The Just Checking In Podcast

In episode 250 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with Connor Smart.Connor currently works in emergency planning and lives in a rural part of the Midlands with his fiancé and now, young son. Connor and our Founder Freddie used to work together as interns at a think-tank in 2016 and Connor's first piece of Vent content was an article he wrote in November 2017. He then came on the podcast alongside his twin brother Lewis in JCIP #130 and once more in JCIP #144 where he interviewed Freddie for a very engaging and thought-provoking conversation through the lens of three concepts: 'Defeat', 'Struggle' and 'Growth'.In this solo episode, we're checking back in with Connor about a range of issues. We reflect on his pod with his brother, what’s changed in both their lives since we recorded and how he felt he did when interviewing Freddie.We also discuss fatherhood, finally feeling settled in a career path he is enjoying, the difference between urban vs rural life, his 10 year relationship with his fiancé and identity. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can listen to JCIP #130 with Connor and Lewis here: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-130-connor-smart-lewis-smartYou can listen to Connor's interview with Freddie here: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-144-freddie-cocker-part-4Support Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In episode 249 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Charlie Bethel.Charlie is currently the CEO of the UK Men's Sheds Association (UKMSA).The concept of the Men’s Shed started in Australia in around 1999. It then spread to New Zealand, Ireland, the UK, Canada and, more recently, Europe and the USA. At time of recording, there are a total of 1180 Sheds across the UK.Men’s Sheds (or Sheds) are similar to garden sheds, in that they are a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending. However, the difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men’s Sheds are the opposite. These unique concepts are about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills and knowledge and a lot of laughter.Although labelled Sheds, they often aren’t sheds at all. They can be empty offices, portable cabin’s, warehouses, garages, and in at least one case, a disused mortuary. Some Sheds are purpose-built workshops, but they rarely start out that way. Many don’t have premises at all in the beginning and instead form a group that meets regularly for the social connection, company and camaraderie. Many Sheds get involved in community projects too – restoring village features, helping maintain parks and green spaces, and building things for schools, libraries and individuals in need.In this episode we discuss how Charlie came to be in the role of CEO at UKMSA and his background in Paralympic Sport, particularly Wheelchair Basketball.We then discuss the genesis of the Men’s Shed and the role they play in the lives of the men who are members, the statistics that back this up, the benefits they provide to the local community and in turn, for the mental health of the men in giving them connection, achievement and pride.We pick out some of Charlie’s favourite stories of the work the Sheds have done, how they have saved lives and some of the UKMSA’s key projects, including ShedFest.We explore how Sheds cut across class lines and age boundaries in bringing men together and building bridges.For Charlie’s mental health, we discuss fatherhood, his love of walking and the importance of self-care when he noticed his general mental health was declining during a house build he did with his wife. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can find out more about the UK Men's Sheds Association and where to find your local Shed here: https://menssheds.org.uk/You can follow UKMSA on social media below: Twitter: https://x.com/ukmenssheds?s=21Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukmenssheds?igsh=cnJlMnRoY2pzYzExSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In this episode of Reel Stories, we checked in with Laoise Toye.Laoise works in television and media and is the host of her own podcast 'Laoise Online'.In this episode we discuss: Laoise’s journey into television, from working with a Belfast production company called Stellify to where she is now, her love of theatre and musical theatre and how watching Eurovision for the first time as a child inspired her to want to work in the glamorous world of entertainment. For industry issues, we discuss work-life balance, accentism she’s faced as an Irish woman living in London, her passion about the Irish language and wanting to keep it visible on television screens.For Laoise’s mental health, Laoise had experience of bullying growing up and we briefly discuss this and the impact it had on her then, and as an adult. We also discuss her diagnosis of Endometriosis, which she has lived with as a 14/15-year-old. We talk about the crippling chronic pain it has caused her, which at times has caused exhaustion, fainting and even hospitalisation on a couple of occasions.We also discuss how it impacts her relationships, career and future fertility concerns. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can follow Laoise on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laoisetoye/You can subscribe and listen to 'Laoise Online' here: https://open.spotify.com/show/3W1n4HrqXgrLTncizaqKAMSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @ekkah - Backseat Driver: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFhgxYuoP8U

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In episode 248 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Nick Gazzard. Nick is the CEO of the Hollie Gazzard Trust (HGT).The Trust was set up by him after the murder of his daughter Hollie, by an ex-boyfriend when she was just 20 years old. After that moment, Nick set up the Trust to try and stop what happened to Hollie from happening to anyone else ever again. The Trust helps reduce domestic abuse through creating and delivering programmes on domestic abuse and promoting healthy relationships. It delivers these programmes to schools, colleges, universities, police forces and other community groups.The ultimate aim of the Trust is to positively change the lives of young people through partnerships in communities, as well as working alongside other charities and professional agencies.In this episode we discuss Nick’s life as a professional footballer before an ACL injury ended his dreams of becoming one, fatherhood and his volunteering work for the Gloucestershire FA for 17 years. We then discuss Hollie’s life, her character, his favourite memories of her and the events which led up to her murder and death. We discuss the grief he and his family went through after Hollie's death and why he decided to use that huge trauma for the loss of his child and channel it into the Trust in her name which still exists today. We then discuss how men can spot the signs that someone they know may be either a perpetrator of domestic abuse or a victim, how we can intervene and take action and avoid being a bystander for abuse. We finish by discussing a stroke Nick went through in 2020 and how it forced him to create a better work-life balance for himself and take better care of his mental health.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can find out more about the Hollie Gazzard Trust here: https://holliegazzard.org/.You can follow the Trust on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollie_gazzard_trust/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HollieGazzardT?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5EauthorTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holliegazzardtrustYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/holliegazzardtrustSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In episode 247 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with a man called Sean. Sean works for the PSSD Network, which is an organisation based in Australia, made up of people who suffer from a condition called Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD). PSSD describes a debilitating condition which a subset of people live with and follows the use of SSRI and SNRI medication. A condition like this is an example of something called iatrogenic harm i.e. medical harm induced unintentionally by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures.Common symptoms of PSSD include, but are not limited to: genital numbness, a complete loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, vaginal dryness, anhedonia and emotional blunting.This condition is very controversial in medical circles and the mainstream mental health conversation because it goes against the established narrative that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are all universally safe. The PSSD Network's goal is to increase awareness of PSSD, expedite research and offer support to patients and their loved ones as necessary.The PSSD Network’s mission is to speed up research and find treatments or a cure for PSSD.Sean himself lives with PSSD after he was prescribed two SSRIs for long-term issues he had with anxiety.The first he was prescribed was Prozac by his GP which had no side-effects on him but didn’t work for him and he came off it very quickly. However, he continued to suffer from anxiety and during his university degree, he went back to his GP and was prescribed an SSRI called Citalopram. It was whilst he was on Citalopram that he had these severe side-effects which included sexual dysfunction, genital numbness, emotional blunting and lost libido. He came off the citalopram but the side-effects didn’t go away and he came to the eventual conclusion that he had PSSD. After not being believed by multiple doctors, he eventually found medical professionals who believed him and has been working out how to manage it and treat it for the last two years.In this episode we discuss how the SSRI caused him to develop PSSD, his self-awareness about the condition and the community he has found in the PSSD network to help him with it. We discuss the role of the pharmaceutical industry in pushing SSRIs onto medical professionals who then prescribe them to patients and what needs to change in order for patients to be given full, informed consent before taking any of these drugs. We also debate why critics of the PSSD network accuse them of being ‘anti-medication’, why they argue that they don’t fall into that camp, Sean’s recovery journey and the various methods he’s tried to manage the PSSD or heal from it. We finish by discussing the work he does with the PSSD network, the research that still needs to be done around SSRIs and what is the right route forward to ensure people who need medication and would be helped by taking them are given them and who doesn’t need them and could be harmed. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can find out more about the PSSD Network here: https://www.pssdnetwork.org/You can follow them on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pssd_network/?hl=en-gbTwitter: https://x.com/pssdnetwork?lang=enSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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This is Part 2 of our check in with Koggno Founder Kirsty Martin.In this episode we discuss some elements of exclusionary behaviour she experienced whilst at boarding school and some other traumatic events which we discuss in-depth in the podcast.Kirsty then went to university in Edinburgh where, perhaps as a statement of the university system around class, was surrounded with other people from boarding school educations again.She then started dating a boy which became toxic quite quickly. It was never a proper relationship, more of a ‘situationship’, as Kirsty called it.Her mental health was significantly impacted and she ended this relationship. However, she started drinking excessively and put herself into a couple of very dangerous situations after nights out. After reaching a state of crisis, she was fortunate enough to access therapy privately to start her recovery and, in her words ‘turn up for myself’. We chart all of these events, how they led to the creation of Koggno and her acknowledgement that she still has a lot of work to do.Despite all of the interviews she has done with her own guests on the Koggno podcast, this is the first time Kirsty has spoken publicly and in this depth about her mental health and we are grateful to Kirsty for sharing this on the JCIP.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can follow Koggno on social media below:Instagram: www.instagram.com/koggno/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@koggnothepodcastSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In episode 246 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Kirsty Martin.Kirsty is the Founder of Koggno, a platform which shares, navigates and explore psychology, mental health & well-being from different perspectives and approaches.Through Koggno, Kirsty has also gone back to university and has recently completed a Masters in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health.In Part 1 of Kirsty’s journey, we discuss: the journey of Koggno, how she adjusted to being a public speaker and podcast host, the power of her ‘blazer’ which she always wears doing interviews or speeches and how she’s tried to avoid the clichés and pitfalls which pepper the wellbeing space right now.We also explore social class and sex within wellbeing, why wellbeing can sometimes be seen from the outside as a middle-class pursuit, heavily female-dominated and female-centric in its approaches and where that leaves room for men and more masculine strategies.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can follow Koggno on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koggno/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@koggnothepodcastSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In this episode of Behind The Mic we checked in with drummer Michael Bivona.Biv currently is a session drummer for solo artist stayMellow and previously played drums for UK pop-punk band, Goldbloom. In this episode we discuss: his music journey, how he got into drumming, joining Goldbloom in 2019, his decision to leave the band in 2024, the band eventually splitting up and the stress of social media.For Biv's mental health, we discuss his diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in his mid-20s, how it almost derailed his life, the medication he takes which allowed him to keep drumming and stay active and therapy. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can follow Michael on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/___biv?igsh=cDJtdnAxenR1YnVkSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In episode 245 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with David Cooper. David is an artist who specialises in producing art from the world’s longest running TV show, The Simpsons, with prints taken from iconic scenes and his favourite characters.In this episode we discuss: his love of the show and how he got into drawing, painting and creating, which members of the Simpsons cast he most enjoys drawing, work-life balance and the positive fact that he’s never had artist block! For David’s mental health we discuss fatherhood.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can buy one of David's prints on his website here: https://davidbcooper.bigcartel.com/You can also subscribe to his Patreon here: https://patreon.com/davidbcooperFollow David on social media below: Twitter: https://x.com/davidbcooperInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbcooper/Support Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In episode 244 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Luke Loughlin. Luke is the Co-Founder of Men United, a platform which seeks to empower men to reclaim control of their wellbeing by nurturing their mind, body, and soul.The platform was set up by its Founder Troy Colmer, who then befriended Luke and asked him to come on board.Troy set up the platform when a friend of his disclosed his mental health story to him and he saw the power of that conversation and wanted to provide that to other men in Canada. In this episode, we discuss the story of Men United and what gap they want to provide in the men’s mental health conversation in Canada. For Luke’s mental health, he was diagnosed with ADHD and a learning disability when he was nine years old.Like many boys who exhibited ADHD traits, especially from working-class backgrounds, he was often labelled as a 'troublemaker' in school.Luke was then sexually abused as a teenager by the mother of his then-girlfriend when he was around 15/16 years old and was also raped by her on one occasion. He came out about the abuse four years later to his parents. Unfortunately, when he went to the police about it, he was shut down and ignored.That betrayal, combined with the abuse caused him to spiral. He began drinking excessively, developed an addiction and began sabotaging his future romantic relationships, friendships and relationships with his family members.He tried to get sober in 2019 but unfortunately relapsed and tried to take his own life. From there, he began a recovery journey, accessed therapy, worked on his attachment style and has taken him to where he is today as part of Men United. We discuss all of these experiences, why male survivors of sexual abuse, especially ones abused by female perpetrators continue to be ignored in the wider conversation and the dark side of mental illness.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can follow Men United on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/men___united/Support Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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