The Keep Smiling Podcast

Today I am joined by James Ledger, a Welsh T11 100m sprinter and sports massage therapist, who works closely with Disability Sport Wales. James was born with bilateral coloboma, leaving him with less than 5% vision,  which detrimentally impacted his confidence. As a youngster, he felt isolated, insecure, whilst routinely attempting to fit within societies unrealistic perception of “normal”, hiding...

Today, I am joined for an incredible conversation with Danny Wilsher – a 24-year-old mental health public speaker, company director of ‘Damaged Goods’ and founder of the ‘Walk and Talk’ series. During this episode, Danny discusses his experiences of childhood trauma – from losing his grandparents, his parents divorcing, the experience of living with an alcoholic parent and losing his father to sui...

There are countless stigmas and misconceptions in association to eating disorders... so, in this episode, I debunk the repetitive and regurgitated false stereotypes whilst applying some light upon the truth of the destructive reality of the illness.

Witnessing your child, friend or loved one battle a destructive eating disorder can be remarkably difficult. Hopefully this brief conversation will enlighten you and provide some beneficial insight. Discussing understanding their needs, maintaining communication, empathy, being a positive role model and appreciating the true complexity of living with a debilitating, identity engulfing eating disor...

Hello confidence, goodbye insecurity!      Confidence isn't necessarily a characteristic that we immediately acquire... it's something we build, develop and progress over time.        Living a lifestyle with crippling self-doubt, insecurity, apprehension and low self-esteem can often become debilitating and preventative... so hopefully this conversation can enlighten and inspire you to p...

I am joined for an exceptional conversation with Ash Dykes - 3x World First Record Holder, Explorer, Extreme Athlete, Motivational Speaker and Author of Mission Possible. During this episode, Ash provides detail into his countless incredible achievements. A few include cycling 1,130 miles through Cambodia & Vietnam in 15 days on £10 bikes, walking across Mongolia solo and unsupported, covering...

Today I am joined by Kristy Harris. An elite Australian boxer, who has cultivated countless accomplishments and has overcome many moments of adversity. In this episode, Kristy discusses her impressive boxing career and empowering journey of flourishing as a strong, successful, and powerful athlete.  She provides detail of her mental heath journey and how boxing became an outlet… focusing on the pr...

Today I am joined Jayne Nisbet. A 2014 commonwealth games finalist, Scottish record high-jump holder and author of ‘Free-Ed’ – a book written about her turbulent battle with bulimia. Jayne was introduced to athletics as a teenager and was very rapidly applied into a highly competitive environment. This unfamiliar, high performance culture, and poor influence from fellow athletes, triggered the dev...

Today, I am joined by Jack Green. Double Olympian who represented Great Britain at the last two Olympic Games, and more recently a passionate wellbeing consultant and mental health advocate. In this episode, Jack discusses his successful professional sporting journey, his massive performance accomplishments from a very young age and the psychological consequences of becoming immersed within a high...

Today I am joined with Richie Powell. An ex-Paralympic athlete who has had huge success in his sporting career and is now utilising his influential platform creating content regarding the reality of Paralympic sport.  In 1989, as a teenager, Richie was involved in a near fatal motorcycle accident which left him paralysed. Within seconds, his life immediately changed. However, he failed to allow th...

Today I am joined with Joshua Kinsey Clough to discuss all things bodybuilding, identity, self-discovery and life.  From a young age, Joshua was immersed within the bodybuilding culture – which subsequently pushed him to embark upon his very successful competitive career. Joshua provides a raw and realistic insight into bodybuilding culture. The ritualistic lifestyle of bulking, cutting, dieting…...

*TW – Conversations of Suicide*  Today, I’m joined by Luke Fullbrook, an international strongman competitor based in Stoke, currently working as a personal trainer, who now consistently promotes the vitality of maintaining a healthy mindset as a complement to physical health and strength.  Luke’s training was initially derived by his abusive home life and experiences of bulling he endured at schoo...

In this episode, I'm joined by Rhiannon Linington-Payne – current Welsh International 400m athlete, Head of Competition at Welsh Athletics and National-level hockey player, who highlights her experiences with disordered eating, and how sport played a facilitative role within her recovery.  At an influential, impressionable age, Rhiannon found herself within a harmful, competitive environment...

 ELITE ATHLETE WELLBEING  For the first episode, I’m joined with Pippa Woolven - a cross country runner and steeplechaser, who balances athletics with a part-time Masters in Positive Psychology and working for the National Trust. Pippa has won 4 BUCS gold medals in cross-country, duathlon and athletics and her career highlight was finishing 8th in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Pippa now acts as a m...

Just a casual, light-hearted conversation… - Talking about the influence of your social circles, being true to your identity and ensuring to remain selective over who you chose to involve yourself with – platonically and romantically. Fundamentally, it’s about putting your wellbeing first by selecting individuals who solely offer value, positivity, motivation and who continually proactively suppor...

Lauren Moore (@lauuolivia) discusses her coming out story and  her inspiring journey of self-acceptance.  Lauren eloquently highlights the importance prioritizing yourself. Coming out, being truthful to her identity and proactively focusing on her happiness and wellbeing was a personal revelation - which only had positive repercussions on other elements of her life, allowing her to reach her full...

Within the specific context of students, we’ve very immediately transitioned into a disconnected, robotic and digital, 2D lifestyle - a foreign academic disconnection influencing often minimal confidence within our capabilities, consistent question marks, self-doubt and concerns regarding our future opportunities  We have had to normalise, and behaviourally adapt within this totally new environmen...

An episode to discuss the many corners of mental health and wellbeing. Including the growth from massive transitional processes, finding positives within challenging times and respecting your emotions to aid your recovery and progressive development. We raise the topic of putting yourself first and the importance of continuing the discussion of mental health. We also discuss the vulnerability we o...

Today I am joined by Cynthia – also known as The @Period. Nutritionist, to talk all things periods, hypothalamic amenorrhea, PCOS, and her own experience of losing and healthily regaining her period through incorporating sustainable health practices and going ‘all in’. We discuss the harmful influences of diet culture, body image issues and the toxic influences of today’s 21st century society, pus...

*TW* Today I am joined with a fellow anorexia warrior, Brittney (@bites_by_b), to have a no-filter, raw conversation of our experiences with eating disorders. We raise awareness of  the psychologically damaging reality of anorexia nervosa, how isolating, terrifying and identity engulfing it can become – seeking comfort and control in abusing, malnourishing and depriving our bodies. How small habit...

Back at it again with Alex (@buleyfit) to discuss self-destructive mindsets, chronic perfectionism, driven mindsets and the pressure we put upon ourselves to be continually 'productive', striving for unattainable expectations. We discuss the difficulty of adjusting to the University lifestyle, feeling confidence in pursuing your path rather than confiding into social stereotypes, and the...

Amber Maddison Davies (@ambersostomy) to specifically raise awareness of invisible illnesses and disabilities. Amber was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an incurable bowel disease, which lead her to living with a permanent stoma. In this episode, we discuss ambers journey in depth, and the stereotypies and stigmas associated with invisible illnesses. But also, we highlight how amber has transfo...

SEASON 3 - we're back

Healthy habits to allow you to optimise upon each day with a positive, healthy and motivated mindset... from improving your sleep cycle, moving your body, and developing a focused mindset to enhance productivity. I discuss the importance of being selective of your friendship groups - prioritising quality, worthwhile relationships, being mindful of social media consumption and overall, striving tow...

Today I am joined by  Jamie Price (@jamie_price_fitness), to discuss all things fitness, lifting, strength training and confidence. Primarily, we focus on debunking the endless misconceptions associated of lifting as a female... reinforcing how it only enhances the sense of empowerment, fulfilment and enables us to develop a further respect for our bodies.  We discuss how fitness and training shou...