The Thrive Programme Podcast

In this episode, Lucy is joined by Mícheál for an honest and empowering conversation about social anxiety - where it really comes from and how to overcome it.Mícheál shares his personal experience of struggling with confidence in his 20s. At the time, he was putting huge pressure on himself to fit in, be liked, and measure up to everyone else. Social situations felt uncomfortable and draining, not because of what was actually happening, but because of what was happening in his head. He was constantly second-guessing himself, replaying conversations, and worrying about what other people thought of him.Lucy and Mícheál explore how social anxiety is often rooted in fear of judgment, taking responsibility for other people’s feelings, and harsh self-criticism. But here’s the key insight: social anxiety isn’t something that just happens to you. It’s not coming from the room, the party, the meeting, or the people in it. And it’s rarely an accurate reflection of what others truly think.It’s you thinking in ways that make yourself feel small / awkward / uncomfortable / judged.This is great news! Because it means its totally within your power to change. In this episode, they discuss:Why social anxiety feels so real - even when it’s thought-drivenThe trap of living life through other people’s eyesHow rumination keeps social anxiety aliveThe hidden pressure of trying to manage how others feelWhy building genuine self-esteem is the foundation of confidenceHow taking responsibility for your thinking changes everythingLucy describes the shift as moving from living your life according to what you think others think about you… to living according to what you think about you.It’s about making decisions based on your values.Liking what you like.Backing yourself.And letting other people be responsible for their own thoughts and feelings.If you’ve ever walked away from a social situation replaying everything you said, worried you got it wrong, or feeling like you weren’t “enough,” this episode will help you see what’s really going on - and remind you that confidence is built from the inside out. 

In this week’s episode, Lucy Wood is joined by Sue Tetley, who shares her powerful story of navigating the emotional highs and lows of IVF - and how learning to thrive transformed her experience along the way.For Sue, the IVF journey had become an exhausting cycle of hope and heartbreak: trying, being disappointed, picking herself up, and finding the strength to try again. Alongside the emotional strain came the physical toll - endless appointments, procedures, and medications - yet still no positive result.As a paediatric nurse, Sue was used to caring for others, but she realised she needed something more to support herself emotionally through the uncertainty she was living with. Discovering The Thrive Programme marked a turning point. Sue began to see that while she couldn’t control the outcome, she could influence how she experienced the journey.By learning to manage her thinking, strengthen her self-belief, and focus on the control she did have, Sue took her power back. She built confidence in her ability to cope - no matter what lay ahead.When the final round of IVF ended and the phone call she had been dreading finally came, Sue was able to feel calm. She had spent days mentally preparing, rehearsing the moment so she could meet it with emotional strength rather than fear.Together with her husband, Sue chose to follow the path of adoption. After everything they had endured, she describes the process as feeling “easy in comparison,” and before long they were matched with their daughter.Looking back, Sue reflects on the journey not only in terms of its challenges, but in what it revealed about who she is - strong, capable, and deeply resilient.In this episode, we explore:The emotional reality of IVF and repeated disappointmentHow shifting your thinking can change your experience, even when outcomes are uncertainFinding control in situations that feel powerlessBuilding emotional resilience through life’s toughest momentsMoving forward with hope - and trusting your ability to copeThis is an inspiring conversation about reclaiming personal power, discovering inner strength, and recognising that even the hardest chapters can reveal just how resilient we truly are.If you can relate, please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.

In today’s episode, Lucy is joined by Philippa Saunders for an honest conversation about why forgiveness is an internal act of power - something you do for you, not for the other person, and not in response to what they did or didn’t do.Philippa opens up about her experience of feeling let down by her father during her teen years, and how those moments shaped her self-esteem and her expectations of how life “should” have been. It wasn’t until she became a parent herself that she fully recognised just how much those early experiences were still influencing her.Discovering The Thrive Programme in her thirties became a turning point. Philippa shares the mindset shifts that helped her choose forgiveness, the process she went through, and the powerful sense of relief and freedom that followed - like finally putting down a weight she’d been carrying for decades.Lucy also shares the extraordinary story of Eva Kor, who, at just 10 years old, was taken to Auschwitz and subjected to horrific medical experiments. For 41 years, Eva held her pain in silence - until she discovered the profound personal power of forgiveness. She couldn’t change the past or the people who hurt her, but she realised she could reclaim her own emotional freedom.Together, Lucy and Philippa explore how self-forgiveness is just as transformative. They discuss how it cuts through perfectionism, self-criticism and the tendency to beat ourselves up for things we didn’t - or couldn’t - have done differently.If you’ve ever felt weighed down by resentment, guilt, or old stories about what “should” have happened, this episode is a powerful reminder that forgiveness is something you choose - and it may just be the most liberating choice you’ll ever make.

Ladies of a certain age - this one’s for you.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “I’m old… past it… life is slowing down… why don’t I feel like myself anymore?.  Or if the symptoms of menopause and this stage of life (let’s be honest, it’s busy isn’t it) have been dulling your sparkle - this episode is your invitation to take back the helm.This week, Lucy is joined by Sue Tetley (Thrive Programme Coach based in Suffolk) for a powerful conversation all about empowering yourself through the menopause. Together, they explore how much of our experience comes down to perspective, beliefs, and the meaning we attach to this stage of life. You have more power over it than you might currently think…Looking at the research into global language and connotations around the menopause, it’s clear this has an impact. For example, in Chinese culture, menopause is viewed as a rebirth - a pivotal chapter where women can let go of the energy expended in childbirth and are considered wise, valued, and respected. They report some of the lowest menopause symptoms and medication use in the world. A different cultural lens… a completely different experience.Sue and Lucy discuss a couple of key things you can do to captain your own ship through this stage of your life: 1: Choose your perspective.The way you perceive it – the beliefs you hold, the perspective you take, the understanding you have, language you use - will determine your experience. You have control over this – you don’t have to struggle and simply survive! 2: Focus on what you can do to support yourself.Yes, lifestyle habits like sleep, movement, support around you, getting outside help…all the stuff you’ll already know (yawn, sign, eye roll…). But you can do better than that – you’ve got a huge potential on the inside - get yourself thriving: Challenge and let go of your limiting beliefsBuild a sense of safety and security in who you are – develop self-confidence like you’ve never thought possibleLearn how to feel powerful and in control of your life Build robust emotional coping skills so that you can cope with life’s stressors with relative easeCreate a mindset for life that empowers you to be the captain of your ship – in control of your life This episode is all about taking the power back over this phase of your life and doing it the way you want to do it – it’s your choice – it’s more up to you than you think it is.  

In this episode, Lucy sits down with Anne Best – a Thrive Programme Coach based in Glasgow, Scotland – to discuss how The Thrive Programme helped her (and continues to help her) navigate her journey of living with hearing loss.  Anne lost her hearing after a complicated journey with asthma and repeated ear, nose and throat infections, and now has bone-anchored hearing aids. Anne reflects on her mental health at the start of her journey and says, “I was allowing my poor thinking to control my life”. She initially thought her way out of having the operation she needed to give her a better quality of life and was worried what people would think about seeing her with hearing aids.  But then she got herself thriving! Anne reveals how getting herself thriving empowered her to take responsibility for the thoughts in her head, the feelings she creates, the way she responds to situations in life, and the words she chooses both inside her head and what she says out loud. She now sees her hearing aids as her power tool!She says, “There’s fact and there’s fiction, and what I was inclined to do was make up a story – almost as a way of controlling something - and I don’t it anymore. I stick to the facts”. This inspiring episode is full of things you can do to take control of your experience of dealing with something challenging in your life. Practical takeaways, mindset shifts, coping skills, a sense of humour even.  If you’d like to talk to one of the team and get some help with something going on in your life right now, please reach out. We’d love to help. 

As the days grow shorter and the air turns colder, it’s easy to feel like winter happens to you. But what if that’s not the full story? In this empowering conversation, Lucy is joined by Thrive Programme Coach Shannon Sullivan to explore how to take your power back during the winter months.Together, they challenge the idea that low mood, sadness, or ‘winter blues’ are caused by the weather - and instead, look at how our thoughts, perspectives, and choices shape how we feel. You can’t control the weather, but you can always control your mindset.Shannon shares practical and uplifting ways to reframe how you think about the season – how to manage your thinking well and feel powerful in the choices you make, from finding joy in simple moments like hot chocolates, cosy jumpers, and crackling fires, to planning days out and embracing the unique magic of this time of year.You’re not powerless to the ‘winter blues’, you ARE the power, which means you can learn to not just survive winter, but truly thrive through it.

In this episode, Lucy sits down with Bobby Carlin to talk about the meaning of thriving. Thriving isn’t a static thing that you ‘get’ or ‘are’ - it’s a mindset you develop, a set of insights and skills you equip yourself with, a way of living that empowers you to be the best version of yourself – it’s very much a ‘doing’ thing. Bobby explains why thriving is not about chasing perfection, constant happiness, or living without fear—it’s about making intentional choices, taking ownership of your thoughts and actions, and creating habits that align with your values.If you’ve ever wondered how to move from just surviving to truly thriving, this conversation offers practical wisdom and fresh perspective.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why thriving is about living life on your own termsThe importance of an internal compass and self-accountabilityHow to shift from “What’s happening to me?” to “What am I going to do about this?”Why thriving doesn’t mean being happy all the timeThe power of choice - and how choices become habitsHow to care for yourself in all areas of your life - physically, financially, relationally, and emotionally“Thriving is living your best life, being the best version of yourself - not by chance, but by choice.” 

In this episode, Lucy chats with Sam, who recently completed the Thrive Programme and turned his life around after struggling with both emetophobia and agoraphobia.Before starting The Thrive Programme, Sam would’ve described himself as ‘just an anxious person’. He says 90% of his thoughts every day were stressful, fearful, and anxious. It’s no wonder he found it hard to even leave the house without panic taking over. He felt helpless, lost, and stuck.Fast forward just three months, and everything has changed. Sam now spends more time out of the house than in it!  He’s back at work, driving, eating out, socialising, and enjoying life with his friends. He‘s even just had his wisdom teeth out under general anaesthetic, which given he avoided going to the routine dentist for years, shows just how much his thinking and confidence has changed.  Lucy really digs into the how’s and why’s with Sam:What exactly did he change?What did his daily effort look like?What was the hardest belief to change and how did he do it? How did he overcome those initial, very convincing urges to run back to ‘safety’? What does coping look like? This is a truly inspiring conversation, packed with practical tips and takeaways. If you can relate to Sam’s story, let us know – we’d love to hear from you! 

This week, Lucy is joined by Charlie Sampson for an honest and inspiring conversation about anxiety and panic attacks affected him throughout his career.  Charlie opens up about the imposter syndrome he felt during his early career, his first panic attack in front of his colleagues, and the anxiety he silently battled whilst CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi. For years, medication helped him manage, but it wasn’t until a friend introduced him to ‘the only self-help book you’ll ever need” - The Thrive Programme that things truly changed.Through the programme, Charlie discovered the root of his struggles, learned practical skills to build self-belief, and finally experienced life free from anxiety. Today, he’s a Thrive Programme Coach, passionate about helping others -especially business people - develop the tools and confidence to feel calm, capable, and in control, no matter the situation.Charlie and Lucy discuss how your mental health – your thinking habits, the way you emotionally respond to the pressures of life, the beliefs you hold about yourself - is THE most important thing in your life.  It underpins everything – your work life, your personal relationships, your own happiness, your sleep, your work-life balance. Success isn’t ‘out there’ in your job grade, your salary, the car you drive…it’s ‘in here’ – it’s in how you think! If you’ve ever felt held back by anxiety or wondered how to build lasting resilience, this episode will give you insight, hope, and practical takeaways.We’d love to know what you think so do get in touch. 

This week, Lucy chats with Claire Gildersleve — a teacher at The BRIT School who is also a Thrive Programme Coach for the school working directly with students and staff. With 15+ years of experience on the front line of teen mental health, Claire shares her perspective on what young people are really facing today:The constant pressure of social mediaBody image worries and comparisonAnxiety about world events and the futureA lack of real tools to cope with life’s challengesWatch Claire light up as she shares a couple of examples of students she’s watched overcome their anxieties and develop into calm, confident, powerful individuals. That’s why she’s passionate about The Thrive Programme and how she is able to equip students (and staff!) with:The knowledge they aren’t powerless or helpless – how to focus on the things they can controlHow to recognise and change their limiting beliefsHow to build an internal self-esteem that isn’t reliant on likes, grades, or other people’s opinionsHow to build social confidenceLearning helpful coping mechanisms so they can recognise and reduce pressure before it becomes overwhelmingSkills to change the way they think about challenges so they can respond with confidence and resilienceFrom her work at The BRIT School to training in surrounding schools, Claire has seen first-hand the difference The Thrive Programme makes — not just in academic performance, but in confidence, relationships, and overall wellbeing.If you want to understand the reality of teen mental health today — and the solutions that truly work — this is an episode you won’t want to miss. We love hearing from you so if this episode resonates, please get in touch.  

This week, Lucy chats with Bex Clements, who spent years navigating life around IBS — avoiding coffee, cutting out fruit, eating ‘safe’ foods before flights, and basically relying on every external fix she could find.She was managing her symptoms, but unable to not create them in the first place, until she went through The Thrive Programme! What was behind her daily discomfort? It wasn’t the food. It was fear. The pressure she’d put on herself before a holiday. The anxiety around eating out. The social stress, the rumination, the constant scanning for triggers — all powered by her own thinking.When Bex discovered The Thrive Programme, everything changed. She realised her IBS wasn’t random or permanent. It was completely within her control — and once she changed the way she thought, her symptoms vanished.Now, she eats what she wants, travels freely, and lives without fear. Not only is her IBS a thing of the past, but her confidence has skyrocketed. She no longer worries what people think of her. She’s present, connected, and thriving. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s tried everything except looking inward. Because sometimes, the most powerful solution isn’t managing things on the outside — it’s a mindset shift.Reach out if you’d like some help to do what Bex has done – we’re here for you. 

In this episode, Lucy is joined by Micheál who found himself struggling with physical symptoms of anxiety when he left university. Having no idea what was happening, he was understandably quite concerned by the light headedness and chest pains which resulted in trips to the doctor and even the hospital – to be told it was ‘just anxiety’. Micheál fell into an anxious thinking pattern – worrying that he would feel anxious, hyperawareness of his bodily sensations, and catastrophising the outcome, which fuelled panic attacks.  So, what did he do to overcome it? Understand it – realise these anxious symptoms weren’t happening ‘to’ him – they were being created by the way he was thinkingStart responding differently – changing his self-talk to “this is unpleasant uncomfortable, I’d rather not feel this way, but it’s not dangerous, I can handle this”This allowed him to start getting himself through these anxious moments without panicking and running away And then he would process it well, so he gained confidence in his abilities and was able to keep progressing  If you’re struggling with this at the moment, we’re here for you. Been there, felt it, and come out the other side, so feel free to reach out for some guidance and support. 

This week, Lucy chatted with Ben Howard to explore his personal journey with mental health — from struggling with low self-esteem in his teenage years to experiencing depression, social anxiety, and body dysmorphia that left him feeling like he didn’t want to be here anymore.Ben opens up about what it was like to feel constantly not good enough, to be trapped in critical self-talk, and to believe his worth depended on how he looked or how others treated him.But everything changed when he discovered The Thrive Programme.He began to realise that his emotions weren’t coming from his past, or his appearance, or what other people thought. They were coming from his beliefs — the way he viewed himself.This episode is full of insight, hope, and practical truth: Why self-esteem matters more than you think How changing your beliefs will transform your mental health What it actually means to take control of your thinkingIf you’ve ever felt stuck in low mood, body image struggles, or anxiety — this one’s for you.Ben’s story is proof that you’re never broken — that change is possible – and that it comes from the inside. 

In today’s powerful episode, Lucy sits down with Sally Measures — who spent 35 years in the corporate world silently battling imposter syndrome. From the outside, Sally looked confident and successful… but on the inside, she was constantly questioning her worth.Together, Lucy and Sally chat through:What imposter syndrome really isHow it shows up — through overworking, people pleasing, perfectionismThe core belief behind it all: "I'm not good enough"More importantly, they explain how to break free from this mindset and build genuine self-worth — not one based on external validation.You’ll learn how to:Challenge the “not good enough” belief at the rootDevelop a kinder, more helpful inner voiceStop measuring yourself by other people’s opinionsSet healthy boundaries that support your quality of lifeThis episode is a must-listen if you’ve ever felt like a fraud, downplayed your achievements, or pushed yourself to the edge trying to “prove” your worth.As ever, if you’d like some help and support to make this happen, just reach out to one of our coaches today.

Let’s be real, parenting an anxious child is tough. This episode is for you if you’re a parent who’s doing their best, feeling the pressure, and wondering how to help their child while staying afloat yourself. You’re not alone and trust us – you don’t have to simply survive this stage. In this episode, Lucy is joined by Chloe Tunnicliffe who has been there, lived it, learned from it. Chloe says she regularly listened to this episode from our Emetophobia Free podcast about how to help a child who’s panicking, but on reflection she also wanted some advice for herself and how best to look after her own mental health.  So, here it is! Four key things that you can do as the parent or carer that will shift you from surviving to thriving through this challenging time:Go through The Thrive Programme yourself – when you feel powerful and able to manage how you think and feel about things, it’s much easier for you to remain calm and in control, even (especially!) when your child is not.   Let’s talk pressure – pressure on you to fix things, pressure to be the perfect parent, pressure from school, work, other family members, friends and family, pressure your child is putting on themselves. It can feel a lot, but it isn’t happening ‘to’ you – it’s created by you, which means you can reduce it. Process things helpfully – learn the skills to process your experiences and help your child to view their experiences in a helpful, powerful way. This is HUGE. It’ll make you feel better, it’ll give you a better perspective, it’ll help your child to be able to focus on the good things, the learning, the opportunities rather than dwelling on the negatives. Dealing with ‘blips’ – how to handle yourself when your child is panicking or having a wobble. Learn how to hold steady when they’re struggling, without getting swept up in it.This episode is here to remind you that parenting can be hard, but you can do hard things. And if you adopt the skills and tips discussed here, you’ll find navigating this tricky time much easier. You got this! And as always, if you could do with a helping hand, please reach out to us – we’re here to help.  

In this episode, we’re diving into a topic many parents face: school avoidance. From the subtle warning signs to the emotional rollercoaster it brings, we discuss what it’s really like when a child starts refusing school—and how you can gently and effectively support them back.Claire Leahy joins Lucy to share her personal experience with her daughter—how the signs crept in before she realised what was happening, what it felt like when she simply couldn’t go, and how it affected every part of family life, including work, stress levels, and relationships.You’ll hear:The early warning signs that often go unnoticed—the drop in confidence, reluctance to go to events like sleepovers and parties, reluctance on mum, and language that sounds helpless and powerlessWhat school avoidance looked like in real time—and the impact it had on the familyWhat the school did to help, and how this was helpful but not enough to resolve the issueThe things we tried—yes, including bribery!—and what actually moved the dialHow we turned things around - the emotional and mindset shifts that made the biggest differenceWe’ll wrap up with 3 key takeaways for any parent navigating this:Listen to their language – it tells you everything about how they’re feeling on the inside. Help them to calm it down and use more helpful, powerful languageBuild their confidence elsewhere – it’s not really about school; it’s about how they feel about school. Grow their confidence in other areas and see this belief underpin the way they approach everything in life – including schoolCalm yourself first – your emotions, mindset and beliefs set the emotional tone for your child.If your mornings feel like a battlefield, or you’re lying awake wondering how to get your child through the school gates again, this one’s for you.As always, reach out if you need any help. We’re here for you. 

The way you talk to yourself matters. In this episode, Lucy is joined by Philippa Saunders to explore the language of your thoughts — how the words you use in your head shape how you feel, what you believe, and what you think you're capable of.So often, we assume the voice in our head is telling us the truth—but what if it’s not? What if the stories we repeat daily are actually holding us back? One of the most powerful shifts you can make is learning to challenge your own thoughts.Together, Lucy and Philippa explore:Why language matters more than we realiseHow to notice patterns in your thinking and spot unhelpful self-talkThe role of limiting beliefs in shaping emotions and behaviourHow to start choosing better-feeling thoughts—on purposeThe small but powerful ways you can rewrite the mental script you're living byYou’ll also hear some of Philippa’s favourite mindset-shifting phrases that she uses again and again with clients, including:“Thoughts are not facts.”“Where’s the evidence for that?”“What if it all works out?”“It doesn’t matter if [x] happens, I’ll cope.”“Is that helpful?”And how swapping ‘should’ for ‘could’ makes you feel a whole lot better about yourself! This is an empowering listen for anyone who’s ready to take a more active role in how they think, feel, and show up each day. Because when you change the story in your head, everything else starts to shift too.If you’d like some help in making these shifts, get in touch with one of the team today! 

This week, Lucy is joined by Krystel Vida – a lovely lady who has a truly inspirational story. She is the epitome of thriving.Krystel had a challenging childhood and moved to the UK from France by herself to start her life from scratch a few years ago. Shortly after finding a job, she was in a bad car crash which was the catalyst for her mental health to start spiralling down. Grieving the loss of her mum, under pressure from a new job, financial worries and now the loss of her car and impact on her job, she was signed off sick and found herself stuck on her sofa in the midst of depression, anxiety and PTSD. Krystel describes feeling helpless and hopeless, until a passing conversation with her manager gave her a glimmer of hope. How could this calm, capable, confident lady in front of her have struggled with anxiety? It didn’t make sense!  If that’s the power of this programme, Krystel thought “I’m in!”. She found herself a coach, and just 3 weeks into The Thrive Programme, she started to feel hopeful – she knew she would be able to make her life better. Over the coming weeks, months, Krystel started working on her mindset – training her mind, just like she was used to training her body. She started working towards her dreams.  Fast forward a couple of years, and Krystel is thriving. She is over her depression, anxiety and grief. She works in her dream job. She volunteers using her skills to help people. She competes in the boxing ring. And she’s a Ms Great Britain finalist 2025 – using her platform to share her story and empower women that strength and confidence come from the inside. An inspirational story, but as Krystel quite rightly says, it’s just a skillset – and it’s something any of us can learn. Get in touch if you’d like to learn more. 

This week, Kayane Watson joins Lucy to share her inspirational story of getting herself through a sudden life and death situation. Using the knowledge and skills she had learned having done The Thrive Programme a couple of years before, she was able to approach a really scary situation with a sense of calm and control. Kayane explains the moment she discovered something was wrong and there was a risk to her and her baby’s life. She talks through how she responded to her initial fear and was able to calm herself down and focus on the things she could control. And finally, how she processed the situation in the days, weeks, months afterwards in order to come out of the experience stronger, which prevented her from creating PTSD. Key takeaways:Knowing you have the power over how you think, feel and respond in any situation is keyLearning how to master your emotions is something everyone can (and should) learnIf you focus on things you can’t control, you’ll feel powerlessIf you focus on things you CAN control, you feel powerfulHow you process an event afterwards will determine your experience of it – you have the ability to shape it  If you’d like to learn the skills to master your emotions and equip yourself with the ability to cope with difficult situations in life, get in touch with us today.  

This week, Lucy is joined by Irene Diego Garcia – a Thrive Programme Coach originally from Spain, but now working and living in the UK. Irene explains how her perfectionism affected her for years. A very qualified, hard-working vet, yet she was in a constant state of not feeling good enough, feeling like an imposter and creating daily anxiety and overwhelm.   Perfectionism is a response to not feeling good enough. Not feeling good about yourself isn’t a nice feeling, so understandably people put their efforts into trying to feel enough – working harder, taking on more, wanting to please others to get them to like you, setting unrealistic expectations and standards for yourself, focussing on the things you don’t do ‘well enough’, playing down your achievements and successes. Not surprisingly, this has a huge effect on a person’s self-esteem.  Irene and Lucy discuss the intricacies of perfectionist thinking and how it affects people. Most importantly they talk through how you can overcome it: Educate yourself – gain the understanding into how your mind works, how and why you created the habit of perfectionism. Self-awareness is the first step. Practice self-acceptance and self-compassion – treat yourself with the same unconditional kindness and acceptance that you would offer to other people. Taming that inner voice and learning to see yourself in a kind and charitable light does wonders for your self-esteem.Stop equating your self-worth to your achievements. Re-define your evaluation of success. You are enough, you are worthy, you are lovable irrelevant of what job you do, how much money you earn, whether your house is clean, what size clothes you wear. Base your self-esteem on who you are on the inside and every day process your experiences and the role you’ve taken in making them happen. We’re here for you, so if you’d like some help, get in touch and we’ll be with you every step of the way. 

Despite how it might feel, it's not the past event ‘making you’ feel the way you do. It's the way you're thinking about it in the present moment.  Changing the way you think about the past will have a massive impact on your future. In this episode, Lucy is joined by Jodi Stones – a Thrive Programme Coach based in Northern Ireland, who was told she might not survive when there were complications during her pregnancy. Not only did she survive, she learned to thrive and now looks back on her experience as her superpower!  What you'll hear in this podcast:Jodi’s real life past experienceHow it impacted not only her life but the whole familyHow Jodi’s unhelpful thinking styles created a really unhelpful and negative responseWhat Jodi learned that changed the way she thinksHow Jodi lives her life today Key takeaway: Life doesn't always go to plan, and it’s certainly not perfect. By accepting you can't change your past, but you can take responsibility for your future will be the most empowering thing you ever do.No matter what the experience, this is something anyone, any age can do. The more you learn and understand why you think the way you do and that it’s your underlying beliefs and thinking habits that are holding you back, not the situation itself, the easier and better your life will be.Don't let your past hold you back anymore, learn to think in a powerful way and live the life you want from today. 

Parenting, in general, can feel like a daunting task! Every parent wants to raise happy, mentally fit, thriving children...but where do you start? There are many attributes that parents can foster in their children in order to ensure they are thriving. In this week’s episode, Thrive Programme Coach Dom Marcotte joins Lucy to share a little about her own parenting journey; how she supported her daughter in overcoming anxiety, and how she learned to become a more thriving parent by challenging some unhelpful thinking. Key discussion points in this podcast:The importance of resilience – how to build resilience in children How to support children in developing an internal self-esteem, so that they don’t rely on external validation to ‘make them’ feel goodThe importance of parents being positive, thriving role models for their children

This week, Lucy is joined by Matt Christofaro - a Thrive Programme Coach based in America, who previously struggled with frequent panic attacks—especially in important work meetings and interviews. In this episode, Matt explains the underlying thinking styles and beliefs that were causing him to create such big emotions and also how he overcame it – what he needed to know and then do to rid himself of panic for good. Despite how they feel, panic attacks don’t ‘happen to’ you. They are your response ‘to’ an event, situation, thought, feeling, urge, sensation. It is the work meeting, viewed through your own unique set of filters (your beliefs and thinking styles) that creates your experience of it — including whether or not you panic in certain situations. The key is understanding that panic isn’t some external force ‘attacking’ you (even though the name makes it sound that way)—you create it by how you respond ‘to’ the situation. What you'll year in this podcast:Why panic attacks feel random — but aren’t.Why some people stay calm under pressure while others spiral into panic.The common thinking styles and beliefs that create panic.Why trying to avoid the feelings actually keeps them alive.How your brain mistakes discomfort for danger.The simple mindset shift that stops panic from escalating.Top tips for the next time you’re panicking.Key takeaway:Panic isn’t something that happens ‘to’ you — it’s an emotional overreaction to a perceived threat. Whilst you may not be able to control the situation, you absolutely can control the way you think and feel about it. You don’t panic about making a cup of tea. Why? Because you feel powerful and skillful in that area of your life. You only create panic, stress and worry about situations you think in a powerless way about. It’s a thinking problem, rather than a work meeting problem. Panic attacks feel unpredictable, but they’re not. Once you understand what’s really happening, you can break the cycle and take back control just like Matt and all the other people who have overcome panic attacks for good.    

This episode is all about changing the narrative around vaginismus. No more outdated advice, ineffective quick fixes, or feeling like you're the only one struggling. Instead, you'll gain a fresh, empowering perspective, practical strategies, and real success stories—proving that effective help does exist.What is vaginismus?Vaginismus is a condition that makes sexual penetration painful or impossible. Women who experience it often struggle with distress, embarrassment, shame, and frustration. The severity of symptoms varies—some women can tolerate insertion, albeit painfully, while others cannot insert anything at all. For many, even the thought of penetration triggers anxiety.Meet Cara MasonCara Mason is a Vaginismus Coach, author and the creator of the Vaginismus-Free Programme. With over 25 years of experience, she fully understands the challenges women face and, more importantly, what’s required in order for women to achieve comfortable penetration. What You'll hear in this podcast• The main cause of Vaginismus – It’s not what you think, and it’s not scary or complicated! • Myth-Busting – Did you know that your vaginal muscles are not spasming? There’s no evidence for it. • Understanding the root cause – Vaginismus is often NOT caused by sexual trauma; Its nearly always something simpler and not sinister. • Why many common vaginismus treatments fail – Treatments that focus only on the physical symptom are ignoring the crucial role of the mind. • The first steps to take for comfortable penetration – Learn how to process positive penetration experiences so they truly count in your recovery. • How to make progress with insertion – it’s the small steps that lead to bigger wins• Is it harder to overcome vaginismus if you’ve had it for longer• Why vaginismus is actually a GOOD symptom to overcome!• Why many women believe it’s hard to overcome vaginismus The Vaginismus-Free ProgrammeThe Vaginismus-Free Programme is a step-by-step, life-changing programme that empowers women to reconnect with their bodies and regain control. Since vaginismus manifests physically but is driven by mindset, this programme takes a full mind-body approach to healing.You'll learn why your body responds as it does and have all the tools you need to achieve comfortable penetration. Followed correctly, this programme can help you overcome vaginismus in just 8-12 weeks. 

In this week’s episode, Lucy Wood is joined by Rob Kelly – creator of The Thrive Programme – to talk about coping skills. Feeling able to cope with life’s ups and downs is arguably the most important thing in your life. Since the absence of feeling able to cope is the main driver of anxieties, worries, fears, stress, depression, poor self-esteem and so on. During this episode, Lucy and Rob explain what coping skills are, how you learned them (or didn’t learn them), how anyone can build them, and why everyone should build them. Your experience of any situation is determined by one thing: how powerful you feel.  When you feel powerful, in control and able to cope, you don’t create anxious or stressful thoughts, you don’t lose sleep or overthink it – quite the opposite – you know you can do it so you’re feeling calm and relaxed about it. When you feel powerless – you doubt your ability to cope – and this lack of belief in your capabilities fuels anxious, fearful, worrisome, stressful thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviours. And it’s these uncomfortable feelings that further strengthen your belief.  So the absence of feeling powerful in your ability to cope is the root cause of any anxiety, fears, avoidance behaviours you might see on the surface. This is great news, because it’s just a belief. So how do you build coping skills? 1.     Understand that it isn’t the situation that is ‘making you’ scared or anxious, but the beliefs you hold about it / your capabilities. It’s not the spider that is ‘making you’ terrified - it can’t – it doesn’t have that power over how you feel. Only you do. Your limiting belief about your ability to stay calm when you see a spider is the cause of how you think, feel and react in that situation. So taking responsibility for how you think and make yourself feel is the first step.  2.     With that understanding, gently find ways to get outside your zone. Make a list of situations you would rather avoid because you don’t like feeling those uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, sensations. Gradually start facing them. Expect to feel uncomfortable – that’s the point! You are learning to tolerate uncomfortable thoughts and feelings without running away. Every time you face something (obviously we’re talking about discomfort here, not danger…) rather than run away, you build coping skills.  3.     Process it well Make sure you tell yourself well done. You faced something hard. You got yourself through. You put effort into tolerating those uncomfortable thoughts and feelings and the more you do it, the easier it will feel.  The more you learn to cope in each and every situation, the stronger your belief and skillset and the easier your life will be.