Brave Conversations with Lee Walls

In this episode of Brave Conversations, I’m joined by Windy Wilson, a familiar and trusted voice to many across Scotland. What started as a light-hearted interest in the weather grew into a significant online following, and then into something far more meaningful. Windy shares how his son’s heart condition changed everything, shifting his focus from forecasts to fundraising, awareness, and action...

Gavin Oattes joins me for a brilliant chat about the messy bits of life, the funny bits, and the small moments that keep us going. He talks about his journey from comedy to teaching, and why playfulness shouldn’t disappear just because we’ve become adults with bills. Gavin opens up about anxiety and how it shaped his book, Confidently Lost. We get into glimmers too, those tiny sparks of joy that c...

Season 3 opens with a bang. No easing in gently; we’re diving straight into the deep end with George Bell, author of Be A Man About It, a book that’s making a lot of folk rethink what masculinity actually means. George talks about growing up under the usual banners men get handed; be tough, don’t cry, sort yourself out. He lays out the pressure cooker many boys are raised in and how those early ru...

Join Caroline as she shares her heartfelt journey of healing after the loss of her husband to suicide. Discover her path to resilience, the power of therapy, and the importance of community support. Key Points: Caroline's early life and meeting her husband, Steve. The impact of Steve's sudden death and the challenges of grieving. Caroline's "Triangle of Recovery" and the role of therapy. The impor...

In this episode, we explore the concept of "Good Girl Deprogramming" with Michelle Minnikin, an organisational psychologist and author. Michelle shares her personal journey of breaking free from societal expectations and the pervasive "good girl" conditioning that affects women from a young age. Through candid discussions, she reveals the tools and insights that helped her and others reclaim their...

Join us as we delve into the inspiring story of Cat Paterson, a confidence coach who has transformed her life through resilience and determination. In this episode, Cat shares her personal journey of overcoming chronic illness and how it led to a profound personal transformation. Key Takeaways: Cat's early career and the unexpected health challenges she faced. The impact of chronic fatigue and fib...

Description:In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Brave Conversations , Lee sits down with Mandy Temple—who gave birth the day after her 15th birthday, after concealing her pregnancy until just days before. Her son was adopted, and what followed was a journey marked by heartbreak, hope, and an extraordinary reunion years later. Mandy speaks with raw honesty about the silence, the shame, an...

Title: Embracing Weirdness and Authenticity with Amy Keene Description: Join us as we dive into a fascinating conversation with Amy Keene, a psychosociologist and CEO of Good Shout. Amy shares her journey through a squiggly career in advertising, her passion for teaching people to use their voices, and the importance of embracing one's weirdness. Discover insights on overcoming societal norms, the...

Jenny who was Director, University of London International Programmes Undergraduate Laws programme, joins the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) sends people to the West Bank to serve as human rights observers, offering protective presence, documenting violations, and standing in solidarity with Palestinian communities under occupation. Their presence helps deter vi...

Kim Hawes spent ten years of her impressive career with one of the most notorious rock bands ever, Motörhead. She was then headhunted to become one the very first female tour managers in the world. Reminiscing on some wild stories from her touring days, as well as reflecting on being a women in such a male dominated industry. Recently receiving recognition for her achievement as a Pioneer for Wome...

Stand-up comedian Aiden Cowie talks about his teenage cancer diagnosis, living with a visible difference after life-saving facial surgery, and how body image and identity have shaped his story. We explore the power of comedy to spark honest, meaningful conversations, and how Aiden’s resilience and sharp wit have taken him from hospital wards to the Royal Albert Hall. https://www.facebook.com/peopl...

Cath Pendleton, known as the 'Merthyr Mermaid, is an ice swimmer who achieved the Guinness World Record for being the first person to swim a mile inside the Antarctic Circle. She represented Team GB in the world ice swimming championships. Watch BBC Documentary 'The Merthyr Mermaid' here . Find out more about Cath on her own website here . Brave Conversations is edited and produced by Ailish Hunte...

After confronting his unhealthy relationship with alcohol head-on, Simon Farrell wrote The Habits of Happiness — a practical and compassionate guide to building a more fulfilling life, one habit at a time. Simon also founded the charity Another Way, a youth-led community focusing on empowering people to live with kindness towards our planet. To find out more check out: Another Way "The Habits of H...

Nikki is a Mind, Body, & Breath Coach and the Founder of Breathing Mindful Coaching. She helps ‘always on’ Female Founders & Leaders create momentum, financial freedom & flexibility in their businesses without burning out. She combines her expertise in coaching, breath-work, mindfulness, somatics and nervous system regulation to support her clients to master their body and mind to thri...

Gary Seath is the founder of the Captain David Seath Memorial Fund, established in memory of his brother David, a serving officer in the British Army who tragically passed away while running the London Marathon in 2016. Through the foundation, Gary has worked tirelessly to raise funds and provide crucial support for wounded, injured, and sick veterans—offering small grants that make a big differen...

Dr Sigi Joseph is a GP partner & trainer in Edinburgh. To date she has trained over 1,000 future GPs, and recently won a UK RCGP Inspire 21 award for her work. Alongside her clinical role, she has spent 20 years working for National Education for Scotland, developing, delivering and assessing educational workshops. Publishing multiple articles on women’s health, recruitment and retention of GP...

Ex British Army Veteran, Steve Beedie has gone from fighting on the front line, to becoming an author of  Open the Bleed Off: Unleashing Mental Health in the Workplace, talking about his journey of self-discovery and resilience. Steve embraces vulnerability by giving TED Talks, training and becoming a global advocate for mental health. His talk,  My Secret War , has inspired thousands, a...

Tina McGuff is the author of critically-acclaimed mental heath memoir Seconds to Snap . She is a trainer in Mental Health First Aid, and her work as an eating disorder campaigner has led to national media appearances, including on ITV's Lorraine , Channel 5, STV, The Jeremy Vine Show , and Radio 1. In this Brave Conversation , Tina sheds light on the difficult childhood and upbringing that ha...

Adventurer, climber and camera operator Joe French has survived some of Earth's most hostile environments - including two catastrophic natural disasters on Everest. He is a film producer/director, writer, climber, musician, and member of Lochaber Mountain Rescue in the Scottish Highlands. His experience of post-traumatic stress and his pathway back to wellbeing, including barefoot running, is the...

'Pro-sex, pro-porn, pro-knowing the difference' is the eye-catching tagline of MakeLoveNotPorn, an online platform set up to promote positive sexual behaviour and values. Cindy Gallop, the site's founder, is this episode's guest. Brave Conversations is edited by Ailish Hunter at Bespoken Media podcasts .

In every episode of Brave Conversations, Lee asks her guest 'what does brave mean to you?' For this special episode to mark the end of season 1 of Brave Conversation, we invited listeners to send voicenotes sharing their own thoughts on bravery. -- This episode of Brave Conversations was edited by Ailish Hunter at Bespoken Media podcasts , and MultiTrack 2024 production fellow Antonia Gospel.

Bestselling author Isabel Losada  has written seven non-fiction books including The Battersea Park Road to Paradise and   Sensation. Her  most recent book The Joyful Environmentalist is being re-released in April 2025 . She tells Lee about the importance of perserverence - especially, in Isabel's case, in the face of rejection letters from publishers. Brave Conversations is edited b...

This one's for anyone - particularly women - feeling under scrutiny over their clothing choices. As Style Editor Samantha Harman says, 'if your wardrobe isn't helping you make money... it's not doing its job properly.' Samantha talks to Lee about why she's so passionate about helping women dress well and be confident, and why pockets are a feminist issue. Brave Conversations is edited by Ailish Hu...

At just 52 years of age, speaker coach Susan Perry had a stroke. In this Brave Conversation, Susan tells Lee about her unexpected symptoms, her pathway to recovery, and how it has been a 'fault line' moment. She also discusses how to look for and embrace 'slivers of joy' in life.  Brave Conversations is edited by Ailish Hunter at Bespoken Media podcasts .

Film-maker Holly Hardman shares the health impacts of her dependence on prescription drugs, particularly benzodiazepines. Holly also discusses the making of her documentary 'As Prescribed', that highlights risks associated with benzodiazepines, including addiction and mental health problems. Watch Holly's acclaimed documentary film 'As Prescribed' . Brave Conversations is edited by Ailish Hunter a...