Advocacy Episodes
67 | Young Lee: Recovery vs. Recovered - Fatherhood, Identity & the Spiritual Path
In this gripping return to Believe in People, Young Lee opens up about what happens after the chaos of addiction — when the drugs are gone, the dust has settled, and the real work begins. Once a rising star in the music scene...
65 | Woody Albrow: Butane, Breakdown & Belief – A Journey Through Trauma & Transformation
Matt speaks with Woody, the National Connecting Communities Lead at Change Grow Live , who shares a candid account of his journey through addiction, recovery, and professional development. Woody reflects on the early signs of...
61 | Paul Haley: Heroin, Healing & the Imposter Within – From Lived Experience to Leadership
Paul Haley’s journey from the depths of heroin and crack cocaine addiction to national leadership is a powerful testament to resilience, transformation, and purpose. After a near-fatal injecting injury became his rock bottom,...
60 | Amy Goldberg & Caitlin Morrison: Believe in People America – Matthew Butler Meets the Matthew Perry Foundation
In this powerful transatlantic collaboration, Believe in People host Amy Goldberg welcomes our UK counterpart Matt Butler into the guest seat alongside special guest host Caitlin Morrison - sister of the late Matthew Perry an...
57 | Sarah Hicks: Gaslighting, Grief & Generational Pain – Surviving Trauma & Reclaiming Life
In this in-depth two-part episode, Matt sits down with Sarah Hicks for a raw and reflective conversation that spans addiction, trauma, abusive relationships, grief, and recovery. Sarah opens up about her early experiences wit...
58 | Sarah Hicks: Assault, Advocacy & The Fight To Change Systems – Violence Against Women
In the second part of this powerful two-part episode, Matt continues his conversation with Sarah Hicks as she reflects on her journey through trauma, justice, and recovery. Sarah shares her experience of surviving sexual assa...
55 | Chris Tait: Detroit, Drink & Disconnection – Electric Six, Sobriety & the Music Industry Reckoning
What happens when the highs of the music industry collide with the depths of addiction? In this compelling episode, Matt speaks with Chris Tait - keyboardist for Electric Six and founder of Passenger Recovery - about his jour...
47 | Ambrose Brown: Hep C, Heroin & Hope – Prison, Peer Support & The Micro-Elimination Mission
Matt sits down with Ambrose, a leading voice in the recovery community, for a powerful conversation tracing his journey from severe substance misuse to health, purpose, and advocacy. Ambrose candidly shares his experience wit...
#34 - Andy Pea: Imposter Syndrome, Community Murals, Co-Production, Representing Hidden Voices & 10 Million People A Year Seeing His Artwork
Matt engages in a dynamic discussion with Hull's esteemed community artist, Andy Pea. Together, they embark on a journey through Andy's remarkable artistic evolution, peeling back the layers of his murals that have transforme...
#31 - Matt Downie MBE: Crisis, Ending Homelessness, Rough Sleeping, Sex Work, Hostels, Affordable Housing, Rogue Landlords & The 1824 Vagrancy Act
Matt engages in a profound conversation with Matt Downie MBE, Chief Executive of Crisis, the national charity for homeless people. Together, they delve into Matt's role as a dedicated advocate for change, exploring how his di...
#29 - Mariana: Menopause, Perimenopause, Drug & Alcohol Training, Argentina, Methadone, Injecting Lemons & Pouring Milk On Her Cat Food
Matt engages in conversation with Mariana, a respected figure in Drug and Alcohol Awareness Community Training. Mariana brings forth a wealth of insights, blending personal anecdotes, cultural perspectives, and crucial topics...
#28 - Elly: Harm Reduction, Crack Use, Snowballing, Safer Injecting, Cannabis, Ketamine & Drug Myth Busting
Matt and Elly embark on an exploration into the realm of harm reduction. With nearly three decades of invaluable experience in the Drug & Alcohol sector, Elly provides insightful perspectives that shed light on the complexiti...
#27 - Maizie Williams, Ongina, Tinchy Stryder & Ash Palmisciano: Mental Wellbeing, Challenging HIV Related Stigma, Pride in Hull, Boney M, Emmerdale, Black Mirror & Transgender Awareness
Matt is backstage at Pride in Hull 2023. With over 50 years in the industry and an original member of Boney M, Maizie shares insights into her career with Matt as well as maintaining her mental well-being, and discusses Boney...
#26 - Andy Train: Embracing Body Image, Catfishing, FOMO, Addiction, The Living Statue World Championships, InterPride & Pride in Hull
Matt talks to Andy Train , Creative Director & Vice Chair of Pride in Hull, an InterPride Global Advisory Council Member for the British Isles, Ireland, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and the current The Living Statue World ...
#18: Emma Hardy MP: Stigma, Addiction, Education, Parliament, Endometriosis & Poverty Premium
Matt is joined by Emma Hardy, Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle. Emma candidly discusses her background in teaching to becoming politically active in 2011 and using her profile and influence to tackle stigma. Emma and Matt discuss: Stigma, addiction, recovery and education in Hull.The RE:Uniform campaign, reverse advent calendar and poverty premium.Emma's involvement with Endometriosis and Menopaus'ull.Click here to text our host, Matt, directly! 🎧 Enjoyed this episo…
#15 - Dr Helen Hawes GP: Opiates, Addiction, Religion, Abortion, Primary Care, Pain Management & Being a GP in Hull
Matt talks to Dr Helen Hawes GP about her route into the profession, managing pain for a person with an opiate addiction, life choices, religion, abortion, diversifying the workforce and a holistic approach to patient care. H...
#14 - Darren: The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, Opiate Addiction & Championing Recovery
Matt talks to Darren about his journey from taking his first substance aged nine - right through to present day and his time with Narcotics Anonymous (NA). NA offers recovery from the effects of addiction through working a tw...
#16 - Mark Moody: Addiction, Recovery, Stigma, Scotland, The Heroin Epidemic & Being CEO of the UK's largest Drug & Alcohol Charity
Matt is joined by Mark Moody, CEO of the UK's largest Drug & Alcohol Charity, Change Grow Live . Mark candidly discusses his rise from an entry level position with only 40 people in the organisation all the way to being respo...
#10 - Elly: Harm Reduction, Commercial Sex Work & The History of Hull's Needle Exchange
Elly has nearly three decades of experience in the Drug & Alcohol sector and Matt talks to her about addiction & recovery in the 80s and 90s, commercial sex work, the history of Hull's needle exchange & the importance of effe...
#08 - Andy Train: Pandemic, Performing, Self Employment, Alcohol, Addiction, the LGBT+ Community & Pride in Hull
Matt talks to Andy Train, chair of the Hull & East Riding LGBT+ Forum, the Co-Founder and Co-Chair UK Pride Organisers Network, Trustee, Creative Director & Co-Vice Chair of Pride in Hull, an InterPride Global Advisory Counci...
#04 - Darylanne: Volunteers' Week & Working Front Line in Hull's Drug & Alcohol Service
Matt talks to Darylanne about volunteering in a drug & alcohol service and how this has prepared her for working full time in the busy duty office in Hull. Click here to text our host, Matt, directly! 🎧 Enjoyed this episode?...
#03 - Hepatitis C: Facts, Needle Exchanges, Treatment, Micro-Elimination & A 10 Stop Car Journey Up The M62
Matt is on a trans-Pennine car journey from St Helens to Knowsley to Halton to Warrington to Manchester to Tameside to Bradford to Kirklees to Leeds to Hull in eight hours to discuss Hepatitis C and what's being done from at ...
#01 - Lindsey: Addiction, Recovery, Safeguarding & Stigma
Matt talks to Lindsey about addiction, recovery, safeguarding, stigma and harm minimisation. Click here to text our host, Matt, directly! 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Please take a moment to leave a review — it helps others find...