A groundbreaking mental wellness app co-founded by Sarah, Duchess of York, and Dr. DDnard Napattalung

HELLO! recently had the opportunity to speak with two visionary women—Dr. DDnard Napattalung and Sarah, Duchess of York—co-founders of Zoul, a revolutionary mental wellness app that bridges ancient Eastern wisdom with modern neuroscience. The app, already available in 17 languages, aims to spark inner peace, restore personal energy, and empower users to take charge of their emotional wellbeing.

Sarah, Duchess of York, a prominent and compassionate member of the British Royal Family, embodies the modern royal: authentic, empathetic, and unafraid to break convention. Yet fate had its own plans. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing surgery, she later discovered a second diagnosis—skin cancer. Though her treatments have progressed well, she candidly reveals how these challenges tested her spirit.

“Since discovering I had both breast and skin cancer, every moment has been different. Looking at a dark spot on my hand in the mirror, I sometimes wonder, ‘Is this another sign of skin cancer?’” she shares. “I had to make the conscious decision to pull myself out of the emotional spiral—a kind of ‘rabbit hole’ like Alice in Wonderland.”

“But even now, despite being medically clear, the emotional weight still lingers. When we break an arm, we know to wear a cast. But when we break a heart, we often ignore it because we can’t see the wound. Zoul has been my sanctuary, helping me find silence and clarity—an escape from that emotional black hole we all carry within us. As Freud once said, ‘There must be light within the darkness,’ and Zoul helps us find it.”

She continues, “Zoul is not just therapeutic for me. It’s an incredible tool for emotional resilience and even physical healing.”

Destiny’s Hand in a Life-Changing Encounter

“I met Dr. DDnard completely by chance,” recalls the Duchess. Referring to her by the affectionate nickname “Dr. DDnard,” she continues, “Her dog walked up to me, and I began to play with it. Then Dr. DDnard came over to greet me. That’s how we started talking—and eventually, we became partners.”

After the death of her husband left her in financial turmoil, Dr. DDnard Napattalung turned to ancient wisdom and meditation to rebuild her life. Her spiritual awakening led her to teach meditation to thousands and, more recently, to create Zoul—an app that integrates mindfulness, neuroscience, and subconscious reprogramming to help people manage stress and improve their lives.

“From day one, I envisioned Zoul being acknowledged by global leaders,” Dr. DDnard says. “After years of hard work, I told my team, ‘Today, let’s shut our laptops and go out for pizza.’ As we sat down, my dog ran up to a woman—who turned out to be the Duchess of York! We all knelt and paid our respects. I told her, ‘We’re your fans.’”

“She deeply values spirituality and is driven to bring joy to others. When Thailand proposed that the United Nations recognize the birthday of Phra Ajaan Mun Bhuridatta as a global mindfulness day, she announced during a livestream, ‘It’s the 150th anniversary of Phra Ajaan Mun—let’s meditate together!’ Her wisdom was so moving, it felt like she was a lifelong Buddhist.”

From Three Days to Two Years

Dr. DDnard withdrew from public life for two years to meditate in silence. “Originally, I told my friends I’d be meditating for just three days,” she laughs. “But three days became two years. After emerging from retreat in February 2024, I planned to vacation in France and stop in London for four days. It’s now been over a year.”

She continues, “Sometimes, life calls us to do something more meaningful. It may not be what we expected, but it’s what we’re meant to do.”

Dr. DDnard reflects on the growing crisis of cyberbullying, emotional suffering, and suicide worldwide. “People are often only mourned after they’re gone. While alive, they’re invisible. We need a higher self that reminds us we’re protected, that even difficult events are not punishments but opportunities to grow.”

She adds, “The Duchess and I wanted to offer a healing voice to the world. We stream live every month—free of charge—to comfort and answer people’s questions because professional mental health care is expensive and inaccessible for many.”

“Zoul offers content for women going through divorce, co-parenting, menopause, mood swings, debt, or mental blocks. These issues can be addressed through psychology and neuroscience to retrain the subconscious mind.”

Zoul: A Passion Investment

Now available for a little over a year, Zoul has become a vital part of Dr. DDnard’s daily life. “I listen to Zoul all day and night—while driving, sleeping, cleaning—so that my subconscious absorbs positive affirmations. Gratitude amplifies everything.”

The Duchess adds that Zoul has the potential to become the world’s leading mental wellness app, strengthening emotional resilience and providing life-saving tools through meditation.

Beyond her spiritual guidance, Dr. DDnard is also an accomplished investor. Speaking about Zoul’s annual fee of just 999 baht (approximately $30), she explains:

“Many people may not know that I’ve invested in digital banks, payment gateways, health tech, and sectors that uplift human wellbeing. But Zoul is different—it's a passion investment. The financial return is minimal, yet I keep going because I truly love what I do.”

https://www.th-hellomagazine.com/celebrity/exclusive-interviews/dr-dd-zoul/