Hurt to Healing

Today’s episode is one I’ve been so excited to share because we’re talking about addiction in a way that feels much more human and much less “labels and lectures”. I’m joined by David Courtwright, historian and author of The Age of Addiction, and we explore how addiction so often begins in pleasure, then quietly tips into something compulsive, shame-filled and costly not just for the person, but for everyone around them.

What I really loved about this conversation is how it widens the lens. We talk about why addiction isn’t only about substances anymore, how modern life is basically designed to hook our brains, and David’s brilliant idea of “limbic capitalism” which is essentially the business of hijacking our reward system for profit. If you’re struggling with something yourself, or you’re supporting someone who is, I think this will leave you feeling less alone and more clear about what’s actually going on and where change can start.

Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/

Find David:
Website: https://davidcourtwright.domains.unf.edu/
Buy his book 'The Age of Addiction': https://amzn.eu/d/01vG1z76
Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:
Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpod
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpod
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healing
Substack: substack.com/@hurttohealing
Website: hurttohealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s HEALING 101, I’m joined by Nadia and Katia Narain, for a gentle but powerful conversation about the beautiful concept at the heart of their new book: glimmers.

We explore what glimmers really are - those small, often overlooked moments that signal safety and ease to the nervous system - and why they’re so different from gratitude. Together, we talk about how learning to notice these tiny experiences of calm, connection, and okay-ness can help regulate stress, soften anxiety, and slowly shift us out of overwhelm. It’s a soothing, reassuring discussion filled with practical insight and a reminder that healing doesn’t always come from big breakthroughs, but from the smallest moments of feeling just a little more okay.

Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/

Find Nadia and Katia:
Instagram: @nadia.and.katia
Buy their book: https://amzn.eu/d/08CuHlBQ
Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:
Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpod
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpod
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healing
Substack: substack.com/@hurttohealing
Website: hurttohealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s episode of Hurt to Healing, I’m talking to nutritionist and hormone specialist Hannah Alderson about something so many of us hear about all the time, but don’t always fully understand - our hormones.

From anxiety and low mood to brain fog, burnout, PMT, perimenopause and feeling completely unlike yourself, Hannah explains how hormones can shape so much of how we think, feel and function. We also get into her own journey with PCOS and endometriosis, the role of stress and blood sugar, and why looking after your hormonal health doesn’t have to mean perfection - just small, supportive changes that help your body feel safer and more balanced.

Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/

Find Hannah:
Website: https://www.hannahalderson.com/
Instagram: @hannahaldersonnutrition
Pre-Order Her Book (out in May): https://amzn.eu/d/0hitUyCn
Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:
Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpod
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpod
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healing
Substack: substack.com/@hurttohealing
Website: hurttohealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Healing 101, Julia is joined by broadcaster and presenter Ore Oduba for a deeply honest conversation about addiction, shame and the coping mechanisms we develop to manage difficult emotions. Ore speaks openly about his relationship with pornography, the moment it stopped feeling like a harmless habit and began to feel like something more troubling, and the internal struggle that followed.

Together they explore the emotional landscape beneath addictive behaviours — including anxiety, grief, identity and the pressure to perform. This is a thoughtful conversation about the courage it takes to confront the parts of ourselves we would rather hide, and the possibility of healing that emerges when we bring those struggles into the light.

Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/

Find Ore:
Instagram: @oreodubaofficial
Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:
Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpod
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpod
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healing
Substack: substack.com/@hurttohealing
Website: hurttohealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by preventive medicine physician and author Dr Sharon Bergquist, whose book The Stress Paradox challenges the idea that all stress is harmful and offers a far more hopeful, evidence-led way of thinking about what’s happening in our minds and bodies.

Together, we explore the difference between chronic, depleting stress and the kinds of “good stress” that can build resilience at a cellular level. Sharon explains why recovery matters as much as challenge, how to recognise when stress is helping versus harming, and the small, realistic habits that can strengthen your capacity to cope so you’re not just getting through life, but actually growing through it.

Thank you to INGENIOUS for sponsoring this episode. INGENIOUS is on a mission to be the voice of truth in the collagen world. Their approach is simple: clinically tested formulas, ingredient transparency, and science-backed results you can trust. They’re offering listeners 20% off with the code HEALING20 at https://ingeniouslife.com/

Find Sharon:
Website: https://drsharonbergquist.com/
Instagram: @thegoodstressdoctor
Buy her book: https://amzn.eu/d/0df3zDag
Stay Connected with Hurt to Healing:
Instagram: instagram.com/hurttohealingpod
TikTok: tiktok.com/@hurttohealingpod
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/hurt-to-healing
Substack: substack.com/@hurttohealing
Website: hurttohealing.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.