The Positive Habits Podcast

In this episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat sits down with Mike Mudie, founder of Authentic Brew, to explore the extraordinary journey that took him from the brink of burnout to creating the world's first 100% natural functional health drink.

After 15 years in corporate IT, Mike's body completely shut down without warning. Unable to walk, feed himself or even move, he began a life-changing journey that challenged everything he believed about health, recovery, performance and life. What followed was a mission to redefine an industry full of compromise by harnessing the power of Mother Nature to help people reconnect with their natural vitality.

In this episode, we discuss:

Mike's journey from burnout to recovery
Why modern life is disconnecting us from our natural health
Why natural vitality is replacing artificial stimulation
The story behind Authentic Brew and its mission to redefine wellness
The power of small daily rituals for mind, body and soul
Building a purpose-led business, community and movement

Key Takeaways

"Sometimes the body forces us to rest when we refuse to listen."
"Nature often provides the things we've forgotten we need."
"Real vitality isn't created through stimulation. It's achieved by naturally supporting the mind, body and soul as Mother Nature intended."
"The small choices we make every day shape the lives we live tomorrow."

Connect with Mike & Authentic Brew

Discover the world's first 100% natural functional health drink and join thousands of people building healthier daily rituals for mind, body and soul.

Subscribe today to make Authentic Brew part of your daily wellbeing routine and reconnect with your natural vitality. 10% off for all podcast listeners using KAT10 at checkout:
Shop with KAT10

www.authenticbrew.com

What if the thing you've spent your life trying to hide became the thing that helped you connect with others?

In this powerful episode, Kat sits down with Matthew from Armstrong Watson to discuss his journey from living with a debilitating stammer to confidently speaking in front of groups and helping others develop their communication skills.

Matthew shares the hidden impact his stammer had on everyday life, how it shaped his confidence and decisions, and the life-changing moment that helped him stop hiding and start embracing who he really is.

Together, they explore the power of small habits, authenticity, courage, and why sometimes one brave decision can change the direction of your life.

In this episode:
Growing up with a stammer
The hidden cost of self-doubt
Learning to stop hiding and be yourself
Why communication is really about connection
The power of small daily habits

Matthew starts every day with breathing practice and a short walk or run, helping him feel more alive, focused and ready for the day ahead.
One small habit. One brave decision. One life-changing conversation. 

ABOUT THE GUEST

Matthew works for Armstrong Watson, a firm of chartered accountants. He also volunteers for a program that helps people who stutter haven’t been through the same program 30 years ago and now gets to travel worldwide helping other people who stutter turning them into confident public speakers. He continues to support them after the course and they support him - all part of breaking that sense of isolation you have as a person who stammers.

@matthewrichardsonmfc

In this powerful episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat sits down with Pete for an honest conversation about men’s mental health, disconnection, alcohol, suicidal thoughts, community, cold water and what it really means to start healing.

Pete shares how he spent much of his life feeling disconnected - from himself, from other men, and from the world around him. He opens up about growing up around emotional silence, using alcohol as a way to belong, and the moment he realised something had to change.

This episode explores why so many men are struggling in silence, and how community, sea dipping, therapy, mentoring and small acts of courage helped Pete rebuild his life.

You’ll hear about:
• Why Pete believes many men today feel deeply disconnected
• How alcohol became a mask for confidence, belonging and pain
• Pete’s journey from suicidal thoughts to finding support
• The life-changing moment he walked onto the beach and found a men’s sea-dipping community
• Why cold water, breath work and community helped him process therapy
• The role of The Chimp Paradox in helping him understand his thoughts
• Why doing hard things together builds trust, resilience and connection
• How Men Who PLNGE became part of Pete’s support system
• Why one conversation, one act of support, or one person showing up can change a life

Pete’s story is raw, brave and deeply important - especially during Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

As Pete says: “One conversation, one act of support and one person showing up can change the course of one life.”

This episode is a reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. Sometimes the first step is simply turning up.

Men Who PLNGE https://www.instagram.com/men_who_plnge

Band of Brothers
https://abandofbrothers.org.uk/

What if the support we need isn't another app, programme or waiting list - but simply a place where we feel seen, valued and heard?

In this episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat sits down with Hannah, founder of Soulful, a preventative wellbeing community helping people build resilience, connection and confidence before they reach crisis point.

Hannah shares her powerful story of growing up with a parent struggling with addiction, losing her mum, and how those experiences inspired her to create Soulful - a community focused on helping people reconnect with themselves and others through meaningful conversations, events and support.
Together, Kat and Hannah explore grief, resilience, loneliness, community, positive habits and why small daily actions can have a profound impact on our wellbeing.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why Hannah believes prevention is the future of wellbeing
How growing up around addiction shaped her mission today
The hidden impact of grief and why talking about it matters
The loneliness epidemic affecting all generations
Why community is one of the most powerful wellbeing tools available
The importance of emotional regulation and self-awareness
How one positive habit can create a ripple effect far beyond your own life
Why cold water, nature and human connection are so transformative
The simple daily practices that help both Kat and Hannah stay mentally strong
Hannah's Positive Habit
Spending at least five minutes of quality, uninterrupted time with someone she loves every day - no phones, no distractions, just genuine connection.
Guest Hannah
Find out more about Soulful, upcoming events and wellbeing workshops:
https://www.soulfulco.uk/
Host Kat
If you'd like to learn how one small positive habit can improve performance, resilience and wellbeing for your team, connect with Kat Thorne and learn more about the Positive Habits for Performance programme.

www.katthorne.com

What happens when you walk away from the career everyone expects you to take?

In this episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat sits down with Stu Mac, founder of ManiLife Peanut Butter, to explore the story behind building one of the UK's most loved food brands - from a bedroom full of peanuts to scaling a purpose-led business.

But this conversation goes far beyond peanut butter.
Kat and Stu explore how habits shape performance, the hidden impact of food on energy and focus, why connection matters more than constant productivity, and how success often comes from simply "keeping on going."

They discuss:

How ManiLife started after Stu rejected a corporate accounting path
The manufacturing disaster that nearly stopped the business before it began
Why "luck" often follows consistency and persistence
The importance of connection and getting out from behind the to-do list
Food, ultra-processed products and modern wellbeing challenges
Why food influences focus, mood, energy and productivity
The role habits play in mental and physical performance
Why tiny changes create momentum
Building businesses around passion rather than obligation
The power of movement, phone habits and small daily decisions

Plus…
🥜 Stu shares his favourite ways to eat peanut butter (including one combination you probably won't expect).

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in autopilot, or wondered how small habits create big change - this episode is for you.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Stu is the Founder of ManiLife, the UK's fastest growing Peanut Butter Brand from a Rugby Club Kitchen in 2015 when a tonne of Peanuts got diverted from his 'would be' production partner (they pulled out last minute) to his bedroom. Since then ManiLIfe has grown into a multi million pound brand, selling through 1,000s of shops worldwide. They produce everything, to a bespoke process from their very own 16,000 square foot UK ManiFactory .

ABOUT THE HOST

Kat started her career as a teacher, before moving into Tech where she worked in different executive roles within teaching and consulting working across the globe, both in the public and private sector. Despite appearing 'successful' on the outside, she paid a heavy ‘life’ price. In 2016, her whole world collapsed.
The reason? The compound effect of years of unhealthy and toxic habits that destroyed her health, relationship, and career.

She rebuilt herself by changing just one small habit and built a series of positive habits which has transformed her professional and personal performance, resulting in becoming the healthiest and happiest version of herself.
She is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne 
https://www.instagram.com/the_morning_gamechanger
Follow Kat Thorne:
Instagram & LinkedIn: @katthorne