This Is Powerful With Paul Sculfor

This Is Powerful With Paul Sculfor

This Is Powerful With Paul Sculfor

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 substance abuse, how they achieved sobriety and how they maintain healthy mindsets today. Subscribe now so that you don’t miss an episode…and search for This Is Po...

Finding Strength in Storytelling with Laura Hearn

Finding Strength in Storytelling with Laura Hearn

This week, Paul sits down with Laura Hearn—renowned BBC journalist, host of the Flip It podcast, and fierce advocate for mental health. Laura shares her journey through childhood isolation, an eating disorder that took hold in her late teens, and the life-changing experience of seeking treatment in the U.S. She reflects on the challenges of returning to work after recovery, the moment she chose to leave the BBC, and how storytelling became her most powerful tool for healing. Paul illustrates how

Feb 20, • 58:07

Kevin Bishop: Celebrated British Actor, Writer and Award-Winning Comedian

Kevin Bishop: Celebrated British Actor, Writer and Award-Winning Comedian

Kevin Bishop is a British actor, writer and award-winning comedian known for his roles in Grange Hill, Muppet Treasure Island, The Kevin Bishop Show, and Porridge. With a career spanning three decades, he has always stood out with his sharp wit and fearless performances. This episode has its fair share of laugh aloud moments as Kevin shares his journey with sincerity and wry self-reflection. After  enjoying a few years living life in the fast lane like his hard-drinking idols, Kevin was shocked

Feb 13, • 57:26

Calum Best on Healing Children of Addiction and Breaking Generational Cycles

Calum Best on Healing Children of Addiction and Breaking Generational Cycles

Welcome back to the podcast! Kicking off the second season is this deeply personal episode featuring entrepreneur, model, and NACOA (National Association for Children of Alcoholics) patron Calum Best. Known to many as the son of football legend George Best, Calum opens up about his own struggles, healing and daily choice of purpose over destruction. Calum recounts the moments that shaped him, from his wild years in Hollywood to the loss of his father and the spiral that followed. But this isn’t

Feb 6, • 47:21

End of Season One Special Announcement

End of Season One Special Announcement

We have come to the end of season one, after 25 powerful episodes. Here's a special announcement from Paul to you. 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

Jan 9, • 1:48

Jack Curran

Jack Curran

It is the first episode of the New Year and we are featuring our youngest guest so far. Jack Curran speaks to us candidly about his ketamine addiction and by way of his account of the catastrophic mental and physical damage it caused him personally, gives a rather ominous warning to anyone even considering the drug.  Jack has been featured on The Guardian and on other media outlets, speaking out about genZ’s recreational drug of choice in the UK that at times made him feel like he ‘was peeing g

Jan 2, • 54:45

Paul’s Festive Toolkit

Paul’s Festive Toolkit

As we are approaching the season of parties, cheer, family, friends, temptation and a whole minefield of disturbances to our serenity, we are sharing some of the ways in which Paul has handled the festive season over the years.  We cover the gifts of Christmas present, the pain of Christmas past, the tips for Christmases future and unrealistic New Year’s resolutions. Just a taste of what’s to come- you aren’t wearing concrete shoes, phone a friend and why leaving a turkey in the oven and drivi

Dec 23, 2024 • 36:05

Victoria Vanstone

Victoria Vanstone

This week, we’re joined by Victoria Vanstone, self-confessed ‘drunk mother gone sober’. Victoria is the host of award-winning podcast Sober Awkward and author of the heartfelt and hilarious memoir,  A Thousand Wasted Sundays. Known for her raw honesty and relatable humor, she offers a fresh take on sobriety which appeals to drinkers of all classifications! We caught up with Victoria in Thailand, where she’s traveling with her children, to cover loads of big topics, from accepting that routine b

Dec 19, 2024 • 53:35

Mark White

Mark White

Our guest this week is Mark White, who at over 22 years sober, has established himself as a community builder and true visionary. Mark has successfully launched workshops that are designed for ‘the next regeneration of mindful movers’ around the world and was recently voted as one of the UK’s top social entrepreneurs because of his work in the wellness space.   One of the most driven people out there, Mark comes clean about personal shame, suffocating the darkness and that can of worms that no

Dec 12, 2024 • 49:04

George

George

In this episode, we follow George’s journey through the depths of addiction and his incredible transformation. For years, George was trapped in a destructive cycle of alcohol and drug abuse, leading to repeated hospitalisations for physical emergencies and psychiatric ward admissions for mental health emergencies. His addiction was fuelled by a desperate need to escape overwhelming emotions like worry, panic, fear, anger, and paralysing frustration.  Finally George entered rehab and committed t

Dec 5, 2024 • 58:00

Vinny

Vinny

This is one of those remarkable interviews that will surprise you, pull on your heart strings and reveal the depth of the human spirit. Growing up in a conservative, deeply religious London family, our guest Vinny reveals how he strayed into a life of crime, addiction, and self-destruction. His rock bottom moment came after months of heavy substance abuse, a heart attack, and a near-tragic incident involving his wife and children. From functioning as a plumber constantly under the influence, to

Nov 28, 2024 • 57:49

19:  David McLaughlan

19: David McLaughlan

Today we welcome Dr David McLaughlan to the show. David always had his sights set on a medical career, but did a bit of modelling in his earlier days. Working with a variety of people reinforced his values of being a kind and compassionate person, (so-called ‘soft skills’) and helps him engage with patients today.  Now one of the UK's leading addiction psychiatrists, David has contributed to international treatment guidelines, academic journals as well as mainstream media outlets. Additionally,

Nov 21, 2024 • 59:14

18: Pandora Morris

18: Pandora Morris

This week we hosted the incredible host of the Hurt to Healing podcast, Pandora Morris. A former lawyer turned mental health activist, Pandora’s journey began in childhood, facing OCD and an eating disorder that manifested through restrictive eating and chronic over-exercising.  Much like obsessive behaviour often linked to addiction, Pandora would regularly run at least twenty miles a day, take midnight bike rides and start her days with a swim in the sea - an activity which once saw her hospi

Nov 14, 2024 • 51:13

17: Andy Ramage

17: Andy Ramage

This week, we welcome former professional footballer turned successful entrepreneur Andy Ramage. After a career-ending injury, Andy pivoted to create two financial brokerages and soon discovered that his life changed dramatically when he decided to go alcohol-free. This decision not only transformed his health and mindset but also became his unique selling point, helping him stand out in a competitive business market.  The coaching initiatives that Andy has created have collectively helped hund

Nov 7, 2024 • 1:02:51

16: Ollie Ollerton

16: Ollie Ollerton

This week we are super excited to welcome Ollie Ollerton onto the show. You might know Ollie from the British television programme SAS: Who Dares Wins? Ollie is not only a former Marine, SAS soldier, and Special Forces Combat Frogman, he's also an author of five books and the CEO of Breakpoint and Battle Ready Academy, two powerful physical and mental training academies.  Ollie’s personal breakthrough arrived once he worked up the courage to put booze and drugs behind him. Finding himself at a

Oct 31, 2024 • 59:00

15: Elliott Wald

15: Elliott Wald

In this episode, Paul sits down with addiction expert Elliott Wald. Elliott is a trainer of NLP and is recognized as one of the world’s leading hypnosis experts. Speaking about the gradual and often unnoticed slide into cocaine addiction, Paul shares his personal experience of how his casual use turned into a debilitating habit, mirroring the stories of many who struggle with addiction. With over 29 years of professional experience and having helped over a hundred thousand people to overcome add

Oct 24, 2024 • 1:01:05

14: Carol

14: Carol

This week, we have the privilege of hearing Carol’s incredible journey, which began with unspeakable abuse and neglect she faced from a very young age. In an attempt to escape trauma and hardship, Carol turned to drugs and alcohol but eventually found sobriety at the age of 51. In her conversation with Paul, Carol opens up about everything from drinking in parks and getting into fights to the deep regret she feels over missing large parts of her children’s younger years due to addiction. It’s a

Oct 17, 2024 • 48:24

13: Penny Mallory

13: Penny Mallory

Today is World Mental Health Day, and we are incredibly fortunate to welcome Penny Mallory to the show. Penny is a Mental Toughness expert, former Rally Champion, motivational and TedX speaker, and currently training to row across the Atlantic Ocean. She’s no stranger to pushing boundaries—she even stepped into the boxing ring for the first time at the age of 42. While you may be captivated by her incredible journey, Penny will convince you that she’s not special—just an ordinary person who has

Oct 10, 2024 • 1:10:38

12: Henry Lunn

12: Henry Lunn

A little something for our younger listeners this week! Today’s guest Henry Lunn found sobriety when he was just 25 years old. This may seem early, but just wait until you hear all he accomplished by the time he was twenty. After experiencing challenges in school and with his home life, Henry started his professional career as a teenager and started earning a lot of money very quickly and at a very young age. With some heartracing anecdotes to illustrate his downward spiral, Henry describes his

Oct 3, 2024 • 1:01:30

11: Michael Cannan

11: Michael Cannan

We would like to advise you that there are suicide references right from the start of this episode that some might find troubling. Please take care when listening.   This week, Paul welcomes his close personal friend Michael Cannan. Michael is the author of Hunting Concrete Lines, which was the finalist for the Best Book Award for The Independent. Formerly a celebrity fitness trainer in Hollywood, Michael is the founder of a behavioural health company in California. There are a lot of shared la

Sep 26, 2024 • 1:01:24

10: David Nutt

10: David Nutt

This week special guest Professor David John Nutt helps us to examine the impact alcohol has on our brains, behaviour and longer term health. We have an eye-opening conversation about how monitored doses of LSD may cure alcoholism, how many subsidised private bars are actually part of the UK Houses of Parliament and the alternative ‘functional beverages’ which might just replace alcohol altogether. Professor Nutt is an English neuropsychopharmacologist who’s controversial removal from the Advis

Sep 19, 2024 • 47:30

9: Johnny Graaff

9: Johnny Graaff

This week, we welcome Johnny Graaff, 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 f

Sep 12, 2024 • 43:04

8: Andrea Taylor

8: Andrea Taylor

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 addictio

Sep 5, 2024 • 54:14

7: Yasmin

7: Yasmin

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 colo

Aug 29, 2024 • 45:15

6: Anita Chellamah

6: Anita Chellamah

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 Ani

Aug 22, 2024 • 56:19

5: Michelle Heaton

5: Michelle Heaton

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 conv

Aug 15, 2024 • 47:49

4: Michael Emmett

4: Michael Emmett

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

Aug 8, 2024 • 1:02:43

3: Jo Langley

3: Jo Langley

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

Aug 8, 2024 • 46:00

2: DJ Fat Tony

2: DJ Fat Tony

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.

Aug 1, 2024 • 49:18

1: An introduction to Paul's story

1: An introduction to Paul's story

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 r

Aug 1, 2024 • 35:18

This Is Powerful With Paul Sculfor Trailer Season One

This Is Powerful With Paul Sculfor Trailer Season One

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

Jul 10, 2024 • 2:05

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