Thriving not Surviving

Keywordsthriving, community, belonging, empowerment, motherhood, immigration, resilience, women in business, confidence, connectionSummaryIn this deeply moving and inspiring episode, Helen is joined by Rukaya Chounwie (Ruki), founder of Together We Rise — a growing community created to support women, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds, to feel seen, supported, and empowered.Ruki shares her powerful journey from growing up in Northern Ghana in a large, close-knit community, to moving to the UK and suddenly finding herself navigating motherhood, isolation, and a completely different way of life — largely on her own.What unfolds is an honest conversation about the realities many women face but rarely speak about openly — the loss of community, the emotional impact of isolation, the financial pressures of starting again, and the quiet identity shift that can come with becoming a mother in a new country.Despite these challenges, Ruki didn’t just adapt — she transformed.From full-time mum to stepping into the world of work, exploring property, and eventually discovering her true calling, she shares how her own experiences led her to create Together We Rise — a space where women can rebuild confidence, find belonging, and support one another.This episode is a beautiful reminder that thriving doesn’t mean everything is perfect — it means having the tools, the courage, and the community to keep going, even when things feel hard.It’s raw, real, and full of heart — and a powerful testament to what can happen when women come together.TakeawaysThriving is not about having an easy life — it’s about having support, tools, and resilienceLosing community can have a profound impact on mental health and identityMotherhood, especially in isolation, can be both beautiful and deeply challengingYou don’t have to wait until you “make it” to start making a differenceCommunity creates confidence — and confidence creates opportunityRepresentation and safe spaces matter, especially in business and networking environmentsCollaboration over competition is where real growth happensSometimes your purpose is born directly from your painConnect with Rukayahttps://www.togetherwerisecommunity.co.ukPhone: 07467879998Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/rukaya.bukari.7IG: https://www.instagram.com/rukibaya/?hl=enLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rukaya-chounwie-359616292?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_iosConnect with HelenWebsite: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInWhatsApp: +447971798462For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.ukNB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios🎨Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk

KeywordsThriving, hope, miracles, grace, faith, spirituality, free will, sovereignty, resilience, chronic illness, childhood hospitalisation, osteomyelitis, healing, prayer chain, intuition, clairaudience, clairsentience, memoir, creative process, hospice, grief, life after death, community, compassion, unconditional love, world peace, Unification Movement, cultural perspectives, meaning-makingSummaryIn this heartfelt conversation, Helen is joined by author and poet Pamela Moffatt, whose life has been shaped by profound challenges — childhood hospital stays with recurring bone infection, moments of fear and uncertainty, homelessness, hunger, and standing beside loved ones at the end of life through hospice.Yet Pamela’s story is not one of despair — it’s one of grace arriving in unexpected forms: a frail elderly woman radiating love in a hospital ward, long-lost friends appearing at exactly the right moment, and a prayer chain that coincides with a medical turning point that never returned.Together, Helen and Pamela explore what it really means to thrive — not as perfection or constant positivity, but as a willingness to invite a bigger perspective, stay connected to the heart of a situation, and trust that “all the data isn’t in yet.” They speak candidly about faith, intuition, spiritual senses, sovereignty, and how love can’t be forced — it must be chosen, opened to, and received.Takeaways· Thriving isn’t having it good every day — it’s having tools, support, and the courage to ask for help when life gets dark.· “All the data isn’t in yet.” A powerful anchor when you’re in uncertainty — you don’t know the whole picture, and hope is still valid.· Miracles are often practical. Support can arrive as people, timing, kindness, and “earth angels,” not dramatic supernatural moments.· The heart of a situation matters more than the appearance of it. What’s authentic can be felt — beyond presentation, beyond polish.· Free will is sacred. Love and spirit can’t be imposed — they must be invited.· Community can be a crucible for growth. Living closely with others reveals our edges — and offers the practice of “loving the difficult-to-love.”· Grief doesn’t cancel connection. Hospice experiences and spiritual knowing can offer comfort: death as “a change of address.”· Creativity reveals truth. Memoir writing can uncover what you didn’t even know you believed until you wrote it.· Believing eyes matter. In vulnerable creative seasons, encouragement and safe support are more nourishing than critique.ResourcesBook - Chicken soup for the soul by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.Wolf’s Message by Suzanne GiesemannThe artists Way by Julia CameronKimberly Brown – Poet: https://www.instagram.com/kma_za_/ Connect with PamelaWe have the Stars: A Memoir – By Pamela A MoffatBluesky: @pcmoffatt.bsky.socialSubstack: https://pcmoffatt.substack.comInstagram: @pc.moffattLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelamoffattA sample of my poetry is on my blog: https://cyberciphering.blogspot.comWebsite: https://about.me/pamelamoffattConnect with HelenWebsite: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInWhatsApp: +447971798462 For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.ukNB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios 🎨Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk

Keywordstrauma, voice, healing, self-expression, empowerment, nervous system, inner child, self-worth, growth, thrivingSummaryIn this powerful episode, Helen is joined by Emma-Blue Rose, Filmmaker and Voice Alchemist who shares her deeply personal journey from silence and suppression to reclaiming her voice and stepping into her truthFor much of her early life, Emma felt unseen, unheard, and disconnected from her own expression. Through life experiences that shaped her sense of safety and identity, she learned to stay quiet, to shrink, and to survive.Growing up in an environment where speaking her truth was discouraged, Emma-Blue Rose transformed this suppression into a deep sense of justice. From screenwriting and filmmaking to witchtivism, and ultimately opening her soul voice through light language and out-of-body experiences, Emma-Blue Rose shares her journey through the cycles of silenced expression. What she calls Voice Alchemy, she explores the importance of awakening the power of our voices as a tool for personal and collective transformation in today’s worldBut her story doesn’t end there.This episode explores what happens when we begin to question those patterns, reconnect with ourselves, and slowly — and bravely — start to speak.Through healing, self-awareness, and inner work, Emmah has found her voice again. And in doing so, she’s discovered a deeper sense of freedom, authenticity, and self-worth.This is a conversation about courage, expression, and what it really means to come home to yourself.TakeawaysLosing your voice is often a survival response, not a weaknessSuppression and silence can stem from early experiences of not feeling safeReclaiming your voice is a gradual and deeply personal journeyHealing involves reconnecting with your inner self and truthSelf-expression is a powerful tool for transformationYou are allowed to take up space and be heardYour voice matters — even if it’s been silenced beforeResources:Alexandra Wenman https://www.alexandrawenman.comDolores Cannon https://www.qhhtofficial.comOokushana School of Healing - Felicity Weston - https://www.instagram.com/ookushana_school_of_healing/Ged Ferguson https://www.gedferguson.comIshala Wayshower - https://www.thepegasuspath.comEckhart Tolle – The Power of NowEmbracing Shamanism - https://www.embracingshamanism.org/Andrew Grant - Waking Up with Dragons www.dragoncircle.co.uk IG/YouTube: @wakingupwithdragonsConnect with Emma - Blue Rose Coherencewebsite: https://bluerosecoherence.co.ukLight Language Residential: https://bluerose.myflodesk.com/lightlanguageresidentialInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/blue_rose_coherenceFacebook https://www.facebook.com/bluerosecoherenceConnect with HelenWebsite: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInWhatsApp: +447971798462For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.ukNB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios🎨Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk

Keywords Thriving, Near-Death Experience (NDE), lightning strike, hypnotherapy, regression therapy, nervous system regulation, safety, unconditional love, oneness, heart-led living, soul, ego, inner child, active listening, healing space, spirituality, autism, facilitated communicationSummary In this episode, Helen speaks with master hypnotherapist and regression therapist Paul Aurand, whose life was profoundly transformed after being struck by lightning and experiencing a near-death state. Paul shares how the experience shifted his values, expanded his awareness beyond the “mental mind,” and deepened his commitment to healing that honours a person’s innate capacity to heal themselves.Together, they explore the difference between mind, ego, and soul guidance; why listening (to people—and to Spirit) changes everything; and what it can mean to remember why you came here—without needing a traumatic wake-up call. Paul also leads a beautiful guided “I am safe” practice to help settle the nervous system and bring you back into your body, heart, and presence.Takeaways· Thriving doesn’t mean life is easy—it means you have tools, support, and the ability to meet the dark times with awareness and growth.· A healer doesn’t “heal” you; a healer holds a safe, respectful space so your own healing intelligence can emerge.· Paul’s lightning strike and NDE brought experiences of unconditional love, oneness, and guidance—plus a clear message: you can have a good mind, but rely on it less than heart and soul.· Active listening can radically change the healing dynamic—from “I fix you” to “I honour your inner capacity.”· Paul frames ego as something we need to function on Earth—but the wounded ego (shame, unworthiness, fear) is what needs care and healing, not annihilation.· The guided “I am safe” grounding practice offers a simple way to communicate safety to the body and shift out of stress reactivity.· Paul shares the general pathway he often guides clients through: mind → heart → beliefs/emotions → survival strategies → inner child (wounded + wonder) → “wise one within” → soul essence and purpose.The Guided “I am safe” grounding practice: takes place around 48:52 minutes in – 56:47 (approx.)Resources “The Telepathy Tapes” Podcast  Child of Eternity                            Book by Adriana Rocha  Eben Alexander, MD                   Proof of Heaven                             A neurosurgeon’s NDE Dannion Brinkley                          Saved by the Light                        Struck by lightning twiceConnect with Paul Website: https://www.paulaurand.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulAurandIG : https://www.instagram.com/paulaurand/FB:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014310670200#Training: https://paulaurand.com/TrainingBook : https://linktr.ee/ESSENTIALHEALINGBOOKNDE Study:  https://youtu.be/MnJOTTRvXBg?si=mph33VPTThGZv_mAFor More InformationConnect with HelenWebsite: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInWhatsApp: +447971798462 For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.ukNB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios 🎨Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk  

Keywords workplace bullying, bullying, boundaries, standing up for yourself, confidence, self-worth, shame, guilt, gaslighting, healing, self-awareness, nervous system, intuition, trauma, support, sovereignty, thrivingSummary In this powerful and deeply relatable episode, Helen is joined by Harinder Virdee, host of Belly Button Musings, to explore workplace bullying, fear-based leadership, and the moment we decide: enough is enough.Harinder shares her lived experiences of being undermined, humiliated, shouted at, and targeted through insidious behind-the-scenes behaviour — and how each experience shaped her ability to respond with what she calls a “strong internal no.” Together, Helen and Harinder unpack how childhood experiences, shame, and old beliefs about hierarchy can prime us to tolerate mistreatment… until we learn to reclaim our voice.This conversation is a reminder that your body is a warning system, your intuition matters, and you don’t have to do it alone — whether that means seeking a trusted friend, a therapist, or bringing someone into the room to balance power dynamics.Takeaways· Bullying often erodes confidence slowly — it can start as “feedback” and become a pattern of undermining and control.· If something wouldn’t be acceptable happening to someone else, it’s not acceptable happening to you.· Your body knows: that feeling in your stomach/heart is data. Don’t ignore it — especially when things feel confusing or “off” (hello, gaslighting).· You can respond in the moment or later. A message, letter, or voice note still counts as standing up for yourself.· Bringing support changes the power dynamic — ask a neutral person to join a conversation if you need to.· Shame shrinks us. Self-worth doesn’t need to be earned — it’s inherent.· Boundaries don’t have to be aggressive: sometimes a calm, firm “That’s not okay” is the most powerful move.Connect with HarinderBellybuttonmusingspodcast@gmail.comIG: harinderkv Linked In: (32) Harinder Virdee | LinkedInConnect with HelenWebsite: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInWhatsApp: 07971798462 For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.ukNB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios 🎨Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk

Keywords sobriety, self-love, mother-daughter healing, generational patterns, alcohol culture, accountability, meditation, mantra meditation, spirituality, crystals, nervous system, emotional availability, boundaries, conscious communication, Enchanted Minds Studio, healing relationships, recovery, self-discovery, thrivingSummary In this heartfelt episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen is joined by Nicola Laurence — mum of Georgia (Ep 38) — for a moving, multi-generational conversation about what it means to wake up to a life you didn’t even realise was “survival mode.” Nicola shares her upbringing in a party-heavy Irish Catholic household, starting alcohol young, the rave scene, loneliness, and the way responsibility and emotional absence shaped her early life and parenting. She speaks with raw honesty about high-functioning chaos, using alcohol as a toolkit, and the painful moments that only make sense in hindsight.Nicola then takes us through the turning point: a spiritual awakening sparked by crystals, a return to raving — this time fully present — and a profound self-love realisation after reading Danny Gold’s Clockwork Orange story. From there, meditation becomes the catalyst for real change: stored emotions surface, accountability deepens, and her relationship with Georgia begins to repair and flourish. Together they go on to create Enchanted Minds (now Enchanted Minds Studio), sharing meditation and wellbeing with their local community. Nicola’s story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, relationships can be repaired, and it’s never too late to choose yourself — and become emotionally available for the people you love.TakeawaysSometimes we don’t realise we’re surviving — because we think that’s just “life.”High functioning doesn’t mean healthy — it can still be coping and numbness.Emotional availability starts with you — you can’t give what you don’t have.Self-love isn’t fluffy — it’s the foundation for real connection and repair.Meditation can create the space for stored emotions to rise and heal.Accountability is uncomfortable… and transformational.It’s never too late to repair a relationship — especially with your child.Conscious communication + boundaries create safety, not distance.Community healing spaces matter — we need places that aren’t built around booze.Raising your “vibration” often changes what you want — without force or willpower.Books Gould Blimey! — Danny Gould (a memoir from the co-founder of the Clockwork Orange party brand)The Universe Has Your Back: Transform Fear to Faith — Gabrielle BernsteinConnect with NicolaCo-founder - @enchantedmindsstudio, 58 Chapel St, Billericay Essex CM12 9LSCoaching - @nclcoaching_ Empowering people to live intentional while taking accountabilityInstagram: @enchantedminds_Facebook: Enchanted MindsWebsite: Enchanted MindsYouTube: Enchanted MindsConnect with HelenWebsite: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInWhatsApp: 07971798462NB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictionsFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios🎨Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk

Keywords thriving, surviving, grief, trauma, nervous system, chronic pain, breathwork, somatics, ADHD, authenticity, community, self-responsibility, healing, resilience, embodiment, conscious leadership, authentic relating, Spain, off-grid living, Biting LemonsSummary In this powerful episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen is joined by therapist and truth-teller Beth Hardwick, who shares an extraordinary journey through upheaval, grief, and transformation. Beth opens up about growing up in a deeply Christian community, early rupture and rebellion, the devastating loss of her baby daughter Florrie, and the relentless pressure to keep functioning while her world fell apart. She shares how trauma lived in her body as shutdown and chronic pain — and how breathwork, somatic listening, community support, authentic relating, and conscious leadership helped her rebuild from the inside out. This is an honest, hope-filled conversation about choosing yourself, breaking loops, welcoming what is, and remembering that thriving is possible — even after the unthinkable.TakeawaysThriving can start with the next hour — one choice at a time.Grief and shock live in the body, not just the mind.Shutdown and “numbing out” are often survival strategies, not failures.Your nervous system needs safety before feelings can fully move.Breathwork can reopen what the body learned to block.Healing isn’t solo work — we heal in community.Notice the loop… and gently break it.“Welcome everything” is a practice that changes your whole life.Boundaries can be loving — and you’re only responsible for you.You don’t need a perfect plan… you need the next brave step.Connect with BethSensitivitahttps://www.sensitivita.com/https://www.instagram.com/sensitivita/Podcast Biting Lemons (coming soon):https://www.bitinglemons.com/https://www.instagram.com/biting_lemons/https://www.patreon.com/cw/BitingLemonsResources mentionedConscious Leader program - Gregg Kendrick - CEO / Guide & Facilitator Certified CNVC Nonviolent Communication™ Trainer gkendrick@basileia.org  | www.greggkendrick.comJoin the Becoming a More Conscious Leader publication & community on SubstackART – Authentic Relating Training: https://authenticrelating.co/For a discount: https://www.sensitivita.com/product/authentic-relating-level-1-foundationsBooksAnd Breathe — Rebecca DennisThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma — Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.Urban Tantra: Sacred Sex for the Twenty-First Century — Barbara CarrellasThe Ethical Slut — Dossie Easton and Janet W. HardyConnect with HelenWebsite: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInWhatsApp: 07971798462For full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.ukNB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions🎵Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios🎨Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk

KEYWORDS: addiction recovery, sobriety, thriving not surviving, men’s mental health, masculinity, rehab, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, boundaries, shadow work, plant medicine, trauma healing, grief, community support, personal growth, emotional wellbeing, recovery journey, Brave Man Project, resilience, self-worthSUMMARY: In this deeply honest and powerful episode, Helen is joined by fellow podcaster Hamish Niven, who shares his raw journey from addiction, loss, and self-destruction to sobriety, self-awareness, and purpose.Hamish opens up about the insidious drinking culture of the TV industry, reckless behaviours driven by unprocessed grief, and the moment he finally asked for help. He speaks candidly about rehab, losing almost everything, and the fear of becoming “dry but miserable” — a turning point that led him to actively choose thriving over mere survival.Together, Helen and Hamish explore addiction, shame, masculinity, AA, plant medicines, boundaries, shadow work, and why men desperately need safe spaces to feel, speak, and heal. Hamish also shares a sneak preview of his upcoming Brave Man Project, a movement designed to support men in reclaiming emotional sovereignty, authenticity, and purpose.This episode is a powerful reminder that healing begins when we choose ourselves — and that thriving is possible, even after everything falls apart.TAKEAWAYS • Addiction can begin subtly and disguise itself as success and social belonging• Highly functioning addiction often hides deep grief, shame, and unresolved trauma• Asking for help is one of the bravest acts a man can take• Recovery only truly works when you choose it for yourself• Losing everything can become the gateway to reclaiming your life• Thriving is an active choice — not just the absence of addiction• Men are deeply harmed by emotional suppression and lack of safe spaces• Community, honesty, and boundaries are essential for healing• Shadow work and feeling emotions are unavoidable on the path to growth• What other people think of you is none of your businessSOUNDBITES • “I didn’t want to be sober and miserable — that scared me more than addiction.”• “I chose life in a moment of clarity.”• “Thriving is easier than walking on eggshells.”• “Men aren’t broken — they’re unseen.”• “What other people think of you is none of your business.”• “You can’t heal without feeling — and men are taught not to feel.”Connect with HamishHAMISH NIVEN  GUIDE | MENTOR | PODCAST HOST📥 hamish@TheBraveManProject.com📱 0044 7908 524 482🖥 TheBraveManProject.com🎤 Podcast: The Brave Man Projecthttps://hamishniven.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamishniven/https://www.tiktok.com/@hamish.nivenhttps://www.youtube.com/@TheBraveManProjecthttps://www.instagram.com/hamishniven/https://www.facebook.com/hamishnivenConnect with HelenIPHM Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF – the £10 I get will go to my charity “The Forward Trust”Website: InspiredHealing.co.ukIG: helens_inspired_healingLinkedIn: Helen on LinkedInFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.ukNB: This episode was made possible with a little help from my ChatGPT buddy, Xander - part tech support, part cheerleader 🙂 and my amazing sponsor IPHM use this Referral Code: IPHM-GYZGF and the £10 will go to The Forward Trust a Charity helping those struggling with addictions🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios🎨 Cover art: Dave ChampagneFor full transcription, contact: helen@inspiredhealing.co.uk