Shake The Ground Podcast

Kieran Corrigan on Running, Resilience & His Favourite Curse Word!

• Nathalie Lennon • Season 1 • Episode 2

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This week on Shake the Ground, Nathalie is joined by Kieran Corrigan – content creator, entrepreneur, husband, father of two, and one of Ireland’s most recognisable social media personalities. 

Known for his humour, honesty and down-to-earth storytelling. Behind the laughs, is a story of resilience, personal growth, fatherhood and navigating life in the public eye. 

In this episode, Kieran opens up about the experiences that have shaped him, the lessons he’s learned through life’s challenges, and why staying true to yourself matters more than ever. Expect plenty of laughs, meaningful conversations and a few moments that might just make you see things differently. 

Follow Kieran here: ⁠
https://www.instagram.com/kieran_corrigan 

Follow Nathalie here: ⁠
https://www.instagram.com/nathalielennon_ 

Subscribe to our YouTube here: 
https://www.youtube.com/@shakethegroundpodcast

SPEAKER_03

Shake the Ground Podcast is brought to you by Amplified Podcast Studio. They don't just produce podcasts, they build podcasts designed to last. See Amplified AE. Welcome back to Shake the Ground, the podcast that's here to remind you that the life, job, relationship, and persona you want is all within reach. I'm your host, Natalie Lennon, and every week we're diving into the stories of people who dared to do things differently, who chose the path less taken, trusted themselves, and basically shook the ground. I hope that this podcast helps you to build confidence and self-belief, ensuring you never settle for a life less than what you dream of. So if you've ever felt stuck, scared, or like you're playing small, get ready to shake the ground. Today's guest is one I am beyond excited about. If you could bottle this man's energy vibe aura, however you want to phrase it, you'd be on to becoming a millionaire because he is truly one of the most positively infectious souls I've ever met. When I first met Kieran, it was at the Chicago Marathon trip, I think. And he left a really big impact on me. I haven't told him this yet, but in the sense of just caring less and kind of not taking anyone else's opinion of you into account and truly doing you. Not to mention his insane running abilities, the fact that he is such a family man, comedian, in my opinion. And I'm going to say the king of Kennedy in Offley, where he's from. You'll understand that reference if you follow his social media platforms, of course, where he has grown a hugely engaged audience over the years. Please welcome the legendary Kieran Carrigan to the pod. Hello, how are you doing?

SPEAKER_01

Jeez, Natalie, what an oh I'm yeah, oh my god, I won't fit out of this room. My head will not fit out.

SPEAKER_03

This is my thing with my podcast. I love having an intro that really hypes people up the way they deserve to be hyped up.

SPEAKER_01

And I'm Well, I'll take it. I'll take it 100%. I'll take it.

SPEAKER_03

Chicago was the first time we met, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_01

Chicago was the first time we met, yeah. We'd followed each other for a good few years. And then um I didn't know you were going to Chicago or anything. Like you don't know who's going. So like when we were out there, then it was yourself, yourself, Max and Caroline. And um it was just yeah, it was it was actually it was an epic time. Yeah, it was brilliant, sort of.

SPEAKER_03

It was that was actually the dream few days. And I mean it when I say you did leave such you left such an impact on me and how you you just do not care, and you just do yourself, and you kind of you have your boundaries. Do you know what I mean? Yeah but inside it, there's so much positivity.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I think I think do you know what though? I think that comes with age and it comes with like life experience, but I I like yeah, I I to word it maybe in my way, I'd be like, I'm nearly dead to people's opinions. Do you know? I love that. I'm literally nearly dead to their opinions. I'm kind of like it takes a while to realize that it's not me, it is them, it's something in them that is triggered, and like they need to work on that. And instead of being angry with them, and even if I get angry with someone's opinion of me, I I need to sit for five minutes and go, Hold on, why am I angry?

SPEAKER_04

I love that.

SPEAKER_01

You know, why is this person's opinion of me triggering me? Do you know? And when you actually sit and think like that then for a couple of minutes, you're kind of like it's amazing what the response that comes from your body. Yeah. Because if we hold so much in our body and it's amazing the response that you see, you're like, but why why did that trigger me?

SPEAKER_03

I think I am not at your level yet of of not caring. I think I'm getting there. Really? Yeah, but when you when you say that like you are dead to people's opinions of you, I think that sounds so strong. And I feel like I'm not quite I feel like I'm uh give me a word, dormant. I feel like I'm like a dormant volcano. Like sometimes I might kind of erupt in terms of my emotions to a negative opinion of me because I guess I feel like I've been a people pleaser. Do you know what I mean? Yeah. But switching that off is it takes time.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, like like I'd still like I'd hear people's opinions of me or see them, but I'm kind of like you know that's their issue.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, it's weird.

SPEAKER_01

Like it's something that like I've worked on, but like it is a it's something that there is triggering them and like they need to work on that. Yeah, and I can actually help them work on it.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so we're gonna get into that and how you can help them work on that. Kieran, for people who maybe don't follow you and they want to get a bit of background on you and what you're all about, like right now you've amassed a huge following. Instagram would be your main platform.

SPEAKER_01

Instagram be my main baby, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

128k as of speaking today, anyway. Uh, running is like your baby. I associate you with running and laughter and country side vibes. Good. Right? That that's what I associate with you. Yeah, but how did you get to this point of of working like full-time as an influencer?

SPEAKER_01

God, like I um I think it was February 2019. I was in Sports Direct at the time as assistant or store manager, and um, yeah, I was just like I was kind of unhappy in it. And I just kind of like I remember sitting in my car one day and I was like, um I was chatting to another influencer in the store, and I was like, I want to give this a go. And it just kind of went from there. I think at that time I put a lot of it down to luck as well, like it's hard work, but I think at the time it wasn't as a saturated market, and like you know, there wasn't as many influencers out there, and I just went on and thankfully I've held it. I was just myself, and I just said it as it is. I s I like you know, like I remember there was a point I went through on social media, and I was kind of like, I'm this isn't me. Yeah I'm trying to be something else, and I was like, Yeah, but um that was kicked off in February 2019, and yeah, I left sports directed in February 2021 and I went working for another company for two years, and I think about two years now, full time full time on social media. But um I love it, like I do I do love it. Um I remember there was actually a builder in our house about a year and a half ago, and it sticks in my brain. Jimmy's his name, right? But basically, um it sticks in my brain, and I remember chatting to him in the kitchen, and my dad, who's past, like he would have been in around dad's age and they would have known each other and stuff. And I remember chatting about work and all this kind of stuff, and at the time I was kind of like, God, will I go back to work? Will I keep social media full-time? Do you know? Like the extension was going up and up in priceless. Yeah, it's like fucking hell. But um, he I remember him saying to me, he was like that um I said to him, I was like, Oh, look, my job could be gone in the morning, and he was like, anyone's job could be gone in the morning. Do you know? Yeah, anyone's job could be gone in the morning.

SPEAKER_03

I haven't heard anyone say it that way. Because I guess I'm in the same boat as you that way.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, because sometimes we can be like, Oh my god, is this it? Like, am I going to be doing this in 20 years' time, in 30 years' time? Like, will I still be saying up and ahead and running on Instagram? Do you know? But it's good for we will always be evolving and changing, you know. But yeah, I always remember him saying that in the kitchen that day going, like, anyone's job could be gone in the morning.

SPEAKER_03

That is so true though.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's I like I've orna there or Mary Torna to change.

SPEAKER_03

Shout out to Orna, the absolute queen. And she does a bit of social media with you.

SPEAKER_01

She does a little bit of social media as well. So hop on and off there. She she's a gas yoke, so she is. And um, yeah, we bounce off of each other really well on social media. And um I love it.

SPEAKER_03

I love watching you two bounce off each other. I love, I guess, not being at that stage of of living together 100% of the time, having children in my own relationship. I always say this on the pod. I always kind of look up to people who are there and seeing that like bantery you have, how you make it so fun and positive. Obviously, there's always struggles behind the scenes. I think I think you two are just unbelievable.

SPEAKER_01

I think you have to have a bit of crack. You know, life is so serious. Like when you have bills, mortgage kids, you live. But it's like it's non-stop, it's go, go, go. Like, I look back and I'm like, how did my bear how did mommy do it? Like, you know, without dad, or like, how did mommy do it? It's insane. Yeah, but um, yeah, no, you have to have the crack, like, and thankfully we do no, we murder each other as well, like, but like not physically or like I'm not actually murdering each other. But um, it's uh she just puts bleach on the toilet to get you back. Yeah, it's bleach on the toilet to get me back there. Yeah, so that's after yeah, coming out this week. But the response to that was so funny. That was so funny.

SPEAKER_03

So reference if you're listening, you're like, What do you mean bleach on the toilet? There was a re event opening you collaborated on it and you were like, Ornith, you get me a stingy Mickey from the Domestus. But what I literally went back and watched it like three times because she's laughing, and you whole such a straight face, you're like, You need to apologize. Yeah, you gave me a stingy Mickey.

SPEAKER_01

That was very funny, but it's even like just when we were saying about people triggering, like we got messages from that, and negative ones like, yeah, and like it was just like, Um, how can you bring something from negatives and someone just having a bit of crack?

SPEAKER_03

But well, to me, that was the best video I saw on social media that day.

SPEAKER_01

It made me laugh so much, and people got so much laughs out of it, like you know, but it's just like you learn that as well. People are all look, they're always going to have a problem, you know what I kind of like.

SPEAKER_03

So the phrases, right? You mentioned it there, you were like up and at it and saying that on social media. Like you have had a lot of, I suppose, viral moments with your phrases. Speak to me about that. Where did they come from? And in particular, if you have little ones listening to this right now and you're in the car, I'd maybe cover the rears because we might be saying a particular four-letter word. Cunt straight into it.

SPEAKER_01

I love it, you know, but um I love I love that word, and it's like I remember I was doing therapy myself, and my therapist was like to me, like, I don't know what's a word, and I just came out with me, cunt, and I was just like, and he just sat looking at me. What do you mean he he said what's a he was like, What word would you like to take to describe it was a topic I was speaking on and how you're feeling and this and that, and I was like, cunt, and he just was looking at me and he was like that's a very strong word, but I believe like thankfully on my social media I found my people that actually under it's not I don't there's no negative meaning in saying the word they take lightheartedly exactly do you know and I think as Irish we do take uh language bad language nice and lighthearted. We do and um they're actually probably my most viral videos, yeah. The cunt ones, yeah, because I just find they resonate with people and like social media is just so perfect in everything that I think for someone then to just see just hear it and see it. And we all see it, like it's the kitchen table.

SPEAKER_03

I think once or twice when I was younger now, I have my phone out in front of me here because we're going to play a sound. I need people to just hear exactly what we mean by the virality of his videos. So this is one that you've had go most over.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, that was insane as a recent video.

SPEAKER_03

So we'll just we'll just pause it for a second and we're gonna play this here if I can.

SPEAKER_00

Hello, you cunt. Just checking there's no content. Just checking there's no content fighting up the mountain. Look at that, not a content fight on him.

SPEAKER_01

That went insane. Oh my god. So many videos on TikTok. Um, a guy, Matty, on a mountain.

SPEAKER_03

That's the one I had saved there.

SPEAKER_01

He literally downloaded your video. He downloaded my video off his used device over. I'm like, I didn't even realise you could do that. Like, do you know what? Because like I know you can do it, but like I never really thought of it. And um, I put that up as a tril.

unknown

Did you?

SPEAKER_01

That was literally a tril, thanks to you telling me about them. And I was just like, that was that was around Christmas time and nothing happened with that for a month. And then literally, like, he shared it, and then it was just on TikTok, like all these like huge influences, like um Telisa off the X Factor shared it. She used it, yeah. Like she's it up on her grid, like on TikTok. It's insane. Um, the only last week, like the is it Erica or something, the housewife of Beverly Hills, she used it as well.

SPEAKER_03

Like when they use this audio and it's your voice. This is crazy. This is crazy that stars that big are using your voice going, yeah. Like, is it your little audio at the bottom or is it because it's downloaded?

SPEAKER_01

It's downloaded, so it's his. But to be honest, Natalie, a couple of people messed me like that, and I don't mind that. I don't mind that because number one, he's not getting any money for it. If he was, I'd be like, Here, hold on now.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, but like um, he's not getting any money for it, and then you're not getting any hate with the original like for people who are offended by that word, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

And um, I'm like uh where am I going with it? I the last my turn of thought now.

SPEAKER_03

Well, we were saying how no one has no one's able to come back to you as being the creator of that sound, so they've downloaded it and using it. So you're not getting yes, you're not getting the followers or the vir virality yourself from it.

SPEAKER_01

But in fairness to anyone that is using it, and like my followers are like an army, they're in the comments tagging me.

SPEAKER_03

So I tagged you one on Instagram there the other day.

SPEAKER_01

I don't know if we thought they're literally like so sorry, TikTok. No one will get away with saying it's their voice because my followers are in the comments going like Akira and Kergan, Acker and Kergan, you know, which is so cool. But my point I was going back to there before I got a lot uh lost was um like when I'm dead, yeah, my voice is going to be continued on just saying cunt. I think it's iconic like any gravestone. Yeah, I think it's just absolutely brilliant. Someone actually sent me a video during the weekend. It was uh Clint, it was a flower arrangement on the back of a hearse, but the way they're uh put together, it looked like cunt instead of clint. And I was like, I'm definitely going to do that like over my feedback, just make sure that somebody's I love it.

SPEAKER_04

I absolutely love it.

SPEAKER_01

Like I I find I find there's great power in it, Natalie. As in a release of emotion, or yeah, whatever it is for me, like I just find and I I do know people don't like it, and that's okay.

SPEAKER_03

Like on the way here, I was thinking, right, if my mum and dad listened to this episode and I'm I'm saying cunt left, right, and centre, they're gonna be like covering their ears, like but my nana would be like, shame on you, and then I'm like, it brings so much joy to your followers, to to like your corner of the internet.

SPEAKER_01

I just find it's like um I love the way you say that's your corner of the internet. Um I just find it's um I just find there's so much pressure on people nowadays to have like the perfect life, the perfect house, the perfect body, the perfect bank account, the perfect car, the perfect fake like persona life online. And like I think just to have somebody then just to say to so like me to I believe anyway, just to be able to just go, oh cunt. Yeah, do you know, and not be afraid of the backlash, not be afraid of it.

SPEAKER_03

So so much of of this podcast and what I wanted to be about is literally building this unbreakable confidence where you you are dead to other people's opinions and you can just be yourself and have the crack. And again, you are someone who is the definition of that by by putting like the word cunt out there so much on your social media in a humorous way, it's not offending people, and you never cared. Where did you build this confidence? Did you always have this confidence? Was there a moment where you realised you needed to build it? Like, can you talk me through that a little bit?

SPEAKER_01

I like I remember like when social media kicked off me in 2019, and I think like around 2020, 21 was all that title life, and it was like you know, really heavily trolling. And like I did, I ended up in antidepressants for like 13 months, and then like my heart sinking. Yeah, and that was my but looking back now, that's made me I know so cheesy to say, but like it's made me who I am and that strength because I think you have to go through like a shit time and a really hard time to literally either you're gonna sink or swim. Yeah, and I can't swim, but I did swim. I know that kind of way, but like I know as it sounds so cheesy, but like at the time it can be really hard, but like there is something can come from something something good can come from something bad. Yeah, and for me that was like I just learned to love myself more and not care about people's opinions, and like I came off to antidepressants, like running for me is just insane.

SPEAKER_03

Like, I So that was that was like the next topic that I wanted to move into. Um I'm not sure if we had mentioned that before when we spoke about you might have about being on antidepressants for that time because Tatal Life, we won't even get into it. I don't want to give it the time of day, it doesn't deserve it, it's a horrible website, but it really destroyed a lot of people in the mental earth. Um, and I'm obviously sorry that you went through that, you know, you never want anyone to go through that, but you are so incredible for building back the strength and you and the confidence that you have to overcome all of that and be this bright, shining, comedic soul that you are online now.

SPEAKER_01

I do, I enjoy it, like you know, and like but like even now, like when we talk, like if someone mentioned I remember like the first time Tatliph was mentioned to me, I've like like your body, and like it's only like I've done a lot of work on myself, how much you feel and hold negativity in your body. It's insane, like it's actually insane.

SPEAKER_03

But um, yeah, it's so then running, did that only come after kind of this this what we call it like the rock bottom period? Yeah, running there before that, or did it just come in after?

SPEAKER_01

No, like I used to say I used to run like years ago, myself and my sister, and I remember we'd done a marathon in Limerick in 2017. Oh wow and I sat at the finish line crying, I was like, never ever am I doing this again. And um I never knew this. Yeah, in 2017, and I'd done a good few half marathons before that, like the Mullingar ones and local ones.

SPEAKER_03

So it's always been pretty prominent in your in your life.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and then like, you know, 2018, like we went into buying our house and we got married, so you were literally to lock in for work, you know, literally locked in to save, blah, blah, whatever. And we done it, but um yeah, so like 20 2020, 21. So towards end of 2020, 21, maybe even into like 22, like all that kind of trolling was going on. It was 13 months, I was kind of in around antidepressant stage, give or take. And um I remember like I was just turning into a fat little fuck, to be honest.

SPEAKER_03

I felt, and like I was just like in that stage you weren't exercising.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I wasn't exercising, I wasn't looking after myself. I was like, Oh, my Tingle was like Luke's aid and club milk on social media and stuff like that, like in no Luke's aid. And um, I remember the Kennedy GAA started uh couched 5k in January 2023, and I was like torn, I was like, I'm gonna do this because I was like, I'm living in the village now, like four years, like I don't know anybody, blah blah blah, whatever. Like, do you know?

SPEAKER_03

Also, you had been a runner previous to that.

SPEAKER_01

That's it, and like you know, I when you live in a village, people think you know everyone, but like it's a different times now, it's not like it was years ago. If you keep your head down, you will get to know nobody. Yeah, and um I joined that and loved it and done 5k park run at the end of it and was so sick. I remember I was down with a bug, but I was like determined I was going to do it, and I done it. And it was really cool. And then um then yeah, a couple of us got together in the club and set up the running club, and Athletics Ireland accepted it and all that kind of stuff, and um it's gone from strength to strength to like the people there.

SPEAKER_03

So you actually were one of the founders per se of the running club in Games?

SPEAKER_01

No, not at all, really. Like, you know, I was there, I was present, like I was on the first committee and all that kind of stuff, but I wouldn't call myself a founder in any way, you know. I was like, I found the door, it's how good you know, but no, I love to run inside of it, like there's a committee there, and they all do a brilliant job and everything.

SPEAKER_03

So much work goes into these running committees and groups, like I know.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, come here. I was on it for the first year and I was a Kiran gone, good luck. But uh it's like a full-time job, it's insane, they're dedicated, they're volunteers. I don't know how they do with fair play, but like our club has gone from strength to strength, like to 60 something in it for Kennedy. But and Kennedy is a small town, small town, but the accountability you have when you join a club is just brilliant, yeah. And yeah, I just love the running, it's after bringing so many opportunities for me. I believe it will bring more.

SPEAKER_03

So, oh 100% it's going to bring more. You so after that period, you got back into running by taking on this 5k uh couch to couch to 5k. Right. And then how did you go from being say, okay, I'm back, I'm running about 5k, maybe 10k, to now I'm doing ultras, running 50k around Donity. Is that Donody?

SPEAKER_01

How like did you- I don't I don't know. It's actually mad when you when you look back, like um I don't know, I just be kind of got addicted to it, I think.

SPEAKER_03

But um You get addicted to the endorphin hit, I do.

SPEAKER_01

We like the feeling you have after doing even like a 5k and like like I only done a 5k there a Sunday in road, and like I came home, I actually to calm myself down about like four hours later. I was literally changing this into the house, changing this house, doing this and doing that, and I was kind of like you can calm down now. Yeah, because you're endorping it. It's insane, it's incredible. Sorta, it's absolutely incredible.

SPEAKER_03

And well done with that 5k because you smashed it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I know. I'm trying to do back to keep just eight of these races. So I got one sub-20 back in 2024 for 5k, and um I'm trying to eight of these offly road series healthy races, whatever. So there's three races done now. I've done like 1934, 1834, and then 1901 there.

SPEAKER_03

So I'm trying to get you saw on your Strava, it was 1857, was it? On my Strava, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but then you have to take the trip to 1901, I was like, oh you know, but I was just so glad to finish that. But um yeah, going back to the question now, what I love and makes me want to do better in it is is the feeling, but I remember being on a run, and I was telling you this in the cafe, the with a guy from the running club, and he was like, I remember so it was Teddy's birthday last year, and we were coming back up to walk road in Kennedy, and I was like, I'm done.

SPEAKER_03

Just to give people context, Teddy is your son, yeah, and he is four. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yep. And um I was like, it was his fourth birthday last August, and I was coming back up to Walk Road, running with the guy, and I was like, I'm done. And it ended up by like, no, no, you go on, do your thing. But I remember it stuck with me that day, he was like, push through, you know, push through that wall. And like I've actually found, especially this year, later of last year, but especially this year 2026, of running, or even like say from October, say on last year, when you do push through. It's like you come into a whole new world, your body, because you you go past the agony, but you can bring that back into your life so much. Do you know?

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Like you can bring that determination and everything back into your life. It's not just running, it's just yeah, that's really good.

SPEAKER_03

I haven't heard anyone phrase it that way before on the podcast. And I guess running is such a big part of my life. I feel like a lot of my followers and maybe listeners are getting into running or do something that I love speaking to fellow runners because anytime I speak to someone about running, it is never, ever, ever anything to do with weight loss, body image, aesthetics. No, no, never. And I think that shows how powerful it is for your mental health. But no one has phrased it yeah. No one has phrased it that way that you bring that determination of pushing through the tough times and pushing through what you think is a dead end into actual real life situations. Like that's powerful.

SPEAKER_01

That 5k on Sunday, like I set off. I was like, I'm not feeling it today, I'm not gonna do well in this, you know. And I was like, I wanted to stop every kilometre. But it's like when you can bring your your head to a place where it's like your body is so sore, your your chest is telling you to stop, you you you want to stop, yeah, but you're like, I'm going to stay going, and to bring that back into real life, because let's face it, there's so many issues and problems facing people now. And if you can have that strength, I believe, in your head and bring that back into your real life, like from running, running's insane. I think it's just beautiful.

SPEAKER_03

I agree with you. And when I did my first marathon, which you were there for, and we actually like started, yeah. Oh my god, Chicago was my first, and we started off together. Yeah, because we were like literally beside each other in like our little start plan.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

And then you took off, and I remember being like, I'll try catch up with them, and I never caught up with you after that.

SPEAKER_01

An incredible marathon. That was my first sub four.

SPEAKER_03

I remember that. I remember you were going for it, and like I cannot put into words just how how to describe the energy in Chicago that day.

SPEAKER_01

Like it was euphoric, it was actually just really magical.

SPEAKER_03

But after I finished that marathon, I remember being like, I can do anything. Like literally, I was like, I'm unstoppable. Yeah, I'm going to do more marketing.

SPEAKER_01

Part of the 1%.

SPEAKER_03

Uh genuinely part of that one percent. And I do think there there's a bit of pressure, probably as a result of social media, uh, for people to run certain times. Obviously, when you're running a while, you you want to set yourself time goals.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I I do. I feel I see that, yeah, but like at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what time you do it in. I think we all have to have like little personal goals and personal targets. And that's what I love about the club because it's the accountability there, and like you find your runners within the club, and people are like kind of at the same speed here and stuff. And I love doing a race and trying to get the person in front of you.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I love doing the race.

SPEAKER_03

That's what I do all the time. And for me, and maybe this terrible to say, but when there's like if there's a man who's overtaken me, I'm like, I'm gonna try and overtake him again. You know, this whole like hashtag beat the boys.

SPEAKER_01

Or do you know what I absolutely love when you're doing like a marathon and you're like you're about 37k and you're like, I'm dead. And next means you've like this 70-year-old man coming up past you and running past and you're like, Oh my god, I want to be like you and I'm older.

SPEAKER_03

It's just or someone who's dressed up as like Superman with a big costume on, and you're like, or someone in heels. There was people running the Chicago marathon in heels.

SPEAKER_01

But like I think as well about running, I I think why running has exploded so much. Obviously, it's so good for your head. It is, it's good for your body, everything. It's so good for your head, and like it's a great club there around it now, like all the clubs. But I think people are going back to actually appreciating nature.

SPEAKER_04

Yeah, I think so too.

SPEAKER_01

And like getting out and fresh air, do you know that kind of way? It's that content sight, but like it's just appreciating nature, do you know that kind of way? But um, you can't be Mother Nature, like to know.

SPEAKER_03

So I don't know if I ever told you this when we were doing Chicago, but I years ago struggled with um an eating disorder. Okay. I won't get into the details of it on the pod now. I'm sure people have heard it a million times before. Um, but when I was kind of at my lows with that, my lowest with that, um now it wasn't anorexia, bulimia, it was uh in a bracket called OSFED. So I was just obsessed with counting my calories. I'd eat 2,300 calories to AT, and then would not go above that. I track every single thing and I would exercise all off. So I was like, my lowest was like 41.2 kg or something, like I was teenc. Not well, but just struggled to get out of it. So that was like my rock bottom. Hormones were messed up, and at that point, I had run a half marathon before that got bad. Or was it when I was halfway through recovering and then it kind of relapsed? But I remember the dietitian telling me, yeah, like I really wanted to run another half marathon. I knew how much I loved running from a mental health perspective, but obviously there was a struggle. If you can't fuel it, you shouldn't be doing it. So she was like, Yeah, long distance running, not gonna be for you. Would not recommend you do another even half marathon. Don't mention the word marathon. Not for you, kind of.

SPEAKER_01

When was this?

SPEAKER_03

This would have been 2017, 18.

SPEAKER_01

You like you know it's mad, like you just done the Chicago one.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, I know, and Amsterdam. I don't want to go two days later.

SPEAKER_01

Like, oh my god, yeah. Like, yeah. I thought I was bad in Dublin two weeks ago.

SPEAKER_03

I was just so but that was my ignorance too. Uh having never run a marathon before and the struggles with recovery. I thought seven days would be fine, but so I ended up getting like a really bad flu and stuff after, but we did it. But uh she told me run a marathons won't be for me um because of this addictive personality thing, I guess, that's going on as well. But which they would say a lot of people with eating disorders will have forever. And running, you can just get so addicted to the numbers side of things. But then also I injured my hip back when I was kind of before I kind of relapsed with this recovery. Um, I'd gained back the weight, but didn't have my hormones back yet. So I shouldn't have been running, but I couldn't wait to start running again. So I started running when I didn't because I didn't have a cycle. So I injured my hip. I got a partially torn hip labrum. Now that put me out for like a year, sent me back into a spiral, could only use a cross trainer, blah, blah, blah. Surgeon told me didn't need surgery, but I was going to see a surgeon at the time. He said, Yeah, you might run five to seven K's, maybe a 10k. Won't ever do long distance. No point in doing surgery because you can get around, so we're not going to go in and do surgery. But uh, yeah, I'd probably cross that off the table. Deadlifting, you'd be doing it from like a platform because I used to love deadlifting as well, not as much anymore. I won't lift a spoon unless it is to mix your double espresso with a lifting spoon. But um, I think being told I couldn't do something made me so much more motivated to make it happen.

SPEAKER_01

Absolutely, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Um, and I think that's one way that running has helped me feel so like I can break any boundary or any box that people put me in. Because these like I was gonna I was gonna do like the bunny ear things at my fingers, but I'm not for professionals. They are professionals, yeah. But you know your body better than anyone else.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, absolutely. Like and it's just I don't know, it's just it's something I think we all have to find our thing, like and you know, like I never like sports in school.

SPEAKER_03

Same.

SPEAKER_01

I never like sports in school. You know, but but Natalie, it's it's um one thing for me as a parent, right? And like I was saying to you earlier on, the amount of activities our kids are doing and stuff like that. I even see now, like say with the kids if they don't like something. Look, you can br like Bonnie doesn't like Mogi. It's only started like four four nights in or that. But like we bring her up, she does it, she plays it, she might do it on the side away from the team or whatever. And like only last night she went up and she loved it, and we allowed her to do the training, and then she was like to play a match at the end, and she's like, I don't want to do the match. And we were like, That's fine. But I had to stop one or two people that were like coming up saying to Bonnie and like, Oh Bonnie, you're not playing tonight, or you're not doing this, and I'd say, she knows she doesn't like it. Yeah, you know, please don't ask her. Do you know? But like we find our thing, do you know that kind of way? I love it even like and again this comes from running, it's kind of like I found it later in life. Do you know? And like Bonnie's not going to love all these things, like you know, she will do camo gig because it's in school, like, you know, she'll partake in it or whatever, and and not unfortunately, but like, you know, when you live in small villages and if I believe if you're not part of the GEA you're gonna be kind of left behind slightly.

SPEAKER_03

Kieran, that's a very true statement. I'm gonna agree with you.

SPEAKER_01

I do believe, and parsley because I wasn't part of the GEA, so like I wasn't in these clubs or clicks, you know, that kind of way. Not clicks, but like I would say I I would say, like, you know, it's like Bonnie, I understand you don't want to do this, but we'll go and we'll just we'll have our own fun at we can do our own thing at the side, we can kick around the ball, do whatever, blah blah blah. Teddy now is like a bull, he loves it. But um but I do believe it's important for the kids to try a load of different activities, and I can't wait till she starts running because I can see it in her she wants to run, and I think it's just so good for it's so good for your mental health.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, you know, but I think that's a really powerful message for any parents listening or parents to be, and I've always said that um like there were some sports I wish my parents could have put me in, but God they put me in everything that they could.

SPEAKER_01

And Natalie, like it's brilliant to see it's it's brilliant to see the running like there was no running when we were in school.

SPEAKER_03

No, so that's the thing. I wish there had been athletics because I think that would have been what I what I loved. Now I did stage school, but that was different. Like, do you know if there had been running, I probably would have done it. There was one cross country, but it just wasn't really as popular back then. Like obviously there, there were it was going on.

SPEAKER_01

It was GA.

SPEAKER_03

But it was GA. And I remember being and like I remember being not put into. I think I went to do football for it was boating glass because I was like, I want to, I want to be with the girls. All the girls are going to matches while we're in school, all the girls are talking about the football, they're all talking about the training, they're all able to play it during PE. And I felt so left out that I was pushing myself to try and do it. And I'll never forget this one football session I went to. It was raining, I was wearing a fleece, I didn't have the right shorts, I didn't have the right socks, I didn't have the right shoes. They all knew what they were doing, and no one really broke it down for me, no one really explained, like, and I'm only remembering kind of glimpses of this because it would have been maybe first year, but I think from that moment, you've just made me realise this now. I definitely felt left out because I couldn't take to GAA. Yeah, 100%. Um, and I tried with Camogi as well. Yeah, and it's funny you say this because recently I was just an ambassador for the Central Camoge Leagues.

SPEAKER_02

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

And a few times over the years with the girls, we'd be playing around with like, you know, the hair on the slitter. And I loved that. I had so much fun doing that, but I was never ever want to play a match, never wanted to play a match.

SPEAKER_01

But that's that's why like you recognize no, I'm saying like Bonnie, like she's her fifth session in, and like, oh look, I adore Bonnie. Like Bonnie is so independent, she knows what she wants, like, and it's so beautiful seeing a child. And like the first session she played it, and uh the first training session she played it, second section, second, second didn't, third didn't, third like that eyebrow up, and she just played on the side, like um the lady there played with them and all that kind of stuff, and just kind of like you know, get a feel for it.

SPEAKER_03

But I think that's that will help her to love the sport in her own way in years to come.

SPEAKER_01

But that's it, and it's I I suppose my point in it is that like, you know, they can still be involved, yeah, even if they're not fully involved in playing in some other kind of way. But like, look, she as I said last night was her fourth or fifth session, so like you know, in come a week's time she'll probably absolutely adore it. I l I really see me in Bonnie because it really takes me time to come around people. I have to read people, read the room, read where I am and get comfortable before I am myself. Do you know that kind of way? And I love seeing that in Bonnie. I'm like, I think it's such a good trait rather than just years ago I would have just bulled in and done something. And now I'm kind of like, no, let's step back for a second. And I I love seeing I love when she says no.

SPEAKER_03

That's a really lovely, lovely way to look at it. And I just I think that's a lovely message to put out there.

SPEAKER_01

I love like I love when a child is like they don't like a person, or like, you know, it takes them a while to come around because chances are the person probably is a cunt and the child and the child the child just knows it before we know it. But like I it's one thing about parenting that annoys me is people to try to force as in like you know, you know what rotts me with kids if you go to like um a party or anything with kids or if you're in a strange place. I don't know how this conversation has gone into this now, but it's like um she's very shy, isn't she? Or he's very shy, and I'm like, they just don't fucking know you. I know. Do you know that kind of way? They don't like I I hate when I feel like family member on track. Family member can in particular can come and they can be like, Oh god, they're very quiet, or this or that. Like I'm like, they genuinely don't know you. Like, like I'm an adult and I couldn't walk into a room with 20 people I don't know and be myself straight away. Yeah, it's gonna I have to read the room.

SPEAKER_03

That's true. I think I think this is a lovely message to get out of the podcast because we're so quick to comment on kids like that. Absolutely be it like a personality or a physical thing. I was always told I was um like a stick, you know, skin and bone, not pick on me. Look what happened to me years later, you know. Um, but you'd never have someone walk into a room that's like 30 years old and go, Jesus, your friend is very shy, aren't they? But it's okay to do it to a kid when they're taking it in.

SPEAKER_01

It takes you uh while as a parent to actually get the confidence and the ability to just go, sorry, don't say that. Yeah or sorry, don't do that. You know, that kind of way. And like you find people you think people are going to be really offended, but they're actually not. You know, you're like if someone comes down to Bonnie's level now and says something to her like that I know she's not comfortable or I don't like, I'm like, no, sorry, don't you?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, no, I love that. I think that's a really good message to get across. And also just going back to the GEA, I want to say one quick thing on that while it's in my mind. Because obviously it's such a key part of our course.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, it's amazing, it's amazing.

SPEAKER_03

And I've had this like I've had this kind of 180 moment over the last, I'd say, five, six years, where now I'm like, who's playing today and who's won and what's the score? And oh, especially when I was an ambassador for the centric Moge Leagues, I was like, Oh my god, these girls are so talented. And I think when I was in my early 20s, I just didn't have a love for it because I it made me feel left out when I was younger. But I think it's hopefully been done.

SPEAKER_01

And I think I think it's changed now. And I think I think it's like back in school for me, it was GEA. Yeah. Whereas now it's a bit more diverse, like you know, the kind of way there's loads of different sports and stuff, and like people that are playing, like you're here now, people that are actually like finishing their GEA careers because it is a career for some people, and they're going completely into hierarchies. Like, do you know that kind of way? It's it's insane, like how diverse it's gone. I know. It's cool, but um, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Right, we're gonna move on a little bit, and I want to speak more about the online world, right? So you are such a comedian online, like genuinely so comedic. Has this humor side always been there?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, oh yeah, definitely. Like, do you know what there was um I'm one of eight? Are you? Yeah, I'm one of eight, like you know. Yeah, that's yeah, you kind of like I don't really speak too much about my family because I keep to respect them as well. That's not their decision on social media, do you know? And like they are quite private, like you know, but um uh my sisters are easy, like I know I kind of chat about them a little bit online or whatever. But um, yeah, I'd be one of eight, and it's like um You've always had this comedic element in the family. Maybe like I kind of look back now and I'm kind of like, I was so probably stupid comedic in school and stuff like that, and you know, like the class clown, but it was it was always covering like why, you know, like it was always the trauma for me now. I'm realising in my 30s is obviously daddy died and I I was three and he was 36. So it was nearly like I see someone sad, and even now, kind of to this day, like if I see someone sad, I try add a bit of humour into it. Okay, do you know? And like I find rather than just going in and ripping the band-aid off if someone is sad or broken, if you add a bit of humour in, it can like soften it and open up the conversation. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03

You know, so yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, fast clown, but like um I would have used humour to like help people.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, yeah, to lighten those. I thought originally I thought you were gonna say to like deflect from an emotion, but it wasn't. It was actually to let that emotion in. Yeah, but it's a recognized.

SPEAKER_01

Um I love humour. I just I I love humour. Like I and I'm very I I think I'm very witty, like in quick quick with my words and sentences. No, you are.

SPEAKER_03

I um look, so okay, I love how much you share your your comedic side online and people need more of it. And I I love that there's just a constant stream of posity. But when you post things, because you've posted some like what I would say risky things, like if I posted a video, like say the one that Orna did, which I loved recently about the bleach and the toy pole and stingy micky, right? Like, I just know that Max and I, there's no way in a million years you post something like that, but it works so well for you guys. Have you ever posted something and thought this is either gonna go viral or it's gonna ruin me?

SPEAKER_01

Not really, no. I had to say no. Like, um, no, like and like I'm sure you'd like um relate to this, like you can put so much work into a video and you're like, this is the one like you know, and it can flop. Oh, yeah, like as in flop, but then like get shift views, yeah. And then like the one that's just completely off the cuff. But I think that's uh something about Irish people, especially. We love the off the cuff, we do, and it's one thing I love about Irish people because they'll just say it. Do you know they will just say it as it is, and it's like I think so do I think those videos where you're just kind of like really authentic and raw and there's no editing in them, I think just they're all they resonate, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

I think people can just relate to it so much more, feel more authentic. What is one of the phrases or jokes that you have used so much online you're nearly sick of? Or would you ever be sick of them?

SPEAKER_01

No, I kinda because honestly, God, honestly, like they um they mean something to me. Do you know that kind of way? Like, I don't just say something for the crack of it, like I they do mean something to me.

SPEAKER_03

Speak to me more about your merch.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

So is there gonna be another drop of this merch coming in?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so the merch, I'm probably kind of lazy with it in one way.

SPEAKER_03

Like, you know, I should be locking in more, but I kind of like I just enjoy like doing a little launch here or there and because I remember the last time you launched was pro I was probably way more um engaged in your content because pre-Chicago we hadn't engaged a whole lot online. Yeah, yeah. So I wasn't seeing all of your content, I'd see bits and pieces. Yeah, then after Chicago, obviously haven't met you. I was so much more engaged with it. And when I saw that drop, I meant to go and like get one of the mugs.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

And I never got around to it. Things happen here and there. And then when I was going through your social media last night, I was like, I would love one of those mugs that has the word cunt on the front of it.

SPEAKER_01

The mugs, like um, the mugs are so they're such hard work, honestly. The the margin in them is not great. And it's by the time you like packed in a bubble wrap and then like post and all that kind of stuff, like it's just insane. The hoodies are way to go. The hoodies are obviously you're just you're you're either tissue paper or they come pre-packed in a bag, pop them into a uh mailer bag and off they go. But the mugs I absolutely adore doing, but they're really hard work not like from a business side of things. Yeah, they're really hard work. Like I pack everything myself, so like they're really hard work, but um, I love doing them. I think there's just great meaning in them.

SPEAKER_03

Can we expect another drop of merch soon?

SPEAKER_01

Oh yeah, definitely, like a hundred percent. Like, you know, um, I'm kind of like I do it's something that I don't want to rush or bait out. I'm kind of like, and I know it's again it probably sounds cheesy, but like there's meaning for me putting them out, and I genuinely don't mind if I because I was able to do them on pre-order, the hoodies, especially if I sold ten or if I sold a thousand. Yeah. Because I'm genuinely putting them out with the sayings on it.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. Can we share with people some of these phrases and sayings in case they haven't come across it and then they want to keep an eye out for the martial future?

SPEAKER_01

Like the cunt outsold everything. Like the cunt mug.

SPEAKER_03

That's just shows you though. It's not, it's not as like a demo.

SPEAKER_01

It's so humorous for Irish, you know, that kind of way. But like the cunt mug was just insane, and then there was another one, you can't uncunt a cunt. And that literally, that outsold cunt, actually, you can't uncunt a cunt.

SPEAKER_03

This is on a jumper, you can't uncunt a cunt on a mug.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, I went in a sleeve on the sleeves as well at the hoodies, yeah. But um, the mugs just literally. I remember like watching the sales going in for the mug, and I was kind of like, oh my god, like and you know, now you'd say something if you're making like a 10 hour mug, but you're not like it's you're selling it for like 11 euro, you know. Okay, yeah. You know, you should pay for the mug, you have to pay a VAT tax, all that kind of stuff. You're not making tiny margin. You tiny, like it you're doing this because you love it. Like it's I know that's people like, yeah, right, but honestly, aren't you? But um yeah, it's like um like by the time the amount of mugs you pack in an hour, you wouldn't like you if from a business head you'd be kind of like, Oh here, you're a busy fool, like you know, you're taking the shirt off your back. But um, yeah, I just I people love them.

SPEAKER_03

I would love a hoodie that has that like front and centre or on the back, like big, like you can't uncont. Did you come up with that?

SPEAKER_01

I did.

SPEAKER_03

It's brilliant.

SPEAKER_01

Actually, no, a guy I know actually said it to me, and I no, I didn't ask him, and it's like it's okay for you. Yeah, but look, I'm sure many people do. But um, there's a uh lady over in England, um, I can't think of her exact name, it's itty bitty something, but she does like her own pottery mugs and she puts cunt in them and all that stuff, but like you need to check her out. She's just absolutely insane. Every drop she does sells out I can't get mug.

SPEAKER_03

I just feel like you know, the the start of your day involves having a mug. Like maybe it's a cup of tea or sometimes it's a cup of coffee, depending on the mood. And I feel like that lightens it. I feel like that makes heavier issues lighter.

SPEAKER_01

And I always, always go back to what mommy'd say, like, you know, like mommy was always with us when we were growing up, to like no matter the problem, go to her. Do you know that kind of way? Or my brothers and sisters, like, you know, we murder each other, like every family, but I know if I have an issue, I can pick up my phone and ring one of my brothers or sisters, or I can ring Mammy. Do you know that kind of way? Yeah. Probably more so towards Mammy or my sisters.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

But like I know I can pick up the phone and ring them. And it's like I'd always go I always tie a mug back to what Mammy says, like hop on the kettle and have a cup of tea and we can sort it out.

SPEAKER_03

And it's so true.

SPEAKER_01

So true. Like, you know, they're a staple. I think a mug is such a staple thing in an Irish household.

SPEAKER_03

It is. And just tea and treats. Yeah. Which I think that's what I feel when I look at a lot of your content. There's so much of my childhood. And my whole thing. I love when you say like, uh, lads, uh it didn't touch the back of my throat. I hadn't heard that before meeting you. And it actually took me a a couple of of times hearing you say it to go, oh, it's because it was like just that nice. He like gobbled it down. That's it, didn't you?

SPEAKER_01

I love it. So it's mad, like, but um, no, like um, I just try to keep my social media like it just um just a bit lighthearted, like fun, you know.

SPEAKER_03

Have you ever said anything online that's like gotten you into trouble at home?

SPEAKER_01

Not really, no. No, no, not really, no, I wouldn't have.

SPEAKER_03

And then what is obviously you've had some hate on social media in the past, with well, more so with Tatal Life. But speaking about like strange DMs, unusual messages, can you give us an example of one or two?

SPEAKER_01

God, I off the off the cuff.

SPEAKER_03

Like I I There's probably been so many, it's hard to do that.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, there's just so many. Like it's just yeah, it's um, I don't know, like the ones that like um the ones that just completely pick you up wrong, do you know that kind of way? They'd slightly bother me because I'm like, I'm not that person, you know that kind of way, but then I'm like, what's triggering you? Yeah, do you know that kind of way? But uh are you okay? Yeah, go like like the other night when we done the one, the video, myself and on the stingy Mickey from the Domestus.

SPEAKER_03

Like someone wrote Orna and they were like, Um I feel like we just need to give people a bit of context here if you don't know what we're talking about because we're just talking about bleach and a bowl and stingy Mickey.

SPEAKER_01

Domestus, I want a job, yeah. Go check out the safety side, yeah. But like someone wrote Orna and it was like basically, um, oh, he's so needy, he's just there, like you know, it's me, me, me with him. And I'm like, No, that's actually us having the banter and crack.

SPEAKER_03

Like I was like, You're paying to me to be your iconter, like, and I was like, I'm not, you know, that kind of way, but um and I often feel like in public relationships, yeah, people like to pick a side, yeah, even though there's no side, but I I feel like most public relationships that I have come across online are follow and love to follow because it's it's a brave thing to do. Like Max and I have definitely made the decision to try and keep more of our relationship private because I think it's just it's just a lot getting those opinions, and people do tend to pick a side and be like he or she is too X for you.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

And it's one person that gets the blame in a relationship just because you've decided to put yourself out there. Um so I admire the two of you for doing that.

SPEAKER_01

You know, it's good. Like, you know, but look, lads, it goes back to like look, you're all you're always going to get no matter what you do, but you know, if someone could say to me now, this t-shirt I'm wearing is black, and they could say that's white I'm like yet, yeah. Fair pleasure. Yeah, just let them on.

SPEAKER_03

Question for you, this is a bit of a deeper one. Um if you could give someone listening advice that is struggling with their confidence, what would you say?

SPEAKER_01

I like honestly shooting from the hip here, Jane. Like, you need to genuinely learn to love yourself. And like because it's uh unless you literally love yourself, you can I believe you can do all the work.

SPEAKER_03

Learning to love yourself. Um I feel like we hear that so much. How do you learn that?

SPEAKER_01

Therapy. Honestly, therapy. I I speak about therapy on my page and I go and go to therapy and stuff. I adore it. I just absolutely adore it. And like people think when they think of therapy, just want to say that like you know, it's 70, 80 hours an hour. Most places it can be in private practice. And like I go to a private practice like for therapy, but like there's also like um students in those practices you could that could be offering therapy for a 10 hour hour or 20 hour low-cost counselling, you know, that kind of way. Yeah, and like just therapy online now. There's just there's so much. I love therapy. Like, it's you know what?

SPEAKER_03

You've inspired me. There's a lot of things have popped up within me lately, like little tiny things, and I'd be like, Oh, why do I feel that way about X or about Y or how do I shake this thought about Z? Right. And I'm like, I I should probably speak to a therapist about this, but it doesn't feel like that big of an issue.

SPEAKER_01

But see, Natalie, people think you speak to a therapist, like you know, if it it has to be a really deep dark secret, a deep, deep big issue. It doesn't. You can literally like I've sat in front of my therapist many a day, and like I think I'm on my fifth therapist, and like, you know, because you find the one for you, yeah, and I'm like, you can literally I just go in offload.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. I had a shit week of this or whatever, just offload and like I need to do that more because I think I definitely like I said, I'm not at your stage of being dead to people's opinions. So sometimes if I'm like, right, ma'am, I'm just off to therapy, I'm a bit afraid she's like, You're off to what?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

What's wrong?

SPEAKER_01

Something has to be wrong.

SPEAKER_03

I just want to go and have a chat with my therapist.

SPEAKER_01

Well I think just the more we speak of I think like I hate when people say, like, oh you have a platform use it, like, do you know what like and I I hate that pressure, but like um I do think if like we can freely say, like, do you know what? Because there's so much stigma around it, like mental health is just it's silly so it is, do you know? And like um but yeah, I I love therapy, so yeah. My advice to be to somebody like is look, I'd say to you go to therapy, do you know that kind of way? But like the real thing you have to do is love yourself to a point that you're dead to other people's opinions, do you know that kind of way?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, that's the goal after this. Absolutely. You've inspired me to go and make that next appointment now after this uh recording. Right, we do this at towards the end of every episode, Kieran, and it is the groundshaking confession. So you might need to have a bit of a think about. Confess to us something you've done that really shook things up in your life, big or small. Ground shaking moment.

SPEAKER_01

Let me think straight away shooting from the hip is honestly is the whole thing of opinions. I love it. Straight away because like honest to God, like you can and no matter what situation or scenario you're in, people are always going to have an opinion of you. Like, and like I'm actually a quite simple person, like you know, t-shirt, shorts, runners. Do you know the abuse side I get from people if I send into a family photo or stuff like that, oh my god, you're in the shorts again or whatever, but like you could take that home with you and then dress a certain way, and I'm like, I'm just so comfortable and casual the way I am, do you know? And yeah, opinions. I think like if you can literally and I think I with parenting as well, like you know, you're always going to have people saying like, oh your child should be doing this or should be this way or should be doing that, or like playing this sport team, whatever. But like if you have the confidence in yourself as a parent to distill down into your kids that they know who they are. And like that they don't have to like do something for someone else's validation, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Do you know? I think that's such a good thing. That is really and actually at the end of the day, it doesn't make people's opinions don't matter, like and but we focus on it so much because it's literally bred into us. But like the it doesn't make a blind bit of difference someone's opinions, don't I think?

SPEAKER_03

I remember listening, I was listening to another podcast there recently because I watched the recent Love Island series, right? I love everything, dating. So like every Love is Blind episode from every country in the world. You were telling me I watched it obsessed. Um and I listened to podcasts of the girls that have come out of Love Island and they're all speaking about the procedures and Botox and fillers and like things done here and there because of the opinions that people gave them online. Like they got the boob job because they were told they were too flat.

SPEAKER_01

I know.

SPEAKER_03

They got filler in their chin because they were told they had like a bum chin and all these different things. I'm like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but but that like it but that it goes back to like loving yourself, like you know, that that work it wasn't done. Before they were even put onto those platforms, like you know that kind of way that there should have been a bit of work done there, I believe. Do you know? And it's like I believe therapy is the way forward. Like, I'd love to see even in primary schools therapy. Do you know that kind of way? I'd love to see it more so in schools. I know it is coming into secondary schools a bit more, yeah, but like it'd love to see and like therapy isn't about fixing you, do you know that kind of way? It's giving you the power and the tools to like you know to work with your feelings and to understand yourself more. And also I just love it. I think that and running, I think is just insane.

SPEAKER_03

That was really lovely. That was a lovely way to answer the ground shaking confession. Okay, before we finish up here, we're gonna do a quick fire, right? So we're just gonna shoot some questions at you and you give me the first thing that comes to your mind.

SPEAKER_01

Jesus.

SPEAKER_03

Favourite cheap meal after a run?

SPEAKER_01

Uh spice bag.

SPEAKER_03

Spice bag. Okay, worst habit you have.

SPEAKER_01

God, I don't think I have one.

SPEAKER_03

Saying cunt isn't a bad thing anymore. I don't worst habit I have.

SPEAKER_01

I don't think I'd have one lately. I don't think you do. Fairly perfect.

SPEAKER_03

I love it. One phrase you say too much.

SPEAKER_01

Cunt. Yeah. Cunt. I don't know why I find it so funny.

SPEAKER_03

Early morning run or lie in.

SPEAKER_01

Uh early morning run lately.

SPEAKER_03

Okay. Coffee order.

SPEAKER_01

A double espresso. I don't drink coffee. I don't drink coffee. Oh, I drink double espresso. I know it sounds so stupid. I've never had cappuccino, lattice, anything else, just double espresso.

SPEAKER_03

You've had one.

SPEAKER_01

I've never.

SPEAKER_03

You never tasted latte.

SPEAKER_01

Never. Never. I literally someone get the smell of latte. Double espresso, that's it.

SPEAKER_03

That's mental. When do you start drinking double espresso?

SPEAKER_01

I was a cost of coffee opened up in the car park, and I was like, I think Ashley got me a double espresso one dish. Like, here, try that. And I love it. Every morning I have it now, like I find it great.

SPEAKER_03

That's incredible. Because I we went down to Lambert's for a coffee before this. And it was gorgeous coffee. And I was like, what's your coffee order? You said double espresso. I was like, this lat, isn't that? But it works for you.

SPEAKER_01

I think I think but I think um double espresso nearly represents me because I'm like, I'm quick. And you know that kind of way to the point, get it done. Of course, it's double espresso down the hatch. You know that kind of way. That's me. I'm quick like that. Get it done, in and out, whatever, blah blah.

SPEAKER_03

And what does it say about me? I get a skinny caramel latte. I usually ask for a teapot of hot water as well, so I can sit there and savour it and top it up for as long as is possible.

SPEAKER_01

I think a double espresso represents me well, like so.

SPEAKER_03

I'm just slow and lazy. Okay, most embarrassing thing that's happened to you, like on a run or otherwise.

SPEAKER_01

Um probably oh my god, actually, the one that's coming to head to me is um last August uh Tullamore Half Maraton literally wanted to get one hour 40. Yeah, and basically got one hour 40, 20 seconds because I went at the end of the Tullamore Harriers, you have to come on and run around the track. So when I looked directly over on my left, I could I was halfway around the track, I could see the finish line, and I was running with nylon. I was like, I'm going to get sick, and he's like, You're not going to get sick. Literally, like everyone watched me just puke on the track, and then I just wiped my mouth and burst it on. And I was like, Did I just fucking do that? I lost, I was bullying like a one hour 40, 20. Cost me. But um, yeah, I think it's all good. Like, do you know? But that just came to my head.

SPEAKER_03

And you're lucky it was that end and not the other end. Yeah, you know what kind of line where it's the other end of people.

SPEAKER_01

But you know what, Thataly? You're actually like, if I was to shit myself on the run now, I'd actually just be like, Look, lads, we all do it.

SPEAKER_03

You know, do you think running makes you more humbled to absolutely speak in the way you do it? Yeah, no, I have had some issues now when I was trying to get my feeling right for runs, and I've had to jump a ditch or two. Like if this happened on race day and there was no portal near me, I don't know what I do. I get how it happens to me, but yeah. Anyway, at least you're only sick.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Most useless purchase you've made recently.

SPEAKER_01

I honest to God, for like you're smart with these things. I literally um I don't buy much, to be honest. I genuinely like if it's for the house or stuff like that, I genuinely don't I genuinely don't buy much. I I really don't. Like I years ago I would have been more of an impulse buyer in spending, whereas now I'm kind of like, you know, if something for the kids or or going or the house. Yeah. But um that's a great way to be.

SPEAKER_03

I feel like TikTok shock is taking over.

SPEAKER_01

No, I can't believe them with that. I can't deal with that.

SPEAKER_03

I bought one thing off it, useless never again.

SPEAKER_01

I tried it going on selling stuff, and I was kind of like, I might actually have to do a video to make a scent.

SPEAKER_03

Oh stop.

SPEAKER_01

And I was like, no, good luck.

SPEAKER_03

I know it's not worth the amount of work that goes into it. Uh if you came with a warning label, what would it be?

SPEAKER_01

Not even says no, I think just like um I think that would be my label because I think like I love that word, and it's like I don't see it as a bad word, I see it as like an honest word. Do you know what that kind of way is? And I think like um, I think it's just it's it's out there, it's like it's just laying it all out there. Do you know what I kind of way?

SPEAKER_03

Uh my next question, I think it's gonna have the same answer. Um, I'm laughing already because I know it's gonna be what would your autobiography be called?

SPEAKER_01

I I've done a reel writing a book, uh pretending I wrote a book and it's up on my grid as well, and it got great fuse as well. I was like, oh, this is um uh book, I think it was like how to encounter cont or something KC style or something like that. But um it is look, it's a mad word, and I do apologize to people that don't like it, but go work on yourself. Why is it triggering you? Do you know?

SPEAKER_03

I think that is a lovely way to wrap up this episode of Shakespeare's. Like it's so quick. Before we finish up, I just want to take a moment to thank our partners at Amplify Podcast Studio. Honestly, having the right team behind you, it does make all the difference. And Amplify don't just produce podcasts, they build podcasts designed to last. If creating something meaningful in this space is on your mind, definitely check them out at Amplify.ie. And that brings us to the end of today's episode. Kieran, thanks so much for sharing your speech.

SPEAKER_01

Thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_03

Honestly, you said something during the the pod there about having to like read the room, suss things out, and I'm just so happy that you felt like you could come into a conversation with me and and want to and enjoy it. Make the journey here, it means so much. Yeah, read it.

SPEAKER_01

Like, I there's no bullshit for you. No, you know that kind of way, and I can see that with a person straight away. As I just say, there are vampires stay away from them. Yeah, you know, and there's a lot of vampires around. You know that kind of way. There's a lot of vampires around. It's a metaphor I use instead of it, they're not actually sucking the blood out here, they're sucking the energy out.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, no, it's so true.

SPEAKER_01

You're not one of them.

SPEAKER_03

Uh that means a lot. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01

Buffy.

SPEAKER_03

Oh, Kieran, that's brilliant. Um, genuinely even so fun, so open, so authentic. It means the world. And I'm sure that this this episode has helped so many listeners to build confidence, to maybe get into running, to learn to love themselves. But also, if there's parents listening, to maybe go about eating them into sports and how they speak to children in a different way. There's so many wonderful takeaways from this. So thank you in advance for all the people I know you're helping.

SPEAKER_01

Brilliant. Thanks, Melinda.

SPEAKER_03

And to you listening, don't forget to rate and subscribe to the podcast. If you have been enjoying it so far, send me a DM, let me know how you're finding it. Oh, Kieran, if people want to find you on socials, where can they go?

SPEAKER_01

Uh Instagram be Melanie Mill.com.

SPEAKER_03

All right, I mean yeah, we'll have it linked in the show notes anyway. So until next time, guys, keep trusting yourself, keep putting past the fear, and keep speaking.