IMAGE The Motherload

What happens when motherhood doesn't just change your life, but changes your nervous system?This week, Dominique McMullan is joined by psychotherapist Michelle Flynn, who specialises in maternal mental health, perinatal anxiety, birth trauma and somatic therapy.Together they explore matrescence, the profound identity shift that accompanies motherhood, and why so many women feel unprepared for the emotional and psychological transformation that follows having children.Michelle shares both professional expertise and personal experience as they discuss perinatal anxiety, birth trauma, rage, resentment, burnout, perimenopause and the challenges of being constantly "on" as a mother.Most importantly, they dive into the role of the nervous system and the growing field of somatic work, exploring how stress and trauma can become embodied and why healing often requires more than simply talking.IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.

Jen Healy’s story is not an easy one to hear, but it is an important one.In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Jen shares her journey from a childhood shaped by violence, through addiction, abusive relationships and homelessness, to the life she has built today as a mother, business owner and advocate for women’s mental health.This is a conversation about survival, but more importantly, it’s about what comes after survival. About healing, about the nervous system, about learning what safety feels like in your own body.Jen speaks with honesty and clarity about the realities of addiction, the complexity of abusive relationships, and the long road back to self-worth. She also shares the tools she now uses to support other women who feel overwhelmed, dysregulated or disconnected.It’s a story of resilience, yes. But it’s also a story of hope, of change, and of the quiet, powerful work it takes to rebuild a life.***Trigger warning: this episode includes discussion of domestic abuse and addiction.Listen now to IMAGE The Motherload, powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.

This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by Una Healy for a deeply honest conversation about the realities of modern motherhood.Together, they explore what it means to raise teenagers, the evolving relationship between mother and child, and the importance of “the village”. Una opens up about her experience with anxiety, her Hashimoto’s diagnosis, and the turning point that came from truly understanding her body. They also discuss hormones, HRT, and the importance of paying attention when something doesn’t feel quite right.IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advance and Tigers Childcare

Caroline Foran joins Dominique this week for an honest conversation about anxiety, motherhood and learning to let go.A bestselling author, journalist and podcaster, Caroline has spent years helping people better understand anxiety through practical, grounded advice. In this episode, she opens up about her own experience, from debilitating panic attacks in her twenties to being anxiety free today. Caroline also shares her journey of raising her son Caelan, who has a PDA profile, and the emotional complexity that comes with parenting a child with individual needs. From school struggles to trusting your instincts as a mother, this is a chat filled with vulnerability, hard-won perspective and practical tools that actually help. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare

In this inspiring episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with Tammy Darcy, founder and CEO of The Shona Project. Tammy shares the powerful story behind her movement to empower the young women of Ireland, revealing how her relationship with her late sister, Shona, shaped her life's mission.Tammy also opens up about the realities of creating The Shona Project while raising her own children, the key values she hopes to instill in them, and discusses the struggles faced by teenage girls today and how we can better connect with them. Join us as we work hard to lighten the load for the next generation.IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and sponsored by Revive Active, its4women, Avoca and Liffey Valley – thank you for helping us tell these stories Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by artist and mother of three, Emma Flynn, for one of the most powerful conversations the podcast has ever hosted. Together they talk about Emma’s years as a midwife, her experience of postpartum OCD and intrusive thoughts (TW), the role of medication and therapy in her healing, and the hope she’s found in creativity, faith, and community.This is a conversation about darkness, yes, but also about love - the kind that transforms us and carries us through.IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and sponsored by Revive Active, its4women, Avoca and Liffey Valley - thank you for helping us to tell these stories. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with LGBTQI+ rights campaigner, speaker, CEO and proud mum-of-three, Ranae von Meding, for a powerful, moving, and deeply personal conversation.Nearly a decade on from Ireland’s Marriage Equality referendum, Ranae reflects on the wins, the gaps that still remain, and the emotional toll of raising a family that isn’t yet fully recognised under the law. They talk about the joys of queer motherhood, the realities of burnout, the vulnerability of advocacy, and the hope that drives her forward.With heart and honesty, Ranae reminds us that the most radical thing we can do is raise our voices… and our children… with love.IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by its4women, Avoca, Revive Active and Liffey Valley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Doran became a mum at 18. At 30, she started a stand-up career. Now a mother of three and one of Ireland’s most loved comedic voices, she joins Dominique to talk about the journey in between.Emma talks about what it was like to become a mum at 18, to sit the Leaving Cert pregnant, and to raise three children while building a career as one of Ireland’s most loved comedic voices.Emma also opens up about using humour to reclaim her identity after years of putting her kids first, why maternal rage is so very real, and what she’s learned from parenting across two very different decades of her life.This episode is honest in a way you don’t often see with Emma, and of course it’s laugh-out-loud funny too. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by its4women, Avoca, Revive Active and Liffey Valley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.