I sat down with Joel Iliffe — former heroin user turned drug dependency recovery coach — to explore addiction, authenticity, and why connection and relief are the driving forces behind everything we do.

Joel's journey from dependency to recovery isn't your typical redemption story — nor does he tell it in that way. It's raw, messy, and refreshingly honest about both the allure and devastation of addiction. What makes his perspective unique isn't just his past — it's how he's transformed his experiences into profound insights and compassion for his own human nature.

We dive into:

- His unique relationship with heroin — and his evolving perspective on the role it played in his life

- Relapse, shame, and the non-linear reality of recovery

- Why choosing your own path to balance matters

- How much we both love Matthew McConaughey — because lighten up

If you're curious about the human condition, or if you've ever wanted to hear someone talk about addiction with unflinching honesty rather than Instagram-style inspiration, this conversation is for you.

Keep an eye out for Joel Iliffe’s debut autobiography in 2026.

Connect with me:

🎥 Watch on Youtube: On The Same Paige with Paige Leacey

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeacey⁠

💌 Sign up for my newsletter:

⁠https://paigeleacey.substack.com/subscribe⁠

📸  Connect with me on Insta:

@samepaige__

Three new episodes a month — subscribe for more! 💖

I sat down with Ruby Shine — menstrual cycle and mindset coach, and one of my closest friends of 22 years — to chat about stress, somatics and why we can't think our way out of all our problems.

Ruby's story is one I've watched unfold in real time. Years of survival mode until her body finally said "enough is enough" through crippling anxiety, insomnia, cystic acne and PCOS (all physical manifestations of C-PTSD). She turned it around through breath, movement, and body-centric healing.

But what makes Ruby's perspective unique isn't just her health journey — it's how it shaped her approach to creating a true partnership between the body and mind, rather denying either one's wisdom.

We dive into:

- Why stress hits women differently (turns out, being "sensitive" isn't what you think)

- The "wellness overloader" trap — when self-care becomes another source of stress

- What "somatic" actually means (because let's be honest, everyone seems to have their own definition)

- How to work with your nervous system without abandoning your mind

If you've ever questioned the Instagram wellness narrative around "getting out of your head and into your body," or if you're curious about a more nuanced approach to ending the stress cycle, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Ruby:

Instagram:@rubyshine__

Her Substack, The Awakened Woman:

https://theawakenedwoman.substack.com/

Her work at Trybe Wellness:

https://www.trybewellness.com.au/

Connect with me:

🎥 Watch on Youtube: On The Same Paige with Paige Leaceyhttps://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeacey

💌 Sign up for my newsletter:https://paigeleacey.substack.com/subscribe

📸  Connect with me on Insta:

@samepaige__

Three new episodes a month — subscribe for more! 💖