Former Barnstaple paramedic's podcast becomes Google sensation

A former Barnstaple paramedic whose lockdown podcast for people with anxiety became a global sensation with millions of downloads has hit the radar of digital giant Google and led to a personal invitation to speak at its US headquarters.

Calming Anxiety by Martin Hewlett is now the top ranked anxiety podcast by Google in the UK and it is also hugely popular in America too, with more than eight-and-a-half million downloads and 100,000 subscribers since its launch just before the Covid pandemic.

Martin, aged 59, worked in the NHS for more than 20 years before leaving to launch his own hypnotherapy business, Calming Anxiety.

The podcast, which offers listeners 10 minutes of guided meditation and affirmations, was created as a means to give something back to his clients, who could access the free daily podcast after booking a hypnotherapy session.

Little did Martin know, the podcast would soon become a global sensation, resonating with audiences far beyond North Devon and on both sides of the Atlantic.

Calming Anxiety caught the attention of internet search giant Google and Martin was recently invited to Google in New York to discuss his podcast further and to speak at its headquarters. 

As a guest speaker at a prestigious event hosted by Digital for Good, a non-profit organisation dedicated to online safety and empowerment, Martin shared insight on mental health and mindfulness.

Martin feels Calming Anxiety has become so much more than an online resource, and he says it has “become a movement of calm and kindness.”

At the heart of Calming Anxiety lies its daily format, offering bite-sized doses of mindfulness, meditation, and affirmations designed to soothe the mind and nourish the soul.

Martin’s compassionate demeanour and relatable content have garnered praise from listeners worldwide, particularly among women aged 20 to 36 in the United States, who are the podcast's largest audience.

The one-time NHS paramedic said he was “still pinching myself” following the podcast’s meteoric rise and then a surprise trip to the States too.

He said: “It couldn’t have gone any better. From the event to the weather - which was absolutely perfect - and everything in between.

“My children joke, saying ‘our dad’s now an influencer!’”

Martin had realised before the pandemic his time with the NHS was coming to an end and his own experiences prompted him to set up in a new career as a hypnotherapist, offering holistic support to those in need.

He embarked on a new chapter, leveraging his expertise to provide therapeutic experiences aimed at alleviating anxiety and promoting emotional resilience.

Through his services and then the podcast launch in November 2019, he believed he could help more people, but then the pandemic hit, with much of the globe in lockdown and anxiety levels soaring through the roof, the Calming Anxiety podcast really took off.

It surpassed a million downloads within its first seven months alone and now Martin is well on target to reach 10 million by the end of this year.

Martin believes wholly in the potential of therapy and hypnotherapy in transforming people to help cultivate resilience and promote overall well-being.

He aims to empower people to overcome negativity and embrace a life of fulfilment and purpose.

He said: “I wake up, look at my emails, and you look at the reviews that come in and you think, yeah, I’ve got to keep doing this.

“The more people that come on board, the more people I can help and serve.”

Looking ahead, Martin has remained committed to expanding his reach and impact, with plans in May when he is to be the keynote speaker at a three day men’s mental health retreat in Poland. 

As well as this, he also has upcoming meetings with the Digital for Good Foundation with an aim to bring their work to the UK. 

He added: “I want to protect our younger kids from all the nastiness out there online.”

Martin is poised to share his expertise with aspiring podcasters through an upcoming webinar and also has plans to launch a podcast course to support aspiring podcasters. 

He also has plans to go back to Google in America next year. 

You can listen to Martin’s podcasts here https://www.martinhewlett.co.uk/calming-anxiety/