Having The Chats with Peter and Sophia

In one of our most emotional and courageous episodes yet, we’re joined by Mark Rickard.

An incredible man who shares the raw, unfiltered truth about his experiences with childhood sexual abuse, addiction, borderline personality disorder, and the painful process of healing.

From the age of five, Mark’s identity was shaped by trauma. He opens up about the confusion, shame, and destructive patterns that followed him into adulthood, and ...

In this sacred and soul-nourishing episode of Having the Chats with Peter and Sophia, we sit in deep conversation with the radiant and grounded Dr. Bláithín Sweeney, known to many in her community as a healer, guide, space holder, and the heartbeat behind the Having a Laugh charity.

Bláithín’s journey is a unique and powerful one.

From the structured world of synthetic organic chemistry, where she earned her PhD, to the intuitive, he...

🧡 Trigger Warning: This episode discusses sexual abuse, addiction, suicide, and grief. Please listen with care.

In this deeply moving and powerful episode of Having the Chats with Peter and Sophia, we open our hearts like never before.

Originally set to feature a guest, we found ourselves with an unexpected space, and we chose to fill it by sharing the raw truth of our own stories.

From childhood abuse, addiction, and prison to the ...

In this raw and powerful episode of Having the Chats with Peter & Sophia, we sit down with Gareth McGuirk, the inspiring voice behind Find Motivation With Gareth.

At just 19, Gareth has already lived through intense trauma, cannabis-induced psychosis, family upheaval, homelessness, and the pull of street life in Dublin.

What sets Gareth apart isn’t just his survival-it’s his mission. Through honesty, humour, and heart, he opens ...

Trigger Warning:
This episode discusses topics around sexual violence, childhood sexual abuse, recovery, and healing.

Please take care while listening. 💛

It’s okay to take breaks while listening.

In this special and deeply personal episode, Sophia sits down with Loretta Brosnan McDonagh, Director of Mayo Rape Crisis Centre, ahead of Loretta’s retirement.

Together, they have an open and powerful conversation about the vital services p...

In our very first guest episode, we sit down with the incredible Edgar Kirby – a weight loss coach, cookbook author, and viral social media presence.

We explore the real story behind the transformation.

But this isn’t just about body changes; it’s about emotional healing, overcoming trauma, and learning to trust yourself again.

From growing up in a difficult and challenging household to finding safety through adoption, Edgar opens up...

In Episode 4 of Having the Chats with Peter and Sophia, we’re coming to you from a very grey and windy Montenegro, and let’s just say, this holiday hasn’t gone quite as planned.

From hay fever and chest infections to dodgy gym setups and brain fog from sugar overload, we open up about the challenges that come with stepping out of routine.

But it’s not all chaos, there’s deep chats too.

We share the story behind our surprise engagemen...

In this episode of Having The Chats with Peter and Sophia, we dive into something truly close to our hearts—UR Pace Recovery Hub.

We share the vision behind the community, why it was created, and why having a space where everyone feels welcome, no matter their pathway to recovery, is so important.

Recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is this hub, it’s about connection, support, and finding what works for you.

We also take a...

Welcome to the very first episode of Having The Chats with Peter and Sophia! In this special introduction, we dive into the intention behind our podcast and share why we’re so passionate about this journey.

Through our own stories of navigating trauma, overcoming challenges, and rebuilding our lives, we explore:

In this very first episode of Having The Chats with Peter and Sophia, we open up about the emotional challenges we faced during the Christmas and New Year period, a time that unearthed some difficult and unexpected feelings for both of us.

Recorded just two weeks after the holidays, we reflect on what we went through, how we dealt with it, and where we are now. 
This episode offers a raw and honest glimpse into the emotional com...