In this episode of the PRsonal Podcast, host Charlotte Nichols sits down with Kelly Smith, designer and founder of Spelk Studio, for a conversation that peels back the layers on living with invisible illness and late-diagnosed neurodiversity.

Kelly recounts a shocking turning point in her health journey - the moment she was accidentally served the wrong cake. It seemed harmless, but that single slice containing gluten triggered a severe autoimmune reaction. Within weeks, her muscles began to seize, and soon, she was unable to walk. What followed were endless neurological tests, including investigations for MS and motor neurone disease, but no definitive answers. The cause? A serious reaction from undiagnosed coeliac disease.

But that’s only part of Kelly’s story.

As a mother navigating her son’s early development, Kelly began to notice signs that he might be autistic. In researching and advocating for him, she came to a powerful and life-changing realisation: she, too, was likely autistic. Her later-in-life autism diagnosis brought understanding to decades of social struggles, miscommunications, and professional barriers.

She opens up about how gluten left her unable to walk and why coeliac disease is far more serious than a food fad; the emotional toll of living with an invisible illness; her journey of self-discovery through parenting; the impact of undiagnosed autism on her school years, friendships, and career; the lasting trauma caused by childhood bullying; and her decision to start a business that supports both her neurodiverse son and ageing parents.

Kelly’s honesty is refreshing and eye-opening. This episode is essential listening for anyone affected by gluten intolerance, autoimmune conditions, neurodiversity, or mental health challenges and for anyone who wants to better support those around them.

Through tears, humour, and hard-earned wisdom, Kelly reminds us that every story is worth hearing , and that understanding what’s beneath the surface can make all the difference.

PRsonal socials:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

In one of our most spiritually expansive episodes to date, The PRsonal Podcast welcomes conservation biologist, canine wellness intuitive, and shamanic practitioner, Dr. Isla Fishburn. This soul-stirring conversation is a raw, courageous, and deeply healing exploration of mental health, trauma, spirituality, and the sacred relationship between humans, animals, and the natural world.

Dr. Isla Fishburn opens up about a pivotal and devastating chapter in her life when she contemplated suicide. Speaking from a place of vulnerability and strength, she recounts the life-changing moment she was stopped by a whisper from the Earth itself. Sitting distraught beneath a tree in a North Devon woodland, she heard the words “You are enough” a message she believes came directly from the spirit of the tree. This moment of connection would become the anchor that kept her alive, reminding her of her worth when everything else in her life felt broken.

This episode explores the power of nature as healer a concept central to Isla’s work with dogs and wildlife. She discusses how her wolf-dog, Tonila, also saved her life during this dark period, offering unconditional love and a reason to stay. Her journey from suicidal despair to spiritual awakening is not just an emotional story of survival, but a testament to the healing intelligence that exists within all life forms, including our animal companions.

As a channeler of animal consciousness, Isla introduces us to a world where science and spirituality not only coexist, but collaborate. Drawing on her PhD in conservation biology and her spiritual practice, she invites us to consider dogs and other animals not as pets, but as sentient souls, here with us for spiritual purpose, partnership, and teaching. She shares how wolves, in particular, model embodiment, presence, and community offering lessons about unconditional love, sacred boundaries, and the healing power of non-verbal communication.

Listeners will come away from this episode with a new perspective on intuitive living, the significance of emotional healing, and the soul medicine animals can offer. Dr. Fishburn explains how our fur companions often reflect our internal emotional landscape, holding up a mirror for personal growth and deeper connection. Her powerful insights into interspecies communication, energetic trauma, and ancestral healing resonate not only with spiritual seekers, but with anyone navigating life’s emotional depths.

This episode also confronts societal taboos around mental health and suicide. Isla’s story shines a light on the often silent suffering many endure, while offering hope through self-trust, spiritual practice, and the courage to feel deeply. Her voice reminds us that healing is not a destination, but a lifelong dance with discomfort, trust, and love.

Whether you’re curious about animal communication, navigating your own healing journey, or seeking a reminder that you are enough, this conversation with Dr. Isla Fishburn is not to be missed.

PRsonal socials:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo

What happens when your entire identity shatters in a single moment? In this raw and deeply moving episode of The PRsonal Podcast, host Charlotte Nichols sits down with Kayleigh Laverick – founder of Mama Social Co – to share a conversation that is not just about motherhood, but about survival, silence, identity, and the transformative power of connection.

After a traumatic emergency C-section with her second child, followed by a near-death experience, Kayleigh found herself spiralling into undiagnosed PTSD and postnatal mental health crisis. What followed was a terrifying period of night terrors, overwhelming loneliness, emotional numbness, and a moment of suicidal ideation that changed everything. In that dark forest, with her baby strapped to her chest and an unimaginable decision playing out in her mind, Kayleigh reached a turning point.

From that moment came something remarkable.

Mama Social Co was born not as a business, but as a lifeline. What began as a single Facebook post inviting other struggling parents for a walk turned into a national movement of more than 60,000 mothers, fathers, and caregivers supporting each other daily through real, offline connection.

In this episode, Kayleigh opens up about:

• The silence that often surrounds postnatal mental health and why many mothers suffer behind smiles
• How she and her husband navigated trauma, therapy, and detachment to rebuild their relationship
• The emotional and physical aftermath of a traumatic birth – and why we need to talk about sex, healing, and identity as part of the maternal journey
• The power of real-world community in an increasingly digital and disconnected world
• Why she refuses to charge parents for connection – and how Mama Social Co partners with brands to keep access free for all

This episode isn’t filtered or sugar-coated. It’s a conversation that peels back the layers of curated motherhood and speaks to the heart of what it means to be human, to hurt, to heal, and to help others rise alongside you.

Whether you’re a new parent, a birth partner, or someone who’s ever felt lost in the noise of perfection, Kayleigh honesty and strength will move you. Her story is proof that even from the deepest pain, something beautiful can grow – and that no one should ever have to do it alone.

Warning: This episode contains discussions of traumatic birth, PTSD, and suicide ideation.

PRsonal socials:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/PRsonal_podcast

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/prsonal-podcast

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/PRsonalPodcast

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/prsonal_podcast


Harvey & Hugo’s socials:

Twitter – https://twitter.com/harveyandhugo

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/harvey-&-hugo

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HarveyandHugo

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/harveyandhugopr

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@harveyandhugo