Hurt to Healing

In this episode of Hurt to Healing, I’m joined by Zoe Blaskey — founder of the Motherkind platform, host of the award-winning podcast, and author of Motherkind. Zoe shares her personal journey into motherhood, and how the challenges she faced inspired her to question societal expectations and support others navigating similar paths. We talk about “matrescence” — the identity shift that happens whe...

This week, I’m opening up about some very real feelings I'm sitting with as I prepare for a family trip to Italy — and the challenges that come with stepping away from routine when you live with OCD and have a complicated relationship with control, food, and movement. I reflect on how holidays, for me, have often triggered a lot of anxiety rather than rest, and how I’m trying to approach this trip...

Welcome to Healing 101, where we dive deep into the foundations of mental wellbeing. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Phil Hopley—consultant psychiatrist and stress expert—to unpack one of the biggest challenges of modern life: chronic stress. Dr. Hopley explains how to recognise the early warning signs before burnout strikes, why our relationship with stress matters more than the stress itself,...

In this episode of Hurt to Healing, Pandora sits down with Emma Healey, acclaimed author and journalist, to explore the complex relationship between exercise, body image, and control. Emma shares her deeply personal experience with exercise addiction, discussing how what started as a routine for health and fitness slowly became an all-consuming compulsion. She opens up about the psychological and...

In this solo episode, I open up about something deeply personal—my relationship with my brother, and the wider dynamics within my family. For a long time, I found certain behaviours hard to understand or accept, but recently, I’ve started to view them through a different lens. I share how gaining perspective on my own coping mechanisms—and recognising where they come from—has helped me see my fami...

In this episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Chuks to explore the powerful connection between anxiety, stress, and disordered eating. We unpack how stress hormones like cortisol impact hunger, why early life experiences shape our eating patterns, and how guilt and shame can trap us in unhealthy cycles. Dr. Chuks shares practical advice for building a more compassionate, mindful...

Today, I’m joined by former England rugby player, best-selling author, podcaster and media personality, James Haskell. Known for his larger-than-life presence both on and off the field, James has been on a journey of self-discovery, navigating the highs and lows of professional sport, dealing with ADHD, and embracing new challenges after retiring from rugby. In this conversation, James opens up ab...

In this solo episode, I open up about what it really feels like to slow down - not by choice, but by necessity - and how it's been forcing me to confront old fears, routines, and the way I measure my worth. I share how an injury has made me rethink productivity, presence, and the masks we wear to seem like we're doing fine when we're not. It's a vulnerable one, but I hope it reminds you that where...

Jessica Clarke is a model, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the wellness brand Mother Made. Born and raised in New Zealand with strong Māori roots, Jessica grew up surrounded by holistic healing, a deep connection to nature, and a family who believed in the body’s ability to restore itself. In this episode of Healing 101, Jessica shares how her own experiences with burnout and imbalance led her to...

In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Chuks to explore the deeply layered world of eating disorders - how they often begin, what fuels them, and why they can be so difficult to detect and treat. We talk about the connection between stress and disordered eating around major life events, the dangerous expectations placed on our bodies before weddings and holidays, and how social media and comparis...

In this week’s solo episode, I open up about something deeply personal - navigating another stress injury and the emotional spiral it triggered. I reflect on the long-term effects of an eating disorder, the lessons I’ve had to learn (and re-learn), and the importance of catching ourselves before we fall too far down a familiar rabbit hole. From stress fractures and stubborn inner critics to sponta...

In this Healing 101 episode, I sit down with James Withey - writer, speaker, and founder of The Recovery Letters project - to explore what it really means to live with depression. James shares his personal journey, from struggling with depression since childhood to facing suicidal thoughts and time in psychiatric hospitals. Through vulnerability, wit, and warmth, he helps break the silence and sti...

Today, I’m joined by James Longman, an award-winning journalist and author of The Inherited Mind, for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about mental illness, family history, and the complexities of healing. James opens up about his father’s struggles with schizophrenia and suicide, and how that experience shaped his own battles with depression and anxiety. Writing his latest book—a deepl...

In my first ever solo episode, I open up about the challenges of living with OCD, the fear of doing something new, and the everyday battles that come with a long-term mental health condition. I reflect on the power of saying "yes" even when it feels uncomfortable, the slow process of reclaiming joy, and what it’s taken to begin moving beyond the rigid, compulsive structure my OCD once demanded. Th...

In this episode of Healing 101, we explore the fascinating link between gut health and mental well-being with Dr. Federica Amati. The gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in everything from mood regulation to cognitive function, and emerging research shows that what we eat directly impacts our mental health. Dr. Amati breaks down: How the gut microbiome influences brain chemistry and mental well-be...

In this powerful episode of Hurt to Healing, I talk with journalist and editor Annabel Fenwick Elliot, who shares her deeply personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD at age 34. Annabel reflects on how ADHD impacted her life, from struggles in school and university to managing depression and navigating adulthood. She candidly discusses the strategies that have helped her work with, rather than...

Welcome to this Healing 101 episode, where we tackle one of the most pressing topics in mental health today—how to support teenagers through the challenges of growing up. I’m joined by Dr Beth Mosley, a psychologist who works closely with young people and families, to unpack the pressures teens face, from social media and school stress to navigating family relationships. Beth shares practical advi...

In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Josh Connolly, an emotional resilience coach, speaker and author of the transformative book It’s Them, Not You . Josh opens up about his personal journey of healing from a childhood shaped by trauma and growing up with a toxic, alcoholic parent. He shares how these early experiences influenced his struggles with addiction and self-worth, and how he’s...

On today’s Healing 101 I am joined by Katie McKenna once again to talk about something that isn’t always visible but can have a profound and lasting impact—emotional abuse. Unlike physical abuse, emotional abuse can be subtle, insidious, and difficult to recognise, but its effects on self-worth, confidence, and relationships can be just as damaging. In this episode, we’ll explore the hidden signs...

Welcome back to Hurt to Healing! Today, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Federica Amati, a medical scientist and registered nutritionist, to talk about how we can build a healthier relationship with food—without all the guilt and restriction. So often, nutrition advice focuses on what to cut out, but Federica believes the real power lies in what we add in. We’ll be talking about how to personalise...

Grief doesn’t follow a timeline — and it certainly doesn’t play by the rules. Whether it’s the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a version of yourself, grief can show up in unexpected ways and stay longer than we’d like. In this episode, I speak with James Withey — therapist, speaker, and author of How to Get to Grips with Grief — to talk about what it really means to...

Today, we are joined by the accomplished model, actor, advocate and podcast host, Paul Sculfor. Paul’s journey is one of highs and lows—a dazzling career in the fashion world interwoven with struggles against addiction, anxiety, and self-discovery. In this candid conversation, he opens up about his formative years, grappling with family dynamics and societal pressures, his spiral into substance ab...

Welcome back to Healing 101! In this episode, we’re joined by renowned psychotherapist and best-selling author Owen O’Kane. Owen breaks down the complexities of anxiety and stress, sharing powerful insights and practical tools to manage emotions, build resilience, and deepen self-awareness. With a compassionate approach, Owen helps us rethink mental health struggles, offering hope and actionable a...

In this thought-provoking episode of Hurt to Healing, I sit down with author Eleanor Anstruther to discuss the complexities of mental health stigma, particularly within traditionally closed-off communities. Eleanor examines why some mental health conditions, like bipolar disorder, are more widely accepted and treated, while others, such as narcissistic personality disorder, are misunderstood, over...

​​Welcome back to Healing 101! In this episode, we are joined by the insightful psychotherapist and author Katie McKenna. Katie dives into the profound impact of childhood trauma, explaining how early experiences shape emotional patterns, relationships, and self-perception in adulthood. With warmth and clarity, Katie shares practical guidance on recognising trauma responses, breaking unhealthy cyc...