Content warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide
Professor Rory O'Connor has dedicated himself to research into suicide and suicide prevention for over 25 years, and his new book, When It Is Darkest, aims to untangle the complex reasons why people take their own lives.  He joins Bryony on Mad World to dispel unhelpful myths, give practical advice to both those suffering and their loved ones, and to talk candidly about the painful reality of losing a friend to suicide as an expert on the subject.
Read Bryony's columns: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/bryony-gordon/ | When It Is Darkest by Rory O'Connor: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/112/1120269/when-it-is-darkest/9781785043437.html | For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/madworld | Follow Bryony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/ | See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rory O'Connor

Intimate conversations about getting unwell - and getting better - with Bryony Gordon. From household names to ordinary people with extraordinary stories. Because mental health deserves to be talked about.
Bryony Gordon's Mad World is a podcast hosted by Bryony Gordon dedicated to exploring the depths of mental health, focusing on openness, vulnerability, and personal journeys. With a unique blend of candid conversations and interviews with celebrities, public figures, and experts, the podcast sheds light on the often stigmatized topic of mental health. In each episode, Bryony Gordon tackles various subjects, including addiction, stress, depression, and self-esteem. By delving into these issues, Bryony offers a safe space for guests to share their personal experiences, providing listeners with relatable stories that inspire empathy and understanding. The podcast addresses a wide array of mental health challenges, from breakdowns to addictions and even thoughts of suicide. Through these conversations, Bryony Gordon encourages an atmosphere of support and awareness, fostering a sense of community for those navigating their mental health journeys. Additionally, Bryony delves into the transformative power of sobriety, exploring how individuals have reclaimed their lives from addiction to substances like alcohol, drugs, and gambling. It sheds light on the road to recovery and the challenges faced along the way. By sharing stories of resilience and recovery, Bryony offers hope for those in need, emphasising the importance of self-care, self-knowledge, and relaxation in fostering mental wellness. The podcast goes beyond the darkness of mental health struggles to celebrate moments of joy, happiness, and personal triumph. Through her conversations, Bryony sparks a dialogue about mental health, raising awareness and breaking down societal barriers. It serves as a reminder that vulnerability and seeking help are not signs of weakness but rather acts of strength and self-care. 
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Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Join Olympic hockey legend Sam Quek and a host of top guests to discuss all the big issues and talking points of women's sport, from from ACL injuries and activism to menstruation and motherhood. Follow now wherever you're listening to this.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing The Telegraph Women's Sport podcast

Gabor Maté is a doctor and expert in addiction, stress and childhood development. But he's also something of a revolutionary, challenging all our assumptions about what it is to be well. His book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, was a great comfort to Bryony when she had to get sober, and you've probably heard her talk about it with other guests here on Mad World. His new book, The Myth of Normal, looks at trauma, illness and healing in a toxic culture. Gabor joins Bryony to talk about why he would ban the word 'addict' and how he thinks that in 150 years we'll look back in horror that we've been separating the mind and the body in healthcare.
The Myth of Normal, by Gabor Maté This bonus episode was recorded to mark Addiction Awareness Week by Action on Addiction and the Forward Trust. Find our more here about their campaign for #SupportNotStigma.
Read Bryony's columns: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/bryony-gordon/ | For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/madworld | Follow Bryony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/ | See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gabor Maté

This episode contains discussion of suicide. Joe Tracini is an actor, comedian and champion magician. He's also frequently suicidal. Joe suffers from borderline personality disorder and since speaking publicly about it, he's not shied away from talking about the 'unfashionable' side of mental illness. He's now written a book called '10 Things I Hate About Me: how to stay alive with a brain that's trying to kill you', which he says he wrote to save his life. Joe joins Bryony to talk about the worst thing he's ever done and why he decided to commit it to paper, introduces Bryony to 'Mick', his name for his BPD, and asks listeners to always remember one phrase: wait for a bit.
10 Things I Hate About Me: how to stay alive with a brain that's trying to kill you, by Joe Tracini  Find out more about National Suicide Prevention Day
Read Bryony's columns: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/bryony-gordon/ | For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/madworld | Follow Bryony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/ | See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Tracini

James Purefoy is one of Britain's most prolific actors, appearing in everything from the Royal Shakespeare Company to Netflix's Sex Education. But his latest film, Fisherman’s Friends: One and For All, while ostensibly about a bunch of Cornish blokes who sing sea shanties, is really about the fragile issue that is male mental health.  James joins Bryony to talk about dealing with the grief of his father, while playing a character grieving their father, boarding schools as a place to 'cauterise people’s emotions' and the power of articulating your pain. 
Fisherman’s Friends: One and For All is in cinemas across the UK and Irelands from Friday 19th August |
Read more from Bryony: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/bryony-gordon/ | For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/madworld | Follow Bryony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/ | See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Purefoy

Charmain Bynoe is one of our favourite guests here at Mad World, an unsung hero making a difference in our communities. She's a housing officer for Southwark, in London, and you may have seen in the Channel 4 TV series, Council House Britain. The work she does in helping vulnerable people is vitally important, but often overlooked. Now she's written a book, The Estate, which lays bare the challenges so many are facing in the midst of the UK's housing crisis. Charmain joins Bryony to talk about helping those dealing with hoarding, how the community spirit on estates is so important, plus how she dealt with her own burnout and important of 'letting the TV watch you'.
The Estate: My Life Working on the Front Line of Britain's Housing Crisis, by Charmain Bynoe | Read more from Bryony: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/bryony-gordon/ | For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/madworld | Follow Bryony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryonygordon/ | See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rory O'Connor

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