Dysfunctional

What if the child who was labelled "too sensitive", "too emotional", "too much", or "the problem" was never the problem at all?In this episode of Dysfunctional, I sit down with author and master coach Candace Van Dell to explore the idea that some people aren't broken, they're simply seeing things that others can't.We dive into family scapegoating, highly sensitive versus highly perceptive people, ADHD, spirituality, toxic systems, emotional truth, and what happens when the person who sees the dysfunction gets blamed for it.Candace shares her own journey from being labelled as a child with "something wrong" to becoming a leading voice helping people heal the original wound of believing they are the problem.This is a conversation about reclaiming your perception, trusting yourself, and discovering that perhaps the thing you've spent your whole life trying to fix is actually your greatest gift.In this episode we discuss:Why the scapegoat is often the cycle breakerThe difference between being highly sensitive and highly perceptiveGrowing up feeling misunderstood and out of placeADHD, labels, and the medicalisation of differenceWhy truth-tellers are often punished in dysfunctional systemsThe relationship between spirituality and healingCandace's powerful spiritual awakening at 16Family dysfunction and the "problem child" mythLearning to trust your own perceptionEmotional honesty as a path to healingThe loneliness of seeing things others don't seeWhy fitting in can come at the cost of authenticityMoving from self-abandonment to self-trustWhat it means to be "too conscious for this world"About Candace Van DellCandace Van Dell is an international bestselling author, master coach, and speaker who helps highly perceptive people heal and thrive in unconscious systems. Her work focuses on healing the original wound of believing there is something wrong with you so you can step into your authentic power, purpose, and potential.Her new book, Too Conscious For This World: You're Not Wrong. You're Early, is available now.Connect with CandaceInstagram: @candacevandellWebsite: candacevandell.com

In this episode of *Dysfunctional*, Josh welcomes back bestselling author Dr Jessica Taylor for a powerful conversation about one of the most misunderstood forms of abuse in modern society: stalking.Drawing on her new book, *Click, Stalk, Destroy*, Jessica explains how stalking has evolved far beyond the traditional image of someone hiding outside your house. In the digital age, stalking can be relentless, anonymous, and devastatingly effective, all without the perpetrator ever meeting their victim face-to-face.Together, Josh and Jessica explore the psychology of stalking, why victims are so often dismissed or labelled as "crazy," and how power, control, obsession, and grievance fuel much of this behaviour. They discuss the overlap between stalking, coercive control, domestic abuse, online harassment, and cancel culture, as well as the profound impact stalking can have on a person's mental health, relationships, identity, and sense of safety.Jessica also shares her own experiences as a stalking victim and reflects on the failures of current systems to adequately recognise, investigate, and respond to these crimes.**In this episode, we discuss:**• What stalking really looks like in the digital age• Why online stalking is now more common than physical stalking• The concept of "grievance stalking" and what drives perpetrators• How coercive control can continue long after a relationship ends• Why victims are often dismissed, disbelieved, or pathologised• The psychological impact of constant monitoring and surveillance• The role of social media in modern stalking behaviour• Why gathering evidence can become traumatic for victims• DARVO, victim-blaming, and the reversal of victim and offender• What to do if you think you are being stalked• What needs to change in policing, mental health services, and societyThis is an essential conversation about power, abuse, technology, and the hidden ways people can be controlled long after they think they've escaped.UK orders of the book here:https://amzn.eu/d/0bu9sg6eUS and international orders of the book:https://victimfocus-resources.com/products/click-stalk-destroy-international-orders-only-pre-order?_pos=1&_psq=click&_ss=e&_v=1.0My website for all info and mentoring: www.drjessicataylor.com

What if the life you've spent decades building no longer feels like yours?In this episode of Dysfunctional, Josh sits down with coach, mediator, yoga teacher and author Wyndham James to explore what really happens when success stops feeling successful.After spending twenty years in a corporate career he knew wasn't right for him, Wyndham eventually found himself unable to ignore the growing disconnect between the life he was living and the life he wanted. What followed wasn't just a career change. It was a complete re-evaluation of identity, purpose and what it means to live authentically.Together, Josh and Wyndham discuss:Why midlife crisis might actually be a giftThe fear of success versus the fear of failureHow people become trapped in lives that look good on paperThe hidden cost of people-pleasing and performanceWhy certainty can kill curiosity and growthThe danger of putting teachers, experts and influencers on pedestalsHow breakdowns often become the foundation for breakthroughsThe challenge of living your values when it costs you somethingLearning to let go of old identities and write a new storyThis is a conversation about self-discovery, courage and what happens when you stop asking "What should I be?" and start asking "Who am I really?"Wyndham - @blueprintcoach_wyndham (Instagram)

In this episode of Dysfunctional, Josh sits down with Chanel Duffy for a raw and deeply honest conversation about childhood abuse, narcissistic parents, coercive control, survival mode, and what happens when you finally stop minimising what you went through.Chanel shares how she spent years believing her childhood was “normal” before realising she was living in deep denial and survival. Together, they explore betrayal blindness, emotional suppression, domestic abuse, addiction in the home, parenting after trauma, and the long journey of learning softness, safety, and self-trust.A powerful conversation for anyone healing from toxic family systems.Find Chanel - https://www.chanelduffy.com

In this episode, Josh sits down with trauma coach Ana Gersch to explore emotionally immature parents, estrangement, and the role of validation in family relationships.Ana shares her journey into trauma work, blending somatic practices, spirituality, and modern coaching. Together, they unpack how trauma lives in the body, why emotional immaturity shows up in parents, and what actually defines emotional maturity.They also dive into the rise of estrangement, whether no contact is a trend, and how social media is shaping these conversations.A key theme throughout is the difference between validation and agreement, and why this misunderstanding often keeps families stuck.This episode offers a grounded, honest look at healing, boundaries, and what it really takes to have a relationship with someone as they are, not who you wish they could be.Find Ana - https://www.instagram.com/ana_traumacoach/

For more information or to grab you spot at the festival use these links -Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oneretreatwellness?igsh=dWl1d3Q2NzhjMGtoFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1GyyZMdpeQ/?mibextid=wwXIfrWebsite - www.oneretreatwellness.co.uk Ticket section of the site - https://www.oneretreatwellness.co.uk/ticketsAnd you can find Alex and Same here - Sam - https://www.instagram.com/samrigs/Alex - https://www.instagram.com/alexhydecoaching/

In this episode, I’m joined by Amber Hughes for a powerful conversation about addiction, homelessness, grief, and the impact all of it has on families.Amber shares the story of her sister Hannah, who experienced addiction and homelessness before passing away in 2017. We talk about the chaos and heartbreak of loving someone through addiction, the stigma that still surrounds homelessness, and how these struggles affect the whole family, not just the person at the centre of it.Amber also shares how she has turned that pain into purpose through Amber Lights in Oxford, raising awareness, supporting local charities, and helping children understand homelessness with more compassion and humanity.A raw, honest and deeply human conversation.Links:https://www.instagram.com/amberlightsinoxfordhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-hughes-bem-1a888b38a/https://amberlightsinoxford.com/https://www.gofundme.com/f/Publish-our-book-on-homeless-education-forchildren

This week on Dysfunctional, I’m joined by Becky Ray.Becky works in workplace culture and leadership, helping organisations improve toxic work environments and develop better leaders, especially middle managers.We talk about toxic workplace culture, sexism, bullying disguised as banter, and how poor leadership becomes normalised over time.We also explore “accidental managers” and why so many people are promoted without ever being taught how to lead.A big part of this conversation is resilience. Not just pushing through stress, but understanding emotional capacity and why burnout is often about what people are already carrying, not just workload.We also touch on men’s mental health, emotional suppression, and the importance of release, whether through breathwork or other ways of getting out of your head and into your body.In this episode:Toxic work culture and leadershipBullying vs banter in the workplaceAccidental managers and poor leadershipBurnout and emotional capacityMen’s mental health at workResilience and emotional releaseConnect with Becky: https://www.culturekick.co.uk/Breathwork:https://www.culturekick.co.uk/breathworkInsta - https://www.instagram.com/culture_kick_/