The Next Chapter

Luke

The Next Chapter is a podcast about new beginnings, reinvention, and the power of taking ownership over your life. Hosted by Luke Jones—coach, podcast host, and lifelong student of self-development—each episode dives deep into honest stories of transformation, resilience, and practical strategies for building a life you don’t need to escape from. Along the way, we explore the role of manifestation and the magic that happens when you start following your goosebumps—those moments of excitement, intuition, and inspiration that point you toward your next chapter. You’ll hear from everyday people, experts, and inspiring guests who’ve overcome adversity, embraced change, and found the courage to start again—whether it’s breaking free from old patterns, finding purpose, or navigating life’s toughest moments. With a mix of real talk, mindset tools, and actionable tips, The Next Chapter is here to help you create momentum, trust your own journey, and write a new story—one you’re proud to live.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 31: From Blackout Drinking to Ayahuasca in Peru: Amy Devine's Road to Freedom

    Amy Devine had her first drink at eleven years old. By her late twenties she was waking up on a flight to Beijing with a broken elbow and zero memory of how it happened. Today she's been sober since January 2023, runs the Sober Sisterhood Community, and helps other women put the drink down for good. This is the story of everything that happened in between. Amy grew up watching violence in her home before the age of twelve, and alcohol became her relief valve not long after. What followed was over a decade of using drink to switch off — through university, through eleven years living and teaching in China, through a lifestyle that looked exciting from the outside and felt like survival on the inside. She got sober. She relapsed. She got sober again. And it was only when she stopped trying to moderate — stopped trying to control something that was never going to be controlled — that things actually changed for her. If you've ever told yourself you'll just have two and then had six. If you've ever promised yourself you'd cut back and then found yourself right back where you started. This one's for you. What you'll hear: Why Amy says moderation is harder than just quitting altogetherThe moment a house guest sat her down and said the words nobody wants to hearWhat actually happened on that flight to Beijing — and why she still doesn't remember itWhy her first attempt at sobriety didn't stick, and what her relapse actually taught herHow she rebuilt her nervous system from the ground up instead of just white-knuckling itWhy she believes community, not willpower, is what gets people throughChapters:  00:00 — Amy's story begins  00:51 — Childhood, and her first drink at eleven  05:32 — Moving to China and the party years  10:34 — Alcohol as a coping tool  14:53 — First AA meeting  34:58 — The relapse, and what it taught her  43:58 — Plant medicine and the turning point  50:54 — Breathwork, community, and life now Connect with Amy:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devine.breath/ Website: https://devinebreath.com/ Send us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 31: From Blackout Drinking to Ayahuasca in Peru: Amy Devine's Road to Freedom
  2. Aug 2

    Episode 30: The Adrenaline Was Doing His Job For Him: Ross Rolph's Journey to Calm Confidence

    Ross Rolph spent years holding the worst days of other people's lives together as a police officer — walking into chaos, staying calm on the outside, saying nothing about what it was doing to him on the inside. His mind was racing every single day, running on nothing. Nobody knew. That's the part of this episode that'll stop you. Ross's anxiety didn't start with the job. It started young — a separated family, a need to please, a habit of holding it together for everyone else that followed him straight into adulthood. The police force just turned the volume up. Constant unpredictability, no control over what walked through the door next, and a culture where admitting you were struggling wasn't really an option. It cost him his marriage before it cost him anything else. That was the moment he couldn't keep pretending. What he's built since is a framework any working man can actually use — not therapy-speak, not years on a couch, but three steps: awareness, acceptance, action. If you've ever gone quiet in a room full of people who need you to be the strong one — on site, at home, wherever — this episode is for you. What you'll hear: Why anxiety is really an intolerance to a lack of control, not a personality flawHow Ross hid what he was going through for years while wearing the uniformThe moment his marriage breaking down forced him to finally ask for helpThe awareness, acceptance, action framework he now coaches men throughA breathing technique you can use in the van before a hard conversation or a hard dayWhy reframing anxiety as excitement changes how your body responds to itChapters: 00:00 — Introduction and Ross's background in police and personal journey 03:42 — Ross's childhood, career choices, and early signs of anxiety 17:13 — Transition from police work to coaching and overcoming health scares 35:34 — The power of mindset, fear, and opening the door to opportunities 41:25 — The awareness, acceptance, action framework for managing anxiety 54:17 — Tools and techniques for anxiety relief: breathwork, routines, and mindset 01:12:47 — Next chapter: wedding, book writing, podcast, and future plans 01:16:10 — Closing thoughts and Ross's advice for overcoming anxiety and embracing life Connect with Ross: Website: rossrolph.comInstagram: @rossrolphcoachingTikTok: @rossrolphPodcast (Spotify): Listen hereSend us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 30: The Adrenaline Was Doing His Job For Him: Ross Rolph's Journey to Calm Confidence
  3. Jul 26

    Episode 29: Three Grandparents, a Divorce, Not One Drink: Adam Woollett's Journey to Staying Whole

    In five years, Adam Woollett lost all three of his grandparents, went through a divorce, and became a single parent dad to his five-year-old son. He hasn't had a drink since he was 18. Adam's an electrician, an old mate of mine from my building site days, and one of the most emotionally honest blokes I know. This episode isn't about quitting drinking — Adam's never needed to.  It's about something just as important: how you actually process the hard stuff when you've got nothing to numb it with. We talk about the moment he realised he was underwater without even knowing it, why "man up" does more harm than good, and why he believes patience — not painkillers — is what gets you through the worst of it. If you're in the middle of losing something right now and you feel like shutting down, this one's for you. What you'll hear: Why Adam never needed alcohol to cope, even when everyone around him was drinkingThe "compartmentalising" method he used to survive losing three grandparents and a marriage in the same stretch of yearsWhat his actual rock bottom looked like — and how long it took him to recognise itWhy "man up" and "just stay positive" can do more harm than goodHow he's rebuilding his relationship with his son as a part-time dadWhat he'd tell any bloke who feels like giving up right nowChapters:   00:00 — Introduction: who Adam is and what this episode is really about 02:00 — Growing up in Bath and the freedom his parents gave him 08:00 — Choosing not to drink at 18, and why 16:00 — Becoming an electrician and finding pride in his work 22:00 — Five years, three grandparents, and a divorce 30:00 — The rock bottom he didn't recognise until he was out of it 38:00 — Why alcohol never felt like an option — and what he saw it do to family 44:00 — "Man up" and the damage of staying silent 50:00 — Being a part-time dad and rebuilding a relationship with his son 56:00 — What he'd tell his younger self 1:00:00 — The next chapter Send us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 29: Three Grandparents, a Divorce, Not One Drink: Adam Woollett's Journey to Staying Whole
  4. Jul 19

    Episode 28: Never Too Late To Breathe: Liane's Journey From Elite Athlete To Inner Calm

    At the height of her career, Liane was competing for England and Great Britain in beach volleyball — podiums, titles, everything that's supposed to mean you've made it. Behind it, she was falling apart. Years of pressure, an inner critic that never switched off, and a body stuck permanently in fight or flight had pushed her into a full mental health crisis. She'd built her whole identity on holding it together, and it wasn't working anymore. Then a single breathwork session changed the course of her life. In this episode, Liane shares what it actually feels like to hit that wall when performing is all you know, how she found a way to regulate her nervous system without numbing out, and why learning to breathe properly might be one of the most underrated tools going for anyone who never learned how to switch off. If you've ever felt like you're winning on the outside and wired, exhausted or falling apart on the inside, this conversation is for you. What you'll hear: The moment elite competition tipped over into a mental health crisisWhy performing well can hide how badly you're actually doingHow one breathwork session shifted her out of fight or flight for the first time in yearsThe physiological sigh — a simple tool you can use in the moment to calm your body downThe difference between breathwork and meditation, and why it mattersWhy community and the right environment make change stickChapters: 00:00 – Liane's journey into volleyball03:02 – The pressure of competition and the inner critic05:55 – Transitioning from athlete to breathwork coach09:02 – Struggles with identity and mental health11:57 – The transformative power of breathwork14:59 – Finding breathwork and its impact18:07 – The challenges of elite athlete training21:11 – Breathwork: overcoming skepticism and misconceptions24:58 – Transformative experiences in breathwork25:11 – Understanding the body's response to stress27:28 – Grounding techniques for everyday life29:14 – Aha moments in group sessions30:51 – The physiological sigh: a quick stress relief tool32:38 – The importance of being present34:09 – Building resilience through breathwork36:16 – Breathwork vs meditation: understanding the difference39:53 – Breaking stereotypes in breathwork42:43 – Small steps to breathwork success43:51 – Words of wisdom for the younger self44:42 – Future endeavours and closing thoughts Connect with Liane: Website: bravebreathwork.com  Instagram: @brave_breathwork During the episode, Liane also mentioned two Coventry-based charities she volunteers her breathwork sessions with — men in these programmes have voted the sessions one of their favourite parts of the recovery process: The Dynamo Project — thedynamoproject.co.uk An independent Coventry charity supporting people through drug and alcohol addiction, offering a structured day programme, supported housing, and community space to help people rebuild after rehab. Exodus — exodusco.org A Coventry-based supported housing and recovery service for men and women affected by drug and alcohol addiction. Staffed by people with lived experience of recovery themselves, offering therapy, fitness, and breathwork as part of the programme. Send us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 28: Never Too Late To Breathe: Liane's Journey From Elite Athlete To Inner Calm
  5. Jul 12

    Episode 27: Never Too Late: Norman Calvo's Journey to Living Fully After 60

    At 59, Norman Calvo was a successful mortgage banker who couldn't climb a flight of subway stairs without getting winded — and was missing out on life with his grandkids.  Today, at 72, he's a half-marathon runner, a whole-food plant-based eater who's lost over 70 pounds (5 stone), and someone who's made it his mission to prove that aging doesn't mean slowing down. In this episode, Norman shares the moment a chance conversation with an employee changed the course of his life, why he tore up the script on what a 'successful' life was supposed to look like, and how he's approached everything from his diet to his training to his bucket list — including his sights on climbing Kilimanjaro — with the same courage that got him through his first race. If you've ever told yourself it's too late to change, this conversation will make you think again. What you'll hear: The wake-up call that pushed Norman from workaholic to adventurerHow he trained for his first half marathon at 59, starting from nothingWhy he switched to a whole-food plant-based diet — and the myths he had to unlearn about proteinHow he stays fit and motivated at 72Why community and the right environment matter as much as willpowerWhat's next on his bucket list, and why he refuses to slow down Chapters: 02:02 – Norman Calvo: a life against the norm05:04 – The turning point: from workaholic to adventurer09:58 – Marathon journey: overcoming physical limitations11:59 – Dietary changes: the shift to plant-based living17:07 – Training regimen: staying fit at 7220:12 – Embracing challenges: learning new skills22:56 – Breaking free from societal norms27:05 – Living life to the fullest: no regrets28:54 – Navigating life changes and trade-offs36:11 – Challenging societal norms on aging43:55 – The importance of community and support49:54 – Defining a meaningful life52:04 – Lessons from the past and future aspirationsConnect with Norman: Website: https://againstthenorm.net/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calvo.norman/ Substack: https://normancalvo.substack.com Send us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 27: Never Too Late: Norman Calvo's Journey to Living Fully After 60
  6. Jul 5

    Episode 26: From Law to Latte: Jamie Blair's Entrepreneurial Journey

    Jamie Blair traded a career in law for something far less predictable — building Roots, a thriving cafe business on the Isle of Man that's become as much a community hub as a coffee shop.  In this episode, Jamie opens up about the early days of brewing soft drinks in a utility room, the setbacks that nearly derailed him, and why he now sees failure as fuel rather than a full stop. We talk about what it really takes to build something from nothing on a small island, how community became the backbone of the Roots brand, and Jamie's new venture — The Offline Club — bringing wellness and real-life connection back into people's routines. If you're chasing a vision of your own, or wondering whether it's too late to start over, this one's for you. What you'll hear: How Jamie went from studying law to brewing drinks in a utility roomThe mistakes that taught him the most about running a businessWhy community, not just coffee, is what makes Roots workThe mindset shift that turned failure into momentumJamie's vision for The Offline Club and what's nextChapters: 00:00 – Introduction and tech mishaps in recording01:00 – Jamie Blair's background and journey into entrepreneurship02:24 – The early days of brewing soft drinks and building Roots06:03 – Overcoming setbacks and the importance of persistence08:28 – The role of failure and feedback in growth10:38 – The significance of community and the Isle of Man13:49 – Roots as more than a cafe: building a brand and community17:00 – Lessons learned from early mistakes and embracing failure20:15 – The journey through challenges and the power of resilience23:20 – Mentoring new cafe owners and mindset shifts30:39 – The Offline Club and mental health awareness40:09 – The importance of having a North Star and vision44:20 – Jamie Blair's future plans and big vision55:12 – Closing thoughts and inspiration for entrepreneursConnect with Jamie: Website: https://imjamieblair.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamie_rootss/ Send us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 26: From Law to Latte: Jamie Blair's Entrepreneurial Journey
  7. Jun 28

    Episode 25: From Stroke to Sober: Tom James on Addiction, Rock Bottom & Rebuilding His Life

    Tom James had his first stroke at 24. He was drinking heavily, battling ADHD and bipolar disorder, and using alcohol to numb everything he didn't want to face. The stroke should have been enough. It wasn't. What finally made him stop? A hallucination at a festival — his future son, begging him to change. In this episode, Tom shares the raw, unfiltered truth of what addiction looks like from the inside — the shame cycles, the toxic environments, the moments he nearly lost everything. And how he went from that bloke to someone who's lost 60kg and is competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. This one's powerful. Don't skip it. What we cover: Growing up with ADHD and bipolar and how that shaped his relationship with alcoholThe stroke that should have changed everything — and why it didn't straight awayRock bottom at a festival and the vision that finally made him stopWhy removing toxic environments was the real game changerHow Brazilian Jiu Jitsu helped him rebuild his identity from scratchPractical advice for anyone stuck in the cycle right nowChapters: Introduction and Technical Challenges — 00:00Tom's Journey: From Addiction to Transformation — 01:52Childhood and Early Struggles — 02:24The Onset of Heavy Drinking — 04:54Understanding ADHD and Its Impact — 06:17Recognising the Problem — 09:34The Stroke: A Life-Changing Event — 12:09Life During COVID and Its Effects — 13:07The Role of Drugs in Social Settings — 19:10The Day of the Stroke: A Critical Moment — 24:27The Stroke Experience — 26:59The Road to Sobriety — 30:04The Importance of Environment — 32:51Social Challenges in Sobriety — 36:12Rock Bottom at the Festival — 38:53The Turning Point — 45:10Support Systems in Recovery — 49:08The Struggles of Sobriety — 55:22Transformative Weight Loss Journey — 56:05The Impact of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — 59:39Rebuilding Identity After Addiction — 01:05:33Advice for Those Struggling with Addiction — 01:08:29The Misconception of Boredom in Sobriety — 01:10:15The Power of Community and Support — 01:12:20Future Aspirations and Helping Others — 01:18:20Connect with Tom:  Instagram | TikTok Send us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 25: From Stroke to Sober: Tom James on Addiction, Rock Bottom & Rebuilding His Life
  8. Jun 21

    Episode 24: From California to the Isle of Man: How Izzy Found Happiness by Betting on Herself...

    What does it actually take to leave everything behind and start again? Izzy packed up her life in California — as a young mum escaping crime, negativity, and a life that no longer felt like hers — and moved to the Isle of Man. No playbook. No guarantee. Just a gut feeling that something had to change. In this episode of The Next Chapter, Izzy gets raw and honest about the real challenges of uprooting your life, surviving a brutal first winter alone, and what she discovered about herself when the comfort blanket was ripped away. We get into: Why the crime and negativity in America was silently destroying her mental healthThe moment she knew the move was right — even when the tears were flowingHow loneliness forced her to build community from scratch on a small islandWhat TikTok taught her about authenticity, showing up, and finding her voiceLeaving hustle culture behind and redefining what happiness actually looks like as a mumFive years on, Izzy calls it one of the best decisions she's ever made. Her message? Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose a completely different environment — and trust that you'll figure out the rest. "Suit up and show up." — Izzy Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Izzy's Journey03:30 Life Before the Isle of Man04:28 First Impressions of the Isle of Man07:25 The Moment for Change10:16 Reactions to the Move19:10 What Was Hard to Leave Behind22:23 Perceptions of the Isle of Man26:01 The Birth of TikTok Content28:57 Creating Community and Positivity32:52 Personal Growth Through Content Creation36:51 The Reality of Content Creation48:16 Life Changes on the Isle of Man57:24 Navigating Personal Challenges01:01:03 Defining Happiness and Self-Worth01:10:00 Looking Ahead: Community and GrowthConnect with Izzy... TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@izzyontheiom  Send us Fan Mail If you got value from this episode, don’t just sit on it—take action.  Like, subscribe, and follow the show—it makes a massive difference and helps us reach more people who need to hear these stories.  Share this with a mate who needs the truth, leave a review, and remember: change doesn’t happen by accident.  It happens when you get honest, do the work, and show up for yourself and your family. Stay real, stay relentless, and keep building your legacy—one choice at a time. For more hard-hitting stories and practical tools, follow, subscribe, and join the conversation. Let’s be real: your next chapter starts now...

    Episode 24: From California to the Isle of Man: How Izzy Found Happiness by Betting on Herself...

About

The Next Chapter is a podcast about new beginnings, reinvention, and the power of taking ownership over your life. Hosted by Luke Jones—coach, podcast host, and lifelong student of self-development—each episode dives deep into honest stories of transformation, resilience, and practical strategies for building a life you don’t need to escape from. Along the way, we explore the role of manifestation and the magic that happens when you start following your goosebumps—those moments of excitement, intuition, and inspiration that point you toward your next chapter. You’ll hear from everyday people, experts, and inspiring guests who’ve overcome adversity, embraced change, and found the courage to start again—whether it’s breaking free from old patterns, finding purpose, or navigating life’s toughest moments. With a mix of real talk, mindset tools, and actionable tips, The Next Chapter is here to help you create momentum, trust your own journey, and write a new story—one you’re proud to live.