The Survival Project

In this episode of The Survival Project, i am joined by Dr Orlaith Kelly, Consultant Gastroenterologist and passionate IBD advocate, for a deeply honest and wide-ranging conversation about inflammatory bowel disease from both sides of the desk.
We explore the realities of living with IBD in Ireland, including the financial burden patients face, why Crohn’s and Colitis are still not recognised under the Long-Term Illness Scheme, and how cost forces people to skip medication, delay care, and suffer in silence.
Dr Kelly speaks candidly about the empathy gap between patients and practitioners, the pressures inside an under-resourced health system, and why communication, trust, and listening are just as important as medication. The conversation also dives into steroids, biologics, burnout, advocacy, and what the future of IBD care could look like with AI, remote monitoring, wearables, and personalised treatment.
This episode is about humanity in medicine, system change, and why recognising IBD as the disabling condition it is could transform thousands of lives.
🎧 A must-listen for anyone living with IBD, supporting someone with chronic illness, or working inside healthcare.
Supported by Salts Healthcare
Ostique Connect download links:
Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ostiqueltd.ostiqueconnect&hl=en
Apple - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ostique-connect/id6463715231

In Episode 17, I sit down with Owen Lancelot, an ultra runner and ostomate whose story goes way beyond ulcerative colitis.
Diagnosed at 16, Owen shares what happens to your mind when your body starts betraying you: the anger, the loss of fear, the reckless coping, and the brutal cycle of meds, steroids, and hospital stays. He also opens up about the lesser-known “domino effects” of treatment and surgery, and the ripple impact on the people who love you.
Then we get into the rebuild: how endurance sport gave Owen control again, his philosophy on the “pain cave,” and why community matters so much for men living with chronic illness.
We also talk about Stryde, the support garment Owen is building to help ostomates train and live with more confidence.
Owen is an amzing advocate who raises money for Crohns & Colitis charites for every race that he does.

This conversation was made possible today by Salts Healthcare.
Their app Ostique Connect is fantastic tool to prevent the isolation that can come with chronic illness and its completely free.
If you'd like to check it out you can download at the links below:
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ostiqueltd.ostiqueconnect&hl=en
IOS: https://apps.apple.com/ar/app/ostique-connect/id6463715231

You can check out Owens social and his business Stryde:
@bagontherun
@strydeactive

In this episode of The Survival Project, I sit down with Colm Collins, an IBD researcher with over 15 years of experience at the cutting edge of inflammatory bowel disease science.
Colm unpacks some of the most misunderstood and debated topics in IBD today, including:
Why cannabis may feel helpful short-term but can significantly worsen Crohn’s disease long-term

The real science behind the gut–brain axis and how inflammation affects mental health

Stress as a genuine biological trigger, not just a “side effect”

Why biologics can stop working and what’s coming next in IBD treatment

The role of genetics, the microbiome, environment, and immune memory

How wearables, home testing, and personalised medicine could change patient care

Why collaboration between patients, researchers, and clinicians is essential

This is a deeply informative conversation that bridges lived experience with real-world science, cutting through myths and offering clarity, hope, and context for anyone living with IBD or supporting someone who is.
This episode is proudly supported by Salts Healthcare.
This episode is supported by Salts Healthcare. Thank you to Salts for supporting The Survival Project and helping amplify conversations around health and wellbeing.
If you'd like to check out Ostique Connect, you can do at the following links:

Android: 

Apple: 
Follow the podcast to stay up to date with future episodes, and share this one with someone who could benefit from it.

Food used to be simple. Somewhere along the way, it stopped being.
In this episode, Jonathan sits down with Kenneth Keavey, founder of Green Earth Organics, to uncover the hidden realities of modern food production and why an everyday orange might not be vegan.
From chemical residues and food coatings to fake farm branding and soil destruction, this conversation reveals how disconnected we’ve become from the way our food is grown. Kenneth explains why organic farming is not a trend but a return to how food was always meant to be produced.
This episode explores the deep connection between food, gut health, biodiversity, and long-term wellbeing, while offering grounded, practical advice for anyone who wants to eat cleaner without fear or perfectionism.
You’ll hear about:
The surprising truth behind non-vegan fruit

Chemicals in food and what labels don’t tell you

Soil health and why it matters for human health

Food marketing myths vs reality

Small, meaningful changes that make a real difference

This episode is supported by Salts Healthcare. Thank you to Salts for supporting The Survival Project and helping amplify conversations around health and wellbeing.

If you'd like to check out Ostique Connect, you can do at the following links:
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ostiqueltd.ostiqueconnect&hl=en
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/ar/app/ostique-connect/id6463715231

Check out Green Earth Organics: https://greenearthorganics.ie/
If this episode made you think differently about food, follow the podcast and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

Gut symptoms are never “just in your head” but your brain is absolutely involved.
In this episode of The Survival Project, I’m joined by Lorraine Cooney, dietetics, gut-brain axis, the microbiome, and why stress, food fear, and nervous system dysregulation can intensify IBS and ongoing gut symptoms in IBD.
Lorraine breaks down gut-directed hypnotherapy (what it is, what it targets, and why it’s evidence-based), plus practical strategies for day-to-day gut health: regular meals, soluble fibre, slowing down while eating, navigating restaurants and travel, and supplements that actually have research behind them. We also talk about the nocebo effect and why connection and relaxation are often missing pieces in recovery.
A sincere thank you to Salts Healthcare for supporting today’s episode and helping important conversations like this reach those who need them most.
If you would like to check out Ostique Connect you can download at the links below

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ostiqueltd.ostiqueconnect&hl=en_IE

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ostique-connect/id6463715231

To check out more of Lorraine's work and her books:
Instagram @gut_health_matters
https://guthealthmatters.ie/