In this episode of the Onward Shift Podcast, Vishal Narbheram sits down with Rosie Dhoopun to explore sound baths, drumming circles, grief and emotional expression. Rosie shares the deeply personal story of losing her son Bryn, who was born with Trisomy 18 and lived for six months and how drumming became part of her journey through grief. The conversation also explores why so many men may feel uncomfortable trying unfamiliar forms of support, what actually happens during sound baths and drumming circles and whether these spaces can offer another way to slow down, release emotion and reconnect with yourself. Vish starts the conversation openly sceptical, describing it as a little “woo-woo” but ends it far more curious and willing to experience both for himself. Sometimes looking after your mental health isn't about finding one perfect solution. It's about staying open enough to find what works for you.⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around child loss, complex pregnancy, grief, depression and previous overdose attempts.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction00:49 Rosie's Journey Into Drumming04:40 Bryn's Story & Complex Pregnancy09:00 Living With a Life-Limiting Diagnosis12:12 Grief & Mental Health14:31 “This Sounds a Bit Woo-Woo”17:20 What Is a Drumming Circle?20:17 Can Drumming Release Emotion?22:50 Why Men Are Afraid of Their Emotions27:54 Breaking the Stigma29:51 What Actually Is a Sound Bath?35:40 ADHD, Neurodiversity & An Overactive Mind38:32 What Happens at Your First Sound Bath?42:18 Sound Baths vs Drumming Circles45:54 Find Rosie47:51 Why Don't More Men Try These Spaces?51:42 Finding the Support That Works for You52:02 How Are You?🎙️ Support & Stay Connected🎙️ If you like this episode, please like it and share it.🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates.Learn more about the mental health support Onward Shift offers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onwardshift.com Follow the host and founder of Onward Shift - Vishal Narbheram on LinkedIn here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-narbheram-56bb3a194/ CONNECT WITH ROSIEWebsite: www.labyrinthofnurture.co.ukSubstack: https://labyrinthofnurture.substack.com/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/033cvHRBJARjICTmlWrZRM?si=3226d5a106a24ff0

“I don't think I ever had a cocaine problem. I always had a cocaine solution.”James Erskine went from recreational cocaine use to taking four to five grams a day, experiencing paranoia, hearing voices and almost destroying the family he loved most. Today, he is three years clean. In this powerful episode of the Onward Shift Podcast, James sits down with Vishal Narbheram to tell the full story of how addiction slowly took control of his life and what it took to get it back.James explains how cocaine initially fitted into a lifestyle that didn't seem dramatically different from those around him. Nights out became after-parties. Occasional use became regular use. Boundaries he once believed he'd never cross slowly disappeared. Eventually cocaine wasn't just something James did. It became part of who he thought he was. The conversation explores people pleasing, validation, entrepreneurship, self-worth and the constant search for approval that existed underneath his addiction. James then shares the reality of where cocaine eventually took him: using several grams every day, becoming convinced his wife was having an affair, hearing conversations that weren't happening, believing there were hidden cameras inside his home and eventually questioning everyone around him. His addiction nearly capsized his family. James speaks candidly about the impact on his wife and children, the promises he broke, the guilt he continues to work through and the moment he finally entered rehab.The second half of this conversation focuses heavily on what happened next.Rehab. Therapy. Narcotics Anonymous. Accountability. Community. Making amends. Rebuilding trust and ultimately learning that recovery isn't simply about removing cocaine.As James says: “Recovery is abstinence plus change.”James also explains why there isn't one perfect road to recovery. What works for one person might be rehab, a 12-step fellowship or therapy. For someone else it could look completely different. The important thing is finding what helps you get better. This is an incredibly open conversation about addiction, identity, family, recovery, guilt, shame and learning to appreciate the simplicity of ordinary life again.⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode includes detailed conversations about cocaine addiction, drug use, paranoia, hallucinations and the impact addiction can have on families.CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:19 Childhood, Identity & Early Life06:00 Finding Your Authentic Self11:52 Entrepreneurship, Success & Validation19:37 James's Introduction to Cocaine22:22 When Recreational Use Became Something More25:42 People Pleasing & Cocaine29:57 Breaking Promises & Losing Integrity33:57 The Belief That “I'm Not Good Enough”38:04 How Addiction Affected James's Family40:07 Four to Five Grams a Day & Losing Reality46:16 Self-Sabotage & Rock Bottom49:48 Entering Rehab53:40 Building a Recovery Community56:07 Narcotics Anonymous & Finding His Tribe58:20 Rebuilding Trust01:00:36 There Is No Perfect Recovery01:03:43 Finding Happiness in Simplicity01:06:20 Guilt vs Shame🎙️ Support & Stay Connected🎙️ If you like this episode, please like it and share it.🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates.Learn more about the mental health support Onward Shift offers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onwardshift.com⁠⁠ Follow the host and founder of Onward Shift - Vishal Narbheram on LinkedIn here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-narbheram-56bb3a194/⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH JAMESSearch James Erskine on LinkedIn, Instagram and X.Narcotics Anonymous - ⁠https://na.org #CocaineAddiction #AddictionRecovery #Recovery #MentalHealth #MensMentalHealth #NarcoticsAnonymous #Rehab #AddictionAwareness #RecoveryJourney #MentalHealthAwareness #PeoplePleasing #FamilyRecovery #SelfDiscovery #OnwardShift #Podcast

In this inspiring episode of the Onward Shift Podcast, Vishal Narbheram sits down with Dave Harris to explore a journey shaped by adversity, resilience and personal growth. Dave reflects on growing up after his parents separated, never quite feeling like he belonged and spending much of his early life searching for identity and purpose from travelling the world to building a career in construction leadership, he shares the lessons learned through pressure, responsibility and discovering where his true strengths lay.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as Dave opens up about experiencing a stress-induced heart incident while managing a high-pressure construction project. He explains how that moment forced him to question what "normal" really looked like and why returning to the life that nearly broke him was never going to be the answer. Together, Vish and Dave discuss leadership, respect, trust, mental health, self-awareness and why building authentic relationships is just as important as delivering successful projects. They also explore practical ways construction professionals can better monitor both their physical and mental wellbeing before reaching crisis point. This is an honest conversation about pressure, purpose and becoming the person you were always meant to be.

💬 Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around mental health, stress, heart health and emotional wellbeing.

Key Topics

• Growing up after parental separation
• Searching for identity and purpose
• Leadership lessons from construction
• Building trust and authentic relationships
• Managing pressure in high-performance environments
• Dave's stress-induced heart incident
• Recognising the warning signs of stress
• Mental and physical health in construction
• Self-awareness and personal growth
• Why respect is the foundation of great leadership

Chapters

00:00 David's Upbringing and Early Life06:08 The Search for Identity and Escape13:33 Transitioning into Construction20:01 Navigating the Construction Industry26:02 The Importance of Relationships in Construction32:07 The Power of Authentic Conversations35:33 Facing Pressure: A Personal Journey44:33 The Impact of Stress on Health55:27 Principles for Life and Work

🎙️ Support & Stay Connected

🎙️ If you like this episode, please like it and share it.

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe for more updates.

Learn more about the mental health support Onward Shift offers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.onwardshift.com⁠⁠

Follow the host and founder of Onward Shift - Vishal Narbheram on LinkedIn here: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishal-narbheram-56bb3a194/⁠⁠

You can find Dave Harris here:

Linkedin - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-harris-a6178a139/

Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/0JDdXuJ802VWZ4lFCAH2Vs?si=dd52b87074d04bf5