RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Conversations on the Psychology of Addiction, Behaviour & High Performance

What happens when life throws you something you never expected? In this powerful episode of Raw Chatter , I'm joined by an incredible guest who shares her experience of navigating cancer three times, running a business, making difficult decisions, and learning one of the most important lessons of all...Never hand over your power. We talk openly about self-advocacy, trusting yourself, asking be...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking: "I know what to do... so why am I still not doing it?" "I've tried everything and nothing seems to work." "Why do I keep repeating the same patterns?" In this episode of RAW CHATTER , I explore one of the biggest reasons lasting change feels so difficult. The problem isn't always that you're choosing the wrong soluti...

Why do we keep going back to behaviours we know aren't helping us? Why do we overthink, people please, comfort eat, drink too much, avoid difficult conversations or keep repeating the same patterns despite desperately wanting something different? In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I explore why awareness alone isn't enough to create lasting change. We look at: ✅ Why the brain is a prediction...

Imagine building your life around travel... and then the entire world shuts down. In this episode of Raw Chatter, I sit down with Noémi Beres to explore an inspiring story of resilience, reinvention and entrepreneurship. What began as a passion for travel and content creation took an unexpected turn when the pandemic brought the travel industry to a standstill. Faced with uncertainty, [Guest Name]...

We all have behaviours that we know aren't helping us. The extra glass of wine. The endless scrolling. The constant checking of emails. The people pleasing. The overworking. The perfectionism. The thing we keep telling ourselves isn't really a problem. In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I explores why smart, successful people continue repeating behaviours they know aren't serving them, wh...

What happens when years of therapy give you awareness, but not the change you’re desperate for? In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I’m joined by Jamima Blazdell, therapist, coach and creator of 100 Stress-Free Days, for a raw conversation about anxiety, social anxiety, therapy, EFT tapping, self-worth and what it really takes to feel better. We talk about: 👉Living with anxiety and “doom tummy” 👉Why...

21 years ago this bank holiday weekend, I had my last drink. By the end of May 2005, I was in rehab in North London and my life completely changed. Not because everything magically got better overnight. Not because I suddenly became “stronger.” And not because alcohol was the only issue. In this episode of RAW CHATTER , I share 21 things I’ve learned in 21 years alcohol-free - rom addiction, recov...

In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I’m talking about the lie many of us learn as children:That we are responsible for other people’s emotions. This belief often shows up as people pleasing, over-apologising, over-explaining, avoiding honesty, saying yes when we mean no, and constantly worrying about how we are being perceived. But this is not as simple as “people pleasing is bad”.For many people, esp...

Why do so many successful people struggle to relax, switch off or stop overthinking? In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I explores the hidden mental exhaustion behind high performance, perfectionism, rumination and late-diagnosis neurodivergence. This episode dives into: • rumination and thought loops • ADHD and autism in founders and professionals • nervous system dysregulation • why high achievers...

You’re not addicted to the habit - you’re attached to who it lets you be. That’s the part most people miss. If you’ve ever told yourself: “I’ll stop this week” “I need more discipline” “This time will be different”… yet you keep going back to the same patterns - food, alcohol, overworking, scrolling, people-pleasing - this episode explains why. In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I break down: 👉 Why...

Why do you still do the thing you said you’d stop? You’ve read the books. Listened to the podcasts. Saved the posts. And yet… nothing changes. In this solo episode of RAW CHATTER , I break down the truth most people miss: 👉 It’s not an information problem. 👉 It’s not a discipline problem. 👉 It’s not a lack of intelligence. It’s a behaviour problem. And behaviour is driven by more than just know...

You don’t have a confidence problem. You have a pattern problem And until you see it…you’ll keep trying to fix the wrong thing. In this episode of RAW CHATTER , I break down the hidden loop that’s driving: Overthinking Self-doubt Holding back in conversations And the constant feeling of being judged Here’s what’s really happening: You walk into a room. You silently judge people. Then minutes later...

What does it really take to lead, influence and succeed as a woman without losing yourself in the process? In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I’m joined by Shatoya Jones-Medor, a feminine leadership consultant and influence strategist helping high-achieving women break free from toxic identity conditioning and step into true authority. But this isn’t theory. This is lived experience. From starting he...

Emotional eating, drinking and control aren’t the problem. You’re using them to avoid something - and it’s not what you think. In this episode of Raw Chatter, I break down what’s really driving emotional eating, drinking, overthinking and control. It’s not about the food. It’s not about the alcohol. And it’s not about other people. It’s about your ability to sit with discomfort. If you’ve just com...

Feeling overwhelmed? So you decide to get more organised. More disciplined. More in control. And somehow… it makes everything worse. In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I’m breaking down what’s really going on when that happens because I see it all the time, and I’ve done it myself. When things feel out of control, most people try to tighten control. More rules. More structure. More pressure. But that...

🧠 You don’t have a motivation problem. You have a coping strategy problem. In this first episode of the newly positioned RAW CHATTER , I break down why so many high performers feel stuck, tired, and frustrated, despite knowing exactly what they should be doing. This isn’t about discipline. It’s not about willpower. It’s about the behaviours you rely on to get through your day:foodalcoholcaffeineo...

Fear stops more people than failure ever will. But what if fear isn’t actually the problem? In this episode of RAW CHATTER , I explore a powerful reframe I discovered during a spin workout: FEAR = Feel Excited And Raring To Go Because inside the body, fear and excitement are almost identical. Your heart rate increases. Adrenaline rises. Your nervous system activates. The difference isn’t the biolo...

Success doesn’t always mean someone is thriving. In this episode of RAW CHATTER , Vicky Midwood explores a truth many high achievers don’t want to admit:High functioning can be a symptom, not a strength. Behind strong careers, successful businesses and busy schedules often sits a nervous system running in survival mode. Overworking. Drinking to switch off. Chasing perfection. Constant busyness. Th...

In this episode of RAW CHATTER, I’m joined by Jennifer Reefe, an Intuitive Soul Connector We talk about one of the simplest tools for anxiety, stress and emotional overwhelm: EFT tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique). If your brain won’t switch off… If you’re carrying fear, pressure, or old stories that keep running the show… this one’s for you. We cover: What EFT tapping is (and why it works even...

In this episode of RAW CHATTER , I’m joined by registered nutritionist Kate Wall to unpack the confusion, guilt and misinformation surrounding food. Why can’t you “just eat healthy”? Why does diet culture create shame instead of change? And what’s the real difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian? We talk about: • Emotional eating and why willpower isn’t the problem • The damage caused by...

What if burnout doesn’t just make you tired… but changes the course of your life? In this episode of RAW CHATTER (addiction, recovery & reinvention) I’m joined by Shona Hirons author, speaker, and burnout prevention coach who shares the real story behind her reinvention. After years of high performance, chronic stress, and ignoring the warning signs, Shona’s body finally forced a full stop thr...

What really happens after you sell your business? In this episode of RAW CHATTER , I’m joined by exit specialist Lindsay Brown to explore the side of business exits nobody talks about the identity loss, adrenaline crash, loneliness, and emotional fallout that often follow success. For many founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners, exiting is supposed to feel like freedom. But instead, it can t...

Your words are not neutral. In this episode of Raw Chatter, I explore how the language you use every day is quietly reinforcing the patterns you say you want to change - from burnout and overwhelm to repeated crises, money stress, and feeling stuck. This isn’t about positive thinking or policing your language. It’s about awareness. Inside this episode, we explore: ✔️ Why repeated phrases become ex...

Worry can feel constant, exhausting, and impossible to switch off- but what if it isn’t a personality trait… or even a flaw? In this episode of RAW CHATTER, Vicky Midwood breaks down how worry actually works in the brain, why it becomes addictive, and why trying to “think your way out of it” often makes anxiety worse - not better! You’ll learn: 💡 Why worry is driven by the brain’s need for certai...

In this episode of RAW CHATTER , I share what changed when alcohol left my life, and why Dry January (and Sober October) can be more powerful than people realise. This isn’t an anti-alcohol rant. It’s an honest look at what alcohol does, why social pressure is often the hardest part, and what many people notice around days 10–20: clearer thinking, better sleep, more energy, less brain fog - and a...