So Now I’ve Got Breast Cancer

Use the code DITE for 20% off

Knitting Pattern by Claire Fairall Designs

All profits go to the Institute of Cancer Research

Liz O’Riordan

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

https://www.instagram.com/eleanorkjmills/

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Eleanor Mills: The Rise of the Queenager

Wed, 03 May 2023 05:45:00 +0100

This week’s guest is Eleanor Mills, award-winning journalist, editor and broadcaster who founded of Noon, an online community to bring together women celebrating the opportunities of midlife. She describes it as a time for transformation and reinvention as a Queenager, and I want to be one.

Many of us reach a mid-life clusterf*ck when everything can seem to crumble around us – divorce, bereavement, redundancy, difficult teenagers, elderly parents, physical and mental health problems, and that’s before you get to the menopause.

Listen to Eleanor describe the possibilities that do lie ahead, and let's all remember how to have fun again.

Find out more about Eleanor and Noon

Noon https://www.noon.org.uk

Queenager newsletter https://eleanormills.substack.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/EleanorMills

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/uponnoon/

Use the code DITE for 20% off

Knitting Pattern by Claire Fairall Designs

All profits go to the Institute of Cancer Research

Liz O’Riordan

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Alex Hewitt: Masculinity and Mental Health

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 00:02:00 +0100

This week’s guest is Alex Hewitt, founder of AOK events, and he’s come on to talk about how he coped with severe anxiety when his world was crumbling around him. He wants to set a good example for his sons by opening up about his own mental health problems and encourage others to do the same.

I’ve often wondered if men find it harder than women to talk about depression, anxiety and other mental health problems. Is it because of the traditional alpha male role model that men were expected to fill? I hope that things are changing but we’ve a long way to go.

Many of you have written to me to tell me that your partners don’t understand what you’re going through or that you find it hard to talk to them. This is definitely a topic to explore again in season three.

If you or someone you know is struggling with your mental health, here are some safe resources for you:

MIND https://www.mind.org.uk

CALM https://www.thecalmzone.net

Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org

Shout https://giveusashout.org

Use the code DITE for 20% off

Knitting Pattern by Claire Fairall Designs

All profits go to the Institute of Cancer Research

Alex Hewitt https://www.aokevents.com

Liz O’Riordan

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

https://www.psychotherapy.org.uk

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Maggie Hope: Therapy, Counselling and Self-Care

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 05:30:00 +0100

This week’s guest is Maggie Hope. She’s a Psychotherapist and Counsellor and she’s come on to talk to me all about therapy. What is it? How do you know if you need it? What to expect when you have it?

I’ve needed therapy at several times of my life, and I was ashamed to tell people about it. We talk about the importance of removing the stigma from therapy, and how to talk to our friends and family about what we’ve discussed in a session.

We also talk about self-care, and what it really means. I loved Maggie’s take on this and would love to know what you think.

If you want to find a therapist, these are the websites that Maggie recommended

https://www.bacp.co.uk

Use the code DITE for 20% off

Knitting Pattern by Claire Fairall Designs

All profits go to the Institute of Cancer Research

Liz O’Riordan

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

https://www.everyoneactive.com/about-us/careers/nplq/

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Felicity Cornelius-Mercer: Social Media – a blessing or a curse?

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 05:30:00 +0100

This week’s guest is Felicity Cornelius-Mercer. She’s become the female James Blunt of Twitter by defending attacks on her husband Johnny Mercer, MP with humour and wit.

We talk about the realities of living life in the public eye and what it’s like to work with your husband and still make a marriage work, and a little bit about male grooming. We also chat about how hard it is to be a politician in this current climate, whether they should go on reality TV shows and will the Online Abuse Bill will make any difference. I’d love to know what you think.

She definitely gave me food for thought when I deal with hurtful comments in the future.

If you want to follow Felicity on Twitter, and you really, really should, this is where to find her -

Twitter @mercer_felicity

If you’re want to know more about becoming a lifeguard, see below

Use the code DITE for 20% off

Knitting Pattern by Claire Fairall Designs

All profits go to the Institute of Cancer Research

To find our more about me -

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Jaz Ampaw-Farr: How to become a Resilience Ninja

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 05:30:00 +0100

This week’s guest is the inspirational Jaz Ampaw-Farr, an award-winning motivational speaker who shifts mindsets and leaves her audience on a high. She’s known in the US as the ‘British Oprah’ who’s gone from broken to Beyonce (if you squint a bit).

She had an awful childhood, subjected to poverty and horrific abuse at a very young age, but a handful of teachers helped her change her trajectory. Instead of calling herself “not good enough” she says “I am enough”.

I can’t wait for you to hear her story and find out what she’s inspired you to do.

You can find out more about Jaz here:

Twitter @jazampawfarr

Instagram @jazampawfarr

YouTube @jazampawfarr

Jaz Ampaw-Farr Website https://jazampawfarr.com

Use the code DITE for 20% off

Knitting Pattern by Claire Fairall Designs

All profits go to the Institute of Cancer Research

Liz O’Riordan

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Debbie Bliss: Crafting, cancer and looking cool

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 05:30:00 +0100

My second guest is the wonderful Debbie Bliss MBE. She’s the most published knitwear designer in the world. She revolutionised the pattern industry and makes knitting cool. But she also looks cool as well. Debbie has had thymus and breast cancer and has accepted her new figure after a mastectomy. She’s a savvy business woman in her seventies and there’s no sign of her stopping any time soon.

As well as her cancer journey, we talk about how fell in to knitting almost by accident, which led to Elton John owning one of her knitted house plants. She shares with us her own mother’s struggles with mental illness, the challenge of redefining yourself as an older woman in this world of filters and influencers, and the importance of being kind.

You can find out more about Debbie here:

Twitter @debbieblissnews

Instagram @debbieblissknits

Debbie Bliss Website https://www.debbieblissonline.com

LoveCrafts (for patterns)

Use the code DITE for 20% off

Knitting Pattern by Claire Fairall Designs

All profits go to the Institute of Cancer Research

Liz O’Riordan

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement/useful-contacts/

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Isobel Ball: The Legacy Listen

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 05:30:00 +0000

The first episode of season two it a little bit different. It’s a legacy listen with my mum, Isobel. She was diagnosed with metastatic bone cancer three months before we recorded the interview. I wanted to chat to mum and find out what it was like for her when I got breast cancer, before talking about her own experiences as an amputee.

Sadly Mum died less than three months later from a pneumonia she developed during chemotherapy. I’ve listened back to our chat so many times and in my heart I knew I had to share it with you. It’s what she would have wanted.

She approached her cancer with a positive, cheery attitude and I hope that you feel a little bit of joy after listening to us natter.

If someone close to you has died recently, here is a great list of charities and organisations that can help:

This is a link to Donna Ashworth’s website who’s book of poems called ‘Loss’ really helped me.

If anyone you or anyone you know has been affected by bone cancer or sarcoma, I can recommend these two charities:

Sarcoma UK

Bone Cancer Research Trust

If you’ve been moved by Mum’s story and want to donate to her legacy fund to raise money for research into osteosarcoma, you can donate here.

I’d love to know what you thought of this episode. This meant a lot to me, and I hope I’ve done the right thing in sharing it with you. You can watch the full video on my YouTube Channel

Liz O’Riordan:

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan

YouTube @DrLizORiordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, in association with Elizabeth Richards, proudly sponsored by AOK Events, produced by Bird Lime Media.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Jane Garvey: Divorce is not a dirty word

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 23:45:00 +0000

How do we talk more openly about divorce? In the final episode of season one, veteran broadcaster Jane Garvey talks to me about her own experience of splitting up in the spotlight, why you should get on with your ex for the sake of your children, and how to kickstart your career when you reach ‘middle age’, whatever that might be.

Jane almost needs no introduction. After launching Radio 5 Live she spent 13 years at the helm of Woman’s Hour on Radio 4. She now spends her days chatting about the chuff of life with her co-host Fi Glover on the soul-warming podcast Fortunately. She’s shown that there is a demand for simple, honest, female conversation and friendship. Jane went through her divorce in the spotlight and she describes adjusting to life as a single parent with humour and honesty in her and Fi’s new book, Did I Say That Out Loud?.

You can listen to Jane and Fi Glover’s podcast ‘Fortunately’ here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04x5pd7/episodes/downloads / https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fortunately-with-fi-and-jane/id1220808096

And their book ‘Did I say that out Loud?’ is available here: https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Fi-Glover/Did-I-Say-That-Out-Loud--Notes-on-the-Chuff-of-Life/25632880

The audiobook has some added extras!

Social media

Jane Garvey

Twitter @janegarvey1

IG @janegarvey23

Liz O’Riordan

Twitter @Liz_Oriordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Davinia Tomlinson: How to manage your money

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 23:59:00 +0000

Do you ever talk openly and honestly about money? Do you feel guilty or ashamed over how much you spend? Do you know how much is in your bank account at any given time? Does your partner know about your debts? Do your children know how to save for the future?

Davinia Tomlinson is founder of RainChq, an organisation promoting financial inclusion to women. She talked to me about when we should spend, when we should save, how we can talk more openly about money and why women need to feel more confident with things like investing in stocks and shares. She showed me that budgeting can be the ultimate freedom and that a pension is a must, not a maybe.

To find out more about RainChq visit https://www.rainchq.com/

You can also hear Davinia on her own podcast ‘Let’s Make it Rain’ - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lets-make-it-rain-the-podcast/id1591463088

Here are some of the budgeting apps that Davinia says are a good place to start:

Chip - https://www.getchip.uk/

Plum - https://withplum.com/

Emma- https://emma-app.com/

And for investing, the app Moneybox helps you invest your spare change - https://www.moneyboxapp.com/

Social media

Davinia Tomlinson

Twitter

@iamdavinia

@rainchq

IG @rainchq

Website: https://www.rainchq.com/

Liz O’Riordan

Twitter @Liz_Oriordan

NHS Advice - How to help someone with an eating disorder

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Clara Swedlund: What is the perfect body?

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 23:59:00 +0000

Clara Swedlund is a physique coach and sports psychologist who overcame bulimia and binge-eating in her teens and early twenties. She competes in bikini bodybuilding competitions and helps clients like me train to get strong and fit for life. She’s only too aware of the impact of social media when it comes to defining what a perfect body looks like, and how important it is to be kind to yourself.

If you’ve been affected by an eating disorder or know someone who might be, these are some helpful resources

BEAT charity

MIND - Eating problems

Social media:

Clara Swedlund

Twitter @ceswedlund

IG @claritasw_vwphysique

Website: https://linktr.ee/claritasw_vwphysique

Liz O’Riordan

Twitter @Liz_Oriordan

Belfast Telegraph weekend column

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Orla Chennaoui: Postnatal Depression and Anxiety

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 23:23:22 +0000

Orla Chennaoui began her career as a news journalist but moved over to sports for the London 2012 Olympics. In 2019 she joined Eurosport as the lead presenter for cycling events, in a very male-dominated field. She was diagnosed with post-natal depression after the birth of her first child, and lives with anxiety on a daily basis. Orla spoke to me about how she’s learnt to reframe anxiety into something positive, and how grateful she is to be more bad-ass because of it.

Orla talks about breathing techniques that help her cope when she starts to feel anxious. For more information, see below:

Wim Hof Breathing Method

Box Breathing

We touched on some pretty heavy subjects in this episode. If you’ve been affected and need someone to talk to, remember you can always reach out to the Samaritans - call 116 123 for free. More info here.

Social media

Orla Chennaoui

Twitter @SportsOrla

IG @sportsorla

Liz O’Riordan

Twitter @Liz_Oriordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Kathryn Mannix: What happens when we die?

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 05:30:00 +0000

Kathryn Mannix is one of the UK’s leading palliative care specialists who carefully and tenderly encourages us to talk and learn more about the ultimate elephant in the room - death.

Kathryn’s written two brilliant books on the subject - With the End in Mind

And her latest book - Listen

Kathryn is also a patron of End of Life Doula UK, an invaluable resource if you’re looking after someone who’s dying.

Kathryn and I would love to know if this episode helped you have a difficult conversation. Let us know using the hashtag #DITE.

Kathryn’s entry for the Jar of Joy was celebrating her dad’s 90th birthday. What are you putting in the jar this week?

Social media:

Kathryn Mannix

Twitter @drkathrynmannix

IG @drkathrynmannix

Liz O’Riordan

Twitter @Liz_Oriordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Dr Will Flanary: Cancer, Cardiac Arrest & Comedy

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 22:59:00 +0000

Have you ever wondered what it’s like when a doctor becomes a patient? I thought I was unlucky when I got breast cancer but then I spoke to my next guest, the American ophthalmologist Dr Will Flanary. He had testicular cancer twice - first a med student and then as a junior doctor. But that’s not all. In 2020 Will had a cardiac arrest and his amazing wife did CPR for ten minutes to bring him back to life. We spoke about how he’s used his comedy alter-ego Doctor Glaucomflecken to cope with everything life has thrown at him.

Will is fund-raising for First Descents, a charity that provides free outdoor adventures for young adults impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions. He donates all his speaking fees to the organisation in aim to raise $50,000.

You can read more about Will’s story here: https://www.drgcomedy.com/bio and watch his hilarious videos here.

Will’s entry for the Jar of Joy was his new puppy. What are you putting in the jar this week?

Social media:

Will Flanary

Twitter @DGlaucomflecken

Website: https://www.drgcomedy.com/bio

Liz O’Riordan

Twitter @Liz_Oriordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Samantha Evans: How to get sex and intimacy back in your life

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0100

For anyone with an interest in sex, intimacy and love - this show is for you.

Sex after illness, cancer, the menopause, bereavement and when you’re older. Sex expert and retired nurse Sam Evans founder of Jo Divine and who’s personally helped me - joins me to talk about sex, more sex, lube and more lube and how embracing experimentation and making it fun can really help!

There’s a wealth of information on the Jo Divine Website https://www.jodivine.com/

Don’t forget to use the DISCOUNT CODE for any purchases - #DITE2021 - valid for 6 weeks from 18th October 2021.

Sam’s entry for the Jar of Joy was freshly baked bread. What are you putting the jar this week?

Social media

Sam Evans

Twitter @SamTalksSex

IG @samtalkssex

Jo Divine

Twitter @jodivineuk

IG @jo.divine

Website https://www.jodivine.com

Liz O’Riordan

Twitter @Liz_Oriordan

Don’t Ignore The Elephant is hosted by Dr Liz O’Riordan, produced by Bird Lime Media in association with Elizabeth Richards.

Don't Ignore the Elephant | Greg Wise: Cancer, Death & Strictly

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0100

My first guest is the wonderful actor, writer and producer Greg Wise. He’s appeared on stage and screen as well as getting behind the lens to produce documentaries. At the moment he’s starring in Strictly Come Dancing, inspired by his sister Clare. Greg looked after her as she was dying from breast cancer. He picked up her blog when she was too unwell to write, which became a beautiful book.

He joins me to talk about the privilege of being her carer and how it changed his perception of death. I was blown away by his reflections on dying and it’s certainly changed how I think about the future. We also talked a little bit about fake tan and sequins on the dance floor, and what he would put in the podcast ‘Jar of Joy’.

Greg's book, Not That Kind of Love can be bought here.

For more information about the charity End of Life Doula UK, see here.

Greg’s entry for the podcast ‘Jar of Joy’ was a random act of kindness. Let me know what you’d put in the jar this week.

Social Media Links:

Greg Wise:

Instagram @gregwiseofficial

Twitter @strictlygreg

Liz O’Riordan:

Instagram @oriordanliz

Twitter @Liz_ORiordan