💚 THE GREEN SPACE PODCAST WITH GARON GREEN

REAL CONVERSATIONS • REAL STORIES • REAL HOPE

🎙️ GUEST: MARK BLACKNELL - EPISODE 19: When You Stop Running.

A US Marine. A Teamster. PTSD. Alcohol. Depression. Jail. And eventually… a wall.

Mark Blacknell’s journey to Zen meditation is probably not the story you’re expecting.

For around two decades, Mark describes a life far removed from peace and stillness — PTSD, anxiety, depression, alcohol, instability, divorce, numerous moves, different jobs, encounters with the law and two short periods in jail.

He served as a United States Marine. He was a Teamster. Eventually, his journey took him into treatment through the VA.

Then something began to change.

Mark discovered meditation and Zen and eventually found meaning in one of the simplest practices imaginable:

“Sit down. Be still. Stare at the wall.”

Today, Mark is an ordained and Lay Entrusted Zen meditation guide whose practice has roots in Soto Zen.

But this conversation isn’t about pretending meditation magically fixes everything.

It’s about what can happen when, after years of running, fighting and surviving, we finally become willing to sit with ourselves.

Mark and I explore:

💚 PTSD, anxiety and depression
💚 Alcohol and difficult periods of life
💚 His experience as a US Marine
💚 Treatment through the VA
💚 Meditation and Zen practice
💚 Sitting with discomfort
💚 Acceptance and personal responsibility
💚 What “staring at the wall” really means
💚 Finding a different relationship with ourselves

📚 MARK BLACKNELL

📖 Just Stare at the Wall!
📖 Living the Universe from Where You Sit

🌐 Website
https://stareatthewall.org/

💼 LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-blacknell

🎵 TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@stareatthewallwithmark

▶️ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@stareatthewallwithmark

💚 LISTEN TO THE GREEN SPACE

🎧 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/0U7R8A5AfND8lVygyv3dvZ

🍎 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-green-space-podcast-with-garon-green/id1868819247

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

The Green Space is an educational and conversational podcast for general information and personal reflection. It is not counselling, psychotherapy, diagnosis, individual mental health treatment, Reiki treatment or medical advice.

Guests share their own lived experiences, opinions and perspectives. Listening to or participating in the podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship with Garon Green.

Meditation and other practices discussed should not replace appropriate professional mental health or medical support. If anything discussed raises concerns for you, please seek support from an appropriately qualified professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency services.

💚 REAL CONVERSATIONS • REAL STORIES • REAL HOPE

💚 THE GREEN SPACE PODCAST WITH GARON GREEN

REAL CONVERSATIONS • REAL STORIES • REAL HOPE

EPISODE 18 - Beyond The Diagnosis

🎙️ SPECIAL GUEST — BOB ROSS, EMT-D

In this episode, I’m joined by Bob Ross, EMT-D, for a conversation exploring science, trauma, emergency medicine, cancer research, belief and emotional wellbeing.

Bob’s biography describes a diverse background spanning physics, medical physics, cancer research, emergency medical services, film and television medicine and personal development.

We discuss his journey through physics, his reported involvement in cancer and scleroderma research, and decades of volunteering within emergency medical services.

Bob also shares experiences as a film and television set medic, with his biography listing productions including The Amazing Race, American Ninja Warrior, Star Wars, SEAL Team and SWAT.

Beyond the CV, we explore trauma, PTSD, addiction, phobias, EFT, belief, resilience and Bob’s perspectives on emotional healing.

💚 I don’t just want to meet the CV — I want to meet the human being underneath it.

💚 WE EXPLORE

• Physics & medical physics
• Cancer research
• Emergency medicine
• Trauma & PTSD
• Addiction & phobias
• EFT & emotional wellbeing
• Resilience & personal growth

💚 BOB ROSS

Website:
https://www.thehiddensecrettohealing.com/

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@TheHiddenSecretToHealing

EFT:
https://thehiddensecrettohealing.com/eft

🎙️ THE GREEN SPACE

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0U7R8A5AfND8lVygyv3dvZ

Apple:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-green-space-podcast-with-garon-green/id1868819247

💚 ABOUT

Hosted by Garon Green — Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Accredited Registrant MNCPS (Acc.) & Usui Reiki Master Teacher.

The Green Space creates room for conversations about mental health, trauma, relationships, recovery and hope.

⚠️ DISCLAIMER

This episode discusses cancer, trauma, medical treatment and complementary approaches to wellbeing.

Statements about Bob’s background, research and experiences reflect information provided in his biography and/or discussed by Bob. Guest views and experiences are their own.

The Green Space is for general information, education and reflection only. It is not counselling or psychotherapy and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health assessment, diagnosis, treatment, advice or crisis support.

Complementary approaches discussed should not replace appropriate professional care. Content does not constitute Reiki treatment. Listening does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

🎵 MUSIC

Charlie — Soundstripe
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Isobar — Soundstripe
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💚 REAL CONVERSATIONS • REAL STORIES • REAL HOPE

💚 THE GREEN SPACE PODCAST WITH GARON GREEN 💚

REAL CONVERSATIONS • REAL STORIES • REAL HOPE

EPISODE 17 - LOVE AFTER TRAUMA

🎙️ SPECIAL GUEST — RIANA MILNE

In this episode, I’m joined by Riana Milne — Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Life, Love Trauma Recovery & Mindset Coach, bestselling author and host of the Lessons in Life & Love podcast.

We explore how childhood experiences and previous relationships can influence how we think, feel, connect and respond within adult relationships.

💚 IN THIS CONVERSATION

• Childhood experiences
• Relationship trauma
• Emotional triggers
• Repeating relationship patterns
• Toxic relationship dynamics
• Self-awareness
• Building healthier relationships
• Personal growth and hope

Understanding where a pattern came from is different from allowing that pattern to define where we go next.

🎙️ CONNECT WITH RIANA MILNE

🌐 Website
https://RianaMilne.com

📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/coachrianamilne/

📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CoachRianaMilne

💼 LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rianamilne/

▶️ YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/RianaMilne

🎧 Lessons in Life & Love — Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/6NBD0i64xRQbeL1Z5k00rE

🍎 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/lessons-in-life-love-with-coach-riana-milne/id1447860669

💚 THE GREEN SPACE PODCAST

🎧 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/0U7R8A5AfND8lVygyv3dvZ

🍎 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-green-space-podcast-with-garon-green/id1868819247

💚 ABOUT THE GREEN SPACE

Hosted by Garon Green — Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Accredited Registrant MNCPS (Acc.) & Usui Reiki Master Teacher.

The Green Space creates room for honest conversations about mental health, trauma, relationships, recovery, personal growth and hope.

The purpose is simple: to help people feel less alone. 💚

⚠️ PROFESSIONAL DISCLAIMER

The Green Space is an educational and conversational podcast for general information and reflection.

Episodes are not counselling or psychotherapy sessions and are not a substitute for professional mental health support, diagnosis, treatment or medical advice. Content does not constitute Reiki treatment.

Guest views and experiences are their own. Listening to the podcast does not establish a therapeutic relationship.

💚 REAL CONVERSATIONS • REAL STORIES • REAL HOPE

#TheGreenSpacePodcast #RianaMilne #GaronGreen #MentalHealthPodcast #Relationships #TraumaAwareness #RelationshipTrauma #PersonalGrowth

THE GREEN ROOM WITH GARON GREEN

EPISODE 16 THE MIND ON OVERLOAD

Anxiety, Overthinking & Finding Your Way Back to Yourself

I’m joined by Brian Sachetta, author and founder of Get Out of Your Head, for a conversation about anxiety, overthinking, depression, intrusive thoughts, uncertainty and what happens when our minds become overloaded.

As a counsellor, I wanted to explore the person behind the anxiety not just symptoms or techniques.

We discuss the patterns and beliefs we carry, why we become trapped in “what if?” thinking and how searching for certainty can sometimes keep anxiety going.

Brian shares his experiences with anxiety and depression and the story behind his books:

Get Out of Your Head: A Toolkit for Living with and Overcoming Anxiety

Get Out of Your Head Vol. 2: Navigating the Abyss of Depression

We explore when thinking becomes overthinking, what anxiety might be trying to protect us from, recognising old patterns, tolerating uncertainty and learning to treat ourselves with greater compassion.

“You don’t have to solve every thought that enters your mind.”

Sometimes healing begins when we stop fighting every thought and become curious about what is happening within us.

Anxiety may be loud, but it doesn't have to become our identity.

BRIAN SACHETTA

Website: https://getoutofyourhead.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getoutofyourhead/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getoutofyourheadbooks
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-sachetta
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getoutofyourhead

THE GREEN ROOM PODCAST

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0U7R8A5AfND8lVygyv3dvZ
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-green-room-podcast/id1868819247
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreenroompodcast1/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.green.room.po
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thegreenroompodcast101

MUSIC LICENSING

Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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Shame, addiction, and the stories we tell ourselves can keep us trapped for decades until one honest conversation begins to crack everything open.

In this deeply human episode of The Green Room Podcast, Garon Green sits down with author, drummer and recovering addict David Deane Haskell to explore the long and often painful road from trauma and addiction towards healing, self-awareness and acceptance.

David shares openly about growing up feeling lonely and misunderstood, carrying other people’s beliefs as his own, and becoming trapped in cycles of addiction, isolation and shame. He speaks about the fear of failure, living as a hermit for 11 years, and the difficult realisation that healing cannot happen by simply pretending that everything is fine.

Together, Garon and David explore:

• Why shame can be more destructive than guilt
• How inner-child work can help us recognise whose voice we are really

hearing
• The difference between toxic positivity and genuine hope
• Why addiction can be just as confusing for the person experiencing it as it is for those watching from the outside
• The importance of boundaries and self-awareness
• How small, consistent acts of recovery can create lasting change
• Masculinity, vulnerability and learning to ask for help
• Relapse, identity and the complicated journey of recovery
• What it means to stop performing a version of yourself and begin becoming who you really are.

Garon brings his own lived experience of addiction and his professional experience working within addiction and mental health into the conversation, creating an honest and compassionate space where neither recovery nor healing is presented as a straight line.

The conversation also explores David's creative life in Japan, his memoir Wounded Angels, his work as a science-fiction writer, and how imagination and spirituality can sometimes help us find meaning within experiences of pain, trauma and possibility.

At its heart, this is a conversation about shame, identity, addiction, healing and becoming whole.

If you've ever felt that you've spent years performing a version of yourself to survive, this episode may speak directly to you.

Listen. Reflect. And perhaps ask yourself: whose story am I actually living?

Guest: David Deane Haskell
Author | Drummer | Recovering Addict | Writer

Find out more about David:
daviddeanehaskell.com

💭 Why do we wear masks?

Ever felt like you’re pretending to be someone you’re not? 🤔

Tag someone who needs to hear this!

In this episode, we dive into the stories of Eddie and Jeremy, who share their struggles with mental health and the pressure of being the "fixer" or the "joker."

They open up about how society teaches men to hide their emotions, leading to a dangerous cycle of silence and suffering.

Eddie’s stroke was a wake-up call, reminding us that vulnerability is strength, not weakness. 💪

We need to break free from the chains of expectation and embrace our true selves.

How do you feel about talking openly about struggles?

Let’s support each other!

Full episode - link in bio!

#MentalHealthMatters #BreakTheStigma #RealTalk #EverydayMen #Vulnerability

Grief isn't just about death—it's about any significant loss that changes who we are. Whether it's the end of a relationship, a career transition, a shift in identity, or the loss of a loved one, grief is a deeply human experience that deserves compassion, not judgment.

In Episode 12, grief and resilience coach Brianne Cook shares her personal journey through loss and explores why healing isn't about "moving on" but learning how to live alongside grief with greater self-awareness, purpose, and connection.

Together, we discuss society's discomfort with grief, how we've lost many of the rituals and communities that once supported emotional healing, and what it truly means to hold space—for ourselves and for others—as we navigate life's inevitable challenges.

·       Why grief extends far beyond bereavement and includes many of life's major transitions.

·       The myths surrounding grief—including why time alone doesn't heal.

·       How cultural shifts have contributed to emotional disconnection and isolation.

·       Brianne's framework to Witness, Feel, Tend, Honour, and Reimagine grief.

·       The importance of self-compassion, emotional presence, and community in healing.

·       How purpose and meaning can emerge after profound loss.

·       Why authentic connection matters more than quick-fix solutions.

·       How past wounds can resurface during grief and why ongoing self-awareness is essential.

Whether you're experiencing grief yourself or supporting someone through loss, this conversation offers practical tools, compassionate insights, and a reminder that healing is never linear—and that you don't have to face it alone.

🌐 http://www.breannecook.com
▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@thisisbreannecook/videos
🎵 https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisbreannecook

Remember: Grief has no timeline. It isn't something to "get over"—it's something we learn to carry with compassion, courage, and connection.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone who may need this conversation today.

Dreamstate Music licensed through Soundstripe.

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Most of us believe grief is just about mourning a loss, but what if the deepest pain is actually the architecture of loneliness that follows? Garon Green opens the door to a raw, unfiltered exploration of grief’s shadow side, loneliness that can trap even the strongest among us in silent, systemic captivity. This episode isn’t just about getting through the dark; it’s about understanding how loss rewires your mind and body, and how YOU can reclaim your story.

From devastating personal loss like the death of his mother to the hidden heartbreak of lost friendships and shattered worlds, Garon shares his powerful journey of survival. He reveals the surprising truths about the five stages of grief, and how loneliness morphs these into chaotic, circular storms often felt more than understood. You'll discover concrete tools from CBT and DBT to catch those spiralling, unhelpful thoughts, and even radical acceptance techniques to sit with pain without surrendering to it.

We break down:

·       How grief becomes a chaotic pinball machine and why loneliness is the core engine of that storm

·       The truth behind “gradual” loss and the trauma of sudden trauma, like finding a loved one gone forever

·       Practical, science-backed strategies like TIP skills and grounding exercises to ride those relentless waves of despair

·       Why the social circle shifts after loss — and how to challenge the stories we tell ourselves about abandonment and worthlessness

·       The healing power of nature, patience, and re-growing your life around the void

This episode isn’t about quick fixes it’s about giving you a fierce, compassionate toolkit to face the architecture of silence inside you. Perfect for anyone feeling trapped in grief, haunted by loneliness, or desperate for real, actionable hope.

Special guest Lee from “There Is a Light Therapy” a therapist who’s survived unimaginable loss of his own reminds us that resilience isn’t just a word; it’s the act of walking your world in the dark, lantern in hand.

If you’re tired of feeling alone in your pain, if you’re ready to understand that grief is messy, nonlinear, and deeply human this episode is your call to step into the light.

Garongreentherapies.com

This week, inside my therapy room, a powerful theme kept emerging.

I sat with people from completely different backgrounds and walks of life, all processing the same kind of relational wound.

They had just survived a brutal season — a sudden health crisis, financial collapse, heartbreak, loss, or a complete upheaval of life as they knew it.

And when the storm hit, something painful happened.

Friends disappeared.
Partners withdrew.
Family members went silent.

People they had known for years simply vanished when they needed support the most.

But then the story changed.

My clients did the quiet, agonising, unglamorous work of survival. They stopped waiting for someone to rescue them. They rebuilt themselves brick by brick. They reclaimed their strength, their identity, and their power.

And then, almost predictably, the same people who disappeared during the darkness started trying to re-enter their lives.

A casual text.
A "just thinking of you" message.
A sudden interest in reconnecting.

As if nothing had happened.

As if they hadn't abandoned the relationship when it mattered most.

If you're experiencing this right now—if you're carrying the pain of being left behind, or the anger of watching people return now that you're thriving—this episode is for you.

Together, we'll unpack this dynamic through:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and cognitive restructuring
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) and distress tolerance
• Carl Jung's shadow work and deeper psychological insight

I'm not speaking to you only as a therapist.

I'm speaking as someone who has walked through that wilderness himself.

Twice.

The first time, resentment nearly consumed me because I had no tools to understand what was happening.

The second time, I used everything I had learned—clinically, psychologically, and spiritually—to transform adversity into growth.

In this episode, we'll explore:

✔ Why people disappear when life gets difficult
✔ Why they often return when you've rebuilt yourself
✔ How to stop wasting your energy searching for answers they may never give
✔ The hidden psychology behind abandonment and re-entry
✔ How these experiences can become catalysts for profound personal growth

Turn the volume up.

Let's get into it.

🌐 Official Website
Visit Garon Green Therapies to learn more about counselling services, read the latest articles, or book a consultation:
https://www.garongreen.co.uk

📘 Facebook
Follow Garon Green Therapies on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/garongreentherapies

📸 Instagram
For insights, updates, and local Walk & Talk sessions:
https://www.instagram.com/garongreentherapies

#MentalHealth #Therapy #CBT #DBT #CarlJung #ShadowWork #PersonalGrowth #Healing #TraumaRecovery #Relationships #SelfDevelopment #Psychology #EmotionalHealing #Resilience

Most men carry an invisible weight — a silent shame about vulnerability, masculinity, and emotional truth. Garon Green dives deep into the unspoken struggles men face today, revealing how centuries of cultural messaging turn men into emotional prisoners behind a mask of strength.This episode exposes the hidden toll of suppressing fear, grief, and shame. With raw honesty, Garon shares his own journey through grief, addiction, and rebuilding in the wake of personal loss. He illustrates how emotional overload, not emptiness, fuels the high rates of male suicide — 75% of all suicides in the UK are men, many of whom suffer in silence because they believe asking for help is a weakness.

• The social programming that enforces the "strong man" myth and its lethal implications
• Why most men are more emotionally overloaded than empty, and how this manifests in addiction, withdrawal, and risky behaviors
• The transformative power of vulnerability, showing that bravery is simply showing up, even when it feels impossible
• How Jung’s concept of the shadow explains the importance of making unconscious pain conscious and how this shifts the trajectory of men’s mental health

This isn’t just about statistics — it’s about seizing the opportunity to break the cycle of silence before tragedy strikes. If you’re a man feeling overwhelmed, or if you care about supporting the men in your life, this episode offers vital insights. It’s about reclaiming strength through honesty, connection, and presence — and understanding that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, but true bravery.Garon Green combines decades of therapy experience with personal resilience, sharing the lessons he’s learned on his own journey. His message is clear: you are not broken, and survival begins the moment you acknowledge your pain. Perfect for anyone tired of pretending, ready to face the shadow, and eager to foster real emotional health.If you believe men deserve better mental health support and want to understand how to navigate the unseen emotional war many are fighting, this episode is essential listening.

Break the silence your future self will thank you.