Explore every episode of the podcast The Choice Space
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Living in the space beyond cancer | 05 Nov 2025 | 00:43:15 | |
When life changes ā through a cancer diagnosis, treatment and the slow rebuild that follows ā it can feel like a wave knocks you off your feet. In this episode, Dr Lee David speaks with Dr Darelle Gengasamy about the moment everything shifted, the surge of despair, the pull of purpose and the everyday choices that helped her find steadier ground. They explore the shock of diagnosis, the need to find a next step, and how reconnecting with personal values can bring direction when life feels uncertain. Darelle speaks candidly about accepting help, the power of community during COVID lockdowns and how small acts of care helped her rediscover meaning and identity. This is a conversation about adapting to change with compassion ā finding strength through connection, curiosity and the courage to keep shaping life in new ways. Highlights & key momentsĀ Ā 00:00 The wave hits ā shock, self-blame and anchoring to purpose About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. Lee has written many books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. You can find Lee through her website and on Instagram, TikTok (@dr.lee.david) and LinkedIn.Ā You can find more about her books, wellbeing courses and therapy here:Ā https://linktr.ee/dr.lee.davidĀ About the guest Darrelle is an experienced GP with a passion for supporting mental health and wellbeing. She works as a GP and as a Lead Clinician with NHS Practitioner Health.Ā Currently completing her coaching qualification, she has developed a growing interest in supporting doctors with neurodivergent traits. At the age of 39 she was diagnosed with complex Stage 3 bowel cancer. This experience deepened her understanding of her core value of supporting others and how that value positively influences her own wellbeing. Grateful for the care and community that supported her recovery, she continues to focus on helping others find strength, purpose and connection beyond adversity. You can contact her via Instagram (@wellbeing_in_practice) or Linkedin References | |||
| Finding Space with Intrusive Thoughts or a Busy Mind | 29 Oct 2025 | 00:39:00 | |
When the mind feels crowded ā with worries, doubts or intrusive thoughts ā it can be hard to find calm or clarity. These thoughts are far more common than many people realise, whether they appear as part of anxiety, OCD or simply everyday life. In this episode of The Choice Space, Dr Lee David speaks with CBT therapist Josh Munn about how to find space when your mind feels busy. They explore why intrusive thoughts arise, how they can pull us into loops of rumination or self-checking, and what helps us step back, respond kindly and focus on what truly matters. The conversation offers clear explanations, relatable examples and a Choice Pause led by Josh ā a short grounding practice called Dropping Anchor that you can use whenever thoughts start to spiral. Highlights & key momentsĀ 00:00 Opening reflections ā compassion first and one small values-based action About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing.Ā She is the founder of The Choice Space therapy and wellbeing hub, and a podcast host sharing evidence-based tools for self-doubt, stress and everyday decision-making. Lee has written books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. About the guest Ā Josh is a CBT, EMDR and ACT therapist with a deep passion for supporting people living with anxiety, OCD and ADHD. He sees therapy as more than symptom reduction ā itās about helping people reconnect with their values, find freedom from unhelpful cycles and build lives that feel meaningful. Josh brings warmth, curiosity and genuine care to his work, sharing insights and practical tools to make evidence-based strategies more accessible to those who need them. You can connect with Josh via instagram and TikTok or through his website. Reference | |||
| Finding Strength Beyond Invisible Disability | 22 Oct 2025 | 00:35:09 | |
When life changes ā through serious illness, trauma or invisible disability ā it can feel like the ground has shifted beneath us. In this powerful episode, Dr Lee David speaks with Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee about her journey through diagnosis, grief and identity loss, and how she found strength, self-compassion and a renewed sense of purpose.Ā They explore the concept of post-traumatic growth, what it means to find yourself again and how aligning your choices with your values ā even in small ways ā can create a new, more authentic path forward. Amrita speaks with honesty about the stigma of hidden disability in medicine, the fragility of being disbelieved, and the empowering process of reclaiming her story through research, coaching and connection. Whether youāre living with an invisible illness, supporting someone who is, or a clinician supporting others, this episode is a gentle reminder that healing isnāt about returning to who you were ā itās about discovering who you are now. What we cover Ā 00:00 Connection, courage and self-worth About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing.Ā She is the founder of The Choice Space therapy and wellbeing hub, and a podcast host sharing evidence-based tools for self-doubt, stress and everyday decision-making. Lee has written books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. About the guest Dr Amrita Sen Mukherjee is a GP, positive psychology practitioner, coach and disability advocate whose work focuses on post-traumatic growth and invisible disability. Her research explores how doctors find growth after life-changing illness, and she leads national advocacy for inclusion through her role as co-chair of the Disabled Doctors Network. Recognised with awards from the University of East London, the RCGP and Pulse magazine, she combines clinical expertise with a compassionate, human approach to recovery and wellbeing. Ā Listen to her TEDx talk.Ā You can find her research here.Ā You can contact her at LinkedIn and Your Wellbeing Doctor FB /Insta: @yourwellbeingdoctorĀ X: @yourwellbeingdr | |||
| Self-Acceptance and Belonging With Dyslexia | 15 Oct 2025 | 00:41:35 | |
What changes when we stop trying to fit in and start allowing ourselves to be who we really are?Ā In this episode of The Choice Space Podcast, Dr Lee David talks with Liz Evans, The Untypical OTĀ ā occupational therapist, parent and advocate for neurodivergent families. They explore how to live authentically with dyslexia, the emotional impact of late diagnosis and the sense of relief that comes from finally understanding yourself. They discuss how masking, perfectionism and shame can take hold when differences go unrecognisedĀ ā and how self-acceptance, humour and simple strategies can restore balance. Liz shares her personal journey from struggle to strength, and the lessons sheās learned about parenting, belonging and building a life that works with, not against, the way her brain works. A compassionate, grounded conversation for anyone learning to drop the mask and embrace differenceĀ ā in themselves or someone they love. What we cover
Key moments 00:00 Emotional rollercoaster of late diagnosis About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing.Ā She is the founder of 10 Minute CBT and a podcast host sharing evidence-based tools for self-doubt, stress and everyday decision-making. Lee has written books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. About the guest Liz is a dyslexic solo parent in a neurodiverse family and an occupational therapist. She helps neurodivergent parents protect against burnout through a neuroaffirming, trauma and sensory-responsive lens, supporting a shift from survival and overwhelm to greater calm and capacity. You can find Liz on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Sheās also the host of The Untypical Parent Podcast, for neurodivergent families finding their own way of doing things differently. References | |||
| Permission and Choice: Freedom to Live Well | 08 Oct 2025 | 00:40:10 | |
What would change if you gave yourself permission ā to rest, to say no, to ask for help or to feel what you truly feel? In this episode of The Choice Space Podcast, Dr Lee David talks with psychiatrist and therapist Dr Caroline Walker, founder of The Joyful Doctor and author of Permission: How to Feel, Heal and Thrive in a Challenging World. They explore why many people struggle to give themselves permission to prioritise their needs, emotions and boundaries ā particularly in high-pressure settings like healthcare. The discussion highlights the importance of acknowledging and allowing the full range of emotions, setting boundaries that support wellbeing, and practising self-acceptance. Dr Walker offers practical ways to begin giving yourself permission in daily life, encouraging a more balanced and sustainable approach to wellbeing. This is a thoughtful, practical conversation for anyone who finds it easier to care for others than themselves. What we cover Ā Key moments 00:00 What permission is and why it keeps showing up in clinical work Ā About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing.Ā Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. She is the founder of 10 Minute CBT and a podcast host sharing evidence-based tools for self-doubt, stress and everyday decision-making. Lee has written books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. About the guest Dr Caroline Walker is a psychiatrist, therapist, speaker, trainer, writer and coach. She is founder of The Joyful Doctor ā supporting overworked and under-appreciated doctors to move beyond ājust existingā and take steps towards a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life and career, free from fear or judgement. She lives in Kent with her family and is an international role model for doctors with mental health challenges. She is author of the book Permission: How to feel, heal and thrive in a challenging world, drawing on personal experience, professional insight and stories from her doctor-patients to offer a compassionate guide to better mental healthĀ | |||
| From Burnout to Balance: Choices that protect our wellbeing | 01 Oct 2025 | 00:40:19 | |
What happens when achievement stops feeling fulfilling and starts draining every ounce of energy? In this powerful conversation, former paediatrician Dr Jess Morgan joins Dr Lee David to explore the hidden early signs of burnout, why it can be so hard to slow down and how to rediscover a more sustainable way of living and working. Jess shares her personal journey from NHS medicine through burnout and beyond ā describing the subtle warnings she missed, the āhero narrativeā that kept her pushing harder and the identity shift that came when she stepped away from clinical practice. Together we look at:
Lee and Jess also discuss the bigger picture: how compassionate leadership, realistic workloads and role-modelled balance at work can protect wellbeing far more than token gestures. This episode includes The Choice Pause ā What Matters, a short guided practice to help you breathe, notice and make space for whatās important. Whether youāre feeling stretched thin or simply want to prevent burnout, this conversation offers grounded insight and gentle, doable steps:
If youāve ever wondered how to slow down without losing who you are, this episode will help you reclaim energy, choice and a more balanced way to live and work. About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing.Ā Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. She is the founder of 10 Minute CBT and a podcast host sharing evidence-based tools for self-doubt, stress and everyday decision-making. Lee has written books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. About the guest Dr Jess Morgan has carved out a flexible and varied career that incorporates many of her different interests. She worked as an NHS paediatrician for over ten years before leaving clinical medicine in 2019 and retraining as a primary teacher. Alongside her work in the primary education sector, Jess is a speaker, writer and facilitator, using both expertise and lived experience to lead national change and improve the wellbeing and working lives of health professionals.Ā More than anything though, Jess is a wife and a mum and loves nothing more than a wet and windy walk with her family or pulling on a wetsuit and diving into a lake.Ā Reference | |||
| Finding choice through perimenopause, ADHD and burnout | 24 Sep 2025 | 00:43:55 | |
In this episode Who this episode supports What we cover
Key takeaways
About the host Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing.Ā Dr Lee David is a GP, CBT therapist and author specialising in mental health and wellbeing. She is the founder of 10 Minute CBT and a podcast host sharing evidence-based tools for self-doubt, stress and everyday decision-making. Lee has written books on CBT, mindfulness and teen wellbeing, and speaks regularly at conferences and in the media. Away from work she enjoys running, hiking, singing in a choir and spending time outdoors with her family. About the guest Dr Lindsey Roberts is a Chartered Psychologist with over 20 years ofĀ experience in the health and neuropsychology sectors having worked across the NHS, academic, pharmaceutical industry and the charitable sectors in teaching, research and knowledge exchange. Lindsey loves to make a difference to peopleās quality of life whether through one-to-one support or tailored interventions that spread to support many. To-date, Lindsey has brought in, or been a part of a team, who have brought in just under Ā£2m in research grant funding for applied research in healthcare. Share & follow If this conversation was helpful, please follow, rate and share with someone who might value the space. It helps others find the podcast. Reference Chapman L, Gupta K, Hunter MS et al. J Atten Disord. 2025;29:706. doi:10.1177/10870547251355006Ā | |||
| Finding choice when self-doubt gets in the way | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:44:15 | |
In this engaging conversation, Lee and Dr Nik Kendrew delve into self-doubt, the complexities of imposter syndrome and the pressures of perfectionism. They explore practical strategies for managing anxiety, the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome, and the value of community and connection in overcoming challenges. Through personal anecdotes and insights, they highlight the significance of self-compassion and the power of small choices in fostering personal growth and resilience.
Chapters Sound bites About Dr Lee David About Dr Nik Kendrew | |||
| Trailer: Welcome to The Choice Space | 25 Jul 2025 | 00:03:20 | |
In this short trailer episode, Iām introducing The Choice Space ā a podcast for busy people who want to pause, reset and make wiser choices in the middle of everyday life.Ā
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