Where is My Mind?

Latest Episodes:

The Rising Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

In this week’s episode Niall is going solo, talking about a new challenge he’s undertaking that’s very close to his heart.

Niall’s whole work is based around a passion to push for paradigm-shifting change in our mental health systems. This July he’s raising funds for his charity A Lust For Life, and the schools programme they’ve created to teach children to build resilience, increase wellbeing & enhance emotional literacy. Niall and some friends will be taking on the gruelling challenge of rowing the River Shannon in Ireland.

Niall explains the journey that led him to his research and advocacy work, why teaching kids about their emotions at an early age is so important and the systematic change we need to better support people through their mental health struggles.

To find out more or to make a donation visit www.alustforlife.com/therising

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Therapy Room: Uncovering Addiction With Louize Carroll & Dr. Tony Bates Jun 05, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

Last week we had a fantastic reaction to our episode on addiction with Brian Pennie and Lynn Ruane. This week we’re back in The Therapy Room, asking our resident psychologists Louize Carroll and Dr. Tony Bates how they work with someone dealing with addiction.

Both Louize and Tony have extensive experience with addiction in all forms, from drugs to alcohol, food to work. They explain why we need to move away from the stereotypes and see addiction for what it is, a coping mechanism to deal with pain we cannot bear. Tony and Louize discuss how in the modern world addiction permeates all of us, how rules around dual diagnosis impact models of care and why we need to be wary of certain prescribed medications that only continue to numb our pain.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Addiction With Lynn Ruane And Brian Pennie May 29, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

Addiction is a topic we’ve wanted to cover for a long time on the podcast due to the complex relationship between mental health and addiction. Addiction rarely exists without some history of suffering and trauma.

Senator Lynn Ruane and Brian Pennie, PhD, are two leading powerhouses in the addiction space in Ireland. Both have had their own lived experience, growing up in drug and poverty ravished areas of Dublin, and advocate for better systems and supports for those experiencing addiction. The conversation is had through a social structures lens, as evidence suggests that focusing on the individual has not worked thus far. Lynn and Brian discuss how we still need to focus on destigmatising drug use and bringing humanity back to individuals, how poverty is the core issue destroying communities and what approaches they are advocating for to protect those in vulnerable positions.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Self-Actualisation With Scott Barry Kaufman May 22, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

This week Niall is joined by cognitive scientist and humanistic psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman. Scott hosts The Psychology Podcast and is passionate about our innate potential as humans.

Scott’s latest book ‘Transcend’ is a reimagining of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and a new insight into living your most creative, fulfilled, and connected life. Niall and Scott share the same beliefs about human potential and discuss how there are many forms of intelligence that may not score well on your average IQ test. Scott also explains what it means to self-actualise, the impact the modern world and social media have on our potential and how purpose, fulfilment and connection are the drivers of our human experience.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isolation To Openness with Mother Mindfulness Sharon Salzberg May 15, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

Mindfulness was introduced to the Western world by three young Americans in the 1970s, Joseph Goldstein, Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg, who would later go on to co-found The Insight Meditation Society.

On today’s podcast, Niall is joined by Sharon Salzberg, world-renowned teacher and inspiration in his own work. Sharon’s latest book ‘Real Life: The Journey from Isolation to Openness and Freedom’ shows us how we can recover from the emotional effects of crisis. Niall and Sharon discuss how society has changed in the wake of the pandemic, the shared consciousness of kindness that we so desperately need and their fears of the historic essence of mindfulness is being lost in the modern world.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where Is My Mind? Live at the 3Olympia Theatre with U2's Adam Clayton May 08, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

On Friday 28th April 2023, Niall took to the stage of Dublin’s iconic 3Olympia Theatre for the very first Where Is My Mind? live show.

On the night Niall was joined by Adam Clayton, bassist of one of the world’s most legendary rock bands, U2. If you’ve been here for a while you may remember Adam joining us on the podcast before for a very candid conversation about his own mental health and addiction. In this conversation they go deeper, getting to the depths of Adam’s experience of battling his mind, and how this pushed him to campaign for the change that both he and Niall are so passionate about.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transforming Trauma Through Touch With Dr. Stephen Terrell May 01, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

We often talk about trauma on this podcast but this week we’re looking at it from a different angle and exploring developmental trauma, what it looks like and the different approaches to healing.

Niall is joined by Dr. Stephen Terrell, psychotherapist and specialist in Developmental Trauma, Attachment and Adoption. It was in his experience as a clinician and single parent of two adopted sons that Stephen realised there needed to be a way to reach non-verbal, or early developmental trauma, without spoken language. He developed ‘Transforming Touch®’ and ‘Transforming the Experience-Based Brain: A Regulation-Based Approach to Working Developmental Trauma’. Niall and Stephen also discuss the impact of generational and collective trauma, the importance of presence in trauma therapy and both have some stuff come up for them in an incredibly vulnerable and powerful conversation. Take care when listening.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As I Am - Understanding Autism With Adam Harris Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

After a phenomenal response to our episode on ADHD with Dr. Colman Noctor, we wanted to continue the important conversation about neurodiversity and the life experiences of those affected.

In this week’s episode Niall is joined by Adam Harris, founder and CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity. Adam started AsIAm in 2014 based on his own experiences growing up as a young autistic person in Ireland and his frustration with the lack of understanding and barriers to inclusion. Adam speaks to Niall about what living with autism is like, how awareness has grown but we now need acceptance and understanding and what needs to change to create a universally inclusive society for all.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our Morbidly Curious Minds With Coltan Scrivner & Muireann O'Connell Apr 17, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

Have you ever wondered why you’re so obsessed with true crime? Or why you love being absolutely scared sh*tless by the latest terrifying blockbuster? It’s because we all have this thing called morbid curiosity, a natural interest in the dark, unpleasant parts of life.

Niall is joined by Coltan Scrivner, a Research Scientist at the Recreational Fear Lab at Aarhus University who is carrying out pioneering research in the psychology of morbid curiosity. He is also joined by TV personality and dedicated true crime fan Muireann O’Connell, who tells us why she loves the genre but why she also had to take a break from it for a time last year. Niall speaks to both about why we’re so drawn to the darkness, how we can sometimes find it enjoyable and what we can learn from consuming real or fictional dangerous situations.

There are some sensitive topics discussed in this episode, so please take care.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Therapy Room - To Heal We Must Feel With Dr. Tony Bates & Louize Carroll Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Where Is My Mind? A podcast about how we can better look after our heads and our hearts in the head-melty chaos of the modern world.

The Therapy Room is back! In our first installment of the new season Dr. Tony Bates and Louize Carroll join Niall to talk about emotions, and how feeling them, owning them, and knowing what to do with them is the key to reclaiming your power and making change. This episode includes some sensitive topics, so please take care.

Dr Tony Bates and consultant psychologist Louize Carroll are two of the most compelling and illuminating speakers on the human condition, on suffering and on the therapeutic process. Together in the Therapy Room episodes each month, we will be discussing approaches to a variety of different problems that are encountered in the therapy setting. Tony and Louize will talk about what they’ve learned being in the privileged position of being let into people’s innermost worlds, and we invite suggestions from our listeners on any specific mental health or general life struggle themes or topics you might want to know more about.

Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com.

If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.

In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/

In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.