Growing up in a family of artists and tinkerers with a pen and a paintbrush in her hand, Katharine majored in Music, and minored in French Literature for her BA at Pomona College. As a Thomas J. Watson Fellow, she traveled across Europe for a year, listening to the finest orchestras in the world, practicing flute, reading novels, and soaking up European culture.

In the late ’80's she went to Lisbon "for six months” for a job and never looked back.

In the intervening years, she has become a devoted student of the Alexander Technique, a reader of Zen philosophy, and - after studying in Paris - became certified in Integrated Practice.

Katharine believes that our artistic endeavours add meaning to our lives while contributing—in ways large or small—to the treasures of human invention.

Her burning desire to help others find the freedom to create in their own way, has led her to offer her wisdom, experience, and expertise as a coach. You can find ouit more about Katharine, her work, and her approach to coaching on her website, and you can also find her on Instagram.

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Vanessa Fox O'Loughlin writes crime as Sam Blake, the multiple No 1 bestselling Irish crime writer.

She has been shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year three times, and twice for Irish Teen and YA Novel of the Year. Her second YA novel, Something's About to Blow Up was Winner of the International Education Services Teen & YA Novel of the Year 2024. Her latest adult thriller, The Killing Sense, came out in January 2025 and is a No 1 bestseller.

Follow Sam on social @samblakebooks or find out more at www.samblakebooks.com, where you can join her Reader's Club and receive her adult thriller High Pressure for free.

Vanessa is also the founder of Europe's biggest writing resources website, the award winning writing.ie, the Writers Ink online writing group and Murder One, Ireland's International Crime Writing Festival. She is currently Chair of the board of the Society of Authors, and previously was Chair of Irish PEN and a board member of the Crime Writers Association. Having developed a range of initiatives in the writing world, Vanessa is a champion for emerging writers, working with agents and publishers, both in the UK and Ireland, spotting new talent.

Among the things we discuss are the sewers off Paris - which you can find out more about here. We also mentioned the book, Perfume by Patrick Süskind more than once. If you are interested in getting your own copy, it is available here.

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This week, my guest is the fabulous Barbara Scully.

Barbara is a writer, author, broadcaster, agony aunt, feminist, mother, wife, stand-up comedian, and friend. In this episode (which we could call "Shit Central"!) we talk about her book (Wise Up), her stand-up comedy show, her regular slot with Seán Moncrieff, on Newstalk, and her take on life post-menopause.

You can try your luck getting tickets for Barbara's stand up show at Dalkey Comedy Festival here, listen to her agony aunting here, buy her book here, find her on BlueSky, and follow her on Insta. Barbara's website can be found by clicking this link.

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