The Life of Bryony

• Millie Mackintosh: How to Survive a Sober Christmas

  This week on The Life of Bryony, I’m joined by my wonderful friend Millie Mackintosh to talk about something so many of you have been asking for – how to survive and actually enjoy the festive season without alcohol. Millie shares her honest and heartfelt experiences of giving up drinking, the challenges of those first few Christmases sober, and practical tips for navigating parties, family gatherings, and the pressures of December without drowning out your feelings with booze. We discuss how to plan your social calendar, finding your tribe, and the small wins that make all the difference. If you’re sober curious or newly sober, this episode will remind you you’re not alone. Bryony xx BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODEMillie’s book, Bad Drunk, is available in paperback on 9th January 2026.LINKS TO SUPPORT GROUPSIf the content of this episode resonated with you today, and you would like support, please consider the following:DRINKLINE – For anyone who is concerned about their drinking, or someone else's.To speak to someone call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm) ALCOHOL CHANGE UK – For anyone seeking help with their own or someone else’s drinking.Visit https://alcoholchange.org.uk/ THE FORWARD TRUST – For anyone needing support to recover from addiction.Chat to someone online at https://forwardtrust.org.uk/talk-to-us (weekdays 9am-5pm) ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - For anyone who feels their drinking is causing problems or who has a desire to stop drinking.Call 0800 917 7650 visit https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY:Bad Drunk: Millie Mackintosh on Sobriety, Motherhood, and HealingWE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUGot something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xxCREDITS:Host: Bryony GordonGuest: Millie MackintoshProducer: Laura Elwood-CraigAssistant Producer: Tippi WillardStudio Manager: Sam ChisholmEditor: Luke ShelleyExec Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Life of You – How to Detach with Love: Sophie Scott's Expert Advice

  In this episode, psychotherapist Sophie Scott joins me again to answer listener questions on supporting loved ones with mental health challenges: How do you step back from a parent’s mental health needs when guilt keeps pulling you in? What’s the best way to help a sibling with OCD, beyond just managing their rituals? And how do you avoid feeling completely drained by a friend who’s is struggling? Sophie shares how setting boundaries can actually be an act of love, and why “detaching with love” might be the healthiest thing you can do – for you and for them. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance caring for others while protecting your own wellbeing, you are absolutely not alone – this chat is for you.BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODESophie’s book, You Are Not Alone in This, is available now.LINKS TO SUPPORT GROUPSIf the content of this episode resonated with you today and you would like support, please consider the following charities:Mind – Mental health charity that has resources for managing your own wellbeing whilst caring for someone else.Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/carers-friends-family-coping-support/support-for-you/ OCD Action – for people with OCD, their families, carers and friends.Call 0300 636 5478 or visit https://ocdaction.org.uk/Al Anon – for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking.Call 0800 0086 811 or visit https://al-anonuk.org.uk/FamAnon – for family members and friends affected by another’s abuse of mind-altering substances, or related behavioural problems.Call 0207 4984 680 or visit https://famanon.org.uk/SamaritansCall 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/ for free, 24-hour support.WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUGot something to share? Message us @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.CREDITS:Host: Bryony GordonGuest: Sophie ScottProducer: Laura Elwood-Craig & Jonathan O’SullivanAssistant Producer: Ceyda UzunStudio Manager: Sam ChisholmEditor: Luke ShelleyExec Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• How to Support Someone Through a Mental Health Crisis While Protecting Your Own Well-Being

  This week, I sit down with integrative psychotherapist and author Sophie Scott to talk about what it really takes to support loved ones through mental health challenges without losing yourself along the way. Sophie shares her personal story of growing up in a family touched by OCD and loss, and how those experiences shaped her approach to mental health. We explore the power of listening over giving advice, why boundaries are essential for everyone’s wellbeing, and how burnout affects caregivers who often feel unseen or unsupported. Sophie offers practical strategies – from the 4-7-8 breathing technique to finding individual purpose and accepting messy emotions that can help you care for others and for yourself. If you’re navigating relationships affected by OCD or other mental health issues, this episode is packed with compassion, relatability, and genuinely helpful advice.BOOKS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODESophie’s book, You Are Not Alone in This, is available now.LINKS TO SUPPORT GROUPSIf the content of this episode resonated with you today and you would like support, please consider the following charities:Mind – Mental health charity that has resources for managing your own wellbeing whilst caring for someone else.Call 0300 123 3393 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helping-someone-else/carers-friends-family-coping-support/support-for-you/ Al Anon – for anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking.Call 0800 0086 811 or visit https://al-anonuk.org.uk/FamAnon – for family members and friends affected by another’s abuse of mind-altering substances, or related behavioural problems.Call 0207 4984 680 or visit https://famanon.org.uk/OCD Action – for people with OCD, their families, carers and friends.Call 0300 636 5478 or visit https://ocdaction.org.uk/SamaritansCall 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/ for free, 24-hour support.WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUGot something to share? Message us @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.CREDITS:Host: Bryony GordonGuest: Sophie ScottProducer: Laura Elwood-Craig & Jonathan O’SullivanAssistant Producer: Ceyda UzunStudio Manager: Sam ChisholmEditor: Luke ShelleyExec Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Life of You – What Helped Rhian Mannings Survive the Unimaginable

  After one of the most powerful conversations we’ve ever had on The Life of Bryony, Rhian Mannings returns to share the three things that helped her survive unthinkable loss and begin to find her way through grief. She shares how small acts of kindness, tough love from friends, and the courage to keep showing up made all the difference in her healing. And we laugh about lasagnas left on doorsteps, reflect on how grief changes what really matters, and talk about the simple, surprising things that can carry us through the darkest days. It’s a tender, funny, and deeply human conversation that reminds us there’s no right way to survive loss – only small glimmers that light the way forward.LINKS TO SUPPORT GROUPSIf the content of this episode resonated with you today and you would like support, please consider the following charities:Rhian’s charity, 2wish:https://2wish.org.uk/Sue Ryderhttps://www.sueryder.org/ for expert grief support, including an online bereavement community available 24/7.SamaritansCall 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/ for free, 24-hour support.WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUGot something to share? Message us on @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.If this episode resonated with you, please share it with someone who might need it – it really helps! Bryony xxCREDITS:Host: Bryony GordonGuest: Rhian ManningsProducer: Laura Elwood-CraigAssistant Producer: Tippi WillardStudio Manager: Sam ChisholmEditor: Luke ShelleyExec Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• My Story Made Prince William Cry – Rhian Mannings on Losing Her Son and Husband Within Days of Each Other

  This week I’m joined by the extraordinary Rhian Mannings – a woman whose story of loss, resilience, and purpose has touched hearts around the world, even moving Prince William to tears. At 33, Rhian lost her baby son George and, just five days later, her husband Paul, took his own life. In this deeply moving conversation, she talks about surviving the unimaginable, the loneliness and stigma that accompany suicide, and how she channelled her pain into founding the charity 2wish, which supports families facing sudden bereavement. We also discuss the physical impact of grief, navigating motherhood after trauma, and the importance of speaking openly about mental health and suicide. Rhian’s honesty and openness shine through every word – a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there can be light, love, and purpose again.LINKS TO SUPPORT GROUPSIf the content of this episode resonated with you today and you would like support, please consider the following charities:Rhian’s charity, 2wish:https://2wish.org.uk/Sue Ryderhttps://www.sueryder.org/ for expert grief support, including an online bereavement community available 24/7.SamaritansCall 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org/ for free, 24-hour support.IF YOU LIKED THIS EPISODE, YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO LISTEN TO:'I never thought I'd be happy again in my life.' Lottie Tomlinson on Accepting GriefWE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUGot something to share? Message us @lifeofbryonypod on Instagram.CREDITS:Host: Bryony GordonGuest: Rhian ManningsProducer: Laura Elwood-CraigAssistant Producer: Tippi WillardStudio Manager: Sam ChisholmEditor: Luke ShelleyExec Producer: Jamie East A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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