The Be Braver Podcast

• S1 Ep13: David Smith MBE - finding purpose. Living with an inoperable tumour.

  In this very special episode of Be Braver, Annie and Josie are joined by the remarkable David Smith MBE – Paralympic gold medallist, elite athlete, coach, speaker, and all-round warrior for resilience and presence.David’s story is one of extreme highs and unimaginable lows. He won gold for Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympics in rowing, achieving what many athletes dream of. But what makes David’s story truly extraordinary is what came before – and what came after.For the past 14 years, David has been living with a rare tumour wrapped around his spinal cord. He’s had multiple major surgeries, faced paralysis, and gone through gruelling recovery after gruelling recovery. And yet, he still wakes up with the mindset of an athlete. He still chases growth, health, and excellence – mentally and physically. As he puts it, he’s not just surviving cancer, he’s thriving with it.David speaks with his heart on his sleeve but also with a great sense of humour. He tells Annie and Josie about the mental tools sport gave him that has helped him through his illness. And how it feels to see his body failing but his mind getting stronger.David speaks about the role of routine, meditation and self-discipline to stay reslient and how he stays in the present.His mantra is : “Be where your feet are.”When life throws curveballs, as it has done for David time and again, coming back to the present moment is what helps him stay steady. Whether that means feeling the floor beneath him, focusing on his breath, or just doing one small positive thing each day – he’s learned that the present is the only place you can truly live, take action, or find peace. His message is, not to wait for a crisis to start living more fully.This isn’t just a story about beating the odds – it’s about changing your relationship with the odds altogether. It’s about focusing on what you can do. As David says, “I don’t have control over my tumour, but I have control over how I live with it.”Don’t forget to follow, share, and leave us a review – it really helps others find the show.💬 We’d love to hear your thoughts – connect with us on socials @BeBraverPodcast and let us know what you took from David’s incredible story.

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• S1 Ep12 Sarah Ruggins - remarkable bravery from living with a rare extreme pain condition which left her unable to walk to record-breaking cyclist

  Today's guest tells some remarkable stories of bravery. Dr. Sarah Ruggins has just broken the world record for cycling from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall and back. That's 2700km in just over 5 days.Sarah grew up in Canada and moved to the UK 10 years ago. She was a child star on the track but got diagnosed with a rare, extremely painful condition which left her unable to walk and needing 24 hour care.The chat delves into Sarah's journey, which includes overcoming that life-altering medical condition and the subsequent transformation into an accomplished cyclist. Josie and Annie explore the themes of resilience, determination, and the importance of community support as Sarah recounts her experiences in both athletics and life. Sarah talks about the significance to her of pursuing challenges that pushed her beyond the comfort zone, as well as the vital role of teamwork in achieving her goals and finding a supportive community.It's a really powerful example of how we can put bravery in our lives.The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod

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• S1 Ep11 Kate Silverton - finding joy and leaving a high-profile TV job to become a child psychologist

  In this episode Kate Silverton shares her journey from being a successful and high-profile journalist and presenter at the BBC to becoming a child psychologist.She talks about the importance of following your own joy, the challenges of balancing career and family life and the significance of understanding your personal values and self-care.Kate talks to Annie and Josie about the importance of looking back to understand present behaviours.She shares the most memorable moments in her broadcasting career - from the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan to the dance floor of Strictly Come Dancing and behind the wheel on Top Gear.Annie and Joise explore the motivations behind her mid-life career change and her drivers to become a child psychologist.Kate concludes with a powerful message about bravery and overcoming fear.You can find more about Kate and her books "There's no such thing as naughty" and "There's STILL no such thing as naughty" on her website www.katesilverton.comThe Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod

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• S1 Ep 10 Lucy Gossage - endurance athlete and oncologist "You're braver than you think you are"

  Today's guest is Lucy Gossage - an oncology consultant, who's also an extreme athlete and co-founder of 5K Your Way which promotes exercise for cancer patients to build back confidence in their bodies.She has 14 ironman wins to her credit. Along with achievements at some of the most brutal endurance events.Lucy starts by talking to Annie and Josie about The Winter Spine - an ultramarathon held in winter from the Peak District in Scotland, a distance of 431km.This was the second time Lucy has competed in this. And she tells the podcast about the reason she returned to the challenge. When she made her debut the cancer doctor did it alongside her partner. But days after finishing her world came crashing down. She discovered he'd been cheating on her and living a life of lies from a social media message sent to a friend.Her return in 2025 saw her inspired to win the race.Lucy speaks openly about her struggle with confidence despite her success as an athlete and getting to Cambridge University to study medicine. She went on to start running triathlons and ironmans, leaving her job to compete as a professional all over the world. Her mantra is 'choosing to suffer is a privilege' and she believes her time out from medicine to compete has made her a better doctor. And being a doctor has made her a better athlete and appreciate that life is short.She's most proud of finishing every race, rather than winning. She believes in competing with a smile and celebrates victories with a laugh and a dance. The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod

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• S1 Ep9 John Bulleid - What we can learn from magic and awe...and making an elephant disappear on stage.

  Today's guest helps make the magic happen in London's West End at the Harry Potter and Cursed Child show.John Bulleid is an actor, magician and illusion designer, creating magical solutions for stage and screen.His love of magic began at the age of 7 when he was given a Paul Daniel Magic Set as a gift.John is a rarity too. He's an Associate Member of the famed Magic Circle. One of fewer than 300 worldwide.This is a lovely chat with insights into the magical world of an illusion designer. The tricks, the stories and the ideas.John talks about the escapism which comes with magic - taking people away from their normal lives whilst the tricks are performed. He tells us how his dad encouraged him to follow a path of being a magician and how it's taken him to some remarkable productions.There's a discussion of magic and awe and Josie gives us some theory about how awe can enhance critical thinking, improve health and give a sense of being part of something bigger. And John agrees that awe is such an important part of what he does.He ends the podcast talking about how he uses reverse engineering to solve problems and be braver.The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod

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