The MyLife Podcast - Wellbeing Conversations with Jarlath Regan – Details, episodes & analysis

In our third episode, Jarlath Regan speaks with professional golfer and proud Offaly man Shane Lowry. In 2009, Shane became the Irish Open champion, making history as the third amateur ever to win on the European Tour, and bursting onto the professional scene just after. Some of Shane’s career highlights include winning the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush, as well as his Ryder Cup debut as a member of Team Europe in 2021.

In this episode, Jarlath speaks to Shane about the ups and downs of the game, as well as his experiences both on and off the golf course. They talk about Shane's experiences with professional burnout, managing negative self-talk, coping with change, the power of gratitude and balancing work and home life. They also chat about the importance of physical wellbeing and staying accountable while training, as well as exploring some of Shane’s greatest and most challenging moments in his life, both on and off the golf course. From sports psychology to superstitions, Shane and Jarlath’s entertaining and uplifting conversation has something for everyone.

Books mentioned during the conversation:

The Chimp Paradox by Professor Steve Peters: https://chimpmanagement.com/books-by-professor-steve-peters/the-chimp-paradox/

In our first episode, Jarlath welcomes Oisín McConville, All-Ireland winning Gaelic footballer with Armagh and Crossmaglen Rangers, and addiction counsellor with Sporting Chance. While many will know Oisín from his football successes, and as a familiar voice and face in GAA sports punditry and analysis, he is also one of Ireland’s strongest advocates for recovery from gambling addiction; a struggle he faced himself for 16 years.

In this episode, we hear Oisín’s own personal story of recovery from gambling addiction and the impact both addiction and recovery have had on his life. Host, Jarlath Regan, and Oisín chat about how to support a loved one through addiction, common misconceptions about therapy, as well as the challenges to mental wellbeing that the pandemic has brought to our lives. Oisín also shares the practices he has found helpful in maintaining his own wellbeing and balance in his daily life. Recounting his experiences of addiction with characteristic honesty, this conversation is as informative as it is engaging, with Oisín bringing us all to a better understanding via his own unique story, of what a person struggling with addiction goes through. 

If you liked this episode, stay tuned to the Irish Life social channels where we will be announcing the next guest.

In Episode Two of The MyLife podcast, Jarlath welcomes Aisling Bea - actor, writer, and stand-up comedian. Aisling is perhaps best known for her Bafta award winning comedy-drama series, This Way Up, which she wrote, produced and stars in. The second series of the show returned this summer, portraying personal relationships and the complexity of mental health and wellbeing in our contemporary world with refreshing honesty and nuance. Her 2017 Guardian article on the loss of her father at a young age was shared by millions, exemplifying Aisling’s ability to write about human experiences in a way that resonates with the wider world.

In this episode, Aisling speaks about recent challenges to her own physical and mental wellbeing during the pandemic, as well as tackling mental health stigma through her show, This Way Up. Picking up on Jarlath’s conversation with Gaelic footballer and addiction counsellor Oisín McConville in Episode One, Aisling also shares her tips and practices for managing overwhelm and chronic stress. From creativity at work, to women’s health, and the nature of the Irish Mammy, Aisling and Jarlath weave a vast array of topics into a good-humoured and generous conversation that is sure to support MyLife listeners looking to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

Books and articles mentioned during the conversation:

• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk: https://www.easons.com/the-body-keeps-the-score-bessel-a-van-der-kolk-9780141978611
• Period Power by Maisie Hill: Buy Period Power Book at Easons
• Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/nov/04/aisling-bea-my-fathers-death-has-given-me-a-love-of-men-of-their-vulnerability-and-tenderness

If you liked this episode, stay tuned to the Irish Life social channels where we will be announcing the next guest.