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In this episode, Em chats to Kirstie Young. Kirstie reached a crossroads in her late 20s which left her with a big decision to make that would change the course of her life from then on. We never know what is around the corner for us and no matter how much we plan or write out pros and cons on paper, we can never truly be prepared for what may happen next. Get ready to feel some feels during this episode because in a world where sometimes we struggle to hope or believe, some things really do end with a happily ever after CW: Discussions of pregnancy & abortion

In this episode, Em talks to Andy Waterfield. We talk through the concept of masculinity - what it meant in history and what it means in 2021. We tackle the subject of men's mental health and how this also intersects. Why do men feel less able to talk about mental health? How do our cultures and societies condition children into confirming to stereotypes of the gender binary and why? We discuss men's rights activists, male privilege and how we all need to try and figure out how we can prevent the mistakes of the past happening again in future generations

In this episode, Em talks to Abs Sharma. Abs was born in India and moved across to the UK as a kid. He talks about the adjustment to living here, attitudes towards people who are different and how to build empathy through understanding people and their experiences as we grow older. He also talks about getting into a tech career as a Developer, Conversational Analyst and then a Product Owner as well as dissecting the feeling of joining a big established company and the imposter syndrome that comes with it.

2020 was a beast, so how can we get our heads right and in a good a place to try and tackle 2021? This special episode to kick off the new year starts by discussing the 'new year, new me' phenomenon, aren't we always the same me, just looking to improve? Do we even want to improve, what does that 'improvement' even look like? Is it for our own happiness or is it for the benefit of others, an imagined audience or even for social media? My special guest for this episode is Claire Hart, a Yorkshire lass based in San Francisco who is all about goal planning, self improvement, creating routines and writing lots of lists!

In this episode, Em talks to Kelly Silver. Kelly shares her experience of growing up in Hull and then making the switch to Canada to live and work after feeling the need to make a bold and creative move. She talks about her early career in psychology and her misgivings about academia (especially for working class people) and how she made the decision to go into User Experience Research (UX) which led to her career in tech. We talk about being able to bring your best self to work, especially when you're in the technology community and how communication is super important. We finish up by talking about LGBTQI identifies and feeling safe, letting go of expectations and obligations and creating healthy boundaries

In this episode, Em talks to Kristy about her upbringing straddling both the UK & USA and how that shapes your identity, her experience of growing up working class & being mixed race, when she first realised she needed support with her mental health and how since her diagnosis of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) she's managed not only to survive but thrive too! We talk medications, what good therapy looks like, self care, toxic productivity and the things that give her life. Kristy Diaz is a comms professional and freelance music writer, editor and speaker based in Leicester, via the USA. She is co-editor of DIY music website Track 7 with bylines at Upset Magazine, The Skinny and numerous independent publications and fanzines. She is the co-author of Principles of Festival Management (Goodfellow, 2019) and a contributing author of Nasty Women (404 Ink, 2017). Her speaking appearances include Cheltenham Literature Festival, Handmade Festival and The Short Cinema, where she has discussed alternative music and culture from an intersectional feminist perspective.

In this episode, Em talks to Maryam about her decision to move from the UK to the USA. Maryam is a Montessori teacher and at age 30 decided to take her skills state side and settle in Chicago for a new start. We talk about the feeling of upheaval, setting somewhere new, the benefits of living alone and getting to know yourself, growing apart from and falling out of love with the punk scene and the freedom of driving. In this episode, we blend thriving into surviving as Maryam's new life unfortunately then takes an unpredictable turn when she is forced to come back home while her visa and application for a green card run into problems

In this episode, Em talks to Kay about miscarriage - from the feeling of first finding out you're pregnant to what miscarriage means to you, your relationship, your family, your body and your mental health. Kay has survived 4 miscarriages and shares her journey over the last 5 years through hospital visits, awkward conversations, the idea of getting straight into trying again and the things it's NOT ok to say even when you mean well. There's a major lack of examples out there of people sharing their experience with miscarriage as it's such a difficult subject to tackle. We talk about how important and beneficial it can be to share your story with others if you feel you can and how common it is to experience.

For this episode, Em talks to Jake about his journey through the care system from being in foster care as an infant, adopted at 5 and the lifetime of understanding, adjusting and healing that follows. We talk about forging your identity through case notes and stories from others, the adoption process, how to unpack attachment disorder, meeting your birth parents, discovering your racial heritage in your mid 20s and how trauma affects your self esteem, development and relationships as a teenager and an adult.

In this episode of Survivin & Thrivin, Em talks to an anonymous special guest about his gender transition in the 1990s. This is the world before the internet and before the visibility of what being transgender looks like today. We talk about his coming out as a teenager, what gender clinics were like back then, how his family explained his transition to friends and family, how he navigated the process with little up front information of what was yet to come, a lack of trans or queer role models, what it means to live in stealth, what advice he has for people for their own transition today and what being trans in 2020 looks like.

Episode 4 is a special collaborative episode with Poor Lass; the other podcast Em co-hosts with Seleena Laverne Daye. Em talks through surviving bankruptcy and in particular how it impacts on her as a working class person. From the process itself to what happened to her and the aftermath over the 6 years to follow, Em has now finally completed the process and is no longer bankrupt as of May 1st 2020. She describes the impact on her mental health, the importance of asking for help, having great friends and healing. If you like what you hear, as ever follow S&T at instagram.com/survivinnthrivin

In the third episode of Survivin & Thrivin, Em Ledger chats to Sarah Fordham; author of X-Stitch and all round funny lass. We talk about how Sarah got into crafting and how she wound up getting a book deal, how social media distorts how we perceive and understand 'success,' the millennial hustle, and how she's embarking on a new chapter in comedy after a dating mishap made it's way onto a TV show! With extra laughs about online dating, mums on facebook and striving to become a national treasure at 36, listen in for the full story! You can follow Sarah at instagram.com/sarahvfordham and of course S&T at instagram.com/survivinnthrivin

In the second episode of Survivin & Thrivin, Em Ledger chats to Tennesha Vanterpool; creative freelancer working in fashion, streetwear & beauty and also a content creator or 'digital sharer' which we discuss is a much better fit. Hear how Niesh started out always staying curious and wanting to learn, her parents encouraging her to work hard and finish what you start, the importance of her family's roots in Anguilla, how travel keeps your mind open to the possibilities of the world and city living keeps you inspired and constantly moving. We then talk about how we all experience that moment where we realise there is work out there for you that you can enjoy, you can get paid to do your passion and how transformative that is. Niesh is a lone wolf and she wants to do something, she'll go out there and do it. She's inspiring as hell, always moving forward and loves to share it with us all online, lucky us! You can follow Niesh at instagram.com/nieshvanterpool and of course don't forget to follow S&T at instagram.com/survivinnthrivin

In the first episode of Survivin & Thrivin, Em Ledger chats to Chloe Coles - Young adult fiction author best known for the Bookshop Girl series. Hear how Chloe first started writing, teenage diaries, how she made the transition from working in a book shop to having her own books on the shelf, her processes, favourite authors and what's coming up next for her. Follow Chloe on instagram.com/chlocoles and of course follow S&T at instagram.com/survivinnthrivin