The Survival Project

Jonathan Healy
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Weekly

The Survival Project is a podcast about health, resilience, and the power of shared experience. We all face battles; for our health, for our wellbeing, for survival itself. This podcast is a space to explore those battles honestly, whether you’re living with chronic illness yourself or supporting someone you love. “Your story can be someone else’s survival guide” - The Survival Project exists to do just that: turn lived experience into a guide for others.

  1. 19h ago

    055 - Coma To Comeback: Everything Feels Impossible Until It’s - Vincent Van De Broeck

    Coma to Comeback: Everything Feels Impossible Until It’s Done On October 11th, 2024, Vincent Van den Broeck was struck by a car while riding his e-scooter in Brussels. He suffered multiple fractures and major brain trauma, spent three weeks in a coma and was given very little chance of survival. But surviving was only the beginning. In this episode of The Survival Project, Vincent takes us through the long road back. From being unable to walk and depending on his wife for the most basic parts of everyday life, to rebuilding his confidence, independence and identity. We talk about the extraordinary role his wife played throughout his recovery, why Vincent believes “resilience is a muscle,” learning to speak louder than the voice telling you to quit, and why he describes the accident not as life-changing, but life-affirming. Vincent also shares the philosophy behind his new book, Everything Feels Impossible Until It’s Done, and why the word “feels” might be the most important part of that sentence. Because something feeling impossible doesn't mean that it is. Sometimes, the only thing you can control is whether you keep doing. 📖 Everything Feels Impossible Until It’s Done launches October 11th, exactly two years after Vincent's accident. Pre-order: https://linktr.ee/vincentinthekitchen?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=a021ff2b-11de-4e02-a1aa-882d42e4f852 Follow Vincent: @vincentinthekitchen 🎙️ The Survival ProjectYour story could be someone’s survival guide. IG: @thesurvivalprojectpod @jonathanjhealy

  2. Sep 15

    053 - Life-Changing Surgery, Life-Changing Independence: The Power of Stoma Care - Anna Bergin

    What does good stoma care actually look like, and why does it still matter whether you’ve had your stoma for three weeks or thirty years? In Episode 53 of The Survival Project, I’m joined by experienced stoma care nurse Anna Bergin for a conversation about the journey from life-changing surgery to life-changing independence. Anna takes us inside the role of a stoma nurse, from those overwhelming first days after surgery to rebuilding confidence, becoming independent with your care and getting back to living your life. We discuss skin health, leaks, pouch fit, changing products, why annual stoma reviews matter and some of the simple mistakes that can cause problems even years after surgery. But this conversation also takes us far beyond everyday stoma care. Anna shares the heartbreaking story of a Ukrainian woman who lived with a stoma for more than 30 years without access to appropriate products or specialist support, and the simple moment she finally realised she could say: “I can close the window at night.” We also discuss the inequalities that still exist in stoma care around the world, Anna’s upcoming charity work in Kenya, donating unused stoma supplies and why access to the right products and support can mean far more than simply managing a stoma. It can mean dignity, confidence and independence. Whether you’re new to stoma life, have lived with one for decades, support someone with a stoma or work within stoma care, there is so much to take from this conversation. This episode is proudly supported by Hollister. A massive thank you to Hollister for supporting these conversations and helping me continue to share honest stories about the realities of life with a stoma. To check out the Cera Plus range mentioned, follow the link below https://link.hollister.com/4ygS1SM

  3. Sep 8

    052 - Learning To Live With A Stoma At 17: Grief, Gratitude & Growth - Sophia Haden

    At just 17 years old, Sophia Haden was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Only a few months later, she underwent life-changing surgery and found herself learning to live with a stoma. In Episode 52 of The Survival Project, Sophia joins me for an incredibly honest conversation about illness, body image, mental health and what happens when your life changes before you've really had the chance to figure out who you are. We talk about going from diagnosis to surgery within months, missing the milestones her friends were experiencing, learning to care for a stoma and the complicated emotions that followed. Because Sophia was grateful. Her stoma saved her life. But that didn't mean she had to be happy about what happened to her. We explore the pressure ostomates can feel to constantly be positive, the grief that can exist alongside gratitude, and why accepting your stoma doesn't mean you have to love it every single day. Sophia also shares how finding other ostomates online helped change her perspective and ultimately inspired her to start sharing her own story. Today, three years after her first surgery, she has graduated from university, qualified as a physiotherapist and is learning to approach her stoma as simply another part of her life rather than something that defines her. As Sophia puts it: “Don't let it define you, but be proud of it.” SUPPORTED BY HOLLISTER This episode of The Survival Project is proudly supported by Hollister. A massive thank you to Hollister for supporting these conversations and helping me continue to share honest stories about the realities of life with a stoma. https://link.hollister.com/4ygS1SM CONNECT WITH SOPHIA Instagram: @soph_haden If this episode resonates with you, share it with someone who might need to hear Sophia's story.

  4. Sep 1

    051 - Who I Am Without Fear: Cancer, Two Stomas, Life After Survival - Ross Davidson

    For almost 40 years, Ross Davidson lived with an overwhelming fear of cancer. When symptoms eventually appeared, that fear became so debilitating that Ross needed six months of counselling before he could bring himself to see a doctor. He was eventually diagnosed with stage three locally advanced rectal cancer and underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and an eight-hour total pelvic exenteration involving three surgical teams, waking up with two permanent stomas: a colostomy and a urostomy. But this episode isn't only about what Ross survived. It's about what he chose to do afterwards. Ross opens up about the psychological impact of cancer, the years he spent imprisoned by fear, learning to live with two stomas, medical trauma, men's mental health and gradually discovering a freedom he had never experienced before. We also hear the remarkable story of the promise Ross made to himself while recovering in hospital: if he survived, he would return to Thailand. Years later, he did exactly that, cycling approximately 1,200km through the country and completing 16,000 metres of climbing. Reaching Thailand's highest peak became an emotional moment as Ross remembered two men he had shared a hospital ward with who sadly didn't survive. Ross describes his philosophy with a phrase that perfectly captures this conversation: “Survival is thrival.” Because sometimes survival isn't the destination. It's the entry point to everything that comes next. SUPPORTED BY HOLLISTER This episode of The Survival Project is proudly supported by Hollister. A massive thank you to Hollister for supporting this conversation and helping make it possible for me to continue sharing the real experiences of people living with a stoma. Ross is also a Hollister ambassador and, during the episode, shares his own experience using Hollister products while travelling and taking on extreme physical challenges. Learn more about Hollister: https://link.hollister.com/4ygS1SM Thank you for listening to The Survival Project.

  5. Aug 29

    050 - One Sentence, 8 Words: The Question That Can Change A Life - Jonathan Healy

    50 episodes. One year. And eight words that could change a life. For the one-year anniversary of The Survival Project, I wanted to reflect on one of the most important lessons this podcast has taught me. Over the past 50 episodes, I’ve spoken with people who have faced chronic illness, disability, trauma, grief, mental health struggles and circumstances that completely changed the direction of their lives. Different people. Different battles. But one truth continues to emerge: we have no idea what someone else may be carrying. We often think helping means having an answer, offering advice or somehow fixing the situation. But sometimes what a person needs most is much simpler. Someone willing to ask the question, listen to the answer and sit beside them in whatever they’re going through. In this milestone episode, I reflect on the first year of The Survival Project, some of the lessons these conversations have taught me, and one eight-word question that I believe has the power to change a life. To every guest who has trusted me with their story and every person who has listened over the past year, thank you. Episode 50. One year of The Survival Project. And we’re only getting started.

  6. Aug 25

    049 - Congenital Muscular Dystrophy: Living Fully, In A World Not Built for You - Kelly Berger & Avery Roberts (The Wheel Talk Podcast)

    In Episode 49 of The Survival Project, Jonathan is joined by Kelly Berger and Avery Roberts, hosts of the Wheel Talk Podcast, for an honest, funny and thought-provoking conversation about living with an ultra-rare form of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD). Kelly and Avery have lived with progressive disabilities from childhood, but their experiences have unfolded very differently. Together, we explore what happens when your physical abilities change, the complicated relationship between independence and accepting help, and what it means to navigate a world that often wasn't designed with disabled people in mind. We talk about accessibility, wheelchair use, friendships, dating, travel, mental health, grief and the assumptions strangers make about disability. Kelly and Avery also share the importance of community and representation. Seeing somebody living with the same condition can completely change what you believe is possible for your own future. Through Wheel Talk, they're now creating the conversations and representation they wished they had growing up, while showing that disability and a meaningful, ambitious and fulfilling life are not mutually exclusive. This is a conversation about claiming your space, advocating for yourself, accepting support when you need it and refusing to allow other people's expectations to dictate the life you build. Website: Wheel Talk PodcastInstagram: @thewheeltalkpodcastTikTok: @thewheeltalkpodYouTube: The Wheel Talk PodcastFacebook: The Wheel Talk PodcastSpotify: Wheel Talk on SpotifyApple Podcasts: Wheel Talk on Apple Podcasts Kelly Berger: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn Avery Roberts: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn If you enjoyed the conversation, follow The Survival Project, leave a rating and share the episode with someone who might benefit from hearing Kelly and Avery's story. And next week, The Survival Project reaches Episode 50. A milestone solo episode reflecting on the journey so far and what comes next. Find Wheel Talk

  7. Aug 23

    048 - “Your Tests Are Normal” But You're Still In Pain: Understanding Chronic Pain In IBD & IBS - Rebecca Lane

    What happens when your tests say everything looks fine, but you’re still in pain? In Episode 48 of The Survival Project, I’m joined by Rebecca Lane, PhD student at University of Galway (funded by Taighde Éireann - Research Ireland), to take a deep dive into something that affects so many people living with IBD and IBS: pain. Rebecca takes us inside the science of how pain actually works and explains why people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can continue experiencing significant pain even when inflammation is under control. We talk about the gut-brain axis, chronic pain, the nervous system, pain sensitisation and why hearing words such as “psychological” in a medical setting does not mean your pain is imaginary. We also explore Rebecca’s research into pain sensitivity in IBD and IBS, the endocannabinoid system, cannabis-based treatments, overlapping pain conditions and why two people with seemingly similar conditions can experience pain completely differently. But this conversation isn’t only about understanding pain. It’s also about what we can do with that understanding. Rebecca explains how people with lived experience can become involved in research, from participating in studies and surveys to helping researchers shape the questions they ask and how their findings are communicated. 🔗 If you would like to express your interest in current or future surveys and research projects, or simply learn more about Rebecca and her work, you can find Rebecca’s Linktree below. ⁠https://linktr.ee/rebecca_lane⁠ The more lived experience that becomes part of research, the better chance we have of ensuring the questions being investigated reflect what actually matters to the people living with these conditions. If you know someone living with IBD, IBS or persistent pain who could benefit from this conversation, please share this episode with them.

  8. Aug 11

    047 - Functional Neurological Disorder (FND): Learning To Live in A Body You Can't Trust - Tasha Flynn

    Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) affects thousands of people, yet most of us have never heard of it. In this episode of The Survival Project, Jonathan sits down with Natasha Flynn to explore what it's really like living with Functional Neurological Disorder, an invisible neurological condition that can cause seizures, paralysis, chronic pain, memory difficulties, fatigue, and a host of unpredictable symptoms. Natasha shares the moment her life changed forever, the emotional reality of losing independence, and the grief of letting go of the person she once was. Together, they discuss resilience, mental health, invisible disability, and the strength it takes to keep moving forward when every day brings uncertainty. This episode is a powerful reminder that not every illness is visible, and that behind every diagnosis is a person simply trying to rebuild their life. In this episode:• Understanding Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)• Invisible illness and disability• Living with seizures and chronic pain• Losing and rebuilding your identity• Mental health and resilience• Navigating uncertainty• The importance of awareness and compassion More information on FND: https://fnd.ie/ IG: @fndireland If you enjoyed this conversation, please follow The Survival Project, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who could benefit from Natasha's story. Every share helps bring these important conversations to more people.

See All (54)

About

The Survival Project is a podcast about health, resilience, and the power of shared experience. We all face battles; for our health, for our wellbeing, for survival itself. This podcast is a space to explore those battles honestly, whether you’re living with chronic illness yourself or supporting someone you love. “Your story can be someone else’s survival guide” - The Survival Project exists to do just that: turn lived experience into a guide for others.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Healy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jonathan Healy
  • Show Website
    The Survival Project

You Might Also Like