Because anyone can become an addict.

Alcohol wasn’t easing Nicole’s pain… it was keeping her trapped in it.

Addiction doesn’t look the way people expect. It can affect anyone - kind, caring, successful people. It’s a complex brain disease, shaped by environment, trauma, and personal choices.

Nicole’s life spiralled faster than she ever imagined.

And at one point… she lost everything that mattered most.

But she made a decision.

She changed her environment. She chose the harder path - recovery. Not just for herself, but to rebuild her life… and fight for what mattered most.

Today, she’s on the other side. Stronger. Clearer. Living as her true, authentic self, and sharing her story to help others who feel stuck.

Addiction is often misunderstood. It convinces people they’re not struggling, keeps them trapped, and carries a stigma that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Because addiction does not discriminate.

It can affect doctors, nurses, teachers, parents - absolutely anyone.

This conversation is about breaking that stigma, helping people understand addiction, and showing that change is possible.

If you’re struggling right now, or feel like there’s no way out - this is for you.

There is hope. There is help. And recovery is possible.

Lauren was young, active, and full of life, until a simple UTI changed everything.

She did everything right: saw her GP, took antibiotics, and went to hospital when things got worse. But within hours, her body was shutting down. Lauren was in sepsis, fighting for her life in ICU.

In this powerful and emotional episode, Lauren shares how:

•⁠ ⁠Her infection rapidly developed into life-threatening sepsis
•⁠ ⁠She woke up in intensive care with no memory of what happened
•⁠ ⁠She needed emergency stent surgery to save her kidneys
•⁠ ⁠And how, even now, she’s living with chronic pain and waiting for corrective surgery the NHS hasn’t been able to provide

Her story is heartbreaking and a reminder that sepsis can strike from something as “simple” as a UTI.

I also open up about my own near-death experience with UTI sepsis and the PTSD that followed.

This is an episode about awareness, survival, and what happens when healthcare systems fail to act in time. And when we don't listen to our bodies.
It’s a story that could save a life 💛

📍 Listen, share, and help raise awareness of sepsis.
🎧 Under the Skin Podcast – available on youtube, spotify and apple.

This was an emotional, raw and heartbreaking episode. Rebecca Whyte shares her powerful story of survival after becoming a victim of human trafficking, something she didn’t even realise was happening to her at the time

As a young woman struggling with low self-esteem after years of bullying and difficult relationships, Rebecca could never have imagined how vulnerable she was to manipulation. At just 22, she met a man who would go on to destroy her life.
He drugged her, forced her into heroin addiction, and trafficked her for seven years, making her endure unimaginable abuse at the hands of others for his profit.

It wasn’t until another victim came forward to the police that Rebecca was finally rescued.
Now, she’s bravely sharing her truth not for sympathy, but to raise awareness of the dark reality that still exists right here in Northern Ireland.

In this episode, Rebecca opens up about her journey through addiction, trauma, and recovery. She speaks about the ongoing healing process through therapy, her efforts to rebuild her life, and her determination to help others who have faced similar horrors.

Rebecca’s story is one of unthinkable pain, but also immense strength, hope, and resilience. By telling her story, she hopes to shine a light on the hidden world of human trafficking and give hope to survivors who are still fighting to be free.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to sexual abuse, drug addiction, and trauma that may be distressing to some listeners.

Listen now to hear Rebecca’s story: one of survival and the unbreakable human spirit.

#UnderTheSkinPodcast #HumanTraffickingAwareness #SurvivorStory #RebeccaWhyte #RealStories #NorthernIreland #Resilience #AddictionRecovery

In this powerful episode of Under The Skin Podcast, Katie Watson opens up about her journey with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) - from years of being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, to finally discovering the truth behind her symptoms.

Like so many others, Katie spent years feeling isolated, broken, and misunderstood. But through creating her online awareness page to help others, @katiewatsonpmdd (https://www.instagram.com/katiewatsonpmdd), she’s found a community that understands and healing through connection 💛

PMDD remains underdiagnosed, and suicide rates among those living with it are heartbreakingly high. Too many suffer without knowing why - but awareness truly can save lives.

🎧 Tune in to hear Katie’s story, one of resilience, hope, and the power of sharing your truth.

💛 If this episode resonates, please share it. You never know who might need to hear it today.

#PMDDAwareness #UnderTheSkinPodcast #PMDD #MentalHealthAwareness #YouAreNotAlone #WomensHealth

In this week’s episode of Under the Skin Podcast, I sit down with the inspirational Aesthetic Nurse, Kirsty Taggart as she opens up about one of the rawest parts of her journey.

Growing up, Kirsty spent time in foster care. It’s a chapter she has never hidden, but rarely spoken about publicly - until now.

So why share her story here? Because this is bigger than her. Too often, children in care are labelled, stigmatised, and underestimated. Made to feel as though their futures will never amount to much.

Kirsty is using her voice, her story, and this platform to challenge that narrative. To show every child who is in, or has been through, foster care that your past does not define your future.
We are more than the stigma. We can rise, succeed, and rewrite the story.

🎙️ If this episode helps even one person feel seen, understood, or inspired, then sharing Kirsty’s story will have been more than worth it.

#UnderTheSkinPodcast #FosterCare #Resilience #Inspiration

This episode is not for the faint-hearted, it’s for the women who’ve been judged, broken, doubted… and kept going anyway.

At 36 weeks pregnant, Laura (@thefitpregnantchick) is still training, still showing up, and still being trolled online for it. Why? Because apparently, being pregnant and strong is controversial.

But this story goes way deeper.

In this honest conversation, Laura opens up about:

* Losing her brother at just 45 to cancer 💔
* Navigating a cancer diagnosis in her family during early pregnancy
* Surviving betrayal after a 3-month marriage
* The isolation of single life and the messiness of modern dating (yes, even Tinder stories)
* Men with pregnancy fetishes 😳
* And the non-stop judgement she’s faced just for working out while growing a human

She’s been called “too old” to be pregnant at 36. She’s been shamed for lifting weights while expecting. But Laura is breaking stereotypes and leading the way for women who want to move, sweat, and stay connected to their strength, physically and mentally, without fear.

Her mission? To create a space where women can train during pregnancy safely, maintain their confidence, and ignore the noise. No shame. No apologies.

This one is raw, emotional, empowering, and sometimes even a little jaw-dropping. If you’ve ever been told to “tone it down” this is your permission to turn it up.

🔔 Subscribe, like, comment, and most importantly, share this with a woman who needs to hear it.

#PregnancyFitness #UnderTheSkinPodcast #FitPregnancy #PregnantAndStrong #WomenWhoLift #RealTalkPodcast #TanyaKhan #LauraTheFitPregnantChick #StrengthInMotherhood #PregnantAt36 #GriefToGrowth #EmpoweredWomen

This week on Under The Skin Podcast, I sit down with Alex Sikiniotis (@fitnessmamauk) and I am in awe of this woman.

By the age of 17, Alex had already endured childhood sexual abuse, silence, and a teenage pregnancy. In her early twenties, she entered a marriage shaped by trauma, religious pressure, and deep vulnerability. What followed was a relationship marked by abuse, and ultimately, a divorce that became one of the most painful, complex battles of her life.

Her husband did the unthinkable. The breakdown of that relationship wasn’t just a heartbreak, it was a war she had to survive.

And yet… here she is. Speaking with grace, power, and clarity, not for attention, but to help others feel less alone. That kind of strength is rare. That kind of healing is hard-won. Alex has done the work, risen from her trauma, and now uses her voice and her platform to uplift women through movement, community, and truth.

She is a powerhouse. A mother. A business owner. A survivor. And this conversation is one you will not forget.

💛 Trigger warning: This episode includes discussions of childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, and trauma. Please take care while listening.

If you're craving connection, healing, and time just for you — Alex’s next YogaFit Retreat in Greece (Sept 2025) might be exactly what you need.

👉 Join her in Greece for a week of movement, rest, sisterhood, and transformation.

[https://yogafitretreats.com/products/yogafit-greece-21-28-september-2025](https://yogafitretreats.com/products/yogafit-greece-21-28-september-2025)

📘 If you or someone you know has experienced childhood abuse and needs support:

**NSPCC (UK)** – [https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/)

Free, confidential helpline: 0808 800 5000

✨ If this episode moved you, please take a moment to comment, subscribe, and share. It truly helps these brave stories reach the people who need them, and that’s exactly why we do this podcast. To open up conversations, to support healing, and to remind each other we’re not alone.

"No one would miss me if I just disappeared"

In this raw and emotional episode, Nurse Orlagh Stevenson shares her deeply personal battle with postnatal depression, a condition that affects 1 in 5 women in the UK, yet often goes unseen and unheard.

Through tears, honesty, and courage, Orlagh opens up about the darkest moments of new motherhood, the overwhelming feelings, the isolation, and the heartbreaking thoughts that nearly made her walk away. What followed was a journey through pain, healing, and ultimately, strength found in vulnerability, support, and family.

💛 This conversation is not just about one mother, it’s about so many women suffering in silence 💬 If you’re a mother, know a mother, or have ever felt alone in your mental health journey, this episode is for you.

👉 Please like, comment, share your feelings or story, and subscribe to support more conversations like this, and to help others find stories that matter 🫶

🔔 Hit the notification bell to stay updated with future episodes.

📲 Share this with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone ❤️

📘 Helpful UK Resources & Support

NHS – Postnatal Depression: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-natal-depression/overview/

PANDAS Foundation (WhatsApp + helpline): https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/

Mental Health Foundation: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/postnatal-depression

#postnataldepression
#mentalhealth #motherhood
#newmum #struggles
#maternalmentalhealth
#postpartumanxiety
#motherhoodreality
#mentalhealthpodcast
#Undertheskinpodcast

This week’s episode is a very personal one. Join me and my son as we dive into a heartfelt conversation about young men’s mental health. He opens up about his own struggles and how he found ways to cope with the challenges he faced.

If you have a son, brother, friend, or partner, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. It’s an honest, raw, and important conversation that we hope will resonate with many and help others feel less alone in their mental health journey.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real, unfiltered discussions.

#UnderTheSkinPodcast #MentalHealth #YoungMensMentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Podcast

She was only 36 with no family history. It wasn’t even on her radar.

In this powerful episode, my guest bravely shares her story of being diagnosed with breast cancer at just 36 years old. From the shock of the diagnosis to the emotional and physical toll of treatment, she opens up about what it really means to face cancer when life is just getting started.

We talk about the symptoms, the tests, the strength she found, and the lessons she’s carrying forward - a woman forever changed.

This is more than a story of survival, it’s a wake-up call to trust our bodies, to push for answers, and to never assume we’re too young.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, scared, or unsure of your next step, this one’s for you.

Let’s keep having these conversations. Let’s normalise them. And let’s remind each other that being proactive about our health could truly save a life, maybe even yours 💗

Perimenopause Almost Broke Me - HRT Gave Me My Life Back.

In this honest and heartfelt episode, our guest opens up about the real struggles of perimenopause - from the emotional toll to the physical symptoms that turned her world upside down. She shares how hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helped her reclaim her health, her happiness, and even her marriage.

This is not just her story, it’s a message to every woman:
You are not going crazy. You deserve to feel well. You deserve to be heard.

While she was fortunate to find support and the treatment she needed, many women are still dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left to suffer in silence. That must change.

This episode is a call to talk more, share more, and stand up for ourselves and each other. Because no woman should suffer alone or feel ashamed of what is a natural and powerful phase of life.

Let’s break the silence around perimenopause and menopause. Let’s demand better.

⬇️ Follow Me Here Also ⬇️
https://instagram.com/undertheskinpodcast
https://tiktok.com/@utspodcast