Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna

This week on Alive & Kicking: Joe Cross joins Clare to chat about his new documentary 'Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead' in which he took hold of his health and travelled across America extolling the virtues of micronutrients. And Sarah Tobin found trauma after childbirth left her struggling to cope but having found 'EFT Tapping' and using it as a means of getting through it, she has gone on to share the practice with mums and teachers all over the world. She joins Clare to tell her more.

This week on the Alive & Kicking podcast: Clinical psychologist, Dr, Sean Foy, on the truth about addiction and how we need to question a society that criminalises addicts & and best-selling author Louise O'Neill on the teacher who changed her world.

In recent weeks, when it comes to healthcare, people have been urged to explore all other options before heading to a hospital for treatment; parents are urged to keep kids out of school if they develop any symptoms; and there wasn't a family in the country that didn't know somebody who spent Christmas sick in bed. To discuss the issues surrounding the Irish healthcare system, Clare is joined by Sheena Mitchell, the award-winning pharmacist behind Wonderbaba.ie, a website and podcast with practical advice. Transformation specialist, Dr. Yolande Coombes also joins Clare to discuss her interest in people’s behaviour, studying how environments affect physical and mental health, and the impact this has on work and society today.

Clinical Hypnotherapist and best selling author of the Positive Habit Fiona Brennan chats about why we should set intentions not resolutions Olivia Kenna on what Grey Area Drinking is? And Festival Mna is taking place in Dun na Si in Westmeath next Saturday 7th – it's a wellness experience with Yoga, Breathwork, talks , Dancing, Fitness classes , Cacao Ceremonies, Music and much more. Clare speaks to two of its organisers Lorraine Hogan and Siobhan Murray

Today we take a look back at some of the interviews from the year which stayed with us long after we had pulled down the faders. Clare will be speaking to Dr Hazel Wallace about her mission to bring women's health front and centre with her book The Female Factor. Brother Richard speaks about a life with meaning and finding still points. And Conor Buckley and Paddy Smyth from Human Collective talk about what it truly means to embrace diversity and inclusion.

Sarah Shannon was a corporate lawyer spending years studying and then many working in Dublin law firms before following a urge to seek out something more which led to world travel and now working as a yoga and meditation teacher, leading others to find their own way in life. She joins Clare in studio to talk about what helped her find her path once she made the first jump. And Lydia Rolley is an occupational therapist and psychotherapist who experienced chronic fatigue syndrome first hand and then with many patients through her work. This led her to write The Fatigue book to help others with the debilitating condition and also those with long covid fatigue. Her book starts with empowering people in their recovery or living with the illness and she talks through some of her practical tips with Clare

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