We are used to talking about our 5-sense perception – sight, sound, smell, taste and touch but did you know there’s another sense that’s just as valuable, possibly even more so in helping us navigate the world? Interoception is the ability to detect our inner sensations. Our so-called “gut reaction” is part of this – our stomach can tell us we’ve eaten something bad, we’re excited about a date we’re going on or we will regret taking that job. It can help us make better decisions but also be more aware of our emotions so we can manage them better or guide us to be more authentic in our relationships. Our ability to use interoception is so relevant to a healthy life that I’ve developed an app, CalmCore to help people hone this skill. I’d love to help people find out how valuable this skill is for themselves. You can find a link to the app in the comments. You can also read more about interoception in the blog post I’ve linked to in the comments

Why's interoception so valuable? What other innate skill can: Improve ability to regulate emotions? Help you make better decisions and identify solutions? Increase your empathy? Strengthen your ability to form authentic relationships? Some of us are better at this than others. Some of us have been encouraged to hone it, whilst in other families, some people learned to shut it down. That's why I developed an app, CalmCore to encourage people to build and strengthen this ability. There's a link to CalmCore in the comments

This conversation for @LockedUpLiving features Dr Rodney King, a martial arts expert, author, and scholar whose journey from government housing and homelessness in Johannesburg to international leadership coach is as inspiring as it is insightful. In this episode, Dr Rodney King joins me and @wolvercoteman to explore: · How adversity and early experiences shaped his life and work · The transformative power of martial arts, mindfulness, and embodied leadership · Why success isn’t just about grit—and the critical role of community and support · The pitfalls of “optimizing” our lives and how to truly reconnect with what matters · Practical strategies for wellbeing, navigating modern challenges, and finding authenticity Whether you’re passionate about leadership, mental health, or personal growth, Dr Rodney King's story and insights deliver valuable takeaways for all of us. 🔥 Ready to be inspired? Look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts or via the links below. Listen now and join the conversation every Wednesday at 6am UK time!

In this episode of @LockedUpLiving , neuroscientist Sarah Turner joins the podcast to discuss the interconnectedness of the brain, body, gut, and environmental factors—particularly light—and how these can be leveraged to enhance wellbeing, especially within challenging environments like prisons. The discussion covers cutting-edge topics such as photobiomodulation (red and near-infrared light therapy), the importance of the microbiome, and accessible ways to improve mental and physical health. Key Insights The Power of Light: Sarah Turner explains how natural light and targeted light therapy can increase brain energy, reduce inflammation, and even improve symptoms of severe conditions like motor neuron disease, based on real case studies. The Microbiome and Diet: The podcast stresses the underappreciated impact of gut health and prison diets on mental health, behaviour, and emotional regulation—highlighting simple, low-cost changes that can yield significant benefits. Empowering Agency: Regular wellbeing routines, including exposure to natural light and small dietary adjustments, provide individuals—even those in highly restrictive environments—with a sense of agency and potential improvements in quality of life. Accessibility and Solutions: Sarah Turner offers practical strategies for making light and nutrition-based interventions more accessible in institutions, emphasizing education, simple environmental changes, and the use of inexpensive tools (like red clothes or flax seeds). Research and Integrity: The episode touches on the importance of scientific transparency and collaboration, and the challenges of bringing new wellness technologies to those most in need. Who Should Listen: Professionals working in prison, secure care, or institutional environments Healthcare practitioners interested in holistic and innovative interventions Policy makers focused on wellbeing in constrained settings Anyone interested in the science of light, brain health, and accessible wellness strategies Join me, @wolvercoteman and Sarah Turner of @cerathrive for an engaging discussion packed with actionable insights, scientific discoveries, and practical advice relevant for anyone invested in improving life for those living and working in institutional environments. Links below or look for Locked Up Living wherever you get your podcasts Find new episodes every Wednesday at 6 AM UK time. Save 20% on cerathrive via this link cerathrive.com/Living and enter discount code of LIVING20.

In our latest episode of @LockedUpLiving , survivor, author, and activist @FfyonaCampbell joins me and @wolvercoteman to share her harrowing experiences at the Sisters of Mercy convent boarding school. Decades after surviving abuse as a child, Ffyona Campbell has documented her story in the powerful memoir In Black and White. This episode focuses on her relentless drive for justice—not just for herself, but for all those who suffered at the hands of trusted institutions. Ffyona Campbell discusses the barriers she’s faced: trauma that silences victims, institutional cover-ups, and the ongoing need for collective action so that survivors' voices are heard and real accountability is achieved. Tune in to understand what true resilience looks like and how one woman's determination is inspiring others to step forward, confront the truth, and fight for justice. Link to listen via Youtube below although you will find us wherever you get your podcasts.

AI – friend or foe? On Monday I was lucky enough to participate in the wonderful educative and thought-provoking AI and Psychology summit curated by Esther Cole and Aisha Tariq (assisted by Matt Allen). I’ve been following discussions about AI with much interest and it was so good to participate in an event which, rather than scaremonger, offered genuine insight and advice from a wide range of professionals with different perspectives. My own paper positions AI as an opportunity for us to get back to doing the things that really count in therapy. Since the mid 1990s and the import of neoliberalism and managerialism ideals into psychology, it seems to me, that we’ve drifted away from what really matters in therapy and increasingly focused on manuals and technique at the expense of the relationship. The more manualised the approach we adopt in therapy, the easier it is to replace us. What research has repeatedly shown over many decades is that what really counts in therapy is the relational skills of the therapist and the ability to be truly present with our clients. So, what does AI mean for therapy? I believe AI is giving us a gift. In a world where we are more disconnected than ever, now is the time that cultivating our sense of authentic presence and recognising our ability to sit relationally, human to human, is at a premium. In AI delivered therapy, silence is deadness not a pregnant pause or a frozen one; there is little scope for rupture, repair and growth with a sycophantic mirror and the urge to hide that accompanies shame is never confronted. My own foray into the more useful side of AI has been the development of CalmCore an app to encourage the development of interoceptive awareness – a skill that is implicated in improved affect regulation and increased authenticity. You can find a link below You can still watch the day on catch up via the link in the comment. It includes contributions from Winnie Akadjo, Jo Desborough, Clare Veal, Natalie Scott and Dr Rima Lamba