changes
20:30 – HRT and hormone therapy
22:30 – Testosterone and brain fog
24:00 – Fibroids and prevention
25:30 – Women doing too much
27:00 – Delegation and sharing the load
28:30 – Relationships, stress and health impact
30:00 – Raising resilient children
31:30 – Loss, grief and perspective
33:30 – Life lessons and self-worth
35:00 – Final advice for young people
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

Hannah Daly talks openly about the long path to understanding her brain. Growing up, she knew she experienced the world differently, but dyslexia and dyspraxia seemed to explain enough at the time. It wasn’t until much later that she began to question whether there was more to it.

A period of intense physical and cognitive symptoms during perimenopause became a turning point. As her ability to cope and mask began to unravel, it led her to seek answers - and eventually to diagnoses of ADHD and autism. What follows is a process of looking back, reinterpreting her life, and starting to understand herself in a completely different way.

🔑 Key Points

Growing up feeling different without the language for it
Hannah describes always experiencing the world differently, but early diagnoses of dyslexia and dyspraxia seemed to explain enough at the time.

Masking and the effort of trying to fit in
Much of her life was shaped by adapting to environments and expectations, often suppressing her own needs.

Perimenopause as a turning point
A sudden wave of physical and cognitive symptoms made it harder to cope and brought everything to the surface.

The link between hormones and neurodivergence
Hormonal changes intensified underlying ADHD and autistic traits, including memory issues, overwhelm, and sensory sensitivity.

Late diagnosis of ADHD and autism
Through seeking answers, Hannah went through an assessment process and received both diagnoses.

Looking back with new understanding
She began to reinterpret her life, recognising patterns that had always been there but previously misunderstood.

Unmasking and redefining identity
Diagnosis allowed her to move away from people-pleasing and start living more in line with who she is.

Understanding your brain as self-compassion
Learning how her brain works helped her develop better strategies and a more supportive way of living.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
A neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention, impulse control, and energy regulation.

Autism (Autism Spectrum Condition)
A lifelong condition affecting communication, sensory processing, and social interaction.

Perimenopause
A hormonal transition phase that can impact mood, cognition, and physical wellbeing.

ADHD, Autism, and Hormones (Emerging Research Area)
Growing research explores how hormonal changes can intensify neurodivergent traits.

ADHD Ireland - Support & U-Map Programme
Resources and support for ADHD in Ireland.

Autism and Menopause (Further Reading)
Explores how menopause can affect autistic individuals.

Odd Girl Out - Laura James (Book)
A memoir about late autism diagnosis.

Dr Mary Doherty - Autistic Doctors International
Advocate and founder supporting autistic professionals.

Wim Hof Method
Breathing and cold exposure techniques.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Asking for accommodations and sensory needs
02:30 – What masking looks like in everyday life
04:00 – Growing up feeling “othered”
07:00 – Finding purpose through occupational therapy
10:30 – Writing her book and sharing her story
11:30 – Sudden health episode and onset of symptoms
14:30 – Perimenopause, HRT, and turning point
17:00 – ADHD and autism diagnosis
19:00 – Reframing her life after diagnosis
23:00 – Sensory needs, routines, and daily coping
27:00 – ADHD traits, focus, and conversation style
31:00 – Energy, burnout, and pacing
36:00 – Managing overwhelm and regulation strategies
42:00 – Sleep, routines, and nervous system support
47:00 – Parenting, relationships, and support systems
52:00 – Medication, exercise, and what helps
56:00 – Final reflections and helping other women
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🎧 Episode Description

This conversation with Ger Killian offers a thoughtful and honest look at what it really means to feed children in today’s world. As co-founder of The Lunch Bag, Ger has spent years navigating the realities of school meals - from supply chains and budgets to the emotional responses of parents and children alike.

What emerges is a story not just about food, but about trust. Trust from parents who want reassurance their child will eat. Trust from children learning to try new things. And trust in a system that is still evolving, trying to balance immediate needs with long-term impact.

This episode gently challenges assumptions, reminding us that meaningful change takes time. It invites us to think more deeply about how we support children - not just nutritionally, but emotionally and socially too.

🔑 Key Points

Why “safe foods” matter
Removing familiar foods like chicken goujons revealed how important predictable meals are for children, especially those under stress.

The complexity of feeding children at scale
Delivering meals involves logistics, cost pressures, regulations, and nutritional standards that most people never see.

The unintended consequences of a welfare model
Targeting meals at certain children can create stigma and affect how children engage with food in school.

The role of culture in what children eat
Historical and cultural influences shape how children respond to unfamiliar foods and new meals.

Parental instinct and food security
Parents often send extra lunches not out of distrust, but from a deep instinct to ensure their child is fed.

The importance of education around food
Without teaching children what they are eating, meals can feel unfamiliar and disengaging rather than supportive.

A long-term opportunity for change
School meals have the potential to improve not just nutrition, but equality, behaviour, and future outcomes.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

The Lunch Bag
A leading Irish school meal provider delivering fresh, nutritionally balanced lunches to schools nationwide.
Website - https://www.thelunchbag.ie/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelunchbag_/

Healthy Ireland Guidelines
National nutritional standards that define what a balanced school meal should include in terms of protein, vegetables, and overall health.

World Food Programme
A global organisation that highlights how access to school meals, particularly for girls, can improve education and long-term outcomes.

EU Child Guarantee
A European initiative focused on ensuring children have access to essential services, including nutritious food and education.

Ballymaloe
An Irish food producer and cookery school that supported the development of nutritious sauces for school meals.

Spice of Life (Cork)
A food supplier that helped create large-scale, nutritionally balanced sauces for school meal programmes.

Willowbrook (Belfast)
A supplier providing fresh fruit and vegetables used in school meals across Ireland.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Ger and The Lunch Bag
03:00 - Building a school meal service from scratch
07:00 - The rollout of free school meals
10:00 - Welfare vs progressive school meal models
13:00 - Why children disengage from meals over time
18:30 - How school meals are produced and delivered
27:00 - Food culture and food neophobia in Ireland
32:00 - The chicken goujon controversy
36:00 - Reformulating “safe foods” for children
40:00 - Nutrition, lentils, and hidden improvements
48:00 - Food waste and misunderstanding the system
54:00 - What needs to change moving forward
Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.