The Laura Dowling Experience

🎧 Episode Description

In this episode, Laura sits down with Síle Seoige to talk about a period in her early thirties when everything changed at once. Síle speaks about being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, the impact that had on her work and personal life, and how it forced her to stop and reassess in a way she hadn’t before.

She talks about anxiety from the inside, not recognising it at the time, only later, and how listening to other people’s stories during the making of her documentaries made her re-examine her own experiences. The conversation also moves through parenting, work, and the practical decisions Síle has made around boundaries, time away from home, and what she will and won’t say yes to now.

The discussion is closely tied to Síle’s new documentary series Séalaí le Síle, filmed over several months and exploring three major themes: parenting, anxiety, and bullying. The series airs on TG4 on Wednesday nights, beginning on Wednesday 11 February, with each episode focusing on one topic. Drawing on conversations with families, experts, and people sharing their own lived experiences in Ireland and abroad, Síle describes the project as an attempt to better understand why so many people are struggling in the world as it is now.

🔑 Key Points

A year that changed everything
Síle speaks about a period when illness, work, and personal life collided, forcing her to stop and take stock in a way she hadn’t before.

Living with anxiety without naming it
She describes experiencing anxiety for years without recognising it at the time, only understanding it later through hindsight and listening to others.

Illness as a line in the sand
A thyroid cancer diagnosis brought clarity about what mattered, what didn’t, and what could no longer be ignored.

Parenting in a pressured system
The conversation looks at how modern parenting is shaped by time, money, childcare, and expectation.

Learning to set boundaries
Síle talks about becoming more boundaried around work, travel, and time away from home, and why saying no has become necessary.

Listening to other people’s experiences
Making the documentaries prompted Síle to reconsider parts of her own life she hadn’t fully examined before.

Bullying beyond childhood
Bullying is discussed as something that affects adults too, particularly in workplaces and public-facing roles.

Questioning what we call ‘normal’
The episode repeatedly returns to the idea that many struggles make sense when placed in the context of modern life.

⏱️ Timestamps

04:20 – The documentaries and why these topics mattered
06:30 – Parenting, pressure, and guilt
08:10 – Parenting today and the pressure parents are under
17:00 – Anxiety and missing language
25:10 – Illness, shock, and being forced to stop
37:20 – Parenting decisions and limits
44:00 – Media exposure and public life
52:10 – Identity and reflection
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, Laura explores why dating so often feels exhausting, confusing, or discouraging, particularly when one person is ready for commitment and the other is not in the same place.

Drawing on insight from Mairead the Matchmaker, the conversation looks at how timing, life stage, and emotional readiness shape modern relationships. It reflects on patterns that come up again and again, including men waiting until life feels secure before committing, women staying open to connection despite setbacks, and how early communication often sets the tone for what follows.

Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode focuses on clarity and self understanding, recognising when a situation is not aligned with what you want, and trusting that dating should not require you to minimise yourself. It is a thoughtful, grounded conversation for anyone navigating modern dating with honesty and intention.

🔑 Key Points

Readiness matters more than chemistry
Strong attraction does not lead anywhere if two people are not emotionally or practically ready at the same time.

Men and women often date differently
Men often wait until life feels stable before committing, while women tend to stay open to connection.

Communication sets the tone early
How someone communicates at the beginning usually reflects how they will communicate long term.

Dating is a numbers game, without being unkind
Meeting the right person requires consistency while still treating people with respect.

Not every relationship should last
Staying in something unhealthy can be more damaging than leaving.

The right relationship allows you to be yourself
A healthy partnership feels supportive rather than constraining.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and why dating feels difficult
03:30 – Why people are marrying later in Ireland
08:00 – Readiness and timing
12:00 – When one person is ready and the other is not
16:00 – Using dating apps properly
19:30 – Communication patterns and early red flags
26:00 – Dating as a numbers game
33:30 – Confidence built through action
39:30 – How the wrong relationship affects wellbeing
43:00 – Five questions to assess a relationship
49:30 – Knowing when to walk away
56:00 – Staying open without burnout
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

Laura is joined by dental hygienist Eimear for a clear, practical conversation about oral health and why it connects to the rest of the body, not just your teeth. They talk about plaque, tartar and gum disease, what causes bleeding gums, and why brushing your teeth without brushing your gums misses half the problem.

Eimear explains why interdental brushes work better than floss for most people, how electric toothbrushes remove far more plaque than manual ones, and why soft brushes are better than hard ones. She also talks about mouth breathing, tongue scraping, night guards for grinding, and what happens when plaque is left to harden under the gums.

The conversation then moves into some of the less expected links between oral health and things like menopause, pregnancy, arthritis, diabetes and cancer treatment. Throughout it all, Eimear keeps coming back to prevention, showing how small, realistic habits can reduce risk and protect your teeth and gums over the long term.

🔑 Key Points

Most people are not cleaning where it matters most
Bacteria sits along the gumline and between the teeth, which is why brushing only the visible surfaces leaves disease behind.

Plaque becomes harmful when it is left too long
Soft plaque hardens into tartar and creates a protected space where more aggressive bacteria can grow and damage gums and bone.

Tools matter more than people realise
Electric toothbrushes and interdental brushes remove far more bacteria than manual brushing and flossing.

Saliva plays a major role in oral health
Dry mouth, common during menopause, illness and medication use, changes the balance of bacteria and increases the risk of decay and gum disease.

Gum disease is not just a mouth problem
Inflammation and bacteria are linked with conditions like diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy complications and Alzheimer’s.

Grinding and clenching cause real damage
Night-time grinding can shorten teeth, irritate gums and strain the jaw.

Consistency beats perfection
Regular, simple habits protect the mouth better than occasional intense cleaning.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Why gum disease is linked to Alzheimer’s
01:00 – Porphyromonas gingivalis and how it damages the brain
02:00 – The vicious cycle between Alzheimer’s and oral health
03:00 – Why dentists avoid scaring patients with the 70% statistic
17:00 – Diabetes, arthritis and bidirectional gum disease
22:00 – Menopause, hormones and dry mouth
26:00 – Teeth grinding, night guards and jaw damage
28:00 – Mouth breathing and gingivitis
30:00 – Tongue scraping and bad breath bacteria
45:00 – Mouthwash, chlorhexidine and staining
56:00 – Adapting dental care for people with extra needs
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 of The Laura Dowling Experience, Laura is joined by Ciara Mangan, founder of Beyond Surviving. Ciara reflects on the gaps in long-term trauma support, the challenges survivors face once formal services fall away, and why survival is so often treated as the endpoint rather than the beginning of healing.

She speaks about navigating the justice process, the emotional toll of prolonged legal proceedings, and the ways trauma can ripple through families and relationships. Ciara also explores post-traumatic growth, describing how meaning, connection, and purpose became possible over time - without minimising the pain that came before.

This episode centres on healing beyond crisis, the importance of survivor-led support, and the understanding that recovery is deeply personal and looks different for everyone.

🔑 Key Points

Survival is often treated as the finish line
Ciara reflects on how recovery is expected to be complete once immediate danger has passed, even though healing is only beginning for many survivors.

The gap in long-term trauma support
She speaks about feeling lost once formal services fell away, highlighting how many survivors are left without guidance or connection after crisis support ends.

The emotional toll of the justice process
Ciara shares the impact of navigating prolonged legal proceedings and how systems intended to protect can sometimes retraumatise survivors.

How trauma ripples through families and relationships
The conversation explores the long-term effects of trauma on trust, intimacy, and family dynamics.

Post-traumatic growth without minimising pain
Ciara discusses growth as something that can emerge slowly over time, without pressure to reframe trauma as a positive experience.

The importance of being believed
Validation from family, professionals, and the justice system is shown to be central to rebuilding self-worth and safety.

Why survivor-led support matters
Ciara explains the value of spaces shaped by lived experience, where understanding, safety, and choice are prioritised.

Turning lived experience into purpose
The episode closes on Ciara’s decision to found Beyond Surviving, using her experience to support others navigating life after trauma.

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

Beyond Surviving – Survivor-led charity supporting healing beyond crisis. https://beyondsurviving.ie/
Beyond Surviving – Survivors Hub – Resources + community support. https://beyondsurviving.ie/survivors-hub/
Rape Crisis Ireland – 24-hour helpline + links to local support. https://www.rapecrisisireland.ie/
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) – Support services and info. https://www.drcc.ie/

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Opening reflections on survival and recovery
06:20 – Reaching the end of crisis support
12:40 – Workplace response and social fallout
18:00 – Telling her parents what happened
25:40 – Deciding to pursue justice
30:10 – The trial process
35:50 – Being believed and legal validation
38:40 – Why survivor-led spaces matter
44:10 – The origins of Beyond Surviving
45:20 – Exploring post-traumatic growth
50:30 – Relationships and rebuilding self-worth
57:00 – Closing reflections on healing
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 episode offers an unflinching look at the realities of Irish healthcare - especially child and adolescent mental health - through the eyes of someone who’s been on the front line for decades. Laura is joined by Martin Daly, a rural GP in County Galway and a TD (Teachta Dála), to explore what it feels like to advocate for children and families inside systems that are overstretched, slow, and often unresponsive.

Martin shares a deeply affecting account of a nine-year-old boy experiencing severe OCD, including the barriers faced when trying to access CAMHS - from repeat assessments, to letters being returned, to referrals being deemed “not appropriate”, even as the child’s distress escalates. The story becomes a window into the human cost of rigid thresholds and administrative dysfunction, where families are left carrying fear and uncertainty while clinicians try to push against closing doors.

From there, the conversation widens into the bigger picture: the lack of digitisation in the HSE and how basic inefficiencies create real harm; why housing insecurity and “stuck” young adults ripple into mental health and relationships; and what Martin believes Ireland needs to do differently if it wants to protect wellbeing, not just respond to crisis. It’s warm, candid, and grounded in lived reality - ending with a reflective final stretch on kindness, purpose, and what it means to live a good life.

⸻

🔑 Key Points

Advocating for children inside broken systems
Martin describes the emotional and professional strain of repeatedly trying to secure care for children while working within rigid, under-resourced structures.

When mental health support depends on thresholds
The conversation explores how eligibility criteria can exclude children who are clearly distressed but not yet deemed to be in crisis.

A nine-year-old living with severe OCD
A real case highlights how delayed intervention intensifies suffering for both the child and their family.

The hidden burden placed on parents
Families are left holding fear, responsibility, and risk while waiting for services that may never arrive.

Housing insecurity and mental health
Martin connects the housing crisis to rising anxiety, stalled independence, and a growing sense of hopelessness among young people and families.

HSE digitisation and administrative failure
Basic inefficiencies - from paper-based systems to disconnected services - are shown to cause real harm and delay care when timing matters most.

Moral injury in clinical practice
Martin reflects on the ethical toll of knowing what care is needed, but being unable to access it for patients.

Social media and youth mental health
Constant exposure and online pressure are discussed as compounding factors in rising anxiety and distress.

⸻

📚 Mentioned in this Episode

Martin Daly – Rural GP and TD (Teachta Dála), sharing frontline experience of Irish healthcare

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – Referral pathways, thresholds, and access issues

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Childhood presentation and impact when left untreated

ADHD – Diagnosis pathways and pressures on assessment services

Health Service Executive (HSE) – Structure, capacity issues, and lack of digitisation

Housing crisis in Ireland – Links to anxiety, delayed independence, and mental wellbeing

Social media and youth mental health – Ongoing exposure and rising emotional distress

⸻

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Martin’s opening reflections and background
04:45 – Life as a rural GP on the frontline
09:30 – Accessing child mental health services in Ireland
15:10 – How CAMHS thresholds work in practice
21:40 – A nine-year-old with severe OCD
28:30 – Referrals returned and care denied
35:20 – The emotional toll on families
41:50 – HSE digitisation and systemic inefficiency
48:10 – Housing insecurity and its impact on mental health
54:30 – Social media, anxiety, and young people
59:40 – Responsibility, kindness, and what a good life means
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.