Paul Super Magic Merson!

As part of our Men’s Mental Health Month series, we’re joined by Steven ‘Stonewall’ Jackson for an incredibly important and moving conversation.Steven shares his story of rebuilding his life following the devastating loss of his wife to suicide three years ago, and how he has channelled his experiences into creating You Define You, an app designed to revolutionise mental health support. He also shares what’s next, including his plans to develop an app specifically for teenagers.We talk about loss, finding a way forward, the importance of mental health support and turning personal experience into something that can help others.But Steven hasn’t come empty-handed! Known for his ‘Would You Rather’ series on social media, he turns the tables and brings three juicy questions for us to tackle.We celebrate Steven in Braggers Corner (very well deserved) and, as always, finish with gratitude.An honest, thought-provoking conversation about loss, resilience, purpose and the power of using your story to make a difference.This episode includes discussion of suicide, bereavement and mental health. Please take care while listening.📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

If you could only choose one season to live in for the rest of your life, what would it be? Are you all about the promise of spring, those long summer days in the sunshine, crisp and cosy autumnal days, or the cooler winter months? (It’s a no from us!)But before you settle on your favourite, there’s something else to consider… are you an indoor or outdoor dweller? Because, as Melissa’s plans to live outside have taught us, your chosen season might look very different depending on where you’re planning to spend it. Liane is on hand to remind her that there are consequences to these life choices. 😂We revisit last week’s debate about crumbs in the bed versus sand in the toes, and Limitless Liam has weighed in with an important observation: for anyone with sensory sensitivities, this is a full-blown neurodivergent nightmare.Meanwhile, Melissa has come up with a catchy new name for her cult. So, as always, stay vigilant. 👀Get involved and tell us your forever season. We want to know where you stand! 🐝📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

We’re joined by Michael Harvey, aka The Chavvy Hippy, to hear the story behind the name and the journey that got him here.Michael shares how the fear of being judged by others almost stopped him from stepping into who he really wanted to be, and how finding the courage to own it has led him to create and run hugely successful events and retreats across the UK and Europe.We get into the cutting-edge stuff, explore what happens when you stop worrying about what other people think, and ask Michael to tell us why he’s the best in the world at what he does. A question we absolutely love asking!But it wouldn’t be The Rise and Hive without a few important revelations. We discover Michael is, quite shockingly, not a recycler (we need a moment), and naturally, the chocolate-coated M&S custard creams make another appearance.An episode about authenticity, courage, backing yourself and being unapologetically you, with a healthy dose of everyday nonsense thrown in.📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

This week’s Question of the Week is all about choosing your domestic discomfort. Would you rather have sand permanently lodged between your toes or crumbs lurking in your bed? Both are regular occurrences for Liane, so she’s well placed to partake in this debate.We revisit last week’s question about going to the gym on holiday, and it turns out most of our listeners are absolutely horrified that anyone would even consider working out while away. Many were shocked to find that hotels even had gyms. An outrageous concept for our listeners, with the priority being very much booze and buffet. 🍹🍳The cave sagas continue, with listener Chris officially stepping into the role of legal counsel (we clearly need professional help), and we hear from Lisa, who shares the truly traumatic tale of our worst nightmare - an 11-hour flight with diarrhoea. ✈️🚽It’s another week of important questions, questionable disclosures and absolutely no shortage of opinions.Get involved. We promise it’s safer than an 11-hour flight with Lisa’s digestive system. 😂🐝📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

We’re joined by the brilliant Paul Merson, as we pull back the curtain to meet the human behind the success.Paul opens up about his journey to recovery from alcohol, drugs and gambling, the tools in his toolbox that help him live one day at a time, and how he now uses his story to help others.It’s an honest conversation about recovery, self-awareness and finding ways to keep moving forward. We also have a shocking revelation about Paul’s thoughts on M&S chocolate-coated custard creams, he puts himself forward for Braggers Corner (we LOVE to see it!) and, as always, we finish with gratitude.This episode includes open and honest conversations about addiction, mental health, and suicide. Please take care while listening.📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Is hitting the gym on holiday a winning move or an absolute holiday crime? 🏋️☀️Is squeezing in a workout a luxury, a bit of you time, and a way to feel good? Or is this the most outrageous thing you’ve ever heard because holidays are for relaxing, eating everything in sight and doing absolutely bugger all?We’re debating whether holiday gym-goers are winners or losers, and we want to know where you stand. Are you team fitness or team sun lounger?We revisit last week’s question and some listeners have been making a few personal disclosures 👀. Meanwhile, the indoors versus outdoors debate rumbles on, with Melissa convinced she’s finally found a loophole.Get involved and tell us your verdict. No judgement here… well, maybe a little. 😂🐝📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

What happens when you stop talking yourself out of asking for the things you want and start being a bit more big, bold and brave?As us Northerners say, shy bairns get nowt! We reflect on how life can change when you bite the bullet, put yourself out there and ask. Because if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no. We know it’s tempting to protect ourselves from the sting of rejection, but when we’ve found the courage to ask, the answer has often been YES. So what might be possible if you stopped assuming the answer would be no before you’ve even asked the question?In breaking news, Liane has a new nail shape AND colour. Call the police! 🚨 We have a bonanza Braggers Corner, celebrating some fabulous people, and as always, we finish with gratitude.📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

This week’s Question of the Week sounds like an easy win. Two days of food poisoning or three weeks with a cold? After Melissa’s brutal three-week cold (which, let’s be honest, was hard on everyone 😂), we thought we knew the answer. Then Liane started introducing scenarios involving being struck down when you’re out in the wild, and suddenly things weren’t quite so straightforward.We revisit last week’s cup debate, with one important public service announcement: please stop using Melissa’s cup in the office. We’ve got more thoughts on gravy and the correct way to deploy it with a Yorkshire pudding, and we’re still exploring alternatives to living in a cave through Melissa’s cult.As always, we want your opinions, your arguments and your questionable life choices. Get involved and let us know what you’d choose!📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

This week we’re girl crushing on Michelle Keegan and her new TV series, but it sparks a bigger conversation about why confident, attractive women can make some people uncomfortable. Why is a woman who knows her worth so often labelled “full of herself”? Where’s the line between confidence and arrogance, and when did celebrating our own strengths become something we feel the need to apologise for? We’re talking about getting curious when someone else’s confidence triggers a reaction in us, because feelings can be useful data if we’re willing to explore them. We’ve also got a challenge for the Hive: get comfortable with being uncomfortable, practise accepting compliments without batting them away, and notice what comes up when another woman owns her brilliance. In Glory of the Ordinary, Melissa has officially made the switch to non-bio laundry detergent and is now recommending castor oil for practically everything. Naturally, we’re back in our own Braggers Corner, celebrating ourselves and the things we’re proud of, before finishing with gratitude.📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠

This week we’re getting to the bottom of a very important question: have you got a favourite cup? What makes it the one? The shape, the size, the handle, the weight? And do you have different cups for different occasions? Liane is left genuinely shocked to discover that Melissa is choosing to drink from a glass latte cup of her own free will. We also revisit the great gravy debate. Nobody has admitted to liking it thin, but we know they’re out there. And Melissa remains determined to live her best life outdoors, despite mounting evidence that her dream of outdoor living may be scuppered by the 2007 smoking ban. Who knew a Question of the Week could raise so many legal and crockery-related issues?📞 07466 324579📸 @theriseandhivepodcast📩 ⁠[email protected]⁠