Talking Mental Podcast

Talking about how we can use our mental strength to enhance performance. Too often with Mental Health, we focus on getting back to a 'zero' state or 'back to normal', but why can't we strive to get our minds into the positive and perform beyond 'normal'? Well today we sit down with Hong Kong Olympic Swimmer Camille Cheng and Sports Psychologist Karen Lo to talk openly about how the mind is our biggest tool when it comes to performance. Tune in to get a front row seat into what an Olympic Athlete goes through on a daily basis as well as how they've had to adapt during Covid 19. 

很多時候運動員在追求表現提升，往往只著重技術層面及身體狀態。但其實運動表現的關鍵，心理素質是非常重要的一環。今集裡面，我們與代表香港出戰里約奧運的香港游泳運動員鄭莉梅 (Camille) 和運動心理學家盧綽蘅 (Karen) 探討運動心理訓練的重要性、家長的角色、運動員在心理及精神層面可能會遇到的挑戰，及分享一些小貼士去提升心理素質以達至更好的運動表現。

Podcast Language語言：English 英文

Talking about 'Overcoming Challenges & Uncertainties' and we couldn't think of a better guest than Lai Chi Wai to bring light to this topic. Lai Chi Wai is a four time Asian Rock Climbing Champion and was once ranked number 8 in the world. However, in 2011, Lai Chi Wai's life got flipped upside-down. He was involved in a serious traffic accident that left him paraplegic. We learn about how he overcame these mental and physical challenges to where 5 years later, he climbed up Lion Rock in a wheelchair! Since then he has become the first Chinese athlete to be nominated for the Laureus World's Best Sporting Moment. Tune in to see how we can put life into perspective and how we should never give up.

在人生面對突然巨變或未知數的時候，應該如何保持良好心理質素？「包山王」黎志偉是香港攀石運動員，曾四次奪得亞洲攀石冠軍名銜，最高世界排名第八位。2011年，他發生了一場嚴重的交通事故而不幸致下身癱瘓。五年後在車禍五週年當日，志偉坐在輪椅憑雙手攀上獅子山，成為第一位獲得勞倫斯世界最佳運動時刻提名的中國人。志偉分享了他如何在面對挑戰及未知數的情況下調整心態，逐步實現別人看上去不可能的目標，活出自己的人生。

Podcast Language語言：Cantonese 廣東話

Talking about the very important topic of 'Learning to Love Yourself'. We are extremely honoured to be sharing this topic with two incredible women who are shining stars of the Hong Kong entertainment industry, Singers Joyce Cheng and Lesley Chiang. These ladies openly discuss everything from how they were born in the public eye to how they've been constantly battling body positivity whilst as sharing their own Mental Health struggles. The energy from these ladies will be oozing in this episode, so strap in and hear how these women have now learnt to love themselves.

學習愛自己和自我意識是心理健康的關鍵。我們非常榮幸能與香港歌手鄭欣宜 (Joyce) 及姜麗文 (Lesley) 討論這個話題。Joyce從小就要面對公眾對她身型的評論及眼光，而Lesley曾患上抑鬱症及出現自殺的念頭，她們會為大家分享如何從低谷走過，花時間照顧自己的心理健康，學習真正做自己，愛自己。

Podcast Language語言：English 英文

Discussing topics including spotting the red flags to understanding why self awareness is key to prevention, as well as sharing a personal recovery story. Take a seat and listen to episode 1 of this 4 part series featuring Psychiatrist Dr. Jackie Fu and our very own Assistant Store Manager at the lululemon IFC store, Cherry Cheng.

在「lululemon is Talking Mental podcast系列」的第一集中，精神科專科醫生傅子健醫生與我們深入探討心理健康101：講解情緒病的常見警號、如何對我們的精神狀態進行自我評估，以及為出現情緒病症狀的人提供建議。 lululemon ifc的助理店鋪經理鄭慧儀與我們分享了她驚恐發作的親身經歷以及她尋求幫助和康復的過程。

Podcast Language語言：Cantonese 廣東話

What’s going on!? When will this madness end? Why have I become this jittery hand-washing, food-hoarding, news-obsessed recluse? Will someone please explain? The world has become a weird, weird place.

Aaron sits down with Gira, a Mental Health Counsellor and author of one of the most sensible pieces of writing on Covid-19 to date. A breath of fresh air in the blizzard of tiresome memes and terrifying news reports. Smart, non-nonsense Gira is a rare and reassuring voice of reason.

Kill the fear. Stop the spiral. Focus on the facts and only the facts. It’s all about putting things into perspective. Stay safe, stay calm. Peace out.

ABOUT GIRA

Gira started working as a Mental Health Counsellor at OT&P in October 2014. She graduated in 1999 from Leeds University Medical School, UK, and is a qualified, registered psychiatrist in the UK but not registered in Hong Kong. During 10 years of training in psychiatry, she gained experience in Adult Psychiatry, Old Age Psychiatry, Perinatal Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Liaison Psychiatry and Psychotherapies. She acquired her MRCPsych in 2005. Some of Gira's special interests are anxiety, stress, depression and perinatal mental health.

This episode, step back and take a look at the bigger picture as urban planning takes on a whole new meaning.

Aaron is joined by JT Singh, a brand-place architect and multi award-winning media artist, to better understand the effect of our surroundings on our state of mind. Macro or micro scale, we're talking everything from the cities we live in to the contents of your pocket. Safe to say, distractions are everywhere, all the time.

Listen in as they discuss space and time efficiency and how it affects our productivity and stress levels. How on earth... or rather where on earth... can we find the mind space to function as the best versions of ourselves?

Be prepared to have your mind blown.

Aaron and Rick suck it up and bare all in front of a live audience at 2019 Hong Kong Podfest.

Aaron is joined on stage at the Fringe Club by straight-talking Dr Rick Smith, a Teen Mental Health Specialist and pioneering researcher and advocate for self-compassion as a tool for managing school-related stress. What follows is a frank discussion about the significance of our teen years and prevention being the best medicine. Without getting too soppy, the guys go on to discuss the importance of being kind to yourself, just as you would be to friends. In a world where we often second guess ourselves and how we come across to others, Rick reminds us that it’s best to be our own BFF. Visit www.self-compassion.org and give yourself a pat on the back...

ABOUT RICK:
A teen Mental Health Specialist and a pioneering researcher & advocate for self-compassion, Rick works with adolescents, parents and schools to ensure a healthy frame of mind from early on in life.

Adolescent and Family Psychologist John Shannahan joins Aaron to nerd out on the gaming industry and the psychology behind it. Turns out, just as with many sources of fun, it has its pros and cons. A source of escapism and focus, online gaming can be a great distraction - but at what cost to everyday life and mental hygiene? Is it a viable coping mechanism against irrational thoughts, anxiety and the onset of panic attacks? How much game time is too much game time? Registered Child Psychologist John also delves in to the effect of e-gaming on younger players and the effects on their social skills and family dynamics. How do you bridge that gap with young adults? Turns out that sometimes if you can't beat them, it's best to join them.

Organising our day doesn't come naturally to everyone - whether you're an organised neat-freak like Monica or float through life as a Phoebe, our Organisational Expert and experienced Life Coach Christina Giaquinto has a few interesting tips on how to get your mind sorted for the week ahead. Lists, colour coding and clever apps galore - Christina helps Aaron navigate his way through some easy step by step excersises that might eventually become part of your daily routines. Pens at the ready! It's time to take note.

It's time for pillow talk! The average human spends about a third of their lives asleep. Something that occupies such a significant part of our lives has to be important, yet a huge number of us struggle with just getting some shut-eye that can signal sleep disorders and other physical and mental effects of poor sleep. Kate, a sleep expert, joins Aaron on this episode to discuss how sleep (or lack of it) can cause and aggravate mental health problems, why people suffer from fragmented sleep, and some strategies for overcoming these issues. Aaron and Kate also discuss some common beliefs and bad habits people have around sleep, and how to overcome them.