Today we are exploring the idea of transformation through the lens of body-image and acceptance. Many of us embark on a journey to change our physical selves, with the promise of happiness, but true transformation is as much about changing a physical aspect of ourselves, as it is about accepting ourselves.

In this episode, Sarah McDonald shares how carrying extra weight impacted her sense of self, and what losing 150 pounds meant for her health and wellbeing. She details what life was like before her weight loss, the catalyst for embarking on a health journey, and the inner healing that she experienced. Sarah offers her advice to listeners whose relationship with food is defined by negative thought patterns, and highlights that the mental transformation is as important as the physical transformation. 

Episode notes

• Sarah introduces herself to the listeners by detailing a little bit about herself. [2:28]
• Body awareness, weight and acceptance while growing up is discussed. [6:26]
• Lifestyle choices Sarah made before losing weight are detailed. [9:58]
• The catalyst for Sarah’s weight-loss was a health issue – she explains how this happened. [17:34]
• Unhealthy eating patterns are reflected on. [22:33]
• Sarah’s vision for her body and life with weight-loss are detailed. 23:20]
• The internal healing Sarah experienced when she lost weight is described. [25:09]
• Sarah’s process for losing weight is explained. [26:09]
• Along with her physical change, Sarah experienced massive internal changes – she shares those changes with the listeners. [36:37]
• Sarah shares what she believes her purpose to be. [44:38]
• Three tips for listeners facing a transformative journey are given. [48:36]
• Where to find Sarah and follow her journey is explained. [51:33]

Highlights

“It’s hard to really pin-point what led to what – did the bullying lead to weight gain, or did the weight gain lead to bullying? Probably it’s a little bit of both.” [4:43-4:52]

“It’s a huge relief not having to always think about your weight and whether your body is going to fit in the situation that you are putting yourself in.” [7:31- 7:44]

“My journey has really been shaped by that concept of mindfulness, and just thinking more about what it is your consuming, what it is you’re doing and how you’re treating your body on a daily basis.” [21:33-21:45]

“I wanted to be normal, I wanted my body to be normalized.” [23:37-23:40]

The popular understanding of sexuality is that it develops from a young age and solidifies as a person grows older. “Gay” and “straight” are treated as the default categories, with labels like “bisexual” or “asexual” often entirely forgotten. Although in recent years, more space has been made for people who identify with being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or queer later in life.

Living our truth requires being with the people we love – and for some, this requires the courage to pursue a life they never imagined they would have. In this episode, I am joined by Ashleigh MacDonald – a professional dancer who identifies as lesbian having previously been in heterosexual relationships. Today, she shares how she met her current partner Rosie, what inspired her to live her truth, and how she overcame hardship along the way.

Episode notes

• Ashleigh introduces herself to listeners by describing her childhood. [3:02]
• The point at which Ashleigh began to question her sexuality is discussed. [4:26]
• Navigating the stigma around being bisexual or lesbian while growing up is reflected on. [6:17]
• Ashleigh discusses her life during her marriage to her ex-husband. [9:50]
• Ashleigh touches on meeting her current partner, Rosie. [12:54]
• Letting go of constraints and living a life true to what you want is discussed. [16:08]
• Coming out to her family is explained. [17:45]
• The challenges Ashleigh has faced in her new life and relationship are detailed. [19:23]
• Ashleigh shares the major lessons she has learned through her life. [21:14]
• Recently disabled, Ashleigh explains what happened to her and how she is handling the change to her life. [24:52]
• Ashleigh reflects on what she believes her purpose to be. [30:07]
• The strength of Ashleigh’s relationship with Rosie amidst her recent health struggles is discussed. [32:07]
• The insights that Ashleigh gained through her transformations are explained. [33:05]
• Advice for others struggling to be true to themselves is given. [34:08]
• Ashleigh explains how to follow her journey on social media. [36:06]

Highlights

“I didn’t really know that bisexuality was a thing, I didn’t know that that existed.” [4:33-4:36]

“What’s bisexual? So, I went home and googled it and was like oh, that’s what I am. So, I had decided really early on that’s what I was.” [5:36-5:41]

“Humans don’t like change. So, I think that when you identify as something, even though you’re okay with the change and you’re okay with where you’re going, everyone else is like ‘woah’. [8:42-8:52]

“We were talking about, you know, goals and aspirations and life dreams and I really realized actually the path I’m on isn’t really honouring who I am.” [13:47-13:58]

In 1999, Flight Lieutenant Caroline Paige made the choice to undergo a gender transition, making her the first transgender officer to serve openly in the British Armed Forces. What followed after a nearly 20-year career with the Royal Air Force were immediate calls for her dismissal.  However, Caroline moved forward as the person she was meant to be, becoming an LGBT+ advocate inside and outside of the armed forces.

Today, Caroline is the joint CEO of the newly formed charity Fighting With Pride - The LGBT+ Military Charity. The charity is leading the health and wellbeing support of LGBT+ veterans, serving personnel and families. She joins me on the show to discuss her transition, life in the military and the advocacy work she does within the LGBT+ community. 

Episode notes

• LGBT+ participation in the remembrance service’s is discussed. [3:04]
• Caroline describes her childhood to the listeners. [5:40]
• The moment that Caroline began to question her gender identity is reflected on. [8:28]
• Joining the air force and being LGBT+ in a hostile environment is touched on.  [11:07]
• The consequences of being LGBT+ in the 1980’s is detailed. [17:28]
• How Caroline found the courage to transition is explained. [20:02]
• Bullying that Caroline faced after transitioning is touched on. [24:58]
• Caroline touches on the work that brought her recognition and commendation for excellent service. [27:47]
• The differences between Caroline’s life before and after she transitioned is detailed. [31:36]
• Caroline’s relationship with her family and her their reactions to her transition is reflected on. [33:29]
• The charity Caroline founded and her advocacy for LGBT+ people is touched on. [37:09]
• Caroline explains what she believes her purpose to be now. [40:17]
• The biggest learnings in Caroline’s journeys are detailed. [41:29]
• Advice for people looking to transition is given. [43:02]
• How to contact Caroline and learn more about her. [45:07]

Highlights

“The LGBT+ Veterans community has been isolated from the military family for 21+ years and so this was the first occasion, and people say well why do you need to have that visibility? But if you don’t have that visibility how do people know you’re there, how do they know that the LGBT+ community has always been part of the armed forces?” [4:18-4:37]

“I was very aware, from the age of five that my gender identity conflicted with who I was.” [6:30-6:38]

“You can’t switch off your identity, you can’t switch off who you are, its there all the time.” [7:12-7:16]

“You stand to lose everything you love, so you put so much effort into hiding it but you can’t, as I say earlier, you’ve still got to try and take those risks to be yourself and I did take those risks.” [15:42-15:54]

“You only get one shot at life, its only there once. And so, you need to do something about it.” [20:36-20:4]

In this episode, I am joined by Sumi Mukherjee to discuss childhood bullying, and how those experiences can have longstanding effects into adulthood. Sumi was a victim of intense bullying as a child which triggered severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. To regain control, Sumi embarked on a transformative healing journey which he details in our conversation. Today, Sumi is an author, anti-bullying advocate and public speaker, who uses his own experience to help others. In doing this, Sumi found his calling – standing up for those who cannot. His story is an inspiration to those on their own healing journey after a traumatic childhood.

As a victim of prolonged bullying myself, this is a conversation I was looking forward to recording, so I hope you find the episode as cathartic as I did.

Episode Notes

• Sumi discusses bullying from childhood into adulthood. [3:00]
• The bullying that Sumi experienced is discussed. [4:31]
• The mental health impacts of the bullying Sumi experienced is touched on. [15:28]
• Navigating OCD and the journey toward change is reflected on. [19:03]
• After completing his healing journey, Sumi explains how he became the advocate he is today. [25:04]
• The reasons people bully is discussed. [27:48]
• Acceptance is reflected on. [29:47]
• The biggest learnings Sumi gained on his transformative journey is explained. [32:41]
• Tactics Sumi uses for mental wellbeing are touched on. [35:14]
• Sumi gives advice for those going through bullying. [39:04]
• How to get in touch with Sumi. [42:52]

Highlights

“You can always look for a specific cause of why a certain person is bullied or singled out but really the core reason is people bully, and people like to bully.” [4:37-4:49]

“Being different, you know as adults we tell kids its okay to be different because truly it should be okay, but in certain phases of your life it’s really not okay – that’s the reality. That’s the reality we aspire to that it’s okay to be different, but it’s not.” [8:38- 8:57]

“It’s like the bullying and the OCD joined forces, very strongly in my life and really tore my life completely apart.” [16:53-16:55]

“You can get through it, and the other side, when you get out, is a wonderful, wonderful life” [24:25-24:29]

“We cannot and should not compare trauma from one person to another; everyone’s trauma is their own.” [31:40-31:45]

Many of us will change our careers multiple times in our lives – but as we age, the idea of a career change begins to look not only scary, but impossible. In a time when our lives are so wrapped up in our careers, sometimes the only way to find our most authentic and happy selves is to change our jobs.  

My guest today is Laura Sheehan, a career coach and speaker. Laura was a U.S lawyer when she followed her husband overseas to support his career. What followed was life in 8 different countries and on four continents. With each move, Laura changed her professional identity. Today, Laura joins the show to discuss her career transformation and shares advice for those on their own journey, no matter what age they are.

Episode Notes: 

• Laura discusses becoming a lawyer. [2:37]
• Leaving her role as a lawyer is detailed [5:59]
• Laura’s first few months as a diplomat’s wife is reflected on. [6:53]
• Travelling abroad and adding value to life is discussed [8:55]
• Moments that made Laura recognize her new career path are explained. [12:52]
• The transformation stage in Laura’s journey is detailed. [17:57]
• Challenges Laura faced and overcame is touched on. [20:20]
• Laura’s approach to her new career path as a coach is reflected on. [21:54]
• How Laura has come ‘full circle’ is explained. [24:25]
• Laura’s professional expertise about mid-life career and job changes is given. [27:49]
• Tips and advice for people considering a change is given. [33:56]
• Ways you can get in contact with Laura. [40:28]

Highlights

“I had the choice of staying with the law firm in D.C. by myself, or accompanying my husband overseas to his first assignment – and so I chose the latter.” [5:31-5:42]

“I started to kind of get into a rhythm and knew generally what to expect on a day-to-day basis and really then, that’s when it started to sink in, that’s when I started to feel as though I had left something behind and that I had potentially sacrificed my career and my professional identity to follow my husband overseas.” [7:22-7:40]

“A lot of us who move around as often as I have begin to view our careers as almost like patchworks of seemingly unrelated experiences” [10:58-11:12]

“One of the women looked at me, and just stopped me in my track and said ‘well, Laura, if you could do anything what would it be?’ and the questions blew my mind.” [15:27-15:38]

“The greatest gift I think I’ve received from this part of the journey is exactly what I wanted it to be – helping other people recognize their inherent value, see that all the things that they have been doing mean something and have been moving them forward.” [22:17-22:34]

Check out Laura's TEDx talk about Career Change

When we experience a life-changing event, we are often left to pick up the pieces of who we were and use them to create a new version of ourselves. I am speaking with Tulsi Vagjiani, an airplane crash survivor whose parents and brother perished, along with 89 others, after their plane crashed in Bangalore in 1990. At just 10 years old, Tulsi was flown home to England where she was treated for second and third-degree burns to 45% of her body. Today, Tulsi is an influential speaker, a Reiki Grand Master, Pilates Rehabilitation Specialist and an ambassador for Changing Faces. In this episode, she shares highlights of her healing journey and the moments that led her home to her authentic self.

Episode Notes:

• Tulsi explains the beginning of her life journey and the plane crash she survived at 10-years-old. [2:37]
• Survivors of the plane crash are discussed. [9:02]
• The moment Tulsi realized her grief and loss is detailed. [10:51]
• Tulsi’s recovery experiences and the bullying she faced is reflected on. [12:59]
• The unhealthy coping mechanisms Tulsi adopted to navigate and her need to heal is detailed. [16:07]
• Key learnings Tulsi developed during her healing process are touched on. [24:01]
• Tulsi details how she learned to overcome her negative habits. [33:39]
• The advocacy work Tulsi does and her purpose in life is reflected on. [36:35]
• Gillian invites Tulsi to explain her philosophy for the future.  [42:25]
• Tulsi explains what she has learned about coming home to our true selves. [44:39]
• Tulsi shares how she can be reached. [47:44]

Highlights

“I held the mirror up and I actually thought someone had drawn the face on because that’s not me.” [6:20-6:27]

“I did deny a lot of all this happening.” [11:12-11:15]

“It’s never about changing the external that’s going to bring happiness, its working from the inside out.” [20:15-20:21]

“My scars never stopped me from achieving anything - it was my mindset, the negative connotations that I take on, the narratives - it was that that was stopping me.” [25:57-26;09]

“Everything’s steppingstones towards a bigger picture.”  [29:21-29:24]

“Resilience is learning how to use your emotions better.” [32:23-32:31]

“Beauty is your own version of it. Look at your own beauty, your own way, it’s not anyone else’s opinion.” [34:48–35:04]

When battling addiction, many individuals make the brave choice to embark on a transformative healing journey. This is a challenging and scary path to navigate but taking your life into your own hands is essential for leading a fulfilling and healthy life. Today’s guest is Natasha Blunt – a woman who reached professional and personal burnout after facing mental health and addiction struggles throughout her life. In this episode she shares her story of overcoming addiction, the lessons she has learned during her recovery, and tips for staying on track.

Episode notes:

• Natasha discusses her addiction. [3:32]
• The impact of recognising her addiction is discussed. [5:46]
• The moment Natasha noticed her addiction was getting out of control is described. [8:04]
• Factors that contributed to Natasha’s addiction are reflected on. [9:35]
• The pivotal moment Natasha knew she needed help is detailed. [15:35]
• Tools to maintain recovery and keep addiction under control are explained. [21:19]
• The biggest transformation Natasha has seen in herself is reflected on. [29:16]
• Natasha discusses how she is helping other individuals who are struggling. [33:08]
• The purpose in Natasha’s life is touched on. [34:59]
• Natasha shares how individuals can connect with her. [35:57]

Highlights:

“Once I entered the programme of recovery, I realized I had actually been in active addiction for multiple decades.” [3:53-4:02]

“The best thing about recovery is you get your feelings back, and the worst thing about recovery is you get your feelings back.” [7:26-7:32]

“I began to seek my validation in the external and you can’t control people, places or things.” [12:58-13:05]

Transformation is often about finding your way home; but what does that mean when you have never had a real home? How do you find your way there?

My guest on the show had to answer these questions on her own, after spending her childhood in and out of the US Foster Care System. Instead of letting her circumstances define her, Cordelia Cranshaw used her experiences as fuel to transform her life and the lives of those around her. After aging out of Foster Care, she went on to earn a Masters of Social Work degree at age 22 and was named Miss District of Columbia USA 2019. Today, she is a social worker and child welfare advocate, and runs her own organization “Acts of Random Kindness” with a mission of helping individuals in similar situations experience their own life transformations.

In this episode, she shares her honest and true story.

Show notes:

• Cordelia introduces herself to the listeners. [2:49]
• The experience of entering foster care at 5 years old and 14 years old is discussed. [5:35]
• Emotions Cordelia felt during her time in the different homes are touched on. [9:47]
• At 14, Cordelia had to re-enter foster care. She discusses this experience. [13:34]
• Her journey after being made a ward of court is explained. [17:45]
• Cordelia was Miss District of Columbia 2019. Her discovery of pageants and the power they had in her life is touched on. [20:41]
• Cordelia discusses the work she is doing as a social worker. [26:37]
• Advocacy work and the organization Cordelia founded, ‘Acts of Random Kindness’ is explored. [28:32]
• Advice Cordelia would give to her young self is given. [31:07]
• Cordelia’s purpose and work as a social worker is described. [32:29]
• The biggest transformation Cordelia has seen within herself is expressed.  [36:33]
• Advice for those in the foster system or those who were once in the foster system is given. [41:09]
• Cordelia tells us where we can connect with her and her organizations. [42:42]

Follow Cordelia:

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Welcome back to the Full Circle Podcast, where each episode of Season 2 explores the theme of transformation.

Perfectionism is often viewed as a positive trait – but for those who identify as ‘perfectionists’ - it is far from a positive experience; high levels of stress, fear of failure and unrealistic expectations are just some of the signs of perfectionism, and if left unchecked, these traits can consume the life of the perfectionist.

My guest today is Natalie Orr, a Life Coach and professional dancer based in Madrid. Natalie has spoken openly about life as a self-confessed perfectionist, how she’s overcome some of her behaviours, and how she’s living a far more calm and balanced life as a result. In our conversation, she shares what this journey looked like for her and the advice she has for listeners who would like to put perfectionist tendencies behind them, too.

Show Notes:

• Natalie describes what perfectionism is and how it manifests in her life. [3:11]
• The time Natalie’s perfectionism was at its worst is reflected on. [6:21]
• Impacts of ballet and dance on perfection are discussed. [10:50]
• Natalie discusses her journey to healing. [17:49]
• Bumps along Natalie’s healing journey are touched on. [24:27]
• The key learning’s of Natalie’s journey are detailed. [28:24]
• Advice for other perfectionists is given. [31:13]
• The resources Natalie used to overcome perfectionism are explained, including the book, “Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender” by David R. Hawkins. [33:30]
• Natalie shares where people can contact and engage with her. [35:55]

Quotes:

‘The line that you cross into perfectionism - it’s when you start to not be able to tolerate mistakes.” [4:17-4:23]

“You’re like: let me just be as perfect as possible to protect myself, to feel safe from other people’s judgements.” [9:13 - 9:24]

“Can I give myself permission to enjoy the process more? And then the question becomes: 'when I’m aligning with the process and not the goals, what does that look like?'” [20:06-20:19]

“Accepting that you’re not perfect but you’re enough…well, I have everything that I need.” [22:36-22:42]

“I’m allowed to not be perfect in my relationship.” [28:58-29:00]

Host Gillian McMichael reflects on the first season of the Full Circle: Finding Your Way Home podcast, focused entirely on the theme of trust. Gillian shares her personal journey with trust and her most memorable lessons from each episode. 

Season Two will be released in October 2021 and will be centred around the theme of "transformation". Until then, stay well and invite joy and curiosity into your life.