The Superhero Finder Podcast - Real people, real stories and real power!

Welcome to our special festive time episode where we meet Toni, who is 19 and really wants to get out there the challenges of teenage mental health conditions.

It is also Toni's 20th birthday on release day! Its a fascinating insight from someone who has stepped out of the comfort zone to appear on this show.

We discuss BPD, Autism, DID and more.

Thankyou to UTM studios in Leeds for filming and editing todays episode and for the use of the studio.

Thank you as always to my patrons James and Lucy, without you it would be extremely difficult to maintain these podcasts.

Welcome back!

November 25th was White Ribbon Day - what is that you ask?

White Ribbon Day is a day for many to stand up, speak up, and say no to violence against women.

There is a significant increase in violence, harassment, and abuse towards women and this campaign is intended to raise awareness about the prevalence of male violence against women, with the ribbon symbolizing “the idea of men giving up their arms”.

Active in over 60 countries, people are urgently called to work together to prevent violence and make sure communities and homes are made safe for everyone

Today I speak with North Yorkshire Police VAWG Sergeant Amanda Hanusch - Moore on what the police are doing to make our communities safer for women.

How working with men to tackle toxic and outdated views is extremely important, and a very frank conversation about changing the culture within the police force itself for the better.

A really interesting chat and I am very grateful for Amanda's time to do this.

*I realise I said Anna at the very end, for that I apologise!

If you have any questions on, or maybe you are interested in joining the White Ribbon movement you can contact Amanda on amanda.hanusch-moore@northyorkshire.police.uk

PLEASE - Do Not use this email address for anything urgent, please use 999/101 respectively

Thank you as always to my patrons James and Lucy, without you it would be extremely difficult to maintain these podcasts.

Welcome and a massive hello to you!

I am very excited to bring you the very first episode of the Man Strong Podcast!

This was a short side project I did looking at life through a mans eyes..

With me today I have a friend of mine, who just happens to be an award winning historian, author, as well as the former Assistant Professor of History at Leeds Trinity University, Dr Stephen Basdeo!

With a particular delve into the Victorian era in Britain we discuss and learn about how the idea of masculinity we know today couldn't be further apart from that back then. 

I won't spoil any more of the episode, to find out you will have to dive in, but listen.. enjoy!

I have more episodes scheduled for the coming weeks, and please leave me some feedback and rate the podcast too, it helps spread the word!

Links:

Welcome back! Today I have the pleasure of talking to Matt and Ethan, both from the independent TV production company 'Some Guys With A Camera'.

Their new comedy series 'Birchall's Pints' debuted on Amazon Prime on the 10th November 2023.

We discussed the show, its theme and how it all happened, of course. But then I really wanted to know what experiences led to the writing and the themes of the show.

So here we have tales of covid-19, mental health, Liverpool roots and UK government.

Quite a mix? You bet and inspiring too!

Thankyou to both Ethan and Matt for their time with me, thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you want to follow them you can on instagram @someguyswithacamera

Check out Birchall's Pints on Amazon Prime UK too. (US? Use a VPN maybe?)

Hello super listener!

Today I am delighted to be with a recent friend of mine Vicky Crone.

Vicky is a Sex Educator, which is a very interesting career so we talk a little about that as well as her journey which led her to where she is today.

After going through years of some really severe abuse, Vicky is determine to stand in the light, and help inspire others.

Apologies for the sound today, we had a couple of glitches but I promise the content is out of this world!

Welcome back, today I have with me a friend of mine, who has made it her life to help others, whilst dealing with her own challenges.

Sound familiar? Well its time for a very frank conversation on how we can support each other whilst we navigate neurodiversity, mental and physical health conditions and change the world!

Enjoy!

If you want to follow Beanie on social media you can on Tiktok - @lil_bean_22 or on instagram @beanies_crafts_2023

Starting a family is a huge decision for many of us, and it often where there is life there is death.

Todays episode is here to raise awareness of Baby Loss Awareness Week and I'm grateful to spend some time today with Sophia Stimpson who will share her own story and experiences of Baby Loss.

An estimated 23 Million miscarriages occur every year worldwide and in the UK, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy or birth - (Tommy's . org 2021)

What support is offered to parents in this position?

How has this support and the way that it is administered and communicated in hospital changed over the years?

How can you help yourself come to terms with what's happened?

How can you support someone else that you might know grieving the loss of their baby.

Find out inside this episode and if you want to ask Sophia a question or follow her own journey you can find her on tiktok @poison.iv

Thank you for watching!

Welcome back!

Today we talk across the pond with Harmony Woodington all the way in Canada!

Harmony is an absolute powerhouse of a guest today, with some really important messages to share.

Have a listen, and let me know if you have any questions about our interview, it was good fun and if you are in a place where you want to make change in your life then get on it!

Today is about acceptance, listening to yourself and knowing what you want and need, reaching out when you don't.

If you would like to get in touch or follow Harmony on her ever changing journey and social media takeover, you can here:

Hello! Welcome back as I welcome actor and viral TikTok creator James Morrell.

I have been following James for a while, and he has been through an incredibly powerful journey.

One of a questioned identity, masculinity too at its depths.

Living daily with Crohn's is a challenge James shared with millions of other incredible people on this earth.

Its a physical disease, one that presents itself behind the scenes, but what about alopecia?

Well for James this came out of the blue, and his story and content has inspired lots of men to be able to be raw and natural on social media.

To be able to show emotion without a fear of judgement.

We discuss this, how this story also led to other opportunities in his acting career and well as how has his mindset changed now?

What has he learnt from this?

Another amazing chat that I hope you truly enjoy..

If you would like to follow James or maybe even contact him you can on IG and TT @jamesmorrell_

Thank you to my Patrons James and Lucy for all of their support running this podcast.

I am thrilled to welcome Hannah Armstrong into the Mattcave today! Now I have followed Hannah for a while on Tiktok on an account she shares with her brother Connor. Its an amazing, sometimes silly but always smile inducing channel! Not only does Hannah help show the world that Connors disability does not make the world stop spinning for him, but she also manages to tell her own story, piece by piece. Hannah was set alight during a small bonfire in 2020, just before lockdown leaving some serious injuries and scars. There are things in here she has never told anyone on social media, despite her audience being over 200,000 people. We discuss her accident, her medial diagnosis journey, dealing with neurodiversity and the idea of 'coming to terms' with a tragedy. She has a fantastic energy, its was a blast to record so without further ado, enjoy! If you do want to follow both Hannah and Connors journey you can on tiktok / instagram @hannahandcon .

Welcome back Superfans! We're thrilled to be in the studio today for our very first in-person episode, and we have a special guest with us - the incredible Miranda Arieh! 

Miranda Arieh is not just an award-winning Mental Health Coach and Public Speaker, but also a dedicated teacher of Self-Compassion hailing from Leeds, UK. Her expertise has earned her a spot on BBC Radio as a specialist guest and appearances on prominent shows like BBC's The One Show, BBC News, Look North, ITV News, BBC Politics Show, and even Channel 4. She's been actively sharing her insights on the critical topics of mental health and women's safety. 🎙️💪

Today, we're diving into the essential topic of healing, and Miranda will share with us the profound wisdom of how it all begins with being kind to yourself. You won't want to miss this insightful conversation, so stay tuned for the full episode! 🎥

In pursuit of a career, sometimes we have to make decisions that will affect more than just our role. Our life, our health are all at play but its a decision based on weighing up the options.

Sometimes getting a promotion get means spending less time with your family.

Changing jobs can mean a lot of extra stress and responsibility.

But that is always weighed up against the pressure to earn a wage and pay those bills.

So often its this pressure that can influence a decision, for the fear of not succeeding, or putting others close to you at risk.

But what happens if the changes you make are based solely around you and your health.

What if the job you are in is not what you want to be in.

What if the job you will love the most will take a huge leap of faith?

What if staying where you are risks your health declining?

Well its time to find out with my fabulous guest Rebecca Day, because she did exactly this.

Rebecca is now a Women's Leadership Coach and sit back and relax as we discuss her journey thus far.

If you would like to follow or get in touch with Rebecca you can

@unstoppableyou_coaching or visiting

www.linktr.ee/unstoppableyou_coaching

An eternal thanks to my Patrons Lucy and James for supporting the growth and development of this podcast, and soon we will be going LIVE and in person!

Today I spend some time with World Class Gymnastics and Trampoline Coach Tamzin Reid.

To get to that level takes time, dedication and consistency, not to mention navigating several neurodiversities.

What motivated Tamzin?

Tamzins story in her own words: ''I started my journey after my son was born. As a mum I thought that I was no good at anything and most probably couldn’t learn anything new. My son has severe ADHD. He was not easy in any way, home school etc.

He went to a school friend’s trampoline birthday party. He did so well he started lessons and although the coach was very nice, there was not a lot of real learning going on.

I thought to myself, you are already a British Horse Society IVsm in equitation, why don’t I use these skills to retrain.

So off I went and retrained as a trampoline coach. As time went on and my son got better I needed to move up the qualification ladder. Each time I had to step out of my comfort zone it was so difficult.

But I thought if I want to do this then I need to be uncomfortable. If not I will stay where I am for ever.

The amount of different emotions I went through was crazy, scared, felt stupid, too old to re train, anxious even physically sick. This was each and every course, exam or just new step.

Once the trampoline club had been up and running for a few years and we had athletes from club, county, regional and national level competition, I thought it about time to start to give back. I decided to become a tutor. Oh no here we go again with all the unwanted feelings and emotions that almost stopped me entirely in my tracks, from doing anything. Each time I had to dig deep if I wanted to take the next step. I knew deep down that I wanted to, so I allowed myself to make the decision that I was going to take each small step as it came. I’m so glad I did as I have now become a High performance coach in trampoline and a British Gymnastics Tutor / assessor, along with my BHS IVsm, NCMH & ANCEBM in equine.

I have been coaching for over 30years in both equine and trampoline. Both at high performance level and with world level athletes and coaches. Over the past year during the pandemic, I have really missed being able to coach people of all ages and abilities, so I have diversified my coaching to be here to support individuals both in and out of sport.

You know what, I have now learnt to be proud of myself. I really believe that if I can get there being severely dyslexic and having psoriatic arthritis, then I know you can to. I can help you reach your goals 1 step at a time.

Tamzin doesn't often take the limelight and is extremely humble about what she has achieved. In my view this is your time to shine!

If you would like to contact Tamzin, you can on instagram @tamzinscoaching or facebook under Tamzin Reid Coaching.

An eternal thanks to my Patrons Lucy and James for supporting the growth and development of this podcast, and soon we will be going LIVE and in person!

Welcome back!

This week I spent some time in the Mattcave with Greyson Grimes - A musician and popular social media personality.

Well, Greyson went viral recently when he was doxxed. If you don't know what that is, let me explain.

Tiktok megastar Elise Myers released a video where she describes a not so great experience with an 'ex' but does not name. Someone then saw the video, found Greyson and basically said a big digital 'its him!'.

To Dox: to publicly identify or publish private information about (someone) especially as a form of punishment or revenge

With that comes lots of messages and comments, threats and all sorts unfortunately a thing now in the digital world. Its also Illegal in some places to Doxx.

So now that we know what that is.. back to Greyson.

Not only has this situation given him challenges, but it has also given him a platform to tell his story.

Its a story of addiction, forgiveness, inner work and an incredible view on life now that is infectious and has definitely had an impact on me.

You can find Greyson and his music @Greyson.grimes on IG / @greysongrimes on tiktok or simply google his name!

I hope you enjoy, I certainly did!

An eternal thanks to my Patrons Lucy and James for supporting the growth and development of this podcast, and soon we will be going LIVE and in person!

Welcome Back!

Today I spend some time with Jayybuck, the founder of the Gymbuck fitness and apparel brand, formerley known as Savage Gymwear.

Not everyday do we get to experience and discuss the origin story of such an influential brand .

We discuss how illness was the turning point and catalyst for what was to come.

We look at how for Jay forming a brand so closely aligned to its values has its challenges but also its huge impact.

Within this journey a growing community has been established, with active ambassadors carrying on the brands ethics and values.

All this and some powerful discussions on self development, motivation and resilience from a man who speaks with wisdom and openness.

You can find Jay on socials @thejayybuck and brand news at @gymbuck.hq

An eternal thanks to my Patrons Lucy and James for supporting the growth and development of this podcast, and soon we will be going LIVE and in person!

Hello and welcome back!

Today I have the honour of sharing some time and space with Tiktok creator Star Bickerstaff.

We take a really interesting look into how posting one video on social media can transform life as you know it.

We are in a very digital and different world and its about time that we accepted and embraced it!

Star grew up caring for her father who had Multiple Sclerosis (MS) before he passed.

She was bullied at school, and hasn't always had any confidence in herself.. did that change? When and why?

What about Stars journey into OnlyFans, and using it as a revenue platform whilst still being in control, blowing away some of the negative stigma that comes with it.

Star runs Ultra Marathons, we find out how that started, and also how Star lives with Lupus and a bit about that experience and journey too.

If you would like to follow Star she is a regular on Tiktok and Instagram, as well as her Spicy Page. You can find her @starbeebee12 on all of them.

Hello and lovely to see you again!

Today we are celebrating visual differences with the most amazing guest Amit Ghose.

So.. if you can get us on spotify, lets get visual!

Amit has recently grown quite a following on social media recently, campaigning and advocating for normalising visual differences.

Amit lives with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 also known as NF1 which is a genetic condition that causes tumour to grow along the nerves.

The variance across the condition is huge and it can be apparent anywhere on the body.

For Amit, it was clear from a young age that the differences it would make for him would be plain to see.

So what does it take to grow your own confidence in a world where appearance seems to be at the forefront of judgement?

How big a role does family play in that, and what is Amit doing now to help others?

A fascinating conversation by someone who is clearly using the power of social media in a positive empowering way.

Hello there Superhero fan!

I first saw todays guest on the UK show 'Steph's Packed Lunch' and I knew I had to reach out.

Matthew Smith is the co-founder of an incredible non-profit organisation called 'If You Care Share'

Welcome back Superhero!

Today I am visited by Amanda Haigh the Author of 'Fix Your Future' and fellow podcast host of 'Heal with the Reel'.

Amanda's mission is to 'Rewrite the future of our community one step at a time after coercive relationships.

After leaving a coercive relationship herself, Amanda as a domestic abuse advocate uses her experience to help others in a variety of ways help change their life for the better, empowering and educating whoever she comes across.

This can be a sensitive topic, so please be kind to yourself and if it feels too much for where you are, come back to it later.

Tons of value and things to take away, i'm excited for you to hear about it!

You can find Amanda on Instagram @amanda_haigh_fixyourfuture as well as LinkedIN. Her podcast can be found on spotify and youtube simply search for 'Heal with the Reel'

Welcome back superstar!

Now todays episode features Madeleine Black who at a young age was raped, so please if this subject is sensitive to you at all, be kind to yourself and miss it out or make sure you are in the right frame of mind.

Hello there! ( Any one a star wars fan??)

You know when something happens that hurts so badly, but the feelings you feeling, you want to avoid anger and resentment?

Well how can you do that?

How can you turn a super challenge into positivity?

Well today I welcome Leon into the MattCave.

As a young actor he faced all manners of typecasting, with opportunities being closed on him because of how he looked, 22 stone at 18 years old.

We talk about how this lit a fire inside him to help himself make changes, losing 10 stone, regaining the identity that had been lost and growing in confidence.

Even in an industry as cut throat as acting and performance, focussing on YOU and what you need is ALWAYS going to be a good thing.

Leon is a qualified personal trainer now, alongside his acting career helping others that have have felt the same discrimination grow.

He is passionate, he is articulate and also a massive superhero geek which made this a dream conversation for me!

I hope you enjoy this episode, you can follow Leon on Instagram and Tiktok @redgrave_fitness

Hey there!

Today I speak with Danny Callaghan who is on a mission to share his comeback story.

After being diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, and having a stoma fitted, for some that would be enough to take more rest and do less, for fear of embarrassment at something that is a big physical change.

But after all those surgeries and periods of illness, Danny decided to fight back and regain the fitness and strength he had worked hard for.

We discuss his journey, what affect it had on him and his family and much much more so stay tuned.

If you are facing something life changing and worrying about what it will mean for your future, this is the episode for you!

A great conversation with a true gentleman, prepare to be inspired!

If you would like to follow Danny you can on instagram @dc_vs_uc

Hello and welcome back!

Today I spend some time with Sam, who coaches women for a living, in particular looking at body transformations with an emphasis on habits around food.

In this episode Sam describes her journey to where she is today, dealing with various eating disorders, competitive bodybuilding and what that has all taught her.

We discuss the idea of balance, and what actually is healthy?

When we look at social media, what is that telling us?

What are the realities of fixating on our own body image?

How can we find the information we need?

All the above and more, so I hope you enjoy!

If you want to follow Sam you can do on instagram @sam_evhealthandfitness , why not send her a message!

Don't forget to click follow on this podcast, it helps spread the show but also keeps you up to date with upcoming episodes so you don't miss a thing!

Hello Superhero Fan!

Did you know thaty almost 50% of people that listen to this podcast don't follow it on Spotify.

If you don't that's task one today! Click follow to be kept up to date with new releases and more. It also helps the algorithm to spread the word!

Today I speak with Ollie Clarke, a high level competitive strongman and a strength and conditioning coach.

It hasn't been a smooth ride, and we talk about all the things that have brought Ollie to where he is today.

If you were the kid at school who was bullied for being too skinny or too big.

If it put you off getting yourself out there and trying new things then this will give you a lot to think about.

What a top guy, with a massive future ahead of him at only 22!

To follow Ollie you can on instagram @coach_ollieclarke

I hope you enjoy this episode, apologies for some mic interference I am trying to work out the cause.. (if you are techy please help!)

Please check out older episodes and follow to be notified when new ones come live.

Hello and welcome back!

Have you ever injured yourself and found things tough avoiding using certain bodyparts?

Well, for some people, this is everyday life. However.. within the disabled community there are some folk that are determined to show some incredible feats of physical strength..

Today I speak with Mac Mclaren a 2x World Disabled Strongest Man.

Its a sport that is growing in popularity, and notoriety too with people like the great Magnus Ver Magnusson flying the flag and telling the world about it.

We chat today about the realities of being a disabled athlete.

We talk about how a simple change in mindset pretty much created the sport and opened the door for so many people to do some incredible things.

We discover what brought Mac to where he is today, as he hasn't always been disabled.

Maybe your body doesn't define you, but what you can do with it speaks louder and clearer.

I won't spoil it with any more detail, thank you for your time Mac and please enjoy!

If you would like to follow Mac you can on instagram @tartan_warrior_wsdm .

Hello and welcome back!

This week I want to start with a little disclamer..

We had some issues, technical hitches and there were points I thought Kane was going to turn into a robot.

However! I'm all about the real conversation, so I haven't butchered it it is what it is.

That being said, the power of the messages we hear doesn't change.

Kane went from a young life of partying and drinking to a sport which requires nothing but work, and patience.

Kane talks about finding his passions, and how that helped him focus.

We talk about how with the right support around you, you can make something happen as long as its your passion, even when times are tough.

Including flying accross the world in the sport you love, and getting called up to the Giants Live stage.

It was a pleasure to speak to Kane, he has some very high level competitions coming up and we wish him all the best!

A fab conversation for strength fans and non fans alike.

If you want to follow Kane on instagram you can its @kanefrancis_ and indeed you can me on @thekindeststrongman

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Welcome back!

Today I speak with James who has just released a book called 'Befriending My Brain' , a look into his experience of as lesser known Mental Health condition called Schizoaffectvie Disorder.

James describes very openly his experience of his own Mental health challenges, being sectioned and in hospital too. 

But also, why he wouldn't change any of it.

I also ask, how does being open about his own mental health transfer to employment, are there any stigma's?

In my opinion, going through something as challenging as that, and then spending time and energy into a way to help others and raise awareness of a condition like this show real courage, determination and strength.

I hope you enjoy this episode, you can find James on Instagram @jameslindsay_23 or by name on LinkedIN

Well well well do I have a treat in store today!

Not only is this a complete extra episode, but it is so jam packed with strength and awesomeness that I can hardly contain myself.

Now now Matt, breathe..

Right, ok, so today i'm with the 'POWERBUFF' girls, a great reference to the 90's cartoon, if you are old enough!

Today though this ensemble is made from 3 of the strongest women on this planet. 

Originally supposed to be recorded on International Women's Day, but we had to reschedule. ( I mean, scheduling 3 different time zones has its challenges!)

What have they accomplished (Many World Records!)

What is coming up for them this year?

What fact about them might you not know?

Where did they meet?

Prepare for the most humble incredible athletes you will ever meet, we had a blast!

I hope you enjoy and don't forget to follow these ladies on social media to continue to be inspired!

@inez_prostrongwoman

@gabigrl_prostrongwoman

@e.murray_pro.strongwoman

Welcome back!

Today I catch up with the the founder of a West Yorkshire based company Evergreen Active CIC Paula.

Evergreen was set up to offer an entry into fitness, health and wellbeing classes for those that perhaps wouldn't usually have access.

This may mean taking a class and moving it to different locations for those that cant travel far, incredible!

I have a soft spot for real grass roots community work and what Paula and Andy are doing with Evergreen is making a huge difference for so many.

But of course as you will know by now there is always so much to a story..

What made this idea come to life?

What drives Paula to be so passionate about promoting health and wellbeing?

What exactly is Paula's own story?

I'm certainly not going to spoil it!

Enjoy!

(Spotify users - I had a nightmare, so apologies for my darth vader impression!)

If you would like to follow Paula you can find Evergreen Active on Facebook or Paula on Instagram @Paula_appleton_mhec

Don't forget to check out the older episodes as well as subscribing to the podcast to be notified when a new episode is released, which is weekly..

Hey!

Welcome back and do I have an incredibly heart warming and relatable episode for you, yes I do!

I spent some time with Heather, we crossed paths when I did some work at an event Heather had organised in Leeds last year.

We got talking and found a few things that we could share experience on:

-Taking the jump from employed to self employed to follow a passion, and all the scary bits..

-Covid-19 and the challenges living in a bubble brought

-The challenges of setting boundaries when you are heart centred and want to give!

One we don't share in common but is an amazing story is when Heather 'came out'. and found the love of her life.. one to not miss.

I do hope you enjoy this one, its funny, and there is a nice feel good story in there too.

Hi there!

Today I am joined by Leila Ives, who only last year travelled to the USA for the Crossfit Games 2022. Leila was in the adaptive catagory as 5 years ago she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

We talk openly about her MS diagnosis, and what it has meant for her training as well as the knock on effect on friendships and her lifestyle.

She talks openly about those times that friends will respond to you by comparing their own struggles and how tough that can be to respond to when you are diagnosed with a lifetime condition.

You will hear in this episode a certain strength in how Leila talks about her experiences. A built resilience and the courage to talk about it which is incredible.