Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna

'Dublin Front Runners' is Ireland’s oldest LGBT+ running club, inviting gay men, women, and their friends to stay active and have fun in the process. They currently have 250 members with 60 identifying as women. Clare speaks with members, Gillian Callaghan and Mark Armstrong about why it's not just about running but about providing an inclusive space. Dr. Caren Hession is on a mission to help people rise up and find their voice. Drawing on a wealth of training from music to creative arts, neuroscience, and neurolinguistic programming, she's designed a coaching programme and workshop that's helped many including senators for public speaking and some with speech impediments. And Sinead Hingston was on the show a couple of years back to talk about grief having lost her husband Geoff when they were 7 months married and she was 17 weeks pregnant. She has since gone on to rebuild her life and a family with her husband Michael but who have experienced pregnancy loss along the way. She joins Clare to talk about why she's founded 'Spark a Life' because no life, no matter how short should be forgotten.

Joining Clare McKenna on this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Professor Francis Finucane, Senior Lecturer in the School of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospital explores the changing ways we view and treat obesity. And Fiona Brennan, Clinical Hypnotherapist joins Clare to chat about retreats, why they are good for us, and how we can weave what we learn into our everyday lives.

Joining Clare on this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast is Susan Coote, Exercise & Physiotherapy Coordinator with MS Ireland to discuss their 3,000-push-up challenge for the month of March. Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King’s College London, Director of the Twins UK study, scientific co-founder at 'ZOE', and one of the world’s leading researchers on the microbiome - the large community of microbes that live in our gut, skin, and body - also joins Clare to discuss the some of the misconceptions were have with food and what it really means to have a healthy diet.

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Dr. Harry Barry joins Sinead to talk about the Power of Connection; as February is 'Global Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Month', counselling psychologist, Dr. Liza Morton, who herself was born with a heart issue, will talk about the trauma of living with a life long illness and how to manage that. And, Ranae Von Meding, CEO and Co-Founder of 'Equality for Children'.

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: 'Dublin Front Runners' is Ireland’s oldest LGBT+ running club, inviting gay men, women, and their friends to stay active and have fun in the process. They currently have 250 members with 60 identifying as women. Clare speaks with members, Gillian Callaghan and Mark Armstrong about why it's not just about running but about providing an inclusive space. Dr. Caren Hession is on a mission to help people rise up and find their voice. Drawing on a wealth of training from music to creative arts, neuroscience, and neurolinguistic programming, she's designed a coaching programme and workshop that's helped many including senators for public speaking and some with speech impediments. And Sinead Hingston was on the show a couple of years back to talk about grief having lost her husband Geoff when they were 7 months married and she was 17 weeks pregnant. She has since gone on to rebuild her life and a family with her husband Michael but who have experienced pregnancy loss along the way. She joins Clare to talk about why she's founded 'Spark a Life' because no life, no matter how short should be forgotten.

On the Alive & Kicking Podcast this week: Grow it Yourself supports people around the world to live healthier, happier, and more sustainable lives by growing some of their own food. Clare finds out all about it and what we can all be doing to grow our own. Clare is joined by Daniel Davey, performance nutritionist, and author of 'Eat Up: Raise Your Game' & 'Eat Up: The Next Level'.

Today, we mark the first day of the #StandStrong movement, a new campaign launched by Women’s Aid and Allianz Insurance. The movement aims to engage, educate and empower the people of Ireland to help end domestic abuse and raise much needed funds for the charity to support women and children in need. But what is the best way to stand strong with these women? What changes do we need to make as a society to enable this change? Clare McKenna was joined today for a special panel to mark the occasion by those who advocate for these changes – Norah Casey, businesswoman, entrepreneur and domestic abuse survivor, Ailbhe Smith, Chair of Women’s Aid and Don Hennessy, relationship counsellor and author of How He Gets Into Her Head.

Joining Clare for this week's episode of Alive & Kicking is Professor Francis Finucane, Senior lecturer in the School of Medicine at University of Galway and Consultant Endocrinologist at Galway University Hospital two discuss how we view and treat obesity. And Fiona Brennan, Clinical Hypnotherapist discusses retreats, why they are good for us, and how we can weave what we learn from them into our everyday lives.

On this week's Alive & Kicking Podcast: Jim Breen appeared on the RTE version of 'Secret Millionaire' back in 2012 and decided to speak publicly about his experience of depression throughout his life. He went on to raise thousands for charity through 'Cycle Against Suicide' and now works to tackle beliefs about mental health in the workplace with his organisation, 'I am Here'. He talks to Clare about what he calls the "Tuesday feeling" that has permeated his life, how we need to move to conversations on to empowering people to know how to ask for help, how to help others, and that no one's journey is ever linear. And Clare checked out the 'Future of Beauty' show to try the ground-breaking technologies they have to offer.

Dr Mary O’Kane joins Clare to discuss the challenges of getting decent family time and the importance of trying to grab those moments. Known for her humorous and down to earth approach, she is a lecturer in psychology and early childhood education, along with being the author of Perfectly Imperfect. And Hannah Daly tells Clare her story about having multiple college degrees despite being unable to read or write. Her new book, “Knowing No Boundaries: A memoir of my life with dyslexia, dyspraxia and sensory” gives an honest account of living with these hidden disabilities.