Tales of an Anxiety Warrior: Recent Episodes
Jen Griffiths
I'm Jen, the Tropic Pianist Gamer, and I used to have a severe anxiety disorder, which affected every aspect of my life. Tune in to my podcast for relatable stories, discussions and a bit of humour!
It's World Mental Health Day today, which marks exactly 3 years since this podcast began!
But what I uncovered last month, were the stubborn bits of anxiety that were hiding in my subconscious and blocking my mindset..
Explore with me, and don't forget to check in on your friends <3
This month I'm talking to guest Angela Hodgson about how her experiences led her to helping business owners find their purpose and passion. How she came from burnout to brilliance. And how she manages a balance being mum to two neurodivergent kids! Free quiz here: https://igniteimprovement.co.uk/quizConnect with her here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelahodgson/
This month's topic is spinning plates!
How many times has someone asked how you manage to spin all the plates? Or warned you not to try spinning all the plates?
I've been asked/told many times over the years, but it only stopped me while I was anxious.
When I found my confidence, I realised that it's ok to want to do all the things, as long as it's not simultaneously obviously!
I like balance, a bit of this, a bit of that. Focus yields results. Find out more in this episode!
This month's guest was Laura Teare-Jones.
Laura Teare-Jones is a hormone and mindset coach and business mentor. Laura's journey into this space has been deeply influenced by her own experiences and challenges. For the past decade, she has dedicated her work to supporting women with their wellbeing, helping them to be kinder to themselves and to prioritise their own needs, and over the last year, her role has evolved and she now works with brilliant business owners who, as amazing as they are, sometimes let their minds get in the way of their success.Laura lives with a hormone condition called PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), a cyclical mood disorder, and since getting her diagnosis, she says she has had to do a lot of learning and unlearning about herself, her health and the world around her. This personal journey has shaped much of her work.
NB at 11:53 there's an edit as there was a drop in connection. No actual content is missing.
This month's topic is around Imposter Syndrome, and Self doubt, which is a common topic for anyone on their self development journey.
The interesting thing being I don't have an inner dialogue, but with a previous anxiety disorder, was it always like that?
Listen to this episode to find out!
Join the discussion in https://www.facebook.com/groups/tropicpianistgamer
This month I'm chatting to Jan Ockenden.
"I'm Jan - I'm a personal power coach and therapist. A qualified and highly experienced psychotherapist with a twist. I blend traditional therapy with coaching, NLP and energy practices to support deep lasting change.My passion is working with women to help them love themselves fiercely and show up unapologetically as the woman they know they are inside and shrank when the world told them who they "should" be."
Talking about our cycles... whatever stage of life you're at, you'll have a cycle.
The most obvious one is the menstrual cycle, but even if you don't menstruate, your energy comes in ebbs and flows.
I'm seen as high energy most of the time, but I'm honestly not. I went from battling through every month, to being more mindful about what my body went through, and now give space to my body when I need it, and that helps keep my cup full <3
Explore with me in this episode!
This month I'm talking to Jade Zammit, a Children's sleep coach.
In this episode we discuss sleep deprivation, working with your partner as a team, and how you can tap into her services. Don't be afraid to ask for help!
Jade Zammit is a mother and an award-winning professional in Infant & Child Sleep, and Child Sleep & ADHD. She has built her business from the ground up, working with over 200+ families on a 1:1 support basis.
After years of different sleep challenges and being in the deep despair of sleep deprivation, it took its toll in many other ways than just exhaustion. Jade knew she had an opportunity to support others in a way she wished she had with her own two children. Sleep after all, is one of the hardest parts of parenting!
Jade is passionate about holistic sleep training solutions, and parental wellness.
She truly believes there isn't a one-size-fits-all solution to sleep - and every child and family are different! Sleep deprivation impacts many aspects of life, and Jade puts the parents' wellbeing at the front of everything she does.
Since starting business she has been recognised globally for her services and online courses, and bringing the highest standard knowledge and services to others.
www.beyondthestars.co.uk
Becoming a mum is something I talk about in quite depth in my book, but I haven't really spoken about it in talks or my podcast, so this is an overview of my experience of becoming a mum.
Did I ever really adjust?
Sleep deprivation has a lot to answer for... ("sleepless Insanity" anyone?!)
What about being anxious before making the decision (or not making the decision!)
The month of May is all about books, as I celebrate the third anniversary of when my own book "Tales of an Anxiety Warrior" was published!This month I'm talking to Joanne about her upcoming book series, and why every mum will want to tap into it! Joanne Cook is the founder of Connect with Jo and the creator of The Road to Motherhood book series. As an intuitive life andbusiness mentor, she creates spaces where women feel seen,stand out with confidence, and lead impactful businesses and build legacies beyond the income - all whilst raising a family. A mum of two with over 23 years on the motherhood journey herself, Joanne understands the reality of balancing personalgrowth, business dreams, and raising a family.Joanne created The Road to Motherhood book series to shine a light on the parts of motherhood often left out of the highlight reels - the messy, emotional, laugh out loud, and quietly powerful moments that shape us as women. Her mission goes beyond storytelling. Joanne supports the next generation of female leaders, women building impactful businesses, raising families, and choosing to leave leyacies that stretch far beyond income.https://www.facebook.com/theroadtomotherhoodwithjoannecookhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/connectwithjowww.connectwithjo.comwww.theroadtomotherhood.com
This month marks 3 years since my book "Tales of an Anxiety Warrior" was published.
3 is my magic number, so I'm celebrating this year!
I've come a long way as a pianist, so this is a reflection on that, and about my current mission.
And of course, how I got the name "the Colourful Powerhouse"
If you're here before the 15th May 2025, then head over to my Instagram or Fb Page for a special giveaway on 15th!
@tropicpianistgamer
This month I'm talking to Jo Phillips about Neurodivergency, and how she tuned into her strengths to find her path as a Surface Pattern Designer.
Jo Phillips is a surface pattern designer and has a businesscalled Infinity Designer™️. As a freelance designer, Jo specialises in craftingunique surface designs that enhance products and packaging, deliveringimpactful and on-brand results. Embracing her neurodivergence—being Autistic,Dyslexic, and having ADHD—Jo channels her unique perspectives into her art,transforming challenges into creative strengths.
Jo also is the founder and director of Paperly™️ where theysell handmade and specialty papers from Asia. This business is now thriving andthe inventory is growing monthly.
Beyond her professional endeavours, Jo is a devoted wife toDanny, a step mother of four grown up children, and a grandmother of two, and abeautiful Siberian cat called Monty.
For more information about Jo's work, visit her website: www.infinitydesigner.co.uk.Connect with her on Instagram: @infinitydesignerjophillips and@paperly.uk. Explore herPaperlyUK shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/PaperlyUK
This month I'm sharing some of my story about having no ambitions or aspirations (or direction) even after my postgraduate degree...
It took me until my mid 30s to find my purpose and direction, but I got there eventually!
It's never too late to start again, you just need to make that choice and action it <3
This month my guest is Emma Benyon, and we talked about using mindfulness as mums and how to reduce the overwhelm.
Emma Benyon is a Multi-Certified Coach for Women, Self Care Expert and Educator supporting women who are juggling it all, to reduce the mental overload and be calm, present and intentional. She empowers women through journaling, breath-work and self care practices to develop their inner coach and reduce their inner critic. Emma is a qualified coach, NLP Master Practitioner, mBIT and Practical Magic Coach.
Website - Emmabenyoncoaching.co.uk
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/emmabenyon.coach
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journalingwithemmaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmmaBenyon.Coach Journals - https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Ms-Emma-Benyon/author/B0DMM7KKTG
Emma also has her own podcast:
Podcast - https://emmabenyoncoaching.co.uk/self-care-and-motherhood-edit
I talked about Self Care a bit last summer, but my priorities have changed since then.
I've also taken on an additional role in the "non business" world, because I simply like meeting new people <3
Listen to how things can change, and how important Self Care is, as well as how simplistic the notion can be!
This month I'm joined by Clare Ford, an expert in teen and tween mental health.
"Clare Ford is an award-winning international author, speaker, coach, healer, and educator, dedicated to unlocking the brilliance in your child, tween, and teen. As the founder of SwitchedON!, a global online academy, Clare combines over 20 years of experience with her unique SWITCHEDON! Learning Philosophy to empower young people to access their natural gifts, talents, and abilities.Through her flagship programme, The Teen Success Codes, Clare equips teens with essential life skills, emotional resilience strategies, and future-focused tools to excel academically, communicate confidently, and live purposefully. A passionate advocate for transformative education, Clare’s mission is to inspire a generation of switched-on learners and future-ready changemakers, fostering positive growth in families and communities worldwide.
Clare is going to share how we can help “switch on” our next generation for success, increasing their confidence, creativity and fulfillment."
https://www.switchedonglobal.com
NB: There is an edit due to disconnection at 9:54.80
My topic this month is teen mental health.
What I've learnt about myself during my self development journey, was I was excellent at masking to survive school... but there was one main reason that I got up every day for school, and it wasn't the studies!
But the anxiety started when I was just 13, and it wasn't recognised as anxiety until well into my 20s...
I was just seen as "shy" or "nervous"
There's so much more help out there now.
Tune in to this month's episode for some insights about my teenage experiences.
This month I'm joined by Nicola Noel, of BrainWorks Therapy, to talk about people pleasing and boundaries.
"Nicola is the founder of BrainWorks Therapy, an online private mental health clinic.
She is an Award Winning Specialist Psychiatric Nurse, Solution Focused Hypnotherapist, and Mindset Coach with over two decades of frontline experience. She has worked across community, acute, judicial, and custodial psychiatric services.
She specialises in empowering professional women to rewire their brains, change their mindsets, manage emotions, build resilience, and improve overall mental health.Nicola’s expertise lies in areas such as complex trauma, PTSD, perinatal mental health, and forensic mental health.
She also delivers wellbeing, mindset, and resilience training, with a particular interest in women navigating peri-menopause and menopause. Her work extends globally, having consulted with the United Nations on prison reform for men of Afro descent and collaborated with the HRH Duchy of Cornwall estate, offering menopause awareness days.Nicola is deeply committed to raising mental health awareness within her local community.
She hosts bi-weekly online Coffee and Chats, in collaboration with MiB International to encourage open discussions about mental health, reduce stigma, and offer support. Her work has also gained attention through media appearances, including being featured in Metro, Yahoo life!, Good Housekeeping, Simply Christmas, interviews on BBC Hereford and Worcestershire, UK Health Radio, local and national papers where she discusses mental health issues and offers advice to a broader audience.
With a growing social media presence and a reputation for empowering women through therapy, coaching, corporate talks and training, Nicola continues to make a lasting impact on mental health and wellbeing, both locally and internationally.
Find her at: https://subscribepage.io/PhZwYj"
Thanks to Jackie Thomson of Jackie T hypnowellbeing, for sponsoring this month's episodes.
www.jackiethomson.com
In some ways, I still AM a people pleaser, but I'm also nothing like the doormat that I used to be!
I now know how to say "no", but as long as communications are clear, there can be no misunderstandings.
I'm known for being reliable, honest and most of all trustworthy, and I stand proud in that.
but not at the cost of mental health.
Listen in for my experiences of being a people pleaser, and how I reframed it into my strengths.
Thanks to Jackie Thomson for sponsoring this month's podcast episodes!
www.jackiethomson.com
jackie@jackiethomson.com
+44 (07) 449 304903
This month I'm joined by Jackie Thomson (Hypnowellbeing)
Jackie Thomson is an award-winning hypnotherapist, coach, and founder of Jackie Thomson HypnoWellbeing, based in North Wales. She works both in person and online with her unique blend of hypnotherapy, coaching and personal development, empowering clients to live happier, healthier lives. Jackie’s warm, compassionate approach empowers clients to unlock their inner potential, create lasting change, and reclaim their lives with renewed confidence and clarity.Recognised as Inspirational Hypnotherapist of the Year, a speaker at the UK Hypnosis Convention and included in Small Business Saturday’s SmallBiz100 in 2024, Jackie brings a wealth of experience, having transitioned from a successful corporate career to holistic therapy more than a decade ago. Her bespoke and personal approach is inspired by her own journey of self-healing and transformation, which she now shares globally through her practice, training, and speaking engagements.
Thanks to Amanda Anderson for Sponsoring this month's episodes!
This month I'm looking back at Christmas memories.
My parents always did things a certain way, so when I met Dr G I never twigged he had a different Christmas until we got married and started spending Christmas at our respective parents' houses, alternating each year until we had our son.
There were some awkward moments that's for sure!
Give this episode a listen to find out more!
Thanks to Amanda Anderson for sponsoring this month's episodes.
Amandaandersonauthor.com
This month I'm joined by artist Lucy Waide. "I’m Lucy. Small but mighty. Ex teacher and head of art and English in a neurodiverse school.Ex chocolatier and business owner.Ex wife.Ex womb owner and Endo sufferer.Ex suicide attempter.Current author, joy finder creating art in my studio and enjoying helping businesses and their teams to recognise, understand and believe that they have a choice to be happy and positive, using abstract art."Find Lucy at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-waide-2b33a7b3/Sponsored by Una Cottrell/ 45 Not Out https://una-cottrell.newzenler.com
This month's theme is "Art" and with my mum celebrating a milestone birthday in just a few weeks, this episode is for her!
One thing I don't really talk about in my book, is my childhood. Because anxiety didn't start until I was 13.
My earlier childhood was full to the brim with art, adventures, colours and fun!
My mum's creativity inspired my creative life <3
Thanks to Una Cottrell for sponsoring this month's podcast!
45 not out is a supportive community for sassy women aged 45 and over who are still serious about life, work and everything else who really aren’t done yet!
This month is about Menstrual Cycles to honour Menopause Awareness Day which took place on the 18th.
Dr Bev Taylor is a chartered psychologist, menopause trainer, speaker and coach. She regularly speaks at conferences and events about well-being, menopause or behaviour change or work with organisations to understand the impact of menopause at work. She believes that whilst menopause comes with a number of challenges, with the right information and support, we can enable employees to thrive during this important life stage.
Thanks to Emma Sails Coaching for sponsoring this month's episodes.
https://emmasailscoaching.com/
The theme this month is about menstural cycles, because my guest asked to be on episode 46 this month, because of Menopause Awareness day on the 18th October.
In this episode I talk about my experience with periods, from my first to the present day! (Ok, it's a brief trip of about 25 years, but until more recently, I didn't have anyone that I could discuss this kind of topic with.)
Through the networking world, I've found my people, and I love how the world is opening up to talking about more topics affecting mental health.
Celebrating World Mental Health Day today, and my gratitude for the last 4 years of my journey so far.
Today marks two years since my podcast originally launched, and three years since I became a best selling author through collaboration book "Seen".
Thanks to Emma Sails Coaching for sponsoring this month's episodes!
https://emmasailscoaching.com/
This month's theme is consistency, so I'm joined for this episode by Tesni Kendell.
"I'm Tesni at Ace of Media and I help passionate small business owners to unlock the power of social media without it being an overwhelming or confusing task."
Thanks to Soapy Jane for being this month's sponsor!
Website: www.soapyjane.co.uk
Facebook/Instagram: @SoapyJaneSoapery
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jane-prewett
This month's topic is Consistency, but it's certainly interesting that the word means different things to different people.
Tune into this episode to discover what consistency means to me, and how it helped me find my true confidence!
Thanks to Soapy Jane for sponsoring this month's episodes!
Website: www.soapyjane.co.uk
Facebook/Instagram: @SoapyJaneSoapery
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jane-prewett
This month I'm joined by Decluttering coach Susie Boutal, where she talks about what "Decluttering" actually is (It's not just stuff all over the floor!) and how she can help you declutter your life too.
Susie is a qualified ADHD coach and declutter expert, helping busy, often neurodiverse, women transform from procrastination to purpose to find their “Space to Live”, by decluttering their lives physically, mentally and emotionally. As a life-long declutterer, she works with these courageous women so they can take control, find freedom and break away from clutter for good. You can find out more at www.aspaceforliving.co.uk.
Thanks to Dani Louise Smith, the Queen of Business Organisation, for being this month's sponsor!
Watch the advert at the end to grab your freebie!
www.queenofbusinessorganisation.co.uk
Having anxiety, I suppose the definition of the contents of your brain is "clutter"??
originally I only thought clutter referred to the "junk in your house" but this month's upcoming guest discussed the mental and emotional clutter too, so that got me thinking.
Tune in to find out how I "decluttered" my mind...
Thanks to Dani, Queen of Business Organisation for sponsoring this month's podcast.
https://www.facebook.com/queenofbusinessorganisation
Her free toolkit: www.queenofbusinessorganisation.co.uk/toolkit
Beckie describes herself as an imperfect mum of 3, dedicated to helping fellow mums build lasting relationships with their kids, teens and themselves. Using a blend of coaching, NLP, and hypnotherapy, we can build harmonious homes, and handle what life throws at us. Together we'll reconnect you with your purpose as you navigate the evolving journey of motherhood.
In this episode we talk about how she helps others juggle mum life so that they don't have to struggle as much as she did when her children were younger!
Beckie's links:
https://www.facebook.com/cloudlessskycoaching/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beckie-cloudlessskycoaching
https://www.facebook.com/groups/mostlymums/
Thanks to Brain Works Therapy's Nicola, for sponsoring this month's episodes.
Nicola's Links:
www.brain-works-therapy.comhttps://www.instagram.com/brainworkstherapyhttps://www.facebook.com/nicolabrainworkstherapyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-noel-7b924752
I had anxiety. I was scared of being pregnant. I was too anxious to even "make the decision" to start a family. All the things that could possibly go wrong were running through my head. I did keep a journal which helped me overcome my fears in time to have my baby, but then no one warned us how bad the sleep deprivation could make things!!!
find out how I got my balance of being a mum of a neurodivergent kid, whilst being a multiple business owner...
Thanks to Nicola Noel for Sponsoring this month's episodes!
Her links are below:
https://www.instagram.com/brainworkstherapy
https://www.facebook.com/nicolabrainworkstherapy
https://www.tiktok.com/@brainworkstherapy
Having the nick name ‘Smiler’ it’s no surprise that MaggieHollinshead describes herself as a “glass overflowing” kind of person, whichshe attributes to a very happy and positive upbringing.
As an Artist, Maggie has enjoyed all kinds of creativitysince childhood, but it wasn’t until her thirties that she followed any formaltraining in the arts, until then she had been a Secretary/PA with a side hustleof creative work. After studyingTextiles with the Open University - College of the Arts and a CreativeEmbroidery Qualification via City and Guilds, Maggie had her work in variousexhibitions and rented a studio in Staffordshire, later owning a smallIndependent Gallery in Shropshire with her husband, where Maggie showcasedwork from Contemporary British DesignerMakers and Artists. Now working from hertwo studios in Staffordshire, Maggiecreates commissions, sells her own work, classes and workshops via her website,writes a regular online subscription magazine and has two books underway. For the past ten years, Maggie has also takenher work into an NHS mental health setting one day a week, where she worksdirectly with patients on the ward, this work is facilitated by Arts forHealth, part of Midland Partnership Trust NHS. Maggie is also a very keen gardener and has an award winning allotmentwith her husband, Tony. Tony grows allthe veg and fruit, whilst Maggie tends a cutting garden to provide flowers forhome and as gifts for family and friends. Gardening and the natural world inspires much of Maggie’s work, so it’sno surprise that during lockdown Maggie successfully combined her love ofgardening and creativity to develop garden designs from an Artist’s eye, withfive completed designs to date.
Maggie Hollinshead – Maggie’s Studio
MaggiesStudiouk@gmail.com
www.maggiesstudiouk.co.uk
IG – Maggie’s Studio (MHSmiler)
FB – Maggie’s Studio
LinkedIn – Maggie Hollinshead (Maggie’s Studio)
This episode is sponsored by Julie Williams of the Coaching Den.
FB- "the cooking counselor"
https://www.thecoachingden.org
In this episode I talk about what Self Care actually is, in general and for me specifically.
Because although my actual business revolves around the idea of Self Care and wellbeing, there's more to it, because at the end of the day there's still a work-life balance needed.
Listen in to find out how I see Self Care personally <3
Thanks to Julie Williams for being this month's sponsor.
www.thecoachingden.orghttps://www.facebook.com/TheCoachingDen4Life
This month I'm chatting to Lisa Williams, Children's Illustrator, about her lifelong passion for drawing, and how she got into children's illustration and now works closely with authors on their projects.
Here's some of her story/bio:
"My love of drawing started when I was a just a wee toddler. The only thing that kept me quiet and focused, according to my parents. As early as primary school (ages 5-11) I had decided that I wanted to be an illustrator. Occasionally I thought about being a ballerina or an astronaut but that would only have been alongside my creative career, of course! While I was still at secondary school (age 11-16), I received a handful of commissions and the school Art Prize. I took an Art Foundation course in Bangor, Wales after school, which I enjoyed. As a result, I decided to enrol in a three-year Graphic Design course at De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. It was during this time that I focused on illustration.Fortunately, I attracted the attention of an Artist Agency at my degree show. Commissions were slow initially, not helped by graduating during the recession of the 90s. For a few months, I worked in a bouncy castle factory which taught me to work at speed — no prevaricating! This skill was hugely beneficial for my commercial career. Thankfully, the number of commissions I received gradually increased and I haven't looked back.During the early years, much of my work has been in Educational Publications. This included projects for many magazines and a variety of children's books. These commissions have come from all over the world, including various countries across Europe, the U.S.A., and the Middle East. I've even had projects for the Chinese Educational Authority, and also some African countries. It is interesting how you have to adapt your artwork to fit in with different cultures.I often adapt my style to suit a given project. Sometimes I'll include little details that make the illustrations secretly more personal. This could include making the children look like the author's family members. The dog might look like their family pet dog. Toys in the story look like their children's favourite teddy bear or fluffy monster. It's a really great feeling helping them bring their stories to life.The illustration process has changed considerably over the years. I remember starting to fax sketches to a publisher and thinking it was SO much quicker. The final artwork all had to be painted by hand, mounted on board for protection and posted by 'snail mail' i.e. recorded delivery — slow and expensive! Later we could scan artwork and email it and now of course it's quicker still with drawing digitally on the iPad with an iPencil. I can't believe this year it's actually 30 years since I started in business - I'm excited to think about what the next 30 years might bring! They say that everyone has a book in them.Might you have a story that needs illustrating? Maybe, it's part written or you're not quite confident about the final draft. Please get in touch. I have some great contacts including fantastic editors, designers, and people who can advise you or assist you with self-publishing. Never be afraid to ask. If I can't help you, I probably know someone who can. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lisawilliamsillustration Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ljmwilliams
This podcast is sponsored by Ashtanga Life Anglesey.
https://www.ashtangalife.co.uk
This month I celebrate two years since my memoirs "Tales of An Anxiety Warrior" was published.
This episode talks about my development through books, what inspired my life, and how it could have shaped my view of the world.
It's all about books this month!
This episode is sponsored by Ashtanga Life Anglesey! Why not come and join us at the festival over summer solstice <3
Join me this month, as I chat to Emma Sails about what it's like being a Neurodivergent adult. We chat about how she found out, how she deals with it, and she also shares some tips if you're wondering if you might be/thinking of seeking a diagnosis. "Emma is an accredited health and life coach.I work with neurodivergent adults and parents of neurodivergent children to help them achieve what they want in their lives and feel confident and happy. I work with clients through 1:1 or group coaching, and have some On Demand resources around the topic of Exploring Neurodiversity available through my website. When I found out about my own neurodivergence aged 35, everything changed for me. I had just come through a battle with postnatal depression and ended my marriage... I was on a mission to figure out what I wanted in life and how to be the best role model for my son.ADHD and ASD gave me an answer to a lot of the struggles I’d faced throughout my life, so I retrained as a coach and set out to spread awareness and help others who are on the same journey. My ultimate goal is to ensure that future generations of neurodivergent children don’t have to go through what we did.Prior to being a coach, I ran a successful bookkeeping and accountancy business for 9 years, which gives me a great business foundation to help my neurodivergent clients with their businesses through Access to Work, as well as in their personal lives."
You can find Emma at https://linktr.ee/emmasailscoaching and her website is www.emmasailscoaching.comThis episode is sponsored by "Aphoria North Wales" Abi is the only musculoskeletal specialist in North Wales, and is just introducing EMDR therapy to her offerings!
https://www.facebook.com/aphorianorthwales
Are we all neurodivergent in some way? That's what my husband reckons...
I'm definitely neurodivergent myself, although I've never been diagnosed with anything like ASD, some people have asked!
This episode explores why I think differently, and how I can use that to my strengths <3
Thanks to Abi Pritchard of Aphoria for sponsoring this episode!
https://www.facebook.com/aphorianorthwales
Kirsty has been passionate about skincare since a young age as well as helping to support her own mental health and struggles through spirituality, and she's looking forward to delivering her second skincare masterclass on the 23rd March. Kirsty is all about helping people with their self care and wellbeing.
She supports busy mums and women in business who are burnt out, overwhelmed , or struggling with confidence and self belief, to find tailored and structured self care and skincare support, products and tools to help improve their wellbeing.
Join her community here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/489834474973813
This episode is sponsored by Clare Gould-Smith.
Her group is https://www.facebook.com/groups/683624570569245
This episode I give an insight to my childhood in a Church of England (Anglican) life, and why I turned away from it all when I was 17.
(The cover picture is me age approx 17, with my stars and moons curtains)
Spirituality means something different to me now.
Know your purpose, find somewhere to belong <3
This episode is sponsored by Clare Gould-Smith.
Clare is on a mission to bring ladies together to show them how creativity is a great way to self care and relaxing!
Why not join her community at:
(Crafty Circle with Betty & Grace)
https://www.facbeook.com/groups/683624570569245
Claire is a former high school English teacher, mum of 3 and a mindfulness expert. Running her own business, MiniMe Mindfulness - Staffordshire and Derbyshire. Predominantly working with children aged 3+ in schools, nurseries and community settings. Claire also works with businesses and adults to support them with reducing the overwhelm or work related stress, reducing staff absence and improving staff retention.
To connect with Claire, you can find her on Facebook: MiniMe Mindfulness - Staffordshire and Derbyshire,
Linked in: Claire Rushton-Plant or through the website: www.minimemindfulness.co.uk
For access to the adult app: download Boss Your Morning, then simply use the code CLAIRE30 this will give you 30 days VIP access to the app.
This episode is sponsored by Laura Teare-Jones & Liz Rowlands
(Getitdoneclub.co.uk/ tearejonescoaching.co.uk)
I've tried a few things in the past, starting with a not so positive experience on a mindfulness course over ten years ago, to being able to meditate through reiki. But there's a lesson at the end. Was I mindful all along? Listen to find out!
This episode is sponsored by Laura Teare-Jones & Liz Rowlands.
(getitdoneclub.co.uk/ tearejonescoaching.co.uk)
Clare is the Founder of The Health Habits CoachThe Health Habits Coach is an online business which helps people in midlife transform their health by changing their habits. She’s coached 2000+ as an NHS health coach, preventing Type 2 Diabetes and changing everyday lifestyle habits to improve health and wellbeing.She has 3 degrees in Psychology, Social Program Development & Behaviour Change for Health. With masters in MSc in Social Development and MSc in Health Psychology.Clare has the personal lived experience of being a Chronic Lyme Disease survivor and a life of cultural diversity having lived around the world across multiple continents.
In this episode we talk about what led Clare to where she is, and some of her most memorable moments, as well as how to start on your journey of habit setting!
https://www.instagram.com/thehealthhabitscoach/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehealthhabitscoach
This episode is sponsored by Jackie Thomson HypnoWellbeing
https://jackiethomson.com
jackie@jackiethomson.com
In this episode, I talk about how I used to set vague resolutions which I was never able to stick to, and how setting intentions changed my life. It's all about the manageable habits which turn into routine?
This podcast episode is sponsored by Jackie Thomson HypnoWellbeing
https://jackiethomson.com
jackie@jackiethomson.com
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Join me and my guest Catherine to talk music, Christmas concerts and the joys of teaching music to the younger generation.
Suitably adorned in Santa hats, of course!
"Catherine has taught for almost 19 years since graduating from Bangor University with an honours degree in Music and Liverpool Hope with a PGCE in Music teaching. She has held positions as Head of Music in England and Wales and since becoming a mummy, worked both privately and for the county music service, Denbighshire Music Co-operative. Catherine has a particular passion for Early years education and firmly believes music is a tool for ALL learning. Since starting in September 2022 with just one class, Mini Mozarts has catapulted in popularity and now has 15 sessions across 5 centres in Denbighshire and Conwy with requests for visits and training coming in from Schools and Nurseries and children's charities alike."
I played the violin first, and my time in a youth orchestra was a large part of my childhood.
I absolutely loved being part of an orchestra, but I hated practising/solo violin...
Here, I share some of my memories of being in an orchestra!
Dani, The Queen of Business Organisation, Helping holistic therapists, Wellness and beauty businesses through online systems & strategies to make more money. Her superpower is thriving throughout adversity and helping others do the same.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/499410204754024
Having an anxiety disorder rooted in perfectionism and a fear of failure, meant that anything that happened in my life, I had to have control, otherwise I'd be sent into a spiral of anxiety.
With my self development journey, I learnt that having a plan B for everything isn't always a bad thing, and being perfect certainly isn't on the cards anymore.
Lisa Williams, Vision Board Queen, is one of the main inspirations from my journey of self development/overcoming my anxiety disorder.
Here, she gives a summary of her story which led her to being the Vision Board Queen, and how we can use Vision Board ourselves.
Her community is here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1445838868760934 (Vision Board Lounge)
And her best selling book can be purchased here: https://amzn.to/3PZeSxt
How does an anxious person with no ambition, aspirations or no direction find their way forward?
I asked for help <3
My whole journey of self development started in lockdown, because I saw the resources and finally reached out for help.
Shoutout to Lisa Williams/ Vision Board Queen this month. One of my main inspirations!
Today I'm joined by guest Hayley Perkins to talk about diet culture, and why it's about addressing the root cause of your food issues.
"Hi, I’m Hayley - a trained and established therapist. For two decades, I've supported people in understanding and reshaping their relationship with food and their bodies.I am the founder of "A Different Path" therapeutic programme, it’s a programme that blends two decades of my personal experiences and professional training. It’s an impactful therapeutic programme that achieves results. Combining psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and behaviour change techniques to deliver you a personalised treatment. Our food relationship is complexed, it’s never as easy as eat less and exercise, so dieting alone is never going to really fix what’s at the root. I’ve struggled with my weight and disordered eating since being a kid and one of the hardest challenges I’ve had over the years is breaking those ties to dieting and diet culture.It’s hard to let go of something we’ve been investing in for years RIGHT? It’s hard to let go of something that’s familiar.But diet culture is part of the problem, not part of the solution. Proper long term healing instead of another quick fix. The results achieved through my personalised 1:1 therapy are far-reaching and impactful.I exclusively work one-on-one (online or in person) and I focus on forging deep, lasting connections that extend beyond our therapy session."
I've overcome most of my anxiety disorder, but one thing I haven't overcome is my fear of hospitals and doctors. Listen to this episode to find out why...
Sometimes we have to hit rock bottom before we learn how to grow.
I'm the Tropic Pianist Gamer, and I love the journey that my podcast has taken me on, but first and foremost I'm a pianist, and I'd love to reach beyond Facebook and social media, to spread the joy of music!
Let me entertain you with a chosen set every month for just £4.99 - That's less than the cost of a Classical concert ticket.
I bring you my multiple genres of music, because my taste goes "If it's got a good tune, I love it!" (no matter the genre)
If you have any requests just get in touch too.
https://tropicpianistgamer.co.uk
This month we're celebrating ten years of Nintendo Players UK.
I've been head of the hub since September 2020, and admin since 2015. But I wasn't the original creator. That was James Bowden.
He wanted to create a community of like minded Nintendo fans in his city where he'd just graduated from university, and as it transpired that there were others dotted around the UK, the hub was formed! The ethos and mission is simple: To be inclusive and bring people together through a love of all things Nintendo!
Find out a bit of his story on this episode!
Post editing notes: There were 4 hiccups in the connection for this recording, so the only unclear bit is James' Current job which he said: "Lead Social Media for Rare Ltd" - corrected to "Social Media Lead" post production. The others I've managed to make the conversations continue, but apologies for any "jumps" that occur due to being stitched together.
I may pitch myself as a multi passionate business owner, but when I'm asked what's my one core value/passion, it all comes down to community. The feeling of being part of something bigger, the feeling of belonging.
I was always part of clubs etc through school, but I never really felt I belonged. As an anxious thing, I found a workaround - If I can't belong to anyone else's community, I'll create my own!
Against all adversity, a five year personal vendetta, and a couple of toxic members/communities, we always come out top!
I've had a sense of community running through my veins as long as I can remember. Listen to the story of how I've kept it alive!
Lauren founded Netwalking UK in late 2022. Today I talk to her about how she started, and what her visions are.
"Lauren Malone is a mindset coach, and mentor and is the BBC mindset expert for BBC Hereford and Worcester. She's also the founder of NetWalking UK and is passionate about supporting small businesses with a mindset first approach. As well as running her businesses Lauren is a mum to 2 under 4s. She lives in Gloucestershire and is a huge Neighbours fan!!!"
In today's episode, I talk about being a gamer who actually likes the outdoors just as much as gaming!
Traditionally gamers stay very much inside. In fact I even had a BBQ once where all the guests stayed inside apart from my husband who was cooking!
I'm not like the others though, I host netwalks twice a month in my local area, and love exploring the outdoors! It's been in my veins since an early age, why not tune in to find out more of my story?
Today I'm joined by friend and guest, Kim Cullen.
I met her when I first started networking in October 2019, and as they say, the rest is history!
Kim is an experienced community manager and strategist. She has worked with clients to create a strong presence on social media, through content, engagement and building a powerful community. She has been recognised by Marisa Peer (world-renowned speaker, Rapid Transformational Therapy trainer and best-selling author), National Mental Health & Homeless Charities and the amazing Rachel Pedersen for her extraordinary commitment to community building.
Some may wonder how I came up with the "Tropic Pianist Gamer"... it's a seemingly random combination, but it was actually inspired by a particular lady, and then I built myself up from there.
Find out what the divine timing was for getting my brand clarity, and how it's developed since then.
Ian is publishing his book through TAUK publishing, which is the company I worked with the publish my own book.
Born in Liverpool, Ian hated getting homework but fondly remembers his English teacher setting a task to write a short scene for a play which lit the flame but it was some years before his passion for writing really took hold when, during a brief spell as an actor, he wrote his first play about the Beatles.
Since then, and after studying a film and media degree at Manchester University, he has written and produced a number of feature films and has always admired the incredible imagination of films, TV and books created for children. So much so that Ian took the plunge and began to write a range of stories for children to enjoy, the first of which is 'The Elephant in the Room.'
This month marks exactly one year since I published my memoirs: Tales of an Anxiety Warrior.
This episode talks about the process of telling my story, how I got all my themes in, and how publishing it into the world I wasn't nervous or emotional about it at all!
Everyone has a story in them. Knowing where to start can be the tricky bit.
Allen C. Paul is a musician, author, podcaster, and coach who helps Christian creatives find complete confidence in their calling while excelling in their craft. He is the author of two books, “God and Gigs: Succeed as a Musician without Sacrificing your Faith,” and his devotional “Your Art, God’s Heart.” He has interviewed dozens of Grammy and Emmy award winning artists on his podcast “The God and Gigs Show”, which has helped creatives to grow in their spiritual lives and creative gifts since 2015. He has been married to his wife Lia for over 25 years and has 3 children, and continues to perform and compose as an accomplished musician in South Florida.
I was once jeered at for being the one with too many hobbies. "You can't do all that, you're trying to do too many different things!"
I was told to pick one thing I was good at for university (which I then failed so had to pick a plan B)
I was told to niche down to one thing when being a business owner.
Then I overcame my anxiety disorder and rose to being a Multi Passionate Entrepreneur!
Living my best life, through my many passions and hobbies (some of which have turned into parts of my business)
Anna Green is one of my top regarded experts when it comes to Network Marketing. I've followed her since quite early on in my Tropic journey, and essentially learnt how to talk about Tropic in a passionate and authentic way through her teachings.
Today's episode we find out a bit about how she got into network marketing in the first place, her mission, and some valuable insights.
Dispel the old rumours of what network marketing was, and learn about how it can change peoples' lives for the better. (after all, you get out what you put in <3)
Yesterday marked my third anniversary since I made the decision to join Tropic.
Bit of a crazy thing to do a couple of weeks before lockdown hit?! Well, not really. Everything happens for a reason after all :)
The first guest podcast from the Tropic Pianist Gamer begins with a reference back to the Silent Night Set, a best selling festive collection by Tropic for Christmas 2022. There's so much yet to know about Magnesium and its benefits, but the first guest, Natalie Jurado, is the expert the Tropic Pianist Gamer was looking for!
Listen to this interesting discussion about how Magnesium is so important for our wellbeing.
The month of February is all about love apparently! (We personally mark St Dwynwen's Day on 25th January because that's the Welsh version)
But... this is the month to tell you about how an anxious person ended up in not one, but two love triangles in her lifetime!
They said guys were like buses, but I fobbed it off, until I found myself in the exact situation.
Except one was a bendy bus, and the other was a minibus with a coach ;)
Listen to this episode to find out what on earth I'm going on about!
This is the brief story of how an anxious gamer finally got fit - In lockdown I was the fittest I'd ever been, having lost over 2 stone/13 kg, just by "playing video games!
I changed my lifestyle completely after ending up in hospital in September 2019.
By lockdown, the anxious one who'd become scared of the gym, was slim and toned for the first time ever.
Now she wears LLL leggings as part of her brand The Tropic Pianist Gamer!
Want to get fit but don't know how to find motivation, listen for inspiration <3
A bit of my story about being a piano tutor, and how I learnt to read music in the first place.
And a cheeky plug at the end about my live Christmas Concert which is next Sunday (18th) in an exclusive Facebook group!
https://tropicpianistgamer.co.uk for more info!
For years when younger I believed I was cursed, and November was a cursed month. Bad thing always happened in November...
by my mid 20s, I was able to turn November around into a good thing. This month we celebrate 10 years of that good thing :)
World Mental Health Day is a special date for me for the third year running.
Here's a brief overview of the journey I've been on, focussing on the writer's side.
Also a shout out to Seen and Seen Too authors is this is a special day for all of us!
This is just a quick introduction to who I am, and what I hope to achieve with this podcast. It will be a video podcast once a month, talking mainly about anxiety and mental health. Storytelling and discussions included. If you would like to get involved just get in touch.