Lauren Sellick's story takes us through bereavement, betrayal, redundancy, lockdown, romance scams, perinatal mental health struggles and the difficult reality of becoming a mum when you're not sure you can be what your baby needs.

Lauren fell in love believing she'd found her person, only to have her marriage end in a five-minute phone call. Already feeling isolated and unwanted, she was later drawn into a romance scam that ultimately cost her £40,000. Looking back, Lauren recognises a deep need to be needed, something she now understands much more clearly. 

Then came motherhood. Lauren experienced depression, anxiety and psychosis during the perinatal period, and struggled profoundly to bond with her daughter, until one tiny moment, her daughter reaching out and holding her finger, became a turning point. 

Today, Lauren has channelled her experiences, alongside her background in animal behaviour, welfare and teaching, into Wild Minds - bringing nature, interactive activities and conversation into classes for babies, toddlers and their parents. 

This is a conversation about vulnerability, connection, motherhood, self-worth and learning to trust yourself.

And perhaps, ultimately, about discovering that you were enough all along.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

What if the things we’ve been told about ourselves become the very things that hold us back?

At 72, Christine Worthington is a healthy living advocate, coach and lifelong learner who is still curious about what’s possible. And yet, her story began with being told, in effect, that she wasn’t quite good enough.

Leaving school at 16 with few qualifications, Christine went on to study through evening classes, move into education, become a lecturer and senior manager, and gain further qualifications along the way. She also experienced imposter syndrome and the pressure of constantly feeling she had to prove herself.

In this conversation, we talk about the power of lifelong learning, overcoming negative self-talk, reinventing yourself and being willing to start something new at any age. Christine shares how she learned to recognise that little voice telling her she didn’t belong, and how she turned it into determination, thinking “I’ll show you, I can do this.” 

We also explore the life she thought she might have, the choices and compromises that shaped the life she actually created, and why she believes it’s more important to ask “What can I do today?” than dwell on what might have been.

Christine talks about “reverse ageing”, staying physically and mentally active, curiosity, community and what she calls being “functionally fit”, including still wanting to kick a ball around with her grandson.

And if you’re listening and thinking you’ve missed your opportunity, Christine is here to remind us, you can start anytime.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

Sometimes the episode you planned isn't the one you end up releasing.

After attending a celebration of life service and then unexpectedly losing her Tower Captain just days later, Sarah found herself asking some difficult questions.

What really matters?

What will people remember about us?

And how much of life are we missing while we're busy preparing for the future?

In this honest and reflective solo episode, Sarah shares why she chose to step away from work for an afternoon, what a simple walk by the river taught her, and the quiet shift she's noticing in what truly matters.

If you've been carrying the weight of work, finances, doing, being or simply keep all the plates spinning, this gentle conversation is a reminder to pause...

Because your heartbeat means you're alive.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

What if recovery didn't end when rehabilitation did?

When Victoria Jones' father suffered a major stroke in 2023, life changed in an instant. As she watched him navigate the months that followed, she also discovered something many families experience: the gap between clinical rehabilitation and the realities of everyday life.

That journey transformed Victoria's career and inspired her to create her work supporting stroke survivors and their families, helping them understand that meaningful progress can continue long after formal rehabilitation has ended.

In this heartfelt conversation, Victoria shares her father's remarkable story, the power of hope, why prevention matters just as much as treatment, and how simple lifestyle changes, including knowing your blood pressure, could make a life-changing difference.

Whether you've been affected by stroke personally, care for someone who has, or simply want to reduce your own risk, this episode is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible, prevention matters, and hope should never be underestimated.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

What if resilience isn't about being fearless... rather about the choices we make when life doesn't go to plan?

In this deeply personal episode, Sarah chats with Carey Winder, who is sharing a part of her story publicly for the very first time.

Diagnosed with Turner syndrome at 13, Carey found herself navigating growth hormone injections, regular hospital appointments and being told she could never have children. Yet rather than allowing a diagnosis to define her, she chose to focus on what was possible.

Their conversation also explores the challenges that have continued to test her resilience, from her dad's heart attack and a devastating house fire to personal loss and heartbreak, and why she believes that every setback has ultimately shaped the person she is today.

Above all, this isn't simply a conversation about Turner syndrome. It's about perspective, purpose and the quiet decisions we make every day that help us keep moving forward.

Whether you're facing uncertainty, rebuilding after adversity or simply need a reminder that your circumstances don't have to define your future, this episode is for you.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

What does it really mean to "bring sunshine"?
​
After joining 100 volunteers on the beach at Morecambe, Lancashire, to celebrate what would have been Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday, I came home reflecting on something far bigger than a famous comedian and a familiar song.
​
It was about kindness.
It was about community.
It was about the memories that unexpectedly transport us back to the people we love.
​
In this solo episode, I share the story behind an unforgettable afternoon, how laughter connected complete strangers, why a simple T-shirt reading Kindness Changes Everythingstayed with me, and how the day reminded me that our greatest legacy may not be what we achieve, but how we leave people feeling.
 
So, wherever you're listening today, I hope this episode encourages you to leave someone feeling just a little lighter than you found them.
 
Because perhaps... that's what bringing sunshine has meant all along.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

What if joy isn't something we find once life gets easier... rather the very thing that helps us through life's hardest seasons?

In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah sits down with entrepreneur, creative director and Joy First® founder J. Nichole Smith to explore a journey shaped by burnout, crippling self-doubt, people-pleasing and the pursuit of proving her worth.

Together they unpack the moments that changed everything, from pretending to be confident until confidence became real, to a life-changing realisation on Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island that success wasn't what she was searching for after all.

This is a conversation about choosing purpose over pressure, recognising the breadcrumbs that quietly lead us towards joy, and discovering that perhaps the life we've been striving for is closer than we think.

Whether you're navigating burnout, questioning your direction, or simply longing for a little more peace, this episode offers hope that joy isn't reserved for perfect moments... it's available to us, even in the messy middle.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

How many times have you looked in the mirror and decided you weren't enough?

In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, Sarah sits down with body image coach and mentor Natalie Trusdale to explore the hidden emotional struggles behind body confidence, self-worth and the exhausting pursuit of perfection.

Natalie shares her own journey through body dysmorphia and anorexia nervosa, revealing how a need for control became a coping mechanism during life's uncertainties, and how studying psychology helped her understand that our thoughts, beliefs and habits can be changed with compassion rather than criticism.

Together, Sarah and Natalie explore why so many women spend years believing they'll finally be happy "when…", when they're thinner, fitter or somehow different, and why lasting confidence has very little to do with the number on the scales.

They also discuss the link between body image, ADHD, perfectionism and self-criticism, along with practical ways to quieten the inner critic and begin treating ourselves with greater kindness.

This is a conversation for anyone who's ever avoided a photograph, questioned their reflection or wondered if feeling "good enough" is always just out of reach.

Because perhaps the relationship we need to change isn't with our body... it's with ourselves.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

Growing up in Nadezhda (a Roma neighbourhood in Bulgaria whose name translates as "Hope"), Mihail "Misho" Mishev learned early that hope alone isn't enough.

Raised by a single mother who often worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, Misho experienced first-hand the challenges that come with poverty, exclusion, and limited opportunity. Yet rather than allowing those circumstances to define him, he used them as fuel to create change.

Today, Misho is an award-winning journalist, political commentator, Co-Chair of Amnesty International Bulgaria, Editor-in-Chief of Romalo, and a passionate advocate for democracy, dignity, and social justice.

In this conversation, Misho shares the experiences that shaped his worldview, the moment he found his voice as an activist, and why creating opportunities for others matters just as much as personal success.

Together, we explore identity, resilience, community leadership, and the power of taking small steps toward meaningful change.

It's a conversation about hope, belonging, and what becomes possible when one person chooses to open doors for those who follow.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

In this episode, Sarah chats with Sally Saint about childhood trauma, perfectionism, and the long journey back to herself.

Growing up on a small farm in a family shaped by unspoken trauma, Sally learned early how to stay small, stay quiet, and survive. Diagnosed with ME at just 16, she spent years navigating illness, healing, motherhood, and the gradual unraveling of patterns that had once protected her.

Together, Sarah and Sally explore how perfectionism can become a bodyguard formed in childhood, why we often normalise what isn't normal, and what it takes to move from surviving to truly living.

This is an honest and compassionate conversation about trauma, resilience, self-discovery, and the courage to find your voice.

Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.