In this fascinating, mythic, and surprisingly tender episode, Susanna talks with Seamus McGoldrick — surfer, musician, and author — about ancient goddesses, the sacred feminine, and what it means to wake up stories that have been buried for thousands of years. Known in Irish surfing circles as "Shambles," Seamus is a three-time Irish National Bodyboarding Champion and the author of Waking Maeve, a book born from his lifelong fascination with the Neolithic monuments of his native Sligo and the legendary warrior queen said to be buried beneath them.

Susanna and Seamus trace the layered history of Queen Maeve, from ancient goddess of sovereignty to Iron Age warrior queen. Together they explore how her story echoes the very journey this podcast is built around: women claiming their voice, their agency, and their place as the main character of their own lives. Seamus reflects on the matriarchal threads woven through Celtic mythology, the shift that came with the Norman invasion, and why he believes reconnecting with these old stories could help restore a balance the modern world has lost. Equal parts history lesson and heart-to-heart, this conversation is a reminder that some of the oldest stories we have may hold exactly what we need right now.

Episode Highlights

00:49 – Introducing Seamus McGoldrick: surfer, musician, author, and three-time Irish National Bodyboarding Champion

05:00 – Seamus discusses where he grew up, the ancient monument atop Knocknarea, and the legend that Queen Maeve is buried beneath it.

07:09 – Seamus helps unpack who Queen Maeve really was — goddess, warrior queen, or both?

11:00 – Susanna and Seamus explore the triple goddess: the maiden, the warrior queen, and the Cailleach, and what they reveal about how ancient Celtic culture honored women.

30:20 – Why Seamus named his book Waking Maeve and what the "archetype of Queen Maeve" means for women today.

44:37 – Seamus shares his closing message and what he wants the audience to take away from his talk with Susanna: embrace mythology with two arms.

Get To Know Seamus McGoldrick

Seamus McGoldrick, known in Irish surfing circles as "Shambles," is a writer, musician, surf coach, and owner of Sligo Surf Experience. A three-time Irish National Bodyboarding Champion, Seamus once studied physics at Trinity College Dublin before falling in love with surfing and competing for Ireland on the world stage — eventually taking on Hawaii's legendary Pipeline after recovering from a near career-ending accident.

Raised in the village of Strandhill beneath Knocknarea, home to the ancient monument said to hold the grave of Queen Maeve, Seamus has spent years delving into the folklore and mythology of his native Sligo. That lifelong fascination became his book, Waking Maeve, now in its second printing, which explores the layered history of Queen Maeve alongside the ancient megaliths and passage tombs of Ireland's northwest.

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Start Your Own Heroine's Journey

In this thoughtful and inspiring episode, Susanna talks with Amanda Gore about what it truly means to choose joy, connection, and love in our everyday lives. An internationally renowned keynote speaker, author, and founder of The Joy Project, Amanda shares how her own heroine’s journeys through professional success, financial loss, heartbreak, divorce, and starting over in new countries have shaped the wisdom she now teaches.

Together, Susanna and Amanda explore the ways our unconscious thoughts influence how we experience the world and how learning to pause can give us the freedom to choose how we respond. They discuss Amanda’s PAIJE framework, the importance of self-worth, gratitude as a pathway to joy, and the ways fear and judgment can keep us disconnected from ourselves and others. Amanda also shares the story behind her book Joy Is an Inside Job, her journey toward inner peace, and the profound lesson she learned when losing her voice and hearing forced her to slow down and simply be.

Episode Highlights

00:45 – Introducing Amanda Gore and her work with joy, connection, and emotional intelligence.

04:19 – Amanda shares how she went from physiotherapist to internationally renowned keynote speaker.

12:13 – Amanda explains PAIJE: perception, assumption, interpretation, judgment, and expectation, and how our unconscious thinking shapes our experience.

24:21 – Amanda explains her metaphor of the “malware” that can corrupt the source code of who we are, as well as the story of how Joy Is an Inside Job came to her after the death of her mother.

41:39 – Amanda shares the one message she hopes listeners remember: consciously choose love over fear.

Get To Know Amanda Gore

Amanda Gore is an internationally renowned keynote speaker, author, and founder of The Joy Project. For more than 30 years, she has combined humor, storytelling, neuroscience, and emotional intelligence to help people create greater joy, connection, trust, and resilience in their lives and workplaces. A member of the Speaker Hall of Fame, Amanda is also the author of Joy Is an Inside Job, a book that explores the beliefs, fears, and patterns that can keep us disconnected from the joy within us. Her work encourages people to become more conscious of their thoughts, pause before reacting, choose love over fear, and create deeper connection with themselves and others.

Connect With Amanda

The Joy Project

Amanda Gore TV

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Email: amanda@amandagore.com

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Start Your Own Heroine's Journey

In this insightful and deeply reflective episode, Susanna talks with Lani Peterson about the transformative power of story and how the narratives we carry shape our understanding of ourselves and our lives. As a psychologist, storyteller, and story consultant, Lani shares how more than 25 years of working with people from all walks of life has revealed that every person is living a hero's or heroine's journey, whether they realize it or not.

Together, Susanna and Lani explore how stories become tools for healing, connection, and personal growth. They discuss the importance of pausing to reflect on life's unexpected twists, recognizing the gifts we've gained through our experiences, and choosing to move forward with greater intention. This conversation is a reminder that our stories are not simply records of what has happened to us. They are living guides that help us discover our strengths, embrace our purpose, and step courageously into whatever comes next.

00:48 – Introducing Lani Peterson and her work as a psychologist, storyteller, and story consultant.

03:12 – Lani explains why every person is living a hero's or heroine's journey, as well as the importance of pausing to reflect on life's experiences in order to recognize the strengths and gifts we've gained along the way.

11:02 – Lani shares how storytelling creates healing, connection, and transformation across diverse communities, from healthcare professionals to those experiencing homelessness.

27:23 – Lani explains why owning and sharing our stories allows us to better understand ourselves and connect more deeply with others.

35:16 – Lani shares the message she hopes listeners will remember: pause, reflect, claim your gifts, and move forward with intention.

Lani Peterson is a psychologist, storyteller, story consultant, and coach who has spent more than 25 years exploring the power of story as a catalyst for transformation. Throughout her career, she has helped CEOs, physicians, scientists, mental health professionals, clergy, educators, military families, incarcerated individuals, and people experiencing homelessness discover the deeper meaning within their personal and professional stories.

Drawing on psychology, narrative practice, mythology, and the Hero's Journey, Lani helps individuals recognize the strengths they've developed through life's challenges and use their stories as tools for healing, connection, and growth. Her work invites people to pause, reflect on where they've been, and intentionally choose how they want to move forward.

Connect With Lani Peterson

Website

Watch The Podcast For Real Life Heroines On YouTube

Heroine's Journey Map

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Learn How To Get What You Want With Just A Circle

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Start Your Own Heroine's Journey