Episodes
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...
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...
Harriette Cantona: Alcohol Aged 10, Self-Harm Survival, Sexual Abuse, Discovering Autism, Overcoming Trauma & A Future In Conservation
WARNING: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, including graphic descriptions of violence and trauma. Starting to drink at just 10 years old, Harriette bravely recounts her youth in a household shattered by her...
Chris Sylvester - Heroin Aged 12, Crime, Trauma, Accountability, Hepatitis C, Cocaine, Manipulation, Homelessness, Drug Dealing, Working the 12 Steps & The Power of Second Chances
Matt is in conversation with former child heroin addict and Getting Clean founder, Chris Sylvester, whose descent into addiction began at just 12 years old. Chris shares his candid experiences, revealing the allure and grip o...
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...
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....
Young: Heroin, House Music & Healing – Smuggling, Acid House & Spiritual Surrender
Matt is in conversation with Young, whose powerful and chaotic journey through addiction began at just 11 years old and spiralled into a life fuelled by crack, cocaine, alcohol, and eventually heroin. Immersed in the Acid Hou...
Grand Dame Carol Black: UK Drug Policy, Recovery Pathways, Addiction Workforce Challenges, Mental Health Integration & Trauma Informed Care
Matt welcomes back Professor Dame Carol Black for her second appearance on the Believe in People Podcast. Dame Carol, recently awarded the prestigious Grand Cross, the highest level in the order, and is awarded rarely and rec...
Ruth: Alcohol Dependency, Cancer, Triggers, Drinking Behaviours & Exclusive Access To Her Personal Alcohol Diary
Matt delves into Ruth's courageous journey battling alcohol dependency while facing the formidable challenge of a cancer diagnosis. From the casual indulgence to the grip of addiction, Ruth candidly shares her experiences, detailing her use of alcohol diaries to unravel her triggers and pave the path towards recovery. Ruth's unwavering commitment to maintaining sobriety amidst the adversity of her illness serves as a profound source of inspiration. Her story illuminates the virtues…
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 ...
John Thurston: 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...
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 …
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...
Bea Wood: Transgender, Neurodiversity, Addiction, Recovery, Wheelchair & Living with Tourette's
Matt is joined by Bea, a Transgender woman, former Miss Transgender UK, and activist for Trans, neurodiversity, and disability rights. In this candid conversation, Bea opens up publicly for the first time about her struggles ...
Pete Garner: 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...
Nadine Balmer: 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...
Michelle Heaton: Recovery, Relapse & Reality TV – Liberty X, Menopause & Mastering Boundaries
Matt is joined by Emmy and BRIT Award-winning singer Michelle Heaton , best known as a member of the pop group Liberty X. In April 2021, Michelle bravely entered rehab to confront her battle with addiction — a decision that m...
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 responsible for over 4,000 employees. Mark and Matt discuss: The impact of Dame Carol Black's independent review on drugs The public's perception of Change Grow LiveGrowing up in Scotland during the heroin epidemic Click here to text our host, Matt, dire…
Millie Gooch: Sober Girl Society, Addiction, Non-Alcoholic Drinks, Sober Dating, Sober Sex, Boozeless Brunches, Mental Health, Sober Curiosity & Being Millie
Matt talks to Sober Girl Society's founder, Millie Gooch, about why she quit drinking - and how it's changed her life. They discuss; binge drinking, labels, alcohol temptations, therapy, mental health, how to deal with sobriety, being a safe drinking ambassador, sober dating, sober sex, Sober Girl Society events, being an Instagram & TikTok influencer and her Sober Girl Society handbook. Click here to text our host, Matt, directly! 🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Please take a mome…
Professor Dame Carol Black: An Independent Review of Drugs, Stigma, Treatment & Recovery
In Episode 9 Matt talks to Professor Dame Carol Black. In 2019 Dame Carol was commissioned by the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care to undertake a 2-part independent review of drugs, to inform the government’s thinking on what more can be done to tackle the harm that drugs cause. Part one was published on 27 February 2020 and provides a detailed analysis of the challenges posed by drug supply and demand, including the ways in which drugs fuel serious violence. Part tw.…