The Healing Odyssey; Finding your own way forward

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Podcast by Emma Gardner

The Healing Odyssey; Finding your own way forward

"The Healing Odyssey: Finding Your Own Way Forward" is a transformative podcast hosted by Emma, dedicated to exploring the intricate world of addiction, recovery, and mental health. This engaging series aims to break down stigmas and shed light on crucial issues affecting millions worldwide. Each week, listeners embark on a journey of resilience and hope, guided by Emma and an array of guests including field experts, survivors, and loved ones. The podcast delves into: Complexities of addiction and the recovery process, Mental health challenges and innovative solutions, and Inspiring stories of personal transformation and resilience. Key topics covered include: Resilience building strategies, Applications of positive psychology, Effective healing techniques, Myth-busting in addiction and mental health, and Relatable experiences and personal narratives. "The Healing Odyssey" caters to individuals struggling with addiction, those supporting loved ones through recovery, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of these vital issues. Members gain access to exclusive training sessions and actionable content to support their personal growth journey. Join Emma weekly for insightful discussions, expert advice, and heartfelt stories that illuminate the path to healing and self-discovery.

Listen onApple Podcasts

Listen onSpotify

Latest episodes

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10 October 2026

Unsilencing the Self: Social Work, Community & Radical Listening with KaRon Spriggs-Bethea

KaRon talks about starting and growing a private practice focused on LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized individuals, and how clinical work informs her teaching and vice versa. He shares stories from internships at a Federal Public Defender’s office and a state hospital where relationship-building turned disengaged people into participants in treatment. KaRon outlines practical steps for finding community, large or intimate and stresses the importance of resources, curiosity, and stepping slightly outside your comfort zone. The interview is full of accessible insight for clinicians, students, people in recovery, and anyone supporting loved ones through healing.

Connect with KaRon Here:

Website : https://letstalksolutions.org/

Tiktok / Instagram: @dr.karonreads

Book: Unsilencing the Self: For Marginalized Voices Ready to Be Heard

Continue Your Journey

Thank you so much for listening to The Healing Odyssey.If this episode has helped you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.

FREE RESOURCE: MY COMFORT KIT

Create your own collection of comfort, connection and hope with this free interactive wellbeing guide, including your own personal Back-to-Me Box.

Download My Comfort Kit free here:

evolve-recovery-comfort-kit.subscribepage.io

Join Dopamine Without Danger

A calm, private community for recovery, ADHD, burnout and emotional wellbeing.

First month just £3 with code ONEMONTH3

https://dopamine-without-danger.mn.co/landing/

Read AA Is Not the Only Way

Real stories of recovery, ADHD, trauma and finding your own way forward.

https://emmagardner.uk

Support the Podcast

If you'd like to help keep these conversations free:

https://buymeacoffee.com/emmagardnerwrites

Be a Guest

Therapist, coach, researcher, author or someone with lived experience?I'd love to hear from you.

emma@evolve-recovery.co.uk

Until next time... be gentle with yourself, stay curious, and keep finding your own way forward

00:00

38:03

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08 October 2026

Girl, You Good: Reclaiming Play, Purpose & Permission with Cassandra Pickett

Emma and Cassandra dig into the craft of building therapeutic rapport: why being human, playful and ethically flexible often beats rigid professionalism. Cassandra shares stories from inpatient substance-use and youth programs to show how real connection, even something as simple as a cigarette offered in the moment can open doors to change. They cover coaching tools Cassandra uses (polyvagal-informed regulation, group pods, and live feedback), the value of community modeling for breakthroughs, and why therapists should embrace their authentic style when working with clients who ‘sniff out’ inauthenticity.

Connect with Cassandra Here:

Website: https://www.cassandrapickett.com/girlyougood

Podcast: https://pod.link/1819092671

Social media: https://www.instagram.com/cassandrapickettcoaching/

Continue Your Journey

Thank you so much for listening to The Healing Odyssey.If this episode has helped you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.

FREE RESOURCE: MY COMFORT KIT

Create your own collection of comfort, connection and hope with this free interactive wellbeing guide, including your own personal Back-to-Me Box.

Download My Comfort Kit free here:

evolve-recovery-comfort-kit.subscribepage.io

Join Dopamine Without Danger

A calm, private community for recovery, ADHD, burnout and emotional wellbeing.

First month just £3 with code ONEMONTH3

https://dopamine-without-danger.mn.co/landing/

Read AA Is Not the Only Way

Real stories of recovery, ADHD, trauma and finding your own way forward.

https://emmagardner.uk

Support the Podcast

If you'd like to help keep these conversations free:

https://buymeacoffee.com/emmagardnerwrites

Be a Guest

Therapist, coach, researcher, author or someone with lived experience?I'd love to hear from you.

emma@evolve-recovery.co.uk

Until next time... be gentle with yourself, stay curious, and keep finding your own way forward

00:00

42:44

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06 October 2026

Life Doesn’t Stop: How to Reclaim Your Energy and Values with Cheryl Olfert

Cheryl and Emma dig into the tension between doing and being: why so many professionals and caregivers burn out while still loving their work. Cheryl explains how values misalignment, not just workload, drains energy, and how clarifying purpose becomes a compass for saying no with confidence. The conversation highlights achievable tools: brief coaching, group support, journaling prompts, behavioral nudges and brain-based techniques (like using posture, affirmations and small rituals) that influence mood and motivation. This episode is a toolkit for anyone juggling responsibility, grief or overwhelm and wanting to reclaim fulfillment.

Connect with Cheryl here:

Website: https://cocoaching.academy/home-917773

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.olfert

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-olfert/

Continue Your Journey

Thank you so much for listening to The Healing Odyssey.If this episode has helped you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.

FREE RESOURCE: MY COMFORT KIT

Create your own collection of comfort, connection and hope with this free interactive wellbeing guide, including your own personal Back-to-Me Box.

Download My Comfort Kit free here:

evolve-recovery-comfort-kit.subscribepage.io

Join Dopamine Without Danger

A calm, private community for recovery, ADHD, burnout and emotional wellbeing.

First month just £3 with code ONEMONTH3

https://dopamine-without-danger.mn.co/landing/

Read AA Is Not the Only Way

Real stories of recovery, ADHD, trauma and finding your own way forward.

https://emmagardner.uk

Support the Podcast

If you'd like to help keep these conversations free:

https://buymeacoffee.com/emmagardnerwrites

Be a Guest

Therapist, coach, researcher, author or someone with lived experience?I'd love to hear from you.

emma@evolve-recovery.co.uk

Until next time... be gentle with yourself, stay curious, and keep finding your own way forward

00:00

41:53

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03 October 2026

Meditation, Mindfulness and Multiple Paths to Sobriety with Don Phelps

A hopeful, down-to-earth hour about reclaiming life after addiction. Don talks about writing a memoir and a new project of 365 reflections aimed at ordinary moments of recovery, and describes how meditation transformed his relationship to thoughts and cravings. He shares memorable coaching moments; from helping clients draft realistic post-discharge plans to gently challenging identities like “I’m a crackhead” and stresses community as the antidote to isolation. This episode is for anyone curious about alternatives to one-size-fits-all recovery, and for people who want compassionate strategies to stay sober one day at a time.

Connect with Don Here:

Website

https://awakeningwithdon.com

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-phelps-recovery/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningWithDon/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/awakeningwithdon/

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeningWithDon

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@awakening_with_don

My memoir, From Pulpit to Presence: Finding Recovery, Learning to Live, tells the fuller story we touched on today, including my journey from ministry through alcoholism and recovery, and the changes in identity, spirituality, and perspective that followed.

From Pulpit to Presence on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Pulpit-Presence-Finding-Recovery-Learning/dp/B0GS79KG5V

Continue Your Journey

Thank you so much for listening to The Healing Odyssey.If this episode has helped you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.

FREE RESOURCE: MY COMFORT KIT

Create your own collection of comfort, connection and hope with this free interactive wellbeing guide, including your own personal Back-to-Me Box.

Download My Comfort Kit free here:

evolve-recovery-comfort-kit.subscribepage.io

Join Dopamine Without Danger

A calm, private community for recovery, ADHD, burnout and emotional wellbeing.

First month just £3 with code ONEMONTH3

https://dopamine-without-danger.mn.co/landing/

Read AA Is Not the Only Way

Real stories of recovery, ADHD, trauma and finding your own way forward.

https://emmagardner.uk

Support the Podcast

If you'd like to help keep these conversations free:

https://buymeacoffee.com/emmagardnerwrites

Be a Guest

Therapist, coach, researcher, author or someone with lived experience?I'd love to hear from you.

emma@evolve-recovery.co.uk

Until next time... be gentle with yourself, stay curious, and keep finding your own way forward

00:00

38:17

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01 October 2026

Work, Worth & Wellbeing: Rebuilding Life After Cancer with Caitlin McDonald

This conversation reframes cancer not only as crisis but also as catalyst: many survivors emerge more willing to take risks, change careers or re-prioritise life. Caitlin reflects on her own transition from policy and academia into coaching after her diagnosis and describes coaching’s power to help clients mourn losses, name new values, and make pragmatic decisions, whether scaling back hours, starting new projects, or crafting a legacy. The episode also calls out gaps in workplace empathy and legal understanding, urging employers to train managers and build inclusive policies. Listeners will find hope, practical signposts, and actionable tools to navigate change with dignity and resilience.

Connect with Caitlin here:

Website: https://caitlinmcdonald.com/

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinmcdonald/

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

The free Gremlin Getting-Along Guide and signup link for my monthly newsletter: https://caitlinmcdonald.com/sign-me-up/

Continue Your Journey

Thank you so much for listening to The Healing Odyssey.If this episode has helped you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.

FREE RESOURCE: MY COMFORT KIT

Create your own collection of comfort, connection and hope with this free interactive wellbeing guide, including your own personal Back-to-Me Box.

Download My Comfort Kit free here:

evolve-recovery-comfort-kit.subscribepage.io

Join Dopamine Without Danger

A calm, private community for recovery, ADHD, burnout and emotional wellbeing.

First month just £3 with code ONEMONTH3

https://dopamine-without-danger.mn.co/landing/

Read AA Is Not the Only Way

Real stories of recovery, ADHD, trauma and finding your own way forward.

https://emmagardner.uk

Support the Podcast

If you'd like to help keep these conversations free:

https://buymeacoffee.com/emmagardnerwrites

Be a Guest

Therapist, coach, researcher, author or someone with lived experience?I'd love to hear from you.

emma@evolve-recovery.co.uk

Until next time... be gentle with yourself, stay curious, and keep finding your own way forward

00:00

40:38

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29 September 2026

When Redundancy Becomes Rebirth: Trusting Inner Guidance with Kristine Ovsepian, MA, C.Ht.

This conversation centers on practical empowerment: learning to listen to that inner voice, letting go of the ego’s control, and building a sustainable healing practice. Kristine Ovsepian shares actionable insights on working with clients (why one-to-one work fulfils her), how to integrate multiple modalities in a single session, and the timeline needed to rewire habits (21–30 days). Emma and Kristine also reflect on grief, loneliness, and the human need for physical connection during crises like COVID, reminding listeners that small, consistent shifts and self-compassion are core to long-term transformation.

Connect with Kristine here:

www.JourneysToHeal.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeystoheal?igsi=bTJ1dGVnOW1yaXpo&utm_source=qr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristine.ovsepian.1?mibextid=wwXIfr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/journeys-to-heal-kristine-ovsepian-ma-cht-0742b2b4

Continue Your Journey

Thank you so much for listening to The Healing Odyssey.If this episode has helped you, please consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.

FREE RESOURCE: MY COMFORT KIT

Create your own collection of comfort, connection and hope with this free interactive wellbeing guide, including your own personal Back-to-Me Box.

Download My Comfort Kit free here:

evolve-recovery-comfort-kit.subscribepage.io

Join Dopamine Without Danger

A calm, private community for recovery, ADHD, burnout and emotional wellbeing.

First month just £3 with code ONEMONTH3

https://dopamine-without-danger.mn.co/landing/

Read AA Is Not the Only Way

Real stories of recovery, ADHD, trauma and finding your own way forward.

https://emmagardner.uk

Support the Podcast

If you'd like to help keep these conversations free:

https://buymeacoffee.com/emmagardnerwrites

Be a Guest

Therapist, coach, researcher, author or someone with lived experience?I'd love to hear from you.

emma@evolve-recovery.co.uk

Until next time... be gentle with yourself, stay curious, and keep finding your own way forward

00:00

59:36