Episode 29:

We're straight talking anger. We discuss how anger can mask other issues like anxiety & depression, how depression in children and teens can manifest as anger, the triggers of rage and why road rage triggers so many and of course what to do if anger is negatively affecting your life. We also discuss sacrifices made by GAA players and their families, how the terms "triggered" and "OCD" have been minimised has Peter riled and it's Xmas time which means for parents... Elf on the Shelf! We're finishing for Xmas next week and we want your smiles from 2020 #stmhsmile. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com

Episode 28:

We're straight talking sobriety. Struggling to deal with a break up, Stephen Hannon found himself drinking more and attempted suicide. Found by his sister, Stephen was hopitalised and realising that his drinking had gotten out of control decided to do a sobriety year with proceeds going to Pieta House. We find out if Allan hit his weight loss goal for lockdown, our Spotify Wrapped stats have us smiling, we discuss Romain Grosjean's horrific crash in F1 and both Allan & Peter are riled by "moral lynch mobs"/ cancel culture and the controversy around Edison Cavani. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email hello@stmhpodcast or check out www.stmhpodcast.com

Episode 27:

We're straight talking mindfulness pt. 3. The Godfather, Star Wars, Straight Talking Mental Health Mindfulness... we complete the trilogy! Moving from body scan, mindfulness of breathing and we finish off our Mindfulness trilogy with some loving kindness meditation. We also discuss whether it's ok to use "the n word" while rapping along with your favourite songs and we take a trip down hip hop memory lane. Peter asks Allan if there are downsides to being a therapist and we find out why it's Bob The Builder and not Peter The Painter in our smiles and riles. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]

Episode 26:

We're straight talking mindfulness pt. 2. Ever wanted to learn to meditate? We got you! Continuing on from the massive success of last week's episode and learning to do a Body Scan, Allan leads a guided meditation of the Mindfulness of Breathing.  We're putting the call out for someone to join our team to help promoting mental health on social media and with publicity. We also have the usual craic, Allan describes the attachment styles of Modern Family characters, why he's so Anti-Trump and encourages parents to play video games with their children, to "meet them in their world". Peter asks if you would let your son play with dolls, his brand new chair breaks and he smiles having a conversation with an old man outside the hospital. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]

Episode 25:

We're straight talking mindfulness. We're talking about the difference between mindfulness and meditation, being in a state of flow, how meditation isn't just sitting there crossed legged chanting "ommmmm" and how being in the present moment can help deal with depression and anxiety. Ever wanted to learn to meditate? We got you! Allan leads a guided meditation so you can learn. We also discuss men ignoring health issues, the psychology of golf and our smiles and riles. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]

Episode 24:

We're straight talking EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing). We speak to "Helen" (name changed for legal reasons) about her experience of rape and how 10 years later Post Traumatic Stress Disorder was triggered by seemingly unrelated experiences. Helen tells how seasonal reminders would trigger the PTSD symptoms, what it was like to see her rapist prosecuted 20 years later and how EMDR helped her with the nightmares and flashbacks. Allan & Peter also discuss whether childhood obesity is child abuse and we have our smiles and riles. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]

Episode 23:

We're straight talking covid and mental health. As Ireland enters lock down again we talk about our mental health during covid. Will we ever know being able to go to games/ gigs/ holidays again? Peter asks the question if we should mourn for the life we once knew. We hear from Johhny Crowder on what he did to cope with having covid, how it is being single at this time and mask wearing for deaf and hard of hearing people. We also discuss the tragic deaths in Ireland recent and we have our Smiles & Riles - Marcus Rashford has Peter smiling and Allan starts crying talking about the Tuam mother & baby home. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]

Episode 22:

We're straight talking how to cope. We talk to Johnny Crowder, mental health advocate and CEO/ Founder of Cope Notes. Johnny tells his amazing story, how a childhood of abuse lead to him avoiding relationships and the bullying he experienced in school due to OCD behaviours. Johnny also tells us what it was like for him having Covid and the 3 things he did to help him to cope. We have our smiles and riles, Allan & Peter are riled by lockdown and Peter smiles with the wisdom from Ireland's oldest woman. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]

Episode 21:

We're straight talking social media. We look at the double edge sword that is social media, how it feeds into our need to be social but at what cost. We chat to journalist student Kamron Clarke (Allan's son) about his article "Social Media: Poison & Antidote. Allan looks at the conflicting research around social media and mental health, the correlation with narcissism and the impact on self esteem. We have our smiles and riles. Peter is smiling because he bought a new guitar, while #worldmentalday has Allan riled and Kamron dishes the dirt on his father. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]

Episode 20:

We're straight talking what we've learned. As we hit episode 20 we reflect on our previous episodes. Don't worry this isn't a lazy Hollywood clip show. We've stayed true to what we set out to do in episode 1, be genuine, be open and straight talking around mental health. We're amazed at the impact the show has had on our listeners, the openness of our guests and also what we have learned from each episode. Allan's old age has him being unapologetic for being himself and his learning from life is that it all comes down to love. We have our smiles and riles. Peter is riled by level 3 and Twitter trolls abusing footballers, while white people have Allan riled. Follow Straight Talking Mental Health on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or contact [email protected]