Remember Resilience?

Welcome back to the podcast folks and thank you for joining us once again.   Once again, if you enjoy the podcast and the theme behind it then the best way to help is by following and leaving a review on your favourite podcast platform and follow the Remember Resilience Instagram page where you can view more footage from the guests. Now on  to todays episode...Supremely hard working, humility, inspiration, resilience, determined and dedicated - just some of the words that come to mind when thinking of the winner of the title Fittest in the UK 2023….Jennifer Muir In 2 years Jennifer went from 246th fitted in the UK in 2021 to fittest in the UK in 2023.  She placed 16th across the whole of Europe and setting a new world record in one of the workouts.  She was aged 23. But we dive deeper into Jennifer’s mindset, we discover what drives her, her plans for the future and when times get tough she calls on heart breaking personal experiences to pull her through. A true role model for both males and females of any age and sport, her strength, determination, resilience and humility shine through.   Welcome back to the podcast folks and thank you for joining us once again. The podcast continues to grow and the feedback from the last few episodes have been amazing.  Once again, if you enjoy the podcast and the theme behind it then the best way to help is by following and leaving a review on your favouirte podcast patform and follow the Remember Resilience Instagram page where you can view more footage from the guests.   Now on  to todays episode,   Supremely hard working, humility, inspiration, resilience, determined and dedicated - just some of the words that come to mind when thinking of the winner of the title Fittest in the UK 2023….Jennifer Muir Some people are inspired to pursue fitness through attending a sporting event, some through witnessing a feat of mastery, others because they started young and found something special. Jen first found her drive for physical activity when she was 8 years old and she fell off her bike. She was dumped from her bike into the canal, unable to swim and saved by a jogger who happened to be passing. Soon after, she started swimming lessons. Soon after that, her innate talent was spotted and rewarded with a spot on the swimming team. During swim training they often undertook some ‘land training’ and, sure enough, during land training, she realised something. She wasn’t just a good swimmer, she had triathlete potential. That potential led to her representing Scotland in under 18s at 15 years old.  After falling out of love with triathlons, Jennifer found herself doing some weight training, something to do. For anyone else, the next step would seem unlikely, for Jen, it’s about right. Unaware of what weights she was lifting and just, well, lifting, Jen surprised onlookers with her strength, especially considering her Triathlete frame. On hearing that there was powerlifting competitions, Jen signed up, eager to have something to train towards.  She entered five competitions. She podiumed at all five, she didn’t tell me that. Humility. After discovering CrossFit and realising she enjoyed the competitive nature of the methodology and the plentiful opportunities to compete outside of her own gym, she was hooked In 2 years Jennifer went from 246th fitted in the uk in 2021 to fittest in the uk in 2023.  She placed 16th across the whole of Europe and setting a new world record in one of the workouts.  She was aged 23. But we dive deeper into jennifer’s mindset, we discover what drives her, her plans for the future and when times get tough she calls on heartbreaking personal experiences to pull her through.   A true role model for both males and females of any age and sport, her strength, determination, resilience and humility shine through.   I hope you enjoy.

Welcome back to episode 4 of the new season and thanks for joining us once again. The podcast continues to grow week on week and I am genuinely delighted that many of you out there are feeling the better of listening to real stories from real people, all of whom have shown incredible resilience to overcome huge obstacles in their lives. Whether that is a self inflicted physical challenge or a life event forced upon them such as trauma, abuse, injury and ill health. Each time I sit down with my guests I learn so much about my own life and hope you do too. As always, this is a self supported podcast which aims to provide a platform for those to share their story and for you, the listener to enjoy and learn from. The biggest way you can help is by following the Remember Resilience page on your favourite podcast platform, leaving a 5 star review and also follow the Instagram page where you can find out more from each guest. Now onto todays episode, Paul Donnelly is a fire fighter based in Central Scotland. It is accurate to say that Paul has overcame several obstacles in his life, from dealing with the deaths of his grandparents at a young age, the murder of his uncle, his battles with his own addictions and the every day trauma which a firefighter is forced to face....life has not been easy. However Paul has found the resilience and courage to win these battles, through various methods which we explore Paul has used the pain of his past to power his future. Not content with turning his own life around....he also founded and runs the Max Kolbe group, a not for profit group who organise and encourage the use of nature to aid and assist those who are recovering from addictions and mental health problem. A true figure for good in his local community, Paul and his group have raised thousands of pounds and incredible awareness highlighting the issues which many people unfortunately face and help those to rewrite their futures.

Welcome back to episode 3 of our second season and thank you for joining us once again.  If you are new to the podcast or have yet to follow and subscribe on your favourite podcast platform or YoutTube, leave a 5 star review or follow the Remember Resilience page on Instagram where you can find out more about each guest then please do, it really is the best way to help grow the podcast.   Today I am joined with Paul Harris, otherwise known as the  Warrior Walker. A former Royal Marine commando, he has embarked on a 12,000 mile to be the first person to walk around the circumference of the UK twice….back to back!  An absolutely incredible feat of mental and physical endurance, Paul has put his life on hold to show everyone what the human body can do if the mental strength is prioritised.  He has always raised awareness and thousands of pounds for various charities along the way.  Paul joins us having just walked from the isle of Skye to Glasgow in 2 weeks, he has now earned a well earned day off and is giving up his time to tell us his story.   We dive deep into Paul’s past which is full of trauma and tragedy and how he used the pain of this past to power his feature.  We hear about his time has a Royal Marine Commando, and also of his life as a private security operative in Afghanistan.  We hear of how his life spiralled into one of despair, when a friend sent him a text message and suggested he should walk around the UK and write a book about it…..well 3 weeks later he did just that! Now 8,000 miles of his 12,000 mile journey, Paul is here to tell his story.

Welcome back to the Remember Resilience podcast folks and thank you once again for listening. Season 2 has got off to an amazing start with the first episode one of the most popular episodes ever and I'm sure this episode will not disappoint. Before we start, This is a self supported podcast featuring real stories from real people, all of whom have overcome huge obstacles in life. If you enjoy and appreciate the content and the platform I am building then please follow and review on your preferred podcast platform, subscribe on YouTube where you view the full video interview and finally visit and follow the Remember Resilience Instagram page where you can find out more about each guest. Now on to todays episode, I am joined by Jonny McSkimming. A liver transplant survivor who was only days from death. Jonny tells us of his battles will his health throughout his adult life, culminating in the life or death requirement for a liver transplant at age only 40 due to chronic liver disease. The outlook for Jonny worsened further when his medical team deemed him too ill to survive transplant surgery and he was removed from the transplant list. He faced certain death and was told to say his final goodbye to his family and friends....and to his wife Paula and 4 year old son Max. However Jonny fought back, refusing to let his fate be sealed. He found the mental and physical strength to bounce back. Fighting back each day and refusing to be beaten, he forced his medical team to overturn their decision. He was now back on the transplant list. An agonising wait ensued when finally, a suitable donor was found and he could soon begin to live the life he deserved. Jonny dives deep into the mental and physical battles he has faced, how the unwavering support and love from his family saw him through his darkest moments and now, six months post transplant he can now look ahead to a bright future with Paula and Max by his side. A genuine, raw and amazing story of resilience, strength and love. I hope you enjoy.

Welcome to season 2 of the Remember Resilience Podcast. In episode 1 of the new season I am joined by serving Royal marine Commando, ultra endurance athelete and serial fundraiser Ben Clough. We chat about Ben's incredible physical challenges which he has smashed through in the last couple of years, from completing the 3 peaks challenge by running the 482 miles between the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales in 8 days to running a non stop 170 mile ultra marathon and to competing in the Hyrox World Championships. Ben also takes us back to his time at the commando training centre passing out with his Royal marines green beret after completing the longest military training course in the world. He takes us through his career to date revealing his proudest moment so far during his time as a Royal Marine Commando. Ben has also committed himself to raising substantial funds for two charities close to his heart, The Royal Marines Charity and Mind - a mental health charity. He also reveals his struggles in life and how he pushes his mind and body to its limits as a way of protecting his own mental health. This is one of my favourite episodes so far and I came away totally inspired by Ben and his attitude towards helping others. He has a big year planned for 2024. I hope you enjoy this episode.

Welcome to the Episode 12 of the Podcast folks and thanks again for joining m. Today we are joined by Scotland and Team Great Britain Rugby internationalist Rhona Lloyd. We discuss Rhona's career to date and we go back to Rhona's school years to where, as the only female out of 50 school kids, who played rugby....seen her bullied and ridiculed for playing the sport she loved. So close to quitting the game, Rhona made a decision to ignore those that body shamed strong and athletic females and committed herself fully to her love of the game. She was soon rewarded with her first professional contract and hasn't looked back since. Describe in national media as a try scoring sensation, Rhona has now represented Scotland and Team GB all over the world and now play club Rugby in France. However Rhona has used her platform to raise awareness of the continued pressures young males and females are under in the pursuit of their chosen sport. Often comparing themselves to the filtered and photoshopped images which are all over social media. Rhona explains how educating the younger generation and providing those with the role model that she never had, is much more important to her than anything that can be achieved on the field. Remember that all podcast episodes can be watched in full on YouTube and to view more footage of the guests please visit the Remember Resilience Instagram page.

Welcome back to the podcast folks and todays episode is up their with my favourite. A hugely raw and emotional story of oppression and trauma turned inspiration and success. Today's guest is Brendon Singh, owner of iconic Glasgow tattoo studio Literal Ink. Brendon was born and raised in apartheid South Africa where he faced massive oppression by the caucasian race. Born into poverty with no real prospects Brendon's childhood was full of trauma. from witnessing his father regularly abuse his mother, to then observing his executed body, Brendon's life soon was falling apart...it soon took its toll. With Brendan attempting to take his own life in order to escape the pain. The traumatic physical and mental incidents that Brendon was forced to endure at the hands of adults are terrifying, a despair which Brendon still battles, When he was 18, and after experiencing yet another racial incident. He had enough. he gathered what he could and arrived in the UK with £70 in his name. He was now free. Brendon had plans, his mesmerising imagination and creative hands soon led him to a career in tattooing, where he has excelled. Just returning from a guest spot in a Hollywood tattoo study, Brendon explain that the pain of the past drives his future. One where he will be judged by what he can offer to teh world, not the colour of his skin. A truly inspirational man, I was caught on every word listening to Brendon. I really hope you do enjoy this episode. Don't forget that all podcasts are available on YouTube where you can watch the full interview. Please visit the Remember Resilience Instagram page where you can view more footage of the guests and find out what goes on behind the scenes. And lastly, please follow and leave a 5 star review, it really does help me promote the podcast. Check out the Remember Resilience Instagram page here https://instagram.com/remember_resilience?igshid=MTNiYzNiMzkwZA== Check out Literal Ink's instagram page here https://instagram.com/literal_ink?igshid=MTNiYzNiMzkwZA==

Welcome back to folks and thanks for joining me on Episode 10 of the podcast! Today we are joined by Tania Carmona.....Tania decided to make the move from her native Mexico to Scotland 6 years ago taking up running as a way to see the country she now lives in and to meet you new people. However Tania's casual 5k's have now progressed to marathons, ultramarathons, a 100 mile and multi day endurance events in the across the desert! Tania tells us how she keeps going when times get tough, how she pushes herself to her physical and mental limits as a way of being thankful for the health that she has been gifted and how ...in a male dominated sport she longs to be joined by many more female runners. We also discuss how Tania does not conform to the stereo typical ultra endurance athlete, she is also a strength and conditioning coach and incorporates heavy lifting and weights sessions to build muscle and bulletproof her body preventing injuries for stopping her in her tracks. Tania has now completed over 20 ultra marathons and has been featured in both Runners World and Esquire in recognition for her work in boosting female participation in ultra endurance events. Tania has hit rock bottom many times but she keeps on going and looking to 2024, she has just signed up to the Grand Slam of ultra endurance events running 5 self supported ultra marathons across some of the most challenging and unhospitable places on earth! Tania's enthusiasm and love for life is infectious, and her resilience strength and determination are incredible. Before the intro, if you enjoy the podcast then please remember to leave a 5 star review, visit the Remember Resilience Instagram page where you can view more footage of the guests and don't forgot, all podcasts are available on YouTube where you can watch the full interview |:)

Todays guest....... a genuine inspiration to me, and someone who helped me massively on my record breaking 100kg to the summit of Ben Nevis challenge.....Mark Reilly. A former professional football player turned ultra endurance athlete and serial fundraiser. Mark's list of achievements are incredible. In 2008, Mark's daughter Dionne was born. It soon become apparent that Dionne's development was not progressing as hoped and after an eternity of frustration at the lack of understanding from the medical world in the UK, Mark looked to America where he was to learn that Dionne had Rett's Syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that affects the way the brain develops. This was soon to mean that Dionne now required 24/7 care. Realising that Dionne's condition was incurable, Mark set out to raise as much funds as possible for the charity Reverse Rett, who are pioneering research into a possible cure and treatments for Rett's syndrome so that, in the future no other child will have to live with the condition. Mark takes us through his extreme endurance events, from multiple marathons, through t o Ironmen events and beyond. He has ran 100miles in 24 hours around his previous football grounds and has recently completed the marathon de sables, often entitled the toughest footrace in the world, a 250km multi day ultra marathon across the Sahara desert. Running in over 50 degree heat, Mark was to experience the death of a fellow runner and also the withdrawal of his friend and tent mate after suffering a heart attack. In this time ,Marks fundraising has totalled £80,000 for the fight against Rett Syndrome. We dive into Mark's mindset and how Dionne's condition has gave him purpose in life and how each day, he wakes up truly thankful to still have his health. And finally we hear about Marks plans for 2024, and how his next journey will see him run through the amazon jungle in a race which only 1 in 10 people see it to the end. There is big news coming soon with the regards to the direction I want to take the podcast but for now, please continue to show your support by leaving a 5 star review on your favourite podcast platform, visit my Instagram page for more clips and content from my guests and remember, you can watch the full video of each episode on the Remember Resilience Podcast YouTube channel

Full video available on YouTube. Welcome back to the podcast guys and thanks for joining me on episode 8. Today we are joined with 20 year old Dylan Lombard. One of only 15 people in the word diagnosed with a very rare condition known as MDP, a condition which prevents the storage of fat cells primarily affecting the face, arms and legs giving Dylan his unique appearance. Along with MDP Dylan also has autism. Dylan discusses his life up until now, from wearing a mask over his face to hide from the world and dealing with school bullies and internet trolls, to learning to love and accept himself for the unique and talented person that he truly is. Dylan has the most unique and inspiring energy and I found myself smiling in his presence throughout both on and off camera. Dylan has not let MDP and autism define him, he is a successful photographer, dancer, content creator and influencer using his substantial social media following to raise awareness for those with facial differences around the world. His daily messages of kindness and positivity capture so many peoples attention and admiration and I promise after listening...you will know exactly why. Expect to learn the true meaning of life and acknowledge a lesson in the value of perspectives. As ever, this is an unsupported podcast, which aims to share real stories from real people who have shown resilience to overcome their battles in life. If you have enjoyed the podcast and the message of I am trying to spread, then please review, share and follow via your podcast platform and YouTube or visit the Remember Resilience Instagram page where you can view more content of my guests.

This weeks episode and quite possibly my favourite so far! Last year Ali Crawford was crowned the fittest woman on the planet at the Crossfit Games. Competing against crossfit athletes from all over the word, Ali took 1st place in the over 44age category. She is the only Scottish athlete to qualify for the CrossFit games in any age category! Ali talks about what makes her so driven and motivated but we also dive deeper, Ali talks about her family life and the struggles of being a wife and raising 2 young children whilst a top level athlete, her worries for the younger generation in terms of social media and trolling and she explains that in a world of external influences and appeasements, making a commitment to yourself is far more important than shouting from the rooftops. I really do hope you enjoy this episode

On 3rd July 2011, Mark Smith's life changed forever. After surviving tours of Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan Mark returned home unscathed. However on this day whilst on a training exercise in Canada, Mark was shot 7 times from a general purpose machine gun. 6 bullets destroyed his femeral artery in his groin and a 7th entered his shoulder. He was bleeding out. Mark died for a full 5 minutes on the evac helicopter, before eventually being brought back to life by medics. But is leg could not be saved and was amputated high above the knee. Determined to make the most and focus on what he still had and not we he lost, Mark fell in love with the gym. Building his body to incredible size and strength winning several international bodybuilding and strongman competitions. However Mark's fight to survive was far from over and he is here to tell his full story. Though Mark's achievements are formidable, it is his mental resilience which shines through. Honest, down to earth and moving this reflects on the importance of determination, compassion and positivity, brimming with humility and laughter. Mark Smith has chosen to write a book detailing his life so far. All profits go to the children's cancer charity "Aidens Charity". The book can be purchased from Amazon titled Strength Of Mind by Mark Smith.

Welcome back to the Remember Resilience Podcast. Today I am joined by Gerard Burns. A world renowned portrait, contemporary and Realism artist, Gerard paintings grace the walls of owners all over the world. His customer base include collectors, business people, celebrities and members of several Royal Families. However Gerard's road to success has not been easily achieved. From his humble beginnings in Cumbernauld where at just 18 he mourned the death of his younger 14 year old sister Elaine. Gerard threw himself into a career in art, becoming principal of Art at the prestigious St Aloysius in Glasgow at only age 29. However Gerard was soon to be a victim of his own success resulting in him turning to alcohol. This was the beginning of his spiral into a battle with alcohol abuse which culminated in an major nervous breakdown and the subsequent onset of alopecia. Gerard knew something had to change, he vowed never to touch alcohol again, force by alopecia Gerard presented a new image to the world both physically and mentally. He left the toxic teaching environment which had been his downfall and embarked on a journey which would make Gerard one of the most successful artists of his generation.

Welcome back to the Remember Resilience Podcast. Todays guest is 2 x Paralympian and world record holder Ben Rowlings. Ben Rowlings is one of the worlds leading wheelchair racers, and is currently the fastest T34 athlete ever in Britain, in the 200, 400, 800, 1500 and 5000m races. Holding a world record in the 5000m. Ben has had to fight since the second he was born. During birth the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck several times cutting off the oxygen supply to Ben's brain resulting in the development of cerebral palsy leaving the mobility in both legs severely restricted. However this was never going to define Ben. Driven by the desire to live the life he deserved and craved, he threw himself into sport alongside his able bodied friends and team mates. Then one day he was introduced to wheelchair racing. He was hooked. Ben soon became obsessed with his craft, committing himself unconditionally. His hard work was paying off, Ben competed in competitions all over the world including the Rio and Tokyo Paralympics. Ben is the holder of several winner's medals and record. Today, he is here to tell his story.

Welcome back to the Remember Resilience Podcast. Today we are joined by Gemma Young, Scotland's all time top female powerlifter and one of the best Powerlifters in the world. She has an incredible 235kg squat, 220kg deadlift and 105kg Bench Press. Her gym is littered with medals from Powerlifting competitions all over the world. But success did not come easy for Gemma. Just 6 years ago she was a size 22, fed up with her lifestyle and health she embarked on a journey which was to take her to a size 6 and onto the bikini bodybuilding stage just 6 months later. However this started the decline in Gemma's mental and physical health where she developed eating disorders, mental health problems along with battling through an abusive relationship. She then found powerlifting and Gemma is here to tell us her story and how she is soon to be the best female powerlifter in the world.

This week's guest is Anne Marie Hirdman, a domestic abuse survivor who faced nearly 6 years of abuse at the hands of a serving police officer. Annie tells us of her terriying ordeal, of how she believes she was targeted, of the night she thought she was going to die, of her continued fight for justice and what she is doing to help other victims who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Today's guest is Paul McCaffery, a former mental health nurse who after dealing with so many cases of trauma, self harm and sucicide found himself in a position where his own mental health hit rock bottom. Whilst battling with his demons, he was then shocked to learn that he had developed testicular cancer. Paul was only 30. He had a family to raise and a whole life ahead of him. We hear how he rose up against both, learned to love himself again and fight cancer with all he had.