logo
episode-header-image
Jun 20
46m 57s

DJ Nikki Hayes : Behind the name

Síle Seoige
About this episode

Topics covered : Identity crisis, bullying, self-worth, addiction, alcohol, drugs, money laundering, court case, self-sabotage, Covid, homelessness, taking responsibility, rebuilding her life.     

In this episode I sit down with DJ Nikki Hayes — whose real name is Eimear O’Keeffe.

Eimear or Nikki as she’s better known, rose to fame as a hugely popular voice on radio stations like 2FM and Spin 1038 but behind the mic, she was struggling. Her battle with addiction, eventually led her to lose everything — her family, her job, her home, and her sense of self. For three harrowing months, she lived on the streets of Dublin, sleeping rough.

In this raw and moving episode, she talks openly about hitting rock bottom, facing legal battles, taking ownership of her actions and finding the strength to rebuild her life.

Today, she's back doing what she loves, working in radio again on East Coast FM. But most importantly, she’s restoring her life with her daughter Farah who she adores.

If you’ve been affected by this conversation, please know that there is help available…

Urgent help - HSE.ie

Tiglin Challenge Limited

If you’re a fan of what I do, 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.

Up next
Jun 27
Update and feedback, míle buíochas
A quick update about Ready to be Real...I'm taking a break for the summer, but I’ll be back again in the autumn.Thanks so much for your continued support, it means so much to me and thanks also to my amazing guests who made these conversations possible. The past ten months have b ... Show More
1m 32s
Jun 13
Rosita and Chupi Sweetman : Love, Loss, Liberation
Topics covered : Activism, social justice, betrayal, family estrangement, patriarchy, responsibility, grief, regrets, forgiveness, love, business. In this episode, I sit down with mother and daughter — Rosita and Chupi Sweetman.Rosita is a trailblazing activist and one of the fou ... Show More
1h 23m
Jun 6
Kate O'Dwyer : Visibility and why it's important (re-release)
Topics covered : Imposter syndrome, vulnerability, shedding shame, triggers, self-sabotage, apologising, blocks, boundaries, self-worth, ADHD, conditioning, reclaiming. This episode originally aired on the 6th of October 2023 and feels eerily resonant now, given how much has shif ... Show More
1h 5m
Recommended Episodes
May 22
How marriage equality changed the wedding industry
It’s been 10 years since Ireland made history by becoming the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a public vote. While other countries had legalised it, it was the first time a referendum had been held. We hear from wedding planners, photographers and venues about ... Show More
17m 29s
Jun 9
Bonus - The Mysterious Death of Patrick Nugent
This episode was originally published as a Patreon exclusive on 6 Oct 2019In the early hours of the 11th February, 1984, Patrick Nugent died in a car park in front of Bunratty Castle, Co Clare. There had been a party, and Patrick was working in the castle that night. A number of ... Show More
30 m
Sep 2019
Live in Edinburgh : Rosie Jones & No Country for Young Women
From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2019 - we're joined by 'triple threat' comedian Rosie Jones talking about her identity as a gay disabled woman, and how she discovered her sexuality, as well as the stars of BBC Radio 1's No Country for Young Women podcast, Sadia Azmat and Monty ... Show More
46m 45s
Apr 2021
Let’s Talk: Overcoming mental-health stigma, 10bigideas Scotland
Overcoming Mental Health Stigma, 10bigideas Scotland: Ailie Ross-Oliver, 3rd year Politics undergraduate, joins Harriet Harris, to talk about her policy research into mental health stigmatisation, as part of the student-led think-tank, the Buchanan Institute, which has just launc ... Show More
20m 28s
Jun 25
Layton Williams on Fame, Finding Love & Performing in Drag on Primetime TV 💃
Going to therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Our paid partner BetterHelp makes therapy simple, with 10% off your first month to help you get started: https://betterhelp.com/happyhealthyhomoWelcome to Season 5 of Happy Healthy Homo hosted by Keegan Hirst and Joel Wood. Pl ... Show More
40m 18s
Oct 2024
Geopolitics, Power, and Solutions — with Rory Stewart
Rory Stewart, the former UK Secretary of State for International Development and cohost of the popular podcast, The Rest is Politics, joins Scott to discuss geopolitics, the state of politics in the US and the UK, and his recent TEDTalk where he advocates for a radical way to add ... Show More
1h 3m
Jul 2024
Pride Month Comes To An End...
Pride Month has come and gone, and with it the rainbow flags and banners. So, Piers Mortgan brings rapper and podcast host Zuby, transgender activist and writer Eli Erlick, Uncensored contributor Esther Krakue and comedian and podcast host James Barr together for a timely review ... Show More
57m 49s
Jan 2025
‘Can This Marriage Even SURVIVE?!’ When Tomfoolery Goes WRONG! #AMA
On today’s episode of The Therapy Crouch #AMA, Abbey and Peter are back in action answering the nation’s burning questions that have been on your mind over the past 7 days! We hear from a husband who is unsure if his marriage can even survive after his shabba tomfoolery has caugh ... Show More
29m 3s
Apr 2024
From Beauty School to First Lady, with Cheryl Hines!
Could Cheryl Hines become America's next FIRST LADY?   On this BRAND NEW episode of MBB, we break down her journey from Comedian to possible political royalty.  Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) joins us in the MBB studio this week to say goodbye to her long-running character i ... Show More
1h 45m