In the late ’80's she went to Lisbon "for six months” for a job and never looked back.

In the intervening years, she has become a devoted student of the Alexander Technique, a reader of Zen philosophy, and - after studying in Paris - became certified in Integrated Practice.

Katharine believes that our artistic endeavours add meaning to our lives while contributing—in ways large or small—to the treasures of human invention.

Her burning desire to help others find the freedom to create in their own way, has led her to offer her wisdom, experience, and expertise as a coach. You can find ouit more about Katharine, her work, and her approach to coaching on her website, and you can also find her on Instagram.

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She has been shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year three times, and twice for Irish Teen and YA Novel of the Year. Her second YA novel, Something's About to Blow Up was Winner of the International Education Services Teen & YA Novel of the Year 2024. Her latest adult thriller, The Killing Sense, came out in January 2025 and is a No 1 bestseller.

Follow Sam on social @samblakebooks or find out more at www.samblakebooks.com, where you can join her Reader's Club and receive her adult thriller High Pressure for free.

Vanessa is also the founder of Europe's biggest writing resources website, the award winning writing.ie, the Writers Ink online writing group and Murder One, Ireland's International Crime Writing Festival. She is currently Chair of the board of the Society of Authors, and previously was Chair of Irish PEN and a board member of the Crime Writers Association. Having developed a range of initiatives in the writing world, Vanessa is a champion for emerging writers, working with agents and publishers, both in the UK and Ireland, spotting new talent.

Among the things we discuss are the sewers off Paris - which you can find out more about here. We also mentioned the book, Perfume by Patrick Süskind more than once. If you are interested in getting your own copy, it is available here.

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Barbara is a writer, author, broadcaster, agony aunt, feminist, mother, wife, stand-up comedian, and friend. In this episode (which we could call "Shit Central"!) we talk about her book (Wise Up), her stand-up comedy show, her regular slot with Seán Moncrieff, on Newstalk, and her take on life post-menopause.

You can try your luck getting tickets for Barbara's stand up show at Dalkey Comedy Festival here, listen to her agony aunting here, buy her book here, find her on BlueSky, and follow her on Insta. Barbara's website can be found by clicking this link.

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You can find out more about Anne and her books on her website.

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For more than ten years, Angela has been an expert and lecturer with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and developed the communication standards for the IAEA’s Corporate Operational Safety Review Team (OSART) program. Now, she is a multi-award winning writer. I've got to admit that Angela writes in a genre that I don't normally read, but I was drawn in by both the plot, and the characters, in this book. (You can get your own copy here).

To learn more about Angela, check out her website here: https://www.angelagreenman.com/

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Currently, she is touring various venues around Ireland with Quintessence Theatre's The Curious Case of Albert Cashier. You can find out more about Albert here, and you can find out about the remaining tour dates here.

As a writer, Ceara's first radio play, Frizzy Lizzy was produced by RTÉ, and aired most recently in September of this year. Ceara's day job is also in the Theatre, as she is part of the team at Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin.

Outside of Theatre, Ceara is a passionate environmental activist - creating and participating in spectacle displays with Extinction Rebellion Ireland. She also produces her own podcast, Book of Leaves, which concerns itself with sustainable living.

The books we mentioned during our chat were 'Humankind A Hopeful History' and 'Utopia for Realists And How We Can Get There', both written by Rutger Bregman; and 'Why Women Are Poorer Than Men and What We Can Do About It' by Annabelle Williams.

If you would like to contact Ceara, you can contact her through her agency.

Finally - I must apologise for the audio in this episode - I had twitchy WiFi at some points in the recording. I do hope that doesn't affect your listening pleasure too much.

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Outside of work, Máire loves to travel, dance, and eat pink grapefruits. Not necessarily all at the same time.

The inner smile meditation Máire refers to can be found here on her website. It is free to download.

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You can follow Rosemary on Twitter @rosemary_murphy

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My guest this week is Dr Claire Cunnington.

Claire is a researcher at the Department of Sociological Studies, University of Sheffield, UK and a survivor of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). She is interested in interpersonal violence, inequality and stigma, with a particular focus on CSA and trauma. Her Wellcome Trust funded doctoral research asked adults recovering from CSA what helped and hindered their recovery. She is currently working on a Nuffield funded project looking at domestic violence and child protection. She has also made the film 'Flow' about CSA disclosure which was selected for the Birmingham International Film Festival and the Women Deliver WD2023 Arts & Film Festival. She blogs at www.clairecunnington.com, tweets @Cunning_Claire and is also on mastodon @DrC@mastodon.online

The film that Claire refers to can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU82VgDWfmE - Film: Flow

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As a psychosexual therapist, clients come to her for therapy to discuss any and every aspect of sexuality incl. sexual disorders, anxiety, fetishes, sexual blocks, pornography, menopause, shame, empowerment and many unspoken sensitive and hidden aspects of human sexuality. It is truly a privilege to be part of deep, vulnerable and intimate conversations that are part of a transformation process for those in therapy.  

Prior to becoming a Psychotherapist, Orlagh trained for many years in Complementary Health Therapy and Spirituality and now incorporates this experience into providing clients with a holistic and integrative perspective on problems.

Orlagh is a passionate advocate for women's health issues and regularly contributes to nationwide media topics on mental and sexual health. She has a blog called the Vaginismus Series for women experiencing Vaginismus symptoms and painful intimacy.   Her website is www.orlaghreid.com

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Her books include:

'She of the Sea', 'Creatrix: she who makes', 'Medicine Woman: reclaiming the soul of healing', 'Burning Woman'. Her book 'Moon Time' - about harnessing the energy of your menstrual cycle - has a companion book, called 'Reaching for the Moon', for girls aged 9-14.

Lucy is the founder of Womancraft Publishing, which publishes transformational books by women, for women, and a vibrant visual artist, and painter of lost archetypes of the feminine.

Her website is: www.lucyhpearce.com

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Consie is a Creativity Coach and Teacher who uses art journaling and mixed media to express the ideas living in her mind. She believes that we should always be learning, growing, trying, failing and embracing the process. As a teacher of creativity in many forms for more than twenty years she has taught in-person and online art classes to many hundreds of women. She feels that her job is to show her community by example that they are creative. She wants everyone to know that we can find freedom, playfulness, and joy by slapping down some paint, gluing magazine pages to a piece of paper, adding doodling & marks, finding a quote that screams...'THIS IS HOW I FEEL TODAY!'...and calling it good enough.

We spoke about Art, being an artist, whether or not creativity can be taught - and Consie shared several ideas which inspired me, and had me reaching for paper and colours!

Details about how to work with Consie can be found here: https://atopserenityhill.teachable.com/courses

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She holds an MA in Children’s Literature from Hollins University and has an abiding passion for discussing and dissecting fairy tales. Her graduate thesis, Never Having Seen a Bird, was a musical re-telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” through a disability activist and sex-positive feminist lens.

She also works as an authenticity reader for Penguin Random House and has evaluated manuscripts from major authors for accurate portrayals of disability, bisexuality, and clinical depression. Her other freelance job, which uses her theater background and her lifelong fascination with psychology, is sex work.

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Emine is a Feminist, and Activist, an Artist, a wife, a mother, a businessperson, and a wonderful, warm, human being. I am blessed and honoured to call her a friend.

In this episode of Woman Up, Emine talks to me about Art, and the Art of Manifesting. What better way to start 2023 than thinking about what you want to bring forth into your life in the new year?

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Her book 'The Birthkeeper of Bethlehem' concerns itself with Bridget's imagining of Jesus's midwife. As Bridget tells it, she was out walking her dogs one day when the character of a woman came - fully-formed - into her mind, and introduced herself as 'Salomé - Jesus's midwife'.

Imagine Bridget's surprise when, months after she'd published her book, an excavation that took place just west of Jerusalem discovered the tomb of the woman who is thought to have assisted at the birth of Jesus Christ. Her name? Salomé. You can read more here.

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/20/excavations-reveal-pilgrims-lamps-and-inscriptions-at-tomb-of-salome-jesus-christ

'The Birthkeeper of Bethlehem' also contains the most sensitive (and sensible) lay-person's explanation of Dementia I have ever come across.

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Having experienced menopause at an early age, Sian set out to help as many women as possible through menopause coaching and mentoring. She wants women to embrace their second act and thrive in the life and career they deserve.

The book she referred to is 'Everything you need to know about menopause, but were afraid to ask' by Katie Muir.

You can contact Sian here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sian-carter/

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Her very first book - which she refers to early on in this podcast - is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=9780749434359&i=stripbooks&linkCode=qs&ref=nav_signin

As well as being a multi-award winning writer, Denise is a nurse, and a ceramics restorer.

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You can find her on Twitter: @siobhkanga, and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhkanga/ 

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Jane is a Research, Policy, Advocacy and Legal Consultant, working in the area of criminal justice, penal policy, and social justice. In addition, she has

addressed the UN Committee against Torture on human rights issues in prison, the Justice Sub-Committee on Penal Reform on proposed bail reform, at the Fair Trials’ Expert Seminar on Pre-trial Detention in London and the Bail and Jail event at Harvard Law. Jane has also delivered several keynote addresses in Ireland and abroad.

A podcast host herself, Jane's award-winning production is called “Law and Justice”. There is a spin-off of this podcast, available on YouTube. Called “How to talk policy and influence people” Jane and her interviewees address the subjects of attachment; the harmful impact of childhood adversity; embodied trauma and structural inequity; and the importance of cultivating safety and relational health for individual and societal wellbeing.

You can contact Jane on Twitter: @janehmul

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-mulcahy-45536a8a/

You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/@JaneMulcahy/featured

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Joanna is a highly experienced and qualified clinician in the field of psychotherapy. She has over 20 years' of clinical experience, and specialises in trauma recovery therapy, and repair of ruptured attachment therapy.

An experienced and in-demand trainer in her field, Joanna delivers a series of one day training seminars that cover a broad range of topics. She is also the only certified Theraplay Trainer in Ireland. 

She is also an experienced media contributor - contributing to print, audio, and visual media. Further, she is the weekly parenting consultant on the parenting slot on Newstalk FM's Sean Moncrieff Show. She is a regular contributor to a variety of national and regional radio and TV programs.

Why We Play is Joanna's fourth published book.

For more information, or to make an inquiry / book training for your business, school or organisation, please email info@solamh.com.

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Suzanne is a Professor of Public Health & Anthropology, and she teaches doctors, nurses, and midwives. Her area of research is sexual and reproductive health and she is also a midwife with clinical experience in community health, women’s health, family planning, refugee health, and alternative birth systems. She also researches the sociology and anthropology of health, the social and cultural context of sexual and reproductive health, gender and violence against women.

She laments the fact that the clitoris is not well researched or celebrated. Suzanne finds it alarming that the representation of the clitoris in medical texts is not detailed, and often factually incorrect. Suzanne's a solution-focused powerhouse, so she founded Anatomical Education. Through this company, she works with medical scientists to produce models aimed at increasing sexual health literacy. Anatomical Education produces educational materials complementing the models that can be used by health and wellbeing professionals, as well as members of the public. You can find out more, and buy your own clitoris here: https://anatomicaleducation.org/

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Delphine is a psychotherapist, psycho-spiritual coach and intuitive guide. 

She works with adults one-to-one, and facilitates online women's circles and corporate workshops, on themes related to embodied mindfulness, consciousness, personal development and self-care for authentic, creative living.

She especially enjoys working with empathic, intuitive women on alchemising fear and self-doubt into deeper self-trust.

So they can follow their true desires and inner knowing, and feel free to enjoy life on their own terms - be it in their key relationships, their work, public communications or creations.

Delphine was raised bilingual in English and French. She has lived and worked in different countries and has extensive experience of working with people from diverse backgrounds, as a therapist, coach, consultant, caseworker, volunteer, trainer and facilitator. 

With a background in communications, and over twelve years in advocacy and social justice work in Ireland, including migration, children’s rights, women’s rights and mental health, Delphine brings an understanding of systemic inequalities and socio-cultural factors to her work.

She is passionate about supporting people to develop the inner resources and resilience to express their authentic voice and true potential, and to achieve positive change in their personal lives and communities.

Connect with Delphine:

www.embodymytruth.com

Join the 'Inner Oracle Sanctuary' free FB Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/InnerOracleSanctuary

Download free resources: https://embodymytruth.vipmembervault.com/

Purchase self-study course: 'Disarming your Inner Critic': https://embodymytruth.com/resources/innercritic

Listeners to the podcast can avail of a 10% discount by entering the code Womanup at the checkout.

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This week, on Woman Up!, I'm joined by Joy-Tendai Kengere.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Joy-Tendai arrived in Ireland at the beginning of this century, lured by the shiny promises of the Celtic Tiger. She was hopeful that - given this nation's experience of colonialism - there would be a rejection of racism here. Of course, she was wrong. Within weeks of arriving, she was told to go back where she came from, and she found it very difficult to secure employment that made use of education, skills, and talents. Joy-Tendai, however, is nothing if not tenacious.

As the mother of two young children, she returned to education, completing her BL at UCD. Afterwards, having been awarded the prestigious Denham Scholarship, she trained as a barrister at King's Inns. She has just been appointed as a lecturer at UCD.

In addition, she is a passionate advocate for life-long learning and was formerly on the board of Aontas.

Joy-Tendai also writes for the Irish Independent:https://www.independent.ie/opinion/independent-journalists/joy-tendai-kangere/

Sadly, she has also experienced very traumatic losses in her life. Her father died when she was still in her teens, and her last baby died shortly after birth in 2013 - an event that nearly cost Joy-Tendai her own life. As October is Baby Loss and Awareness Month, we spoke a bit about that experience as well. If you would like to access support around the issue of baby loss, please contact Feileachain (https://feileacain.ie).

You can contact Joy-Tendai on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JTFlamelily

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I think this may be the most times in one hour that I have uttered the word 'lovely' - but I'm not sure.

Apart from knowing an awful lot about village live, Barbara is the managing editor and owner of Women Writers, Women’s Books.

She blogs about Village Life on her website https://chicaderock.wordpress.com/

Follow her on Twitter.@chicaderock

Women Writers Website www.booksbywomen.org

Twitter @womenwriters

Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/WWWBMagazine 

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Niamh is Director at axis: Ballymun, a producing and receiving venue and an arts development organisation. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies and Modern Irish from Trinity College Dublin. Over the past ten years she has worked as a freelancer, a programmer and a producer. Recent production credits include ‘#minefield’ and ‘Charlie’s a Clepto’ by Clare Monnelly, ‘They Windy Lady’ by Pom Boyd, ‘Granuaile, Pirate Queen’ by Gabrielle Breathnach and Veronica Coburn, ‘The Hijabi Monologues’ with The British Council and The Immigrant Council of Ireland, ‘Waiting for Elvis’ by Eileen Gibbons, and ‘The Parting Glass’ (national tour, New York, Paris, Stockholm).

Prior to her work with axis she worked as a freelance facilitator and project co-ordinator for primary schools and for the HSE. Niamh was a participant on the U.S. State Department’s IVLP Program exploring social change through the arts, and the Intercultural Cities programme with the Council of Europe. She is a former board member of Arts & Disability Ireland, Theatre Forum Ireland, Fíbín Teo and TEAM Educational Theatre Co. and is currently a board member of The Ireland United States Alumni Association.

She was awarded a bursary to participate in the Next Generation programme at Ón The Edge global gathering of Theatre for Young Audiences in Birmingham, and was awarded a French Language Bursary to study at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM8kNHDBycg&list=PLVuakbopIp0G5a6RMkqxlfcwj_u5EwLyN&index=1

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Jane is a Black, Brazilian, Social Scientist, Activist, and the chair of Au Pair Rights, Ireland. For over ten years, Jane has been very much involved in social justice issues - particularly those relating to migrants. In this episode, Jane talks to me about being grief, loss, racism, being a Black woman in Ireland, and how she ended up here in the first place.

A yoga teacher, healer, foodie, and cat lover, Jane can be found on Twitter @JaneJanebx, and Instagram @janejanebx.

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Aoife Martin is an IT professional, and recreational swimmer who writes a regular column for The Journal. Aoife has a voracious appetite for culture; books and movies in particular.

Aoife sits on the Board of Directors of TENI (Transgender Equality Network, Ireland) as their vice-chairperson. As well as TheJournal.ie, her articles have appeared in the Irish Times, Image Magazine, Irish Tatler and several other publications.

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