Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna talks to Neuroscientist Sabena Brennan to find out more about our REM sleep and what’s really going on when we dream.  A new podcast series has recently launched for people living with and affected by migraine in Ireland and Clare meets the host Debbie Hutchinson. Plus Clare brings us a report from a big sea swim when she meets June Curtin who lost her husband to suicide in 2013 and looking for some solace she embraced sea swimming and over the years she has built a community called Snaimhai Sasta

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna talks to Dr Joshua Wolrich  who is the author of ‘Food is not Medicine’ and in it he talks about the turnaround he made on how he views dieting, weight-loss and why now his life’s work and personal view has changed to health and every size. Plus we hear from Dr Catherine Kelly on our relationship with water and why we are attracted to blue spaces. She is the author of ‘Blue Spaces-How and Why Water Can Make You Feel Better’

With the kids back to school how do we help them through the anxiety brought on by the pandemic or life in general and should we even use the term 'anxiety' around them? This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna chats to Psychologist Jennifer Ryan about all of this. She is also joined by the man who has set up a research team who hope to discover a way to diagnose mental health conditions quicker based on his own breakdown. Plus Clare chats to the organisation 'Sick of Plastic' about ending the single-use scourge!

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna chats to Dr Corine de Boer about the clinical trials using psychedelics to treat PTSD. She is also joined by Australian author Andrew Wear to talk about his new book ‘Recovery’ which looks at how best to recover from crisis and what we can learn from the world’s biggest comebacks. Clare also talks to Dr Cliona Murphy about the latest advice on Covid 19 vaccinations while pregnant.

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna chats to Science journalist James Nestor who was just over a bout of pneumonia when a GP friend suggested that a breath class might help. He went along a cynic but his experience there was a catalyst to the exploration of how powerful our breathing really can be. The resulting book is called ‘Breath’  Clare is also joined by dietician Sarah Keogh to bust some food myths and tell us why so many want a fad over the basic advice.

Prioritising sleep is a pillar of good health but with so many factors that can disrupt a good night’s rest, it can be hard to get it right all the time. Joining Clare Mckenna to discuss what we can do to ensure we get the right kind of sleep is Dr. Neil Stanley, Director of Sleep Science at Sleep Station.org and author of 'How to Sleep Well: The Science of Sleeping Smarter, Living Better, and Being Productive'. Also on this week's episode, Eric Donavan, host of the 'Hooked on Health' podcast, discusses his battles inside and outside of the ring and the path that led him to study counseling. Listen and subscribe to Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna chats to Laura Dowling - known on social media as the fabulous pharmacist - about the misinformation being spread online and the difficulty in having fair and balanced debate concerning various health issues. Pat Towey, Chairman of Ballaghderreen Mens' Shed joined Clare to talk about the importance of mens' sheds in the local rural communities up and down the country and how these safe spaces allow men to come out of their shells. The issue of burnout is the focus of psychotherapist Siobhan Murray, and Clare spoke to her about her book 'The Burnout Solution'. Listen and subscribe to Alive and Kicking with Clare McKenna on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna chats to former Irish International and now football pundit Richie Sadlier on how his work as a psychotherapist led him to launch an online sexual health course for young people this week. Clare also speaks with Beatrice Caffrey of The Nourished Bowl originally from Germany and now living in Wicklow about how a major life event moved her to begin nourishing herself with good food

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna chats to Garden Designer Ingrid Smyth about the importance of ‘Re-Wilding’ and letting things grow.  Clare also chats to Yvonne Hogan the Editor of ‘Health and Living’ with The Irish Independent about her latest health journey. Plus US Author Steven Rogers about his book ‘A Letter To My White Friends and Colleagues’.

This week on Alive and Kicking Clare McKenna is joined by a panel of people who changed career paths to work in health and wellness; from architect to neuromuscular therapist & fitness coach, from advertising sales to pre and post-natal fitness instructor and from full time mum to nutritious food producer and triathlete. Clare also chats to Joe Koehane author of 'The Power of Strangers – The Benefits of Connecting in a Suspicious World'  about what the latest science says starting conversations with people you don’t know.