Good Journeys
25 Inspiring People | 75 Lessons Learned
by Ben Veal
Real Stories About Life, Purpose and Meaning
What does it really mean to live with purpose in the middle of life’s chaos and uncertainty? GOOD JOURNEYS brings together unforgettable stories from remarkable people who have dared to lead with heart.
From identity and neurodiversity to grief, representation, kindness and reinvention, each chapter reveals courage, vulnerability and meaning in the most unexpected places.
Written for busy lives and reflective hearts, this is a book to dip into, to linger over and to return to whenever you need encouragement or clarity.
Honest, uplifting and profoundly relatable, purpose-driven author Ben Veal invites you to see your own journey differently and to remember that even in life’s messiest moments, meaning, connection and possibility are always within reach.
A Book for Busy Lives and Reflective Hearts
GOOD JOURNEYS shines a light on real stories of people living with authenticity, courage and purpose.
This inspiring book draws together conversations with founders, athletes, actors, artists, activists, and everyday heroes from four years of the award-winning Good Journeys podcast: all showing up, leading with heart and finding meaning.
From Pete Wharmby’s journey of neurodiverse self-identity, to Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie’s fight for representation, to Sir Alexander McCall Smith’s reflections on kindness and empathy, each chapter offers lessons that are relatable, inspiring, and practical. The stories are written to be read, savoured, and returned to whenever guidance or encouragement is needed.
Short, insightful, and easy to read, each chapter takes just minutes but leaves a lasting impression. GOOD JOURNEYS is a companion for busy lives, sparking reflection, conversation, and a reminder that even amid uncertainty, connection, meaning, and possibility are always within reach.
What's Inside The Book?
Life moves fast. Careers shift. Identity evolves. Grief interrupts. Challenges appear when we least expect them. The questions keep coming: Who am I? What matters? How do I move forward?
GOOD JOURNEYS is a deeply human collection of unforgettable stories from remarkable people who have dared to lead with heart.
This is a book of lived experience: honest, uplifting, encouraging and profoundly relatable. Chapters explore themes that touch all of our lives, including:
-
Identity and self-discovery
-
Navigating grief and loss
-
Finding purpose and direction
-
Kindness, connection, and representation
-
Reinvention and new beginnings
-
Finding meaning in challenging times
With a foreword by Sir Terry Waite KCMG CBE, these true stories of resilience and purpose invite you to see your own life differently and to reflect on the ways that possibility and meaning can unexpectedly emerge.
“When you take a step towards your dream, providence steps towards you.”
RACHEL BRIGHT, BESTSELLING CHILDREN'S AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR
“Our wounds are sacred: the places where light gets in. If you’re willing to meet your pain head- on and to sit with it without judgement or rushing to fix it, then that’s where true transformation happens.”
AUTUMN REESER, FILM AND TELEVISION ACTOR
“Life is a choice: how you do life is a choice. Live the time that you have.”
GRACE FARRIMOND, RHS CHELSEA AWARD WINNING FLORIST
“Sometimes we go through things that don’t make sense when we are in the moment. It’s only often later that we realise that these tough experiences were essential to who we become.”
SARAH PERRETT, HAPPINESS COACH AND EMOTION CODE PRACTITIONER
About the Author
Ben Veal is a purpose-driven comms consultant, author and podcaster.
A Chartered PR Practitioner, he founded Second Mountain Comms in 2020, specialising in working with not-for-pro!ts and purpose-driven business leaders.
In 2025, his !rst book was published: Badd To Good, the memoir of former boxer and professional wrestler Marc Mero, which became an Amazon bestseller.
Ben has won eight industry awards, including the UK’s Inde‐ pendent PR Practitioner of the Year CIPR Excellence Award, four CIPR PRide Awards and two Creative Bath Awards for his business and his two podcasts: Good Journeys and Wrestling Life.
He lives in Wiltshire, UK with his wife and two children. Follow on social media @benvealwrites
