IT IS WHAT IT IS!

Content warning: This episode contains open conversations around depression, mental health struggles, alcohol and medication that some listeners may find difficult or triggering. This week, Limerick man Brian Hayes from What’s The Story joins us for an incredibly open conversation about hitting the depths of mental health struggles and finding his way back. Brian shares how depression affected every part of his life, from struggling to even string a sentence together and masking how he felt with alcohol and medication, to periods where he says he spent three weeks of the month asleep. Looking back now, he reflects on just how much that time took from him, including what he describes as losing two years of his daughter’s life. Katie and Brian open up about the signs they experienced that they can now recognise as depression, while Aisling shares how she first met Brian and Brian reveals the impact she had on him during a particularly difficult time in 2022. Today, Brian uses the voice he once struggled to find through his What’s The Story pages, positivity and his work helping charities across Limerick. He admits helping others became almost addictive because making someone else feel good made him feel good too. A raw conversation about losing yourself, recognising the signs and discovering that your darkest chapter does not have to be your last.

Katie and Aisling are back in the studio together ahead of Katie heading off to Ibiza. This week, Aisling decides she wants to sit in the driver’s seat, where Katie normally takes charge. She has plenty of questions she wants to ask Katie, and absolutely nothing is off limits. This episode takes it right back to basics with plenty of laughs, unexpected truths and the kind of honest conversation that happens when it is just the two girls in the studio. From getting personal to discovering that Aisling is living a champagne lifestyle on a Coca Cola budget, this is one you will not want to miss.

Body Image Expert Aoife O’Brien: Why You’re Never Happy With What You See This week on It Is What It Is, Katie is joined by body image expert Aoife O’Brien, who brings both professional expertise and her own powerful lived experience to the conversation. Together they explore why so many of us have become focused on fixing our bodies instead of understanding the root of why we’re unhappy with them in the first place. Aoife breaks down body dysmorphia, emotional eating, binge eating, restriction and the cycle of swinging between them, while sharing her own experience of struggling with body image. Katie also opens up about her relationship with her body, allowing Aoife to unpack where some of those feelings may have started. If you’ve ever changed your body but still weren’t happy with the person looking back at you, this episode is for you.

Katie and Aisling are back with another episode of It Is What It Is, and there is plenty to unpack. This week they get into two worrying online trends, one frightening children and another with devastating consequences. That opens up a bigger conversation about life online, judgement, trolling and the pressure that comes with putting yourself out there. Katie opens up about why she has never really pushed to grow her following and reveals what she is genuinely terrified of. Aisling also gets very honest about her most recent surgery, why she hates the results and how she really feels about it now. Plus, she addresses the rumours surrounding her and Shane and tells us what is actually going on. 👀

Katie and Aisling are BACK! 🎙️ After a summer break, the girls return for Season 2 of It Is What It Is with plenty to catch up on. From what they’ve been up to over the summer to what’s coming next, nothing is off limits. Aisling shares a wild experience that almost completely changed her mind about having her summer home in Lithuania, before opening up about her plans for the future, life, aesthetics and the exciting launch of her brand new business. And, of course, it wouldn’t be It Is What It Is without the usual tangents, oversharing and plenty of laughs. Season 2 has officially landed… and the girls have a LOT to talk about. 👀

Katie and Aisling are back together and by popular demand, they’re firing random questions at each other once again. What starts as a simple game quickly turns into hilarious debates, unexpected stories, and a trip down memory lane. From things that instantly send them over the edge, to whether ketchup belongs in the press or the fridge, to reminiscing about their favourite perfumes as teenage girls, absolutely nothing is off limits. Along the way, stories about airport drug wipe tests and other questionable life moments make this one of their most random episodes yet. Funny, nostalgic, relatable, and guaranteed to make you laugh. This one will take you back.

This week on It Is What It Is, Katie sits down with Nicola Ryan, women’s hormone health specialist, menopause advisor, and pharmacist from Tipperary, for an eye opening conversation about the realities of women’s health. Together, they discuss PCOS, endometriosis, PMDD, perimenopause, menopause, surgical menopause, and the impact a full hysterectomy and oophorectomy can have on a woman’s life. Katie shares her own experiences and gets expert advice from Nicola along the way. They also explore why more women are being diagnosed with ADHD later in life and how hormonal changes can affect symptoms and overall wellbeing. Packed with practical advice, expert insight, and honest conversation, this is an episode every woman should hear.

Katie is back from Ibiza and reunited with Aisling for a long overdue catch up. From funny holiday stories and unexpected moments abroad to life lessons, reflections, and everything that has happened since they last sat down together, this episode feels like catching up with your best friend over a coffee. The pair chat about the highs, the laughs, and some of the things Katie learned while away. What starts as a simple catch up soon turns into conversations about life, perspective, and the lessons that often show up when you least expect them. As always, there are plenty of laughs, honest moments, and a few tangents along the way. In true It Is What It Is fashion, the conversation takes a completely unexpected turn towards the end, leading to a discussion neither of them planned on having. No script, no filter, just two friends catching up and seeing where the conversation takes them.

This week, Katie and Aisling are taking a look back at some of the funniest, most chaotic, most honest moments from It Is What It Is so far. From friendship debates and oversharing to stories that completely spiralled off the rails, this episode is a collection of clips and conversations that listeners have loved since the podcast began. Whether you have been here from the start or are only discovering the podcast now, this episode gives you a taste of exactly what It Is What It Is is all about. Expect nonstop laughing, unfiltered chats, questionable opinions, accidental therapy sessions, and moments that probably should have stayed private. Basically… pure chaos.

Katie and Aisling are back this week and this episode completely goes off the rails from the very beginning. Between reliving the chaos of their recent photo shoot, uncontrollable laughing fits, oversharing, and accidentally exposing secrets that probably should have stayed private, neither of them can keep it together. Aisling also finds out that Katie may have lied to her before, The girls chat about meaningful birthday gifts, why clutter can completely affect your mindset, and play a hilarious game of “Who’s More Likely To” that quickly turns Funny. This episode is pure friendship chaos, nonstop laughing, and honestly… the girls have decided they genuinely need to be studied.

Katie and Aisling are back for another honest and unfiltered episode of It Is What It Is. This week, the girls dive into fears, insecurities, and the limitations people place on themselves without even realising it. They also unpack relationship boundaries online and ask the questions everyone secretly debates. Is liking pictures harmless? Are private love hearts crossing a line? And at what point does social media become disrespectful? The conversation gets very real as they open up about inappropriate messages, people overstepping boundaries online, and how they deal with it personally. Katie also sits down with Aisling for a deeper conversation around confidence, self image, filters, and the real reason she struggles to post videos of herself online. Raw, relatable, funny, uncomfortable at times, and full of the kind of chats everyone’s already having behind closed doors.

Aisling and Katie are back with a new episode of It Is What It Is. Katie opens up about her recent trip away and the truth behind how she was really feeling. What should have been a break brought up more than expected, as she shares how her nervous system has quietly shaped her reactions for years and why feeling calm can sometimes feel unfamiliar. Aisling reflects on how these thoughts are more common than people admit, before opening up about her own recent struggles. She shares how things in her life have crashed and burned, how outside family situations have affected her, and how it left her lying in bed all day, knowing that is not who she is, but still feeling stuck. They talk honestly about acceptance, the things you cannot control, and the real work it takes to feel okay with being happy.

Katie and Aisling are back with another episode of It Is What It Is and this one goes deep. They open up about family dynamics and the unspoken roles so many people grow up with. From the golden child to the black sheep, the overlooked one to the one expected to hold everything together, nothing is off limits. They talk honestly about control, pressure, and the impact it can have long after childhood ends. This episode gets personal as both Katie and Aisling reflect on their own upbringings, the hurt they carried, and how it shaped them. They also face the harder side of things, opening up about the ways they feel they may have passed some of that pain on, and what they have done to break those patterns. It is reflective, and full of moments that will make you stop and think about your own story.

Katie is flying solo in this episode of It Is What It Is as Aisling takes a step back, and this one goes deep. Katie opens up about her relationship with alcohol, addiction, and the patterns that can quietly take hold before you even realise it. She speaks honestly about the darker moments, the turning points, and what it actually takes to make real change when you feel stuck. This episode is raw and personal, with Katie sharing parts of her story she hasn’t fully explored before. From recognising habits that no longer serve you, to pulling yourself out of difficult places, she talks through the mindset shifts and practical steps that helped her move forward. It is an open, real conversation about accountability, growth, and proving to yourself that change is possible, even when it feels out of reach.

Katie and Aisling are back and this week, they are not holding back. They are joined by their first ever guest, Maria McCarthy, also known as Miss Mac Fit, and they get straight into it. Maria opens up about what it is really like to be single in 2026, sharing some of the most shocking dating stories you will hear. The kind that make you laugh, cringe, and question everything. The girls unpack it all, from red flags to situationships, in a conversation so many women will relate to. Maria also shares her experience of living in Australia, with honest and funny insights for anyone thinking of making the move.   Plus, she opens up about how she became a personal trainer after gaining weight following pregnancy and losing it again, sharing what actually worked and how that journey shaped her.

In this episode of It Is What It Is, Katie walks in with nothing but ten questions. No plan, no structure, just ten hard, thought provoking questions that open the door to real, honest conversation. What starts as a simple idea quickly unfolds into something much bigger. From uncomfortable truths to the things we usually avoid saying out loud, nothing is off limits. Katie and Aisling bounce between laughter and real moments, asking each other the kind of questions most people would dodge. The result is genuinely reflective. This episode is less about answers and more about what comes up when you actually stop and think. It might make you question things. It might hit a nerve. It might even change how you see yourself.

This week on It Is What It Is, Katie and Aisling dive into what a real glow up actually looks like and why it is not just about appearances. They get into how relationships shape us, the difference between real friends and acquaintances, and Aisling opens up about something many people struggle with, learning to actually enjoy your own company. Katie throws out some outrageous questions that lead to genuinely hilarious answers, and they even put Chat GPT to the test with a question that somehow gets a very logical reply. They wrap things up with a chaotic round of Would You Rather that says more about them than it probably should. Honest, funny, and very real.

This week on It Is What It Is, Katie and Aisling sit down for a Mother’s Day special. What starts as a conversation about what Mother’s Day means to them quickly turns into a deeper and very honest discussion about Co parenting and the emotional realities that come with it. They speak openly about the challenges many parents face after separation, the pressure that can come with trying to do your best for your children, and the strength it takes to keep going through the difficult moments. Katie becomes emotional during the conversation, and both women share personal stories from their own lives and how they have learned to cope with the ups and downs along the way. This episode is a reminder that so many women and men are navigating the same struggles, even if it often feels like you are doing it alone.

This week on It Is What It Is with Katie and Aisling, we’re catching up on the week that was and there is plenty to unpack. We talk about our first week of personal training in the gym, the shock to the system, the sore muscles, and a few hilarious moments along the way. Katie also shares the excitement around her upcoming trip to Lithuania and the chaos that comes with trying to prepare for it. But the conversation takes a more serious turn when we receive a message we simply could not ignore. A young person who recently came out as gay is now facing horrible abuse at home, and we talk honestly about how heartbreaking and complicated situations like that can be. Aisling also shares the story of a 65 year old woman currently living in a deeply difficult situation. As always, this episode moves between laughter and real life conversations, because sometimes it just is what it is.

This week on It Is What It Is, Katie and Aisling start with their usual catch up before diving into two documentaries that sparked much bigger conversations than expected. Being Gordon Ramsay leads to an honest chat about ambition, guilt and the time we sometimes miss while chasing success. Then they unpack the America’s Next Top Model documentary and the shows they grew up watching as teenagers. From resurfaced Nickelodeon clips starring Ariana Grande to moments that now feel wildly inappropriate in 2026, they question what was normalised back then and why we never noticed. They also touch on the internet, the recent Epstein files and how awareness around power and exploitation has shifted. It is thoughtful, nostalgic and full of laughs along the way, including a few unexpected singing moments from Katie. Plus, they share a family safety app they believe every parent should know about.

Katie and Aisling are back for another episode  Katie opens up about her dramatic weight loss. What she actually did. The pressure she felt. The parts that were harder than anyone saw. And what she understands now that she wishes she knew then. Aisling shares her experience trying the Ozempic pen and why it quickly turned into something that didn’t feel right. She also tells a frightening story about a close friend who underwent surgery and the irreversible outcome she witnessed first hand. The girls also speak openly about their own surgeries in Lithuania and the reality behind making life altering decisions in pursuit of change. This episode is not about judgement. It is about truth. The good, the bad and the consequences we do not always see coming. It is what it is.

This week on It Is What It Is, things get very real. Aisling, known to her 140k plus followers as the girl who never entertainsnegativity, finally speaks about something she has stayed silent on for a long time.After becoming the subject of a major discussion on Tattle Life, she felt she had nochoice but to address it. She opens up about how damaging these forums can be,the rumours that were circulating, and how it actually feels to see your namepicked apart online. Katie shares her perspective on how harsh and damning these spaces can be forthis generation. As someone nearing 40, she admits she finds the fake pages andanonymous discussions hard to process, and questions how a teenager isexpected to cope with that level of scrutiny. The conversation goes deeper into the psychology behind fake accounts onTikTok, why people feel the need to hide in order to criticise or tear someonedown, and what that says about online culture today.Most importantly, Katie and Aisling offer honest advice on how to navigate beingtalked about online, how to protect your mental health, and how to stay groundedwhen your name is being discussed by strangers. It is open, reflective, uncomfortable at times, but necessary.

Katie and Aisling are back with episode six of It Is What It Is and this one starts with a listener’s message that opens a much bigger conversation. What begins with a chat about orgasms quickly turns into an honest, funny and at times eye opening discussion about sex, relationships and the things we were never really taught growing up. Along the way, the girls share some of their own personal stories, the awkward bits included. They touch on pleasure, communication and the lasting impact of growing up in a Catholic era where sex was often surrounded by shame and silence. There are laughs, a few surprises and some seriously interesting stats thrown into the mix too. You might laugh, you might cringe, but you might also take a lot from today’s episode. As always, it is real, relatable and unfiltered.

Katie and Aisling are back with a brand new episode of It Is What It Is. In this week’s episode, the girls get chatting about psychic mediums and the experiences that left them questioning what is real and what is coincidence. They each share very different stories from their past, and from those stories the conversation naturally turns into advice and reflections on what has worked for them through different stages of life. As always, the chat is honest, open, blending personal experiences with practical takeaways and real talk.

Episode 4 begins with a message from a listener struggling in her relationship. Katie and Aisling open up about relationships in all their forms. The healthy ones, the difficult but fixable ones, and the ones that slowly become toxic. They touch on gaslighting, coercive control, breadcrumbing, and the moments where self doubt creeps in. They also share parts of their own past relationships, talk about what children witness in unhealthy dynamics, and why learning to be alone can be powerful. Heavy at times, honest throughout, and balanced with plenty of laughs. If you’ve ever questioned your relationship, this episode is for you.

In Episode 3 of It Is What It Is, Katie and Aisling return with another honest conversation shaped by a message from one of their listeners. That message opens the door to discussions around taking the break you need, breaking the cycle, and questioning the expectations placed on us. Aisling shares a deeply emotional reflection on how far she has come, and what it means to choose a different path after being told she never would. Different topics, real emotion, and conversations that stay with you. If you are liking or loving It Is What It Is, do not forget to rate, review, and subscribe.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussion of suicide and suicide attempts. Listener discretion is advised. In episode two of It Is What It Is, Aisling and Katie are back for a conversation that moves between laughter, honesty, and real talk. What begins with a listener message opens the door to a powerful discussion around suicide, survival, and the moments that quietly change everything. Aisling reflects on supporting a close friend through their darkest time, while Katie shares the lowest point of her own life and the road back from it. They talk about how hard it is to protect your inner circle and how, even when you try, people still slip into the bubble. They explore why mastering that boundary is one of the hardest things to do, and how the people you surround yourself with can shape how you feel, think, and cope every single day. This episode is honest and open in the tools that helped them keep going, without pretending the hard parts were ever easy.

In Episode 1, Katie Sheehan, Radio Presenter, and Aisling Unfiltered, Social Media Influencer, sit down for the very first time to introduce who they are, how they met, and why this podcast exists. What starts as a simple introduction quickly moves into deeper territory. They speak honestly about self worth, shared experiences of surgery, and the impact of sexual abuse, all while keeping space for real laughs and genuine connection. This episode sets the tone for what’s to come. Open conversations, no pretending, and a podcast rooted in truth, growth, and showing up as you are. This is the beginning.

I’m Katie Sheehan, radio presenter, and this is Aisling Unfiltered, a social media creator known for honest, unfiltered conversations. We’ve lived it, learned from it, and had to make sense of things without a guidebook. That’s why we created It Is What It Is. This podcast is about real life. The conversations people are having quietly, the experiences that shape you, and the lessons you only learn by going through them. We talk openly, we share honestly, and we sit down with real people to talk about real things. No filters. No pretending. Just life, as it is. Episode one will be live on Wednesday the 7th of January 2025 at 12pm.