Mind Your Self - Four Swans

Psychotherapist Alan Dignam opens up about his personal journey of growing up feeling different, and how that path led him into psychotherapy and teaching.    He speaks candidly about identity, resilience, and the importance of creating safe, informed spaces for LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse clients.    This episode is a powerful reminder that what once made us feel isolated can become our greatest strength.    

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, we are joined by Aine Whelan, Movement and Healing Facilitator and founder of Heart & Soul studio.   Aine shares her journey of navigating mental health and spiritual awakening from a young age, challenging the idea that we are our diagnoses rather than experiencing them.   Through honest reflection, she explores the importance of soul-searching, movement, and the power of plant medicines as pathways to healing.   Expect a heartfelt conversation that is grounding, empowering, and soulful, reminding you of your own limitless potential.    

A powerful, honest conversation offering hope to anyone struggling with addiction, or supporting someone who is.  Alan O’Brien shares his raw and transformative journey from early addiction and inner turmoil to over 20 years in recovery. An alcoholic by the time he reached his teens, he speaks openly about the emotional and psychological root causes of his addiction, the courage it takes to ask for help, and the painful experiences that lie beneath the surface. With clarity and compassion, he speaks about the turning points that led him to seek help, and the ongoing commitment required to stay on a path of healing. Alan challenges the idea of a one-size-fits-all solution and instead highlights the deeply personal nature of recovery. This conversation goes beyond addiction. It explores resilience, self-awareness, and what it truly means to rebuild a life and offers reassurance that change is possible.

In this deeply powerful and inspiring episode, we are joined by Joanne O’Dwyer, psychotherapist, author, and manager of Meath Community Addiction Service as she shares her extraordinary journey from addiction to recovery, and from survival to leadership.    Joanne speaks with raw honesty about her early life, experiences of trauma, and a long battle with addiction that began in her teens and spanned over a decade. From homelessness, mental health struggles, and criminal convictions to becoming a respected professional working on the frontline of addiction services, her story is a testament to the power of change.   Together, we explore the deep connection between trauma and addiction, the stigma faced by women in addiction and recovery and why recovery is not just about treatment but about community, connection, and support.   We learn about the importance of shifting from shame to self-worth and growth and why no one is beyond recovery, no matter how far they feel they’ve fallen.   Joanne also challenges common misconceptions around addiction, advocating for a more compassionate, health-led approach rather than punishment, and reminding us that healing is possible for everyone.   This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, defined by their past, or unsure if change is possible.

In this deeply grounding and heart-led conversation, we are joined by Enda Greene, Kundalini yoga teacher and energy healer, who shares her journey of finding peace, purpose, and connection later in life. Enda speaks openly about the challenges she has faced from difficult early life experiences to navigating fear, disconnection, and uncertainty, and how discovering practices like Kundalini yoga, Reiki, and energy healing transformed the way she experiences herself and the world around her. Together, we explore what it means to move out of the mind and into the heart, how energy practices can support grounding, connection, and inner peace, and the power of the present moment in a fast-paced, overwhelming world. We learn how to let go of self-criticism and accept yourself as you are and how it is never too late to change direction and follow what brings you joy. Enda also gently challenges misconceptions around spirituality and invites listeners to see these practices not as something “out there,” but as simple, accessible tools to feel more connected, safe, and at ease. This episode is for anyone feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or searching for a different way of living - one that feels more aligned, peaceful, and true.

In this deeply honest and powerful episode, we sit down with Aileen White, who shares her lived experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 38.   Aileen brings us through the shock of diagnosis, the reality of treatment, and the emotional and physical toll that cancer can take. Her story challenges common misconceptions, including the belief that breast cancer only affects older women, and highlights how unpredictable and life-altering a diagnosis can be.   Together, we explore the impact of treatment both physically and psychologically and its lasting effects, and the vital role of support systems and cancer support centres.   Aileen speaks with courage, warmth, and honesty about her emotional journey of navigating fear, uncertainty, and resilience.   This episode is for every woman, every family member, and anyone supporting a loved one through cancer.

In this powerful conversation, we are joined by Andrea O’Grady, Wellness and Mindset Coach and founder of The Wellness Edge, to explore the truth behind what it really means to be “well.”    From the outside, someone can look like they have it all together, but beneath the surface, many are carrying stress, burnout, anxiety, and overwhelming pressure.    Andrea shares her own lived experience of burnout, parenting an autistic child, and navigating life’s demands, alongside the insight she’s gained through her work supporting others.   Together, we unpack the dangerous misconception that looking well means being well, how and why we “mask” our struggles in everyday life, the rising impact of stress and burnout in modern life and the importance of reaching in, rather than waiting for others to reach out.   We also explore practical ways to build resilience through nervous system support. This episode is for anyone who feels the weight of doing it all and struggles to ask for help.

In this episode, we are joined by holistic life coach and hypnotherapist Christina Goetz, who shares insights into one of the most overlooked aspects of mental health — the nervous system.  Many people today are living in a constant state of stress, overwhelm, and emotional exhaustion. A dysregulated nervous system can contribute to anxiety, burnout, panic attacks, depression, and addictive coping patterns, yet many people don’t realise that these experiences are deeply connected to how safe or unsafe our nervous system feels. Christina also shares parts of her own journey, from struggling with anxiety, depression, and burnout in her twenties and thirties to discovering holistic approaches that helped her regulate her nervous system and rebuild her wellbeing. In this conversation, we explore what nervous system regulation actually means, why so many of us are chronically “switched on,” and how small practices can help us feel calmer, safer, and more grounded in our everyday lives.

In this episode, we are joined by life coach, speaker, and Pilates teacher Karen Doherty-Cooke, who shares a deeply personal story of loss, resilience, and rebuilding a life after unimaginable change.   At the age of 41, Karen became a widow and a solo parent to three children. In the midst of grief, she found herself at the lowest point of her life — yet over time she discovered something powerful: grief doesn’t disappear, but it can be carried, understood, and even befriended.   In this conversation, Karen speaks openly about learning to look grief in the eye, rebuilding her life piece by piece, and discovering a new purpose helping others navigate loss, trauma, and life’s unexpected turns. This episode is a reminder that grief and happiness can coexist, and that hope can be found even in the darkest moments.

In this episode we explore the changing relationship many women experience with alcohol in midlife. Joining us is hypnotherapist Yuki Fragariani from MindWorks Hypnotherapy, who works with women navigating the emotional, physical, and psychological shifts that can happen after 40 Many women don’t identify as having an addiction, yet they begin to notice that alcohol is no longer serving their sleep, mood, mental health, or overall wellbeing. Midlife often brings hormonal changes, heavier responsibilities, and emotional stress — and alcohol can quietly become a coping strategy. In this conversation, we look beyond shame and labels to understand why these patterns form, why willpower alone often isn’t the answer, and how women can begin to build a healthier, more conscious relationship with alcohol.

In this episode, we are joined by Sarah Gardiner, civil funeral celebrant, death doula, and founder of Echoes of Life. Sarah’s work focuses on helping people approach death, dying and grief in a more human, honest and compassionate way. For many of us, conversations about death only happen in moments of crisis. Yet avoiding the topic can often leave people feeling more isolated, fearful, and unprepared when loss inevitably touches our lives. Sarah invites us into a different kind of conversation — one that explores legacy, reflection, and the importance of speaking about death before we have to. We talk about living alongside grief rather than trying to fix it, how storytelling and remembrance can help steady us in times of loss, and why gentle, open conversations about mortality can actually deepen how we live and connect with one another. This episode offers a thoughtful and compassionate space to reflect on loss, memory, and what it means to live meaningfully while we’re here.