This is one of those remarkable interviews that will surprise you, pull on your heart strings and reveal the depth of the human spirit. Growing up in a conservative, deeply religious London family, our guest Vinny reveals how he strayed into a life of crime, addiction, and self-destruction. His rock bottom moment came after months of heavy substance abuse, a heart attack, and a near-tragic incident involving his wife and children. From functioning as a plumber constantly under the influence, to spiraling emotionally, Vinny’s mantra, “I’ve got this,” was a lie that masked his slow self-destruction. 

Today, Vinny inspires hope in recovery circles, offering tough love combined with vulnerability and honesty. Grateful for every breath, Vinny’s story is one of resilience and absolute transformation. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor 

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Today we welcome Dr David McLaughlan to the show. David always had his sights set on a medical career, but did a bit of modelling in his earlier days. Working with a variety of people reinforced his values of being a kind and compassionate person, (so-called ‘soft skills’) and helps him engage with patients today.  Now one of the UK's leading addiction psychiatrists, David has contributed to international treatment guidelines, academic journals as well as mainstream media outlets. Additionally, David serves as Academic Secretary of The Royal College of Psychiatrists' Addiction Faculty. Aside from being incredibly articulate, engaging and well-educated, David is a genuine guy, the real deal and has people very close to him who have had issues with alcohol. 

After recognising that emerging technology might enable greater self management of harmful habits and addictive behaviours, David has launched an app called Curb. Curb’s personalised approach is a tool which helps to examine our relationships with alcohol and has been proven to help people quit or reduce their drinking.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor 

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Find Curb on Instagram @curb.app
Download the Curb app for free http://www.curb.health/

This week we hosted the incredible host of the Hurt to Healing podcast, Pandora Morris. A former lawyer turned mental health activist, Pandora’s journey began in childhood, facing OCD and an eating disorder that manifested through restrictive eating and chronic over-exercising. 

Much like obsessive behaviour often linked to addiction, Pandora would regularly run at least twenty miles a day, take midnight bike rides and start her days with a swim in the sea - an activity which once saw her hospitalised with hypothermia. As part of her own healing, Pandora’s travelled the world working with OCD experts and has made it her mission to support others on their path to mental health recovery. Pandora’s honesty in how she sees the world and her reality within that world is both raw and refreshing.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor 

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Find Pandora on Instagram @hurttohealingpod

Pandora’s podcast https://podfollow.com/1649515453

Pandora’s website  https://www.hurttohealing.co.uk/

This week, we welcome former professional footballer turned successful entrepreneur Andy Ramage. After a career-ending injury, Andy pivoted to create two financial brokerages and soon discovered that his life changed dramatically when he decided to go alcohol-free. This decision not only transformed his health and mindset but also became his unique selling point, helping him stand out in a competitive business market. 

The coaching initiatives that Andy has created have collectively helped hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people to revitalise their lives. Andy provides refreshing authenticity and humour while providing plenty of advice that you can put to use right away. Spoiler alert - you will never look at a marshmallow the same way again. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Find Andy on Instagram @andyramageofficial

Andy’s website  www.andyramage.com

Andy’s coach training website - www.aretewaycoach.com 

This week we are super excited to welcome Ollie Ollerton onto the show. You might know Ollie from the British television programme SAS: Who Dares Wins? Ollie is not only a former Marine, SAS soldier, and Special Forces Combat Frogman, he's also an author of five books and the CEO of Breakpoint and Battle Ready Academy, two powerful physical and mental training academies. 

Ollie’s personal breakthrough arrived once he worked up the courage to put booze and drugs behind him. Finding himself at a crossroads, Ollie created his own bootcamp in which he was both the drill sergeant and the recruit. He coached himself out of his darkest depths and created an empire of self improvement programmes that have turned around the lives of many and continue to inspire even more. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Ollie’s coaching courses can be found here: 
https://learn.ollieollerton.com/battle-ready-intensive

Ollie’s websites www.ollieollerton.co.uk & www.break-point.co.uk

In this episode, Paul sits down with addiction expert Elliott Wald. Elliott is a trainer of NLP and is recognized as one of the world’s leading hypnosis experts. Speaking about the gradual and often unnoticed slide into cocaine addiction, Paul shares his personal experience of how his casual use turned into a debilitating habit, mirroring the stories of many who struggle with addiction. With over 29 years of professional experience and having helped over a hundred thousand people to overcome addictions such as alcohol, drugs, and addiction, Elliott emphasises that no matter how desperate the situation may seem, recovery is always possible.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Find Elliott on his website  www.hypnosis-expert.com

Find Elliott on Instagram & Tik Tok @hypnosis_expert

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

This week, we have the privilege of hearing Carol’s incredible journey, which began with unspeakable abuse and neglect she faced from a very young age. In an attempt to escape trauma and hardship, Carol turned to drugs and alcohol but eventually found sobriety at the age of 51.

In her conversation with Paul, Carol opens up about everything from drinking in parks and getting into fights to the deep regret she feels over missing large parts of her children’s younger years due to addiction. It’s a wonder Carol is here to tell the tale at all but she is here and by helping so many women in the sober space, she is thriving. In sharing her own experiences and even offering laughter, Carol radiates light and hope after beginning life in a fairly dark place. 

Warning: This episode contains discussions of heavy topics such as sexual abuse and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/
Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Today is World Mental Health Day, and we are incredibly fortunate to welcome Penny Mallory to the show. Penny is a Mental Toughness expert, former Rally Champion, motivational and TedX speaker, and currently training to row across the Atlantic Ocean. She’s no stranger to pushing boundaries—she even stepped into the boxing ring for the first time at the age of 42. While you may be captivated by her incredible journey, Penny will convince you that she’s not special—just an ordinary person who has done extraordinary things. You’ll walk away from this episode understanding how by developing your mental toughness, you will find the enthusiasm and confidence to accomplish whatever goal you set your mind to.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Find Penny on Instagram @Mallory.Penny

Penny’s website https://www.pennymallory.co.uk

Penny on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennymallory/

A little something for our younger listeners this week! Today’s guest Henry Lunn found sobriety when he was just 25 years old. This may seem early, but just wait until you hear all he accomplished by the time he was twenty. After experiencing challenges in school and with his home life, Henry started his professional career as a teenager and started earning a lot of money very quickly and at a very young age. With some heartracing anecdotes to illustrate his downward spiral, Henry describes his remarkable transformation, going from drug and alcohol addiction to successfully navigating his career and personal life. His recovery culminates in pushing himself physically by running ultra-marathons and finding peace in giving back to the community​ today.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website:
https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Find Henry on Instagram @myjourneyto100miles

We would like to advise you that there are suicide references right from the start of this episode that some might find troubling. Please take care when listening.  

This week, Paul welcomes his close personal friend Michael Cannan. Michael is the author of Hunting Concrete Lines, which was the finalist for the Best Book Award for The Independent. Formerly a celebrity fitness trainer in Hollywood, Michael is the founder of a behavioural health company in California. There are a lot of shared laughs between great friends but also intense moments of confession and vulnerability. Although now a shining example of health and vitality (check out the episode on YouTube!) Michael recalls vividly how he was once on the verge of cardiac arrest, he shares how he created a completely fabricated life, getting himself stuck into a mountain of lies and describes the profound moment of clarity that marked the beginning of his true recovery journey.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website:
https://stridefoundation.com/

Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor 

Find Michael on Instagram @michaelcannan

Find Hunting Concrete Lions on Instagram @huntingconcretelions

Buy Hunting Concrete Lions on Amazon:
https://amzn.eu/d/gunpCVG