Stories of Survival in the Modern Age

Sarah Booth-Henry
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Personal Journals

We all have more strength than we realise, especially in the everyday moments that quietly test us. This podcast is a space for heartfelt, courageous, and inspiring conversations - stories about surviving the everyday things: the roadblocks that can trip us up and hold us back from creating a life we truly love. Some episodes are reflective, where I share what I'm learning, noticing, listening to, or reading along the way. Mostly, I'll be having conversations with people who show up with honesty and openness, offering real stories rather than polished answers. This is a space for gentle insight, meaningful dialogue, and reminders that growth doesn't have to be loud or dramatic. It's about navigating life as it really is, with compassion, curiosity, and a growing trust in our own strength.

  1. 15h ago

    Still Us: What 50 Years of Friendship Teaches Us

    What happens when you sit around a table with people you've known since primary school? In this episode, I'm joined by three old friends, Joanne Gallacher (Stanley), Nichola Prescott (Preston) and Lorna Read (Symon), and rather than a carefully planned interview, we simply start talking. We chat about what has changed over the five decades since we first met, what hasn't, getting older, caring less about what other people think, the different versions of ourselves we show to different people, and whether friendship really needs regular contact. We talk about friends who are there for a reason, a season or a lifetime, and what makes an old friendship feel so comfortable. There are memories, disagreements, laughter, a little nostalgia and quite a lot of “do you remember when…?” And somewhere along the way, we realise that although we've all lived very different lives, there's still something familiar about sitting around the table together. Perhaps that's one of the lovely things about old friendship: you can change enormously, and yet still somehow recognise each other. So pull up a chair and join us for a very ordinary, and rather special, conversation about friendship, memories and the people who have known us longest. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    Still Us: What 50 Years of Friendship Teaches Us

  2. Aug 20

    Finding Your Way Back to Yourself

    Lauren Sellick's story takes us through bereavement, betrayal, redundancy, lockdown, romance scams, perinatal mental health struggles and the difficult reality of becoming a mum when you're not sure you can be what your baby needs. Lauren fell in love believing she'd found her person, only to have her marriage end in a five-minute phone call. Already feeling isolated and unwanted, she was later drawn into a romance scam that ultimately cost her £40,000. Looking back, Lauren recognises a deep need to be needed, something she now understands much more clearly.  Then came motherhood. Lauren experienced depression, anxiety and psychosis during the perinatal period, and struggled profoundly to bond with her daughter, until one tiny moment, her daughter reaching out and holding her finger, became a turning point.  Today, Lauren has channelled her experiences, alongside her background in animal behaviour, welfare and teaching, into Wild Minds - bringing nature, interactive activities and conversation into classes for babies, toddlers and their parents.  This is a conversation about vulnerability, connection, motherhood, self-worth and learning to trust yourself. And perhaps, ultimately, about discovering that you were enough all along. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    Finding Your Way Back to Yourself

  3. Aug 13

    What If You’re Not Too Old?

    What if the things we’ve been told about ourselves become the very things that hold us back? At 72, Christine Worthington is a healthy living advocate, coach and lifelong learner who is still curious about what’s possible. And yet, her story began with being told, in effect, that she wasn’t quite good enough. Leaving school at 16 with few qualifications, Christine went on to study through evening classes, move into education, become a lecturer and senior manager, and gain further qualifications along the way. She also experienced imposter syndrome and the pressure of constantly feeling she had to prove herself. In this conversation, we talk about the power of lifelong learning, overcoming negative self-talk, reinventing yourself and being willing to start something new at any age. Christine shares how she learned to recognise that little voice telling her she didn’t belong, and how she turned it into determination, thinking “I’ll show you, I can do this.”  We also explore the life she thought she might have, the choices and compromises that shaped the life she actually created, and why she believes it’s more important to ask “What can I do today?” than dwell on what might have been. Christine talks about “reverse ageing”, staying physically and mentally active, curiosity, community and what she calls being “functionally fit”, including still wanting to kick a ball around with her grandson. And if you’re listening and thinking you’ve missed your opportunity, Christine is here to remind us, you can start anytime. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    What If You’re Not Too Old?

  4. Aug 6

    The Pulse of Life

    Sometimes the episode you planned isn't the one you end up releasing. After attending a celebration of life service and then unexpectedly losing her Tower Captain just days later, Sarah found herself asking some difficult questions. What really matters? What will people remember about us? And how much of life are we missing while we're busy preparing for the future? In this honest and reflective solo episode, Sarah shares why she chose to step away from work for an afternoon, what a simple walk by the river taught her, and the quiet shift she's noticing in what truly matters. If you've been carrying the weight of work, finances, doing, being or simply keep all the plates spinning, this gentle conversation is a reminder to pause... Because your heartbeat means you're alive. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    The Pulse of Life

  5. Jul 30

    Rewriting the Stroke Conversation

    What if recovery didn't end when rehabilitation did? When Victoria Jones' father suffered a major stroke in 2023, life changed in an instant. As she watched him navigate the months that followed, she also discovered something many families experience: the gap between clinical rehabilitation and the realities of everyday life. That journey transformed Victoria's career and inspired her to create her work supporting stroke survivors and their families, helping them understand that meaningful progress can continue long after formal rehabilitation has ended. In this heartfelt conversation, Victoria shares her father's remarkable story, the power of hope, why prevention matters just as much as treatment, and how simple lifestyle changes, including knowing your blood pressure, could make a life-changing difference. Whether you've been affected by stroke personally, care for someone who has, or simply want to reduce your own risk, this episode is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible, prevention matters, and hope should never be underestimated. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    Rewriting the Stroke Conversation

  6. Jul 23

    Choices That Shape Who We Become

    What if resilience isn't about being fearless... rather about the choices we make when life doesn't go to plan? In this deeply personal episode, Sarah chats with Carey Winder, who is sharing a part of her story publicly for the very first time. Diagnosed with Turner syndrome at 13, Carey found herself navigating growth hormone injections, regular hospital appointments and being told she could never have children. Yet rather than allowing a diagnosis to define her, she chose to focus on what was possible. Their conversation also explores the challenges that have continued to test her resilience, from her dad's heart attack and a devastating house fire to personal loss and heartbreak, and why she believes that every setback has ultimately shaped the person she is today. Above all, this isn't simply a conversation about Turner syndrome. It's about perspective, purpose and the quiet decisions we make every day that help us keep moving forward. Whether you're facing uncertainty, rebuilding after adversity or simply need a reminder that your circumstances don't have to define your future, this episode is for you. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    Choices That Shape Who We Become

  7. Jul 15

    Bring Me Sunshine

    What does it really mean to "bring sunshine"? ​ After joining 100 volunteers on the beach at Morecambe, Lancashire, to celebrate what would have been Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday, I came home reflecting on something far bigger than a famous comedian and a familiar song. ​ It was about kindness. It was about community. It was about the memories that unexpectedly transport us back to the people we love. ​ In this solo episode, I share the story behind an unforgettable afternoon, how laughter connected complete strangers, why a simple T-shirt reading Kindness Changes Everythingstayed with me, and how the day reminded me that our greatest legacy may not be what we achieve, but how we leave people feeling.   So, wherever you're listening today, I hope this episode encourages you to leave someone feeling just a little lighter than you found them.   Because perhaps... that's what bringing sunshine has meant all along. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    Bring Me Sunshine

  8. Jul 9

    Finding the Breadcrumbs of Joy

    What if joy isn't something we find once life gets easier... rather the very thing that helps us through life's hardest seasons? In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah sits down with entrepreneur, creative director and Joy First® founder J. Nichole Smith to explore a journey shaped by burnout, crippling self-doubt, people-pleasing and the pursuit of proving her worth. Together they unpack the moments that changed everything, from pretending to be confident until confidence became real, to a life-changing realisation on Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island that success wasn't what she was searching for after all. This is a conversation about choosing purpose over pressure, recognising the breadcrumbs that quietly lead us towards joy, and discovering that perhaps the life we've been striving for is closer than we think. Whether you're navigating burnout, questioning your direction, or simply longing for a little more peace, this episode offers hope that joy isn't reserved for perfect moments... it's available to us, even in the messy middle. Stories of Survival in the Modern Age features honest conversations about resilience, reinvention, and being human in a complicated world.

    Finding the Breadcrumbs of Joy
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

We all have more strength than we realise, especially in the everyday moments that quietly test us. This podcast is a space for heartfelt, courageous, and inspiring conversations - stories about surviving the everyday things: the roadblocks that can trip us up and hold us back from creating a life we truly love. Some episodes are reflective, where I share what I'm learning, noticing, listening to, or reading along the way. Mostly, I'll be having conversations with people who show up with honesty and openness, offering real stories rather than polished answers. This is a space for gentle insight, meaningful dialogue, and reminders that growth doesn't have to be loud or dramatic. It's about navigating life as it really is, with compassion, curiosity, and a growing trust in our own strength.

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