The Mind Full Podcast

In this episode of The Mind Full Podcast, I’m joined by Dr Paul Conti to take a proper deep dive into the human mind, which, let’s be honest, most of us tend to avoid exploring too closely.Paul is a world-renowned psychiatrist and trauma expert, and his work flips the usual script. Instead of asking “what’s wrong with us?”, he asks, “what’s actually going right?” - which is a refreshing change from the inner critic most of us carry around.We chat about the three core drives behind human behaviour - survival, pleasure, and what he calls the generative drive - the part of us that wants to grow and connect. We also get into why we repeat patterns, how shame quietly shapes our lives, and how old experiences still influence us today.It’s a fascinating, deeply human conversation - and one that might help you understand yourself with a bit more compassion.For more information on Dr Paul Conti’s work, and to buy his newest book ‘What’s Going Right?’ Visit ​​www.drpaulconti.comIf 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!

In this episode of The Mind Full Podcast, I’m joined by Cass Dunn - and this one really lands if you’ve ever woken up in a foul humour and thought, “Right… today is not exactly screaming joy.”Cass is a Psychologist, coach, and host of the Crappy to Happy Podcast, and she brings such a refreshingly honest take on what it means to feel okay. We talk about how real resilience isn’t about being happy all the time - it’s about learning how to handle the tough stuff without running from it.We get into why chasing happiness can actually make us more anxious, why avoiding difficult thoughts only amplifies them, and how sitting with discomfort might be the most powerful shift we can make.What stayed with me is this: you don’t need to fix everything to live a good life. Sometimes, it’s about staying in the mess and trusting that it will pass.To keep in touch with Cass’ work, don’t forget to check out the Crappy to Happy podcast, you can find Cass on social media @cassdunnxo and Cass’ website www.cassdunn.com is the place to go for all of her incredible books, coaching and more!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!

In this episode of The Mind Full Podcast, I sit down with the wonderful Dr Mary O’Kane to talk about what it really means to raise brave, resilient kids - and why “perfect” parenting isn’t the goal. If you’ve ever found yourself negotiating with a toddler before 7am or questioning every decision you make, you’re in good company.Mary, author of Perfectly Imperfect Parenting, gently challenges the idea that we need to correct our children’s behaviour, and instead invites us to connect with what’s really going on underneath. We chat about tantrums, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and why neither kids nor adults can simply “calm down” on demand.I absolutely loved this conversation. Mary brings such warmth, humour, and deep understanding to both parents and children. If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”, this episode might help you be a little more patient - and a lot kinder to yourself.For more information on Dr Mary O’Kane and her fantastic work, books and more, visit www.drmaryokane.ie.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!

In this episode, I sit down with Patrick McKeown to explore something we all think we’ve mastered - breathing. Turns out, many of us have been doing it wrong our entire lives! We dive into the surprising idea that breathing more can actually deliver less oxygen, and why carbon dioxide might not be the enemy we thought it was.Patrick explains how your breath acts as a remote control for your nervous system, and how simple shifts - like nasal breathing - can improve sleep, focus, and reduce anxiety. This one really hit home for me. Looking back, I can see how my own anxiety, poor sleep, and even negative thinking were tied to dysfunctional breathing patterns I never questioned.The good news? You don’t need anything complicated. Just awareness, small changes, and a willingness to retrain something you’ve been doing since birth.For more information on Patrick’s work check out oxygenadvantage.com (Including the Nasal 5K Running Challenge, Free Breathing App, 3-Day Immersive Certification Training, Free Resource Hub, which includes guided audios, podcasts, blogs and more!) and buteykoclinic.com for health-related issues (e.g.asthma, anxiety/panic disorder, sleep). You can also find Patrick on socials @patrickmckeownofficial.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!

In this episode, I sit down with Charlie Norton Sherwood, a man who learned about pressure not from theory, but from the intense world of elite football. Working with clubs like Arsenal and Leicester City, Charlie saw firsthand how easily our identity can become tangled up in performance - where a good week makes you a hero, and a bad one has you questioning everything.What struck me most is what he discovered beneath all that success: even those at the top often feel disconnected from who they really are.Now back in Ireland as a performance coach, Charlie helps people untangle that knot between who they are and what they do.We chat about the hidden lessons from elite sport, the trap of “shoulds,” why so many people feel stuck, and how to reconnect with yourself beneath all the noise. It’s a thoughtful, honest conversation - and one I think will resonate deeply.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!

You know when you open Instagram looking for a bit of calm…and five minutes later you’ve been told to ice bath, journal, manifest, and possibly hug a tree before sunrise? Well welcome to the world of modern wellness!In this episode, I sit down with Clare McKenna, someone who’s spent years immersed in that world, speaking to experts and sharing all the “right” tools and yet still found herself burnt out.So we ask the honest question: if even the experts feel overwhelmed, what are the rest of us meant to do?Clare’s new book Would You Be Well? cuts through the noise. We chat about competitive wellness, redefining success, and why starting small might actually be the big shift.If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing everything right, so why don’t I feel right?” then this one’s for you.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, 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!