Thriving not Surviving

Confession: This episode is raw and mostly unedited. I lost signal completely (turns out leafy woods don’t love Wi-Fi – who knew?) and had to rejoin mid-recording. Luckily, Joe was incredibly patient and we were able to carry on. I did trim out a few “Can you hear me?" and some slightly panicked filler words – just enough to keep it flowing – but the spirit of the episode remains totally intact “Raw” but a tiny bit edited for the listers benefit. 😊

Keywords

Resilience, recovery, military, mindset, coaching, adversity, thriving, personal growth, leadership, positivity

 Summary

In this episode of Thriving Not Surviving, host Helen Valentino sits down with Joe O'Connor — a former military man whose journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Having broken his neck twice, Joe shares how he rebuilt his life through sheer mindset, resilience, and a healthy dose of humour.

He opens up about the powerful lessons he gained from his time in the military, how they shaped his approach to adversity, and why mindset is everything when it comes to personal growth. From recovery to leadership, Joe’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

Together, they explore the impact of self-talk, the importance of laughter during hardship, and the beauty of helping others thrive through shared experience.

Takeaways

• Mindset plays a pivotal role in both recovery and growth

• Resilience is built through life’s toughest moments

• Humour can be a powerful coping tool in hard times

• Military life teaches transferable lessons in leadership and adaptability

• The way we speak to ourselves shapes our outcomes

• Not every day will be perfect — but every day offers something to learn

• Knowing where you are is the first step to setting meaningful goals

• Failure isn’t the end — it’s a stepping stone

• By sharing our story, we empower others to thrive

• True success is found in the journey, not the destination

Sound Bites

• “Your number one team is yourself.”

• “Improvise, adapt, and overcome.”

• “Failure isn’t fatal — it’s a lesson.”

Resources

JoeTeams.com

Pathfinder Book LinkedIn -Free downloadable book (£9.99 on Amazon)

https://thetransformer.co.uk/

🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Instagram: helens_inspired_healing

www.inspiredhealing.co.uk

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

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

In this heartfelt episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen Valentino reconnects with the wise and wonderful Joanna Webber, Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga teacher, forager, and co-founder of The Ayurveda Academy. Joanna shares her deeply personal journey of healing—moving from a difficult childhood shaped by a narcissistic parent and a decade of eating disorders to embracing a life of balance, forgiveness, and connection.

Together, they explore the profound effects of intergenerational trauma and how Ayurveda and yoga provided Joanna with the tools to break free from self-sabotage and find peace within her body. They delve into the doshas, gut health, the emotional impact of menopause, and the incredible capacity of the body to heal when supported holistically.

Joanna shares how understanding her Ayurvedic constitution helped her reclaim her health, how food truly is medicine, and why emotional processing and nature connection are essential to long-term wellbeing.

This episode is rich with insights and offers a compassionate perspective on what it means to walk the healing path—not just for ourselves, but for the generations that come after us.

Takeaways

• Yoga and Ayurveda can be powerful tools for healing and transformation.
• Intergenerational trauma can silently shape our behaviours and health.
• Knowing your dosha helps guide your lifestyle, diet, and emotional care.
• Gut health is central to mental and physical wellness.
• Emotional healing involves forgiveness—especially of the self.
• Menopause can be an awakening, not a decline.
• Nature is a potent and often overlooked ally in the healing journey.
• Western and traditional medicine can work beautifully in harmony.
• Diet and lifestyle shifts can change everything.
• Healing is possible, no matter where you begin.

Resources Mentioned

• Dosha Quiz – The Ayurveda Academy
• Joanna Webber’s Website – Ayurveda clinic & foraging workshops
• Ayurveda Courses https://www.joannawebber.com/learn-ayurveda/
• TEDx Talk – Dr. Manpreet Dhuffar-Pottiwal on Intergenerational Trauma
• The Red School – Wise Power
• Family Constellations :The CSC | The Centre for Systemic Constellations - www.thecsc.net
• https://www.sussexconstellations.co.uk/

Connect with Joanna Webber

📍 BSc Hons Ayurveda (Manipal, India) | MA Oxon | APA Member

📞 Book a session: 07753 678 582

🌐 www.joannawebber.com

Contact & More from Helen

📩 [email protected]

🌐 www.inspiredhealing.co.uk

📸 Instagram: @helens_inspired_healing

🎵 Music: “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios (Pixabay)

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

📄 For a full transcript, email [email protected]

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

In this heartfelt and spontaneous episode of Thriving Not Surviving, the tables are turned as Helen’s best friend interviews her about her extraordinary off-grid life in the woods. What started as a practical choice after a big life shake-up became a sacred way of living, full of meaning, challenge, and deep personal growth.

Helen shares how she manifested her woodland home, her reflections on swapping village life for birdsong and wild spaces, and how connection to nature, prayer, and community have shaped her journey. This is a conversation about resilience, faith, self-sufficiency, and the beauty of choosing a life that nourishes your soul.

What We Cover:

• How a major life change sparked Helen’s move to the woods
• The power of manifestation and trusting the unknown
• What it’s really like to live off-grid (the joyful, the gritty, and the unexpected)
• Building community around the fire — literally
• Sacred practices: prayer, gratitude, and communion with nature
• Lessons in letting go, receiving, and thriving in harmony with the land

If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping away from the noise and living more in tune with the earth, this episode is for you.

References:

Caroline Myss - https://myss.com/

Merlin Bird App - https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/

https://plantnet.org/en/

🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

Instagram: helens_inspired_healing

www.inspiredhealing.co.uk

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

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

Summary In this bold and beautiful episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen speaks with Crystal Powers, an Elite Courtesan, content creator, and advocate for ethical tech. With honesty and heart, Crystal shares her journey from childhood trauma and emotional struggle to personal liberation, growth, and thriving in her truth. Together, they explore the power of therapy, the importance of forgiveness, and how transformational coaching helped her build emotional resilience and self-worth. Crystal speaks openly about her work, challenging outdated myths about sex work and shedding light on the emotional connection, care, and deep personal boundaries it requires. She also discusses her mission to build tech platforms that prioritise safety, visibility, and empowerment for sex workers, and how creative expression through costume design and content creation — can be healing and freeing.💫 This conversation is packed with insight, warmth, and truth, a call to reclaim your story, follow your calling, and create change from the inside out.

Keywords: Elite Courtesan, healing, trauma, forgiveness, ethical tech, sex work, empowerment, transformation, community, personal growth, safety, boundaries, costume design, emotional connection, myths, coaching, financial independence

Takeaways

• She values sisterhood, support, and community among women

• Forgiveness became a key to personal freedom

• Therapy and coaching helped her rebuild her life

• Crystal’s tech vision centres on safety and dignity for sex workers

• She creates respectful, conscious adult content

• Visibility and self-acceptance are core to her mission

• Sex work is about connection, boundaries, and empowerment

• Emotional resilience is essential in the industry

• Many sex workers are business owners, creators, and community leaders

• The myths about sex work often fail to reflect lived truth

References from Show

https://www.crystallisedpowers.com

Instagram.com/CelestialCoutures

animascoaching.com

https://eleanorpoolcounselling.com/

Eckhardt Tolle - The Power of Now

Faith Harper - Unfuck your Boundaries

🎧 For full transcription: [email protected]

📲 Instagram: @helens_inspired_healing

🌐 www.inspiredhealing.co.uk

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover Art: Dave Champagne

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

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of grief, baby loss, suicide, and death from illness. Please listen with care.

Keywords: Grief, trauma, healing, loss, psychotherapy, spirituality, rituals, mental health, emotional resilience, PTSD, personal growth, shamanism, somatic healing.

Episode Summary:

In this deeply moving episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen Valentino speaks with Maria — a psychotherapist and trauma specialist — about her extraordinary journey through grief, loss, and spiritual transformation.

Over just two years, Maria experienced the deaths of nine loved ones. She opens up about how this intense period of loss impacted her personally and professionally, and how it led her deeper into the realms of ritual, somatic healing, and spiritual exploration.

Together, they explore the multifaceted nature of grief — from the trauma of loss to the gifts that can emerge when we meet death with presence and ritual. Maria offers gentle, embodied wisdom on how to move through grief, the somatic signs of PTSD, and the ways in which childhood trauma can shape our responses to death.

This episode is a tender, honest, and healing space for anyone navigating loss or seeking a deeper understanding of how we honour life — and death.

Takeaways:

• Maria lost nine loved ones in two years

• Grief is a uniquely personal experience that defies a set timeline

• Trauma can open doorways to unexpected spiritual insights

• Rituals help us process grief and honour those who have passed

• Cultural narratives shape how we view and experience death

• Somatic approaches are vital to healing trauma and grief

• PTSD can arise from repeated or complex trauma, not just flashbacks

• Music, nature, and animals can support emotional release and healing

• Grief can trigger unresolved childhood trauma patterns

• Community, compassion, and gentle listening are essential for healing

• Maria’s experiences led her toward shamanism and spiritual practices

• Accompanying someone in their final moments can be a sacred honour

Soundbites:

• "It's like you land on Planet Grief."

• "We don’t have an understanding of death."

• "Ritual gives the soul a language."

• "We need a more somatic approach to healing."

• "PTSD isn’t always loud — sometimes it’s silent and deep."

• "Grief taps into our own patterns and history."

• "It’s about very gentle listening."

References & Contact Info:

🌿 Instagram: @goldenthread.thehive

https://www.soulwave.co.uk/dying-matters

https://wcwaid.co.uk/

https://penhaligonsfriends.org.uk/

https://treglobal.org/

🎧 Full transcription available upon request: [email protected]

🌿 Instagram: @helens_inspired_healing

🌐 Website: www.inspiredhealing.co.uk

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover Art: Dave Champagne

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

✨ Episode Description

In this raw and heartfelt episode of Thriving Not Surviving, host Helen Valentino is joined by Andy, a gifted master carpenter and channel for dragon medicine, who shares his extraordinary journey from a high-control religious upbringing to a life of spiritual awakening and healing.

Raised in a fear-based, authoritarian religion, Andy speaks candidly about the mental health crises he endured, the crushing burden of guilt and confession, and the deeply painful experience of being shunned by his community. These events triggered an identity crisis, an experience that, while devastating, became a turning point in his path to self-discovery.

His healing deepened when he reconnected with an old friend and began exploring psychedelics, which opened doors to suppressed emotions and spiritual insight. He found solace and transformation in nature-based spiritual practices, shamanism, and a growing relationship with dragon energy.

Helen and Andy explore themes of emotional healing, masculine and feminine energy balance, and the power of community and ceremony—including the transformative potential of acacia medicine. Andy shares his experiences of channelling dragons, his connection with spirit, and the lessons learned from challenging life experiences.

This episode is a moving conversation about reclaiming identity, breaking free from systems of control, and stepping into one’s true power. It's a powerful reminder that healing is possible, even after deep spiritual wounding—and that every one of us has unique gifts to share with the world.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

• Andy was raised in a fear-driven, high-control religious environment.
• Confession practices were shaming and left lasting wounds.
• He experienced deep mental health struggles, particularly after being shunned.
• Separation from his wife and counselling led to greater self-awareness.
• Psychedelics became a doorway to suppressed emotions and spiritual connection.
• Andy now channels messages from dragons and other spirit guides.
• Nature and shamanic practices were central to his healing.
• The Medicine Festival was a major turning point.
• He emphasises the need for community, trust, and self-empowerment.
• He now holds dragon circles to help others on their spiritual path.
• Living in the present can help alleviate fear of the future.
• Critical thinking and personal truth are vital on the spiritual journey.

🐉 Resources & Mentions:

• Books:
• The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz
• God: A Human History of Religion – Reza Aslan
• The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross – John Allegro
• Dragon Medicine & Circles:
• www.dragoncircle.co.uk
• IG/YouTube: @wakingupwithdragons
• Acacia Ceremonies:
• www.freespiritexperiences.com/ceromony

📧 [email protected]

📸 Instagram: helens_inspired_healing

🌐 inspiredhealing.co.uk  

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

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

Summary:

In this heartfelt episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen Valentino and Eleanor Pool explore the profound power of forgiveness as a pathway to emotional and spiritual healing. They share personal experiences of forgiving themselves and others, highlighting how this practice transforms pain into peace and restores connection to self and community.

Together, they unpack the emotional, physical, and psychological impact of unforgiveness — and why choosing to forgive isn’t about condoning, but about setting ourselves free. They weave science, spirituality, and soul into a conversation that affirms forgiveness as both a practice and a journey.

Listeners will discover tools like the Hawaiian practice of H’oponopono, insights into trauma and conditioning, and the deep link between self-forgiveness and mental health. This is an invitation to meet yourself with compassion, rewrite your inner narrative, and ripple healing into your relationships and wider world.

💛 Online Forgiveness Course: 15th / 22nd / 29th July 2025

💛 In-Person Retreat: Journey to Forgiveness, 29–31 August 2025

Takeaways:

• Forgiveness is a journey, not a one-time act

• Self-forgiveness is essential to healing

• Unforgiveness creates emotional and physical stress

• Forgiveness leads to freedom, not forgetting

• Practices like H’oponopono can unlock deep emotional release

• You can start small and build your forgiveness muscle

• Understanding your triggers helps the healing process

• Childhood conditioning shapes how we forgive

• Compassion towards ourselves expands outward

• Healing ourselves creates healing ripples in our communities

Sound Bites:

• “Self-forgiveness is crucial for healing.”

• “Forgiveness is not about condoning — it’s about freedom.”

• “Hurt people hurt people.”

• “We all just want to be our true selves.”

• “Healing ripples out into our communities.”

• “Everything is happening in divine order.”

• “Forgiveness is a beautiful gift.”

• “It’s about uncovering who we truly are.”

📧 [email protected]

📸 Instagram: helens_inspired_healing

🌐 inspiredhealing.co.uk | eleanorpoolcounselling.com

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

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

In this episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen Valentino speaks with Rick Kahler — certified Financial Therapist, IFS Practitioner, and pioneer in integrating money and emotional healing. Together, they explore Internal Family Systems (IFS), a model that views every part of us — even the inner critic — as holding good intentions.

Rick shares how IFS transformed his work, offering a compassionate, non-advisory approach that helps clients understand their inner “parts” and gently unburden their emotional wounds. Their conversation spans money scripts (beliefs about money shaped in childhood), financial anxiety, and the truth that healing around money is rarely just about money.

They also touch on Rick’s personal journey parenting through gender transitions — the grief, the growth, and the importance of community support through profound change.

This is a powerful conversation about self-compassion, transformation, and the deep connection between our financial behaviours and the emotional stories we carry — and how we can begin to rewrite them.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• IFS sees all parts as protective, even the ones that cause distress.

• Unburdening in IFS releases inherited or childhood-based beliefs.

• Money scripts often unconsciously shape adult financial behaviours.

• Financial therapy blends practical knowledge with emotional insight.

• Psychodrama offers healing through re-enactment and safe expression.

• Parenting children through gender transition involves grief, growth, and love.

• Self-compassion and community are vital in navigating change.

📖 Referenced Reading

• The Financial Therapy Podcast – It’s Not Just About the Money

• Kahler, R. S., & Glass, M. (2023). The New Kid on the Block: IFS-Informed Financial Therapy. Journal of Financial Therapy, 14(1), 7.

• Kaplan, D., & Kahler, R. (2023). From Financial Conflict to Financial Intimacy: Financial Therapy for Couples through an IFS Lens. Coupleship Publications, LLC.

• Redfern, E., & Foot, H. (2023). Freeing Self: IFS Beyond the Therapy Room – Chapter 6: IFS-Informed Financial Therapy. B.C. Allen Publishing & Tonic Books.

• Advanced Wellbeing, LLC – Explore IFS-Informed Financial Therapy at: Advanced Wellbeing

• Klontz, T., Klontz, B., & Kahler, R. (2008). The Financial Wisdom of Ebenezer Scrooge: 5 Principles to Transform Your Relationship with Money. Health Communications, Inc. Helping you align your financial path with your spiritual and emotional well-being.

🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

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

Keywords thriving, resilience, cancer, meditation, circular economy, sustainability, community, personal growth, environmental economics, self-discovery

Show Notes:

In this episode, Helen Valentino speaks with her godson Zac Mitchell, whose remarkable journey of resilience began with a brain tumour diagnosis at age 12, followed by Hodgkin's lymphoma at 19. Zac shares how meditation, travel, and environmental economics have shaped his path, and how his passion for the circular economy and sustainable food systems fuels his vision for a better world.

This is a story of deep healing, personal growth, and what it means to thrive — not just survive — in the face of life's toughest challenges.

🔑 Takeaways:

• Diagnosed with a brain tumour at 12, then Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 19.
• Found resilience through family, education, and self-discovery.
• Travelled Southeast Asia, exploring Buddhism and meditation.
• Meditation became a key pillar of his healing process.
• Studied environmental economics, focusing on sustainability and the circular economy.
• Believes in the power of local communities and food systems to drive change.
• Emphasizes embracing change and finding hope in uncertainty.

🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

📖 Referenced reading:

Siddhartha - Hermann Hesse

The body holds the score - Bessel van der Kolk

My stroke of insight - Jill Bolte Taylor 

Dhamma.org - Goenka vipassana meditation - https://www.dhamma.org/en/index

The Dharma Brothers – Film

Cwm Connell Cottages - https://www.cwmconnell.co.uk/

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

Keywords: thriving, surviving, self-discovery, pleasure, relationships, boundaries, sexual confidence, authenticity, personal growth, coaching, emotional healing, self-awareness, communication, trauma, sexuality, self-pleasure, responsibility

Summary: In this lively episode of Thriving Not Surviving, host Helen Valentino sits down with Jen, an international sex and relationship coach, for an open-hearted conversation about self-discovery, emotional healing, and reclaiming authentic pleasure. Together, they explore the connection between personal growth and thriving — not just surviving — in intimacy, relationships, and life.

Jen shares her journey of shedding perfectionism, embracing authenticity, and cultivating sexual confidence. The conversation dives into the vital role of self-awareness, setting healthy boundaries, and taking responsibility for our healing journeys. Helen and Jen also unpack the impact of upbringing on relationship patterns, and the liberating shift from a victim to a creator mindset.

This episode is filled with practical tips, powerful insights, and candid reflections on emotional and sexual empowerment. If you're ready to pull out the weeds from your emotional garden and step fully into your thriving self, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Takeaways:

• Authenticity and gentle challenge are key in relationships.

• Perfectionism fuels anxiety and neglect.

• Studying pleasure transforms our connection with our bodies.

• Boundaries are essential for thriving intimacy.

• Self-love is the foundation of sexual confidence.

• Shame and guilt can block personal growth.

• Healing emotional trauma is vital for true thriving.

• Communication unlocks deeper connection.

• Awareness shifts relationship dynamics.

• Healthy love can feel unfamiliar — and that's okay.

• Emotional patterns are inherited, but healing is our responsibility.

• Shifting from victim to creator mindset is transformational.

• Self-pleasure deepens self-knowledge and desire.

Sound Bites:

• "I realized I had anxiety."

• "I spent a full year studying pleasure."

• "You have to know where your border is."

• "Shame and guilt are massive things."

• "Hurt people hurt people."

• "We need to really try and thrive."

• "There's a process to it."

• "It was all subconscious."

• "Awareness is key."

• "It's not taught."

• "It's our responsibility."

• "We need to get rid of the weeds."

• "This is happening for me, not to me."

🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected]

🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios

🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne

📖 Referenced reading:

Pussy: A Reclamation by Regina Thomashauer

Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski

Come Together by Emily Nagoski

The Power of TED by David Emerald

The School of Womanly Arts: mamagenas.com

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