Invisible Illnesses
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Podcast Overview
<p> <strong>Invisible Illnesses</strong> explores why so many people experience real, sometimes severe symptoms—like back pain, headaches or fatigue—yet medical tests come back normal. Hosts Alex Ward-Booth, who’s been through his own personal medical journey, and his cousin Dr. Stephen Ward-Booth, a practicing GP, shed light on “functional illnesses” like IBS and fibromyalgia. Through real stories and expert voices, they reveal the surprising mind-body connections and share practical strategies for feeling better—even when the causes and answers aren’t obvious. Not medical advice; speak to your GP. <br></p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
12/21/2025
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Recent Episodes
February 26, 2026
Episode 8: Gill's Story - The Reflection Section (Part 2 of 2)
“In terms of our health, I think it becomes about knowing what we need to let go of at this particular point in time. So if our symptoms are such that we can’t operate in the way we used to, we can either wish for things to be the way they were or we can process the ending and become more proactive and positive about how things are now” We’ve reached the final episode of season one, and we’re finishing with a belter! In this follow-up discussion with executive coach Gill Simpson, we reflect on the journey so far and share some key lessons that apply to anyone thinking about change, health, or personal growth. Highlights from this episode: Barriers to change: Why it’s often ourselves we need to get out of the way The power of self-awareness: How taking time to question our own assumptions can open up new possibilities Remaining open to learning: Embracing insights from wherever (and whoever) they come This conversation shows how much we gain when experts from different backgrounds share and learn together. If you’re new to the series, we hope this episode inspires you to listen back through earlier conversations. And if you’ve journeyed with us, thank you for being part of it—we hope you enjoy this final instalment. There are some books which Gill has recommended to our listeners: The circles of concern/control come from Stephen Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” William Bridges has written a number of books on his model of transition – probably the most relevant one for individuals is “Transitions – Making Sense of Life’s Changes” And another useful resource might be Dr Windy Dryden’s book “Ten Steps to Positive Living”. It helps you learn new ways of dealing with problems, including some of the topics we touched on: challenging our thinking distortions, taking control of our lives, accepting reality, and coming to terms with change.
February 19, 2026
Episode 7: Gill's Story (Part 1 of 2)
“There are definitely people who are on the same trajectory I was on; where you learn to value your own success through your achievements. But you come to a point where you can’t just keep striving and striving and striving, you just burn out. For high performers, it can be really hard to let go of that model, once it becomes clear it’s no longer sustainable.” In the penultimate episode of our series, Stephen and I sit down with Gill Simpson, an experienced executive coach and business leader. Our discussion reveals surprising overlaps between what drives change and performance in our jobs, and what helps us sustain our health and wellbeing. We feel there are some hugely valuable lessons which come out of our conversation with Gill: Understanding your drivers: How your personal history and learned behaviours shape your approach to work and home, and when those drivers help or hinder Circles of concern: Identifying what you can (and can’t) control, and focusing your energy where it counts most Making progress one step at a time: How even small, consistent changes can shift the trajectory of your work, life, and health for the better There are some books which Gill has recommended to our listeners (links below): The circles of concern/control come from Stephen Covey’s book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” William Bridges has written a number of books on his model of transition – probably the most relevant one for individuals is “Transitions – Making Sense of Life’s Changes” And another useful resource might be Dr Windy Dryden’s book “Ten Steps to Positive Living”. It helps you learn new ways of dealing with problems, including some of the topics we touched on: challenging our thinking distortions, taking control of our lives, accepting reality, and coming to terms with change.
February 12, 2026
Episode 6: Tony's story - The Reflection Section (Part 2 of 2)
“What we find is that often the patient is working as hard as they can, pushing through, so trying to get them to work harder isn’t helpful. We use approaches like Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy; often the key ingredient that’s missing is self compassion.” We’re now at Episode 6 in our eight-part series. In this instalment, we reconnect with Dr Tony Davies (following Episode 5), delving deeper into his “Body Reprogramming” approach for tackling central sensitisation syndromes like fibromyalgia. Whilst Dr Tony is a specialist in conditions like fibromyalgia, we feel that some of the key themes in this episode are relevant for all of us: Why more effort or more medication is rarely the answer - and how self-compassion and mindfulness can be more effective in recovery Why information and advice alone aren’t enough for complex behaviour change How our past experiences can ‘prime’ us for illness - and why a holistic view is vital for tackling health conditions Whether you’re managing chronic illness or simply want practical strategies for your own wellbeing or those around you, we feel this episode offers actionable advice with wider relevance. Music: Stephen Ward-Booth
9 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Invisible Illnesses?
<p> <strong>Invisible Illnesses</strong> explores why so many people experience real, sometimes severe symptoms—like back pain, headaches or fatigue—yet medical tests come back normal. Hosts Alex Ward-Booth, who’s been through his own personal medical journey, and his cousin Dr. Stephen Ward-Booth, a practicing GP, shed light on “functional illnesses” like IBS and fibromyalgia. Through real stories and expert voices, they reveal the surprising mind-body connections and share practical strategies for feeling better—even when the causes and answers aren’t obvious. Not medical advice; speak to your GP. <br></p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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