The Just Checking In Podcast

In episode 159 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with writer Ben Sixsmith. Ben currently works as the contributing editor at The Critic Magazine. He is also founder of his Substack 'The Zone'.In this episode we discuss how he got into fell into writing through writing for outlets like Quillette and Areo Magazines respectively before he got work with outlets like The American Conservative and The Spectator.We explore some of the articles he’s written on topics including male stoicism, the pros and cons of meaning and its absence in the current mental health conversation and the work he has done writing about men with eating disorders. We also discuss Ben’s own experience with both Anorexia and Bulimia during his university degree which forced him to drop out altogether, how he managed to turn his life around and how moving to Poland was a big part of that. We finish by discussing the internet’s role in the mental health conversation and the very bizarre ways it can influence the human consciousness.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can read all of Ben's articles we discussed in this episode in full below:Year of the Cold: https://medium.com/arc-digital/year-of-the-cold-29c18f732c73Beer and Recovery: https://bensixsmith.substack.com/p/beer-and-recoveryIn Defence of Male Stoicism: https://quillette.com/2018/12/21/in-defense-of-male-stoicism/amp/You can subscribe to Ben's Substack here: https://bensixsmith.substack.com/You can follow Ben on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/BDSixsmithSupport 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=d70wfeJSEvkTRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains a brief discussion about suicide and suicidality, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In episode 158 of The Just Checking In Podcast our Founder Freddie Cocker reflected on how far we've come as a platform as we celebrated our fifth anniversary in September 2022.Freddie talks about the early days of Vent and setting up the website, how the idea for the JCIP began, the plethora of mental health issues we've covered on it in the 3.5 years its been going and how the podcast led to the creation of Just Checking In Live too. Freddie also describes the personal impact that doing Vent has had on his life in making him take ownership of his mental health recovery, changing his perspective on specific issues and what he hopes to achieve with it in the future. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can listen to all of the JCIPs Freddie mentioned in this episode below: JCIP #3 - Dan Agnew: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-3-dan-agnewJCIP #4 - Lloyd Taylor: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-4-lloyd-taylorJCIP #10 - Freddie Cocker - Part 1: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-10-freddie-cocker-part-1JCIP #10 - Freddie Cocker - Part 2: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-10-freddie-cocker-part-2JCIP #12 - Matt Harrold: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-12-matt-harroldJCIP #46 - Alex Bartlett: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-46-alex-bartlettJCIP #49 - William Costello: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-49-william-costelloJCIP #50 - James Lamb: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-50-james-lambJCIP #63 - My Mate Matt: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-63-my-mate-mattJCIP #73- Ella Brooks - Part 1: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-73-ella-brooks-part-1JCIP #73 - Ella Brooks - Part 2: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-73-ella-brooks-part-2JCIP #87 - Robin Hadley: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-87-dr-robin-hadleyJCIP #92 - Patricia Faulks: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-92-patricia-faulksJCIP #116 - Lesley Roberts: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-116-lesley-robertsJCIP #132 - TullipR: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-132-tulliprJCIP #141 - Micah Fanimo: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-141-micah-fanimoBehind The Decks - Louis La Roche: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/behind-the-decks-louis-la-rocheSupport 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 our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with UK psychedelic-rock band, Beach For Tiger. In part 2 we checked in with Mick Anderson, who plays drums in the band as well as percussion in Rayowa.In this episode we discussed how Mick started Beach For Tiger with his brother Pete and how both of them became part of Rayowa. We talk about the influence of TikTok on songwriting in the music industry and how Mick was able to thrive in school whilst balancing his love of music with his talent and love of football. For Mick's mental health, we discuss a pressure Mick felt as the oldest sibling in his family as a teenager and adult in being expected to deal with mental health hardships and challenges that came his way. We also explore his relationship with his dad whom he has a strong relationship with and the evolving of that relationship as he's gotten older, him and his dad’s mutual love of watching Arsenal FC play and how his dad suffering an angina attack was a big wakeup call for Mick to make the most of life. We finish by discussing the danger of your mental health becoming your identity, relationships, heartbreak and a life-threatening experience Mick had whilst travelling in Nepal when he lived through two separate earthquakes and almost died in one of them.As always, #itsokaytoventListen to Beach For Tiger on streaming platforms below:Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/1QVfnmiJu…d0HQ&dl_branch=1SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/beach-for-tigerFollow Beach For Tiger on social media below:Instagram: www.instagram.com/beachfortiger/?hl=enFacebook: www.facebook.com/BeachForTiger/Twitter: twitter.com/BeachForTigerListen to Rayowa on streaming platforms below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6awgjbEndbfu3IpwqKhIFoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RayowaLifeSupport 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=d70wfeJSEvkOutro: Beach For Tiger - Craving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4-xYk7rado

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In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked back in with UK rock band, Cavalcade. In JCIP #25 we checked in with guitarist Jack Campbell, this time we checked in with Jack and lead singer Connor.In this episode we discuss Connor’s music journey and how he got involved in the band, what they’ve been up to and their plans for the future. We also talk about a period of depression Connor went through at university and how he’s been exposed to mental health difficulties in supporting Jack through the grief of losing his dad we discussed in part one and his battle with disassociation.For Jack, we talk about how he has overcome the worst of his disassociation and learned some tools in how to deal with it when it crops up in his day-to-day life. We also talk about his recent diagnosis of Body Dysmorphia (BD). We explore why men and boys feel so much stigma around body image issues like BD and how he’s navigating the next stage of his mental health journey.As always, #itsokaytovent You can listen to JCIP #25 with Jack here: https://soundcloud.com/venthelpuk/jcip-25-cavalcade-jack-campbellListen to Cavalcade on streaming platforms below:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/209yZUIl2pYkLRP0D7TdROYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4CPexJYMslunmyFgk4OHigFollow Cavalcade on social media below:Instagram: www.instagram.com/cavalcadeband/Facebook: www.facebook.com/CavalcadeBand/Twitter: twitter.com/Cavalcade__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=d70wfeJSEvkTRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains discussions about self-harm and suicide, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked in with singer/songwriter Greta Lovisa.Greta was born in Germany to Swedish-German parents and moved to London to study music for her degree and pursue her dreams of being an artist before Covid-19 hit and she took stock of her journey and dropped out of university. She will be going back next year to finish her degree.In this episode we chart her musical journey from Germany to the UK, transitioning from singing in German to English and how she lost her voice when she was 18 years old. Because of this, Greta needed to have an operation on her vocal chords to ensure she was able to sing again. We also discuss the loneliness she’s felt in moving to London as an artist, how she’s felt like an outsider at times and realising that a lot of relationships in the music industry outwardly can be very surface-level.For Greta's mental health journey, we explore the depression diagnosis she had when she was 12 years old and being in therapy on and off since that time as well as being hospitalised twice. Greta has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD) in the last few years which then caused her to develop Bulimia and we unpack how the two interacted and the consequences of that for her mental health, which has also included two suicide attempts.Greta is now in the most stable place she has ever been and we finish by talking about the positive impact medication has had on her, how her family and friends have become understanding of her BPD and her plans for music and life going forward.As always, #itsokaytoventListen to Greta Lovisa on streaming platforms below: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgdm0u1euvct42U4WKfqqQASpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5xHkoaJV4LhzDfypcoVKKeYou can follow Greta Lovisa on social media platforms below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gretalovisaa/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gretalovisamusicSupport 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=d70wfeJSEvkTRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains descriptions of eating disorders, suicide and self-harm, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In episode 157 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Lewis Baxter.Lewis is the founder of Hullo, which aims to give anyone and everyone access to conversation. Hullo provides a free call line that is open 9am to 9pm every day of the year and exists to unlock the power of conversation and create an inclusive, safe and non-judgmental space for people to chat and connect with others.Lewis is also the Chief Operating Officer of Kurogo, a branding agency which helps the most exciting CEOs and founders to build powerful personal brands.On top of all of that, Lewis founded another mental health platform a few years ago called The Blurred Line Group (BLG), which is the UK’s first funding hub for local mental health charities and community projects.BLG strives to change the way mental health charities are supported in the UK and bring clarity to mental health for all.We were supposed to check in with Lewis three years ago but tragically, Lewis’s mum developed cancer and he took time away from public speaking to care for her. Tragically, when Lewis was just 21-years-old, Lewis’s mum died and he has been processing and managing the grief and his life without his mum in the proceeding years. In this episode we talk about Lewis’s professional journey and navigating his way through founding multiple mental health organisations and up to his work now with Kurogo, how he became a mental health advocate and public speaker, how he developed those skills and his plans for the future.For Lewis’s mental health, he had a mental health crisis in 2016 which led to him almost taking his own life. We discuss the build-up to that moment and what triggered it, the event itself and how he turned his life around from that moment. We also talk about the grief of his mum, the relationship he had with her, what it’s like losing a parent at the young age he did and navigating the rest of his life without her. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can follow Lewis on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lewis_A_BaxterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lewisabaxter/You can contact the Hullo helpline on 0800 001 4455 9am-9pm daily.Buy tickets for JCIL #4 with AMiR, Sirkett & Leroy Select here: helmtickets.com/events/8002/just-…kett-leroy-selectSupport 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=d70wfeJSEvkTRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deep discussions about suicide, grief and loss, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In this episode of Behind The Mic, we checked in with sound engineer, mixer and writer, Rory Aitken.Rory studied first at the University of Portsmouth before landing a place on a course at the world-famous Abbey Road Studios in London where he has now graduated from. It’s accurate to say that music probably saved his life. In this episode we discuss the power of music, self-awareness, learning from mistakes and how Rory evolved his musical taste as he got older. For Rory's mental health we discuss a period of bullying he went through in secondary school because of his weight, suicidal thoughts and suicidality he experienced in his university degree, therapy and his recovery journey. As always, #itsokaytoventYou can follow Rory on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aitken.rory/Buy tickets for JCIL #4 with AMiR, Sirkett & Leroy Select here: helmtickets.com/events/8002/just-checking-in-live-4-with-amir-sirkett-leroy-selectSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkTRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains a deep discussion about suicide and suicidality, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.

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In episode 156 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked back in with conflict journalist and Founder of Popular Front, Jake Hanrahan. Since we last spoke, Jake has been busy covering more underreported conflicts across the globe, particularly in Ukraine in its war against Russia, French-controlled Corsica, the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Karabakh region and the continued rise of illegal 3D printed guns across Europe. In this episode we do a deep dive on his latest film ‘Frontline Hooligan: Ukraine's Anti-Fascist Football Ultras Fighting Russian Invasion’ which focuses on the Hoods Hoods Klan and the various characters within it that make the group unique. We also discuss the wider situation that millions of Ukrainians are facing right now and the massacres that have taken place by the hands of Russian soldiers including at Borodyanka near Bucha.As always, #itsokaytoventFind out more about Popular Front here and how to support it here: www.popularfront.co/You can watch Frontline Hooligan here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsodbPkjO3c&ab_channel=PopularFrontYou can follow Popular Front on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/PopularFront_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/popular.front/Subscribe to Popular Front on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PopularFrontYou can follow Jake on social media below:Twitter: twitter.com/Jake_HanrahanYou can donate to Hoods Hoods Klan and their war effort in Ukraine directly below: PayPal: [email protected] Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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In this episode of our Behind The Mic series, we checked in with artist, producer and sound engineer Tobiah Frei.Tobi started his music journey being inspired by music icons like The Weeknd, particularly his seminal album ‘House of Balloons’. He then developed a desire to craft his own sound as an artist and ventured out into Afro-beats inspired sounds. In this episode we discuss that music journey and why he made that move from more traditional US R&B to African-influenced music, stage anxiety and how he is trying to overcome it and get back into live performance.We also discuss the musical process he has gone on to love himself, music perfectionism culture, the impatience that some young artists have and music production burnout. For Tobi’s mental health journey, we discuss the impact that the death of his childhood friend had on him in 2014 and that period of grief which led to a mental health breakdown in 2017 and in his words his world collapsing. We finish by discussing how he came out of that dark period of his mental health, how he's embraced himself and become confident about opening up about his mental health for the first time on this podcast.As always, #itsokaytoventListen to Tobiah Frei on streaming platforms below: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1hqQ69HmawimUpu85TjODs?si=e019cc4d139c4ac8Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/tobiah-frei/1099190702YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfJd3FlQOgWfoyKvR_WVPtwYou can follow Tobiah Frei on social media below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tobiahfreimusic/?hl=enTwitter: https://twitter.com/tobiahfreimusicFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tobiahfreimusicSupport Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopBuy tickets for JCIL #4 on Saturday October 15th 2022 here: https://helmtickets.com/events/8002/just-checking-in-live-4-with-amir-sirkett-leroy-selectMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvkOutro: Director Dzi x Tobiah Frei x THC - The Way You Do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7yApPLe728&ab_channel=DirectorDzi

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In episode 155 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Gordon Buchanan.Gordon Buchanan is a Scottish wildlife photographer and filmmaker who has made documentaries for over 20 years. Gordon has made a number of wonderful, intense and thrilling films including: ‘Big Cat Diary’, ‘Lost Land of the Volcano’, ‘The Bear Family & Me’, ‘The Polar Bear Family & Me’, ‘Lost Land of The Tiger’, ‘Lost Land of The Jaguar’, ‘Leopard in the City’ and ‘Tribes, Predators and Me’.In this episode we discuss how Gordon broke into the world of wildlife filmmaking, the life-threatening moments he has experienced whilst filming and the mental health impact of being away from his family for periods of time whilst filming.For Gordon’s mental health, 10 years ago he had an epiphany about his mental health and realised he had a lot of mental health challenges as a child that he never identified or was aware of. In that year, he was approaching burnout but didn’t recognise it before it arrived and it brought about a full-blown period of depression and what he describes as a ‘breakdown of sorts’.When Gordon has gone through these periods, he has used medication to help him get better before coming off of them and he has been on and off medication throughout the last 10 years. We finish by talking about Covid-19 and the reset that gave him for his mental health and his life, how he’s achieved a greater level of self-awareness and reconciling people’s assumptions about him.As always, #itsokaytoventYou can visit Gordon's website and see all of the work he has done in his career here: https://www.gordon-buchanan.co.uk/You can follow Gordon on social media below: Twitter: https://twitter.com/gordonjbuchananInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gordonbuchanan_wildlife/Support Us:Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpukGoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-healthMerchandise: https://www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shopMusic: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

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