The Life of Bryony

• 49. Is Anyone Else Terrified All the Time? Dr Julie Smith on Turning Fear Into Action

  This week, I’m joined by Dr Julie Smith – clinical psychologist, best-selling author and one of the most trusted mental health voices online. With over 9 million followers across social media, Dr Julie has made it her mission to share no-nonsense advice for the moments when life gets overwhelming. We talk about how fear shows up in our lives – from catastrophic thinking and compulsive behaviours, to why you wake up feeling like everything is too much. Julie opens up about receiving a breast cancer diagnosis while writing her latest book, Open When, and how it forced her to practise what she preaches: facing fear head-on and taking action in the service of your own rescue. We also explore the tools that help us reclaim agency in difficult times – including mindfulness, emotional regulation, and learning to question that inner voice telling you you’re not good enough. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a spiral of fear or self-criticism, this conversation is packed with practical guidance and real-life hope. LET’S STAY IN TOUCH 🗣 Got something to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512—just start your message with LOB. 💬 Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB 📧 Prefer email? Drop me a line at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone who might need it. It really does help us reach more people. Bryony xx BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE 📚 Open When: A Companion for Life’s Twists and Turns by Dr Julie Smith A warm, practical guide to building resilience and emotional strength during the hardest moments of life. CREDITS 🎙 Presenter: Bryony Gordon 🎙 Guest: Dr Julie Smith 🎧 Content Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan 🎥 Audio & Video Editor: Luke Shelley 📢 Executive Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 48. The Life of YOU: “I’m Terrified to Look at My Bank Balance”

  Welcome to The Life of YOU! The bonus series where we tackle your dilemmas and share expert advice on navigating life’s trickier moments. This week, I’m joined by Clare Seal—finance writer, speaker, and founder of The Financial Wellbeing Forum. Clare rose to prominence with her Instagram account @myfrugalyear, where she openly shared her journey of getting out of £27,000 of debt. Since then, she’s become a leading voice in financial wellness, breaking down the emotional and psychological barriers that impact how we manage money. Together, we discuss the complex relationship between money, self-worth, and relationships, offering practical advice on how to overcome financial anxiety, communicate better with a partner about money, and build a healthier mindset around spending. Today’s Listener Questions: 💸 Anon asks: “I’m a saver, but my partner is a spender. We keep fighting about finances—how do we stop money from becoming a constant source of stress?” 💰 Marie asks: “I feel guilty when I spend money on myself, even when I can afford it. How do I change my mindset?” 📉 Lisa asks: “Every time I check my bank account, I get a horrible sinking feeling. How can I break the habit of avoiding my finances?” WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 🗣 Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512—just start your message with LOB 💬 Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB 📧 Prefer email? Drop us a line at [email protected] If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx CREDITS 🎙 Presenter: Bryony Gordon 🎙 Guest: Clare Seal 🎧 Content Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan 🎥 Audio & Video Editor: Luke Shelley 📢 Executive Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 47. Money & Mental Health: Shame, Spending, and Self-Worth with Clare Seal

  Money—it’s something we all have to deal with, yet so many of us feel ashamed, overwhelmed, or anxious about it. Whether it’s debt, emotional spending, or the way we tie our self-worth to financial success, these struggles can have a profound effect on our mental health. This week, I’m joined by Clare Seal, finance writer, speaker, and author, who became a leading voice in financial well-being after launching her Instagram account My Frugal Year, where she shared her journey out of £27,000 worth of personal debt. Together, we discuss: 💰 Why money remains one of our biggest taboos. 😨 How financial stress impacts mental health—and vice versa. 🛍️ Emotional spending, the ‘ADHD tax,’ and why many of us sabotage ourselves financially. 🔄 How to break out of shame cycles and build a healthier relationship with money. Whether you’ve ever felt out of control with money or just want confidence around finances, this episode is for you. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 🗣 Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512—just start your message with LOB. 💬 Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB. 📧 Prefer email? Drop us a line at [email protected]. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need to hear it—it really helps! Bryony xx USEFUL LINKS If you’re struggling with debt or financial stress, these resources can help: 🔹 StepChange Debt Charity – Free, expert debt advice and solutions: 👉 https://www.stepchange.org 🔹 National Debtline – Free and independent debt advice: 👉 https://www.nationaldebtline.org CREDITS 🎙 Presenter: Bryony Gordon 🎙 Guest: Clare Seal 🎧 Content Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan 🎥 Audio & Video Editor: Luke Shelley 📢 Executive Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 46. The Life of YOU: Kate Silverton on Tantrums, Big Emotions & Parenting with Confidence

  Welcome to The Life of YOU! The bonus series where we tackle your dilemmas and share advice to navigate life’s trickier moments. This week, I’m joined by Kate Silverton—broadcaster, child therapist, and bestselling author of There’s No Such Thing As ‘Naughty’. Drawing from years of research and real-life parenting experience, Kate helps us understand children’s emotions, why tantrums aren’t ‘bad behaviour’, and how we can build stronger connections with our kids. Together, we answer your questions about emotional resilience, big feelings, and how to parent with confidence—even in the toughest moments. Today: 💬 Shannon struggles to stay calm when her toddler has a meltdown—how can parents stop their child’s emotions from triggering their own? 💭 David’s 8-year-old shuts down when he’s upset—how can he encourage his child to open up without pushing too hard? 🤯 Emma asks why her 5-year-old has explosive reactions over small things—what’s the best way to help children manage frustration? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 🗣️ Got a question or a story to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512—just start your message with LOB 💬 Use the WhatsApp shortcut: https://wa.me/447796657512?text=LOB 📧 Prefer email? Drop us a line at [email protected] If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it—it really helps! Bryony xx CREDITS 🎙️ Presenter: Bryony Gordon 🎙️ Guest: Kate Silverton 🎧 Content Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan 🎥 Audio & Video Editor: Luke Shelley 📢 Executive Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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• 45. Kate Silverton: The Secret to Raising Happy, Emotionally Strong Kids

  MY GUEST THIS WEEK: KATE SILVERTON This week, I’m joined by Kate Silverton—journalist, broadcaster, and child therapist—who left the BBC newsroom to pursue her passion for children’s mental health. Now a qualified child counsellor, Kate is on a mission to help parents better understand their children’s emotional worlds. We talk about why there’s no such thing as a “naughty” child, how emotional regulation is the greatest gift we can give our kids, and why the perfect parent doesn’t exist (and never should). Kate explains how our brains are wired for connection, why our kids’ behaviour is often misunderstood, and how we can stop parenting from a place of guilt and shame. Kate also shares her fascinating analogy of the brain as a wise owl, a baboon, and a lizard, helping us see why children struggle with emotions and how we can lend them our own calm when they need it most. We explore why guilt can actually be useful, how parents can feel less overwhelmed, and why firm but fun is the best parenting approach of all. If you’ve ever worried about getting it wrong as a parent (or felt totally out of your depth), this episode will leave you feeling empowered, reassured, and maybe even a little less guilty. LET’S STAY IN TOUCH 🗣️ Got something to share? Text or send a voice note on 07796657512—just start your message with LOB. 💬 Use the WhatsApp shortcut: Click here. 📧 Prefer email? Drop me a line at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone who might find Owen’s insights helpful—it really makes a difference! Bryony xx BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE 📚 There’s Still No Such Thing as Naughty by Kate Silverton A practical, science-backed guide to understanding your child’s behaviour and strengthening your bond with them. CREDITS 🎙️ Presenter: Bryony Gordon 🎙️ Guest: Kate Silverton 🎧 Content Producer: Jonathan O’Sullivan 🎥 Audio & Video Editor: Luke Shelley 📢 Executive Producer: Mike Wooller A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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