The Delusional Optimist

Fashion might look glamorous on Instagram but behind every red carpet moment is a LOT of chaos, spreadsheets, sourcing, fittings, returns, early mornings, and problem-solving that nobody talks about.
For the season one finale of the podcast, I’m joined by celebrity stylist and fashion journalist Corina Gaffey for a really honest conversation about building a career in Irish fashion, freelancing, backing yourself, and figuring things out as you go.
Corina shares how she went from magazine life at KISS and Stellar to styling major names like Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally, and what fashion styling actually looks like behind the scenes.
We also talk about:
• “faking it till you make it” and learning on the job
• the reality of freelance life when the inbox goes quiet
• the pressure behind red carpet styling
• confidence, personal style, and social media trends
• why copying someone else’s style never really works
• rejection, resilience, and building relationships in the industry
It’s an insightful and honest chat about creativity, career pivots, self-belief, and finding your place in a competitive industry. I hope you enjoy!
Support the show
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and would like to show your support, you can buy me a coffee at the link below. Every contribution helps me keep creating honest, uplifting conversations about reinvention, self-belief and the messy middle. Thank you for being here 🤍
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545407/support
Stay up to date with The Delusional Optimist Podcast on Instagram, here. You can follow host Diana Bunici on Instagram here - expect lots of cute pics of her dogs Benny & Charlie!

Winning a Paralympic gold medal is supposed to be the happy ending… but for Ellen Keane, it was only part of the story.
From becoming Ireland’s youngest Paralympian at 13 to winning gold in Tokyo, Ellen shares what we don’t see - the pressure of being “the good girl”, the mental crash after big highs, and the loneliness that can follow even your proudest moments.
We talk identity, self-worth, and the voice in your head that can be your biggest critic. Ellen opens up about growing up with a limb difference, learning to stop hiding, and building a mindset rooted in self-belief... even when it feels “delusional”.
We also get into the reality of what comes next: retiring, losing a sense of identity, and having the courage to start again - stepping into media and using her voice for disability advocacy and representation.
This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention, and being kinder to yourself along the way.
Support the show
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and would like to show your support, you can buy me a coffee at the link below. Every contribution helps me keep creating honest, uplifting conversations about reinvention, self-belief and the messy middle. Thank you for being here 🤍
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545407/support
Stay up to date with The Delusional Optimist Podcast on Instagram, here. You can follow host Diana Bunici on Instagram here - expect lots of cute pics of her dogs Benny & Charlie!

In this episode of The Delusional Optimist, I sit down with broadcaster and former Late Late show host Ryan Tubridy for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about navigating a very public storm, finding contentment in its aftermath, and what it means to start over. 
From career highs and intense scrutiny to love, reinvention, and the quiet power of perspective, Ryan reflects on the chapters that shaped him - and the ones still unfolding.
This is a conversation about resilience, identity and life beyond the headlines, with a refreshing honesty about what it takes to build and move forward.
Want to spend an evening in Ryan's company? Keep up with The Bookshelf Podcast LIVE tour dates and tickets here.
Support the show
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and would like to show your support, you can buy me a coffee at the link below. Every contribution helps me keep creating honest, uplifting conversations about reinvention, self-belief and the messy middle. Thank you for being here 🤍
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545407/support
Stay up to date with The Delusional Optimist Podcast on Instagram, here. You can follow host Diana Bunici on Instagram here - expect lots of cute pics of her dogs Benny & Charlie!

The night before Kodaline release their first single in six years, I sit down with someone I know better than anyone else - my husband, Steve Garrigan - for a bittersweet conversation about the band's final chapter. 
With a final album and farewell tour on the horizon, we talk honestly about what it means to close a chapter that has spanned over 20 years - from pub gigs and rejection letters to global tours, billions of streams, and global crowds singing back ever word.
We go deeper than the music too. We chat about anxiety, panic attacks, and the years Steve spent feeling ashamed and “broken.” 
We talk about how therapy, fitness, and learning to understand his mind have helped him build a life that is no longer defined by anxiety and we explore  the pressure of releasing music today, his passion for songwriting, and the unseen work that goes into every record, from the first lyric to final master...
If you’ve ever wondered what a “dream career” really looks like behind the scenes, this is that conversation. Enjoy!
Support the show
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and would like to show your support, you can buy me a coffee at the link below. Every contribution helps me keep creating honest, uplifting conversations about reinvention, self-belief and the messy middle. Thank you for being here 🤍
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545407/support
Stay up to date with The Delusional Optimist Podcast on Instagram, here. You can follow host Diana Bunici on Instagram here - expect lots of cute pics of her dogs Benny & Charlie!

What actually makes a wedding unforgettable? This week on The Delusional Optimist, I'm joined by wedding planner Martina O'Riordan (Martina O), who helped plan my own wedding, to talk about the reality behind those "perfect" days - from timelines slipping to behind-the-scenes chaos you never see.
We get into budgets, suppliers, and the pressure to create a Pinterest-perfect wedding, plus the small, intentional details that guests actually remember.
Martina shares her honest advice for newly engaged couples - where to start, what to prioritise, and how to let go of perfection without losing the magic.
We also chat about her journey from corporate events in Australia to building her business in Ireland, the leap of faith it took, and how she navigated the uncertainty of lockdown to keep it all going.
Whether you're planning a wedding or building something of your own, this episode is a reminder that the most meaningful moments are rarely the most perfect ones. 
You can follow Martina on Instagram here and see her work on her website here. 
Support the show
If you’ve been enjoying the podcast and would like to show your support, you can buy me a coffee at the link below. Every contribution helps me keep creating honest, uplifting conversations about reinvention, self-belief and the messy middle. Thank you for being here 🤍
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545407/support
Stay up to date with The Delusional Optimist Podcast on Instagram, here. You can follow host Diana Bunici on Instagram here - expect lots of cute pics of her dogs Benny & Charlie!