Irish Examiner Podcasts

Child psychotherapist Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan talk about the importance of friendships for teenagers and the impact of loneliness during the adolescent years. Loneliness is one of the biggest threats to mental wellbeing and Fortune says it is something that she is seeing regularly in her clinics, particularly since the pandemic.  She notes the role social media plays in the lives and friendships of teenagers and offers advice for parents on what to do if their child is spending a lot of time on their own. 

Family psychotherapist and author Dr Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss ways to help your child in the run-up to exams. Exam season is a stressful time and Hogan says it’s important to make allowances for young people who may be a little more agitated and let them know that they are supported.   He offers guidance on creating structure when it comes to studying and shares his advice for parents on how to be there for their children – and what not to say. 

Child psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan sit down to discuss the pros and cons of homework for primary school children. While some researchers say homework helps children to develop skills such as organisation, others believe it is counterproductive.  Noctor is in the no-homework camp and sees how it impacts his children in very different ways. He offers guidance on creating healthy habits and advice for parents of teenagers who have little interest in studying or completing homework. 

Ciara Crossan is the single mother who made a business out of Ireland's love for weddings. Her company has survived the 2008 crash, a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis but Ms Crossan said her biggest challenges along the way were more personal ones.

Chief executive of marketing and tech services firm Granite Digital Conor Buckley talks to business journalist Cáit Caden about the Cork company's ambitious growth journey so far, eyeing up expansion in the US and how firms are coping with migrating online. 

Family psychotherapist and author Richard Hogan joins ieParenting editor Irene Feighan to discuss ways to help children cope with life's ups and downs.It can be tempting to shield your child but this comes with risks. Your child may struggle to navigate the failures and disappointments that are part of life. Hogan offers guidance on how to build your child's resilience and ability to cope with challenges head-on while also recognising when to ask for help. 

Dr Dale Whelehan is the Irish man on a mission to change the traditional working week around the globe. In this podcast, he talks about his own journey from being an physio student to becoming the chief executive of a non-profit trying to tackle burnout in the workplace. 

Child psychotherapist and podcaster Dr Joanna Fortune and ieParenting editor Irene Feighan discuss the dynamics of school gate relationships and playdates.  Whether they are casual connections or the beginnings of a deeper friendship, relationships with other parents can help us navigate the early school years. Dr Fortune also offers helpful tips on navigating the tricky world of WhatsApp groups and how to turn down playdate invitations, which she sees as optional, not a necessity. 

Bob Savage began working with Dell Technologies as an engineer almost 40 years ago. Now he is vice president regional CIO for EMEA and site leader of Dell Technologies in Cork. In this interview with business journalist Cáit Caden, Bob talks about witnessing the company change over the years, is the government doing enough for small firms as well as multinationals and some of the best pieces of advice he has received in his career.