Show Notes
Irish Sailor Tom Dolan from Co. Meath has carved a most unexpected career for himself on the high seas. Winner of the 2024 Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, Tom sailed himself into the history books as the first Irish sailor and only the third non-French competitor to win this prestigious race in its fifty five year history, cementing his position and reputation as a world class sailor. He subsequently was awarded Irish Sailor of the year in February of this year for the second time.
An unlikely career for a man who grew up on a farm in Co. Meath where Gaelic Football was the sport of choice and sailing was something he watched on TV dreaming of one day sailing the high seas. But dreams do come true and for Tom, although it was an unconventional career path and to say the least a hard graft learning all the skills, insights and intricacies of sailing he earned his stripes from the ground up.
Relentless in his pursuit of excellence, his grit, determination and resilience to embrace his passion for sailing saw him follow his heart and love of the sport to France over a decade ago. Immersing himself in one of the world's most competitive sailing environments it provide the perfect playground for Tom to flourish, hone his craft and gain vast experience to become one of the best off-shore sailors in the world.
Known as 'The Flying Irishman,' Tom's journey has been anything but smooth sailing. In this episode, he shares the highs and lows of his career, offering insight into the technical and mental demands of elite level racing, the toll of sleep deprivation and hallucinations at sea, and the vital role of a strong support team. His story is not just one of overcoming odds, but of staying true to a passion, trusting the process and proving that with commitment and belief, even the wildest dreams can become reality.
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Jen Done didn't grow up sporty. She swam a bit as a youngster, tagging along to galas beside a sister who was the 'sporty one of the family' and other than a handful of pre-baby marathons, a life in sport was never really part of her master plan. Seven years ago, after the birth of her daughter, she found herself in a very different kind of race, a race against postnatal depression so severe she could not get out the front door, convinced her husband and daughter would be better off without her. Dismissed as "baby blues" by three separate doctors before a female GP finally gave her the diagnosis and help she needed. Somewhere in the middle of it all, her husband suggested she try running again; she managed 30 seconds out the door and back. It was enough to change everything. That 30 seconds became a habit, and the habit snowballed; an IRONMAN 70.3 in Weymouth, her first full IRONMAN in Hamburg, the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona in 2023 racing with the IRONMAN Foundation. She launched her own podcast, 'The Toughest Finish Line', to share other people's stories of using sport to fight through trauma and mental health struggles and she is also a triathlon coach. A little over three weeks ago, Jen took on her biggest challenge yet: two full IRONMAN races, on consecutive days, in two different countries. IRONMAN Kalmar in Sweden on Saturday and IRONMAN Copenhagen in Denmark 24 hours later. In this episode Jen recalls and shares insight into her Viking IRONMAN adventure, the highs and the lows, the chaos to the calmness, from lost luggage, to the hectic hours before the race weekend even started and the nausea that almost derailed her ambitious racing plans which saw her become an eight time IRONMAN. Jen talks openly about her postnatal depression and the transformational journey she has been on since that 30 second run seven years ago. She reflects on what she's learned about her own capacity to cope, how strong she is and how far removed this version of herself is from the woman who once couldn't leave the house. This is a lovely episode centred on courage, resilience, self-belief and the importance of a loving support crew to help you take one small step at a time, even when that small step seems impossible.
British professional triathlete Harry Palmer recently took the title for the third year in a row at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, an accomplishment that is not often achieved in sport.
Aisling Wyer is an Irish triathlete and member of Naas Triathlon Club who has achieved impressive results at home and abroad all whilst working full time as a solicitor.
Endurance adventurer Sean Conway has lived a life defined by adventure, resilience and a relentless desire to do hard things. Driven by curiosity and an appetite for pushing beyond what most consider possible, Sean has built a career out of testing the very edges of human endurance.
Our first guests of 2026 are familiar names in endurance sport here in Ireland; Rob Cummins and Aisling Coppinger who share with us an honest and inspiring conversation about life, love and longevity in sport.