When Life Gives You Lemons

Will Perry - Team GB swimmer, Paralympian and TEDx speaker

Will is a British swimmer who represented Team GB at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2021. Will was born with Achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism, and following his return from Tokyo he started to speak up about the verbal abuse he often received due to his condition.  He was fed up with the bullying behaviours which he is often subjected to and he put a call out on social media asking for change.
Since then, he continues to swim train with the aim of being selected for the Paris 2024 Paralympic games, but he has also now met with politicians, been asked to present a TEDx talk and is even involved in creating a specific fashion brand for people with dwarfism. 

Dr Sian Williams - Broadcaster, Counselling Psychologist and breast cancer thriver

As a broadcaster and counselling psychologist, Sian holds a unique perspective on trauma.  Initially, as a broadcaster Sian was an eyewitness to some horrific events, which drove her to train as a trauma assessor, she then experienced significant adversity herself when she went through her own breast cancer, and she has since qualified to be a psychologist specialising in post-traumatic growth.  
Sian joined me to chat all things trauma related, including how to deal emotionally with a diagnosis, such as cancer, how she reacted when faced with adversity, the human capacity for growth and strategies such as journaling and mindfulness, which she so highly recommends.

10. Emma Levy – Host of When Gives You Lemons

This episode is just me telling my story.  Who I am, what I have been through throughout the past few years following my breast cancer diagnosis and also what I’ve learnt from my guests since starting the podcast.I conclude the final episode of the season by answering some questions which previous guests have asked me.

9. Erin Kennedy MBE - Rowing Paralympic gold champion, World champion, European champion and Breast Cancer thriver

Erin Kennedy MBE is the Coxswain with the GB rowing team currently steering the Mix 4 of the Paralympic rowing squad. Erin is the Paralympic gold champion, two time world champion, three time European champion and world cup winner and she is the first Cox to ever hold these 4 titles at any one time.
What is remarkable about this list is that Erin achieved some of these victories with breast cancer.  In May 2022 Erin was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.  Four days after her cancer diagnosis she won a gold medal at the World Cup and then a few months later she coxed the crew to victory in the 2022 European Championships – part way through chemotherapy.
She showed true strength of mind and body by continuing to train and compete for the GB rowing team despite her diagnosis and during her treatment.  Throughout her treatment Erin bravely shared her cancer journey online to raise awareness of breast cancer, the importance of early detection and the importance of living life joyfully with a diagnosis.

8. Marcus Smith - extreme athlete, motivational speaker, coach and entrepreneur

In 2018 Marcus faced a near death experience when he was hit by a truck whilst out on his bike. This traumatic experience allowed Marcus to gain a new perspective on life and 9 months following that incident, he completed an epic challenge of completing 30 marathons in 30 days.He now shares his passion for life and his positive mindset with others through coaching, motivational speaking and podcasting.

7. Ellie Simmonds OBE – multiple Paralympic gold medallist, British swimmer and documentary maker

Ellie Simmonds OBE is a former Paralympic British swimmer. In 2008, at the young age of only 13, she won 2 gold medals at the Beijing Paralympic Games.Four years later, in her home games in London she won another 2 gold medals and set a world record time.  She wasn’t finished though…because then in 2016 at the Rio Paralympic games she won another gold medal, setting her second world record in the pool.Not only is Ellie a swimming legend but since retiring from sport last year, she has forged a successful career in the media, making documentaries, broadcasting on major sporting events, dancing on BBC’s strictly come dancing and she is also an advocate for representation across disability.In this chat, Ellie demonstrates how from a young age, despite the fact that she was born with Achondroplasia, she has displayed a true champion mindset, which has enabled her to break down barriers and achieve her goals.  We discuss the challenges she has faced retiring from her sport and how she has found the motivation to strive forwards into the next chapter of her life.

6. Katie Taylor – Founder & CEO of The Latte Lounge and menopause campaigner

*LIVE* recording from The Mind, Body, Spirit Festival, LondonKatie Taylor is the founder and CEO of The Latte Lounge, an online platform for women over 40, which exists to help women in midlife thrive at home and in the workplace.  Katie founded The Latte lounge in 2016 after suffering for 4 years with misdiagnosed symptoms of perimenopause.  Her community now supports more than 50,000 women with evidence-based information about women’s health.In this chat, Katie tells us her story of her misdiagnosis of the peri-menopause and how that lead her to create The Latte Lounge.

5. Becky Downie - British Gymnast, Olympian and European champion

Becky Downie is a British Gymnast who has been instrumental in the change and development within the culture of the sport. Her story is one of sheer grit and resilience despite significant trauma, tragedy and challenges.
Becky is a double Olympian, multiple World, European and Commonwealth medallist.  Her long and illustrious gymnastics career has had many highs and lows and she has most recently peeked with an amazingly successful European championships just this year  - where she won a gold medal in the Team event and an individual silver medal on Bars. As you will hear - this was truly a remarkable come back from a few years filled with significant turmoil and unimaginable emotional and physical challenges. 
Becky is a ambassador of The British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk

4. Eddy Clarkson - Leukemia survivor, Ironman and ultra athlete

As a young, fit 20 year old, Eddie was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and suddenly found himself questioning his own mortality. Eddie has said that by the time he was cancer free, he was mentally and physically broken.  Once reaching remission, Eddy started writing a blog ‘Chemo2Cardio’ documenting his return to fitness.He has since ran multiple marathons, ultra marathons and ironman triathlons, raising thousands of pounds for charity along the way.I’m this chat I talk to Eddy about his journey over the past 8 years and where he found his drive and determination to embark on these challenges.

3. Eve Muirhead (OBE) - Olympic gold medallist Curler & winter sports legend

Eve is one of Great Britain’s most successful Winter Olympians, having represented the British Woman’s curling team at 4 Olympic Games. In Beijing 2022, she achieved the ultimate goal, captaining the team to Olympic gold, despite several challenges in the lead up to the games.   Later that year, she was voted 3rd by the public in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year, the first winter sports person to finish in the top 3 in almost forty years.  
Eve has now retired from Curling and is busying herself by commentating for Eurosport, running marathons, and doing fitness challenges.