The Mind Full Podcast

This week, we’re loving our vulva - a sentence I never thought I’d say, but here we are! I’m joined by the brilliant Laura Dowling (‘The Fabulous Pharmacist’) to talk about all things women’s intimate health, and honestly, this is a conversation every man needs to hear. Because when you live with, love, or are raising women, you start to realise there’s a whole world of experience happening right beside you that you barely understand.We get into hormones, cycles, perimenopause and menopause - not as abstract ideas, but as daily realities that can affect everything from mood to sleep to confidence. What really struck me is that it’s not about having all the answers; it’s about being curious, aware, and a bit more empathetic.I came away wiser, slightly humbled, and probably owing a few apologies. This one opens the door to better conversations and better understanding.You can find Laura on socials @fabulouspharmacist, her website is www.lauradowlingofficlal.com and you’ll find all her wonderful products and supplements on fabuwellness.com.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my latest book Busy and Wrecked is out now!

This week on The Mind Full Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Mark Rowe, bestselling author of Things Your Future Self Will Thank You For - and it’s a conversation packed with practical wisdom you can actually use.Mark brings years of experience as a family doctor to this chat, and what really struck me is how often the biggest changes to our health don’t come from prescriptions, but from small, manageable shifts in how we live each day. We explore what lifestyle medicine really means, how to better understand burnout, and how our emotional world can show up in physical ways.We also chat about ageing well, simple ways to check in with your health, and the role of things like connection, purpose, and even awe in living a longer, healthier life.And of course, I’ll finish with a short meditation to help you carry some of this into your week.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my latest book Busy and Wrecked is out now!

This week on The Mind Full Podcast, I’m joined by the brilliant Cathy Shah, author, poet and mental health ambassador, for a conversation about a topic many of us find difficult to approach: suicide and suicidal ideation. Cathy shares her own story with incredible honesty, insight and even moments of dark humour, helping us look at this subject without fear or awkwardness.Cathy grew up in Tallaght in the 80s and 90s and is of mixed Indian-Irish heritage. Her powerful memoir Rabbit Holes and Rainbows explores childhood trauma, racism, psychosis, addiction, suicidal thoughts and recovery - all told with remarkable emotional openness.In this episode we talk about what suicidal ideation can feel like from the inside, why silence and shame make things worse, and how simple, compassionate conversations can genuinely save lives.It’s a heavy topic, but Cathy brings wisdom, warmth and real hope - and I truly believe this conversation could help someone you care about.If you have been affected by any of the subject matter in this conversation, please see the details below:-SamaritansWeb: www.samaritans.org/samaritans-ireland/Ph: (ROI) 116 123Email: jo@samaritans.ie-PietaWeb: www.pieta.iePh: (ROI) 1800 247 247Text: Text ‘HELP’ to 51444If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my latest book Busy and Wrecked is out now!

On this episode of The Mind Full Podcast, we’re talking about something that many of us parents quietly worry about - raising what Richard Hogan calls the “screenager.” We like to believe we’ll somehow guide our kids safely through the digital world, but if I’m honest, sometimes it feels more like navigating a booby-trapped cave in an Indiana Jones movie. One wrong step, one app we didn’t notice, one late-night scroll and suddenly we’re wondering about the impact on their sleep, their confidence, or their mental health.Joining me is family psychotherapist Dr. Richard Hogan, one of Ireland’s best-known voices on modern parenting and the author of Parenting the Screenager and Home Is Where the Start Is. Richard brings honesty, compassion and real solutions to the conversation. We explore screen addiction, anxiety, boundaries, pornography, communication and why teenagers might secretly want a few rules. Finally, and most importantly, we talk about the power of leading by example.Richard is bringing his live show Parenting The Screenager to The Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Dublin on Thur 30th April 2026. You can get your tickets here.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my latest book Busy and Wrecked is out now!

This week on the podcast I’m joined by Psychologist and relationship whisperer Louize Carroll.Louize works with people and couples who feel stuck - stuck in the same arguments, the same triggers, the same “We are NOT having this fight again”… and yet somehow, here we are. One of the reasons I love having her on is that she explains things so clearly, and she sparks those “Oh my God… I do that” moments. And those are gold.We talk about why we repeat patterns in relationships, how early wounds shape the way we react in adult relationships, and why most conflict isn’t about the dishwasher, it’s about the dance we get pulled into.Louize shares her “wounded, wild and wise” framework and how to strengthen the part of you that can pause instead of pounce.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my latest book Busy and Wrecked is out now!

Happy New Year everyone! It’s not only a new year but it is Episode 50 of The Mind Full Podcast! This week, there’s a very special episode in store for you.What if the reason change feels so hard isn’t a lack of discipline, motivation, or willpower? In Episode 50 of The Mind Full Podcast, I take a slower, more honest look at busyness, burnout, and the pressure we put on ourselves to “do better” every year. I share my own personal experience from 2017 that changed how I look at stress, self-criticism, and why forcing yourself rarely works. This isn’t about letting yourself off the hook. It’s about removing the things that are quietly holding you back. Along the way, I explore self-compassion, curiosity, and how noticing what’s actually going on in your head can be the most effective starting point for real change. No guest, no fixing, just a conversation, a bit of breathing space, and a gentler way to approach the year ahead.If you're new to the series, why not take the time to go back and catch up on the wonderful interviews that you may have missed!Visit www.dermotwhelan.com for more information and don't forget my latest book Busy and Wrecked is out now!