Soul to Self® Podcastathon 2026 | Supporting Hopefull Handbags

We spend a lot of time talking about success.

The goals we're working towards, the businesses we're building, the qualifications we're gaining and the things we hope to achieve.

But how often do we stop to consider what success might actually be costing us?

In the final conversation of the Soul to Self® Podcastathon, I'm joined by Trina Kavanagh-Thomas, host of The Personal Energy Podcast, for an honest, thought-provoking discussion about ambition, identity and the personal cost of pursuing success.

We begin by exploring the financial and emotional investment involved in building a business, including the pressure to join the right groups, invest in the right programmes and be seen in the right rooms.

But our conversation soon moves into something deeper.

Trina shares her experiences of building a successful business, recognising when an approach no longer fits, and making the difficult decision to step away from a degree she'd been pursuing.

We also explore what happens when our ambitions are influenced by other people's expectations, how changing direction can affect friendships and relationships, and why reaching a goal doesn't necessarily mean our desire to grow disappears.

Along the way, we talk openly about loneliness, emotional wellbeing and the importance of appropriate support when life's changes become difficult to navigate.

And we finish with a question that feels particularly fitting for the end of the Podcastathon:

How do we decide what success is worth to us?

In this conversation, we explore:

• The financial and emotional costs of building a business.
• Recognising the difference between a meaningful investment and one driven by fear of missing out.
• Why the right opportunity for someone else might not be right for us.
• The pressure to look successful before we've decided what success means.
• Trina's experience of questioning her reasons for continuing a degree.
• How overcommitment and constant pressure can affect our wellbeing and relationships.
• Navigating changes in friendships, identity and belonging as our lives evolve.
• The difference between feeling successful and still having ambition.
• Recognising when we're pursuing something because we want it, rather than because we hope it will earn us approval.

Meet Trina Kavanagh-Thomas

Trina Kavanagh-Thomas is a personal energy practitioner and host of The Personal Energy Podcast.

Drawing on her experiences in business, personal development and navigating significant life changes, Trina explores the relationship between personal energy, decision-making, ambition and wellbeing.

Her approach encourages people to become more aware of the motivations behind their choices, recognise when familiar patterns no longer serve them and consider what success means in their own lives.

Connect with Trina

Podcast: The Personal Energy Podcast

LinkedIn: Trina Kavanagh-Thomas

Facebook: Trina Kavanagh-Thomas

About the Soul to Self® Podcastathon

This conversation was recorded on 25 September 2026 as the final interview of the Soul to Self® Podcastathon, a fundraising event supporting Hopefull Handbags and their work with women and children affected by domestic abuse.

With thanks to MIB International, our headline sponsor, and to everyone who helped make the event possible.

Continue the conversation

If you've ever felt guilty for taking time out, struggled to say no or wondered when you'll finally have a little space for yourself, I hope this conversation reminds you that your needs matter too.

You can discover more conversations about self-worth, identity, wellbeing and reconnecting with yourself through the Soul to Self® community join here .

This episode includes a discussion of loneliness, emotional distress and suicidal thoughts. Please consider your own wellbeing when listening.