Bestselling author and psychotherapist, Julia Samuel, invites us into her therapy room as she talks to both known and unknown voices about some of life’s bigges...
In this Agony Aunties episode, a listener writes in about the emotional challenges of caring for her mother who is starting to show signs of aging. The Agony Aunties discuss the delicate balance between providing help and respecting the parent's independence. They highlight the importance of having tender, collaborative conversations and preparing for the future. The discussion also touches on the emotional complexity of witnessing a parent's decline and offers practical advice for maintaining patience and understanding.
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
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18:49
Emma Barnett on Motherhood, Pain, and Rewriting the Narrative
In this powerful and deeply personal episode, award-winning broadcaster, journalist and author Emma Barnett opens up about the unseen struggles that have shaped both her personal and professional life.
Emma shares her journey with endometriosis and adenomyosis, the toll of chronic pain, and the emotional realities of going through IVF to have her children. Speaking with clarity, honesty and conviction, she dismantles taboos around women’s health and offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities of motherhood — one that goes far beyond picture-perfect expectations.
We also dive into her book Maternity Service, where Emma challenges outdated notions of maternity leave and reclaims the narrative of what it means to become a mother. This episode is a candid reflection on resilience, identity, and why the stories we don’t often tell are the ones that matter most.
01:02 Emma's Health Challenges
03:13 IVF Journey and Motherhood
05:50 Living with Pain and Finding Strength
08:28 Emma's Background and Upbringing
15:11 Professional Life and Broadcasting
20:26 Discussing the Book 'Maternity Service'
33:25 Losing and Gaining Yourself
33:43 Balancing Career and Home Life
34:00 The Importance of Flexibility
35:12 The 'Let Them' Movement
35:26 Influence and Relationships
38:50 Community and Support
45:46 Survival Strategies for Parents
49:07 Hope and Determination
54:24 Reflections on Motherhood
Find Emma:
Instagram: @emmabarnett
Buy her book, Maternity Service: https://amzn.eu/d/3C2izpu
Website: https://www.emmabarnett.org/
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
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1:16:47
Agony Aunties on Family Estrangement and the Grief No One Talks About
In this episode, the Agony Aunties tackle a listener's question about dealing with the pain of family estrangement. They provide thoughtful advice, suggesting outreach to communities in similar situations, the therapeutic use of letters, and the importance of individual and family therapy. They emphasise the necessity of processing grief, managing obsessive thoughts, and finding personal agency in the face of unresolved trauma. Lastly, they acknowledge the listener's own emotional journey and encourage self-support during this challenging time.
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
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10:14
Lindsey Burrow on Life After Rob
In this heartfelt episode of the Therapy Works podcast, Julia welcomes Lindsey Burrow, widow of rugby legend Rob Burrow. Lindsey discusses the challenges of coping with Rob's battle against motor neurone disease and life after his passing in June 2024. She opens up about dealing with anticipatory grief, the struggle of single parenthood, and maintaining a positive mindset. Lindsey also shares her ways of coping through exercise, the importance of communication, and the support she received from family and friends. Lindsey also sheds light on the role of unpaid carers, the importance of exercise and communication, and her efforts to continue Rob's legacy through fundraising for a specialist MND care centre and her upcoming book, 'Take Care,' which which focuses on love, resilience, and the power of family during adversity.
Buy Lindsey's book: https://amzn.eu/d/epJlLxi
Follow Lindsey on Instagram: @rob7lindsey
00:22 Lindsey Burrow's Story: Life with Rob Burrow
01:11 Greatest Challenges After Rob's Passing
03:03 Coping with Grief and Loss
04:25 Balancing Parenthood and Personal Grief
06:02 The Role of a Carer
15:44 Children's Grief and Resilience
29:10 Rob's Legacy and Future Plans
30:17 Writing the Book: A Therapeutic Journey
32:57 Final Thoughts
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
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54:38
Agony Aunties: Is It Possible to Love More Than One Person?
In today's episode, a letter to the Agony Aunties sparks a deeply honest conversation about what it means to love two people at once. The writer shares her experience of being in a long-term marriage of 33 years while also falling for another man. The hosts explore the emotional weight of this dual connection and the very human complexities of desire, loyalty, and longing.
Drawing on the insights of relationship experts like Dan Savage and Esther Perel, the discussion unpacks the prevalence of extramarital affairs and the often-unspoken struggles within committed relationships. From trust and secrecy to self-reflection and growth, this episode invites listeners to sit with the grey areas and consider how we reconcile love, truth, and our evolving sense of self within a marriage.
Please subscribe and leave a review—it truly makes all the difference! Follow Julia at @juliasamuelmbe for more insights, tips, and conversations on life's challenges and how to improve your mental well-being.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bestselling author and psychotherapist, Julia Samuel, invites us into her therapy room as she talks to both known and unknown voices about some of life’s biggest challenges.
Therapy Works is full of therapeutic conversations which may contain difficult emotions but those that can paradoxically bring light, in all its form.
Listeners will hear what the guests have learnt, failed to learn and how they have grown through their experience. At the end of each episode, Julia reflects on her session with her two psychotherapist daughters who will share their thoughts on the conversation. You’ll quickly discover that not all therapists agree on everything!
Follow @juliasamuelmbe
New Zealand