In this episode of Success Unscripted, host Matthew Ruddle (CEO of Ruddle Digital) sits down with Steve Mitchell, a self-described “onion” with many layers. Steve is a life transformation expert who helps people become a stronger, healthier version of themselves, and he is clear that real transformation starts with living it first.

This conversation is raw, honest, and practical. Steve shares his journey from a challenging upbringing, through the discipline and identity shift of the army, and into civilian life where structure disappears and reality hits hard. He talks about how the forces can shape you into what they need, and how leaving can create a difficult gap, not just financially but emotionally and psychologically, as you rebuild who you are outside a regimented system.

Steve’s story is also one of persistence and reinvention. Alongside his coaching work, he and his wife Donna have built a successful doggy daycare business. Steve credits Donna as the steady constant in his life and business, and the episode repeatedly returns to the power of partnership, stability, and support. He speaks openly about moments when he came close to losing everything, and why he believes he would not be here without Donna and his family.

A major turning point in Steve’s life came through the consequences of alcohol-fuelled behaviour and hitting rock bottom. He explains how sobriety was not just about giving something up, but about choosing the life he wanted to keep: his marriage, his children, and his grandchildren. He also shares that mental health challenges did not simply disappear, and that the difference today is awareness, tools, and responsibility.

Steve’s core teaching is that awareness creates choice. He breaks down how reactions form: thoughts become feelings, feelings become emotions, and emotions become behaviours. Once you can recognise your patterns, you can interrupt them, respond with more control, and stop punishing yourself for other people’s actions. He challenges the idea that people are “stuck” forever, arguing that while the past matters, adulthood requires taking responsibility for what happens next.

Steve also introduces his signature programme, Release the Best You, built around a seven-step framework using the word RELEASE:
Recognise who you are, Evaluate your situation, Learn to let go, Expect the best, Allow yourself to be great, Set yourself up for success, and Evolve. He explains why the order matters, how purpose works like a sat nav (destination first, then goals and tasks), and why fear is often just a door you need to open.

The episode closes with a clear message: emotions are not weakness, they are signals. Be honest, stay in control, take responsibility, and build your life on your terms. And in Steve’s words: be a nice person, and don’t be a dick.

To learn more about Steve’s work, visit releasethebestyou.com, follow him on social media, and sign up for his newsletter.