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Dysfunctional

Josh Connolly

I am shaking up the wellness industry and addressing the things that people usually avoid. With relentless curiosity and refusal to sweep things under the rug, this podcast is for those who crave truth over comfort and honesty over surface level BS.

So, get yourself in the lotus position because I have no plan, no pretence and definitely no bypassing….. I’m Josh Connolly and this will probably be dysfunctional

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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20 episodes
Avg 1 hr 9 min
English

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S1 · E81
July 14 · 1 hr 19 min
The Burnout That Changed Everything: When Success Was Just Survival with Nick Whitnell
On paper, Nick Whitnell had everything. A successful corporate career. Financial security. A family. The life many people spend years working towards. But underneath it all, he was surviving. In this deeply honest conversation, Nick shares how the death of his mum at just 17 years old shaped the course of his entire life, pushing him towards achievement, responsibility and safety, whilst disconnecting him from himself. Together we explore what burnout really is, why so many high achievers are driven by unresolved trauma, and why healing isn't about becoming someone new, but finally coming home to yourself. We also dive into the dangers of blindly trusting qualifications, why lived experience matters, the healing power of nature, and the courage it takes to walk away from a life that looks successful but no longer feels like your own. This is a conversation about grief, identity, burnout, childhood trauma and learning that the strongest thing you can sometimes do is stop surviving. In this episode we discuss: Why burnout is often the body's final attempt to get your attention. Losing a parent young and the hidden trauma that follows. The burden of always being "the strong one." How childhood survival strategies become adult success. Why corporate achievement can become the perfect hiding place. The difference between surviving and truly living. The role of breathwork and somatic healing in processing trauma. Why qualifications don't always equal safety or wisdom. Nature, community and reconnecting with what really matters. Letting go of the life you thought you were supposed to live. If this conversation resonated with you, please consider following the podcast and leaving a review. It really does help more people find these conversations. Find Nick Website - www.daring.works Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nick.whitnell/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickwhitnell/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E80
July 7 · 29 min
The Truth About Healing That Nobody Wants To Hear
Join Breathing Space here: https://www.joshconnolly.co.uk/breathing-space This week is a little different. No guest. No script. Just me sitting down to answer some of the biggest questions about healing, toxic family systems, misogyny, masculinity, forgiveness, grief, social media, and everything in between. I talk about why I no longer believe healing works the way I once thought it did, why toxic systems protect the people causing harm, why forgiveness isn't always necessary, and the question I wish we all asked each other more often. If you've ever wondered whether you're doing healing "wrong" because you're still struggling, this episode is for you. In this episode we explore: Why healing doesn't mean you'll never struggle again. Why we keep chasing love from parents who couldn't give it. Why families protect the person causing harm. Toxic relationships and the systems that enable them. Patriarchy, misogyny, and why people become defensive. What I'm still learning to accept about myself. The grief nobody talks about. Masculinity and why I think we're asking the wrong questions. Therapy language, social media, and when words lose their meaning. Forgiveness versus simply letting go. The one question I wish people asked more often. If this episode resonated with you, I'd really appreciate it if you left a review, shared it with someone who needs to hear it, or posted it on social media and tagged me. You can find me on Instagram at @josh_ffw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E79
June 30 · 1 hr 7 min
Nobody Prepares You For Becoming a Mother with Rebecca Barnes
What if becoming a mother is one of the biggest transformations you'll ever go through… and nobody prepares you for it? In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, Josh is joined by Rebecca Barnes, founder of Becoming The Mother, to explore the hidden realities of motherhood that so many women experience but rarely talk about. Together they discuss matrescence – the profound physical, emotional and psychological transition into motherhood – and why so many mothers feel lost, overwhelmed and unsupported. Rebecca also shares her own journey through addiction, recovery, divorce and healing, and how those experiences led her to create spaces where mothers can finally feel seen, heard and understood. This episode is for mothers, fathers, partners, and anyone who wants to better understand the pressures facing modern parents and why supporting mothers matters so much. In this episode: What matrescence is and why every mother experiences it Why motherhood changes you forever The myth of "Supermum" Why modern motherhood feels so hard The importance of community and having a village Recovery, addiction and codependency The need to feel seen, heard and understood Why mothers carry so much guilt and shame The power of repair when we get parenting wrong Why supporting parents creates healthier children and healthier societies About Rebecca Barnes Rebecca Barnes is the founder of Becoming The Mother, a matrescence educator, breathwork facilitator and guide for mothers navigating the transition into motherhood. Through her work, she helps women understand the emotional and identity shifts that come with becoming a mother and creates spaces where they can reconnect with themselves and find support in community. Find Rebecca - https://www.instagram.com/becomingthemother/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E78
June 23 · 1 hr 1 min
Too Conscious For This World with Candace Van Dell
What if the child who was labelled "too sensitive", "too emotional", "too much", or "the problem" was never the problem at all? In this episode of Dysfunctional, I sit down with author and master coach Candace Van Dell to explore the idea that some people aren't broken, they're simply seeing things that others can't. We dive into family scapegoating, highly sensitive versus highly perceptive people, ADHD, spirituality, toxic systems, emotional truth, and what happens when the person who sees the dysfunction gets blamed for it. Candace shares her own journey from being labelled as a child with "something wrong" to becoming a leading voice helping people heal the original wound of believing they are the problem. This is a conversation about reclaiming your perception, trusting yourself, and discovering that perhaps the thing you've spent your whole life trying to fix is actually your greatest gift. In this episode we discuss: Why the scapegoat is often the cycle breaker The difference between being highly sensitive and highly perceptive Growing up feeling misunderstood and out of place ADHD, labels, and the medicalisation of difference Why truth-tellers are often punished in dysfunctional systems The relationship between spirituality and healing Candace's powerful spiritual awakening at 16 Family dysfunction and the "problem child" myth Learning to trust your own perception Emotional honesty as a path to healing The loneliness of seeing things others don't see Why fitting in can come at the cost of authenticity Moving from self-abandonment to self-trust What it means to be "too conscious for this world" About Candace Van Dell Candace Van Dell is an international bestselling author, master coach, and speaker who helps highly perceptive people heal and thrive in unconscious systems. Her work focuses on healing the original wound of believing there is something wrong with you so you can step into your authentic power, purpose, and potential. Her new book, Too Conscious For This World: You're Not Wrong. You're Early, is available now. Connect with Candace Instagram: @candacevandell Website: candacevandell.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E77
June 9 · 1 hr 19 min
Click, Stalk, Destroy with Dr Jessica Taylor.
In this episode of *Dysfunctional*, Josh welcomes back bestselling author Dr Jessica Taylor for a powerful conversation about one of the most misunderstood forms of abuse in modern society: stalking. Drawing on her new book, *Click, Stalk, Destroy*, Jessica explains how stalking has evolved far beyond the traditional image of someone hiding outside your house. In the digital age, stalking can be relentless, anonymous, and devastatingly effective, all without the perpetrator ever meeting their victim face-to-face. Together, Josh and Jessica explore the psychology of stalking, why victims are so often dismissed or labelled as "crazy," and how power, control, obsession, and grievance fuel much of this behaviour. They discuss the overlap between stalking, coercive control, domestic abuse, online harassment, and cancel culture, as well as the profound impact stalking can have on a person's mental health, relationships, identity, and sense of safety. Jessica also shares her own experiences as a stalking victim and reflects on the failures of current systems to adequately recognise, investigate, and respond to these crimes. **In this episode, we discuss:** • What stalking really looks like in the digital age • Why online stalking is now more common than physical stalking • The concept of "grievance stalking" and what drives perpetrators • How coercive control can continue long after a relationship ends • Why victims are often dismissed, disbelieved, or pathologised • The psychological impact of constant monitoring and surveillance • The role of social media in modern stalking behaviour • Why gathering evidence can become traumatic for victims • DARVO, victim-blaming, and the reversal of victim and offender • What to do if you think you are being stalked • What needs to change in policing, mental health services, and society This is an essential conversation about power, abuse, technology, and the hidden ways people can be controlled long after they think they've escaped. UK orders of the book here: https://amzn.eu/d/0bu9sg6e US and international orders of the book: https://victimfocus-resources.com/products/click-stalk-destroy-international-orders-only-pre-order?_pos=1&_psq=click&_ss=e&_v=1.0 My website for all info and mentoring: www.drjessicataylor.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E76
June 2 · 1 hr 12 min
Midlife Crisis Saved My Life With Wyndham James
What if the life you've spent decades building no longer feels like yours? In this episode of Dysfunctional, Josh sits down with coach, mediator, yoga teacher and author Wyndham James to explore what really happens when success stops feeling successful. After spending twenty years in a corporate career he knew wasn't right for him, Wyndham eventually found himself unable to ignore the growing disconnect between the life he was living and the life he wanted. What followed wasn't just a career change. It was a complete re-evaluation of identity, purpose and what it means to live authentically. Together, Josh and Wyndham discuss: Why midlife crisis might actually be a gift The fear of success versus the fear of failure How people become trapped in lives that look good on paper The hidden cost of people-pleasing and performance Why certainty can kill curiosity and growth The danger of putting teachers, experts and influencers on pedestals How breakdowns often become the foundation for breakthroughs The challenge of living your values when it costs you something Learning to let go of old identities and write a new story This is a conversation about self-discovery, courage and what happens when you stop asking "What should I be?" and start asking "Who am I really?" Wyndham - @blueprintcoach_wyndham (Instagram) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E75
May 19 · 1 hr 16 min
I Didn’t Know I Was a Childhood Abuse Survivor with Chanel Duffy
In this episode of Dysfunctional, Josh sits down with Chanel Duffy for a raw and deeply honest conversation about childhood abuse, narcissistic parents, coercive control, survival mode, and what happens when you finally stop minimising what you went through. Chanel shares how she spent years believing her childhood was “normal” before realising she was living in deep denial and survival. Together, they explore betrayal blindness, emotional suppression, domestic abuse, addiction in the home, parenting after trauma, and the long journey of learning softness, safety, and self-trust. A powerful conversation for anyone healing from toxic family systems. Find Chanel - https://www.chanelduffy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E74
May 12 · 44 min
Toxic Bosses, Workplace Trauma, and Why It’s Not You with Dr Laura Hambley Lovett
In this episode, Josh sits down with workplace psychologist and author Dr Laura Hambley Lovett to explore the reality of toxic bosses, workplace trauma, and dysfunctional leadership. Together, they unpack the overlap between toxic workplaces and toxic family systems, including gaslighting, manipulation, smear campaigns, control, and covert abuse. Laura shares why toxic bosses are often so difficult to spot, how they slowly erode confidence and wellbeing, and why leaving isn’t always as simple as people think. The conversation also explores resilience culture, profit-driven systems, healing after workplace trauma, and the importance of purpose, humanity, and psychological safety in leadership. A powerful conversation for anyone who has ever questioned themselves while working under toxic leadership. Find Dr Laura - https://www.drlaura.live Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E73
May 5 · 1 hr 8 min
Emotionally Immature Parents, Estrangement, and the Need for Validation with Ana Gersch
In this episode, Josh sits down with trauma coach Ana Gersch to explore emotionally immature parents, estrangement, and the role of validation in family relationships. Ana shares her journey into trauma work, blending somatic practices, spirituality, and modern coaching. Together, they unpack how trauma lives in the body, why emotional immaturity shows up in parents, and what actually defines emotional maturity. They also dive into the rise of estrangement, whether no contact is a trend, and how social media is shaping these conversations. A key theme throughout is the difference between validation and agreement, and why this misunderstanding often keeps families stuck. This episode offers a grounded, honest look at healing, boundaries, and what it really takes to have a relationship with someone as they are, not who you wish they could be. Find Ana - https://www.instagram.com/ana_traumacoach/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E72
April 28 · 1 hr 2 min
Making Wellness Accessible Again with the OneRetreat Festival
For more information or to grab you spot at the festival use these links - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oneretreatwellness?igsh=dWl1d3Q2NzhjMGto Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/share/1GyyZMdpeQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr Website - www.oneretreatwellness.co.uk Ticket section of the site - https://www.oneretreatwellness.co.uk/tickets And you can find Alex and Same here - Sam - https://www.instagram.com/samrigs/ Alex - https://www.instagram.com/alexhydecoaching/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E71
April 21 · 54 min
The Hidden Impact of Addiction on Families with Amber Hughes
In this episode, I’m joined by Amber Hughes for a powerful conversation about addiction, homelessness, grief, and the impact all of it has on families. Amber shares the story of her sister Hannah, who experienced addiction and homelessness before passing away in 2017. We talk about the chaos and heartbreak of loving someone through addiction, the stigma that still surrounds homelessness, and how these struggles affect the whole family, not just the person at the centre of it. Amber also shares how she has turned that pain into purpose through Amber Lights in Oxford, raising awareness, supporting local charities, and helping children understand homelessness with more compassion and humanity. A raw, honest and deeply human conversation. Links: https://www.instagram.com/amberlightsinoxford https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-hughes-bem-1a888b38a/ https://amberlightsinoxford.com/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/Publish-our-book-on-homeless-education-forchildren Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E70
April 14 · 1 hr 10 min
The Truth About Toxic Work Culture with Becky Ray
This week on Dysfunctional, I’m joined by Becky Ray. Becky works in workplace culture and leadership, helping organisations improve toxic work environments and develop better leaders, especially middle managers. We talk about toxic workplace culture, sexism, bullying disguised as banter, and how poor leadership becomes normalised over time. We also explore “accidental managers” and why so many people are promoted without ever being taught how to lead. A big part of this conversation is resilience. Not just pushing through stress, but understanding emotional capacity and why burnout is often about what people are already carrying, not just workload. We also touch on men’s mental health, emotional suppression, and the importance of release, whether through breathwork or other ways of getting out of your head and into your body. In this episode: Toxic work culture and leadership Bullying vs banter in the workplace Accidental managers and poor leadership Burnout and emotional capacity Men’s mental health at work Resilience and emotional release Connect with Becky: https://www.culturekick.co.uk/ Breathwork: https://www.culturekick.co.uk/breathwork Insta - https://www.instagram.com/culture_kick_/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E69
April 9 · 1 hr 1 min
Psychosis, Trauma and Reclaiming Your Life with Laura Marston
In this episode, I sit down with Laura Marston for one of the most raw and honest conversations we’ve had on Dysfunctional. Laura shares her journey from being labelled and sectioned, spending years in and out of psychiatric units, struggling with addiction, and being told she had a “disordered personality”… to beginning to understand her experiences through the lens of trauma. We talk about emotional neglect, family dysfunction, self-harm, psychosis, and what it’s like to grow up without your needs being met. But more than anything, this episode is about what happens when you stop seeing yourself as broken… and start taking your life back. We also explore: What psychosis actually felt like from the inside The reality of psychiatric wards (and why they often don’t help) Being diagnosed vs understanding trauma Addiction, survival and coping mechanisms Going no contact with family Breaking generational patterns Learning to sit with yourself instead of escaping Rebuilding your identity from the ground up Laura also shares how she’s now supporting others through resilience coaching and community, and what helped her move from survival mode into something that actually feels like living. This one is raw, emotional, and incredibly powerful. Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of self-harm, suicide, childhood trauma, abuse, addiction and psychiatric hospitalisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
March 31 · 1 hr 12 min
Healing the Wounded Boy with Kevin Brown
In this episode of Dysfunctional, Josh sits down with Kevin Brown for a raw and honest conversation about men’s mental health, addiction, shame, and the long road from self-destruction to self-respect. Kev shares his journey through chaos, binge drinking, drug use, and living a double life, before a powerful moment of clarity helped him finally understand the impact of his childhood and the wounds he’d been carrying for years. They explore father wounds, generational patterns, endurance running, breathwork for emotional release, and why healing isn’t a single breakthrough moment, but a messy process of getting back up again and again. This episode is a grounded, deeply human conversation about learning to sit with the boy you once were… and becoming the man you choose to be. Find Kevin - https://www.instagram.com/mindmastersscotland?igsh=MTZzb2x5Z2RvMjlqMw== https://www.facebook.com/share/1BEhesPJTD/ https://open.spotify.com/show/1dK4Zs6jcve7K3aWID7eAr?si=TJ2tlZ5cSG2dygMd5ueksw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E67
March 24 · 58 min
Estrangement, Neurodivergence and Learning to Feel with Rich Finegan
Rich Finegan joins me for a powerful conversation about family estrangement, neurodivergence, anger, shame, and what it means to finally let yourself feel. We talk about emotional suppression, accountability, parenting, dyspraxia, and the relief that can come when you realise you’re not broken and you’re not alone. A deeply honest episode about healing, self-acceptance, and learning to show up for yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E66
March 17 · 2 hr 12 min
Estrangement, Therapy & Self-Respect with Laura Belbin (Knee Deep in Life)
In this episode of Dysfunctional, Josh sits down with comedian and creator Laura Belbin, best known online as Knee Deep in Life, for a raw and wide-ranging conversation about healing, family estrangement, therapy, and self-respect. Laura opens up about growing up in a dysfunctional family system, surviving childhood sexual abuse, and the painful reality of walking away from family relationships that could no longer be healthy. Together, Josh and Laura explore the complexities of trauma, therapy, accountability, and what real healing actually looks like. They also discuss misogyny, relationships, emotional responsibility, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and the courage it takes to rebuild your life on your own terms. This is an honest conversation about healing, boundaries, and the messy, complicated work of becoming yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E65
March 10 · 1 hr 4 min
DO Loss with Sue Deagle
In this episode, Josh sits down with Sue Deagle for a powerful conversation about loss, grief, resilience, and life after everything changes. Sue shares the sudden loss of her husband and the journey of rebuilding a different kind of life in the aftermath. Together, Josh and Sue explore why grief and joy can exist at the same time, why people often struggle to support those in pain, and how loss is something we all face in different forms. They talk about friendship, courage, work, parenting through grief, and Sue’s powerful idea that after loss, a different kind of great is still possible. Let me know if you want an even tighter version. https://thedobook.co/products/do-loss-a-new-way-to-move-through-change?Format=eBook&mc_cid=d1b275e995&mc_eid=2cb75235bb Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E64
March 3 · 1 hr 21 min
Safety, Belonging, Dignity: The Nervous System Truth Nobody Taught Us with Leona Waller & Ana Ally
This week I’m joined by Leona Waller and Ana Ally, hosts of The Body Knows, for a conversation that goes way beyond “regulating your nervous system.” We explore the three things your body is constantly organising around — safety, belonging, and dignity — and why so many of us were taught to override them. We talk somatics vs embodiment, the productisation of healing, chronic illness, disconnection, and what it actually means to come home to your body. If you’ve been stuck in your head trying to fix yourself, this one might change how you see everything. Find them here - https://thebodyknows.substack.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E63
February 24 · 1 hr 23 min
Parental Imprisonment: Lived Experience Of Young People
In this powerful episode, I sit down with five extraordinary young people to talk about what it’s really like to grow up with a parent in prison. The courage and maturity they bring to this conversation is breathtaking. They speak honestly about shame, stigma, anger, confusion and loss, but also about resilience, ambition and who they’ve chosen to become because of it. This isn’t just a conversation about hardship. It’s a conversation about strength, success and the voices we don’t hear enough. I have no doubt this episode will help a lot of people feel seen. https://childrenheardandseen.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E62
February 17 · 1 hr 14 min
Coming Home to the Body with Jolene Ironside
Jolene Ironside is a trauma therapist specialising in teenagers and neurodiversity, a somatic mind-body coach, yoga teacher, and holistic therapist. In this conversation, we talk about what happens when you grow up around addiction, how perfectionism can be a survival strategy, and why “understanding it” isn’t the same as actually feeling it. We get into suicide and addiction with honesty (and a lot of love), the limits of talk therapy, and what it looks like to come back into your body after years of living in your head. We also talk neurodiversity, diagnosis, and why the system often labels people as “disordered” instead of simply giving them what they need. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing all the healing things but still not actually here… this one will land. Find Jolene - https://www.heart-in-mind.com/about Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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