In episode 166 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with journalist and author Matt Dickinson. Matt is currently senior sports writer at The Times and is the author of two books: ‘Bobby Moore – The Man in Full’ and ‘Manchester United, The Treble and All That’. Matt has worked for The Times for 25 years but when he hit 45 years old, he realised that he had been living life at such a fast-pace in the proverbial rat race of London that in his words, he didn’t have a clue who he was. So, h...
Jan 18, 2023•57 min
In episode 165 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked back in with journalist and author James Bloodworth. During the Covid-19 pandemic, James returned to his home county of Cornwall to live with and support his Gran. James saw this as repaying a childhood debt after she helped raise him for much of his adolescence. Unfortunately, James’s Gran passed away in 2022 and the impact the grief had on him was immense and made him question his path in life, the choices he’s made and affected his re...
Jan 14, 2023•52 min
In episode 164 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Antoine Brimbal. Antoine is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of The Modern Insurgent, which is a grass-roots independent media organisation which specialises solely on insurgencies, rebellions and political movements from around the globe. Antoine set up the project in the summer of 2022 and he is currently still a university student studying a degree in International Relations and Politics. The spark for Antoine starting The Mode...
Jan 07, 2023•1 hr 17 min
In this episode of our Mind On The Game series, we checked in with Alex Kihurani. Alex is a co-driver in the World Rally Championships (WRC) who currently competes in a Citroen car for the Sainteloc team and has been competing for 20 seasons. Alex started competing as a co-driver when he was just 16 years old and debuted in the WRC when he was 25 years old. Alex combines his job as a co-driver with a role in finance and data analytics. In this episode we discuss his journey into motorsport, from...
Jan 04, 2023•2 hr 30 min
In this episode of our Reel Stories series, we checked in with Joseph Kundi. Joseph is a director, producer and co-founder of production company 3 Minds Media. Joseph is also the director and producer of GDF Diaries, which friend of the pod Jackie Kibanza hosts on her platform La Grâce de Françoise. In this episode we discuss how he found his self-worth to feel confident charging fees for clients after he started his production company and a severe ankle injury he went through in his late adoles...
Dec 30, 2022•59 min
In episode 163 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Shaun Flores. Shaun Flores a podcaster, presenter and mental health advocate. He is the host of ‘The Flower Hour’ where he talks to people from all backgrounds about their journey through life. In this episode we discuss Shaun’s lived experience of OCD and his diagnosis in April 2022, particularly ‘Pure-O’ which is a severe form of the neurological condition and how it manifests itself in his thoughts and his day-to-day life. 2022...
Dec 23, 2022•1 hr 15 min
In episode 162 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with journalist Thomas Mackintosh. Thomas currently works for BBC London and fronted the recently published documentary ‘Who Stole Tamara Ecclestone’s Diamonds?’, which focused on the diamond heist of the home of daughter of former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, Tamara Ecclestone and who was behind it. In this episode we discuss how Thomas broke into the journalism industry and the barriers he had to overcome, the stress that com...
Dec 16, 2022•58 min
In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with Alex Shaw from New Car Smell. In Part 2 of his journey, we discussed the latest updates with NCS, his new venture, Sax And The City and music burnout he experienced from doing a huge amount of live shows in the aftermath of Covid-19. For Alex's mental health, we dive back into his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) diagnosis and the greater levels of self-awareness and exploration he's had around it, male gender stereotype no...
Dec 10, 2022•1 hr 7 min
In episode 162 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Justin Peach. Justin is the co-founder of the Second Tier Podcast, the self-described biggest podcast dedicated to Championship football, the second tier in the English Football League (EFL). Justin also writes for Football League World for the Championship section of their website. In this episode we discuss how and why he started Second Tier and the inspiration behind it, the snobbery he’s faced from certain elements of the onli...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 1 min
In episode 160 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with journalist Christian Hewgill. Christian is currently freelance and working for outlets including LBC and TalkSport. Prior to going freelance, Christian worked at BBC Radio 1’s Newsbeat where he worked as a Reporter and Presenter for five years. Before he got his big break at Radio 1, Christian cut his teeth working for a variety of outlets including BBC Radio Leicester in his hometown, Notts TV and Orion Media. In this episode we ...
Dec 02, 2022•1 hr 9 min
In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked in with Australian artist jnr. Ben has been making music since 2018/2019. During the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 he started learning how to produce for himself and is now venturing out into making more records and doing live shows in Sydney to build his profile. In this episode we chart his music journey, from learning the piano at eight years old with his grandma to playing in indie-rock bands in secondary school and to making pop music tod...
Nov 25, 2022•1 hr
In episode 159 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with writer Ben Sixsmith. Ben currently works as the contributing editor at The Critic Magazine. He is also founder of his Substack 'The Zone'. In this episode we discuss how he got into fell into writing through writing for outlets like Quillette and Areo Magazines respectively before he got work with outlets like The American Conservative and The Spectator. We explore some of the articles he’s written on topics including male stoicis...
Nov 22, 2022•53 min
In episode 158 of The Just Checking In Podcast our Founder Freddie Cocker reflected on how far we've come as a platform as we celebrated our fifth anniversary in September 2022. Freddie talks about the early days of Vent and setting up the website, how the idea for the JCIP began, the plethora of mental health issues we've covered on it in the 3.5 years its been going and how the podcast led to the creation of Just Checking In Live too. Freddie also describes the personal impact that doing Vent ...
Nov 13, 2022•20 min
In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with UK psychedelic-rock band, Beach For Tiger. In part 2 we checked in with Mick Anderson, who plays drums in the band as well as percussion in Rayowa. In this episode we discussed how Mick started Beach For Tiger with his brother Pete and how both of them became part of Rayowa. We talk about the influence of TikTok on songwriting in the music industry and how Mick was able to thrive in school whilst balancing his love of music wi...
Nov 06, 2022•1 hr 17 min
In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with UK rock band, Cavalcade. In JCIP #25 we checked in with guitarist Jack Campbell, this time we checked in with Jack and lead singer Connor. In this episode we discuss Connor’s music journey and how he got involved in the band, what they’ve been up to and their plans for the future. We also talk about a period of depression Connor went through at university and how he’s been exposed to mental health difficulties in supporting Ja...
Oct 25, 2022•1 hr 13 min
In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked in with singer/songwriter Greta Lovisa. Greta was born in Germany to Swedish-German parents and moved to London to study music for her degree and pursue her dreams of being an artist before Covid-19 hit and she took stock of her journey and dropped out of university. She will be going back next year to finish her degree. In this episode we chart her musical journey from Germany to the UK, transitioning from singing in German to English and...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr 7 min
In episode 157 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Lewis Baxter. Lewis is the founder of Hullo, which aims to give anyone and everyone access to conversation. Hullo provides a free call line that is open 9am to 9pm every day of the year and exists to unlock the power of conversation and create an inclusive, safe and non-judgmental space for people to chat and connect with others. Lewis is also the Chief Operating Officer of Kurogo, a branding agency which helps the most exciting C...
Oct 08, 2022•1 hr 11 min
In this episode of Behind The Mic, we checked in with sound engineer, mixer and writer, Rory Aitken. Rory studied first at the University of Portsmouth before landing a place on a course at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London where he has now graduated from. It’s accurate to say that music probably saved his life. In this episode we discuss the power of music, self-awareness, learning from mistakes and how Rory evolved his musical taste as he got older. For Rory's mental health we disc...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr
In episode 156 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with conflict journalist and Founder of Popular Front, Jake Hanrahan. Since we last spoke, Jake has been busy covering more underreported conflicts across the globe, particularly in Ukraine in its war against Russia, French-controlled Corsica, the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Karabakh region and the continued rise of illegal 3D printed guns across Europe. In this episode we do a deep dive on his latest film ‘Frontline...
Sep 30, 2022•1 hr 8 min
In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked in with artist, producer and sound engineer Tobiah Frei. Tobi started his music journey being inspired by music icons like The Weeknd, particularly his seminal album ‘House of Balloons’. He then developed a desire to craft his own sound as an artist and ventured out into Afro-beats inspired sounds. In this episode we discuss that music journey and why he made that move from more traditional US R&B to African-influenced music, stage anxiety...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 19 min
In episode 155 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Gordon Buchanan. Gordon Buchanan is a Scottish wildlife photographer and filmmaker who has made documentaries for over 20 years. Gordon has made a number of wonderful, intense and thrilling films including: ‘Big Cat Diary’, ‘Lost Land of the Volcano’, ‘The Bear Family & Me’, ‘The Polar Bear Family & Me’, ‘Lost Land of The Tiger’, ‘Lost Land of The Jaguar’, ‘Leopard in the City’ and ‘Tribes, Predators and Me’. In this episode we di...
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 2 min
In episode 154 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with George Hodgson. George is the Founder of mental health fashion platform Maison de Choup. George founded Maison de Choup in 2017 and was set up to not only share his story of suffering but also encourage others to share their story, breaking down the stigma of suffering from poor mental health. In this episode we discuss how and why he started the brand, what he wanted to achieve with it and the impact that Covid-19 had on the bran...
Sep 03, 2022•42 min
In episode 153 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Sarah Lee. Sarah is a journalist, writer and sub-editor who currently works for BBC London. Sarah wrote an article for the BBC News website about her experience of having stage three malignant melanoma in January 2022, which is the most serious form of skin cancer. Sarah had developed a pea-sized black mole on the top of her scalp and after five months and three different doctors failing to recognise its risk, Sarah was finally di...
Aug 27, 2022•1 hr 7 min
In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with JCIP #19 guest and headliner for JCIL #4, AMiR. In part two of AMiR's journey, we discuss the impact that Covid-19 had on his career both financially and mentally as he was unable to do any live shows and had to build the momentum he had generated back up as we came out of lockdown. We discuss his move to take up boxing coaching to make ends meet and why the lockdown made him confront the mental health issues he hadn't address...
Aug 24, 2022•48 min
In episode 152 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jackie Kibanza. Jackie is the Founder of La Grâce de Françoise, a platform which aims to bring awareness to and give a voice to male and female survivors of sexual abuse and domestic abuse. Jackie was born originally to immigrant Congolese parents but tragically her mother died when she was a baby and she was fostered by a Dutch family in Holland where she lived until she was 11 years old. After discussions with her foster family,...
Aug 21, 2022•1 hr 8 min
In episode 151 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with photojournalist Hugh Kinsella-Cunningham. He has covered conflict, health and social issues for The Sunday Times Magazine, The Guardian and National Geographic. He works on assignment for organisations including Save the Children and the United Nations and his work has been recognised by Amnesty International and the Sony World Photography awards. Hugh currently works in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a country which has ...
Aug 17, 2022•47 min
In episode 150 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we took it back to where it all began by checking back in with JCIP #1 guest, poet and mental health advocate, Tim Fletcher. In Part 2 of Tim's journey, we reflect on the first episode and how far he has come, how far our Founder Freddie Cocker has come and how Vent has grown alongside his mental health recovery. We delve into why the current political climate, specifically the cost of living crisis and climate change have caused Tim mental health ...
Aug 12, 2022•50 min
In episode 149 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with William Jones-Warner. Will is is an immunologist and photographer currently living in London. Will’s photography focuses largely on nature, wildlife and travel. He has produced images for a number of large outdoor brands such as Arc’teryx UK, Sun God and Lindewerdelin and done collaborations with athletes in the outdoor sphere. He is currently working on a special personal project where he is capturing his loved ones and close fri...
Aug 06, 2022•59 min
In episode 148 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Dulcie Jones. Dulcie currently works as a support time recovery worker in the NHS. Dulcie always had an ambition to become a therapist and during the first Covid-19 lockdown, she felt the urge to pursue this dream fully and left her previous job as a casting director in the arts industry. Dulcie’s day-to-day now involves supporting clients with severe mental health challenges or conditions to reintegrate into society, stop them fe...
Aug 05, 2022•41 min
In episode 147 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with sports journalist Oli Fisher. Oli is the Co-Owner and Editor-in-Chief of SempreMilan, a football platform dedicated to providing the best news, features and match English-language coverage of Serie A football team AC Milan. The platform formed in January 2016 and in this episode we discuss how Oli broke into sports journalism, founding SempreMilan alongside his co-founders Gianmario and Isak, turning it into his career and the imp...
Aug 02, 2022•1 hr 24 min
