Before she became an award-winning memoirist, Ly Tran immigrated to the US at the age of 3, where her life was shaped by the inherited trauma from her father’s experiences as a Vietnam War Veteran and Prisoner of War. Ly’s childhood was spent working in poverty and sweatshop labour from her home in New York. She gradually lost the ability to see properly, leading to her grades deteriorating and her dropping out of college. And yet Ly’s story is  NOT one defined by her darkest periods of depression. Her story is an inspiring journey marked by changes, ambition, intelligence and success.She regained her eyesight, graduated from Columbia University and faced her family’s intergenerational trauma headon by writing about her life in her memoir “House of Sticks”. Her book was selected as one of Vogue’s and NPR’s Best Books of the Year and in this episode, we dive deeper into the many turning points in Ly’s life.***Buy Ly’s memoir “House of Sticks” on Amazon US, Amazon UK and Barnes & Noble (US).Ly’s social media:Instagram (@endingforadverbs)Twitter (@LyTranWrites)***Trigger Warning: Depression, trauma.

Christy Warren served as a firefighter for 25 years until the moment that the trauma she witnessed over the course of her career became unbearable. Having been neglected as a child, Christy was always self-reliant. Keeping a clear mind during intense emergencies came naturally to her. When she would respond to a horrific accident, she would “close the lid” on the experience…until it all came out and she was diagnosed with PTSD. By leaving her career behind, she was able to breathe again but was now faced with a loss of her identity. This is Christy’s story of how fighting her way through flames left her burnt out and her journey of discovering the true value behind being a human.**Buy Christy’s memoir “Flash Point: A Firefighter’s Journey Through PTSD” on Amazon (UK), Amazon (USA)  and Barnes & Noble (USA).Christy's Podcast:Firefighter Deconstructed (Apple / Spotify)Christy's social media:InstagramX (Twitter)**The IAFF has compiled a list of signs of PTSD in firefighters, which you can view here.If you suspect that you or someone you know is suffering from PTSD, please seek help. Here are some websites, you might want to have a look at:PTSD Alliance ADAA PTSD UK Mind 

At the age of 2, Blake’s doctor told his parents that their child would likely never be able to walk. Blake has no lower legs but today he is one of the fastest paralympic runners in the world. In our conversation, Blake talks about how he was questioning life until he realised that he was responsible for finding the strength to achieve his dreams.We talk about what it was like to compete in a sold-out stadium of 85.000 people, most of whom were cheering for his opponent Oscar Pistorius. We also talk about what led him to alcohol and drug abuse, losing his sponsors and a sense of his identity - and how he was eventually able to turn his life around.Trigger Warning: There is brief mention of Blake’s addiction to alcohol and drugs.**Blake’s documentary was released in June 2023 and is called “Abled: The Blake Leeper Story”.Blake’s film “Hollywood Twist” will be coming out in December 2023.You can follow Blake on Instagram (@leepster) and Twitter (@Blake_Leeper). To book Blake as a speaker, go to his website www.leeperruns.com or contact the agency APB on their website. 

As an award-winning war correspondent, Anjan has reported on many of the world’s most dangerous conflicts.  Anjan had become a father shortly before his work as a war correspondent led him to a dangerous conflict zone. We talk about how his work impacted his marriage and ultimately led to the breakup. Anjan gives a gripping account of how close he came to dying in the war zone and his struggles to balance the role of husband/father with a career that might endanger his life.Throughout the episode, we discuss his recent memoir Breakup: A Marriage in Wartime, which he hopes encourages war correspondents to talk more openly about their personal struggles.Trigger Warning: Contains mentions of war and references to killings.You can buy Anjan’s most recent book on Amazon (US) and Barnes & Noble.Other books by Anjan:Stringer: A Reporter's Journey in the CongoBad News: Last Journalists in a DictatorshipAnjan's Twitter account: @anjansun

Alana's life was forever changed following an accident that left her paralysed when she was just 17. Fast-forward to her 20s and Alana was a three-sport phenomenon having won gold for wheelchair basketball with Team USA and alpine skiing at the Paralympics. She talks to us about what her journey to Paralympic success has been like as she struggled with her mental health, grief and further injuries.  Alana tells us how she managed to find acceptance and peace with her new body and credits sports as giving her the power to turn her life around.You can follow Alana on Instagram (@alanathejane) and Twitter (@alananichols21). To book Alana for speaking engagements, visit her website: www.alanajanenichols.com

In the coming episodes you’ll hear about injuries that ended careers at the NFL, being blacklisted for speaking up about toxic cultures in TV reporting and Hollywood, when grief hits you during a race and traumas suffered through shocking incidents and firefighters and children of Vietnam war veterans. You will hear about how a world record holder shifted his mindset after his prosthetic leg fell off in a game, how a PCOS diagnosis can lead to a revolutionary women’s health app, the journey from Fibromuscular dysplasia to creating an award-winning business and an oncology nurse facing a breast cancer diagnosis.For a shorter version, have a look at the Instagram page.