IMAGE The Motherload

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IMAGE The Motherload is a space where modern motherhood is explored with honesty, humour and heart.

Each week, join host Dominique McMullan as she invites inspiring mums you know and love to share stories, laugh at the chaos and dive into the real talk about working motherhood and everything it entails. Because let's be real - we hold hands, hold meetings, hold it together (sometimes brilliantly, sometimes barely) but we don't do it alone.

IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Revive Active, Avoca, Liffey Valley, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare

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30 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 1 min
English

Episodes 30

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S6 · E10
Tuesday · 1 hr 5 min
When the dream becomes too much, with The Style Fairy
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by Naomi Clarke, better known as The Style Fairy, stylist, content creator, founder of fashion brand NOMI and mum of three daughters. Behind Naomi's successful career is a deeply personal story of motherhood, resilience and navigating some extraordinarily difficult experiences. Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 17, Naomi went on to experience three high-risk pregnancies and premature births, including a traumatic birth and NICU stay with her second daughter. Her third pregnancy came during the uncertainty of Covid. Alongside raising her family, Naomi built a successful styling career before launching her own fashion label, NOMI, in 2023. But as the business grew, so did the demands on her time, family and health, ultimately leading her to make the difficult decision to step back. In this conversation, Naomi and Dominique discuss birth trauma, managing a lifelong health condition, marriage, the importance of family support, raising three daughters and the pressure women feel to do it all. They also explore finding your identity again through clothes, and why sometimes the most ambitious thing you can do is decide what really matters to you. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare. #sponsored
S6 · E9
November 3 · 59 min
“One day I just stopped doing the housework” Dr Laura Lenihan on burnout and ADHD at 44
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by Dr Laura Lenihan, GP, business owner, content creator and mum of three, for an honest conversation about burnout, ADHD and the extraordinary mental load of modern motherhood. Earlier this year, at the age of 44, Laura was diagnosed with ADHD. It was a revelation that made her reconsider decades of overwhelm, the pressures she'd placed on herself and the coping strategies she'd relied on for years. Laura also shares what happened when, exhausted by the relentless demands of family life, she decided to stop doing the housework altogether, and the conversations that followed about responsibility, resentment and the invisible labour of motherhood. Together, Laura and Dominique explore the relationship between ADHD and perimenopause, the pressures on women to have it all, body image, cosmetic surgery and what it means to redefine success and motherhood in your 40s. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S6 · E8
October 27 · 53 min
Karen Clince: “Put it in your engine and let it drive you forward”
Karen Clince became a mum at just 21. Around the same time, she began building what would eventually become one of Ireland's largest childcare businesses. More than two decades later, Tigers Childcare cares for thousands of children and employs hundreds of people, and this year Karen sold a majority stake in the business in a deal reported to be worth up to €75 million. Behind that extraordinary business story is a deeply personal one. In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Karen joins Dominique to talk about growing up with a father experiencing addiction and serious mental health difficulties, the mother who became the constant in her life, becoming a young mum herself, and raising two children while building a business from the ground up. They talk about being underestimated, navigating misogyny in business, the reality of Ireland's childcare crisis and Karen's belief in the extraordinary difference one good adult can make in a child's life. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare
S6 · E7
October 20 · 1 hr 12 min
Raising Resilient Children with Dr Joanna Fortune, Rosanna Davison, Sinead O’Moore and Lisa Kennedy
How do we raise children who can handle hard things, without leaving them to handle those things alone? In this special live episode of IMAGE The Motherload, recorded at Avoca Rathcoole, Dominique is joined by psychotherapist and bestselling author Dr Joanna Fortune, play therapist Lisa Kennedy, and mums Rosanna Davison and Sinéad O'Moore for an honest and practical conversation about raising resilient children. Together, they explore big emotions, worry and anxiety, bedtime, boundaries and consequences, knowing when to step in and when to step back, and what to do when all the good parenting advice disappears and we lose our temper. And perhaps most importantly, they ask how much of raising resilient children actually begins with us: how we regulate ourselves, repair when we get things wrong and show our children that difficult feelings can be felt and hard moments can be survived. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S6 · E6
October 13 · 1 hr 13 min
Hazel Chu on racism, breast cancer and bravery
Hazel Chu has spent much of her public life breaking barriers. As the first Irish-born person of Chinese heritage to serve as Lord Mayor of Dublin and now deputy leader of the Green Party, she has faced racism, abuse and scrutiny while fighting for a more equal Ireland. But in this deeply personal episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Hazel joins Dominique to talk about the experiences that have shaped her away from politics. She speaks with extraordinary openness about her recent breast cancer diagnosis, the moment her then seven-year-old daughter Alex asked, “Mama, are you going to die?”, and the loneliness that can come with being seriously ill. Hazel also looks back at a difficult pregnancy and her experience of postnatal depression, including the period when she struggled to feel love for herself or her new baby. And in one of the most emotional moments of the conversation, Hazel talks about racism, how becoming a mother changed her relationship with it, and the pain of watching her daughter experience racism herself. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S6 · E5
October 6 · 55 min
Mary Kennedy on becoming wonderful
In this week’s episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Mary Kennedy joins Dominique for a beautiful conversation about motherhood, ambition, loss, marriage and separation, ageing, grandmotherhood and the many times in life we get to begin again. Mary Kennedy has spent decades on Irish television, but behind her remarkable broadcasting career is a life shaped by a willingness to keep beginning again. In this warm and deeply personal conversation she talks about raising four children while building her career, navigating separation at a time when it carried a very different social weight in Ireland, being rejected twice before finally getting the opportunity to present Eurovision, and what all those experiences taught her about failure, persistence and putting yourself forward. We hope you enjoy. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S6 · E4
September 29 · 57 min
Louise Cooney on becoming a mum for the second time
Louise Cooney has shared her life online for more than a decade, but in this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, you will hear a side of her you may not have heard before. Now mum to two-year-old Jude and pregnant with her second child, Louise joins Dominique at a fascinating moment in her life, as she prepares to become a mum of two. Here, Louise opens up about how she is feeling during her second pregnancy, the bittersweet reality of knowing her chapter as a family of three is coming to an end, and the questions that come with wondering how you will divide your time and heart between two kids. She also reflects on when she became a mum the first time around, her changing identity, confidence, work and mum guilt, her relationship with husband Mark, sharing motherhood online and what she hopes to do differently when baby number two arrives. And, of course, there’s plenty of fashion and beauty too. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S6 · E3
September 22 · 1 hr 6 min
Síle Seoige on motherhood, gratitude and lessons hard learnt
Broadcaster, documentary maker, podcaster and mum of two Síle Seoige joins Dominique for a beautifully open conversation about the experiences that have shaped her. From pregnancy loss and thyroid cancer to anxiety, motherhood, marriage and a career spent in the public eye, Síle reflects on the highs and lows of her life with extraordinary perspective. They talk about becoming a mum later in life, raising children in an increasingly anxious world, learning when to push yourself and when to protect yourself, why gratitude has become such an important part of how she moves through the world, and what hundreds of intimate conversations on her own podcast have taught her about being human. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S6 · E2
September 15 · 1 hr 2 min
Why I Chose Solo Motherhood with Maria Walsh
For Maria Walsh, motherhood didn't begin with a positive pregnancy test. It began with therapy, difficult decisions, IVF and choosing to build a family on her own terms. In this deeply personal conversation, the Fine Gael MEP joins Dominique to discuss her journey to solo motherhood through IVF and sperm donation, and why she believes Ireland still has a long way to go in supporting modern families. Maria speaks candidly about fertility treatment, public scrutiny, compassionate healthcare, the legal issues around donor conception, LGBTQ+ parenting and the importance of recognising the value of care. She also reflects on ambition, equality, building a village around her child, and the kind of Ireland she hopes her daughter will grow up in. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S6 · E1
September 8 · 1 hr 2 min
Why life gets better after 50 with Barbara Scully
Writer, broadcaster, author, grandmother and now stand-up comedian, Barbara joins Dominique this week for a funny, wise and refreshingly honest conversation about why getting older might just be the greatest gift of all. Together they discuss becoming a comedian at 60, the surprising freedom that comes after menopause, why women should stop apologising for their anger, and the joy of caring a little less about what other people think. Barbara also reflects on becoming a mother in 1980s Ireland, raising three daughters, navigating modern motherhood, becoming a grandmother, and why loving your grandchildren doesn't necessarily mean becoming full-time childcare. This is an episode about reinvention, perspective and remembering that life's best chapters may not have even happened yet. Tickets and dates for Barbara's upcoming show, Because I'm Worth It, are available here : https://barbarascully.com/shows/ IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S5 · E10
June 30 · 56 min
The truth about coercive control and why women aren't being protected with Lisa Wilkinson
Lisa Wilkinson has spent almost three decades standing beside women. A barrister specialising in family law and coercive control, she has also been an entrepreneur, doula, yoga teacher, childcare provider and wellbeing pioneer. While those careers may seem worlds apart, they are all driven by one purpose: making women's lives safer, healthier and fairer. In this powerful episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique and Lisa discuss coercive control, domestic abuse, family courts, birth rights, informed consent, childcare, motherhood and why so many of the systems women rely on continue to let them down. Lisa explains why abuse often escalates after separation, how coercive control can continue through legal processes, the warning signs every woman should know, and why listening to women's lived experiences has never been more important. This is a difficult conversation in places, but an essential one. If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available through Women's Aid on 1800 341 900 or at womensaid.ie. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S5 · E9
June 23 · 1 hr
What Ailbhe Smyth wants for our daughters and sons
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with one of the most influential figures in modern Irish history, Ailbhe Smyth. As Ailbhe celebrates her 80th birthday, she reflects on a life spent challenging injustice, campaigning for equality, and helping to shape the Ireland we live in today. Together they discuss motherhood in 1970s Ireland, surviving some of the darkest periods of her life, becoming a grandmother, coming out as a lesbian in a very different Ireland, and the social movements that transformed the country, including Marriage Equality and Repeal. Ailbhe also shares her thoughts on modern motherhood, the invisible labour still carried by women, why progress should never be taken for granted, and what gives her hope for the generations to come. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S5 · E8
June 16 · 56 min
Kim O'Sullivan on taking the leap
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with entrepreneur, beauty founder and mother-of-three Kim O'Sullivan. Today, Kim is the founder of Brow Aid and The Dublin Makeup Academy, but her journey began as a young single mother determined to build a better future for her son.In this inspiring conversation, Kim reflects on the challenges of early motherhood, the leap of faith that saw her leave a secure job with Armani, and the mindset that helped her build two successful businesses from the ground up. She shares why she credits motherhood with much of her success, the surprising role manifestation has played throughout her life, and how writing down her goals helped turn dreams into reality, from career milestones to meeting the man she would eventually marry. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S5 · E7
June 9 · 1 hr 4 min
The mental load we carry in our bodies with Michelle Flynn
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.
S5 · E6
June 2 · 1 hr 3 min
From a cult to unfiltered motherhood with Laura O’Connell
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by Laura O’Connell, a familiar face to many as the creator behind the viral Irish midwife sketches on Instagram, and co-host of the podcast Oh Right, Yeah. In this episode, Laura shares the story behind the humour. She opens up about growing up in a religious group, the loss of her mother at a young age, and how those early experiences shaped her sense of self. She also speaks candidly about an unplanned pregnancy, postpartum depression, and her experience of anxiety, including a period in psychiatric care last year. Together, Dominique and Laura explore the pressure many mothers feel to keep going, even when they are struggling, and the difficulty of slowing down in a world that rewards constant doing. This is an honest, layered conversation about mental health, motherhood, identity and what it means to ask for help. Listen now to IMAGE The Motherload, powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare.
S5 · E5
May 26 · 1 hr 8 min
This is what resilience really looks like with Jen Healy
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.
S5 · E4
May 19 · 1 hr 7 min
Joanna Fortune: The Parenting advice every parent needs right now
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by psychotherapist, bestselling author and parenting expert Dr Joanna Fortune for a powerful conversation about the realities of raising children today. Together, they discuss the pressures modern parents are facing, from information overload and parental guilt to anxiety in children, screen time, emotional resilience and raising emotionally intelligent boys. Joanna also shares her “15 Minute Parenting” philosophy, explains the importance of “good enough parenting” and offers practical advice for parents trying to navigate family life while balancing work, stress and self-expectation. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advance and Tigers Childcare
S5 · E3
May 12 · 42 min
Una Healy on motherhood, hormones and raising teens
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
S5 · E2
May 5 · 1 hr 1 min
Holly Cairns on leading a party and raising a child
This is not about telling you who to vote for. It is a conversation about motherhood in a place we rarely hear it spoken about. This week on The Motherload, Dominique sits down with Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats and TD for Cork South West.Holly gave birth to her daughter on polling day in November 2024 and has since returned to one of the most demanding roles in the country, leading her party while navigating early motherhood.In this episode, she shares the reality behind that experience, from birth and postnatal recovery to returning to work and trying to secure childcare in a system under so much pressure. The conversation also explores the broader challenges facing families in Ireland, including the childcare crisis, women’s healthcare, education, disability supports, SNA’s and what it takes to keep mothers in the workforce. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers Childcare
S5 · E1
April 28 · 53 min
Caroline Foran on raising a neurodivergent child and managing anxiety
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

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