In episode 118 we checked in with academic Sophie Marsh. Sophie is an Associate Lecturer in Criminology & Law. She did a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Criminology and Law at the University of the West of England and graduated with First Class Honours in the summer of 2019. She is currently doing her PhD on the attrition of rape and the effects of rape myth acceptance and is also the founder of Soph Talks, a platform which discusses issues including criminal justice, human rights, mental healt...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 12 min
In episode 117 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Claire Graham. Claire Graham is the Public Engagement Consultant for the charity DSD Families. DSD Families is an information and peer support charity for families. They work together with families and their children, teens and young adults and healthcare providers in the UK to raise happy, healthy, confident and well-informed young people who can speak up for the support they need. Every year in the UK, approximately 150 childre...
Feb 11, 2022•56 min
In episode 116 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Lesley Roberts. Lesley is a mother and author of ‘A is for Alex’, which documents her journey of grief and losing her eldest son Alex to suicide. Alex took his own life when he was 23 years old, two years after he was circumcised aged 21. Clinicians advised him to do this to treat a medical condition he had called phimosis. Alex’s suicide shattered Lesley’s life and the lives of her other children. She wrote this book as a way of...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 23 min
In episode 115 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jerry Barnett. Jerry has held many careers throughout his life and happened to be a software developer at the time of the Internet being created. Jerry is the author of 'Porn Panic: Sex and Censorship in the UK', which charts the history of censorship in the porn industry. Jerry argues that this censorship of porn is widespread and is having a negative impact on society. In this episode we discuss the historical context of censors...
Jan 29, 2022•55 min
In episode 114 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Dr Karenza Moore. Karenza is a Lecturer in Sociology of Crime at Newcastle University and the Founder of Club Research. Club Research is the home of Karenza’s academic research on the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, novel psychoactive substances (NPS), drug policy, the night-time economy (NTE) and dance music club cultures and drug research methods and ethics. Karenza has been researching and writing about drugs for 18 years. Her ...
Jan 22, 2022•1 hr 25 min
In this episode of Mind On The Game we checked in with Ben Bloomfield. Ben was university flat-mates with friend of the pod James Lamb and plays in Sunday League team and former Vent sponsors Mabley Mavericks. In this episode we discuss Ben’s football journey, the brief 5 minutes of fame his university halls team experienced when they were sponsored by PornHub, camaraderie and how football allowed him to survive and thrive in school. We also discuss the work burnout he experienced from 2019, why...
Jan 19, 2022•58 min
In episode 113 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Alex Roberts. Alex is the sibling of a close friend of our Founder Freddie Cocker, Aimee Roberts. Freddie met Aimee through his best mate and friend of the pod James Lamb. Aimee has supported Alex’s mental health for a few years and Alex is a testament to the idea that recovery from trauma is possible and you can, with the right support, treatment and good people around you, overcome the difficulties you are going through in life...
Jan 14, 2022•46 min
In episode 112 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Mars. Mars is a a YouTuber, commentator and trans man. Mars’s YouTube channel is called ‘upperhandMars’. He has interviewed a range of people including trans and detransitioners on his channel. He is also the host of ‘The Mars Show Podcast’. In this episode we discuss how his gender dysphoria began and his transition, how testosterone affected his physical health and why he decided to come off it in 2021. We explore the conversat...
Jan 07, 2022•1 hr 18 min
In part 2 of Deborah Powney's JCIP, we talk about the academic research Deborah has done around partner abuse and domestic violence. We talk about the myths currently present in the conversation, why Deborah pushes back against the concept of 'gender-based violence', how male victim-survivors are abused by female perpetrators and the massive stigma they face in reporting it. We also discuss recent case studies in the media spotlight involving females murdering male partners or in some cases chil...
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr 7 min
In episode 111 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Deborah Powney. Deborah is a Final Year PHD Candidate in Psychology and is a mature academic researcher and research psychologist specialising in impact and recovery in male and female victims of partner abuse and coercive control. In Part 1 of Deborah's episode, we talk about her experience of being domestically abused by her first husband over a five and a half year period. We discuss how she was abused and her husband's narcis...
Jan 02, 2022•1 hr 22 min
In episode 110 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Ria Wolstenholme. Ria is a former journalist and the co-host of the 'No Worries If Not' podcast, a podcast for the 'anxiously ambitious'. In this episode we discuss her journalism journey, being chucked in at the deep end in her university degree and how that toughened her up and cemented her desire to pursue it as a career. We talk about dealing with rejection, access in journalism and the London-centric privilege that exists. W...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 14 min
In episode 109 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Shreya Shah. Shreya is the host of the 'In All Fearness' podcast. Shreya has conversations with guests on modern day millennial dilemmas, facing their fears and being okay with not being okay. In this episode we discuss how the podcast started, social media comparison culture and how the podcast has made her reflect on her own mental health state. We also talk about Shreya’s battle with her racial heritage and how it relates to he...
Dec 23, 2021•1 hr 23 min
In episode 108 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Sarah Essoof. Sarah Essoof is a Business Development Manager for Timeline Television and has worked in the media industry for over 12 years. In this episode we talk about Sarah’s journey into media, work-life balance and the competitive nature of the industry. We discuss Sarah’s experiences travelling to Australia, New Zealand and the USA, how that has shaped her life and the friends she has made along the way. We also talk about ...
Dec 19, 2021•2 hr 34 min
In episode 107 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Claire Donegan. Claire is a recovering female gambling addict and is now a gambling addiction recovery coach, where she helps those who are currently experiencing problem gambling and those in recovery as well. In this episode we talk about how Claire became addicted to gambling and how it surrounded her during her early life and childhood, how it consumed her life and how she struggled to balance the addiction with being a young...
Dec 16, 2021•43 min
In episode 106 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Tim Verity. Tim is a former journalist and currently works in marketing. In this episode we talk about Tim’s journey into both these fields, work-life balance and the traumatic experience he had with one former employer in journalism. We also discuss his experiences of being sexually abused as a child by an extended family member. We explore the effect that had on him as a teenager and an adult and how he now came to be a public ...
Dec 05, 2021•1 hr 20 min
In episode 105 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with presenter and journalist De-Graft Mensah. De-Graft is currently one of the presenters on CBBC's Newsround and the co-host of the BBC Sounds podcast 'If You Don't Know'. In this episode we discuss how he broke into journalism and got the job at Newsround, stepping into the shoes of previous presenter Lizo Mzimba, self-doubt and a mental health 'blip' he went through. We also discuss grief and the impact that losing his uncle to Cov...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 25 min
In episode 104 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with psychotherapist Jason Hanson. Jason is the author of the book 'Domestic Abuse: Men Suffer Too'. We talk about Jason’s journey from teaching to therapy and how he’s carved out his dream career through hard work, perseverance and having an important support network. We do a deep dive into the book and find out about the stories behind male domestic abuse victim-survivors, the different forms of abuse they experience and why the sta...
Nov 21, 2021•2 hr 48 min
In episode 103 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with the other half of the Goals Don't Move Podcast, Phil Addison. Phil is the co-founder of the podcast along with best friend of our Founder Freddie Cocker and special guest on JCIP #50, James Lamb. James and Phil met whilst they were both studying at The University of South Carolina. In this episode we discuss how the pair met, their relationship and how the podcast has strengthened Phil's presentation skills in the workplace. We a...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 7 min
In episode 102 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with journalist and New York Times bestselling author Kat Rosenfield. Kat is a culture writer and one half of the Feminist Chaos Podcast. She is the co-author of Stan Lee's 'Alliances' and the author of the recently published novel 'No One Will Miss Her'. In this episode we discuss how Kat got into journalism, people using mental health trauma as currency, #MeToo and a deep dive into an article she wrote for Newsweek about flirting thr...
Nov 06, 2021•55 min
In episode 101 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Charlie Livings. Charlie is a long-time friend of our Founder Freddie Cocker. Freddie and Charlie met at a Kids in Glass Houses gig with previous JCIP guest Jay Fisher. After that gig, every year, they have met up and seen one of their favourite bands, You Me At Six. Charlie lives in Brighton and works as an accountant. In this episode we discuss Charlie’s sexuality and her coming out story as a lesbian woman. We talk about the g...
Oct 29, 2021•32 min
For the landmark 100th episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, our Founder Freddie Cocker got together some of the boys in his social group to talk about mental health and growing up together. Previous JCIP guests Alex Bartlett, James Lamb made their return, with Alex Hensman joining in the conversation on debut. James and Alex Bartlett reflected on their podcast episodes, the reaction to them and what they've learned following their release. Alex Hensman talked about supporting a close friend ...
Oct 23, 2021•2 hr 52 min
In the ninety-ninth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Debbie Hayton. Debbie is a teacher, writer and commentator. She has written for outlets including UnHerd and The Spectator. Debbie is also a transsexual woman. In this episode we talk about her teaching journey, her proudest moments and the positivity that helping students has on her mental health. We talk about Debbie's transition and her journey from her former name David to Debbie, the gender dysphoria she experien...
Oct 20, 2021•1 hr 19 min
In this episode of Behind The Mic, we checked in with Harry and Tom aka The Night Society. The Night Society are a dance floor indie-pop duo based in Guildford, UK. Drawing inspiration from their indie heroes such as The Wombats and Bombay Bicycle Club, they make unashamedly crystalline 80s dance-floor indie. Since the release of their debut single in March last year, The Night Society have racked up over 400K streams and gained extensive support from BBC Introducing, with BBC Intro Norfolk nami...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 11 min
In the ninety-eighth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Sinéad Watson. Sinéad is a detransitioned woman who has spoken openly about her journey from transition to detransition. In this episode we discuss the sexual abuse Sinéad experienced as a child, teenager and young adult and how she says this created her gender dysphoria and fuelled her desire to live as a trans man. We discuss the double mastectomy she underwent aged 26, how being on testosterone affected her menta...
Oct 04, 2021•1 hr 20 min
In the ninety-seventh episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with freelance illustrator and designer Peter O'Toole. Pete has worked with clients including Adidas, Mundial Magazine, Nike, Scotts Menswear, The Telegraph, Men’s Health USA and Huddersfield Town Football Club. In this episode we discuss how Pete became an illustrator and designer, class in the industry, self-doubt, comparison culture and the precarious nature of being a freelancer. We also discuss burnout, Pete’s expe...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 23 min
In the ninety-sixth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with author Fiona Scarlett. Fiona recently published her first novel 'Boys Don't Cry' which we dive into in this episode. We discuss the themes it explores including masculinity, grief, brotherhood and fatherhood. Fiona also works full-time as a teacher. We discuss her teaching journey, the impact that social media has had on the mental health of boys and girls in Gen-Z (including her own children) and the impact that losi...
Sep 19, 2021•1 hr 25 min
In the ninety-fifth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Naama Kates. Naama is a film-maker, writer, musician and the Founder of The Incel Project. The Incel Project is a podcast takes a deep dive into the involuntary celibate community. We talk about Naama's writing journey, the challenges she faced as an actor and why she chose to cover a topic like incels and incel culture. We also discuss the struggles she faced fitting in at school as a child and teenager, loneliness,...
Sep 14, 2021•1 hr 14 min
In the ninety-fourth episode of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Figen Murray. Figen is a former psychotherapist, life coach and author of the book ‘Bears Have Issues Too’. Figen worked as a counsellor for over 23 years and offered clinical supervision to other counsellors as well. She is the mother of five children but on 22nd May 2017, her life changed forever. One of her children, Martyn attended a concert by Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena. Little did Martyn know that a ...
Sep 01, 2021•2 hr 34 min
In the ninety-third episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Mark Wyatt. Mark works as a Fitness Manager and Senior Personal Trainer for Nuffield Health. In this episode we discuss Mark’s journey into fitness, his transition from aspiring teacher to personal trainer, the social status culture that exists in some personal trainer circles and the relationship between physical health and mental health. We also discuss the mental health difficulties Mark has had in some relationsh...
Aug 26, 2021•2 hr 40 min
In the ninety-second episode of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Patricia Faulks. Trish is the Founder of 'Just Me & Lilley', which is a platform she uses to talk about her lived experience of being involuntarily childless. In this episode we talk about Patricia's issues with conceiving children in her early-20s with her first husband, perfectionism and all of the social stigmas associated with living without children as a woman. We also talk about the massive positivity that her...
Aug 22, 2021•1 hr 6 min
