Therapy Works22 Okt 2025

Olia Hercules on How Creativity Heals in Times of Crisis

In this powerful and tender conversation, I speak with Olia Hercules - author, chef, and activist - about her journey from Ukraine to the UK and the personal and collective challenges she has faced in recent years.

Olia reflects on living with Fragile X syndrome, both in her own life and with her son, and shares the deep psychological impact of the ongoing war in Ukraine. She speaks movingly about the importance of family, culture, and heritage, and how traditions of food, art, and gardening can offer strength and continuity even in times of great upheaval.

Her new book, Strong Roots, is both a celebration of family history and a testament to the power of creativity and nourishment as acts of therapy and resistance. Through our conversation, Olia shows how self-care, cultural memory, and connection to the land can sustain us through pain and uncertainty.

This is an episode about resilience, belonging, and the healing role of tradition in the most difficult times.

Find Olia:
Instagram: @oliahercules
Book: https://amzn.eu/d/htX5MKtWebsite: https://oliahercules.com/

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