What If I Make It?: Recent Episodes
Grant Phypers
Stories from ordinary people with dreams who are willing to pursue them no matter what. Hear wonderful accounts of how the challenges of life and the sudden arrival of adversity has helped them achieve against great odds but who’s stories we can all relate to, stories that will inspire us all to continue pushing on with seeing our own dreams become reality.
In the final episode of the first season in 'What If I Make It..?' my guest Carla Loveday talks openly about her health challenges with Endometriosis, how she wants to blow the lid off the stigma attached to this disease and to raise much-needed awareness of the condition in order to help and aid other women who are struggling from not just its physical toll on their bodies but also those who are battling with mental health issues associated with the decease; living in a prison of pain as they fight each day to live a normal life.
You will also hear how Carla, at an early age, never really knew the power of love - unconditional love - which impacted and played a big part in her formative years. Wrestling with the rejection and surviving each day in order to take care of herself, Carla learned to thrive and to become all she was created to be, pursuing her dreams and realising her full potential as a wife, mother, friend and lawyer but built on a foundation of knowing her identity, knowing who she is and being true to herself, her authentic self.
This is a moving, powerful and frank account of one woman's pursuit of love, a love for her fellow human beings no matter what that looks like, no matter what comes at her and no matter what the future holds...
Change can be your friend if you choose to embrace it....it is the only constant in our lives so allow it to define you for all the right reasons.
In this weeks episode, I have the absolute honour of talking to Sophie Carrigill, a professional athlete for Great Britain in Wheelchair Basketball, and who is currently training for the Tokyo Paralympics; along with her team, Sophie is the current World and European Silver Medalist in her chosen sport and is now in pursuit of the ultimate prize - GOLD!
Sophie is also working for the Women's Sport Trust supporting their Unlocked programme for elite athletes. A confident inspirational speaker for schools and businesses and recently appointed as an ambassador for the clothing line Sweaty Beaty.
In this episode, you will hear the account of how at the age of 16 Sophie suffered a near-fatal car accident whilst on holiday in America. The accident left her wheelchair-bound with severe spinal injuries but this did not deter her from pursuing her passion within the sports arena. What comes across in the interview is her insatiable appetite to succeed, determination to be the best she can be and the drive to achieve against what many would see as insurmountable odds.
An incredible, mentally and physically tough, resilient human being who has overcome so much and who is an example for us all to never stop believing, to keep going after the prize and to know its possible to thrive amidst adversity, to harness it and channel it as energy to go on and achieve great things...
Fear is an emotion we will all experience at some point in our lives but allowing fear to control our thoughts and decisions will result in not living to our full potential. It can cripple us, keep us in turmoil and prevent us walking out our hopes and dreams.
In this episode, my guest Erin Mohr talks openly about her relationship with 'fear', how at an early age it took control, became all-consuming and prevented her living a life to the full. It was only in her late teens and revelation from her father about the word of God that change started to happen; equipped with the tools and processes to combat, overcome and use it for good Erin started to walk out in the freedom she was destined to have. A remarkable story of trust, perseverance and power.
Erin is the co-founder of Emerge Coaching based in Canada; Erin is businesswomen, entrepreneur, author and life coach with a vision to help women overcome fear and channel it for good, to help them find their identity, voice and to go on and live to their full potential.
You can get in touch with Erin via her website www.emergecoaching.ca
This episode, I am certain, will leave you feeling like you can tackle anything that's currently trying to derail you; use it for your good, use it to help others and that you can be equipped to take on the world whilst pursuing your dreams!
My guest this week is Wendy Kettle, 'Stress Coach' an all-around carrier of hope and freedom. Wendy helps executives reduce the stress in their lives and aids them in developing increased performance, thus building resilience and taking steps towards success in all they do.
Wendy's past has been very challenging, to say the least, but life's experiences have always laid the foundations for Wendy to go on and overcome, achieve and develop boldness helping her to keep moving forward into her desired future. There have been hard times, times to celebrate, times to learn and grow but at the core of all she does has been a belief in hope and a pursuit of freedom that has helped her reach others who are struggling, those who have placed limits on their lives and to see them too be free and to become who they were created to be.
Courage will take you to places you never thought possible...
My guest this week is Michael Mee.
Michael has struggled for years with an addictive personality, a desire for more, and a dependence on alcohol that had seen him almost lose everything he held close to him. However, a traumatic event 8 years ago brought him to his knees following a car accident that saw him fighting to walk again. Periods of trauma and waves of anxiety ensued, these experiences and immense pressure brought him back to a place of remembering what in life was important, what he valued so much. This was a pivotal moment in his life when things started to turn around for the better...
In my conversation with Michael, you will hear how he rebuilt his life and reestablished both his physical and mental health through the help of a loving, supportive family network.
Being grateful for all we have been given whilst here on this planet, for however long, is at the heart of everything Michael does, so-much-so that Michael has established a charitable organisation to work alongside his existing construction firm where the majority of profits go to aid and help young people rebuild their lives, to provide them with the opportunity to get on to the property ladder or find work who by just helping those who are struggling for whatever reason.
This week's guest is Simon Wilson, CEO of StoneHawk.
Simon is a family man, an entrepreneur, and a good friend. Simon is very aware of the importance of never forgetting his roots, knowing what it has taken him and what life has demanded of him in order to get to where he is today.
Simon and his team are advocates for Metal Health and Wellbeing in the workplace. Amongst the many activities of StoneHawk, training and equipping organisations with the tools and practices to raise awareness of the need to talk and be open about our mental health is at the forefront of what they do.
Simon also has his own story to share, a battle with cancer which gladly he overcame but like any challenge in life sent to test our very metal it has helped frame his values, purpose, and future.
The welfare and care for others are at the core of all he does and flows naturally through him...
If you would like to get in touch with Simon or find out more about what he and his team do then please visit www.stonehawk.co.uk
In his 20s, despite having a passion for sports and wanting to get involved in a career in sport, this didn’t materialise. Again David cites a lack of confidence, a mind full of negative thoughts, and a family background who had not gone through higher education. He ended up working in various jobs in the travel industry, always progressing, leading to his final role as a Branch Manager for a large Corporate Travel company which taught David an awful lot about managing people, controlling your own emotions, dealing with difficult situations, and pressure.
In 2007 David’s life changed forever when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. She later died in 2008 when David was 33 years old. This made David take a long hard look in the mirror and as a result, after being made redundant from his role as Branch Manager he decided to start over again embarking on a new career. Naturally, this was a very difficult time, however, David’s determination and own Mental Toughness helped him go on and achieve his dream of becoming a sports psychologist.
In this podcast, you will hear how building resilience and mental toughness will prepare you and help you through the challenges of life to go on and unlock your potential.
John Nicholson is the founder of the Community Driving School CIC based in the South East of England.
John overcame an attempted suicide a few years ago to go on to save the lives of many people in poverty, victims of abuse, ex-offenders, ex-addicts, and other marginalised groups through learning to drive.
A powerful, personal story of restoration, forgiveness, empowerment, and determination, as John got up from his knees in his kitchen on that monumental day in his journey to go on and pursue a life purpose in helping others to find freedom and liberty through learning to drive, a simple yet powerful tool that so many of us take for granted.
In this episode, you will hear John recount the many heartbreaking incidents that led to his attempted suicide that many might find difficult to hear. These moments in John's life led to the emergence of The Community Driving School now a vehicle of hope, an open door to opportunities for so many who need that helping hand to get on in life. John's passion for what he does comes across so powerfully that it will encourage and equip you to make a big difference in your life and the lives of those around you.
If you would like to get in touch with John at The Community Driving School then please visit his website www.thecds.org.uk or you can contact him via email john@thecds.org.uk
Alex Nevill is a racing driver, considered one of the best in his class.
However, at an early age, Alex was diagnosed with Dyspraxia, a developmental coordination disorder; hand-to-eye coordination and communication being the two dominant traits of this condition. His love for motorsport grew as he did, and supported by his family this passion for motor racing took shape over his formative years and now Alex competes amongst the best in his class winning multiple races and taking a championship to his credit putting pay to his condition by overcoming and harnessing these two dominant traits of Dyspraxia to his advantage, coordination, and communication.
Alex is a formidable character, focused, hungry to be the best he can be, and willing to put in the hard work to achieve his dreams of becoming a British Touring Car racing driver.
In this episode, you will also hear how personal development and an insatiable appetite to never stop learning has helped him return to motor racing after 14 months out fully engaged, determined, and ready for the new season better prepared than ever for what he may encounter.
Chib Nwokonkor is the CEO of Zanshuri IP Holdings a tech-based corporation within the UK. Chib is a husband, father, innovator, business strategist, entrepreneur, encourager, and health and personal performance nut! In this episode hear Chib's personal account of the prejudice and injustice he and his family experienced when moving at a young age from Nigeria to the UK. His 'call' to do what is right and to fight for those who don't have a voice. To have embedded in all he does a sense of justice, walked out into every part of his life with humility, honour, and integrity. A wonderful personal account of how resilience was built through episodes of trauma, how failure is a must if you are going to go on and achieve great things, and how continual learning and development are fundamental if you want to be the very best version of yourself. The importance of personal development is also recounted and how we should never stop learning, never stop asking questions if we are to grow and develop every area of our lives, our skills, and our talents.
David Jueno is the founder and co-director of The Sports Business Club; Speaker, Confidence Coach, and Advocate for Mental Health, ADHD, and Addiction.
Hear how being rejected and invisible to his peers at an early age, owing to his uniqueness, led to many challenges as an adult; from emotional and mental health struggles; cocaine addiction that saw him lose everything - his job, marriage, and family - to becoming an 'agent of change' for others with similar struggles and addictions. Now, along with a group of like-minded business leaders, David has established successfully in a short space of time, a community initiative that is now resourcing grassroots sports to grow, evolve, and benefitting many young people with the help of business collaboration.
For more information about The Sports Business Club and to get in touch with David Jueno please visit www.thesportsbusinessclub.co.uk