Living Without Answers and Surviving the Unimaginable: Darren Barden's Journey

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.

Chris Coulter: Losing His Daughter Maddie to Suicide and Finding Purpose in Her Legacy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458654/fan_mail/new] Please note: this episode contains open discussion about suicide, child loss, and grief. If you are struggling, please reach out to Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org   In 2015, Chris Coulter lost his 14-year-old daughter Maddie to suicide.  What he has built in her memory and the parents he has helped along the way, is one of the most moving stories I have had the privilege of sharing on this podcast.  Chris joins me from Toronto, Canada, where he is the founder of MentorWell, an organisation dedicated to helping parents recognise the warning signs in their teenagers before it's too late.  In this conversation we talk about Maddie. Who she was. The factors Chris believes contributed to her struggles, including a bitter divorce and her withdrawal from competitive swimming which had given her structure and purpose. And the long, devastating road of grief that followed.  But this is also a conversation about hope. About finding meaning after the unimaginable. About how Chris now feels Maddie beside him every single day as his co-pilot in this work.  We talk about:  How grief really affects you over ten years -- not the version people tell you about, the real one  The difference between how teenage boys and girls show mental health struggles, and why it matters  Chris's community "When Something Feels Off" -- nearly 200 members across 20 countries and how it's helping parents feel less alone  The Teen Signal Check tool, a simple 14 question green, yellow, red framework that has already been used by over 10,000 parents to assess whether their concerns about their teenager need urgent attention  Why the most important thing you can do as a parent is listen... not fix, not advise, just listen  How to support a friend or family member who has lost someone to suicide, and what not to say  And the moment Chris stopped trying to return to the person he was before Maddie died, and found peace in becoming someone new.   About Chris Chris Coulter is the founder of The MentorWell, a Toronto-based organisation helping parents recognise warning signs in their teenagers earlier, and helping employers support the working parents on their teams. His work is rooted in the loss of his daughter Maddie, who died on April 11, 2015 at the age of fourteen. Everything he has built since exists because of her. Chris is the author of Wake Up, You Could Lose Your Teen to Suicide, a mental health columnist for Healthing.ca, and a keynote speaker on youth mental health and workplace wellbeing. His Teen Signal Check awareness tool has been completed by more than 10,000 parents across 100 countries. He believes earlier awareness changes outcomes. For families. For workplaces. For the people inside both. Links The MentorWell website thementorwell.com [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fthementorwell.com%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cdcded3aebaa64a81cc4008debff16438%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639159240652606067%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Tio0sCdGmKk%2FXCz1fQ79dEJW%2BuYUObp6vue7OGhuciw%3D&reserved=0] Parent Support Group:  https://www.skool.com/thementorwell-community-circle-8475/about [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skool.com%2Fthementorwell-community-circle-8475%2Fabout&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cdcded3aebaa64a81cc4008debff16438%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639159240652633299%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=%2FfXEHHpQsLOD6bF1%2BPFIa7da7O7mJxtRhz02dKvRuZA%3D&reserved=0] Parent Awareness Tool https://www.thementorwell.com/teen-signal-check [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thementorwell.com%2Fteen-signal-check&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cdcded3aebaa64a81cc4008debff16438%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639159240652654963%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=isuV46R6kzfkdqqJ9lMOjtFkqI9nhCIs0wef2ViNq0k%3D&reserved=0] LinkedIn profile:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscoultermentorwell/ [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fchriscoultermentorwell%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cdcded3aebaa64a81cc4008debff16438%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639159240652678813%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=DD9rO5mjGdUFj3HoT%2B%2FPzRNI6b4OT%2FdgsKuGbtyCM2Q%3D&reserved=0]  Support:  Samaritans: 116 123 / samaritans.org  PAPYRUS (prevention of young suicide): 0800 068 4141 / papyrus-uk.org  Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM): 0800 58 58 58 / thecalmzone.net   SOBS -- Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide: 0300 111 5065, open every day 9am-7pm / uksobs.com / email.support@uksobs.org [email.support@uksobs.org]  Connect with Fran:  Website: 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.

Your Truth Is Showing: How to Speak with Real Authority with Emma Wainer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458654/fan_mail/new] If you’ve ever felt your voice wobble when your truth is trying to walk tall, this episode will steady your stride. We dive into the quiet power that rises when your words, your body, and your mindset finally stop arguing with each other and start telling the same story. Truth isn’t just noble; it’s profitable. And, as you’ll hear, it’s the cornerstone of communication that actually moves people. In this conversation, Fran sits down with communications expert and speaker coach Emma Wainer to unpick what makes a message believable, the kind that earns trust instead of begging for it. Emma shares her winding path from speech and language therapy to operations leadership, and the heartbreak of five miscarriages that silenced her voice before a master’s in voice coaching helped her reclaim it. Her story is raw, real, and a testament to the resilience behind authentic communication. Together, they explore: * The Power of Congruence: Why your audience trusts your body long before it trusts your words.  * Big T Truth: How to deliver even scripted messages with honesty instead of hollow performance.  * Childhood & Gendered Conditioning: The subtle forces that teach us to shrink, soften, or over-explain and how to break those patterns.  * Warmth + Credibility: The timeless duo that builds trust faster than any shiny technique.  * The Bridge of Trust Framework: How to meet your audience at their pain points before you dare offer a solution.  * Storytelling with Spine: Helping logical thinkers add emotional weight and human stakes without feeling cheesy.  * Body-Mind Recalibration: Practical ways to regulate nerves, breath, and inner narrative so your truth can actually make it out of your mouth.  * Pricing, Presence & Self-Worth: Why owning your message and owning your value are the same skill wearing different outfits.  * Rebuilding a Voice After Loss: Emma’s poignant journey back to self-expression and how practice, not perfection, makes a magnetic speaker.  This episode is for you if: You want to speak with more confidence, sell with more integrity, and show up in your business as the truest version of yourself, not the polished mask you think people expect. Come for the techniques; stay for the truth. About Emma Emma Wainer is a speaker coach, communication strategist, and voice expert who helps business owners speak with more clarity, credibility, and impact. With a background in speech and language therapy, startup leadership, and voice coaching, she brings a rare mix of commercial insight, vocal expertise, and practical tools to help people communicate in a way that builds trust and moves people to action. She works with founders, leaders, and experts who want to come across more naturally and powerfully, whether they’re speaking on stage, in meetings, on podcasts, or on camera. Links https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmawainer/ [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Femmawainer%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cfb86b39dbc224f028f8d08deac589592%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639137693651918421%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=qzAS2mnbyos8hahdZOKF8WREC8fKu6z8UxhBPZ7shPk%3D&reserved=0] Free talk diagnostic https://whyyourtalk5.tiiny.site [https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhyyourtalk5.tiiny.site%2F&data=05%7C02%7C%7Cfb86b39dbc224f028f8d08deac589592%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C639137693651946885%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=hePpBECqwRqFlJ%2FEyaZ66Fc39HK6f4kyd8LbQtRLiDQ%3D&reserved=0] 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.