Ray Connellan chats on Soul Brew Podcast

Athlone and Westmeath football star Ray Connellan discusses mental health issues on the latest edition of the Soul Brew podcast.

One of the stars of the RTE documentary ‘I’m Fine’, Ray joins podcast hosts Aidan Hunter and Stephen Doak in discussing the impact and reaction from the documentary, as well as life in Athlone and his experiences in school and sport.

'I'm Fine' is a documentary series on RTE featuring Ray and three other young men Lorcán McMullan, Conor O’Keeffe and Hugh Mulligan who speak of how they struggled with their mental health throughout their teens and early twenties. They speak about their personal journey and the difficulties they endured to get to where they are now.

Ray also talks about taking part in cold water immersion and his powerful relationship with his father Paul.

A talented footballer with Athlone GAA club and part of a renowned sporting family, Ray scored two points for Westmeath in the victory over Longford last Saturday evening. Ray and his Westmeath colleagues are now preparing to face Kildare in their Leinster SFC semi-final at Croke Park on Sunday week, May 15.

Soul Brew Podcast was launched in June 2021 by hosts Aidan Hunter and Stephen Doak. The podcast has been downloaded in 70 countries. Season 3 was launched on April 22, with new episodes arriving on Fridays across all podcast platforms.

Hunter is currently running Kibbon Coffee in Donegal and recently completed a certificate course in counselling and psychotherapy. Aidan previously owned his own gym and sold his business after recovering from testicular cancer in 2017. Thereafter, he moved to Vienna, Austria where he followed his passion for coffee, and he had to overcome cancer again in 2019

Doak worked for four years on a number of health and wellbeing projects. In 2017 he decided to focus on living and traveling, working a variety of jobs from picking potatoes to being a barista enabling him to trek around the globe. In 2020 he moved home to his native Donegal from Australia to begin a research masters at the Atlantic Technological University; studying the diet and lifestyle behaviours of higher education students.

The surf instructor (30) and avid GAA player has a passion for promoting health through diet, and lifestyle and helping empower others to become healthier versions of themselves in mind, body, and soul.

The show can be seen on Spotify or any other podcast platform - click HERE for link.