On a Mission Podcast 2.0 – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode is deeply personal for me. At the time of recording, I was navigating one of the darkest periods of my life, and Unstressable by Mo Gawdat and Alice Law resonated on a profound level. Sitting down with Mo and Alice felt like a masterclass in understanding the roots of stress and transforming it into a force for growth. They shared not only the science behind stress but also real-life insights on dealing with loss, anxiety, and the relentless demands of modern life.

For Mo, this isn’t just theory—it’s rooted in his own experiences, including coping with the loss of his son, and for Alice, it’s about turning personal trauma into resilience. Their framework doesn’t just help you “manage” stress—it’s about learning how to approach life’s challenges with clarity and strength. The tools and perspectives they share during our chat genuinely shifted my own outlook, offering strategies that I’ve since applied to my life.

Being a podcast host is like getting a front-row seat to life’s greatest lessons, and this conversation was one that left a mark on me. If you’re struggling to cope or seeking deeper understanding, I know this episode will provide something meaningful for you, too. Tune in to discover how to become truly unstressable in a world that never seems to slow down.

VALUABLE RESOURCES

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Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of human trafficking, abuse, and war that may be distressing to some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

In this powerful and deeply moving episode, I sit down with Lurata Lyon, a survivor of human trafficking and the Yugoslav Wars. At just 17 years old, Lurata’s life was shattered when she was kidnapped and held captive by a human trafficking and organ-harvesting gang during the violent split of former Yugoslavia. For six harrowing months, she faced unimaginable abuse, fear, and darkness. Her brave rescue eventually brought her to the UK as a political refugee, where she began the challenging journey of healing and rebuilding her life.

However, Lurata’s challenges did not end there. In an extraordinary turn of events, after returning home, she was kidnapped again—this time by Serbia's illegitimate army. For six months, she endured torture, abuse, and captivity once more. Her journey of survival against all odds is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the will to overcome the darkest of circumstances.

Today, Lurata is an international public motivational speaker, and the author of Unbroken: Surviving Human Trafficking. In this episode, she shares her journey of survival against all odds, from enduring the horrors of captivity to finding the strength to rise and inspire others. Her story is one of pain, resilience, hope, and the indomitable will to survive.

Tune in to hear Lurata’s incredible journey, how she escaped captivity, and how her experiences have shaped her mission to empower others and shed light on the realities of human trafficking.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

- Lurata’s harrowing experience as a victim of human trafficking and organ harvesting

- The brutal conditions of solitary confinement, abuse, and fear she faced at just 17 years old

- Her daring rescue and journey to the UK as a political refugee

- Lurata’s second kidnapping and the unimaginable suffering she endured at the hands of Serbia's illegitimate army

- Her journey of healing, recovery, and resilience

- Lurata’s work today as a public speaking coach, motivational speaker, and advocate against human trafficking.

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https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official?igsh=bDV3YW4wZzlhcWhq

Welcome to On a Mission 2.0! I’m Ellie McKay, and in this brand-new season, we’re diving deeper than ever before. Life doesn’t always go to plan—but it’s not about what happens to you, it’s about how you react that counts. 

In this first episode, I’m joined by my incredible friend and fellow podcast host Toni Gargan, as we chat openly about those moments when you feel like the world’s crumbling, and how you rise from the ashes.

This isn’t about sugar-coating success stories. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s for anyone who’s ever felt like they’ve hit rock bottom and wondered how to get back up. If you’re ready for some straight-talking truth and a bit of inspiration make sure you hit subscribe.

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TV icon Gail Porter’s story is as raw as it gets. She’s faced an onslaught of challenges: depression, homelessness, self-harm, and even losing her hair to alopecia—all while being in the public eye. Gail's battle with mental health was intensified by the media’s relentless intrusion, including the infamous projection of her nude photo, which left her feeling violated and powerless. Despite being sectioned under the Mental Health Act and enduring the lowest of lows, Gail found the strength to rebuild her life, channelling resilience and finding light in everyday blessings, Gail Porter on optimism and living one day at a time.

What stands out most is her courage to keep pushing forward, no matter how dark things got. She’s open about the ongoing process of healing—focusing on gratitude, taking things day by day, and embracing life’s imperfections. It’s not just about overcoming the trauma; it’s about reclaiming her story and refusing to let it define her. 

Gail's journey is a reminder that resilience doesn’t mean being unbreakable—it means rising every time you fall.

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Rebecca May (Becky) is the quiet force behind some of the UK’s most high profile media placements.

For over two decades, she’s been shaping stories, building brands, and steering clients through everything from viral headlines to full blown media storms. She’s worked with celebrities, founders, and total unknowns, navigating the chaos and making the right kind of noise when it matters most.

It’s rare for Rebecca to step in front of the camera. But in this episode, she’s flipping the script and letting us into a world most people never get to see.

We go beyond the polished press releases and PR fluff and talk about what really happens behind the scenes. From turning down clients that don’t align to pulling last minute stories that could have ended careers, Rebecca has built her reputation on integrity, trust and strategy rather than spin.

We talk about how she broke into the industry, how she has stayed relevant in an ever changing media landscape, and the difference between real storytelling and making noise for the sake of it.

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Key moments include:

✔ How Rebecca broke into fashion PR with Burberry and Milan Fashion Week

✔ What separates long term success from short term hype

✔ The unexpected risks of podcast interviews and how they are being used

✔ Why she has walked away from clients when the values did not match

✔ The small details that make or break media strategy

✔ Why the strongest voices are often the ones you never hear shouting

A powerful conversation with someone who has spent her life helping others be seen, while never needing to chase the spotlight herself.

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Connect & Follow

Follow Ellie McKay:

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb

🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb 

Follow Rebecca May: 

🔗 Website: https://rmpublicity.com/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rmpublicityofficial/?hl=en

🔗 Twitter: https://x.com/rmpublicityteam?lang=en

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccamay-pragency/

She’s been called a modern day Madame, a real life rebel, and even a threat to society’s moral compass, but beneath the headlines, Emma Sayle is a female entrepreneur who has built one of the most recognisable and controversial brands in the world.

Two decades ago, she launched Killing Kittens with a clear mission to challenge the double standards around female sexuality and create a space where women lead. What began as a defiant move against shame and societal judgement has since evolved into a global business with a thriving community and a platform that spans events, tech, education and beyond.

In this episode, we unpack the full story, uncensored.

Emma shares how she went from an idea on a beach in Ibiza to raising millions in investment, navigating global expansion, and pushing back against the kind of discrimination that would have stopped many in their tracks. From being banned from advertising platforms and denied banking facilities to facing online abuse and being judged by other parents at the school gates, Emma’s journey hasn’t been straightforward.

We get into what it really takes to build and scale a brand in a heavily stigmatised industry, the strategic decisions behind splitting the business in two, and why she believes sexual empowerment has a ripple effect that can impact every area of your life. We also talk about the psychology behind her customer base, the unexpected demographic that makes up her core community, and how she balances being a founder, mother, and high level decision maker.

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Key moments include: ✔Why Killing Kittens began as a response to social double standards. ✔How Emma built a multi million pound business despite censorship and barriers. ✔What really happens at the events (and what people get wrong).  ✔Her views on judgement, motherhood and female led leadership. ✔The reality of scaling a business in a taboo space. ✔Why so many women report renewed confidence after attending.

It’s candid, challenging and impossible to ignore.

⸻ Connect & Follow

Follow Ellie McKay:

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb

🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb 

Follow Emma Sayle: 

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emsayle333?igsh=MW14MmRwc3EwdGoxbg==

🔗 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/emmasayle

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19Jr2XUyTp/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🔗 KK Website: https://www.killingkittens.com

🔗 KK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killingkittens_/

🔗 KK LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/company/killingkittens

🔗 WAX App: https://thewaxapp.com/dating

You think you know Caprice? Think again.

In this episode of On a Mission, Ellie McKay sits down with the model-turned-mogul for an unfiltered deep dive into a life that’s been anything but ordinary. From becoming one of the most photographed women in the world to building a multimillion-pound property portfolio and running successful businesses, Caprice Bourret opens up like never before.

This isn’t a tale of overnight success. It’s about grit, self-awareness and ruthless reinvention. It’s about walking away from the easy route, backing yourself in the face of rejection, and being willing to fail in full view of the world.

Caprice gets brutally honest about fame, money, motherhood, celebrity dating, health and so much more. She shares how a shocking brain tumour diagnosis forced her to reassess everything, why she’s done with people-pleasing, and how she’s managed to stay in the spotlight on her own terms.

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Key moments include:

✔ The tabloid moment that catapulted her to fame ✔ Why she walked away from modelling at the top ✔ Building a business empire in an industry that underestimated her ✔ The mindset shift that came after brain surgery ✔ The lessons learned from rejection and reinvention ✔ Why she’s still doing it all, without nannies, filters or excuses ✔ The new chapter: acting, property, purpose and real freedom 

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Connect & Follow

Follow Ellie McKay:

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb

🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb 

Follow Caprice Bourret:

🔗 Website: https://www.capricebourret.com/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capricebourret?igsh=MWNzZGFrb2tidHpxdA==

This is what happens when two good friends sit down and talk about the stuff that actually matters.

In this episode of On a Mission, Ellie McKay is joined by the brilliant, big-hearted and wonderfully honest Angharad Wrigley for a conversation about life, growth, and finding your way back to yourself after years of running on autopilot.

Angharad shares how it took her until her 40s to finally like the person she’d become. Along the way, she talks about the quiet decision to embrace sobriety, the shift from self-doubt to self-trust, and the sense of purpose she’s found through her business, her love for animals, and a totally new way of living.

From building confidence, to breaking habits, to rescuing dogs and cats and giving them a second chance, this is a story about letting go of what no longer fits and finally making space for what does.

It’s deep, funny, raw in all the right places and a reminder that you’re allowed to rewrite the script, no matter how late you start.

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Key moments include:

✔  The decision to live life with more clarity and less chaos ✔  Why her 40s feel more grounded than any decade before ✔  Learning to trust her gut and stop looking for outside validation ✔  Letting go of drinking as part of rediscovering her identity ✔  Finding unexpected purpose through animal rescue ✔  Creating a business that fits around her values, not the other way around ✔  The shift from functioning through life to actually living it ✔  What changes when you stop trying to be everything to everyone ✔  The power of slowing down, tuning in and doing life differently

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Connect & Follow

Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb

🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb 

Follow Angharad Wrigley:

🔗 LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/angharadwrigley?

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18ynhrzLgP/?mibextid=wwXIfr

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angharadrocks?igsh=MzRuZHgweTl1cmVh

🔗 Website: https://hottubsrock.co.uk/

🔗 Hot Tub Rock Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hottubsrock?igsh=MTdvMDYyeHdja2ptcA==

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Subscribe to On a Mission for real conversations that go far beyond surface-level success and speak to the heart of who we are becoming.

Dr. John Demartini wasn’t supposed to make it.

Diagnosed with learning difficulties. Branded “uneducable.” Homeless at 14. By the world’s standards, his story should’ve ended before it ever really began.

But one powerful conversation changed everything.

In this episode of On a Mission, Dr. Demartini shares the truth behind his journey not the highlight reel, but the moments most people never see. The shame. The survival. The relentless work it took to rebuild his identity, word by word, thought by thought.

From living under bridges to teaching in over 100 countries, Dr. Demartini has spent his life helping others uncover their potential. But it started with facing his own darkness and making the decision to live with purpose, no matter what.

This is a conversation about trauma, healing, alignment and what it means to write a new story when the old one was never yours to begin with.

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Key moments include:

✔ The early diagnosis that almost sealed his fate

✔ Living on the streets and navigating addiction

✔ The moment a mentor told him he could do something extraordinary

✔ Learning to read one word at a time

✔ Repeating a daily affirmation for 49 years

✔ Why Dr. Demartini believes nobody is broken, just out of alignment

✔ Turning pain into purpose through education and service

✔ Creating the Demartini Method to help others unlock their true potential

✔ Why chasing pleasure won’t lead to fulfilment and what to pursue instead

✔ His mission to empower every individual to live intentionally

Dr. Demartini’s journey is proof that it’s not where you start, it’s what you decide to believe from this point forward.

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Connect & Follow

Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb

🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb 

Follow Dr. John Demartini:

🔗 Website: https://drdemartini.com

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohndemartini?igsh=MTh1YWthazE0OGIybg==

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohndemartini?

🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16N2SAjnat/?mibextid=wwXIfr

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Subscribe to On a Mission for more honest, life-changing conversations that go far beyond the surface.

The day John Bygraves was told he had just three months to live, everything came crashing down.

His world, once filled with music, momentum and a fast-paced DJ lifestyle, suddenly stood still. What began as a small health concern turned into a rare and aggressive cancer diagnosis, and within moments, life as he knew it was gone.

Faced with a life-altering decision, John chose to explore a different path that challenged convention and called him to completely re-evaluate the way he lived, thought and healed.

This episode is a powerful exploration of what happens when you’re forced to confront everything you’ve avoided. From emotional trauma to daily rituals, John shares how he rebuilt his life piece by piece, with honesty, reflection and a willingness to look deeper. It’s raw, thought-provoking and a reminder that healing, whatever form it takes, often begins from within.

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Key moments include: ✔ The diagnosis that changed everything ✔ Why he initially declined conventional treatment ✔ The role sound healing, fasting and meditation played in his recovery ✔ How trauma, stress and early life experiences contributed to dis-ease ✔ Why he believes cancer became his greatest teacher

John’s journey isn’t a prescription. It’s a deeply personal account of transformation, fuelled by curiosity, resilience and hope. Whether you’re navigating your own challenges or seeking a fresh perspective, this is a story that encourages reflection on what it truly means to live with intention.

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Connect & Follow

Follow Ellie McKay: 🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellie_mckay_official/?hl=en-gb

🔗 On a Mission Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onamissionpodcast2.0/?hl=en-gb 

Follow John Bygraves

🔗 Website: https://www.soulrecodehealing.com/

🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbygraves?igsh=MWM2M2llZ292amY1ZQ==