Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna

Two health topics that we tend to shy away from are on the show today. Elaine Crowley is probably best known for her work on Virgin Media television where she is currently presenting Ireland AM at the weekends. She joins Clare to talk about how she and her sister Maggie have recorded a series of you tube videos about Living with Depression and how to start small conversations that could make a massive difference. Ray Cleary was part of a Men's Shed roadshow which talked about men's health, he shared his experience of prostate cancer with the group. He speaks with Clare about why men don’t talk about it more. Jason Brennan is a psychotherapist who has provided training and coaching for large corporate companies, military and emergency services and in the field of sports. His new book written with Brent Pope is called Win – Proven Strategies for success in sport, life and mental health and Jason joins Clare in studio to talk about the key skills to increase resilience and wellbeing.

Joining Clare this week is Dr. Clodagh Campbell, The Wellness Psychologist on helping you live your happiest life with some wellness tips, tricks, and strategies & Artist, Orla Walsh, on dealing with her husband’s life-limiting condition.

Nicola Connelly of Nunaia on what life in Peru taught her about wellness and ritual, Professor John Nolan on the clinical trial which has seen a breakthrough in treating Alzheimer's and how hiking can be more than just a walk

Clare speaks with Gerry Hussey about how to handle the overwhelm particularly as the Christmas machine ramps up and Brian Redmond on whether or not he's a better dancing with the stars judge now he's ditched the glasses and had his eyes done

This week Clare speaks with Jessica Cooke about Staying Fit over 40, Chris Sherlock on the personal story which had led to him being one of Ireland's biggest voices on bullying and Orla & Jeff Hopkins on the blood sweat and tears that led to them opening their leisure wear store on Grafton Street this week.

This week Clare speaks with Aidan O'Brien on what it means to come back to you, Conor Lennon on how blindness doesn't hold him back and we hear about the magic of Bumbleance; the children's medical transport service.

Shane Pearson has been working in health and wellness for over 20 years – starting out being coached, he has gone on to coach at individual and now helps coaches themselves to reach their full potential & A brain tumour diagnosis in the middle of the pandemic with a real possibility of having speech complications as a result of brain surgery led to taking chances, realising dreams and not taking no for an answer, Pamela Tully is a singer song writer from Dublin, and she joined Clare in studio

Clare speaks to Derval O'Rourke on how to bring health to the forefront of busy family life, Vaughan Yates on why less people are drinking alcohol and discusses the new trend in mood boosting mocktails and is the fuss around menopause necessary with Oonagh O'Hagan of Meaghers Pharmacy and Catherine O'Keefe The Wellness Warrior

Clare is joined by Dr Kate McCann to speak about her mission to make lifestyle medicine more accessible in our healthcare system moving us from sick care to true health care. Emilie Pine talks about the healing power of writing and her latest project centred around The National Maternity Hospital. And Kylie O'Donaghue tells Clare about her journey building women's nutritional supplements brand Femfuelz

Lisa Brennan was born with mild spina bifida and hip issues, in foster care, she left care age 18 as many do due to support to their foster family being cut but as she spent much of her life in a wheelchair she found getting a place to live and a job nigh on impossible. Lisa has faced so much adversity but has such an incredible story and she joins Clare to tell it. And Brother Richard is a Franciscan Friar whose poem lockdown went viral during the pandemic – it led to his book Still Points - A Guide to Living the Mindful, Meditative Way and he joins Clare in studio to talk about the importance of making time for reflection