Riding the Wave

Dr Sian Williams interviewed by Suzy Walker Are you an orchid or a dandelion? According to Dr Sian Williams, understanding how you respond to life's challenges could be the first step towards learning how to thrive. For 30 years, Sian Williams was one of the most recognisable faces in British broadcasting. As a BBC journalist and newsreader, she appeared calm and confident on screen—but behind the scenes she was living with a lifelong struggle with anxiety, a battle that came to a dramatic head when she collapsed during a live broadcast. She turned that struggle into strength – and a new career. Now a senior specialist psychologist therapist for the NHS, she supports emergency service workers recovering from work-related trauma. Her latest book, The Power of Anxiety: How to Ride the Worry Wave, combines psychological insight, practical tools and lessons drawn from her own journey. Her previous book, Rise: A First-Aid Kit for Getting Through Tough Times, explored her experience of breast cancer and resilience in the face of adversity. Alongside her clinical work, Sian continues to broadcast, presenting BBC Radio 4's Life Changing and Unwind on BBC Sounds. Joining her is Suzy Walker, writer, editor, coach and former editor of Psychologies magazine, for a compassionate and empowering conversation about anxiety, resilience and finding the confidence to navigate life's storms. Suzy is Editor-in-Chief of Platinum magazine and has interviewed everyone from Oprah to the Dalai Lama. She also runs the Heart Leap writing community and co-founded Alnwick Story Fest. A warm, honest and potentially life-changing evening about understanding ourselves and learning to ride the waves.