This week, we welcome Johnny Graff, co-founder of Lions Campus, which is a teen rehabilitation centre in London. Johnny approaches recovery in a unique way, creating a community around each individual, using psychiatrists, doctors, mentors, and coaches. He’s had some incredible success helping young people overcome addiction,  eating disorders and bullying. A firm believer in surrounding patients with inspirational role models, Johnny has six years of sobriety behind him and endless gratitude for the twelve-step programme that continues to aid in his success. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor  Find Johnny on Instagram @lionscampus Learn more about Lions Campus: https://www.lions-campus.co.uk

This week, Paul engages in a deeply personal conversation with therapist Andrea Taylor. A former manager and director of the Priory Group Hospitals, Andrea has over 25 years of experience and is currently running a successful private practice specialising in trauma, addiction, and couples therapy. Andrea's own journey has taken her far and wide, but wherever she travelled, drug and alcohol dependency followed. From a tumultuous childhood in Hong Kong to desperately trying to control her addiction whilst living in Sydney with her brother, Andrea eventually faced homelessness and multiple stints in rehabilitation centres in California before finally committing to her sobriety in the UK. Andrea now leads a happy, healthy life after years of study and subsequent success, helping others face their own significant life challenges. Andrea’s resilience and strength is inspiring. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor  Email Andrea on ATayloredTherapy@outlook.com Andrea’s profile on BAcp https://www.bacp.co.uk/profile/6818f652-5090-e711-80e8-3863bb351d40 Andrea is Clinical Outreach for Camino Recovery: https://www.caminorecovery.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=GMB

Join Paul as he discusses the tough road to recovery with his friend Yasmin. From a childhood in Northeast London to a reckless young adult life in and around Southern California, Yasmin has a long history of trauma, addiction and dangerous behaviour. She has not only overcome bulimia and alcoholism but has also addressed her reliance on prescription medications. Yasmin eloquently reveals the terror she felt when facing giving up drinking alcohol, which she thought was the only way to bring colour to her otherwise black and white existence. Amongst other heartfelt confessions, Yasmin shares details of her shame following blackouts, and how she has learned to stop identifying as a victim and become the strong and sober woman she is today. This is a conversation not to be missed. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

This episode is a real eye-opener, packed full of valuable insight into a bit of the psychology around addiction.  Joining Paul today is addiction and trauma therapist Anita Chellamah. With a contagious laugh and a general ease around her, it is clear why Anita is the trusted therapist she is, having helped thousands to understand themselves and their behaviours better. After a successful stage, TV and film career and with a slew of hit singles under her belt, there’s not much out there that Anita hasn’t seen. Join Paul as they speak openly about harsh comedowns, childhood traumas and how Anita has achieved 36 years of sobriety herself.   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor  Reach out to Anita on email achellamahnurse@hotmail.co.uk Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor

You might know her from the award-winning band Liberty X, part of the BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning cast of The Real Full Monty, as a TV presenter or as a menopause advocate and author but what you might not know about Michelle Heaton is that she is recovering from a difficult battle with alcohol and drugs. Addressing behaviour that quickly escalated from social partying to regularly drinking vodka in the mornings, Michelle committed to a 12-step recovery programme. In this mutually intimate conversation with Paul, Michelle bravely shares her incredible journey, with deeply heartfelt moments and lots of personal anecdotes including one massive public apology. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor  Find Michelle on Instagram @wonderwomanshel

Genuine charmer, spinner of yarns and ex-gangster Michael Emmett talks about his autobiography Sins of Fathers, the ‘hole in the soul’ and his spiritual awakening whilst sharing a prison cell with his father. Ex-criminal Michael also shares shocking anecdotes about drug trafficking, car chases, death and love addiction. The stories are intense but Michael’s gentle soul is an inspiration. This episode contains references to sexual abuse so please take care when listening. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website:  https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor  Find Michael's book, Sins of Fathers: A Spectacular Break from a Dark Criminal Past here:   https://amzn.eu/d/9ROQ5ml Find Michael on Instagram @michaelemmettofficial

In this episode, we are excited to host Paul’s close personal friend Jo Langley on the podcast. Paul talks to Jo about idolising an alcoholic, maintaining sobriety and the first time she tried ecstasy. Now a mother of two teenage children and an ambassador for the Stride Foundation, Jo spends a lot of time speaking to young people about the realities and dangers of drug and alcohol use. Jo entered her recovery journey with the intention to be able to ‘drink like a lady’ only to realise that she never did manage to ‘drink like a lady’ in the past and her road to recovery would have to be free of alcohol entirely.  If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor  Find Jo on Instagram @recipe_rituals

The podcast’s first guest interview is world-renowned DJ and award-winning author Fat Tony who has been sober for 17.5 years...but the road to sobriety wasn't easy. Growing up, alcoholism had a huge impact on Tony's family life and it continued to affect him throughout his adult life. Having always been surrounded by drinking and drugs, Tony's reliance on them was exacerbated during his career as a DJ. Fat Tony opens up to Paul about the key moments that shaped his life and informed his choices.  He shares deeply personal details around sexual abuse as a child and the toxic relationships that consumed much of his life. Thanks to therapy and as a result of continuing to follow a recovery programme, Tony is now the happiest and healthiest he’s ever been.  If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor  Find Fat Tony on Instagram @dj_fattony_

Season 1 of This Is Powerful kicks off with an intimate solo episode in which Paul shares an overview of his own story. Expect behind-the-scenes anecdotes from his life, which reveal details Paul has kept private up until now. Coming clean to his producer about his struggles with addiction and the less glamorous aspects of his career as a top model in the 90s, Paul opens up about fame, addiction and life after drugs. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Find This Is Powerful on Instagram @this_ispowerful Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Anyone can be affected by addiction…it does not discriminate.  “This is Powerful” is a brand new podcast hosted by distinguished British model and mindset coach, Paul Sculfor. In this series, Paul comes clean about his own sobriety and the journey it took him to get here. Over the first eight episodes, Paul sits down with a variety of professionals in the field of addiction as well as special guests who candidly talk about their stories, how they achieved sobriety and how they maintain healthy mindsets today. CHECK BACK HERE ON THURSDAY 1 AUGUST, 2024 FOR THE FIRST TWO EPISODES!  Subscribe now so that you don’t miss an episode…and search for This Is Powerful with Paul Sculfor on YouTube to see all of the episodes in video form. This podcast is brought to you by the Stride Foundation.