Allan Heinberg: From Stage to Screen

In this episode of Best Life, Shay O'Brien is joined by Dr Sabina Brennan, neuroscientist, health psychologist, bestselling author and former actress, whose fascinating life story shows that we can continue to grow, learn and Discover new passions at any age. From a 15-year career in Assurance to acting on Irish television, and eventually returning to education to become a neuroscientist, Sabina shares how following her curiosity opened doors she never imagined. Together, Shay and Sabina explore: Following your passion – Acting and Sabina's role in the soap Fair City and its impact on her life and others. Reinvention at any age – How Sabina's journey from actress to neuroscientist proves that life doesn't have to follow a conventional path. The Teenage Brain – Understanding your teenager's brain and what you can do to support them. The power of the brain – Understanding neuroplasticity and our ability to learn, adapt and change throughout life. Brain health and dementia – The lifestyle factors that influence brain health and what we can do to reduce our risk of cognitive decline. Sleep, stress and brain fog – Why looking after our brains is essential to our everyday wellbeing. Manifesting through neuroscience – Clarity, attention, behaviour and action. Living with dementia – The importance of emotional connection and why meaningful moments still matter when memories begin to fade. Happiness and fulfilment – Why success isn't simply about money or achievement, but finding meaning in what we do.

Kevin Chaplin is a South African social entrepreneur, speaker, and author, best known as the Managing Director of the Amy Foundation (Cape Town), Founder of the South African Ubuntu Foundation and author of Can Do! Making the Impossible Possible. In this episode of Best Life, Shay sits down with his long-time friend for an extraordinary conversation about purpose, forgiveness and the power we have to change other people’s lives. After a successful career in banking in South Africa, Kevin reached his early forties questioning what he wanted the next chapter of his life to look like. Despite his professional success, he wanted to do something with greater purpose and impact. That decision ultimately led him to establish the South African Ubuntu Foundation, bringing people from different races, cultures, religions and backgrounds together, and later to take over the leadership of the Amy Foundation. At the heart of the episode is the extraordinary story of Amy Biehl and how an unimaginable tragedy became a story of forgiveness, reconciliation and hope. The episode takes its name from the African philosophy of Ubuntu, “I am because we are” the belief that our humanity is connected to the humanity of others. It is an idea that has shaped much of Kevin’s life and work. In this episode, Shay and Kevin explore: Leaving a successful banking career to pursue a life with greater purpose The meaning of Ubuntu and the importance of breaking down barriers between people The remarkable story of Amy Biehl and the power of forgiveness and reconciliation Kevin’s relationship with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the influence of Nelson Mandela Creating opportunities for young people through the Amy Foundation Why changing one life can create a ripple effect through families and communities Kevin’s “can do” philosophy and the importance of belief, planning and the people around us Why true success is about more than what we achieve for ourselves

Andy Cato is one half of the globally successful electronic duo Groove Armada and a co-founder of Wildfarmed. His journey from dance floors to fields began with a single article about the environmental impact of food production and led him to sell his music publishing rights, buy a farm in France and learn how to grow food from the ground up. In this open and wide-ranging conversation, Andy joins Shay to explore reinvention, resilience and the realities of building a mission-led life. He speaks honestly about the failures, financial risks and personal pressures behind the success, including periods of anxiety, exhaustion and coming close to breaking point. At its heart, this is a hopeful episode about restoring the soil, challenging the systems we depend on and recognising the agency we still have; through the choices we make, the work we pursue and the seeds of hope we sow for others. In this episode How Andy's early love of music led from piano and trombone to Groove Armada and a career spanning three decades The article that changed the direction of his life and inspired his move from music into farming Why he sold his music publishing rights to fund a farm - and what happened when his first plans unravelled How regenerative farming offered a way forward by rebuilding soil health and working with nature The creation of Wildfarmed and its mission to make better farming and more traceable food available at scale The personal cost of becoming the public face of a complex mission, including anxiety, sleeplessness and burnout Why reframing pressure helped Andy reconnect with the meaning and opportunity in his life How questioning our perceived constraints can open the door to change, purpose and greater agency Why every food choice connects us to the land and why giving nature a chance allows it to come roaring back

A note before you begin This episode includes a discussion about the role belief and mindset may play in health and healing. We recognise this may be a sensitive subject, particularly for anyone living with a serious or incurable illness. These are personal perspectives, not medical advice, and are not intended to suggest that recovery is simply a matter of belief. ________________________________________________________________ This week, Shay sits down with manifestation coach, researcher, author and speaker Matt Cooke to explore manifestation, belief, purpose, visualisation and the practical work behind creating the life you want. At 26, Matt was the youngest manager at a successful estate agency. On paper he was doing well, but underneath he was stressed, unfulfilled and questioning whether he was living the right life. A chance question, “Who are you?”, during a reflexology session began a much bigger search for meaning. Following the loss of his mother and an extraordinary personal experience that challenged his understanding of reality, Matt began exploring spirituality, consciousness and ultimately manifestation. Today, Matt's work focuses on making manifestation practical, exploring how to manifest the life you want, getting clear about your goals, using visualisation and, crucially, taking action. Shay and Matt explore: Why outward success isn’t a measure of happiness What manifestation means to Matt and why it’s about more than vision boards and positive thinking How thoughts, beliefs and repeated patterns can influence the lives we create Visualisation, meditation and other manifestation techniques Why manifestation needs action, and how to turn big ambitions into achievable steps How Matt manifested his goal of becoming a published author with Penguin Random House Success, family and the ongoing challenge of balancing ambition with being present as a husband and father Why the decisions we make today are creating the person and the life we will experience in the future

In this special episode of Best Life Podcast, Shay sits down with Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner, Isabel Chave Manso, to explore IFS therapy, an approach Shay describes as a “game changer” in his own life. IFS is based on the idea that we all have different “parts” within us, the inner critic, the high achiever, the procrastinator, the caretaker, or the part that reacts strongly when something touches an old wound. Rather than judging or suppressing these parts, IFS helps us become curious about them, understand why they are there and develop a more compassionate relationship with ourselves. Isabel is a Certified Level 3 IFS practitioner and staff member of the IFIO International Training Programmes. She is also a facilitator of Gestalt Awareness Practice by Tribal Ground and Esalen Massage Therapist, with an extensive background in yoga, movement and the healing arts. In this practical and personal conversation, Shay draws on his own experience of IFS while asking Isabel the questions many of us might have when first encountering the therapy. Together they explore: What IFS is and how our different “parts” influence the way we think, feel and behave Why experiences from childhood can continue to trigger powerful reactions in adult life The inner critic and why understanding it can be more helpful than trying to silence it How emotions and experiences can show up through sensations in the body What happens during an IFS session and how you know whether the process is working How greater self-awareness can help us become calmer, more present and better able to regulate our responses Why couples therapy doesn't need to begin with a relationship in crisis and how it can help us communicate, repair and navigate conflict more effectively