Advertise on podcast: This Is Powerful With Paul Sculfor

Welcome to an exciting new season of This is Powerful with Paul Sculfor. This season is a very special one, which will leave your mind, body and soul rejuvenated and refreshed. Life can get stressful for all of us; particularly if you're in recovery. It can be hard to regulate in certain situations. So we are going to learn tools to help us eat better, use our breath more effectively, how to move our bodies, techniques for self-soothing, all to improve how we generally navigate life. This season can save you valuable time trying to navigate through all the healers that are everywhere online…this personally curated collection of practitioners all have lived experience, using the methods they have devised to heal themselves and share what has led them to find the healing paths they have chosen. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

We have come to the end of our seventh season and we are taking a look back at some of the most powerful moments from our top-notch roster of guests this season.  Our guests included models Richard B and Lara M, model agents Dean and Matt, and celebrity stylist Holly M. Together, they shared candid insights into fashion, ambition, identity and recovery, and what it means to navigate the industry sober. And included in this episode is a little something extra…an exclusive that we haven’t released until now: a chat between producer Shannon and Paul about his time in the fashion industry.  This is the final episode in the season. We are taking a short break so that we can look after our own mental wellbeing and come back into the studio fresh and ready to record an exciting new season featuring some of the most powerful healers we have come across.  Please take this opportunity to check out our healthy back catalogue of over 90 episodes which can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Take good care and keep in touch! We love hearing what you’re up to and what brought you to us. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Originally (and proudly) from Glasgow, Dean is the founder of D1 Model Management, an international modeling agency with offices in London and New York. With more than two decades in the fashion industry, Dean has built a career discovering, developing and representing talent, working across fashion, advertising and entertainment. Alongside his professional life, Dean has a deeply personal story of recovery and transformation and today, Dean combines running D1 Models with an active commitment to recovery and service, sharing his experience in the hope that honesty about both the struggles and the possibilities of recovery can help others. Paul and Dean have a frank conversation about  tuning into (and out of) AddictFM, about how one is too many even though a thousand  isn’t enough and  there is one massive bombshell realization towards the end which was really emotional for both Paul and Dean.  Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

From a small town in Northamptonshire to the world’s biggest fashion runways, her modelling career began when she was scouted at a pub at the age of 17.  Within weeks of being approached, Lara Mullen was walking for Alexander Wang, followed by a coveted Prada exclusive and shows for Givenchy, Chloé and Céline. Now after a decade in London, Lara has been sober since 2017 and is approaching life, creativity and her career from a very different perspective. Warm, down to earth and hugely inspiring, Lara talks about how cool it is to get  sober young, the paradox of appearing to have it all on the outside while feeling less than on the inside, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who are living the life you want for yourself. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

From humble beginnings in London, Richard Biedul rose through the ranks of a leading City law firm before unexpectedly becoming one of the world’s most recognisable male models. Richard went from law firm boardrooms to the fashion capitals of the world, before turning his attention to creativity, design and entrepreneurship. Today, Richard runs a global creative studio and, in 2025, took on his most ambitious role yet: Creative Director of British fashion house Nicole Farhi.  A man who has always been unapologetically his authentic self,  we talk about fighting the voice that says you are on the outside and you need to get inside at any cost and the moment everyone dearest to him intervened and changed the course of his life.  Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Life might not always be rainbows and butterflies, but at least he no longer wakes up with a sense of impending doom In this episode we welcome Matt Busbridge, the head of the men’s division at Premier model agency who's spent the past 15 years working in one of the world's most glamorous industries. Matt opens up about the life he built, the pressures that came with it, and the moment he realised something had to change. Now more than three years sober, Matt reflects on how giving up drugs and alcohol transformed far more than just his social life. Speaking about the various pressures of the fashion industry, Matt and Paul also cover the importance of honest conversations around sobriety and that dreaded moment in the early morning hours when you realise the party is over. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Welcome back to the fresh new fashion season of This is Powerful with Paul Sculfor. Over the next six episodes, we are casting the spotlight on the fashion industry. Yes, that’s right - we are going to undress and reveal to you what it is actually like behind the scenes. For this first episode in the new season, we are joined by international celebrity stylist Holly, who has worked with the likes of Tine Tempa, Bill Nighy, actor Mr Christof Waltz and also Paul Sculfor himself. Holly’s career in fashion began with an internship at just 16 after which she worked her way through the ranks at GQ, ending up as Fashion Editor of a popular men’s magazine.  Growing up in the idyllic English countryside, Holly reflects on early panic attacks, paints a powerful picture for young women who might worry what a social life looks like without alcohol and reveals what it is that a celebrity stylist actually does! Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Welcome back to This is Powerful with Paul Sculfor. In our seventh season, we cast the spotlight on the fashion industry. We are going to undress and reveal what it is actually like behind the scenes. Paul has spent most of his life working in fashion and although he has found it very glamorous and exciting, it can also be very lonely. There are struggles that people face, just like in any other industry. And just like in any other industry, there is tremendous pressure to put on an appearance as though everything is completely fine. Not only fine - that everything is AMAZING.  We will hear from Models. Stylists. Magazine Editors. Agents. Paul will be opening up about some of his own experiences too. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the first episode as soon as it’s available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

We have come to the end of our sixth season and we are taking a look back at some of the strongest, most intriguing and resonant clips from expert guests we have hosted on the show. We have been lucky enough to chat with neuropsychopharmacologists, doctors, scientists, therapists and professionals whose work digs into the deep-rooted sources of addiction, how it affects people and some proven paths to recovery.  Most of these guests have their own personal stories but all have devoted their lives and work to understanding addiction and mental health and to helping those who are struggling to find freedom in recovery.  This is the final episode in the season. We are taking a short break so that we can look after our own mental wellbeing, refill the tanks and come back into the studio fresh and to record an exciting new season featuring people in the fashion world. Please take this opportunity to check out our healthy back catalogue of episodes which can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Take good care! Featured Clips: Anita Chellamah explains how childhood trauma quietly shapes our relationships, self-belief and sense of responsibility long into adulthood.  (Season 1) Andrea Taylor reframes "attention seeking" as a universal need for connection, and reveals why repair is the key to healthy relationships.(Season 1) Dr David McLaughlan breaks down the science of cravings and shares practical techniques to ride out urges without relapsing.  (Season 1) The Gift of Addiction with David Smallwood: David explains why unresolved trauma fuels addiction and why the timing of trauma therapy can make all the difference to recovery. (Season 2) How Your Brain Can Be Hijacked by Addiction With Dr Rayyan Zafar: Dr Zafar challenges the traditional definition of addiction, revealing why behaviours like gambling, gaming and social media can be just as addictive as substances.  (Season 1) Dr Federica Amati Helps You Reduce Your Risk of Cancer: Dr Amati exposes the hidden health risks of alcohol and argues why public awareness and policy need to catch up with the science.  (Season 3) Why Addictions Are Often A Misguided Search for Spirituality With Alistair Richardson: Alistair shares a powerful perspective that beneath trauma and addiction lies an unbroken self capable of healing and connection.  (Season 2) Knowing the Nervous System with Nahid-de-belgeonne: Nahid explains why lasting change begins in the nervous system, showing that healing is something we experience before we can think our way towards it.  (Season 4) Secret Sex Lives With Dr Paula Hall: Dr Hall explores the often-overlooked links between pornography, sex addiction and recovery from alcohol and drugs.  (Season 4) Ollie Ollerton turns the idea of sobriety on its head, arguing that freedom comes from recovery—not from the drink itself.  (Season 1) If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

We have had a wonderful season so far as we explored addiction and mental health challenges on UK building sites. For our final episode, we hosted a powerful guest whose honesty and humility is inspiring. A 38-year-old tiler by trade, our guest Chris now focuses his time on podcasting and radio broadcasting. A dedicated family man and committed gym-goer, he brings energy, authenticity, and real-life perspective to his work. Having been sober for over five and a half years, Chris is passionate about personal growth, resilience, and living life with purpose. Through his broadcasting and podcasting, he connects with people through honest conversations, humour, and his down-to-earth approach. In this conversation, we talk about the staggering realisation that addiction is stronger than love, using drugs on the worksite and about and how being vulnerable around another man is actually the manliest thing you can do. When we spoke, Chris was literally about to tie the knot with his missus so by now he must be a married man so we wish him all of our congratulations!  If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

For nearly 17 years, John the Plasterer has been living clean and sober but his journey hasn't exactly been straightforward. It wasn’t until he admitted that he was powerless over gambling that he fully embraced the life of recovery he leads today. In this chat, John recounts a gory accident he suffered while intoxicated at work…he also reflects on the chaos of obsession and the richness of a life outside of addiction.  If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Settle in for an amazing conversation that grabs you from the off and doesn’t let go. At 49 years old, Mike the Roofer is 14 years sober whose self-confessed ‘primaries’ were alcohol and cocaine. After having worked in the roofing industry since he was 18, Mike now owns his own commercial roofing company and is married with two children. After a series of ominous warnings in his early life, a misguided stint at rehab and several years of three-day benders,  Mike finally devoted his life to a 12-Step programme. Mike’s vulnerability, honesty and conviction will no doubt prove to be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled with addiction or to anyone close to someone struggling with addiction.   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Today we’re joined by Gary the Pipefitter. 45-years old and now nine years sober, Gary was born and raised just outside of London in Harold Hill. Gary grew up convinced he'd never try drugs. Yet once alcohol entered the picture and lowered his inhibitions, he'd ‘try anything’. In this conversation, we talk about quieting then changing the inner narrative, becoming a person who embraces waking up each morning and the realisation that contrary to what he had been believing all his life, Gary's problems were actually 99% all down to him. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

After five years of dipping in and out of a recovery programme, Neil the Brickie finally got sober when he found himself homeless, drunk and a nuisance to everyone around him while living in Spain 20 years ago. The youngest of three children all with different dads, Neil is now a brilliant and engaged father of two. Neil’s simple programme that he follows very regularly keeps him in a healthy, successful, sober lifestyle.   If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

Welcome back to the show. This episode kicks off season 6, and for the next six episodes we are focusing on mental fitness in Britain’s construction industry. Historically, these working environments are not conducive to men being able to speak openly about mental health or wellbeing and as stats currently stand, construction workers are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average. Our first guest in our tradesmen series is Paul the Painter, a salt of the Earth man with more than a few strings to his bow. Sober now for nearly 19 years, Paul speaks openly and articulately about living with anxiety and the journey he’s been on since accepting and understanding his OCD diagnosis.  Paul speaks with generous honesty about his many careers: first as a panel beater, later working as a train ticket collector, moving from photography with his own exhibit in London, then a cabbie, and now a painter /decorator. This is an important listen particularly for those who know someone who works in construction either on a building site or as a sole trader. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor  Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor