The Life of Bryony

This week, I’m joined by Dr. Alex George for an incredibly powerful and tender conversation. Alex talks about losing his younger brother, Llŷr, to suicide, the strange expectation that we should “get over” grief, and what really happens to a family when the worst thing imaginable actually happens. We discuss how alcohol became his way of pushing the pain down, the day he decided he couldn’t drink – or live – like that anymore, and why stopping drinking was the single best decision he has ever made. Alex also opens up about a late diagnosis of OCD, the torture of rumination, and the night a run quite literally saved his life. If you’ve ever felt broken by loss, plagued by your own mind, or unsure you can face another day, this conversation is for you.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Alex’s new book ‘Am I Normal?’ is available to buy now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Dr. Alex George

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After our main chat about addiction and the difference between fast, spiky dopamine and the slower, steadier kind, Catherine returns to share the three things that genuinely keep her grounded.​ We dig into what “slow dopamine” actually feels like in real life – the kind of calm, long-lasting reward you don’t regret the next morning – and Catherine talks me through the simple daily habits that help her get there. We cover movement, mindset and even what you put on your body, and why all of it matters if you’re trying not to be at the mercy of your moods.​ If your brain tends to wake up shouting “the end is nigh” and you’re craving more ease, this conversation is for you.​

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Catherine’s new book, Little Addictions, is available to buy from the 29th January 2026.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Catherine Gray

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you already “failed” at Dry January? If that’s the case, welcome to the club. In this episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Catherine Gray to unpick why you can’t just grit your teeth and get through a month off booze – and why resolutions in general are so hard to keep. We talk about what is really going on in your brain when you suddenly remove your usual drink, why your nervous system kicks off, and how shame and self‑loathing make you more likely to reach for the thing you’re trying to quit. From Dry January to doom‑scrolling, biscuits, vapes, porn, shopping and phone use, Catherine explains how our “stone age” brains are trying to survive in an ultra‑addictive modern world.​ We dig into dopamine, “little addictions”, friction, and tiny cogs of change – so you can feel informed and be a little bit kinder to yourself. If you’ve ever wondered “What’s wrong with me?” around addiction, this episode will help you realise: absolutely nothing.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Catherine’s new book, Little Addictions, is available to buy from the 29th January 2026.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Catherine Gray

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Cooke is back with me to reveal the daily non‑negotiables that keep him grounded, sane and able to show up for his life. He shares the simple practices that support his body, brain and energy, and explains how you can start building your own versions, even if you think you’re too busy, too “all over the place”, or too burnt out to begin. We talk morning and evening routines, movement that calms a racing mind, and how to protect your energy from the people and situations that drain you.​ If you’ve ever wondered what really underpins a “high‑vibe” life, this chat is your sign to find your own three things.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Matt’s book, Beyond Wanting, is available to buy now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Matt Cooke

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My guest this week is manifestation coach, speaker and author Matt Cooke, whose book Beyond Wanting genuinely shifted how I think about this stuff. Matt was once a stressed‑out estate agent and total sceptic, until grief, a strange spiritual experience and a deep dive into quantum physics blew his world open.​ We talk about how manifestation really works, why it is not as simple (or as cruel) as “your thoughts create your reality”, and how to use it safely if you live with anxiety, OCD or intrusive thoughts. Matt explains the science of observation, neuroplasticity and why your brain always drags you back to the old path, plus the simple daily tools he uses – journaling, affirmations, meditation and “gratitude for what isn’t here yet”.​ If you’ve ever thought, “Manifesting is for other people”, this episode is for you.

BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
Matt’s book, Beyond Wanting, is available to buy now.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Got something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xx

CREDITS:
Host: Bryony Gordon

Guest: Matt Cooke

Producer: Laura Elwood-Craig

Assistant Producer: Tippi Willard

Studio Manager: Sam Chisholm

Editor: Luke Shelley

Exec Producer: Jamie East

A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.