Youthpod Ireland

On December 1, 2018 we hosted our first ever 'Stronger Men' event promoting positive mental health. As a part of this event, we recorded this podcast about mental health and safeguards that we have found useful in our line of work. Key contributors in our mental health day included Suicide Or Survive and Be Well, who also part funded the day through their bursary grant scheme. In this episode we discuss little things, the power of choice, the 5 a day for positive mental health, cognitive behaviour therapy and more. A must listen for those interested or affected by mental health.

We are joined this week by a very popular, local young woman and jiu jitsu student and enthusiast, Fiona Hannon. We delve into the world of one of the most increasingly popular combat sports and examine how it changed the life of a young woman now dedicated to learning and refining the craft she has grown to love. We talk about Fiona's achievements in her jiu jitsu career including a national championship win and we also chat about her aspirations for the future. Throw into the mix some of our regular topics like mental health and well being, connecting with friends, social media, nutrition and self care, dedication and ambitions and we have what is one of our favourite episodes to date. We also argue about veganism and dogs and long walks for positive head space. A great episode, very much worthy of your time and attention!

YouthPod Ireland continues to be Ireland's leading podcast for and about young people but in this MiniFlash season we are turning our attention to LOCAL ISSUES. We are going to have structured and productive conversations addressing local issues and we are going to conduct these conversations with a solution- based approach. We are asking for people to continue these conversation and to take responsibility and ownership of them. It is a CALL TO ACTION. And we want YOU, our listeners to get involved. This week's episode is 'Dog Fouling', a pertinent local issue but perhaps one that has been experienced all over the world. What can we do to reduce the number of incidents of dog fouling in our community? Who should take ownership of this problem? What has worked well elsewhere? We talk about these questions and more in this short MiniFlash episode. All feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com 

WOW! Phenomenal feedback from last week's episode with Finn Balor and we are back this week with WWE Superstar and Smackdown Women's Champion Becky Lynch. Ireland's biggest ever female professional wrestler, Becky Lynch is arguably the biggest name in the world of sports entertainment now. She has amassed a huge following of loyal and dedicated supporters who are just waiting to see what is next for 'The Man', 'The Lass Kicker' and the undisputed top athlete in the female division right now. But our podcast doesn't just focus on the wrestling. We delve into conversation around injury, gender, health and mental health, body image and eating disorders, adversity, ambitions and goals, growing up, learning, personal growth and so much more, with some exclusive insights that even the most dedicated Becky Lynch and wrestling fans may never have heard. This is a fascinating episode worth every minute of your time and we extend our sincerest thanks to one of our long time friends of the industry. It's YouthPod Irelan

WWE Superstar Finn Balor joins the YouthPod Ireland crew for this fascinating first episode in Season 3 of Ireland's leading podcast for young people. We talk to our long- time friend about his incredible journey in his pursuit of his professional wrestling dream and we learn about the core values that underpin his successes in life. We talk childhood, travel, adversity and injury, dedication, life- long learning, physical and mental health and so much more as we gather a real insight into one of the most humble and inspiring athletes that the country has ever produced. And it's all the sweeter that he hails from our hometown of Bray, Co. Wicklow, Ireland. We extend our sincerest thanks to Finn and WWE for accomodating us with the podcast and we know there are plenty of inspiring lesson within the conversation. Download now for free and let us know what you think by contacting us on Twitter @YouthPodIreland or on Facebook @YouthPod Ireland Podcast Enjoy the podcast everyone, it's good to be back!

Fancy a free holiday? Or how about doing the thing that you love in another country and doing it in a country you always wanted to visit but not having to spend your life savings doing it? "There's a catch" I hear you say. Yes, there is. You have to have an open mind! You have to maybe consider yourself in a European context. You have to think a little. And maybe fill in a bit of paper work. But the reality is, this week we are talking about 'youth mobilisation' and how 'Leargas' are supporting young people in moving out of their comfort zones and mobilising them in their thoughts, in their actions and in their ambitions, in a podcast that has challenged the YouthPod Ireland lads to consider how we can make a mark on a European level, beyond our podcast episodes. Join the lads and their special guests Leo and Suzanne as they answer all your questions about international exchanges and youth mobilisation. Who knows, you could be one hour away from getting all the information you need to make a life- changing li

This episode of YouthPod Ireland comes on a very special day for the YouthPod Ireland crew as we host our first ever 'Wheelchair For A Day' Disability Awareness Day in our day jobs as youth workers in our hometown of Bray, Ireland. Joining us for a very special edition of the podcast is Graham Merrigan, a prominent podcaster, actor, athlete, social commentator and ambassador for wheelchair users. Graham discusses his own challenges as a wheelchair user and the many great things he has managed to achieve in his life, where disability simply wasn't an option for holding him back. This is a great episode, with a great bloke and is a must- listen as we discuss some rather controversial and thorny topics. Big thanks to Graham for the interview and for helping inform and direct our own actions as we begin to raise awareness for our local community living with disabilities. Please get involved by emailing us at youthpod18@gmail.com or on all of our social media challenges. Enjoy the episode. 

This week we return to the podcast with a slim, trim team of two as Adam and Paul chat to Darren Kelly, a local community Garda stationed in our hometown of Bray. The Gardai are the Irish police force and as a community Garda, Darren blends maintaining the law with maintaining a positive relationship with the community. A long- time friend of the youth workers, we look at the man behind the uniform and badge and ask Darren about what it takes to drive a positive image of the Garda Siochana. Darren looks back on his attitude as a teenager, his love of sport, his connection with local young people and what it takes to be held in high regard by the community. We also delve into the darker side of the job and the struggles and hardships that Gardai face and how they carry and deal with these experiences. From petty crime to devastating tragedies, Darren has seen it all. But are we quick to forget this and just see another Garda uniform and badge? We explore this and more in this week's episode of YouthPod Ireland

After our most downloaded episode to date, the lads are back for some organised chaos as we argue some very thorny topics on this week's podcast. We are talking about drugs, dodgy boxes and immigration and there are plenty of strong opinions on either side of the table. Another episode sure to divide our audience but we are absolutely delighted with all of your positive feedback and interaction. We start the conversations and we invite YOU to get involved at youthpod18@gmail.com and across all of our social media platforms. Enjoy and thanks for listening! 

Welcome back to YouthPod Ireland. A thorny subject this week as UNICEF releases the findings of a worldwide study into safety, peer violence and bullying in schools. Nearly half the Irish teens surveyed reported that they had felt threatened or unsafe in school and we want to know why this is and how we begin to stop it. Alarmingly, nearly 700 million children of a school going age, live in countries where corporal punishment in schools is not illegal. There are some very strong opinions at the table in this one as our full cast of regular podcasters return for an episode that is not only close to home but relevant to all young people, across the country and indeed the world. Get involved by emailing us at youth18@gmail.com and across all of our social media platforms. Enjoy! 

In this week's episode of YouthPod Ireland we are talking about cocaine. We explore attitudes to the drug, talk openly about our observations of its use and we reach out to our podcast community to fill in the blanks, as we examine the highly addictive and dangerous substance. Cocaine use is not restricted to any one group or demographic of people and we talk about how people get started, how people get addicted, what this addiction looks like and what are the implications of cocaine addiction. We really appreciate all of your feedback and we are happy to be further informed or corrected in any of the opinions or observations shared in this episode, which are all our own and not representative of any agencies or groups to which we are attached in our working remits in the youth sector. Get involved by emailing us at youthpod18@gmail.com and please share, like, comment, tag and engage with us across all of our social media platforms! If you are affected by any of the content of this episode please connect with

We are joined this week by Michelle Hunt, food and nutrition blogger and an inspiring individual who overcame her own battles with anorexia and bulimia in her youth to eventually go on to write a hugely popular nutrition blog called 'Peachy Palate'. This interview is as honest and open as it gets and we believe it to be a great starting point for young people to begin to open up about their own relationships with food. We talk about mental health, body dysmorphia, definitions of various eating disorders and Michelle's experience with the support services in place to help those suffering from these disorders. A great guest, a great chat and a great opportunity to bring this very relevant topic to light. Enjoy and get involved at youthpod18@gmail.com or across all of our social media platforms and please share with anyone who you thin may benefit from listening... If you yourself are suffering from an unhealthy relationship with food you can start by opening up to us, your local youth worker or by visitng www.b

What does it take to be a strong man? Ask Davey Loughman. His day job sees him supporting the most vulnerable and at risk young people as a care worker but his hobbies include martial arts, wrestling and most interestingly, competing to be crowned 'Ireland's Strongest Man'. Davey gives us a fascinating insight into what you need to put into your fridge to be able to lift one over your head and what personal attributes he had that lead him to helping the most at risk young people in the country. A fascinating listen with a great friend. Check it out now!!

We are back with a brand new season of YouthPod Ireland, a podcast for young people downloaded in over 47 different countries. In this episode we are joined by Gordon Leonard, a Gaisce Gold Award recipient who talks us through the benefits of participating in a programme that cultivates new skills, encourages our voluntary participation in the community and rewards and celebrates those young people who are proactive in bettering themselves and their community. A fascinating listen and an amazing story of hard work, dedication, perseverance and personal growth. Be inspired by young people. Listen, like, share and get involved at youthpod18@gmail.com or across all of our social media platforms.

It is the final episode of Season 01 of YouthPod Ireland and we have one of Ireland's very best radio DJs and local entrepreneur/ restaurateur, Lauren O' Sullivan as our very special guest. Lauren talks about her rise through Irish radio, connecting with people through her amazingly popular 'Spin Talk' radio show, her charity work and her new venture as owner of Dockyard No. 8, a thriving local restaurant in the heart of the town we all love so much- Bray, Co. Wicklow. A fascinating listen with lots of craic and one or two adult themes for good measure. Enjoy!

A long time friend of ours, Graham Hillick popped in this week to talk about his work with Lakers, a local organisation that serves those with special needs in our community. Graham, himself from a youth work background, found a job that has come to be part of his identity and he has passionately given so much to his work and to those members of our community with special needs and it has brought him on a journey that has seen him coach the national football squad at the Special Olympics and be part of the growth of a local organisation so successful that it was forced to spread its wings to serve a much wider geographical area. We ask some seriously difficult questions in this one, including questions about language barriers and the difficult and sensitive 'growing up' years for those with special needs and we asked them because we know Graham is a fountain of knowledge and an all round good guy wit ha great insight into his field. Lakers community assemble, this one is for you!! Enjoy.

It's World Cup season and no better time to talk about young people and their undying passion for the beautiful game. Joining us are Ruth Comerford, former Champions League and Republic of Ireland (U16's and U19's) player and Co- ordinator of North Wicklow Sports Promotion Unit and her good friend Richard Fitzgibbon, the Football Assosciation of Ireland Development Officer, coaching at U17 and U19 levels. We get a fascinating insight as to how the game is changing for the better for young people, the challenges they face, the importance of "dedication and education" and all of the personal experiences that make the game so special. Plus we have a little chat about this year's World Cup and our highlights so far (well, for those of us who have actually bothered to watch it!!) :) All your comments and feedback are hugely appreciated: youthpod18@gmail.com @youthpodireland #youthpodireland 

It's a WORLDWIDE EXCLUSIVE (alright, calm down mate!) on this week's YouthPod Ireland as one of our oldest friends in the sector, Dermot' Daisy' O' Brien joins us for a riveting chat about his journey in youth work. Daisy teaches at a European level but has strong grass- roots experience working with all manner of young people and establishing some long- standing initiatives that still support young people to this day. But right at the end of this episode we get an inside scoop that will leave your jaw on the floor, an exclusive about the man we think we all know that leaves an interesting future ahead of us all. This cannot be missed. A fascinating listen, a thoroughly enjoyable interview. Get liking, tagging, sharing and reviewing. All feedback to youthpod18@gmail.com or #YouthPodIreland or @youthpodireland 

Welcome back to YouthPod Ireland. Your four co- hosts and youth workers join forces in this episode with Des Burke, a former youth educator, a fitness instructor, certified therapist and former community drugs educator and support worker.... oh and he only happens to be Adam's dad too!!!   We talk all things youth- related and delve into the past and the grass roots of youth work, looking at the old community workshops, Des' relationship with early school leavers, his hobbies and passions that seeped through into his work and we chat about some of those previous questions relating to young men and their emotions. It's a fairly open conversation with lots of fun bits and a great pleasure to capture some of the (near) three decades of work that Des spent with the young people in his community.   Have a listen, give it a share and review and tell your friends. As ever, you can give us feedback at youthpod18@gmail.com or use the #YouthPodIreland    Enjoy!

Welcome back to YouthPod Ireland. In this episode we are joined by Becca O' Keeffe, fellow youth leader and popular past guest podcaster! Denmark have become the latest country to ban burkas, the traditional Islamic head dress. We discuss if this ban is a good thing and a matter of safety or if it is a bad thing and not recognising different cultures. An interesting debate leading to chats about wider issues including politics, gun laws, casual racism, human connections, American governance and more. 20 minutes. One hot topic. Enjoy!