The Exam System Is Broken: Hannah Gee on Dyslexia, Shame and Fighting the System

The Exam System Is Broken: Hannah Gee on Dyslexia, Shame and Fighting the System

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458654/fan_mail/new] In this episode I'm joined by Hannah Gee, founder of the Fairer Exams campaign, hypnotherapist and mum of three. Hannah shares the story of her son's dyslexia, his GCSE results falling short by a single mark, and the viral moment, sobbing in a car outside his final exam, that turned personal heartbreak into a national campaign.  We talk about the shocking statistic that one in three children leave school without English and Maths, the little-known "functional skills" qualification that could offer a fairer path, and the shame Hannah felt not as a mother of her son, but as a mother who feared being judged. It's an honest, at times funny, deeply important conversation about the education system, parental shame, and what it really means to fight for your child.  We cover:  * The moment Hannah's son missed his GCSE by one mark, and the system that failed to catch it * The little-known "functional skills" qualification, and why only 1 in 10 employers have heard of it * The video that went viral, and how it outpaced Hannah's TEDx talk * The difference between shame in your child and shame in your parenting * Why speaking your truth, however messy, always lands harder than a polished message * What "winning" looks like for the Fairer Exams campaign About Hannah Hannah Gee is an education campaigner, TEDx speaker, poet and hypnotherapist. She is the founder of Fairer Exams, a campaign calling for a more inclusive and practical assessment pathway for young people who are failed by the current GCSE system. Drawing on both personal experience and a belief in the power of honest storytelling, Hannah speaks openly about education, neurodiversity, resilience and what happens when we finally find the courage to speak our truth. Connect with Hannah: Watch Hannah's TEDx talk here: https://youtu.be/M5_zj2FZ6KY [https://youtu.be/M5_zj2FZ6KY]  Sign the petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/772347  Website: fairerexams.co.uk  Instagram: instagram.com/fairerexams  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/hannah-gee-791a5829   If this episode has affected you: If exam stress or your child's mental health is affecting your family, support is available. YoungMinds offers free advice and support for parents. Call the Parents Helpline on 0808 802 5544 or visit youngminds.org.uk. About Fran Fran Willoughby is an evidential medium, Reiki practitioner and intuitive coach, and the host of The Power of the Truth. Through Mojo Motivator she offers mediumship readings, oracle card readings, Reiki healing and coaching, helping people find clarity, connection and confidence through life's biggest transitions. Find out more or book a session at www.mojo-motivator.com [http://www.mojo-motivator.com].   If you have a story that you think would be good for the podcast, please do get in touch by emailing thepowerofthetruth@mojo-motivator.com.

You Don't Have to Do It Alone: Cindy Burns on 15 Years of Grief and Finding Herself Again

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458654/fan_mail/new] You Don't Have to Do It Alone: Cindy Burns on 15 Years of Grief and Finding Herself Again In this episode I'm joined by Cindy Burns, life coach specialising in grief and finding purpose, who lost her husband Dan to cancer in 2011 after 34 years together. Cindy shares the reality of grief that doesn't look like grief, years of barely existing, a stress-induced bleeding ulcer, and the slow realisation that keeping busy wasn't the same as healing. We talk about the moment she had to tell Dan his illness was terminal, the small rituals and humour that carried them through, and how she rebuilt her sense of self after raising six sons. It's an honest, often funny, deeply moving conversation about what it really takes to move forward, not by getting over grief, but by learning to live alongside it. We cover: * The moment Cindy had to tell Dan he was terminal, and the hardest conversation of her life * Why Cindy avoided grief groups for years, and what finally changed her mind * The bleeding ulcer that forced her to confront years of suppressed emotion * Raising six sons through loss, and the guilt of staying "strong" for too long * Why grief for a partner is different to other kinds of loss, and why comparing grief doesn't help * Cindy's advice for anyone at the start of their own grief journey About Cindy Cindy Burns is a life coach specialising in grief and finding purpose. After losing her husband Dan in 2011, she spent years learning what it really takes to rebuild a life and a sense of self after loss. Today she coaches widows and others navigating grief through small, achievable steps, helping them find their way forward without having to do it alone. Connect with Cindy: Website: www.living-forward.com [http://www.living-forward.com] Text: 1-434-329-2369 Facebook: Cindy Judd Burns, facebook.com/cindy.j.burns (DMs welcome) Instagram: instagram.com/cindy.j.burns LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cindyjburns Email: burns.cindy@gmail.com [burns.cindy@gmail.com] If this episode has affected you: If you've lost a partner or are navigating grief, support is available. Cruse Bereavement Support offers free confidential support for anyone grieving in the UK. Call 0808 808 1677 or visit cruse.org.uk.  About Fran Fran Willoughby is an evidential medium, Reiki practitioner and intuitive coach, and the host of The Power of the Truth. Through Mojo Motivator she offers mediumship readings, oracle card readings, Reiki healing and coaching, helping people find clarity, connection and confidence through life's biggest transitions. Find out more or book a session at www.mojo-motivator.com [http://www.mojo-motivator.com]. If you have a story that you think would be good for the podcast, please do get in touch by emailing thepowerofthetruth@mojo-motivator.com.

No One Met Him But Us: Niky Hamilton on Full Term Stillbirth and the Truth About a Grief the World Doesn't Understand

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458654/fan_mail/new]  No One Met Him But Us: Niky Hamilton on Full Term Stillbirth and the Truth About a Grief the World Doesn't Understand  In this episode I'm joined by Niky Hamilton, women's resilience coach, physiotherapist of over 20 years, and author of Selfish Leadership: How to Lead Without Losing Yourself. Niky shares the story of her son Baxter, stillborn in February 2014, and the twelve years since that have taken her from physiotherapy and event management into coaching women through grief, burnout, and the moments life doesn't go to plan.  We talk about the difference between living in grief and living with grief, the strange isolation of a loss nobody else met, what it's like for partners who "can't fix it," and the physics of energy that helped Niky make sense of where Baxter's presence went. It's an honest, moving conversation about permission, identity, and rebuilding a life that looks nothing like the one you planned.  We cover:  * The moment Niky and her husband Glenn found out there was no heartbeat, and the 24 hours they had with Baxter * Why "everything happens for a reason" is the last thing to say to someone grieving, and what to say instead * The three phases of grief Niky's identified through her own experience and coaching practice * Building emotional capacity, and why joy and grief can sit on the same plate * How Niky's slow, second wave of grief (through IVF and an unsuccessful adoption process) differed from the "atomic bomb" of Baxter's death * Baxter's legacy, and how it shows up in every woman Niky coaches Connect with Niky: Website: https://nikyhamilton.com/ [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnikyhamilton.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cda2be029c4d94e9b8e3508dede5f0e21%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639192697172321016%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rivDXpSmRF%2BiQGaI7FSC3seEqceFW3eCSxOVCptMEpk%3D&reserved=0] Insta: https://www.instagram.com/niky.hamilton/ [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fniky.hamilton%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cda2be029c4d94e9b8e3508dede5f0e21%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639192697172350620%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2BNZ4m%2FMcG1xA0oAegya8ntvIrJ3PRFgALALequ9crus%3D&reserved=0] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikyhamilton/ [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnikyhamilton%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cda2be029c4d94e9b8e3508dede5f0e21%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639192697172372999%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=44mJCyJcxBMVR21OjfYNFbupTCZ1BH%2FdmmWCWm8iPm4%3D&reserved=0] Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/niky-hamilton/ [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fniky-hamilton%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cda2be029c4d94e9b8e3508dede5f0e21%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639192697172466890%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IBplcbjptXIoOka8Eenk8enCX5VVuPvW6%2BDPwIxuXlw%3D&reserved=0] My book: https://nikyhamilton.com/selfishleadership [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnikyhamilton.com%2Fselfishleadership&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cda2be029c4d94e9b8e3508dede5f0e21%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639192697172490343%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hWhidhg2AOq9LklcADpDKfeCCO0nCsVY6Hh5OpvIF8c%3D&reserved=0] Bio Niky Hamilton is a resilience speaker, coach, author and retreat facilitator who helps women and leaders navigate life’s setbacks and rise into stronger self-leadership. Originally trained as a physiotherapist, Niky built a successful physiotherapy practice on the Sunshine Coast, growing a team of 14 women and developing a deep passion for leadership and team culture. Her life took an unexpected turn when she experienced the devastating loss of her son. In the quiet aftermath of grief, where brain fog, exhaustion and overwhelming emotions often live, Niky began a journey of deep personal transformation. Through further training in leadership, coaching, mindfulness and emotional resilience, she developed powerful tools to help others navigate life when everything changes. Today Niky speaks, coaches and facilitates retreats that help people manage emotions, build resilience, lead themselves with courage and transform life’s hardest moments into clarity, strength and direction. Her message is simple yet powerful: resilience isn’t about bouncing back, it’s about rising into who you are becoming.   If this episode has affected you If you've been affected by stillbirth or the death of a baby, support is available.  Sands (stillbirth and neonatal death charity): 0808 164 3332, helpline@sands.org.uk [helpline@sands.org.uk] Tommy's (midwife-led pregnancy and baby loss helpline): 0800 0147 800, midwife@tommys.org [midwife@tommys.org]   About Fran Fran Willoughby is an evidential medium, Reiki practitioner and intuitive coach, and the host of The Power of the Truth. Through Mojo Motivator she offers mediumship readings, oracle card readings, Reiki healing and coaching, helping people find clarity, connection and confidence through life's biggest transitions. Find out more or book a session at www.mojo-motivator.com [http://www.mojo-motivator.com].   If you have a story that you think would be good for the podcast, please do get in touch by emailing thepowerofthetruth@mojo-motivator.com.

This Too Shall Pass: Claire Karitzis on Surviving Childhood Sexual Abuse, Breast Cancer and Finding Peace in Healing

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458654/fan_mail/new] Claire Karitzis is a professional dancer, mum and psychic intuitive healer. She trained at full-time ballet school from the age of 16, danced with Kylie and Justin Timberlake at the MTV Europe Music Awards, choreographed for X Factor and Britain's Got Talent, and at 29 was diagnosed with breast cancer. But underneath all of that was a truth she had been carrying since childhood. In this episode Claire speaks openly and courageously about surviving childhood sexual abuse, the years it took to uncover and process her memories, and the extraordinary journey that brought her from darkness to a place of complete peace and joy. This is one of the most honest and important conversations I have ever had. I hope it stays with you.   In this episode we cover:  Claire's childhood in Glasgow, dancing from the age of 2 and what dance gave her that she didn't yet understand  The toxic reality of full time ballet school and the pressures placed on young dancers  Her commercial career, dancing with Kylie and meeting her husband  Her breast cancer diagnosis at 29 and the moment she knew she couldn't go back to the person she was before  How becoming a mother cracked her open and began the journey of uncovering childhood sexual abuse  How she verified her memories age by age through photographs and family conversations  The years of therapy, regression, somatic healing, plant medicine and spiritual awakening that followed  Seeing angels in the sky, spirits in her house and the psychic gifts that returned as she healed  Her program to help dancers build resilience and stay connected to their why  And the message she wants anyone in their own darkness to hear   If this episode has brought up anything for you, please reach out for support:  🌿 NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) Free helpline for adult survivors of all forms of childhood abuse 📞 0808 801 0331 | napac.org.uk  🌿 Rape Crisis England & Wales 24/7 support line for anyone affected by sexual violence 📞 0808 500 2222 | rapecrisis.org.uk  🌿 The Survivors Trust Directory of over 120 specialist support services across the UK thesurvivorstrust.org  🌿 Safeline Support for anyone affected by sexual abuse including a dedicated male survivor service 📞 0808 800 5005 | safeline.org.uk  🌿 Samaritans 24/7 support if you need to talk to someone 📞 116 123 | samaritans.org   Connect with Claire:   www.theredthreadofclaire.co.uk [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theredthreadofclaire.co.uk%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cd43907afbb854f51a00408ded8e9d906%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639186696127806299%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=MJZiN5wR%2BAJCiTWFiUNYsSxZZjgCyJOFH%2BtVjTF5fU4%3D&reserved=0]   About Fran  Fran Willoughby is the host of The Power of the Truth Podcast and founder of Mojo Motivator. She is an evidential medium, second degree Reiki practitioner, intuitive coach and adult dance teacher based in Farnham, Surrey.  Fran came out publicly as a medium in May 2026 and describes it as the biggest relief of her life. Having lost both her parents within fourteen months of each other, her own journey through grief and loss is what drives her passion for honest conversations about what it means to be human.  Through her podcast, her readings, her healing work and her teaching, Fran's intention is always the same. To help people feel better than they did when they arrived.  You can find out more about Fran and book a session with her at  👉 www.mojo-motivator.com [http://www.mojo-motivator.com]  If you have a story that you think would be good for the podcast, please do get in touch by emailing thepowerofthetruth@mojo-motivator.com.

More Than a Transaction: Shazia Ali on Law, Humanity and Leaving a Legacy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458654/fan_mail/new] What happens when a criminal defence lawyer decides that justice is about more than winning cases? In this episode I sit down with Shazia Ali, CEO of Scarsdale Solicitors, whose approach to law is anything but conventional. Warm, direct and utterly human, Shazia shares the story behind her drive to help people, from running free legal clinics at food banks to supporting women escaping domestic violence every Wednesday for years. We talk about what it really takes to build a successful business, the truth about work life balance, learned compassion, community and the bigger purpose that keeps her going. Scarsdale Solicitors is a criminal and motoring law firm based in the north of England.  Shazia has been practising law since 2001 and founded Scarsdale Solicitors in 2015. But what makes her story remarkable isn't the business itself. It's the way she runs it, and the life she lives around it.  We cover:  Why Shazia believes listening is the most important skill any lawyer can have, and why most don't do it  How growing up experiencing racism in the 70s and 80s shaped her drive to help people who feel powerless in a system that intimidates them  The years she spent volunteering at food banks and running free legal clinics for women experiencing domestic violence, before COVID changed everything  What the truth about running a successful business actually looks like, the 60-70 hour weeks, the late night calls, the emergencies that don't respect weekends  Why she refuses to see her work as a transaction, and what that means for her team, her clients and her legacy  Her five year dream to run a pro bono department where private work funds free legal support for those who can't afford it  And the one piece of advice she'd give to anyone who is struggling and too scared to ask for help.  If you've ever felt like the system wasn't built for people like you, or if you've ever wondered what it looks like to build a business and a life around genuinely serving others, this episode is for you.  Connect with Shazia: Website: www.scarsdalecolicitors.com [http://www.scarsdalecolicitors.com] Phone: 01706 531827  About Shazia: Shazia Ali is the founder and CEO at Scarsdale Solicitors [https://scarsdalesolicitors.com/], an award-winning legal firm specialising in criminal and motoring law. From humble beginnings in the north of England, Shazia's grit and determination have seen her overcome obstacles including poverty, racism and sexism, to build a thriving business while raising a family. Shazia is a legal expert renowned for her personal approach to individual cases, and is frequently featured in national and international media.  Work with Fran: 👉 www.mojo-motivator.com [http://www.mojo-motivator.com]  If you have a story that you think would be good for the podcast, please do get in touch by emailing thepowerofthetruth@mojo-motivator.com.