Podcast · Kids & Family

IMAGE The Motherload

by Image Media · English · Kids & Family

IMAGE The Motherload is a space where modern motherhood is explored with honesty, humour and heart. Each week, join host Dominique McMullan as she invites inspiring mums you know and love to share stories, laugh at the chaos and dive into the real talk about working motherhood and everything it en

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 2 min
Latest: 13 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

13 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 13 minNew

Hazel Chu on racism, breast cancer and bravery

Hazel Chu has spent much of her public life breaking barriers. As the first Irish-born person of Chinese heritage to serve as Lord Mayor of Dublin and now deputy leader of the Green Party, she has faced racism, abuse and scrutiny while fighting for a more equal Ireland. But in this deeply personal episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Hazel joins Dominique to talk about the experiences that have shaped her away from politics. She speaks with extraordinary openness about her recent breast cancer diagnosis, the moment her then seven-year-old daughter Alex asked, “Mama, are you going to die?”, and…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S6 · E5 · 6 Oct 2026 · 55 min
Mary Kennedy on becoming wonderful
In this week’s episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Mary Kennedy joins Dominique for a beautiful conversation about motherhood, ambition, loss, marriage and separation, ageing, grandmotherhood and the many times in life we get to begin again. Mary Kennedy has spent decades on Irish television, but behind her remarkable broadcasting career is a life shaped by a willingness to keep beginning again. In this warm and deeply personal conversation she talks about raising four children while building her career, navigating separation at a time when it carried a very different social weight in Ireland,…
S6 · E4 · 29 Sep 2026 · 57 min
Louise Cooney on becoming a mum for the second time
Louise Cooney has shared her life online for more than a decade, but in this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, you will hear a side of her you may not have heard before. Now mum to two-year-old Jude and pregnant with her second child, Louise joins Dominique at a fascinating moment in her life, as she prepares to become a mum of two. Here, Louise opens up about how she is feeling during her second pregnancy, the bittersweet reality of knowing her chapter as a family of three is coming to an end, and the questions that come with wondering how you will divide your time and heart between two…
S6 · E3 · 22 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Síle Seoige on motherhood, gratitude and lessons hard learnt
Broadcaster, documentary maker, podcaster and mum of two Síle Seoige joins Dominique for a beautifully open conversation about the experiences that have shaped her. From pregnancy loss and thyroid cancer to anxiety, motherhood, marriage and a career spent in the public eye, Síle reflects on the highs and lows of her life with extraordinary perspective. They talk about becoming a mum later in life, raising children in an increasingly anxious world, learning when to push yourself and when to protect yourself, why gratitude has become such an important part of how she moves through the world,…
S6 · E2 · 15 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Why I Chose Solo Motherhood with Maria Walsh
For Maria Walsh, motherhood didn't begin with a positive pregnancy test. It began with therapy, difficult decisions, IVF and choosing to build a family on her own terms. In this deeply personal conversation, the Fine Gael MEP joins Dominique to discuss her journey to solo motherhood through IVF and sperm donation, and why she believes Ireland still has a long way to go in supporting modern families. Maria speaks candidly about fertility treatment, public scrutiny, compassionate healthcare, the legal issues around donor conception, LGBTQ+ parenting and the importance of recognising the value…
S6 · E1 · 8 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Why life gets better after 50 with Barbara Scully
Writer, broadcaster, author, grandmother and now stand-up comedian, Barbara joins Dominique this week for a funny, wise and refreshingly honest conversation about why getting older might just be the greatest gift of all. Together they discuss becoming a comedian at 60, the surprising freedom that comes after menopause, why women should stop apologising for their anger, and the joy of caring a little less about what other people think. Barbara also reflects on becoming a mother in 1980s Ireland, raising three daughters, navigating modern motherhood, becoming a grandmother, and why loving your…
S5 · E10 · 30 Jun 2026 · 56 min
The truth about coercive control and why women aren't being protected with Lisa Wilkinson
Lisa Wilkinson has spent almost three decades standing beside women. A barrister specialising in family law and coercive control, she has also been an entrepreneur, doula, yoga teacher, childcare provider and wellbeing pioneer. While those careers may seem worlds apart, they are all driven by one purpose: making women's lives safer, healthier and fairer. In this powerful episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique and Lisa discuss coercive control, domestic abuse, family courts, birth rights, informed consent, childcare, motherhood and why so many of the systems women rely on continue to let…
S5 · E9 · 23 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
What Ailbhe Smyth wants for our daughters and sons
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with one of the most influential figures in modern Irish history, Ailbhe Smyth. As Ailbhe celebrates her 80th birthday, she reflects on a life spent challenging injustice, campaigning for equality, and helping to shape the Ireland we live in today. Together they discuss motherhood in 1970s Ireland, surviving some of the darkest periods of her life, becoming a grandmother, coming out as a lesbian in a very different Ireland, and the social movements that transformed the country, including Marriage Equality and Repeal. Ailbhe also shares…
S5 · E8 · 16 Jun 2026 · 56 min
Kim O'Sullivan on taking the leap
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with entrepreneur, beauty founder and mother-of-three Kim O'Sullivan. Today, Kim is the founder of Brow Aid and The Dublin Makeup Academy, but her journey began as a young single mother determined to build a better future for her son.In this inspiring conversation, Kim reflects on the challenges of early motherhood, the leap of faith that saw her leave a secure job with Armani, and the mindset that helped her build two successful businesses from the ground up. She shares why she credits motherhood with much of her success, the surprising…
S5 · E7 · 9 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
The mental load we carry in our bodies with Michelle Flynn
What happens when motherhood doesn't just change your life, but changes your nervous system? This week, Dominique McMullan is joined by psychotherapist Michelle Flynn, who specialises in maternal mental health, perinatal anxiety, birth trauma and somatic therapy. Together they explore matrescence, the profound identity shift that accompanies motherhood, and why so many women feel unprepared for the emotional and psychological transformation that follows having children. Michelle shares both professional expertise and personal experience as they discuss perinatal anxiety, birth trauma, rage,…
S5 · E6 · 2 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
From a cult to unfiltered motherhood with Laura O’Connell
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by Laura O’Connell, a familiar face to many as the creator behind the viral Irish midwife sketches on Instagram, and co-host of the podcast Oh Right, Yeah. In this episode, Laura shares the story behind the humour. She opens up about growing up in a religious group, the loss of her mother at a young age, and how those early experiences shaped her sense of self. She also speaks candidly about an unplanned pregnancy, postpartum depression, and her experience of anxiety, including a period in psychiatric care last year. Together, Dominique…
S5 · E5 · 26 May 2026 · 1 hr 9 min
This is what resilience really looks like with Jen Healy
Jen Healy’s story is not an easy one to hear, but it is an important one. In this episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Jen shares her journey from a childhood shaped by violence, through addiction, abusive relationships and homelessness, to the life she has built today as a mother, business owner and advocate for women’s mental health. This is a conversation about survival, but more importantly, it’s about what comes after survival. About healing, about the nervous system, about learning what safety feels like in your own body. Jen speaks with honesty and clarity about the realities of…
S5 · E4 · 19 May 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Joanna Fortune: The Parenting advice every parent needs right now
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by psychotherapist, bestselling author and parenting expert Dr Joanna Fortune for a powerful conversation about the realities of raising children today. Together, they discuss the pressures modern parents are facing, from information overload and parental guilt to anxiety in children, screen time, emotional resilience and raising emotionally intelligent boys. Joanna also shares her “15 Minute Parenting” philosophy, explains the importance of “good enough parenting” and offers practical advice for parents trying to navigate family life…
S5 · E3 · 12 May 2026 · 42 min
Una Healy on motherhood, hormones and raising teens
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by Una Healy for a deeply honest conversation about the realities of modern motherhood. Together, they explore what it means to raise teenagers, the evolving relationship between mother and child, and the importance of “the village”. Una opens up about her experience with anxiety, her Hashimoto’s diagnosis, and the turning point that came from truly understanding her body. They also discuss hormones, HRT, and the importance of paying attention when something doesn’t feel quite right. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot and…
S5 · E2 · 5 May 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Holly Cairns on leading a party and raising a child
This is not about telling you who to vote for. It is a conversation about motherhood in a place we rarely hear it spoken about. This week on The Motherload, Dominique sits down with Holly Cairns, leader of the Social Democrats and TD for Cork South West.Holly gave birth to her daughter on polling day in November 2024 and has since returned to one of the most demanding roles in the country, leading her party while navigating early motherhood.In this episode, she shares the reality behind that experience, from birth and postnatal recovery to returning to work and trying to secure childcare in…
S5 · E1 · 28 Apr 2026 · 53 min
Caroline Foran on raising a neurodivergent child and managing anxiety
Caroline Foran joins Dominique this week for an honest conversation about anxiety, motherhood and learning to let go. A bestselling author, journalist and podcaster, Caroline has spent years helping people better understand anxiety through practical, grounded advice. In this episode, she opens up about her own experience, from debilitating panic attacks in her twenties to being anxiety free today. Caroline also shares her journey of raising her son Caelan, who has a PDA profile, and the emotional complexity that comes with parenting a child with individual needs. From school struggles to…
S4 · E10 · 31 Mar 2026 · 54 min
Triona McCarthy, Courtney Smith and Audrey Hamilton help us get dressed
Standing in front of a jam-packed wardrobe… and still feeling like you have nothing to wear? In this special live episode of IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by stylist Courtney Smith, beauty columnist Triona McCarthy and artist Audrey Hamilton to unpack something so many of us have a tough time with… how to get dressed and feel bloody brilliant. From the “nothing feels right” phase to defaulting to the same safe outfits (see: leggings), this conversation explores how motherhood can shift your sense of identity at any stage, and why style is so much more than fluff. Listen now and…
S4 · E9 · 24 Mar 2026 · 1 hr
Down syndrome, grief and palpable joy with Tracy Holmes
Author, maternal mental health advocate and mum of three Tracy Holmes joins Dominique this week for a conversation about motherhood, diagnosis and real resilience. Tracy is mum to three boys, including twins Harry and Freddie. Shortly after they were born, Freddie was diagnosed with Down syndrome. What followed was one of the most difficult periods of Tracy’s life. With one newborn at home and another still in hospital, she found herself pulled between two worlds, all while she was navigating the shock of diagnosis. The pressure resulted in the quiet collapse of her mental health. In this…
S4 · E8 · 19 Mar 2026 · 1 hr
Dr. Clodagh Campbell on adoption, postpartum depression and attachment
Psychologist, author and mum of three Dr. Clodagh Campbell joins Dominique this week, for one of the most personal conversations of the season. Dominique and Clodagh share powerful parallels in their lives. Both are adopted. Both lost their beloved fathers too early. Together they explore how adoption can shape identity across a lifetime and why questions around belonging often become louder once we become parents ourselves. Clodagh also opens up about her experience with postnatal depression. As a psychologist, she didn’t initially recognise the signs in herself. It arrived slowly and…
S4 · E7 · 10 Mar 2026 · 49 min
Coleen Rooney as you’ve never heard her before
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique sits down with Coleen Rooney for a real conversation about family life. Coleen opens up about her childhood, the loss of her sister Rosie, her and Wayne’s experience of miscarriage, and occasionally shouting at the boys in McDonalds. She shares the brilliant chaos of raising four boys, the realities of parenting in the public eye, and why family is ultimately so important to her. This is Coleen Rooney in her own words. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and sponsored by Liffey Valley, Avoca, Revive Active, Aptamil Advanced and Tigers…
S4 · E6 · 3 Mar 2026 · 56 min
Yemi Adenuga’s extraordinary story
This week on IMAGE The Motherload, Dominique is joined by Councillor Yemi Adenuga . Broadcaster, community organiser, mother of four and the first Black woman elected to public office in Ireland, Their conversation covers Yemi’s extraordinary childhood as one of 27 children in Nigeria, her journey to Ireland, the realities of motherhood while building a public life, and the strength it takes to remain open hearted in the face of serious racism. This is a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, and Yemi’s deep belief that people can change the world around them. IMAGE The Motherload…
S4 · E5 · 24 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Triona McCarthy on ADHD, tweens and telling the truth
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. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by…
S4 · E4 · 17 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
Laura Guckian on the moment motherhood broke her
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. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and sponsored by Liffey…
10 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
The pause every mum needs - How to finally prioritise yourself
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. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and…
3 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Sonya Lennon on why you’re not failing as a mum. The system is.
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…
27 Jan 2026 · 1 hr
Miriam O’Callghan on the collision of work and family
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…
14 Oct 2025 · 1 hr 21 min
Rosanna Davison on love, loss and a miracle perspective
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…
30 Sep 2025 · 57 min
Tammy Darcy - Teenagers, building a movement and losing her sister
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…
23 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Danielle Garner - Loss, resilience, and finding her wild
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…
16 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Emma Flynn - Midwifery, Postpartum OCD, and the Healing Power of Creativity
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. IMAGE The Motherload is powered by Peugeot, and sponsored by Revive Active,…

About IMAGE The Motherload

IMAGE The Motherload is a English kids & family podcast from Image Media. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Image Media
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 2 min
Latest episode: 13 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1806044747
Rights: Image Media

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