I'll Start Monday - S3E2: Quitting Smoking

In this episode, I'll Start Monday takes a look at the science behind addiction, focusing on cigarettes, and with the help of neuroscientist Dr Sabina Brennan and a former smoker, Marion Potts. Dr Brennan is returning guest, who appeared on the very first season of the show for a fascinating conversation about boosting brain health. She’s a health psychologist, neuroscientist, author of the bestselling book, Beating Brain Fog, and host of the Super Brain podcast. Marion is a former radio producer joining us from Donegal. She recently won her battle against cigarettes with the help of the HSE Quit programme and has since shared her inspirational story in the hope that others can do the same. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Keith is talking about mindfulness, which is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but which you might have trouble trying to define. To help with that is Níall Ó Murchú, a wellness expert with over 20 years of experience across numerous different techniques and practices, including reiki, herbalism and shamanic healing. Lately his focus has been on the power of breathing and how we can use it to improve all aspects of our wellbeing. In 2022 he published his first book, The Blissful Breath, which focuses on simple breathing techniques that take just 10 minutes a day - which makes him an ideal guest for I’ll Start Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode of I'll Start Monday is all about money management - a topic many of us are taking an even keener interest in these days, as the cost of living crisis rages on at home and abroad. Unfortunately, money is also a tricky and uncomfortable topic so even if we are struggling, it can be hard to actually reach out and ask for help. Money mentor and life coach Santis O’Garro is joining me today to share some of her wisdom on the topic, and hopefully give us some useful advice on making our money go further. Best-known for her YouTube channel, The Caribbean Dub, Santis is obsessed with saving people money after coming up with the ingenious Budgeting Mindset Planner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of I'll Start Monday, guest Emma Dowling joins Keith to talk health and fitness - something a lot of us struggle with and worry about on a daily basis. Life is busy, so it can be difficult to carve out the time to look after ourselves the way we know we should, which is something Emma, a mother of three, understands only too well. A personal trainer who specialises in prenatal, postnatal and female fitness, Emma started The Empowered Mama after giving birth to her first child and discovering that there was very little information available for postpartum women looking to get back into exercise, sports or just getting back to feeling strong and stable post pregnancy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Keith is joined by two guests to discuss smoking – or rather, quitting smoking. Tracey Kerr, from Louth, and Conor Hiney, from Laois, both kicked the habit within the last couple of years and share their experience of breaking the addiction with the nelp of NRTs. As an ex-smoker himself, Keith is well aware of the challenges, so the three were able to have a fantastic discussion with plenty of great advice for anyone considering making their own quit attempt. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

These days, Brian Pennie is a speaker and lecturer with a PhD in neuroscience from Trinity College, Dublin, as well as the author of Bonus Time – but a decade ago he was in a very different place as he struggled with a 15-year addiction to heroin. Brian joins Keith to discuss habits, specifically how we can overcome bad habits and replace them with good ones. His story is remarkable, and it’s hard to imagine someone better suited to this topic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Keith is joined by Sinéad Hingston, who shares her personal experience of loss and how she was able to overcome grief and help others do the same Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pat Divilly talks to Keith about conquering procrastination Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nurse and mum of three Lynda Quigley offers top advice on parenting Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Denise Kenny Byrne talks about how to cope with change and have a positive outlook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices