She’s shared her story on podcasts before. But Anastasia Severn describes this as her most emotional interview yet.In this deeply personal episode of The Talking Tradesman, Anastasia Severn opens up about her extraordinary journey through childhood struggles, addiction, criminality and prison, and the experiences that ultimately led her towards a very different path.Find Anastasia Herehttps://www.instagram.com/adhdqueen7?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&mdxt=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==From a promising young county-level swimmer to a life that spiralled into cocaine use, destructive behaviour and incarceration, Anastasia reflects on the decisions she made, the circumstances that shaped her and the emotional consequences of her past.But this conversation is about far more than the mistakes she’s made.Anastasia speaks candidly about her mental health, the impact of her mother’s stage-four cancer diagnosis, her experiences with therapy and recovery, and the difficult process of understanding herself.She also discusses why she believes lived experience has such an important role in supporting people who are struggling, particularly those who feel misunderstood or disconnected from traditional support services.Today, Anastasia is using her experiences to create something positive through Diamond in the Rough, a community-led mental wellbeing initiative supporting women and children through connection, understanding and shared experiences.It’s a remarkable story of accountability, vulnerability, resilience and the possibility of change.In this episode, we explore:* Anastasia’s childhood and the experiences that shaped her.* Her descent into addiction, criminal behaviour and prison.* The emotional impact of her past on herself and her family.* Why conventional recovery approaches didn’t always work for her.* The importance of lived experience in mental health conversations.* Her journey towards self-understanding and personal accountability.* The creation of Diamond in the Rough and her mission to support others.Having already appeared on several podcasts, Anastasia describes this conversation as her most emotional yet.Sometimes the most important part of someone’s story isn’t where they’ve been, but what they choose to do next.Welcome to another honest, unfiltered conversation on The Talking Tradesman.#TheTalkingTradesman #AnastasiaSeven #MentalHealthAwareness #PrisonToPurpose #LivedExperience

From childhood trauma and addiction to suicidal thoughts, sobriety and ultimately finding salvation through Jesus Christ — Joshua Hammond’s story is one of pain, accountability, faith and extraordinary personal transformation.Find Joshua here -https://www.instagram.com/jhdecoratingltd?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&dlrf=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==In this deeply personal episode of The Talking Tradesman Podcast, Russell Payne sits down with Joshua Hammond for an honest and emotional conversation about the experiences that shaped his life, the destructive path that followed and the profound spiritual encounter that changed everything.Growing up with an absent father and a mother battling addiction, Joshua experienced a childhood marked by instability, abandonment and emotional pain. For years, he carried the weight of those experiences, struggling with addiction, resentment and his own mental health.But eventually, Joshua came to a difficult realisation: while he couldn’t change his past, he could take responsibility for his future.“When you spend years blaming everyone else while you ain’t doing well… where is the ownership and accountability in that?”Joshua opens up about his journey into recovery, the fear of relapse and the daily practices that helped him maintain sobriety. Yet even after 18 months without drugs, he recognised something was still missing.“I was sober, but I hadn’t changed.”Despite his progress, Joshua continued to battle anger, emptiness and suicidal thoughts. Material possessions, external validation and attempts to control his circumstances couldn’t provide the peace he was desperately searching for.Then came an experience that would redefine his entire understanding of life, love and forgiveness.Joshua describes a profound spiritual encounter with Jesus Christ, an experience he believes freed him from the emotional burdens of his past and gave him a completely new sense of purpose.“Nothing in my life is ever, ever compared to the love of Jesus Christ.”Throughout this conversation, we explore:* Childhood trauma, abandonment and the lasting impact of family addiction.* The destructive cycle of substance abuse and the challenges of recovery.* Why sobriety doesn’t automatically mean emotional healing.* Taking personal accountability without dismissing the impact of childhood experiences.* Depression, suicidal thoughts and the importance of seeking support.* The mental health challenges facing men working in construction and the trades.* Joshua’s spiritual awakening and his relationship with Jesus Christ.* The power of forgiveness, redemption and finding purpose through faith.Whether you’re religious, spiritual, questioning your beliefs or have no faith at all, Joshua’s story offers an opportunity to reflect on the importance of personal responsibility, human connection, hope and the possibility of change.At its heart, this episode is about a man who reached some of the darkest places imaginable and found a reason to keep going.You don’t have to share someone’s beliefs to recognise the power of their story.🎙️ The Talking Tradesman Podcast, hosted by Russell Payne, creates space for honest conversations about mental health, adversity, resilience and the experiences that shape us.If this conversation resonates with you, please consider sharing it with someone who might benefit from hearing Joshua’s story.Subscribe, follow and join us as we continue breaking the silence surrounding mental health.A note on mental health: This episode contains discussions of addiction, childhood trauma and suicidal thoughts. If you’re struggling, please reach out to someone you trust or seek professional support. In the UK, Samaritans are available free, 24 hours a day, on 116 123.#TheTalkingTradesman #JoshuaHammond #MentalHealthAwareness #AddictionRecovery #ChristianFaith

What happens when you spend years believing there’s something wrong with you, only to discover that your brain simply works differently?In this episode of The Talking Tradesman, I sit down with ADHD coach Sam Beresford for an open conversation about ADHD, addiction, identity, recovery and learning how to work with your brain rather than constantly fighting against it.Find Sam Here - https://www.instagram.com/samberesford_coaching?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&stkn=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==Sam was diagnosed with ADHD at 28.For him, that diagnosis didn’t excuse the things that had happened previously in his life — but it finally gave him clarity.We talk about what it’s like reaching adulthood without understanding why you behave, think and react in certain ways, and how receiving a late ADHD diagnosis can suddenly make years of your life begin to make sense.But this conversation goes much deeper than ADHD alone.Sam speaks openly about his relationship with alcohol and drugs, his experiences with meetings and rehabilitation, and the realisation that changed the way he viewed addiction:“I’m not addicted to the substance, I’m addicted to what it gives me.”We explore the connection between ADHD, stimulation and unhealthy coping mechanisms, and why simply removing a substance doesn’t necessarily address what someone was trying to escape from, regulate or replace in the first place.Sam also talks about reaching the point where he knew he couldn’t continue living the way he was, the importance of friends recognising when somebody is struggling, and the difficult reality that changing your life can sometimes mean leaving people behind.Going sober changed his relationships.Understanding his ADHD changed his relationship with himself.And eventually, the same mind that had contributed to periods of chaos became something Sam learned to channel into business, coaching and helping other people.We also discuss why ADHD shouldn’t automatically be viewed through the lens of deficiency.Creativity. Energy. Hyperfocus. Risk-taking. Problem solving. The ability to become completely absorbed in something that genuinely interests you.When directed towards the right thing, some of the characteristics that can make conventional environments difficult can become enormous strengths.That leads us into the world of construction and the trades.We discuss why hands-on careers, self-employment and creative environments can suit some people with ADHD particularly well — giving them the freedom, stimulation and variety they may struggle to find elsewhere.Sam now uses his own lived experience alongside his work as an ADHD coach to help other people better understand themselves and build lives that work with the way their brains operate.From being told he wouldn’t amount to anything, through addiction and recovery, to building a business and helping others — this is ultimately a conversation about understanding yourself.Because where you are right now doesn’t have to be where you stay.🎙️ The Talking Tradesman Podcast