Matt sits down with Ambrose, a leading voice in the recovery community, for a powerful conversation tracing his journey from severe substance misuse to health, purpose, and advocacy. Ambrose candidly shares his experience with a wide range of substances - including alcohol, cannabis, ecstasy, LSD, amphetamines, benzos, and heroin - initially used to cope with social anxiety and emotional discomfort. His story unfolds through a series of devastating lows, from incarceration and relationship breakdowns to suicidal ideation, ultimately revealing the complex and layered nature of addiction. A turning point came through the power of peer support, which Ambrose credits as vital to his recovery. Now working with the Hepatitis C Trust, he channels his lived experience into education, outreach, and the national mission to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. This episode is a testament to personal responsibility, resilience, and the transformative impact of community-led recovery.

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Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, including graphic descriptions of violence and trauma.

Starting to drink at just 10 years old, Harriette bravely recounts her youth in a household shattered by her father's alcoholism and her mother's involvement in abusive relationships. Whilst she was in primary school, her weekends involved consuming alcohol, reflecting a need to escape from the difficult circumstances at home.

Harriette describes the severe self-harm incidents that nearly cost her life. Her account of severing her radial artery and the subsequent life-saving interventions underscore the gravity of her situation. These experiences were crucial in her decision to enter rehab, where she finally received the comprehensive support needed to address her alcohol addiction and mental health issues.

Harriette’s story is one of transformation. Now sober, she is pursuing higher education and aims to contribute positively to the world through conservation work. Her story emphasises the importance of seeking help, the potential for personal growth, and the profound impact that recovery can have on individuals and their communities.

If you want advice about alcohol, we’re here to help  ⬇️

Click here to take our quick quiz to understand how much you’re drinking and get advice.

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

Matt is in conversation with former child heroin addict and Getting Clean founder, Chris Sylvester, whose descent into addiction began at just 12 years old.

Chris shares his candid experiences, revealing the allure and grip of narcotics on both individuals and communities. His story transcends survival; it's a narrative of redemption, where pride and agony intersect in the pursuit of healing. But amidst the tales of violence, incarceration, and loss, there lies an undercurrent of hope. 

This episode culminates with Chris's account of a pivotal 12-step recovery meeting that marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Chris set out to create an organisation that would unite people in recovery and help them to find purpose and friendship while giving back to both the community and the environment. 

Chris Sylvester's life story is not one you'll easily forget.

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

Emmy and BRIT award-winning singer Michelle Heaton returns to Believe in People to mark three years of sobriety with a candid and inspiring conversation about recovery, resilience, and reinvention. Michelle opens up about the raw realities of addiction and the transformative power of sustained sobriety, offering heartfelt reflections on balancing motherhood, self-care, and the ongoing work of personal growth. She shares her experience sponsoring others, navigating the ever-present risk of relapse, and celebrating hard-earned milestones. From missed career opportunities during active addiction to her recent appearances on Celebrity SAS and Dancing On Ice, Michelle gives a behind-the-scenes look at life in the spotlight. With honesty and strength, she discusses the pressures of fame, body image, and self-worth - revealing how she now prioritises authenticity over perfection in both her public and private life. 

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

Matt is joined by Amy Jo Johnson - actress, singer, writer, and filmmaker best known as the original Pink Ranger from the 90s phenomenon Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation. Amy Jo opens up about her decision to live alcohol-free, framing it not as a burden but as a liberating and life-affirming choice. She reflects on a childhood shaped by growing up in a religious cult and her father’s struggle with alcoholism, revealing how these formative experiences influenced her personal evolution and creative journey. This candid episode explores themes of identity, autonomy, and healing, offering listeners a powerful reminder that choosing sobriety can be a profound act of self-empowerment. 

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault including graphic descriptions of violence, trauma & abuse

Matt explores Kirsty's journey through amphetamine addiction and the challenges of navigating complex relationships. Kirsty shares her experiences with substance misuse and how it shaped her life, reflecting on her upbringing and family dynamics. 

Kirsty courageously shares the weight of her previous relationships, shedding light on the impact of exploitation and multiple abusive partners who brought her to arrest and then reaching out for help.  Kirsty delves into the psychological effects of trauma bonding, vividly illustrated through her first-hand experiences. 

Kirsty's narrative is punctuated by victories, including marking her six-year sobriety milestone and embracing her role as a valued DWP Peer Mentor for the UK's leading third sector provider of drug and alcohol services, Change Grow Live. 

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

Believe in People explores addiction, recovery and stigma.

For our full back catalogue you can visit our website ⬇️

www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

If you or someone you know is struggling then this series can help.

You can see selected clips from the series on social media: @CGLHull ⬇️

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Christopher Tait of the band Belle Ghoul & Electric Six for allowing us to use the track Jonathan Tortoise. Thank you, Chris, for being a part of this journey with us.

Matt is in conversation with Young, whose powerful and chaotic journey through addiction began at just 11 years old and spiralled into a life fuelled by crack, cocaine, alcohol, and eventually heroin. Immersed in the Acid House scene and rising to global prominence as a DJ, Young masked a deepening substance dependency while navigating a double life as a drug smuggler and dealer. His story unravels the seductive illusion of control, revealing the cost of adrenaline-charged highs and the despair of gang involvement and repeated failed attempts at recovery. 

Now sober and working as a counsellor at Ark House Rehab, Young speaks candidly about his transformation through the 12-step programme and the redemptive power of service. His insights into the ripple effects of recovery, both personal and societal, offer a raw and resonant portrait of addiction as a universal struggle—and recovery as a deeply human triumph.

If you liked this episode then you'll also love Young's second appearance in episode 67 👇

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6UtKzvrzzqVJWLQxZSehJ8

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/67-young-lee-recovery-vs-recovered-fatherhood-identity/id1617239923?i=1000709996629

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

Matt welcomes back Professor Dame Carol Black for her second appearance on the Believe in People Podcast.

Dame Carol, recently awarded the prestigious Grand Cross, the highest level in the order, and is awarded rarely and recognises only the most exceptional and sustained service to the UK. Fewer than 80 women have received the honour and Dame Carol is the first female doctor to be made a Dame Grand Cross. 

Celebrated for her instrumental role in shaping UK's drug policy, Dame Carol's efforts secured record government funding of £780m to address drugs misuse. Her impactful reviews on drug abuse have catalysed a cross-government approach, reshaping strategies to tackle drug-related challenges. 

Matt delves into her insights on the integration of mental health and addiction services, emphasising the crucial role of trauma support. He also explores Dame Carol's influential independent reviews on employment prospects, health, work, wellbeing, and sickness absence, all pivotal factors influencing productivity.

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

Discover Ian's post-retirement journey in our latest episode. Dive into the challenges of newfound freedom and the silent battle against alcohol dependency. 

Join us as we uncover the layers of functioning alcoholism and the toll it takes on relationships. Ian's story isn't just his own; it reflects a broader cultural struggle often overlooked in retirement. 

Through Ian's candid narrative, we explore the emotional and physical battles of addiction, shedding light on the importance of understanding and support. Journey with us through the highs and lows of recovery, guided by ReNew's beacon of hope. Despite the challenges, Ian's story is one of resilience—a reminder that there is hope and help for those facing similar struggles. Tune in now.

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew

Ever found yourself caught in the relentless cycle of social binge drinking and wondered if there's another way to live? That's the very crossroad our guest, Hannah from the Sober Butterfly Collective, encountered before transforming her life. 

Our latest episode offers an intimate look into Hannah's journey from numbing emotional voids with alcohol to embracing a vibrant, sober lifestyle. We unpack the pressures of British drinking culture, delve into the transformative power of authentic connections, and reveal how these genuine friendships are crucial for those navigating the minefield of social expectations sans alcohol.

Hannah walks us through the practical steps and mental fortitude required to maintain a life free from alcohol, from the early days of yoga classes to the growth of a thriving community. 

The Sober Butterfly Collective's story is a testament to the strength found in unity, as we explore its evolution from a simple Instagram post to a diverse, inclusive network. Learn how activities like sober brunches and social anxiety support meetups offer refreshing alternatives, fostering a space where connections flourish without the need for a glass in hand.

Click here to text our host, Matt, directly!

🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find us.

🔗 Then share this episode with someone you know who could benefit from it.

Browse the full archive at 👉 www.believeinpeoplepodcast.com

This is a toolkit for recovery & resilience. Whether you’re in recovery or seeking to understand addiction, there’s something here for everyone.

📩 Contact: [email protected]
🎵 Music: “Jonathan Tortoise” by Christopher Tait (Belle Ghoul / Electric Six)

🔗 Listen & Subscribe
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4Cr4wzZ6bxku1cRcoYKbGK
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/believe-in-people/id1617239923

🎙️ Facilitator: Matthew Butler
🎛️ Producer: Robbie Lawson
🏢 Network: ReNew