Go In Courage Podcast

di Rix Banga

Stagione 6

From Sex Parties to Becoming the Therapist She Needed: The Courage to Look Within with Jemma Hardelle

From sex parties and hedonism to retraining as a therapist, Jemma Hardélle has lived a life that has challenged many of the usual rules around relationships, identity and what a successful life is supposed to look like. In this episode of Go In Courage, Jemma joins me for an open conversation about the courage it takes to question the scripts we inherit and work out what is actually true for us. We talk about people pleasing, learning to say no, neurodivergence, relationships, therapy and the stories we can internalise about ourselves from an early age. Jemma shares how growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia affected the way she saw herself, how her own unconventional relationship experiences led her into ethical non monogamy and polyamory, and why struggling to find a therapist who could truly understand the complexity of her life ultimately inspired her to retrain and become that person for others. We also explore why relationships sometimes need reviewing as we change, what it means to take the mask off in therapy, and the importance of having somewhere we can tell the truth without fear of judgement. At its heart, this is a conversation about authenticity. About asking whether the life, relationship or identity that once fitted you still fits today. And having the courage to be honest about the answer.

S6 · E58

4 ott 2026

1:12:51

"I was 15. It was an adult industry" | Natalie J on glamour modeling, Baywatch actress & reinvention

Natalie J joins me to talk about finding herself in an adult industry at just 15, the identity that was built around her, and the long journey toward reclaiming her own story. Natalie trained in ballet from a young age before her life changed dramatically as a teenager when modelling and national media attention arrived far earlier than she was ready for. What followed took her through glamour modelling, Los Angeles, Baywatch Nights, music videos, international travel and a world that often looked glamorous from the outside while internally she was still trying to understand who she really was. In this conversation, Natalie speaks openly about being 15 in an adult industry, the pressure of being defined by other people, changing her name, starting again in America, resilience, reinvention and the courage it took to keep moving forward. We also explore body image, fame, authenticity, relationships, spirituality, self belief and what it means to finally take ownership of your own story. Now a writer, Natalie reflects on how writing her memoir, Dark Star: A Child’s Body, a Photographer’s Obsession, a Media Frenzy, helped her reclaim a story that for years had been shaped by other people. Find Natalie on Instagram: @nataliej.world Dark Star is available on Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0cCGDahp

S6 · E57

21 set 2026

1:03:45

You Don’t Build Courage by Staying Comfortable, You Need to Take Action with Sam Carter-Smith

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 56: You Don’t Build Courage by Staying Comfortable | Sam Carter-Smith. In this episode, host Rix Banga sits down with Sam Carter-Smith, an events producer, boxing coach, consultant and mentor working with founders in the health and fitness industry. Together they explore what courage actually looks like in everyday life, why growth often requires discomfort, the role boxing and sport can play in men’s mental health, fatherhood, community, purpose and what happens when we deliberately step outside of our comfort zones. Sam shares his experience coaching thousands of people through their first boxing events, including men who later told him the process helped them through some of the lowest points in their lives.

S6 · E56

2 set 2026

1:28:31

You Are Not Broken: Autism, ADHD, Courage and Reinventing Your Life with Amie Barlow

Esplicito

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 55: You Are Not Broken: Autism, ADHD, Courage and Reinventing Your Life with Amie Barlow. What happens when you stop forcing your brain, career and identity into a life that was never designed for you? In this episode, Rix Banga welcomes fitness and ADHD coach Amie Barlow for an honest, funny and deeply personal conversation about autism, ADHD, neurodivergence, anxiety, identity and reinvention. Amie shares her journey from professional dance and performing in the West End to building a successful career in fitness, online coaching and content creation. After growing her business quickly, she realised she had built it around somebody else’s model and that it no longer worked for her brain, energy or sense of purpose. Diagnosed with ADD at 11 and later diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult, Amie reflects on finally understanding herself without allowing those labels to become limitations. Together, Rix and Amie explore emotional regulation, anxiety attacks, childhood triggers, trauma responses, relationships, dopamine, intuition, faith, entrepreneurship and what it means to build a life around how your brain genuinely works.

S6 · E55

3 ago 2026

1:50:37

The Hero’s Journey: Why Transformation Feels Like Everything Is Falling Apart with Kat Smailis

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 54: When Your Old Life No Longer Fits: The Courage to Transform What happens when the identity you built your life around no longer feels like you? In this episode, Rix Banga welcomes Kat Smailis back to the Go In Courage podcast for a reflective conversation about identity, personal transformation and the courage to follow an invitation into the unknown. Kat shares why she stepped away from being known primarily as an intimacy therapist and entered a season of profound change. She explores the uncertainty of releasing an old identity without knowing what will replace it, and how her experience in Egypt became a defining turning point. Together, Rix and Kat unpack the hero’s journey, our resistance to uncertainty, the psychological death of an old self and what happens when your previous life no longer fits. Rix also reflects on loss, resilience and learning that courage is not always about enduring more pain. Sometimes it means treating yourself more gently while you heal. Looking to the hero's journey, using modern day stories such as Superman, The Matrix, The Alchemist and metamorphosis, they explore what it means to live from the heart and become who you are ready to be.

S6 · E54

29 lug 2026

1:31:18

Rejection, Depression, Ayahuasca and Her Healing Journey with Jean Bender

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 53: Discarded, Rejected and Depressed: How Jean Turned Pain Into Purpose. In this episode, host Rix Banga sits down with Jean Bender, a holistic practitioner based in Bali, to explore depression, rejection, childhood trauma, panic attacks, spirituality, emotional healing and what it means to rebuild your life after losing connection with yourself. Jean shares her journey from growing up in Germany and being forced to become independent at a young age, to experiencing abandonment, family breakdown and the overwhelming responsibility of caring for her younger sister. After years of carrying more than she could emotionally process, Jean reached a point where she completely shut down. She fell into a severe depression, slept for almost a month and discovered that depression was not simply sadness. For her, it felt like complete numbness, as though a grey veil had fallen over her entire life. Together, Rix and Jean unpack the impact of childhood rejection, the relationship between emotional pain and physical wellbeing, destructive coping mechanisms, panic attacks and the courage required to face the parts of ourselves we would rather avoid.

S6 · E53

26 lug 2026

1:33:00

My Body Forced Me to Become a Healer, with Julia Schmidt

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 52: My Body Forced Me to Become a Healer - Here's What I Learned, with Julia Schmidt In this episode, host Rix Banga sits down with Julia Schmidt, a holistic therapist and practitioner based in Bali, to explore chronic illness, depression, healing, shadow work, spirituality, courage and what it means to reconnect with who you really are. Julia shares her journey from growing up in Germany and struggling with depression from a young age, to travelling, moving to Bali, walking away from a marketing agency and dedicating her life to holistic healing. Together, they unpack the connection between mind, body, emotions and the nervous system, and why healing often requires us to look honestly at the things we would rather avoid. Julia also opens up about living with autoimmune issues, chronic fatigue, asthma and nasal polyps, and how her own health struggles led her into studying multiple healing modalities. This is a deep, honest and thought-provoking conversation about pain, purpose, anxiety, trust, generational patterns, community, spirituality and why we do not have to heal alone. Julia also shares the heart behind Sacred Emotions, her retreat work, and The Holistic Safe Space, where she supports people through one-to-one sessions.

S6 · E52

5 lug 2026

1:21:27

Finding Strength After Sexual Assault: I Returned the Shame That Was Never Mine to Carry

Esplicito

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 51: Finding Strength After Sexual Assault: I Returned the Shame That Was Never Mine to Carry (Dandelions Carry No Shame). In this episode, host Rix Banga sits down with Sara, a pilot, public speaker and founder of Dandelions Carry No Shame, to explore courage, trauma healing, shame, self-worth and what it means to rebuild after painful life experiences. Sara shares her journey from growing up in Sweden and struggling with labels around intelligence, to becoming a female pilot in a male-dominated industry. She opens up about overcoming a fear of flying, handling a real Boeing 737 engine failure early in her career, and the moment she finally told herself: “Sara, you are a very capable woman.” This is a powerful, honest and deeply human conversation about sexual assault, silence, shame, therapy, self-love, laughter, grief and the difference between reckless courage and courage that comes with wisdom. Sara also shares the heart behind her movement, Dandelions Carry No Shame, created to help people return the shame that was never theirs to carry and begin to bloom again. Please listen with care, as this episode includes discussion of sexual assault, trauma, bulimia and emotional abuse.

S6 · E51

22 giu 2026

1:28:25

Stagione 5

Healing Begins When You Stop Pretending and Start Getting Real, with Alex Hyde

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 50: Healing Begins When You Stop Pretending, with Alex Hyde In this episode of the Go In Courage Podcast, Rix Banga sits down with wellness coach Alex Hyde for an honest and reflective conversation about authenticity, self-awareness, healing, and the courage it takes to truly be yourself. Together, they explore how many people spend years performing, masking parts of themselves, or trying to live up to expectations that disconnect them from who they really are. Alex shares openly about personal growth, learning to admit faults, embracing imperfection, and creating a life rooted in honesty rather than performance. The conversation also touches on relationships, emotional healing, confidence, self-worth, wellbeing, and the importance of building spaces where people feel safe enough to show up authentically. This is a grounded and meaningful episode for anyone trying to reconnect with themselves, let go of unhealthy patterns, and live from a more authentic place.

S5 · E50

17 mag 2026

1:38:31

How Changing My Diet Healed My Infertility | From Escala’s Britain's Got Talent Fame to Health Coach

🎙 Go In Courage Podcast Episode 49: How My Diet Healed Me | From Escala (BGT) to Naturopathic Health Coach. In this episode, host Rix Banga is joined by Chantal Leverton, former member of Escala, the electric string quartet who rose to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, before she took a powerful and unexpected turn into the world of health and healing. Together, they explore a journey that goes far beyond external success… into the reality of what happens when your body starts breaking down, and the courage it takes to listen, change, and rebuild from within. This conversation dives into the disconnect between outward achievement and internal wellbeing, the frustration of searching for answers, and the life-changing impact of taking ownership of your health through nutrition and holistic practices.

S5 · E49

2 mag 2026

1:39:14

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