Everybody Is A Poem

Just a quick message from Jan to say no new episodes of Everybody Is A Poem while she takes some time to work on book number 2. Keep an eye on her Instagram @jbgoodtome and @thisheadstuff for updates on season two of the podcast. Don't forget, you can subscribe to Behind The Lines by joining the Headstuff+ community .  Go to https://headstuffpodcasts.com/register to find out more. Thank you so much listening, all the episodes from season 1 are available to share and listen on Headstuffpodcasts.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

Season one is ending with a sneak peek behind the lines . . . In this very special edition of Behind The Lines, Jan reads 'Remember To Be Kind To Yourself' from her book What Day Is It? who gives a f ck. Jans tells the story behind the lines of the poem inspired by toxic positivity. As season 1 of Everybody Is A Poem draws to a close, here's a very special episode of 'Behind The Lines' the bonus subscriber-only show from Jan Brierton and The Headstuff Podcast Network. For access to more episodes of Behind The Lines and bonus content from all of the Headstuff Podcast Network shows go to :  https://headstuffpodcasts.com/register

Season one is ending with a sneak peek behind the lines . . . In this very special edition of Behind The Lines, Jan reads 'Poet Idol' from her book What Day Is It? who gives a f ck. Jans tells the story behind the lines of the poem inspired by Roisin Ingle. As season 1 of Everybody Is A Poem draws to a close, here's a very special episode of 'Behind The Lines' the bonus subscriber-only show from Jan Brierton and The Headstuff Podcast Network. For access to more episodes of Behind The Lines and bonus content from all of the Headstuff Podcast Network shows go to : https://headstuffpodcasts.com/register

My guest this week on the Season 1 finale of Everybody Is A Poem is comedian and writer Julie Jay.  I read Julie a new poem 'Through Love' and with natural generosity, warmth and humour, Julie talks falling in love, getting the shift in the smoking section and marriage. "I think love is in the granular when you're married" Julie tells me about her fascination with Britney Spears and her current live show 'Oops This Is Toxic' , the funniest show she has ever done.  It's "comedy with an edge" she says. We chat about her parenting column , the value of writing honestly about being a mammy, and the power in finding your own voice. Come and listen to me and Julie wherever you get your podcasts.  And while I take a short break to work on book number 2 and season 2, you can catch up on all of season 1 at https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/everybody-is-a-poem Stay tuned though for a very special Behind The Lines

My guest this week is Angela Dorgan, we sat down towards the end of last year, and I am so happy to finally share this episode. Angela is a woman full of love , joy and encouragement. She is the CEO of First Music Contact  www.firstmusiccontact a national resource organization for musicians and bands in Ireland. Angela is a powerful advocate for the Irish arts and the Irish music industry internationally ;we spoke about her work with the FMC and her continued passion, pride and commitment to the work that she does  "It's such an honour to do what I do for a living" In 2021 Angela received a breast cancer diagnosis. Following extensive treatment and surgery Angela is doing well and we spoke about her beloved friend Kathy who she lost to cancer in 2018 , the return of her beautfiul hair and the language that is used around cancer. I read Angela a new poem 'Sound Body ' and we celebrate the power of our bodies to heal and deal with all that life throws at it. We discuss how we talk to oursleves about our own bodies, the internal dialogue which isnt always kind "there's only one person guaranteed to be nice to you and that's you !" And as I do with all of my guests, I ask her if I were to write a poem for her what would be the theme. It seems though that her brother the acclaimed Irish poet and author Theo Dorgan has already written Angela as a poem! If you'd like to support the work that goes into making this podcast, please join the Headstuff+ community  Go to https://headstuffpodcasts.com/register to find out more.

"Somebody else's success doesn't cost you anything" It's no surprise at all that Gearoid Farrelly is widely regarded as one of the loveliest men in Irish comedy and media.  Gearoid is a comedian, podcaster and writer and is currently on tour across Ireland and the UK with his Glamour Hammer show. He is whip smart , generous and encouraging.  We talked about his obsession with pop music, our shared love of 5Star, comedy, life being a mix of chaos and calm and his new passion - kombucha. Listen to Gearoids HPN podcasts 'Fascinated' and Agony Rants on Headstuff+ and on all podcasting platforms. https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/agony-rants https://headstuffpodcasts.com/show/fascinated

In this episode of Everybody Is A Poem I chat with Jen Hogan. Jen is an author , an award winning journalist, a regular on our T.V.'s and radios and a  mam of 7. She is passionate about highlighting issues around, and celebrating,  parenting and family life.   I read Jen a new poem ‘Runners’ and we talk about how, in the run up to each one of her child's birthdays she remembers and celebrates the labour and delivery. We talk social media, good advice and her campaign to put an end to homework.    You can sign the Time For Homework To Go petition here : https://www.change.org/p/end-homework-for-primary-school-children?fbclid=IwAR1KfN0AW_UuECS0XPhU8wUpsg7tq7AOzCTZusnCqnZlDVY35Ue7Bw-JHCU   Jen is open and speaks frankly about work life balance with a big family. She is tireless and inspiring and approaches it all – family, work, the social media world with positivity and joy and I loved talking to her!

Eileen McHugh's story is inspirational and full of hope. 'My life is full now' Eileen tells me. At 15 Eileen tried heroin for the first time, this marked the start of her journey through addiction. Today, Eileen is over 14 years free of drugs and focuses her energy and talent on sharing skills with and supporting young people in her community and nationwide. She is CEO of Hair Together, which offers barbering and hairstyling training, and a wellness head start to young people. In 2022 Eileen and her team at Hair Together won the Social Entrepreneur Ireland impact award of €20'000 and she was awarded the global Kevin Murphy Icon Award for her work and commitment to Hair Together. In her own words , these days Eileen ' focuses on what's right and not what's wrong' She talks to me about the work she does with Hair Together and talks openly about her journey through addiction. Find out more at https://www.hairtogether.ie/

Philly McMahon is a multi All-Ireland winner, a successful businessman, an author, an educator, a father, a husband ,a son and brother. In this episode me and Philly share the deeply personal story of having a family member struggle with addiction.  Our stories share similarities; we both lost our brothers, to heroin addiction and we chat about the societal stigma, tough love, the lack of services for support and recovery, and the impact of addiction on families.  Since his brother's death Philly has been a voice for change in social awareness and understanding of addiction. Philly is a passionate and knowledgeable activist, calling for a more compassionate and rounded approach to policy relating to addiction, mental health and recovery services in Ireland. Philly's story is one of triumph in the face of adversity and loss, he is a huge inspiration to me, and our time together really helped me to reframe my own thinking around addiction.  I read Philly a new poem 'The Last Conversation We Never Had' - this chat is raw, and intensely moving. New episodes of Everybody Is A Poem every fortnight.  Subscribe here https://headstuffpodcasts.com/register to listen to bonus show ‘Behind The Lines’ with Jan and her book ‘What Day Is It? who gives a f ck’  Follow Jan on Instagram @jbgoodtome

When I first met Steve Denehan he made me cry and brought a room full of people to their feet. Reading his 'A Poem from my father to my mother' at the launch of Aoibhin Garrihy's Book; a collection of poems 'Every day Is A Fresh Beginning' Steve was full of emotion and fearless in his vulnerability.  Steve is a gentle and thoughtful man, and in this episode of Everybody Is A Poem, me and him talk about being adopted and the search for our birth mothers, feeling like we don't fit in, writing poems, and pop songs verses symphonies.