The Heavy Mental Podcast

In this episode, Leila and I chat to Clover Hogan, a 21-year-old climate activist, researcher on eco-anxiety, and the founder of Force of Nature - a youth-led organisation empowering Gen Z to step up, rather than shut down, in the face of the climate crisis.

Despite only being in her early 20’s, Clover has worked alongside the world’s leading authorities on sustainability, consulted within the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, and mobilised mindsets within classrooms across the UK.

In June of this year, Clover launched the Force of Nature podcast - a 9-part series with ordinary people doing extraordinary things to save the planet.

Clover is also campaign strategist for #MyEcoResolution, serves as a trustee to Global Action Plan, and is on the advisory boards of the National Community Lottery's Climate Action Fund and the Teach the Future campaign.

In this episode, we chat about Clover’s unique upbringing, how her love for nature was cultivated at an early age and her education in Indonesia’s Green School — which has been described as being like “a Steiner school on steroids”. We talk about what what first influenced Clover to become passionate and interested in climate activism and we also discuss what changes we can make as a global society to better educate ourselves on what impact we have on the planet.

One of the key themes here is anxiety, in this instance, specific to climate change. Clover discusses how and when this started, how it made her feel and how she took steps to let manage and process it.

Thematically, we also cover:

Personal development, different types of intelligence, education, politics, climate activism, communicating with young people, the balance between work and play, lockdown, lobbying, redefining success, taking action, shadow work, learning to listen, focusing on service and contribution and having fun with doing what you do.

Enjoy.

Much love.

In this episode, Leila and I chat with Hannah Morgan.

Hannah is the Director and Co-Founder of Cardiff-based, not-for-profit community interest company, Heads Above The Waves.

Founded in 2013, Heads raises awareness of depression and self-harm in young people by promoting positive and creative ways of dealing with the bad days. They help mental health sufferers keep their heads above water, no matter how big the waves.

To promote their cause they also produce merch with a real message. One that communicates and embodies what they’re all about — link in the show notes.

During our chat, we talk about how Heads started as an idea between a couple of friends walking home after a night out, how it developed, and how over time, it grew to the positive force for mental health support that it is today.

We also chat lockdown in the UK and how that has affected us mentally, including various ways we’ve managed to cope during this fucking weird old time we're all going through!

Thematically, we also chat:

Collaboration, creating community, friendship, the music scene, supporting friends and family with mental health issues, self harm, anxiety, hard work, creativity, uncertainty and therapy.

Enjoy!

So, this episode was unplanned and completely impromptu. After putting it off for the best part of a year (if not longer), I woke up on Friday morning with a compulsion to share my story.

I resisted talking about it at any length primarily due to fear; of shame; of embarrassment; and of guilt. But ironically, these are the feelings that allow eating disorders to grow and thrive. The illness is by its nature, a very secretive one.

So, no more. I'm releasing this shit from the deep, dark chamber within me that it's been locked in until now.

I'm sharing my story in the hope that it can help somebody out there who currently finds themselves in the pits of anguish, suffering from an eating disorder. I've hit the bottom and I know exactly how it feels to be overcome with a feeling of helplessness.

I want those people to know that there is a way out. There is a path to recovery and there is hope. I want this episode to serve as an example that it is possible to start the healing process — no matter where you are in your journey. There is help out there. There are ways to mend your relationship to yourself and your body. You can learn to love yourself exactly how you are. I now understand that is the key. That is the beginning. Removing all of these layers of shit and conditioning that's been put on us all from society.

In the episode, I share my own personal story in a linear fashion, about how my issues with food began, how they developed, how they evolved over time, and how I started the slow, uncomfortable, yet absolutely essential, process of healing.

I used to define myself purely by how I looked to the outside world. It was all of my identity. I used to think that I was just my body. In fact, all of my self-worth was wrapped up in it. But now, I understand that we are more than these meat suits we operate temporarily.

So much fucking more.

Challenging that unloving, authoritarian bastard of an inner voice telling me I was never good enough was a massive part of the puzzle for me. My brain and I are beginning to coexist in harmony.

Dare I say it, we're now mates.

Thematically, we talk:

Body image, body dysmorphia, anorexia, bulimia, recovery, relationships and eating disorders, counselling, orthorexia, restriction, control, the diet industry, the fitness industry, health and wellness, bodybuilding, obsessional thinking, changing your inner dialogue and learning self-love.

This is a really big one for me and it still feels uncomfortable talking about it all, but I know that the more I talk about it, the less power it has over me.

In this episode, I chat with Claudia Rose Carter.

Claudia is a photographer and mother to a 6-year-old boy called Jesse, who she describes as “fiercely independent”, and it’s no surprise either, as this sense of autonomy has been cultivated within him from a young age.

Claudia manages her own photography business, shooting primarily weddings, and is based in Warwickshire. She seeks authenticity and connection in everything she does.

It always comes back to connection for her.

For Claudia, being a mother didn’t exactly come naturally to her. She had to learn things over time and on the fly. She also says that Jesse has been one of her greatest teachers, allowing her to understand a great deal about herself and since he came into the world, she’s been more grateful for each and every day.

It was becoming a mother that made Claudia all the more aware of her own mortality and this is reflected in the mission statement she adopts as a parent: that she’s trying to teach Jesse how to be a human without her.

That’s the primary theme of this episode: motherhood — an honest, open account of what is to be a parent while working for yourself, travelling, moving and processing the end of a relationship.

Due to this, Claudia was led towards having counselling, something that she saw as a necessary exploration of her own mind. By having these sessions, she was able to “start to work her head out”, as she says. She soon realised how much a toll the years had taken on her own mental health.

Hindsight always seems to bestow upon us a great sense of clarity.

Thematically, there’s also:

Mindset, self-awareness, creativity, confidence, self-doubt, authenticity, connection, social media, being a parent during lockdown, being the black sheep, relationships the photography industry, travel, family and post-natal depression.

Also of note, this conversation took place BEFORE the UK lockdown, so no rules were broken here, just FYI people.

In this episode, I chat with Nina Rabinowitz.

Nina is a scientist who studies public health, specialising in epidemiology, living in the holy city of Jerusalem, Israel. She also researches the use of psychedelics and medical decision making and is a self-confessed “spiritual seeker”, having practiced and taught yoga for nearly a decade.

Now, on top of all of that, Nina has a particularly interesting story, unlike anything I’ve ever heard before - which is exactly why I wanted to chat to her.

Back in 2017, Nina had to undergo emergency brain surgery, after a CT scan revealed that she had a cerebellar tumour.

When Nina awoke, she found that her experience of the world had completely altered. So much so, she felt like a different person.

Nina’s entire adult life had been lived almost totally unable to feel emotions with any sort of vibrancy and significance — they were “blunted” as she puts it.

But after her surgery, things were different. Her mental health had dramatically improved. She was able to see the world through a new lens.

We also chat:

Psychedelics, counselling, medication, philosophy, science, the importance of surrender, yoga, holotropic breathing, the relationship between exercise and mental health, materialism, cultural difference between Israel and the US and trauma.

In this episode, Leila and I chat to the lovely Hannah Pixie Snow.

Hannah is an artist who’s creating an eco-community in what she lovingly refers to as “The Land of Dreams”, aka Nepal.

In this mystical land, Hannah and the close-knit group of people around her are building a magical, self-sustaining haven and learning centre, that aims to teach regenerative culture and natural living solutions for the immediate, as well as global community.

This is a super wide-ranging conversation in terms of subject matter, but in essence, we chat to Hannah about her own personal journey and what led her to Nepal, as well as the amazing work she's doing there now and her plans for the future.

Thematically, we also chat:

Reconnecting with your inner child, going back to nature, letting go of what doesn’t serve you, the power of community, the importance of who you surround yourself with, finding fulfilling work, change, self-limiting beliefs, veganism, the mind-body-soul connection, the divine feminine, focusing on the why and ridding yourself of the scarcity mindset.

This was mega inspiring episode for Leila and I, and after having it, we chatted about buying a plot of land and moving into rural mid-Wales to start an animal sanctuary...who knows, it could happen!

Hannah is a proper kind-hearted beam of light and we know you're going to get a lot of value out of this one.

Enjoy!

In this episode, I speak with my mate Reece Richiardi.

Reece is the dude behind “Humman” — an online health and wellness service that aims to cultivate and build a community of men who support each other to be better men.

This conversation (while in isolation) was actually recorded a few weeks ago, just as the UK lockdown started, but I think it’s just as relevant now seen we’re still in the throes of it all, with no definitive end in sight.

We chat about how we’ve been coping during these unpredictable times. What we’ve learned about ourselves. How it’s made us feel. How we’re trying to get through without being bogged down by negativity. And how ultimately, we’re both trying to look for the good in a bad situation.

We also chat:

Being careful what you feed your mind, how important nature is to good mental health, the physical effects of stress on the body, health anxiety, social media overwhelm, information overload, men’s mental health, assessing our own patterns of behaviour and how fear spreads like a virus.

This is a difficult time for all of us, right?

Especially those who are prone to struggling with their mental health. We’re having to cope with an unprecedented situation at the moment. One that’ll likely cause people (like me) to feel overstimulated and anxious. We’re all trying to adapt to this new way of life as quickly as we can, but sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming.

What if there were ways that you could create a sense of inner peace when all the world around has cast theirs by the wayside?

Well, you need not look any further, because it’s all here and more in this episode where I chat to Richie Norton.

Richie is a former professional rugby player that now teaches yoga, breathwork and mindfulness under the the banner of The Strength Temple.

Throughout his life, Richie has been on his own personal journey trying to figure out how to manage stress, anxiety, fear and overwhelm. He did this by “learning into his demons”, as he puts it. By doing this — by delving into the darkness — Richie was able to cultivate a sense of self-awareness, learning important life lessons along the way.

Over time, Richie gradually built up a toolkit to take care of himself and thrive physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. He now uses his acquired knowledge in his role as a coach, by helping other people to build and create their own toolkits.

While we’ve all been thrust into a potentially daunting situation right now, Richie believes we have a real opportunity to learn some valuable lessons in self discovery. To slow things down. To go inward. To observe our behaviours and make changes accordingly. He believes we’ve been gifted this time. This wake-up call to be able to work on ourselves. Face our fears and improve our all-round health, for when normality resumes.

How we move. How we breathe. How we sleep. What we eat. What media we consume. All of these things (and more) are key parts of the puzzle. Of the toolkit required to live a happier, more contented, peaceful way of life.

Hope this one brings you some value my friends. If it does, please tell a pal and share it.

Much love.

Rhys.

As promised, last weekend, my lady wife and I sat down to have a natter about ways we can try and keep ourselves sane during this incredibly weird and surreal time.

Oh, and, I’ve made all the mistakes, so you don’t have to…

We chat:

Getting out of a funk, maintaining routine, faking your walk to work, checking in with people, being mindful of your pacifiers (too many to list for me), how to keep things on track, isolation food issues, identifying bad behaviours, working on yourself, not working on yourself, moderation, excess, finding your own thing and being kind — to yourself and others.

(I think I’ll be listening back to this one myself!)

We had a load of fun doing this episode, so if anyone has any other suggestions for Leila and I to chat about, ping us a DM.

And, if you got some value out of this episode, tell a mate. Share away.

Take care people.

Rhys

In this episode, I chat with Ryan Evans: a registered nutritionist, personal trainer, gut health specialist and proponent of holistic self-care, based in New South Wales, Australia.

Ryan is a compassionate, caring and empathetic guy who uses his online platform to share his knowledge of health and wellness to improve the lives of others. He describes himself as a “weird hippy dude”, now. Someone who loves connecting with nature, meditating, practicing holistic healing modalities and enjoying the simpler things in life.

But this is a far cry from his past.

Ryan grew up in a rough part of North London in Tottenham, where violence was an everyday part of his life, and as such, he lived his youth in a perpetual state of fight or flight. Of fear and uneasiness.

As the years went on, Ryan turned to the world of bodybuilding to process some of the pent up emotions that had only compounded within him over time. He developed an imposing muscular physique and I don’t use the term “23 stone brick shit house” lightly, but he was just that.

His formidable, tough-looking exterior defined him at the time. Even his tattoo choices were provocative, choosing to have LIVE FAST etched into his knuckles.

But as Ryan openly says during the episode, it was all a “facade”.

He thought that the bigger and scarier he looked as an individual, the next time someone tried to mug him, he wouldn’t have a problem in defending himself. He’d created this character out of necessity, and it acted almost like a shell that protected him from the dangers of the outside world, because inside, he was just a scared young boy that didn’t want to get attacked again.

In order to soothe his inner pain, Ryan turned to booze and drugs. Anything that’d temporarily distract him from his physical self and the trauma of his past. His drug of choice, was valium. Lots of it. He ate the stuff like Smarties And that’s alongside the booze and the overeating and the excess that’d become the norm. There just always seemed to be something eating him, be it jealousy, anger or control.

But as he puts it, “the Universe had another plan” for him.

Over time, Ryan started to realise how much of a problem it’d become and so he attempted to wean himself off the substances, resulting in anxiety-ridden and erratic thoughts. Be he clung on. He sat there with his pain and began to process with it. Understand it. Slowly and gradually. With the help and support of others.

He started to see glimpses of a completely different person that resided within. He kicked his drug habit. He stopped the boozing. He unpacked his pain and inner world with the help of a therapist and he consumed knowledge on how to heal himself: with meditation, gratitude, nutrition, affirmations and self-reflection.

The tools that he uses today to help other people who are struggling.

That was all many years ago and since moving to Australia, Ryan’s flourished. He shed the old version of himself and let go of his former life. He’s started over and utilised the opportunity to tap into his true and authentic self. The one that was inside, deep down all along. Buried underneath the facade.

Ryan’s personal journey is just the beginning of this fascinating episode focused around health, wellness, nutrition and mental health. Here’s what other topics you can expect:

The brain / gut connection, Ryan’s Miracle Morning Routine, health anxiety, holding onto stress in the body, visualisation, priming your physical and mental state, the role of a positive mindset in overall wellbeing, manifestation, holistic healing methods, spirituality, making things simple, the relationship between nutrition and mental health, yoga and therapy.

Hope you get value out of this one, people. Remember: stay safe. Stay sane. Stay home.