Thriving not Surviving

• Ep 12: Journey to Forgiveness — Healing Through Compassion & Self-Love

  Summary: In this heartfelt episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen Valentino and Eleanor Pool explore the profound power of forgiveness as a pathway to emotional and spiritual healing. They share personal experiences of forgiving themselves and others, highlighting how this practice transforms pain into peace and restores connection to self and community.Together, they unpack the emotional, physical, and psychological impact of unforgiveness — and why choosing to forgive isn’t about condoning, but about setting ourselves free. They weave science, spirituality, and soul into a conversation that affirms forgiveness as both a practice and a journey.Listeners will discover tools like the Hawaiian practice of H’oponopono, insights into trauma and conditioning, and the deep link between self-forgiveness and mental health. This is an invitation to meet yourself with compassion, rewrite your inner narrative, and ripple healing into your relationships and wider world.💛 Online Forgiveness Course: 15th / 22nd / 29th July 2025 💛 In-Person Retreat: Journey to Forgiveness, 29–31 August 2025Takeaways: • Forgiveness is a journey, not a one-time act • Self-forgiveness is essential to healing • Unforgiveness creates emotional and physical stress • Forgiveness leads to freedom, not forgetting • Practices like H’oponopono can unlock deep emotional release • You can start small and build your forgiveness muscle • Understanding your triggers helps the healing process • Childhood conditioning shapes how we forgive • Compassion towards ourselves expands outward • Healing ourselves creates healing ripples in our communitiesSound Bites: • “Self-forgiveness is crucial for healing.” • “Forgiveness is not about condoning — it’s about freedom.” • “Hurt people hurt people.” • “We all just want to be our true selves.” • “Healing ripples out into our communities.” • “Everything is happening in divine order.” • “Forgiveness is a beautiful gift.” • “It’s about uncovering who we truly are.”📧 [email protected] 📸 Instagram: helens_inspired_healing 🌐 inspiredhealing.co.uk | eleanorpoolcounselling.com 🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios 🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep 11 Rick’s Story - Money, Self-Compassion and Healing with IFS

  In this episode of Thriving Not Surviving, Helen Valentino speaks with Rick Kahler — certified Financial Therapist, IFS Practitioner, and pioneer in integrating money and emotional healing. Together, they explore Internal Family Systems (IFS), a model that views every part of us — even the inner critic — as holding good intentions.Rick shares how IFS transformed his work, offering a compassionate, non-advisory approach that helps clients understand their inner “parts” and gently unburden their emotional wounds. Their conversation spans money scripts (beliefs about money shaped in childhood), financial anxiety, and the truth that healing around money is rarely just about money.They also touch on Rick’s personal journey parenting through gender transitions — the grief, the growth, and the importance of community support through profound change.This is a powerful conversation about self-compassion, transformation, and the deep connection between our financial behaviours and the emotional stories we carry — and how we can begin to rewrite them.🔑 Key Takeaways • IFS sees all parts as protective, even the ones that cause distress. • Unburdening in IFS releases inherited or childhood-based beliefs. • Money scripts often unconsciously shape adult financial behaviours. • Financial therapy blends practical knowledge with emotional insight. • Psychodrama offers healing through re-enactment and safe expression. • Parenting children through gender transition involves grief, growth, and love. • Self-compassion and community are vital in navigating change.📖 Referenced Reading • The Financial Therapy Podcast – It’s Not Just About the Money • Kahler, R. S., & Glass, M. (2023). The New Kid on the Block: IFS-Informed Financial Therapy. Journal of Financial Therapy, 14(1), 7. • Kaplan, D., & Kahler, R. (2023). From Financial Conflict to Financial Intimacy: Financial Therapy for Couples through an IFS Lens. Coupleship Publications, LLC. • Redfern, E., & Foot, H. (2023). Freeing Self: IFS Beyond the Therapy Room – Chapter 6: IFS-Informed Financial Therapy. B.C. Allen Publishing & Tonic Books. • Advanced Wellbeing, LLC – Explore IFS-Informed Financial Therapy at: Advanced Wellbeing • Klontz, T., Klontz, B., & Kahler, R. (2008). The Financial Wisdom of Ebenezer Scrooge: 5 Principles to Transform Your Relationship with Money. Health Communications, Inc. Helping you align your financial path with your spiritual and emotional well-being.🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected] 🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios 🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep 10: Zac’s Story – No Cancer, No Awakening !

  Keywords thriving, resilience, cancer, meditation, circular economy, sustainability, community, personal growth, environmental economics, self-discoveryShow Notes:In this episode, Helen Valentino speaks with her godson Zac Mitchell, whose remarkable journey of resilience began with a brain tumour diagnosis at age 12, followed by Hodgkin's lymphoma at 19. Zac shares how meditation, travel, and environmental economics have shaped his path, and how his passion for the circular economy and sustainable food systems fuels his vision for a better world.This is a story of deep healing, personal growth, and what it means to thrive — not just survive — in the face of life's toughest challenges.🔑 Takeaways:Diagnosed with a brain tumour at 12, then Hodgkin’s lymphoma at 19.Found resilience through family, education, and self-discovery.Travelled Southeast Asia, exploring Buddhism and meditation.Meditation became a key pillar of his healing process.Studied environmental economics, focusing on sustainability and the circular economy.Believes in the power of local communities and food systems to drive change.Emphasizes embracing change and finding hope in uncertainty.🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected]🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne📖 Referenced reading:Siddhartha - Hermann HesseThe body holds the score - Bessel van der KolkMy stroke of insight - Jill Bolte Taylor Dhamma.org - Goenka vipassana meditation - https://www.dhamma.org/en/indexThe Dharma Brothers – FilmCwm Connell Cottages - https://www.cwmconnell.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep: 9 Jen's Story - Healing, Pleasure & the Power of Self-Discovery

  Keywords: thriving, surviving, self-discovery, pleasure, relationships, boundaries, sexual confidence, authenticity, personal growth, coaching, emotional healing, self-awareness, communication, trauma, sexuality, self-pleasure, responsibilitySummary: In this lively episode of Thriving Not Surviving, host Helen Valentino sits down with Jen, an international sex and relationship coach, for an open-hearted conversation about self-discovery, emotional healing, and reclaiming authentic pleasure. Together, they explore the connection between personal growth and thriving — not just surviving — in intimacy, relationships, and life.Jen shares her journey of shedding perfectionism, embracing authenticity, and cultivating sexual confidence. The conversation dives into the vital role of self-awareness, setting healthy boundaries, and taking responsibility for our healing journeys. Helen and Jen also unpack the impact of upbringing on relationship patterns, and the liberating shift from a victim to a creator mindset.This episode is filled with practical tips, powerful insights, and candid reflections on emotional and sexual empowerment. If you're ready to pull out the weeds from your emotional garden and step fully into your thriving self, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.Takeaways: • Authenticity and gentle challenge are key in relationships. • Perfectionism fuels anxiety and neglect. • Studying pleasure transforms our connection with our bodies. • Boundaries are essential for thriving intimacy. • Self-love is the foundation of sexual confidence. • Shame and guilt can block personal growth. • Healing emotional trauma is vital for true thriving. • Communication unlocks deeper connection. • Awareness shifts relationship dynamics. • Healthy love can feel unfamiliar — and that's okay. • Emotional patterns are inherited, but healing is our responsibility. • Shifting from victim to creator mindset is transformational. • Self-pleasure deepens self-knowledge and desire.Sound Bites: • "I realized I had anxiety." • "I spent a full year studying pleasure." • "You have to know where your border is." • "Shame and guilt are massive things." • "Hurt people hurt people." • "We need to really try and thrive." • "There's a process to it." • "It was all subconscious." • "Awareness is key." • "It's not taught." • "It's our responsibility." • "We need to get rid of the weeds." • "This is happening for me, not to me."🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected] 🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios 🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne 📖 Referenced reading: Pussy: A Reclamation by Regina Thomashauer Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski Come Together by Emily Nagoski The Power of TED by David Emerald The School of Womanly Arts: mamagenas.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep 8: Thandi’s Story - A Journey Through Racism, Resilience & Radical Self-Love

  Keywords thriving, surviving, mental health, spirituality, inner child, racism, screenwriting, personal growth, self-kindness, fear, media representation, historical roots, white supremacy, storytelling, social justice, personal experiences, self-healing, emotional well-being, self-reflection, trauma, compassion, inner peace, empowermentSummary In this episode of Thriving Not Surviving, host Helen Valentino welcomes Thandi Lubimbi—a barrister, award-winning screenwriter, and shamanic practitioner. Together, they explore Thandi’s deeply personal journey through mental health struggles, spiritual awakening, and the fight against racism in both the military and the entertainment industry.Thandi shares how spiritual connection, self-kindness, and embracing her inner child have supported her through life’s darkest moments. She speaks with tenderness and honesty about the strength required to remain gentle in a world that often rewards hardness.The conversation explores the realities of racism within media and military spaces. Thandi reflects on the challenges of writing about race, the backlash that often follows, and the critical role of authentic storytelling in social justice. Her insights reveal how systemic oppression—rooted in colonialism and white supremacy—still permeates modern institutions, from film sets to healthcare systems.Thandi also emphasizes the power of personal growth, urging listeners to “tend their own gardens” as a metaphor for healing. By focusing on internal work, we begin to shift our relationships and ripple change outward. Through stories, metaphors, and deeply lived wisdom, Thandi and Helen remind us that small acts of self-reflection and compassion can help us move from survival to thriving.Takeaways • Human beings are a Holy Trinity of mind, body, and soul • Spiritual connection can offer strength during hard times • Visualizing the inner child supports deep healing • Self-kindness is vital for mental health and self-worth • True strength lies in gentleness • Racism in the entertainment industry remains widespread • Self-kindness helps reframe negative self-talk • Facing fears fuels personal transformation • Writing is a powerful tool for storytelling and healing • Racial abuse in the military is often dismissed • White privilege often silences Black experiences • Harmful stereotypes persist in media portrayals • Racism has roots in slavery and colonialism • Racism operates like a pyramid, benefiting the few • Healthcare systems carry legacies of racial injustice • Honest storytelling can shift public perception • We must commit to dismantling racism • Healing ourselves allows us to better support others • Bitterness and hate corrode the soul • Self-reflection fuels personal evolution • Every person has a sacred and unique purpose • Prioritizing self-care strengthens our impact • Healing is a lifelong, courageous process • Compassion for ourselves fosters compassion for others🎧 For full transcription, contact: [email protected] 🎵 Music: Pixabay – “Upbeat Acoustic” by Stockaudios 🎨 Cover art: Dave Champagne📖 Referenced reading: • Book – Race & Entertainment: Reflections on Racism in Film, TV & The Media by Thandi Lubimbi • Radio play – Barred written by Thandi Lubimbi & Richard Kurti – BBC Radio 4 – 6th November 2021 – winner of best digital drama at the 2022 New York Festival • Audible story – The Effect – episode 6 – The series won best podcast at the 2022 New York Festival • Screenplay – Ghosts of War – Finalist at the 2025 Scriptwriters & Co International Festival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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