2024 British Podcast Award Winner & 2025 Radio Academy Award Nominated Podcast

Fame & High Profile Addiction Episodes

Fame can amplify the challenges of addiction, as public scrutiny and pressure take a toll on mental health and well-being. This category examines addiction through the lens of public figures, featuring stories of celebrities who have navigated recovery and used their platforms to advocate for change. The podcast also explores how media portrayal influences perceptions of addiction among high-profile individuals, offering insights into the unique pressures of fame and the resilience required to overcome them.
Nov. 21, 2025

Andy Woodward (Part Two): Trauma, False Accusation, Alcohol Recovery and Rebuilding Life After Collapse

In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , we conclude our two-part conversation with Andy Woodward , who reflects on the long-term psychological effects of childhood trauma and how those experiences...

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Nov. 21, 2025

Andy Woodward (Part One): Childhood Trauma, Football Abuse and the Silence That Hid a Predator

In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , we begin the first of a powerful two-part conversation with Andy Woodward , the former professional footballer whose bravery exposed one of the biggest safe...

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Nov. 6, 2025

Katie Price & Kerry Katona: Cocaine Addiction, Recovery, Motherhood and Surviving Fame

In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , Katie Price and Kerry Katona sit down for a raw, unfiltered conversation about cocaine addiction , recovery, motherhood, mental health, and the double stand...

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Sept. 8, 2025

Emma Hardy MP: Ketamine Harm, Mental Health, Flood Risk and Community Recovery in Hull

In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , Emma Hardy MP returns to the podcast to discuss some of the most urgent challenges facing Hull and the wider UK – including rising ketamine harm , worsening...

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July 3, 2025

Alexis Ffrench & Matthew Butler: Trauma, Recovery and the Story Behind “Believe” for Apple Music

In this special episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , we present a unique collaboration with Apple Music and the Radio Academy Award-winning podcast Classical Connections , hosted by world-renowned pian...

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Feb. 16, 2025

John Levesley: Sobriety, Binge Drinking Recovery and Creating Hull & Yorkshire Daily Through Clarity

In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , John shares a powerful story of quiet transformation - a shift from binge drinking, late nights and emotional exhaustion to clarity, creativity and meaningf...

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Jan. 22, 2025

Amy Goldberg & Caitlin Morrison: Believe in People America - Matthew Butler Meets the Matthew Perry Foundation

In this powerful transatlantic collaboration of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , host Amy Goldberg welcomes UK host Matt Butler into the guest seat, joined by special guest host Caitlin Morrison — sister of t...

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Nov. 28, 2024

Chris Tait: Music Industry Addiction, Alcohol Recovery and Building Passenger Recovery for Creatives

In this episode of Believe in People: Addiction, Recovery & Stigma , Matt speaks with Chris Tait - keyboardist for Electric Six and founder of Passenger Recovery , a Detroit-based organisation supporting musicians and creativ...

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Aug. 30, 2024

Johnny Borrell: Razorlight & Recovery – Teenage Heroin & Championship Manager

Johnny Borrell - guitarist, singer, and frontman of Razorlight - joins Matt for an honest and introspective conversation about teenage heroin addiction, the road to recovery, and the stigma surrounding substance use in the mu...

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July 26, 2024

Adam Maxted: Life After Love Island, Steroids & Wrestling - Big Flex Fame, WWE & Mental Health Advocacy

Adam Maxted - professional wrestler and Love Island reality TV star - joins Matt for an unfiltered conversation about life in the spotlight, the pursuit of physical perfection, and the emotional complexities behind public suc...

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May 2, 2024

Michelle Heaton: Fame, Fear & Fighting Back – Addiction, Body Shaming & Sobriety Survival

Emmy and BRIT award-winning singer Michelle Heaton returns to Believe in People to mark three years of sobriety with a candid and inspiring conversation about recovery, resilience, and reinvention. Michelle opens up about the...

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April 11, 2024

Amy Jo Johnson: Alcohol Free & Loving Life – Pink Power Ranger To Wellness Advocate

Matt is joined by Amy Jo Johnson - actress, singer, writer, and filmmaker best known as the original Pink Ranger from the 90s phenomenon Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation....

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Dec. 8, 2023

Claira Hermet: Social Anxiety, Sober Nights Out, Misogyny Grifting, Eating Disorders, The Orgasm Gap & Her Role as a Social Media Influencer

Matt and Claira embark on a profound exploration of the human experience in this episode, delving into the intricate dynamics of social anxiety, navigating sober nights out, and grappling with a decade-long battle against an ...

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Nov. 10, 2023

Robin Ince: Bibliomaniac, Moomins, ADHD, Writing Comedy, Anxiety, Neurodiversity, Ricky Gervais, Octopus Sex Arms & Talking About Suicide Openly

Matt delves into Robin's remarkable talent for blending comedy with science, all while championing rational inquiry through candid discussions on pressing societal issues. Robin's unique approach bridges the gap between humour and serious topics, as he fearlessly tackles subjects such as homelessness, addiction, suicide, and the pervasive stigmas surrounding them. Robin Ince is a multi-award winning comedian, writer and broadcaster. As well as spending decades as one the UK’s most …

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June 19, 2023

Kevin Kennedy: Alcohol Culture, Addiction, Coronation Street, The West End & 25 Years in Recovery

Matt is joined by Kevin Kennedy, actor and musician, best known for playing the character Curly Watts for 20 years in ITV's long-running television soap opera Coronation Street. Kevin serves as director of Kennedy Street reco...

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