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Ayahuasca gets talked about like a quick fix, but the reality is messier, harder, and a lot more interesting. We sit down in the studio with psychologist and researcher Dave Gallagher to dig into what plant medicine retreats in Peru and Colombia actually look like when the goal is trauma healing, not a “trip.” Building on the conversation around childhood trauma and lived experience, we explore why veterans with PTSD and athletes from combat sports often share the same hidden wound, and why identity can unravel when the structure of service or competition disappears.

Dave walks us through the science that’s finally catching up: psychedelic research history, brain imaging, and what the default mode network can tell us about the “autobiography of self.” We talk about integration as the real work, including a practical rule that can save people from impulsive decisions after a powerful ceremony: wait 30 days before you blow up your life. We also get honest about the risks, from re-living trauma to the need for real screening, real support, and a safe set and setting, especially for anyone on SSRIs or with a predisposition to psychosis.

We also go behind the scenes on what researchers measure on these programs, from depression and quality-of-life scores to EEG, cognitive testing, inflammation markers, epigenetics, and the gut microbiome. If you’re curious about psychedelic-assisted therapy for PTSD, complex trauma, concussion, or traumatic brain injury, this is a grounded conversation that takes both hope and harm seriously. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review with your biggest question about psychedelics and healing.

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He went from being a kid carrying secrets no child should carry to a man trying to turn pain into purpose, and he doesn’t soften a single edge. We’re joined by Matthew Morton, known in the fight world as The Spider, a professional bare knuckle fighter who lays out the real timeline: childhood trauma, sexual abuse, crack and heroin addiction at 12, years of crime and chaos, and the moment it all finally started to shift.

We talk about ADHD traits, shame, and why people often punish symptoms while missing the cause. Matthew explains how structure and discipline became his lifeline after overdose and withdrawal, and how fighting gave him a legal place to burn off energy, stay focused, and prove to himself he wasn’t “too far gone.” Alongside him, our resident psychologist Dave Gallagher adds context on trauma, athlete mental health, and what happens when a combat sports career ends and identity starts to collapse.

Then we get into plant medicine with the detail most conversations skip. Matthew shares what an ayahuasca retreat in Colombia actually felt like, why set and setting matters, what purging and fear can bring up, and why psychedelic integration is where the work really begins. Dave breaks down the emerging science on psychedelics, neuroplasticity, and how field research and brain imaging can capture meaningful changes in wellbeing over time.

If you care about addiction recovery, PTSD healing, ADHD and substance use, combat sports mental health, or psychedelic therapy done responsibly, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs hope, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway.

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A 4am bike ride to a boardroom meeting sounds ridiculous until you hear what it does for your head. We sit down with endurance fundraiser Andy North to talk about why the outdoors keeps pulling him back, how he started taking on big challenges at 50, and how training can make you better at work without stealing your whole life.

Andy shares his connection to Candlelighters, the children’s cancer charity in Leeds, and what it means to keep showing up for families years after the headlines fade. From marathons and ultra-style efforts to cycling blocks that would scare most people off, we get honest about the parts nobody posts: the aches that feel like the flu, the moments at night when your mind turns on you, and the simple tools that get you moving again. We also dig into the basics that actually matter for endurance performance and mental health: hydration, nutrition, sleep, and self-praise when you’re tempted to write yourself off.

Then we go big. Andy breaks down standout projects like multi-day run-and-ride charity expeditions, record-setting climbs, and how he builds community around each event with planning, support crews, and fundraising strategy. He also talks setbacks, injuries, and the reality of adapting a training plan when illness hits. Finally, we look ahead to an Ironman-style challenge for Candlelighters and his “Spirit of Rome” vision: a 2,300-mile journey tied to corporate social responsibility and getting more people involved in doing hard things for a good cause.

If you enjoy endurance training, marathon motivation, cycling adventures, and real-world charity fundraising, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs a nudge to start, and leave a review with the goal you’re chasing next.

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We sit down with coach and endurance athlete Jonny Pain to talk about what actually creates resilience, not the social media kind, but the kind that holds up when you’re tired, stressed, and tempted to quit.

Jonny breaks down Project Vertical, his attempt to complete a “vertical marathon” by climbing Ben Nevis again and again until the total elevation gain equals 26.2 miles. He shares what changed between the first attempt and the successful second run, including going self-supported, managing sleep deprivation, staying safe under accumulating fatigue, and learning how quickly anger burns out as fuel. We also dig into how community support can keep you moving when your own thoughts turn against you.

From special forces selection prep to everyday mental health, we get practical about fatigue management, allostatic load, HRV, and why your body just hears “stress,” whether it comes from squats, poor sleep, work pressure, or relationship strain. We push back on arbitrary targets like 10,000 steps and one-size-fits-all coaching numbers, then land on a simple theme: climb your own mountain by taking the next step, even when fear shows up. If you get something from this one, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave us a review.

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He told his brother he felt depressed and suicidal, then added the sentence so many men have been trained to say: “I just need to man up.” Not long after, Jamie was gone. And the people left behind were handed a kind of grief that comes with questions, guilt, anger, and the awful silence of a topic most people still avoid.

We’re joined by Gaz Mullen from West Yorkshire, who’s riding roughly 1,600 miles from Bradford to Benidorm on Jamie’s bike to raise money for Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) and to push suicide prevention conversations into the open. Gaz shares who Jamie was beyond the headlines, why returning to Benidorm matters so much, and what it’s like to carry a loss that can make friends and strangers visibly uncomfortable.

We also get practical about men’s mental health: how stigma shows up when someone says they’re in therapy, why bullying and social media can make young people feel trapped, and what actually helped Gaz stay upright when everything collapsed. We talk medication, the need for follow-up and real support, and why a “magic pill” mindset can leave people alone at the worst moment. Along the way, Gaz explains how training, routine, and purpose can turn raw grief into something survivable, mile by mile.

If you want to support Gaz’s ride, follow his journey, or share this with someone who needs a nudge to speak up, hit play. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more people who need this conversation can find it.

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Your phone is not just a device, it is a habit engine that follows you into lines, meals, conversations, and bed. We sit down with Leeds-based creative and author Paul Robinson to talk about his new book, Braindead, and the personal moments that made him realize how quickly smartphone use can become automatic. The conversation gets honest fast: the “queue without a phone” panic, the constant urge to check for something new, and how digital overload leaves us mentally tired even when we have not done anything “hard.”

We dig into the mechanics behind smartphone addiction and doomscrolling, including dopamine anticipation and the attention economy that rewards endless engagement. We also talk about what this does to kids and teens, from the challenge of “dumbing down” a smartphone to the way screen time rises the moment more apps appear, even if it is not social media. School phone policies, notifications, and the pressure to be reachable all come up, along with a bigger question: what happens to creativity, patience, and real human connection when every pause gets filled by a screen?

This is not a tech-hate rant. We share practical digital wellbeing moves that actually work in real life: turning off most notifications, reclaiming small in-between moments, reducing blue light at night, and building enough awareness to step out of the scroll before it steals your evening. We also touch on AI as a powerful tool that becomes risky when we start relying on it instead of thinking for ourselves. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with your best tip for using your phone more intentionally.

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Getting hit is the least interesting part of combat sports. What matters is what happens to your mind when pressure rises and how training teaches you to stay calm, focused, and in control when your instincts want to panic.

We sit down with Rich Cadden, a two-time Muay Thai world champion, BJJ brown belt, and coach who blends fight experience with NLP, hypnotherapy, CBT tools, and work with neurodiverse students. We talk about the mental health benefits of martial arts training and why the right gym culture can turn anger into discipline and insecurity into grounded confidence. Rich breaks down flow state and why it can feel like a clean, ethical “high” that helps quiet anxiety and depression through exercise-induced transient hypofrontality.

You’ll also hear a practical look at fear management through evidence and repetition, the stress arousal curve that explains why people freeze, and the real-world survival responses of fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. We get into bullying, boundaries, and why self-defense starts long before a confrontation with posture, awareness, and trusting your gut. If you’re curious about Muay Thai, MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, or boxing for stress relief, resilience, confidence, and community, this one is a roadmap.

If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with someone who could use a stronger mindset, and leave a review. What’s one skill you’d want from training: calm, confidence, fitness, or focus?

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You can be “fine on paper” and still feel like your nervous system is on fire. That’s why we sit down with artist and registered art therapist Lesley Andrew to unpack how art therapy works when talking isn’t enough, and why the smallest creative act can be a turning point for stress, anxiety, trauma, burnout, and low mood.

We get clear on what art therapy is and what it is not: not a graded art class, not performance, and not about producing a perfect final piece. Lesley explains how images, color, texture, and even mess can become a safe language for emotions that feel too tangled, too painful, or too hard to name. We also talk about the myths that keep people away, including the belief that you have to be “good at art,” and why creativity can be especially powerful for people who tend to overthink and intellectualize their feelings.

The conversation widens into education and culture: what happens when schools cut arts, phones fill the empty space, and young people lose healthy outlets for expression. Lesley shares what real sessions can look like, how different materials can help regulate the nervous system, and how tiny wins like tolerating a mistake without erasing can build resilience over time. You’ll also hear practical ways to start today with low-pressure tools, plus how to find qualified support through NHS pathways, charities, private practice, and professional directories.

If this resonates, listen now, share it with someone who’s carrying too much, and subscribe for more honest conversations about mental health, self-development, and tools that actually help. After you listen, what’s one creative habit you could try for five minutes this week?

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