Writing with Purpose – Inspiring Readers, Writers, and Nature Lovers

Episode 75: How to Write from the Soul Using Embodied Poetry, Moon Journalling and the Art of Showing Up What if the most profound writing you'll ever do isn't aimedat an audience, but at uncovering what your own soul already knows? Nora Wilhelm is a social entrepreneur, changeworker, andwriter from Switzerland who, after years of giving everything to her work, found her way back to hersel...

Episode 74: Living on Less, Writing from Life: A Conversationwith Author Mike Leaver What if stripping your life back to almost nothing was the thing that finally gave you the space to write? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I’m joined by Mike Leaver, author of five books, who has spent 30 years living off-grid in a static lorry in Porthmadog, North Wales. With no electricity,...

Writing with Purpose Podcast 73: Visual Journalling for Grief, Healing, and the Art of Becoming with Evie Lindemann What if the image you made without thinking was already holding something you hadn't yet found the words for? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Evie Lindemann, an art therapist, marriage and family therapist, and author who bridges creative ex...

Writing with Purpose Episode 72: Journalling Beyond Words About the Journeys We Never Wanted to Make with Julia D McGuinness What if the most difficult journey you've ever faced was also the one that finally brought you to the page? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Julia D McGuinness, author of six books, poet, ex-teacher, and workshop facilitator who guid...

Episode 71: When Pain Meets the Pen: Writing as Medicine with Elisa Friedlander What if the most powerful thing you could do in the middle of chronic pain wasn't to fight it, fix it, or push through it, but simply to write about it? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Elisa Friedlander, licensed psychotherapist, Certified Journal Therapist, and writing worksh...

Episode 70: Pay Attention, Be Astonished & Finding Awe with Elaine Brooks When did you last stop in your tracks and think: what if I never see this again? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Elaine Brooks, a certified poetry therapy mentor and certified applied poetry facilitator. Through her own work and teaching collaborations, Elaine helps people uncover t...

Episode 69: One Step at a Time: Alex Staniforth on Resilience, Nature, and the Mountains That Changed Everything What does it take to keep going when everything falls apart, not once, but again and again? Alex Staniforth is a record-breaking adventurer, performance coach, author, and founder of Mind Over Mountains, a charity whose mission is to restore mental wellbeing through nature. Alex has ove...

What if the earth has been speaking to you all along, and the page is where you learn to listen? Mary Reynolds Thompson is a British-born, award-winning author, poetry and journal therapist, and eco coach whose work weaves nature connection, wild language, and therapeutic writing into a path of soul recovery and re-enchantment with the earth. She teaches that the earth speaks to us through archety...

#67 From Soldier to Civilian: The Journey of Transition with John Stephenson In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I talk with John Stephenson, author of The Making of a Hunter: A Service User's Guide to Transition from the Armed Forces and Managing Director of Forces Transition Group. John reached the rank of Sergeant Major in the Army before founding an award-winning organisat...

What happens when being productive starts making you feel hollow inside? In this solo chatting episode, I share my recent experience of getting stuck in what cognitive scientist Yousaf Aslam calls "output mode" - when your brain becomes trapped in constant productivity gear, shutting down the networks that support self-awareness, introspection, and creativity. After receiving an email th...

#65 Finding Your Authentic Voice: From Mental Health Recovery to Publishing Stories That Matter with Gemma Holgate In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Gemma Holgate, author, ghostwriter, and founder of Maddison House Press. Gemma's journey from post traumatic stress recovery to building a publishing house dedicated to meaningful stories demonstrates how findi...

What if the nature on your doorstep holds more healing power than distant wilderness adventures? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Nic Wilson, a Guardian country diarist, BBC Gardeners' World magazine writer, and author of the beautiful memoir 'Land Beneath the Waves.' Nic's story reveals how nature became her sanctuary as a child dealing with h...

#63 Forest Bathing and The Honest Journal: Somatic Healing Through Nature and Writing with Kate Busby What if a slow walk through the forest could literally change your body chemistry and heal stored trauma? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined by Kate Busby, a trauma-informed somatic practitioner who specialises in forest bathing and aromatherapy. Based in Barcelona...

What if your journal could literally rewire your brain forhappiness and resilience? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I'm joined byDeborah Ross, a licensed professional counsellor, certified journal therapist, and co-author of the renowned book Your Brain on Ink . Deborah's work sits at the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and therapeutic writing, exploring how o...

#61 The Healing Power of Words: Exploring Bibliopoetry Therapy with Nancy Scherlong What if the words you write could heal your mind, body, and soul? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I’m joined by Nancy Scherlong, a writer, coach, therapist, and former president of the International Federation for Bibliopoetry Therapy. Nancy’s career spans decades of helping people heal through...

#60 Embracing the Creative Process: Writing with Authenticity and Courage with Joanna Penn What if I told you that writing a book could transform not only your career but also your entire perspective on life? As Joanna says, "Writing a book will change you." In this episode, I’m joined by Joanna Penn, award-winning author, podcaster, and creative entrepreneur, who shares her incredible j...

What if I told you that trees have stories to tell, and thatlistening to them could transform your life? In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Worton, a publishing strategist, podcaster, and author who’s made it her mission to reconnect people with nature, and themselves, through the power of writing and tree communication. "Trees have stories and people need to hear the stories." Discove...

#58 From ‘Plotting to Pantsing’ – Exploring the Writer’s Journey with Author Sarah Ward In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I speak to Sarah Ward, a versatile writer known for her crime novels and gothic thrillers. Sarah shares her journey from being a passionate reader to becoming a published author. She talks about her personal approach to the writing process, the importance of...

#57 The Healing Power of Nature and Nature-Based Practices for Mental Health with Amanda Bailey In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I chat with Amanda Bailey, certified International Forest Therapy Guide, accredited ACCP Advanced Transformation Coach and Meditation Teacher, and Cacao Facilitator. Amanda shares her journey as a nature-based wellbeing practitioner, from childhood me...

#56 Exploring the Benefits of Forest School and Outdoor Education with Nina Whalley In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I chat with Nina Whalley, a forest school practitioner and founder of Nurtured Through Nature. Nina supports children, young people and adults to spend time in nature and benefit from connecting with the great outdoors by creating transformative outdoor learning...

#55 The Joy of Navigating Nature & Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival with Austin Knott In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I chat with Austin Knott, an outdoor enthusiast, founder of Walk the Moorlands, and facilitator of the annual Staffordshire Moorlands Walking Festival. We dive into the revival of the festival, which runs from Friday, 25 April to Monday, 5 May 2025,...

#54 Exploring the Depths of Journal Therapy & Reflective Writing with Kay Adams In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, the last in my current journalling conversations, I chat with Kay Adams, a licensed psychotherapist and pioneer in the field of journal therapy for forty years. Kay has written fourteen books on writing and healing, including her New York best-seller, and debut,...

Where do you find joy and curiosity in life? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I chat with Dr Megan C Hayes, a researcher, writer, mentor and relentless optimist. We explore how creative writing can serve as a tool for self-discovery and emotional expression. Megan shares her personal journey, the importance of curiosity in the creative process, and the significance of reconnect...

#52 The Healing Power of Writing & Nature with Writer andCoach, Jackee Holder Just how connected are you to nature? Where is your go-to natural environment? This episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast is part two of a wonderful deep conversation with Jackee Holder, writer, coach, and nature enthusiast whose work bridges the gap between storytelling, self-reflection, and the healing power...

Do you see metaphors in nature as important messages in life? In this episode of the Writing with Purpose podcast, I speak with Jackee Holder, a writer, coach, and nature enthusiast whose work bridges the gap between storytelling, self-reflection, and the healing power of the natural world. Jackee shares her journey from aspiring teacher to leadership coach, and how journalling has always played a...