"Where You Left Them" is out twice weekly. On Thursday's Episode, we tell a real story submitted by a listener or one of our social followers. You'll get our live reactions and Harry's advice, and a chance to vote, too. Comment on here or on our socials to tell us what you think.
On the following Tuesday, it's your turn - we'll talk about your comments on socials and the website and see how you voted.
Listen here, watch the full eps in video on YouTube, and have your say too!
We’ll see how complicated life can be for everyone. We’ll see that there’s always hope. And we’ll see that there’s a lesson in every story for our own lives.
Big hug.
I'm Harry - I started dadhugsforyoursoul on the morning of 13th February this year (2025), an hour after having the idea. I've been through some extremely challenging times and am proud to have done 'the work' and come out of the other side, happier, healthier and more peaceful. Now I want to reach as many people as possible to help them to do the same. I believe strongly that time is not actually a healer - Work is. I built this entire channel, business and following on the principle that it provides everything that I so desperately needed back then - it's not passive advice, it's active healing and tools. Big Hug
I’m Emma and am so happy to be involved with dadhugs. Harry and I have staggered through some breakups together and I was fortunate to have benefited from his straightforward, unflinching advice just when I needed it. I think I’m still “doing the work” after some huge life changes so I’m right alongside and among you with all of it. I find your stories everything from heartbreaking to inspiring and familiar. So: know that you’re not alone - I’m honoured to be walking this path with you.
Welcome to the very first episode of Where You Left Them, the Dadhugsforyoursoul podcast with Harry and Emma. This podcast dives deep into the messy, heartbreaking, and sometimes unbelievable realities of modern relationships. It’s not therapy, but it is real: raw stories from real people, told honestly, with empathy, humour, and perspective.
In our first story, we meet Kate, who thought she was living the dream: twenty years with Rich, the partner who seemed like her perfect match. They had the house, the holidays, the reputation of being that couple. But in a single weekend, it all shattered.
What follows is an unflinching look at betrayal, self-doubt, and the struggle to rebuild a sense of self when everything you trusted collapses. Harry and Emma unpack the story in the studio.
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Rich
5 years is a long time to be betrayed for so no, I have no sympathy for Rich
RICH
Loved the relaxed format of the 2nd podcast. Still don’t have sympathy for Rich but am keen to get a hug from the merch.
I doubt the text Rich sent was actually an accident.
If you're wondering why people are commenting 'Rich' go and watch the episode - you can WIN
Rich
Rich
Rich
If adding levity to the podcast seems unnecessary to me, because I found the first part quite light and at times funny, is there something wrong with me? (rhetorical question 🤪) Anyway, trying my luck and commenting: Rich (for whom I still feel a bit of sympathy).
Thank you for sharing this very interesting and at the same time very sad case. It always takes two to tango I believe. Kate gave up on herself with doing stuff she really didn't enjoy and was so obsessed to ignore the red flags, which are obviously difficult see, when you are busy to entertain the "perfect couple" image. Rich is a 100% no go with years of betraying her, without taking accountability for what he did...a very weak guy, low self-esteem and zero emotional intelligence. I really hope she will find her true self after going to this horrendous betrayal.🙏❤
I think Richard has been deceitful and dishonest to himself. he could do with doing some personal development on his own behaviours and beliefs. Perhaps buying the packs too. 5 years is a very long lie Richard.
I’m pretty sure I may be an anxious person who is emotionally unavailable. Am I doomed? Do I have twice the work to do?
Well that was a great start for a pod! Interesting and thought provoking but also just fun to listen to - good format and good energy between the hosts do the job! So the thoughts provoked are:
Picture perfect… not? Her reaction to him not being home is so strange. Wouldn’t your first thought be „OMG something bad happened to him?” - maybe not immediately but after few hours? How did she know that he’s „gone” right away? Why the silence sounds different? That makes me suspect that, despite her declarations, the relationship wasn’t so perfect and she - maybe totally unconsciously- noticed that.
Is everything OK at home? Her sister betrayed her in the most terrible way- doesn’t seem like family dynamics are good there, eh? But also - a really big question - Why all the people around her decided to keep the thing a secret? Him and the sister - sure (cowardice but understandable) but other family members? Friends? Are they all bad people? Or manipulated by him? Or maybe in emotional sphere they not see her as an adult person? It gives vibes of „Let’s keep the serious stuff, real emotions, hidden from her because she won’t understand”. Also the question he asks her - Are you still sad? - It’s something simple you can ask a child (and something a child can ask you) - not denying his emotional immaturity here but also wondering was that the kind of emotional level/language they communicated before. She started the relationship with him very young and from what she told us - without strong sense of herself, he took the leading role and it feels like there was no space for her to grow up and mature emotionally (and also no motivation for him to do the same).
Advocate for the devil? I wonder what caused him to act as he (bizarrely cruel) did. Was it emotionally avoidant selfishness or longing for something emotionally deeper and real? Or maybe the weight of being the adult in the relationship became too big at some point and he chose escape? Pair the latter with poor emotional intelligence (or inability to deal with own emotions for any reason) and the effect may be devastating and totally out of proportion. No wonder he feels guilty - there’s so much cowardice and unnecessary cruelty in his actions. But did he act that way by cold calculation? Or out of desperation („I’ll do anything to escape, I don’t care about anything anymore.”)? Oh the temptation to understand, explain, find the excuse…
Projecting much? Oh hell, yes I do! Not my romantic relationships experience but the relationship with my mother, who was totally immature and dependent on me emotionally. The weight of that „love” was unbearable, the dreams of escaping it constant and soul crushing. I clicked „yes” to sympathy for Rich question quicker than I could think. Which actually was a very revealing and a moment of clarity for me. It’ll be so interesting to listen to this podcast in a year or so and see what my reaction will be. (Says she, optimistically planning for all the emotional work and self-discovery awaiting...)
Thanks Sandra - we're recording episodes regularly now and it's incredible how tough some of them are even to just read
The betrayal of this situation is what resonates the most as well as Harry’s words to Kate at the end of the podcast. Harry’s support, empathy and kind&ge gentle honesty is such a huge comfort to the rest of us in our own situations. Thank you🦋