On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, performer and entertainer Mark Hayden takes us behind the curtain — sharing his journey from drama school to pantomime and murder mystery events, and exploring how the performing arts create genuine human connection in an increasingly disconnected world.

Mark reflects on the discipline and resilience required by drama school training, the reality of persistence in the acting industry, and how his passion for performance found its deepest purpose not just on stage but in education and community. He also examines the impact of technology and social media on the way we communicate, and makes the case for the irreplaceable power of live, in-person experience to bring people together.

Key Topics

Mark's path from drama school training to professional performer
The persistence required to build a career in the acting industry
Using performance skills in education to engage and inspire young people
How pantomime and murder mystery events build community and shared joy
The effect of technology and social media on authentic human communication

About Mark Hayden
Mark Hayden is a performer, entertainer, and educator whose work spans acting, pantomime, and interactive murder mystery events. Trained at drama school, he has built a career around using the power of performance to entertain, connect, and bring communities together — both on and off the stage.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, physiotherapist and marathon runner Nicky Edwards shares her journey from lung surgery to the finish line — and her powerful mission to help women stay strong, active, and purposeful at every stage of life.

Nicky discovered physiotherapy through a sports injury module during her sports science degree, and went on to specialise in female health and running. She speaks candidly about the unique challenges women face in maintaining fitness — from hormonal changes and childcare pressures to caring for ageing relatives — and why these challenges make staying active not just beneficial but essential. Her own experience recovering from lung surgery and returning to marathon running is a testament to the body's extraordinary capacity to heal and adapt.

Key Topics

Nicky's path from hockey player to physio to marathon runner — including lung surgery recovery
Why female-specific training matters and how women's bodies respond differently to exercise
Staying active through life's competing demands: hormones, childcare, and caring responsibilities
Practical ways to start or restart exercise: walking, strength training, and HIIT
The long-term benefits of movement for women's health, wellbeing, and longevity

About Nicky Edwards
Nicky Edwards is a physiotherapist specialising in female health and running, with a particular passion for helping women stay active through all stages of life. A marathon runner herself, she brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to her work, showing that it is never too late — or too hard — to prioritise your health.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, Deborah Franklin — CEO, educator, and accidental publisher — gives a refreshingly honest look at what it really takes to get a book out into the world, and why helping others tell their stories has become her greatest mission.

Deborah stumbled into publishing while searching for additional income streams, and discovered a calling: helping aspiring authors turn their dreams into published reality. With over 20 years in education and a publishing company running simultaneously, she brings a uniquely grounded perspective to the industry. She busts common myths about publishing, breaks down why marketing matters as much as writing, and shares her conviction that the best stories are honest, gritty, and real.

Key Topics

How Deborah entered publishing by accident — and why it became her purpose
Balancing 20+ years in education with running a publishing company
The biggest misconceptions aspiring authors have about the publishing industry
Why marketing and promotion are just as important as writing a great book
What makes a story truly powerful — and how to tell one honestly

About Deborah Franklin
Deborah Franklin is the CEO of Deborah Franklin Publishing and a career educator with over two decades of experience in the classroom. She founded her publishing company to help aspiring authors navigate the industry and achieve their dream of becoming published — expanding the conversation about what a successful career can look like.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, AI consultant and property developer Shafiq Sharif opens up about a lifelong battle with anxiety — and how pushing through it, rather than around it, led him to build a remarkable career and a deeply purposeful life.

Shafiq traces his anxiety back to childhood, when his father's hospitalisation first triggered a fear response that would resurface throughout his life in different forms. He shares candidly about the therapies and coaching approaches that helped, the importance of finding the right support, and how he ultimately chose to lean into his fears — including conquering public speaking. Today he channels that hard-won resilience into helping business owners harness AI and use property investment to build lasting wealth.

Key Topics

How childhood trauma can plant the roots of anxiety that resurface in adulthood
Finding the right therapy and support system to manage and overcome anxiety
The decision to push through fear rather than avoid it — including public speaking
Shafiq's path from anxiety sufferer to AI consultant and property developer
How AI is transforming the way business owners operate and grow

About Shafiq Sharif
Shafiq Sharif is an AI consultant and property developer who helps business owners implement AI strategies to streamline operations and accelerate growth. His own journey from childhood anxiety to entrepreneurial success is a testament to the power of seeking help, doing the inner work, and refusing to let fear define your future.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, publisher and entrepreneur Ousha Demello shares her extraordinary journey from surviving emotional abuse to founding a publishing company — proving that our most painful chapters can become the catalyst for our greatest purpose.
 
Ousha opens up about the courage it took to leave an abusive relationship and make the bold decision to pursue her passion. That turning point led her to write her own story, and then to create a publishing house dedicated to helping others share theirs. Her conversation is a powerful exploration of resilience, the role of visualisation in creating change, and how embracing vulnerability can transform not only your own life but the lives of others.
 
Key Topics
 
Leaving an abusive relationship and reclaiming your identity and agency
How writing your story can be the first step toward healing and empowerment
Ousha's transition from business lecturer to author and publishing entrepreneur
The power of bold decisions and visualising the future you want to create
Helping others tell their stories as a pathway to healing and impact
 
About Ousha Demello
Ousha Demello is a publisher, entrepreneur, and author who turned her experience of overcoming abuse into a mission to amplify the voices of others. As founder of her own publishing company, she works with aspiring authors to help them transform their personal stories into powerful books that inspire and create change.
 

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, Tem — a teacher with 15 years in the classroom — gets honest about the realities of modern teaching: the burnout, the boundaries, and the deep sense of purpose that keeps educators going, even when the system makes it hard.

Tem shares her own journey navigating the pressures of teaching while maintaining her own wellbeing, and explains why self-care and clear boundaries are not luxuries for teachers — they are survival tools. She also speaks candidly about the challenges students face today, from anxiety to underdeveloped social skills, and why a more personalised approach to education is urgently needed. Her podcast, Helping Teachers Thrive, grew from a desire to give teachers the practical strategies and confidence to stay in the vocation they love.

Key Topics

Why burnout is so prevalent in teaching and how to recognise the warning signs
The importance of setting boundaries to sustain a long teaching career
Supporting students through anxiety, social challenges, and changing needs
The case for a more personalised, human-centred approach to education
How teachers can build confidence and find renewed purpose in the classroom

About Tem
Tem is a teacher, coach, and podcaster with 15 years of classroom experience. Through her podcast Helping Teachers Thrive, she provides practical support, strategies, and encouragement to educators navigating the demands of modern teaching. Her mission is to help teachers not just survive in their roles — but genuinely thrive.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, health coach Ryan Douglas exposes the shocking gap between mainstream health advice and what actually works — sharing his own transformation and the practical strategies he now uses to help clients with serious health conditions reclaim their vitality.

Ryan's journey started with his own health struggles, which led him to question widely accepted beliefs about diet and nutrition. What he discovered changed everything. Now, through one-to-one coaching and his Health Wealth podcast, he helps people cut through the noise, make evidence-based changes to their lifestyle, and take genuine ownership of their health — sometimes achieving results their doctors said weren't possible.

Key Topics

Why so much mainstream health and nutrition advice is misleading or simply wrong
Ryan's personal health transformation and what sparked his shift to coaching
Working with clients who have serious health conditions through diet and lifestyle change
How to question and critically evaluate health narratives in the media
Real-life success stories and what they reveal about the body's capacity to heal

About Ryan Douglas
Ryan Douglas is a health coach and host of the Health Wealth podcast, dedicated to helping people navigate the often confusing world of diet, nutrition, and wellness. Having transformed his own health by challenging conventional wisdom, he now empowers clients — particularly those dealing with chronic or serious conditions — to find their own path to lasting wellbeing.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, Feng Shui therapist Cathi Hargaden reveals how our homes are far more than shelter — they are mirrors of our inner world, and understanding them can unlock profound shifts in health, wellbeing, and personal transformation.

Cathi explains the philosophy behind Feng Shui, rooted in the five Chinese elements of earth, water, wood, metal, and fire, and how aligning your environment with your authentic self creates harmony, clarity, and space for growth. She explores the spiritual dimension of architecture, the hidden toll of clutter, and why true Feng Shui is never prescriptive — it is always deeply personal.

Key Topics

The five Chinese elements and how they create balance in your home and life
How your environment directly influences your physical and mental wellbeing
The spiritual connection between architecture, space, and the divine
Why Feng Shui is a highly individualised practice — not a set of rules
How clearing clutter and creating intentional space enables personal transformation

About Cathi Hargaden
Cathi Hargaden is a Feng Shui therapist and space alignment specialist who helps individuals decode the hidden messages in their homes. Drawing on ancient Chinese philosophy and a deep understanding of how environment affects human wellbeing, she guides clients to create spaces that truly reflect who they are and support the life they want to live.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, Elke Wallace — founder of Mastering Your Mind Matters — reveals how understanding your own brain is the ultimate key to unlocking confidence, authentic leadership, and lasting personal transformation.

Elke shares her own journey from introvert to confident speaker and connector, exploring how brain assessments and neuro agility profiling can help anyone identify their unique cognitive strengths. She unpacks the deep relationship between emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and effective leadership, and explains why stimulating the brain through new experiences and genuine human connection is essential for both performance and wellbeing.

Key Topics

How brain assessments and neuro agility profiles reveal your unique cognitive strengths
The link between emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and great leadership
Elke's personal journey from shyness and fear to confidence and connection
Why face-to-face interaction and novel experiences are vital for brain health
Practical strategies for optimising brain function in everyday life

About Elke Wallace
Elke Wallace is the founder of Mastering Your Mind Matters, a consultancy dedicated to helping individuals and organisations unlock brain performance and emotional intelligence. Through neuro agility assessments and brain-based coaching, she guides clients to overcome fear, build confidence, and step into more effective, purposeful leadership.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com

On this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, Petrina Ten shares her remarkable journey from Malaysia to the UK — and from accountancy to iridology, nutrition, TV chef, and author — proving that with determination and a willingness to follow your calling, it is never too late to reinvent yourself.

Petrina's story is one of independence, self-reinvention, and a deep commitment to helping others thrive. She explains how iridology reveals organ weaknesses and how natural remedies can restore health, shares her experience navigating the surge in mental wellbeing challenges during the pandemic, and reflects on the role of food, cooking, and writing in her own journey to purpose.

Key Topics

Petrina's path from Malaysia to the UK and from accountancy to natural health
How iridology works and what it reveals about organ health
The impact of the pandemic on mental wellbeing and the role of comfort eating
Trusting the process during life's unexpected transitions
From practitioner to TV chef to published author — following multiple callings

About Petrina Ten
Petrina Ten is a nutritionist, iridologist, TV chef, and author based in the UK. Originally from Malaysia, she made a bold transition from a career in accountancy to becoming a natural health practitioner, helping clients identify and address organ weaknesses through iridology and personalised nutrition. Her journey is a testament to the power of trusting yourself and following your purpose wherever it leads.

Journey to Purpose is a personal transformation podcast featuring real conversations about mindset, trauma recovery, self-worth, spiritual awakening, resilience, and finding your life’s purpose. New episodes every week. 🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Of0Na1qWovS8Aw2X2FU8M 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philippa.bagley/ 🌐 Website: https://philippabagley.com/ Subscribe and leave a review — it helps others find the show.

About your host
Pippa Bagley is a clinical hypnotherapist specialising in burnout and sleep, and the host of Journey to Purpose. Based in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, she is passionate about helping people reconnect with what truly matters — and build lives and careers that feel genuinely sustainable. Pippa is also studying for an MSc in the Neuroscience and Psychology of Mental Health at King’s College London. Find out more at philippabagley.com