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The Laura Dowling Experience

The Laura Dowling Experience

Auteur(s): Laura Dowling
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 Conversations about health, science, wellness, life, love, sex and everything in-between. Laura is a Pharmacist who loves to talk to interesting people about their unique life and work experiences. See @fabulouspharmacist on instagram for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

© 2025 The Laura Dowling Experience Hygiène et mode de vie sain Psychologie Psychologie et santé mentale Sciences sociales
Épisodes
  • Aoife Dunne: Ayahuasca, Grief and an Unexpected Route into Comedy

    Aoife Dunne: Ayahuasca, Grief and an Unexpected Route into Comedy
    Mar 12 2026
    🎧 Episode Description


    Laura sits down with comedian Aoife Dunne for an honest and humorous conversation about everything from grief and fear to the unexpected turns life can take.


    Aoife opens up about the sudden loss of her mum while she was backpacking in her early twenties - a moment that changed the course of her life. After spending time in therapy and trying to make sense of the fear she carried, she eventually travelled to Brazil and took part in an ayahuasca ceremony with the hope of letting go of something she felt was holding her back.


    Alongside moments of humour, Aoife speaks candidly about fear, self-doubt, and what can happen when we stop trying to control every step of the journey. She shares how her unusual route into comedy emerged from years of searching, reflection, and gradually learning to trust where life might lead her.


    🔑 Key Points


    Losing her mum while travelling

    Aoife reflects on receiving the news of her mother’s death while backpacking in her twenties and the shock of navigating grief far from home.


    Learning to live with loss

    Aoife talks about how grief shaped her twenties and how it continued to influence the way she approached life and relationships.


    The fear that held her back

    Aoife talks about the deep sense of fear she carried for many years - something she felt stopped her from fully pursuing the things she wanted in life.


    Travelling to Brazil for an ayahuasca ceremony

    Aoife explains why she eventually chose to take part in the ceremony and what she hoped to release.


    An unusual route into comedy

    Aoife reflects on how she ended up performing comedy despite never initially seeing it as her path.


    A new perspective on what matters

    Aoife reflects on how grief and reflection helped her appreciate the deeper value of love, relationships and everyday life.


    📚 Mentioned in this Episode


    Aoife Dunne – Official Website & Tour Dates

    Find Aoife’s upcoming shows, including her stand-up show Good Grief, and buy tickets here:

    https://aoifedunnecomedy.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGncw1_OANO5trgzPuPL8lgOyBgmPgZt5OmJPMsxM0zj5P22v0kv5jsSqtynaw_aem_CrTmYABNtRBRDzzKsiU62g


    Aoife Dunne on Instagram

    Follow Aoife for updates, clips and tour announcements:

    https://www.instagram.com/aoife_is_never_dunne/


    ⏱️ Timestamps


    00:00 – Introduction and meeting Aoife Dunne

    06:00 – Growing up, family stories and humour

    12:30 – “Aoife Dunne is a slut”

    18:40 – Losing her mum while travelling in South America

    27:00 – The lasting impact of grief

    33:10 – Argentinian men vs Irish men

    44:00 – Deciding to try ayahuasca in Brazil

    50:30 – The emotional experience during the ceremony

    58:20 – A new way of seeing her life

    01:11:40 – An unusual path into comedy

    01:28:00 – Not needing a perfect life plan

    01:45:30 – The pressure of expectations in your thirties

    Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    2 h et 9 min
  • Why I Left Stockbroking to Sell Cars From My Drive with Nadia Adan

    Why I Left Stockbroking to Sell Cars From My Drive with Nadia Adan
    Mar 5 2026
    🎧 Episode Description


    Arriving in Ireland from Somalia as a child after years of displacement, Nadia grew up watching her mother sacrifice everything to create stability through education. That path led her into finance and onto a trading floor surrounded by high earners and high pressure — a version of success that looked impressive but never fully felt aligned.


    What began with selling her own 08 BMW after a disappointing dealer offer gradually turned into something bigger. From selling cars on her drive to leasing a yard just before the pandemic, Nadia shares the discipline, doubt, criticism and resilience behind building Ashford Motors.


    🔑 Key Points


    Displacement and Determination

    Nadia shares how early instability and migration shaped her resilience.


    The Weight of Expectation

    Growing up with a mother who sacrificed everything created both pressure and motivation.


    Success That Didn’t Feel Like Success

    Despite qualifying as a stockbroker, something felt missing.


    An Accidental Entrepreneurial Spark

    Selling her own BMW revealed a different path.


    Building From Her Own Drive

    Before Ashford Motors, she was learning, reinvesting, and doing everything herself.


    The Shock of the Pandemic

    Opening a yard just before lockdown threatened the business before it had momentum.


    Visibility Through Social Media

    Turning to TikTok became a lifeline when no one knew who she was.


    Choosing Belief Over Approval

    Receiving SIMI accreditation marked a turning point in confidence.


    📚 Mentioned in this Episode


    Ashford Motors – Founded by Nadia, a luxury and premium car dealership.

    https://www.ashfordmotors.ie/


    Ashford Approved (AM Approved) – Nadia’s second garage, offering more affordable and accessible vehicles alongside her premium range.

    https://www.amapproved.ie/


    SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) – The official representative body for the motor industry in Ireland, providing accreditation and governance standards for dealerships and motor businesses.

    https://www.simi.ie/


    ⏱️ Timestamps


    00:00 – From Somalia to Ireland

    06:30 – Education and the Path Into Finance

    13:00 – Inside the High-Pressure Trading Floor

    21:00 – Reselling the 08 BMW

    29:00 – Reinvesting Profits and Learning the Trade

    36:00 – Opening Ashford Motors

    41:00 – Lockdown Shock

    46:00 – Marketing Through Social Media

    54:00 – Reputation, Criticism and Credibility

    01:01:00 – SIMI Accreditation

    01:08:00 – Building a Business With Discipline

    Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 h et 7 min
  • Understanding Eating Disorders - Control, Shame, and Recovery with Laura Casey

    Understanding Eating Disorders - Control, Shame, and Recovery with Laura Casey
    Feb 26 2026
    🎧 Episode DescriptionEating disorders are complex, layered, and often hidden in plain sight. In this episode, psychiatric nurse Laura Casey helps us understand the difference between disordered eating and a clinically diagnosed eating disorder - and why that distinction matters.Drawing on years of frontline experience, Laura explores the psychological roots of anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, and ARFID. She explains how these illnesses are not about vanity, but instead are coping mechanisms linked to trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, grief, and the need for control. She also sheds light on the physical risks - from refeeding syndrome to bone density loss - and why early intervention dramatically improves the chances of full recovery.Alongside clinical insight, this episode gives voice to the lived experience of those struggling in silence. It addresses stigma within healthcare, the pressure of social media, the rise in cases during COVID, and the heartbreaking reality that Ireland currently has only three public adult inpatient beds.🔑 Key Points1. When Food Becomes an Internal BattleEating disorders often involve a powerful internal voice that overrides rational thinking and drives secrecy, rigidity, and isolation.2. ARFID and NeurodivergenceAvoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is increasingly recognised, particularly in neurodivergent individuals, and deserves equal seriousness and support.3. The Role of Trauma and AnxietyExperiences such as grief, bullying, family breakdown, or suppressed emotions can contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviours.4. The Hidden Physical TollMalnourishment affects cognition, heart function, bone health, sleep, fertility, and digestion - and purging behaviours can cause serious internal damage.5. Why Families MatterFamily dynamics can influence recovery - both positively and negatively - and family therapy can play a crucial role in long-term progress.6. Relapse Is a Blip, Not a FailureRecovery can include setbacks. Early warning signs and relapse prevention planning are key to sustaining progress.7. Stigma Within HealthcareMany people feel dismissed or reduced to their diagnosis when seeking treatment - highlighting the need for holistic, compassionate care.📚 Mentioned in This EpisodeDSM-5 - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersICD Codes - International Classification of DiseasesEating DisordersAnorexia nervosa/Bulimia nervosa/Binge Eating Disorder/Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder - ARFIDhttps://www2.hse.ie/conditions/anorexia-nervosa/Refeeding SyndromeCBT - Cognitive Behavioural TherapyDBT - Dialectical Behaviour TherapyBodywhys - The Eating Disorders Association of Irelandhttps://bodywhys.ie/+353 01 210 7906Samaritans Irelandjo@samaritans.ieFreephone: 116 123Pieta HouseFreephone: 1800 247 2470818 111 126HSE Eating Disorder Teams (Public Health)1800 111 888(Referral must be made through GP)Lois Bridges (Private/Self pay/HSE funding)manager@loisbridges.iewww.loisbridges.ie+353 87 653 9747CARED Ireland(Caring About Recovery from an Eating Disorder)CAREDireland@gmail.comSupporting Familieszuzanna.deirdre@gmail.comFamily TherapistLana Galkovskajainfo@loisbridges.ie⏱️ Timestamps03:00 – Disordered Eating vs Eating Disorders07:00 – ARFID and Sensory Restriction13:00 – Trauma, Perfectionism and Control18:30 – Medical Risks and Refeeding24:00 – Specialist Therapies and Medication29:30 – The Gap in Irish Services34:00 – What Parents and Friends Can Do40:00 – Relapse Prevention and WRAP Planning46:00 – Hope at Any Stage of LifeThanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 h et 11 min
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