FEEL GOOD HOUR PODCAST 2026 EPISODE 3 - HOARDING

About this episode

Welcome to The Feel Good Hour - the show that helps you feel lighter, brighter, and back in the driver’s seat.

With National Old Stuff Day falling on 2 March, we’re talking about hoarding - one of the most misunderstoodmental health conditions.

It’s often dismissed as mess or disorganisation, but for millions of people it’s something far deeper, affecting health, homes and relationships.

Joining Sam, as always, is Nigel Jones - life coach, hypnotherapist, NLP practitioner, author of Walking Back to Happiness, and founder of 9KM BY 9AM. Nigel works with behaviour change at a deep emotional level and helps people make changes that are realistic, compassionate and lasting.

National Old Stuff Day is a timely moment to reflect on our relationship with possessions - why we keep things, what they represent emotionally, and when holding on stops being comforting and starts becoming harmful. This isn’t about blame or forced clear-outs. It’s about understanding and taking small, safe steps forward.

1.     When does “being a bit messy” or “liking to keep things” cross the line into hoarding?

2.    Is hoarding officially recognised as a mental health condition — and how is it classified medically?

3.     What’s really going on underneath hoarding behaviour — what emotional need is being met?

4.    What impact can hoarding have on physicalhealth?

5.    What impact does hoarding have on mental healthover time?

6.    How does hoarding affect partners, children, carers and others around the hoarder?

7.     Is it realistic to tackle hoarding alone — or does it usually need support and structure?

8.    What are some gentle first steps if decluttering feels panic‑inducing?

9.    What can we learn from Japanese and other cultural approaches to possessions and tidying?

10.  Is there a simple, judgement‑free self‑check listeners can do — and one small action for National Old Stuff Day?

If something resonated today, remember this: hoarding isn’t about laziness or mess - it’s about emotion, safety and identity. Change doesn’t start with bin bags. It starts with compassion and one small step.

If you’d like to find out more about Nigel’s work in coaching, NLP and hypnotherapy, head to 9kmby9am.com oremail [email protected]