Stories of Survival in the Modern Age

What if joy isn't something we find once life gets easier... rather the very thing that helps us through life's hardest seasons? In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah sits down with entrepreneur, creative director and Joy First® founder J. Nichole Smith to explore a journey shaped by burnout, crippling self-doubt, people-pleasing and the pursuit of proving her worth. Together they unpack...

How many times have you looked in the mirror and decided you weren't enough? In this honest and deeply relatable conversation, Sarah sits down with body image coach and mentor Natalie Trusdale to explore the hidden emotional struggles behind body confidence, self-worth and the exhausting pursuit of perfection. Natalie shares her own journey through body dysmorphia and anorexia nervosa, reveal...

Growing up in Nadezhda (a Roma neighbourhood in Bulgaria whose name translates as "Hope"), Mihail "Misho" Mishev learned early that hope alone isn't enough. Raised by a single mother who often worked multiple jobs to make ends meet, Misho experienced first-hand the challenges that come with poverty, exclusion, and limited opportunity. Yet rather than allowing those circums...

In this episode, Sarah chats with Sally Saint about childhood trauma, perfectionism, and the long journey back to herself. Growing up on a small farm in a family shaped by unspoken trauma, Sally learned early how to stay small, stay quiet, and survive. Diagnosed with ME at just 16, she spent years navigating illness, healing, motherhood, and the gradual unraveling of patterns that had once protect...

When Lewis Baxter stood on a bridge at 17 years old, watching cars race beneath him, he couldn't see a way forward. What followed was a conversation with his parents, support from Child Action Northwest, and the first steps on a journey that would ultimately change the course of his life. In this episode of Stories of Survival in the Modern Age , Sarah talks with Lewis about depression, suici...

Award-winning photographer and entrepreneur Kimi Watson joins me for a candid conversation about confidence, self-worth, and her changing relationship with weight, food, and herself. From feeling trapped in her own body to rediscovering her confidence, Kimi shares the highs, lows, lessons, and life-changing decisions that helped her become herself again. This isn't just a story about weight l...

After a pause, Stories of Survival in the Modern Age returns with a gentle but honest conversation about reset, recalibration, and what it means to keep going in a world that constantly asks us to keep pushing forward. In this season opener, Sarah reflects on life changes, loss, exhaustion, shifting priorities, and the quiet moments that invite us to stop… listen… and realign with what truly matte...

In 1985 Lianna Champ opened Champ Funeral Services where, instead of providing a purely practical solution to death and funerals, she created a holistic experience that eases the pain of losing someone and helps the grieving process. A Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, she is also the author of "How to Grieve Like A Champ", and is passionate about caring for those who have been bereav...

Neil Blackburn offers us a brief glimpse into what goes on behind the scenes, from ensuring the cars always looks their best to the questions he gets asked most often. In this episode, Neil also shares what about the job he wishes he'd been better prepared for. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated w...

After losing her her own father, and experiencing the loving care from Champ Funeral Services, Kirsty Goodinson's dream was to become a Funeral Director and today, she has special experience working with child loss and helping others pre-plan a celebration of life. In this episode Kirsty chats about how she got started in this profession.  Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest...

Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Carl Taylor's caring and considerate nature makes him perfectly suited to his role of Funeral Director, Embalmer and Civil Funeral Celebrant. In this episode he chats about how he got his start in this profession and the true understanding he has of each family he works with, their needs and the needs of their loved ones Stories of Survival in t...

Eighteen months ago we began having a conversation about the menopause and taking charge of the transition.  Agreeing to come back, Victoria Jones revisits that conversation to see what's changed and how the topic has moved forward – or not. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

Jenny Palmer has lived with anxiety since early childhood and has suffered with chronic pain since her teens. In this episode, listen as Jenny shares her story of dealing with the consequences of both and how she stood by as her husband underwent brain surgery. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

In this week's episode Danny Matthews tells his story of how a burnout saw him quite literally fall to his knees in central London with no feeling from the waist down. Danny says he was chasing the money and not his dream. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

In 2004, seeking more adventure in her life, Nicky Davies left her well-paying corporate job to follow her dreams of becoming her own boss. In this episode, Nicky talks about the difficult times and failures she faced…. and how looking back, she believes in moments of what looked like sure defeat, opportunities presented themselves that allowed for quantum leaps in growth both in her business life...

In this episode Donté Richardson talks about how, at age 19, he drove across the United States to California on the promise of "just a job interview". With little income despite landing the job, Donté was homeless for three months, and today credits his resilience and his drive for getting him through. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience,...

At 22 Sam Dawson was told she had renal failure, a condition she'd had since birth, and which had gone undiagnosed. In this episode she shares her journey from diagnosis to dialysis and from receiving a live donor to becoming a published author. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

Welcome to the fourth season of the Stories of Survival in the Modern Age podcast.  Join Sarah as she talks about finding hearts in daily life, contemplates what home means for her and asks "what does home mean to you?" Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

Bronson Sutton tried crack cocaine for the first time when he was just 17 and says he's been locked up over 30 times that he can document. Clean for the past four years – and sober for almost 18 months – in this week's episode Bronson chats openly about his journey, his faith and his big dreams. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinven...

In this episode Julie Hartell shares her story of motherhood and entrepreneurship. After the birth of her second daughter, Julie struggled to understand why she just couldn't focus and couldn't concentrate, why she didn't get on with her husband or her children, and why she thought returning to work would solve her problems. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conv...

Singer, actor and voice over artist, Debbie Bridge was called lazy in school. In this episode, Debbie talks openly about being out of the "dyslexia closet", how her brain functions differently and what life is like as a classically trained opera singer when the notes do back flips on the page. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinventi...

Guest expert Anne Skinner helps explore the concept of living in the moment. In this episode, Anne shares her 'Three Room' concept... a basic notion of the time frames in our lives, past, present and future, and offers tips on how to achieve a healthy relationship between all three. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and bei...

For as long as she can remember Deanna Roberts has been passionate about dance and through her own dance journey, she's discovered a joy for teaching. Currently travelling the Caribbean island of Antigua, in this week's episode Deanna share her love of community and her quest to combine her passions. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, re...

Agreeing to come back and chat in season 3, Steve Booth shares some of the personal lessons he learned from his 'rumble' with stress, why stress is like the wind and talks us through his balloon analogy. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

Talking about what's on her mind this week, Sarah shares some thoughts on feeling stuck, being in 'inaction' versus taking action, and why even the small steps matter. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.