In this powerful Deep Dive episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, Krish Patel is joined by Farah Rehman for an honest and inspiring conversation about identity, racism, motherhood, grief and personal growth.

Raised in Rochdale by a single mother, Farah reflects on growing up mixed race, navigating bullying and discrimination, and how her mother's belief in education encouraged her to think beyond her circumstances.

Farah also speaks candidly about infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth and becoming a mother after loss, sharing the profound lessons she has learned through counselling, community support and embracing forgiveness.

Alongside her personal experiences, Farah discusses volunteering in Uganda and Kenya, her work supporting others through social prescribing and the importance of meaningful connections in tackling loneliness and improving wellbeing.

This is a heartfelt conversation about resilience, healing, role models, community and ultimately finding the freedom to become the person you were always meant to be.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions around racism, miscarriage, stillbirth, infertility, bereavement, domestic abuse, mental health and family trauma. Support organisations mentioned in the episode include Sands, Tommy's, The Miscarriage Association, Cruse Bereavement Support and Ellie's Gift.

What happens when you spend your whole life feeling different, only to discover why in your twenties?

In this deeply honest episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, Emily Thornton shares her extraordinary journey of being diagnosed with autism at the age of 24 and how that diagnosis helped her make sense of years of struggling with OCD, mental health challenges and identity.

Emily opens up about growing up alongside an autistic brother, masking throughout childhood, experiencing severe obsessive compulsive disorder, multiple mental health crises, suicide attempts, therapy, and ultimately finding hope through understanding herself and accepting support.

Together, we explore:

• Receiving a late autism diagnosis

• Living with OCD and intrusive thoughts

• Autism and mental health

• The importance of therapy and asking for help

• Why so many women are diagnosed with autism later in life

• Creating more inclusive schools and communities

• The power of authenticity, family and human connection

Emily's story is one of remarkable resilience and serves as a reminder that understanding yourself can be the first step towards healing.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions around suicide, self-harm and mental health.

If this conversation resonates with you, please remember that support is available. You don't have to face things alone.

What does autism really mean, and why are so many adults only now receiving a diagnosis?

In this Bite Size episode of the Tales to Inspire Podcast, Emily Thornton explains autism through both her professional experience and her own lived experience of being diagnosed at 24 years old.

Emily discusses why autism should be understood as a difference rather than a deficit, how society's understanding of neurodiversity is evolving, and why increasing numbers of adults are recognising autistic traits in themselves later in life.

Whether you're autistic, supporting someone who is, or simply want to learn more about neurodiversity, this episode offers valuable insight into creating a more understanding and inclusive world.