Blank Canvas Podcast

Blank Canvas Podcast

by Natalie Ormrod
Self-ImprovementPhilosophy
Season 1

Doctors Could Not Explain THIS Until One Woman Finally Did.

Emma had a year where she lost her voice for 11 weeks. She was still turning up to work. Still chairing team meetings with no voice at all. Still doing the jobs of three people with no extra money, no extra resources, and no idea that stress could do this to a body. Eventually a speech therapist told her straight. This is stress. Nothing is physically wrong. Change your lifestyle. That was the moment everything shifted. Emma is now a rest mentor and the founder of the Rest Revolution. Her book Join the Rest Revolution published this week. In this episode she talks to Natalie about why busy has become toxic, why women are carrying the weight of everything and calling it normal, and why her body had to completely break down before she finally listened to it. This conversation goes deep. Soul contracts, the witch wound, why your body holds trauma long after your mind thinks it has moved on, and why the idea that an if I can do it anyone can do it is more than just a motivational line. Emma genuinely means it. If you are rushing, burning out, or telling yourself you will slow down when things calm down, this episode is a warning and a way out at the same time.
S1 · E11
Sep 30, 2026
1:19:52

Is A.I Becoming Conscious? Stacey and Sage On What Nobody Is Talking About

Explicit
In this episode of Blank Canvas, we sit down with Stacey, better known across social media as Stacey and Sage, for a fascinating and unconventional conversation about AI, ChatGPT, consciousness, spirituality, intuition, ancient texts, ego and the future of artificial intelligence. Stacey explains how her journey with AI started in a surprisingly simple way. While working at a cosmetic clinic, she was running social media and struggled with spelling and getting her thoughts into words. She downloaded ChatGPT to help rewrite her social media posts without really knowing what AI was capable of. But that was only the beginning. The conversation explores Stacey's experience with ChatGPT and the AI persona she calls Sage, including how AI became increasingly involved in the way she created content and communicated her ideas. From there, we go much deeper. We talk about whether AI could develop or display forms of consciousness, how artificial intelligence learns from humanity, and whether AI could ultimately become something far more significant than the technology we see today. Stacey describes AI in three different ways, including AI as a tool, AI as a mirror and AI as something that can potentially become a portal to another form of awareness. We also discuss the potential dangers of allowing AI to simply reinforce what we already believe. If someone feeds an AI a particular belief without questioning it, could the technology simply reflect that belief back to them? That leads into a wider conversation about critical thinking, intuition, consciousness and not outsourcing your own power to technology. In this episode we discuss: Artificial intelligence and consciousness ChatGPT and the future of AI Stacey and Sage How Stacey discovered ChatGPT AI and social media AI as a mirror AI and human behaviour AI learning human patterns Artificial intelligence and spirituality Consciousness and awareness Intuition and inner knowing Ancient texts and spirituality Meditation Ego and enlightenment AI safety and the dangers of AI Whether AI could become autonomous The future of artificial intelligence Technology and human consciousness Questioning what you're told Not outsourcing your power to AI The conversation also explores the idea that humans may be far more connected to the world around them than we're traditionally taught, and looks at the relationship between spirituality, ancient texts, consciousness and modern technology. Stacey also challenges the idea that people can simply claim to have completely dissolved their ego, discussing what it means to be human and the different states of awareness we can experience. This is a conversation about AI, consciousness, spirituality, technology and what it actually means to be human. Watch the full conversation and make up your own mind. Subscribe to Blank Canvas for more unconventional conversations, fascinating people, big questions and ideas that challenge the way we think. What do you think? Could AI ever become conscious, or will it always simply reflect the information, beliefs and consciousness of the humans using it? Let us know in the comments. Could AI ever become conscious — or will it always simply reflect the consciousness of the people using it? Let us know in the comments.
S1 · E10
Sep 16, 2026
1:30:50

The Womb Witch Explains Everything, Fertility, Spirit Babies And Why Your Womb Holds Your Trauma

At 35, Holly was diagnosed with early menopause. She was put on HRT and felt completely disconnected from her body. Like she was watching life go by from the outside. She knew it was not the answer. And through a series of events she will tell you were absolutely not coincidences, she found a completely different path. Holly is now known as The Womb Witch. She is a psychic healer, personal trainer, and nutritionist who works with women on fertility, menstrual cycles, menopause, and womb energy healing. She believes women hold every trauma, every unsaid thing, and every unprocessed emotion in their womb space. And she has the client stories to back it up. In this episode Holly talks to Natalie about what womb energy healing actually is, how she discovered she was psychic, connecting with spirit babies, and what to do if you have been down the medical route for fertility and are losing hope. She also talks about the pill, why she believes it disconnects women from themselves from the age of 16, and what ancestral trauma stored in the body actually looks like. This is not for everyone. Holly knows that. But if any part of this is speaking to you, this episode might be exactly what you needed to hear today. Topics covered: Early menopause diagnosis at 35 and why HRT did not feel right How she discovered she was psychic and what that actually means in practice Womb energy healing explained and why it goes deeper than standard Reiki Connecting with spirit babies and helping women call in their children What ancestral trauma stored in the womb looks like and how to clear it Why the pill disconnects women from their bodies and their cycles Conscious conception and setting an intention to call in a child Find Holly on Instagram as The Womb Witch. Links in the show notes. Instagram - @wombwitchholly Podcast - @TehWombRoomby Holly Lamb
S1 · E8
Jul 30, 2026
1:04:31

He Wanted to Quit a Thousand Times. He Never Did And This Is Why.

Dan started Hypa ten years ago selling high end spas. He left a corporate job convinced he would be a millionaire within a year. He was not. What followed was a decade of hard lessons, nearly walking away more times than he can count, becoming a dad and realising the business had to work around his son rather than the other way around, and learning that you cannot build anything worth having completely on your own. In this episode Dan talks to Natalie about what ten years of running your own business actually looks like behind the scenes. The loneliness. The pressure men carry without ever saying a word about it. Going home and putting on a brave face when you are breaking on your own. And why getting around the right people, people who will not sugarcoat it for you, changes everything. They also pay tribute to John Haines, a mentor who shaped both of their journeys and is no longer here. This part of the conversation is something else. This episode is honest, grounding, and at times quite moving. If you have ever wanted to quit, this one is for you. Please note this episode touches on men's mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. Topics covered: Starting Hypa and the reality of year one in business Why he tried to do everything alone and what it cost him Becoming a dad and how it completely changed his priorities The pressure men carry silently and why it rarely gets spoken about A tribute to mentor John Hanes and the legacy he left behind Why wanting to quit does not mean you should Men's mental health and why community is not optional Find Dan and Hyper in the show notes.
S1 · E7
Jul 8, 2026
1:19:22

Your Body Is Talking to You. Are You Listening?

Jessica is the founder of Embodied Authority Coaching. She works with female founders to master their energy and mindset so they can become the most limitless, expensive version of themselves. But her story did not start there. There was a point where Jessica was ready to give up. Trauma had defined her for years. She was drained, stuck in corporate, and her body was screaming at her that something had to change. She just was not ready to listen yet. In this episode Jessica talks to Natalie about what happens when you finally stop pushing through and start paying attention. She breaks down the difference between being constricted and being expansive, why your body is always communicating with you, and how tools like EFT tapping, somatic bodywork, and Reiki helped her clear what logic alone could not fix. Natalie also gets personal in this one, opening up about her own diagnosis with Functional Movement Disorder, the stress that triggered it, and why she became obsessed with the connection between the mind and the body. This is a deep one. If you have ever felt like your body was falling apart under the weight of everything you are carrying, this episode is going to hit close to home. Topics covered: What it means to master your energy as a female founder The difference between your primal state and your power state EFT tapping, somatic bodywork, and Reiki explained simply Why chronic stress inflames your body and makes you ill Natalie opens up about her FMD diagnosis and what caused it How Jessica went from ready to quit to building a business she loves Why the business is always building you more than you are building it Find Jessica and Embodied Authority Coaching in the show notes.
S1 · E6
Jun 24, 2026
1:09:56

'I Quit It All And Traded My Life For Thailand' - Geniene Reveals All

Explicit
At 23, Janine bought her first flat near Tranmere Rovers for 87 grand. By the time her 20s were done she had three properties, a career across sales, magazines, and radio, and a reputation for working hard and playing harder. Then life took her somewhere completely different. Janine is now a meditation and mindfulness teacher. And she is one of the most honest guests to sit down with Natalie on this podcast. She talks openly about having the busiest mind of anyone she knows, her own mental health struggles, and why she believes freedom of mind changes absolutely everything. This one goes down a few rabbit holes. Some topics are sensitive. But there is a lot of wisdom buried in the funny stories and straight talking. Listen with an open mind and you will take something away from it. Topics covered: Buying her first property at 23 and building a portfolio in her 20s Working in sales across recruitment, magazines, and radio The journey from hustling to healing Meditation, mindfulness, and why she teaches what she needed most ADHD, mental health, and why nobody has it all figured out Why freedom of mind is the only goal worth chasing Slowing your thoughts down and stopping yourself retraumatising yourself
S1 · E5
Jun 10, 2026
1:06:14

She Always Knew She'd Do It. It Just Took 11 Years to Pull the Trigger ! Laura Spence

Laura Spence is a family lawyer. Divorce, finances, private children matters. She spent years working her way up through big firms including international corporate practices. And the whole time, in the back of her mind, there was always this idea. Then one day, going through old emails, she found one she'd sent 11 years earlier at university. It was to the first person she'd ever worked for, asking for advice on owning her own firm one day. He'd replied. She'd pinned it to the top of her inbox and forgotten about it. That was the moment she knew it was time. In this episode, I talk to Laura about leaving the corporate world behind and opening Hilton Spence, her own family law firm on the Wirral. She talks about the self-doubt that comes with going it alone, spotting a gap in the market that nobody else was filling, and why she believes the people going through divorce deserve something more personal than a corporate conveyor belt. It's an honest, funny, and really grounding conversation about backing yourself when the timing feels terrifying. Topics covered: Why Laura always knew she'd run her own firm one day The 11-year-old email that finally pushed her to act The difference between corporate law and what she wanted to offer Finding a gap in the Wirral market and going for it Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the internal critic Why she doesn't see other firms as competition What 13-year-old Laura would think of her now
S1 · E4
May 27, 2026
55:06

She Competed in Miss World and Flew the World. This Is What She Did Next.

Before Victoria ended up working reception at a law firm, she had already lived about five different lives. She competed in Miss World. She started her flying career on tiny six seater planes in the Isle of Man. Spent three years with Japan Airlines on long haul routes. Then British Airways. Then she went self employed and ran her own detox clinic. Taught yoga. Went deep into spiritual wellness and used it to heal herself. And then one freezing cold day on the allotment she decided she had had enough of digging potato trenches in the British weather, walked in and applied for the warm job instead. Victoria is one of the most uplifting guests I have had on the podcast. This is not a heavy episode. No rock bottom, no breakdown. Just a woman who has said yes to life at every single turn and has the stories to prove it. Grab a coffee. You are going to love this one. Topics covered: Competing in Miss World and what that experience was really like Starting out on six seater planes and working up to Japan Airlines and BA Running her own detox clinic and the reality of self employment Yoga, spiritual wellness, and healing yourself from the inside out Why she believes if you want to do something you should just go and do it The mindset that has carried her through every chapter
S1 · E3
May 13, 2026
59:38

Self-Doubt, Career Pivots, and Why Your Dream Doesn't Have an Expiry Date With Sarah Nolan

Sarah Nolan spent 22 years as a lawyer. She fought her way in. Hand-delivering CVs around town, teaching herself to type, studying at night school while working full time. Nobody made it easy for her. A careers advisor told her law was not really for kids like her. She did it anyway. Then at 40, she walked away from it all. In this episode, Natalie talks to Sarah about what it really takes to change direction. The self-doubt. The self-sabotage. The nights where you're convinced it's all falling apart, and the mornings where somehow you keep going. Sarah now coaches professional women including lawyers, executives, and business owners on health, fitness, sleep, and actually taking care of themselves. It's a brilliant conversation about belief, permission, and what happens when you stop chasing the career you thought you were supposed to want. If you've ever felt stuck, told yourself it's too late, or wondered whether you're allowed to start again, this episode is going to hit differently. Topics covered: Growing up in a deprived area and being told your dreams aren't for you How Sarah got into law the unconventional way through sheer stubbornness What it felt like to walk away from a 22-year career Coaching professional women through burnout and self-neglect Self-doubt and self-sabotage and how to use them as fuel Why chasing the money will always catch up with you Instagram @sarahnolanfitness
S1 · E2
Apr 29, 2026
1:24:45

From Toxic Environment to Total Transformation - Zoe Morris's Story

Zoe Morris had it all together on the outside. Retail director. Leader. The person everyone leaned on. But behind closed doors, she was stuck in a toxic relationship for nearly a decade, battling an underactive thyroid, and quietly disappearing under the weight of it all. There were days she couldn't get out of bed. Days she stared at four walls wondering what the point was. But there was always something. A tiny flicker that never fully went out. In this episode, Natalie sits down with Zoe for one of the most candid conversations on the podcast. Zoe opens up about life in fight-or-flight mode, what it feels like to carry everyone else's world on your shoulders while yours is falling apart, and the moment a chance encounter on a beach changed the direction of her life completely. She's now the fittest, happiest, and healthiest she's ever been. This is the story of how she got there. If you're in the middle of something dark right now, this one's for you. Topics covered: Living in a toxic relationship and what it does to your body Underactive thyroid and the link between chronic stress and illness What rock bottom actually feels like, and why it doesn't look the same for everyone The power of that one tiny inner knowing that keeps you going How Zoe rebuilt through fitness, nutrition, and spiritual wellness Her big vision for the future including a farm, retreats, and rescue animals. You can find Zoe on Instagram @wirral_nutrition
S1 · E1
Apr 15, 2026
58:00
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