TABOO

In this episode Fiona and Ciarán share their personal journeys through separation and divorce, exploring stigma, gendered assumptions, and the failures of the legal system. They discuss practical choices—co-parenting, solicitor interactions—and how communication and support can reshape outcomes for families.

Both parties reflect on the emotional work of letting go, finding compassion, and rebuilding life with hope, offering candid ...

In this candid conversation, Fiona and Ciaran share their personal journeys through separation and divorce, exploring the grief, the hard decisions, and the impact on children and family life.

They discuss the role of support, the work of healing and self-discovery, and offer honest reassurance that, despite the pain, life can be rebuilt into a happier and healthier next chapter.

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An intimate episode tracing one man’s path from a Catholic childhood to atheism, reflecting on his mother’s faith, family trauma, and the influence of the Church in Ireland.

The conversation covers school experience, clergy abuse, gender roles, the comfort religion can bring, and how modern life fills spiritual gaps. Fiona finishes up by inviting listeners to reflect and suggest future topics.

ABOUT THE HOST

Dr. Fiona Barry is a ...

A warm, reflective episode shared the day before Christmas Eve exploring rest, connection, and the pressures of modern life. Fiona thanks frontline workers, describes simple holiday preparations, and reads a powerful post about maternal cognitive load — urging partners to help and mothers to rest. The episode closes with compassion for those grieving and a poignant poem honouring lost loved ones.

ABOUT THE HOST

Dr. Fiona Barry is...

Episode 15 of Taboo features Chinese herbalist and practitioner Kathleen Dowd discussing the COVID pandemic from a clinician’s perspective. Fiona and Kathleen recount early cases, lockdowns, and frontline experiences treating respiratory illness with herbal medicine.

The conversation covers contentious topics including early treatment options (like ivermectin), concerns about mRNA vaccines and manufacturing, censorship of dissentin...

Part two of Breda’s story follows her life after childhood sexual abuse and focuses on her experiences navigating medical care. She describes triggering encounters during hospital stays, physiotherapy and mammograms, and explains why healthcare must become trauma-informed so patients feel respected and safe.

Breda calls for mandatory trauma training for all healthcare staff, better communication and consent around touch, and a syst...

To protect the identity of today's guest, we have altered her voice. This has been done in such a way as to not compromise the quality of the recording, nor the content of the recording.

This episode features Breda, who shares her harrowing experience of prolonged childhood sexual abuse by a family member, the family silence that followed, the long-term effects on her relationships and mental health, and her journey toward healing ...

In this emotional episode Fiona speaks with breast cancer survivor Treasa and medical tattooist Aislinn about diagnosis, treatment, reconstruction, and the long path back to identity and confidence.

They explore practical supports—wigs, prosthetics, scar revision and areola tattooing—the role of family and counselling, and the transformative impact of compassionate, specialist care.

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Aislinn Horgan is a registered nurs...

After taking time off to truly switch off and reset, Fiona returns for Episode 12 of Taboo with a deeply honest and uplifting conversation featuring Moira Geary, known as The Recombobulator.

Moira shares her powerful personal story — from years of anxiety, shame, and self-doubt to creating QTT (Quantum Thinking Transformation) and helping others reclaim their confidence and purpose. Together, Fiona and Moira explore the importance ...

This episode follows Michael’s candid account of losing his father to suicide at 16, stepping into a caretaker role, and finding support in friends and family while navigating grief.

He discusses his mixed experiences with professional help, how medication affected his creativity, and how these events shaped his identity, relationships and resilience.

Michael shares practical takeaways: grief changes but eases with time, lean on fr...

In this episode, Fiona and her nephew Michael recount the day Michael learned his father, John, had died by suicide and explore the profound impact on a family of five children.

They discuss the events leading up to the death, including economic and mental health struggles, the shock and fragmentation that followed, and how the family coped and found resilience over time.

ABOUT THE HOST

Dr. Fiona Barry is a distinguished healthca...

In this episode Nathalie Lennon shares her honest journey from social-media-fuelled fitness and aesthetic obsession to overtraining, injury and hypothalamic amenorrhea, and the long road back to recovery.

She discusses the mental-health impact of diet culture, the role of social media and family messages, and how she now coaches holistically to help clients prioritize long-term health over short-term looks.

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Nathalie is ...

In this episode psychotherapist Paul O' Beirne joins Fiona to explore sexual health and intimacy across the lifespan, covering topics from phimosis and pornography's impact on teenagers to performance anxiety and reconnecting with your sexual self. They discuss practical tools like sensate focus, compassionate communication, and how to redefine sex beyond performance and penetration. Tune in for candid, judgment-free conversation a...

In this impactful episode of Taboo, host Fiona invites renowned sex and intimacy coach Sarah Rose Bright to delve into a revolutionary conversation about the need to redefine societal attitudes towards sex. Sarah shares her journey from fear and shame around sex to empowerment and fulfillment, highlighting how she now guides individuals and couples in transforming their sexual experiences into profound and pleasurable connections.

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Welcome back to part two of 'When Love Hurts: Understanding Toxic Family Dynamics'. Join us as Fiona and guest Katie McKenna delve into how historical and cultural influences have shaped family relationships in Ireland. Explore the profound impact of past traumas on current dynamics, and the journey of awareness and healing. Through insightful conversation, they uncover the path to recognizing dysfunctional patterns, the process of...

In this episode of the Taboo podcast, we delve into the complex and often unspoken dynamics of family relationships with special guest Katie McKenna. Host Fiona is joined by Katie, an insightful voice in understanding family toxicity, to explore the deeply rooted cultural and religious values in Ireland that can perpetuate less-than-ideal family dynamics.

Together, they discuss the central role family plays in Irish culture, emphas...

In this powerful episode of the "Taboo" podcast, we delve into a deeply personal story that exposes the complexities and challenges of navigating the fertility industry. Our guest shares her six-year-long journey through fertility treatments, highlighting the emotional and financial toll of dealing with clinics that often prioritize profits over patient care. With voice alteration to protect her identity, she candidly discusses key...

In this episode, we welcome Virginia Foley, a strategic visionary and business coach dedicated to female empowerment. Virginia shares her journey of overcoming generational trauma, focusing on how digging into her past revealed unforeseen strengths and insights. As the founder of Up She Rises, she blends business strategy with spirituality, supporting women globally in finding balance between career ambitions and personal fulfillme...

Welcome to another deeply moving episode of Taboo. Today, we dive into an intimate conversation between a mother and daughter, exploring the sensitive journey of parental separation and divorce. Join us as Lena Sharkey, a bright and insightful arts student, shares her personal experiences and profound insights navigating her parents' divorce from the age of 13.

Together, they unpack complex emotions and discuss the unspoken dynamic...