Two sisters bravely share the heartbreaking story of how they lost their father to domestic violence, revealing a devastating truth about male victims that's rarely discussed in our society.

Growing up in Dublin with a father they describe as strict but loving, Karen and Lynn never imagined they'd one day be fighting for justice in a system that failed to protect him. Their father's relationship with a younger woman from the Czech Republic raised concerns from the beginning – strange behaviour, inconsistent stories, and troubling incidents involving their children. But what started as uncomfortable family dynamics gradually revealed itself as something far more sinister.

The sisters recount the mounting evidence they witnessed: unexplained bruises their father would dismiss, disturbing late-night phone calls from his partner, and incidents where police were called to their home. Despite their growing suspicions, they struggled to believe their proud, strong father could be a victim of domestic abuse. When confronted, he would change the subject or become defensive – a response they now recognize as common among male victims trapped in abusive relationships.

What makes this story particularly powerful is how it challenges our assumptions about domestic violence. The sisters describe their shock at discovering their father had taken out safety orders he never followed through with, and how authorities missed critical warning signs. When tragedy finally struck – captured on CCTV as his partner pushed him with fatal force – the justice system compounded their grief by minimizing the pattern of abuse during sentencing and redacting their victim impact statements.

Now caring for their father's teenage daughter, the sisters have transformed their pain into purpose, advocating for legal reforms and greater awareness of male victims who often suffer in silence until it's too late. Their message is urgent and clear: domestic abuse affects people of all genders, and society must do better at recognizing and protecting all victims before more lives are lost.

Have you noticed warning signs of abuse in someone you care about? Don't wait to reach out – resources are available regardless of gender, and your concern could save a life.

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What happens when a troubled teenager from a Dublin council estate discovers faith in the midst of chaos? Des Curtis' story is nothing short of miraculous.

Growing up in Whitechurch during the 1980s, Des experienced firsthand the devastating impact of family breakdown when his parents separated due to his father's alcoholism. At just seven years old, he found himself packing his toys into black bin bags as his mother fled with her children to a women's refuge. The years that followed were marked by profound instability – his mother's struggles with depression and suicide attempts, Des's own descent into substance abuse beginning at age eleven, and his eventual expulsion from two secondary schools.

By fifteen, Des appeared destined to become another statistic, until an unexpected path emerged through carpentry. Yet even this hope was shattered when a devastating motorbike accident left him with metal plates in his arms and ended his career dreams. Isolated, depressed, and smoking cannabis alone in his garden shed, Des reluctantly agreed to join a church football team – a decision that would transform his life forever.

The transformation wasn't immediate or magical. It came through authentic relationships with teammates who talked about God as if He were real and present in their lives. When Des finally made the decision to embrace faith for himself at nineteen, he experienced a profound emotional release as years of accumulated trauma began to heal. That very evening, when offered drugs by former friends, he found himself declining – something fundamental had shifted within him.

Des's journey continued through Bible college where he met his future wife, Judith, and discovered his calling to ministry – something he never would have predicted. Today, as a pastor at St. Mark's Church, Des reflects on the power of forgiveness, particularly regarding his father, and the joy he's found through his relationship with God.

Whether you're struggling with your own past or simply curious about faith, Des's story reminds us that transformation is possible even from the most unlikely beginnings. As he puts it, "People ask me if I believe in miracles. I say I do, because I am one."

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The raw, harrowing account of losing a child to reckless driving collides with a mother's fierce determination to seek justice in this powerful conversation with Catherine Killalee.

Catherine takes us through the life of her son Dylan – a football-loving, energetic young man who was just six weeks away from completing his electrical apprenticeship when tragedy struck. With disarming honesty, she recounts the night she received the devastating phone call, rushing to the scene at the Red Cow intersection where Dylan had been fatally hit by a speeding driver going more than twice the legal limit.

What follows is a gut-wrenching journey through Ireland's justice system that leaves more questions than answers. Catherine details the agonizing process of identifying her son's body, being prevented from touching him, telling his younger twin siblings what happened, and organizing a funeral where Dylan's football teammates formed a guard of honor despite the bitter cold.

The most infuriating part of Catherine's story emerges when she describes the court proceedings. Despite the driver's excessive speed and fleeing the scene, he received just four years and four months – effectively serving around three years with standard reductions. Meanwhile, Catherine discovered her son suffered 65 fatal injuries, including amputated legs, only when it was read aloud in court, with the perpetrator sitting just feet away.

Catherine's passionate call for reform resonates throughout as she fights to appeal what she sees as a grossly inadequate sentence. Her description of grief as "sneaky" and the ripple effect through her entire family creates a portrait of loss that's both universal and achingly specific. Through tears and determination, she represents countless families who feel betrayed by a system meant to deliver justice but instead compounds their pain.

Ready to support change in how dangerous driving cases are handled? Share this episode and join the conversation about meaningful justice reform that truly values human life.

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Hayley Joyce opens up about her remarkable journey from the Ballymun flats to becoming a respected chef and social media creator with a passion for making weight loss accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Growing up in Shangan flats created lasting memories for Hayley – the community spirit, the chip vans outside their block, and the distinctive warmth rising through the building that her mother still misses today. These formative years shaped her down-to-earth approach to life and cooking, creating a foundation for the relatable content she now shares with thousands.

Her path to social media success wasn't planned but evolved naturally during lockdown. What started as simple Slimming World food posts for friends and family transformed into a platform where she shares calorie-counted meals and her popular "fakeaway" series – healthier versions of takeaway classics. "I want to make people's weight loss journey fun," she explains. "I don't want people just thinking they have to eat chicken and rice." This philosophy of making healthy eating accessible rather than restrictive resonates deeply with her followers.

Behind the food content lies a story of profound resilience. Hayley speaks candidly about losing her school friend Jennifer to domestic violence and the sudden death of her best friend Leah last year. These losses changed her completely, temporarily derailing her content creation until she found the strength to continue, knowing her friend would have wanted her to carry on. Her ongoing relationship with Leah's daughter Heidi provides both healing and purpose.

Currently navigating the challenges of house hunting with her boyfriend of nine years, Hayley maintains her characteristic optimism despite the frustrations of bidding wars in today's property market. Looking toward the future, she hopes for a home of their own and starting a family, approaching each new chapter with the same authenticity that defines her social media presence.

Follow Hayley for simple, delicious recipes that prove weight loss doesn't have to be boring, and witness how someone can transform personal struggles into a platform that uplifts others. Her story reminds us that sometimes our greatest purpose emerges from our deepest pain.

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Every single thing in his life I've had to fight for." These words cut to the heart of Jodie's experience raising Caelan, her five-year-old son with autism and developmental delays. In this raw conversation, Jodie takes us through her journey from a complicated pregnancy at 19 to her current desperate search for a school placement for her son.

The system's failings become painfully clear as Jodie recounts the endless waiting lists, denied services, and bureaucratic obstacles that have defined her family's experience. Despite a formal autism diagnosis, Caelan has received virtually no public speech therapy or occupational therapy. Now, after applying to 18 different schools with autism classes, they've been rejected from nearly all - joining a growing community of families with nowhere to send their children come September.

What makes this conversation so powerful is Jodie's unflinching honesty about both the joys and struggles of raising Caelan. She describes the sleepless nights that finally improved with melatonin, the meltdowns she couldn't understand because her son couldn't communicate what was wrong, and the beautiful moments of connection that make everything worthwhile. Through tears and determined advocacy, she reveals how parents are forced to become experts, fighters, and researchers when the systems meant to help them fail.

This isn't just one family's story - it represents a national crisis affecting hundreds of children with autism across Ireland. As Jodie puts it: "It's constantly going around in circles." Join us for this essential conversation about what happens when children with special needs fall through the cracks, and the parents who refuse to let them be forgotten.

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Raw honesty hits like a thunderbolt when Brenda Dennehy opens up about the relentless washing machine of anxiety that spun in her head since childhood. Her journey from a loving Cork family to the depths of addiction offers profound insights into how mental health struggles can silently shape our lives long before we understand what's happening.

Brenda's story shatters the stereotype of alcoholism only affecting older men, revealing how at just 25, she was secretly battling withdrawal symptoms while maintaining the façade of a promising media career. The heart-wrenching moment she finally whispered "I need help" to her mother after a public breakdown at an All-Ireland Final marks just the beginning of a recovery path filled with unexpected turns.

What makes this conversation extraordinary isn't just Brenda's unflinching account of her two rock bottoms – it's watching her remarkable resilience bloom into genuine self-love. After years of hating herself, losing dream jobs, and overdosing on prescription medication, she fought back with unwavering determination, ultimately manifesting her long-held dream of working in London television. The transformation from someone who couldn't go grocery shopping without crippling anxiety to a woman who proudly declares "I'm my own best friend" offers hope that's both realistic and deeply inspiring.

Whether you've faced addiction yourself, supported someone who has, or simply want to understand the complex relationship between mental health and substance dependency, this conversation will change how you think about recovery. Brenda's powerful testament to staying sober through her father's sudden death reminds us that our greatest achievements aren't always visible to others – sometimes they're the quiet victories we win every single day when we choose to keep going.

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Raw, resilient, and refreshingly real – Stephanie Simons opens up for the first time about the extraordinary journey that shaped the woman behind Bowie Stacks beauty empire.

From her first breaths, born into homelessness with a teenage mother battling addiction, Stephanie's path was never going to be ordinary. The Ballybough Flats provided a backdrop of community amid poverty, where childhood games existed alongside the harsh realities of Dublin's drug epidemic. With unflinching honesty, she reveals the physical and mental abuse she endured as a child, stepping into a parental role for her younger sister while still a child herself.

Dancing became her escape – until bullying shattered that dream when her hair began falling out from stress. But as Stephanie's story unfolds, we witness the remarkable resilience that would define her life. From beauty college to running "nixers" door-to-door, she built her first salon by age 20. Even as motherhood and pandemic challenges arose, she persevered, performing treatments with a newborn in a carry cot beside her.

Perhaps most powerful is Stephanie's candid discussion of the online controversy that nearly destroyed her – when a treatment complication went viral and unleashed a torrent of trolling. Yet through faith, determination and unwavering focus, she transformed that visibility into business growth, now operating multiple locations across Ireland.

This conversation goes beyond beauty treatments (though we do learn about salmon DNA injections and other innovations). It's about a woman who refused to be defined by her circumstances, who breaks generational cycles for her children, and who stands tall despite persistent challenges.

Have you ever wondered what truly builds strength? Listen as Stephanie shares her powerful message: "No matter what cards you're dealt, it's how you play them."

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Rising from the Ashes tells the incredible story of Louise’s journey from hardship to a life of purpose and hope. Growing up surrounded by addiction, violence, and loss, she endured unimaginable challenges, including the devastating impact of losing her partner to drugs and navigating life as a young mother. Yet, against all odds, she made the courageous decision to turn her life around.

Now, driven by a deep determination to help others, Louise works tirelessly within her community to inspire change, provide unwavering support, and advocate for a better future. In this podcast, she shares her personal story of resilience, the challenges her daughter faces following a late cerebral palsy diagnosis, and the extraordinary strength it takes to keep moving forward.

Join Louise as she opens up about her journey of survival, healing, and the transformative power of giving back.

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