Tales to Inspire

Showing You How to Be Kind with Greig Trout

Greig Trout grew up in Newcastle and is officially the Director of Kindness of 52 of Lives   Greig always wanted to be a geography teacher and fascinated with how the world works and nature.    “ As a child at 7 years old I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of the kidney, it had spread all over my body.”    Cancer was a massive strain on Greig’s family, he doesn’t really remember too much about it and had to have his right kidney removed and a significant amount of radiotherapy, which meant t...

The First Person to Run a Marathon in Every Country in the World With Nick Butter

The First Person to Run a Marathon in Every Country in the World With Nick Butter   Let's meet the first person to run a marathon in every country around the world. 196 marathons in 674 days.   “There is this magic number of 29,747 the average amount of time a human being lives for, how many hours in your life are you willing to live without being happy?”   Nick Butter is a British born runner who went from a career in banking where he was extremely unhappy to one living a life where all of h...

Bringing People Together by Saying Yes More with Dave Cornthwaite

“Opportunities are there for making and taking” Dave Cornthwaite goes through his absolutely incredible journey of overcoming self-doubt, severe unhappiness and living not knowing who he was. But he decided to move in a better direction and not look back. An adventure, a community leader and a compulsive doer, get ready for a journey of learning how to say yes more! He splits his life into two parts, the first 25 years and the years after that. He was bullied at school and didn’t have many fr...

Going from Party Boy To Endurance Role Model In The Name of Charity With Brendan Rendall

“Don’t put that barrier up, just because you have reached a certain age” Brendan Rendall has changed the lives of so many people, whether by encouraging them through his sincere work within schools or running extreme challenges to help children around the world. Brendan really struggled through school and he eventually got to University and his life was one of a self proclaimed ‘hard core raver’ and drugs and alcohol were a major part of his every day life. Brendan just lived for the weekend ...

Learning How to Make a Difference with Nicola Sansom

“Once you realise you can actually use your life to make a difference, then why wouldn’t you” The baby of the family, painfully shy and partially deaf. That was Nicola, growing up. A long way away from the African streets where she focus’s so much of my time nowadays. Nicola received an incredible education and was adamant that when qualified, she would give something back by volunteering for a significant period of time. This was sparked from a trip to South Africa when Nicola was 16: she sa...

Creating Magical Moments with Rob Temple

“ I want to enjoy everything I do every day, and I want to do it with people I enjoy spending time with.” Rob always found it hard to fit in, but from a young age something magical happened. A magician came to school and changed Rob’s life forever. The power of our experiences as a child can change our lives and hypnosis and magic was one of those things that really connected to Rob and sparked the rest of his life. Magic transcends all language barriers, and it can capture you in the moment....

How to Serve Your Community with Saeed Atcha

" I was in foster care from a young age and had corporate parents, the council and the government. The majority of care leavers end up in prison or homeless. However, I truly feel that if you are in care, you should be better off and not worse off, the government and the council are your parents, so you should be flying.” Saeed was not brought up in an ordinary background.  At the age of 3 years old Saeed was placed into foster care in his hometown of Bolton. Saeed has been in care most of hi...

Taking Ownership in Life with Rob Woollen

Rob had a fairly normal childhood until he was ten years old when his brother got knocked over and killed. People get introduced to pets in their childhood, which also introduces them to death, however Rob’s introduction was a slightly larger version of that. His brother Stevie passed away just before his 13th birthday and despite rob denying it had a big effect on him at the time, he can now look back and see just how hard it was growing up without his beloved brother As a young 16 year old ...

Inspiring people to take action on their ideas with Eve Kekeh

Eve Kekeh is a young lady who has started her very own sustainable company. Growing up in a mixed-race family in London, where Eve was the only black girl in her whole school. Everyone had blonde hair and she always wished she had other people’s features. Eve had those feelings of not fully fitting into her society and when she went to Togo she wondered where her place in this world was. However, as she grew up she began to see the different cultures as a blessing. A journey to be an en...

Making Changes to recover from addiction with Chris Howarth

“My inability to interact with human beings had gone, I couldn’t meet with people without having alcohol inside of me.”   Chris Howarth born and raised in Preston and had a relatively happy upbringing.   He was always a very shy person, he had an inferiority complex, making him feel on the outside, but sports is where he came out of my shell.   Then there was an instant when he was 13 years old, when he was passed a note from his friends that said, “ we do not want you as part of our group an...

Breaking up with Alcohol with Ashley Kesner

“Things got to overwhelming for me to carry on and that’s when I made my plan and attempted to take my own life…. I remember waking up in the hospital being disappointed and telling my mom to let the Doctors let me die.”   From a young age Ashley Kesner always felt like something was odd. Usually a bubbly character, she would go through sudden episodes of negativity which was then heightened whilst she was a member of the cheer leading team at 15 years old.   One of the girls told her she was...

The importance of having a purpose with Luke Tyburski

“The one time when I believe I have been the most mentally tough, is when I talked myself off the bridge”   Luke started with a foundation given to him by his incredible parents that gave him the curiosity to think “what if I can”.   Luke always wanted to be a professional football player and ended up travelling the world pursuing his childhood dream and despite temporary success, at the age of 28 he retired from the game he loved so much. Luke’s entire purpose in life and identity surrounded...

Connecting to our inner child and realising the future we have, is ours to decide with Lucy Shepherd

“We actually got stuck in our tent for two whole weeks, at minus 40 degrees and 90 mph winds, unable to go up and down.” Lucy Shepherd is an adventurer who took her childhood and let it take over her adult life. Lucy realised she wasn’t being true to herself, she was consistently trying to fit in and after seeing an advert in the paper for young adventurers her life changed. At 18 straight after school, Lucy went off to the Arctic and learnt how to be an Arctic explorer. The trip made her rem...

Turning the lights back on - overcoming paralysis with Aaron Baker

“I was on a ventilator and my lungs filled with fluid and I flatlined… I remember that moment and it is probably the most special and most profound experience I have ever had, where all my fear and anxiety began to merge. “   Aaron was the number 1 biker in the USA and then one day in 1999 his life changed forever.   His motorcycle malfunctioned over a large jump and when after impacting the ground head first he realised that he was in trouble. As quickly as flicking a light switch off his ne...

Tales to Inspire: highlights from 2020

The end of each year provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the year just passed, and to form fresh determinations for the future. Krish looks back at the incredible success of Tales to Inspire in 2020, from the Tales to Inspire book and podcast, through to the opportunity to reach and motivate more people through television and radio appearances. As 2020 comes to an end, Krish invites you to look back on some of the inspirational stories that have been shared on the podcas...

Around the world in 160 days: Vedangi Kulkarni, the youngest women to circumnavigate the world by bike

‘The only option I have is to keep going, and I am going to keep going’ Vedangi has always been active, playing football at a high level until she moved to the UK at 17. Wanting to challenge herself, she embarked on long bike trip across the Himalayan passes, a journey of around 800-900km. She completed this despite tough terrain, high altitude, and poor weather conditions. Beginning a Sports Management degree in 2016, she continued to train for her future cycling challenges. Following a stay...

Life-changing perspective and resilience: Jamie Rudd on life after his severe car accident

‘The feeling I get from watching somebody succeed and do that thing they didn’t think they could do far outweighs any cheque’ Until two years ago, Jamie Rudd was ‘living the dream’; he ran a successful design and brand consultancy business, and enjoyed helping people to communicate their brands to their clients. In July 2018 his life changed in a split second; Jamie’s car was hit at 50 miles an hour by a car veering into his lane. Two strangers stopped to help and held Jamie’s head up, allowi...

Holistic healing the power of the mind and body in recovery from abuse with Isha Lall

‘I train my mind, I tell my body that you are capable of recovering, you are capable of regenerating’ When Isha’s family found her a potential husband he seemed kind and respectful and so Isha agreed to the engagement. She spotted a few red flags, but tried to ignore them, and went ahead with the marriage. Once married, her husband went through a complete change, and began to become abusive towards her. After moving to Hong Kong together the physical and verbal abuse worsened. Following an at...

The Dream Factory: making dreams come true for children with life-threatening illness and disability with Avril Mills

Content Note: bereavement ‘My dream was to grant dreams for other children, so that’s what we’re doing’ This week Krish is joined on the podcast by Avril Mills, who was inspired to create the charity The Dream Factory after the loss of her son Oliver to leukaemia. Diagnosed at age 3 and in and out of hospitals for treatment over the years, Oliver sadly passed away aged 9. During one hospital visit Avril discovered one of the other young children’s wishes was to meet an Arsenal football player...

Overcoming mental and physical adversity to create your own authentic success with Lee Chambers

Ahead of this week’s episode listener Hans Cook () shares how the Tales to Inspire podcast encourages him to enjoy the little things, and his favourite quote that reflects this: ‘when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change’. Lee Chambers was born and raised in Bolton, and the first in his family to go to university. Having overcome struggles with his mental health in second year, Lee left university into a graduate position, but was then made redundant in the fin...

Overcoming mental and physical adversity to create your own authentic success with Lee Chambers

Ahead of this week’s episode listener Hans Cook () shares how the Tales to Inspire podcast encourages him to enjoy the little things, and his favourite quote that reflects this: ‘when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change’. Lee Chambers was born and raised in Bolton, and the first in his family to go to university. Having overcome struggles with his mental health in second year, Lee left university into a graduate position, but was then made redundant in the fin...

Overcoming mental and physical adversity to create your own authentic success with Lee Chambers

Ahead of this week’s episode listener Hans Cook () shares how the Tales to Inspire podcast encourages him to enjoy the little things, and his favourite quote that reflects this: ‘when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change’. Lee Chambers was born and raised in Bolton, and the first in his family to go to university. Having overcome struggles with his mental health in second year, Lee left university into a graduate position, but was then made redundant in the fin...

From debilitating panic attacks to award-winning motivational speaking with Madiha Sosan

“Sometimes you need to have a breakdown in order to have a breakthrough” Born in Pakistan, Madiha moved with her family to the UK aged 7 and despite language barriers she enjoyed school and became captain (and only female member!) of her school’s cricket team. However, aged 13 Madiha’s life went from ‘happy family to complete darkness’. Madiha’s father was diagnosed with bladder cancer, passing away within the year. Following this, her mother became very ill and at 14 years of age Madiha beca...

‘Doing what I can’t’: Living life to the full as a disabled person with Isaac Harvey

“All disabilities are different … I’m always here to learn and so should you!” Isaac Harvey has a condition called hypoplasia, which means he has no arms and a weak pelvis, as well as scoliosis (the curvature of his spine). Fostered at 2 weeks old and later adopted by the same family aged 5, Isaac has always been surrounded by supportive family and friends. Though he sometimes experiences discrimination and stares in the street, he never saw himself as different due to his disability; he has ...

Counter-terrorism, forgiveness and saying ‘no’ to hate with Figen Murray

Content notes: bereavement, terrorism ‘I am not prepared to hate’ On 22nd May 2017, Figen Murray tragically lost her son Martyn in the Manchester Arena terrorist attack, a devastating event that changed her forever. When almost a month later at the Finsbury Park Mosque attack Figen saw images of men, including the imam of the mosque, protecting the attacker from being harmed, she was moved by their response. It struck her that people decide how to respond to a situation, and that she wanted h...

Success against the odds as a Black man in America with Demetrius Frazier

Content Note: depression, bereavement, racism, suicide. ‘If you wanna lose money easily, bet against me’ Born and raised in Florida as one of seven siblings, Demetrius Frazier experienced bereavement at a young age. His mother sadly passed away when he was 11, with his father passing away 7 years later to the day. This early loss was hard to deal with, and Demetrius suffered periods of depression and anxiety, reaching the point where he was having suicidal thoughts. Despite this difficult sta...

From trauma and addiction to resilience coaching: Josh Connolly’s healing journey

Content Note: suicide, alcoholism, addiction, violence “The trap is living your life always believing that you’re trying to get somewhere and if you do that you’ll miss the moment, so today I don’t live by goals I live by intentions.” This week Krish welcomes resilience coach Josh Connolly to the podcast. Growing up in fear of his alcoholic father and with a lack of space for his emotional needs to be met at home, Josh learnt to push down his trauma and mask his feelings. Over the years Josh ...

Overcome fear and challenge yourself to make life an adventure with Sarah Williams

Krish is joined by Sarah Williams, host of The Tough Girl Podcast and founder of Tough Girl Challenges. Sarah takes us along with her from an unfulfilling career in banking, through gruelling physical challenges, to where she is now; inspiring women and girls to overcome their self-doubt, challenge themselves to set ambitious goals in life, and have adventures of their own through Tough Girl Challenges. Sarah’s adventures have taken her on foot through the notoriously tough Marathon des Sable...

How ex-forces Jonathan Beever learnt to deal with anxiety and depression following brain injury recovery

In this episode, Krish meets Jonathan Beever, ex-royal engineer, who’s career in the forces provided an alternative to the life on the council estate he grew up on that he was so determined to escape. Jonathan’s career was over the moment he suffered a knee injury following an accident playing rugby.  At first Jonathan struggled to adjust to civilian life, but he did manage to find a job he enjoyed, and was content with his new life outside of the army.  One Sunday, whilst enjoying a motorbik...

How ex-forces Jonathan Beever learnt to deal with anxiety and depression following brain injury recovery

In this episode, Krish meets Jonathan Beever, ex-royal engineer, who’s career in the forces provided an alternative to the life on the council estate he grew up on that he was so determined to escape. Jonathan’s career was over the moment he suffered a knee injury following an accident playing rugby.  At first Jonathan struggled to adjust to civilian life, but he did manage to find a job he enjoyed, and was content with his new life outside of the army.  One Sunday, whilst enjoying a motorbik...

Can Facebook find me a kidney? Finding an organ donor when you’re not white

Simran spent many years suffering from urine infections until doctor’s finally diagnosed her with stage 5 kidney disease at the age of 14. 2 years later and Simran started dialysis, which she’s been on for 10 hours a night, every night since March 2018. Simran cannot have sleepovers with her friends, go on holiday, or travel very far from home because of her condition.    Simran started the Facebook group ‘A Kidney 4 Simran’ to try and find a kidney donor, as she’s been unable to find a match...

Can Facebook find me a kidney? Finding an organ donor when you’re not white

Simran spent many years suffering from urine infections until doctor’s finally diagnosed her with stage 5 kidney disease at the age of 14. 2 years later and Simran started dialysis, which she’s been on for 10 hours a night, every night since March 2018. Simran cannot have sleepovers with her friends, go on holiday, or travel very far from home because of her condition.    Simran started the Facebook group ‘A Kidney 4 Simran’ to try and find a kidney donor, as she’s been unable to find a match...

Ripping up the rule book on addiction and spinal cord injury recovery with Sean Bailey

Sean had a rocky start to his football career when his temper started getting the better of him. He was given a second chance, but this time it wasn’t his attitude getting in the way of his football career, it was a nasty accident on the pitch which left him with a severe C5 & C6 spinal cord injury.  Doctors told Sean it was unlikely he would walk again.  Sean’s Tale to Inspire is one of recovery from spinal cord injury, but also overcoming addiction, PTSD and depression. He talks Krish throu...

Krish Pointing in the direction of hope

How one person can make a difference; the story behind Tales to Inspire with Krish Patel

Krish grew up in Bolton, and when asked by his primary school teacher “what do you want to be when you grow up?” His answer was a no brainer: a professional footballer. A self confused chubby kid, Krish was disheartened when his teacher suggested this may not be a realistic dream, and he should have a back up plan. Fast-forward to 18, and Krish begins his career in professional football playing for Bury.    Injuries prevented him from achieving the progression he imagined, and soon enough, de...

Josh C – Conquering My Addictions

Drugs, alcohol and an unstable upbringing. I wouldn’t say my life journey is one of normality or one that has been easy, but it certainly has led me to some of the amazing work that I do today. I am going to start my story at 25 years of age when I walked into a charity called NACOA. At this stage of my life I had stopped using alcohol and drugs for about a year and I was looking to volunteer and give back. I knew I wanted to give back and help with people who have struggled in similar ways t...

Ripping up the rule book of addiction and spinal cord injury recovery with Sean Bailey

Sean had a rocky start to his football career when his temper started getting the better of him. He was given a second chance, but this time it wasn’t his attitude getting in the way of his football career, it was a nasty accident on the pitch which left him with a severe C5 & C6 spinal cord injury.  Doctors told Sean it was unlikely he would walk again.  Sean’s Tale to Inspire is one of recovery from spinal cord injury, but also overcoming addiction, PTSD and depression. He talks Krish throu...

How ex-forces Johnathan Beever learnt to deal with anxiety and depression following brain injury recovery

In this episode, Krish meets Jonathan Beever, ex-royal engineer, who’s career in the forces provided an alternative to the life on the council estate he grew up on that he was so determined to escape. Jonathan’s career was over the moment he suffered a knee injury following an accident playing rugby.  At first Jonathan struggled to adjust to civilian life, but he did manage to find a job he enjoyed, and was content with his new life outside of the army.  One Sunday, whilst enjoying a motorbik...

Jonathan B – The Crash that Changed My Life Forever

A serious crash changed my life forever. Not many people would say that a car accident would have made them a better person, but I hope I can show you how that happened for me. I was born and raised on a council estate in Wigan. We had very little money and my parents scraped by and gave the seven of us everything they could. I managed to do my first year of college, studying Law, Business and Media, before walking into the Army careers office and there and then signing up to join the Royal ...

Simran S – My 5 Year Wait For a Donor

– Hi, I’m Simran. I was born prematurely on the 13th of April 2002. So many babies are born early, I never thought it would have such a huge effect on my life. As a child, life was wonderful. I’m an only child from Walsall but I have always lived with my extended family, so I’ve always felt loved.  The school was great; I wanted to be a lawyer or pursue some other really cool professional career. I was quite active as well, going to karate lessons and doing my fair share of swimming. The only...

Jonathan

A serious crash changed my life forever. Not many people would say that a car accident would have made them a better person, but I hope I can show you how that happened for me. I was born and raised on a council estate in Wigan. We had very little money and my parents scraped by and gave the seven of us everything they could. I managed to do my first year of college, studying Law, Business and Media, before walking into the Army careers office and there and then signing up to join the Royal E...

Tales to Inspire - Teaser Trailer

The Tales to Inspire Podcast aims to bring you stories to amaze and inspire you. Sharing stories from people from all walks of life who've overcome huge challenges, Krish Patel will bring you weekly stories to encourage you to chase your dreams, and never give up.