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Trainee counsellor, actor and curly associate Lucy Hill joins me for a walk on Southwick Hill to talk about therapy training, personal growth, identity, and navigating life through challenge and change.

In this episode, Lucy reflects on her journey towards becoming a therapist — the realities of counselling training, the emotional weight of working with others, and how difficult life events during that process can either shake you or strengthen you. She speaks openly about building a “toolkit” — not just professionally, but personally — and how those tools are shaped through lived experience.

We also talk about her earlier ambitions as an actor, achieving that goal, and the complicated feeling of no longer wanting it in the same way. Questions of identity, imposter syndrome, and what it means to let go of one path while stepping into another run quietly through the conversation.

Family plays a strong role too — the positive influence of her parents, alongside an awareness of how other relationships and projections can shape, or sometimes distort, the direction of your life.

Set against the backdrop of Brighton — the place she calls home — this is a walk about self-awareness, resilience, and the ongoing process of becoming.

Season Two of the story pilgrim walks with people — their inner lives, their turning points, and the tools they gather along the way.

buen camino, and keep listening.

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Writer, mentor, and creative writing teacher Gary Mepsted joins me for a conversation in his garden to talk about writing craft, storytelling, observation, and a life shaped by instinct rather than plan.

Expelled from school early on, Gary’s path into writing was anything but straightforward. Later gaining a Master’s in English, he has spent decades teaching others, though he avoids calling it a “career.” For Gary, life has been a series of unplanned turns, each one met with a willingness to respond rather than control.

We talk about writing beyond your own life, stepping into other worlds, and the influence of writers such as Graham Swift and Maggie O'Farrell, alongside a line he once heard on the radio that has stayed with him ever since:

“As a novelist, I see myself in a kind of ornithological role…I note down what they do, but I can in no way influence their behaviour.”

That idea, observing without interfering, runs quietly through everything Gary does.

We also talk about ego in the creative arts, the role of mentorship, and why he finds more satisfaction in helping others find their voice than chasing recognition himself.

And there are stories, including his Uncle George, a larger-than-life character moving between worlds: chauffeur, joke writer, psychic, and something of a prototype for a certain South London spirit. A man who, in Gary’s words, understood him more than anyone else.

This is a walk about patience, perspective, and the craft of paying attention.

Season Two of the story pilgrim walks with people, their philosophies, their turning points, and the quieter forces that shape them.

buen camino, and keep listening.

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Award-winning football coach Jordan Stringer joins me for a walk around Upminster to talk about resilience, grassroots football, dyspraxia, and overcoming testicular cancer at a young age.

Jordan grew up in Upminster with a deep love for football. A game that didn’t come easily to him. Living with dyspraxia meant coordination was a constant challenge, but instead of stepping away, he found another way in. A teacher’s suggestion to help coach changed everything, setting him on a path that would shape his life.

We walk through the streets where it all began, talking about school, identity, and how setbacks can quietly redirect you towards something greater.

At 21, Jordan was diagnosed with testicular cancer — something he had been aware of since childhood. He speaks openly about that period, the mental battle alongside the physical one, and how he kept moving forward.

What runs through this conversation is football as community — not just a game, but a space where people find belonging, purpose, and connection.

This is a walk about resilience, perspective, and choosing to see something steady even when life throws everything off balance.

You can find more about Jordan here:
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-stringer-4aa94812a/

🔗 https://www.instagram.com/jordy200897/

🔗 https://www.gofundme.com/f/jordan-stringer-private-procedure

Season Two of the story pilgrim walks with people — their challenges, their turning points, and the paths they build from them.

buen camino, and keep listening.