The Second Innings is the journey of Andrew Patterson, known to most as Patto, former Irish cricketer, father, and fine fellow, who was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, a rare neurological condition that gradually takes away your ability to walk.

He was told he’d need a wheelchair for life.

Instead, he raised £70,000, travelled to the US for pioneering surgery, and taught himself to walk again. Just months later, he completed a 5K.

This podcast is about what it really takes to come back. It’s about persistence, perspective, and the power of keeping going - one determined step at a time.

Because every step really does tell a story.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Liz Sparkes — a psychologist who has spent years working with pain management, mindfulness, and how we heal.

Liz’s story is a powerful one. After surviving a serious accident, one with haunting echoes of earlier childhood trauma and loss, she made a decision that would challenge most people: she reached out through restorative justice to the individual responsible.

The compassion she showed, and the forgiveness she offered, didn’t just shift something in her — it had a profound effect on the other person too.

Liz’s life hasn’t followed the straight line she once imagined. The ambition she started out with and the work she does now are worlds apart.

This conversation isn’t about easy answers. It asks something harder: when it really matters, are we truly able to forgive?

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In this special episode of Gobsmacked!, I’m joined by my second cousin, Damian Le Bas, author of the acclaimed The Stopping Places and now The Drowned Places, a haunting, lyrical exploration of grief, memory, and the worlds that lie beneath the surface.

Written in the wake of his father's death, the visionary artist Damian Le Bas, the book takes us on a journey through submerged landscapes and the emotional terrain of loss, drawing unexpected parallels with the myth of Atlantis.

We speak about his parents' creative brilliance, including his mother, Turner Prize nominee Delaine Le Bas, his experience of writing through grief, and the grounding arrival of fatherhood with the birth of his daughter, Nina.

My word—this is a profoundly articulate, bright, and thoughtful fellow. Sitting down with him for this conversation about legacy, identity, and resurfacing after loss was a true privilege.

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Kathryn Ellis was a woman who was on it—a yoga devotee, deeply into alternative health, and by all accounts, living her best life. But what happens when being the picture of wellness masks something serious?

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we hear how Kathryn’s healthy lifestyle ironically delayed a diagnosis of diabetes, allowing the condition to take hold silently. She was, quite literally, disappearing in plain sight.

This conversation offers honest, informative insights into living with and spotting diabetes—a challenging, often life-shortening condition that can go unnoticed for too long.

Tune in—it’s raw, real, and absolutely worth a listen.

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I first met Emma Mead years ago when she was at the top of her game in a high-powered corporate role—driven, sharp, and full of energy. Life, however, had different plans. When our paths crossed again, Emma was navigating an unimaginable reality: a terminal breast cancer diagnosis. As if that weren’t enough, her husband was also living with incurable brain cancer, forcing them both to figure out how to balance their battles while prioritising each other.

Emma’s story is not just about illness—it’s about defiance, determination, and the relentless pursuit of life. She is not someone who simply accepts conventional wisdom when the clock is ticking. Instead, she seeks knowledge, fights for options, and refuses to waste a second on anything that doesn’t serve her mission to live fully.

Our conversation in the studio was poignant, moving, and surprisingly energising—a testament to the power of the human spirit. I encourage you to listen, reflect, and take something from the way Emma chooses to live.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like many guests on Gobsmacked!, the birth of her son, Tom, led Nicola Enoch down a completely new path. Initially thrown and disoriented by Tom’s Down syndrome diagnosis, Nicola soon realised how societal attitudes had shaped her perceptions. Determined to challenge these outdated views, she founded The Ups of Downs in 2006, a charity dedicated to supporting families and promoting inclusion. Her journey didn’t stop there; in 2017, she launched Positive About Down Syndrome, aiming to provide accurate information and support to expectant and new parents. Nicola’s unwavering commitment has been instrumental in changing perceptions and advocating for individuals with Down syndrome across the UK.

What a blend of guts, righteous indignation, and tiger mother love can achieve to tackle perceptions and catalyse change.

Tune in to hear Nicola’s unfiltered account of challenging the status quo, fighting for her son’s rights, and her relentless pursuit of a more inclusive society.

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This episode of Gobsmacked! is a special one—it’s all about overcoming life’s curveballs and celebrating true grit and graft, and it just so happens to air on my 60th birthday! What better way to mark the occasion?

Xander Van de Poll at just 18, had life changed forever when he broke his back in a freak accident. But instead of letting it define him, Xander has gone on to defy the odds in ways that will leave you truly gobsmacked

From taking his medical exams from a hospital bed to becoming a practising doctor, and even training for the 2028 Paralympics in paracanoe, Xander is a living, breathing testament to the power of attitude

We talk about everything: the tough days, the small wins, the big dreams, and what it means to find strength when life feels impossible. Whether you need a dose of inspiration or just want to hear an incredible story of resilience, this one’s not to be missed.

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