Hull Episodes
62 | John Levesley: Booze, Binge & Botox – Solitude, Social Media & Seeking the Real Self
John’s story is one of quiet transformation - trading binge drinking and chaotic nights for clarity, creativity, and connection. After a 5am moment of reckoning, he chose sobriety not because he identified as an alcoholic, bu...
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...
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...
56 | Zoe: Substances, Sabotage & ADHD – British Youth, Hospitality Culture & the Road to Recovery
Matt speaks with Zoe, whose powerful story charts a path through substance misuse, undiagnosed ADHD, and trauma toward recovery and renewal. Growing up in an environment where drug use was normalised, Zoe began using cannabis...
#42 - Kirsty: Escaping Abuse, Overcoming Addiction, Building Self-Worth & Paying Her Lived Experience Forward
WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault including graphic descriptions of violence, trauma & abuse Matt explores Kirsty's journey through amphetamine addiction and the challenges of navigating complex rel...
#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...
#33- John: Heroin Addiction, Trauma, Stigma, Prison, Withdrawal, Harm Reduction & Injecting Heroin Into His Penis
Matt delves into a heartfelt conversation with John, a resilient Hull native whose journey transcends addiction to embody the essence of resilience. Now serving as a Harm Reduction worker, John's decade-long battle with heroi...
#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 ...
#25 - Jill: Alcohol Addiction, Suicide Attempts, Relapse, Rehabilitation, Recovery, Aftercare, Family Strength, The Forward Trust & Empty Nest Syndrome
Matt delves into Jill's profound journey of overcoming alcohol addiction, surviving suicide attempts, navigating relapse, and finding renewal through recovery. In this deeply personal and transformative podcast episode, Jill ...
#22 - Braidey: Newly Qualified Nursing, Student Placements, Work-Life Balance, Professional Expectations & Nursing in the Community
Matt is joined by Braidey, a newly qualified nurse in addiction services. Braidey gives a compelling and honest account of becoming a nurse and gives practical advice for those looking to enter this profession for the first t...
#20 - Pete: Heroin, Drug Culture, Trauma, The Great Binge & The Hierarchy of Drug Users.
Matt is joined by Pete and they candidly discuss the journey throughout his addiction to heroin and his lifestyle in recovery, They discuss the modern history of addiction, drug culture, heroin chic and how his personal exper...
#19 - Nadine: Parenting, Partying, Autism, Methadone, TikTok, Trauma & A 17 Year Heroin Addiction
Matt is joined by Nadine and they candidly discuss the journey throughout her addiction to heroin and her lifestyle in recovery, including; becoming a new parent, understanding her autism and sharing her lived experiences wit...
#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...
#12 - Di: Service Management, Hull, Hostels, Community, Addiction, Recovery & Stigma
Matt talks to Di, Hull's Drug & Alcohol Service Manager. Di gives a candid account of managing Hull's Drug & Alcohol Service and talks about her 35 years in the sector and a multi-disciplinary approach to care. Click here to ...
#11 - Holly: Volunteering, Internships, Education, Fraud Prevention, Social Media & Safer Drinking
Matt talks to Holly who has just turned 21, graduated this week and landed her first job with UK's leading third sector provider of drug and alcohol services. Holly talks about about the importance of volunteering, the oppor...
#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...
#07 - Steven: Business, Addiction, Recovery and the Sports Entertainment Industry
In episode 7 Matt talks to Steve about addiction from a young age, working in the drug and alcohol sector, intergenerational casual fans, his advice to others in the business, wrestling being his constant, living in recovery ...
#06 - Chelsey: Addiction, Detox, Bereavement & Breast Cancer
In episode 6 Matt talks to Chelsey about her mum's journey through addiction, detox, recovery, breast cancer discovery and bereavement. Click here to text our host, Matt, directly! 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? ⭐ Please take a mome...
#05 - Rachel: Nursing, Cancer, Mistletoe & Me
Matt talks to Rachel about; working as a nurse in the third sector, her recent cancer diagnosis, the decision to reject the treatment pathway offered in favour of an alternative approach and Mistletoe and Vitamin C therapy Yo...