Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna

World Microbiome Day takes place tomorrow June 27th. The theme this year is celebrating the important role microbes play in the health of humans, animals, plants, oceans and the entire planet. Pharmacist Oonagh O'Hagan joins Clare to tell us about it and how you can mind you microbiome Clare speaks to Clinical psychologist Dr Eddie Murphy about social anxiety And we hear from an author who wishes to remain anonymous but who has written a book about this experience of returning home to mind his ageing parents – The Reluctant Carer

Despite being Ireland’s most common genetic condition, Haemochromatosis or ‘iron overload’, as it is also known, is not as widely known as some other genetic conditions. The Irish Haemochromatosis Association estimates there are at least 20,000 undiagnosed cases of Haemochromatosis in Ireland. Brian Keegan and nutritionist Sarah Keogh join Clare in Studio And Clare speaks with Roxie Nafousi; the wellness woman of the moment whose book Manifest has sat at the top of the charts in the UK and Ireland for over 17 weeks since it's publication.

It's Motor Neuron Disease National Awareness Month and Clare is joined by Mark Dignam who suffers from MND. Caroline De Costa speaks about her book The Women's Doc And Suzanne Kenny tells Clare all about anti gravity yoga while Emma West explains sound bath meditation.

There isn’t a family in Ireland that has not been touched by cancer. In fact, approximately 25,000 people are diagnosed with invasive cancer here each year. In the past 20 years, almost 31,000 (30,770) people have taken part in nearly 800 (786) cancer clinical trials. Clare is joined by Professor Seamus O’Reilly, (consultant medical oncologist and Vice Clinical Lead Cancer Trials Ireland) to hear how trials work and how to access them and Sarah McGrath gives her experience of breast cancer and taking part in a clinical trial herself. And why are there some emotions we fear or label as bad? This week we're looking at anger and rage with counselling psychotherapist Christine O'Riodan

Aisling Nestor was working as a mental health nurse and had a huge bank of knowledge on how to look after your mind and manage stress but when she found herself burnt out unable to leave her bed she knew something had to change and it did including the focus of her work which she has shifted to focus on helping others manage stress and burnout. She works in particular with healthcare professionals and frontline workers. She joins Clare in studio. Clare is also joined by Eamonn Byrne, Irish Paralympic track cyclist to speak about living with psoriatic arthritis and Consultant Rheumatologist at St Vincent’s University Hospital Professor Doug Veale talks about what it is and how to manage it

Clare is joined by International Rugby player and A&E doctor Claire McLaughlin to discuss managing injury and avoiding burnout. We visit Hayfield Manor to find out about the new spa treatments being designed with cancer patients in mind. And Dr. Sarah Murphy on what we all need to know about women's health.

Clare is joined by  Pat Kane of Reuzi on how sustainability can be achieved in small steps which can make a massive difference And skin expert Eavanna Breen gives her advice on Rosacea Life Coach Aidan O'Brien to speak about the top reasons people don't change, even when they say they want to. To speak directly with Aidan, you can schedule a call here: https://calendly.com/aidanobrien/client-consultation-free-call To learn more about Aidan you can visit is website here: https://theaidanobrien.com Follow Aidan on Instagram @aidanobrienofficial or click here: https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=phgv1rzojgvr&utm_content=659ken

Clare is joined by Maeve Madden of Queens don't quit. Tony Ward speaks about coming to terms with Aging And "The Gut Experts" - Consultant Gastroenterologist Professor Barbara Ryan and Clinical Dietitian Elaine McGowan join Clare in studio to discuss gut health and their new book " What Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Gut"  

On Friday, April 29th Ireland celebrated National Workplace Wellbeing Day, an event dedicated to promoting the idea of a well-balanced working environment. This week Clare is joined by 3 experts to discuss how to prevent stress and create a positive working culture in which individuals and organizations can thrive? Brian Crooke is a wellbeing educator, speaker and adviser supporting organisations to promote and sustain wellbeing within their workplaces. He is the founder of Workplace Wellbeing Ireland and The Work Well Institute and is responsible for the design and delivery of the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness at Tangent, Trinity College Dublin. He is also the host of The Work Well Podcast. Niamh Brady is a Productivity Coach passionate about improving well-being at work. She helps people change their workday to make it better for in the short and long term through online courses and corporate services. And Wlad Rivkin is Associate Professor in Organisational Behaviour and Work Psychology at Trinity College Dublin.

Dr Mark Rowe has been a practicing family physician for over 25 years, after his own experience of burnout he became one of the first medical doctors in Ireland to study lifestyle medicine. His latest book The Vitality Mark – Your prescription for feeling energised, invigorated, enthusiastic and optimistic each day helps identify gaps in our wellbeing and offers evidence based strategies to transform the quality of our life. He discusses his book with Clare. Helen Mort has always been drawn to the thrill and risk of climbing, the connection to the natural world it brings but when she became a mother for the first time she began to reexamine her relationship with the elements and she joined Clare to discuss her memoir – A Line Above the Sky – a story of mountains and motherhood.