by Kerrie Atherton | Jul 14, 2025 | Addiction, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
Danny Lloyd’s life once revolved around addiction, chaos, and despair. Like so many caught in the grip of substance abuse, he fought silently against a powerful force that threatened to consume everything he loved. Yet his story did not end in destruction—it became a journey of resilience, service, and hope.
In this inspiring episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Danny shares openly about his battles with addiction and the turning point that set him on a new course. Through honesty, vulnerability, and determination, he rebuilt his life brick by brick, discovering along the way that recovery is not only about leaving substances behind—it is about creating meaning, purpose, and connection.
Danny has since dedicated himself to selfless service, supporting others who walk the difficult road of recovery. His story reveals that healing is amplified when we turn outward, becoming a source of encouragement for those still struggling. By embracing this mission, Danny calls himself a “Soldier of Hope,” a reminder that every victory in recovery can ripple outward and inspire change.
This episode shows us that addiction does not have the final word. With courage, honesty, and the will to serve others, new life is possible. Danny Lloyd’s story is a beacon for all who need to know that no matter how deep the darkness, there is always a way forward.
by Kerrie Atherton | Jun 30, 2025 | Domestic Abuse, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
Jo Mason’s life was once overshadowed by fear, control, and violence. As a survivor of domestic abuse, she knows the heavy silence that keeps so many victims hidden and alone. But Jo chose a different path—one of courage, advocacy, and hope. Today, she stands as both survivor and advocate, determined to break the silence and shine a light on domestic violence.
In this powerful episode of Stories of Hope – Inspiring Humans with Kerrie Atherton, Jo shares her story with honesty and strength. She describes the pain of her lived experience, the challenges of escaping abuse, and the difficult process of rebuilding her life. More importantly, she explains why speaking out became her mission: to give a voice to the voiceless and empower others to step into safety and healing.
Jo’s journey demonstrates that while domestic violence seeks to strip away dignity and hope, survivors carry within them extraordinary resilience. Through her advocacy, she not only raises awareness but also provides support and resources for those still trapped in cycles of abuse. Her story is an urgent reminder that silence protects the abuser, but truth and solidarity protect survivors.
This episode is a call to listen, to believe, and to act. Jo Mason shows us that breaking the silence is not only an act of survival but also an act of love—for oneself, for other survivors, and for future generations who deserve a life free of violence.
by Kerrie Atherton | Jun 22, 2025 | Mental Health, Podcasts, vulnerability
In this profoundly moving episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton speaks with Rhys Kirk—an occupational therapist whose work in psychiatric wards has shaped a perspective both compassionate and deeply grounded in dignity.
Mental health wards often carry stigma. For some, they’re places of fear. For others, they represent trauma. But for many individuals, they have been sanctuaries of survival—places where healing begins in the presence of nonjudgmental care.
Rhys brings years of experience working across both acute and long-term psychiatric units. He doesn’t describe patients by diagnoses—he sees people. Individuals who’ve battled addiction, homelessness, chronic illness, and immense trauma. He speaks with deep humanity about those society often overlooks, reminding us that everyone deserves hope, dignity, and the chance to heal.
In this conversation, Kerrie and Rhys also explore the emotional realities of care work. They discuss compassion fatigue, clinician burnout, and the importance of recognizing your own early warning signs. Rhys emphasizes that self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity, especially for those in helping professions.
More than anything, Rhys reinforces the idea that healing doesn’t always come from big interventions. Sometimes, it comes from simply sitting with someone in their pain and saying, “I’m here.”
Whether you’re a mental health professional, a carer, or someone navigating your own healing journey, this episode offers a rare and tender look inside the systems that hold people together during their darkest hours.
by Kerrie Atherton | Jun 2, 2025 | Family, Mental Health, Podcasts
In this raw, courageous, and deeply affecting conversation, I sit down with Paul Beardmore—a father, speaker, and advocate whose life has been marked by both unimaginable tragedy and unwavering resolve. Paul’s story is one of profound heartbreak, but also of fierce love and the relentless pursuit of justice in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Paul opens up about the devastating experience of being forcibly separated from his children, a trauma that has left invisible but lasting scars. He recounts, with gripping honesty, the horrifying day when his young son, Lane, suffered a catastrophic brain injury under suspicious circumstances—an event that, to this day, Paul believes was never fully or properly investigated. His voice trembles not with weakness, but with the weight of truth that has long gone unheard.
As if that were not enough, Paul also shares the unspeakable grief of losing his stepdaughter to murder—a crime that remains unresolved, without accountability or closure. It’s a burden that would break most, but Paul continues to stand—not because he is untouched by pain, but because he chooses, every day, to fight through it for the sake of his family and his children.
In this episode, we confront the complex and often overlooked realities of parental alienation, the deeply flawed nature of the justice system when it comes to protecting children, and the long shadows these failures cast on fathers who are simply trying to do right by their families. Paul’s insight into these issues is not theoretical—it’s lived, and it’s delivered with a level of emotional honesty that is both disarming and inspiring.
But this conversation is not only about pain—it’s also about healing. Paul speaks with reverence and admiration about Lane’s enduring spirit, his capacity for joy despite injury, and the silent strength that radiates from his smile. He shares how support networks—especially those forged with other parents who understand—have helped him stay afloat in the darkest seasons. And most importantly, he talks about hope. Not as a cliché, but as a conscious, daily choice—a lifeline he continues to grip, even when everything else feels like it’s falling away.
Paul Beardmore’s story will touch your heart, shake your understanding of resilience, and illuminate the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up in the face of sustained injustice. This is not just a story about loss—it’s a powerful reminder of what it means to love relentlessly, to refuse silence, and to believe that healing is still possible, even in the aftermath of shattered dreams.
If you are walking through your own battle—whether with grief, injustice, or isolation—Paul’s message may be exactly what your heart has been waiting to hear.
by Kerrie Atherton | May 19, 2025 | Empower, Podcasts, Stories of Hope
In this deeply moving episode, I speak with Jen Hamer—an inspiring young woman who battled a life-threatening eating disorder from the age of 12. Jen opens up about the core beliefs that drove her illness, the pivotal moment she chose recovery over death, and the ongoing journey of healing and rediscovery.
Now completing a PhD focused on eating disorders in athletes and preparing to publish her first book Goodbye Anna, Jen is using her lived experience to spark change, foster understanding, and bring hope to others still in the struggle.
This conversation is a raw and powerful reminder that recovery is possible—and that your body is not your enemy, but your home. Whether you’re facing your own challenges or supporting someone who is, Jen’s courage and wisdom will stay with you long after you listen.
In this deeply moving and unflinchingly honest episode of Stories of HOPE, I sit down with Jen Hamer—an extraordinary young woman whose journey through the darkness of a life-threatening eating disorder has not only shaped her, but now empowers others walking a similar path.
Jen’s battle began at the age of just 12, when what started as a seemingly innocent pursuit of control and perfection spiraled into a dangerous illness that consumed her body, mind, and identity. She courageously opens up about the painful core beliefs that fed her disorder: the need to be “good,” the fear of taking up space, and the shame that twisted her perception of self-worth. Her story is not simply about food—it’s about the fundamental human need to be seen, accepted, and loved, especially by oneself.
But this conversation is also about turning points. Jen speaks about the day she chose recovery over death—not because she had all the answers, but because something inside her whispered that she was made for more than mere survival. With raw vulnerability, she describes what it means to face your deepest fears, to rebuild a relationship with your body, and to find peace in the spaces that once held pain.
Now in the final stages of completing her PhD, Jen’s academic work focuses on eating disorders in athletes—a group uniquely vulnerable to body image pressures, performance demands, and societal expectations. Drawing from both her lived experience and scholarly research, Jen is becoming a powerful voice for change in both clinical and community spaces.
Her upcoming book, Goodbye Anna, is more than a memoir—it’s a manifesto of hope, a farewell to the eating disorder she personified as “Anna,” and a love letter to every person who believes they are too far gone to heal. With clarity, compassion, and grace, Jen is breaking silence, busting myths, and reaching into the lives of those who still feel trapped in shame.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that recovery is not a linear path—it’s a revolution of self-compassion, patience, and trust. It reminds us that our bodies are not battlegrounds to be fought with, but homes to be nurtured, respected, and reclaimed.
Whether you’ve walked the path of disordered eating yourself or know someone who has, Jen’s insight will leave you changed. Her courage is contagious, and her wisdom lingers long after the conversation ends.
🛒 Buy Jen’s Book – Goodbye Anna
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Goodbye-Anna-Jennifer-Ellen-Hamer-ebook/dp/B09PT6H3JQ
by Kerrie Atherton | May 5, 2025 | lived experience, Mental Health, Podcasts
In this deeply personal and empowering episode of Stories of HOPE, Kerrie Atherton sits down with Jen Hamer—a writer, speaker, and academic whose journey through the depths of an eating disorder has not only shaped her life but now serves as a guiding light for others navigating similar paths.
Jen’s struggle began early. By the age of 12, she had already fallen into the grips of a life-threatening eating disorder—an illness that stole her energy, identity, and nearly her life. For years, Jen battled in silence, buried beneath the weight of impossible expectations, perfectionism, and the belief that her worth was tied to how little space she could take up in the world. Her story is one of pain, but also of awakening.
Now, Jen is completing a PhD focused on eating disorders in athletes—a group often overlooked, yet uniquely vulnerable to body image pressures and performance-based identity. Her research is personal, rigorous, and driven by a desire to create tangible change in how we understand and treat disordered eating in high-pressure environments.
In this episode, Jen speaks about the moment she chose recovery—a crossroads where she had to choose between surviving and truly living. She discusses the core beliefs that fueled her illness, the myths that kept her trapped, and the moment she realized her body was not the enemy but a partner in healing.
With vulnerability and strength, Jen also opens up about her upcoming book, Goodbye Anna—a powerful memoir in which she personifies her eating disorder as “Anna,” and writes a final farewell to the part of her life that tried to consume her. The book is not just a goodbye to pain—it’s a hello to purpose, compassion, and renewed self-trust.
Through her words, Jen sends a message to anyone who is struggling: that healing is messy, nonlinear, and never instant—but it is possible. That your value does not come from your appearance or achievements, but from your humanity. And that your body, no matter how long it has been at war with your mind, can become your home again.
Whether you’re living with an eating disorder, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to rebuild your relationship with your body, Jen’s story offers insight, empathy, and hope. It’s a reminder that recovery isn’t about returning to who you were—it’s about becoming who you were meant to be.
