In this extended episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by someone whose insight and honesty around a topic that so many of us silently grapple with is not only deeply refreshing — it’s essential. Dr. Claire Ashley, also known as The Burnout Doctor, is a GP and neuroscience graduate who learned the devastating realities of burnout the hard way — by experiencing it herself. Claire shares her personal journey from being a high-performing, dedicated doctor and mother to finding herself in the depths of...
May 29, 2025•42 min
In this episode of Hurt to Healing , Pandora is joined by writer and filmmaker Rebecca Frayn , who opens up about her battle with chronic illness, debilitating anxiety, and the harrowing experience of Xanax withdrawal. Rebecca shares how a severe health crisis triggered a cascade of physical and mental struggles, culminating in a full nervous system collapse during the pandemic. She speaks candidly about the reality of waking up with "a gun to the head" kind of fear, the quiet shame of high-func...
May 27, 2025•35 min
This week, Pandora returns for a very personal solo episode, reflecting on themes of shame, self-worth, identity, and belonging. After a tough few weeks of physical pain and mental spiralling, she shares how reconnecting with her values — and stepping out of the victim mindset — has helped her find a little more hope. Drawing on her lived experience with OCD and an eating disorder, she opens up about the difference between fitting in and belonging — and how so much of her life has been shaped by...
May 25, 2025•21 min
In today’s episode of Healing 101, we sit down with former England rugby star, author, and mental health advocate James Haskell for a raw conversation about men’s mental health., James opens up about the psychological toll of elite performance, the silence that surrounds vulnerability in men’s sport, and the damaging myths around masculinity. He reflects on his own experiences with ADHD, self-doubt, and grief, while calling for a cultural shift where emotional honesty is not only accepted but en...
May 22, 2025•12 min
In today’s episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Dr. Elizabeth Kilbey — a clinical psychologist and author you might recognise from the Channel 4 series The Secret Life of 4, 5 and 6 Year Olds. Off the back of Adolescence, the recent Netflix series that’s struck such a chord with so many of us, I wanted to sit down with Elizabeth to explore how our children are really coping in a world increasingly shaped by screens, social media, and pressure. We talk about emotional resilience, why the latency ...
May 20, 2025•47 min
In this solo episode, I open up about a recurring foot injury that's been impacting both my physical and emotional well-being. It's been a challenging week, and I wanted to share the mental rollercoaster I've been on—from frustration and disappointment to acceptance and reflection. I talk honestly about how this injury has triggered deeper emotions, especially around the themes of control, body image, and resilience. I also reflect on how hormones can drastically affect our mental state (somethi...
May 18, 2025•24 min
In this episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by psychotherapist and anxiety expert Joshua Fletcher to unpack the misunderstood and often isolating experience of health anxiety. With fears around illness on the rise post-pandemic, Josh explains how health anxiety mirrors OCD, why the drive for certainty keeps us stuck, and how we can retrain our brains to feel safe again. Drawing from both personal experience and clinical expertise, he shares practical tools for breaking the cycle of obsessive chec...
May 15, 2025•26 min
In today’s episode of Hurt to Healing, we explore the powerful connection between our hormones, emotional health, and relationships with Dr. Emilia Vuorisalmi. A medical doctor and author, Emilia shares her deeply personal journey through heartbreak, love addiction, and burnout—and how those experiences led her to uncover the science of "love hormones" like dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. Through her story, she reveals how inner healing, hormonal balance, and purposeful living can unlock not ...
May 13, 2025•31 min
This week, I talk about my recent family trip to Italy and how I navigated traveling and the difficulties that come with it -- especially concerning food, routine, and experiences. I reflect on how "Old Pandora" would have travelled and how I'm able to take a step back and do things like not pack my yoga mat, not worry about the gelato flavours I wasn't able to try, and overcome the feelings of missing out on our final day on holiday. i also go into how my relationships with my family members ha...
May 11, 2025•26 min
In today’s episode of Healing 101, we’re joined by Jean Campbell—writer, speaker, and host of the podcast I’m Fine—for a deeply moving conversation about living with chronic pain. Jean shares how she’s learned to work with her pain rather than against it, offering insights into the emotional, physical, and mental strategies that help her navigate daily life. From low-impact movement and mindfulness to journaling and the power of community, Jean reminds us that healing isn’t about fixing—it’s abo...
May 08, 2025•11 min
In this episode of Hurt to Healing, I’m joined by Zoe Blaskey — founder of the Motherkind platform, host of the award-winning podcast, and author of Motherkind. Zoe shares her personal journey into motherhood, and how the challenges she faced inspired her to question societal expectations and support others navigating similar paths. We talk about “matrescence” — the identity shift that happens when a woman becomes a mother — and the emotional, hormonal and relational changes that come with it. Z...
May 06, 2025•38 min
This week, I’m opening up about some very real feelings I'm sitting with as I prepare for a family trip to Italy — and the challenges that come with stepping away from routine when you live with OCD and have a complicated relationship with control, food, and movement. I reflect on how holidays, for me, have often triggered a lot of anxiety rather than rest, and how I’m trying to approach this trip differently: with more spontaneity, curiosity, and self-compassion. I also talk about the importanc...
May 04, 2025•20 min
Welcome to Healing 101, where we dive deep into the foundations of mental wellbeing. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Phil Hopley—consultant psychiatrist and stress expert—to unpack one of the biggest challenges of modern life: chronic stress. Dr. Hopley explains how to recognise the early warning signs before burnout strikes, why our relationship with stress matters more than the stress itself, and how small, daily resets can make a huge difference. From practical tools for busy parents to th...
May 01, 2025•12 min
In this episode of Hurt to Healing, Pandora sits down with Emma Healey, acclaimed author and journalist, to explore the complex relationship between exercise, body image, and control. Emma shares her deeply personal experience with exercise addiction, discussing how what started as a routine for health and fitness slowly became an all-consuming compulsion. She opens up about the psychological and physical toll it took on her body, relationships, and sense of self, as well as the difficult journe...
Apr 29, 2025•36 min
In this solo episode, I open up about something deeply personal—my relationship with my brother, and the wider dynamics within my family. For a long time, I found certain behaviours hard to understand or accept, but recently, I’ve started to view them through a different lens. I share how gaining perspective on my own coping mechanisms—and recognising where they come from—has helped me see my family’s responses in a new light. I talk about how we all carry our own childhood experiences into adul...
Apr 27, 2025•18 min
In this episode of Healing 101, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Chuks to explore the powerful connection between anxiety, stress, and disordered eating. We unpack how stress hormones like cortisol impact hunger, why early life experiences shape our eating patterns, and how guilt and shame can trap us in unhealthy cycles. Dr. Chuks shares practical advice for building a more compassionate, mindful relationship with food—and with ourselves. Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing: Instagram: instagram...
Apr 24, 2025•15 min
Today, I’m joined by former England rugby player, best-selling author, podcaster and media personality, James Haskell. Known for his larger-than-life presence both on and off the field, James has been on a journey of self-discovery, navigating the highs and lows of professional sport, dealing with ADHD, and embracing new challenges after retiring from rugby. In this conversation, James opens up about his childhood, how his ADHD diagnosis shaped his early years, and the impact of professional rug...
Apr 22, 2025•51 min
In this solo episode, I open up about what it really feels like to slow down - not by choice, but by necessity - and how it's been forcing me to confront old fears, routines, and the way I measure my worth. I share how an injury has made me rethink productivity, presence, and the masks we wear to seem like we're doing fine when we're not. It's a vulnerable one, but I hope it reminds you that wherever you are right now is exactly where you're meant to be. I also talk about learning to trust mysel...
Apr 20, 2025•24 min
Jessica Clarke is a model, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the wellness brand Mother Made. Born and raised in New Zealand with strong Māori roots, Jessica grew up surrounded by holistic healing, a deep connection to nature, and a family who believed in the body’s ability to restore itself. In this episode of Healing 101, Jessica shares how her own experiences with burnout and imbalance led her to reconnect with those early teachings—and ultimately launch a brand focused on the power of functiona...
Apr 17, 2025•25 min
In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Chuks to explore the deeply layered world of eating disorders - how they often begin, what fuels them, and why they can be so difficult to detect and treat. We talk about the connection between stress and disordered eating around major life events, the dangerous expectations placed on our bodies before weddings and holidays, and how social media and comparison can quietly chip away at our sense of self. I share some of my own experiences navigating anorexi...
Apr 15, 2025•32 min
In this week’s solo episode, I open up about something deeply personal - navigating another stress injury and the emotional spiral it triggered. I reflect on the long-term effects of an eating disorder, the lessons I’ve had to learn (and re-learn), and the importance of catching ourselves before we fall too far down a familiar rabbit hole. From stress fractures and stubborn inner critics to spontaneous lunches and surprising friendships, I try to make sense of what it means to find softness in s...
Apr 13, 2025•28 min
In this Healing 101 episode, I sit down with James Withey - writer, speaker, and founder of The Recovery Letters project - to explore what it really means to live with depression. James shares his personal journey, from struggling with depression since childhood to facing suicidal thoughts and time in psychiatric hospitals. Through vulnerability, wit, and warmth, he helps break the silence and stigma around mental illness. In this episode, we discuss: How depression can feel like deep isolation—...
Apr 10, 2025•21 min
Today, I’m joined by James Longman, an award-winning journalist and author of The Inherited Mind, for a deeply personal and powerful conversation about mental illness, family history, and the complexities of healing. James opens up about his father’s struggles with schizophrenia and suicide, and how that experience shaped his own battles with depression and anxiety. Writing his latest book—a deeply personal exploration of his family’s history—was both cathartic and incredibly challenging, forcin...
Apr 08, 2025•40 min
In my first ever solo episode, I open up about the challenges of living with OCD, the fear of doing something new, and the everyday battles that come with a long-term mental health condition. I reflect on the power of saying "yes" even when it feels uncomfortable, the slow process of reclaiming joy, and what it’s taken to begin moving beyond the rigid, compulsive structure my OCD once demanded. This episode is about the tension between survival and connection—and the courage it takes to let peop...
Apr 06, 2025•24 min
In this episode of Healing 101, we explore the fascinating link between gut health and mental well-being with Dr. Federica Amati. The gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in everything from mood regulation to cognitive function, and emerging research shows that what we eat directly impacts our mental health. Dr. Amati breaks down: How the gut microbiome influences brain chemistry and mental well-being The role of diet in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety Why inflammation, leaky gut, and...
Apr 03, 2025•16 min
In this powerful episode of Hurt to Healing, I talk with journalist and editor Annabel Fenwick Elliot, who shares her deeply personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD at age 34. Annabel reflects on how ADHD impacted her life, from struggles in school and university to managing depression and navigating adulthood. She candidly discusses the strategies that have helped her work with, rather than against, her ADHD tendencies, including the use of medication and embracing openness about her cond...
Apr 01, 2025•31 min
Welcome to this Healing 101 episode, where we tackle one of the most pressing topics in mental health today—how to support teenagers through the challenges of growing up. I’m joined by Dr Beth Mosley, a psychologist who works closely with young people and families, to unpack the pressures teens face, from social media and school stress to navigating family relationships. Beth shares practical advice for parents, including how to set healthy boundaries around technology, keep communication open, ...
Mar 27, 2025•15 min
In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Josh Connolly, an emotional resilience coach, speaker and author of the transformative book It’s Them, Not You . Josh opens up about his personal journey of healing from a childhood shaped by trauma and growing up with a toxic, alcoholic parent. He shares how these early experiences influenced his struggles with addiction and self-worth, and how he’s since transformed those challenges into a mission to help others. Together, we explore the long-ter...
Mar 25, 2025•49 min
On today’s Healing 101 I am joined by Katie McKenna once again to talk about something that isn’t always visible but can have a profound and lasting impact—emotional abuse. Unlike physical abuse, emotional abuse can be subtle, insidious, and difficult to recognise, but its effects on self-worth, confidence, and relationships can be just as damaging. In this episode, we’ll explore the hidden signs of emotional abuse—from gaslighting and silent treatment to intense jealousy and role reversal in pa...
Mar 20, 2025•22 min
Welcome back to Hurt to Healing! Today, I’m joined by the brilliant Dr. Federica Amati, a medical scientist and registered nutritionist, to talk about how we can build a healthier relationship with food—without all the guilt and restriction. So often, nutrition advice focuses on what to cut out, but Federica believes the real power lies in what we add in. We’ll be talking about how to personalise your diet based on your age, life stage, and health needs, and why enjoying food is just as importan...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 7 min
