The Keep Smiling Podcast

With my undergraduate degree officially coming to an end, join me as I reflect on my transformative journey at University - the highs, lows, and everything in between In this episode, I discuss the chronological journey - from the numerous mental health wobbles, studying during a pandemic, unforeseen personal challenges, as well as the valuable lessons I learned in coping with academic anxiety. Bu...

For Lucy and I, our eating disorders stripped away our independence. It stripped away our freedom to enjoy life, the ability to seek adventures, opportunities to build relationships, form memories…. instead, we were isolated, withdrawn, trapped by our anorexic restrictions. However, we discuss how reminding ourselves of all the life experiences and opportunities that recovery will inevitably allow...

Today I am joined by Scarlette, an ED Intervention Coach and Bulimia Specialist. We begin by having a very raw and open discussion regarding our experiences with anorexia nervosa, and binge purge anorexia… how the daily rituals of disordered habits slowly amalgamate, become your normality and begin to dictate your lifestyle and identity How self-imposed isolation can provide a sense of control, se...

Today I am joined by Katie Fischer - a holistic sleep coach, specializing in behavioral interventions. In this episode we discuss all things sleep, and how establishing a positive sleep routine can have a significant impact upon our cognitive functions, emotional regulation, wellbeing, and overall psychological health. Katie shares advice on how to consistently and maintain a healthy sleep cycle,...

T hroughout this episode, Sean talks openly about his journey with depression and the multiple challenges he faced - the loss of identity, battling societal stigmas associated to masculinity, the numbness, suicidal feelings… but then also provides light on how, with appropriate support, was able to transition into a far healthier headspace. We also discuss the often negative connotations associate...

Today I am joined by the wonderful Dovile, a personal development coach, to discuss confidence development, overcoming imposter syndrome, and ways to release perfectionistic tendencies. We’re often crippled and frozen by self-doubt and fear, feeling an overwhelming need to meet internal and externally enforced expectations, stuck in an overly perfectionistic mindset. And yes, although being high a...

Today I am joined by Dr Perry Crofts, who provides a very honest and raw depiction of life with depression, and the story of how he went from doctor to patient and back again. He details his darkest moment, the destructive internal monologue, and low perceptions of self. However, he then explains the journey he undertook to overcome it…. detailing the necessary changes he made - such as adapting h...

Today I am joined by Cleo Oldham - a body and food freedom coach, to provide insight as to how we can improve our relationship with food and body image. We discuss the value of being aware of unconscious rules related to food - putting light upon the restrictive, dieting mindset, and behaviours which have been ingrained. Cleo also talks about how to overcome exhausting binge/restrict cycles, how t...

Today I am joined by James Ball, a successful Paralympic cyclist to discuss his sporting journey, the impact of injury, sacrifices he has made, and the power of a strong social network. He details his experience of competing at Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and the emotions associated with attending these high-pressure events.

Today I am joined by Emma Jay, a wellbeing coach, TEDx Speaker and author, to discuss chronic stress, burnout and the priority of establishing habits to support your physical and psychological health.   In 2002, Emma was involved in a serious car accident, causing her to lose all of her confidence. She transformed from her previous outgoing, bubbly and enthusiastic self, to isolating herself away,...

Jessica discusses her competitive sporting journey, the process of transitioning between gymnastics, judo and weightlifting, as well as the challenges of being a student athlete - having balancing academic goals alongside her sporting endeavours. Jess shares her experience at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the pressure of competing at such a huge, globally documented event… as well as the...

T oday I am joined by Jamie Forsyth. An award-winning wellbeing coach, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Inspirational Speaker. Throughout this episode, Jamie discusses his story with bipolar disorder - providing an in-depth insight into the reality of living with the disorder… sharing his experiences of depressive lows, erratic mood swings, and periods of mania where he’d often disregard his...

Today I am joined by Natalia Rachel A keynote speaker, writer, therapist, specialising in trauma & abuse recovery to discuss topics of healing, transformation, and the value of self-compassion. Natalia opens up about her own personal experience of emotional and physical abuse, and how growing up within a traumatic environment triggered the development of multiple mental health complexities and...

I’ve recently contracted the travel bug - HARD.  So today, I am here to share my experience of how challenging my perceived comfort zones, pushing myself into unfamiliar environments, and embracing the beauty of spontaneity, has truly transformed my perspectives and mindset. Alongside my good friend Joss, a fellow adventure-adrenaline-junkie, we discuss the wonderful nature of travel and adventure...

Today I am joined by Oly Newton. A motivational speaker, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and founder of @Run4YourMind. In this episode, Oly discusses his experiences of battling severe OCD, anxiety, depression, and how his life was dictated and consumed by intrusive thoughts and rituals, feeling trapped and isolated. Through sharing his story, he breaks down predetermined social stigmas associa...

Habits to Improve Wellbeing, Happiness and Mindset – Jay Unwin Today I am joined by Jay Unwin – an international public speaker, consultant on mental and physical wellbeing, focusing upon preventative support and education. During this conversation, Jay discusses his experiences of burnout and how after trial-and-error, he has formed a more balanced and healthier lifestyle, through redefining phys...

Today I am joined by @Eddie. Ilic, a Bath based hairdresser with a profound story of recovery and an uplifting message of hope. Throughout this conversation, Eddie provides a very honest, and raw depiction of the reality of struggling with alcohol and drug addiction from a young age. He discusses its isolation, its progressive identity consuming nature, his darkest moments, the multiple complexiti...

Today I am joined by Dr Lee David - a GP and accredited CBT therapist who trains health professionals and teachers in how to support wellbeing in others.  She has recently developed a new approach known as ’10 Minute GROW’ using CBT and mindfulness to support positive mental health.  In this episode, we focus on student mental health and wellbeing, discussing the many challenges faced, but also pr...

Joined by Dr Omara Naseem, a psychologist specialising in eating disorders, for an in-depth discussion regarding the somewhat controversial topic of the introduction of calories on menus. As of April 2022, it is now a legal requirement for restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 staff to include caloric information on their menus, websites, and on delivery platforms. The new rule is pa...

What strategies can you employ to support a friend, loved one, or significant other experiencing mental health difficulties? How can you inspire an individual to progress along their recovery journey, seek suitable support, speak openly of their emotions, and guide them along a positive pathway? From acquiring greater understanding through education, practicing patience, setting aside time to genu...

BMI should never be used as the primary indicator for eating disorder diagnosis, or for determining who is considered 'unwell enough' to access specialist treatment. Why do I think this is harmful? It can lead to potentially dangerous delays, neglecting imperative early intervention strategies, thus triggering suffers further down a destructive pathway It's important to remember tha...

From escapism, to social interaction, to increased confidence, and the sense of accomplishment - here are 6 reason why I believe exercise is a huge facilitator in establishing positive mental heath

This phase is primarily about finding purpose, rediscovering joy, and ultimately looking ahead. While the redefining stage encompasses the process of assessing what life could be like away from the eating disorder, rediscovering is about becoming actionable, becoming intentional and putting it into practice. It’s about putting yourself in discomfort zones, building resilience, understanding that b...

Today, we focus upon the redefining stage. The difficult, yet empowering process of breaking away from the troublesome label and overconsuming identity that comes alongside an eating disorder. It’s about manifesting a life beyond recovery, and establishing your own authentic characteristics, values, and ambitions… seeking freedom and escaping from the harmful influences associated with an eating d...

REBUIDING, REDEFNING, REDISCOVERING - 3 R's to Eating Disorder Recovery Joined again by the wonderful Joss Walden (@honeyareyouhappy) – psychology graduate, recovered anorexic, avid charity worked and mental health & eating disorder awareness advocate. Joss has curated somewhat of a theory – 3 distinct stages within eating disorder recovery. These being the processes of rebuilding, redefi...