Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man

Mark Grimes

Life doesn’t always go as planned. Unexpected challenges, setbacks, and major life pivots can leave us feeling lost—but they don’t have to define us. In this inspiring YouTube series, I sit down with incredible guests who have faced life’s toughest moments—career changes, personal struggles, and unforeseen obstacles—yet have found a way forward. Through resilience, determination, and a shift in perspective, they’ve turned adversity into opportunity and discovered new paths to happiness and success.

  1. FEB 14

    Addiction Is a Family Disease | I’ve Lived Every Side of It

    Addiction does not affect just one person. It affects the entire family.In this episode of Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man / @thepieeatingman I’m joined by Jennifer Chase, a woman in long term recovery, life coach, daughter of an alcoholic, and mother of a recovering addict.Jennifer has experienced addiction from every angle. She grew up around it. She struggled with it herself. And she faced the devastating moment of discovering her son had become addicted in her own home.We talk openly about:• Addiction as a family disease• Generational trauma and breaking cycles• Codependency and control• Setting boundaries with someone you love• Recovery beyond sobriety• Shame, guilt, and self trust• Healing without losing yourselfThis is an honest, serious conversation about what addiction really does to families, and how recovery is possible even when it feels impossible.If this resonates, please like, subscribe, and share. It genuinely helps the podcast reach people who may need it.Jennifer’s website:https://www.riseaddictionlc.com🎧 More conversations about resilience, mental health, and life pivots:Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man / @thepieeatingman 📘 My BookIf traditional self help has never felt written for you, my book The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind is for everyday people living real lives.Available here:https://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjB#AddictionRecovery#FamilyAddiction#RecoveryJourney#Codependency#MentalHealth#Healing#BreakingTheCycle#Podcast#ChewingTheCrust#Podmatch

    1h 52m
  2. JAN 31

    “Rescued” into Slavery, A Childhood of Abuse, Survival and Healing | Pamela Michaux

    What happens when a 7 year old child is “rescued” from civil war by their father, only to be placed into slavery?Pamela Michaux was sent from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Belgium at the age of seven, promised safety and a better life. What followed was years of abuse, racism, exploitation and silence.In this conversation, Pamela shares how survival became normal, how identity was fractured, and how healing only began once the truth was faced.Her book, Mundele Diaries, is not written to shock or accuse. It is written to reclaim a voice, to break generational cycles, and to speak for anyone who has ever felt unseen, unwanted, or trapped in survival mode.This episode of Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man is an honest conversation about trauma, resilience, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to choose a different ending.🔗 LINKS📘 Mundele Diaries, Pamela Michaux👉 https://amzn.eu/d/5keIA8R🎙️ Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating ManYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChewingTheCrustSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0kaXkXpvAn3OiGPBugrmIC?si=d62bb48ad6a14b0fBook (The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind): https://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjB👤 Pamela MichauxInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mundelediaries/Website: https://mundelediaries.com/#ChewingTheCrust#RescuedIntoSlavery#PamelaMichaux#MundeleDiaries#MentalHealth#LifeStories#TraumaRecovery#Healing#Resilience#Podcast#PodMatch#ModernSlavery#Slavery#Abuse#racial abuse#race#strongwomen#inspirationalwomen

    1h 55m
  3. JAN 17

    Feel Better, Straight Away | The Fastest Happiness Hack with Cathy Nesbitt

    If you’re feeling flat, overwhelmed, or just a bit worn down by life, this conversation might help you breathe again.In this episode of Chewing the Crust, I’m joined by Cathy Nesbitt, educator, environmentalist, and laughter yoga leader, for a warm, honest conversation about laughter, nature, mental health, and why feeling better does not always need to be complicated.Cathy’s journey is anything but ordinary. From building a business around worm composting, to working in mental health, to discovering laughter yoga as a powerful tool for wellbeing, her story is full of unexpected turns and gentle wisdom. We talk about boredom, phones, play, being present, reconnecting with our bodies, and why laughter can be one of the fastest ways to shift how we feel.This is not about forcing positivity or pretending life is easy. It’s about permission. Permission to pause, to breathe properly, to play, and to remember that we are human first.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from yourself or the world around you, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little lighter.Find Cathy here: Cathy Nesbitthttps://www.cathysclub.comMy bookThe Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mindhttps://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjBPodcastChewing the Crust with The Pie Eating ManAvailable on YouTube and all major podcast platforms#FeelBetterStraightAway#FastestHappinessHack#MentalHealth#Wellbeing#LaughterYoga#MentalHealthPodcast#FindingJoy#ChewingTheCrust#ThePieEatingMan#PodMatch

    1h 55m
  4. 11/30/2025

    Is coffee bad for you? The Hidden Cost of Caffeine | Steve Frazier’s Coffee Wake-Up Call

    This conversation changed the way I think about caffeine. In this episode of Chewing the Crust, I speak with Steve Frazier, author of Release the Coffee Cuffs, Winning the Battle with Caffeine. Steve literally broke up with coffee after decades of heavy use, business stress and family health challenges… and the results surprised even him. We dig into: ☕ Why caffeine doesn’t give you energy, it borrows it 🧠 Cognitive dissonance and why we defend certain habits 😴 The neuroscience of adenosine and sleep quality 👶 The impact of caffeine on pregnancy 🧬 Hormones, testosterone and anxiety 🔥 Why caffeine is a trillion-dollar industry 🧠 How to reduce caffeine safely 💡 The day Steve said, “I’ve had enough.” Website: releasethecoffeecuffs.com 📘 Steve's Book : Release the Coffee Cuffs – Winning the Battle with Caffeine LinkedIn: Steve Frazier – Founder | Coach | Author 🎙 Quote from the episode: “Sometimes the first step to waking up… is putting something down.” Steve Frazier transcript This isn’t anti-coffee, it’s pro-choice, pro-knowledge, pro-health. What if we just gave it a try and measured the difference? 💬 If this conversation resonates, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment — it genuinely helps others find these powerful stories. 📗 Mark’s Book: The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind 👇 Would you try 7 days without caffeine? Let me know in the comments. Your answers help more people see this video. 00:00 Intro, Steve’s story 02:00 The poem, The Cup That Never Empties 04:00 Steve’s entrepreneurial journey ✦ restaurants ✦ coaching ✦ family 09:00 The health scare that changed everything 13:00 Caffeine, brain fog and sleep cycles 17:00 Cognitive dissonance, why we defend coffee 22:00 Caffeine vs adenosine explained simply 29:00 Why exhaustion is now normal 34:00 Circadian rhythm & hidden sleep disruption 37:00 Testosterone, anxiety & belly fat 47:00 Pregnancy, fertility & caffeine concerns 54:00 Caffeine withdrawal vs tapering safely 59:00 Habit, identity & peer pressure 1:03:00 Alcohol, caffeine & unusual choices 1:12:00 Why we resist change 1:19:00 What have we got to lose?

    1h 38m
  5. 11/15/2025

    How a Late Bloomer Found Purpose at 60 and Changes kid's Lives | Paul Cooper (AKA Martin Mucklowe)

    Paul Cooper, known to millions as Martin Mucklowe from the BAFTA-winning comedy This Country, joins Mark Grimes on Chewing the Crust for an inspiring and deeply human conversation about creativity, purpose, childhood, peace, and resilience.Far from being a lifelong actor, Paul didn’t begin acting until he was 60 years old — proving it is never too late to reinvent yourself or step into the life you were meant to live.In this episode, Paul and Mark explore:• Growing up in North Devon with a free-range, joy-filled childhood• Why unstructured play makes kids happier, smarter, and more resilient• Football as a bridge for peace and understanding• The work of the Children’s Football Alliance and global Peace Field Projects• Creativity in children, teens, and adults• The resilience and joy of refugee children• Generational wisdom, family identity, and the value of history• The emotional reality behind hoarding and how trauma drives it• Mental health, empathy, and community support• How one moment of encouragement can change a child’s entire life• What it really means to start again later in lifePaul’s reflections on childhood, creativity, hoarding, hope, parenting, and purpose make this one of the most wide-ranging and meaningful episodes we’ve recorded.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCESChildren’s Football Alliancehttps://www.childrensfootballalliance...Peace Field Projectshttps://www.childrensfootballalliance...Mark’s BookThe Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mindhttps://amzn.eu/d/9jNqAjBPodcastChewing the Crust with The Pie Eating ManAvailable on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.

    1h 54m
  6. 11/01/2025

    How to Heal Through Creativity | Leah Johnson on Quitting Politics, Forgiveness & Joy

    In this episode of Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man, Leah Johnson shares her raw and inspiring story of recovery, forgiveness, and rediscovery.Leah once lived a life built around success and external validation — from being the youngest woman elected to her city council to working on major political campaigns in the US. But behind the achievements was someone battling alcohol addiction, depression, and suicidal thoughts.When everything came crashing down, Leah made the bravest decision of all: she quit politics, sought help, and began rebuilding her life through art, creativity, and spiritual healing.Now a celebrated author, speaker, and artist, Leah helps others find what she calls “Fantastic Joy” — a life of meaning, balance, and courage.🎨 We talk about:The hidden cost of high achievementOvercoming alcohol addiction and suicide attemptsFinding courage to quit what’s breaking youHealing through art, creativity, and spiritualityThe power of forgiveness and self-compassionHer journey to the Divine Feminine and indigenous healing practicesHow Leah’s TEDx talk and book inspire others to heal out loud💬 If this conversation resonates, please like, subscribe, and leave a comment — it genuinely helps others find these powerful stories.📘 Leah’s Book: Finding Fantastic Joy📗 Mark’s Book: The Pie Eating Man’s Guide to a Healthy Mind🎙️ About the Show:Chewing the Crust with The Pie Eating Man is a podcast about life pivots, resilience, humour, and hope — real stories from ordinary people who’ve faced extraordinary challenges and found a way through.

    1h 60m

About

Life doesn’t always go as planned. Unexpected challenges, setbacks, and major life pivots can leave us feeling lost—but they don’t have to define us. In this inspiring YouTube series, I sit down with incredible guests who have faced life’s toughest moments—career changes, personal struggles, and unforeseen obstacles—yet have found a way forward. Through resilience, determination, and a shift in perspective, they’ve turned adversity into opportunity and discovered new paths to happiness and success.