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  • Ep 67: One slice of cake… and I was unable to walk: Kelly Smith on living with coeliac disease and discovering autism as an adult
    2025/05/28

    In this episode of the PRsonal Podcast, host Charlotte Nichols sits down with Kelly Smith, designer and founder of Spelk Studio, for a conversation that peels back the layers on living with invisible illness and late-diagnosed neurodiversity.

    Kelly recounts a shocking turning point in her health journey - the moment she was accidentally served the wrong cake. It seemed harmless, but that single slice containing gluten triggered a severe autoimmune reaction. Within weeks, her muscles began to seize, and soon, she was unable to walk. What followed were endless neurological tests, including investigations for MS and motor neurone disease, but no definitive answers. The cause? A serious reaction from undiagnosed coeliac disease.

    But that’s only part of Kelly’s story.

    As a mother navigating her son’s early development, Kelly began to notice signs that he might be autistic. In researching and advocating for him, she came to a powerful and life-changing realisation: she, too, was likely autistic. Her later-in-life autism diagnosis brought understanding to decades of social struggles, miscommunications, and professional barriers.

    She opens up about how gluten left her unable to walk and why coeliac disease is far more serious than a food fad; the emotional toll of living with an invisible illness; her journey of self-discovery through parenting; the impact of undiagnosed autism on her school years, friendships, and career; the lasting trauma caused by childhood bullying; and her decision to start a business that supports both her neurodiverse son and ageing parents.

    Kelly’s honesty is refreshing and eye-opening. This episode is essential listening for anyone affected by gluten intolerance, autoimmune conditions, neurodiversity, or mental health challenges and for anyone who wants to better support those around them.

    Through tears, humour, and hard-earned wisdom, Kelly reminds us that every story is worth hearing , and that understanding what’s beneath the surface can make all the difference.

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    57 分
  • Episode 66: Canine wellness, shamanic wisdom and wolves: A conversation with Dr. Isla Fishburn
    2025/05/14

    In one of our most spiritually expansive episodes to date, The PRsonal Podcast welcomes conservation biologist, canine wellness intuitive, and shamanic practitioner, Dr. Isla Fishburn. This soul-stirring conversation is a raw, courageous, and deeply healing exploration of mental health, trauma, spirituality, and the sacred relationship between humans, animals, and the natural world.

    Dr. Isla Fishburn opens up about a pivotal and devastating chapter in her life when she contemplated suicide. Speaking from a place of vulnerability and strength, she recounts the life-changing moment she was stopped by a whisper from the Earth itself. Sitting distraught beneath a tree in a North Devon woodland, she heard the words “You are enough” a message she believes came directly from the spirit of the tree. This moment of connection would become the anchor that kept her alive, reminding her of her worth when everything else in her life felt broken.

    This episode explores the power of nature as healer a concept central to Isla’s work with dogs and wildlife. She discusses how her wolf-dog, Tonila, also saved her life during this dark period, offering unconditional love and a reason to stay. Her journey from suicidal despair to spiritual awakening is not just an emotional story of survival, but a testament to the healing intelligence that exists within all life forms, including our animal companions.

    As a channeler of animal consciousness, Isla introduces us to a world where science and spirituality not only coexist, but collaborate. Drawing on her PhD in conservation biology and her spiritual practice, she invites us to consider dogs and other animals not as pets, but as sentient souls, here with us for spiritual purpose, partnership, and teaching. She shares how wolves, in particular, model embodiment, presence, and community offering lessons about unconditional love, sacred boundaries, and the healing power of non-verbal communication.

    Listeners will come away from this episode with a new perspective on intuitive living, the significance of emotional healing, and the soul medicine animals can offer. Dr. Fishburn explains how our fur companions often reflect our internal emotional landscape, holding up a mirror for personal growth and deeper connection. Her powerful insights into interspecies communication, energetic trauma, and ancestral healing resonate not only with spiritual seekers, but with anyone navigating life’s emotional depths.

    This episode also confronts societal taboos around mental health and suicide. Isla’s story shines a light on the often silent suffering many endure, while offering hope through self-trust, spiritual practice, and the courage to feel deeply. Her voice reminds us that healing is not a destination, but a lifelong dance with discomfort, trust, and love.

    Whether you’re curious about animal communication, navigating your own healing journey, or seeking a reminder that you are enough, this conversation with Dr. Isla Fishburn is not to be missed.

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    1 時間 9 分
  • Ep 65: The day I nearly didn’t come home: Kayleigh Laverick journey from trauma to transformation.
    2025/05/07

    What happens when your entire identity shatters in a single moment? In this raw and deeply moving episode of The PRsonal Podcast, host Charlotte Nichols sits down with Kayleigh Laverick – founder of Mama Social Co – to share a conversation that is not just about motherhood, but about survival, silence, identity, and the transformative power of connection.

    After a traumatic emergency C-section with her second child, followed by a near-death experience, Kayleigh found herself spiralling into undiagnosed PTSD and postnatal mental health crisis. What followed was a terrifying period of night terrors, overwhelming loneliness, emotional numbness, and a moment of suicidal ideation that changed everything. In that dark forest, with her baby strapped to her chest and an unimaginable decision playing out in her mind, Kayleigh reached a turning point.

    From that moment came something remarkable.

    Mama Social Co was born not as a business, but as a lifeline. What began as a single Facebook post inviting other struggling parents for a walk turned into a national movement of more than 60,000 mothers, fathers, and caregivers supporting each other daily through real, offline connection.

    In this episode, Kayleigh opens up about:

    • The silence that often surrounds postnatal mental health and why many mothers suffer behind smiles
    • How she and her husband navigated trauma, therapy, and detachment to rebuild their relationship
    • The emotional and physical aftermath of a traumatic birth – and why we need to talk about sex, healing, and identity as part of the maternal journey
    • The power of real-world community in an increasingly digital and disconnected world
    • Why she refuses to charge parents for connection – and how Mama Social Co partners with brands to keep access free for all

    This episode isn’t filtered or sugar-coated. It’s a conversation that peels back the layers of curated motherhood and speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, to hurt, to heal, and to help others rise alongside you.

    Whether you’re a new parent, a birth partner, or someone who’s ever felt lost in the noise of perfection, Kayleigh honesty and strength will move you. Her story is proof that even from the deepest pain, something beautiful can grow – and that no one should ever have to do it alone.

    Warning: This episode contains discussions of traumatic birth, PTSD, and suicide ideation.

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    1 時間 10 分
  • Episode 64: From pavement to hospital bed: The brutal moment that changed Cat Neill’s life forever
    2025/04/23

    In this episode of the PRsonal Podcast, we sit down with the incredible Cat Neil, a mortgage advisor whose life was turned upside down in February 2024 — and who has since emerged as a powerful voice for resilience, vulnerability, and healing.

    Cat was nearing the end of a 5K training run when she was suddenly hit by a car while on the pavement — an incident so severe it left her with an open fracture to her leg, sparking a medical journey that would involve nine operations, including two 11-hour limb-saving surgeries, skin grafts, leech therapy, and blood transfusions. But as harrowing as her physical injuries were, it’s Cat’s mental and emotional resilience that shines brightest in this deeply moving conversation.

    She shares, with raw honesty, the silent battles she fought behind closed doors: learning to depend on others for basic needs, grieving the loss of her old body and identity, and the exhausting mental energy of navigating a world that expects visible healing. Her story exposes the often unseen reality of life after trauma — where the hardest work is done quietly, long after the headlines fade.

    Despite it all, Cat’s mindset is nothing short of extraordinary. A lifelong journaler, she turned to writing, mantras like “safe, happy, healthy, loved”, and the grounding belief that “your mind is limitless” to carry herself through. With emotional intelligence, she speaks candidly about the importance of therapy, support systems, self-compassion, and the power of showing up — even imperfectly.

    But this is not just a story about survival – it's a raw and unfiltered exploration of resilience, mindset, and healing. Cat speaks with remarkable vulnerability about:

    • Facing trauma and physical recovery head-on
    • The quiet power of journaling and mindset work
    • Grieving her former self and rediscovering confidence
    • How trauma impacts relationships and intimacy
    • The emotional weight of relying on others and regaining autonomy
    • Her evolving relationship with her body, and the strength it still carries

    Cat’s message is clear: You are stronger than you think. And even in your darkest moments, you can choose to keep going — hour by hour, day by day.
    Whether you're navigating your own healing journey or supporting someone who is, this episode is a powerful reminder that recovery isn’t linear, and that resilience is a daily decision.

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    1 時間 4 分
  • Episode 63: Design, death & dignity: Zara King on grief, identity and being fearlessly herself
    2025/04/09

    In one of the most moving episodes of the PRsonal Podcast to date, host Charlotte Nichols sits down with Zara King — a product designer, storyteller, and founder of Zara King Designs, the first female-owned product design company in Teesside. But Zara’s story goes far beyond products and patents. This is an unforgettable conversation about grief, identity, love, and the human drive to create meaning from pain.

    At just 16, Zara lost her father — and with little support or preparation, found herself navigating the trauma, logistics, and legacy of death alone. It was a defining moment that shaped her perspective on life, purpose, and how we care for others when they’re gone. That deeply personal experience later inspired her passion project: The Lovely Life of Bean, an interactive children’s book designed to gently introduce the concepts of death, euthanasia, and legacy through the life of a fictional dog named Bean — from birth to planting his memory in a garden.

    Zara doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable. Whether it’s advocating for better end-of-life education, redesigning the overlooked bedpan, or challenging assumptions in a male-dominated design world, she’s on a mission to “fix the forgotten” — using empathy and innovation to bring dignity back to the details most people ignore.

    She also opens up about her experience of coming out in the early 2000s, how attitudes have evolved since, and the quiet prejudices she and her wife still face today. Through it all, Zara remains grounded, funny, and deeply self-aware — a woman driven not by ego, but by impact.

    This isn’t just a podcast episode — it’s a reminder that even the heaviest experiences can be turned into something healing. That design isn’t always about the next shiny object — sometimes, it’s about a better bedpan, a child’s understanding of loss, or a dignified end.

    Listen now to discover how Zara King is redesigning the narrative — one act of compassion, one story, and one brave step at a time

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    1 時間 1 分
  • Episode 62: 'Am I going to die?': Nicola Wood on battling cancer at just 36
    2025/03/26

    When multi-award-winning entrepreneur, trichologist, and cancer activist Nicola Wood was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 36, her first question was, “Am I going to die?” But her second question was just as telling: “Am I going to lose my hair?”

    In this deeply personal episode of the PRsonal Podcast, Nicola shares how her own journey with cancer changed not just her body, but her identity, her business, and her purpose. Hair had been at the heart of Nicola’s life since she was 12 — and losing it during treatment uncovered a grief that many underestimate.

    Through powerful storytelling, she breaks the silence around the emotional toll of hair loss — not just for cancer patients, but for anyone who has ever struggled with self-image and femininity.
    From building a pioneering hair loss support business, to helping over 15,000 people reclaim their dignity, to raising her young son while battling treatment, Nicola’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical empathy.

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    51 分
  • Episode 61: From trauma to verse: How Michael Lewis found his voice amidst grief and life with bipolar disorder
    2025/03/12

    On this moving episode of PRsonal, British poet Michael Lewis shares his powerful and emotional journey of living with Bipolar Affective Disorder, a mental health condition he's managed since receiving his diagnosis at just 16 years old. Michael candidly speaks with host Charlotte about the realities of navigating daily life with bipolar disorder, describing in vivid detail the intensity of psychosis, the persistent struggle with paranoia, and the complexities of maintaining relationships amidst rapidly fluctuating highs and lows.

    Michael’s story delves into some of life's darkest moments, including the profound trauma and grief experienced following the devastating loss of his father, who was tragically murdered. It was during these challenging times that Michael discovered poetry as more than an artistic pursuit—it became a critical means of processing his emotions, confronting his pain, and ultimately, facilitating his recovery.

    He also addresses common misconceptions surrounding bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and mental illness, advocating for greater empathy, understanding, and acceptance. He openly discusses the transformative impact medication and therapy have had on his life, emphasising the importance of mental health support in achieving stability and wellbeing.

    Michael describes his intriguing exploration of spirituality, including his personal experiences with supernatural encounters and his profound belief in reincarnation. He shares compelling anecdotes that challenge perceptions of life, death, and existence beyond our immediate understanding.

    Prepare for a deeply honest, vulnerable, and ultimately inspiring conversation that will resonate with anyone impacted by mental health issues, grief, or trauma. Michael Lewis' story shines a powerful light on resilience, creativity, and the extraordinary strength found in openly confronting our vulnerabilities, transforming them into captivating poetry that touches lives and fosters genuine connection.

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    58 分
  • Episode 60: ‘They drank eight pints at work!’– Meet Northern Insight’s Michael Grahamslaw
    2025/02/26

    He’s the man behind one of the North East’s most popular business magazines.

    Now it is time for Northern Insight founder Michael Grahamslaw to tell his story on PRsonal.
    Tragically, Michael recalls the night he lost both his parents.

    However, Michael, who has spent decades in the North East’s media industry, also shares some of the highs from his career including a chance encounter with Queen to the booze-fuelled fun of working at a newspaper during the industry’s heyday.

    And there’s also an appearance on Countdown along the way…

    PRsonal socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


    Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

    Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

    LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

    Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

    Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

    TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

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    42 分