The Galway Gal

Birth Support in Ireland: Holistic Care, Antenatal Education & Birth Trauma Healing from an Expat Doula turned Doula: Tara Durkin

In this episode, we explore the inspiring story of Tara — a dedicated birth doula, childbirth educator, IBCLC, and Birth Trauma Resolution Practitioner who traded the bright lights of New York City for the Irish seaside. Living in Galway for almost twenty years, Tara’s journey is a testament to how moving abroad can deepen our understanding of birth, mental health, and holistic support systems. With her rich background in publishing, Women’s Studies, and English Literature, Tara has spent more than a decade helping new parents find the support, information, and confidence they need to navigate pregnancy and parenthood with calm and clarity.   As a volunteer with Cuidiú and a mother of three, Tara’s work is driven by a passion for empowering parents and transforming birth experiences. Her holistic approach—covering emotional well-being, trauma support, and informed decision-making—reminds us that birth support is about more than just the physical; it’s about nurturing the whole person.   Tune in as we discuss:   ✨ How Tara’s move from New York to Galway shaped her approach to birth, mental health, and community support   ✨ The vital role doulas play in empowering parents during pregnancy and birth   ✨ Practical tips for managing pregnancy anxiety    ✨ Resources for mental health and trauma healing ✨ The importance of emotional health and decision-making tools like BRAIN in supporting informed choices   Whether you’re an expat, a parent-to-be, or someone passionate about holistic birth care, this episode offers heartfelt stories, practical advice, and a fresh perspective on supporting parents across borders.   🎧 Listen now and discover how compassion, resilience, and community are transforming birth experiences worldwide.   ℹ️ Check out the resources mentioned in this episode: Find a Doula: https://doula.ie Evidence on Doulas: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/ Mental Health & Birth Trauma Supports - Pregnancy and Postnatal * Perinatal Mental Health Team at your hospital  * Community Mental Health Services * Therapies that can support birth trauma healing and are available privately and some publicly: Birth Trauma Resolution (BTR) see Birth Trauma Ireland [https://www.birthtraumaireland.ie/];  EMDR Therapy - Therapists in Galway : Therapists in Galway https://www.ebtc.ie/emdr-therapy/ [https://www.ebtc.ie/emdr-therapy/] Cuidiú Ireland: @cuidiuofficialireland @cuidiuparentsupport 📌 Follow Tara: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doulanextdoor.galway Email: tara@doulanextdoor.ie Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share!   #BirthSupport #ExpatParenting #HolisticBirth #BirthTrauma #MentalHealthMatters #Doula #NaturalBirth #miscarriage #highriskpregnancy ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thegalwaygal]

Bridging Borders & Breaking Barriers: A Fight for Fair Healthcare

In this episode, we share the story of Faith — a final-year medical student whose journey crosses oceans, but whose heart has always been rooted in one mission: healing the divides in healthcare. From the classrooms of Canada to the hospitals of Ireland, Faith has carried a vision of a world where no community is forgotten. Her work in HIV stigma, rural medicine, and global immunization is more than research — it’s a call to action. As a co-founder of the African Women Oncology Mentorship Program and a mentor to many, she is building bridges where walls once stood. With compassion as her compass and equity as her goal, Faith reminds us that medicine is not just a career — it’s a promise to fight for every life, everywhere. Tune in as we discuss: ✨ How Faith’s personal journey from Canada to Ireland shaped her perspective on healthcare and advocacy   ✨ The real stories behind systemic health disparities affecting Black communities and what can be done to tackle them   ✨ The importance of self-advocacy in healthcare—empowering patients to speak up and seek second opinions   ✨ How social media and personal experiences highlighted the urgent need for change in pain management protocols   ✨ Faith’s vision for a future where equity, compassion, and patient voice are at the forefront of medicine   Whether you're interested in global health, social justice, or personal growth, this episode offers insights to ignite your passion and empower your voice. 🎧 Tune in now and discover how faith, advocacy, and systemic change are reshaping healthcare around the world. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share!  #HealthEquity #PatientAdvocacy #MedicalStudent #Womenshealth #LifeAbroad  #studyabroad #ExpatLife  Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/jeff-kaale/september-sundown [https://click.pstmrk.it/3s/uppbeat.io%2Ft%2Fjeff-kaale%2Fseptember-sundown/vZub/lBm9AQ/AQ/42d0de51-1f84-45a0-9d3d-fe17525a81e7/4/8b68vGcP23] License code: LVUQME3L4DUFNJ1Z ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thegalwaygal]

From Heartbreak to Healing: Tessa’s Leap from South Africa to Ireland

After a painful heartbreak, South African medical doctor Tessa found herself searching for more than just a fresh start—she was searching for herself. In this soul-stirring episode, she opens up about the unexpected path that led her to Ireland, the emotional weight of leaving home, and the slow, powerful process of rebuilding a life in a new land. Through laughter, vulnerability, and truth, Tessa reminds us that sometimes the most life-changing journeys begin when everything falls apart. 🎧 Tune in as we discuss: ✨ Healing through heartbreak — how a fresh start in Ireland helped Tessa rediscover herself ✨ The quiet courage of leaving home and beginning again, far from everything familiar ✨ Building community and connection as an international in a new land ✨ Navigating identity shifts, evolving values, and the beauty of unexpected friendships ✨ The emotional highs and lows of working in medicine across two very different health systems 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more expat stories! ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thegalwaygal]

Faith, Fashion & Finding Purpose in Berlin: Style, Spirituality & Life Abroad

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Salome, a fashion enthusiast and advocate for slow living, whose faith led her across borders to Berlin. We explore how she blends style and spirituality, navigates cultural shifts, and embraces purpose-driven living in a new city. Tune in as we discuss:  ✨ How faith and fashion can coexist in a world that often separates them  ✨ The leap of moving abroad and trusting the journey  ✨ How Berlin’s edgy fashion scene has shaped her personal style  ✨ Finding purpose in the daily grind of a new culture  ✨ The challenges and rewards of faith-based living in a secular city Whether you're a fashion lover, a spiritual seeker, or someone contemplating a bold move abroad, this episode is packed with insights to inspire you. 🎧 Listen now and discover how faith, fashion, and finding purpose intertwine in unexpected ways. 📌 Follow Salome here:   Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@salomecostello   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salomecostello/  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share! #FaithAndFashion #MovingToBerlin #PurposeDrivenLiving #SlowFashion #SpiritualJourney #ExpatsInBerlin #StyleAndSpirituality #LifeAbroad ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thegalwaygal]

Stitching Cultures: The Art of Emerald & Wax

What does it take to move across continents, build a thriving fashion brand, and stay true to your roots? In this episode of The Galway Gal, I sit down with Virtue Shine, the visionary designer behind Emerald & Wax, a brand that blends the bold vibrancy of African wax prints with the sleek elegance of Japanese architecture. From growing up in Accra, Ghana, surrounded by rich textiles in her grandmother’s fabric warehouse to moving to New York as a teenager and eventually settling in Galway, Ireland, Virtue shares her inspiring journey of creativity, resilience, and reinvention. ✨ In this episode, we discuss:  ✔️ How childhood memories of African textiles shaped her creative vision ✔️ Moving abroad for love & navigating life in a new country ✔️ The influence of Japanese design on her ethical fashion collections ✔️ The challenges of being a self-taught designer & entrepreneur  ✔️ How to build community as an expat and being homesick..  ✔️ The power of believing in yourself to overcome obstacles ✔️ Balancing motherhood, business, and creativity in a new culture Whether you're dreaming of moving abroad, starting a creative business, or embracing your unique style, this episode is packed with insights, inspiration, and expat wisdom you won’t want to miss! Virtue Shine Bio: Emerald & Wax is born out of my passion for African wax prints that was ignited when as a child I used to sit on my grandmother’s lap in her wholesale African fabric warehouse in Accra. I still remember running around the warehouse surrounded by these incredibly beautiful, vibrant and bold patterns and colours amidst lots of laughter and banter. These African wax print fabrics are a fondly remembered piece of my childhood that I carry with me always, a piece of my Ghana. I draw on this Ghanaian upbringing to bring the art and colour of traditional African wax prints and my admiration of japanese architecture with their clean lines to European design, delivering what I like to describe as wearable art for today’s confident woman and also for women looking to bring colour into their everyday lives and wardrobes. After moving to New York in my late teens, I grew to love Japanese design and architecture, and represents a strong presence in my collections. By combining these Japanese design elements with the unique African wax print fabrics, each piece becomes a bespoke, original and wearable work of art. I am driven to design and produce each garment so that it is the essence of the Emerald & Wax brand. My collections are extremely wearable and add both colour and style to any capsule wardrobe. Separates, simple shift dresses, and colourful jackets combine easily with simple plain pieces that can easily be incorporated into any wardrobe all year round. A self-taught designer, crafter and maker, I now live on the Wild Atlantic Way in Galway, Ireland, with my 4 growing boys, husband and our very cute and loving dog Loki. 🎧 Listen now & get inspired! 📌 Follow Emerald & Wax:  Website: https://emeraldandwaxdesigns.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeraldandwax/ 🔔 Don’t forget to subscribe for more expat stories, creative journeys, and global entrepreneurship insights! #FashionEntrepreneur #MovingAbroad #ExpatLife #AfricanWaxPrints #WearableArt #SelfTaughtDesigner #WomenInBusiness #GlobalFashion #CulturalIdentity #PodcastInterview #EthicalFashion ★ Support this podcast ★ [https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thegalwaygal]