Aoife Dunne: Ayahuasca, Grief and an Unexpected Route into Comedy

Aoife Dunne: Ayahuasca, Grief and an Unexpected Route into Comedy

From The Laura Dowling Experience by Laura Dowling

March 12, 2026 · 2h 9m · Episode 160

About this episode

Laura Dowling interviews comedian Aoife Dunne about her journey through grief and how it led her to comedy and an ayahuasca ceremony in Brazil.

🎧 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…

People in this episode

Host: Laura Dowling

Guest: Aoife Dunne

Topics covered

  • grief
  • comedy
  • ayahuasca
  • self-discovery
  • mental health

Keywords

  • grief
  • ayahuasca
  • comedy
  • self-doubt
  • mental health
  • loss
  • therapy

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Brazil

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