The Ciara Phelan Podcast

In the final episode of series 1, Ciara chats to Fine Gael Minister Paschal Donohoe who discusses coping with grief after the passing of his mother last year. He also discusses how controversy surrounding his election expenses impacted him as well as his childhood and personal challenges he sets for himself. 

Television presenter Katja Mia opens up about her parents fleeing a civil war and the expectations felt by immigrants after moving to another country. She also discusses the importance of faith in her life and managing body dysmorphia. 

This week Ciara chats to Fr Peter McVerry, a Jesuit priest who has devoted his life to helping the homeless. He speaks about his childhood, his views on celibacy and marriage and how helping homeless people has changed his relationship with God.

This week Ciara Phelan talks to comedian Rory O'Connor of Rory’s Stories who discusses hitting rock bottom with addiction, what he would change about the education system, minding his well-being and helping prisoners make different life choices.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: On discovering his sexuality, his thoughts on marriage and children and why he shares less about his relationship online. 

Nearly one week after the death of Sinead O’Connor, Ciara Phelan hosts a special edition of her podcast exploring the reaction to the news, the way the singer was portrayed during her life, and following her death, and exploring reaction to her religious beliefs. With guests Deirdre O’Shaughnessy, Suzanne Harrington and Eoghan O’Sullivan. 

Host of Telly Bingo, Declan Buckley chats about navigating childhood with two deaf parents, the death of his brother and the success and opportunities that arose from performing as Shirley Temple Bar who has been at the centre of Dublin’s LGBTQ+ social scene for 25 years.

Mrs Brown’s Boys star, Eilish O’Carroll’s brutally honest story of escaping an abusive relationship, finding happiness with a woman, and revealing to her son’s that she is a lesbian will stop you in your tracks. She also discusses what life was like as a child in the O’Carroll household.