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Sep 2023
1h 3m

Niall Harbison : how street dogs taught ...

Síle Seoige
About this episode

Topics covered : Parents separating, trauma, guilt, alcoholism, addiction, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, success, rock bottom, hope, finding meaning, love, purpose.  

It's great to be back after the summer break and what a perfect episode to kick off the new series!

If you’re an animal lover and you’re on social media, there is a strong possibility that you already follow Niall Harbison.

Originally from Co. Tyrone, he grew up in Brussels and over the past 18 months he has been devoting his time to helping to save street dogs in Thailand.


And to fully understand the man he is today; we need to go back through some of the experiences that have shaped him in his life. When he was 13, his parents separated, and his mother went on to have a relationship with an abusive partner which had a massive impact on him. He has been a private chef of billionaires, a successful and at times controversial entrepreneur, and at his lowest point he found himself in ICU after a drink and drug fuelled binge.

He has been sober for about 2 years and 9 months now and his mission is to half the population of stray dogs in the world over the next 20-30 years.

His book – ‘Hope - how street dogs taught me the meaning of life’ is just out and it’s an incredible read.

I hope you feel inspired by our conversation as Niall is the perfect example of how it’s never too late to change your life.


For more information on the work he’s doing and if you’d like to donate…

Click here


Resources :


If you need to talk to someone, you can contact a Samaritan on Freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie


If you’re a fan of my pod, please follow, rate and review in all the usual places.

And thanks, as always, for your support of Ready to be Real.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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