Today's guest has come to the conclusion that our time is far too short to be preoccupied by what's not essential to life and happiness. Dr Mark Hines has pushed himself both physically and mentally to some remarkable achievements.

He's raced in rainforests, across deserts, over mountains and in the Artctic and sub-Arctic. He's run, climbed, pulled a sled and paddled a board. And has written books about his adventures.

He says mere satisfaction is not enough. He needs to know he's doing everything he can to live life to the full. He urges people to be more imaginative and daring and to find ways of making our life truly our own.

It's a great chat about tackling fear and hearing about some remarkable adventures with lots to learn for getting more out of life.

You can find more about his books here https://www.drmarkhines.com/books

And you can follow us on instagram @bebrarverpod

If you have time, we'd love it if you'd give us a follow and a review.

Today's guest is Allie Bailey, a phenomenal athlete, adventurer and mindset coach, who has survived alcoholism, depression and suicide attempts. It's such a powerful, inspirational and raw chat.

Allie has run over 200 marathons and 80 ultra marathons. She's crossed deserts and run the length of the Panama Canal amongst her many challenges. She says, from experience, running won't save you, but might give you the time to survive yourself and will change your life.

It's an honest and compelling interview from Allie who now reaches out to others to help teach them how brilliant they can be. The interview with Allie is emotional, recorded just days after completing Dragon's Back, a 6 day ultra journey through Wales considered one of the toughest mountain races in the world. She feels completely broken and terrible as she does this podcast but she believes in a few weeks she'll look back on it as one of the greatest achievements of her life.

She says alcohol and alcoholism is everywhere. From the most extreme sports to musicians on stage. Allie had a dream job working in the music industry and recognised she had 20 years as an alcoholic. She hit rock bottom in 2021 before she sought help and has been sober since then.

Allie is a great Be Braver guest and passes on advice about living to your values and being yourself.

If you want to find out more about Allie, she has a book titled There is no Wall.

We'd love to hear from you - find us at @bebraverpod

Be Braver is back! Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry return to help you discover how to find courage, stretch your comfort zone, and live with more confidence.

We hope you've had a good summer! And in this episode we catch up on the last few weeks. Annie has been globe-trotting commentating on triathlon and the World Games in China. She talks about how she was introduced to lots of new sports from Dragon Boat Racing to Marathon Canoe. She's candid about her self-doubts and fears and how she coped. She also talks about grappling with motherhood and the desire to be ambitious with her career.

Josie shares her holiday experiences and what she learnt from watch her daughter's blossoming confidence and how nurturing environments. help bravery in the young.

Together, they emphasise that bravery is not merely the absence of fear but the courage to act despite it.

As the episode draws to a close, Josie reveals how a hairdressing appointment proved more drastic than she thought and the consequences it had when picking up her daughter from summer school.

We'd love it if you could spare a few moments to like, follow and review and also follow us on instagram at @bebraverpod

Season One Done!

Well, we actually did it — Season One of The Be Braver Podcast is wrapped! We started this little adventure three months ago and 13 amazing guests later we have learnt such a lot about being braver.

We've heard from people who’ve climbed mountains (literally), beaten the odds, changed careers, reinvented themselves, and found bravery in the everyday. And somewhere in all that, we (Josie and Annie) have learned a thing or two ourselves — like bravery isn’t about being fearless, it’s about doing the scary stuff anyway (Josie's gearing up for gymnastics shows and piano exams and singing in public).

We've learned how important it is to have the right people around you, how powerful it can be to start from the top and work backwards (cheers, John the magician), and how some of the most life-changing lessons come from the quietest acts of courage.

We’ve also faced our own fears — Josie’s got five bold goals before turning 50 and Annie’s on a mission to ditch the “I’m too old” voice in her head and keep showing up bravely in work, life, and on the world’s biggest water slides.

So thank you — for listening, for messaging, for being part of this brave little community. We’ll be back next month with Season Two.

Insta: @bebraverpod

The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Dr Josie Perry and Annie Emmerson and produced by Mark Shardlow.

In this episode of Be Braver, Josie and Annie sit down with the brilliant broadcaster, author, and ultra-endurance athlete Vassos Alexander.

Vassos has been the energetic sports voice from the Christ Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 and Virgin Radio. But as we speak, he's on the brink of a huge life change. He's about to step away from a job he's loved for 14 years without a solid plan for what comes next.

Vassos talks about the decision - with gut telling him to move on whilst his head shouts "Are you mad?!". He calls it letting go of one trapeze before grabbing the next. It's scary, but full of possibility. Not having the answers, but trusting the questions.

The chat goes in to his ultra-running, including a 153 mile event in Greece called Spartathlon. And his love of outdoor swimming which led to his latest book, Swimmingly.

You'll hear how he accidentally launched an acting career in Russia, turned up for his first ironman in cargo shorts and how he trained to swim the English Channel. And he still wants to climb Everest!

There’s wisdom here for anyone teetering on the edge of a big decision or wondering if “good” is really good enough. As Vassos puts it: “You regret staying on the sofa, not trying something big and brave.”

The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Parry.

Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker.

Josie switched from being a journalist to become a Chartered Psychologist.

Thanks for listening! The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal.

Insta: @bebraverpod

In this very special episode of Be Braver, Annie and Josie are joined by the remarkable David Smith MBE – Paralympic gold medallist, elite athlete, coach, speaker, and all-round warrior for resilience and presence.

David’s story is one of extreme highs and unimaginable lows. He won gold for Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympics in rowing, achieving what many athletes dream of. But what makes David’s story truly extraordinary is what came before – and what came after.

For the past 14 years, David has been living with a rare tumour wrapped around his spinal cord. He’s had multiple major surgeries, faced paralysis, and gone through gruelling recovery after gruelling recovery. And yet, he still wakes up with the mindset of an athlete. He still chases growth, health, and excellence – mentally and physically. As he puts it, he’s not just surviving cancer, he’s thriving with it.

David speaks with his heart on his sleeve but also with a great sense of humour. He tells Annie and Josie about the mental tools sport gave him that has helped him through his illness. And how it feels to see his body failing but his mind getting stronger.

David speaks about the role of routine, meditation and self-discipline to stay reslient and how he stays in the present.

His mantra is : “Be where your feet are.”

When life throws curveballs, as it has done for David time and again, coming back to the present moment is what helps him stay steady. Whether that means feeling the floor beneath him, focusing on his breath, or just doing one small positive thing each day – he’s learned that the present is the only place you can truly live, take action, or find peace. His message is, not to wait for a crisis to start living more fully.

This isn’t just a story about beating the odds – it’s about changing your relationship with the odds altogether. It’s about focusing on what you can do. As David says, “I don’t have control over my tumour, but I have control over how I live with it.”

Don’t forget to follow, share, and leave us a review – it really helps others find the show.

💬 We’d love to hear your thoughts – connect with us on socials @BeBraverPodcast and let us know what you took from David’s incredible story.

Today's guest tells some remarkable stories of bravery. Dr. Sarah Ruggins has just broken the world record for cycling from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall and back. That's 2700km in just over 5 days.

Sarah grew up in Canada and moved to the UK 10 years ago. She was a child star on the track but got diagnosed with a rare, extremely painful condition which left her unable to walk and needing 24 hour care.

The chat delves into Sarah's journey, which includes overcoming that life-altering medical condition and the subsequent transformation into an accomplished cyclist.

Josie and Annie explore the themes of resilience, determination, and the importance of community support as Sarah recounts her experiences in both athletics and life.

Sarah talks about the significance to her of pursuing challenges that pushed her beyond the comfort zone, as well as the vital role of teamwork in achieving her goals and finding a supportive community.

It's a really powerful example of how we can put bravery in our lives.

The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.

Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.

She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.

Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.

So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?

Thanks for listening!

The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal.

Insta: @bebraverpod

In this episode Kate Silverton shares her journey from being a successful and high-profile journalist and presenter at the BBC to becoming a child psychologist.

She talks about the importance of following your own joy, the challenges of balancing career and family life and the significance of understanding your personal values and self-care.

Kate talks to Annie and Josie about the importance of looking back to understand present behaviours.

She shares the most memorable moments in her broadcasting career - from the front line in Iraq and Afghanistan to the dance floor of Strictly Come Dancing and behind the wheel on Top Gear.

Annie and Joise explore the motivations behind her mid-life career change and her drivers to become a child psychologist.

Kate concludes with a powerful message about bravery and overcoming fear.

You can find more about Kate and her books "There's no such thing as naughty" and "There's STILL no such thing as naughty" on her website www.katesilverton.com

The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.

Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.

She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.

Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.

So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?

Thanks for listening!

The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal.

Insta: @bebraverpod