Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling

In this episode I speak to the courageous Colin G Higgins, who was groomed and abuse by two paedophiles when he was a young teenager.

They joked about murdering a woman and he knew that he couldn't keep quiet, so he became a whistle blower which led to their conviction, so that no one else would have to suffer like he did

He believes that Laughter Truly Is the Best Medicine!, and is a stand up comic. 

He  is a relative newcomer to stand-up but has been on the comedy scene for many years behind the scenes. Colin runs the comedy club Jesters at Jimmy's in Park Bar, Glasgow and appeared in the documentary on Billy Connolly for BBC Scotland in 2020 titled 'Billy and Us'

Some key points from our interview:

• How he was instrumental in the conviction of the two paedophiles that had murdered a woman, when he went to the police
• How he recognises that he became self destructive due to the abuse and trauma he experienced as a teenager
• How he realised he was not the only boy being abused by these men
• How when he heard their threats made towards his mother his anger and fear made him realise that he had to tell someone
• How he discovered that therapy is not easy but so worthwhile

"When we laugh, we win" - Colin G Higgins

You can get more information about Colin here:

https://www.facebook.com/JestersAtJimmys/

https://www.facebook.com/colinhigginsfb

@HigcG

                                                                                       *        *       *       *

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

I reached out to my guest, Hibo Wardere, in this week's episode after hearing her being interviewed on BBC Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine

She was real, raw and authentic and wasn't afraid to say it like it was and I thought she was a warrior! And I'm very grateful to say that she has now become a dear friend

At the age of six, she was the victim of type 3 FGM, an event she has described as "being engulfed in pain from head to toe". 

Every day for the next ten years, she sought answers from her mother, but was always denied a response. When she was 16, she finally struck a deal with a relative, who promised to tell her everything about what happened after her wedding night. She was horrified by the revelations, and soon fled to London after the civil war broke out in the 1989 when she was just a teenager

 She currently works as a mediator and an FGM educator. Her testimonials and campaigning work have made her one of Britain’s most prominent campaigners about FGM and she has appeared in numerous publications including the Telegraph, the BBC and The Guardian

Some key points from our interview:

• How looking back she now understands that she was groomed just before she was cut at six years old
• How she believes that FGM is a form of child abuse
• How she has changed from being silenced and introverted by her experience to being outspoken and is passionate about speaking out
• How she's never looked back after she was invited to speak at the school she volunteered at, even though she was terrified
• How she's now determined to do all she can as an FGM activist and speaker, to end this global barbaric practise 

"I was never broken, I was just hidden under the rubbles of pain" - Hibo Wardere 

You can get more information about Hibo here: https://www.facebook.com/hibo.wardere
                                                                        
*                                                   *                                                  *                                                   *
"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

I talk to Darlene Garcia who had to learn to find herself and heal after her husband died when she was just 43

Darlene's husband Frank died suddenly in a tragic motorcycle accident in 2015. Frank's death sent her into a spiral of darkness that led to isolation, fear and so many other overwhelming emotions.  

She desperately sought help from all directions including her faith in God, joining a widow support group, and seeing a psychologist for two months.  Nothing or no one could help her find the relief from her pain that she needed.  

She almost lost all hope of finding light and joy again until she was introduced to the Grief Recovery Institute's website by a friend.  Unfortunately, none of the workshops she found were offered in Guam.  

In her desperation to make sense of the overwhelming feelings of grief that constantly consumed her, she signed up for the first workshop she could schedule and was off to Austin, Texas. After taking the Grief Recovery Method Workshop and learning the small correct actions to heal her heart, she finally saw a small spark of light and believed in joy and hope again.  

Some key points form our interview:

• How she had to learn to navigate out of the darkness after her husband's death
• How she recognised that fear washer greatest emotion
• How she realised she was isolating herself and her children were worried about her
• How she learnt at a workshop that grief is not intellectual and it's ok to feel a range of emotions
• How she learnt to let her support network know what she needed 
• How she recognises that's important to be heard of you're grieving and to fins a heart with ears

"I do not allow the circumstances in my life dictate how I live" - Darlene Garcia 

You can get more information about  Darlene here:
https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/darlene-garcia

 *                                                           *                                                   *                                                 * 

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

I've known Josh for  a few years though social media and I've watched his journey over the years and I'm always amazed by his constant resiliency.  He has had many challenges along his journey but they never stop him, if anything he just gets back up stronger 

He started cycling because he was experiencing depression and was looking for something to turn his life around. In 2015 he found himself in a very dark space after splitting up with his long-term girlfriend, which led to him attempting suicide by intentionally crashing his car at high speed on the motorway near his home.

 After surviving this attempt, he knew he had to do something different and try to turn his life around. He attended a talk in Edinburgh where Sir Chris Hoy was speaking, and his story really inspired me. He made the decision that he would get into cycling and try and cycle around the world. This was how it began

 In April 2019, Josh set off from his home in Scotland to cycle around the world. Making good time and finding great adventures along the way, Josh was a mere 2000 miles away from completing his journey, when in December he was hit by a truck while cycling along Highway 36 near Temple in Texas, where he sustained life threatening injuries.

 However just nine months later, he has set a new record for the North Coast 500 – riding the 516-mile route in the Scottish Highlands in a little over 31 hours to beat the previous record by less than 5 minutes.

His mission is to win the Tour De France in 2026. Remember where you heard it first!

Some key points from our interview:

• How he managed to find the strength to keep going despite having suicidal thoughts
• How listening to a talk by Chris Hoy motivated him to cycle around the world despite being depressed, overweight and unfit
• How cycling changed his  outlook in life and helped him to give up his unhealthy life choices
• How he's always been very honest and authentic with both his cycling and mental health journey on social media

 
You can find more information about Josh here: https://www.joshquigley92.com

*                                         *                                                  *                                                          *

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

I talk to Darlene Garcia who had to learn to find herself and heal after her husband died when she was just 43

Darlene's husband Frank died suddenly in a tragic motorcycle accident in 2015. Frank's death sent her into a spiral of darkness that led to isolation, fear and so many other overwhelming emotions.  

She desperately sought help from all directions including her faith in God, joining a widow support group, and seeing a psychologist for two months.  Nothing or no one could help her find the relief from her pain that she needed.  

She almost lost all hope of finding light and joy again until she was introduced to the Grief Recovery Institute's website by a friend.  Unfortunately, none of the workshops she found were offered in Guam.  

In her desperation to make sense of the overwhelming feelings of grief that constantly consumed her, she signed up for the first workshop she could schedule and was off to Austin, Texas. After taking the Grief Recovery Method Workshop and learning the small correct actions to heal her heart, she finally saw a small spark of light and believed in joy and hope again.  

Some key points form our interview:

• How she had to learn to navigate out of the darkness after her husband's death
• How she recognised that fear washer greatest emotion
• How she realised she was isolating herself and her children were worried about her
• How she learnt at a workshop that grief is not intellectual and it's ok to feel a range of emotions
• How she learnt to let her support network know what she needed 
• How she recognises that's important to be heard of you're grieving and to fins a heart with ears

"I do not allow the circumstances in my life dictate how I live" - Darlene Garcia 

You can get more information about  Darlene here:
https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/grms/darlene-garcia

 *                                                           *                                                   *                                                 * 

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

I reached out to my guest, Hibo Wardere, in this week's episode after hearing her being interviewed on BBC Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine

She was real, raw and authentic and wasn't afraid to say it like it was and I thought she was a warrior! And I'm very grateful to say that she has now become a dear friend

At the age of six, she was the victim of type 3 FGM, an event she has described as "being engulfed in pain from head to toe". 

Every day for the next ten years, she sought answers from her mother, but was always denied a response. When she was 16, she finally struck a deal with a relative, who promised to tell her everything about what happened after her wedding night. She was horrified by the revelations, and soon fled to London after the civil war broke out in the 1989 when she was just a teenager

 She currently works as a mediator and an FGM educator. Her testimonials and campaigning work have made her one of Britain’s most prominent campaigners about FGM and she has appeared in numerous publications including the Telegraph, the BBC and The Guardian

Some key points from our interview:

• How looking back she now understands that she was groomed just before she was cut at six years old
• How she believes that FGM is a form of child abuse
• How she has changed from being silenced and introverted by her experience to being outspoken and is passionate about speaking out
• How she's never looked back after she was invited to speak at the school she volunteered at, even though she was terrified
• How she's now determined to do all she can as an FGM activist and speaker, to end this global barbaric practise 

"I was never broken, I was just hidden under the rubbles of pain" - Hibo Wardere 

You can get more information about Hibo here: https://www.facebook.com/hibo.wardere
                                                                        
*                                                   *                                                  *                                                   *
"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

I've known Josh for  a few years though social media and I've watched his journey over the years and I'm always amazed by his constant resiliency.  He has had many challenges along his journey but they never stop him, if anything he just gets back up stronger 

He started cycling because he was experiencing depression and was looking for something to turn his life around. In 2015 he found himself in a very dark space after splitting up with his long-term girlfriend, which led to him attempting suicide by intentionally crashing his car at high speed on the motorway near his home.

 After surviving this attempt, he knew he had to do something different and try to turn his life around. He attended a talk in Edinburgh where Sir Chris Hoy was speaking, and his story really inspired me. He made the decision that he would get into cycling and try and cycle around the world. This was how it began

 In April 2019, Josh set off from his home in Scotland to cycle around the world. Making good time and finding great adventures along the way, Josh was a mere 2000 miles away from completing his journey, when in December he was hit by a truck while cycling along Highway 36 near Temple in Texas, where he sustained life threatening injuries.

 However just nine months later, he has set a new record for the North Coast 500 – riding the 516-mile route in the Scottish Highlands in a little over 31 hours to beat the previous record by less than 5 minutes.

His mission is to win the Tour De France in 2026. Remember where you heard it first!

Some key points from our interview:

• How he managed to find the strength to keep going despite having suicidal thoughts
• How listening to a talk by Chris Hoy motivated him to cycle around the world despite being depressed, overweight and unfit
• How cycling changed his  outlook in life and helped him to give up his unhealthy life choices
• How he's always been very honest and authentic with both his cycling and mental health journey on social media

 
You can find more information about Josh here: https://www.joshquigley92.com

*                                         *                                                  *                                                          *

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

Ian Young uses his own experiences to see how he can genuinely benefit others. 
 
 He has been working in the Private Sector of the Addiction treatment industry since 2003, successfully touching the lives of thousands of people and their families, showing them a new way to live and encouraging them to rebuild their lives 

Ian was the founder of two large Rehabilitation facilities in the UK in 2004 and 2006 And is currently the Co-Founder and Treatment Director of The PARC ~ Phuket Addiction Recovery Clinic , which he has been developing and growing since September 2019. Ian is about to begin a new project on the island of Koh Phangnan, where he is collaborating to create a sober health and wellness co-working retreat next to the beach called Eden. 

In 2008 Ian founded Sober Services Global, which helps people attain and maintain recovery from their behavioural health challenges by offering bespoke packages of treatment to individuals and their families also affected by the patient
 
Ian published his autobiography “It’s Not About Me ~ Confessions of a Recovered Outlaw & Addict, from living hell to living big” in 2013.

 Ian’s personal mission is to co-create a green and harmonious world, through laughter and love, bringing a better quality of life to all who cross his path and beyond.

Some key points from our interview:

• How he had to hit rock bottom for him to turn his life around
• How his third overdose woke him up and started his sobriety journey
• How he realised that for himself absolute abstention was the only way he would recover from his drug and alcohol addiction 
• How the hardest part of his recovery journey was surrendering and accepting the facts
• How recovery had helped him move away from being the bad guy to a good guy

"Gratitude is so important" - Ian Young

You can get more information about Ian here:  https://www.sober-services.com/ian-young/

*                                                     *                                              *                                                      *

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

Ian Young uses his own experiences to see how he can genuinely benefit others. 
 
 He has been working in the Private Sector of the Addiction treatment industry since 2003, successfully touching the lives of thousands of people and their families, showing them a new way to live and encouraging them to rebuild their lives 

Ian was the founder of two large Rehabilitation facilities in the UK in 2004 and 2006 And is currently the Co-Founder and Treatment Director of The PARC ~ Phuket Addiction Recovery Clinic , which he has been developing and growing since September 2019. Ian is about to begin a new project on the island of Koh Phangnan, where he is collaborating to create a sober health and wellness co-working retreat next to the beach called Eden. 

In 2008 Ian founded Sober Services Global, which helps people attain and maintain recovery from their behavioural health challenges by offering bespoke packages of treatment to individuals and their families also affected by the patient
 
Ian published his autobiography “It’s Not About Me ~ Confessions of a Recovered Outlaw & Addict, from living hell to living big” in 2013.

 Ian’s personal mission is to co-create a green and harmonious world, through laughter and love, bringing a better quality of life to all who cross his path and beyond.

Some key points from our interview:

• How he had to hit rock bottom for him to turn his life around
• How his third overdose woke him up and started his sobriety journey
• How he realised that for himself absolute abstention was the only way he would recover from his drug and alcohol addiction 
• How the hardest part of his recovery journey was surrendering and accepting the facts
• How recovery had helped him move away from being the bad guy to a good guy

"Gratitude is so important" - Ian Young

You can get more information about Ian here:  https://www.sober-services.com/ian-young/

*                                                     *                                              *                                                      *

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE

After many years in Milan Deborah moved to New York with her partner Alessandro and decided to start a family. 

 She was already in her early forties, but still had the dream to have a large household. They successfully open adopted a beautiful baby girl called Keisha and continued in their quest to conceive more children, but that wasn’t easy. Following an IVF process, two beautiful twin boys arrived, Zack and Dylan right before they relocated to Mexico City.

They were at the top of their game personally and professionally, and very, very busy bottle feeding the children and changing a lot of nappies, they discovered that Zack and Dylan had been born profoundly deaf.

That news came as a complete shock, during a move to a new country and a change of job, and it really caught them in a very delicate moment of their life.

Knocked off  balance, they  had to significantly adapt their lives and find within them all the strength of the world to give their kids the chance to reach their full potential, despite their hearing disability.

Some key points from our interview:

• How she discovered that however big her problems were that she could overcome them with a good mindset
• How she was determined for her boys to be part of the hearing world whatever it took
• How she recognises that it's important to surround herself with positive people
• How she was really driven to give her boys the best life 

"it's not about thinking out of the box, it's realising that there isn't a box" Deborah Pezzuto

Deborah now works as a transformational coach and recently self-published her memoir "Listen" which is available on Amazon, and you can learn more about how she could help you, here: https://deborahpezzuto.com

*                                                      *                                                  *                                                  *

"Unbroken: Healing Through Storytelling" features  individuals who have all triumphed after adversity and have not just bounced back in life, but forward and are now making a difference for others.

Hosted by Madeleine Black, the show will share stories of all the amazing people Madeleine has met on her own journey as an author/speaker and these stories will heal, motivate, inspire and bring hope when they share their wisdom and knowledge with her.

She really believes in the power that comes when we share our stories, that in fact we are not story tellers but story healers. Tune in to discover what helped them to stay unbroken and together we will discover that none of us are broken beyond repair.

You can find out more about Madeleine, her story and her memoir, Unbroken,  from her website: https://madeleineblack.co.uk/
Watch edited highlights on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeleineBlackUnbroken
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/unbrokenthepodcastwithmb 

Short of time but want to tune in?

Watch Short Vlog Versions on our You Tube Channel HERE