Beyond the Smile

The conversation between MaryLayo and Bronwyn Schweigert offers an exploration of anger as a misunderstood and often vilified emotion. Bronwyn highlights that rather than viewing anger as an adversary, it should be celebrated as an integral part of the human experience, one that can provide valuable insights into our lives and relationships. Throughout the episode, Bronwyn dissects the common misc...

Shownotes In this thought-provoking episode, MaryLayo engages in a profound dialogue with Dr. David Aku, an esteemed occupational physician from Ghana. Their conversation reveals contrasts and enlightening parallels between the cultural narratives of Ghana and the UK. Dr. Aku articulates how societal attitudes towards mental health are gradually evolving in Ghana, particularly in the wake of the C...

Summary Eviction is a deeply traumatic experience that can have lasting effects on mental health and personal development, as discussed by MaryLayo and her guest, Jo Sama. Both share their personal stories of eviction, reflecting on how these experiences shaped their childhoods and influenced their journeys into adulthood. The conversation highlights the suddenness and urgency of being forced from...

Summary Ronke Joseph shares her profound journey of recovery following a life-altering accident that resulted in the amputation of her leg. On January 13, 2015, a car struck Ronke while she was on her way to work, leading to a series of surgeries and a challenging road to healing. Throughout her experience, Ronke emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and the strength found in...

Domestic Abuse & Faith: Supporting Survivors Today's episode is on domestic abuse and Marylayo is talking to guest, Brandie Opone, who has a passion for empowering others. Brandie leads a vibrant women's ministry group in her local church and serves on the board of her local community to champion positive change. Discussion covers: Shining a Light: Using Your Gifts to Make a Difference Balanci...

Battling through Trauma MaryLayo talks with Ricky Sluder, a Life & Relationship Coach, who shares about his journey surviving childhood abuse, neglect and loss. Ricky shares about what helped him to receive inner healing and develop his relationship with God. MaryLayo’s spiritual wellness tip is: meditate on Revelations 3:20. For more insights on mental health and spiritual wellbeing. Remember...

Living with Childlessness In this episode, MaryLayo talks to couple – Daniele & Tina Fiandaca, about their journey navigating through childlessness, and the impact this has had on their mental health. Daniele and Tina share about the hopes and dreams they had for a family, their experience of miscarriage, IVF treatment and grief, and their feelings about shame and societal pressure. Concluding...

Summary In this episode, guest, Angie Read, shares with MaryLayo her journey of surviving two unexpected strokes at age 46 and 47, and the impact this had on her mental health. Concluding with a touch of spiritual wellness, MaryLayo offers a reflective tip from Proverbs 4:20-22, before inviting listeners to join her next time for more insights on mental health and spiritual wellbeing. Remember to...

Starting Counselling: Genis' Story In this episode MaryLayo and guest, Genis Fernandes, discuss seeking help, finding a counsellor and highlight some of the frustrations and benefits they experienced on their journey. Concluding with a touch of spiritual wellness, MaryLayo offers a reflective tip from Philippians 4:13, inviting listeners to join her next time for more insights on mental health and...

Resilience After Brain Injury In this episode, Marylayo talks with guest, Greg Ward. Greg shares his personal story of recovery following a brain haemorrhage that occurred when he was just 14 years old; and reflects on how after many years he's only now more comfortable discussing his challenges openly. Discussion points (00:00:01) MaryLayo and Greg Ward on Brain Injury Recovery (00:08:17) Journey...

Summary In this episode of "Beyond the Smile" with host MaryLayo, we delve into the intricacies of finding not just a job, but a fulfilling career that aligns with one's interests and talents. Career and talent strategist Stephen Shortt, CEO of Career Fit, unpacks the importance of job satisfaction and how it contributes to overall happiness and good mental health. Listeners will explore the idea...

In this episode, Marylayo is with guest, Richard (Junior) Asomaning, who shares his experience of having a brother diagnosed with autism.   Discussion points include: What are some of the signs/traits of Autism? How did your brother come to be diagnosed with autism? Did you ever feel overlooked in your family due to the focus on your brother’s needs? Were there specific challenges you fa...

Perfectionism In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Dr Tom Curran, a world-leading expert on perfectionism. We talk about perfectionism and share our own personal experiences. Questions included: What led you to focus on perfectionism? What's perfectionism and how does it develop and impact on someone's mental health? What misconceptions about perfectionism should be debunked? How...

How do you go about clearing the house, and personal belongings, when someone dies? In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Dr Chris Davis, and we share our experiences of clearing the home following the passing of a loved one.    Discussion includes: The emotional and practical challenges faced during the process of grieving and clearing the house. The role of friends and...

Grief with Shame In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Professor Dale Larson, an award winning author and clinical psychologist, about the feeling of shame some can have when grieving and how they can overcome the challenges based on evidence-based findings.   Discussion includes: What comes under the bracket of ‘shameful grief’? How cultural and societal norms impact the perc...

Happily Ever After What are the odds of finding true love after 40? In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, guest Vinnie Garrett shares her thoughts about romance and dating, potential partners, sustaining a marriage and incorporating God into life. Discussion points include: Thoughts on first and second-time marriages? During your journey to getting married what helped your mental health and spirit...

The Fashionably Late Bride: Finding love later in life What are the odds of finding true love after 40? In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, guest Vinnie Garrett shares about the ups and downs of single life and dating into her late forties. Vinnie shares about her life as a bachelorette, quest to find a husband, her preparation for marriage and how God mysteriously played a part in her journey t...

All Work and No Play - Insights on Burnout In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest Dr Karen Michell. Karen, an occupational health nurse with experience in academia, shares her experience of going through burnout, both as a worker and a boss, and how it impacted her mental health. The conversation and questions include: What is burnout? What are the common signs of burnout? What burno...

Going through a Brain Tumour In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Mildred Talabi, about her experience when she discovered she had a brain tumour and the impact this had on her mental health and spiritual wellbeing during the recovery process.  The conversation includes: Signs that led Mildred to realise that something wasn’t right and that she had brain tumour. Questioning a...

Anxiety Treatments In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I continue talking to psychotherapist, Suzi Williams, about anxiety. This time we focus more on the various treatments, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and self-help tips, that can be applied to help improve our mental health and wellbeing.  The conversation covers: The treatments used to explore anxiety and reframe our mind...

About Anxiety In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I'm with guest, Suzi Williams, a psychotherapist to talk about anxiety and our mental health and wellbeing. This is Part 2 of the Unravelling Anxiety series. The conversation covers: Exploring the root causes of anxiety How long can it take to overcome anxiety when being treated Various forms of support to deal with anxiety Faith and relationship...

About Anxiety In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I'm with guest, Suzi Williams, a psychotherapist to talk about anxiety and mental health and wellbeing. This is Part 1 of the Unravelling Anxiety series. The conversation covers: What is fear, anxiety and depression Signs and symptoms of anxiety What causes anxiety Obsessions and compulsive behaviour How to deal with anxiety Revisiting earlier li...

Procrastination - The Time Thief In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Deacon Joe Ferrari, who is also a professor of psychology, to hear his perspective about procrastination and why do some people still keep on procrastinating even though they want to stop! Conversation includes: What is procrastinating? What is not procrastination? Why do I procrastinate? Why is procrastination...

A Mother's Journey Through Grief In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Barbara Legere, to talk about her experience of losing a child to suicide. We discuss how she managed to cope following the death of her son, Keven, and what’s kept her going. This covers: What was Keven like? How did he end his life? How did you deal with his death? What forms of support helped you with the gri...

Mental Health Insights for Healthcare workers and other Caregivers In today's episode of MaryLayo Talks, I’m with guest, Professor Dale Larson, to discuss the mental health of caregivers, who are also known or include care workers, carers and healthcare workers. Professor Larson shares about experiences nurses, doctors, therapists, social workers, and others such as the clergy can often struggle w...