Avsnitt
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What do Florence Pugh, Monica Dolan, Toby Jones, Patricia Clarkson, and James Caan all have in common? Answer: Carol Morley.
Born and raised in Stockport, Manchester, the youngest of three, Carol’s world was shattered by the tragic loss of her father. Grief hit hard. At just 11, she turned to books and booze, juggling life as her eccentric mother’s carer while throwing herself into a full-blown identity crisis—experimenting, rebelling, searching.
By 16, she found a kind of refuge in Tony Wilson's infamous Hacienda Club, where the music was loud, the nights were long, and self-medication was easy. Four years of wild living, booze, drugs, and reckless abandon pushed her to the edge—until a moment of clarity sent her fleeing to London.
What happened next? A First-Class degree from St Martin’s School of Art. A hard-fought climb into filmmaking. And an award-winning career working with some of the biggest names in the industry. Carol’s journey is one of chaos, creativity, and sheer determination.
Take a look at some of her work 👉 https://www.campfilms.co.uk/ -
BONUS EPISODE:
When life knocked him down, what kept Simon Woodroffe from sinking? In this bonus episode, the Yo! Sushi founder and Dragon’s Den star shares the unconventional lifelines—his "lifejackets"—that helped him stay afloat when he was stuck. From the adrenaline of mountaineering and sailing to the wisdom of Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Spinal Tap, and the unexpected lessons from Clarkson’s Farm and The Crown, Simon unpacks the action, adventure, and mindset shifts that shaped his resilience. -
Saknas det avsnitt?
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At seven, he was sent away to boarding school, where abuse, fear, and loneliness shaped his early years. By his thirties, Simon Woodroffe masked the pain with bravado, drink, drugs, and a fast life that landed him briefly behind bars. But his story doesn’t end there.
From rock-bottom to rock stages—designing for George Michael, Fleetwood Mac, and Rod Stewart—Simon turned his life around through 12-Step recovery, self-help, and a belief in pushing boundaries. He became a TV dragon on Dragon’s Den, launched the Yo! Sushi empire and is a relentless champion of stepping outside your comfort zone.
Generous, courageous, and always shooting straight from the hip—practical, fearless, and undeniably inspirational. -
Writer, special needs teacher, and editor of Toes in the Water, Rachel Jones shares how wild swimming became more than just a hobby—it became a lifeline. From navigating autoimmune disease and single parenthood to finding community, resilience, and self-worth in the open water, Rachel talks about the transformative effects of cold swimming on both mind and body.
She discusses the healing power of nature, the unexpected connections it creates, and how it’s helped her, and others cope with trauma, divorce, ADHD, autism, and the everyday challenges of life.
A refreshing, honest, and uplifting chat about mental strength, cold water courage, and the joy of taking the plunge—literally.
📖 Read more in Toes in the Water → https://bit.ly/4bLFpbn -
Writer, director, and Casualty co-creator Paul Unwin has spent his career telling other people’s stories, but this time, he’s sharing his own. He opens up about the trauma that shaped him at 19, the therapy that helped him heal, and why he refuses to let fear or regret define his life. His ethos is "Don't live with regret, don't live with fear".
From working with Arthur Miller to running the Bristol Old Vic, Paul has done it all. He discusses his latest West End play, The Enfield Haunting, and his powerful new work, The Promise, about the birth of the NHS. But beyond the stage and screen, he reflects on grief, EMDR therapy, his love for drumming and Steely Dan, and the one best friend who has never let him down—his dog (but don’t call it a pet).
A compelling, moving, and unexpectedly funny conversation about life, loss, and why looking back is never the answer. -
Kicking off 2024 with a bang as Harvey Lisberg, legendary manager of Herman’s Hermits, 10CC, Graham Gouldman, and more, pulls back the curtain on his wild life in the music business. From Manchester to New York, Elvis to Mick Jagger, Harvey’s stories are as big as the names he’s worked with.
Hear about the time Charlie Watts gave Mick Jagger a taste of his own medicine, what it was like to share a bill with The Rolling Stones, and how a self-confessed gambler made his own luck in an industry where the odds are never in your favour.
But it’s not all rock ’n’ roll excess—Harvey shares how meeting his wife Carol shifted him from the fast lane to a much better life, and why family always comes first. -
Doctor, scholar, mother, survivor—and dog lover.
After 35 years as a GP, Mary Ryan has seen it all, but her own journey has been just as intense as the lives of the patients she’s treated. Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), she opens up about the stigma, misunderstandings, and how her own views on it have changed over time.
She talks about power, violence, and the times she wasn’t believed, reconciling with her Catholic faith after a traumatic childhood, and how a sudden stroke at 41 changed everything. From serious workplace bullying and hospital admissions to the one treatment that truly made a difference, Mary doesn’t hold back.
And in between all the chaos? There’s her love for dogs, baking, The Archers, Barry Humphries, and the strangely therapeutic power of cold-water swimming.
A fearless, funny, and brutally honest conversation about mental health, resilience, and finding strength through taking the plunge – literally. -
Nick Drake was supposed to be a star. A Cambridge-educated, prodigiously talented songwriter, he released three critically acclaimed albums—Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter, and Pink Moon—yet never saw commercial success in his lifetime. At just 26, he tragically took his own life.
Music biographer and El vinyl boss Richard Morton Jack joins host Jeremy Thomas to dive deep into Drake’s lyrics, mental health, and the unanswered questions that linger decades after his passing. Was he struggling with severe depression or schizophrenia? Did he have romantic prospects we never knew about? And in today’s world, would his story have ended differently?
With unprecedented access to private letters, recordings, and firsthand accounts from friends, family, and those closest to him, this episode sets the record straight on the mystery, music, and mind of Nick Drake. -
Impressions, insecurity, and the struggle for control.
Jan Ravens, one of the brilliant key voices behind BBC Radio 4’s Dead Ringers and a Spitting Image veteran, didn’t have the easiest start. Growing up in a household dominated by Liverpool FC and her father’s schizophrenia, she often felt powerless—until she discovered something that gave her control: comedy.
She talks about impersonating teachers for laughs, dropping weight (and suddenly being the most popular girl at the disco), and why Thora Hird’s unwavering certainty became an unexpected source of comfort. She reflects on awkward and poignant moments with her father, her mother’s anger, and the lasting impact of living in a house where mental illness loomed large.
But Jan didn’t just survive—she excelled. Inspired by local legend Glenda Jackson, she made it to Cambridge University , Footlghts, the RSC, Spitting Image, and beyond. From winning Celebrity Mastermind to dancing on Strictly, she’s built a career on fearlessly stepping up—even when she doubted herself.
A funny, fierce, and deeply honest conversation about fear, resilience, how comedy became her lifeline. -
50+ hit records. Three Ivor Novello awards. Bipolar disorder. Electroconvulsive therapy at 16.
Nicky Chinn co-wrote some of the biggest songs of the '70s and '80s, writing smash hits like Tiger Feet, Blockbuster, Devil Gate Drive, Hey Mickey, Living Next Door to Alice—all while battling severe bipolar disorder. Alongside his songwriting partner Mike Chapman, he helped shape the sound of Sweet, Mud, Racey, Suzi Quatro, Smokie, Toni Basil, Tina Turner, and Huey Lewis. But behind the music, there was another story.
Nicky opens up about the brutal psychiatric treatments he endured as a teenager, multiple hospitalizations, and his lifelong search for stability. He shares insights into fame, fortune, and friendships, including his close bond with pop mogul Mickie Most. There’s also plenty of rock ‘n’ roll madness—from turning his bathroom into a discotheque to buying two Rolls-Royces in one day and snapping up Paul Newman's Hollywood mansion.
At the heart of it all? A childhood shaped by abandonment, a search for belonging, and a 1995 turning point that changed everything, meeting his now wife. -
From the House of Lords to the depths of addiction—this is Lord Brooke’s story, unfiltered.
Clive Brooke, now Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe, grew up knowing he wasn’t the son his father wanted. That lingering shadow shaped him in ways he only truly understood later in life. Finding his feminine side helped him navigate the world of trade unions and politics, but behind the scenes, he was battling booze, food, and sex addiction—a spiral that nearly destroyed his marriage, his health, and his life.
Then came the wake-up call: a doctor’s stark warning that death was just around the corner. What followed was a fight for survival, redemption, and healing, with an unlikely trio of saviours—a dog, cancer, and the 12 Steps.
Now considered one of the hardest-working peers in the House of Lords, Lord Brooke reflects on public service, marriage, recovery, and why the words "one day at a time" are inscribed on his coat of arms.
A brutally honest, deeply human story of power, pain, and the long road to making things right. -
From child prodigy to classical music industry powerhouse, Danny Evans has lived a life that echoes the drama of a Rachmaninov concerto—soaring highs, crashing lows, and everything in between.
Once a Royal College of Music student destined for concert pianist stardom, his world took a sharp turn after a violent father and a career-ending back injury forced him to walk away. But instead of leaving the music world behind, he found himself at the heart of the classical music business, working with some of the biggest names, including Lang Lang.
He talks about the fast lane of the industry, the pressure, the adrenaline, and the moment it all tipped over. From Berlin to New York to Paris, Danny opens up about relationships that burned bright and fast, the creeping onset of paranoia, and the helter-skelter ride into bipolar disorder…and Love rescues all? -
Award-winning writer Tim Lott has lived a life full of twists, turns, and the occasional bad trip. From a train journey with David Bowie to navigating severe depression, ADHD, and the chaos of fathering four daughters, Tim reflects on the moments that shaped him.
He talks about growing up working-class, discovering how medication and diagnosis made sense of his past, and why he once thought Mike Leigh was faking it. Plus, his unexpected love for tennis, the haunting music of Gillian Welch, and unapologetically cheesy musicals.
But at the heart of it all? A family tragedy surrounding his mother that changed everything—and set him on the path to becoming a writer. Now, he’s sharing what he’s learned, running a writer’s boot camp to help others tell their own stories.
Witty, raw, and full of surprises—this is Tim Lott, unfiltered.
timlott.substack.com -
A.L. Kennedy is known for her dark, razor-sharp novels, her no-nonsense attitude, and her ability to cut through literary fluff like a bare-knuckle boxer—which, coincidentally, her grandfather actually was. But beyond the awards, the Guardian blogs, and the stand-up gigs, who is she really?
In this brilliantly unfiltered episode, she opens up about brain fog, toxic thoughts, and chaos engineers—plus why baking her own bread, avoiding card sharks, and getting lost in nature have been essential for her mental health and creativity.
And, of course, there’s the kayak.
Paddling all the way from Essex to Somerset, A.L. moored outside the Shed for what turned out to be less of a Shed Talk and more of a wee shed chat—but one you won’t want to miss. -
From riding winners to battling demons, Nathan Horrocks has jumped more fences than most—both literal and metaphorical. The ex-jockey turned award-winning film director opens up about the highs and lows of his life, from abandonment and dyslexia to the relentless pressure of professional racing. He lifts the lid on the brutal reality of the jockey world, his struggle with anorexia, and the dark day he woke up wishing he hadn’t.But then, one horse changed everything.
Nathan shares his extraordinary journey from Yorkshire to Kenya, from heartbreak to healing, and how he ended up living in California, happily married, making films that tell the stories of the animals that saved him.
Oh, and why Good Will Hunting still hits home every time.
A raw, honest, and unexpectedly uplifting episode about resilience, reinvention, and the power of second chances. -
Crime, chaos, and the fight to stay afloat.
No One UK crime writer. Bestselling Inspector Rebus creator Ian Rankin reveals the personal battles that shaped his life and career—from growing up in gangs in tough Fife to battling panic attacks, family tragedy, and financial insecurity. He opens up about the three things that stopped him from veering off the cliff, and how writing saved him.
Rankin shares the lesser-known parts of his world: his secret diaries, a lifelong love of Edinburgh, and his decades-long marriage. He reflects on the terror of his son's serious illness, the dark nights of the soul that followed, and how he found comfort in music, mates, and unshakable loyalties—from old-school bands to cult icons like Alex Harvey and Jackie Leven.
From his days in punk rock bands The Dancing Pigs and The New Germs to his rise as one of the UK’s greatest crime writers, this is a raw and revealing look at the man behind the books.
And one more thing—which book has Ian Rankin read over 20 times? Find out in this special bonus clip: https://youtu.be/Bd5WH0EvOZM -
Journalist Gordon Darroch reflects on life, love, and the unexpected turns that shape us. From his passion for literature, film, and music. To the realities of meeting the love of your life aged 17 to parenting two children with autism, he shares his journey with honesty and depth. But when his wife received a terminal cancer diagnosis at just 36, everything changed.
How do you navigate grief, resilience, and the time you thought you had? And how the hell do you cope when the life you built is suddenly turned upside down? A highly moving conversation about love, loss, and finding a way forward. -
From a bullied schoolboy to a headmaster, from rugby triumphs to the heartbreak of unimaginable loss.
Dick Moore hated school so much he once faked appendicitis to escape it. Tormented by a sadistic headteacher, he battled anxiety and depression, with rugby as his only lifeline. But life took a turn—he became a teacher, a husband, and, at just 26, the youngest prep school headmaster in the country.
For 22 years, he shaped young minds while raising four children. But in 2011, tragedy struck—his third son, Barney, took his own life.
This episode is about bullying, mental health, resilience, and the devastating impact of suicide—but also about love, healing, and the strength to keep going. -
The pods very own psychologist, Karen Cowan, takes the hot seat in this extended edition, opening up about her tumultuous upbringing in an aristocratic yet deeply dysfunctional family. Born into wealth overshadowed by heroin addiction, alcoholism, and bipolar disorder, she navigated a childhood filled with fear, anxiety, and debilitating asthma—never truly feeling safe.
Forced to grow up fast, Karen found strength in protecting her younger sister, helping her cope with her father’s imprisonment and her mother’s repeated hospitalisations due to alcoholism and mental illness. She also reflects on the painful consequences of her mother’s forbidden love with a teenage boy and the subsequent emotional toll.
Ultimately, it was love that saved Karen, her marriage to film producer Paul Cowan (The Crying Game, The Krays, Dance with a Stranger) became her anchor, transforming her life and leading her to a career in mental health, resilience, and healing. -
Rage, betrayal, heartbreak, and… cats?
Meet Mike Fisher, the mastermind behind BAAM (British Association of Anger Management) and one of the UK’s top experts on managing anger. Born and raised under Apartheid in South Africa, Mike’s early years were shaped by a volatile world—one that fuelled his deep understanding of rage, imploding emotions, and the cost of burying anger.
In this episode, he breaks down the difference between exploding and suppressing anger, shares personal stories of heartbreak and betrayal, and even weighs in on the dilemma of supporting both Arsenal and Barcelona FC.
A fascinating, fiery, and unexpectedly funny conversation on how to understand, process, and transform anger—without letting it destroy you. - Visa fler
