School of Rock Bottom

Binge Eating, Shame & Self-Hate | Why We Use Food to Numb with actor Danny Kirrane. WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ON YOUTUBE - https://bit.ly/3RQ2Rvs Spotify - https://bit.ly/3ROsEEh Apple - https://apple.co/3PajZvQ Emotional eating. Body shame. The guilt spiral. If you’ve ever binged on food, hated yourself after, and promised to “be good tomorrow,” this conversation will hit hard. We...

What happens when you’re raised in chaos, start drinking heavily at 13 whilst navigating autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD & PTSD, plus wanting to get sober before you’re legally allowed to drink then stopping at 18?! I sit down with actress, dancer and reiki healer Scarlett Alice, who opens up about growing up with two parents addicted to alcohol and drugs, the trauma that shaped her and the m...

“I want to fill my soul up, not my void up!” Former Love Island star, speaker, author and all-round amazing human Malin Andersson opens up about the darkest corners of her life — from losing a parent, surviving an abusive relationship, and losing her daughter — to discovering an inner strength that can’t be explained but is undeniably real. We talk about what happens when the distractions & ad...

[TW: sexual violence & child sexual abuse – discussed from the start] I sit down with a survivor of sexual violence Madeleine Black, who shares her extraordinary journey — from the silence she held for years, to the shame that followed her through school and the deep impact it had on her sense of identity. She speaks openly about the PTSD she didn’t know she had, the physical toll it took on h...

In this deeply personal thought, I revisit my conversation with Filmmaker Maddie Kitchen as we explore the reality of relapse in recovery — not as a failure, but as something many people experience on the path to long-term sobriety. My personal view is that relapse is part of addiction - not recovery, as it nearly killed me on many occasions. Relapse is not without severe risk and many people die...

Singer and spoken word artist Jessica Wilde opens up about her journey through addiction, heartbreak and early sobriety — and how connection, creativity and community helped her rebuild from the ground up. From a brief but intense relationship that shattered her sense of self, to finding clarity in nature, yoga studios, and unexpected friendships - Jessica shares her truth of what recovery really...

In this next quick thought, I return to a powerful conversation with Carl Scott as we document the real turning point from heroin addiction to a purpose-driven life. We go through all the tools that helped Carl get clean. From methadone clinics, therapy, SMART, Intuitive Recovery to running recovery programmes, to finding identity in service – this is a story of action over talk, grit over glamour...

Self-Pity, Fear & Anger! Addiction loves these themes to convince us that it's lies are real. Addiction doesn’t just lie—it uses your own voice to do it. And the worst part? It makes you believe it's all your fault and the only way out is a drink or a drug. In this solo episode, I go deeper than the obvious narratives. We break down the three hidden vehicles addiction uses to keep us s...

What if your own mind told you the worst possible things—and then punished you for thinking them? In this quick thought, I revisit my episode with actress Ria Fay who has suffered OCD symptoms since aged 5 and today she provides a poignant and powerful account of what it is like to live with untreated OCD. But what EXACTLY is OCD? We unpack all the elements of OCD and frame it around Ria's experie...

Today, award winning stand-up comic Molly McBride opens up about her harrowing descent into addiction and the moment she found herself locked in a psychiatric hospital 4 days after having just 'one' glass of wine. She documents a battle with alcohol that spiralled into years of chaos, blackouts, and a never-ending craving for more. Molly also sheds light on the horrors of drinking, how alc...

If you feel overwhelmed and confused after reading endless articles and books about addiction - you’re not alone. In this episode, I break down why understanding addiction is actually simple — and how knowing just TWO key parts of your brain could change everything. This isn’t about overcomplicating your recovery. It’s about cutting through the noise, empowering you with real knowledge, and showin...

Today I welcome a powerhouse and all round lovely human Raquelle Gracie – an artist, entrepreneur, and former X Factor finalist who has worked with music legends like Pharrell Williams and Babyface. But it’s not all glitter and glam. Raquelle shares her unfiltered story of hitting an emotional 'bottom' in the ruthless world of the music industry. At just 23, Raquelle found herself rejected by Baby...

In this next quick thought, I revisit my conversation with Eddy Queens who is a star in the music industry—until addiction took everything. Dropped by her label, she spiralled into crack cocaine addiction. Within 2 years, she was homeless, trapped in a dangerous crack den, doing sex work to survive, stealing from family, and estranged from her son. Her life was ruled by a 24/7 drug habit. Now over...

Georgina Baillie found herself thrown into the centre of a media storm by Russel Brand & Jonathan Ross so explosive it forced the BBC to change its broadcasting rules forever. But she is not a scandal—she’s a fighter & a woman who refused to be defined by a moment she never chose. The horrific media onslaught that followed sent Georgina spiralling into a world of addiction to drugs, alcoho...

Too many of us wait. For change. For hope. For a miracle. But what if the miracle you're waiting for... is you? In this next thought, I revisit a moment spent with Justin Govender who was shot in the back by police and went on to represent South Africa in two Paralympics as we explore the idea that the lowest moments in his life—disability, depression, hopelessness—can be the very soil where new s...

“I hear people say cocaine isn’t addictive—I couldn’t function without it.” Joe Sealey’s life was set for footballing greatness, following in the footsteps of his father, legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Les Sealey. But in the space of a week, his career was over due to injury and his father had passed away. What followed was a downward spiral of chronic cocaine and alcohol addiction— bender...

Sex Addiction: The Truth No One Tells You! Sex addiction isn’t about pleasure—it’s about pain. In this next thought, Michael Emmett breaks down the reality of sex addiction, it's links to cocaine and revealing the devastating impact it had on his life. From childhood trauma to destructive relationships, he exposes the cycle of secrecy, dishonesty, and self-destruction. Can true healing ever happen...

Sober Curious? Tired of drinking? This episode is for you! After 35 years of drinking, Nigel Jones realised that his one bottle of wine a day added up to nearly a litre of pure alcohol a week. He wasn’t in a hospital bed. He wasn’t unable to function. But the panic attacks, anxiety, and sleepless nights were taking over. On 8th December 2020, he made a choice—quit or risk never making it to 60, lo...

In the next "thought", actor Robert Hands shares his journey of quitting crystal meth. There was no sudden epiphany, no grand moment of realisation—just a simple conversation that shifted everything. Through the haze of addiction, he heard someone say, "I'm stopping," and, somehow, that gave them permission to try too. But this wasn’t a story of instant success. The cravings remained, the struggle...

Today, I’m joined by Mary Kate, an acclaimed writer whose brutally honest account of addiction went viral, reaching over 4 million people with the title 'I'm a Gen Z Alcoholic' (link below). She opens up about what it truly takes to break free from alcohol—when you can’t live with it, but you can’t live without it. In this episode, you’ll learn why alcoholism is progressive, why blacko...

Is Food Addiction Real? Is food addiction just a lack of willpower, or is it as real as drug and alcohol dependency? Shocking studies reveal that rats overcame cocaine addiction faster than their junk food cravings. In this next quick 'thought', we uncover the science behind ultra-processed foods, how they hijack your brain's dopamine system, and why secret eating and using food to self soothe mir...

Is alcohol really relaxing you—or trapping you? Today, I sit down with William Porter, author of Alcohol Explained, ex-paratrooper, and solicitor, to uncover the truth about addiction. William has completely redefined how we understand alcohol, smoking, and vaping—stripping away the myths that keep us hooked. In this episode, William shares his rock bottom moment, the shocking science behind alcoh...

Is there joy in addiction? In this next quick thought, Sebastian Wocker (author of the best selling book The Joy of Addiction) shares how realising he was an addict became the best thing that ever happened to him. He breaks down the difference between being a suffering addict and a recovering one, how surrendering can lead to freedom, and why clarity in sobriety changes everything. If you're s...

Today, I’m joined by Sharon and Lauretta – better known as The Gavin Sisters – an acclaimed comedy duo who’ve graced TV and stage, written sitcoms for television, and penned plays for the West End. But behind the laughter, their lives took a devastating turn. Sharon was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that left her unable to walk, losing her hair, and trapped in a toxic relationship. At t...

In this next thought, we explore a pivotal realisation—how recognising that you're not alone can be a game-changer in mental health recovery & depression. David Sayers, a highly successful Managing Director, shares his personal turning point: sitting in a group therapy session, hearing someone else articulate their feelings with uncanny accuracy, and realising, this isn't just me. That moment...