What does cutting your toenails at the dinner table have to do with phone addiction?

In this episode of Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man, I’m joined by bestselling author and screenwriter Emmy Laybourne for a bold and honest conversation about screen addiction, creativity, and reclaiming your focus in a world designed to distract you.

We explore:

• Why phone addiction is not a personal failure

• The science behind distraction and the default mode network

• Creativity, boredom and brain health

• Parenting in the digital age

• How to reset your relationship with your phone without shame

Emmy shares her own rock bottom moment with mobile gaming and how that experience led her to create practical tools to help others fight back.

🎧 Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Manhttps://www.youtube.com/@ThePieEatingMan

#PhoneAddiction #DigitalDetox #MentalHealth #Podcast #ScreenTime #podmatch

Addiction does not affect just one person. It affects the entire family.In this episode of Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man / @thepieeatingman I’m joined by Jennifer Chase, a woman in long term recovery, life coach, daughter of an alcoholic, and mother of a recovering addict.Jennifer has experienced addiction from every angle. She grew up around it. She struggled with it herself. And she faced the devastating moment of discovering her son had become addicted in her own home.We talk openly about:• Addiction as a family disease• Generational trauma and breaking cycles• Codependency and control• Setting boundaries with someone you love• Recovery beyond sobriety• Shame, guilt, and self trust• Healing without losing yourselfThis is an honest, serious conversation about what addiction really does to families, and how recovery is possible even when it feels impossible.If this resonates, please like, subscribe, and share. It genuinely helps the podcast reach people who may need it.Jennifer’s website:https://www.riseaddictionlc.com🎧 More conversations about resilience, mental health, and life pivots:Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man / @thepieeatingman 📘 My BookIf traditional self help has never felt written for you, my book The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind is for everyday people living real lives.Available here:https://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjB#AddictionRecovery#FamilyAddiction#RecoveryJourney#Codependency#MentalHealth#Healing#BreakingTheCycle#Podcast#ChewingTheCrust#Podmatch

What happens when a 7 year old child is “rescued” from civil war by their father, only to be placed into slavery?Pamela Michaux was sent from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Belgium at the age of seven, promised safety and a better life. What followed was years of abuse, racism, exploitation and silence.In this conversation, Pamela shares how survival became normal, how identity was fractured, and how healing only began once the truth was faced.Her book, Mundele Diaries, is not written to shock or accuse. It is written to reclaim a voice, to break generational cycles, and to speak for anyone who has ever felt unseen, unwanted, or trapped in survival mode.This episode of Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man is an honest conversation about trauma, resilience, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to choose a different ending.🔗 LINKS📘 Mundele Diaries, Pamela Michaux👉 https://amzn.eu/d/5keIA8R🎙️ Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating ManYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChewingTheCrustSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kaXkXpvAn3OiGPBugrmIC?si=d62bb48ad6a14b0fBook (The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind): https://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjB👤 Pamela MichauxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mundelediaries/Website: https://mundelediaries.com/#ChewingTheCrust#RescuedIntoSlavery#PamelaMichaux#MundeleDiaries#MentalHealth#LifeStories#TraumaRecovery#Healing#Resilience#Podcast#PodMatch#ModernSlavery#Slavery#Abuse#racial abuse#race#strongwomen#inspirationalwomen

If you’re feeling flat, overwhelmed, or just a bit worn down by life, this conversation might help you breathe again.In this episode of Chewing the Crust, I’m joined by Cathy Nesbitt, educator, environmentalist, and laughter yoga leader, for a warm, honest conversation about laughter, nature, mental health, and why feeling better does not always need to be complicated.Cathy’s journey is anything but ordinary. From building a business around worm composting, to working in mental health, to discovering laughter yoga as a powerful tool for wellbeing, her story is full of unexpected turns and gentle wisdom. We talk about boredom, phones, play, being present, reconnecting with our bodies, and why laughter can be one of the fastest ways to shift how we feel.This is not about forcing positivity or pretending life is easy. It’s about permission. Permission to pause, to breathe properly, to play, and to remember that we are human first.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself or the world around you, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little lighter.Find Cathy here: Cathy Nesbitthttps://www.cathysclub.comMy bookThe Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mindhttps://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjBPodcastChewing the Crust with The Pie Eating ManAvailable on YouTube and all major podcast platforms#FeelBetterStraightAway#FastestHappinessHack#MentalHealth#Wellbeing#LaughterYoga#MentalHealthPodcast#FindingJoy#ChewingTheCrust#ThePieEatingMan#PodMatch

In this episode of Chewing the Crust, Mark Grimes talks with Rob René, whose entire life changed in an instant after a serious accident. What followed was a powerful journey through faith, recovery, and a deep exploration of health, intention, and transformation.Rob shares how the accident shifted his identity, how he rebuilt his life, and how he began studying frequency, nutrition, and the role belief plays in healing and resilience. This conversation blends science, spirituality, curiosity, and personal growth.Together Mark and Rob explore:• The accident that changed everything• How faith helped Rob find purpose again• The physical and emotional recovery process• Why intention may influence the body• What frequencies meant in Rob’s research• The importance of nutrition and hydration• Open-mindedness when exploring new ideas• Why community and knowledge matter• How trauma shapes identity• What Rob hopes to pass on to others• Small daily habits that create powerful changeThis is a thoughtful, personal, and inspiring conversation that invites listeners to reflect on their own journey.👉 Available on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.

This conversation changed the way I think about caffeine.

In this episode of Chewing the Crust, I speak with Steve Frazier, author of Release the Coffee Cuffs, Winning the Battle with Caffeine. Steve literally broke up with coffee after decades of heavy use, business stress and family health challenges… and the results surprised even him.

We dig into:

☕ Why caffeine doesn’t give you energy, it borrows it

🧠 Cognitive dissonance and why we defend certain habits

😴 The neuroscience of adenosine and sleep quality

👶 The impact of caffeine on pregnancy

🧬 Hormones, testosterone and anxiety

🔥 Why caffeine is a trillion-dollar industry

🧠 How to reduce caffeine safely

💡 The day Steve said, “I’ve had enough.”

Website: releasethecoffeecuffs.com

📘 Steve's Book : Release the Coffee Cuffs – Winning the Battle with Caffeine

LinkedIn: Steve Frazier – Founder | Coach | Author

🎙 Quote from the episode:

“Sometimes the first step to waking up… is putting something down.”

Steve Frazier transcript

This isn’t anti-coffee, it’s pro-choice, pro-knowledge, pro-health. What if we just gave it a try and measured the difference?

💬 If this conversation resonates, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment — it genuinely helps others find these powerful stories.

📗 Mark’s Book: The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind

👇 Would you try 7 days without caffeine? Let me know in the comments.

Your answers help more people see this video.

00:00 Intro, Steve’s story

02:00 The poem, The Cup That Never Empties

04:00 Steve’s entrepreneurial journey ✦ restaurants ✦ coaching ✦ family

09:00 The health scare that changed everything

13:00 Caffeine, brain fog and sleep cycles

17:00 Cognitive dissonance, why we defend coffee

22:00 Caffeine vs adenosine explained simply

29:00 Why exhaustion is now normal

34:00 Circadian rhythm & hidden sleep disruption

37:00 Testosterone, anxiety & belly fat

47:00 Pregnancy, fertility & caffeine concerns

54:00 Caffeine withdrawal vs tapering safely

59:00 Habit, identity & peer pressure

1:03:00 Alcohol, caffeine & unusual choices

1:12:00 Why we resist change

1:19:00 What have we got to lose?

Paul Cooper, known to millions as Martin Mucklowe from the BAFTA-winning comedy This Country, joins Mark Grimes on Chewing the Crust for an inspiring and deeply human conversation about creativity, purpose, childhood, peace, and resilience.Far from being a lifelong actor, Paul didn’t begin acting until he was 60 years old — proving it is never too late to reinvent yourself or step into the life you were meant to live.In this episode, Paul and Mark explore:• Growing up in North Devon with a free-range, joy-filled childhood• Why unstructured play makes kids happier, smarter, and more resilient• Football as a bridge for peace and understanding• The work of the Children’s Football Alliance and global Peace Field Projects• Creativity in children, teens, and adults• The resilience and joy of refugee children• Generational wisdom, family identity, and the value of history• The emotional reality behind hoarding and how trauma drives it• Mental health, empathy, and community support• How one moment of encouragement can change a child’s entire life• What it really means to start again later in lifePaul’s reflections on childhood, creativity, hoarding, hope, parenting, and purpose make this one of the most wide-ranging and meaningful episodes we’ve recorded.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCESChildren’s Football Alliancehttps://www.childrensfootballalliance...Peace Field Projectshttps://www.childrensfootballalliance...Mark’s BookThe Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mindhttps://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjBPodcastChewing the Crust with The Pie Eating ManAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man, Leah Johnson shares her raw and inspiring story of recovery, forgiveness, and rediscovery.Leah once lived a life built around success and external validation — from being the youngest woman elected to her city council to working on major political campaigns in the US. But behind the achievements was someone battling alcohol addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts.When everything came crashing down, Leah made the bravest decision of all: she quit politics, sought help, and began rebuilding her life through art, creativity, and spiritual healing.Now a celebrated author, speaker, and artist, Leah helps others find what she calls “Fantastic Joy” — a life of meaning, balance, and courage.🎨 We talk about:The hidden cost of high achievementOvercoming alcohol addiction and suicide attemptsFinding courage to quit what’s breaking youHealing through art, creativity, and spiritualityThe power of forgiveness and self-compassionHer journey to the Divine Feminine and indigenous healing practicesHow Leah’s TEDx talk and book inspire others to heal out loud💬 If this conversation resonates, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment — it genuinely helps others find these powerful stories.📘 Leah’s Book: Finding Fantastic Joy📗 Mark’s Book: The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind🎙️ About the Show:Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man is a podcast about life pivots, resilience, humour, and hope — real stories from ordinary people who’ve faced extraordinary challenges and found a way through.

In this episode of Chewing the Crust, Mark Grimes (The Pie Eating Man) sits down with Josh Troche — podcaster, coach, and storyteller — to explore how confidence, risk-taking, and genuine connection shape our lives. From celebrating wins (something many people struggle with) to embracing change, building self-sufficiency, and discovering purpose, this conversation dives into the mindset shifts that fuel both personal growth and career pivots. Josh shares powerful insights on: ✔️ Why social interactions are crucial for mental health ✔️ The hidden value of celebrating small victories ✔️ How risk management guides life and career choices ✔️ The evolution of podcasting and the power of storytelling ✔️ Confidence in presentation and finding your authentic voice This episode is packed with stories, lessons, and takeaways that will inspire you to embrace change, celebrate wins, and create community through kindness and courage. 👉 If you’re interested in podcasting, coaching, or just becoming a little braver in life, this one’s for you. 📖 Grab my book The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind:👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D46MZ3RX🎙 Connect with my guest Josh Troche:🌍 Website: https://joshtroche.com🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshtroche📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshtroche💬 Question for you: What’s one risk you’ve taken that made you grow? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to hear your story.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with inspiring guests.

In this powerful episode of Chewing the Crust, Arsenal Whittick shares his remarkable life story — from living in silence with a severe stammer, through struggles with autism, self-harm, and football addiction, to becoming an inspiring speaker, autism advocate, and author.Arsenal’s journey is captured in the moving book A Boy Called Arsenal by Alan J Hill, available now on Amazon.📚 Buy the books on Amazon:A Boy Called Arsenal by Alan J Hill → https://amzn.eu/d/ezl9ZCaThe Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind by Mark Grimes → https://amzn.eu/d/3DlHLUB✉️ Contact Arsenal Whittick:Email: [email protected]: Arsenal Whittick🙏 If you enjoy this conversation, please like, subscribe, and share — it helps us reach more people who might need a reminder that resilience, humour and hope are possible at every stage of life.