IrishCentral is delighted to be teaming up with host Alan O'Mara and executive producer Mary Kate Boylan to bring the "Real Talks with Alan O'Mara" podcast - which originated in Ireland and is now based in New York - to our global audience each week.
In the latest episode of "Real Talks with Alan O'Mara", Alan sat down with the Irish sports journalist, television presenter and author Evanne Ní Chuilinn. This much-anticipated chat started by talking about Ní Chuilinn's book, "The Great Irish Book of Gaelic Games".
As Evanne explained, writing a book while having a full-time job was a challenge and a bit of a side path, but she’s “all about the side tracks.”
Ní Chuilinn told "Real Talks", "I love being challenged and I work under pressure, and I always have. So I always look around to see what else I can do. Because I don’t think we can be defined by what we do for a living, or what we do day to day. I think there’s always more."
The RTÉ broadcaster talked with Alan about women’s sports finally getting some of the recognition they deserve, and a sense of disbelief at how long it has taken.
Speaking of women’s sports, Alan and Evanne mentioned two athletes that Alan has previously interviewed. Alan brought up his interview with Aisling Maher for "The Player’s Voice" podcast - in which they talked about unlearning the language we grew up with.
Evanne mentioned the amazing footballer Leanne Kiernan, who is not only from Alan’s hometown but who spoke with Alan on a previous episode of the "Real Talks" podcast, in which they discussed grief, taking care of your mental health and her career as a footballer for Liverpool FC.
Alan and Evanne both spoke about times they chose to share hard experiences. Alan mentioned a 2018 article penned by Evanne titled “You Never Really Know,” about her experience with grief after her brother’s death. They talked about sibling loss, returning to work after, and starting therapy.
Evanne said it well - that sometimes she wishes she wasn’t a sharer, that it’s something she thinks hard about because in a way it makes you more vulnerable. But she knows it helps others going through the same thing. This is true of times she’s shared her experiences with grief, and opened up about her IVF journey, and also in sharing her experience with hyperemesis during her pregnancies.
The talk with Evanne was a reminder of how much we can help each other feel less alone just by sharing our stories with one another - and we’re so grateful for everything Evanne shared with us.
You can listen to the latest episode of "Real Talks with Alan O'Mara" here via Spotify:
Or you can listen to Evanne Ní Chuilinn on "Real Talks with Alan O'Mara" here via YouTube:
About Real Talks
Host Alan O'Mara is a former Cavan GAA footballer turned mental performance coach and executive producer Mary Kate Boylan is a former producer for CBS News and an accomplished harpist. The duo, who are getting married in Ireland this summer, produce Real Talks podcasts and videos from either their NYC apartment (aka Real Talks HQ) or Stella & Fly.
Real Talks has been Alan's passion for more than a decade. For years, he traveled around Ireland to as many schools, dressing rooms, and companies as possible, to share his mental health journey and key lessons that helped him emerge from the depression that took hold of his life, a journey he wrote about in his memoir "The Best Is Yet To Come."
Since 2024, Real Talks US Inc. has operated from New York City and delivers three specific services - a weekly podcast, mental performance coaching for sports teams, and keynote speeches on well-being and leadership.
You can learn more about Real Talks on its website, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok pages.
You can also subscribe to "Real Talks with Alan O'Mara" on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts by searching "Real Talks with Alan O’Mara."
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