Catching The Octopus Podcast

S2E27 – The Secret to Ending Suffering: The Noble Eightfold Path Explained Why do we keep suffering, even when we know what we should do? In this episode, we explore the Noble Eightfold Path, one of Buddhism's most practical teachings, and discover how this 2,500-year-old framework can help reduce suffering, develop emotional resilience, and create greater peace in everyday life. The Noble Eightfo...

S2E26 – How to End Unnecessary Suffering: The Four Noble Truths Why do we suffer, even when life seems to be going well? In this episode, we explore the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism and how this 2,500-year-old wisdom can help reduce stress, let go of attachment, and create lasting inner peace. The Four Noble Truths, the foundational teachings of Buddhism, remains remarkably relevant to modern psy...

S2E25 – Are You Absorbing Other People's Energy? How to Protect Yourself Ever leave a conversation feeling exhausted, heavy, or emotionally drained? In this episode, I share practical and spiritual techniques to protect your energy, cut unhealthy energetic connections, and reclaim your personal power. In this episode of Catching the Octopus, I explore energetic protection, emotional boundaries, an...

S2E24 – The Truth About Witchcraft Nobody Talks About: Modern Magic Explained with Maritza Schafer What if everything you've been taught about witchcraft is wrong? In this fascinating conversation, I sit down with transformation coach and lifelong witch Maritza Schafer to explore the real meaning of witchcraft, energy work, magic, tarot, intention setting, and spiritual practice in the modern worl...

S2E23 – The Red Flags Were Always There: Why We Ignore What People Show Us Have you ever looked back on a relationship and realised the red flags were there all along? In this episode of Catching the Octopus, Niomi explores the psychology of projection, why we often see people through the lens of our own values, and how bonding can blind us to the reality of who someone is. Whether it's a romantic...

S2E21 – Consciousness, Energy Healing & Spiritual Awakening Explained with Michael Monk What if consciousness is far more than the physical body? What if spiritual experiences are not imagination, but a deeper connection to reality? In this thought-provoking episode of Catching the Octopus , Niomi Hurley sits down with renowned spiritual teacher and energy mastery educator Michael Monk to explore...

S2E21 – The Hidden Ego Trap Behind Always Needing to Be Right Why do some people always need to be right, even when it damages relationships, leadership, trust, or connection? In this episode of Catching the Octopus Podcast, Niomi Hurley explores the psychology of ego, emotional regulation, confidence, validation, and the deep subconscious need many people have to prove themselves right. From rela...

S2E20 – What Healing Actually Looks Like (And Why It Feels So Hard) Healing isn't always peaceful, sometimes it feels like emotional chaos before transformation. In this episode of Catching the Octopus, Niomi Hurley breaks down the real stages of the healing journey, including emotional dysregulation, overthinking, trauma responses, rest, trust, acceptance, and personal transformation. If you've e...

S2E19 – The Truth About Forgiveness: Releasing Pain, Karma and Emotional Attachment Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, excusing bad behaviour, or letting someone back into your life. Niomi explores the deeper meaning of forgiveness, not as an excuse for poor behaviour, but as a pathway to freedom, healing and energetic release. Forgiveness is often misunderstood. Many people believe that forgiv...

S2E18 – Inner Child Healing: The Hidden Programming Running Your Life What if the way you think, feel, and react today… was programmed years ago? This episode breaks down how your inner child is still shaping your reality and how to heal it. In this powerful episode of Catching the Octopus, Niomi Hurley dives into inner child healing, subconscious programming, and emotional triggers and how your p...

S2E17 – Flow and Alignment: Why You're Forcing Life (and How to Finally Let It Work for You) Are you forcing life instead of flowing with it? This episode breaks down why alignment might be the missing piece and how to shift instantly. In this episode of Catching the Octopus , we explore the powerful connection between flow state and alignment and why so many people feel stuck, frustrated, or like...

S2E16 – Breaking the System: Small Shifts That Create Big Change In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Catching the Octopus, Niomi Hurley explores how deeply embedded societal systems, particularly patriarchal and capitalist structures, shape the way we think, behave, and relate to one another. Drawing from personal experiences, psychology, and everyday observations, Niomi unpacks the...

S2E15 - Witchcraft, Rituals & the Mind: The Psychology Behind Everyday Magic In this episode of Catching the Octopus, I explore a topic that might feel a little controversial at first… witchcraft. But before you switch off, this isn't about spells, darkness, or anything to fear. It's about understanding how many of the things we do every single day. Our rituals, prayers, habits, and intention sett...

S2E14 - The Truth About Twin Flames: Healing, Triggers and the 5D Connection Have you ever experienced a connection so intense it felt spiritual, magnetic and impossible to explain? In this episode of Catching the Octopus, I talk about twin flame connections, what they really are, and why they are so often romanticised. I share my personal experience of a twin flame encounter, the emotional healin...

S2E13 - Spiritual Discernment, Esoteric Teachings & a Bigger View of Life This episode is a little different, and in many ways, it's a foundational conversation for where this podcast is evolving. In this episode of Catching the Octopus, I share a broader overview of the spiritual and esoteric lens that sits behind much of my work, my worldview, and many of the healing conversations I'll likely un...

S2E11 – Understanding Anxiety: How Your Brain Creates Fear (And How to Break the Loop) Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but what if it's actually your brain trying to protect you? In this episode of the Catching the Octopus Podcast, Niomi Hurley explores how anxiety works from a psychological, physiological, and subconscious perspective. Rather than seeing anxiety as a flaw or weakness, Niomi explai...

S2E10 – The Thousands of Versions of You: Perception, Authenticity & Self-Reflection In this episode of Catching the Octopus Podcast, Niomi Hurley explores a powerful concept that many of us overlook… there are thousands of versions of you existing in other people's minds. Every person you meet forms their own perception of you based on their experiences, beliefs, biases, and emotional filters. Th...

S2E9 - Judgment, Boundaries & Emotional Intelligence: Stop Gossiping, Stop Self-Criticism & Reclaim Your Power In this powerful episode of Catching the Octopus Podcast, Niomi Hurley explores the hidden cost of judgment within both the judgment we direct at others and the harsh self-judgment we turn inward. What's the difference between judging someone… and simply recognising they're no longer alig...

S2E8 - From Bullying to Awakening: Karma, Accountability & Becoming the Person You're Meant to Be In this powerful and vulnerable episode of Catching the Octopus Podcast, Niomi Hurley opens up about a side of her past she hasn't fully shared before, the self-serving behaviours, bullying tendencies, and control patterns that shaped her teenage years and early twenties. Instead of hiding from it, sh...

S2E7 - Epstein Files, Child Sexual Abuse & Systemic Corruption Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse (CSA), sexual assault, domestic violence and systemic abuse. Please prioritise your wellbeing before listening. In this deeply personal and confronting episode of Catching the Octopus Podcast , host Niomi Hurley speaks openly about the Epstein files, systemic child...

S2E6 - Boundaries, People Pleasing & the Loneliness of Growth (Why Healing Changes Your Relationships) In this deeply personal solo episode of Catching the Octopus Podcast , Niomi Hurley shares the raw reality of boundaries, people pleasing, and personal healing — and why growth often feels lonely before it feels peaceful. If you've ever struggled to say no , felt responsible for other people's em...

S2E5 - How Energy Works: Practical Energy Healing, Emotional Processing & Energy Clearing In this solo episode, Niomi Hurley breaks down how energy actually works — in a grounded, practical, and very human way. From everyday emotional regulation to energetic boundaries, subconscious programming, and simple energy "hacks," this episode bridges psychology, lived experience, and energy healing withou...

Falling, Healing & Finding Gratitude: Jonathan McLean's Journey from Trauma to Transformation In this deeply moving episode of Catching the Octopus Podcast , host Niomi Hurley sits down with Jonathan McLean , joining from Poland, to share his real-life story of survival, spiritual awakening, and healing after a devastating fall in Nepal. In 2012, Jonathan fell down a mountain while trekking near K...