Episode 49:

This week we're straight talking to David Devine from Platinum Financial about money. Biggie said it best Mo' Money, Mo Problems but having no money is an even bigger problem, either way money can be a big stressor. David tells how it's the ignorance around money that has such an impact on our mental health, the need in the financial sector for training around considering people's mental health when dealing with finances, what's needed for a mortgage and what to do if you are in financial difficulty. We also discuss how much of our relationship with money is a carry over from our parents and David tells us why money isn't the root of all evil.

We found out if Peter's colour blindness glasses work, Allan has a second birthday during lockdown and he's relieved to not have an accident in bed!

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Episode 48:

This week we're straight talking to Lisa Nolan about allergies. Lisa featured on a TG4 documentary with her daughter Hallie. She tells us how Hallie's allergies were dismissed at the start by doctors, Hallie's first anaphylactic shock at age 2, being 3 minutes away from the doctor when her daughter stopped breathing and how she lost herself for a long time by becoming so consumed with dealing with Hallie's life threatening allergies. She also tells us what Hallie has missed out on as a result of her allergies and her and Peter share the frustration of being so limited on where to eat when on a family day out.

Also this week, Allan reflects on his autism/ Asperger's diagnosis and having to justify it to some people, Peter is riled by the new football Super League and Lidl's campaign of ending period poverty has him smiling.

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Episode 47:

This week we're straight talking to Sarah Shakespeare about community work. Sarah tells us about her experience of being manager of the Teach Dara Family Resource Centre in Kildare, what it's like when people turn up at the door telling her they are suicidal, generational mental health issues in families, how covid has changed from families contributing to the food bank last year, to needing food bank this year and what the neighbours will think. Sarah also discusses how she distinguishes between genuine needs for counselling versus those who want to be seen to have counselling because it will look good in court! We're also plugging Teach Dara's Virtual Dawn Walk event, register and directly help someone that needs counselling: https://www.justrunsevents.com/dawn-walk-kildare.php

After last week's episode, we have some advice for the loved ones of people in abusive relationships. Peter's buying himself some sunglasses because he's colour blind and his horn gives up the ghost. Allan gets his official diagnosis of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) or High Functioning Asperger's and describes what that was like for him. We also have some big news as Peter steps back form the podcast.

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Episode 46:

This week we're straight talking to Andy Furlong about abusive relationships. He opens up about being threatened with knives, being lunged at with scissors and the verbal abuse that impacted his self confidence, how he found out about his ex wife's infidelity, the consideration he gave to different methods of suicide as he spent Xmas alone in a hotel and how that relationship made him hypersensitive to red flags when meeting new women. We discuss the cycle of abuse and Andy also tells us about emigrating to London at the height of the recession and what that was like for him and his family.

As usual we have a bit of shite talking as well, Paul Ritter's death has Peter riled but he's smiling virtually watching dash cam footage from around the world. Allan's riled after watching Seaspiracy but he's back in love with Ikea so he's all good. He also discusses the realities of being a psychotherapist and what is required.

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Episode 45:

This week we're straight talking eating disorders. It’s Eimear’s time of the month (on the show) and we’re talking about eating disorders and body image. We discuss how society through movies, tv shows (like Friends) and advertisements subliminally associate skinny with happy; body shaming people for being skinny, the secrecy and shame that perpetuates eating disorders, how parents’ attitudes to food and weight can influence children. We also consider the influence of The Famine on Irish attitudes to food, why no one asks why  the eating disorder is there and the self consciousness that goes with breast size for women.

We also chat about the grief celebrities get for using their platform for political issues, people that randomly send insulting messages to people in the media or leave bad reviews for no reason. Eimear’s riled by lockdown and the impact on the hospitality sector (aka she’s mad for pints), Allan is hurt by the one he loves the most (Ikea) and the state of Irish football gets to Peter. We also found out if Allan is or isn’t on the spectrum.

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Episode 44:

This week we're straight talking stress! It's a big one! We all experience stress, find out why we do, the toll it takes on our physical health, not just our mental health, why stress isn't always a bad thing and why procrastinators can be actually adrenaline junkies. We also discuss how to deal with a stressed toddler that is having a tantrum, enablers in families with addiction and the group dynamic of your workplace.

We also take a trip down memory lane discussing the weird phenomenon of skits in between songs on hip hop albums, Allan eats humble pie and is smiling after watching the Snyder Cut of Justice League and we find out if he grew a hand on his head after receiving the AstraZeneca  vaccine. 

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Episode 43:

This week we're straight talking social anxiety. We discuss what social anxiety is, the psychology behind it and how low self esteem can play a large part. Allan explains the neurobiology of what happens in your body at the time, how addictions can develop to initially deal with social anxiety, how you can help someone who suffers, how you can use your social brain to deal with your social anxiety, why it helps to recognise you don't matter, why avoiding social situations won't work and why it's important to be wet spaghetti!

We also chat about Allan being on the news (without a reward being offered for him this time), karma comes back to Peter after bitching about the shower company last week, it's Allan's turn to be riled about a delivery and he becomes a grown up by trying to eat some avocado.

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Episode 42:

This week we're straight talking the Irish State of Mind. For St Patrick's Day we're not going all toora-loora but we are talking about what makes the Irish. 

Eimear joins us as we discuss the Irish inferiority complex that comes from post-colonialism, how that feeds into our sense of humour, the need to apologise and our inability to speak the Irish language. We also discuss the impact of the Catholic church, the control it exerted, instilling shame around sex and women, the beatings in schools, our love of story telling and of course we'd have to discuss... the demon drink!

We also have our smiles & riles. The Irish accents have Eimear smiling and she's riled about the Meghan & Harry interview, Peter is riled about Fastway's so called "service" but a parenting landmark event has him smiling. Meanwhile being the ever professional psychotherapist, Allan asks the big questions "To pee, or not to pee..." in front of your partner, do you or don't you?

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Episode 41:

This week we're straight talking Addiction with Conor Harris from Davy's Toughest Team. Conor tells us about being on the show and  working with hurling legend Davy Fitzgerald, the pressure of being "the man of the house" after his parents split when he was young, how his cocaine addiction started and how he used during his leaving cert. He also opens up about his overdose, being seconds from death, his suicide attempt, what it was like in treatment and offers his advise to anyone struggling with addiction.

Allan and Peter chat about the long term impact of covid, breaking the generational curse of parental abuse, Allan wonders about being on the autism spectrum and Peter is riled about the recent changes to Mr. Potato Head.

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Episode 40:

This week we're straight talking being single in lockdown. New team member Eimear O' Leary from our Cannabis Induced Psychosis episode joins us for her first topic - love in the time of covid. We discuss what it's like to be single during lockdown, the impact of dating apps on self esteem, ghosting, the pain of rejection, how porn has changed sex, the dos and don'ts of dick pics (hint - don't) and Eimear has tips for the guys on how to approach a girl in the real world. We also chat about Cork people fuckin' lovin' being from Cork, insurance companies trying to get into Eimear's knickers, Peter slides further into middle age by being excited about a new washing machine and Allan is riled because his car is broken into. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com