The Comeback with Brenda Dennehy

This week’s episode is a little different, and one that is very close to my heart.In support of Coolmine’s Sober October campaign, I’m joined by Lorraine Higgins and Caroline Dunne from Coolmine to have an open and honest conversation about addiction, recovery and the incredible work being done to support individuals and families across Ireland.Later in the episode, we hear the powerful story of Bernard West, whose journey took him through heroin and crack cocaine addiction, prison, homelessness and relapse before ultimately finding recovery through Coolmine.Today, Bernard is drug-free, has rebuilt his relationships with his children and family, and now uses his own lived experience to help others on their recovery journey.This is an episode about addiction, but more importantly, it’s about recovery, hope, second chances and the possibility of rebuilding your life.🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by  ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

This week on the podcast I sit down with 17-year-old Sarah Monaghan, who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at just 13.Sarah speaks so openly about her diagnosis, undergoing an egg retrieval at 14, the isolation of radioactive iodine treatment and what life has been like in the four years since.We also hear from Sarah’s sister Zoe, who becomes emotional talking about how much she wished she could take the cancer and the pain away from her little sister.A huge thank you to Sarah’s parents, Sylvia and Brian, for trusting me with Sarah’s story, and to Sarah Burke O’Connor for introducing me to this gorgeous family.Sarah is such a remarkable young lady and I am so glad she spoke with me and shared her story so openly. Please give her page a follow on Instagram, @sarah_monaghann.If Sarah teaches us one thing, it’s to never take life for granted.If this story resonates with you, please leave a comment and hit that subscribe button. It really helps.🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

From working from the age of 12, to building businesses, losing almost €1.3 million, Colin Tobin's story is one of resilience, hard work, and determination.Despite the setbacks and failed ventures along the way, there is no bitterness. Instead, Colin believes the secret to life is giving back, helping others, and expecting nothing in return.We chat about business, loss, work ethic, welfare, community, and why he believes what you put out into the world comes back tenfold.A fascinating conversation with a man who simply refuses to give up.🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now. For ADHD assessments and support across Ireland, visit adhdnow.com.

Jennifer McCarthy spent years working in high pressure environments as a trauma nurse and later in response policing, supporting others through their darkest moments.But behind the uniform, Jennifer was facing battles of her own.Divorce. Betrayal. Critical illness. Medical retirement. Losing her identity. Becoming a single parent. And surviving moments where she genuinely believed she might die.In this episode, Jennifer speaks openly about losing everything she thought defined her, and the resilience it took to rebuild.This is a powerful conversation about burnout, survival, identity loss and finding yourself again after life changes forever.Jennifer is now passionate about resilience, health and wellbeing, and uses her lived experience to support others through change and rebuilding. You can follow her on Instagram @thehealthandwellbeingadvocate to see some of the amazing work she’s doing.If this episode resonates with you, please follow, rate and share the podcast.🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

From the outside, Eimear Coffey had the kind of life people dream of - until everything came crashing down.A young mum at 23, she grew up alongside her son Daniel, building a life that looked full of love and promise. Years later, with the arrival of her second son Ollie in 2018, everything seemed complete.But behind closed doors, her world was falling apart.Betrayal. Narcissistic abuse. The fear of her child facing life-changing disabilities.And then, in the middle of it all - a breast cancer diagnosis.This is a raw and powerful story of heartbreak, survival, and finding strength when you have nothing left.If this episode resonates with you, please leave a comment and hit subscribe, it really helps.🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

Leona Macken’s story will stop you in your tracks.A young mum of two, she trusted the system. She had two smear tests, in 2016 and 2020, both reported as normal. But they should not have been. That delay led to a cervical cancer diagnosis in 2023.After major surgery and intensive treatment, Leona was told in 2025 that her cancer had returned and progressed to stage four.In this episode, she speaks about the moment everything changed, the heartbreak, and the reality of living with a diagnosis that should never have happened.Now on a trial drug that is already showing signs of working, her story is one of strength, resilience, and hope.🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland. If you are seeking an ADHD assessment or support, visit adhdnow.com today.

Cork poet and writer Daragh Fleming joins Brenda for the first episode of the new series of The Comeback.In this episode, he shares his journey into writing, from a young age to putting his work out into the world. He also reads two of his most powerful pieces, If I Ever Have Boys and If I Ever Have Girls.Daragh speaks openly about living with depression without realising it, describing a time when he felt completely numb and thought that was normal.A deeply emotional part of the conversation focuses on the loss of his best friend, Erbie, and how that moment changed his life, becoming a turning point that led him to speak more openly about mental health through his writing.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a comment, it really helps.🎧 This episode is proudly sponsored by ADHD Now, the online clinic transforming ADHD assessment and care across Ireland.Visit adhdnow.com for more.