Made In Chaos with Ryan Curtis

He's 23 and Has Spent Years on Dublin's Streets Helping the Homeless — Not Because It's His Job, But Because He Chose To.Everyone has walked past someone sleeping rough. Most of us glance, wonder, and keep walking. Brandon O'Connor spends his nights sitting beside those people — hearing their stories and watching addiction, trauma, kindness and hope all exist on the same street.Brandon founded Dublin Homeless Awareness at just 16, as a transition year school project. Years later, his team run first-aid patrols, missing-person searches, river-safety patrols and mental health interventions across the city. In this episode, Ryan sits down with him for an honest, eye-opening conversation about what really happens on Dublin's streets — and what needs to change.What we get into:Why most people develop addictions after becoming homeless, not beforeHow Dublin Homeless Awareness started as a school project and grew into a frontline serviceThe reality of night patrols: overdoses, mental health crises and river rescuesThe systemic gaps that leave people with nowhere to goWhy homelessness can happen to almost anyone — including nurses, guards and charity workersBrandon's own story: growing up with a mother who was homeless and addictedWhat frontline work does to your own mental health, and how the team protects each otherThe small acts of kindness that people never forgetWhat every one of us can do differently when we walk past someone sleeping roughRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtisTo support or report a concern, find Dublin Homeless Awareness on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar — Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

He Won Olympic Silver in Beijing. Two Years Later He Hit Rock Bottom. Kenny Egan on Winning, Addiction & Finding Himself Again.Kenny Egan has one of the greatest stories in Irish sport, a ten-time senior champion, the only man ever to win ten consecutive senior titles, and an Olympic silver medallist in Beijing 2008. But once the gloves came off and the homecoming faded, Kenny faced a very different fight.Ryan sits down with Kenny for one of the most honest and important conversations Made in Chaos has had, about what happens when the biggest win of your life doesn't fix everything, the loss of identity that followed, the two-year spiral into addiction, and the long road into recovery that he now values more than any medal.What we get into:​Growing up one of five brothers in Clondalkin and how boxing found him​Losing three All-Ireland finals in a row and nearly quitting at 13​The coach who told him he was a "2 out of 10", and how that rebuilt him​Gary Keegan drawing a line on the gym floor and changing Irish boxing forever​Beijing 2008, five near-flawless fights and an Olympic silver medal​Why winning the medal sent him from zero to rock bottom in two years​The loss of identity: "Who am I now?"​Walking away from a 10-year professional contract while in active addiction​The night his mam walked into a pub and said "Come home, son"​The day he got sober, 12th of August 2010, and never looked back​Becoming a psychotherapist and what real purpose looks like now​Why his sobriety means more to him than any Olympic medal​His upcoming charity fight for the Irish Cancer Society in memory of his late motherRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar, Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

Real Strength Isn't Pushing Through Everything. It's Learning to Bend Without Breaking. A Clinical Psychologist Explains.Most people think mental strength means never slowing down, never breaking, never letting anyone see them struggle. Professor Ross G. White, clinical psychologist, author and performance specialist who works with the Irish Rugby Football Union, argues that this exact belief is why so many people are burnt out, anxious and quietly losing themselves.Ryan sits down with Ross for a conversation packed with usable frameworks on resilience, purpose, pressure and emotional avoidance, the kind of practical psychology that genuinely changes how you think about your own life.What we get into:The get, threat and reset modes, and why high achievers neglect the one that keeps them wellWhy being "relentlessly relentless" guarantees burnoutThe arrival fallacy, why hitting your biggest goal won't make you happyShallow success vs deep success, focusing on values and process over outcomeWhy you don't find your purpose, you form itTreating emotions as messengers, and why there's no such thing as a negative emotionThe inner critic, where it comes from, and self-compassion as strength turned inwardSurvivorship bias, why copying Michael Jordan's mindset won't make you Michael JordanTowards moves vs away moves, the one question that can change every decision you makeStrong intention, light attachment, protecting your identity beyond one pursuitWhat burnout actually is, and why it's not your fault"You're not broken, you're stuck", and how a flexible mind helps you get unstuckRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar, Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

He Built the Road for Irish Muay Thai Himself. Two Years Homeless. A Best Friend Lost. World Champion.Craig "Coco" Coakley is one of Ireland's most accomplished Muay Thai fighters a Dublin Combat Academy fighter who became Irish Fighter of the Year, won multiple titles including a world title, and fought for Yokkao, Muay Thai Grand Prix and ONE Championship. But what makes Craig's story remarkable isn't the trophy cabinet. It's everything that happened underneath it.Ryan sits down with Craig for an unfiltered conversation about growing up in Dublin's inner city, falling into fighting almost by accident, spending two years homeless while building a career at the same time, losing his best friend to suicide, and walking away from the security of the biggest promotion in the sport because his sanity mattered more than the contract.What we get into:Growing up in Dublin 1, community, hardship and what people get wrong about "rough areas"How Craig fell into Muay Thai after getting battered in his first boxing matchThe brutal reality of fight week, fight camps and the sacrifices nobody seesTwo years homeless in a hotel room with a newborn while still actively competingThe loss that nearly broke him, his best friend James, and the system that failed himWhy fighting is more mental than physical, and what losing taught him about who's really in your cornerWalking away from ONE Championship and choosing his sanity over the biggest contract in the sportBecoming a father and how it completely reshaped what he was fighting forWhat he wants people to actually remember about Craig Coakley when it's all said and doneRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar. Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

It's Not About the Food. A Life Coach Who Spent 22 Years in an Eating Disorder Explains What It's Really About.On the night her mum died, Cara O'Loughlin was 15 years old. That same night, she picked up her first eating disorder behaviour. What followed was 22 years of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, exercise addiction, a stroke at 29, osteoporosis, infertility warnings, and eventually, full recovery.Today, Cara is a life coach specialising in eating disorder recovery, a yoga teacher, and one of the clearest and most credible voices on why these patterns start and what it actually takes to break them. This is one of the most important episodes Made in Chaos has ever recorded.What we get into:Why eating disorders are never about food, and what they're really aboutThe genetic predisposition, the personality traits, and the trigger that sets it offThe physical toll most people never see: bone density, fertility, heart, thyroid, strokeWhy Cara was at her sickest when she looked her healthiestWhat Ryan's own experience with weight cutting in MMA revealed about disordered eating in sportThe HALT framework, and why overwhelm was always Cara's triggerOrthorexia: the unhealthy obsession with eating healthily that nobody is diagnosing yetWhy 98% of diets fail, and the set point theory that explains everythingOzempic: who it's for, who it isn't, and what Cara is seeing in her clientsHow to raise children with a healthy relationship with food without ever mentioning weightThe division of responsibility, and why finishing your dinner is doing more harm than you thinkMen and eating disorders: Bigorexia, gym obsession and the conversation nobody is havingWhat someone struggling right now needs to hear, and where to get helpRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar - Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

A Brain Haemorrhage. Then Breast Cancer. Same Man. Two Years Apart. Dec Pierce Gets Completely Honest.Most people know Dec Pierce as the voice of Block Rockin' Beats — the man who brought thousands together through music, through lockdown, through the nights they'll never forget. But behind the energy and the stage presence, the last three years of Dec's life have been extraordinary in the worst possible way.In 2023, Dec suffered a subarachnoid brain haemorrhage mid-run in Ringsend. In 2025, he was diagnosed with breast cancer — a condition so rare in men it accounts for just 1% of all cases. Two life-threatening illnesses in two years, in a man who doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, exercises, eats well and does everything right.Ryan sits down with Dec for one of the most important men's health conversations Made in Chaos has ever had.What we get into:Growing up as a quiet, bullied kid and how music became his alter egoRecording his own pretend radio shows at 8 years old from a ghetto blasterDutch courage, a garden shed in Ballybrack and how pirate radio changed his lifeWhy dance music and nostalgia connect with people on a deeper level than almost anything elseStarting Block Rockin' Beats at his lowest professional point — and doing it for free for six monthsHow the birth of his daughter Ava removed every roadblock and fear of failure overnightThe bomb that went off in his head mid-run — and the sliding doors moment that saved his lifeWhat a subarachnoid haemorrhage actually does to the body, and the long road backThe lump he found in New York in the shower — and almost let sit thereThe phone call he got on the first day of his holiday in SpainWhy men don't check themselves — and why that silence costs livesThe youngest male diagnosis his specialist had ever made — and the earliest detectionTelling his 9-year-old daughter about the mastectomy scarThe nights when catastrophic thinking takes over — and how he got through themWhat two life-threatening illnesses gave him that nothing else couldRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who have turned adversity into something worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar — Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

He Was Addicted to Heroin for 15 Years. Now He Has a PhD in Neuroscience. The Same Brain Did Both.Brian Pennie started using heroin at 16. By 20 he was chronically addicted, every single day for 15 years. He held down a job, sold drugs to fund his habit, and accumulated 50 grand in debt to dealers and money lenders. He had a violent seizure from benzo withdrawal, nearly died, and hit a moment of complete surrender in a hospital on a trolley at 35 years old.What happened next is one of the most extraordinary personal transformations Ryan has ever had on Made in Chaos. Brian went to detox, discovered the human mind, met a doctor who told him he had a sharp brain, and four years later was teaching in Trinity College. He now has a PhD in neuroscience and lectures across Ireland and the world on addiction, trauma, habits and change.What we get into:The operation as a baby with no anaesthetic, and the trauma he didn't know he was carryingWhy heroin felt like "the anaesthetic I never got as a baby"Why the choice theory of addiction is wrong, and what actually drives people to substancesThe difference between Brian and his best mate who got addicted: two traumatised people in the same groupThe ABC habit loop, why tackling the behaviour is completely the wrong starting pointWhy the opposite of addiction is awareness, not sobrietyThe eagle in the chicken coop, and why most people die thinking they're something they're notWhy your brain doesn't care about your happiness, it only cares about avoiding pain and chasing pleasureImposter syndrome reframed: it's not a warning sign, it's a compass pointing toward growthSelf-deception, limiting beliefs and building a wall of evidence instead of self-beliefWhy motivation is bullshit, and what actually changes behaviourSocial media, AI and the terrifying perfect storm quietly destroying our ability to thinkWhat Brian would say to someone who feels completely stuck right nowRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar — Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

She Knew Before the Doctors Did. Carly Mahady on Cancer, Being Dismissed & Why Pity Never Saved Anyone.At 16, Carly Mahady found a lump and was told she was fine. At 22, she noticed something else, and this time the doctors listened. What followed was a diagnosis of secretory carcinoma, a cancer so rare only 0.02% of people in the world have it, a mastectomy scheduled for her 25th birthday, chemotherapy during COVID, and a fight that most people never saw the full picture of.In this episode, Ryan sits down with Carly for one of the most honest, funniest and most unexpectedly deep conversations Made in Chaos has ever had, about identity, illness, ADHD, avoidance and what it really means to come back as yourself.What we get into:Noticing a lump at 16 and being completely dismissed by her GPHow she decoded the body language of medical staff before they said a wordThe man in the suit — how she figured out the waiting room system before anyone told herBeing diagnosed with secretory carcinoma: 0.02% of the world, no clear playbookScheduling her mastectomy on her 25th birthday and why she insistedWhen the cancer spread to her lymph nodes — the second blowChemotherapy during COVID and finding genuine joy on the wardWhether suppressed emotion and carried resentment caused her cancer — and why she believes it didPity vs results: you can have one, but you can't have bothADHD, object permanence, protective pessimism and being violently avoidant of herselfWhy she stopped talking about her cancer online — and what people misunderstood about thatTrauma porn, oversharing and finding the right delivery for a story that's still yoursRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar — Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

Less Than 1% Chance of Walking Again. Three Doctors. Three Hammer Blows. One Decision to Never Give Up.Niall McMahon opened Alfie's on South William Street in Dublin in 2008, the same year the recession began. He survived debt, pandemics, rising costs and 18 years of one of the toughest industries in the world. Then, in November 2023, a blood vessel in his spine burst without warning. Within days, he was paralysed.In this episode, Ryan sits down with Niall for one of the most powerful conversations Made in Chaos has ever had, two men who've been through near-identical journeys comparing notes on paralysis, recovery, mindset and what it really takes to come back from the unthinkable.What we get into:Growing up in the restaurant business, his parents built Joelle's from a trucker caféOpening Alfie's the day before his 30th birthday during the worst recession in living memory90 grand in debt with nothing in his pocket, and the walk on Bray beach that changed everythingThe Japanese TV show that saved his menu and his businessThe cavernoma, the blood vessel he was born with that nobody knew was thereThree consultants, three hammer blows: wheelchair for life, less than 1% chance, permanent bladder damageThe moment he lifted his knee 2 inches and said goodbye to the Bentley wheelchairPat, the roommate who gave him everything and was dead 4 months laterThe hill, the biscuits and the last day at the NRHWhy the doctors who deliver bad news need to think about how they deliver itWhat both Ryan and Niall believe is the real difference between people who come back and those who don'tRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. He rebuilt his life from the ground up. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've faced real adversity and come out with wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar — Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

You Don't Have a Sleep Problem — You Have a Boundary Problem. Ireland's Leading Sleep Expert Explains Everything.80% of Irish workers are sleep-deprived on any given day. And the solution isn't a supplement, a sleep tracker, or blue light glasses. Tom Coleman — Ireland's leading sleep expert, who has worked with Olympic athletes, global corporations, and shift workers — joins Ryan to dismantle everything you think you know about sleep.What we get into:Why you don't have a sleep problem — you have a boundary problemThe racing mind: the one thing almost every poor sleeper has in commonWhat alcohol is actually doing to your sleep cycles (it's worse than you think)Melatonin — hormone or supplement, and why getting it wrong can backfireThe sleep aid sitting on pharmacy shelves that's linked to long-term dementia riskMagnesium bisglycinate vs citrate — and which one actually helps sleepDeep sleep vs light sleep vs REM — the biggest myths debunkedYour brain cleans itself every night — and what happens when it can'tSleep trackers: why they're only 60% accurate and why you shouldn't let them dictate your moodWhat waking up at 3am is actually telling you — and the counterintuitive strategy that worksShift workers: the hidden health crisis affecting 20% of the Irish workforceHow sleep deprivation destroys relationships — including what newborns do to couplesWhat Tom has seen inside Coca-Cola, eBay and Pfizer behind closed doorsRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've turned adversity into hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis🖊️ Sponsored by The Ink Factory, Temple Bar — Ireland's highest rated tattoo studio with over 5,000 five star Google reviews. theinkfactory.ie | @theinkfactory

From a Bedroom in Dublin to the World's Biggest Stages — Robbie G on Success, Grief & What It Really Costs.Robbie G is one half of Belters Only, Ireland's most successful DJ duo, diamond-certified at home, platinum across the world, and now playing stages from New York to Tokyo. But this episode isn't just about the highs.Ryan sits down with Robbie for one of the most honest conversations Made in Chaos has ever had, about going from bedroom producer to global artist overnight, about what it's really like inside the major label machine, about playing the 3Arena months after losing his ma, and about what happens when the thing you love starts to feel like a burden.What we get into:Growing up in a musical family — his grandad was touring America with a showband in the Joe Dolan eraHow remixing Boyz II Men on Bended Knee led to a Universal LA deal at 17The passport story — and how he missed his invite to ManhattanWhy Ireland had no scene when he started — and how that's completely changedDublin's nightclub crisis and the fight to extend licensing lawsGoing from two young fellas with a dream to Polydor Records in London overnightImposter syndrome, the pressure of follow-up hits, and the reality of major label lifeWhy talent alone no longer gets you anywhere in the attention economyBurnout, grief and playing the 3Arena in the same year he lost his maWhy he's only now starting to understand what rest actually meansRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. He rebuilt his life through sheer determination. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests who've faced real adversity and come out the other side with something worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtisBrought to you by Irelands Best Tattoo Studio: The Ink Factory

Why Do You Keep Doing Things You Know Are Bad for You? A Behavioural Scientist Explains.Most people think they're in control of their decisions. They're not, and the science proves it.Ryan sits down with Jason Lear, behavioural analyst and organiser of TEDxBlackMountain, for one of the most thought-provoking episodes of Made in Chaos yet. Jason breaks down the hidden patterns driving human behaviour in sport, business, leadership, addiction, and everyday life, and explains why most attempts to change fail before they even begin.What we get into:Why humans are fundamentally irrational and what that means for your decisionsWhat gets tolerated becomes the standard, and why it destroys teams and businessesThe Rosenthal experiment: how your expectations literally change other people's outcomesSocial media as a slot machine, and the behavioural engineering behind the scrollWhy ultra-processed food and your phone were built on the same addiction scienceThe EAST Framework: the proven system for actually changing behaviourWhy people repeat behaviours that clearly ruin their livesWhat truly separates people who change from those who stay stuckTEDx: what makes an idea worth sharing and worth rememberingThinking fast slowly, the elite skill that separates great performers under pressureRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. He defied every odd and rebuilt his life from the ground up. Made in Chaos exists to platform guests with hard-earned wisdom worth sharing.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis

How Do You Build 1 Million Followers, a Boxing Career & a Music Brand From Scratch? Ben Williams Tells All.Ben Williams has done what most people only talk about, built a massive social media following, signed to Warner Music, fought on Misfits Boxing, and launched multiple businesses, all before most people have figured out what they want to do with their lives.In this episode, Ryan sits down with Ben to get into the real story behind the highlights, the scooter injury that started everything, the year of zero traction on TikTok before going viral overnight, the fight week mental breakdown he nearly didn't come back from, and the book that flipped everything.What we get into:How Ben started making content at 12 years old and hit 6,500 YouTube subscribers before secondary schoolWhy he got scammed out of his first clothing brand and what he did nextThe exact TikTok strategy that took him from zero to 1 million followersThe fight week in Leeds where his head nearly cost him everything — and how he turned it aroundWhy visualisation and The Secret work, and how to actually apply themHow to build a personal brand that outlasts any businessThe Muay Thai camp in Thailand, the new clothing brand, and what's nextRyan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who was paralysed from the neck down and told he would never walk again. He defied every odd and rebuilt his life from the ground up. Every episode of Made in Chaos features guests who've turned adversity into something remarkable.Follow: @madeinchaospod | @chaoscurtis

Paul Harkin built one of the biggest online prize competition platforms in the UK and Ireland from a bedroom in Liverpool, with no business plan, no investors, and a Shark hoover as his first major prize. Six years later, he's made 11 millionaires, given away over £200 million in prizes, and signed deals with the UFC, Matchroom Boxing, and PFL.In this episode, Paul opens up about the sacrifices behind the success: the sleepless nights, the £300,000 losses, and the moment he realized "no amount of money will make you happy." He shares what every single millionaire winner had in common, why he hires his mates, and how he's now prioritizing family over scaling further.What we cover:How The Prize Guy started with tiny giveaways and scaled to million-pound prizesThe emotional reality of watching someone's life change in real timeWhy Paul walked away from deals that didn't align with his valuesLessons from being in rooms with Eddie Hearn and top-tier business operatorsThe balance between ambition and being present for familyFollow Made in Chaos on Spotify and leave a review if this episode resonated with you.

The Scientist Exposing What Really Works, Peptides, Ozempic, Supplements & Root Cause HealthMost people are chasing shortcuts that are quietly destroying their health. In this episode, Ryan sits down with Dr. Dean St Mart, pharmacologist, functional medicine expert, and one of Ireland's most trusted voices in performance health, to cut through the noise on supplements, peptides, and the real science of fat loss.In this episode:​What peptides actually are, and which ones are worth your attention​The Wolverine stack (BPC-157 & TB-500) and why Ryan used it during his own recovery​The real science behind Ozempic, Monjaro & the next generation of fat loss drugs​Why most people are dehydrated even when drinking litres of water daily​The most overrated supplement most people are taking (NMN/NAD), and what to take instead​Longevity, recovery, performance & cosmetic peptides broken down simply​Why functional medicine asks the questions your GP never will. Ryan Curtis is a former Irish MMA fighter who defied medical odds after being paralysed from the neck down — and rebuilt his life through relentless determination. Every episode of Made in Chaos features guests who've faced real adversity and come out the other side with wisdom worth sharing.Follow Made in Chaos: @madeinchaospodKeywords: peptides, BPC-157, Ozempic, semaglutide, fat loss, functional medicine, supplements, health optimization, recovery, longevity, Irish podcast, performance health, Dr Dean St Mart.

In this episode of Made In Chaos, Ryan Curtis sits down with ultra endurance athlete Darragh Morgan, the first man to ever swim around the coastline of Ireland.Darragh opens up about the mental battles behind extreme endurance, the obsession with chasing impossible goals, and why some people feel the need to push themselves far beyond normal limits. From running across Ireland to spending hours alone in the ocean fighting the voice in his head telling him to quit, this conversation dives deep into discipline, suffering, purpose, and what happens when the goal is finally over.We talk about self-doubt, regret, faith, loneliness, mental resilience, and why the hardest part isn’t always the challenge, sometimes it’s life after it.This is one of the most intriguing conversations yet on Made In Chaos.

Ryan Curtis is joined by Jen Healy for a deep conversation about trauma, addiction, healing, and the mindset patterns that keep people stuck.Jen shares her experience working in recovery, mental health and personal development, explaining why many people stay trapped in victim mentality, repeat the same cycles, and struggle to truly change their lives.They talk about the reality of healing, the dangers of the wellness industry, loneliness, relationships, purpose, spirituality, and why real growth requires brutal honesty.This episode covers:Trauma, addiction, mindset, healing, personal growth, spirituality, mental health, and breaking destructive patterns.

Kevin Shanahan, known as Miracle Man Kev , has died twice.Once for 42 minutes.Once for 93 minutes.Doctors didn’t expect him to survive, but somehow he did.In this episode, Kevin joins Ryan Curtis to talk about cardiac arrest, brain injury, recovery, chronic pain, mindset, and the reality of rebuilding your life after everything is taken from you.They discuss the mental side of recovery, losing your identity, dealing with frustration, finding purpose after trauma, and why attitude can be the difference between giving up and fighting back.This is a in depth conversation about survival, stubbornness, and refusing to quit when life should have ended.If you enjoy stories about resilience, near-death experiences, mindset, and overcoming adversity then this episode is for you.

In this episode of Made In Chaos, Ryan sits down with Paralympic table tennis player Colin Judge for one of the most honest conversations yet.Colin opens up about growing up with a disability, hiding behind prosthetics, struggling with confidence, and feeling like he didn’t belong. He shares what it was like missing out on the Paralympics by one place, moving abroad to go all in on sport, and the mental toll of pouring everything into one goal.But this episode goes deeper than sport.Colin talks about:– Taking full accountability for your life– Why failure became his biggest advantage– The danger of blaming the external– Setting small goals when you're at rock bottom– Why most fear is created in your own head– Becoming the role model he never hadNow chasing LA 2028 while building a platform that impacts thousands, Colin is on a mission to shift perspectives and help people see their circumstances differently.If you’ve ever felt behind, stuck, insecure, or afraid to take action , this episode is for you.

Cheryl Lyons went from doing makeup clients in her mam’s sitting room to running multiple businesses, without a roadmap, a safety net, or a job for life.In this episode of Made in Chaos, Cheryl shares what it really takes to go all-in on yourself, the fear that comes with growth, and why chasing passion over security changed her life forever.We dive into:Leaving “safe” jobs behindTaking financial risks with no guaranteesImposter syndrome & the terror barrierRedefining success, money & fulfillmentBalancing ambition, motherhood & purposeA powerful conversation for anyone who feels stuck, afraid to take the leap, or craving more from life.

In this episode of Made In Chaos, Ryan Curtis speaks with Gavin Meenan about the life-altering event that shaped who he is today.Gavin opens up about surviving a tragic accident, living with guilt, navigating therapy, and the ongoing process of self-forgiveness. This conversation explores trauma, men’s mental health, accountability, and what it really means to heal when the past doesn’t disappear.An honest, heavy, and necessary conversation.

UFC fighter Shauna Bannon joins the Made In Chaos podcast for a deeply honest conversation about the unseen side of elite sport.From quitting a high-paying finance career to chasing the UFC dream, Shauna breaks down the sacrifices, mental battles, injuries, and emotional lows that came with it, including the aftermath of her debut loss and how close she came to walking away.A powerful episode on resilience, perspective, and what it really means to go all in.

In this episode of Made in Chaos, Ryan sits down with Chris O’Reilly, founder of The Liberty Soup Run. Chris shares his journey from addiction to recovery and how helping homeless people across Dublin became his life’s mission.They discuss homelessness in Ireland, addiction, stigma, burnout, mental health, recovery, and the power of human connection. Chris speaks honestly about the failures of the system, the importance of compassion, and why nobody chooses to live on the streets.A raw, emotional conversation about purpose, community, and never giving up on people.

In this episode of Made in Chaos, Ryan Curtis sits down with professional boxer Gary Cully to talk discipline, self-belief, sacrifice, and embracing uncertainty.Gary reflects on growing up feeling overlooked, choosing training over distractions, and learning to be comfortable alone. He explains how losses shaped his mindset, why visualisation and faith matter, and how chaos is an unavoidable part of both sport and life.This episode explores consistency, delayed gratification, and separating identity from outcomes — offering grounded lessons for anyone chasing long-term growth.

In this episode of Made in Chaos, Ryan Curtis sits down with bestselling author and academic Katriona O’Sullivan for a powerful conversation about poverty, education, inequality, and survival.Katriona challenges the idea that success is simply about hard work, explaining why “choice is a myth” for people growing up in poverty. Drawing on lived experience, neuroscience, and education research, she explores how undernourishment, trauma, and broken systems shape behaviour, decision-making, addiction, and long-term outcomes.This episode unpacks why personal responsibility is often overestimated, systemic failure is underestimated, and why success stories can sometimes be used to unfairly judge those still struggling. It’s an honest discussion about opportunity, support, gratitude, and what real social change actually requires.

Professional MMA fighter Kiefer Crosbie joins Ryan Curtis on Made In Chaos for an honest conversation about belief, ego, setbacks, and the reality of chasing greatness.From inner-city Dublin to the UFC, Kiefer reflects on nearly two decades of dedication, the pressure of being judged by moments inside a cage, and why fighting is only a small part of who he is. This episode explores resilience, discipline, identity, loss, and the mindset required to pursue something extraordinary, even when the outcome isn’t what you imagined.

In this episode of Made in Chaos, Ryan Curtis speaks with ultra-marathon runner and content creator Chris Connolly about addiction, psychosis, sobriety, discipline, and purpose. Chris opens up about chasing validation, losing everything, entering psychosis, and why rebuilding his life required honesty, suffering, and self-accountability. Together they explore mental health, intrusive thoughts, vulnerability in men, fatherhood, and why purpose matters more than happiness.

Made In Chaos is a podcast about resilience, mental toughness, and rebuilding your life after everything collapses. Hosted by former MMA fighter Ryan Curtis, who survived a catastrophic training accident that left him paralysed from the neck down, this show explores what it really takes to recover - physically, mentally, and emotionally. Each episode digs into adversity, discipline, identity, trauma, growth, recovery, and personal development, sharing lessons that help you create lasting change and a stronger future.

Comedian Willa White joins Ryan Curtis for a raw conversation about addiction, violence, trauma and rebuilding your life from nothing. Willa opens up about growing up in Ballymun, years of heroin use, prison, suicide thoughts, and the moment of clarity that changed everything. Together they explore recovery, friendship, self-worth, social media pressures and how the worst chaos in life can create the strongest people. A powerful story of resilience, faith, and second chances.

In this first episode of Made in Chaos, Ryan Curtis shares how a training accident left him paralysed from the neck down and the mindset that helped him rebuild his life. He reflects on growing up in Dublin 1, losing family to addiction, and the community that carried him through dark times. Ryan explains why the toughest moments in life forge the strongest people and his mission to create a space for real talk, resilience, and open conversations about mental health, adversity, and growth.