Today, we’re diving deep into the raw, unfiltered reality of motherhood with writer, art historian and author of US national bestseller The Motherload, Sarah Hoover. You might know her from her sharp wit and searing honesty online, but in this conversation, Sarah opens up in a way that’s deeply personal and profoundly important. From the trauma of her birth experience to the quiet devastation of postpartum depression, she walks us through what it really means to become a mother in a world that still doesn’t know how to care for women.

Sarah’s story isn’t just about pain—it’s also about reclaiming agency, finding your voice after silence, and daring to say the things so many women feel but are too afraid to speak out loud. Whether you're a mother, thinking about becoming one, or simply want to understand the often invisible emotional toll of birth and parenting, this episode is for you.

• Book: The Motherload – Order here
• Instagram: @sarahhoov
• Website: sarahhoover.com

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In this solo episode, Pandora opens up about her ongoing recovery from an eating disorder — sharing both the challenges and the quiet, everyday victories that come with trying to rewire deeply embedded habits. From the emotional resistance to balanced meals to the complex relationship with control and routine, she reflects honestly on what it means to move toward healing.

Pandora also introduces a practical support tool she’s using: a lunchbox meal system designed by a chef who specialises in eating disorder recovery. She explains how having meals prepared externally helps reduce decision fatigue and opens space for self-compassion. Alongside this, she shares her efforts to build new patterns using Jay Shetty’s ‘TIMES’ acronym — focusing on daily practices of Thankfulness, Insight, Meditation, Exercise, and Service.

This episode is a gentle reminder that recovery isn’t linear — but small acts of care, consistency, and kindness toward ourselves really do add up.

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Why do we volunteer? Sometimes, it's to give back. Sometimes, it's to feel part of something bigger. But often, it's because someone, somewhere, once showed up for us when we needed it most.

This week, to mark Volunteers Week, we’re shining a light on the people behind the text line — the everyday heroes who are changing lives in quiet, powerful ways.

In this special episode of Healing 101, I sit down with Jodie Tang — a student, a survivor, and now a Shout volunteer who’s giving back to the very service that once helped her through her darkest days.

Jodie’s story is one of full-circle healing. From struggling with anorexia and trauma, to finding her voice as a young British Chinese woman, to now holding space for others who feel like they have no one left to turn to — her honesty, empathy, and strength will stay with you long after the episode ends.

We’re proud to partner with Shout, a free, 24/7 text service supporting those in crisis. And we’re proud to celebrate the incredible volunteers like Jodie who make that lifeline possible.

If you or someone you love needs help, you can text SHOUT to 85258.

This conversation is a reminder that support doesn't always mean fixing — sometimes, it just means being there.

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

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In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, Pandora sits down with award-winning dietitian and eating disorder specialist Priya Tew to explore the complex, often misunderstood journey of eating disorder recovery. Drawing on both professional expertise and lived experience, Priya shares practical strategies for healing, the realities behind weight restoration, and how societal pressures and diet culture can entrench disordered thinking.

Together, they unpack the emotional triggers, setbacks, and hidden challenges of recovery—and why healing is never just about the food. With honesty and compassion, this episode offers guidance for anyone struggling, supporting a loved one, or seeking hope on the path to freedom for an eating disorder. You are not alone, and recovery is possible.

Connect with Priya Tew:

Website & Recovery Courses: www.dietitianuk.co.uk

Instagram: @priya_tew

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this reflective and personal solo episode, Pandora explores the emotional turbulence of everyday life—touching on everything from hormonal shifts and high-functioning depression to the pressures of routine, regret, and missed opportunities. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like Dr. Judith Joseph, Abraham Hicks, and Shaolin monk Shi Heng Li, she shares her ongoing struggle with perfectionism, her frustration with physical limitations, and the deeply human need for spontaneity, joy, and self-compassion.

Pandora opens up about the societal pressure of timelines—especially for single women—and how past mental health challenges, like OCD and an eating disorder, shaped life decisions she now questions. Through honest storytelling, she encourages listeners to slow down, step outside their patterns, and reconnect with themselves. Her message is one of gentle self-forgiveness, presence over perfection, and the reminder that true progress often means doing less, not more.

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this extended episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by someone whose insight and honesty around a topic that so many of us silently grapple with is not only deeply refreshing — it’s essential. Dr. Claire Ashley, also known as The Burnout Doctor, is a GP and neuroscience graduate who learned the devastating realities of burnout the hard way — by experiencing it herself. Claire shares her personal journey from being a high-performing, dedicated doctor and mother to finding herself in the depths of burnout, grappling with panic attacks, emotional exhaustion, and a total loss of self. We talk about what burnout really is — beyond the buzzword — and unpack its physical, emotional, and neurological impact. Claire takes us through the stages of recovery, how to manage toxic productivity, and how to rebuild a life with boundaries, compassion, and control. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “Why can’t I just keep going?” — this episode is for you.

Connect with Dr. Claire Ashley:

Website: drclaireashley.com

Instagram: @drclaireashley

Newsletter: theburnoutdoctor.substack.com

Book: The Burnout Doctor – available via major booksellers

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

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In this episode of Hurt to Healing, Pandora is joined by writer and filmmaker Rebecca Frayn, who opens up about her battle with chronic illness, debilitating anxiety, and the harrowing experience of Xanax withdrawal.

Rebecca shares how a severe health crisis triggered a cascade of physical and mental struggles, culminating in a full nervous system collapse during the pandemic. She speaks candidly about the reality of waking up with "a gun to the head" kind of fear, the quiet shame of high-functioning breakdowns, and the difficult decision to enter rehab for a short-term prescription addiction that turned into something far more gripping.

Together, Pandora and Rebecca explore:

• What extreme anxiety really feels like behind closed doors
• The hidden risks of benzodiazepine dependency — even in short-term use
• The power of honesty, vulnerability, and telling people: “I’m not okay”
• How regenerative farming and nature became a vital part of her recovery
• Navigating eco-grief and finding hope in a world on fire
• The daily rituals that helped her slowly rebuild her mental health

Now thriving after what she calls the most transformative year of her life, Rebecca offers a message of hope to anyone feeling like they can’t go on: Start small. Lay a single brick. And know that it all adds up.

This is a conversation about resilience, self-compassion, and the quiet power of starting over—at any age.

Find Rebecca:

Website: https://www.rebeccafrayn.com/

Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Pandora returns for a very personal solo episode, reflecting on themes of shame, self-worth, identity, and belonging. After a tough few weeks of physical pain and mental spiralling, she shares how reconnecting with her values — and stepping out of the victim mindset — has helped her find a little more hope.

Drawing on her lived experience with OCD and an eating disorder, she opens up about the difference between fitting in and belonging — and how so much of her life has been shaped by the struggle to feel understood. From childhood compulsions to navigating stigma, isolation, and shame, Pandora explores what it means to advocate for yourself and live in alignment with who you truly are.

In this episode, Pandora discusses:

• How physical pain can intensify mental rumination and anxiety
• Her personal battle with OCD and the intense shame that often accompanies it
• Why belonging is a human need, and why fitting in often isn’t the answer
• The emotional toll of growing up misunderstood — and how healing begins with being seen
• Creating space for your quirks, needs, and values — and the courage it takes to do so

She also references:

• Lucy Hale’s conversation on the Lewis Howes Podcast — on shame, addiction, and recovery
• Elizabeth Day’s book Friendaholic, exploring the purpose and evolution of friendships
• Johann Hari’s work on addiction and connection
• Oscar Wilde’s famous quote: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Plus — a reminder to catch this week’s powerful guest episode with Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey, author of Unplugged, on how social media and digital addiction are impacting children’s mental health — and how we can help: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dr-elizabeth-kilbey-on-the-truth-about-children-tech/id1649515453?i=1000709086046

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

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In today’s episode of Healing 101, we sit down with former England rugby star, author, and mental health advocate James Haskell for a raw conversation about men’s mental health., James opens up about the psychological toll of elite performance, the silence that surrounds vulnerability in men’s sport, and the damaging myths around masculinity. He reflects on his own experiences with ADHD, self-doubt, and grief, while calling for a cultural shift where emotional honesty is not only accepted but encouraged.

Find James:

Instagram: @jameshaskell

Website: https://jameshaskell.co.uk/

Podcasts: https://jameshaskell.co.uk/podcast/

Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

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In today’s episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey — a clinical psychologist

and author you might recognise from the Channel 4 series The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year

Olds.

Off the back of Adolescence, the recent Netflix series that’s struck such a chord with so

many of us, I wanted to sit down with Elizabeth to explore how our children are really coping

in a world increasingly shaped by screens, social media, and pressure. We talk about

emotional resilience, why the latency years are so important, and how we as parents can

offer support without stepping into fear or guilt.

Elizabeth brings clarity and compassion to a subject that can feel overwhelming — and I

think many of you will find a lot of comfort and understanding in this conversation.

Find out more on Elizabeth:

Website: elizabethkilbey.com

Books: The 7 Secrets of Raising Happy Children and other titles available via Amazon

TV Appearances: The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds on Channel 4

Instagram: @drelizabethkilbey

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Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

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