We Are The People

What if your biggest struggles became the foundation for something greater? Jamie Buttars' journey is one of resilience, redemption, and relentless drive. From dropping out of high school and battling addiction to building a coffee shop (Cache Coffee & More) that’s saving lives, Jamie has transformed his past into a force for good.

In this episode, we dive into:
☕ How Jamie’s coffee shop became a safe haven for veterans...

In this episode of We Are The People, we sit down with Neil O’Sullivan, co-founder of Nimbus and former footballer, to explore the highs and lows of his journey—from childhood struggles and professional reinvention to the pressures of entrepreneurship and the pursuit of true well-being.

Neil shares his raw and honest reflections on overcoming bullying, battling imposter syndrome, and learning to manage anxiety in high-stakes environ...

In this episode of We Are The People, we sit down with Sarah Collins, a marketing expert, world traveler, and entrepreneur whose story is a testament to the power of stepping outside your comfort zone. From helping KFC crack the Irish market to building a thriving café business in her hometown, Sarah has embraced risk and serendipity to carve out a life filled with adventure and purpose.

Join us as Sarah shares her journey through 5...

In this episode of We Are The People, we sit down with Damian Darker, a European kickboxing champion, dedicated coach, and proud father. Damian takes us through his journey, from childhood days inspired by Power Rangers and Chuck Norris to becoming a trailblazer in Irish kickboxing.

He shares the discipline and respect instilled by traditional martial arts like Taekwondo, the highs and lows of competing on the world stage, and the s...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, Emma Foran takes us on her journey of self-discovery, career transformation, and personal growth. From her early aspirations to be an actor to navigating unfulfilling corporate roles, Emma shares how she found her true calling in social care and her current role as an Employment Officer at Down Syndrome Ireland.

Emma reflects on the invaluable lessons she learned growing up alongsid...

Stepping out of our comfort zone is never easy, and I have great admiration for anyone that has stepped outside theirs to do something that they have been afraid of. James Michels is one such person. Growing up he was an introvert, who lived in his own world and was wary of letting people in. Today he is an author who has published 5 books, finding the confidence to share his inner universe with the world.

Join us as James opens up ...

Growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood, Astrid faced a unique set of challenges that shaped her into the remarkable person she is today. She'll share her experiences of navigating the immense pressure to succeed imposed by her parents and the process of discovering her identity as the only black child in her school. But it's not just her cultural background that sets her apart; like any young person today, she&a...

Today, we're joined by an incredible guest, Peter Ryan, a remarkable athlete who has conquered adversity and shattered barriers.

Growing up, rural Tipperary was home for Peter. That meant sports and plenty of them. He was very good at soccer and hurling but never pushed himself. In school he followed the crowd and stayed within his lane. He was a coasting through school happy in the knowledge a job in construction would see him...

Orlagh Reynolds was a messer as a child and she has retained that sense of mischief into adulthood. She loved life and life loved Orlagh back as she lived the dream. City hopping as her career developed, working her dream job, surrounded by friends and family and topped off by her husband and daughter. Orlagh was lucky and grateful.

Then one day, her husband Fraser received a Motor Neuron Disease diagnosis that turned their world up...

Scott Jenkins didn’t want to find himself at the age of 80 looking back at his life wondering what more he could have done with it, what more he could have achieved and the people he could have helped along the way.

Scott grew up in Wales and reached a turning point at the age of 30 where he decided to do something big, something that would have an impact on his life but also on lives around him. Himself and his brother decided to r...

Beulah Coombs was born in Jamaica in 1949 and at the age of 8 she moved to Manchester following her parents who had moved their to help rebuild England after the war. She is part of the Windrush Generation. The world she encountered was much different to what she imagined and the welcome she received was tainted by ignorance as she strove to make an impact in her new surroundings.

But make an impact she did as Beulah ignored the rac...

Lawrence Cowan set out in politics determined to change lives but his life took an unexpected turn when his best friend, Gordon Aikman, was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease. It was too late for Gordon but together they were determined to positively impact the lives of future MND sufferers.

From Gordon Brown to Nicola Sturgeon, Lawrence and his friends energised Scottish politics to change Scottish Healthcare for the bet...

Elaine Garrigues O'Neill grew up in Ireland but her eyes were always firmly fixed on a life further afield. When she graduated from University she moved to France and set about becoming as French as the French themselves.

She set about honing her translation skills in the corporate world before realising she would much rather be her own boss. With little more than a few contacts, a large helping of bravery and a willi...

Vicki Duffendack was a typical South Dublin woman, she grew up interested in boys, having fun with friends and seeing the world. She travelled across the globe as a nanny, working hard and partying just as hard.

In Australia, she found love and got engaged but when that didn't last she looked for love on Instagram... well what she thought was love. Her quest for likes and followers brought her to Bali but her obsessi...

Serendipity and chance encounters brought Inka and Iason together, their shared interests blossomed into a romance that is now three years down the road. As their relationship developed their boundaries fell as they opened up to each other and realized a shared dream.

The dream of one day creating music with their partner… that day arrived and so The Zorbas was born.

The Zorbas is a mixture of music, cinema, design, story telling… an...

The events we experience throughout our lives shape who we are and how we look at the world. As we move through life we learn and adapt and change because of what we have been through.

Inka Malovic was conceived in the Congo, born in Bosnia, grew up in Algeria and when war broke out in both Yugoslavia and Algeria she settled with her family in Canada.

As she moved from one place to the next she became a sponge in her new environment,...

The vast majority of us follow a well-trodden path when it comes to what we do with our lives, we may take an unexpected diversion here and there but by and large we follow in the footsteps of where others have gone before. 

Stephen Carton grew up in Dublin, went to school in Dublin and completed a degree and masters in Engineering in Trinity College… you can probably fill in the gaps from here, right?

Wrong?

A chance encounter as a F...

I think it is interesting to hear what people wanted to be when they were children because it gives an insight into what they were like then and as their story unfolds we can get a sense of how they have developed.

The truth is, most of us give up on that childhood dream early on, but not everybody does…

James Timmons always wanted to be a footballer. It informed how he spent his lunch time break, where he went to university and enco...

The world is made up of characters, that’s what makes it so interesting. We all approach life in slightly different ways leading to experiences and stories that help us to stay connected with one another. 

Rebecca Proctor has always been sure of who she was and where she was going… she may not necessarily have known how it was going to turn out but she wasn’t going to shrink to the shadows.

Whether that was on the stage bringing joy ...