Share

cover art for Ben Goldsmith on his journey with grief and healing in nature

Hurt to Healing

Ben Goldsmith on his journey with grief and healing in nature

Season 4, Ep. 1
•

Today, I am speaking to a truly inspiring guest whose journey through grief and healing has been nothing short of extraordinary. He's a father who faced the most profound loss a parent can endure, and he's here to share his remarkable story of resilience. Ben Goldsmith, author of the deeply touching book "God is an Octopus".


Ben's world was shattered by the tragic loss of his beloved daughter, and in the depths of his grief, he found solace in an unexpected place – nature. Through his experiences and his poignant words, Ben discovered the healing power of the natural world, a source of comfort and renewal in the darkest of times. In today's episode, we'll delve into Ben's journey of coping with grief, the role of nature in his healing process, and the profound insights he's gained along the way. His book, "God is an Octopus," beautifully captures the essence of this transformative journey.


Find Ben:

Instagram: @bengoldsmith

Twitter: @bengoldsmith

Book: https://amzn.eu/d/jbEgMcp


Follow Hurt to Healing on Instagram: @hurttohealingpod


--


A big thank you our wonderful charity partner Shout. Shout is the UK's first 24/7 mental health text support service so if you’re struggling or in need of someone to talk to, please remember to text Shout to 85258. 


Thank you to our corporate supporter, Brown Advisory, a global investment management firm which is passionate about raising awareness of mental health challenges in order to help people thrive in an ever-changing world.


Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:

Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpod

TikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpod

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healing

Substack: substack.com/@hurttohealing

Website: hurttohealing.co.uk

More episodes

View all episodes

  • Dopamine, Digital Addiction & Why You Can’t Relax with TJ Power

    53:34|
    In this episode, I’m joined by neuroscientist, speaker and bestselling author TJ Power, whose work has helped so many people understand what modern life is doing to our brains. TJ is the author of DOSE, a book all about the four key brain chemicals that shape how we feel — dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins — and how our screens, habits and lifestyles can throw them completely out of balance. If you’ve ever felt wired but flat, hooked on your phone, constantly waiting for the next thing, or like your mind just won’t settle, this conversation will feel incredibly familiar. We talk about dopamine, anticipation, ADHD, OCD, flow state, overstimulation and why so many of us feel both burnt out and unable to stop. It’s a fascinating, relatable and genuinely useful conversation about how we can start to understand our brains better and create lives that feel calmer, clearer and more connected.Find TJ:Website: https://tjpower.co.uk/Instagram: @tjpowerBuy his book: https://thedoseeffect.co.uk/

  • HEALING 101: High Functioning Anxiety, Perfectionism and People Pleasing with Dr Lalitaa Suglani

    18:44|
    In today’s Healing 101, I’m joined by Dr Lalitaa Suglani, author of High Functioning Anxiety, to unpack a term so many of you have messaged me about. We talk about what high functioning anxiety actually is, the “swan” analogy of looking calm on the surface while paddling frantically underneath, and how it can hide behind productivity, perfectionism and people pleasing. Lalitaa explains the difference between high functioning anxiety and high functioning depression, why shame keeps these patterns alive, and how rejection sensitivity can send us spiralling over the smallest things.Find Lalitaa:Website: https://drlalitaa.com/Instagram: @dr.lalitaaOrder Her Book: https://drlalitaa.com/lalitaa/highfunctioninganxiety

  • Understanding OCD Loops, Intrusive Thoughts & ADHD with Melanie Lawson

    32:17|
    Today’s episode is a really personal one with Melanie Lawson, founder of Bare Biology and a previous sponsor of the podcast. We talk honestly about living with OCD, how it can shape shift over time, and what intrusive thoughts and compulsions actually feel like in the body, especially when you’re tired, stressed, hormonal, or going through change.We also get into the overlap with ADHD and rejection sensitivity, how OCD shows up in motherhood and relationships, and the small, practical things that help Melanie keep it from taking over. If you have OCD, love someone who does, or you’re stuck in loops of doubt and self blame, I really hope this makes you feel less alone. Visit Bare Biology: https://www.barebiology.com/

  • HEALING 101: Can Supplements Actually Speed Up Recovery? with Pupinder Ghatora

    27:14|
    In this episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by Pupinder Ghatora, pharmacist and founder of Ingenious, to explore the powerful connection between physical recovery and long-term wellbeing. Pupinder shares the story of his own health crisis and spinal surgery, and how it led him to rethink how we support the body through healing, from the inside out. We talk about collagen, supplements, and the science behind repair, but also zoom out to the bigger picture: what it means to build a strong foundation for health, navigate stress and burnout, and care for our bodies with consistency rather than quick fixes. This is a practical, hopeful conversation about resilience, recovery, and how small daily choices can support us in feeling stronger over time.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/

  • Why Modern Life Hijacks Our Brains with David Courtwright

    46:00|
    Today’s episode is one I’ve been so excited to share because we’re talking about addiction in a way that feels much more human and much less “labels and lectures”. I’m joined by David Courtwright, historian and author of The Age of Addiction, and we explore how addiction so often begins in pleasure, then quietly tips into something compulsive, shame-filled and costly not just for the person, but for everyone around them.What I really loved about this conversation is how it widens the lens. We talk about why addiction isn’t only about substances anymore, how modern life is basically designed to hook our brains, and David’s brilliant idea of “limbic capitalism” which is essentially the business of hijacking our reward system for profit. If you’re struggling with something yourself, or you’re supporting someone who is, I think this will leave you feeling less alone and more clear about what’s actually going on and where change can start.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find David:Website: https://davidcourtwright.domains.unf.edu/Buy his book 'The Age of Addiction': https://amzn.eu/d/01vG1z76

  • HEALING 101: The Power of Glimmers for Your Nervous System with Nadia and Katia Narain

    12:26|
    On today’s HEALING 101, I’m joined by Nadia and Katia Narain, for a gentle but powerful conversation about the beautiful concept at the heart of their new book: glimmers.We explore what glimmers really are - those small, often overlooked moments that signal safety and ease to the nervous system - and why they’re so different from gratitude. Together, we talk about how learning to notice these tiny experiences of calm, connection, and okay-ness can help regulate stress, soften anxiety, and slowly shift us out of overwhelm. It’s a soothing, reassuring discussion filled with practical insight and a reminder that healing doesn’t always come from big breakthroughs, but from the smallest moments of feeling just a little more okay.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find Nadia and Katia:Instagram: @nadia.and.katiaBuy their book: https://amzn.eu/d/08CuHlBQ

  • It’s Not Just You, It’s Your Hormones: Anxiety, Burnout & Feeling Off with Hannah Alderson

    52:23|
    On this week’s episode of Hurt to Healing, I’m talking to nutritionist and hormone specialist Hannah Alderson about something so many of us hear about all the time, but don’t always fully understand - our hormones.From anxiety and low mood to brain fog, burnout, PMT, perimenopause and feeling completely unlike yourself, Hannah explains how hormones can shape so much of how we think, feel and function. We also get into her own journey with PCOS and endometriosis, the role of stress and blood sugar, and why looking after your hormonal health doesn’t have to mean perfection - just small, supportive changes that help your body feel safer and more balanced.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find Hannah:Website: https://www.hannahalderson.com/Instagram: @hannahaldersonnutritionPre-Order Her Book (out in May): https://amzn.eu/d/0hitUyCn

  • HEALING 101: Ore Oduba on Bringing Hidden Struggles Into the Light

    18:14|
    In this episode of Healing 101, Julia is joined by broadcaster and presenter Ore Oduba for a deeply honest conversation about addiction, shame and the coping mechanisms we develop to manage difficult emotions. Ore speaks openly about his relationship with pornography, the moment it stopped feeling like a harmless habit and began to feel like something more troubling, and the internal struggle that followed.Together they explore the emotional landscape beneath addictive behaviours — including anxiety, grief, identity and the pressure to perform. This is a thoughtful conversation about the courage it takes to confront the parts of ourselves we would rather hide, and the possibility of healing that emerges when we bring those struggles into the light.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find Ore:Instagram: @oreodubaofficial

  • Dr Sharon Bergquist on the Stress Paradox and Why Some Stress Makes Us Stronger

    56:15|
    In today’s episode, I’m joined by preventive medicine physician and author Dr Sharon Bergquist, whose book The Stress Paradox challenges the idea that all stress is harmful and offers a far more hopeful, evidence-led way of thinking about what’s happening in our minds and bodies.Together, we explore the difference between chronic, depleting stress and the kinds of “good stress” that can build resilience at a cellular level. Sharon explains why recovery matters as much as challenge, how to recognise when stress is helping versus harming, and the small, realistic habits that can strengthen your capacity to cope so you’re not just getting through life, but actually growing through it.Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/Find Sharon:Website: https://drsharonbergquist.com/Instagram: @thegoodstressdoctorBuy her book: https://amzn.eu/d/0df3zDag