In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, Martina speaks with Occupational Therapist Ciara Duffy and country music star Lisa McHugh for an open and deeply personal conversation about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), burnout, and recovery.

Lisa shares her experience of how quickly life can change. At the height of a demanding career, the pressure and exhaustion of constant work began to take their toll, eventually leading to symptoms that would later be diagnosed as FND. Her storyoffers a powerful insight into the realities of living with a condition that is still widely misunderstood.

Ciara brings the clinical perspective, explaining what FND is and how Occupational Therapy can play a vital role in helping people rebuild confidence, regain independence, and return to the activities that matter most in their lives.

Together, the conversation explores the impact of burnout, the importance of understanding FND, and the transformative role healthcare professionals can play in supporting recovery.

This episode is a thoughtful and hopeful discussion about resilience, compassionate care, and the difference the right support can make.

World Obesity Day Special – Equity, Language and Dignity in Bariatric Care with Tracey CarrReleased on World Obesity Day, this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast explores what equitable healthcare truly looks like for people living with obesity.Martina speaks with Tracey Carr, advocate, educator and founder of Fat Lot She Knows. Through her consultancy, Tracey works internationally with healthcare professionals to improve dignity, communication and equity in bariatric care, always bringing lived experience to the conversation.Together, they discuss:

• Why conversations about weight are often mishandled
• The impact of language in clinical settings
• Why “morbid obesity” can feel deeply harmful
• Why bariatric seating is not simply about weight limits
• The importance of width, depth, posture and gluteal shelf accommodation
• Moving and handling considerations for larger patients
• How proactive, respectful communication transforms patient experience

This episode is not about promoting obesity. It is about promoting responsibility, dignity and clinically sound, evidence-based care.On World Obesity Day, we are reminded that obesity is complex and multifactorial. As clinicians and manufacturers, we must lead with compassion and practical solutions.Because there should never be a limit to care.

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Dr Melanie Stephens, Tissue Viability Nurse and Associate Professor, to explore a topic that belongs to all of us in healthcare.Tissue viability is not just about mattresses or dressings. It is about posture, pressure, advocacy and the responsibility we carry every single day to protect dignity.This is a powerful and honest conversation about interprofessional working, 24-hour care, prevention over blame and the courage it takes to speak up for a patient.Melanie shares the story of a 19-year-old young man whose final wish was simply to go home and die in his mother’s arms. It is a moment that reminds us why we must sometimes ask the difficult question, and have the courage to act on the answer.🔍 In this episode, we explore:* Why tissue viability is a shared clinical responsibility* The link between posture, seating and pressure injury prevention* The importance of understanding a patient’s journey, not just their diagnosis* Interprofessional learning and breaking down silos in care* The courage required to advocate for what a patient truly wantsThis episode is about dignity, responsibility and doing the right thing, even when it is hard.🎧 Thank you for listening.If this conversation resonated with you, please follow, rate and share. It helps these important discussions reach the people who need to hear them.

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Martin Tierney, Managing Director of the Tierco Group, and my son.

This is a deeply personal conversation about leadership, values and responsibility, and what it means to grow a business without losing sight of the people at the heart of it. We reflect on the journey from a family idea rooted in clinical need to a global healthcare group, and the lessons learned along the way.

Martin shares his perspective on stepping into leadership, carrying responsibility for others and making decisions that affect not just a business, but people’s lives, livelihoods and dignity.

🔍 In this episode, we explore:

* What leadership really looks like behind the scenes

* Growing a family business while staying true to your values

* The responsibility that comes with employing people and serving patients

* Why purpose must come before profit

* Remembering the human being behind every decision

This episode is about people, purpose and legacy, and why values matter most when decisions are hardest.

🎧 Thank you for listening.

If this conversation stayed with you, please rate, review and share. It helps spread these stories and the thinking behind them.

In this episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I’m joined by Shane Elliott, Housing and Health Lead for Northern Ireland and occupational therapist by background, alongside Dean Cooke, Global Product Manager at Seating Matters.

This conversation goes deep into the intersection of health, housing and responsibility, and what happens when systems either support or fail the people they are meant to serve. Shane brings decades of experience from clinical practice, service leadership and policy, while Dean offers insight from years of working closely with clinicians and health services on the ground.

Together, we explore how good ideas can transform care when they are allowed to spread, and why courage, accountability and collaboration matter more than ever in today’s healthcare systems.

🔍 In this episode, we discuss:

* Why joined-up thinking between housing and health is critical

* How responsibility often gets passed instead of owned, and the impact this has on patients

* The power of simple, practical innovations when systems allow them to scale

* Risk aversion in healthcare, and what it’s costing patients and professionals

* Why leadership is about persistence, influence and staying the course

This is an honest and thought-provoking conversation about systems, people and the courage required to keep pushing for better outcomes, even when change feels slow.

🎧 Thank you for listening. I’d love to hear your reflections.

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review and share, it helps these conversations reach the people who need them most.

In this week’s episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Helen Hughes, Chief Executive of Patient Safety Learning, alongside our own Dearbhaile Mulholland, whose passion for safer care sparked this powerful conversation.

Helen’s work shines a light on something many of us feel deeply but rarely articulate, that patient safety is everyone’s responsibility, and that real change only happens when we share learning openly, honestly and without fear. From global systems thinking to the everyday realities faced by frontline staff, Helen brings a rare blend of clarity, compassion and courage to a topic that affects every patient, every carer and every clinician.

🔍 In this episode, we explore:

Why avoidable harm remains one of healthcare’s biggest challenges

How collaboration, culture and shared learning can transform safety

The story behind The Hub, now the world’s largest patient-safety knowledge platform

Why seating, posture and equipment need to be part of the safety conversation

What it truly means to move from blame to learning, and from isolated practice to collective responsibility

This episode is an honest, energising and deeply hopeful reminder that safer care isn’t just possible, it’s achievable when we empower the people who know their patients best, listen to those closest to harm, and give teams the tools and trust they need to do the right thing.

Whether you work in healthcare, leadership, quality improvement or simply believe in the dignity every person deserves, Helen’s insight will stay with you long after you finish listening.

🎧 Thank you for joining us. I’d love to hear your thoughts or reflections, you can reach me at martina.tierney@seatingmatters.com.

If this episode resonated with you, please rate, review and share, it helps spread this important message further.

In this week’s episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Bel Youngson, Chief Operating Officer at Hertfordshire Independent Living Service (HILS), whose story beautifully illustrates what it means to lead with both heart and purpose.

From supporting vulnerable adults to transforming community services across the UK, Bel has spent her career turning compassion into action. Her journey is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about hierarchy - it’s about humanity, collaboration, and never losing sight of the people we serve.

🔍 What we cover in this episode:

* How Bel’s early experiences shaped her commitment to person-centred care

* The impact of small, consistent acts of kindness in creating large-scale change

* What true leadership looks like in the face of challenge, growth and service transformation

* The balance between operational excellence and emotional intelligence

* How HILS is redefining independence, dignity and connection for thousands across the UK

Whether you work in health, social care or leadership, or you simply want to be reminded of the difference one person can make, Bel’s story will leave you feeling inspired, grounded and hopeful about the future of care.

🎧 Thanks for tuning in - I’d love to hear what resonated with you. You can reach me at martina.tierney@seatingmatters.com

(Be sure to rate, review and share if this episode spoke to you — your support helps this message reach more people.)

In this week’s episode of The Martina Tierney Podcast, I sit down with Rachel Brimblecombe - founder of both Better Rehab and Better Days, to uncover an inspiring story of turning frustration into meaningful impact.

Rachel had a dream: to reshape how we see and deliver occupational therapy and rehab internationally.

What started as a small idea in her living room grew into a global mission, supporting hundreds of clinicians across Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

🔍 What we cover in this episode:

• The moment that sparked Rachel’s shift from burnout to bold leadership

• The rise of Better Rehab and Better Days: 700+ team members, systems that empower, a vision beyond treatment

• How confidence, curiosity and courage, not just credentials, shape true leadership

• The power of mindset: when you can’t change your thoughts, you can change your feelings - and that shift ripples into action

• Why “plodding” (slow, steady progress) often outpaces flashy shortcuts when you’re building something that matters

Whether you’re an OT student, a leader in healthcare, or simply on the lookout for a story of purpose and persistence, Rachel’s journey will remind you that small steps, bold belief and community make all the difference.

🎧 Thanks for tuning in, and if you’re inspired by this episode, I’d love to hear what resonates with you. Send me a message at martina.tierney@seatingmatters.com.

(Be sure to rate, review and share if this episode spoke to you - your support helps this message reach more people.)