This week I sit down with Sarita Egan a mum of four who shares the heartbreaking loss of her husband Mark, who died by suicide. Mark had also battled for a period with severe psychosis on and off whilst coming off anabolic steroids.

Sarita speaks openly about the shock of what happened, the guilt she carries, the complexity of Mark’s mental health in those final weeks, and the devastating impact his loss has had on her and their children. She shares her experience with honesty and courage, shedding light on a topic that is often misunderstood and rarely spoken about.

This is a deeply emotional conversation about grief, mental health, and the ripple effect it continues to have on a family.

⚠️ Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide and mental health which some listeners may find distressing. Please take care while listening.

If you have been affected by anything in this episode, you can contact Samaritans for support:
📞 Freephone 116 123 (Ireland & UK)
🌐 www.samaritans.org

For more information on grief support and resources, visit www.griefireland.com.

You can find Sarita on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sarita_innerlightpsychotherapy/

This week I sit down with Brittany Dowling who shares the heartbreaking story of losing her husband Danny Dowling who died suddenly at just 36 following an epileptic seizure known as SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy).

Danny was a devoted father to two young boys and a well-known business owner, running a much-loved lodge in the Wicklow Mountains. His sudden death has left an unimaginable void in Brittany's life and in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

In this episode Brittany speaks about the shock of losing Danny so unexpectedly, the reality of navigating life and motherhood in the aftermath, and the deep love and village that continues to carry her through.

This is a powerful and emotional conversation about sudden loss, family, and learning to keep going when everything changes in an instant.

For those who may need support in their own grief journey:

• Tickets for my Parent Loss Grief Workshop in Athlone – April 19th can be found here:

https://www.griefireland.com/grief-retreat/p/grief-workshop-for-partner-loss-athlone

• You can also learn more about my community membership After the Flowers, where members can access full video episodes, support resources and a private community space:

https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership

This week I sit down with Joanna McNulty who shares the devastating and very recent loss of her father Joachim McNulty.

Joachim was a seasoned fisherman who knew the sea well but tragically lost his life when his car slid down the slipway at Belderrig Pier in Mayo and entered the water. The pier surface had become dangerously slippery due to moss and algae and he was unable to escape the vehicle.

Joanna joins me in the very acute early stages of grief to speak about what happened, the shock and devastation of losing her dad in such preventable circumstances, and the reality of navigating grief so soon after a tragedy.

Alongside sharing her father’s story Joanna is determined that no other family should experience the same loss. She is now advocating for proper maintenance and safety standards across Ireland’s piers so that something like this cannot happen again.

This is an incredibly raw and powerful conversation about grief and also about the need for safety measures to be implimented immediately

You can support Joanna’s campaign by signing her petition here:
https://c.org/ZNbyTcyjdg

For those who may need support in their own grief journey:

• Tickets for my Parent Loss Grief Workshop in Athlone – April 19th can be found here:
https://www.griefireland.com/grief-retreat/p/grief-workshop-for-partner-loss-athlone

• You can also learn more about my community membership After the Flowers, where members can access full video episodes, support resources and a private community space:
https://after-the-flowers.circle.so/checkout/after-the-flowers-membership