The Calm Approach to Mental Illness No One Talks About [Kate Purcell]

Link to our guest: www.katepurcell.com

Most conversations about mental illness feel urgent, overwhelming, or chaotic. This one doesn’t.

In this episode of Holistic Circle Podcast, mental-health peer worker and author Kate Purcell offers something rarely heard in discussions about recovery: steadiness.

Kate has lived through anorexia, addiction, psychosis, and a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. After more than a decade navigating hospital systems, medication, and stigma, she rebuilt her life and now supports others using the same grounded, lived-experience approach. Her calm is earned.

This conversation explores what happens when healing is approached without panic, and why recovery doesn’t have to look dramatic to be real.

Kate shares her journey through mental illness and recovery, her work as a mental health peer support worker in Australia, and how she helps people with anxiety, depression, psychosis, addiction, and eating disorders move forward one grounded step at a time.

Rather than focusing on crisis narratives, this episode returns the conversation to what actually helps: hope, courage, resilience, boundaries, and meaning.

If you’re searching for a mental-health conversation that cuts through fear, urgency, and clichés and replaces them with clarity and realism, this episode offers a different way in.

🔹 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Why calm can be a powerful recovery tool, not denial
• What lived experience offers that theory and textbooks cannot
• How hope, courage, and resilience shape long-term mental health recovery
• Why early intervention matters in eating disorders
• How spirituality can support healing without losing grounding
• The overlooked emotional toll on families and loved ones
• Why recovery is non-linear and still possible at any stage

🔹 QUOTES

• “I’m very good at leaving work at work.” —Kate Purcell
• “You sound very calm… like you know it can be done.” —Philipp Kobald

🔹 GUEST BIO

Kate Purcell is an Australian mental health peer support worker and author of three books on recovery, spirituality, and eating disorders. Drawing from over 12 years of lived experience and professional peer work, she supports individuals navigating mental illness, addiction, and recovery—while also advocating for hope-based, grounded approaches to healing.

🔹 WATCH NOTE

You can watch the full conversation on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel.

Guest link: [www.katepurcell.com

──────────

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction to Holistic Circle Podcast
• 00:41 Meet Kate Purcell: Mental Health Advocate
• 02:09 Kate's Professional Journey in Mental Health
• 03:01 A Day in the Life of a Peer Worker
• 03:38 Reintroduction and Technical Difficulties
• 04:15 Kate's Work and Publications
• 10:42 The Inspiration Behind Kate's First Book
• 13:09 Keys to Mental Health Recovery
• 15:45 Spirituality and Recovery: Level Up
• 16:51 Practical Spiritual Practices
• 19:10 Upcoming Book: Eating Disorder Recovery
• 20:36 Understanding Eating Disorders
• 21:53 Advice for Parents and Loved Ones
• 25:54 The Importance of Family Support
• 30:47 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

──────────

#holisticcircle #philippkobald #mentalhealthrecovery #peersupport #eatingdisorderrecovery #healing #schizoaffectivedisorder #hopeandresilience #spiritualgrowth

P 77/25 (E 0095) - Nov 05, 2025

Why Do We Love a Scary Mummy? 🏺

The Victorian Obsession With Egypt, Mediums & the Occult created much of the spiritual imagination we carry today—and most of it was performative. In this episode, Dr Eleanor Dobson sits down with Philipp Kobald to explore curses, ghosts, seances, and how the mummy became the West’s go-to supernatural villain.

This shows how each era reshapes spirituality—sometimes adding insight, sometimes adding spectacle—and how knowing the history makes our modern practices clearer.

You’ll leave this conversation with a better sense of where spiritual trends originate, why they shift over time, how Women Found Their Voice in the Dark, and how to enjoy the mystical without confusing fact with performance.

Key Insights ✨

• How Victorian narratives built modern ideas of ghosts, curses, and Egypt
• Why spiritual movements reflect social pressures rather than ancient truths
• How seances gave women a voice in a male-dominated society
• Why each generation layers new myths and stories onto old ones
• What the “mummy curse” reveals about fear, empire, and fascination
• How historical awareness sharpens contemporary spiritual practice

Memorable Quotes 💬

“People have been rehearsing the mummy’s curse for decades before Tutankhamun.” —Dr Eleanor Dobson

“We can finally separate what is real in spirituality and what is theatre.” —Philipp Kobald

Guest Bio 👤

Dr Eleanor Dobson BA, MA, PhD, FHEA is a 19th-century literature expert focusing on Egypt, Tutankhamun, and the spiritual imagination surrounding them.

Link to our guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-dobson-16037420b/

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Empowerment Through Spiritualism
• 00:28 Introduction to the Holistic Circle Podcast
• 00:41 Meet Eleanor Dobson
• 02:03 The Fascination with Egypt
• 03:39 The Mummy's Curse
• 11:11 The Rise of Spiritualism
• 12:10 Victorian Seances and Mediums
• 23:14 Egyptology and Interpretation
• 25:36 Egyptian Beliefs in the Afterlife
• 26:23 Mythology and Mummification
• 27:12 The Egyptian Concept of the Soul
• 28:03 Victorian Spiritualism and Science
• 29:57 The Rise and Fall of Spiritualism
• 34:27 The Dark Side of Spiritualism
• 37:19 The Occult and Secret Societies
• 47:31 Modern Spirituality and Gender

#spiritualism #mummycurse #spiritualhistory #egyptologist #spirituality #occulthistory #holisticcircle #philippkobald #tutankhamun

P 80 25 (E0099) - Nov 26, 2025

👤 Link to our guest: https://www.channelingwhitelight.com/

Psychic mediumship is often misunderstood — seen as either entertainment or blind belief.

In this episode of the Holistic Circle Podcast, we explore what mediumship actually is, how it works, and why discernment matters more than belief. How Mediumship Really Works (And Why It’s Not What Hollywood Shows).

Philip Kobald sits down with Kelly Palmatier, a professional evidential psychic medium, to discuss how communication with spirit happens, why it cannot be forced, and how both the living and the spirit world must actively participate for a connection to occur.

This conversation covers the reality behind psychic and mediumship work, including the limits of accuracy, the role of intuition, and why even legitimate mediums are never perfect.

You’ll also learn how to recognize ethical spiritual practitioners, avoid common psychic scams, and understand the difference between intuition, developing ability, and fraud — especially during periods of grief.

• How mediumship works beyond Hollywood portrayals
• Why spirit communication isn’t available on demand
• What happens to consciousness after death
• Why grief can affect psychic readings
• How to identify real mediums versus con artists
• What ethical mediumship looks like in practice

• Mediumship is an energetic interaction, not a performance
• Accuracy in psychic readings fluctuates and evolves
• Discernment is essential when seeking spiritual guidance
• Consciousness may continue beyond the physical body

• “Spirit lowers their vibration. We meet somewhere in between.” — Kelly Palmatier
• “The illusion that we are separate collapses the moment the body falls away.” — Philip Kobald

Kelly Palmatier is a full-time professional psychic medium with decades of experience working in the energetic realm. She specialises in evidential mediumship, providing detailed, verifiable connections intended to bring clarity, comfort, and healing.

• 🎧 Subscribe to @HolisticCircle YouTube channel!
• 📚 Access Kelly’s free Psychic Credibility Scoring System via her website

• 00:00 Introduction to Mediums and Psychics
• 00:24 Welcome to Holistic Circle Podcast
• 00:38 Meet Kelly Palmatier
• 02:28 Kelly's Background and Mediumship
• 04:28 Society's View on Psychic Abilities
• 09:54 Developing Psychic Abilities
• 11:50 Kelly's Journey to Mediumship
• 19:38 Identifying Authentic Mediums
• 23:31 Exploring the Concept of the Soul
• 24:07 Connecting with Spirits: A Medium's Perspective
• 25:14 The Role of Spirit Guides
• 26:03 Challenges in Spirit Communication
• 28:12 Reincarnation and the Afterlife
• 37:16 The Importance of Grieving and Mediumship
• 39:24 Ethics and Red Flags in Mediumship
• 46:18 Services Offered by a Medium

#holisticcircle #spiritualconversation #medium #afterlife #consciousness #spiritualawakening #healingjourney #energywork

P 79/25 (E 0098) - Nov 24, 2025

100 Episodes of Asking Why: A hundred conversations later, and the question remains the same: why do some of us keep searching?

What Drives the Spiritual Search?
In this milestone 100th episode, Philipp Kobald sits down with Svetlana Ćopić—the first guest he has ever met in real life—to explore why certain people are pulled toward deeper questions, while others move through life without ever stopping to look underneath the surface.

This is a conversation about restless curiosity, the intersection between creativity and spirituality, the growing spirituality marketplace, and the delicate balance between evidence, intuition, and belief.
If you’ve ever lived in the tension between skepticism and longing, between wanting proof and feeling the truth anyway—this episode will feel like recognition.

⭐ What you’ll take from this episode

• Why some people are wired to ask the questions others avoid
• How spirituality and creativity often open the same doorway
• The risks vulnerable people face in today’s booming spiritual industry
• Why birth rituals, de*th rituals, and shared meaning matter more than we admit
• Where evidence ends—and how intuition and faith begin

📝 Memorable lines

“I was tormented with these questions since I was born.” — Svetlana Ćopić
“At some point, when evidence runs out, you still have to decide whether you dare to believe.” — Philipp Kobald

👤 Guest Bio

Svetlana Ćopić is a Belgrade-based creative director with more than twenty years of experience in branding and advertising. She is the founder of a creative agency focused on socially positive, culture-shifting projects.
Guest link: https://noagency.club/

If you’re drawn to conversations about meaning, consciousness, intuition, creativity, and the inner life, the full episode is now available on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction and Opening Thoughts
• 00:41 Celebrating 100 Episodes
• 02:35 Guest Introduction: Svetlana Ćopić
• 02:48 Svetlana's Professional Journey
• 04:32 Exploring Spiritual Curiosity
• 05:52 The Spiritual Industry and Vulnerability
• 09:10 Balancing Spirituality and Real Life
• 21:03 Trust and Intuition in Spirituality
• 25:09 The Paradox of Clairvoyance
• 26:17 Scientific Research on Clairvoyance
• 27:57 Skepticism and Faith
• 28:55 The Role of Organized Religion
• 32:04 Rituals and Community Support
• 37:17 Modern Society and Death
• 41:28 Artificial Intelligence and Society
• 46:18 Creativity as Spirituality

#holisticcircle #spiritualconversation #modernspirituality #innerwork #searchformeaning #creativelife #awakeningjourney #consciousliving

P 81/25 (E0100) 28. November - 2025

🌐 Guest Link: https://www.stuartkmasters.com/

In 17th-century England, women weren’t meant to preach, write, or speak in public. And yet, in the chaotic swirl of civil war, collapsing institutions, and religious upheaval, early Quaker women did exactly that. Women Who Refused to Be Silent spoke, they travelled, they wrote, and they claimed spiritual authority—risking imprisonment, public flogging, and social humiliation. This was The Real Quaker Beginning.

In this episode, Stuart Masters joins host Philipp Kobald to discuss the radical faith that made this possible. The early Quaker movement empowered ordinary people—women and men alike—to experience a direct, inward connection to the Holy Spirit. This faith encouraged personal transformation, bold public action, and a spiritual agency previously denied to most, particularly women.

You will learn how the social, political, and religious turmoil of the time created the perfect conditions for a revolutionary movement to emerge. The episode also traces the charismatic lives of early Quaker leaders like George Fox, James Naylor, and Margaret Fell, whose courage, vision, and devotion shaped the movement’s enduring principles.

📌 Key Takeaways

• How early Quaker women defied societal limits to speak, travel, and preach
• The ways social and political upheaval created space for radical spiritual movements
• The embodied, transformative power of faith in action
• How Quaker principles of truthfulness, peace, and equality were forged under persecution
• Why their courage and radical inclusivity still resonate in a modern context

💬 Quotes from the Episode

• “Women preached in public, travelled, wrote, and confronted authority—and society treated it as a direct attack.” —Stuart Masters
• “Only an Englishman can stay this calm while talking about flogging.” —Philipp Kobald

👤 Guest Bio

Stuart Masters is a researcher, writer, and teacher who has spent nearly twenty years with Woodbrooke, an international Quaker research and learning centre.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction to True Faith
• 00:30 Welcome to Holistic Circle Podcast
• 00:35 Meet Stuart Masters
• 03:15 Historical Context of Quakerism
• 05:24 Emergence of Quakerism
• 06:52 Quaker Beliefs and Practices
• 11:00 Quakerism's Radical Social Impact
• 21:57 Persecution and Suffering of Early Quakers
• 26:58 George Fox and the Early Quaker Movement
• 27:28 James Nailer: A Charismatic Leader
• 28:01 Margaret Fell: The Organizer and Advocate
• 29:47 Dramatic Public Signs and Persecution
• 31:17 Survival and Adaptation of the Quakers
• 34:21 Women's Role in the Quaker Movement
• 36:50 Core Beliefs and Practices of Quakers
• 43:36 Challenges and Reflections on Quaker Life

#holisticcircle #philippkobald #quaker #womeninhistory #spiritualconversation #radicalfaith
#historypodcast #englishcivilwar #religionandpower

P 82/25 (E 0101) - Nov 27, 2025

In this episode of Holistic Circle Podcast, Philip Cobald welcomes Caren Carnegie for a second conversation about her unique approach to personal training. Caren combines psychic guidance, spiritual awareness, and fitness to help clients understand their bodies and move through physical and emotional blocks. She shares some Secret To Staying True To Yourself!

We cover:

• How emotions and trauma show up physically in the body
• Using movement, strength training, and energy work to “unstick” yourself
• The power of journaling and self-awareness during workouts
• Real-life stories of clients who’ve transformed both physically and mentally
• How intuition and spiritual guidance can integrate with everyday fitness

Whether you’re curious about the connection between body, mind, and spirit—or just want a new approach to personal training—this episode explores a practical, grounded way to listen to your body and your inner guidance.

🗨️ Memorable quotes

“Your body has been on your side this whole time.” —Caren Carnegie
“Once you remember your strength, you stop outsourcing your sanity.” —Philipp Kobald

👤 Guest Bio

Caren Carnegie is a psychic channel who integrates intuitive insight with personal training and spiritual life coaching to help people reconnect with their physical and emotional strength.
Watch the full conversation on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel.

Link to our guest: https://transformfitnesscoaching.com/

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Philosophy
• 00:45 Welcome to Holistic Circle Podcast
• 01:19 Reconnecting with Past Guests
• 02:21 Transform HQ: A Unique Fitness Approach
• 03:24 The Fusion of Fitness and Spirituality
• 06:04 The Journey of Personal Growth
• 10:40 Exploring Psychic Abilities
• 19:48 Dealing with Skepticism and Sharing Light
• 24:42 Making a Difference Through Personal Training
• 25:26 Understanding the Regular Client
• 26:17 Shifting Fitness Trends
• 30:51 The Importance of Individualized Programs
• 32:44 Client Success Stories
• 35:22 The Intimacy of Personal Training
• 39:29 Trusting the Process
• 41:02 Hope for the Future

#holistichealth #training #mindbodyconnection #spiritualfitness #energyhealing #personaltraining #wellnessjourney #spiritualawakening

P 75/25 (E0093) - Oct 28, 2025

Link to our guest:

https://www.findmyenergy.co.uk/

What if the seventeenth century wasn’t a distant chapter in history—but a mirror for the world we live in today?

The 17th Century Is Back—Monarchs, “Witches,” and the Politics of Fear

In this episode, Philipp Kobald sits down with historian Katie Dean, PhD, to explore why the 17th century feels so unsettlingly familiar. Together, they examine a period marked by collapsing monarchies, religious extremism, witch hunts, and societies ruled by fear and superstition—and why these patterns are resurfacing now.

This is not a nostalgic trip into the past. It’s a map of how fear shapes civilizations, how women became targets when they stepped into power, and how trauma—and the systems built on it—continue to influence modern society.

It’s a conversation about history, psychology, spirituality, and human behavior in times of chaos.

What You’ll Learn

• Why the 17th century mirrors today’s political and social climate
• How power, panic, and accusations of “witchcraft” were used as political tools
• Why superstition rises during moments of instability
• The emotional + societal cost of living in an age defined by fear
• How healing trauma changes societal structures more than ideology ever could
• Why studying history is essential in chaotic times—not optional

Memorable Quotes

“Superstition replaces spirituality the moment fear enters the room.” —Philipp Kobald

“If we’re going to survive this next transition, healing trauma matters more than ideology.” —Katie Dean, PhD

About the Guest

Katie Dean, PhD earned her doctorate in History from Cambridge University and later developed a healing and self-reconnection system using sacred geometry and color. She bridges academic insight with a holistic understanding of trauma, spirituality, and the human experience.

🎧 Watch the full conversation on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel.

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction and Female Empowerment in War
• 00:28 Welcome to Holistic Circle Podcast
• 02:06 Guest Introduction: Katie Dean
• 02:25 Katie's Journey: From Academia to Healing
• 03:10 Sacred Geometry and Healing Frequencies
• 05:42 Diving into History: The 17th Century England
• 09:17 Religious Turmoil and the Reformation
• 17:12 Power, Control, and Superstition
• 30:04 Superstitions and Witchcraft in History
• 31:37 Spirituality vs. Superstition
• 34:19 Historical Trauma and Societal Pressure
• 34:56 Religious Turmoil and Power Struggles
• 37:43 Women's Rights and Roles in History
• 42:10 The Quakers' Influence
• 45:54 The Shift to Rationality and Science
• 55:39 Healing Trauma for a Better Future
• 
  

#17thcentury #historyrepeatsitself #witchhunts #traumahealing #philippkobald #holisticcircle #awakeningjourney #spiritualconversation

P 78/25 (E 0096) Nov 12. 2026

Kristine Genovese spent years turning around corporations. Today, she helps people turn around their lives. From Wall Street to Soul Healing: Science Meets Spirituality. In this conversation with Philipp Kobald, she opens up about the surprising bridge between business logic and soul intelligence. Together they explore how emotions are stored in the body, why modern medicine struggles to accept energy work, and how consciousness itself may become our next frontier — in healing and in AI.

• How emotion, frequency, and the body form one intelligent system of healing.
• Why modern medicine treats symptoms instead of root causes — and how that’s changing.
• The corporate mindset Kristine left behind and the soul intelligence she discovered.
• How AI’s evolution could push us to reinvest in consciousness.
• What it really means to bring science and spirituality into one clear conversation.

“Emotion is energy in motion — when it’s no longer in motion, that’s when disease begins.” — Kristine Genovese

“To unlock AI’s full potential, we’ll have to upgrade ourselves first.” — Philipp Kobald

Kristine Genovese — known as Spiritual Gangster — is the creator of the Soul Intelligence Method, a bioenergetic healing practice that bridges emotional, mental, and physical well-being.

• www.soulintelligencemethod.com
• https://a.co/d/7NSROfn
• www.holisticcircle.org

#spiritualconversations #holisticcircle #philippkobald #energyhealing #mindbodyconnection #consciousness #spiritualityandscience #healingjourney #groundedspirituality

P 74 25 (E0092) Okt 08 2025

What happens when we try to control the most natural act on Earth?

In this deeply human conversation, Philipp Kobald sits with Kiley Tkaczyk Jones—a pre-conception, birth, and postpartum doula—to explore the mystery, surrender, and raw spirituality of giving birth.

Together, they question how modern medicine has turned birth into a procedure instead of a passage—and what it would mean to bring back trust, ritual, and consciousness to the beginning of life. In short, Why Modern Birth Lost Its Magic (and How to Get It Back)

This episode isn’t only about childbirth—it’s about letting go, learning to trust the unknown, and remembering that some transitions in life can’t be planned. They can only be lived.

💬 Key Takeaways

• Why the real power of birth lies in surrender, not control
• How modern systems disconnect women from their intuition
• What birth reveals about fear, death, and awakening
• Why rebuilding the “village” around mothers matters more than ever
• How “containing discomfort” becomes the first spiritual lesson of parenthood

🧘‍♀️ Memorable Quotes

Watch the full conversation on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel — where spirituality meets the real world, with no filter.

Guest Bio:
Kiley Tkaczyk Jones is a pre-conception, birth, and postpartum doula supporting families both in-person and virtually through pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenthood. She helps women reclaim trust in their intuition and embrace the sacred chaos of becoming.

https://www.doulakiley.comwww.doulakiley.com

You Can’t Schedule God: The Sacred Chaos of Giving Birth

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 The Unstoppable Arrival: Introduction to Birth
• 00:19 Meet Kiley: A Journey in Birth Work
• 03:11 Spirituality and Birth: A Deep Connection
• 05:21 The Role of Conscious Decision-Making in Birth
• 08:49 Support Systems: The Importance of Community in Birth
• 31:07 Supporting Individual Journeys
• 31:53 The Importance of Engagement
• 33:33 Cultural Perspectives on Birth and Death
• 36:29 The Role of Doulas
• 46:49 Men's Involvement in Birth

#birthjourney #doulasupport #consciousparenting #postpartumcare #pregnancysupport #motherhood #birthexperience #homebirth #healingjourney

P 73 25 (E 00091) - Oct 08, 2025

What if your daily commute, a tough conversation, or even a moment of frustration could become part of your spiritual practice?

In this grounded and heartfelt episode, host Philipp Kobald sits with Dr. Sarah Young—a medical speech pathologist, minister, and PhD in quantum integrative medicine—to talk about how spirituality lives in the everyday, not just on the meditation cushion.

Together they explore how to bring faith into ordinary life: forgiving instead of reacting, breathing through stress, and letting love guide small decisions that slowly reshape how we move through the world.

✨ You’ll Learn:

• How to turn daily challenges into opportunities for healing and awareness.
• Why spirituality without embodiment can feel hollow.
• Simple, practical ways to live divinity through presence and compassion.
• How science and faith meet in integrative healing.
• Why gentleness and patience can be forms of spiritual strength.

🗣️Memorable Quotes

Dr. Sarah Young bridges medicine and spirituality to help people reconnect body, mind, and soul in real life. She is a medical speech pathologist, ordained minister through the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (2010), and holds a PhD in quantum integrative medicine.

🙏 Watch the full conversation on the @HolisticCircle YouTube channel for a conversation for those tired of pretending spirituality and daily life are separate worlds.

Guest Link:
Www.NeuroSynergyhealth.com
Book: