Shame-less Stories

Trigger Warning:

This episode contains open and candid conversations about childhood trauma, family dysfunction, emotional abuse, financial hardship, and motherhood challenges. Please listen with care, especially if you are navigating trauma, burnout, or generational wounds.

In this rich, raw, and radically honest conversation, I am joined by the incomparable Rebecca Barr - money mentor, business growth strategist, intuitive coach, and proud mum of six - for a soul-shaking episode that dives deep into the intersections of shame, self-trust, success, and feminine leadership.

Together, we unpack:

- Rebecca’s powerful personal story - from growing up in chaos and shame, to building and walking away from a million-pound property empire, and finally stepping into her truth as an entrepreneur and healer.

- Why our relationship with money is never just about money, and how subconscious beliefs, worthiness wounds, and generational trauma all impact what we allow ourselves to receive.

- How the corporate world conditions women to play small, and how many of us end up recreating it in our businesses without realising.

- The identity shift that comes with actually healing and learning to embody your full power.

- The power of Human Design and leaning into your natural energy type as a business owner.

- Parenting, homeschooling, and healing your inner child while raising conscious, creative kids, and why your healing truly is your legacy.

- Why you don’t need a sales page, email list or perfectly curated feed to build a thriving business; just conviction, clarity, and courage to do it your way.

Plus: burnout, intuition, the rise of feminine leadership, rejection as protection, and letting go of the boss babe blueprint for good.

Rebecca's upcoming event:

The Wealthy Woman CEO Event - March 2026

A one-of-a-kind experience blending strategy and soul, featuring firewalking, sound healing, powerhouse speakers, and unapologetic feminine energy.

Rebecca's book:

The Good Girl’s Guide to Moneymaking

Rebecca’s bestselling book helping women rewrite their money stories and embrace unapologetic wealth.

You can find out more about Rebecca here:

Instagram - @thefemalepreneurcoach

Website - https://www.thefemalepreneurcoach.co.uk/

If you’ve ever felt like you were “too messy,” “too emotional,” or “too much” to be successful, this one’s for you. Let it remind you that your story is your strength.

Trigger Warning:

This episode contains open and heartfelt discussion around termination, miscarriage, baby loss, fertility struggles, and grief. Please listen with care, especially if you are currently navigating loss or trauma.

In this raw, soulful, and powerful episode, Sarah is joined by spirit baby medium, soul plan coach, and author Debra Kilby for a conversation that reaches deep into the heart of what it means to carry shame, and how we can begin to release it.

With laughter, emotion, and gentle truth-telling, Sarah and Debra explore:

The spiritual and emotional layers of baby loss, miscarriage, and termination

Debra’s personal story of loss and the birth of her book, Rosa’s Choice

How shame is a man-made trauma response, not a truth of the soul

What spirit babies want their parents to know, and how they are never victims

Reframing grief as growth and guilt as an invitation to heal

Why women’s choices have been controlled for centuries, and how we reclaim our power

This is a deeply human, spiritual, and healing conversation for anyone who has felt the weight of shame around their fertility journey or reproductive choices. It's also a hopeful reminder that joy, love, and choice are always within reach, and that we are not alone.

—

Connect with Debra Kilby:

Website: www.debrakilby.com

Book: Rosa’s Choice

Instagram: @debrakilbyhealing

Services: Spirit Baby Readings | Soul Plan Work | From Here to Maternity Programme

In this powerful role-reversal episode, Nicola Humber (founder of ⁠The Unbound Press⁠) takes the mic and interviews our host, Sarah Lloyd, on the very theme that underpins this podcast: shame.

But this isn’t your typical interview! It’s a deep, raw, and beautifully honest conversation between two women who’ve dedicated their work to truth-telling and shadow-walking.

In this episode, we explore:

- Why shame chose Sarah, not the other way around

- How Sarah’s PR background collided with her spiritual journey

- The link between shame and external validation, especially for women

- Personal stories of "not enough-ness," people-pleasing, and high heels at awards shows

- How working with shame isn’t about having it all figured out, but staying with it, witnessing it, and transmuting it

- What it really means to live shamelessly in parenting, in publishing, and in being seen

Sarah also shares:

- The story behind Shame-less Stories, the podcast and upcoming book

- Why no story is “too small” and how everyday shame shapes our lives

- An open invitation for contributors who want to write, reflect, or share their own shame-to-shameless journey

Want to be part of the book?

Sarah’s calling in diverse voices, real reflections, and messy, human truth-telling, from poetry to prose, from little shames to life-changing moments. If you feel the nudge, reach out to her directly ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ Key takeaway:

We don’t need to be done with shame to do this work. We just need to be willing to face it, name it, and find our freedom through it.

What happens when your body calls time on the life you’ve been pushing through?

This week’s episode is a deeply powerful conversation with Wendy-Anne Steer, a woman who went from a high-achieving corporate career to lying on the floor, unable to hold a hairdryer. Her story is one of complete burnout, ME and ultimately, transformation.

We talk about:

✨ The shame of not being able to do “the basics” and how recovery can start with something as simple as emptying a dishwasher

✨ Losing identity, ambition, and energy and finding new meaning in the stillness

✨ The link between ME, autism, ADHD, and nervous system burnout

✨ Letting go of labels and choosing to alchemise your experience into something beautiful

✨ Why retreats, space, and nervous system repair are non-negotiables (not luxuries)

Wendy shares her journey of burning out, breaking down, and rebuilding - not as the woman she was before, but as something more whole, more intuitive, and more real.

If you’ve ever felt like your body betrayed you, like you’ve “failed” for not coping, or like you’re craving a softer, wiser way of living… this one will hit you in the heart.

About Wendy:

Wendy, known as The Well-Being Alchemist, has dedicated the past 20 years to the relentless pursuit of knowledge in well-being and various healing modalities. Her journey began with a deeply personal and transformative experience: at the age of 30, she was diagnosed with M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This unexpected challenge put a sudden halt to her career and marked the most humbling and educational period of her life. After enduring three long years of suffering, Wendy made a complete recovery, a triumph that fueled her passion for helping others find their well-being balance.

Driven by her own experience and an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Wendy has trained extensively in numerous healing modalities. Her commitment to Continuing Professional Development is unwavering, a testament to her dedication to both her clients and her personal growth. Affectionately dubbed a "Learning Slut" by a friend, Wendy embraces this moniker with pride, continually seeking to expand her expertise.

Nature serves as Wendy's sanctuary and source of healing. She finds solace and rejuvenation in activities like Stand Up Paddleboarding and Wild Swimming, even braving the cold to swim through the last six winters.

Residing in the serene landscapes of Lincolnshire with her Hubster and their now adult twins, Wendy continues to inspire and guide individuals on their paths to well-being, embodying the alchemical transformation she so passionately promotes.

Connect with Wendy:

Website: https://thewellbeingalchemist.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendy.alchemy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_wellbeing_alchemist/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendyalchemy/

In this uplifting and candid episode of Shame-less Stories, I am joined by the irrepressible Cat Googe, The Joy Queen herself! Together, we dive deep into how joy, laughter, and self-love can be radical acts of rebellion, healing, and self-validation.

Cat Googe - AKA The Joy Queen - is super passionate about JOY and teaches how to intentionally bring it into everyday life instead of waiting for it to happen. She loves to facilitate this through her unique blend of laughter yoga, reiki and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming.) Before following her calling to bring more joy into the world Cat spent twenty years in education working as a primary school teacher. During this time she deepened her understanding of the power of cultivating a positive mindset and creating healthy habits to help you flourish and embarked on her journey to acquire tools to support emotional, physical and spiritual health.

Using these tools, Cat has crafted a powerful framework to help you shift what’s feeling stuck and get intentional with prioritising yourself so you can feel more energised and JOY-FULL! Cat delivers transformational workshops and has performed at many events and festivals including Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place, Mind Body Spirit Festival and Glastonbury. She also loves to work 1-2-1 and in her membership The Inner Joy Circle. Cat uses her unique blend of modalities to help her clients identify energy drains and learn how to embody simple yet powerful practices to support their emotional wellbeing even when a lot of life is going on.

Trigger Warnings:

This episode contains discussions about parental estrangement, family trauma, and emotional abuse. These topics are handled with care and compassion but may be sensitive for some listeners.

Connect with Cat:

Follow her vibrant journey and learn more about her laughter yoga and joy workshops:

🔗 Instagram: @catgoogeofficial

🌐 Website & Events: catgooge.com

Check out where Cat is bringing joy next, from MindBodySpirit to Wellergy and beyond!

Final Words from Cat:

“If you feel far removed from joy, just do one small thing each day that puts a smile on your face. And notice it. That small act is enough to shift everything.”

In this episode of Shame-less Stories, I am joined by Sandrine Olmi, a down-to-earth nutritional therapist and mother who blends science and intuition to help women and families nourish themselves and ditch the shame around eating.

Together, we explore how food can be a source of strength and empowerment (rather than stress!), especially for mothers navigating perimenopause, parenting, and the messy middle of life.

Trigger Warnings:

Brief mentions of anxiety and sleep deprivation

Discussions of chronic digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies

Brief mention of disordered eating patterns (but no graphic detail)

In this episode you will hear about:

• How Sandrine went from a marketing career to nutritionist after healing her own gut issues
• Why digestive health, hormone balance, and anxiety are so interlinked
• The shame women often feel around feeding themselves (and their kids!) and how to reframe it
• Gentle, sustainable nutrition swaps to boost energy and mood
• The power of nutrigenomics testing for neurodivergent children and those with sleep/anxiety issues
• How Sandrine balances real-life motherhood and nutrition (hint: pancakes with hidden veggies!)
• Why “no guilt” and enjoyment are essential parts of healthy eating
• How relaxing around mealtime can transform family wellbeing

Easy nutrition swaps shared by Sandrine

✅ Swap white bread/pasta for wholegrain to boost B vitamins

✅ Sweet potato jackets instead of white potatoes for a fibre-rich meal

✅ Add protein, healthy fats, or colours to every meal to sustain energy

✅ Smoothies with surprising ingredients (like cauliflower!) to fuel kids

✅ Make meals playful and adaptable to each child’s needs

Connect with Sandrine:

Website: savoirfayre.co.uk

Instagram: @savoirfayre_nutrition

Facebook Group: Your Hormone Harmony (focused on PMS and hormonal health tips!)

Whether you’re a mum juggling a million things or simply trying to find more ease in your relationship with food, this episode will inspire you to nourish yourself and your family with more compassion, and less shame.

In this episode of Shame-less Stories, I am joined by the compassionate, wise, and quietly rebellious Kerry Tottingham, co-founder of A Brilliant Thing CIC, author of Healing-Centred Transformation, and co-creator of the Brilliant Box coaching cards.

Together, we explore what it means to build a values-led business in a system that often rewards burnout, compliance, and shame. Kerry shares her powerful framework for healing-centred design, blending trauma-informed practice, creative coaching, and systems thinking, to help individuals and organisations design work that truly works for them.

You will hear all about:

• How Kerry turned her lived experience of caregiving, chronic illness, and community work into a transformational framework

• Why "selling" can feel icky and how to shift toward inviting, not pitching

• The difference between trauma-informed and healing-centred approaches

• How entrepreneurs and changemakers can build businesses with wellbeing at the core

• Practical rituals and rhythms that ground you in chaotic times

• Why Kerry and her team delete all their emails every August (!), and what happened when others followed suit

• Building a future with collective care, rebellion, and brilliance at the centre

Upcoming Event: Mend, Tend & Change the Future

Where: GRIT Studios, Manchester.

When: 21st June 2025.

A joyful, action-oriented event for founders, freelancers, and changemakers with workshops, speakers, markets, and live storytelling

Find out more here: https://brilliantthing.co.uk/2025event/

Connect with Kerry & A Brilliant Thing CIC:

Website: brilliantthing.co.uk

Instagram: @abrilliantthing

This week on Shameless Stories, I welcome the radiant and wildly multi-dimensional Gill Kirkham, founder of State Change Alchemy, mind alchemist, and high-performance coach for soul-led leaders.

In this expansive and thought-provoking episode, Gill shares what it means to be a “mind alchemist”, turning emotional lead into gold and how she guides intuitive leaders, coaches, and change-makers to clear old patterns, reclaim their full expression, and live in deep soul alignment.

Gill opens up about her once-shameful story of healing Covid energetically on a beach in Wales; a moment she would have previously hidden for fear of judgement. She now boldly speaks her truth and this conversation dives deep into what’s possible when we move past societal programming and into unapologetic authenticity.

In this episode, we explore:

- What it means to alchemise emotional density into energetic gold  

- The power of storytelling without indulging in shame or blame  

- Energetic self-healing, interdimensional connection, and the intelligence of the body  

- Why language, words, and even thoughts are spells and how to shift your inner dialogue  

- The role of entities, energetic interference, and how Gill clears them with ease  

- Spiritual boundaries, energetic sovereignty, and the end of the “rescue” narrative  

- How ADHD, high sensitivity, and neurodivergence can be portals to deeper purpose  

- Why we’re done with performing perfection and ready to live in full-spectrum truth

Connect with Gill:

- Website: https://www.gillkirkham.com 

- For private sessions, mentorship, or training: See upcoming offerings on her site

Power of Us | Club Quantum, Tunbridge Wells | 22nd May 2025 7pm - 11pm

In this heart-opening episode of Shame-less Stories, I am joined by the luminous co-creators of The Power of Us, Natalie Farrell and Emily Doe. Together, they dive deep into what it means to use your voice unapologetically, shed the shame of being “too much”, and create spaces where authenticity and vulnerability are not just welcomed, but celebrated.

They share with me some exciting details about their upcoming event, The Power of Us,a special event designed to celebrate and showcase the incredible journeys and talent of local entrepreneurs, held at Club Quantum in Tunbridge Wells on 22nd May 2025 7pm - 11pm. Founded by Natalie Farrell, local singer, talent scout and sound healer, The Power of Us is an evening packed with the remarkable stories and talents of local business owners who have come together to support one another through collaboration and community spirit.

There will be inspirational talks and stories of resilience, vulnerability, and triumph shared by speakers who have embraced the power of their voice in order to inspire and attain success. Plus music and songs performed by Natalie and others in the line up.

The lineup features an inspiring group of entrepreneurs, including:

Danijela Colic - the Founder of Club Quantum, an evening hotspot with a heart.

Nicola Humber - Author and Founder of The Unbound Press - publishing imprint of rebel women.

Lillia Fedorenko - Yoga teacher, singer, and massage therapist, who relocated to Tunbridge Wells from Ukraine, where she now runs a flourishing business.

Natalie Farrell - Founder of The Power of Us, singer, author, and talent agent.

Buckso Dhillon-Woolley, Hollywood Actress and Founder of Haus of Wisdom magazine.

For tickets and further information, please visit: www.nataliefarrell.co/the-power-of-us

In this episode of Shame-less Stories, I am joined by the vibrant and inspiring Elisabeth Carley-Leonard, accidental influencer, founder of Vibes and Visibility social media agency, and a powerhouse advocate for living life unapologetically.

Elisabeth shares her incredible journey of transformation, from being elbow deep in the UK music scene - running her own venue and securing major grants - to realising that the life she had built was no longer bringing her joy. In a raw and courageous move, she left her marriage, her business, her home, and started over in London with just £100 to her name.

We dive deep into:

- The hidden shame of changing your mind after building a life others expect of you

- The power of recognising when your values shift, and allowing yourself to change too

- Why social media should be fun, not forced, and how Elisabeth helps clients rediscover their true voice online

- How ADHD, personal development, and ditching perfectionism have helped Elisabeth thrive

- Why showing your real, unpolished self is the ultimate magnet for authentic connections

- How redefining professionalism can unleash your best business success yet

Elisabeth’s honesty about shame, burnout, people-pleasing, and personal reinvention will resonate with anyone who's ever felt trapped by "shoulds."

You can find out more about Elisabeth here:

Instagram

TikTok⁠Facebook

and more about Elisabeth's social media agency here:

https://www.vibesandvisibility.com/

Instagram - Vibes and Visibility

Elisabeth's book recommendation:

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero