Dan Towey and Sam Roberts first crossed paths as first year students on the BSc Physiotherapy course. Fast-forward a few years, and they’re now back - this time as teaching associates. In this honest and insightful episode, Sam opens up about his experiences with mental health, specifically depression, and reflect on how it has impacted his studies and the importance of support networks in both personal and professional life.

This episode ties in with Mental Health Awareness Week which falls on 12-18th May 2025, reminding us that conversations like this are more important than ever.

The duo also tackle the age-old question: which crisps would you take with you to a desert island? 

Stay tuned for an upcoming episode, where Sam will be hosting a special episode with his former GP, diving into her current work on mental health within the healthcare workforce.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, please find a list of key resources below:

• Common signs and symptoms of depression
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - NHS
• Mind
• CALM
• Samaritans
• The University of Nottingham Counselling Service

It's Notts Just Physio welcome the amazing Claire Thompson to the show. Claire is the Director of student wellbeing, and it was truly amazing to sit and talk around mental health, and the amazing support that she has helped create at the university for our students.

In this episode of It’s Notts Just Physio, we’re excited to introduce one of our newest Teaching Associates, Sam Roberts! Sam shares how a football injury kickstarted his journey into physiotherapy and offers valuable insights from his time in clinical practice. Tune in for his top tips on building rapport with patients, setting effective goals, and what truly motivates him in his career.

Don’t forget to check out all our links—including a way to have your say about the future of the pod!

👉 linktr.ee/itsnottsjustphysio

We are delighted to have Ella Guerin, Assistant Professor of Mental Health Nursing, on this episode of It’s Notts Just Physio! Ella shares her incredible journey into teaching, along with some amazing insights into mental health nursing. Whether you’re a student, a practitioner, or just curious about the field, you won’t want to miss this one!

Check out all our links below, including a way to have your say:

👉 linktr.ee/itsnottsjustphysio

The first installment of the SUPRA CPD Takeover sees hosts SUPRA President Jack Ledger and Vice-President Josh Griffiths discuss the development and future of the First Contact Practitioner role with one of the main stakeholders Dr Rob Goodwin, while also delving into how interested students may go about pursuing an FCP role during their future careers! Tips, tricks and fantastic insight, listen in!

Tune in to this insightful episode featuring two of our Year 3 students, Sofia Saavedra Adams and Josh Griffiths, as they continue the conversation around placement experiences. This time, the discussion is focused on the ‘5-9’ of placement—everything outside of work that contributes to a balanced and fulfilling experience.

From socialising and exercising to maintaining a healthy diet, they share practical tips on managing your lifestyle while on placement. They also touch on commuting to and from placement and the process of applying for the Learning Support Fund.

Whether you're about to start your placement or already navigating it, this episode is packed with valuable advice to help you thrive. Don't miss it!

Tune in to this insightful episode featuring our Year 3 education placement students, Amy Heran, Lewis Wright, and Francesca Moulton. They share their experiences on placement at the University of Nottingham, offering a candid look at the day-to-day challenges and rewards of the 9-to-5 placement life. The discussion covers highs and lows, navigating imposter syndrome, collaborating with fellow physiotherapy students, and practical advice for using PARE (Practice Assessment Record and Evaluation) and updating CPAF documents. Don’t miss their valuable tips and tricks for making the most of your placement journey!

Chapter markers:

00:11 - Intro
02:02 - Education placement experiences so far 
04:00 - Physiotherapy placements so far 
07:52 - Highs and lows of placement 
19:25 - Learning from experiences 
25:22 - Imposter syndrome 
28:46 - Working with other students on placement 
36:02 - Non-clinical placements 
40:54 - CPAF documents and using PARE 
47:46 - Wrap up 

This episode is the second installment of our Education Placement Takeover and features physiotherapy students Lily Kerrison, Emma Bowen, and Els Eaves as they explore a range of physiotherapy placement topics. They share insights into their education placement experiences at the University of Nottingham, discuss how previous placements have shaped their learning, offer top tips for thriving on placement, and highlight the importance of holistic healthcare within a multidisciplinary team.

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to rate, share, and subscribe to It's Notts Just Physio on your preferred streaming platform.

Happy New Year! We’re kicking off the year with the first of many special episodes featuring our Year 3 education placement students, Lucy Munro, Ashira Sears, and Jack Ledger share their unique experiences. They dive into what they loved, the challenges they faced, and offer valuable advice for students considering this placement in the future.

This episode shines a spotlight on a distinctive physiotherapy placement setting, offered by only a few universities.

As always, if you like what you hear, please rate and share the podcast on your preferred streaming platform. Your support and feedback makes a big difference.

Stay tuned for more.

This episode, we are delighted to be joined by special guest host Sam Ravenall who is the Foundation to Health Sciences programme lead as well as Jessica Norris who started her student journey on the Foundation year and who has just completed her Physiotherapy BSc.

The foundation year provides students with an alternative route into the Physiotherapy BSc. In this podcast, Jessica shares her experience of studying a Foundation Year during the height of the pandemic and how it prepared her for studying on the degree.