Live from Stratford Literary Festival: Kit de Waal on Friendship, Fear & Finding Freedom
In this live episode of Hurt to Healing, Julia Samuel is joined by acclaimed author and advocate Kit de Waal for a powerful conversation about friendship, fear, and the patterns we inherit from childhood. With her signature blend of candour and compassion, Kit opens up about the painful unravelling of a close friendship and how it stirred echoes of her early life — growing up with a strict Jamaican Jehovah’s Witness father and a fiery Irish Catholic mother. She reflects on the emotional survival tactics that shaped her, the fierce loyalty of her siblings, and the way fear and secrecy became part of her emotional DNA.
Together, Julia and Kit explore the complexities of trust, identity, and repair — what it means to rewrite the stories we were raised with, and how we begin to parent and connect differently. From Kit’s teenage rebellion and escape from a rigid religious upbringing to her work in social care and advocacy for marginalised voices, this is a conversation about resilience, rupture, and growth.
Find Kit:
Website: https://www.kitdewaal.com/
Instagram: @kitdewaal
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
51:08
Expert Episode: How to Age Well with Dr. Lucy Pollock
In this expert episode, Julia sits down with Dr. Lucy Pollock, a geriatrician with nearly three decades of experience, to explore the truth about growing older. Together, they unpack the challenges, joys, and misconceptions of ageing — from navigating dementia and end-of-life decisions to improving communication between patients, families, and doctors.
Dr. Pollock shares practical advice for ageing well, discusses the emotional weight of caregiving, and highlights why listening is one of the most powerful tools in medicine. This thoughtful conversation is rich with wisdom, humour, and deeply moving personal stories that challenge how we think about aging, autonomy, and what truly matters as we grow older.
Buy Lucy's book: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/448165/the-golden-rule-by-pollock-lucy/9781405953245
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
1:01:55
Expert Episode: Music as Medicine with Dr Daniel Levitin
In this episode of Therapy Works, Julia is joined by Dr. Daniel Levitin — acclaimed neuroscientist, musician, and best-selling author of Music as Medicine.
Together, they explore the extraordinary ways music can transform mental and physical health. From its ability to boost mood and memory to its role in treating trauma, depression, and neurological disorders like Parkinson’s, Dr. Levitin explains the science behind music’s profound effects on the brain. He also discusses how music compares to prescription medication, and why personalised playlists can be as powerful as therapy.
The conversation delves into the emotional and cultural significance of music, highlighting how collective musical experiences foster connection, belonging, and healing.
This episode is a compelling reminder of the importance of agency and personal resonance in any therapeutic journey — and why Dr. Levitin believes music education should be a universal right. They also touch on the future of AI and human connection, ending with a hopeful vision for integrating music more deeply into everyday well-being. Listen now to discover why music might just be one of the most powerful forms of therapy we have.
Find Daniel:Instagram: @daniellevitinofficialBuy his book: https://amzn.eu/d/eSkZSZo
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
48:17
Agony Aunties on Healing from Preverbal Trauma
The Agony Aunties delve into the complexities of preverbal trauma, explaining why it is difficult to process such trauma and how it affects the body and brain. Through a detailed example of a young child who suffered early neglect, the discussion highlights how trauma manifests and persists beyond early childhood. They give their insights on therapeutic approaches like EMDR, sensory regulation, and the importance of co-regulation. Additional resources from experts like Bessel van der Kolk, Peter Levine, Bruce Perry, and the concept of the polyvagal system are recommended for deeper understanding. The episode underscores the importance of patience, self-compassion, and the development of a sensory toolbox for trauma survivors.
Additional Resources:
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk – A groundbreaking book on how trauma is stored in the body and how we can begin to heal.
Somatic Experiencing by Peter Levine – Learn more about Peter Levine’s body-based approach to resolving trauma.
What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey – A compassionate, neuroscience-based look at childhood trauma and healing.
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
--------
16:22
Expert Episode: Helping Your Children Develop Resilience with Dr. Henry Venter
In this expert-led episode, Emily Samuel is joined by Dr Henry Venter to explore the vital role resilience plays in a child’s development. Together, they delve into the tools, habits, and parenting strategies that help children adapt to challenges, manage emotions, and build inner strength in an ever-changing world.Whether your child is navigating friendship struggles, academic stress, or emotional setbacks, this conversation offers accessible insights to help them thrive.
Find more on Dr Venter: https://www.nu.edu/degrees/social-sciences/faculty/dr-henry-venter/
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bestselling author and psychotherapist, Julia Samuel, invites us into her therapy room as she talks to both known and unknown voices about some of life’s biggest challenges.
Therapy Works is full of therapeutic conversations which may contain difficult emotions but those that can paradoxically bring light, in all its form.
Listeners will hear what the guests have learnt, failed to learn and how they have grown through their experience. At the end of each episode, Julia reflects on her session with her two psychotherapist daughters who will share their thoughts on the conversation. You’ll quickly discover that not all therapists agree on everything!
Follow @juliasamuelmbe
UK