The Gift of Help: For yourself & each other

In this deeply honest and moving episode, Ashley sits down with Sam Thomas, a Brighton-based entrepreneur, podcast host, mental health advocate and founder of the Y'Alright Mate? campaign. Sam shares, with remarkable openness, the moments that brought him to his knees, from nearly losing his daughter at birth, to the self-worth challenges that led him to thoughts of suicide in his late 30s. W...

This episode is with Nicolette Lazarus, a self-described midlife woman, solo female founder  with  a 100% record of getting through bad days.   Her life has been quite a  journey - growing up in an immigrant family in the early 70s, having her attitude to help inadvertently imprinted by an incident with her younger smarter brother, battling to have a successful career in advertising, a post-divorc...

This episode is with Greg Allon, father of 3, Chief Operating Officer at a TV Production company, enthusiastic runner, blog writer and aspirational author 15 years ago he was diagnosed with malignant melanoma whilst his youngest of three kids was 9 months old.  And then a couple of years later, he started a spinning studios business with his sister and brother-in-law. We discuss his insights on he...

Recently I had the remarkable experience of meeting Simon Sinek, the renowned author,  inspirational speaker and podcast host.  It represented a  wonderful reminder of you how when we dare to ask for help amazing things can happen.  In this episode I share how the experience has underlined and highlighted so many life enhancing themes I'm increasingly now living my life by, ones that will hop...

This episode tells the inspiring personal story of the life-changing benefits of practising what I’m preaching.  To be aware of and have the motivation to overcome your blockers and asking for help.   And for this to massively serve me when I recently met Simon Sinek, and how this has led to a massive step forward on my journey to increase the impact of my Gift of Help project. I hope this inspire...

Here’s a few nuggets and insights from the clip of my conversation with Matt Black a colon cancer survivor and now charismatic campaigner. Accepting help with unconditional gratitude, can trigger not only an unexpected mood and energy boost for yourself, but also for the help giver and the wonderful ripple effect onto those around them.   And how this in general breeds a sense of love and gratitud...

In this short clip from my conversation with David Smith, the gold-winning Paralympian, we talk about the joy and priceless value of human connection from simply asking, offering and accepting help even with strangers.  Plus how his attitude of being curious, compassionate and courageous underpins all of this.  You can listen to the full episode and David's extraordinarily inspirational story...

This clip is from conversation with Osher Günsberg. In the spirit of the joy of being asked for help, we talk about it being not the survival of the fittest, but more survival of the friendliest.  And that as a species we have succeeded because we are cooperative and our brains are hardwired to reward us when we help others. You can contact me on: Email: ashley@thegiftofhelp.org Facebook: Ashley U...

This conversation tells the story of how a Paralympian gold medallist’s grit and self-reliance  gave way to vulnerability, self-awareness, accepting and offering help and a greater sense of purpose. David was a promising national level student athlete, but in 2010 he was diagnosed with a rare tumour in his spinal cord. He then went on to represent Great Britain at rowing and win gold at the London...

I chat with Matt Black, a chartered surveyor from London, father of two and colon cancer survivor.   Matt now campaigns to encourage everyone, especially head-in-the-sand middle-aged men, to regularly check themselves and be aware of the early warning signs.    We talk about the frightening and lonely experience of being diagnosed and urgently operated at 2am during the early days of Covid.   And...

In this episode, I chat with Osher Günsberg, Australian award-winning TV presenter, author, podcast host, writer, and mental health advocate.   Osher talks openly about his self destructive early career years as a roadie, then radio DJ and TV host, including colourful and sometimes frightening stories of hitting rock bottom.  And how it was these moments that forced him, together with support of f...

In this episode I chat with Tim Wotton.  A Cystic Fibrosis sufferer, who has been defying the odds all his life.  He wasn’t expected to live past his 17th birthday, but yet at 51 he continues to embrace life as a motivational speaker, author, hockey player and family man.  He explains from how from a young age, he was forced to accept and ask for help.  How this has made him feel more like a survi...

This clip is from my conversation with David Rosen. We cover off the theme of how we should be more kind to ourselves, and that this can increase our instinct to actually help ourselves, and in the end of the wonderful outcome of helping each other. Plus we discuss an example of how reaching out for help when you're feeling low, can help you and the other person be lifted.  You can listen to...

A year ago I was admitted to hospital … and nearly said goodbye.   It’s been the most extraordinary past 12 months of priceless lessons. So on Ashley 2.0’s birthday I wanted to share what I’ve learnt about life, myself and each other.  Nothing would make me happier if they can help you as much as they’ve helped me.    To commemorate this all, I proudly made this podcast.   And complied this list:...

This clip was from my conversation with Tom Bagnall, a survivor of Stage 3 melanoma cancer. Friends of Tom were invested in his recovery.   By accepting help, it gave a chance for friends to rally together to support him.  They did so because they care, and to get joy from witnessing and celebrate the results of their help in his recovery.   It's a great example of having been on the receivin...

This clip was from my conversation with Tom Bagnall, a survivor of Stage 3 melanoma cancer. We talk about tips for offering help: Make them specific, tangible and constructive.   And how recognising your own historical blockers, helps you see these in others to then be more empathetic and effective at offering help.   And this in turn supports you to be more accepting of more help in your own life...

In this clip from conversation about my health journey, we talk about the abundance of help around us, and that ironically to not accept help is selfish. But accepting it is practising self-care, and a chance to trigger a wonderful positive ripple effect of help on those around you. Here's the full episode of my conversation with Marco https://www.thegiftofhelp.org/2075728/11599749 You can co...

This short episode covers 3 simple tips: 1. If you have trouble accepting that offer, consider it the other way round -  would you happily offer help if you were asked in the same sitation? 2. Avoid assuming there is an effort, burden and time the offerer will go through to offer that gesture of help 3. Start small - accept everyday gestures even like the offer of a coffee! This clip is from my co...

This episode is with Ursula Tomlinson, a wonderfully generous retired paediatric oncologist nurse I met recently on a personal development program.  Born into a large family, and as the eldest she learned to be highly independent, self reliant and from a young age instinctively wanting to spend a lifetime helping others.   Drawing on this experience she has a fascinating insight on not only offeri...

This episode is with Ton van Klaveren, a good Dutch friend, successful head of corporate sales, aspirational business owner and damn strong cyclist. Highly driven and active, and a self-described impatient, somewhat private and fiercely independent person. After a car crash, Ton suffered whiplash and was diagnosed with concussion.  But only 8 days later did he start to feel the severe repercussion...

This episode is with Daniel Kramer, a 24 year old cousin, fellow podcaster, keen sportsman and someone who’s relentlessly curious to find ways to improve himself. Born with only 40% vision in one eye and then diagnosed with ADHD, his story and approach to life is truly extraordinary.    Some of the inspiring and thought-provoking topics we cover are: - Having to accept constant help at hand from a...

This episode is with David Wasserman, a good friend of 30 years, a Sydney based Entrepreneur, passionate dog owner, sports fan and cricketer Proudly independent resourceful and never wanting to make a fuss. He's had a rollercoaster history of health challenges: Crohn’s disease, stomach surgery, arthritis, and this year an ankle replacementLearn how to walk again Some themes we cover: - Distin...

In this episode I speak with David Rosen, an old school friend, professor and founder of his own  law practice.  Proudly stoic, philosophical and extraordinary self reliant. His recent journey is quite the rollercoaster. During the pandemic he got divorced, his law firm went into liquidation, was hospitalised by Covid, and then in January was diagnosed with prostate cancer. And yet after it all he...

In this episode, I chat with Tom Bagnall.  A successful business owner from the UK, marathon runner and father of two young kids living in Amsterdam At the beginning of the pandemic he was diagnosed with a stubborn Stage 3 melanoma cancer.  He  talks about his brutal journey of 7 months of 138 sessions of radiotherapy and immunotherapy and the feeling of helplessness that triggered the need to wel...

On 8 Apr 2022 I was urgently admitted to hospital with a lymphoma and v rare auto immune disease. And then put on a debilitating chemo and immunotherapy for 5 months. Since then I’ve been a life changing and transformative experience.   I used to be and prided my self on being independent and self-reliant. However whilst in hospital at my most helpless, I had to learn to accept help and ask for it...