Hilary Henriques MBE is the founder and CEO of Nacoa (National Association for Children of Alcoholics), a charity she established more than 35 years ago after discovering the profound impact parental alcoholism can have on children.

We talk about growing up in chaotic homes, why children so often blame themselves for their parents' drinking, the hidden effects of childhood trauma in adulthood, breaking generational cycles, and whether forgiveness is always possible.

Hilary shares stories from thousands of calls to the Nacoa helpline, including children as young as five, and reflects on a lifetime spent helping people realise they are not alone.

We also discuss Nacoa's "Chasing Yesterday" campaign, which sees Calum Best and others attempt an extraordinary Guinness World Record by running two marathons across the International Date Line - effectively going back in time to do so! Don't worry... all is explained in the episode!

It's a powerful conversation about childhood, resilience, and the lives we build afterwards.

Find out more about Nacoa at nacoa.org.uk

Follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rich@richleigh.co

More about Project Possible here: https://www.richleigh.co/podcast

Cam Whitnall was once dubbed the World's Youngest Zookeeper.

When his grandparents bought a dilapidated zoo, once known as the worst in the UK, and brought it back to life, they also created a home for their family.

Cam grew up on the grounds, now known as Hertfordshire Zoo, in a bedroom overlooking the tiger enclosure. His childhood playground, where he and his brothers would play hide-and-seek after hours, was filled with endangered species from around the world.

As Managing Director of The Big Cat Sanctuary and one of the stars of CBBC's One Zoo Three along with his brothers Aaron and Tyler, conservation has never just been a job - it's been his entire life.

But in 2024, that life took an extraordinary turn.

When five traumatised lions were discovered in war-torn Ukraine, Cam led an ambitious mission to bring them to safety in the UK, raising more than £500,000 and overseeing one of the most remarkable animal rescues in history.

In this episode, we discuss growing up with big cats in his back garden, the realities of conservation, whether animals can suffer trauma, life in front of the camera, and what it takes to attempt something that most people would consider impossible.

Cam also shares the story behind his new book, Lion Heart, and reflects on the lessons he's learned from a lifetime spent protecting some of nature's most magnificent creatures.

Follow Cam on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/camwhitnall

Buy Lion Heart: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lion-Heart-lifelong-incredible-rescue/dp/1529979501

Follow me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rich@richleigh.co

More about Project Possible here: https://www.richleigh.co/podcast

Chris Grace is a comedian, actor and writer.

We talk about growing up as a gay Chinese kid in Texas, why he's never felt like he truly belonged anywhere, losing his siblings, partner and parents in just a matter of a few short years, and what it takes to keep pursuing a dream for more than three decades.

Chris shares why improv might be one of the most important life skills you can learn, the realities of trying to make it in comedy, and why he believes famous people aren't nearly as extraordinary as we think they are.

It's a conversation about grief, identity, creativity and becoming yourself.

Follow Chris:

https://www.instagram.com/chrisgracecomedy

Tickets & Tour:

https://www.chrisgrace.com

Follow me:

https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rich@richleigh.co

More about Project Possible here: https://www.richleigh.co/podcast

Dr. Niamh Shaw is an engineer, scientist and storyteller who has spent more than a decade chasing an extraordinary dream: to become a citizen astronaut.

Along the way, she's spoken at NASA's Johnson Space Center, covered launches from Kennedy Space Center, trained for space, lived on a simulated Mars mission and experienced zero gravity aboard the infamous "Vomit Comet".

We talk about whether humans should ever colonise Mars, why she believes Elon Musk's vision for humanity's future is fundamentally flawed, whether space tourism is closer than we think, the search for aliens, and why astronauts believe we need poets, priests and philosophers in space just as much as engineers.

It's a conversation that starts with rockets, but ends up being about something much bigger: perspective, possibility and what it means to be human.

You can buy Dr Niamh's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dream-Big-Irishwomans-Space-Odyssey/dp/1781177155

Follow Dr Niamh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_niamh_shaw

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠rich@richleigh.co

More about Project Possible here: https://www.richleigh.co/podcast

Richard L. Blake is a psychologist, breathwork researcher and author.

This is a conversation that begins with breathwork, but quickly becomes about therapy culture, trauma, resilience and why Richard believes we've fundamentally changed the way we think about mental health.

We discuss whether therapy can sometimes make people worse, why family estrangement is becoming more common, the science behind breathwork, the rise of "therapy speak", the role of genetics in depression and anxiety, and why Richard believes we've become psychologically more fragile.

Follow Richard on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_breath_geek

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@projectpossiblepod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More about Project Possible here: https://www.richleigh.co/podcast

My guest this week is BAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award-winning writer and producer Jocelyn Stevenson, whose extraordinary career includes Sesame Street, The Magic School Bus, Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam and creating Fraggle Rock alongside Jim Henson.

We talk about the lessons Jim Henson taught her, why he believed children's television could help stop war, the responsibility of creating stories for young minds, and what she thinks about growing up in a world of smartphones, social media and endless screen time.

We also discuss curiosity, science, why children are far more capable than we often give them credit for, and why Jocelyn chose to reinvent herself as a children's author after decades in television, with her fantastic series The Waterubas.

This is a conversation about the power of stories, the importance of kindness, and the people shaping the next generation.

== Note - apologies for the technical issues with the camera in this episode if you're watching it. Hopefully it doesn't impact your enjoyment of the conversation ==

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@projectpossiblepod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More about Project Possible here: https://www.richleigh.co/podcast

Fair warning: this is a solo episode.

If the thought of me talking for getting on for 40 minutes with only a loose structure makes you want to jump headfirst into fire, flick back through the other 80+ episodes for one you haven't watched or listened to, or come back on Monday, when I'll have another incredible guest.

Since September last year, when I brought this podcast back, I've been healing out loud, somewhat.

This podcast has become a real-time document of the aftermath of tragic grief, and this idiot's effort to make sense of - well, everything - while wanting desperately to spread positivity and the idea of possibility.

This episode is a quieter mediation on just that. No milestone to speak of, no guest, just an honest update on where I am, what Project Possible is becoming, and what it feels like to start again without starting from scratch.

In this episode, I talk about rebuilding, how hope can feel uncomfortable, the idea of “New Game+”, and why I’m starting to look up again after - amidst? - the hardest period of my life.

I also talk about what the podcast has given me, the opportunities beginning to appear, and why Project Possible feels like the thing everything else might grow from.

I think I'm ready for the next episode.

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@projectpossiblepod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More about Project Possible here: https://www.richleigh.co/podcast

Courtney Pine CBE is one of the most influential figures in jazz.

A pioneering saxophonist, composer and broadcaster, he's spent four decades redefining the genre, sharing stages and studios with everyone from Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and Gang Starr's Guru to Kate Bush, Mick Jagger and Bryan Ferry.

But you don't have to be a jazz fan to enjoy this conversation.

We talk about why his own music teacher told him that "black people like you don't go to university", the surprising origins of the saxophone and jazz, hip hop, AI, creativity, improvisation, and why, after 40 years in music, Courtney still believes he has so much left to learn.

A huge thank you to Cheltenham Festivals for helping make this conversation happen.

Catch Courtney live in the UK - dates and tickets available at https://courtney-pine.com/live

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richleighpod

=====

Interviews that might just change your life.

And if not…? You’ll probably enjoy them anyway.

After my younger brother Jordan took his own life, I sold the PR agency I’d spent over a decade building and decided to go all-in on creating something meaningful.

This podcast is the result.

Project Possible is a podcast about success through adversity. About what's truly possible.

Expect famous faces and unsung heroes.

Hosted by me, Rich Leigh, each episode explores the lives, minds and experiences of extraordinary people from business, sport, entertainment, academia and beyond.

Subscribe wherever you watch or listen.

=====

Sign up now to the free weekly newsletter at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://projectpossible.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for behind the scenes, giveaways, ways to get involved and more.

=====

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠hello@projectpossiblepod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Find out more about Project Possible and me at https://www.richleigh.co/podcast