The Grounded Way Podcast

In this week’s episode, we sit down with entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and mental health advocate Tayem Mercer.
Originally from the Congo, Tayem moved to Ireland at just eight years old. His journey since then has been anything but ordinary—spanning a decade in sales, a deep involvement in fitness and sports, and a powerful calling toward mentoring and public speaking, which he first discovered during his time in college.
At the heart of this conversation is mental health—particularly among young men. Tayem shares insights from his work and upcoming involvement with Hard Conversations Ireland, challenging the idea that struggles with mental health are always visible. He emphasizes the importance of equipping people with the right tools to navigate difficult times, drawing from his own experiences of adversity and growth.
We explore the setbacks Tayem faced as an entrepreneur, including a period of intense personal and professional challenges. What seemed like a downward spiral ultimately became a turning point—leading, within just weeks, to an unexpected opportunity with Virgin Media on Dinner With The Enemy. For Tayem, these struggles weren’t setbacks, but necessary moments that shaped who he is today.
Our discussion also dives into why many men find it difficult to open up, sharing honest perspectives on vulnerability, emotional expression, and the importance of support. Tayem offers practical advice for anyone going through a tough time, encouraging listeners to seek help and stay resilient.
On the business side, Tayem breaks down his journey in the motor sales industry, highlighting the importance of attention to detail, strong marketing, clear vision, and smart pricing. He speaks candidly about risk-taking, personal growth, and the mindset required to succeed—emphasizing that adaptability and continuous learning are key traits of any entrepreneur.
We also touch on the complex and often heated topic of immigration in Ireland. Tayem shares his personal perspective—balancing criticism of government policies with deep gratitude for the country that gave him a second chance. His reflections are passionate, honest, and rooted in both lived experience and a genuine love for Ireland.
This episode is a powerful mix of personal story, hard truths, and motivating insight. We thoroughly enjoyed this conversation, and we hope you do too.
“Problems make you stronger.”
“Success doesn’t care who you are—it cares about what you do, and how you respond to the challenges in front of you.”

In this week’s episode, we sit down with Dublin singer-songwriter Ciaran Moran to talk about his journey into music and the experiences that shaped his sound.

Ciaran shares how his passion for music began at just nine years old when his uncle first taught him guitar. Growing up in a musical family—his brother Keith played in No Angels DC, who toured with Sinéad O'Connor and Meat Loaf—Ciaran was surrounded by the music industry from an early age. At 13, a songwriting course helped him find his voice and learn how to write about difficult subjects. That same year he worked with Christy Moore and Roddy Doyle, and even toured with Damien Dempsey.

Growing up in Dublin’s inner city heavily influenced Ciaran’s music, leading him to write about social issues like addiction and the realities of life around him. He also reflects on playing his first gig supporting Damien Dempsey at Whelan's at just 13 years old.

Ciaran speaks about the influence of the late Christy Dignam, performing at the 3Arena, and the challenges of breaking into the music industry. We also discuss self-belief, the Irish mentality around success, and the importance of staying authentic as an artist.

Ciaran performs two songs live during the episode, giving listeners a real taste of his raw, honest style. It’s a powerful conversation about music, resilience, and staying true to yourself.

This week, Conor sits down with his dear friend Michaela Kelly for a powerful and honest conversation about courage, creativity, and building a life that feels truly aligned.

Michaela shares her journey from teaching English in China to completing her degree at home, moving to London, and ultimately finding her heart in Barcelona. Along the way, she travelled to India for yoga teacher training, reconnected with her love of singing, and began teaching yoga — all guided by what she describes as a “fire within” pushing her to explore more.

She opens up about the confidence it took to quit a job and step into the life she once only envisioned, how living abroad reshaped her perspective on Ireland after 2020, and why she resonates so deeply with Barcelona’s slower, more intentional way of living. We also dive into ego, resilience, self-awareness, and her bigger vision of using her voice professionally while building a spiritual business centred around expression and helping others.

We wrap up with some fun rapid-fire questions to finish.

An inspiring episode about trusting your instincts, taking bold leaps, and creating a life on your own terms.

In this week’s episode, we sit down with inspiring business psychologist Farzana Maudarbaccus, originally from Mauritius and now living in Greystones, Ireland.
Farzana shares her journey from Mauritius to France and eventually Ireland, and how her daily sea swimming ritual mirrors the resilience and courage required in entrepreneurship. We explore the mindset, tools, and self-awareness needed to start and grow a business, along with the challenges that come with taking that leap.
We also discuss our growing addiction to screens, the importance of maintaining human connection in a digital world, and the evolving role of AI in our lives — and why critical thinking matters more than ever.
Farzana opens up about her path to delivering a TED Talk, the work behind it, and the excitement of stepping onto that stage. As a mother of two, she also shares how she balances business and family life, reminding us of the importance of making time for what truly matters.
A thoughtful and motivating conversation about ambition, resilience, and staying human in a fast-changing world.

In this week’s episode, we spin the wheel once again with Topic Roulette, diving into a wide range of conversations that have been on our minds — from the things that quietly shape our everyday lives to the topics we experience often but rarely speak about out loud.

We explore emotional intelligence and the importance of being able to read and understand the emotions of others, as well as how people’s perceptions of us can shape expectations around how we “should” act based on past interactions. We talk honestly about the struggle of showing up as our true selves, why it’s okay not to always be upbeat or high-energy, and why other people’s opinions shouldn’t dictate who we are or how we behave.

The conversation takes a lighter turn as we discuss the awkwardness many of us feel when paying with cash in restaurants and businesses — and why stepping away from cards might matter more than we think in a world drifting toward a cashless society.

We also touch on some timely cultural and social issues, including the rise of Dublin’s so-called “Yup Bro” culture, the increasing dangers posed by electric scooters on our streets, and concerns around public spending — from the controversial skate park in Wicklow Town to the Irish government’s €100 million aid package to Ukraine and how that money could have been invested in Ireland’s healthcare system.
To wrap things up, we reflect on the everyday conversations we have and the random characters we meet along the way, leading into a story from our time in Killarney and an intense (and unforgettable) breakfast conversation with our good friend Raj Bruv.
We had a lot of fun recording this episode of Topic Roulette, and we hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed talking it through.