Unexpected Turns

Today we meet Max McDonald, whose life has taken him all over the world, overcoming numerous set backs and unexpected turns. He thought he had it made having won a scholarship to become a pilot with British Airways but life got in the way, yet he says even if he could turn back time he would not do anything differently and treasures the experiences he has had. #unexpectedturns #pilot #africa #arre...

How did Precieux Noka go from County lines drug runner to National Champion? Getting into County lines drug running is easy, getting out not so much. But to then completely turn your life around and become both an inspiration to others and a National Champion is pretty spectacular. #drugs #unexpectedturns #glovesnotguns #countylines #grooming #boxing #unexpectedturnspod #hope

How does an aspiring Tech CEO end up removing Rhino Horns? All in the hope of saving them. Chloe has had some journey, I first met her at the biggest, and arguably best Bike races for youngsters-Assen Jeugd Tour. Chloe was there with Welwyn Wheelers, Dame Laura Kenny's old team. Now living and working in Dubai, having moved there straight after University, Chloe has made a name for herself in the...

How do you cope when your son is dying? What can you do? Mark and his family trusted the experts and as a family they have fought through, becoming stronger together. Now Mark tells his side of the story. Follow : @wessex_heartbeat instagram & Facebook www.heartbeat.co.uk

How do you cope when your body fails? Today we talk to my nephew who despite a broken heartbeat is thriving, his motto never give up We tend to think of heart attacks happening to 40-50 year adults yet today we talk to my nephew, the super resilient Chris Allenby who survived multiple heart failures before he completed primary school. I can still remember our shock when we heard he had Long QT, al...

Stabbed and left to die in his own home, while his family slept upstairs Darren talks about his recovery. Physically he appeared fine but to survive the day to day he buried his anxieties, refusing to recognise he had a problem until he tried to take his own life. Today he shares how he coped and is using his knowledge to help others. #menshealth #realtalk #mentalhealth #survivors #knifecrime #une...

We all need to feel safe, and expect to be safe in our own home yet a year ago 9yr old Olivia Corbel Pratt was tragically shot dead when her mother opened their front door. Years early Darren Barden opened his front door and was viciously attacked and left for dead, while his family slept upstairs. Like Olivia, Darren was not the target, how do you ever come to terms with that? Somehow Darren surv...

What is enough? We seem to spend our lives thinking we haven't got enough, we aren't good enough or they aren't good enough for us. Michael Ankers and I had a fascinating discussion about this, having just turned 19 Michael feels he is enough and that his one time best friend has caused him enough stress and it is time for him to move on. Hear the song Michael wrote on today's show. Unfortunately...

Sam Baynes, describes herself as an adrenaline junkie, she loves skiing, climbing and the mountains. Working as sports physio she had an accident and was given very little chance of survival, yet alone ever being able to speak, ski or climb again. Did she recover, if so what helped her get through it and what is she doing doing? Sam believes we all need a purpose in life and she has found hers fol...

Imagine always being the outsider at school. Having to move home every few months Steve struggled forming relationships. By the age of 14 he was a Dad but unable to cope he quickly descended into a life of drugs ending up homeless. But he never gave up and is now secure, clean and helping others. As Steve says living outside the 'drug Bubble' and actually having to deal with your feelings and ever...

Warning: Episode contains references to drugs, violence and abuse. Jack Gregory, poet, film maker, family man and addict. Failed by the UK Special School System, abused by the adults who should have been caring for him he became mentally ill. labelled a homeless junkie and violent criminal. He had lost everything. Determined to be a better man Jack fought his way back. Hear who and what helped him...

Today we met Trevor Jones, a promising young athlete who was found coughing up blood at the side of the road, he had now idea how he had got there. Trevor was suffering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), broken back and numerous other injuries. Just how do you recover from such a devastating event? Like many of our guests Trevor was determined to return to what he considered 'normal' life. After...

Labelled a violent thug and convicted of a contract killing, Kevin Lane was jailed for 22yrs. The press ( papers such as the Sun and Panorama ) gave the clear impression he should never have been released. What really happened? And how did someone with such a strong work ethic and desire to succeed end up in jail? Kevin has written his own story, Kevin Lane 'Book of Innocence'. Today he talks to u...

Trigger warning: Listen with care. This episode discusses addiction, mental health, and violence. Today's guest Jack Gregory was failed by the UK Special School System, abused by the adults who should have been caring for him he became mentally ill. labelled a homeless junkie and violent criminal. He had lost everything. Determined to be a better man Jack fought his way back. Hear who and what hel...

What's happening? When is the next show?  Lots of you have been asking what are we up to? What are our season 1 guests up to right now? Listen in to find out.

We are social animals, we reach out to others from birth using smiles and cries, but what is it like communication fails? We set up this podcast to reach out and share our stories. Like us many of our guests share how often communication breaks down and how that makes them feel. Www.speechand language.org.uk, www.autism.org.uk,

Today we publish the unedited version of Joanne interviewing her grandma, Aileen.  We were lucky enough to have Aileen Tattersall tell us about her experience of WW2 in Wales. Aileen is an amazing woman, after the war she took up fencing and represented her country internationally, before having a family and becoming an extremely popular teacher.  After publishing her  episode in November, several...

What is a WASBIE? And why is so little known about this amazing group of women who served alongside the Army in Burma during the Second World War? Probably because, as we have found during this series of interviews with WW2 survivors, they never spoke about their experience. It was only after her Aunt Maria died that Elizabeth discovered her diaries and was able to contact other WASBIES to find ou...

Trapped in a cycle of success / sabotage Skip Sams gave up his music and voice to feed his drug and alcohol addiction. Having hit rock bottom he fought back and is now helping others. The sheer grit and determination to turn his life around is awe-inspiring. Skip has over 16 years of recovery from crystal meth, alcoholism, and bipolar disorder. In 2004, he was diagnosed with HIV. For over a decade...

What made Kimberly Skillett sign up for the toughest sailing race in the world, having never sailed any type of yacht before? She'd worked hard and had a well paid job and a great boss, why give it up? Kimberley Skillett started  life in Hong Kong, enjoying a 'pretty feral' childhood before finding herself at an austere boarding school. Kimberley and her family loved the vibrant 'ex pat', lifestyl...

Unexpected Turns delves into the lives of extraordinary people, today we hear from another survivor of World War 2 the remarkable Aileen Tattersall. As a child she witnessed a pilot being burnt alive in his plane after it was shot and her own home being set on fire by bombs. Today Aileen talks to Julie Tattersall's daughter, Joanne about her life during the war in Bermondsey Street, near Cardiff. ...

 Covid has turned many lives upside down, today we hear how it affected an Autistic teenager.  Michael Ankers is a performing arts student, YouTuber, podcaster and musician. He also has autism and dyspraxia, and has written a song about himself titled "Awesome Autism". It was fascinating talking to Michael and hearing his perspective having spoken to several parents of children with Autism ( Sarah...

A child's memory of war. I have always loved listening to my parents and grandparents stories of their childhood, so am delighted  my Dad agreed to talk with us today and share his memories of life in the 1930's and 1940's. Was hearing bombs dropping scary, did they worry we would lose? #ww2 #ww2memoirs #livinghistory #conversationswithmyfather #warchild #unexpectedturnspod #unexpectedturns #lifes...

Maurice Burton, Briton's first black national champion was a huge talent, so why did he end up going abroad to race? Today we delve into the early life and career of the ground breaking cyclist. Next time we will find out how he managed to overcome sabotage and a lengthy stay in hospital to achieve further success. #unexpectedturnspod #blackchampions #rolemodel #prejudice #sixdaycycling #britishcy...

Hilary, born in the 1920's to a delighted  50 yr old couple, describes herself as a miracle baby. The church and her faith remain a huge part of her life and as she says she has been very lucky,  blessed. Now a remarkable 97yr old she tells us about her life, from the quiet countryside , working underground during the war in Birmingham to South Africa and now Southampton.  Hilary's zest for life i...