The Laura Dowling Experience cover art

The Laura Dowling Experience

The Laura Dowling Experience

By: Laura Dowling
Listen for free

LIMITED TIME OFFER | £0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Premium Plus auto-renews at £8.99/mo after 3 months. Terms apply.

About this listen

 Conversations about health, science, wellness, life, love, sex and everything in-between. Laura is a Pharmacist who loves to talk to interesting people about their unique life and work experiences. See @fabulouspharmacist on instagram for more information.

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

© 2025 The Laura Dowling Experience Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • What Your Mouth Reveals About Your Health with Eimear Mithen

    What Your Mouth Reveals About Your Health with Eimear Mithen
    Jan 22 2026
    🎧 Episode Description


    Laura is joined by dental hygienist Eimear for a clear, practical conversation about oral health and why it connects to the rest of the body, not just your teeth. They talk about plaque, tartar and gum disease, what causes bleeding gums, and why brushing your teeth without brushing your gums misses half the problem.


    Eimear explains why interdental brushes work better than floss for most people, how electric toothbrushes remove far more plaque than manual ones, and why soft brushes are better than hard ones. She also talks about mouth breathing, tongue scraping, night guards for grinding, and what happens when plaque is left to harden under the gums.


    The conversation then moves into some of the less expected links between oral health and things like menopause, pregnancy, arthritis, diabetes and cancer treatment. Throughout it all, Eimear keeps coming back to prevention, showing how small, realistic habits can reduce risk and protect your teeth and gums over the long term.


    🔑 Key Points


    Most people are not cleaning where it matters most

    Bacteria sits along the gumline and between the teeth, which is why brushing only the visible surfaces leaves disease behind.


    Plaque becomes harmful when it is left too long

    Soft plaque hardens into tartar and creates a protected space where more aggressive bacteria can grow and damage gums and bone.


    Tools matter more than people realise

    Electric toothbrushes and interdental brushes remove far more bacteria than manual brushing and flossing.


    Saliva plays a major role in oral health

    Dry mouth, common during menopause, illness and medication use, changes the balance of bacteria and increases the risk of decay and gum disease.


    Gum disease is not just a mouth problem

    Inflammation and bacteria are linked with conditions like diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy complications and Alzheimer’s.


    Grinding and clenching cause real damage

    Night-time grinding can shorten teeth, irritate gums and strain the jaw.


    Consistency beats perfection

    Regular, simple habits protect the mouth better than occasional intense cleaning.


    ⏱️ Timestamps


    00:00 – Why gum disease is linked to Alzheimer’s

    01:00 – Porphyromonas gingivalis and how it damages the brain

    02:00 – The vicious cycle between Alzheimer’s and oral health

    03:00 – Why dentists avoid scaring patients with the 70% statistic

    17:00 – Diabetes, arthritis and bidirectional gum disease

    22:00 – Menopause, hormones and dry mouth

    26:00 – Teeth grinding, night guards and jaw damage

    28:00 – Mouth breathing and gingivitis

    30:00 – Tongue scraping and bad breath bacteria

    45:00 – Mouthwash, chlorhexidine and staining

    56:00 – Adapting dental care for people with extra needs

    Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • A Survivor’s Journey to Purpose: Ciara Mangan’s Story

    A Survivor’s Journey to Purpose: Ciara Mangan’s Story
    Jan 15 2026
    🎧 Episode Description


    In this episode of The Laura Dowling Experience, Laura is joined by Ciara Mangan, founder of Beyond Surviving. Ciara reflects on the gaps in long-term trauma support, the challenges survivors face once formal services fall away, and why survival is so often treated as the endpoint rather than the beginning of healing.


    She speaks about navigating the justice process, the emotional toll of prolonged legal proceedings, and the ways trauma can ripple through families and relationships. Ciara also explores post-traumatic growth, describing how meaning, connection, and purpose became possible over time - without minimising the pain that came before.


    This episode centres on healing beyond crisis, the importance of survivor-led support, and the understanding that recovery is deeply personal and looks different for everyone.


    🔑 Key Points


    Survival is often treated as the finish line

    Ciara reflects on how recovery is expected to be complete once immediate danger has passed, even though healing is only beginning for many survivors.


    The gap in long-term trauma support

    She speaks about feeling lost once formal services fell away, highlighting how many survivors are left without guidance or connection after crisis support ends.


    The emotional toll of the justice process

    Ciara shares the impact of navigating prolonged legal proceedings and how systems intended to protect can sometimes retraumatise survivors.


    How trauma ripples through families and relationships

    The conversation explores the long-term effects of trauma on trust, intimacy, and family dynamics.


    Post-traumatic growth without minimising pain

    Ciara discusses growth as something that can emerge slowly over time, without pressure to reframe trauma as a positive experience.


    The importance of being believed

    Validation from family, professionals, and the justice system is shown to be central to rebuilding self-worth and safety.


    Why survivor-led support matters

    Ciara explains the value of spaces shaped by lived experience, where understanding, safety, and choice are prioritised.


    Turning lived experience into purpose

    The episode closes on Ciara’s decision to found Beyond Surviving, using her experience to support others navigating life after trauma.


    📚 Mentioned in this Episode


    Beyond Surviving – Survivor-led charity supporting healing beyond crisis. https://beyondsurviving.ie/

    Beyond Surviving – Survivors Hub – Resources + community support. https://beyondsurviving.ie/survivors-hub/

    Rape Crisis Ireland – 24-hour helpline + links to local support. https://www.rapecrisisireland.ie/

    Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) – Support services and info. https://www.drcc.ie/



    ⏱️ Timestamps


    00:00 – Opening reflections on survival and recovery

    06:20 – Reaching the end of crisis support

    12:40 – Workplace response and social fallout

    18:00 – Telling her parents what happened

    25:40 – Deciding to pursue justice

    30:10 – The trial process

    35:50 – Being believed and legal validation

    38:40 – Why survivor-led spaces matter

    44:10 – The origins of Beyond Surviving

    45:20 – Exploring post-traumatic growth

    50:30 – Relationships and rebuilding self-worth

    57:00 – Closing reflections on healing

    Thanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 7 mins
  • The Hidden Cost of Mental Health Gatekeeping with Martin Daly

    The Hidden Cost of Mental Health Gatekeeping with Martin Daly
    Jan 8 2026
    🎧 Episode DescriptionThis episode offers an unflinching look at the realities of Irish healthcare - especially child and adolescent mental health - through the eyes of someone who’s been on the front line for decades. Laura is joined by Martin Daly, a rural GP in County Galway and a TD (Teachta Dála), to explore what it feels like to advocate for children and families inside systems that are overstretched, slow, and often unresponsive.Martin shares a deeply affecting account of a nine-year-old boy experiencing severe OCD, including the barriers faced when trying to access CAMHS - from repeat assessments, to letters being returned, to referrals being deemed “not appropriate”, even as the child’s distress escalates. The story becomes a window into the human cost of rigid thresholds and administrative dysfunction, where families are left carrying fear and uncertainty while clinicians try to push against closing doors.From there, the conversation widens into the bigger picture: the lack of digitisation in the HSE and how basic inefficiencies create real harm; why housing insecurity and “stuck” young adults ripple into mental health and relationships; and what Martin believes Ireland needs to do differently if it wants to protect wellbeing, not just respond to crisis. It’s warm, candid, and grounded in lived reality - ending with a reflective final stretch on kindness, purpose, and what it means to live a good life.⸻🔑 Key PointsAdvocating for children inside broken systemsMartin describes the emotional and professional strain of repeatedly trying to secure care for children while working within rigid, under-resourced structures.When mental health support depends on thresholdsThe conversation explores how eligibility criteria can exclude children who are clearly distressed but not yet deemed to be in crisis.A nine-year-old living with severe OCDA real case highlights how delayed intervention intensifies suffering for both the child and their family.The hidden burden placed on parentsFamilies are left holding fear, responsibility, and risk while waiting for services that may never arrive.Housing insecurity and mental healthMartin connects the housing crisis to rising anxiety, stalled independence, and a growing sense of hopelessness among young people and families.HSE digitisation and administrative failureBasic inefficiencies - from paper-based systems to disconnected services - are shown to cause real harm and delay care when timing matters most.Moral injury in clinical practiceMartin reflects on the ethical toll of knowing what care is needed, but being unable to access it for patients.Social media and youth mental healthConstant exposure and online pressure are discussed as compounding factors in rising anxiety and distress.⸻📚 Mentioned in this EpisodeMartin Daly – Rural GP and TD (Teachta Dála), sharing frontline experience of Irish healthcareChild and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) – Referral pathways, thresholds, and access issuesObsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Childhood presentation and impact when left untreatedADHD – Diagnosis pathways and pressures on assessment servicesHealth Service Executive (HSE) – Structure, capacity issues, and lack of digitisationHousing crisis in Ireland – Links to anxiety, delayed independence, and mental wellbeingSocial media and youth mental health – Ongoing exposure and rising emotional distress⸻⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Martin’s opening reflections and background04:45 – Life as a rural GP on the frontline09:30 – Accessing child mental health services in Ireland15:10 – How CAMHS thresholds work in practice21:40 – A nine-year-old with severe OCD28:30 – Referrals returned and care denied35:20 – The emotional toll on families41:50 – HSE digitisation and systemic inefficiency48:10 – Housing insecurity and its impact on mental health54:30 – Social media, anxiety, and young people59:40 – Responsibility, kindness, and what a good life meansThanks for listening! You can watch the full episode on YouTube here. Don’t forget to follow The Laura Dowling Experience podcast on Instagram @lauradowlingexperience for updates and more information. You can also follow our host, Laura Dowling, @fabulouspharmacist for more insights and tips. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review—it really helps us out! Stay tuned for more great conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 6 mins
No reviews yet