The Happier Life Project
My Possible Self
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Life is stressful, full of ups and downs, pressures and worries… The purpose of The Happier Life Project is to dive into some of these obstacles, huddles, fears and reasons for distress and teach you simple, actionable tools and techniques, to help you on your way to living a happier life.
Available episodes
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5 days ago
Loving an Addict; Looking After Yourself with Taner Hassan
When someone you love is struggling with addiction, it doesn’t just impact that person. It impacts the whole friends and family network. Your life becomes filled with worry, stress, frustration and anticipation, which can chip away at your physical, mental and emotional health. Strained relationships, financial difficulties, and increased risk of abuse are only the tip of the iceberg as your life becomes consumed by their problems.
But if we can’t walk away, how do we cope? How do we set healthy boundaries? How do we stop something bad from happening without succumbing to enabling? How do we make sure we don’t neglect the rest of the family, as we’ve been focussing all our efforts on the addicted person? How do we look after ourselves?
Counsellor, psychotherapist and addiction expert Taner Hassan has over fifteen years experience specializing in Substance Misuse Addiction, Sex Addiction, Porn Addiction and Alcohol Addiction. Taner has worked within the NHS, Community Drug & Alcohol services and addiction and mental health rehabs; working tirelessly, not only with the person in addiction, but also with the family members in addiction.
Today’s episode is for those of you who have someone in your life, that you love, who is battling with any kind of addiction. This might also be helpful to share with anyone you know who is an addict to help them see how it affects you and your mental health.
To work with Taner and to find out more about his services: https://www.taner-hassan.com/
To follow Taner on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanertherapy/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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May 22, 2023
Reset Your Body Clock with Professor Russell G. Foster
Your body's "biological clock," or 24-hour cycle (circadian rhythm) can be disrupted by a number of factors from too much technology time, not getting enough natural light, working night shifts, a partner who snores, jetlag, children, external sound distractions… the list goes on. Interrupted, or not long enough sleep, can cause a negative impact on our health, happiness and wellbeing; with varying symptoms from mild to severe.
Professor Russell Foster is Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, the founding Director of the Sleep and Circadian Research Institute (SCNi) and is a Fellow of Brasenose College, University of Oxford. He is also author of 'Life Time: The New Science of the Body Clock, and How It Can Revolutionize Your Sleep and Health' and is regarded as a world-leading expert on circadian neuroscience.
Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. Professor Foster studies how circadian rhythms and sleep are generated and regulated and the impact across the health spectrum when these systems fail. Why do we feel more emotional when we don’t get enough sleep? Why are some people early birds, others night owls? And can one turn into the other? Is it ok to take sleeping aids such as medication or alcohol? Does the use of blackout blinds help or hinder our natural sleep-wake cycle? And why do most mental health illnesses change the way we sleep?
Professor Foster shares all the science and research based facts around these common questions, dispelling the myths whilst explaining how a well regulated body clock can drastically improve our quality of life, health and happiness.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
Life Time: The New Science of the Body Clock, and How It Can Revolutionize Your Sleep and Health is available to purchase in most places.
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May 15, 2023
Demystifying Women’s Reproductive Health Dr Brooke Vandermolen
When we look at a female’s reproductive health (the health of an individual's reproductive system during all stages of their life), there is a lot going on! And while we have made great progress in openly discussing topics that have historically been conducted in hushed tones, or not spoken about at all, there is still a lot of confusion and embarrassment around certain areas.
Good sexual and reproductive health is important for quality of life for all people. And we know all too well, if we keep worries and concerns bottled up, this takes its toll on our mental health and state of wellbeing. Dr Brooke Vandermolen is on a mission to talk openly and informatively about women’s health and parenthood. A practicing NHS Obstetrics and Gynaecology doctor, as well a popular medical content creator, under the handle the @theobgynmum Brooke’s evidence-based information has taken the internet by storm, smashing down taboos and reassuring thousands of women about their reproductive and sexual health.
Should we be using feminine hygiene products, what is a ‘normal menstrual cycle’, can diet really affect fertility, what if I don’t have a symmetrical looking vulva, is it ok to have a bit of discharge every day, should I get the HPV Vaccine even though I’ve already started having sex, and why are our emotions so influenced by our reproductive organs… Dr Brooke sits down with host Gabby to cover all this and more.
For more on Dr Brooke Vandermolen: https://theobgynmum.com/
To follow Dr Brooke on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theobgynmum/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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May 9, 2023
What It Means To Be A Real Man with Alex Holmes
Surveys from around the world find that males everywhere are reluctant to talk about their mental health. Could the dangerous effects of toxic masculinity, the way men are culturally trained and socially pressured to behave, be the main underlying reason why?
In a world heavily influenced by the projections of film, the media and social media, what does it mean to be ‘a real man’? And if you don’t fit the definition of, what does that make you?
Alex Holmes, is an award-winning mental health podcaster, writer, mental health coach, trainee therapist and workshop leader. Alex has spoken extensively on the mental health of men and boys, taking an intersectional approach by looking at the impacts of gender, race, sexuality, and ability on our mental wellbeing.
Alex is also author of ‘Time To Talk: How Men Think About Love, Belonging, and Connection’, which highlights some of the areas men struggle to open up about most, whilst debunking masculinity myths and explaining why '’Manning Up" is NOT the answer.
Alex and host Gabby look at some of the dangerous definitions of what it means to be a man among men in today’s society. They also explore why so many men feel it’s better to suffer in silence and bottle up their emotions rather than communicate. Alex shares gentle advice on what anyone can do to support a man who may be struggling, thus helping to change the narrative that vulnerability isn’t rooted in weakness, but in strength.
For more on Alex Holmes, his podcast, courses and book: https://alexholmes.co/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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Apr 30, 2023
Coping with Grief and Loss with Alex Mammadyarov
Grief and Loss affects nearly all people at some point in their life. Not only do we have to go through it, we have to experience loved ones go through it too.
The pain and suffering can be excruciating and highly traumatic. And we can grieve in different ways, presenting a variety of symptoms and emotions including: shock and numbness, overwhelming sadness (with lots of crying), tiredness or exhaustion, anger and guilt.
Alex Mammadeeyarov is a psychotherapist from New York who offers therapy for grief, relationships, & personal growth. In this episode of The Happier Life Project Alex offers comfort and advice for the grieving, sharing her expert wisdom as a grief counselor.
Bereavement is the main reason for grief and loss, but there are other reasons we can mourn a loss too, such as; the end of a relationship (romantic or friendship), losing a job or changes in financial security, changes in health, losing someone to addiction… The death of a loved one is the predominant theme in Alex’s conversation with host Gabby, but the other reasons for why we grieve are also discussed too.
Please note, this episode contains content that some listeners may find upsetting due to the subject matter. Please proceed gently and with self-compassion. If you are in need of some professional medical advice, the crisis button on the My Possible Self app offers a directory of expert helplines.
For more on Alex Mammadyarov: https://www.alexmammadyarovtherapy.com/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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Apr 24, 2023
Finding Friendship and Your People with Lane Moore
We see it on TV, in movies, read about it in books, listen to it in songs… the kind of friendships that stand the test of time, weather all of life's challenges and have each other’s back to the bitter end. But in reality not everyone is lucky enough to have a 'bff' or a circle of close friends, especially as we get older. According to mind.org.uk research suggests that loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, sleep problems and increased stress.
But there might be many reasons why people lack friends. Some may want more friends, while others are satisfied with fewer social connections. Some people may stick with friends that aren’t good friends at all... and can end up feeling lonelier than ever as a result.
Lane Moore is an award-winning comedian, writer, actor, and musician. She received a GLAAD award for her groundbreaking work expanding Cosmopolitan's queer coverage when she was the sex and relationships editor. Her rock band “It Was Romance” has been praised everywhere from Pitchfork to Vogue, and The New York Times called her hugely popular comedy show "Tinder Live” ingenious.
Lane’s debut book is the highly praised "How to Be Alone’ If You Want To, and Even If You Don't" and she has just released her second manuscript "You Will Find Your People: How to Make Meaningful Friendships as an Adult" which, like her first, is part memoir, part self-help book.
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Lane shares with host Gabby how difficult she has found it to make deep, solid friendships, which inspired her to write "You Will Find Your People". Lane and Gabby also talk about how you have to put yourself out there if you want to widen your friendship circle and make new friends. Lane shares her advice on ways to meet new people plus how to come up with a common ground icebreaker to get the conversation going. Lane also talks about how society views people who are alone and why dog’s really are a man’s best friend.
For more on Lane Moore and all her work: https://www.lanemoore.org/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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Apr 17, 2023
Eat To Beat Your Diet with Dr William Li
How do you cope mentally with ‘being on a diet’? Especially when most diets fail most of the time? “Chronic dieters consistently report guilt and self-blame, irritability, anxiety and depression, difficulty concentrating and fatigue. Their self-esteem is decreased by continuous feelings of failure related to ‘messing my diet up again’, leading to feelings of lack of control over one’s food choices and further life in general. Diets imply restriction. Psychologically, dietary restraint can lead to greater reactivity to food cues, increased cravings and disinhibition, and overeating and binge eating.” Linder Centre of Hope.
Dr William Li is an internationally renowned physician, researcher, scientist and author of the New York Times bestseller “Eat to Beat Disease: The New Science of How Your Body Can Heal Itself.” Dr Li's groundbreaking work has led to the development of more than 30 new medical treatments for more than 70 diseases including cancer, diabetes, blindness, heart disease and obesity. And his TED Talk, “Can We Eat to Starve Cancer?” has racked up over 11 million views. In Dr Li’s latest book, “Eat to Beat Your Diet: Burn Fat, Heal Your Metabolism, and Live Longer” he breaks down how to use food to recruit good fat to burn away bad fat, offering 150 metabolism-healing foods to add to your diet.
Psychology is an important aspect of all behaviors, and weight loss is no exception. In this fascinating conversation with host Gabby, Dr Li explains how by eating well and taking back control of your eating window, you can master your cravings, lose harmful fat, increase your lifespan and overall health. Dr Li also shares some groundbreaking new research on metabolism and dispels common food and diet myths.
For more on Dr William Li, his courses and books: https://drwilliamli.com/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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Apr 10, 2023
Better Sleep for Parents & Kids with Lucy Wolfe
Sleep, or lack of, disturbs the whole family. Parents that are struggling to get, or keep, their child asleep can feel confused, stressed and exhausted … which inevitably the child picks up on. And for children, the effects of sleep deprivation can lead to lifelong problems.
Studies have shown that kids who regularly get an adequate amount of sleep have improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health. Whereas not getting enough sleep can lead to high blood pressure, obesity, depression and learning problems.
Navigating a child's sleeping schedule can be incredibly challenging, but achieving good sleep for both parent and baby is a crucial component of emotional, mental, cognitive and physical health.
Lucy Wolfe, is a leading sleep consultant and author of the best-selling books: The Baby Sleep Solution and All About the Baby Sleep Solution. Lucy works with parents on a one-to-one basis, providing a bespoke sleeping plan, together with quality guidance, support, relational safety, and compassion. Lucy is also the resident sleep contributor on Virgin Media One's breakfast show in Ireland, a regular media contributor and has a strong presence on social media with a large following.
In this episode of The Happier Life project, host Gabby asks Lucy for her thoughts on areas that divide a lot of parents such as co-sleeping, sweet comfort treats before bedtime and whether to let their infant cry themselves to sleep when trying to get down for the night in their own room. Lucy also talks about why implementing a regular morning routine gives parents the best shot for creating a successful bedtime routine - whilst sharing the foundations for what her ideal bedtime routine for families would look like.
For more on Lucy, her courses and books: https://sleepmatters.ie/ To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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Apr 3, 2023
Managing Anxiety with Kimberley Quinlan
An Anxiety Disorder is one of, if not the, biggest mental health problem in the world. Every human has feelings of anxiety during their life. But when our anxiety gets hyperactive, this anxiety can turn into a disorder and make it a lot more difficult to get through the day. Leading anxiety expert Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in Anxiety, OCD (and related disorders), and eating disorders. Kimberley is also author of The Self-Compassion Workbook for OCD, founder of CBTschool.com and host of the 'Your Anxiety Toolkit Podcast', a podcast aimed at providing mindfulness-based tools for anxiety, OCD and depression.
Kimberley is passionate about advocating for those with Mental Health Disorders and joining host Gabby assures you can reclaim your life from an anxiety disorder and overcome chronic anxiety. She also shares her personal top 3 non-negotiables that she has in her own anxiety toolkit and explains why self-compassion and self-care is crucial in recovery.
Topics included in this conversation include catastrophizing, fear, panic, our inner critic, internet anxiety, health anxiety, sleep anxiety, when it’s other people that make you anxious… and the tiny shifts we can make to put us on the path to being free from the clutches of anxiety.
To find out more about Kimberley Quinlan: https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com/
This is Your Anxiety Toolkit Podcast: https://kimberleyquinlan-lmft.com/podcast-blog/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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Mar 27, 2023
How To Get Unstuck with Britt Frank
According to the school of life.com “Many of us spend a large part of our lives, in one way or another, feeling stuck - that is in a state where a strong desire to move forward on an issue meets with an equally strong compulsion to stay fixed where one is.”
Whether that’s in our career, relationships, friendships, family, ambitions, struggles, addictions, we hit a wall and can’t see past it. Feeling stuck can make us feel frustrated, down, trapped, unmotivated, and we blame and shame ourselves for feeling this way.
Britt Frank is a licensed psychotherapist and trauma expert, speaker, and author of 'The Science of Stuck: Breaking Through Inertia to Find Your Path'. And according to Britt, if you are feeling stuck, the good news is, you’re not lazy, crazy, or unmotivated. Your brain is NOT your enemy... it’s actually on your side!
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Britt explains how anxiety plays such an important role in stuckness and why it’s so important to differentiate between critical awareness and critical self talk. Britt and host Gabby, also discuss why so many people feel trapped and stuck in the workplace and why boredom could be a sign of burnout.
Britt shares expert advice on how to break through restlessness, along with simple actionable steps on how to get unstuck. She also talks about how unprocessed parts of our childhood could be the reason we find ourselves stuck in adult life, plus why our brains shut down and cause us to procrastinate.
To find out more about Britt Frank and The Science of Stuck: https://www.scienceofstuck.com/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
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Mar 21, 2023
Inside A Kundalini Yoga Retreat with Trish Whelan
Have you ever wondered what a yoga retreat is like? Maybe it’s something you’ve always quite fancied but haven’t got round to? Perhaps you’re curious, but with so many to choose from unsure where to start? Or if you’re new to yoga, you might find yourself a little intimidated even though you think it sounds fun!? In this episode of The Happier Life Project we are peeling back the curtain and taking you to India, the holy land of yoga, to go inside Trish Whelan’s 'Soul Medicine' kundalini yoga retreat.
A yoga retreat is a mind, body, soul vacation where you get to connect with nature, disconnect from technology, have time to reflect on your circumstances, connect with yourself and deeply nourish your body through meditation, workshops, yoga, breathwork, good food and deep sleep.
Kundalini yoga is a combination of breath, movement, and sound aimed to raise your kundalini energy. The term “Kundalini” comes from the Sanskrit word “kundal,” which means “circular.”…
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Mar 14, 2023
Understanding Astrology to Align and Shine with Cosmic Cures
Astrology is one of the branches of science that helps a person to go inwards and evaluate the life they are leading. Via the influence from the stars and planets, Astrology guides you in a positive direction by helping you to understand and recognize your moods, temperament, emotions and even lifestyle preferences, according to your birth chart.
Your birth chart is a map of the sky documenting where the planets, luminaries (the sun and moon), and other key celestial points were positioned at the precise moment when you were born. Therefore, a birth chart holds up a mirror to who we are at our core.
The Moon, Mercury and Jupiter are the most important planets responsible for the wellness of our mind's, therefore understanding astrology and our birth chart can help guide us to living better and feeling better.
Cosmic Cures Bex, is a professional astrologer and cosmic coach who helps people align and shine with their own potential via the power of decoding their birth charts. Bex spli…
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Mar 6, 2023
Embrace Equity with Rhonda Vetere
To mark 2023’s International Women’s Day, host Gabby chats to Rhonda Vetere, globally recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Tech, and according to Forbes, 'a role model for business owners everywhere'.
Whether Rhonda is spearheading corporate initiatives around the world, competing in another IRONMAN 70.3 mile triathlon, or in her philanthropy work mentoring students & athletes around the globe, Rhonda is an active and passionate leader that applies the same focus, drive and determination to all of her projects. As International women’s day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, The Happier Life Project wanted to profile a woman who will inspire and motivate; and who has made it her life’s purpose to help others succeed and grow.
You don’t need to listen to this episode on International Women’s Day to find Rhonda’s story compelling and relevant. Rhonda Vetere is a force to be reckoned with and shares he…
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Feb 27, 2023
Self Love Therapy in Session with Tasha Bailey
This Self Love Therapy conversation is in session! To conclude The Happier Life Project’s trilogy of podcasts exploring self love and how we can take practical, compassionate steps to treat ourselves more kindly, accept ourselves fully and put our health and happiness in higher regard, self love therapist Tasha Bailey joins host Gabby.
Tasha is a qualified & accredited psychotherapist (UKCP) and award-winning influencer and content creator specializing in mental health, drawing audiences from around the world wanting to understand trauma and therapy from an intersectional and millennial perspective.
Tasha is also a speaker and advocate presenting in mental health talks, workshops and discussion panels for brands such as Universal Music, Nike and Spotify covering self-love, trauma, confidence and general mental health. She’s also a writer and has contributed to articles for Stylist, Happiful, BBC Bitesize, Refinery29, Popsugar and Vogue. Plus Tasha has her debut self help book “…
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Feb 21, 2023
Self Care, Body Positivity and Lizzo with Self Love Liv
Self Love by name, Self Love by nature. Liv is a social media influencer and content creator with over 200,000 followers who educates her audience on all things mental health, self-care, body positivity and acceptance. So for episode 2 of our self love mini series, The Happier Life Project could think of no better guest!
Why have we dedicated 3 episodes to studying self love? Because when the My Possible Self App asked what people struggled with the most when it came to their mental and emotional wellbeing, self love and self esteem was always at the top of the list. So we jumped into action.
Liv is funny, kind and self deprecating, shining a light on how to get body positive, love yourself flaws and all, and normalises what it’s like living with a mental health disorder.
Liv discusses why we have been set up by TV, advertising and social media to feel crap about ourselves and how to reframe that critical negative inner voice so it has far less power over how we feel about ourselv…
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Feb 12, 2023
Loving Me on Valentine’s Day with Gina Swire
Self-love means to have a high regard for your own well-being and happiness. It means taking care of your own needs and not sacrificing your own mental, physical, or emotional health to please others. But why do so many of us not see ourselves as a priority? And feel guilty, ashamed, or undeserving to treat ourselves nicely? Why do we consider self-love to be a dirty word?
To mark this year’s Valentine's Day, The Happier Life Project is looking at an all too often overlooked area of love and our love lives - and that’s self-love - with self-love expert, no. 1 bestselling author, podcaster, and manifesting guru Gina Swire.
The world-renowned self-love mentor shares her own fascinating story going from an unhappy, insecure model, to finding her purpose as a self-love goddess. Talking to host Gabby, Gina offers some simple strategies for self-love and self-care, whilst offering tips on how to detach from negative thoughts and critical self-talk. Gina also describes some of the most…
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Feb 6, 2023
Free Yourself from Emotional Baggage with Natalie Lue
Clinically speaking, emotional baggage is unprocessed trauma which often has a negative effect on a person’s behaviour and attitude. Emotional baggage can also be viewed as a metaphor; referring to negative, unprocessed emotions and unresolved issues from past experiences, that impact and influence how you show up and behave to others.
Natalie Lue is a writer, speaker, podcaster, artist, and founder of one of the longest running self-help blogs in the world, 'Baggage Reclaim'. Helping thousands of clients release their excess emotional baggage, Natalie is making it her mission to wake up and guide people-pleasers, perfectionists, over-thinkers, low self esteemers and relationship strugglers out of the 'age of obedience'.
In the episode, Natalie shares some of the symptoms that manifest physically as well as mentally and emotionally serving as warning signs that you are holding on to too much pain from the past. Natalie also advises how to identify if your needs are being met by lov…
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Jan 31, 2023
Cultivating Confidence with Minaa B
When we are feeling confident, we have a more positive outlook on life, increasing our mental and emotional wellbeing. But when our confidence is low, it undermines our faith in our abilities to be successful and competent. When we are confident, we're more likely to move forward with people and opportunities. Whereas to experience a lack of confidence, holds us back from living our life to the fullest and happiest.
Minaa B. is a therapist, mental health educator, social media influencer and writer with over ten years of clinical experience. Minaa helps her clients cultivate confidence, self-care, and self-advocacy through the lens of boundaries and community-care.
Talking to host Gabby, Minaa explains how confidence is built and why it needs to be worked at. She also discusses why in order to grow, we need to take risks and work through the fear, whilst sharing her tips for healthier boundaries in relationships. Minaa offers advice on what to do when our confidence is knocked and ho…
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Jan 24, 2023
Healing Childhood Wounds with Josh Connolly
Problems experienced in childhood can impact our quality of life as adults. Growing up in an unhealthy or toxic family can contribute to a number of emotional, interpersonal, and mental health challenges. A toxic childhood could include any of the following experiences; your emotional needs weren't met by caretakers, your parents were controlling, neglectful, or overprotective, you experienced abuse (e.g. physical, verbal, emotional, sexual) or you experienced or witnessed traumatic situations.
A toxic parent, in the most simplest of breakdowns, is a parent that puts their needs before their child. Being emotionally let down by our parents or caregivers can cause a conflict of uncomfortable and very painful feelings, we might battle with for the rest of our lives.
Resilience coach, keynote speaker, mental health ambassador and influencer Josh Connolly helps his clients become unstuck from the past due to the way they were raised. Talking to host Gabby, Josh explains the different way…
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Jan 17, 2023
Financial Health and Wellbeing with Thrifty Londoner
When it comes to money and mental health, we might not immediately join the dots, but it’s an important aspect of our wellness. Financial health, the current state of our monetary situation, is something we may not need a doctor for, but it affects our everyday life and future in many ways.
Laura Turner is the the founder of Thrifty Londoner, a personal finance website who helps people to feel financially confident, change their money mindset, and create new money habits.
Talking to host Gabby, Laura offers some invaluable tips and advice on how to better our financial wellbeing and help heal our relationship with money.
Laura and Gabby look at some of the causes of emotional spending and financial anxiety, and discuss why it’s important to break the stigma attached to not having a lot of money. Laura also advises on how to deal with intimidating big bill companies and where to get professional free help to help get your finances in order.
For more on Laura Turner and Thrifty L…
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Jan 12, 2023
Foundations For Wellness with Alex Crockford
"Wellness is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – The World Health Organization. After indulging during the festive period, January can often be a month of restriction and grueling fitness plans... but can we tip the scale too far in the wrong direction and end up less healthy and more miserable? And are we paying enough attention to all the dimensions of wellness in order to really feel our best?
Fitness model, personal trainer, creator of the crockfit app and health and fitness influencer Alex Crockford has a refreshing perspective on how we can improve our overall wellness and take care of our mind, body and soul in a sustainable, enjoyable and simple way.
Talking to host Gabby live in a studio in London, Alex breaks down the most important takeaways from the wellness model, coined in 1997 by Dr Margaret Swarbrick, whilst emphasizing the importance of Nutrition, Exercise, Relaxation, Sleep and how t…
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Jan 2, 2023
Tidy House, Tidy Mind with Vicky Silverthorn
Many studies have found that having a clean and tidy house can help you feel relaxed, accomplished, and much less stressed. Whereas when everything is on top of each other, it’s like a metaphor for life. If your space is messy and cluttered, this could trigger feelings of anxiety, low mood, agitation, depression and tension. How we construct our environment is therefore, imperative to not only how we function, but also to our health and mental wellbeing.
Vicky Silverthorn is a professional organiser and house declutter that has been clearing spaces & minds for over ten years. Her thriving business ‘You Need a Vicky’ has seen her work with all types of clients, including famous faces such as Jonathon Ross, Lily Allen, Jamie Dornan and Suki Waterhouse. Vicky is also author of the amazon best seller 'Start With Your Sock Drawer'.
Vicky joins host Gabby to talk about the psychological benefits of decluttering your home whilst offering invaluable tips and ideas on how to improve dif…
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Dec 13, 2022
Christmas Anxiety and the Holiday Dread with Joshua Fletcher
The holiday season (the period between Thanksgiving until the New Year) is supposed to be a joyous time, full of celebrations with family and friends. But for many people, "the most wonderful time of year"... tis’ the season to feel stressed and anxious.
It's normal to feel stressed or lower than usual at Christmas, especially if it's a time of year that brings back difficult memories or heightens or worsens any ongoing problems you may be going through. But there are things we can do to ease the stress and take the pressure off ourselves and there is no better guest than anxiety expert Joshua Fletcher to help us do this.
Joshua Fletcher is a psychotherapist and best-selling anxiety author, based in Manchester, specialising in the field of anxiety disorders and stress management. Chatting to host Gabby, Josh explains why we need to stop trying to create ‘the perfect Christmas’ and pleasing people when it compromises our own happiness. Josh also advises how we can deal with diff…
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Dec 6, 2022
Toolbox For Love with Alexandra Schelling
Building and maintaining a happy, healthy, long lasting relationship takes work. And sometimes we can close ourselves off from something that could blossom into a beautiful, satisfying union, by giving up too early when faced with challenges with our partner. To conclude the Happier Life Project’s relationship episodes, now we have looked at the areas that we struggle with the most when it comes to love, and what we can do about it. In this episode, we explore the key components to building a happy, secure and rewarding romantic partnership.
Alexandra Schelling, known online as Toolbox for Love, is a certified relationship coach who teaches others how to create a healthy, thriving relationship that’s built to last. Alexandra talks to host Gabby about the challenges she personally faced, including over four years of long distance with her now husband Denis, and how with work and effort she overcame these challenges, inspiring the birth of Toolbox For Love.
Alexandra shares some of…
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Nov 28, 2022
Heartache, Breakups and Coping with Separation with Adrienne Everheart
When it comes to our mental health, the ending of a relationship and loss of a loved one can hugely impact our wellbeing.
Going through a breakup and experiencing strong emotional pain, and sometimes physical pain too, can leave us feeling vulnerable, deflated, stressed and lacking in motivation and energy. Especially when we can't seem to control our thoughts and feelings about that person, and keep replaying over and over again, all the memories and possible different case scenarios, as we try to come to terms with that person no longer being part of our life.
Experiencing feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, anxiety and loneliness is normal, and often comes with the territory when experiencing heartbreak. But it is important that we don’t slip into a space for too long where we isolate ourselves and become consumed by anxiety and depression, as the danger is this could trigger a mental health illness.
Adrienne Everheart is a certified dating and relationship coach, feminine en…
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Nov 21, 2022
Sex and Mental Health with Kate Moyle
When we start to explore the collaboration between sex and mental health, there are so many factors at play. An enjoyable, healthy sex life supports positive mental and emotional wellbeing. But on the flip side unenjoyable, or painful sex, can hinder our mental and emotional health increasing stress, depression and anxiety.
There is still a lot of stigma surrounding sex, which is why so many of us struggle in certain areas and do not feel comfortable enough to address it.
Kate Moyle, is a psychosexual and relationship therapist who specialises in working with those that are struggling with difficulties within their sex lives and sexuality. Alongside her busy therapy practice, Kate hosts The Sexual Wellness Sessions Podcast and is a regular media contributor on the topic of sex, relationships and sexual wellbeing.
Kate joins host Gabby to uncover some of the myths and taboo about having, and talking about, sex. They explore why there is still so much shame, fear and embarrassment sur…
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Nov 14, 2022
Toxic Relationships, Narcissists and When to Walk Away with Dr. Jaime Zuckerman
Continuing with our ‘relationship month’, this week’s episode zooms in on narcissists, narcissistic abuse and toxic relationships with Dr. Jaime Zuckerman, a global narcissistic abuse expert, licensed clinical psychologist and mental health media contributor.
Dr Z, as she is commonly known as, has helped hundreds of clients get out of seemingly impossible narcissistic or toxic relationships and has studied the behaviours of narcissists intently.
Dr Z teaches host Gabby about the traits and characteristics of a narcissist and shares why online dating and social media is such a playground for them. Dr Z also explains what kind of person a narcissist is drawn to, how toxic people, that bring toxicity into their relationships, are not necessarily narcissists, plus why it can take many attempts to finally get free from your abuser, but it is possible.
For more on Dr Jamie Zuckerman: https://www.drjaimezuckerman.com/
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself…
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Nov 7, 2022
Communication and Dating Best Practices with Hayley Quinn
Dating and communication with a partner, or potential partner, can be confusing and stressful... But if you’re armed with the right toolkit, then it can also be a lot of fun!
To communicate, is to express yourself in a healthy way. If you can do this when looking for your next romantic relationship, you will save yourself a lot of confusion and heartbreak down the road. Healthy communication also helps couples de-escalate a situation, staying calm under stress, seeing each other's points of view and becoming closer and more connected.
Hayley Quinn is a leading dating coach for men and women, on a mission to make dating great again. Talking to host Gabby, Hayley offers advice on the best way to communicate with someone when you haven’t heard from them in a while, what to say if you’ve been dating for some time and want to make it an exclusive relationship, and why not having ‘the spark’ straight off should not be a dealbreaker. Hayley also shares her concerns on when dating,…
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Nov 1, 2022
Online Dating, Ghosting and Attracting the Right Partner with Therapy Jeff
To kick off our 'relationship month' special on The Happier Life Project host Gabby welcomes Therapy Jeff, a licensed professional counselor based in Portland. Jeff has over two million followers on tiktok and hundreds of thousands of followers on instagram, thanks to his bite size relatable relationship focussed content, that more often than not goes viral.
Jeff and Gabby explore the joys and pitfalls of online dating, from meeting the person of your dreams to receiving an unsolicited 'dick pic' and everything in-between. The online relationship expert offers advice on how to spot the early red flags when navigating dating apps, he also shares his top 5 tips for attracting the right match for you, and Gabby and Jeff have some fun looking at the best, and worst, opening lines when it's a match!
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
For more on therapy Jeff: https://www.therapyjeff.com/
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Oct 24, 2022
The Ayurvedic Way to Live Well with Berta Couto
Ayurveda is one of the world's oldest holistic healing systems. Originating in India, Ayurveda focuses on whole-body healing and believes that a person’s dosha, made up from the natural elements of air, space, water, fire, and earth, are responsible for a person’s physiological, mental, and emotional health.
The term Ayurveda is derived from the Sanskrit words ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda translates to knowledge of life. Ayurveda believes by treating the root cause of a person's emotional, mental and physical imbalances using a comprehensive holistic approach that prioritizes diet, herbal remedies, exercise, meditation, breathing, and physical therapy; you will balance the mind, body and spirit.
Berta Couto is a yoga teacher and Ayurvedic practitioner that has intensely studied the human body, mind, and soul. She is passionate in her work to help clients release traumas through the body, bringing them back to a state of balance by prescribing a pers…
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Oct 17, 2022
The Incredible Benefits of Yoga with James Rafael
Yoga is widely known for helping us to stay fit and healthy, not just on the outside, but on the inside too. The mental, emotional and spiritual benefits, as well as the obvious physical rewards, are plentiful; if you make yoga a regular part of your life. For many, we know yoga is great for us, but we don't quite understand how and why these amazing, magical things happen. In this episode of The Happier Life Project host Gabby talks to yoga, qigong and mindfulness teacher and youtuber James Rafael, to break down what happens in the body when we bend and twist into certain positions that can create such wonderful results.
James and Gabby also discuss the different types of yoga styles, how to get started on the mat if you're new to the practice, why it's important to find the right teacher for you, and the life changing effects it has had on them both personally.
Yoga builds muscle strength, boosts metabolism, helps in lowering blood sugar, has a beneficial effect on the immune syste…
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Oct 10, 2022
Learning to Love Ourselves & Build Self Compassion with Alex Bottomley
Somatic Therapist Alex Bottomley picks up where she left off in the previous week's episode by getting into the nitty gritty of how we can Learn to Love Ourselves & Build Self Compassion by becoming more connected to our body.
In this episode Alex demonstrates with host Gabby, a simple practice anyone can do to connect to stored emotion in the body that may need some compassion or to be released. Alex also talks about befriending our body and being grateful for what it can do, plus Alex and Gabby share and discuss some tips to give your self-compassion skills a quick boost.
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Oct 3, 2022
An Introduction to Somatic Therapy with Alex Bottomley
Somatic therapy operates off the idea that what happens to you in your life is stored not only in your mind, but also in your body. Somatic therapy aims to help release how our body holds on to stress, tension, and trauma; treating the effects of PTSD, trauma and other mental and emotional health issues, through the connection between the mind and the body.
Alex Bottomley is a highly experienced Somatic Therapist who works mainly with women to help them transform trauma and return to body connection. In this episode, which is the first of two episodes with Alex, she explains the basic principles of somatic therapy. Alex also shares her own personal story, about how somatic therapy was life changing for Alex to work through her own trauma and relationship with her body.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To learn more about somatic therapy and Alex Bottomley: https://www.alexbottomley.com/
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Sep 26, 2022
Everything You Need to Know about CBT with Natalie Englander
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common and best studied forms of psychotherapy. CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think (cognitive) and do (behavioural) to improve how you feel. It’s NHS recommended and prescribed to treat a wide range of mental, emotional and physical health problems, but is most commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and depression.
Natalie Englander is a Principal CBT Therapist and Mindfulness Teacher with over 10 years experience in the practice of CBT. In this episode Natalie breaks down how CBT works, why and how it can be used to treat a wide range of mental and emotional problems, and shares some simple exercises based on the principles of CBT we can all do to help change out thinking and feeling.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To work with Natalie Englander: https://natalieenglander.com/
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Sep 20, 2022
Tackling The Imposter Monster with Sally Heady
Imposter Syndrome is when you believe that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be, often doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It's an internal experience that can effect anyone, but is particularly present in high achievers, who do not believe they deserve their success, or are capable enough to be where they are.
Sally Heady is a Mindset Coach and Cognitive Hypnotherapist who helps her clients move past imposter syndrome so that they can do what they love. Specialising in imposter syndrome, anxiety, fear of public speaking, low confidence and burn-out, in today's episode Sally discusses the differences between your inner critic and imposter syndrome, talks about why so many of us compromise on our hopes and dreams, and shares some useful techniques on how to liberate yourself from 'the imposter monster'.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To work with Sally Heady and sign up for the Liberate course: https:/…
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Sep 12, 2022
A Beginners Guide to Breathwork with Jamie Clements
Breathwork is a term for various breathing practices in which the conscious control of breathing is said to positively influence a person's mental, emotional, or physical state. Some of the powerful benefits include reduced stress and anxiety, increased energy, pain management, lowering of blood pressure, management of ptsd, trauma and depression, and improvement of mood.
Jamie Clements is a leading breathwork coach and founder of The Breath Space, which offers an accessible way to experience breathwork classes in London and beyond to improve physical, emotional and mental health.
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Jamie walks host Gabby through how breathwork works, what some of the most common and beneficial exercises are, and where the best place is to start for those new to the practice.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
To sign up to Jamie's 21 day breatwork course: https://thebreathspace.co.uk/21-days-of-breathw…
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Sep 6, 2022
Let’s Meditate! with Andrew Swiney
Mindfulness meditation is a practice that teaches you to slow down your thoughts, let go of negativity, and calm both your mind and body. It combines meditation with the practice of mindfulness, which can be defined as a mental state that involves being fully focused on "the present" so you can acknowledge and accept your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgement.
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, host Gabby talks to mindfulness meditation teacher Andrew Swiney, founder of Mynd, who has been practicing meditation for more than 10 years. Andrew explains the science and purpose behind Mindfulness Meditation, dispels the common misconceptions, advises on to make the most out of the practice, and closes the episode with a short, effective Mindfulness Meditation exercise that has immediate positive effects.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
For more Mindfulness Meditation practices with Andrew: https://www.mynd.uk/
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Aug 30, 2022
Therapeutic Tarot: Counseling In The Cards with Steve Hounsome
Tarot decks, with their easy-to-understand symbolism, can be useful and cathartic when it comes to healing. As holistic therapies are increasing in popularity, a trend is arising with more people turning to tarot to help support their mental health. While therapeutic tarot is by no means a substitute for medication or working with a professional therapist or counselor, using tarot in an appropriate way can enhance therapy.
In this episode host Gabby talks to Steve Hounsome an Author, Healer, Psychic and Tutor at Tarot Therapy Ltd who offers Tarot and Psychic Readings, working from a healing, personal and spiritual development perspective.
Steve explains how the cards can hold up a mirror to reflect what is happening in his clients life, why he personally doesn’t agree with using the cards for ‘fortune telling’ and dispels a lot of the myths and skepticism surrounding the use of tarot. Steve also talks about how we can all develop our own psychic and intuitive abilities, gives a…
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Aug 22, 2022
Simple Steps For Rebuilding Self Esteem with Natalie Englander
Self-esteem is how we value and perceive ourselves. It's based on our opinions and beliefs, which can sometimes feel really difficult to change.
Having low self-esteem isn't a mental health problem in itself, but they are closely linked. If lots of factors affect your self-esteem for a period of time, this might lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, social phobia, an eating disorder or substance abuse. So it’s important if we are suffering with our self-esteem we don’t ignore it.
Natalie Englander is a Principal CBT Therapist and Mindfulness Teacher specializing in helping millennial women overcome perfectionism and build self-esteem. In this episode Natalie helps explains to host Gabby why having healthy self-esteem is so important, the most common ways we might experience low self-esteem, and why setting boundaries with others can help us on our quest to building a happier life. Natalie also shares her top 5 ways to tackle low self-esteem and sets some sim…
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Aug 15, 2022
Release The Stories That Screw Up Your Life with Ernest Holm Svendsen
In the second of this two part conversation with author, trainer and coach Ernest Holm Svendsen, we journey deeper into how to free yourself from your limiting beliefs and let go of your painful stories. Some of those stories and beliefs go as far back as our early childhood, and we may not even realize that our map of reality has been groomed from those around us, to lead us to believe we are not good enough as we are. The good news is that we can shift our perceptions and point of view, through the simple and powerful approach of self enquiry.
Ernest Holm Svendsen is the bestselling author of ‘How To Live in the Now’ and ‘How to End the Stories that Screw up your life’. He is also a sort after trainer that leads workshops around the world and chairman at the Institute for The Work of Byron Katie.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
And to find out more about Ernest Holm Svendsen and register for his online course on the work o…
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Aug 8, 2022
How To Identify and Challenge Limiting Beliefs with Ernest Holm Svendsen
In a world full of challenges, worries and stress, we can limit our own potential and growth if we do not believe in ourselves. That negative voice in our mind that tells us 'we’re not good enough, we’ll never get that promotion, new partner, are too fat, too thin, too ugly'… can override our self belief, and if we do not believe in ourselves, then how can we expect others to?
In the first of a two part conversation with Ernest Holm Svendsen a bestselling author, trainer and a master of ‘The Work’ of self help guru Byron Katie, you will learn how to identify and challenge these pessimistic thoughts. Ernest guides host Gabby through the simple and effective process that will provide immediate positive results, by using the powerful method of self-inquiry.
To download the free My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
And to learn more about Ernest Holm Svendsen and the work of Byron Katie: https://www.theartofbeinghuman.com
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Aug 1, 2022
Masterclass: Unhooking Yourself from Unhelpful Thoughts with Dr. Russ Harris
We all suffer from negative thoughts and thinking, in fact over 80% of our thoughts are negative. If we pay too much attention to them, they can contribute to problems such as social anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem. And whether these thoughts are true or untrue, we believe them, letting them take over our lives and emotions, making us deeply unhappy.
Dr Russ Harris who is author of the international best-selling self-help book 'The Happiness Trap', a world-renowned trainer of ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) and consultant for the World Health Organization, believes the key to managing these pesky voices in our heads is to accept them and defuse ourselves from the unhelpful ones.
In this conversation you will learn some simple strategies on how to do this, whilst being guided by Dr Russ through a couple of the exercises to try out.
To download the free My Possible Self App and Dr Russ’s ‘Dropping Anchor’ exercises: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcas…
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Jul 21, 2022
The Most Important Keys to Happiness with Max Strom
The Happier Life Project is a brand new podcast to come from My Possible Self, the free mental health and wellness app, that has helped hundreds of thousands of users around the world manage their mental health and wellness journey, in partnership with The Priory Group.
Life is stressful, full of ups and downs, pressures and worries… The purpose of The Happier Life Project is to dive into some of these obstacles, huddles, fears and reasons for distress and teach you simple, actionable tools and techniques, to help you on your way to living a happier life.
In the first episode, to launch the new podcast and set up the series, host Gabby Sanderson is speaking to Max Strom, a 3x TEDx speaker, global teacher, and author of the two books 'A Life Worth Breathing' and 'There is No App for Happiness'.
Max has spent years researching happiness, meaning and connection. In this conversation Max explains his thoughts on why we've become such an unhappy society, why so many people are unnecess…
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