At just 12 years old, Shannon Kinsella lost all her hair in one week. Alopecia stripped her of her lashes, brows, and every strand on her body—but not her spirit. In this deeply personal episode, Shannon shares her journey through hair loss, name-calling, and the emotional toll of hiding her condition throughout her school years, eventually leading her to leave early and forge her own path.She opens up about the pain of glue-damaged scalps, the evolution of wigs over two decades, and how she went from hiding her baldness to loving herself as she is. Now a mum to two daughters—who may one day face the same condition—Shannon talks about her fears, her strength, and the unwavering support of her husband Niall and her parents. But her story doesn’t end there. Shannon has turned her pain into purpose, building a successful career as a PhiBrows artist, helping other women reclaim their confidence and beauty after hair loss. Her journey is raw, radiant, and incredibly inspiring.Shannon's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/phi_me/Full details on how to qualify for the grant in Ireland towards the cost of a hairpiece, wig or hair replacement are available on the Department of Social Protection’s website. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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32:08
🦩The Hidden Cost Of Motherhood
Six weeks after giving birth to her second child, Emma’s world was turned upside down. At just 29, she experienced a pelvic organ prolapse meaning her insides literally falling out—leaving her with a devastating choice: live with daily pain and loss of function, or undergo risky surgery, including the possibility of a hysterectomy.In this raw and unflinching conversation, Emma shares what it’s like to face a condition that is both devastating and taboo—how it has changed her body, her sex life, her sense of self, and her identity as a woman. Despite the support of her loving husband, she’s been dismissed and belittled by medical professionals who treat prolapse as “just what happens” to mothers.Emma also talks about the process of remaking her identity in the wake of this life-altering diagnosis. Together with her partner, Andre, a scientist, she co-wrote The Stitch Up: How Medical Misogyny Harms Us All—a powerful book born out of her own experience.This episode isn’t just about prolapse—it’s about the hidden cost of motherhood, the realities of medical misogyny, and why women deserve to be heard, believed, and cared for.Emma Szewczak is a British writer. Her first novel The Offset, co-written under the pseudonym Calder Szewczak, was published in September 2021. She read Gender Studies at the University of Cambridge.Dr Andrzej Harris, hailing from Poland, is an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of St Catharine’s College. He teaches undergraduate medical and veterinary students and has a background in molecular biology research.Buy The Stitch Up here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stitch-Up-How-Medical-Misogyny-Harms/dp/1784744913/ref=sr_1_1?crid=52DMQPQMK8MV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aXrldV-XM-GolrWNa4k_bQ.H-i0c4V2yT0ykPU6ZCfAJygWU60jMK2leHIzbJaASjw&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+stitch+up+by+emma+szewczak&qid=1759572823&sprefix=the+stitch+up+%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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32:15
🦩Solo Mum- Toys, Transitions and Triumphs
In this deeply powerful conversation, Jacqui Quigley shares what it means to shape a life entirely on your own terms. When faced with a diagnosis of premature menopause while trying to freeze her eggs, Jacqui had a choice: accept the loss of the motherhood she imagined—or forge a new path entirely.With courage, self-trust, and an anonymous sperm donor, Jacqui became a solo mum but the journey wasn't simple. We talk about the emotional, physical, mental, and financial toll of failed implantations, miscarriage, and navigating fertility treatments alone.Jacqui opens up about letting go of the dream of a nuclear family, the raw realities of single motherhood, and the profound, unbreakable bond she’s built with her beloved son.This episode is a celebration of resilience, choice, and what happens when a woman redefines family for herself.A must listen. 🎙️ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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36:01
🦩Blue Peter, Being Brave and Playing Big
In this powerful and inspiring episode, we sit down with the incredible Katy Hill — former Blue Peter presenter, trailblazing TV icon, and self-development coach — for a conversation that’s part masterclass, part soul shake-up.Katy shares her journey from a shy child to becoming the 22nd presenter of the iconic show Blue Peter, flying with the Red Arrows and embodying girl power before it had a name. But beyond the fame, she opens up about the reality behind the spotlight — the misalignment, the wake-up moments, and the brave decision to reimagine her life from the inside out.We dive into:Why manifesting only works when you do the workThe trap of outsourcing your confidence to “someday”Living a life that looks good on paper but feels wrong in your soulFame, fulfillment, and finding your unique impactThe importance of choosing “radiators” over “drains”And the big, beautiful question: What would 10-year-old you think of the life you’re living now?This episode is a permission slip to play bigger, live braver, and start now — because it’s not over. The best is yet to come.To learn more and connect with Katy check out her website - www.katyhill.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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41:30
🦩IVF, Illness and Choosing Happiness
🦩In this powerful and beautiful episode, we sit down with the inspiring Kara Heriot –co- founder of Mum Talks, a safe and honest space for mums to connect beyond nappies and night feeds.Kara shares her extraordinary journey: from wild adventures in London nightclubs to the raw realities of miscarriage, IVF, and the heartbreak of secondary infertility. She speaks candidly about the joy of pregnancy (yes, even when vomiting on the motorway!), the grief of letting go of the dream of a family of four, and the challenge of watching friends grow their families while she faced repeated loss.And just when she thought she'd weathered the storm, her husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer – a diagnosis that turned their world upside down. Miraculously, ten years on, he's doing well on a treatment that continues to work.Through it all, Kara lost – and found – her "pink feathers," her sense of self, joy, and purpose. She opens up about learning to stop people-pleasing, choosing to be happy despite uncertainty, and finally giving herself permission to put her own well-being first.This is a story of resilience, reinvention, and the fierce love that shapes us.A must-listen for anyone navigating the complexities of motherhood, grief, and personal transformation.Mum Talks was founded by Kara Heriot and Lucy O’Driscoll Edge . It provides a safe, and supportive network for mums so they know they’re not alone, can learn from experts and check in with others who are going through the same experience and reality of motherhood.For more information see here - https://mumtalks.ie/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Finding Your Pink is about all the moments in life where women lose themselves — and the bold, beautiful ways they find themselves again.Like flamingos, women can lose their vibrant pink when they’ve spent too long nurturing others, pouring into work, family, relationships, or simply surviving the demands of life. That colour — their joy, voice, identity — fades quietly in the background.This podcast is about getting it back.Hosted by broadcaster and author Emma Ledden, Finding Your Pink is a warm, honest space where women share the real stories behind reinvention, resilience, and rediscovery. Yes, motherhood is part of many of these journeys — but so is grief, career change, burnout, passion, confidence, and the quiet moments no one sees.Each episode invites you into a conversation with a woman who’s navigated something real — and come out the other side more herself than ever.Tune in every 2 weeks for empowering conversations to help you to find your pink again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland