Hurt to Healing

We’re told that new motherhood should feel magical — but what happens when it doesn’t? In this episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by writer and art historian Sarah Hoover, whose raw honesty about postpartum depression cuts through the silence and shame that so many new mothers carry alone.We explore what postpartum depression really looks like — beyond the clichés — and how it can show up as rage, disconnection, anxiety, or even laughter that masks pain. Sarah shares her personal experience, how birth trauma can play a role, and why it’s so important to let go of the pressure to feel grateful all the time.If you or someone you love has struggled with new motherhood, this conversation is a reminder that you’re not alone — and you deserve support, not silence.Connect with Sarah HooverBook: The Motherload – Order hereInstagram: @sarahhoovWebsite: sarahhoover.comStay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hurt to Healing, I sit down with the brilliant Dr. Beth Mosley—clinical psychologist and author of Happy Families. Beth brings her warmth, honesty, and lived experience as both a parent and therapist to help us make sense of the emotional minefield of raising teenagers today. We explore why mental health is declining among young people, how social media complicates their development, and what parents can do to foster resilience, connection, and open communication. Beth shares invaluable advice on setting boundaries, repairing ruptures, and letting go of perfection—reminding us that being a good enough parent is more than enough.Connect with Beth MosleyWebsiteInstagramStay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Healing 101, I sit down with the remarkable Laura Hearn — a journalist, mental health advocate, and the founder of Flip It Works — to explore the critical role that vulnerability, storytelling, and humanity play in shaping healthier, more compassionate workplaces.Today, she helps organisations create meaningful and lasting mental health initiatives through real human connection, not just policies and apps. We talk about the importance of leaders showing up as their full selves, the fear so many employees face in being seen as “defined by their diagnosis,” and the fine line between performative wellbeing and genuine support. Laura also shares powerful insights about navigating panic, grief, and how small acts of compassion — like simply asking someone what they need — can make a world of difference.This episode is an honest reminder that the foundation of mental health in the workplace isn't about perfection or tick-boxes — it’s about empathy, listening, and above all, being human.Find out more:Website: www.flipitglobal.comInstagram: @laura_lhearnPodcast: https://www.flipitglobal.com/podcast/Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, we’re diving deep into the raw, unfiltered reality of motherhood with writer, art historian and author of US national bestseller The Motherload, Sarah Hoover. You might know her from her sharp wit and searing honesty online, but in this conversation, Sarah opens up in a way that’s deeply personal and profoundly important. From the trauma of her birth experience to the quiet devastation of postpartum depression, she walks us through what it really means to become a mother in a world that still doesn’t know how to care for women.Sarah’s story isn’t just about pain—it’s also about reclaiming agency, finding your voice after silence, and daring to say the things so many women feel but are too afraid to speak out loud. Whether you're a mother, thinking about becoming one, or simply want to understand the often invisible emotional toll of birth and parenting, this episode is for you.Connect with Sarah HooverBook: The Motherload – Order hereInstagram: @sarahhoovWebsite: sarahhoover.comStay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this solo episode, Pandora opens up about her ongoing recovery from an eating disorder — sharing both the challenges and the quiet, everyday victories that come with trying to rewire deeply embedded habits. From the emotional resistance to balanced meals to the complex relationship with control and routine, she reflects honestly on what it means to move toward healing.Pandora also introduces a practical support tool she’s using: a lunchbox meal system designed by a chef who specialises in eating disorder recovery. She explains how having meals prepared externally helps reduce decision fatigue and opens space for self-compassion. Alongside this, she shares her efforts to build new patterns using Jay Shetty’s ‘TIMES’ acronym — focusing on daily practices of Thankfulness, Insight, Meditation, Exercise, and Service.This episode is a gentle reminder that recovery isn’t linear — but small acts of care, consistency, and kindness toward ourselves really do add up.Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we volunteer? Sometimes, it's to give back. Sometimes, it's to feel part of something bigger. But often, it's because someone, somewhere, once showed up for us when we needed it most.This week, to mark Volunteers Week, we’re shining a light on the people behind the text line — the everyday heroes who are changing lives in quiet, powerful ways.In this special episode of Healing 101, I sit down with Jodie Tang — a student, a survivor, and now a Shout volunteer who’s giving back to the very service that once helped her through her darkest days.Jodie’s story is one of full-circle healing. From struggling with anorexia and trauma, to finding her voice as a young British Chinese woman, to now holding space for others who feel like they have no one left to turn to — her honesty, empathy, and strength will stay with you long after the episode ends.We’re proud to partner with Shout, a free, 24/7 text service supporting those in crisis. And we’re proud to celebrate the incredible volunteers like Jodie who make that lifeline possible.If you or someone you love needs help, you can text SHOUT to 85258.This conversation is a reminder that support doesn't always mean fixing — sometimes, it just means being there.Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, Pandora sits down with award-winning dietitian and eating disorder specialist Priya Tew to explore the complex, often misunderstood journey of eating disorder recovery. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, Priya shares practical strategies for healing, the realities behind weight restoration, and how societal pressures and diet culture can entrench disordered thinking.Together, they unpack the emotional triggers, setbacks, and hidden challenges of recovery—and why healing is never just about the food. With honesty and compassion, this episode offers guidance for anyone struggling, supporting a loved one, or seeking hope on the path to freedom for an eating disorder. You are not alone, and recovery is possible.Connect with Priya Tew: Website & Recovery Courses: www.dietitianuk.co.ukInstagram: @priya_tewStay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this reflective and personal solo episode, Pandora explores the emotional turbulence of everyday life—touching on everything from hormonal shifts and high-functioning depression to the pressures of routine, regret, and missed opportunities. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like Dr. Judith Joseph, Abraham Hicks, and Shaolin monk Shi Heng Li, she shares her ongoing struggle with perfectionism, her frustration with physical limitations, and the deeply human need for spontaneity, joy, and self-compassion.Pandora opens up about the societal pressure of timelines—especially for single women—and how past mental health challenges, like OCD and an eating disorder, shaped life decisions she now questions. Through honest storytelling, she encourages listeners to slow down, step outside their patterns, and reconnect with themselves. Her message is one of gentle self-forgiveness, presence over perfection, and the reminder that true progress often means doing less, not more.Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this extended episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by someone whose insight and honesty around a topic that so many of us silently grapple with is not only deeply refreshing — it’s essential. Dr. Claire Ashley, also known as The Burnout Doctor, is a GP and neuroscience graduate who learned the devastating realities of burnout the hard way — by experiencing it herself. Claire shares her personal journey from being a high-performing, dedicated doctor and mother to finding herself in the depths of burnout, grappling with panic attacks, emotional exhaustion, and a total loss of self. We talk about what burnout really is — beyond the buzzword — and unpack its physical, emotional, and neurological impact. Claire takes us through the stages of recovery, how to manage toxic productivity, and how to rebuild a life with boundaries, compassion, and control. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “Why can’t I just keep going?” — this episode is for you.Connect with Dr. Claire Ashley:Website: drclaireashley.comInstagram: @drclaireashleyNewsletter: theburnoutdoctor.substack.comBook: The Burnout Doctor – available via major booksellersStay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Hurt to Healing, Pandora is joined by writer and filmmaker Rebecca Frayn, who opens up about her battle with chronic illness, debilitating anxiety, and the harrowing experience of Xanax withdrawal.Rebecca shares how a severe health crisis triggered a cascade of physical and mental struggles, culminating in a full nervous system collapse during the pandemic. She speaks candidly about the reality of waking up with "a gun to the head" kind of fear, the quiet shame of high-functioning breakdowns, and the difficult decision to enter rehab for a short-term prescription addiction that turned into something far more gripping.Together, Pandora and Rebecca explore:What extreme anxiety really feels like behind closed doorsThe hidden risks of benzodiazepine dependency — even in short-term useThe power of honesty, vulnerability, and telling people: “I’m not okay”How regenerative farming and nature became a vital part of her recoveryNavigating eco-grief and finding hope in a world on fireThe daily rituals that helped her slowly rebuild her mental healthNow thriving after what she calls the most transformative year of her life, Rebecca offers a message of hope to anyone feeling like they can’t go on: Start small. Lay a single brick. And know that it all adds up.This is a conversation about resilience, self-compassion, and the quiet power of starting over—at any age.Find Rebecca:Website: https://www.rebeccafrayn.com/Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpodTikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpodLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healingSubstack: substack.com/@hurttohealingWebsite: hurttohealing.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.