Welcome to episode 238 with Andy Nicholson, who is a musician, producer, photographer and a founding member of the Arctic Monkeys.

Andy met Alex Turner and Matt Helders at high school, they asked for instruments one Christmas, formed a band and the rest is history.  Their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history.

Andy left the band in 2006 and in this episode, we talk about what he did next.

We talk about the impact that leaving the band had on his mental health and how this impacted him in the years following the split.

We talk about how discovering fitness and learning to open up about his mental state became a springboard to getting the vital help that he needed and what that help looked like.

And we talk about things like acceptance, letting go, self-development, inner work and moving on.

Andy has just released I Bet This Looks Good On Your Coffee Table, a book filled with personal photos taken by Andy during his time touring in the Arctic Monkeys and we chat about putting this together and what it’s been like exploring the past and finding peace. 

How the Arctic Monkeys came to be is a great story but it’s a story that’s been told many times and both Andy and I wanted to go somewhere else with this conversation.  I think we did a great job.  He’s done some amazing things since leaving the band, both in and out of the music industry, and we only really scratch the surface here but it was great to chat about the mental health stuff and everything he’s learned along the way. 

Follow Andy on social media @iamgoldteeth

Order the book and learn more at www.iamandynicholson.com

You can connect with me on social media @propermentalpodcast or via www.propermentalpodcast.com.

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Thanks for listening!