In episode 254 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Tom Bradley. Tom is a photojournalist, artist and the Founder of the project ‘Leprosy Eliminated?’. In this project, he has taken pictures of people living with leprosy across the globe for the last 15 years. It includes people in 12 countries including Togo, Nigeria, Brazil, Bangladesh and India. Until 2022, a country was declared eliminated of leprosy if fewer than 1 in 10,000 people have it - yet in somewhere like India, where ...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 10 min
In episode 253 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Dr Ashley Frawley. Ashley is currently Visiting Researcher in the Centre for Parenting Culture Studies at the University of Kent, as well as Visiting Research Fellow at the MCC Brussels in Belgium. She was also previously Associate Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at Swansea University until 2023. She is the author of Semiotics of Happiness: rhetorical beginnings of a public problem published by Bloomsbury in 2015 and the ...
Aug 10, 2024•2 hr 40 min
In episode 252 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jide Ehizele. Jide was born and raised in Lewisham in south-east London and acts a leader and mentor at his church, St Peter's Church in his local community of Brockley, where he still resides today. He also has a Substack where he writes about issues related to class, race, countering identity politics and faith. In this episode we focus on three events which shaped Jide’s life. The first was a dream he had when he was just four ...
Aug 02, 2024•2 hr 59 min
In episode 251 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Lauren Seager-Smith. Lauren is the is the CEO of the For Baby’s Sake Trust (FBS), a charity which empower parents to break cycles of abuse, transform the life-chances of whole families and move forward in positive change, starting with the baby. The baby is at the heart of everything they do. The Trust was set up philanthropically by philanthropist Stelio Stefanou. His founding vision was to tackle the root causes of disadvantage ...
Jul 26, 2024•1 hr 12 min
In episode 250 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with Connor Smart. Connor currently works in emergency planning and lives in a rural part of the Midlands with his fiancé and now, young son. Connor and our Founder Freddie used to work together as interns at a think-tank in 2016 and Connor's first piece of Vent content was an article he wrote in November 2017. He then came on the podcast alongside his twin brother Lewis in JCIP #130 and once more in JCIP #144 where he interviewed...
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 4 min
In episode 249 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Charlie Bethel. Charlie is currently the CEO of the UK Men's Sheds Association (UKMSA). The concept of the Men’s Shed started in Australia in around 1999. It then spread to New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, Canada and, more recently, Europe and the USA. At time of recording, there are a total of 1180 Sheds across the UK. Men’s Sheds (or Sheds) are similar to garden sheds, in that they are a place to pursue practical interests at leisu...
Jul 12, 2024•49 min
In this episode of Reel Stories, we checked in with Laoise Toye. Laoise works in television and media and is the host of her own podcast 'Laoise Online'. In this episode we discuss: Laoise’s journey into television, from working with a Belfast production company called Stellify to where she is now, her love of theatre and musical theatre and how watching Eurovision for the first time as a child inspired her to want to work in the glamorous world of entertainment. For industry issues, we discuss ...
Jul 04, 2024•55 min
In episode 248 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Nick Gazzard. Nick is the CEO of the Hollie Gazzard Trust (HGT). The Trust was set up by him after the murder of his daughter Hollie, by an ex-boyfriend when she was just 20 years old. After that moment, Nick set up the Trust to try and stop what happened to Hollie from happening to anyone else ever again. The Trust helps reduce domestic abuse through creating and delivering programmes on domestic abuse and promoting healthy relat...
Jun 28, 2024•1 hr 26 min
In episode 247 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with a man called Sean. Sean works for the PSSD Network, which is an organisation based in Australia, made up of people who suffer from a condition called Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD). PSSD describes a debilitating condition which a subset of people live with and follows the use of SSRI and SNRI medication. A condition like this is an example of something called iatrogenic harm i.e. medical harm induced unintentionally by a phys...
Jun 21, 2024•58 min
This is Part 2 of our check in with Koggno Founder Kirsty Martin. In this episode we discuss some elements of exclusionary behaviour she experienced whilst at boarding school and some other traumatic events which we discuss in-depth in the podcast. Kirsty then went to university in Edinburgh where, perhaps as a statement of the university system around class, was surrounded with other people from boarding school educations again. She then started dating a boy which became toxic quite quickly. It...
Jun 19, 2024•1 hr 20 min
In episode 246 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Kirsty Martin. Kirsty is the Founder of Koggno, a platform which shares, navigates and explore psychology, mental health & well-being from different perspectives and approaches. Through Koggno, Kirsty has also gone back to university and has recently completed a Masters in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health. In Part 1 of Kirsty’s journey, we discuss: the journey of Koggno, how she adjusted to being a public speaker and p...
Jun 14, 2024•47 min
In this episode of Behind The Mic we checked in with drummer Michael Bivona. Biv currently is a session drummer for solo artist stayMellow and previously played drums for UK pop-punk band, Goldbloom. In this episode we discuss: his music journey, how he got into drumming, joining Goldbloom in 2019, his decision to leave the band in 2024, the band eventually splitting up and the stress of social media. For Biv's mental health, we discuss his diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in his mid-20s, how i...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 21 min
In episode 245 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with David Cooper. David is an artist who specialises in producing art from the world’s longest running TV show, The Simpsons, with prints taken from iconic scenes and his favourite characters. In this episode we discuss: his love of the show and how he got into drawing, painting and creating, which members of the Simpsons cast he most enjoys drawing, work-life balance and the positive fact that he’s never had artist block! For David’s...
Jun 09, 2024•47 min
In episode 244 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Luke Loughlin. Luke is the Co-Founder of Men United, a platform which seeks to empower men to reclaim control of their wellbeing by nurturing their mind, body, and soul. The platform was set up by its Founder Troy Colmer, who then befriended Luke and asked him to come on board. Troy set up the platform when a friend of his disclosed his mental health story to him and he saw the power of that conversation and wanted to provide that...
May 31, 2024•2 hr 44 min
In this episode of Mind On The Game, we checked back in with World Rally Championship co-driver Alex Kihurani. We first checked back in with Alex in April 2023 and a lot has happened in Alex’s life since then. Alex’s daughter was born three months premature and has had health complications throughout 2023, which has been challenging for Alex. his wife and their wider family. Then, on 19th August 2023, Alex received a phone call in from his mum in the middle of the night whilst competing in a Eur...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 6 min
In episode 243 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Melanie Bradley. Mel is the Founder of ‘Men Against Mountains’ (MAM), a platform and men’s mental health hub which aims to build connections, share men’s stories and allow them to be listened to, heard and feel understood. Every Sunday, Mel hosts a ‘Sunday Summit Session’ with a different man to share their story. In this episode we discuss: how and why Mel came to start MAM, why we need to adopt a ‘one-size-fits-one’ approach to ...
May 24, 2024•2 hr 38 min
In episode 242 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Christopher Waller. Chris is the Founder of ‘We Power On’, which aims to improve men's lives through the power of walking, talking and connection. Every Sunday, Chris runs a walk and talk group in Epsom in Surrey for men from all walks of life to join and get whatever they are struggling with off their chest. Chris started the group in September 2022 following his own struggles with his mental health which came when he was signed ...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 27 min
In this episode of Behind The Decks, we checked back in with Australian producer and DJ, Harry Hayes. In Part 1 we discussed comparison culture, imposter syndrome and how he felt he was in a state of 'music purgatory' in the industry. In the 10 months since we checked in, Harry has gone from strength to strength, musically and personally. He has put out four singles, including one with friend of the pod Lily Ward, released his debut EP Zephyr in February 2024, signed with a record label and perf...
May 15, 2024•36 min
In episode 241 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Russell Payne. Russ is a qualified painter and decorator and the Founder of 'The Talking Tradesman' (TTT) podcast. TTT aims to entertain, connect and raise mental health awareness for tradespeople throughout the UK. Russ set up the podcast in November 2023 where he interviews tradesman from across the sector about their mental health journeys, as well as non-tradesman from all walks of life who can provide valuable insight for his...
May 10, 2024•2 hr 52 min
In episode 240 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Amelia Wrighton. Amelia is the co-founder of mental health charity, Suicide & Co, a charity which supports those bereaved by suicide. Amelia started Suicide & Co with her friend Emma Morrisoe, who she met whilst working in her media and marketing career and she discovered they had both lost parents to suicide. Amelia lost her mother when she was just 19 years old and it hugely impacted her mental health and even caused her to have...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 28 min
In episode 239 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Gary Hayes. Gary is the Co-Founder and CEO of PTSD999, which is a charity that was set up in 2015 to support those in the emergency services, and their families, living with Post Traumatic Stress. Gary lives with Complex PTSD himself and was undiagnosed for many years when he worked in the British Transport Police (BTP) as a Police Officer. Gary’s journey began when he joined the Army in the mid-1980s and spent many years in non-a...
Apr 26, 2024•2 hr 20 min
In episode 238 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked back in with previous guests Claudia Van-Nimwegen and Tobiah Frei for a special episode. Claudia is a a teacher, photographer and creative. Tobiah Frei is an artist and sound engineer. They both met each other through the London church, Liberty London. In this episode we discuss their friendship, faith, creative commonalities and how our Founder Freddie and Tobi supported Claudia through a very serious mental health crisis she had in Dec...
Apr 19, 2024•2 hr 32 min
In episode 237 of The Just Checking In Podcast, we checked in with Jordan Nimmo. Jordan is the Founder of men's mental health platform, 'Men Behind The Masc' (MBTM), which he started in 2018. MBTM aims to promote positive mental health in men and change the conversation around men’s mental health more generally. Jordan became a father aged 19 years old with his childhood sweetheart Ashley and went onto have three children together. Two years ago, Jordan lost his grandfather, who was a father fig...
Apr 12, 2024•2 hr 39 min
In episode 236 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Oliver Tennant. Ollie is an actor and the Founder of Run4Hope, a campaign he has created where he is running 12 marathons in 12 months to raise money for men's mental health charity, James’ Place UK. In this episode we discuss how and why he started Run4Hope and his fitness journey into getting ready for the marathons. We then explore how his skills as an actor have helped him promote the campaign and why he allowed other runners ...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr
In episode 235 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Diane Porterfield. Diane is a menopause Nurse Practitioner, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) prescriber and the Founder of Bourne2Care. Bourne2Care is Diane's own private consulting practice, where she sees female clients struggling with the menopause and she can prescribe HRT as a course of treatment, where appropriate. Diane has gone through the menopause and takes HRT herself. Diane's expert knowledge spans a 30 year nursing c...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 8 min
In episode 234 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Jonathan Lee. Jon is currently a Creative Director at an advertising agency and the Founder of mental health initiative The Life Jacket (TLJ). After Jon’s friend Alex took his own life in 2023, he wanted to create a new suicide prevention tool that would have intervened in the period building up to Alex’s death. Jon tragically discovered Alex had been researching suicide methods online for a year prior to when he did it. Jon then ...
Mar 24, 2024•50 min
In episode 233 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with academic Dr Susie Bennett. Susie currently studies at the Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab (SBRL) at the University of Glasgow, researching male suicide. We came across Susie through friend of the pod George from TheTinMen and for her PHD dissertation, she conducted one of the largest studies of suicidal men ever done. She interviewed 32 men who had either attempted to take their own life or had suicidal thoughts and also heard fro...
Mar 20, 2024•2 hr 46 min
In this episode of Behind The Mic we checked back in with UK band VICTORS for the third time. This time we checked in with Simon who plays lead guitar in the band. In this episode we discuss Simon’s music journey and how he came to form the band with Harry who came on for Parts 1 and 2, playing in various indie-rock bands in his school days and a fond discussion over a shared love of the mid-00s UK pop-punk and rock scene. For industry issues, we discuss social media and the instability and unpr...
Mar 15, 2024•1 hr 28 min
In episode 232 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with academic and writer Dr Samuel Mace. Sam currently works as a teaching fellow at the University of Leeds and has a SubStack called ‘Theory Matters’. He also holds a BA and MA in Politics and a PHD, which specialised in political theory and middle-eastern studies. We came across Sam through an article he wrote in The Critic entitled ‘Beyond mental health awareness’. The piece explores a lot of the uncomfortable conversations around ...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 20 min
In episode 231 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with a very old friend of ours, Elliot Pearce. Elliot first came on the podcast way back when in JCIP #2! At the time we recorded Part 1 he worked at Mental Health First Aid England (MHFA), a very important organisation who deliver Mental Health First Aid training to organisations across the UK. Elliot worked his way up to the role of Community Engagement Manager before he was unfortunately made redundant during the Covid-19 pande...
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 14 min
