PODCAST · business
Gobsmacked!
by Catherine Williamson
A Gobsmacked moment is one where the trajectory of our life changes perhaps forever. In a series of candid interviews, Catherine Williamson delves into those life flipping moments with her guests. She will glean the gold in the dark that builds our resilience and rigour for whatever life throws at us. Visit Catherine's website here: https://gobsmacked.me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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62: When the Care System Isn’t Caring
Imagine being moved more than 100 times as a child. Seriously, just think about that. Those moves weren’t simply between foster homes or children’s homes. They included squats, hospitals, refuges and other places that, for a time, had to serve as somewhere to be. This episode features Terry...
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61. You've Already Won - Part II
You’ve Already Won – Simon Dyson (Part Two) How do you finally find your purpose after 23 years of searching? In the second and final part of this Gobsmacked! conversation, Simon Dyson takes us to the breaking point of his endurance race, and more importantly, what happened next. How the...
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61. You've Already Won - Part I
You’ve Already Won – Simon Dyson (Part One) How does a lad from Coventry end up building a life in Detroit… and why would he choose to ride one of the toughest endurance races on the planet? In this compelling first part of a two-part Gobsmacked! conversation, Simon Dyson tells the story behind a...
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60: The Girl Who Couldn’t See Pictures
Mia Walker belongs to an exclusive club: the one per cent club. For years, blissfully unaware, she lived with a condition that wasn’t normal – aphantasia. This revelation came as a shock when she discovered she couldn’t visualise pictures. Close your eyes and try to picture your front door, your...
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59. Narcolepsy to Jewelled Alchemy
This episode of Gobsmacked! features Ruth Mary Chipperfield, an award-winning jeweller whose gold jewellery has sat alongside some of the most celebrated names in history. Diagnosed with narcolepsy in her early twenties whilst studying chemistry at university, Ruth found herself facing a future...
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58. Dear Person Behind Me
This episode of Gobsmacked features Tony Deas, a very popular fellow indeed and a proper Leamington Spa legend, known for his big personality, big energy and big presence. So much so, a snap of the dear chap himself in a pink hoodie went viral. That’s Tony. But what happens in the quieter…
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57. Greg Weston ‘The Man Who Wouldn’t Stay Down’
There are nights in life that divide everything into two halves. Who you were before. And who you become afterwards. Greg Weston knows that feeling better than most. One evening out with friends ended in a moment that changed everything. His head struck a kerbstone. What followed was…
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56. The Call That Changed Everything
When an interview begins with a gobsmacked moment, about needing to retreat to a “breakout room” to absorb the shocking news that your best friend is missing and her estranged husband is being arrested for murder, you know you are in for a gripping listen. As Gobsmacked!, the podcast, celebrates...
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55. Pornography, Rewiring a Generation
There is a saying that into each life some rain must fall. For Larissa Astara Gray, the storm came early. At just thirteen, her life was thrown off course by an experience that no child should have to carry, and what followed was not a straight line but an absolutely wiggly one. There are points…
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54. Be Someone not Everyone with Nicky Pattinson
So, as we power into a new year, 2026, Gobsmacked! serves up an incredibly compelling, and what will become a vintage episode to start us off. You do not forget the day you meet Nicky Pattinson. She is impossible to overlook. She is life force embodied. From that flame-red hair, to those...
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53. Zelda Wilson…After the Podcast
There’s a lot in a given name. When Zelda’s mum chose that name for her little baby girl, who could have known just how completely she would go on to embody it. Zelda is often said to derive from an old Germanic name meaning battle or warrior, sometimes described as a battle maiden, so calling…
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52. A Scandal, A Choir, A Revelation with Mark Smutz Smith
At first glance this promised to be a full blown Britain’s Got Talent conversation, a look behind the scenes at what it’s like to step onto that famous stage, to meet Simon, Amanda, Alesha and Bruno, and to experience the whirlwind of television fame. But this story sits somewhere else entirely....
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51. When the Rat Race Meets the Stars with Wendy Boast
This episode of Gobsmacked features Wendy Boast a woman who left school at 16, when the world of work beckoned brighter than the underwhelm of the classroom. Later discovering she has a remarkable IQ, and went on to build a career in the City with big jobs in complex information systems and major...
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50. Human Rights to Skin Rights with Dr Jeanne Retief
Some of us say we’ve got anxiety the way others say they’ve got the flu - when really, it might just be a cold. But for some, that anxiety is life-shattering. Dr Jeanne Retief knows this well. A South African international human rights expert with a PhD and 15+ years of global work behind her,...
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49. No Filter: Raw. Relentless. Real. with Javina Greene
Domestic abuse. Sexual abuse. Exploitation. Serious organised crime. Trafficking. Addiction. These are not easy topics but they are real, urgent, and happening all around us. This is one of the most powerful and necessary conversations we’ve ever recorded. Javina Greene, a rap artist, music...
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48. In a Better Place? with Lorna Vyse
In a Better Place? The mystifying words we use to describe death — and how they can fail the grieving. Lorna Vyse missed a moment — a child in grief, and she didn’t see it. She chided herself for not being clued in, and that regret stayed with her. Add to that a chance encounter and a promise to…
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47. The Second Innings with Andrew Patterson
The Second Innings is the journey of Andrew Patterson, known to most as Patto, former Irish cricketer, father, and fine fellow, who was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, a rare neurological condition that gradually takes away your ability to walk. He was told he’d need a wheelchair…
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46. Radical Compassion with Dr Liz Sparkes
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Liz Sparkes - a psychologist who has spent years working with pain management, mindfulness, and how we heal. Liz’s story is a powerful one. After surviving a serious accident, one with haunting echoes of earlier childhood trauma and loss, she made a decision…
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45. The Drowned Places with Damian Le Bas
In this special episode of Gobsmacked!, I’m joined by my second cousin, Damian Le Bas, author of the acclaimed The Stopping Places and now The Drowned Places, a haunting, lyrical exploration of grief, memory, and the worlds that lie beneath the surface. Written in the wake of his father's death,...
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44. The Wellness Illusion with Kathryn Ellis
Kathryn Ellis was a woman who was on it—a yoga devotee, deeply into alternative health, and by all accounts, living her best life. But what happens when being the picture of wellness masks something serious? In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we hear how Kathryn’s healthy lifestyle...
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43. No Time to Waste with Emma Mead
I first met Emma Mead years ago when she was at the top of her game in a high-powered corporate role—driven, sharp, and full of energy. Life, however, had different plans. When our paths crossed again, Emma was navigating an unimaginable reality: a terminal breast cancer diagnosis. As if that...
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42. Carrying Mollys Light with Rachel Ollerenshaw
When pain hits hard, you have two choices: let it break you or turn it into something bigger than yourself. Rachel Ollerenshaw chose the latter. After losing her beautiful daughter, Molly, to a rare cancer, she didn’t just grieve, she built a legacy. Molly Olly’s is more than a charity; it’s a...
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41. The Ups of Downs with Nicola Enoch
Like many guests on Gobsmacked!, the birth of her son, Tom, led Nicola Enoch down a completely new path. Initially thrown and disoriented by Tom’s Down syndrome diagnosis, Nicola soon realised how societal attitudes had shaped her perceptions. Determined to challenge these outdated views, she...
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40. Paralysed with Xander Van der Poll
This episode of Gobsmacked! is a special one—it’s all about overcoming life’s curveballs and celebrating true grit and graft, and it just so happens to air on my 60th birthday! What better way to mark the occasion? Xander Van de Poll at just 18, had life changed forever when he broke his back in…
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39. Gladiator Spirit with Matt Gallagher & Ollie Russell
Earlier this year, Matt Gallagher recorded his first-ever podcast for Gobsmacked. Reeling from his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis in 2023, Matt opened his heart and family life to raise awareness and offer rapid support to others facing similar challenges. Eight months on, Matt returns to...
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38. Esther’s Light with Lianne Kirkman
Lianne Kirkman has openly described her life as an emotional rollercoaster, A pivotal moment occurred on a railway platform, where a miraculous event saved her life, igniting a deep well of love, generosity, and compassion that continues to guide her mission. With her formative years dogged by...
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37. Echoes of Freedom with Ruth Hasson
At seventeen, Ruth Hasson believed she’d found somebody to love—a man who showered her with attention, making her feel like a princess. However, his obsessive need to monopolise her time gradually isolated her from family and friends, culminating in a harrowing six-hour assault that left her…
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36. Winnie the Pooh, Bipolar, and Me with Jade Carson
Jade Carson shares her raw and candid story of living with bipolar disorder, from unwittingly self-medicating with alcohol and drugs to the pivotal moment when her university lecturer noticed her fervent behaviour and started the process to diagnosis. Jade’s honest insights and lessons, inspired…
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35. In Every Note with Bill Bates
Episode 35 of Gobsmacked! brings us Bill Bates on a journey through music and memories, marking the 8th anniversary of his son Matthew’s passing. With his signature blend of humour and honesty, Bill shares stories of love and loss while playing some of his own songs, each one reflecting moments…
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34. 30 Phobia with Kate Berski
Get ready for a Gobsmacked! episode that unpacks the “Ninender” mindset with Kate Berski! She’s taking on the myth of millennial milestones like hitting career goals, homeownership, or marriage by 30, and why “adulting” anxiety is at an all-time high. From feeling like she was “quarantined” by...
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33. Heartbeat of Hope with Naomi Rees Issitt
In the blink of an eye, everything can change. On New Year’s Day 2022, Naomi Rees-Issitt lost her 18-year-old son Jamie to a sudden cardiac arrest. This searingly honest, highly emotional, and compelling account tells the story of how a mother’s love sparked a life-saving mission." Welcome to...
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32. Kabuki Syndrome, Jaxon and Me with Linda Clarke
Linda Clarke, a spirited Liverpudlian lass, is set to challenge, provoke, entertain, and inspire you. Drawing from her experiences supporting vulnerable children caught in county line drug operations and severe offences, and inspired by her nephew Jaxon’s journey with Kabuki Syndrome—a rare…
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31. Friendship and the Miracle of Surrogacy with Emma Smuts Muller
Welcome to an extraordinary episode featuring Emma Smuts Muller, whose life journey is nothing short of jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring. Emma's story takes us through a whirlwind of experiences, from finding her soul mate and setting a wedding date, to facing the challenges of cancer, the…
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30. Love, Loss, and a New Recipe for Life with Bia Rodrigues
In this episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Brazilian-born entrepreneur and online TV channel host, Bia Rodrigues. Bia’s story is one of love, loss, and ultimate redemption. After meeting the love of her life in a restaurant in Spain, Bia followed her heart and left behind her home,...
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29. Rising Up - Addiction to Freedom with Victoria Harpham
Less than three years ago, Victoria Harpham was caught in a cycle of crack cocaine and heroin addiction that had spanned decades. Homeless and estranged from her children, she was living a life defined by despair. An offer to enter a Christian all-female rehab seemed unappealing to her, and she...
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28. Submerged in Hope - The David Barnes Story
In this episode, we dive into the inspiring tale of David Barnes—a story of resilience, redemption, and the transformative power of cold water immersion. From the tough, wild mountains of West Cumbria to the depths of David's personal struggles, his journey is a testament to the indomitable…
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27. Uneducating Julie: A Journey Beyond the Classroom with Julie White
Julie White, a Coventry native who overcame chronic anxiety to become a formidable force in the world of business and advocacy. From navigating the 2008 recession to gracing the screens of BBC Question Time, Julie's story is all about grit & determination with a dose of blag thrown in. Tune in as...
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26. MND ‘Beyond the Whistle’: The Matt Gallagher Story
Join us as we explore the remarkable journey of Matt Gallagher, a former rugby pro facing Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Rejecting despair, Matt channels his strength into the Matt Gallagher Foundation, raising funds and awareness for MND. Tune in to be inspired by his resilience and determination....
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25. Neive's Arc with Sarah Warwick & Kelly Illes
This moving and challenging podcast features Sarah Warwick and Kelly Illes: mothers who formed a deep enduring bond when Sarah’s daughter Neive, aged 5, was diagnosed with embryonal/fusion negative parameningeal rhabdomyosarcoma, in August 2022. The Enchanted Tea Rooms, owned by Kelly, was the...
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24. Broken Heart Syndrome with Julie Richards
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome was first diagnosed in Japan in the early 90’s but it wasn’t until 2004 that it was recognised in the West. This type of heart attack is very prevalent in post-menopausal women making up 9 out of 10 cases. Killing almost 3 times as many women each...
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23. Resurgam with Gary McKee
Gary ‘365 consecutive marathons’ McKee reflects on some of his gobsmacking moments of the last few challenges. Running the London Marathon on 10 pints and a curry. Sharing motivational anecdotes with Jürgen Klopp, lifting the cup in front of 70,000 crowd at the rugby World Cup. As well as how his...
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22. Infamous with Richard McCann
How anyone finds it in their heart to forgive the man who murdered their mum is beyond most's comprehension. Add to that her murderer is one of the most notorious serial killers - Peter Sutcliffe. This is not an easy listen but from it comes a message of compassion and forgiveness; gold in the...
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21. The Dropout with Oliver Hodgson
15 year old Oliver Hodgson ‘dropped’ out of school. Bullied for years for being different he couldn’t stand another day of a system that he felt failed him. Setting up his business with his last £25 pounds and two weeks into Covid Lockdown, he had big dreams and bold goals. Now 19, he presides…
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20. Gold with Lewis Williams
At just 23 years of age, heavyweight boxer Lewis Williams claimed gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. We catch up with Lewis as he seeks to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Those of us that watched him triumph were indeed Gobsmacked! by his achievement. But what preparation and mindset do...
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19. Power of Love with Hazel Carter
When Hazel Carter found true love in her 40’s, she was not to know that her time with her soulmate Alan would be cruelly cut short by his devastating diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease. When they said till death do us part in sickness and in health, she would have to face up to her vows. This is…
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18. Ghosts with Grant Harris
At the age of 16, Grant Harris started seeing visions of his 18 month old nephew who had previously passed. He talks about how the gift of mediumship has shaped forged his life. As well as the incredible responsibility of the power of words when faced with vulnerability and grief. Hosted on…
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17. Feet in the Clouds with Richard Askwith
Richard Askwith was in a dark, dodgy place in his early twenties. He discusses how deciding to go for a run one day was the beginning of his redemptive experience as well as the impetus to write his first award winning book ‘Feet in the Clouds’. His story of pitching himself against the mountains...
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16. Gift of Grief with Louise Bates
Burying your child is an experience no one wants to have. For Louise Bates, her son Matthew’s aggressive kidney cancer diagnosis and the grief that followed his death has given her a very personal set of insights. Though it deals with a tragic subject, this is not a sad podcast. There is love...
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15. Adopted! with Ian Verge
In 2007, Ian Verge decided to find his birth mother. After putting it off for 20 years, this time he’s ready. A chance sighting of a painting of a woman, a bird and a baby led him to her. What unfolds is a story of what's possible when forgiveness is forthcoming and love transcends all. Hosted on...
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14. Saoirse Welland - Sober
27 year old Saoirse recognises she is lucky to be alive, having flipped her car, hit a tree and been cut out of her vehicle. That was a wake up moment - she got in that car 4 and half times over the legal limit. This is not a podcast for the faint hearted but it is a message of hope. It’s…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A Gobsmacked moment is one where the trajectory of our life changes perhaps forever. In a series of candid interviews, Catherine Williamson delves into those life flipping moments with her guests. She will glean the gold in the dark that builds our resilience and rigour for whatever life throws at us.
Visit Catherine's website here: https://gobsmacked.me
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Catherine Williamson
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Gobsmacked! have?
Gobsmacked! currently has 63 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Gobsmacked! about?
A Gobsmacked moment is one where the trajectory of our life changes perhaps forever. In a series of candid interviews, Catherine Williamson delves into those life flipping moments with her guests. She will glean the gold in the dark that builds our resilience and rigour for whatever life throws at...
How often does Gobsmacked! release new episodes?
Gobsmacked! has 63 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Gobsmacked!?
You can listen to Gobsmacked! on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Gobsmacked!?
Gobsmacked! is created and hosted by Catherine Williamson.
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