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RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
Vicky Midwood - Human Health Strategist for high-performers
174 episodes
6 days ago
RAW CHATTER is a podcast of unfiltered stories about addiction recovery, mental health, and reinvention in life and business. Through candid conversations, we explore the psychology of addiction, resilience, and entrepreneurial growth. Each episode (some solo some with guests) dives into real experiences of struggle and success - raw, honest talks about recovery, resilience, and finding success beyond struggle. If you’re curious about mental health, addiction recovery, and how transformation fuels life and business, this is where those stories come alive.
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Health & Fitness
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All content for RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention is the property of Vicky Midwood - Human Health Strategist for high-performers and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
RAW CHATTER is a podcast of unfiltered stories about addiction recovery, mental health, and reinvention in life and business. Through candid conversations, we explore the psychology of addiction, resilience, and entrepreneurial growth. Each episode (some solo some with guests) dives into real experiences of struggle and success - raw, honest talks about recovery, resilience, and finding success beyond struggle. If you’re curious about mental health, addiction recovery, and how transformation fuels life and business, this is where those stories come alive.
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Health & Fitness
Episodes (20/174)
RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
Candy Bars in Gym Clothes: The Atlas Bars Rebellion

Most “protein bars” are just candy bars in gym clothes - packed with sugar, chemicals, and clever marketing.


In this episode, Atlas Bars founder James Oliver shares how frustration, curiosity, and a $5K start-up budget led him to build a clean, low-sugar, high-protein bar that actually lives up to the label.


From his 4am Uber shifts to survey testing, manufacturing challenges, and a clinical study, James opens up about the real journey behind the brand - and why metabolic health needs a rebellion.


We explore:

📍 How Atlas uncovered the truth behind the “healthy” bar industry

📍 The 20g protein / 28g sugar problem nobody talks about

📍 Building a product people actually want (not just marketing hype)

📍 Why your money is a vote in the metabolic health crisis

📍Overcoming doubt, rejection, and the 1% odds

📍 What’s next: new products + their first clinical study


Key takeaway: Every purchase is a vote. Stop rewarding companies that sell sugar as “protein.” Choose better. Demand better.


Find out all about Atlas bars here:


Website: https://atlasbars.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atlasbars/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atlasbars/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atlasbars


Vicky xx


Connect with Vicky:

🌐 vickymidwood.com

📩 vicky@vickymidwood.com

📅 Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat

📲 LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram: @vickymidwoodhealthcoach


#ProteinBars#CleanIngredients#LowSugar#HighProtein

#MetabolicHealth

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1 week ago
35 minutes 30 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
From Gun Violence to Grace: Permission to Grieve, Pivot & Lead

When tragedy strikes, how do you keep living?


In this powerful episode, Chandra shares losing her brother to gun violence- and how grief became the spark for founding a nonprofit, rebuilding identity, and coaching women to design their “third quarter” with intention.


We cover:

✅ Why grief needs permission (and what that looks like in real life)

✅ Starting a foundation to serve under-resourced families

✅ Empty-nest loneliness, identity loss & the courage to pivot

✅ Community + accountability: the fastest way out of stuck

✅ Practical mindset tools to define your next chapter—on your terms


One takeaway: “Grief is the cost of love. Give yourself permission. You only live once - so live.”


Grab your Special offer here: 1:1 $21 Tiny Challenge https://join.chanda-co.com/home-page-page


Connect with Chanda:

🌐 chanda-co.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chandacoston

Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @chanda__co


Vicky xx


Thanks for listening, you can connect with me here:

Connect with Vicky

🌐 vickymidwood.com

📩 vicky@vickymidwood.com

🗓️ Book a call: tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-...

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2 weeks ago
36 minutes 5 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
Ayurveda & Herbalism for Real People: From Anxiety & Fatigue to Joy

What if the path out of anxiety, fatigue and “I’m not myself” isn’t another pill - but plants, principles, and a whole-person blueprint that’s 5,000 years old?


This week, Lila - clinical herbalist & Ayurveda practitioner shares her journey from lifelong anxiety, an eating disorder and corporate burnout to finding real healing through herbs, Ayurveda, and nervous-system care.


We unpack what Ayurveda actually is (hint: a complete medical system, not just spa oils), how herbs fit into modern care, and why you should start yesterday if you want to age well.


We cover:

👉 How Ayurveda + herbalism address root causes (not just symptoms)

👉 Anxiety, depression, chronic pain, migraines, digestive issues & fatigue—what changes first

👉 The gut–brain–nervous system triangle and daily practices that move the needle

👉 Plant medicine, safety, and meeting you where you’re at (from tea to tinctures)

👉 The truth about “there’s one right way to eat” after disordered eating


One takeaway: Don’t wait. The choices you make now pay you back in energy, clarity, and a future you’ll actually enjoy.


🔗 Find out more about Lila’s work and grab your mini health assessment

Website: https://tvnhc.com/

Free mini Health Assessment- https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/829732/158777877666465500/share

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexus-swanberg-ab180290/

Podcast: https://herbalismuncensored.podbean.com/


Vicky xx


Connect with Vicky:

🌐 vickymidwood.com

📩 vicky@vickymidwood.com

📅 Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat

📲 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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3 weeks ago
29 minutes 49 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
Fix Bloating Fast: Gut Health, Chewing & Food Intolerance Testing

Ever wondered why you still feel bloated, foggy, or exhausted even when you “eat healthy”?


In this episode, award-winning gut health specialist Rachel Crowder reveals how one overlooked habit - slowing down and chewing can solve up to 60% of digestive issues.


We dive into the gut-brain connection, what your microbiome is trying to tell you, and how to use food intolerance testing the right way - without ending up on a restrictive, joyless diet.


You’ll learn:

💬 Why fast eating sabotages digestion (and how to fix it today)

💬 The link between bloating, brain fog, and stress

💬 How to repair and reintroduce foods safely after intolerance testing

💬 Why “diversity first” eating balances hormones and boosts energy

💬 The mindset shift that turns gut healing into freedom, not fear

🎧 Exclusive Offer:

Listeners of RAW CHATTER get £20 / €25 off Food Intolerance Testing with code RAW20Connect with Rachel Crowder:

🌐 www.rachelcrowdernutrition.com

📩 info@rachelcrowdernutrition.com

📱 Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

@rachelcrowdernutrition


Vicky xx

Connect with Vicky:

🌐 vickymidwood.com

📩 vicky@vickymidwood.com

📅 Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat

📲 LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram: @vickymidwoodhealthcoach

#GutHealth #BloatingRelief #Microbiome #DigestiveHealth

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1 month ago
35 minutes 29 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
“Suck It Up, Princess”: Karlie Thompson’s Story - From Coma to Carbon Legs

Karlie Thompson shouldn’t be here - consultants gave her a 5% chance.


A fit, high-performing NHS comms leader, Karlie was put into a coma with pneumococcal pneumonia, developed sepsis, went into multi-organ failure, suffered a stroke on ECMO, and ultimately chose a bilateral below-knee amputation to live and walk again.


This isn’t a tragedy story.


It’s a masterclass in choice, grit, and joy in the smallest moments.

Karlie’s mantra: “Suck it up, princess.” - isn’t denial; it’s deciding to move anyway, cry when you need to, and keep going for the people you love.


In this episode:

🔥 The night everything changed and why being “healthy” saved her life

🔥 What ECMO is (and why only a handful of UK centres offer it)

🔥 Waking from a coma “locked in,” communicating one letter at a time

🔥 Choosing amputation vs. a wheelchair—and letting her kids vote

🔥 Body image after trauma, prosthetics 101, and setting wild goals

🔥 Joy not perfection: painting pots, iced coffee, and saying “I love you” on repeat


Quotables:

💬 “Kick the ball, buy the shoes, eat the cake. Tell people you love them.”

💬 “Sometimes you’ve just got to suck it up, princess. Other times, it’s okay not to.”

💬 “It’s not the field of sunflowers - it’s the flower.”


Connect with Karlie

🔗 Instagram: @karlie_thompson_suckitup

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karliethompson/

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karlie.thompson.58


About RAW CHATTER

Unfiltered stories of addiction, recovery & reinvention. Real talk on resilience, mental health, and the messy middle of becoming.If this helped you, hit Subscribe, drop a comment for Karlie and share this with someone who needs proof that comeback stories are real.


Vicky xx


To find out more about me and why I do this podcast

🧠 Coaching info: https://vickymidwood.com/

📩 Join the email list for weekly updates: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/426802/87719477697841062/share

Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat


Connect via social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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1 month ago
38 minutes 14 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
“You’ve Got This”: Frances Bentley’s Story of Violence, Survival & Radical Healing

What does it take to rebuild a life that almost ended before it began?


In this raw, unfiltered conversation, I chat with Frances Bentley Speaker, Author, and Advocate for women and children shares how she survived extreme early-life violence, escaped years of abuse, and transformed trauma into purpose.


We dive into generational patterns, the body’s memory, nervous-system tools, and how she ended the cycle through conscious parenting and radical self-work. Her message? “You’ve got this.”


In this episode Frances shares what it’s really like to grow up in survival mode - the kind of trauma that shapes your brain, your body, your relationships, and your sense of self.


We talk about:

💥 The silence behind closed doors (and why victims aren’t believed)

💥 How trauma gets passed down through generations — and how to stop it

💥 Food, perfectionism, and control as coping mechanisms

💥 Meditation, breathwork, and body-based healing

💥 Ending the cycle - and giving her daughter the childhood she never had

Heres the link to her book: Broken Bones: https://amzn.eu/d/g9G1qe7

Checkout Frances' Coaching here Website: https://francesbentley.com/


Connect with her here: Email: info@francesbentley.com

Phone (UK): 07366596518

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachbentley

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_bentley

X/Twitter: https://x.com/britishdance


Vicky xx


As always I'd love you to connect with me especially is you know that your situation is affecting your health and you are turning to food, drink or other things to cope, numb out or get through another day...


Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat

🧠 Coaching info: https://vickymidwood.com/

📩 Join the email list for weekly updates: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/426802/87719477697841062/share


Connect via social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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1 month ago
37 minutes 29 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
From Cocaine to Compassion: How One Man’s Grief Sparked a Mental Health Revolution

What happens when the man who’s always “held it together” finally breaks?


In this episode, Chris Hemmings - former BBC journalist turned therapist and founder of Men’s Therapy Hub, shares how grief, cocaine, and burnout led him to create the UK’s first directory built by men, for men.


We talk about:

💬 How addiction, masculinity, and shame silence men in pain

💬 Why half of men drop out of therapy and what needs to change

💬 The truth about male suicide, emotional literacy, and social conditioning

💬 How “talking like men” in therapy makes healing more effective

💬 The mission to get more men on both sides of the therapy room


Key Insight:“We’re asking men to do emotional work they were never trained to do - and then shaming them for not being able to.


What men need isn’t blame, it’s understanding, support, and patience.”

Connect with Chris & Men’s Therapy Hub:

🌐 menstherapyhub.co.uk

📲 Follow @MensTherapyHub on Instagram, TikTok & LinkedIn

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb2di8n0azBtHBiGwVQDBRg


Vicky xx


As always I'd love you to like, subscribe and share and reach out to me if you hace spcific issues with food, alcohol, anxiety, ADHD or all of them using the links below:

Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

🧠 Coaching info: https://vickymidwood.com/

📩 Join the email list for weekly updates: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/426802/87719477697841062/share

Connect via social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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1 month ago
43 minutes 40 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
From Burnout to Bending Time: How Autoimmune Issues Lead to a New Career

In this episode of RAW CHATTER, Michelle Niemeyer shares her powerful journey from burnout and autoimmune struggle to building a thriving career helping others reclaim their time, energy, and joy.


A former lawyer turned keynote speaker, coach, and creator of "The Art of Bending Time" Michelle reveals how hitting rock bottom opened the door to a new way of living and how you, too, can bend time instead of being broken by it.


In this episode we explore:

💥 How an autoimmune health crisis sparked mindset shifts that rewired focus, energy, and purpose

💥 Why “work–life balance” is a myth that breeds disconnected, low-trust teams

💥How multi-tasking actually makes you less productive

💥 Why human-first connection (not performative teamwork) is the real productivity multiplier

💥 Why when you change how you perceive and exist within the same job it feels different.


Key Insight: Work–life balance doesn’t exist, it’s a myth that keeps us in stress and burnout. Connections, relationships and mindset matter most.


Take Away: "Know what lights you up and pro-actively go and make it part of your life"


Grab her FREE gift here: https://www.michelleniemeyer.com/offers/dmNrobgd/checkout

Connect with Michelle Niemeyer:

Website: https://www.michelleniemeyer.com/

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-melin-niemeyer


Vicky xx

Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat

🧠 Coaching info: https://vickymidwood.com/

📩 Join the email list for weekly updates: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/426802/87719477697841062/share


Connect via social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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1 month ago
50 minutes 3 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
ADHD, RSD & Burnout: The Truth Behind the Labels

ADHD isn’t just about distraction. For many, especiallywomen diagnosed late - it’s about rejection sensitivity, hidden addictions, andburnout that feels like failure.


In this episode, I break down what ADHD reallylooks like day-to-day, why RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) drives people-pleasing and perfectionism, and how coping mechanisms like bulimia, alcohol, smoking, and overworking quietly take root.

I share why I trained in ADHD - because the overlap is undeniable. These ‘socially acceptable addictions’are survival strategies, but they also fuel anxiety, depression, andexhaustion. If you’ve ever felt lazy, too sensitive, or not enough - this isthe truth you’ve been waiting for.


Vicky xx


As always I'd love you to connectwith me especially is you know that your situation is affecting your health and you are turning to food, drink or other things to cope, numb out or get throughanother day...


Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

Book a call:https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat


🧠 Coaching info:https://vickymidwood.com/

📩 Join the email list for weekly updates:https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/426802/87719477697841062/share


Connect via social media:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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2 months ago
32 minutes 40 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
Discovering the Power of Words and the Mind, Body, Connection

Conscious life coach and Somatic attachment therapist share her story about shifting careers from being a gardener via writing courses and training to do women’s circles.


She talks about being an anxious child, struggling with depression. We talk about the mind body connection and learning to feel emotions.

Why physically releasing pent up emotions and trauma is so important and how you need to give yourself permission to let go.


Yolanda has created a way of combining writing along meditation and releasing emotions in a safe and manageable way.


Wild Words ten week course is where the words come out untamed, uncensored, free can be done for wellness or creative expression – check out her courses on the links below -now.


The book Yolanda mentions at the end – The Power of Now -Ekhart Tolle


To connect with Yolanda:

Email: yolanda@lettingthelight.inWebsite: www.lettingthelight.in


On Socials

Facebook: wwwfacebook.com/yolandagbrooksLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yolanda-brooks-0a0275312


Vicky xx

As always I'd love you to connect with me especially is you know that your situation is affecting your health and you are turning to food, drink or other things to cope, numb out or get through another day...


Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat


Connect via social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/


📩 Join the email list for weekly updates: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/426802/87719477697841062/share

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2 months ago
43 minutes 48 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
Addicted to Pressure: The Real Reason Midlife Feels So Heavy

Addicted to Pressure: The Real Reason Midlife Feels So Heavy

Why does midlife feel so heavy - even when you're doing everything right?

In this raw season finale, I'm naming what most high-achievers don't:
We're not just burned out.
We're addicted to pressure - to overworking, over-giving, controlling, proving.

We say we want peace, but we choose urgency.
We crave health, but we cope with alcohol, food, and busyness.
And underneath it all? A body and brain in survival mode.


In this episode, you'll learn:


✅ The subtle ways addiction to pressure shows up in midlife
✅ Why rest, softness, and stillness can feel unsafe
✅ The hidden costs of being "high-functioning" but emotionally numb
✅ How to stop sabotaging yourself - and start coming home to your body

This isn't about willpower or productivity.
It's about truth, trauma, and reclaiming your capacity to feel alive again.

🔔 Subscribe for Season 6 - we're going deeper.🧠 Coaching info: https://vickymidwood.com/📩 Join the email list for weekly updates: https://tinyurl.com/2jbbmtuvVicky xxAs always I'd love you to connect with me especially is you know that your situation is affecting your health and you are turning to food, drink or other things to cope, numb out or get through another day...Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chatConnect via social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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3 months ago
28 minutes 58 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP 39: Common Myth Busting for Better Health

Think you're doing health "right"? Think again.


In this solo episode, I bust some of the most common health myths still floating around:


😴 "You must get 8 hours sleep"

🥗 "Calories in, calories out is all that matters"

🍽 "Finish everything on your plate"

💉 "GLP-1s = guaranteed muscle loss + weight regain"


If you’re ready for some blunt truth, backed by real science and real-life experience - this one's for you.


Ask your question in the comments section about a common myth of belief you are unsure of and I'll do my best to calrify things for you.


Vicky xx

As always I'd love you to connect with me especially is you know that your situation is affecting your health and you are turning to food, drink or other things to cope, numb out or get through another day...Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chatConnect via social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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4 months ago
32 minutes 57 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP 38: From Carer to Couch-Surfing to Coaching: Escaping the Roles That Don't Serve Us

What happens when you realise the life you’ve built - twice, maybe three times over- isn’t actually yours?

In this raw and powerful episode, I sit down with confidence coach Nicky Massey, who shares the unfiltered truth behind her journey from “having it all” to losing everything and finding something far more important: herself.


Nicky had what many would call a great childhood, but later realised she’d been quietly trained to tolerate, accept, and smile through things no woman should.

Married young.

Divorced twice.

A business owner.

A full-time carer.

A woman who kept putting others first until the cracks turned into collapse.


We talk:

💔 The marriage she calls a car crash

🏠 The partner who isolated her and stole her spark

🛋️ The “adventure” of sofa-surfing after losing everything

⚡ The wake-up call from a friend that shifted everything

📚 The book that lit a fire she couldn’t ignore

💼 And how she rebuilt her career and confidence from scratch


Now working in sport, running her own coaching practice, and finally living life on her terms,

Nicky’s story is a must-listen for any woman who’s ever felt lost inside the life she created.


Vicky xx


Connect with Nicky here:

🌐 Website: www.nickymassey.com

📧 Email: nicky@nickymassey.com

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickymassey-life-coaching/

📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/nicky_massey_coach

📅 Book a call: https://calendly.com/nickymassey2/lets-chat


As always I'd love you to connect with me especially if you know that your situation is affecting your health and you are turning to fod, drink or other things to cope, numb out or get through another day...


Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

Book a call: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat


Connect via social media: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vicky_gofigurecoaching/

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4 months ago
47 minutes 18 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP 37: Addiction Doesn’t Discriminate: A Sales Director’s Journey to Recovery

In this powerful episode, I’m joined by Jarrod Cairns, a successful Sales Director turned business consultant who shares his raw and honest journey through addiction, recovery, and rebuilding his life and career.

With a background in multiple industries and deep expertise in coaching, sales, CRM, and marketing, Jarrod looked like he had it all. But behind closed doors, he was struggling with alcohol and drug addiction.

We dive into:

  • The accident that shattered his self-worth and became a trigger

  • The lie of “I’m not hurting anyone” — and how secrecy feeds addiction

  • The addict voice in your head that convinces you you’re fine

  • Why daily use isn’t the only sign of addiction

  • The painful truth: once you start, you can’t stop

  • The wake-up moment that led him to rehab

  • Finding strength in the Anonymous rooms (AA, NA, CA)

  • Why connection and honesty are essential to healing

  • Building back family trust, self-worth, and a business with purpose

Jarrod’s story is one of courage, humility, and transformation and a reminder that addiction doesn’t care about your job title, your income, or your LinkedIn profile.


Today, he runs a consulting business built around a people-first approach helping leaders and teams work in a way that brings peace of mind, not burnout.


If you’ve ever questioned your habits, or love someone who’s struggling, this is an episode not to miss.

Vicky xx

Check out Jarrod's website: www.etsbusiness-services.co.ukConnect with him on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jarrod-cairns-2486708Please do share this episode with someone you feel may benefit from it.


If you would like to have a chat with send me send me a message by email:

vicky@vickymidwood.com

Check out my website:

www.vickymidwood.com

Or connect with me on social media:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/⁠

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4 months ago
47 minutes 27 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP 36: 3 STEPS TO BETTER SLEEP AND LESS STRESS

Sleep is not a luxury, it's your brains operating system.

In this solo epiosde I break down the real science behind sleep, stress, and performance - and why so many high-achieveres are unknowingly running on empty.


I cover:

Why one poor night’s sleep cuts focus by 30%

What your brain really does while you sleep (hint: it’s not just rest)

How stress acts like electricity in your body - invisible but powerful

The silent signs your system is under pressure

And three powerful shifts to get out of the “wired but tired” trap


If you’re a business owner who works hard, sleeps badly, and wonders why you feel foggy, irritable, or flat… this one’s for you.Need help with your sleep or stress reduction?Let's have a convesation about the best strategies for you.

Book a 30 minute chilled chat here: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat


Vicky xx

Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

Connect with me on Social Media

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

⁠Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood

⁠Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/⁠

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4 months ago
25 minutes 46 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP 35: Doing Things Because They Feel Good, NOT to Prove You are Good Enough!

In this solo episode I ask...

What if you didn’t need a goal, a finish line, or a performance metric to justify your actions?


I explore what it means to do things simply because they feel good - not because they make you better, more successful, or more acceptable.


If you’ve ever found yourself chasing results, comparing yourself to others, or struggling to “earn” rest or joy, this is your reminder to stop performing and start living.

I cover:

  • Why awareness is the foundation of real change

  • The power of acceptance - not as giving up, but as choosing peace over punishment

  • How to break free from constant self-comparison

  • Why joy and presence are reason enough


This is your invitation to stop pushing for the next version of you and start appreciating the one who’s here now.


Need help getting started with that? Send me a message by email or social media or book in for chilled out chat using the links below


Vicky xxBook in for a chat: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chatEmail me: vicky@vickymidwood.comConnect with me Social MediaLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/⁠

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4 months ago
16 minutes 46 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP 34: Why Smart People Stay Stuck!

In this solo episode I talk about why as a smart person you don’t need a breakdown to want a breakthrough!


You can be leading, delivering, performingAnd still wake up with food, alcohol, anxiety, guilt, or control running the show.


This episode is for you if you are DONE.

🔹Done with pushing through.

🔹Done with feeling like a fraud.

🔹Done with trying to out-discipline the exhaustion


.And are ready to do what really smart peple do, ask for help from someone who's been where they are and now has what they want...


I invite you to reflect:

What are you tolerating that’s quietly costing you?

To imagine your day if you didn't wake up with feelins of dred, anxiety, guilt, exhaustion or defeat...


If you want to stop the secret struggle by booking in for a chilled out chat to discover where to begin to get the breakthrough you want without having to burn out or break down!


Vicky xxBook in for a chat: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat

Email me: vicky@vickymidwood.comConnect with me Social Media

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

⁠Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood

⁠Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/⁠






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5 months ago
20 minutes 12 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP 33: Closing the Intension Behaviour Gap

The Intention-Behaviour Gap: You Know What to Do - So Why Aren’t You Doing It?

You’ve read the books. Listened to the podcasts. You know the habits that would help you feel, focus, and lead better…

So why aren’t you following through?

In this week's solos episode I'm digging into the intention-behaviour gap - that frustrating space between knowing what would help you thrive… and not doing it.


I cover the four hidden reasons this keeps happening yes, even to smart, successful people!

  • You don’t see people like you doing it (social norms, workplace culture, and the craving to belong)

  • You haven’t done it often enough for it to feel automatic

  • You don’t fully believe you can (yep, self-doubt strikes even high performers)

  • It doesn’t feel good - and we’re wired to avoid discomfort


I also break down why “stepping outside your comfort zone” can backfire - and what to do instead to expand your capacity without overwhelm.

If you’re tired of starting strong, it all going pear shaped and then shaming and blaming yourself for it - this one’s for you.

Need help with anything I talk about in this episode please do book in for a chat, send me a message via email or on social media


Vicky xx

Email me: vicky@vickymidwood.comBook in for a chat: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chatConnect with me Social Media

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/⁠Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/⁠

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5 months ago
19 minutes

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 Ep 32: Get Out of your Head and into Action

In this solo episode I am hitting you with the truth!


You can’t think your way out of patterns you acted your way into.

Motivation doesn’t come from mental clarity - it comes from action.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

➡️ Why overthinking is keeping you sick, stuck, and exhausted

➡️ The trap of insight without change

➡️ Practical tools to get out of your head (especially if you disconnect from your body or struggle to follow through)

➡️ How to take tiny, body-first actions that create real healing momentum


If you’ve been waiting to “feel ready” - this is your wake-up call.

Let’s stop intellectualising your challenges and start transforming them.




If you want to talk you can either email me: vicky@vickymidwood.com

or book in for a chat using the link below: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat


Or connect with me Social Media and send me a message:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/⁠

Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/⁠

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5 months ago
20 minutes 23 seconds

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
S5 EP31: What It Really Means to Be Human

In this episode I talk about that fact that most people have no idea how their brain, body, or nervous system actually work! They think:

• Overthinking is just a personality trait

• Self-sabotage means they're lazy

• Repeating the same painful patterns is a failure of willpower

It’s not.It’s wiring.

In this episode, I’m breaking down:

👉 Why we default to worst-case scenarios

👉 How fear dresses up as logic

👉 Why you repeat patterns that block what you say you want

👉 And how to actually rewire your brain (without burning yourself out)


You’re not broken. You’re just human.


Vicky xx


Book a chilled out call to help you know where to start to re-progamme your body and mind using this link: https://tidycal.com/vicky1/30-minute-chat

Or drop me an Email: vicky@vickymidwood.com

I'd love you to connect with me social media..


LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickymidwoodhealthcoach/

⁠Facebook:

⁠https://www.facebook.com/vicky.midwood⁠

Instagram:

⁠https://www.instagram.com/vickymidwood_gfc/⁠

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5 months ago
23 minutes 1 second

RAW CHATTER! Unfiltered Stories of Addiction, Recovery & Reinvention
RAW CHATTER is a podcast of unfiltered stories about addiction recovery, mental health, and reinvention in life and business. Through candid conversations, we explore the psychology of addiction, resilience, and entrepreneurial growth. Each episode (some solo some with guests) dives into real experiences of struggle and success - raw, honest talks about recovery, resilience, and finding success beyond struggle. If you’re curious about mental health, addiction recovery, and how transformation fuels life and business, this is where those stories come alive.