sidekick stories

We’re all guilty of having expectations. But what do you do when your expectations are not met, at all? A harsh reality that Marina Pacini is finding herself in. Moving to a new country is a life-changing event, and add COVID-19 into the bowl and you’ve got a potential recipe for disaster. Luckily, Marina knows the triggers and is able to practice self-love. 

Marina is a 26 year old psychologist and expat, who has recently relocated to the Netherlands from sunny Barcelona. Offering advice from her profession, Marina provides amazing coping mechanisms any one of us can use in one or more aspects of life. 

Previously working with cancer patients, Marina has supported her patients through tough times. However, tables turned when she started to realise she was speaking negatively about herself. In a very relatable conversation, Marina opens up about the impact of living in a new country, dealing with rejection and how to cope with tension in your relationship. 

We are introduced to the concept that we need to calm our minds before we attempt to work through struggles with therapy or exercises. It’s a no brainer to warm up your muscles before a workout, so why are we not calming our mind before a mental workout? 

If you haven’t had any luck with meditation, or you think it won’t work for you, you’ll finish this podcast knowing that it's time you gave it (another) go. Don’t give up, it might just be the tool for you.

Listen and subscribe to the sidekick stories podcast on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

Download our free app, connect with us on Instagram and join the community.

sidekick. Boost your mental wellbeing.

https://sidekick.org.uk/

A bad day is just a bad day, and you’re allowed to wallow. Just one piece of advice from our first sidekick guest, Thomas Drewry. He reminds us that you don’t have to always be positive, and you can be angry. We’re only human! But remember, tomorrow is a new day, and we go at it again.

Born in France, Thomas is the co-founder of Emolument, a provider of crowdsourced data on compensation. He’s also a TV producer, comedy writer, and has even done stand-up comedy!

Making the decision to take medication for your mental health is something that many of us face. There is a real fear of how your body will react, and if you’ll ever be able to cope without. For six years, Thomas tried a number of different medications to support his mental health. He later learned he had spent this time on the wrong medication with little to no impact.

Now on the right medication, Thomas shares his experiences of dealing with his depression. By creating a healthy lifestyle, finding the right medication, and tailoring common coping mechanisms to his personal needs. A great take away; learning to manage your own expectations and acknowledging things that sit out of your circle of control, this can really empower you in your everyday life. 

A great insight into life as a high performing entrepreneur, the highs and lows of depression and creating a lifestyle in which you can thrive.

Listen and subscribe to the sidekick stories podcast on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

Download our free app, connect with us on Instagram and join the community. 

sidekick. boost your mental wellbeing. 

https://sidekick.org.uk/

Welcome to the very first episode of the sidekick stories podcast. In true sidekick style, we encourage an open and honest conversation with co-creators, James Shrager and Matthew Halstead. Putting their values to the test by diving under the skin of how sidekick became what it is today. 

1:18: The becoming of sidekick- James and Matt let us in on their friendship and how sidekick was born. We gain a deeper understanding of their personal experiences with mental health, their coping mechanisms, and the importance of talking. 

7:40: Combining industry knowledge- how much experience do you need to build an app from scratch? James shares his experiences in building apps and the skills gained from these projects. Although not a developer, Matt shines a light on how he gained his knowledge in technology from an unexpected overseas project. 

14:45: Turning passion into something real- we learn that sidekick is bringing together a community of volunteers, based on passion across the board. The need for accessible therapy is one of the key issues sidekick are addressing, through a library of tools. 

19:05: Mental health awareness- encouraging conversations about mental health is one of sidekick’s key aims. We touch on ensuring you’re open to these conversations and the difference it can make. 

24:17: User first mentality- sidekick is completely free, yes really. The mental health industry is huge and to many a money-making scheme. Matt explains to us how they are differentiating themselves in an overcrowded market place through attribution and sharing information - even if that means potentially losing their audience. 

26:10: Co-creation- everything sidekick does, is done in partnership. Creating a safe and friendly environment where every voice is heard is in their dna, as shown in deciding on a name for their app. 

28:51: Community is key- the sky is the limit but, for now, sidekick is focusing on the next 6 months. We learn more about the six priorities that have been put in place and the increasing size of a very talented community James and Matt have built around them. Community means everything for sidekick, and it shows. 

40:40: What to expect- we know everything about the why, the vision, the community. But what actually does sidekick do and how does it work? We get an introduction to the exercises, topics, and functionalities within the app. sidekick is all about introducing and trialling new methods to boost your mood, in a non-pressurised environment. Finally, a personalised toolkit can be created with all the methods that are most valuable to you. 

45:36: Tried and tested exercises- everything sidekick is built on, comes from personal (therapy) experiences for both Matt and James. The co-creators share some of the exercises that have been eye-opening or provided a lasting impact on their mental health. 

50:58: Tailoring content- user data is private within sidekick, but, as with everything these days, there are analytics set up to support the community with making key decisions on content. If users are giving their usage data, James believes they should be giving them something back for that. It’s all about making the content easier to find and use, without being overwhelming. 

55:16: Get downloading- we task the sidekick co-creators with the ultimate question - why should somebody download sidekick? Choice, safety, space to explore support are some of the reasons to give it a go and find out your wellbeing preferences.

59:37: The highs- James and Matt look back on the journey to date and identify their personal highlights during this project. Matt shares one of his favourite poems and how it’s been applicable to their journey. 

Listen and subscribe to the sidekick stories podcast on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.

sidekick. boost your mental wellbeing.