Shows
White Fox TalkingE74: Breaking the Silence - Kaylee Thompson's Courageous Justice JourneySend White Fox Talking a MessageImagine carrying a traumatic secret from age four until adulthood, then finding the strength not only to seek justice but to transform your experience into advocacy for others. This is Kaylee Thompson's remarkable story.Thirty years after experiencing sexual assault as a toddler, Kaylee made the life-changing decision to report her abuser to police. Despite the challenges of a historic case with limited physical evidence, she persevered through an 18-month investigation that culminated in a successful conviction. Most powerfully, she chose to waive her legal anonymity, declaring: "I don't...
2025-07-1550 min
White Fox TalkingE73: Inside the Storm: Sip Powers Veteran's Journey Through PTSDSend White Fox Talking a MessageWhat does it take to paddle, mountain bike, and run 350 kilometers without sleep? For Sip Powers, it's about making visible the invisible struggles of veterans living with PTSD.After 34 years of military service and the devastating loss of his wife to suicide, Sip found himself facing his own mental health crisis. Despite years of helping wounded veterans through rehab programs while denying his own trauma, he eventually reached breaking point. "My complex PTSD is like skimming a boulder that just never stops," he explains with raw honesty. "All I...
2025-06-2447 min
White Fox TalkingE72: Healing Through Trauma: Miranda Arieh's Journey from Patient to PractitionerSend White Fox Talking a MessageMiranda Arieh's journey from mental health patient to pioneering trauma specialist will forever change how you understand recovery and healing. After spending her teenage years in foster care and being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, Miranda became what she calls a "rebound patient" for 15 years—unable to find effective treatment within a system that often re-traumatized rather than healed.The breakthrough came when Miranda decided to work within the very system she struggled against, eventually creating the Heroes Program—an innovative eight-week curriculum that's already helped thousands recover from...
2025-06-1054 min
White Fox TalkingE71: Walking Out of the Dark - Kelvyn JamesSend White Fox Talking a MessageThe healing power of nature and human connection takes centre stage as Kelvyn James returns to White Fox Talking, sharing his transformative journey from profound darkness to founding a thriving mental health charity.Kelvyn lays bare the brutal realities that shaped him - growing up in a violent household where his earliest memory is "an exceptional act of violence" and later facing the unimaginable trauma of his mother's murder. What followed was a five-year court battle where he repeatedly faced his mother's killer, a struggle he initially kept hidden...
2025-05-2040 min
White Fox TalkingE70: From Homelessness to Community Healing: Imran Shah's JourneySend White Fox Talking a MessageWhat happens when hate crime tears through a community? Behind the headlines and political noise, real people suffer lasting trauma that transforms into a "siege mentality," severely impacting mental health and wellbeing. Imran Shah, recently honored with an MBE for his 25 years of work in community cohesion, brings us to the front lines of this battle.Drawing from his powerful personal journey that began with homelessness at age 15, Imran reveals how misinformation, exploitation, and division are strategically weaponized in today's digital landscape. His Digital Cohesion Unit works around the...
2025-04-291h 05
White Fox TalkingE69: Woolly Therapists: How Grace Olson's Sheep Are Teaching Children Mental ResilienceSend White Fox Talking a MessageGrace Olson's sheep aren't livestock – they're therapists with woolly coats and gentle souls that can transform lives. During this captivating conversation, Grace shares how her journey through bullying and suicidal tendencies led to unexpected healing through animal connections. Now, she's channelling these therapeutic experiences into beautifully illustrated children's books that might just save young lives.Each of Grace's sheep-centered stories carries profound emotional lessons disguised as charming tales. "Merlin Finds His Magic" teaches children that helping others is where true magic lies. "Galahad Finds His Voice" speaks directly to se...
2025-04-1541 min
White Fox TalkingE68: The Wim Hof Method: Breath Work, Cold Exposure, and Mental Resilience with Jack WalkerSend White Fox Talking a MessageEver wondered how something as simple as your breath and cold water could completely transform your mental state and physical health? Jack Walker, certified Wim Hof instructor and founder of Wellness Retreat Spain, takes us on a deeply personal journey from struggling with cannabis addiction and unexplained depression to finding extraordinary clarity through breath work and cold exposure.We are joined in the studio by Bradley Perigo, who practices the Wim Hof method. Also joining the conversation, online, is White Fox Talking resident Psychologist Dave Gallagher, to provide a...
2025-04-011h 18
White Fox TalkingE67: Padraic McDonagh - Loss, Resilience, and Community Create ChampionsSend White Fox Talking a MessageWhat happens when the fighting spirit meets profound loss? Two-time British Thai Boxing Champion Padraic McDonagh takes us on a raw, unfiltered journey through his remarkable life—from discovering Thai boxing as a 12-year-old on a Leeds council estate to building a legacy that transforms lives through combat sports.McDonagh's story pivots around his mentor Steve Adams, who spotted his talent immediately and became a father figure in his life. "Stick at this, you're going to be a champion," Steve told him after his first training session. Those words pl...
2025-03-1850 min
White Fox TalkingE66: Never Mind the Bollox, Here's Dave Beer - Good Times, Bad Times & 'Music for the Beloved'Send White Fox Talking a MessageWhat happens when you leave school to follow a band and end up shaping an entire era of clubbing? Dave Beer, the trailblazer behind the legendary Back to Basics, did just that. In our latest episode, Dave shares his remarkable journey from punk rock rebellion to an influential career as a promoter, musician, and artist. We explore how his struggles with ADHD in his youth fuelled a passion for music and community, leading to a life defined by resilience and creativity. Through Dave's eyes, we see how labels of the past...
2025-03-041h 03
White Fox TalkingE65: Abbie Barnes on Breaking Barriers and Embracing IdentitySend White Fox Talking a MessageHave you ever felt like the healing power of nature could transform your life? Meet Abbie Barnes, a filmmaker, presenter, inspiring public speaker, mountain leader, and YouTuber, whose remarkable journey through adversity has led to the founding of Spend More Time in the Wild. In our engaging conversation, Abbie reveals how the solace of the outdoors provided refuge during childhood struggles with bullying, shaping a passion for encouraging others to harness nature's therapeutic benefits. Abbie’s story is not just about personal healing but also about confronting and overcoming cha...
2025-02-1858 min
White Fox TalkingE64: Navigating Menopause - Catherine Childe's Mission to Embrace Awareness and Break StigmasSend White Fox Talking a MessageHave you ever wondered why menopause isn't a standard topic in our educational curriculum? Join us on a journey with Catherine Childe, the Menopausal Teacher, as she takes us through her personal story of transitioning from a teaching career to becoming a beacon of support for women navigating menopause. Catherine courageously shares her struggles with anxiety and vertigo, revealing how these challenges ultimately led her to a new calling. Her experiences highlight not just the need for greater awareness, but also the societal and mental health implications that come with this...
2025-02-0451 min
White Fox TalkingE63: Nicky Chisholm - Pink Nicky's Journey of Empowerment and Community ConnectionSend White Fox Talking a MessageWhat if the secret to true wellness lies just beyond our comfort zones, in the embrace of nature's vast landscapes? Join us as we explore the adventurous world of Nicky Chisholm, affectionately known as Pink Nicky, whose journey from organising vibrant networking events for female entrepreneurs to thriving as a freelance project manager in the adventure industry is nothing short of inspiring. Nicky's love for the outdoors is infectious—whether she's running a half-marathon in the icy terrains of Greenland or hitting the road in her trusty camper van, Daisy. Through he...
2025-01-2145 min
White Fox TalkingE62: Exploring Authenticity and Mental Resilience - Ed Stafford's Journey of Adventure and Self-DiscoverySend White Fox Talking a MessageWorld-renowned explorer and TV star Ed Stafford, the first person to journey the entire length of the Amazon River on foot, joins us to share his compelling life story. From tales of his rebellious youth and army days to his transformative expeditions, Ed opens up about the pivotal experiences that shaped his extraordinary path. Learn how the challenges of walking the Amazon for 860 days became a profound lesson in self-awareness and psychological resilience, with insights drawn from Eckhart Tolle and mindfulness practices that have become essential in his journey....
2025-01-071h 06
White Fox TalkingE61: Adam Smith - Empowering Neurodivergence Through Food ActivismSend White Fox Talking a MessageWhat if your greatest challenges could become your most powerful strengths? In this episode, we sit down with Adam Smith, the inspiring co-founder and chief executive of Surplus to Purpose, who shares his incredible journey from a troubled youth to a professional chef. Adam opens up about his experiences growing up with undiagnosed autism, facing childhood abuse, and navigating the vibrant yet chaotic nightlife of Leeds. His story is one of resilience and transformation, as he candidly discusses his past self-destructive behavior and how he turned his life around by finding...
2024-12-261h 16
White Fox TalkingE60: From Leeds to the Limelight - Josh Warrington's Inspiring Boxing Journey and Mental ResilienceSend White Fox Talking a MessageEver wondered how sheer determination can shape a champion? Josh Warrington, the Leeds Warrior himself, joins us to share his incredible journey from a young boy in Leeds to becoming an elite athlete. Hear firsthand how the mental health benefits of boxing and an unwavering mindset can inspire profound transformations beyond the ring. Josh opens up about the sacrifices, challenges, and the pivotal moments that fueled his ascent to the top, offering insights into the world of professional boxing that are both raw and inspiring.As we navigate Josh's...
2024-12-0359 min
White Fox TalkingE59: [Adventure Mind Series] Harnessing Urban Movement - Charlotte Blake's Vision of Parkour for Mental WellnessSend White Fox Talking a MessageWhat if the urban landscape around you could be a tool for mental wellness? Join us as we explore this groundbreaking concept with Charlotte Blake, the visionary behind a charity that uses parkour as a therapeutic approach to mental health. After discovering parkour’s profound impact on her own mental well-being while living in bustling cities like Reading and London, Charlotte embarked on a mission to share this dynamic exercise with others. We promise an enlightening discussion on how parkour redefines adventure therapy, making it accessible in urban areas and offering a...
2024-11-1954 min
White Fox TalkingE58: [Adventure Mind Series] Unlocking Adventure Neuroscience - Dave Gallagher's Insights on Mental Health and Personal GrowthSend White Fox Talking a MessageJoin us as cognitive psychologist and neuroscientist Dave Gallagher takes us on an enlightening journey into the realm of adventure neuroscience. Discover how your brain transforms in adventurous and extreme environments and unearth the surprising therapeutic benefits these experiences can offer. Dave shares his compelling insights on how embracing adventure can not only enhance performance and well-being but also push the boundaries of both personal growth and scientific exploration.Explore the complexities of our brain networks, with a spotlight on the default mode network and its role in mental...
2024-11-081h 09
White Fox TalkingE57: [Adventure Mind Series] Climbing Through Grief - Richard Chapman's Transformative Journey to Mental Health RecoverySend White Fox Talking a MessageCould climbing hold the key to overcoming grief and mental health challenges? Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Richard Chapman from Climbing Matters, who shares his transformative journey through the loss of his son Archie and how climbing became his lifeline. Growing up in Cornwall with a deep-rooted passion for climbing, Richard found solace and support within the climbing community, offering a heartfelt perspective on how outdoor activities can be a powerful catalyst for mental health support and healing.Explore the therapeutic potential of climbing as a tool...
2024-10-1549 min