The Thrive Programme Podcast

• Why forgiveness is the most powerful thing you own

  In today’s episode, Lucy is joined by Philippa Saunders for an honest conversation about why forgiveness is an internal act of power - something you do for you, not for the other person, and not in response to what they did or didn’t do.Philippa opens up about her experience of feeling let down by her father during her teen years, and how those moments shaped her self-esteem and her expectations of how life “should” have been. It wasn’t until she became a parent herself that she fully recognised just how much those early experiences were still influencing her.Discovering The Thrive Programme in her thirties became a turning point. Philippa shares the mindset shifts that helped her choose forgiveness, the process she went through, and the powerful sense of relief and freedom that followed - like finally putting down a weight she’d been carrying for decades.Lucy also shares the extraordinary story of Eva Kor, who, at just 10 years old, was taken to Auschwitz and subjected to horrific medical experiments. For 41 years, Eva held her pain in silence - until she discovered the profound personal power of forgiveness. She couldn’t change the past or the people who hurt her, but she realised she could reclaim her own emotional freedom.Together, Lucy and Philippa explore how self-forgiveness is just as transformative. They discuss how it cuts through perfectionism, self-criticism and the tendency to beat ourselves up for things we didn’t - or couldn’t - have done differently.If you’ve ever felt weighed down by resentment, guilt, or old stories about what “should” have happened, this episode is a powerful reminder that forgiveness is something you choose - and it may just be the most liberating choice you’ll ever make.

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• The Empowered Menopause: You’re the Captain Now

  Ladies of a certain age - this one’s for you.If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking “I’m old… past it… life is slowing down… why don’t I feel like myself anymore?.  Or if the symptoms of menopause and this stage of life (let’s be honest, it’s busy isn’t it) have been dulling your sparkle - this episode is your invitation to take back the helm.This week, Lucy is joined by Sue Tetley (Thrive Programme Coach based in Suffolk) for a powerful conversation all about empowering yourself through the menopause. Together, they explore how much of our experience comes down to perspective, beliefs, and the meaning we attach to this stage of life. You have more power over it than you might currently think…Looking at the research into global language and connotations around the menopause, it’s clear this has an impact. For example, in Chinese culture, menopause is viewed as a rebirth - a pivotal chapter where women can let go of the energy expended in childbirth and are considered wise, valued, and respected. They report some of the lowest menopause symptoms and medication use in the world. A different cultural lens… a completely different experience.Sue and Lucy discuss a couple of key things you can do to captain your own ship through this stage of your life: 1: Choose your perspective.The way you perceive it – the beliefs you hold, the perspective you take, the understanding you have, language you use - will determine your experience. You have control over this – you don’t have to struggle and simply survive! 2: Focus on what you can do to support yourself.Yes, lifestyle habits like sleep, movement, support around you, getting outside help…all the stuff you’ll already know (yawn, sign, eye roll…). But you can do better than that – you’ve got a huge potential on the inside - get yourself thriving: Challenge and let go of your limiting beliefsBuild a sense of safety and security in who you are – develop self-confidence like you’ve never thought possibleLearn how to feel powerful and in control of your life Build robust emotional coping skills so that you can cope with life’s stressors with relative easeCreate a mindset for life that empowers you to be the captain of your ship – in control of your life This episode is all about taking the power back over this phase of your life and doing it the way you want to do it – it’s your choice – it’s more up to you than you think it is.  

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• Thriving beyond hearing loss: The power of psychological strength

  In this episode, Lucy sits down with Anne Best – a Thrive Programme Coach based in Glasgow, Scotland – to discuss how The Thrive Programme helped her (and continues to help her) navigate her journey of living with hearing loss.  Anne lost her hearing after a complicated journey with asthma and repeated ear, nose and throat infections, and now has bone-anchored hearing aids. Anne reflects on her mental health at the start of her journey and says, “I was allowing my poor thinking to control my life”. She initially thought her way out of having the operation she needed to give her a better quality of life and was worried what people would think about seeing her with hearing aids.  But then she got herself thriving! Anne reveals how getting herself thriving empowered her to take responsibility for the thoughts in her head, the feelings she creates, the way she responds to situations in life, and the words she chooses both inside her head and what she says out loud. She now sees her hearing aids as her power tool!She says, “There’s fact and there’s fiction, and what I was inclined to do was make up a story – almost as a way of controlling something - and I don’t it anymore. I stick to the facts”. This inspiring episode is full of things you can do to take control of your experience of dealing with something challenging in your life. Practical takeaways, mindset shifts, coping skills, a sense of humour even.  If you’d like to talk to one of the team and get some help with something going on in your life right now, please reach out. We’d love to help. 

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• The Cold, Dark, Winter Months - On Your Terms

  As the days grow shorter and the air turns colder, it’s easy to feel like winter happens to you. But what if that’s not the full story? In this empowering conversation, Lucy is joined by Thrive Programme Coach Shannon Sullivan to explore how to take your power back during the winter months.Together, they challenge the idea that low mood, sadness, or ‘winter blues’ are caused by the weather - and instead, look at how our thoughts, perspectives, and choices shape how we feel. You can’t control the weather, but you can always control your mindset.Shannon shares practical and uplifting ways to reframe how you think about the season – how to manage your thinking well and feel powerful in the choices you make, from finding joy in simple moments like hot chocolates, cosy jumpers, and crackling fires, to planning days out and embracing the unique magic of this time of year.You’re not powerless to the ‘winter blues’, you ARE the power, which means you can learn to not just survive winter, but truly thrive through it.

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• What is Thriving? Choices, Habits, Mindset - A Way of Life

  In this episode, Lucy sits down with Bobby Carlin to talk about the meaning of thriving. Thriving isn’t a static thing that you ‘get’ or ‘are’ - it’s a mindset you develop, a set of insights and skills you equip yourself with, a way of living that empowers you to be the best version of yourself – it’s very much a ‘doing’ thing. Bobby explains why thriving is not about chasing perfection, constant happiness, or living without fear—it’s about making intentional choices, taking ownership of your thoughts and actions, and creating habits that align with your values.If you’ve ever wondered how to move from just surviving to truly thriving, this conversation offers practical wisdom and fresh perspective.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why thriving is about living life on your own termsThe importance of an internal compass and self-accountabilityHow to shift from “What’s happening to me?” to “What am I going to do about this?”Why thriving doesn’t mean being happy all the timeThe power of choice - and how choices become habitsHow to care for yourself in all areas of your life - physically, financially, relationally, and emotionally“Thriving is living your best life, being the best version of yourself - not by chance, but by choice.” 

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