Anxiety Uncovered

In another deeply personal episode, Joe and Emma share the moments that forced them to rethink how they dealt with anxiety, addiction and trauma. Joe opens up about the reality of his gambling addiction, including the moment he lost £15,000 in just two hours, and how reaching rock bottom finally pushed him towards lasting change.

Emma then shares how EMDR transformed her relationship with anxiety after years of trying to control it through therapy, yoga, meditation and self-help. Together, they explore why fighting anxiety can sometimes keep the cycle going, how self-compassion can change the way difficult memories are processed, and why recovery may begin when anxiety is listened to rather than pushed away.

Highlights:

(01:50) - Joe reveals the moment he had to tell his wife he had lost £15,000 gambling

(05:51) - Why sharing his story has become Joe's way of helping others struggling with addiction

(09:21) - Emma realises she had been using wellbeing techniques as weapons against anxiety

(17:03) - How trauma can create shame, physical reactions and beliefs that keep the past feeling present

(23:38) - Emma describes the powerful EMDR moment where her adult self comforts her seven-year-old self

(28:13) - The key shift from pushing anxiety away to listening to it with compassion

Find out more about EMDR

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is a psychological therapy used to help people process distressing or traumatic experiences.

For further information about EMDR, including information on the therapy and finding appropriately trained practitioners, visit:

EMDR Association UK

https://emdrassociation.org.uk/

EMDR Europe

https://www.emdr-europe.org/

EMDR Association of Australia

https://emdraa.org/

The discussion in this podcast is for information and education only and is not a substitute for individual medical or psychological advice or treatment.

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

In this deeply personal episode, Joe is joined by Emma as she shares the story she kept hidden for years, from an idyllic early childhood in Australia to a sudden move to Wales following her parents’ divorce. She reflects on separation from her father, financial hardship and the experiences that shaped her relationship with anxiety long before she recognised it.

Together, Joe and Emma explore the inner critic, high-functioning anxiety, burnout and the surprising ways anxiety can become a driving force. They also discuss therapy, learning to stop fighting anxiety and what happens when the past unexpectedly shows up in the present.

Highlights:

(02:00) - Why telling the stories we would rather hide can be so powerful

(06:45) - Joe opens up about the relentless inner voice he once thought nobody else had

(11:58) - Emma explains why she has stopped fighting anxiety and learned to live alongside it

(14:50) - A childhood holiday that turned into a life-changing one-way journey

(25:46) - Could anxiety actually be the force that helped Emma escape poverty?

(31:23) - When anxiety took the wheel and everything else seemed to disappear

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

In this episode, I’m joined by Amy and her teenage daughter Luella in Melbourne, alongside Emma, to find out what Australia’s under-16 social media ban actually looks like from the inside. We talk loopholes, Snapchat, fake ages, feeling left out and why banning an app is nowhere near as simple as it sounds.

We also get into the bigger question: how do we help young people build healthier digital habits without cutting them off from their social world? There’s plenty here for parents, schools and teenagers, plus ten practical ways to take back control of your phone without throwing it in the sea.

Highlights:

(03:35) - Why Australia’s social media ban was surprisingly easy to get around

(06:39) - The teenage argument for banning social media at 13, not 16

(22:02) - What it really feels like when social media suddenly disappears

(30:56) - Why a parent pact could work better than a national ban

(39:53) - Knowing the apps are addictive, but still getting sucked into the scroll

(47:31) - Ten practical ways to take back control of your phone

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

In part two of my conversation with Amanda, we talk about the pressures young people are facing online, from social media and criminal exploitation to knife crime, neurodiversity and the very real challenges of keeping children safe. Amanda shares more of Olly’s story, what changed for him during secondary school and why education and prevention matter so much.

We also get personal about grief, resilience and finding a reason to keep moving forward. I share my own experience of being stabbed, and Amanda explains how keeping Olly close through memories, conversations and their charity work continues to give her family strength.

Highlights:

(02:14) - Why bereaved parents are fighting for access to their children’s social media data

(08:08) - How being online changed Olly and left him increasingly vulnerable

(12:43) - The frightening reality of how quickly criminal exploitation can take hold

(14:47) - How Amanda and Stewart turned unimaginable grief into a mission to protect other children

(27:50) - I share the personal reason Olly’s story connected so deeply with me

(44:56) - Amanda’s powerful message about grief, love and learning to carry the pain

❤️ Olly’s Work

Find out more about The Olly Stephens Trust – Olly’s Work, supporting young people through education and awareness around online safety, knife crime and SEND.

Olly’s story:

https://readingamnesty.art/ollyswork/meetolly/

Helpful links & resources:

https://readingamnesty.art/ollyswork/ollylinks/

Donate to Olly’s Work:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-olly-stephens-trust-ollys-work

Olly’s Work website:

https://readingamnesty.art/ollyswork/

📧 Contact the team: [email protected]

Connect with Amanda:

Linked In:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-stephens-b2486934/

Olly’s work on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/19AJi5smuo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Olly’s work on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ollyswork?stkn=NTZqbzNwMGdjeWd2

Olly’s work on Linked In:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-olly-stephens-trust-olly-s-work/posts/?feedView=all

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

In this episode, I’m joined by Amanda Stephens, co-founder of Olly’s Work, to talk about her son Olly, who tragically lost his life at just 13 following a social media-related incident. Amanda shares who Olly was, what happened, and the online world her family only fully understood afterwards.

We also talk about smartphone addiction, online conflict, grooming, violent content and the pressure young people face every day. It’s a difficult conversation, but an incredibly important one for parents, teachers and anyone supporting young people. Most importantly, it asks what we can actually do differently to keep children safer online.

Highlights:

(02:38) - Amanda remembers the funny, loving, larger-than-life boy Olly was

(04:38) - How an online act of kindness escalated into devastating real-world violence

(12:45) - The moment Amanda realised Olly’s relationship with his smartphone had changed

(17:40) - Amanda’s message to parents about smartphones, social media and online access

(24:28) - Why even a restricted phone can still leave children exposed to serious risks

(35:37) - What sextortion is, and why parents and young people urgently need to recognise it

❤️ Olly’s Work

Find out more about The Olly Stephens Trust – Olly’s Work, supporting young people through education and awareness around online safety, knife crime and SEND.

Olly’s story:

https://readingamnesty.art/ollyswork/meetolly/

Helpful links & resources:

https://readingamnesty.art/ollyswork/ollylinks/

Donate to Olly’s Work:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-olly-stephens-trust-ollys-work

Olly’s Work website:

https://readingamnesty.art/ollyswork/

📧 Contact the team: [email protected]

Connect with Amanda:

Linked In:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-stephens-b2486934/

Olly’s work on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/share/19AJi5smuo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Olly’s work on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ollyswork?stkn=NTZqbzNwMGdjeWd2

Olly’s work on Linked In:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-olly-stephens-trust-olly-s-work/posts/?feedView=all

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

We’re back! It’s been a little while, but there’s a good reason for that. I’ve been busy working in schools, developing Anxiety Uncovered and seeing first-hand just how much these conversations about anxiety, confidence and communication matter.

In this first episode of season two, I’m looking back at where we started and sharing what’s ahead. I’ll introduce my brilliant co-creator Emma Clark, explain why we’ve called this season Voices, and give you a glimpse of the honest, practical and sometimes difficult conversations coming your way.

Highlights:

(04:19) - Meet Emma Clark, my co-creator and partner in all things Anxiety Uncovered

(08:39) - Why speaking anxiety needs more than simply telling students to be confident

(10:05) - Introducing Voices and the big idea running through season two

(11:10) - From exam stress to social media, bullying and boys’ mental health, what’s coming up

(12:47) - Meeting our first guest, Amanda Stevens, and hearing Olly’s story

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

Anxiety Uncovered is back for season two, with more honest conversations, brilliant guests and real-life stories about anxiety. There’s plenty coming, with Joe returning to share open, relatable discussions designed to help listeners feel less alone.

This season, Joe will also be joined by his co-creator Emma Clark for special episodes exploring their own experiences with anxiety and the work they’re building together in schools. Every episode will continue to include a practical takeaway from the anxiety-busting toolkit, with new episodes coming soon.

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

If you’d like to work with me- in your school, college or event - for a workshop or a talk, just head to anxietyuncovered.com for more info.

Starting secondary school can feel like stepping into a whole new universe.

In this episode, I chat with students about the real worries that come with Year 7, from getting lost to making new friends, and even those wild myths about older kids that everyone swears are true. You’ll also hear from Annabelle, fresh out of Year 7 with brilliant advice, plus Mrs Clarke from pastoral support sharing her best tips for both students and parents.

With practical strategies, mindset shifts, and a plenty of laughs throughout, this episode will leave you feeling ready to handle the big move with confidence.

04:12: Charlie and Harry share their biggest Yr7 worries

05:09: How to flip worries into opportunities

11:14: Why being yourself is the best strategy

14:02: Top 10 tips for making new friends

16:28: Annabelle busts more hilarious school myths

18:40: Mrs Clarke’s turbo-charged transition tips

22:17: Joe’s weekly anxiety-busting takeaway

This week’s Downloadable Resource for the show is HERE

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

If you’d like to work with me- in your school, college or event - for a workshop or a talk, just head to anxietyuncovered.com for more info.

In this episode of Anxiety Uncovered, I share one of the most powerful transformations I’ve ever witnessed. Daisy went from being too anxious to say her name in a small workshop to standing up as Head Girl and preparing to speak in front of 1400 people!

So we break down exactly how she did it, using a simple but life-changing technique called systematic desensitisation. I explain why avoidance keeps anxiety alive, what an “exposure ladder” really looks like, and how you can use the same approach to rewire your brain, say “see ya!” to your fears, and finally feel more in control.

Here are the Highlights:

03:05 Why avoiding fear feels safe but keeps you stuck

06:01 Daisy explains her “ladder effect” for overcoming assemblies

07:34 The role of trust and why you can’t do this alone

10:54 Breaking down Daisy’s seven steps to confidence

14:37 Where Daisy is now, and how different life feels for her

15:19 My takeaway: humour, small wins, and why nerves aren’t the enemy

19:27 Your free tool: how to build your own exposure ladder

Resource for this episode is available to download HERE

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]

If you’d like to work with me- in your school, college or event - for a workshop or a talk, just head to anxietyuncovered.com for more info.

This episode is a special one. I’m talking to the incredible team behind the MAC programme - that’s Mindfulness for Adolescents and Carers - and honestly, it might just be one of the most exciting approaches to mental health I’ve come across.

It’s an eight-week skills-based course that brings young people and their parents into parallel groups to learn practical tools together, in a way that actually works. We’re not talking about endless talking circles or sitting in silence pretending not to be anxious - this is real, science-backed stuff that helps you train your mind, spot the spiral before it kicks off, and finally feel like you’ve got a grip on things.

Whether you're a parent or a young person... you’re going to get a lot from this episode.

Here are the Highlights:

(04:15) – Mindfulness… but make it actually useful.

(08:50) – What MAC is, why it works, and why it’s not just sitting in a circle humming.

(11:30) – Kat shares how this programme changed her relationship with her parents.

(22:45) – The spider's web of thoughts: a genius analogy from a teen.

(31:10) – “Tried mindfulness once, didn’t work.” Sound familiar?

(36:00) – Why sceptics are exactly who this programme is for.

(43:30) – From Michael Jordan to classroom panic: mindfulness for real life.

(49:00) – How to take part in the MAC study (and why you’ll want to).

(59:57) – Top Takeaway of the week (over to you, Jerry)

Resource for this show available to download HERE

Disclaimer:

The content shared in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Please don’t ignore or delay professional advice because of something you’ve heard on this podcast. Your wellbeing matters- and getting the right support is key.

If you are in crisis, please contact your Doctor.

If you or someone else is in danger, call 999 or go to A&E now

If you need urgent help for your mental health, visit NHS 111 online or call 111.

And if you’re listening from outside the UK, please contact your local emergency services or support line.

Your mental health is as important as your physical health. You will not be wasting anyone's time.

Anxiety Uncovered Website

Anxiety Uncovered on Facebook

Anxiety Uncovered Instagram

Anxiety Uncovered on Tik Tok

Anxiety Uncovered on You Tube

Connect with Joe:

Linked In

Joe's Website

Email: [email protected]

Connect with Emma:

Linked In

Email: [email protected]