At first glance this promised to be a full blown Britain’s Got Talent conversation, a look behind the scenes at what it’s like to step onto that famous stage, to meet Simon, Amanda, Alesha and Bruno, and to experience the whirlwind of television fame.

But this story sits somewhere else entirely.

When Mark Smutz Smith, respected artist manager, lecturer, songwriter and creative mentor, heard about the Post Office scandal and the plight of those caught up in it, he couldn’t just stand by. A life immersed in music became the catalyst for something far greater, a mobilisation of people and places from his past. Reaching back through friendships and old connections, he found himself part of a movement that, almost instinctively, helped to form a choir that would lift not only voices but spirits.

Through those connections runs a thread that leads to Bequia, the small Caribbean island that anchors friendships and emboldens connections, an idyllic backdrop to the tumultuous life events that unfold in this compelling interview.

The Gobsmacked! moment comes when the conversation shifts. What begins in the world of showbiz and performance opens into something deeply human. When family stories surface and truth begins to settle, this becomes a story about redemption, belonging, and the power of song to bring people home to themselves, even when grief and disorientation still reverberate.

This podcast is dedicated to Avril Teresa Smith.

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This episode of Gobsmacked features Wendy Boast a woman who left school at 16, when the world of work beckoned brighter than the underwhelm of the classroom. Later discovering she has a remarkable IQ, and went on to build a career in the City with big jobs in complex information systems and major corporate achievements.

Wendy’s journey hasn’t been without heartbreak and betrayal, but she has come through wiser, sharper, and more grounded — the most informed and insightful friend you could ever hope for.

Her worldview is vast and surprising, flipping perspectives a full 180. In this conversation she takes us from the rat race to aliens, from ancient wisdoms to global jitters, from Shakespeare to Plato, with the 2012 Olympics woven in along the way.

Bright, centred, and compelling, Wendy Boast will put your brain in shaker-maker mode. This is an episode that will stretch your thinking, shake your assumptions, and leave you wide awake to possibility.

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Some of us say we’ve got anxiety the way others say they’ve got the flu - when really, it might just be a cold. But for some, that anxiety is life-shattering. Dr Jeanne Retief knows this well.

A South African international human rights expert with a PhD and 15+ years of global work behind her, Jeanne collapsed under what she first thought was a stroke. It was panic disorder and it ended her law career in an instant.

From that breaking point, she rose. She trained in cosmetic chemistry, launched FIGGI Beauty, and built a community called The Anxious Calm - for people who understand that anxiety is more than a buzzword.

Jeanne is bright, wise, and deeply learned. This conversation isn’t just inspiring - it’s a survivor’s manifesto. A must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt their wiring was too much for the world.

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Domestic abuse. Sexual abuse. Exploitation. Serious organised crime. Trafficking. Addiction.

These are not easy topics but they are real, urgent, and happening all around us.

This is one of the most powerful and necessary conversations we’ve ever recorded.

Javina Greene, a rap artist, music producer, and fierce truth-teller, shares her story with raw searing honesty and incredible strength. From model pupil to teenage trauma, from addiction to artistic awakening, Javina lays it all bare.

What you’ll hear is more than survival it’s transformation. Her pain has become her power. Her past fuels her mission to create safe spaces for women and galvanise their recovery through music and creative expression.

If you’ve ever wondered what lived experience really sounds like and what it can teach us - this survivor deserves your attention

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In a Better Place? The mystifying words we use to describe death — and how they can fail the grieving.

Lorna Vyse missed a moment — a child in grief, and she didn’t see it. She chided herself for not being clued in, and that regret stayed with her. Add to that a chance encounter and a promise to a dying woman, and Lorna’s second life purpose was born.

Now an author, grief trainer and speaker, Lorna is on a mission to help us stop sugar-coating death. From “passed” to “gone to sleep” to “in a better place,” the euphemisms we use to avoid talking about death don’t help — especially not for children.

This is a conversation about missed chances, keeping your word, and the healing power of speaking plainly when it matters most.

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The Second Innings is the journey of Andrew Patterson, known to most as Patto, former Irish cricketer, father, and fine fellow, who was diagnosed with Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, a rare neurological condition that gradually takes away your ability to walk.

He was told he’d need a wheelchair for life.

Instead, he raised £70,000, travelled to the US for pioneering surgery, and taught himself to walk again. Just months later, he completed a 5K.

This podcast is about what it really takes to come back. It’s about persistence, perspective, and the power of keeping going - one determined step at a time.

Because every step really does tell a story.

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In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Liz Sparkes — a psychologist who has spent years working with pain management, mindfulness, and how we heal.

Liz’s story is a powerful one. After surviving a serious accident, one with haunting echoes of earlier childhood trauma and loss, she made a decision that would challenge most people: she reached out through restorative justice to the individual responsible.

The compassion she showed, and the forgiveness she offered, didn’t just shift something in her — it had a profound effect on the other person too.

Liz’s life hasn’t followed the straight line she once imagined. The ambition she started out with and the work she does now are worlds apart.

This conversation isn’t about easy answers. It asks something harder: when it really matters, are we truly able to forgive?

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In this special episode of Gobsmacked!, I’m joined by my second cousin, Damian Le Bas, author of the acclaimed The Stopping Places and now The Drowned Places, a haunting, lyrical exploration of grief, memory, and the worlds that lie beneath the surface.

Written in the wake of his father's death, the visionary artist Damian Le Bas, the book takes us on a journey through submerged landscapes and the emotional terrain of loss, drawing unexpected parallels with the myth of Atlantis.

We speak about his parents' creative brilliance, including his mother, Turner Prize nominee Delaine Le Bas, his experience of writing through grief, and the grounding arrival of fatherhood with the birth of his daughter, Nina.

My word—this is a profoundly articulate, bright, and thoughtful fellow. Sitting down with him for this conversation about legacy, identity, and resurfacing after loss was a true privilege.

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Kathryn Ellis was a woman who was on it—a yoga devotee, deeply into alternative health, and by all accounts, living her best life. But what happens when being the picture of wellness masks something serious?

In this powerful and eye-opening episode, we hear how Kathryn’s healthy lifestyle ironically delayed a diagnosis of diabetes, allowing the condition to take hold silently. She was, quite literally, disappearing in plain sight.

This conversation offers honest, informative insights into living with and spotting diabetes—a challenging, often life-shortening condition that can go unnoticed for too long.

Tune in—it’s raw, real, and absolutely worth a listen.

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I first met Emma Mead years ago when she was at the top of her game in a high-powered corporate role—driven, sharp, and full of energy. Life, however, had different plans. When our paths crossed again, Emma was navigating an unimaginable reality: a terminal breast cancer diagnosis. As if that weren’t enough, her husband was also living with incurable brain cancer, forcing them both to figure out how to balance their battles while prioritising each other.

Emma’s story is not just about illness—it’s about defiance, determination, and the relentless pursuit of life. She is not someone who simply accepts conventional wisdom when the clock is ticking. Instead, she seeks knowledge, fights for options, and refuses to waste a second on anything that doesn’t serve her mission to live fully.

Our conversation in the studio was poignant, moving, and surprisingly energising—a testament to the power of the human spirit. I encourage you to listen, reflect, and take something from the way Emma chooses to live.

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Like many guests on Gobsmacked!, the birth of her son, Tom, led Nicola Enoch down a completely new path. Initially thrown and disoriented by Tom’s Down syndrome diagnosis, Nicola soon realised how societal attitudes had shaped her perceptions. Determined to challenge these outdated views, she founded The Ups of Downs in 2006, a charity dedicated to supporting families and promoting inclusion. Her journey didn’t stop there; in 2017, she launched Positive About Down Syndrome, aiming to provide accurate information and support to expectant and new parents. Nicola’s unwavering commitment has been instrumental in changing perceptions and advocating for individuals with Down syndrome across the UK.

What a blend of guts, righteous indignation, and tiger mother love can achieve to tackle perceptions and catalyse change.

Tune in to hear Nicola’s unfiltered account of challenging the status quo, fighting for her son’s rights, and her relentless pursuit of a more inclusive society.

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This episode of Gobsmacked! is a special one—it’s all about overcoming life’s curveballs and celebrating true grit and graft, and it just so happens to air on my 60th birthday! What better way to mark the occasion?

Xander Van de Poll at just 18, had life changed forever when he broke his back in a freak accident. But instead of letting it define him, Xander has gone on to defy the odds in ways that will leave you truly gobsmacked 

From taking his medical exams from a hospital bed to becoming a practising doctor, and even training for the 2028 Paralympics in paracanoe, Xander is a living, breathing testament to the power of attitude

We talk about everything: the tough days, the small wins, the big dreams, and what it means to find strength when life feels impossible. Whether you need a dose of inspiration or just want to hear an incredible story of resilience, this one’s not to be missed.

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Earlier this year, Matt Gallagher recorded his first-ever podcast for Gobsmacked. Reeling from his Motor Neurone Disease (MND) diagnosis in 2023, Matt opened his heart and family life to raise awareness and offer rapid support to others facing similar challenges. Eight months on, Matt returns to the studio to introduce his dear friend, Ollie Russell, who recently attempted a world record: 48 hours of burpee broad jumps.

Ollie, a 26-year-old fitness coach and athlete, has a deeply moving backstory, shaped by the loss of his father to cancer. Inspired by Matt’s journey and their shared resilience, Ollie’s challenge was a testament to determination, raising vital funds for the Matt Gallagher Foundation, which has already contributed over £370,000 to the MND community.

Tune in to Episode 39 of Gobsmacked to hear their incredible stories of heroism, stoicism, and heart.

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At seventeen, Ruth Hasson believed she’d found somebody to love—a man who showered her with attention, making her feel like a princess. However, his obsessive need to monopolise her time gradually isolated her from family and friends, culminating in a harrowing six-hour assault that left her barely alive.

Trapped in a coercive, violent relationship, Ruth’s awakening came on her 21st birthday with the death of Freddie Mercury. This episode delves into Ruth’s journey from despair to liberation, highlighting the pervasive issue of gender-based violence. It’s a hard-hitting episode that underscores the importance of recognising and escaping abusive relationships.

Now, as a brave and tenacious advocate, Ruth has made it her life’s mission to raise awareness and help others find their voices and courage.

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In the blink of an eye, everything can change. On New Year’s Day 2022, Naomi Rees-Issitt lost her 18-year-old son Jamie to a sudden cardiac arrest. This searingly honest, highly emotional, and compelling account tells the story of how a mother’s love sparked a life-saving mission."

Welcome to Heartbeat of Hope: A Mother's Love, A Son's Legacy—where one family's unimaginable loss becomes a movement to save lives. Join Naomi as she shares her journey through heart-stopping moments and heart-saving action. From tragedy to triumph, this is the fight to ensure no family faces the same devastating delays.

This is Jamie’s story. This is about defibrillators, time—and saving lives

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