Mari Williams: Alone and Rising
A self-help and personal-growth podcast hosted by Mari Williams about learning to be genuinely happy in your own company. She shares her own story of reaching a place where being alone feels good, and invites guests to describe how they did the same. The focus is not on being single but on self-acceptance, which in turn helps listeners set stronger boundaries, make better decisions and build healthier friendships and relationships. Episodes aim to inspire people who worry about how many friends they have or what would happen if a partner left.
Episodes
Military life, loneliness in relationships and self-worth | Cara Cunniff
Loneliness in relationships and self-worth can shape how we connect with others, even when we are not physically alone.In this episode of Alone and Rising, Mari Williams speaks with Cara Cunniff about her experience of feeling deeply alone while surrounded by other military spouses during her husband’s deployment to Iraq.Cara shares how this period of isolation led her to reflect on emotional conn
Adoption, childhood trauma and identity | Peter Snellgrove on healing and self-acceptance
Adoption, childhood trauma and identity can shape how we see ourselves, our relationships and our place in the world.In this episode of Alone and Rising, Peter Snellgrove shares his journey of adoption, reflecting on a difficult childhood marked by abuse and neglect, and how these early experiences influenced his sense of self.Leaving home at 17, Peter later discovered more about his heritage and
Loneliness, identity and becoming happy alone | Suzette Shahmoon
Loneliness, identity and learning how to be happy alone are deeply connected to our experiences, relationships and sense of self.In this episode of Alone and Rising, Mari Williams speaks with Suzette Shahmoon about her journey through loneliness and how she came to feel at ease within herself.Suzette shares her experiences of growing up feeling different as the only Jewish girl in her community, n
Loneliness, anxiety and learning to be alone | Christina Cooper on self-growth
Loneliness, anxiety and learning to be alone can become powerful catalysts for self-growth and emotional resilience.In this episode of Alone and Rising, Mari Williams speaks with Christina Cooper, a hypnotherapist, musician and entrepreneur, about her experience of deep loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown and how it led to profound personal change.Christina shares how isolation pushed her to r
How to be happy alone and build self-worth | Ian
How to be happy alone, build self-worth and create a meaningful life are central to how we make decisions, form relationships and experience success.In Alone and Rising, Mari Williams explores what it really means to be alone, not as isolation, but as the ability to be grounded within yourself.Through intimate conversations and real stories, the podcast looks at personal growth, relationships, soc
Shame, divorce and male vulnerability | Ian on trauma, grief and being alone
Shame, divorce and male vulnerability are often hidden, yet they shape how men experience grief, relationships and identity.In this episode of Alone and Rising, Ian shares his journey through profound personal loss, including the devastating murder of his brother, alongside the breakdown of his marriage, and how these experiences led him to confront shame, trauma and his relationship with himself.
Grief, widowhood and finding purpose after loss | Judy Reith on rebuilding life
Grief, widowhood and loneliness can reshape identity, purpose and how we experience life after loss.In this episode of Alone and Rising, Mari Williams speaks with Judy Reith about navigating the profound loss of her husband and the reality of rebuilding life after bereavement.Judy shares how grief, isolation and loneliness led her to co-found Cambridge Widows, a community offering connection, supp
Addiction, trauma and recovery | J Raymond on healing, solitude and purpose
Addiction, trauma and recovery are deeply connected to self-worth, identity and the ability to be alone without escaping ourselves.In this episode, J Raymond shares his journey of growing up in a household shaped by alcoholism, and how this influenced his own relationship with addiction, creativity and life.He reflects on the turning points that led him towards recovery, including the loss of his
How to be happy alone (without being lonely) | self-worth, relationships and independence
How to be happy alone, self-worth and relationships are deeply connected to the decisions we make and the life we build.In this introductory episode, Mari Williams shares her personal journey of learning to be happy alone, not as a concept of being single, but as the ability to be content within yourself, whether in a relationship or not.She explores how this affects everyday decisions, leadership
