35. Spotlight on | GamLEARN | Tracy O'Shaughnessy

What role can neurodivergence play in someone’s relationship with gambling? Paul joins Hold or Fold to share the story of more than a decade of gambling, during which he lost around £100,000. Diagnosed with both ADHD and autism, Paul reflects on risk, reward, impulsivity, fitting in and the pressures that shaped his gambling, while making clear that neurodivergence itself does not cause gambling harm. He also talks openly about seeking recovery, recognising relapse and the importance of friends and family speaking up. A candid conversation about gambling, identity and understanding the bigger picture behind harmful behaviour.USEFUL LINKS:Gamcare Reframe CoachingGambling Harm UK Gamble AwareBet Know MoreBreakevenGamfamGamlearnGambler's AnonymousGAMSTOPGambanWhysupGordon MoodyARACall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X)✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gambling harm doesn’t just affect the person gambling. It can turn the lives of partners, families and loved ones upside down too. Tracy O’Shaughnessy knows that better than most. As the Criminal Justice System and Affected Other Lead at GamLEARN, she now supports people affected by gambling-related harm, drawing on her own deeply personal experience. Tracy shares what happened when gambling, addiction and the criminal justice system came crashing into her family, and how those experiences ultimately led her towards helping others. An honest and moving conversation about resilience, impact, and turning lived experience into a force for good.USEFUL LINKS:GamLEARNReframe CoachingGambling Harm UK GamcareGamble AwareBet Know MoreBreakevenGamfamGambler's AnonymousGAMSTOPGambanWhysupGordon MoodyARACall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recovery isn’t just about reaching one year, five years or a big anniversary. Sometimes the most important milestones are the ones nobody else sees. Tracey joins Hold or Fold to talk honestly about her recovery journey, from the devastating consequences of her gambling addiction to the moment she had to face the reality of stealing £70,000 from her workplace. She also reflects on guilt, shame, self-forgiveness, taking ownership and the importance of connection. It’s a powerful conversation about how recovery evolves over time, and why every step forward deserves to be recognised.USEFUL LINKS:Gamcare Reframe CoachingGambling Harm UK Gamble AwareBet Know MoreBreakevenGamfamGamlearnGambler's AnonymousGAMSTOPGambanWhysupGordon MoodyARACall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can lived experience change the way gambling harm is understood inside prison? In this episode, Hold or Fold meets Andy, a prisoner with lived experience of gambling harm, and David, the Deputy Governor who supported him in establishing gambling support at HMP Channings Wood. Their story is about much more than a new support service, it’s about trust, collaboration and what can happen when people in very different positions find common ground. Together, they reveal how their work helped people inside, why lived experience matters, and what it would take to see meaningful gambling support become available across the prison estate.USEFUL LINKS:Beacon Counselling Trust GamfamGordon MoodyShannon Trust Reframe CoachingGambling Harm UK GamcareGamble AwareBet Know MoreBreakevenGamlearnGambler's AnonymousGAMSTOPGambanWhysupARACall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can be done to tackle gambling harm across the criminal justice system and what happens when people from across the sector come together to find answers? Hold or Fold heads to the National Gambling Support Network conference in London, hearing from campaigners, professionals and people with lived experience. Clarke Carlisle discusses data, family and criminal justice, while Jeff shares an extraordinary story of gambling, crime and recovery, including a relapse after around 15 years gamble-free. With honest conversations about shame, desperation and the gaps in support, this episode asks what needs to change and how we can make it happen.USEFUL LINKS:Reframe CoachingGambling Harm UK GamcareGamble AwareBet Know MoreBreakevenGamfamGamlearnGambler's AnonymousGAMSTOPGambanWhysupGordon MoodyARACall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 'British Podcast Awards' PODCAST OF THE YEAR 2026 Returns for a brand new series What happens when one of football’s most recognisable voices decides there’s a line he won’t cross? In the first episode of the new series, Hold or Fold sits down with legendary football commentator Clive Tyldesley to talk about gambling, advertising, personal values and the responsibility that comes with having a public platform.Clive opens up about why he walked away from a role at talkSPORT rather than promote gambling on air, and reveals some deeply personal experiences that have shaped his views. It’s a thoughtful and revealing conversation that goes far beyond football.USEFUL LINKS:Article on CliveGambling with LivesThe Big StepReframe CoachingGambling Harm UK GamcareGamble AwareBet Know MoreBreakevenGamfamGamlearnGambler's AnonymousGAMSTOPGambanWhysupGordon MoodyARACall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X)✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the final episode of the series, Ben and Steve are laying it all out. Every question, every truth, every angle left unexplored. This is a full-length “Cards on the Table” special, created because there were simply too many listener questions to squeeze into the series… and far too many worth answering.In this unfiltered, deeply personal finale, the hosts dig into the topics listeners most wanted to know about:• How did prison really shape their recovery?• What became of the money they stole and gambled?• What does life look like after addiction, crime, and time behind bars?But this episode isn’t just Q&A, it’s a celebration of the journey so far. Expect moments of emotion and surprise as Ben and Steve share unheard clips that never made previous episodes, spotlight powerful poetry, and reflect on the guests and stories that left the biggest mark on them this series.Honest, reflective, and packed with never-before-heard content, this finale brings the heart of Hold or Fold into sharp focus: real people, real consequences, and real recovery.USEFUL LINKSReframe CoachingGambling Harm UK GamcareGamble AwareBet Know MoreBreakevenGamfamGamlearnGambler's AnonymousGAMSTOPGambanWhysupGordon MoodyARATELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful must-listen episode of Hold or Fold, Steve sits down with Naman, whose extraordinary journey lays bare the complex intersections of gambling harm, culture, faith, and the Criminal Justice System.Naman opens up about how his religion shaped both his addiction and his recovery, a belief system that ultimately helped save his life. He reflects on how cultural expectations kept him silent for far too long, pushing him deeper into gambling as he tried to provide his partner with the love and security he felt his own mother never receivedHis story takes unexpected turns: being mistaken for the prison doctor, completely misjudging what life in an open prison would be like, and an almost darkly comedic, but ultimately dangerous, incident born from his naivety around drugs behind bars.For Ben and Steve, who both served prison sentences for gambling-related crimes themselves, Naman’s story feels strikingly familiar, yet it also challenges them, revealing new layers of harm, identity, and resilience they haven’t explored before.Raw, reflective, and at times astonishing, this episode shines a fresh light on the hidden pathways that lead people from gambling addiction to prison, and the unexpected forces that help them find their way backUSEFUL LINKS:GamlearnGordon MoodyReframe CoachingGambing Harm UKGamcareGamble AwareTELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ben stepped back inside the prison walls to meet with a group of lads at HMP Berwyn. There he shared his own story of gambling and prison, took questions from the group and facilitated a powerful and meaningful conversation around addiction & recovery After the session he spoke with Rob & Rebecca from the fantastic charity ARA: Recovery for all, to find out more about the work they do generally but also within HMP Berwyn. Ben also met with Ian, a former resident of Berwyn and a gambler of 47 years - Ian’s story is one of the most powerful and emotional we have ever shared on Hold or Fold and displays the power of recovery and how important it is that gambling harm support is offered within our prisonsUSEFUL LINKS:ARAGordon MoodyHMP BerwynReframe CoachingGambing Harm UKGamcareGamble AwareCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133TELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHIf you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Howard first made an appearance on Hold or Fold when it was exclusive to National Prison Radio. At that point he was in limbo, waiting to see if his crimes would lead him to prison or not.He waited 4 years for his case to land, served his sentence, and came out determined to turn hard lessons into real change. In this episode he talks about how gambling took over his life, the unlikely friendship he formed on the prison bus and the informal research he carried out on his wing to count how many people had been harmed by gambling.USEFUL LINKS:GamcareBetknowmoreReframe CoachingGamble AwareEpic Restart FoundationShannon TrustGambling Harm UKTELL US WHAT YOU THINK BY FILLING OUT THIS QUICK SURVEY - THANKS SO MUCHCall the National Gambling helpline, for free, on 0808 8020 133If you would like to get in touch with Hold or Fold and ask us a question, suggest a topic or start a conversation, you can E-mail us at...📧: [email protected]💬 DM us: @holdorfoldpod on Instagram & Twitter (X) ✉️ Write to us: Life After Prison, National Prison Radio, HMP Brixton, London SW2 5XFThis episode is hosted by...Ben Jones & Steve GirlingYou can find out more about the work of the 'Prison Radio Association' and 'National Prison Radio' here:https://prison.radio/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.