The Locked up Living Podcast: Surviving and thriving in prisons and other challenging environments

Summary

Sarah Turner is the founder and CEO of CeraThrive, a neurotechnology company that develops red light therapy systems targeting the gut-brain axis.

She formerly worked as a  neuroscientist with degrees in Psychological Sciences and Nutritional Medicine, plus a postgraduate qualification in Clinical Neuroscience.

www.cerathrive.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebelscientist

You can get a 20% discount on the Cera system, just use the code Living20 - at checkout using this link https://www.cerathrive.com/Living

In this episode, Sarah, shares insights on how light therapy, especially near-infrared light, can support brain health, inflammation reduction, and overall well-being. We explore the science behind light structuring water, the impact on neurodegenerative diseases, and practical ways to incorporate light therapy into daily life.

keywordslight therapy, near-infrared, brain health, inflammation, water structuring, neurodegenerative diseases, biohacking, wellness, microbiome, circadian rhythm

key topics

The connection between light, water structuring, and brain health

Use of near-infrared light to stimulate mitochondria and reduce inflammation

Case study of a motor neurone disease patient improving with light therapy

The importance of light exposure for circadian health and mental well-being

Potential applications of light therapy for trauma, sleep, and stress management

Challenges and ethics of commercial research in wellness technology

takeaways

Red and near-infrared light can penetrate the skull and reach the brain, stimulating energy production.

Structured water in the body can be influenced by light, impacting cellular function.

Light therapy shows promise in supporting neurodegenerative conditions, but more research is needed.

Simple lifestyle changes, like increasing natural light exposure, can significantly impact health.

Transparency and third-party validation are crucial for credibility in wellness tech.

Sound Bites

"We can structure water with light, impacting cellular function."

"Shining light onto the brain increases energy and reduces inflammation."

"We saw a five-point increase in the ALS score with light therapy."

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Sarah and her background in neuroscience and biohacking

61:03:10Sarah discusses her transition from pharmaceuticals to light therapy research

2027:43:17The connection between environment, water structuring, and brain health

4277:43:23How light structures water and influences the brain

4999:56:45Development of a consumer-friendly device for light therapy

7138:50:13The science behind red and near-infrared light therapy

9222:10:17The impact of light therapy on inflammation and mitochondrial function

10361:03:39Case study: Light therapy for motor neurone disease

13694:23:55Results of the case study and ongoing research

19249:57:27Safety, side effects, and the body's innate response to light

21305:30:52Addressing light deficiency in modern lifestyles

27222:11:09The microbiome, environment, and mental health

29472:11:18The influence of bacteria on behavior and brain function

31833:18:01Diet, microbiome, and mental health

346666:38:09Improving quality of life through simple interventions

399722:11:46Controlling placebo effects and scientific validation

425833:18:32Light therapy for trauma, nervous system regulation, and sleep

472777:45:19The role of light in stress, environment, and marginalized populations

626388:52:54Future directions: protocols, education, and global health applications

David Jones and Dr Naomi Murphy speak with Ffyona Campbell about her memoir ‘In Black and White’, which recounts the abuse  she experienced as a child at the Sisters of Mercy convent boarding school in Midhurst, and the decades-long process of recovering those memories. The conversation explores her efforts to tell her story, find other survivors, and describes the psychological manipulation she says took place at the school.

This is a difficult but important discussion about trauma, memory, and the search for justice. Ffyona, known for her walks across Africa and the USA, also reflects on the girls who offered her support, her life after recovering memories, and why speaking out matters to her.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B09RG9VKHG

https://www.wildfoodwalks.co.uk/

Key topics

Ffyona discusses In Black and White, her memoir about being a junior boarder at Midhurst from age eight, and why she wrote it.

She describes a memory-recall process that brought back memories of abuse, and the difficulties she says followed when she tried to report it.

The conversation focuses on the “black and white” room, which Ffyona says was altered to confuse and condition children before abuse.

She recounts how changes to the room, courtyard, curtains, and furniture contributed to what she describes as a deliberate system of psychological manipulation.

Ffyona remembers George, an older girl who recognized that the nuns were “messing with our minds,” and whose resistance helped spark rebellion among the girls.

She recalls Grania, who gave her a tiny red crayon, as a rare source of kindness and solidarity.

Ffyona reflects on a painful incident involving her sister and why she no longer blames herself for it.

She discusses why some survivors find the book difficult to read and the challenges she sees in seeking justice without more corroborating testimony.

Ffyona says she has medical evidence of injuries she believes are consistent with abuse, and raises questions about the Sisters of Mercy’s financial records and assets.

She calls for scrutiny of the Sisters of Mercy and a wider network of religious institutions, and says she hopes survivors will know they are not alone.

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Ffyona Campbell’s memoir and life’s work

 

02:16 - What In Black and White is about

 

05:02 - Why she decided to write the book now

 

06:56 - Writing as a path toward exposing the convent

 

08:19 - Recovering after homelessness and trauma

 

10:53 - The strange black and white room

 

17:19 - How the room was used to torment and confuse children

 

19:29 - Realizing George understood the abuse too

 

23:22 - The role of isolation, fear, and the red crayon

 

31:31 - George, Grania, and the emotional bonds between the girls

 

34:36 - George forced to fight Sister Catherine

 

37:14 - Moving into Bracken and new living arrangements

 

40:07 - Grania’s promise and the burden of memory

 

42:21 - Trying to tell her parents and being dismissed

 

47:47 - Why other survivors struggle to read the book

 

50:41 - Physical evidence and the injuries she says remain

 

54:13 - Financial concerns and the Sisters of Mercy’s assets

 

57:00 - How Ffyona believes the convent fit into a wider abuse network

 

61:14 - Following the money and demanding accountability

 

62:28 - Why the book matters even without a prosecution

Rodney King (Video); Being Human, Mindfulness, and the Cost of Modern Success

Dr. Rodney King joins David Jones and Dr. Naomi Murphy to trace the arc of a life shaped by poverty, violence, reading, martial arts, and a search for meaning. The conversation moves from embodied mindfulness and leadership to philosophical counselling, chronic illness, and why he is sceptical of the idea that individual effort alone explains success.

In this episode, Rodney shares how surviving Johannesburg’s government housing, homelessness, and an abusive home led him toward martial arts, military service, and eventually doctoral research. We also discuss his book, Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be, and the case for slowing down, breathing, and choosing a more humane way of living.

https://www.coachingphilosophia.org/coach-king

https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachrodneyking/

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Rodney King and his journey from Johannesburg to mindfulness research

 

01:10 - Growing up tough in government housing and learning to survive

 

02:53 - Why appearing weak was dangerous in his environment

 

05:28 - The thread connecting martial arts, leadership, and philosophical counselling

 

06:15 - Homelessness at 17 and finding meaning through reading

 

07:42 - Military service as a turning point for leadership and self belief

 

10:03 - Fatherhood, support, and the role of being in his sons’ corner

 

13:01 - Taking his children back to the area where he grew up

 

14:35 - His aunt, early mindfulness ideas, and the importance of a champion

 

17:14 - How Thailand and Muay Thai shaped his understanding of mindfulness

 

18:37 - Designing PhD research around mindfulness and leadership performance

 

21:47 - Why martial arts offered a better model for mindfulness under pressure

 

24:06 - Breath, stress, and a practical drill used with airline cabin crew

 

28:26 - Short breathing, overload, and the calming effect of the exhale

 

29:33 - What philosophical counselling is and how it differs from therapy

 

31:53 - A second PhD on the meaning crisis and philosophical counselling

 

32:16 - Why Rodney is skeptical of modern success narratives and optimization culture

 

39:30 - AI advice, accessibility, and why human relationships still matter in therapy

 

43:05 - Why Rodney stepped back from organizational work

 

46:04 - The premise of Being a Human, The Courage to Simply Be

 

49:30 - The “walk to nowhere” as a practical antidote to optimization

 

52:30 - Connection, loneliness, and the loss of community

Notable quotes

“You have always been good enough.”

“The breath tethers you to the present moment.”

“Whatever modernity tells you to do, do the opposite.”

This conversation with clinical psychologist Dr Elly Hanson, hosted by Dr Naomi Murphy and David Jones, looks at the commercial and cultural drivers of sexual exploitation, and why regulation matters when profit is shaping sexuality online. It also moves into the emotional cost of doing this work, including burnout, resilience, post-traumatic growth, and how to stay grounded when the subject matter is bleak. Dr Hanson explains the work of CEASE and Fully Human, and makes a case for collective action, stronger safeguards for children, and a clearer language for what it means to be human in a rapidly changing digital world.

https://cease.org.uk/
https://www.hydrantprogramme.co.uk/assets/Hanson-2025-Organised-ritual-abuse-and-its-wider-context.-Hydrant-NPCC-NAPAC.pdf
Key topics

Dr Elly Hanson’s role and expertise
Clinical psychologist

Strategy director at CEASE, the Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation

Research lead at Fully Human, a PSHE Association initiative

Brings both clinical and policy perspectives to the discussion

What CEASE is trying to change
CEASE works upstream to tackle the commercial and cultural drivers of sexual violence and exploitation

The focus is prevention, not just response

Hanson frames porn as one major commercial driver that shapes harmful sexual scripts

Pornography as a profit model, not a mirror of sexuality
Hanson argues the industry does not simply reflect human sexuality

It incentivizes novelty, objectification, taboo, and violence because those are monetizable

The point is not just arousal, but the shaping of desire toward corporate profit

How sexual scripts can shift over time
The conversation explores how exposure can normalize more extreme material

Naomi Murphy raises the concern that people may move from ordinary preferences into harmful territory

Hanson agrees that porn can play a role in that progression, especially where trauma is not the only factor

Children and young people as a protected group
Hanson stresses that children have a right to sexual development free from corporate manipulation

She references progress on age verification and stronger protections

She argues that society has begun to set a new norm that children should not be exposed to this material

Working in dark material without becoming numb
The discussion turns to the emotional burden of forensic and safeguarding work

Hanson rejects the idea that compassion fatigue is just “getting tired of caring”

She sees it more as a defensive response to helplessness, under-resourcing, and repeated exposure to harm

Why collective effort is central to resilience
Hanson says burnout is often worst when people feel they cannot make a difference

She returns repeatedly to the importance of teamwork, shared purpose, and “finding your people”

She says a diverse working week also helps prevent emotional overload

Sorrow, hope, and philosophical grounding
Hanson draws on literature, poetry, and philosophy to make sense of suffering

She argues that sorrow is part of the human condition, not the same thing as depression

Hope, for her, is an agentic stance: acting without knowing the outcome, rather than optimism or resignation

Post-traumatic growth and resilience
Hanson emphasizes that growth does not erase harm

She describes resilience as surviving impact and still moving through it, not simply hardening oneself

Her understanding of hope and meaning has deepened through witnessing survivors

Bureaucracy, neglect, and systems that harm
Murphy and Hanson discuss how under-resourced systems can produce cynicism and victim blaming

Hanson argues that bureaucracy can become oppressive and even harmful

She warns that systems focused only on preventing one kind of abuse can become neglectful in other ways

Ritual abuse research and the need for acknowledgement
Hanson discusses research published with police and NAPAC on ritual abuse

She explains that disbelief and dismissal have long harmed survivors

The report matters because it acknowledges the issue, summarizes evidence, and challenges the culture of denial

Fully Human and the question of what it means to be human
Fully Human takes a step back from narrow policy issues to ask broader questions about flourishing

Its focus includes technology, sexual ethics, objectification, and the impact of digital life on young people

Hanson sees this as a place for deeper thought at a time of rapid technological change

Hope for the next decade
Hanson is encouraged by growing recognition that the internet is a human space that needs regulation

She sees resistance building against tech libertarianism and “the horse has bolted” thinking

She believes society is becoming better at naming what is valuable about human connection, embodiment, and care

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Dr Elly Hanson
01:01 - What CEASE does and why it works upstream
02:31 - Pornography as a business model that shapes desire
04:46 - “Porn is fundamentally not about sex, but about money”
05:26 - Why age verification and child protection matter
06:22 - How exposure can shift sexual interests and behavior
08:41 - Freud, rules, and what happens when boundaries break
09:43 - What originally drew Hanson into the work
13:30 - How psychologists bear witness to darkness
16:10 - Burnout, helplessness, and staying part of the collective
18:14 - How the work changes your worldview and values
19:40 - Literature, sorrow, and the emotional truth of the work
22:22 - A deeper definition of resilience
23:47 - Compassion fatigue, defensiveness, and victim blaming
26:22 - Bureaucracy, neglect, and harmful systems
28:44 - Post-traumatic growth and an agentic view of hope
31:33 - Hope, compassion, and the power of shared intention
32:57 - Avoiding overwhelm while still staying accountable
34:52 - A self-written poem about building anyway
37:40 - Signs of progress on pornography regulation
41:03 - Ritual abuse, disbelief, and the role of research
44:31 - Advice for people working in disillusioning fields
45:34 - What Fully Human is and why it exists
48:34 - The most promising shifts in regulation and cultural pushback
50:43 - AI, therapy, and becoming better at being human

In this interview, Dr Naomi Murphy and David Jones speak with Richard Buckworth about adoption, identity, and the long shadow of unprocessed trauma. Richard shares how his experience as an adoptee shaped his upcoming book, One Voice, and the therapeutic work he now does with family constellations, journey therapy, shamanic healing, and the Enneagram. The conversation explores belonging, self-worth, secrecy, people-pleasing, inherited trauma, and the importance of facing difficult truths with patience and self-awareness.

https://familyconstellationstherapy.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-buckworth-11503966/

Key topics

Why Richard wrote One Voice and challenged the belief that adoption had not affected him.

The childhood feeling that something was “off,” including depression, disconnection, and not belonging.

Emotional shutdown, dissociation, and survival strategies.

Adoption-related vulnerabilities, including not looking like anyone in the family and feeling disconnected from one’s lineage.

The complexity of the adoption triad: adoptees, biological parents, and adoptive parents.

Discovering what “adopted” really meant at around age seven.

Secrecy, identity confusion, and the experience of having two mothers and two fathers in different senses.

Family constellation therapy and its focus on generational patterns and blocked family connections.

How Richard combines constellation work with journey therapy, shamanic healing, and the Enneagram.

Why truth, patience, and emotional honesty are central to healing.

Timestamps

00:00

Introducing Richard Buckworth

02:33

Why Richard wrote One Voice

05:05

Childhood feelings of not belonging

07:28

Emotional shutdown and dissociation

08:41

Coping with bullying and avoidance

10:24

Adoption, identity, and belonging

14:35

Separation at birth and adult mental health

17:13

The adoption triad

18:35

Understanding adoption at age seven

20:46

The confusing story of being “chosen”

23:34

Secrecy and having two mothers

25:24

What might have changed with earlier awareness

29:10

Epigenetics and intergenerational trauma

37:39

What family constellation therapy is

43:51

Somatic healing and listening to the body

47:50

Combining multiple therapeutic modalities

53:57

Advice for people disconnected from their roots

54:18

“The truth will set you free”

57:02

Honesty, family, and the next generation

Notable quotes

“It takes more effort to not feel than to actually feel.”

“The truth will set you free.”

“I was so good at lying to myself.”

Key frameworks

Family constellation therapy:

Exploring present issues through family systems and generational patterns.

Journey therapy:

Releasing emotional blocks and accessing feelings that were shut down.

Shamanic healing:

Exploring ancestral patterns beyond a traditional seven-generation framework.

The Enneagram:

Understanding motivation, avoidance, and behavioral patterns