Stories of Survival in the Modern Age

Welcome to the fourth season of the Stories of Survival in the Modern Age podcast.  Join Sarah as she talks about finding hearts in daily life, contemplates what home means for her and asks "what does home mean to you?"

Bronson Sutton tried crack cocaine for the first time when he was just 17 and says he's been locked up over 30 times that he can document. Clean for the past four years – and sober for almost 18 months – in this week's episode Bronson chats openly about his journey, his faith and his big dreams.

In this episode Julie Hartell shares her story of motherhood and entrepreneurship. After the birth of her second daughter, Julie struggled to understand why she just couldn't focus and couldn't concentrate, why she didn't get on with her husband or her children, and why she thought returning to work would solve her problems.

Singer, actor and voice over artist, Debbie Bridge was called lazy in school. In this episode, Debbie talks openly about being out of the "dyslexia closet", how her brain functions differently and what life is like as a classically trained opera singer when the notes do back flips on the page.

Guest expert Anne Skinner helps explore the concept of living in the moment. In this episode, Anne shares her 'Three Room' concept... a basic notion of the time frames in our lives, past, present and future, and offers tips on how to achieve a healthy relationship between all three.

For as long as she can remember Deanna Roberts has been passionate about dance and through her own dance journey, she's discovered a joy for teaching. Currently travelling the Caribbean island of Antigua, in this week's episode Deanna share her love of community and her quest to combine her passions.

Agreeing to come back and chat in season 3, Steve Booth shares some of the personal lessons he learned from his ‘rumble' with stress, why stress is like the wind and talks us through his balloon analogy.

Talking about what's on her mind this week, Sarah shares some thoughts on feeling stuck, being in 'inaction' versus taking action, and why even the small steps matter.

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Louise McMilan shares her story. After suffering from limiting self-beliefs and a lack of self-confidence for most of her life, in 2017 Louise was diagnosed with breast cancer. In this episode she chats about coming out of the other side with the resolve and desire to help people. Cancer gave Louise the most valuable lesson of all, to start living the life she wants now.

After 20 years in corporate management roles, raising twin girls and studying part time, in the episode Caroline Peyton chats about the stressors and pressure of working life, the impact this can have on one's health and wellbeing, and why health starts in the gut.

In this episode Lindsay Smith chats opening about how she spent decades seeking to love herself and prove her worth. Here she shares the day she made a choice, deciding to live each and every day believing that life is happening for her.

Welcome to the third season of the Stories of Survival in the Modern Age podcast. Join Sarah as she shares her intention for this season, her ‘why behind the why', and invites you to think about how well you receive a compliment.

Aaron Flores grappled with weight his entire life. A registered dietitian nutritionist, he is passionate about helping people make peace with food and develop body-positive behaviors. In this episode we chat about his own struggles, the stigma and shame associated with weight and why the more we try to fit into an ideal, the more we struggle.

Elizabeth Hall began chronic dieting at just 12 years old, and says it took her 30 years to break the cycle of diet after diet after diet, before figuring out that it was her thought processes that needed addressing rather than her body. In this episode we chat about the culture of dieting, our attitudes towards our bodies, and how we can have more kindness and compassion towards ourselves.

Clare Davis moved internationally twice and experienced a series of personal and family traumas within the space of a few short years. A qualified mental health trainer (and an advocate for emotional fitness) Clare is passionate about healthy leadership, and uses her experiences to work with schools and organisations bringing preventative measures into people's lives to enhance emotional fitness and address mental health concerns before they escalate and get out of control.

In this episode, on-air host Lara Scott shares her passion for helping make a difference in communities, including the preservation (and survival) of 'Old Hollywood', and why being kind – especially to yourself – is so important.

Having known what it's like to feel stressed, ill and overwhelmed, Robyn Harris is passionate about the benefits of being in nature, and holds a safe and nurturing space in which to intuitively and gently inspire others to reconnect with their sense of joy, purpose and love of life.

In this week's episode, multi hyphenate Beverley Jones shares her personal journey of how she travelled from burnout to the life she has today.

Following the final of the postponed Orphanage Cup Football Competition – at which Steve Booth presented the inaugural Trevor Booth Memorial Cup – Sarah's been thinking about her father this week. Arriving there at 18-months old, Trevor maintained a lifelong connection with Blackburn Orphanage, now Child Action North West, until his passing at 86; a place that offered him a home and a sense of belonging.

In 2014 Jamie McAnsh woke up paralysed, and in this episode he shares his very personal stories of struggles, challenges and successes. Jamie believes that while failure is always an option, not trying is simply not acceptable. His ultimate message is that if you fall you need to adapt, overcome and most of all, get back up.

In this episode Charlott Fagergard talks about her journey from Sweden to Wales, her love for the mountains (including an upcoming trek to Everest Base Camp) and what community means to her.

Nashville-born Bill A. Jones shares his revealing journey of becoming an actor, how he deals with the rejection that comes with his career choice, and how he's able to persevere in the face of a rebuffal. He also unveils the 'creative joy spring' of rediscovering his love of singing.

In this episode Sarah hands Brett the mic as he shares six daily habits of gratitude; demonstrating how when we're grateful for what we already have, we will naturally attract more to be grateful for.

Sarah shares what's going on for her this week and what's on her mind... and what's on her mind is chatter and acceptance; acceptance for ourselves and for others.

Stand-up comic April Cowgur shares her journey from Springfield, Illinois – where even as a youngster she knew she wanted to make people laugh – to working at The Second City before moving out to Los Angeles. A true optimist, she tells us how the comedy community came together to help each other get through the past 12-plus months, the lessons learned, and why laughter really is the best medicine.

Agreeing to come back in season 2, Victoria Jones talks about taking charge of the menopausal transition, and encourages us to start a conversation so we can begin to break the old way of thinking that it has to be something traumatic and negative. For her, hot flashes and brain fog are signs that something is out of balance with the body, and that the earlier we can begin to pay attention to how our body is changing, then we can start to do the work to support it.

In this two-episode podcast, Paul chats about his belief that hair and emotion are intertwined, how being in the salon chair can leave us feeling exposed, and the vulnerabilities he faced as he shares his own health journey which left him having to learn how to talk properly again and to relearn his craft.

In this two-episode podcast, Paul chats about his belief that hair and emotion are intertwined, how being in the salon chair can leave us feeling exposed, and the vulnerabilities he faced as he shares his own health journey which left him having to learn how to talk properly again and to relearn his craft.

Fellow podcaster, and host of “Let’s Be Honest Before We Start Pretending!”, Coach Kelly is passionate about helping people living a life of joy, fulfillment, and impact, and says that meaningful conversations and belly laughs are a must – because life is short, and we get to live fully every single day. In this episode Kelly chats about self-care, why it’s important and why you don’t need a lot of time or money to make self-care a priority.

Once shy and unconfident, in a marriage she calls ‘mundane’ and working a retail job she hated, Kim Wymer was beset with self-doubt and self-limiting beliefs. She suffered from a lifetime of bad habits and suppression until in 2011 she hit rock bottom. In this episode, multi-hyphenate Kim chats about confidence and why the words we speak, matter... especially to ourselves.

In this episode Detroit-born, Mark Acetelli chats to me from his Downtown Los Angeles studio about what painting means to him, where his inspiration comes from and the constant guidance from his late mother. Mark's work seeks to evoke a feeling of the intensely personal introspective journey of life, as he breaks through the internal dialog and connects with the infinite.

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by a jazz musician based in the North of England. In ‘all that jazz’, Arthur Geldard shares his passion for the genre, how he’s redefining himself and why he feels privileged to have been able to perform via social media during the past year of lockdowns.

Agreeing to come back and chat in season 2, Marisa Santoro – the author of Own Your Authority – chats about ‘why this book and why now’, achieving self-love and radiating ‘Shakespearean confidence’.

With over 1.2 million YouTube subscribers and 50 million plus views of his inspirational videos, in this episode Simerjeet chats openly about self-sabotage and his unconventional path to becoming a Motivational Speaker, something which he says has been the most rewarding journey of his life.

Agreeing to come back and chat in season 2, Anne Skinner – the author of The New You – chats about self-acceptance, changing the outcome and gratitude. Three of the tools covered in her book for increasing confidence, resilience and purpose.

Welcome to the second season of the Stories of Survival in the Modern Age podcast. As season that very nearly wasn’t. Join Sarah as she questions where her podcast mojo went, how she found it, and having the grace to come back. Sarah shares the story of the two wolves, and invites you to think about how you feed the wolf within.

In this look back at 2020 – a crazy, heartbreaking, joyous, frustrating, monumental roller coaster of a year – Sarah shares the things that she’s appreciated the most, and invites you to pause and think about your achievements, all the while being kind to yourself and taking the pressure off. What details will you focus on when you come to write your story of 2020?

In this final episode of season one, Jennifer and I chat about her work with international students, the personal challenges in her own life journey and her decision to train as a psychotherapist. We unpack being self-aware and our learnt need to be 'perfect.'

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Julie Harris & Linda Vanoff, who together started the YouTube channel, 50 Going On 30.  They believe that age is “a mindset, not a number” and they are passionate about helping women achieve a sense of youth no matter their age.

Ingrid Fear – a behavioural change coach, leadership & resilience facilitator – believes that fear is one of our biggest "showstoppers" in helping us to move forward, and learning how to overcome fear is not only powerful, it’s an enabler for continued progress and growth. In this episode we talk about how to manage fear and be resilient during these current times, why fear is our friend and how she uses elephants as an example in her leadership program.

In this episode Brett and I chatted about the time he almost entered the Catholic priesthood, his love of television, and how after occasions of reinvention, he’s been able to retain his authenticity.

In July 1995, Tina was forced to retire from the police service following an injury sustained in the line of duty. In this week’s episode we chat about her passion for law and compliance, how she became an Amazon #1 best selling author, and why overnight success takes years.

In this episode Maria chats about motherhood; from waving her own mom off from El Salvador to being reunited two years later in the United States, and the lessons she’s learning now as she juggles working from home and playing the role of ‘Academic Teacher’ during a pandemic-related lockdown.

Now a life coach, Anne Skinner was once a stressed, unworthy mother, manager and wife. In this episode, she shares her story of not one, but two cancer diagnoses in five years; in her own words, she was “allowing stress to comprise her immune system” to the point where she had little defence. Anne learned how to fully accept and to love herself as she is…. And today uses those same techniques to help others.

In ‘Failure Not Being A Weakness’ I chat with my first male guest, Steve Booth, about his own personal RADAR, and why after a 43 year career in the Aerospace and Defence sector, he has broken cover with a story that many people are not aware of.

At 74, Rose Todd has changed continents five times, witnessing first hand a terrorist war, gone through a heartbreaking divorce, and created a business she loves, sharing her knowledge and passion with others.  In this episode Rose shares some of her journey, and the one constant that has gotten her through it all. 

Connie Alexander recently, and rather boldly, stated she’s ready to start dating again.  In this episode she talks about finding confidence in herself, expresses gratitude for the times of struggle, and shares some of her dating stories so far.

Ever wondered if you can sing? Maybe you've been told otherwise. In this episode, professional singer and vocal coach Rachel More talks about her passion to help people uncover their voice and get the best out of it. Quite simply, Rachel says “singing is good for you.”

In this episode Julie and I talk about her career as a teacher, her love of lace and the French Renaissance, side-hustling and transitioning to becoming her own boss. Julie believes that if you have a passion, you can turn it into a business... and with ‘smarts’ you'll can figure it out!

The World Health Organization calls stress 'the health epidemic of the 21st Century.' In ‘Stress? What stress!’ Victoria shares the disruptive effect low-level stressors have on our wellbeing; why just like Goldilocks we all need just the right amount, and why sorting buttons doesn’t just mean a neat random button tin.

In this episode I talk to Marisa Santoro – a former Wall Street IT executive now a career leadership trainer and professional career coach – about Imposter Syndrome, a limiting belief that causes you to think your success has been some kinds of happy accident and that you’ll soon be found out. Marisa shares tangible ways you can be your authentic self while silencing the inner critic.