This week on IMAGE The Motherload, beauty editor, content creator and mum of two Triona McCarthy joins Dominique for an honest and often very funny conversation about modern motherhood.

Triona opens up about her ADHD diagnosis and how that shows up in her day-to-day life, the reality of parenting tweens, managing the mental load when your nervous system is already busy, navigating public visibility, and the lasting impact of losing her sister at just 30.

Plus, because she is Triona McCarthy, she shares the beauty and tweakment advice every tired mum needs.

In this deeply honest episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique McMullan speaks with award winning podcast host and coach Laura Guckian about the reality behind modern motherhood.

From her psychiatric hospital admission when her first baby was ten months old to her late diagnoses of autism and ADHD, Laura shares the moments that reshaped her life and her mission to support other mothers.

Together they unpack matrescence, maternal mental health, neurodivergent parenting and the practical tools every overwhelmed mum needs.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, recorded live last November, Dominique McMullan is joined by Tara Rafter, Rosemary MacCabe, Daniella Moyles and Danielle Garner for a down to earth conversation about why so many mums feel depleted and overlooked in their own lives.

They talk honestly about guilt, identity, exhaustion and the pressure to keep going, as well as the small, realistic ways they try to protect their energy and themselves.

If you’ve ever felt like you can’t seem to keep yourself on the priority list, this episode is for you.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique McMullan is joined by Sonya Lennon for a conversation about what it really takes to create change for women and families in Ireland.

Together, they explore why issues like the childcare crisis and the gender pay gap cannot be solved by asking women to cope better, but by redesigning the systems that created the problems in the first place. As Sonya puts it, “We spend so much time reacting to the damage downstream. Real change comes when we throw the pebble further upstream.”

From workplace equity and flexible working to leadership, money and the invisible mental load carried by mothers, this episode invites listeners to look beyond individual struggle and towards collective responsibility. It’s a potent reminder that change is possible… when we ask better questions and build better systems.

Recorded live at IMAGE The Motherload’s final event before Christmas, this conversation with Miriam O’Callaghan didn’t go the way host Dominique McDermott expected.

Funny, disarmingly honest and deeply grounded, Miriam reflects on motherhood across decades, parenting adult children, grief, resilience, and what it really means to “just get on with life.” She speaks candidly about the collision of work and family, the importance of her village, and why having something that is just yours (for her, a lifelong career) is so essential for mothers.

This is a conversation about staying true to yourself, even through loss, pressure and change, and why honesty matters more than perfect answers.

Rosanna Davison’s journey to motherhood is a story of loss, love and the most extraordinary resilience. The former Miss World sits down with Dominique McMullan for one of the most emotional and honest conversations ever shared on IMAGE The Motherload.

Rosanna opens up about the heartbreak of fourteen miscarriages, the moment she watched her longed-for baby girl being born from another woman, and the shock and joy of welcoming twins. She also reflects on the strain it placed on her relationship, and for the first time, talks about helping her surrogate escape war and set up a new life in Ireland.

With time has come perspective and healing. Today, Rosanna is a proud mum of three, with a home and career she loves, and a happiness that feels so richly deserved.

**A gentle note: this episode discusses baby loss. Please take care while listening, and skip this one if it’s not for you today.

In this inspiring episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with Tammy Darcy, founder and CEO of The Shona Project. Tammy shares the powerful story behind her movement to empower the young women of Ireland, revealing how her relationship with her late sister, Shona, shaped her life’s mission.

Tammy also opens up about the realities of creating The Shona Project while raising her own children, the key values she hopes to instill in them, and discusses the struggles faced by teenage girls today and how we can better connect with them.

Join us as we work hard to lighten the load for the next generation.

Please note: This episode contains a trigger warning for miscarriage

In this intimate episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique chats to Danielle Garner, the founder of Wildflower Hair Studio. Danielle’s story is one of incredible resilience and reinvention.

She opens up about her journey, from living with an alcoholic parent, to navigating the grief of a second-trimester miscarriage during a time of global isolation. Danielle shares how these experiences have shaped her as a mother to her two beautiful boys and how she’s channeled her resilience into her work and her life.

They also chat about Danielle’s distinctive, natural aesthetic, the beauty she finds in both her work and in nature, and how she’s raising her sons to be compassionate and strong. This episode is an honest conversation about finding beauty… even in the hardest moments.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by artist and mother of three, Emma Flynn, for one of the most powerful conversations the podcast has ever hosted.

Together they talk about Emma’s years as a midwife, her experience of postpartum OCD and intrusive thoughts (TW), the role of medication and therapy in her healing, and the hope she’s found in creativity, faith, and community.

This is a conversation about darkness, yes, but also about love – the kind that transforms us and carries us through.

Pat Kane has built two successful businesses – reuzi and Pragmatica – but her story is about far more than entrepreneurship. A Brazilian-born, Dublin-based mum of two, Pat is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

In this tender, powerful conversation, Pat opens up about her healing journey, how motherhood has shaped her perspective, and what it takes to raise open-hearted boys in today’s world.

Trigger warning: this episode touches on childhood sexual abuse. If that feels too much right now, we understand – feel free to come back when you’re ready.

This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with LGBTQI+ rights campaigner, speaker, CEO and proud mum-of-three, Ranae von Meding, for a powerful, moving, and deeply personal conversation.

Nearly a decade on from Ireland’s Marriage Equality referendum, Ranae reflects on the wins, the gaps that still remain, and the emotional toll of raising a family that isn’t yet fully recognised under the law. They talk about the joys of queer motherhood, the realities of burnout, the vulnerability of advocacy, and the hope that drives her forward.

With heart and honesty, Ranae reminds us that the most radical thing we can do is raise our voices… and our children… with love.

Charlene Flanagan thought she had to do it all. She co-founded beauty brand Ella & Jo, raised two children and ran herself into burnout.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Charlene joins Dominique McMullan to talk about surviving that season, her mental health struggles and how they led her to redefine everything. She shares why kindness and soundness are her business superpowers, how she’s building a workplace that supports mothers, and why success isn’t worth it if it costs you yourself.

This conversation is a reminder that you’re allowed to build your life differently.

Emma Doran became a mum at 18. At 30, she started a stand-up career. Now a mother of three and one of Ireland’s most loved comedic voices, she joins Dominique to talk about the journey in between.

Emma talks about what it was like to become a mum at 18, to sit the Leaving Cert pregnant, and to raise three children while building a career as one of Ireland’s most loved comedic voices.

Emma also opens up about using humour to reclaim her identity after years of putting her kids first, why maternal rage is so very real, and what she’s learned from parenting across two very different decades of her life.

This episode is honest in a way you don’t often see with Emma, and of course it’s laugh-out-loud funny too.

What’s it really like raising triplets? Ali Deasy joins Dominique McMullan for an episode that’s as hilarious as it is heart-wrenching.

Ali talks about the shock of a triplet pregnancy, the chaos of raising four kids, surviving potty training three at once, and why asking for help as a mother still feels *so* hard.

This is a conversation about the beautiful mess of family life – and how to soften your inner critic when motherhood feels overwhelming.

In this episode, Dominique is joined by renowned psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor to explore the impact of smartphones and technology on childhood, parenting and how we connect as humans.

Together, they unpack the mental health trends of the past decade, the loss of offline play, and the subtle shifts happening in how our children (and we) are developing emotionally and socially. But this isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness.

From opportunity cost to dopamine traps, Colman gives us the tools to think critically, build resilience, and take back some control… without shame or scaremongering.

In this emotional and deeply honest episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by content creator and mum of three, Jodie Wood. Jodie opens up about her road to baby Sadie – a journey marked by tertiary fertility challenges, moments of heartbreak, and a quiet but steady resilience. They talk about mum guilt, the pressure to look perfect after giving birth, and how to ask for help (and accept it).

Jodie also shares what it’s like to be a mother in the public eye, how she kept going through uncertainty, and why she’s learning to hold space for both her public persona and her private self.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses fertility issues.

Recorded live at Avoca Dunboyne, this special episode of IMAGE The Motherload dives into a theme every mum can relate to: how to find your spark again. That feeling of being lit up, connected to yourself, and full of purpose… even in the thick of motherhood.

Dominique is joined by three powerful women – fitness coach Emma Dowling, travel creator Siobhán McAuley, and sex educator Jenny Keane – for a meaningful conversation about burnout, identity, self-connection, joy and the tiny steps that help us feel like ourselves again.

This episode is a reminder that you’re not alone, and that your spark isn’t lost, it’s just waiting for a little oxygen.

This episode of IMAGE The Motherload is not an easy listen, but a tremendously important one.

A short while ago, Dominique sat down with Una Ennis – a mum in the midst of every parent’s worst nightmare. Her little boy Archie is seriously ill with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive disease that urgently needs prohibitively expensive treatment abroad.

Over the course of this chat, with the most extraordinary bravery, Una speaks about the impact Archie’s diagnosis has had on their family, and the non-stop fundraising that has taken place since.

Because of course, you would do anything – anything – to help your sick child.

Her vulnerability is powerful, and we know that this conversation will stay with you like it has stayed with us.

IMAGE The Motherload is BACK for Season Two. In this week’s episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique McMullan is joined by someone she has long admired – her friend, businesswoman and jewellery designer Chupi Sweetman Pell.

Together they talk about balancing home life with ambition, the importance of sequins (very important obviously), what true equality in the home looks like and the secret to real leadership. They also touch on the importance of raising the next generation to do it all with more softness, more strength, and more freedom.

This is an episode about what we pass down, and the courage it takes to imagine something better for those who come after us.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, host Dominique McMullan sits down with holistic sex educator and new mum, Jenny Keane, better known as the “orgasm queen.”

Beyond her famous workshops and Late Late Sex Toy Show, Jenny shares how motherhood has deepened her understanding of self-connection and body awareness. Together, they dismantle the productivity-obsessed culture and champion the “pleasure mindset”… the radical act of prioritising joy in everyday moments.

From gentle postpartum practices to rebuilding intimacy with partners, Jenny offers wisdom that transcends the bedroom.

This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with Sarah Battle and Hannah Saunders at the first Motherload Live Event.

Hannah is the founder of Hannah Saunders PR, and the definition of a powerhouse, balancing campaigns in Dublin, New York, and London while raising little Brody (and fur-mum duties for Chip!). Sarah is mum to five (yes, five!), a former Home Ec teacher turned RTE Home of the Year contender and digital-creator extraordinaire.

Together, they dove into it all, from how to get out the door in the morning, to the myth of “balance”, to the sacrifices we make as mothers, the support systems we lean on, and the power of community. They also chatted about the tough times, how to find yourself again through grief and mental-health hurdles, and of course the importance of self-care – whether that means dip in the sea or a margarita and a blow dry! Whether you were there in person or are feeling the FOMO, listen now for laughter, tears, and the ultimate feel-good conversation.

This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with the incredible Anna Whitehouse – journalist, author, activist, and the powerhouse behind the Flex Appeal movement. In this deeply emotional and inspiring conversation, Anna shares her journey from campaigning for flexible working laws, to navigating divorce, rediscovering love, welcoming her daughter Lola, and reshaping what modern motherhood can look like.

From the labour ward to Number 10 Downing Street, from heartbreak to hope – this is an honest and uplifting conversation about resilience, reinvention, and refusing to be boxed in.

Stylist, creative director, and all-round cool gal Courtney Smith is one of the most recognisable forces in Irish fashion. But beyond the bold colours and confident silhouettes, she’s also navigating life as a mum.

In this episode, Dominique is joined by Courtney and her four-month-old daughter Nova and they dive into what it’s really like to parent three small humans (spoiler: it’s quite a lot).

They talk about the decision to go again when life already feels stretched at the seams, about ‘mum guilt’, about grief and how it reshapes us, and about the quiet power of style as self-preservation. It’s a conversation about finding joy, even when you’re running on empty.

There’s gentleness in this episode. There’s a gurgling baby. There’s honesty. And there’s also the refreshing reminder that it’s okay not to have balance. That motherhood is layered and contradictory and often heartbreaking, but also beautifully transformative and fulfilling.

Indy Power is known for her thriving businesses, The Little Green Spoon and SINES candles, but behind the scenes, she was fighting a private battle that lasted years. After a straightforward first pregnancy with her son Teddy, Indy’s journey to a second child was marked by multiple miscarriages, emotional and physical exhaustion, and round after round of treatment.

In this deeply honest conversation, Indy opens up about the reality of fertility struggles, the toll it took on her, and the strength it took her to keep going. We talk about IVF, surrogacy, support systems, running a business through it all – and finally, the moment she held her second baby, after years of heartbreak.

This is a story of resilience, hope, and hard-won joy. And while everyone’s journey is different, we hope Indy’s story may offer comfort to those feeling alone in theirs.

Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of miscarriage and fertility loss.

Disclaimer : This is one woman’s personal experience. It is not medical advice. Please consult your GP or fertility specialist for individual support.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique McMullan sits down with Sinead O’Moore. Sinead is a powerhouse in podcasting (listen to The 40s Stretch wherever you get your podcasts!), a business owner, a fierce advocate for women, and most importantly, a mum who knows firsthand the beautiful, messy reality of it all.

In this episode, Sinead and Dominique cover the real work-life balance debate; why ‘mum guilt’ exists (and how to finally shake it off); the way women’s ambition shifts after kids, and why that’s a good thing and the changes we actually need to see to support working mums. We do hope you enjoy it.

In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique McMullan sits down with Louise McSharry for an honest conversation about motherhood, balance, and raising boys with feminist values. Louise opens up about the realities of juggling a successful career and family, the pressures society places on mothers, and why she’s passionate about raising her sons to be kind, aware, and emotionally intelligent.

With her signature pragmatic wit, she shares the lessons she’s learned, and the joys and challenges she’s experienced along the way. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating motherhood. We do hope you enjoy it.