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What does it take to paddle, mountain bike, and run 350 kilometers without sleep? For Sip Powers, it's about making visible the invisible struggles of veterans living with PTSD.

After 34 years of military service and the devastating loss of his wife to suicide, Sip found himself facing his own mental health crisis. Despite years of helping wounded veterans through rehab programs while denying his own trauma, he eventually reached breaking point. "My complex PTSD is like skimming a boulder that just never stops," he explains with raw honesty. "All I want is for that stone to stop and sink at some stage."

Now, Sip channels his pain into extraordinary endurance challenges that mirror the relentless nature of trauma. Having completed the Enduro 214 (all Wainwrights in one sitting during two storms) and the Enduro 7 (seven extreme events over seven days without sleep), he's preparing for his next mission: the Enduro 3. This August, he'll paddle from Fort William to Inverness, mountain bike back, then run the same route – all without sleep.

Sleep disruption emerged as a common thread among the veterans Sip worked with through Battle Back, a program helping seriously wounded soldiers rehabilitate through outdoor activities. "We're asking these veterans to hold up a job, look after their family, be civil, be good people, and they are in a world of pain," he explains, highlighting why his no-sleep challenges carry such powerful symbolism.

Beyond raising funds for Combat Stress and Mountain Rescue, Sip's mission is awareness. He believes his "skimming boulder" will finally sink when everyone knows about resources available to veterans suffering in silence. His journey highlights both the transformative power of the outdoors for mental health and the critical gaps in support for those who've served their country.

Follow Sip's extraordinary journey and support his cause by visiting the Extreme Outdoors website. His story reminds us that behind every stoic veteran is a human being processing complex experiences – and that with proper support, healing is possible.

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Miranda Arieh's journey from mental health patient to pioneering trauma specialist will forever change how you understand recovery and healing. After spending her teenage years in foster care and being sectioned under the Mental Health Act, Miranda became what she calls a "rebound patient" for 15 years—unable to find effective treatment within a system that often re-traumatized rather than healed.

The breakthrough came when Miranda decided to work within the very system she struggled against, eventually creating the Heroes Program—an innovative eight-week curriculum that's already helped thousands recover from trauma and mental health struggles. But her approach turns traditional treatment models upside down.

"We're not here to fix you or treat you," Miranda explains, challenging the medical model that treats emotions as illnesses. Instead, she sees trauma as "a living breathing wound that opens in the present moment when echoes of the past are triggered." This perspective shifts healing from revisiting painful memories to working with present-day triggers—providing tools to apply "ointment to the wound" each time it opens.

The program's philosophy extends to addiction, viewing it not as the primary problem but as "an attempt to solve a problem" when people lack capacity to hold difficult emotions. "We're almost like personal trainers for the mind and nervous system," Miranda says, teaching participants to build emotional strength rather than numbing out.

What makes Miranda's work truly revolutionary is her firm belief that healing is possible for everyone. "There is no order of difficulties in healing trauma," she insists—someone with severe abuse can heal just as completely as someone with milder trauma. The goal is what she calls a "return to self"—living authentically rather than in fear.

Ready to change your relationship with anxiety, trauma, or difficult emotions? Listen now to discover the transformative power of befriending rather than battling the wounded parts of yourself. As Miranda's story proves, sometimes our deepest pain becomes our greatest gift for helping others.

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The healing power of nature and human connection takes centre stage as Kelvyn James returns to White Fox Talking, sharing his transformative journey from profound darkness to founding a thriving mental health charity.

Kelvyn lays bare the brutal realities that shaped him - growing up in a violent household where his earliest memory is "an exceptional act of violence" and later facing the unimaginable trauma of his mother's murder. What followed was a five-year court battle where he repeatedly faced his mother's killer, a struggle he initially kept hidden from those closest to him.

The mountains became both sanctuary and danger zone as Kelvyn sought escape through increasingly risky climbs. "I was never suicidal," he explains, "but completely believing I deserved to get hurt." These high-risk behaviours provided momentary relief but failed to address his underlying trauma. The breakthrough came when he discovered that true healing happens through connection - with nature and with others.

This realization became the foundation for Wellness Walks, a charity offering free nature walks specifically designed for people struggling with mental health. Since becoming an official charity in September 2023, they've expanded rapidly, with nearly 100 volunteers running walks across the UK. What makes these walks uniquely effective is what Kelvyn calls "therapy in 3D" - the side-by-side walking creates natural opportunities for connection without the pressure of face-to-face therapy.

His newly released book "Walking Out of the Dark" chronicles this journey, with all proceeds supporting the charity's work. Though it begins in darkness, Kelvyn promises readers there's a happy ending - not because the pain disappears, but because he found a path through it. "If somebody carries a great weight for too long, one of two things is going to happen - either you're going to get stronger or you're going to break," he reflects. "For a long time I didn't know which it would be, and by the end of the book I understand it's both."

Ready to experience the healing power of nature? Join a Wellness Walk near you, or support their work by purchasing Kelvyn's book directly from wellnesswalks.org.uk.

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What happens when hate crime tears through a community? Behind the headlines and political noise, real people suffer lasting trauma that transforms into a "siege mentality," severely impacting mental health and wellbeing. Imran Shah, recently honored with an MBE for his 25 years of work in community cohesion, brings us to the front lines of this battle.

Drawing from his powerful personal journey that began with homelessness at age 15, Imran reveals how misinformation, exploitation, and division are strategically weaponized in today's digital landscape. His Digital Cohesion Unit works around the clock to identify potential flashpoints before violence erupts. "After the Southport murders," Imran explains, "we were contending with two types of social media posts—those from state actors planting misinformation to drive divisiveness, and those from extremist groups trying to get people 'frothing at the mouth.'"

The conversation shifts between deeply personal stories and broader societal observations. When communities lose youth centers, educational support, and economic opportunities, the vacuum is filled by those seeking to exploit vulnerable people. Yet Imran consistently highlights the counternarrative rarely covered in headlines—how everyday people from different faiths and backgrounds come together after tragedies to rebuild and support one another.

Perhaps most powerful is Imran's insight into breaking cycles of hate through education. "The social values are being set at a much younger age now," he notes when discussing programs that teach children about exploitation, radicalization, and community values before harmful influences can take root.

This episode offers a rare, nuanced look at community cohesion work that happens behind the scenes, revealing how personal trauma can transform into purpose when supported by compassion and connection. As Imran powerfully states, "If you're waiting for somebody to come in and help, you're going to be waiting a bloody long time."

Join our conversation that cuts through polarized debates to find common ground in our shared humanity. Don't forget to support White Fox Talking through our website where you can buy us a coffee to help keep these important conversations going.

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Grace Olson's sheep aren't livestock – they're therapists with woolly coats and gentle souls that can transform lives. During this captivating conversation, Grace shares how her journey through bullying and suicidal tendencies led to unexpected healing through animal connections. Now, she's channelling these therapeutic experiences into beautifully illustrated children's books that might just save young lives.

Each of Grace's sheep-centered stories carries profound emotional lessons disguised as charming tales. "Merlin Finds His Magic" teaches children that helping others is where true magic lies. "Galahad Finds His Voice" speaks directly to sensitive children who feel different, showing them their uniqueness is actually their superpower. "Beryl Finds His Wings" demonstrates how changing negative thought patterns can transform one's entire experience of life.

What makes these stories particularly powerful is that they're based on real therapy sheep with remarkable abilities. Grace describes watching Merlin deliberately approach a grieving mother who had lost her son to suicide, standing with her for an hour in the snow and bringing her to laughter. The science behind animal therapy proves fascinating – sheep naturally maintain a relaxed parasympathetic state, and through mirror neurons, humans unconsciously adopt similar calm when in their presence.

Grace's mission comes from a place of profound urgency. As youth suicide rates continue climbing (her paediatrician sister reports cases increasing from 2/year to 2-3/month), these books aim to teach children early how to master their thoughts and develop emotional resilience. By presenting complex psychological concepts in accessible, engaging stories, she hopes to prevent the devastating mental health crises that often emerge during adolescence.

Want to experience the healing power of therapy sheep? Visit GraceOlsonAuthor.com to discover her books or find her YouTube channel, where videos of her singing to her sheep Galahad have become an unexpected source of joy for viewers worldwide.

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Ever wondered how something as simple as your breath and cold water could completely transform your mental state and physical health? Jack Walker, certified Wim Hof instructor and founder of Wellness Retreat Spain, takes us on a deeply personal journey from struggling with cannabis addiction and unexplained depression to finding extraordinary clarity through breath work and cold exposure.

We are joined in the studio by Bradley Perigo, who practices the Wim Hof method. Also joining the conversation, online, is White Fox Talking resident Psychologist Dave Gallagher, to provide a scientific input.

The science behind the Wim Hof Method proves fascinating – when we deliberately cycle our nervous system between fight-or-flight and rest-digest states through specialized breathing techniques and cold immersion, we're literally rewiring our brain's stress response. This practice builds resilience that transfers to everyday challenges, from road rage to workplace pressure, creating a profound shift in how we handle life's difficulties.

What makes this approach so powerful is its accessibility. Jack explains how just two minutes in cold water (not necessarily ice!) can activate cardiovascular improvements through vasoconstriction and vasodilation, essentially exercising your 100,000 kilometres of blood vessels like you'd train a muscle. The method also stimulates brown fat activation, boosts immune function, and provides remarkable mental clarity – all confirmed by scientific studies showing significant improvements in mood, energy, and sense of control.

Whether you're battling stress, seeking performance enhancement, or simply curious about pushing beyond comfort zones, this episode offers practical insights for incorporating these techniques safely into your routine. Jack's upcoming wellness retreats in Spain provide an immersive opportunity to experience these benefits in a supportive environment, complete with yoga, meditation, and fresh farm-to-table dining.

Ready to discover what your body and mind are truly capable of? This conversation might just be the first step toward finding unexpected peace in discomfort.


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What happens when the fighting spirit meets profound loss? Two-time British Thai Boxing Champion Padraic McDonagh takes us on a raw, unfiltered journey through his remarkable life—from discovering Thai boxing as a 12-year-old on a Leeds council estate to building a legacy that transforms lives through combat sports.

McDonagh's story pivots around his mentor Steve Adams, who spotted his talent immediately and became a father figure in his life. "Stick at this, you're going to be a champion," Steve told him after his first training session. Those words planted seeds of self-belief that flourished into British championships by age 16. But when Steve passed away suddenly in 2010, McDonagh's world collapsed, leading to a dark period of grief, anxiety, and excessive drinking.

The podcast doesn't shy away from mental health struggles. McDonagh speaks candidly about developing "death anxiety" and how counseling ultimately saved him: "Even after the first session I could breathe again." His honesty dismantles stereotypes about fighters and masculinity, showing that seeking help requires tremendous courage.

Today, McDonagh's Golden Team Boxing Gym stands as both memorial and mission—a 4,000 square foot space where champions train alongside 73-year-old charity boxers and troubled youth find direction. His work extends beyond the gym into local primary schools, where he shows children from disadvantaged backgrounds that they too can achieve greatness: "I'm just from an Irish family in the middle of Seacroft and you can do exactly the same."

The conversation illuminates how combat sports naturally incorporate the "five pillars of mental health"—exercise, nutrition, sleep, community, and self-care—creating an environment where healing happens through discipline and connection. For anyone battling their own demons or looking to make a difference in their community, McDonagh's journey offers powerful proof that our deepest wounds can become our greatest purpose.

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What happens when you leave school to follow a band and end up shaping an entire era of clubbing? Dave Beer, the trailblazer behind the legendary Back to Basics, did just that. In our latest episode, Dave shares his remarkable journey from punk rock rebellion to an influential career as a promoter, musician, and artist. We explore how his struggles with ADHD in his youth fuelled a passion for music and community, leading to a life defined by resilience and creativity. Through Dave's eyes, we see how labels of the past, like being deemed "dysfunctional," can transform into powerful narratives of self-discovery and triumph.

Our conversation takes a reflective turn as Dave opens up about the impact of modern communication on youth and creativity, likening it to living under a "Big Brother" scenario. We reminisce about the origins of Back to Basics, celebrating its ethos of prioritising community and authenticity over profit. In a world dominated by screens and social media, Dave emphasises the importance of genuine human connection and the role of music in fostering creativity and self-expression. We touch on the nostalgia of 90s clubbing and the unique social atmosphere that defined an era of freedom and opportunity.

The episode takes an emotional depth as Dave candidly discusses his battle with cancer and the transformative power of love and support. He shares how Buddhism and the concept of synchronicity have brought him solace, inspiring a renewed appreciation for life. Dave's journey through adversity highlights the power of a positive mindset and the enduring impact of determination and passion. As we wrap up, we look forward to his upcoming projects, including a book, film, and album, underscoring the cyclical nature of life's experiences and the continuous pursuit of authenticity and creativity.

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