The Positive Habits Podcast

Kat Thorne

We are facing the greatest global pandemic of all time. Burnout, anxiety, stress is at an all time high. People are the greatest asset of an organisation. The better people look after themselves, the better they perform in all areas of life - both at work and home. Every single tiny choice we make during the day is shaping our lives, directly impacting how we feel and experience life. After getting the biggest wake up call of losing everything in my life in 2016 I had no choice but to face my habits and make a change. The changes at first seemed so insignificant that I didn't believe they would make a difference. BUT they did. The Positive Habits Podcast is for people who want to live a better life, with higher energy levels, less stress, better relationships and ultimately to supercharge their performance in all areas of life. I'm on a mission to help people improve their wellbeing with one small habit change.

  1. 6d ago

    From Grief to Purpose: Creating Spaces That Change Lives

    What if the support we need isn't another app, programme or waiting list - but simply a place where we feel seen, valued and heard? In this episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat sits down with Hannah, founder of Soulful, a preventative wellbeing community helping people build resilience, connection and confidence before they reach crisis point. Hannah shares her powerful story of growing up with a parent struggling with addiction, losing her mum, and how those experiences inspired her to create Soulful - a community focused on helping people reconnect with themselves and others through meaningful conversations, events and support. Together, Kat and Hannah explore grief, resilience, loneliness, community, positive habits and why small daily actions can have a profound impact on our wellbeing. In this episode, you'll discover:Why Hannah believes prevention is the future of wellbeingHow growing up around addiction shaped her mission todayThe hidden impact of grief and why talking about it mattersThe loneliness epidemic affecting all generationsWhy community is one of the most powerful wellbeing tools availableThe importance of emotional regulation and self-awarenessHow one positive habit can create a ripple effect far beyond your own lifeWhy cold water, nature and human connection are so transformativeThe simple daily practices that help both Kat and Hannah stay mentally strongHannah's Positive HabitSpending at least five minutes of quality, uninterrupted time with someone she loves every day - no phones, no distractions, just genuine connection. Guest HannahFind out more about Soulful, upcoming events and wellbeing workshops: https://www.soulfulco.uk/ Host KatIf you'd like to learn how one small positive habit can improve performance, resilience and wellbeing for your team, connect with Kat Thorne and learn more about the Positive Habits for Performance programme. www.katthorne.com

    39 min
  2. May 27

    From a Bedroom Full of Peanuts to Building a National Brand

    What happens when you walk away from the career everyone expects you to take? In this episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat sits down with Stu Mac, founder of ManiLife Peanut Butter, to explore the story behind building one of the UK's most loved food brands - from a bedroom full of peanuts to scaling a purpose-led business. But this conversation goes far beyond peanut butter. Kat and Stu explore how habits shape performance, the hidden impact of food on energy and focus, why connection matters more than constant productivity, and how success often comes from simply "keeping on going." They discuss: How ManiLife started after Stu rejected a corporate accounting pathThe manufacturing disaster that nearly stopped the business before it beganWhy "luck" often follows consistency and persistenceThe importance of connection and getting out from behind the to-do listFood, ultra-processed products and modern wellbeing challengesWhy food influences focus, mood, energy and productivityThe role habits play in mental and physical performanceWhy tiny changes create momentumBuilding businesses around passion rather than obligationThe power of movement, phone habits and small daily decisions Plus… 🥜 Stu shares his favourite ways to eat peanut butter (including one combination you probably won't expect). If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in autopilot, or wondered how small habits create big change - this episode is for you. ABOUT THE GUEST Stu is the Founder of ManiLife, the UK's fastest growing Peanut Butter Brand from a Rugby Club Kitchen in 2015 when a tonne of Peanuts got diverted from his 'would be' production partner (they pulled out last minute) to his bedroom. Since then ManiLIfe has grown into a multi million pound brand, selling through 1,000s of shops worldwide. They produce everything, to a bespoke process from their very own 16,000 square foot UK ManiFactory . ABOUT THE HOST Kat started her career as a teacher, before moving into Tech where she worked in different executive roles within teaching and consulting working across the globe, both in the public and private sector. Despite appearing 'successful' on the outside, she paid a heavy ‘life’ price. In 2016, her whole world collapsed. The reason? The compound effect of years of unhealthy and toxic habits that destroyed her health, relationship, and career. She rebuilt herself by changing just one small habit and built a series of positive habits which has transformed her professional and personal performance, resulting in becoming the healthiest and happiest version of herself. She is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne  https://www.instagram.com/the_morning_gamechanger Follow Kat Thorne: Instagram & LinkedIn: @katthorne

    46 min
  3. May 12

    Community , Courage and starting again

    In this emotional and deeply honest episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat talks with good friend Holly Meyers to talk life after divorce, rebuilding yourself, pushing through fear, and the power of community. After ending a 15-year relationship and navigating the reality of starting over at nearly 40, Holly shares how stepping outside her comfort zone completely transformed her life -from joining Women Who PLNGE to sharing her story publicly online. Together, Kat and Holly explore: Why vulnerability feels so uncomfortableThe fear of starting again after a long-term relationshipHow community and connection can pull us through dark timesWhy routines and “anchors” matter during difficult seasonsThe pressure society puts on relationships and milestonesLearning to rediscover yourself after heartbreakThe healing power of cold water, shared challenge, and human connectionWhy growth only happens outside your comfort zone This episode is a reminder that life can change in an instant. If you’re feeling stuck, lonely, overwhelmed, or afraid to make a change, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone. Sometimes the smallest step outside your comfort zone can completely change your life. ABOUT THE GUEST Holly Meyers, Instagram: @agirlstartingover ABOUT THE HOST Kat started her career as a teacher, before moving into Tech where she worked in different executive roles within teaching and consulting working across the globe, both in the public and private sector. Despite appearing 'successful' on the outside, she paid a heavy ‘life’ price. In 2016, her whole world collapsed. The reason? The compound effect of years of unhealthy and toxic habits that destroyed her health, relationship, and career. She rebuilt herself by changing just one small habit and built a series of positive habits which has transformed her professional and personal performance, resulting in becoming the healthiest and happiest version of herself. She is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne  https://www.instagram.com/the_morning_gamechanger Follow Kat Thorne: Instagram & LinkedIn: @katthorne

    43 min
  4. May 1

    When Life Gets Hard, Come Back to This

    If you’re going through a difficult time right now, this episode is for you. In this honest and grounding solo episode, Kat shares a powerful realisation from her own recent challenges: when life feels overwhelming, it’s about coming back to the basics. We often search for big solutions to complex problems. But the truth? The foundations of being human - sleep, movement, fuel, and mindset - are what help us navigate the hardest moments. This episode is your reminder that you don’t need to fix everything today. You just need to take control of what you can control. When life feels out of control, focus on what you can control: your habits, energy, and timeWe often turn to short-term coping mechanisms (like alcohol), but they can make things harder long-termThe “101 of being human” is what keeps you grounded during tough timesYou don’t need to solve the whole problem - just stabilise yourself firstSmall, consistent habits create structure, clarity, and resilience ABOUT THE HOST Kat started her career as a teacher, before moving into Tech where she worked in different executive roles within teaching and consulting working across the globe, both in the public and private sector. Despite appearing 'successful' on the outside, she paid a heavy ‘life’ price. In 2016, her whole world collapsed. The reason? The compound effect of years of unhealthy and toxic habits that destroyed her health, relationship, and career. She rebuilt herself by changing just one small habit and built a series of positive habits which has transformed her professional and personal performance, resulting in becoming the healthiest and happiest version of herself. She is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne  https://www.instagram.com/the_morning_gamechanger

    10 min
  5. Apr 21

    Can Food Help Bring a City Back to Life?

    In this episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat sits down with James, the face behind Portsmouth Food Guide, to talk about far more than great places to eat. James shares his passion for Portsmouth, why protecting local high streets and pub culture matters so deeply to him, and how food, hospitality and community are all connected. The conversation explores the challenges facing independent businesses, the power of customer experience, and why helping people discover local gems can have a much bigger ripple effect than we realise. Kat and James also talk honestly about what it takes to juggle purpose-driven work, family life, a growing platform, and personal wellbeing. From consistency and time management to learning how to say no, this episode is a real and refreshing conversation about building something meaningful while trying to stay grounded. If you care about community, connection, local business, and the habits that help us manage modern life, you’ll love this one. Highlights Why James believes Portsmouth deserves a brighter futureThe changing habits on high streets and hospitalityWhy pubs still matter as places of connection and communityHow local food culture can help revitalise a cityThe role of consistency, passion and boundaries when building something from scratchWhy enjoying the journey matters just as much as achieving the goal Local businesses need more than customers - they need champions. James’ mission goes beyond food reviews. He wants to keep Portsmouth’s high streets alive, support independent businesses, and encourage people to explore more of what their city has to offer. Experience matters just as much as the product. Whether it’s a coffee shop, a pub or a restaurant, people remember how they were made to feel. Great service, warmth and personality create loyalty. Community spaces still matter deeply. Pubs, cafés and local venues can be places of real connection, especially in a time when loneliness and isolation are rising. ABOUT THE GUEST James is a Portsmouth-based community worker who works for a local charity called Enable Ability and also Founder of the Portsmouth FoodGuide, a combination of food, tourism and social impact; championing independent businesses whilst creating inclusive opportunities for young people with additional needs through a project called the Portsmouth Teenage Project. With more than 18,000 engaged followers on multiple social media platforms and ambitious plans for electric vehicle food tours tied in with the city’s newly-developed cruise industry, he connects local produce from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to a global market of visitors. James is driven by a belief that Portsmouth has the ability to thrive when everyone has a seat at a table talking about the city’s rich history and when the city acts as the epicentre for delivering local produce in historic settings. www.portsmouthfoodguide.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST Kat is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne

    50 min
  6. Apr 14

    Your limitations are an illusion

    In this inspiring episode of The Positive Habits Podcast, Kat Thorne is joined by motivational speaker Winston B. Clements for a powerful conversation about mindset, community, disability, self-belief and the habits that help us move beyond limitation. Winston shares the story behind his mantra, “your limitations are an illusion,” and reflects on how living with osteogenesis imperfecta shaped his perspective on resilience, possibility and personal growth. Together, Kat and Winston explore the role of community, the hidden impact of negative messaging, the importance of working on yourself first, and why small steps can create extraordinary change over time. They also discuss the darker side of modern life from constant bad news and digital overload to disconnection and self-doubt and share practical ways to protect your mindset and build a life aligned with who you truly want to become. This is a thoughtful, honest and uplifting conversation about what it really takes to overcome limiting beliefs and create a bigger life. Highlights Growing up with osteogenesis imperfecta and learning to navigate adversityWhy community can help us borrow belief when our own belief is lowThe role of journaling in difficult seasonsHow technology, bad news and disconnection are affecting our wellbeingWhy your environment matters when you’re trying to growThe importance of making goals feel fun, not just scaryWhy visualisation is Winston’s number one positive habit Key Takeaway Winston reminds us that even when a dream feels far away, that does not mean it is impossible. Often the first step is not having everything figured out - it is simply committing to the desire and taking one small action. About the guest Winston Clements is a keynote speaker and disability Inclusion Strategist who helps leaders and organisations rethink inclusion, accessibility, and resilience in the workplace. Drawing from his lived experience with Osteogenesis Imperfecta and his background in tech, he speaks on growth mindset, disability inclusion, and building cultures where people can thrive. His clients include organisations such as Google, Accenture, HubSpot, and Disney. https://winstonclements.com About the host Kat started her career as a teacher, before moving into Tech where she worked in different executive roles within teaching and consulting working across the globe, both in the public and private sector. Despite appearing 'successful' on the outside, she paid a heavy ‘life’ price. In 2016, her whole world collapsed. The reason? The compound effect of years of unhealthy and toxic habits that destroyed her health, relationship, and career. She rebuilt herself by changing just one small habit and built a series of positive habits which has transformed her professional and personal performance, resulting in becoming the healthiest and happiest version of herself. She is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne  https://www.instagram.com/the_morning_gamechanger

    40 min
  7. Apr 7

    The Scent Reset: The Habit That Reduces Stress Instantly

    What if one small habit could pull you out of burnout… and completely change the direction of your life? In this episode, Kat Thorne sits down with Carol Mead, a corporate HR professional turned botanical wellness creator and founder of Elyse. What started as a personal journey through stress, anxiety, and burnout became a powerful discovery - and ultimately, a brand designed to help others reset, rebalance, and perform at their best. From 3am wake-ups and emotional exhaustion to creating natural scent-based tools used by colleagues in high-pressure environments, Carol shares how she turned her lowest point into something meaningful. This is a conversation about courage, intuition, and the power of small, simple habits - especially the ones we often overlook. Burnout doesn’t happen overnight Stress → anxiety → exhaustion → emotional overwhelm and often we don’t intervene early enough.One small habit can create a breakthrough For Carol, it was something simple: inhaling essential oils to regulate stress in the moment she needed it.Your lowest point can become your purpose What started as survival became a tool to help others - and eventually, a brand that she is now scaling.Experience creates belief Carol’s colleagues didn’t need convincing - they felt the impact immediately and kept coming back.We’re overlooking simple performance tools Breath, scent, pauses - the basics that can transform how we feel and perform. “My husband said: I feel like we’re losing you and that was my wake-up call.”The moment Carol realised her oils weren’t just helping her… but everyone around her ABOUT THE GUEST Carol Mead is the founder of Elyse, a botanical fragrance brand born from her own journey through burnout and anxiety while working in the corporate world. Blending neuroscience, scent, and ritual, she creates plant based fragrances designed to calm the nervous system and shift emotional states. Her work explores how small sensory habits can transform how we feel, think, and show up in the world. ABOUT THE HOST Kat started her career as a teacher, before moving into Tech where she worked in different executive roles within teaching and consulting working across the globe, both in the public and private sector. Despite appearing 'successful' on the outside, she paid a heavy ‘life’ price. In 2016, her whole world collapsed. The reason? The compound effect of years of unhealthy and toxic habits that destroyed her health, relationship, and career. She rebuilt herself by changing just one small habit and built a series of positive habits which has transformed her professional and personal performance, resulting in becoming the healthiest and happiest version of herself. She is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/katthorne  https://www.instagram.com/the_morning_gamechanger

    32 min

About

We are facing the greatest global pandemic of all time. Burnout, anxiety, stress is at an all time high. People are the greatest asset of an organisation. The better people look after themselves, the better they perform in all areas of life - both at work and home. Every single tiny choice we make during the day is shaping our lives, directly impacting how we feel and experience life. After getting the biggest wake up call of losing everything in my life in 2016 I had no choice but to face my habits and make a change. The changes at first seemed so insignificant that I didn't believe they would make a difference. BUT they did. The Positive Habits Podcast is for people who want to live a better life, with higher energy levels, less stress, better relationships and ultimately to supercharge their performance in all areas of life. I'm on a mission to help people improve their wellbeing with one small habit change.

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