Martina Tierney Podcast

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina speaks with Occupational Therapist Ciara Duffy and country music star Lisa McHugh for an open and deeply personal conversation about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), burnout, and recovery.
 Lisa shares her experience of how quickly life can change. At the height of a demanding career, the pressure and exhaustion of constant work began to take their toll, eventually leading to symptoms that would later be diagnosed as FND. Her storyoffers a powerful insight into the realities of living with a condition that is still widely misunderstood.
 Ciara brings the clinical perspective, explaining what FND is and how Occupational Therapy can play a vital role in helping people rebuild confidence, regain independence, and return to the activities that matter most in their lives.
Together, the conversation explores the impact of burnout, the importance of understanding FND, and the transformative role healthcare professionals can play in supporting recovery.
This episode is a thoughtful and hopeful discussion about resilience, compassionate care, and the difference the right support can make.

World Obesity Day Special – Equity, Language and Dignity in Bariatric Care with Tracey CarrReleased on World Obesity Day, this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast explores what equitable healthcare truly looks like for people living with obesity.Martina speaks with Tracey Carr, advocate, educator and founder of Fat Lot She Knows. Through her consultancy, Tracey works internationally with healthcare professionals to improve dignity, communication and equity in bariatric care, always bringing lived experience to the conversation.Together, they discuss:
Why conversations about weight are often mishandled
The impact of language in clinical settings
Why “morbid obesity” can feel deeply harmful
Why bariatric seating is not simply about weight limits
The importance of width, depth, posture and gluteal shelf accommodation
Moving and handling considerations for larger patients
How proactive, respectful communication transforms patient experience
This episode is not about promoting obesity. It is about promoting responsibility, dignity and clinically sound, evidence-based care.On World Obesity Day, we are reminded that obesity is complex and multifactorial. As clinicians and manufacturers, we must lead with compassion and practical solutions.Because there should never be a limit to care.

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Dr Melanie Stephens, Tissue Viability Nurse and Associate Professor, to explore a topic that belongs to all of us in healthcare.Tissue viability is not just about mattresses or dressings. It is about posture, pressure, advocacy and the responsibility we carry every single day to protect dignity.This is a powerful and honest conversation about interprofessional working, 24-hour care, prevention over blame and the courage it takes to speak up for a patient.Melanie shares the story of a 19-year-old young man whose final wish was simply to go home and die in his mother’s arms. It is a moment that reminds us why we must sometimes ask the difficult question, and have the courage to act on the answer.🔍 In this episode, we explore:* Why tissue viability is a shared clinical responsibility* The link between posture, seating and pressure injury prevention* The importance of understanding a patient’s journey, not just their diagnosis* Interprofessional learning and breaking down silos in care* The courage required to advocate for what a patient truly wantsThis episode is about dignity, responsibility and doing the right thing, even when it is hard.🎧 Thank you for listening.If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate and share. It helps these important discussions reach the people who need to hear them.

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I’m joined by Shane Elliott, Housing and Health Lead for Northern Ireland and occupational therapist by background, alongside Dean Cooke, Global Product Manager at Seating Matters.

This conversation goes deep into the intersection of health, housing and responsibility, and what happens when systems either support or fail the people they are meant to serve. Shane brings decades of experience from clinical practice, service leadership and policy, while Dean offers insight from years of working closely with clinicians and health services on the ground.

Together, we explore how good ideas can transform care when they are allowed to spread, and why courage, accountability and collaboration matter more than ever in today’s healthcare systems.

🔍 In this episode, we discuss:

* Why joined-up thinking between housing and health is critical
* How responsibility often gets passed instead of owned, and the impact this has on patients
* The power of simple, practical innovations when systems allow them to scale
* Risk aversion in healthcare, and what it’s costing patients and professionals
* Why leadership is about persistence, influence and staying the course

This is an honest and thought-provoking conversation about systems, people and the courage required to keep pushing for better outcomes, even when change feels slow.

🎧 Thank you for listening. I’d love to hear your reflections.
If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review and share, it helps these conversations reach the people who need them most.

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Martin Tierney, Managing Director of the Tierco Group, and my son.

This is a deeply personal conversation about leadership, values and responsibility, and what it means to grow a business without losing sight of the people at the heart of it. We reflect on the journey from a family idea rooted in clinical need to a global healthcare group, and the lessons learned along the way.

Martin shares his perspective on stepping into leadership, carrying responsibility for others and making decisions that affect not just a business, but people’s lives, livelihoods and dignity.

🔍 In this episode, we explore:

* What leadership really looks like behind the scenes
* Growing a family business while staying true to your values
* The responsibility that comes with employing people and serving patients
* Why purpose must come before profit
* Remembering the human being behind every decision

This episode is about people, purpose and legacy, and why values matter most when decisions are hardest.

🎧 Thank you for listening.
If this conversation stayed with you, please rate, review and share. It helps spread these stories and the thinking behind them.