This Is Powerful With Paul Sculfor

From humble beginnings in London, Richard Biedul rose through the ranks of a leading City law firm before unexpectedly becoming one of the world’s most recognisable male models. Richard went from law firm boardrooms to the fashion capitals of the world, before turning his attention to creativity, design and entrepreneurship. Today, Richard runs a global creative studio and, in 2025, took on his most ambitious role yet: Creative Director of British fashion house Nicole Farhi. A man who has always been unapologetically his authentic self, we talk about fighting the voice that says you are on the outside and you need to get inside at any cost and the moment everyone dearest to him intervened and changed the course of his life. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Life might not always be rainbows and butterflies, but at least he no longer wakes up with a sense of impending doom In this episode we welcome Matt Busbridge, the head of the men’s division at Premier model agency who's spent the past 15 years working in one of the world's most glamorous industries. Matt opens up about the life he built, the pressures that came with it, and the moment he realised something had to change. Now more than three years sober, Matt reflects on how giving up drugs and alcohol transformed far more than just his social life. Speaking about the various pressures of the fashion industry, Matt and Paul also cover the importance of honest conversations around sobriety and that dreaded moment in the early morning hours when you realise the party is over. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Welcome back to the fresh new fashion season of This is Powerful with Paul Sculfor. Over the next six episodes, we are casting the spotlight on the fashion industry. Yes, that’s right - we are going to undress and reveal to you what it is actually like behind the scenes. For this first episode in the new season, we are joined by international celebrity stylist Holly, who has worked with the likes of Tine Tempa, Bill Nighy, actor Mr Christof Waltz and also Paul Sculfor himself. Holly’s career in fashion began with an internship at just 16 after which she worked her way through the ranks at GQ, ending up as Fashion Editor of a popular men’s magazine. Growing up in the idyllic English countryside, Holly reflects on early panic attacks, paints a powerful picture for young women who might worry what a social life looks like without alcohol and reveals what it is that a celebrity stylist actually does! Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the new episodes as soon as they are available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Welcome back to This is Powerful with Paul Sculfor. In our seventh season, we cast the spotlight on the fashion industry. We are going to undress and reveal what it is actually like behind the scenes. Paul has spent most of his life working in fashion and although he has found it very glamorous and exciting, it can also be very lonely. There are struggles that people face, just like in any other industry. And just like in any other industry, there is tremendous pressure to put on an appearance as though everything is completely fine. Not only fine - that everything is AMAZING. We will hear from Models. Stylists. Magazine Editors. Agents. Paul will be opening up about some of his own experiences too. Follow or subscribe to This Is Powerful now, and you’ll get the first episode as soon as it’s available. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

We have come to the end of our sixth season and we are taking a look back at some of the strongest, most intriguing and resonant clips from expert guests we have hosted on the show. We have been lucky enough to chat with neuropsychopharmacologists, doctors, scientists, therapists and professionals whose work digs into the deep-rooted sources of addiction, how it affects people and some proven paths to recovery. Most of these guests have their own personal stories but all have devoted their lives and work to understanding addiction and mental health and to helping those who are struggling to find freedom in recovery. This is the final episode in the season. We are taking a short break so that we can look after our own mental wellbeing, refill the tanks and come back into the studio fresh and to record an exciting new season featuring people in the fashion world. Please take this opportunity to check out our healthy back catalogue of episodes which can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts. Take good care! Featured Clips: Anita Chellamah explains how childhood trauma quietly shapes our relationships, self-belief and sense of responsibility long into adulthood. (Season 1) Andrea Taylor reframes "attention seeking" as a universal need for connection, and reveals why repair is the key to healthy relationships.(Season 1) Dr David McLaughlan breaks down the science of cravings and shares practical techniques to ride out urges without relapsing. (Season 1) The Gift of Addiction with David Smallwood: David explains why unresolved trauma fuels addiction and why the timing of trauma therapy can make all the difference to recovery. (Season 2) How Your Brain Can Be Hijacked by Addiction With Dr Rayyan Zafar: Dr Zafar challenges the traditional definition of addiction, revealing why behaviours like gambling, gaming and social media can be just as addictive as substances. (Season 1) Dr Federica Amati Helps You Reduce Your Risk of Cancer: Dr Amati exposes the hidden health risks of alcohol and argues why public awareness and policy need to catch up with the science. (Season 3) Why Addictions Are Often A Misguided Search for Spirituality With Alistair Richardson: Alistair shares a powerful perspective that beneath trauma and addiction lies an unbroken self capable of healing and connection. (Season 2) Knowing the Nervous System with Nahid-de-belgeonne: Nahid explains why lasting change begins in the nervous system, showing that healing is something we experience before we can think our way towards it. (Season 4) Secret Sex Lives With Dr Paula Hall: Dr Hall explores the often-overlooked links between pornography, sex addiction and recovery from alcohol and drugs. (Season 4) Ollie Ollerton turns the idea of sobriety on its head, arguing that freedom comes from recovery—not from the drink itself. (Season 1) If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

We have had a wonderful season so far as we explored addiction and mental health challenges on UK building sites. For our final episode, we hosted a powerful guest whose honesty and humility is inspiring. A 38-year-old tiler by trade, our guest Chris now focuses his time on podcasting and radio broadcasting. A dedicated family man and committed gym-goer, he brings energy, authenticity, and real-life perspective to his work. Having been sober for over five and a half years, Chris is passionate about personal growth, resilience, and living life with purpose. Through his broadcasting and podcasting, he connects with people through honest conversations, humour, and his down-to-earth approach. In this conversation, we talk about the staggering realisation that addiction is stronger than love, using drugs on the worksite and about and how being vulnerable around another man is actually the manliest thing you can do. When we spoke, Chris was literally about to tie the knot with his missus so by now he must be a married man so we wish him all of our congratulations! If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

For nearly 17 years, John the Plasterer has been living clean and sober but his journey hasn't exactly been straightforward. It wasn’t until he admitted that he was powerless over gambling that he fully embraced the life of recovery he leads today. In this chat, John recounts a gory accident he suffered while intoxicated at work…he also reflects on the chaos of obsession and the richness of a life outside of addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Settle in for an amazing conversation that grabs you from the off and doesn’t let go. At 49 years old, Mike the Roofer is 14 years sober whose self-confessed ‘primaries’ were alcohol and cocaine. After having worked in the roofing industry since he was 18, Mike now owns his own commercial roofing company and is married with two children. After a series of ominous warnings in his early life, a misguided stint at rehab and several years of three-day benders, Mike finally devoted his life to a 12-Step programme. Mike’s vulnerability, honesty and conviction will no doubt prove to be an inspiration to anyone who has ever struggled with addiction or to anyone close to someone struggling with addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Today we’re joined by Gary the Pipefitter. 45-years old and now nine years sober, Gary was born and raised just outside of London in Harold Hill. Gary grew up convinced he'd never try drugs. Yet once alcohol entered the picture and lowered his inhibitions, he'd ‘try anything’. In this conversation, we talk about quieting then changing the inner narrative, becoming a person who embraces waking up each morning and the realisation that contrary to what he had been believing all his life, Gary's problems were actually 99% all down to him. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

After five years of dipping in and out of a recovery programme, Neil the Brickie finally got sober when he found himself homeless, drunk and a nuisance to everyone around him while living in Spain 20 years ago. The youngest of three children all with different dads, Neil is now a brilliant and engaged father of two. Neil’s simple programme that he follows very regularly keeps him in a healthy, successful, sober lifestyle. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you!

Welcome back to the show. This episode kicks off season 6, and for the next six episodes we are focusing on mental fitness in Britain’s construction industry. Historically, these working environments are not conducive to men being able to speak openly about mental health or wellbeing and as stats currently stand, construction workers are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average. Our first guest in our tradesmen series is Paul the Painter, a salt of the Earth man with more than a few strings to his bow. Sober now for nearly 19 years, Paul speaks openly and articulately about living with anxiety and the journey he’s been on since accepting and understanding his OCD diagnosis. Paul speaks with generous honesty about his many careers: first as a panel beater, later working as a train ticket collector, moving from photography with his own exhibit in London, then a cabbie, and now a painter /decorator. This is an important listen particularly for those who know someone who works in construction either on a building site or as a sole trader. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

We are about to kick off the sixth season of award-nominated podcast This Is Powerful with Paul Sculfor. If you have been with us before, welcome back! If you are new here, you are very welcome and you have found us at the start of season six, so there are already eighty episodes for you to check out. For season six, we have something very constructive in store for you. We are focusing on the mental fitness around Britain’s building sites because quite frankly, these haven’t been the types of environments that are particularly welcoming for vulnerability or personal growth historically. But - the guests we are welcoming into the studio this summer have been brave enough to break this cycle. By facing their challenges head on, working through them, and mentoring others, these tradesmen have learned to express and even rescue themselves. The first episode of the new season will be out on the 25th of June. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Listen to all of our episodes on your favourite podcast platform: https://podfollow.com/1756874279 Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Over the past year and a half on This is Powerful , we’ve had some brutally honest conversations about addiction, recovery, resilience and about all that comes in between. These kinds of conversations aren’t usually had or heard, but they probably should be. This is a collection of the most powerful clips from our top ten episodes: voices you’ll recognise, stories you can’t forget, and reflections that land just as hard as they did the first time you heard them. You’ll hear from inspiring spirits who’ve faced life’s challenges head-on, and have come out on the other side. If you’ve been with us from the start, think of this as a chance to revisit the moments that mattered. And if you’re new here, you are about to get a crash course in what This is Powerful is all about. This is the final episode in Season five. We will take a short break then will be back with you in a few weeks with a great new season, focusing on guests who work in the building and contractor trade. 80 episodes in, our mission remains the same: to help people better understand addiction, including what they can and can’t control, through honest conversations with real people who have experienced it firsthand. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Behind the scenes of many addiction treatment support organisations are devoted souls who give their lives and careers in aid of helping families who are struggling with the addiction of a loved one. Today’s guest talks about overcoming shame, setting firm boundaries and the rehab myth within a family setting. Vivienne Evans is the Chief Executive of Adfam, the national organisation for children and families affected by someone else’s substance misuse. Adfam advocates for support for these family members, trains practitioners to work with them, and provides support services. Vivienne has a long history of leadership roles within the public and charity sectors, has a background in drug and alcohol education and prevention within young people and families, and specialises in substance misuse policy and practice. Adfam mission statement: Adfam is the leading families and addiction charity in England. We are here for all the millions of people affected by someone else’s drinking or drug use. These people are children, parents, friends, partners, siblings and grandparents. Coping with someone you love experiencing these problems can cause physical, mental, emotional, social and financial distress. Substance use or gambling are often just one part of the story – so many also suffer mental ill health, domestic abuse and financial problems. They may be afraid to speak out so they are hidden in plain sight. Adfam gives them a voice. More than five million people are affected in this country and we know how tough it can be, so we want to make their lives better. Our vision at Adfam is that family members affected by substance use or gambling are heard, valued and have access to support If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor Adfam: https://adfam.org.uk Adfam support services: https://adfam.org.uk/find-support/ Adfam guidance around dealing with a family member or loved one’s substance use in video: https://adfam.org.uk/video-support/ , and written form: https://adfam.org.uk/for-families/ . Adfam social media pages: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adfam https://www.facebook.com/AdfamUK https://www.instagram.com/adfamuk

He knew that what he was doing was wrong but he couldn’t stop until a life-changing incident set his life on a new course. 22-year-old Jack from Dagenham in Essex joins us today. Working in the building maintenance industry, he has over a year's recovery under his belt. Starting with ketamine use from age 16, then moving through other drugs and alcohol, Jack’s story could have ended in tragedy. Thankfully Jack is still with us today, talking about what led him down a very dark path. In the hopes of helping other young people, Jack speaks courageously, honestly and with great clarity about the grip his addictions had on him and how he managed to free himself. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Many many young people who have struggled with mental health, disordered eating or addiction have benefited from a guiding hand from our guest today. Alex Blatch initially trained as a Registered Mental Health Nurse and later as a Bereavement Counsellor working in CAMHS, Eating Disorders, Adult Acute and Addiction Services. Over the past 35 years, Alex has worked in and managed a variety of private mental health settings, including inpatient, daycare and outpatient services. Often using humour to connect with young people, Alex talks to us about the difficult topic of shame, shares her thoughts regarding the pressures on young men right now, and we find out exactly how disordered eating is defined and how to treat it. Alex offers up advice not only for young people who are struggling but she is also a wealth of knowledge for parents when it comes to identifying and seeking help for their children when they are facing challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor Top Charities & Support Services suggested by Alex: YoungMinds : Offers, information, and guides for young people, as well as a helpline for parents concerned about their child. Place2Be : Provides counseling and mental health services directly within schools, focusing on early intervention. Stem4 : Focuses on teenage mental health, providing clinically-validated digital apps (e.g., Calm Harm, Clear Fear) to manage anxiety, depression, and self-harm. The Mix : Offers confidential support, including counseling, for young people under 25 on various issues. Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention : Operates HOPELINEUK, providing practical advice and support for young people struggling with suicidal thoughts or those worried about them. Anna Freud Centre : Focuses on research, clinical care, and developing tailored mental health support in schools and communities. YoungMinds +4 Digital & Specialized Services Kooth : Free, anonymous, online counseling and mental wellbeing platform for young people. Shout 85258 : A free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone struggling to cope. Selfharm UK : A dedicated project aimed at supporting young people impacted by self-harm. Students Against Depression : Provides resources and guidance specifically for students struggling with low mood and depression. Brent Centre for Young People : Provides specialized psychotherapy for adolescents, particularly in London, addressing anxiety and self-harm.

We have an extraordinary young guest today, a real highlight for our youth and addiction series. Isa got sober as a teenager and is now an inspiring example of how you can turn your life around if you really work a recovery programme. Isa can trace the beginnings of her pattern of addictive behaviour back to unhealthy eating when she was just seven years old. Unhealthy eating led to full-blown addiction to drugs and alcohol, bringing Isa into rehab by the time she was 18 years old. This episode is especially powerful for young people struggling with addiction and a real source of hope for their parents too. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

Today we welcome Melanie, a young woman working through the stages of recovery after growing up a child of an alcoholic. Melanie always felt different at school and struggled to make friends. After learning as much as she could about alcohol and having had a spiritual awakening, she is now able to speak about her experiences and share her strength and hope for other young people who are living in households where alcoholism is present. Melanie speaks openly about how living with alcoholism shaped her early years and has some enlightening insight into how other young people can identify whether someone close to them might have a problem with alcohol. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor Find Nacoa online https://nacoa.org.uk/ Find NACOA on Instagram @nacoauk

How do you manage to cut through the silence of a disengaged young man, engaging with those who seem the most disenchanted with the people around them? Today we are pleased to welcome an incredible guy who is doing life-saving work with vulnerable young people, getting them reengaged with school and with the world at large. Tom Paget is the operations lead for Reach Group Community Projects based in Essex, delivering bespoke projects and mentoring pathways to engage the most vulnerable young people in the county. Reach Group uses a blend of proven methodologies and physical activity to help those that have been pushed to the wayside for various reasons. Tom uses his life experience to successfully support the next generation through his guidance as a boxing coach and life-changing mentor. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Stride Foundation provides educational talks about addiction to schools and we do this free of charge so if you could donate to help with this, please do: https://stridefoundation.com/donate/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor

What power does a ten-year-old have in the face of a disease as insidious as alcoholism? We are so privileged to welcome the extraordinary Amelie and her mother, Lucy. Amelie sadly lost her father after a devastating battle with alcoholism when she was just ten years old. After losing her father, Amelie would write letters to him at night before she went to bed. As a result of writing these letters, Amelie felt compelled to write to the government and ask for change in how alcohol is sold and advertised and to ask for support for families of alcoholics. Lucy, Amelie’s mother tells us the story of Dan’s alcoholism but we also get a strong sense of an amazing father who loved his children very much and was taken away at the young age of 41 as a result of alcoholism. Lucy, Amelie and I hope that this conversation will help to raise awareness for other families of alcoholics and to let them know that they are not alone. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, there are plenty of resources on the Stride Foundation website: https://stridefoundation.com/ Stride Foundation provides educational talks about addiction to schools and we do this free of charge so if you could donate to help with this, please do: https://stridefoundation.com/donate/ Watch all our episodes on YouTube @thisispowerfulwithpaulsculfor Follow us on social media for more insights, behind-the-scenes moments, and community discussions. Share your thoughts and connect with us @this_ispowerful on Instagram and YouTube. We’d love to hear from you! Find Nacoa online https://nacoa.org.uk/ Find NACOA on Instagram @nacoauk Find Paul on Instagram @paulsculfor