The Diverse Minds Podcast

Welcome to the 143rd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month, as it’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is loneliness, we are going to be focussing on loneliness and the impact of mental health on various groups.

Today I am talking about why it can be so difficult for people to accept help when they are diagnosed with mental health challenges or are just feeling low.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• Why I chose to cover this topic today. [01:09]
• Some factors that prevent people from seeking help. [02:26]
• A look into the Cartman Drama Triangle [06:01]
• About the emotional reality and responsibility model. [16:34]
• What we can do to encourage people to seek help. [17:16]

• No family sits down and says, right, what's our communications policy? Or what's our health and safety policy in our home.
• If we're trying to support someone, or feel frustrated with them, we have to really be mindful of what are we feeling first.
• When emotions are high, you want to check the reality and move the person to responsibility.
• Just like with physical health, when we want to train or do something in the gym, we generally don't go from being a beginner runner to being an elite athlete.
• The person who is in that victim mode feels overwhelmed by their sense of vulnerability, inadequacy or powerlessness.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my Speakpipe
• Learn more in Episode 63: Anti-bullying initiatives that work
• Listen to Episode 97: The art of listening to support someone
• Wheel of wellbeing 

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 142nd episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month, as it’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is loneliness, we are going to be focussing on loneliness and the impact of mental health on various groups. Today I am talking about how racism creates mental-ill health. 

• Why I chose to cover this topic. [01:12]
• .How experiencing racism can impact someone's mental health. [07:20]
• Things that can happen in the workplace that can impact mental ill-health [14:41]
• What we can do to support people with mental health challenges. [17:16]
• Some questions to reflect on how Racism Creates Mental-Ill Health. [20:10]

• The National Health Service is England's largest employer of global majority black and diaspora communities.
• If you're from a dominant culture, or from a dominant profile, you are not neutral. It's just that things are set up easily, and things are set up to empower you.
• It's key to remember that different cultures will have varying perspectives on mental ill-health.
• Depression is linked with racism and racist experiences, due to the isolation that people experience.
• Often when we try and talk about racism in the workplace, it is dismissed away.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my Speakpipe
• Listen to Episode 41: Racism and Genuine Allyship
• Learn more in Episode 68: Still too scared to talk about race?
• Check out Episode 43: Windrush Day with Patrick Vernon
• Listen to Episode 97: The art of listening to support someone

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 141st episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month, as it’s Mental Health Awareness Month and this year’s theme is loneliness, focussing on loneliness and its impact on mental health.

• How loneliness is affecting people living in the UK. [01:19]
• Why loneliness is subjective. [02:30]
• The meaning of loneliness? [02:54]
• Some statistics about loneliness. [04:05]
• What we can do when we feel lonely. [10:10]

• Society needs to find better ways of tackling the epidemic of loneliness.
• The pandemic has made me feel like much more of an introvert.
• Loneliness is that unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship.
• If we enjoy our own company, we’re doing something that brings us joy, we might be alone, but we’re not lonely
• Being lonely can become a serious problem when it becomes a day to day reality, and over time, that can grind us down.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my Speakpipe
• Jo Cox Foundation Loneliness Report 
• Listen to Episode 75: How love promotes positive mental health
• Check out Episode 76: Self-love and Self-Esteem what does it all mean?
• Listen to Episode 97: The art of listening to support someone
• Check out Episode 140: Why we need to talk about Maternal Mental Health
• Listen to Episode 125: Doing Less Being More
• 18 Things to Do When You’re Feeling Lonely, According to Experts

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 140th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month, as it's Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is loneliness, we are going to be focussing on supporting the Mental Health of various groups and combating loneliness. 

• About the Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. [01:46]
• How different cultures perceive mental illness related to pregnancy. [02:53]
• What is post-natal depression? [04:19]
• How post-natal depression can affect some mothers. [20:27]
• Some tips for employers on how to manage returning parents. [07:21]

• Around 20% of women experience perinatal mental illness.
• Often, when we talk about mental ill-health in the workplace, we related to stress but of course, that stress could be internal it could be external.
• After giving birth to a child, many mothers experience or can experience a period of mental ill-health known as postnatal depression.
• Having a family and giving someone is a life-changing event and can have lasting effects on parents, emotionally and physically.
• For some, returning to work as a parent can be highly stressful, so employers need to be aware of the potential strain and how the returning parent, in particular, the mother, wants to manage her mental well being, her parenting and also her role at work.

• Leave me an anonymous message on my Speakpipe
• Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
• Listen to Episode 135: Recognising Different Ways to Have a Family
• Check out Episode 65: Why Training isn’t a Panacea
• Listen to Episode 97: The art of listening to support someone
• Postnatal depression and perinatal mental health

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 139th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast.

This month’s focus is all about music and mental health. Today we are going to be talking more about drum and bass, one of my favourite kinds of music as many of you will know, mental health and particular male musicians.

To join me in doing this is music therapist Mitekiss.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

With over two decades of experience and an impressive collection of his signature soul-infused releases on some of the most formidable labels across the drum & bass spectrum including imprints such as Shogun, Chase & Status’ MTA and Skankandbass, since signing to Hospital Records back in 2018 Mitekiss has become a staple figure in the scene crafting out his very own unique sonic identity.

From the tender age of 15, the London-native has been sculpting his sound through the exotic experimentation of other diverse genres that eventually lead him to a steady heartbeat of 174BPM. Mitekiss began to pick up momentum when ‘Void’, a free track on Skankandbass caught the attention of Shogun Audio head honcho, Friction. Among dropping his own sonic gems Mitekiss also runs his own label Goldfat Records with Mr Porter, which continues to grow year on year whilst nurturing some of the most promising future talents in the world of drum & bass.

In 2018, he dropped his debut album ‘Crate Six Seven’ which further proved his musical versatility as he explored the sounds of ambient, jungle, liquid-jazz and soul across 14 stunning tracks. 2020 saw the release of his incredibly curated ‘Objects To Push’ EP home to the widely popular single ‘Matter (feat. Ruth Royall)’. 

With his next big project ‘Bolivian Hotel Bistro’ released on Friday 25 Feb 2022, don’t take your eyes off Mitekiss as he continues to trailblaze his way to the top of the liquid drum & bass sphere. His multi-faceted approach to drum & bass as an artist, label owner, mentor and all-around tastemaker proves his commitment and love for the sound.

• About Mitekiss and the type of music he produces. [03:36]
• What mental health means to him. [07:48]
• How producing music helps him with his mental health. [08:14]
• What the culture of mental well-being looks like in the drum and bass world. [20:27]
• His top 3 tips for looking after his mental health. [30:56]

• When I was younger, in my early 20s, I had a real tough time with anxiety, to the point where I couldn't have a job anymore.
• Generally, the drum and bass world can be quite open-minded, and upfront about mental well-being.
• 70% of musicians report symptoms of mental illness.
• It's taken me 20 years of my life to recover from my social anxiety.
• When you're in a low place, you do need professional help.

• In conversation with Mitekiss

• Mitekiss' website 
• Mitekiss on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: https://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 138th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast.

This month’s focus is all about music and mental health. Today we are going to be talking about adult play, music and connection.
 

To join me in doing this is music therapist Crystal Luk-Worrall.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

Crystal is an HCPC registered music therapist and EMDR therapist based in London. Clinically she works part-time at the early child development service in the NHS and runs a private practice called Clap and Toot, where she specialises in working with adopted families. 

She also runs the Freelance Network at the British Association of Music Therapy. She loves bringing people together and encourages people to not be shy about talking about the work we do. Crystal offers career development supervision, where she helps other therapists to design their careers and to incorporate 'play time' as part of our work routine.'

• About Crystal Luk-Worrall and the work she does. [01:38]
• How she became a music therapist. [03:38]
• Some outcomes families hope to achieve when they work with her. [06:56]
• What the term "mental well-being" means to her. [09:46]
• Her top 3 tips for looking after her mental health. [28:51]

• The meaning of mental well-being differs from person to person and from time to time.
• I had to learn to allow people to love and support me because I had always been very independent up to a point.
• I'm a huge believer that there's no one-size-fits-all mental well-being formula that works for everyone.
• Mental well-being doesn't just sit on its own. It connects in a lot of areas in our life.
• Plan your breaks ahead. Especially if you're a freelancer.

• Cove Music App
• Episode #130: Trauma Recovery through Yoga

• Crystal's website 
• Crystal on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: https://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 137th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast.

This month’s theme is all about music and mental health. So, in today’s episode, I am going to be sharing with you 11 tracks that boost my mental wellbeing. 

Unfortunately, I can’t play them due to licensing regulations, but I have created a playlist as part of this episode to share with you. 

I’d love to hear from you as listeners, to make this super easy I have created a place online where you can leave me a voice note anonymously called SpeakPipe or with your name, you choose.

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• Why I decided to talk about music and mental health. [00:55]
• An interesting piece of research about how music affects the human brain. [01:07]
• Some of the ways music can boost our mental health. [04:26]
• How we can use music to support our mental health and wellbeing. [11:55]
• The ways in which we can use playlists as part of our wellbeing toolkit [13.05]

• Meditative music has a very cathartic effect on us.
• Music can help us focus on our work, study or the activity that we're doing.
• Understanding how music affects your emotions goes a long way to help ease anxious and depressive thoughts.
• Music increases memory and retention, as well as maximising learning capabilities.
• When we select a piece of music and replay it, it can really help us to express emotion without having to say anything.

• The playlist
• Listen to Episode 41: Racism and Genuine Allyship
• Check out Episode 39: 5 lessons we can learn from noughts and crosses:

Join my mailing list where you will receive a copy of my e-Book The Mentally Healthy Leading Manager: https://bit.ly/MHLMEBK21

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to a bonus episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast. This month’s theme is all about music and mental health. However, it is also Stress Awareness Month, so I wanted to do an extra episode for you about resilience. Focussing on why resilience isn’t a sticking plaster. Keep listening, as I am also doing a giveaway in this episode. 

I’d love to hear from you as listeners, to make this super easy I have created a place online where you can leave me a voice note on a platform called SpeakPipe with or without your name, you choose.

• Why I decided to create this special bonus episode. [01:20]
• The meaning of resilience. [01:40]
• What resilience is not. [02:14]
• How to win a place in my e-course – the mentally healthy professional. [03:51]
• 3 tips to help you consider your resilience strategy. [05:08]

• Prior to the pandemic resilience had been something on employers’ lips for some time.
• Resilience is the ability to adapt following setbacks and difficult life events whilst maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing.
• I often think of resilience as an internal rubber band.
• Putting up with poor management and simply sucking it up, bullying behaviours, thinking you’re not strong enough is not resilience.
• Organisations and businesses also need to build resilient systems by realising that people are simply not machines.

• Check out Episode 39: 5 lessons we can learn from noughts and crosses
• Blog Post: Personal resilience training
• Blog Post: How to address your Stress
• BITC Report

Join my mailing list where you will receive a copy of my e-Book The Mentally Healthy Leading Manager: https://bit.ly/MHLMEBK21

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Welcome to the 136th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast.

This month’s theme is all about music and mental health. So, in today’s episode, I am going to be talking about how music boosts our mental health. 

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

• What today's topic is about. [00:39]
• Why I decided to talk about today's topic. [00:55]
• An interesting research about how music affects the human brain. [01:07]
• Some ways music can boost our mental health. [04:26]
• How we can use music to support our mental health and well-being. [11:55] 

• Meditative music has a very cathartic effect on us.
• Understanding how music affects your emotions goes a long way to help ease anxious and depressive thoughts.
• Music increases memory and retention, as well as maximising learning capabilities.
• Music can help us focus on our work, study or the activity that we're doing.
• When we select a piece of music and replay it, it can really help us to express emotion without having to say anything.

• Music 'releases mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain'
• 5 positive effects music has on your mental health
• Why We Listen to Music With Lyrics We Don’t Understand
• Episode 75: How love promotes positive mental health
• Episode 89: Connecting with Nature and Mental Health
• Episode 125: Doing Less Being More

Join my mailing list where you will receive a copy of my e-Book The Mentally Healthy Leading Manager: https://bit.ly/MHLMEBK21

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: https://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.

Welcome to the 135th episode of the award-winning Diverse Minds podcast.

This month, the focus is recognition, and today, we are talking about the right to have a family and the different ways to do this with Jenny Saft, Founder of OVIAVO.

Jenny has a business background and completed her MBA at Hult International Business School in San Francisco. Attracted to the startup world, she stayed there for three years before moving back to Germany. Before starting Oviavo, she worked as VP Business Development for the Dutch fintech company Adyen (IPO 2018).

Jenny has personally undergone several social freezing cycles and has experienced the inadequacy of medical advice and support, the lack of transparency from clinics on treatment, cost, physical and psychological effort, the stigma in our society and the overwhelming amount of (often misleading) information online.

OVIAVO is a fertility benefits platform that helps employers attract & retain top talent while tackling diversity & inclusion. By providing fertility benefits, OVIAVO is helping modern companies overcome inequality. Not everyone is able to conceive a child and OVIAVO wants to support everyone in their family forming journey regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or marital status.

• About Jenny Saft and why she started OVIAVO. [02:05]
• Why she decided to freeze her eggs, even though she wan't sure she wanted children. [04:13]
• Her vision of true equality in the fertility, adoption and surrogacy space. [05:04]
• What workplaces can do to genuinely support staff who are on mental ill health and fertility journeys. [14:07]
• Her top 3 tips for looking after her mental health. [25:56]

• Starting a family should be a right and not a privilege.
• Communication is so important.
• You have to force yourself to look after yourself.
• In most European countries, the adoption rates are really low because there are not that many children that are up for adoption.
• Implementing fertility benefits alone is not enough.

• OVIAVO on Instagram and Facebook
• OVIAVO website
• OVIAVO's [email protected] 

Have a look at my online work-life balance course on Thinkific. You can access it here: http://bit.ly/DMMHPONC

Complete the form to discuss your training needs: https://forms.gle/hgnYtmTu33Zeem489

Check out my FAQs here: https://diverseminds.co.uk/solutions/coaching/

You can learn more about the coaching I do to support your wellbeing here. 

If you enjoyed this episode, then consider subscribing on Apple podcast, Spotify or wherever you access your podcasts from.

If you enjoyed it, why not leave a review? 

You can also connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  

Remember to tune in next week, where I’ll bring you more insights on mental health and inclusion.