Shows
Beautiful ShiftsResilience After Spinal Injury: Dan & Michelle Wadsworth’s StoryIn August 2022, our friend and neighbor Dan Wadsworth sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down. In this inspiring conversation, Dan and his wife Michelle reflect on the journey they’ve been on since—navigating uncertainty, finding strength in each other, and learning to adapt to a new reality. Their story is one of courage, deep love, and discovering what you’re truly made of. We're so grateful they joined us to share their story.
Connect with Michelle on Instagram @michellehwadsworth or Facebook at Michelle Heaton Wadsworth.
2025-07-011h 20
Mile Fly ClubS2 Ep 3: From Liberty X to Life Lessons: Michelle Heaton Unfiltered In this candid and emotionally raw episode, Michelle Heaton opens up about the highs and lows of life in the spotlight. From her early days with Liberty X—the band that famously lost out to Hear’Say on Popstars—to becoming one of the UK’s most recognisable pop figures, Michelle reflects on what it was really like behind the scenes of a manufactured music career.She doesn’t hold back, speaking honestly about the struggles with addiction that nearly cost her everything, the pressure of fame, and the painful relationship breakdowns that followed. Michelle shares wild backstage...2025-06-3049 min
Addicted to RecoveryMichelle HeatonThis week on Addicted to Recovery, Chris and Max sit down with a very special guest: Michelle Heaton, singer, television personality, and beloved member of the pop group Liberty X. Michelle shares her powerful and deeply personal story as she approaches a major milestone — four years of sobriety.In an open and heartfelt conversation, Michelle reflects on her rise to fame, her early life growing up in Newcastle, and the pressures of the music industry that quietly fed into her struggle with addiction. Despite having no family history of addiction, Michelle speaks candidly about always feeling “different” as a c...2025-04-141h 05
Qualified - Lessons in LossPain is temporary and necessary - What I learned through the lens of lossSend us a textAfter the loss of two children through miscarriage and stillbirth, Bridgett’s hopes were shattered. When a divorce, the death of a family member and other losses followed, she became depressed and began to experience health issues because of her deep grief.Join me as I talk with Bridgett Dunbar, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and author of the book, Grief, Loss and the Goodness of God, A Path to Healing after the Death of a Child. In our conversation Bridgett shares not only her most vulnerable emotions about her grief and...2024-08-2332 min
This Is Powerful With Paul SculforMichelle HeatonYou might know her from the award-winning band Liberty X, part of the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning cast of The Real Full Monty, as a TV presenter or as a menopause advocate and author but what you might not know about Michelle Heaton is that she is recovering from a difficult battle with alcohol and drugs. Addressing behaviour that quickly escalated from social partying to regularly drinking vodka in the mornings, Michelle committed to a 12-step recovery programme. In this mutually intimate conversation with Paul, Michelle bravely shares her incredible journey, with deeply heartfelt moments and lots of personal anecdotes...2024-08-1547 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossLet's Talk About Friendship BreakupsSend us a textHave you experienced the painful loss of a friendship breakup? Maybe it was due to a disagreement over a position you hold firmly to. Perhaps it was related to the way you parent your children, your political views, your lifestyle choices, or your religious beliefs. Whatever the cause, friendship breakups are hard.Join me as I chat with the author of “When Best Friends Aren’t Forever,” Kristen Reed-Belveal. In her book, she takes a hard look at friendships through the lens of faith. In our discussion we explore what to do when w...2024-08-0925 min
Superstar Communicator podcastThe power of mentoring with Michelle Connolly Welcome to another episode of the Superstar Communicator podcast! In this episode, we delve into the power of mentoring with our special guest, Michelle Connolly, a senior manager at Pfizer and a women's mentoring program director. Together with our hosts, Susan Heaton-Wright and Nick Simon, we explore the significant benefits of mentoring such as increasing engagement, personalized customer experiences, and team retention. We discuss the importance of women's mentoring programs in providing support and opportunities for women to become leaders. Additionally, Michelle shares insights on being a mentor, finding a mentor, and the qualities of a good mentor. Join...2024-07-3034 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossWhy Does God Allow Suffering?Send us a textWhat happens when your deepest faith is tested by unimaginable suffering? In this episode, I talk with David Libby, who explains how he and his family contracted Lyme disease. He shares the emotional and physical toll of watching his wife and daughters endure excruciating pain, while he himself became their primary caregiver despite his own illness. A self-taught student of theology, well-versed Christian apologist and published author, David has much to offer on the topics of theology, atheism, and adversity with insights from historical figures like Ernst Haeckel and Charles Darwin. We...2024-07-2633 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossCancer, Infidelity and Divorce - How I survived breast cancer and betrayalSend us a textLaura endured the adversity trifecta- cancer, infidelity, and divorce. Listen in as she opens up about her bi-lateral breast cancer diagnosis, ravaging chemotherapy, congestive heart failure, a heart transplant, and coping with infidelity and divorce after 27 years of marriage. Through it all, she not only regained her strength and recovered physically but she emerged stronger and more determined to help others.https://www.icope2hope.com/2024-06-0728 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossHow to survive the empty nestSend us a textHow are you going to feel when your child leaves for college? Have you given it any thought in advance and how prepared are you to face an empty nest?In this episode I talk with Stacy Kaye, an award-winning journalist and source of encouragement for those facing the silence of an empty nest. Listen in and be inspired as we explore the depth of parental love, the pain that comes with letting go, and the new opportunities that await in this transitional phase of life.https://www.stacykayebooks.com...2024-05-2427 min
The VBAC LinkEpisode 300 with Meagan & Julie + Where We Started & Where We Are NowWe can hardly believe that we have recorded 300 episodes! Meagan brings Julie on the podcast today to take a look back at how The VBAC Link Podcast started, the growth they have both experienced along the way and where they are now. Since 2018, we have shared laughter, tears, heartache, and joy through your stories. Thank you to all of our listeners and guests for your support. Together, we are changing the birth world for the better through all of our ripple effects!Meagan promises to continue the journey and b...2024-05-1543 min
Believe in People44 | Michelle Heaton: Fame, Fear & Fighting Back – Addiction, Body Shaming & Sobriety SurvivalEmmy and BRIT award-winning singer Michelle Heaton returns to Believe in People to mark three years of sobriety with a candid and inspiring conversation about recovery, resilience, and reinvention. Michelle opens up about the raw realities of addiction and the transformative power of sustained sobriety, offering heartfelt reflections on balancing motherhood, self-care, and the ongoing work of personal growth. She shares her experience sponsoring others, navigating the ever-present risk of relapse, and celebrating hard-earned milestones. From missed career opportunities during active addiction to her recent appearances on Celebrity SAS and Dancing On Ice, Michelle gives a behind-the-scenes look at...2024-05-031h 18
Qualified - Lessons in LossCoping with the loss of a petSend us a textThe loss of a dog, a cat, a horse, a bird, any pet can cause us to experience grief. The animals we share our homes and lives with are part of our families and when they are no longer there it can create a significant and painful void.Listen in as I interview Rachel Shirley, a compelling author and certified coach committed to guiding individuals through life's profound moments, including the impactful experience of pet loss.https://www.rachel-shirley.com/2024-04-1234 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossStillborn - Carrying a baby to term with a fatal diagnosisSend us a textWhen Katherine and her husband learned of their baby’s fatal fetal diagnosis, they knew they had some hard decisions to make. Since their child had no kidneys he would most likely die in utero or shortly after birth, so doctors recommended termination of the pregnancy.Listen in as Katherine shares her story about carrying a baby she knew she could not keep and making a choice to stay true to her convictions. Katherine's blog:https://medium.com/@whenwatersrise/four-years-and-gods-goodness-eb7c68c003ea2024-03-2333 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossGrief before loss - How my dad's dementia took him from us slowlySend us a textWhen doctors diagnosed her father with mild cognitive disorder, a form of dementia that would likely progress to Alzheimer’s, Joycelyn was in denial. It was difficult to watch the decline of her superhero dad and she began to grieve the loss of the man he once was. Her personal story will resonate with anyone who has walked alongside a loved one with cognitive decline and has experienced anticipatory grief. Listen in to this intimate discussion with Reverend Jocelyn Jones, as she shares her raw emotions and profound life lessons that will...2024-03-0934 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossLearning to see myself through His eyesSend us a textBorn with a severe cleft palate, Sue faced ridicule and harassment on daily basis due to the way she looked. In addition to having to endure multiple surgeries and physical pain, she would also be traumatized by her parent's divorce and an abusive encounter in college that resulted in rape.Today, Sue Corl is an international women’s conference speaker, author, mentor, Bible teacher, missionary, founder and Executive Director of Crown of Beauty International, and His Heartbeat Podcast host. Her greatest joy is being a wife and mother of two adult chi...2024-02-1636 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossGoing no contact with a parent - my journey from loss to restorationSend us a textAt the age of 13, Katherine made the choice to exclude her father from her life. By going no contact with him, she hoped to rid herself of his toxic behavior and safeguard her own mental health.Listen in to our conversation as Katherine shares about her emotional journey of stepping away from her father for 13 years and the impact it had on her adult life. She also discusses the liberating force of forgiveness and its essential role in overcoming bitterness, anger, and the importance of praying for those not ready to me...2024-02-0226 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossFinding joy after the loss of a spouseSend us a textWhile away from home on a business trip, Anne-Marie was informed that her husband suffered a brain aneurysm and died in their bedroom. Nothing could have prepared her for the pain and grief she was about to experience and no one seemed equipped to come alongside her emotionally.Listen in to this inspirational story of how one widow was determined to use her experience to help other grievers -ultimately becoming a grief specialist, 8-time award-winning author on grief, and founder of The Grief & Trauma Healing Network, LLC.Her website: Gr...2024-01-1942 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossAutism, Cancer and Death – How to see life’s challenges in a new waySend us a textRaising twin daughters with severe intellectual disabilities and autism, working full time and becoming an advocate for people with disabilities would keep Clay busy and challenged over the years. But when his wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, he began to wonder why his family had been singled out for so much adversity in this life.Listen in and hear how Clay Boatright eventually found purpose in adversity and how he learned to view life's challenges as blessings.Purchase Clay's book here:https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Plan-Our-Circus-Reinvention/dp/19557112242023-12-1541 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossTransformed by the waves of grief - One widow's story of hopeSend us a textWhen a social media post informed her about a fatal shark attack at the very time and place her husband was surfing that day, Katie instinctively knew her worst fear had been realized. Now widowed at the age of 27, her life had been shattered into a million pieces launching her into the unknown, unwanted journey of grief. Listen in as I talk with Katie Kelly- an incredibly strong and resilient woman, and the founder of Through It All - a newly established nonprofit foundation dedicated to helping those in grief and eq...2023-11-2144 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossLosing my parents, processing my grief, and examining my faithSend us a textTen years after losing her mom to cancer, Ceci was still healing but feeling stronger, restored and more grounded. Then the news came that her father was ill and ultimately died in the hospital during the pandemic. By age 30, she had lost both parents and was struggling with PTSD, suicidal ideation and a variety of somatic issues stemming from her intense grief. Listen in to this honest and inspirational conversation with Ceci Frost about her trauma, grief journey and the lessons she learned in her loss.https://thehopecollective.net/?fbcli...2023-10-2739 minBeautiful ShiftsSurviving a Spinal Injury & Knowing What You’re Made of with DAN & MICHELLE WADSWORTHIn August of 2022 Dan sustained a critical injury to his spine resulting in becoming paraplegic. In today's interview we have the opportunity to talk with Dan and his wife Michelle, who are also our close neighbors and friends, about what this experience has been like. Dan and Michelle share their experience from the day of the accident through recovery and adapting to this new normal from both of their perspectives. They share important life lessons they've gained along the way such as learning that we can adapt to almost any situation, growing stronger because of the mountains you've had...2023-10-171h 30
Qualified - Lessons in LossCompassion in the Curriculum: How one teacher is using her story to help at-risk studentsSend us a textGrowing up in an alcoholic and abusive home made every day difficult for Suzy. She endured painful emotional and physical abuse and failed to receive the nurturing and parental guidance that is so critical to a child’s healthy development. But even after being raped at a very young age, and living in a home devoid of love, Suzy’s greatest loss would be the death of her younger brother, Bart, who died tragically by suicide.Join me in this intimate conversation with Suzy Ryan, author, educator, Ironman athlete, and SCAD (Sponta...2023-09-0144 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossWhen Joy and Sorrow Collide: One Man's PerspectiveSend us a textFollowing two miscarriages, Darrell and his wife were thrilled to learn that they would finally become parents. As they arrived at the hospital prepared to experience their greatest joy, they also received devasting news that would trigger a mix of emotions they were completely unprepared for.Listen in on my conversation with Darrell Williams, former white house communications director to the vice president, military veteran, pastor, speaker, facilitator, and certified life coach. Darrell's candid discussion on managing emotional turmoil while offering support to his spouse, and drawing strength from their faith, fam...2023-08-2028 min
Boots presents Taboo TalkConversations about cancer: How to talk about the Big C, featuring Coleen Nolan, Michelle Heaton and Azmina RoseTalking about cancer is still a big fat taboo, despite most of us having been affected by it in some way. Yet, it’s only through open and honest conversations that we can ask for and offer support, foster better understanding, and come to terms with whatever the situation may be. Here, Coleen Nolan discusses how she has dealt with multiple diagnoses in her family and Michelle Heaton explains how talking about her preventative double mastectomy helped her to process that choice. Azmina Rose, Macmillan’s Trust Lead for Cancer Patient Experience, is on hand to offer expert advice and...2023-08-0948 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossHow my daughter's death created a legacy of lifeSend us a textDuring a family vacation in Colorado, Tara's 13-year-old daughter Taylor died suddenly when she struck a tree while skiing. Still in shock, Tara and her husband were asked a question no parents ever think they will hear: "Would you be willing to donate Taylor's organs?" In our conversation, Tara opens up about the difficult journey of grief and how Taylor's passing impacted her family. However, amidst the pain, Tara found a sense of purpose in promoting organ donation, an act that truly embodies Taylor’s selfless spirit. She shares the admirable work...2023-08-0438 min
The Durham PodcastSeries 2 Ep24 - Michelle Heaton, Ben Donaghy, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and Paul Howard from Durham BIDIt's a bumper final episode of series 2! (We'll be back in September!)Emma chats to Paul Howard from Durham BID about the 'Independents in Durham'. Sam chats to Michelle Heaton from Liberty X about entertaining the kids and playing games over the summer holidays. He chats to Ben Donaghy about his show his show at the Durham Fringe Festival, and also Jazmin Borrer from the National Tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that visit's Sunderland this year. Remember to download the FREE Durham OnAir AppClick here to learn how to h...2023-07-2836 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossSuddenly Widowed with ChildrenSend us a textWhen her husband passed away suddenly, Debbie was widowed without warning at the age of 35 with 4 young boys. In our discussion, she weaves through the terror of losing Aaron, the heartbreak of explaining the tragedy to her four young boys, and the struggle to keep her faith amidst the darkest storm she'd ever faced.Debbie's story isn't just about loss and grief, it's one of resilience, hope, and faith that will challenge your perspective on life. With raw emotions and heartfelt wisdom, Debbie takes us along her journey navigating the unfathomable tid...2023-07-1427 min
Qualified - Lessons in LossMoving forward after the death of a childSend us a textJust before Thanksgiving in 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, a loving wife and mother of three would discover that her 17-year-old daughter had taken her own life. In an incredibly touching conversation with author K. L .Gilchrist, we walk through her journey of sudden bereavement. Gilchrist paints a poignant picture of the initial shock and grief that accompanied her daughter's untimely passing and her struggle for closure. Yet, in this darkness, she found solace by leaning on her faith. Gilchrist's perspective on trusting God amidst the storm is not o...2023-06-3030 min