Life Stories

About Life Stories

I have come across many impressive and inspirational people in my time in medical technology education and sales. I have always had the goal to run an interview series with these people, to find out more about them personally and what led them to the career they ended up in. I am genuinely looking forward to each of these! I hope you find it interesting too.

Publisher

Andy Thomas

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Oct 2020

Latest episode

23 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

261 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Life Stories | Ep.259 | Stephen McKendry

   In this week’s episode of Life Stories, I’m joined by Stephen McKendry, a physiotherapist and founder of Your Physio in Northern Ireland, to hear the story behind his journey from a teenage footballer with an interest in sport to building a thriving multidisciplinary clinic back home in Derry. Stephen’s career has taken him from Northern Ireland to Northumbria University, into the world of private practice in England, and eventually back home to build the business he had always dreamed of creating. What really stood out to me was just how much of Stephen’s journey came down to being willing to take opportunities, put the work in and learn along the way. From starting his first clinic at just 24, with very little business experience, to growing into a 4,500-square-foot facility with a large clinical team and a range of services under one roof, his story is full of lessons for anyone thinking about taking the leap into business. We talk about the influence of Kevin Doyle and the environment that helped Stephen develop his clinical and communication skills, the reality of leaving a secure career to start something of his own, the challenges of building a reputation in a relatively small community, and how Steven navigated the mistakes and lessons that came with learning business on the job. We also get into Stephen’s approach to leadership, recruitment and developing younger clinicians, why communication should be taught much earlier in physiotherapy, the changing role of gyms and technology within modern clinics, and his belief that there is a place for different approaches when it comes to patient care. Perhaps most importantly, we talk about what success actually means to Stephen. For him, it has never simply been about financial growth. It has been about building a reputation and creating a clinic that he can be proud of. I really enjoyed this conversation because Stephen’s story is a great reminder that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. Sometimes you have to take the opportunity in front of you, learn as you go and keep moving forward. If you’re a physiotherapist, clinician, business owner, aspiring entrepreneur, or simply interested in hearing how someone built a career and business from the ground up, I think there’s plenty in this episode for you. Thanks for watching Life Stories. If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe and let me know in the comments what stood out to you. #LifeStories #Physiotherapy #Physio #Business #Healthcare #Entrepreneurship #Rehab #NorthernIreland

2. 

   19 Aug 2026

   Life Stories | Ep.258 | Khalid Maidan

   This week on Life Stories, I’m joined by Khalid Maidan, co-founder of Clinical Physio, to hear the story behind his journey from aspiring physiotherapist to entrepreneur, educator and business owner. What really stood out to me about Khalid’s story is that Clinical Physio wasn’t built overnight. It started with a simple frustration from his own early career: he wanted to learn more, but the courses he attended often felt like they were aimed at experienced specialists rather than students and new graduates. That experience became the motivation to create something different – education that met people at the level they were actually at. From filming assessment videos on weekends with limited money and equipment, to building an online education business with a huge following, Khalid takes me through the highs, the setbacks and the sheer amount of work that went on behind the scenes. We also talk about how COVID changed the direction of Clinical Physio, the unexpected growth that came from giving away free education online, and the difficult decision Khalid eventually faced: whether to remain working four days a week in the NHS or take the risk of leaving and committing fully to the business. But this conversation goes far beyond physiotherapy and business. We get into imposter syndrome, communication, clinical reasoning, the pressure new graduates face, the importance of learning from real people rather than just textbooks, and why sometimes you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Khalid also shares one of the biggest lessons from his journey: you don't need to know that a decision will work before you make it. You need to believe that, if it doesn't work, you will be capable of adapting. That idea really resonated with me. So much of life is about worrying what happens if things go wrong, when perhaps the better question is: what will I do if they do? This is a fascinating conversation about taking chances, building something from scratch, learning from setbacks and having the belief to keep moving forward. Welcome to Life Stories with Andy Thomas. #LifeStories #AndyThomas #KhalidMaidan #ClinicalPhysio #Physiotherapy #Entrepreneurship #BusinessJourney #CareerJourney #PersonalGrowth

3. 

   12 Aug 2026

   Life Stories | Ep.257 | David Sheepshanks CBE DL

   Life Stories with Andy Thomas | David Sheepshanks CBE DL This week on Life Stories, I’m joined by David SheepshanksCBE DL for a fascinating conversation about an extraordinary life in business, football and leadership. David’s story is one of remarkable twists and turns. Growingup expecting to become a farmer, his life changed dramatically at 17 when his parents told him the family farm would not be his to inherit. He travelled to New Zealand, hitchhiked around Australia, returned to London and started again as a motorcycle messenger. That experience of having to find his own way helped shapethe determination, work ethic and sense of purpose that would define so much of what followed. David went on to build a successful career in businessbefore becoming deeply involved in football. From Ipswich Town, where he eventually became chairman, to the Football League, the FA, UEFA and FIFA, his career has taken him to the heart of some of the biggest moments and organisations in the game. He was also a driving force behind the creation of StGeorge’s Park, England’s National Football Centre - a project he spent years researching, developing and championing. In this episode, we explore all of that, but also thestories and experiences behind the achievements. David has recently captured much of his remarkable journeyin his book,Man on a Mission, and we talk about the experiences behind the book and some of the surprising moments that shaped his life. We discuss his relationship with his father, the lessons helearned from tough love, discovering purpose, leadership, lifelong learning and why David has always approached his work as a "man on a mission". And, of course, we spend time talking about Ipswich Town -from David’s memories of watching Bobby Robson’s legendary teams as a youngster, to Wembley, European nights, the Premier League and the friendshipsand relationships that have stayed with him throughout his life. What struck me most during this conversation was David’srelentless energy and determination. His story is a reminder that our biggest setbacks can sometimes become the experiences that shape us most. I hope you enjoy hearing David’s Life Story as much as I enjoyed hearing it from him. If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe and let meknow in the comments which part of David’s story stayed with you. #LifeStories #AndyThomas #DavidSheepshanks #ManOnAMission #IpswichTown #Football #Leadership #Business #StGeorgesPark #LifeLessons

Who has been a guest on Life Stories

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Simon Lack
• Dr Rebecca Robinson
• Hiba Ansari
• Matt Taylor
• Michael Schumacher

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

72,429

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 65 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

73

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

68

Contact Life Stories

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.