Three years ago, I sat down with Rhys to hear his remarkable story of surviving multiple near-fatal heart attacks, living with a battery-powered left ventricular assist device (LVAD), navigating the profound loss of identity that followed, and ultimately rebuilding his life through unimaginable adversity.

Today, Rhys returns to the podcast to share the next chapter of that journey. After spending almost a decade on the UK transplant list as his health continued to decline, Rhys made the decision to move back to his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, in the hope of receiving a viable donor heart. What followed were months of immense uncertainty, living with the knowledge that time was running out.

In this conversation, he reflects on the emotional weight of waiting, the mindset it took to hold onto hope when the future felt increasingly uncertain, and the peace he found in accepting the possibility of death.

Then everything changed.

Just 18 months after moving, Rhys received the call that would save his life. In a remarkable turn of events, he was offered three donor hearts in a single day, and following a successful transplant, doctors told him that without it, he may have had only two weeks left to live.

Rhys shares the emotions surrounding that life-changing moment, the experience of undergoing a heart transplant, and the overwhelming gratitude he now feels for the second chance he has been given.

Above all, this conversation is about hope, gratitude, and new beginnings. Rhys speaks openly about the freedom he now feels, the joy of being able to plan for a future that once seemed impossible, and how this transplant isn't the end of his story - it marks the beginning of a brand-new chapter.

Previous Episode (82)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cFHgRiiNbW9CXK9pKcrdr

Rhys

@therealrhysthomas

Today I'm joined by Andrew Jenkins — mental health advocate, motivational speaker, and recent contestant on The Traitors.

In this powerful conversation, Andrew shares his journey following a traumatic, near-fatal car accident that changed the course of his life. While the physical injuries were significant, it was the psychological impact, loss of identity, and subsequent struggles with mental health that proved to be some of his greatest challenges.

We explore how trauma can reshape our understanding of ourselves, the importance of vulnerability and authentic self-expression, and why true self-worth cannot be found through external achievements alone. Andrew reflects on the lessons he's learned through adversity, the ongoing nature of mental wellbeing, and how he has used his experiences to help others feel less alone.

Today I’m joined by Sabrina Pace-Humphreys — trail runner, activist, speaker, author, and founder of Black Trail Runners.

Sabrina shares her incredible journey from initially turning to running as a way to cope with post-natal depression, to going on to complete some of the world’s toughest endurance events — including the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert, the brutal 268-mile Spine Race, the 100k Ultra-Trail Snowdonia, and countless other extraordinary adventures.

But this conversation goes far beyond performance and finish lines.

We explore how running first became a form of freedom and escape from difficult thoughts, before discussing how modern running culture can sometimes lose sight of that — becoming overly focused on pace, PBs, Strava statistics, body image, comparison, and constant optimisation.

Sabrina speaks beautifully about how trail running allowed her to reconnect with the true essence of movement again: nature, exploration, playfulness, community, presence, and joy.

The conversation also explores the racism Sabrina has experienced and how it fuelled her activism. Motivated by her lived experiences and a desire to create change, she founded Black Trail Runners in 2020 to increase inclusion, representation, safety, and accessibility within trail running and the outdoors.

This episode is about far more than running. It’s about belonging, resilience, identity, healing, community, and reclaiming joy through movement.

Twitter @Sabrunsmiles

Instagram @sabrunsmiles

Website - https://sabrunsmiles.com/

Black Trail Runners - https://blacktrailrunners.org/

Start Where You Are (Book):

Start Where You Are: The Beginner’s 5k Running Guide for Women: Amazon.co.uk: Pace-Humphreys, Sabrina: 9781399423311: Books