Dermot Whelan Meditation & The Mind Full Podcast
An Irish comedian and meditation teacher explores mental wellness through expert interviews and his own vulnerable, often humorous, life experiences.
A show where a professional funnyman gets serious, but not too serious, about mental health. Each week, Dermot Whelan interviews psychologists, monks, and authors, using his own life—from high-altitude trekking to the anxieties of parenting—as a relatable entry point. It's a practical toolkit for the mind that blends expert advice with the host's vulnerable self-reflection and comedic timing.
“The host's background as a national-level comedian and radio star sets the show apart. Unlike purely academic or spiritual podcasts, Whelan uses humor and a 'no-BS' approach to make complex psychological concepts feel grounded and accessible.”
Who hosts this show
Dermot Whelan is an Irish comedian, author, and certified meditation teacher. For over 20 years, he was a household name in Irish radio, co-hosting the popular "Dermot and Dave" show on stations like Today FM and 98FM. After experiencing a panic attack on his way to a comedy gig, Whelan began a personal journey into mindfulness that led him to become a meditation teacher and author of the No. 1 bestselling books "Mind Full" and "Busy & Wrecked". He left his successful radio career in August 2023 to focus on his wellness brand and this podcast, aiming to make meditation accessible and stress relief practical.
Credentials & credits
- Co-host of 'Dermot and Dave' on Today FM (2014-2023)
- Author of No. 1 Bestseller 'Mind Full'
- Author of Bestseller 'Busy & Wrecked'
- Certified Master of Wisdom and Meditation Teacher
- Award-winning radio presenter (IMRO, Meteor Music Awards)
- Comedian and TV Host ('Republic of Telly')
Other ventures
- Live Tours ('Busy & Wrecked')
- Corporate Wellness Speaker
- Guided Meditations (via dermotwhelan.com)
- The Booze Chronicles (Podcast)
What kind of podcast
- Country
- Ireland
- Region
- uk
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05THE QUESTION MENTAL HEALTH NEVER ASKS | Dr. Paul ContiMay 11, 2026 · 47 min
- 06From Crappy to Happy (and not fighting with the bits in between…) | Cass DunnMay 4, 2026 · 44 min
- 07Is Your Anxiety Making Your Child More Anxious? | Dr Mary O'KaneApr 27, 2026 · 55 min
- 08You’re Breathing Wrong (And It’s Causing Anxiety & Poor Sleep) | Patrick McKeownApr 20, 2026 · 54 min
Notable episodes
- 01I Climbed Kilimanjaro and Everest Base Camp. Here's What Nobody Tells You.
A prime example of the solo narrative format, where the host uses a personal endurance challenge to explore themes of resilience, mental fortitude, and the unglamorous side of adventure.
- 02A Monk's 4 Questions That Will Change How You See Your Life | Vaisesika Dasa
Showcases the host's ability to engage with a deeply spiritual guest, translating ancient concepts like Bhakti yoga into practical, life-changing questions for a modern audience.
- 03THE QUESTION MENTAL HEALTH NEVER ASKS | Dr. Paul Conti
Demonstrates a high-level interview with a respected psychiatrist, where the host uses his own background in comedy to explore the psychology of performers and deftly unpacks the guest's new mental health framework.
What you'll be asked on this show
Dermot Whelan's interviews often begin with a personal, rapport-building question that connects the guest's expertise to his own life as a comedian or father. He is thoroughly prepared, often referencing specific concepts or analogies from a guest's book. He skillfully probes deeper by asking for clarification (e.g., "What do you mean by that?") or by sharing a personal struggle to invite the guest to apply their theories. Whelan guides the conversation from the guest's personal origin story to their core ideas, and often zooms out to discuss societal implications, before landing on practical advice for the listener.
The show alternates between two formats: deep-dive interviews with experts and solo narrative episodes where the host shares personal experiences. Whelan is a well-prepared interviewer who builds rapport through shared vulnerability. He occasionally uses props, like a deck of cards with themes, to guide conversations.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
12 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“Could you give us a little bit about your background and what brought you here?”
A standard opening question used to establish the guest's origin story and credibility.
- Q.02
“Can you talk about your personal journey into this work?”
Whelan often asks guests to share the personal story or motivation behind their professional work.
craft
1- Q.01
“Can you explain [key concept] for people who may not be familiar with it?”
He asks this to break down the guest's core thesis into simple, accessible terms for the audience.
mindset
1- Q.01
“What do you mean by '[guest's specific phrase]'?”
This follow-up seeks to clarify a guest's unique terminology or a central idea from their book.
advice
2- Q.01
“How do you guide people towards [a difficult concept like acceptance]?”
He asks for the guest's practical methods, moving from theory to application.
- Q.02
“What is the [practical exercise] you recommend for people to start?”
He consistently pushes for a tangible takeaway or simple first step for the listeners.
process
1- Q.01
“How does [Concept A] tie into [Concept B]?”
This question connects different themes the guest has raised, seeking a more integrated understanding.
controversy
1- Q.01
“Is the [guest's field] unnecessarily negative in its approach?”
He isn't afraid to ask a slightly provocative question to get to the core of a guest's controversial take.
personal
3- Q.01
“What did your parents think when you were exploring these ideas as a young person?”
This question explores the family context and early reactions to a guest's unconventional path.
- Q.02
“How do you personally handle [a challenge like stress or change]?”
He asks the expert to share their own personal process, not just their professional advice.
- Q.03
“What have you learned about yourself through this recent experience?”
A reflective question posed after a guest shares a story about a major life event or change.
values
1- Q.01
“If you had to write down your key values at this stage in your life, what are they?”
A deep, personal question asked late in the interview to distill the guest's core principles.
Signature segments
- · Un-wreck your head
- · Comedy meets meditation
- · Solo narrative episodes on personal challenges
- · Card-pulling to set an episode's theme
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically credentialed experts with a specific framework or book to share. The roster includes psychologists, psychiatrists, authors, physicians, and modern spiritual teachers who can translate their expertise into practical advice for a general audience.
- Vaisesika Dasaon A Monk's 4 Questions That Will Change How You See Your Life | Vaisesika Dasa #podcast #podcastclips
- Dr. Paul Contion THE QUESTION MENTAL HEALTH NEVER ASKS | Dr. Paul Conti
- Cass Dunnon From Crappy to Happy (and not fighting with the bits in between…) | Cass Dunn
- Dr. Mary O'Kaneon Is Your Anxiety Making Your Child More Anxious? | Dr Mary O'Kane
- Patrick McKeownon You’re Breathing Wrong (And It’s Causing Anxiety & Poor Sleep) | Patrick McKeown
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Based on the episodes reviewed, the podcast appears to be sponsor-free, focusing entirely on the conversation without commercial interruptions.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- What is Dermot Whelan's background?
- Dermot Whelan is a well-known Irish comedian, author, and former award-winning radio host who co-hosted the 'Dermot and Dave' show for over 20 years. He is now a certified meditation teacher.
- What is the format of The Mind Full Podcast?
- The podcast primarily features long-form interviews with experts in mental health, psychology, and wellness. It also includes solo narrative episodes where Dermot shares personal stories and lessons learned from his own life.
- Is this podcast just for people who meditate?
- No, the podcast is designed for anyone interested in improving their mental well-being, reducing stress, and understanding their own mind better, regardless of their experience with meditation.
- Why did Dermot Whelan leave his radio show?
- He left his Today FM radio show in August 2023 to dedicate more time to his passion for mindfulness and wellness, including his books, live tours, and this podcast.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Acast, with links provided in the YouTube channel's description.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Dermot Whelan - Official Websitedermotwhelan.com
- [02]Dermot Whelan - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [03]Dermot Whelan to leave Today FM as he focuses on Mind Full brand - Irish Examineririshexaminer.com
- [04]Dermot Whelan leaves Today FM as Dave Moore takes on Solo Show - Learning Waveslearningwaves.ie
- [05]Dermot Whelan - NK Management Profilenkmanagement.ie
- [06]The Mind Full Podcast - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [07]Mind Full by Dermot Whelan - Goodreadsgoodreads.com
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