The Happy Pear Podcast

We have an amazing guest on today's episode, Mary-Frances O'Connor, a psychologist and author of "The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss."Mary-Frances conducts studies to better understand the grief process both psychologically and physiologically. She is a leader in the field of prolonged grief, a clinical condition in which people do not adjust to the acute feelings of grief and show increases in yearning, avoidance, and rumination. Her work primarily focuses on trying to tease out the mechanisms that cause this ongoing and severe reaction to loss. In particular, she is curious about the neurobiological, immune, and cardiovascular factors that vary between individual responses to grief.In this episode we explore the different facets of grief, how it affects our brain, how to deal with it and how we can support others. A heavy topic, and we are complete novices here but we learnt a lot and hope that you did to.This episode is sponsored by Vivobarefoot Footwear. Vivobarefoot Footwear have given our listeners an exclusive 15% discount when you enter the code HAPPYPEAR15 Genuinely these are the only shoes you will see Dave & Steve wearing!Lots of Love,Dave & SteveProduced by Sean Cahill and Sara Fawsitt

Today we have a special guest joining us, the one and only George Monbiot. George is an award-winning journalist, author, and environmental activist, and we're so excited to have him here to chat with us.In this episode, we dive deep into some really interesting topics with George, such as the importance of rewilding and how it can help combat climate change. He shares some amazing insights on how rewilding can not only benefit the environment, but also our mental health and well-being. It's fascinating stuff!We also discuss some of the challenges we face in creating a more sustainable future, and how we can work together to overcome them. George has such a positive and hopeful outlook, and it's really inspiring to hear his thoughts on this.Throughout the conversation, we all share stories and anecdotes from our own lives, and it really feels like a friendly chat between old friends. Dave is so impressed with George's ideas that he even asks him out to lunch the following week!So if you're interested in hearing some great insights on environmental activism and sustainability, this is definitely the episode for you. George is such an amazing guest, and this conversation is packed full of insightful nuggets.Enjoy!Lots of love,Dave & SteveTo find out more about George, check out his latest book: “Regenisis: Feeding the World without devouring the Planet”This episode is sponsored by Vivobarefoot Footwear. Vivobarefoot Footwear have given our listeners an exclusive 15% discount when you enter the code HAPPYPEAR15  Genuinely these are the only shoes you will see Dave & Steve wearing!Produced by Sean Cahill & Sara Fawsitt

Dr Nitu Bajekal is back with a special episode for National Women's Health Day! An expert in women's health and menopause. This is the second time she's joined us on the podcast, and we're thrilled to be launching our online menopause course with her. Get ready for an informative and lively conversation full of takeaways that both men and women of all ages should listen to.Key takeaways:Menopause is a natural part of aging for women, and it's essential to recognise and manage its symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness.Hormonal changes during menopause can also lead to an increased risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and other health conditions, making it vital to take care of overall health and well being.Lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, and stress management can play a significant role in managing menopause symptoms and reducing health risks.Dr. Nitu emphasis's the importance of self-care and self-compassion during menopause, as it can be a challenging time both physically and emotionally.The hosts and Dr. Nitu discuss common misconceptions and stigmas surrounding menopause and encourage open and honest conversations about women's health.The most important takeaway of all, let's start talking more openly and honestly about women's health! Enjoy!Lots of love,Dave & SteveCheckout our Happy Menopause Course https://offers.thehappypear.ie/happy-menopauseWe're currently offering the course for €75 (usually €150) as we'd like to get the information to as many people as we can as we think it's such an important discussion that isn't thought enough. We hope it helps you or a loved one become more informed on all stages of the menopause and we can help de-stigmatize the menopause and make it as normalized a part of life as it's supposed to be. Produced by Sean Cahill & Sara Fawsitt