Healing Gals Podcast

In this episode, Molly sits down with Lorraine Hogan, founder of Festival Mná.Lorraine shares her personal journey to creating Festival Mná and the vision behind a space devoted to celebrating women in all stages of life. ✨ Topics Covered:Lorraine’s path to creating Festival MnáPerimenopause & menopause as rites of passageWomen as a collective and the power of gatheringWhat to expect from Festival MnáThe 2025 theme: REBIRTHRemembering how special women truly areWhat holds women back from stepping fully into themselvesSelf-advocacy: where to start and how to growFor more information go to festival mná go to @festivalmná on all socials, visit https://festivalmna.com/ or go to https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/festival-mna-2026-tickets-1401554630629 for tickets.

In this important and necessary episode of Healing Gals Podcast, Molly sits down with well-known Irish solicitor Terry Gorry to discuss how women are impacted by and navigate the Irish justice system after experiencing abuse. This conversation offers both legal insight and cultural context, shedding light on the realities women face when seeking safety, protection, and justice.Terry explains the different legal protections available to women, including barring orders, protection orders and safety orders, outlining what each means and when they may apply. He speaks openly about the challenges women encounter when engaging with the courts and the emotional and practical barriers that often exist when attempting to leave abusive situations.The conversation also explores wider societal issues, including the rise of the manosphere and increasing male violence, and how these cultural shifts are influencing attitudes towards women. Terry reflects on how becoming a father to daughters deepened his awareness of women’s lived experiences and shaped his understanding of gendered harm.Molly and Terry discuss sexual harassment, including harassment in the workplace, and Terry shares his experience taking cases on behalf of women who have been sexually harassed. They also delve into divorce and separation, highlighting what women need to consider, how the courts approach access, the reality of so-called deadbeat dads, maintenance obligations, and whether men can be legally compelled to pay maintenance. The episode also touches on Jenny’s Law and the case of Jason Poole, and why these issues matter for women’s safety and legal reform in Ireland.Following the interview, Molly reflects on how the government’s current housing policies are keeping women trapped in unsafe and abusive situations, challenging the narrative that women can simply leave. She highlights how lack of housing options continues to force women to choose between homelessness and harm, and why systemic change is urgently needed.This episode is essential listening for women navigating abuse, separation, or the Irish legal system, and for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how patriarchy, policy and justice intersect in women’s lives. Support the PodcastThe Healing Gals Podcast is a one-woman show — Molly records, edits, and promotes every episode herself.If you’ve received something meaningful from this conversation, consider supporting the show by buying Molly a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/HealinggalspodcastYour support helps keep these heartfelt, healing conversations coming. Connect with MollyHave a dilemma or topic you’d love to hear discussed on the podcast?Email Molly at healinggalspodcast@gmail.com — she’d love to hear from you.

In this powerful and surprisingly hilarious episode of Healing Gals Podcast, host Molly Smyth sits down with breakup coach, retreat facilitator, women’s circle leader, and celebrant Kelly Hunt. Together, they explore what it really looks like to reclaim yourself after heartbreak, betrayal, or the quiet unraveling of a relationship that was never aligned with your soul.Kelly opens up about her own divorce journey—including why she threw a divorce party to celebrate closing a chapter that no longer served her and stepping boldly into the life she was meant to live. She shares how her personal healing led her to her purpose: guiding women through breakups, transitions, and deep self-rediscovery.And then… things take a turn in the best way.Molly revisits emails sent by a former boyfriend—the same boyfriend whose cheating she unpacked in Season 1, Episode 1 (“Shame”). With new clarity and a lot more humor, Molly and Kelly break down the manipulation, gaslighting, and emotional gymnastics hiding in plain sight within those old messages. What once felt confusing or painful is now unmistakable—and honestly, pretty funny—when viewed through a healed lens.This episode is equal parts empowerment, catharsis, sisterhood, and comedic relief. If you’ve ever doubted your intuition, ignored red flags, or felt ashamed for trusting the wrong person… this one is for you.Topics covered:Kelly’s divorce journey and why she chose to celebrate itHow she became a breakup coach, retreat facilitator, and celebrantThe power of community, women’s circles, and ritual during life transitionsWhat healing looks like when you finally choose youMolly’s past experience with infidelity and the emotional chaos of not knowingLive reactions to real emails from Molly’s ex—featuring gaslighting, manipulation, and accidental comedyHow hindsight turns pain into clarity… and sometimes into laughterReframing shame after being cheated onWhy reclaiming your story is one of the most liberating parts of healing If You Enjoyed This Episode…Please follow, rate, and leave a review—it helps the Healing Gals community grow and supports conversations that help women reconnect to who they were before the world got its hands on them. Support the PodcastThe Healing Gals Podcast is a one-woman show — Molly records, edits, and promotes every episode herself.If you’ve received something meaningful from this conversation, consider supporting the show by buying Molly a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/HealinggalspodcastYour support helps keep these heartfelt, healing conversations coming. Connect with MollyHave a dilemma or topic you’d love to hear discussed on the podcast?Email Molly at healinggalspodcast@gmail.com — she’d love to hear from you.Remember, You're good enough exactly as you are 

S5 Ep4: Is My Parent A Narcissist? with Accredited Psychotherapist Kaite McKennaIn this powerful episode of Healing Gals Podcast, I’m joined by accredited psychotherapist, podcaster, and author Katie McKenna—host of the acclaimed podcast Beyond Survival and co-author of International Best Selling book You’re Not the Problem.Together, we dive deep into the complex dynamics of growing up with a narcissistic parent and how this differs from being raised by an emotionally immature parent. Katie breaks down the core traits of narcissistic parenting and the subtle—but profoundly damaging—patterns that can show up in families affected by this dynamic.We explore:What truly defines a narcissistic parentHow narcissism differs from emotional immaturityThe impact this parenting style has on the entire family systemThe roles siblings often fall into—and why they compete, clash, or disconnectCommon dysfunctional family behaviours that keep the cycle goingThe roles children adopt to survive: the hero, the scapegoat, the lost child, the peacemaker, and moreKatie shares countless real-life examples throughout our conversation, making it easier for listeners to identify if they have experienced—or are currently experiencing—these patterns in their own families.This episode is validating, eye-opening, and deeply empowering for anyone on a healing journey from childhood dysfunction. Support the PodcastThe Healing Gals Podcast is a one-woman show — Molly records, edits, and promotes every episode herself.If you’ve received something meaningful from this conversation, consider supporting the show by buying Molly a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/HealinggalspodcastYour support helps keep these heartfelt, healing conversations coming. Connect with MollyHave a dilemma or topic you’d love to hear discussed on the podcast?Email Molly at healinggalspodcast@gmail.com — she’d love to hear from you.Remember, You're good enough exactly as you are 

S5 Episode 3: Dance Yourself Free with Bonnie BouxThis week on the Healing Gals Podcast, Molly is joined by the radiant force that is Miss Burlesque Ireland, Bonnie Boux — a woman who has burst onto the burlesque stage with a hypnotic blend of classic burlesque glamour, hip-hop energy, and a comedic spark that is utterly unmatched.Known offstage as Sinead Gould, Bonnie is not only a celebrated performer but also a choreographer, international dancer, breathwork instructor, celebrant (“The Irish Soul Celebrant”), MC/presenter, event organiser, community curator, and energy healer. With a résumé as diverse as her artistry, Bonnie embodies what it means to live boldly and unapologetically.At the heart of her work is her personal mantra: “Dance Yourself Free.”It’s a philosophy that has empowered her students, clients, and audiences to embrace self-love, confidence, and authentic expression — and it’s exactly the energy she brings to this conversation.In This Episode, Bonnie & Molly Dive Into:✨ Self-expression as a path to healing✨ Letting go of shame and reclaiming our voices✨ Burlesque and the power of women owning their sexuality✨ Dance as medicine for the mind, body, and soul✨ How to nourish yourself in a chaotic, busy world✨ Designing a life that feels true to you✨ What it means to be a celebrant and hold space for others✨ Living freely, boldly, and with radical confidenceIf you’re craving inspiration from a woman who embodies freedom and encourages everyone she meets to shine brighter, you’re in for a treat.Enjoy, gals — and get ready to Dance Yourself Free! 💃✨🎧 Support the PodcastThe Healing Gals Podcast is a one-woman show — Molly records, edits, and promotes every episode herself.If you’ve received something meaningful from this conversation, consider supporting the show by buying Molly a coffee:👉 buymeacoffee.com/HealinggalspodcastYour support helps keep these heartfelt, healing conversations coming.💌 Connect with MollyHave a dilemma or topic you’d love to hear discussed on the podcast?Email Molly at healinggalspodcast@gmail.com — she’d love to hear from you.Remember, You're good enough exactly as you are 🐝

S5 Ep2 Breaking Patterns, Rebuilding Sisterhood (Part Two)In this week's episode, Molly briefly discusses WhatsApp groups and boundaries with our phones and notifications on.Molly continues her conversation with her lovely sister, Tan Lynch. They discuss how they repaired their broken sisterhood and how they plan to maintain their relationship from now on.Molly opens up about one of her most difficult traumas (trigger warning: serious assault discussed). Although Molly and Tan have lived through this situation, they have never discussed that day with each other until now.Tan shares how Molly has supported her in a difficult time in Tan's relationship with her son.They also discuss how their values have kept them on a course they are both proud of.The book discussed is called "How To Do The Work by Dr. Nicole Le PeraHow to Do the Work — Nicole LePera🎧 Support the PodcastThe Healing Gals Podcast is a one-woman show — Molly records, edits, and promotes every episode herself.If you’ve received something meaningful from this conversation, consider supporting the show by buying Molly a coffee:👉 buymeacoffee.com/HealinggalspodcastYour support helps keep these heartfelt, healing conversations coming.💌 Connect with MollyHave a dilemma or topic you’d love to hear discussed on the podcast?Email Molly at healinggalspodcast@gmail.com — she’d love to hear from you.Remember, You're good enough exactly as you are 🐝

S5 Ep 1 Our Broken Sisterhood — A Conversation with Tan Lynch (Part One)In this long-overdue and deeply honest conversation, Molly sits down with her sister, Tan Lynch, to explore how their once-close sisterhood became fractured over the years.Together, they unpack: ✨ How Tan, as the eldest, was parentified from a young age, shaping their dynamic into one of “sister/parent” rather than equals. ✨ How Molly’s rejection of Tan through the years reflected their unspoken pain and survival patterns. ✨ How, as both became independent parents, they needed each other deeply—but often couldn’t stand each other. ✨ How their relationship became transactional, and what it takes to begin finding their way back to true sisterhood.This is Part One of a two-part conversation, filled with tenderness, truth, and the kind of messy healing that only family can bring. Part Two will be released next week 🫶🏽🎧 Support the Podcast The Healing Gals Podcast is a one-woman show — Molly records, edits, and promotes every episode herself. If you’ve received something meaningful from this conversation, consider supporting the show by buying Molly a coffee: 👉 buymeacoffee.com/HealinggalspodcastYour support helps keep these heartfelt, healing conversations coming.💌 Connect with Molly Have a dilemma or topic you’d love to hear discussed on the podcast? Email Molly at healinggalspodcast@gmail.com — she’d love to hear from you.

S4 Ep 12 Beyond Surviving with Ciara Mangan. In the intro, Molly discusses travelling on her own for the first time ever to see BEYONCÉ! and what she learned from that experience. Molly also has a chat about good men and not settling for people who don't share your values. Now let's get to the episode.....Ciara Mangan is the founder of Beyond Surviving, a survivor-led charity organisation dedicated to connecting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, and supporting their healing, wellbeing, and growth—beyond surviving.Ciara is also a survivor of rape and workplace victim abuse and harassment. Having navigated the criminal justice system for over eight years, she is a formidable advocate for fellow survivors and for herself. Fueled by a relentless drive to speak up for what victims need and deserve as they navigate the road to justice in Ireland, Ciara challenges the judiciary system—raising awareness of its failures and the treatment of those at its core: victims. Her lived experience, and work with fellow survivors, underpins her commitment to systemic change and the urgent need for a victim-centred approach—one that treats victims with the dignity, respect, and consideration they deserve and demand (or in other words, the bare minimum).Molly discusses all of the above with Ciara. Ciara shares the story of her assault and the extremely difficult process of navigating our judicial system as a victim of crime. Ciara's story has so many lessons for all of us, it was a privilege to have Ciara Mangan on Healing Gals Podcast. I hope this discussion inspires you to discuss safety and spiking with the ones you love.Healing Gals podcast is not a replacement for therapy, this show is for entertainment purposes only. If you have been affected by anything discussed in this episode please access support services in your local area. Click this link for a list of support services that may be of use to you:https://www2.hse.ie/mental-health/services-support/supports-services/