Many of you know the special relationship I have with the High Performance podcast and how supportive they have been of me and my journey into podcasting. I have appeared as a listener guest on their podcast and joined them on stage for two dates during their 2023 Live Tour. It was a total honour to be able to sit down with Damian and chat for this special series 5 bonus episode.  

In this inspiring episode, renowned author, speaker, and co-host of the High Performance Podcast, Damian Hughes explores the intersection of elite performance and personal wellbeing. Damian shares powerful insights drawn from years of studying world-class performers—from athletes to business leaders—and reveals how the principles of high performance can be applied to everyday life to boost mental health, resilience, and fulfilment. We discover the incredibly close parallels between the sporting world and the entertainment industry and Damian, as always generously shares some gems for our listeners.   

Damian talks about his childhood and all the incredible lessons his dad taught him through his exceptional career as a boxing coach. 

We discuss the phenomenal success of the High Performance Podcast and how the mission has changed and evolved over the years.  

Damian shares his favourite episode, and I even end the podcast with a taste of his own medicine by asking the closing questions from his own podcast!  

Whether you're striving for excellence in your career, personal life, or simply seeking more balance, this conversation offers practical wisdom and uplifting energy to help you live and lead with intention. 

Thank you to Damian and the whole of the High Performance Podcast team for being such an incredible bunch of humans who really do practice what they preach.  

It is not lost of me how lucky I am to have them in my corner being my cheerleaders. Forever Grateful! 

Thank you Damian x 

Follow the High Performance Podcast and all its partner podcasts on www.thehighperformancepodcast.com 

Damian Hughes www.liquidthinker.com 

Instagram - @liquidthinker @highperformance 

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In this beautiful and somewhat familiar series 5 finale, Manny chats to our favourite leading man, Matt Mills, for a powerful and uplifting conversation. As the journey of this series comes to a close, Matt reminds us of something simple yet profound: look up. Not just at the destination—but during the journey itself. Because sometimes, the most beautiful moments happen when we lift our heads and take in what’s around us. 

Matt opens up about the practices that have helped him stay grounded and resilient: 

✨ Leading with gratitude 

🧠 The transformative power of therapy 

💪 The gym as a space for mental clarity and physical strength 

He shares how therapy has supported him through trickier moments of realisation, and how it’s okay to take up space—others do, and you can too. With honesty and heart, Matt reflects on his journey and the discipline it takes to pursue your dreams. 

Now stepping into his biggest role yet as a West End leading man in MJ the Musical, Matt talks ambition, future aspirations, and the importance of walking the path you were truly meant to follow. As he says, “Ambition is the idea of the dream you want—paired with hard work and diligence.” 

Matt Mills, we love you—and we’re so, so proud of your achievements so far. 💫 

Stay tuned for the Series 5 bonus episode coming soon!!!  

Follow Matt Mills on Instagram @millzilla_  

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In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with florist, creator, and curator Stacey Hartley to explore her personal journey through mental health and the challenges of performance anxiety. Stacey opens up about the pivotal life shifts that guided her away from a once-beloved career and toward a more intentional path rooted in creativity and healing. With grace and vulnerability, she shares how anxiety shaped her day-to-day life—and how she learned to navigate it without letting it define her.  

Stacey embraced a simple but powerful mantra: just say yes. That shift led her to discover new rhythms of joy—like her daily, non-negotiable walks, which end at a soul-nourishing choir practice, run by Wellbeing with Manny favourite and Series 2 guest Cat Ogden. Singing once brought anxiety; now it brings freedom.  

Stacey generously shares how reclaiming joy through creativity, nature, and community helped her bloom again. A tender reminder that healing isn’t always loud, but it’s deeply felt. 

Join us as Stacey weaves beauty, purpose, and connection into every petal of life. This episode is a gentle reminder that growth often blooms in unexpected places. 

Stacey, you’re a joy—thank you for gracing the podcast with your presence. May your journey continue to blossom beautifully – that's enough of the flower puns don’t you think?!!! 

Connect with Stacey via: 

www.staceyhartley_florals 

@staceyhartley_florals 

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Ellie from Ultimate Health by Ellie is the perfect guest for Wellbeing with Manny in conversation with.......she is a ray of sunshine on any day! 

Ellie’s passion for supporting people to live their best lives is steeped in her mission to educate, support and advise people to assist with boosting energy, helping support gut health, build lean muscle, look and feel younger and help with sustainable weight loss.  

Ellie has been on her own journey to uplevel her life over the past few years. From a girl with a dream of becoming a vet to becoming a primary school teacher, Ellie has learnt much along the way that has brought her to a life of service and purpose in the wellness space. 

Ellie’s refreshing non-judgemental, moderation approach is accessible, inclusive and importantly, achievable.  

She specialises in supporting women, especially those over 40, with science-based evidence. Ellie has such a passion and care for what she offers and is a wonderful role model within a difficult industry flooded with what we SHOULD and SHOULDN’T be doing! 

The nutrition and fitness space can feel inaccessible for some but not with Ellie. Ellie shares her top tips for making small changes to your health and lifestyle. We touch upon unhelpful messaging from our youth including some of the food myths out there and importance of finding the right exercise for you! 

We talk about how food makes you feel as opposed to ‘good’ and ‘bad’ labels (just like our good friend Jonny Landels, WWM favourite!) Ellie is also the queen of making healthy food choices on a budget....making it truly accessible for all! 

Ellie you gorgeous Nicole Kidman lookalike you!! We love you! (Go see her she's the double!)

Thank you for the inspiration! 

Find Ellie on Instagram @ultimatehealthbyellie 

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Emma is both my Leeds lass sister and my sister in wellbeing, as we go from Wellbeing with Manny to Wellbeing with Emma! 

Emma and I met in the crazy time that was summer 2020 when we were forced to complete our wellbeing training online! Despite that, it was a beautiful journey with an amazing and supportive group of women.  

Emma is a wellbeing coach, energy healer and yoga teacher who also runs retreats......dreamy!! She supports women who are feeling low in energy, uninspired and stuck, to find their reset and recharge, ready for more focus, more joy and more action.  

Emma generously shares her inspiring story which began 10 years ago when Emma had a high powered, stressful corporate job and found herself extremely unwell with stress and chronic pain. Emma was also suffering from recurring laryngitis, unable to speak for weeks on end.  

Having reached absolute breaking point Emma enrolled on a mindfulness course which was to result in life changing consequences. Her mindfulness teacher was also a yoga teacher so in a bid to slow down and listen to her body more, Emma enrolled on that too and within a matter of weeks, Emma realised ‘it wasn't her body that was broken, it was her brain’. 

More validation of this was to come when her speech therapist to whom she was referred regarding the laryngitis, further stated that this was a clear case of stress. 

During the course of this reflection during her mindfulness and yoga classes Emma found that she was being called more and more to this work and the passion to support other women in burn out felt like a whisper from the universe requesting her to follow this purpose led life of service.  

Emma now works as a full-time wellbeing coach, energy healer, reiki master and yoga teacher who has designed some the best packages for women who need support, including some fabulous reset retreats.  

Emma also shares with us the magic of crystals and how to begin to harness their power.....something I LOVE so much!  

Emma this conversation was like a huge hug from a best mate from high school. Full love, full inspiration and full-on Yorkshire!  

Thank you Queen! 

To find out more and to access some FREE support from Emma go to: 

Wellbeing With Emma 

Instagram - @wellbeing.with.emma  

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Polite warning: Whilst we do not believe that sex should be taboo – hence this next conversation, I do acknowledge that some of you may listen in the car or on a speaker at home so just politely letting you know that we explicitly talk about sex in the conversation.  

Carla Crivaro is one of my newest and most favourite friends that I have found over the past year. I love being in her company and she really has been an absolute gem from day one of our friendship. 

Carla primarily supports couples who maybe feel disconnected sexually and would like more emotional and physical intimacy, maybe they used to enjoy sex and would love to find that long lost spark and create more pleasure.  

 Carla supports people who want to find love however find themselves in a pattern where they are repeating negative cycles, therefore having some issues when selecting a ‘good’ long term partner.  

It was really important to me to be reminded, and remind the listeners, that there should be no stigma when it comes to sex. Sex is normal and a part of our human connection, if we so choose it to be. More than that, sex should be something pleasurable and that we feel we can open up conversations about in order for us to truly advocate for what we want, something that for a long time women especially find hard to do. We talk about the shame women carry around sex and its origins and how opening up about desires can be liberating and in turn increase the ability to fully let go and unleash the goddess within! 

Carla talks about the differences between men and women's needs in the bedroom and has some really good practical help around how to start those conversations.  

This is a brand new sidestep for me and truly a one of kind conversation for Wellbeing with Manny in conversation with.....and I am thrilled that we can bring this conversation to the listeners, safe in the knowledge that it will help break down any unnecessary barriers. 

As Carla says, 

With pleasure! 

We love you queen x 

Reach Carla on Instagram @the.sexuality.sanctuary 

Or her website www.carlacrivaro.com 

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Oli Lowe is a beacon of positivity and an inspiration when it comes to manifesting your dream life. Oli is a full-time presenter and social media content creator a job he adores, wanted for years, went out and GOT!  

A Music Theatre graduate and a highly creative person, Oli talks openly about the struggles of transitioning between university and real adult life.  

Oli says he was ‘Lost in the Wilderness’ (excuse the musical theatre pun) for around 5 years post university, moving from job to job with little satisfaction and little creativity. 

Oli desperately wanted to move back into the creative world and after returning to performing and being somewhat just as lost, Oli realised there was more to the creative industries than just performing, as amazing as that was. 

Oli shares with us his early diagnosis of ADHD and how that early diagnosis made his formative years much easier to manage, having confidence and understanding of just who he was. However, as an adult, he found himself trying to hide that part of himself that had been so readily accepted when he was younger.  

Fast forward to now and Oli has carefully curated and manifested his dream life. After years of creating a vision board which he shares with us and references during this chat, Oli has achieved his ultimate dream of being a presenter and social media content creator. This life utilises the very best of Oli’s qualities. His incredible quick wit, intelligence, warmth and humour, not to mention his technical skills! 

Oli I am so proud of the life you have created for yourself (and Lucy) and we are honoured you shared your story with us today. 

Here’s to you continuing to live your best life! 

Follow Oli on Instagram @_oliverlowe 

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TW: In this episode we discuss mental health disorders, in particular, eating disorders – please listen when you feel you can. Scroll to the bottom for support.  

Chrissy is someone who I have admired from a far for a very long time. Chrissy is a coach, therapist and counsellor with a background in eating disorder recovery, and she generously shares some of her own personal journey with that on this episode.  

Chrissy was and to some extent still is an actor at heart, making her insider knowledge of our industry coupled with her career as a coach and therapist the most perfect guest for this podcast. 

As a non-diagnosed neurodivergent child, Chrissy shares with us how she felt unwanted, unlovable with no friends. This notion of not feeling worthy of love directly impacted her into adulthood and some of her issues surrounding food, she links to her poor relationship with her own sense of self-worth. 

“I thought shrinking my body would get people to love me” Kapartis said, “It was only years later when I was surrounded by love and no longer tiny, that I realised how someone just liking me in a smaller body was never love.” 

Chrissy reminds us that self-love is the most important love of all. A relationship with yourself will always be your most important relationship. 

“Life when you don’t hate yourself is on another planet!” Chrissy reminds us.  

Chrissy you are such a special lady, and I feel so honoured that you opened up with such vulnerability on our podcast.  

We know how deserving of love you are, and we all love you so deeply. 

Thank you for your infinite wisdom! 

Follow Chrissy on insta @chrissy_kapartis 

Support for Eating Disorders: 

The UK's Eating Disorder Charity - Beat 

Useful contacts for support | Eating problems - Mind - Mind 

Treatment and support for eating problems - Mind 

BetterHelp - Get Started & Sign-Up Today 

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Welcome back to series 5 of Wellbeing with Manny in conversation with........to start the new series I am just dropping in with a few reflections of my own to ease us in gently! 

I reflect upon my acknowledgement for better self-compassion and the important one for me which is living in alignment with your core values.  

It’s just an opportunity to for me to share a couple of thoughts and a chance for something to resonate with you and offer you to chance to reflect. 

Here’s to another great series! Thank you so much for being by my side.  

I love you all, 

Manny x 

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TW: Dark, suicidal thoughts are discussed please listen when you feel you can.

Welcome to this super bonus episode……you are not ready!! This is a special conversation.

Miguel is a creative social entrepreneur and one of life’s absolute gems. He has created the most incredible community of dancers within the Liverpool City Region and has worked with some of the most famous artists in the world including Michael Jackson and Beyoncé.  Miguel’s ‘MD’ brand of dancers has been the only group to ever reach the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent a staggering 3 times!

It is easy to look at Miguel’s really ‘shiny’ achievements and think this is what success looks like but with the highs comes some incredible lows.

Miguel opens the conversation with some honest reflection of his journey through life so far, the good bad and the ugly! His entrepreneurial journey began over 20 years ago and due to his incredible work ethic and levels of empathy, Miguel found himself giving away more than his capacity could allow. His business was in some level of financial difficulty and the stress of everything Miguel was trying to keep afloat became all too much. Miguel hit absolute rock bottom. He was in an incredibly dark place, the darkest you could imagine. He used his crutch of food, seeing his weight spiral and the stress led to a painful and significant skin condition. He thought this might be the last time he would teach dance and began to walk away from all he had built and the dreams he envisioned.

Slowly but surely, Miguel found his love for dance again and with his spirit of character and the resilience he had witnessed day in day out from his incredible mum, raising 4 children alone, he found the strength to ‘do the work’, heal from within, find his passion and drive and remember what he truly loved.

Miguel generously shares with us how he felt a loss of identity growing up, as he explains about his sexuality and his race not ‘running side by side’. It was hard for him to align with what he saw in the mirror and who he was. There was little or no representation for him, no one that he saw paving the way, which is why I think Miguel is a true trailblazer, walking the path for others who will clearly now see themselves reflected back at them.  

What a story of resilience and growth, inspiration and dreams.

You are one exceptional human being Miguel. Here’s to all you go on to achieve in life and thank you for being YOU. I see YOU and you see ME.

So grateful for you.

Follow Miguel:

www.migueldoforo.com

@MiguelDoforo

or on the socials

@seeyouseemecic

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