Thriving not Surviving

Keywords

Thriving, hope, miracles, grace, faith, spirituality, free will, sovereignty, resilience, chronic illness, childhood hospitalisation, osteomyelitis, healing, prayer chain, intuition, clairaudience, clairsentience, memoir, creative process, hospice, grief, life after death, community, compassion, unconditional love, world peace, Unification Movement, cultural perspectives, meaning-making

Summary

In this heartfelt conversation, Helen is joined by author and poet Pamela Moffatt, whose life has been shaped by profound challenges — childhood hospital stays with recurring bone infection, moments of fear and uncertainty, homelessness, hunger, and standing beside loved ones at the end of life through hospice.

Yet Pamela’s story is not one of despair — it’s one of grace arriving in unexpected forms: a frail elderly woman radiating love in a hospital ward, long-lost friends appearing at exactly the right moment, and a prayer chain that coincides with a medical turning point that never returned.

Together, Helen and Pamela explore what it really means to thrive — not as perfection or constant positivity, but as a willingness to invite a bigger perspective, stay connected to the heart of a situation, and trust that “all the data isn’t in yet.” They speak candidly about faith, intuition, spiritual senses, sovereignty, and how love can’t be forced — it must be chosen, opened to, and received.

Takeaways

· Thriving isn’t having it good every day — it’s having tools, support, and the courage to ask for help when life gets dark.

· “All the data isn’t in yet.” A powerful anchor when you’re in uncertainty — you don’t know the whole picture, and hope is still valid.

· Miracles are often practical. Support can arrive as people, timing, kindness, and “earth angels,” not dramatic supernatural moments.

· The heart of a situation matters more than the appearance of it. What’s authentic can be felt — beyond presentation, beyond polish.

· Free will is sacred. Love and spirit can’t be imposed — they must be invited.

· Community can be a crucible for growth. Living closely with others reveals our edges — and offers the practice of “loving the difficult-to-love.”

· Grief doesn’t cancel connection. Hospice experiences and spiritual knowing can offer comfort: death as “a change of address.”

· Creativity reveals truth. Memoir writing can uncover what you didn’t even know you believed until you wrote it.

· Believing eyes matter. In vulnerable creative seasons, encouragement and safe support are more nourishing than critique.

Resources

Book - Chicken soup for the soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.

Wolf’s Message by Suzanne Giesemann

The artists Way by Julia Cameron

Kimberly Brown – Poet: https://www.instagram.com/kma_za_/

Connect with Pamela

We have the Stars: A Memoir – By Pamela A Moffat

Bluesky: @pcmoffatt.bsky.social

Substack: https://pcmoffatt.substack.com

Instagram: @pc.moffatt

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelamoffatt

A sample of my poetry is on my blog: https://cyberciphering.blogspot.com

Website: https://about.me/pamelamoffatt

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

Keywords

trauma, voice, healing, self-expression, empowerment, nervous system, inner child, self-worth, growth, thriving

Summary

In this powerful episode, Helen is joined by Emma-Blue Rose, Filmmaker and Voice Alchemist who shares her deeply personal journey from silence and suppression to reclaiming her voice and stepping into her truth

For much of her early life, Emma felt unseen, unheard, and disconnected from her own expression. Through life experiences that shaped her sense of safety and identity, she learned to stay quiet, to shrink, and to survive.

Growing up in an environment where speaking her truth was discouraged, Emma-Blue Rose transformed this suppression into a deep sense of justice. From screenwriting and filmmaking to witchtivism, and ultimately opening her soul voice through light language and out-of-body experiences, Emma-Blue Rose shares her journey through the cycles of silenced expression. What she calls Voice Alchemy, she explores the importance of awakening the power of our voices as a tool for personal and collective transformation in today’s world

But her story doesn’t end there.

This episode explores what happens when we begin to question those patterns, reconnect with ourselves, and slowly — and bravely — start to speak.

Through healing, self-awareness, and inner work, Emmah has found her voice again. And in doing so, she’s discovered a deeper sense of freedom, authenticity, and self-worth.

This is a conversation about courage, expression, and what it really means to come home to yourself.

Takeaways

• Losing your voice is often a survival response, not a weakness
• Suppression and silence can stem from early experiences of not feeling safe
• Reclaiming your voice is a gradual and deeply personal journey
• Healing involves reconnecting with your inner self and truth
• Self-expression is a powerful tool for transformation
• You are allowed to take up space and be heard
• Your voice matters — even if it’s been silenced before

Resources:

Alexandra Wenman https://www.alexandrawenman.com

Dolores Cannon https://www.qhhtofficial.com

Ookushana School of Healing - Felicity Weston - https://www.instagram.com/ookushana_school_of_healing/

Ged Ferguson https://www.gedferguson.com

Ishala Wayshower - https://www.thepegasuspath.com

Eckhart Tolle – The Power of Now

Embracing Shamanism - https://www.embracingshamanism.org/

Andrew Grant - Waking Up with Dragons www.dragoncircle.co.uk IG/YouTube: @wakingupwithdragons

Connect with Emma - Blue Rose Coherence

website: https://bluerosecoherence.co.uk

Light Language Residential: https://bluerose.myflodesk.com/lightlanguageresidential

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

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bluerosecoherence

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

Keywords

Thriving, trauma healing, grief, PTSD, addiction recovery, psychosis, EMDR, nervous system, voice healing, creativity, music, resilience, somatic healing, community, self-worth

Summary

In this deeply moving episode, Helen sits down with Ziggy Phoenix—singer, songwriter, and self-described “Creatrix”—to trace a life shaped by early loss, trauma, and profound turning points… and the fierce, tender rebirth that followed.

Ziggy shares her experience of losing her mother aged 2 and being raised by extraordinary grandparents, alongside the loneliness and bullying that came with feeling “different.” From a turbulent adolescence and time in psychiatric care, to running away and finding belonging in counterculture community, Ziggy speaks with brave honesty about how pain can shape the nervous system—and the choices we make just to survive.

We explore how trauma can live in the body, the long road of trying to feel safe again, and the moment Ziggy found genuine, life-changing support through therapy—especially EMDR. She describes what it meant to reprocess core memories, reclaim her inner child, and finally loosen the grip of a lifetime of stored grief.

Ziggy also shares the immense pressure of working in the film industry, the frightening experience of losing vision in one eye through extreme stress, and the moment she chose a different path—one that led her back to music, back to her voice, and into a sold-out show where she stood on the very stage she once ran off in tears.

We close with the rising of “Creatrix”—Ziggy’s mission to champion women in rock, create safer, more inclusive spaces, and help other women bring their creativity into form. This one is raw, powerful, and full of heart.

Takeaways

• Healing isn’t linear—and it often comes in layers. If one modality doesn’t work, it doesn’t mean you’re “too broken.” It means you haven’t found the right support yet.
• Trauma isn’t just in the mind; it’s somatic. The body remembers, and healing often requires nervous system safety, not just insight.
• Grief needs space. Letting yourself cry is not weakness—it can be regulation, release, and repair.
• EMDR can be profoundly transformative for trauma, helping to reprocess memories and soften the intensity held in the body.
• Your voice matters—literally and metaphorically. Reclaiming it can be a huge part of reclaiming your life.
• Community changes everything. Safe people, compassionate support, and true belonging can be the bridge from surviving to thriving.
• “Creatrix” energy is about becoming the feminine creator of your own life—bringing what’s inside you into reality, even after everything you’ve endured.

Resources

Dark Nights Of The Soul: A guide to finding your way through life's ordeals by Thomas Moore 

Silence - book by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Kolk, Bessel van der

No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz

Eleanor Wellspring Pool – Counselling

Sandra Kelly - Rebirthing Breathwork (Leonard Orr) +353879647949 WhatsApp

Jax Allen - Compassionate Enquiry and Counselling  https://www.shamanictherapies.com

Hannah Mae Dawson – Shadow work

Ruth Wallace EMDR

Jade Williams Singer

Connect with Ziggy

Ziggy Phoenix band page - ziggyphoenixofficial

FB: Band site

IG: (6) Instagram  Ziggy_phoenix

Linktree for gigs, music, merch etc

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

Keywords

Thriving, Near-Death Experience (NDE), lightning strike, hypnotherapy, regression therapy, nervous system regulation, safety, unconditional love, oneness, heart-led living, soul, ego, inner child, active listening, healing space, spirituality, autism, facilitated communication

Summary

In this episode, Helen speaks with master hypnotherapist and regression therapist Paul Aurand, whose life was profoundly transformed after being struck by lightning and experiencing a near-death state. Paul shares how the experience shifted his values, expanded his awareness beyond the “mental mind,” and deepened his commitment to healing that honours a person’s innate capacity to heal themselves.

Together, they explore the difference between mind, ego, and soul guidance; why listening (to people—and to Spirit) changes everything; and what it can mean to remember why you came here—without needing a traumatic wake-up call. Paul also leads a beautiful guided “I am safe” practice to help settle the nervous system and bring you back into your body, heart, and presence.

Takeaways

· Thriving doesn’t mean life is easy—it means you have tools, support, and the ability to meet the dark times with awareness and growth.

· A healer doesn’t “heal” you; a healer holds a safe, respectful space so your own healing intelligence can emerge.

· Paul’s lightning strike and NDE brought experiences of unconditional love, oneness, and guidance—plus a clear message: you can have a good mind, but rely on it less than heart and soul.

· Active listening can radically change the healing dynamic—from “I fix you” to “I honour your inner capacity.”

· Paul frames ego as something we need to function on Earth—but the wounded ego (shame, unworthiness, fear) is what needs care and healing, not annihilation.

· The guided “I am safe” grounding practice offers a simple way to communicate safety to the body and shift out of stress reactivity.

· Paul shares the general pathway he often guides clients through: mind → heart → beliefs/emotions → survival strategies → inner child (wounded + wonder) → “wise one within” → soul essence and purpose.

The Guided “I am safe” grounding practice: takes place around 48:52 minutes in – 56:47 (approx.)

Resources

“The Telepathy Tapes” Podcast  

Child of Eternity                            Book by Adriana Rocha  

Eben Alexander, MD                   Proof of Heaven                             A neurosurgeon’s NDE

Dannion Brinkley                          Saved by the Light                        Struck by lightning twice

Connect with Paul

Website: https://www.paulaurand.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulAurand

IG : https://www.instagram.com/paulaurand/

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014310670200#

Training: https://paulaurand.com/Training

Book : https://linktr.ee/ESSENTIALHEALINGBOOK

NDE Study:  https://youtu.be/MnJOTTRvXBg?si=mph33VPTThGZv_mA

For More Information

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: +447971798462

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]  

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

Keywords

workplace bullying, bullying, boundaries, standing up for yourself, confidence, self-worth, shame, guilt, gaslighting, healing, self-awareness, nervous system, intuition, trauma, support, sovereignty, thriving

Summary

In this powerful and deeply relatable episode, Helen is joined by Harinder Virdee, host of Belly Button Musings, to explore workplace bullying, fear-based leadership, and the moment we decide: enough is enough.

Harinder shares her lived experiences of being undermined, humiliated, shouted at, and targeted through insidious behind-the-scenes behaviour — and how each experience shaped her ability to respond with what she calls a “strong internal no.” Together, Helen and Harinder unpack how childhood experiences, shame, and old beliefs about hierarchy can prime us to tolerate mistreatment… until we learn to reclaim our voice.

This conversation is a reminder that your body is a warning system, your intuition matters, and you don’t have to do it alone — whether that means seeking a trusted friend, a therapist, or bringing someone into the room to balance power dynamics.

Takeaways

· Bullying often erodes confidence slowly — it can start as “feedback” and become a pattern of undermining and control.

· If something wouldn’t be acceptable happening to someone else, it’s not acceptable happening to you.

· Your body knows: that feeling in your stomach/heart is data. Don’t ignore it — especially when things feel confusing or “off” (hello, gaslighting).

· You can respond in the moment or later. A message, letter, or voice note still counts as standing up for yourself.

· Bringing support changes the power dynamic — ask a neutral person to join a conversation if you need to.

· Shame shrinks us. Self-worth doesn’t need to be earned — it’s inherent.

· Boundaries don’t have to be aggressive: sometimes a calm, firm “That’s not okay” is the most powerful move.

Connect with Harinder

[email protected]

IG: harinderkv

Linked In: (32) Harinder Virdee | LinkedIn

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: 07971798462

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

Keywords sobriety, self-love, mother-daughter healing, generational patterns, alcohol culture, accountability, meditation, mantra meditation, spirituality, crystals, nervous system, emotional availability, boundaries, conscious communication, Enchanted Minds Studio, healing relationships, recovery, self-discovery, thriving

Summary In this heartfelt episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen is joined by Nicola Laurence — mum of Georgia (Ep 38) — for a moving, multi-generational conversation about what it means to wake up to a life you didn’t even realise was “survival mode.” Nicola shares her upbringing in a party-heavy Irish Catholic household, starting alcohol young, the rave scene, loneliness, and the way responsibility and emotional absence shaped her early life and parenting. She speaks with raw honesty about high-functioning chaos, using alcohol as a toolkit, and the painful moments that only make sense in hindsight.

Nicola then takes us through the turning point: a spiritual awakening sparked by crystals, a return to raving — this time fully present — and a profound self-love realisation after reading Danny Gold’s Clockwork Orange story. From there, meditation becomes the catalyst for real change: stored emotions surface, accountability deepens, and her relationship with Georgia begins to repair and flourish. Together they go on to create Enchanted Minds (now Enchanted Minds Studio), sharing meditation and wellbeing with their local community. Nicola’s story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, relationships can be repaired, and it’s never too late to choose yourself — and become emotionally available for the people you love.

Takeaways

Sometimes we don’t realise we’re surviving — because we think that’s just “life.”

High functioning doesn’t mean healthy — it can still be coping and numbness.

Emotional availability starts with you — you can’t give what you don’t have.

Self-love isn’t fluffy — it’s the foundation for real connection and repair.

Meditation can create the space for stored emotions to rise and heal.

Accountability is uncomfortable… and transformational.

It’s never too late to repair a relationship — especially with your child.

Conscious communication + boundaries create safety, not distance.

Community healing spaces matter — we need places that aren’t built around booze.

Raising your “vibration” often changes what you want — without force or willpower.

Books

Gould Blimey! — Danny Gould (a memoir from the co-founder of the Clockwork Orange party brand)

The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith — Gabrielle Bernstein

Connect with Nicola

Co-founder - @enchantedmindsstudio, 58 Chapel St, Billericay Essex CM12 9LS

Coaching - @nclcoaching_ Empowering people to live intentional while taking accountability

Instagram: @enchantedminds_

Facebook: Enchanted Minds

Website: Enchanted Minds

YouTube: Enchanted Minds

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: 07971798462

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

Keywords thriving, surviving, grief, trauma, nervous system, chronic pain, breathwork, somatics, ADHD, authenticity, community, self-responsibility, healing, resilience, embodiment, conscious leadership, authentic relating, Spain, off-grid living, Biting Lemons

Summary In this powerful episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen is joined by therapist and truth-teller Beth Hardwick, who shares an extraordinary journey through upheaval, grief, and transformation. Beth opens up about growing up in a deeply Christian community, early rupture and rebellion, the devastating loss of her baby daughter Florrie, and the relentless pressure to keep functioning while her world fell apart. She shares how trauma lived in her body as shutdown and chronic pain — and how breathwork, somatic listening, community support, authentic relating, and conscious leadership helped her rebuild from the inside out. This is an honest, hope-filled conversation about choosing yourself, breaking loops, welcoming what is, and remembering that thriving is possible — even after the unthinkable.

Takeaways

Thriving can start with the next hour — one choice at a time.

Grief and shock live in the body, not just the mind.

Shutdown and “numbing out” are often survival strategies, not failures.

Your nervous system needs safety before feelings can fully move.

Breathwork can reopen what the body learned to block.

Healing isn’t solo work — we heal in community.

Notice the loop… and gently break it.

“Welcome everything” is a practice that changes your whole life.

Boundaries can be loving — and you’re only responsible for you.

You don’t need a perfect plan… you need the next brave step.

Connect with Beth

Sensitivita

https://www.sensitivita.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sensitivita/

Podcast Biting Lemons (coming soon):

https://www.bitinglemons.com/

https://www.instagram.com/biting_lemons/

https://www.patreon.com/cw/BitingLemons

Resources mentioned

Conscious Leader program - Gregg Kendrick - CEO / Guide & Facilitator Certified CNVC Nonviolent Communication™ Trainer

 [email protected]  | www.greggkendrick.com

Join the Becoming a More Conscious Leader publication & community on Substack

ART – Authentic Relating Training: https://authenticrelating.co/

For a discount: https://www.sensitivita.com/product/authentic-relating-level-1-foundations

Books

And Breathe — Rebecca Dennis

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma — Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.

Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty-First Century — Barbara Carrellas

The Ethical Slut — Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

WhatsApp: 07971798462

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

KEYWORDS: addiction recovery, sobriety, thriving not surviving, men’s mental health, masculinity, rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, boundaries, shadow work, plant medicine, trauma healing, grief, community support, personal growth, emotional wellbeing, recovery journey, Brave Man Project, resilience, self-worth

SUMMARY: In this deeply honest and powerful episode, Helen is joined by fellow podcaster Hamish Niven, who shares his raw journey from addiction, loss, and self-destruction to sobriety, self-awareness, and purpose.

Hamish opens up about the insidious drinking culture of the TV industry, reckless behaviours driven by unprocessed grief, and the moment he finally asked for help. He speaks candidly about rehab, losing almost everything, and the fear of becoming “dry but miserable” — a turning point that led him to actively choose thriving over mere survival.

Together, Helen and Hamish explore addiction, shame, masculinity, AA, plant medicines, boundaries, shadow work, and why men desperately need safe spaces to feel, speak, and heal. Hamish also shares a sneak preview of his upcoming Brave Man Project, a movement designed to support men in reclaiming emotional sovereignty, authenticity, and purpose.

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing begins when we choose ourselves — and that thriving is possible, even after everything falls apart.

TAKEAWAYS

• Addiction can begin subtly and disguise itself as success and social belonging

• Highly functioning addiction often hides deep grief, shame, and unresolved trauma

• Asking for help is one of the bravest acts a man can take

• Recovery only truly works when you choose it for yourself

• Losing everything can become the gateway to reclaiming your life

• Thriving is an active choice — not just the absence of addiction

• Men are deeply harmed by emotional suppression and lack of safe spaces

• Community, honesty, and boundaries are essential for healing

• Shadow work and feeling emotions are unavoidable on the path to growth

• What other people think of you is none of your business

SOUNDBITES

• “I didn’t want to be sober and miserable — that scared me more than addiction.”

• “I chose life in a moment of clarity.”

• “Thriving is easier than walking on eggshells.”

• “Men aren’t broken — they’re unseen.”

• “What other people think of you is none of your business.”

• “You can’t heal without feeling — and men are taught not to feel.”

Connect with Hamish

HAMISH NIVEN  GUIDE | MENTOR | PODCAST HOST

📥 [email protected]

📱 0044 7908 524 482

🖥 TheBraveManProject.com

🎤 Podcast: The Brave Man Project

https://hamishniven.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishniven/

https://www.tiktok.com/@hamish.niven

https://www.youtube.com/@TheBraveManProject

https://www.instagram.com/hamishniven/

https://www.facebook.com/hamishniven

Connect with Helen

IPHM Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF – the £10 I get will go to my charity “The Forward Trust”

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

Content note: This episode includes honest discussion of suicidal ideation and mental health challenges. Listener discretion advised and please take care while listening.

Keywords ADHD, Autism, Mental Health, Hypnotherapy, Cacao Ceremony, Neurodiversity, Support Networks, Parenting, Community, Personal Growth

Summary In this milestone Episode 50 of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen is joined by fellow podcaster and late-diagnosed ADHDer Cliff Kilmister for an honest, compassionate conversation about neurodiversity, mental health, and survival. Cliff shares his personal journey through anxiety, suicidal ideation, late diagnosis, and parenting an autistic/ADHD daughter, alongside powerful insights into masking, rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), stimming, and the impact of workplace and school environments on neurodivergent nervous systems. Together, Helen and Cliff explore healing tools including hypnotherapy, cacao ceremony, intuition, and compassionate leadership — offering hope, understanding, and practical wisdom for anyone navigating neurodiversity, whether as a parent, professional, or late-diagnosed adult.

Support: If this episode brings up difficult feelings, support is available. In the UK, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123.

Takeaways

·     Cliff's journey with ADHD and autism has shaped his understanding of mental health.

·     Support networks are crucial for navigating challenges related to neurodiversity.

·     Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool for personal growth and overcoming anxiety.

·     Late diagnosis of ADHD and autism can lead to a deeper understanding of oneself.

·     Masking behaviours can be exhausting and detrimental to mental health.

·     Creating supportive work environments is essential for neurodiverse individuals.

·     Cacao ceremonies can provide profound experiences of relaxation and insight.

·     Stimming is a natural self-regulation technique for many neurodiverse individuals.

·     Reading challenges often stem from a lack of interest or engagement in the material.

·     Community and collaboration are key to supporting neurodiverse individuals.

Sound Bites

·     "You have to work through it."

·     "It's all about learning."

·     "It's all about the client."

Resources Mentioned in Episode

How to ADHD – Jessica McCabe

Scattered Minds – Gabor Mate

Connect with Cliff

IG: cliff_kilmister08

FB: Cliff Kilmister

LI: linkedin.com/in/cliff-kilmister-420a07bb

YouTube: Cliff Kilmister - YouTube

Websites: helpanxiety.org & autismadhdsupport.org

Eva’s you tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@InspireWithUsYT

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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

Keywords thriving, surviving, community, beekeeping, personal growth, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, healing, spirituality, success, trauma, art, healing, portraits, health challenges, business success, personal turmoil, women in business, grief, motherhood, resilience, beekeeping, spirituality, community, self-worth, personal growth, bees, mindfulness, connection, organic food, mental health

Summary In this deeply moving episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen Valentino is joined by Paula Carnell – spiritual beekeeper, author, healer and truth-teller – whose life has been shaped by profound loss, chronic illness, courage and soul-led calling.

Paula shares her extraordinary journey through Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, years of being bed- and wheelchair-bound, near-death moments, divorce, grief and reinvention. From building a six-figure creative business to giving everything up after being called by the bees to a remote island in the Indian Ocean, Paula reflects on what thriving really means when life strips everything away.

Together, Helen and Paula explore receiving vs striving, community vs isolation, feminine wisdom, worthiness, healing through nature, and the bees as teachers of presence, connection and frequency. This conversation is an invitation to redefine success, soften into trust, and remember that simply being alive is enough.

Raw, expansive and full of soul medicine, this episode is for anyone navigating illness, change, loss, burnout or a deeper calling – and wondering how to thrive on the other side.

The conversation also touches on themes of self-worth, authenticity, and the interconnectedness of all beings, particularly through the lens of beekeeping and sustainability.

Takeaways

• Paula’s journey has been a profound rollercoaster of challenge, loss, and transformation.

• The call of the bees sparked a life-changing path rooted in purpose and deep listening.

• Thriving is deeply personal and often redefined through community, simplicity, and support.

• Returning “home” after profound experiences can feel disorientating and alien.

• Living simply can bring a powerful sense of enough.

• Community plays a vital role in healing, resilience, and true thriving.

• Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome shapes every aspect of life and identity.

• Art, creativity, and portrait-making have been central to healing and self-expression.

• Health challenges can lead to unexpected discoveries and new beginnings.

• Navigating grief, motherhood, love, and business requires immense resilience — especially for women.

• When living feels harder than dying, a radical shift can awaken a deeper will to live.

• There is always a gift in adversity, even when it takes time to see it.

• Food, environment, and community are foundational to health and wellbeing.

Connect with Paula

TEDx: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI4LCGMM-gA

Website: https://paulacarnell.com

Podcast: 'Creating a Buzz about Health' available on all major podcast platforms. https://paulacarnell.com/podcasts 

Community: https://www.skool.com/spiritual-beekeeping/about?ref=4982f003fc5c47d9b4889348b95092b1

Buy my books: https://books.by/paula-carnell

Minerals I recommend: https://simplynaturals.co.uk/?ref=4HhtBRrg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/paula.carnell?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-carnell-3016421?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Connect with Helen

Website: InspiredHealing.co.uk

IG: helens_inspired_healing

LinkedIn: Helen on LinkedIn

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

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