My Mum Passed Away 2 Years Ago Today

Today marks two years since my mother passed away from cancer 

In this video I talk about grief, the lessons she taught me & how my family and I have progressed since then 

In this episode, Harvey reveals:
◽️ What grief really feels like two years after losing a parent
◽️ How his family turned heartbreak into growth — from Saracens to Goldman Sachs
◽️ The two lessons his mum lived by: “Be the best you can be” and “Control the controllables”
◽️ Why inner peace matters more than external success
◽️ How to truly support someone going through grief — and what most people get wrong

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00:00 Intro – Why I record this episode every year
01:15 Carrying on my mum’s legacy
02:25 Georgie, Max, Freddie, Dad – family accomplishments
04:00 The impact of grief two years on
05:10 Realising how common loss is
06:10 You can’t replace people, but you can carry their values
07:15 Make life happen for you, not to you
08:10 How you respond matters more than what happens
09:30 What it means to live a life worth living
10:30 “Control the controllables” and “Be the best you can be”
11:40 Don’t wait to do what matters
12:50 Life isn’t permanent – go all in
14:10 The myth of “making it”
15:00 Be around people who want the best for you
16:00 Why toxic environments are dangerous
17:00 Get out of the house and do things
17:45 “Boring people get bored”
18:30 Why you should never settle
19:15 Don’t get too comfortable
20:00 Why death is a powerful motivator
21:00 Get out of your bubble – life will expand
21:45 Share your dreams with the right people
22:30 What really matters – family and presence
23:15 Don’t worry what others think
24:00 If people are watching, it means you’re doing something
24:40 Only take advice from people you admire
25:30 Do what’s necessary – even when it’s hard
26:15 No quick fixes – just consistent effort
27:00 Protect your health and mental health
28:00 Appreciate every moment – now becomes memory
29:00 Lulu Racing Foundation – carrying mum’s legacy forward
30:00 Athletes like Filip succeeding through the charity
30:45 How I remember and celebrate my mum
31:45 My memories of her vs what others say
32:30 Her influence on my growth and mindset
33:20 Values that last longer than we do
34:15 The power of building memories and taking photos
35:20 Why we must teach others what we’ve learned
36:15 Final message – Live a life worth remembering
37:00 Outro

📌 Resources
Harvey Bracken-Smith:
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/harveybracken-smith
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/harveybsmith
◽️ X (Twitter): x.com/harveybsmith_

Personable Podcast:
◽️ Instagram: instagram.com/personable.podcast
◽️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/personablepodcast
◽️ TikTok: tiktok.com/@personableclips
◽️ Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JOTYDER6m2FDrlhop4api
◽️ Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/personable/id1671640111

Additional:
◽️ The Draft (Sign up): thedraft.io
◽️ LouLouRaceFoundation: https://www.loulouracefoundation.org/

Personable is a podcast dedicated to helping listeners become the best they can be by learning from the world’s best in their respective fields. This mission is inspired by my mother, Louise, who encouraged me to become the best version of myself before she passed away from cancer in 2023.