Is It Just Us?

This week we are talking all about lying! From primary lies, secondary lies and tertiary lies to pro-social lies and white lies- there is so much to discuss! And we will help you to see why your child lying is a good thing!! How to respond to ensure you are supporting development and open communication and we have lots of laughs remembering the lies we told back in the day too! We hope you enjoy! Send your questions and comments to isitjustuspod@gmail.com This episode is proudly sponsored by MindPath If you are worrying and wondering whether your child or teenager could have ADHD, MindPath’s pre-assessment is for you. MindPath offers a holistic ADHD assessment pathway for children and teenagers, supported by a multidisciplinary team who are there to help you every step of the way. And you don’t have to commit to a full assessment to get started. If a full assessment is the right next step, MindPath can guide you through the process, with flexible payment options including Klarna Pay in 3. Depending on your…

This week we’re joined by Jordan Casey, CEO of MindPath, for an open and honest conversation about MindPaths online ADHD assessments for children and teenagers. We get into the nitty-gritty of online ADHD assessment, how they actually work, how children are assessed safely online, what parents can expect and the questions you might have before considering one for your child. Jordan also opens up about his o the story behind MindPath, making this a really insightful conversation about ADHD, access to support and why he believes things need to be done differently. We hope you enjoy! Send your questions and comments to isitjustuspod@gmail.com This episode is proudly sponsored by MindPath If you are worrying and wondering whether your child or teenager could have ADHD, MindPath’s pre-assessment is for you. MindPath offers a holistic ADHD assessment pathway for children and teenagers, supported by a multidisciplinary team who are there to help you every step of the way. And you don’t have to commit to a full…

Welcome back! This week we started off the pod chatting about Hayley's house move and giving you guys a life update and somehow ended up speaking about our births and the traumas we experienced. Please mind yourself when listening as we are so aware that this topic can be very triggering. We also touch on some other topics in this really chatty episode. We hope you enjoy x Thanks so much for listening- we want to start a Q and A style episode series soon- so please email your questions to us or drop a DM on Insta- isitjustuspod@gmail.com Some info and supports on birth trauma: https://www.birthtraumaireland.ie Ask your hospital about the Birth Reflections Services https://iahip.org Donate to sunflower hospice here https://sunflowerchildrenshospice.ie This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside,…

**Sensitive Topic** In this week's episode we are talking about suicide and Debbie's recent experience of this within her family. Please mind yourselves as you listen. We wanted to talk about this to open up awareness and support you as parents and also to shine a light on this issue which effects so many of us. Please take a look at the resources and links below if you need support with this. Pieta — Free support for people experiencing suicidal thoughts or self-harm, as well as people bereaved by suicide. Their crisis service is available 24/7. Freephone: 1800 247 247 Text HELP to 51444 Samaritans Ireland — Confidential, non-judgemental support, 24 hours a day. Freephone: 116 123 Text About It — Free, anonymous 24/7 text support. Text HELLO to 50808. HSE – Help for thoughts about suicide Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here Hayley…

This week, we’re talking about something that can very easily get lost somewhere between nappies, bedtimes, work and the never-ending to-do list- romance! We chat about what happens to your relationship when you become parents, why making time for each other can feel almost impossible, and the little things that can help you stay connected as a couple. Expect plenty of laughs, very honest confessions and a reminder that sometimes you have to actually make space for the relationship underneath all that parenting! We hope you enjoy and do let us know if you have any tips! :) Get in touch with us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and remember to like and subscribe to our pod! Thanks so much for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by MindPath If you are worrying and wondering whether your child or teenager could have ADHD, MindPath’s pre-assessment is for you. MindPath offers a holistic ADHD assessment pathway for children and teenagers, supported by a multidisciplinary team who are there to help you every…

This week, we’re joined by the amazing Deirdre Holland Hannon, urotherapy expert, (follow her here) to talk about the toileting struggles so many families experience but don’t always talk about. From bedwetting and accidents to holding wee, withholding poo and constipation, Deirdre explains what might actually be going on and why these behaviours are so hard to navigate. We talk about what’s typical, when parents should seek support, and practical ways to take the pressure and shame out of toileting. This was an absolute masterclass on this subject! We hope you get lots from it. Don't hesitate to reach out to Dee if you need support https://deirdrehollandhannon.com/ Get in touch with us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and remember to like and subscribe to our pod! Thanks so much for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by MindPath If you are worrying and wondering whether your child or teenager could have ADHD, MindPath’s pre-assessment is for you. MindPath offers a holistic ADHD assessment pathway for…

In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the biggest questions parents have been asking us about ADHD- how do you know if what you’re seeing is actually ADHD or if it's part of typical development? We talk about attention, impulsivity, big emotions, movement and behaviour, why so many ADHD traits can also be completely normal at different ages, and when it might be worth looking a little closer. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Is this just their age, or is there something more going on?” this one is for you! We hope you find this episode helpful! Get in touch with us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and remember to like and subscribe to our pod! Thanks so much for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by MindPath If you are worrying and wondering whether your child or teenager could have ADHD, MindPath’s pre-assessment is for you. MindPath offers a holistic ADHD assessment pathway for children and teenagers, supported by a multidisciplinary team who are there to help you every step of the way. And…

This week, we are delighted to be joined by Micheál Brennan aka Donegal Daddy (follow him here) for an honest conversation about fatherhood and parenting. He shares what led him to become a stay-at-home dad to his three children, the realities of being the parent at home, and his own experiences with ADHD and struggles with his mental health. We talk identity, parenting, the pressures dads can face, and what happens when family life doesn’t follow the traditional script! This conversation was truly inspiring and we hope you love it as much as we did! Get in touch with us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and remember to like and subscribe to our pod! Thanks so much for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by MindPath If you are worrying and wondering whether your child or teenager could have ADHD, MindPath’s pre-assessment is for you. MindPath offers a holistic ADHD assessment pathway for children and teenagers, supported by a multidisciplinary team who are there to help you every step of the way. And you…

We both recently went through an ADHD assessment and in this episode, we’re sharing the whole experience. What made us wonder about ADHD in the first place, what the assessment process was actually like, and, of course, what it brought up for us revealed in the end! We talk about the signs and traits we recognised in ourselves, the things that suddenly made a lot more sense, and how it feels to look at yourself through a completely different lens. We hope you enjoy! Get in touch with us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and remember to like and subscribe to our pod! Thanks so much for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by MindPath If you are worrying and wondering whether your child or teenager could have ADHD, MindPath’s pre-assessment is for you. MindPath offers a holistic ADHD assessment pathway for children and teenagers, supported by a multidisciplinary team who are there to help you every step of the way. And you don’t have to commit to a full assessment to get started. If a full assessment is the…

Sibling fights, rivalry, jealousy, comparisons and endless cries of “that’s not fair!”- parenting siblings can feel like a full-time refereeing job, especially over the summer holidays. This week, we’re talking about why siblings fight, when parents should step in (and when we shouldn’t), and how we can help our children build healthier sibling relationships without constantly trying to keep the peace! We have two sibling webinars in The F.I.R.M. Parent Hub Core Tier - you can access them here Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions, episode suggestions or tell us why you would like to be our next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical tools,…

Mayo finally did it after 75 years!! Congratulations to all involved in Mayo's historic All Ireland Football Final win! In this episode we hear about Debbie's experience of the match from the stands but this episode is about more than football. We talk about how this win did something to us all! We talk about the impact on community, connection, hope and the magic that happens when an entire country celebrates together. We unpack why moments like these matter so much and what they remind us about being human. Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions, episode suggestions or tell us why you would like to be our next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find…

This week's episode is in the form of a parent consultation/ coaching session! We invited the amazing Laura Burke on to talk about the struggles she is having at bedtime with her son. We did a deep dive, unpacked the dynamics and gave her lots of tools to try just like we would in the hub or in a 1:1. We also had a lovely chat and some laughs on this super relatable and really challenging topic! We hope you enjoy! Check out Laura's amazing online fitness platform here and follow her on instagram here Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions, episode suggestions or tell us why you would like to be our next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical…

It's time for a proper catch-up! In this episode, we're sharing news from our lives! From house hunting and bidding wars to mortgages and big renovations we are sharing a little of what's going on behind the scenes. This is a super chatty episode with a few laughs and even some manifestation chat! We hope you enjoy and thanks so much for listening! You can contact us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions, episode suggestions or tell us why you would like to be our next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical tools, expert support, weekly parenting guidance, live trainings, and a community of parents who truly get it. Grounded in our F.I.R.M. Approach®-Fair,…

In this episode, we're exploring the fascinating and very helpful "one-third rule" from Dr. Ed Tronick's research. We break down the rule for you and talk about why the goal of parenting is not perfection! f you've ever worried you're getting it wrong, this conversation will take the pressure off and remind you what children actually need to thrive. We hope you find this rule as supportive as we do! You can contact us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions, episode suggestions or tell us why you would like to be our next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical tools, expert support, weekly parenting guidance, live trainings, and a community of parents who…

Ever feel your stress levels rise the second you hear, "I'm bored!" You're not alone! In this week's episode, we're chatting about why boredom can be such a big parenting trigger, why we feel so responsible for keeping our children entertained..all the time!.. and how a little boredom might actually be one of the best things for their creativity, and resilience too! We give you lots of insights and helpful tips too! You can contact us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions or tell us why you would like to be out next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical tools, expert support, weekly parenting guidance, live trainings, and a community of parents who truly…

Summer can bring sunshine (eh sometimes!), slower mornings, and special memories...but, it can also bring pressure, guilt, expense, and a never-ending mental load. In this episode, we chat honestly about the realities of parenting through the summer months, from juggling work and childcare to managing expectations, activities, and everything in between. If summer feels both wonderful and overwhelming, you're not alone! We also share some of our favourite culinary delights too 😂 You can get instant access to our Summer Survival Toolkit masterclass and downloables here You can contact us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions or tell us why you would like to be out next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm,…

From meltdowns and tantrums to tears, worries and anger, big emotions can leave parents feeling overwhelmed and unsure how to respond. In this episode, we explore what's really going on beneath those emotional moments and share practical ways to support children while staying steady yourself. We share our own stories and funny parenting moments that have had us in our big feelings too! Hayley mentioned Erica from Babogue really helped her with sleep- you can find Erica's information and services at this link https://www.babogue.com/ You can contact us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions or tell us why you would like to be out next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll…

Periods can bring questions, worries, big feelings and major changes, yet so many parents feel unsure about how best to support their child through it all. In this episode, we chat about the information children really need, how to approach period conversations with confidence, and simple ways to help your child feel informed, supported and comfortable as they navigate this important stage of growing up. We are also very giddy and have lots of laughs! You can contact us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com with any comments, questions or tell us why you would like to be out next guest! Don't forget to subscribe and rate this pod! It really helps us! Thanks for listening x This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical tools, expert support, weekly parenting guidance, live trainings, and…

This week, we're joined by a really special guest, Aedin Shannon, a childhood friend of Hayley's who is now living in Perth, Australia. Aedin shares her experience of parenting along side her partner, Kenny who has ADHD. We talk about navigating family life with their two boys, carrying a greater share of the mental load, and parenting their son following his ADHD diagnosis too. We chat about the realities of neurodiversity in family life, what has helped them along the way, and the important conversation of how and when to talk to a child about their diagnosis. It's a super insightful and honest discussion that sheds light on the challenges, strengths, and unique dynamics of parenting in a neurodivergent family. Whether you're living this experience yourself or want to better understand it, this episode offers compassion, perspective, and plenty of reassurance. We are so grateful to Aedin for coming on and sharing her story with us! We learned so much. Here is the Trevor Noah episode we referenced…

From confidence and friendships to social media, self-image, and finding their voice, raising girls today can feel like navigating a world so different to the ones we grew up in ourselves. In this episode, we're chatting about some of the unique pressures girls face and how we can support them to grow into confident, resilient young women! We hope you enjoy and get lots from this conversation. Send your email ideas and thoughts to isitjustuspod@gmail.com AND join us for our Raising Girls Who Thrive webinar for a deeper dive into this topic. It is designed to help you better understand the unique girl brain, support confidence and self-esteem, navigate friendships and social pressures (one and off line),support you with things like sexual development, so your daughter can develop a strong sense of self in today's world. 📅 9th June at 7pm (you don't have to attend live) 🎥 Replay available to all who register ⭐ Free for All Access Hub members Join us and leave feeling clear, confident, and much better equipped…

One year later… eventually 😅 In this episode of Is It Just Us...?, we’re looking back on the past year of podcasting, parenting, work, life, chaos, and all the moments in between following our recent podcast first birthday! From the episodes that hit home most, to the things that surprised us, challenged us, made us laugh, this is a real, unfiltered catch-up between us! We chat about what we’ve learned, how life has changed, the behind-the-scenes reality of running the podcast alongside motherhood and work, and some of the funniest and most ridiculous moments along the way. Basically… a slightly late anniversary episode, but very on brand for us! Send your emails at isitjustuspod@gmail.com This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical tools, expert support, weekly parenting…

This week we are joined by Mick Moran, CEO of the Irish Internet Hotline, for one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast so far. We talk honestly about what children and teenagers are really being exposed to online right now, from pornography and violent content to online grooming, manipulation, sextortion, AI generated imagery, misogynistic content and the growing influence of harmful online spaces. We hope this informtion empowers you and helps you to feel less alone in navigating a digital world that has changed faster than any of us could have imagined. We also discuss: • Why many children are encountering explicit content far younger than parents realise • The pressure children face online socially and emotionally • How algorithms can quickly pull young people toward harmful content • The importance of open communication over shame and punishment • Practical ways parents can begin protecting and supporting children online ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of…

Welcome back! In this episode we are answering quick fire questions straight from Instagram. We have a laugh and a chat about some everyday parenting challenges and thoughts. We hope you enjoy and thank you all sooo much for listening! Send your thoughts and comments to us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com There is still time to join us for our super popular Raising Boys Who Thrive webinar happening tonight May 13th! Get your ticket (which includes the unlimited replay) HERE This episode is proudly sponsored by The FIRM Parent Hub. The F.I.R.M Parent Hub is a therapist-led 24/7 parenting supportive space designed to help you raise confident, emotionally healthy children with boundaries that feel calm, clear, and connected. Inside, you’ll find practical tools, expert support, weekly parenting guidance, live trainings, and a community of parents who truly get it. Grounded in our F.I.R.M. Approach®-Fair, Intentional, Regulated and Modelled- the Hub helps parents move beyond surviving parenting and start feeling more…

🎉It's our birthday! Is It Just Us? Podcast is ONE year old! THANK YOU to each and every one of you who listen! We really appreciate it. We have had a blast and loved bringing you a new episode every, single week. If you haven't already done so, it would make our day if you could subscribe, rate and tell a friend about our pod! 🥰 ⭐️To say a huge thank you here is a bonus episode we know you will love on a really hot topic- raising boys. In this chat we talk about why this is such an important conversation, what challenges we face as parents of boys and what helps to set them up for the future! We hope you get loads from this. AND if you want more solid information you can trust and practical tools you can use each day our Raising Boys Who Thrive webinar is available to book here. The webinar is set to take place live on 13th May and a replay will be sent out by email to all ticket holders. After that it will only be accessible via our F.I.R.M Parent Hub all access tier. For the absolute best value- join our…

In this episode we reflect on a recent Irish Independent article Hayley contributed to about babysitting. We chat about our own experiences with baby sitting as teens, how it feels as parents now and what has changed. We also explore today's teens and what stepping into that role today might look and feel like for them. We hope this gives you some helpful insights into this topic! Send your thoughts and comments to us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the upgraded Signature Rooms are Devine, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and Debbie are…

This week's episode is such a treat! We had an amazing conversation with mum of 4, Caitlin Kirrane https://www.instagram.com/mrscaitlinkirrane/. Caitlin shares her life living in a mobile home with 4 children whilst building their dream home. She is open and honest about her pregnancies, living in the mobile, her PMDD and more recently, her quest to help herself through peri menopause. This conversation is an absolute must listen! We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Send your thoughts and comments to us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the upgraded Signature Rooms are Devine, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re…

This is a really nostalgic and fun chat about our own teenage jobs, earning money as a teen, and the lessons that came with it. We also reflect on how different things feel for teens growing up today and what that might mean for their independence, confidence and relationship with money. We hope this gives you a laugh and some helpful insights too. Send your thoughts and comments to us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the upgraded Signature Rooms are Devine, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent…

Parents, get ready for an episode that is going to blow you away, open your eyes wide to the world of teenagers and also give you a sense of hope for the future too. We are absolutely delighted to be joined by 17 year old Shonagh O' Sullivan from Tralee this week. Shonagh did a TED Talk entitled "Behind The Selfie" which was inspired by her experience of Snapchat and Coco's Law. In this conversation Shonagh gives us a glimpse into the world of a teenager. We discuss parenting, social media, friendships, pressures, her leaving school early and so much more. We hope you love it as much as we did! Send your thoughts and comments to us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the…

In this week's episode we are so excited to welcome Ciara and James Carty who tell us all about their wonderful little girl, Iris. Ciara and James tell the story of how Iris came in to the world, the challenges they all faced and how their lives changed, for the better in so many ways. This conversation is a tale of true inspiration and strength and a lesson in how children are incredible beings who will defy the odds and live life on their own terms! There really is nothing down about Down syndrome. Share this episode far and wide. We really hope you love it as much as we did. https://downsyndrome.ie/branches/mayo/ https://www.instagram.com/ciaraduffy37/ Send your thoughts and comments to us at isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new…

Did you watch it yet? In this episode, we unpack Louis Theroux's recent documentary which aired on Netflix and is all about the "Manosphere". It was not for the faint of heart and we found it a hard watch. Today we talk about how boys are being influenced online, and share practical advice on how to protect connection, build awareness, and support your child’s safety in the digital world. We hope you enjoy and get lots from it! Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts! We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults and the Signature Rooms are Devine, plus, the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money…

We are delighted to have been joined for the first time by a dad and who better to represent than Stephen "Cowboy" Kelly. A father of 5, you may recognise Stephen from his role as "Cowboy Lavin" on the hit TV show "The Hardy Bucks" from social media or from the many sketches and comedy shows he performs in- but it's unlikely that you've heard him speak about parenting! Beyond the personality and presence, Stephen shares honestly about resilience, life lessons, setbacks, his health scares and being a dad. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did! Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts. We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the upgraded Signature Rooms…

In this episode we are taking a big topic- parental separation. We unpack the common issues we see in our work and really focus on how parents can support themselves and their children through this difficult time. We hope you find it helpful. Check out some resources in the show notes below. https://rainbowsireland.ie/parents-guardians/parental-separation-divorce-relationship-breakdown https://knowledge.barnardos.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/e5cef7a5-cd42-4d14-82c8-728c3a617249/content Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and let us know your default parenting thoughts! We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the upgraded Signature Rooms are Devine, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely…

This is a truly inspiring and uplifting conversation with Charlene Flanagan, CEO, co-founder and skin expert. One half of the global skin care brand we all love, Ella & Jo, Charlene opens up about motherhood, work and life. We went away with so many nuggets of wisdom and Debbie even had a few tears. We hope you love this conversation as much as we did! Check out Ella & Jo here Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and let us know your thoughts. We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the upgraded Signature Rooms are Devine, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and…

We are back with another topic that comes up so frequently in our work! Being the "default" parent. In this episode we unpack what it means to us and we look at the ways it can impact us too. We share our own experiences and insights on this and of course, we offer some help. We hope you enjoy! Send us an email at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and let us know your default parenting thoughts! We are absolutely delighted to be sponsored by the stunning Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. They are in Ireland's Top 3 Family Friendly Hotels and cater for children of all ages with an abundance of activities and resources. The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout for the adults too, the upgraded Signature Rooms are Devine, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in…

It is eating disorders awareness week and we are so grateful for this conversation with Aoife O' Brien from AOB Coaching. Aoife talked us through some amazing insights on the topic of eating distress, eating disorders and all that comes with it. Debbie shares some of her experiences with this topic too. A truly honest and important conversation. We hope you enjoy. You can find more about Aoife here https://www.instagram.com/aob.coaching/ You can get support on this topic here https://www.bodywhys.ie/eating-disorders-awareness-week-events-2026/ Aoife mentioned that she got help at this clinic https://www.marinotherapycentre.com/ Send your thoughts and comments in to isitjustuspod@gmail.com! We love hearing from you! We are so grateful to be sponsored by the incredible Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the…

Bedtime! It can't be just us? 😅 It's chaos, it's triggering, we are wrecked, some nights it ends in tears (everyones) ... This week we dive in to this topic and share our honest experiences. We have a laugh and give some tips too! We hope it helps x Send your thoughts and comments in to isitjustuspod@gmail.com! We love hearing from you! We are so grateful to be sponsored by the incredible Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram here and Hayley here Hayley and Debbie offer…

Our 40th episode in a row! We are so grateful to you guys and have had a blast making these episodes! We never want a break, the weekly chats are everything! In this episode we use answers from Debbie's Instagram question box to have some fun and talk through the things that make life hard as parents! This convo is funny and very REAL! We hope you love it. Send your thoughts and comments in to isitjustuspod@gmail.com! We love hearing from you! We are so grateful to be sponsored by the incredible Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and…

Following on from last week (we got carried away talking about how we became therapists 😅), this week we are chatting about the absolute wonder and amazingness of play therapy, how it works and the cases that stood out to us over the years! We hope this helps you to understand how incredible play is and how deeply wise children are. Send your thoughts and comments in to isitjustuspod@gmail.com! We love hearing from you! We are so grateful to be sponsored by the incredible Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school…

One of our most asked questions is around how we made the leap from teaching to therapy! In this episode, we talk about how we both went on journeys we never expected and where it has led us today! We hope you enjoy and that it might help or inspire if you are considering a career change too! Send your thoughts and comments in to isitjustuspod@gmail.com! We love hearing from you! We are so grateful to be sponsored by the incredible Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation!! Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former primary school teachers. You can follow Debbie on instagram…

Mattel has released its first ever autistic Barbie, complete with headphones, fidgets and a communication device. In this episode of Is It Just Us…? we chat all about why this matters and how representation in toys can shape attitudes. From a therapist’s lens, we explore play, identity, inclusion and why this Barbie is so much more than a doll. We hope you enjoy and send your thoughts and comments in to isitjustuspod@gmail.com! We love hearing from you! We are delighted and excited to welcome our new podcast sponsor - Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation. Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also…

Grok - the AI image editing app that has exploded on to the scene recently with it's nudifying abilities. In this episode we try to unpack its impact while also providing you with as much helpful info as possible. It's a scary time in the online world, so we hope this episode brings you some clarity and reassurance. https://hotline.ie/ https://smartphonefree.ie/ https://www.cybersafekids.ie/ https://www.familyitguy.com/ Send your QUESTIONS, feedback and pod suggestions to us isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are delighted and excited to welcome our new podcast sponsor - Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation. **AND there is still time to join us for our 5 Day Behaviour…

Happy New Year!! Is it just us… or does the New Year call for a reset more than a resolution? In this episode, we talk about letting go of pressure, calming your nervous system, and gently finding your feet again after a full-on season. We speak about the ways we personally reset as well as about resetting things like boundaries and routines. Enjoy! Send your QUESTIONS and pod suggestions to us isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are delighted and excited to welcome our new podcast sponsor - Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation. **AND join us for our brand new 5 Day Behaviour Reset Challenge kicking off with 10 min podcasts each day- in your own time (all recorded)! At…

Is it just us or does Christmas now require a recovery period?! This week, we’re debriefing the festive season in real time..from the chaos and sickness to feelings of grief and thoughts on the new year, we’re chatting about how Christmas actually felt this year, what surprised us, what drained us and why even the good stuff can be… a lot! No festive perfection, no toxic positivity... just a very honest post-Christmas chat and a gentle nod to the idea that maybe Christmas needs a deload week. Or three!! Send your feedback and pod suggestions to us isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are delighted and excited to welcome our new podcast sponsor - Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room…

It's Christmas Eve! In this episode we are chatting all about our F.I.R.M. Parenting approach, what it actually stands for and how it came to be! We share behind the scenes insights into how we work and what is to come too! As a special Christmas gift to you here is a link to our 7 day FREE trial so you can check out our hub yourself! We hope you enjoy! We would like to wish all of our listeners a very happy Christmas! Thank you so much for listening, we really appreciate you all. Send your feedback and pod suggestions to us isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are delighted and excited to welcome our new podcast sponsor - Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly hotel in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. Check it out here If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation. Hayley and…

After the incredible response to last week's podcast with Jack O' Dea on ADHD, we wanted to unpack this topic a little more. In this episode, we open up an honest, judgment-free conversation about ADHD, questions parents are asking, the worries they’re holding, and the confusion that can come with trying to make sense of it all. We hope you enjoy! Send your feedback and future topic ideas to isitjustuspod@gmail.com We are delighted and excited to welcome our new podcast sponsor - Breaffy House Resort. This is a beautiful 4-star, family-friendly resortl in Co. Mayo. We recently stayed there & it was second to none! The brand new outdoor thermal suite is a real standout, the upgraded Signature Rooms are stunning, and the food in the restaurant is genuinely delicious. See for yourself here https://www.breaffyhouseresort.com/ If you’re planning a stay, use the code JUSTUS for money off your room reservation! Thank you Breaffy House Resort for sponsoring this podcast. This time of year can be a lot! Watch our…

This week's podcast truly is a very special one. We had the privilege of speaking with Jack O' Dea, our first ever guest! Jack is a 22 year old Masters student from Galway who was diagnosed with ADHD at 5 years old. He talks us through what life was like growing up, how he navigated school, friendships and the sometimes negative feedback he faced. We talk about advocacy, parenting, giving children the right information and the huge strengths that ADHD can bring. Thank you so much to Jack for joining us. We really hope that this session helps you parents and teachers out there! You can follow Jack on Instagram here Send your feedback and questions to isitjustuspod@gmail.com, we would love to hear from you. Thank you to our incredible podcast sponsor https://mimitoys.ie/ for sponsoring this podcast. We adore Mimi's developmental and super unique toys range! Check them out for all your Christmas gift and stocking fillers this year. And thank you to Mimi for our exclusive discount code JUSTUS10- this will give…

In this week’s episode of Is It Just Us?, we dive into one of the most loaded parenting topics right now… smartphones for children and teens. With Christmas just around the corner, you may be feeling the pressure! We talk honestly about the pros and cons of smartphones, the emotional, social, and behavioural impacts we’re seeing and how to make choices that are aligned with your values! We hope you enjoy! Send us your emails at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and tell us your thoughts and what you would like to hear from us! Thank you to our incredible podcast sponsor https://mimitoys.ie/ for sponsoring this podcast. We adore Mimi's developmental and super unique toys range! Check them out for all your Christmas gift and stocking fillers this year. And thank you to Mimi for our exclusive discount code JUSTUS10- this will give you 10% off your order at checkout! Unreal! Check out https://smartphonefree.ie/ and their instagram https://www.instagram.com/smartphonefreechildhoodireland/ For information on this topic…

Ok, so much has been going on, it is high time we filled you guys in! From home new to work news, we hope you enjoy this chatty life update episode! Send us your emails at isitjustuspod@gmail.com and tell us your thoughts and what you would like to hear from us! Thank you to our incredible podcast sponsor https://mimitoys.ie/ for sponsoring this podcast. We adore Mimi's developmental and super unique toys range! Check them out for all your Christmas gift and stocking fillers this year. And thank you to Mimi for our exclusive discount code JUSTUS10- this will give you 10% off your order at checkout! Unreal! And do check out https://www.breaffyhouseresort.com/ for a look! P.S. We never, ever do discounts in our F.I.R.M. Parent Hub- so run to our website and check out our limited Black Friday opportunity and safe yourself €100 while you are at it! https://www.firmparenting.com/hub Hayley and Debbie are both Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists specialising in Play Therapy. They are also both mothers and former…

In this episode we talk about the recently launched TODDLER skin care range! We chat through the message it sends to our young children but also how playing with the theme of "home spa" can be great! We touch on the skincare trend for tweens too and have loads to say about this topic both as parents and professionals! Also, can you guess the old staple that Hayley is now using on her face at night? 🤣 Thank you so much to www.mimitoys.ie for being our pod sponsor. Mimi toys are a family run business, curating a developmental toy and puppet range for over 20 years. Use the code JUSTUS10 for 10% off your order. Mimi toys have a fabulous range that are perfect to shop for those stocking fillers and Christmas presents. Don't forget to sign up to Mimi Toys news letter and get some bonus gifts and offers too And join us and 100s of parents like yourself in our F.I.R.M. Parent Hub where you can get our support and find your firm. https://www.firmparenting.com/hub AND tickets for our NEW F.I.R.M. Parenting Approach…

Toy guns! The topic that had brought much debate! In this week's episode we chat about Debbie's recent Ireland AM appearance and her chat on the topic of toy guns and aggression toys in the studio. We shed light on the subject as therapists and mothers and Debbie shares some key insights she didn't have time to mention on live TV! We would love to know your personal thoughts on this at isitjustuspod@gmail.com Thank you so much to www.mimitoys.ie for being our pod sponsor. Mimi toys are a family run business, curating a developmental toy and puppet range for over 20 years. Use the code JUSTUS10 for 10% off your order. Mimi toys have a fabulous range that are perfect to shop for those stocking fillers and Christmas presents. https://mimitoys.ie/ Don't forget to sign up to Mimi Toys news letter and get some bonus gifts and offers too! And join us and 100s of parents like yourself in our F.I.R.M. Parent Hub where you can get our support and find your firm. https://www.firmparenting.com/hub AND tickets for our…