What happens when the life you’ve built for more than 20 years suddenly falls apart, and you no longer recognise the person staring back at you?
In this episode of The Showing Up Stronger Podcast, I sit down with Helen Thorn – award-winning comedian, Sunday Times bestselling author, one half of the hugely successful Scummy Mummies duo, marathon runner and mum of two teenagers.
But this isn’t just a conversation about comedy.
It’s a conversation about losing yourself, rebuilding your identity and discovering that sometimes your strongest chapter begins after your world has fallen apart.
Helen opens up with incredible honesty about navigating divorce after 22 years, finding herself unexpectedly raising children as a single mum during lockdown and the overwhelming feeling that she could no longer identify with the person she had become.
We talk about the messy middle that nobody prepares you for, the grief, loneliness, smoking, drinking, survival mode and learning to sit with difficult emotions instead of running from them.
We also talk about joy.
How movement transformed her life, how she went from barely running a 5km to completing all six World Marathon Majors, and why she’s discovered that strength isn’t about perfection, it’s about showing up for yourself, one small step at a time.
Together, we discuss:
• Rebuilding your identity after divorce
• Why motherhood looks different and better as a single parent
• The power of humour in surviving difficult seasons
• How running became her anchor through life’s biggest changes
• Learning to say no, protect your peace and stop seeking validation from others
Helen is refreshingly honest, brilliantly funny and deeply inspiring. This conversation is a reminder that no matter how broken you feel, you’re never starting from scratch, you’re simply building the next version of yourself.
Sometimes showing up stronger starts with one simple decision, it’s choosing yourself again.
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This series is proudly Sponsored by Revive Active who are offering an exclusive discount for all Showing Up Stronger Podcast listeners use code STRONGER15. Find Revive Active in Boots, Holland & Barrett, pharmacies and health stores or online at reviveactive.com
