Episodios

  • S2 Ep11: When Adversity Nearly Takes Everything With Vicky Nicholson

    S2 Ep11: When Adversity Nearly Takes Everything With Vicky Nicholson
    Apr 24 2025
    She’s lived through trauma, illness, and violence that might make anyone justify their addiction.

    Today we welcome Vicky Nicholson, an incredibly brave woman who walks us through how far addiction can take you down a dangerous path. From an exciting DJ career in her teens through a crumbling relationship with her family, and nearly taking her own life, Vicky’s life unravelled through secrecy, shame, and a daily fight to survive. The woman who emerged now cherishes her close relationship with her family, is a supportive wife and loving mother and an inspiration to anyone who hears her story.

    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form: https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with Paul on Instagram as he’d love to hear from you!

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

    Find Vicky on Instagram @vickynicholson82
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    47 m
  • S2 Ep11: From Shame to Liberation with Sonia Gibney

    S2 Ep11: From Shame to Liberation with Sonia Gibney
    Apr 17 2025
    Sonia Gibney shares her journey of growing up in East London with a non-English-speaking mother, an absent father, and struggling through school with severe dyslexia.

    Now 21 years into recovery, Sonia is a yoga instructor and coach with a thriving practice, whose calm presence contrasts sharply with her past. She’s dedicated to helping women and speaks powerfully about the freedom found in self-reliance, believing that when you go within, you will never have to go without. For Sonia, that means no longer feeling the need to be saved...she’s become her own knight in shining armor.

    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form: https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with Paul on Instagram as he’d love to hear from you!

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

    Find Sonia on Instagram @soniagibney.lifecoach
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    43 m
  • S2 Ep10: The Dangerous Highs of the Limelight with Psychotherapist and Addiction Specialist Taner Hassan

    S2 Ep10: The Dangerous Highs of the Limelight with Psychotherapist and Addiction Specialist Taner Hassan
    Apr 10 2025
    He had a taste of life in the fast lane but found himself desperate to escape his life-threatening habits when paranoia and self loathing took him to some dangerous places.

    Now clean for 18 years, Psychotherapist and Addiction Specialist Taner Hassan explains how self-obsessive thinking led to his massive social anxiety and how using alcohol to silence that constant internal dialogue led to his early struggles with addiction. Paul and Taner talk about his drug of choice (MORE) and Paul’s drug of choice (PRESTIGE).

    Taner has extensive experience, having worked within the field of addiction for over 16 years, serving the community in various settings for mental health including charities, the NHS and private rehabilitation.

    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form:
    https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with Paul on Instagram as he’d love to hear from you!

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

    Find Taner on social media @tanertherapy

    Find details about the retreat mentioned in the episode @thetherapeuticretreat

    Find out more about Rehubs @rehubsofficial

    Find Taner online https://www.taner-hassan.com
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    55 m
  • S2 Ep9: Hurt To Healing: Paul Sculfor on Addiction, Recovery and Reinventing Himself

    S2 Ep9: Hurt To Healing: Paul Sculfor on Addiction, Recovery and Reinventing Himself
    Apr 3 2025
    This week, we’ve got something really special for you. Instead of our usual episode, we’re bringing you an episode from Hurt to Healing, a brilliant podcast hosted by Pandora Morris. You might remember Pandora from Season 1 of This Is Powerful, when we shared her incredible story of learning to manage her OCD and recovering from an eating disorder that manifested for her through extreme restrictive eating and chronic over-exercising. Pandora has travelled the world, working with OCD experts and has made it her mission to support others on their path to mental health recovery.

    This time, the tables were turned—I was a guest on Hurt to Healing, and we had such a meaningful conversation that I wanted to share it with you here. We talked about my formative years, navigating societal pressures, life's adversities and the spiral of substance abuse. But we also explored the turning points—what ultimately led me toward recovery, purpose, and a new way of seeing the world.

    It’s an open, honest conversation, and I’m really grateful to Pandora for creating such a thoughtful space. I hope you find something in it that resonates.

    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form: https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with Paul on Instagram as he’d love to hear from you!

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor
    Find Pandora @hurttohealingpod and subscribe to Hurt to Healing for more wonderful episodes!
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    47 m
  • S2 Ep8: How Your Brain Can Be Hijacked by Addiction With Dr Rayyan Zafar

    S2 Ep8: How Your Brain Can Be Hijacked by Addiction With Dr Rayyan Zafar
    Mar 27 2025
    Today we have an incredible guest. Dr. Rayann Zafar is a neuropsychopharmacologist with a core focus on addiction. After a battle with anorexia nervosa as an adolescent, Dr Zafar was compelled to learn more about how the brain works and as a result dedicated his life and career to finding science-backed solutions that help others to tackle addiction and make sense of their own mental health. Rayyan talks about the reward pathways being hijacked by addiction, whether there is a genetic predisposition to addiction and the spiritual elements of addiction. Dr. Zafar is in the midst of some very exciting trials involving psilocybin, and how effective that can be in treating alcoholism, addiction, and depression.
    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form: https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with Paul on Instagram as he’d love to hear from you!

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor
    Find Rayyan on Instagram @rayyanzaf
    Find out more about gambling trials with the NHS https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/250473/psychedelic-therapy-help-break-chains-gambling/
    Find out more about psychedelics research https://www.imperial.ac.uk/psychedelic-research-centre/
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    1 h
  • S2 Ep7: The Real Life Fairytale Starts Now With Jim

    S2 Ep7: The Real Life Fairytale Starts Now With Jim
    Mar 20 2025
    Our guest on today’s episode is one of the what we would call strongholds of the twelve-step community. Jim (or Jimmie, as Paul affectionately refers to him) gets straight into the nitty gritty: why trusting his head over his gut did not serve him well, why sweeties as a very young child then smoking at seven was just the start of his dangerous and progressive addiction, the strict incarceration he endured from age 16, getting sober in prison and the Peter Pan syndrome.

    Jim grew up in a poor, rural Scottish community and being the youngest of seven siblings and to whom he was always compared, he battled with suicidal thoughts at a prepubescent age.

    Now with over 45 years of continued sobriety, Jim talks about the gift of time and why surrender is not losing but how letting go is the key to success. He tells us how recovery is available to everyone for free…once you are ready to see, hear and experience it.

    We hope this conversation shows you how to boldly go where you may have never gone before and why accepting love into your life over fear can be so much more exciting than living in the fantastical world of the make believe.

    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form:
    https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Follow us on social media for more tips, resources, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with Paul on Instagram as he’d love to hear from you!

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

    Más Menos
    56 m
  • S2 Ep6: Why Addictions Are Often A Misguided Search for Spirituality With Alistair Richardson

    S2 Ep6: Why Addictions Are Often A Misguided Search for Spirituality With Alistair Richardson
    Mar 13 2025
    Alistair Richardson is a powerhouse in the world of therapy, energy psychology, and healing, helping people break free from trauma, addiction, and codependency. With 23 years of long-term recovery from addiction and codependency himself, Alistair not only brings deep professional expertise to the table, but also invaluable personal insight and compassion. Alistair shares about the surprisingly various spectrums of love addictions, he introduces us to the mind-blowing concept of healing the matrix, and we dive into the pure and central self and how you can heal yourself at any age and at any stage of your life. Dedicated to deep healing and personal growth, Alistair’s mission is to help others break free from trauma, addiction, and codependency and to reclaim their lives with confidence and clarity. We hope this conversation opens your mind and leaves you feeling full of love, light and joy like it did for us.
    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form: https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Alistair on Instagram @lifeforcetraumahealing
    Find Alistair on Facebook lifeforcetraumahealingltd
    Find Alistair online https://lifeforcetraumahealing.com/
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    51 m
  • S2 Ep5: The Gift of Addiction with David Smallwood

    S2 Ep5: The Gift of Addiction with David Smallwood
    Mar 6 2025
    In this episode of This Is Powerful, Paul welcomes renowned therapist and author David Smallwood to explore addiction, recovery, and the deep roots of trauma. With 37 years of sobriety, David shares his personal journey—from growing up in a challenging home environment to struggling with anxiety, alcohol, and benzodiazepine dependence. He discusses how early childhood trauma shapes addiction and why addressing core emotional wounds is crucial for long-term recovery.

    David and Paul dive into the concept of cross-addiction (why so many in recovery swap alcohol for tobacco, sweets, exercise, etc), the impact of fear on mental health, and the importance of connection in the healing process. He describes the impact of sensitivity in response to trauma and how his transformative experience in relapse prevention training reshaped his approach to treatment. Along the way, Paul and David swap personal stories of recovery, touching on moments of joy, fear, and the surprising gifts that come with addiction, if approached with the right mindset.
    Please let us know your thoughts on our listener feedback form:
    https://forms.gle/AFptgi3mMJKTZdYg8

    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/

    Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

    Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful

    Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor
    Find David online davidsmallwoodtherapy.co.uk
    Find David’s book on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/64QLZkQ
    Más Menos
    49 m
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